1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,000 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 1: This morning, we're going to continue our look at the 4 00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: Book of Revelation. We're getting very very close to the 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: end of the book, and this is a beautiful section 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: of the book to find ourselves in, even though there 7 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: are many different opinions that many different people have about 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: portions of scripture like this. But today we're going to 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: be in Revelation chapter twenty. I'm going to read the 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: whole chapter in just a moment, and we're going to 11 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: be talking about the thousand year reign of Christ and 12 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: the final judgment is these things are referenced here in 13 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: this passage. So if you take your bibles and turn 14 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: with me to Revelation twenty, and we'll pick up at 15 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: verse one. Like I said, I'll read down to verse fifteen, 16 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: and then we'll look at it together. Revelation twenty, starting 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: with verse one. This is what it says. Then I 18 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his 19 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 20 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,959 Speaker 1: And he sees the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is 21 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: the devil and Satan and bound him for a thousand years, 22 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: and threw him into the pit, and shut it and 23 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive 24 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. 25 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,279 Speaker 1: After that he must be released for a little while. 26 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,679 Speaker 1: Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those 27 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I 28 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for 29 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,759 Speaker 1: the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, 30 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image, 31 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: and had not received its mark on their foreheads or 32 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ 33 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did 34 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: not come to life until the thousand years were ended. 35 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: This is the first resurrection. Blessed and Holy is the 36 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: one who shares in the first resurrection over such the 37 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: second death has no power. But they will be priests 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: of God and of Christ, and they will reign with 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: Him for a thousand years. And when the thousand years 40 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and 41 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: will come out to deceive the nations that are at 42 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,640 Speaker 1: the four corners of the earth. Gog and Magog to 43 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand 44 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: of the sea. And they marched up over the plain, 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: over the broad plain of the earth, and surrounded the 46 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: camp of the Saints and the beloved city. But fire 47 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: came down from heaven and consumed them. And the devil 48 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 1: who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of 49 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, 50 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 51 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: Then I saw a great white throne, and him who 52 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: was seated on it. From his presence, Earth and sky 53 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 1: fled away, and no place was found for them. And 54 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 1: I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, 55 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,399 Speaker 1: and books were open. Then another book was opened, which 56 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged 57 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: by what was written in the books, according to what 58 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: they had done. And the sea gave up the dead 59 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the 60 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: dead who were in them. And they were judged, each 61 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: of them according to what they had done. Then Death 62 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This 63 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: is the second death the Lake of Fire. And if 64 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 1: anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, 65 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: he was thrown into the lake of fire. Let's pray, Lord, 66 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your word, and thank you 67 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to be able to 68 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: look at this portion of your word together today. Lord, 69 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 1: I pray that as we look at this passage, that 70 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: you would guide our minds and guide our hearts, help 71 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: us to understand the things that we're reading to the 72 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: best of the ability that you've given us to understand 73 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: these things. We know, Lord that these are portions of 74 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: scripture that well meaning believers have a variety of viewpoints on, 75 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: and we certainly respect that, Lord, But at the same time, 76 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: we also know that your spirit gives us clarity into 77 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 1: your word. And so I pray that as we look 78 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: at this portion of scripture, the portions that you want 79 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: us to fully understand and fully grasp now, that we 80 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,119 Speaker 1: would understand these things and the things that are meant 81 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: to just remind us to trust You. For the things 82 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: that we as of yet do not understand, we pray 83 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: that we would receive that benefit from them as well. 84 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 1: But Lord, we're grateful for the privilege to be able 85 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 1: to look at your word together now, and we thank 86 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: you for this opportunity to grow in our walk with 87 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: you as a result. And we pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen. 88 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: So I can only imagine what your answers would be 89 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: to this, But I'll just kind of throw this out 90 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,039 Speaker 1: there as a question for thought. But if you could 91 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: ask God one question, you have the opportunity to ask 92 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: God one question. What would the question be? So just 93 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 1: be thinking about that in your mind for a second. Here, 94 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: if you could ask God one question, what would that 95 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: question be? Now, let that stay in your mind for 96 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: a moment. But let me say this here in Revelation 97 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:55,799 Speaker 1: twenty we just read the whole chapter together. This brings 98 00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: us to one of the most significant prophetic scriptures in 99 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 1: all the Bible. After Christ's glorious return that we saw 100 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:07,799 Speaker 1: in Revelation nineteen, the apostle John has shown what comes next. 101 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 1: He's shown what follows, and what follows is and it's 102 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: listed here for us. We see Satan's imprisonment, we see 103 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: this reference to Christ's thousand year reign on the earth. 104 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,000 Speaker 1: We see Satan's final rebellion, and then we see the 105 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: Great White Throne judgment. All of these things are referenced 106 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: in this passage, and I asked my first question. If 107 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: you could ask God one question, what would it be? 108 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:34,280 Speaker 1: Because these verses that we're looking here, these passages in 109 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: Revelation twenty, they actually answer some of the biggest questions 110 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: that people tend to ask when they are trying to 111 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: think about theological things, or how things are going to 112 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: work out, or what the plan of the Lord happens 113 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: to be. People ask questions like, okay, well, what happens 114 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: to Satan? We see an answer to that in this 115 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: portion of scripture. People ask questions like will he finally 116 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: be defeated? Well, we see an answer to that. In 117 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:00,520 Speaker 1: this portion of scripture. We also see the answer to 118 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:02,839 Speaker 1: the question how will God judge the world? That's something 119 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: that people often ask. We're also told an answer to 120 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: the question of what awaits those who belong to Christ. 121 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: We see answers to these interesting questions in this portion 122 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: of scripture. Now, for believers in Christ, as we read 123 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,680 Speaker 1: this portion of God's Word, this isn't a chapter that's 124 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: meant to produce fear. That's not the idea behind it. 125 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: If you know Jesus Christ, it's actually meant to inspire 126 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: your confidence. If you know Christ. This should inspire your 127 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: confidence because we see Jesus demonstrating his victorious position, his victory. 128 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: We see evil losing, we see justice prevailing. We see 129 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: God's promises fulfilled, things that have been promised since the 130 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 1: foundation of the earth. We see that those who belong 131 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: to Jesus Christ share in his victory. So there's some 132 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,560 Speaker 1: really special things that we get to see in this 133 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: passage of scripture, and for that reason, I was very 134 00:06:52,480 --> 00:06:55,600 Speaker 1: much looking forward to preaching on this passage this week. 135 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: This is one of the portions of the Book of 136 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 1: Revelation that I've probably read. I think if I had 137 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: to assess which chapter in the Book of Revelation I've 138 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: read the most, this is probably the chapter I've personally 139 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: read the most of this particular book. But let's take 140 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: a look at it together. Here you have the apostle 141 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: John starting it off this way. He says this. In 142 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: verse one, he says, then I saw an angel coming 143 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to 144 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: the bottomless pit and a great chain. Now in this context, 145 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: here is John seeing these things. One of the things 146 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: that we'll notice as this plays out is that the 147 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: angel seizes Satan, the Angel binds him, and the Angel 148 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: throws him into the abyss for one thousand years. Now, 149 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: think about the course of human history as you're familiar 150 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: with it. For thousands of years, what has Satan been doing. 151 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: He's been deceiving nations, He's been tempting individuals, He's been 152 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:57,800 Speaker 1: opposing God's purposes and doing all of these things over 153 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: and over and over again for thousands of years. When 154 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 1: you go back to Genesis chapter three, we see Satan 155 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: there as the serpent in the garden of Eden, and 156 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: then here in the Book of Revelation he's referred to 157 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 1: as as a dragon at times. And his goal has 158 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: always been the same thing. It's always had the same goal. 159 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 1: Rebellion against God and destroy those who have been made 160 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: in God's image, try and snuff out the image of 161 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,840 Speaker 1: God on this earth, and rebel against God. That's what 162 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: we see Satan doing throughout the course of history. But 163 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: notice how without effort, or without much effort, God deals 164 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: with him. You don't see some big cosmic struggle taking place. 165 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: As you look at this portion of scripture, things happen 166 00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: rather quickly. There is an uncertainty, there's a lot of certainty. 167 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:42,960 Speaker 1: You have one angel that the Lord assigns to accomplish 168 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: the task. And I bring that up because there's something 169 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:48,000 Speaker 1: that I think that's important to understand when we look 170 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: at a portion of scripture like this that references Satan 171 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: and Satan's activity. Satan is not God's equal. Many people 172 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:58,880 Speaker 1: look at Satan and they think that we have God, 173 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: who is the good God, and then we have Satan, 174 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: who is his equal, just the evil version. But that's 175 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: not what scripture reveals to us. Satan is not God's equal. 176 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: He isn't an opposing force that's ultimately capable of challenging 177 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: God's sovereignty. He's a created being and he can only 178 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:23,560 Speaker 1: operate within the limits that God permits. And when you 179 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: look at this particular scene here and you see what 180 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:29,719 Speaker 1: this angel does, this angel that's assigned to take care 181 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: of Satan, it's actually fulfilling promises that we find all 182 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,839 Speaker 1: throughout scripture that said that particular day was going to come. 183 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,560 Speaker 1: The prophet Isaiah actually spoke of this. Let me reference 184 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: this for us here in Isaiah twenty four to twenty two. 185 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 1: Isaiah said this, they will be gathered together as prisoners 186 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 1: in a pit. They will be shut up in a prison, 187 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: and after many days they will be punished. Now, this 188 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 1: binding here that we have taking place in Revelation twenty, 189 00:09:57,200 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: this occurs, if you're trying to put it on the 190 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: timeline of the different things we've been talking about taking 191 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: place in this book, this binding of Satan. It occurs 192 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: after Christ's physical return to the earth and before his 193 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 1: literal thousand year reign. You have Satan's influence over the 194 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 1: nations removed, so that the Messiah can rule the world 195 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: in righteousness without the interference of the evil one. And 196 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: when you think about the nature of that and what's 197 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: being revealed here, just think about what that means. It 198 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: means every lie, every temptation, every deceptive influence that's plagued 199 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 1: humanity throughout the course of human history, century after century 200 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: after century, it's all restrained. It's restrained. The world will 201 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: experience what life is like under the direct reign of 202 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. I was interesting yesterday. Our family has been 203 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:54,559 Speaker 1: doing a variety of projects together, and yesterday some we 204 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: had a variety of tasks. But one of the tasks 205 00:10:57,880 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: that I was working on yesterday, and one of the 206 00:10:59,559 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: tests by way life was working on yesterday was painting. 207 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,760 Speaker 1: So we're doing some painting, and in the midst of that, 208 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 1: my daughter Julia was over and she was just chatting 209 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 1: with me about a variety of things. And I don't 210 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: remember exactly how we got on this subject, but I 211 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: do know that in the midst of it, we started 212 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: talking about the influence that Satan has in present day 213 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: over the entertainment industry and over the overall culture, and 214 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: we were talking about the ways in which he tries 215 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 1: to use that influence to influence people of any age, 216 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,599 Speaker 1: whether you're older, whether you're younger. We particularly spend a 217 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: lot of time talking about those that are younger and 218 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: how highly influenced they are by the entertainment industry, and 219 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: how Satan oftentimes will attempt to utilize that to get 220 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 1: a foothold in people's mind. And I was just kind 221 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,200 Speaker 1: of thinking about that in that context, and since we 222 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: had that conversation, just imagine what life on this planet 223 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: will be like when Christ reigns and Satan is prevented 224 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 1: from deceiving the world as he presently does. Be very 225 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: different day to day experience, very different day to day circumstances. 226 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,680 Speaker 1: And even now believers can take comfort in knowing that 227 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: Satan's defeat is certain. You know, even as you and 228 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: I look at these portions of scripture and think about 229 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 1: the things that the Lord's promised us, we can take 230 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: comfort in this. We still right now face temptation, we 231 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: still experience spiritual warfare. Those are very real things. But 232 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:29,040 Speaker 1: the outcome really has already been determined, and that's what 233 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: we find in Revelation. We find it elsewhere in scripture, 234 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: but particularly here we find that the outcome's been determined. 235 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: And ultimately, when you think about it, the Cross secured 236 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,360 Speaker 1: the victory, and then the empty tomb announced it. And 237 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: here in Revelation you just see a final completion to 238 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: the things that have already been demonstrated and told to us. 239 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: But then you have John continuing in Revelation twenty verse four, 240 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: and he makes this statement. He says they came to 241 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:58,880 Speaker 1: life and reigned with Christ for one thousand years. Now. 242 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 1: I don't know if you were counting as I read 243 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: through the chapter a few minutes ago, but six times 244 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,560 Speaker 1: in Revelation twenty you'll see the phrase thousand years. It 245 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: appears six times in Revelation twenty. And there are various 246 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,560 Speaker 1: ways that people read and interpret this passage, and I 247 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: respect all those interpretations. Obviously, I'm going to preach this 248 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: from the perspective that I think is accurate, but I 249 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: do respect that believers come at this from various viewpoints. 250 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,560 Speaker 1: But I will say this. I'll tell you how I 251 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:33,480 Speaker 1: read a portion of scripture like this, as it's referencing 252 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: a thousand years and speaking of that phrase, it comes up, 253 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,560 Speaker 1: like I said, six times. As with most passages in scripture, 254 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 1: I believe that the plain reading of the text that 255 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: doesn't require you to jump through too many hoops is 256 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,440 Speaker 1: typically the best reading of the text. And so when 257 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: I look at a portion of scripture like this and 258 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: it speaks about a thousand year point of time, I 259 00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 1: honestly believe that this is referencing a literal one thousand 260 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: year kingdom established by Christ on Earth following his second coming. Now, 261 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,560 Speaker 1: some people believe that this is a reference to a spiritual, 262 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: indeterminate time period, understand and I respect that view. Some 263 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: people view this and think that this is referencing a 264 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: period of time where Earth will get progressively better than 265 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: leading to Christ returning. That's not the view that I hold. 266 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: But there are people that I know and love that 267 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: do hold that view. I look at this and I 268 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: think that this is referencing a literal one thousand year 269 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: kingdom established by Christ right here on this earth following 270 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: his second coming. And when you look throughout scripture, scripture 271 00:14:35,720 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 1: has always been trying to point us to that period 272 00:14:37,560 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: of time. The Old Testament repeatedly, over and over again, 273 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 1: references the Kingdom of Christ. You have the Lord promising 274 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,040 Speaker 1: David that one of his descendants would sit on his 275 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: throne forever. Find that in Second Samuel seven Isaiah. We've 276 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: already quoted Isaiah once, will quote him again here He 277 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 1: described a future reign that would be characterized by peace 278 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: and by justice. Lo what it says in Isaiah ninety seven. 279 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: It says of the increase of his government and of peace. 280 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: There will be no end on the throne of David 281 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: and over his kingdom. Jeremiah spoke of a righteous branch 282 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: from David who would reign as king. See that in 283 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: Jeremiah twenty three. And then you have Zechariah, the prophet 284 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,760 Speaker 1: Zecharia and Zechariah fourteen saying this he said, and the 285 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 1: Lord will be king over all the earth. Now, I 286 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: believe collectively these verses are all referencing the very thing 287 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:35,280 Speaker 1: that's unfolding here in Revelation chapter twenty. And as I 288 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,680 Speaker 1: look at these things, I recognize that these promises have 289 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: not yet been fulfilled in their entirety. Christ is reigning 290 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: from heaven today, but he hasn't yet established his earthly 291 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 1: kingdom from Jerusalem like Scripture describes, and so Revelation twenty 292 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: I believe is showing us that future fulfillment. We're also 293 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: told that those who are martyred during the tribulation will 294 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: be raised to life the reign with Christ during that 295 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: period of time, together with other resurrected believers, and they'll 296 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: participate in the kingdom administration of the Messiah. I don't 297 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: know what your favorite job has ever been. I'm sure 298 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: you've had jobs that you've loved and jobs that you 299 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: didn't love. I have to tell you it's very strangely 300 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: one of my favorite jobs I ever had. My senior 301 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: year of high school. I used to get up at 302 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: four point fifty every morning and deliver papers to the 303 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: west side of Carbondale, Pennsylvania, and I would raise myself 304 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: to see how fast I could get it done. And 305 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: I loved being what felt like the only person up 306 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: in my town. I love that job. And now you 307 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 1: look at what we're told here in Revelation twenty, and 308 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: it tells us that the Lord is going to welcome 309 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,000 Speaker 1: his people to reign with him. Do you ever wonder 310 00:16:41,040 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: what your role, your job, your position is going to 311 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: be in that kingdom? Do you ever wonder what the 312 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: Lord's going to entrust to you? Do you ever wonder 313 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: what he's going to ask you to do or assign 314 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: you to do. It's fascinating to think, but this is 315 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: what scripture describes. I'm pretty sure I'm going to like 316 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: it better than a paper route. And it's amazing to 317 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,960 Speaker 1: me how oftentimes people tend to think of the reign 318 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: of Christ or even Heaven itself, and they think we're 319 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 1: just gonna sit around and float around on clouds and 320 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: wear baby diapers and play harps and have curly hair, 321 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 1: and that's what we're going to do for a turn. 322 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: And they're like, you know, I just think that's just 323 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: going to be kind of boring. That would be boring 324 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: if that's all we did. I like harp music, but 325 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: I don't want to do that for eternity. And then 326 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:23,959 Speaker 1: you look at this portion of scripture, and you look 327 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: at the things described here and you recognize no, the 328 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: Lord in his kingdom. He's got a plan for you. 329 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: He's got a plan for me. He's got an assignment 330 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: for us to do. You're not going to be bored. 331 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: You're gonna like it. And I love what the scripture 332 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: tells us. That you know, it reveals to us that 333 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: those who were martyred during the tribulation are going to 334 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: be raised to life with Christ and rule together and 335 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: serve together with other resurrected believers. This is called Scripture 336 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: calls this the first Resurrection. When you look at verse six, 337 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: it says, Blessed and holy is the one who shares 338 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: in the First Resurrection. Sou promise. It's a remarkable promise 339 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: that scriptures giving to us. Those who belong to Christ 340 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 1: aren't just rescued from judgment. Were invited into God's kingdom. 341 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: We're invited into the kingdom of Christ. We share in 342 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,080 Speaker 1: his reign, We participate in his purposes, what he decides 343 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: to do. We get to participate in that which means 344 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,480 Speaker 1: that the gospel that we preach from this pulpit, that 345 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: we live out, that we are grateful to the Lord 346 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: for that, in addition to the forgiveness that we receive 347 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: through Jesus Christ, that the Gospel also means something else. 348 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 1: It offers in addition to that beauty of forgiveness, it 349 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: also offers us citizenship in Christ's kingdom. We are citizens 350 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: in his kingdom. We get to serve with him in 351 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: his kingdom. It's promising us a future that's filled with purpose, 352 00:18:48,119 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: future that's filled with joy, a future that's filled with 353 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,000 Speaker 1: fellowship with the King. That's something that I delight in. 354 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:57,479 Speaker 1: That's something that I find great encouragement with, especially because 355 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 1: I think many believers find them selves during this present 356 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,879 Speaker 1: age wrestling with a variety of things and struggling, because 357 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: it can become very easy for us to become overly 358 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: focused on present difficulties. And then you look at a 359 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: portion of scripture like this, and what is it reminding 360 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 1: us to do? Look ahead, look forward. In the lowest 361 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: seasons you go through, look forward, it does work out. 362 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: There are good things in store when you go through 363 00:19:27,160 --> 00:19:28,920 Speaker 1: a hard day, when you go through a hard season, 364 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:32,600 Speaker 1: when you go through a hard era of your life. 365 00:19:32,840 --> 00:19:37,720 Speaker 1: Revelation twenty is literally reminding us to look ahead with hope, 366 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: with joy. That also means, if we want to make 367 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,720 Speaker 1: this a little bit personal, think of this as you're 368 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: dealing with hardship, whatever the category may be, whether it's 369 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 1: something's just a little bit harder one, whether it's one 370 00:19:51,200 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 1: of the hardest things you've ever been asked to go through. 371 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: This also means literally for you that your personal life 372 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: story doesn't end with hardship. You may endure hardship, and 373 00:20:02,920 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: I pray that it strengthens your faith and deepens your 374 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 1: trust in the Lord when you go through seasons of hardship. 375 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: That's what our trials are meant to do. Teaches us 376 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:13,680 Speaker 1: reliance on the Lord, and it shows us that he's faithful. 377 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,640 Speaker 1: But also understand that your personal life story doesn't end 378 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: in hardship. If you know Jesus Christ, this is telling 379 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 1: us a little bit more about what comes next. Even 380 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: if you're enduring hardship right now, and I know you are, 381 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: what does this tell us? It tells us that our 382 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:36,720 Speaker 1: personal life story in Christ ends with resurrection and rain. 383 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:42,080 Speaker 1: Doesn't end with hardship. It ends with resurrection and it 384 00:20:42,200 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 1: ends with rain purpose joy in the Kingdom of Christ. 385 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful thing to hold onto every day. The 386 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: easy days and the not so easy days. Then the 387 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: scripture goes on to tell us a little bit more, 388 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:57,040 Speaker 1: and it reveals to us that after this thousand year 389 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 1: period of time where Christ is ruling and reigning on 390 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: this earth, we're told that Satan is released. Briefly. Now, 391 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: when I read that a few moments ago, as we 392 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: started looking at this passage, I imagine for some of 393 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: us this may have been a bit surprising. You may 394 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 1: have looked at that and thought, why release him at all? 395 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 1: Did anyone think that, like, why is he even released? 396 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,239 Speaker 1: Why not just keep him unreleased? Why not just keep 397 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: him chained up? Well, I think the answer reveals something 398 00:21:22,200 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: important about the human heart. I think in some respects 399 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: when you look at what's revealed here, it could actually 400 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: be revealed as a test of faith. You can see 401 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: that this is like a test of faith, because think 402 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: about this from the standpoint of what's going to take place. 403 00:21:34,200 --> 00:21:37,280 Speaker 1: If that reign of Christ is a literal one thousand 404 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: year earthly reign, and I do believe that it is. Well, 405 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: that means that during Christ's perfect earthly reign, during that 406 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:46,679 Speaker 1: thousand year period of time, people are going to be 407 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: born during that period of time. During that millennium, people 408 00:21:49,880 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: that will still need personal faith in Jesus Christ. It'll 409 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 1: start off with people who believe, but then those that 410 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,440 Speaker 1: are born during that period of time are still going 411 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:03,159 Speaker 1: to need personal faith. And outward righteousness doesn't automatically produce 412 00:22:03,280 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: inward transformation. So many are going to be obeying Christ 413 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:10,160 Speaker 1: externally because that's just the way law and culture will 414 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: operate during that period of time. But while they're doing 415 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:17,400 Speaker 1: that externally, they may have kind of like a secret 416 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 1: rebellion taking place in their heart, harboring rebellion against the Lord. 417 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: And when Satan is released, he's going to gather these 418 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: rebels for one final uprising. According to the scripture, John 419 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:29,600 Speaker 1: says this. When you look at the first part of 420 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:31,679 Speaker 1: verse nine, he says, and they marched up over the 421 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 1: broad plane of the earth and surrounded the camp of 422 00:22:35,400 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: the saints and the beloved city. So here we're told 423 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: about this rebellion. We're told it's massive and the participants 424 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: are compared to the sand and the sea when you 425 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: look at what the scripture says. And yet the battle 426 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,120 Speaker 1: barely begins because when you look at the second part 427 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: of verse nine, it says this, but fire came down 428 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:54,199 Speaker 1: from heaven and consumed them. The fire came down from 429 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,639 Speaker 1: heaven and consumed them. So just as God sent fire 430 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 1: as a judgment upon rebellious enemy of his throughout the 431 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: Old Testament period, he does so again. There's multiple examples 432 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 1: of this same activity taking place earlier in scripture. You 433 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,239 Speaker 1: can think of Elijah's confrontation on Mount Carmel, see that 434 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: in One Kings eighteen. See God's judgment on Sodom and 435 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: Gomorrah in Genesis nineteen. And you see the same lesson 436 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 1: being taught here yet again, and the lessons pretty clear. 437 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 1: Rebellion against God is futile, it's foolish, it doesn't work. 438 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:31,960 Speaker 1: We sometimes individually have positioned our hearts as rebels against 439 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:34,159 Speaker 1: God and rebelled against him in a variety of ways, 440 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,920 Speaker 1: and here you see people doing so in a collective way. 441 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:42,159 Speaker 1: But rebellion against God is nonsensical, it doesn't make sense, 442 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: it doesn't work. Many people imagine that if circumstances improve, 443 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,440 Speaker 1: they would just naturally follow God. And then you look 444 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: at Revelation twenty and it demonstrates otherwise, even under the 445 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: perfect government of Jesus Christ, sinful hearts still need redemption. 446 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:02,159 Speaker 1: Sinful hearts still need rescuing. That's why the Gospel is 447 00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: so necessary. Humanity doesn't just need better laws or better leaders, 448 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,240 Speaker 1: or better education or better opportunities. We need new hearts. 449 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: That's probably a good reminder for us to have in 450 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: the midst of every era, for believers living during that 451 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: particular era, but for believers living in this era as well. 452 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 1: We don't just need better laws, even though I like 453 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: better laws. We don't just need better leaders, even though 454 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: I like when the Lord blesses us with good leaders. 455 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: I'm grateful for that every time. We don't need better 456 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 1: education exclusively, even though I like good education and invest 457 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 1: a lot of my life into educating, even though I 458 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 1: can't say certain words. Sometimes you don't even need just 459 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: better opportunities. We need new hearts. That's the transformation that 460 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:45,960 Speaker 1: needs to take place, and only Jesus can provide that transformation. 461 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 1: External circumstances it's nice when they improve. I like days 462 00:24:50,240 --> 00:24:52,760 Speaker 1: that have good weather. I like living under laws that 463 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: I think are good, but none of those things change 464 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 1: a heart. They change circumstances, but they don't change a heart. 465 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,479 Speaker 1: Our hearts need transformation. That's something that ultimately only Jesus 466 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: Christ can provide. And that's something Scripture tells us over 467 00:25:06,359 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 1: and over and over again, and it reveals it in 468 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,560 Speaker 1: a variety of ways. But then we come to verse ten, 469 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: and I have to tell you, this is one of 470 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: the most satisfying verses in all the scriptures. And I'm 471 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: gonna read this verse, and I got to tell you 472 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,679 Speaker 1: something really, really weird that happened earlier this week. It 473 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 1: was really weird. But I'm just gonna read it, and 474 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 1: then I'll tell you the weird thing. Revelation twenty ten says, 475 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,719 Speaker 1: this says, and the devil who had written, and the 476 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,640 Speaker 1: devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake 477 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false 478 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night 479 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: forever and ever. This fiery end that's described here, this 480 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: is Satan's final destruction. Now, let me tell you the 481 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,720 Speaker 1: weird thing. On Friday morning, first thing in the morning, 482 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: I had a meeting at nine But leading up to 483 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:59,920 Speaker 1: at nine o'clock meeting, I was working on my serm 484 00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:04,040 Speaker 1: Friday morning, and I had gotten to this particular verse 485 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: and I was jotting down some thoughts on this verse. 486 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: And I was home as I was doing this, and 487 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,719 Speaker 1: right as I began working on some things that I 488 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,720 Speaker 1: wanted to say related to verse ten, this fiery end 489 00:26:15,760 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 1: that Satan's destruction, I kid you not. As I was 490 00:26:22,359 --> 00:26:24,879 Speaker 1: typing my thoughts, one of the smoke alarms in my 491 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:28,880 Speaker 1: house went off. And it's a new one. My son 492 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,040 Speaker 1: Jay installed them for us. This first time I had 493 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 1: heard it go off. And it went off, and not 494 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: only just start beeping, it starts beeping. It's like beep, beep, beep, 495 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:42,919 Speaker 1: and then it goes fire fire beep beep, and I 496 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 1: jumped up. I was sitting down. I jumped up. I'm 497 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: like what And I was the only one home, and 498 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: I'm looking through the house. As soon as I jumped up, though, 499 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: it went off and I'm looking around and I'm like, 500 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:59,320 Speaker 1: that's weird. And I was like, yeah, I'm definitely telling 501 00:26:59,359 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 1: the church that that happened. I'm absolutely telling the church 502 00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:04,720 Speaker 1: that that happened. I told Greg on Friday morning. He 503 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: was the nine o'clock meeting, and I said, Greg, the 504 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 1: craziest thing happened to me this morning while that was 505 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,120 Speaker 1: prepping Sunday's message. He's like what I was like when 506 00:27:12,119 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: I got to verse ten, the fire alarm in my 507 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 1: house went off until I got up from the chair, 508 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:17,879 Speaker 1: and then it went off, or like then it stopped, 509 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,679 Speaker 1: and I was like, I don't have an explanation for that. 510 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: It was just weird enough that I thought that i'd 511 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,199 Speaker 1: have to tell you that. But I will say this, 512 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 1: when you look at this, as you're looking here at 513 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:31,919 Speaker 1: Revelation twenty ten, you're seeing what takes place to Satan. 514 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,680 Speaker 1: What you're seeing is the one who tempted Eve. It's like, 515 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 1: let's think through the arc of scripture here, the one 516 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,320 Speaker 1: who tempted Eve, the one who accused Job, the one 517 00:27:43,359 --> 00:27:48,360 Speaker 1: who opposed Israel, the one who tempted Jesus, the one 518 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: who deceives the nation's generation after generation. He will experience 519 00:27:55,600 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: his career of rebellion coming to a fiery, eternal end. 520 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:05,399 Speaker 1: That's what we're reading there in verse ten. But notice 521 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: that Satan isn't annihilated, but neither is he given authority 522 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 1: over Hell. Let me explain something. Popular culture oftentimes represents 523 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:21,240 Speaker 1: Satan as ruling the underworld, ruling Hell. And it wouldn't 524 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: surprise me if, at some point in your life you 525 00:28:23,359 --> 00:28:26,359 Speaker 1: thought Satan was in charge of Hell? Do you ever 526 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 1: think of that, maybe when you're a kid, maybe even 527 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,399 Speaker 1: as an adult, do you ever think like, Yeah, Satan, 528 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:33,320 Speaker 1: God's in charge of heaven. Satan's in charge of Hell? Right, 529 00:28:33,359 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: Satan is not in charge of Hell. Popular culture oftentimes 530 00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:40,719 Speaker 1: portrays him as being in charge of Hell. Scripture teaches 531 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: the exact opposite. Hell is a place of punishment. Hell 532 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:46,560 Speaker 1: is a place he doesn't want to be. Hell is 533 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: a place where he is going to be punished. His 534 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: judgment fulfills the ancient promise that was given to us 535 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: back in Genesis three point fifteen, where the seed of 536 00:28:56,520 --> 00:29:00,480 Speaker 1: the woman, we're told, will ultimately crush the serpent's head. 537 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,640 Speaker 1: Now go back to the Cross with us for a moment. 538 00:29:03,680 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 1: Here at Calvary, what did Christ do? He secured the 539 00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:09,640 Speaker 1: decisive victory at his second coming, what does he do 540 00:29:09,760 --> 00:29:13,000 Speaker 1: he establishes his kingdom? And then here in Revelation twenty, 541 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:18,360 Speaker 1: Satan's final punishment is completed forever. So again, I know 542 00:29:18,440 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: that as believers, sometimes in this world we feel discouraged 543 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 1: when evil seems to prosper, whether it's in culture, whether 544 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:25,920 Speaker 1: it's in our own life, whether it's in the lives 545 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 1: of people that we love, and I understand that we 546 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: watch examples of corruption or injustice, or just general wickedness, 547 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:35,040 Speaker 1: and sometimes it seems like those things are flourishing, and 548 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 1: we wonder, God, when will you stop this? When will 549 00:29:38,760 --> 00:29:42,520 Speaker 1: you act to do something ultimately about this? And then 550 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 1: you come to this portion of scripture, and like I said, 551 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: this chapter is probably the chapter I've read more times 552 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: than any other chapter in the Book of Revelation, and 553 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,760 Speaker 1: Revelation twenty assures us that God's justice, maybe it seems delayed, 554 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: maybe it doesn't to you, but maybe it does. But 555 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:58,240 Speaker 1: understand this, even if his justice does seem delayed to you, 556 00:29:58,280 --> 00:30:01,000 Speaker 1: know that it isn't absent. He is going to take 557 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: care of this in his perfect timing. The judge of 558 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 1: all the earth will do exactly what's right. And then 559 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,760 Speaker 1: the scripture after that, after telling us what's going to 560 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,600 Speaker 1: happen to Satan, it then shifts to one of the 561 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 1: most solemn scenes in all of scripture, because you get 562 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 1: to verse eleven and it says, then I saw a 563 00:30:18,120 --> 00:30:20,719 Speaker 1: great white throne, and him who was seated on it 564 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: from his presence, Earth and sky fled away and no 565 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:28,760 Speaker 1: place was found for them. Now Here it's talking about 566 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: this great white throne, the purity of the throne, emphasizing 567 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:35,640 Speaker 1: God's holiness, and every unbeliever from every generation is going 568 00:30:35,680 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: to stand before God. Daniel spoke of this moment, Daniel 569 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:42,200 Speaker 1: seven to ten. You know, he said, the court sat 570 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: in judgment and the books were open, prophetically referencing the 571 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,080 Speaker 1: same exact thing. John here is now seeing the same 572 00:30:48,120 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: exact thing. Books are open recording human deeds, and other 573 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:55,200 Speaker 1: book is open referenced here is the Book of life. 574 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 1: We're told that the dead or judged according to what's 575 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,840 Speaker 1: written in the book. Understand by the way, this judgment 576 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,360 Speaker 1: doesn't determine degrees of salvation or something like that. It 577 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 1: demonstrates the righteousness of God's verdict against those who rejected 578 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: his provision of grace. But that also means that every 579 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 1: secret thought, every hidden motive, every unconfessed sin, everything is known. 580 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:24,360 Speaker 1: It's laid out. Nothing escapes God's attention. It's all laid out. Bear. Now, 581 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:26,000 Speaker 1: I look at that, and I think that's a reality 582 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:29,600 Speaker 1: that should be humbling, that should humble us, because left 583 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,880 Speaker 1: to ourselves, none of us could stand before the Lord. 584 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,160 Speaker 1: We would deserve judgment. And when you look at a 585 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:38,600 Speaker 1: portion of scripture like this, you'd say, all right, now, wait, 586 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,400 Speaker 1: at the start of today's message, you said that we 587 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:43,959 Speaker 1: as believers have victory to look forward to. But now 588 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:47,720 Speaker 1: you're talking about judgment. You're talking about every sin, every shortcoming, 589 00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: every ill feeling, all of those things being laid out 590 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: bare before the throne of God, and judgment being rendered 591 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: on these things and on people. And the truth is, 592 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: we deserve to be judged in that context. And yet 593 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:09,840 Speaker 1: Scripture tells us something else. Scripture tells us that for 594 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 1: those who are in Christ. Notice, by the way, when 595 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: I was speaking of this judgment, I said unbelievers being 596 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:18,520 Speaker 1: judged at it, because scripture also speaks about believers coming 597 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 1: before the judgment seed of Christ for a different kind 598 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,600 Speaker 1: of judgment, a judgment of rewards. Why because for those 599 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: who are in Christ, there is no condemnation. For those 600 00:32:28,480 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 1: who are in Christ Jesus. But in Romans three twenty three, 601 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,200 Speaker 1: it tells us that all have sinned and falls short 602 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 1: of the glory of God. Every single person, every single 603 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,520 Speaker 1: human being, has sinned and fallen short of the glory 604 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:47,720 Speaker 1: of God. Paul wrote that, and yet scripture reveals to 605 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: us that those who are in Christ Jesus are forgiven. 606 00:32:51,360 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 1: Those who are in Christ Jesus will not be condemned. 607 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: We haven't been saved because our good deeds outweighed our 608 00:32:56,960 --> 00:33:00,440 Speaker 1: bad deeds. We've had plenty of bad deeds. But we 609 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:03,320 Speaker 1: are saved because Jesus stood in our place and he 610 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: took our condemnation upon himself. And I will say this, 611 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,640 Speaker 1: as serious and as intense as this chapter is, recognize 612 00:33:11,680 --> 00:33:15,880 Speaker 1: that the gospel of Jesus Christ shines brightly through it. 613 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,840 Speaker 1: And again, let me come back to Isaiah one more time, 614 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: because there it reminds us that Christ was pierced for 615 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 1: our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, meaning Christ took 616 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,760 Speaker 1: those things upon himself. He took our sin upon himself 617 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:33,120 Speaker 1: so that we wouldn't stand condemned at that great white 618 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,760 Speaker 1: throne judgment that's referenced here in Revelation twenty. That we 619 00:33:36,800 --> 00:33:39,880 Speaker 1: would come before him and that we would be rewarded 620 00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 1: in regard to our faithfulness to him, that there would 621 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:45,720 Speaker 1: be no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 622 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:49,800 Speaker 1: for those who genuinely trust in Jesus Christ. When Jesus died, 623 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,360 Speaker 1: he absorbed the father's wrath against sin. When he rose again, 624 00:33:53,440 --> 00:33:57,400 Speaker 1: he conquered death, and he shares that victory with everyone 625 00:33:57,400 --> 00:34:00,520 Speaker 1: who trusts in him. Our sins have already been judged. 626 00:34:00,840 --> 00:34:05,080 Speaker 1: Our sins have already been taken care of. So as 627 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: you look at this portion of scripture and you think 628 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:09,760 Speaker 1: about this, you can think about it from a variety 629 00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:11,719 Speaker 1: of standpoints. You could look at it and you could say, 630 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 1: all right, let me think about this from a theological standpoint, 631 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: and you could spend most of your time arguing what 632 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:19,480 Speaker 1: the thousand years means. And I see some people look 633 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:20,920 Speaker 1: at this portion of scripture are like, I wonder what 634 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:23,839 Speaker 1: the thousand years means. Let's argue about it forever, because 635 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:25,879 Speaker 1: that's the mark of a solid Christian. Right, Let's argue 636 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 1: about the thousand years. Or you could look at this 637 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,880 Speaker 1: and you could say, what is this supposed to be 638 00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:34,919 Speaker 1: producing within me? What is this ultimately supposed to be 639 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:38,800 Speaker 1: helping me to understand? I think Revelation twenty should produce 640 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,920 Speaker 1: gratitude for those who are in Christ Jesus, and I 641 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:43,799 Speaker 1: think that there's some ways that we can respond to 642 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,400 Speaker 1: a portion of scripture like this even now while we 643 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 1: await its fulfillment. I think this portion of Scripture is 644 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:52,239 Speaker 1: reminding us in a very helpful way that history is 645 00:34:52,280 --> 00:34:57,520 Speaker 1: moving toward a very specific destination. Christ will return, Satan 646 00:34:57,560 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 1: will be defeated, the Kingdom of Christ will be as 647 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 1: st ablished, Judgment will occur, and eternity will begin. And 648 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 1: so I look at that, and I think, all right, 649 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,359 Speaker 1: how am I supposed to respond in light of this? Well, 650 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:09,840 Speaker 1: I think one of the ways that you and I 651 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: can respond to a portion of Scripture like this is 652 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:16,480 Speaker 1: to genuinely live in hope. I know that this world 653 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 1: often seems chaotic. I know that sometimes things come up 654 00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:21,960 Speaker 1: in your life and in my life that we didn't 655 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,359 Speaker 1: see coming. I know that there are challenges and difficulties 656 00:35:25,400 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: that we face. But understand that when Scripture uses the 657 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:31,400 Speaker 1: word hope, it's talking about this idea of being certain 658 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,239 Speaker 1: that God has all things ultimately in his hand and 659 00:35:34,320 --> 00:35:37,560 Speaker 1: under his control, and we're called to live in that hope. 660 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:43,080 Speaker 1: Everything is moving toward God's intended conclusion. So live in hope. 661 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:46,839 Speaker 1: That means the Lord's got everything under his control. Look 662 00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: forward to the future, because ultimately He's got a good 663 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,839 Speaker 1: future for those who know him. I think a second 664 00:35:51,880 --> 00:35:54,240 Speaker 1: way that we could respond to a portion of scripture 665 00:35:54,280 --> 00:35:56,439 Speaker 1: like this, and I don't hear this reference quite enough, 666 00:35:56,719 --> 00:36:01,080 Speaker 1: so I want to reference this today. I would encourage 667 00:36:01,160 --> 00:36:05,359 Speaker 1: us to pursue holiness. And why am I saying that, Well, 668 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:08,560 Speaker 1: we belong to the coming King that's referenced here, and 669 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:11,160 Speaker 1: I think since we belong to him, our lives should 670 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:16,200 Speaker 1: reflect his character. Now, since he took our condemnation upon himself, 671 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:19,160 Speaker 1: since we don't stand before him condemned, since we stand 672 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:21,240 Speaker 1: before him as men and women who have been forgiven, 673 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:24,400 Speaker 1: let's live as men and women who ultimately want to 674 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: reflect his heart. As an expression of your faith in 675 00:36:26,960 --> 00:36:31,200 Speaker 1: my faith, let's pursue holiness. Third way that we can respond, 676 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,000 Speaker 1: And I've mentioned this throughout our study of the Book 677 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 1: of Revelation, but I think it's helpful share the Gospel urgently. 678 00:36:37,320 --> 00:36:39,040 Speaker 1: There are people in your life and in my life 679 00:36:39,040 --> 00:36:41,920 Speaker 1: who need the hope of the Gospel. They need to 680 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:44,480 Speaker 1: know Jesus Christ. They do not know him at present, 681 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:47,480 Speaker 1: and everyone that we know is ultimately moving toward an 682 00:36:47,480 --> 00:36:51,160 Speaker 1: eternal destiny. Revelation twenty is reminding us what's at stake here, 683 00:36:52,200 --> 00:36:54,759 Speaker 1: and so share the gospel with those who need to 684 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 1: know it, to your friends, to your friend, your family members, 685 00:36:57,160 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 1: others that the Lord puts in your life. And one 686 00:36:59,560 --> 00:37:02,880 Speaker 1: of the beauty full things is you will find that 687 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:05,600 Speaker 1: people are listening. As you take the risk to share 688 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:07,359 Speaker 1: in a variety of ways, you will find that people 689 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 1: are listening that you did not expect. We're listening. Just 690 00:37:12,239 --> 00:37:14,440 Speaker 1: yesterday I mentioned we've we've been doing a lot of 691 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:19,800 Speaker 1: work on our home, and yesterday, to fuel that work, 692 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:23,160 Speaker 1: we went to a local pizza place and we didn't 693 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:26,040 Speaker 1: get pizza, but we did get sandwiches and cheese, steaks 694 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:29,080 Speaker 1: and some other good things. And as my wife was 695 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:32,360 Speaker 1: paying for those things, the person that owns the pizza 696 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:36,640 Speaker 1: place said to her, Hey, just so you know, I 697 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:41,160 Speaker 1: listened to your husband's podcasts all the time. And she said, 698 00:37:41,200 --> 00:37:43,640 Speaker 1: oh yeah, and he said, yeah, I find it very helpful. 699 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: I find it helpful. I've been listening. This is someone 700 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,200 Speaker 1: that's never come to our church. This is somebody that 701 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:51,600 Speaker 1: for the longest I didn't know that even knew I 702 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:54,319 Speaker 1: did that sort of stuff. And he said, yeah, I've 703 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 1: been listening to that and I find it helpful. And 704 00:37:58,239 --> 00:38:01,520 Speaker 1: then later that evening, we have the opportunity to go 705 00:38:01,600 --> 00:38:03,400 Speaker 1: to This is just last night, we had the opportunity 706 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: to go to a graduation party with all our neighbors present. 707 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 1: Was directly across the street from our house. So we 708 00:38:08,960 --> 00:38:11,279 Speaker 1: walked across the street, had some food with them, we 709 00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:14,440 Speaker 1: were talking about them. One of the neighbors brought up 710 00:38:14,480 --> 00:38:16,640 Speaker 1: something else that I had shared, and then another neighbor 711 00:38:16,640 --> 00:38:19,240 Speaker 1: brought up something else that I had shared, and afterward 712 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 1: my wife and I came home and we were talking 713 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,400 Speaker 1: about that. So you may not think people are listening. 714 00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:27,600 Speaker 1: You may think sometimes is you share the gospel with 715 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,879 Speaker 1: others or take the opportunity to write something, record something, 716 00:38:30,920 --> 00:38:34,840 Speaker 1: share something on your social media, have a conversation. People 717 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:38,200 Speaker 1: that you have no idea are listening. They are listening. 718 00:38:39,360 --> 00:38:41,680 Speaker 1: So take the risk to share the gospel and treat 719 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 1: it like it's got some urgency because you don't know 720 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:46,239 Speaker 1: how much time you have and I don't know how 721 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:47,879 Speaker 1: much time I have, and they don't know how much 722 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:50,360 Speaker 1: time they have. But I do know that we have 723 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:53,280 Speaker 1: this moment, and if the Lord's given us this moment, 724 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,359 Speaker 1: then share the gospel with urgency. Let people know about 725 00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:00,279 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. And one other thing that I'd encourage just 726 00:39:00,320 --> 00:39:02,439 Speaker 1: to do, and that's this rest in the finished work 727 00:39:02,480 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: of Christ. Understand that if you've trusted in Him, your 728 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:10,840 Speaker 1: future absolutely is secure in his hands. Your name is 729 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 1: written in the Book of Life that's referenced in this chapter. 730 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:19,920 Speaker 1: Your sins are forgiven, your resurrection is guaranteed. Why it's 731 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,520 Speaker 1: not because you did something. It's because Christ secured that 732 00:39:23,719 --> 00:39:28,399 Speaker 1: for you. So rest in His finished work. Because one 733 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:30,359 Speaker 1: day the kingdoms of this world are going to give 734 00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:32,439 Speaker 1: way to the kingdom of the Lord. Satan is going 735 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:35,800 Speaker 1: to be silenced, death is going to be completely defeated. 736 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 1: Justice is going to prevail, and that the center of 737 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:43,680 Speaker 1: it all will stand Jesus Christ, the King of kings 738 00:39:44,239 --> 00:39:46,200 Speaker 1: and the Lord of lords. The one who died for 739 00:39:46,320 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: sinners is going to reign forever. The one who wore 740 00:39:49,719 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 1: the crown of thorns is going to wear many crowns scriptures. 741 00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:57,560 Speaker 1: Scripture describes him as wearing. The one who was rejected 742 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:01,920 Speaker 1: by the world is going to be worshiped the nations 743 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,080 Speaker 1: and everyone who belongs to him is going to share 744 00:40:04,120 --> 00:40:10,480 Speaker 1: in his victory forever. Let's pray, Lord, thank you so 745 00:40:10,560 --> 00:40:13,000 Speaker 1: much for your word and for the privilege that it 746 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:16,000 Speaker 1: is to be able to look at these things and 747 00:40:16,120 --> 00:40:21,839 Speaker 1: genuinely think about what you've revealed in Scripture. Father, I'm 748 00:40:21,880 --> 00:40:24,279 Speaker 1: grateful for the fact that the work that your son 749 00:40:24,320 --> 00:40:29,480 Speaker 1: accomplished on our behalf is sufficient. I'm thankful for the 750 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 1: fact that what you have in store for us is good. 751 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:40,880 Speaker 1: I'm thankful for the fact that as we look at 752 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:43,080 Speaker 1: a portion of Scripture like this, even in the midst 753 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:47,720 Speaker 1: of our frustrations with our own sin and with evil 754 00:40:47,760 --> 00:40:51,160 Speaker 1: influence in this world and the ways in which Satan 755 00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,520 Speaker 1: deceives minds and hearts and lives of those that we love, 756 00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:57,360 Speaker 1: even in the midst of our frustration with that, we 757 00:40:57,400 --> 00:41:01,120 Speaker 1: can look at that and say, apparently, according to your word, 758 00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:04,759 Speaker 1: that is a temporary frustration. That is a frustration that 759 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:08,560 Speaker 1: will not continue to endure. That's something that ultimately will 760 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:12,279 Speaker 1: be handled in your perfect timing. You're being patient with us, 761 00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:15,760 Speaker 1: You're being patient with humanity. You're giving us the best 762 00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:20,160 Speaker 1: opportunity in the world to respond to your offer of 763 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:23,440 Speaker 1: salvation through faith in your son Jesus Christ. You tell 764 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:25,319 Speaker 1: us that our sins are forgiven. You tell us that 765 00:41:25,360 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 1: we are made part of an eternal kingdom you tell 766 00:41:28,280 --> 00:41:30,719 Speaker 1: us that the victory Christ secured is a victory that 767 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:34,000 Speaker 1: shared with us. And so, Father, we're grateful for these things, 768 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:35,920 Speaker 1: and that we can think about these things as we 769 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:38,839 Speaker 1: look at a portion of scripture like this today. Lord, 770 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: I pray that you would give us your strength and 771 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:43,040 Speaker 1: your guidance in the midst of everything that we go 772 00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:47,359 Speaker 1: through when we face hardship, when we face difficulty, Lord, 773 00:41:47,400 --> 00:41:49,320 Speaker 1: we pray that we would look forward to the future 774 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:52,080 Speaker 1: with hope, knowing that ultimately you have all things in 775 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,360 Speaker 1: your hand and under control. And Father, we're just so 776 00:41:55,440 --> 00:41:57,200 Speaker 1: grateful for who you are and for all that you 777 00:41:57,280 --> 00:41:59,960 Speaker 1: do in our lives. We pray that we would rejoice 778 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:02,800 Speaker 1: in the hope that we have through your son, Jesus Christ. 779 00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: We thank you for all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.