Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:06.360
Revelation one, verses one through eight. Revelation chapter one, beginning in the
2
00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:11.830
first verse. This is the word
of the Lord, the revelation of Jesus
3
00:00:11.869 --> 00:00:17.629
Christ, which God gave him to
show his servants things which must shortly take
4
00:00:17.789 --> 00:00:22.899
place, and he sent and signified
it by his angel to his servant John,
5
00:00:22.940 --> 00:00:26.980
who bore witness to the word of
God and to the testimony of Jesus
6
00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:31.980
Christ, to all things that he
saw. Blessed is he who reads and
7
00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:37.090
those who hear the words of this
prophecy and keep those things which are written
8
00:00:37.090 --> 00:00:42.289
in it, for the time is
near. John, to the seven churches
9
00:00:42.409 --> 00:00:46.250
which are in Asia. Grace to
you in peace, from Him who is
10
00:00:46.689 --> 00:00:50.840
and who was and who is to
come, and from the seven spirits who
11
00:00:50.840 --> 00:00:55.320
were before his throne, and from
Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the
12
00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:59.399
first born from the dead and the
ruler over the kings of the earth,
13
00:01:00.200 --> 00:01:03.239
to him who loved us and washed
us from our sins in his own blood
14
00:01:03.590 --> 00:01:07.790
and has made us kings and priests
to his God and father. To him
15
00:01:07.829 --> 00:01:14.870
be glory and dominion forever and ever. Behold, he is coming with clouds
16
00:01:15.390 --> 00:01:19.180
and every eye will see him,
even they who pierced him in all the
17
00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:25.260
tribes of the earth will mourn because
of him. Even so, Amen,
18
00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:27.939
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, in the end,
19
00:01:29.060 --> 00:01:33.650
says the Lord, who was and
who is, and who was and who
20
00:01:33.730 --> 00:01:38.450
is to come, the Almighty.
Thus, farthest reading of God's holy word,
21
00:01:38.530 --> 00:01:42.969
the grass withers in the flower fades, but the word of our Lord
22
00:01:42.010 --> 00:01:48.439
endears forever. Please be seated.
Let's pray. Father, we thank you
23
00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.239
for this, your word that you
have given to your apostle to give to
24
00:01:53.400 --> 00:02:00.079
us. We thank you for this
apocalypse of Jesus Christ. Give us your
25
00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:05.349
grace, Lord. That is we
turn our attention this evening to this vast
26
00:02:05.469 --> 00:02:12.590
and and and often times confusing topic, that we might get a firmer understanding
27
00:02:12.710 --> 00:02:15.740
of what it is that you want
us to know from this book that is
28
00:02:15.860 --> 00:02:22.020
so often laden with such mystery and
confusion. Give US clarity, Lord,
29
00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:28.379
speak to our hearts through your Holy
Spirit, illumine our minds that we might
30
00:02:28.539 --> 00:02:32.449
understand and believe the things that you
would have us know and trust in.
31
00:02:34.889 --> 00:02:38.610
Help us this evening, Lord,
that we could have a greater appreciation of
32
00:02:38.650 --> 00:02:42.169
who you are, and that is
we come in a few minutes to your
33
00:02:42.289 --> 00:02:47.439
table to celebrate this sacrament of the
new covenant. We pray that you would
34
00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:53.800
help us to appreciate what it is
that you have done for us in delivering
35
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:58.080
us from the power of sin,
that we might go forth and follow you.
36
00:03:00.189 --> 00:03:02.270
And so we ask that the words
of our of my mouth, and
37
00:03:02.310 --> 00:03:07.669
the meditations of our hearts would be
pleasing to you, and we commit this
38
00:03:07.830 --> 00:03:12.939
time to our Lord, your son
Jesus Christ, and whose name we pray.
39
00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:20.460
Amen. All right. Well,
I thought that talking about revelation this
40
00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:24.340
evening is a sort of a summary
overview, would be sort of an interesting
41
00:03:24.379 --> 00:03:29.849
way for those who've been attending the
Bible study at our house to kind of
42
00:03:30.210 --> 00:03:32.569
wrap it up and bring it in
for a landing and for the rest of
43
00:03:32.650 --> 00:03:38.969
you perhaps to hear what great suffering
your brothers and sisters have endured at my
44
00:03:38.129 --> 00:03:45.639
house. So I thought it would
be good it could give a brief overview,
45
00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:50.800
as brief as probably any I could
conceive, of of what it is
46
00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:58.270
that John's talking about in this book
of revelation. Now, as I was
47
00:03:58.349 --> 00:04:04.150
thinking about this, I was thinking
about the peanuts cartoons. I like peanuts,
48
00:04:04.189 --> 00:04:09.469
I love peanuts, Charlie Brown and
Lucy and Linus and snoopy and all
49
00:04:09.509 --> 00:04:13.620
the rest of my I really like
them. And as I was thinking about
50
00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:19.939
how to talk about revelation, there's
this one cartoon from peanuts that kept coming
51
00:04:20.060 --> 00:04:24.180
to mind, and some of you
may know it. I don't know,
52
00:04:24.769 --> 00:04:28.250
but this one cartoon shows Lucy,
who we all know as a know it
53
00:04:28.329 --> 00:04:32.209
all right, and Lucy is teaching
her little brother, Linus, who's in
54
00:04:32.329 --> 00:04:39.399
preschool. But the supposed knowledge that
Lucy's giving to linus as a bunch of
55
00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:45.920
Bunco it's a bunch of silly,
far fetched suppositions of someone who really has
56
00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.959
no idea what it is she's talking
about. And in the last frame of
57
00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:55.949
that cartoon there's Charlie Brown shaking his
head and he says Linus is going to
58
00:04:56.029 --> 00:05:01.230
have to spend two years in kindergarten, one year to UN learn everything Lucy's
59
00:05:01.269 --> 00:05:06.379
taught him in a second year to
get it all right. And the reason
60
00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:11.180
I thought of that is it.
Unfortunately, I think that's just the same
61
00:05:11.500 --> 00:05:15.540
for most Christian folk. As we
come to the book of revelation, there
62
00:05:15.660 --> 00:05:20.970
is so much confusion in regard to
this book. There is so much I
63
00:05:21.089 --> 00:05:28.689
mean honestly, just whacky, bizarre
misinformation out there that it's no surprise that
64
00:05:28.930 --> 00:05:32.490
most Christians don't even read revelation,
let alone try to figure it out.
65
00:05:34.410 --> 00:05:38.839
And it's true, if you've ever
looked at those statistics that Ligonier and other
66
00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.360
people put out, revelation is hardly
ever read by Christians. It's like one
67
00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.839
of the most irrelevant books to the
practical life of most Christian folk, right
68
00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.829
up there with like Obadiah and Zeph
and I ah, which most people don't
69
00:05:50.870 --> 00:06:00.470
read either. So I've knew people
even in seminary who felt daunted looking at
70
00:06:00.509 --> 00:06:06.300
this and they said, you know, Calvin himself wrote commentaries on every book
71
00:06:06.300 --> 00:06:12.420
of the Bible except revelation, as
if that gets them off the hook from
72
00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:16.660
trying to understand this last book of
the Bible. And unfortunately, far too
73
00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:21.370
often when people read books on revelation, they find themselves reading books that sound
74
00:06:21.449 --> 00:06:28.410
more like science fiction or fantasy than
Biblical exposition. I've seen books, for
75
00:06:28.529 --> 00:06:32.600
instance, that try to take every
symbol, every image in revelation at a
76
00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:39.319
hyperliteral face value, and so I've
seen books that actually say that at the
77
00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:43.720
end of the world there will be
a giant seven headed Godzilla that crawls out
78
00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.230
of the ocean and joins forces with
a great dragon with lamb's horns on its
79
00:06:47.310 --> 00:06:51.790
head. I've seen a commentary on
the book of revelation that says that at
80
00:06:51.829 --> 00:06:57.709
the end of days there will be
soldiers from the United Nations with jet packs
81
00:06:58.069 --> 00:07:02.220
and they're going to fulfill John's vision
of the locusts. Other people have said
82
00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:06.939
that the that the vision of the
locusts is a bunch of Apache helicopters sent
83
00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:13.660
from the UN or some other agency
to overrun the world. Wild eyed speculators
84
00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:19.089
have identified as the Anti Christ everyone
from Napoleon Bonaparte to Kaiservillelm the second,
85
00:07:19.449 --> 00:07:25.250
to Hitler, to Gorba Chop to
Psama bin Ladden, even President Obama and
86
00:07:25.410 --> 00:07:30.480
President George W Bush. I've seen
all of this stuff and it's sad really.
87
00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:36.800
This was the last book of the
Bible that was written. To think
88
00:07:36.839 --> 00:07:44.790
about that. This book was the
last piece of the good news that God
89
00:07:45.029 --> 00:07:49.509
wanted us to have. John,
who is the last living apostle, wrote
90
00:07:49.589 --> 00:07:54.550
this to be his magnum opus,
you know, his greatest work. It
91
00:07:55.110 --> 00:08:01.459
possibly even more valuable in some regards
if we can make comparisons then his gospel,
92
00:08:03.339 --> 00:08:09.019
because it's the last thing God wanted
written for our edification. And most
93
00:08:09.060 --> 00:08:15.329
of us are either so intimidated by
this book that we don't read it or
94
00:08:15.410 --> 00:08:20.129
we've ressed read so many of these
how lindsay books or are left behind books
95
00:08:20.170 --> 00:08:24.730
or some other silly nonsense, that
it fills our heads like linuses, with
96
00:08:24.930 --> 00:08:31.560
more fat or with more fiction and
fantasy than fact or gospel. And so
97
00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:37.240
please, whatever you take away from
what I have to say this evening,
98
00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:45.230
I just want you to know that
left behind and other hyperliteral or scary or
99
00:08:45.470 --> 00:08:50.029
science fiction sounding books and so on, these things about revelation, they are
100
00:08:50.190 --> 00:08:54.070
truly, truly not on the mark. Jesus didn't give you this book to
101
00:08:54.309 --> 00:08:58.779
scare you into hiding am mo out
in the desert or to look for the
102
00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:03.700
beast in every bar code at Walmart. That is not why he gave us
103
00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:07.860
this book. So what I want
us to do this evening is simply to
104
00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:15.129
ask ourselves some very introdo introductory questions
about revelation. There three I want to
105
00:09:15.210 --> 00:09:20.450
ask of our of this book.
First, what is it? Second,
106
00:09:20.049 --> 00:09:26.960
what is it about? And third, what's the point? What is it
107
00:09:26.679 --> 00:09:31.120
what's it about? What's the point? So, first of all, what
108
00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:37.480
is revelation? What kind of literature
is it? To be more specific,
109
00:09:39.070 --> 00:09:41.710
see, when you're reading literature,
I think most of us know this,
110
00:09:43.029 --> 00:09:48.230
the first and most important question to
ask of anything you go to read is
111
00:09:48.309 --> 00:09:52.139
to know what kind of literature it
is. It's a question of genre,
112
00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:58.059
right, what kind of literature it
is? In order to understand any literature,
113
00:09:58.100 --> 00:10:01.259
you first have to know what it
is you're reading, because if you
114
00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:07.210
miss that point, then you'll miss
the point of whatever it might be.
115
00:10:07.409 --> 00:10:13.370
For instance, if you're reading a
technical manual or a physics book written by
116
00:10:13.370 --> 00:10:20.679
Albert Einstein and you think that it's
poetry, you're going to think that Einstein
117
00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:26.960
was an idiot right, when in
reality we all know Einstein was a genius.
118
00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:33.799
But the problem is you're reading of
physics text and looking for love poetry,
119
00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:37.990
and so it makes no sense to
you. So in our case,
120
00:10:39.149 --> 00:10:46.750
what kind of literature is revelation?
See How you answer this question will determine
121
00:10:46.190 --> 00:10:50.299
the way you interpret the whole thing, what you think revelation is about.
122
00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:56.659
So what genre is it? Well, I think most people come to revelation
123
00:10:56.980 --> 00:11:03.570
thinking that it's some kind of history
written beforehand. Most people come thinking that
124
00:11:03.649 --> 00:11:11.809
it's history written beforehand. Isaiah,
chapter forty five is that kind of literature.
125
00:11:11.129 --> 00:11:16.529
Isaiah wrote that chapter of his prophecy
a hundred and twenty years before the
126
00:11:16.649 --> 00:11:22.039
fall of Jerusalem and about a hundred
and ninety years before the end of that
127
00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:28.919
exile. And yet Isaiah was able
to give us specific details about what was
128
00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:33.309
going to happen in those years.
He even knew the name of the Persian
129
00:11:33.389 --> 00:11:37.990
King of a Persian Empire that didn't
yet exist. He knew the name of
130
00:11:39.149 --> 00:11:43.909
the Persian king who would end the
exile one hundred fifty years before that king
131
00:11:45.509 --> 00:11:50.700
was born, a hundred and fifty
years beforehand. Isaiah said this is going
132
00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:56.500
to happen. That's what you call
future history. It is a fortelling of
133
00:11:56.659 --> 00:12:01.129
the future. Now, if you
read revelation like that, you're going to
134
00:12:01.210 --> 00:12:07.450
be consumed with identifying each detail in
it as corresponding to something that you see
135
00:12:07.690 --> 00:12:11.730
in recent or current events or in
a history book or something like that.
136
00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:20.600
But there's a problem with that.
You See, unlike Isaiah, revelation is
137
00:12:20.759 --> 00:12:28.320
full of all kinds of symbolism and
crazy imagery. Isaiah, along with most
138
00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:33.029
of what you might call future history
that God gives us in scripture. It's
139
00:12:33.110 --> 00:12:37.190
pretty straightforward. Isaiah says there's this
going to be this Persian guy and he's
140
00:12:37.230 --> 00:12:41.070
going to be the king and his
name is going to be Cyrus and he's
141
00:12:41.110 --> 00:12:46.860
going to end the exile. Pretty
straightforward. He doesn't use weird imagery to
142
00:12:48.059 --> 00:12:54.539
hint at such a thing. But
reading revelation like this leaves you confused and,
143
00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:58.009
frankly, it leaves you sounding like
you have a tinfull hat or that
144
00:12:58.129 --> 00:13:03.090
you are into science fiction or something
far more so than a Bible scholar.
145
00:13:05.289 --> 00:13:09.450
This is where we get the bizarre
associations of John's visions with Apache, helicopters
146
00:13:09.490 --> 00:13:18.480
and stuff. This kind of problem
comes when we look at revelation, misunderstanding
147
00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:24.480
its genre, because, you see, revelation is not a fortelling of future
148
00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:31.149
events. It's not future history.
Rather, revelation belongs to a sort of
149
00:13:31.309 --> 00:13:39.029
narrow slice of ancient literature called Apocalyptic
Literature. The Greek name for the book
150
00:13:39.029 --> 00:13:46.580
actually is Apocalypsis, Yes to Christ, which is the apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
151
00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:50.620
Now, if there's a genre and
it says and you read a book
152
00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:54.620
and it says this is the history
of Napoleon Bonaparte. You're I'm pretty firm
153
00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:58.370
ground to read it as if it's
history. If you open up a book
154
00:13:58.409 --> 00:14:01.809
and it says this is the apocalypse
of Jesus Christ, you're I'm pretty firm
155
00:14:01.850 --> 00:14:09.409
ground to read it as apocalyptic literature. And the word apocalypse in Greek simply
156
00:14:09.450 --> 00:14:13.720
means revealing. That's where the English
word comes from, revelation. It's a
157
00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:20.399
revealing it's what you would say about
pulling back a curtain to show what's behind
158
00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:26.470
it. But it isn't revealing the
future. Apocalyptic literature is is intended to
159
00:14:26.549 --> 00:14:33.710
reveal what's going on right now.
It's supposed to show you, giving you
160
00:14:33.149 --> 00:14:37.350
symbolic imagery of things that are happening
in the now. Want you to listen
161
00:14:37.389 --> 00:14:43.860
to what one fellow scholar, guy
named Marvin Pate, has this four books
162
00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:46.139
on the or four of use on
the book of revelation. If you're interested
163
00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:52.169
in views other than mine, you
can read it. But pate defines apocalypse
164
00:14:52.289 --> 00:14:58.529
this way. He Says Scholars Describe
this pictorial representation of truth as Apocalypptic,
165
00:14:58.610 --> 00:15:07.049
a style of communication and writing characterized
by bold colors vimit images unique symbols in
166
00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:11.679
a simple story line, a hero
and a happy ending. Thus, in
167
00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:16.279
revelation you meet angels, animals and
numbers. You see lightning and hear thunder.
168
00:15:16.679 --> 00:15:20.399
US witness earthquakes and battles. You
see the sparkle of jewels and a
169
00:15:20.470 --> 00:15:26.269
woman clothed with the sun facing a
terrifying dragon. You see a rider on
170
00:15:26.309 --> 00:15:30.549
a white horse and hear the lyrics
of the Hallelujah Chorus. You Reproach.
171
00:15:30.710 --> 00:15:35.500
You approach apocalyptic literature differently than you
would a letter or one of the Gospels,
172
00:15:37.059 --> 00:15:41.500
and revelation words take the place of
pigments and brushes to create a portrait
173
00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:50.450
designed to visualize great principles, not
particular incidents. Resisting the temptation to dissect
174
00:15:50.610 --> 00:15:56.289
the portrait described in each vision,
you let the Vision as a whole impress
175
00:15:56.370 --> 00:16:02.129
you. That's key. You Let
the Vision as a whole impress you.
176
00:16:03.610 --> 00:16:11.559
Apocalyptic literature is a revealing of the
truth using figurative imagery, and a good
177
00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:15.080
way to think of this is to
think of the wizard of odds. You
178
00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:18.230
remember how, in the book or
in the movie, Dorothy and the others,
179
00:16:18.269 --> 00:16:22.750
they go off to see the wizards
right and they get there and the
180
00:16:22.870 --> 00:16:29.509
wizard is a scary and powerful,
frightening guy, and they're all just quaking
181
00:16:29.549 --> 00:16:36.820
in their shoes, or at least
they're quaking in their shoes until Dorothy's little
182
00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:41.419
dog, Toto, pulls back the
curtain so they could see the truth.
183
00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:47.610
And the truth toto revealed was that
the wizard was just a silly little man
184
00:16:48.169 --> 00:16:52.250
who had no power over them.
Right, don't look at the man behind
185
00:16:52.250 --> 00:17:00.970
the curtain. He was nothing.
He was nothing. And this is what
186
00:17:00.129 --> 00:17:04.640
the book of revelation does. It
pulls back the curtain on the world.
187
00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:11.119
The book of revelation is revealing of
the truth about the world that we live
188
00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:17.309
in as it is right now.
Just because it's physically placed at the end
189
00:17:17.349 --> 00:17:21.589
of your Bible doesn't mean it's necessarily
about the things that are going to happen
190
00:17:21.750 --> 00:17:26.750
right at the end of the age
after all. Right, at the beginning
191
00:17:26.789 --> 00:17:32.740
and chapter one, verse one of
revelation, he says the revelation of Jesus
192
00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:37.819
Christ, which God gave to him
to show his servants things which must shortly
193
00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:45.210
take place. It's about out stuff
it was going to be shortly taking place,
194
00:17:45.250 --> 00:17:52.410
as in John's lifetime. Revelation reveals
to us the truth about what's going
195
00:17:52.569 --> 00:17:57.529
on in the world in this era
between the ascension and the second coming,
196
00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:06.200
and it is really, really good
news, and it's good news because of
197
00:18:06.359 --> 00:18:11.039
what it's about. And this brings
us to my second point. What is
198
00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:15.230
it about? Now? To lead
into this, I want to have a
199
00:18:15.309 --> 00:18:18.869
little quickie quiz. Okay, those
of you who have been in my Bible
200
00:18:18.910 --> 00:18:23.390
study it probably heard me ask this
question before, so you can't answer summer.
201
00:18:23.750 --> 00:18:30.539
Okay, so here's the quickie quiz. Four questions. I have four
202
00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:37.859
questions for you. First question,
what are the only two things that you
203
00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:45.410
can do now that you cannot do
in glory? Any ideas? That's one
204
00:18:45.490 --> 00:18:52.410
of them. Right you, but
man, all right, let's go home,
205
00:18:53.250 --> 00:18:59.480
right, right. It's important.
It's important to know this. There
206
00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:03.160
are only two things you can do
now that you cannot do in glory.
207
00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:08.039
One of them is to sin,
because there is no sin in God's presence.
208
00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:11.630
When we're face to face with him, that's going to all be in
209
00:19:11.710 --> 00:19:18.069
the past. And the second thing
you can do now that you cannot do
210
00:19:18.309 --> 00:19:26.980
in glory is to introduce somebody to
Jesus Christ, because by definition, everyone
211
00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:36.660
will already know him in heaven.
So those are only two things. Now,
212
00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:41.609
as you think about that, I
think that's a really like clearifying way
213
00:19:41.730 --> 00:19:45.730
to look at things, because it
kind of makes it obvious why he left
214
00:19:45.769 --> 00:19:49.849
us here. Right, because he
didn't leave us here to keep on sitting.
215
00:19:52.609 --> 00:19:57.319
So he must have left us here
to help other people meet Jesus.
216
00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:03.240
All right, you did good so
far. So here's question number two.
217
00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:10.509
What was the last thing that Jesus
did before he ascended to his father?
218
00:20:12.750 --> 00:20:19.509
The last thing Jesus did before he
ascended to his father two things. One,
219
00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:27.660
he went up onto a mountain and
Jesus spoke to them, saying all
220
00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:33.220
authority and Heaven and on Earth has
been given to me. Go there for
221
00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:37.690
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
222
00:20:37.849 --> 00:20:41.609
father and of the son and of
the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
223
00:20:41.650 --> 00:20:45.089
all things that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you
224
00:20:45.170 --> 00:20:49.240
always, even to the end of
the age. Matthew, twenty eight.
225
00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.640
And the other thing that we read
is right there at the beginning of acts,
226
00:20:53.640 --> 00:21:00.920
acts one, eight and nine,
he says it is not for you
227
00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.630
to know times or seasons which the
fathers put in his own authority, but
228
00:21:04.910 --> 00:21:10.789
you shall receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you, and you
229
00:21:10.950 --> 00:21:15.869
shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends
230
00:21:17.230 --> 00:21:19.980
of the Earth. Now, when
he had spoken these things while they watched,
231
00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:26.460
he was taken up and a cloud
received him out of their sight.
232
00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:32.970
The last act of the Messiah,
before he ascended to take his throne and
233
00:21:33.329 --> 00:21:37.650
glory, was to entrust the fate
of the world, to entrust the fate
234
00:21:37.730 --> 00:21:48.000
of every man and woman and boy
and girl to us, to nincompoops like
235
00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:53.640
you and me. He decided to
use US and our willingness to be his
236
00:21:53.880 --> 00:22:00.990
witnesses to make the difference between Heaven
and Hell for every person on this planet.
237
00:22:02.349 --> 00:22:06.950
That's the second thing. What did
he do? He said, I
238
00:22:07.109 --> 00:22:15.150
want you to go. Third Question. Do you believe Jesus knows what he's
239
00:22:15.190 --> 00:22:25.940
doing? You and I are far
too realistic to in trust so great a
240
00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:32.089
responsibility to people like us. And
even if there weren't anything wrong with us,
241
00:22:32.329 --> 00:22:34.170
I mean because we've got it all
pretty much together right. But even
242
00:22:34.170 --> 00:22:37.650
if there wasn't anything wrong with us, this world that was a joke.
243
00:22:38.089 --> 00:22:44.839
This world is a really hostile place
for this great commission to be any sort
244
00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:49.440
of reasonable expectation. I want you, a bunch of silly, jokey,
245
00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:55.839
sinful, foolish people, to take
the message of the Messiah, the Savior
246
00:22:55.880 --> 00:23:03.390
of the world, to people everywhere. Mean how can weak people like you
247
00:23:03.549 --> 00:23:10.430
and I stand up to the powers
and principalities of this world? Peter says
248
00:23:10.710 --> 00:23:15.900
that our enemy, the devil,
prows about like a roaring lion seeking those
249
00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:22.859
whom he might devour. Our enemy. It's not just those people over there,
250
00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:26.019
and there's no people who are enemy. Our enemy, according to scripture,
251
00:23:26.099 --> 00:23:30.569
is the evil one, Satan,
and he schemes and he uses the
252
00:23:30.690 --> 00:23:37.450
world and he uses our own sinful
natures against us to devour us like a
253
00:23:37.609 --> 00:23:41.640
lion. And Peter goes on to
say he's doing this everywhere you go in
254
00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:48.519
the whole world. See, like
the Hebrews, we have been delivered from
255
00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:56.349
slavery to Faaraoh, only our Faraoh
wasn't a man. Our Faraoh was the
256
00:23:56.470 --> 00:24:03.789
power of sin. Our Pharaoh was
our old nature, the sin and condemnation
257
00:24:04.029 --> 00:24:11.059
that was controlling us, ruining our
lives, destroying us, making us serve
258
00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:18.259
sin. And it isn't a coincidence
that John repeatedly refers to Jesus and revelation
259
00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:23.970
as a lamb. Twenty seven times
in the book of revelation he refers to
260
00:24:25.089 --> 00:24:30.329
Jesus as a lamb, usually a
lamb who has been slain and Jesus preserve.
261
00:24:30.450 --> 00:24:37.049
John Presents Jesus as a lamb to
remind us that Jesus is our Passover.
262
00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:44.960
He is the perfect, spotless lamb
who was slain so that we might
263
00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:52.160
go free from bondage to follow him
and serve him in his promised land that
264
00:24:52.319 --> 00:25:00.430
is in glory forever. And yet, like the Hebrews fleeing Egypt, between
265
00:25:00.509 --> 00:25:06.950
us and the promised land is this
parched, miserable bewilderness. Between US and
266
00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:15.700
glory is a lifetime of suffering.
It's dry, it's so spiritually dry.
267
00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:21.140
It's a hostile life. We have
to live in their enemies everywhere and as
268
00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:25.529
we go along and we feel like
maybe at best we're getting our daily bread
269
00:25:25.569 --> 00:25:30.369
and little else, we find ourselves
yearning for the flesh pots we've left behind,
270
00:25:30.450 --> 00:25:37.720
the lusts and the allurements of those
that those who follow Christ have to
271
00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:45.519
abandon, like the Hebrews abandoning Egypt. And like those Hebrews, we too
272
00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:52.589
have been charged to take the land, only this time the land is no
273
00:25:52.789 --> 00:25:56.269
longer Canaan, and this time I
wept. Our weapon is not a sword.
274
00:25:57.309 --> 00:26:03.190
Now, according to Luke and acts
one eight, the land is Jerusalem,
275
00:26:03.230 --> 00:26:08.140
Judea, Samaria and to the ends
of the Earth. That is the
276
00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:17.059
land, and our weapon of warfare
is the word of God. We read
277
00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:22.450
that the law came through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
278
00:26:22.650 --> 00:26:27.569
Through Moses, God told his people
to slaughter the Canaanites and to take
279
00:26:27.690 --> 00:26:34.319
their land captive. Through Jesus,
the Prophet Raader Than Moses, God tells
280
00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:40.640
us to take every thought captive,
to be ready, in season and out,
281
00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:44.720
to proclaim the word, to always
to be ready to give an answer
282
00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:48.789
to everyone who asks us for a
reason for the hope that we have within
283
00:26:48.910 --> 00:26:52.029
us. And he does that all
to the end that his kingdom would come,
284
00:26:52.390 --> 00:26:56.630
and it is will would be done
on earth, even as it is
285
00:26:57.230 --> 00:27:02.940
in heaven. All Authority, he
said, on hat in heaven and on
286
00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:14.579
Earth, has been given to me. Therefore, you go now. For
287
00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:17.849
those of you who are keeping score, I said there were four questions.
288
00:27:17.930 --> 00:27:22.930
As going to ask. So here's
the fourth question. Why in the world
289
00:27:23.049 --> 00:27:30.200
am I talking about God's call to
mission and the book of revelation at the
290
00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:37.519
same time? nonsecuit or anyone.
Well, in order to answer that,
291
00:27:37.680 --> 00:27:42.759
let me ask you this question.
What is the purpose of revelation? That's
292
00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:48.309
your fourth question. What is the
purpose of revelation? Is it to titilate
293
00:27:48.430 --> 00:27:55.789
you with far fetched ideas about men
in rocket suits and helicopters? Is it
294
00:27:55.950 --> 00:28:00.380
to frighten you that the Youn or
the trilateral commission is going to take make
295
00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:03.980
you tattoo a bar code on your
forehead? Is that why he gave us
296
00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:14.250
revelation? Come on, Oh,
the purpose of revelation is to encourage you
297
00:28:14.569 --> 00:28:19.970
in your work of mission. That, after all, is why you're here.
298
00:28:22.130 --> 00:28:26.329
It's not to read scary books or
to bury emmo in the desert.
299
00:28:26.369 --> 00:28:30.880
Our God has given us the book
of revelation because he is an incredibly realistic
300
00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:37.240
God. He has given us a
commission. He's given us the Great Commission
301
00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:45.150
to take the good news about Jesus
to everybody on this planet. But he
302
00:28:45.430 --> 00:28:52.029
knows what we're like. We are
easily frightened and if we're not easily frightened.
303
00:28:52.069 --> 00:28:56.460
We're easily distracted and if it's not
fried or distraction, it's well,
304
00:28:56.500 --> 00:29:03.059
it's always something, isn't it?
There's always something to get us disengaged from
305
00:29:03.099 --> 00:29:08.180
this awesome missionary calling that he's given
to us. And so he's given us
306
00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:15.690
this book to remind us of the
big picture as he sends us out.
307
00:29:17.930 --> 00:29:22.690
So let me say this again.
The purpose of revelation is to encourage you
308
00:29:22.970 --> 00:29:30.000
in the work of mission. We
weren't left behind, we were left for
309
00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:37.039
mission. Now here's let me explain
this. Step back a second, explain
310
00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:41.269
this in a way that may help
you understand what I'm trying to get at
311
00:29:41.309 --> 00:29:45.630
about revelation. Okay, revelation is
at the end of the Bible, but
312
00:29:45.789 --> 00:29:49.630
instead of thinking of revelation where it's
physically placed, at the end of the
313
00:29:49.750 --> 00:29:55.220
Bible, I want you to think
of revelation is belonging somewhere else, at
314
00:29:55.259 --> 00:30:03.779
least thematically or or conceptually. So
let me draw a structural parallel for you
315
00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:08.009
between the Old Testament and the New
Testament. In the beginning of the Old
316
00:30:08.130 --> 00:30:15.369
Testament, Moses gives four books,
four books that describe the formation of God's
317
00:30:15.450 --> 00:30:22.599
people, their liberation from slavery and
their receipt of a great mission. And
318
00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:26.680
then, starting with Joshua, we
have twelve historical books describing for us the
319
00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:30.880
history of Israel's living out that mission
as they go to take the land.
320
00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:37.549
Right then, after the histories,
we have the prophets, and the purpose
321
00:30:37.630 --> 00:30:41.269
of the prophets is to help the
people figure out what Faithful Covenant Life looks
322
00:30:41.309 --> 00:30:48.109
like as they're on their mission to
take the land. But I left something
323
00:30:48.190 --> 00:30:55.339
out. What comes between the first
four books of the law and the beginning
324
00:30:55.380 --> 00:31:00.900
of their mission in Joshua? What
comes comes between the creation of God's people
325
00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:07.569
and their mission? It's the book
of Deuteronomy. And what is Deuteronomy?
326
00:31:08.289 --> 00:31:14.970
Well, Deuteronomy is Moses is reminding
his people of the big picture. Right
327
00:31:15.130 --> 00:31:19.480
before he departs to be with God, right before he dies and Joshua leads
328
00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:25.920
them to conquer the land, Moses
reminds the people of this wonderful, gracious
329
00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:30.319
covenant that God has given them.
He reminds them of the law, he
330
00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:34.069
reminds them that their God will never
leave them nor forsake them, and he
331
00:31:34.349 --> 00:31:40.230
reminds them that though they will face
trial and suffering, he will be with
332
00:31:41.069 --> 00:31:48.059
them. So with that in mind, here's my parallel again. It's thematic.
333
00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:52.819
In the beginning of the New Testament, Jesus gives us four books,
334
00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:59.980
four books that describe for us the
formation of the New Testament, Israel,
335
00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:07.049
the church. And those books describe
the Church's Liberation From slavery to sin and
336
00:32:07.210 --> 00:32:12.410
the receipt of a great mission.
And then what do we have? Well,
337
00:32:12.450 --> 00:32:15.450
we have a book of history,
the Book of acts, and the
338
00:32:15.529 --> 00:32:20.359
book of acts describes the very beginning
of the church's mission as they set out
339
00:32:20.400 --> 00:32:24.039
from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria
and finally to the end of the Earth,
340
00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:29.200
represented by the city of Rome.
And then, after the history,
341
00:32:30.069 --> 00:32:36.349
we have the epistles, which help
us figure out what Faithful Covenant Life Looks
342
00:32:36.390 --> 00:32:44.420
Like as we take the Gospel to
the ends of the Earth. Now I
343
00:32:44.619 --> 00:32:51.380
want you to think of revelation as
being the New Testament Deuteronomy. Instead of
344
00:32:51.460 --> 00:32:54.460
envisioning it at the end of the
Bible with the implication that it's about the
345
00:32:54.619 --> 00:33:00.769
end times, try thinking about it
as lodged right between John and acts.
346
00:33:02.369 --> 00:33:10.849
Think of Revelation Matthew, Mark,
Luke, John, revelation acts. See
347
00:33:12.650 --> 00:33:20.039
like Moses right before John, the
last Living Apostle, a one hundred some
348
00:33:20.200 --> 00:33:23.880
odd year old man. He's a
man who's been persecuted. He was reputed
349
00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:30.269
to have been bald and all beaten
and finally exiled to this little tiny speck
350
00:33:30.390 --> 00:33:38.029
of an island right before the last
of the apostles dies. He reminds us
351
00:33:38.630 --> 00:33:45.140
of the big picture. He reminds
us of the big picture so that we
352
00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:54.180
will have a powerful encouragement today as
we go to take the land bless it
353
00:33:54.299 --> 00:34:00.569
is he who reads and those who
hear the words of this prophecy and keep
354
00:34:00.690 --> 00:34:06.529
those things which are written in it. For the time is near, John
355
00:34:06.650 --> 00:34:14.599
says, but near for what?
Well, you remember how the book of
356
00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:21.679
Joshua Begins. We're told that Moses
dies after the death of Moses, the
357
00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:24.550
servants of the Lord. It came
to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua,
358
00:34:24.750 --> 00:34:30.309
the son of none, Moses is
assistant, saying Moses, my servant
359
00:34:30.429 --> 00:34:35.510
is dead. You gotta love those
like self evident truths like well, we
360
00:34:35.670 --> 00:34:38.579
just buried him, Yep, he's
Dad. Okay, Moses is dead.
361
00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:44.059
Now, therefore, arise, go
over this Jordan, you and all the
362
00:34:44.219 --> 00:34:46.219
people, to the land which I
am giving to them. The children of
363
00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:51.500
Israel, every place that the soul
of your foot will tread upon, I
364
00:34:51.619 --> 00:34:54.730
have given to you, as I
said to Moses, from the Wilderness and
365
00:34:54.889 --> 00:34:59.570
this Lebanon, as far as the
great river, the River Euphrates, all
366
00:34:59.650 --> 00:35:02.969
the land of the hittights and to
the great sea going down toward the Sun,
367
00:35:04.210 --> 00:35:07.440
shall be your territory. No Man
shall be able to stand before you
368
00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:13.000
all the days of your life,
as I was with Moses. So I
369
00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:19.920
will be with you. I will
not leave you nor forsake you. And
370
00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:23.710
shortly after we read this in chapter
five, and it came to pass,
371
00:35:23.829 --> 00:35:28.789
when Joshua was by Jericho, that
he lifted his eyes and looked and behold
372
00:35:28.829 --> 00:35:32.869
a man stood opposite him with his
sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua
373
00:35:32.909 --> 00:35:37.420
went to him and said, are
you for us or for our adversaries?
374
00:35:37.260 --> 00:35:42.500
So the man said no, but
as the commander of the Army of the
375
00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:47.219
Lord, I have now come.
And Joshua fell on his face to the
376
00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:52.610
earth and worshiped and said to him, what does my Lord say to his
377
00:35:52.809 --> 00:35:57.090
servant? Then the commander of the
Lord's Army said to Joshua, take your
378
00:35:57.210 --> 00:36:00.889
sandal off your foot, for the
place where you stand is holy, and
379
00:36:01.090 --> 00:36:09.639
Joshua did so. This is Jesus
appearing to Joshua. That's why Joshua falls
380
00:36:09.719 --> 00:36:20.110
down and calls him Lord. Moses
is dead. So now the people are
381
00:36:20.190 --> 00:36:23.590
to follow the Lord himself who,
as the commander of the Army of the
382
00:36:23.670 --> 00:36:30.949
Lord, will lead them personally into
battle. So, with that in mind,
383
00:36:30.989 --> 00:36:37.659
I asked the question again. The
time is near for what? Well,
384
00:36:37.179 --> 00:36:43.780
what do we see in revelation?
Right after we're shown the vision of
385
00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:49.610
Jesus in His glory reigning in Heaven. In revelation chapter six, we read
386
00:36:49.690 --> 00:36:52.610
this. Now, when the lamb
open and one of the seals, I
387
00:36:52.769 --> 00:36:57.210
heard one of the four living creatures
saying, with a voice like thunder,
388
00:36:57.369 --> 00:37:01.320
come and see, and I looked
and behold a white horse, and he
389
00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:06.360
who sat on it had a bow
and a crown was given to him,
390
00:37:06.360 --> 00:37:13.000
and he went forth conquering and to
conquer. Who Rides on the White Horse?
391
00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:19.150
It's the good guy, right,
right, it's the good guy.
392
00:37:20.150 --> 00:37:23.030
You See, as he did for
Joshua, the Lord Jesus, who is
393
00:37:23.269 --> 00:37:29.269
the commander of the Army of the
Lord, leads his people into battle.
394
00:37:31.300 --> 00:37:37.380
So the time is come for what? Well, according to revelation. The
395
00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:40.579
time has come for each of us
to shake the dust off our feet,
396
00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:45.449
to gird up our loins, to
arm ourselves with the full armor of God
397
00:37:45.690 --> 00:37:51.610
that Paul Describes, so that we
can set out following the commander of the
398
00:37:51.809 --> 00:37:58.010
Army of the Lord as he goes
forth conquering and to conquer. The time
399
00:37:58.250 --> 00:38:02.400
is near for each of God's people
to stand up to the Dragon, that
400
00:38:02.840 --> 00:38:07.559
serpent of old called the devil and
Satan, and to take the Gospel,
401
00:38:08.039 --> 00:38:12.989
not the sword of the flesh,
but the sword of the spirit, to
402
00:38:13.070 --> 00:38:19.110
the very ends of the earth.
See that that is what revelation is all
403
00:38:19.190 --> 00:38:30.059
about. So what's the point then? What's this big picture that John is
404
00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:35.460
showing us? Well, I want
you to bear with me while I read
405
00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:39.059
a couple of sort of lengthy passages, but because their pat lengthy, I
406
00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:43.369
want you to follow along with me. So if you take two fingers and
407
00:38:43.650 --> 00:38:51.489
stick one at revelation five and one
at revelation nineteen, want you to read
408
00:38:51.530 --> 00:39:08.159
along with me revelation five one and
nineteen. Chapter Nineteen Ready, Chapter Five,
409
00:39:08.239 --> 00:39:13.670
verse one. And I saw in
the right hand who of Him who
410
00:39:13.710 --> 00:39:17.710
sat on the throne, a scroll
written inside and on the back sealed with
411
00:39:17.869 --> 00:39:23.230
seven seals. Then I saw a
strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who
412
00:39:23.340 --> 00:39:29.900
is worthy to open the scroll and
to loose at seals? And no one
413
00:39:29.980 --> 00:39:32.099
in heaven or on Earth or under
the Earth was able to open the scroll
414
00:39:32.300 --> 00:39:37.739
or look at it. So I
wept much because no one was found worthy
415
00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:40.289
to open and read the scroll or
look at it. But one of the
416
00:39:40.369 --> 00:39:45.210
elders said to me, do not
weep, behold the lion of the tribe
417
00:39:45.289 --> 00:39:50.650
of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and
418
00:39:50.769 --> 00:39:54.000
to loose its seven seals. And
I looked and behold, in the midst
419
00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:57.719
of the throne and of the four
living creatures and in the midst of the
420
00:39:57.760 --> 00:40:01.119
elders, stood the lamb, as
though it had been slain, having seven
421
00:40:01.239 --> 00:40:06.079
horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven spirits of God sent out into
422
00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:09.469
all the earth. Then he came
and took the scroll out of the right
423
00:40:09.510 --> 00:40:14.110
hand of Him who sat on the
throne. Now, when he had taken
424
00:40:14.150 --> 00:40:17.150
the scroll, the four living creatures
and the twenty four elders fell down before
425
00:40:17.190 --> 00:40:22.820
the lamb, each having a harp
and Golden Bowls full of incense. which
426
00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:24.860
are the prayers of the saints,
and they sang a new song, saying
427
00:40:25.699 --> 00:40:30.539
you are worthy to take the scroll
and to open it seals, for you
428
00:40:30.659 --> 00:40:34.900
were slain and you have redeemed us
to God by your blood, out of
429
00:40:35.019 --> 00:40:38.849
every tribe and tongue and people and
nation, and have made us kings and
430
00:40:39.090 --> 00:40:44.809
priests to our God, and we
shall reign on the earth. Then I
431
00:40:45.010 --> 00:40:47.889
looked and I heard the voice of
many angels around the throne, the living
432
00:40:49.050 --> 00:40:52.400
creatures and the elders, and the
number of them was ten thousand, time
433
00:40:52.559 --> 00:40:57.920
ten thousand, and thousands of thousands
sang with a loud voice. Worthy is
434
00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:01.599
the lamb who was slain to receive
power and riches and wisdom and strength and
435
00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:07.150
honor and glory and blessing, and
every creature which is in heaven and on
436
00:41:07.230 --> 00:41:09.309
the Earth and under the earth and
such as are in the sea and all
437
00:41:09.389 --> 00:41:14.630
that in we're in them. I
heard saying blessing and honor and glory and
438
00:41:14.750 --> 00:41:19.460
Power Be Unto Him who sits on
the throne into the lamb forever and ever.
439
00:41:20.179 --> 00:41:23.699
Then the for living creatures set Amen
and the twenty four elders fell down
440
00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:29.980
and worshiped him who lives forever and
ever. And when I saw that,
441
00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:32.369
the lamb opened one of the seals
and I heard one of the four living
442
00:41:32.449 --> 00:41:37.849
creatures saying, with a loud voice
like thunder, come and see, and
443
00:41:37.010 --> 00:41:42.849
I looked and behold a white horse, and so on, as we read
444
00:41:42.889 --> 00:41:50.880
earlier, and then in revelation nineteen
and beginning in the eleven first this is
445
00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:54.320
where we see the guy on the
white horse come back. In chapter six
446
00:41:54.480 --> 00:42:00.000
he goes forth conquering into conquer and
in Chapter Nineteen we read this now.
447
00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:05.269
I saw heaven opened and behold a
white horse, and he who sat on
448
00:42:05.309 --> 00:42:08.710
him was called faithful and true.
And in righteousness he judges, in makes
449
00:42:08.789 --> 00:42:13.349
war. His eyes were like a
flame of fire, and on his head
450
00:42:13.429 --> 00:42:16.579
were many crowns. He had a
name written that no one knew except himself.
451
00:42:17.300 --> 00:42:22.059
He was clothed with a robe drenched
in blood. In his name is
452
00:42:22.179 --> 00:42:25.579
called the word of God, and
the armies in heaven, clothed in fine
453
00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:30.889
linen, wide and clean, followed
him on white horses. Now out of
454
00:42:30.929 --> 00:42:34.690
his mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it he should strike the nation's
455
00:42:35.170 --> 00:42:38.489
and he himself will rule them with
a rod of iron. He himself treads
456
00:42:38.610 --> 00:42:44.250
the wine press of the fierceness and
Wrath of Almighty God, and he has
457
00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:49.599
on his robe and on his thigh
and name written king of kings and Lord
458
00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:52.960
of Lords. Then I saw an
angel standing in the sun and he cried
459
00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:57.079
with a loud voice, saying to
all the birds that fly in the midst
460
00:42:57.079 --> 00:43:00.389
of Heaven, come and gather together
for the supper of the Great God,
461
00:43:00.829 --> 00:43:04.909
that you may eat the flesh of
kings, the flesh of captains, the
462
00:43:04.989 --> 00:43:07.869
flesh of mighty men, the flesh
of horses and those who sit on them,
463
00:43:08.190 --> 00:43:12.590
and the flesh of all people,
free and slave, both small and
464
00:43:12.789 --> 00:43:15.820
great. And I saw the beast. The kings of the earth and their
465
00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:21.099
armies gathered together to make war against
him who sat on the horse and against
466
00:43:21.179 --> 00:43:25.139
his army. Then the beast was
captured and with him the false prophet who
467
00:43:25.139 --> 00:43:30.610
worked signs in his presence by which
he deceived those who received the mark of
468
00:43:30.690 --> 00:43:35.130
the beast and those who worshiped his
image. These two were cast alive into
469
00:43:35.170 --> 00:43:38.210
the lake of burning fire, burning
with brimstone, and the rest were killed
470
00:43:38.289 --> 00:43:42.719
with the sword which proceeded from the
mouth of Him who sat on the Horse,
471
00:43:43.159 --> 00:43:46.920
and all the birds were filled with
their flesh. Then I saw an
472
00:43:46.920 --> 00:43:52.800
angel coming down from heaven, having
the key to the bottomless pit and a
473
00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:57.150
great chain in his hand, and
he laid hold of the Dragon, that
474
00:43:57.429 --> 00:44:00.710
serpent of old, who is called
the devil and Satan, and bound him
475
00:44:00.789 --> 00:44:05.190
for a thousand years, and he
cast him into the bottomless pit and shut
476
00:44:05.230 --> 00:44:08.309
him up and set a seal on
him so that he should deceive the nation's
477
00:44:08.469 --> 00:44:14.300
no more till the thousand years were
finished. But after these things he must
478
00:44:14.300 --> 00:44:20.500
be released, least for a time. Now, quickly, remembering that an
479
00:44:20.579 --> 00:44:24.730
apocalyptic literature, you're not focusing on
the details, but on the big picture.
480
00:44:27.170 --> 00:44:30.849
What does it seem like? The
point is it might help you to
481
00:44:30.929 --> 00:44:36.090
know that a thousand years stands for
a vast span of time. It's the
482
00:44:36.210 --> 00:44:40.440
period from Christ's ascension to a second
coming, and the defeated army is everything
483
00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:45.840
that opposes God's people as they seek
to be faithful in their mission. It's
484
00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:51.800
kings and philosophers and mockers and persecutors, it's all the forces of the world,
485
00:44:51.920 --> 00:44:57.150
the flesh and the devil that Satan
uses to deter God's people from telling
486
00:44:57.190 --> 00:45:01.710
the World About The gospel of Jesus
Christ. And did you notice why?
487
00:45:01.909 --> 00:45:07.460
We're told Satan is bound and restrained? It's so he should deceive the nations
488
00:45:07.619 --> 00:45:14.380
no longer. It's so that the
nation's might hear and believe the good news
489
00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:17.860
that we have been sent to tell
them. So again, with that said,
490
00:45:20.579 --> 00:45:25.170
what's the big picture? What stands
out here? Might also help you
491
00:45:25.289 --> 00:45:30.570
to know that the scroll that the
lamb opens is the book in which he's
492
00:45:30.610 --> 00:45:35.960
written every detail of history, from
the beginning to the end. It's symbolizes
493
00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:42.079
Christ's power and authority over every single
detail of history and of all the facts
494
00:45:42.119 --> 00:45:45.320
of the universe. So, again, what stands out to you here?
495
00:45:47.079 --> 00:45:59.070
Who Wins? Who Rules? Who
is reigning? Now, Jesus, the
496
00:45:59.190 --> 00:46:02.269
king of kings and the Lord of
Lords, see like toto in the wizard
497
00:46:02.349 --> 00:46:07.460
of Oz, the littlest apostle,
John, pulls back the curtain to show
498
00:46:07.460 --> 00:46:13.820
us what's going on behind the scenes
in this fallen world in which we live.
499
00:46:14.579 --> 00:46:16.820
And when he pulls that curtain back
in the book of revelation, what
500
00:46:16.940 --> 00:46:22.369
do we see? What we see
is that that dragon, that terrifying serpent
501
00:46:22.449 --> 00:46:28.050
of old, who is the devil
and Satan, he is nothing he is
502
00:46:28.090 --> 00:46:32.039
a great fool who has no power
over the Church of Jesus Christ. He
503
00:46:32.119 --> 00:46:38.760
has bound with a chain like a
yard dog. He is nothing compared to
504
00:46:38.880 --> 00:46:44.280
our king, who has gone forth
conquering into conquer and is coming back soon
505
00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:47.989
with a robe drenched with the blood
of his enemies. And why is Satan
506
00:46:49.110 --> 00:46:55.230
nothing? Well, the two names
mentioned. They're literally the devil and Satan.
507
00:46:57.269 --> 00:47:00.699
It's the one who has cast out
and the accuser. That's what those
508
00:47:00.739 --> 00:47:08.500
two meet names mean. He has
been cast out, but we stand before
509
00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:14.539
our King's presence day and night and
in the face of all of his accusations.
510
00:47:14.699 --> 00:47:19.250
Were loves, your nose in your
sin, Paul cries out. He
511
00:47:19.409 --> 00:47:24.289
says, who shall bring a charge
against God's elect who is he who condemns?
512
00:47:24.329 --> 00:47:29.849
It is Christ who died and,
furthermore, is now risen, who
513
00:47:29.969 --> 00:47:32.559
is even at the right hand of
God, who makes intercession for us?
514
00:47:32.840 --> 00:47:40.320
Who Are you, Satan? I
have Jesus see, the point of revelation
515
00:47:40.760 --> 00:47:46.750
isn't speculation. It isn't given to
be fodder for our paranoia. It isn't
516
00:47:46.789 --> 00:47:52.510
there to make us afraid of conglomerates
or multinational organizations or the World Bank or
517
00:47:52.550 --> 00:47:58.860
whatever it's not given to us so
we can figure out exactly how Donald Trump
518
00:47:59.139 --> 00:48:02.820
or our Vladimir Putin is the Anti
Christ. That's not why it's given and
519
00:48:04.019 --> 00:48:07.860
it's certainly isn't there to tell us
to go hunker down because when the tribulation
520
00:48:08.139 --> 00:48:13.409
comes, we're all going to be
safely raptured away, because obviously God always
521
00:48:13.449 --> 00:48:16.849
pulls his people out of the fire. Wait, he doesn't do that.
522
00:48:19.889 --> 00:48:27.440
It tells us that tribulation is now. Satan is troubling us now, and
523
00:48:27.599 --> 00:48:31.079
he is doing so because he wants
us, wants to stop us from following
524
00:48:31.119 --> 00:48:37.960
our king as our king goes forth
conquering and to conquer subduing the hearts of
525
00:48:37.039 --> 00:48:43.630
the world through the beauty of the
message aged, the message of revelation is
526
00:48:43.750 --> 00:48:49.309
to encourage God's people for the work
of mission. It is to encourage us
527
00:48:49.349 --> 00:48:52.949
as we set out to share the
good news with other people, to the
528
00:48:52.989 --> 00:48:57.579
end that every nation, tribe,
tongue and people might hear about Jesus.
529
00:48:59.059 --> 00:49:06.659
The purpose of revelation is to prepare
you for mission by reminding you of the
530
00:49:06.820 --> 00:49:15.530
big picture, and that big picture
is the Christ is on His throne today
531
00:49:16.369 --> 00:49:21.969
and that Satan is no more a
threat to Christ church than the wizard of
532
00:49:22.090 --> 00:49:29.320
Oz and, as Paul says.
Yet in all these things we are more
533
00:49:29.480 --> 00:49:34.480
than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death
534
00:49:34.639 --> 00:49:38.150
nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present
535
00:49:38.349 --> 00:49:43.070
nor things to come, nor height
nor depth, nor any other created thing
536
00:49:43.590 --> 00:49:46.230
shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Christ.
537
00:49:46.349 --> 00:49:55.579
Jesus are listen. No matter what
you are facing, then you are
538
00:49:55.619 --> 00:50:02.699
already more than a conqueror through him
who loves you, and that is really
539
00:50:04.300 --> 00:50:07.610
good news. Amen, let's pray
