1 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:09,120 The Bible teaches that God Almighty has appointed 7 2 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:13,600 trumpets to signal a remarkable series of events in the last 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,720 days. When the first trumpet is 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,960 sounded, 1/3 of this very planet will be consumed by hail and 5 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:27,040 fire. The second alarm will call for 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:32,240 something like a great mountain that will crash into the sea, 7 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:38,440 turning it into blood and destroying a third of its 8 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,840 creatures and even the ships on it. 9 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:52,480 The third sound will invite a star from heaven to destroy 1/3 10 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:56,760 of the rivers and the springs of water that will make it deadly 11 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,960 to drink. The 4th, the Bible tells us, 12 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:07,280 will actually dim 1/3 of the sun, moon, and stars. 13 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:14,400 The 5th trumpet will actually summon some of the most vicious 14 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:19,920 and heinous demons to torment the inhabitants of the earth for 15 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,440 a total of five months. And the 6th summons 4 16 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:30,120 high-ranking fallen angels to lead the charge in slaying 1/3 17 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:34,920 of the human population. As unimaginable as these things 18 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:40,640 are, there is yet one more trumpet to be sounded. 19 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:46,320 And unlike the previous ones, the 7th trumpet will not set 20 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:49,720 into motion, at least directly, any cataclysmic event. 21 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:57,640 Instead, this final climactic blast will awaken the hearts of 22 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:03,440 those in heaven to offer exuberant praise and worship. 23 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,560 For what reason? Well, as we are about to read, 24 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,680 because something is about to transpire that the redeemed have 25 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,360 been waiting and praying for across the ages. 26 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:20,120 And we're going to see that together in Revelation Chapter 27 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,200 11, beginning in verse 15. And I invite you to look at it 28 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:27,360 with me as we seek to complete this chapter this afternoon. 29 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:33,920 Here's what the word of God says. 30 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,920 Then the 7th Angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud 31 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:41,560 voices in heaven saying, the Kingdom of the world has become 32 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,120 the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and He shall reign 33 00:02:45,120 --> 00:02:48,560 forever and ever. And the 24 elders who sit on 34 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,680 their Thrones before God fell on their faces and worship God, 35 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:57,320 saying, We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and 36 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,720 who was. For you have taken your great 37 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,120 power and begun to reign the nation's rage. 38 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:07,040 But your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, 39 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,120 and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and Saints, and 40 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,880 those who fear your name, both small and great. 41 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,400 And for destroying the destroyers of the earth. 42 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:21,880 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His 43 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,000 covenant was seen within His temple. 44 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,240 There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of Thunder, an 45 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:35,920 earthquake, and heavy hail. Pray with me, Lord, You've been 46 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,520 with us. We pray that you would go before 47 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,800 us in the reading and the explanation of Your Word. 48 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,440 We pray that Your Son would be exalted. 49 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:45,760 We pray that our hearts would be uplifted. 50 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,440 And we pray that in all these things Your will would be done, 51 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,440 that you would be blessed as we receive your blessing. 52 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,160 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 53 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,920 Well, you know that on Friday nights we're studying Ezra. 54 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:01,360 But before that we've spent many, many months studying the 55 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,040 books of first and second kings. And if you were there for those 56 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,680 studies, then you would recall that on many occasions whenever 57 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:13,960 a new ruler was coronated, it was sometimes accompanied by the 58 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,880 sound of a trumpet to announce his enthronement. 59 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,079 And that is precisely what we are seeing here, that that's the 60 00:04:22,079 --> 00:04:25,640 reflection that there is an announcement being made with 61 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:30,120 this 7 trumpet and it is one that focuses on the person of 62 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,760 Jesus Christ. You see, the reason why there is 63 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:37,520 such a strong and joyful reaction to the sound is because 64 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,280 there is this long-awaited promise that is ready to be 65 00:04:41,280 --> 00:04:47,640 fulfilled, the promise of God's eternal Kingdom coming to earth 66 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:51,680 and being established forever and ever. 67 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,520 And this is so imminent, this is so near that it's being 68 00:04:56,520 --> 00:05:00,760 recognized in this very moment. Christ is about to return. 69 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:04,520 In this description of God's prophetic timeline of the last 70 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:11,200 days, by this moment, at this juncture, we are being told that 71 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,160 Christ is about to bring the full manifestation of His 72 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,480 Kingdom to this world. And this is something that stirs 73 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:24,440 the hearts of these worshippers in obvious and even subtle ways. 74 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:27,840 And I want you to see something as we look at the song of 75 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:30,720 triumph and compare it to other portions of the Book of 76 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,200 Revelation. So if you have Revelation open, 77 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:35,720 go back to chapter 1. I want you to see something here 78 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:46,480 in verse 4, Revelation 1, Revelation one, verse 4, John to 79 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,400 the seven churches that are in Asia. 80 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:54,080 Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to 81 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:57,760 come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne. 82 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:03,280 Go down to verse 8 of chapter 1. I am the Alpha and the Omega 83 00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:09,360 says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come the 84 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:17,840 Almighty. Go to chapter 4 verse 8 now and 85 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:21,280 the four living creatures, each of them with six wings are full 86 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:24,320 of eyes all around and within and the and day and night. 87 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:28,920 They never cease to say holy, holy, holy is the Lord God 88 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:33,840 Almighty who was and is and is to come. 89 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:39,040 This declaration of the eternality of God and the wide 90 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,600 span of His ways is repeated in the same way as we just saw in 91 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:43,960 all these occurrences. Right. 92 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,960 But did you notice what was omitted in that similar phrase 93 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,880 in the act of worship of Chapter 11? 94 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:58,840 Look at it again with me, Revelation 11 verse 16 and the 95 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:02,120 24 elders who sit on their Thrones before God fell in their 96 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,440 faces and worship God saying we give thanks to you, Lord God 97 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:13,680 Almighty, who is and who was full stop for you have taken 98 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,640 your great power and begun to reign. 99 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,800 What's missing this time? Who is to come? 100 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:25,560 Why, because he's about to come. Christ is about to fulfill that 101 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:29,920 very part. He's about to make his way into 102 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:35,600 this world, and the 7th trumpet announces his enthronement. 103 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,920 It's preparing us for it. But the coronation of the Lord 104 00:07:40,960 --> 00:07:43,520 Jesus is not the only thing that's being celebrated here. 105 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:47,320 You have to understand that this celestial choir has a 106 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,120 comprehensive understanding of the things that will follow as a 107 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:54,160 result of Christ establishing His throne on the earth. 108 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,880 And there are at least five things, at least five things 109 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,880 that we can examine from these verses that we read together. 110 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,520 And we're going to look at it. But before we look at it, I, I 111 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:09,920 want to present something. I want to present by way of 112 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:13,880 example, what I pray and hope our response to these truths 113 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:17,960 will be look at the 24 elders and see what happens to them. 114 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,640 Again, in verse 16, it says here. 115 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,400 And the 24 elders who sit on the Thrones before God fell on their 116 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:32,120 faces and worship God. So the revelation of the return 117 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:37,640 of Christ was so profound, so forceful, that it catapulted 118 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:44,600 these high-ranking beings off their seats of honor and planted 119 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,800 them on the lowest place possible on their faces before 120 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,920 the presence of God. And I can't help but think that 121 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,600 our hearts should respond in a similar way as we hear this 122 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,320 message that we too would experience a fresh sense of 123 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:05,880 surrender, A rush of adoration towards Christ, as we are going 124 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:10,440 to remember that this Jesus that we love, this Jesus that has 125 00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:13,400 saved us from our sins is going to come back. 126 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:19,280 And we will see him, we will behold him, and we will see at 127 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,360 least five things happening as a result of it. 128 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:24,880 And so let's consider this now together. 129 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,000 The first thing that we can expect at the return of Christ 130 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:32,200 is that this world will be conquered by His Kingdom. 131 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,320 This world will be conquered by His Kingdom. 132 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:40,440 I find it fascinating that the voices in verse 15 do not say 133 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:45,520 the kingdoms of this world will become the Kingdom of our Lord 134 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,640 and of His Christ. It doesn't say kingdoms. 135 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:50,600 Look again. What does it say in verse 15? 136 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:56,000 The Kingdom singular? He's not Speaking of the plural 137 00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,320 here. And this detail reminds us of a 138 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:02,400 crucial truth of the world that we live in, that although there 139 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,680 are diverse nations and there are unique governments and there 140 00:10:05,680 --> 00:10:09,240 are, there are different ideas of politics being implemented. 141 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:11,720 There are diverse cultures, absolutely. 142 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,520 But in reality, everything is ultimately ruled under one 143 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:24,000 Kingdom, and that is Satan's. That is Satan's Kingdom, and 144 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,560 this is something that the apostle John who wrote the Book 145 00:10:26,560 --> 00:10:30,240 of Revelation always believed and always taught. 146 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,000 Let me remind you of a known verse from his first epistle. 147 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:40,000 In first John 519 John says we know that we are from God and 148 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:45,040 the whole world lies in the power of the evil. 1 The whole 149 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:47,360 world lies in the power of the evil. 150 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:51,520 What a jolting thought that the world you and I live in is 151 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:57,040 dominated by Satan only because God has permitted him to 152 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:01,320 administer a large amount of influence in this present age. 153 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,800 But what's very heartbreaking about this statement John makes 154 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:09,600 in first John 519 is the word that he uses concerning our 155 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:14,200 world. It lies in the power of the evil 156 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:16,400 one. That word lies in the original 157 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:23,560 language denotes the posture of a baby, which means that the 158 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:27,600 world is not struggling, resisting or fighting against 159 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,200 this invisible evil spiritual reign. 160 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:35,720 It voluntarily rests in the grip of Satan. 161 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:42,560 It lies in the power of the evil. 1 Moreover, John tells us 162 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:46,160 that not just part of the world, not just certain nations, but 163 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,880 the whole world is under his domain. 164 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:57,120 That means our politics, our entertainment, our economy, our 165 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:02,560 cultures, alternative religions and expressions of spirituality 166 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:06,040 have a level of satanic influence behind them. 167 00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:10,640 And if it wasn't for God's common grace of operating in our 168 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,560 world, then we would see hell on earth. 169 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,520 But even with God's grace being dispensed every single day, we 170 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:23,240 still have to understand and comprehend that Satan is at work 171 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:28,120 in every sphere of society. And that is not meant to cause 172 00:12:28,120 --> 00:12:31,560 any of us to live in paranoia, because it easily can. 173 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,680 What we are told, according to John, is that we should know 174 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:40,120 this so that we can be discerning, that we can be 175 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:45,200 cautious, that that we should be alert as we navigate through 176 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,720 this life dependent on the Lord. Understanding this. 177 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:52,560 Believer, please hear me. You and I are living in enemy 178 00:12:52,560 --> 00:12:56,480 territory. Every single moment of our lives 179 00:12:57,160 --> 00:12:58,880 we are living in enemy territory. 180 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:02,800 This world is not neutral towards Christians. 181 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:08,400 It is hostile. Temptations, deceptions, and 182 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,680 even persecutions are lurking all around us from the moment 183 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:16,720 you wake up and get out of your bed to the moment you return to 184 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:18,520 lay your heavy head on that pillow. 185 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:26,840 You and I are always at war, and that warlike mentality should 186 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,960 change the way you approach everything, including your 187 00:13:30,960 --> 00:13:34,240 relationship with the Lord and the Church, how you engage with 188 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,560 everything that comes your way. But here's the good news about 189 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:40,480 Christ, that there is an appointed hour when he will 190 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:46,040 actually physically, bodily invade this world, overthrow 191 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:52,200 Satan's tyranny, plant his flag on every single hill, and we're 192 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:56,200 going to see an awesome thing. The whole world will be under 193 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,640 his influence. Every corner of our culture, 194 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:05,720 every facet of our society will be under his authority. 195 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:07,880 And I'm afraid that many Christians have an overly 196 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,880 simplistic understanding of the last days, summarized usually in 197 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,920 Well, there's a day coming where Christ is going to come snatch 198 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:18,640 us all the way, judge the world to hell while we're tucked away 199 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:23,760 safe in eternity. The doctrine of the return of 200 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:26,080 Christ is much more triumphant than that. 201 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:30,960 And here's a hint, Christ is coming for his bride, but he's 202 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:35,160 going to do much more than that. He's going to again come and 203 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:41,400 terminate Satan's reign. And then with the redeemed, he 204 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:47,200 is going to promote many of his church to actually live in 205 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,480 positions of authority to rule and reign with him. 206 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:53,680 According to Revelation 24, a 1000 years as we witness what 207 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,680 the world has never seen. And that is a perfect 208 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:01,080 government, where Christ will for that length of time declare 209 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,840 to the generations that He is the true king, and that only His 210 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:07,640 government can bring true peace and true justice. 211 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,320 And when Christ does come to take over the Kingdom of this 212 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:18,520 world, he will fulfill what Zechariah 14-9 prophesied, that 213 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:23,480 the Lord will become the king over all the earth. 214 00:15:24,040 --> 00:15:27,520 And in that day the Lord will be 1 and his name 1. 215 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,640 The first thing that we can expect when Christ comes back is 216 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:33,080 that he's going to conquer this world. 217 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:39,760 But #2 the dead will be judged. That's what we find near the 218 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:41,920 start of verse 18. Look again with me. 219 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,680 The nations raged, but your wrath came. 220 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,080 And the time for the dead to be judged. 221 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,120 So in the same way that the the rule of Christ will be 222 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:58,320 universal, so will his judgement be every single person, man or 223 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,000 woman. They will stand before the 224 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:05,280 tribunal of God, and in that moment he will determine their 225 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,360 eternal faith with perfect justice. 226 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:11,880 And so extensive is this judgment that even the dead will 227 00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:13,800 not be able to escape. And in fact, they've sealed 228 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:18,960 their faith once they have died. Now, what's this judgment going 229 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,280 to be about exactly? I believe this. 230 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:24,560 The same verse gives us a clue. Look again at the beginning of 231 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,280 verse 18. The nation's raged, but your 232 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,880 wrath came. And then he speaks about 233 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,040 judgement. So what are the nations so angry 234 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,480 about? Well, we're going to find out in 235 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,480 a moment here. But this is what it shows us 236 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:45,800 thus far, that God's judgement, his scrutiny will confront a 237 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:50,080 raging world, an infuriated people. 238 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:56,920 And the reason why they are so enraged is because of God and 239 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,800 his reign. That's the context, is it not? 240 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,359 Christ's Kingdom is coming, the nations at the thought of Christ 241 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,400 coming and ruling has caused them to be inflamed with such 242 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,680 anger and he will judge them for it. 243 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,520 These lyrics are very reminiscent of Psalm 2, are they 244 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:18,160 not? Remember how much of Revelation 245 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,640 is absolutely saturated with the Old Testament? 246 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,560 What did Psalm 2 say in the beginning? 247 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,520 Well, the psalmist asked the question, why do the nation's 248 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,320 rage and the people's plot in vain? 249 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,000 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take 250 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,760 counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, 251 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,680 saying, Let us burst their bonds apart and castaway their cords 252 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,440 from us. Here's the translation. 253 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:47,840 The nations are enraged because they cannot fathom that the Lord 254 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:52,560 and His anointed would seek to place their yoke upon them. 255 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:58,400 They view His leadership as intolerable. 256 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:03,720 They understand that his His lordship is an unwelcome divine 257 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,240 restraint, and so they will oppose Him. 258 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,960 The world will actually oppose Christ up to the very moment 259 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,280 that He makes himself visible in all His glory and power. 260 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:23,400 And yes, it is true that the world abhors the thought of 261 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,600 Christ material reign, but let me remind you something. 262 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:31,640 They deny and reject His spiritual reign just as much as 263 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:33,280 you and I experienced his reign today. 264 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,920 Christ is not going to become King when He comes back. 265 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:42,520 He is King now, but His kingship will be in full display, and the 266 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,680 way He rules and reigns now is spiritually in our hearts 267 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:50,520 through His Church. And I want to make the case that 268 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:57,920 the world is just as vehemently upset and opposed to the concept 269 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:01,160 of Christ ruling over them now as they will be when He comes 270 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:06,680 back. And here's a test for you and I 271 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,400 to know if we're worldly, if we're like the world. 272 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:14,480 Do you desire his rule and reign? 273 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,520 Do you desire his kingship over your life that determines if you 274 00:19:19,520 --> 00:19:23,880 truly belong to Him? And and the way we prove it 275 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:25,280 ultimately is by the way we live. 276 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:34,360 So when Christ comes back, He will meet the unholy, rebellious 277 00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:39,720 rage of the world with His holy, unstoppable wrath. 278 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,960 The essence of this judgement is Christ confronting the living of 279 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:47,760 the dead who did not joyfully surrender to His lordship when 280 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:53,080 they had the chance. The dead will be judged #3 the 281 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:56,120 redeemed will be rewarded. Look again at the middle of 282 00:19:56,120 --> 00:19:57,560 verse 18. It's right in the middle, 283 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,840 actually. And four, rewarding your 284 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:03,160 servants, the prophets and Saints. 285 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:08,720 What a wonderful promise. So while an angry world should 286 00:20:08,720 --> 00:20:14,160 expect wrath, the redeemed anticipates rewards, not wrath 287 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,360 rewards. And in case you're listening to 288 00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:20,680 this message and you're unfamiliar with the the central 289 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,880 message of our faith, Christ is not coming back with the 290 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:29,400 possible reward of our salvation depending on how you lived. 291 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:33,400 No, no, no, no, no. His salvation is a free gift 292 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:36,880 that has already been given and received by your faith. 293 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,600 That being said, the rewards that He will come with are for 294 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,240 the redeemed who have already experienced His grace and 295 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:51,560 received it by faith. But we'll know either more or 296 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:55,360 fewer rewards based on their commitment to Christ and their 297 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:57,680 faithfulness to Him. That's what's in view here. 298 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:01,840 So it's the rewards for those who have been redeemed, His 299 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,240 servants, the prophets, the Saints, those who fear your 300 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:06,480 name. So we're not waiting, hoping 301 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:09,360 that Christ is going to save us. I hope that my name is written 302 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:11,640 in the Lamb's book of life. That's been said and done. 303 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,360 However, there will be an evaluation about how you and I 304 00:21:15,360 --> 00:21:19,240 lived with the truths that we have in the word of God as 305 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,000 Christ being our Lord. This is what we have to 306 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:25,600 anticipate. And this is so marvelous because 307 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:30,480 God's way of judging is so different than man's. 308 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:33,760 Look at the last phrase of this verse. 309 00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:37,480 We see here that it will be, yes, the servants, the prophets, 310 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,360 the Saints, and those who fear your name. 311 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:43,000 But he mentions the small and great. 312 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:46,600 Do you see that? Both small and great. 313 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:50,800 What does he mean by that? Well, it's the encouraging truth 314 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,960 that the Lord is ready to honor both those who are widely 315 00:21:55,960 --> 00:22:02,080 recognized, highly praised and appreciated, and those who go 316 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:09,600 largely unnoticed by the world and especially the church, both 317 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,880 small and great. You may be here today as a 318 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:18,920 genuine follower of Christ. You love him, you adore him, you 319 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,120 serve him, you are steadfast. You, you, you come to church and 320 00:22:24,120 --> 00:22:26,040 you, you love the Bride of Christ. 321 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,240 And at the same time you from time to time look at your own 322 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,320 life and think, I'm just, I'm very ordinary. 323 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:38,440 And I don't know if my contributions to the Kingdom 324 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:41,680 actually matter much. In fact, they might be meager 325 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:45,240 actually. And if that is you, I want you 326 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:50,000 to be so encouraged today with this truth in this verse that if 327 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,880 you are faithful, God will reward you. 328 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,880 God will reward you. You know, you and I were 329 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:01,040 reflecting last time we were together in this book about how 330 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:08,680 the great city of Jerusalem in God's eyes was condemned, was 331 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,800 vile, was morally bankrupt, great in the sight of man, but 332 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:18,440 in God's view, so found wanting, so lacking. 333 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,760 The way God perceives things is extremely humbling and sobering. 334 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:27,000 And I was reflecting on this earlier this week of how the 335 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,560 Lord looks at people way differently than you and I do. 336 00:23:31,120 --> 00:23:35,800 And what came to mind was what the Angel told Zechariah, who'd 337 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:38,880 be the father of that great man of God, John the Baptist. 338 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:44,640 And I want to read to you what the Angel told Zechariah, and 339 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,400 it's for you as well. And Luke 114 listen to these 340 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:53,800 words, and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice 341 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:58,920 at his birth, verse 15 For he will be great before the Lord, 342 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,520 and he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be 343 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,800 filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb. 344 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:14,200 So many today are pursuing an understanding of greatness that 345 00:24:14,200 --> 00:24:21,160 is worldly, that are tirelessly disciplining themselves because 346 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:24,840 they are motivated by a secular notion of legacy. 347 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:26,720 I want to leave a legacy for my family. 348 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,240 I want to leave a legacy for my generation. 349 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:34,680 And what you find here instead is that if you and I want to 350 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:40,920 attain unfading, everlasting reward, all you have to do in 351 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,560 your ambition is seek to be great before the Lord. 352 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,400 Do you see that in verse 15? He shall be great before the 353 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:55,960 Lord? And how God views greatness is a 354 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,160 strong contrast to how the world measures it. 355 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,360 And all I have to be preoccupied with on a daily basis is to 356 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:07,920 understand how the Lord esteems greatness, and then to pursue 357 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,480 it, trusting that though I may be overlooked, though I may be 358 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:15,400 underappreciated, though I made me ignored, Oh, there's a day 359 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,240 coming where He will personally reward me. 360 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:24,640 And His reward will outweigh the prizes of 10 thousands of your 361 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:28,200 companions who may express their gratitude for you. 362 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:32,960 It will be from the Prince of Peace himself. 363 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,800 And I'm reminded from this that oh God, you must be my primary 364 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:42,080 audience all the time. You are the one that I am 365 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:45,200 seeking to please. And when you listen, when you 366 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:48,920 live in that reality, I assure you this, the back breaking 367 00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:55,000 pressures of worldly success and the agonizing lies of being a 368 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,480 failure will roll off your shoulders. 369 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,120 He will come to reward the redeemed. 370 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:08,000 But fourthly, the last part of verse 18, we read an interesting 371 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:14,560 declaration. And for destroying the 372 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:21,160 destroyers of the earth. The fourth thing that we can 373 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,160 expect when Christ comes back is a destruction of the wicked. 374 00:26:25,360 --> 00:26:29,200 The wicked will be destroyed. Listen, we're all sinners. 375 00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:33,440 Each of us have fallen short of the glory of God. 376 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:37,720 And yet, the Bible tells us that there are different categories 377 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:44,320 of evil that can be committed, and what's being highlighted 378 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:48,920 here is not those who pollute the environment or who are 379 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,800 careless towards the ecosystem, but those who are ambitiously 380 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:58,040 seeking to corrupt the world through their evil, especially 381 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:01,680 those in powerful positions and platforms of influence. 382 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:09,000 God is going to target the destroyers of the earth, meaning 383 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:13,600 in context, He's going to come after the Antichrist, his 384 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:15,760 minions, and his evil empire. Absolutely. 385 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:21,280 But this also encompasses anyone who has promoted or encouraged 386 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:26,160 sin in ways that disintegrate the fabric of society. 387 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,600 Christ is keeping in mind those who are leading the charge or 388 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:36,080 adding fuel to the fire that is destroying this world. 389 00:27:36,360 --> 00:27:39,320 So let me be very clear. Anyone who advocates for the 390 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:43,960 murder of children in the womb is a destroyer of the earth. 391 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,760 Anyone who encourages someone to believe that they are not the 392 00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:51,760 gender God assigned at birth is a destroyer of the earth. 393 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,440 Anybody who teaches and advocates and encourages people 394 00:27:56,120 --> 00:28:00,160 to marry of the same sex is assaulting the very bedrock of 395 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:03,640 civilization and is a destroyer of the earth. 396 00:28:04,680 --> 00:28:08,680 Anybody who has haunted down or harassed a Christian or the 397 00:28:08,680 --> 00:28:13,240 church who by the word of God is identified as the salt and the 398 00:28:13,240 --> 00:28:16,480 light of the earth, is a destroyer of the earth. 399 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:20,840 Christ is coming for those who destroy the earth. 400 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:26,160 And here's hope, if you have played a part in that, that even 401 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:34,640 if you have done something to harm God's intended world, what 402 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:39,040 God has designed for His creation, you can call out to 403 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:43,680 Him and he will forgive you completely, totally. 404 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,640 And not only will He forgive you, He will adopt you. 405 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:50,680 And not only will He adopt you, He will crown you and reward you 406 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,360 should you remain faithful to Him. 407 00:28:53,760 --> 00:28:59,280 But all for those who are adamant and stubborn and 408 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:03,040 convinced that they are doing a world of favor by destroying it 409 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:05,200 according to the authority of God's Word. 410 00:29:05,200 --> 00:29:07,400 I say to you, you will be destroyed. 411 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:14,720 Christ himself will destroy you. Wrath is looming over your head, 412 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:19,160 and you must flee the wrath to come and hide yourself in Christ 413 00:29:19,160 --> 00:29:23,480 while you have life. The wicked will be destroyed. 414 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:30,400 Finally, and what I'm looking forward to the most is what we 415 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:34,280 find in verse 19. And God's temple in heaven was 416 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:37,600 opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his 417 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:40,240 temple. There were flashes of lightning, 418 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,760 rumblings, peals of Thunder and earthquake and heavy hail. 419 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,200 The fullness of God's presence will be restored. 420 00:29:50,040 --> 00:29:53,640 This is symbolically portrayed by John's words in this verse as 421 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,720 he sees the unthinkable. You have to understand that John 422 00:29:56,720 --> 00:30:01,520 has a Jewish mind. He is a Jew and he understands 423 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,200 that for centuries the Ark of the Covenant was veiled. 424 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:10,280 It was designed to be hidden. It was not meant for the 425 00:30:10,280 --> 00:30:15,800 onlooker or the common gaze. Even the most privileged in 426 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,800 Israel, the high priest, only had a single day to get a glance 427 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:23,120 of this golden chess piece that symbolized God's presence on 428 00:30:23,120 --> 00:30:25,440 earth. And yet at this point in this 429 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:31,960 vision, as he hears this amazing song being sung, he also sees 430 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:38,040 the temple in heaven opening and the Ark of the Covenant in 431 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:49,840 complete view, signifying what? That at Christ's coronation we 432 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:51,480 will know the fullness of His presence. 433 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:59,600 What was commonly known to be concealed now emerges for all to 434 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:02,880 behold. And so here's the message of 435 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,200 this The nations can expect God's wrath, but you and I, who 436 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:10,960 are righteous in Christ, are being prepared to have full 437 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:16,360 access and unending enjoyment of communion with God himself. 438 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:24,960 Listen, whatever testimonies that you have known of the 439 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:28,360 reality of God, whatever sweetness you have tasted in 440 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:33,080 your relationship with Christ, are but a few drops of a passing 441 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:39,600 cloud in comparison to the cascade of glory that awaits you 442 00:31:40,360 --> 00:31:46,600 as you enter into this realm and are washed by it endlessly. 443 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:51,520 This is what you and I get to have. 444 00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,440 This is our inheritance. This is what awaits all of those 445 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,320 who are in Christ, whether they die and enter into that world or 446 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,440 if Christ comes back and brings that world to us. 447 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,320 And this is something that the Bible looks forward to over and 448 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:07,920 over again. Again, in the same way that I 449 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,280 believe that many believers, precious believers, have a very 450 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:15,680 limited understanding of the last days, they also have a very 451 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:19,640 limited understanding of heaven and the heaven that Christ will 452 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:21,880 bring. If you look at the language of 453 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,840 the New Testament, what the greatest men of God look forward 454 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:32,560 to the most was Christ himself, an unhindered fellowship with 455 00:32:32,560 --> 00:32:35,280 man. Let me give you familiar verses 456 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:38,720 that many failed to meditate on. Listen to Paul's words. 457 00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:40,720 You don't have to turn there, but just soak this in. 458 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:45,600 In Philippians 123, he says, I am hard pressed between the two, 459 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:49,040 My desires to depart and not be in heaven. 460 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:57,720 But what Be with Christ, be with Christ, for that is far better. 461 00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:03,000 What's far better? Being with Christ, Whoever 462 00:33:03,000 --> 00:33:04,720 Christ is, that's where heaven is. 463 00:33:06,240 --> 00:33:08,800 And Paul says as he is contemplating his potential 464 00:33:08,960 --> 00:33:13,240 martyrdom, I just, I can't wait to be with him. 465 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,720 Listen to how he encourages the believers in First Thessalonians 466 00:33:17,720 --> 00:33:21,040 417. Then we who are alive, who are 467 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:24,480 left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet 468 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:29,880 the Lord in the air. So we will always be with the 469 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,400 Lord. Do you see that? 470 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:40,760 With him, with him, with him? So that's why we are, we are 471 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:46,400 really strange as Christians because we can actually smile at 472 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:50,640 death because it's the portal to being with Christ. 473 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:54,800 But what we're being told here is ready or not, Christ is going 474 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:58,560 to come with all His glory and we will marvel at it and we will 475 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,680 enjoy it. We will savor it and we will sit 476 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:04,640 there. Never bore with the company of 477 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:06,240 Christ. Never. 478 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:09,639 I'm sure there are some people in your life, even for the 479 00:34:09,639 --> 00:34:13,280 severe introvert, that you enjoy being with, with all their 480 00:34:13,280 --> 00:34:15,239 limitations and all their problems and all their 481 00:34:15,239 --> 00:34:16,960 imperfections. But there is One who will 482 00:34:16,960 --> 00:34:21,840 radiate so much joy and peace and power that it will keep you 483 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:28,040 captivated for eons. That's what heaven is, and John 484 00:34:28,040 --> 00:34:31,600 gets a symbolic picture of it. This arc now is in full view. 485 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:34,960 And as Christ comes back, He's going to bring a measure of His 486 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,840 glory that you cannot even understand with your mind today. 487 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:44,360 Do we long for the same? Do we yearn for it? 488 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:49,920 Can we echo this refrain of this song, the song of triumph? 489 00:34:50,679 --> 00:34:53,000 Can I ask you this very pointed question? 490 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:54,719 Do you find yourself yearning for it? 491 00:34:55,679 --> 00:34:57,760 Do you find yourself meditating on it? 492 00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,920 Do you find yourself praying for it? 493 00:35:01,640 --> 00:35:06,920 I always enjoy my Bible reading about the introduction of any 494 00:35:06,920 --> 00:35:12,360 individual in Holy Writ because the Bible has a principle that 495 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:15,200 whenever we are introduced to a person in the Scriptures, what 496 00:35:15,200 --> 00:35:18,080 we find at first impression is very telling. 497 00:35:20,240 --> 00:35:24,960 And my mind, as I am just chewing on these truths, went to 498 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:29,680 an obscure figure by the name of Simeon Simeon. 499 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:35,040 Simeon, Simeon, that old man who had the privilege of carrying in 500 00:35:35,040 --> 00:35:40,480 his arms the Messiah as a baby. But let me remind you what the 501 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:45,360 Holy Spirit says about Simeon in Luke chapter 2 verse 25. 502 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,080 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this 503 00:35:50,080 --> 00:35:55,640 man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of 504 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:59,040 Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 505 00:36:00,360 --> 00:36:01,800 What a way to introduce this man. 506 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:08,440 His righteousness and his devotion is connected to his 507 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:13,720 patient waiting for the everlasting Kingdom of the Son 508 00:36:13,720 --> 00:36:16,040 of David to arrive in his lifetime. 509 00:36:17,880 --> 00:36:21,000 So if you were to open up Simeon's heart, what you would 510 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:25,320 find is a heartbeat that continually was beating for the 511 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:29,040 manifest reality of the Kingdom that God spoke of in the Holy 512 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:34,560 Scriptures. And I can't help but look at my 513 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:38,480 own life and ask, do I find myself waiting for the same? 514 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:44,880 When my mind goes into a default state, does it ever visit the 515 00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:48,400 thought that Christ will come back with His Kingdom and 516 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,840 furnish me for it? He'll make everything right. 517 00:36:53,080 --> 00:36:57,320 He'll make me right, and I will see Him face to face and enjoy 518 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:59,960 Him for eternity. Do I ever think about that? 519 00:37:02,520 --> 00:37:06,920 And Simeon knew it. In part, he got to explore the 520 00:37:06,920 --> 00:37:11,000 the reality of Christ's coming in his first advent, but the 521 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:15,080 fullness of it is yet to come. And according to the Book of 522 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:19,000 Revelation, before it does come, though it is around the corner 523 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,240 that the seven trump of this blast it's about to happen. 524 00:37:21,760 --> 00:37:27,520 There's still awaits a full set of judgements before it does. 525 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:31,880 Final observation before we break bread, look back at verse 526 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:33,960 19 after we learn about the Ark of His covenant. 527 00:37:35,240 --> 00:37:38,360 The last sentence there, there were flashes of lightning, 528 00:37:38,800 --> 00:37:43,520 rumblings, peel of Thunder and earthquake and heavy hail. 529 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,080 What's happening here? A storm is brewing. 530 00:37:48,800 --> 00:37:51,600 Why? Because yes, the 7th trumpet 531 00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:55,040 announces the coronation of Christ, but it also calls for 532 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:57,760 the pouring out of the seven bowls of God's wrath to make it 533 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:00,360 happen. And that is what you and I will 534 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:05,320 study in the coming weeks. And the fact that Christ's 535 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:11,360 inauguration is being announced here shows that the final sets 536 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,880 of judgments have to be very quick. 537 00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:20,560 It will be a short sequence. It will happen perhaps in a 538 00:38:20,560 --> 00:38:23,600 matter of days, at longest weeks. 539 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:26,640 And you're going to get that sense when we read these bowls 540 00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:30,760 being poured out, that they are rapid fire, which makes sense in 541 00:38:30,760 --> 00:38:34,160 our understanding of why Christ's coming is announced. 542 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:36,680 It's not going to be very long, and we're going to see that 543 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:38,520 together. Let's prepare our hearts. 544 00:38:49,110 --> 00:38:52,270 We thank You, Father, that this song of triumph belongs to us as 545 00:38:52,270 --> 00:38:56,510 well. Lord, we can't wait for the day 546 00:38:56,510 --> 00:39:01,950 where You do conquer this world and that You will show the world 547 00:39:01,950 --> 00:39:06,600 that You are the true King. We thank you that you will make 548 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:08,760 everything right. We thank you that you'll reward 549 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,400 those who have served you, even even the small and 550 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:17,600 insignificant. We thank you, O God, that you 551 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:23,720 will end Satan's reign and that you will clean up everything 552 00:39:23,720 --> 00:39:27,560 that he has destroyed. You will restore it, You'll 553 00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:30,960 regenerate it. And that we thank you that the 554 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:32,840 ultimate prize belongs to each of us. 555 00:39:32,840 --> 00:39:38,240 And that is the complete realization of Your presence 556 00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:41,520 before us. We may not understand how that 557 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:44,960 will be, but we believe Your word and look forward to it. 558 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:48,800 And Lord, as we come to this table, we are reminded of how 559 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:52,520 that is made possible. That before you come a second 560 00:39:52,520 --> 00:39:56,440 time, You came the first time, and that you shed your blood, 561 00:39:57,480 --> 00:40:00,600 and that you lived out our obedience, and that you 562 00:40:00,600 --> 00:40:03,520 transmitted your righteousness. You imputed it unto us. 563 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,440 And that we are made perfect and fit for eternity because of your 564 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:11,200 grace. Help us rejoice in this promise 565 00:40:11,560 --> 00:40:13,440 that has become our reality. Today. 566 00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,480 We give you glory and thanks in Jesus name, Amen. 567 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,200 As the praised team comes, we're ready to sing and rejoice over 568 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:25,440 these things. Just examine your heart, take 569 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:28,840 your time to really reflect on what we're about to do, and in a 570 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:30,560 moment we will come and eat together. 571 00:40:31,840 --> 00:40:32,480 Let's stand.