Announcer:
Revelation. The time of the end.
00:01:21.38\00:01:24.18
Mysterious signs.
00:01:24.28\00:01:25.48
Strange happenings.
00:01:25.85\00:01:27.52
Confusing numbers.
00:01:27.72\00:01:29.52
Are we facing a new world
order and the mark of the beast?
00:01:29.75\00:01:33.89
Are we living on a
planet in upheaval?
00:01:34.29\00:01:36.59
Are we on the
verge of Armageddon?
00:01:36.66\00:01:40.20
Revelation, what do all the
signs in this mysterious book
00:01:45.03\00:01:51.11
mean? Discover real answers.
00:01:52.67\00:01:54.78
Revelation Speaks
Peace, with Shawn Boonstra.
00:01:54.84\00:01:59.51
>>Shawn Boonstra: Alright, our
question box. I should get to
it. I've gotta change glasses
00:02:00.55\00:02:03.82
again. And it's time for me to -
I bought progressives once and
returned them - I think I told
00:02:03.92\00:02:11.43
you that - because I get
seasick. "The Old Testament
mentions Egypt." Yes, it does.
00:02:11.53\00:02:17.97
"Was ancient Egypt a super power
at one time, and why doesn't the
Bible say so?" Well, it does; it
00:02:18.07\00:02:25.54
absolutely does. And I'm
guessing this is in reference to
Daniel 2, which is why it's sort
00:02:25.64\00:02:30.88
of up at the top of the stack.
Egypt didn't show up in Daniel
chapter 2, correct? It started
00:02:30.98\00:02:34.58
with the head of gold, which was
what? Babylon, right? But Egypt
absolutely plays a huge role in
00:02:34.68\00:02:42.06
the Old Testament. It features
rather prominently in the book
of Exodus. Israel was captive
00:02:42.16\00:02:45.86
there. The reason it doesn't
show up in Daniel chapter 2 is
that we're in 600 B.C., and
00:02:45.96\00:02:50.90
Egypt's day has come and gone.
It's always influential - it
continues to show up - but its
00:02:51.00\00:02:56.20
biggest day was gone and Babylon
is ruling the ancient world at
that point. It's really the
00:02:56.30\00:03:02.14
reason that it doesn't show up.
Now, you will find Egypt showing
up in the book of Revelation. It
00:03:02.24\00:03:06.31
features prominently there
again. You have, for example,
seven last plagues in the book
00:03:06.41\00:03:12.99
of Revelation. And it emphasizes
their seven last plagues. Well,
in order to have seven last
00:03:13.09\00:03:17.63
plagues, you'd have to have
seven first plagues, or at
least, you have to have some
00:03:17.73\00:03:22.86
first plagues. There were ten
plagues that fell on Egypt:
three that fell on everybody and
00:03:22.96\00:03:27.70
seven that only fell on the
Egyptians. Now, that is
something I'll just tease you
00:03:27.80\00:03:31.94
with and leave it for you to
read and study a little bit.
Revelation chapter 15 mentions
00:03:32.04\00:03:37.71
the song of Moses and the lamb.
That's a reference to what
happened after Israel crossed
00:03:37.81\00:03:41.92
the Red Sea. Revelation chapter
11 uses Egypt in a rather
unflattering way, but it uses it
00:03:42.02\00:03:48.82
to describe unbelief, and
probably because the Pharaoh in
the story in the Bible was known
00:03:48.92\00:03:54.83
for his unbelief. So it does
feature prominently; it just
doesn't show up a lot in Daniel
00:03:54.93\00:04:00.34
2 because it's not part of that
particular story. "The Bible
says no man knows the day or
00:04:00.44\00:04:06.34
hour, but it doesn't say the
month or year." This must have
come in the first night, because
00:04:06.44\00:04:10.25
on the second night, I think - I
think - I hit on that. Acts
chapter 1 and verse 7, Jesus
00:04:10.35\00:04:15.82
said, "Oh, look, now," because
they ask him again before He
goes to heaven, "Lord, now tell
00:04:15.92\00:04:19.85
us when the kingdom is going to
be there." And He says, "It is
not for you to know the times
00:04:19.95\00:04:24.13
and seasons." Christians just
really need to stop throwing
darts at a calendar and trying
00:04:24.23\00:04:28.53
to pick the second coming of - a
date, because we get embarrassed
every time, and frankly, we
00:04:28.63\00:04:33.17
discredit the whole Christian
cause in front of the whole
world every time we pull a stunt
00:04:33.27\00:04:36.57
like that. Happened again
recently a couple of years ago,
and it was embarrassing. It just
00:04:36.67\00:04:43.01
causes - it brings disrepute on
the whole cause when we do
something Jesus told us not to
00:04:43.11\00:04:48.32
do. We don't know. You can know
when it's coming soon; you can
know when the trends are. You
00:04:48.42\00:04:52.82
can know when you're close.
Jesus said that much, right, the
fig tree puts out its leaves in
00:04:52.92\00:04:57.43
the springtime. You know summer
is close when you see these. We
can know we're close by the
00:04:57.53\00:05:01.96
signs, but you can't pick a
date. Okay. "How can Jesus come
and establish a kingdom when His
00:05:02.06\00:05:08.34
followers are so divided and
fragmented?" Well, there's a
great question. Isn't that a
00:05:08.44\00:05:14.78
good question? That's a good
question. Well, there's a few
assumptions in there, and I've
00:05:14.88\00:05:19.75
heard this question before. It's
that God can't do anything or
come until we perfect this
00:05:19.85\00:05:25.19
world. But He's the One Who
replaces all of our kingdoms and
attempts when He crushes the
00:05:25.29\00:05:30.86
statue and blows the powder
away. Human beings aren't going
to fix this world. Now, a few
00:05:30.96\00:05:36.43
other observations on this.
Christians are not quite as
fragmented as sceptics would
00:05:36.53\00:05:42.07
like the world to believe. You
know, we have our differences.
There are people in here from
00:05:42.17\00:05:47.01
every walk of life; I know
because you told me. And we're
from every walk of life and we
00:05:47.11\00:05:51.58
have some differences, but
overall, on the key stuff,
there's huge, broad - there's
00:05:51.68\00:05:55.98
more agreement than there is
disagreement. Jesus, God in
human flesh, second person of
00:05:56.08\00:06:00.36
the Godhead, salvation by grace
through faith alone. There is
huge agreement. So we're not as
00:06:00.46\00:06:05.56
fragmented as people would say
we are. But the other thing is,
is that yeah, there is probably
00:06:05.66\00:06:10.77
more fragmentation that would
put - than would put a smile on
God's face, but Bible prophecy
00:06:10.87\00:06:15.97
also shows that God has a plan
to resolve that. In Revelation
chapter 14, it shows all of
00:06:16.07\00:06:23.01
God's people gathered on Mount
Zion in the very last moment of
earth's history, and we're going
00:06:23.11\00:06:28.72
to get to that and look at it.
So before the seminar is over,
I'll show you: God has a plan to
00:06:28.82\00:06:33.15
resolve whatever remaining
fragmentation is still there.
And I think you'll be excited by
00:06:33.25\00:06:38.83
that. So there you go, I'm just
going to tease you with what - I
just ripped a question and now I
00:06:38.93\00:06:43.23
can't read it. Okay. I'm piecing
it - I am very sorry if this is
your question. "Why was the
00:06:43.33\00:06:50.71
stone cut out without human
hands?" Ooh, that's a good
question. That's down towards
00:06:50.81\00:06:55.78
the end in Daniel 2 verse
40-something. I say "Daniel 2
verse 40-something" because this
00:06:55.88\00:07:00.15
should make some of you feel
better. I'm the preacher and I
can never remember exactly where
00:07:00.25\00:07:04.05
it says. I have to go back and
look. Generally speaking, I try
and memorize which chapter it's
00:07:04.15\00:07:09.02
in, because if you can get
there, you can find it fairly
quickly. But otherwise, I'm like
00:07:09.12\00:07:12.86
the apostle Paul. You know how
Paul is always saying in his
letters, "Somewhere it is
00:07:12.96\00:07:16.97
written." Yeah, somewhere it is
written. He can't remember
where. I know he could.
00:07:17.07\00:07:22.84
Alright, what was the question?
Oh, "Why was the stone cut out
without human hands?" Alright.
00:07:22.94\00:07:28.34
Remember, it's a prophecy about
human government. Nebuchadnezzar
and the Babylonian empire. Cyrus
00:07:28.44\00:07:33.31
and Darius, the Medes and the
Persians, Alexander the Great,
and then it fragmented into some
00:07:33.42\00:07:38.19
of his generals later on, and of
course, the Roman emperors.
Every one of them is a human
00:07:38.29\00:07:42.39
government, and God is going to
replace them all with His own
government, and so the stone is
00:07:42.49\00:07:47.03
cut out without - human beings
don't build that one. It's not
fabricated; it is God's kingdom
00:07:47.13\00:07:53.00
itself. It's just emphasizing
that you and I did not make it;
it is God-made. And as we move a
00:07:53.10\00:07:59.31
little bit further along, I
think you will see how that
comes into play. Alright,
00:07:59.41\00:08:04.65
alright, one more. What time do
we have? What time do you all
have to go to bed? Could we just
00:08:04.75\00:08:12.45
go? One night we should just go
'til midnight answering
questions. I've got enough. You
00:08:12.55\00:08:15.56
guys are inquisitive in
Minneapolis. "You gave us the
meaning of Daniel's name. Does
00:08:15.66\00:08:20.86
Nebuchadnezzar mean anything?"
Oh boy, alright. It's got "Nebu"
in it. Nebu is the name of a
00:08:20.96\00:08:27.64
Babylonian god. Which god is
Nebu? Well, Babylonian gods sort
of - all the pagan cultures
00:08:27.74\00:08:35.11
transferred their gods to each
other. And so you find a lot of
the ideas in Babylon. I'm
00:08:35.21\00:08:40.35
convinced this is why God has it
in a statue. A lot of things
passed down. Even though
00:08:40.45\00:08:44.89
Nebuchadnezzar is down, he had
some things off to the next
empire, like the pagan gods they
00:08:44.99\00:08:49.22
worship and stuff, and they
shared a lot of them. Nabu, we
think - or Nebu, depending on
00:08:49.32\00:08:54.73
how you - Nebu-chadnezzar. The
name probably means - if I
remember right - "May Nebu
00:08:54.83\00:08:59.93
protect his son," as in,
Nebuchadnezzar is the son of
Nebu. Nebu's closest analogue
00:09:00.10\00:09:06.34
that you might recognize is
Apollo or Mercury, if we're
going to get into the Greeks and
00:09:06.44\00:09:11.65
the Romans. And Nebu was the
Assyrian and the Babylonian god
of wisdom and writing. And he's
00:09:11.75\00:09:20.32
considered the son of the
highest god, Marduk. Now, think
about it. He's responsible for
00:09:20.42\00:09:26.43
the word "Nabu" and he's the son
of the most high god, which is
Marduk. It's like he's a
00:09:26.53\00:09:31.93
counterfeit of Jesus Christ. And
you'll find counterfeits all
through these cultures. And I
00:09:32.03\00:09:38.84
just find, that's about all I do
know, and I find that
interesting that he's the son of
00:09:38.94\00:09:41.71
the most high god in Babylonian
culture, and he's responsible
for writing and the word, and
00:09:41.81\00:09:45.85
Jesus is the Son of God, and He
is the Word. I sometimes doubt
that that is a coincidence.
00:09:45.95\00:09:53.09
There are counterfeits in all of
these other religions, because
once upon a time, we all came
00:09:53.19\00:09:58.03
from the same source, and then
we corrupted stories. And
anyway, that'll show up too as
00:09:58.13\00:10:02.96
we move along. What time is it?
It's my presentation, I guess I
don't have to stick with it.
00:10:03.06\00:10:10.54
They have a clock there telling
me when to be quiet. It actually
flashes, "Be quiet." No, it
00:10:10.64\00:10:18.35
doesn't. "Is heaven being built
yet?" Oh, no, "Is heaven built
yet, or is it being built?"
00:10:18.45\00:10:24.22
Thank you for writing large. I
actually didn't need my glasses
for that one. "Is heaven being
00:10:24.32\00:10:28.62
built yet or is it being built?"
That's a wonderful study. I'm
going to challenge you, go look
00:10:28.72\00:10:33.70
up the word "heaven" in the
Bible. It shows up more than 500
times. And so you know what you
00:10:33.80\00:10:39.33
have to do, is read the whole
thing. Gather all the evidence
like a jigsaw puzzle, put it all
00:10:39.43\00:10:44.81
together. We're actually going
to do that as we move along.
We're going to start doing that
00:10:44.91\00:10:48.51
on Sunday night, and on another
night, we're going to look at
what the Bible says about heaven
00:10:48.61\00:10:52.25
and so on, and just let the
Bible speak for itself. But the
answer to your question, in the
00:10:52.35\00:10:57.52
short version, is yes and no. Is
heaven built yet? Yes. Is it
being built? Yes. Why do I say
00:10:57.62\00:11:07.40
that? Well, it already exists.
Hebrews chapter 9 says that
Jesus went to heaven to appear
00:11:07.50\00:11:12.53
in the presence of the Father
for us. So it is already there.
But then Jesus says in John 14,
00:11:12.63\00:11:18.31
"I go to prepare a place for
you." So there is some
preparation as well. Now, not
00:11:18.41\00:11:24.08
having ever been to heaven, I
have no way of describing for
you what exactly that looks
00:11:24.18\00:11:29.55
like, but the answer is yes,
it's both. It's already there,
but He's preparing a place for
00:11:29.65\00:11:33.25
you. And hang in there, by
Sunday night, we'll start
digging into that a little bit
00:11:33.36\00:11:37.83
better and we'll satisfy your
curiosity. Alright. I am running
way behind schedule, I'll bet,
00:11:37.93\00:11:43.73
but oh well. Tonight we're going
to talk about the man of
Revelation, and by the time I'm
00:11:43.83\00:11:49.90
done, I'm going to give you a
chance to respond. I'm actually
going to have the ushers, toward
00:11:50.01\00:11:55.54
the end, pass out a card and let
you give me some feedback on
some of the things that you've
00:11:55.64\00:12:00.18
heard, if you'll indulge me in
that. I think that you sit there
very patiently listening; I'd
00:12:00.28\00:12:05.82
like for you to tell me how what
we're presenting is landing on
you. And so you'll see that show
00:12:05.92\00:12:11.83
up towards the end of the
meeting tonight. But our subject
is "The man of Revelation" and
00:12:11.93\00:12:17.03
our textbook is the Bible. And
so I would invite you to bow
your heads with me in prayer.
00:12:17.13\00:12:21.74
Father in heaven, I know how
profoundly my own life was
changed when I saw what was
00:12:21.84\00:12:30.98
contained in the words of this
Book. It was here that I heard
Your voice and it was here that
00:12:31.08\00:12:38.09
I met Jesus, and it's my prayer
tonight that You would speak to
us again and that we would meet
00:12:38.19\00:12:45.03
Jesus and that we would know
more of Him when I'm done. That
means I need, Father, for You to
00:12:45.13\00:12:53.97
bless me. I need You to cover my
mistakes and my sins and make me
fit to speak, so that the only
00:12:54.07\00:13:02.28
real Voice that is heard tonight
is Yours. And I ask it tonight
in Jesus' name, amen. When you
00:13:02.38\00:13:11.69
open your Bible to the book of
Revelation and you look at the
very top, the very beginning of
00:13:11.79\00:13:16.52
the book of Revelation, you'll
notice something very
interesting. In many editions of
00:13:16.62\00:13:20.66
the Bible, there is a title that
has been given to the book.
It'll say "The Revelation of
00:13:20.76\00:13:24.90
John," or if you have the old
King James version, it'll say,
"The Revelation of Saint John
00:13:25.00\00:13:31.34
the Divine." And really, it's a
pretty good title for the book,
because it, after all, was
00:13:31.44\00:13:35.88
written by the apostle John, and
there is no doubt that John is a
central figure in the whole
00:13:35.98\00:13:42.42
drama of the book of Revelation.
John actually was the last
living disciple, and he's the
00:13:42.52\00:13:49.82
only one who actually died of
natural causes. The rest of
them, all put to death
00:13:49.92\00:13:53.70
prematurely. Historically, we
understand that Peter was
crucified upside down; Thomas,
00:13:53.80\00:13:59.87
run through by a spear; Andrew,
crucified on an X-shaped cross;
Paul, beheaded. John is the last
00:14:00.04\00:14:06.98
of the apostles, the last of the
disciples, as well, to be alive,
the only one to die of natural
00:14:07.08\00:14:13.05
causes. And that's not because
they didn't try to kill him;
they did. The Roman empire tried
00:14:13.15\00:14:17.72
to do away with John late in his
life. There was a Roman emperor
by the name of Domitian, and
00:14:17.82\00:14:24.13
Domitian hated Christians, and
apparently, he tried to kill
John because John is such a
00:14:24.23\00:14:30.20
prominent figure in the early
Christian church. And the way he
tried to kill him was, he
00:14:30.30\00:14:34.94
lowered him into a vat of
boiling oil. Now, the Bible
doesn't tell that story - we're
00:14:35.04\00:14:39.91
relying on the witness of
first-century Christians for
that story - but apparently, he
00:14:40.01\00:14:44.81
lowered him into what was
essentially a deep fryer. If you
can imagine how awful a way to
00:14:44.91\00:14:50.39
go that would be. But for some
reason, it failed. John
survives. And so the emperor
00:14:50.49\00:14:56.26
says, "Now what? I gotta get rid
of John," and he sends him out
to a prison colony out in the
00:14:56.36\00:15:01.66
Aegean Sea, a little barren
piece of rock known as the
island of Patmos, about thirteen
00:15:01.76\00:15:08.44
square miles in size, and about
forty-some miles off the coast
of what is today Turkey.
00:15:08.54\00:15:15.48
Forty-five miles from the city
of Ephesus, which at that time,
was John's home. He was
00:15:15.58\00:15:20.88
pastoring, we understand, the
church in the city of Ephesus.
Now, today, on Patmos, there are
00:15:20.98\00:15:28.39
about 3,000 people who live out
there, and they live there by
choice. But back in John's day,
00:15:28.49\00:15:33.19
nobody really lived on Patmos by
choice. It was really just
prisoners, rejects from the
00:15:33.29\00:15:40.17
Roman empire, people who were
safely removed from the rest of
the population so that they
00:15:40.27\00:15:45.31
couldn't make trouble anymore.
And of course, being exiled
there probably should have been
00:15:45.41\00:15:50.85
the end of John's career. He's
the last disciple alive, and now
he's removed from the rest of
00:15:50.95\00:15:56.85
the human race, except that one
day, he hears a voice, and the
voice happens to be Jesus. And
00:15:56.95\00:16:05.13
Jesus begins to show him some
really incredible things. He
shows him the stuff we read
00:16:05.23\00:16:09.80
about in the book of Revelation.
So there is no doubt that John
is an important man. There is no
00:16:09.90\00:16:16.44
doubt he is central to the book
of Revelation. It makes sense
that somebody would put his name
00:16:16.54\00:16:22.08
at the top of the book. But it's
a man-made title. The
translators did that. It wasn't
00:16:22.18\00:16:27.22
in the original manuscript. The
real title of the book, I
believe, is the one that God
00:16:27.32\00:16:33.52
gave it right in Revelation 1:1
where it says "The Revelation of
[who?] Jesus Christ," not the
00:16:33.62\00:16:41.46
Revelation of John, "which God
gave Him [that's Jesus] to show
His servants." This is for us,
00:16:41.56\00:16:48.70
the servants of Jesus. "Things
which must shortly take place."
When will they take place?
00:16:48.80\00:16:54.21
Shortly. So we read it's the
Revelation of Jesus Christ, and
it's a revelation of things that
00:16:54.31\00:17:01.98
must take place shortly. Now, I
want you to pay attention to
that word. When will the things
00:17:02.08\00:17:08.86
that John is about to see
actually take place? He's told
it will start happening shortly.
00:17:08.96\00:17:16.00
So I want you to tuck that
behind one ear. It's an
important piece of information
00:17:16.10\00:17:19.37
that's going to show up again.
It happens shortly. So anytime
you hear a theory that takes
00:17:19.47\00:17:26.17
absolutely all of the book of
Revelation and sticks it way off
down in the distant future and
00:17:26.27\00:17:31.41
they say it all happens in just
a few years at the very end of
time, you've got to wonder about
00:17:31.51\00:17:36.48
it, because it starts out by
saying it's going to happen
shortly. Now, save that
00:17:36.58\00:17:42.59
information; it's important.
We'll come back to that on
another night. But for right
00:17:42.69\00:17:46.93
now, what I really want you to
focus on is the actual real
title. It is the Revelation of
00:17:47.03\00:17:52.37
Jesus. This book is not really
about John. This book is not
really about dragons; it's not
00:17:52.47\00:17:58.44
really about demons; it's not
really about the Antichrist;
even though all those things are
00:17:58.54\00:18:04.21
absolutely in the book. The real
subject, though, the focus of
the book, is Jesus. And nowhere
00:18:04.31\00:18:11.29
does that become more clear than
in Revelation chapter 5. A scene
that actually ushers you and I
00:18:11.39\00:18:17.69
right into the throne room of
God. Now, let's set the stage
for Revelation 5 just a little
00:18:17.79\00:18:23.97
bit. John, in Revelation chapter
4, is actually invited to visit
heaven in vision. And that's a
00:18:24.07\00:18:31.07
privilege that is extended to
very few people. Only a handful
of people have seen the throne
00:18:31.17\00:18:37.41
of God in vision. It happens in
Isaiah 6; it happens in Ezekiel
1, Ezekiel sees the throne of
00:18:37.51\00:18:43.82
God above the wheel within the
wheel. It only happens for a few
people. It is a very rare
00:18:43.92\00:18:50.79
privilege. And you and I tonight
get to join him as he goes.
Revelation 5 verse 1. It says:
00:18:50.89\00:18:58.67
"And I saw in the right hand of
Him who sat on the throne a
[what?] a scroll written inside
00:18:58.77\00:19:06.81
and on the back, sealed with
seven seals." There's a couple
of things that I want you to
00:19:06.91\00:19:13.65
notice in Revelation 5 verse 1.
First of all, it says there are
seven seals. And in the book of
00:19:13.75\00:19:23.46
Revelation, numbers are usually
important. They're usually
significant. They're not
00:19:23.56\00:19:25.43
coincidental. They actually mean
something, and the number seven
shows up more than just about
00:19:25.53\00:19:31.27
any other number. There are
seven churches in Revelation
chapters 1, 2, and 3. There are
00:19:31.37\00:19:36.64
seven candlesticks. There are
seven plagues. There are seven
thunders. There are seven things
00:19:36.74\00:19:42.28
in Revelation 5 that the lamb is
worthy of. It says, "Worthy is
the lamb to receive power,
00:19:42.38\00:19:47.32
riches, wisdom, strength,
honour, glory, blessing." Seven
things that the lamb - seven.
00:19:47.42\00:19:54.19
Shows up everywhere. That's
because seven is one of God's
numbers. It is the number of
00:19:54.29\00:19:59.49
completion and perfection.
Anytime you see the number
seven, you have a whole set of
00:19:59.59\00:20:06.10
something, a perfect set. You
have perfection. Stems from the
story of creation. God created
00:20:06.20\00:20:11.27
the world in six days, rested on
the seventh day. A creation
week. Seven days. We still have
00:20:11.37\00:20:17.28
a seven-day week to this day.
Seven is the number of
completion, perfection. And
00:20:17.38\00:20:21.75
you'll find it all over the book
of Revelation. So that's the
first thing I want you to
00:20:21.85\00:20:25.55
notice. There are seven seals.
And we're going to look at those
seven seals more carefully
00:20:25.65\00:20:30.13
tomorrow night. The other thing
I want you to pay attention to
is the scroll in God's hand.
00:20:30.23\00:20:36.73
There are records in heaven.
They write stuff down. By the
time we come to this weekend,
00:20:36.83\00:20:43.04
you're going to find out that
written records, or books -
books, actually - we have books.
00:20:43.14\00:20:48.48
It's a codex, when you turn
pages; a scroll is a little bit
different. They write it on a
00:20:48.58\00:20:52.78
long piece of paper and they
roll it up. But they have
written records, and those are a
00:20:52.88\00:20:56.72
very common feature in Bible
prophecy. And it tells me
something important: records in
00:20:56.82\00:21:02.62
heaven tells me, nothing escapes
God's notice. Nothing. He
doesn't miss a thing that takes
00:21:02.72\00:21:08.33
place on this planet, right?
Remember Belshazzar. "Numbered,
numbered, you are weighed in the
00:21:08.43\00:21:14.84
balances and found wanting."
Somebody was numbering his life,
paying attention. We have seen,
00:21:14.94\00:21:20.08
"The eyes of the Lord run to and
fro throughout the whole earth."
Heaven pays attention and they
00:21:20.18\00:21:25.45
keep records. Verse 2.
00:21:25.55\00:21:28.05
"Then I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a," tiny little
voice. Is that what it says? Are
00:21:28.62\00:21:34.52
you still with me? Alright.
"Then I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a," what? That
00:21:34.62\00:21:39.39
wasn't loud at all. Let's try it
again. "I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,"
00:21:39.49\00:21:45.10
that's right. "'Who is worthy to
open the scroll and loose its
seals?'" There is an urgent
00:21:45.20\00:21:49.87
question being asked in the
courts of heaven. It is so
urgent that they shout the
00:21:49.97\00:21:54.91
question. "Who is worthy?" It's
a question that angels are
interested in. We don't often
00:21:55.01\00:22:01.62
think of angels as being
interested in stuff. We don't
pay much attention to angels. We
00:22:01.72\00:22:06.19
treat them like robots. But in
the Bible, they're real, living
beings with emotions and ideas
00:22:06.29\00:22:11.39
and a real existence and a sense
of curiosity. They ask
questions. They don't know
00:22:11.49\00:22:16.90
everything. Presumably, they
know more than us, but they're
not all-knowing; only God is.
00:22:17.00\00:22:21.64
And on this occasion, they want
to know, who is worthy to open
the scroll? And what is the
00:22:21.74\00:22:26.11
answer? Pay attention carefully.
Verse 3: "And no one in heaven
or on the earth or under the
00:22:26.21\00:22:34.38
earth was able to open the
scroll, or to look at it." Who's
worthy? No one. That's an
00:22:34.48\00:22:43.09
absolutely critical thought. I
want you to save that behind one
ear for a little bit later on
00:22:43.19\00:22:47.60
too because you're going to need
that concept. No one is worthy.
Verse 4. "So I wept much,
00:22:47.66\00:22:55.20
because no one was found worthy
to open and read the scroll, or
to look at it." There's a
00:22:55.30\00:23:02.31
problem in heaven. I know we
also don't think of heaven as a
place that has problems, but
00:23:02.41\00:23:07.25
here's one that needs solving.
They have a sealed book, a
sealed scroll, and judging by
00:23:07.35\00:23:12.75
the urgency in heaven, it has to
be opened. There is a sense that
they all want that scroll
00:23:12.85\00:23:18.59
opened, but they can't find
anybody who is qualified. And
the angels are anxious and John
00:23:18.69\00:23:24.10
is anxious. He's so anxious, he
starts crying. Actually, crying
is an understatement. He says,
00:23:24.20\00:23:30.51
"I wept much." What we are
looking at is the biggest issue
in our world. It's what we're
00:23:30.61\00:23:38.38
looking at. This is a problem
that must be solved, verse 5.
"But one of the elders said to
00:23:38.48\00:23:43.79
me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the
Lion of the tribe of Judah,'"
who is that? That's Jesus. "'The
00:23:43.89\00:23:53.26
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David, has prevailed to
open the scroll and to loose its
00:23:53.36\00:23:58.43
seven seals.'" You see it?
Prophecy is always good news.
It's always, "Here's the human
00:23:58.53\00:24:03.97
problem and here is God's
solution." That's why I insist
that we preach "Revelation
00:24:04.07\00:24:09.04
Speaks Peace." The book of
Revelation is not about
destruction. It's about
00:24:09.14\00:24:13.88
salvation. The book of
Revelation is not about death;
it's about conquering death
00:24:13.98\00:24:18.92
through Jesus. It's not about
hopelessness; it's about finding
a hope in Jesus that lasts
00:24:19.02\00:24:23.79
forever. John weeps. And the
elder says, "Don't cry. The Lion
of the tribe of Judah," verse 6.
00:24:23.89\00:24:33.20
"And I looked, and behold, in
the midst of the throne and of
the four living creatures, and
00:24:33.30\00:24:38.67
in the midst of the elders,
stood a lamb." Here's what I
want you to notice. There's a
00:24:38.77\00:24:45.48
pattern in the book of
Revelation - and you'll see this
in other studies that we do
00:24:45.58\00:24:49.42
together - John first hears
something sometimes and then he
turns and he sees it. First he
00:24:49.52\00:24:54.82
hears about the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, and he turns and
he sees a lamb. You'll see that
00:24:54.92\00:24:59.86
in other places. In Revelation
7, he hears about 144,000, but
then he turns and sees a
00:24:59.96\00:25:05.10
multitude that no man could
number. In Revelation chapter 1,
John hears a voice like a
00:25:05.20\00:25:09.80
trumpet, and then he turns and
he sees the Son of Man dressed
like an Old Testament high
00:25:09.90\00:25:14.98
priest standing with the seven
candlesticks. In this occasion,
he hears about a lion and he
00:25:15.08\00:25:20.65
turns and he sees a lamb. And
who is the lamb? The lamb is
Jesus. I believe it's
00:25:20.75\00:25:25.85
twenty-eight times in the book
of Revelation, Jesus is referred
to as the Lamb of God. That's
00:25:25.95\00:25:31.46
what John the Baptist called Him
when he first laid eyes on Jesus
coming to the Jordan River.
00:25:31.56\00:25:36.10
"Behold, the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the
world." He sees a lamb, "as
00:25:36.20\00:25:42.77
though it had been slain, having
seven horns [there's that
number] and seven eyes, which
00:25:42.87\00:25:49.68
are the seven Spirits of God
sent out into all the earth."
There's that number seven again.
00:25:49.78\00:25:55.15
Now, I'm about to wander off
topic for about two-and-a-half
minutes. Can I do that with you?
00:25:55.25\00:25:59.85
Would you forgive me if I
wandered off topic for
two-and-a-half minutes? Two
00:25:59.95\00:26:03.12
minutes and forty seconds?
Alright. You know, the Bible
says, if you don't forgive me,
00:26:03.22\00:26:07.30
you don't get to go to heaven at
all. That's what it says. No,
but this is interesting. It's
00:26:07.40\00:26:12.40
just interesting. And I'm kind
of going to cover something
we're going to do in more depth.
00:26:12.50\00:26:16.07
But seven shows up so many times
in this one verse. There are
seven horns. When we get to
00:26:16.17\00:26:22.64
Daniel chapter 7, you're going
to find out that horns are often
used to represent kings and
00:26:22.74\00:26:26.35
kingdoms and political powers.
It says so in Daniel chapter 7.
Go do your homework tonight. The
00:26:26.45\00:26:31.62
horns are kings and the horns
are kingdoms and there are seven
of them here, which tells me,
00:26:31.72\00:26:35.49
Jesus has perfect, complete
power. There are seven eyes.
Eyes are often used to represent
00:26:35.59\00:26:41.56
wisdom. "The eyes of the Lord
run to and fro throughout the
earth." And so Jesus has seven
00:26:41.66\00:26:47.07
of them. He has perfect wisdom
and knowledge. And it says the
eyes of the seven spirits of God
00:26:47.17\00:26:52.81
which go out into the world, to
the whole world, and the Holy
Spirit is how Jesus is still
00:26:52.91\00:26:58.05
present with us today. As He's
on His way to heaven, He says,
"Behold, I will send you another
00:26:58.15\00:27:02.58
Comforter," the Holy Spirit, the
third person of the Godhead. And
this spirit comes, and He's
00:27:02.68\00:27:07.99
perfectly present. Seven,
though, because Jesus is
perfectly present with us. And
00:27:08.09\00:27:12.86
if you think about it, those
three things are attributes only
ascribed to God. God is
00:27:12.96\00:27:17.70
all-powerful, omnipotent. God is
omniscient, all-knowing. And God
is omnipresent, He is here all
00:27:17.80\00:27:24.11
over this world with us, through
the Holy Spirit. The book of
Revelation uses the language of
00:27:24.21\00:27:31.21
divinity to speak of Jesus
Christ. It does. "Then He came
and took the scroll [verse 7]
00:27:31.31\00:27:39.69
out of the right hand of Him who
sat on the throne." Here are the
questions I have for you
00:27:39.79\00:27:43.83
tonight: Why would John weep so
bitterly? Why is this such a bad
situation? What exactly did the
00:27:43.93\00:27:53.77
lamb do that makes him worthy?
And in the book of Revelation,
why is he pictured like a slain
00:27:53.87\00:28:01.81
lamb? Let me begin to explain
with a story. It's just an
ordinary envelope, number ten.
00:28:01.91\00:28:10.12
The kind you would get from any
government agency. But when
Linda opened that envelope in
00:28:10.22\00:28:16.39
her house, the bottom dropped
out of her world. She'd been
expecting the government of
00:28:16.49\00:28:21.66
Nebraska to send her a copy of
her birth certificate - she
needed one to apply for a
00:28:21.76\00:28:25.00
passport - and she couldn't find
her birth certificate anywhere,
so she asked for a replacement
00:28:25.10\00:28:29.47
copy. And when she opened the
envelope, she did not expect
what she found. Splashed across
00:28:29.57\00:28:34.58
the top of the document it said,
"Adoptive birth certificate."
Now, normally, that wouldn't be
00:28:34.68\00:28:40.52
a problem; there was just one
little thing. She wasn't
adopted. Obviously, somebody had
00:28:40.62\00:28:46.12
made a mistake somewhere in a
government office. And you know
how hard that is to clean up.
00:28:46.22\00:28:51.73
She's not going to get her
passport on time now. I mean,
she's not adopted. If she'd been
00:28:51.83\00:28:56.16
adopted, she'd know that. She's
forty-two with four kids of her
own. She would know that by now.
00:28:56.26\00:29:01.94
She laughed about it. But she
kind of had this little nagging
doubt. "I wonder why I couldn't
00:29:02.04\00:29:06.11
find a passport or a birth
certificate anywhere." She began
to wonder. "I wonder if there's
00:29:06.21\00:29:11.88
something to this. What if
there's something I don't know?"
And for fun, she picked up the
00:29:11.98\00:29:16.65
phone and called her uncle. She
couldn't call her folks because
they were already gone. "Uncle,"
00:29:16.75\00:29:20.79
she said, "I just got my birth
certificate from the government,
and you wouldn't believe it. It
00:29:20.89\00:29:25.49
says on there that I was
adopted. Isn't that funny?"
Silence. Do you know something?
00:29:25.59\00:29:35.50
A sigh. He said, "Look, your
parents made me promise I would
never tell you, but it's true."
00:29:35.60\00:29:41.88
She hangs up, calls her sister
Joan. "Joan!" "What's the
matter, Linda? You don't sound
00:29:41.98\00:29:48.75
so good." "I don't feel good. I
want to know something. Am I
your biological sister, yes or
00:29:48.85\00:29:53.86
no?" Silence. "Come on, I have a
right to know." "Well, Mom and
Dad made me promise I'd never
00:29:53.96\00:30:03.47
tell you, but you found out,
yeah, it's true." She went into
shock. Not because of adoption,
00:30:03.57\00:30:10.84
but because she'd been lied to.
Her whole life is a lie. She
went into the bedroom. She sat
00:30:10.94\00:30:16.98
on the edge of the bed. She
stayed there for, like, three
days. Wouldn't eat, couldn't
00:30:17.08\00:30:21.22
sleep. Finally her husband Mike
came into the room, sat next to
her. He said, "Linda, I can't
00:30:21.32\00:30:25.92
even imagine how hard this must
be for you right now, but I have
this idea." "What?" "Why don't
00:30:26.02\00:30:31.29
you try and find your real birth
mother? That might help." "Mike!
This is not a fairytale. Real
00:30:31.39\00:30:39.23
life doesn't have happy endings.
My mother didn't want me once;
why would she want me now?" "I
00:30:39.33\00:30:45.31
know, I know. I can't imagine
how hard this is for you, but
you couldn't feel any worse than
00:30:45.41\00:30:49.61
you do now. What's the harm in
trying? And besides, we have
four children. What if there's
00:30:49.71\00:30:55.78
some medical information that
would be useful down the road?"
And in her heart, she knew he
00:30:55.88\00:30:59.82
was right. So she sat down and
wrote an ad to put in the paper.
She didn't know where else to
00:30:59.92\00:31:04.86
begin looking. The only
information she had was one
detail that her sister
00:31:04.96\00:31:09.40
remembered: the names of her
biological parents, first names.
So she put an ad in the
00:31:09.50\00:31:15.07
newspaper. "My name is Linda,
born to a Jeannie and Warren in
Omaha, July 8, 1950, given up
00:31:15.17\00:31:24.58
for adoption. My adoptive
parents are deceased. I do not
wish to cause any problems, but
00:31:24.68\00:31:28.95
I am seeking available
information or possible
reunion." You know what she's
00:31:29.05\00:31:34.19
asking? "Who am I?" That's a big
question. In fact, that's a
question a lot of people have
00:31:34.29\00:31:42.73
asked over the centuries.
Because Linda's not the only one
to find out she's been lied to.
00:31:42.83\00:31:49.57
Built her whole life on
something that wasn't so. Sooner
or later, every one of us has to
00:31:49.67\00:31:56.04
ask that same question. If you
haven't asked it yet, you will.
"Who am I? Where do I really
00:31:56.14\00:32:01.12
belong? What is the meaning of
my existence? Is there a purpose
to my life?" Everybody has to
00:32:01.22\00:32:06.42
face those questions. If you
haven't faced them yet, trust
me, you will. You can't get
00:32:06.52\00:32:11.23
through life and not wonder who
you are. One of the most famous
examples anywhere is actually
00:32:11.33\00:32:17.57
found in the gospel according to
Luke. It's in the story of the
thief on the cross. Luke 23.
00:32:17.67\00:32:22.40
"There were also two other
criminals [I like the way the
old King James put this first:
00:32:22.50\00:32:27.08
malefactors. It means evildoers.
These aren't people with
speeding tickets; they're
00:32:27.18\00:32:32.48
evildoers], led with Him to be
put to death. And when they had
come to the place called
00:32:32.58\00:32:39.35
Calvary, there they crucified
Him, and the criminals, one on
the right hand and the other on
00:32:39.45\00:32:43.86
the left." The Bible says there
was somebody hanging on the
cross next to Jesus and we know
00:32:43.96\00:32:48.13
him as the thief on the cross,
but you realize, that's all we
know. We don't know anything
00:32:48.23\00:32:52.87
about this guy. We don't know
who he is at all. We don't know
what town he comes from. We
00:32:52.97\00:32:57.67
don't know who his parents are.
We don't know where he went to
school. We don't even have his
00:32:57.77\00:33:02.44
name. It doesn't even give us
his name. Oh, it bothered our
forefathers in the Christian
00:33:02.54\00:33:08.98
faith. They started to make up
stories about this guy because
it bothered them so much that
00:33:09.08\00:33:13.09
they didn't know who he was.
They gave him a name. They
called him Dismas. They said,
00:33:13.19\00:33:18.03
"Oh, he was a boyhood friend of
Jesus, and when they were little
kids together, one day, Dismas
00:33:18.13\00:33:21.60
fell off the roof and died and
Jesus raised him from the dead,"
but it's nonsense; it's just a
00:33:21.70\00:33:26.77
legend. Had to make up something
about this guy. Other people
say, "He saved Mary's life when
00:33:26.87\00:33:32.54
she was fleeing to Egypt," but
again, nonsense, because it
bothers us. We don't know him.
00:33:32.64\00:33:36.78
All we know is what the Bible
says. Matthew calls him a thief.
Mark calls him a transgressor.
00:33:36.88\00:33:43.75
Luke calls him a criminal, a
malefactor, an evildoer. Does
this guy have hobbies and
00:33:43.85\00:33:49.52
interests? We don't know. Did he
have a girlfriend and a wife? We
don't know. Any siblings? We
00:33:49.62\00:33:53.96
don't know a thing about him.
All we have is what the Bible
says. Three words. To wrap up a
00:33:54.03\00:34:01.20
whole lifetime. Makes me wonder.
What three words are they going
to pick for me? What three words
00:34:01.30\00:34:09.81
would they pick to sum up your
whole life for you? In the end,
that's all you get. Call it an
00:34:09.91\00:34:17.35
obituary, maybe two hundred
words in the newspaper. An
epitaph, just a few words on a
00:34:17.45\00:34:22.46
headstone. That's all you get.
Chances are, you'll never read
it. You'll never see your own
00:34:22.56\00:34:29.26
epitaph. But I promise you,
you've already begun to write
it. Day by day, minute by
00:34:29.36\00:34:36.20
minute, decision by decision,
every choice you make right now
determines how you're
00:34:36.30\00:34:43.14
remembered. The character you
build makes a difference for all
eternity. What you do now
00:34:43.24\00:34:50.79
determines how you're remembered
in the scrolls of heaven and
here on earth. The sum total of
00:34:50.89\00:34:56.73
your life is the result of all
the decisions you make. Matthew,
Mark, and Luke say this man is a
00:34:56.83\00:35:03.73
thief, a transgressor, an
evildoer. Is he a good dad? I
don't know. Good provider before
00:35:03.83\00:35:10.21
he went into crime? I don't
know. It's not what his life was
about. Ultimately, at the end,
00:35:10.31\00:35:13.68
the way that you sum this man
up, he's a thief, he's a
criminal, he's the very worst
00:35:13.81\00:35:17.61
thing the rulers of Israel could
find that day to hang next to
Jesus to make his crucifixion
00:35:17.71\00:35:21.92
seem even more shameful. They
wanted to hang this guy next to
Jesus because this guy was
00:35:22.02\00:35:27.76
worthless. They could shame
Jesus with a man like this.
Worthless. Ask yourself a
00:35:27.86\00:35:36.97
question. If you were escorted
to heaven in vision like John,
stood right in front of the
00:35:37.07\00:35:42.10
throne of God, right now, just
the way you are - no studying,
no prep, you're just there, bang
00:35:42.20\00:35:46.71
- how would you do? How would
you respond? Would you weep? If
you had to stand right in front
00:35:46.81\00:35:56.08
of the throne of God. Remember,
nobody could be found that was
worthy. Nobody. Do you know why?
00:35:56.18\00:36:00.86
Because the Bible teaches the
human race has sinned against
God. And the only thing we're
00:36:00.96\00:36:06.23
worthy of is death. How do I
know? Some of you know these
passages. Romans 6:23. "The
00:36:06.33\00:36:13.47
wages of sin is death." Wait a
minute, the wages of sin is
death? Isn't that a little bit
00:36:13.57\00:36:19.77
harsh? I mean, a few little
misdeeds, okay. I didn't tell
the whole truth at April 15, you
00:36:19.87\00:36:25.38
know. I didn't submit an
accurate tax return, but really,
I didn't do anything horrible,
00:36:25.48\00:36:30.32
and I have to die? What does
that say about God? Is He some
kind of a dictator? I don't do
00:36:30.42\00:36:36.46
things His way, He kills me? Why
death? Well, let's think about
this. What actually happens when
00:36:36.56\00:36:43.16
you sin? The Bible says, one of
the things that happens is we
cut ourselves off from God. We
00:36:43.26\00:36:48.87
compromise our relationship with
Him. Isaiah 59 says: "Your
iniquities [literally,
00:36:48.97\00:36:52.87
lawlessness] your iniquities
have separated you from your
God; and your sins have hidden
00:36:52.97\00:36:58.55
His face from you, so that He
will not hear." Now, why does it
separate you from God to commit
00:36:58.65\00:37:03.28
a sin? It's because God is
perfect and holy and without
sin, and He can't allow sin in
00:37:03.39\00:37:09.19
His presence. Why? Because He
knows what kind of suffering sin
causes. And He does not love
00:37:09.29\00:37:14.36
suffering and pain. He knows
what it does. He can't permit
that in His presence. Sin
00:37:14.46\00:37:19.60
compromises our connection to
God. It cuts us off from Him.
And what happens if you're cut
00:37:19.70\00:37:24.21
off from God? Colossians 1 says
that Jesus is the Creator and
He's the Sustainer of life. He
00:37:24.31\00:37:31.38
gives you every breath you've
got. He's the only reason we're
here right now. He is the only
00:37:31.48\00:37:35.32
source of life in the universe.
If you compromise a connection
with the only source of life,
00:37:35.42\00:37:40.72
what happens? You die. "Yeah,
but I've done some stuff and I'm
not dead yet." No, not yet. It's
00:37:40.82\00:37:48.60
coming. It's like unplugging a
fan. Pull it out from the power,
the blades keep spinning for a
00:37:48.70\00:37:56.30
little while, and then they
eventually stop. It's like
running out of gas on the
00:37:56.40\00:38:00.24
freeway, right? Car goes another
quarter mile and eventually it
stops. The whole world is
00:38:00.34\00:38:05.08
winding down. It's why the
contractions are getting bigger
and bigger and bigger. Our
00:38:05.18\00:38:09.78
problem is serious. This is why
John weeps. We're cut off from
God and it's a universal, human
00:38:09.88\00:38:15.16
problem. There are no
exceptions. First John 1 verse
8: "If we say that we have no
00:38:15.26\00:38:19.86
sin, we deceive [there's that
word again. It's a last-day
issue. Deception.] If we say
00:38:19.96\00:38:26.80
that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not
in us." It's a deception to tell
00:38:26.90\00:38:32.94
yourself there's nothing wrong.
Babylon was drunk. They didn't
realize that they could really
00:38:33.04\00:38:37.78
fall. Belshazzar drinking and
partying as the armies are
gathered outside. Revelation 17
00:38:37.88\00:38:42.92
says: "In the last days, all of
Babylon is drunk." The world is
drunk. If we say that we haven't
00:38:43.02\00:38:48.32
sinned, we're like Belshazzar
sitting in the city. "I'll never
have to pay the piper. I will
00:38:48.42\00:38:52.86
never have to pay the
consequences." But let me assure
you tonight: you can't fool God.
00:38:52.96\00:38:58.13
You can't fool Him. Everybody
has sinned. And if we can't
admit it, it might mean we're
00:38:58.23\00:39:02.87
drunk. Listen to the Bible.
Romans 3 verse 23: "For all [how
many?] all [you're getting quiet
00:39:02.97\00:39:12.81
on me. How many?] all have
sinned and come short of the
glory of God." How many have
00:39:12.91\00:39:17.99
sinned? All. How many are worthy
of death? All. Who's worthy to
open the scroll? Nobody. "Okay,
00:39:18.09\00:39:24.69
okay, I did some stuff. I did
some stuff. But I'm absolutely
not as bad as the guy who sits
00:39:24.79\00:39:30.77
next to me in church. You should
see what that guy did. It is
awful. I can see he doesn't make
00:39:30.87\00:39:36.40
it, but my list isn't nearly as
bad. I'm not as bad as him."
I'll tell you what. When I saw
00:39:36.50\00:39:41.88
that snow this morning, I got an
idea in my mind. I got an idea
in my mind. I thought -
00:39:41.98\00:39:45.31
Christine Wollmann, who was
singing with us earlier, she
actually flew to Saint Lucia
00:39:45.41\00:39:50.02
this morning. She's out in the
sun and in the tropics today as
we are braving the elements to
00:39:50.12\00:39:54.89
come to this meeting. And I
thought, "You know what? I want
to go to Saint Lucia too," but I
00:39:54.99\00:40:00.06
don't have the airfare. I can't
afford to go. So I'm going to
drive to Miami and I'm going to
00:40:00.16\00:40:04.03
swim because it's only 1800
miles. I could do that. But I
don't want to do it alone, so I
00:40:04.13\00:40:08.34
need somebody to swim with me.
Pastor Doug, you don't know that
you're going to do this. Here,
00:40:08.44\00:40:14.28
come out here. We're going to
swim to Saint Lucia. Let's go.
Are you ready? No, apparently
00:40:14.38\00:40:19.68
not. Alright. Yeah, we're going
to get into the water now in
Miami. Feel how nice and warm
00:40:19.78\00:40:26.12
that is? Yeah. There is no
water, Pastor Doug. No, it's
just like - it's our
00:40:26.22\00:40:31.06
imagination. But we gotta go,
ready? It's 1800 miles. Are you
all limbered up? You get to
00:40:31.16\00:40:36.20
crack your neck a little bit.
Alright. Alright, let's go.
Let's swim to Saint Lucia. It's
00:40:36.30\00:40:43.10
1800 - you're not going to make
it with a stroke like that. That
is absolutely pathetic.
00:40:43.20\00:40:45.87
Let's go again. Alright, 1800
miles, here we go. And we're
going to go 700 miles. Oh, look
00:40:45.97\00:40:52.68
at that. You broke your glasses.
You don't need them out here;
it's in the ocean. 800 miles.
00:40:52.78\00:40:58.35
900 miles. And suddenly, he gets
a funny look on his face. Not
the usual funny look, a special
00:40:58.45\00:41:05.26
funny look. Yeah, because - and
I say, "What's wrong?" A shark
has your leg. (Which one?) This
00:41:05.36\00:41:14.67
one here, yeah. "A shark bit my
leg." (A shark bit my leg.)
Yeah. Oh my goodness, that's
00:41:14.77\00:41:21.11
horrible. And all of a sudden,
he goes under the water, bloop,
he's gone. I wait around for a
00:41:21.21\00:41:26.61
little while, see if he comes
back up, nope. You can go now.
You're all done, yeah. There's a
00:41:26.72\00:41:33.59
little blood in the water, so
I've gotta swim fast. I gotta
get out of here before the other
00:41:33.69\00:41:36.86
sharks come. And so I keep
going. 1700 miles, 1750 miles,
1780 miles, 1790 miles, and
00:41:36.96\00:41:43.26
suddenly, something's got my
leg. Shark. Bloop, under I go.
We both fell short of Saint
00:41:43.37\00:41:51.74
Lucia. Does it matter at all how
far short? All have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.
00:41:51.84\00:42:00.92
How dare we compare ourselves to
other people? We all fall short.
We're all lost. We're all in
00:42:01.02\00:42:06.96
trouble. John knew it, the thief
knew it too. Not at first, not
at first, but eventually, he
00:42:07.06\00:42:11.19
figures it out. In the
beginning, he does something
really horrible. According to
00:42:11.29\00:42:14.93
Matthew's gospel, he's making
fun of Jesus. As he's hanging on
a cross dying, he's making fun
00:42:15.03\00:42:20.04
of Jesus. Unbelievably, he joins
the mockery of the crowd on the
ground. "Come on, Jesus, if you
00:42:20.14\00:42:26.91
really are the Son of God, why
don't you come down off that
cross? King of the Jews, huh?
00:42:27.01\00:42:31.91
That's what that sign says.
We'll give You a throne if You
come off that cross, or maybe
00:42:32.01\00:42:37.15
You like the throne You have
right now. Why doesn't God save
You, if You are His Son?" They
00:42:37.25\00:42:45.49
all did it. Pharisees, the
Romans, the priests whose work
in the temple actually
00:42:45.59\00:42:53.10
symbolized what Jesus was doing
for them at that very moment,
are mocking Jesus. They're all
00:42:53.20\00:42:58.24
doing it. "Come on, Jesus. If
You are Messiah, You could do
something about this. This
00:42:58.34\00:43:03.28
shouldn't be a problem for You."
They were casting it in His
teeth, Matthew says. And the
00:43:03.38\00:43:09.68
thief too. And suddenly, he
stops, and he looks over at
Jesus, and something happens in
00:43:09.78\00:43:19.16
his mind. He suddenly remembers
everything he's heard about this
man Jesus. He went about doing
00:43:19.26\00:43:25.17
good. He healed the sick. He
loved the unlovable. He touched
the untouchable. And he thinks
00:43:25.27\00:43:31.04
about Jesus and that judgement
hall last night, how He just
stood there and took it, not
00:43:31.14\00:43:35.11
like a guilty man does, but like
an innocent man. And he suddenly
sees that Jesus isn't deceived;
00:43:35.21\00:43:44.09
he is. And he suddenly sobers
up. He finds out in the last
seconds of his life that it's
00:43:44.19\00:43:51.46
all been a big lie. There's been
a conspiracy. "I don't believe
in conspiracies." No, me
00:43:51.56\00:43:57.33
neither, not the kind you see on
youtube, but sometimes they're
real. Hard to deny it because
00:43:57.43\00:44:04.27
they kept Linda in the dark for
forty-two years. Turns out, her
birth mother was a little girl
00:44:04.37\00:44:09.01
named Jeannie, got married at
seventeen, had a baby that year,
and her teenage husband said, "I
00:44:09.11\00:44:13.48
don't want children," and
disappeared. Disappeared into
the woodwork. So she went and
00:44:13.58\00:44:18.32
found a job in Omaha. Found an
older couple to take care of her
little child Linda: Mr. and Mrs.
00:44:18.42\00:44:25.56
Whitney. It was too far to
travel there every day, so she
would drop Linda off on Sunday
00:44:25.66\00:44:29.76
night and pick her up Friday
afternoon. It worked well until
one day she got a phone call at
00:44:29.86\00:44:34.77
work. "Jeannie, it's social
services. They found out about
our childcare arrangement and
00:44:34.87\00:44:40.08
they say it's not legal, and if
you don't come and sign some
papers, you're going to lose
00:44:40.18\00:44:43.35
your baby." "Don't let it
happen. I'll be right over." She
went over, looked at it. She
00:44:43.45\00:44:49.78
didn't understand it all. Big
words. There was someone sitting
there dressed nicely, said, "No,
00:44:49.88\00:44:54.36
really, you need to sign this,"
and so she signed it, went back
to work. Friday came. It was
00:44:54.46\00:44:59.96
Linda's second birthday and so
she wrapped a little present.
She couldn't afford much, but it
00:45:00.13\00:45:04.70
had a bow on top, and she was so
excited. "We're going to have a
birthday party." And she went
00:45:04.80\00:45:08.74
over to the Whitneys' and she
was humming "Happy birthday to
you." She knocked on the door
00:45:08.84\00:45:13.91
and there's nothing. Knocked
again and she got this feeling
in her, something is wrong. She
00:45:14.01\00:45:20.68
started to bang on the door, and
finally, the superintendent
stuck his head out in the hall
00:45:20.78\00:45:25.55
and said, "Can I help you?" She
said, "Yeah, do you know where
the Whitneys are today?" "They
00:45:25.65\00:45:30.29
don't live here anymore. They
moved out several days ago.
They're gone." "Do you know
00:45:30.39\00:45:35.56
where they went?" "No." I don't
know if you can imagine the pain
of separation. Maybe you can't.
00:45:35.66\00:45:42.14
But I guarantee God can. He
understands that kind of pain
because somebody once took hold
00:45:42.24\00:45:47.54
of His children, and then they
nailed His only begotten Son to
a cross. Let me tell you
00:45:47.64\00:45:54.42
something: the Lamb of God knows
suffering. He's not isolated
from your pain. He lived here
00:45:54.52\00:46:02.29
like us, He died worse than us.
He gets it. Jeannie called Mr.
Whitney's boss. "He
00:46:02.39\00:46:11.17
disappeared." "Didn't even pick
up his last paycheque. We have
no idea where he is." And then
00:46:11.27\00:46:15.40
she got this horrible idea.
"What if those papers I signed
were adoption papers?" Can you
00:46:15.50\00:46:22.68
imagine being deceived like
that? She called the adoption
agencies. They said, "We can't
00:46:22.78\00:46:28.02
talk to you. That's all closed."
She had no money. She couldn't
afford a lawyer or a private
00:46:28.12\00:46:32.62
investigator, so it's over now.
All she can do, she gets every
phone book from every city she
00:46:32.72\00:46:37.06
can. She looks up the name
Whitney and phones them all.
Real conspiracy. Let me assure
00:46:37.16\00:46:46.47
you, there's been a conspiracy
in your life; I guarantee it.
Someone has stolen you from your
00:46:46.57\00:46:49.80
Father and is trying to keep you
in the dark. Paul writes: "If
our gospel is veiled [hidden],
00:46:49.90\00:46:54.81
it is veiled to those who are
perishing, whose minds the god
of this age has blinded, who do
00:46:54.91\00:47:00.72
not believe, [the god of this
age is Satan], lest the light of
the gospel of the glory of
00:47:00.82\00:47:04.62
Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine on them." There is
a conspiracy. Someone is trying
00:47:04.72\00:47:09.26
to keep you away from the truth,
but I'm telling you that a
conspiracy is a fabrication. It
00:47:09.36\00:47:14.00
is not perfect. And no matter
how clever the devil might be
after perfecting his craft for
00:47:14.10\00:47:19.53
thousands of years, his work is
full of defects and holes that
are big enough for the light of
00:47:19.63\00:47:26.14
truth to shine through. And the
Bible says that a thief on a
cross noticed some light peeking
00:47:26.24\00:47:32.81
through some of those holes, and
he wakes up, and for the first
time in his life, with blood and
00:47:32.91\00:47:38.09
sweat and dirt in his eyes, he
can now see clearly. He can see
that the man he's been mocking
00:47:38.19\00:47:43.63
is the Lamb of God, the promised
Messiah, and he looks back down
at the crowd and listens to them
00:47:43.73\00:47:49.66
mocking Jesus. And suddenly, he
recognizes a voice in that
crowd. And if you listen
00:47:49.76\00:47:54.77
carefully, you will hear the
voice in the crowd too because
it keeps using one word: "If. If
00:47:54.87\00:47:59.01
You are the King of the Jews,
save Yourself. If You are the
Son of God, come down from that
00:47:59.11\00:48:06.65
cross." You recognize that
voice? You should. There's
somebody at the foot of the
00:48:06.75\00:48:11.72
cross that keeps them going.
Don't like to think of it.
Listen. "Jesus, is this Your big
00:48:11.82\00:48:21.53
plan? Is this how You're going
to establish Your kingdom and
take back the world? Why don't
00:48:21.63\00:48:24.87
You come down off that cross, if
You are the Son of God?" If, if,
if. I'm guessing Jesus
00:48:24.97\00:48:31.54
recognized the voice. He heard
it in the desert when He began
His ministry. "If You are the
00:48:31.64\00:48:35.58
Son of God, turn these stones
into bread. If You are the Son
of God, cast Yourself off the -"
00:48:35.68\00:48:39.98
you know who said that. Don't
like to think of the devil at
the cross, but how else do you
00:48:40.08\00:48:45.39
explain that we nailed God's Son
to that cross? There must've
been a moment when he realized
00:48:45.49\00:48:52.03
he blew it. First he wanted
Jesus dead, but then he sees
what's happening and realizes
00:48:52.13\00:48:55.40
the cross is going to be his
undoing and it was. When would
he finally realize that it was
00:48:55.50\00:49:01.27
going to expose him as a
murderer and a liar? When I hear
the insults dripping off the
00:49:01.37\00:49:06.24
lips of the crowd, I know that
the devil is starting to catch
on. "Come off that cross." And
00:49:06.34\00:49:11.95
Jesus could've come down; He
could've. He didn't have to hang
there at all. He would've done
00:49:12.05\00:49:19.09
nothing wrong by walking away.
He didn't have to do it, but He
knew if you ever wanted to stand
00:49:19.19\00:49:24.46
in the kingdom, He would go
through with that. It's the only
way. And let me assure you
00:49:24.56\00:49:28.93
tonight, Jesus did not want to
die. How do I know that? In the
Garden of Gethsemane, "Father,
00:49:29.03\00:49:34.90
if it be possible, let this cup
pass from Me." It's the only
way. Love made Him do it. It's
00:49:35.00\00:49:44.98
what held Him there, not the
nails. The devil wanted Him
down. Every time the cross comes
00:49:45.08\00:49:50.62
up, every time people crack open
a Bible, he still shows up and
he still raises doubts. If.
00:49:50.72\00:49:57.56
"You'll never be good enough.
You can always do this later.
Why don't you wait until you
00:49:57.66\00:50:01.96
have all your questions
answered? What would your
friends think? You don't want to
00:50:02.06\00:50:05.40
look too religious, do you?"
They still come, they still
stand in the shadows, and they
00:50:05.50\00:50:10.57
still draw people away. Why?
Because they're scared the truth
is going to come out. They're
00:50:10.67\00:50:15.18
scared you're going to find out
you've been stolen and lied to.
They're scared that you're going
00:50:15.28\00:50:19.15
to see the truth. And what is
the truth? The truth is found in
the Word of God. "The wages of
00:50:19.25\00:50:23.15
sin is death. BUT the gift of
God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." That's
00:50:23.25\00:50:30.83
the rest of the text. That word
"bought" changes it all. You
don't have to die. You could be
00:50:30.93\00:50:41.20
in the kingdom of Christ. What
do you have to do? It's really,
really simple. "If we confess
00:50:41.30\00:50:45.51
our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all
00:50:45.61\00:50:51.18
unrighteousness." There are no
exceptions there. Doesn't say -
I mean, all you have to do is
00:50:51.28\00:50:58.25
come clean with God and admit
what the problem is. That's it.
There's no other way for Him to
00:50:58.35\00:51:02.62
work with you. And He cleanses
you from all unrighteousness.
There are no exceptions. It
00:51:02.72\00:51:08.93
doesn't say He'll cleanse you
from everything except a murder.
It doesn't say anything except
00:51:09.03\00:51:12.67
cheating on your spouse. It
doesn't say anything except
drunkenness or stealing or a
00:51:12.77\00:51:18.31
ruined relationship. It doesn't
have any exceptions. He will
cleanse you from all
00:51:18.41\00:51:23.55
unrighteousness. And that is the
gift of God to you. It's a gift
because you can't earn it, "for
00:51:23.65\00:51:29.95
by grace," Paul writes, "you
have been saved. Through faith,
and that not of yourselves." It
00:51:30.05\00:51:35.39
is the gift of God. You can't
earn this. You're going to have
to take it as a gift. Listen to
00:51:35.49\00:51:40.80
how the Bible ends. It's right
at the very end in Revelation.
"Let him who hears say, 'Come!'
00:51:40.90\00:51:45.50
And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely." You
00:51:45.60\00:51:50.64
should look at your life. Have
you ever felt that you are
thirsty for something more? A
00:51:50.74\00:51:58.81
few moments ago, the thief is
wrestling with Roman soldiers.
Now he's wrestling with
00:51:58.91\00:52:03.65
something worse: it's
conviction. Just like some of
you right now. A conviction that
00:52:03.75\00:52:10.83
the man on the cross in the
middle is the Son of God. He
cries out, "Stop. Don't you see
00:52:10.93\00:52:18.70
what we're doing? We deserve
this, but this man is innocent."
And then he utters nine words:
00:52:18.80\00:52:27.61
"Lord, remember me when you come
into Your kingdom." Such a
simple prayer. You know, out in
00:52:27.71\00:52:36.75
the wilderness, the devil tried
to tempt Jesus to take a
shortcut. "Jesus, all You have
00:52:36.85\00:52:41.29
to do - You don't have to go the
hard way. I'll give the whole
world back to You. I'll give You
00:52:41.39\00:52:45.06
a kingdom." "All You have to do
right now is bow down and
worship me. Just bow down." Of
00:52:45.16\00:52:54.24
course, Jesus didn't do it. And
then at the cross, the crowd is
mocking Him, and the message is,
00:52:54.34\00:52:59.17
"Now what, Jesus? You should've
taken me up on my offer. You've
got nothing left. And even Your
00:52:59.27\00:53:03.55
Father isn't here. And the
people You thought would choose
You just nailed You to a cross."
00:53:03.65\00:53:11.45
And then in the dark, it's the
devil's turn to recognize a
voice. "Lord, remember me when
00:53:11.55\00:53:20.03
You come into Your kingdom." The
devil just lost one. Somebody
just chose Jesus of his own free
00:53:20.13\00:53:30.41
will. The lowest of the low, the
worst man they could find that
day to put Jesus to shame just
00:53:30.51\00:53:37.38
accepted Jesus Christ and became
a member of the kingdom of God
Think about the cross. How can
00:53:37.48\00:53:47.22
you look at the cross and not
hate sin? I hate sin because it
put Jesus there. I know; I did
00:53:47.32\00:53:53.03
it. My pride became a nail in
Jesus' hand; my unbelief, a
spear in His side. How can you
00:53:53.13\00:54:04.44
see the cross and not hate sin?
There He is. He's hanging on my
cross. You know, that cross is
00:54:04.54\00:54:13.68
still for thieves and
transgressors and evildoers. You
feel like you're not good enough
00:54:13.78\00:54:19.49
for church. Feel like you're not
good enough for heaven, then
you're one of the few that
00:54:19.59\00:54:24.19
finally gets it. You're not.
Nobody is. No one could be found
worthy; only Jesus is. That's
00:54:24.29\00:54:39.61
why John wept. You can't make
yourself good enough. But then
he sees it: the slain lamb is
00:54:39.71\00:54:45.48
good enough. "God forbid," wrote
Paul, "that I should glory, save
in the cross of our
00:54:45.58\00:54:51.65
Lord Jesus Christ." Linda ran an
ad October 1992. The phone rang
on November 2nd. It was a social
00:54:51.75\00:54:57.23
services agent. "Linda, we think
you might be in store for a very
merry Christmas." "What?" "Yeah,
00:54:57.33\00:55:08.50
this lady called us, and she
knows stuff that nobody could
possibly know." "Should we give
00:55:08.60\00:55:17.15
her your number?" "Yeah." When
the phone rang later that
afternoon, she was so nervous,
00:55:17.25\00:55:24.32
she could barely work up the
courage to answer. Mike came up,
held her hand. "Hello?" "Hello,
00:55:24.42\00:55:35.93
is - is this Linda?" "Yeah." "Is
this my mom? Mom, I can't
believe you saw my ad on that
00:55:36.03\00:55:54.02
one day that I ran it." "Honey,
I've been reading the paper
every day for your whole life,
00:55:54.12\00:56:02.26
waiting for that ad. I haven't
missed a day in forty-two
years." Do you know what happens
00:56:02.36\00:56:11.20
when you send up your prayer
tonight? Do you know what
happens? God says, "I've been
00:56:11.47\00:56:20.94
waiting every day. I saw you
born. I followed you. I saw what
people did to you. I have seen
00:56:21.04\00:56:30.09
every minute of it and I've been
waiting your whole life for this
minute." Do you know why the
00:56:30.19\00:56:43.77
thief doesn't have a name? If
the thief had a name, he'd look
like somebody else. Without a
00:56:43.87\00:56:56.88
name, he looks exactly like you.
00:56:56.98\00:57:02.78
Today you have watched just one
in a series of "Revelation
Speaks Peace" presentations.
00:57:05.22\00:57:09.52
The entire series is available
on DVD. Find out how you can
order a copy at www.vop.com/rsp
00:57:09.62\00:57:17.77
Or Call.. 877-955-2525 Or if you
wish you may request the series
by writing to Voice of Prophecy
00:57:17.87\00:57:27.48
PO Box 999 Loveland, CO 80539
Our world is in turmoil. War.
Hate. Catastrophe. And a battle
00:57:27.58\00:57:37.72
for your mind. What on Earth is
next? Order the entire
Revelation Speaks Peace series
00:57:37.82\00:57:43.16
from the Voice of Prophecy. 24
powerful episodes on DVD. Pastor
00:57:43.26\00:57:50.13
Shawn Boonstra will clearly
unlock prophecies in Daniel and
Revelation -- using the Bible as
00:57:50.23\00:57:55.90
the key. Experience hope for
your future. Decode secrets of
prophecy in episodes, such as A
00:57:56.00\00:58:02.71
New World Order, The Ultimate
Mind Game, and How to Postpone
Your Funeral. The world is
00:58:02.81\00:58:09.05
changing so quickly. Learn how
to read Bible prophecy for
yourself! With the complete DVD
00:58:09.15\00:58:15.79
series "Revelation Speaks Peace"
You can also find answers to
life's toughest questions, by
00:58:15.89\00:58:22.70
ordering Voice of Prophecy's
free Discover Bible Guides.
Where is God when you suffer?
00:58:22.80\00:58:28.67
Does your life really matter?
How does Bible prophecy affect
my life? The Discover Bible
00:58:28.77\00:58:34.84
guides will help you find
answers to these question in the
Bible We'll take you step by
00:58:34.94\00:58:41.02
step to what you care about
most. Study online, or have us
send them strait to your mail
00:58:41.12\00:58:47.02
box.  To order your DVD set or
Discover Bible Guides go to
www.vop.com/rsp, again that's
00:58:47.12\00:58:58.27
www.vop.com/rsp or call
877-955-2525. You may also send
us a request by mail to: Voice
00:58:58.37\00:59:08.81
of Prophecy PO Box
999 Loveland, CO 80539
00:59:08.91\00:59:11.68
+
00:59:12.71\00:59:14.62