What does the future hold?
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Where can we find certainty
in a world of uncertainty?
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The book of Revelation provides
hopeful answers for today,
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tomorrow, and forever.
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Join Mark Finley, author
and world renowned speaker on a
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journey into the future with
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Welcome to Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries.
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Thank you so much for joining
us on this journey through
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the book of Revelation.
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Our goal for this series
is really twofold: to discover
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Christ in all of His fullness,
and all of His majesty,
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and all of His greatness
in the book of Revelation;
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and second, to discover end time
truths that will prepare you
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for the overwhelming surprise
that's coming upon our world.
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Let's pray as we
launch into this series.
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Father in Heaven, we thank You
for Jesus, and we thank You for
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Revelation, the last book
in the Bible that reveals to us
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Christ in all of His beauty.
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Enable us as we study
this book to know You better,
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to understand Your truths,
and to be prepared for what's
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coming upon our world.
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In Christ's name, Amen.
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My topic tonight is
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You know, as you look
around the world scores of
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people are asking,
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What really is in
store for our children?
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Will this world be destroyed
in a spinning globe of ash in
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some nuclear holocaust?
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Will we spend our last few
moments clawing at one another
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for living space in a
planet that's run out of food?
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Will global
warming destroy the planet?
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This question,
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is a question that is haunting
thinkers around the world.
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And so millions of people, who
are concerned about the future,
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are developing a new
interest in Bible prophesy.
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Every place you look people
are not only asking the question
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about the future, but they're
really looking for answers.
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Is the future dark and
hazy, or is there some key
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to unlock the future?
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...or is it just make believe?
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Can anyone really know
the future for certain?
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One thing is for sure,
prophecy is a hot topic today.
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In fact, there are more
than 50 million hits recently on
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Internet sites that
talk about Bible prophecy.
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But more often than
not, they're being let down.
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More often than not the
answers that they're getting are
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leaving them empty,
shallow, and afraid.
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One thing that you notice about
the predictions of the psychics
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is they're
predicting doom, predicting
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disaster for the future.
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Let me give you a few examples
of prophecies recently by
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psychics, or really it would
be actually more accurate to say
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ancient prophecies by seers.
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One is called
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The Great Pyramic Prophecy: it
supposedly finds a line through
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the pyramids that traces down
the centuries, and this prophecy
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comes to this remarkable,
quite startling conclusion.
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Not very reassuring, is it?
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Some prophecy that supposedly
talks about Earth being knocked
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off its orbit,
and the total chaotic
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destruction of Planet Earth.
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Or take this Mayan prophecy.
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It is indeed an
ancient prophecy.
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And when you take a look at
the Mayan prophecy many feared
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the world would come to an end
along with the Mayan long count
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calendar on December 21, 2012.
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So according to this Mayan
prophecy, the world supposedly
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was to come to an
end December 21, 2012.
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But we're a few years
after that, aren't we?
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The world still exists,
unlike the failed prophecies and
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predictions of the psychics.
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The Bible has been accurate.
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Could you believe it? for the
last 3,500 years the psychics
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predictions often
have utterly failed.
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They're left people
in hopeless despair.
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But the prophesies of this
book, the prophecies of the
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living word of God, have
been accurate generation after
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generation,
century after century,
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millennium after millennium.
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And you can take the
prophecies of the Bible,
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and here you find hope,
here you find confidence,
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here you find
courage for the future.
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Somebody says,
What's the evidence of that?
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Well, in
Scripture there are at least
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That's a pretty good
track record, isn't it?
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90% of the prophecies that
have already been predicted
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in Scripture are fulfilled,
10% dealing with the future
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that will be fulfilled
in the very near future.
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And the interesting thing about
these prophecies of the Bible
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is these
prophecies speak of hope.
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These prophecies
speak of courage.
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These prophecies speak of a
brighter future, far brighter
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than you could ever imagine.
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Isaiah 46:9, 10
puts it this way.
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Now what is the
evidence that God is God?
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What is one of the greatest
evidences that God is divine?
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One of the greatest evidence
that God indeed is separate
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from any other
of the false God's.
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Isaiah said this to Israel,
and the prophecy certainly
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applies to you and me.
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Here's what he says.
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So one of the greatest evidences
that God is God is His ability
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to declare the end
from the beginning.
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Did you get that?
What's the evidence everybody?
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What's the
evidence that God is God?
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What can He do? Say it with me.
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He can declare the what?
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That's right! He can declare
the end from the beginning,
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and from what? ancient times
things that are not yet done.
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So the ability of God to
foretell the future is one of
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the greatest
evidences indeed that He is God.
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In 2 Peter 1:19 we
have this assurance.
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So prophecy is like a light.
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It shines on the future.
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It tells us what is to come.
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Now the reason prophecy is
so significant, and particularly
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the book of Revelation, is not
simply because a light shines
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on the future to satisfy
our intellectual curiosity,
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the reality is that prophecy
has a very practical purpose.
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It enables us to
know what's coming,
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so we can prepare
for what's coming.
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And it enables us to know what's
going to take place in the
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future so that we are able
to be ready for those events.
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So Jesus, specifically in the
book of Revelation, shares with
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us events that are yet to unfold
to prepare us for those events.
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So let's go to the
book of Revelation.
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It is the last book in the Bible
with the last message for human
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beings on Planet Earth just
before the coming of Christ.
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Now there are those people
that say, Well, Revelation is
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kind of a closed book.
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It's a book of mystic symbols.
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It's a book of prophetic images.
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How can you
really understand it?
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I remember not long ago I was
teaching a course on Revelation,
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and a man came to me and he
said, I always have hesitated
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in studying Revelation,
because it really frightens me.
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It really makes me afraid.
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But then he said, Pastor Mark,
after I've gone through your
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meetings on
Revelation, I have new hope,
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and I have new courage.
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See Revelation
does not mean a sealing.
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Revelation does not
mean something that's closed.
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So when you think
about the book of Revelation,
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it's not that God is trying
to hide the future from us,
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it's rather that
God is revealing the
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future in Revelation.
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Now somebody says, I
want to study about Jesus.
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I don't want to
study about Revelation.
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Let's go to Revelation 1:1.
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Who is this a revelation of?
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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It is Jesus' Revelation.
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Where did He get it?
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Now let's dissect
this verse a little bit.
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Let's look at it. Let's look
carefully at Revelation 1:1.
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Notice what the Scripture says.
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It says that the
book of Revelation is the
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Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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Down through the centuries
believers that had been
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persecuted, believers that
have faced the sword, fire,
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death, and even crucifixion
itself, believers who have been
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severely beaten and
oppressed have found courage
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and hope in this book.
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Why? Because it's the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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It is Jesus' Revelation
not only to an end time people,
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but Jesus' Revelation of His
triumph over the principalities,
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and powers of hell
down through the ages.
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Now if you want to understand
the basic theme of Revelation,
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here is a Revelation
course in four words.
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Are you ready? A
Revelation course in four words.
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There may be things you don't
understand about Revelation,
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but if you understand these four
words, you'll understand the
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book of Revelation.
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Here it is: Jesus
wins, Satan loses.
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What is it everybody?
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Jesus does what?
Jesus wins, and Satan loses.
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That's the great theme
of the book of Revelation.
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Revelation 22:20
puts it this way.
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Revelation 22,
rather Verse 10, says this:
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So is the book of
Revelation a sealed book? Is it?
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Do not do what?
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So the book of
Revelation is not a what?
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It's not a sealed
book, it is an open book.
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It is the Revelation of Jesus
that God gave unto Him to show
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His servants things which
must shortly come to pass.
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The Christ who gave the
Revelation gave it to us because
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He wants us to understand it.
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Let me ask you this question.
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If Jesus is the author of
Revelation, and if Revelation is
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the last book in the Bible,
would you not think that Christ
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wants us to
understand this vital book,
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this last book of the Bible?
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Certainly He would.
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That is the great
theme of Revelation.
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In every chapter of
Revelation Jesus is triumphant.
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Jesus does not lose one battle
in the book of Revelation.
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Things may seem
to be oppressive.
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They may seem to be difficult,
but Jesus Christ wins.
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Revelation 1:1.
Let's go back to it.
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It is the Revelation of who?
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It's the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
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And where did He
get that Revelation?
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God gave it to Him.
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Now notice the sequence here.
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God gives to Jesus
the message of Revelation.
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There's a message for end
time, a message for God's last
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day people, born
in the heart of God.
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He gives it to Jesus.
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Jesus then does
something with it.
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What does He do with it?
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He sends and
signifies it by His what? angel.
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So there's a message
born in the heart of God.
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That message from the very
heart of God is given to Jesus.
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Jesus gives it to the angel.
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And what does
the angel do with it?
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He gives it to John,
and John writes it down
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on the Island of Patmos.
00:14:15.38\00:14:16.89
John writes at the
end of the first century.
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And as John writes at
the end of the first century,
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he's there isolated
on the Island of Patmos.
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He is there on that
Patmos Island for his
00:14:29.46\00:14:33.20
faith in Jesus Christ.
00:14:33.23\00:14:35.07
The Emperor Domitian
wanted to silence John's voice.
00:14:35.10\00:14:41.14
And history tells us that he
was burned in a cauldron of oil
00:14:41.18\00:14:45.48
there on the continent in
Rome, but he was unaffected.
00:14:45.51\00:14:50.99
And even his
tormenters were amazed as God
00:14:51.02\00:14:54.96
miraculously protected him.
00:14:54.99\00:14:56.39
Domitian wants to
silence his voice.
00:14:56.42\00:14:58.59
It's in the end
of the first century.
00:14:58.63\00:15:00.73
John is exiled on
the Island of Patmos.
00:15:00.80\00:15:02.80
And there, separated from
family, separated from friends,
00:15:02.86\00:15:06.57
there in his time of greatest
tribulation that Island of
00:15:06.60\00:15:10.31
Patmos is illuminated
with the glory of God,
00:15:10.34\00:15:13.64
and Heaven's messenger
comes and speaks to John,
00:15:13.68\00:15:16.95
and John writes it down.
00:15:17.01\00:15:18.91
In the midst of your
tribulation, in the midst of
00:15:18.95\00:15:21.85
your difficulty, in the
midst of your heartache,
00:15:21.88\00:15:24.75
isolated at times from family
or friends, God is going to
00:15:24.79\00:15:28.76
come and speak to your heart.
00:15:28.82\00:15:30.16
God's going to
give light to your soul.
00:15:30.19\00:15:32.23
God is going to minister to you.
00:15:32.26\00:15:34.50
There are times we
go through difficulties;
00:15:34.53\00:15:36.67
difficulties in our marriage,
difficulties with our families,
00:15:36.70\00:15:40.57
difficulties with our children,
difficulties with our health.
00:15:40.60\00:15:44.47
And sometimes like John,
we feel so isolated and alone
00:15:44.51\00:15:48.54
when the darkness engulfs
us, but yet Christ comes.
00:15:48.58\00:15:52.61
Christ comes and
gives us reassurance.
00:15:52.65\00:15:55.55
Christ comes and gives us hope.
00:15:55.58\00:15:57.49
Christ comes and
gives us confidence.
00:15:57.52\00:15:59.79
That's the message of
the book of Revelation.
00:15:59.82\00:16:03.29
John, on the Island
of Patmos, has an amazing
00:16:03.32\00:16:06.80
vision of the future.
00:16:06.83\00:16:08.70
And that brings
him hope, and courage.
00:16:08.73\00:16:11.20
The Revelation of Jesus Christ,
the same Jesus that walked
00:16:11.23\00:16:16.10
and talked the dusty streets
of Galilee, the same Jesus that
00:16:16.14\00:16:19.84
broke the bread and fed
five thousand, the same Jesus
00:16:19.87\00:16:24.31
that touched the eyes of
the blind and they were opened,
00:16:24.35\00:16:26.78
and the ears of the
deaf and they were unstopped,
00:16:26.82\00:16:28.65
and the same Jesus that healed
the leper; this is the Christ
00:16:28.68\00:16:32.45
of the book of Revelation.
00:16:32.49\00:16:34.19
The same Jesus that
prayed for the world in the
00:16:34.22\00:16:37.23
Garden of Gethsemane, the same
Jesus that said, Father not My
00:16:37.26\00:16:40.86
will but Thy will be done.
00:16:40.90\00:16:42.43
It's this Christ; this Christ
that's the Christ of Revelation?
00:16:42.46\00:16:46.80
He is the Jesus. His
hands were stretched out
00:16:46.84\00:16:50.57
on the cross for you.
00:16:50.61\00:16:51.94
He is the Jesus who was nailed
to that wooden bar for you.
00:16:51.97\00:16:56.41
In the book of Revelation,
Jesus, the Lamb of God,
00:16:56.44\00:17:01.45
is mentioned over
twenty-five times.
00:17:01.48\00:17:05.79
He is the lamb slain from
the foundation of the world;
00:17:05.85\00:17:10.26
Revelation 13:8. He is the lamb
who's able to open the scroll;
00:17:10.33\00:17:16.90
the bloody lamb, and provide
salvation for all humanity.
00:17:16.97\00:17:21.47
Revelation 5. He is the Lamb
of God who triumphs over the
00:17:21.50\00:17:25.97
dragon, and the powers of hell
in Revelation the 17th chapter.
00:17:26.01\00:17:30.55
This is the Christ of
the book of Revelation.
00:17:30.58\00:17:34.25
This book of Revelation
focuses on one major event.
00:17:34.28\00:17:38.32
It focuses on the
return of our Lord.
00:17:38.35\00:17:41.72
Do you remember the disciples
as they watched the lingering
00:17:41.76\00:17:48.03
glory of Christ as
He ascended into heaven.
00:17:48.06\00:17:50.97
And the angel said, You've
seen Jesus go up into heaven,
00:17:51.00\00:17:56.07
but this same
Jesus will come again.
00:17:56.10\00:17:59.77
This same Jesus you've
seen ascend will descend.
00:17:59.81\00:18:03.11
That's the very theme of the
book of Revelation; this longing
00:18:03.14\00:18:05.35
this longing,
this aching longing
00:18:05.38\00:18:07.68
for the return of Christ.
00:18:07.72\00:18:09.05
Now the Bible tells
us in Revelation 1:3
00:18:09.08\00:18:11.99
So there's a triple blessing.
00:18:22.46\00:18:23.97
What's the blessing?
00:18:24.00\00:18:25.33
The blessing
for those that read.
00:18:25.37\00:18:26.87
So together. As we
journey through this series,
00:18:26.90\00:18:30.21
Revelation's Ancient
Discoveries, and as you,
00:18:30.24\00:18:33.48
with me, are
reading from the screen,
00:18:33.51\00:18:36.11
what are you going to receive?
00:18:36.14\00:18:37.71
What's the
Bible say? a blessing.
00:18:37.75\00:18:39.61
What? When will you be blessed?
00:18:39.65\00:18:41.42
When you read, and as
you hear, as I unfold the
00:18:41.45\00:18:45.39
prophecies of Revelation.
00:18:45.45\00:18:47.02
You will be
incredibly, amazingly blessed.
00:18:47.06\00:18:50.66
But the reason to read and to
hear is not just to store facts
00:18:50.69\00:18:55.40
in our mind, it's not just
to keep something deeply inside.
00:18:55.43\00:19:00.77
It's to keep those
things that are written therein,
00:19:00.80\00:19:03.51
so these prophecies
will call you to action.
00:19:03.54\00:19:07.61
These prophecies will stimulate
the desire to make changes
00:19:07.64\00:19:14.28
in your life, so be
prepared to make some changes.
00:19:14.32\00:19:18.15
As God speaks to you, be
prepared to be open to His
00:19:18.19\00:19:21.99
Spirit as it
moves in your heart.
00:19:22.02\00:19:23.76
Are you open to
His Spirit tonight?
00:19:23.79\00:19:25.66
Are you open to
His Spirit today?
00:19:25.69\00:19:27.46
Are you willing to say,
Jesus, as we study the book of
00:19:27.50\00:19:30.60
Revelation, whatever You want
me to do, I'm going to do that.
00:19:30.63\00:19:34.74
Jesus, as we study the book
of Revelation, I'm Your man,
00:19:34.77\00:19:38.31
I'm Your woman, I'm
Your boy, I'm Your girl.
00:19:38.34\00:19:40.84
And Lord, whatever
You ask me to do...
00:19:40.88\00:19:42.98
I don't want to only
read to fill my head with some
00:19:43.01\00:19:45.78
intellectual curiosity.
00:19:45.81\00:19:47.58
I don't want to
only hear the book of
00:19:47.62\00:19:49.78
Revelation, I want to keep it.
00:19:49.82\00:19:51.69
Lord, place within
my heart a desire to do
00:19:51.72\00:19:55.22
exactly what You say.
00:19:55.26\00:19:57.53
As I read truth from Your Word,
may that truth be so powerful,
00:19:57.56\00:20:02.36
may that truth be so
life-changing, may I be willing
00:20:02.40\00:20:05.97
to follow that truth.
00:20:06.03\00:20:07.97
In the book of Revelation Jesus
is Revelation's alpha and omega.
00:20:08.00\00:20:14.14
In Revelation Jesus
is Revelation's true
00:20:14.18\00:20:17.35
and faithful witness.
00:20:17.41\00:20:19.31
In the book of Revelation
Jesus is the Light of the World.
00:20:19.35\00:20:25.65
He is the One that illuminates
this world's darkness.
00:20:25.69\00:20:29.42
In the book of Revelation Jesus
is the all-powerful Creator.
00:20:29.46\00:20:34.66
The One who spoke and
world's came into existence.
00:20:34.70\00:20:37.73
The One who carpeted
the earth with living green.
00:20:37.77\00:20:40.74
The One who flung the sun,
moon, and stars into space.
00:20:40.77\00:20:43.84
The One that created the
animals, and the One that
00:20:43.87\00:20:46.88
fashioned Adam, and
created Eve from his rib.
00:20:46.91\00:20:50.25
In the book of Revelation Jesus
is the all-powerful Creator.
00:20:50.28\00:20:54.08
And if He can create a world,
He can recreate your life.
00:20:54.12\00:20:57.59
He can make you over
again into His very image.
00:20:57.62\00:21:01.42
Jesus is
Revelation's dying lamb.
00:21:01.46\00:21:04.93
And, as we mentioned, over
twenty-five times Christ is
00:21:04.96\00:21:07.93
mentioned as the lamb
in the book of Revelation.
00:21:07.96\00:21:10.77
In Revelation Jesus is
Revelation's righteous Judge.
00:21:10.80\00:21:16.40
You know, in this world there
are things, there are times
00:21:16.44\00:21:20.44
that are unjust and unfair.
00:21:20.48\00:21:22.44
And one of the great questions
that many young people are
00:21:22.48\00:21:25.88
asking, many of the
millennial generation, is this:
00:21:25.91\00:21:29.68
If God is so good,
why is the world so bad?
00:21:29.75\00:21:32.12
In the book of Revelation Jesus
is revealed as the righteous
00:21:32.15\00:21:36.49
judge that will
set all things right.
00:21:36.52\00:21:39.73
The One who is incredibly fair.
00:21:39.79\00:21:43.20
Life may be unfair, bad things
may happen to good people,
00:21:43.23\00:21:47.97
but one day Jesus is
going to sit on His throne.
00:21:48.00\00:21:50.87
And one day He will set
everything in your life that
00:21:50.91\00:21:56.04
has gone wrong,
Christ will set it right.
00:21:56.08\00:21:58.41
But in Revelation
Jesus is the coming King.
00:21:58.45\00:22:02.25
He is the ultimate solution
to the problems of this world.
00:22:02.28\00:22:07.86
He is the One that can usher
in peace and joy and happiness,
00:22:07.89\00:22:13.43
and meaning and purpose.
00:22:13.46\00:22:15.10
It's a land where there's
no cancer or heart disease,
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.63
sickness, suffering,
heartache, death or war.
00:22:17.67\00:22:20.00
This is the Christ of
the book of Revelation.
00:22:20.04\00:22:24.54
Now in Revelation, Chapter 1,
the chapter that we're studying
00:22:24.57\00:22:28.08
especially in our
introductory program here,
00:22:28.11\00:22:31.58
Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries.
00:22:31.61\00:22:33.62
The Scripture says
in Revelation 1:4 this:
00:22:33.65\00:22:37.09
So the book of Revelation is
a book about, what everybody?
00:22:39.12\00:22:41.99
grace. What else? peace.
00:22:42.02\00:22:44.69
So Jesus, three things
about Him: Jesus is, Jesus was,
00:22:50.47\00:22:58.14
and Jesus is to come.
00:22:58.17\00:23:01.68
Jesus was; He is the
all powerful Creator.
00:23:01.71\00:23:05.68
The Bible says that all
things were created by Him.
00:23:05.71\00:23:09.92
So Jesus pre-existed
from eternity, with never a
00:23:09.95\00:23:15.56
beginning, and will
never have an ending.
00:23:15.59\00:23:17.59
He is the eternal Christ.
00:23:17.63\00:23:19.29
He was there in Eden as
the active agent of creation
00:23:19.36\00:23:24.83
with the Father; Jesus was.
00:23:24.87\00:23:27.34
Jesus existed down
through the millenniums.
00:23:27.37\00:23:31.07
After Adam and Eve
sinned, Jesus was born as a babe
00:23:31.11\00:23:34.41
in Bethlehem's manger.
00:23:34.44\00:23:35.94
Jesus was. He lived
that perfect life that you
00:23:35.98\00:23:39.71
and I should have lived.
00:23:39.75\00:23:41.28
And Jesus died the death
that we should have died.
00:23:41.32\00:23:45.35
He, Jesus was, and then
the Bible says, Jesus Is.
00:23:45.39\00:23:50.39
What does it mean that Jesus Is?
00:23:50.43\00:23:52.39
Jesus Is. You know,
I've traveled the world.
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.37
And I've stood there at the
tomb of Stalin in Red Square.
00:24:02.40\00:24:09.71
And here he lies in his, rather,
Lenin's tomb in Red Square.
00:24:09.74\00:24:14.42
And Lenin lies in his tomb.
00:24:14.48\00:24:17.65
And you see his
embalmed body by the Russians.
00:24:17.69\00:24:21.92
But yet Lenin, that leader
of the former Soviet Union,
00:24:21.99\00:24:25.39
who had power
over millions, is dead.
00:24:25.46\00:24:27.70
Or, I've been in
Beijing, and saw the mausoleum
00:24:27.73\00:24:31.37
of Chairman Mao.
00:24:31.40\00:24:32.73
He is dead. You think of
the great leaders of this world.
00:24:32.77\00:24:35.30
They have lived, they've
been on the scene, and they die.
00:24:35.34\00:24:38.61
But Jesus Is. The Bible
says that Christ is alive.
00:24:38.64\00:24:42.64
The tomb of Christ is empty.
00:24:42.71\00:24:45.01
He's resurrected from the dead.
00:24:45.05\00:24:47.25
When the Father
said, Son, come forth.
00:24:47.28\00:24:51.02
Thy Father calleth Thee.
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.19
Jesus came out of the
tomb with new glorious life.
00:24:53.25\00:24:57.43
Jesus, according to
the book of Revelation, is.
00:24:57.46\00:25:00.16
And because He is, the
Bible says that He stands in
00:25:00.20\00:25:04.10
Heaven for you and me.
00:25:04.13\00:25:05.60
Not only is Christ
there, but Jesus is to come.
00:25:05.63\00:25:10.67
He was, He is,
and He is to come.
00:25:10.71\00:25:16.04
He's going to stream
down the corridor of the sky.
00:25:17.51\00:25:19.45
As lightening flashes from
the East even unto the West,
00:25:19.48\00:25:22.18
so shall the coming
of the Son of man be.
00:25:22.22\00:25:24.89
One day the earth will shake.
00:25:24.92\00:25:26.55
One day the
buildings will tumble.
00:25:26.59\00:25:30.29
One day every mountain
and island will be knocked
00:25:30.33\00:25:33.23
out of their places.
00:25:33.29\00:25:34.63
One day Christ will come.
00:25:34.66\00:25:37.13
And that is the great
theme of every prophecy.
00:25:37.17\00:25:39.83
That is the great
theme of every chapter
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.67
of the book of Revelation.
00:25:43.71\00:25:45.71
Revelation 1:7. Can you
read it with me from the screen?
00:25:45.77\00:25:48.78
Let's read it together.
00:25:48.81\00:25:50.15
The eyes of the young,
and the eyes of the old,
00:25:56.05\00:26:00.19
the eyes of the educated,
and the eyes of the uneducated,
00:26:00.22\00:26:04.39
the eyes of South Americans,
and the eyes of Africans,
00:26:04.43\00:26:09.53
and the eyes of Asians, and
the eyes of North Americans,
00:26:09.56\00:26:14.00
and the eyes of men
and women around the world
00:26:14.04\00:26:17.81
will see Him when He comes.
00:26:17.84\00:26:19.81
Now notice the Bible does
not only say the righteous eyes
00:26:19.84\00:26:22.58
will see Him when He comes.
00:26:22.61\00:26:24.08
Notice what Scripture says.
00:26:24.11\00:26:25.51
Now every eye is every eye,
because if every eye weren't
00:26:31.62\00:26:34.36
every eye it would be some eyes.
00:26:34.39\00:26:35.72
And some eyes aren't
every eye, and every eye is
00:26:35.76\00:26:37.76
not some eyes, right?
00:26:37.79\00:26:39.13
Every eye will see
Jesus when He comes.
00:26:39.16\00:26:42.46
He came as a babe in
Bethlehem's manger once,
00:26:42.53\00:26:46.10
and only a few recognized Him.
00:26:46.13\00:26:48.24
When He comes again
every eye is going to see Him.
00:26:48.30\00:26:52.11
Because in spite of earthquakes,
in spite of tsunami disasters,
00:26:55.81\00:27:00.82
in spite of hurricanes, in
spite of famines, and fires,
00:27:00.85\00:27:05.02
and floods, in spite of
world-wide terrorism and
00:27:05.05\00:27:08.62
global warming, in spite of all
of that Jesus Christ promises
00:27:08.66\00:27:15.13
that He will come again.
00:27:15.16\00:27:17.93
Every chapter in the book
of Revelation describes this
00:27:18.00\00:27:23.91
glorious, amazing event
of the coming of Christ.
00:27:23.94\00:27:27.98
In Revelation, Chapter 5,
where you have the opening of
00:27:28.01\00:27:33.21
the seals, we notice again
in Revelation, Chapter 5, that
00:27:33.25\00:27:40.16
it is really the introduction
of the opening to the seals.
00:27:40.22\00:27:43.22
The opening of the
seals comes a chapter later.
00:27:43.26\00:27:47.36
But in Revelation 5:13 you
have this introduction to the
00:27:47.40\00:27:52.90
opening of the seals.
00:27:52.93\00:27:54.34
And notice how it ends.
00:27:54.37\00:27:55.70
The Lamb of God is
opening the seals and He says,
00:27:55.74\00:27:59.87
Now notice there is praise to
the One that sits on the throne.
00:28:08.82\00:28:13.52
This does not seem like
victory to the Beast, does it?
00:28:13.56\00:28:17.69
This does not seem like
victory for the evil one.
00:28:17.73\00:28:20.76
Here is the
triumph of Jesus Christ.
00:28:20.80\00:28:24.73
Blessing, and honor, and glory,
and power be to Him who sits
00:28:24.77\00:28:28.70
upon the throne
for ever and ever.
00:28:28.74\00:28:30.41
We come to Revelation,
and we're looking there
00:28:30.44\00:28:33.74
at Chapters 6 and 7.
00:28:33.78\00:28:35.91
And as these seals are opened,
after that introduction in
00:28:35.94\00:28:41.35
Revelation Chapter 5,
you have four horsemen that
00:28:41.38\00:28:45.85
gallop across the earth.
00:28:45.89\00:28:47.76
There's the rider on the white
horse, the rider on the red
00:28:47.79\00:28:52.39
horse, the rider
on the black horse,
00:28:52.43\00:28:54.93
and the rider on the pale horse.
00:28:54.96\00:28:56.70
Now we're going to study these
things in quite a bit of detail
00:28:56.73\00:29:01.27
as we come to the
chapters in Revelation
00:29:01.30\00:29:09.11
regarding these horses.
00:29:09.14\00:29:12.01
So we're going to go over this
in very, very specific detail.
00:29:12.05\00:29:16.48
But today here's
what I want you to see.
00:29:16.52\00:29:19.42
I don't want to look at so
much the details, but I want you
00:29:19.45\00:29:22.22
to see the end
game, what's the end game.
00:29:22.26\00:29:24.63
In these chapters the
white horse symbolizes the
00:29:24.66\00:29:29.53
purity of Christianity.
00:29:29.56\00:29:30.97
Then you go to the red
horse; a blood stained faith.
00:29:31.00\00:29:33.94
The black horse a
compromised faith.
00:29:33.97\00:29:36.34
The pale horse... We're
going to study in detail later.
00:29:36.37\00:29:38.24
But I want you to see
how this chapter ends.
00:29:38.27\00:29:41.21
Notice Revelation 7:14, 15.
00:29:41.24\00:29:44.38
These are the ones... So at
the end of the seals, how does
00:29:44.41\00:29:48.92
this whole story end?
00:29:48.95\00:29:50.29
So whatever happens
down through history in the
00:30:00.86\00:30:03.70
opening of these seals,
no matter what happens in
00:30:03.73\00:30:06.60
persecution, no
matter what happens in trial,
00:30:06.63\00:30:09.44
no matter what happens
in difficulty, or heartache,
00:30:09.47\00:30:12.24
or sorrow something goes on.
00:30:12.27\00:30:14.74
Jesus Christ is triumphant.
00:30:14.78\00:30:17.08
Jesus Christ is glorious.
00:30:17.11\00:30:19.35
And at the end His people, who
come out of great tribulation,
00:30:19.38\00:30:24.19
they serve Him day
and night in His temple.
00:30:24.22\00:30:27.72
Here is the
incredible good news:
00:30:27.76\00:30:30.76
Jesus wins, and Satan loses.
00:30:30.79\00:30:34.50
Here is the
incredible good news:
00:30:34.56\00:30:37.07
Christ, indeed is triumphant!
00:30:37.10\00:30:40.40
Revelation, Chapter
8, Revelation, Chapter 9,
00:30:40.44\00:30:44.47
deals with the trumpets.
00:30:44.51\00:30:46.27
Somebody says,
I've read those before.
00:30:46.31\00:30:48.64
I can't make sense
out of those trumpets.
00:30:48.68\00:30:51.45
It seems like there
is so much bloodshed,
00:30:51.51\00:30:54.25
and the earth is destroyed.
00:30:54.28\00:30:55.78
And I just don't, can't make
any sense out of that at all.
00:30:55.82\00:31:00.26
Don't worry right now
about the individual details.
00:31:01.72\00:31:04.43
Look at the end game.
00:31:04.46\00:31:06.43
How does this whole
thing about the trumpets end?
00:31:06.46\00:31:09.46
Again, the theme is,
Jesus wins, Satan loses.
00:31:09.50\00:31:13.77
Look, Revelation
11:15, at the end of the
00:31:13.80\00:31:18.01
trumpets it says this:
00:31:18.07\00:31:19.41
You see again, the book of
Revelation is not some book
00:31:29.22\00:31:33.59
of mystic symbols, not some
book of scary images, not some
00:31:33.62\00:31:38.36
book of beasts that frighten us.
00:31:38.39\00:31:42.43
Sure, those things are in
Revelation, but the key theme
00:31:42.46\00:31:47.14
of Revelation is the
triumph of the kingdom of God.
00:31:47.17\00:31:51.57
A number of years ago,
when our son was just very, very
00:31:51.61\00:31:55.74
small, my wife took our
son, Mark, to get a haircut.
00:31:55.78\00:31:59.71
While they were in the
barbershop she noticed that
00:31:59.75\00:32:03.65
there was a man
sitting in the barber chair
00:32:03.69\00:32:06.76
reading a newspaper.
00:32:06.79\00:32:09.02
As he was reading that newspaper
he said, You know, the things
00:32:09.06\00:32:13.19
in the newspaper are scary.
00:32:13.23\00:32:14.76
You read about crime, you
read about riots, you read about
00:32:14.80\00:32:18.40
terrorism, you read
about global disasters.
00:32:18.43\00:32:21.44
You know, I almost can't
even read the newspaper anymore.
00:32:21.47\00:32:23.67
It's just too scary.
00:32:23.71\00:32:25.04
The barber, young man,
said, Hey Sir, you think the
00:32:25.07\00:32:30.21
newspaper's scary,
you should try to read
00:32:30.25\00:32:33.21
the book of Revelation.
00:32:33.25\00:32:35.92
Because when you read the book
of Revelation that will scare
00:32:35.95\00:32:40.46
you out of your wits.
00:32:40.52\00:32:41.86
I tried to read it the other
night, and I saw those great
00:32:41.89\00:32:43.83
beasts, and all it
did was frighten me.
00:32:43.86\00:32:46.09
And it scared me half to death!
00:32:46.13\00:32:48.46
My wife overheard
that conversation.
00:32:48.50\00:32:50.13
She came back home
and she said to me,
00:32:50.17\00:32:52.87
Mark, go get a haircut.
00:32:52.93\00:32:54.57
I said, But
honey, what do you mean?
00:32:54.60\00:32:56.24
She said, The
barber, he is interested in
00:32:56.27\00:33:00.18
the book of Revelation.
00:33:00.21\00:33:01.54
And if you go to get a
haircut you can talk to
00:33:01.58\00:33:04.15
him about Revelation.
00:33:04.21\00:33:05.55
I said, Darling, do I
really need a haircut?
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.08
She said, I don't know if
you need a haircut or not,
00:33:08.15\00:33:09.72
but you'd better go
down and talk to that
00:33:09.75\00:33:11.79
barber about Revelation.
00:33:11.82\00:33:13.15
So I went down. And she said,
Now there are three barbers.
00:33:13.19\00:33:15.99
There's a woman on the right.
00:33:16.02\00:33:17.36
You don't want her.
00:33:17.39\00:33:18.73
There's a guy,
old guy in the center.
00:33:18.76\00:33:20.53
You don't want him.
00:33:20.56\00:33:21.90
But there's that
young guy with long hair.
00:33:21.93\00:33:23.26
He's the guy that
was reading Revelation,
00:33:23.30\00:33:25.33
and he's quite scared about it.
00:33:25.37\00:33:26.94
Why don't you go and
talk to him about Revelation?
00:33:26.97\00:33:30.64
So I went down; faithful
husband, dutiful husband.
00:33:30.71\00:33:34.31
Went down and sat there, and
I began praying, Lord, help me.
00:33:34.34\00:33:38.11
Help me to get the right barber.
00:33:38.18\00:33:39.51
The girl came to me
and said, Sir, you're next.
00:33:39.55\00:33:41.32
I said, No, no, I'd
like that barber over there.
00:33:41.35\00:33:43.05
Do you know him? No, but
I've got a good recommendation.
00:33:43.08\00:33:45.62
The old guy comes;
Do you want a haircut?
00:33:45.65\00:33:48.36
No, I want that guy over there.
00:33:48.39\00:33:50.36
So pretty soon I go;
and I had been praying.
00:33:50.43\00:33:52.29
So I picked up the newspaper.
00:33:52.33\00:33:53.66
And I started
reading the newspaper.
00:33:53.70\00:33:55.03
I read the newspaper.
00:33:55.06\00:33:56.40
Boy, you know sir, everything
in the newspaper is scary.
00:33:56.43\00:33:59.77
I mean there's terrorism,
there's global warfare.
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.74
And immediately the guy
got a big smile and he said,
00:34:02.77\00:34:05.67
You should see Revelation!
00:34:05.71\00:34:07.04
I said, But you know what your
problem is, you never read the
00:34:07.08\00:34:09.71
end of the book of Revelation.
00:34:09.74\00:34:11.08
And that's why it's scary to
you, because you've never read
00:34:11.11\00:34:14.85
the end of the
book of Revelation.
00:34:14.88\00:34:16.22
But you read the end of
it, and the end of that book of
00:34:16.25\00:34:19.39
Revelation is an amazing book.
00:34:19.42\00:34:22.26
Revelation 11:15.
Let's look at it again.
00:34:22.29\00:34:24.99
The barber said to me, Do you
know anything about Revelation?
00:34:32.80\00:34:35.80
And I said, Oh,
I've read it a few times.
00:34:35.84\00:34:37.21
I read the end of it.
00:34:37.24\00:34:38.57
And, you know, at the end
of it there's no more sickness,
00:34:38.61\00:34:39.97
suffering, death,
heartache, or war.
00:34:40.01\00:34:41.44
He said, Boy, that doesn't
sound like the scary stuff.
00:34:41.48\00:34:44.98
He said, Would you share some
things with me in Revelation?
00:34:45.01\00:34:47.88
And I said, I'll make
an agreement with you.
00:34:47.92\00:34:49.38
You cut my hair
free, and I will teach you
00:34:49.42\00:34:52.65
the Revelation free.
00:34:52.69\00:34:54.02
You say,
Pastor, did you do that?
00:34:54.06\00:34:55.39
Well, you know, my pa... No,
I'm teaching you a little bit.
00:34:55.42\00:34:57.56
But we had a good
time with the barber.
00:34:57.59\00:34:59.23
He began coming to my
home, and we began studying
00:34:59.26\00:35:02.43
the Bible together.
00:35:02.46\00:35:03.80
We looked at Revelation.
00:35:03.83\00:35:05.17
A new peace
flooded into his life.
00:35:05.20\00:35:07.07
A new joy flooded into his soul.
00:35:07.10\00:35:09.10
It's amazing what
Christ did in that man's life.
00:35:09.14\00:35:12.94
As I saw Jesus touch him...
I had to travel a great deal,
00:35:12.97\00:35:16.11
so I'd loan him tapes,
and DVD's, and tapes in those
00:35:16.14\00:35:20.48
days, but DVD's today.
00:35:20.52\00:35:21.88
We'd loan him DVD's, and
he would look at the material
00:35:21.92\00:35:26.15
and he would be just
so absolutely thrilled.
00:35:26.19\00:35:28.96
Eventually this
barber came to Jesus Christ.
00:35:28.99\00:35:32.63
Eventually we saw him
change his entire life.
00:35:32.66\00:35:36.23
And I had the privilege of
seeing him go into the water
00:35:36.26\00:35:39.40
being baptized into the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:35:39.43\00:35:42.50
You see, Revelation need
not be a scary book to you.
00:35:42.54\00:35:45.94
Revelation is a book
that's filled with hope.
00:35:45.97\00:35:48.64
Take Revelation,
Chapter 13 and 14.
00:35:48.71\00:35:50.95
You say, Oh Pastor,
don't go there! Don't go there!
00:35:50.98\00:35:53.78
You remember
Revelation 13 and 14?
00:35:53.82\00:35:55.92
It says, And I... Revelation
13 starts this way: And I saw
00:35:55.95\00:35:59.95
another beast rise up out
of the sea, having seven heads
00:35:59.99\00:36:02.72
and ten horns, and
upon his heads ten crowns,
00:36:02.76\00:36:05.56
and upon the crowns
the name of blasphemy.
00:36:05.59\00:36:07.13
And the beast which I
saw was like unto a leopard,
00:36:07.16\00:36:08.93
his feet were like the feet of
a bear, and his mouth was like
00:36:08.96\00:36:11.13
the mouth of a lion: and
the dragon gave him his power,
00:36:11.17\00:36:15.17
his seat, and great authority.
00:36:15.20\00:36:17.27
And all the world
wondered after the beast.
00:36:17.31\00:36:20.34
Pastor, the beast power of
Revelation 13, isn't there some
00:36:20.38\00:36:25.45
place in the Bible that
talks about an economic boycott,
00:36:25.48\00:36:28.25
where nobody can buy or sell?
00:36:28.28\00:36:29.88
Wouldn't you be frightened
to live through that time?
00:36:29.92\00:36:32.92
Isn't there some place in
the Bible that talks about
00:36:32.95\00:36:35.92
Revelation 13, that
there's a death decree that's
00:36:35.96\00:36:39.83
going to be passed?
00:36:39.86\00:36:41.20
Pastor, doesn't
that frighten you?
00:36:41.23\00:36:42.80
It depends where you're looking.
00:36:42.86\00:36:45.00
You see, if you're looking at
all the problems of this world,
00:36:45.03\00:36:48.10
if you're looking at all
the difficulties of this world,
00:36:48.14\00:36:51.34
if you're looking at all
the heartaches of this world,
00:36:51.37\00:36:54.61
if you're looking at your
weakness rather than Christ's
00:36:54.64\00:36:57.98
strength, if you're looking
at your frailty rather than
00:36:58.01\00:37:01.32
Christ's enduring might,
if you are looking at yourself
00:37:01.35\00:37:05.69
there is no way that
you're going to get through that
00:37:05.72\00:37:08.09
great time of trouble.
00:37:08.12\00:37:09.46
But if you are looking at
Jesus Christ; if your heart is
00:37:09.49\00:37:13.60
anchored in Christ...
00:37:13.63\00:37:15.26
You know, I love the way that
Scripture puts it in Psalm 46.
00:37:15.30\00:37:22.27
God is our refuge and strength,
a very help in what? trouble.
00:37:22.30\00:37:27.48
Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
00:37:27.51\00:37:31.18
and the mountains carried
into the midst of the sea;
00:37:31.21\00:37:33.75
Though the waters shake
with the swelling thereof.
00:37:33.78\00:37:37.15
The streams thereof
make glad the city of God.
00:37:37.19\00:37:40.49
God is in the midst of
her; and she shall not be moved:
00:37:40.56\00:37:44.16
God shall help her,
and that right early.
00:37:44.19\00:37:47.86
You see, the
earth is going to shake.
00:37:47.90\00:37:50.33
There will be traumatic times
ahead, but our God is greater
00:37:50.37\00:37:54.70
than any difficulty.
00:37:54.74\00:37:56.07
Our God is greater
than any challenge.
00:37:56.10\00:37:58.11
Psalm 91, A thousand
shall fall at thy side,
00:37:58.14\00:38:03.11
and ten thousand at thy
right hand; but it shall
00:38:03.14\00:38:06.45
not come nigh thee.
00:38:06.51\00:38:07.85
Because He shall give
His angels charge over thee,
00:38:07.88\00:38:10.89
that will keep
thee in all thy ways.
00:38:10.92\00:38:13.15
Get your eyes off the trauma,
get your eyes off the beast,
00:38:13.19\00:38:16.73
and put it on Jesus Christ.
00:38:16.76\00:38:18.29
Get your eyes off the time
of trouble and focus them beyond
00:38:18.33\00:38:22.20
on Heaven, and
the glory of Heaven,
00:38:22.23\00:38:24.23
and the glory of eternity.
00:38:24.27\00:38:25.80
As you do that new hope will
fill your heart, new courage
00:38:25.83\00:38:31.27
will fill your life, new
joy will fill your being.
00:38:31.31\00:38:34.61
It depends on
where you're looking.
00:38:34.64\00:38:37.18
Looking at yourself there's
only weakness and frailty.
00:38:37.21\00:38:42.48
Looking at others only
will make you critical.
00:38:42.52\00:38:48.46
Looking at the trauma
ahead, and the difficulty,
00:38:48.49\00:38:52.83
and the challenge...
00:38:52.86\00:38:54.20
You know, I've talked to
some people, they have all these
00:38:54.23\00:38:56.26
sophisticated time charts,
they talk all about these events
00:38:56.30\00:38:59.03
that are coming, and
some of that is okay.
00:38:59.07\00:39:01.84
We need to be children of light
and not children of darkness.
00:39:01.87\00:39:05.21
But if that is your
focus instead of Jesus Christ,
00:39:05.24\00:39:12.21
you will feel such
weakness, and fear.
00:39:12.28\00:39:15.82
I've had young people that say,
I can't, I can't think about the
00:39:15.85\00:39:19.12
future because I'm so afraid.
00:39:19.15\00:39:20.82
Well, don't focus on it.
00:39:20.86\00:39:23.56
It's important to
know what's coming.
00:39:23.59\00:39:26.36
Jesus said,
You're children of light,
00:39:26.39\00:39:27.73
and not children of darkness.
00:39:27.76\00:39:29.10
But that is not our focus.
00:39:29.13\00:39:30.53
Our focus is on the strength
that there is in Jesus Christ.
00:39:30.57\00:39:34.97
Revelation, Chapter 14,
summarizes that message of the
00:39:35.00\00:39:40.68
beast power in Revelation 13.
00:39:40.71\00:39:42.74
And what happens at the
end of Revelation 14:14, 15?
00:39:42.78\00:39:46.41
And here it is:
00:39:46.45\00:39:47.78
Now notice, I looked
and behold a white cloud.
00:39:54.32\00:39:57.89
What does John say?
00:39:57.93\00:39:59.63
He says, I'm looking.
00:39:59.66\00:40:01.26
Not looking at the beast,
not looking at an economic
00:40:01.33\00:40:06.40
boycott when no man can
buy or sell, not looking
00:40:06.43\00:40:09.97
at the death decree.
00:40:10.01\00:40:13.07
Then I looked, then I looked,
then I looked, and behold what?
00:40:13.11\00:40:18.01
a white cloud, and on the cloud
One sat like the Son of man.
00:40:18.05\00:40:22.95
The living Christ is coming!
00:40:22.98\00:40:25.22
Crown indicates
kingly authority.
00:40:29.26\00:40:32.09
Crown indicates the
triumph of Jesus Christ.
00:40:32.13\00:40:36.36
Now what's a cycle all
about? cycle used for harvest?
00:40:41.30\00:40:44.67
So this is harvest
time, this is harvest time.
00:40:44.71\00:40:48.04
Jesus is coming. And
in Revelation, Chapter 14,
00:40:48.08\00:40:51.38
you have two harvests.
00:40:51.41\00:40:52.75
In fact book, the
whole book of Revelation is
00:40:52.78\00:40:54.55
a book of contrasts: You
have the Lamb and the dragon.
00:40:54.58\00:40:57.32
You have two
leaders: Lamb, dragon.
00:40:57.35\00:40:59.79
You have two signs: Seal
of God, Mark of the Beast.
00:40:59.82\00:41:02.62
You have in Revelation two
harvests: golden grain for the
00:41:02.66\00:41:07.46
garner of God, and glory grapes
00:41:07.50\00:41:09.90
to be tread out
in His winepress.
00:41:09.93\00:41:12.27
You have two cities in
the book of Revelation:
00:41:12.33\00:41:14.24
Jerusalem and Babylon.
00:41:14.27\00:41:16.04
You have in the book of
Revelation these contrasts
00:41:16.07\00:41:20.24
that go through the entire book.
00:41:20.28\00:41:21.91
So here you have this
final harvest where Christ comes
00:41:21.94\00:41:26.21
to gather the golden
grain into the garner of God.
00:41:26.25\00:41:30.49
You have Christ
comes to redeem His people.
00:41:30.52\00:41:33.66
Before the last days of earth's
history, the gospel will go
00:41:45.90\00:41:48.97
to the ends of the earth,
and Jesus Christ will harvest
00:41:49.00\00:41:52.97
the ends of the earth.
00:41:53.01\00:41:54.34
See every chapter in Revelation,
when you go to Chapter 1,
00:41:54.38\00:41:57.05
He's coming with clouds.
00:41:57.08\00:41:58.41
Every eye is going to see Him.
00:41:58.45\00:41:59.78
You go to the end of the
seven churches, in 2 and 3,
00:41:59.81\00:42:03.05
and there's
judgment, and Christ comes.
00:42:03.08\00:42:06.32
You go to Chapters
4 and 5, and Christ is
00:42:06.35\00:42:09.56
the triumphant Lamb.
00:42:09.59\00:42:10.93
You go in Chapter 6, and
7, and 8, and at the end of
00:42:10.96\00:42:14.46
the Seals Jesus comes.
00:42:14.53\00:42:16.63
You go to the
trumpets, and they're in 8 and
00:42:16.67\00:42:19.33
9, and Christ comes.
00:42:19.40\00:42:21.20
You go to 10, 11, and 12
and the kingdoms of this world
00:42:21.24\00:42:25.07
become the kingdoms of our God.
00:42:25.11\00:42:26.78
You go to
Revelation 13, and 14 and
00:42:26.81\00:42:29.58
there's the great harvest.
00:42:29.61\00:42:30.95
Christ indeed comes again.
00:42:30.98\00:42:33.35
Jesus Christ has the last word.
00:42:36.75\00:42:40.12
That's what Ancient
Discoveries is all about.
00:42:40.16\00:42:43.53
That's what Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries is about:
00:42:43.56\00:42:46.59
the Christ who has
the last final word.
00:42:46.63\00:42:49.03
seven last plagues?
00:42:55.44\00:42:59.04
It is done! It is finished!
00:43:03.85\00:43:07.45
Suffering and sorrow no more,
chaos and calamity no more,
00:43:07.48\00:43:13.79
disease and disaster no
more, want and worry no more,
00:43:13.82\00:43:19.59
poverty and pollution no more.
00:43:19.63\00:43:22.86
It is done! It is finished!
00:43:22.90\00:43:25.63
That's the great
theme of Revelation.
00:43:25.67\00:43:27.87
We're going to study
Armageddon in this series.
00:43:27.90\00:43:30.91
We're going to study
the seven last plagues.
00:43:30.94\00:43:32.81
But here is the key
thing; the key thing is God
00:43:32.84\00:43:36.44
is going to put an end.
00:43:36.51\00:43:37.85
He's going to put an
end to sin, and heartache,
00:43:37.88\00:43:40.12
and suffering forever and ever.
00:43:40.15\00:43:42.62
Jesus is the King of Kings.
00:43:42.65\00:43:45.65
Jesus is the Lord of Lords.
00:43:45.69\00:43:48.66
Jesus will come again.
00:43:48.69\00:43:50.59
Now look friend,
somebody says in the last
00:43:50.63\00:43:54.16
days we'll stand alone.
00:43:54.20\00:43:55.86
In the last days
we may be rejected.
00:43:55.90\00:43:58.40
In the last days
we may be isolated.
00:43:58.43\00:44:00.84
Well, Christ knows what
it's like to be rejected,
00:44:00.87\00:44:03.41
because He was rejected, too.
00:44:03.44\00:44:05.57
In everything that we will
go through Christ will be there.
00:44:05.61\00:44:10.78
In everything that
we will experience,
00:44:10.81\00:44:13.95
Christ will
experience it with us.
00:44:13.98\00:44:17.05
Many of you are aware that for
a number of years I worked in
00:44:17.09\00:44:21.86
the former Soviet Union.
00:44:21.89\00:44:23.86
And there I met many,
many believers; believers who
00:44:23.89\00:44:28.63
suffered fiercely for their
faith; believers that really
00:44:28.66\00:44:34.90
were crushed by the
evil power of Communism.
00:44:34.97\00:44:40.74
They were put in isolated
prisons, sent to Siberia.
00:44:40.78\00:44:46.15
They suffered in the cold.
00:44:46.21\00:44:48.48
They were given
crusts of bread to eat.
00:44:48.55\00:44:50.65
And although they
were physically crushed,
00:44:50.69\00:44:54.26
and at times mentally
faced agony and torment,
00:44:54.29\00:44:58.99
their spirits soared.
00:44:59.03\00:45:01.10
Why? Because the living Christ,
in the most oppressive times
00:45:01.13\00:45:06.23
of their life was with them.
00:45:06.27\00:45:07.87
And we can have the
confidence that Christ will be
00:45:07.90\00:45:11.14
with us in the drama.
00:45:11.17\00:45:12.61
One day the Earth will shake.
00:45:12.64\00:45:14.94
One day the
heavens will be illuminated
00:45:14.98\00:45:17.68
with the glory of God.
00:45:17.71\00:45:19.11
One day the righteous
dead will be resurrected.
00:45:19.18\00:45:22.95
I love what it says in
1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
00:45:22.98\00:45:26.72
For the Lord
Himself shall descend from
00:45:26.76\00:45:28.62
heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel,
00:45:28.66\00:45:31.89
with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first:
00:45:31.93\00:45:36.30
Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up
00:45:36.33\00:45:39.03
together with them to
meet the Lord in the air.
00:45:39.07\00:45:41.94
This is the great theme
of the book of Revelation.
00:45:41.97\00:45:46.81
This is the great theme
of the book of Revelation.
00:46:05.63\00:46:09.83
What are you
going through right now?
00:46:09.86\00:46:13.13
Are there tears
that run down your face?
00:46:13.17\00:46:16.34
Is your heart at times
pierced with unusual sorrow?
00:46:16.37\00:46:22.54
Have you gone
through trauma in your life?
00:46:22.58\00:46:25.81
Maybe the trauma of a divorce?
00:46:25.85\00:46:28.82
Have you known
heartache and disappointment?
00:46:28.85\00:46:33.56
Here is
Revelation's message for you.
00:46:33.62\00:46:37.39
Jesus Christ is coming.
00:46:37.43\00:46:39.66
And although in this life
we may live through temporary
00:46:39.69\00:46:44.97
heartache, we may live through
temporary sorrow, we may live
00:46:45.00\00:46:50.41
through temporary
suffering and pain,
00:46:50.44\00:46:52.71
one day it's going to be over.
00:46:52.77\00:46:54.84
This life is like
a brief interlude,
00:46:54.88\00:46:58.58
but eternity is coming.
00:46:58.61\00:47:01.48
And that's the
incredible good news.
00:47:01.55\00:47:03.62
Jesus says, in Revelation 21:5,
read it together with me please.
00:47:03.65\00:47:07.12
Behold, I make all things what?
00:47:07.16\00:47:09.92
Behold I make
all things what? new!
00:47:09.96\00:47:15.16
There's a new life for you.
00:47:15.20\00:47:16.97
Jesus can give you
a new peace right now.
00:47:17.03\00:47:19.77
Jesus can touch
your life right now.
00:47:21.07\00:47:23.04
Jesus can give you a new
joy for living right now.
00:47:23.07\00:47:27.64
Jesus wants to come into
your life fully right now.
00:47:27.68\00:47:32.21
Because one day He will come
again and take you to a land
00:47:32.25\00:47:38.82
where there's no more
sickness, or suffering,
00:47:38.85\00:47:40.69
or heartache, or grief.
00:47:40.72\00:47:42.06
Some time ago, during the
2nd World War, Hitler's bombers
00:47:43.36\00:47:52.30
were flying over London.
00:47:52.33\00:47:55.10
Night after night bombing
attack, after bombing attack,
00:47:55.17\00:47:59.67
after bombing attack.
00:47:59.71\00:48:01.74
The city was aflame.
00:48:01.78\00:48:03.75
The city was rumbling.
00:48:04.55\00:48:06.41
And there the bombs
dropped on one home:
00:48:06.45\00:48:11.22
father, mother, children.
00:48:11.25\00:48:13.69
Everybody in
that home was killed.
00:48:13.72\00:48:16.22
Everybody except the
father and his little
00:48:16.26\00:48:22.70
seven year old daughter.
00:48:22.73\00:48:24.07
They both were
incredibly traumatized.
00:48:24.10\00:48:27.20
And after that initial bombing,
he took her into a bomb shelter.
00:48:27.24\00:48:33.64
They went deeply
beneath the earth.
00:48:33.68\00:48:37.11
But there in that bomb
shelter they heard the bombs,
00:48:37.15\00:48:42.52
and the earth was shaking,
and the bombs were exploding,
00:48:43.18\00:48:47.09
and the little girl
was incredibly afraid.
00:48:47.16\00:48:52.46
And she said,
Daddy, hold my hand!
00:48:52.49\00:48:58.03
He held her hand and
said, Honey, go to sleep.
00:48:58.07\00:49:01.80
She said, Daddy,
I'm still afraid.
00:49:01.84\00:49:03.91
Daddy, hold my hand.
00:49:03.94\00:49:05.57
She said, Daddy, I can't sleep.
00:49:07.51\00:49:10.45
The bombs! Hold me tight, Daddy!
00:49:10.48\00:49:13.31
He held her hand.
And she said, Daddy,
00:49:13.35\00:49:16.52
I still cannot sleep.
00:49:16.55\00:49:17.92
Daddy, turn your face
toward me when you sleep.
00:49:17.95\00:49:24.16
And the father rolled
over, took the girl's hand.
00:49:24.19\00:49:27.60
And she said,
Daddy, I can sleep now,
00:49:27.66\00:49:30.83
because I'm
looking into your face.
00:49:30.87\00:49:33.97
Friend of mine, when your
life is shaking, when your life
00:49:34.00\00:49:39.84
is crumbling, when it seems
your life is falling apart,
00:49:39.87\00:49:44.05
turn your eyes upon Jesus,
and look full in His wonderful
00:49:44.08\00:49:51.65
face, and the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:49:51.69\00:49:57.79
in the light of
His glory and grace.
00:49:57.86\00:50:02.33
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
00:50:02.36\00:50:05.57
Listen as Tim sings.
00:50:05.60\00:50:07.04
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
00:50:15.58\00:50:21.02
Look full in His wonderful
face, and the things of earth
00:50:21.05\00:50:31.83
will grow strangely dim in the
light of His glory and grace.
00:50:31.86\00:50:48.44
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
00:50:48.48\00:50:53.72
Look full in His wonderful
face, and the things of earth
00:50:53.75\00:51:04.59
will grow strangely dim in the
light of His glory and grace.
00:51:05.26\00:51:28.48
Thank you, Tim. Turn
your eyes upon who everybody?
00:51:35.26\00:51:38.76
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
and look full in His wonderful
00:51:38.79\00:51:46.80
face, and the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:51:46.84\00:51:52.97
in the light of
His glory and grace.
00:51:53.01\00:51:58.51
In the book of Revelation
that is the appeal that
00:51:58.55\00:52:05.29
Christ gives to you.
00:52:05.32\00:52:07.69
That's the appeal
that Christ gives to me.
00:52:07.72\00:52:11.79
There may be somebody
watching this telecast tonight
00:52:11.83\00:52:16.87
that you have
never made that full,
00:52:16.90\00:52:20.24
total commitment to Christ.
00:52:20.27\00:52:22.80
And you may be wondering,
How do I make that commitment?
00:52:22.84\00:52:27.58
You may be a church member,
but your religious faith may be
00:52:27.61\00:52:32.28
very, very superficial.
00:52:32.31\00:52:34.62
You may be a church
member, and prayer is no longer
00:52:34.65\00:52:39.05
meaningful in your life.
00:52:39.09\00:52:40.92
When you pray it's like
your prayer goes up to the
00:52:40.96\00:52:44.33
ceiling and comes back.
00:52:44.36\00:52:45.69
You may be a church member going
to church, but it's formal,
00:52:45.73\00:52:50.20
superficial religion.
00:52:50.27\00:52:52.07
The Bible no longer
stimulates your heart.
00:52:52.10\00:52:55.84
It no longer moves
your life, and you spend
00:52:55.87\00:52:59.57
little time studying.
00:52:59.61\00:53:01.58
There is a crisis coming.
00:53:01.61\00:53:03.51
And let me just
open my heart to you.
00:53:03.55\00:53:06.25
If you don't know Christ, no
matter what's up here in your
00:53:07.88\00:53:12.02
head, you're not going to
get through the coming crisis.
00:53:12.05\00:53:16.02
The Devil's temptations are
going to be so overwhelming,
00:53:16.06\00:53:20.96
the pressure to yield your
faith is going to be so great,
00:53:21.00\00:53:25.43
the crisis that's coming is so
enormous that there's absolutely
00:53:25.47\00:53:31.21
no way that you can get through
that crisis without a vital,
00:53:31.24\00:53:36.95
living relationship with Jesus.
00:53:36.98\00:53:40.15
But you're saying,
Pastor, how can I have that?
00:53:40.18\00:53:44.35
Jesus says, Come unto Me all
you that are burdened and heavy
00:53:44.39\00:53:49.89
laden, and I will give you rest.
00:53:49.92\00:53:52.53
Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me, for I am meek
00:53:52.56\00:53:56.20
and lowly in heart, and you
shall find rest for your soul.
00:53:56.23\00:53:59.07
Matthew 11:28-30.
00:53:59.10\00:54:01.50
Jesus says in John, Chapter
6, Him that cometh to Me,
00:54:01.54\00:54:06.51
I will in no wise cast out.
00:54:06.54\00:54:08.91
Christ is
inviting you right now,
00:54:08.94\00:54:11.05
wherever you
are, to come to Him.
00:54:11.08\00:54:12.41
You say, What does that mean?
00:54:12.45\00:54:14.12
It means making a conscious
decision of your will to simply
00:54:14.15\00:54:19.15
say, Christ, I am Yours.
00:54:19.19\00:54:21.79
I cannot save myself.
00:54:21.82\00:54:24.86
Only You can save me.
00:54:24.89\00:54:27.86
So, Jesus, I'm coming right now.
00:54:27.90\00:54:30.67
I'm simply coming. You can
bow your head wherever you are.
00:54:30.70\00:54:35.60
Wherever you are in the world,
you can bow your head right now.
00:54:35.67\00:54:38.37
If you know Christ, ask Him
for a much deeper relationship
00:54:38.41\00:54:43.91
with Christ than
you've ever had before.
00:54:43.95\00:54:45.85
Tell Him that superficiality
is not going to do for you.
00:54:45.88\00:54:50.05
Tell Him that you want
to come right now to Him.
00:54:50.09\00:54:53.46
If you've never
accepted Him before
00:54:53.49\00:54:56.22
simply say, Jesus, I believe.
00:54:56.26\00:54:58.83
I believe that you
lived and died for me,
00:54:58.86\00:55:02.96
and You can save me.
00:55:03.00\00:55:05.03
I believe that in Christ
all my sins are forgiven.
00:55:05.07\00:55:08.94
I believe by Your grace I
can be a new man, or new woman.
00:55:08.97\00:55:13.78
Jesus, I believe!
Come right now as we pray.
00:55:13.81\00:55:21.55
Father in Heaven, thank
You so much that the book of
00:55:21.58\00:55:27.09
Revelation is not a book
of mystic symbols simply.
00:55:27.12\00:55:31.53
It's not a book of
scary beasts simply.
00:55:31.56\00:55:35.60
It's not a book
about end times simply.
00:55:35.66\00:55:39.60
Although it is all of
that, and we will study that
00:55:39.63\00:55:43.47
in this Revelation's
Ancient Discoveries series,
00:55:43.51\00:55:47.28
but Lord the book of Revelation
is a book about Jesus.
00:55:47.31\00:55:51.68
It's a book about His
glorious invitation to come.
00:55:51.71\00:55:56.05
And so My Father, we
come, we come right now.
00:55:56.65\00:55:59.99
I'm praying for that
person who's a Christian
00:56:00.02\00:56:03.32
who drifted away from You.
00:56:03.36\00:56:05.09
Touch them right now.
00:56:05.13\00:56:06.80
Speak to them right now.
00:56:06.83\00:56:08.43
Move on their heart right now.
00:56:08.46\00:56:10.27
I'm praying for that
person that's never made
00:56:10.30\00:56:12.70
a decision for You.
00:56:12.73\00:56:14.07
They've happened
upon this broadcast.
00:56:14.10\00:56:16.20
Move upon their life right now.
00:56:16.27\00:56:18.24
Give them a sense that
we're going to face a tremendous
00:56:18.27\00:56:21.84
crisis, but that Jesus can
get them through that crisis.
00:56:21.88\00:56:25.41
So, Father, I pray for them.
00:56:25.45\00:56:27.75
And I thank You, Lord, that
as we go through this series,
00:56:27.78\00:56:30.49
Your truth will unfold,
and we can walk with You,
00:56:30.52\00:56:33.29
and live with You
forever, and ever, and ever.
00:56:33.32\00:56:36.02
In Jesus name, Amen.
00:56:36.06\00:56:38.23
Thank you for joining
us for this Revelation's
00:56:38.29\00:56:43.47
Ancient Discoveries series.
00:56:43.50\00:56:45.37
As we go through this series,
we will go through chapter
00:56:45.40\00:56:50.41
after chapter in
the book of Revelation.
00:56:50.44\00:56:52.77
We will unfold exactly what the
prophecies of Revelation teach.
00:56:52.81\00:56:58.55
You will discover new
truths that are life changing,
00:56:58.58\00:57:03.99
and that are
life transformational.
00:57:04.02\00:57:06.35
So stay with us as we journey
through the book of Revelation,
00:57:06.39\00:57:11.76
and let Christ's peace,
let Christ's joy wash over you,
00:57:11.79\00:57:16.67
and let the hope and thrill
of the second coming of Christ
00:57:16.70\00:57:21.54
move your heart today,
tomorrow, and forever, Amen.
00:57:21.57\00:57:27.31