What a great
journey it has been...
00:00:30.06\00:00:33.03
what a great journey it's been,
00:00:33.06\00:00:34.40
I think we got 70 Programs
behind us in Revelation,
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we've been talking about Daniel
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and it's going to
be a little different,
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we've done this in about
four sessions... 70 Programs...
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but when we get Daniel going,
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I think we're going to
knock it out in a week,
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maybe 20 Programs or less
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because it's not as
complicated... not as detailed
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so, I want to just put that
little plug-in for our Viewers
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that Daniel is next and
we're going to cover it soon
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and it's not going to
be... it's going to be...
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it's going to become
coming, it's going to be coming,
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Daniel 11 is going to
be a little bit challenging
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but it's going to be coming.
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And the Study Guides are coming,
00:01:05.66\00:01:07.30
I thought that they
were going to be done
00:01:07.33\00:01:12.07
but we have some other things
that have to be added to them,
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when they're released,
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we want them to be as
comprehensive as possible
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and so, it's...
there's a little delay
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but those are
coming too just hold on.
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I'll be studying
those guides too.
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I know... me too... me too.
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That'll be
good... that'll be good,
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all right, so we're
in Revelation chapter 21
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and we just
want to jump right in
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and get going on this so
Jason, will you pray for us?
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Sure, "Dear Heavenly Father,
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we thank you for bringing
us this far in the study
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we ask that you would
continue to be with us,
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that you would continue
to pour out your Holy Spirit
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that we may understand
everything that we're reading
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and please bring
back to our remembrance
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the things that
we've studied in the past,
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we thank you for revealing
your love for us... to us...
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and showing us that
Revelation is truly a love story
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thank you for
hearing our prayer,
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in Jesus' name we pray, amen. "
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"Amen. "
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And so this love story
ends with a happy ending...
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an incredible ending,
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Revelation chapter 21
and I'm just tempted...
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"Oh, let's just read the
chapter let's read the chapter,"
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and I think we should read it...
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not all in one setting
but I think we should read it
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and then we'll just... we'll
start with a few verses here
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Yvonne, can you start us
out... Revelation chapter 21
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and just read
verses 1 through 4.
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Sure, "Now I saw a new
heaven and a new earth:
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for the first heaven and
the first earth had passed away;
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also there was no more sea.
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Then I John saw the
holy city, new Jerusalem,
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coming down out
of heaven from God,
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prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
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And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying,
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Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
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and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people,
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God himself will be
with them, and be their God.
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And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes;
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there shall be no more
death, nor sorrow, nor crying,
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there shall be no more pain:
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for the former
things had passed away. "
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Alleluia, alleluia,
this is God's ideal,
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it's always been
God's ideal for us
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so, whenever
anyone asks the question,
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"Why sin and suffering... why?"
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My immediate answer is,
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it wasn't part of
God's original plan,
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for whatever
reason it's been allowed
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and there are many,
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for whatever reason
God has had to allow
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sin and suffering to continue,
He's bringing it to an end
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and we know that
as we study the Bible
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but we primarily see it
right here in Revelation 21,
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the primary mission of
Revelation chapter 21 is...
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it's over... all that
pain, all that suffering,
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all that evil has ended,
God is going to be with us
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and when God is
with us, there's no pain,
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there's no
suffering, there's no evil,
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all of that former stuff is gone
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but the other message
here that I really love,
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it says here that
John saw the Holy City...
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the Holy City where God dwells
coming down to Planet Earth
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the one planet of
rebellion in all this universe
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is where he is going to
place the center of the universe
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because where God is,
that's where the center is,
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He says, "I'm
coming to dwell with men
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I'm going to dwell with them,
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I'm going to be their God,
they're going to be my people,
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but the Holy City is
coming down to this earth,
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and it's going to land
right here and be here...
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so to me, Revelation
21 is the ultimate message
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of the grace of God. Hmmm...
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See, the Bible is filled...
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it's saturated
with the grace of God
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and here... it just doesn't end,
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the grace of God doesn't end,
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we're going to remember as
we look at the presence of God
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on Planet Earth,
we're going to remember
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grace, grace,
grace, grace, grace,
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so this picture
is just beautiful.
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You can take
Revelation chapter 21
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and just print it
out into a tract form
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and just hand
it out to people...
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hand it out to people,
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"Hey, you want to
know what God's like,
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you want to know what
God has for each one...
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you want to know
what the future holds?"
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"Hey, you want to
know about prophecy?
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Revelation 21... here it is...
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Revelation 21... here
it is... here you go... "
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You were talking
about God dwelling with us,
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when Jesus
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left and went to heaven,
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He said, "I'm
going to come again
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that where I am,
there you may be also. "
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And He's talking about,
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"I'm going to
bring you up to heaven. "
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We've just seen that...
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that is the whole
millennium, right,
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that's... we go
to dwell with God
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but at the end of
the millennium, He says,
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"Now, I'm coming
to dwell with you. "
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You see what I'm saying?
"I'm coming to live with you. "
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James: "I'm
coming to your place. "
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Ivor: I'm coming to
your place. Yvonne: Hmmm...
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James: We're like, "Wait a
minute let me get it cleaned up"
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Yvonne: Yeah, yeah, yeah...
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He says, "I'm going
to take care of that...
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I'll clean it up for you"
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so, "I saw a new
heaven and a new earth,
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for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away. "
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That is because
the fire has consumed
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that old heaven and old earth.
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And so now you've
got this new Jerusalem
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and it's a happy
ending, you know,
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it's... you know
the bride is adorned...
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the city is adorned as a bride
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and that's very significant
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because that actually
plays right into the theme
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we've been building the
whole time... it's a love story,
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this is the
marriage finally happening
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and what is a marriage?
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A marriage is
when two become one,
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we may call
it... "at-one-ment. "
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It's a state of, "at-one-ment,"
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which... "Hey, that reminds
me of the word, 'Atonement'"
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so you know what?
That's what's going on.
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So, remember in
the Old Testament,
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we saw that there
was a yearly cycle
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for the people of Israel, right,
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that yearly cycle dealt
with the process through which
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God would rid
His people from sin
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and so, we saw
that that process...
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we found it in the
book of Revelation, right,
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you begin in the Holy Place,
00:07:03.39\00:07:06.45
seven churches, seven
seals, seven trumpets,
00:07:06.52\00:07:08.26
then you get to
the Most Holy Place,
00:07:08.29\00:07:10.66
Revelation 11,
onward... Most Holy Place,
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right, this is
where the day of atonement
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symbolically
begins to take place.
00:07:16.60\00:07:19.87
Now, at the end of
the day of atonement,
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you had the
punishment of the wicked
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that's Revelation
chapter 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
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and after that, the
Day of Atonement is over
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there was one feast left,
there was a Feast of Tabernacles
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it was a celebration...
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Ah...
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A tabernacle... this
is what we're seeing here
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in Revelation 21, 22...
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the Tabernacle of
God is with men, right,
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this Feast of
Tabernacles was like,
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"Whew! we made
it through the year!
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You know, sin's been forgiven,
the judgment has passed
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and we celebrate... "
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this is what's
happening in Revelation 21,
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sin has been removed and
"at-one-ment" has taken place
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so Revelation 1 all
the way to Revelation 20
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simply explains to us
the process through which
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God removed sin so that He
and His people could be at one.
00:08:08.42\00:08:15.39
And you know, I
really like that because
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when we look at
this picture here
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and we look at the
Feast of Tabernacles,
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they would make these
little booths to dwell in
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and when you brought up
that Scripture in John 14,
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where Christ says,
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"I'm going to
prepare a place for you"
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and that's what
the book of Revelation
00:08:31.57\00:08:34.14
or Chapter 21 of
Revelation reveals,
00:08:34.18\00:08:36.41
there's this new Jerusalem
City and this new Jerusalem City
00:08:36.44\00:08:40.15
right here it has 12
gates three gates on the east
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and three gates on the north
and three gates on the south,
00:08:45.09\00:08:47.12
three gates on the
west, I love that song.
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Yvonne: Yeah, me too.
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James: And the
names above the gates
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are the names of the
twelve tribes of Israel,
00:08:52.49\00:08:54.60
a 144,000... the redeemed...
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that means, every one of us
goes through one of those gates,
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every one of us has
a place in the City,
00:09:00.34\00:09:02.27
everyone has a place to
"tabernacle" in the City
00:09:02.30\00:09:05.51
because we're going
to have our own place
00:09:05.54\00:09:06.98
out in the country somewhere
00:09:07.01\00:09:08.34
but when we come to worship God,
00:09:08.38\00:09:09.71
we're checking into our Condo,
00:09:09.74\00:09:11.11
we're checking into
our place, in the City
00:09:11.15\00:09:13.88
and so, this
Feast of Tabernacles
00:09:13.92\00:09:16.69
reminds us that
God has this place...
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this special place for
us decorated and set up
00:09:19.12\00:09:24.09
in relation to us, I mean,
00:09:24.13\00:09:26.93
there are places that I've gone
00:09:26.96\00:09:28.70
and I've walked into a
room and it's just like,
00:09:28.73\00:09:33.13
"Wow! I like this, this
is me... this is me... "
00:09:33.17\00:09:37.27
you know what I'm
saying? Yvonne: Yeah.
00:09:37.31\00:09:38.64
James: But that Decorator
had no idea what my tastes were
00:09:38.67\00:09:43.45
but the Heavenly Decorator...
He knows exactly what we like.
00:09:43.48\00:09:48.05
Yvonne: Yeah.
00:09:48.08\00:09:49.42
James: He knows
things that we like
00:09:49.45\00:09:50.79
that we don't even know we like.
00:09:50.82\00:09:52.15
You know what I mean?
00:09:52.19\00:09:53.52
And He's like,
00:09:53.56\00:09:54.89
"Ah, I'm
preparing a place for you
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and you're just
going to love this place,
00:09:56.42\00:09:57.76
this is going to be you... "
00:09:57.79\00:09:59.13
and so, we're going to...
00:09:59.16\00:10:00.50
I know we're going to
spend some of our time...
00:10:00.53\00:10:01.86
"Hey, Ivor, you got to
come check out my place... "
00:10:01.90\00:10:03.50
"Woooo... you got to
come check out my place!"
00:10:03.53\00:10:06.33
and I'm going to
look at Ivor and...
00:10:06.37\00:10:07.80
"I didn't know that
about you till I saw your face,
00:10:07.84\00:10:10.17
I didn't know
that's about you... "
00:10:10.21\00:10:12.04
so you...
"that's... whoa... Ivor, Man!"
00:10:12.07\00:10:14.58
Ivor: Beautiful
Places, yeah, yeah.
00:10:14.61\00:10:17.11
James: It's a
beautiful picture really
00:10:17.15\00:10:19.11
because when you look
at Revelation chapter 21,
00:10:19.15\00:10:22.75
you're seeing here a
picture of God's care,
00:10:22.78\00:10:26.32
He hasn't forgotten the tribes,
their names are over the gates,
00:10:26.35\00:10:31.36
He hasn't
forgotten the apostles,
00:10:31.39\00:10:32.99
their names are
on the foundation
00:10:33.03\00:10:34.53
and the city is just incredible,
it's like streets of gold,
00:10:34.56\00:10:38.33
it's like gates of
pearl and one pearl is a gate,
00:10:38.37\00:10:42.44
it's not like
pearls... it's like pearl...
00:10:42.47\00:10:45.41
and yet when you realize that...
and all these precious stones...
00:10:45.44\00:10:49.91
you realize,
"that's secondary to God...
00:10:49.94\00:10:52.05
that's building material to God"
00:10:52.08\00:10:54.38
we don't build with gold,
00:10:54.42\00:10:56.25
we wear gold, we
put it in a vault,
00:10:56.28\00:10:58.59
we might put it on
ourselves in order to...
00:10:58.62\00:11:03.36
for... to decorate ourselves
but it's precious stuff...
00:11:03.39\00:11:06.23
in heaven, it's
building material...
00:11:06.26\00:11:08.63
it's building
material, you know.
00:11:08.66\00:11:10.97
We think of wood
and we think of stone...
00:11:11.00\00:11:13.57
but in heaven... streets
of gold that's like blacktop
00:11:13.60\00:11:16.07
because that's all secondary
00:11:16.10\00:11:18.34
what's the most
important thing is the people,
00:11:18.37\00:11:21.18
the humans... the souls...
that's what God is focusing on.
00:11:21.21\00:11:25.41
I think that's a
powerful thought because
00:11:25.45\00:11:28.42
if you go back
to the Old Testament
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.95
God instructed
the children of Israel
00:11:30.99\00:11:33.46
to make Him a Sanctuary
00:11:33.52\00:11:36.06
and if you read Exodus 25,
00:11:36.09\00:11:38.56
it tells of all the things the
Sanctuary is to be made of...
00:11:38.59\00:11:41.50
gold and silver and
all these different...
00:11:41.53\00:11:44.60
you know it's... yeah... and...
00:11:44.63\00:11:46.87
so remember the
children of Israel...
00:11:46.94\00:11:48.80
when they make this appeal
00:11:48.84\00:11:50.81
they bring all
this gold and silver...
00:11:50.84\00:11:54.84
all the stuff to make
the... to make the tabernacle
00:11:54.88\00:11:57.88
but the weird thing
is... "Well, wait a minute...
00:11:57.91\00:12:00.82
these are... these were
just... they were just slaves...
00:12:00.85\00:12:04.39
what are they doing with all
this gold and silver... where?"
00:12:04.42\00:12:07.66
Well, the question is,
"Where did they get it from?"
00:12:07.69\00:12:10.09
Well, guess
where they got it from?
00:12:10.13\00:12:11.86
They got it from the Egyptians,
00:12:11.89\00:12:13.60
God told them, "This
is what I want you to do"
00:12:13.63\00:12:16.53
and the Egyptians gave
them their stuff and so,
00:12:16.56\00:12:19.47
the people that
had enslaved them...
00:12:19.50\00:12:22.40
the people that
were their oppressors,
00:12:22.44\00:12:25.34
He said, "I want
you to take their stuff
00:12:25.37\00:12:28.18
and that's what we're going
to use... to make the temple. "
00:12:28.21\00:12:30.88
Okay, "that's what we're
going to us to make the temple"
00:12:30.91\00:12:33.52
so, when you think about it,
it's almost as if God is saying,
00:12:33.55\00:12:37.49
"Hey, the things
that they treasured...
00:12:37.55\00:12:40.66
I'm going to give you
the spoils of the enemy"
00:12:40.72\00:12:44.53
and the things
that they treasured
00:12:44.59\00:12:46.86
is just going to be
the street in heaven.
00:12:46.90\00:12:50.17
The things that you...
00:12:50.20\00:12:51.90
"Ah man! I wish
I had their gold...
00:12:51.93\00:12:53.90
I wish I had their
stuff... their silver... "
00:12:53.94\00:12:56.87
God's going to
show... all that is secondary.
00:12:56.91\00:12:59.67
We're going to...
00:12:59.71\00:13:01.11
"The things that you
missed out on in this life
00:13:01.14\00:13:04.11
is going to be like nothing
00:13:04.15\00:13:06.55
compared to what I
have for you in heaven. "
00:13:06.58\00:13:08.98
And I love that, I
love the picture too
00:13:09.02\00:13:11.02
of the fact that God
recompensed their labors,
00:13:11.05\00:13:15.42
they were
slaves... and the thing...
00:13:15.46\00:13:18.36
the reason why that's so
important to us is because
00:13:18.39\00:13:20.83
we... many human
beings in this life
00:13:20.86\00:13:23.10
are abused and
taken advantage of
00:13:23.13\00:13:25.10
but God has a heavenly record,
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.07
He has a heavenly record
00:13:27.14\00:13:28.57
and we will be recompensed
for every ounce of labor...
00:13:28.60\00:13:31.84
everything we've ever
done will be recompensed to us,
00:13:31.87\00:13:35.11
you see it all
through the Old Testament.
00:13:35.14\00:13:36.95
They left there wealthy...
not because they got free stuff
00:13:36.98\00:13:40.62
they earned all of that
00:13:40.65\00:13:41.98
and God said, "You're
going to be recompensed
00:13:42.02\00:13:43.82
for all those years
of labor and slavery...
00:13:43.89\00:13:45.39
you're going to be recompensed"
00:13:45.42\00:13:46.76
and then it's interesting...
He puts it in our hand.
00:13:46.79\00:13:48.62
I was reading a story recently
about a guy who robbed a widow,
00:13:48.66\00:13:55.50
she was at the
gravesite of her husband
00:13:55.53\00:13:58.30
and she was there
mourning her husband
00:13:58.33\00:14:01.04
and the guy robbed her,
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.00
took her to her car,
took her money... $700...
00:14:03.04\00:14:07.11
robbed her right
there at the gravesite
00:14:07.18\00:14:08.58
and then they caught the guy
00:14:08.61\00:14:09.94
and they put him up
on this "news" thing
00:14:09.98\00:14:13.88
and his son recognized...
"That's my dad... "
00:14:13.92\00:14:17.19
now, he'd never been
his dad so to speak...
00:14:17.22\00:14:20.39
he was an absent father but
he had just given him $250...
00:14:20.46\00:14:23.99
the father had...
00:14:24.03\00:14:25.49
and the son said, "That's my dad
00:14:25.53\00:14:27.26
and I want
nothing to do with that,
00:14:27.30\00:14:28.96
I... I... this is wrong, he
never should have done that"
00:14:29.00\00:14:31.57
and this son went to
the widow with the $250
00:14:31.60\00:14:35.50
that had been robbed...
00:14:35.54\00:14:36.87
set up a meeting
with her and her family,
00:14:36.91\00:14:39.11
went to her,
apologized on behalf of his dad
00:14:39.14\00:14:41.98
and gave her the $250
back, he gave it to her,
00:14:42.01\00:14:44.78
you know what she did?
00:14:44.81\00:14:46.61
She took the money,
00:14:46.65\00:14:48.42
she said, "This is
my money right now,
00:14:48.45\00:14:50.45
you've returned
it to me, thank you,
00:14:50.49\00:14:52.45
now I want to give it to you"
00:14:52.52\00:14:53.89
because he was going to
use it to go on a band trip
00:14:53.92\00:14:56.32
with his school... "I
want to give it back to you"
00:14:56.36\00:14:58.69
so, when you look at
the story in the Bible,
00:14:58.73\00:15:02.26
God gives all the stuff...
it's there... it's ours...
00:15:02.30\00:15:05.80
He gives it to us,
you know what we do?
00:15:05.83\00:15:07.60
We give it back to God
00:15:07.64\00:15:09.20
and that is the ultimate... see,
00:15:09.24\00:15:12.11
everything that God is giving
to us, we're giving back to Him,
00:15:12.14\00:15:14.84
it's the cycle... it's
the circle of beneficence,
00:15:14.88\00:15:18.21
we have been freed now from
selfishness... completely free,
00:15:18.25\00:15:21.72
our lives... our
hearts... are given to God
00:15:21.75\00:15:24.69
He gives to us, we give to Him,
00:15:24.72\00:15:26.45
He's trying to renew
us back to the thing where
00:15:26.49\00:15:28.76
it's not about holding
on, it's not about keeping,
00:15:28.79\00:15:30.89
it's not about exalting,
it's not about anything else,
00:15:30.93\00:15:33.63
it's just... you just give...
and as you give, you get back
00:15:33.66\00:15:36.36
and the circle of
beneficence just continues
00:15:36.40\00:15:39.03
throughout all eternity.
00:15:39.10\00:15:40.44
That's good because
it's like, He's saying,
00:15:40.47\00:15:42.80
"Hey, everything that
you've suffered in this life
00:15:42.84\00:15:46.34
I will make it up to you"
00:15:46.37\00:15:48.64
and heaven will be... it will
be beyond what you suffered.
00:15:48.68\00:15:57.15
Yvonne: Yes.
00:15:57.19\00:15:58.55
Ivor: Right, it
will be beyond...
00:15:58.59\00:16:00.56
"I'll
recompense you... and more"
00:16:00.62\00:16:02.02
it will be... it
will be... you know...
00:16:02.06\00:16:04.16
it will be like streets...
00:16:04.19\00:16:05.59
you're talking about...
gold... the streets in heaven
00:16:05.63\00:16:08.96
gold is a dirt... that
whole idea of God saying,
00:16:09.00\00:16:13.54
"Hey, I've seen
every slight against you,
00:16:13.57\00:16:15.40
I've seen every tear,
we're going to make that up,
00:16:15.44\00:16:21.64
you will be
recompensed and more"
00:16:21.68\00:16:23.85
and so, just the
idea of understanding,
00:16:23.88\00:16:26.82
"You know what?
This is what heaven...
00:16:26.85\00:16:29.72
God does in heaven,
everything will be worth it,
00:16:29.75\00:16:32.09
it will be cheap enough"
00:16:32.12\00:16:33.46
and it just... it
comforts us so that we know,
00:16:33.49\00:16:42.90
"Hey, I may be suffering now,"
00:16:42.93\00:16:44.67
you may be going
through trials now...
00:16:44.70\00:16:46.80
but remember,
remember, remember,
00:16:46.84\00:16:48.84
the things that you suffer
now, God is going to make it up.
00:16:48.90\00:16:52.04
It reminds me of
a verse in Romans 8,
00:16:52.07\00:16:54.01
we should read
this, it's Romans,
00:16:54.04\00:16:55.88
Jason, can you find this
for me? Romans 8 and verse 18.
00:16:55.91\00:17:00.48
Paul is talking here
00:17:00.52\00:17:02.92
and you know... Paul went
through some tremendous...
00:17:02.95\00:17:04.92
I mean, horrendous stuff,
00:17:04.95\00:17:06.29
I mean, the guy was
beaten three times with stripes,
00:17:06.32\00:17:09.52
40 stripes except for
one, actually five times,
00:17:09.56\00:17:13.83
so, 195 stripes...
00:17:13.86\00:17:15.46
he was stoned to
death, he was shipwrecked...
00:17:15.50\00:17:17.63
and he had this
attitude and this experience
00:17:17.70\00:17:20.00
that was just amazing
00:17:20.04\00:17:21.37
and in Romans 8:18,
if you got it there,
00:17:21.40\00:17:23.87
here is what he says.
00:17:23.91\00:17:25.24
"For I reckon that the
sufferings of this present time
00:17:25.27\00:17:27.98
are not worthy to be compared
00:17:28.01\00:17:29.54
with the glory which
shall be revealed in us. "
00:17:29.58\00:17:31.81
What? Not worthy
to be compared...
00:17:31.85\00:17:34.68
the sufferings are not worthy
to be compared with the glory.
00:17:34.72\00:17:37.65
So we're like, "Yeah, you know,
00:17:37.75\00:17:39.32
we were going to suffer...
00:17:39.35\00:17:41.42
and we were going to
go through some things...
00:17:41.46\00:17:42.79
and people are
going to tell you about it
00:17:42.82\00:17:44.16
but God's going
to recompense us...
00:17:44.19\00:17:45.53
He's going to give... you
know... He's going to... "
00:17:45.56\00:17:47.13
no... no He's not...
00:17:47.20\00:17:48.76
it's not... you can't...
you can't even compare...
00:17:48.80\00:17:51.60
it's not even what...
00:17:51.63\00:17:52.97
the worst stuff you're going on
the planet... isn't even worthy,
00:17:53.00\00:17:55.00
you can't even say, "Hey God,
00:17:55.04\00:17:56.37
I went through some
bad stuff down here,
00:17:56.40\00:17:57.74
so yeah... obviously... "
00:17:57.77\00:17:59.11
No... what God is
going to give to us
00:17:59.14\00:18:01.14
is like way beyond...
00:18:01.18\00:18:03.68
it's kind of like
this whole experience
00:18:03.75\00:18:05.41
where you're just like,
00:18:05.45\00:18:06.82
"Um, let me try
to pay you back... "
00:18:06.85\00:18:09.15
no, no, no, no...
no, not even close...
00:18:09.18\00:18:11.85
God is going to go over the top
00:18:11.92\00:18:14.32
and here's the deal,
00:18:14.36\00:18:15.69
and I'm just thinking
about it in relation to
00:18:15.72\00:18:17.43
the context of
what Paul is saying,
00:18:17.46\00:18:19.13
I'm just thinking about...
in relation to eternal life...
00:18:19.16\00:18:20.86
because, when I was a kid,
00:18:20.90\00:18:22.30
I mean, I just
wanted to get old,
00:18:22.33\00:18:25.50
I wanted to be ten... I
wanted to be ten, you know,
00:18:25.53\00:18:29.87
double digits... ten... it
took forever to get to ten,
00:18:29.90\00:18:34.21
I don't know if you remember,
00:18:34.28\00:18:35.71
then I wanted
to be 15 and a half
00:18:35.74\00:18:37.11
because that's when you
get your Driver's Permit,
00:18:37.15\00:18:39.28
and 16... man! Driver's License
00:18:39.31\00:18:41.88
and 18... I'm
legal now, 21... hooo...
00:18:41.92\00:18:44.59
when I got to
21... you know what?
00:18:44.65\00:18:46.96
I just kind of
wanted to put on the brakes.
00:18:46.99\00:18:49.52
Let's slow this
down, you know what I mean?
00:18:49.56\00:18:52.06
21 to 30... went like that...
00:18:52.09\00:18:54.50
I was like, "Wait a minute...
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.90
when I was a kid...
it took a lot longer,
00:18:56.93\00:18:58.90
how come it's going so fast?"
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.94
40... 50... hooo!
yesterday... I cannot believe it
00:19:00.97\00:19:07.64
you know what I mean?
00:19:07.68\00:19:09.01
When I'm a kid I'm like,
00:19:09.04\00:19:10.38
"I'm five and a half... "
00:19:10.41\00:19:11.75
I don't tell
people, "I'm 54 and a half"
00:19:11.78\00:19:18.75
you know what I mean?
00:19:18.79\00:19:20.29
"I'm 54 and three quarters"
00:19:20.32\00:19:21.96
but you know, one day,
00:19:21.99\00:19:23.56
I'm going to be
a 1,054 years old
00:19:23.63\00:19:27.73
and then I'm going to be
a million and 54 years old
00:19:27.76\00:19:29.80
and then I'm going to be
a billion and 54 years old
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.17
and then I'm going to be
a billion and 54 years old.
00:19:32.20\00:19:34.70
Yvonne: Come on... come on...
00:19:34.74\00:19:36.07
James: And then I'm going
to be a trillion. Yvonne: Yes.
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.44
James: When I'm a
trillion and 54... you know...
00:19:37.47\00:19:39.41
and Adam's a trillion and a
1,000... he lived 900 years,
00:19:39.44\00:19:45.91
we're going to be
about the same age,
00:19:45.95\00:19:47.28
what's the difference when
you're a trillion years old
00:19:47.32\00:19:50.69
you know what I
mean? Who cares...
00:19:50.72\00:19:52.29
but then, you go on to
decillion and nonillion...
00:19:52.32\00:19:56.06
and the highest number,
this is what they call it,
00:19:56.09\00:19:59.79
googolplex... because it's so...
00:19:59.83\00:20:02.63
it's so high that
it googles the mind...
00:20:02.66\00:20:04.87
it's like... "Ah... "
00:20:04.90\00:20:06.37
and then... and that's...
eternity is just beginning.
00:20:06.40\00:20:08.37
I reckon that the
suffering in this world
00:20:08.40\00:20:11.34
is not worthy to be
compared with the glory,
00:20:11.37\00:20:14.24
just the glory...
00:20:14.28\00:20:15.61
just the fact that we're
going to live for eternity,
00:20:15.64\00:20:17.11
just that alone is
not worthy to be compared.
00:20:17.15\00:20:19.88
Jason: Plus when you look
at the sacrifice of Christ,
00:20:19.91\00:20:22.08
what Christ endured
when He was on this earth
00:20:22.15\00:20:24.02
and then you look at
what you are going through,
00:20:24.05\00:20:25.89
take a look at
the cross... focus...
00:20:25.92\00:20:28.52
keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus
00:20:28.56\00:20:30.03
and what He did for us
00:20:30.06\00:20:32.19
and look at your life,
00:20:32.23\00:20:34.30
the trials and the tribulations
that you're going through
00:20:34.33\00:20:37.97
and think about just what
He gave up... what He risked...
00:20:38.00\00:20:43.14
we don't even fully understand
00:20:43.20\00:20:44.54
everything that He gave
up... the risk... coming down...
00:20:44.57\00:20:48.04
and He's got our flesh.
00:20:48.08\00:20:51.51
James: And not only
the death but the life...
00:20:51.55\00:20:54.88
He lived a perfect life.
00:20:54.92\00:20:56.25
I think about
living a perfect life...
00:20:56.28\00:20:57.82
like, every single moment of
every single day was perfect,
00:20:57.85\00:21:01.69
perfect... we can't get out
of here with just the cross,
00:21:01.72\00:21:05.39
we need the life...
we're saved by His life...
00:21:05.43\00:21:08.00
and justified by His death.
00:21:08.03\00:21:09.83
We need all of it, He
did that... day after day...
00:21:09.86\00:21:13.70
week after week,
month after month,
00:21:13.74\00:21:15.17
year after year... He
lived in total obedience to God
00:21:15.20\00:21:17.74
and He gives it
to us as a gift...
00:21:17.77\00:21:19.11
here's yours... here's
yours... here's yours...
00:21:19.14\00:21:20.48
fulfilled all righteousness,
00:21:20.51\00:21:22.61
yeah, when you think about
this, and here's the thing,
00:21:22.64\00:21:26.01
Revelation chapter 22 and I
just want us to look at this,
00:21:26.05\00:21:29.15
in the context of
what we were talking about
00:21:29.18\00:21:31.85
in the last... in our
last program together,
00:21:31.89\00:21:34.46
Yvonne, can you
read Revelation 22
00:21:34.49\00:21:38.09
verses 1, 2, 3 and 4?
00:21:38.13\00:21:42.33
Yes, "And he shewed me a
pure river of water of life,
00:21:42.36\00:21:46.13
clear as crystal,
00:21:46.17\00:21:47.50
proceeding from the
throne of God and of the Lamb.
00:21:47.54\00:21:50.34
In the middle of the street
and on either side of the river
00:21:50.37\00:21:53.78
was the tree of life
which bore 12 fruits,
00:21:53.81\00:21:56.75
each tree yielding
it's fruit every month:
00:21:56.78\00:21:59.68
the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations.
00:21:59.71\00:22:02.95
And there shall
be no more curse:
00:22:02.98\00:22:05.15
but the throne of God and
of the Lamb shall be in it;
00:22:05.19\00:22:07.89
and his
servants shall serve him:
00:22:07.92\00:22:10.06
They shall see his face;
00:22:10.09\00:22:11.66
and his name shall
be on their foreheads. "
00:22:11.69\00:22:14.03
What? what? what will they see?
00:22:14.06\00:22:17.83
All: His face...
00:22:17.87\00:22:19.20
Have you ever wondered what
the face of Christ looks like?
00:22:19.23\00:22:25.47
Yvonne: Oh yeah.
Jason: Absolutely.
00:22:25.51\00:22:26.88
James: The face of God looks...
00:22:26.91\00:22:28.24
And I'm not even talking about
necessarily, like, the features
00:22:28.28\00:22:31.21
but like the
expression on His face.
00:22:31.25\00:22:33.52
Hmmm...
00:22:33.55\00:22:34.88
What kind of expression is
going to be on the face of God?
00:22:34.92\00:22:38.39
This is the way I picture it.
00:22:38.45\00:22:39.79
I think all of us are
going to get an embrace from God
00:22:39.82\00:22:44.03
an embrace... and
He's going to embrace us
00:22:44.06\00:22:47.73
and in that embrace He's
going to whisper in our ear
00:22:47.76\00:22:51.23
and He's going to
say something like this,
00:22:51.27\00:22:53.20
"I'm so glad you're here. "
00:22:53.23\00:22:55.07
Hmmm... Hmmm.
00:22:55.10\00:22:56.44
"I'm so glad you're here,
00:22:56.47\00:22:58.01
eternity wouldn't be
the same without you"
00:22:58.04\00:23:03.21
and we're going to
feel, I think because He says,
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.38
He's going to wipe away
our tears from our eyes,
00:23:05.41\00:23:07.48
we're going to feel His tears
trickling down on our shoulder
00:23:07.52\00:23:14.49
on our faces and we're not sure,
00:23:14.52\00:23:18.06
because you know how that
is... when you hug someone,
00:23:18.09\00:23:19.56
you're not sure
how long you hold...
00:23:19.59\00:23:20.93
and so we're... and
He's just holding on to us
00:23:20.96\00:23:24.47
He's like, "I'm
so glad you're here"
00:23:24.50\00:23:25.87
and He's just holding us,
holding us... holding us...
00:23:25.90\00:23:27.94
"I'm so glad you're here"
00:23:27.97\00:23:29.37
and His face is
going to be filled
00:23:29.40\00:23:32.54
with this expression
of love and satisfaction
00:23:32.57\00:23:36.34
and, "You're home...
you're home... you're home"
00:23:36.38\00:23:39.31
I mean like, "I don't
want to let go of you,
00:23:39.35\00:23:42.22
now that I've got you, I
don't want to let go of you. "
00:23:42.28\00:23:44.42
That's what I sense
when we see His face.
00:23:44.45\00:23:46.82
That's just this
incredible picture...
00:23:46.86\00:23:49.16
Yvonne: It puts tears in
my eyes because you can see...
00:23:49.19\00:23:52.53
when you think
about Christ... for me...
00:23:52.56\00:23:55.86
I think about His eyes and
what His eyes must look like
00:23:55.90\00:23:58.80
and the love
that I'm going to see
00:23:58.83\00:24:01.14
coming to me from those eyes
00:24:01.17\00:24:03.57
and I picture myself
like, holding on to His feet...
00:24:03.61\00:24:07.81
He's trying to shake me off...
"Okay Child, you can get up now"
00:24:07.84\00:24:13.28
but it's just so...
00:24:13.31\00:24:14.65
it's so beautiful to think that
He is going to personally...
00:24:14.68\00:24:19.29
and I do believe that too,
00:24:19.32\00:24:20.66
that He's going to
welcome each one of us.
00:24:20.69\00:24:22.59
Ivor: Yeah, I think...
00:24:22.62\00:24:24.99
I remember before
I became a Christian
00:24:25.03\00:24:27.90
and the thought of
heaven was actually scary to me
00:24:27.93\00:24:31.57
because I was like,
00:24:31.63\00:24:32.97
"Man! do I want to be
in a cloud forever and ever
00:24:33.00\00:24:37.21
with just nothingness for
all eternity with a harp?"
00:24:37.24\00:24:40.74
Because Hollywood had
painted this picture of heaven
00:24:40.78\00:24:44.21
as this just...
nothingness... you know
00:24:44.25\00:24:48.35
you're just like this
little light... floating around,
00:24:48.38\00:24:50.85
I'm like, "A little
light floating around
00:24:50.89\00:24:54.29
forever and ever and
ever and ever and ever...
00:24:54.32\00:24:57.09
and ever... what if
I get tired of that?
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.63
You mean, I have
to live forever?"
00:24:59.66\00:25:01.93
and so the Revelation 21
00:25:01.96\00:25:04.40
lets us know that
heaven is a real place.
00:25:04.43\00:25:06.53
You know what I'm saying?
00:25:06.57\00:25:08.04
It's not
something that we're like
00:25:08.10\00:25:09.64
"Man! I'm going to be bored"
it's a real, real, real place,
00:25:09.67\00:25:15.11
real people... God... Jesus...
He's really going to embrace
00:25:15.14\00:25:20.58
and it just paints a
totally different picture
00:25:20.62\00:25:24.15
than what is out
there in the public eye.
00:25:24.19\00:25:26.25
Who wants to be a little
white light floating around?
00:25:26.29\00:25:30.13
James: Buildings, rivers, trees,
00:25:30.19\00:25:33.90
land, earth, heaven, houses...
00:25:33.93\00:25:37.57
getting
together... hanging out...
00:25:37.60\00:25:39.97
I mean, it's just the reality...
00:25:40.00\00:25:41.70
Ivor: Flying to
different planets.
00:25:41.74\00:25:43.10
James: You have all the time.
00:25:43.14\00:25:44.47
Ivor: You have all
the time to go to Escron.
00:25:44.51\00:25:48.54
I've never been to Escron, Man!
00:25:48.58\00:25:49.91
James: I just made that up...
00:25:49.94\00:25:51.28
if God's going to let him have
that, then that's well enough.
00:25:51.31\00:25:53.68
laughter...
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.15
Yvonne: What a day that will be!
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.62
James: You know
how we always say,
00:25:56.65\00:25:57.99
"Man! if I have more time, I
can visit... I could do this"
00:25:58.02\00:25:59.85
and I'm just like, "Yeah... "
00:25:59.92\00:26:02.19
and not only
that, not only that...
00:26:02.22\00:26:04.73
there's no night there.
00:26:04.76\00:26:06.09
And not only that, "you
shall run and not be weary,
00:26:06.13\00:26:11.57
you shall walk and not be faint"
00:26:11.63\00:26:12.97
there's no need for sleep,
there's no need for night,
00:26:13.00\00:26:15.70
there's... you have tireless
energy... you don't get tired,
00:26:15.74\00:26:21.18
you don't lie
down and take a nap,
00:26:21.21\00:26:22.91
you're just going from
one adventure to the next...
00:26:22.94\00:26:25.25
to the next... what?
00:26:25.28\00:26:26.92
That's what God wanted for us,
00:26:26.95\00:26:30.49
He has always
wanted that for us...
00:26:30.55\00:26:31.89
this eternal happiness and joy
00:26:31.92\00:26:35.36
never ending, never
ceasing, never interrupted,
00:26:35.39\00:26:38.13
the one thing that's
just going to be heaven for me
00:26:38.16\00:26:41.26
no more worry about my kids,
00:26:41.30\00:26:44.27
no more worry about the people
that I love and what's going on,
00:26:44.33\00:26:49.14
no more angst because of
the latest news report...
00:26:49.17\00:26:51.94
the latest misery, the
latest sin, the latest evil,
00:26:51.97\00:26:54.48
the latest, you know...
00:26:54.54\00:26:55.88
Ivor: Yeah, because nothing
that defiles will enter there.
00:26:55.91\00:26:59.91
God has a vetting
process and everyone...
00:26:59.95\00:27:04.39
whoever gets into heaven...
00:27:04.45\00:27:05.79
it's because they
had the love of Jesus,
00:27:05.82\00:27:09.32
they followed His commandments
and so, those who...
00:27:09.36\00:27:12.79
in heaven we
will not have to worry
00:27:12.83\00:27:15.86
about sin rising
again a second time.
00:27:15.90\00:27:18.87
Yes...
00:27:18.90\00:27:20.37
People of every nation,
kindred, tongue and people
00:27:20.40\00:27:23.04
will enter that
place and we will live...
00:27:23.10\00:27:25.57
like the love stories
says, "Happily ever after. "
00:27:25.61\00:27:29.04
Yvonne: Yes.
00:27:29.08\00:27:31.31
Jason: Selfless love...
not selfish... but selfless...
00:27:31.35\00:27:34.38
that's going to be there.
00:27:34.45\00:27:35.78
James: It's cool
because there's one verse here
00:27:35.82\00:27:37.52
that kind of says
it all in that sense...
00:27:37.59\00:27:39.02
verse 25 of chapter 21...
00:27:39.05\00:27:41.62
"The gates shall
not be shut by day
00:27:41.66\00:27:44.03
and there shall
be no night there. "
00:27:44.06\00:27:46.13
You know, we go
home... we lock our doors.
00:27:46.16\00:27:47.50
Jason: Hmmm...
Yvonne: That's right.
00:27:47.53\00:27:49.10
James: We lock our car doors...
the gates shall not be shut.
00:27:49.13\00:27:50.47
Yvonne: That's right.
00:27:50.50\00:27:51.83
James: No fear... nothing...
00:27:51.87\00:27:53.30
we're just... we're
there... we're home.
00:27:53.34\00:27:55.40
Praise God.
00:27:55.44\00:27:56.77
Yvonne: Hallelujah!
00:27:56.81\00:27:58.14