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 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: This morning, we are in Revelation chapter fifteen, so if 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: you take your bibles and turn there with me. It's 5 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: one of the shorter chapters in Revelation. It only has 6 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: eight verses, and some of the other chapters are a 7 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: bit longer than this. But we're going to look at 8 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: the whole chapter Revelation fifteen, and in just a moment, 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: I'll read from verse one right to the end. But 10 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: in it you're going to see a combination of things, 11 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: including victory, worship, and the coming judgment that ultimately the 12 00:00:40,600 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: Lord has in store for this creation. So Revelation fifteen, 13 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: starting with verse one, this is what it states, says, 14 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for 16 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: with them the wrath of God is finished. And I 17 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled 18 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: with fire, and also those who had conquered the beast 19 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: in its image and the number of its name, standing 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: beside the sea of glass with harps of God in 21 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: their hands. They sing the song of Moses, the Servant 22 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, great 23 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: and amazing are your deeds, O Lord, God the Almighty. 24 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations, 25 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name, 26 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: For you alone are holy. All nations will come and 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. After this, 28 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: I looked, and the sanctuary of the Tent of Witness 29 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: in Heaven was opened. And out of the sanctuary came 30 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,559 Speaker 1: the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure 31 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests, and one 32 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels 33 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 1: seven golden bulls full of the wrath of God who 34 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: lives forever and ever. The sanctuary was filled with smoke 35 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: from the glory of God and from his power, and 36 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues 37 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: of the seven Angels were finished. Let's pray, Lord, thank 38 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: you so much for the opportunity to be able to 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: spend this time together today looking at your word. And Lord, 40 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: we pray that you would speak to us by the 41 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,079 Speaker 1: power of your Holy Spirit. We know that it's a 42 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 1: privilege to be able to look at a passage like 43 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: this and to think about things that have yet to 44 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: be fulfilled. But they very much will be fulfilled. And 45 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: there will be a day when this will be a 46 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: portion of Scripture that we look at and we think 47 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: of as past tense, and so Lord, we look forward 48 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: to that time. But in the meantime, while we look 49 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 1: at these things, as we see what you have revealed 50 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: from your word, we pray that our minds and our 51 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: hearts would be open to it. We know, Lord, that 52 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,880 Speaker 1: looking through the Book of Revelation is a rather unique 53 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: book of your word to be looking at, and there's 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: so many things that we ponder as we do look 55 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: at it. But Lord, we pray that you'd speak to 56 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: us now and help us to understand what we're reading 57 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 1: as best as we can. And Lord, we pray that 58 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: we would apply these truths to our day to day lives, 59 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: and that we would be men and women who worship 60 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: you with sincerity, as you've revealed yourself in Scripture as 61 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 1: being the one who is indeed worthy to be worshiped. 62 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: So we thank you for this time, and we pray 63 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: this all in Jesus' name Amen. So, as I mentioned 64 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: just a moment ago, and you probably noticed this right 65 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: as we turn to Revelation fifteen. Revelation fifteen is a 66 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: short chapter, but don't let the fact that it's a 67 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 1: brief chapter be something that fools you, because it's actually 68 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: something that carries tremendous weight. There's some things here in 69 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: this portion of scripture you're going to see connect to 70 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 1: other major portions of scripture, and we're going to highlight 71 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: those things as we look at it together. But this 72 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: chapter here, and the thing's taking place in it, it 73 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: serves as a transition between what's already been revealed and 74 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: what's about to unfold, because we're going to see some 75 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 1: additional things unfolding. You have the judgments of God about 76 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: to reach their full expression and what we refer to 77 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: as the bold judgments. But before that happens, you have 78 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: this moment of pause where you just kind of have 79 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: things erupt in praise in the heavenly context. And these 80 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: are things that are very much pointing us to Jesus. 81 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: Now you have the apostle John who's writing these things, 82 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: and he continues to be shown things that naturally speaking, 83 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: nobody would know. But these are things that the Lord 84 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: has revealed to John, and that John is inspired by 85 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit to write these things down for us, 86 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: and he begins this section. He begins this chapter by 87 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: saying this verse one. He says, then I saw another 88 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, 89 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: which are the last, for with them, the wrath of 90 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 1: God is finished. Now notice what he says here about 91 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: these plagues. He says, they are what the last, the 92 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: last plagues. It's also kind of interesting when you think 93 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: about that, because when we've been going through the Book 94 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,039 Speaker 1: of Revelation, you've noticed that the wrath of God is 95 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: being poured out on sinful humanity, the wrath of God 96 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 1: being poured out on this sinful world. But this is 97 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: showing us that the wrath of God isn't something random, 98 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: and it's not something uncontrolled. I think a lot of 99 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: times in day to day life, when we interact with 100 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 1: other human beings and somebody expresses wrath or somebody gets 101 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: angry or something of that nature, we almost expect it 102 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: to be an uncontrolled moment, an awkward moment, something that 103 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: doesn't have control, something that doesn't have structure. And then 104 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:25,360 Speaker 1: you look at the wrath of God as it's revealed 105 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 1: in a passage like this, and as it's revealed throughout 106 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: the Book of Revelation, and you know, it has a beginning, 107 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: it has a middle, it has an end. Now, these 108 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: portions of scripture, here are the events in this scripture. 109 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 1: I believe that these are events that take place during 110 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:46,359 Speaker 1: the Tribulation, specifically toward its conclusion, just before Christ comes 111 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: to this earth and establishes his reign, where he will 112 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:52,480 Speaker 1: reign on this earth, as scripture says, for a thousand years. 113 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: So again, I think that should influence how we look 114 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: at the wrath of God as it's being described in 115 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 1: this passage. It's not something impulsive. This is something very measured. 116 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 1: This is something very purposeful. And it's also something that's 117 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: completely just. It's not reactionary, it's completely just. We live 118 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: in a world by the way that I think often 119 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 1: questions the idea of God's wrath. I think there are 120 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: many that when they think of God, they would prefer 121 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: to think of a God who never judges anything. And 122 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 1: it's certainly true that our God is extremely merciful. He 123 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:28,839 Speaker 1: is the perfection of mercy. When I look at my 124 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,520 Speaker 1: own life, and I think about the things that the 125 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: Lord could have been instantly harsh with me, and yet 126 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: he gave me time to repent. He gave me time 127 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,280 Speaker 1: to ponder things. He gave me time to just pray 128 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 1: about things and soften my heart before him. And by 129 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: the way, he's doing that for all creation. The things 130 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: that we're reading about here are future things that the 131 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: Lord is going to do, but he hasn't done it yet. 132 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: What he's done is he tells us ahead of time 133 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: that this is coming, which means he's giving people time 134 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:57,479 Speaker 1: to repent. But I think a lot of people in 135 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: this world just kind of question God's and they would 136 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: rather think that he he never judges that. He doesn't 137 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: judge that that's not something that he's going to do. 138 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,520 Speaker 1: But when you look at what scripture tells us, yes, 139 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: he's a God of perfect mercy, but it also shows 140 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: us that he's a holy God, and as a holy God, 141 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: he has to deal with sin. In the Book of Habocook, 142 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: one of the more skipped books of scripture, in chapter one, 143 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: verse thirteen, that portion of scripture reminds us that God 144 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: is of purer eyes than to see evil, and it 145 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: says he cannot look at wrong, says that in habit 146 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: Cook one thirteen. So if God ignored sin, he wouldn't 147 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: be righteous. His justice is actually part of his goodness. 148 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 1: And so we see some of that even in the 149 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: Book of Revelation. But again in Revelation fifteen, it's not 150 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:48,280 Speaker 1: just showing us God's judgment, it's also showing us something else. First, 151 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: when you look at verse two, you have John saying 152 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: it this way. He says, and I saw what appeared 153 00:07:53,720 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: to be a sea of glass mingled with fire. So 154 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: even as I read this verse, try and just picture 155 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: it in your mind, because we're given a mental image here. 156 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: We're trying to you know, John's doing his best to 157 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: describe what he's seeing, even though it's something he hasn't 158 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,240 Speaker 1: seen before quite the same way, and he says, and 159 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass 160 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 1: mingled with fire. And also those who had conquered the 161 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: beast and its image and the number of its name 162 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 1: standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God 163 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: in their hands. It's an interesting scene. And also say 164 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 1: it's a very powerful scene. These I believe are believers 165 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: who lived during the tribulation period, that seven year period 166 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: of judgment upon this earth. I believe that they are 167 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: people who refuse to worship the Antichrist. They refuse to 168 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 1: worship the beast. They excuse me, they wouldn't take his mark, 169 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: they wouldn't take the number of his name. I believe 170 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: many of them were martyred for their faith. And from 171 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: an earthly perspective, I imagine that there were people that there 172 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 1: will be people that look at them and see these 173 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,400 Speaker 1: experiences that they would have, and they would say, oh, 174 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: these seem to be people that have lost everything. They 175 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: wouldn't worship the Beast, they wouldn't take the number of 176 00:09:03,320 --> 00:09:06,240 Speaker 1: his name, They've lost everything. But then you see this 177 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 1: portion of scripture that John's revealing what happens to those people, 178 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: and we discover that in the truth, they didn't lose anything. 179 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: They didn't lose anything. They conquered. They weren't conquered. They 180 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 1: conquered in the sense that the Lord worked in and 181 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: through them and shares that victory with them. And I 182 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: look at something like that, and I think that is 183 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: such an important reminder for us because faithfulness to God. 184 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 1: And we talked about this a little bit last week too, 185 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: but I want to mention it here because they're mentioned here. 186 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: Faithfulness to God, faithfulness to Christ may come at a 187 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: cost as you follow Jesus in this world. You may 188 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 1: experience a prist or a cost that comes with it. 189 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: But understand that your faithfulness to Christ is never wasted. 190 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: It's noted by the Lord the world, this world, treasure's comfort, success, popularity, 191 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,320 Speaker 1: things of that nature, and can't always even imagine making 192 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: sacrifice in day to day life that would jeopardize comfort, 193 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: or jeopardize the perception of victory, or jeopardize worldly success. 194 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: But then you look at what matters to God, and 195 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: He shows us this all throughout the pages of Scripture. 196 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:15,959 Speaker 1: You know what matters to God. You know what matters 197 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: to God about your life. One of the main things 198 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 1: that matters to God is your faithfulness to Him in 199 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: the midst of your seasons of testing, in the midst 200 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: of your trials, in the midst of your difficulties, in 201 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: the midst of anything this world tries to dangle in 202 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: front of your eyes as something to be tempted by. 203 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: God looks at success, and he says, it looks like 204 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:38,839 Speaker 1: this faithfulness, your faithfulness to Him. So These are believers 205 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: who stood firm would have been when it would have 206 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,800 Speaker 1: been much easier for them to compromise, And now we're 207 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: told that they're standing right in the presence of God. 208 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:48,920 Speaker 1: But again, that really stands out in a world that 209 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: primarily idolizes comfort and won't do anything to jeopardize comfort. 210 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: I have to say comfort is such a priority for 211 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: modern humanity that the idea of doing anything that might 212 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: jeopardize our comfort it often stands out as an anomaly. 213 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: I think all of us probably noticed that earlier this week, 214 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: temperatures became unseasonably warm. I saw eighty eight, I saw 215 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: eighty nine. I even saw ninety degrees at one point, 216 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 1: and I was like, ooh, unseasonably warm. I'm okay with that. 217 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: I don't know if you're okay with that. It wasn't 218 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: even that human. So I was like, bring the warmth. Yes, 219 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: I will burn to a crisp. It is what it is. 220 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: I will accept that right, unseasonably warm. Now. I enjoy 221 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: warm weather. I love this time of year. But I'll 222 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,199 Speaker 1: also admit that one of the first things I did 223 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: when the temperature got to that stage was turned the 224 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: air conditioning on in my home. I was like, look, 225 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:38,080 Speaker 1: it looks looks like it's time to switch from heat 226 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: to AC. Although now for the next few days, looks 227 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: like it's time to switch back. So being a little 228 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: back and forth with that. But I look at, you know, 229 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: the warm weather, and I'm like, you know, eighty five 230 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 1: degrees that's fine, eighty eight degrees, that's fine outside, But inside, 231 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:56,200 Speaker 1: I have a different temperature preference. Inside. I don't want 232 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,199 Speaker 1: it to be eighty five or eighty eight degrees when 233 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: I'm trying to sleep. And so when it comes to 234 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: the creature comforts of this world, it's a priority for 235 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,400 Speaker 1: all of us. Like we think about that stuff and 236 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: it becomes a high priority for many people. But then 237 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: you look at the believers in this passage and you 238 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: realize that they had to make a moment of There 239 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:16,439 Speaker 1: was a moment of decision. They had to make a 240 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,439 Speaker 1: decision at one point. They had to make a choice. 241 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:21,199 Speaker 1: We can go for the praise of this world. We 242 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,840 Speaker 1: could go for what this world deems his success. We 243 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: could go for the comforts of this world. Or we 244 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 1: can choose to not idolize the comforts of this world, 245 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: and we could be faithful to the Lord in the 246 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 1: midst of a season of testing, and they remain faithful 247 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:38,559 Speaker 1: to Jesus under great pressure to do the exact opposite. 248 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: And now look at where they're standing. We're told that 249 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: they're standing at a sea of glass mingled with fire. 250 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 1: That the Lord allows them to stand there in his proximity, 251 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:53,439 Speaker 1: in his presence, the sea of glass mingled with fire. Now, 252 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: earlier in Revelation, maybe some of you even thought of 253 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: this as we read this together, just a moment ago, 254 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,320 Speaker 1: we're told of this sea of glass appearing before God's throne. 255 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: We're given the understanding that it symbolizes his purity, It 256 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 1: symbolizes his transcendence, the fact that he's above all things. 257 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: See that back in chapter four maybe some of you 258 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: remember that. But here we're told that that sea of 259 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:18,679 Speaker 1: glass is now mingled with fire. Well, typically when fire 260 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: is referenced in a context like this in scripture, it's 261 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: also indicating it's a sign of judgment. So you can 262 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: see God's holiness and purity, but you could also see 263 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: He's revealing that there's this sign of judgment, this fire. 264 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: So this idea here, this picture, this scene is bringing 265 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: together both sides of that God's purity, also mingled here 266 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 1: with judgment. God is perfectly holy, but he's also perfectly just. 267 00:13:44,559 --> 00:13:46,959 Speaker 1: But again, just let your mind go back to those 268 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:50,560 Speaker 1: believers here that are in this context standing together near 269 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: this sea of glass, and it tells us that they're 270 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 1: actually doing something. And by the way, when I look 271 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: at scripture and it tells us things that we get 272 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: to do in heaven, I like that because I'm one 273 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: of those people who likes to do things. I don't 274 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: just like to sit and observe, And we get to 275 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,440 Speaker 1: do things in heaven. And so when you have this 276 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 1: portion of Scripture, it tells us that they're actually doing something. 277 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,000 Speaker 1: Did you notice what they're doing? Look what it says 278 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: in verse three. It says they sing the song of Moses, 279 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:17,400 Speaker 1: the Servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb. 280 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: They sing the song of Moses, the Servant of God, 281 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: and the Song of the Lamb. Now, this combination of songs, 282 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: or maybe one song that's incorporating multiple things, it's worth 283 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 1: giving thought to because admittedly, you know, I'll just admit 284 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: to you, I think about I think about music a lot, 285 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,840 Speaker 1: maybe more than I probably should. I was even just 286 00:14:35,880 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: complimenting our worship team on one of the songs that 287 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 1: they sang was like, oh, I said, I love that song. 288 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: I love that song. Thank you guys for doing that. 289 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,560 Speaker 1: I'm one of those people, by the way, that when 290 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,760 Speaker 1: my family is driving and there's a song that I'm like, oh, 291 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:50,440 Speaker 1: this song is everybody know about this song? And I'll 292 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: pause the radio and my family's like, oh, come on. 293 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: They know what's about to happen, because I'm about to 294 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:57,560 Speaker 1: tell them the history of the band, the meaning of 295 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: the lyrics, and if I know it, what key that 296 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: song is in. And I know my family loves me 297 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 1: and loves when I do that, so they don't need 298 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,400 Speaker 1: to say anything. You know, they're in the back row. 299 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,040 Speaker 1: They're also with them. Is my father. He drove down 300 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,440 Speaker 1: to visit with us today. I will never forget. I 301 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: think it was probably ten or eleven years old. We 302 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: were driving on Lackawanna Avenue in Scranton in the back car. 303 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: My Dad's driving down the road and I just yell 304 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: inexplicably from the back of the car stop stop the car. 305 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: And my Dad's like, what is going on? And I'm like, 306 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:30,680 Speaker 1: stop the car. We're passing a record store. Before you 307 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: could stream audio, you had to pay for it. I 308 00:15:32,840 --> 00:15:34,600 Speaker 1: was like, we're passing a record store and I was like, 309 00:15:34,640 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: stop the car. He's like, why am I stopping the car? 310 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: What is going on? What is the panic? I was like, Dad, 311 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: don't you know bon Jovi just came out with a 312 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: new album. I want to see if they have it 313 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 1: in there. He stops the car. I run out of 314 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: the car and I go in. I have almost enough 315 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: money and then I calculate the tax and I was like, 316 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: I need one more dollar. I run back out. I 317 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:54,400 Speaker 1: was like, Dad, can I just borrow a dollar? He's 318 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:58,160 Speaker 1: like for what. I was like, this album isn't free, Dad, 319 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 1: I need to buy the album, and he gives me 320 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:03,120 Speaker 1: the dollar. He's like, you're nuts, but he still enabled 321 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 1: it because he gave He stopped the car, and he 322 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: gave the extra dollar. He paid for the tax on 323 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: that album. And I went in and got that bon 324 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: Jovie album and then I hand him it's back in 325 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:17,560 Speaker 1: the era of cassettesa I open it up and I'm like, now, father, 326 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: you have the honor of being the first one to 327 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: play it. And he's like, I don't want to listen 328 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: to your stupid music. That's what he would always say. 329 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: I was like, no, no, we're all going to love 330 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 1: this together. Dad. I think it's even religious. He's telling 331 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: us we're living on a prayer, and I think we 332 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: need to listen to it. It was that album True Story, 333 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:39,440 Speaker 1: one hundred percent True Story, and he's like, you're nuts, 334 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: But he played it, so he's an enabler. And I'm 335 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: glad that he's here. And I'm also glad that when 336 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: I look at what scripture says, there's a lot of 337 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: things in there about singing, and it tells us that 338 00:16:48,480 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: these people are singing, and it literally even tells us 339 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: what song they're singing. And it's got a couple aspects 340 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: to it. And I'll tell you what the songs that 341 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:58,760 Speaker 1: are referenced here, I mean haven't I haven't heard them. 342 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: I know some of the lyrics to it, and I'll 343 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: explain why I know those lyrics because it says it 344 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:05,639 Speaker 1: in this passage, but it's also referencing something from Exodus. 345 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: But I believe that these are the best songs put 346 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,520 Speaker 1: it this way, better than any song you or I 347 00:17:12,560 --> 00:17:15,119 Speaker 1: have ever heard. And I have some songs in this 348 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 1: world that I thoroughly enjoy, but these are better songs 349 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: than we've ever heard this side of heaven. So here 350 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:25,479 Speaker 1: it references the song of Moses. What's the song of Moses. Well, 351 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: it takes us back to Exodus fifteen. You don't have 352 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: to turn there, but I'm gonna just reference it for 353 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: us there. At this point, what was happening for Israel. 354 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: They were being delivered from Egypt. They're being delivered from Egypt. 355 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: And after God parted the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh's army, 356 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: what did the people do? They sang, God parts the 357 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: Red Sea destroys Pharaoh's army, and they sing. In Exodus 358 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: fifteen to two, it says that they sang, the Lord 359 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: is my strength and my song, and he has become 360 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 1: my salvation. So they sing it was a song of deliverance. 361 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,639 Speaker 1: And now you look at Revelation fifteen, we see an 362 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 1: even greater deliverance being celebrated. Here. It's not just freedom 363 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 1: from Egypt. It's ultimate victory over sin, over Satan, and 364 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: over the systems of this world. And they're singing about it. 365 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:15,200 Speaker 1: And that's why I believe it's also called the song 366 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: of the Lamb. Here the song of Jesus. Jesus is 367 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: the one who made this victory possible. So we're told 368 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:23,160 Speaker 1: here they sing the song of Moses, the Servant of God, 369 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: and the Song of the Lamb. It's kind of like 370 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: you could even say, like a medley, a combination, and 371 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:29,399 Speaker 1: it's interesting when you look at some of the lyrics 372 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: to the song. It's just part of it, but it 373 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: says that they sing, great and amazing are your deeds, 374 00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: Oh Lord, God the Almighty, Just and true? Are your ways, 375 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,960 Speaker 1: O King of the nations. This is what they sing. 376 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:46,119 Speaker 1: So they aren't questioning God's actions as they watch what 377 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 1: the Lord's doing, they aren't questioning his decisions. They're praising 378 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 1: him for what he's doing in their midst, even in 379 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: the midst of this season of judgment, they're looking at 380 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: his judgments and they're saying, your judgments are just and true. 381 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:00,040 Speaker 1: You are just and true. What you're doing is just 382 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: and true. This needed to happen, and so we praise 383 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:06,479 Speaker 1: you Lord for it. And I think that that can 384 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: be hard for us sometimes to grasp, you know, I 385 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 1: do think that from the perspective of eternity, we'll get 386 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: it better than we possibly do right now. Because when 387 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 1: we think about judgment, we often think about it emotionally. 388 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 1: But you look at their perspective in heaven and at 389 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,560 Speaker 1: this season here, they have perfect clarity about what God's 390 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: up to. God's people see things as they really are. 391 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: They see the full extent of sin. They understand what 392 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,160 Speaker 1: God's up to. They see the righteousness of God as 393 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: they stand at that sea of glass. And so they're 394 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,480 Speaker 1: worshiping God for doing what's right, and they're praising him 395 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 1: and they're saying, Lord, this is wonderful. What you're doing 396 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,280 Speaker 1: is wonderful. I know that this is the culmination of 397 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 1: so many things, but it's wonderful. And they continue with 398 00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: their song. When you look at verse four, it says, 399 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name. 400 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: So they're speaking about, you know, as they're looking at 401 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,120 Speaker 1: the nations, the nations that basically live as if there's 402 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: no reason to have reverence for the Lord, no reason 403 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: to have fear of the Lord. And they're like, no, now, 404 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,880 Speaker 1: people will revere you Lord, who will not fear, Oh Lord, 405 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 1: and glorify your name? For you alone are holy, and 406 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: all nations will come and worship you for your righteous 407 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:18,200 Speaker 1: acts have been revealed. I love that for your righteous 408 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:21,440 Speaker 1: acts have been revealed. By the way, this is reminding 409 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: us when you look at what's taking place here of 410 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,879 Speaker 1: several Old Testament themes, because when you go back to 411 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 1: Psalm eighty six, verse nine, there it says all the 412 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: nations you have made shall come and worship before you, 413 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: Oh Lord, all the nations. In the Book of Isaiah, 414 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: when you get to chapter sixty six, verse twenty three, 415 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,680 Speaker 1: it speaks of all flesh coming before the Lord and 416 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: what worshiping. So what we're seeing here in the Book 417 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: of Revelation is fulfilling those Old Testament promises. We're also 418 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: told here that Jesus will reign. Every nation is going 419 00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 1: to ultimately recognize his authority. This should remind us of 420 00:20:57,280 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: Philippians Chapter two, Verses ten and eleven. Of Philippians Chapter 421 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: two tell us that that at the name of Jesus, 422 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: every niche bew every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ 423 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,280 Speaker 1: is Lord. So you see all these things coming to pass. 424 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: That's precisely that's exactly where where all history is heading. 425 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 1: And so John talks about it here in the Book 426 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:22,680 Speaker 1: of Revelation in chapter fifteen. But after this, John then 427 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: gives us another aspect of this picture. I mean, it's 428 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: not a long chapter, but he's telling us important things. 429 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:33,160 Speaker 1: And he describes the heavenly temple being open. So they're singing, 430 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: and now this heavenly temple is being open. When you 431 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: look at verse five, he says, after this, I looked, 432 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: and the sanctuary of the Tent of Witness in heaven 433 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 1: was open. So the heavenly temple now being open again 434 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: all sorts and I mentioned this earlier, all sorts of 435 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 1: things that are being talked about as being fulfilled. Here 436 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,120 Speaker 1: have pictures in the Old Testament where these things were 437 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: initially described. And this is another spot where this imagery 438 00:21:56,119 --> 00:22:00,800 Speaker 1: connects directly to the Old Testament Tabernacle of Witness. We 439 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: see this in Exodus chapter forty. It refers to the 440 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,480 Speaker 1: place where God's presence dwelled among his people. And when 441 00:22:06,480 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: you get to Exodus chapter forty, it describes how the 442 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: Lord filled the tabernacle so powerfully that Moses himself couldn't 443 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: even enter it. And now we're told in heaven the 444 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 1: true sanctuary is opened. So the things on earth were 445 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 1: a picture of the heavenly reality, and now you have 446 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: the true sanctuary open. So what was once represented on 447 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: earth is now fully revealed in heaven. And the scripture continues, 448 00:22:27,920 --> 00:22:30,399 Speaker 1: and it says, and out of this sanctuary, and out 449 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, 450 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:39,480 Speaker 1: clothed in pure bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. 451 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,920 Speaker 1: These angels, by the way, angels being used of God 452 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: as ministering spirits. These angels are now prepared for a 453 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: very holy task. Their clothing reflects purity, their clothing reflects righteousness. 454 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: And they aren't acting independently. God is directing the course 455 00:22:55,000 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: that they're taking. Here. They're carrying out the will of 456 00:22:58,280 --> 00:23:00,920 Speaker 1: God as he directs. And we're told in verse seven 457 00:23:00,960 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: a little bit more detail about their mission here. Verse 458 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 1: eight says it as well. It says in one of 459 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 1: the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven 460 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,160 Speaker 1: golden bulls full of the wrath of God who lives 461 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: forever and ever. That says in the sanctuary was filled 462 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 1: with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, 463 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,680 Speaker 1: and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven 464 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:21,479 Speaker 1: plagues of the seven angels were finished. Now we'll look 465 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,480 Speaker 1: at the second part of that. Those two verses in 466 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:27,320 Speaker 1: just a second. But understand this, these angels carrying out 467 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: the will of God and the wrath of God here 468 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:34,360 Speaker 1: is described as something again that's measured, its intentional, it's 469 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,680 Speaker 1: poured out in a very specific way at a very 470 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: specific time. It's divine justice being administered exactly as God determined. 471 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:44,840 Speaker 1: But then we're told these details. Here, were told that 472 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: the sanctuary filled with smoke from the glory of God 473 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: and from his power. Maybe you remember this, but it 474 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: takes us right back to the Old Testament yet again. 475 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,520 Speaker 1: In Exodus chapter nineteen, the Lord descended on Mount Sinai. 476 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,200 Speaker 1: When you look at that chapter, the mountain was wrapped 477 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,800 Speaker 1: in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. 478 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,600 Speaker 1: And then you fast forward to First King's chapter eight, 479 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: and in First King's chapter eight when Solomon dedicates the temple, 480 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,760 Speaker 1: the glory of the Lord filled that place. The glory 481 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:13,959 Speaker 1: of the Lord filled that house, and we're told that 482 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: the priests couldn't stand to minister in there. They couldn't stand. 483 00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:23,280 Speaker 1: And in both cases the message was very clear, and 484 00:24:23,280 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: it's something that we're supposed to appreciate even right here 485 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:29,719 Speaker 1: and now, God is holy. He's illustrating that for us 486 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: he is holy, he is above us, he is holy, 487 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,840 Speaker 1: His presence is overwhelming, and his glory is not something 488 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 1: that we approach without reverence. And think about that as 489 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 1: people who even come before the Lord in prayer. You 490 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:43,560 Speaker 1: are welcome to come before him in prayer, but understand 491 00:24:43,560 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: how special that really is, because if the priests and 492 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 1: the Old Testament couldn't even stand as the presence of 493 00:24:50,040 --> 00:24:52,600 Speaker 1: the Lord was filling the place, and you and I 494 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 1: are welcomed right in, and we're told in the New 495 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:57,879 Speaker 1: Testament to just approach him with confidence. The kind of 496 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: confidence I mean, I think about this, you know, like 497 00:25:01,560 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: you know as you interact with your earthly fathers. I 498 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: mean the kind of confidence. It's like Dad, pull the 499 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: car over, Pull the car over. Our Lord, who is 500 00:25:10,280 --> 00:25:12,639 Speaker 1: this hole? He actually invites us to approach him with 501 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: that kind of confidence that you could say, Lord, please 502 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:16,879 Speaker 1: do this thing, and you could have confidence in your 503 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:22,000 Speaker 1: mind that he'll actually do what you ask him to do. Really, 504 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:24,640 Speaker 1: the one who spoke creation into existence, the one who 505 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 1: stains it, sustains it by his powerful word, would respond 506 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:34,680 Speaker 1: to something I ask him to do. Yeah, the one 507 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: who the Old Testament priest couldn't even stand in his presence, 508 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:43,400 Speaker 1: welcomes me into his presence, and I get to live 509 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 1: after approaching him. Yes, that's what the scriptures revealing. And 510 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 1: here in Revelation you have this smoke signifying that God's 511 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:56,479 Speaker 1: judgment is about to proceed and nothing's going to interrupt it. 512 00:25:57,119 --> 00:25:59,000 Speaker 1: The time for delay is over. We're told. These are 513 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,480 Speaker 1: like the last things, the last plagues. The time for 514 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: justice has come. But I also want us to understand 515 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: our appreciation for the work that Jesus Christ has accomplished 516 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:10,919 Speaker 1: on our behalf is supposed to grow when you look 517 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:13,680 Speaker 1: at a portion of scripture like this. In every way 518 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: we're supposed to appreciate the work of Christ. Understand that 519 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,679 Speaker 1: Jesus is the lamb that's mentioned in this song, the 520 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: song that they're singing. Jesus is the lamb who's mentioned here. 521 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,520 Speaker 1: He's the one who was slain so that sinners like 522 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,480 Speaker 1: us can be redeemed. He's the one who is slain 523 00:26:29,520 --> 00:26:33,479 Speaker 1: so that sinners like us can approach the heavenly throne 524 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: without him. Understand that we would face the same wrath 525 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: that the rest of creation is going to endure. Romans 526 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: chapter five, verse nine says this, since Therefore we have 527 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 1: now been justified by his blood. How much more shall 528 00:26:47,320 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 1: we be saved by him from what the wrath of God? 529 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: That's what it says in Romans five to nine. That's 530 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:57,639 Speaker 1: not supposed to be a theoretical statement. That's something you 531 00:26:57,680 --> 00:26:59,600 Speaker 1: and I are supposed to think about in a very 532 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 1: person old way. So that means that if you have 533 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: genuine faith in Jesus Christ, even though this world is 534 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: going to experience this intense wrath of God, you won't. 535 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 1: You won't experience that wrath. You won't you're exempt from it. 536 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 1: Why because Jesus took that wrath upon himself. Jesus already 537 00:27:19,960 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: bore it for you. It's been experienced by Jesus for you, 538 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:29,040 Speaker 1: so you don't have to experience the judgment we rightfully 539 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: deserved was placed upon Christ at the cross. Something else 540 00:27:35,280 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 1: just related to our appreciation for Jesus that we should 541 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: take from a passage like this. Jesus is the coming 542 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,840 Speaker 1: king who's referenced here, the coming king who's going to 543 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,479 Speaker 1: rule over the nations. The song that they're singing here 544 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: in Revelation fifteen, it literally celebrates his authority over this 545 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,440 Speaker 1: entire earth. So I know like I watched the news. Regretfully, 546 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: I watched the news and it seems like this world 547 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,640 Speaker 1: is crazy, because it is. And you see nations rise 548 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:03,679 Speaker 1: and you see nations fall, and you see leaders do things. 549 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 1: They're like, oh, that was a good thing, and then 550 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,679 Speaker 1: you see other things like that was terrible. Why did 551 00:28:06,760 --> 00:28:10,240 Speaker 1: you do that. See leaders make decisions it sometimes honor 552 00:28:10,280 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: God and you're like, oh, good, I'm glad you made 553 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: that decision. They see other things they're like, why did 554 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,639 Speaker 1: you do that? That doesn't honor God at all. So it 555 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,040 Speaker 1: goes back and forth, and it feels like if our 556 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 1: emotions were tied to what was going on in the 557 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: world stage or the political stage, we would be so 558 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: back and forth that we would drive ourself nuts. Understand, 559 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: as you observe all of this, we're already told how 560 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:33,639 Speaker 1: it resolves. None of this is outside of God's sovereignty. 561 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,600 Speaker 1: We aren't to be fearful people as we go through it, 562 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:41,080 Speaker 1: because one day Jesus will return. That's what we're told. 563 00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:44,600 Speaker 1: When we get a few chapters ahead in Revelation nineteen, 564 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: that chapter is going to be fun. When we have 565 00:28:47,160 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: that Sunday, it makes it very very clear what it's 566 00:28:50,560 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: going to look like when Jesus returns, he's going to 567 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: defeat his enemies, he's going to establish his kingdom, and 568 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:57,959 Speaker 1: then it's going to lead. In Revelation twenty, we're going 569 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:02,080 Speaker 1: to see to a literal thousand year where Christ will 570 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 1: rule the earth in righteousness and peace. What a delightful 571 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: thing that will be to see and experience all that 572 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: To say the future is certain, it's certain we're not 573 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 1: walking toward a fearful what if type scenario. It's certain 574 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:20,360 Speaker 1: we already know how it resolves. But I think something 575 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: else that we should take from a passage like this 576 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:24,040 Speaker 1: as we look at some of the believers that are 577 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 1: referenced here, is that we're called to faithful endurance right 578 00:29:27,440 --> 00:29:30,640 Speaker 1: now while we await these things being fulfilled. We're called 579 00:29:30,640 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: to be people who are faithful. We're called to be 580 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 1: people who endure. The believers in Revelation chapter fifteen understand 581 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 1: everything that they are called to overcome. They overcome the beast, 582 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:45,280 Speaker 1: they overcome the Antichrist, and we're told that they didn't compromise. 583 00:29:45,320 --> 00:29:47,800 Speaker 1: They're not people who compromise their faith, even in the 584 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 1: midst of great pressure to do so. They did not 585 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: give into that pressure. They stayed loyal to Christ even 586 00:29:53,600 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: when it cost them everything. And I think that's the 587 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: kind of guy I want to be. I want to 588 00:29:58,640 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: be a man who stays loyal to Christ even if 589 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: it cost me everything. I want our church to be 590 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: a group of people who love Jesus enough that we 591 00:30:05,200 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: would stay loyal to Him even if it costs us everything. 592 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 1: I don't know what kind of persecution you will endure 593 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: during the course of your life. Probably some, even if 594 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: it's just verbal, but maybe it'll be more. I don't 595 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:19,719 Speaker 1: know what you'll deal with. But if you're visibly vocal 596 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: about your faith in Jesus Christ, understand that these are 597 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:26,400 Speaker 1: things that are probably going to be endured by you. 598 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:29,680 Speaker 1: At some point. We're going to face, certainly pressure to compromise. 599 00:30:30,560 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: That's something that we face all the time, pressure to compromise, 600 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: to soften the truth, to try and blend in. I 601 00:30:35,640 --> 00:30:39,040 Speaker 1: remember when I was a brand new preacher. I won't 602 00:30:39,120 --> 00:30:41,160 Speaker 1: use names because I'm still friends with this guy. And 603 00:30:41,200 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 1: this is like, you know, a few decades ago, but 604 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,880 Speaker 1: I'm still friends with the guy. But actually had somebody 605 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:47,880 Speaker 1: come up to me and say, hey, so and so, 606 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: as a family member who's going to be visiting and 607 00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 1: they are involved in this level of sinful activity, and 608 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,719 Speaker 1: so maybe maybe it just don't bring it up from 609 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: the today. Maybe you know, what do you think? And 610 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:06,040 Speaker 1: in my mind, I'm like, I didn't have any intention 611 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:07,920 Speaker 1: to bring that up from the pulpit today, but now 612 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: that you're putting it in my head, like, now, maybe 613 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,520 Speaker 1: you should have said nothing. But I just thought I 614 00:31:13,520 --> 00:31:16,200 Speaker 1: thought it was interesting because I thought this is even 615 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: from someone that I expected to believe the truth, pressuring 616 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: me to soften the truth, just blend in, don't make waves. 617 00:31:23,760 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 1: You're afraid I'm gonna make waves, aren't you. It's like, 618 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:27,600 Speaker 1: I don't know what you're gonna say. Are you gonna 619 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 1: say something? It's like I didn't plan to, but you're 620 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: putting it in my head. But what do we do? 621 00:31:31,720 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: We live in an era where the priority is prioritize 622 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: your comfort over conviction and don't make waves and don't 623 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,680 Speaker 1: be confrontational and definitely don't tell somebody what they need 624 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: to hear if it might make them upset. And I 625 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 1: look at that, I'm like, oh, come on, Life's too 626 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 1: short to just sit around and prioritize and idolize our comfort. 627 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 1: Sometimes the very thing I need to hear is the 628 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 1: thing I want to hear the least. And so you 629 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: look at this passage and it reminds us that faithfulness 630 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: is something worth prioritizing, and what seems costly to us 631 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:04,400 Speaker 1: now is not gonna seem costly to us in eternity. 632 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:06,760 Speaker 1: You're gonna look at it and you're gonna be like, 633 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,840 Speaker 1: I'm glad I paid that price. I'm glad I was 634 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: faithful to the Lord when there was pressure on me 635 00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: not to do so. So again, what are some things 636 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:15,800 Speaker 1: we could take from this? Well, a few things. I'll 637 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: just say this as we wrap up. Let this chapter 638 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: shape your view of God. God is both holy and just, 639 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 1: so let that be something that rings in our mind. 640 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: We're supposed to remember that as we look at a 641 00:32:26,080 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: portion of scripture like this. He is patient. And I'm 642 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,280 Speaker 1: super grateful for the Lord's patience with me because I 643 00:32:31,320 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: have needed his patience and I have tested his patience. 644 00:32:34,440 --> 00:32:35,840 Speaker 1: But I know I'm in a room of people who 645 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: have done the same exact thing. So let's all be friends. 646 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you what. God is patient, but he's 647 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: not gonna ignore sin forever. That's kind of what we're 648 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:46,240 Speaker 1: getting at when we look at the Book of Revelation. 649 00:32:46,720 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: So that fact should also lead us to reverence. I 650 00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 1: think you should also lead us to gratitude, that we 651 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: should look at God and say, Lord, I respect you, 652 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:56,560 Speaker 1: I revere you. I really don't want to spend my 653 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:00,160 Speaker 1: entire life testing your patience. I am grateful that you 654 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:02,360 Speaker 1: gave me time to repent. I'm grateful that you've done 655 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:04,280 Speaker 1: your work in my life. But I don't want to 656 00:33:04,320 --> 00:33:06,200 Speaker 1: spend my life ignoring you. I don't want to spend 657 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:09,720 Speaker 1: my life idolizing my own preferences over your will. The 658 00:33:09,760 --> 00:33:12,480 Speaker 1: thing is, if you've trusted in Christ, the wrath that's 659 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: described here is not your future, because Christ took it 660 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:17,400 Speaker 1: upon himself for you. And if you're thankful for what 661 00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,080 Speaker 1: Jesus did, live like a man who's thankful, Live like 662 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,920 Speaker 1: a woman who's thankful, and let that also shape how 663 00:33:23,960 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 1: we worship. You know, the saints here in heaven aren't 664 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:31,920 Speaker 1: reluctantly praising God. We're told that they're joyfully declaring, they're 665 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 1: praises the greatness of God. They're singing this stuff out. 666 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 1: You have their perspective, being very clear here they see 667 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:41,640 Speaker 1: the works of God and they say they're great, They're amazing. 668 00:33:42,120 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: They say that they look at his ways and his 669 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: ways are just and true, and they sing it out. 670 00:33:46,800 --> 00:33:48,239 Speaker 1: And I like the fact that God even gives them 671 00:33:48,280 --> 00:33:51,120 Speaker 1: some instrumentation. We're told that there's some harps here. People 672 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:53,080 Speaker 1: have this thought like there's harps in heaven. Right, Yeah, 673 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 1: there's harps in heaven. It's not the only thing we do. 674 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:56,600 Speaker 1: We don't just go up there and play harps, but 675 00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:01,280 Speaker 1: there are some harps, and apparently they learn how to 676 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:06,280 Speaker 1: play it. Also great, I love it on key. They're 677 00:34:06,360 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 1: singing it out. But you know, you look at the 678 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 1: way that they're praising God, and I just want you 679 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,280 Speaker 1: to ask yourself this question in the midst of everything 680 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: we've looked at together today, So you just kind of 681 00:34:17,080 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: tie this all together and wrap it all up. Just 682 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 1: ask yourself, do you see God the same way that 683 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 1: the people singing his praises in this passage see him? 684 00:34:25,840 --> 00:34:27,879 Speaker 1: Do you see him that same way? Do you see 685 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: him the way they see him? I hope we see 686 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,399 Speaker 1: him that way. He wants us to see him that way. 687 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: He's revealing himself to us that way. I guess if 688 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: I could say one more thing, let me do this. 689 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 1: As you look at a portion of scripture like this, 690 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:46,759 Speaker 1: let it be one of those things that you don't 691 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:48,359 Speaker 1: just ponder, but let it be one of those things 692 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:51,520 Speaker 1: that the Lord uses to strengthen you directly. What I 693 00:34:51,560 --> 00:34:53,040 Speaker 1: mean by that is this, let it be one of 694 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,400 Speaker 1: those things that prods you to serve Jesus faithfully in 695 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,880 Speaker 1: the midst of a life that is pressuring you to 696 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:03,120 Speaker 1: prioritize your preference and comforts. I understand that if you 697 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:06,920 Speaker 1: serve Jesus faithfully, this world is not going to reward that. 698 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:09,319 Speaker 1: In every context. The world's not going to praise you 699 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:10,680 Speaker 1: for it. At times, they're going to look at you 700 00:35:10,719 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: and think that you're odd. Sometimes the world may even 701 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:16,600 Speaker 1: push back against it. You may feel direct pressure not 702 00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: to honor the Lord in certain ways. But again, the 703 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,400 Speaker 1: end of the story is already written. And what's the 704 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:25,719 Speaker 1: end of the story. Jesus is victorious, and those who 705 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,360 Speaker 1: belong to him share in that victory. Jesus is victorious, 706 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:32,000 Speaker 1: and he shares the victory with those who belong to him. 707 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: So let's be faithful to him, don't drift, don't compromise, 708 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 1: Stay anchored in Christ is an expression of your genuine 709 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: faith in Him, is an expression of your genuine gratitude 710 00:35:43,400 --> 00:35:45,719 Speaker 1: for what He's done on your behalf. Stay anchored in 711 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,920 Speaker 1: Him and do this as well. Trust is timing, Trust 712 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 1: is justice. And live today in light of what He's 713 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:56,200 Speaker 1: revealed here, Live today in light of the future he's 714 00:35:56,239 --> 00:35:59,080 Speaker 1: already promised. Be one of those people who go through 715 00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,120 Speaker 1: life and whatever comes your way. Keep saying this to yourself. 716 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:06,440 Speaker 1: This all works out. This all works out one hundred percent. 717 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,560 Speaker 1: This is all part of the process, and it all 718 00:36:09,640 --> 00:36:12,040 Speaker 1: resolves in a way that's going to result in me 719 00:36:12,160 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: singing songs of praise to my Creator. Let that be 720 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 1: the perspective that we allow to prevail in our hearts, 721 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:23,360 Speaker 1: in our minds even now. Let's pray, Lord, thank you 722 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,240 Speaker 1: so much for your word, and thank you for allowing 723 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: us to look at a portion of scripture like this 724 00:36:29,360 --> 00:36:32,160 Speaker 1: and to just see what you're up to, to see 725 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 1: the things that you revealed to our brothers and sisters 726 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 1: who will endure all the different things that are referenced 727 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: in the Book of Revelation. Lord, there's so many things 728 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:43,879 Speaker 1: that we see here that we look at we think 729 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,400 Speaker 1: that would be so challenging to go through. And then 730 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 1: you remind us that those that have trusted in your son, 731 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:53,560 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, those that have accepted the free gift of 732 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,960 Speaker 1: salvation that's offered through your son, are exempted from this wrath. 733 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:02,719 Speaker 1: We join you in praise. We don't endure the wrath 734 00:37:02,840 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: because the wrath's already been endured for us. So, Father, 735 00:37:06,640 --> 00:37:08,919 Speaker 1: you know the hearts of each of us gathered together here. 736 00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:11,080 Speaker 1: You know that if there's some of us that have 737 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:13,400 Speaker 1: heard these things for a while, and we genuinely believe, 738 00:37:13,480 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: but maybe we've struggled to be faithful because of various pressures. 739 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:18,759 Speaker 1: We pray that you'd help us to be faithful because 740 00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:20,839 Speaker 1: we're just so grateful for what you've done for us. 741 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:22,960 Speaker 1: Help us to truly live as men and women who 742 00:37:23,040 --> 00:37:25,440 Speaker 1: appreciate it. You're good to us, Lord, and I know 743 00:37:25,520 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: I don't deserve that, and I know none of us do, 744 00:37:28,000 --> 00:37:29,680 Speaker 1: and yet you choose to be good to us. So 745 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:32,840 Speaker 1: thank you Father for that reality. Father, I also assume 746 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:35,000 Speaker 1: that there might be a few among us who as 747 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:37,879 Speaker 1: of yet are just kind of on the sidelines. They're 748 00:37:37,920 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 1: seeing things about you. They took the time to even 749 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:43,400 Speaker 1: be here today, which is certainly wonderful. But maybe they 750 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:45,520 Speaker 1: don't actually know you. Maybe they just know about you, 751 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,320 Speaker 1: but they don't really have a relationship with you. Father. 752 00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 1: If that's the case, I pray that today would be 753 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: the day that you reach into that heart. That you 754 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:56,319 Speaker 1: open up the eyes of that individual, whomever it may be, 755 00:37:57,239 --> 00:38:00,440 Speaker 1: help them to see, help their heart to be soften 756 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: to the truth of the Gospel. I pray that today 757 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,480 Speaker 1: would be the day that they accept the work that 758 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 1: your son Jesus Christ did on their behalf. That they 759 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,880 Speaker 1: would trust in your son to forgive their sin, to 760 00:38:10,960 --> 00:38:15,520 Speaker 1: give them his righteousness, to absorb the wrath that they 761 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:19,920 Speaker 1: deserved and were under. That they would take joy in 762 00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 1: the fact that they have a place in Your kingdom forever. 763 00:38:22,040 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 1: I pray that if they've been on the sidelines and 764 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:26,799 Speaker 1: have not yet expressed that faith, that today would be 765 00:38:26,880 --> 00:38:29,719 Speaker 1: the day. That today would be the day that they 766 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,520 Speaker 1: would trust in You. Today, Lord, reach into that heart. 767 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 1: I pray, whoever it is, Father, even as I'm praying 768 00:38:39,640 --> 00:38:43,680 Speaker 1: right now, and friends, even as I'm praying to the Lord, 769 00:38:43,719 --> 00:38:45,439 Speaker 1: just keep your eyes closed for a second. If there's 770 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:48,399 Speaker 1: somebody in here that's prayed that today, do me a favor. 771 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: Raise your hand, just sneak it up. Praise God. I 772 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:59,160 Speaker 1: love you, Lord, Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Lord. 773 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:03,400 Speaker 1: I knew you were speaking to somebody like that today 774 00:39:03,440 --> 00:39:10,640 Speaker 1: I knew it. Thank you, Lord, Lord. Bless them, strengthen them, 775 00:39:10,920 --> 00:39:16,800 Speaker 1: guide them, draw them unto you, help them to be strong. 776 00:39:16,880 --> 00:39:19,200 Speaker 1: Surround them with people who know you and love you. 777 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: What a wonderful thing it is, Lord, as we see 778 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:28,080 Speaker 1: you do your miraculous work in the hearts, in the 779 00:39:28,160 --> 00:39:31,880 Speaker 1: lives of those that you allow to hear your word proclaimed. 780 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Lord, keep building your kingdom one 781 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:38,360 Speaker 1: person at a time. And Father, we thank you for 782 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 1: the fact that not only do we get to be 783 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,279 Speaker 1: part of your kingdom, we get to be part of 784 00:39:44,320 --> 00:39:48,359 Speaker 1: your family. You make us family, you give us your name, 785 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:52,080 Speaker 1: we get to walk with you. So thank you, Father, 786 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:54,399 Speaker 1: for the work that you're doing in our lives. Help 787 00:39:54,480 --> 00:39:57,440 Speaker 1: us to be faithful, help us to rely on your strength. 788 00:39:58,160 --> 00:40:00,560 Speaker 1: I'm so grateful Lord for it all. And I pray 789 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:04,200 Speaker 1: this all in Jesus' name. Amen.