WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:05.360 If you would, in your Bible, Revelation chapter one, last book of the Bible. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:07.599 We're in this series. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:16.079 If you're visiting with us tonight, we've been going through in the evenings one book of the Bible at a time, one message per book. 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.239 So this is the last message. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:25.600 We're going to have one more in the series next week where we try to wrap up and review and do the whole Bible in one message. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:28.480 Yeah, wow, that was right. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:33.600 And we're going to try to keep it still not, although we could do an all-night session. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.240 I'm not opposed to that, but we're going to try to keep it the same time frame. 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.560 So we're in Revelation tonight. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:42.159 Let me put in a plug while you're turning to Revelation chapter one. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:48.719 After we finish with this series, we're going to be off for some Christmas events, Carolyn and the community. 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:53.840 In the new year, Pastor Doug mentioned he's starting up a series on the image of God. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.479 So that's going to be great. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:01.679 We're going to be hitting different themes on what it means for humans to be made in the image of God. 00:01:01.920 --> 00:01:06.400 Another way of asking that is what does it mean for us to be human? 00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.719 To be workers, to be male and female? 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:14.159 These are questions that our world really is concerned about. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:22.640 And there's also some important questions that our world isn't concerned about, that they should be, like, how does Christ actually restore the image of God in us? 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:25.120 So stay tuned for that. 00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:26.799 But we're in Revelation tonight. 00:01:26.959 --> 00:01:32.799 I'm going to start with Revelation chapter 1, verses 1 through 6. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:42.239 The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. 00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:52.799 He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, whatever he saw. 00:01:53.439 --> 00:02:06.799 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep what is written in it, because the time is near. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:37.599 John, to the seven churches in Asia, grace and peace to you from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth, to him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom priest to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:38.719 Amen. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.319 Lord, please help us tonight. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.599 We need your more than just your aid. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:47.680 We need your illumination. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:49.360 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:50.159 Amen. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:56.960 The book of Revelation is one of the most underappreciated books in the Bible, I think. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:02.960 Sometimes people are confused by it, so they just avoid it. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:08.400 But it's also underappreciated by some of the very people who seem the most excited about it. 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:10.159 Why do I say that? 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:17.599 Well, if you listen to how people refer to the book of Revelation, they sometimes call it the book of Revelations. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:22.719 It's a small thing, but look again at verse number one. 00:03:25.919 --> 00:03:31.840 The revelation singular of Jesus Christ. 00:03:33.120 --> 00:03:41.360 Sometimes people get so caught up in this vision and that symbol, they lose sight of Jesus Christ. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:43.439 And that's what the book is all about. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:52.800 Yes, there are many visions and symbols, but it's meant to build one comprehensive picture of the glory of the Son of God, our Savior. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:56.960 So let's look at the central place of Jesus in the book. 00:03:57.120 --> 00:04:00.800 It begins as the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:04:00.960 --> 00:04:06.400 The first voice that John hears is Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. 00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:15.919 The first vision he sees here, if you look down in chapter one, starting in verse number 12, he turned and saw he sees these lampstands. 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:20.639 Then the first figure he sees is this glorious figure of the Son of Man. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:27.839 And then I'm going to be hitting a lot of passages, so feel free to turn, or if you want to write them down or just listen, you can. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:30.240 It starts with Jesus, then it also ends with Jesus. 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:32.399 Revelation 21, 22. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:38.800 I did not see a temple in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:47.680 Not only does the book begin and end with Jesus, the structure of the book points us to Christ. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:55.920 So after John's opening vision of Jesus, he records seven letters to seven churches. 00:04:56.399 --> 00:05:01.839 And then after he writes those letters, John's given seven different visions. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:09.199 One of those visions is about seven seals, one is about seven trumpets, one is about seven bowls. 00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:11.120 All right, Mike, you're already losing me. 00:05:11.199 --> 00:05:13.839 It's too many sevens, too many weird things going on. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:20.079 But all of those letters and visions center on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:22.079 Just I'll briefly survey that for you. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:28.800 The very first letter, Revelation 2, verse 1, opens this way: Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:34.000 Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.360 That's Christ. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:39.680 The last letter, Revelation 3, verse 21. 00:05:39.759 --> 00:05:44.160 This is how the last letter is taking up. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:50.800 To the one who conquers, it ends, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:51.600 Who is that? 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.120 It's Jesus Christ. 00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:54.879 We get to the seven seals. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.079 Who can open the seals? 00:05:56.240 --> 00:05:57.439 Revelation 5, 5. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:05.360 One of the elders said, Don't weep, the lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, he has conquered, so he's able to open the scroll and it seals. 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:07.120 We get to the seven trumpets. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:08.639 What happens with the last trumpet? 00:06:08.720 --> 00:06:09.920 Revelation 11:15. 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:11.600 The seventh angel blew his trumpet. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:21.040 There were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. 00:06:21.360 --> 00:06:28.000 The seven bowls deal with God's judgment, his wrath being poured out like a bowl of water. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.560 Who executes God's judgment? 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.639 Revelation 19, 11. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:35.759 I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.279 Its rider is called faithful and true. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:40.800 That's Jesus. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:44.160 With justice he judges and makes war. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:47.360 So from beginning to end, the book is about Jesus. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:50.959 If someone says, I don't really understand Revelation, you say, Oh, that's easy. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:52.000 It's about Christ. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.120 And they laugh at it. 00:06:53.199 --> 00:06:54.000 No, no, really. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:55.839 Like that's that's who it's about. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:59.120 You've got to understand, it's all about the glory of Christ. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.079 What is Jesus doing in Revelation? 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:03.920 He's reigning. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:08.000 There's many things about him, but that's a main thing in Revelation. 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:09.040 He's reigning. 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.519 I'll give you a quick survey of that. 00:07:11.759 --> 00:07:18.959 So he's described as the firstborn from the dead in Revelation 1.5 and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:23.279 In the letter to Smyrna, Christ offers a crown of life. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.639 Who's giving crowns? 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:26.480 But rulers, kings. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:30.720 Revelation 5, 5, he's the conquering root of David. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:34.399 David, the king, the ruler from the Old Testament. 00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:41.279 Repeatedly in this book, there's creatures and angels gathering around his throne. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:44.560 Again, it's kings who rule from thrones. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:52.000 If we fast forward to Revelation 22, verse 1, it speaks of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 00:07:52.160 --> 00:08:00.480 So Revelation portrays vivid colors, awesome symbols, the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:08:02.079 --> 00:08:05.600 And it also intersects with our own lives. 00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:14.480 Not that we need more than a vision of Christ, but it intersects with our own lives because Revelation is written for suffering Christians. 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:20.000 If you're in chapter one, look at verse number nine. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:41.120 I, John, your brother and partner in the affliction, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:48.559 Your partner in, and then I'm reading the CSB, that's the Pew Bible, says the affliction. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:54.399 If you've got a different translation this morning, it might use the word your partner in the tribulation. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:56.720 Same Greek word is used there. 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.720 Like, are we in the tribulation? 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:01.200 Well, according to John, yeah, we are. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:01.759 He was. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:03.919 The people he's writing to were were as well. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:06.240 And he could have said, Hey, I'm in exile. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:07.759 I wish I had it like you guys. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:09.200 You guys have it easy. 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.080 He said, No, we're we're suffering together. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.159 Chapter 2, verse 3. 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:20.240 This is what John writes to Ephesus, the church, at this time. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:28.159 I know you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name and have not grown weary. 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.320 It's going to get better. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:32.639 Well, in Revelation, it gets worse in some ways. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:35.840 Revelation 6, verse 9, he opened the fifth seal. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:45.039 I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:47.039 That's intense. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:54.960 So some Christians' tribulation is smaller, some is costing a life, but there's suffering for believers. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:02.399 Throughout Revelation, there is this great dragon figure warring against God's people. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.919 And the dragon has two henchmen. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:10.159 He's got the beast and the false prophet. 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:15.759 Sometimes in the Bible, governments are compared to animals. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.480 Nebuchadnezzar's visions compared to beasts. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:33.519 One of the reasons why Christians suffer is because often governments attack Christians under under Satan's grand and wily designs. 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:36.320 And then there's there's the false prophet. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:43.679 There's all kinds of religions in the world making all kinds of claims about truth that oppose Christ and oppose his message. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:50.000 Some under the very banner of being lambs, but actually being wolves in sheep's clothing. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:53.120 Are you hurting today? 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:56.960 Are you tired of a world that seems so opposed to Jesus Christ? 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.720 Revelations for you. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:02.399 Suffering Christians, a reigning Christ. 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:07.200 And then there's one more major threat I want us to survey here. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.080 It's the threat of worship. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:30.480 We suffer not because we're such amazing people of stamina and ability, because if we're understanding rightly who Jesus is and we're before his throne, that's what enables us to endure suffering. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:37.120 Revelation has those who worship the beast in his image, and it has those who worship the Lamb. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:39.039 That's the two great categories of people. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:45.120 For those who are worshiping the Lamb, we can endure suffering because of the vision we see of Christ. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:48.879 Revelation 5, verse 13. 00:11:49.039 --> 00:12:01.279 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne of the Lamb forever and ever. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:11.840 Revelation 7, 9, after this I looked, there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language come to Sunday school next week to hear more about that from Billy. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.279 Side advertisement. 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:24.480 Revelation 14, 7. 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:26.720 He spoke with a loud voice. 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:32.159 Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:39.600 And then in Revelation 22, one other example of this, John falls down before an angel, and the angel says, Don't do that. 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.360 I'm a fellow servant with you. 00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:43.360 Worship God. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:47.360 So let's try and put all this together. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:55.919 If you only remember one thing from tonight, if you only remember one thing from the book of Revelation, remember this. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:04.080 Worshiping Christians will endure to the end because Christ is reigning to the end. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:06.720 I'll say that again. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:14.559 Worshiping Christians will endure to the end because Christ is reigning to the end. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:23.519 Having established that, let's drop down into some further considerations about this book. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:26.559 Say, wow, Micah, that was a long introduction. 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.559 That wasn't the introduction. 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.679 That was the main thing. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.840 Like I said, if you that was the main course. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.399 If you've got that, that you're good. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:38.320 This is gonna be more like a mix of appetizers and side dishes and desserts, okay? 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.919 If we're using the the the holiday food analogy here. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:47.519 So think about this maybe as an as an appetizer plate that has like four dishes on it. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:49.679 Now you sample one inside what you like. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:55.679 Don't just decide what you happen to like, which one best fits what God is trying to do in Revelation. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:14:05.279 But there's four main interpretive approaches to some of the symbols in the middle of Revelation from chapter four and into chapter 20. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:08.480 First approach is called the preterist approach. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.480 That's a word that means past. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:23.600 For preterists, most of these symbols deal with events from our vantage point from the past that happened around AD 70 with the fall of Jerusalem. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:29.360 They would say, well, doesn't John say these things are near, it's about to take place. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.320 He meant it. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.440 It was like about to take place, not 2,000 years later. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:34.399 I think R.C. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:36.080 Sproul held that particular view. 00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:40.879 There's a guy named Kenneth Gentry today who has some stuff on that particular viewpoint, Prater's viewpoint. 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.840 Number two is the futurist viewpoint. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.120 John MacArthur's an example of someone who held this particular view. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:54.399 Futurists would say many of these symbols are dealing with events still future from our lives right now. 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.320 So still more in the future. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:06.960 They would point to, even in chapter one, verse 19, write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this. 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.120 This is a nice template for the book. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.039 John sees a vision of Christ. 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:17.279 He writes about the churches that are happening right now, and then in chapter four, it's what takes place later, after. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:22.799 Third is called the historicist viewpoint of revelation. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:25.360 You hear the word history in that, right? 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:34.000 So for historicists, they don't think these symbols are mainly about a small window of time around 8070. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:38.559 They don't think it's about some smaller window of time in the future. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:44.960 They see the events as different specific events throughout history. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:49.600 So the third trumpet might be the bubonic plague. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:54.480 The fourth bowl might be the French Revolution, that kind of a thing. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:56.159 This is not as popular today. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.720 I've never personally met anyone that held this viewpoint. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:00.240 If that's you, come talk to me afterwards. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.799 I'd love to hear more about your thoughts on this. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.360 It was, uh it used to be a little bit more popular. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.240 Jonathan Edwards held this viewpoint. 00:16:08.480 --> 00:16:10.960 Arguably the greatest American theologian. 00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:12.879 Who am I to disagree with Jonathan Edwards? 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.919 I mean, come on. 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:18.879 And then the final viewpoint is called the idealist viewpoint. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:36.320 And for idealists, the symbols in Revelation are not primarily about window of time in the past or the future or specific events along the way, but rather they're about the cosmic conflict between good and evil that's happening all from Christ's first coming to his second coming. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:55.519 And they would say the nature of apocalyptic literature is not so much to give a timeline as it is to give surround sound speakers different vantage points on the same type of climactic events that have been taking place since Christ came into the world. 00:16:57.759 --> 00:17:04.559 However, I think all of those viewpoints can still agree on the big idea I put forward. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:10.319 Worshiping Christians will endure to the end because Christ is reigning to the end. 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.440 So let me move on here. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:15.279 Let me give you some resources. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.720 There are some great sermon series. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:23.200 One sermon, I obviously can't cover everything in Revelation, but I'll give you a couple of names. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:29.200 There's a man named Tom Schreiner who preached through Revelation, and you can find his sermon series online. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.480 That's excellent. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:34.000 There's another former pastor of mine named Brad Baum. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:40.160 He recently preached a number of messages in his church through the book of Revelation, so you can check those out. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:45.200 Commentaries, there's a guy named GK Beale. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:47.759 Now, his commentary is like a thousand pages. 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:54.480 It's not easy to read straight through, but to dip in at a specific point and try to see what's going on, it's helpful. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:17:57.680 If you want to look at the shorter commentary, it's still 500 pages. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:02.799 But if you get one of those books and tell Kevin Cooney, I want to try to work through a little bit of this. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.359 He'll love you forever because Kevin loves the book of Revelation. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:10.559 Kevin Cooney, our missionary in Indonesia. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.279 Why does he love Revelation so much? 00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:21.200 Because Kevin loves to speculate about whether the coronavirus vaccine is the mark of the beast or not. 00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:22.000 That's not true. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.279 That's not why he loves it. 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.319 I made that up. 00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:31.519 Kevin loves revelation because it's about suffering Christians who are enduring and worshiping. 00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:33.359 And isn't that what he's experiencing right now? 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:38.079 And yet isn't Christ reigning right now in Indonesia as much as he's reigning here, too? 00:18:41.440 --> 00:19:00.480 Next tidbit, if you want to think of this as uh the Greek salad, um, you don't have to know the Greek language to appreciate the book of Revelation, but I would plead with you as a tool, when you come to the book of Revelation, first interpret the book of Revelation in light of the rest of the Bible. 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:05.599 Don't interpret it first through the lens of the European Union. 00:19:05.920 --> 00:19:08.319 You want to see what's going on here. 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:09.519 G.K. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:21.759 Chesterton said, though Saint John saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:27.680 This is a book that is first and foremost about Christ and his reign. 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:32.079 It's not first and foremost about America or Russia or Iraq. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:34.799 Let's dip into chapter 12. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:37.759 Let's just sample so you can just kind of see one example. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:42.160 We'll try to put some of these principles into practice a little bit here. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:46.960 Revelation 12, turn over there right in the middle of the book. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:59.599 Verse number one a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:03.200 And a crown of twelve stars on her head. 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:07.920 What's going on there with this woman? 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.880 So you think, wait a minute here. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:21.839 I remember at the last Olympics, the opening ceremony, there was some horrific, you know, scene where there was a woman that had this celestial headdress on. 00:20:21.920 --> 00:20:23.039 Oh my goodness. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.799 This means there it is. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:28.640 Jesus is gonna come back within seven years of when the Olympics happen. 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:30.160 Don't do that. 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.720 Stop. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.599 Stop. 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:44.160 Interpret first the Bible in light of the Bible, not in light of what happens to be the current event for you, whether you lived in 1500 or today or in as long as the Lord tarries. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:51.279 Where in the Bible do you see a sun and a moon and 12 stars? 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.880 Joseph's dream. 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:04.799 Joseph has a dream where the sun and moon and 11 stars are bowing down to him, his father, his mother, and his brothers. 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:08.240 There's a lot of Old Testament illusions in the book of Revelation. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:14.319 So with that in mind, I think that sounds kind of like mom, dad, 12 children of Israel. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:16.319 That sounds like kind of like the nation of Israel. 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.039 Hmm. 00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:20.799 Isn't Satan often in the Old Testament attacking the nation of Israel? 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:22.000 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:24.400 Now let's look at verse number three. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.319 Another sign appeared in heaven. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:32.720 There was a great fiery red dragon having seven horns and seven heads and ten horns. 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:35.039 Well, wait a minute, that sounds a lot like Satan. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:37.039 Okay, it sounds like Satan. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:40.880 How do you know it's Satan? 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:43.119 Well, look at verse number nine. 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:47.279 The great dragon was thrown out, the ancient serpent who was called the devil and Satan. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:48.400 So this is a little easier. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:50.799 Tells you right here in the passage, hey, it's Satan. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.000 Yep, you're right. 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:56.319 So Satan is persecuting this woman. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:22:00.000 And then, verse number five. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:07.279 She gave birth to a son, a male who is going to rule all nations with an iron rod. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:11.200 Her child was caught up to God and to his throne. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:16.480 That is language that's used in other places to speak about Jesus Christ. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:23.279 Born, gonna come back to rule with a rod of iron, ascended to God and to his throne. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:27.920 Well, wait a minute, then that's but the mother of Jesus is Mary. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:32.480 But what about the twelve stars and the crown in that? 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:33.279 Hmm. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:39.279 Let's look all the way down in the chapter, towards the end of the chapter. 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:43.200 Verse number 17, how the chapter ends. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:52.240 The dragon was furious with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:23:03.200 Did Satan wage war especially against Jesus' immediate family, Mary's other biological children? 00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:04.640 Well, maybe. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:08.640 Again, did Satan make war against the people of Israel? 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:11.039 Yeah, under Pharaoh, he tried to stamp them out. 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:13.119 But then look what it goes on to say. 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:22.079 The rest of her offspring, those who keep the commands of God and hold firmly the testimony about Jesus. 00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:26.319 Well, that's that's sadly not ethnic Israel today. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:28.480 They're not doing that on the whole. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.799 That's the people of God, that's Christians. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:33.680 So it's a it's a it's a complex symbol. 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:39.599 You start with Israel persecuted by Satan, to whom the promises came. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:55.039 You move to the birth of Jesus Christ, who comes through the nation of Israel, through the womb of Mary, and now all of us who by faith are united to Jesus Christ are part of the offspring of God, and Satan's trying to assault God's people. 00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:00.319 So, do you have in this chapter suffering Christians and a reigning Christ? 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:02.079 Yes, you've got it there. 00:24:03.359 --> 00:24:06.799 Let's turn over to Revelation 20. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:08.480 Revelation 20. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:15.920 This is, if you want to think of this as uh, if you're thinking in the holiday terms, this is like the fruitcake. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.519 What exactly is in a fruitcake? 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.640 It's hard to say. 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:20.960 It's a little controversial. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:23.759 Um, why am I going here? 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:25.759 Because I have a fear of man. 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:31.119 And if I don't say something about Revelation 20, people are gonna pounce on me, and I just, I'm a people pleaser. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:32.400 What can I say? 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:39.119 Uh Revelation 20, the first 10 verses, you can divide it up into three scenes. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:43.920 Verses 1 to 3, John sees Satan being bound. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:49.519 Then verses 4 to 6, John sees saints reigning with Christ. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:55.279 And then in verses 7 to 10, he sees a final battle. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:00.400 Multiple times in these verses, there's a reference to a thousand years. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:03.119 That's where we get the term millennium from. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.599 It's not the major theme of Revelation. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:09.519 Christ's reign is, although this is a this is a feature of it, an element of it. 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:23.039 And to summarize in brief, Christians see these thousand years, and some Christians see Jesus returning to earth before these thousand years takes place. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:32.559 He returns a second time, and then there's this thousand-year period of Christ's rule, and then we get to the final eternal state, new heavens and new earth. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:39.920 Other Christians see these thousand years as happening in some sense before Jesus returns again. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:47.279 That it might even be going on right now, and then Jesus comes back, and there's the final new heavens and the new earth. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:55.039 So this is something that's our church's statement of faith intentionally doesn't take a stand on this. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:57.359 It's not the easiest question. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:01.279 Not all the elders even agree on this question. 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:04.319 And you notice, Bonner, thank you for being here tonight. 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:06.319 The rest of the elders fled the scene. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.839 They didn't even want to be here. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:11.680 They left me and you to face the sharks afterwards. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:22.319 And, you know, but but since I'm here and I'm on the firing line, I'll give just my personal opinion. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:26.079 I think that the millennium is actually going on right now. 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.039 Why do I say that? 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:29.119 Well, let me give you just three reasons. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:35.599 Reason number one, the Bible already talks about Satan being bound before we get to Revelation 20. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:44.079 Mark chapter 3, 27, Matthew 12, 29, Jesus speaks of binding the strong man in order to plunder his house. 00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:53.279 Number two, up to this point in the book of Revelation, every scene of Christ ruling is a heavenly scene. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:57.519 John's taken up into heaven where Christ is seated and ruling. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:02.319 I don't find the compelling evidence to see a change of scene here. 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:06.799 I think what's been going on throughout Revelation is still going on here. 00:27:07.039 --> 00:27:17.119 Christ is ruling from heaven, yet when believers die, those who belong to Christ, they're going to be right with him in the intermediate state, ruling alongside of him. 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:32.880 And then, third, just give one more reason, I think that viewpoint better fits with the rest of Scripture, where in other places of Scripture, it connects Christ's second coming with a final judgment, with resurrection, with the new heavens and the new earth. 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:39.519 There's not this specific statement of this intermediate period where there's people that are sinful, living with glorified saints. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.640 It doesn't fit, I think, as well the rest of Scripture. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:45.920 But let everyone be fully persuaded in their own mind. 00:27:46.160 --> 00:27:46.720 All right? 00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:57.519 Regardless of how you view that particular thousand years, do we see Christ reigning? 00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:58.480 Yes. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:01.680 Do we anticipate worship? 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.039 Yes, we do. 00:28:03.359 --> 00:28:07.519 So let's turn to Revelation 21 and 22. 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:11.119 This is the end of Revelation, the end of all things. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:15.599 And I really will, I think, talk about this a little bit next week. 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:19.519 Um, there's an image that didn't take as much time with tonight. 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:31.839 Revelation 19, the marriage supper of the Lamb, and then even the new Jerusalem is described as a bride adorned for her husband, where God is dwelling with humanity. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:35.680 So I want to just read from you as we close tonight. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:39.200 This is like, you know, this is like ice cream. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:41.200 If you can't enjoy this, there's just no hope for you. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:42.880 I don't know what to tell you. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:48.880 But this is Revelation 22, verses 1 to 5. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:29:01.920 Then he showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 00:29:02.400 --> 00:29:13.119 Down the middle of the city's main street, the tree of life was on each side of the river, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:19.839 The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse. 00:29:20.160 --> 00:29:25.440 The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:30.319 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:42.960 Night will be no more, people will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. 00:29:44.160 --> 00:29:46.720 Because he reigns, we reign. 00:29:47.359 --> 00:29:49.200 And this is so personal. 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:54.480 Um Christ reigns in a way that's different from the kings of the world. 00:29:54.559 --> 00:30:12.240 That some of the kings of the world might have their own immediate personal acquaintances, but Christ invites all of his people to draw near to him and to be subjects and to be bride, to be servants and to be sons and daughters. 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:14.079 We get to be part of his family. 00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:16.160 That's the glory of the future. 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:18.640 That's the glory that begins right now. 00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:26.240 Worshiping Christians will endure to the end because Christ is reigning to the end. 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.839 Let's pray. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:32.880 Lord God, we adore you. 00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:35.440 We say, Lord, help us understand. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:41.920 There are things in your word that at times we're perplexed by, but we want to steady to show ourselves approved. 00:30:42.160 --> 00:30:43.519 We don't want to discount any of your word. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:47.119 It's all profitable, it's all there, it's important for us. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:52.799 And we thank you that we grab hold of Christ and we move from there. 00:30:52.960 --> 00:31:02.079 We move out into the world, into the page of Scripture, into our own hearts and the hearts of others, knowing that you're reigning right now. 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:07.759 And though we suffer, we can endure, we must endure, we will endure. 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.319 There's joy that awaits us. 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:15.039 And even right now, we've experienced that joy in a significant degree. 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:20.640 Even right now in this life, houses and mothers and brothers multiplied to us. 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:23.920 And in the age to come, eternal life. 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:27.039 This is eternal life that we might know you. 00:31:27.599 --> 00:31:31.200 Thank you for giving us this revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:37.119 What a fitting capstone to your word, the glory of our Savior on full display. 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:52.079 And we sing praising you for the joy that is in our hearts that cannot be taken away from us, no matter how governments or false teachers attack us, no matter what kinds of suffering that we might face in the future that we have no idea about right now. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:55.200 Yet we endure all things for the sake of your chosen ones. 00:31:55.279 --> 00:32:01.680 We endure all things, knowing that we're more than conquerors of the one who loved us and gave his life for us. 00:32:01.920 --> 00:32:05.839 Thank you, O Lord, for your son, how we adore and worship him tonight. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.880 May we worship him as we sing now in Jesus' name. 00:32:09.119 --> 00:32:09.759 Amen.