The escalation of global
terrorism, crime, immorality
00:00:09.34\00:00:12.75
and natural disasters,
seems to indicate our world
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is spiraling towards its
ultimate hour with destiny.
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Who, if anyone, will
survive Earth's final events?
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Discover what Bible prophecy
reveals about the rapture,
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the mark of the
beast, and Armageddon.
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Though shrouded in
mystery for centuries,
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the book of Revelation
can be understood today.
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Peer into the future,
and see what wonderful things
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God has planned for His people.
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And now, Pastor Brian
McMahon presents the powerful
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Bible seminar
"Revelation Speaks Hope".
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Our subject for this
evening: [text on screen]
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Growing up in the family that
I did, I was very, very blessed.
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We had very good physical
health, and we had very little,
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if no, personal tragedies that
so sadly mark other families
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that we knew about.
So we felt very blessed
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of the Lord, and that's
why it was such a shock to me
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when 6 years ago I got a
phone call from my oldest
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brother that his wife,
Elizabeth, who we effectually
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called Libby, had cancer.
This set off a chain of events
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that we had never experienced
before, we hardly knew
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how to deal with it.
But even though she tried
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so valiantly to fight against
this enemy called cancer,
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eventually she grew weaker
and weaker, and in her final
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days I flew up to be
close to her, I went to see her
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in the hospital, and I noticed
that as her physical body
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was withering away, it
seemed her spirit grew closer
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and closer to God, and we
were very thankful for that.
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In her last days it seemed
like all she was concerned about
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was not for herself, but
for others, and I was very much
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encouraged and blessed
myself as I could see her great
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faith, I knew that when
she passed away, which she
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eventually did not long
after I saw her, that heaven was
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going to be her home.
But when you see someone
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you love suffer as she
suffered and go through the kind
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of experience she experienced,
it makes you long for
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a better land, whether it's
someone you love, or someone
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you are just acquainted
with, or someone you don't even
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know, but you just hear about,
it makes you long for a land
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where you won't
see suffering any more.
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In 1 Corinthians 15:19
these words are given to us,
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and they're to be an
encouragement to us when we
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live in a world that has
run rampant with materialism.
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These words come from the
apostle Paul and they say this:
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[text on screen]
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That's truth, dear friends.
If we're only living for what
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we can get out of this
present world, if we're trying
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to measure success by what
the worldling measures success,
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then we are to be pitied
because the whole purpose
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of this life, the whole reason
we have this time as we do
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is to prepare our
self for the next life;
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it's to prepare our self
for the world that's coming.
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What has God
prepared for His people?
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What did God promise His
patriarchs and His prophets,
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and what has He
promised tonight?
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Let's take a look at it
in the book of Hebrews 11:16,
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and this is God's promise to
us. It says here in Scripture:
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[text on screen]
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God has prepared a city.
Millions of people are coming
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to the conclusion that time
is running out for this present
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world. Since God
first gave it to man
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in its perfect condition in
the garden of Eden, man has not
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treated it very well, in
fact, we've polluted the air,
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and we've polluted the water,
we polluted the land, there's
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nothing that man hasn't
polluted, and it doesn't look
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like it originally looked like.
So some people come to the idea,
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they say "Well, maybe we'll
just learn from our mistakes,"
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"maybe we'll blast off in
space, and we'll start a planet"
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"somewhere where we can
get it right the second time."
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"We'll start where we
can transfer the technology"
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"from this world, and we'll
take it over into another world"
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"and we'll just start all
over, and there we'll be free"
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"from the problems we've
had here, we'll be free from"
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"the stresses and the disease,
and all the things we've"
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"suffered here",
but is that really true?
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If we could use technology
as we have it, and even if we
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could go off into outer
space, and there in outer space
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pick some planet that we thought
would be a likely experimental
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type place, and start all
over again, we'd never really
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escape the problems that we
have because if we could start
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all over again, eventually
the problems that we have here,
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we'd simply transfer
them over there, wouldn't we?
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I mean, if we had death
here we would eventually have
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death there, if we have
disappointments here, eventually
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we'd have disappointments
there on some new space colony,
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if we have disease here,
eventually we'd have disease
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over there, and if we
have selfishness here, and this
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is the main point, we'd
eventually have selfishness
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there because man's
greatest problem is himself.
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It's our carnal nature,
and we can't escape from it,
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so wherever we go,
wherever we would rebuild,
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we'd eventually transfer
the same exact problems that we
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were experiencing
now to that planet.
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God has an answer here, and
He says God has prepared for His
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people a city. When
most people think of
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a city, they think negatively.
When you think of cities today
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you think of pollution, sirens,
accidents, crime, violence,
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all of those kinds of
things in these major cities.
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Cities reflect the architects
and the engineers that build
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them, and of course, because
most people in this world
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are unconverted, cities
will naturally reflect that kind
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of character, but God's
city is different, God's city is
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different than the cities of
this world because the cities
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of this world are made up
of sinners, unconverted people,
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and when you get a high
concentration of sinners,
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you're going to get a
high concentration of sin.
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But God is different in that
He's the architect of His city,
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God is the builder, God is the
designer, God is of a different
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order, so God's city is going
to reflect that, God's city
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is going to be free from all
the mistakes that we have here.
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In Hebrews 11:10 it
says: [text on screen]
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I'm looking for the world
that God planned, where He is
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the builder, because that's
where our real citizenship is,
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that's where we really belong,
what's where God intended us
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to live out eternity.
In Revelation 3:12 God has
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a name for this city that awaits
the faithful, and here's what
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it says, in Revelation 3:12
the Bible says: [text on screen]
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Aren't you glad that God calls
this city the New Jerusalem?
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Because when you think of
the present earthly Jerusalem,
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the present earthly Jerusalem is
going to go down as one of the
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most violent, bloodshed cities
in all the time of history.
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As you go to Jerusalem
today, even tonight, it's not a
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peaceful place, "Jerusalem"
means "city of peace", but this
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earthly Jerusalem has been
anything but a city of peace.
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So God is making sure that we
don't confuse the 2 by telling
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us that this Jerusalem is called
the New Jerusalem, and then in
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Revelation 21:2 it
says: [text on screen]
00:07:55.15\00:07:58.94
So God is eventually going
to transport this New Jerusalem
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from where it presently
is down here, and it tells us
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that this city is so beautiful,
it is [text on screen]
00:08:10.37\00:08:13.88
You know, that's
got to be lovely.
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Just in case you happen
to miss this and weren't here
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on this night of the seminar,
we're told that there is going
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to be a thousand years after
Jesus returns and takes His
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church back to heaven,
it's like a 1000 year honeymoon
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in heaven with the Lord, and
that is going to start the first
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resurrection, and then we have
this 1000 years, and at the end
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of the 1000 years, then the Holy
City, New Jerusalem, is going
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to come down from heaven where
it presently is, down to this
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earth. A lot of
people will wonder:
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"Well that city, is it really
going to be big enough for all"
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"of the saved to be in it?"
The Bible tells us that it's
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going to be big, it's going to
be about the size of the state
00:08:53.10\00:08:55.80
of Oregon, and it's not
going to be just a single level,
00:08:55.83\00:08:58.57
it tells us it's just as high as
it is wide and long, but people
00:08:58.60\00:09:01.12
still wonder "is it going to
be big enough for everybody?"
00:09:01.15\00:09:04.20
"There's going to be millions
and millions of people saved."
00:09:04.23\00:09:07.31
When you look at a national
map of the US, and you see
00:09:07.34\00:09:10.74
where New York city is, on
a national map it doesn't look
00:09:10.77\00:09:13.89
that big, it's still just a
dot on the map, and yet millions
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and millions of
people live in that dot.
00:09:16.96\00:09:20.78
Think about it, when God
has a city, most of the area of
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this world is covered by water,
about 75%, and of the 25% that's
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left that's land, most of it
is unusable, it's not liveable,
00:09:29.76\00:09:33.60
it's either too high, or
too low, too wet, too dry,
00:09:33.63\00:09:36.61
too hot, too cold, too steep,
or something like that, but in
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God's city every single part
of it is going to be liveable,
00:09:41.54\00:09:46.41
it's going to be perfect.
And we're not going to need
00:09:46.44\00:09:49.07
space for a lot of the things
that we have space for in our
00:09:49.10\00:09:51.81
cities today, we're not going to
have hospitals, we're not going
00:09:51.84\00:09:54.51
to have fire departments,
we're not going to have police
00:09:54.54\00:09:57.21
stations, we're not going
to have so many of the kinds
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of things that take up space.
The real question we should
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be asking is not "does God
have room in His city for us?",
00:10:02.50\00:10:05.33
the real question is "do we have
room in our hearts for God?"
00:10:05.36\00:10:08.04
- [Audience] Amen. -
And if we have room in our
00:10:08.07\00:10:10.80
hearts for God, believe
me, He will have plenty of room
00:10:10.83\00:10:13.51
for us, but the question is
asked "Is heaven really real?"
00:10:13.54\00:10:17.74
It's asked on the covers
of a lot of magazines today,
00:10:17.77\00:10:20.49
does heaven really
exist? What is so amazing to me
00:10:20.52\00:10:23.26
is that when you go through
the checkout line at some of
00:10:23.29\00:10:26.02
these supermarkets, and you look
at the tabloids that are sold
00:10:26.05\00:10:29.07
there, they have no problem
convincing millions of people,
00:10:29.10\00:10:32.81
that that trash is
real; I mean, people buy it,
00:10:32.84\00:10:36.24
millions of people do, so
obviously they must have some
00:10:36.27\00:10:38.87
kind of belief in it.
00:10:38.90\00:10:42.50
Sadly, when it comes to heaven,
a lot of people question it,
00:10:42.53\00:10:46.59
and they say "Is
heaven really real?"
00:10:46.62\00:10:49.36
If you ask the average person
"Excuse me, tell me about"
00:10:49.39\00:10:52.26
"heaven", and they would say
"Well, I don't know what there"
00:10:52.29\00:10:55.65
"is to tell, it's up
there somewhere", and if you ask
00:10:55.68\00:11:00.21
them to describe it, they
would have a very hard time.
00:11:00.24\00:11:03.64
If most people described
heaven, what would they
00:11:03.67\00:11:06.38
describe it like? They'd
probably say "Well, it's"
00:11:06.41\00:11:09.12
"up where the clouds are, and
when you go to heaven you sit"
00:11:09.15\00:11:12.11
"around on a puffy
white cloud strumming a harp."
00:11:12.14\00:11:14.91
Heaven is a real place,
and in heaven we're going to be
00:11:14.94\00:11:18.55
real people, we're going to
be doing real activities, we are
00:11:18.58\00:11:22.20
going to be very busy people,
but joyful at the same time.
00:11:22.23\00:11:28.65
Because so many people have a
very vague understanding of what
00:11:28.68\00:11:33.59
heaven is, they're not
willing to give up very much
00:11:33.62\00:11:36.83
to be there, because what we
think of heaven as will factor
00:11:36.86\00:11:43.18
directly into what we're willing
to sacrifice here that we
00:11:43.21\00:11:46.32
could be there, so it's
very important that we do a good
00:11:46.35\00:11:48.99
study on it so that
we look forward for it.
00:11:49.02\00:11:53.33
God holds out heaven to us as
a reward, so what kind of people
00:11:53.36\00:11:57.08
are we going to be there?
What kind of bodies are we
00:11:57.11\00:11:59.91
going to have?
Let's take a look at it
00:11:59.94\00:12:02.47
in Scripture, the Bible
tells us in Philippians 3:20, 21
00:12:02.50\00:12:10.34
here's what we read, the apostle
Paul says: [text on screen]
00:12:10.37\00:12:15.91
"vile body" - that means
our present, mortal body,
00:12:19.84\00:12:23.00
[text on screen]
00:12:23.03\00:12:25.08
So we're told that we are going
to have our physical bodies
00:12:29.92\00:12:34.22
transformed like unto the Lord's
body, now what kind of body
00:12:34.25\00:12:37.77
did Jesus have after He
resurrected, well let's take
00:12:37.80\00:12:41.30
a look on Luke 24:39, here's
what Jesus said to His disciples
00:12:41.33\00:12:46.39
after He resurrected
with His glorified body.
00:12:46.42\00:12:49.49
He said to His
disciples: [text on screen]
00:12:49.52\00:12:53.39
So did Jesus have a
real body? [Audience] Yes.
00:12:59.54\00:13:02.13
Yes He did, He had a real
body, and friends, we too will
00:13:02.16\00:13:05.96
have real bodies there in
heaven, and I'm looking forward
00:13:05.99\00:13:09.31
to that, I'm looking
forward to having more than just
00:13:09.34\00:13:12.36
a spirit body, floating
around with no substance to it,
00:13:12.39\00:13:14.81
I'm glad that we're going to
have real bodies, aren't you?
00:13:14.84\00:13:17.73
- [Audience] Amen. -
Because real people with real
00:13:17.76\00:13:20.47
bodies do real things,
and I want to do real things
00:13:20.50\00:13:23.18
in heaven. In 1 Corinthians 2:9,
00:13:23.21\00:13:25.71
won't you please
turn there in your Bibles?
00:13:25.74\00:13:28.34
[text on screen]
00:13:28.37\00:13:30.41
The first great misconception
about heaven is that heaven
00:13:41.30\00:13:44.65
is going to be a joyful place
because of all the material
00:13:44.68\00:13:47.22
things there, it's got streets
of gold, it's got mansions,
00:13:47.25\00:13:50.89
it's got wonderful fruit to eat,
it's got beautiful angels there,
00:13:50.92\00:13:54.89
they think heaven is going to
be heaven because of the glory
00:13:54.92\00:13:57.67
of the place. And
the other misconception
00:13:57.70\00:14:01.23
is going to be that somehow
it's going to be some kind of
00:14:01.26\00:14:03.86
boring place with nothing
to do. There is a verse in
00:14:03.89\00:14:06.77
Psalm 16:11, that
says this: [text on screen]
00:14:06.80\00:14:11.32
Can you get any
more full than full?
00:14:20.55\00:14:23.37
Full is the top, so we're told
that when when we're in God's
00:14:23.40\00:14:26.31
presence, there is
going to be fullness of joy,
00:14:26.34\00:14:31.26
and pleasures forever
more. Not pleasures for a time
00:14:31.29\00:14:34.02
and a season, pleasures
forever more, so if there are
00:14:34.05\00:14:37.12
people that think that
heaven is going to be made up of
00:14:37.15\00:14:39.94
material things and that's where
the joy is going to come from,
00:14:39.97\00:14:42.62
they need to spend more time
at the foot of the cross getting
00:14:42.65\00:14:45.38
to know Jesus, because He's
going to be the ultimate joy.
00:14:45.41\00:14:48.74
If there are people that
are of the misconception that
00:14:48.77\00:14:51.57
heaven is going to be a boring
place, well I think my answer
00:14:51.60\00:14:54.01
to that is they just need to
do more research on the place,
00:14:54.04\00:14:57.26
and that's what we're
doing tonight, we're going to do
00:14:57.29\00:15:00.07
some research on
heaven, so we're going to look
00:15:00.10\00:15:02.92
forward to it. So yes,
there can be no denying
00:15:02.95\00:15:05.71
that we have life here, but we
don't have ultimate life here,
00:15:05.74\00:15:08.16
and we have joy here, but we
don't have fullness of joy here.
00:15:08.19\00:15:12.41
We have peace here, after
a matter, but we don't have
00:15:12.44\00:15:15.44
ultimate peace because the
truth is that the ultimate joy,
00:15:15.47\00:15:20.24
the ultimate happiness, the
ultimate peace, the ultimate
00:15:20.27\00:15:23.42
of life is going to be
when we are in God's presence.
00:15:23.45\00:15:27.15
- [Audience] Amen. -
That's what we're told
00:15:27.18\00:15:29.91
in Scripture, it's true that
God gives us the ability to have
00:15:29.94\00:15:32.74
some peace in a panic stricken
world, God gives us the ability
00:15:32.77\00:15:36.42
to have some light in
a spiritually dark world,
00:15:36.45\00:15:39.16
God gives us the ability to
have some joy in a very, very
00:15:39.19\00:15:42.47
sad world because He does
it so we can go on from day
00:15:42.50\00:15:46.60
to day and not crumple
in despair by all the things
00:15:46.63\00:15:49.02
that go on, but once again, the
ultimate in life is going to be
00:15:49.05\00:15:52.02
found in the earth made
new. Let's put it in perspective
00:15:52.05\00:15:55.44
though, in Revelation
21:2,3, here's what we read.
00:15:55.47\00:16:00.02
Go to Revelation please, we're
going to be there some tonight,
00:16:00.05\00:16:02.69
Revelation 21:2,3, it
says here: [text on screen]
00:16:02.72\00:16:07.26
"the tabernacle of God is with
men", that means "the dwelling"
00:16:13.85\00:16:16.41
"place of God is with
men", [continues to read]
00:16:16.44\00:16:20.76
We could say "Oh, I'm looking
forward to heaven because"
00:16:25.64\00:16:28.53
"I just want to have that
mansion that God has prepared",
00:16:28.56\00:16:31.16
or "I'm looking forward to
heaven because the streets"
00:16:31.19\00:16:33.91
"are paved with gold", or
"I'm looking forward to heaven"
00:16:33.94\00:16:36.81
"because I want to be able to
pet lion without getting bit",
00:16:36.84\00:16:39.59
and we start talking
about the material things there.
00:16:39.62\00:16:42.38
But isn't it true that we're
really looking forward to heaven
00:16:42.41\00:16:45.04
because that's where our
Saviour Jesus is, and we want
00:16:45.07\00:16:47.64
to be with Him. In
the book of Job we're told
00:16:47.67\00:16:50.03
this, it said: [text on screen]
00:16:50.06\00:16:52.95
Job served the Lord not because
of what he could get from God,
00:16:59.31\00:17:03.41
but because of who God was,
he served Him because of who
00:17:03.44\00:17:06.47
He was. Let's look at John 14,
00:17:06.50\00:17:10.98
Jesus said to His
disciples: [text on screen]
00:17:11.01\00:17:15.15
I want you to look at several
things here, when Jesus says
00:17:33.40\00:17:37.63
"you believe in God,
believe also in me", what is He
00:17:37.66\00:17:40.80
saying here?
Jesus is telling them
00:17:40.83\00:17:43.69
"make a connection
between God and Myself".
00:17:43.72\00:17:46.26
If you asked the Jews in Jesus
day "do you believe in God?"
00:17:46.29\00:17:49.19
They would say "Yes, we believe
in God", so they had a belief
00:17:49.22\00:17:52.37
in God, but they did not
know God, and Jesus is saying
00:17:52.40\00:17:56.50
"if you believe in God,
then you should believe in Me"
00:17:56.53\00:17:59.76
"because I've come to
show you what God is like."
00:17:59.79\00:18:02.78
Then He goes on and
He says [text on screen]
00:18:02.81\00:18:06.94
Now what is Jesus
saying to us here?
00:18:11.41\00:18:14.09
He's saying to us in a very
personal way, and I want you
00:18:14.12\00:18:17.07
to note how personal Jesus
is in this passage, He's saying
00:18:17.10\00:18:19.84
"I'm going to
prepare a place", why?
00:18:19.87\00:18:22.52
"Because I want you to be
with Me, I want to be with"
00:18:22.55\00:18:25.38
"you, I want you to be with
Me, heaven is about us being"
00:18:25.41\00:18:28.93
"together for eternity", that's
what Jesus is saying, it's all
00:18:28.96\00:18:32.80
about being
together with the Lord.
00:18:32.83\00:18:36.29
I want you to use your
imaginations, think about it
00:18:36.32\00:18:39.83
with me, just try really hard
to follow me along with this;
00:18:39.86\00:18:43.53
I want you all, in your
mind's eye, to think of the most
00:18:43.56\00:18:47.99
beautiful dwelling
place you could ever want.
00:18:48.02\00:18:51.30
It's going to be different
from one person to the next,
00:18:51.33\00:18:54.03
but just think about the place
that you have always wanted
00:18:54.06\00:18:56.95
to build, just for
you, according to your own
00:18:56.98\00:18:59.91
personality and desires, picture
that in your mind right now.
00:18:59.94\00:19:02.75
When you get that in your mind,
I want you to furnish it with
00:19:02.78\00:19:05.63
everything you could possibly
want, every appliance, every
00:19:05.66\00:19:08.75
piece of of furniture, you just
put it in there right now in
00:19:08.78\00:19:12.31
your mind's eye,
bedroom, kitchen, bathroom,
00:19:12.34\00:19:15.08
whatever you
want, it's all there.
00:19:15.11\00:19:17.74
Now put all the food in
there you want, pack the fridge,
00:19:17.77\00:19:21.55
the freezer, I don't
care, anything you want, you put
00:19:21.58\00:19:24.43
it in that house, if that's what
you want, you put it in there
00:19:24.46\00:19:27.26
in your mind's eye.
Now I want you to put a car
00:19:27.29\00:19:29.80
port on there, as big as
you want it, as many cars as
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.58
you want, you can put 10 cars
in there, all different, you can
00:19:32.61\00:19:36.69
put 10 of the same kind if you
like that too, and you just put
00:19:36.72\00:19:39.83
it right there, you doing
it? You following along so far?
00:19:39.86\00:19:42.67
Now once you get your
house and you've got your garage
00:19:42.70\00:19:45.40
and car port, you've got it
all furnished exactly as you
00:19:45.43\00:19:48.45
would like it, now put it
anywhere in the world you want,
00:19:48.48\00:19:53.24
you can put it on some South
Pacific Island, you can put it
00:19:53.27\00:19:56.34
in New Zealand if that's
where you always wanted to be,
00:19:56.37\00:19:59.47
you can put it up
in British Columbia,
00:19:59.50\00:20:02.94
you can put it in Sacramento,
alright, put it anywhere
00:20:02.97\00:20:05.99
you want. Have you got it there?
00:20:06.02\00:20:08.56
If someone said "I will
give this entire package to you"
00:20:08.59\00:20:13.09
"for free", would you
take it? You can say "yes".
00:20:13.12\00:20:17.75
- [Audience] Yes. -
...because it's what you
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.52
always wanted, right?
It'll be different for you
00:20:20.55\00:20:22.89
from the person next to you,
they say "I'll give it to you"
00:20:22.92\00:20:25.69
"for free, but there is 1 catch,
the catch is if you take it"
00:20:25.72\00:20:30.09
"you have to live there
by yourself, alone, forever."
00:20:30.12\00:20:35.93
Now would you
take it? [Audience] No.
00:20:35.96\00:20:38.53
If someone said "you can
have it all, but you have to be"
00:20:38.56\00:20:41.34
"there by yourself, no one could
visit you, and you can't visit"
00:20:41.37\00:20:44.27
"anybody else, you have to
be there alone", if that was
00:20:44.30\00:20:47.58
the catch you
would turn it down.
00:20:47.61\00:20:50.79
God wants to be face to
face with us just as He was face
00:20:50.82\00:20:54.60
to face with Adam and Eve,
God doesn't like the separation
00:20:54.63\00:21:04.21
that sin has caused, and God is
looking forward to being with us
00:21:04.24\00:21:07.52
once again. Turn
back to Revelation if
00:21:07.55\00:21:10.11
you've moved from there,
and go to Revelation 22:2,
00:21:10.14\00:21:17.03
it says this: [text on screen]
00:21:17.06\00:21:20.13
The tree of life is mentioned
in the book of Genesis,
00:21:31.08\00:21:35.63
and strangely enough, the tree
of life is mysteriously absent
00:21:35.66\00:21:39.79
all the way through the rest of
the Bible, and all of a sudden
00:21:39.82\00:21:42.91
in Revelation the tree of life
appears again, so the tree of
00:21:42.94\00:21:45.80
life is in the beginning of the
Bible, it's absent throughout
00:21:45.83\00:21:48.94
the Bible, and then it's there
in the last book of the Bible.
00:21:48.97\00:21:52.28
What God is telling is that
His whole priority for us is
00:21:52.31\00:21:56.31
restoration that we can get
back to the position we were
00:21:56.34\00:21:59.85
in the beginning, that we
can eat of the fruit of the tree
00:21:59.88\00:22:02.62
of life, so God is showing us
that He's restoring all things.
00:22:02.65\00:22:06.63
He wants to bring us back to the
perfection that we had before,
00:22:06.66\00:22:09.97
and everything in the Word
of God is done in the context
00:22:10.00\00:22:13.03
of restoring the
kingdom back to us once again.
00:22:13.06\00:22:16.46
God is going to heat the
world up with the lake of fire,
00:22:16.49\00:22:19.71
and if you want to purify
it, you sterilize something,
00:22:19.74\00:22:22.37
you heat it up, isn't that true?
00:22:22.40\00:22:24.90
After it's gone through
its sterilization program, then
00:22:24.93\00:22:27.92
out of that the Lord is
going to do something beautiful,
00:22:27.95\00:22:30.97
and here we find it in
Isaiah 65:17, here's what
00:22:31.00\00:22:34.33
the Bible says: [text on screen]
00:22:34.36\00:22:37.33
That's in Isaiah, let's go
see what 2 Peter has to say
00:22:44.69\00:22:48.32
in 2 Peter
3:13: [text on screen]
00:22:48.35\00:22:51.50
I love the way Peter adds that
at the end "wherein dwelleth"
00:22:57.95\00:23:00.86
"righteousness". When
God remakes this world
00:23:00.89\00:23:03.29
He's not only going to remake
the world itself, but even
00:23:03.32\00:23:05.89
the atmosphere is going
to be brand new, isn't that
00:23:05.92\00:23:08.94
marvelous? Well,
when He remakes it,
00:23:08.97\00:23:11.90
then what's going to
happen? Back to Isaiah 65:21,22:
00:23:11.93\00:23:16.79
it says: [text on screen]
00:23:16.82\00:23:19.55
You know what I like
about this about this friends?
00:23:34.22\00:23:37.09
Not only are we going to have
a mansion in the city, but God
00:23:37.12\00:23:40.07
is going to allow us a country
dwelling too, we're going to be
00:23:40.10\00:23:42.92
able to fashion it exactly
as we like it, we can build it,
00:23:42.95\00:23:45.68
and the Bible says we're
going to be able to inhabit it
00:23:45.71\00:23:48.37
and nobody's going
to take it from us.
00:23:48.40\00:23:51.12
Can you imagine living
in a place where there's no
00:23:51.15\00:23:53.71
locks because
everybody's honest?
00:23:53.74\00:23:56.24
No keys, because you don't
need them, everything's open
00:23:56.27\00:23:58.91
because it's free to have,
and furthermore, if you want it,
00:23:58.94\00:24:03.63
it either grows from the ground,
or people are so generous
00:24:03.66\00:24:06.28
they're trying to
give it away anyway?
00:24:06.31\00:24:09.04
I long for a place like that.
You can plant whatever you want,
00:24:09.07\00:24:12.51
you have a favorite fruit?
You can plant it, I like grapes,
00:24:12.54\00:24:15.60
I like all fruit, I like
every kind of fruit, but I like
00:24:15.63\00:24:18.28
grapes, I'm going to
plant a lot of grapes, I'm going
00:24:18.31\00:24:20.97
to plant green grapes, and
purple grapes, black grapes,
00:24:21.00\00:24:23.50
red grapes, maybe different
colored grapes we don't
00:24:23.53\00:24:26.22
have here, I'm going to plant
them, and when I plan those
00:24:26.25\00:24:29.06
grapes I'm going to cultivate
them, and if they had big grapes
00:24:29.09\00:24:32.00
in the land of Canaan, it's
going to be nothing next to my
00:24:32.03\00:24:34.97
grapes when I'm
done. [Audience laughs]
00:24:35.00\00:24:37.76
I want to have grapes
the size of bowling balls
00:24:37.79\00:24:40.53
[Audience laughs], and I
can have you over to my house
00:24:40.56\00:24:43.23
and after they get big and ripe
I'll gave you over, and I'll
00:24:43.26\00:24:45.97
carve you a slice of
grape. [Audience laughs]
00:24:46.00\00:24:48.71
Oh, it's going to be
good. Again, my daughter, Cara,
00:24:48.74\00:24:51.44
children go through this stage
when they learn how to talk,
00:24:51.47\00:24:54.24
and they learn the fact
that when they talk and ask you
00:24:54.27\00:24:56.76
a question, they can get
an answer back, and they start
00:24:56.79\00:24:59.66
to think pretty good about that,
so they start firing questions
00:24:59.69\00:25:02.19
really quickly, and when
my daughter, Cara, my Kelly
00:25:02.22\00:25:04.95
went through this too,
but not as much as Cara did,
00:25:04.98\00:25:07.96
and she was asking me questions
so rapid fire, I just couldn't
00:25:07.99\00:25:11.99
keep up with answers,
"Daddy, who? Daddy, what?"
00:25:12.02\00:25:14.62
"Daddy, where? Daddy, how?
Daddy, why?", everything was
00:25:14.65\00:25:17.34
"Daddy, daddy", and I
thought "Oh boy, this child...",
00:25:17.37\00:25:20.09
I love answering questions,
but I couldn't keep up with her.
00:25:20.12\00:25:22.58
There are some times she
was asking me questions so fast
00:25:22.61\00:25:25.42
I finally had to say "Time out,
I just need to give my brain"
00:25:25.45\00:25:28.33
"a rest for a second", but when
we come face to face with God,
00:25:28.36\00:25:32.07
dear friends, listen, we'll
never tire the mind of God.
00:25:32.10\00:25:36.41
We'll be able to ask
God everything we want,
00:25:36.44\00:25:39.46
any question we want, and God
says "It's okay, don't worry"
00:25:39.49\00:25:42.90
"about it all, we've got
all eternity to spend together."
00:25:42.93\00:25:47.31
"We don't have to rush it."
I'll tell you, that's going to
00:25:47.34\00:25:50.22
be a great and fantastic thing.
God has promised that this world
00:25:50.25\00:25:54.20
is going to go to those
who are overcomers, and can you
00:25:54.23\00:25:57.81
imagine the treasures that await
us there, I don't know how many
00:25:57.84\00:26:00.77
of you are thrill seekers,
but I'm looking forward to some
00:26:00.80\00:26:03.39
thrills in heaven, we are
going to be able to go out into
00:26:03.42\00:26:06.16
the outer reaches of this
universe, ride a solar flare,
00:26:06.19\00:26:10.08
explore distant galaxies, and
as we do these kinds of things,
00:26:10.11\00:26:13.86
visit certain suns, and
find out what they're made of,
00:26:13.89\00:26:16.77
and as we do this, we will never
exhaust all the knowledge that
00:26:16.80\00:26:20.90
God wants to give us, because
God created the human mind
00:26:20.93\00:26:24.78
to acquire knowledge, and be
interested in knowledge, that's
00:26:24.81\00:26:27.29
why we are often attracted
to the evening news, because
00:26:27.32\00:26:30.85
we are interested in what is
going on, but when God shares
00:26:30.88\00:26:34.55
the knowledge of the universe
with us, it's going to be
00:26:34.58\00:26:37.60
thrilling, friends.
We're going to say "Lord,"
00:26:37.63\00:26:40.27
"share with us more",
we're going to be fascinated by
00:26:40.30\00:26:43.00
everything, just like
we're fascinated by the latest
00:26:43.03\00:26:45.86
technological advances that
we have here, God has all kinds
00:26:45.89\00:26:49.07
of things to share, He's
going to share how the atom is
00:26:49.10\00:26:51.96
made up, and how distant suns
cast their light, and fantastic
00:26:51.99\00:26:55.64
things, I'm looking forward to
riding rainbows through the sky.
00:26:55.67\00:27:00.50
Any other rainbow riders here?
I don't know, but it can happen.
00:27:00.53\00:27:05.32
We're going to be able to
see things that we have never
00:27:05.35\00:27:08.55
seen before in those galaxies.
Can you imagine the joy
00:27:08.58\00:27:12.86
that's going to come to people
that have never experienced
00:27:12.89\00:27:16.62
even what we've experienced
here for the most part?
00:27:16.65\00:27:20.40
In Isaiah 35:5 it
says: [text on screen]
00:27:20.43\00:27:24.54
Some people have never
experienced sight in this world,
00:27:28.01\00:27:32.24
can you imagine when God opens
up their eyes and the first
00:27:32.27\00:27:34.29
thing they see is Jesus?
And the joy of those people
00:27:34.32\00:27:38.50
when they finally say "I
can see", I was born with a very
00:27:38.53\00:27:43.83
defective left eye, and I'm
legally blind in my left eye,
00:27:43.86\00:27:47.31
I can't see very much, I have
basically all my sight in this
00:27:47.34\00:27:50.07
eye right here, but I see just
enough in my left eye that it
00:27:50.10\00:27:54.66
throws off the sight of my
right eye. I can't explain it,
00:27:54.69\00:27:58.89
I've never been able to explain
it properly, but my eyes do not
00:27:58.92\00:28:01.34
function together very well
and see 1 image, so this eye,
00:28:01.37\00:28:04.96
because it's stronger,
sees my nose here, and this eye
00:28:04.99\00:28:09.07
it kind of throws off
what this eye's doing, and so
00:28:09.10\00:28:11.81
I have a very messed up
eye sight, but it's okay,
00:28:11.84\00:28:14.74
Nr.1- because I was born
that way, and it's always been
00:28:14.77\00:28:17.57
that way, so I'm used to it,
and Nr.2- I'm very appreciative
00:28:17.60\00:28:20.28
for the eye sight I do have.
00:28:20.31\00:28:23.12
But I am looking forward to
the time when I can see like
00:28:23.15\00:28:25.90
regular people see, and both my
eyes look forward and they see
00:28:25.93\00:28:28.89
one thing, and not my nose
over here. [Audience laughs]
00:28:28.92\00:28:32.05
So I've got that to look
forward to, but you could
00:28:32.08\00:28:34.38
imagine someone that never
has seen, what an amazing thing
00:28:34.41\00:28:38.27
that's going to be, and then
it says "the ears of the deaf"
00:28:38.30\00:28:40.99
"shall be unstopped", can
you imagine when God opens up
00:28:41.02\00:28:43.95
the deaf on the resurrection
day, and the first thing
00:28:43.98\00:28:46.78
they will hear
is angelic singing?
00:28:46.81\00:28:49.57
I'm telling you, what a
thing to look forward to.
00:28:49.60\00:28:52.26
Isaiah goes on, and it says
in verse 6: [text on screen]
00:28:52.29\00:28:57.48
"an hart" means "as a
deer", [continues to read]
00:28:57.89\00:29:01.37
Isn't singing a wonderful thing?
We're going to sing tonight
00:29:01.40\00:29:04.15
some before we're through.
But when it says the lame
00:29:04.18\00:29:07.11
shall leap as the deer, can
you imagine someone who has been
00:29:07.14\00:29:10.13
in a wheelchair all their
life, or maybe born not being
00:29:10.16\00:29:13.07
able to walk, or have
gone through a tragic accident,
00:29:13.10\00:29:16.10
and they're there without any
use of their limbs, and they're
00:29:16.13\00:29:19.12
going to be able to leap once
again, the joy that will thrill
00:29:19.15\00:29:22.84
their beings.
Friends, in Isaiah 40:31
00:29:22.87\00:29:28.59
it tells us this,
Isaiah 40:31: [text on screen]
00:29:28.62\00:29:33.10
Anyone here getting a little
up in age and you're getting
00:29:35.47\00:29:38.24
weary at times?
And you look around at
00:29:38.27\00:29:41.01
the youthful people
running here and running there,
00:29:41.04\00:29:43.93
and you remember ages
ago when you could do that,
00:29:43.96\00:29:46.46
and you're saying "Oh boy,
I want to run again and not"
00:29:46.49\00:29:49.25
"tire out. I want to
walk and not be faint."
00:29:49.28\00:29:51.95
It's something to
look forward to, isn't it?
00:29:51.98\00:29:54.68
Anyone with a bad back, like me?
00:29:54.71\00:29:57.25
When you're saying "Oh,
my, I want to get my back"
00:29:57.28\00:29:59.91
"where it can bend again, and
not have those kind of pains",
00:29:59.94\00:30:02.50
well it's going to
happen by God's grace.
00:30:02.53\00:30:05.15
It goes on, and it says:
"Then they that shall wait upon"
00:30:05.18\00:30:07.85
"the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up"
00:30:07.88\00:30:10.60
"with wings as eagles".
Friends, we're going to have
00:30:10.63\00:30:13.24
a renewed strength and it's
not going to be strength even
00:30:13.27\00:30:15.20
as we have had it before,
it's going to be an immortal
00:30:15.23\00:30:17.91
strength. What
an incredible thing
00:30:17.94\00:30:20.69
that is to look forward
to. Isaiah has a lot to say,
00:30:20.72\00:30:23.39
in Isaiah 33:24 it
says: [text on screen]
00:30:23.42\00:30:27.26
Can you imagine a time, you
will never ever hear those words
00:30:31.37\00:30:38.13
"I don't feel well". We
hear it a lot now, don't we?
00:30:38.16\00:30:42.10
You'll never hear that
in heaven, you'll never hear
00:30:42.13\00:30:45.01
someone say "Oh, I've got a
migraine", "I've got a pain"
00:30:45.04\00:30:47.78
"in the head", you'll never
hear that, you'll never hear
00:30:47.81\00:30:51.11
someone say "Oh, I have a
stomach ache", "Oh, I've got"
00:30:51.14\00:30:55.05
"a backache",
you'll never hear it.
00:30:55.08\00:30:57.29
In Isaiah 11:6 the
Bible says: [text on screen]
00:30:57.32\00:31:01.69
You know, you let children
run around today, and if you
00:31:10.65\00:31:13.48
have children at all, you
always have a little bit of fear
00:31:13.51\00:31:16.55
in your heart that something
might happen to them, you have
00:31:16.58\00:31:19.42
a fearful foreboding that
because we live in a wicked
00:31:19.45\00:31:22.14
world, that it's not safe
for these children, but not so
00:31:22.17\00:31:24.99
in heaven. As long as they are
children, and we don't know how
00:31:25.02\00:31:27.76
long it will take till the
grow up to the perfect maturity
00:31:27.79\00:31:30.71
that God has intended for
us there, but as long as there
00:31:30.74\00:31:33.51
are children there we're
not going to have to worry.
00:31:33.54\00:31:36.48
Children will not so much
as even fall down and skin
00:31:36.51\00:31:39.22
their knee there.
They're going to be perfectly
00:31:39.25\00:31:41.86
safe. It tells
us in Isaiah 66:25:
00:31:41.89\00:31:44.78
[text on screen]
00:31:44.81\00:31:46.71
I'm looking forward to a time
when we are going to be able
00:31:50.69\00:31:54.93
to go out and no matter where
we travel, no matter where we go
00:31:54.96\00:31:59.15
we are going to be perfectly
safe, animals are not going
00:31:59.18\00:32:02.77
to kill people, people are
not going to kill animals, it is
00:32:02.80\00:32:06.20
going to be absolute paradise.
Can you imagine a time when
00:32:06.23\00:32:14.25
there will be no more
tears? I've cried a lot of tears
00:32:14.28\00:32:19.39
in my life, and I think
this world has cried an ocean
00:32:19.42\00:32:22.49
of tears, don't
you? [Audience] Amen.
00:32:22.52\00:32:25.08
But the Bible tells us
that there's coming a time when
00:32:25.11\00:32:27.77
there is going
to be no more tears.
00:32:27.80\00:32:30.49
Revelation 21:4, please turn
there with me, it says this:
00:32:30.52\00:32:40.24
[text on screen]
00:32:40.27\00:32:42.30
Are there certain things
in your life that you wish you
00:32:56.05\00:32:58.90
could forget? Are
there certain things
00:32:58.93\00:33:01.28
that bother you and
plague you at night?
00:33:01.31\00:33:03.71
Maybe you even
have nightmares of them?
00:33:03.74\00:33:06.31
Not so there, God'll
say: "Those things that have"
00:33:06.34\00:33:09.00
"bothered you, those
things that have plagued you,"
00:33:09.03\00:33:11.64
"they're all going to be passed
away", there will be certain
00:33:11.67\00:33:14.39
things that we'll remember,
we'll always remember what
00:33:14.42\00:33:17.12
Jesus did for us, we're going
to remember each other, and I'll
00:33:17.15\00:33:19.75
get to that more in just
a moment, but those things
00:33:19.78\00:33:22.30
that really have caused
us the greatest of heartaches
00:33:22.33\00:33:24.89
they're eventually
going to be passed away;
00:33:24.92\00:33:27.46
not more pain, no more tears.
People cry for a lot of reasons,
00:33:27.49\00:33:30.18
don't they? People
cry because of murders,
00:33:30.21\00:33:32.71
and they cry because of
kidnappings, they cry because
00:33:32.74\00:33:35.49
of child abuses, they
cry because of accidents,
00:33:35.52\00:33:37.99
they cry because of all
kinds of things, and a thousand
00:33:38.02\00:33:40.77
other things, crime, and
violence, the pains of this
00:33:40.80\00:33:43.35
world, people cry.
But there's going to be
00:33:43.38\00:33:45.92
no more crying, friends,
listen, there are not going
00:33:45.95\00:33:48.53
to be any more tragedies,
there aren't going to be
00:33:48.56\00:33:51.14
any more natural
disasters, no more earthquakes,
00:33:51.17\00:33:53.87
no more fires, no more
floods, no more tornadoes, amen?
00:33:53.90\00:33:57.01
No more traffic
accidents, how about that one?
00:33:57.04\00:34:00.10
There aren't going to
be any wars to devastate,
00:34:00.13\00:34:02.97
there aren't going to be any
diseases to annihilate people,
00:34:03.00\00:34:05.76
all of that is passed
away, no more airplane crashes;
00:34:05.79\00:34:09.89
what a place it's going to
be, there aren't going to be
00:34:09.92\00:34:12.78
any more funerals, how
about that to consider?
00:34:12.81\00:34:15.35
No more memorial services
to go to, no more cemeteries
00:34:15.38\00:34:19.02
to have to visit, no
more AIDS, not more cancers,
00:34:19.05\00:34:23.57
no more of a thousand
things that cause us heartache
00:34:23.60\00:34:26.39
and pain right here, no
more surgeries, how about that?
00:34:26.42\00:34:31.33
No more expensive drugs to
have to take, no more pharmacies
00:34:31.36\00:34:35.23
to have to visit, no more pain,
no more tears; all of that's
00:34:35.26\00:34:42.24
passed away. We go
to Revelation 21:25,
00:34:42.27\00:34:53.21
it tells us this,
speaking of the New Jerusalem:
00:34:53.24\00:34:56.83
[text on screen]
00:34:56.86\00:34:58.86
You see, ancient cities had
gates for a reason, they had
00:35:05.06\00:35:08.09
gates because at night
marauders would come in if
00:35:08.12\00:35:11.25
they didn't have gates and
take over, and do all kinds
00:35:11.28\00:35:14.08
of havoc inside the city,
gates were for protection,
00:35:14.11\00:35:16.92
but by the fact that the
gates are not going to be shut,
00:35:16.95\00:35:19.55
God is saying that nothing is
going to come against this city,
00:35:19.58\00:35:22.18
it's going to be eternally safe,
you're not going to have to
00:35:22.21\00:35:25.89
fear at all when
you're with this city.
00:35:25.92\00:35:28.59
Notice, as we look at
the description of this city,
00:35:28.62\00:35:31.45
we're told that streets are
going to be of gold, and you
00:35:31.48\00:35:34.84
look at Revelation 21 and
all the wonderful building
00:35:34.87\00:35:37.43
materials that are there,
wood is not mentioned there
00:35:37.46\00:35:40.35
there for a reason because
not even a tree is going to die
00:35:40.38\00:35:43.12
in God's eternal city, but it
has lots of beautiful materials,
00:35:43.15\00:35:46.37
and when you look at
those materials, and God's glory
00:35:46.40\00:35:48.39
is going to shine out from
His throne room and it's going
00:35:48.42\00:35:51.22
to ricocheted off of all
those various materials there,
00:35:51.25\00:35:54.07
friends, we're not even going
to need artificial lighting
00:35:54.10\00:35:56.87
because God is going to
light that city with His glory,
00:35:56.90\00:35:59.50
isn't that something
to consider? What a time
00:35:59.53\00:36:02.09
that's going to be. We
are now living in a time
00:36:02.12\00:36:04.99
when things left to itself are
naturally going to deteriorate,
00:36:05.02\00:36:08.40
that's called the second
law of science, things left
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.22
to itself with no
outside interference are going
00:36:11.25\00:36:13.91
to deteriorate over
time. But not so in God's city,
00:36:13.94\00:36:16.52
in God's city it's always
going to be in a perfect state
00:36:16.55\00:36:19.19
of newness, always invigorating.
The climate itself, I don't
00:36:19.22\00:36:23.09
think that we have smelled air
as it really should be, we go
00:36:23.12\00:36:27.92
outside and we say "Oh, it's
a fresh day", and so on, and we
00:36:27.95\00:36:30.60
breathe in the air, but it's
going to be even better in God's
00:36:30.63\00:36:33.22
city, don't you think?
We're going to take oxygen
00:36:33.25\00:36:35.86
from God's climate into our
lungs, and we're going to say
00:36:35.89\00:36:38.60
"Oh, that's how air's
really supposed to smell."
00:36:38.63\00:36:41.55
I'm looking forward to that
too. We are going to see trees,
00:36:41.58\00:36:46.27
majestic and perfect,
and symmetrical, and even
00:36:46.30\00:36:50.10
the animals are going to be
like that, and they're going
00:36:50.13\00:36:52.84
to be friendly, and we're
going to go up and we're going
00:36:52.87\00:36:55.48
to get to know them, and we're
going to have them as close
00:36:55.51\00:36:58.01
friends,
something we can't do now.
00:36:58.04\00:37:01.06
Something else we're going
to be able to do in that time,
00:37:01.09\00:37:03.85
do you know that we're going
to have a privilege that Adam
00:37:03.88\00:37:07.26
and Eve never had?
See, when Adam and Eve came
00:37:07.29\00:37:10.55
to life everything was already
made for them, wasn't it?
00:37:10.58\00:37:13.47
It was all there, all
they had to do was enjoy it.
00:37:13.50\00:37:15.63
We are going to have a
privilege that they never had
00:37:15.66\00:37:18.30
because from the walls of
the New Jerusalem, after God has
00:37:18.33\00:37:21.02
done His sterilization
program, God is going to say
00:37:21.05\00:37:26.78
"let there again be light
over the earth", and there'll
00:37:26.81\00:37:29.59
be light, and then He's
going to say "and let there be"
00:37:29.62\00:37:32.31
"grass carpeting the ground",
and there'll be, we can watch
00:37:32.34\00:37:35.06
it take place folks.
He's going to speak and trees
00:37:35.09\00:37:37.57
will come into existence once
again, and flowers will carpet
00:37:37.60\00:37:40.08
the gardens, and then
He's going to speak again,
00:37:40.11\00:37:42.80
and animals will appear on
the land, and birds in the sky,
00:37:42.83\00:37:45.50
and fish in the streams, and
God is going to do it all right
00:37:45.53\00:37:48.41
in front of us, and that is
a privilege, don't you think?
00:37:48.44\00:37:52.75
That's something that
Adam and Eve never got to see,
00:37:52.78\00:37:55.49
but we can see
it, by God's grace.
00:37:55.52\00:37:57.86
Not only are we going to
see that, I often get asked
00:37:57.89\00:38:00.60
the question: "are we going
to see others in heaven that"
00:38:00.63\00:38:03.49
"we know?" That's
one of the most common
00:38:03.52\00:38:05.99
questions I get up here, they
say "Will we recognize each"
00:38:06.02\00:38:08.62
"other in heaven?" Do
you know that one of the joys
00:38:08.65\00:38:11.35
of heaven is going to be that
we can continue on relationships
00:38:11.38\00:38:14.11
that we've started right here.
I'm going to know who you are,
00:38:14.14\00:38:16.90
by God's grace I'll be
there, and you'll know who I am,
00:38:16.93\00:38:19.59
we're not going to have the
signs of sin that we have now,
00:38:19.62\00:38:22.31
we're not going to have
the greying of hair, we're not
00:38:22.34\00:38:24.96
going to have the eye glasses,
or the hearing aids, and some
00:38:24.99\00:38:27.63
other things that we have
because we live in a sinful
00:38:27.66\00:38:30.32
world, but we're not only going
to have heightened knowledge,
00:38:30.35\00:38:33.02
we're going to have
heightened discernment.
00:38:33.05\00:38:35.66
So yes, we're going to know
who each other are, and we can
00:38:35.69\00:38:38.37
be filled with joy with
the fact that we can be there
00:38:38.40\00:38:41.00
and have known each other
here, but not only are we going
00:38:41.03\00:38:43.66
to recognize each
other, we're going to recognize
00:38:43.69\00:38:46.29
some of the great patriarchs
and prophets of the Bible,
00:38:46.32\00:38:48.83
did you know that?
We're going to be able
00:38:48.86\00:38:51.38
to recognize men like Abraham,
men like Isaac, men like Jacob,
00:38:51.41\00:38:54.08
and we're going to be able
to go up to them and ask them
00:38:54.11\00:38:56.74
questions that we've
always wondered about.
00:38:56.77\00:38:59.23
You could go up to Abraham
in the new heavens and new
00:38:59.26\00:39:01.88
earth and you could say
"Abraham, what was it really"
00:39:01.91\00:39:05.17
"like when God asked you
to go offer your son, Isaac,"
00:39:05.20\00:39:07.87
"on Mount Moriah, that 3
day journey you took, what was"
00:39:07.90\00:39:10.77
"going through your mind?"
And Abraham's going to say
00:39:10.80\00:39:14.40
"Wow, let me tell you about
it, it was really something...".
00:39:14.43\00:39:17.18
We're going to be able to
go up to Noah, there's going
00:39:17.21\00:39:21.42
to be a long line for Noah, I
just know it [Audience laughs].
00:39:21.45\00:39:25.28
So after they've all
gone, eventually I'll get there
00:39:25.31\00:39:28.28
and we're going to be able
to say "Noah, tell me, what was"
00:39:28.31\00:39:31.21
"it like for those months in
that ark with all those smelly"
00:39:31.24\00:39:34.99
"animals?" [Audience laughs]
"Really, tell us the inside"
00:39:35.02\00:39:38.72
"story here, what was it
like?" And Noah's going to say
00:39:38.75\00:39:41.79
"I'll tell you, it was
an experience and a half",
00:39:41.82\00:39:44.10
and I'm sure Noah's going to
have to take people by the group
00:39:44.13\00:39:46.42
because he's
going to have so many.
00:39:46.45\00:39:48.79
We're going to be able to go
up to Daniel, he's another guy
00:39:48.82\00:39:52.19
with another long line I'm
sure, and we're going to say
00:39:52.22\00:39:54.66
"Daniel, what was it like
to have gone down into that"
00:39:54.69\00:39:58.00
"lion's den? I read about
it, we told the stories to our"
00:39:58.03\00:40:01.73
"kids, we even sang about
it, but Daniel, I want to hear"
00:40:01.76\00:40:04.92
"about it from you."
Isn't that going to be great?
00:40:04.95\00:40:08.20
You're going to be able
to go up to Mary, the earthly
00:40:08.23\00:40:11.18
mother of Jesus, and say "Mary,
what was it like to raise"
00:40:11.21\00:40:15.84
"the Son of God? The
Bible doesn't tell us"
00:40:15.87\00:40:18.73
"very much about that 30
years before Jesus started"
00:40:18.76\00:40:22.05
"His active ministry, but
you knew about it, what was"
00:40:22.08\00:40:24.95
"it like? What was
Jesus like as a young person?"
00:40:24.98\00:40:27.53
and Mary's going to be
able to tell us about it.
00:40:27.56\00:40:30.24
But most of all, in heaven
we're going to be able to see
00:40:30.27\00:40:32.96
Jesus.
00:40:32.99\00:40:34.65
Would you turn with me
to the book of Romans 8.
00:40:34.68\00:40:41.96
Before we read this verse
let me say that so many people
00:40:41.99\00:40:45.63
think that the Christian life
is life of hardship, they think
00:40:45.66\00:40:48.80
the Christian life is a life
of denial, a life of suffering.
00:40:48.83\00:40:53.15
Yes, there can be some of those
things, but what does the Word
00:40:53.18\00:40:55.79
of God tell us in Romans
8:18? Here's what the Word
00:40:55.82\00:40:59.48
of God says, Paul
says: [text on screen]
00:40:59.51\00:41:03.22
Can you grasp that verse folks?
00:41:13.11\00:41:16.28
Paul suffered a lot, beaten
and stoned, and ship wrecked,
00:41:16.31\00:41:21.79
and mocked, I'm sure his
body didn't feel very good,
00:41:21.82\00:41:25.07
I bet you he had a lot
of physical problems beyond
00:41:25.10\00:41:28.01
what we read about, but he says
the sufferings of this present
00:41:28.04\00:41:32.54
world, it can't even be
compared, what God is going
00:41:32.57\00:41:37.64
to give us is so immeasurably
a disproportionate reward
00:41:37.67\00:41:43.93
to what we go through
here, Paul says "You can't even"
00:41:43.96\00:41:46.83
"compare it".
00:41:46.86\00:41:49.76
If we could see heaven for just
5 minutes, it would do a whole
00:41:50.56\00:41:55.68
lot for us in terms of
our faith, but Jesus said
00:41:55.71\00:41:59.65
"you can't see it now, but
blessed are those that believe"
00:41:59.68\00:42:03.85
"without seeing."
Believe it even though
00:42:03.88\00:42:06.28
you can't see it, see with
the spiritual eye that which you
00:42:06.31\00:42:10.72
can't see with the naked
eye, and believe; and Jesus says
00:42:10.75\00:42:13.99
"you will be rewarded for it".
Now let's go to another one,
00:42:14.02\00:42:16.89
another one very much like that,
go to 2 Corinthians 4:17,18,
00:42:16.92\00:42:20.54
Paul says: [text on screen]
00:42:20.57\00:42:23.37
So here, once again, Paul
says "I want you to be able,"
00:42:39.35\00:42:42.75
"through the reality of
faith, see what you can't see"
00:42:42.78\00:42:45.78
"with the naked eye."
Paul, as he's writing these
00:42:45.81\00:42:49.47
things down, he sees all
of this, because he was taken
00:42:49.50\00:42:51.67
right there, he did
see it with the naked eye,
00:42:51.70\00:42:54.56
and then he's writing about
it, or at least through a vision
00:42:54.59\00:42:57.60
he saw it, and he's
writing about it and he's says
00:42:57.63\00:43:00.32
God has for us an eternal
weight of glory, and then before
00:43:00.35\00:43:06.11
he's through he says "no,
no, that isn't it, that's not"
00:43:06.14\00:43:10.35
"enough", as he's writing
down he says "it's an exceeding"
00:43:10.38\00:43:14.59
"eternal weight of glory",
and then as he reflects upon it
00:43:14.62\00:43:18.20
he says "no, that doesn't
even describe it", he says
00:43:18.23\00:43:20.98
"it is a more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory",
00:43:21.01\00:43:24.63
and then finally he says "no,
I can't even leave it at that",
00:43:24.66\00:43:28.40
he says "It is a far
more exceeding and eternal"
00:43:28.43\00:43:33.27
"weight of glory". He
says "okay, put that down",
00:43:33.30\00:43:37.78
"that's a little
bit closer to it."
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.27
In Revelation 14:4 we
read these words, speaking of
00:43:40.30\00:43:46.80
the 144,000, it
says: [text on screen]
00:43:46.83\00:43:51.05
It says they are virgins,
it means they had a pure faith,
00:43:59.80\00:44:03.05
"they weren't defiled with
women", that means they didn't
00:44:03.08\00:44:05.83
associate with the fallen
churches of Babylon, and then
00:44:05.86\00:44:08.66
it says "they followed the
Lamb whithersoever He goeth".
00:44:08.69\00:44:12.23
Friends, the only way
we're going to be able to follow
00:44:12.26\00:44:14.89
the Lamb whithersoever He goeth
there is to learn how to follow
00:44:14.92\00:44:17.65
the Lamb
wherever He leads us here.
00:44:17.68\00:44:20.32
How do we know that?
It's through the Word.
00:44:20.35\00:44:22.95
So as we are willing to follow
Jesus wherever He leads us
00:44:22.98\00:44:25.61
through the Word here, Jesus
says "that's okay, that's what"
00:44:25.64\00:44:28.25
"I'm looking for, you'll
be able to follow Me there."
00:44:28.28\00:44:31.11
Friends, I'm looking forward to
that moment of following Jesus,
00:44:31.14\00:44:34.00
aren't you, in
heaven? We live tonight
00:44:34.03\00:44:36.54
in what I call an
"insurance rich" society.
00:44:36.57\00:44:40.48
Today in order to survive
people get health insurance.
00:44:40.51\00:44:44.23
and the get car insurance,
and they get house insurance,
00:44:44.26\00:44:48.07
and they get life insurance,
and all these other insurances,
00:44:48.10\00:44:52.25
as we call it, but isn't
it true that what we really
00:44:52.28\00:44:55.62
need is eternal insurance?
And the Bible offers us
00:44:55.65\00:44:59.09
eternal insurance, and
it's found only in Jesus,
00:44:59.12\00:45:01.31
and the good news is you
don't have to pay the premium
00:45:01.34\00:45:03.99
because Jesus
already paid the price.
00:45:04.02\00:45:06.67
So Jesus says "you follow Me
and I'll give you that eternal"
00:45:06.70\00:45:09.34
"insurance", and
how do we do that?
00:45:09.37\00:45:11.37
The Bible actually gives
us the success formula for how
00:45:11.40\00:45:15.22
to do that, it's found
in 1 John 1:7, and here's
00:45:15.25\00:45:19.74
how it reads, it says
here: [text on screen]
00:45:19.77\00:45:23.85
So what's the insurance
plan? Walk in the light,
00:45:37.86\00:45:41.48
even as He is in the
light, and when we do that
00:45:41.51\00:45:44.53
Jesus' blood will
cleanse us of all defilement.
00:45:44.56\00:45:49.50
But is it really true? Is
it pie in the sky, by and by?
00:45:49.53\00:45:53.35
Is heaven really real to
us? Well, before God closed
00:45:53.38\00:45:57.29
the canon of Scripture, in
the last book of the Bible,
00:45:57.32\00:46:00.49
and the second to the
last chapter of the Bible,
00:46:00.52\00:46:03.60
in Revelation 21:5 God
gives us 1 more assurance here,
00:46:03.63\00:46:07.91
He says through the prophet
John, He says: [text on screen]
00:46:07.94\00:46:13.32
"these words" - the words of
Scripture, the words of Jesus,
00:46:18.35\00:46:23.79
the words of the book
of Revelation that promises
00:46:23.82\00:46:26.56
this heaven, it
says: [text on screen]
00:46:26.59\00:46:30.09
Are you looking
forward to the heaven to come?
00:46:33.22\00:46:37.25
Are you looking forward to
the time when the saints go
00:46:37.28\00:46:40.13
marching in? You
can study about heaven,
00:46:40.16\00:46:42.92
you can talk about heaven,
but I like to sing about heaven,
00:46:42.95\00:46:45.77
don't you? Before
we're through tonight
00:46:45.80\00:46:48.32
I'm going to ask if
Heidi would come on out,
00:46:48.35\00:46:50.97
and with some people, they
are going to help sing with her,
00:46:51.00\00:46:53.66
and Jodie's going to step
to the piano, and we're going
00:46:53.69\00:46:56.49
to have a little sing-song
here, and I'm going to invite
00:46:56.52\00:46:59.10
you to sing out with all your
heart, we've picked some songs
00:46:59.13\00:47:01.72
that I hope will be a blessing
to you, and I think most of you
00:47:01.75\00:47:04.40
already know all these
words anyway, so sing them out
00:47:04.43\00:47:07.25
with all your heart, and
let's end by singing about this
00:47:07.28\00:47:09.97
glorious land called heaven.
00:47:10.00\00:47:12.47
We have this hope that
burns within our hearts,
00:47:17.48\00:47:25.88
Hope in the coming of the Lord.
00:47:25.91\00:47:33.86
We have this faith
that Christ alone imparts,
00:47:33.89\00:47:42.47
Faith in the
promise of His Word.
00:47:42.50\00:47:50.49
We believe the time is here,
When the nations far and near
00:47:50.52\00:47:58.76
Shall awake, and shout and
sing Hallelujah! Christ is King!
00:47:58.79\00:48:10.33
We have this hope that
burns within our hearts,
00:48:10.36\00:48:19.49
Hope in the coming of the Lord.
00:48:19.52\00:48:27.57
Let us sing a song that
will Cheer us by the way,
00:48:30.30\00:48:35.15
In a little
while we're going home;
00:48:35.18\00:48:39.78
For the night will end
in the everlasting day,
00:48:39.81\00:48:44.61
In a little
while we're going home.
00:48:44.64\00:48:49.24
In a little
while, In a little while,
00:48:49.27\00:48:53.93
We shall cross the billow's
foam; We shall meet at last,
00:48:53.96\00:49:01.34
When the stormy winds are past,
00:49:01.37\00:49:06.23
In a little
while we're going home.
00:49:06.26\00:49:12.14
There's a rest beyond,
There's relief from every care,
00:49:12.17\00:49:16.99
In a little
while we're going home;
00:49:17.02\00:49:21.68
And no tears shall fall
in That city bright and fair,
00:49:21.71\00:49:26.54
In a little
while we're going home.
00:49:26.57\00:49:31.18
In a little
while, In a little while,
00:49:31.21\00:49:35.86
We shall cross the billow's
foam; We shall meet at last,
00:49:35.89\00:49:43.23
When the stormy winds are past,
00:49:43.26\00:49:48.13
In a little
while we're going home.
00:49:48.16\00:49:55.39
Lift up the trumpet,
and loud let it ring:
00:49:57.44\00:50:02.48
Jesus is coming again!
00:50:02.51\00:50:07.31
Cheer up, ye
pilgrims, be joyful and sing:
00:50:07.34\00:50:13.59
Jesus is coming again!
00:50:13.62\00:50:18.93
Coming again, coming
again, Jesus is coming again!
00:50:18.96\00:50:30.36
Nations are angry
-by this we do know
00:50:30.39\00:50:35.60
Jesus is coming again!
00:50:35.63\00:50:40.64
Knowledge
increases; men run to and fro;
00:50:40.67\00:50:46.94
Jesus is coming again!
00:50:46.97\00:50:52.41
Coming again, coming
again, Jesus is coming again!
00:50:52.44\00:50:58.18
When the trumpet of
the Lord shall sound,
00:51:05.45\00:51:08.59
and time shall be no
more, And the morning breaks,
00:51:08.62\00:51:12.59
eternal, bright and fair;
00:51:12.62\00:51:15.98
When the saved of earth shall
gather over on the other shore,
00:51:16.01\00:51:21.13
And the roll is called
up yonder, I'll be there.
00:51:21.16\00:51:25.95
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:51:25.98\00:51:30.87
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:51:31.07\00:51:35.86
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:51:36.09\00:51:43.07
When the roll is called
up yonder, I'll be there.
00:51:43.37\00:51:49.33
On that bright and
cloudless morning when the dead
00:51:49.36\00:51:52.87
in Christ shall rise, And the
glory of His resurrection share;
00:51:52.90\00:51:59.49
When His chosen ones shall
gather over on the other shore,
00:51:59.52\00:52:04.59
And the roll is called
up yonder, I'll be there.
00:52:04.62\00:52:09.54
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:52:09.57\00:52:14.26
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:52:14.56\00:52:19.14
When the roll is
called up yonder,
00:52:19.44\00:52:26.53
When the roll is called
up yonder, I'll be there.
00:52:26.56\00:52:33.14
Oh, when the
saints go marching in,
00:52:35.87\00:52:40.65
Oh, when the
saints go marching in,
00:52:40.85\00:52:45.77
Lord how I want
to be in that number
00:52:45.80\00:52:50.49
When the saints go marching in.
00:52:50.52\00:52:55.19
And when the Revelation comes,
00:52:55.22\00:52:59.85
Oh, when the Revelation comes,
00:52:59.88\00:53:04.59
Lord how I want
to be in that number
00:53:04.62\00:53:09.25
When the Revelation comes.
00:53:09.28\00:53:13.91
And when they
crown Him King of kings,
00:53:13.94\00:53:18.32
Oh, when they
crown Him King of kings,
00:53:18.35\00:53:22.99
Lord how I want
to be in that number
00:53:23.02\00:53:27.68
When they crown
Him King of kings,
00:53:27.71\00:53:33.56
Soon and very soon We
are going to see the King.
00:53:36.60\00:53:43.18
Soon and very soon We
are going to see the King.
00:53:43.48\00:53:49.89
Soon and very soon We
are going to see the King.
00:53:50.19\00:53:56.44
Hallelujah! Halleluhjah!
we are going to see the King.
00:53:56.47\00:54:03.70
No more crying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:03.73\00:54:10.09
No more crying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:10.39\00:54:16.53
No more crying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:16.83\00:54:23.08
Hallelujah! Halleluhjah!
we are going to see the King.
00:54:23.11\00:54:30.50
No more dying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:30.53\00:54:36.45
No more dying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:36.75\00:54:42.90
No more dying there We
are going to see the King.
00:54:43.20\00:54:49.36
Hallelujah! Halleluhjah!
we are going to see the King.
00:54:49.39\00:54:58.00
Mine eyes have seen the
glory Of the coming of the Lord;
00:55:00.50\00:55:06.40
He is trampling out the vintage
00:55:06.43\00:55:09.29
Where the grapes
of wrath are stored;
00:55:09.32\00:55:12.14
He hath loos'd
the fateful lightning
00:55:12.17\00:55:14.78
Of His terrible swift
sword: His truth is marching on.
00:55:14.81\00:55:24.15
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
00:55:24.18\00:55:35.17
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
00:55:35.20\00:55:46.04
He has sounded forth the trumpet
That shall never call retreat;
00:55:46.07\00:55:51.71
He is sifting
out the hearts of men
00:55:51.74\00:55:54.89
Before His judgment seat.
00:55:54.92\00:55:57.29
Oh, be swift, my
soul, to answer Him!
00:55:57.32\00:56:00.39
Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
00:56:00.42\00:56:09.21
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
00:56:09.24\00:56:20.38
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
00:56:20.41\00:56:31.96
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
00:56:31.99\00:56:43.16
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
00:56:43.19\00:56:53.92
His truth is marching on.
00:56:53.95\00:57:07.96
[Audience] Glory!
Amen! [Audience claps]
00:57:07.99\00:57:15.32
And all God's church
said... [Audience] Amen.
00:57:15.35\00:57:18.53
I want to tell you as we
close tonight that I feel very
00:57:18.56\00:57:21.54
privileged to be able to
come here and share this time
00:57:21.57\00:57:24.42
with you, thank you for allowing
me to have a little part
00:57:24.45\00:57:27.67
of your life, thank you for
allowing me to come and present
00:57:27.70\00:57:30.74
this seminar, I appreciate you
as Bible students, but I also
00:57:30.77\00:57:34.73
appreciate you as friends.
I want to tell you how blessed
00:57:34.76\00:57:38.83
I am to have been able to
have this interaction with you
00:57:38.86\00:57:42.62
over these last 4 weeks.
00:57:42.65\00:57:45.22