We certainly learned in recent nights 00:00:34.35\00:00:36.13 that we are living in the final days 00:00:36.16\00:00:38.22 of world's history. 00:00:38.25\00:00:39.28 I think that is clear, 00:00:39.31\00:00:40.42 I know that's clear from the word of God 00:00:40.45\00:00:42.50 that Jesus is soon to return to this planet of ours 00:00:42.53\00:00:45.78 with all the angelic host of heaven with Him. 00:00:45.81\00:00:49.89 And as we have discovered His coming 00:00:49.92\00:00:52.15 some people to call it the rapture 00:00:52.18\00:00:53.77 His coming will be an open event 00:00:53.80\00:00:56.55 in which the earth will come to a cataclysmic end. 00:00:56.58\00:01:00.87 But remember for God's people it's our time of escape. 00:01:00.90\00:01:06.04 And as difficult as those times may be we again remind ourselves 00:01:06.07\00:01:10.81 of the promise that Jesus Himself gave us, 00:01:10.84\00:01:14.21 that He will be with us always even to the end. 00:01:14.24\00:01:19.93 And He is going to get us through. 00:01:19.96\00:01:22.57 It is a given for those who love the Lord. 00:01:22.60\00:01:25.59 We're gonna discover tonight 00:01:25.62\00:01:27.05 that the coming of Jesus marks the beginning 00:01:27.08\00:01:29.95 of the millennial period of time. 00:01:29.98\00:01:32.37 And because it does 00:01:32.40\00:01:33.43 just because the subject is such a beautiful one 00:01:33.46\00:01:36.61 let's do a quick review 00:01:36.64\00:01:37.97 of some of the things we discovered last night 00:01:38.00\00:01:40.32 beginning with Revelation 1:7 00:01:40.35\00:01:43.04 where it says, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, 00:01:43.07\00:01:46.04 and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him." 00:01:46.07\00:01:50.42 Evidently there is gonna be a special resurrection 00:01:50.45\00:01:52.45 for those who crucified our Lord. 00:01:52.48\00:01:55.13 And it says, "And all the tribes of the earth 00:01:55.16\00:01:57.46 will mourn over Him." 00:01:57.49\00:01:58.65 Speaking about those who will be left behind 00:01:58.68\00:02:01.38 when Jesus comes for His people. 00:02:01.41\00:02:04.09 And then you will remember 00:02:04.12\00:02:05.15 we were into 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 00:02:05.18\00:02:08.91 I just love this passage of scripture, it's so powerful. 00:02:08.94\00:02:12.29 It just really puts it all together 00:02:12.32\00:02:13.83 where it says, "For the Lord Himself 00:02:13.86\00:02:15.94 will descend from heaven with a shout, 00:02:15.97\00:02:18.68 with the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet of God, 00:02:18.71\00:02:22.02 and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 00:02:22.05\00:02:25.78 And then we who are alive 00:02:25.81\00:02:27.75 and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds 00:02:27.78\00:02:30.93 to meet the Lord in the air, 00:02:30.96\00:02:32.86 and thus we shall always be with the Lord." 00:02:32.89\00:02:37.15 I'll just think how wonderful that day is gonna be 00:02:37.18\00:02:40.88 when those who have died in faith 00:02:40.91\00:02:43.73 are going to be resurrected. 00:02:43.76\00:02:47.74 The dead are going to live again. 00:02:47.77\00:02:51.89 And my friend, Jesus makes it all possible 00:02:51.92\00:02:58.01 because of what Jesus has done for us. 00:02:58.04\00:03:00.82 And then I remind you of the promise 00:03:00.85\00:03:02.68 that Jesus Himself gave about His return in John 14 00:03:02.71\00:03:06.77 and looking at verse 2 and 3, 00:03:06.80\00:03:08.75 where it says, "In My Father's house 00:03:08.78\00:03:10.29 are many dwelling places, 00:03:10.32\00:03:12.04 if it were not so, I would have told you 00:03:12.07\00:03:14.15 for I go to prepare a place for you." 00:03:14.18\00:03:17.64 As I mentioned last night there is a place 00:03:17.67\00:03:19.28 for every one of us in heaven. 00:03:19.31\00:03:21.18 Jesus is preparing it for us. 00:03:21.21\00:03:24.00 We have something to look forward to with anticipation. 00:03:24.03\00:03:27.92 And then He said, "If I go and prepare a place for you, 00:03:27.95\00:03:30.84 I will come again and receive you to Myself, 00:03:30.87\00:03:34.39 that where I am, there you may be also." 00:03:34.42\00:03:38.24 So, clearly when Jesus comes back for us, 00:03:38.27\00:03:43.32 where is it that He takes us to? 00:03:43.35\00:03:48.27 He takes us to heaven, 00:03:48.30\00:03:50.70 because its there that He is been preparing places for us. 00:03:50.73\00:03:54.91 And so that's important we will see 00:03:54.94\00:03:57.37 as we go further into our study tonight 00:03:57.40\00:03:59.96 as it relates to the millennium. 00:03:59.99\00:04:01.76 And then we talked about some of the powerful things 00:04:01.79\00:04:03.82 that we're taking a place on the earth 00:04:03.85\00:04:05.58 that the coming of the Son of God. 00:04:05.61\00:04:08.18 Where it says in Revelation 16 and beginning with Verse 18 00:04:08.21\00:04:11.23 "And there were flashes of lightning 00:04:11.26\00:04:13.70 and sounds and peals of thunder 00:04:13.73\00:04:16.00 and there was a great earthquake, 00:04:16.03\00:04:17.60 such as there had not been 00:04:17.63\00:04:18.91 since man came to be upon the earth, 00:04:18.94\00:04:21.11 so great an earthquake" 00:04:21.14\00:04:23.67 it says, I mean this is just hard to fathom 00:04:23.70\00:04:26.90 when you think about this universal earthquake 00:04:26.93\00:04:28.88 that's going to be taking place at the coming of Jesus. 00:04:28.91\00:04:33.07 It's gonna be massive, its-- 00:04:33.10\00:04:34.98 you know, the old earth as I said last night 00:04:35.01\00:04:37.02 its gonna be shaking to and fro at the powerful presence 00:04:37.05\00:04:41.12 of the return of the Son of Man. 00:04:41.15\00:04:44.03 And then verse 20 says "And every island fled away, 00:04:44.06\00:04:47.91 and the mountains were not found." 00:04:47.94\00:04:49.82 The very crust of the earth is gonna be broken up 00:04:49.85\00:04:52.68 at the presence of Jesus when He comes. 00:04:52.71\00:04:56.89 This massive earthquake 00:04:56.92\00:04:58.91 that will take place at His coming 00:04:58.94\00:05:01.14 and so His coming marks the end of the world, it's the end. 00:05:01.17\00:05:06.77 And then we also-- you will remember Matthew 24:37 00:05:06.80\00:05:10.69 where Jesus said, He said, "But as the days of Noah were, 00:05:10.72\00:05:15.55 so shall also the coming of the son of man be." 00:05:15.58\00:05:18.93 And we could notice some of the parallels 00:05:18.96\00:05:20.71 between what happened in those day, 00:05:20.74\00:05:22.50 wickedness, evil, violence was increasing 00:05:22.53\00:05:26.51 greatly upon the earth and God stepped in and He-- 00:05:26.54\00:05:31.97 you know, God said, I'm not gonna let this go on, 00:05:32.00\00:05:34.23 I'm gonna stop it right here, okay. 00:05:34.26\00:05:37.39 In other words, God sets limits 00:05:37.42\00:05:39.69 to how far evil is going to go, right. 00:05:39.72\00:05:44.05 He set limits and praise the Lord He set limits 00:05:44.08\00:05:46.29 because without that if evil really had free reign, 00:05:46.32\00:05:50.99 we really would have 00:05:51.02\00:05:52.73 even greater problems than we have. 00:05:52.76\00:05:54.81 And we see the parallels in our own day. 00:05:54.84\00:05:58.09 And violence and all of these horrible things 00:05:58.12\00:06:00.40 that are happening 00:06:00.43\00:06:02.03 and we will remember that Noah preached his message 00:06:02.06\00:06:04.91 for a 120 years urging people to repent 00:06:04.94\00:06:08.23 and to get in the ark 00:06:08.26\00:06:09.41 and to avert the coming destruction. 00:06:09.44\00:06:12.07 They by in large just laughed at him, 00:06:12.10\00:06:15.24 rain, end of the world. 00:06:15.27\00:06:18.62 And we know what happened to those who were left behind, 00:06:18.65\00:06:21.14 they were destroyed weren't they, in those floods? 00:06:21.17\00:06:24.96 Again God did everything He could 00:06:24.99\00:06:27.14 to persuade them to get in the ark. 00:06:27.17\00:06:31.24 In the same way He is seeking 00:06:31.27\00:06:32.61 to persuade everyone He possibly can 00:06:32.64\00:06:35.50 that through faith in Jesus Christ 00:06:35.53\00:06:37.84 they need to be ready for the coming of Jesus. 00:06:37.87\00:06:41.23 The 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8 00:06:41.26\00:06:44.08 it says, "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven 00:06:44.11\00:06:46.66 with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 00:06:46.69\00:06:49.54 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God 00:06:49.57\00:06:52.70 and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." 00:06:52.73\00:06:58.78 My friend, I just assure you 00:06:58.81\00:07:00.20 God just takes no pleasure in this, 00:07:00.23\00:07:02.43 but they have left Him with no alternative. 00:07:02.46\00:07:06.13 But somehow this idea that, you know, 00:07:06.16\00:07:08.22 after the coming of Jesus 00:07:08.25\00:07:09.68 there is got to be another chance 00:07:09.71\00:07:11.14 for all of this folks that are going to be lost. 00:07:11.17\00:07:14.22 But take a look at 2 Corinthians 6:2 00:07:14.25\00:07:17.06 where it says, behold 00:07:17.09\00:07:18.42 "Behold, now is the acceptable time, 00:07:18.45\00:07:20.61 behold, now is 'the day of salvation.'" 00:07:20.64\00:07:24.71 Not some future point, 00:07:24.74\00:07:26.30 it's now that we must make our decision for Jesus. 00:07:26.33\00:07:30.00 My friends, it's gonna be too late 00:07:30.03\00:07:32.42 if we wait until the end comes. 00:07:32.45\00:07:35.63 And then you know we have this idea 00:07:35.66\00:07:37.19 when we see these things happening 00:07:37.22\00:07:38.81 then we're gonna get serious about, 00:07:38.84\00:07:40.12 it will be too late, it will be too late. 00:07:40.15\00:07:43.20 And it also robs the final message 00:07:43.23\00:07:46.67 that God gives to the world, 00:07:46.70\00:07:48.50 they robs it of its urgency. 00:07:48.53\00:07:52.90 Well, you know, you'll have another chance, 00:07:52.93\00:07:55.79 but, my friend, that again is not what we find in the Bible 00:07:55.82\00:07:59.13 Jesus predicted, 00:07:59.16\00:08:03.20 He said, "In this gospel the kingdom shall be preached 00:08:03.23\00:08:06.24 in the whole world for witness to all the nations, 00:08:06.27\00:08:09.44 and then the end shall come." 00:08:09.47\00:08:13.02 And so when it comes 00:08:13.05\00:08:14.57 right down to the final days of world's history 00:08:14.60\00:08:17.60 the gospel will do its work worldwide 00:08:17.63\00:08:21.20 fired by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:08:21.23\00:08:24.24 It will go to every nation, it will go to all peoples 00:08:24.27\00:08:30.13 and its then, its then that decisions will be made 00:08:30.16\00:08:34.89 for eternity one way or the other. 00:08:34.92\00:08:38.47 Take your Bibles and turn with me 00:08:38.50\00:08:39.86 to Revelation 19 the New Testament page 199, 00:08:39.89\00:08:44.44 Revelation 19 and beginning with verse 11. 00:08:44.47\00:08:47.29 Remember I said earlier that the coming of Jesus 00:08:47.32\00:08:50.32 marks the beginning of the millennium 00:08:50.35\00:08:52.91 and so let me nail that one down. 00:08:52.94\00:08:55.82 Revelation 19 and beginning with verse 11. 00:08:55.85\00:08:59.83 We have a description of the coming of Jesus 00:08:59.86\00:09:02.13 in the typical prophetic symbolic language 00:09:02.16\00:09:06.50 of the Book of Revelation. 00:09:06.53\00:09:08.45 And we are gonna discover that in the next chapter 00:09:08.48\00:09:11.74 we're going to be in it quite a bit tonight 00:09:11.77\00:09:14.15 the next chapter is the chapter on the millennium. 00:09:14.18\00:09:16.74 So contextually we're looking at 00:09:16.77\00:09:18.87 what happens just before the millennium. 00:09:18.90\00:09:21.83 So there it is 00:09:21.86\00:09:25.14 John said, "And I saw heaven opened, 00:09:25.17\00:09:27.10 and behold a white horse, 00:09:27.13\00:09:28.95 and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, 00:09:28.98\00:09:32.24 in righteousness He judges and wages war." 00:09:32.27\00:09:36.07 By the way, again where do that war that conflict began? 00:09:36.10\00:09:40.54 It begin in heaven, we know that from Revelation 12:7-9. 00:09:40.57\00:09:44.83 And the conflict of warfare continues where? 00:09:44.86\00:09:48.10 Here upon this planet, doesn't it? 00:09:48.13\00:09:50.37 We're in the middle of it. 00:09:50.40\00:09:52.05 It is a warfare and a conflict 00:09:52.08\00:09:54.85 over the control of every heart of us. 00:09:54.88\00:09:58.65 And the question again being who will we decide for? 00:09:58.68\00:10:02.90 And so there is this conflict it is spiritual, 00:10:02.93\00:10:05.97 but it's a very real conflict. 00:10:06.00\00:10:08.19 Notice the description of him verse 12, 00:10:08.22\00:10:10.53 "His eyes are a flame of fire, 00:10:10.56\00:10:12.91 and on His head are many diadems, 00:10:12.94\00:10:15.37 and He has a name written on Him 00:10:15.40\00:10:17.55 which no one knows except Himself. 00:10:17.58\00:10:20.46 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood." 00:10:20.49\00:10:23.00 Again this is a prophetic language. 00:10:23.03\00:10:24.94 "And His name is called The Word of God. 00:10:24.97\00:10:27.08 And the armies which are in heaven, 00:10:27.11\00:10:29.32 clothed in fine linen, white and clean 00:10:29.35\00:10:31.54 were following Him on white horses." 00:10:31.57\00:10:34.55 And so, here in the Book of Revelation 00:10:34.58\00:10:36.65 the coming of Jesus, 00:10:36.68\00:10:37.71 He has described His coming as a concurring king 00:10:37.74\00:10:41.94 with His vast angelic holds this army 00:10:41.97\00:10:46.35 that attends Him on his way. 00:10:46.38\00:10:48.35 And if you read through the following verses 00:10:48.38\00:10:51.13 through the end of the chapter 00:10:51.16\00:10:52.65 again you'll see judgments 00:10:52.68\00:10:54.78 that will be falling upon the earth. 00:10:54.81\00:10:56.80 And those who are left behind it's the end, it's the end. 00:10:56.83\00:11:02.14 The word millennium itself is not in the Bible, 00:11:02.17\00:11:05.26 it really comes from two Latin terms 00:11:05.29\00:11:08.99 that have been put together 00:11:09.02\00:11:10.79 that is the word Latin term "Mille" which means a thousand 00:11:10.82\00:11:15.11 and the word "Annium" which means years. 00:11:15.14\00:11:18.41 Our word annual comes from this Latin term. 00:11:18.44\00:11:22.00 So, when we talk about the millennium 00:11:22.03\00:11:23.78 it just a way of describing 00:11:23.81\00:11:26.28 the thousand year period of time. 00:11:26.31\00:11:29.53 So as we are just about ready to move 00:11:29.56\00:11:32.01 right into the millennium 00:11:32.04\00:11:35.09 what have we discovered happens at the beginning 00:11:35.12\00:11:38.24 of the thousand year period of time. 00:11:38.27\00:11:40.68 Well, this we know because we know 00:11:40.71\00:11:42.47 the coming of Jesus marks the beginning of the millennium. 00:11:42.50\00:11:45.43 First of all we know just as Jesus had promise 00:11:45.46\00:11:48.45 that His people all are swept away to heaven, right. 00:11:48.48\00:11:52.83 They go away to heaven. 00:11:52.86\00:11:54.42 They are not here upon the earth 00:11:54.45\00:11:56.55 during the thousand year period of time. 00:11:56.58\00:11:58.73 And for those who left behind 00:11:58.76\00:12:00.77 the wicked and believe me when we put together 00:12:00.80\00:12:03.40 the mark of the beast 00:12:03.43\00:12:04.47 and how that place out in the end time 00:12:04.50\00:12:06.33 a lot of this will make a lot more sense. 00:12:06.36\00:12:09.29 Why again those who are left behind are slain 00:12:09.32\00:12:13.05 as it says in Paul's writings to the Thessalonians, 00:12:13.08\00:12:16.02 are slain by the brightness of His coming. 00:12:16.05\00:12:19.36 And so with that massive earthquake 00:12:19.39\00:12:23.11 God's people swept away, 00:12:23.14\00:12:25.90 the earth is in a desolated state. 00:12:25.93\00:12:29.50 Let's move on to Revelation Chapter 20. 00:12:29.53\00:12:33.53 You are there aren't you? 00:12:33.56\00:12:34.59 Because we're gonna pick it up. 00:12:34.62\00:12:37.59 In Revelation 20 and beginning with verse-- 00:12:37.62\00:12:41.07 we want to look at verses 1 through 3, verses 1 through 3 00:12:41.10\00:12:47.65 where it says that "I saw an angel 00:12:47.68\00:12:49.49 coming down from heaven, 00:12:49.52\00:12:51.16 holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 00:12:51.19\00:12:56.67 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, 00:12:56.70\00:12:59.16 who is the devil and Satan, 00:12:59.19\00:13:01.00 and bound him for a thousand years. 00:13:01.03\00:13:04.47 And he threw him into the abyss, 00:13:04.50\00:13:06.29 and shut it and sealed it over him, 00:13:06.32\00:13:08.98 so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, 00:13:09.01\00:13:12.14 until the thousand years were completed 00:13:12.17\00:13:14.37 and after these things he must be released for a short time." 00:13:14.40\00:13:18.16 So the first thing we note 00:13:18.19\00:13:19.34 of in regards to the thousand years 00:13:19.37\00:13:21.83 Satan is thrown into the abyss 00:13:21.86\00:13:24.55 he is bound for 1000 years 00:13:24.58\00:13:26.86 and then remember it says 00:13:26.89\00:13:28.52 he will be release for a short time. 00:13:28.55\00:13:30.46 We will pick that up before we are done. 00:13:30.49\00:13:32.70 What is the abyss? 00:13:32.73\00:13:34.83 You know, some how conjecture 00:13:34.86\00:13:38.35 that may be some black hole out there in the universe, 00:13:38.38\00:13:41.37 but its just conjecture 00:13:41.40\00:13:42.65 because there is nothing in the Bible 00:13:42.68\00:13:44.09 that would indicate that. 00:13:44.12\00:13:46.49 My friend, the abyss is this earth in its desolated state 00:13:46.52\00:13:52.52 and Satan is bound here to this, this-- to the planet. 00:13:52.55\00:13:57.17 It's interesting as we look at Jeremiah 4 00:13:57.20\00:14:00.91 and begin with verse 23 on the screen. 00:14:00.94\00:14:03.17 We find that Jeremiah envision sees looks upon the earth in-- 00:14:03.20\00:14:09.05 during the millennium period of time 00:14:09.08\00:14:11.77 and this desolation that has taken place upon the earth. 00:14:11.80\00:14:15.73 And He is doing something quite interesting 00:14:15.76\00:14:17.88 that Jesus Himself did in Matthew 24. 00:14:17.91\00:14:20.99 That is Jeremiah was predicting the judgments 00:14:21.02\00:14:24.31 and the desolations that were gonna take place in Jerusalem 00:14:24.34\00:14:27.95 because of the rebelliousness centuries of God's people. 00:14:27.98\00:14:33.62 And then prophetically he uses that imagery 00:14:33.65\00:14:38.46 to describe the final desolations 00:14:38.49\00:14:41.36 that will take place upon the earth. 00:14:41.39\00:14:43.64 He makes a universal application to the end times. 00:14:43.67\00:14:47.72 And so this is what he records, "I looked on the earth, 00:14:47.75\00:14:51.28 and behold, it was formless and void, 00:14:51.31\00:14:55.93 and to the heavens, and they had no light. 00:14:55.96\00:14:58.26 I looked on the mountains," Jeremiah said. 00:14:58.29\00:15:01.40 He is looking at the earth, he is looking at the mountains 00:15:01.43\00:15:04.33 and what did he find? 00:15:04.36\00:15:06.81 Well, "He looked on the mountain, 00:15:06.84\00:15:08.36 and behold, they were quaking, 00:15:08.39\00:15:10.60 and all the hills moved to and fro." 00:15:10.63\00:15:13.46 Does that connect with anything 00:15:13.49\00:15:14.79 that we've studied in regards to the coming of Jesus? 00:15:14.82\00:15:17.43 Absolutely. 00:15:17.46\00:15:19.35 Revelation 16 that massive universal earthquake 00:15:19.38\00:15:24.02 that will engulf the earth at the coming of Jesus. 00:15:24.05\00:15:27.18 That's what he is seeing 00:15:27.21\00:15:28.71 as he is looking down in time envision. 00:15:28.74\00:15:31.45 And he goes on to say, 00:15:31.48\00:15:32.51 "And I looked, and behold, there was no man, 00:15:32.54\00:15:34.79 and all the birds of the heavens had fled." 00:15:34.82\00:15:37.09 The earth was in a depopulated state. 00:15:37.12\00:15:40.04 And, my friend, it has to be 00:15:40.07\00:15:41.51 this period of time that he is looking at 00:15:41.54\00:15:43.61 because it could be no other, 00:15:43.64\00:15:46.56 because we know that God's people are not here 00:15:46.59\00:15:49.55 again Jesus has taken them to heaven to those places 00:15:49.58\00:15:52.85 He has prepared for them. 00:15:52.88\00:15:54.63 And we know the wicked are not here 00:15:54.66\00:15:57.62 because as in the days of Noah they are destroyed. 00:15:57.65\00:16:02.43 So the earth is in the depopulated state. 00:16:02.46\00:16:05.71 And he said, "And I looked, 00:16:05.74\00:16:07.08 and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness, 00:16:07.11\00:16:09.88 and all its cities were pulled down 00:16:09.91\00:16:13.11 before the Lord, before His fierce anger." 00:16:13.14\00:16:16.91 And so the cities of the nations fall. 00:16:16.94\00:16:19.33 Revelation 16 also speaks of this. 00:16:19.36\00:16:22.44 But how about this matter it says before His fierce anger. 00:16:22.47\00:16:27.53 How do we deal with that when we talk-- 00:16:27.56\00:16:30.50 when we've been talking about a loving God? 00:16:30.53\00:16:33.24 How do we deal the God who is described here-- 00:16:33.27\00:16:37.02 all of this destruction happening 00:16:37.05\00:16:38.78 because of His fierce anger? 00:16:38.81\00:16:41.14 Well, my friend, there really is 00:16:41.17\00:16:43.02 and again we touched on it before 00:16:43.05\00:16:44.87 but I'm gonna come back to it 00:16:44.90\00:16:46.03 because people have been so troubled over this matter 00:16:46.06\00:16:48.49 that God is angry. 00:16:48.52\00:16:50.45 But remember I said the other night 00:16:50.48\00:16:51.79 somebody better be angry about all that the horrible things 00:16:51.82\00:16:54.65 that are happening upon this planet. 00:16:54.68\00:16:58.46 And He is as I indicated God is not just somewhere out 00:16:58.49\00:17:04.42 there in the universe and just kind of marking time 00:17:04.45\00:17:07.05 and just, you know, God is just really wrapped up 00:17:07.08\00:17:12.61 really wrapped up and deeply involved 00:17:12.64\00:17:16.57 with what's happening on this planet, 00:17:16.60\00:17:18.71 the horrible things that are happening 00:17:18.74\00:17:20.52 which means He is wrapped up deeply 00:17:20.55\00:17:23.97 involved with what's happening in your life and my life 00:17:24.00\00:17:28.52 as we're dealing with the horrible things 00:17:28.55\00:17:31.46 that sin has brought to this planet. 00:17:31.49\00:17:34.06 And He is angry 00:17:34.09\00:17:35.29 about what has happened to His children. 00:17:35.32\00:17:38.16 He has got this plan, 00:17:38.19\00:17:39.74 He is gonna save us those who will. 00:17:39.77\00:17:43.19 And in the end He is going to destroy it. 00:17:43.22\00:17:47.16 Sin is a cancer that in the end must be eradicated 00:17:47.19\00:17:54.79 and it's in love, right. 00:17:54.82\00:17:57.21 It's a loving God that brings it to an end, a loving God. 00:17:57.24\00:18:00.76 But I wanted you to notice at the first part of this verse 00:18:00.79\00:18:03.81 it talked about it was looking on the earth 00:18:03.84\00:18:06.42 and it was without form and void. 00:18:06.45\00:18:08.62 That reminds us of another passage 00:18:08.65\00:18:10.83 if we think about it back in Genesis 1:2 00:18:10.86\00:18:16.93 where it speaks of the earth being without form and void. 00:18:16.96\00:18:21.33 This is before the six days of creation. 00:18:21.36\00:18:24.43 You know, some creation scientist have again up, 00:18:24.46\00:18:28.27 you know, they've theories 00:18:28.30\00:18:30.81 that, you know, there was something, 00:18:30.84\00:18:32.57 there was something here when God came to this planet. 00:18:32.60\00:18:35.37 It was in a chaotic state. 00:18:35.40\00:18:37.69 Again the description is that it was without 00:18:37.72\00:18:40.20 form and it was void. 00:18:40.23\00:18:43.19 And they've conjectured 00:18:43.22\00:18:46.01 that may be God in some past ages 00:18:46.04\00:18:49.12 came to this solar system and put the planets into place 00:18:49.15\00:18:55.33 and then in time came back to this planet 00:18:55.36\00:18:59.34 and created life on it. 00:18:59.37\00:19:01.47 So He put the skeleton, the solar system in to place 00:19:01.50\00:19:04.19 in the past and came back to it. 00:19:04.22\00:19:06.00 But whatever the case may be 00:19:06.03\00:19:07.85 the earth was without form and without void 00:19:07.88\00:19:11.34 the same term use over Genesis Chapter 4. 00:19:11.37\00:19:14.32 It's interesting that in the Greek translation 00:19:14.35\00:19:16.78 of the Old Testament 00:19:16.81\00:19:19.26 when they translated this term 00:19:19.29\00:19:21.31 that the earth was without form and void 00:19:21.34\00:19:23.46 in Genesis the word they used 00:19:23.49\00:19:25.39 in the Greek is the word "Abussos." 00:19:25.42\00:19:29.41 That's where our word, 00:19:29.44\00:19:31.55 our English word Abyss comes from, 00:19:31.58\00:19:34.48 it's derived from the Greek. 00:19:34.51\00:19:38.04 And speaking of a place that is chaotic, broken down, 00:19:38.07\00:19:43.61 it's without form and void. 00:19:43.64\00:19:45.95 And they did the same thing when they came to Jeremiah 4, 00:19:45.98\00:19:49.22 when they came to that term 00:19:49.25\00:19:50.46 without form and void the word is Abussos. 00:19:50.49\00:19:55.37 And it's the same word 00:19:55.40\00:19:56.89 that we find here in Revelation 20 00:19:56.92\00:19:59.36 in regards to Satan being bound to the abyss. 00:19:59.39\00:20:04.00 It is this earth in its desolated place. 00:20:04.03\00:20:07.00 And Romans 10 bears this out Romans 10:7 00:20:07.03\00:20:10.57 where the question is asked 00:20:10.60\00:20:12.09 "Who will descend into the abyss?" 00:20:12.12\00:20:14.74 Descending is not going out and up, 00:20:14.77\00:20:17.82 up and out, descending. 00:20:17.85\00:20:20.78 "Who will descent into the abyss? 00:20:20.81\00:20:22.64 That is to bring Christ up from the dead." 00:20:22.67\00:20:27.01 So what is the abyss? 00:20:27.04\00:20:28.84 It's the grave. 00:20:32.36\00:20:34.61 It's the place the abode of death. 00:20:34.64\00:20:38.45 And, my friend, that is what the earth has become. 00:20:38.48\00:20:42.07 We also would ask the question in what sense, 00:20:42.10\00:20:44.60 in what sense is Satan bound to this earth? 00:20:44.63\00:20:48.34 And again I'll remind in the Book of Revelation 00:20:48.37\00:20:50.39 we have prophetic-- we have prophetic terms, 00:20:50.42\00:20:53.70 we have quoted symbolisms and one of the great dangers 00:20:53.73\00:20:58.63 in trying to interpret the Book of Revelation 00:20:58.66\00:21:00.90 are those who want to take a littlest approach 00:21:00.93\00:21:05.62 to the interpretation of the Book of Revelation. 00:21:05.65\00:21:08.80 For instance they would say 00:21:08.83\00:21:10.26 that those chains are actually caves. 00:21:10.29\00:21:14.52 But, my friend, really when you look at the book 00:21:14.55\00:21:16.63 it is coded, it is symbolic, 00:21:16.66\00:21:21.73 it is not to be understood literally. 00:21:21.76\00:21:24.55 I mean, consider how he is been carried out his freedom 00:21:24.58\00:21:27.10 upon this planet with certain parameters 00:21:27.13\00:21:29.05 that God had put into place. 00:21:29.08\00:21:31.02 I mean, he has been tracking us for the moment 00:21:31.05\00:21:33.03 we are born into life to the moment that we leave it. 00:21:33.06\00:21:36.89 He is been hounding us 00:21:36.92\00:21:38.27 with the determination to take us down. 00:21:38.30\00:21:41.00 Again remember he hates us 00:21:41.03\00:21:43.01 because we are the supreme objects of God's love. 00:21:43.04\00:21:46.53 And he knows that when he brings misery 00:21:46.56\00:21:48.48 and when he brings suffering 00:21:48.51\00:21:50.16 and if he could take us down the road of rebellion 00:21:50.19\00:21:54.30 that he can bring pain to the heart of the God. 00:21:54.33\00:21:58.14 I mean he is just down right mean. 00:21:58.17\00:22:02.00 And so that's how he is been, 00:22:02.03\00:22:03.59 you know, what he is being doing upon this earth. 00:22:03.62\00:22:05.76 But you see at the coming of Jesus 00:22:05.79\00:22:07.26 suddenly things change fundamentally. 00:22:07.29\00:22:10.25 Suddenly the people of God are swept away. 00:22:10.28\00:22:12.95 He can't bother them, he cannot trouble them any longer, 00:22:12.98\00:22:16.28 he can tempt them and the wicked they are died. 00:22:16.31\00:22:23.09 And so as it's been said he is bound by circumstances 00:22:23.12\00:22:28.79 and he is bound to this earth in his tessellated state. 00:22:28.82\00:22:33.57 Do you see something of the justice of God 00:22:33.60\00:22:35.83 that Satan and his wicked angels 00:22:35.86\00:22:37.33 are bound to this earth for thousand years 00:22:37.36\00:22:40.05 with all of this destruction? 00:22:40.08\00:22:41.96 And, my friend, it's all because of their rebellion. 00:22:41.99\00:22:44.89 This once was a paradise. 00:22:44.92\00:22:46.83 This is what sin had brought it to. 00:22:46.86\00:22:51.84 It led to destruction. 00:22:51.87\00:22:53.88 And yes for a thousand years 00:22:53.91\00:22:55.91 he will be wandering over the surface 00:22:55.94\00:22:57.78 of this planet this abyss. 00:22:57.81\00:23:00.46 But remember it says "He will be released for a short season." 00:23:00.49\00:23:06.23 I take you next as we move on Revelation 20 00:23:06.26\00:23:10.49 and we're gonna look at verse 4. 00:23:10.52\00:23:13.83 In verse 4 we're going to discover 00:23:13.86\00:23:15.40 what God's people are doing 00:23:15.43\00:23:17.37 during the millennial period of time, 00:23:17.40\00:23:18.99 during the thousand years. 00:23:19.02\00:23:20.40 And this is what we find Revelation 20 00:23:20.43\00:23:22.40 and beginning with verse 4, 00:23:22.43\00:23:24.21 John says "Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, 00:23:24.24\00:23:28.66 and judgment was given to them." 00:23:28.69\00:23:30.50 Now, we want to identify who it is 00:23:30.53\00:23:32.83 that they that is sitting upon these thrones 00:23:32.86\00:23:35.89 to whom judgment was given to them. 00:23:35.92\00:23:38.49 It goes on to identify them actually, 00:23:38.52\00:23:40.67 he said, "And I saw the souls of those 00:23:40.70\00:23:42.45 who had been beheaded 00:23:42.48\00:23:43.51 because of their testimony of Jesus 00:23:43.54\00:23:46.41 and because of the Word of God. 00:23:46.44\00:23:48.45 And those who are not worshiped the beast or his image 00:23:48.48\00:23:51.35 and have now receive the mark 00:23:51.38\00:23:52.58 on their foreheads or on their hand. 00:23:52.61\00:23:55.43 And they came to life." 00:23:55.46\00:23:58.58 Obviously this is talking about God's people, right? 00:23:58.61\00:24:01.95 They came to life, 00:24:01.98\00:24:03.89 that's speaking of the resurrection 00:24:03.92\00:24:06.30 and furthermore it says, 00:24:06.33\00:24:07.42 "And they reigned" they reigned 00:24:07.45\00:24:09.95 "with Christ for a thousand years." 00:24:09.98\00:24:13.31 So, God's people are resurrected and they reign 00:24:13.34\00:24:17.04 and my friend, it identifies 00:24:17.07\00:24:19.29 who it is that's sitting on the thrones. 00:24:19.32\00:24:23.79 Judging this is the millennial judgment 00:24:23.82\00:24:27.02 that we're talking about. 00:24:27.05\00:24:28.61 First Corinthians 6, the New Testament page 132, 132. 00:24:28.64\00:24:34.71 First Corinthians 6 and we are gonna be looking 00:24:34.74\00:24:37.18 at verses 2 and 3. 00:24:37.21\00:24:39.75 Now Paul is writing to church 00:24:39.78\00:24:42.25 that is having a lot of problems, 00:24:42.28\00:24:45.23 lot of difficulties. 00:24:45.26\00:24:46.95 Gross immorality was going on and tolerated in the fellowship. 00:24:46.98\00:24:51.52 They were at each others throats, 00:24:51.55\00:24:54.04 they were in conflict with one another, 00:24:54.07\00:24:56.13 they were actually suing each other 00:24:56.16\00:24:57.97 in the secular courts of the day. 00:24:58.00\00:25:00.48 And so Paul is trying to bring peace 00:25:00.51\00:25:03.29 to the church in Corinth. 00:25:03.32\00:25:05.63 And notice what his appeal is 00:25:05.66\00:25:08.13 about those who were suing their brothers, 00:25:08.16\00:25:10.69 their sisters in the secular courts. 00:25:10.72\00:25:13.78 First Corinthians 6: 2 he says 00:25:13.81\00:25:16.10 "Do you not know 00:25:16.13\00:25:17.54 that the saints will judge the world?" 00:25:17.57\00:25:21.34 Did you know that Bible teaches 00:25:21.37\00:25:23.14 that saints will judge the world? 00:25:23.17\00:25:25.48 Absolutely. 00:25:25.51\00:25:27.14 And he says, further 00:25:27.17\00:25:28.20 "if the world is to be judged by you, 00:25:28.23\00:25:29.51 are you not competent 00:25:29.54\00:25:30.82 to constitute the smallest law courts?" 00:25:30.85\00:25:33.05 Can't you settle these issues among yourselves as Christians? 00:25:33.08\00:25:37.75 If you're gonna be judging the world, 00:25:37.78\00:25:39.88 why would we be judging the world? 00:25:39.91\00:25:42.88 Well, my friend, there is some real good reasons 00:25:42.91\00:25:45.59 why we're involved in this phases of judgment. 00:25:45.62\00:25:47.34 We're gonna discover 00:25:47.37\00:25:48.40 there are three phases of judgment in the end time. 00:25:48.43\00:25:50.71 We're gonna be looking at two of them tonight. 00:25:50.74\00:25:55.55 And so we're taking you 00:25:55.58\00:25:57.42 to the millennial phase of judgment. 00:25:57.45\00:26:01.15 And it involves God's people judging the world. 00:26:01.18\00:26:04.63 You see even in our judicial system 00:26:04.66\00:26:07.05 we have this concept that an individual ought 00:26:07.08\00:26:11.01 to be judged by their peers don't we? 00:26:11.04\00:26:15.84 That's why we have a jury system, 00:26:15.87\00:26:17.10 the idea that we ought to be judged by our peers. 00:26:17.13\00:26:20.18 And, my friend, God has this view 00:26:20.21\00:26:22.14 in His Judicial system 00:26:22.17\00:26:24.64 as it plays out in the end time 00:26:24.67\00:26:27.04 that the world ought to be judged by their peers 00:26:27.07\00:26:31.60 that will be us if we are there by God's grace. 00:26:31.63\00:26:36.16 And you see there are some real reasons 00:26:36.19\00:26:39.07 beyond just the fairness and the justice of God 00:26:39.10\00:26:41.54 that we are involved in this judgment, 00:26:41.57\00:26:43.87 because, you know, somewhere, 00:26:43.90\00:26:44.93 you know, I tried to describe last night 00:26:44.96\00:26:46.90 how wonderful its gonna be 00:26:46.93\00:26:47.96 when Jesus comes to find ourselves, 00:26:47.99\00:26:50.40 you know, being drawn off the earth, 00:26:50.43\00:26:52.35 being drawn into the presence of Jesus 00:26:52.38\00:26:55.03 and all of those angels that are singing 00:26:55.06\00:26:57.48 these wonderful glorious songs 00:26:57.51\00:26:59.88 it's just gonna be such a thrill, 00:26:59.91\00:27:01.71 but I know somewhere in the process 00:27:01.74\00:27:04.41 I'm gonna begin to look around among the redeemed. 00:27:04.44\00:27:07.98 I'm gonna be looking for those that I loved 00:27:08.01\00:27:10.76 and knew best upon this earth. 00:27:10.79\00:27:12.39 I'm gonna be looking for family members, 00:27:12.42\00:27:14.85 I'm gonna be looking for my wife, 00:27:14.88\00:27:17.19 gonna be looking for my two sons, 00:27:17.22\00:27:19.48 David and Kevin, gonna be looking for friends. 00:27:19.51\00:27:23.28 I'm gonna be looking for those 00:27:23.31\00:27:24.55 I've had the privilege of bringing to Jesus Christ. 00:27:24.58\00:27:27.76 And I tell you when we find 00:27:27.79\00:27:29.39 and I think all of us will have an interest to know 00:27:29.42\00:27:32.50 are they to make it, are they're there, 00:27:32.53\00:27:35.38 were they true to Jesus till the end? 00:27:35.41\00:27:39.14 And I tell you when we find some of those 00:27:39.17\00:27:40.85 that we have loved best on this earth 00:27:40.88\00:27:42.51 and we find that they are there, 00:27:42.54\00:27:43.68 you know, we are going 00:27:43.71\00:27:44.74 to wrap our arms around each other 00:27:44.77\00:27:47.32 and together we are going to shout, halleluiah. 00:27:47.35\00:27:51.14 I tell you our joy in being in heaven 00:27:51.17\00:27:54.43 is increased by the fact 00:27:54.46\00:27:56.95 there will be some of those that we've loved here 00:27:56.98\00:27:58.93 that are there with us. 00:27:58.96\00:28:01.24 But you know we all have a choice 00:28:01.27\00:28:04.66 and undoubtedly we're gonna find some 00:28:04.69\00:28:06.90 that we've loved here in this earth who are not there. 00:28:06.93\00:28:10.91 And there is going to be some sadness. 00:28:10.94\00:28:12.26 It's interesting it's not until the end of the thousand years 00:28:12.29\00:28:15.09 that it says that God wipes away our tears. 00:28:15.12\00:28:18.47 I think there will yet be some grief 00:28:18.50\00:28:21.33 for those that we thought would be there 00:28:21.36\00:28:23.53 but we're not there. 00:28:23.56\00:28:24.68 And so there, you know, God doesn't want us 00:28:24.71\00:28:26.80 to go through eternity with these questions, 00:28:26.83\00:28:28.82 but mom I thought she would be there, she-- 00:28:28.85\00:28:31.65 I thought she was a committed Christian. 00:28:31.68\00:28:34.55 What happened to my daughter or my son 00:28:34.58\00:28:37.34 or what happened to mom, what happen to mom and dad? 00:28:37.37\00:28:42.27 You know, I thought they would be there. 00:28:42.30\00:28:45.72 And so the judgment God allows us to see 00:28:45.75\00:28:50.57 what was happening in a way 00:28:50.60\00:28:52.63 that we could not see with the natural eye. 00:28:52.66\00:28:55.90 We will be able to see what was happening 00:28:55.93\00:28:57.77 into the hearts and their minds. 00:28:57.80\00:28:59.49 We will be able to see were they harden their hearts, 00:28:59.52\00:29:01.63 were they turned away, 00:29:01.66\00:29:04.69 because again God doesn't want us to go through eternity 00:29:04.72\00:29:07.38 with these nine questions 00:29:07.41\00:29:09.73 what happened and then when its all said and done, 00:29:09.76\00:29:14.77 when the judgment is finished in the words of Revelation 16:7 00:29:14.80\00:29:19.27 "All of God's people will declare, 00:29:19.30\00:29:21.07 'O Lord God, Almighty, true 00:29:21.10\00:29:23.61 and righteous are Thy judgments.'" 00:29:23.64\00:29:26.38 But do you know there is somebody else 00:29:29.44\00:29:30.66 that were going to be judging during this period of time 00:29:30.69\00:29:33.14 if you still there in 1 Corinthians 6 00:29:33.17\00:29:35.09 it is found in verse 3 00:29:35.12\00:29:37.45 where Paul says "Do you not know that we will judge angels." 00:29:37.48\00:29:43.88 What angels will we be involved in judging? 00:29:43.91\00:29:48.76 Oh, my friend, those evil angels, 00:29:48.79\00:29:50.94 those angels of darkness, those angels of sin 00:29:50.97\00:29:55.49 and rebellion and evil 00:29:55.52\00:29:58.30 that have brought this whole tragedy to this planet. 00:29:58.33\00:30:02.62 And, my friend, do you see any justice in God 00:30:02.65\00:30:04.96 that we ought to be involved in judging the evil angels? 00:30:04.99\00:30:10.14 Absolutely, don't you think so? 00:30:10.17\00:30:13.24 So we are involved in the judgment in judging them, 00:30:13.27\00:30:17.39 is what the Bible indicates. 00:30:17.42\00:30:19.68 So let's take another review, 00:30:19.71\00:30:22.27 let's do another review at this point 00:30:22.30\00:30:24.07 and what we've discovered about 00:30:24.10\00:30:25.13 what happens during the millennium period of time 00:30:25.16\00:30:28.20 and these things are been cleared 00:30:28.23\00:30:29.37 from the Word of God haven't they? 00:30:29.40\00:30:30.77 Number one, we know God's people have been taken to heaven 00:30:30.80\00:30:34.27 just again as Jesus has promised. 00:30:34.30\00:30:36.98 We know just as we have studied 00:30:37.01\00:30:38.89 the saints are involved in judgment 00:30:38.92\00:30:41.48 during the millennial period of time. 00:30:41.51\00:30:45.51 And what else did we discover? 00:30:45.54\00:30:47.28 The earth, the earth is desolated 00:30:47.31\00:30:49.80 it's become an abyss. 00:30:49.83\00:30:51.74 The ungodly, all of them are dead 00:30:51.77\00:30:54.53 except for the wicked angels. 00:30:54.56\00:30:56.37 And Satan is bound to the earth. 00:30:56.40\00:30:59.48 Those are the five things that we know 00:30:59.51\00:31:02.07 with certainty take place 00:31:02.10\00:31:05.27 during the millennium period of time. 00:31:05.30\00:31:08.63 Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 00:31:08.66\00:31:11.84 "Man shall not live on bread alone, 00:31:11.87\00:31:13.76 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 00:31:13.79\00:31:18.98 And my friend, that is certainly 00:31:19.01\00:31:20.57 inclusive of the Book of Revelation. 00:31:20.60\00:31:22.68 It is not exclusive of the Book of Revelation is it? 00:31:22.71\00:31:26.24 And so that which is reviled God wants us to understand. 00:31:26.27\00:31:31.79 He wants us to understand these end time events 00:31:31.82\00:31:34.79 that how things are going to play out. 00:31:34.82\00:31:37.17 He wants us to understand that He has a plan 00:31:37.20\00:31:40.62 and He wants us to understand 00:31:40.65\00:31:42.35 that everything is going to be set right, 00:31:42.38\00:31:45.32 it's going to be all right at the end. 00:31:45.35\00:31:48.69 It is. 00:31:48.72\00:31:50.69 And so He wants us to have an understanding of that. 00:31:50.72\00:31:54.01 So let's move on to what happens at the end of the millennium. 00:31:54.04\00:31:56.60 Now we look at Revelation 21:2 to begin with 00:31:56.63\00:32:01.43 and where it says, "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 00:32:01.46\00:32:05.02 coming down out of heaven from God, 00:32:05.05\00:32:06.87 made ready as a bride adorned for her husband." 00:32:06.90\00:32:10.88 And you may remember that every night 00:32:10.91\00:32:12.17 we talked about this passage 00:32:12.20\00:32:13.33 the New Jerusalem is a capital city of the universe, 00:32:13.36\00:32:17.66 it is the city of God. 00:32:17.69\00:32:19.81 And so at the end of the 1,000 years 00:32:19.84\00:32:21.58 here comes the New Jerusalem coming down from God 00:32:21.61\00:32:25.00 out of heaven to this planet. 00:32:25.03\00:32:28.24 God is not done with this earth 00:32:28.27\00:32:31.43 is what we find as we study the scriptures. 00:32:31.46\00:32:34.17 In fact Jesus in the Beatitudes 00:32:34.20\00:32:36.35 made this statement 00:32:36.38\00:32:38.57 "Blesses are the meek for they shall inherit," what? 00:32:38.60\00:32:43.08 "They shall inherit the earth." 00:32:43.11\00:32:45.82 And, my friend, it's not talking about the ungodly, 00:32:45.85\00:32:48.34 they are noted for their neatness, 00:32:48.37\00:32:50.52 this is taking about God's people 00:32:50.55\00:32:52.41 and the promise is we will inherit the earth. 00:32:52.44\00:32:55.88 God created this planet for the human race to inhabit. 00:32:55.91\00:33:00.45 And, my friend, at the end of the millennium God 00:33:00.48\00:33:02.59 will return impart to His original plan. 00:33:02.62\00:33:05.55 We will come back with Him as we will see 00:33:05.58\00:33:09.07 to this planet and we will inhabit it. 00:33:09.10\00:33:12.63 It's gonna change a lot before that happens. 00:33:12.66\00:33:15.83 And we're gonna put that piece together as we continue on. 00:33:15.86\00:33:19.42 But we will inhabit and we will spend. 00:33:19.45\00:33:22.71 the years of eternity on the earth 00:33:22.74\00:33:25.57 Heaven is only for 1,000 years. 00:33:25.60\00:33:32.13 It's only for 1,000 years is what the Bible indicates. 00:33:32.16\00:33:36.84 And then let me take you on to John 5. 00:33:36.87\00:33:39.00 There's another piece we want to add to this 00:33:39.03\00:33:41.32 as we talk about what happens at the end of the millennium. 00:33:41.35\00:33:44.27 The New Testament page 75 John 5 and looking at verses 28 and 29. 00:33:44.30\00:33:50.70 Jesus makes a fascinating statement here 00:33:50.73\00:33:53.81 He doesn't give us a lot of details 00:33:53.84\00:33:56.49 and He doesn't put it all into any kind of sequence, 00:33:56.52\00:34:00.35 He just makes a statement about what's gonna happen. 00:34:00.38\00:34:04.08 So find your place there in John 5 00:34:04.11\00:34:06.28 and we're looking at verses 28 and 29 where Jesus said, 00:34:06.31\00:34:10.08 "Do not marvel at this, 00:34:10.11\00:34:11.83 for an hour is coming 00:34:11.86\00:34:14.80 which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice." 00:34:14.83\00:34:19.78 Notice the phrase "all will hear His voice." 00:34:19.81\00:34:24.53 Okay, and verse 29 says, 00:34:24.56\00:34:27.48 "And will come forth." 00:34:27.51\00:34:28.76 All we hear His voice and all will come forth 00:34:28.79\00:34:31.13 and what do we call that in a word 00:34:31.16\00:34:33.37 when they come forth? The resurrection. 00:34:33.40\00:34:37.37 Yes, it's the resurrection. But all. 00:34:37.40\00:34:42.24 And He goes on to say 00:34:42.27\00:34:43.30 "Those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life." 00:34:43.33\00:34:46.44 Who would that be talking about? 00:34:46.47\00:34:48.74 Oh, my friend, that's not talking about the ungodly 00:34:48.77\00:34:50.86 they are noted for their good deeds, are they? 00:34:50.89\00:34:54.37 This has to be talking about God's people 00:34:54.40\00:34:57.26 and resurrection of life. 00:34:57.29\00:34:58.56 And then He goes on to say Jesus says 00:34:58.59\00:34:59.85 "Those who committed the evil deeds." 00:34:59.88\00:35:02.88 Now we know that has to be the ungodly 00:35:02.91\00:35:05.23 to a resurrection of judgment 00:35:05.26\00:35:07.86 or for the purpose of judgment. 00:35:07.89\00:35:10.73 Yes, even the wicked are going to be resurrected 00:35:10.76\00:35:14.72 is what the Bible indicates. 00:35:14.75\00:35:17.96 Which means which resurrection 00:35:17.99\00:35:23.17 will we come up in? 00:35:23.20\00:35:26.24 That is a relevant question, isn't it? 00:35:26.27\00:35:28.70 I'll come back to that, 00:35:28.73\00:35:29.84 but I want to tie this into Revelation 20. 00:35:29.87\00:35:33.24 So we go back to the New Testament page 199 00:35:33.27\00:35:35.83 and beginning with verse 4. 00:35:35.86\00:35:37.81 Jesus makes a simple statement here. 00:35:37.84\00:35:40.28 He doesn't get into a lot of detail, 00:35:40.31\00:35:42.46 He doesn't tells when the resurrection of life is, 00:35:42.49\00:35:45.20 but comparing scripture with scripture 00:35:45.23\00:35:47.11 we know the resurrection of God's people 00:35:47.14\00:35:49.19 takes place at the coming of Jesus 1 Thessalonians 4:16 00:35:49.22\00:35:53.15 among other texts that we could quote. 00:35:53.18\00:35:55.49 When He talks about the resurrection the wicked, 00:35:55.52\00:35:57.54 again He doesn't tell us 00:35:57.57\00:35:58.92 when we have to look at other scriptures 00:35:58.95\00:36:01.24 that will give us insights 00:36:01.27\00:36:03.09 to when the wicked will be resurrected. 00:36:03.12\00:36:07.43 And again we find that Revelation 20:4-6. 00:36:07.46\00:36:11.18 By the way in Acts 24:15 the Bible says 00:36:11.21\00:36:16.41 "There shall certainly be 00:36:16.44\00:36:18.26 a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." 00:36:18.29\00:36:24.91 So, we're seeing a number of passages of scripture 00:36:24.94\00:36:27.46 that speak of the resurrection both the of God's people 00:36:27.49\00:36:30.79 and of the wicked. 00:36:30.82\00:36:33.50 And in the context of the millennium 00:36:33.53\00:36:36.39 we find it here verses 4 through 6, 00:36:36.42\00:36:38.41 I know we read verse 4, 00:36:38.44\00:36:40.01 but we have to follow the flow 00:36:40.04\00:36:42.48 of what John is describing here 00:36:42.51\00:36:45.83 so let me reread verse 4 00:36:45.86\00:36:47.77 so we can that. 00:36:47.80\00:36:49.23 John said, "Then I saw thrones, 00:36:49.26\00:36:51.06 and they sat upon them, 00:36:51.09\00:36:52.66 and judgment was given unto them 00:36:52.69\00:36:53.95 and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded 00:36:53.98\00:36:56.56 because of their testimony of Jesus 00:36:56.59\00:36:58.92 and because of the Word of God, 00:36:58.95\00:37:01.30 and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, 00:37:01.33\00:37:03.85 and had not received the mark on their forehead 00:37:03.88\00:37:06.13 and on their hand and they came to life 00:37:06.16\00:37:09.04 and reigned with Christ for a thousand years." 00:37:09.07\00:37:11.49 Currently its God's people, 00:37:11.52\00:37:12.94 it's a resurrection on the life for life 00:37:12.97\00:37:16.32 and that resurrection begins 00:37:16.35\00:37:18.03 at the beginning of the 1,000 years. 00:37:18.06\00:37:21.80 That's clear, isn't it? 00:37:21.83\00:37:23.60 That's clear. 00:37:23.63\00:37:25.18 Then he goes on in verse 5 00:37:25.21\00:37:27.23 it's as if he is answering the unspoken question 00:37:27.26\00:37:31.11 but what happens to the rest of the dead? 00:37:31.14\00:37:34.11 It's really a parenthetical thought 00:37:34.14\00:37:35.91 because his focus is really 00:37:35.94\00:37:37.63 on the resurrection of God's people through this passage. 00:37:37.66\00:37:40.51 But he does answer that question verse 5 00:37:40.54\00:37:42.88 "The rest of the dead." 00:37:42.91\00:37:44.13 And who would the rest of the dead be? 00:37:44.16\00:37:46.23 Wicked. 00:37:46.26\00:37:47.29 It would be the wicked, it would be the ungodly, 00:37:47.32\00:37:49.20 "The rest of the dead did not come to life 00:37:49.23\00:37:51.86 until the thousand years were completed" 00:37:51.89\00:37:56.32 is what the Bible indicates. 00:37:56.35\00:37:58.95 And so there is a 1,000 year period of time 00:37:58.98\00:38:02.84 that separates the two resurrections. 00:38:02.87\00:38:05.59 And by the way and I agree 00:38:05.62\00:38:07.67 when it comes to the translation here 00:38:07.70\00:38:09.99 of Revelation 20:5 they actually put parenthesis around it 00:38:10.02\00:38:16.71 to show that it's a parenthetical thought. 00:38:16.74\00:38:19.91 "The rest of the dead did not come to life 00:38:19.94\00:38:21.67 until the 1,000 years were ended." 00:38:21.70\00:38:23.18 And that parenthetical thought. 00:38:23.21\00:38:25.62 And it's a good translation of that particular verse. 00:38:25.65\00:38:28.68 And then John continues 00:38:28.71\00:38:30.50 with his discussion of the first resurrection. 00:38:30.53\00:38:33.30 So let's read that, got a part of verse 5 00:38:33.33\00:38:36.20 "This is the first resurrection. 00:38:36.23\00:38:37.84 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection 00:38:37.87\00:38:41.54 over these the second death has no power, 00:38:41.57\00:38:44.76 but they will be priests of God and of Christ, 00:38:44.79\00:38:47.30 and will reign with him for a thousand years." 00:38:47.33\00:38:52.01 Okay, so we have a 1,000 year period of time 00:38:52.04\00:38:57.66 that separates the two resurrections. 00:38:57.69\00:39:01.05 Again God's people are resurrected 00:39:01.08\00:39:03.38 at the beginning of the 1,000 years 00:39:03.41\00:39:04.98 at the coming of Jesus 00:39:05.01\00:39:07.07 and the wicked are resurrected at the end of the 1,000 years. 00:39:07.10\00:39:12.52 And why are they resurrected? 00:39:12.55\00:39:14.77 Remember what Jesus said, 00:39:14.80\00:39:17.25 for judgment the resurrection of judgment. 00:39:17.28\00:39:21.23 Again in our judicial system 00:39:21.26\00:39:22.85 we have this idea 00:39:22.88\00:39:26.89 that judgment should precede sentencing, 00:39:26.92\00:39:32.89 right. 00:39:32.92\00:39:34.53 And so it is with God 00:39:34.56\00:39:35.67 and so they're going to have their day in court 00:39:35.70\00:39:39.97 is really what we see indicated here. 00:39:40.00\00:39:42.08 But remember I shared with you 00:39:42.11\00:39:43.58 in the early part of Revelation 20 00:39:43.61\00:39:45.53 that Satan would be lose for a short time 00:39:45.56\00:39:48.96 as the wicked are resurrected in the end. 00:39:48.99\00:39:51.46 It is at that point that Satan is lose among them. 00:39:51.49\00:39:54.87 We're gonna read that verse in just a moment. 00:39:54.90\00:39:56.98 But I want to come back to the idea, 00:39:57.01\00:39:59.17 the question being in which of the two resurrections 00:39:59.20\00:40:03.33 are we going to come up in? 00:40:03.36\00:40:06.63 Wouldn't it be horrible to be resurrected? 00:40:06.66\00:40:11.55 And to look around 00:40:11.58\00:40:14.40 and find all of the evil inhabitants of this earth, 00:40:14.43\00:40:20.03 that they're, I mean to see Stalin and Hitler 00:40:20.06\00:40:22.70 and some of the-- 00:40:22.73\00:40:23.80 I mean, you know, some of these mass killers 00:40:23.83\00:40:26.74 and to have the authorization 00:40:26.77\00:40:30.18 who came up in the wrong resurrection. 00:40:30.21\00:40:34.25 That would be pretty terrible, wouldn't it? 00:40:34.28\00:40:36.64 But again our decision that we make now 00:40:36.67\00:40:40.05 and determine by the grace of Jesus now 00:40:40.08\00:40:43.08 will determine where we will be there then. 00:40:43.11\00:40:46.66 And, my friend, by faith in Jesus 00:40:46.69\00:40:48.36 we really we need not worry ourselves about our fate 00:40:48.39\00:40:53.10 because it has been determined 00:40:53.13\00:40:55.22 through the blood of Jesus Christ. 00:40:55.25\00:40:57.19 Look at Revelation 20:7 00:40:57.22\00:40:58.74 as we talk about the fact that Satan will be lose, 00:40:58.77\00:41:01.42 he will be lose for a short time, 00:41:01.45\00:41:03.13 it says, "When the 1,000 years are completed, 00:41:03.16\00:41:05.44 Satan will be released from his prison." 00:41:05.47\00:41:09.47 The wicked are resurrected 00:41:09.50\00:41:11.39 and you read the next few verses, 00:41:11.42\00:41:13.06 he goes out and he organizes them into this vast army. 00:41:13.09\00:41:19.24 Remember the holy city 00:41:19.27\00:41:21.90 God and his people have come back down to this planet 00:41:21.93\00:41:25.76 and Satan is determined 00:41:25.79\00:41:27.08 they're gonna go up against the city, 00:41:27.11\00:41:29.29 they're gonna seek to take it. 00:41:29.32\00:41:31.15 It shows that he is a rebel down to the very end, 00:41:31.18\00:41:34.56 he is unrepentant and the wicked with him. 00:41:34.59\00:41:39.77 And, my friend, it's hopeless they cannot possibly prevail. 00:41:39.80\00:41:45.19 That as I've said earlier that is the insanity of sin 00:41:45.22\00:41:51.03 that they think that they could go up 00:41:51.06\00:41:52.68 against the all powerful God. 00:41:52.71\00:41:56.84 It's absolute insanity. 00:41:56.87\00:41:59.39 And then the judgment takes place 00:41:59.42\00:42:01.06 as we look at verses 11 through 13. 00:42:01.09\00:42:03.69 Let's look at it. 00:42:03.72\00:42:04.75 "Then I saw a great white throne 00:42:04.78\00:42:06.85 and Him who sat upon it, 00:42:06.88\00:42:09.02 from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, 00:42:09.05\00:42:11.33 and no place was found for them. 00:42:11.36\00:42:13.63 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, 00:42:13.66\00:42:16.23 standing before the throne." 00:42:16.26\00:42:18.78 That indicates judgment or resurrection for judgment. 00:42:18.81\00:42:23.43 "And I saw the dead, great and small, 00:42:23.46\00:42:25.10 stand before throne." Again resurrection. 00:42:25.13\00:42:28.57 "And the books were opened and another book was opened, 00:42:28.60\00:42:31.63 which is the book of life and the dead were judged 00:42:31.66\00:42:34.62 when the things which were written in the books, 00:42:34.65\00:42:36.14 according to their deeds." 00:42:36.17\00:42:39.11 Now again John is seeking to communicate to us 00:42:39.14\00:42:42.59 in language that we can understand. 00:42:42.62\00:42:44.64 Let me tell you 00:42:44.67\00:42:45.70 these are much more sophisticated records 00:42:45.73\00:42:48.02 that you and I can begin to comprehend. 00:42:48.05\00:42:50.92 And so they are brought up 00:42:50.95\00:42:52.79 and they are standing before the throne, 00:42:52.82\00:42:54.75 this is the judgment that we usually think of, 00:42:54.78\00:42:57.70 it is the final judgment, the final judgment. 00:42:57.73\00:43:03.06 Verse 13 adds "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it." 00:43:03.09\00:43:06.54 That's resurrection. "And death and Hades." 00:43:06.57\00:43:10.12 That word Hades means the grave. 00:43:10.15\00:43:13.37 "Death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them." 00:43:13.40\00:43:16.34 That is resurrection. 00:43:16.37\00:43:18.11 "And they were judged every one of them 00:43:18.14\00:43:19.93 according to their deeds." 00:43:19.96\00:43:23.59 By the way that question came in on a card last night. 00:43:23.62\00:43:26.29 Why is the judgment, why are we does the Bible say 00:43:26.32\00:43:29.33 we're judged by our deeds? 00:43:29.36\00:43:32.26 And I'd like to answer that because clearly our deeds reveal 00:43:32.29\00:43:37.09 who possesses the heart. 00:43:37.12\00:43:41.47 And, my friend, if Jesus possesses our hearts 00:43:41.50\00:43:44.48 the testimony of our lives will be that Jesus is there. 00:43:44.51\00:43:50.01 Jesus is in control 00:43:50.04\00:43:53.46 but for the wicked their deeds bare witness to the fact 00:43:53.49\00:43:55.97 that they have given themselves over to evil. 00:43:56.00\00:44:00.35 That's what it reveals. 00:44:00.38\00:44:02.97 And then we move on into verses 14 and 15 00:44:03.00\00:44:06.23 where it says, it says "Then death and Hades." 00:44:06.26\00:44:10.04 That is the grave. 00:44:10.07\00:44:11.10 "Were thrown into the lake of fire. 00:44:11.13\00:44:14.28 This is the second death, the lake of fire. 00:44:14.31\00:44:16.89 And if anyone's name was not found 00:44:16.92\00:44:18.43 written in the book of life, 00:44:18.46\00:44:19.49 he was thrown into the lake of fire." 00:44:19.52\00:44:24.36 And, my friend, this second death is eternal. 00:44:24.39\00:44:28.13 There is no resurrection for the second death. 00:44:28.16\00:44:31.34 It is the final end of it. 00:44:31.37\00:44:35.15 And, my friend, again we see embedded in God's word 00:44:35.18\00:44:38.89 and particularly in the Book of Revelation here, 00:44:38.92\00:44:41.06 the plan that God has put into place 00:44:41.09\00:44:44.18 how He is going to bring this about, 00:44:44.21\00:44:47.42 how He is gonna bring it to an end? 00:44:47.45\00:44:50.70 And so sin and sinners and rebellion 00:44:50.73\00:44:56.72 will be destroyed in the lake of fire. 00:44:56.75\00:44:59.42 And then the very next verse Revelation 21:1 00:44:59.45\00:45:02.46 it says, "Then I saw a new heaven 00:45:02.49\00:45:06.70 and a new earth for the first heaven 00:45:06.73\00:45:08.85 and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea." 00:45:08.88\00:45:13.56 Did you pick that up? 00:45:13.59\00:45:15.50 What happened to the first heaven 00:45:15.53\00:45:16.72 and the first earth? 00:45:16.75\00:45:18.35 And by the way which heaven is He talking about? 00:45:18.38\00:45:22.13 Remember our opening night 00:45:22.16\00:45:23.24 I mentioned the Bible speaks of three heavens. 00:45:23.27\00:45:25.94 Let me go back through that again. 00:45:25.97\00:45:27.88 Usually when we think of heaven 00:45:27.91\00:45:28.98 we are thinking about the place where God is 00:45:29.01\00:45:31.57 and where God's people will be taken, right? 00:45:31.60\00:45:33.70 That is heaven. 00:45:33.73\00:45:36.29 But the Bible also speaks of the heavens 00:45:36.32\00:45:39.67 as in the story of universe that be in the heavens. 00:45:39.70\00:45:44.83 And the third heaven is the firmament 00:45:44.86\00:45:49.02 that is the earth and its atmosphere. 00:45:49.05\00:45:53.90 That's also spoken of as the heavens. 00:45:53.93\00:45:55.76 Which of the three do you think this is talking about 00:45:55.79\00:45:58.89 when it says 00:45:58.92\00:46:01.25 there is a new heaven and a new earth? 00:46:01.28\00:46:06.35 Is this planet with its atmosphere, right? 00:46:06.38\00:46:11.52 And do we need the atmosphere to be restored? 00:46:11.55\00:46:15.13 Was one of the big issues that we are dealing with today? 00:46:15.16\00:46:18.19 We are talking about green house of facts and all the rest of it, 00:46:18.22\00:46:21.99 you know, we're worried about 00:46:22.02\00:46:23.07 what was happening to our atmosphere. 00:46:23.10\00:46:25.65 But, my friend, God is going to make it 00:46:25.68\00:46:28.65 over a new is what the Bible tells us. 00:46:28.68\00:46:31.78 But also pick up the fact that it says the first heaven 00:46:31.81\00:46:36.88 and the first earth, what happened to it? 00:46:36.91\00:46:40.42 This earth? It passed away. 00:46:40.45\00:46:46.27 So God makes a complete new beginning. 00:46:46.30\00:46:49.91 The old earth passes away and God creates 00:46:49.94\00:46:53.77 a new heaven and a new earth. 00:46:53.80\00:46:58.91 And by the way there are no great oceans 00:46:58.94\00:47:01.59 on this new earth as there is on this planet. 00:47:01.62\00:47:04.49 You know, three fifths of the land mass 00:47:04.52\00:47:07.85 upon this planet are under the great oceans. 00:47:07.88\00:47:10.89 That's not gonna be in the earth 00:47:10.92\00:47:14.16 that God is going to create. 00:47:14.19\00:47:18.69 And, my friend, that means 00:47:18.72\00:47:19.75 there is going to be plenty of room 00:47:19.78\00:47:22.24 for all of God's people. 00:47:22.27\00:47:24.66 You know, historically 00:47:24.69\00:47:26.89 my imagination at least has been fired 00:47:26.92\00:47:29.00 by the great explorers of the past, 00:47:29.03\00:47:31.39 you know, Marco Polo as he made his way over to China 00:47:31.42\00:47:36.08 and Columbus as he discovered the new world 00:47:36.11\00:47:40.01 and, you know, we're going to have 00:47:40.04\00:47:42.47 the privilege of exploring 00:47:42.50\00:47:44.90 and discovering the wonders and the beauty 00:47:44.93\00:47:48.63 that God has created in the new earth. 00:47:48.66\00:47:53.16 And we are going to inhabit this place 00:47:53.19\00:47:56.66 and it's gonna be absolutely beautiful, 00:47:56.69\00:47:58.57 its paradise restored. 00:47:58.60\00:48:00.33 It truly is paradise restored. 00:48:00.36\00:48:02.85 He makes a new heaven 00:48:02.88\00:48:04.51 and a new earth is what the Bible indicates. 00:48:04.54\00:48:07.01 And then let's read verses 2 and 3 again. 00:48:07.04\00:48:09.15 "And I saw the holy city, 00:48:09.18\00:48:10.75 New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 00:48:10.78\00:48:13.44 made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:48:13.47\00:48:17.07 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 00:48:17.10\00:48:20.01 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, 00:48:20.04\00:48:23.42 and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, 00:48:23.45\00:48:27.97 and God Himself will be among them.'" 00:48:28.00\00:48:31.21 So not only does 00:48:31.24\00:48:32.27 the New Jerusalem come down from heaven 00:48:32.30\00:48:34.93 God Himself comes down from heaven 00:48:34.96\00:48:39.38 and will spend the ages of eternity with His people. 00:48:39.41\00:48:44.26 It is heaven on earth. 00:48:44.29\00:48:46.27 Now don't ask me what happens to heaven, 00:48:46.30\00:48:48.76 I mean, may be there will be some kind of museum 00:48:48.79\00:48:51.93 there, you know, this was once the place 00:48:51.96\00:48:54.55 where God ruled the universe. 00:48:54.58\00:48:58.90 This is the way it once was. 00:48:58.93\00:49:02.26 But, my friend, it is not the way 00:49:02.29\00:49:03.80 that it'll be from this point forward, 00:49:03.83\00:49:06.96 because this will become in essence 00:49:06.99\00:49:09.60 the center of the universe, 00:49:09.63\00:49:10.90 because God Himself is here 00:49:10.93\00:49:13.14 and we will know Him face to face. 00:49:13.17\00:49:15.65 My friend, that is going to the joy 00:49:15.68\00:49:17.59 and the glory of the new earth. 00:49:17.62\00:49:20.15 It's not just that's its paradise, 00:49:20.18\00:49:23.02 it's not just that the curse of sin 00:49:23.05\00:49:25.42 has been eliminated and praise the Lord for that. 00:49:25.45\00:49:29.14 Did you see the one that we have come to love 00:49:29.17\00:49:32.25 and adore is the one that will spend eternity with us 00:49:32.28\00:49:36.97 and we will know Him. 00:49:37.00\00:49:39.58 And, my friend, let me tell you 00:49:39.61\00:49:40.74 it is like we really haven't, 00:49:40.77\00:49:42.50 really discovered what life is really like 00:49:42.53\00:49:45.16 until we are in the presence of a living God. 00:49:45.19\00:49:50.29 The life giver, the sustainer of life, 00:49:50.32\00:49:54.14 the one that is loved us with an everlasting love. 00:49:54.17\00:49:58.36 And there is gonna be joy 00:49:58.39\00:50:00.09 overwhelming for all of God's people. 00:50:00.12\00:50:04.03 What a beautiful, wonderful feature 00:50:04.06\00:50:06.08 that God has prepared for His people. 00:50:06.11\00:50:08.86 I want to move on into verse 4. 00:50:08.89\00:50:11.32 It says "And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes 00:50:11.35\00:50:15.63 and there will be no longer be any death, 00:50:15.66\00:50:18.11 there will no longer be any mourning, 00:50:18.14\00:50:20.58 or crying, or pain, 00:50:20.61\00:50:23.13 the first things have passed away." 00:50:23.16\00:50:26.36 God makes a final end of it 00:50:26.39\00:50:29.68 as He starts a new with His people. 00:50:29.71\00:50:33.29 My friend, can you imagine that kind of an existence? 00:50:33.32\00:50:36.62 No more grief, no more sorrow, no more pain, no more dying, 00:50:36.65\00:50:42.89 all of that is going to be behind us 00:50:42.92\00:50:47.20 and we'll spend eternity again in this beautiful place 00:50:47.23\00:50:50.35 that God has prepared for those that love Him. 00:50:50.38\00:50:52.26 Let's take a quick review 00:50:52.29\00:50:53.69 of what happens at the end of the millennium. 00:50:53.72\00:50:55.39 Number one, we note 00:50:55.42\00:50:56.62 that the New Jerusalem descends to earth from heaven. 00:50:56.65\00:51:01.16 That's the first thing we'll take note. 00:51:01.19\00:51:02.40 The ungodly are resurrected. 00:51:02.43\00:51:05.13 They go up against the New Jerusalem 00:51:05.16\00:51:06.93 they seek to attack the New Jerusalem 00:51:06.96\00:51:08.66 that's coming down from God out of heaven. 00:51:08.69\00:51:10.88 They go up against the encampment of the saints 00:51:10.91\00:51:13.23 is the way its termed there. 00:51:13.26\00:51:15.53 Final judgment takes place 00:51:15.56\00:51:18.03 as we saw in the later part of Revelation Chapter 20. 00:51:18.06\00:51:21.23 And then what else, what else happens? 00:51:21.26\00:51:23.46 Well, evil and rebellion are destroyed. 00:51:23.49\00:51:29.37 Can you say an amen to that? 00:51:29.40\00:51:30.79 Amen. It's done. 00:51:30.82\00:51:32.43 It's over. 00:51:32.46\00:51:34.12 Evil and rebellion are destroyed and the earth is recreated. 00:51:34.15\00:51:38.75 Really that is not quiet awkward to use 00:51:38.78\00:51:41.30 that word recreated for a new heaven 00:51:41.33\00:51:44.34 and new earth has created. 00:51:44.37\00:51:46.51 I got to tell you the story. 00:51:46.54\00:51:48.42 It was the end of the Korean War. 00:51:48.45\00:51:50.67 End of the Korean War 00:51:50.70\00:51:52.27 and so our forces were began into disengage 00:51:52.30\00:51:55.77 and they were making their way back to United States. 00:51:55.80\00:52:01.06 A force of some 3,500 soldiers 00:52:01.09\00:52:03.72 with 50 of their officers packed all of their gear 00:52:03.75\00:52:07.85 and flew to the West Coast, they were heading home. 00:52:07.88\00:52:12.27 And the officers for some on no reason 00:52:12.30\00:52:14.87 were not able to continue by plane 00:52:14.90\00:52:16.95 to the North East part of our country 00:52:16.98\00:52:19.57 where they came from 00:52:19.60\00:52:21.49 and but they were put on trains. 00:52:21.52\00:52:24.39 You know, how trains, 00:52:24.42\00:52:25.75 you know, that was one of the main 00:52:25.78\00:52:28.51 ways of transportation back then, you know. 00:52:28.54\00:52:31.79 Air travel was not all that common as it is today. 00:52:31.82\00:52:35.24 So here they are 50 of them 00:52:35.27\00:52:37.28 on this train making their way back to the North East. 00:52:37.31\00:52:40.34 A pastor by the name of Pastor Paddick 00:52:40.37\00:52:43.24 happened to be on that train 00:52:43.27\00:52:44.81 and sat down right next to one those officers. 00:52:44.84\00:52:47.95 He thought this was going to be a wonderful opportunity 00:52:47.98\00:52:50.67 to get a first hand report of what happened over in Korea. 00:52:50.70\00:52:54.47 And so he was playing this officer 00:52:54.50\00:52:57.00 with question after question 00:52:57.03\00:52:59.12 about what happened in Korea, 00:52:59.15\00:53:01.17 but the officer just didn't wasn't engaged with him 00:53:01.20\00:53:04.36 just his mind seemed to be somewhere else 00:53:04.39\00:53:07.35 and finally the pastor gave up 00:53:07.38\00:53:09.97 and just begin to ask him, 00:53:10.00\00:53:11.54 you know, where are you headed? 00:53:11.57\00:53:12.84 He said, I'm headed home. 00:53:12.87\00:53:14.62 And he said, tell me about your home. 00:53:14.65\00:53:16.08 Tell me where you came from. 00:53:16.11\00:53:17.33 And so at that he became very animated. 00:53:17.36\00:53:21.46 He said, you know, 00:53:21.49\00:53:22.52 one of the things he said to him, 00:53:22.55\00:53:23.58 I was proud to serve to my country, 00:53:23.61\00:53:25.69 but now I'm ready to go home. 00:53:25.72\00:53:28.51 And you see he was looking forward, 00:53:28.54\00:53:31.48 he was looking forward to that reunion with his family. 00:53:31.51\00:53:35.54 And, my friend, so it is going to be with God's people 00:53:35.57\00:53:38.00 when it's done and over with. 00:53:38.03\00:53:40.49 We're not going to be looking back 00:53:40.52\00:53:43.58 we are looking forward 00:53:43.61\00:53:46.07 to that which God has prepared for those that loved Him. 00:53:46.10\00:53:51.08 And so I end with these words 00:53:51.11\00:53:53.51 as recorded here, verses 5 through 7, 00:53:53.54\00:53:55.50 "And He who sits on the throne 00:53:55.53\00:53:56.93 said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' 00:53:56.96\00:53:59.80 And He said, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.' 00:53:59.83\00:54:03.23 And then He said to me, 'It is done. 00:54:03.26\00:54:05.41 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 00:54:05.44\00:54:08.80 I will give to the one who thirsts 00:54:08.83\00:54:11.01 from the spring of the water of life without cost. 00:54:11.04\00:54:14.32 He who overcomes will inherit these things, 00:54:14.35\00:54:17.79 and I will be his God and he will be My son.'" 00:54:17.82\00:54:23.98 My friend, it will be over. 00:54:24.01\00:54:27.63 And again we have the privilege of being there. 00:54:27.66\00:54:31.20 Let's pray. 00:54:31.23\00:54:32.71 Father in heaven, how grateful we are 00:54:32.74\00:54:34.76 to be again to be reminded through Your word 00:54:34.79\00:54:40.02 of what you have planned out for those that love You. 00:54:40.05\00:54:45.20 And to know that we have the privilege 00:54:45.23\00:54:47.53 of being a part of this wonderful future 00:54:47.56\00:54:50.16 that You speak of here in Your word. 00:54:50.19\00:54:52.93 How grateful we are that Jesus was willing to pay 00:54:52.96\00:54:56.12 the price at Calvary to save us from our sins, 00:54:56.15\00:54:59.51 to bring us forgiveness and cleansing, 00:54:59.54\00:55:02.48 so that we can be a part of all of that 00:55:02.51\00:55:06.17 which you have planned. 00:55:06.20\00:55:07.97 And, Lord, I just pray for each one of us, 00:55:08.00\00:55:10.77 that the struggles of life that we find ourselves in 00:55:10.80\00:55:14.86 I pray that by faith You will take us 00:55:14.89\00:55:17.56 step by step until that glorious day 00:55:17.59\00:55:21.15 when You come to take us home, 00:55:21.18\00:55:23.20 hasten that day is my prayer in Jesus name, amen. 00:55:23.24\00:55:27.34