New Heaven, Old Earth, Real Marriage

A single thread runs through today’s conversation: real authority is sacrificial, and real hope is active. We open with gratitude and prayer, then move straight into Ephesians 5 to explore how love and respect are not competing claims but a bonded calling. Husbands are charged to give themselves up, not to grasp for power; wives are called to respect that costly leadership, not to disappear. We share a hard truth from a broken marriage—two people “forgot they needed each other”—and talk candidly about how daily dependence protects a covenant from slow erosion.

From there, Revelation 21 lifts our eyes to the New Jerusalem, where God wipes every tear and night never falls. The measured walls, radiant stones, and open gates are more than poetry; they are a blueprint for courage now. We connect that hope to the rhythms of praise and justice in Psalm 149 and the steady, capable work pictured in Proverbs 31. Far from stereotypes, these texts sketch a household that builds value, serves the poor, and strengthens the city gates—an economy of trust that begins at the kitchen table and ripples outward.

History puts skin on these ideals. We honor First Lieutenant Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman Jr., whose leadership at Tarawa—organizing men under fire, advancing when pinned down, and holding ground at the cost of his life—shows what authority looks like under pressure. Then we reflect on President Truman’s 1951 Christmas message, a clear-eyed call to pursue a just peace with faith and resolve. Finally, we turn to our moment: the need to prepare our communities, support local first responders, and practice readiness without losing compassion. Faith shapes homes, homes shape citizens, and citizens steward freedom best when they remember who—and what—they are willing to serve.

If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show. What moment challenged you most today?

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome, Gratitude, And Opening Prayer
• 2:55 Ephesians 5 And Marriage Roles
• 4:41 Revelation 21: New Heaven And New Jerusalem
• 9:20 Praise, Justice, And Wisdom In Psalms And Proverbs
• 11:13 Submission, Provision, And Marital Dependence
• 14:20 Medal Of Honor: Alexander Bonnyman Jr.
• 17:25 Truman’s 1951 Christmas Address
• 20:10 Warnings On Modern Conflict And Civic Readiness
• 23:05 Book Recommendations, Donations, And Closing Prayer

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Till Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well wherever y'all are in whatever part of the day you're in. I sure do appreciate you joining me, giving me a little bit of your time. I know y'all have other things vying for your attention. So I appreciate it. I will try and use it wisely. Hopefully, y'all are able to listen to it with somebody else: spouse, parents, children, friends, co-worker. For those of y'all who continue to share the podcast with others, tell others about it, thank you. For those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast, thank you very much. Very grateful for your prayers, need them and want them. Father, thank you for today, for this day that you have made.

SPEAKER_01: 0:47

Help us to rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for your love, your mercy, your grace, and your forgiveness through the merit of your son Jesus Christ. Forgive us our sins, Father, forgive us when we turn away from you. Forgive us our pride, greed, selfishness, arrogance, judgment of others. Forgive us when we get our priorities out of order. Instead of putting them in your order. Watch over those who are hurting, father. Help us to care for the widow and the orphan, the poor and the needy. Forgive us our sins, not only as individuals, but also as a nation father. Forgive us for creating an encouraging policy voting for things that hurt the widow and the orphan, the poor and the needy. Forgive us for turning a blind eye to those who are struggling and stumbling toward the cliff. Watch over our leaders, both in the pulpit and in the state, from the president all the way down. Give them wisdom and courage and a strong faith. Be with those listening, Father, bless their families. Bless their marriages if they're married. Give them wisdom and courage and a strong faith. God, my words here, Father, please. Your son's name we pray. Amen. So we're gonna read scripture first today. The marriage verse comes from Ephesians chapter five, starting with verse 22.

SPEAKER_00: 3:14

Wives be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, he himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her, so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself, for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes it and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband. Scripture for today we're going to get back into Revelation chapter twenty-one, verses one through twenty-seven. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared, and the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, God's home is now among his people. He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them, he will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, Look, I am making everything new. And then he said to me, Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. And he also said, It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all the blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshippers, and all liars, their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, Come with me, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. So he took me in the spirit to a great high mountain, and he showed me the holy city Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone, like jasper, as clear as a crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side, east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of Belan. The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each fourteen hundred miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be two hundred and sixteen feet thick, according to the human standard used by the angel. The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones, inlaid with twelve precious stones. The first was Jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth Arnelian, the seventh chrysalite, the eighth barrel, the ninth topaz, the tenth Christopher, the eleventh, Jacan, the twelfth Amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls, each gate from a single pearl, and the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple, and the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. Its gates will never be closed at the end of the day because there is no night there, and all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Psalm one hundred forty nine verses one through nine. Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exalt in your king. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people, he crowns the humble with victory, let the faithful rejoice that he honors them, let them sing for joy as they lie on their bed. Let the praises of God be in their mouths and a sharp sword in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord. Proverbs thirty one, ten through twenty four. Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? He is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life. She finds wool and flax and busily spends it. She is like a merchant's ship bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household, and plans the day's work for her servant girls. She goes to inspect a field and buys it. With her earnings, she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable. Her lamp burns late into the night. Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor. She opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household for everyone has warm clothes. She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

SPEAKER_01: 11:13

So I'm going to go ahead and tell you this is going to step on a lot of toes probably today, certainly in society in general.

SPEAKER_00: 11:20

The reason I did the little monologue section second is because it goes back and ties into Ephesians, the marriage verse for today, and the wife being under the authority of the husband. C.S. Lewis talks about this in mere Christianity. Folks, we're all under somebody's authority. We're all in submission to somebody. All that matters is who? Who do we choose to put ourselves under the authority of? And is it the best possible solution or is it a worst solution? People that think that they're not under somebody's authority, they're just kidding themselves, right? One of the reasons, maybe, well, no, I'll just say that. One of the main reasons that this is so important in marriage is because, and we see the lack of this today. A wife needs to have the understanding that her protection and her provision, right? Perhaps particularly financially, come from her husband. Because then it makes sure that she remembers on a day-to-day basis that she needs her husband, just like the husband has a need to be dependent upon his wife for physical satisfaction, because it makes clear in that husband's mind each day that he needs his wife. When we get those things out of line, when women go and find financial independence or refuse to submit to their husbands, right? Or when men go and find physical gratification, physical satisfaction from other sources, you forget that you need each other. I know I'm taking a little long period today. I'll wrap it up real quick. I had a good friend years and years ago who had a family member that went through an absolutely atrocious divorce. Kids involved, a lot of money. It was just really nasty. And we happened to be sitting and talking one time. I've shared this story on the podcast before, but it's been a while. And I asked him, you know, what happened? Because when they when they first got married, they were in love and they cared about each other, et cetera, et cetera. And he said they just forgot they needed each other. They just forgot they needed each other. We need to fulfill our God-given roles and responsibilities, folks. And they're very different from men and women. And we each have something that we can offer to our spouse that they need from just us.

SPEAKER_01: 14:10

And that reminds us how much we need them each day.

SPEAKER_00: 14:20

So the Medal of Honor citation for today is Alexander Sandy Bonneman Jr. First Lieutenant, World War II, 2nd Battalion, Shore Party, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. November 20th through the 22nd, 1943.

SPEAKER_01: 14:41

Ugh.

SPEAKER_00: 14:42

I just looked up how to say this too. Bassio, I think. Bassio or something like that island. Tarawa Atoll. Gilbert Islands. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as executive officer at 2nd Battalion Shore Party, 8th Marine, 2nd Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese L Tarawa and the Gilbert Islands. 20th through 22nd November 1943. Acting on his own initiative when assault troops were pinned down at the far end of Basio Pier by the overwhelming fire of Japanese shore batteries, First Lieutenant Bonaman repeatedly defied the blasting fury of the enemy bombardment to organize and lead the besieged men over the long open pier to the beach, and then, voluntarily obtaining flamethrowers and demolitions, organized his pioneer shore party into assault demolitionists and directed the blowing of several hostile installations before the close of D-Day. Determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly organized defense line the following day, he voluntarily crawled approximately 40 yards forward of our lines and placed demolitions in the entrance of a large Japanese emplacement as the initial move in his planned attack against the heavily garrisoned bomb proof installation, which was stubbornly resisting despite the destruction early in the action of a large number of Japanese who had been inflicting heavily heavy casualties on our forces and holding up our advance. Withdrawing only to replenish his ammunition, he led his men in a renewed assault, fearlessly exposing himself to the merciless slash of hostile fire as he stormed the formidable bastion, directed the placement of demolition charges in both entrances, and seized the top of the bomb-proof position. Flushing more than a hundred of the enemy who were instantly cut down, and effecting the annihilation of approximately 150 troops inside the emplacement. Assailed by additional Japanese after he had gained his objective, he made a heroic stand on the edge of the structure, defending his strategic position with indomitable determination in the face of the desperate charge and killing three of the enemy before he fell mortally wounded. By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness, and forceful leadership throughout three days of unremitting violent battle, first Lieutenant Bonneman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in that sector for an immediate gain of 400 yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Born May 2nd, 1910, Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, died November 22nd, 1943, Tarawa, Tole, Basio Island, Gilbert Islands. Buried Barrie Highland Memorial Cemetery, remains recovered in 2015, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punch Bowl Wall of the Missing, Honolulu, Hawaii, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States. Location of Metal Charles H. Coolidge, National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

SPEAKER_01: 18:26

Alexander Sandy Boneman, Jr. Christmas message for today is from 1951.

SPEAKER_00: 18:47

President Truman, December 24th, 1951, broadcast nationally from Independence, Missouri, which is where his home was. Christmas is the great home festival. It is the day in all the year which turns our thoughts toward home. And so I am spending Christmas in my old home in Independence with my family and friends. As the Christmas tree is lighted on the White House grounds in Washington, I am glad to send this greeting to all of my countrymen. Tonight we think of the birth of a little child in the city of David 19 and a half centuries ago. In that humble birth, God gave his message of love to the world. At this Christmas time, the world is distracted by doubt and despair, torn by anger, envy, and ill will. But our lesson should still be the same message of love, symbolized by the birth of the Redeemer of the world and a manger, because there was no room for them in the end. Our hearts are saddened on this Christmas Eve by the suffering and the sacrifice of our brave men and women. In Korea. We miss our boys and girls who are out there. They are protecting us and all free men from aggression. They are trying to prevent another world war. We honor them for the great job they are doing. We pray to the Prince of Peace for their success and safety. As we think about Korea, we should also think of another Christmas ten years ago in 1941 that was just after Pearl Harbor, and the whole world was at war. Then almost every country, almost every home was overshadowed by fear and sorrow. The world is still in danger tonight, but a great change has come about. A new spirit has been born and has grown up in the world, although perhaps we do not fully realize it. The struggle we are making today has a new and hopeful meaning. Ten years ago, total war was no longer a threat but a tragic reality. In those grim days, our nation was straining all its efforts in a war of survival. It was not peace, not the prevention of war, but the stark reality of total war itself that filled our minds and overwhelmed our hearts and souls at Christmas 1941. Tonight we have a different goal and a higher hope. Despite difficulties, the free nations of the world have drawn together solidly for a great purpose, not solely to defend themselves, not merely to win a bloody war if it should come, but for the purpose of creating a real peace, a peace that shall be a positive reality and not an empty hope, a just and lasting peace. When we look toward the battlefields of Korea, we see a conflict like no other in history. There the forces of the United Nations are fighting not for territory nor for plunder, not for the rule of the lives of captive people. In Korea, the free nations are proving by deeds that man is free and must remain free, that aggression must end, that nations must obey the law. We still have a long struggle ahead of us before we can reach our goal of peace. In the words of the Bible, the day is not yet here when the bow shall be broken and the lamps cut off and the chariot burned. But we have faith that that day will come. We will be strong so long as we keep that faith. That faith can move mountains. The faith, as St. Paul says, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Let us ask God to bless our efforts and redeem our faults. Let us resolve to follow his commandments, to carry the gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, preach deliverance to the captive, give freedom to the slave. Let us try to do all things in the spirit of brotherly love that was revealed to mankind at Bethlehem on the first Christmas day. The victory we seek is the victory of peace. That victory is promised to us. It was promised to us long ago in the words of the angel choir that sang over Bethlehem. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

SPEAKER_01: 23:41

To all my countrymen, Merry Christmas. President Truman, December 24th, 1951. Couple things out of this.

SPEAKER_00: 24:01

Remember, don't forget Alexander Sandy Boniman Jr. Tarawa atoll.

SPEAKER_01: 24:09

Fighting for days. And don't forget God's instructions on marriage.

SPEAKER_00: 24:20

And remember in this message from President Truman, uh the his commentary on going into World War II, actually, ten years before this message. Ten years ago, total war was no longer a threat, but a tragic reality. In those days, grim days, our nation was straining all its efforts in a war of survival. We have a war of survival that's already really upon us. It's just a cold war right now, folks, in America. And we need to be doing everything we can to get ready for a hot war. Again, anybody that you can encourage to increase the quality training equipment of your local law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS, militia, we need to be doing. Because there are aggressors. And they're aggressing through law and courts right now, but at some point, folks, the aggression of followers of the left and Islam, it will turn hot, it will turn active. It's just a matter of time. History shows that every time, without exception, that they never stopped unless forced to stop.

SPEAKER_01: 25:45

Just like the Nazis in the 1930s.

SPEAKER_00: 25:55

If you are looking for a family-friendly little grade read, and you have the uh time or inclination to check out Countryside, I would appreciate it. There's two books in the series so far. It's kind of along the lines of Narnia, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, that kind of stuff. And if you enjoy it, first or the second book, if you would leave a review for one or both, I would very much appreciate that. And if you have three or four or five dollars a month that you can donate to the podcast, there's a website, a webpage on the Buzz Sprout website where you can do that.

SPEAKER_01: 26:30

And I would be very grateful for that as well. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

SPEAKER_00: 26:42

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, our glory forever and ever. Amen.