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 --> 00:00:12,520 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. Well, 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,280 Speaker 1: this morning, we're also taking a look at Revelation nineteen. 4 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: We're going to be looking at the first ten verses 5 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:22,760 Speaker 1: of this chapter, and I'll even mention this as you're 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: turning there. Revelation nineteen. Starting with verse one, we're going 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 1: to be looking at a passage of scripture that's primarily 8 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,080 Speaker 1: referred to as the marriage Supper of the Lamb. And 9 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: I will say this, as we look at this portion 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: of scripture, I imagine if you've hung with us throughout 11 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: the study of Revelation, this is a portion of scripture 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: that you're probably going to find somewhat refreshing. In fact, 13 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: as we get to this chapter and the coming chapters, 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: we get to see how all of these things that 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: have been referenced in the Book of Revelation resolve, and 16 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: they resolve well, they resolve with joy, They resolve in 17 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: a very positive and praiseworthy manner, and this portion of 18 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: scripture illustrates that in particular. So today we're in we're 19 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,759 Speaker 1: looking at the first half of Revelation nineteen. Again, we'll 20 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: be looking at verses one through ten of Revelation nineteen, 21 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Look along with me 22 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: as I read it says this. After this, I heard 23 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: what seemed to be the loud voice of a great 24 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: multitude in heaven, crying out, Hallelujah. Salvation and glory and 25 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 1: power belong to our God, for his judgments are true 26 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 1: and just. For he has judged the great prostitute, who 27 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on 28 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 1: her the blood of his servants. Once More, they cried out, hallelujah. 29 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 1: The smoke from her goes up forever and ever. And 30 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: the twenty four elders and the four living creatures fell 31 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, 32 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:55,520 Speaker 1: saying Amen, hallelujah. And from the throne came a voice saying, 33 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear 34 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: Him all and great. Then I heard what seemed to 35 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar 36 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: of many waters, and like the sound of mighty peals 37 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: of thunder, crying out, hallelujah. For the Lord, our God, 38 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exalt and give 39 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, 40 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: and his bride has made herself ready. It was granted 41 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 1: her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure, 42 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 43 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 1: And the Angel said to me, write this, Blessed are 44 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: And he said to me, these are the true words 46 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: of God. Then I fell down at his feet to 47 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: worship him. But he said to me, you must not 48 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: do that. I am a fellow servant with you and 49 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, 50 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 51 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,520 Speaker 1: Pray together. Father, We thank you so much for your word, 52 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: and we thank you for the privilege that it is 53 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: to be able to look at this portion of Scripture 54 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: today and to study these things, and to think about 55 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: the things that you've revealed to us in your word. Father, 56 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: we realize that these are things that we would not 57 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: have known on our own. These aren't things that we 58 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 1: would have the capacity to figure out. These are things 59 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: that we know because you've revealed them to us in 60 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: this book that we nickname revelation, but really it is 61 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: a revelation that you gave to the apostle John that 62 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: would be shared with us. And here we are, many 63 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: many centuries later, reading these words and pondering the things 64 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: that you've revealed in them. But they encourage our hearts. 65 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: So Father, we're grateful that you allow us to see 66 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,560 Speaker 1: how things resolve, because we know that throughout the course 67 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: of our daily lives, there are moments where we feel 68 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 1: like things aren't going to resolve, and then we look 69 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: at a portion of scripture like this, and you give 70 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: us this reminder and we think, oh, yeah, this is 71 00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: how it concludes. This is how things wrap up. This 72 00:03:57,280 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: is what you have in store for those who know 73 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: you and love you. So Father, thank you for these words. 74 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: And as we look at this portion of your word 75 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 1: together today, we pray that you'd prepare our minds in 76 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: our hearts to understand it. We pray that we would 77 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: grow in our walk with you. As a result, we 78 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord that your spirit is helping us to 79 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: understand the very things that we're looking at right now. 80 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 1: We're grateful for him. We praise you and thank you 81 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: for all of these things in Jesus' name. Amen. So 82 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: here in Revelation nineteen, we're just looking at the first 83 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: ten verses today. But you'll notice that the tone, and 84 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: you probably noticed it right as I started reading this. 85 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: The tone of this book, the tone of this chapter, 86 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: the tone that's communicated here, it changes dramatically. You could 87 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: even say the tone in Heaven changes dramatically from what 88 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 1: we've seen in the previous portions of this book, just 89 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: one chapter earlier, and it was a lot to cover 90 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: in one session together and one worship service together. But 91 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: last week we looked at Revelation chapter eighteen, and in 92 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 1: Revelation eighteen, what we saw was the world system that's 93 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: nicknamed or ref referred to as Babylon. We see it 94 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 1: being judged for its rebellion against God, and Revelation eighteen 95 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: gives us all those details and shares a variety of things. 96 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: We see that at that time the earth will be 97 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:15,120 Speaker 1: filled with mourning and fear and corruption and also collapse. 98 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: But now you get to Revelation nineteen. We get to 99 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:21,720 Speaker 1: a very delightful section of this book when we open 100 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: to this chapter, because here we have Heaven erupting with worship, 101 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: So what was mourned on earth now becomes celebrated in 102 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: heaven because God's justice has finally been revealed in full. 103 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: This passage, in particular, that we're looking at today gives 104 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,799 Speaker 1: us one of the clearest examples, clearest glimpses in scripture 105 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 1: of the future joy that awaits God's people. And I 106 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: love looking at portions of scripture like this because I 107 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 1: do think that from time to time, throughout the course 108 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 1: of our lives, we need reminders like this. If you've 109 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: ever wondered why has the Lord given us a book 110 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,440 Speaker 1: like Revelation, Why is he given us something that's primarily 111 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: dealing with all these future things, Well, one of the 112 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: reasons He's given us this book is so that you 113 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 1: and I can see this glimpse of joy, so that 114 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 1: we could have confidence in the Lord in the midst 115 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: of whatever season we may find ourselves in. And here 116 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: we see the future joy that awaits the people of God. Now, 117 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: to put this in context with what we've been seeing 118 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: as we've been working our way through the book, Revelation 119 00:06:21,200 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: nineteen takes place after the Tribulation Judgments and immediately before 120 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: the visible return of Jesus Christ. To this earth, So 121 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: that's where this is taking place. At this point, Babylon 122 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: has fallen, the rebellion of the nations has reached its climax, 123 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: and Christ is about to return in power and glory. 124 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: So that's where we are in the timetable here. But 125 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,799 Speaker 1: before John sees Jesus the King riding forth in judgment 126 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: later in this chapter, and we'll see that next week, 127 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: he hears Heaven rejoicing over something particularly beautiful, particularly special, 128 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: something that is referred to here as the marriage supper 129 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: of the Lamb. Now, in our culture, we tend to 130 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: call marriage suppers wedding receptions, you know, that's what we 131 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: would typically say. We call it like a wedding reception. 132 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: In recent weeks, I have been to several. I have 133 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: eaten my fill of delicious food and had a wonderful 134 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 1: time together. And you know what, it's it's kind of interesting. 135 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: Having been to three wedding receptions in the past couple months. 136 00:07:22,720 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: One of the things that I've noticed as a commonality 137 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: in each of these context was the food was great. 138 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: So that can get me to just about anything, but 139 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 1: food was great. The someone actually just walked into church 140 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: this morning. I'll just say who it was, Rick, He said, 141 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: he walked. He's like always, why does it always smell 142 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: like food in here? Rick? It's because it's a festive place, right. 143 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: We love the good food, right, and here you know, 144 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: you go to a wedding reception, same thing, food, great music, 145 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: festive love that conversations very cheerful. You just have like 146 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,640 Speaker 1: an upbeat feel. But the great greatest joy in a 147 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: wedding reception is who is there? Right? You celebrate the 148 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: bride and the groom, You celebrate the family and friends, 149 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: You celebrate that moment that covenant made before the Lord. 150 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: You celebrate the fact that God's presence is very much there. 151 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: So the biggest celebration, the greatest joy at a wedding 152 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: reception in our context, truthfully, in the midst of all 153 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: the other niceties, the greatest joy is who is there? Now? 154 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: Just imagine as we're looking at this chapter and we 155 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 1: just read it all together, the portion we're looking at today, 156 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: and we'll look at it a piece of a time. 157 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:36,240 Speaker 1: But just imagine, according to Revelation chapter nineteen, the scripture 158 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,599 Speaker 1: we're reading together today, there is going to be a 159 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,560 Speaker 1: day when we will experience a festive, joyful meal like 160 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 1: this with Jesus himself. That's what the scripture is describing. Basically, 161 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: the story of redemption culminates in a wedding celebration between 162 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:57,200 Speaker 1: Jesus and those he's redeemed, and that's what we see 163 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: unfolding here. So look again with me at the first 164 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: couple verses, let me read them for us again. It says, 165 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: after this, I heard what seemed to be the loud 166 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 1: voice of a great multitude in heaven crying out, hallylujah. Now, 167 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to tell you something interesting about that word 168 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:13,120 Speaker 1: in just a second, but let me continue. Then it says, 169 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for 170 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: his judgments are true and just. For he has judged 171 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, 172 00:09:23,600 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: and has avenged on her the blood of his servants. 173 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: Now I pointed out the word hallelujah. It's reference there 174 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: in the opening verses here. It's actually a word that appears. 175 00:09:36,160 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: If you are counting, it appears four times in this chapter. 176 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 1: In total. When you go through the Book of Revelation 177 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 1: and you go through chapter nineteen, it appears four times 178 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: in this chapter. And I don't know this will help 179 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 1: you win a trivia contest, But you might be surprised 180 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: to know that this is the only chapter in the 181 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: New Testament where this word appears four times in Revelation nineteen. 182 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 1: There's no other place in the New Testament where the 183 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: word hallelujah appears? Did you know that? Check it out? 184 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: See if what I'm telling is the truth? After church 185 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: you can check it out. Not right now, so put 186 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,120 Speaker 1: your phones away, all right, check it out later. But 187 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,320 Speaker 1: it's a term that means praise the Lord. So you 188 00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: hear you see hallelujah. It's reference four times in this chapter. 189 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: It means praise the Lord. And when you look at 190 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: the praise that's referenced here taking place in heaven, it's 191 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: centered on something. It's actually centered on God's character, and 192 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: we see that centered on his character in a variety 193 00:10:31,160 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: of ways. His judgments are referred to as true and just, 194 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: meaning God hasn't acted unfairly as he's been dealing with humanity. 195 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 1: He's acted quite fairly. He hasn't overreacted as he's dealt 196 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:46,439 Speaker 1: with the issues taking place on earth. He also hasn't 197 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:50,720 Speaker 1: ignored evil forever. What God has done is patiently endured 198 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: human rebellion for generations and generations and generations. But now 199 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: you see that full justice has come. You see that 200 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 1: justice of God. And by the way, that's a theme 201 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: that runs throughout the course of scripture. You see this 202 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: in the Old Testament as well. I'll show you a 203 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: couple examples, one from Deuteronomy, the other from Genesis. But 204 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: in Deuteronomy twenty thirty two, verse four, it says the Rock, 205 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: speaking of the Lord, his work is perfect, for all 206 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 1: his ways are justice. When you get to Genesis eighteen 207 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: twenty five, you have Abraham asking this question, shall not 208 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:26,600 Speaker 1: the judge of all the earth do what is just? 209 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:30,120 Speaker 1: And the answer throughout scripture has always been yes, the 210 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: judge of all the earth will do what is just. 211 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: We praise him for his character because God is perfectly just. 212 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:41,319 Speaker 1: The answer throughout Scripture is always yes, God is just. Now. 213 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: I think sometimes we struggle with the idea of divine 214 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: judgment when we look at it in scripture, and it's 215 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: particularly outlined in the prophetic books, and people struggle with that. 216 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 1: A lot years ago I was talking with a pastor 217 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: who told me that he tends to avoid preaching through 218 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,040 Speaker 1: prophetic books of Scripture, which I thought was a shame 219 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: when you consider that a large chunk of the Bible 220 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: includes prophetic books. And I remember when he said that. 221 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: I thought, well, you're gonna skip like a third of 222 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,320 Speaker 1: the Bible. You're just gonna skip it. He's like, yeah, 223 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: I just I don't know. I don't always feel comfortable 224 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,880 Speaker 1: going through it. And as I think about it, I 225 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 1: think a lot of times people don't tend to even 226 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,319 Speaker 1: read through prophetic books because we struggle with the idea 227 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: of God's judgment. And I think some of that might 228 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: be because we don't necessarily understand the depth of human sin, 229 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: and we probably don't contrast it in our mind with 230 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 1: the nature of God's holiness, so we probably don't fully 231 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: appreciate how holy God really is and how sinful we 232 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: as human beings really are. But then you look at 233 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: what scripture tells us, and from Heaven's perspective, it's all 234 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: seen quite clearly, and here Heaven rejoices because evil is 235 00:12:56,160 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: finally defeated, the persecution of God's people is answered, the 236 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: corruption of the nations, it's all brought to an end. 237 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: Heaven isn't rejoicing, by the way, because people are suffering. 238 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: Heaven's rejoicing because God reigns in righteousness. That's the idea 239 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: that's being conveyed in this portion of Scripture. Now, many 240 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: believers in our present day, I've wrestled with this. You 241 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: probably have as well. Many of us wrestle sometimes with 242 00:13:21,960 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: discouragement when we look at this world because you see 243 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: corruption in a variety of areas, and in many ways 244 00:13:28,040 --> 00:13:31,079 Speaker 1: it looks like it's celebrated. Sometimes it looks like wickedness 245 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: is getting rewarded. Sometimes it looks like truth is getting mocked. 246 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,360 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times we look at our 247 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: lives and we say, Lord, I want to be faithful 248 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: to you. But then you realize that in the midst 249 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: of this world, faithfulness sometimes comes at a cost. There's 250 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: going to be a price you're going to pay at 251 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 1: times for faithfulness. So there are moments when maybe we'd 252 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,600 Speaker 1: even be tempted to wonder if righteousness even matters anymore. 253 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: And then you look at Revelation nineteen. This chapter reminds 254 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: us that God sees everything, He sees it, all, he 255 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: pays attention to it. All. Righteousness does matter, it matters 256 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: to the Lord, And here he reveals that not one 257 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: act of evil escapes his notice, and also not one 258 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: tier of his people that gets shed is forgotten. It 259 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 1: also reminds me of what you see in Psalm fifty six. 260 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: In Psalm fifty six, verse eight, it says this. It says, 261 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 1: you have kept count of my tossings. Put my tears 262 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,680 Speaker 1: in your bottle. So the justice of God assures that 263 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: evil won't reign forever. Christ will set things right. That's 264 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: what we're seeing when we look at a portion of 265 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: scripture like this. Well, John continues, when you look at 266 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: verse three in Revelation nineteen, he says this. He says, 267 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: once more they cried out, Hollylujah. The smoke from her 268 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: goes up forever and ever. Now, that imagery that we're 269 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:54,480 Speaker 1: given here, it reminds us of Isaiah chapter thirty four, 270 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 1: verse ten. And I'm not going to go back there directly, 271 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 1: but I do want to reference something from that portion 272 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: of scripture. There, the judgment of Edom is described with 273 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: smoke rising continually as a sign of permanent devastation. Here, 274 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: as we're talking about Babylon being destroyed. Babylon's destruction is final, 275 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: meaning the corrupt world system that's opposed God throughout history, 276 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 1: it's not going to recover. Its judgment is final. Babylon, 277 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 1: keep in mind, represents the culmination of rebellious human civilization. 278 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: We see that culmination taking place here during the Tribulation period. 279 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: Political power, economic corruption, false religion, human pride. All of 280 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: these things have been united against God. And you have 281 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: the Lord saying enough with this. The time of my 282 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 1: patience with these things is done. Now they will be 283 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: taken care of. All of it collapses under the judgment 284 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,160 Speaker 1: of Jesus Christ. All of the things in this world 285 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: that have opposed God throughout the course of the centuries, 286 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: it all collapses under the judgment of Jesus Christ. And 287 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: I think that's important for us to remember because the 288 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:58,800 Speaker 1: spirit of Babylon, like we said last week, it still 289 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: influences this world. It's not something just reserved for the 290 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: end times. That's not something reserved for ancient history. It's 291 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: something that still influences the world today. This world constantly 292 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: tempts us to build our identity around things like wealth 293 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: or status, or pleasure or power or self glory or 294 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,440 Speaker 1: whatever you want to add to that list. That's the 295 00:16:20,480 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: type of thing that you and I are tempted to value. 296 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: That's the type of thing that this world is trying 297 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: to encourage us to value or build our sense of 298 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 1: identity around. Basically, this world is trying to teach people. 299 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: Our children are being taught this, We as adults are 300 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 1: being taught to basically live as if God doesn't exist. 301 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: That seems to be the priority in many aspects of 302 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: this world. But then you look at what Revelation eighteen said, 303 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: and we looked at it last week. You look at 304 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: Revelation nineteen this week. It reminds us Babylon that mindset 305 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:53,520 Speaker 1: that opposes God. It always falls. It promises things that 306 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 1: can't deliver on. It tells you, and it tells me 307 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: that somehow we'll find satisfaction for our souls through things 308 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: of this world that are corrupt, things of this world 309 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: that oppose God. And then you discover, no, it always falls. 310 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: Anytime I've ever bought into that, I was buying into 311 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: a lie. Anytime you've ever bought into that you were 312 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:15,280 Speaker 1: buying into a lie. When you go back to the Psalms, 313 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: in Psalm chapter one, the Psalmist contrasts the way of 314 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: the righteous with the way of the wicked. Now the 315 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:24,879 Speaker 1: Book of Psalms is one of the most popular books 316 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: of the Bible to read, so it is kind of 317 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 1: interesting to notice how the book starts off. It starts 318 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: off with the way of the Righteous and the way 319 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: of the Wicked being contrasted. The way of the Righteous 320 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:40,119 Speaker 1: is described as being deeply rooted and fruitful because the 321 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: Lord makes it fruitful. The other the way of the 322 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: wicked is like chath that's blown by the wind. Now 323 00:17:47,359 --> 00:17:49,119 Speaker 1: why am I bringing that up in the context of 324 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 1: Revelation nineteen. Well, basically what we're shown in Revelation nineteen 325 00:17:52,840 --> 00:17:57,160 Speaker 1: Revelation eighteen as well, the kingdoms of this world are temporary, 326 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: they aren't rooted deeply. The Kingdom of Christ is eternal. 327 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 1: And I think that that's a truth that should reshape 328 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 1: our priorities, meaning, don't build your life around things that 329 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:16,000 Speaker 1: won't last. Careers change, Economies collapse, you know, and you 330 00:18:16,040 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: can even see, as you just observe over the past 331 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,080 Speaker 1: few months, you watch economies go back and forth, back 332 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: and forth, and people wait for just something positive to 333 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: come forth from the news because we think, all right, 334 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: then gas prices will go down, and then my investments 335 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,520 Speaker 1: will go back to where I want them to be, 336 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: and then things will feel a little bit more stable 337 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: in this part of the world. Things will be a 338 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: little bit more stable in this part of the world. 339 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,000 Speaker 1: And the truth is, the entire life that you live 340 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: on this earth, you're going to watch this ebb and flow, 341 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: this back and forth, economies going back and forth, careers, 342 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: changing day to day events, changing cultural trends come, they go, 343 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: all of that. If you're living your life or human applause, 344 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 1: you'll have some moments where people applaud what you do, 345 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,160 Speaker 1: and then you'll have other moments where people don't think 346 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: very highly of what you do. And so building your 347 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: life on any of those things, and by the way, 348 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: those tend to be the main things that most people 349 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: in this world are building their lives on. Building your 350 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: lives on any one of those things is a foolish endeavor. 351 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: But faithfulness to Christ endures forever. And I think that's 352 00:19:16,600 --> 00:19:18,719 Speaker 1: part of what Revelation nineteen is trying to help us 353 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: to understand. Jesus tried to make that clear to us 354 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,399 Speaker 1: in during the course of his earthly ministry. When you 355 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: look at places like Matthew Chapter six, Jesus mentioned in 356 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: his Sermon on the Mount. He said, do not lay 357 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: up for yourself's treasures on earth, but lay up for 358 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 1: yourselves treasures in heaven. So don't lay up treasures for 359 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,160 Speaker 1: yourself on earth. Why because the things of this earth 360 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: are very transient. They're easily shaken. So when you look 361 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: at Revelation nineteen, what's it doing here, it's saying, live 362 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: with eternity in view. Live your life right now with 363 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:53,679 Speaker 1: eternity in view. One of the things that I think 364 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: is helpful for us to understand when we talk about 365 00:19:56,240 --> 00:20:01,919 Speaker 1: the concept of eternal life. Eternal life is not something 366 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 1: that just happens to you in the future. The moment 367 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 1: you trust in Jesus Christ, your eternal life begins. It's 368 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:12,240 Speaker 1: not something that just happens after your earthly life is completed. 369 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: Your eternal life has already begun. So since your eternal 370 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: life has already begun, live with eternity in mind. Remember 371 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: a few years ago, maybe I've already told this to you. 372 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:25,840 Speaker 1: A few years ago I referenced. It was actually during 373 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:32,000 Speaker 1: a Christmas Eve service I made a comment that Jesus 374 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: gives eternal life, and one of the children that was 375 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:40,399 Speaker 1: present that day afterward was all excited and said to 376 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:43,159 Speaker 1: his mother. He said, Mom, I think that's wonderful. And 377 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: she said, well, what, yeah, it is wonderful. What do 378 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:46,719 Speaker 1: you like so much about it? He's like, I just 379 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: love the fact that Jesus gave eternal life. She's like what. 380 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: He's like, yeah, the pastor said Jesus gave or yeah, 381 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 1: Jesus gave eternal life. She's like, no, Jesus gave eternal life. 382 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: That's what he said. Wasn't talking about turtle. And then 383 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 1: she told me that afterward. And now, honestly, I have 384 00:21:06,119 --> 00:21:09,240 Speaker 1: to admit, like, every time I say Jesus gave eternal life, 385 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,439 Speaker 1: I overenunciate it because I think maybe it actually sounds 386 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: like I'm saying Jesus gave a turtle life. I don't 387 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:22,320 Speaker 1: know that really happened. He also gave turtles life as well. 388 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: But I think there's a deeper truth that's being conveyed 389 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,640 Speaker 1: in portions of scripture like this to talk about eternity. 390 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 1: Were called to live with eternity in view. You and 391 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,479 Speaker 1: I were called to live with eternity in view. And 392 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: that's what a portion of scripture like this encourages our 393 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: hearts to understand. Now, coming back to Revelation nineteen. Look 394 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,680 Speaker 1: at verse four. It says, in the twenty four elders 395 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:45,680 Speaker 1: and the four living creatures, So these are individuals we've 396 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 1: seen earlier in the Book of Revelation says in the 397 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: twenty four elders and the four living creatures fell down 398 00:21:50,600 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying Amen, hallelujah. Now, 399 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,639 Speaker 1: I love the privilege that the Lord gives us to 400 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:04,119 Speaker 1: start our week worshiping Him together. I know today is 401 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: one of those days. I'm grateful that even though it 402 00:22:09,560 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: was pouring rain this morning, he still got out of 403 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: your house drove here. I know there's all sorts of 404 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: things taking place in our lives that can weigh us 405 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:19,600 Speaker 1: down or attempt to steal our joy. But I have 406 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:20,879 Speaker 1: to tell you when I get in my car on 407 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,400 Speaker 1: Sunday morning and begin my drive here to the church building, 408 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: I'm honestly grateful that this day begins with seeing my 409 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,399 Speaker 1: brothers and sisters in Christ, and that we worship the 410 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 1: Lord together. I love starting off our week that way, 411 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: praying together, singing songs of praise together, studying the Word 412 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:43,400 Speaker 1: of God together, fellowshiping together, serving together. That's a good spot. 413 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,400 Speaker 1: That is a good moment in the week, and it's 414 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,360 Speaker 1: one of those things that when Sunday morning is finished. 415 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: I mean, obviously I'm grateful for other opportunities that the 416 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: Lord gives us throughout the course of the week to 417 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,320 Speaker 1: worship together and serve together and fellowship together. They're all delightful, 418 00:22:57,720 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: But I love I think about this as I'm make 419 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: that drive over to this building on Sunday mornings, how 420 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: grateful I am that my week begins with worshiping Jesus 421 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: with you. And I know many of you feel the 422 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,119 Speaker 1: same way about the privilege that we have as a 423 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: church family to worship the Lord together. And then you 424 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: look at the Book of Revelation as it gives us 425 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:22,160 Speaker 1: this glimpse into the future. Throughout Revelation you see worship 426 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:24,840 Speaker 1: and this picture of the future that we're given. It 427 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:28,919 Speaker 1: shows us worship and worship continually surrounds the Throne of God. 428 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: The elders and the living creatures represent heavenly worship and 429 00:23:33,800 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: this acknowledgment of God's supreme authority. And then in verse 430 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 1: five you have this announcement coming from the Throne. It 431 00:23:40,840 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: says this, praise our God, all you His servants, you 432 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: who fear him, small and great. Basically, everyone who belongs 433 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:55,680 Speaker 1: to God is invited to give him praise everybody. Some 434 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: people have said it this way, the ground is level 435 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: before the throne. Do you ever hear that statement? The 436 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: ground is leveled before the throne meeting the famous and 437 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: the unknown, they're there. The wealthy and the poor, they're there. 438 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: The pastor and the new believer both there, the public 439 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 1: servant and the Christian who just serves behind the scenes, 440 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,719 Speaker 1: and no one even knows that it's them secretly blessing people. 441 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 1: They're there. Basically, all who fear the Lord are welcomed 442 00:24:21,119 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 1: into this chorus of worship, and this fulfills countless old 443 00:24:24,800 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 1: Testament promises that the nations would one day come before 444 00:24:27,400 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: the Lord and praise him together again. I love what 445 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: it says in the Psalm. Psalm one fifty verse six says, 446 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 1: let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Let everything 447 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:38,480 Speaker 1: that has breath praise the Lord. Well. One of the 448 00:24:38,560 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: most beautiful realities of heaven is that worship is no 449 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: longer going to feel distracted. It's no longer going to 450 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: be divided. I don't know, well, I do know this. 451 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: I would imagine that there are plenty of times that 452 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,679 Speaker 1: you have shown up, even in a place like our 453 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: church fellowship here, where there are other things on your 454 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: mind or other things on your heart. That's probably pretty 455 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:03,360 Speaker 1: fair say, right as life is going on, and sometimes 456 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: there are heavy things, sometimes joyful things, sometimes just day 457 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,320 Speaker 1: to day responsibilities, and at times our hearts can feel distracted, 458 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:12,360 Speaker 1: and at times our hearts can feel divided. And then 459 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 1: you look at the nature of heavenly worship and you 460 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: realize that in that context, there's no more distraction, there's 461 00:25:19,720 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: no more anything to weigh us down, there's no more division. 462 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:26,679 Speaker 1: Our hearts will finally be fixed on Christ in the 463 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,479 Speaker 1: most perfect sense. Sin isn't going to cloud our minds, 464 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 1: Fear isn't something we're going to be wrestling with or 465 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,880 Speaker 1: you know, allowing it to cloud our joy. The fatigue 466 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,239 Speaker 1: of day to day life and the responsibilities that we 467 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,800 Speaker 1: try to carry, or even the emotional burdens we try 468 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: and carry, that's not going to hinder our praise. That's 469 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: not what heavenly worship is going to look like. Heavenly 470 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 1: worship is going to be perfect in all ways. I 471 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: know that sometimes worship feels difficult now because we still 472 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 1: battle sin, and we battle grief, and we battle disappointment, 473 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,399 Speaker 1: we battle our own weaknesses. I recognize that's something we 474 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: wrestle with. But one day worship is going to flow 475 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:04,639 Speaker 1: freely from perfectly redeemed hearts. And when you look at 476 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: a portion of Scripture like this, it gives us a 477 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:10,600 Speaker 1: demonstration of what it looks like. But even now, even 478 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: though we currently struggle with a variety of things, even now, 479 00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:17,159 Speaker 1: worship still changes us. Worship still has an impact on us. 480 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: When we intentionally praise Christ in the middle of hardship, 481 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:26,119 Speaker 1: I think our perspectives tend to shift. You don't stay 482 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: stuck in a bad spot. If you worship Christ in 483 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 1: the middle of hardship. We remember who reigns. We remember 484 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: that our future is secure. I have to say that 485 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 1: ministers to my heart deeply when I go through moments 486 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,280 Speaker 1: that feel like they are stretching me or stressing me. 487 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: To remember who's really in charge. To worship the one 488 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: who's really in charge. That changes my heart. I know 489 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,439 Speaker 1: that it does the same for you as well. And 490 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,120 Speaker 1: now you get to this part where this first part 491 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,959 Speaker 1: that we're seeing here in Revelation nineteen now reaches a 492 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,680 Speaker 1: high point. So you see this worship taking place, and 493 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,800 Speaker 1: then you see this kind of like this peak here. 494 00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: When you get to verses six and seven, it says, 495 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,119 Speaker 1: then I heard what seemed to be the voice of 496 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 1: a great multitude, like the roar of many waters, and 497 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, hallelujah. 498 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 1: For the Lord, our God, the almighty rains. Let us 499 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,520 Speaker 1: rejoice and exalt and give him the glory. For the 500 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 1: marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has 501 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:29,520 Speaker 1: made herself ready. When you look at those portions of scripture, 502 00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 1: those verses, we're seeing here one of Scripture's most beautiful images. 503 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: Jesus is the Lamb who's referenced here. The Church is 504 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,679 Speaker 1: his bride that's referenced here. And by the way, this 505 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: idea of this marriage, this marriage of God and his people, 506 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: this is an idea that stretches across the entire Bible. 507 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 1: In Isaiah fifty four, it makes this statement. It says, 508 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 1: for your maker is your husband. The Lord of hosts 509 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 1: is his name. In Ephesians five, it says Christ love 510 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,440 Speaker 1: the Church and gave himself up for her. This is 511 00:27:57,480 --> 00:27:59,880 Speaker 1: a picture this marriage picture is something that we see 512 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,399 Speaker 1: all throughout scripture. This is how the Lord wants us 513 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,440 Speaker 1: to see the nature of our relationship with him because 514 00:28:05,440 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: the Cross wasn't merely a legal transaction. It was an 515 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:12,800 Speaker 1: act of covenant love. Jesus gave himself to redeem for 516 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,440 Speaker 1: himself a people. And this marriage celebration that's referenced here 517 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: in Revelation nineteen. It takes place in heaven after the 518 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: rapture of the Church and before Christ returns to establish 519 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:26,199 Speaker 1: his one thousand year reign. The bride spoken of in 520 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: this passage the church, she isn't preparing herself through human effort. 521 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: Verse eight says it was granted to her to clothe 522 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: herself with fine linen, bright and pure. So even the 523 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:42,400 Speaker 1: bride's righteousness that's described here is ultimately a gift of grace. 524 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 1: But one of the things that I love is the 525 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:46,600 Speaker 1: fact that this is one of those portions of scripture. 526 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:48,520 Speaker 1: And let me bring it back up for us where 527 00:28:48,520 --> 00:28:51,560 Speaker 1: it says that there was like the voice of a 528 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: great multitude, the roar of many waters, just calling out together, hallelujah, 529 00:28:57,160 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: all of that together. Now do you ever remember, I 530 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 1: don't know if you have a moment like this that's 531 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:04,640 Speaker 1: etched into your mind. I have two moments like this 532 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:07,120 Speaker 1: that are etched in my mind. But growing up in 533 00:29:07,160 --> 00:29:10,280 Speaker 1: a smaller church, I remember what it sounded like when 534 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: our church would sing together and our church would pray together, 535 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 1: and different things like that. There's a certain volume that 536 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 1: it would hit. And then I remember when I went 537 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: to college. I went to a Christian college and there 538 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 1: were chapel services that had hundreds of people in the 539 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:25,880 Speaker 1: chapel services, and I remember the very first time that 540 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: we sang a hymn together in that context, I was like, 541 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,120 Speaker 1: Oh wow, what it sounds like to sing with that 542 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: many people. It felt like something. And then I remember 543 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:38,000 Speaker 1: during that season, I started going to various Christian concerts 544 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:39,400 Speaker 1: and things like that, and I went to one that 545 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: had more than fifty thousand people at it, and I 546 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,440 Speaker 1: was like, there's fifty thousand people here, and to hear 547 00:29:44,480 --> 00:29:47,880 Speaker 1: that many people singing at once. I remember getting such 548 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,160 Speaker 1: a chill in that moment that I would look at 549 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,120 Speaker 1: my arms and they remained goosebumped for the longest time. 550 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:56,920 Speaker 1: And you look at what's taking place in heaven, as 551 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,920 Speaker 1: as this singing and as this pray this loud, Hollylujah, 552 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: worshiping the Lord for who he is and testifying to 553 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: the fact that look at what he's done for his church, 554 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: look at what he's done for his bride. This praise 555 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: just just calls out. I don't know if our glorified 556 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 1: bodies will goosebump the same way our present bodies do, 557 00:30:15,520 --> 00:30:18,280 Speaker 1: but I have to tell you that's something that we're 558 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 1: gonna notice. That's going to be an experience that is 559 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: going to have an impact on us. But the bride's 560 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: righteousness that's described here. So the Lord looks at his 561 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,240 Speaker 1: bride and he clothes her in righteousness, and that's ultimately 562 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: a gift of his grace. And I love that because 563 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: it reflects the Gospel perfectly. Because what does Christ do 564 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 1: for us? Tewod Corinthians five twenty one tells us for 565 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,200 Speaker 1: our sake, He made him to be sin, who knew 566 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: no sin, so that in him we might become the 567 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: What the righteousness of God? What does that mean? If 568 00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: we become the righteousness of God in Christ, we become 569 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 1: the righteousness of God. That means that Jesus doesn't merely 570 00:30:54,040 --> 00:31:01,000 Speaker 1: forgive his people, He transforms us. He makes us something new. Oh, 571 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 1: we're made the righteousness of God. Instead of being seen 572 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: for the sin that we brought to the table, we're 573 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:09,080 Speaker 1: seen for the righteousness that Christ gives to us as 574 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:11,000 Speaker 1: a gift. And I have to tell you, and I 575 00:31:11,000 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: hope you'll hear me on this. This should encourage every 576 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: believer who feels painfully aware of their own weaknesses and failures. 577 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:23,520 Speaker 1: If you belong to Christ, your future isn't defined by 578 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 1: your worst sins. Your future is also not defined by 579 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: the worst days of your past, or or the lives 580 00:31:29,600 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 1: that you lived in the past. That is not what 581 00:31:31,400 --> 00:31:35,400 Speaker 1: your future is rooted in. Your identity is not rooted 582 00:31:35,600 --> 00:31:40,959 Speaker 1: in shame. Christ is preparing you for eternal joy in 583 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: his presence. Again, scripture says that we become the righteousness 584 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:49,520 Speaker 1: of God. Why because He transforms us, He gives us 585 00:31:49,600 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 1: is righteousness. And one day the church is going to 586 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 1: stand before the Lord, fully redeemed, fully cleansed, fully radiant, 587 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:02,640 Speaker 1: clothed in the way the Scripture discript here, the purest, brightest, 588 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 1: finest linen, the finest linen. I have to tell you, 589 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:14,120 Speaker 1: last weekend my daughter got married. And before she got married, Yeah, 590 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: we can clap that I clapped that, yeah, absolutely, And 591 00:32:19,680 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: you know, I have to tell you that's a pretty 592 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: sentimental day for a father, as you could imagine. And 593 00:32:25,160 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: I was the one that had the task and the 594 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:32,640 Speaker 1: privilege to bring her from our home after she got 595 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: ready here to the church. And so there she was 596 00:32:38,120 --> 00:32:41,600 Speaker 1: in the car with me. But before she got in 597 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: the car, I brought her over to the passenger side 598 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: to let her in, and I noticed that her dress 599 00:32:47,840 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 1: was draping, like too close to the ground for my 600 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: comfort and too close to the even though the car 601 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,720 Speaker 1: was clean, I promised, too close to the edge of 602 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: the car for my comfort. And I grabbed the dress. 603 00:32:57,960 --> 00:32:59,520 Speaker 1: And why'd I grab the dress Because I didn't want 604 00:32:59,520 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: them to be any sort of scuff on it, or 605 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: any sort of dirt on it or anything like that. 606 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 1: And then I said it gently in the car and 607 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:08,239 Speaker 1: then closed the door so nothing could happen to that, 608 00:33:08,600 --> 00:33:11,000 Speaker 1: and so that it could look beautiful and look nice. 609 00:33:11,040 --> 00:33:13,959 Speaker 1: And you know, there I was, as her father, caring 610 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:16,600 Speaker 1: about that and just thinking about that, And that thought 611 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,719 Speaker 1: came to my mind again this week, and looking at 612 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:24,000 Speaker 1: this and seeing how Jesus describes his church. He doesn't 613 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 1: look at you and he doesn't look at me based 614 00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:31,360 Speaker 1: on whatever your lowest day was, or maybe even the 615 00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: way that you've seen yourself. He doesn't look at you 616 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: and say, you know what, look at all those years 617 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,080 Speaker 1: that you goof things up. He doesn't look at your 618 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,680 Speaker 1: worst day and say, that's how I think of you. Primarily, 619 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:46,120 Speaker 1: we're told that he clothes his church in the purest, brightest, 620 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:52,640 Speaker 1: finest linen, and that's how he sees you forever. He 621 00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:57,760 Speaker 1: sees his righteousness in you. He sees you transformed. It's 622 00:33:57,760 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: a beautiful image that we're given here in the Book 623 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 1: of revel and it's something that we should actually read 624 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,240 Speaker 1: with a personal view in mind, because that's how the 625 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:08,720 Speaker 1: Lord sees his church. That's how the Lord's caes his bride. 626 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:13,319 Speaker 1: And if you've trusted in Jesus Christ, that means that's you. 627 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:16,879 Speaker 1: You are his church, you are his bride. Well. John 628 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 1: is then told when you get to verse nine says this, 629 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,920 Speaker 1: blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper 630 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: of the Lamb. And some people call that a beatitude, 631 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: like a beatitude in Revelation because it's like blessed are 632 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:33,759 Speaker 1: It's kind of like when you look at the beatitudes 633 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:37,800 Speaker 1: in Matthew five, when Jesus says, blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed, 634 00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:41,080 Speaker 1: happy are those who are invited to the marriage supper 635 00:34:41,440 --> 00:34:43,960 Speaker 1: of the Lamb. It' if we call it a beatitude, 636 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:46,240 Speaker 1: you'd say it's one of the great beatitudes of revelation. 637 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:49,800 Speaker 1: But basically, this invitation to this supper is the invitation 638 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:54,040 Speaker 1: of the Gospel itself. You know, it's kind of interesting again, 639 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:56,240 Speaker 1: and I know I keep calling back to the Old Testament, 640 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: but there's a variety of things that the Old Testament 641 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:01,439 Speaker 1: references that John is bringing up. When you look back 642 00:35:01,480 --> 00:35:04,160 Speaker 1: in the book of Isaiah. Oh, you know, I don't 643 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,200 Speaker 1: have it there for us. That's fine. But on Isaiah 644 00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:09,799 Speaker 1: twenty five, verse six, it says, on this mountain, the 645 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:12,640 Speaker 1: Lord of Hosts will make for all peoples a feast 646 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:19,879 Speaker 1: of rich food, prophetically describing a future feast prepared by God. 647 00:35:20,480 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 1: When you go into the Gospels, Jesus frequently would use 648 00:35:23,160 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 1: wedding feast imagery in his parables. In Matthew chapter twenty two, 649 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,880 Speaker 1: in particular, you know, he talks about this idea of 650 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:33,240 Speaker 1: many rejecting the king's invitation to the feast but others 651 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 1: were gathered into the celebration, and that gospel invitation is 652 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:40,919 Speaker 1: something that the Lord still shares with us right here 653 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,480 Speaker 1: and now we are invited to come to the Lord 654 00:35:45,360 --> 00:35:50,280 Speaker 1: by grace, through faith, receiving Jesus Christ as Lord. Nobody 655 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,839 Speaker 1: earns a seat at that table. You know, you talk 656 00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:55,960 Speaker 1: about this idea. Blessed are those who are invited to 657 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:58,560 Speaker 1: the marriage supper of the Lamb. Nobody earns a seat there, 658 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:03,960 Speaker 1: Nobody deserns deserves entrance into that marriage supper. We come 659 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 1: because Jesus was slain for us. We don't come because 660 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: somehow we earned a spot at the table. That's the 661 00:36:11,239 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: future that awaits God's people. And I'll tell you what 662 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:16,120 Speaker 1: the Christian life. It can involve hardship, and we know 663 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:20,440 Speaker 1: that it does. It involves sacrifice, persecution, waiting. I think 664 00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:24,000 Speaker 1: sometimes we can grow weary. I think sometimes obedience feels 665 00:36:24,120 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 1: like maybe it's a solitary exercise of some kind. I 666 00:36:27,600 --> 00:36:30,240 Speaker 1: think sometimes the grief that we deal with during certain 667 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:33,080 Speaker 1: seasons can feel a bit overwhelming. But then you look 668 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:35,680 Speaker 1: again at Revelation nineteen, and it shows us where history 669 00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: is heading. Your future in Jesus Christ isn't wrath. It 670 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:44,280 Speaker 1: isn't abandonment, it isn't defeat. Your future is a wedding 671 00:36:44,320 --> 00:36:48,040 Speaker 1: feast with Jesus Christ. If you know Jesus Christ, that's 672 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,800 Speaker 1: your future. And then you have this passage, this portion 673 00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,719 Speaker 1: of the passage closing with like a very interesting and 674 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:59,120 Speaker 1: important correction. In verse ten, it says, then I fell 675 00:36:59,160 --> 00:37:00,879 Speaker 1: down at his feet to worship him, but he said 676 00:37:00,880 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: to me, you must not do that. So you have 677 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:05,560 Speaker 1: this angel that's been giving these details in this chapter 678 00:37:05,680 --> 00:37:08,640 Speaker 1: to John, and John I don't know why he does this, 679 00:37:08,760 --> 00:37:10,880 Speaker 1: but it says that he he fell down to worship 680 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:13,759 Speaker 1: this angel, and the angel says, don't do that. He says, 681 00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:16,080 Speaker 1: I'm a fellow servant with you and your brothers who 682 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 1: hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the 683 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. So I 684 00:37:25,080 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: think that's interesting because even here, you know, you look 685 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 1: at these angels and you're like, all right, well, they 686 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:32,200 Speaker 1: seem pretty glorious the way Revelation describes them. But even 687 00:37:32,239 --> 00:37:35,960 Speaker 1: glorious angels refuse worship. Why because worship belongs to the 688 00:37:35,960 --> 00:37:40,160 Speaker 1: Lord alone. And then that statement the angel makes, he 689 00:37:40,200 --> 00:37:42,680 Speaker 1: says for this, the testimony of Jesus is the spirit 690 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:46,399 Speaker 1: of prophecy. Notice that statement here as we wrap things up. 691 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 1: That's a statement that reminds us that all biblical prophecy 692 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:55,680 Speaker 1: ultimately points us to whom Jesus himself. Meaning prophecy isn't 693 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:58,479 Speaker 1: merely about timelines or events. Sometimes I see people treat 694 00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:01,320 Speaker 1: prophecy like it's just figuring out different timelines and figuring 695 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:03,880 Speaker 1: out when different events take place. That's not what prophecy 696 00:38:03,920 --> 00:38:07,800 Speaker 1: is really about. Prophecy's really about the glory of Jesus Christ. 697 00:38:08,320 --> 00:38:13,839 Speaker 1: The Old Testament anticipated him, the Gospels revealed him. The epistles, 698 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:16,839 Speaker 1: you go through Paul's epistles and the General Epistles, they 699 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,440 Speaker 1: explained him, and then you get to Revelation and it 700 00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:23,000 Speaker 1: unveils his glory. Meaning Jesus is the center of the 701 00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:26,200 Speaker 1: entire story of Scripture. He's the lamb who is slain. 702 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 1: He's the bridegroom preparing his bride. He's the coming king 703 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:33,640 Speaker 1: who will reign on this earth. He's the righteous judge 704 00:38:33,960 --> 00:38:38,799 Speaker 1: who defeats evil. He's the savior who clothes sinners in 705 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:43,279 Speaker 1: his perfect righteousness. And because of Christ, we have a 706 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,480 Speaker 1: hope that can't be shaken. So let me say this 707 00:38:47,520 --> 00:38:51,240 Speaker 1: as we wrap up. I recognize that there are seasons 708 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 1: and moments in our lives where everything around us can 709 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:58,400 Speaker 1: feel a bit unstable, or there could be seasons that 710 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: feel particularly low or sees since it stretch you and 711 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:04,279 Speaker 1: I recognize that that's something maybe you're going through right now, 712 00:39:04,360 --> 00:39:06,120 Speaker 1: or that's something that you've gone through in the past, 713 00:39:06,200 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: or maybe it's something you'll go through it another season 714 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:12,880 Speaker 1: of life regardless. Don't anchor your life to Babylon's fading promises. 715 00:39:13,640 --> 00:39:16,160 Speaker 1: Don't anchor your life to the promises of this world 716 00:39:16,200 --> 00:39:19,480 Speaker 1: that that promise you and me that somehow we will 717 00:39:19,480 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: find security through the things that this world supplies. And 718 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: don't assume, ever that evil has won, because when you 719 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:28,200 Speaker 1: look at a portion of scripture like this, we recognize that, yeah, 720 00:39:28,239 --> 00:39:31,080 Speaker 1: God is being patient with people, but evil doesn't win 721 00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:34,520 Speaker 1: because the king is coming and the bridegroom is preparing 722 00:39:34,640 --> 00:39:37,279 Speaker 1: his people, and one day all of heaven is going 723 00:39:37,280 --> 00:39:39,680 Speaker 1: to rejoice because the marriage supper of the Lamb has 724 00:39:39,719 --> 00:39:43,120 Speaker 1: finally come. And if you and I have genuine faith 725 00:39:43,160 --> 00:39:46,879 Speaker 1: in Jesus Christ, that's something that we have the opportunity 726 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:50,320 Speaker 1: to be part of. That's an invitation that we can accept, 727 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:52,600 Speaker 1: and it's a delight on the Lord's part to be 728 00:39:52,680 --> 00:39:59,200 Speaker 1: able to offer that to you and to me. Let's pray, Lord, 729 00:39:59,200 --> 00:40:02,200 Speaker 1: thank you so much your word, and for the privilege 730 00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 1: that it is to be able to look at a 731 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:07,120 Speaker 1: portion of scripture like this, something that reminds us of 732 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:10,359 Speaker 1: or I should even say, Lord, something that reveals to 733 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,600 Speaker 1: us the fact that you have delightful things in store 734 00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:20,360 Speaker 1: for those who know you. Lord, we recognize that throughout 735 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 1: the course of our lives there are times that we're 736 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,520 Speaker 1: tempted to look at ourselves in a negative light. There's 737 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 1: a temptation as well, to look at our circumstances negatively, 738 00:40:28,280 --> 00:40:30,760 Speaker 1: or to even look at the culture or this world 739 00:40:31,600 --> 00:40:35,319 Speaker 1: and feel a sense of despair. And then we come 740 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,160 Speaker 1: to a portion of scripture like this that explains to 741 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:41,560 Speaker 1: us how this all resolves, how this ultimately works out. 742 00:40:42,640 --> 00:40:45,360 Speaker 1: And Lord, if we genuinely believe these things are true, 743 00:40:47,160 --> 00:40:50,680 Speaker 1: we have the privilege to walk with hope. When things 744 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:53,640 Speaker 1: start to shake us, we can immediately re anchor our 745 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:55,640 Speaker 1: hearts and our minds and the truth that you've revealed 746 00:40:55,680 --> 00:40:58,319 Speaker 1: to us in your word. So Father, We're grateful for 747 00:40:58,360 --> 00:41:00,440 Speaker 1: these things. We're grateful for the privilege it is to 748 00:41:00,440 --> 00:41:03,160 Speaker 1: be able to look at these things and to see 749 00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:07,800 Speaker 1: what you've revealed in your word. Lord, I'm so grateful 750 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:10,440 Speaker 1: for the fact that you look at us and you 751 00:41:10,520 --> 00:41:14,480 Speaker 1: invite us to be part of your eternal family. You 752 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:21,440 Speaker 1: describe this fellowship, this meal, this time together as a 753 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:25,959 Speaker 1: time of celebration, a time when the multitude will cry out, 754 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:30,080 Speaker 1: our voices will cry out, hallelujah. We will praise you, Lord, 755 00:41:30,640 --> 00:41:32,920 Speaker 1: for who you are, for what you've done in and 756 00:41:32,960 --> 00:41:39,799 Speaker 1: through us. Father, we know that that we wrestle with sin. 757 00:41:39,960 --> 00:41:42,359 Speaker 1: We know that throughout the course of our lives are 758 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,320 Speaker 1: all sorts of things that we've invited in that don't belong. 759 00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:49,000 Speaker 1: And so when we think of this idea of you 760 00:41:49,160 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 1: clothing us in righteousness, first of all, we're grateful that 761 00:41:52,960 --> 00:41:56,000 Speaker 1: you have done so, even in the present, that you 762 00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:58,800 Speaker 1: look at us as men and women who are forgiven. 763 00:41:58,840 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 1: If we've trusted in your son, Jesus Christ, our sin 764 00:42:02,760 --> 00:42:05,560 Speaker 1: was placed upon your son and his righteousness was placed 765 00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:09,160 Speaker 1: upon us. And Father, as you look at us, you 766 00:42:09,200 --> 00:42:12,600 Speaker 1: see the righteousness of your son. That's one of the 767 00:42:12,640 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 1: hardest things for me to understand. But I'm so grateful 768 00:42:15,520 --> 00:42:20,279 Speaker 1: that that's the case, that somehow in your divine providence, 769 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 1: that that's the way that that transaction can can function, 770 00:42:25,080 --> 00:42:27,920 Speaker 1: that my sin can be placed upon your son and 771 00:42:28,040 --> 00:42:32,080 Speaker 1: his perfect righteousness can be placed upon me. I can't 772 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,279 Speaker 1: claim to fully understand how that works, but I am 773 00:42:34,320 --> 00:42:37,840 Speaker 1: grateful that that's what you've revealed takes place the moment 774 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:40,799 Speaker 1: I trusted in your son, Jesus Christ, that's what you 775 00:42:40,880 --> 00:42:43,120 Speaker 1: made true of me. That's what you make true of 776 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,280 Speaker 1: each of us. As we trust in your son and Father, 777 00:42:46,360 --> 00:42:49,080 Speaker 1: we see how that culminates here in this marriage, how 778 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:54,759 Speaker 1: you clothe or your son clothes his bride. We're so 779 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:57,799 Speaker 1: grateful for these truths, Lord Father. I pray that in 780 00:42:57,840 --> 00:42:59,839 Speaker 1: the midst of this day and coming days, that you'd 781 00:42:59,840 --> 00:43:01,799 Speaker 1: help us to walk with you. I pray that you'd 782 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,279 Speaker 1: help us to have genuine hope in You, no matter 783 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,200 Speaker 1: what our circumstances may be. And I thank you, Lord 784 00:43:07,239 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 1: for these reminders from your word. We commit ourselves to you. 785 00:43:10,600 --> 00:43:12,960 Speaker 1: We commit our lives to you, and everything that we value. 786 00:43:13,000 --> 00:43:14,840 Speaker 1: We pray that we wouldn't value the things that this 787 00:43:14,920 --> 00:43:17,840 Speaker 1: world promises, but that we would value what you have 788 00:43:17,960 --> 00:43:21,280 Speaker 1: shown us in your word to be true. We're grateful, 789 00:43:21,280 --> 00:43:23,400 Speaker 1: Lord for who you are and for the blessings that 790 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,960 Speaker 1: you bestowed upon us, and we thank you for all 791 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:29,800 Speaker 1: of these things in Jesus' name. Amen,