1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,620 Good morning. How are you all doing today? Awesome. Awesome. Yeah, I want to say if 2 00:00:07,620 --> 00:00:11,040 this is your first time joining us here at Hosanna Christian Fellowship or if 3 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,640 you're joining us online for the first time, we want to say welcome. We're so 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:20,120 glad you're here to worship with us today. I am Pastor Nathan and as a part 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:23,640 of today's service we will be celebrating in communion together so if 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:26,600 you're in the room you should have gotten one of our little communion cups 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:31,040 as you came in. If you did not we will be having the elders walk through the 8 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,920 room later to make sure you get those but if you're watching online I want to 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,660 encourage you to get your communion emblems ready. We will be taking 10 00:00:37,660 --> 00:00:42,080 communion at the end of service today but this morning we are looking at two 11 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:48,160 groups of people who answer the question, who represent the answer to the question 12 00:00:48,160 --> 00:00:52,940 that is asked at the very end of Revelation chapter 6. You see as we've 13 00:00:52,940 --> 00:00:57,800 been studying through Revelation the great day of the wrath of God has come. 14 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:03,200 The seals have been broken as God has started to pour out his judgment during 15 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,640 the tribulation time on earth and it's a terrible time of tribulation of 16 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:12,320 escalating judgments as God in this final period of the history of earth is 17 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:17,080 starting to judge the wickedness and the sin on earth and as these judgments are 18 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,200 pouring out it's like wave after wave crashing on the earth and each wave is 19 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:25,720 getting bigger as it then crashes down with the judgments of God each one 20 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,360 getting more destructive than the last and at the end of chapter 6 by the sixth 21 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:36,080 seal we see something very important that rebellious earth acknowledges the 22 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,920 truth that the judgments that are falling upon earth are from God Almighty 23 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,240 not that they believe in him not that they acknowledge him but we see that 24 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,160 they finally acknowledge that he is real and that the judgments are from him and 25 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:55,840 yet they still refuse to repent. So John then observes them at the very end of 26 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,400 Revelation chapter 6 verse 17 he observes them ask this important question 27 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:07,640 who is able to stand? Who is able to stand? That word stand their meaning to 28 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:12,880 endure which is very reminiscent of Malachi chapter 3 verse 2 which calls 29 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,920 this this end time the day of his coming and it says who will be able to endure 30 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:24,880 the day or the time of his coming? Well chapter 7 answers that question who is 31 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:29,840 able to stand during this time as God is judging the earth through a series of 32 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:36,120 climactic judgments that affect everyone on the earth at that time chapter 7 33 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:41,240 stands somewhat as a parenthetical between the sixth seal and the seventh 34 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:46,680 seal it's this moment in between the two a break in the action if you will 35 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:50,680 because it's like we've all seen it maybe in the movies or in comic books 36 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:56,040 specifically as a story is being told as the narrative is being expressed what 37 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:01,960 you see then is meanwhile right meanwhile and the camera will shift to 38 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:05,760 something else happening while the previous things are happening or in 39 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,720 that break in the action and so here between the sixth and seventh seals 40 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,600 things have gotten so bad that it tells us in Revelation 6 that people are 41 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:20,760 hiding in caves asking the rocks and the mountains to hide them from God Almighty 42 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:27,720 and they say who can stand who can endure the wrath that is to come you 43 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:33,000 know the same question is asked in Psalms chapter 76 verse 7 it says and you 44 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,880 you are to be feared speaking of God and that word feared there means you are 45 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:45,520 awe-inspiring and it says when you are angry who can stand before you well it's 46 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,840 not the wicked it's not the sinners it's not the rebellious because we see in 47 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,800 Psalm chapter 1 verse 5 it says therefore the wicked will not stand up 48 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:57,880 in the judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous and so again 49 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:04,400 who can stand during this time who can endure during this time well the answer 50 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,240 is two groups actually and we see both of those groups here in chapter 7 of 51 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,920 Revelation the first group is a very specifically numbered hundred and 52 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:18,440 forty-four thousand from the tribes of Israel Jews who are sealed and protected 53 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,000 during this time and the second group is called a vast multitude that nobody 54 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:27,800 could number you know back in the Old Testament the prophet Habakkuk he saw 55 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,960 what was coming on the nation of Israel as God was about to pour out his 56 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,400 judgment on the nation of Israel and he asked a very important question in his 57 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:41,400 prophecy the question he asked is God why would you let this happen it's a 58 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:45,800 question people are gonna be asking during the time of tribulation God why 59 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,680 would you let this happen but as Habakkuk went and had his 60 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:54,200 conversation with God he came to understand what God was doing and why he 61 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:59,320 was doing it he came to understand God's judgment against sin came to understand 62 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:03,960 that God in his holiness and justice has to judge sin and so as he let it all 63 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:10,040 sink in Habakkuk then said okay God I get it but please in your judgment 64 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:17,760 remember mercy I know you need to judge sin God but please when you do lace it 65 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:23,040 with mercy and thankfully that is a pattern that our God follows we see that 66 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:27,200 throughout the entire scripture that as God has to pour out his judgment at 67 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,560 times he does lace that judgment with mercy and that is exactly what we see 68 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:35,320 extended to these two groups of people during the tribulation time and so 69 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,120 that's what we're going to be looking at today in chapter 7 but first we as God's 70 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,640 people are gonna spend some time worshiping him praising his name because 71 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:47,820 he is almighty he is worthy he is the lamb that was slain for our sin and he 72 00:05:47,820 --> 00:05:52,320 deserves all the praise from his people amen father God we thank you Lord so 73 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:58,080 much for who you are God that we here in this age of grace during this church age 74 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:03,560 Lord we were able to stand as people redeemed washed clean by the blood of 75 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,720 the Lamb Lord and we're so grateful for that we're so thankful for that Lord but 76 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:11,680 God we know there is a time coming that as you take your church out of this world 77 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,520 and then pour out your wrath on the sin and the sinners that still abide here 78 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:19,660 Lord we know that even during that time your mercy is still extended that 79 00:06:19,660 --> 00:06:24,400 salvation is still possible and that there will be some who cry out to you 80 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:28,960 for salvation Lord we know during this time that you have a special plan and 81 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,440 purpose for your chosen people Israel and God we're so thankful Lord that in 82 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,720 the midst of your judgments there is still mercy there is still grace there 83 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:41,840 is still the opportunity for salvation and so God we want to study and learn 84 00:06:41,840 --> 00:06:46,040 and see what you're gonna be doing during this time not Lord that we would 85 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:50,360 then delay our own salvation and say I'll do it later but God to see how 86 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,640 glorious and graceful and merciful you are God and that is your people today 87 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:59,400 saved by the blood of Christ we would be people who walk in that grace and that 88 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:05,840 mercy as we preach salvation to the lost as we share the need God for people to 89 00:07:05,840 --> 00:07:10,740 cry out to you as we warn them about judgment to come that they would have 90 00:07:10,740 --> 00:07:15,920 the salvation that you offer them today Lord we love you we thank you God we 91 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,800 ask that you would be praised we ask that our worship would glorify your name 92 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:26,280 today and it's in your name Jesus we pray amen all right we are in Revelation 93 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:34,400 chapter 7 and so it says in verse 1 after this I saw four angels standing at 94 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:38,360 the four corners of the earth restraining the four winds of the earth so 95 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:44,440 that no wind could blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree then I saw 96 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:50,280 another angel rising up from the east who had the seal of the living God he 97 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,320 cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were allowed to harm the 98 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:58,280 earth in the sea don't harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the 99 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,960 servants of our God on their foreheads and I heard the number of the sealed 100 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:10,720 144,000 sealed from every tribe is of the Israelites then he goes on in verses 101 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,480 5 through 8 to give a breakdown of those 144,000 from the tribes of the 102 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:21,320 Israelites 12,000 from each tribe and he mentions them Judah Ruben Gad Asher 103 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:28,720 Naphtali Manasseh Simeon Levi Issachar Zebulun Joseph and Benjamin now if 104 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:34,280 you'll notice there in verse 1 he opens with after this that is a term of 105 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:40,480 chronology after this after John witnesses from heaven the events of the 106 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:46,120 first through sixth seals but before the seventh seal after this he mentions 107 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:50,280 that he sees something taking place there and he mentions immediately these 108 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:55,600 four angels at the four corners of the earth now you know when you're studying 109 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:00,480 the Bible good biblical hermeneutics and if you've never heard that word don't 110 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,840 worry about it you don't even remember it it's a fancy term for the proper way 111 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,840 to interpret the Bible or the study and interpretation of Scripture one of the 112 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,720 rules of hermeneutics is when you read Scripture the first thing you do is take 113 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:17,360 it at its plain reading and then if the plain reading isn't clear you then start 114 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:21,320 to evaluate the symbolism or the intent behind certain types of things and as 115 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,440 we're studying through Revelation there is a lot that is symbolic that is 116 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:30,040 metaphorical but there's also a lot that is just plain as it is read and so these 117 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,480 four angels there I believe are four angels that had control or authority 118 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,280 over something in the earth and then when it uses this phrase the four 119 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:44,520 corners of the earth that phrase is an ancient phrase that was used similar to 120 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:47,960 our modern equivalent when we would say something like the four points of the 121 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:52,640 compass we would understand what that means north south east west it means it 122 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:56,720 means the entire area or the entire earth and so these four angels are 123 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:00,520 standing at the four corners of the earth the indication there the 124 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,680 implication is that these four angels have some type of worldwide effect or 125 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:08,720 worldwide influence or authority and specifically there it says that the 126 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:12,840 restraining the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the earth 127 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:17,920 the sea or any tree now biblically if you go through and you look at the idea 128 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:22,560 of winds and how they're related to God's work or heavenly work or those 129 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:27,200 types of things what you'll see is that winds often refer to the destructive 130 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,680 force of God's judgment it's when God's judgment is being poured out it is often 131 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:36,360 referred to as winds going forth one examples in the Old Testament in Hosea 132 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:41,080 chapter 13 verse 15 it says although he flourishes among his brothers an east 133 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:45,360 wind will come a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert and his water 134 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:49,600 sources will fail and his springs will run dry and the wind will plunder the 135 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:55,160 treasury of every precious item and so that is a a symbolic telling of God's 136 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:59,520 judgment coming forth and there's many other examples but when it says the four 137 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,040 angels at the four corners of the earth are restraining the four winds the four 138 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:09,160 winds is a way to refer to the worldwide judgment the four corners of the compass 139 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:13,800 if you will that judgment that has taken place worldwide is now being restrained 140 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:19,080 after the sixth seal or during the sixth seal but before the seventh and so with 141 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:23,680 a chronological view of the seals and the trumpets and the bold judgments of 142 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:29,520 Revelation what we're seeing here is a momentary cessation of wrath a momentary 143 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,440 restraining of what is being poured forth after the sixth seal these four 144 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:37,840 winds these these four winds representing the worldwide judgment of 145 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:42,640 God is being temporarily restrained and then what we also then get is a glimpse 146 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:47,520 of what is taking place on the earth during this time and a glimpse of what 147 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,040 is to come because of that if you remember when we looked at the first four 148 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,440 seals you had the first four seals that were represented by the four horsemen of 149 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:59,320 the apocalypse and those were both a chronological unveiling of activities 150 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:03,080 and judgments on earth but they were also a picture a summary of the entire 151 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:08,120 tribulation and so we see that here in Revelation 7 as well as we look at the 152 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:13,160 uncountable number of people that are saved and then we see here another angel 153 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:17,880 it says with the seal of God used to seal some particular servants of God on 154 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:23,240 their foreheads and again that seal the idea is in ancient times kings or people 155 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,080 in authority would have a signet ring with some type of marking some type of 156 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:31,200 logo some type of brand on it that represented who they were in their 157 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,960 authority and then if they wanted to seal something to say this can only be 158 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,360 opened by somebody who bears this mark or the fact that this thing that is 159 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,160 being delivered with the seal bears the authority or the ownership of the one 160 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:47,360 who sealed it kings would then like you know put wax on it and stab it with 161 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,080 their signet ring and so these seals would be something that kings or 162 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:55,280 property owners would use to show ownership or authenticity and so this 163 00:12:55,280 --> 00:13:00,920 angel has the seal of God himself who he then goes for and seals this hundred 164 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:05,120 and forty four thousand so this first group that we see that I believe is an 165 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:10,700 answer to the question who can stand during this time of tribulation is this 166 00:13:10,700 --> 00:13:14,720 hundred and forty four thousand now they're very specifically numbered 167 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:20,440 right it says a hundred and forty four thousand and then just in case we're 168 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,720 tempted to think oh that's just metaphorical it tells us exactly how 169 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:28,400 that hundred and forty four thousand has come to twelve thousand from each of 170 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,400 these twelve tribes but what I want to point out here in our study of this 171 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,320 because the question is like well who are these hundred and forty four thousand 172 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,120 servants of God because there are numerous different interpretations of 173 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:43,760 this that different groups have different people different ways that 174 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:47,440 revelation is interpreted sometimes leads to different interpretations of 175 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,880 these hundred and forty four thousand and so I just want to look at what it 176 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:59,520 says from the tribe of the Israelites is that unclear what does he mean by 177 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:07,320 Israelites he means Israelites hundred and forty four thousand from every tribe 178 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:11,960 of the Israelites now that's an interesting thing to note because like I 179 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:16,280 said some people in our world today say no this hundred and forty four thousand 180 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:22,320 refers to our modern group our modern church some people look at that and go 181 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:27,720 no it's a purely metaphorical way to refer to just some general gathering of 182 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:33,040 people who are saved some just say it just represents any particular group of 183 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:37,400 saved people for example Seventh-day Adventists which some of you are 184 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:42,080 familiar they believe that the hundred and forty four thousand are them and 185 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,000 it's not exactly a hundred and forty four thousand what it refers to is 186 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:50,360 people who are adherents of Adventist Adventist theology that's who the hundred 187 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:55,360 and forty four thousand are and they refer to themselves as spiritual Israel 188 00:14:55,360 --> 00:15:00,080 so that's how they get around the fact that it says Israelites one of the ones 189 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:04,880 we're probably most familiar with is the Jehovah's Witness cult right they 190 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:09,520 initially when they first started said we Jehovah's Witnesses we are the hundred 191 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,880 and forty four thousand and so we are the ones that are going to be going to 192 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:17,680 heaven the problem was is when one hundred and forty four thousand and one 193 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:26,080 got saved they were like what do we tell that person sorry bro you took too long 194 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:30,040 right I mean it was it became a it became a problem and so what the 195 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,160 Jehovah's Witness cult had to do was then adjust their theology and say well 196 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,320 well the first hundred and forty four thousand Jehovah's Witnesses which are 197 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:40,400 which are these hundred and forty four thousand they're the ones going to 198 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:45,160 heaven and every single one sense are just going to be inhabiting the new 199 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:50,240 earth and so they got the second place prize or something like that but the 200 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:53,520 real challenge is when you talk to Jehovah's Witness about this and they 201 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:57,200 say we are the hundred and forty four thousand one of my favorite questions 202 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:05,120 is cool which tribe are you from and there's never a good answer there was 203 00:16:05,120 --> 00:16:08,320 another cult called the worldwide Church of God led by a man named Herbert 204 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:11,960 Armstrong he claimed that the members of his church were the hundred and forty 205 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:16,840 four thousand some go so far as to say it's not even referring to Jewish 206 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:20,680 people as I mentioned that it's just a metaphorical thing you know because 207 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,200 what they say is that this listing of the twelve tribes it's an irregular 208 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:30,280 listing it's not a normal listing of the tribes right and in the the reason they 209 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:33,800 say that is because when you read the listing as we read there the tribe of 210 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,240 Dan is left out the tribe of Dan which is one of the original twelve tribes is 211 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:43,300 not mentioned the tribe of Manasseh is added in his place and so they go 212 00:16:43,300 --> 00:16:47,280 because it's an irregular listing this can't be a literal listing of a hundred 213 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,280 forty four thousand Jewish people and there's reasons for that one of the 214 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,960 reasons people think Dan is left out is because the tribe of Dan was the tribe 215 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:59,880 of Israel that really aggressively brought in idolatry into the people of 216 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:04,320 Israel and so they were kind of dealt with for that but they are going to be 217 00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:07,040 redeemed in the Millennium but we don't have time to get into that type of stuff 218 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:11,720 but the idea or the the follow-up to that saying these aren't to Jews because 219 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:17,440 it's an irregular listing is well what is a normal listing of the tribes right 220 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:21,840 how is it supposed to be listed because if you go through the Old Testament the 221 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:28,000 tribes of Israel are listed in no less than 20 different ways 20 different ways 222 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,600 that the tribes of Israel are listed including one in first Chronicles 223 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:36,800 chapters 4 through 7 which indeed omits the tribe of Dan so if for someone to 224 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,080 say these aren't actually Jewish people because the list is weird what is a 225 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,640 normal list the Bible itself lists them in different ways and so just because a 226 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,080 listing of the tribes has subtle differences doesn't then mean the only 227 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:53,520 conclusion is that this list is symbolic or metaphorical and so again it says 228 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:59,800 from every tribe of the Israelites and then it lists 12,000 from the tribes and 229 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,440 so the point of this is that this hundred and forty four thousand this 230 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:07,520 first group of people in this parenthetical moment between the six and 231 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:12,760 seven seals that are able to stand are Jewish children of Israel they are part 232 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:18,880 of the God's special chosen people the Jews they are the covenant people that 233 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:23,640 scripture tells us and some people get all bent out of shape about this you 234 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:29,120 know well I'm a part of the church yes we are but but the Jews are a special 235 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:33,800 covenant people special to the Lord and have been from the very beginning the 236 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:38,240 Jewish people have always had a very special place in God's prophetic plan 237 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:42,280 and he you just read through scripture you see how many covenants that he made 238 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:46,800 with this special group of people and then when you look at the Jewish people 239 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:51,600 as a whole to to identify just a lot of the reasons why they're so special 240 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:57,160 scripture largely came from them that's where scripture God's Word came from 241 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:01,680 it's a lot of it is about them a matter of fact three-quarters of the entire 242 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:07,200 Bible is about the Jewish people it's about the Jewish people in their nation 243 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:13,280 almost every single author of scripture is Jewish they are the ones that 244 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,800 preserved scripture as a part of their culture they would meticulously hand the 245 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,440 scripture down from father to son as a father the scribes would they would 246 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,160 write every letter of scripture they would record it page by page and then 247 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:29,600 they would train their sons to do it who had been carrying on that tradition 248 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,880 and and this process happened over hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and 249 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:40,800 hundreds of years preserving God's Word the Apostles of Jesus all Jewish the 250 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:50,280 Savior of the world Jesus himself Jewish the first church in Jerusalem was a 251 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:56,000 Jewish congregation the Jewish people have a very special place in God's heart 252 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:01,120 that's not to diminish those of us that aren't Jewish it's just a fact that they 253 00:20:01,120 --> 00:20:06,640 are very special people to God in fact in Romans chapter 9 verses 4 through 5 254 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:11,000 Paul the Apostle said this they are Israelites and to them belong the 255 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,880 adoption the glory the covenants the giving of the law the temple service and 256 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:20,400 the promises the ancestors are theirs and from them by physical descent came 257 00:20:20,400 --> 00:20:26,200 the Christ who is God over all praised forever amen and so one of the truths 258 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:32,400 about the tribulation period this final seven years of Earth's history during 259 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:39,120 this this time this age we're in is at least in part about Israel it's about 260 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:44,000 the Jews it's at least in part to prepare Israel to receive its Messiah 261 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:48,080 that's one of the reasons why this last seven year time of tribulation is 262 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:54,200 referred to as the time of Jacob's trouble in Jeremiah chapter 30 Jacob was 263 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:59,520 the one incidentally who is renamed Israel it's the time of Israel's trouble 264 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:05,720 in Daniel chapter 9 the prophet Daniel gave us a prophetic calendar and this 265 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:10,520 prophetic calendar about the end times events it's all about the Jewish nation 266 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:16,440 it's all about Jerusalem it's a very beautiful and detailed promise of the 267 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:21,240 second coming of the Messiah and so it's commonly referred to as the 70 weeks of 268 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:25,600 Daniel okay we don't have time to break down all the details of it but go read 269 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:30,160 Daniel chapter 9 it's a very interesting study to look at what Daniel has to say 270 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:34,760 about the prophetic calendar of earth and so in this thing real quick he says 271 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:39,520 there are 70 weeks allotted to the history of what God is doing and what he 272 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:45,080 means by weeks is groups of seven so 70 groups of seven okay you could get into 273 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:49,000 all the math and stuff and there's math from you know the time that that this 274 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:54,200 happens you you have 69 of these weeks and then the Messiah shows up and he's 275 00:21:54,200 --> 00:21:59,440 gonna be cut off and then you have the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy that 276 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:03,400 hasn't happened yet because there's a pause in that prophetic calendar as we 277 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:09,720 have been in the age of grace the age of the church but this 70th week of Daniel 278 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:14,880 is known as the day of the Lord or the great tribulation the tribulation time 279 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:19,440 that is to come that which we are studying here in Revelation and so as we 280 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:23,480 are reading and studying about what God is doing on the earth in this time much 281 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:30,040 of it is to prepare Israel nationally to receive their Messiah now nationally 282 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:36,080 Israel doesn't do that today nationally they don't accept Jesus as the Messiah 283 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:41,120 in fact they didn't do that the first time he came either did they the matter 284 00:22:41,120 --> 00:22:47,160 of fact it says that he came to his own and they received him not which is then 285 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:51,760 why he says he goes I came to my people they rejected me and then I extended the 286 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,520 offer to the whole world including Gentiles and that's the age that we 287 00:22:55,520 --> 00:23:02,000 live in today but one day they will one day they will accept their Messiah they 288 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:07,320 will accept Jesus as their Messiah and many Jews will be saved and sealed as a 289 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:12,440 part of that process to proclaim Jesus as Messiah and guess how many are going 290 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,320 to be sealed and saved to do that a hundred and forty four thousand of them 291 00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,600 twelve thousand from each tribe now again that idea of being sealed means 292 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:28,320 that there is some type of mark imprint on them that represented who they belong 293 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:32,360 to it represented ownership on authenticity and protection and so it's 294 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,640 like God saying on these particular Jewish people here's my signet ring 295 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:42,040 here's my here's my signature they belong to me they are mine they know me 296 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:47,160 and I will protect them it's interesting interestingly during this age of grace 297 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:52,000 in Ephesians chapter 1 we see a very similar picture if not the same picture 298 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,080 as Ephesians chapter 1 tells us that that during the age of grace the church 299 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:00,960 those that are saved both doing Jew and Gentile during the church age are sealed 300 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:06,280 with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance and so 301 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:10,200 we have that same picture there but here in Revelation chapter 7 specifically 302 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:14,040 these hundred forty four thousand are Jewish believers who come to believe in 303 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:20,080 Jesus as Messiah after the tribulation has begun in Revelation 14 we see these 304 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:23,800 hundred forty four thousand again having survived the terrors of tribulation 305 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:28,360 being protected by God during this time and there in Revelation 14 it says they 306 00:24:28,360 --> 00:24:34,000 show up with Jesus on Mount Zion being the redeemed of the earth so other 307 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:37,640 reasons that I believe these are actually Jewish people and not just some 308 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:42,120 symbolic representation of the church or something else one is that the tribal 309 00:24:42,120 --> 00:24:46,880 affiliations are very specific it doesn't just say oh tribes of some people 310 00:24:46,880 --> 00:24:51,120 it's like no no tribes from these very specific tribes that are known and 311 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:55,920 recognized as tribes of Israel so they are a very particular socio-political 312 00:24:55,920 --> 00:25:02,040 group of people the term Israelites is never specifically applied to the church 313 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,120 in the New Testament and it says that they're from every tribe of the 314 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:11,040 Israelites if you go to Romans chapter 11 you'll read there that it tells us 315 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:14,200 that because Israel didn't want Jesus when he came the first time that there 316 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,440 was a partial hardening of Israel and it says until the fullness of the Gentiles 317 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:22,520 and that is the age we're in now but once that fullness of the Gentiles comes 318 00:25:22,520 --> 00:25:27,160 God is gonna then start dealing with his people Israel again during tribulation so 319 00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:32,200 God hasn't rejected his people which some teach some profess some say God is 320 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:35,920 done with Israel altogether but that is not what we see through Revelation as a 321 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:40,640 time of their national salvation will come and so again these hundred forty 322 00:25:40,640 --> 00:25:44,880 four thousand according to Revelation 14 verse 4 it says they are redeemed from 323 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:49,520 humanity as the first fruits for God and the Lamb and that idea of first fruits 324 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:54,480 means that they are the beginning of the harvest of the full salvation of Israel 325 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:59,680 and so I don't see them as symbolic of the church which incidentally is 326 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:03,880 required for some of the alternate interpretations of Revelation for some 327 00:26:03,880 --> 00:26:09,120 that may line up with a mid tribulation rapture or a pre-wrath rapture in those 328 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:14,720 particular interpretations it requires you to look at the Jews in Revelation is 329 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:20,120 not as actually Jews but as just a symbolic telling or you have to look at 330 00:26:20,120 --> 00:26:24,600 Israel as the same as the church and biblically Israel and the church are not 331 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:28,680 the same group of people and so prophecies specifically for one don't 332 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:33,160 necessarily apply to the other so what are these people doing what are these 333 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:37,760 Jewish people doing what are they sealed for and what are they sealed to do during 334 00:26:37,760 --> 00:26:40,920 the tribulation period well I believe that they are sealed to help fulfill a 335 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:46,000 prophecy that Jesus made shortly before his crucifixion this prophecy that Jesus 336 00:26:46,000 --> 00:26:50,320 made was in Matthew chapter 24 and incidentally Matthew is the gospel that 337 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,800 was written to primarily a Jewish audience and so when you read the gospel 338 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:58,320 of Matthew it's really helpful to to interpret what you're reading through 339 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:02,880 the lens of the Jewish individual of Jewish culture of Jewish understanding 340 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:07,520 and so Jesus there speaking in Matthew 24 about this tribulation time predicts 341 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:12,120 a great persecution that will fall on the Jewish people during tribulation but 342 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:16,520 then he says in Matthew 24 14 that the good news of the kingdom will be 343 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:21,600 proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations and then the 344 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:25,800 end will come and so what are these hundred forty four thousand sealed for 345 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:30,120 sealed to do what are they doing during tribulation well I believe they're Jewish 346 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:35,280 evangelists to go out and preach the the truth of the Messiah the truth of the 347 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:38,940 gospel during this time where God's judgments are being poured out upon the 348 00:27:38,940 --> 00:27:43,320 earth and these are 144,000 Jewish people who believe that Jesus is their 349 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:47,600 Messiah and they zealously go out to preach to the whole world it says and 350 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:52,160 due to them being sealed in Revelation 14 saying that they are redeemed from the 351 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:55,800 earth that they are purchased and protected that they then survive the 352 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:59,600 judgments that are being poured out on earth during this time and that leads us 353 00:27:59,600 --> 00:28:03,760 to the next group of people that we see standing out of the tribulation verse 354 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:10,000 nine of Revelation 7 he says after this I looked and there was a vast multitude 355 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:13,760 from every nation tribe people and language which no one could number 356 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:17,600 standing before the throne and before the lamb they were clothed in white 357 00:28:17,600 --> 00:28:23,880 robes with palm branches in their hands so you'll notice that this group is very 358 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:29,440 different from the hundred forty four thousand some read Revelation 7 and go 359 00:28:29,440 --> 00:28:33,920 oh they're the same people they're the same people but unlike the first group 360 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,440 which very specifically said hundred and forty four thousand twelve thousand from 361 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:43,960 each tribe this troop said this group it calls a vast multitude which no one 362 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:48,600 could number that's different than the first group they're not the same group 363 00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:53,440 of people and on top of that they're not sealed like the hundred forty four 364 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:58,280 thousand were sealed so I believe this group of people are Gentiles specifically 365 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:03,240 because it uses this phrase from every nation tribe people and language and 366 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:08,080 that is a biblical way a biblical phrase often used to refer to everybody else on 367 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:12,360 the earth so you got the hundred forty four thousand from the Israelites and 368 00:29:12,360 --> 00:29:17,800 then you have this vast multitude of everybody else right now it also can't 369 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:22,360 be the church as some think because the 24 elders which represent the church 370 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:27,840 back in Revelation 4 and 5 they're in heaven prior to the seals being broken 371 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:34,200 on top of that it tells us as those 24 elders are in heaven seated on thrones 372 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:39,280 but this group they are standing before the throne after the seals have started 373 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:43,880 additionally I don't believe that these are the church being saved at the mid 374 00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:47,000 point or some point in tribulation because John doesn't even know who they 375 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:51,720 are look at verse 13 then one of the elders asked John who are these people 376 00:29:51,720 --> 00:29:56,280 in white robes and where did they come from the phrasing in the original 377 00:29:56,280 --> 00:30:00,840 language is John do you know who these people are what does John say in verse 378 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:09,600 14 I said to him sir you know that's a way to say why are you asking me I don't 379 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:14,360 know you do that's what this phrase reads in the original language and then 380 00:30:14,360 --> 00:30:18,680 it says then he told me or the elder told him these are the ones coming out 381 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,920 of the great tribulation they wash their robes and made them white in the blood 382 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:27,800 of the Lamb so it tells us very specifically who they are these are the 383 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:31,640 ones coming out of the tribulation time it calls it the great tribulation here 384 00:30:31,640 --> 00:30:35,880 but this group is a huge number of people it's a huge number of people 385 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:42,960 having been saved during the events of the tribulation period likely at least in 386 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:46,080 part by the preaching of these hundred and forty four thousand Jewish 387 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:51,320 evangelists who are preaching to the whole world and all the nations and so 388 00:30:51,320 --> 00:30:54,560 these are people that during the tribulation time are saved by their 389 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:59,400 faith in Jesus these are people who came to trust Jesus and to love Jesus it says 390 00:30:59,400 --> 00:31:03,440 that they have white robes on and again those white robes is that picture of the 391 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:07,120 redemption that has been granted to them by the blood of Christ as a matter of 392 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:11,800 fact it says they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb 393 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:16,160 it says that they have palm branches again that was a picture that we saw in 394 00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,600 Palm Sunday right as the people were waving these palm branches was a 395 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:24,040 picture of deliverance it was a picture of deliverance from the intertestamental 396 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:27,000 period with the Maccabees and the whole thing that took place there but when 397 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,440 they were delivered from their oppressors they were waving these palm 398 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:34,040 branches that represented God has delivered us and so we see these people 399 00:31:34,040 --> 00:31:37,480 with these white robes and these palm branches representing their deliverance 400 00:31:37,480 --> 00:31:43,160 their salvation they're accepted by God people who are accepted by him having 401 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:48,960 been rejected on earth now as we get further into the the study of revelation 402 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:52,920 we're gonna see that the tribulation period is a very difficult time for 403 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:58,000 those who decide to put their faith in Jesus Christ some of us today here on 404 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:05,120 this earth we're like it's hard to be a Christian people make fun of me people 405 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,360 people give me a hard time and there are many people please do not 406 00:32:09,360 --> 00:32:13,160 misunderstand me worldwide that are suffering greatly for their faith but 407 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:18,760 here in America it's getting worse but but it's nothing like it's gonna be in 408 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:23,040 tribulation period tribulation period is gonna be all the stuff we read about in 409 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:28,480 in in in speculations where it's like no no you someone finds out you're a 410 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:33,760 Christian they're gonna come and kill you they're gonna come and and not just 411 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:36,720 take away your business but it's gonna be your very life on the line simply for 412 00:32:36,720 --> 00:32:44,180 saying I believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah and so these people rejected by 413 00:32:44,180 --> 00:32:47,440 the earth during tribulation having accepted Jesus and being accepted by 414 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:53,680 God are seen here in Revelation 7 but I want to see them in in in encourage you 415 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,600 with their picture because you might be going through a time of pressure right 416 00:32:57,600 --> 00:33:03,080 now here on earth to conform specifically here in America we are 417 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:07,000 under great pressure to conform to certain cultural and societal changes 418 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:11,960 when it comes to gender ideology and gender identification pressure pressure 419 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:18,400 pressure pressure you have to conform just most recently the some of you've 420 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:22,160 read about it what's happening Dodger Stadium right there we're entering into 421 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:25,400 Pride Month and and they're having their pride thing and there's this particular 422 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:31,360 group that whose whole purpose is to is to mock Catholicism and they dress up 423 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:37,080 as nuns and they're celebrating the just the lifestyle and initially Dodger 424 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:41,720 Stadium was like we're not gonna give you an award because you're not just 425 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,920 about promoting your lifestyle you're specifically about mocking the faith of 426 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:49,360 Catholics and then everybody's like how dare you do that and then he said okay 427 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:53,160 you can come back we'll give you an award and there's this pressure in 428 00:33:53,160 --> 00:33:57,800 society today every generation's had something but the pressure today in the 429 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:03,720 world is to accept this this ideology and we've already seen it happen where 430 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:07,360 no if you if you don't accept this ideology you can't even have a business 431 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:10,960 you can't make cakes you can't sell flowers if you don't accept this 432 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,280 ideology you're not gonna get money for your public school if you don't accept 433 00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:19,600 this ideology you can't work here if you don't accept this ideology that's the 434 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:24,600 pressure we're under today but there's other pressures that we face in the 435 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:28,720 world as we're trying to walk and live and and be the people God has called us 436 00:34:28,720 --> 00:34:34,040 to be there's pressures to to go party and do drugs and drink and be a part of 437 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:38,240 that whole lifestyle there's pressures to cheat on your spouse constantly from 438 00:34:38,240 --> 00:34:43,400 every angle there's all kinds of pressure and the pressure comes with oh 439 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:46,520 why don't you just stop going to church and why don't you stop believing that 440 00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,480 oppressive stuff and why don't you just why don't you just let go of that and 441 00:34:49,480 --> 00:34:53,400 you know stop holding to the fact that Jesus is the way the truth in the life 442 00:34:53,400 --> 00:34:56,720 you know everybody is spiritual and we all have our different path and pressure 443 00:34:56,720 --> 00:35:03,520 pressure pressure pressure you can't have your Bible on your desk at work oh 444 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,920 yeah that they can have their Quran on their desk at work but you can't have 445 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:13,760 your Bible on your desk at work and it's easy to start thinking you know it's so 446 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:17,720 hard to stand against that because I have to be around these people all the 447 00:35:17,720 --> 00:35:22,680 time right if it's in your workplace sometimes it's family your social circle 448 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:30,980 but don't forget don't forget that there will be a time coming where you and them 449 00:35:30,980 --> 00:35:37,200 will stand before God will stand before God Almighty and you will stand before 450 00:35:37,200 --> 00:35:43,800 him and you will answer to him and so the pressure can be great the pressure 451 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:50,000 can be overwhelming but you don't have to give in the Holy Spirit that you have 452 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:54,440 within you can strengthen you to stand against that the truth of the gospel can 453 00:35:54,440 --> 00:35:57,000 give you the strength to stand against that but more importantly know that 454 00:35:57,000 --> 00:36:02,840 they're gonna stand against God before God one day and so will you and when God 455 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:08,840 says what did you do with my son I don't want to be there and be like well I said 456 00:36:08,840 --> 00:36:11,800 I believed in him but you know I just kept relenting and backing away and 457 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,240 accepting sin and trying to make everybody happy I want to be able to say 458 00:36:15,240 --> 00:36:20,820 you know I stood for righteousness I stood for Jesus Christ I stood for him 459 00:36:20,820 --> 00:36:24,680 and we see a picture of these people doing this here in the face of great 460 00:36:24,680 --> 00:36:30,880 great persecution and so as Christians today in this age of grace we live for 461 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:35,000 the future now we know we're gonna stand before God one day and we live for that 462 00:36:35,000 --> 00:36:40,240 future now we don't live for the now in the now we live for Jesus now we we 463 00:36:40,240 --> 00:36:44,400 strive for obedience to him now we want to glorify his name now in our life in 464 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,640 our living we don't want to glorify the word of our culture we want to glorify 465 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:55,560 the word of God and so this vast multitude it says they will stand for 466 00:36:55,560 --> 00:37:01,680 truth on the earth during the reign of the after Christ be persecuted likely 467 00:37:01,680 --> 00:37:06,240 lose their lives for it but the result is they will stand before Christ in 468 00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:14,080 forgiveness in purity in grace in mercy free from the penalty of sin and death 469 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:18,340 and so yeah the Bible tells us that during this time the world will fall to 470 00:37:18,340 --> 00:37:21,920 the lies of the Antichrist but this vast multitude from every nation and every 471 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:27,200 people they will be overcomers and they will be standing before God through and 472 00:37:27,200 --> 00:37:33,220 out of tribulation redeemed it's beautiful picture but I believe it's 473 00:37:33,220 --> 00:37:37,720 meant to be an encouragement to us today you know this is why I tell people when 474 00:37:37,720 --> 00:37:42,400 they go well if I could get saved during tribulation I'll just wait till then I'm 475 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,480 like if you can't stand for God today what makes you think you're gonna stand 476 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:51,600 for him then when the very real penalty is someone's gonna come up and kill you 477 00:37:51,600 --> 00:38:00,240 for it it's just something you need to consider but important truth yes Israel 478 00:38:00,240 --> 00:38:05,360 the Jews they are God's special chosen people and yes there are special 479 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:10,560 promises to them yes the Bible tells all of us that those who bless Israel will 480 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:14,800 be blessed right and that's why we support Israel and and pray for Israel 481 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:20,320 but the gospel it shows us here is for everyone the gospel is not limited to 482 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:25,000 any one people group it is for every single human being on earth and so verse 483 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:29,760 10 we go on it says they cried out in a loud voice salvation belongs to our God 484 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:33,440 who is seated on the throne into the lamb all the angels stood around the 485 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:36,760 throne and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell face 486 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:41,520 down before the throne and worshiped God saying amen blessing and glory and 487 00:38:41,520 --> 00:38:45,880 wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to your be to our 488 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:51,720 God forever and ever amen and so these redeemed it says they crowd in a light 489 00:38:51,720 --> 00:38:55,920 loud voice they cried out in this loud voice the idea here the picture is that 490 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:01,360 they worshiped God with fervor and intensity you know I love it when I'm 491 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:06,140 here in the front row during worship and the worship from behind me is like 492 00:39:06,140 --> 00:39:11,160 pushing my hair forward I love that I love it when the body of Christ when we 493 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:15,480 are together crying out to God with our voices to praise him to let him know how 494 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:20,240 awesome and amazing he is and I know sometimes that's a struggle but that's 495 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:24,040 why we call it a sacrifice of praise that there's times where I'm like God I 496 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:26,920 don't feel like praising you but you're still worthy of it you're still worth it 497 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:30,760 so we choose to enter into that and so they're worshiping God with such fervor 498 00:39:30,760 --> 00:39:35,440 and such intensity and the worship was so intense I believe so filled with 499 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:40,720 gratitude and joy and thankfulness all of that it says the angels and the 24 500 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:44,280 elders and the four living creatures will all fell down in worship with them 501 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:50,360 and the whole host of heaven is praising God and I love that picture because the 502 00:39:50,360 --> 00:39:55,160 Bible tells us that when one sinner comes to Jesus Christ it says the entire 503 00:39:55,160 --> 00:40:01,960 host of heaven all the angels rejoice when one sinner can you imagine the 504 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:07,640 worship service when this vast uncountable multitude are there it's 505 00:40:07,640 --> 00:40:12,560 gonna be amazing and so jump down to verse 15 with me it says for this reason 506 00:40:12,560 --> 00:40:16,520 their salvation there before the throne of God and they serve him day and night 507 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:20,920 in his temple the one seated on the throne will shelter them they will no 508 00:40:20,920 --> 00:40:25,640 longer hunger they will no longer thirst the Sun will no longer strike them nor 509 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:29,280 will any scorching heat for the lamb who is at the center of the throne will 510 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:33,600 shepherd them he will guide them to the springs two springs of the waters of 511 00:40:33,600 --> 00:40:40,120 life and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes so what we saw at the 512 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:46,620 end of chapter 6 was the world turning to the rocks and the mountains to 513 00:40:46,620 --> 00:40:52,360 shelter them to hide them from God Almighty in his wrath but these who 514 00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:56,160 turn to God in trust and love and salvation we're asking for forgiveness 515 00:40:56,160 --> 00:41:00,360 saying God I believe in who you are repent of my sin we see that the truth 516 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:05,000 is that God shelters them now when the Antichrist lied to people during 517 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:09,440 tribulation and they stood against it believing this highly unpopular message 518 00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:14,120 at the time that God is true that Jesus is Messiah they ended up persecuted for 519 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:17,800 it and it gives us a hint of what that persecution looked like because it said 520 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:21,060 they will no longer hunger they will no longer thirst right it goes on to list a 521 00:41:21,060 --> 00:41:27,160 few things there and it's interesting because later on we see the enemy 522 00:41:27,160 --> 00:41:33,640 counterfeit God again counterfeit the mark that God put on these hundred forty 523 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:37,280 four thousand and come up with his own counterfeit mark the mark of the beast 524 00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:41,640 and we'll see that under his control of the earth that without that mark you 525 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:47,120 can't buy and you can't sell what does that mean certain people can't buy food 526 00:41:47,120 --> 00:41:52,560 to eat and so they became hungry it tells us later in chapter 8 that the 527 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:56,160 water sources become corrupted as a part of the judgment of God on the earth 528 00:41:56,160 --> 00:42:00,680 well that would lead to a great thirst on the earth as clean water sources then 529 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:05,960 are controlled by those in power the Antichrist and his minions and again to 530 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:09,840 buy clean water to sate your thirst well you can't do it unless you have that 531 00:42:09,840 --> 00:42:15,760 mark saying I belong to the beast and so there was a great thirst plus there are 532 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:20,160 those who are going through revelation that as they are there on the earth 533 00:42:20,160 --> 00:42:23,880 experiencing the judgments that are being poured out as the judgments of God 534 00:42:23,880 --> 00:42:27,920 come upon the earth we see in chapter 16 on the fourth bold judgment it says that 535 00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:31,400 the Sun was allowed to scorch people with fire that were on the earth at that 536 00:42:31,400 --> 00:42:36,360 time then so these people experience this persecution in the suffering of 537 00:42:36,360 --> 00:42:39,600 the tribulation time but they came to know God they came to believe in him and 538 00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:44,320 once in heaven it says none of that happens anymore there's no more hunger 539 00:42:44,320 --> 00:42:51,680 there's no more thirst the Sun no longer strikes them having shed tears I would 540 00:42:51,680 --> 00:42:55,120 imagine due to the persecutions and the sufferings that that they were 541 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:58,360 experiencing on earth they get to heaven and it says no more because God will wipe 542 00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:05,160 every tear from their eyes you know a part of revelation actually all of 543 00:43:05,160 --> 00:43:10,400 revelation it's not about what's the future the very beginning of this book 544 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:16,640 said it's a revelation of who Jesus Christ as we study this book it's less 545 00:43:16,640 --> 00:43:20,360 about do you believe in post-trib or mid-trib or pre-trib no no no the 546 00:43:20,360 --> 00:43:25,560 question is what do we learn about Jesus what does this teach us about Jesus what 547 00:43:25,560 --> 00:43:29,280 does this teach us about his heart and who he is and I love the picture here 548 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:32,360 because in verse 17 it says for the lamb who's at the center of the throne will 549 00:43:32,360 --> 00:43:39,520 shepherd them will protect them care for them nurture them is what that word 550 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:42,600 means and he says they'll do that by leading them to the springs of the 551 00:43:42,600 --> 00:43:48,240 waters of life it's interesting that word for shepherd there is the same word 552 00:43:48,240 --> 00:43:53,200 that we get the term pastor from and so when I was reading that I was like 553 00:43:53,200 --> 00:44:02,040 Jesus is gonna pastor me I can't wait for that it reminds me of Psalm 23 verses 554 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:06,360 one through four where it says the Lord is my shepherd I have what I need he 555 00:44:06,360 --> 00:44:10,840 lets me lie down in green pastures he leads me beside quiet waters he renews 556 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:16,140 my life he leads me along the right paths for his name's sake even when I go 557 00:44:16,140 --> 00:44:20,400 through the darkest valley or the valley of the shadow of death as you might 558 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:25,600 understand it I fear no danger for you are with me your rod and your staff they 559 00:44:25,600 --> 00:44:31,280 comfort me and this is what I learned from this whole picture here in 560 00:44:31,280 --> 00:44:35,720 Revelation chapter 7 that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everybody it's for 561 00:44:35,720 --> 00:44:41,200 every nation it's for every people it's offered to everyone today it's gonna be 562 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:44,000 offered to everyone then but as we're gonna see as we study through 563 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:49,560 Revelation mankind says no we hate you we don't want your salvation and the 564 00:44:49,560 --> 00:44:53,900 judgments get worse and worse and worse as the hearts of mankind get harder and 565 00:44:53,900 --> 00:44:58,680 harder and yes the gospel will go out during tribulation time but it's going 566 00:44:58,680 --> 00:45:02,480 out today it's going out through the whole world today it's going out to all 567 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:06,720 the people of the earth today one day yeah it's gonna go out in this really 568 00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:10,340 powerful way and there's gonna be this uncontrollable multitude that even 569 00:45:10,340 --> 00:45:14,160 though they're persecuted and killed even though they suffer for their belief 570 00:45:14,160 --> 00:45:18,960 in Jesus hunger thirst and even scorching heat even in the midst of all 571 00:45:18,960 --> 00:45:26,080 that they cry out to God and and say God save us God I'm sorry for my sin even 572 00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:31,200 then in the midst of the wrath of God pouring out on the earth we see what we 573 00:45:31,200 --> 00:45:40,760 see today grace mercy forgiveness salvation still being offered and that 574 00:45:40,760 --> 00:45:47,820 is true today as it will be then our God is gracious our God is merciful our God 575 00:45:47,820 --> 00:45:55,200 is light the Bible says our God is truth our God is love and he is long 576 00:45:55,200 --> 00:46:03,960 suffering and he may be waiting for you like well you just believe in me already 577 00:46:03,960 --> 00:46:09,800 I've shown myself to you I've spoken to you and you have these questions that 578 00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:17,400 you read on forums well that's that question sinks Christianity and and that 579 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:20,720 you get an answer over and over and the reality of the situation is what you're 580 00:46:20,720 --> 00:46:27,720 hanging on to is sin that's it you want to keep sinning without consequence and 581 00:46:27,720 --> 00:46:34,520 today the long-suffering patience of God Almighty puts up with it that you would 582 00:46:34,520 --> 00:46:37,880 have the opportunity to come to know him before he's pouring his wrath out on this 583 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:45,100 earth but I want to close by looking at this detail in verse 14 where it said 584 00:46:45,100 --> 00:46:48,360 they washed their robes in the blood of the lamb that's an interesting phrase 585 00:46:48,360 --> 00:46:53,200 isn't it how many of you have ever gotten blood on a white shirt did 586 00:46:53,200 --> 00:47:00,400 washing it make it clean nope it just stays right it's a permanent stain and 587 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:03,800 that's what happens we get blood on clothes and it becomes a stain we can't 588 00:47:03,800 --> 00:47:08,840 remove but isn't that a wonderful picture of sin sin is a stain we can't 589 00:47:08,840 --> 00:47:14,680 remove in our life and these robes speaking of the salvation they had after 590 00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:18,000 they were washed by the blood of Christ these robes speak of their spiritual 591 00:47:18,000 --> 00:47:23,440 condition their lives having been made pure washed by the pure blood of Jesus 592 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:27,560 Christ that is the message of the gospel that is the message of the gospel today 593 00:47:27,560 --> 00:47:31,040 that is going to be the message of gospel during tribulation that is going 594 00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:33,960 to be the point in the hope as God is pouring out his wrath on sin and it 595 00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:38,280 keeps getting worse and worse and worse the point is you're a sinner and without 596 00:47:38,280 --> 00:47:44,160 me there is no salvation cry out to me that's the message of the gospel that we 597 00:47:44,160 --> 00:47:49,680 can be purified from all of our sin by the blood of the lamb this truth about 598 00:47:49,680 --> 00:47:53,880 Jesus is what we're reminded here it's what I'm reminded by in this chapter 599 00:47:53,880 --> 00:48:00,360 this revelation of Jesus Christ that is all about him who he is what he has done 600 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:07,600 what he will do I read a story about a man who once fell into a pit and he 601 00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:11,720 couldn't get himself out and a subjective person came along and said 602 00:48:11,720 --> 00:48:17,000 well I feel for you down there and walked off an objective person came 603 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:19,640 along and said well it's logical that someone would fall into a pit there's a 604 00:48:19,640 --> 00:48:24,040 pit and they walked off a Christian scientist came along and said you only 605 00:48:24,040 --> 00:48:30,120 think you're in that pit a Pharisee said only bad people fall into pits a 606 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:34,880 mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit a news reporter wanted the 607 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:40,200 exclusive story on the pit a legalistic Christian said well you deserve that pit 608 00:48:40,200 --> 00:48:43,240 Confucius said well if you would have listened to me you wouldn't be in the 609 00:48:43,240 --> 00:48:50,800 pit Buddha said your pit is only a state of mind a realist said well it's a pit a 610 00:48:50,800 --> 00:48:54,360 scientist calculated the pressure necessary in pounds per square inch to 611 00:48:54,360 --> 00:48:58,960 get him out of the pit a geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the 612 00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:03,160 pit an evolutionist said well this pit means that you're a rejected mutant 613 00:49:03,160 --> 00:49:06,200 destined to be removed from the evolutionary cycle and so you're gonna 614 00:49:06,200 --> 00:49:11,320 die in that pit so that you cannot produce any pit falling offspring the 615 00:49:11,320 --> 00:49:14,240 county inspector asked if he had a permit to dig the pit and then asked if 616 00:49:14,240 --> 00:49:18,720 he had a permit to climb out of the pit a professor gave him a lecture on the 617 00:49:18,720 --> 00:49:23,040 elementary principles of the pit an evasive person came along and avoided 618 00:49:23,040 --> 00:49:27,360 the subject of the pit altogether a self-pitying person said you haven't 619 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:31,720 seen anything until you've seen my pit a charismatic from the faith movement said 620 00:49:31,720 --> 00:49:36,120 just confess it and you won't be in that pit any longer an optimist said well 621 00:49:36,120 --> 00:49:41,200 things could be worse a pessimist said things are gonna get worse and the 622 00:49:41,200 --> 00:49:44,560 theologians argued over the timing of his fall into the pit and the timing of 623 00:49:44,560 --> 00:49:50,840 him getting out of the pit but Jesus saw the man reached into the pit took him by 624 00:49:50,840 --> 00:49:54,800 his hand and lifted him out of the pit 625 00:49:58,560 --> 00:50:03,760 that's the truth of scripture it's the truth of revelation Jesus wants to pull 626 00:50:03,760 --> 00:50:08,080 you out of the pit today and if he's speaking to your heart and your need for 627 00:50:08,080 --> 00:50:11,840 him this morning if he's speaking to you about your need for forgiveness because 628 00:50:11,840 --> 00:50:15,760 you've sinned against him and you know it he's speaking to you about the reality 629 00:50:15,760 --> 00:50:19,600 that he wants to seal you today with the Holy Spirit of promise that you will be 630 00:50:19,600 --> 00:50:26,480 his now and forever receive him today don't wait until tribulation because 631 00:50:26,480 --> 00:50:30,400 your heart might harden then and no matter what you just might get more 632 00:50:30,400 --> 00:50:34,000 hardened by God or by the by the judgments to fall and you might reject 633 00:50:34,000 --> 00:50:37,160 him and reject him and reject him today is the day of salvation for you don't 634 00:50:37,160 --> 00:50:40,720 wait more importantly that you don't even know if you're gonna make it until 635 00:50:40,720 --> 00:50:44,880 tribulation you could die this afternoon and the Bible says to be absent from the 636 00:50:44,880 --> 00:50:48,360 body is present with the Lord and if you find yourself standing before God today 637 00:50:48,360 --> 00:50:53,560 and you have not been washed clean by the blood of Christ you will stand 638 00:50:53,560 --> 00:51:00,640 there not in salvation you will stand there in judgment receive him today let's 639 00:51:00,640 --> 00:51:08,080 pray father God we thank you Lord for who you are we thank you Lord for what 640 00:51:08,080 --> 00:51:13,320 you've done we thank you Lord for what you're doing and we thank you Lord for 641 00:51:13,320 --> 00:51:18,200 what you're going to do Lord when we study these events that are still to 642 00:51:18,200 --> 00:51:24,240 come during this tribulation period God it's it's it's horrific it's horror on a 643 00:51:24,240 --> 00:51:32,920 scale we can't even imagine but God even then it is a picture of your holiness it 644 00:51:32,920 --> 00:51:40,640 is a picture of the offense that sin is against you Lord it's also a picture of 645 00:51:40,640 --> 00:51:49,680 what you're gonna do in dealing with sin but Lord because we are so consumed in 646 00:51:49,680 --> 00:51:55,560 sin we are gonna fall in that same judgment unless we have confessed to you 647 00:51:55,560 --> 00:52:01,000 as Lord and Savior unless we have been washed clean by the shed blood of Christ 648 00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:07,240 on the cross Lord as you died to atone for our sin unless God we have put our 649 00:52:07,240 --> 00:52:10,880 faith in that and have been adopted in your family and sealed with the Holy 650 00:52:10,880 --> 00:52:18,000 Spirit of promise unless God we are yours we will face judgment and God today 651 00:52:18,000 --> 00:52:22,200 is the day of salvation for some and so while we're praying with heads bowed and 652 00:52:22,200 --> 00:52:25,960 eyes closed here in this room and if you're watching online if God has been 653 00:52:25,960 --> 00:52:30,160 speaking to your heart today about your need to receive him as your Lord and 654 00:52:30,160 --> 00:52:36,920 Savior about the truth that you have sin in your life unconfessed sin that 655 00:52:36,920 --> 00:52:41,640 you've broken God's law and this the truth that if you stood before him today 656 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:47,080 you would be guilty and judgment would fall upon you if that reality is hitting 657 00:52:47,080 --> 00:52:53,280 your heart today and you want to say God forgive me he receives you he will not 658 00:52:53,280 --> 00:52:57,640 turn you away and so while we're praying with heads bowed eyes closed if you want 659 00:52:57,640 --> 00:53:00,280 to receive Jesus today I just want you to raise your hand where you're seated 660 00:53:00,280 --> 00:53:05,600 and say yeah I need to be saved God bless you anybody else God bless you in 661 00:53:05,600 --> 00:53:09,000 the back I see you anybody else got to speak in your heart today about your 662 00:53:09,000 --> 00:53:17,480 need for salvation your need to be saved that you would be able to stand before 663 00:53:17,480 --> 00:53:22,640 God and righteousness and holiness and not in judgment anybody else in this 664 00:53:22,640 --> 00:53:26,080 room just raise your hand up where I could see it if you're watching us online 665 00:53:26,080 --> 00:53:29,280 and God is speaking to you and you know you need to receive Jesus Christ this 666 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:35,960 morning just let us know in chat I want to receive Jesus anybody else in these 667 00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:42,160 last few minutes all right those who that raised your hand and even if you 668 00:53:42,160 --> 00:53:45,000 didn't for whatever reason but you know you need to be saved I want you to pray 669 00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:55,520 this prayer with me say father God I believe you I trust you I believe that 670 00:53:55,520 --> 00:54:04,320 you are God I believe I have sinned against you I believe because of your 671 00:54:04,320 --> 00:54:14,920 holiness that there is a penalty due on me for breaking your law Lord I see a 672 00:54:14,920 --> 00:54:23,920 picture in your word of the seriousness of sin and Lord I ask that you would 673 00:54:23,920 --> 00:54:31,480 forgive me I ask that you would cleanse me I ask that you would deliver me now 674 00:54:31,480 --> 00:54:40,880 today before this great wrath falls that I would be with you safe forever thank 675 00:54:40,880 --> 00:54:47,400 you for loving me so much that you would adopt me into your family that you would 676 00:54:47,400 --> 00:54:54,600 seal me now with the Holy Spirit that you would call me your own and that I 677 00:54:54,600 --> 00:55:03,080 would be able to stand before you in righteousness help me to live my life 678 00:55:03,080 --> 00:55:08,240 for you today in a way that glorifies you help me to stand for you in this 679 00:55:08,240 --> 00:55:14,160 world today to tell people about you to live for you that others would be saved 680 00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:22,640 as well thank you in Jesus name I pray amen if you receive the Lord today we 681 00:55:22,640 --> 00:55:26,560 have some new believers packets we want to give you guys after service and so 682 00:55:26,560 --> 00:55:29,680 you could come forward or you could go out into the foyer one of our elders 683 00:55:29,680 --> 00:55:32,520 out there will have these for you because we want to help you just start 684 00:55:32,520 --> 00:55:38,120 walking this journey this relationship with God that that is now but we're 685 00:55:38,120 --> 00:55:42,760 gonna close today's service in communion as the body of Christ because communion 686 00:55:42,760 --> 00:55:48,800 is is where we as the redeemed remember our redemption it's where we remember 687 00:55:48,800 --> 00:55:52,840 what Jesus did for us you know Jesus said when he instituted communion he 688 00:55:52,840 --> 00:55:57,600 said do this in remembrance of me do this in remembrance of me and you know 689 00:55:57,600 --> 00:56:01,880 he wanted us to remember that the gospel the good news it was for us it was for 690 00:56:01,880 --> 00:56:06,840 us who who received it it was for us before he received it but now those of 691 00:56:06,840 --> 00:56:11,360 us that have received it we get to experience the blessing of it when we 692 00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:16,000 called out to him in faith we remember that we were saved because of his blood 693 00:56:16,000 --> 00:56:22,160 we remember that we were sealed by the Holy Spirit as his forever having that 694 00:56:22,160 --> 00:56:25,920 guarantee of the inheritance of salvation in heaven being forgiven and 695 00:56:25,920 --> 00:56:29,480 pure clothes in his perfect righteousness delivered from the penalty 696 00:56:29,480 --> 00:56:33,840 of sin forever that's what this moment is and we celebrate communion we 697 00:56:33,840 --> 00:56:39,960 remember that we're able to stand before him not in guilt not in shame but in 698 00:56:39,960 --> 00:56:44,040 glory and so you all should have received one of these cups before he 699 00:56:44,040 --> 00:56:47,600 came in if you did not please raise your hand our elders will walk one down to 700 00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:51,960 you if you're online hopefully you have your communion with you so real quick 701 00:56:51,960 --> 00:56:55,080 on the front of this you'll notice there's two tabs a very thin plastic 702 00:56:55,080 --> 00:56:58,840 tab and a thick one if you'll pull back the thin plastic tab right now to 703 00:56:58,840 --> 00:57:04,640 reveal the cracker here you see this represents the bread when Jesus 704 00:57:04,640 --> 00:57:08,880 instituted communion with his disciples it says he took the bread he gave thanks 705 00:57:08,880 --> 00:57:12,680 to God for it and he broke the bread and he said this is my body which is for you 706 00:57:12,680 --> 00:57:17,920 this bread represents his body and he said take it and do this in remembrance 707 00:57:17,920 --> 00:57:24,800 of me in communion we remember the price of our sin we remember the cost of our 708 00:57:24,800 --> 00:57:32,960 sin we remember the wrath of God on our sin as it fell on him instead of us 709 00:57:32,960 --> 00:57:37,680 that's what we remember Jesus wanted us to remember he said this bread this is 710 00:57:37,680 --> 00:57:42,760 my body it represents my body my sinless body that was given for you 711 00:57:42,760 --> 00:57:48,440 because we need to remember that the wrath of God against sin is is is is 712 00:57:48,440 --> 00:57:54,040 terrible but it didn't fall on us it fell on him the full judgment for your 713 00:57:54,040 --> 00:57:59,040 sin and my sin fell on Jesus Christ he took it willingly so that you and I could 714 00:57:59,040 --> 00:58:03,080 have a relationship with him a saving relationship with him today how 715 00:58:03,080 --> 00:58:07,640 beautiful is that you know there's a judgment that we deserved for breaking 716 00:58:07,640 --> 00:58:11,560 God's law it's a judgment we deserved for violating as well it's the judgment 717 00:58:11,560 --> 00:58:15,960 we're seeing that is going to be poured out into the future on this earth but 718 00:58:15,960 --> 00:58:21,680 because he loved you and me so much he stepped into our place he stepped into 719 00:58:21,680 --> 00:58:26,720 our punishment he suffered our punishment he paid the price that we owed 720 00:58:26,720 --> 00:58:32,920 so that we can obtain salvation now so that in this age of grace in this time 721 00:58:32,920 --> 00:58:38,800 we could be saved from his wrath but when you look at the bread it's it's to 722 00:58:38,800 --> 00:58:44,120 bring to remembrance that he bled he suffered he died so that you could be 723 00:58:44,120 --> 00:58:50,160 forgiven so that through our confession of faith in who he is that we would be 724 00:58:50,160 --> 00:58:55,080 again adopted into his family called children of God and not sufferers of his 725 00:58:55,080 --> 00:59:02,960 wrath to come that's the truth that is the truth of everything that Jesus is 726 00:59:02,960 --> 00:59:08,360 the way to eternal life nothing else will do and we remember that we have 727 00:59:08,360 --> 00:59:14,880 him because of our faith in him let's pray father we thank you God for your 728 00:59:14,880 --> 00:59:23,720 broken body or we know you gave it for us Lord God when we look at what you 729 00:59:23,720 --> 00:59:28,600 suffered in the scourging and the cross and everything your body was was 730 00:59:28,600 --> 00:59:32,840 obliterated Lord and yet even in that you fulfilled the truth of prophetic 731 00:59:32,840 --> 00:59:38,960 scripture that not a bone was broken that God down to the very details of 732 00:59:38,960 --> 00:59:42,480 what you suffered for our sin it's prophetical proof that God you are the 733 00:59:42,480 --> 00:59:47,880 Messiah and that you came once to to be the lamb the atonement for the entire 734 00:59:47,880 --> 00:59:54,160 world Lord but we know you're coming again in in conquering victory but now 735 00:59:54,160 --> 00:59:59,480 as we wait for that time Lord we remember that we are saved only because 736 00:59:59,480 --> 01:00:06,160 of what you did that this price that we could not pay was paid for us that the 737 01:00:06,160 --> 01:00:13,840 penalty that was due was taken by someone else and God we say thank you we 738 01:00:13,840 --> 01:00:19,600 say thank you God that we may live free that we may live forgiven that we may 739 01:00:19,600 --> 01:00:28,080 stand before you in the confidence of our redemption to live for you thank you 740 01:00:28,080 --> 01:00:31,160 God let's partake together 741 01:00:37,840 --> 01:00:43,640 now for those in the room just very carefully pull back the thicker tab it 742 01:00:43,640 --> 01:00:48,120 will reveal the juice here in the cup you know that same moment when Jesus was 743 01:00:48,120 --> 01:00:53,120 instituting communion it says he took the cup and he's told his disciples this 744 01:00:53,120 --> 01:01:00,320 is the new covenant in my blood again we talked about how with Jesus's God's 745 01:01:00,320 --> 01:01:03,920 relationship with Israel he made covenants with them but this was a 746 01:01:03,920 --> 01:01:08,800 covenant that he was making that applied to all of mankind it wasn't the old 747 01:01:08,800 --> 01:01:12,480 covenant in the Jewish system of sacrifice had they had to go back and 748 01:01:12,480 --> 01:01:18,160 constantly offer new sacrifices to cover their sins Jesus said this is a new 749 01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:25,520 covenant that my blood is being shed once for all and so he passed that cup 750 01:01:25,520 --> 01:01:28,520 and he said drink of this cup and do this in remembrance of me because he 751 01:01:28,520 --> 01:01:32,480 wanted us to remember not just the horrible penalty of our sin and the 752 01:01:32,480 --> 01:01:36,160 horrible price that he paid that we'd be forgiven but he wanted us to remember 753 01:01:36,160 --> 01:01:40,680 that on the other side of that we are clean that we have a clean slate an 754 01:01:40,680 --> 01:01:44,080 unblemished record our fellowship with him is completely restored and when God 755 01:01:44,080 --> 01:01:48,560 looks at us through the blood of Christ he sees perfection he sees an 756 01:01:48,560 --> 01:01:56,040 unblemished child of his and it's that is shed blood permanently that state 757 01:01:56,040 --> 01:02:02,160 that is blood permanently purchased for us a people who didn't deserve it a 758 01:02:02,160 --> 01:02:09,280 people who couldn't earn it that were to remember that we were stained by sin 759 01:02:09,280 --> 01:02:17,240 like blood on a white shirt and nothing we could do could wash it away and 760 01:02:17,240 --> 01:02:21,680 really in the big picture of us being sustained by the sim and blamish the 761 01:02:21,680 --> 01:02:26,480 only thing that was really worth doing was to throw us away but God said no I 762 01:02:26,480 --> 01:02:32,080 love you more than that I love you more than that and so as he atoned for our 763 01:02:32,080 --> 01:02:37,720 sin on the cross the stain of our sin was forever purged there is salvation 764 01:02:37,720 --> 01:02:43,360 in no other than Jesus Christ and God's ultimate desires that all would be saved 765 01:02:43,360 --> 01:02:47,960 that's why he shed his blood for all his desires that all would come to know him 766 01:02:47,960 --> 01:02:52,000 and because we have been cleansed by his shed blood yes we are people who eagerly 767 01:02:52,000 --> 01:02:56,280 look forward to his coming the time where we're taken out of this earth to be 768 01:02:56,280 --> 01:03:00,960 with him rescued from his wrath to be with him forever we look forward to that 769 01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:04,480 time clothes with his robes of righteousness and in the meantime how do 770 01:03:04,480 --> 01:03:09,880 we express our gratitude to him both recognizing the horrible price of our 771 01:03:09,880 --> 01:03:13,640 sin but then embracing the truth that we have been washed clean of the stain of 772 01:03:13,640 --> 01:03:18,880 it how are we to live it's in gratitude by loving him first and foremost above 773 01:03:18,880 --> 01:03:28,040 all things by living for him by pursuing obedience by telling others about him 774 01:03:28,040 --> 01:03:32,280 telling everybody we can about the salvation that is found in Jesus Christ 775 01:03:32,280 --> 01:03:38,200 because if we have been washed clean they can be washed clean let's pray 776 01:03:38,200 --> 01:03:47,640 father we're so thankful God for your shed blood God you didn't just take the 777 01:03:47,640 --> 01:03:56,440 wrath for our sin and leave us that way but you changed our hearts you washed us 778 01:03:56,440 --> 01:04:02,120 of the stain you got rid of the blemish Lord that we are pure people because of 779 01:04:02,120 --> 01:04:06,800 you we are redeemed people because of you we're no longer stained we're no 780 01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:10,080 longer under the control of sin we're no longer at the mercy of the devil and 781 01:04:10,080 --> 01:04:19,360 his temptations Lord but we're different we're cleansed and then sealed by the 782 01:04:19,360 --> 01:04:30,640 Holy Spirit God in the life where to live now is to walk in that freedom to 783 01:04:30,640 --> 01:04:36,760 tell people about the freedom and the salvation you offer them Lord to tell 784 01:04:36,760 --> 01:04:40,080 people about the grace and the mercy and the forgiveness that is found in Jesus 785 01:04:40,080 --> 01:04:48,920 Christ that you're not a God who glories in judgment but that your desire is that 786 01:04:48,920 --> 01:04:56,400 all would be saved and that you made the way God we remember that we remember 787 01:04:56,400 --> 01:05:00,000 that salvation that you granted to us through your blood and we say thank you 788 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:05,120 let's partake together 789 01:05:13,120 --> 01:05:21,240 well father God we we pray Lord is as we learn of you through revelation that we 790 01:05:21,240 --> 01:05:28,600 would be even more motivated than before to tell people about who you are that we 791 01:05:28,600 --> 01:05:31,840 would be people who want to see the gospel of Jesus Christ go forth in this 792 01:05:31,840 --> 01:05:39,440 world that people would be saved Lord saved now yes God we don't want to see 793 01:05:39,440 --> 01:05:45,080 anybody go through this terrible time of judgment and so Lord may we be just 794 01:05:45,080 --> 01:05:48,400 filled with your spirit equipped and empowered to go forth and do your work 795 01:05:48,400 --> 01:05:54,560 to love as you love to extend grace and mercy as you extend it to talk of the 796 01:05:54,560 --> 01:05:58,800 forgiveness and the salvation that we have with everybody that will listen 797 01:05:58,800 --> 01:06:03,720 that your name would be glorified Lord we know this world is dark and we know 798 01:06:03,720 --> 01:06:07,040 it's getting darker and we know we're quickly coming to that time God where 799 01:06:07,040 --> 01:06:11,960 you're gonna say enough on sin but help us to be diligent and redeem the time 800 01:06:11,960 --> 01:06:22,960 now that we would stand in this world before you and before them proclaiming 801 01:06:22,960 --> 01:06:27,880 the white robes that we have and waving those branches of deliverance to help 802 01:06:27,880 --> 01:06:33,800 others find the way to that beautiful place before you and forgiveness we 803 01:06:33,800 --> 01:06:53,600 thank you we love you it's in Jesus name we pray amen let's worship guys