WEBVTT 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.679 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:20.000 Tribulation is God's way of pulling out chaff in our life. 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:30.800 And I think sometimes what God has to do is take us out of our normal routine to cause us to rethink our lives. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:36.479 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the Book of Revelation. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:42.320 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:46.880 For more information on The Road, visit theroad.org. 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:52.240 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:01.600 We are in the book of Revelation, and we are moving through here in the first chapter. 00:01:02.159 --> 00:01:05.120 If you're new with us tonight, this is the third message we've done. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.879 We're calling it the Apocalypse. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:09.200 That's the theme of the book of Revelation. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:10.959 That's where we get the word revelation. 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:13.599 It's the unveiling of the Son of Man. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:15.920 It is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.120 It's called the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:26.400 And so this revelation of Jesus Christ is a revelation to his people, to the church. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:41.359 And you're going to see that especially tonight as we start in verse 9 that the Lord is revealing himself in this vision of the Son of Man at a time of great persecution. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:43.920 Domitian is in power. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:53.760 Domitian was one of a string of despot emperors and rulers in Rome who severely persecuted the church. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:02:01.359 And this persecution, you guys, has been going on now for about 30 years, maybe 26 years. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:12.879 And the Christians are still being served up in the Colosseum in Rome and being eaten by lions as a regular diet to the people of that time. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:18.240 Most all of the leadership within the church has gone underground. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:21.680 You can go to Rome today and go to the catacombs. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.560 And these are underground caves that were carved out. 00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:32.479 And this is where a lot of the Christian leaders and believers were hiding out from Nero before and Domitian now. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:35.280 This is in the mid-90s. 00:02:35.759 --> 00:02:42.479 In 96 A.D., Domitian was assassinated, and that's when John was brought back from the island of Patmos. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:43.919 So he's still on the island of Patmos. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:48.000 So somewhere in the early to mid-90s is what we're reading. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:51.199 And remember this, he hasn't seen Jesus. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:58.319 He has not seen Jesus since he ascended to heaven, some 60 years before. 00:02:58.560 --> 00:03:00.479 And so he's going to see Jesus now. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.280 He's going to see Jesus for the first time in 60 years. 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:05.039 An open vision. 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:11.280 And I've never had an open vision, but I have a lot of, I've known a lot of people that have had open visions of the Lord. 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.759 And they've experienced God. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.360 They've experienced an angelic presence. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:18.879 And you don't want that. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:20.639 Don't dream about that. 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:22.719 You'll see why here. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:29.520 If you study, if you have any visions, oh, if I could just see a vision of Jesus, I would believe. 00:03:29.680 --> 00:03:31.039 Read the Bible more often. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:31.919 You don't want that. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:33.520 It's not good, you know. 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:46.479 But the book of Revelation, seven times, says you will be blessed by hearing it, blessed by reading it, and blessed by obeying it. 00:03:46.639 --> 00:03:49.680 So it's the only book in the Bible that talks about this blessing of the Lord. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:50.879 So bring your Bibles. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:56.719 And I know we have an app and everything, but bring your Bibles and open it and read it for yourself. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:04.560 I want to encourage you in your times with the Lord over the next year, read and reread the book of Revelation and mark up your Bibles. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:10.319 And we have an outline in the app because I want some of you to be teaching this stuff in the years ahead. 00:04:10.479 --> 00:04:14.159 There's so many anointed teachers in this church, it's amazing. 00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:19.279 And what I have, when you have notes, those are an outline of my notes, they're not copious. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:20.800 They're not the notes I teach from. 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:22.160 And so you just have an outline. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:28.399 But if some of you are teaching it, you're doing Bible studies in the book of Revelation, and you ever want my full notes, you can have them. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.680 Steve Holt, copyright laws are copy it right. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:32.959 Okay? 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:34.800 So bring your Bibles. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.959 So verse 9, we're in verse 9. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:56.560 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation, the tribulum and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:05.360 Now I've already talked about this, but the butmos is about 24 miles off the coast of present-day Turkey. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:10.079 Back then it would be called Asia Minor, and it's in the Aegean Sea. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:17.360 It's about 13 square miles, and it was a volcanic island for mining. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:22.240 So the prisoners of Rome were sent to Patmos to mine. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:35.759 And so John is 90 years old, and tradition says that he was vibrant, he was joyful, and he worked the mines every day without complaining. 00:05:35.920 --> 00:05:36.639 Can you imagine? 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:42.079 A guy like John, he's been boiled in oil and lived. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:49.120 His body is just scarred with all the persecution he's been under, and he's 90. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:54.879 Don't you think he might have thought it's time to retire? 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.800 Aren't there any links in Patmos? 00:05:59.279 --> 00:06:01.839 You know, can I go scuba diving, guys? 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:07.600 But but history tells us that he was he not only didn't retire, but he was re-fired. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:11.199 And he is fired up with what's about to happen to him. 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.720 And you're gonna see how he's set up by the Lord for this. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:34.000 And you know, for some of you who are getting a little older, and um I know who you are because I'm one of you, um, we have to re-up our spirit-filled life and ask God for fresh vision. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:39.199 For John, though, he says he's a companion in the tribulation. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.160 And tribulation comes from the word tribulum. 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:52.399 And a tribulum was a, was uh usually different in different places, but it was basically a large steel object, usually with steel or metal teeth. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:07:05.360 And you would take the wheat and you would throw the wheat down on the barn floor, and they would drag the tribulum, this heavy metal object, over the wheat, and it would pull out the chaff. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:08.720 It would pull out the chaff because of the teeth that were in it. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:12.000 It would push down on it and pull out the chaff. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:14.000 And tribulation's like that. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:21.839 Tribulation is God's way of pulling out the chaff in our life. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:32.639 And I think sometimes what God has to do is take us out of our normal routine to cause us to rethink our lives. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:35.199 And John is having to do that. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:40.240 John is pulled out of the church, a vibrant, dynamic church. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:46.879 Probably he was an apostle to the seven churches of Asia Minor, that he's going to write the cyclical letter to. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.759 And he has to be pulled out in tribulation. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:08:01.519 And church, remember this: you will go through tribulation, and God can use it in amazing ways if you'll let him, if you'll trust him. 00:08:01.920 --> 00:08:12.000 So Jesus said this these things I've spoken to you, that in me you may have peace, but in the world you will have tribulation. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.160 But be of good cheer. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:17.040 I have overcome the world. 00:08:17.519 --> 00:08:31.199 God does his greatest work in turning you and me into overcomers through obstacles and situations that we do not know what to do, where it's out of our hands. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:33.360 God allows tribulation. 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:39.200 He takes us into situations where we absolutely don't know what to do, that we have to trust him. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:56.080 I have a close friend right now who's going through tribulation in college and experiencing some things in college, and he has had to pray and to seek the Lord like never before because of the tribulation that he's in, this tribulum. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:01.919 But God is doing his greatest work in him through the tribulation. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:08.320 And though at this time, as I speak, we don't know exactly what's going to happen in this. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.799 The victory hasn't come. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:17.360 But I can tell you this, it's going to happen, and it's already happening in his life personally. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:30.799 Domitian has sent John to the island of Patmos, 24 miles off the coast of Turkey in the Aegean Sea on this volcanic island, and boy, did Domitian overreach himself. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:36.879 Because it's here that the book of Revelation is about to be written. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:41.519 That wouldn't have been written if John wasn't on the island of Patmos. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:48.639 And so many times when God takes you through hard things, try not to squirm out of it, but ask him what he's doing. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:55.600 Because he has a fresh work and a fresh vision to speak to you about during that time. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:08.879 Most believers, most believers I found, are unwilling to stay in the place of the tribulum because we're so used to the comfort of our own life. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:12.480 And so God takes us and he puts us under that tribulum. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:16.559 I hate tribulums as much as anyone. 00:10:17.039 --> 00:10:26.720 But sometimes God slows us down, tears us away from the familiar, so that we'll listen in a fresh way. 00:10:26.879 --> 00:10:29.679 I call it sanctified loneliness. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:34.159 Sometimes God takes you through sanctified loneliness. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.720 And take it from me. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:38.799 Quit blaming. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.840 Don't blame, but receive what God has for you. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.320 Because it's there that you might discover your belovedness. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.879 How much you're loved. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:54.240 How precious you are in the sight of the Lord. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:02.960 When others have rejected you and you've gone through betrayal or hurt and pain, it's a beautiful place to be. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:06.320 To ask the Lord, Lord, would you love me? 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:09.200 Would you love me here? 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:12.399 I mean, we talk about loving the Lord with all of our heart. 00:11:12.559 --> 00:11:17.279 What about saying, Lord, would you love me with all of your heart? 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:20.159 You say that I'm precious in your sight. 00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:24.559 You say, for God so loved me that he gave his only begotten son. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:25.519 You loved me. 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:27.440 So Lord, would you love me here? 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.320 I want to feel your love. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.559 To ask him for that kind of love that you'd feel his love. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.879 I've prayed that so many times, and he shows up. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:41.679 Some of you have never felt love before. 00:11:42.399 --> 00:11:47.279 And sometimes God takes us through tribulation because he wants that prayer to come out of our heart. 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:48.159 Lord, love me. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.279 You love me. 00:11:49.519 --> 00:11:51.360 I'm precious in your sight. 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.080 I was in the Spirit. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:12:02.240 Verse 10, on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet. 00:12:03.279 --> 00:12:08.799 I had a hard time thinking about this when I was preparing this message because we meet on Saturday night. 00:12:09.519 --> 00:12:12.799 The Lord's day is Sunday in Scripture. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:24.159 Um nowhere in the New Testament do we have any other day associated with the Lord's day but the first day of the week, which would have been Sunday after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.720 Now we're meeting on Saturday night because we have to. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:49.519 We have no reference anywhere again, much to the chagrin of the Seventh-day Adventists, of the seventh day being the last day of the week, the sixth day, I guess we could say, of the Sabbath, the Shabbat being where Christians worship. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.120 They always worshiped after the resurrection on the first day of the week. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:58.879 Jesus stayed in the tomb on the Sabbath, and it was the first day of the week that he was raised. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:06.399 The gospel accounts of the resurrection of Christ have it all occurring on Sunday, the first day of the week. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:13.279 It was the first day of the week that the disciples were assembled in the upper room when Jesus first appeared to them. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:20.000 So the church became designated as a day of worship, being the first day of the week. 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:27.679 We find in the word Acts 20, on the first day of the week, the disciples came together to break bread. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:34.480 In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul exhorts the church to give tithes and offerings on the first day of the week. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:40.879 All Christian writers after the resurrection of Christ, when referring to the Lord's day, are speaking of the first day of the week. 00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.399 So this is the first day. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.000 This is Sunday. 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:49.279 And John is in the Spirit. 00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:51.679 Are you in the Spirit tonight? 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:59.919 Because I think he, I don't think the vision could have occurred if John wasn't in the Spirit. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:10.879 I think we miss, your pastor included, we miss so much of what God has for us by not being in the Spirit. 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:15.759 So many times I just go through life with activities. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:23.039 And I just, you know, serving people, serving my family, serving myself, that's rare. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.399 But usually I'm just giving out to others. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.919 Just all I do is give, give, give. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:32.639 I never receive, you know. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:39.919 But but we go through life and and and we're doing our thing, but we're not in the spirit. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:54.159 You know, I'm I'm working on some stuff on the life of David right now, and so the life of David has been so therapeutic in my own heart and in my own healing over the last two years looking at him. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:08.960 But one thing you see in David is when he's designated by Samuel in 1 Samuel 13, 14 and in 1 Samuel 16, 1, and then he's also designated by Paul in Acts 13, 22. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:20.639 He's called a man after God's own heart, that the Lord sought for a man after his own heart, because David's heart was for God's heart. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:24.080 But Saul's heart was for Saul. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:41.840 John is in the spirit, separated from his friends, separated from his family, pulled out, yanked out of his pastorate there in Asia Minor, and he's probably worshiping the Lord on the first day of the week. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:48.240 History would say, and tradition would say, and you can go to this place on the island of Patmos today, that it was in a cave. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:51.279 There's called the cave of revelation that you can go to. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:53.440 You can go online and look, and you can see it and everything. 00:15:53.600 --> 00:16:01.360 And he's worshiping the Lord, and then this vision of the Son of Man comes because, and don't miss this, he's in the Spirit. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:08.639 So, church, start each day in the Spirit. 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:14.559 That's why we have P B and J, that's why we have those bookmarks, that's why we encourage you to journal and be in the word. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.279 And it's a waste of time. 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.480 It's a big time waste of time. 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:21.840 It is. 00:16:22.639 --> 00:16:27.440 You're wasting your life by spending time with the Lord. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:29.279 You are wasting. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:32.080 I mean, think of all the things you could be doing. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:37.919 You could be watching the news, you could be in traffic going to work. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:44.559 You could be staying late and working longer for your boss because it matters so much. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:49.919 You could be making another dollar and never taking a day off. 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:52.320 Think of the joy of that. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:03.840 You could be in hot pursuit, such hot pursuit of the American dream that you might actually get it. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:13.279 What a waste of time to get up in the morning in the spirit and spend time with the Lord. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:16.160 That is just wasting your life. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.000 So I encourage you, waste your life. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:25.359 Waste your time before the Lord and worship him in the spirit. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:31.839 Because when we do that, we connect heart to heart with the Lord and we realize we're precious in his sight and that we're beloved. 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:36.079 Guess what? 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:42.960 When your heart is brimming with the love of God in the spirit, you're amazing at work. 00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:47.200 When you're brimming in the spirit, you're patient with people. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:50.960 When you're brimming in the spirit, you love your spouse better. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:54.960 When you're brimming in the spirit, you parent better. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:02.720 Because you are made to be loved and to be beloved and to experience God's love in your life. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.240 So John is in the spirit, verse 11. 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:13.519 And then the spirit, Jesus comes to him and says, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:30.240 And what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:36.720 So one of the themes of the book of Revelation is the sovereignty of God. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:39.279 Now remember, this is under Domitian. 00:18:39.680 --> 00:18:43.200 The whole church is literally running for its life. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.200 Believers are running for their life. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:52.880 Jesus comes and he says, I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. 00:18:53.119 --> 00:18:55.359 Is that not powerful? 00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:04.400 That in the midst of that kind of a scene and that kind of a world that he was living in, Jesus comes and says, I am the beginning and the end. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.720 I've got it all under control. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.720 I'm at work. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:17.680 So throughout the book of Revelation, we see this work of the Spirit, of the sovereignty of God. 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:22.000 And then he gives us the seven churches, and he starts with Ephesus. 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:29.680 Then he moves to Smyrna, to Pergamus, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, to Laosia, which we're going to study. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.160 That's a postal route in the time of Rome. 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.559 So he's taking them on a postal route. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:36.160 And that's important in a moment. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:49.519 And what we're going to see in the weeks ahead as we study the seven churches is that they represent in character and in form all churches for all time, the universal church. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:53.519 Part of why I wanted us to do the Nicene Creed. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:59.119 Because we are one with the holy, Catholic, and apostolic church. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:01.119 We are one with the church in Africa. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:02.880 We are one with the church in Russia. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.880 We are one with the church in Asia. 00:20:05.119 --> 00:20:08.559 We are one with the church in South America and Latin America. 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:10.640 We are one with that church. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:20.240 And here he's going to speak of this church historically, pastorally, and practically in the weeks ahead. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:42.079 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, and having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, not torches, like the one used at night to go through the night, but a can, and not the candlestick in the temple, but rather a Jewish menorah. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:49.039 We believe that that's he saw seven Jewish menorahs with the seven candles on each of those. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:57.200 The churches, in verse 20, you can jump ahead if you want and look at verse 20, rep are represented by these lampstands. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:03.279 So we're going to see in just a moment that he identifies the churches as these lampstands. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:05.920 That's interesting. 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.759 The church is a lampstand. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:13.039 It's not the light, it's the repository of the light. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:20.880 And men and women, we in the church, we're the candles, we're the lampstands to the light. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.519 Jesus is the light. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:30.720 In one sense, he says, you are the light of the world, but he's the light, and we're the repository of the light. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:37.279 And so we are bearers of the light of God to a darkening world. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.759 And that's why you're here. 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:42.319 That's why we're here. 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:49.680 And all of you that are watching this, you're not here. 00:21:53.680 --> 00:21:56.480 I mean, you count to the Lord, but you don't count to us. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:22:01.039 Because we Need you here. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:07.440 We went from 11 streaming to 171 streaming in one week. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:15.839 So if you're one of those 171, we're glad you're there, but you need to be here with us. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:18.000 This is the church. 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:21.279 The church is not on a screen. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:23.599 This is church. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:25.599 And this is who he's writing to. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:34.799 He's writing to seven real churches, seven real persecuted churches that came together on Sundays all over Asia Minor. 00:22:34.880 --> 00:22:46.960 He's getting ready to speak to them to encourage them that in light and even in spite of what's happening in your world, I am still the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:49.359 I am still ruling in the heavenlies. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:23:02.559 I am still watching over what's going on, and I love you, and I am with you, and I am not this humble servant on a donkey anymore. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:09.920 I am the Lion of Judah who's coming, who's going to come, and we're going to see what he looks like here. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:14.960 It's a little bit different than Palm Sunday. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:16.319 It's a little bit different. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:31.119 And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:48.160 So this is the mighty one in the midst of his church with this priestly robe that goes all the way down to the ground, with he's girded about the chest with a golden band. 00:23:49.519 --> 00:24:00.400 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:07.839 This is no donkey riding Jesus. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:14.240 This is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:19.440 His feet were like the fine brass as if refined in a furnace. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:21.680 So it's kind of like they're glowing, I think. 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.200 That's all I can think of here. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:26.640 His voice as the sound of many waters. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:29.279 How many of you have been around a great waterfall? 00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:31.599 Anybody been around a great waterfall? 00:24:32.079 --> 00:24:35.599 That's the only, that's kind of the feeling I have is the thunder. 00:24:35.680 --> 00:24:41.440 If you saw the movie The Last of the Mohicans, you know, that big, massive waterfall, and they go up under that waterfall and just goes. 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:47.200 That thing, you know, if you've been to uh Niagara Falls, you know, that that must be something of what it's like. 00:24:47.599 --> 00:24:51.039 Many waters, like many streams coming together. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:55.680 Remember, John's just trying to think of how to describe what he's seeing. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:25:00.079 Some of it's literal, and some of it he has to just kind of describe. 00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:15.519 So he just says, the feet are like fine brass, like heated up in a furnace, so they're glowing, and then his voice is the sound of many waters. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:24.240 He had in his right hand seven stars, and we'll see in a minute what that is. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:28.880 Out of his mouth went a sharp, two-edged sword. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:30.720 I like he says sharp. 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:38.319 A sharp, two-edged sword, and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:40.000 You want to see God? 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:42.640 You want to experience this? 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.319 You kidding me? 00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:49.039 I mean, this, I mean, John is just gonna be, he's thunderstruck. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:53.200 He's just full of fear, and he's falling on his face before this thing. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:57.599 Jesus loves his church, saints. 00:25:58.079 --> 00:26:17.759 He loves you, he loves America, he loves Russia, he loves the church in Europe, he loves the church in South America, he loves the church in China, he loves the church in North Korea, he loves the church in these places where there's tremendous persecution. 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:22.079 The book of Revelation is the great encouragement. 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:24.559 This apocalyptic work. 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:30.400 This is God, this is Jesus showing up in the midst of his church. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:54.720 This is him revealing his global plan that he had given to Peter when he said, On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 00:26:55.039 --> 00:27:06.319 God has given tremendous power and authority to his church, and he's showing the state of his personage in heaven right now, men and women. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:10.640 This is the Lord right now in the heavenlies. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:15.839 He hasn't lost control of the earth, he hasn't lost control of what's going on. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:23.920 He is in the midst now, and John has this opportunity to see, and that's what makes the apocalypse, the book of Revelation, so amazing. 00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:29.200 Because in Revelation chapter 4 and in Revelation chapter 5, we're gonna see what heaven's like. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:33.359 We actually, a door is open and John sees heaven. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:42.240 That's awesome! I want you to keep this riveted in your eyes and in your heart as we go into worship. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:44.720 That's who we're worshiping. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:47.599 Be in the spirit tonight. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:50.960 Be all the way, be all there. 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:56.559 I mean, most of you, it took a lot of effort to be here tonight. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:58.559 So let's be here. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:02.559 When we go into communion, let's really go into communion. 00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:04.799 When we go into worship, let's all be in it. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:07.359 Let's not miss anything that God has for us. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:09.039 Let's be in the Spirit. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:13.200 This is the picture of Jesus. 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:18.079 Nothing that Domitian can do can change that. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:22.720 Nothing that Congress does can change that. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:31.759 No matter who's the next Supreme Court justice isn't going to change the throne room of the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:40.960 This is a picture of the great bishop, the high priest, and the rock of the church, Jesus as king and ruler. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.720 This is what Daniel saw. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:44.720 This is what Daniel 7, 9 says. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:51.279 I watched till thrones were put in place, and the ancient of days was seated. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:57.279 His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head was like pure wool. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:04.160 His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.720 And so this is the priest, this is the bishop. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:08.319 Daniel had had this vision. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:10.319 John is having this vision. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:15.359 This is the vision of the enthroned Christ where he is right now. 00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:22.960 And he comes with his priest, like a priest, and in his right hand are seven stars. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:25.359 And the word here is angelos. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:27.039 And some have said it's the angels. 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:37.599 I don't believe it's angels in the typical sense of the way we view angels, because this is a circular letter that's going to go out to the angels, to the seven stars. 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:39.279 These are the pastors. 00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:43.359 These are the pastors of the seven churches, the messengers. 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:49.119 And then out of his mouth, a gladius sword. 00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:57.839 A gladius sword comes out, a sharp, two-edged sword comes out of the mouth of the Lord. 00:29:58.240 --> 00:30:13.519 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:18.400 Men and women, you've got to be in the Word. 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.680 You've got to be in God's word. 00:30:22.319 --> 00:30:28.079 It has to be your food every day to be in God's Word. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:30.000 It is a two-edged sword. 00:30:30.160 --> 00:30:33.680 It penetrates heart and soul, bone and marrow. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:38.000 It shows you your crummy intentions. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:45.680 How many of you justify yourself a lot in your marriage? 00:30:46.559 --> 00:30:48.079 The rest of you are just liars. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.279 You know you do, you know? 00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:50.079 We do. 00:30:50.880 --> 00:30:56.240 And our tendency is the intentions of our heart to move in the wrong direction. 00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:02.319 And God corrects us by regularly being in his word, and it's a two-edged sword. 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:09.599 And this picture of Jesus is this sword, this gladius sword coming out of his mouth. 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:10.640 Because you know why? 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:12.799 Because that's how he speaks. 00:31:14.720 --> 00:31:18.799 That's how he speaks to us, is mainly from his word. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:23.039 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. 00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:24.559 So there you go. 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.960 You want a vision of angels? 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:29.039 Want a vision of Jesus? 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:30.720 John. 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:34.079 He walked with Jesus. 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.079 He's 90 years old. 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:38.160 He's been faithful to the end. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:41.839 He drops down as if he's dead. 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:46.880 He's just so petrified by this incredible vision. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:50.160 But then look what Jesus does here. 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:51.119 Don't miss this. 00:31:51.279 --> 00:31:54.079 Underline this, highlight it, whatever you need to do. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:57.039 But he laid his right hand on me. 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:04.720 Jesus laid his hand on John. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.240 And he says, Do not be afraid. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:11.680 I am the first and the last. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.400 I mean, here's this magnificent scene. 00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:19.759 John falls over as if he's dead. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:25.200 And Jesus comes up to him and he lays his hand on him in love. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.640 He says, do not be afraid. 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.519 I'm the first and the last. 00:32:32.319 --> 00:32:34.400 Some of you need that touch tonight. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:37.759 Some of you need that touch tonight. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:41.519 Would you let Christ touch you during worship? 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.920 Would you let Christ touch you? 00:32:44.079 --> 00:32:47.119 Would you let him, would you feel his hand upon your shoulder? 00:32:47.200 --> 00:32:49.680 And he says, Don't be afraid. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:54.240 It's the most used phrase in all of scripture. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.720 Do not fear. 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.799 And he says, do not fear. 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.599 I am with you. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:00.720 I am the first and the last. 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:02.640 In other words, I've got it all under control. 00:33:03.839 --> 00:33:05.680 I'm working out my plan. 00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:09.519 I'm still sovereign over your life. 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:11.279 Don't fear. 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:16.480 I am he who lives and was dead. 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:19.119 And behold, I'm alive forevermore. 00:33:19.359 --> 00:33:19.920 Amen. 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:23.759 And I have the keys of Hades and of death. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:28.480 Christ has the keys of heaven and Hades and hell. 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:39.839 Men and women, when you die, your body will remain here, but you will be immediately with the Lord, in the presence of the Lord, the scriptures say. 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:45.680 If you do not know the Lord, if you do not have a relationship with Christ, you will go to hell. 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:51.359 A place of torment, a place of separation from the Lord. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:54.559 Jesus has the keys. 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:57.920 Jesus has the keys. 00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:03.680 The keys to unlock the doors of Hades and to take you in. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.480 If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior tonight, give your heart to Him. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.159 Repent of your sin. 00:34:10.480 --> 00:34:11.840 Turn from your sin. 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:26.320 I don't care if you were confirmed in a church, baptized in a church, if you haven't surrendered your heart to Christ, Jesus, who holds the keys of the kingdom of heaven, will welcome you in. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:36.800 Welcome you in and open up heaven and open up eternal life and open up a personal relationship with Him. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.079 Hebrews 2 says this. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:58.639 So Christ's death, which we're going to celebrate on Good Friday. 00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.960 Good Friday, you're going to come into this room. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:03.360 We're going to have communion at Good Friday. 00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:07.039 And this room is going to be dark. 00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:10.079 Everything in this room is going to be dark. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:14.960 And we're going to talk about the death of Christ. 00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:20.239 At the death of Christ, he destroyed death. 00:35:20.400 --> 00:35:23.679 At the death of Christ, he destroyed the power of death. 00:35:24.639 --> 00:35:32.239