1 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,600 The title of this morning's message is that we are living in 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,320 Bible prophecy times. Revelation chapter 1. 3 00:00:16,040 --> 00:00:22,160 We're in you and I. We find ourselves living in one 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:27,800 of the most exciting times in Bible prophecy, for we are the 5 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:35,160 church and we're expecting Christ to call us up soon. 6 00:00:35,160 --> 00:00:40,880 The rapture. It will happen at the speed Paul 7 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,600 says, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 8 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,120 And not the not the glint, not the blink, but the twinkling of 9 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,840 an eye, and it says the church will meet him. 10 00:00:54,360 --> 00:01:00,240 That is Christ in the air. Paul tells us this in detail one 11 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,240 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 16. 12 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,600 It says for the Lord himself, Jesus Christ himself will 13 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,840 descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an 14 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,800 Archangel, and with the trumpet of God. 15 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:20,760 The dead in Christ will rise first, then you and I, those who 16 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:26,040 are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them. 17 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:27,800 Where? In the clouds. 18 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,280 This is not the second coming, it's later in the clouds to meet 19 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,040 the Lord in the air at the second coming. 20 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,160 Christ's feet touch on the Mount of Olives. 21 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,160 So this is the rapture of the church. 22 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,440 Paul then says. And thus we shall always be with 23 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,640 the Lord from that moment on. And Paul adds these words to 24 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:50,720 those who are looking forward to the rapture. 25 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,280 Comfort one another with these words. 26 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,240 It's a comfort that we have in the times in which we live, 27 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:58,720 isn't it? We see our world. 28 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:03,760 I read this morning that it is believed that China is on the 29 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:10,520 verge of attacking Taiwan. If this happens, like what's 30 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:16,280 happening in Ukraine, other nations will be drawn into some 31 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,720 sort of way. Those who are backing Taiwan, 32 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,520 those who want to be friends with China, which way will they 33 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:25,240 go? This is on the verge of a cat of 34 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:31,000 happening, the Bible tells us. Jesus Christ himself tells us 35 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,760 that he's coming back for the church He promised he would to 36 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,560 his disciples. He said in John chapter 14 verse 37 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,560 one, let not your heart be troubled. 38 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,800 Why would they be troubled? Because he was going to go away. 39 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,880 But also we're living in a times where many of people's hearts 40 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,440 are troubled. You believe in God, believe also 41 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,400 in me. Jesus said he says I go away to 42 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:02,760 prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place 43 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:04,720 for you, here's what he promises. 44 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:12,160 I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am 45 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,920 there you may be also. I want to ask you, Are you 46 00:03:16,920 --> 00:03:20,840 ready? Are you ready for the coming of 47 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,480 the Lord? Well, I hope you don't come now 48 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,680 because I'm pregnant. I don't want to be pregnant for 49 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:31,320 eternity. There's always people have said, 50 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,280 well, I don't know if you will just have the house painted. 51 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,280 You know, we always have. You know, I just bought a new 52 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:40,520 boat. I want to give it one whiz 53 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,320 anyway. We say things like that, but I 54 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:45,160 want to ask you, are you? Are you ready? 55 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:50,800 If God was to come now, call you, Are you ready? 56 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,600 Are you waiting and living in excited expectation? 57 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:05,120 Peter warned us to be so in two. Peter 310. 58 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:09,680 Peter says of the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the 59 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:13,280 night. Thief comes when no one's 60 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:18,480 expecting, when everyone's asleep, in which the heavens 61 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:20,680 will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will 62 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,880 melt with fervent heat. Both the earth and the works 63 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,160 that are in it will be burned up. 64 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:30,600 Peter says, therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, 65 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,640 what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and 66 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,120 godliness? He says, how should you be 67 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:43,200 living now in these last days? And he tells us, verse 12, we 68 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:47,040 should be looking for and hastening the coming of the day 69 00:04:47,040 --> 00:04:49,560 of God. You and I should want the 70 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:51,520 rapture to come as soon as possible. 71 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:54,440 Talking to Auckland If you don't believe in the power of prayer, 72 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,560 Auckland is with us this morning on Good Friday. 73 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,640 He was playing the bass guitar at our Good Friday service and 74 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:04,400 his appendix had burst. He didn't know it had burst and 75 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,360 he ends up in hospital. I think was on Sunday. 76 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:09,120 Was it Auckland? And the doctor said you got here 77 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:17,040 just in time. He had a glimpse but God kept 78 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,920 him. I said to Auckland when we 79 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:24,760 visited him in Bunbury, it's not time Auckland, it's not time, 80 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:26,520 otherwise God would have called you home. 81 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:31,000 He has something for you to do and you know what? 82 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,160 That something is for all of us. We have a message for people 83 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,520 that don't know Christ to tell them. 84 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,400 If you want to believe and don't believe, if you don't believe in 85 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:44,920 the power of prayer, just walk over and touch Auckland. 86 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:53,040 Ask him first. It works. 87 00:05:53,840 --> 00:06:00,400 It's true. Well, Keith, how do we know all 88 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,680 this stuff that you're saying that the Bible says is actually 89 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,000 going to happen? How do we know that? 90 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,400 How do we know it's going to happen in these days now? 91 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:13,520 Because the church, early church, we're looking for Christ 92 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,040 right back when the church was first formed. 93 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:20,400 What is it about today that you're saying it? 94 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,000 Well, the Bible tells us that God is the only one who knows 95 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:31,560 and declares the future. Isaiah 46 verse 9 says remember 96 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,280 the former things of old. And here's what God says. 97 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,720 For I am God, and there is no other. 98 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:43,280 There's no Allah. Just so you know, there's no 99 00:06:43,280 --> 00:06:46,680 other God. There's no other religion. 100 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,000 There's other religions, but there's no other God, Jesus 101 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,600 said. I am the way. 102 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,960 There's no other way. There's no other God. 103 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:02,720 And you know that many, many Muslims are coming to to know 104 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,120 Christ. Many Muslims are finding out 105 00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:11,720 that when they pray, nobody answers because nobody's 106 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:16,840 listening. How do we know that the things 107 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,000 that are happening? God says, for I am God, there is 108 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:21,200 no other. I am God, there is none like me, 109 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,080 He says, declaring the end from the beginning. 110 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:26,640 I tell you what's happened in the beginning. 111 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:29,960 I can tell you what's going to happen in the end and from 112 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,320 ancient times, things that are not yet done. 113 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:35,600 He says. I can tell you what's going to 114 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:37,800 come along that haven't happened yet. 115 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:43,000 My counsel shall stand. My word shall stand and I'll do 116 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,280 all my pleasure. God's will will be done on earth 117 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,520 as it is in heaven. The answers are always found in 118 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:54,040 the back of the book. And for you and I, God has given 119 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,280 us a most magnificent script that details exactly what's 120 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,200 coming and more importantly, who's coming. 121 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:06,160 Revelation chapter one verse one says the Revelation. 122 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:09,280 Notice it's singular. It's not Revelations, it's not 123 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,800 the book of Revelations, it's the Book of Revelation singular, 124 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:19,400 and it's the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him. 125 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,320 Why? To show his servants what things 126 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:30,680 which must shortly take place. And he sent and signified it by 127 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:34,200 his Angel to his servant John. That's the apostle John. 128 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:39,039 He's on the Isle of Patmos and God brings him the vision and to 129 00:08:39,039 --> 00:08:41,120 write down the things of the Book of Revelation. 130 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:44,240 We'll go into a bit more detail about Patmos and John on 131 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:48,160 Wednesday who bore witness to the word of God. 132 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,640 John was the one who saw the word of God in first John. 133 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:57,160 He says we saw him, we failed him, we touched him until the 134 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,960 testimony of Jesus Christ to all things that he saw. 135 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:09,160 Notice verse 3. Blessed is he who reads, so I'm 136 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:11,320 reading this as I'm reading this, I'm getting a blessing 137 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,160 from God. The Bible says, and those who 138 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:17,640 hear, so as I'm reading it and you're listening, guess what? 139 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,120 God's giving you a blessing. Hear the words of this prophecy. 140 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:25,760 There's a third one and those that keep those things which are 141 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,000 written in it. And notice he says something 142 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:35,040 again for the time is near now. This is written 2000 years ago. 143 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:39,720 There is a special blessing promised in the Book of 144 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:45,840 Revelation for the person who reads, who hears, and who keeps 145 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:50,280 the words of the book. No other book in the Bible. 66 146 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,280 books in the Bible. No other book in the Bible 147 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:57,680 promises such a blessing. But to receive the blessing 148 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:04,240 there are terms and conditions. You must read it. 149 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:13,160 And actually the Greek language here says you read it out loud. 150 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,240 I want to encourage you when you're home. 151 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:17,840 You know, often we read the Bible. 152 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,120 We read it silently. I want you to encourage and 153 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,880 change something, Try something else. 154 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,800 When you're reading the Bible at home, read it out aloud. 155 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,800 You, I think you'll hear something marvellous as the Holy 156 00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:32,960 Spirit as you read it. We used to have this at school, 157 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,440 primary school, you know, where they teach you how to read and 158 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,600 you as you read, you're hearing the, the court, the the whys, 159 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,400 the wherefores and the what's and the results out loud. 160 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,400 When you read it silently, you don't pick that up so well. 161 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:54,520 But here Revelation says you read it out loud. 162 00:10:55,560 --> 00:11:00,320 Secondly, you must hear the words of prophecy. 163 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:01,880 Why? You say, well, I'm listening. 164 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,400 No, no, no, that's not what I was. 165 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:11,280 It's not with these lugs. Jesus would often say he who has 166 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:12,680 ears, you go, well I've got ears. 167 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,200 No, he who has ears, that is a heart for the things of God. 168 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:23,200 Let him or her hear. Two people can come to church, 169 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,120 sit together. Word of God can be read. 170 00:11:28,680 --> 00:11:32,400 It can be preached, taught on. One person goes answered that 171 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,680 was a waste of time. Elvis says what didn't you hear 172 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:40,280 what the scripture says You notice that passage where it 173 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:45,080 says this unless you do this or God command and I and I know 174 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:49,080 that was the preacher was talking to me. 175 00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:52,800 There's the difference. So how does that work. 176 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,680 Here's the deal. God never changes. 177 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,560 His word is already always anointed. 178 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,880 What you and I have to do is to prepare our hearts to hear the 179 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,760 word of God. If you're worrying about the 180 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:07,840 roast today, you're worrying about the sports results. 181 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:10,600 If you're worrying about anything else, then you got 182 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,320 lugs. But you're not listening. 183 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,680 It's like the kids, you know, your parents tell their kids, 184 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:17,200 are you listening to me? Yeah. 185 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:18,440 Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, they're not. 186 00:12:22,560 --> 00:12:25,800 So you must hear the words of the prophecy. 187 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,640 That means we are to hear what God is saying to us through this 188 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,760 book. God has a message for you. 189 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:36,240 I don't care how old you are, where you are, what's happened 190 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,920 to you. God wants to speak to you out of 191 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:41,920 this book, and He has a message to you that's different to 192 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,240 others as well. It's collective for all of us, 193 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,160 but it's different to you as well. 194 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:52,400 And thirdly, the blessing is you must keep it. 195 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:57,800 In other words, we are to apply the truth to your own life. 196 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,200 So many people go to church, they hear it and they don't 197 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:02,640 bother applying what God has said. 198 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:07,040 You've got to apply it to your own life. 199 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:12,080 My own situation, you know, am I, am I enamoured with the ways 200 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,440 of this world? If Jesus was to come back, would 201 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:21,200 that disrupt my plans? At the moment, my only daily 202 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,480 experience. If I do that, then this book 203 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,760 will motivate you to live a godly life. 204 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,560 This book will make you ready to meet the Lord. 205 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:39,240 As we proceed for the study of this book, you'll be able to 206 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:44,680 look into the future, the reality of truly what's about to 207 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:47,480 happen in our world. You know, newspapers talk about 208 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,040 this and we see governments going. 209 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:55,880 You know what? We believers know what the world 210 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:59,080 in the world is going to happen. We know what's going to happen 211 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,720 to Israel. We know what's going to happen 212 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,720 with Iran. We know what's going to happen 213 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,040 with Russia. We know what's going to happen 214 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:09,000 with Libya. It says so in the book of 215 00:14:09,560 --> 00:14:12,600 Ezekiel. We know what's going to happen 216 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:16,000 with the church. We know how there's going to be 217 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,640 a one world government, A1 world religion. 218 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:23,920 We know that Australia and every other nation in the world will 219 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,360 eventually turn its back upon Israel. 220 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:27,880 We're pretty close to that at the moment. 221 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:34,680 God knows the truth. We can look into the future. 222 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:37,160 These things are going to happen. 223 00:14:38,040 --> 00:14:42,080 God knows the future already. To Him it's fact. 224 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,480 For God does not just predict the future He's been. 225 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,240 There you go. How's that Keith explain. 226 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:56,560 God lives outside time. He lives in the eternal reality. 227 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:02,560 He is not bound by time, hours, days, months or calendar. 228 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:08,360 It's all just and here's the word, a continuum to him, to 229 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:10,760 Peter 38. But beloved, do not forget this 230 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:15,880 one thing that with the Lord one day as 1000 years and 1000 years 231 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:19,920 as one day. Most of you know the movie Back 232 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:21,920 to the Future. Remember the movie Back to the 233 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:28,680 Future, 12351112, Back to the future, Barney McFly and all 234 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:30,320 that sort of stuff from the professor there. 235 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,160 It's a time continuum. It's a time continuum. 236 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:40,560 Well, actually that's physics. The time continuum or space time 237 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:45,360 continuum is a concept in physics that combines space and 238 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,760 tie into a singular 4 dimensional fabric. 239 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:53,160 It's science. It's a continuous unbroken 240 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:57,800 structure where events are described by their location in 241 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:01,840 space and time. This means there are no gaps or 242 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:05,400 breaks in time and all moments are connected. 243 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:07,840 For example, it's kind of like this. 244 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:11,720 Picture this. There's a great big long parade 245 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,960 coming along here. They're a little, it's a little 246 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:15,320 parade. They're just little people. 247 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,200 So it's a huge parade, huge parade. 248 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,600 It's starting, starting here and it goes along. 249 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:24,280 It goes all the way down. It's going fast and then ending 250 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,320 right. And it's got to finish back back 251 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,160 there. And you and I are back here. 252 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,240 We're watching on the sidelines, on the footpath. 253 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:34,360 And as the parade goes past, the only part we see is this bit. 254 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,480 That's the only part. We see the parade as the the 255 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,560 marching girls and the band and everything comes back. 256 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,600 We see that bit, but there's a bit that's gone on ahead, and 257 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,800 there's a bit that's still yet to pass us. 258 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:51,960 Well, God, he's back here. He sees the beginning where we 259 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,760 are, and he sees the end. He sees it all at one time. 260 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,680 And so that's the space time continuum. 261 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:02,680 Marty, my hair's just about the right thing, too. 262 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:11,480 OK, OK, easy, easy. The Bible predicts the future 263 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:21,000 with 100% accuracy. Did you know that 2/3 of the 264 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:25,079 Bible, 2/3 of the Bible is prophecy? 265 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:30,240 50% of the Bible prophecy things? 266 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:35,520 Those predicted events have already taken place, and so if 267 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:38,760 all these events have happened just as God said they would, 268 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,120 then we would have no reason to doubt that the remaining 269 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:48,960 prophecies will happen as well. Sadly, many church attendees 270 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,520 view the Book of Revelation while it's a sealed book. 271 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:55,520 I remember talking to a principal of a Christian School 272 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,840 once about the Book of Revelation. 273 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,360 Who can? Who can understand it? 274 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:04,600 No one knows it and I thought you got a problem. 275 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:12,160 It's not a sealed book. People are bewildered by its 276 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,360 well, who can understand its symbols and its images? 277 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,600 And so we avoid any serious study of it. 278 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Oh, Gee, I think for me, the hardest book I ever teach is the 279 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,480 book of John, the Gospel of John. 280 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:28,160 You know why? Because it's it's so deep in, in 281 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,040 some places, there's no bottom to understanding all the Gospel 282 00:18:32,040 --> 00:18:34,960 of John talks about. Yet the same person who wrote 283 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:40,760 the Gospel of John wrote the Book of Revelation, and it's led 284 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,640 and fed by the same Holy Spirit. So if you're going to say that 285 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,320 about the Book of Revelation, then you better go, well, Gee, 286 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:49,480 who knows what the Gospel of John's about? 287 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,280 You know what I mean? It makes no sense. 288 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,440 In verse 3. We've read it. 289 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,160 It tells us otherwise about studying the Book of Revelation. 290 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:07,280 It says verse three. Look, bless, it is he who reads 291 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:13,320 and those who hear the words of this prophecy and those who keep 292 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:14,640 the things which are written in it. 293 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:19,040 Why? For the time is near literally, 294 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:24,440 as I said before, as I read it and you listen to it, God brings 295 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:29,160 a blessing to both of us and a further blessing to all of you 296 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:34,280 who as you hear, you will buy what it teaches and you place it 297 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:38,240 in your life and you live your life according key and keep 298 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:39,720 those things which are written in it. 299 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:45,160 Jesus said in Revelation chapter 22, verse seven, He said this as 300 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:46,240 well. You're going to see it 301 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,160 throughout the book of relation, Revelation. 302 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,680 He says, behold, I am coming quickly. 303 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,400 We said Maranatha this morning, Aramaic 2 words. 304 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:58,840 The Lord's come and the Lord is coming soon. 305 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,480 Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this 306 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,800 book. Why is this book important for 307 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:15,080 us to study and know today? 2025 One the time is near, we're 308 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:18,680 told that 2. Jesus says I'm coming quickly. 309 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:26,280 The Book of Revelation speaks of the ability of one man to deny 310 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:31,040 people the ability to buy or sell unless they have his mark. 311 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:37,000 666 coming. Now, that sounded ridiculous a 312 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,840 few years ago because everyone and I too experienced that. 313 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:43,640 Some of you old enough. Well, we're paid in cash. 314 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:46,680 We got paid on a Friday or a fortnight. 315 00:20:46,680 --> 00:20:49,280 We got paid in cash. And if someone said to you, you 316 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:52,440 know, you're never going to get paid in cash anymore, you want 317 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,600 to, Yeah, drop on your head. We're just not going to put up 318 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,040 with that. Correct. 319 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:04,000 The world was paid in cash. Then the first bank card came 320 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:10,920 into Australia October 1974. What did people say when this 321 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:16,160 bank card, it'll never catch on credit A card? 322 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:20,320 No, just give me the Muller. I want the money on my hands. 323 00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:22,480 I've worked for it. I want it in my hands. 324 00:21:22,600 --> 00:21:23,840 I'm not going to put up with that. 325 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:29,480 Now there's no one gets paid in cash unless you're Al Capone and 326 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:38,600 he's dead today with a current computer system and everyone's 327 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:42,000 been driven. Our bank, which was originally 328 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,880 Bank West with the church, they said we're not doing church 329 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:46,400 accounts anymore or business accounts. 330 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:50,080 We're finishing. So we had to change, move over 331 00:21:50,080 --> 00:21:53,600 to the Commonwealth Bank. Took us three months to do that 332 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,960 because we had to go through all these new rules and regulations 333 00:21:57,200 --> 00:22:01,600 and now you have no choice. It's online. 334 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,120 It's online and to a transition now. 335 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:10,640 How often are you told by the bank how you know I've been 336 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:12,240 scammed? You've been scammed. 337 00:22:13,480 --> 00:22:15,680 Change your password. You got to put a new password. 338 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,120 That password is no good. You mean the password that I've 339 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:23,160 had for 12 years? Capital PASSWIORD password and 340 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:25,400 then I change it to password one and a password 2? 341 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:28,600 You mean it's no good anymore? You mean that someone will work 342 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:36,240 that out? So we just oh, passwords coming 343 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:39,080 out my ears and then you're locked out. 344 00:22:43,360 --> 00:22:46,160 Finally, we didn't have to use passwords. 345 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:54,480 It's coming. But this one, this mark, this 346 00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:58,600 man, because you won't be able to buy or sell without it will 347 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:04,080 be after the church's rapture. We also read in Revelation about 348 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:09,160 an army numbering 200 million. I'm so glad our army, which is 349 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:12,920 about 80,000. We're ready. 350 00:23:13,000 --> 00:23:16,120 We're it's, it's, we've been found out just recently our 351 00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:17,680 government, we don't have enough bullets. 352 00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,000 If anyone wants to take us, we're done. 353 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,880 Just a couple of days. We're, we're, we're, we're 354 00:23:24,880 --> 00:23:25,800 overwhelmed. We're done. 355 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:31,320 There's an army numbering 200 million written in the Book of 356 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,520 Revelation, marching toward a final battle, the Battle of 357 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:36,080 Armageddon. We'll see that later. 358 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:40,040 When John received the vision on the Isle of Patmos, there 359 00:23:40,040 --> 00:23:42,520 weren't even 200 million people on the planet. 360 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:47,600 Now we have 8 billion. We all, we all know there is one 361 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:52,440 nation now that has and is flexing its military muscles 362 00:23:52,680 --> 00:24:00,360 worldwide that can field a 200 million strong soldier trained 363 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:05,320 army, China. But also in the Book of 364 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,480 Revelation, Chapter 11, verse 9, there are two witnesses we'll 365 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,160 get to later in the Book of Revelation. 366 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,720 And the world are put off by these two witnesses because they 367 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,480 proclaim the gospel and then they die. 368 00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:23,400 And it says the world, whole world watches on and celebrates 369 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:27,200 worldwide, gives gifts to one another as the world watches on 370 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:31,400 the death of these two witnesses, satellites. 371 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:34,880 We can watch any event around the world instantaneous. 372 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:40,600 Now, you see, that's why we're living in this time now that 373 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:50,640 Christ is coming. 278 verses of the 404 verses in the Book of 374 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:54,960 Revelation, by the way, are directly alluded to the Old 375 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,080 Testament Scriptures. It's a cut and paste. 376 00:24:57,680 --> 00:25:00,400 So what the Book of Revelation is, it's putting all these 377 00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:02,240 things together and whacking them here. 378 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:05,600 This is the culmination of it. It's the revelation of Jesus 379 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:09,440 Christ. This book and our study of it 380 00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,880 will teach us what the truth about the end times. 381 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:18,960 We will see Jesus Christ's ultimate victory over Satan as 382 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:20,760 he casts him in the lake of fire. 383 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:25,840 It reveals the final political structure of this fallen world 384 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:30,400 which Daniel got an eyesight of. And now we're beginning to see 385 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:35,720 is Europe will begin to flex it's muscles and a world leader 386 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:40,000 will come to Europe and run A1 world government. 387 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,240 It describes the rise and fall of the Antichrist. 388 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:50,600 It speaks the Book of Revelation chapters 4 and five of the 389 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,960 rapture of the Church. It explains that after the 390 00:25:54,960 --> 00:26:00,680 rapture of the church there will be 7 years upon our world that 391 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:08,560 Jesus says of massive unbelievable tribulation that 392 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:13,120 this world has never experienced or will ever experience again. 393 00:26:13,520 --> 00:26:18,320 Events like a worldwide earthquake, an earthquake where 394 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:23,400 the whole earth will wobble and the effects of the tsunamis and 395 00:26:23,400 --> 00:26:26,600 the earthquakes and displacements of land and sea 396 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:31,760 during that time, meteors falling out of the sky, just 397 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:33,520 some of the events besides others. 398 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:40,440 It proclaims in chapter 19 the second coming of Jesus Christ as 399 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,520 it returns to begin the rule and reign in Jerusalem. 400 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:49,960 It tells us of the horror of the great rebellion of mankind. 401 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:53,760 And we've looked over the field, the battlefield where this will 402 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:58,760 occur in Jezreel, the Battle of Armageddon, Megiddo. 403 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,560 There will be then, as Jesus returns the second time, 1000 404 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,680 year, literal thousand year reign by Jesus in Jerusalem. 405 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:14,760 It will take us then, after Jesus's return to what's called 406 00:27:14,760 --> 00:27:19,560 the Great White Throne Judgement, where every 407 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:27,520 unbeliever and all those who have refused Christ over the 408 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:31,800 life of our world will stand before Jesus himself and they 409 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:34,960 will be cast into hell. Judgement of the sheep and the 410 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:37,920 goats. The lake of fire that burns 411 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,200 forever. And then we'll read how the 412 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:45,360 redeemed will live in the new heaven and the new earth. 413 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:50,200 But the theme and the real purpose of this majestic book, 414 00:27:50,680 --> 00:27:54,360 Book of Revelation, is the revelation of Jesus Christ in 415 00:27:54,360 --> 00:27:56,240 totality. It's about Him. 416 00:27:56,720 --> 00:28:01,440 The Bible is his story, whilst all the Scripture is revelation 417 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,600 from God to Timothy 316. God breathed. 418 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,960 The Book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus Christ. 419 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:17,200 While this book is certainly revelation from Christ. 2216 420 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:22,160 says I, Jesus have sent my Angel to testify to you these things 421 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,640 in the churches. I am the root and the offspring 422 00:28:24,640 --> 00:28:27,000 of David, the bright and the morning star. 423 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,360 It is also the revelation about Him. 424 00:28:29,360 --> 00:28:32,680 What does that mean? The book is not written to 425 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:36,960 reveal the Antichrist. It is written to reveal Jesus 426 00:28:36,960 --> 00:28:40,480 Christ for us to know who he is and who's coming and what he's 427 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:43,160 going to do. And he's coming to judge the 428 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:48,480 world with righteousness. He came as a saviour and a 429 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,520 servant and a slave to be crucified the first time. 430 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:56,120 The second time he's running the show, he's going to judge the 431 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:59,560 world. It's the unveiling of Jesus 432 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:04,480 Christ. It says that every eye will see 433 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:09,240 him, it says, and every knee in the world will bow to him. 434 00:29:10,080 --> 00:29:13,920 And it says and every tongue will confess these words, Jesus 435 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:19,120 Christ is Lord. In chapter 1 alone there are 8 436 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:22,720 direct references to Jesus who's the theme of this amazing 437 00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:25,800 scripture. In verse 5 it says he's the 438 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:31,720 faithful witness. Again, verse 5 He's the first 439 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:35,720 born of the dead. Verse 5 he's the ruler of the 440 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:39,840 kings of the earth. Verse 8, he is the Alpha and the 441 00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:41,480 Omega. It means he's the beginning and 442 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:46,320 end of everything. Verse 8 he is the one who was 443 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:50,640 and is and is to come. And verse 8 he is of the 444 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,800 Almighty. So why should we study this book 445 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:59,760 2025 really, Revelation 11 says the revelation of Jesus Christ 446 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:03,240 which God gave him to show his servants things which must 447 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:08,640 shortly take place. In Genesis chapter 18 verse 17, 448 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:12,240 God visited Abraham and he's on his way. 449 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:15,120 He's going to go to Sodom and Gomorrah and he's going to pour 450 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,040 out judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah. 451 00:30:17,760 --> 00:30:20,960 So the Lord, it's a theophany. Jesus appears with two angels 452 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,440 with him and he catches up to Abraham and he's talking to 453 00:30:24,520 --> 00:30:27,040 Abraham and I and he says these words. 454 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:29,600 Should I hide my plan from Abraham? 455 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:35,000 Genesis 1817, the Lord asked for Abraham will certainly become a 456 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:38,000 great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth will be 457 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:42,320 blessed through him. Therefore God told Abraham, this 458 00:30:42,320 --> 00:30:46,360 is what I'm going to do in Sodom and Gomorrah because he he was 459 00:30:46,360 --> 00:30:48,720 letting him know he was a friend of God. 460 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:54,080 How amazing then is your salvation this morning? 461 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:58,720 You go, yeah, it is amazing. How privileged are we that we 462 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:03,320 have been rescued from our sins, Yes, that we're no longer going 463 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,000 to be judged by God, which we deserve. 464 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:11,800 But there is more because verse one says we have been privileged 465 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:18,120 to be given the information of this book to further glorify his 466 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:24,400 Son, the heavenly Father has graciously granted to a select a 467 00:31:24,400 --> 00:31:29,360 special group of privileged people the understanding of the 468 00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:30,880 Book of Revelation. You go, who's that? 469 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:37,080 John describes who these privileged people are. 470 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:43,040 They are described as Christ's bondservants, literally from a 471 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:48,720 Greek word meaning slave. The bond servant was a special 472 00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:50,960 type of slave we find in the Bible. 473 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:56,920 They were a slave that served not because they had to, but out 474 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,040 of love and devotion to his or her Master. 475 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:03,160 It comes and the story tells us about this in the book of 476 00:32:03,160 --> 00:32:08,160 Exodus, Exodus 21 verse 4. Speaking of a slave, if his 477 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:12,200 master gave him a wife while he was a slave and they had sons or 478 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,400 daughters, then only the man will be free in the 7th year. 479 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,520 But his wife and children will still belong to his masters. 480 00:32:18,920 --> 00:32:24,600 But the slave may declare, I love my master, my wife and my 481 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,400 children. I don't want to go free. 482 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,120 And if he does this, his master will present him before God. 483 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:36,080 Then his master must take him to the door or doorpost, publicly 484 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:40,000 Pierce his ear with an awl, and after that the slave will serve 485 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:44,320 his masterful life. That slave is a bond slave. 486 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,560 Guess what? You and I are believers and 487 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:48,560 slaves of God. You're not. 488 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,520 Because, oh, we have to go to church, Do we? 489 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:52,800 Do we have to do this? No, because you want to. 490 00:32:52,920 --> 00:32:54,520 You don't have to. You're going to leave at any 491 00:32:54,520 --> 00:32:58,080 moment. You don't have to be a follower 492 00:32:58,080 --> 00:32:59,560 of Christ. You have a choice. 493 00:33:00,440 --> 00:33:02,960 But this explains something to us. 494 00:33:03,400 --> 00:33:08,200 Why unbelievers, people who aren't Christians, find the Book 495 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:11,120 of Revelation such a massive mystery. 496 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:14,720 Revelation is not intended for them. 497 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:21,160 Bible tells us that it was given by the Father to the Son to show 498 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:24,240 to those who willingly serve Him. 499 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:27,960 So if you willingly serve Him this morning, you'll understand 500 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:32,200 and hear the Book of Revelation. If you aren't, you won't have a 501 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:37,400 clue what's going on. Anyone who refuses to 502 00:33:37,400 --> 00:33:43,000 acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord cannot expect to understand this 503 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:44,880 book. Paul teaches us. 504 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,880 He says in one Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14. 505 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:51,800 People who aren't spiritual, people who aren't born again 506 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:55,240 can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. 507 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:59,560 It all sounds foolish what you mean and it does to a non 508 00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:02,280 believer and they can't understand it. 509 00:34:02,280 --> 00:34:06,680 Paul says for only those who are spiritual can understand what 510 00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:11,719 the Holy Spirit means. So the unbelieving sceptic finds 511 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:16,040 Revelation is nothing but confusion, but for a willing 512 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:20,280 bondservant of Jesus Christ, this book unveils prophetic 513 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:22,639 truth about the future of the world. 514 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:24,960 Revelation 11. I'll read it again. 515 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:30,560 The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his 516 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:36,639 servants bond slaves, things which must shortly take place. 517 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,120 Well, when are these things going to take place? 518 00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:45,239 The book of Revelations emphasis on future events sets it apart 519 00:34:45,239 --> 00:34:46,800 from every other book in the Bible. 520 00:34:47,199 --> 00:34:50,120 The first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke 521 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:55,040 and John talk about the past, the life, death and resurrection 522 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:59,800 of Jesus Christ. The next 22 books are about the 523 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:04,120 present, the churches, the life of the church, which is why the 524 00:35:04,120 --> 00:35:05,840 book of Acts doesn't have an end to it. 525 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,720 You and I are still living out the book of Acts. 526 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:13,760 Revelation, however, does contain some information about 527 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:18,840 the past, chapter 1 and then the present age, the Church age, 528 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:23,520 chapters 2 and three. But from 4:00 on, the Book of 529 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:28,720 Revelation folk focuses on the future of the things to come yet 530 00:35:28,720 --> 00:35:33,760 to occur. We see two dramatic emphasis 531 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:38,560 happening collectively in and throughout the Book of 532 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:42,480 Revelation. We see the betrayal of Jesus 533 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:46,160 Christ in all his glory every time we read of him. 534 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:49,880 Now in the Book of Revelation man, he's in all his power and 535 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:53,760 glory and wonder. And we see the blessedness of 536 00:35:53,760 --> 00:35:56,840 everyone who's received Christ as his Lord and Saviour. 537 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:00,880 But the other part of the Book of Revelation that will see all 538 00:36:00,880 --> 00:36:03,760 the way through it, people called earth dwellers. 539 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:10,200 The second emphasis is the coming judgement on each and 540 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:15,880 later at the great white Throne, judgement of unbelievers to 541 00:36:16,160 --> 00:36:21,120 eternal punishment. So we see sorrow for unbelievers 542 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:28,160 and joy for believers, but we're not to set times, dates. 543 00:36:29,000 --> 00:36:31,600 God only knows, God the Father only knows. 544 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:36,320 But this morning, you and I and our children and our 545 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:41,240 grandchildren, we are to adhere and follow the Lord's warnings. 546 00:36:41,720 --> 00:36:44,480 Matthew 2442. Jesus said these words. 547 00:36:45,240 --> 00:36:50,960 Therefore, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your 548 00:36:50,960 --> 00:36:54,920 Lord is coming. The knowledge we've been given 549 00:36:55,040 --> 00:37:00,120 by God exclusively to His Church of the events depicted in the 550 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:05,560 Book of Revelation that are soon to take place should motivate us 551 00:37:06,200 --> 00:37:10,840 to live wholly obedient lives and also to have a a a lighter 552 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:12,200 touch on the things of the earth. 553 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,800 It's a problem that I run into and I've dealt with many a 554 00:37:16,800 --> 00:37:20,960 person in their last days hours before their death. 555 00:37:21,720 --> 00:37:24,920 And you know what they don't cling to anything that they 556 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,320 previously cling to. They're not worried. 557 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,920 I don't worry about the car who's going to get my car worry 558 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:36,040 about my house. I don't mow the lawn that they 559 00:37:36,040 --> 00:37:38,440 don't worry about any of that. You know what they're worried 560 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:40,560 about? Where am I going? 561 00:37:42,080 --> 00:37:46,800 They're scared to death because they know they're going to die. 562 00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:51,120 What happens when I die? Where do I go? 563 00:37:55,360 --> 00:37:58,640 Peter says. Dear friends, while you're 564 00:37:58,640 --> 00:38:03,600 waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be 565 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:06,920 found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His 566 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,720 sight. And remember, our Lord's 567 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:13,200 patience gives people time to be saved. 568 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:17,800 This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the 569 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:21,560 wisdom God gave him. Blessed is he who reads and 570 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:24,640 those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things 571 00:38:24,640 --> 00:38:27,400 which are written in it, for the time is near. 572 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:33,560 The Book of Revelation begins and ends with promises of 573 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:36,640 blessing to those who read and abide it. 574 00:38:37,640 --> 00:38:41,640 There is 7 in total Revelation 1/3. 575 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:45,480 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this 576 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:48,040 prophecy and keep those things which are written in it. 577 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:51,400 That's 1-2. Blessed are the dead. 578 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:56,640 How is that It says Revelation 1413 and I heard a voice from 579 00:38:56,640 --> 00:38:59,360 heaven saying write this down. Must be important. 580 00:39:01,360 --> 00:39:07,200 Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on Yes, it's the 581 00:39:07,200 --> 00:39:09,240 Spirit they are blessed indeed. Why? 582 00:39:10,080 --> 00:39:14,800 For they will rest from their hard work for their good deeds 583 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:20,600 follow them three Jesus said behold, I'm coming like a thief. 584 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:24,080 Blessed are the is the one. Revelation 1615. 585 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:29,960 Blessed is all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing 586 00:39:30,040 --> 00:39:33,760 ready so that they will not have to walk around naked and 587 00:39:33,760 --> 00:39:35,440 ashamed. Naked and ashamed. 588 00:39:35,440 --> 00:39:38,360 How can that be? It means we're not clothed with 589 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:41,120 the righteousness of God. We're still covered in our own 590 00:39:41,120 --> 00:39:43,120 sin. And when you stand before God, 591 00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:46,720 without the righteousness of God, you are naked and ashamed. 592 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:57,800 There's 4 #4 Revelation 19/9. Blessed are those who are 593 00:39:57,800 --> 00:39:59,960 invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. 594 00:40:00,440 --> 00:40:05,400 Wow, I can't wait for that. I'm not eating till I go there. 595 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:11,240 It says these are true words that come from God. 596 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:17,800 Says that after that blessing 5, Blessed and holy Revelation 26. 597 00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,840 And blessed and unholy are those who share in the first 598 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:23,880 resurrection. What's that first resurrection? 599 00:40:24,160 --> 00:40:28,520 There's two resurrections. The first one occurred when when 600 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:34,080 Jesus rose from the dead, right? And the first resurrection goes 601 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:39,080 all the way up to the thousand year reign. 602 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:44,240 Then after the thousand year reign there's a second 603 00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:47,480 resurrection. And the second resurrection is 604 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:51,520 every person who has died who has not received Christ as the 605 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:55,160 Lord and Saviour, and they are resurrected from the dead, 606 00:40:55,240 --> 00:40:59,320 Revelation 22 And they, each and every one of them individually, 607 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,600 Romans tells us to, will stand before the judgement seat of 608 00:41:02,600 --> 00:41:06,080 God, and before them will be Jesus Christ, and they will have 609 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:08,680 personally rejected Jesus Christ. 610 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:14,240 And they will then front their Saviour who now will be their 611 00:41:14,240 --> 00:41:20,280 judge, and they will be cast into hell forever. 612 00:41:21,440 --> 00:41:25,200 They will get to live their life that they've wanted, but they 613 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:26,560 don't want anything to do with God. 614 00:41:26,760 --> 00:41:29,800 He says OK, I tried, I did everything I could. 615 00:41:30,400 --> 00:41:33,880 You want, you don't want me, You can have yourself and you will 616 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:44,360 live alone forever. 6 Blessed are those who obey the words of 617 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:48,720 prophecy written in this book. Revelation 22, seven and lastly, 618 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:52,720 Revelation 2214. Blessed are those who wash their 619 00:41:52,720 --> 00:41:55,200 robes. They'll be permitted to enter 620 00:41:55,200 --> 00:41:58,080 through the gates of the city, and they eat the fruit of the 621 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:02,440 tree of life. Why the time is near. 622 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:08,400 Let me close this now. The Greek word for time, the 623 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:14,240 time is near in verse 3, does not reflect or talk about time 624 00:42:14,240 --> 00:42:19,280 on a clock or a calendar, but two seasons and eras. 625 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:22,520 Seasons. We're entering the season of 626 00:42:22,520 --> 00:42:26,480 winter, aren't we? You and I are living in the next 627 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:31,640 great era of God's redemptive history. 628 00:42:31,960 --> 00:42:36,800 It's happening. The imminent return of Jesus 629 00:42:36,800 --> 00:42:39,280 Christ has always been the church's hope. 630 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:46,920 Jesus even commanded his followers to watch expectantly 631 00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:49,920 for his return. My question to you this morning 632 00:42:49,920 --> 00:42:53,800 is, Are you ready? And the second thing I want to 633 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:56,600 ask you, if your parents are your kids ready? 634 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:04,360 The speed of the rapture, Paul tells us, will occur faster than 635 00:43:04,360 --> 00:43:07,880 the twinkling of an eye being measured gone. 636 00:43:11,680 --> 00:43:17,000 Today is not only the day of salvation for you and I, but the 637 00:43:17,000 --> 00:43:23,680 problem with many church attendees is that far too many 638 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:27,560 people are living like those in Noah's time. 639 00:43:28,080 --> 00:43:34,000 Prior to the flood, Noah preached 120 years of the grace 640 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,680 of God, he said It's coming, the flood's coming. 641 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:42,520 It's going to be this coming to the ark 120 years, 120 years 642 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:46,160 each Sunday Noah banged. I pick it up, put the sign up 643 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:50,720 coming here each each Sunday just him and seven others sat in 644 00:43:50,720 --> 00:43:56,800 that church for 120 years. No one ever came and God said go 645 00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:04,120 on the ark, Noah sit down and then it says God close the door, 646 00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:12,200 not Noah. It began to rain, Jesus says, 647 00:44:13,360 --> 00:44:17,120 but of that day and hour no one knows, not even even the angels 648 00:44:17,120 --> 00:44:22,160 of heaven, but my Father only. But as in the days of Noah, and 649 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:26,680 he's Speaking of the time of his coming, so also will be the 650 00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:29,880 coming of the Son of Man. For as in the days before the 651 00:44:29,880 --> 00:44:35,280 flood, thou are eating, drinking, marrying and giving in 652 00:44:35,280 --> 00:44:39,320 marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark. 653 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,160 And so people will just go. Many people come to church and 654 00:44:43,160 --> 00:44:45,120 then they just go on about their business. 655 00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:48,680 They're not hearing the word. They're not noticing what God is 656 00:44:48,680 --> 00:44:51,080 saying to them. They're not expectant. 657 00:44:51,200 --> 00:44:54,560 They're not living knowing that Jesus is coming at any moment. 658 00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:57,880 He's gone about their business. You know the big thing that most 659 00:44:57,880 --> 00:44:59,240 people go about their Business Today. 660 00:44:59,800 --> 00:45:03,280 Let's have a coffee. People build houses, live in 661 00:45:03,280 --> 00:45:05,320 areas just because there's a good coffee shop next door. 662 00:45:05,560 --> 00:45:06,920 Nothing here is coffee. I like coffee. 663 00:45:08,240 --> 00:45:12,080 But seriously, that's the that's the big deal. 664 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:17,720 I want to tell you, Jesus is coming. 665 00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:22,680 You can't just carry on. Oh, well, when it happens, I'll 666 00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:28,240 sort it out because when the door was closed, there was a lot 667 00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:31,560 of people. What's that? 668 00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:36,440 And the rain began to fall. It was too late. 669 00:45:37,800 --> 00:45:43,160 There's no karma, there's no reincarnation, there's no second 670 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:47,800 chance. Today is the day of salvation. 671 00:45:50,120 --> 00:45:53,480 If you don't know Christ as your Lord and Saviour, what I 672 00:45:53,480 --> 00:45:55,760 probably said this morning has gone right over your head. 673 00:45:56,720 --> 00:45:59,680 But if God is working on your heart this morning, you go, man, 674 00:45:59,680 --> 00:46:02,680 I want to know about this. I know what you're saying is 675 00:46:02,680 --> 00:46:06,120 true and God is stirring your heart and he's saying today is 676 00:46:06,120 --> 00:46:09,960 the day you were to give your life to them, to me, He's 677 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:13,120 coming. We used to play a game called 678 00:46:13,120 --> 00:46:20,080 Heidi and at the as you finish your count, you go coming ready 679 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:24,720 or not. And he's coming when no one's 680 00:46:24,720 --> 00:46:25,400 expecting him.