1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,420 Pastor Nathan and today we are concluding our study of the book of 2 00:00:06,420 --> 00:00:16,860 Revelation. Yeah, after 13 months and 47 individual messages, we have arrived at 3 00:00:16,860 --> 00:00:24,500 the end of the end, the final piece of the final chapter of the final book in 4 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:29,100 the Bible. And you know what a blessing it has been to study the book of 5 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:34,080 Revelation. It's one of the promises in chapter one that those that read this 6 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:39,000 book are blessed. And I'm sure you have been blessed with this revelation of 7 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,780 Jesus Christ. And as we're closing this study today, you know, I want you guys to 8 00:00:43,780 --> 00:00:47,720 just kind of reflect and ask yourself the question, how has this study affected 9 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:55,040 you? How has this study affected your life? Specifically, when you think of 10 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:01,320 your future as a believer, are you excited for what's to come? The promises 11 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:07,480 that God has for those that are His, are you full of hope? Are you full of joy? Are 12 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:12,080 you full of anticipation? These are things that come from the blessing of 13 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:15,120 reading and studying the book of Revelation. You know, as we've learned, 14 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:21,280 there's a lot to come in the future. There's a lot of bad to come in the 15 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:27,200 future, but there is also a lot of good. This book has taught us that judgment is 16 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:33,120 coming. Judgment is coming. It will fall upon this earth. Will fall upon sin and 17 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:37,520 sinners and those who've rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But it's 18 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:43,080 also taught us that Jesus is coming. And so is a new heaven and a new earth and a 19 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:47,760 new Jerusalem. And that is so exciting to look forward to. Now this truth, the 20 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:52,080 truths that are taught in this book, they can either excite you or they can cause 21 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:57,360 you fear and worry. Because the truths taught in the book of Revelation beg 22 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:04,360 the question, are you prepared? Are you ready for the coming of Jesus Christ? Now 23 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:12,160 the Bible, although it's true history of past, present, and future, it reads sort 24 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,600 of like a novel. It starts with an exciting opening where the characters 25 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,920 are introduced and the villains introduced and the hero is introduced, 26 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:25,240 right? In Genesis, the next book we're gonna start, we have the story of 27 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:29,800 creation and there we're introduced to Adam and Eve and introduced to the 28 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,600 serpent and introduced to the promised one who will come and crush his head. And 29 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:38,280 then from there as you study through the Bible, the plot unfolds and you have all 30 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:43,280 the ups and downs and the twists and the mysteries and the intrigue. How's it 31 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:49,160 gonna end as we read through this story of God's Word? We think, will they obey 32 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:57,720 God? Oh no, they don't. The curse enters in, sin and death enters in. And then you 33 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:03,480 proceed through chapter after chapter of Israel's disobedience and then Israel's 34 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:08,000 obedience and then Israel's disobedience and through it all there's longing for 35 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:13,000 the promise to come. Then we get to the New Testament, the Messiah arrives. 36 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:21,680 He's here, but he dies. But he rises from the dead, but he's leaving, but he 37 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:26,840 promises that he's coming back. And this is the story of Scripture. He will return 38 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:32,760 one day and so after his ascension, the rest of the Bible unfolds, the church is 39 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:40,920 born and his people watch and wait for his return. And then it all wraps up as 40 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:45,880 we're given this revelation of Jesus Christ. The plot lines are resolved. The 41 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:52,160 future is revealed to his people. And it's all a book-ended story, right? In 42 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:58,120 Genesis 1, you have everything lost is restored. Paradise is lost. In Revelation, 43 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:04,000 we have paradise regained, but it's different. It's better. Genesis 1, God 44 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,240 creates the heavens and the earth. Revelation closes with God creating a 45 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:13,080 new heaven and a new earth. In Genesis 1, God creates the sun and the moon. In 46 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:17,560 Revelation 21 and 22, there's no need for the sun. There's no night because the 47 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:24,240 Lamb is the light. Jesus is the light of glory for all eternity. Genesis 1, the 48 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:29,760 seas are created. Revelation 21, there's no more sea. Genesis 3, the curse is 49 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:35,040 announced. Revelation 22, there's no more curse. Genesis, man is driven from the 50 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:40,160 tree of life in the paradise of God. In Revelation 21 and 22, access to the tree 51 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:47,040 of life is granted anew. In Genesis, we see sorrow and pain begin. In the end of 52 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:51,360 Revelation, it tells us there is no more sorrow, no more death, no more tears, for 53 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:58,840 all of that is over. And so today, we come to the epilogue of the story. The epilogue 54 00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:02,600 at the end of this great story, if you read books, often you'll see at the 55 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,680 conclusion of the story when all the details are wrapped up, there is an 56 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:11,840 epilogue. There is that and happily ever after and into the future, that wrap up 57 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:16,080 to the thought, a final summary of what the story was telling us. And we're 58 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,560 coming to that today, the final concluding remarks, the application. Or the 59 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:25,800 bigger question is, what now? After you study the book of Revelation and you 60 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:31,000 get to the end of it, what now? How does it affect your life today? How do you live 61 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:36,280 today? After the story is told, after history, after tribulation, the second 62 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:40,080 coming, the millennial reign of Christ, the new heaven, the new earth, the new 63 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:45,880 Jerusalem created. We're at the end of the story where the King of Kings now 64 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:51,920 sits on the throne, reigning forever and ever in eternity. And so what are the 65 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,160 final words that we get in the book of Revelation? What is the last thought in 66 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:01,240 this last book of the Bible that God wanted us to have? Well, Revelation ends 67 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,400 by reminding us of the absolute certainty of the return of Jesus Christ. 68 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:12,240 That not only is it coming, but it is coming soon. It reminds us of the absolute 69 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:17,560 certainty of this future we've been studying and more importantly, the 70 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:20,840 necessity of our response to these truths. That's what we're going to be 71 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:25,800 looking at today, but first we're going to worship God. We praise him for what 72 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:30,760 he's done in our lives. We praise him for who he is. We praise him for what he is 73 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:35,880 going to do. And we praise him for the future promise that is in store for his 74 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:42,720 people. Amen? Let's pray. Father God, we love you. We're so grateful God, for who 75 00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:48,720 you are. We're grateful for your word God. Genesis to Revelation as it reveals to 76 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:56,200 us who you are. It reveals to us who we are. It reveals to us the reality of our 77 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:02,040 sinful condition and the solution that you provided by coming to this earth and 78 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:08,680 clothing yourself in humanity. Dying on the cross for our sin. Raising from the 79 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:13,240 dead that those who would put their faith and trust in you would also defeat 80 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:19,880 the sting of death in their life. Not just physically, but eternally. God your 81 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:24,520 word teaches us how to live as your people in this church age and it shares 82 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:29,120 with us the future Lord of what is to come for those who trust in you and what 83 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:35,080 is to come for those who don't. The Lord is your people. We are encouraged by the 84 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:41,080 hope of heaven. We are motivated by the hope of heaven God. Lord we long as your 85 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:47,240 people to be with you in the light of your glory forever without any hindrance. 86 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:52,920 So God as we close this study of Revelation today, Lord speak to us. 87 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:58,920 Encourage us. Challenge us God because really this closing epilogue of 88 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,520 Revelation really asks the question what now and what are we gonna do with these 89 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:09,320 truths? And so Lord may we be people today that hear your voice as your 90 00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:15,800 spirit speaks to us. To be people that would leave here today changed. Walking 91 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:20,400 in obedience to your word. Living the lives that you've you've commanded us to 92 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:24,920 live, but taught us how to live and example us. Example for us how to live. 93 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,400 That we would be people who shine the light of glory into this lost and dark 94 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:38,000 world God. That we would share the hope that is in you. God the glimpse of it 95 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:43,640 that we see in this world is but a glimpse of what is to come. And so Lord 96 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:49,400 may we live as people anticipating your return. Looking forward to your return in 97 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:55,440 eager expectation of your return and the time where we will be with you in 98 00:08:55,440 --> 00:09:00,840 eternity. But Lord also motivated to be people who will tell everybody we 99 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:06,160 possibly can about the hope that is in you today. The Lord we want to worship 100 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,160 you. We want to praise your name and we know this is what we're gonna be doing 101 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:14,960 into eternity God. And so Lord be blessed. Be blessed as your people proclaim your 102 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,920 name. We love you. We love you so much and we thank you for everything. It's in 103 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:25,680 Jesus name we pray. Amen. We are in Revelation chapter 22 concluding our 104 00:09:25,680 --> 00:09:32,220 study here of Revelation. We're gonna be starting in verse 6 and so this as I 105 00:09:32,220 --> 00:09:37,520 said in the intro this is the epilogue to the conclusion of all things. And this 106 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:44,720 epilogue begins this way. Verse 6, then he said to me these words are faithful 107 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:51,760 and true. The Lord the God of the spirits of the prophets has sent his angel to 108 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:57,440 show his servants what must soon take place. Now the he he was referring to 109 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:03,000 there is likely the angel that was introduced to us back in Revelation 21 110 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,080 9. If you remember there if you want to look back there it was one of the seven 111 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:12,520 angels who had held one of the seven bowls of judgment. Those final seven 112 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:17,000 bowls of judgment there and it was that angel that said was the one introducing 113 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,860 John to the vision of the New Jerusalem. And so it's likely it's that same angel 114 00:10:21,860 --> 00:10:25,040 we don't know for sure but some people are like who's speaking here? I think it 115 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:31,440 was that angel. And this angel said to John these words are faithful and true. 116 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:37,640 That is a summary statement of the entire book of Revelation. Everything 117 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,440 from the very first verse of Revelation to the last verse of Revelation is 118 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:49,880 summed up as faithful and true. What the angel is telling to John is hey John all 119 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:56,640 of this stuff you've seen and heard it's reliable it's trustworthy it's true 120 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:02,280 it's accurate. John you've seen some pretty wild stuff you've heard some 121 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:09,400 pretty wild things. John you're not hallucinating you didn't make this up 122 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:17,400 you're not on drugs this isn't a bad dream. John everything you have seen and 123 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:23,160 heard is faithful and true. And it just makes sense that this angel would need 124 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,000 to say that to John after everything because what we've studied through it's 125 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:35,360 amazing startling supernatural unearthly stuff that John has got to see through 126 00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:41,760 this book of Revelation. And so I mean if you or I saw this it might be easy we 127 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,840 might be tempted to go oh that was that was just a dream you know I just I had 128 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:51,120 bad Taco Bell right it's you know I just it was just a fantasy you know it was 129 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:57,000 just some imagination that I was having or as as some do and and again I 130 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,720 disagree with some of this interpretation people go oh this is all 131 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:07,760 just purely symbolic allegory. And the angel is saying John what you've seen is 132 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:13,800 faithful and true. Those words faithful and true he's he's telling him it's it's 133 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:23,280 real it's accurate it's it's not fake it's not pretend it's real. And so 134 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:27,840 essentially what this angel is telling John here at the end of this Revelation 135 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:35,640 is that look the Lord God that you know John as a as a Jewish man who grew up in 136 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:40,000 that and then who met Jesus and who believes he's the Messiah that God who 137 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:44,120 who moved on the hearts of the Old Testament prophets right he says these 138 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:48,880 words are faithful and true the Lord the God of the spirits of the prophets have 139 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:53,440 sent his angel and so he's saying John that God who moved on the Old Testament 140 00:12:53,440 --> 00:13:01,400 prophets who gave them words to speak and prophesied of things is the same God 141 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:06,920 who spoke to the New Testament writers all those letters that you and your 142 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:12,080 contemporaries John have written it's the same God who delivered this vision 143 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:19,680 to you John. And so he's going so like remember and we have to remember some 144 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:23,640 very important things when we study this Revelation right that the God who 145 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:29,080 predicted that Israel would be taken captive was faithful and true because 146 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,880 they were. The God who predicted that their captivity would only last seven 147 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:40,280 years it wasn't symbolic and allegorical they were taken captive for 70 years. The 148 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,480 God who predicted that they would return to the land of Israel well they did 149 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:55,400 didn't they? The God who said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem he was. That 150 00:13:55,400 --> 00:14:01,000 same God predicted that there will be a tribulation there will be. That same God 151 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,760 predicted that there will be an Antichrist there will be. That same God 152 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:11,680 predicted a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem there will be. And 153 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:18,880 that God who came in the flesh and died and rose again and predicted that he 154 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:27,080 would return one day he will. That is really what this is all about. This whole 155 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:33,960 book it's why it's called the Revelation of Jesus Christ. It's about him it's 156 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:39,200 about his heart his will his character it's about his return and that is the 157 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:47,840 one of the most real truths that has ever been. It is the foundation of our 158 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:52,560 entire walk that we know him that we believe in him that we trust in him for 159 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:58,480 salvation and we believe he's coming back. It's not an allegory it's not 160 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:07,680 symbolic it's faithful and it's true. And so this angel goes on to to speak to 161 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,880 John but in verse 7 we see now Jesus himself the lamb speaks to John and says 162 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:21,960 look I am coming soon. Now this is repeated again in verse 12 look I am 163 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:30,800 coming soon and it's repeated again in verse 20 yes I am coming soon. Do you 164 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:38,080 think he wants us to pay attention to that? How many of you have ever had to 165 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:43,160 repeat yourself to someone? Why do you do that? Because they're not listening 166 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:49,040 right? Those of you that had kids? I've got to repeat myself over and over right? 167 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:54,200 Sometimes it's spouses sometimes it's friends right? He repeats it three times 168 00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:59,840 Jesus speaking assuring John and assuring us of the certainty of his 169 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:05,680 return. He's coming back people. You know five times in the New Testament we were 170 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,400 told that when Jesus comes back for his church five times we're told this that 171 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:14,520 it's gonna be like a thief coming in the night. What that phrase means is that 172 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,240 when Jesus returns for his church it's gonna be unexpected. He's gonna come 173 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:25,120 unexpectedly. That's how a thief appears in the night right? A thief a robber does 174 00:16:25,120 --> 00:16:30,640 not call you in advance and go hey I'm gonna be there at two. He doesn't notify 175 00:16:30,640 --> 00:16:35,080 you of the timeline of when he's gonna arrive he expects you to be unaware of 176 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:40,240 the timing of his arrival and so when Jesus says here I'm coming soon and 177 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:43,080 those five other places in the New Testament where it says he's gonna come 178 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:47,320 like a thief in the night what does that mean? Because it's easy for people to 179 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:53,400 read soon and go well Jesus died 2,000 years ago. What does he mean by soon 180 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:58,320 right? We have to understand that that word soon in the original language it 181 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:06,240 means suddenly. Look I will come suddenly. The word in the original Greek is not a 182 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:12,820 relation to when but it's speaking of how he will come. So basically what Jesus 183 00:17:12,820 --> 00:17:16,800 is saying when he says look I'm coming soon he goes when I come whenever that 184 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:24,280 is it'll be suddenly. It'll be like in a flash it'll be quick and that lines up 185 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,960 with what the church is told over and over and over throughout the New 186 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:35,840 Testament. What are we told? Be ready because he will come suddenly. He will 187 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:41,080 come when you're not expecting it. Yes we have signs right? The disciples are like 188 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:44,120 hey how are we gonna know when you're coming? He goes well these are the types 189 00:17:44,120 --> 00:17:47,680 of things that are gonna be happening in the earth but no one knows the day or 190 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:52,600 the hour and so we have parables and we have stories about being ready for his 191 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:57,240 coming because when he comes it's gonna come suddenly it's not gonna be a long 192 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:02,800 drawn-out thing. The picture of the New Testament churches that we see 193 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,960 throughout the New Testament is that they lived in expectation that Jesus 194 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:11,440 could return any moment. That's how they lived. They lived in the way of going 195 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:15,720 look he could come now he could come tomorrow he could come the next day we 196 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:19,760 don't know so we need to be ready right? In 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 7 197 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:24,440 Paul was teaching the Corinthians about hey while you're here now this is how to 198 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,400 use the spiritual gifts God's given you and these are some of the things we're 199 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,360 gonna be talking about at the men's conference but he says that while you're 200 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:36,320 using your gifts use them as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus 201 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,040 Christ. That word revelation means revealing. It means revealing so while 202 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:46,320 you were actively waiting for the return of Jesus Paul is then like this is how 203 00:18:46,320 --> 00:18:51,040 you conduct yourselves with the gifts of the Spirit right? At the very end of 1st 204 00:18:51,040 --> 00:18:55,720 Corinthians in chapter 16 verse 22 the very close of his letter he closes it 205 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,640 this way if anyone does not love the Lord a curse beyond him 206 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:06,880 oh Lord come. That phrase oh Lord come is in the original language Maranatha you 207 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:09,360 may have heard that it's one of those Christian words that nobody really 208 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:13,720 knows what it means and it's not used a whole lot anymore but early in the 209 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:17,880 Calvary Chapel days they had an entire music division that Chuck Smith put 210 00:19:17,880 --> 00:19:21,880 together called Maranatha music right? It was where a lot of the early Calvary 211 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:27,840 Chapel worship songs came from. Maranatha. What does Maranatha mean? Oh Lord come. 212 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:32,120 It was a it was a greeting that the early Christians used to say to each 213 00:19:32,120 --> 00:19:38,920 other when they would greet each other right? Like today I go sup dude okay 214 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:43,600 when we leave we'll go see you later right? We have our phrases we say when we 215 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,440 greet people whether it's showing up or leaving well the phrase in the early 216 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,760 church was Maranatha when they would show up they go Maranatha when they'd 217 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,000 leave they go Maranatha what were they saying to each other? Every time they 218 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,080 said hello and goodbye they were saying the Lord's coming soon the Lord's coming 219 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:01,800 soon it was on the forefront of their thinking it was on the forefront of 220 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:07,240 their mind. In Philippians 3 20 Paul says our citizenship is in heaven and we 221 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:12,880 eagerly wait for a Savior from there the Lord Jesus Christ. First Thessalonians 222 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:19,360 1 10 wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead Jesus who 223 00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:24,480 rescues us from the coming wrath. I believe that's talking about the 224 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:28,640 tribulation time the wrath of God that is gonna come upon the earth as we've 225 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:33,840 studied through Revelation but the early church was eagerly waiting for Jesus to 226 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:38,880 come to rescue them from the coming wrath. Jude verse 21 it says keep 227 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:44,080 yourselves in the love of God waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord 228 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:49,120 Jesus Christ for eternal life. So you got these verses and there's many others in 229 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:53,560 the New Testament that show us that the church expected Jesus to return at any 230 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:58,640 moment and then of course you have first Thessalonians chapter 4 where Paul's 231 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:03,120 talking about the rapture of the church and he goes through and he says his 232 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:08,280 phrase that we who are alive at his coming will be caught up in the air 233 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:14,320 right. Now in other words Paul is saying that when Jesus Christ returns as a 234 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:19,360 thief in the night unexpectedly as we see elsewhere in the New Testament that 235 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:23,600 there's gonna be some of us who are still alive when that happens. Some of us 236 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:28,680 will still be living when that happens we see that. So any natural reading of 237 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:32,960 the New Testament I believe if you just read it naturally without trying to 238 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,880 start with a premise and force it to match what you think it should say just 239 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,920 read it naturally it's clear to see that the early Christians believe that Jesus 240 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:47,200 could return at any moment and Paul in his teachings over and over said church 241 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:53,960 live in that expectancy. Go about your daily lives in that expectancy that 242 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:59,200 Jesus could return any moment and then now at the very end of Revelation the 243 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:06,120 epilogue of all things what do we see Jesus saying? I am coming soon. I am 244 00:22:06,120 --> 00:22:14,000 coming suddenly. Now sure there's a point of reference to time in that idea of 245 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,800 soon right. We understand the Bible tells us that a thousand days or a thousand 246 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:23,000 years is a day to the Lord right. So for us we're like it's been two thousand 247 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:29,880 years and into the Lord he's like two days right. So but the focus is on the 248 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,400 how he's gonna come and that's why I believe in a pre-tribulation 249 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:37,800 rapture right. I believe it fits the layout of Revelation. I believe Revelation 250 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,560 1 19 that's the very outline of the book but I believe that throughout Scripture 251 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:47,240 what we see here especially in this concept of his coming as a thief right. A 252 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,120 thief doesn't say here's a very detailed list of specific things that have to 253 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:54,720 happen right before I come back. Here I don't know let me give you a seven-year 254 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:59,600 detailed timeline before I return. That's not how a thief comes. A thief 255 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:04,000 comes unexpectedly and that's why I think the church will be raptured prior 256 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:10,840 to the tribulation. Now it's telling us that the prophets spoke of this. We just 257 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:15,280 looked at the early church anticipated this but really the what now is so 258 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:19,720 should we. This is how we should live as Christians in this world today. An 259 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:25,560 expectation of his return. Paul's letters speak of the return of the Lord 50 times. 260 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:30,840 50 times. It was an important topic. So that bears the question that why isn't it 261 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:35,680 at the forefront of our minds more often. Maybe it is or some of you maybe it 262 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:40,040 isn't. We get caught up in life. We get caught up in work. We get caught up in 263 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:44,120 business and relationships and paying bills and you know we get caught up in 264 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:48,040 things and these are all real things that we're all really experiencing. We 265 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:52,760 have our ups. We have our downs. We have our good moments, our bad moments but 266 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,320 above all of that is this expectancy that we're called to live in that Jesus 267 00:23:56,320 --> 00:24:02,960 could return right now. Why don't we do that? Why do we find ourselves sometimes 268 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:08,840 living as if the return of Jesus is a later thing? Why? Well I believe it's 269 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,520 because the devil does not want us to live with that kind of urgency and 270 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:16,800 expectancy. The devil doesn't want us to live with that expectancy that the Bible 271 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:21,520 encourages because the moment we take hold of that truth that we could be 272 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:27,800 raptured in the very next moment everything this world has to offer us 273 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:35,680 loses its luster. If we internalize and when we internalize and I know it's a 274 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:40,560 process that we keep working towards to internalize Jesus could come at the next 275 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:46,720 moment. Everything this world has is kind of like well does it really matter? 276 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:54,240 Because if Jesus takes me out of this world in five minutes does it really 277 00:24:54,240 --> 00:25:01,040 matter? Now yes Jesus says I'm coming and until I come be wise be a good steward 278 00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:06,120 right we got all that teaching but those things are secondary to the reality that 279 00:25:06,120 --> 00:25:13,240 Jesus might come back right now and so we've opened this with this idea that 280 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:17,560 these words are faithful and true that Jesus is coming soon that's trustworthy 281 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:20,880 it's accurate and so what should our response be and that's what I believe 282 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:25,960 the rest of this epilogue is about. We look in verse 7 again it says blessed is 283 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:30,160 the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book so our response to 284 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:35,120 the fact that Jesus is coming soon should be one of obedience that's what 285 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:39,720 it means there to keep the words of the prophecy of this book. You see God didn't 286 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,560 give us this book of Revelation specifically just to feed our curiosity 287 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:48,240 about the future right it's not something just to go oh that's really fun 288 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:53,440 it's not given to us so we could all work and build eschatological 289 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,280 timelines and make cool posters that's all fun and that's all good stuff but 290 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,960 that's not why we have this book he gave us the revelation of Jesus Christ that 291 00:26:01,960 --> 00:26:06,640 we would learn today to walk in obedience to Jesus Christ that's what 292 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:12,800 it's all about. What that means is that as a church today we should receive and 293 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:18,240 apply the instructions to the churches that we find in chapters 2 & 3. That 294 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:22,720 means that we should heed and respond to the warnings of what's to come in 295 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:27,200 chapters 6 through 19 to know that that's what's in the future and so make 296 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,840 sure you are right with Jesus here and now today we should live in light of his 297 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:36,680 return in the hope of the promise of the coming millennial and the millennium in 298 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:40,520 the new heaven and the new earth and all of it should be applied to our life in 299 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:46,280 the present and translate into an obedient walk. That's the idea here 300 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:51,400 that's what keeping the words of the prophecy of this book means. Those of you 301 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:55,000 that like to take notes if you want to underline or highlight or whatever that 302 00:26:55,000 --> 00:27:05,160 word keeps this is what it means persist in obedience. Persist in obedience. That 303 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:10,000 means don't stop being obedient. Persist in obedience and when we do that we are 304 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:15,960 blessed. Blessed is the one. We are blessed that word means oh how happy. 305 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:20,800 Right we find the true joy of the Lord when we persist in obedience to his 306 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,760 way his will his everything. You know I've often said and I was talking to 307 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,960 someone the other day it's like everything would be great if everybody 308 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:31,840 just did what God says to do in every case. Right wouldn't life be so much 309 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:37,400 easier if everybody just did everything God's way. Every husband was godly every 310 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:41,240 wife was godly every child was godly every boss was godly every employee was 311 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,480 godly there was no lying no stealing no cheating no selfishness. Wouldn't life be 312 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:54,360 wonderful. You know what that's called heaven. That's our hope but not here 313 00:27:54,360 --> 00:28:01,320 because we're still living in a fallen sinful world. Now prophecy use the way 314 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:07,080 God intended should purify us. What I mean by that is is when we're about to 315 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:12,800 do something say something make a decision and we're not sure if it's 316 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:18,840 pleasing to God or not. Prophecy especially the book of Revelation should 317 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:24,920 make us think things like well if Jesus returns while I'm doing that maybe I 318 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:29,640 shouldn't do that. If you think oh I wouldn't want Jesus to catch me saying 319 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:35,800 this doing this looking at this watching this Jesus wouldn't want to I wouldn't 320 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,880 want Jesus to catch me treating my spouse this way treating my kids this 321 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:44,720 way. I wouldn't want Jesus catching me being a bad steward with the resources 322 00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:50,120 he's given me of my time or my money or my or my talent right. If it's like oh 323 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:54,960 no I wouldn't want Jesus to catch me then you shouldn't be doing it. It's 324 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:59,600 pretty simple it's pretty clear and that's how prophecy is supposed to work 325 00:28:59,600 --> 00:29:04,040 in this life. In fact this is what John the same author of Revelation wrote 326 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:08,280 about in 1st John chapter 3. He said this in chapter 3 of 1st John verse 2 327 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:13,480 Dear friends we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet been 328 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:17,600 revealed. We know that when he appears we will be like him because we will see him 329 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:25,360 as he is and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is 330 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:34,320 pure. The hope of Jesus's return the hope that it could be any moment is a factor 331 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:40,440 in purifying yourself especially if you apply it to the hmm do I want Jesus to 332 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:46,400 catch me doing that and it works both ways. Would I want Jesus catching me 333 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:53,240 giving this gospel tract to somebody? Oh yeah I'd love him to catch me doing that. 334 00:29:53,240 --> 00:29:57,680 Reading my Bible, worshiping him, talking to somebody, glorifying his name yeah I'd 335 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:04,000 love Jesus to catch me doing that then then then do that then do that. Peter in 336 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:07,440 his writings he talked about the elements will burn and dissolve one day 337 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:11,280 and then he says so it's clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct 338 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:15,960 and godliness as you wait for the day of God. Knowing that he's gonna return 339 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:19,040 knowing that all things are gonna be judged knowing that he goes you know 340 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:23,760 then what type of people you should be and what we've read in Revelation it 341 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:27,360 really should change the way we live it should make us more eternal in our 342 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:33,760 choices and again I asked the question how has this study changed you? How has 343 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:40,920 this study changed your your life your marriage your singleness? How has it 344 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:47,040 changed your family your business your friends? How has it changed your walk? 345 00:30:47,040 --> 00:30:51,880 That's the question to ask and if tribulation is gonna be as bad as 346 00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:57,640 described and heaven is gonna be as great as described it should affect us. 347 00:30:57,640 --> 00:31:04,560 So verse 8 now John here pipes in I John am the one who heard and saw these 348 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:08,120 things when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel 349 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:13,160 who had shown them to me but he said to me don't do that I am a fellow servant 350 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:17,840 with you your brothers the prophets and those who keep the words of this book 351 00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:24,480 worship God. So the first response to the truth that Jesus is coming is obedience 352 00:31:24,480 --> 00:31:29,080 we should walk in obedience the second response should be one of worship it 353 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:33,120 should be one of worship now John reaffirms the truth in the faithfulness 354 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:38,680 of the word here right he he affirms it by his eyewitness account he affirms it 355 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:43,760 by his ear witness account he says I saw and heard and then we see him fall down 356 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:49,560 to worship at the feet of the angel some people go back and forth and go he was 357 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,680 worshiping the angel and that's what specifically what he gets rebuked for 358 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,400 other people go no he just fell down in worship there but he was really trying 359 00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:01,120 to worship God but the angels like no it looks like you're worshiping me and and 360 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:04,560 he fell down at the feet of the angel to worship and the angels that don't do 361 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:10,400 that so to me I read this that he was trying to either like worship the angel 362 00:32:10,400 --> 00:32:14,520 in some way or the angel as God's representative or he was just so 363 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,680 overwhelmed by the moment that he had to just fall down and worship the the the 364 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:22,400 thing that was representing God before him it's it's it's unclear but this is 365 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:27,320 the second time John has done this this is the second time he's been overwhelmed 366 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:31,480 by everything he's seen and hearing and he falls in worship before an angel or 367 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:35,960 before the representative of God the first time it was when he was told by 368 00:32:35,960 --> 00:32:39,840 the angel blessed are those who are invited to the marriage feast of the lamb 369 00:32:39,840 --> 00:32:47,520 and he fell fell down in that truth and the angels like get up dude you know 370 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:52,480 better than that don't worship me and again here we see the angels say don't 371 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:56,880 worship I'm a fellow servant with you right the Bible tells us that we were 372 00:32:56,880 --> 00:33:02,040 made a little lower than the angels but at the end of all things we're gonna be 373 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:08,080 sitting as co-heirs with Christ but the point is is not who's what the angel 374 00:33:08,080 --> 00:33:14,800 says look I'm a fellow servant with you like God is God and we are not all who 375 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:17,760 keep the word of his book we're all in the same level of serving God so 376 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:22,040 worship him worship him alone and it's just this picture again being reminded 377 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:27,760 that no created being or created thing is ever to be worshiped only God the 378 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:32,040 creator of all things is to be worshiped in our lives and that means given our 379 00:33:32,040 --> 00:33:36,280 attention and given our service and given priority and given just our all 380 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:40,440 right but in the face of all that's going on in the world today and in 381 00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:46,560 humanity and the sin and the wickedness we see when you hear about the return of 382 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:51,920 Jesus Christ and you you you read about the coming kingdom of Jesus Christ and 383 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:55,560 we read about his victory over all the enemies of the earth and over sin and 384 00:33:55,560 --> 00:34:00,440 over death and and over all of it forever really how can we not fall in 385 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:06,800 worship of who he is and what he's done really that's the response that should 386 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:11,600 be welled up within us it's one of the reasons why we we start our service with 387 00:34:11,600 --> 00:34:18,080 with worship right I give an introduction and stuff but that's really 388 00:34:18,080 --> 00:34:22,120 for YouTube people go to a YouTube video they want to know what the video is 389 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:25,040 about in the first five seconds and so that's one of the reasons why we do the 390 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:27,840 intro here but it's also to let everybody know this is what we're going 391 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:33,520 to be studying today but first let's worship let's worship God and it's not 392 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:37,760 just to like okay well we got to do that and so that the study is good like if 393 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,520 we don't worship it'll be terrible and well I got to get my headspace in the 394 00:34:41,520 --> 00:34:44,880 right spot and all that yeah that's an element to it but we worship God because 395 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:49,640 he deserves worship period and so if we did the worship set in the beginning of 396 00:34:49,640 --> 00:34:53,020 service or we did the whole thing at the end of service it doesn't matter if we 397 00:34:53,020 --> 00:34:55,560 stopped right in the middle right now and I said worship team come up and do 398 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:59,680 another 30 minutes of song praise God I'm not gonna do that to you guys I 399 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:06,680 promise but one day maybe I don't know well but it doesn't matter when and how 400 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:11,160 the purpose is just to worship God for who he is what he's done what he's going 401 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:15,280 to do right that's why it's not something you just do on Sunday it's 402 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:19,000 something you do all the time it's a habit it's something that should be a 403 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:29,560 part of our lives and so we worship now we praise we praise God that all evil 404 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:35,320 and sin and selfishness will one day be done away with right praise God that one 405 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:39,880 day righteousness and what is good and and everything that is pure and right 406 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,600 and noble and lovely will be the description of everything everywhere 407 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:51,240 praise God for that praise God that he saved us and cleansed us with his blood 408 00:35:51,240 --> 00:35:56,800 and has promised us the hope of heaven those who trust in him and worship 409 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:00,400 should never be a duty or an exercise or an obligation it should it should always 410 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:07,200 be looked at as an opportunity a privilege that we have to worship God 411 00:36:07,200 --> 00:36:12,080 and then here in Revelation it's just this picture that this is God this is 412 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:19,080 Jesus Christ this is God's plan that we have studied this is God's plan that that 413 00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:27,720 they put together that he's prepared for you and me so verse 10 says then he said 414 00:36:27,720 --> 00:36:31,920 to me don't seal up the words of this prophecy or the prophecy of this book 415 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:36,320 because the time is near so our first response to the truth that Jesus is 416 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:42,400 returning in was returning soon and will return suddenly is obedience the second 417 00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:49,680 one is worship the third one here is witness proclamation right John the angel 418 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:53,000 says the message that you have been given this vision this revelation of 419 00:36:53,000 --> 00:37:02,000 Jesus Christ don't hide it don't seal it up instead proclaim it share it tell it 420 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:07,320 to people the truth of the gospel and salvation and judgment to come and heaven 421 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:14,240 and hell that's a message that is meant to go out to all people yes it motivates 422 00:37:14,240 --> 00:37:18,800 us yes it's for us but it's a message that we're called to take out and 423 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:29,440 deliver he says don't seal it up don't keep it to yourself it's not a private 424 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:35,680 personal thing right that was how my parents kind of grew up oh you do two 425 00:37:35,680 --> 00:37:42,560 things you don't talk about politics and religion right faith is a private thing 426 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:46,640 faith is a personal thing you keep that to yourself 427 00:37:46,640 --> 00:37:54,080 well that's unbiblical that's unbiblical now yeah we're not called to go out and 428 00:37:54,080 --> 00:38:01,280 be obnoxious jerks which some are and that's unfortunate right but we're 429 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:07,960 called to go out in love and compassion and obedience and boldness and to let 430 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:13,080 people know that God is real his name is Jesus Christ he came to this earth he 431 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:18,260 died for you he loves you he is the answer to every problem he is the 432 00:38:18,260 --> 00:38:25,320 solution to every challenge and he is the hope for everyone's future that is 433 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:30,600 Jesus don't seal it up it's not a private thing it's a public thing it's a 434 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:38,000 corporate thing because salvation is for all because all need salvation so don't 435 00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:43,560 seal it up and much of what we read in Revelation specifically the tribulation 436 00:38:43,560 --> 00:38:52,480 is is is meant to move us to warn people about the judgment to come now for each 437 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:57,000 of us individually the question is then is this book going to remain sealed in 438 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:03,400 your life or is it going to be open as you leave today guess what you are 439 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:10,720 heading out into your mission field when you leave church today you are hereby 440 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:18,640 oh ordained as missionaries all right the sound that's what made it official 441 00:39:18,640 --> 00:39:25,120 okay you are ordained as missionaries in your community in your family and your 442 00:39:25,120 --> 00:39:30,520 friend and social groups that is the reality you are leaving boot camp 443 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:35,920 trained equipped readied for spiritual battle and so don't keep the words of 444 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:41,640 this book don't keep the words of the gospel truth sealed in any way that's 445 00:39:41,640 --> 00:39:46,560 why we have an evangelism ministry that does a lot of training every Thursday 446 00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:52,600 night it's training it's it's teaching you how to evangelize so that you could 447 00:39:52,600 --> 00:39:58,000 then go out and evangelize our team hosts trips of almost every weekend 448 00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:02,000 somewhere to go hand out tracks and to talk to people and if you can't do those 449 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:05,480 trips the intent is that you're trained and equipped to do it on your own at 450 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:12,560 work in your life wherever you may be so verse 11 let the unrighteous go on in 451 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:16,560 unrighteousness let the filthy still be filthy let the righteous go on in 452 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:22,360 righteousness and let the holy still be holy the idea here is coming off of the 453 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:27,640 idea of not sealing up the the words right the idea here is is is as you go 454 00:40:27,640 --> 00:40:32,720 out and as you share the truth and as you just be a witness of the gospel 455 00:40:32,720 --> 00:40:36,880 truth and everything that this book in particular is teaching and warning the 456 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:41,520 idea is that we're not responsible for the response of others you're just 457 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:47,720 responsible for delivering the message okay understand that you are not 458 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:53,080 responsible for the response of others a person who hears the truth and continues 459 00:40:53,080 --> 00:40:56,200 to reject it and say no to it and they're just gonna keep doing wrong and 460 00:40:56,200 --> 00:41:02,320 living sinfully despite all the warnings guess what the Bible teaches that God 461 00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:08,560 will honor their free free will choice God will honor that now what that means 462 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:13,720 is that they will come under his judgment but God doesn't force anybody 463 00:41:13,720 --> 00:41:22,480 to be saved it's the individuals decision so none of us are responsible 464 00:41:22,480 --> 00:41:27,360 for any individuals decision but we are responsible for delivering the message 465 00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:30,560 and when it says there that the unrighteous will go on in 466 00:41:30,560 --> 00:41:36,160 unrighteousness right and then it uses the word they will still be there are 467 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:40,080 some scholars that say that phrase go on and still be should actually be 468 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:45,200 translated more so it should read let the unrighteous be more unrighteous let 469 00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:51,040 the filthy be more filthy conversely let those that pursue godliness be more 470 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:56,960 godly right the idea is that those that want to continue in sin will persist in 471 00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:02,200 sin and will continually become more sinful but judgment will come that's the 472 00:42:02,200 --> 00:42:08,320 warning but those who trust in God and pursue him will become more godly it's 473 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:13,400 the work of the Holy Spirit he does that in our lives and each is responsible 474 00:42:13,400 --> 00:42:17,040 individually for their response to the gospel and since Jesus is coming 475 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:22,560 suddenly since Jesus is coming like a thief the idea is that there's not going 476 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:28,800 to be time for change when he comes right some live that way I'll get my 477 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:36,160 life right tomorrow after all Jesus isn't coming till next week right some 478 00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:41,280 of us think that like we'll have time you know the trumpet sounds Jesus is in 479 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:46,360 the air we're like oh wow but he's he's over Florida okay cool I got 30 seconds 480 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:57,880 kumbaya you know and no it's not gonna be like that when he arrives it's time 481 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:04,120 verse 12 he says again look I am coming soon and my reward is with me to repay 482 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:09,680 each person according to his work so our first response obedience our second 483 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:14,160 response worship our third response witness our next response to the fact 484 00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:19,680 that Jesus is coming is to run the race to win the prize that's what Paul wrote 485 00:43:19,680 --> 00:43:24,520 about right Jesus is speaking here and he says my reward is with me that word 486 00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:29,880 reward literally means recognition by God for the moral quality of our actions 487 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:36,600 the reward that God has for us is recognition of the moral quality of how 488 00:43:36,600 --> 00:43:42,400 you lived were you living godly are we living sinfully he says my reward is with 489 00:43:42,400 --> 00:43:49,080 me to repay that word repay means recompense it means an earned reward or 490 00:43:49,080 --> 00:43:56,100 what we would call a price what is the prize God recognizing you you see in 491 00:43:56,100 --> 00:44:00,480 Philippians 314 it says I pursue is my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly 492 00:44:00,480 --> 00:44:05,960 call in Christ Jesus now you might think well heaven is a reward and heaven is 493 00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:11,360 part of the reward right we could go to heaven but that's not all of it we 494 00:44:11,360 --> 00:44:17,760 understand that we're not saved by our works but we are recognized by God we 495 00:44:17,760 --> 00:44:23,440 are celebrated by God for the life we live for him and that prize the prize 496 00:44:23,440 --> 00:44:27,240 that is being talked about here is to stand before the holy perfect God 497 00:44:27,240 --> 00:44:33,200 Almighty to stand before Jesus Christ in all his glory and hear him say well done 498 00:44:33,200 --> 00:44:42,120 good and faithful servant now enter into the joy of your Lord and in our sinful 499 00:44:42,120 --> 00:44:51,000 state I know some of us go that's it I thought I was getting a mansion made out 500 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:57,080 of gold and we think that's gonna mean something there the streets are made out 501 00:44:57,080 --> 00:45:03,960 of gold it's asphalt the reward is to stand before the holy perfect creator 502 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:09,680 and have him look at you and go good job you lived for me you glorified my name 503 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:14,800 you obeyed me you strove to do it yeah you weren't perfect that's why I died 504 00:45:14,800 --> 00:45:19,120 for you my blood covered it all but I saw you I saw your intention I saw that 505 00:45:19,120 --> 00:45:24,560 your your the goal of your life was to glorify God and good job enter into the 506 00:45:24,560 --> 00:45:29,400 joy of your Lord you know Jesus is the one that said store up your treasures 507 00:45:29,400 --> 00:45:34,760 in heaven we're gonna be talking about this in our giving thing but guess what 508 00:45:34,760 --> 00:45:42,400 now is the time to save for retirement not later our retirement our eternity in 509 00:45:42,400 --> 00:45:47,120 heaven now is the time to store up the treasures for that and it's those good 510 00:45:47,120 --> 00:45:51,800 works that obedience we live for the Lord we're safe we're going to heaven 511 00:45:51,800 --> 00:45:57,240 but there's a reward that is called into this and it's that recognition of God and 512 00:45:57,240 --> 00:46:02,360 so verse 13 he says I am the alpha and the omega the first and the last the 513 00:46:02,360 --> 00:46:08,040 beginning and the end these are just three ways of Jesus referring to himself 514 00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:12,520 as the everything right the alpha and omega those that's the first and last 515 00:46:12,520 --> 00:46:17,360 letter of the Greek alphabet and so when in the Greek language of ancient times 516 00:46:17,360 --> 00:46:20,200 when you refer to the alpha and the omega since it was the beginning letter 517 00:46:20,200 --> 00:46:23,720 in the last letter of the alphabet it was an idea of saying everything it was 518 00:46:23,720 --> 00:46:28,840 an idea of referencing the totality of things right and so this was applied to 519 00:46:28,840 --> 00:46:36,000 God incidentally in Revelation verse 1 or chapter 1 verse 8 and 21 verse 6 it 520 00:46:36,000 --> 00:46:40,160 was applied to God Almighty Jesus is here applying it to himself what does 521 00:46:40,160 --> 00:46:48,120 that tell us Jesus is God he's not a God he's God then he says the first and the 522 00:46:48,120 --> 00:46:53,960 last in the beginning and the end this is just again Jesus tying himself to God 523 00:46:53,960 --> 00:46:59,360 Almighty because in Isaiah chapter 41 verse 4 this is God Almighty speaking he 524 00:46:59,360 --> 00:47:05,240 says I am the Lord the first and the last I am he and then Jesus Christ the 525 00:47:05,240 --> 00:47:12,360 lamb says I am the first and the last again Jesus is God and so the idea of 526 00:47:12,360 --> 00:47:17,280 him identifying himself this way is although we will be rewarded in heaven 527 00:47:17,280 --> 00:47:23,320 the motivation to obey God to be and do what is right to be the people he's 528 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:27,880 calling us to be the motivation to be ready and prepared for his return is 529 00:47:27,880 --> 00:47:35,800 Jesus it's who he is it's not the prize in that sense it's him he is the 530 00:47:35,800 --> 00:47:43,440 ultimate prize to be with him in perfection everything is about Jesus 531 00:47:43,440 --> 00:47:49,760 honoring him glorifying him pleasing him praising him right get this understand 532 00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:55,840 this and the things of the world will lose their luster it becomes easier to 533 00:47:55,840 --> 00:48:03,920 trust when you get it it's all about him it becomes easier to give of time and 534 00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:09,080 money because it's all his anyways it gets easier to step in faith when it 535 00:48:09,080 --> 00:48:14,740 doesn't make sense I don't understand but it's all for him Jesus is the 536 00:48:14,740 --> 00:48:19,120 beginning and the middle and the end of every Christian so choose to live that 537 00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:24,320 way that's the idea here verse 14 blessed are those who wash their robe so that 538 00:48:24,320 --> 00:48:28,200 they might have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates 539 00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:32,440 outside are the dogs the sorcerers the sexually immoral the murderers the 540 00:48:32,440 --> 00:48:36,960 idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood that phrase wash 541 00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:41,940 your robes it's a euphemistic way to refer to being cleansed from sin right we 542 00:48:41,940 --> 00:48:45,720 see multiple times in Revelation and other places where the idea of being 543 00:48:45,720 --> 00:48:50,160 clothed in white robes is a picture of purity it's a picture of righteousness 544 00:48:50,160 --> 00:48:54,520 it's a picture of being cleansed by the blood of Christ and being cleansed of all 545 00:48:54,520 --> 00:49:00,040 sin now we know that faith and trust in the atoning work of Jesus is what saves 546 00:49:00,040 --> 00:49:04,320 us and so he goes blessed are those who are cleansed from their sin that they 547 00:49:04,320 --> 00:49:09,480 may have the right to the tree of life that word right also means they may have 548 00:49:09,480 --> 00:49:14,480 the authority to access it they have the right and the authority to eternal life 549 00:49:14,480 --> 00:49:19,220 in heaven it's it's the idea of having proper clearance you have the 550 00:49:19,220 --> 00:49:24,040 credentials to enter you have the right and authority and so we previously 551 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:27,400 mentioned in our study of the New Jerusalem that when we enter the gates 552 00:49:27,400 --> 00:49:31,920 of the New Jerusalem each one of the 12 gates or one huge pearl right we talked 553 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:37,680 about that in a previous study where a pearl is is a thing of beauty created 554 00:49:37,680 --> 00:49:41,840 through the suffering of the flesh it's the only precious gem that does that and 555 00:49:41,840 --> 00:49:46,800 so again we see here that that our salvation it's a thing of beauty created 556 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:50,720 through our trust in the suffering death of Jesus Christ and that's how we enter 557 00:49:50,720 --> 00:49:55,160 into God's glory now verse 15 there when it says outside are the dogs and that 558 00:49:55,160 --> 00:49:59,800 it's not suggesting that in heaven there are unsaved people outside Jerusalem 559 00:49:59,800 --> 00:50:03,960 knocking on the gates it's rather a warning for the readers of this 560 00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:09,160 revelation today it's a warning to all those who have rejected Jesus Christ 561 00:50:09,160 --> 00:50:13,720 today that stand unsaved and unwashed and they have no right to eternal life 562 00:50:13,720 --> 00:50:18,800 no right to the entrance into heaven it's a warning to them and some people 563 00:50:18,800 --> 00:50:24,440 look at this and go oh hey look dogs are in heaven that's not what it's getting 564 00:50:24,440 --> 00:50:29,240 at right and I don't have time to get into a whole thing is my dog gonna be 565 00:50:29,240 --> 00:50:35,880 in heaven with me talk to me after if you want to talk about that okay but 566 00:50:35,880 --> 00:50:39,920 dogs was an Old Testament way it was in the Old Testament dogs were equated 567 00:50:39,920 --> 00:50:44,200 with workers of evil so it's referring to those workers of evil those unclean 568 00:50:44,200 --> 00:50:49,680 scavengers is the idea here and so verse 16 I Jesus have sent my angel to 569 00:50:49,680 --> 00:50:54,040 attest these things to you for the churches I am the root and descendant of 570 00:50:54,040 --> 00:50:59,520 David the bright morning star and so it's with these solemn words that Jesus 571 00:50:59,520 --> 00:51:05,200 himself authenticates the entire book of Revelation he authenticates everything 572 00:51:05,200 --> 00:51:09,080 that's written here within regardless of how fantastic it is regardless of how 573 00:51:09,080 --> 00:51:13,880 unbelievable it seems regardless of how too good to true too good to be true 574 00:51:13,880 --> 00:51:18,440 some of it may seem he says it's all faithful and true it's right it's 575 00:51:18,440 --> 00:51:24,840 trustworthy it's accurate and he authenticates it by his messianic titles 576 00:51:24,840 --> 00:51:30,680 here he says I am the root and descendant of David that's one of the 577 00:51:30,680 --> 00:51:35,120 things that was that was proof of the Messiah right it was written about in 578 00:51:35,120 --> 00:51:40,480 David Jesus mentioned it in the Gospels he's the root of David meanings that he 579 00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:45,280 is the the creator of David right Jesus created David and then he says I'm also 580 00:51:45,280 --> 00:51:50,240 the descendant of David and that was a part of the whole picture that Jesus is 581 00:51:50,240 --> 00:51:55,120 God right but him being born of the lineage of David was claimed kingship 582 00:51:55,120 --> 00:51:59,360 was the legal proof that he was the king that was promised to sit on the throne 583 00:51:59,360 --> 00:52:03,080 of all mankind right that was the idea there and then when he says I'm the 584 00:52:03,080 --> 00:52:07,000 bright morning star that was another title used throughout the Old Testament 585 00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:10,760 for the Messiah the promised Savior and ruler of all things the one who would 586 00:52:10,760 --> 00:52:16,000 bring light to all humanity and so Jesus is authenticating this letter by his 587 00:52:16,000 --> 00:52:22,720 titles by saying I am the Messiah right I am the promised one to come verse 17 588 00:52:22,720 --> 00:52:28,560 both the Spirit and the bride say come let anyone who hears say come let the 589 00:52:28,560 --> 00:52:33,040 one who is thirsty come let the one who desires take the water of life from 590 00:52:33,040 --> 00:52:37,600 freely I love how it's saying the Spirit and the bride here because that speaks 591 00:52:37,600 --> 00:52:44,280 of the work we're called to today and how that work is accomplished today you 592 00:52:44,280 --> 00:52:49,480 know the bride is often a reference to the church right Ephesians chapter 5 this 593 00:52:49,480 --> 00:52:54,320 whole picture of a husband and a wife it says that the bride is the picture of the 594 00:52:54,320 --> 00:53:00,080 church we are the bride of Christ in John chapter 16 verse 8 it tells us that the 595 00:53:00,080 --> 00:53:04,640 Holy Spirit has a ministry in the world and that ministry in the world comes 596 00:53:04,640 --> 00:53:10,920 through the church through his people to declare Jesus Christ and to point to 597 00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:14,640 Jesus Christ now interestingly interestingly enough 598 00:53:14,640 --> 00:53:19,120 verse 16 is the first time the word church is used in Revelation since 599 00:53:19,120 --> 00:53:23,160 chapters 2 & 3 and it's one of the reasons why I believe the church is not 600 00:53:23,160 --> 00:53:28,880 present during the tribulation we're not there we see that the Saints do return 601 00:53:28,880 --> 00:53:32,800 with him during the Millennial Kingdom and then we see here in eternity that is 602 00:53:32,800 --> 00:53:35,800 the church the bride of Christ the redeemed the believers that are with 603 00:53:35,800 --> 00:53:42,720 Jesus forever but he is what it's all about it's the invitation here it's the 604 00:53:42,720 --> 00:53:46,760 clarion call going out here from the Spirit and the bride the church that is 605 00:53:46,760 --> 00:53:50,680 filled with the Holy Spirit equipped and enabled and gifted to go out and preach 606 00:53:50,680 --> 00:53:57,240 the gospel and to tell people about Jesus this is the call come to Jesus come 607 00:53:57,240 --> 00:54:04,960 to Jesus if you're thirsty for spiritual refreshment come if your desire is for 608 00:54:04,960 --> 00:54:09,600 salvation if you desire to be forgiven of your sins if you desire eternal life 609 00:54:09,600 --> 00:54:16,200 to be saved from the wrath to wrath to come come to Jesus if you want to be 610 00:54:16,200 --> 00:54:20,640 washed clean forgiven and enabled and empowered to live a holy and a righteous 611 00:54:20,640 --> 00:54:26,560 life now come to Jesus that's the clarion call here at the end of this 612 00:54:26,560 --> 00:54:32,240 letter here's what it's all about has always been about and will always be 613 00:54:32,240 --> 00:54:42,160 about come to Jesus come to Jesus for healing come to Jesus for forgiveness 614 00:54:42,160 --> 00:54:47,360 Jesus he is the one that the church proclaims through the power of the Holy 615 00:54:47,360 --> 00:54:52,840 Spirit he is the one that saves there is no other name by which man will be saved 616 00:54:52,840 --> 00:54:57,960 no other name by which we are saved but the name of Jesus it is only and ever 617 00:54:57,960 --> 00:55:05,080 Jesus which explains the closing warning here look at verse 18 I testified 618 00:55:05,080 --> 00:55:09,320 everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to 619 00:55:09,320 --> 00:55:12,560 them God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book and if 620 00:55:12,560 --> 00:55:15,880 anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy God will take away 621 00:55:15,880 --> 00:55:19,920 his share of the tree of life and the holy city which are written about in 622 00:55:19,920 --> 00:55:25,400 this book now I don't believe this is talking about losing your salvation per 623 00:55:25,400 --> 00:55:32,120 se the idea of this warning at the end of this book is what I just said this 624 00:55:32,120 --> 00:55:41,640 revelation was about who Jesus Christ scripture is about who Jesus Christ it's 625 00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:50,360 about God and who he is it's about God coming to this earth as the son it's 626 00:55:50,360 --> 00:55:54,720 about God the spirit dwelling within each one of us after the son ascended 627 00:55:54,720 --> 00:56:00,800 back to the right hand of the father all of that is about who he is and what he 628 00:56:00,800 --> 00:56:07,980 did what he did was something only he could do only Jesus could die for the 629 00:56:07,980 --> 00:56:12,480 sins of all mankind because Jesus is God he is the only perfect atoning 630 00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:18,960 sacrifice right it's all about him and so commentators aren't sure who's 631 00:56:18,960 --> 00:56:22,120 speaking here something it's John speaking something it's an angel 632 00:56:22,120 --> 00:56:26,360 something it's Jesus but if you have a Bible that has red letters in it you'll 633 00:56:26,360 --> 00:56:30,080 notice it's not in red letters right that's because the interpreters there 634 00:56:30,080 --> 00:56:36,600 didn't think it was Jesus speaking I don't think it matters but you don't 635 00:56:36,600 --> 00:56:41,800 mess with the word of God that's the idea here you don't mess with the word 636 00:56:41,800 --> 00:56:48,640 of God why because the word of God tells us who Jesus is it tells us the story of 637 00:56:48,640 --> 00:56:52,640 God the son coming to this earth born as a man living as a man that we may know 638 00:56:52,640 --> 00:56:57,960 the unknowable and that he may understand us and we would know that he 639 00:56:57,960 --> 00:57:02,760 understands us in every way the word of God tells us about our sinful condition 640 00:57:02,760 --> 00:57:07,080 it tells us of our hopeless situation before the holiness of our Creator and 641 00:57:07,080 --> 00:57:11,640 it tells us of the judgment to come upon sin and sinners because of his holy 642 00:57:11,640 --> 00:57:18,480 justice and then it tells us how he solved the problem of our sin for us 643 00:57:18,480 --> 00:57:26,520 because he loves us revelation is about Jesus Christ God Almighty come in the 644 00:57:26,520 --> 00:57:33,720 flesh to die for you so is the rest of Scripture and the price for tampering 645 00:57:33,720 --> 00:57:42,120 with God's Word the price for altering it changing it the price for rewriting it 646 00:57:42,120 --> 00:57:46,200 so that it is says something different about who Jesus is that he's just an 647 00:57:46,200 --> 00:57:51,760 angel that he's the brother of Michael the archangel that he's the brother of 648 00:57:51,760 --> 00:57:56,140 Lucifer that he he is Michael the archangel that's one of them that he's 649 00:57:56,140 --> 00:58:02,440 just a God that he was just a good man but he wasn't God any reinterpretation 650 00:58:02,440 --> 00:58:06,800 any rewriting of that and then how that affects who we are before him and how 651 00:58:06,800 --> 00:58:10,800 we're saved and how we get the promise in the hope of heaven all of that it's a 652 00:58:10,800 --> 00:58:19,800 very very high price and God takes it deadly serious because his word teaches 653 00:58:19,800 --> 00:58:24,680 us the truth about who he is tampering that truth tampers with 654 00:58:24,680 --> 00:58:29,680 everything and God takes that very seriously there is no truth more 655 00:58:29,680 --> 00:58:36,800 important than who Jesus is and what he did for us and what that means for us so 656 00:58:36,800 --> 00:58:43,400 the book closes here in verses 20 and 21 he justifies about these things says yes 657 00:58:43,400 --> 00:58:51,120 I am coming soon that is definitely Jesus John closes here with amen come 658 00:58:51,120 --> 00:58:58,600 Lord Jesus the grace of the Lord Jesus be with everyone amen Jesus is coming 659 00:58:58,600 --> 00:59:05,800 and it will be sudden it may be soon on our calendar we don't know could be 660 00:59:05,800 --> 00:59:12,120 another thousand years but when it happens it'll be sudden amen come Lord 661 00:59:12,120 --> 00:59:20,640 Jesus that is our hope and so I close this letter with a question do you know 662 00:59:20,640 --> 00:59:30,080 him as your Lord and Savior is he your Lord and Savior has he washed you clean 663 00:59:30,080 --> 00:59:37,040 of all of your sin by the blood of his sacrifice he does that through your 664 00:59:37,040 --> 00:59:42,240 faith and your trust in him yielding your life to him turning your life over 665 00:59:42,240 --> 00:59:46,280 to him saying God I'm gonna live obedient to you help me do that through 666 00:59:46,280 --> 00:59:51,040 the power of the Holy Spirit have you done that you'll notice earlier it 667 00:59:51,040 --> 00:59:54,560 didn't say whoever understands all doctrine and theology come and take of 668 00:59:54,560 --> 00:59:59,880 the water of life it didn't say whoever feels they are worthy come and take of 669 00:59:59,880 --> 01:00:05,080 the water of life it doesn't say whoever feels like they're able to live as a 670 01:00:05,080 --> 01:00:11,160 Christian then come and take the water of life it says whoever is thirsty 671 01:00:11,160 --> 01:00:17,400 whoever is thirsty that's a way the Bible talks about recognizing your 672 01:00:17,400 --> 01:00:24,880 spiritual lack recognizing that that without him you're spiritually dead 673 01:00:24,880 --> 01:00:29,760 recognizing that without him if you die in your sins it'll be judgment because 674 01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:36,600 God is holy and you are a sinner that's what thirsty means but then it says 675 01:00:36,600 --> 01:00:44,760 whoever desires whoever desires to change whoever desires to be changed do 676 01:00:44,760 --> 01:00:49,520 you desire to be washed clean of your sin do you desire to to have the hope 677 01:00:49,520 --> 01:00:54,840 of heaven do you desire to have a new heart a new spirit that that lives for 678 01:00:54,840 --> 01:01:03,400 what is good and righteous do you desire these things then come come to Jesus 679 01:01:03,400 --> 01:01:11,480 come to Jesus and receive forgiveness receive salvation receive an a new life 680 01:01:11,480 --> 01:01:19,880 be born again a new heart and then to know that when he returns that he's 681 01:01:19,880 --> 01:01:27,120 coming for you to take you to heaven if this is your desire then you are freely 682 01:01:27,120 --> 01:01:34,200 invited to come to him freely that's the truth of the gospel if you are willing 683 01:01:34,200 --> 01:01:39,240 he will receive you there is no barrier between you and Jesus except maybe your 684 01:01:39,240 --> 01:01:47,920 own stubborn will but there's no barrier that God has put up so let it go receive 685 01:01:47,920 --> 01:01:53,160 Jesus Christ receive salvation take freely of the water of life and be 686 01:01:53,160 --> 01:02:02,400 saved today the Bible says today is the day of salvation Jesus is either gonna 687 01:02:02,400 --> 01:02:09,160 return or you will pass away in this life either way one day you will 688 01:02:09,160 --> 01:02:14,200 suddenly be in his presence and the only thing that matters in that moment is 689 01:02:14,200 --> 01:02:20,720 whether you know him as your Lord and Savior or you don't and if you don't the 690 01:02:20,720 --> 01:02:27,760 promise of God's Word is that you will be judged in your sin and there is 691 01:02:27,760 --> 01:02:32,840 nothing you can do to pay the price for the sin that you've committed except 692 01:02:32,840 --> 01:02:38,520 apply the blood of Jesus Christ who died to forgive you of all of it let's pray 693 01:02:38,520 --> 01:02:46,600 father we trust you God so much if you're in this room today while we're 694 01:02:46,600 --> 01:02:51,320 praying heads bowed and eyes closed or if you're watching online and God has 695 01:02:51,320 --> 01:02:58,280 been speaking to you and you know you need to come to Jesus today you know you 696 01:02:58,280 --> 01:03:01,160 need to receive him as your Lord and Savior and maybe you've been resisting 697 01:03:01,160 --> 01:03:04,400 it maybe you've been coming to church for a while and God's been tapping on 698 01:03:04,400 --> 01:03:10,480 your shoulder and you've been saying no not yet not yet but today God has spoken 699 01:03:10,480 --> 01:03:14,800 to your heart and revealed to you that he is coming he is coming soon and it 700 01:03:14,800 --> 01:03:19,880 will be a sudden return and he has spoken to you about your desperate need 701 01:03:19,880 --> 01:03:26,800 to be ready to be clothed in a washed white robe of righteousness granted to 702 01:03:26,800 --> 01:03:32,640 you by your Creator washed clean by his shed blood on the cross as he atoned and 703 01:03:32,640 --> 01:03:39,080 paid the price for all of your sin and if today you realize I want that I need 704 01:03:39,080 --> 01:03:43,680 that I desire that I'm thirsty for that I just want you to pray with me right now 705 01:03:43,680 --> 01:03:51,040 whether you're here in our room or online and say Lord I desire to be saved 706 01:03:51,040 --> 01:04:02,400 give me a new heart cleanse me from all of my sin I'm thirsty to be spiritually 707 01:04:02,400 --> 01:04:12,000 refreshed I desire Lord to give up my sins I desire to yield my life to you 708 01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:22,400 I desire to be a Christian a follower of Jesus Christ I desire to believe and I 709 01:04:22,400 --> 01:04:31,160 desire to obey but God I know I have no strength to do this on my own so please 710 01:04:31,160 --> 01:04:39,960 fill me with the Holy Spirit I can't do it on my own Lord but I desire to do it 711 01:04:39,960 --> 01:04:52,400 give me the power to do so save my soul in Jesus name I pray amen you know if 712 01:04:52,400 --> 01:04:57,360 you prayed that prayer today we want to just celebrate with you and help you on 713 01:04:57,360 --> 01:05:01,740 this relationship you've just begun with God and we have these things called new 714 01:05:01,740 --> 01:05:05,160 believers packets or these little white envelopes here at the front or as you go 715 01:05:05,160 --> 01:05:08,440 out the back you can ask one of the elders out there hey I got saved today 716 01:05:08,440 --> 01:05:12,520 I need a new believers pack and it's just a collection of resources to help 717 01:05:12,520 --> 01:05:17,240 you now on this relationship but I will tell you this and now that you know 718 01:05:17,240 --> 01:05:21,480 Jesus Christ your your life's gonna be different temptation still gonna come 719 01:05:21,480 --> 01:05:24,160 and you're still gonna struggle and that's why you need the church around 720 01:05:24,160 --> 01:05:30,280 you the church to help hold you hold you accountable to your decision to help 721 01:05:30,280 --> 01:05:34,600 hold your arms up and to pray for you and to strengthen you to get into your 722 01:05:34,600 --> 01:05:38,360 Bible I encourage you read the Bible if you don't have a Bible we have a card 723 01:05:38,360 --> 01:05:42,320 in here to connect you to a Bible app and just read and say God speak to me 724 01:05:42,320 --> 01:05:47,600 he'll do that listen to worship music we got worship playlists in this new 725 01:05:47,600 --> 01:05:52,480 believers pack for you so you could just praise God for who he is and whether you 726 01:05:52,480 --> 01:05:56,880 plug in here at Hosanna as your church or it's somewhere else God leads you to 727 01:05:56,880 --> 01:06:01,920 make sure it's a place that teaches the Word of God and lifts the name of Jesus 728 01:06:01,920 --> 01:06:07,480 high that you would know him more and more and be ready to be blessed because 729 01:06:07,480 --> 01:06:11,620 knowing Jesus is the greatest blessing of all and for the rest of us I hope 730 01:06:11,620 --> 01:06:16,040 this study of Revelation has been a blessing to you I hope it's caused your 731 01:06:16,040 --> 01:06:21,280 walk to be better I hope it's brought you closer to Jesus Christ because he is 732 01:06:21,280 --> 01:06:26,040 our everything and let's be people who live lives and commit to living lives 733 01:06:26,040 --> 01:06:31,400 and of obedience to him not expecting to be perfect but walking in the spirit 734 01:06:31,400 --> 01:06:37,520 that we would sin less and glorify him more and to be people who tell others 735 01:06:37,520 --> 01:06:41,280 around us that don't yet know him about the hope that is in Jesus Christ amen 736 01:06:41,280 --> 01:07:02,280 God bless you guys