1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:05,160 I know our brother just prayed, but I'd like for us to pray once 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:06,760 more before we open the Scriptures. 3 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:12,520 Lord, we ask that You would help us as we unpack your word. 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,400 We pray that you would guide us verse by verse, truth by truth, 5 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,440 and that Lord, it would transform us. 6 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,040 This is our ultimate desire. Renew us, refresh us, rejuvenate 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:26,280 us. Do what only You can do in the 8 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:28,760 human heart. We ask these things in the 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:36,240 precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen after John 10 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,720 faithfully obeyed the Lord Jesus Christ by sending out seven 11 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:46,840 messages to seven specific ancient churches, churches that 12 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,080 reflect the variety of conditions that churches can 13 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,040 find themselves in today. The Lord transports him from the 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:01:00,880 earth and brings them up to heaven by the Spirit, and He has 15 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,959 a vision, and a vision that he experienced more specifically 16 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,440 was a glimpse into the very throne room of God. 17 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:15,120 And the one who sat upon that throne had the appearance, the 18 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:16,960 appearance of Jasper and carnelian. 19 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,800 And surrounding the throne was a rainbow that resembled an 20 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,080 emerald. Coming from that throne were 21 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:33,560 thunders, rumblings, lightning. And surrounding that throne were 22 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:40,040 24 other Thrones occupied by these elders who are mesmerized 23 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,800 by the one who was sitting on that seat of power and majesty. 24 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,200 Before that throne were 7 torches of fire that symbolize 25 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:53,080 the Spirit of God. And on the sides of the throne 26 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:58,000 you had these four living creatures and they were singing 27 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,400 the praises of God and they were leading these elders to echo 28 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:08,039 their refrain endlessly. And this breathtaking scene, all 29 00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:13,200 of it, every detail reflected perfectly off of this glass 30 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:18,880 crystal like pavement that rested before the throne. 31 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,040 And it was last week that you and I understood that this 32 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,200 marvellous unveiling was meant to teach us that God's 33 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:31,760 authority, God's sovereignty, God's power is above all. 34 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:35,920 And not only is it above all, it is gloriously grand. 35 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:41,000 It is faithful, it is accessible, it is righteous, and 36 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,200 it is and it will be the center of eternal worship. 37 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,520 All very helpful truths to lock in our minds and chain around 38 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:57,800 our hearts, especially as we navigate through the challenges, 39 00:02:57,920 --> 00:03:01,120 the many challenges of the church and a rapidly changing 40 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:05,080 world. But this vision that John 41 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,240 experienced did not end at the end of chapter 4. 42 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:12,680 It only continues and the reason why it continues is because the 43 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:18,960 God who sits upon this awesome throne is triune. 44 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,040 You see, the one that we were beholding last week together was 45 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,960 no other than the Father. And the reason we can say that 46 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,320 is because again, we identified that the Holy Spirit manifested 47 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,160 as these torches of fires was located before the throne. 48 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,960 And what we will read now as we open up chapter 5 is the Son of 49 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,760 God who will majestically approach the throne of the 50 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:53,920 Father in dramatic suspense. And although we might desire to 51 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:59,400 seize the complete scene of this chapter and one message, we will 52 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,320 only consider the 1st 5 verses before we partake of the Lord's 53 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,320 Supper. And so I invite you now with 54 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:08,920 great excitement and Glee to read with me Revelation chapter 55 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:13,360 5, beginning in verse one down to verse 5. 56 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,440 And I will tell you from now the crescendo of this brief message 57 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:21,000 will be verse 5, where we will encounter these beautiful 3 58 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:27,240 words. Weep no more, Weep no more shall 59 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,240 we begin. Revelation 5/1 Then I saw in the 60 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,160 right hand of him who is seated on the throne a scroll written 61 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,760 within and on the back sealed with 7 seals. 62 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,080 And I saw a mighty Angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 63 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,200 who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. 64 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,600 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to 65 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,600 open the scroll or look into it. And I began to weep a loudly 66 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,000 because no one was found worthy to open the scroll to look into 67 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,720 it. And one of the elders said to 68 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:05,360 me, Weep no more. Behold, the lion of the tribe of 69 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:10,440 Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can't open 70 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:17,480 the scroll and its seven seals. While these four living 71 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:23,400 creatures were breathing out praise and these 24 elders were 72 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:30,320 also showering the Father with their own adoration, something 73 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,400 new catches John's eye. It was an item in the right hand 74 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:39,600 of God, a scroll to be specific. And there are two details about 75 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:43,800 the scroll that the Holy Spirit inspires John to pen in God's 76 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,520 holy book. The first one is that there was 77 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,880 content written within and around, it was completely 78 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:56,640 covered with information. And 2nd to that there were 7 79 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:02,960 seals that perfectly concealed the message of that scroll. 80 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,880 Now the interpretation of these details is not too difficult to 81 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,520 understand. To see that the there is things 82 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:15,320 written within and on the back implies that God has a lot to 83 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,600 say and that his message is complete and it's ready to be 84 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,720 known. And following that, the the 85 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:29,040 seals that keep this message out of view reveals that it's it's 86 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:30,920 sealed, it's something that we can't see. 87 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:34,000 It's not for any eye to behold per SE. 88 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:39,880 And as we will discover, there is only one who is authorized to 89 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:45,040 unfold the message and the content of the scroll. 90 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,560 And although the scroll may seem mysterious at first, that has 91 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:56,360 not left scholars and students of the Bible without the desire 92 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:59,720 to discover and to try to make some kind of speculation of what 93 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:04,240 is found in this hidden message. And there's a lot of debate, and 94 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:05,800 there's a lot of conversations about it. 95 00:07:05,960 --> 00:07:08,600 I am those who believe that there doesn't even need to be 96 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,840 any debate because all you got to do is continue to read on in 97 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,320 the Bible to know exactly what's in the scroll. 98 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,920 What is it about? So go to chapter 6 just to get 99 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:22,160 an idea, to see the nature of the scroll beginning in verse 1. 100 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:24,320 And I won't read all these verses, but just to give you an 101 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,400 idea and just to convince you of what we're dealing with here. 102 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,200 This is after the Lamb, who is Christ takes the scroll from the 103 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,960 right hand of the Father. And we read in Revelation 61. 104 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,880 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals 105 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,800 and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a 106 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,080 loud, with a voice like Thunder, come. 107 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,560 And I looked and behold, a White Horse and it's rider had a bow, 108 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:49,960 and a crown was given to him and he came out conquering and to 109 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,480 conquer. Verse 3, When he opened the 110 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,440 second seal, I heard the second living creature say come. 111 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,000 And out came another horse, bright red. 112 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,520 It's rider was permitted to take peace from the earth so that 113 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,640 people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. 114 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,640 Now we pause here and we see that this will continue. 115 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,120 The seals will continue to be unlocked until we finally come 116 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,600 to Revelation 8. And notice what we find in 117 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,280 Revelation 8, verse one. When the Lamb opened the 7th 118 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:20,400 seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 119 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,000 Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven 120 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:31,200 trumpets were given to them. There's no question that these 121 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,919 seals, the same seals that were covering the scroll that we find 122 00:08:34,919 --> 00:08:39,720 a Revelation 5, are connected to the enactment of God's judgement 123 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:45,280 being unleashed upon the evil in the world proceeding and leading 124 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:49,200 up to the establishment of the Son of God's Kingdom on the 125 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,000 earth. In other words, the plain 126 00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:56,840 evidence of the text shows us that this scroll symbolizes 127 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:04,760 God's sealed plan for His future and final judgments upon this 128 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,400 world, which includes the redemption of His people. 129 00:09:09,520 --> 00:09:13,760 That's what we find here, and this interpretation should not 130 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,920 surprise us because again, Revelation is saturated with Old 131 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:19,800 Testament references and allusions. 132 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:22,600 And if you've been reading the Hebrew Scriptures faithfully, 133 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,880 then you'll remember that there are instances, there are 134 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:28,080 examples, there are moments where we find some similar 135 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:31,200 imagery that prepares us for what we are seeing here. 136 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,720 So let me give you an example with the prophet Ezekiel. 137 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,360 In Ezekiel chapter 1, the prophet also experiences a 138 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:41,960 vision of the glory of God. And interestingly, he too 139 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,000 encounters the four living creatures. 140 00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:49,520 And then when you come to chapter 2 of Ezekiel, like John, 141 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:54,000 following his vision of the glory of God, the prophet is 142 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:58,880 given a scroll. He's also presented a scroll. 143 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,960 And listen to the description of the scroll from Ezekiel 29 and 144 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:07,800 10. And when I looked, behold, a 145 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,480 hand was stretched out to me. And behold, a scroll of a book 146 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:16,200 was in it. And he spread it before me, and 147 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,360 it had writing on the front and on the back, and they were 148 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,880 written on it. Words of lamentation and 149 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:27,160 mourning and woe. So both Ezekiel and John saw 150 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,800 scrolls with writing on both the front and the back, which 151 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,120 emphasizes the vast number and the severity of the judgements 152 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:39,440 that they record. But here's the main difference 153 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,160 with Ezekiel's experience and John's. 154 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:45,320 The scroll that Ezekiel received was opened. 155 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:50,440 It was spread before him, whereas the the scroll on the 156 00:10:50,560 --> 00:10:54,000 right hand of the Father was sealed, perfectly sealed. 157 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,080 Nothing of its decrees could be seen. 158 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,200 Now that means something. Not anybody could reveal or 159 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,480 execute the judgments, the plan of the culmination of human 160 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:09,720 history. It wasn't available. 161 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,600 It wasn't just thrown, It wasn't just given to anybody. 162 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:18,840 No, it was secured and had to be somebody who is authorized to 163 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,400 unfold them. And until they were broken, this 164 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,640 is the most important part. Until those seals were broken, 165 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:28,360 God's purposes will remain unknown and unfulfilled. 166 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,320 That's the awareness that this heavenly gathering in Revelation 167 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:38,560 5 sense, which is why a mighty Angel finally proclaims the 168 00:11:38,560 --> 00:11:42,320 following in Revelation 5. Two, Who is worthy to open the 169 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:46,160 scroll and break its seals? Who is worthy? 170 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:53,960 And a universal search goes out. As the words of this Angel 171 00:11:53,960 --> 00:11:57,120 reverberated to every corner of the cosmos, the four living 172 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:03,120 creatures remain silent, and the 24 elders sat still in their 173 00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:08,520 seats. All the myriad of holy angels 174 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:13,960 looked at each other humbly, including Gabriel and the mighty 175 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:19,440 Archangel Michael. That deafening quietness only 176 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:24,800 continued as the sea of Old Testament prophets and kings and 177 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:30,360 Saints were examined. Abraham didn't Step 4. 178 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:39,600 Isaac didn't move an inch. Jacob was still David. 179 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,840 No, no, no, not David, Samuel, Isaiah, None of the prophets. 180 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,120 They were all sharing an awareness of their unworthiness. 181 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,000 And that silence only continues as the sea of New Testament 182 00:12:54,000 --> 00:13:00,200 Saints and leaders heard the invitation of that Angel, and 183 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:04,120 not a single one of them responded to this challenge. 184 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,000 And after an indefinite period of searching, the quest for a 185 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,880 worthy candidate came to its conclusion. 186 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:19,720 No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open 187 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,520 the scroll or look into it. Not one. 188 00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,000 Now go back to Revelation 5 three and read John's words very 189 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:32,520 carefully. And no one in heaven or on earth 190 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,920 or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it 191 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,000 able highlight that wasn't able to open the scroll. 192 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:42,040 What does that mean? Well, remember, we read in 193 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:48,120 Revelation 6 how the breaking of each seal set into motion a 194 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:52,560 spectacular event on the earth that would bring the world that 195 00:13:52,560 --> 00:13:56,560 much closer to its final cleansing and restoration. 196 00:13:58,680 --> 00:14:03,040 Therefore, to break those seals on the scroll implies that you 197 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,480 have to have somebody who has the sovereign authority and 198 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,800 power in order to do what carry out the affairs that it was 199 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:14,160 designed to set into motion. Anybody can break a seal open. 200 00:14:14,160 --> 00:14:16,000 A child can do that. That's not the point. 201 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:20,960 The point is, who is able to execute what the scroll demands, 202 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:27,200 what it's planning to perform? And not a single creature in 203 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:32,800 heaven, or the most religious or pious person on earth, or any 204 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,600 spirit under the earth had the audacity to even entertain the 205 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,760 possibility that they were able to break a single one of those 206 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,400 seals and perform God's final program for human history. 207 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:54,360 And what John discovered at this point, no one is able. 208 00:14:55,760 --> 00:15:02,560 No one to defeat Satan, no one to judge sinners, No one to 209 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:07,720 restore our fractured universe. No one to redeem the faithful. 210 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,080 No one to swallow up death forever. 211 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,080 No one to establish God's Kingdom of peace and glory. 212 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:21,320 No one to answer and fulfill prophetic promises that have yet 213 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:25,280 to be accomplished. No one to make everything right 214 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,040 once and for all. No. 215 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:36,400 And John waited in this vision to see Is there anybody? 216 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:43,840 Is there anyone? No one stepped forward, and as 217 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:47,600 time went on, emotion began to well up from the depths of his 218 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:49,960 being until he could no longer contain it. 219 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:55,840 And what do we read in verse 4? And I began to weep bitterly. 220 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:03,000 Now the weeping here is the same word to describe the weeping 221 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:08,160 Jesus expressed after the triumphal entry. 222 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:13,160 And he looked upon Jerusalem. It's the same word to define 223 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:18,440 Peter's brokenness after he had verbally denied his master and 224 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,720 Jesus looked at him in the book of Luke. 225 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,280 So John's reaction to this is not some controlled 226 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,680 disappointment with a few tears streaming down his cheeks. 227 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:41,400 He's wailing, he shattered, he's falling apart in heaven of all 228 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:48,240 places. Why such an intense reaction? 229 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:55,520 Why weep? John 2 main answers. 230 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:01,360 The first one is the fate of the world, and the second one is the 231 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:06,160 object of his faith. The fate of the world was at 232 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:07,800 stake. If no one could open that 233 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:12,400 scroll, if there was no worthy candidate, then the world as 234 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,720 we've always known it, as the as the history books has always 235 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:19,160 written honestly about it, would remain in its cursed condition 236 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:25,160 forever, without hope of redemption, no chance of 237 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,720 restoration. So the cycles of sin and death 238 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,280 would continue. The sorrows of sickness and 239 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:37,040 disease would never end. The harassment and the deception 240 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:42,640 of the devil and his demons will only intensify no end. 241 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:48,600 Insight, true and lasting justice would never be executed. 242 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:54,080 All the while, wickedness would prevail and grow and claim more 243 00:17:54,080 --> 00:18:00,560 victims because that new heaven and that new earth that was 244 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,680 promised in which righteousness would dwell forever would never 245 00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:09,600 materialize. No hope. 246 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,320 This world will remain and it will only decay more and more. 247 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:18,120 But what about the object of John's faith? 248 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,160 Do you remember where this is actually all taking place? 249 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:24,840 Yeah, sure, John is in heaven by a vision, but he is suffering on 250 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,080 an island called Patmos. On account of the word of God, 251 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:32,640 of the testimony of Jesus. This man for most of his life 252 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,040 put his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 253 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,760 And like you, his belief in Christ was more than just him 254 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,640 being the Savior for sinners. We believe He's the soon 255 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:48,360 returning King who complete humanity's rescue at the end of 256 00:18:48,360 --> 00:18:51,840 the age. So where is he? 257 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:59,520 Where is he? Is he not the one who can open 258 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,800 the scroll? Where can he be found? 259 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:07,880 And tears began to flow because one reason why John is crying 260 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,280 here is because the object of his faith, his trust, was being 261 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:16,760 shaken. His confidence in Christ was 262 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,360 being tested. Everything that he believed up 263 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:23,240 to this point, the high price that he prayed with his life, 264 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:28,640 would it be vindicated? The trust of millions of people, 265 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:35,800 would it come to pass? So you see here, it's the fate 266 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:40,880 of the world, and it's the object of John's faith that's 267 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,480 causing him to react in this way. 268 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:48,680 And although those are the two primary reasons for John's 269 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,200 weeping, there's also a broader application for us. 270 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,120 If you just zoom out, step back and look at this from a general 271 00:19:55,120 --> 00:19:58,800 perspective, I see John's tears saying something to you and I. 272 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:06,720 That they testify of this man's desire to know God's will and to 273 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:11,240 see it come to pass. That scroll had the purposes and 274 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:13,360 the plans of God. They were concealed. 275 00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:17,440 They were out of view, yes. And primarily, who's going to 276 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,960 open it? Who's going to, who's going to 277 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:24,320 fulfil the final chapter of God's redemption, but also 278 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:29,800 what's in the scroll? And he weeps. 279 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:36,040 Do you hunger to know God's will? 280 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:44,120 Where's your heart in discovering more of what God has 281 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:50,480 made known in His Book, and to see it manifest in your life? 282 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:56,080 The promises, the testimonies, the revelation. 283 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,800 As I was meditating on this point even this morning, these 284 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:04,320 verses came to mind from Psalm 119, verse 19. 285 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:09,560 I am a sojourner on the earth. Hide not your commandments from 286 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:14,400 me. And in verse 20, my soul is 287 00:21:14,400 --> 00:21:18,120 consumed with longing for Your rules at all times. 288 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:21,120 Don't you love that? I'm a sojourner on the earth. 289 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,360 So don't conceal Your commandments, Your truth, Your 290 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:28,480 insight, Your treasures from me. What is he saying there? 291 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:29,880 I'm just passing through this life. 292 00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:33,080 I only have a little window of time to discover the depths of 293 00:21:33,080 --> 00:21:36,080 who you are and to see things manifest in and through my life. 294 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,560 So hide them, not from me. Do you pray like that? 295 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:44,560 Here's another thing that I learned from this psalmist. 296 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,200 The more this world is home to you, the less you're going to 297 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:53,520 hunger for God's Word. I'm a sojourner on this earth. 298 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,000 This is not my place. This is not permanent. 299 00:21:56,120 --> 00:21:57,640 This is not where I'm going to dwell forever. 300 00:21:57,720 --> 00:21:59,880 I'm not building any lasting Kingdom here. 301 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,200 I'm just traveling through. So give me what's eternal. 302 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,600 Give me what's going to last. Give me what I was really 303 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:13,080 created for. So one potential reason why you 304 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:17,960 find yourself not longing for deeper and wonderful treasures 305 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,240 in the Scriptures, perhaps. Perhaps you got a little bit too 306 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:25,720 comfortable here and you don't realize eternity and heaven and 307 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,800 the things of the Spirit. But the psalmist says I'm just 308 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:32,640 passing by. So give me what my soul 309 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:35,880 ultimately craves. Hide not your commandments from 310 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:40,520 me. Do you long for the same? 311 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,920 I love how the psalmist says at all times his devotion to the 312 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:54,120 truth is not sporadic, doesn't just get inspired at Maranatha 313 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:56,480 conference once a year for a couple of days. 314 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,920 It's a conviction that sits the foundation of his heart. 315 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:11,240 It's true, it's who he is. So it's either that that is 316 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:13,800 really something you can say Amen to, even though it's not 317 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,480 perfect. And I can say it's not perfect 318 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:19,040 for me either. The flesh tends to erupt and 319 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:22,880 challenge that desire. But do you find yourself more 320 00:23:22,880 --> 00:23:28,680 indifferent to the scrolls that God has given us here? 321 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:33,720 Let me put it this way. Are you content to remain in 322 00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:39,160 ignorance or do you even find your heart being moved because 323 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:42,400 there are moments where you can't pursue deeper 324 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:44,160 understanding and you so want to? 325 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:51,320 John's reaction to being denied to some degree. 326 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,360 What that scroll was holding is a wonderful example for you and 327 00:23:56,360 --> 00:24:00,160 I and how we should relate to what God has given us into our 328 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:01,880 hand. There's no seal on this book. 329 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:05,680 You can have it in digital screens, you can have it in 330 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:08,040 hearing, you can have it in leather, goat skin. 331 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:15,560 You can have it in so many ways. But your heart, Lord, I want to 332 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,840 know more of you. I want to know all your 333 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:20,880 promises, all your warnings, all the things that you have made 334 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:23,080 plain and the things that are not so obvious. 335 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,520 Oh God, hide not your commandments from me. 336 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:35,360 And John's weeping now was interrupted in the main verse of 337 00:24:35,360 --> 00:24:37,520 our message. Let's come back to it, to 338 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:44,160 Revelation 55. One of the elders spoke up, and 339 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:48,880 he offered some of the most incredibly comforting words in 340 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:55,520 all of the Book of Revelation. Weep no more, John. 341 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:59,960 You don't have to cry like this anymore, don't you? 342 00:25:00,360 --> 00:25:03,920 Don't you know that there is One who is worthy to open the scroll 343 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,920 and to look into it? Did you forget? 344 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:11,640 And I want to make the case today, before we partake, that 345 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:15,880 the solution to John's sorrow is the same for ours. 346 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:25,360 Being reminded of the fact that our Savior has conquered. 347 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:29,640 He's the living conqueror. Isn't that what he says? 348 00:25:30,120 --> 00:25:31,920 Behold, the line of the tribe of Judah. 349 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:38,240 The root of David has conquered, which means 2000 years ago Jesus 350 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:41,160 lived a perfect life of obedience, and he died a 351 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:45,440 vicarious death. And because he did so perfectly, 352 00:25:45,640 --> 00:25:47,880 whatever he started he will finish. 353 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:55,400 Neither Satan's sin nor death will have the final word Jesus 354 00:25:55,400 --> 00:26:00,840 conquered, which means he will vindicate the persecuted church, 355 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:04,400 and it means that He will glorify believing loved ones 356 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,360 that you and I have lost to accidents and illness. 357 00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:13,120 It means that He will prove himself faithful to every 358 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:16,520 unbelieving, blasphemous generation that has ever lived. 359 00:26:17,800 --> 00:26:22,120 It means that Christ will finally create a world free from 360 00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:26,000 the effects, every effect of the fall, for us to live in 361 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:29,120 perfectly in His glorious presence forever. 362 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:37,000 Weep no more. However, the eldest words carry 363 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:42,400 deeper meaning. He reminds John of two titles 364 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,520 relating to Jesus Christ. The first one is that he is the 365 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:49,680 lion of the tribe of Judah, and the second that he is the root 366 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:53,400 of David. Now from just an aerial 367 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:57,880 perspective, that says something about the humanity of Jesus and 368 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:03,680 the divinity of Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah. 369 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:09,200 This truth affirms the humanity of our Messiah, that he 370 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,120 descended from a real tribe within the people of Israel. 371 00:27:12,120 --> 00:27:15,600 He's from the tribe of Judah, truly man. 372 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:23,040 But he is also the root of David, and the root of David 373 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:27,120 implies something about his preexistence, that in the same 374 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:29,760 way a root is the source of life to a plant. 375 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:34,560 Jesus Christ existed before David, and he was the very 376 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:38,280 source of his lineage. He's the root, which is amazing. 377 00:27:39,280 --> 00:27:42,560 You don't have to turn there, but this is a Direct Line in 378 00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:46,240 prophecy, a reference to the prophecy found in Isaiah 1111, 379 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,640 verse 10, where we're told the root of Jesse, the root of 380 00:27:49,640 --> 00:27:53,680 Jesse, all the nations, all the Gentiles will inquire of him. 381 00:27:54,120 --> 00:27:58,800 And Paul quotes Isaiah 1110 in Romans to say this is Christ, 382 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,640 this is Christ and bringing in the Gentiles to him, the root of 383 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:06,320 Jesse. But in Isaiah 11 one we're told 384 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,040 that he's the branch of Jesse. Well, how can you be the root 385 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,560 and the branch? Again, even within that chapter 386 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,920 you have something about the pre existence of Christ. 387 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:16,640 He's the root, but he's also the branch. 388 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:20,680 He's a descendant. He's coming from this family, 389 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:26,160 this lineage. And if that wasn't glorious 390 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:31,240 enough, here's the the heart of what this elder is saying to 391 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:33,760 John. What's the essence of his 392 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:36,480 message when he says the line of the tribe of Judah, the root of 393 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,920 David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and it's 7 394 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:41,640 seals. It's plain whatever God promised 395 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:43,600 from the beginning, he will fulfill. 396 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:48,200 He will fulfill. Because again, you see that 397 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:52,560 these are titles of the Messiah that was predicted in the Hebrew 398 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,880 Scriptures. And the root of David comes from 399 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:57,360 Isaiah 11, but there's one that's even earlier than that. 400 00:28:57,760 --> 00:29:01,280 The lion of the tribe of Judah comes from the book of Genesis. 401 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,520 And that's what we're going to turn to in our final passage 402 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,280 together. Go to Genesis 49, and this is 403 00:29:07,280 --> 00:29:11,600 when Jacob gives a prophetic benediction to each of his sons, 404 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:16,400 the immediate tribes of Israel. And when he comes to Judah, I 405 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:18,840 want you to see what he says because this is what the elder 406 00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:20,880 is doing. He's reaching back to this 407 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:26,600 prophecy and he's saying John, Jesus is a fulfillment of what 408 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:30,640 was prophesied in Genesis 49. Look at verse 8 with me. 409 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:35,040 Judah, your brother shall praise you. 410 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:38,440 Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. 411 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,800 Your father's son shall bow down before you. 412 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:48,120 Judah is a lion's cub. You have gone up from the prey, 413 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:49,600 my son. He stooped down. 414 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,840 He crouched as a lion and as a lioness. 415 00:29:52,840 --> 00:29:56,600 Who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart 416 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:00,360 from Judah, nor the ruler staff from between his feet until 417 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,880 tribute comes to him. And to him shall be the 418 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:07,280 obedience of the peoples. What a shock this must have been 419 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,960 to the brothers who are hearing their fathers say this about 420 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:14,120 Judah. Why is this a surprise? 421 00:30:14,120 --> 00:30:19,680 Why is this startling? Because the family of Israel was 422 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:22,360 very few in number. They're still in Egypt when this 423 00:30:22,360 --> 00:30:25,200 was given. They haven't even entered into 424 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,400 the promised land. And yet we read here that Judah 425 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:31,720 and his descendants will have preeminence among his brothers 426 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:35,600 in that they will be in a position of rulership over his 427 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:39,600 brothers. So you're talking about a king 428 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:45,360 and a Kingdom, and here you are still renting a neighborhood in 429 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:50,920 the land of Egypt. It's fascinating, and we know 430 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:53,160 that this is speaking about a king and a Kingdom because of 431 00:30:53,160 --> 00:30:56,840 the imagery of a scepter. You've probably seen one, a 432 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:00,480 staff with ornaments that symbolizes sovereignty and power 433 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:04,560 and majesty. So in practical terms, what is 434 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:07,560 this prophecy conveying? It's saying that eventually 435 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:11,720 kings were going to arise from the line of Judah. 436 00:31:12,680 --> 00:31:15,200 And what you find as you continue in the Old Testament is 437 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,960 that the seed form of this prophecy began to sprout with 438 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,920 King David, and it blossomed more and more with the 439 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:27,400 succeeding kings following him. As we've been studying in first 440 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:31,360 and second kings, David's line through Judah would govern the 441 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:34,160 Kingdom of Judah. But this is a detail in the 442 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,040 prophecy that many people miss. Look back at verse 10 of Genesis 443 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:38,160 49. What does he say? 444 00:31:38,560 --> 00:31:42,480 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler staff 445 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:49,400 from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and to him 446 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:51,360 shall be the obedience of the peoples. 447 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:54,520 Now some of you may be looking at me because you're saying why 448 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:56,920 does your Bible say that? My Bible says something 449 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,800 different. Virtually every other word for 450 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:03,040 word translation will render the same verse in the following way 451 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:05,680 until Shiloh comes. Anybody have that word in their 452 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:08,080 Bibles? I guess most people here read 453 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:13,200 the ESP then until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the 454 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:15,800 obedience of the people. You'll find that in the new King 455 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:16,920 James. You'll find that in the King 456 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:19,000 James. You'll find that in the NASB. 457 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:24,240 So then why does the ESV say until tribute comes to him? 458 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:30,560 It's because the etymology, the root word for Shiloh, is quite 459 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:33,720 complex. It's quite complex in the Hebrew 460 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:38,280 and and one of the variant definitions of this word is he. 461 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:42,240 To him it belongs, or that which belongs to him. 462 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,480 And that's that's why the scholars behind this translation 463 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,360 chose this following phrase to put into this prophecy. 464 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:54,200 But no matter what version you have, one thing is unmistakably 465 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:56,000 clear. This prophecy points to a 466 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:59,880 specific individual. It anticipates somebody from the 467 00:32:59,880 --> 00:33:04,640 royal line of Judah, a person, not just a position, not just 468 00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:07,080 the government, but one particular individual. 469 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:12,520 There is one king who will exercise universal reign, and he 470 00:33:12,520 --> 00:33:16,760 will bring unprecedented authority to the nations. 471 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,960 And this king is something and someone Israel and indeed the 472 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,040 whole world should be expecting. Look at again. 473 00:33:25,040 --> 00:33:30,120 Until tribute comes to him and to him shall be the obedience of 474 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,680 the peoples. Genesis. 475 00:33:34,760 --> 00:33:38,080 Then you go to Revelation and this elder and this heavenly 476 00:33:38,080 --> 00:33:43,080 vision looks to Johnny says the lion of the tribe of Judah is 477 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:48,000 here. What God said in Genesis is now 478 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:50,360 being realized in Revelation. You know what's so amazing to 479 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,200 me? That title for Christ, the lion 480 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,800 of the tribe of Judah is exclusively found in the Book of 481 00:33:56,800 --> 00:34:00,920 Revelation. I'm thinking why not use it 482 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:03,680 more? It's powerful, the lion of the 483 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:08,080 tribe of Judah. Why did the Holy Spirit keep it 484 00:34:08,080 --> 00:34:11,320 until the last book of divine revelation? 485 00:34:11,880 --> 00:34:14,440 Because it is a title appropriate for the second 486 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:21,400 coming of Christ, that's why. And that's partly the reason why 487 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:25,719 the Pharisees and the Jews could not accept that Jesus Christ of 488 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:34,120 Nazareth was the Messiah. Where is the lion like Savior 489 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:39,239 and king? Come on, we gave you three years 490 00:34:39,239 --> 00:34:43,960 and we're still oppressed. Tear them apart. 491 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:48,639 Deliver us once and for all. Own this place. 492 00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,560 Jacob said that a lion would come, a king would come. 493 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:57,400 Here You are, just travelling with some of these unlearned 494 00:34:57,400 --> 00:34:59,040 man. Yeah, you're doing miracles here 495 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:01,880 and there, but come on, let's see it come to pass. 496 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:07,960 And even up to the final moments of his life, they were tempting 497 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:12,760 him to prove himself. You know, some people think that 498 00:35:12,760 --> 00:35:15,320 the Pharisees had good intentions and they were just 499 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:18,680 confused because they were just going with what the Scriptures 500 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:20,680 had to say. And it seemed like Jesus was a 501 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:25,880 little bit too ambiguous. No, the Pharisees were 502 00:35:25,880 --> 00:35:30,880 intentionally ignorant because the same Hebrew Bible that says 503 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:35,000 there is one coming like a lion also portrays him as a lamb. 504 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:42,440 He is a lion, but he first must come as a lamb, and he must lay 505 00:35:42,440 --> 00:35:47,560 down his life as a sacrifice. And that is why, interestingly, 506 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:52,320 in the same vision of Revelation 5, the Elder tells John the lion 507 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,160 of the tribe of Judah is here. And when he looks for him, you 508 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:57,920 find in the following verses that he finds instead of what? 509 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:01,520 A lamb. I'm getting ahead of myself 510 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:02,600 here, so I'm going to reel back here. 511 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:12,760 What do we take from this John? There needs to be no need to 512 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:14,720 weep. For what reason? 513 00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:17,480 1 Main reason. God is faithful to His promises. 514 00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,480 Everything that He has said you can trust completely. 515 00:36:23,200 --> 00:36:25,560 I love this. I love connecting the Bible 516 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,040 because you have something God said from Genesis and now in 517 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:30,960 Revelation, he's saying here it is. 518 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:37,280 Here's the realization of it. And yes, we're dealing with not 519 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,960 weeping in terms of God fulfilling his promises in the 520 00:36:40,960 --> 00:36:43,120 end of the age. But let's, let's apply it today. 521 00:36:43,240 --> 00:36:46,640 Let's apply it now. Listen, you and I would have 522 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:50,480 fewer tears and greater relief if we just really believed God, 523 00:36:51,640 --> 00:36:57,920 if we really just took Him at His word, if we had an ache and 524 00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,680 a long longing to know all that He has to say, all that He has 525 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,600 revealed, we would strengthen our souls. 526 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:08,600 We would have more smiles and less frowns. 527 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:17,600 I'm reminded when Jesus hid himself on the road to Emmaus, 528 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:21,160 when those two disciples were dejected, walking back after an 529 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:26,520 eventful weekend in Jerusalem, and when the stranger supposedly 530 00:37:26,520 --> 00:37:28,440 asks them, what are you guys talking about? 531 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:32,120 The scripture tells us in Luke 24 that they were sad and they 532 00:37:32,120 --> 00:37:35,120 began to explain the events relating to Jesus Christ of 533 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:37,880 Nazareth who was crucified, and they had hoped that he would be 534 00:37:37,880 --> 00:37:43,320 the deliverer for Israel. What is Jesus Christ prescribed 535 00:37:44,040 --> 00:37:45,800 to these heavy hearted disciples? 536 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:50,160 Let me read to you one verse. Luke 2425 And he said to them, O 537 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:55,240 foolish ones, and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets 538 00:37:55,240 --> 00:38:04,720 have spoken. The remedy to your pain and the 539 00:38:04,720 --> 00:38:09,840 clouds that hide the blessing and the happiness that your soul 540 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,880 can experience is your darkness pertaining to the Word of God. 541 00:38:16,240 --> 00:38:20,280 It's your blindness, it's your unwillingness to take in not 542 00:38:20,280 --> 00:38:22,880 just some, but all that the prophets have spoken. 543 00:38:25,360 --> 00:38:32,840 I suggest to you today that you can know greater joy if you have 544 00:38:32,840 --> 00:38:39,440 a greater investment in the truth and not just familiarizing 545 00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:42,960 yourself with it, but asking God for the faith to clutch onto and 546 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,160 to believe it with all that is within you. 547 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:49,960 I love how this elder in Revelation turns to John and 548 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:54,080 reminds him of scriptural truths to stop his tears. 549 00:38:55,280 --> 00:39:00,200 Is there any difference for us? Let's emphasize over and over 550 00:39:00,240 --> 00:39:03,040 with these two disciples. Here's how I'm going to provide 551 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:07,320 a balm for your souls. Consider all that the prophets 552 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:10,960 have spoken. So here's what we're leaving 553 00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:13,000 with today. Here's how we're going to 554 00:39:13,000 --> 00:39:14,600 prepare to remember what Christ has done. 555 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:20,880 This is what Revelation 51 to 5 has left us with #1 in terms of 556 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:23,520 application. May we be like this man who 557 00:39:23,520 --> 00:39:25,640 longed to know the will of God, who longed to see it 558 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:28,960 accomplished. But may we also prescribe this 559 00:39:28,960 --> 00:39:31,920 to our own souls, that the revelation of Christ being a 560 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,680 living conqueror and the things that were said about him He 561 00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:38,720 fulfilled, and the things that he said about anything, we must 562 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:44,080 trust wholeheartedly if we are going to be able to sail the 563 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:49,480 seas of a church that is frequently battered in a world 564 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:53,920 that is growing and evil. Only then will we know more 565 00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:59,800 song, less tears, more joy, less sorrow. 566 00:40:00,760 --> 00:40:03,560 May we come and remember what He has done for us, together with 567 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:07,560 hearts filled with faith. Lord, we ask as we praise you, 568 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:11,000 that you would be blessed by what you see in here. 569 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:17,240 And we choose to remember today that you were the fulfillment of 570 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:23,560 ancient predictions that your Son, Jesus Christ is the true 571 00:40:23,560 --> 00:40:32,680 Savior of the world. And Lord, if there are tears for 572 00:40:32,680 --> 00:40:42,840 any reason today, may we sense the truth soothing our hearts so 573 00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:48,080 that our eyes can come to life again as we behold the One who 574 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:50,200 is worthy to open the scroll and to look into it. 575 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:54,800 We thank You that with all the updates of the horrors that are 576 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:57,800 being committed in our city around the world, the tragedies, 577 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:05,840 the disasters, the floods, the earthquakes, the wars, our world 578 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:10,160 will change. One day you will redeem 579 00:41:10,160 --> 00:41:14,000 everything and you will be worshipped for it forever. 580 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:19,640 But we choose to worship you now as we reflect on how you have 581 00:41:19,640 --> 00:41:22,920 redeemed us and how one day you will rescue us forever and ever. 582 00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:28,120 We pray these things with great faith in Jesus name, Amen.