¤ ¤
00:00:01.36\00:00:19.25
Welcome again and thank you for
joining us for Eternal Truths
00:00:19.28\00:00:23.25
Matter. Some time ago I was
talking to my friend. Now this
00:00:23.28\00:00:26.25
friend was really enamored with
sports. He just loved sports.
00:00:26.29\00:00:29.69
And if we would go out to
do something together he would
00:00:29.72\00:00:33.73
record the sport game. He
would say to me, Mark if you're
00:00:33.76\00:00:37.63
reading the news and you happen
to see the score don't tell me
00:00:37.67\00:00:41.94
because I want to be in suspense
I want to come down to the last
00:00:41.97\00:00:45.07
moments of the game and I want
to discover then who won. Let me
00:00:45.11\00:00:49.21
give you some good news. In the
conflict between good and evil.
00:00:49.24\00:00:53.31
We already know the final score.
When you take a look at the book
00:00:53.35\00:00:58.25
of Revelation here's the thing.
Jesus wins and Satan loses. We
00:00:58.29\00:01:03.63
don't have to have any doubt
about who is going to win in
00:01:03.66\00:01:08.00
this final conflict. That's what
I'm talking about during this
00:01:08.03\00:01:12.10
program. The Winner in the final
conflict. The last few chapters
00:01:12.13\00:01:16.14
of the book of
Revelation. Let's pray.
00:01:16.17\00:01:18.27
Father in heaven, thank you
so much for Jesus. Thank you so
00:01:18.31\00:01:23.14
much for his love. Thank you so
much that as we read Revelation
00:01:23.18\00:01:27.25
we know that we can be on
the winning side through Jesus
00:01:27.28\00:01:31.29
Christ our Lord. Amen.
00:01:31.32\00:01:32.92
A number of years ago when my
son, Mark Jr., was just a little
00:01:32.95\00:01:39.09
tyke, my wife came home from the
barber with him. That was one of
00:01:39.13\00:01:44.53
his early haircuts. My wife
Teenie said Mark you need to go
00:01:44.57\00:01:46.94
down and get a haircut. I said
but dear my hair is not that
00:01:46.97\00:01:50.84
bad. What do you mean I got
to go down and get a haircut. I
00:01:50.87\00:01:52.34
got one a couple weeks ago. She
said, But look I just took our
00:01:52.37\00:01:56.81
son to the barber and as I was
at the barber, I overheard the
00:01:56.85\00:01:59.68
younger barber saying something
like this: There was a man
00:01:59.71\00:02:03.12
sitting in the barber's chair
and he was reading the newspaper
00:02:03.15\00:02:06.35
And the man reading the
newspaper said to the barber,
00:02:06.39\00:02:09.49
You know you can't read any good
news in the newspaper anymore.
00:02:09.52\00:02:12.56
Everything you read there is
scary, everything you read there
00:02:12.59\00:02:16.46
you just get so frightened with
it. I mean there's war, there's
00:02:16.50\00:02:19.07
conflict, there's natural
disasters, there's fires and
00:02:19.10\00:02:21.47
floods all over the place.
Robberies. And the barber said
00:02:21.50\00:02:24.64
if you think the newspaper is
scary you should read the book
00:02:24.67\00:02:29.14
of Revelation. I tried it for
the first time last night. And
00:02:29.18\00:02:31.55
all I could find were beasts
and conflict and these evil
00:02:31.58\00:02:36.62
creatures. So he said, I was so
scared I could hardly sleep all
00:02:36.65\00:02:41.22
night. So my wife said Mark,
you got to go down there. You
00:02:41.26\00:02:43.83
need to talk to that
barber about Revelation. So as a
00:02:43.86\00:02:47.93
faithful husband, I went down to
the barbershop. Sat there with
00:02:47.96\00:02:52.17
three barbers. Older man came
to me and I said, No, no, Thank
00:02:52.20\00:02:55.10
you. I'm waiting for that man
over there. Well, do you know
00:02:55.14\00:02:57.77
him? Well no but my wife
recommends him. But I'm thinking
00:02:57.81\00:03:01.94
and praying, How can I help this
barber to understand the book
00:03:01.98\00:03:03.31
of Revelation. So I got an idea.
I picked up a newspaper, sat in
00:03:03.35\00:03:07.75
barber chair. And as I began
to read the newspaper I said you
00:03:07.78\00:03:12.45
know sir everything in this
newspaper is scary. It is really
00:03:12.49\00:03:16.62
scary. I mean, you look at all
that's happening and he kind of
00:03:16.66\00:03:21.36
looked at me and he said, You
think the newspaper is scary,
00:03:21.40\00:03:24.23
what about Revelation? I said
well maybe you haven't read the
00:03:24.27\00:03:26.20
last few chapters of Revelation.
Because there it presents great
00:03:26.23\00:03:30.84
hope. And I said all through
Revelation you have the hope
00:03:30.87\00:03:33.24
of Christ Jesus. He said do you
know anything about Revelation?
00:03:33.27\00:03:36.38
Well, I know a little bit. You
want to study it together? Sure.
00:03:36.41\00:03:41.78
So we began to study it and
thank God the barber accepted
00:03:41.82\00:03:45.35
Jesus. We gave him some of my
tapes while we were traveling.
00:03:45.39\00:03:47.06
And he was able to listen
to them and he was baptized and
00:03:47.09\00:03:50.59
became a faithful Christian. But
here's the point. The last few
00:03:50.63\00:03:54.80
chapters of the book of
Revelation are really amazing.
00:03:54.83\00:03:58.83
Because they reveal the victory
of Christ. Now you remember in
00:03:58.87\00:04:03.14
our previous studies we studied
the fact that God has a message
00:04:03.17\00:04:07.64
for humanity at end time. That
message is found in the book of
00:04:07.68\00:04:11.01
Revelation, chapter 14. It's
a call to worship Christ. It's a
00:04:11.05\00:04:14.12
call to the everlasting gospel.
It's a call to worship the
00:04:14.15\00:04:17.25
creator. And then we've read
about in Revelation 14:8 about
00:04:17.29\00:04:21.26
this Babylon, this apostate
religion that passes around its
00:04:21.29\00:04:25.49
wine cup full of false
doctrines We read about that in
00:04:25.53\00:04:28.70
Revelation 17 and in Revelation
18. Now Revelation 19 comes with
00:04:28.73\00:04:36.24
a glorious climax. Revelation
19, 20, 21 and 22 bring all of
00:04:36.27\00:04:40.38
Revelation together and
they're the climax of the great
00:04:40.41\00:04:42.91
controversy between good
and evil. So we want to see some
00:04:42.94\00:04:45.95
wonderful things in these
chapters, some encouraging
00:04:45.98\00:04:48.35
things. So Babylon falls, Christ
wins, Satan loses. Revelation
00:04:48.38\00:04:51.75
chapter 19 we're starting there
with verse 11: And I saw heaven
00:04:51.79\00:04:56.66
opened...John says I saw this...
behold a white horse; the
00:04:56.69\00:05:03.03
symbolism of a general
conquering. And he that sat on
00:05:03.06\00:05:06.57
was called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness, he judges
00:05:06.60\00:05:10.01
and makes war. His eyes were
like a flame of fire, on his
00:05:10.04\00:05:13.51
head were many crowns and he
had a name written that no man
00:05:13.54\00:05:16.75
knew, but he himself. He was
clothed with a vesture dipped in
00:05:16.78\00:05:20.18
blood; and his name is called
the Word of God. And the armies
00:05:20.22\00:05:23.62
which were in heaven followed
him on white horses, clothed in
00:05:23.65\00:05:26.45
fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth was a sharp
00:05:26.49\00:05:29.62
sword, that he should smite
the nations: he should rule them
00:05:29.66\00:05:32.16
with a rod of iron: and treads
the winepress of the fierceness
00:05:32.19\00:05:35.73
and the wrath of Almighty God.
And on his vesture and on his
00:05:35.76\00:05:40.24
thigh a name written, King of
kings, and Lord of lords. Here
00:05:40.27\00:05:46.21
is Jesus, here is the triumph
of the ages, here is Christ who
00:05:46.24\00:05:51.35
triumphs over the principalities
and powers of hell. But let's
00:05:51.38\00:05:54.12
look at these verses phrase
by phrase. He says: I saw heaven
00:05:54.15\00:05:59.49
open, behold a white horse. When
a Roman general, when a Roman
00:05:59.52\00:06:07.40
general came back from
conquering a nation he often
00:06:07.43\00:06:12.23
rode on a white horse
with behind him the trophies of
00:06:12.27\00:06:16.37
conquest. They would often bring
captives back, they would use
00:06:16.40\00:06:19.57
them as slaves. They would bring
bootie back, gold, silvers that
00:06:19.61\00:06:24.05
they had found in those places.
So the symbolism of the white
00:06:24.08\00:06:27.78
horse in ancient Rome was very
significant because it indicates
00:06:27.82\00:06:31.19
triumph, it indicates purity,
it indicates particularly
00:06:31.22\00:06:34.42
victory is what it indicates.
Now the one on the white horse
00:06:34.46\00:06:38.96
was Faithful and True. Jesus is
Faithful and True. What he says
00:06:38.99\00:06:42.50
about the end times is true.
What he says about his final
00:06:42.53\00:06:45.07
conflict is true. And in
righteousness he judges and
00:06:45.10\00:06:48.47
makes war. Many nations don't
judge in righteousness but this
00:06:48.50\00:06:52.07
war that Jesus makes is over
evil. It is to destroy evil,
00:06:52.11\00:06:55.38
wickedness, sin, and suffering.
His eyes were as the flame of
00:06:55.41\00:06:58.91
fire and on his head many crowns
He had a name written nobody
00:06:58.95\00:07:01.85
knew but himself. He was clothed
with a vesture dipped in blood.
00:07:01.88\00:07:06.05
Now that is an interesting
expression, vesture dipped in
00:07:06.09\00:07:08.62
blood. It could mean two things.
One: That Christ comes reminding
00:07:08.66\00:07:12.43
us of the blood of Christ. We're
only saved through Jesus' blood.
00:07:12.46\00:07:14.76
There's no other way to be saved
His blood was shed to reveal the
00:07:14.80\00:07:19.23
character of God, the goodness
of God, the graciousness of God.
00:07:19.27\00:07:21.57
His blood was shed to atone
for our sins so that we can live
00:07:21.60\00:07:26.11
righteous lives. But there's
another possibility for this
00:07:26.14\00:07:29.01
phrase, vesture dipped in blood.
It can be a reminder of all the
00:07:29.04\00:07:32.78
martyrs who have suffered down
through the ages and that Christ
00:07:32.81\00:07:35.32
is coming to resurrect them from
their graves and they can live
00:07:35.35\00:07:38.45
with him forever. It says that
his name's called the Word of
00:07:38.49\00:07:44.39
God. That's why we call this
series the Eternal Truths Matter
00:07:44.43\00:07:47.06
series because it's based on
the Word of God. But notice what
00:07:47.10\00:07:52.90
it says here down in verse 15:
Out of his mouth goes a sharp
00:07:52.93\00:07:56.40
sword. What's the sword? It's
the sword of the Spirit, the
00:07:56.44\00:07:58.67
word of God. And it says on his
thigh is written King of kings
00:07:58.71\00:08:02.38
and Lord of lords. So one
day the whole universe will bow
00:08:02.41\00:08:06.75
before his feet. One day
the whole universe will sing his
00:08:06.78\00:08:09.98
praises. One day the
whole universe will sing Worthy,
00:08:10.02\00:08:13.25
Worthy is the Lamb. He is
King of kings and Lord of lords.
00:08:13.29\00:08:19.59
God's word is going to triumph.
God's purposes are going to
00:08:19.63\00:08:23.70
triumph. God's plan is going
to triumph. God's people will
00:08:23.73\00:08:27.87
triumph with him. Now Christ
comes and as he comes, returns
00:08:27.90\00:08:34.28
to this earth, comes in a cloud
of glory. Every eye will see
00:08:34.31\00:08:37.35
him. every ear will hear it. He
comes and the righteous dead are
00:08:37.38\00:08:41.48
resurrected to receive their
immortal bodies. He comes and
00:08:41.52\00:08:45.49
the righteous living are changed
in an instant, in the twinkling
00:08:45.52\00:08:50.29
of an eye and the righteous
ascend to heaven with Christ.
00:08:50.33\00:08:53.06
Now what happens at that point?
Revelation 20 verses 1 and 2.
00:08:53.09\00:08:58.57
And I saw an angel come down
from heaven, having the key of
00:08:58.60\00:09:03.81
the bottomless pit and a great
chain in his hand. And he laid
00:09:03.84\00:09:07.44
hold on the dragon, that
old serpent, which is the Devil,
00:09:07.48\00:09:10.51
and Satan, and bound him
a thousand years. Now this
00:09:10.55\00:09:14.45
bottomless pit, what is this all
about? The bottomless pit is not
00:09:14.48\00:09:20.89
some subterranean cavern
deep within the earth. The term
00:09:20.92\00:09:26.03
bottomless pit comes from an
expression in the Greek language
00:09:26.06\00:09:29.60
it's abusos abusa so which means
this kind of dark and desolate
00:09:29.63\00:09:34.77
place. So the devil is bound
here on earth with a chain, not
00:09:34.80\00:09:40.54
a literal chain, but a chain of
circumstances. He's chained in
00:09:40.58\00:09:45.21
the darkness. And imagine it.
The devil is here. When Christ
00:09:45.25\00:09:48.22
comes the wicked are destroyed
by the brightness of his coming
00:09:48.25\00:09:51.15
the wicked living. The wicked
dead stay in their graves. And
00:09:51.19\00:09:54.72
Satan is here bound on earth
for that thousand years. God's
00:09:54.76\00:09:58.86
people are in heaven with him.
At the end of the thousand years
00:09:58.89\00:10:01.93
according to the Bible, the
Holy City descends. And as it
00:10:01.96\00:10:06.17
descends the rest of the dead
that Satan and his evil hosts
00:10:06.20\00:10:09.30
rise up to take that city. They
are destroyed by the fires of
00:10:09.34\00:10:15.51
God's presence, sin is
destructed, sin is combustible
00:10:15.54\00:10:19.91
material and eventually the
earth is made new. That leads us
00:10:19.95\00:10:23.89
to Revelation chapters 21 and 22
where I want to spend most of my
00:10:23.92\00:10:27.99
time with you during this
presentation. Revelation 21 John
00:10:28.02\00:10:34.16
says: I saw...John says I
saw it...a new heaven and a new
00:10:34.20\00:10:39.30
earth: the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away;
00:10:39.33\00:10:42.20
there was no more sea...That's
no more separation...I John saw
00:10:42.24\00:10:45.51
the Holy City, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of
00:10:45.54\00:10:50.05
heaven prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. And I
00:10:50.08\00:10:53.75
heard a great voice out of
heaven saying, saying Behold the
00:10:53.78\00:10:56.12
tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them, and
00:10:56.15\00:10:59.52
they shall be his people, and
God himself shall be with them,
00:10:59.55\00:11:01.62
and be their God. God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes;
00:11:01.66\00:11:05.43
there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There'll
00:11:05.46\00:11:08.86
be no more pain: for the former
things are passed away. Here
00:11:08.90\00:11:12.73
scripture makes it plain. John
says, I saw it. This is no make
00:11:12.77\00:11:16.91
believe. This is not some
figment of some human author's
00:11:16.94\00:11:20.28
imagination. This is not some
fantasy. John says I saw it.
00:11:20.31\00:11:23.75
I saw the Holy City coming down
from God out of heaven. And he
00:11:23.78\00:11:28.98
says there's a voice in heaven
that said, there's a great voice
00:11:29.02\00:11:33.15
in heaven. Here's a solemn
announcement. Here's a voice
00:11:33.19\00:11:36.42
that goes out to the ends of
the earth. God is moving. God is
00:11:36.46\00:11:41.83
moving. Right now our planets
encircle the sun. Earth and the
00:11:41.86\00:11:48.87
other planets in our orbit
in our universe circles the sun.
00:11:48.90\00:11:51.77
in some great cosmic circle, but
we're told that our solar system
00:11:51.81\00:11:56.88
is one of multiple solar systems
that are revolving around a
00:11:56.91\00:12:00.38
cosmic center. All of life,
everything animate and inanimate
00:12:00.42\00:12:06.35
all of life and all of the
material world circles around
00:12:06.39\00:12:12.06
God's throne. God's throne is
the cosmic control center of the
00:12:12.09\00:12:16.30
universe. God's throne is the
Command Center of the universe.
00:12:16.33\00:12:20.34
And there the destiny of nations
is guided by God. There although
00:12:20.37\00:12:26.81
God lets human beings
make choices God is guiding and
00:12:26.84\00:12:30.98
superintending and trying
to bring about the best of evil
00:12:31.01\00:12:35.95
men's choices. So that's the
cosmic control center but this
00:12:35.98\00:12:43.36
announcement said: The great
voice out of heaven says behold
00:12:43.39\00:12:46.19
tabernacle of God...that's the
dwelling place of God...that is
00:12:46.23\00:12:49.93
with men. He'll dwell with
them, they'll be his people. God
00:12:49.96\00:12:52.73
himself shall be with them and
be their God. So can you imagine
00:12:52.77\00:12:55.47
the Holy City comes down and
here God takes this planet in
00:12:55.50\00:13:00.14
rebellion, this war-torn, famine
stricken, polluted earth. He
00:13:00.18\00:13:05.15
remakes it into the spender of
Eden and as he does this becomes
00:13:05.18\00:13:11.42
the center of the universe
because God's dwelling place is
00:13:11.45\00:13:15.36
here. And he takes this planet
in rebellion and he makes it
00:13:15.39\00:13:18.73
over again into something of
beauty. If God can do that for
00:13:18.76\00:13:21.76
this wicked old earth, he can do
it for your life. He can take a
00:13:21.80\00:13:25.60
life that's rebelled against
him He can take a life where
00:13:25.63\00:13:29.77
mistakes have been made, sins
have been committed and there's
00:13:29.80\00:13:31.77
condemnation and guilt and shame
and God can take that life and
00:13:31.81\00:13:37.05
God can make it over again my
friend. If he can do it for this
00:13:37.08\00:13:39.71
planet, he can do it for you.
And then it talks about the Holy
00:13:39.75\00:13:42.38
City. I do like verse 5 here
though and we should pause and
00:13:42.42\00:13:46.05
just take a quick look at that.
It says: And he that sat upon
00:13:46.09\00:13:50.19
the throne said, Behold, I make
all things new. And he said,
00:13:50.23\00:13:53.40
Write: For these words are true
and faithful. He says I make all
00:13:53.43\00:13:56.80
things new. He will do it for
the planet and he will do it for
00:13:56.83\00:13:59.77
your life. Whatever valley
you're walking through this day
00:13:59.80\00:14:03.77
whatever mountain is before you
this day, whatever problems with
00:14:03.81\00:14:09.04
your health, problems with your
marriage, your finances, or your
00:14:09.08\00:14:12.11
kids. Jesus says I'll make all
things new. Does that mean that
00:14:12.15\00:14:16.25
life is always going to be
filled with health and happiness
00:14:16.28\00:14:20.22
and money and prosperity,
not at all. But he gives us new
00:14:20.26\00:14:23.83
attitudes, he gives us
new strength, he gives us new
00:14:23.86\00:14:27.20
ability to cope. He makes all
things new today in our lives.
00:14:27.23\00:14:33.13
That's in 2 Corinthians 5:17
says: If any man is in Christ
00:14:33.17\00:14:35.77
Jesus he's a new creation.
So that new creation that Christ
00:14:35.80\00:14:39.47
gives us now is a symbol of the
creation that God is going to do
00:14:39.51\00:14:46.72
when he makes this earth new.
Now let's look a little bit at
00:14:46.75\00:14:49.55
this. We're going to live with
Christ, dwell with him like Adam
00:14:49.58\00:14:52.59
and Eve did in the garden of
Eden. But as he talks about that
00:14:52.62\00:14:57.83
Holy City we want to come down
to verses 12 and 13. I want to
00:14:57.86\00:15:00.03
look at some things in the city
with you. It says in verse 12 of
00:15:00.06\00:15:05.73
Revelation chapter 21: And this
city has a great wall, high. It
00:15:05.77\00:15:11.27
has 12 gates, and at the gates
12 angels and the names written
00:15:11.31\00:15:15.88
thereon, are names of the tribes
of the children of Israel. On
00:15:15.91\00:15:19.18
the east three gates; on the
north three gates; on the south
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.68
three gates; and on the west
three gates. So let's pick up
00:15:21.72\00:15:25.82
verse 14 too. And the wall of
the city had 12 foundations, and
00:15:25.85\00:15:29.62
in them the names of the 12
apostles of the Lamb. Now how
00:15:29.66\00:15:32.76
many gates were there? Did you
get that? How many gates? Twelve
00:15:32.79\00:15:36.56
gates. Now in ancient cities
you'd have one gate, maybe two.
00:15:36.60\00:15:40.87
Why one or two? Because if the
enemy's going to attack you, you
00:15:40.90\00:15:44.27
don't want 12 gates. You want
to protect your city, right? But
00:15:44.31\00:15:50.31
here it says 12 gates. Why?
Because God is not trying to
00:15:50.35\00:15:51.95
keep people out, he's trying to
get people in. Now three gates
00:15:51.98\00:15:56.15
on the north, three gates on the
south, three gates on the east,
00:15:56.18\00:15:58.49
three gates on the west. Now
in the Bible number is really
00:15:58.52\00:16:01.62
important. Four is a number of
kind of universality so you get
00:16:01.66\00:16:05.76
the four sides. He's the
universal Christ. Grace is
00:16:05.79\00:16:08.70
universal for all. It's not for
one language group, one ethnic
00:16:08.73\00:16:12.13
group or one racial group. It's
for all. Seven in the book of
00:16:12.17\00:16:16.10
Revelation is perfection. Six is
less than perfection and triple
00:16:16.14\00:16:21.21
six is the apostasy, error.
That's the number of the beast
00:16:21.24\00:16:23.88
power. But what about this
number three. It's the number of
00:16:23.91\00:16:28.38
the Godhead, the Father,
Son and the Holy Spirit. Then in
00:16:28.42\00:16:30.02
Revelation you have the false
trinity, the dragon, the beast
00:16:30.05\00:16:32.85
and the false prophet. So but
three gates on the east, three
00:16:32.89\00:16:38.16
gates on the west, three gates
on the north, three gates on the
00:16:38.19\00:16:40.90
south. What's that all about?
The Father, Son and the Holy
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.57
Spirit so to all those on the
east, you can come in. You come
00:16:43.60\00:16:47.34
in. From China, you rush in.
From Asia, you rush in. From the
00:16:47.37\00:16:52.34
west all those of you on
the west you come in. All you up
00:16:52.37\00:16:57.71
north in the northern
hemisphere, you come in All
those of you in the south
00:16:57.75\00:17:01.95
you come in. So the gates are
open wide. Now incidentally each
00:17:01.98\00:17:06.45
gate is made out of pearl. The
Bible says 12 gates, 12 pearls
00:17:06.49\00:17:09.79
The pearl represents Jesus. So
Jesus is saying with the Father,
00:17:09.82\00:17:14.70
Son and the Holy Spirit those of
you who are lost and discouraged
00:17:14.73\00:17:18.50
and depressed with the sea and
those here that are filled with
00:17:18.53\00:17:22.30
guilt, I want you to know that
the gates of heaven are wide
00:17:22.34\00:17:25.51
open for you. Now did you notice
something about what's above the
00:17:25.54\00:17:28.98
gates? In verse 12 it says that
it has a wall high and had 12
00:17:29.01\00:17:34.72
gates and at the gates 12 angels
and the names of the 12 tribes
00:17:34.75\00:17:40.99
of Israel. Who were these
12 tribes of Israel. They were
00:17:41.02\00:17:46.09
Reuben and Simeon and Levi. You
look at the 12 tribes of Israel
00:17:46.13\00:17:49.70
and they were not any honor
guard in your city. They could
00:17:49.73\00:17:54.54
be condemned for murder,
adultery, bigamy, robbery,
00:17:54.57\00:18:00.41
thievery. I mean these were
pretty wicked people when you
00:18:00.44\00:18:04.58
really look at them. Anger,
but wait. They were saved by the
00:18:04.61\00:18:10.69
grace of Christ. What do
the names above the gates say to
00:18:10.72\00:18:13.79
you and me. As we approach that
city we see the names above the
00:18:13.82\00:18:18.13
gates. Names of common sinners.
Names of men and women like you
00:18:18.16\00:18:22.66
and me and they say to us enter
into that city. You too can
00:18:22.70\00:18:27.97
enter in. But what about the
foundations of the city. Verse
00:18:28.00\00:18:31.24
And the wall of the city had
12 foundations, and on them the
00:18:31.27\00:18:37.51
names of the twelve apostles of
the Lamb. What does that mean?
00:18:37.55\00:18:41.28
The 12 apostles of the Lamb. Who
were these apostles? Peter who
00:18:41.32\00:18:46.05
denied him, Thomas who doubted
him, James and John the sons of
00:18:46.09\00:18:50.96
thunder. Wow! They're going
to be there? They're going to be
00:18:50.99\00:18:54.96
there. And the reason God gives
us 12 gates that are open and
00:18:55.00\00:19:01.47
not shut is to remind you and me
that we can enter in. The reason
00:19:01.50\00:19:06.57
he puts the names of the 12
patriarchs above the gate are to
00:19:06.61\00:19:11.35
let us know that those who dwelt
in flesh with common humanity
00:19:11.38\00:19:14.52
could enter in and we can
enter in. The reason he puts the
00:19:14.55\00:19:18.45
apostles, there is to let us
know that men and women of flesh
00:19:18.49\00:19:22.19
and blood have face trial and
difficulty and temptation, they
00:19:22.22\00:19:25.26
they could get in. And so we too
can get in and live in that city
00:19:25.29\00:19:31.93
with Christ forever and ever and
ever and ever. But then we go
00:19:31.97\00:19:37.31
down even further. There's so
much beauty in the symbolism of
00:19:37.34\00:19:41.04
this city. So much to encourage
us in these symbols that it's
00:19:41.08\00:19:45.11
often to miss. Notice what
are the foundations made out of?
00:19:45.15\00:19:50.52
Verse 19, Revelation chapter
21 verse 19: And the foundations
00:19:50.55\00:19:57.36
of the wall of the city were
garnished with all manner of
00:19:57.39\00:20:00.93
precious stones. The
first foundation was jasper; the
00:20:00.96\00:20:05.20
second, sapphire; the third, a
chalcedony, the fourth emerald;
00:20:05.23\00:20:07.97
the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth,
sardius; the seventh chrysolite;
00:20:08.00\00:20:12.77
the eighth, beryl; the ninth,
topaz; the tenth chrysoprasus;
00:20:12.81\00:20:16.61
the 11th jacinth, the 12th,
amethyst. And the 12 gates were
00:20:16.64\00:20:22.02
12 pearls. What does it mean?
These different stones. When you
00:20:22.05\00:20:27.96
think of these 12 different
stones, 12 is a number in the
00:20:27.99\00:20:33.70
Bible of completeness. You have
the 12 patriarchs of the Old
00:20:33.73\00:20:37.00
Testament reminding us of all of
the Old Testament believers. You
00:20:37.03\00:20:41.80
have the 12 apostles reminding
us of all of the New Testament
00:20:41.84\00:20:45.17
believers. What about these
12 stones can you think of any
00:20:45.21\00:20:51.18
other place in the Bible that
these stones were? That there
00:20:51.21\00:20:56.18
were stones like this. Can
you think of any other place?
00:20:56.22\00:20:58.69
Somebody here yeah I can think
of that. Weren't these stones on
00:20:58.72\00:21:03.02
the breast plate of the high
priest? They were. What did they
00:21:03.06\00:21:06.73
represent on the breastplate
of the high priest? Every stone
00:21:06.76\00:21:10.17
represents one of the 12 tribes
of Israel, one of God's people.
00:21:10.20\00:21:14.10
And the breastplate indicated
that Christ carried us as his
00:21:14.14\00:21:18.87
high priest on his heart.
Hebrews the 7th chapter, the
00:21:18.91\00:21:26.98
25th verse says this to us.
See these 12 foundation stones
00:21:27.02\00:21:33.05
remind us that Jesus is our high
priest. That Jesus carries us on
00:21:33.09\00:21:38.09
his heart. That there's nothing
more important to Jesus when we
00:21:38.13\00:21:43.20
through those gates redeemed
in the kingdom of God. Hebrews
00:21:43.23\00:21:49.74
chapter 7 verse 25. Wherefore
he is able also to save them to
00:21:49.77\00:21:58.41
the uttermost that come unto God
by him, seeing he ever liveth
00:21:58.45\00:22:02.45
to make intercession for them.
Verse 26: For such a high priest
00:22:02.48\00:22:06.35
became one of us, who is holy,
harmless, undefiled, separate
00:22:06.39\00:22:10.29
from sinners and made higher
than the heavens. Here Jesus,
00:22:10.33\00:22:14.03
our high priest is saving to
the uttermost. When you become
00:22:14.06\00:22:17.47
discouraged, when the journey is
long, when the mountain is high,
00:22:17.50\00:22:22.00
when the road is rough in your
imagination look to a heavenly
00:22:22.04\00:22:27.78
city. In your imagination
see the doors of that city open.
00:22:27.81\00:22:31.78
In your imagination of that city
see the pearly gates swing wide.
00:22:31.81\00:22:35.88
Hear Jesus beckoning you. Look
to the names of gates and hear
00:22:35.92\00:22:41.76
them say you can make it
my brother. You can make it my
00:22:41.79\00:22:44.83
sister. Look to the foundations
of that city and hear the
00:22:44.86\00:22:49.20
apostles calling you, you
can make it. Look to the stones
00:22:49.23\00:22:53.30
there and remember that you
are on Jesus' heart, you are on
00:22:53.34\00:22:57.81
Jesus' mind that one day you too
can walk through the gates of
00:22:57.84\00:23:00.78
that city. Revelation chapter
22 comes to an amazing climax.
00:23:00.81\00:23:05.38
Revelation 22: Everything
lost by sin will be restored.
00:23:05.41\00:23:11.99
Everything defiled by sin will
be recaptured Revelation chapter
00:23:12.02\00:23:17.96
verse 1, 2, 3: And he showed me
a pure river of water of life,
00:23:17.99\00:23:24.57
clear as crystal, proceeding out
of the throne of God and of the
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.90
Lamb. In the midst of the street
of it, and on either side of it
00:23:27.94\00:23:31.54
the tree of life, which bare
12 manner of fruits, and yielded
00:23:31.57\00:23:35.01
her fruit every month: and the
leaves of the tree were for the
00:23:35.04\00:23:37.28
healing of the nations. There
shall be no more curse, but the
00:23:37.31\00:23:43.28
throne of God and the Lamb shall
be in it, and his servants shall
00:23:43.32\00:23:45.45
serve him: They shall see his
face; and his name shall be on
00:23:45.49\00:23:50.39
their foreheads. Let's look at
this verse. First the river of
00:23:50.43\00:23:54.80
the water of life. In heaven,
no death. In heaven, no disease.
00:23:54.83\00:23:59.93
In heaven, no sickness, no
cancer, no heart attacks, no
00:23:59.97\00:24:03.41
diabetes, no high blood pressure
no paralysis, no blindness, no
00:24:03.44\00:24:08.81
mute who can't speak, no deaf
who cannot hear. The river of
00:24:08.84\00:24:14.25
the water of life represents the
life-giving power of God that
00:24:14.28\00:24:19.85
truth flows from God's throne.
Notice it says that on either
00:24:19.89\00:24:24.56
side of the river of the tree
of life, there are 12 manner of
00:24:24.59\00:24:27.73
fruits. Every month you go up
and take some of the fruits of
00:24:27.76\00:24:31.77
the tree of life and new energy
flows through our bodies. But
00:24:31.80\00:24:34.70
notice it says the leaves of the
tree were for the healing of the
00:24:34.74\00:24:37.01
nations. What does that mean?
The healing of the nations.
00:24:37.04\00:24:39.67
There's such conflict between
nations today. There's such
00:24:39.71\00:24:43.48
conflict between people
and you've got war all over the
00:24:43.51\00:24:46.61
place today. There are problems
in the Sudan today. Problems in
00:24:46.65\00:24:50.39
between India and Pakistan. And
problems between the Ukraine and
00:24:50.42\00:24:57.73
Russia today. There's war every
where today. But yet there'll be
00:24:57.76\00:25:01.43
the healing of the nations.
All humanity will come together
00:25:01.46\00:25:05.03
with one common worship of the
Lord Jesus Christ. All humanity
00:25:05.07\00:25:09.40
will meet around the throne of
God. No barriers between people
00:25:09.44\00:25:13.27
there. No conflicts there.
No tension there. No ethnic
00:25:13.31\00:25:17.85
challenges there between peoples
that hate one another there.
00:25:17.88\00:25:23.18
Christ is our leader. There
Jesus is our peace. There Jesus'
00:25:23.22\00:25:29.66
love fills our hearts and unites
all nations are healed and we
00:25:29.69\00:25:34.16
walk through the new earth hand
in hand as brothers and sisters
00:25:34.20\00:25:39.17
in Christ of every nation,
kindred, tongue and people.
00:25:39.20\00:25:41.97
Notice what it says, there'll
be no curse there. The throne of
00:25:42.00\00:25:47.38
God and of the Lamb shall be in
it and his servants shall serve
00:25:47.41\00:25:51.35
him. Verse 4. They shall see his
face. Think of that. Adam and
00:25:51.38\00:25:58.59
Eve walked and talked with God
in the Garden of Eden. Adam and
00:25:58.62\00:26:04.73
Eve had unbridled fellowship
with God. There was no barrier
00:26:04.76\00:26:10.27
between. Isaiah 59:1 and 2: Your
sins have separated between you
00:26:10.30\00:26:14.10
and God. We can't see his face
today. It's difficult to hear
00:26:14.14\00:26:19.24
his audible voice today. But
yet one day...Revelation 21:4 We
00:26:19.27\00:26:28.18
shall see his face. One day the
separation by sin will be over
00:26:28.22\00:26:35.09
One day the barrier between
us and him will be gone. One day
00:26:35.12\00:26:43.53
the fellowship that we had as an
early race in the Garden of Eden
00:26:43.57\00:26:51.17
will be restored. One day we
can live with Christ forever and
00:26:51.21\00:26:58.88
ever and ever. You can make it.
You can live in that city. You
00:26:58.91\00:27:05.12
can be with Jesus
forever and ever. Let's pray.
00:27:05.15\00:27:09.62
Father in heaven, how thankful
we are for the eternal plan of
00:27:09.66\00:27:17.23
salvation. How thankful we are
for these last few chapters of
00:27:17.27\00:27:21.50
Revelation. That we are on the
winning side. That Christ will
00:27:21.54\00:27:30.41
come as King of kings. That he
will come as Lord of lords. That
00:27:30.45\00:27:35.48
we can live with him forever.
The gates of that city are wide.
00:27:35.52\00:27:40.42
And we hear you beckoning us to
enter in. Thank you, Lord, that
00:27:40.46\00:27:48.56
one day everything lost by sin
will be restored and we can live
00:27:48.60\00:27:53.37
with you forever and ever
and ever. In Jesus' name Amen.
00:27:53.40\00:27:58.77
¤ ¤
00:27:58.81\00:28:26.00