Welcome to Anchors Of Truth
from the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Decoding Apocalyptic
Prophecy with James Rafferty.
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Hello friends and
welcome to another evening here
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at the 3ABN Worship Center.
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We thank you for tuning in
for the continuation of our
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trek through the
book of Revelation.
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Now if you've been following
along, you'll discover that
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Revelation is a book of symbols.
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There are
symbols in the messages
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and messages in the symbols.
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Don't get the two mixed up.
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It's a book of
symbology with great messages,
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and messages with great symbols.
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And last night, we
learned a number of things.
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Many times we talk about
what the beast is going to do,
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how he's going to force
people to worship if they don't
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choose to receive
the mark of the beast.
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And we learned that the
symbolic message there is,
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we shouldn't force anyone to
do anything against their will.
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We also discover in
the Bible that the devil is
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come down having great wrath.
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He's angry with those who
keep the commandments of God.
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And we learned the
symbolic message applying to us,
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how to handle our anger.
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We also learned
about how important it is
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not to be hypocritical.
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And we also learned
about Satan, how he is the
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accuser of our brethren.
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And we should
learn not to accuse,
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because that's Satan's job.
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And we don't want his
job. Can we say amen to that?
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So tonight, listen for
the symbols in the message
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and the message in the symbols
as James Rafferty continues
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tonight, The Everlasting Gospel,
as encased and as embodied
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in the book of Revelation.
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We also have some
wonderful music tonight.
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Two of my favorite people.
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They are members of the
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Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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3ABN family.
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Celestine and Michael Barry.
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Michael, her husband, is
going to be playing the piano
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and Celestine is
going to be singing.
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But before we do anything
else, we're going to ask
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for the Lord to bless us.
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And right after the prayer,
our hearts will be blessed
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by a song entitled, Follow.
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After the song, the next voice
that you will hear will be that
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of our teacher and our preacher
tonight, James Rafferty.
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Let's pray together.
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Our heavenly Father, we thank
You for the goodness of God
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that leads us to repentance.
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We pray that as we listen
to the message again tonight
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that our minds will
not be filled with fear.
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For the symbols in Revelation
can cause us to shutter
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if we focus on the
beasts, and the fire that will
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come down from
heaven, and the wrath of God
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revealed against sin and
all of the things that are
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against the government of God.
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But Lord, when we look
even more deeply, we find
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from the very beginning to
the very end of the book of
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Revelation, Jesus
is in every place.
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He's in the
midst of His churches.
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He's walking with us.
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He is the one
coming to deliver us.
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He is the Word of God.
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He is the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world.
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And He is, in fact, the whole
focus of the everlasting gospel.
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So tonight, bless
Your manservant and all
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of those who have tuned in.
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May we hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.
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And this we ask in
Jesus' name, we pray.
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Amen.
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And now open your
hearts as we are blessed by
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Michael and Celestine Barry.
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Follow.
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Follow wherever He leads you.
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You'll find that
His ways will please you
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more than if you make your own.
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Follow, even though friends
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may forsake you.
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You'll find that
Jesus will make you
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the best friend
that you'll ever know.
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And one day as
you're traveling along,
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something will happen to you.
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You'll find that His
way is much better by far.
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You'll find that
it's your way too.
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So follow.
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Follow.
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So follow.
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And one day as
you're traveling along,
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something will happen to you.
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You'll find that His
way is much better by far.
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You'll find that
it's your way too.
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So follow, even though
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friends may forsake you.
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You'll find that
Jesus will make you
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the best friend
that you'll ever know.
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Amen.
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Well, good evening.
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How are you tonight?
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Excited, yes.
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We are in the
book of Revelation.
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That's a very
exciting book because of the
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time in which we live.
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And because we're learning
some new things in this book.
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Have you noticed that?
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Revelation...
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Well let's begin tonight with
some corrections and additions.
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Last night, we talked about
the idea that there were about
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93 direct references to
Jesus in the book of Revelation.
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I went back over that.
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I kind of got excited yesterday
as I was studying this.
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And there are actually
only 81, approximately.
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I'm going to say
approximately this time.
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About 12 less.
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I got excited because as I
was going through there, I was
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finding all of these
references, you know,
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and I was adding them up.
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And then I realized that
some of them aren't direct.
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For example, in
Revelation chapter 3:14,
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Jesus calls Himself, the
faithful and true witness,
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and the Amen.
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Which I thought was
really powerful because
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sometimes when I say
"amen," I think, "Oh, amen,"
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but I don't always think about,
"This is Jesus saying amen."
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He is the Amen.
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Amen?
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But then He says in verse 19,
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"As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten."
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Well that's an
indirect reference to Jesus.
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Jesus isn't actually
referenced in that verse, 19.
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It's Jesus speaking, but
it's an indirect reference.
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So I'm just talking about the
direct references in Revelation.
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Revelation has about 81
direct references to Jesus;
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the Word, the Angel,
the true Witness, the Amen.
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About 81 direct references.
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And then there are
still a dozen or more indirect
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references to Jesus in
the book of Revelation.
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So really, the
number can be quite large.
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I think it's easily
going to pass one hundred.
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But I just wanted
to clarify that and
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make a correction in that area.
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Another correction
I wanted to make was,
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I don't know if I mentioned
this last night, but there are
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404 verses in the
book of Revelation.
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I might have said there
are around 200 and some.
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That number is
more in connection with
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how many verses in
Revelation are connected to the
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rest of the Bible.
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The book of
Revelation is directly connected
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to the rest of the Bible.
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There are about 274
references from the Bible
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in the book of Revelation.
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Or at least allusions
to the book of Revelation.
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So there's
correction number two.
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404 references, just in case.
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Also, I mentioned a
verse, "Be angry, and sin not."
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We were talking about
the spirit of the dragon.
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Do you remember that?
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And how the dragon manifests
himself not just in some
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institution, organization,
or great earthly power,
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but in the lives and hearts
of individuals like you and me.
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And sometimes we see
the spirit of the dragon
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or the character
of the dragon in us.
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And that develops this
unity with the dragon that,
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well, in the end of time a
lot of people are going to have.
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They're going to be
united in this body.
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And we, God is giving us
the privilege to say "no"
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to that final summation of
individual daily experience
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in overcoming the dragon within.
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When we talked about
that, one of the characteristics
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we looked at was anger.
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The dragon is angry,
wroth with the woman.
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Going to make war with
the remnant of her seed.
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Revelation chapter 12 verse 17.
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And I mentioned the
verse that I'd struggled
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with for many years.
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The one that says,
"Be angry, and sin not.
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Don't let the sun
go down on your wrath."
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And we talked
about that a little bit.
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That verse is found
in Ephesians 4 verse 26.
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Ephesians 4 verse 26,
"Be angry, and sin not."
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We're not going to go
through what that means tonight,
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because we want to get right
into our time in Revelation.
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By the way, there are two
additional character traits
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we didn't have time to cover.
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We won't cover them tonight.
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But you, for your own personal
study, can look at these.
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One of them is that the
dragon, the spirit of the beast,
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is a spirit of deception.
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Revelation 13:12, he deceives
those that dwell on the earth.
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We don't want to
develop the spirit of deception.
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Number two, another
one we want to look at
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is found in Revelation 13:3-5.
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The spirit of the dragon
also is the spirit of pride.
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And that's why I shared
with you all these corrections.
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Because it isn't easy sometimes
to admit that we're wrong
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about something or anything.
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Especially when we feel
that we're pretty much experts
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about whatever it
is we're talking about.
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But to teach is
not to know everything.
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To teach is to learn.
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And so we want to
always maintain a humble
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attitude, a willing
spirit, to be corrected
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and to learn.
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Well the spirit of the
dragon is a proud spirit.
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It doesn't want to be corrected,
it doesn't want to learn,
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it doesn't want to repent, it
doesn't want to do any of that.
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God can help us to
overcome that spirit of pride.
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Okay,
everlasting gospel tonight.
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Oh, this is the best.
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I love this theme,
the everlasting gospel.
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We're going to find that
in Revelation chapter 14.
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So let's just open our
Bibles there to Revelation 14.
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This message tonight is
the summary, the consummation,
00:12:24.94\00:12:29.35
really the zenith, of the
entire book of Revelation.
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Revelation chapter 14 verse
6 is where we find this phrase,
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"the everlasting gospel."
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John says, "I saw another angel
fly in the midst of heaven,
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having the everlasting gospel
to preach unto them that dwell
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on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred,
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and tongue, and people."
00:12:47.90\00:12:50.26
What is the everlasting
gospel doing in Revelation?
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Especially in
Revelation chapter 14
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in the context of the
three angel's messages and the
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warning against the mark of
the beast, and the wrath of God.
00:13:00.68\00:13:03.42
I mean, that was the
question I asked myself
00:13:03.45\00:13:05.65
when I first started
studying the book of Revelation.
00:13:05.85\00:13:08.13
It was a surprise to me.
00:13:08.16\00:13:09.53
I mean I was really
focused in, not on the Lamb,
00:13:09.56\00:13:12.68
not on the plan of salvation.
00:13:12.71\00:13:14.76
But when I first
started studying in Revelation,
00:13:14.79\00:13:16.42
I was really
focusing in on the beast.
00:13:16.45\00:13:17.88
And I was the kind of guy
that would skip, jump right in
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to Revelation 13, you
know, and skip the boring parts.
00:13:20.09\00:13:22.45
Especially the music parts.
00:13:22.48\00:13:24.00
I mean, what were people singing
about in the book of Revelation?
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What was that all about?
00:13:26.79\00:13:28.16
You know, you come
along and you go through this
00:13:28.31\00:13:30.27
incredible powerful
picture, a symbol of salvation,
00:13:30.30\00:13:35.44
or horses, or whatever.
00:13:35.47\00:13:36.84
And then you find a
bunch of people singing.
00:13:36.87\00:13:38.82
And it's like,
"Okay, skip those verses.
00:13:39.75\00:13:41.85
Let's get to the good stuff,
let's get to the gory stuff.
00:13:41.88\00:13:44.08
Let's get to the plagues,
let's get to the judgments."
00:13:44.11\00:13:46.14
And now I'm
realizing. Oh, am I ever.
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I know why they're singing.
00:13:49.86\00:13:51.23
I know why they're singing.
00:13:52.28\00:13:53.65
Today when I was driving...
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I mean, I've been
here since Tuesday.
00:13:55.23\00:13:57.38
Well I left Tuesday early,
didn't get here until late.
00:13:57.41\00:13:59.56
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
00:13:59.59\00:14:02.06
And I don't like to think
about when I'm going to get back
00:14:03.24\00:14:05.48
together with my family until
it gets close to that time.
00:14:05.51\00:14:08.60
And when I do start thinking
about it, I just get kind of...
00:14:08.63\00:14:11.45
And then so I find a song
and I'm listening to the song.
00:14:11.48\00:14:14.69
And I get happy.
00:14:14.72\00:14:16.09
Songs are powerful.
00:14:16.35\00:14:18.44
I sing because I'm
happy, I sing because I'm free.
00:14:18.92\00:14:22.10
His eye is on the sparrow
and I know He watches me.
00:14:22.13\00:14:25.44
Songs are powerful.
00:14:25.47\00:14:26.90
And that's why the
book of Revelation is
00:14:27.27\00:14:29.37
filled with singing.
00:14:29.40\00:14:30.80
There is so much singing
in the book of Revelation
00:14:31.00\00:14:32.79
sometimes we pass right over it.
00:14:32.82\00:14:34.19
We don't even
realize what's going on.
00:14:34.22\00:14:35.96
But songs lighten the heart,
strengthen us to bear the load.
00:14:36.57\00:14:41.91
Jesus Christ was on
His way to Gethsemane.
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.28
He knew what was going to
take place there, in Matthew 26.
00:14:44.91\00:14:48.04
He was feeling the
separation already.
00:14:48.07\00:14:50.33
And He began to sing a hymn.
00:14:50.36\00:14:52.15
Psalm 22 tells us
that the prophecy was,
00:14:53.89\00:14:57.33
"My God, My God, why
hast Thou forsaken Me."
00:14:57.36\00:14:59.43
That was going to be
fulfilled in His life.
00:14:59.46\00:15:01.05
Well in Psalm 22, it
also says that God dwells
00:15:01.08\00:15:06.52
in the presence of song,
in the presence of praise.
00:15:08.08\00:15:14.61
He dwells in the
presence of praise.
00:15:14.64\00:15:16.29
Read it in Psalm 22.
00:15:17.40\00:15:18.77
And so Jesus was praising
God even as He knew that He was
00:15:19.36\00:15:22.08
being separated
from God, even as He knew
00:15:22.11\00:15:24.25
He was going
through that experience.
00:15:24.28\00:15:25.65
He was praising God,
because by faith He was
00:15:25.68\00:15:27.55
going to stay connected to God.
00:15:27.58\00:15:29.34
So we find in the book
of Revelation this praise,
00:15:30.40\00:15:34.86
this powerful
singing, this communication.
00:15:34.89\00:15:37.58
We're getting off
track here, aren't we.
00:15:37.61\00:15:38.98
Revelation chapter 14
verse 6, the everlasting gospel.
00:15:39.01\00:15:41.43
What's it doing here?
00:15:41.46\00:15:42.83
What is good news doing here?
00:15:42.86\00:15:44.33
Well last night, and
correction today, we found that
00:15:44.36\00:15:48.18
the good news is
all through the gospel.
00:15:48.21\00:15:49.68
The good news is Jesus.
00:15:49.71\00:15:51.08
Jesus on the
cross is the good news.
00:15:51.11\00:15:53.15
That is the gospel.
00:15:53.18\00:15:54.55
Hanging on the
cross, Christ is the gospel.
00:15:54.58\00:15:56.87
And this is our message.
00:15:57.25\00:15:58.62
So the everlasting gospel,
this phrase ought to be here
00:15:58.65\00:16:03.18
if the book of Revelation is
really a revelation of Jesus.
00:16:03.21\00:16:05.66
There are four
reasons, though, why it is here.
00:16:05.69\00:16:07.30
One, this is God's
last message for the world.
00:16:07.33\00:16:12.48
After this message is
given, Revelation chapter 14
00:16:13.80\00:16:17.22
beginning with verse 14...
00:16:17.25\00:16:18.62
Excuse me, Revelation
chapter... Yeah, 14:14.
00:16:18.65\00:16:21.72
Jesus returns and
He reaps the harvest;
00:16:21.75\00:16:24.85
the good and the bad,
the lost and the saved,
00:16:24.88\00:16:26.80
the righteous and
the wicked are reaped.
00:16:26.83\00:16:28.80
This is
basically wrapping it up.
00:16:28.83\00:16:30.49
This is God's last
message for the world.
00:16:30.52\00:16:32.93
And what other message
would God give to the world but,
00:16:32.96\00:16:36.01
yes, the everlasting
gospel, the good news.
00:16:37.57\00:16:39.98
Number two, this is
a vital truth about the
00:16:40.01\00:16:44.20
gospel of salvation.
00:16:44.23\00:16:45.60
You will not find this
phrase, "everlasting gospel,"
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.36
anywhere else in the Bible.
00:16:48.39\00:16:50.91
It is a unique phrase.
00:16:51.33\00:16:52.92
You'll find "everlasting
salvation" in Isaiah.
00:16:52.95\00:16:55.06
That's about it.
00:16:55.09\00:16:56.46
Those two words together
are nowhere else in the Bible.
00:16:56.49\00:16:59.49
This is unique. Why?
00:16:59.52\00:17:01.47
Because there is confusion
today about how we are saved.
00:17:01.50\00:17:07.03
There are people today
who believe that in the
00:17:08.56\00:17:11.64
New Testament under the new
covenant we're saved by grace.
00:17:11.67\00:17:14.11
In the Old
Testament, people were saved by
00:17:14.14\00:17:16.31
obedience to the law.
00:17:16.91\00:17:18.28
There are people
who believe that.
00:17:18.31\00:17:19.68
And so God is
wanting to clarify this.
00:17:20.16\00:17:22.35
And we'll spend a little
time on this as we go through.
00:17:22.38\00:17:24.75
God is wanting to
clarify this idea.
00:17:24.78\00:17:27.92
He has a law, His
Ten Commandment law.
00:17:27.95\00:17:30.85
That law was valid
in the Old Testament
00:17:30.88\00:17:32.65
and it is valid
in the New Testament.
00:17:32.68\00:17:34.28
However, listen closely to this,
there has never been anyone
00:17:34.31\00:17:39.84
and there never will
be anyone who are saved
00:17:40.05\00:17:44.76
through keeping the
commandments of God.
00:17:45.22\00:17:47.54
In other words, God's plan
of salvation has always been
00:17:49.09\00:17:52.99
through the gospel of grace.
00:17:53.02\00:17:55.31
It has never been through
our obedience to the law, ever.
00:17:55.34\00:17:58.93
This is the everlasting gospel.
00:17:58.96\00:18:01.46
It's the only way
anyone ever has been saved
00:18:01.49\00:18:03.47
or ever will be saved.
00:18:03.50\00:18:04.87
In the Old Testament, they
looked forward to the Lamb.
00:18:04.90\00:18:07.76
In the New Testament,
we look back to the Lamb.
00:18:07.79\00:18:10.29
Everything centers in the cross.
00:18:10.32\00:18:12.63
Number three, reason number
three, the everlasting gospel
00:18:13.73\00:18:17.33
is here in Revelation 14
because the everlasting gospel
00:18:17.36\00:18:20.39
is a summary of the
first half of the book.
00:18:20.42\00:18:24.25
We're going to spend
a lot of time on that.
00:18:24.73\00:18:26.12
I'm going to jump to reason
number four and we're going to
00:18:26.15\00:18:27.64
go back to reason
number three here in a second.
00:18:27.67\00:18:29.70
The everlasting gospel
is in Revelation chapter 14
00:18:29.90\00:18:34.86
because it's the
three angel's messages.
00:18:34.89\00:18:37.15
And the second angel
announces the fall of Babylon.
00:18:37.18\00:18:40.20
The everlasting
gospel is the only,
00:18:41.88\00:18:44.70
o- n-l-y, underline,
underline, exclamation point,
00:18:44.73\00:18:48.87
the only power that
can bring Babylon down.
00:18:49.26\00:18:53.04
Babylon will not fall by trying
to identify what Babylon is.
00:18:53.96\00:18:57.25
Because Babylon is
everywhere and in everything.
00:18:57.28\00:18:59.67
It's so immersed in
us fallen human beings
00:18:59.95\00:19:03.58
that there is no way we
can identify every strand
00:19:03.61\00:19:06.18
and pull it out of us.
00:19:06.28\00:19:07.85
The only way Babylon
can fall is if the gospel,
00:19:07.88\00:19:11.23
the everlasting
gospel, is preached.
00:19:11.26\00:19:13.13
That's why the
first angel goes first.
00:19:13.75\00:19:15.85
The first angel
says to the second angel,
00:19:19.62\00:19:21.09
"Oh, you go first."
00:19:21.12\00:19:22.49
The first angel is a
gentleman, "You go first."
00:19:22.52\00:19:24.06
"Can't do it,"
the second angel says.
00:19:24.45\00:19:26.26
"My announcement
can only follow yours.
00:19:26.46\00:19:29.10
My announcement is null and
void unless you proclaim first
00:19:29.13\00:19:32.88
the everlasting gospel."
00:19:32.91\00:19:34.28
"Oh," says the first angel.
00:19:34.54\00:19:36.51
"I am necessary
for you to follow."
00:19:36.54\00:19:40.22
"Yes."
00:19:40.25\00:19:41.62
"Yes."
00:19:41.81\00:19:43.18
The gospel has to be preached.
00:19:43.21\00:19:44.94
And then the
second angel says, "Okay,
00:19:44.97\00:19:47.12
the gospel has been preached.
00:19:47.15\00:19:48.52
Now I can make the announcement,
'Babylon is fallen.'"
00:19:48.55\00:19:50.12
Because the more we
see the truth, the beauty,
00:19:50.15\00:19:52.85
and understand the
everlasting gospel,
00:19:52.88\00:19:54.66
the more clearly
Babylon is decimated, destroyed.
00:19:54.69\00:19:59.58
That's why we
lift up Jesus Christ.
00:19:59.98\00:20:01.65
That's why we lift up
the everlasting gospel.
00:20:01.68\00:20:03.55
Because the more we see of
the truth, the more clearly
00:20:03.58\00:20:06.26
we see error and darkness.
00:20:06.29\00:20:07.99
And it is diminished in
the light of the love of God.
00:20:08.40\00:20:12.63
So that was reason number four.
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.38
We're going to go back to
reason number three right now.
00:20:14.41\00:20:16.50
It is, the everlasting
gospel, the summary of the
00:20:16.53\00:20:20.82
first half of the book.
00:20:20.85\00:20:22.24
This is so powerful,
this is so beautiful;
00:20:23.11\00:20:25.00
this book of Revelation.
00:20:25.03\00:20:26.40
I don't know where to begin.
00:20:26.43\00:20:27.80
But I better begin somewhere
because our time is limited.
00:20:27.83\00:20:30.13
Revelation chapters 1 through
11 never once mention anyone
00:20:31.84\00:20:39.85
who keep the
commandments of God.
00:20:39.88\00:20:42.93
I don't know if
you've noticed that before.
00:20:44.66\00:20:46.12
Revelation chapters 1 through
11 never once mention a people
00:20:47.43\00:20:56.06
who keep the
commandments of God.
00:20:56.09\00:20:58.34
The first time
that is ever mentioned
00:20:59.42\00:21:02.52
is Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 17.
00:21:02.55\00:21:06.31
Now make note of that because
we're going to go back and
00:21:08.96\00:21:10.69
we're going to try
and understand right now
00:21:10.72\00:21:12.23
why that is.
00:21:12.26\00:21:13.68
Actually, let me
give you a simple answer.
00:21:15.31\00:21:16.95
Three verses.
00:21:18.29\00:21:19.66
The reason that is, is
because of three verses.
00:21:20.31\00:21:23.47
Verse number one, John 14:15.
00:21:23.50\00:21:27.69
"If you love Me, you
will keep My commandments."
00:21:29.49\00:21:33.04
John 14:15
00:21:33.78\00:21:35.15
That verse is written in
the Greek, cause to effect.
00:21:35.18\00:21:37.80
Love produces obedience
to the commandments of God.
00:21:37.83\00:21:41.08
Okay?
00:21:41.11\00:21:42.48
Second verse, 1 John 4:19.
00:21:42.51\00:21:45.65
Which says, "We love Him
because He first loved us."
00:21:46.18\00:21:53.50
There's cause to effect again.
00:21:54.11\00:21:55.88
And then finally,
our verse, the verse
00:21:56.68\00:21:59.82
that we've been looking at.
00:21:59.85\00:22:01.22
Well we haven't looked
at it yet, but we will.
00:22:01.25\00:22:03.69
John chapter 12 and verse 17.
00:22:04.67\00:22:09.58
"Here are those who keep
the commandments of God."
00:22:11.05\00:22:13.91
He went to make war with
the remnant of the woman,
00:22:13.94\00:22:17.98
the remnant of her seed, who
keep the commandments of God.
00:22:18.01\00:22:20.77
Why do we have people who
keep the commandments of God?
00:22:20.80\00:22:24.41
Well, because they
love Him. John 14:15.
00:22:24.44\00:22:28.49
Why do they love Him?
00:22:28.52\00:22:29.89
Because He first loved them.
00:22:29.92\00:22:32.97
How do they know
He first loved them?
00:22:34.20\00:22:36.34
The first half of the
book of Revelation tells them
00:22:36.37\00:22:39.67
that He first loved them.
00:22:39.70\00:22:41.53
And that's why commandment
keeping isn't mentioned
00:22:41.94\00:22:44.01
until the second
half of the book.
00:22:44.04\00:22:45.41
The first half of the
book primarily focuses on
00:22:45.44\00:22:48.42
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:22:48.45\00:22:50.28
How so? Well one verse I
want you to look at in the
00:22:50.31\00:22:53.38
book of 1 Corinthians.
00:22:54.00\00:22:55.60
It's chapter 15
of 1 Corinthians.
00:22:55.63\00:22:58.34
I like this verse
because in my understanding
00:22:58.37\00:23:01.53
this is the gospel.
00:23:01.56\00:23:03.19
This book right here that
I'm holding up is the gospel.
00:23:03.22\00:23:05.11
This is the gospel.
00:23:05.14\00:23:06.51
The whole Bible
from cover to cover,
00:23:06.54\00:23:07.91
from Genesis to
Revelation, is the gospel.
00:23:07.94\00:23:10.12
But Paul begins, when
he identifies the gospel,
00:23:10.15\00:23:13.16
he begins somewhere specific.
00:23:13.19\00:23:14.88
1 Corinthians 15, he
tells us, we're in verse one,
00:23:14.91\00:23:18.39
"Moreover, brethren, I
declare unto you the gospel
00:23:18.42\00:23:21.17
which I preached unto you,
which also you have received,
00:23:21.20\00:23:24.69
and wherein you stand.
00:23:24.72\00:23:27.00
By which you have been
saved, if you keep in memory
00:23:27.03\00:23:30.20
what I preached unto you, unless
you have believed in vain."
00:23:30.23\00:23:32.72
1 Corinthians 15 verse
3, "For I delivered unto you
00:23:33.81\00:23:38.71
first of all..."
00:23:38.74\00:23:40.11
This is the "first
of all" of the gospel.
00:23:40.34\00:23:42.53
The gospel is the whole Bible,
the message of the whole Bible,
00:23:42.56\00:23:45.77
But there is a "first of all."
00:23:45.80\00:23:47.17
There is a place where you
start, there's a foundation.
00:23:47.20\00:23:49.52
"I delivered unto you first of
all that which I also received,
00:23:49.55\00:23:53.71
how that Christ
died for our sins
00:23:53.74\00:23:55.84
according to the scriptures.
00:23:56.14\00:23:57.95
That he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day
00:23:59.91\00:24:04.03
according to the scriptures."
00:24:04.23\00:24:06.10
1 Corinthians 15 tells us
that Christ died, was buried,
00:24:06.96\00:24:14.07
and rose again; that this is the
"first of all" of the gospel.
00:24:14.10\00:24:16.61
Now in order for
Christ to die for our sins...
00:24:16.64\00:24:18.39
Which is Revelation chapter
1 and verse 5, He washed us
00:24:18.42\00:24:23.17
from our sins in His blood.
00:24:23.20\00:24:24.57
In order for Him to
die for our sins, He had to
00:24:24.60\00:24:26.26
first come down to this earth.
00:24:26.29\00:24:27.87
He became a man.
00:24:28.87\00:24:30.24
He was incarnate.
He was God with us.
00:24:30.27\00:24:33.23
That is the message
to the seven churches.
00:24:33.26\00:24:37.35
"I'm with you. I'm among you.
00:24:37.38\00:24:39.59
I'm there with you.
00:24:41.12\00:24:42.49
Even those who make Me want
to throw up, I'm still with you.
00:24:42.52\00:24:45.82
I'm with all the churches.
00:24:45.85\00:24:47.22
I'm walking
through the churches."
00:24:47.25\00:24:48.62
In other words, Revelation
chapter 1 gives us a picture
00:24:48.65\00:24:53.64
of God with us.
00:24:53.67\00:24:55.04
Which is part of the
foundation of the gospel.
00:24:55.54\00:24:59.45
The incarnation of Jesus Christ.
00:25:00.50\00:25:02.29
God coming to be with us
in the person of Jesus Christ.
00:25:02.32\00:25:05.99
Being with us in spite of
all our weaknesses and defects.
00:25:06.72\00:25:09.34
Now that is the
beginning of the picture of the
00:25:09.37\00:25:13.31
everlasting
gospel that is summarized
00:25:13.34\00:25:15.33
in Revelation chapter 14.
00:25:15.36\00:25:17.38
Revelation chapters 2 and 3
are expanding on that picture.
00:25:17.41\00:25:22.60
And by the way, that
is that first vision.
00:25:23.29\00:25:25.60
Revelation chapter 1,
Jesus among the candlesticks.
00:25:25.63\00:25:28.18
Then we move to
Revelation chapters 4 and 5.
00:25:28.21\00:25:31.28
And what do we see
there in Revelation 4 and 5.
00:25:31.31\00:25:33.84
Before we get to the
opening of the seals,
00:25:33.87\00:25:36.41
we see a throne, Him
that sits on it, a roll that's
00:25:36.44\00:25:40.20
sealed with seven seals
that no man in heaven or earth
00:25:40.23\00:25:43.03
or under the earth can open.
00:25:43.06\00:25:44.46
No one is worthy.
00:25:44.49\00:25:46.07
And then we see Jesus.
00:25:46.10\00:25:48.87
He's called a lion,
but He looks like a lamb.
00:25:49.21\00:25:51.88
The King of heaven
becoming a lamb that was slain
00:25:51.91\00:25:56.75
in order to redeem us.
00:25:57.83\00:25:59.40
This is a picture of the cross.
00:25:59.84\00:26:01.41
In the churches, we have
the incarnation; God with us.
00:26:02.05\00:26:04.72
In the seals, we have the cross;
the Lamb slain for our sins.
00:26:04.75\00:26:09.18
Again, this is another aspect of
00:26:10.04\00:26:12.49
the "first of
all" of the gospel.
00:26:12.88\00:26:14.58
1 Corinthians 15.
00:26:15.32\00:26:16.73
The incarnation is in the
beginning of the churches.
00:26:17.14\00:26:19.79
The crucifixion is in
the beginning of the seals.
00:26:19.82\00:26:22.31
And there's only one thing left
for us to understand or see.
00:26:22.34\00:26:24.90
And that is the
intercession of Christ as He is
00:26:24.93\00:26:28.89
resurrected to heaven.
00:26:28.92\00:26:30.66
Would that picture
be in the trumpets?
00:26:30.69\00:26:34.13
Let's look there in
Revelation chapter 8.
00:26:35.24\00:26:37.04
Revelation chapter 8
opens up with the seven angels
00:26:37.84\00:26:40.51
that are given
these seven trumpets.
00:26:40.54\00:26:41.91
They're preparing
themselves to sound.
00:26:42.12\00:26:44.00
And right before they
sound, Revelation chapter 8
00:26:44.03\00:26:47.22
and we're beginning with
verse 2, but we're going to
00:26:47.25\00:26:48.78
move into verse 3.
00:26:48.81\00:26:50.18
And right before they
sound, "I saw another angel,
00:26:50.21\00:26:53.85
and he came and
stood at the altar.
00:26:53.88\00:26:55.62
He had a golden censer.
00:26:55.65\00:26:58.08
And there was given
unto him much incense,
00:26:58.86\00:27:01.01
that he should offer it
with the prayers of all saints
00:27:01.04\00:27:03.92
upon the golden altar
which was before the throne.
00:27:03.95\00:27:06.55
And the smoke of the incense,
which came with the prayers of
00:27:06.58\00:27:10.02
the saints, ascended up before
God out of the angel's hand."
00:27:10.05\00:27:14.30
This is a picture...
00:27:16.82\00:27:18.20
You guessed it.
00:27:18.23\00:27:19.61
...of the
mediatorial work of Jesus.
00:27:19.64\00:27:22.20
This angel is a symbol that
represents the work of Christ
00:27:23.07\00:27:29.47
in taking His
sacrifice on the cross into the
00:27:29.50\00:27:32.51
heavenly sanctuary and
mingling that sacrifice
00:27:32.54\00:27:36.93
with the prayers of the saints.
00:27:36.96\00:27:38.33
Now there are some symbols
here that might be difficult
00:27:38.36\00:27:41.49
for us or challenging
for us to understand.
00:27:41.52\00:27:43.44
The first one is the altar
in Revelation chapter 8 verse 3.
00:27:43.47\00:27:48.03
"I saw an angel and he
came and stood at the altar."
00:27:48.23\00:27:49.91
Now I want you to notice in
this verse there are two altars.
00:27:49.94\00:27:52.16
There is an altar and
then there is a golden altar.
00:27:52.19\00:27:55.25
This is sanctuary language.
00:27:56.07\00:27:57.51
And by the way, the language
of the sanctuary is found
00:27:57.54\00:28:02.05
in almost 70 places in
the book of Revelation.
00:28:02.62\00:28:05.78
It is a key to
unlocking Revelation.
00:28:05.81\00:28:08.24
Now in Revelation chapter
8, this first altar represents
00:28:08.89\00:28:12.87
the cross.
00:28:12.90\00:28:14.27
Revelation chapter 8 can be
tied into Hebrews chapter...
00:28:14.30\00:28:17.33
Well, the book of Hebrews.
00:28:17.58\00:28:18.95
The entire book of
Hebrews is sanctuary language
00:28:18.98\00:28:21.48
unfolded or unlocked.
00:28:21.51\00:28:23.06
Paul takes the
sanctuary and makes it a reality
00:28:23.09\00:28:26.09
in the plan of salvation
in the book of Hebrews.
00:28:26.12\00:28:28.23
In Hebrews 13...
00:28:28.26\00:28:29.64
I'm not going to turn
there with you tonight, but
00:28:29.84\00:28:31.30
write down this
reference, folks.
00:28:31.60\00:28:32.97
Hebrews 13
verses 10, 11, and 12.
00:28:33.00\00:28:36.16
Paul says that the altar
that was in the courtyard
00:28:36.19\00:28:39.30
of the earthly
sanctuary represents the cross.
00:28:39.33\00:28:42.07
In the place where
Christ was sacrificed.
00:28:42.95\00:28:44.85
That altar was where the lambs
were brought and were slain.
00:28:45.24\00:28:47.67
And Jesus was the
ultimate Passover Lamb.
00:28:47.70\00:28:50.11
Then there's the golden altar.
00:28:51.73\00:28:53.11
Well the golden altar
wasn't in the courtyard.
00:28:53.14\00:28:55.25
The golden altar
was in the Holy Place.
00:28:55.28\00:28:57.64
That golden altar was
the place were the incense
00:28:59.35\00:29:01.42
was burned as an
offering to Christ.
00:29:01.45\00:29:06.49
As an offering
to God, excuse me.
00:29:06.52\00:29:08.22
So that incense represents...
00:29:08.25\00:29:12.91
Well in Revelation
chapter 5, we have to be clear,
00:29:13.14\00:29:16.30
it does represents
the prayers of the saints.
00:29:16.33\00:29:18.29
But symbols can sometimes
have more than one signification
00:29:18.77\00:29:23.20
or one
interpretation in the Bible.
00:29:23.23\00:29:25.66
A symbol, for example; a
day can represent a year.
00:29:25.86\00:29:28.94
But a day can also
represent a thousand years.
00:29:28.97\00:29:31.99
It can represent part of a day.
00:29:32.02\00:29:33.73
It can represent
the Day of the Lord.
00:29:33.76\00:29:35.14
And in Revelation
chapter 5, incenses represents
00:29:36.15\00:29:39.95
the prayers of the saints,
but in Revelation chapter 8
00:29:39.98\00:29:42.11
the incense can't represent
the prayers of the saints,
00:29:42.14\00:29:44.28
because it's mingled with
the prayers of the saints.
00:29:44.31\00:29:45.95
And that wouldn't make sense.
00:29:45.98\00:29:47.35
The prayers of the
saints are be mingled with the
00:29:47.38\00:29:48.75
prayers of the saints.
00:29:48.78\00:29:50.15
Ephesians 5 verse 2 tells
us that incense represents
00:29:50.18\00:29:55.23
the sacrifice of Jesus.
00:29:55.26\00:29:57.36
That's Ephesians 5 verse 2.
00:29:57.39\00:29:58.95
So in Revelation
chapter 8, you have this angel,
00:29:59.62\00:30:03.07
which represents Jesus.
00:30:03.10\00:30:04.80
Remember now, Jesus
is not a created being.
00:30:04.83\00:30:06.83
He's not an angel.
00:30:06.86\00:30:08.23
Being identified as an
angel symbolically here
00:30:08.26\00:30:12.21
is no different than Jesus being
identified literally as a man.
00:30:12.24\00:30:16.26
Because Jesus became a man,
that doesn't mean He's not God.
00:30:16.29\00:30:18.83
That doesn't mean
He's a created being.
00:30:18.86\00:30:20.33
Any more than the Holy Spirit
being identified as a dove
00:30:21.08\00:30:23.74
makes Him a created animal.
00:30:23.77\00:30:25.18
Or Jesus being
identified as a lamb makes Him
00:30:25.21\00:30:27.14
a created animal.
00:30:27.17\00:30:28.54
No, this is a symbol.
00:30:28.57\00:30:30.04
And what this is symbolizing
is the work of Christ
00:30:30.54\00:30:34.71
in taking the sacrifice
that was made at Calvary
00:30:35.42\00:30:39.22
into the heavenly sanctuary
and mingling it with our prayers
00:30:39.25\00:30:44.74
on the golden altar
so that those prayers
00:30:44.77\00:30:49.49
have applied to them
the righteousness of Jesus.
00:30:49.52\00:30:52.78
Every prayer that
we pray is mingled
00:30:53.55\00:30:56.94
with the sacrifice of Jesus.
00:30:57.32\00:30:59.41
Yeah, we need that. Don't we?
00:31:00.06\00:31:01.58
Have you ever prayed a
selfish, lifeless, listless,
00:31:02.19\00:31:04.66
let's just get this over
with so that I can get to sleep,
00:31:04.99\00:31:06.76
kind of prayer?
00:31:06.79\00:31:08.16
Ever found yourself, you know,
kind of wondering off in prayer?
00:31:08.19\00:31:11.25
Or falling asleep in prayer?
00:31:11.65\00:31:13.11
Or thinking about anything and
everything while you're praying
00:31:13.14\00:31:15.83
except for actually praying?
00:31:15.86\00:31:17.58
Praise God for the
righteousness of Jesus Christ
00:31:17.61\00:31:20.04
that is mingled
with our prayers.
00:31:20.45\00:31:21.90
And the intercession of the Holy
Spirit that makes utterances
00:31:21.93\00:31:25.21
that we can't even utter, and
helps to interpret those prayers
00:31:25.24\00:31:28.44
into what we
really need and want.
00:31:28.47\00:31:29.84
So think about this.
00:31:29.87\00:31:31.96
This is a beautiful
picture. This is amazing.
00:31:31.99\00:31:34.37
This is incredible.
00:31:34.40\00:31:35.77
All you need to do if you
want to understand Revelation,
00:31:35.80\00:31:37.59
break it up into four
sections, four main sections.
00:31:37.62\00:31:40.01
Now that's not
including the prologue,
00:31:40.04\00:31:41.64
which is the
introduction, and the epilogue,
00:31:41.67\00:31:43.89
which is the close.
00:31:43.92\00:31:45.29
Break it up into four sections.
00:31:45.79\00:31:47.36
Beginning in Revelation
chapter 1 with the image,
00:31:47.39\00:31:51.17
the vision of Christ
among the candlesticks,
00:31:51.20\00:31:54.44
in around verses 12 and 13.
00:31:54.74\00:31:57.61
Beginning with that verse
through Revelation chapter 3,
00:31:58.00\00:32:01.69
that is section number
one; the seven churches.
00:32:01.72\00:32:04.32
Then from
Revelation chapter 4 verse 1
00:32:05.68\00:32:09.09
all the way through to
Revelation chapter 8 verse 2,
00:32:09.12\00:32:11.93
that is section two.
00:32:11.96\00:32:13.63
And that is the seven seals.
00:32:13.66\00:32:15.78
Then from
Revelation 8 verse 2...
00:32:16.56\00:32:19.20
Verse 1 belongs
to the seven seals.
00:32:19.58\00:32:21.35
From Revelation 8
verse 2 all the way to
00:32:21.38\00:32:23.83
Revelation 11 verse
19, that is section three.
00:32:23.86\00:32:27.22
That is the seven trumpets.
00:32:27.25\00:32:28.99
And then from Revelation
chapter 12 all the way to
00:32:29.67\00:32:34.40
the very end of the book...
00:32:34.43\00:32:35.83
Well, to the epilogue.
To Revelation 22 verse 4.
00:32:37.11\00:32:40.80
That is the section
that I call, the woman.
00:32:41.25\00:32:45.11
The bride of Christ.
00:32:45.14\00:32:46.60
That is section number four.
00:32:46.63\00:32:48.21
All of those
sections begin with a picture
00:32:48.86\00:32:53.95
of the gospel.
00:32:56.00\00:32:57.37
Based on the
completed work of Jesus Christ
00:32:58.97\00:33:02.17
that gives us
hope and encouragement.
00:33:02.89\00:33:04.49
And then they
take us on a journey.
00:33:04.76\00:33:06.42
Everyone of those
sections is written kind of like
00:33:06.45\00:33:08.43
repeat and enlarge, repeat
and enlarge, repeat and enlarge.
00:33:08.46\00:33:11.07
Let me try to explain that.
00:33:11.10\00:33:12.47
If I were to give you
directions to my house,
00:33:13.37\00:33:16.11
it would be very complicated.
00:33:17.15\00:33:18.91
Revelation is a complicated
book, it's a prophetic book.
00:33:19.67\00:33:22.14
Daniel is a complicated
book, it's a prophetic book.
00:33:22.17\00:33:24.34
So the way God communicates to
us in Daniel and Revelation is,
00:33:24.37\00:33:28.83
there's a principle
that He uses called,
00:33:28.86\00:33:30.24
repeat and
enlarge, repeat and enlarge.
00:33:30.27\00:33:33.26
Because God wants us
to come from this earth...
00:33:33.58\00:33:37.56
Which is where
Daniel begins in Babylon
00:33:37.59\00:33:40.08
and John begins in
Rome, the time of Rome.
00:33:40.11\00:33:42.88
Both of those prophets
begin in their time and preach
00:33:42.91\00:33:46.27
or teach or prophesy to
the second coming of Jesus.
00:33:46.30\00:33:49.03
Both of them do.
00:33:49.06\00:33:50.43
The reason why they take us
to the second coming of Jesus,
00:33:50.46\00:33:52.64
and John a little
beyond through the 1000 years
00:33:52.67\00:33:55.65
to the very consummation of
the new heaven and the new earth
00:33:55.68\00:33:58.62
on this planet, is
because that's our destiny.
00:33:58.65\00:34:01.46
That's where
they want to get us.
00:34:01.92\00:34:03.29
That's where
God wants to get us.
00:34:03.32\00:34:04.69
So if I want you to get to
my house, my house is destiny,
00:34:04.72\00:34:07.54
I want you to get there
from the Eugene airport.
00:34:07.57\00:34:09.68
You're flying into
the Eugene airport and
00:34:09.71\00:34:11.08
I want to get you to my house.
00:34:11.11\00:34:13.33
So I'm going to
give you directions.
00:34:13.47\00:34:14.84
I'm going to start out
with general directions.
00:34:14.87\00:34:16.24
What you're going to
do is, out of the airport,
00:34:16.27\00:34:18.11
you're going to get on the I-5.
00:34:18.14\00:34:19.85
And then when you get on...
00:34:20.94\00:34:22.31
Well actually you're
going to get on the I-126.
00:34:22.34\00:34:24.63
Well, it's the
I-5. Let's me see.
00:34:24.66\00:34:26.08
It's the Belt,
it's the Beltline.
00:34:26.11\00:34:27.88
You're going to get
on the Beltline highway
00:34:27.91\00:34:29.28
and you're going to
take that to the I-5.
00:34:29.31\00:34:30.72
And then when you're on the I-5,
you going to take the 126 east.
00:34:30.75\00:34:33.79
You're going to go down 126 east
until you hit some stop lights.
00:34:33.82\00:34:37.38
You're going to go
through. That's main street.
00:34:37.41\00:34:38.78
You're going to go
through Main Street stop light.
00:34:38.81\00:34:40.18
You're going to be
on Bob Straub highway.
00:34:40.21\00:34:41.68
You're going to follow
that and it's going to turn into
00:34:41.71\00:34:43.08
Jasper Lowell Road.
00:34:43.11\00:34:44.49
You're going to
go about eight miles.
00:34:44.52\00:34:45.92
And my house is on the left.
00:34:45.95\00:34:47.72
Think you can make it?
00:34:49.04\00:34:50.41
No, let me repeat that and
enlarge upon it a little bit.
00:34:50.65\00:34:53.78
So I'm going to tell you,
you're going to go exactly
00:34:55.08\00:34:57.37
X amount of miles on 126 until
you come to that stop light.
00:34:57.40\00:35:00.99
Then you're going to
see a sign that's going to
00:35:01.02\00:35:03.22
tell you to go straight through.
00:35:03.25\00:35:04.62
Get in your right lane
and go straight through.
00:35:04.65\00:35:06.02
As you follow that, you're going
to go over railroad tracks.
00:35:06.05\00:35:08.81
Then you're going to get
to Jasper Store on your left
00:35:09.23\00:35:11.34
and you're going to see a
green bridge on your right.
00:35:11.37\00:35:12.92
And you're going
to see mile markers.
00:35:12.95\00:35:14.32
Mile marker 1, mile
marker 2, mile marker 3.
00:35:14.35\00:35:16.11
When you get to mile
marker three, next left.
00:35:16.14\00:35:18.13
And then left again.
00:35:18.54\00:35:19.91
Think you'll make it? Maybe.
00:35:21.26\00:35:23.90
So let me repeat
and enlarge upon that.
00:35:23.93\00:35:26.12
And I'm going to do
that three or four times,
00:35:26.15\00:35:27.62
and I'm going to give
you more and more detail.
00:35:27.65\00:35:29.15
Because I'm going to
talk about the white bridge.
00:35:29.18\00:35:30.55
I'm going to talk
about the white house.
00:35:30.58\00:35:31.95
And I'm going to talk about
how far it is up the driveway.
00:35:31.98\00:35:33.35
And it's the fourth
driveway on the right.
00:35:33.38\00:35:35.05
It's the paved driveway.
00:35:35.08\00:35:36.45
I'm going to give you more
and more detail until I know
00:35:36.48\00:35:39.33
that you are settled and
that you are going to get
00:35:39.36\00:35:42.46
to the destination.
00:35:42.49\00:35:43.97
That's what God is doing
with the book of Revelation.
00:35:44.27\00:35:46.00
He's beginning at a
certain place with the churches.
00:35:46.98\00:35:50.03
And He takes us all the way
through to the Promised Land.
00:35:50.06\00:35:52.06
That's what the churches
end with, these promises.
00:35:52.09\00:35:54.07
You're going to
get the hidden manna.
00:35:54.10\00:35:55.47
You're going to be a
pillar in the temple.
00:35:55.50\00:35:56.87
And then He begins
again in the seals.
00:35:56.90\00:35:59.33
The same thing all over again.
00:35:59.36\00:36:00.73
He starts with this
picture of the cross.
00:36:00.76\00:36:02.98
In the churches, "I'm with you."
00:36:03.01\00:36:04.38
In the seals, the cross.
00:36:04.41\00:36:05.98
And then He takes us
again from the apostolic age,
00:36:06.01\00:36:08.32
the white horse rider going
forth conquering and to conquer,
00:36:08.35\00:36:10.88
all the way through to
the second coming of Jesus
00:36:10.91\00:36:13.44
and the wrath of the Lamb.
00:36:13.47\00:36:14.89
And who's going
to be able to stand.
00:36:14.92\00:36:16.51
And then John see an
interlude in Revelation 7.
00:36:16.54\00:36:19.50
And he sees who's
going to be able to stand.
00:36:19.53\00:36:21.12
A great multitude
that no man can number.
00:36:21.15\00:36:22.83
And then Revelation
chapter 8 begins again
00:36:23.13\00:36:25.69
with these seven trumpets.
00:36:25.72\00:36:27.09
And that begins in the
days of the apostolic age.
00:36:27.12\00:36:29.83
And you have
again the mediatorial
00:36:29.86\00:36:32.16
work of Jesus Christ.
00:36:32.19\00:36:34.26
First you had His incarnation.
00:36:34.29\00:36:36.11
Then you had His crucifixion.
00:36:36.14\00:36:38.12
And now you have His
mediation in the trumpets.
00:36:38.15\00:36:41.59
And as He enters this work...
00:36:42.50\00:36:44.89
Now we've got to remember, this
began right after His ascension.
00:36:44.92\00:36:47.65
So Revelation 8 is opening
up with the ascension of Christ.
00:36:47.68\00:36:51.04
That's why it's
the golden altar.
00:36:51.07\00:36:52.88
The golden altar
is in the Holy Place.
00:36:52.91\00:36:56.33
That's where Christ
went when He ascended.
00:36:56.36\00:36:58.15
He didn't go to
the Most Holy Place,
00:36:58.45\00:36:59.82
He went to the Holy Place.
00:36:59.85\00:37:01.22
By the way, if you
want to know where Christ is
00:37:01.25\00:37:03.44
time wise in the book
of Revelation, just follow
00:37:03.47\00:37:05.89
the sanctuary symbols.
00:37:05.92\00:37:07.47
Every single symbol of the
sanctuary in the first half
00:37:07.50\00:37:11.49
of the book begins where?
00:37:11.52\00:37:13.35
Guess where. The Holy Place.
00:37:13.38\00:37:15.32
He's among the
candlesticks in the churches.
00:37:16.82\00:37:19.26
He's at the golden
altar in the trumpets.
00:37:19.58\00:37:22.23
If you look at it
carefully, all of the symbols;
00:37:22.59\00:37:25.55
there are the seven flames of
fire, the seven spirits of God
00:37:25.58\00:37:28.37
before the altar
in Revelation 4 and 5.
00:37:28.40\00:37:30.33
All the symbols point
to the sanctuary Holy Place
00:37:30.36\00:37:34.46
in the first half of the book.
00:37:35.02\00:37:36.53
When you get to
Revelation 11:19,
00:37:36.56\00:37:38.75
here's what is interesting.
00:37:38.78\00:37:40.15
In Revelation 11:19, the
temple of God is open in heaven,
00:37:40.18\00:37:46.50
"and I saw in his temple,
the ark of his testimony."
00:37:46.53\00:37:50.28
Can anyone tell me where
the ark of the testimony is?
00:37:50.31\00:37:52.09
Most Holy Place.
00:37:52.12\00:37:53.49
What's in the
ark of the testimony?
00:37:53.52\00:37:54.89
Ten Commandments.
00:37:55.35\00:37:56.72
Now after John sees the
ark of the testimony open,
00:37:57.66\00:38:01.56
in Revelation 11:19,
after that, he sees a people who
00:38:01.59\00:38:05.59
keep the commandments of God.
00:38:05.62\00:38:07.36
Where are we now?
00:38:07.39\00:38:08.76
Most Holy Place.
00:38:08.79\00:38:10.16
So the second half of the
book, primarily Most Holy Place.
00:38:10.48\00:38:13.80
Primarily, I'm going to say
this for you who understand,
00:38:13.83\00:38:16.98
post 1844, okay.
00:38:17.01\00:38:19.10
Getting back to
our focus, though.
00:38:19.25\00:38:21.20
Every aspect of those sections
begins with this picture
00:38:22.02\00:38:26.32
of Christ in the
context of the gospel.
00:38:26.35\00:38:29.16
God with us.
00:38:29.19\00:38:30.56
God crucified for us in
the person of Jesus Christ.
00:38:30.90\00:38:34.17
God interceding for us in
the person of Jesus Christ.
00:38:34.20\00:38:36.81
Then you go to Revelation
chapter 12, and what do you see?
00:38:37.28\00:38:41.07
It's a beautiful picture.
00:38:41.10\00:38:42.47
It's a powerful picture.
00:38:42.96\00:38:44.33
This is our destiny right here.
00:38:44.36\00:38:46.09
This is the
destiny of you and me.
00:38:46.12\00:38:48.44
We are destined to Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 1
00:38:48.47\00:38:52.39
This is what God wants for us.
00:38:53.17\00:38:54.54
He wants us to be the woman.
00:38:54.57\00:38:55.94
He wants us to be the bride.
00:38:55.97\00:38:57.69
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:38:58.00\00:39:00.00
"And there appeared a
great wonder in heaven..."
00:39:00.49\00:39:03.53
I was raised in
England, by the way.
00:39:04.77\00:39:06.48
My mom lives there to this
day, I lived there for 10 years.
00:39:06.80\00:39:09.23
And there are certain words
that I say that bring that out.
00:39:09.26\00:39:11.82
I can't say... I don't
know how Americans say "wonder."
00:39:11.85\00:39:14.75
But "wonder," I can't
say that any other way.
00:39:14.78\00:39:17.82
That's just the
way it is because of...
00:39:18.32\00:39:20.08
I've lost my accent
but there are certain words
00:39:20.11\00:39:21.94
that I just say a certain way.
00:39:21.97\00:39:23.34
"There appeared a great
wonder in heaven; a woman
00:39:23.73\00:39:26.54
clothed with the sun,
and the moon under her feet,
00:39:26.84\00:39:31.77
and upon her head a
crown of twelve stars."
00:39:32.07\00:39:36.22
Now this word "wonder" is a
sign by which a person or thing
00:39:36.54\00:39:42.90
is distinguished or known.
00:39:42.93\00:39:46.38
It is an occurrence transcending
the common course of things.
00:39:47.09\00:39:54.81
That's what the
definition is in the Greek.
00:39:54.84\00:39:57.73
It is an uncommon occurrence.
00:39:58.11\00:40:01.21
This is our destiny right here.
00:40:01.72\00:40:03.18
Because this woman
represents the church.
00:40:04.03\00:40:06.72
It's a picture of
God's church who is clothed,
00:40:06.98\00:40:10.64
which is clothed with the sun.
00:40:10.67\00:40:12.04
Now the sun, we're told in
Malachi chapter 4, represents...
00:40:12.07\00:40:15.36
Anyone know?
00:40:15.39\00:40:16.76
Let's read the
verse, Malachi chapter 4.
00:40:18.08\00:40:20.09
Malachi is just
before the book of Matthew.
00:40:20.12\00:40:23.87
Malachi chapter 4.
00:40:24.48\00:40:26.57
And if you look here in verse 2.
00:40:27.79\00:40:30.89
It says in Malachi 4 verse 2...
00:40:32.36\00:40:34.31
So Matthew, first
gospel of the New Testament.
00:40:34.34\00:40:36.73
Just go back one book
and you're in Malachi.
00:40:36.76\00:40:38.71
Malachi 4 verse 2.
00:40:38.74\00:40:40.11
"But unto you that fear my name
shall the Sun of righteousness
00:40:40.14\00:40:44.99
arise," S-u-n, by the way,
"with healing in his wings."
00:40:45.02\00:40:50.16
The Sun of righteousness,
capital S-u-n, is Jesus.
00:40:51.23\00:40:56.63
The sun that the woman
is clothed with is Jesus.
00:40:58.15\00:41:01.61
Jesus is our righteousness.
00:41:01.93\00:41:03.86
This is an unusual occurrence
because God has a people
00:41:04.32\00:41:08.80
who are finally clothed with
the righteousness of Christ.
00:41:08.83\00:41:12.46
They've understood that He
has been with them; churches.
00:41:12.49\00:41:15.67
That He's been
crucified for them; seals.
00:41:15.70\00:41:18.00
That He is
interceding for them; trumpets.
00:41:18.03\00:41:20.61
They understand that Jesus
is the one that is referred to
00:41:21.25\00:41:24.28
all through the
book of Revelation.
00:41:24.31\00:41:25.68
They see the direct
references to Him over 80 times,
00:41:25.71\00:41:29.03
and the indirect references
to Him dozens more times.
00:41:29.06\00:41:31.68
They recognize that
He's everywhere in the
00:41:31.71\00:41:33.38
book of Revelation.
00:41:33.41\00:41:34.78
And they've lost their
fear of the beast, and they've
00:41:34.81\00:41:36.53
lost their fear of the dragon.
00:41:36.56\00:41:37.93
They've lost their
fear of everything else
00:41:37.96\00:41:39.75
because they're totally consumed
with this picture of Jesus.
00:41:39.78\00:41:43.06
And they finally
are ready to follow the
00:41:43.46\00:41:45.65
Lamb wherever He goes.
00:41:45.68\00:41:47.92
They overcome, verse 11,
by the blood of the Lamb.
00:41:47.95\00:41:51.18
And they have the
word of testimony.
00:41:51.41\00:41:54.25
And they don't love their
lives even unto their death.
00:41:54.28\00:41:56.34
And now those people are ready
to keep the commandments of God.
00:41:57.30\00:42:01.19
Just as an aside, in
case you're wondering.
00:42:01.74\00:42:04.56
Because they love Jesus.
00:42:05.55\00:42:07.35
Because He has
become everything to them.
00:42:07.38\00:42:09.34
And Jesus said,
"Well if you love Me,
00:42:09.37\00:42:10.74
you're going to
keep My commandments."
00:42:10.77\00:42:12.14
He said, "And the way
you're going to love Me is if
00:42:12.17\00:42:13.75
you understand
that I first loved you."
00:42:13.78\00:42:15.40
So the first of half of the book
of Revelation gives that focus,
00:42:15.43\00:42:18.87
primarily and
completely saturates us
00:42:18.90\00:42:21.63
in the love of Christ
over and over and over again.
00:42:21.66\00:42:24.95
Giving us that hope,
giving us that direction,
00:42:25.18\00:42:27.62
so that by the time we
get to Revelation chapter 14,
00:42:27.82\00:42:30.99
we are following
Him wherever He goes.
00:42:31.02\00:42:33.51
Past the beast,
around the dragon,
00:42:33.54\00:42:36.67
through the seven last plagues.
00:42:36.70\00:42:38.19
Wherever He leads,
we're going to follow Him.
00:42:38.22\00:42:39.92
Anywhere with
Jesus, I can safely go.
00:42:41.05\00:42:44.34
All fear is gone.
00:42:44.62\00:42:45.99
Because perfect
love casts out all fear.
00:42:46.11\00:42:47.88
You don't have perfect love
and I don't have perfect love,
00:42:47.91\00:42:49.74
but Jesus has perfect love.
00:42:49.77\00:42:51.52
And He's going to put that
perfect love in our hearts.
00:42:51.55\00:42:53.74
So if you're angry with someone,
if you're bitter with someone,
00:42:54.27\00:42:56.26
if you're upset
with someone tonight,
00:42:56.29\00:42:57.90
you can't do anything about it.
00:42:57.93\00:43:00.32
But Jesus can.
00:43:00.35\00:43:01.72
And you go to the Source.
00:43:02.15\00:43:03.68
You ask Him to deliver
you and He will do that.
00:43:03.71\00:43:05.76
He will never let you down.
00:43:06.35\00:43:07.95
He will never disappoint you.
00:43:08.24\00:43:09.98
He will work through you
and in you in powerful ways.
00:43:11.95\00:43:15.18
Ways that we don't
even recognize sometimes.
00:43:15.21\00:43:19.18
And He will take all of it out.
00:43:19.21\00:43:20.58
All of it is
going, it's going out.
00:43:20.61\00:43:22.25
Every aspect of the
spirit of the dragon;
00:43:22.28\00:43:24.82
accusing, judging, force,
control, criticism, pride,
00:43:24.85\00:43:31.28
arrogance, every aspect
of that spirit is going out.
00:43:31.31\00:43:35.98
And Jesus is coming in.
00:43:36.19\00:43:37.83
And as Jesus comes in and
fills us, we become completely
00:43:38.17\00:43:42.02
clothed with His righteousness.
00:43:42.05\00:43:43.78
And we're standing on the moon.
00:43:43.81\00:43:45.18
Now the moon is the lesser light
that leads to the greater light.
00:43:45.21\00:43:48.20
I think the moon is, my
understanding of it in the
00:43:48.23\00:43:51.32
context of the Bible is,
it's a light unto our feet
00:43:51.35\00:43:54.50
and a lamp unto our path.
00:43:54.53\00:43:55.90
Or is it a lamp unto our
feet and a light unto our path?
00:43:55.93\00:43:57.87
Either way, Psalm 119:105.
00:43:57.90\00:44:01.63
It's the Word of God, friends.
00:44:02.31\00:44:04.89
The Word of God
that reflects Jesus.
00:44:04.92\00:44:09.29
The Word of God
that we stand upon.
00:44:09.92\00:44:12.39
We're clothed with the
righteousness of Christ.
00:44:12.42\00:44:14.03
That's the sun.
00:44:14.06\00:44:15.43
We're standing
on the Word of God.
00:44:15.46\00:44:16.83
That's the very
foundation of our faith.
00:44:16.86\00:44:18.69
And we have these twelve stars.
00:44:18.72\00:44:20.94
These twelve stars, the
number 12 is the kingdom number.
00:44:20.97\00:44:23.93
It represents
God's organized people.
00:44:23.96\00:44:26.06
The twelve tribes
in the Old Testament,
00:44:26.09\00:44:28.02
the twelve apostles
in the New Testament.
00:44:28.05\00:44:29.94
In other words, God has an
organized church on this earth,
00:44:29.97\00:44:33.38
an organized people
who stand on His word
00:44:33.60\00:44:40.02
and are clothed with the
righteousness of Jesus Christ.
00:44:40.05\00:44:42.88
They're filled
with the love of God.
00:44:42.91\00:44:44.63
They've overcome by
the blood of the Lamb.
00:44:45.03\00:44:46.85
They have a word of testimony.
00:44:46.88\00:44:48.63
Their lives are insignificant
to them, in a selfish sense.
00:44:49.17\00:44:53.34
And they're
ready, well as an aside,
00:44:54.98\00:44:58.90
they are keeping
the commandments of God.
00:44:58.93\00:45:00.92
Because they love Jesus.
00:45:01.64\00:45:03.10
See, God has had a
people in the past who
00:45:03.77\00:45:05.50
kept His commandments.
00:45:05.53\00:45:06.92
But when Jesus
came, they crucified Him.
00:45:07.98\00:45:11.48
They exercised no faith in Him.
00:45:11.85\00:45:13.47
God has a lot of
people today who profess
00:45:13.75\00:45:16.18
to have faith in Jesus.
00:45:16.21\00:45:17.58
"Oh, I love
Jesus. Oh, I love Jesus."
00:45:17.61\00:45:19.09
You talk to them
about the commandments,
00:45:19.12\00:45:20.49
"Well, that's old covenant."
00:45:20.52\00:45:22.05
I mean, at least the
Sabbath one is, right?
00:45:22.08\00:45:24.20
Because they
don't want you stealing,
00:45:25.14\00:45:26.51
they don't want you
committing adultery.
00:45:26.54\00:45:27.96
But the Sabbath
one, that's old covenant.
00:45:27.99\00:45:30.46
But this is some
new manifestation that's
00:45:32.38\00:45:35.66
developing here in
Revelation chapter 12.
00:45:35.69\00:45:37.82
This is different,
this is out of the ordinary.
00:45:37.85\00:45:40.47
This is a people who not only
keep the commandments of God
00:45:40.50\00:45:44.14
just like they did
in the Old Testament,
00:45:44.17\00:45:45.54
but when Jesus comes they
also put their faith in Jesus.
00:45:45.57\00:45:49.29
And even though they
have their faith in Jesus,
00:45:51.14\00:45:52.89
like many Christians do
today in the New Testament,
00:45:52.92\00:45:54.82
still they keep the
commandments of God.
00:45:54.85\00:45:57.29
This is...
00:45:59.30\00:46:01.17
This is the fruit of
the everlasting gospel.
00:46:05.94\00:46:07.84
Because when you read about it
here in Revelation chapter 14,
00:46:07.87\00:46:10.73
"I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven
00:46:10.76\00:46:12.61
having the everlasting gospel
to preach unto them that dwell
00:46:12.64\00:46:15.11
on the earth; to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people."
00:46:15.14\00:46:17.35
You follow that down to
Revelation chapter 14 verse 12,
00:46:17.38\00:46:21.05
"Here is the patience of
the saints: here are they that
00:46:21.08\00:46:23.12
keep the commandments of God."
00:46:23.15\00:46:24.52
And even though they
keep the commandments of God,
00:46:24.55\00:46:25.96
they still keep
their faith in Jesus.
00:46:25.99\00:46:28.22
But even though they
keep their faith in Jesus,
00:46:28.54\00:46:30.14
that He's the only one
that saves them, He's the only
00:46:30.17\00:46:32.09
way their saved, they still
keep the commandments of God.
00:46:32.12\00:46:35.34
But in spite of the
fact that they're keeping the
00:46:37.35\00:46:38.73
commandments of God and they
are being obedient to all those
00:46:38.76\00:46:40.31
commandments, they still know
there's no way they can be saved
00:46:40.34\00:46:43.00
through their
obedience to those commandments.
00:46:43.03\00:46:44.40
And so they're still what?
00:46:44.43\00:46:45.80
Keeping their faith
for salvation in Jesus.
00:46:45.83\00:46:48.21
There is a tension
there that has never been seen
00:46:48.82\00:46:52.23
in a people on
planet earth, ever.
00:46:52.26\00:46:55.14
Old Testament;
yes, commandments.
00:46:56.11\00:46:57.82
No faith in Jesus.
00:46:57.85\00:46:59.24
New Testament; faith in Jesus.
00:46:59.27\00:47:00.64
No commandments, sorry.
00:47:00.67\00:47:02.04
That's old covenant.
00:47:02.07\00:47:03.44
The everlasting
gospel is producing a people,
00:47:03.85\00:47:07.12
a people that we
are destined to be.
00:47:08.17\00:47:11.62
You and I tonight here.
00:47:11.82\00:47:13.82
Brothers and
sisters, viewers listening.
00:47:14.95\00:47:17.62
A people whose experience is
a testimony to the love of God.
00:47:17.66\00:47:26.98
"If you love Me,
keep My commandments."
00:47:27.40\00:47:29.33
To the power of that
love to transform the heart.
00:47:29.36\00:47:32.63
So Revelation
chapter 12 is our destiny.
00:47:33.82\00:47:37.08
But there's no way we can
get to that destiny unless
00:47:37.11\00:47:39.92
we see Jesus first, unless
we see the love of God first.
00:47:39.95\00:47:42.72
So God doesn't put
His Ten Commandments in
00:47:42.75\00:47:44.92
chapter 1 or chapter 2
or chapter 3 or chapter 4 or
00:47:44.95\00:47:47.35
chapter 5 or chapter 6
or chapter 7 or chapter 8 or
00:47:47.38\00:47:49.17
chapter 9 or chapter 10
or chapter 11 of Revelation.
00:47:49.20\00:47:51.72
It's not there.
00:47:51.75\00:47:53.12
What is there?
00:47:53.32\00:47:54.69
Well what is there, number
one, is this message to the
00:47:54.72\00:47:57.22
seven churches to overcome.
00:47:57.25\00:47:58.86
"To him that overcomes..."
"To him that overcomes..."
00:47:58.89\00:48:00.79
That message is in code
in the book of Revelation.
00:48:00.82\00:48:05.01
If you will take that
one word, "to overcome,"
00:48:05.04\00:48:08.37
nikaó, and follow it
through the book of Revelation,
00:48:08.57\00:48:13.28
it will reveal a message
of the everlasting gospel.
00:48:13.31\00:48:18.41
It begins with the insistence,
and it's an insistence;
00:48:18.70\00:48:22.95
you need to overcome.
00:48:22.98\00:48:24.60
You must overcome.
00:48:24.93\00:48:26.30
Because God's law has
not been done away with.
00:48:26.87\00:48:30.60
But then we scratch our heads,
we look in the mirror, and
00:48:32.19\00:48:34.81
we're the same person we were
yesterday that we are today.
00:48:34.84\00:48:37.96
And we wonder,
how can we overcome?
00:48:37.99\00:48:39.80
It seems like there's no
man in heaven that's worthy.
00:48:39.83\00:48:42.38
There's no man in
heaven or earth or under
00:48:42.41\00:48:43.78
the earth that's worthy.
00:48:43.81\00:48:45.18
And that's the message
of Revelation chapter 5.
00:48:45.21\00:48:47.24
But then we see that while there
is no one in heaven or earth or
00:48:47.27\00:48:51.02
under the earth that is
worthy, that can overcome,
00:48:51.05\00:48:53.00
we see the Lamb.
00:48:53.03\00:48:54.68
And the description that's given
here in Revelation chapter 5
00:48:55.23\00:48:57.97
and verse 5 is
that we should not weep,
00:48:58.00\00:49:02.18
but we should behold the Lamb.
00:49:02.21\00:49:03.97
By the way, that's more
than just some good advice.
00:49:04.00\00:49:08.12
That is the very essence,
the very key, the very secret of
00:49:09.09\00:49:11.66
success for the Christian.
00:49:11.69\00:49:13.06
Behold the Lamb of God.
00:49:13.09\00:49:14.46
Behold, the Lamb
"of the tribe of Judah,
00:49:14.49\00:49:18.08
the Root of
David, has prevailed."
00:49:18.58\00:49:20.81
Now that word "prevailed,"
yes, is the same word
00:49:21.55\00:49:24.29
for overcome, nikaó.
00:49:24.32\00:49:25.69
It's the same word.
00:49:25.72\00:49:27.09
We have to
overcome. But we failed.
00:49:27.12\00:49:31.00
But where we
failed, He has prevailed.
00:49:31.10\00:49:33.56
Okay, now you follow that
word to Revelation chapter 6.
00:49:34.25\00:49:37.19
The Lamb begins to
open the seals of the book.
00:49:37.22\00:49:39.98
And the first seal is opened
and there's this white horse.
00:49:40.01\00:49:42.30
And of course, we know
this white horse and its
00:49:42.33\00:49:44.37
rider represents Jesus.
00:49:44.40\00:49:45.77
Revelation 19 tells us this.
00:49:45.80\00:49:47.17
But here's the message
of the white horse rider.
00:49:47.20\00:49:49.36
And it's a message for us today.
00:49:49.39\00:49:50.81
Verse 2 of Revelation 6, "I
saw, and behold a white horse."
00:49:51.95\00:49:55.82
That's us, that's God's people.
00:49:55.85\00:49:58.14
We're told that in the
book of Zechariah 10 verse 3.
00:49:58.17\00:50:01.51
We are His horse in the
battle, the white horse.
00:50:01.55\00:50:04.99
"And he that sat on him,"
that's Jesus, "had a bow..."
00:50:05.02\00:50:08.20
Oh, powerful word.
00:50:08.23\00:50:09.60
You'll want to trace that
through the book of Revelation.
00:50:09.63\00:50:11.00
"...and a crown
was given unto him."
00:50:11.03\00:50:12.77
Jesus has gotten the
victory crown for us.
00:50:12.80\00:50:14.93
"And he went forth..." What?
00:50:14.96\00:50:17.57
"...conquering, and to conquer."
00:50:17.60\00:50:19.93
Guess what word that is.
00:50:19.96\00:50:21.33
Nikaó, overcome.
00:50:22.46\00:50:24.06
So far here's the message.
00:50:25.08\00:50:26.45
You need to overcome.
00:50:26.48\00:50:27.85
You failed to overcome.
00:50:28.32\00:50:29.69
No one in heaven or earth
or under the earth is worthy
00:50:29.72\00:50:31.46
to overcome, but
Jesus has overcome.
00:50:31.49\00:50:33.60
And if you'll unite with Jesus,
if you will unite with that
00:50:33.63\00:50:37.70
white horse rider, if
you will give Him the reigns
00:50:37.73\00:50:39.92
of your heart, if you
will let Him take control
00:50:39.95\00:50:41.93
of your life, guess what?
00:50:41.96\00:50:43.33
You're going to go forth
conquering and to conquer.
00:50:43.36\00:50:45.73
You're going to overcome.
00:50:45.76\00:50:47.13
We can't overcome.
00:50:47.53\00:50:48.90
Of ourselves, we can do nothing.
00:50:49.20\00:50:50.57
But united with Jesus, in
Christ all things are possible.
00:50:50.60\00:50:56.07
"I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:50:56.10\00:50:58.75
Our problem is that
we disconnect from Jesus.
00:50:59.92\00:51:03.23
One minute we're
walking on the water like,
00:51:04.53\00:51:06.09
"Whoa, man. This is amazing."
00:51:06.12\00:51:08.09
By the way, all
through the book of Revelation,
00:51:08.12\00:51:10.83
sea means
trouble, sea is bad stuff.
00:51:10.86\00:51:13.26
Revelations
says, in the new earth
00:51:13.29\00:51:14.70
there's going to be no more sea.
00:51:14.73\00:51:16.10
It's not talking
about literal water.
00:51:16.13\00:51:17.50
It's talking about
the symbolism of the sea
00:51:17.53\00:51:19.18
from which the beast arises.
00:51:19.74\00:51:21.61
The sea that the
beast uses, the dragon uses,
00:51:24.50\00:51:26.52
to throw out persecution;
a flood of sea, of water,
00:51:26.55\00:51:29.79
after the woman to drown her.
00:51:29.82\00:51:31.34
And we're walking
on that sea, you know.
00:51:32.48\00:51:33.94
We're rising above all of that.
00:51:33.97\00:51:35.48
We're just walking alone and
then we just kind of turn around
00:51:35.51\00:51:37.80
and say, "Hey guys, look at me."
00:51:37.83\00:51:39.20
You know, like Peter
did, "Hey, look at me."
00:51:39.23\00:51:41.05
And whoosh, down we go.
00:51:41.08\00:51:42.69
As soon as we take
our eyes off Jesus,
00:51:44.87\00:51:47.24
we're not safe for a moment.
00:51:47.27\00:51:48.66
As soon as we take
our eyes off Jesus,
00:51:51.43\00:51:53.42
our feet are going
to go under that water.
00:51:53.45\00:51:55.82
And what did Peter say?
00:51:56.92\00:51:58.29
What is his life
experience advice for us?
00:51:58.32\00:52:02.16
"Lord save me, or I perish."
00:52:02.19\00:52:05.20
He didn't start doggy paddling.
00:52:05.80\00:52:07.33
He didn't start,
"Well, I think I can..."
00:52:07.63\00:52:10.51
No he just, "Save me."
00:52:10.54\00:52:12.24
And Jesus was there.
00:52:12.27\00:52:14.53
And He'll be there for us too.
00:52:15.58\00:52:17.11
Don't think that you can
doggy paddle, that you can
00:52:17.43\00:52:20.23
float in the sea
that we're involved in.
00:52:20.26\00:52:22.13
We need Jesus every moment.
00:52:22.16\00:52:23.80
And so the book of Revelation
is giving us this message.
00:52:24.20\00:52:26.59
Now as you move
through, you come to
00:52:26.62\00:52:28.90
Revelation chapter 12.
00:52:28.93\00:52:30.30
Revelation 12 and verse 11.
00:52:31.04\00:52:33.94
"And they
overcame him," the accuser,
00:52:34.69\00:52:38.06
"by the blood of the Lamb..."
00:52:38.09\00:52:39.46
That word "overcome"
is the same word, nikaó.
00:52:39.49\00:52:41.35
It's the same word "prevailed"
in Revelation chapter 5.
00:52:41.38\00:52:44.37
It's the same word "conquer"
in Revelation chapter 6.
00:52:44.40\00:52:46.99
How did they do it?
By the blood of the Lamb.
00:52:47.02\00:52:48.86
What specifically were
they needing to overcome?
00:52:48.89\00:52:52.34
In the context of this verse
right here, the final issue,
00:52:52.78\00:52:57.36
the final sin, the nitty-gritty
that we need to overcome,
00:52:57.39\00:53:04.32
you and I and
every person listening
00:53:04.35\00:53:06.43
to this message, is accusation.
00:53:07.81\00:53:11.03
They overcame the
accuser of the brethren.
00:53:11.96\00:53:14.00
That's the context
of Revelation 12:11.
00:53:14.20\00:53:16.01
Revelation 12:10 says that
"the accuser of our brethren
00:53:16.04\00:53:19.22
is cast down, which accused
them before God day and night."
00:53:19.25\00:53:21.59
Jesus cast out the accuser.
00:53:23.03\00:53:24.89
And we overcame the accuser.
00:53:25.52\00:53:27.56
I mean, we may be going
to church on the right day,
00:53:28.77\00:53:30.40
we may be paying
tithes of all that we possess,
00:53:30.43\00:53:32.02
we may be eating our veggie
dogs and drinking our soy milk.
00:53:32.05\00:53:34.68
I like rice milk myself.
00:53:34.71\00:53:36.08
We may be doing all the
right things, who knows.
00:53:36.12\00:53:38.81
But there's one
thing we're not doing,
00:53:39.19\00:53:40.65
there is one area
we're slipping, there is one
00:53:40.68\00:53:43.06
sin that grabed a hold of
us from the very inception of
00:53:43.09\00:53:46.59
our fall back in
the garden of Eden.
00:53:46.62\00:53:48.38
It was that time when God
said, "Adam, what did you do?"
00:53:48.41\00:53:50.73
And Adam said,
"It was the woman."
00:53:50.76\00:53:53.48
And God said to the
woman, "Well, what did you do?"
00:53:54.69\00:53:58.42
And the woman
said, "It was the..."
00:53:58.45\00:53:59.82
And we've been
pointing the finger ever since.
00:54:00.18\00:54:01.97
It's just natural, it
just makes us feel better.
00:54:02.66\00:54:04.49
To know there
are people out there;
00:54:04.52\00:54:06.13
there are child
molesters out there,
00:54:06.16\00:54:07.65
there are people out
there that are alcoholics,
00:54:07.68\00:54:11.09
that are rapists, that
are doing terrible things.
00:54:11.12\00:54:13.68
To know that those
terrible people are out there
00:54:13.71\00:54:15.47
just makes us feel better.
00:54:15.50\00:54:16.87
That's why we watch the news.
00:54:18.21\00:54:19.58
"Oh, those terrible
things that are going on.
00:54:19.61\00:54:20.98
At least I'm not doing that."
00:54:21.01\00:54:22.38
But the truth of the
matter is, that the ground
00:54:24.58\00:54:26.71
is level at the
foot of the cross.
00:54:26.74\00:54:28.68
The worst sinners, the
ones who are the most repugnant
00:54:28.71\00:54:33.29
in God's sight...
00:54:33.32\00:54:35.12
Laodiceans.
00:54:35.15\00:54:36.52
"I'd rather you
were hot or cold.
00:54:36.95\00:54:39.87
I can reach you when
you're out there in the..."
00:54:39.90\00:54:41.39
I could tell you
stories of people who have been
00:54:41.42\00:54:42.79
reached in prison, people who
have been reached on death row,
00:54:42.82\00:54:44.73
people who have been
reached on the streets.
00:54:44.76\00:54:46.18
But these guys,
these Laodiceans?
00:54:46.45\00:54:48.54
Us?
00:54:48.57\00:54:49.94
Oh man, that's hard.
00:54:49.97\00:54:51.47
It makes God want to throw up.
00:54:52.98\00:54:54.55
Primarily because
we're so hard to reach.
00:54:54.58\00:54:56.22
We're so smug,
we're so righteous,
00:54:56.25\00:54:57.68
we're so full of ourselves.
00:54:57.71\00:55:00.37
I know I am.
00:55:01.19\00:55:02.56
Seriously.
00:55:04.81\00:55:06.25
And yet, God loves us.
00:55:07.42\00:55:08.95
And that's our
only hope, really.
00:55:08.98\00:55:10.41
We talked about this already,
there's only two churches
00:55:10.85\00:55:12.78
that God specifically
directly says He loves.
00:55:12.81\00:55:14.90
It's the church of
Philadelphia, which is
00:55:14.93\00:55:16.30
the church of brotherly love.
00:55:16.33\00:55:17.70
And it's us, the
Laodicean church.
00:55:17.73\00:55:19.49
I love information, I love
the truth, I love the Bible.
00:55:20.33\00:55:24.27
I love the message that
God has given us in the Bible.
00:55:24.30\00:55:27.03
But I'm scared to death, and
I think God is sometimes too,
00:55:27.06\00:55:29.92
to learn more and more
and more of the head knowledge
00:55:29.95\00:55:34.75
and lack the heart experience,
lack the practical demonstration
00:55:35.35\00:55:38.63
in the life of the
truth that God has given us.
00:55:38.66\00:55:42.34
I think the more we
know, the more we need to pray.
00:55:44.95\00:55:48.45
This preacher once said,
that great preacher once said,
00:55:50.41\00:55:52.33
"We need to pray
more than we preach."
00:55:52.36\00:55:54.16
Pray more than we preach.
00:55:54.60\00:55:55.97
Oh, I preach a
lot. I preach a lot.
00:55:56.00\00:55:57.55
Pray more than we preach?
00:55:57.58\00:55:58.95
For me, that would
be a real challenge.
00:55:58.98\00:56:00.67
But I'm starting to
realize the truth of his words.
00:56:00.87\00:56:04.60
Because it's when I pray, it's
when I'm connecting with God,
00:56:05.05\00:56:08.20
talking to Him like a friend,
that He begins to communicate
00:56:09.58\00:56:12.34
to me, not just truth,
but the reality of who He is,
00:56:12.37\00:56:17.08
His friendship, His love.
00:56:17.11\00:56:18.73
It's then that I begin
to awaken in a different way
00:56:19.09\00:56:23.45
in my relationship with Him.
00:56:23.48\00:56:25.24
A way that takes that
knowledge down to the heart.
00:56:26.12\00:56:28.34
The kind of experience
that Nebuchadnezzar went through
00:56:28.37\00:56:30.26
in Daniel chapter 4.
00:56:30.29\00:56:31.76
He knew about prophecy.
00:56:33.09\00:56:34.76
He was the first one to
attend a Daniel seminar.
00:56:34.79\00:56:37.53
He sat on the front row.
00:56:37.56\00:56:38.96
And when the whole
thing was over, he said,
00:56:39.98\00:56:41.35
"I want to join
your church, Daniel.
00:56:41.38\00:56:42.75
I want to be there."
00:56:42.78\00:56:44.15
But just a short while
later, he was out the back door.
00:56:44.18\00:56:47.95
We'll talk about
that more tomorrow.
00:56:47.98\00:56:49.56
The truth of the matter
is, we need a connection
00:56:50.93\00:56:53.99
with Jesus Christ.
00:56:54.02\00:56:55.41
And we can have it.
00:56:55.44\00:56:56.81
The book of
Revelation shows us how
00:56:57.45\00:56:59.87
we can have that connection.
00:56:59.90\00:57:01.27
Is that your desire tonight to
have that connection with Jesus?
00:57:01.65\00:57:04.01
Praise God. Praise God.
00:57:04.31\00:57:06.08
Let's pray.
00:57:06.11\00:57:07.48
Father, thank You
so much this evening
00:57:07.65\00:57:09.14
for the everlasting gospel.
00:57:09.17\00:57:10.54
Thank You for putting
it where it is, when it is,
00:57:10.57\00:57:13.26
and for showing us why it is.
00:57:13.29\00:57:15.20
Thank You that it is a summary
of everything You've been
00:57:15.68\00:57:19.01
teaching us in the
book of Revelation.
00:57:19.04\00:57:20.42
That it is calling
us to the incarnation,
00:57:20.45\00:57:23.12
to the death, and to
the resurrection of Jesus.
00:57:23.15\00:57:25.76
To His mediation in behalf
of us and the entire world,
00:57:25.79\00:57:29.26
to bring us to the
place where we're clothed
00:57:29.29\00:57:32.49
with the righteousness of Jesus.
00:57:32.92\00:57:34.29
Standing on the world of God,
crowned with those twelve stars,
00:57:34.32\00:57:39.55
organized as a
body of believers.
00:57:39.58\00:57:41.70