1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:05,520 This morning we begin a. Study of the Apocalypse of Saint 2 00:00:05,520 --> 00:00:11,080 John the Divine. It is really a picture of Jesus 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,080 Christ in his person and in his works. 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:19,560 We won't. Find anything in the Book of 5 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:24,760 Revelation that is not taught explained. 6 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:32,189 Preached, prophesied. And prefigured in all the. 7 00:00:32,189 --> 00:00:36,390 Books that go ahead of John. It's the very last book in the 8 00:00:36,390 --> 00:00:40,990 New Testament and we will be looking at the. 9 00:00:41,070 --> 00:00:47,590 Particulars of the book probably through the year, past advent, 10 00:00:47,830 --> 00:00:49,870 even maybe going. Toward Easter. 11 00:00:50,990 --> 00:00:56,710 So if you're not interested in this book at all, you can come 12 00:00:56,710 --> 00:01:00,210 and get some of. Your best sleep on a Sunday 13 00:01:00,210 --> 00:01:02,770 morning here in this quiet little Chapel. 14 00:01:04,690 --> 00:01:07,970 But if you're interested, I think it's going to be a 15 00:01:07,970 --> 00:01:10,050 fascinating study. For us, I really do. 16 00:01:10,050 --> 00:01:15,810 Please stand if you went for the reading of the word Revelation, 17 00:01:16,650 --> 00:01:22,290 chapter one, verse one. What we're reading here is 18 00:01:22,290 --> 00:01:24,450 what's sometimes called the prologue. 19 00:01:25,390 --> 00:01:27,950 John, the writer. Of this book is also the one who 20 00:01:27,950 --> 00:01:30,790 wrote. The Gospel of John And we also 21 00:01:30,790 --> 00:01:35,630 find in the Gospel of John what? A prologue to the Gospel You 22 00:01:35,630 --> 00:01:40,150 know the Gospel of John is. Rich in what John tells us. 23 00:01:40,150 --> 00:01:43,190 Just in the prologue. And so it is here in the 24 00:01:43,190 --> 00:01:46,550 Apocalypse as well. Here now the Word of God, the 25 00:01:46,550 --> 00:01:49,550 revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to. 26 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:53,350 Show to his servants the things that must soon take. 27 00:01:53,350 --> 00:01:57,310 Place he made it known by sending his Angel. 28 00:01:57,310 --> 00:02:01,470 To the servant John, who bore witness to the word of God into 29 00:02:01,470 --> 00:02:04,870 the testimony. Of Jesus Christ, even to all 30 00:02:04,870 --> 00:02:10,270 that He saw, Blessed is the. One who reads aloud the words of 31 00:02:10,270 --> 00:02:14,550 this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is 32 00:02:14,550 --> 00:02:20,230 written in it for the. Time is near John to the Seven. 33 00:02:20,230 --> 00:02:24,110 Churches that are in Asia. Grace to you, and peace from him 34 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:28,830 who is and who was and who is to come, and from the Seven. 35 00:02:28,830 --> 00:02:32,310 Spirits who are before his throne and from Jesus. 36 00:02:32,310 --> 00:02:34,910 Christ the faithful witness the 1st. 37 00:02:34,910 --> 00:02:39,510 Born of the dead and the ruler of the kings on earth to him who 38 00:02:39,510 --> 00:02:41,710 loves us. And his freed us from our sins 39 00:02:41,710 --> 00:02:44,110 by his blood, and made us a Kingdom. 40 00:02:44,390 --> 00:02:47,630 Priest to his God, and Father to him be glory. 41 00:02:47,630 --> 00:02:50,830 And dominion forever and ever. Amen. 42 00:02:52,090 --> 00:02:55,810 Behold, he is coming with the. Clouds and every I will see him 43 00:02:55,810 --> 00:02:57,530 even. Those who pierced him and all 44 00:02:57,530 --> 00:03:02,330 the tribes of the earth shall wail on account of him Even so. 45 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:06,850 Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega. 46 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:11,970 Says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come the 47 00:03:11,970 --> 00:03:15,730 Almighty. I John your brother and partner 48 00:03:15,730 --> 00:03:17,450 in the. Tribulation and the Kingdom and 49 00:03:17,450 --> 00:03:21,250 the patient endurance that are in Jesus was on the island 50 00:03:21,250 --> 00:03:23,290 called Patmas on account of the word of. 51 00:03:23,290 --> 00:03:26,290 God in the testimony of Jesus. I was in the. 52 00:03:26,290 --> 00:03:29,570 Spirit on the Lord's day. And I heard him behind, and I 53 00:03:29,570 --> 00:03:33,730 heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet, saying, write 54 00:03:33,810 --> 00:03:36,650 what you see in a book and send it. 55 00:03:36,650 --> 00:03:40,210 To the seven churches, to emphasis, to Smyrna and to 56 00:03:40,210 --> 00:03:44,770 Pergamum, to fire a tyrant, to Sardis into Philadelphia, and to 57 00:03:44,770 --> 00:03:50,270 lay Doicia, the Word. Of the Lord you may be seated. 58 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:02,960 And word apocalypse. Sometimes it's. 59 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:04,960 A scary word because of so much of A. 60 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,840 Connotation that we've seen in the last century or so in our 61 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,520 literature and then our apocalyptic imagery. 62 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:16,320 Bear in mind something as we. Read and study in this Book of 63 00:04:16,399 --> 00:04:18,720 Revelation for the next few weeks. 64 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:25,670 Audio visual technology. It's only been with us about 65 00:04:25,670 --> 00:04:29,110 120. Think about that. 66 00:04:29,190 --> 00:04:32,550 It's a 20th and 21st century phenomenon. 67 00:04:33,230 --> 00:04:35,670 Now you. Can go into a theater and you 68 00:04:35,670 --> 00:04:38,950 can sit there and if it's raining on the screen, you'll 69 00:04:38,950 --> 00:04:42,470 feel the mist. In your face, and if the things 70 00:04:42,470 --> 00:04:45,430 are turning upside down, you'll feel like you've been turned 71 00:04:45,430 --> 00:04:48,090 upside down. And you'll see the monster. 72 00:04:48,090 --> 00:04:52,330 Coming straight at you with a with an incredible speed and 73 00:04:52,330 --> 00:04:54,090 you'll think that you've just been swallowed. 74 00:04:54,090 --> 00:04:58,250 By the monster. The technology, the audio visual 75 00:04:58,250 --> 00:05:00,770 technology that's taken place, the massive. 76 00:05:01,410 --> 00:05:05,370 Things that are done just in the old days in analog and now in 77 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:08,810 digital, it's just phenomenal. And we've really been kind. 78 00:05:08,810 --> 00:05:13,210 Of had our minds messed with and I'm. 79 00:05:13,210 --> 00:05:15,970 Afraid they're probably still trying to figure out ways to 80 00:05:15,970 --> 00:05:21,290 mess with our minds, even. More with modern audio visual 81 00:05:21,410 --> 00:05:24,850 technology, there was none of this stuff. 82 00:05:25,330 --> 00:05:28,330 In the ancient world and none of this stuff even in. 83 00:05:28,330 --> 00:05:32,090 Our world for 19 centuries since Christ. 84 00:05:33,690 --> 00:05:38,570 Everything had to be either portrayed physically or it was a 85 00:05:38,610 --> 00:05:41,850 part of a mental image. A vision. 86 00:05:42,650 --> 00:05:49,100 There was no mediation of technology that could. 87 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:53,020 Do that for us. So what we have in. 88 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:57,060 This piece of literature, which is in his final analysis as we 89 00:05:57,060 --> 00:06:01,980 read in the text, is a book. The Lord told the Apostle to 90 00:06:01,980 --> 00:06:06,540 take what he saw. The Lord was going to show him 91 00:06:06,780 --> 00:06:11,020 visions. And he was to take what he saw, 92 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:14,900 bear in mind. You and I don't see it. 93 00:06:16,530 --> 00:06:20,290 John saw it, and the Lord told him. 94 00:06:20,610 --> 00:06:26,090 To reduce it to writing, that is, put it in a scroll, put it 95 00:06:26,090 --> 00:06:29,010 in a book. And the Book of Revelation, 22 96 00:06:29,010 --> 00:06:32,050 chapters long in our text, is among the very. 97 00:06:32,050 --> 00:06:37,650 Longest books in the new. And it it it makes a pretty nice 98 00:06:37,930 --> 00:06:42,290 folio by itself. And to put that in a book, so 99 00:06:42,290 --> 00:06:44,530 John? We don't see. 100 00:06:45,500 --> 00:06:51,740 John writes it down in. The words that we read and 101 00:06:51,740 --> 00:06:57,860 that's what we do, but we don't. Collectively, necessarily read 102 00:06:57,860 --> 00:07:01,700 it. It was read in the churches and 103 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:08,220 the people heard it. They didn't see it. 104 00:07:10,580 --> 00:07:14,020 People sitting where you are in in one of these original ancient 105 00:07:14,020 --> 00:07:16,470 churches. Sitting where you are, you 106 00:07:16,470 --> 00:07:21,510 didn't see the vision. You didn't write it down. 107 00:07:23,430 --> 00:07:28,750 You didn't even read it. You heard the words. 108 00:07:30,030 --> 00:07:33,670 That's all you had. That's all you need. 109 00:07:34,510 --> 00:07:38,070 Faith comes by. Hearing and hearing by the Word 110 00:07:38,070 --> 00:07:42,630 of God, and so the dynamic that matches God's. 111 00:07:44,310 --> 00:07:49,790 To our auditing and our. Hearing is the bridge that we'll 112 00:07:49,790 --> 00:07:52,910 be working with this whole time, these dramatic. 113 00:07:52,910 --> 00:07:55,430 Scenes will be portrayed. John saw them. 114 00:07:57,390 --> 00:08:02,110 He wrote them down. This is a, not only an. 115 00:08:02,110 --> 00:08:05,590 Apocalyptic writing. This is not only a. 116 00:08:05,590 --> 00:08:10,870 Prophecy, that is, things that are too shortly come to pass. 117 00:08:11,390 --> 00:08:15,460 But this is also a letter. It's just like the letter that 118 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:18,300 Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, or the letter that Paul wrote to 119 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:21,020 the Corinthians of the Romans. Or any other letter. 120 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:27,580 It has an epistolary form. It is greetings are sent to 121 00:08:27,580 --> 00:08:30,140 these churches. There's a particular audience, 122 00:08:30,380 --> 00:08:32,020 just like. Paul sent to the Corinthians, 123 00:08:32,020 --> 00:08:35,419 the Thessalonians, the Romans. This is sent to the seven 124 00:08:35,419 --> 00:08:39,620 churches of Asia Minor. They're on the Far East 125 00:08:39,900 --> 00:08:43,309 Mediterranean. They have a particular audience 126 00:08:43,309 --> 00:08:48,230 that will be hearing these words and so this is the dynamic of 127 00:08:48,230 --> 00:08:51,230 the. Of the book, and the 128 00:08:51,230 --> 00:08:54,030 interpretation of the book and the understanding of the book 129 00:08:54,150 --> 00:08:57,390 must. Never forget that dynamic, that 130 00:08:57,390 --> 00:09:02,070 these are visions and they're visions that describe, not. 131 00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:06,390 Only visual imagery, but auditory imagery as well. 132 00:09:07,110 --> 00:09:13,580 They're Speaking of lightnings and and and images and beasts 133 00:09:13,620 --> 00:09:17,340 and individuals and people and animals and all sorts. 134 00:09:17,340 --> 00:09:20,740 Of things. But there's also in in there 135 00:09:20,980 --> 00:09:24,940 things that are not just visual butter, butter, auditory things 136 00:09:24,940 --> 00:09:28,780 like thundering and peels of Thunder and. 137 00:09:28,780 --> 00:09:35,980 Voices and trumpets. And so that also influences our 138 00:09:35,980 --> 00:09:39,260 hermeneutic, that is the. Way we interpret the scripture. 139 00:09:39,790 --> 00:09:41,510 Now this prologue, I'm just going to walk through it this 140 00:09:41,510 --> 00:09:43,030 morning. That's what we have time for, 141 00:09:43,270 --> 00:09:44,950 but it's. Worth it because it sets the 142 00:09:44,950 --> 00:09:46,910 stage. It's amazing how many things. 143 00:09:47,110 --> 00:09:52,350 In this book are are the stage is set by this particular this 144 00:09:52,350 --> 00:09:55,910 particular passage, the revelation of Jesus Christ. 145 00:09:56,230 --> 00:09:59,110 The revelation is the word apocalypse and what it means. 146 00:09:59,110 --> 00:10:02,430 It means an unveiling it. Means really to pull out of 147 00:10:02,430 --> 00:10:06,630 hiding and set alongside. To pull it out of hiding, 148 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,440 ironically. A lot of people think that the 149 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:15,160 Book of Revelation itself is so cryptic and so mysterious that 150 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,640 the Book of Revelation itself is kind of the hiding of the 151 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:20,680 message. But it's not. 152 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,600 This is the Revelation. This is what has. 153 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,600 Brought out of hiding that which God wants us and openly 154 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:30,280 revealing, it's a. Picture of a curtain being 155 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:33,480 pulled back. And being able to see the the 156 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:36,050 thing that the Lord wants us to see and this. 157 00:10:36,050 --> 00:10:38,650 Is It's a revelation of Jesus Christ. 158 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:42,490 Don't ever forget that any place you're reading. 159 00:10:42,490 --> 00:10:45,210 In the Book of Revelation, you're not too far from 160 00:10:45,210 --> 00:10:46,970 something if you're not right on it. 161 00:10:46,970 --> 00:10:48,970 You're not too far from something having to do with 162 00:10:48,970 --> 00:10:53,570 Jesus Christ. I've heard incredible 163 00:10:53,570 --> 00:10:56,170 interpretations of the Book of Revelation. 164 00:10:56,170 --> 00:10:59,570 If you were raised like I was on the Schofield Bible at Schofield 165 00:10:59,570 --> 00:11:04,670 Church, then you saw all kinds. Of things in there, you know 166 00:11:04,670 --> 00:11:08,430 tanks and horses and all kinds of battle implement and on and 167 00:11:08,430 --> 00:11:10,910 on and on some of that. May or may not be there. 168 00:11:12,550 --> 00:11:16,470 Remember the point of the book. Is to reveal, to uncover, to 169 00:11:16,470 --> 00:11:18,550 bring out of hiding, to bring to the center. 170 00:11:18,550 --> 00:11:22,550 Stage and to pull the curtain back and to reveal in all glory 171 00:11:23,190 --> 00:11:27,090 is Jesus Christ. It's the revelation of Jesus 172 00:11:27,090 --> 00:11:29,450 Christ. It's about Jesus Christ, and 173 00:11:29,450 --> 00:11:33,210 it's from Jesus. This is John who made Jesus 174 00:11:33,210 --> 00:11:36,730 known in his gospel. The Word became flesh and dwelt 175 00:11:36,730 --> 00:11:39,410 among us and we. Beheld his glory. 176 00:11:42,050 --> 00:11:47,530 Now John wants us to. Hear the revelation, and the 177 00:11:47,530 --> 00:11:49,730 Lord has impressed all this upon him, and put him in. 178 00:11:49,730 --> 00:11:52,610 The place where he can do it. It's a revelation of Jesus 179 00:11:52,610 --> 00:11:56,820 Christ. Which God gave This comes from 180 00:11:56,820 --> 00:12:00,260 God, and you'll see. That God is spelled out here in 181 00:12:00,260 --> 00:12:05,540 this very introduction as a triune God, God the Father, God 182 00:12:05,540 --> 00:12:08,620 the Son. And God, the Holy Spirit, One 183 00:12:08,620 --> 00:12:14,220 God in essence. 3 distinct persons and they are each 184 00:12:14,300 --> 00:12:16,820 manifested. Throughout the throughout the 185 00:12:16,860 --> 00:12:21,420 book, together and individually, you'll see so. 186 00:12:22,420 --> 00:12:26,380 God gave this revelation to John. 187 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:29,740 But it wasn't for John to consume it. 188 00:12:29,780 --> 00:12:35,580 It was for John to transmit. It, it says, to show his 189 00:12:35,580 --> 00:12:38,340 servants the thing that must soon take place. 190 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:42,700 That show where show means to demonstrate to pageant to set. 191 00:12:42,700 --> 00:12:46,420 Forth in a parade to make it known. 192 00:12:48,340 --> 00:12:50,580 Some people think the. Book of Revelation is to hide 193 00:12:50,580 --> 00:12:53,280 things, but it's not. It's right, the opposite. 194 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:57,280 It's to make. Great truths about God and his 195 00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:02,520 Son, Jesus Christ, and the workings of God in human history 196 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,440 and the the, the. Point to which all things 197 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,520 travel, That is the great Escatan, the Great last. 198 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,680 Day and even the final. Eternal state we see in the. 199 00:13:12,680 --> 00:13:15,920 Last couple of chapters in The new Heavens and the New Earth 200 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,400 with the new. Jerusalem coming down and all of 201 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,040 the pictures that are there. It's it's to reveal, it's to 202 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,080 show, and it's interesting, he said. 203 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,400 To show his servants the point of revelation. 204 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,800 Is not to fascinate the theologians. 205 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:36,120 Although it does, but it's to show every everyday Christian 206 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:39,360 some very important things that we need to. 207 00:13:39,360 --> 00:13:41,400 Know and they're spelled out here. 208 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:43,320 In just a minute, let me move along to to see. 209 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:50,370 That to show things that soon must take place and we'll. 210 00:13:50,570 --> 00:13:52,730 Talk about it when we get to these particular places. 211 00:13:52,730 --> 00:13:57,370 What is being? Shown here that is taking place 212 00:13:57,370 --> 00:14:01,170 that we can understand what God. Has for us. 213 00:14:01,170 --> 00:14:06,850 But the immediacy of this prophecy to its fulfillment must 214 00:14:06,850 --> 00:14:09,410 not be underestimated. There's some. 215 00:14:09,410 --> 00:14:11,930 Sense in which? Whatever John saw. 216 00:14:12,650 --> 00:14:17,410 And whatever God gave him. To reveal to us to his servants, 217 00:14:17,410 --> 00:14:21,610 His bond, servants, His people, was not something was going to. 218 00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:25,370 Happen millennia later and something that was. 219 00:14:25,650 --> 00:14:28,770 Soon to take place and we're going to see. 220 00:14:29,050 --> 00:14:32,770 Very soon in some of the. Things that we see in the Book 221 00:14:32,770 --> 00:14:37,370 of Revelation took take place very soon that things that must 222 00:14:37,370 --> 00:14:40,130 soon take place. And by the way, this, this 223 00:14:40,130 --> 00:14:43,050 language here you remember when we studied Daniel a year or two 224 00:14:43,050 --> 00:14:45,180 ago. Daniel Chapter 2. 225 00:14:45,180 --> 00:14:47,580 When, when that. Long chapter that deals with the 226 00:14:47,580 --> 00:14:51,100 vision that Nebuchadnezzar. Had and that Daniel came in to. 227 00:14:51,100 --> 00:14:53,540 Interpret when the other soothsayers and the other 228 00:14:53,780 --> 00:14:57,020 prophets and. Spiritual men in the Kingdom 229 00:14:57,020 --> 00:14:59,980 couldn't interpret the dream and Daniel interpreted. 230 00:14:59,980 --> 00:15:03,580 The dream for Nebuchadnezzar. This same language is used and 231 00:15:03,580 --> 00:15:05,380 some believe it's just a. Pretty much of A direct 232 00:15:05,380 --> 00:15:08,140 quotation. What Daniel did for 233 00:15:08,140 --> 00:15:12,180 Nebuchadnezzar, John is doing for. 234 00:15:13,530 --> 00:15:17,010 That is opening it up, making it known. 235 00:15:18,330 --> 00:15:20,570 And he's did this by sending his Angel. 236 00:15:20,930 --> 00:15:23,450 To his servant John. And the word Angel just simply 237 00:15:23,450 --> 00:15:25,970 means a. And just like in the book of 238 00:15:25,970 --> 00:15:28,930 Daniel, we saw the word Angel can be. 239 00:15:31,090 --> 00:15:34,250 A ministering spirit, and we think of the supernatural work 240 00:15:34,250 --> 00:15:38,050 of angels, the part of God's created order that bring 241 00:15:38,050 --> 00:15:40,210 messages with archangels and all of that. 242 00:15:40,210 --> 00:15:43,880 Can be that at times the Angel can be. 243 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:46,920 Just a messenger. That's all the word means. 244 00:15:47,200 --> 00:15:48,920 In fact, I think that's what it means when we come to the 245 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,920 cerebral churches. It'll say to the Angel at 246 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,800 Ephesus, right to the Angel at Smyrna, right, and the Angel. 247 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,280 Could just be the messenger and some have understood. 248 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,080 That to just be the minister, the one who brings the word the 249 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:06,840 people didn't have a copy. In their in their pews they had 250 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,280 the word of the. Messenger and the Messenger of 251 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,660 God to the individual churches were those elders and those men 252 00:16:13,660 --> 00:16:17,860 that God had consecrated. To be his his spokesman, but it 253 00:16:17,860 --> 00:16:21,540 also at times. The word Angel can mean nothing 254 00:16:21,540 --> 00:16:24,380 more than an emissary that's come forth to do something, and 255 00:16:24,380 --> 00:16:28,420 that can be even. Applied to Jesus himself, the 256 00:16:28,420 --> 00:16:30,700 Angel of the. Lord in the Old Testament kind 257 00:16:30,700 --> 00:16:33,340 of a. An interesting figure you see in 258 00:16:33,340 --> 00:16:35,980 several places in the book of Joshua. 259 00:16:35,980 --> 00:16:39,640 And and other places is an example of this sort. 260 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,760 Of thing. So the Angel is God's messenger. 261 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,400 There may be one, they may be many, They may be manifold. 262 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:52,920 But this is the the method of. Delivery that God uses when God. 263 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:54,760 Delivers a message. He has a messenger. 264 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:58,160 And that's what. He's saying here he sent his 265 00:16:58,160 --> 00:17:00,760 Angel. To his servant John, the same 266 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,320 word is used. The servant is the bond slave of 267 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:04,920 John. Now let me. 268 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,560 Stop here real quick. I think I know that most of you 269 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,040 know all this, so I'm kind of. Hitting it lightly, but this 270 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:15,440 John is John the Divine John. This is the Apostle John. 271 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:19,079 This is the. Brother of James, you remember 272 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:22,200 James was the one. Of the very first members of the 273 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:26,280 early church to be a martyred. Under King Herod. 274 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:31,080 And he was martyred his brother. These are the sons of Zebedee. 275 00:17:31,780 --> 00:17:33,780 These are the two boys that argued over who was going to be 276 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:35,820 the greatest and who was going to sit on the left and who was 277 00:17:35,820 --> 00:17:37,980 going to sit on the right. James and John. 278 00:17:37,980 --> 00:17:41,020 These are the fishermen that, along with Peter and Andrew, 279 00:17:41,140 --> 00:17:43,580 fished. The Sea of Galilee for a living 280 00:17:43,580 --> 00:17:45,740 for years. That's who this is. 281 00:17:46,180 --> 00:17:49,940 James died early. First apostle, Apparently John 282 00:17:49,940 --> 00:17:51,460 is the last. Apostle to die. 283 00:17:51,540 --> 00:17:54,540 Jesus had made reference to that in the Gospel of John. 284 00:17:54,540 --> 00:17:58,140 We read about it, and he has. Outlived all of them. 285 00:17:58,260 --> 00:18:00,100 Outlived Andrew. Outlived Peter. 286 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:03,060 Outlived all the other apostles, and he alone. 287 00:18:03,420 --> 00:18:07,940 Remains as the last apostle, and he's the one. 288 00:18:08,180 --> 00:18:11,580 That the Lord gives this particular revelation to. 289 00:18:11,580 --> 00:18:14,460 This is the disciple that Jesus loved. 290 00:18:14,740 --> 00:18:21,080 This is the the Apostle John and the reason I mentioned that and 291 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:21,720 just. Leave it at. 292 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,000 That is because everything I'm saying. 293 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,160 Up here every indicative sentence that I try to. 294 00:18:27,160 --> 00:18:34,880 Construct is disputed, debated, denied 15 reasons. 295 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,640 For and 10 reasons against that interpretation. 296 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:42,170 So be aware of that and take it into your own soul. 297 00:18:42,170 --> 00:18:44,050 And work with it. But this this is the way you 298 00:18:44,410 --> 00:18:45,410 know. All I know is. 299 00:18:45,410 --> 00:18:48,290 To preach what I think I know. You know what I. 300 00:18:48,290 --> 00:18:50,930 Understand after looking at it and something so. 301 00:18:50,930 --> 00:18:54,890 We're we're looking at that John, not some John. 302 00:18:54,890 --> 00:18:59,890 Later on in in in Church history in the 2nd century, but this is 303 00:18:59,970 --> 00:19:04,770 a 1st century John and it's a. 1st century composition. 304 00:19:08,010 --> 00:19:10,090 And this is John, who bore witness. 305 00:19:10,130 --> 00:19:14,370 To the Word of God, into the testimony of Jesus, Even to. 306 00:19:14,370 --> 00:19:17,930 All that he saw. If you're familiar with John's 307 00:19:17,930 --> 00:19:20,770 writing, you know he makes. Much of those two words 308 00:19:21,090 --> 00:19:26,850 testimony and witness, he insists in his letter that he 309 00:19:26,850 --> 00:19:29,890 was an. Eyewitness to the glory of the 310 00:19:31,090 --> 00:19:34,130 Son of. God in his earthly ministry, we 311 00:19:34,130 --> 00:19:35,930 saw. Him we beheld him, our hands 312 00:19:35,930 --> 00:19:37,650 have handled him the word of life. 313 00:19:38,070 --> 00:19:40,470 This idea of eyewitness testimony being able. 314 00:19:40,470 --> 00:19:44,830 To to properly witness and then to verify and then to bear 315 00:19:44,830 --> 00:19:48,550 witness, to testify about it, are very important in the mind 316 00:19:48,550 --> 00:19:50,390 of John. It's also very important in the 317 00:19:50,390 --> 00:19:51,790 mind of any. Gospel Writer. 318 00:19:52,030 --> 00:19:54,750 And it's important even today that be. 319 00:19:54,750 --> 00:20:00,350 Faithful witness. Good, accurate, eyewitness 320 00:20:00,350 --> 00:20:02,950 testimony. That so much of. 321 00:20:02,950 --> 00:20:05,470 What we believe hangs on the testimony. 322 00:20:05,670 --> 00:20:07,790 Of the witnesses. The witnesses to Jesus, The 323 00:20:07,790 --> 00:20:11,590 witness to his His His life, The witnesses to His resurrection. 324 00:20:11,750 --> 00:20:15,150 Especially the witnesses to his post resurrection appearances, 325 00:20:15,350 --> 00:20:18,510 the the 500 brethren that that saw him alive. 326 00:20:18,670 --> 00:20:21,070 After his crucifixion, so this notion. 327 00:20:21,070 --> 00:20:23,630 Of bearing witness is famous and. 328 00:20:23,630 --> 00:20:27,750 Important and large in the mind. Of the Apostolic community, and 329 00:20:27,750 --> 00:20:30,410 certainly to this John, even after. 330 00:20:30,410 --> 00:20:34,130 All these years he wants to make sure that we have this and. 331 00:20:34,130 --> 00:20:36,970 Then there is a benediction that's given a blessing. 332 00:20:37,370 --> 00:20:40,650 Blessed is the one Who. Reads aloud the words of this 333 00:20:40,650 --> 00:20:43,850 prophecy. You can read any of the pastoral 334 00:20:43,850 --> 00:20:47,090 pistols, and Paul will make a big deal out of the importance 335 00:20:47,090 --> 00:20:52,970 of reading scripture in the congregation among the. 336 00:20:52,970 --> 00:20:55,890 People, we did a good job of that this morning. 337 00:20:56,490 --> 00:21:00,250 We read a lot of scripture. It's a shame we don't read more 338 00:21:00,250 --> 00:21:03,890 scripture. Publicly in our worship 339 00:21:03,890 --> 00:21:05,810 services, but the blessing is to the one. 340 00:21:06,250 --> 00:21:08,410 Who does this? Who reads aloud the words of 341 00:21:08,410 --> 00:21:12,930 this prophecy? And blessed are those who hear. 342 00:21:13,970 --> 00:21:20,930 And as you know, the word here in the ancient Hebrew thinking 343 00:21:21,010 --> 00:21:24,810 also meant. To obey, To hear something is to 344 00:21:24,810 --> 00:21:27,670 obey it. My dad used to say that to me 345 00:21:27,670 --> 00:21:28,910 every once in a while when I was younger. 346 00:21:29,110 --> 00:21:28,990 Did you hear me? He. 347 00:21:30,790 --> 00:21:33,030 Well, yeah, I heard him. I just didn't. 348 00:21:33,390 --> 00:21:35,390 I just didn't do what he just told me to do. 349 00:21:35,870 --> 00:21:38,910 I hadn't obeyed him. Well, this is what what the 350 00:21:38,910 --> 00:21:40,550 blessing is for. It's not for those. 351 00:21:40,550 --> 00:21:44,030 That just just audit the the word of God. 352 00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:47,430 But it's those who keep what is written in it. 353 00:21:47,790 --> 00:21:49,590 Why? Because it's practical, it's 354 00:21:49,590 --> 00:21:50,950 immediate. It's urgent. 355 00:21:51,350 --> 00:21:56,880 It is imminent for the time. Is near now. 356 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,120 That's one of the concepts in the New Testament that you've 357 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:02,720 got to get your hands around and kind of get a good grip on him 358 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,440 that. Is the the actual cosmic timing? 359 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:10,960 Of the New Testament era. The Bible in the Old Testament 360 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,040 and then coming into the New only. 361 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:19,960 Knows 2 epochs of time. The former days and the latter 362 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,800 days? The former days or the days 363 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:29,450 before the coming of Christ? To earth and the latter days are 364 00:22:29,450 --> 00:22:32,570 the last days are the days since. 365 00:22:33,050 --> 00:22:36,050 Christ has appeared. So when Christ came, he 366 00:22:36,050 --> 00:22:38,130 preached. The Kingdom of God is at hand. 367 00:22:38,130 --> 00:22:41,930 It is near and in the mind. Of the the the biblical 368 00:22:41,930 --> 00:22:45,730 perspective is that everything that's happened since Christ 369 00:22:45,730 --> 00:22:48,650 came to earth and had his earthly ministry and did. 370 00:22:48,650 --> 00:22:50,930 His work, Death Barrel, Resurrection, and so forth. 371 00:22:51,170 --> 00:22:54,850 Since the appearance of Christ on earth in the flesh. 372 00:22:55,670 --> 00:23:01,150 In his salvific work, everything is in the last day, so Jesus was 373 00:23:01,150 --> 00:23:04,670 living. In the last days, so was Paul. 374 00:23:06,070 --> 00:23:10,110 So was John some? Decades later, so were we. 375 00:23:11,470 --> 00:23:14,150 There's no last. Days of the last days. 376 00:23:15,150 --> 00:23:19,590 The last days are the last days, and everything there is near 377 00:23:20,150 --> 00:23:24,240 imminent at hand. And about to take place and I. 378 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:27,280 Admit it's a problem when you think about good goodness, Ron. 379 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:32,120 It's been 2000 years. We got to have some kind of 380 00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:35,920 timing in there and break that up into some certain ages, you 381 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,320 know, a church age or an age of grand, all these different ages 382 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,000 that is in my mind. Completely bogus when it comes 383 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,560 to trying to put something like little. 384 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,350 There's only two epochs of time the. 385 00:23:47,350 --> 00:23:50,430 Former days and the latter days, and we're in the latter days and 386 00:23:50,430 --> 00:23:52,230 everything that the Old Testament Saints talked. 387 00:23:52,230 --> 00:23:55,230 About the prophets, and all of them did about the latter days 388 00:23:55,230 --> 00:23:58,590 were things that take place during that last days, which is 389 00:23:58,590 --> 00:24:02,350 the age of Christ, the age of fulfillment, the age of the 390 00:24:02,350 --> 00:24:06,430 Kingdom it's the coming of. Christ, everything Christ did 391 00:24:06,430 --> 00:24:11,720 while he was here. Everything Christ is doing now 392 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:15,680 by His Spirit as He reigns with His people upon the. 393 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:20,440 Heavenly throne for century after century as it's turned 394 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:28,840 out, and all the way, all the way to the Eskaton the last day. 395 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:33,200 So we're in the last days now, John. 396 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:37,240 Was in the last days as well, people that try to. 397 00:24:37,730 --> 00:24:40,810 Subdivide and to project and telescope and. 398 00:24:40,810 --> 00:24:43,850 Whatever else, Mountain. Peak or whatever else they talk 399 00:24:43,850 --> 00:24:48,490 about are really starting Starting to warp scripture a 400 00:24:48,490 --> 00:24:51,130 little bit in my estimation. Just take that for what it's 401 00:24:51,130 --> 00:24:53,050 worth. That's where you'll you'll be 402 00:24:53,050 --> 00:24:55,490 really helped when you hear the scripture talk about the notion 403 00:24:55,490 --> 00:24:57,170 of eminence. Something is here. 404 00:24:57,210 --> 00:24:59,650 It's at hand. The Kingdom of God was at hand 405 00:24:59,650 --> 00:25:02,890 when Jesus came and preached it. It's at hand today. 406 00:25:03,930 --> 00:25:08,310 As well, equally and the same and epochs of time. 407 00:25:08,310 --> 00:25:10,470 The characteristics of the Epoch of Time. 408 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:15,230 All remain the same. We are in the post Resurrection 409 00:25:15,750 --> 00:25:21,030 and Ascended. Era of God's work with his 410 00:25:21,030 --> 00:25:22,710 people. God's not done. 411 00:25:22,710 --> 00:25:24,310 He's not. Through there are other things 412 00:25:24,310 --> 00:25:27,070 yet to take. Place they're more to be 413 00:25:27,070 --> 00:25:30,030 fulfilled. One of the great. 414 00:25:30,030 --> 00:25:33,670 Arguments that Orthodox Jews and others make against Christianity 415 00:25:33,670 --> 00:25:35,490 is it. The Old Testament says all this 416 00:25:35,490 --> 00:25:36,850 stuff. Jesus is going to do when he 417 00:25:36,850 --> 00:25:39,490 comes, including. Establishing this massive 418 00:25:39,490 --> 00:25:42,730 Kingdom, subjecting all the people, bringing about a rule in 419 00:25:42,730 --> 00:25:45,890 a reign of righteousness, settling justice, settling all 420 00:25:45,890 --> 00:25:47,730 accounts and. Affairs, judging right, 421 00:25:47,930 --> 00:25:52,210 Assigning blame and assigning condemnation and. 422 00:25:52,210 --> 00:25:56,410 All these things and they just said they say simply that like 423 00:25:56,410 --> 00:25:59,850 Tovia Singer and some of the really famous Jesus didn't. 424 00:25:59,850 --> 00:26:02,330 Do that. Jesus didn't do any of that. 425 00:26:03,260 --> 00:26:04,700 So he really wasn't the Christ, was he? 426 00:26:04,700 --> 00:26:06,380 He really wasn't the Son of God, was he? 427 00:26:07,300 --> 00:26:08,900 And so they make that strong argument. 428 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:11,940 Well, God's not done. He is in the midst. 429 00:26:11,940 --> 00:26:17,380 Of the years in his work with us, who are strapped in time. 430 00:26:18,020 --> 00:26:21,980 Well, I see I've gone way too long on that. 431 00:26:24,660 --> 00:26:26,180 Here's how I'm going to make it up to you. 432 00:26:29,220 --> 00:26:32,180 I'm just going to. Give you bare outline material. 433 00:26:35,690 --> 00:26:37,770 This is a letter. He writes it to the seven 434 00:26:37,770 --> 00:26:38,610 churches. He says. 435 00:26:38,610 --> 00:26:43,490 Grace and peace and then. There is several groupings of 436 00:26:43,490 --> 00:26:46,970 threes, and let's just notice those and then we're done from 437 00:26:46,970 --> 00:26:48,810 him. Come to greeting and peace is 438 00:26:48,810 --> 00:26:51,650 coming from him. Who is, who was and who is to 439 00:26:51,650 --> 00:26:54,450 come? That's the scope of history. 440 00:26:54,890 --> 00:26:57,970 It's hard to find a. One moment of history outside of 441 00:26:57,970 --> 00:27:00,960 those categories. Something that was something it 442 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,920 is and something it is to come. The Almighty, the Sovereign over 443 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:11,640 over creation, and from the seven spirits who are before the 444 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,280 throne. In our reading to this morning, 445 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,160 we talked about the seven. Torches before the throne, The 446 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,400 seven spirits? Well, we're going to get into 447 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:20,440 biblical imagery. It's going to be a lot of fun, 448 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:22,920 but I'll just tip you. Off right now that this is a 449 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:28,040 reference to the perfect 7. Perfect Spirit of God who is of 450 00:27:28,040 --> 00:27:31,660 course we know. As the Holy Spirit of God that 451 00:27:31,660 --> 00:27:36,980 is manifested in this way. And from Jesus, three things 452 00:27:37,140 --> 00:27:41,300 faithful witness first, born of the dead, that's the 453 00:27:41,300 --> 00:27:46,380 resurrection and the ruler of the kings of the earth, That's 454 00:27:46,380 --> 00:27:51,100 what Jesus has has done. And so there's the three things. 455 00:27:51,100 --> 00:27:54,740 By the way, those are lifted out of this of Psalm 89. 456 00:27:55,100 --> 00:27:57,660 The 89 Psalm speaks of all of. Those things. 457 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,320 The faithful witness the first born of the dead and the root of 458 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,280 the kings of the earth. Now that's from and now it's to 459 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:06,120 him. All things are from him, by him 460 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:08,400 and to him. And through him Paul tells us in 461 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:12,320 his doxologies, well, this doxology says to him who loves 462 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,960 us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a 463 00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:18,200 Kingdom. Of Priest. 464 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:19,960 There's another three right there. 465 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:22,600 Three things that Jesus has done, He has. 466 00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:26,560 Freed us, he's loosed us. He's redeemed us from our sins 467 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:30,330 by his blood. There's even John keeps on 468 00:28:30,330 --> 00:28:31,770 talking about the blood atonement of. 469 00:28:31,770 --> 00:28:34,930 Christ, by the way, made us a Kingdom. 470 00:28:34,930 --> 00:28:37,730 Of priests. This is a quotation from Exodus 471 00:28:37,730 --> 00:28:40,250 19, which we saw too many weeks. Ago Where? 472 00:28:40,250 --> 00:28:43,290 The Lord said he is going to make us a Kingdom of. 473 00:28:43,290 --> 00:28:47,090 Priests, a royal priesthood and we would have those two 474 00:28:47,090 --> 00:28:49,650 anointed. Offices bestowed upon us in the 475 00:28:49,650 --> 00:28:52,890 person of our King and our High. Priest Jesus. 476 00:28:52,890 --> 00:28:56,410 But then we will share in the in that work and you'll see. 477 00:28:56,730 --> 00:29:00,290 See Revelation talking about reigning with Christ. 478 00:29:00,610 --> 00:29:06,810 That's because we are a Kingdom. Of priests, and then to his. 479 00:29:06,810 --> 00:29:09,810 Father to him, be glory and dominion forever. 480 00:29:09,810 --> 00:29:12,730 So you've seen the Father, the Son, and the Spirit in this 481 00:29:12,730 --> 00:29:15,580 passage. And then he goes ahead and and 482 00:29:15,820 --> 00:29:18,740 and finishes that. Verse eight, I'm the Alpha and 483 00:29:18,740 --> 00:29:20,700 the Omega. That's the beginning and the 484 00:29:20,780 --> 00:29:22,820 end. That's the 1st, and the last is 485 00:29:22,820 --> 00:29:25,820 the Lord God who is. And it talks about the 486 00:29:25,820 --> 00:29:29,220 historical spectrum again, who is, who was and who is to come, 487 00:29:29,380 --> 00:29:31,380 the Almighty. It's. 488 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:36,780 Not just about God's existence, but it's God's power. 489 00:29:37,300 --> 00:29:40,540 Almighty is the, is the. Comprehensive term in theology 490 00:29:40,540 --> 00:29:43,830 that talks about. The extent of the capability of 491 00:29:43,830 --> 00:29:46,990 God and that. Involves creation of the whole 492 00:29:46,990 --> 00:29:49,510 world. The Providence, the ruling God 493 00:29:49,510 --> 00:29:53,790 is mighty to save He's. Mighty to do all of these things 494 00:29:53,790 --> 00:29:55,030 and then. We've talked a little bit, 495 00:29:55,030 --> 00:29:57,830 pretty pretty much about John. Here, let me just point out a 496 00:29:57,830 --> 00:29:59,230 couple of things. John says. 497 00:29:59,230 --> 00:30:05,670 He is our brother and partner in three things in the tribulation 498 00:30:06,630 --> 00:30:09,870 and the Kingdom and the patient Endurance. 499 00:30:11,990 --> 00:30:13,950 Ron, are we? On the Tribulation, when do you 500 00:30:13,950 --> 00:30:15,670 think the tribulations is going to happen? 501 00:30:16,350 --> 00:30:20,670 We're in it, brothers and sisters, and we're also When do 502 00:30:20,670 --> 00:30:22,550 you think the Kingdom of God is going to happen? 503 00:30:22,790 --> 00:30:25,750 We're in it, brothers and sisters, Christ inaugurated at 504 00:30:25,750 --> 00:30:28,190 his first come. He's ruling and reigning in one 505 00:30:28,190 --> 00:30:29,990 way and he will rule and reign in a more. 506 00:30:29,990 --> 00:30:33,190 Complete and absolute way we'll we'll look and expect that. 507 00:30:33,630 --> 00:30:34,750 But then, here's the important thing. 508 00:30:34,750 --> 00:30:36,350 This is the practical application of this whole 509 00:30:36,350 --> 00:30:39,440 passage. He's a brother and a partner 510 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:45,920 with us. John is impatient endurance. 511 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,600 Hyper Monet words used over and over the book of Hebrews over 512 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:55,520 and over the New Testament. And it basically means that it. 513 00:30:55,520 --> 00:31:00,960 Is those that patiently undergo and bear up under a tribulation, 514 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:07,570 and that is the story of the Saints on earth in the 515 00:31:08,530 --> 00:31:11,970 interadvental. The Interadvent is the comings 516 00:31:11,970 --> 00:31:13,730 of Christ, the First Coming, the Second Coming. 517 00:31:13,890 --> 00:31:17,730 This whole period of time in the interadvent is a time of 518 00:31:17,730 --> 00:31:22,970 tribulation, and it is a. Time of the Saints patiently 519 00:31:23,290 --> 00:31:28,370 enduring, bearing under surviving, trusting in the Lord. 520 00:31:28,530 --> 00:31:30,450 And then he talks about everything pretty much we've 521 00:31:30,450 --> 00:31:34,370 already talked about here in terms of him being in prison on 522 00:31:34,370 --> 00:31:36,700 an island. He is there because of his 523 00:31:36,700 --> 00:31:38,260 preaching. And his teaching, he's bearing 524 00:31:38,260 --> 00:31:41,100 witness and they put him in jail and so he said. 525 00:31:41,100 --> 00:31:43,940 He was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and he heard this, 526 00:31:43,940 --> 00:31:45,900 this voice. It was a trumpet voice. 527 00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:48,860 It was the Lord himself saying to write a book and to do all 528 00:31:48,860 --> 00:31:51,220 that that we talked about in terms of writing it down. 529 00:31:51,460 --> 00:31:54,900 So that it could be read in the churches, so that it could tell 530 00:31:54,900 --> 00:31:59,940 us what we needed to know in order to see with the eye of 531 00:31:59,940 --> 00:32:08,860 faith Jesus Christ. Brother Pete, see what you can 532 00:32:08,860 --> 00:32:11,300 do in 7 minutes. That's all. 533 00:32:11,300 --> 00:32:11,740 I'll let you.