1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,880 We have now arrived at the entry point of the very first striking 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:08,720 vision in the Book of Revelation. 3 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:15,880 And this vision is not about catastrophic events, nor is it 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:20,360 about religious or political establishments that have risen 5 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,840 and fallen. It's not about demonic entities 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,240 or spiritual domains that parallel our world. 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:33,560 This revelation is about the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:35,880 We have seen Him before, haven't we? 9 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,320 He has made appearances throughout the Hebrew Scriptures 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,880 before His incarnation. He is hinted at in types and 11 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:44,880 shadows throughout the Old Covenant. 12 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,720 We've seen Him walking amongst us in the Gospels and we even 13 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,840 caught glimpses of Him after his resurrection. 14 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:59,800 But if you have never read the Book of Revelation before, I can 15 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:05,519 assure you that you have not seen Jesus like we are about to 16 00:01:05,519 --> 00:01:08,680 see him. In fact, the very one who 17 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:14,200 narrates it, who is one of Jesus closest followers, had not seen 18 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:21,120 Him this way before this moment. And I want us to turn there 19 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:26,720 together in Revelation 1, beginning in verse 9. 20 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,320 If we're not careful, this manifestation of Christ could be 21 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,560 mistaken as a future depiction of His glory at the consummation 22 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,120 of the age. That's not what's happening 23 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,680 here. What we have here is this 24 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:44,040 description concerning Jesus defines His present exaltation 25 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,040 and His Majesty. And so significant is this 26 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:52,600 experience that John is led to provide a detailed backdrop 27 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,480 about it. In other words, he wants to tell 28 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:00,520 his readers and he wants to tell us about the timing of this 29 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:05,480 experience, the setting, so that we would understand that this 30 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:11,440 really, really took place. And as eager as we might be to 31 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,200 look at this vision, we're actually going to spend most of 32 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:21,520 our time considering John's preparation for it, as he now 33 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,360 wants to tell us how and when this took place. 34 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:30,480 We're going to linger there. So our time together in this 35 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,680 book will be in verse 9 to verse 11. 36 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:38,360 And let's read it together before we unpack it. 37 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,840 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and 38 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,400 the Kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was 39 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,360 on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and 40 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,600 the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the 41 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,840 Lord's Day and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 42 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,200 saying, Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,920 churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna, and to Pergamum and to 44 00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:12,320 Thyatira, and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. 45 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:20,360 Father, we ask, help us with these verses, Open our eyes. 46 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,360 We've been singing it and praying it since we began this 47 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:25,800 time, and we believe that you will. 48 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,560 And so, Lord, even in these two verses we trust that you have 49 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:32,520 much to say to us, and we pray that we would have ears to hear 50 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:35,000 what the Spirit says to the churches. 51 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,880 Lord, we look to you now in faith. 52 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,760 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 53 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,520 I'm not sure if you noticed it, but this is now the third time 54 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,920 that John's name appears in the 1st 9 verses of the Book of 55 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,960 Revelation. Did you catch that? 56 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:59,880 It comes up in verse one when he is referred to as God's servant, 57 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:03,920 and then it appears again in verse 4 where he identifies 58 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,960 himself as a transcriber of the content of this book. 59 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:08,960 Right? John to the seven churches. 60 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,360 And then in verse 9, he reintroduces himself once more. 61 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:20,360 Why the repetition? I believe it's because he wants 62 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:24,160 to make absolutely clear the credibility of the eyewitness 63 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,680 accounts that he's about to unpack. 64 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,000 He wants to let the readers know with absolute assurance that 65 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,640 this is coming from a reliable source. 66 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,360 And so he says it's me, John. And this indicates also that the 67 00:04:39,360 --> 00:04:41,760 churches knew which John was writing to them. 68 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:46,560 And you and I understand from last week that this is John who 69 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:50,720 is the same one who wrote in the Gospel of John and the Epistles 70 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,240 with his name on it. But he doesn't reinforce his 71 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,120 authorship in those other writings like he does here. 72 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:58,880 Right? It's me, John. 73 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,880 It's John, it's John. And again, it's not to say that 74 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,400 the Gospel account is not important or his letters have no 75 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,680 value, but it does say something about the great significance of 76 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:15,080 the epic prophecy of this book that demands such autographs. 77 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,320 And we looked last week briefly, how he provides so many clues 78 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,880 throughout this book to show and to authenticate that he was the 79 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,000 one who in fact penned it. And the two main ones that we 80 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:31,560 saw was how he refers to Christ as the Lamb, the Lamb, the Lamb. 81 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:36,040 That's emphasizing John's Gospel and also the title, the Word of 82 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:40,400 God, also found in John's Gospel and the first Epistle. 83 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,240 But there are other subtle hints that we didn't look at. 84 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,720 But I'm compelled to provide you at least one more. 85 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:48,560 So scroll back to verse 7 and let's see it together. 86 00:05:48,840 --> 00:05:51,440 At least one example. Remember when he said in verse 87 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,640 7, behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see 88 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,640 Him, even those who Pierce them, and all tribes of the earth will 89 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,080 wail on account of him. Even so. 90 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:06,760 Amen. John makes an allusion to the 91 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,520 prophecy in Zechariah 12/10 when he says even those who Pierce 92 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,600 them. That's an identity that belongs 93 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:17,920 to the Jewish people. And interestingly, there is only 94 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:22,800 one other place in the entirety of the New Testament where there 95 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,760 is reference to Zechariah 12/10. Can you guess what book it is? 96 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:32,880 John, when he's standing there and witnessing his beloved 97 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,680 Master, his Lord, his Savior being crucified, and finally he 98 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,200 is pierced. And then he writes this. 99 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,400 Turn with me to John 19 in verse 35. 100 00:06:48,750 --> 00:06:53,990 He who saw it has borne witness. His testimony is true and He 101 00:06:53,990 --> 00:06:57,310 knows that He is telling the truth, that you also may 102 00:06:57,310 --> 00:07:00,800 believe, for these things took place, that the Scripture might 103 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:03,200 be fulfilled. Not one of His bones will be 104 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:07,720 broken, and again another Scripture says they will look on 105 00:07:07,720 --> 00:07:15,720 Him whom they have pierced. Only in John and that illusion 106 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:19,760 in Revelation One do we have a connection to Zechariah 12/10, 107 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,600 which again underscores that it was the Jewish people who are 108 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:27,120 responsible for the murderous rejection of their Messiah. 109 00:07:28,440 --> 00:07:30,680 But then it's brought back up here in Revelation One. 110 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,800 Why? Because the Holy Spirit wants to 111 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:37,640 remind us that although this people did Pierce their Messiah, 112 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,920 they will one day grieve over their past sin, and they will 113 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,960 lament over having rejected their Savior. 114 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,640 That's a day yet to come where the people of Israel will hail 115 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:56,520 Jesus as the Anointed. 1 All that to say to the Holy Spirit 116 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,360 really wants us to know that this book comes from a reliable 117 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,520 source. But credibility is not the only 118 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:04,280 thing that we're supposed to be impressed with. 119 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:08,000 I believe that the Holy Spirit, by bringing up John in the way 120 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,040 that he introduces himself again, is to allow us to get the 121 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,520 inspiration for humility, not just credibility. 122 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,640 Out of all the things that John could have said about himself, 123 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,960 especially when you factor in that he was very likely the last 124 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:27,240 living apostle when he wrote the Book of Revelation, what does he 125 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,280 say? How does he relate himself to 126 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:35,440 these readers? I, John, your brother, your 127 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:40,880 brother, your brother. Yes, your brother. 128 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:44,280 I could think of 10 other ways that a man like John could have 129 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,160 introduced himself, but he says this. 130 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,320 We're talking about the same John who not only rested his 131 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:57,000 head on Jesus bosom, but was given a series of revelations 132 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,680 concerning the last moments of human history. 133 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,560 Think about it this way. Imagine being granted the 134 00:09:02,560 --> 00:09:06,560 privilege of writing and compiling the final book in the 135 00:09:06,560 --> 00:09:09,280 Bible. That's an impressive resume. 136 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:14,600 John had it, and yet he instinctively writes about 137 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:18,920 himself to these Christians that are struggling, that are 138 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,920 distracted, that are compromising in many ways, and 139 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,680 he says, greetings, it's me, John, your brother. 140 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:33,760 One of the marks of a maturing Christian is humility. 141 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:38,160 One of the evidences that you are growing in the Lord is that 142 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:41,800 despite the authority, the testimonies or the insight of 143 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:46,960 the Lord might grant you, you grow in humility. 144 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,720 And a mark of humility is that over time you do not view or 145 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,960 carry yourself as more significant than others, 146 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,840 especially fellow believers. And that was not true just of 147 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:04,000 John. That is true for every St. 148 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,720 That is truly in the Spirit. And we find it even the life of 149 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,000 the Apostle Paul. And I want you to see it with 150 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,360 me, because humility is not about you despising yourself. 151 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,720 Humility is about you recognizing more and more your 152 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,840 unworthiness and your need for God's grace. 153 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,200 It's this dependency that you walk in. 154 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:25,840 And John was not the only one who demonstrated it. 155 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,640 He's not the only one who displays what the Spirit can do 156 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:30,920 in a man who longs to be like Jesus. 157 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:36,160 If you follow Paul's writings carefully and if you consider 158 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:40,000 the timing of his epistles, you will discover a certain 159 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:42,480 progression and how he perceives himself. 160 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:47,160 It's it's so worth skipping to. And so let's begin in First 161 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,320 Corinthians chapter 15. This is believed to have been 162 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:55,400 written between 53 and 55 AD, one of his first letters. 163 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:58,560 Some believe that he wrote it from Ephesus, but I want you to 164 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:01,280 see what he says in First Corinthians 15 verse 9 as a 165 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:12,580 starting point. Paul says from the least of the 166 00:11:12,580 --> 00:11:18,400 apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted 167 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,680 the Church of God, highlight that I am the least of the 168 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:27,960 apostles Out of all of them, I'm the lowest ranking one out of 169 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,440 all of them. I'm the least deserving out of 170 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,400 all of them. I am the most understanding in 171 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,080 terms of the grace of God bestowed on me. 172 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:38,560 Not that the others didn't recognize it for themselves, but 173 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:39,640 he's trying to make a point here. 174 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,640 I'm the least of all of these other ministers, but he doesn't 175 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:44,200 stop there. He's only getting started. 176 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:46,280 But you have to go to Ephesians to see it. 177 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,600 In Ephesians chapter 3, notice what he says about himself. 178 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,280 Now this is written while he was under house arrest in Rome. 179 00:11:53,560 --> 00:11:55,000 Remember the end of the book of Acts? 180 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,960 Paul went to Rome and he was under house arrest for a few 181 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,200 years, and he wrote 4 prison epistles. 182 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,760 One of them is in the book of Ephesians around 61 to 62 AD, so 183 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,360 a few years after Corinthians. Look what he says here in 184 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,640 Ephesians 3 verse 8. To me though, I am the very 185 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:18,760 least of all, Not the apostles, but what the Saints highlight, 186 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:24,520 that this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the 187 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,680 unsearchable riches of Christ. Never mind the least of the all 188 00:12:27,680 --> 00:12:30,080 the apostles, I'm the least of all the Christians. 189 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:36,760 This isn't even in there. Go to first Timothy. 190 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,960 And here in First Timothy we have one of Paul's final letters 191 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:48,880 before he was martyred. A few brief moments after some 192 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:52,360 of his prison epistles, we have Paul addressing personal 193 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:54,080 pastors, one of them being Timothy. 194 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,400 Notice what he says in First Timothy 115. 195 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,480 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance 196 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:05,280 that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I 197 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:10,440 am the foremost. So in the span of a few years, 198 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:15,480 as Paul's advancing in his walk with Christ, he says I'm the 199 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,280 least of all the apostles. And he says no, no, I'm the 200 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:21,440 least of all the Saints. And then finally he says I'm the 201 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:27,480 worst Sinner I know. Question, do you think Paul 202 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,240 walked around in life feeling guilty and condemned as a 203 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,280 Christian? You haven't read Paul carefully 204 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:37,000 if you believe that. No, instead what you have here 205 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,760 is a man who, as he got closer and closer to Jesus, he was 206 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:47,040 humbled. He grew in his revelation of the 207 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:55,160 mercy of God that was required to sustain him and that brought 208 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:59,320 him in to begin with. That's something that he 209 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:04,200 accumulated as he advanced, and it obviously impacted the way he 210 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:05,880 viewed others and treated others. 211 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:10,000 And so we see here that both in Paul and even in John, 212 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,120 regardless how the Lord uses you, regardless of what he 213 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:17,560 reveals to you, if the Holy Spirit is really working in you, 214 00:14:17,560 --> 00:14:19,960 you'll be more and more convinced of your need for Him, 215 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,080 and you'll find yourself praying prayers like this. 216 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:29,560 Lord, I don't deserve this. Lord, I recognize that this is 217 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:31,600 your energy, that this is your power. 218 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,040 That you've made these opportunities available has 219 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:37,200 nothing to do with me. And Lord, I realize that apart 220 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,720 from your hand on my life, I will fall apart. 221 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,760 I need you, Lord. I need you, Lord. 222 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,960 I need you, Lord. And the more you discover His 223 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,640 Holiness, the more we'll reflect on your lack of holiness. 224 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,120 And this will not make you again living in a sense of 225 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,120 condemnation. It will make you just appreciate 226 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,720 his grace all the more. You're going to cling to him. 227 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,600 You're going to worship and adore him with greater intensity 228 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:06,520 as you grow in humility. And I believe John in a subtle 229 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,800 way, shows how he was walking in the same direction as Paul. 230 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:14,920 I'm your brother. We're the same. 231 00:15:15,840 --> 00:15:19,600 We're equal at the foot of the cross, the same Holy Spirit that 232 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:25,280 you need, I need. And I believe here this is for 233 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:26,400 us. But it's not the only thing that 234 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,840 he said. Go back to Revelation 1. 235 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:33,080 He says, I, John, your brother, not just brother and partner and 236 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,600 partner. Now he's saying I'm a fellow 237 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,800 companion. I'm somebody here who 238 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,640 participates and shares in something with you, but what is 239 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:41,680 he speaking about? Exactly? 240 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:44,480 3 things. There are three things that John 241 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,440 says that he is a partner in. The 1st is the tribulation. 242 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:52,880 The second is the Kingdom. The third thing is the patient 243 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:55,160 endurance. Now here's an important 244 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,280 qualifier. The tribulation, the Kingdom, 245 00:15:57,280 --> 00:15:59,840 and the patient endurance that he says that he's a partner in 246 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:06,400 are in Jesus that are in Jesus. Which means what for us? 247 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:10,760 That you and I who are in Jesus by faith can expect to share in 248 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,000 these same things. There's a particular 249 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,080 tribulation, there's a particular Kingdom, and there's 250 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:18,200 a particular patient endurance that is ours as well. 251 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:21,160 It's not exclusive to John or these early Christians. 252 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:23,680 What does he mean by the tribulation? 253 00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:26,440 He's talking about the general trials and difficulties and 254 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:31,600 distress that we inherit because of our faith, the economic 255 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:34,960 turmoil, the relational strain, the persecution, the 256 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:37,760 difficulties that come because of what you stand for as a 257 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:41,200 Christian. And so if there's any strain in 258 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:46,440 any area of your life, because you are in Jesus, you are in the 259 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:51,640 will of God, we will share in the tribulation. 260 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,200 He's not talking about the final tribulation here again. 261 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:58,680 He's talking about the general scope of trials and trouble that 262 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,160 we have because we walk with Christ and he's telling these 263 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,720 believers, look, I'm John, yes, the apostle, yes, who's giving 264 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:09,280 you this final revelation? But I also know tribulation, I'm 265 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,400 there with you. I suffer as well. 266 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:15,160 I'm not treated any differently. That's helpful for us to know 267 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,000 because if you think for a moment that God loves somebody 268 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:20,480 more because they have less problems in their family or with 269 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:22,920 their bodies or their findings, you got it all wrong. 270 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:29,440 You have Jesus who is declaring these amazing truths and secrets 271 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,280 to John. And yet John says, yeah, but I 272 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:34,160 still go through things. I still suffer. 273 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:37,840 But he goes from tribulation to the Kingdom. 274 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:40,160 What Kingdom is he speaking about? 275 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:42,120 You know this well, again, you have to connect it to what he 276 00:17:42,120 --> 00:17:44,920 says at the end, A Kingdom that is connected to Jesus. 277 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,080 He says I'm a partner in the Kingdom as well. 278 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,400 And there are two elements of this Kingdom that we all share 279 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,880 in. The first one is the spiritual 280 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,440 reality of this Kingdom, one that we enjoy presently. 281 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:00,600 You see the moment that you crown Jesus as Lord by faith. 282 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,280 When you receive His gospel, you essentially submit yourself to 283 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:07,760 his governance. You inherit, yes, His grace, but 284 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,160 also His law. But you also have his protection 285 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:13,040 and His power and His Commission. 286 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:18,400 You and I as Christians are citizens of this Kingdom and we 287 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,520 live under this Lordship. We govern our lives according to 288 00:18:21,520 --> 00:18:26,080 what Christ our King makes known to us day by day until the 2nd 289 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,880 element of this Kingdom is realized, which is what the 290 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:33,040 material manifestation. And that is to come when Christ 291 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,600 physically returns and He will rule and reign on this earth. 292 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:42,680 And we as His fellow heirs will also to some measure, rule and 293 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,320 reign, depending on our faithfulness here with this one 294 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:50,160 life that we get to live. So John says to these believers, 295 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,840 we have a Kingdom. Now, when I was reflecting on 296 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,880 this, I thought I, I pray and really with every message, I 297 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:00,160 pray that it would make an impact on all of our hearts. 298 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:03,280 But there's a fear that being Christians here in the West, 299 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:09,360 really America is a Disneyland of the world may not be moved by 300 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:11,600 this as much as the original readers would have. 301 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:14,880 I think about it really as Christians, what do we really 302 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:17,360 struggle with here in America? What do we struggle with the 303 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,040 with the church. Let me give you a hint of what 304 00:19:20,040 --> 00:19:22,440 these churches struggle with. Go to chapter 2 briefly, 305 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:31,800 Revelation 210. He writes to one church, do not 306 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,440 fear what you are about to suffer. 307 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,400 Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, 308 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,840 that you may be tested, and for 10 days you will have 309 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,880 tribulation. Be faithful unto death and I 310 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:49,720 will give you the crown of life. So imagine now next week we come 311 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:53,560 to church and a third of the people here are missing. 312 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:57,720 And one of the others comes up to the platform and says, I know 313 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:00,480 that many people are missing today. 314 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:03,200 I want to inform you that they're all in prison. 315 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,440 And by next week, we'll know if they'll be here again or they 316 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:13,480 will die. Go here to verse 13. 317 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:20,360 Here's another church. Jesus says, I know where you 318 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:23,560 dwell, where Satan's throne is. Imagine your church was in the 319 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:25,400 same neighborhood of Satan's headquarters. 320 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:27,880 We'll talk. We'll talk about this when we 321 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:29,840 come to the churches in chapter 2 and three. 322 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,440 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, yet you hold 323 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:36,840 fast my name, and you did not deny my faith. 324 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:40,880 Even the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed 325 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:45,400 among you, where Satan dwells. Very likely that Antipas was a 326 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,720 leader in this church. So magic coming to service one 327 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:51,080 day and learning that one of the leaders has been killed. 328 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:54,240 He was there last week giving the announcements, but this 329 00:20:54,240 --> 00:21:00,240 week, now he's in heaven. So that's what these churches, 330 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:03,800 at least most of them, we're thinking about as they gather as 331 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:05,200 a church. Not the parking situation. 332 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,440 I got to walk extra 5 minutes. That's not what they were 333 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,120 struggling with. No, no, no. 334 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:14,320 I wonder if the so and so family will be at church today or if 335 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:16,040 the government got a hold of them as well. 336 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,960 I wonder if Pastor so and so will be in service today because 337 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:24,960 we've been hearing that in other cities they're coming after 338 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,600 them. So hopefully that gives you some 339 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:31,880 kind of insight of what it would have meant to these believers. 340 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:39,000 When when John says we are partners of a Kingdom, no matter 341 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:42,680 what Kingdom is harassing us now, it it's not an everlasting 342 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,240 Kingdom. You have an everlasting Kingdom. 343 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:48,040 Whatever the government says about you, the smear campaigns 344 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,080 on the news, that's not your identity. 345 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:54,280 You're part of a Kingdom. I John, your brother and partner 346 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:55,560 in the tribulation and the Kingdom. 347 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:59,240 And lastly, in the patient endurance, now he goes from 348 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,480 identity, right? This is your identity. 349 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:04,200 This is your inheritance. He goes from identity to 350 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:07,560 ability. What does he mean by patient 351 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:08,880 endurance? He wants to let them know that 352 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,240 they have received something for being in Jesus and that is to 353 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:14,880 remain steadfast regardless of the circumstances that would 354 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:18,120 challenge your faith, regardless of the impairments you have this 355 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:21,360 patient endurance. Here's the picture that you have 356 00:22:21,360 --> 00:22:23,840 in. Jesus received a certain energy 357 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,840 that enables you to cross the finish line. 358 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:31,760 In this race of faith. There has been something that 359 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:34,560 you have access to now because of your faith, because of the 360 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,720 goodness of God that assures you that you can finish well if you 361 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:42,720 want to finish well. There's this patient endurance. 362 00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:45,880 There's this strength. And the Saint Paul who told the 363 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,520 Colossians that we've been transferred from this domain of 364 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:51,160 darkness into the Kingdom of his beloved Son. 365 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:53,880 Praise, one of my favorite prayers in the New Testament. 366 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:58,680 He says in Colossians 19, and since the day we have heard, we 367 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:01,160 have not ceased to pray for you. He's talking to the Colossians. 368 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,640 Then he lists all these things that he prays for. 369 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,680 It's so glorious that he mentioned something at verse 11 370 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:08,080 of Colossians 1. You don't have to turn there, 371 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:10,480 but listen to what this mighty man of God prayed for. 372 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,640 Christians said, oh, I've been praying consistently, you 373 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,880 Colossians and verse 11 of chapter one, that you would be 374 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,680 strengthened with all power according to his glorious might. 375 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:26,680 To what end for all? Endurance and patience with joy. 376 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:31,880 Notice the connection between his glorious might and it 377 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:35,200 affecting us to know endurance. But not just any kind of 378 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:37,800 endurance, an endurance with joy. 379 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,360 So it's hard with a verse like this to imagine that our great 380 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:46,280 God expects us as followers of His Son to drag our feet 381 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:49,720 throughout life miserable because we just want to be 382 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:51,200 faithful. That's not the image that we 383 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:56,040 have here is that we would have our shoulders rolled back, our 384 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,640 chins lifted up, not in arrogance, but in boldness and 385 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:04,080 in trust and faith that we can endure anything with joy because 386 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,760 of His glorious might. We partner in that, we share in 387 00:24:07,760 --> 00:24:10,320 that. And John's reminding these 388 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,960 churches, this is yours. No matter what you're going 389 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,320 through, this is yours. Now, why is John sharing this? 390 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,760 Well, it's obvious, right? It would have brought immense 391 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,360 comfort to these believers. So here they're receiving this 392 00:24:25,360 --> 00:24:27,840 at the introduction of this book, and they're learning. 393 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:31,840 Hold on. John is saying he's a partner in 394 00:24:31,840 --> 00:24:36,720 the tribulation. And if John is suffering, why 395 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,600 should we complain about ours? And if John is saying here that 396 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,960 he is a partner in the patient endurance, He's not just 397 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:45,960 suffering, but he's also enduring. 398 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:50,680 How much more can we if we also are in Christ Jesus. 399 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,360 So again, he's he's reminded me, he's being very pastoral here to 400 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:56,480 these churches. I'm with you in this. 401 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:01,200 And here's what we can learn for our own lives. 402 00:25:02,360 --> 00:25:05,720 It's very difficult to see any value in our suffering. 403 00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:09,840 Very challenging. But if there's any gift that 404 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,520 comes from any kind of suffering, based on what I read 405 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:19,680 here about John, is that if you respond to it in faith, if you 406 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,080 receive it appropriately and allow it to do its work under 407 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,640 God's sovereign care, it will make you and me more effective 408 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,880 ministers. It will. 409 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,320 That's one of the glorious byproducts of it, that it will 410 00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,640 make you a better counselor. It will make you a better 411 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:36,880 instructor. It will make you a better 412 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:40,560 comforter. It would be very strange for 413 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:47,800 John to write this from some ivory tower, some Roman resort 414 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:52,320 untouched by the raging problems that were affecting these 415 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,680 churches. But because he is a partner in 416 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:59,800 them, I'm sure that it that felt different for these people to 417 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,480 receive such things. He's with us in this. 418 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:06,680 He knows what it's like. And suffering guarantees you a 419 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:11,320 certain authority, insight, care. 420 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:13,320 There's there's something that happens to you and I when we're 421 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:17,840 forging that kind of a fire that is able to rescue others as they 422 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,160 are trying to endure this kind of suffering. 423 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,760 They they can't seem to to shake free from it. 424 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,440 God uses those who suffer to help others be set free in their 425 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,600 suffering. I believe that's what's 426 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,040 happening here with John. God was very strategic and using 427 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:33,400 him. Yes, he's an apostle, but he's 428 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:36,080 an apostle in a certain circumstance with a certain 429 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,360 practical resume that made a greater greater impact and what 430 00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:43,400 he had to say. And so we see here, he says I'm 431 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:47,640 your partner, I'm your brother. And again, he didn't write this 432 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:51,760 from an all inclusive European vacation spot. 433 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:55,680 He reminds him here, I'm your partner, yes, in these three 434 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:57,680 things. And I was on the island called 435 00:26:57,680 --> 00:27:03,520 Patmos. What And where is the island 436 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:06,600 called Patmos? Well, you already get the 437 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:08,760 impression that this is not a good place because he says, I 438 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,560 was on this island on account of the word of God in the testimony 439 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,640 of Jesus. In other words, there's 440 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:15,880 something about my faith that brought me to this place. 441 00:27:16,880 --> 00:27:20,200 And historians and church fathers tell us that this island 442 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,880 that's still in existence today, by the way, is located in the 443 00:27:23,880 --> 00:27:25,800 Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. 444 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,160 It's about 10 miles long, 6 miles wide. 445 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,560 And we have historical documents that tell us that this was a 446 00:27:32,560 --> 00:27:36,360 place where people were banished by the Roman government when 447 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:37,960 they were seen as a political threat. 448 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:41,040 And it was an isolated place. It was a rocky place. 449 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,320 It was a destitute place. It was a miserable place. 450 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:47,040 And they would have to work there and they would have to 451 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:50,680 suffer there with labor. They didn't have access to the 452 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:53,560 world, at least the way you would enjoy and what way you 453 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:56,040 would want it. So he says here that I'm on this 454 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,080 island, this penal colony. And we, we read here that he was 455 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,400 sentenced there because of what obviously his effect, his impact 456 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:06,520 with the gospel of Jesus Christ was seen as a problem to the 457 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,960 Roman political institutions and religious authorities of that 458 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:12,800 time. So they took this man and they 459 00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,960 dropped him off here. This is where you're going to 460 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:17,200 be. And this is where he wrote from. 461 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:19,720 But something happened on a particular day. 462 00:28:20,360 --> 00:28:23,720 He says, I was on the island called Patmos, but I was also in 463 00:28:23,720 --> 00:28:26,120 the spirit. Did you see that? 464 00:28:27,040 --> 00:28:31,360 I was in the Spirit, Verse 10. Now don't confuse that with what 465 00:28:31,360 --> 00:28:33,840 we read in other parts of the New Testament where we're called 466 00:28:33,840 --> 00:28:36,920 to walk in the Spirit, we're called to be filled with the 467 00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,240 Holy Spirit, we're called to keep in step with the Holy 468 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:43,200 Spirit, something that we must seek to and strive for every 469 00:28:43,200 --> 00:28:46,200 single day. The phrase in the spirit in the 470 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,640 Book of Revelation appears a total of four times, and every 471 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,920 single time it's mentioned, it describes a supernatural 472 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:58,480 experience that John has. So when he says here that I'm in 473 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:00,320 the Spirit, that's why context is so important. 474 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:02,960 He's describing something that happened to him where he's been 475 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:07,800 transported by the Spirit of God beyond human senses to perceive 476 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,520 something. And so this is an experience 477 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:14,120 that is not normal. This is something unique. 478 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:16,720 And this is something that he's telling them so that they can 479 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:19,440 know that this came from a heavenly source. 480 00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:22,520 I was transported. I was this like an out of body 481 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:27,760 experience, so to speak. And we read here that though 482 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:30,680 this was a unique experience, and though we don't have access 483 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,880 or revelations that determine doctrine, don't belong to us 484 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,520 anymore, don't belong to us at all, it's done here with the 485 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:39,680 Bible. There are still things to learn 486 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,000 from this. Don't you love here, Number one, 487 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,200 that although John is secluded, he is isolated. 488 00:29:45,360 --> 00:29:47,240 He doesn't have the comfort of fellow ministers. 489 00:29:47,240 --> 00:29:49,720 He doesn't have the compassion of his congregation to help him. 490 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:54,800 God was with him. The Spirit of the Lord was there 491 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,760 with him, and he comforts up, I'm sure. 492 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:03,120 But we have here the almighty sovereign God who visits John. 493 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,360 Not that he wasn't with him before, but he makes it so clear 494 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,760 that I'm here and I'm going to show you some things. 495 00:30:09,400 --> 00:30:11,840 And it's a blessing for me to know that no matter where I am, 496 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:17,200 no matter who I am with or who I'm not with, I have God. 497 00:30:17,720 --> 00:30:21,200 I have the Holy Spirit of God, and he's not a thing. 498 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,040 He's not a surge of power. He's a person and he's there. 499 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:28,040 That's what I take from this. Yes, this is an indication that 500 00:30:28,040 --> 00:30:31,040 something amazing is about to happen, but it's also an 501 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:33,680 indication that there's an omnipresent God with this man. 502 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:37,640 But I also see something else. I don't just see the Holy Spirit 503 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,840 surprisingly manifesting himself to John. 504 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:45,360 I see something in John because he says I was in the Spirit on 505 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:48,520 the Lord's Day, on the Lord's Day. 506 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:50,240 There's debate about what John meant by this. 507 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:55,280 Is he talking about the Sabbath? Is he talking about the day of 508 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:58,240 the Lord, which is a common expression to describe God's 509 00:30:58,240 --> 00:31:00,080 judgment. You see it throughout the Old 510 00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:01,840 Testament, the day of the Lord. Is that what he's saying here? 511 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:04,480 The Spirit took me to see the day of the Lord. 512 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:09,040 Or is he talking about Sunday, the 1st day of the week? 513 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,880 Now most would say John is saying I was in the Spirit on 514 00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:17,400 Sunday because it was customary for Christians in the Holy 515 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:21,160 Church to refer to that day when Jesus rose from the dead as the 516 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:23,680 Lord's day. People fight that because they 517 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,200 say you can't get that from scripture. 518 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,640 Fair enough. But what you have is extra 519 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,160 biblical sources of early Christians like Ignatius of 520 00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:35,080 Antioch who in his writings refers to Sunday as the Lord's 521 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:36,400 Day. It was a practice for believers 522 00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:39,080 to talk about it that way. So it's likely that he is 523 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:43,000 speaking about being in the Spirit on the first day of the 524 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:48,280 week when the church gathered. And if he is speaking about 525 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:50,680 that, then it shows that he was mindful of this special day. 526 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,600 He knew that it was the Lord's Day even though he was in 527 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:56,680 prison. Check this out. 528 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:01,040 Shouldn't this challenge you and I to reflect on the value that 529 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:05,720 we place on the Lord's Day? It should because here you have 530 00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:09,760 a man who is separated from the church and yeah, you get this 531 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:13,800 indication that he recognized still the significance of this 532 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:15,920 time. We don't know what he did on the 533 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:19,880 Lord's Day, but he knew this was when we worship and recognize 534 00:32:19,880 --> 00:32:24,200 and celebrate that Christ resurrected in prison. 535 00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:26,640 He's thinking about the Lord's Day. 536 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:31,840 How much more you and I, how much more you and I should we 537 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,760 understand with the freedom and fellowship that we get to enjoy, 538 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:39,080 of the gift of this day, of pausing and taking time out of 539 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:42,520 our schedules to love and adore and worship Him as a church. 540 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:46,000 I see a man here who has devotion and it's quite 541 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,480 impressive. He's away from his life, his 542 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:51,840 comfort, and yet he is. He's there. 543 00:32:51,840 --> 00:33:00,160 I'm mindful on the Lord's Day. Lastly, I see one more thing 544 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:01,440 with this. When he says that I am in the 545 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:06,640 Spirit on the Lord's Day, I see God who had a ministry for John, 546 00:33:07,480 --> 00:33:11,080 the most unlikely place, the most unlikely chapter of his 547 00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:14,960 life. You know, it's believed that 548 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:20,880 John at this point was between 80 and 90 years old, 80 and 90 549 00:33:20,880 --> 00:33:26,040 years old. And as he's here, he's being 550 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,240 used. There are many people who have 551 00:33:29,240 --> 00:33:37,520 different fears about aging. Can I share one of mine to be 552 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:41,000 transparent when the thought comes to me that if the Lord 553 00:33:41,000 --> 00:33:44,920 tarries, or unless he wants to bring me home early, we all know 554 00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:46,480 where we're headed with these bodies. 555 00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:51,440 Lord, I don't want it to be any limitations in my service to 556 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:53,720 you. I don't want to be hindered in 557 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:59,000 any way. And then I come to examples and 558 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:01,520 observations like this. And then my heart fills with so 559 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:04,760 much hope. Because here you have John, the 560 00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:10,800 latter portion of his life being visited by the Lord, and Jesus 561 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:13,360 telling him, I have something for you to do for my church. 562 00:34:14,560 --> 00:34:18,239 What does he tell him to do? Write what you see in a book. 563 00:34:20,360 --> 00:34:24,080 I'm not done with you yet, John. I still have things for you to 564 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:28,199 accomplish for my glory. Isn't it wonderful to know that 565 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:31,440 as long as you have breath in these lungs, God still has a 566 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:34,400 plan for your life? God still wants to use you to 567 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:36,199 make a contribution to His church. 568 00:34:36,199 --> 00:34:40,159 You know, when I first got saved, I was excited about many 569 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:41,880 things. One of the things that I was 570 00:34:41,880 --> 00:34:44,120 thrilled about when I came to church was looking for people 571 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:47,360 who are crowned with Gray hair. You know, young people, when 572 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:48,880 they usually come to church, they want to find other young 573 00:34:48,880 --> 00:34:50,080 people. Rightfully so, I wanted the 574 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:51,239 same. I wanted fellowship with people 575 00:34:51,239 --> 00:34:54,040 that I knew. But for just a small portion of 576 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:59,320 that Sunday, I love to find people with suits, nicely 577 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:03,880 combed, hair, a little limp to their walk, a Bible in their 578 00:35:03,880 --> 00:35:08,960 hands because I wanted to know what it's like to walk with 579 00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:13,120 Jesus for decades. So after the service, on a 580 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:15,120 regular occurrence, I would, I find people get to know their 581 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,320 name and I would just interview them a little bit. 582 00:35:19,760 --> 00:35:21,760 Can you tell me, I mean, how long you been a Christian? 583 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:23,880 Brother, I've been a Christian since 20 something years old. 584 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,840 Now they're in their late 80s and here you are. 585 00:35:26,840 --> 00:35:30,440 You're still serving, Yes. Still loving the Lord, 586 00:35:30,440 --> 00:35:32,880 Absolutely. Then you hear what they endured. 587 00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,320 I lost my wife to this and I lost my child and that, and I 588 00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:39,720 was suffering here. And just faith, faith, faith. 589 00:35:41,120 --> 00:35:43,480 And even in those small conversations, obviously you can 590 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:48,200 tell the Lord used these seasoned Saints to bless my 591 00:35:48,200 --> 00:35:53,120 faith. There is a unique prayer in the 592 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:55,800 book of Psalms, many unique prayers, and there's one that 593 00:35:55,800 --> 00:35:57,040 relates to what I'm speaking about. 594 00:35:57,040 --> 00:36:00,920 Now, there's no evidence that John prayed it, but I like to 595 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:02,560 think he is the fulfillment of it. 596 00:36:03,080 --> 00:36:08,840 Turn to Psalm 71 and notice what the psalmist says in verse 18. 597 00:36:21,180 --> 00:36:25,500 So even to old age and Gray hairs, Oh God, do not forsake me 598 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:30,020 until I proclaim Your might to another generation. 599 00:36:30,340 --> 00:36:35,660 Your power to all those to come. Many fears that people have 600 00:36:35,660 --> 00:36:40,600 about growing old, being lone, not being able to do basic 601 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:42,800 chores. You know what the psalmist was 602 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,160 thinking about. Lord, if you're going to allow 603 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:46,800 me to grow old, I'm asking that you do not forsake me for this 604 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,720 one purpose. I want to testify who you are to 605 00:36:49,720 --> 00:36:52,760 the next generation. Think about that. 606 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:55,080 That's this guy's retirement plan. 607 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:58,840 I want to be able to stand before a whole new generation. 608 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:00,800 And this isn't just limited to preachers. 609 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:04,200 My brethren, you grandparents, do you have that vision for your 610 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:09,000 grandchildren? Do you have that vision for the 611 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:14,080 younger people of this church? That you would carry yourself in 612 00:37:14,080 --> 00:37:15,960 such a way that you would live for the Lord in such a way that 613 00:37:15,960 --> 00:37:18,200 the Lord would use you and moving your life in such a way 614 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:19,880 that you can bless an entire generation? 615 00:37:21,240 --> 00:37:26,920 Those next in line include that. Please let that dominate your 616 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:28,880 hopes and your desires for the days to come. 617 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:34,760 I see John here, an old man, and the Lord recruiting him, saying, 618 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:39,600 I have something for you to do. They'll bear fruit in their old 619 00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,520 age. Do we not read then the Psalms 620 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:45,920 as well? I was in the Spirit, verse 10 on 621 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:50,240 the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a 622 00:37:50,240 --> 00:37:55,600 trumpet, saying, Write what you see in a book and send it to the 623 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:57,080 seven churches. And he lists them. 624 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:01,200 Let's read them again to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum 625 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:05,360 and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to 626 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:10,200 Laodicea. There are significant churches 627 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:12,800 that we read of in the Bible. There's a church in Jerusalem. 628 00:38:13,400 --> 00:38:17,800 There's a church in Antioch. They played major, major roles 629 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:19,080 in development of the early church. 630 00:38:19,080 --> 00:38:21,760 Why aren't they mentioned here? What about the ones that we read 631 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:25,040 of in the epistles? Why these specific 7 churches? 632 00:38:26,160 --> 00:38:28,440 I think there are a few reasons, and there's one main one. 633 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,440 Obviously these churches were strategic. 634 00:38:32,320 --> 00:38:34,880 We read about one where they were in the same neighborhood as 635 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:38,120 Satan's throne. That sounds like an important 636 00:38:38,120 --> 00:38:42,680 church. And we see here that there are 637 00:38:42,680 --> 00:38:45,560 these geographical concerns perhaps. 638 00:38:45,760 --> 00:38:47,920 But I believe if there's one thing that you should leave 639 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:50,680 with, it's this. The conditions of these 640 00:38:50,680 --> 00:38:55,520 particular 7 churches are something that are reflected of 641 00:38:55,520 --> 00:39:00,240 the church in every age. So the circumstances of these 642 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:02,320 churches, the temptations of these churches, all these things 643 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:04,600 that we find in these seven churches are things that are 644 00:39:04,600 --> 00:39:09,440 relevant to every Church of every period of human history. 645 00:39:10,720 --> 00:39:14,840 And that sacred #7 confirms that he's speaking to the church in 646 00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:17,320 general, though, he is speaking to these specific assemblies. 647 00:39:18,760 --> 00:39:20,640 And when you look at each of these churches, as we will in 648 00:39:20,640 --> 00:39:24,680 the weeks to come, you're going to notice many similarities, 649 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:28,760 including the way Jesus ends each of them. 650 00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:30,840 He makes this statement. He makes this call. 651 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:34,080 Let's look at that Revelation 2, verse seven in the first part, 652 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:40,400 at least he has an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit 653 00:39:40,400 --> 00:39:45,440 says to the churches. He says that to every single one 654 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,800 of these congregations. Notice that he doesn't say he 655 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:51,240 was an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit 656 00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:58,680 says to the church. Churches, plural, which tells 657 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:01,960 you and me this, that although this book, the book of the 658 00:40:01,960 --> 00:40:04,800 Revelation, was given to these churches, there are letters 659 00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,560 within the letter because Christ is not just concerned about 660 00:40:08,560 --> 00:40:12,920 granting these people detailed insight and foresight of what's 661 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:16,000 to come in the world. There are practical addresses 662 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,400 for the church to prepare for the return of the Lord. 663 00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:23,840 And he expected that what was written to Ephesus would also be 664 00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:26,560 read in Pergamum and what was said to Smyrna. 665 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,760 The Laodiceans would read and what the Laodiceans received 666 00:40:29,760 --> 00:40:33,480 personally would also be attributed to thy Tyra. 667 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:36,600 So he's speaking to the churches. 668 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,920 There are lessons in each of these churches that these seven 669 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,440 could share in and no different for us here today. 670 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:47,040 So as we go through this, especially chapter 2 to three, 671 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:48,200 here's what we have to understand. 672 00:40:48,520 --> 00:40:52,560 Christ is speaking to Maranatha Bible Church every single time. 673 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:56,840 And here's what we have to ask ourselves, questions that were 674 00:40:56,840 --> 00:41:01,760 addressed there and then for us. Have we lost our first love? 675 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:08,120 Are we so caught up in the mechanics of ministry that our 676 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:10,120 hearts are not in it really for the Lord anymore? 677 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:13,320 Are we more passionate about calling out false teachers? 678 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:15,400 Did you see so and so said this from the pulpit? 679 00:41:15,520 --> 00:41:17,160 Did you see what this ministry is doing? 680 00:41:18,720 --> 00:41:21,520 But we don't really have worship towards Jesus Christ. 681 00:41:22,880 --> 00:41:25,400 Are we willing to hold on to our faith even unto death? 682 00:41:26,160 --> 00:41:28,600 Are we tolerating false teaching? 683 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:32,040 Are we allowing people in our church to teach things that they 684 00:41:32,040 --> 00:41:36,480 shouldn't be teaching? Do we have a reputation of 685 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:38,960 seeing God do wonderful things and living so passionately for 686 00:41:38,960 --> 00:41:41,280 the Lord while still being spiritually dead today? 687 00:41:43,560 --> 00:41:46,480 Are we lukewarm and unfazed by it? 688 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,520 This is what Christ is preparing to speak to the churches. 689 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:56,400 Not just these seven historical real places, but of all time. 690 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,360 But it's more than that. It's more than that. 691 00:42:00,840 --> 00:42:03,240 Lest we think that Christ is just speaking to us in general, 692 00:42:03,320 --> 00:42:05,360 lest we think that he's just speaking to the leaders of these 693 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:07,560 churches, go back to Revelation 27. 694 00:42:07,920 --> 00:42:09,160 Notice what he says in the beginning. 695 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:18,520 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the 696 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:23,200 churches. What's the first part that's 697 00:42:23,200 --> 00:42:26,480 singular? That's personal. 698 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:30,520 That's to the individual member of the church. 699 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:34,480 So it's not just us thinking, OK, what is the church saying or 700 00:42:34,880 --> 00:42:36,600 what is Christ saying to the church? 701 00:42:36,920 --> 00:42:41,160 This Is Us receiving from Christ personally. 702 00:42:43,080 --> 00:42:47,760 What is he saying to you? Have you lost your first love? 703 00:42:48,440 --> 00:42:50,760 Do you entertain erroneous teaching? 704 00:42:51,880 --> 00:42:56,160 Do you rely on your past spiritual vitality while you are 705 00:42:56,160 --> 00:42:58,280 shriveling up in your soul day by day? 706 00:43:00,080 --> 00:43:08,440 Are you lukewarm and OK with it? He who has an ear, let him hear. 707 00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:11,240 And as we go through these churches, what we're going to 708 00:43:11,240 --> 00:43:14,360 realize is as much as he is confronting these congregations, 709 00:43:14,360 --> 00:43:17,200 he's going to hold every member of the church accountable. 710 00:43:18,040 --> 00:43:20,600 So it's not just in bulk. He's going to look at every 711 00:43:20,600 --> 00:43:23,920 member, say what about you? In other words, with every 712 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:27,320 letter that we read, Christ is going to grab us lovingly by the 713 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:30,480 shoulders, look us in the eye and say, are you listening to 714 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:33,160 what I'm saying? Are you hearing me? 715 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:39,400 I'm I'm talking to you. Well, John heard something said 716 00:43:39,400 --> 00:43:44,440 I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying write what 717 00:43:44,440 --> 00:43:46,200 you see in a book. And here's what's so 718 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:48,520 interesting. He hears this voice. 719 00:43:48,520 --> 00:43:51,400 These are the first recorded words of Jesus in the Book of 720 00:43:51,400 --> 00:43:54,120 Revelation. And what happens in verse 12? 721 00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:59,520 Then I turned to see the voice and what that was speaking to 722 00:43:59,520 --> 00:44:03,240 me. And on turning, I saw 7 golden 723 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:08,720 lampstands. We know that voice is Jesus, but 724 00:44:08,720 --> 00:44:13,560 when John turns to see the voice, he doesn't see Jesus, at 725 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:19,080 least at first. He sees 7 golden lampstands. 726 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:23,760 That's not on accident. How is it that when Jesus speaks 727 00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:27,000 and John turns, he doesn't see Christ right away, but he sees 728 00:44:27,000 --> 00:44:29,720 these symbols? Well, you have to come to church 729 00:44:29,720 --> 00:44:32,400 next week to find out. Let's pray together. 730 00:44:52,840 --> 00:45:01,400 Lord, how we need you. How can we retain all these 731 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:06,800 things without your help? How dangerous it is to take a 732 00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:09,600 sermon like this and make it into a lesson instead of an 733 00:45:09,600 --> 00:45:14,320 appeal. So Lord, with the weakness and 734 00:45:15,240 --> 00:45:19,000 the limitations that we have from the pulpit down to the Pew, 735 00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:25,160 we pray that You have mercy on us and that You would take these 736 00:45:25,160 --> 00:45:27,960 truths and apply them in our hearts and drive them into our 737 00:45:27,960 --> 00:45:32,880 hearts and change our hearts only the way You can. 738 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:36,720 We thank You for what You've said. 739 00:45:38,600 --> 00:45:41,120 Give us ears to hear what the Spirit says to us. 740 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:47,800 Help us grow in humility. Lord, help us rely on You day by 741 00:45:47,800 --> 00:45:50,960 day. Help us remember that we are all 742 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:55,240 partners in the tribulation, the Kingdom, the patient endurance. 743 00:45:56,960 --> 00:46:02,080 And help us, O Lord, be eager to you be used by you all the days 744 00:46:02,080 --> 00:46:05,040 of our lives. And for those who might have 745 00:46:05,040 --> 00:46:07,840 wasted many years, may they hope and trust that You have 746 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:11,960 something for them now, that it can change, that you can use 747 00:46:11,960 --> 00:46:14,720 them. We all want that Lord, as long 748 00:46:14,720 --> 00:46:18,360 as we have breath and what we pray for your special strength 749 00:46:18,360 --> 00:46:21,840 and grace in each of our lives for that purpose, that we might 750 00:46:21,840 --> 00:46:25,600 tell of your might to a new generation, that we may declare 751 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:29,880 your gospel to a dying world. So Lord, make this church 752 00:46:29,880 --> 00:46:33,240 strong. Help us, oh God, even as we are 753 00:46:33,240 --> 00:46:37,400 ready to see a vision of Christ next week, may it change us. 754 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:42,560 We give you all glory and thanks together in Jesus name, Amen. 755 00:46:43,280 --> 00:46:45,000 Let's stand and worship the Lord, shall we?