1 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:13,880 The 4th chapter of the Book of Revelation begins the 3rd and 2 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,880 final section of the Book of Revelation. 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:21,480 The Book of Revelation actually gives us the division, the 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:30,640 sections of the book in one chapter one verse 19, John gave 5 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,680 us the division of the book. He was told by the Lord in the 6 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,680 vision he had on the island of Atmos. 7 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,360 He's in his late 90s. Write the things which you have 8 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,080 seen. What did he see? 9 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:48,880 John chapter 1 he gives us the description. 10 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,160 He describes the description of Jesus Christ as he hears his 11 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:57,280 voice, he looks and there is Jesus and he remember we went 12 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:02,440 through and we discovered and he wrote down and we've examined 13 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:06,400 the description of Christ. So that's the things that you 14 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,680 have seen first section then and the things which are chapter 2 15 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,800 and chapter 3. The things which are are the 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,480 period of the church beginning with the day of Pentecost. 17 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:23,720 The church history carrying on it still hasn't finished in 18 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,560 time. We're in the that church period, 19 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:32,080 the things which are we had 7 letters to seven churches, 7 20 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,280 actual churches. Also, as you, any of you would 21 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:41,080 study church history, you'll see how they represent through the 22 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,720 period of history, our world history, the events that each 23 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,760 church represents as we went through from Ephesus to 24 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,800 Laodicea, which we studied last Sunday being the Church of the 25 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:58,680 last days. Then the third section which we 26 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:03,000 begin tonight, chapter 4, and the things which shall be here 27 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,480 after some of your Bibles will have after these things, after 28 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,919 what here, after what? After chapter 1, after chapter 29 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,440 2. So these are events yet to 30 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:17,640 occur, yet to occur. The things you have seen, the 31 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,440 appearance of Jesus, those things which are the period of 32 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,920 the church overlaid by 7 letters to seven churches and the things 33 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:28,120 which shall take place after this. 34 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:33,160 From chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation, we are given a 35 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,640 heavenly viewpoint. John has taken up. 36 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:41,640 We'll read shortly that he's taken up and he describes the 37 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:46,040 events not as is as if he's on the earth. 38 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,320 He describes the events as if he's in the bleachers in heaven 39 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,320 looking down and writing in. This is happening and that's 40 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:55,920 happening and that's happening. It's a very important point. 41 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,720 It gets a vantage point, if you like, of the events that will 42 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:07,480 come upon the earth, watching on as the earth is about to go 43 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:13,920 through seven years, it has never experienced ever before. 44 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:19,720 Jesus said that Matthew 24. So after chapter 3, another 45 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:26,560 important point to note is that the church is never again 46 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,440 referred to as being on earth. Of course, there will be 47 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:37,280 churches still going, the apostate church, the unified 48 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,480 church, especially where we'll have the false prophet and all 49 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,000 that sort of stuff. And remember, we're going to 50 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,960 read Paul talks about and in one and two Thessalonians, the the, 51 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,400 the combining of the faiths, the faiths, and we see so much of 52 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:57,080 that, how there's been a shift to a world faith doesn't matter, 53 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:01,040 you know, if you call him Allah, if you call him Buddha, even 54 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,840 though Buddhists don't believe in God, you call him Jehovah, 55 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:09,800 whatever, it's the same God. And the Bible says no, no, but 56 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,000 that's where the world is shifting. 57 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,640 And so the word church is never again referred to as being on 58 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,320 earth. And it is evident that the 59 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,000 judgement of a guilty world, Jesus coming back, and the 60 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,640 judgement in the seven years is suspended. 61 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,920 The judgement upon the earth. Peter tells us this is suspended 62 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:34,840 until the church has been removed from the scene to Peter 63 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:39,720 29 Jesus Peter has been talking about Noah. 64 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,600 Then he's talking about lot and how judgement couldn't come on 65 00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:46,040 Sodom and Gomorrah until we got lot out the road and we had to 66 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:49,080 get right out and lot out. And then remember during that 67 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,680 period, Abraham said well, there'd be 50 righteous said 68 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,360 there'd be 40 then there'd be no judgement. 69 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,280 And so the righteous had to had to get out. 70 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:00,720 There weren't 10. There were not ten righteous 71 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,280 people in in Sodom and or Gomorrah tells you how bad they 72 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:08,960 were. And so Peter says the Lord knows 73 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:13,520 how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the 74 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,840 unjust until the day of judgement to be punished. 75 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:22,440 In addition, from Revelation 4 to the end of chapter 19, God is 76 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:26,880 not once addressed as Father. Interesting. 77 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,080 Isn't that what Jesus said? We're to call God now. 78 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:37,960 He's my father, your father. He's called from 4 to 19 and on. 79 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:43,840 He's called God, he's called Lord, he's called Almighty, all 80 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:46,840 names by which he was known in the Old Testament days. 81 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,160 But the name Father by which he has been known to the church is 82 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:54,280 entirely absent. Jesus said, when you pray, how 83 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:58,960 do you pray? Pray this way, our God, no, our 84 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:02,720 Lord, no. He says pray this way our Father 85 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:09,320 who art in heaven. This tells us clearly that the 86 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,440 church's presence here and its role. 87 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,280 What is the role of the church. Remember two things go into all 88 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:22,960 the world preach the gospel 2nd and to make disciples of those 89 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,920 that receive the gospel. Those two things it's on it's in 90 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:30,360 Matthew 28 Mark 16. That's the that's the task for 91 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:34,320 you and I now. And so when the church is taken 92 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:39,760 out, there's no presence of the church, the Holy Spirit moving 93 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:45,960 through the church and in Second Thessalonians, the restraining 94 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:48,680 force by you and you and I gathering tonight and us 95 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,640 praying. We we push against we're going 96 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,120 to talk about that. We push against the work of the 97 00:06:54,120 --> 00:07:00,200 evil one that's trying to to have his way, but God's on the 98 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:05,600 throne. And so the church is raptured. 99 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,080 Our witnessing for Christ is done. 100 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,840 The things that occur after the church's removal are then in 101 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:17,760 progress and in the hands of God's people. 102 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:22,000 Israel. Remember 69 lots of seven year 103 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:25,080 periods. Daniel, the 70th year, the clock 104 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:30,040 begins ticking again. Israel comes into focus. 105 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:35,000 And which nation now is coming into the focus of every nation 106 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,600 in the world? Israel. 107 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,440 During the period Israel will come to the fore, there'll be 108 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,160 two witnesses. Who are they? 109 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,440 We don't know who they are. We can speculate, but the 110 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:51,880 Israelis, an Angel of heaven, will go around the world, 111 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:55,040 proclaim the gospel. Every tribe, every tongue will 112 00:07:55,040 --> 00:07:58,880 hear the gospel 144,000 and they're not Jehovah Witnesses. 113 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:02,000 They're not the 7th day. Each one of those groups say, 114 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,360 yeah, we're the 144. We're interesting. 115 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:07,960 In my office, there's a little thing that compares religions, 116 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:14,240 Jehovah Witnesses, 144,000, According to them, who are cult 117 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:17,880 false prophets, that 144,000 was filled. 118 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,360 I think back in the 1960s. It was like, OK, I'm 144,000. 119 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:25,640 I wonder how they do that. I don't know, but it's done. 120 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:30,120 And then the people that live now on have to earn their 121 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:33,480 salvation. How Knocking on doors, selling 122 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:36,840 the awake, that's how they have to earn the salvation. 123 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,520 When the millennial period comes in for them, they will live upon 124 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,400 the earth. And if they live in obedience, 125 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,640 they'll be OK. And if they disobey, you know 126 00:08:45,640 --> 00:08:48,040 what happens to them. In Job witness theology 127 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:54,560 annihilation. It states that just go on 128 00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:01,920 amazing. But also there will be those who 129 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,560 are martyred, people will receive Christ. 130 00:09:05,560 --> 00:09:11,120 The greatest revival also occurred during the Tribulation 131 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:12,960 period and people will come to Christ. 132 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:18,080 People we've witnessed to people have heard you say and pray to 133 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,040 them about. They'll realise when you're 134 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:25,320 gone, man Amen. But they'll have to die for 135 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,360 their faith. Revelation 6 verse 9. 136 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,960 When he opened the 5th seal, I saw under the altar the souls of 137 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:39,720 those who had been slain for the word of God and for the 138 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:45,640 testimony means they didn't deny Christ, which they held. 139 00:09:46,680 --> 00:09:51,520 You'll die for your faith. Revelation 12/11 And they 140 00:09:51,520 --> 00:09:56,680 overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, overcame the works of 141 00:09:56,680 --> 00:10:00,880 Satan by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony, 142 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:04,960 And they did not love their lives to the death. 143 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:11,960 Well, courageous to be a Christian in the tribulation. 144 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:18,840 First one, after these things, I looked and behold, a door 145 00:10:18,840 --> 00:10:22,640 standing open in heaven. After this, after these things, 146 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:28,760 the Greek words metatata, after the things in chapter 2 and 147 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,120 three. Now in chapters 2 and three, as 148 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:36,240 I said, we studied the history of the church and we looked at 149 00:10:36,240 --> 00:10:39,720 the division of the church given to us in chapter 1, verse 19. 150 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,400 And as we study the text tonight, we'll find out that the 151 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:48,960 church too. And here we have a mirror. 152 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:53,880 John is letting us into us being the church on describing it, 153 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,400 after these things, I looked and behold his door standing open in 154 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:58,840 heaven. And notice. 155 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:02,520 And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet where 156 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:06,600 we've heard that before speaking with me, saying, come up here 157 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,920 where we've heard that before, and I will show you the things 158 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,880 which must take place after this, after what? 159 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:22,680 After the rapture tonight we look the simulation and learn 160 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:25,520 about the church and John describing what's happened to 161 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,600 him as a type of what's happening to the church. 162 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,600 Paul tells us that the church is taken, it is snatched. 163 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:36,880 People say, well, the word rapture is not in the Bible. 164 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:38,600 Yes, it is. It's in the Latin Vulgate, 165 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:43,120 rapturo, caught up, seized, taken suddenly. 166 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,800 That's what it means. The apostle Paul calls it being 167 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:51,880 caught up to meet the Lord where it's not the second coming the 168 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,200 second coming Jesus feet stand on the earth. 169 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,840 Revelation 19 Where is the rapture? 170 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,000 What happens to those being rapture caught up to meet the 171 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:09,400 Lord in the air want Thessalonians 417 Behold a door 172 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,000 was opened. This one back in the letter to 173 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:16,080 the ladder sins. Remember on Sunday we look Jesus 174 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,720 was outside the church knocking at the door calling out to 175 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,680 whoever would hear him and let him into their lives because the 176 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:28,560 Church of Laodicea thought they had it all down. 177 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,360 They didn't have God didn't need him. 178 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,720 Here we see the promise of heaven made sure to all who had 179 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:41,720 opened their hearts to him and invited him to be Lord of their 180 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,040 lives. Heaven is real. 181 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:48,960 It's a real place and it is waiting for you and I to come 182 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:51,760 home. Jesus and John 14 says I go to 183 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:57,600 prepare a place, not a not a cloud, a place for you. 184 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:04,400 If you read 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 16 to 18 again, you'll 185 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,920 see an amazing similarity to verse one here in in Revelation 186 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,480 4. For the Lord himself, we'll 187 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,960 descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an 188 00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,760 Archangel, Archangel with the trumpet of God. 189 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:24,760 The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive. 190 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:31,440 So my Corinthians 15, we're changed in the twinkling of an 191 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,640 eye. We who are alive and remain 192 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:38,960 shall be caught up, thieves snatched, grabbed together with 193 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:43,760 them, those who have died already in the in the clouds 194 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:48,800 notice to meet the Lord. We're in the air and thus we 195 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:54,240 shall always be with the Lord. Now at the end of verse one, 196 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:58,400 Meditata, as mentioned again twice in one verse means 197 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,240 something important because it's repeated. 198 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,720 Jesus does not want us to miss this point. 199 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,360 This is what's going to happen, He said. 200 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,200 He said after these things beginning the net, the end. 201 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:16,720 Come up here and I'll show you the things which must take place 202 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:23,400 after this meta touta both. The first voice which I heard 203 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:27,000 was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I'll 204 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,400 show you things which must take place after this. 205 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:34,000 Now notice with me the voice that John hears that it has the 206 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:37,320 same impact as that of a trumpet signalling. 207 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:41,920 It's not that Jesus goes and we hear the trumpet. 208 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,560 It's the voice as a trumpet. Why? 209 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:47,280 Why is he referring to this? Because the trumpet and the 210 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,560 shofar we have remember we have it in there from Israel. 211 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,160 What what's what they for in the army? 212 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:58,360 It's for get up and reveley. It's for the Last Post and all 213 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,240 those things. It's for attack, charge, 214 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:03,280 retreat. It's a signal. 215 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,160 That's what this is, a trumpet speaking with me. 216 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:10,080 Come up here. I show the things with much take 217 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:14,480 place after this. It's the trumpet is signalling 218 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,560 this is what's going to happen. Where else have we heard these 219 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,400 words? The 16 For the Lord himself will 220 00:15:21,400 --> 00:15:23,240 descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of 221 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,000 Archangel and the trumpet of God. 222 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:32,520 This is the voice of Jesus that John hears, and so too will we 223 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:38,760 at the time of the rapture hear that verse 2 Immediately I was 224 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,080 in the Spirit, and behold a throne set in heaven, and one 225 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:49,360 sat on the throne. John sees God seated on the 226 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:53,360 throne in heaven. This is the first image that 227 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:58,800 catches John's gaze, the first thing that fills his vision in 228 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:02,880 this amazing event. Do you tonight ever feel as if 229 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:07,520 your life, things around you are just, you know, running away? 230 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,240 Maybe you think things are out of control. 231 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:15,800 We look at politics and sometimes we in Australia and I 232 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,040 think, wow, man, it's out of control in Europe. 233 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,440 Is it out of control? Perhaps your relationship with 234 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:27,840 one of your loved ones, money, your children, or maybe your 235 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:30,880 life tonight appears to be in shreds. 236 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:36,000 It's, it's all over the place, your job, your marriage or 237 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,680 whatever. It's it's, it's, it's not good. 238 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:42,960 Henry David Thoreau said these words. 239 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:49,160 Most men in this world live out their lives in quiet 240 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,600 desperation. It's interesting to find out how 241 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,040 many people, when you get to the heart and nitty gritty of 242 00:16:56,040 --> 00:17:00,800 things, something happens and they'll go, yeah, I haven't been 243 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,240 good. You know, we, it sits in this 244 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:08,640 world now. We, we have the, the highest 245 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:18,240 youth suicide in the world, Australia and, and we don't see 246 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:19,720 it because everyone puts on a facade. 247 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:22,640 You know, I remember a young man, I used to see him every 248 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,280 Wednesday. I would teach on the radio and 249 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,359 I'd go and visit him because he was at a surf shop right across 250 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,560 from the radio station. And then one night I go there 251 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,200 and I said, where's Simon Hung himself? 252 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:38,320 We don't know. No one, none of his friends, no 253 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:44,000 one knew. It's tragic, tragic. 254 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:49,440 Well, hear that statement, if that's you tonight, this fact 255 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:54,600 from God's word, from John's vision, God is on the throne. 256 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,720 He's on the throne. John sees God on the throne. 257 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:08,640 He is in control. We don't think at times he is, 258 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:10,160 don't we? Don't you and I, we go, well, 259 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:12,160 God, how can you? Why are you letting this? 260 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:17,920 And we we wonder, you remember in John chapter 4, Jesus sent 261 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,080 his disciples on the head and he says I'm going to wait here by 262 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,040 this. Well, it's pretty hard. 263 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:24,840 I'll just wait here. You guys go out and sort 264 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,520 something out. Then a woman turned up later. 265 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,200 Remember she didn't come with all the other women. 266 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:33,080 She didn't come with all the other women because she lived a 267 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:37,600 pretty promiscuous life and she wouldn't hang around with all 268 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,000 the other women. Her life was one of failed 269 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:46,400 relationship after another. She's on her fifth relationship. 270 00:18:47,880 --> 00:18:52,760 But God was on the throne and he ordained a meeting with her, a 271 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:57,840 personal engagement. She arrives at the well, There's 272 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,560 this man, he says, can you give me a drink? 273 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,000 How come you're asking me a woman? 274 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:03,880 You're a Jew. I'm a Samaritan. 275 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:08,600 You don't even talk to us. We know the rest of the story. 276 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,960 He revealed himself to her. I am He. 277 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:18,800 I'm the Messiah. He changed her chaos in to calm. 278 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,600 What did she do? Instead of living by herself, 279 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:26,520 hiding out, coming to get the water, She dropped the jug, 280 00:19:27,360 --> 00:19:30,160 remember? Ran into the city, dancing, 281 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:35,160 singing, shouting. I I've met the Messiah. 282 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,120 The Messiah is there. He's told me all things. 283 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,040 You've got to come. She turned into an evangelist. 284 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:47,680 You've got to come. Jesus turned her immorality into 285 00:19:47,680 --> 00:19:51,760 purity in your life. When fear comes, when the earth 286 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:55,840 around you shakes, remember God is on the throne. 287 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:01,400 It's set in heaven, and it's permanently laid out. 288 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,800 The Tabernacle. We have part of the what's in 289 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:07,320 the Tabernacle, the menorah. But the Tabernacle, remember, 290 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:11,040 we're told as Moses built that it was an image of what is going 291 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:15,840 to be in heaven. And so you and I and to know 292 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:20,480 this, it's set in heaven, the Tabernacle is in heaven, God is 293 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,800 on the throne, it's permanently laid out. 294 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,880 Nothing can shake the foundation build upon the rock and the rock 295 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:32,680 is Jesus Christ verse 3 And he who sat on there was like a 296 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,920 Jasper. So he's he's describing the the 297 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,320 glow of the vision. And so you see the word. 298 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:41,600 He's not speaking like a Californian 16 year old girl 299 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:45,280 from the valley going like he was like like, but he's he's 300 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:49,800 describing what I see. And he who sat there was like a 301 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:52,920 Jasper and a Saudi stone in appearance. 302 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:57,200 There was a rainbow around the throne in appearance, like an 303 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:03,000 emerald around the throne with 24 Thrones. 304 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:07,920 And on the Thrones, I saw 24 elders sitting clothed in white 305 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,120 robes. They had crowns of gold on their 306 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:18,320 heads. This provides a wonderful 307 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:22,120 insight as we see the beauty of the throne of God. 308 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,880 The Jasper stone was a clear stone, you know, like a diamond, 309 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:32,160 like dazzling a diamond, and it speaks of the light as it dances 310 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:36,480 through a diamond reflects. John says God is light. 311 00:21:37,120 --> 00:21:39,120 He would write about that in the first, second or third. 312 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:42,440 John, he's aware of everything Jesus says I'm the light of the 313 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,560 world. He sees everything. 314 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,840 Christ brings life to everything through light. 315 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,320 It means he knows about your particular situation. 316 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:55,720 He brings the light of God upon it. 317 00:21:56,320 --> 00:22:00,920 OK, if he's the light, if he's so aware, what's he doing in my 318 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,280 situation because I'm going through a bit of a dark time now 319 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:12,000 you see it provides verse 3. It provides a wonderful insight 320 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:16,280 into that question. Says he was Asadi, a stone like 321 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:23,320 a Ruby, which is deep red Asadi a stone When the Ruby red blood 322 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:28,400 of our Lord, pure and innocent, drooped down from his hands as 323 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:33,640 he hung on that cross at Calvary just over 2000 years ago, his 324 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,440 feet and his heart bleeding heavily. 325 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:42,680 There was nothing more he could say or do to tell you or prove 326 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:46,240 to you that he counts. You precious, you can never say 327 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:50,160 God doesn't care about me without looking at the cross. 328 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:54,000 And the cross is your answer. He has not left you alone. 329 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,840 In the book of Exodus chapter 28, we read about the high 330 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,000 priest and the robe and the garments that he would wear. 331 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:08,800 The priest wore a breastplate upon which were 12 precious 332 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:13,160 stones laid out, one representing each of the 12 333 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:17,200 tribes of Israel. The first of the 12 sons of 334 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,560 Jacob was Who? Remember Reuben. 335 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:27,040 Reuben's name means behold or see a son. 336 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:28,640 That's what it means in the Hebrew. 337 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:32,600 His stone, by the way, was Sardius. 338 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,440 Sardius Stone, the last of the 12 sons. 339 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:38,360 Who? Who's that? 340 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:46,080 Remember Benjamin, whose name meant son of my right hand. 341 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,200 Guess what? Benjamin Stone was Jasper. 342 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:58,600 So the one on the throne that John sees, he sees these stones, 343 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:02,720 and in the Hebrew behind the names that the stones represent 344 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,480 is this. Behold, the son of my right 345 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:10,200 hand. His name is Jesus. 346 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:14,320 Amazing. Now round about the throne there 347 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,800 was a rainbow. It's been stolen, hasn't it? 348 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,600 Isn't that like the devil? The rainbow came out in the book 349 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,880 of Genesis after the flood. God's promise. 350 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:26,680 I'll put my bow in the sky. I'll never destroy the earth 351 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,240 again by a flood. And So what does Satan do? 352 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:34,080 I'll grab it and use it for that. 353 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:38,600 Isn't it fascinating how a movement could grab something 354 00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:42,320 like that and change it and twist it? 355 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,560 It's exactly what Isaiah said would happen in the last days. 356 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:49,600 Things that are good would be called evil, and things that are 357 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,160 evil will be called good. Round about the throne was a 358 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:58,680 rainbow, not an electric fence. I want to keep that sign or 359 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:00,920 force, for your can't come near it. 360 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:06,520 The rainbow was a sign of God's grace, the sign of God's 361 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:10,360 everlasting promise. That is why the writer in the 362 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:12,200 letter to the Hebrews wrote this. 363 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:17,440 For we do not have a high priest Speaking of Jesus who cannot 364 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:22,840 sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as 365 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:28,280 we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to 366 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,400 the throne of grace. You see, you can come boldly to 367 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,840 the throne of grace because it's grace. 368 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:37,560 You can't come boldly to a throne that says stand back, 369 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:44,040 Holy See, you keep away. You can come boldly to a throne 370 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,960 of grace that we may obtain mercy. 371 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,880 That's why we can come. We've got to come and get mercy 372 00:25:50,520 --> 00:25:54,760 that which we don't deserve. Find grace when in time of need. 373 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,920 Maybe you're listening tonight. Continue to beat yourself over 374 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,680 and over that you let God down, but you just don't measure up. 375 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,880 A lot of people do that. Well, I can't go to church. 376 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:09,280 I can't take communion. I failed, you know, it's too 377 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:11,040 much of A struggle. I'm too much of A hypocrite. 378 00:26:11,040 --> 00:26:14,920 No, stop. Stop saying that you're falling 379 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,320 to the lies of the enemy and and it's weakness. 380 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,000 And we are not to fall for the lies of the enemy. 381 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,080 We are to accept the truth of God. 382 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:27,400 Listen, because no one measures up. 383 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:31,560 Everyone else that's in church is having a battle, a struggle. 384 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,680 No one measures up. We've all failed. 385 00:26:33,680 --> 00:26:37,920 We've all been dismal in the way even us here tonight, each one 386 00:26:37,920 --> 00:26:41,400 of us. No one measures up. 387 00:26:41,400 --> 00:26:43,760 We've all sin come short of the glory of God. 388 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,840 There is none righteous. No, not one, the Bible says. 389 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,600 But that's why Jesus came. That's why he died on Calvary. 390 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:55,560 For you to come now boldly, because it's a throne of grace 391 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,320 into his presence, Prince, we're covered by his righteousness. 392 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,440 God doesn't see us in our sin. Jesus took it away. 393 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:09,080 God sees us in Christ, in his Son, not in sin. 394 00:27:09,160 --> 00:27:13,240 He sees us in in his Son, not in sin, but in His Son. 395 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:17,720 Don't shy away from God. Heed his call. 396 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:22,760 Run to Him and you'll find mercy, grace, and promises that 397 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:28,200 He will never let you down. Why do we again always emphasise 398 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:31,320 grace so much here at Calvary Chapel, Secret Harbour? 399 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,680 One, because we teach through the Bible, and the Bible just 400 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,720 speaks of God's grace over and over and over and over. 401 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:42,840 Because grace is the only thing too, that has brought us thus 402 00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:45,880 far, and it will be the only thing that would Take Me Home to 403 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,360 be with the Lord, not by anything that I do, but by grace 404 00:27:49,360 --> 00:27:51,360 and grace alone. Why? 405 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:56,440 Because grace allows correctly our Lord to get all the glory. 406 00:27:56,560 --> 00:27:59,200 When I stand before God or God, it's not nothing to do with me, 407 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:03,080 it's Him. It'll be the only thing that 408 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:06,080 will Take Me Home to be with my Lord, His grace. 409 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:09,520 That's why John Newton wrote His grace is what? 410 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:14,480 Amazing, amazing. Around the throne were 24 411 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,000 Thrones. On the Thrones I saw 24 elders 412 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,680 sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on 413 00:28:20,680 --> 00:28:22,760 their heads. And from their throne proceeded 414 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,040 lightnings, thunderings and voices. 415 00:28:25,360 --> 00:28:27,120 Sounds like Mount Sinai, doesn't it? 416 00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:29,960 7 lamps of fire were burning before the throne. 417 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:32,440 Which are the seven spirits of God? 418 00:28:33,080 --> 00:28:36,160 Who are the 24 elders sitting around the throne? 419 00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:39,960 In the Old Testament, the priesthood was divided into 24 420 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:43,240 groups. One Chronicles 24 tells us that. 421 00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:46,800 And because the church is called the Kingdom of priests, 422 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:51,560 Revelation 16, Many Bible scholars believe that the 24 423 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:56,360 elders speak of representatives of the church with their white 424 00:28:56,360 --> 00:28:58,520 clothing and crowns on their heads. 425 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:02,000 But an equally valid interpretation is that they are 426 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:09,520 the 12 patriarchs, 12 tribes, and the 12 apostles, because on 427 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:13,960 each of the 12 gates in the New Jerusalem, as we read ahead, is 428 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:17,600 written the name of one of the patriarchs, and on each of the 429 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:20,320 foundations is the name of the apostles. 430 00:29:21,600 --> 00:29:25,120 Revelation 2112. Also she had a great and high 431 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:27,880 wall with 12 gates and 12 angels at the gates. 432 00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:31,560 Names written on them, which are the names of the 12 tribes of 433 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:36,080 the Children of Israel. Revelation 21133 Gates on the E, 434 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,440 3 gates on the N, 3 gates on the South, or three gates on the 435 00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:41,000 West. Verse 14. 436 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:44,760 Now the wall of the city had 12 foundations. 12 is the number of 437 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,440 government in the Bible, and on them were the names of the 12 438 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:52,800 apostles of the Lamb. But the real issue here is, I 439 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:57,160 believe not what they are, but what they do. 440 00:29:58,240 --> 00:30:01,520 They sit in the presence of God continually. 441 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:04,240 Who did that in the New Testament? 442 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,720 Who was always at the feet of Jesus? 443 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:10,800 Mary. In the next chapter, they are 444 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,680 the ones, the elders who seek out John, who is weeping and 445 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,800 pointing him to Jesus. We'll see that on Sunday in 446 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,760 verse 10. They worship God in the most 447 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:24,440 amazing and awesome manner. Do you want or would you like to 448 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,480 be an elder? Would you like to be a minister, 449 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:28,800 a servant here on the earth for the Lord? 450 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,320 We'll copy the three things that learn from the elders here. 451 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:37,240 One, sit at the feet of Jesus. That's your daily job, to come 452 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,120 before the Lord, to spend time at the feet of the King of 453 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,600 kings, the Lord of Lords. And not you. 454 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:45,240 Just go there with a listener. Yeah, that's all I need. 455 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:52,440 And off to seek the wounded. Be the one who loves your 456 00:30:52,440 --> 00:30:54,720 neighbour. Be the one who sees a crippled, 457 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:56,880 the one who's struggling. And pray for them. 458 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:02,600 See the ones who are weeping. And lastly, thirdly, point them 459 00:31:02,600 --> 00:31:04,960 to Jesus, be an Andrew and say come to Christ. 460 00:31:05,120 --> 00:31:08,680 Hey, you need Jesus, come and worship him continually with all 461 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:10,480 your heart. That's where you need to be. 462 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:12,120 You're struggling. Oh, I don't feel like going to 463 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:13,800 church. That's exactly where you need to 464 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,480 be. That's exactly where you need to 465 00:31:16,480 --> 00:31:18,760 be. It's like I'm sick and I'm I 466 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:21,000 need I broke my arm. You need to go to hospital. 467 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:22,920 Oh, I'm not going to hospitals because I'm sick. 468 00:31:22,920 --> 00:31:25,400 I've got a broken arm. That's just what make sense. 469 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:32,280 That's what we do. Let your life be 1 Of continued 470 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:36,080 worship and service. It was 5 And from the throne 471 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:39,480 preceded lightnings and thunderings and voices. 7 Lamps 472 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:42,280 of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven 473 00:31:42,280 --> 00:31:45,000 spirits of God. When you hear Thunder and see 474 00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:47,720 lightning approaching, you know a storm is brewing. 475 00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:51,000 It's about to hit. This letter penned by John, 476 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:55,560 dictated by Jesus, went out to those who were under enormous 477 00:31:55,560 --> 00:31:59,640 persecution at this time, but also to you and I tonight in 478 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:05,280 Australia to tell us a storm is coming to our earth, to our 479 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,560 planet, one like never, ever before. 480 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:14,400 God is about to pour out his judgement upon this world. 481 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:19,240 Before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal. 482 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:22,320 And in the midst of the throne, around about the throne with 483 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:25,440 four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 484 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:28,920 The word beast here is literally living creatures. 485 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,360 We find these living creatures also mentioned in Ezekiel, where 486 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:37,240 we're told that cherubim, the first living creature, was like 487 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:41,520 a lion, the second like a calf. The third creature faced like a 488 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,360 man. The 4th creature was like a 489 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,160 flying eagle. What's this description? 490 00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:50,480 What's this about? Well, in Matthew's Gospel it 491 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,880 described Jesus as the king, The Lion, King of beasts. 492 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,000 In Mark's gospel, it depicts Jesus as the servant. 493 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:00,480 What's the servant? The ox. 494 00:33:01,120 --> 00:33:06,040 In a loose gospel we see Jesus in all his humanity and in 495 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:08,640 John's gospel. Why did John write John's 496 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,760 gospel? So that you and I would see that 497 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:15,480 Jesus is the Son of God, the eagle, which soars higher than 498 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:18,720 any other creature. But also the eagle is the only 499 00:33:18,720 --> 00:33:23,080 animal able to look directly into the sun, even as only the 500 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,680 Son of God beholds the glory of the Father. 501 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,040 But there's more. In the Book of Numbers, chapters 502 00:33:29,040 --> 00:33:33,320 one to two, God declares that his people were to camp in a 503 00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:36,960 specific order as they travelled through the wilderness. 504 00:33:37,640 --> 00:33:42,200 The Levites were told to camp close to the Tabernacle on each 505 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,680 of the four directions. Why? 506 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:49,600 Because those serving the Lord always end up camping closest to 507 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:54,160 where God's glory is. God allows that privilege to His 508 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:59,040 serving Saints. In Numbers chapter 2, Moses goes 509 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:03,440 into greater detail of the tribes of Israel, telling us 510 00:34:03,640 --> 00:34:07,960 that on each of the four sides they were of the Tabernacle were 511 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:13,560 to be gathered 3 tribes. Judah is a cut and Zebulon 512 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:20,120 numbered 186,400 were to camp to the east, known as the Camp of 513 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:25,159 Judah, their symbol the lion, Ephraim Manasseh Benjamin, 514 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:29,280 numbering 108,100 were to camp on the West side. 515 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,560 Their camp was known as the Camp of Ephraim. 516 00:34:33,320 --> 00:34:40,600 Their symbol, the ox, Reuben, Simeon and Gad 151,400 were to 517 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:44,719 camp on the South side and we're known as the camp of Reuben. 518 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:52,679 Their symbol, a man, Dan Naftali and Asher, numbering 157,600 519 00:34:52,840 --> 00:34:56,560 were to camp to the north side. We're known as the camp of Dan, 520 00:34:56,920 --> 00:35:01,680 their symbol and eagle. So with the largest number of 521 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:06,640 people camped on the east, the smallest number on the West, an 522 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:09,880 almost similar number of people on the north and the South of 523 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,480 the Tabernacle, what did the camp look like from the Goodyear 524 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:18,240 blimp as you flew the drone over over the desert? 525 00:35:18,280 --> 00:35:19,800 You know, we get all these drone shots. 526 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,800 What? What did you see when the 527 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:26,920 prophet Bailon was asked by King Balak to curse the children of 528 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,160 Israel? He went to the mountain and he 529 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:31,640 overlooked the children of Israel and he saw them camped. 530 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:35,000 And as he looked down from the mountaintop, he saw what a 531 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:39,400 massive cross. When you and I are deserving of 532 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:41,880 cursing, of a time of rebellion, because what? 533 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,480 That's what we're doing when we're murmuring, when we're 534 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,280 complaining, not doing what we should and doing instead what we 535 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:54,680 shouldn't, God looks at us. He sees us, the light of his 536 00:35:54,680 --> 00:35:58,480 cross, and he stead, he desires to bless us. 537 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:00,760 We get mercy instead of judgement. 538 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:05,400 The fall living creatures each having 6 wings were full of eyes 539 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:08,640 around and within and they do not rest day or night saying 540 00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:13,520 Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come. 541 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,520 Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever we're in whenever 542 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,840 the living creatures give glory and honour and thanks to Him who 543 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,040 sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. 544 00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:27,320 The 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and 545 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,200 worship him who lives forever and ever and cast their crowns 546 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:36,280 before the throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive 547 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:39,800 glory and honour and power, for you have created all things. 548 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:47,440 And note this for your pleasure. They are and were created while 549 00:36:47,440 --> 00:36:51,280 they cast their crowns. I knew they don't. 550 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:54,520 I don't deserve anything. We don't deserve anything. 551 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,600 We sing that song. Let's cast their crowns before 552 00:36:57,600 --> 00:37:03,400 the Lord. A recent poll taken asked the 553 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:05,800 number of people what they thought was their main purpose 554 00:37:05,800 --> 00:37:09,240 in life. The responses were interesting. 555 00:37:09,360 --> 00:37:13,720 Well you think some would say make a contribution to society 556 00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:17,560 or to have a meaningful life, but most people said well the 557 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:22,320 main personal purpose of life is enjoyment, personal fulfilment. 558 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:27,560 50% of those who have polled identified themselves as born 559 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:29,320 again Christians said the same thing. 560 00:37:30,360 --> 00:37:32,720 Fellow called Philip Bailey said this about life. 561 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:39,440 He said we live in deeds, not in years, in thoughts not breaths, 562 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:44,000 in feelings, not in figures on a dial. 563 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:46,920 We should count time by heart throbs. 564 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:52,320 He most lives who thinks most feels the noblest acts the best, 565 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:55,800 and he whose heart beats quickest lives the longest. 566 00:37:56,440 --> 00:38:00,680 Life's butter means unto an end that end God. 567 00:38:01,400 --> 00:38:06,320 Tonight if is your life seemingly just a Monday through 568 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:11,920 to another Monday with two days jammed there on the weekend just 569 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:15,280 to break up the monotony to go out and buy stuff? 570 00:38:16,760 --> 00:38:20,400 Are you looking for contentment, trying every new thing that the 571 00:38:20,400 --> 00:38:22,840 magazines say? Get this, this will help you, 572 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:26,560 this will change it. Do you find yourself irritable 573 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,560 to those around you, you just can't put a finger on it? 574 00:38:32,440 --> 00:38:34,600 And the worst thing is, you don't want to be like that. 575 00:38:41,390 --> 00:38:46,070 You've been created for one purpose. 576 00:38:46,470 --> 00:38:52,920 Did you know that? The Bible says that to know God, 577 00:38:53,520 --> 00:38:58,240 verse 11, the first man, Adam, you got it intimately. 578 00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:01,080 He walked in the Garden of Eden with God in the cool of every 579 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,720 evening, but he broke away from that purpose and removed his 580 00:39:05,720 --> 00:39:11,640 ability to walk with God. From that moment on, the Apostle 581 00:39:11,640 --> 00:39:15,240 Paul was a man who knew he was going and he knew the answer to 582 00:39:15,640 --> 00:39:20,640 his very existence. God made you to worship him. 583 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:25,080 When you surrender your ways, when you realise that, when you 584 00:39:25,080 --> 00:39:29,280 come to that conclusion, and I have, when you realise your 585 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:34,360 ways, your goals, your plans, your will, your life is all for 586 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:36,960 God. You'll be able to say, like 587 00:39:36,960 --> 00:39:41,960 Paul, not that I speak in respect of want, for I have 588 00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:46,360 learned in whatever state I am there with, to be content. 589 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:49,520 Where do I find this contentment? 590 00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:53,800 You find it in the presence of God. 591 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:57,600 How do I get into the presence of God? 592 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:02,960 The presence of God is at the feet of Jesus. 593 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:08,960 It's the very reason you exist, for you were created, Revelation 594 00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:13,640 tells us, for his purpose.