WEBVTT

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Welcome to The Deep Dive. Today, we're embarking

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on a really incredible journey. We're diving

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into one of the most, well, enigmatic, powerful

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texts ever written, The Book of Revelation. It's

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fascinated people, puzzled them, inspired them

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for centuries. The imagery is just so vivid,

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the prophecy so dramatic, feels ancient, but

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somehow still startlingly relevant. It really

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does. It stands apart. Our mission here really

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is to unpack parts of the revelation of Jesus

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Christ, the one given to John on Patmos. We're

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going to try and navigate through all that profound

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symbolism, the dramatic story, pull out some

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key insights, and sort of track its journey from

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that first vision to the, well, the ultimate

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conclusion. And it sets the scene immediately,

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doesn't it? And offers a promise right up front.

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John, he calls himself a brother and companion

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in tribulation, exiled for the word of God and

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for the testimony of Jesus Christ. And then he

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speaks directly to you, the listener, saying,

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that readeth and they that hear the words of

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this prophecy and keep those things which are

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written therein for the time is at hand it feels

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like an invitation to really engage with it exactly

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that urgency that direct blessing it's striking

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it's not just some dusty old prophecy it's presented

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as like a living word for now the themes just

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resonate don't they Okay, so let's unpack that

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opening vision. It kicks off with a really unforgettable

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encounter. John says he was in the Spirit on

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the Lord's Day and then bam, this great voices

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of a trumpet. And the voice says, I am Alpha

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and Omega, the first and the last. When you hear

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that Alpha and Omega first and last, What does

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that immediately signal? Well, it's absolute

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comprehensive divine authority right there. Yeah.

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Everything starts and finishes with the speaker.

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It totally sets the stage for the visions that

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follow, which are pretty overwhelming at times.

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Definitely. And this voice tells John, write

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what thou see is in a book and set it unto the

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seven churches, which are in Asia, and then lists

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them. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos. Baitira, Sardis,

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Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Right. And when John

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turns to see who's speaking, Wow, he sees seven

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golden candlesticks and right in the middle,

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one like unto the Son of Man, the description

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is just incredibly detailed. Here it is. Clothed

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with a garment down to the foot, a golden girdle

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or sash around his chest, hair white like wool

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as white as snow, eyes as a flame of fire, feet

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like unto fine brass as if they burned in a furnace,

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his voice as the sound of many waters. Powerful

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imagery. And there's more. In his right hand,

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seven stars. Out of his mouth, a sharp two -edged

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sword. And his face, as the sun shineth in his

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strength. I mean, what are these intense visuals

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communicating? It's just an overwhelming image,

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isn't it? It's designed to convey immense power,

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but also purity, divine judgment. Those fiery

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eyes suggest like penetrating insight, holiness,

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and the sword from the mouth. That's the power

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of his word, sharp, decisive. John's reaction

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totally makes sense. He falls. at his feet as

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dead. Understandable. But then there's that immediate

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reassurance. The figure touches him is fear not.

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I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth

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and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore.

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Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death.

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That's foundational. Triumph over death itself.

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Establishes the authority right away. And with

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that, John gets his mission, his mandate. Write

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the things which thou hast seen and the things

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which are and the things which shall be hereafter.

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And the symbolism gets explained right away too,

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doesn't it? Mm -hmm. The seven golden candlesticks

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or the seven churches and the seven stars are

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the angels of the seven churches. That clarification

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is so key, right? Because the next big section

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is these direct messages to those specific churches

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in Asia Minor. Absolutely crucial. These aren't

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generic letters. They're tailored. Yeah. Addressing

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at the unique spiritual state of each one. Commendations,

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critiques, calls to hang in there. And the lessons?

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Timeless. They really are. Let's look at a couple.

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Take Ephesus. They get praised for hard work,

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patience, not tolerating evil, even testing false

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apostles. Good stuff. They hated the deeds of

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the Nicoletans. But the critique is sharp. Nevertheless,

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I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast

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left thy first love. The warning, repent, or

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your candlestick, your very church, gets removed.

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The promise for overcomers, eating from the tree

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of life. What do you think that means? Leaving

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their first love, especially when they were doing

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so much right? Well, it's powerful and relatable

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critique, isn't it? Yeah. It suggests that, yeah,

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outwardly they were active, doctrinally sound,

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diligent against error, but maybe that internal

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passion, that, you know, foundational love for

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Christ, had cooled off. Oh. It's a warning against

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just going through the motions, religion without

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the heart. And those Nicolatons, they hated.

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Seems they were advocating some kind of dangerous

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compromise with pagan culture blurring the line.

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So Ephesus standing against that was important.

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Okay, that makes sense. Now let's jump to Leoduce.

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They get probably the harshest criticism. Neither

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cold nor hot. Lukewarm. And the text says, I

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would thou art cold or hot. Because they're lukewarm,

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they'll be spewed out of my mouth. Ouch. Yeah.

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Strong language. They thought they were rich

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and increased with goods and have need of nothing,

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but were actually wretched and miserable and

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poor and blind and naked. The advice is to buy

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real spiritual wealth. Gold tried in the fire,

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white raiment, eye salve. Right. And then that

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iconic image, behold, I stand at the door and

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knock. If any man hear my voice and open the

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door, I will come into him and will sup with

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him and he with me. The promise. Sitting with

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Christ in my throne. What's the core message

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in that lukewarm self -sufficient state? It's

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a critique of spiritual apathy, maybe even like

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spiritual delusion. Laodicea was materially wealthy,

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yeah, self -satisfied, but spiritually totally

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bankrupt. Right. That council to buy gold tried

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on the fire, that's true spiritual richness,

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forged through testing, not just stuff. Yeah.

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White raiment is righteousness, I salvage spiritual

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sight. And Christ at the door, It's an invitation

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to intimacy for a church that it basically shut

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him out through complacency. Wow. And the other

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churches get specific messages too, right? Smyrna

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praised for enduring hardship, promised a crown

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of life. Yeah, and warned about the synagogue

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of Satan. Then Pergamos, holding fast where Satan's

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seat is, but criticized for the doctrine of Balaam

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and Nicolotanes, promised hidden manna and a

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white stone. Fyatira, good works, but tolerating

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Jezebel and her immorality, promised power over

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the nations. Sardis, having a name that they

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live, but actually dead, pulled to wake up. Mm

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-hmm, promised walking in white if they did.

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And Flandelfia, commended for keeping his word

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with little strength, promised an open door and

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protection. It's a whole spectrum of church life,

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real. It really is. So after these messages,

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John's vision shifts again dramatically. He sees

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a door opened in heaven, and that same trumpet

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voice says, come up hither, and I will show thee

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things which must be hereafter. Yeah, this is

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where it goes cosmic, from earthly churches to

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the throne room of God itself. And the description.

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Just incredible. A throne, someone seated looking

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like Jasper in a sardine stone, an emerald rainbow

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around it, four and twenty elders in white with

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gold crowns from the throne. Lightning and thunderings

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and voices, seven lamps of fire, the seven spirits

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of K -God, and below this sea of glass like a

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crystal. It's meant to inspire awe, isn't it?

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Pure holiness and power. Absolutely. Pure majesty.

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But then come these unique creatures. Four beasts

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full of eyes before and behind. Yeah, strange.

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One like a lion, one like a calf, one with a

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face as a man, one like a flying eagle. Each

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has six wings covered in eyes inside and out.

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Wild imagery. And they never stop worshiping.

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Holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, which was

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and is and is to come day and night. What's the

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significance of these specific creatures in their

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constant praise? Well, their ceaseless worship

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just underscores God's absolute holiness, His

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eternal nature. They're like the vanguard of

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creation's praise, setting the stage. It's a

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moment of profound reverence before the main

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action starts. Okay. And then in the hand of

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the one on the throne, John sees a book written

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within and on the backside, sealed with seven

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seals. And a mighty angel asks the crucial question,

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who is worthy to open the book and to loose the

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seals thereof? And this is where it gets really

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dramatic, because nobody in heaven, on earth,

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anywhere is found worthy. And John just weeps.

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He weeps much. It's a moment of crisis. But an

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elder tells him, weep not. Behold, the lion of

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the tribe of Judah, the root of David, have prevailed

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to open the book. And John looks, expecting maybe

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a fierce lion, but sees. A lamb, as it had been

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slain, standing there, with seven horns and seven

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eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. That

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imagery is so central. The lamb, slain, yet powerful,

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all seeing. What does that dual image lion and

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lamb tell us about who's worthy? Well, it completely

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subverts expectations, doesn't it? The conqueror

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isn't a military hero in the usual sense, but

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a sacrificial lamb. Yet he holds ultimate authority,

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perfect insight. It shows victory, redemption,

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comes through sacrifice, not just brute force.

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And the lamb takes the book. Instantly, the four

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beasts, the 24 elders, they fall down, singing

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a new song about how the land was slain, redeemed

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people from everywhere by his blood, made them

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kings and priests who will reign on earth. And

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the worship just explodes. It's like 10 ,000

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times 10 ,000 and thousands of thousands of angels

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join in, shouting worthy as the lamb that was

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slain. to receive power and riches and wisdom

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and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

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Every creature in creation joins this massive

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chorus. It's a universal crescendo of praise.

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Truly cosmic. And then the lamp starts opening

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the seals one by one. Each reveals something

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new, right? Exactly. And the first four are famously

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known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

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Powerful symbols of judgment and suffering. Okay,

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first seal. White horse. Rider has a bow, given

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a crown, goes out conquering and to conquer.

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What's that usually taken to mean? Often interpreted

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as conquest, maybe the spread of a powerful force,

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possibly even deceptive, like a false peace or

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ideology. Okay, second seal. Red horse. Rider

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gets a great sword to take peace from the earth,

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causing people to kill one another. Pretty straightforward

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symbol there. War, bloodshed, widespread violence.

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Third seal. Black horse. Rider holds a pair of

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balances. A voice announces extreme scarcity.

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A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures

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of barley for a penny. And see thou hurt not

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the oil and the wine. Yeah, that vividly portrays

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famine, economic collapse. Yeah. Basic food becomes

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incredibly expensive. But luxuries like oil and

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wine are untouched, maybe highlighting inequality.

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Interesting. And the fourth seal, a pale horse.

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The writer's name is Death. and hell followed

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with him. They get power over a fourth part of

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the earth to kill the sword and with hunger and

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with death and with the beasts of the earth.

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So this one combines the previous judgments,

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war, famine, plague, even wild animals into widespread

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death and devastation. It shows this relentless

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progression of turmoil on earth. It's intense.

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So beyond the horsemen, what's next? The fifth

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seal. Yes, the fifth seal shifts perspective.

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John sees the souls of martyrs under the altar.

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those slain for the word of God crying out for

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justice for vengeance. What happens to them?

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They're given white robes and told to just rest

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yet for a little season until the full number

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of their fellow servants were also to be killed

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is complete. It's a moment of Divine acknowledgement

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for their suffering. Powerful. Okay, then the

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sixth seal. This sounds as things really ramp

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up. Oh massively. It's a huge cosmic upheaval.

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A great earthquake. The sun goes black. The moon

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turns blood red. Stars fall from the sky. As

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a fig tree cast at their untimely figs. The heavens

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roll up like a scroll. Every mountain and island

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gets moved. Wow. And everyone from kings to slaves

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hides in caves and rocks, terrified, crying out

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to the mountains, fallen us and hide us. from

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the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and

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from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day

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of his wrath has come, and who shall be able

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to stand?" So, total panic. Everyone realizes

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judgment has arrived? Yeah. But before the seventh

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seal, there's a pause, right? An interlude. Yes,

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a really vital one. John sees four angels holding

00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:20.639
back the four winds, delaying further destruction.

00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:23.299
Another angel appears, telling them not to harm

00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:25.879
anything until the servants of our God are sealed

00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:28.799
in their foreheads. Protection for God's people.

00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:31.419
And this is where we hear about the 144 ,000.

00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:36.019
Exactly. 144 ,000 are sealed. Specifically named

00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:38.299
as coming from all the tribes of the children

00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:42.080
of Israel, 12 ,000 from each tribe listed. They

00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.720
seem to be this specially protected group. But

00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:47.279
then immediately after seeing them, John sees

00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:51.159
something else, doesn't he? Yes. He sees a great

00:12:51.159 --> 00:12:54.519
multitude which no man could number. People of

00:12:54.519 --> 00:12:57.159
all nations and kindreds and people and tongues

00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:00.039
standing before the throne wearing white robes

00:13:00.039 --> 00:13:02.399
holding palms. A countless crowd from everywhere.

00:13:02.679 --> 00:13:04.779
And they're crying out salvation to our God.

00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:07.980
And Elder explains who they are. These are they

00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.740
which came out of great tribulation and have

00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:11.440
washed their robes and made them white in the

00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:13.259
blood of the Lamb. So they've come through intense

00:13:13.259 --> 00:13:15.740
suffering but are now redeemed. Exactly. They'll

00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:18.220
serve God day and night, hunger no more, thirst

00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:20.580
no more. The sun won't beat down on them and

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:23.279
best of all, God shall wipe away all tears from

00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:26.159
their eyes. It's this beautiful sweeping picture

00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:29.000
of global salvation and ultimate comfort. What

00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:31.580
a contrast. Okay, so after that hopeful interlude,

00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:34.259
the seventh seal is finally opened and what happens

00:13:34.259 --> 00:13:37.590
first? Silence. Silence in heaven about the space

00:13:37.590 --> 00:13:40.149
of half an hour. That's unsettling. A dramatic

00:13:40.149 --> 00:13:42.850
pause before the next storm. Precisely. Then,

00:13:43.330 --> 00:13:46.029
seven angels are given seven trumpets. Another

00:13:46.029 --> 00:13:48.710
angel comes with a golden sensor, mixes the prayers

00:13:48.710 --> 00:13:50.710
of the saints with incense and fire from the

00:13:50.710 --> 00:13:53.389
altar and casts it down to earth. The result?

00:13:54.389 --> 00:13:57.470
Voices and thunderings and lightnings in an earthquake.

00:13:58.350 --> 00:14:00.990
The trumpets are about to sound. And these trumpets

00:14:00.990 --> 00:14:04.279
unleash another series of judgments, right? Focus

00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:07.080
more on the natural world. Yes. The first four

00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:09.860
trumpets bring partial devastation, often affecting

00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.399
a third of something. So the first trumpet, hail,

00:14:12.659 --> 00:14:14.720
fire, blood hit the earth, burning up a third

00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:17.000
of the trees and all green grass. A third, okay,

00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:19.600
second trumpet. A great mountain burning with

00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:22.179
fire is thrown into the sea. A third of the sea

00:14:22.179 --> 00:14:24.580
becomes blood. A third of sea creatures die.

00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.860
A third of ships are destroyed. Third trumpet,

00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:29.779
a star called wormwood falls, poisoning a third

00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:32.100
of the rivers and springs, making the water bitter,

00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.720
killing many. Right. And the fourth trumpet.

00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:38.240
A third of the sun, moon, and stars are struck,

00:14:38.679 --> 00:14:41.639
darkened. So a third of the light is gone. These

00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:44.539
are serious ecological disasters, but still partial.

00:14:45.279 --> 00:14:48.279
Then comes a warning. Yeah. A big one. An angel

00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:50.340
flies through the middle of heaven, crying loudly,

00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.299
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, to the inhabitants of

00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:55.379
the earth by reason of the other voices of the

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:57.519
trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to

00:14:57.519 --> 00:14:59.960
sound. Okay, so buckle up. The woes are coming.

00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:02.480
Things are about to get worse. Definitely. The

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.259
fifth trumpet sounds the first woe. John sees

00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:07.940
a starfall, given the key of the bottomless pit.

00:15:08.120 --> 00:15:10.779
He opens it, smoke pours out, darkening the sun

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:14.179
in air, and out of the smoke come locusts. But

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:16.279
not normal locusts. Not at all. They're told

00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.100
not to harm the grass or trees, only people which

00:15:19.100 --> 00:15:21.200
have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.240
And crucially, they don't kill them, they torment

00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:26.220
them for five months. The pain is like a scorpion

00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:29.019
sting. People will want to die, but won't be

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:31.299
able to. That sounds horrific. And their appearance?

00:15:31.820 --> 00:15:34.620
Terrifying. Like horses geared for battle, gold

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:37.720
-like crowns, human faces, women's hair, lion's

00:15:37.720 --> 00:15:40.159
teeth, iron breastplates. Their wings sound like

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:42.600
charging chariots, and they have scorpion tails

00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:45.200
with stingers. And they have a king. Yes, the

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:47.440
angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew

00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:51.340
is Abaddon. In Greek, Apollyon. Both mean destroyer.

00:15:51.740 --> 00:15:55.500
And the text notes, one woe is past. Okay, deep

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:59.370
breath. Sixth trumpet the second well what happens

00:15:59.370 --> 00:16:02.889
now even greater destruction Four angels bound

00:16:02.889 --> 00:16:05.029
to the Euphrates River are released They were

00:16:05.029 --> 00:16:07.549
prepared specifically for this hour day month

00:16:07.549 --> 00:16:10.610
and year to kill a third part of men a third

00:16:10.610 --> 00:16:13.450
of humanity kill Yes, an immense army of horsemen

00:16:13.450 --> 00:16:16.590
appears 200 ,000 thousand 200 million they have

00:16:16.590 --> 00:16:20.070
breastplates of fire Jacinth, Leet Jem, and Brimstone,

00:16:20.330 --> 00:16:22.269
Sulphur. Their horses have lion's heads and out

00:16:22.269 --> 00:16:24.230
of their mouths come fire, smoke, and Brimstone,

00:16:24.610 --> 00:16:26.490
which kill that sort of mankind. Unbelievable

00:16:26.490 --> 00:16:28.950
scale of death. But what's maybe even more shocking

00:16:28.950 --> 00:16:31.149
is the reaction of the survivors, right? That's

00:16:31.149 --> 00:16:34.009
the chilling part. The text explicitly says...

00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:35.820
And the rest of the men which were not killed

00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:38.159
by these plagues, yet repented not of the works

00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:41.159
of their hands. They kept worshiping idols, didn't

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:43.580
repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries,

00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:45.720
nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:48.080
So even after plagues kill a third of the world,

00:16:48.379 --> 00:16:50.440
people still don't turn back. What does that

00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:52.899
say about repentance? It's a really sobering

00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:55.820
commentary on human stubbornness, isn't it? It

00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:57.740
suggests that even immense suffering might not

00:16:57.740 --> 00:17:00.120
be enough to change someone's heart if they don't

00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:03.100
genuinely want to turn from evil. True repentance.

00:17:03.629 --> 00:17:05.990
seems to be more than just being scared. Wow.

00:17:06.670 --> 00:17:08.869
Okay, after this there's another interlude with

00:17:08.869 --> 00:17:11.789
a mighty angel. Yes, a powerful figure descends.

00:17:12.390 --> 00:17:15.309
Clothed in a cloud, rainbow over his head, face

00:17:15.309 --> 00:17:18.150
like the sun, feet like pillars of fire. He holds

00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:20.329
a little book open. He cries out like a lion

00:17:20.329 --> 00:17:23.670
roaring and then seven thunders uttered their

00:17:23.670 --> 00:17:26.349
voices. Seven thunders. But John isn't allowed

00:17:26.349 --> 00:17:28.930
to write what they said. Exactly. He's explicitly

00:17:28.930 --> 00:17:31.650
told, seal up those things which the seven thunders

00:17:31.650 --> 00:17:35.029
uttered and write them not. A divine secret within

00:17:35.029 --> 00:17:38.150
the revelation. Fascinating. What else does this

00:17:38.150 --> 00:17:41.529
angel do? He lifts his hand to heaven and swears

00:17:41.529 --> 00:17:44.170
by the eternal Creator that there should be time

00:17:44.170 --> 00:17:47.710
no longer, meaning delay is over. But the mystery

00:17:47.710 --> 00:17:50.410
of God should be finished when the seventh angel

00:17:50.410 --> 00:17:52.609
is about to sound his trumpet. And then John

00:17:52.609 --> 00:17:54.910
has to eat the little book? Yeah, he's told to

00:17:54.910 --> 00:17:57.730
take it and eat it. He does and finds it in my

00:17:57.730 --> 00:18:00.410
mouth sweet as honey. And as soon as I had eaten

00:18:00.410 --> 00:18:03.710
it, my belly was bitter. And he's told, that

00:18:03.710 --> 00:18:05.809
one's prophesied again before many peoples in

00:18:05.809 --> 00:18:08.589
nations and tongues and kings. Sweet and better.

00:18:08.910 --> 00:18:11.150
What's the symbolism there? Receiving God's word.

00:18:11.430 --> 00:18:13.690
It perfectly captures that dual nature, I think.

00:18:14.349 --> 00:18:16.529
Receiving God's truth can be wonderful, sweet

00:18:16.529 --> 00:18:19.410
initially. But understanding and proclaiming

00:18:19.410 --> 00:18:22.410
its full implications, judgment, difficult realities,

00:18:23.009 --> 00:18:25.789
can be hard. Bitter to digest and share. That

00:18:25.789 --> 00:18:27.970
makes sense. And this leads into the story of

00:18:27.970 --> 00:18:30.369
the two witnesses. It does. John has given a

00:18:30.369 --> 00:18:32.410
measuring read, told to measure the temple and

00:18:32.410 --> 00:18:34.710
altar, but leave out the outer court because

00:18:34.710 --> 00:18:37.390
it's given to the Gentiles, who will tread the

00:18:37.390 --> 00:18:40.529
holy city underfoot 40 and two months. 42 months.

00:18:40.950 --> 00:18:43.670
That's 3 .5 years again. Exactly, a recurring

00:18:43.670 --> 00:18:46.750
timeframe. And during this period, God's two

00:18:46.750 --> 00:18:51.569
witnesses will prophesy for 1260 days, also 3

00:18:51.569 --> 00:18:55.150
.5 years dressed in sackcloth. They're described

00:18:55.150 --> 00:18:58.309
symbolically as the two olive trees and the two

00:18:58.309 --> 00:19:00.470
candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

00:19:00.710 --> 00:19:02.690
And they have incredible power, right? Immense

00:19:02.690 --> 00:19:05.210
power. Fire comes from their mouths to destroy

00:19:05.210 --> 00:19:07.769
enemies. They can stop the rain, turn water to

00:19:07.769 --> 00:19:09.490
blood, strike the earth with plagues whenever

00:19:09.490 --> 00:19:12.210
they want. They have a powerful, protected ministry.

00:19:12.430 --> 00:19:14.970
But it doesn't last forever. No. When they finish

00:19:14.970 --> 00:19:17.089
their testimony, the beast that ascended out

00:19:17.089 --> 00:19:18.950
of the bottomless pit, we'll hear more about

00:19:18.950 --> 00:19:21.210
them later, shall make war against them. and

00:19:21.210 --> 00:19:23.190
shall overcome them and kill them. And their

00:19:23.190 --> 00:19:25.390
bodies are left in the street. Yes, in the main

00:19:25.390 --> 00:19:27.309
street of the great city, which spiritually is

00:19:27.309 --> 00:19:29.490
called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was

00:19:29.490 --> 00:19:32.170
crucified, likely Jerusalem, symbolizing its

00:19:32.170 --> 00:19:34.750
fallen state at that time. People from all nations

00:19:34.750 --> 00:19:36.970
see their dead bodies for three and a half days

00:19:36.970 --> 00:19:39.609
and refuse to allow them burial. They actually

00:19:39.609 --> 00:19:42.230
rejoice, celebrate, send gifts to each other,

00:19:42.430 --> 00:19:44.589
because these two prophets who tormented them

00:19:44.589 --> 00:19:47.329
are dead. But the story doesn't end there. Not

00:19:47.329 --> 00:19:50.000
at all. After three and a half days, the spirit

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.539
of life from God entered into them, and they

00:19:52.539 --> 00:19:55.440
stand up. Great fear falls on everyone watching.

00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.779
Then they hear a voice from heaven saying, Come

00:19:57.779 --> 00:20:00.200
up hither, and they ascend to heaven in a cloud

00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:03.220
while their enemies watch. What a vindication,

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:06.380
and then? In that same hour, a mass of earthquake

00:20:06.380 --> 00:20:09.960
hits. A tenth of the city collapses, and 7 ,000

00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:12.359
people are killed. The text says the survivors

00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:15.160
were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:18.849
And it notes, The second woe is passed, and behold,

00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:21.470
the third woe cometh quickly." So that marks

00:20:21.470 --> 00:20:23.609
the end of the second woe. Then the seventh trumpet

00:20:23.609 --> 00:20:26.369
finally sounds. What does it signal? It signals

00:20:26.369 --> 00:20:29.549
the climax, the transition of authority. Great

00:20:29.549 --> 00:20:32.289
voices in heaven proclaim. The kingdoms of this

00:20:32.289 --> 00:20:34.430
world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and

00:20:34.430 --> 00:20:36.589
of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and

00:20:36.589 --> 00:20:39.029
ever. This feels like the turning point. It absolutely

00:20:39.029 --> 00:20:41.950
is. The 24 elders fall down and worship, thanking

00:20:41.950 --> 00:20:43.970
God for taking His great power and beginning

00:20:43.970 --> 00:20:46.849
His reign. The nations were angry, but now God's

00:20:46.849 --> 00:20:49.170
wrath has come. It's time for judgment, time

00:20:49.170 --> 00:20:52.470
to reward His servants, prophets, saints, those

00:20:52.470 --> 00:20:55.089
who fear His name, and to destroy those who destroy

00:20:55.089 --> 00:20:57.529
the earth. And something else happens in heaven.

00:20:57.900 --> 00:21:00.720
Yes, the temple of God was open in heaven, and

00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:03.539
inside John sees the ark of his testament, the

00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:06.200
ark of the covenant. This is accompanied by more

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:08.519
lightnings and voices and thunderings and an

00:21:08.519 --> 00:21:11.759
earthquake and great hail. Seeing the ark signifies

00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.960
God's covenant faithfulness and his presence

00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:17.079
ready for decisive action. wow okay the scene

00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.279
then shifts again doesn't it to a big cosmic

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:22.619
conflict yes a major symbolic vision unfolds

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:25.640
john sees a great wonder or sign in heaven a

00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:28.039
woman closed with the sun the moon under her

00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:31.339
feet and upon her head a crown of 12 stars she's

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.799
pregnant crying out in labor pains a celestial

00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:37.500
woman and then another wonder A great red dragon,

00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:41.000
huge with seven heads and ten horns and seven

00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:44.140
crowns on his heads. His tail sweeps a third

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:46.440
part of the stars of heaven and throws them to

00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:49.440
the earth. This dragon stands before the woman,

00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:52.119
waiting to devour her child as soon as it's born.

00:21:52.380 --> 00:21:55.160
The child who was to rule nations. Exactly. She

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.019
gives birth to a man child who was to rule all

00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:59.599
nations with a rod of iron. But the child is

00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:01.980
immediately caught up under God into his throne.

00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:05.230
Safe. The woman then flees into the wilderness

00:22:05.230 --> 00:22:07.329
where God has prepared a place for her to be

00:22:07.329 --> 00:22:10.869
nurtured for 12 ,260 days. And another 3 .5 years.

00:22:11.009 --> 00:22:13.289
So this sounds incredibly symbolic. Who are the

00:22:13.289 --> 00:22:15.930
woman, the child, and the dragon? Well, traditionally

00:22:15.930 --> 00:22:18.029
the woman is often seen as representing Israel,

00:22:18.430 --> 00:22:20.650
the community from which the Messiah came, and

00:22:20.650 --> 00:22:22.730
perhaps by extension the faithful people of God,

00:22:22.829 --> 00:22:25.230
the church, the man -child is clearly Christ,

00:22:25.710 --> 00:22:28.789
destined to rule, and the dragon, the text later

00:22:28.789 --> 00:22:30.970
explicitly identifies him. Later in the chapter

00:22:30.970 --> 00:22:33.500
it says there was war in heaven. Michael and

00:22:33.500 --> 00:22:35.339
his angels fought against the dragon and his

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:37.799
angels. The dragon lost and was thrown out of

00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:40.259
heaven. He's called that old serpent called the

00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:43.059
devil and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.759
He was cast out into the earth and his angels

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.140
were cast out with him. So the dragon is Satan.

00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:50.920
This is depicting his ancient rebellion and fall

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:53.839
and his ongoing opposition. Precisely. It's showing

00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.279
the spiritual battle behind everything. After

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:59.180
Satan is cast down, a loud voice in heaven celebrates.

00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:02.019
Salvation and strength in the kingdom of God

00:23:02.019 --> 00:23:04.640
have come, the authority of His Christ, because

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:07.440
the accuser of our brethren is thrown down. And

00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:09.640
how do people overcome Him? The voice says they

00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:11.619
overcame Him by the flood of the Lamb and by

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.759
the word of their testimony, and they loved not

00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:16.359
their lives unto the death. Faith in Christ's

00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:19.299
sacrifice, bold witness, and willingness to endure

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:22.299
anything, even death. But it's bad news for earth,

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:25.509
right? Yes. Woe to the inhabitors of the earth

00:23:25.509 --> 00:23:27.930
and of the sea, for the devil has come down unto

00:23:27.930 --> 00:23:30.450
you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that

00:23:30.450 --> 00:23:33.069
he hath but a short time. His time is limited,

00:23:33.170 --> 00:23:35.990
so his fury is intense. And he goes after the

00:23:35.990 --> 00:23:38.309
woman. He persecutes the woman who bore the child,

00:23:38.769 --> 00:23:41.750
but she's given two wings of a great eagle to

00:23:41.750 --> 00:23:44.250
fly to her place in the wilderness, safe from

00:23:44.250 --> 00:23:46.849
the serpent for that period, a time and times

00:23:46.849 --> 00:23:49.809
and half a time, 3 .5 years again. And he tries

00:23:49.809 --> 00:23:52.769
to get her anyway. He spews water like a flood

00:23:52.769 --> 00:23:55.170
out of his mouth after her, trying to sweep her

00:23:55.170 --> 00:23:58.210
away. But the earth helps the woman, opening

00:23:58.210 --> 00:24:01.109
its mouth and swallowing the flood. So nature

00:24:01.109 --> 00:24:03.930
itself intervenes. What does the dragon do then?

00:24:04.309 --> 00:24:06.650
He's furious. Since he can't get the woman, he

00:24:06.650 --> 00:24:08.450
goes off to make war with the remnant of her

00:24:08.450 --> 00:24:11.029
seed, which keep the commandments of God and

00:24:11.029 --> 00:24:13.970
have the testimony of Jesus Christ. He targets

00:24:13.970 --> 00:24:16.369
individual believers who remain faithful. This

00:24:16.369 --> 00:24:18.509
really sets the stage for the conflict on earth,

00:24:18.670 --> 00:24:20.890
and this leads to the appearance of the beasts.

00:24:21.170 --> 00:24:23.730
Exactly. John is standing on the seashore, and

00:24:23.730 --> 00:24:26.529
he sees a beast rising up out of the sea. This

00:24:26.529 --> 00:24:29.289
one has seven heads and ten horns, ten crowns

00:24:29.289 --> 00:24:32.309
on its horns, and upon his heads the name of

00:24:32.309 --> 00:24:34.710
blasphemy. What does it look like? It's a composite

00:24:34.710 --> 00:24:37.430
creature, like a leopard, feet like a bear, mouth

00:24:37.430 --> 00:24:40.630
like a lion. And the dragon Satan gives this

00:24:40.630 --> 00:24:44.069
beast his power, his throne, and great authority.

00:24:44.230 --> 00:24:46.349
So it's empowered by Satan. What else is significant

00:24:46.349 --> 00:24:48.690
about it? One of its heads looked like it had

00:24:48.690 --> 00:24:51.430
been wounded to death, but his deadly wound was

00:24:51.430 --> 00:24:54.690
healed. And this causes all the world wondered

00:24:54.690 --> 00:24:57.490
after the beast. They're amazed. It's a miraculous

00:24:57.490 --> 00:24:59.990
recovery. What does this beast likely represent?

00:25:00.150 --> 00:25:02.529
It's often interpreted as representing a powerful,

00:25:02.789 --> 00:25:05.269
world -dominating political system or empire.

00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:08.940
maybe a specific ruler embodying that system,

00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:12.299
the Antichrist figure. It demands worship, wields

00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:14.880
immense power derived directly from Satan. The

00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:17.180
healed wound makes it seem invincible, promoting

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:19.579
awe and worship. And people do worship it. Yes,

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.299
they worship the dragon for giving power to the

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:23.160
beast, and they worship the beast itself, saying,

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:26.000
who is like unto the beast? Who is able to make

00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:28.339
war with him? It seems unbeatable. How long does

00:25:28.339 --> 00:25:30.779
its reign last? It's given authority to continue

00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:34.420
for 40 and two months. There's that 3 .5 years

00:25:34.420 --> 00:25:37.609
again. It speaks great things and blasphemies

00:25:37.609 --> 00:25:40.450
against God, His name, His dwelling place, and

00:25:40.450 --> 00:25:43.609
those in heaven. It's allowed to make war with

00:25:43.609 --> 00:25:46.529
the saints and overcome them. Its power extends

00:25:46.529 --> 00:25:49.750
over all kindreds and tongues and nations. So,

00:25:49.849 --> 00:25:53.130
total global dominance, who worships it? All

00:25:53.130 --> 00:25:55.130
that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him.

00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:57.119
whose names are not written in the Book of Life

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:59.099
of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the

00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:02.259
world. Only true believers resist. Okay, that's

00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:04.140
the beast from the sea. But there's another one.

00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:06.279
Yes, John C. is another beast, this one coming

00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:08.460
up out of the earth. It has two horns like a

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:11.259
lamb, but it speaks as a dragon. Like a lamb

00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:14.309
speaks like a dragon, deceptive. This second

00:26:14.309 --> 00:26:16.250
beast exercises all the authority of the first

00:26:16.250 --> 00:26:19.089
beast acting on its behalf Its main job is to

00:26:19.089 --> 00:26:21.170
make the inhabitants of the earth worship the

00:26:21.170 --> 00:26:23.569
first beast the one with the healed wound How

00:26:23.569 --> 00:26:26.029
does it do that? It performs great wonders spectacular

00:26:26.029 --> 00:26:28.710
signs even making fire come down from heaven

00:26:28.710 --> 00:26:31.130
on the earth and the sight of men It deceives

00:26:31.130 --> 00:26:33.480
people through these miracles A miracle worker

00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.779
for the dark side. Exactly. And it tells people

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:38.700
to make an image to the first beast. It's even

00:26:38.700 --> 00:26:41.460
given power to give life or breath to this image,

00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:43.880
so the image can speak in command that anyone

00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:46.200
who refuses to worship it should be killed. Wow.

00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:48.839
An animated idol demanding worship. And this

00:26:48.839 --> 00:26:51.000
is where the mark comes in. This is it. This

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:53.460
second beast often called the false prophet because

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:56.720
he mimics divine power for deceptive ends Causes

00:26:56.720 --> 00:27:00.380
everyone small and great rich and poor free and

00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:03.259
bond to receive a mark in their right hand or

00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:05.720
in their foreheads and the purpose of the pure

00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:09.259
control That no man might buy or sell save he

00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:11.140
that had the mark or the name of the beast or

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:14.099
the number of his name It's total economic and

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:16.440
social exclusion for anyone who refuses and the

00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:20.559
number 6006. Yes. The text says, here is wisdom.

00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:23.440
Let him that have understanding count the number

00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:26.460
of the beast, for it is the number of a man and

00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:30.799
his number is 603 score and six. What's the core

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:33.400
idea behind this mark and number beyond just

00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:36.220
identification? It represents absolute allegiance,

00:27:36.640 --> 00:27:39.619
total submission to this anti -God system. Taking

00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:41.519
the hark means identifying completely with the

00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:44.259
beast, participating in its economy and its ideology.

00:27:45.220 --> 00:27:48.579
The number 666. being the number of a man, is

00:27:48.579 --> 00:27:51.079
often seen as symbolizing ultimate human rebellion

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:53.759
and imperfection, falling short of divine perfection,

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:56.619
often symbolized by seven. It's the signature

00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:59.279
of the system that opposes Christ. Chilling stuff.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:02.460
Okay, so we've seen the depths of evil. Does

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:05.359
the vision offer a contrast? Immediately. Right

00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:08.319
after the beasts, John sees the Lamb Christ standing

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:10.859
on Mount Sin, and with him are the hundred forty

00:28:10.859 --> 00:28:13.319
and four thousand, the one sealed earlier. But

00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:15.440
now they have his father's name written in their

00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:18.450
foreheads. Not the beast's mark, but God's name.

00:28:18.650 --> 00:28:21.250
Exactly. They sing a new song before the throne

00:28:21.250 --> 00:28:23.349
that only they can learn. They're described as

00:28:23.349 --> 00:28:26.329
redeemed, virgins symbolizing purity or undivided

00:28:26.329 --> 00:28:28.569
devotion, following the lamb wherever he goes,

00:28:28.970 --> 00:28:31.190
offered as first fruits unto God and to the lamb.

00:28:31.710 --> 00:28:33.690
They are without fault before the throne of God.

00:28:34.210 --> 00:28:35.930
It's this beautiful picture of faithfulness,

00:28:36.029 --> 00:28:37.809
purity, and divine protection amidst all the

00:28:37.809 --> 00:28:41.549
chaos. A powerful counter image. Then come more

00:28:41.549 --> 00:28:45.069
messages from angels. Final warnings. Yes. A

00:28:45.069 --> 00:28:47.950
series of three angels fly mid -heaven with critical

00:28:47.950 --> 00:28:51.190
proclamations. The first angel has the everlasting

00:28:51.190 --> 00:28:54.230
gospel to preach to everyone on earth, every

00:28:54.230 --> 00:28:57.349
nation and kindred and tongue and people. What's

00:28:57.349 --> 00:29:00.450
the message? A loud call. Fear God and give glory

00:29:00.450 --> 00:29:02.569
to him for the hour of his judgment has come,

00:29:02.970 --> 00:29:05.269
and worship him that made heaven and earth and

00:29:05.269 --> 00:29:08.369
the sea and the fountains of waters. It's a final

00:29:08.369 --> 00:29:11.130
universal appeal to turn to the Creator before

00:29:11.130 --> 00:29:14.029
judgment falls. Okay, the second angel. Fall

00:29:14.029 --> 00:29:16.470
is immediately shouting, Babylon is fallen, is

00:29:16.470 --> 00:29:18.690
fallen, that great city because she made all

00:29:18.690 --> 00:29:20.769
nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her

00:29:20.769 --> 00:29:23.359
fornication. It announces the downfall of the

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.400
corrupt world system. I'm the third angel. This

00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:28.160
one sounds serious. Extremely. This angel delivers

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:30.960
a terrifying warning. Anyone who worshipped the

00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:33.440
beast in his image and received his mark in his

00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:36.480
forehead or in his hand will face God's undiluted

00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:39.119
wrath. They shall drink of the wine of the wrath

00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:41.539
of God which is poured out without mixture into

00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:43.700
the cup of his indignation. And the consequences.

00:29:44.400 --> 00:29:46.799
They shall be tormented with fire and brimstone

00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:49.599
in the presence of the holy angels and in the

00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:52.059
presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their

00:29:52.059 --> 00:29:54.579
torment ascendeth up forever and ever, and they

00:29:54.579 --> 00:29:57.339
have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast

00:29:57.339 --> 00:30:00.079
and his image, and whosoever receiveeth the mark

00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:03.099
of his name. It's an incredibly stark warning

00:30:03.099 --> 00:30:05.559
about the eternal consequences of aligning with

00:30:05.559 --> 00:30:08.000
evil. And this relates to the perseverance of

00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:10.759
believers. Yes, the text immediately adds, here

00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:13.160
is the patience of the saints. Here are they

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:15.140
that keep the commandments of God and the faith

00:30:15.140 --> 00:30:17.859
of Jesus. Their endurance through this pressure

00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:20.400
is highlighted. And then comes a comforting voice

00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:23.000
from heaven. Right, blessed are the dead, which

00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:25.380
die in the Lord from henceforth. Their struggles

00:30:25.380 --> 00:30:28.400
are over. Okay. After these warnings, the imagery

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.859
shifts to harvest. Yes, two harvest visions.

00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:33.640
First, John sees one likened to the Son of Man

00:30:33.640 --> 00:30:36.339
sitting on a white cloud, wearing a golden crown,

00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:39.259
holding a sharp sickle. An angel tells him, Thrust

00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:41.420
in my sickle and reap. For the time has come

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:43.200
for thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:46.029
is ripe. And he swings the sickle. and the earth

00:30:46.029 --> 00:30:48.130
is reaped. This seems to represent the gathering

00:30:48.130 --> 00:30:50.549
of the righteous. And the second harvest. Another

00:30:50.549 --> 00:30:52.589
angel comes from the temple, also with a sharp

00:30:52.589 --> 00:30:55.990
sickle. A different angel, who has power over

00:30:55.990 --> 00:30:58.569
fire, tells him to gather the clusters of the

00:30:58.569 --> 00:31:01.089
vine of the earth for her grapes are fully ripe.

00:31:01.910 --> 00:31:04.349
So this angel gathers the grapes and throws them

00:31:04.349 --> 00:31:07.190
into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

00:31:07.589 --> 00:31:09.789
The winepress of God's wrath. What happens there?

00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:12.299
The wine press is trodden without the city and

00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:14.539
blood flows out reaching even under the horse

00:31:14.539 --> 00:31:18.420
bridles for a distance of 1 ,600 furlongs, about

00:31:18.420 --> 00:31:21.500
180 miles. It's an absolutely gruesome image

00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.480
of judgment on the wicked. That's incredibly

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:26.619
graphic. This leads then to the final plagues.

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:30.019
Yes, the seven last plagues contained in seven

00:31:30.019 --> 00:31:33.039
golden vials or bowls carried by seven angels.

00:31:33.579 --> 00:31:35.880
These plagues represent the completion. the filling

00:31:35.880 --> 00:31:38.460
up of God's wrath. Before they're poured out,

00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:40.759
John sees those who had gotten victory over the

00:31:40.759 --> 00:31:43.359
beast, his image, his mark, and number, standing

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:45.700
on a sea of glass mingled with fire, holding

00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:48.160
harps, singing the song of Moses and the song

00:31:48.160 --> 00:31:50.279
of the Lamb, a song of deliverance and praise.

00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:52.480
A moment of victory before the final judgments

00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:55.259
and the temple. The temple in heaven is filled

00:31:55.259 --> 00:31:57.839
with smoke from the glory of God and his power,

00:31:58.140 --> 00:32:00.839
and significantly, no man was able to enter into

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:03.119
the temple till the seven plagues of the seven

00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.910
angels were fulfilled. It emphasizes the unique,

00:32:06.470 --> 00:32:09.329
direct, and intense nature of these final judgments.

00:32:09.710 --> 00:32:11.690
Okay, let's walk through the vials quickly. What

00:32:11.690 --> 00:32:14.509
does each one bring? Right. The first vial is

00:32:14.509 --> 00:32:17.250
poured on the earth. Noisome and grievous sore

00:32:17.250 --> 00:32:19.710
afflicts those who have the mark of the beast

00:32:19.710 --> 00:32:22.789
and worship his image. Painful sores. Second

00:32:22.789 --> 00:32:25.630
vial. Cored on the sea. It becomes as the blood

00:32:25.630 --> 00:32:28.049
of a dead man and every living soul died in the

00:32:28.049 --> 00:32:31.359
sea. Total marine devastation. Third vial. poured

00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.799
on rivers and fountains. They become blood. An

00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:36.000
angel declares God is righteous in these judgments,

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:38.359
because the wicked shed the blood of saints and

00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:41.319
prophets, so they are given blood to drink. Poetic

00:32:41.319 --> 00:32:44.200
justice. Fourth vile. Poured on the sun. The

00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:47.200
sun is given power to scorch men with fire. People

00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.619
are seared by the intense heat, but instead of

00:32:49.619 --> 00:32:52.799
repenting, they blaspheme the name of God, which

00:32:52.799 --> 00:32:55.220
hath power over these plagues, and they repented

00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:58.400
not to give Him glory. Still no repentance. Fifth

00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:00.839
vile. Poured on the seat or thrown to the beast,

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:03.779
his kingdom is plunged into darkness. People

00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:05.839
gnaw their tongues because of the pain and sores,

00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:09.079
but they still blaspheme God and repented not

00:33:09.079 --> 00:33:11.519
of their deeds. Incredible hardness of heart.

00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:15.119
Sixth file. Poured on the Great River Euphrates,

00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:18.480
its water dries up that the way of the kings

00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:21.660
of the east might be prepared. Then John sees

00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:24.720
three unclean spirits like frogs come out of

00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:26.539
the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the

00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:28.819
false prophet. Frogs, what do they do? They are

00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:31.480
spirits of devils working miracles, which go

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:33.279
out to the kings of the earth and to the whole

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.799
world to gather them to the battle of that great

00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:38.619
day of God Almighty. This gathering place is

00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:41.099
called in Hebrew, Armageddon. Armageddon, the

00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:43.299
final battle setup. Okay, seventh vial, the last

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:45.440
one. Poured into the air. A loud voice comes

00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:48.119
from the temple throne saying, it is done. the

00:33:48.119 --> 00:33:50.000
absolute end of this judgment secret. And the

00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:52.859
effects. Voices, thunders, lightnings, and the

00:33:52.859 --> 00:33:55.740
biggest earthquake in human history. The great

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:58.539
city, likely referring to Babylon or perhaps

00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:00.619
Jerusalem as representative of the world system,

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:03.559
is split into three parts. Cities of the nations

00:34:03.559 --> 00:34:06.700
fall. Great Babylon comes into remembrance before

00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:09.960
God to receive the cup of the wine of the fierceness

00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:12.659
of his wrath. Total destruction. Islands vanish,

00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:15.579
mountains disappear. In enormous hailstones,

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:19.050
weighing about a talent, maybe 7500 pounds each,

00:34:19.469 --> 00:34:22.329
fall from the sky. And still, men blasphemed

00:34:22.329 --> 00:34:24.849
God because of the plague of the hail, for the

00:34:24.849 --> 00:34:27.610
plague thereof was exceeding great. Unbelievable.

00:34:27.949 --> 00:34:30.449
Even giant hail doesn't make them repent. This

00:34:30.449 --> 00:34:32.550
leads directly to the judgment of Babylon. Yes.

00:34:33.190 --> 00:34:35.269
One of the vile angels takes John to show him

00:34:35.269 --> 00:34:37.349
the judgment of the great whore that siteth upon

00:34:37.349 --> 00:34:39.929
many waters. She represents the corrupt world

00:34:39.929 --> 00:34:42.570
system influencing peoples and multitudes and

00:34:42.570 --> 00:34:45.710
nations and tongues. How is she described? Opulently.

00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:50.119
dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold

00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:53.739
and precious stones and pearls. She holds a golden

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:56.739
cup full of abominations and filthiness of her

00:34:56.739 --> 00:35:00.159
fornication. On her forehead, a name is written.

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:04.300
Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots

00:35:04.300 --> 00:35:06.739
and abominations of the earth. A symbol of ultimate

00:35:06.739 --> 00:35:11.179
corruption and her actions. John sees her drunken

00:35:11.179 --> 00:35:13.400
with the blood of the saints and with the blood

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:16.500
of the martyrs of Jesus. She represents the system

00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:18.719
that has persecuted God's people throughout history.

00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:21.079
And the angel explains the mystery. Yeah, the

00:35:21.079 --> 00:35:22.920
mystery of the woman and the beast carrying her,

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.920
the one that was and is not, and shall ascend

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:27.440
out of the bottomless pit. The seven heads are

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:29.300
explained as both seven mountains on which she

00:35:29.300 --> 00:35:32.519
sits and seven kings. The ten horns are ten kings

00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:34.519
who receive power for a short time with the beast.

00:35:35.099 --> 00:35:37.199
Interestingly, these ten horns, along with the

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:39.760
beast, will eventually hate the whore, and shall

00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:41.719
make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her

00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:44.369
flesh and burn her with fire. So the powers that

00:35:44.369 --> 00:35:46.949
support her ultimately destroy her. Seems so.

00:35:47.610 --> 00:35:49.929
God puts it in their hearts to fulfill his will,

00:35:50.550 --> 00:35:53.050
and she's identified explicitly as that great

00:35:53.050 --> 00:35:55.329
city which reigneth over the kings of the earth,

00:35:55.889 --> 00:35:58.469
a dominant, corrupting global influence. And

00:35:58.469 --> 00:36:01.130
her fall is announced. Dramatically. Another

00:36:01.130 --> 00:36:03.610
mighty angel descends, illuminating the earth

00:36:03.610 --> 00:36:06.050
with his glory, crying, Babylon the great is

00:36:06.050 --> 00:36:08.949
fallen, is fallen, and has become the habitation

00:36:08.949 --> 00:36:11.719
of devils. Her influence corrupted everyone,

00:36:11.920 --> 00:36:14.019
nations, kings, merchants. And there's a call

00:36:14.019 --> 00:36:16.500
for God's people. Yes, a voice from heaven calls,

00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:19.039
come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers

00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:21.679
of her sins and that you receive not of her plagues.

00:36:22.300 --> 00:36:24.360
A call for separation from the world's corruption.

00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:26.960
Her destruction is sudden. Incredibly swift and

00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:30.159
complete, judgment comes in one day, death, mourning,

00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:33.449
salmon, and she's utterly burned with fire. Kings

00:36:33.449 --> 00:36:35.550
and merchants who benefited from her weep and

00:36:35.550 --> 00:36:38.070
wail from a distance. Lamenting the loss of her

00:36:38.070 --> 00:36:40.530
immense wealth and luxury. The text lists everything

00:36:40.530 --> 00:36:43.050
from gold and silver to spices, fine chariots,

00:36:43.130 --> 00:36:46.469
slaves, and even souls of men. All gone in one

00:36:46.469 --> 00:36:49.289
hour. Total economic and cultural collapse. What

00:36:49.289 --> 00:36:51.869
happens to her symbols of life? They cease completely.

00:36:52.469 --> 00:36:55.150
No more music, no craftsmen, no light from a

00:36:55.150 --> 00:36:57.610
candle, no voice of bridegroom or bride will

00:36:57.610 --> 00:37:00.130
ever be heard in her again. Complete desolation.

00:37:00.289 --> 00:37:02.610
What a contrast what happens in heaven. Exactly.

00:37:03.070 --> 00:37:05.989
While earth mourns, heaven rejoices. A great

00:37:05.989 --> 00:37:08.269
voice of mush people in heaven cries, Alleluia,

00:37:08.550 --> 00:37:10.889
salvation and glory and honor and power unto

00:37:10.889 --> 00:37:13.309
the Lord our God, for true and righteous are

00:37:13.309 --> 00:37:16.050
his judgments. For he has judged the great whore.

00:37:16.349 --> 00:37:18.710
They celebrate because God has avenged the blood

00:37:18.710 --> 00:37:20.570
of His servants. And then comes the marriage

00:37:20.570 --> 00:37:33.239
supper. Yes. The voice proclaims, The wife is

00:37:33.239 --> 00:37:36.500
the church, the believers. Yes, a raid in fine

00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:39.000
linen, clean and white, which is explicitly defined

00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:41.860
as the righteousness of saints. It's the moment

00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:44.159
of ultimate union and celebration between Christ

00:37:44.159 --> 00:37:46.380
and His redeemed people. And the angel tells

00:37:46.380 --> 00:37:49.219
John, right, blessed are they which are called

00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:51.400
into the marriage supper of the Lamb. A joyous

00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:53.900
culmination. What happens next? Heaven opens

00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:57.000
again. It does. And John sees a white horse.

00:37:58.079 --> 00:38:00.550
This writer is called Faithful and True. and

00:38:00.550 --> 00:38:02.730
in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

00:38:03.050 --> 00:38:05.989
This sounds like Christ returning in power. Unmistakably,

00:38:06.489 --> 00:38:08.869
his eyes are as a flame of fire. On his head

00:38:08.869 --> 00:38:11.429
are many crowns. He has a name written that no

00:38:11.429 --> 00:38:14.429
one knows but himself. His clothes and a robe

00:38:14.429 --> 00:38:17.329
dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word

00:38:17.329 --> 00:38:20.909
of God. The Word of God, John 1. Exactly. The

00:38:20.909 --> 00:38:23.650
armies of heaven follow him on white horses out

00:38:23.650 --> 00:38:26.170
of his mouth goes a sharp sword that with it

00:38:26.170 --> 00:38:28.769
He should smite the nations and he shall rule

00:38:28.769 --> 00:38:31.610
them with a rod of iron He treads the wine press

00:38:31.610 --> 00:38:33.969
of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God and

00:38:33.969 --> 00:38:36.650
his ultimate title written on his robe and thigh

00:38:36.920 --> 00:38:39.860
King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the

00:38:39.860 --> 00:38:42.360
conquering Christ returning to execute judgment

00:38:42.360 --> 00:38:44.460
and establishes kingdom. So the final battle

00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:47.400
happens now? Yes. An angel standing in the sun

00:38:47.400 --> 00:38:49.320
calls all the birds of the air to gather for

00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:51.500
the supper of the great God, to feast on the

00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:53.480
flesh of the defeated armies, kings, captains,

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:55.940
mighty men, horses and riders, all people. Grim

00:38:55.940 --> 00:38:58.500
invitation. John then sees the beasts, the kings

00:38:58.500 --> 00:39:00.860
of the earth, and their armies gathered together

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:03.340
to make war against the rider on the white horse

00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:07.739
in his army. How does it end? Swiftly. The beast

00:39:07.739 --> 00:39:10.400
was taken, and with him the false prophet that

00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:12.780
wrought miracles before him, the one who deceived

00:39:12.780 --> 00:39:15.780
people into taking the mark. These two are cast

00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:18.460
alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:21.260
Alive into the lake of fire, and the rest of

00:39:21.260 --> 00:39:23.420
the armies. They were slain with the sword of

00:39:23.420 --> 00:39:26.099
him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded

00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:28.500
out of his mouth, utter defeat for the forces

00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:30.699
of evil, and all the birds were filled with their

00:39:30.699 --> 00:39:33.079
flesh. So the human antagonists are dealt with.

00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:35.579
What about the dragon, Satan? His turn comes

00:39:35.579 --> 00:39:38.639
next. An angel descends from heaven with the

00:39:38.639 --> 00:39:40.659
key of the bottomless pit and great chain in

00:39:40.659 --> 00:39:43.519
his hand. He seizes the dragon, that old serpent,

00:39:43.780 --> 00:39:46.619
which is the devil and Satan, binds him for a

00:39:46.619 --> 00:39:49.480
thousand years and casts him into the bottomless

00:39:49.480 --> 00:39:52.400
pit. He shuts it and seals it over him. That

00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:55.320
he should deceive the nations no more, till the

00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:57.960
thousand years should be fulfilled. And after

00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:01.059
that he must be loosed a little season. So a

00:40:01.059 --> 00:40:03.900
thousand year period of peace without satanic

00:40:03.900 --> 00:40:06.539
deception. And what happens during this millennium?

00:40:06.920 --> 00:40:09.539
John sees thrones and judgment is given to those

00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:13.239
seated on them. He sees the souls of those beheaded

00:40:13.239 --> 00:40:15.119
for the witness of Jesus and for the word of

00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:17.719
God, those who refuse to worship the beast or

00:40:17.719 --> 00:40:20.480
receive his mark. They lived and reigned with

00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:23.800
Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.

00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:26.739
Yes, the text explicitly calls it that. Blessed

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:29.159
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.

00:40:29.809 --> 00:40:33.110
On such the second, death hath no power, but

00:40:33.110 --> 00:40:35.329
they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and

00:40:35.329 --> 00:40:37.769
shall reign with him a thousand years. The rest

00:40:37.769 --> 00:40:39.590
of the dead don't live again until a thousand

00:40:39.590 --> 00:40:41.590
years are finished. Okay, so a thousand year

00:40:41.590 --> 00:40:44.809
reign, but Satan gets out at the end for a little

00:40:44.809 --> 00:40:47.389
season? Yes. When the thousand years are over,

00:40:47.730 --> 00:40:49.409
Satan is released from his prison and goes out

00:40:49.409 --> 00:40:51.429
to deceive the nations which were in the four

00:40:51.429 --> 00:40:54.090
quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather

00:40:54.090 --> 00:40:56.590
them together to battle, the number of whom is

00:40:56.590 --> 00:40:59.840
as the sand of the sea. One last rebellion. One

00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:02.900
final massive rebellion. They surround the camp

00:41:02.900 --> 00:41:05.659
of the saints about in the beloved city. But

00:41:05.659 --> 00:41:08.340
the battle is short -lived. Fire came down from

00:41:08.340 --> 00:41:11.719
God out of heaven and devoured them. And Satan's

00:41:11.719 --> 00:41:13.920
final fate. And the devil that deceived them

00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:16.679
was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone

00:41:16.679 --> 00:41:19.340
where the beast and the false prophet are and

00:41:19.340 --> 00:41:22.139
shall be tormented day and night forever and

00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:26.159
ever. The absolute final eternal end of evil.

00:41:26.429 --> 00:41:29.449
With Satan dealt with what's the very last judgment

00:41:29.449 --> 00:41:32.590
scene? The Great White Throne Judgment. John

00:41:32.590 --> 00:41:35.070
sees a great white throne and him that sat on

00:41:35.070 --> 00:41:36.989
it, from whose face the earth and the heaven

00:41:36.989 --> 00:41:39.489
fled away, and there was found no place for them.

00:41:39.909 --> 00:41:42.750
A scene of ultimate divine authority? Who stands

00:41:42.750 --> 00:41:45.150
before the throne? The dead, small and great.

00:41:45.610 --> 00:41:47.530
Everyone who has ever lived and died, it seems,

00:41:47.670 --> 00:41:49.469
apart from those in the first resurrection, perhaps.

00:41:50.030 --> 00:41:52.030
And the books were opened, and another book was

00:41:52.030 --> 00:41:53.730
opened, which is the Book of Life. Judge from

00:41:53.730 --> 00:41:56.739
books? Yes. The dead were judged out of those

00:41:56.739 --> 00:41:59.079
things which were written in the books, according

00:41:59.079 --> 00:42:02.699
to their works. The sea gives up its dead, death

00:42:02.699 --> 00:42:05.840
and Hades, hell. Give up their dead and everyone

00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:08.300
is judged based on their actions. And the fate

00:42:08.300 --> 00:42:10.659
of death and Hades? They themselves are cast

00:42:10.659 --> 00:42:13.000
into the lake of fire. This is the second death,

00:42:13.460 --> 00:42:15.460
the end of death itself. And for individuals?

00:42:15.900 --> 00:42:18.079
And whosoever was not found written in the book

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:21.630
of life was cast into the lake of fire. Entry

00:42:21.630 --> 00:42:23.769
into eternal life is based on being recorded

00:42:23.769 --> 00:42:26.389
in the Lamb's book of life. The final separation.

00:42:26.909 --> 00:42:29.889
With all judgment done, evil gone. What's next?

00:42:30.170 --> 00:42:32.929
The ultimate renewal. John sees a new heaven

00:42:32.929 --> 00:42:35.289
and a new earth. For the first heaven and the

00:42:35.289 --> 00:42:37.489
first earth were passed away, and there was no

00:42:37.489 --> 00:42:39.630
more sea. A completely new creation. And the

00:42:39.630 --> 00:42:42.409
climax of this new creation. John sees the holy

00:42:42.409 --> 00:42:44.829
city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out

00:42:44.829 --> 00:42:47.230
of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her

00:42:47.230 --> 00:42:50.309
husband. The New Jerusalem, like a bride. and

00:42:50.309 --> 00:42:53.550
a loud voice from heaven proclaims behold the

00:42:53.550 --> 00:42:55.550
tabernacle dwelling place of God is with men

00:42:55.550 --> 00:42:57.969
and he will dwell with them and they shall be

00:42:57.969 --> 00:43:00.510
his people and God himself shall be with them

00:43:00.510 --> 00:43:03.949
and be their God direct unhindered fellowship

00:43:03.949 --> 00:43:07.449
and the famous promise about tears yes and God

00:43:07.449 --> 00:43:09.710
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and

00:43:09.710 --> 00:43:12.170
there shall be no more death neither sorrow or

00:43:12.170 --> 00:43:15.349
crying neither shall there be any more pain for

00:43:15.349 --> 00:43:18.610
the former things are passed away complete restoration

00:43:19.050 --> 00:43:21.750
the end of all suffering. What is the city like?

00:43:22.530 --> 00:43:24.469
The description sounds amazing. Breathtaking.

00:43:24.730 --> 00:43:26.650
It has the glory of God shining like a stone

00:43:26.650 --> 00:43:29.030
most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear

00:43:29.030 --> 00:43:31.510
as crystal. It has a great and high wall with

00:43:31.510 --> 00:43:34.269
twelve gates and at the gates twelve angels and

00:43:34.269 --> 00:43:36.130
the names of the twelve tribes of Israel are

00:43:36.130 --> 00:43:38.510
written on them. Each gate is a single massive

00:43:38.510 --> 00:43:42.210
pearl. Twelve gates, twelve tribes and foundations.

00:43:42.809 --> 00:43:45.570
Twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve

00:43:45.570 --> 00:43:48.929
apostles of the Lamb. These foundations are adorned

00:43:48.929 --> 00:43:52.170
with every kind of precious stone. Jasper, Sapphire,

00:43:52.349 --> 00:43:55.650
Calcedonia, Emerald, Sardonyx, Sardias, Chrysolite,

00:43:55.849 --> 00:43:59.610
Barrel, Topaz, Chrysopraces, Jasinth, Amethyst.

00:44:00.170 --> 00:44:02.070
It symbolizes the unity of old and New Testament

00:44:02.070 --> 00:44:04.530
believers, built on the foundation of the apostles,

00:44:05.030 --> 00:44:07.030
reflecting God's glory. What about its shape

00:44:07.030 --> 00:44:09.510
and size? It's measured with a golden reed and

00:44:09.510 --> 00:44:11.829
found to be a perfect cube. Its length, breadth,

00:44:12.090 --> 00:44:14.889
and height are equal. 12 ,000 furlongs each.

00:44:15.289 --> 00:44:18.190
roughly 1 ,400 miles. The city itself is pure

00:44:18.190 --> 00:44:20.449
gold, like unto clear glass, and a wall is made

00:44:20.449 --> 00:44:23.329
of jasper. It speaks of divine perfection, immense

00:44:23.329 --> 00:44:25.710
scale, and utter purity. Is there a temple inside?

00:44:26.469 --> 00:44:29.510
No. John says, I saw no temple therein, for the

00:44:29.510 --> 00:44:31.190
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple

00:44:31.190 --> 00:44:33.449
of it. No need for a special building when God's

00:44:33.449 --> 00:44:35.210
presence is everywhere, directly accessible.

00:44:35.550 --> 00:44:38.190
And no sun or moon needed? Correct. The city

00:44:38.190 --> 00:44:40.110
had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to

00:44:40.110 --> 00:44:42.309
shine in it. For the glory of God did lighten

00:44:42.309 --> 00:44:44.679
it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. God's

00:44:44.679 --> 00:44:46.659
own glory provides the illumination. Who lives

00:44:46.659 --> 00:44:49.059
there? Who comes in? The nations of them which

00:44:49.059 --> 00:44:51.360
are saved shall walk in the light of it, and

00:44:51.360 --> 00:44:53.579
earthly kings bring their glory and honor into

00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:56.840
it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day,

00:44:57.340 --> 00:45:00.019
for there shall be no night there. But crucially,

00:45:00.780 --> 00:45:02.880
there shall in no wise enter into it anything

00:45:02.880 --> 00:45:05.920
that defileeth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination,

00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:08.940
or makeeth the lie, but they which are written

00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:12.050
in the Lamb's Book of Life. only the redeemed

00:45:12.050 --> 00:45:14.690
belong there. Absolute purity. Is there a river,

00:45:14.969 --> 00:45:17.849
like in Eden? Yes, a pure river of water of life,

00:45:18.230 --> 00:45:20.329
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne

00:45:20.329 --> 00:45:22.929
of God and of the Lamb. It flows down the middle

00:45:22.929 --> 00:45:24.869
of the city's main street. And the Tree of Life?

00:45:25.090 --> 00:45:27.710
It's back. On either side of the river was there

00:45:27.710 --> 00:45:29.849
the Tree of Life, which bears twelve manner of

00:45:29.849 --> 00:45:32.489
fruits, yielding its fruit every month. And the

00:45:32.489 --> 00:45:33.969
leaves of the tree were for the healing of the

00:45:33.969 --> 00:45:37.469
nations. Paradise restored and enhanced. Healing

00:45:37.469 --> 00:45:39.900
for the nations and no more curse. And there

00:45:39.900 --> 00:45:42.380
shall be no more curse. The throne of God and

00:45:42.380 --> 00:45:44.519
the Lamb will be in it, his servants will serve

00:45:44.519 --> 00:45:47.219
him, they will see his face, and his name shall

00:45:47.219 --> 00:45:49.500
be in their foreheads. They will need no lamp

00:45:49.500 --> 00:45:52.000
light or sunlight, for the Lord God gives them

00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:54.599
light, and they shall reign forever and ever.

00:45:55.039 --> 00:45:57.380
It's the ultimate picture of restored fellowship,

00:45:57.679 --> 00:46:01.239
eternal life, and blessedness. Wow. How does

00:46:01.239 --> 00:46:03.340
the book actually wrap up after such a vision?

00:46:03.760 --> 00:46:06.440
With affirmations and final warnings, the angel

00:46:06.440 --> 00:46:08.719
confirms to John, these sayings are faithful

00:46:08.719 --> 00:46:11.170
and true. He reiterates the imminent return.

00:46:11.869 --> 00:46:14.510
Behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth

00:46:14.510 --> 00:46:16.530
the sayings of the prophecy of this book. And

00:46:16.530 --> 00:46:18.869
John tries to worship the angel again. He does,

00:46:19.090 --> 00:46:21.329
falling down at his feet. But the angel stops

00:46:21.329 --> 00:46:25.369
him again. See thou do it not. For I am thy fellow

00:46:25.369 --> 00:46:28.230
servant. Worship God. Then comes that serious

00:46:28.230 --> 00:46:30.969
warning about tampering with the book. Yes, a

00:46:30.969 --> 00:46:32.710
very solemn warning directed to everyone who

00:46:32.710 --> 00:46:35.280
hears the words of this prophecy. If any man

00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:37.539
shall add into these things, God shall add unto

00:46:37.539 --> 00:46:39.179
him the plagues that are written in this book.

00:46:39.800 --> 00:46:41.599
And if any man shall take away from the words

00:46:41.599 --> 00:46:43.619
of the book of this prophecy, God shall take

00:46:43.619 --> 00:46:45.880
away his part out of the book of life and out

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:48.579
of the holy city. It underscores the sacredness

00:46:48.579 --> 00:46:50.420
and integrity of this revelation. Don't mess

00:46:50.420 --> 00:46:53.960
with the message. And the final invitation. It's

00:46:53.960 --> 00:46:56.739
beautiful and universal. And the spirit and the

00:46:56.739 --> 00:46:59.679
bride say, come. And let him that heareth say,

00:46:59.800 --> 00:47:03.170
come. And let him that is a thirst come. And

00:47:03.170 --> 00:47:05.630
whosoever will, let him take the water of life

00:47:05.630 --> 00:47:09.289
freely. An open invitation to accept God's grace.

00:47:09.550 --> 00:47:12.250
And the very last words. Jesus himself speaks.

00:47:13.090 --> 00:47:15.510
Surely I come quickly. And John responds for

00:47:15.510 --> 00:47:18.409
all believers. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus,

00:47:19.110 --> 00:47:21.250
followed by a final blessing. What an incredible

00:47:21.250 --> 00:47:23.809
journey, this deep dive. We've covered so much

00:47:23.809 --> 00:47:26.010
ground. From John's vision, the messages to those

00:47:26.010 --> 00:47:28.510
churches still so relevant through all the cosmic

00:47:28.510 --> 00:47:31.829
battles, the seals, trumpets, vials, the judgments.

00:47:32.489 --> 00:47:34.530
Mm -hmm right through the fall of Babylon the

00:47:34.530 --> 00:47:37.389
triumph of Christ and that breathtaking vision

00:47:37.389 --> 00:47:39.610
of the new Jerusalem the new creations an immense

00:47:39.610 --> 00:47:41.949
scope Absolutely and the core message seems to

00:47:41.949 --> 00:47:44.329
be about perseverance doesn't it holding on to

00:47:44.329 --> 00:47:48.769
faith through immense trials But also the certainty

00:47:48.769 --> 00:47:51.389
of defined judgment and ultimately this profound

00:47:51.389 --> 00:47:54.849
hope for those who overcome it keeps saying these

00:47:54.849 --> 00:47:57.230
things must shortly come to pass that sense of

00:47:57.230 --> 00:48:00.070
urgency is always there It is, and the book itself,

00:48:00.289 --> 00:48:03.449
revelation with all its intricate symbols and

00:48:03.449 --> 00:48:06.590
its incredibly dramatic story, it really stands

00:48:06.590 --> 00:48:09.929
as this testament to our human capacity, or maybe

00:48:09.929 --> 00:48:13.110
our need to grapple with the big questions, good

00:48:13.110 --> 00:48:15.889
versus evil, judgment, redemption. So here's

00:48:15.889 --> 00:48:17.889
a thought to leave you with. The book of Revelation

00:48:17.889 --> 00:48:20.889
has indulged for nearly 2 ,000 years. It's captivated,

00:48:21.090 --> 00:48:23.710
confused, inspired generations. What does the

00:48:23.710 --> 00:48:25.750
sheer endurance of a text like this, with its

00:48:25.750 --> 00:48:28.210
focus on the end, reveal about our own deep -seated

00:48:28.210 --> 00:48:30.550
need maybe to understand the ending? And perhaps,

00:48:30.730 --> 00:48:32.570
through that, the purpose of it all, something

00:48:32.570 --> 00:48:33.230
to think about.