Carter Report, The

Behold The Lion, See The Lamb

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Pr. John Carter

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Series Code: CR

Program Code: CR001010


00:00 [MUSIC]
00:07 >> FROM ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, THE CARTER REPORT PRESENTS
00:10 "THE LIVING WORD AROUND THE WORLD."
00:17 >> HELLO, FRIEND.
00:18 I'M JOHN CARTER WITH A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE JUST FOR YOU.
00:23 I BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU AND ME TO TELL THE WORLD
00:27 ABOUT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
00:29 YOU KNOW, FRIEND, WHEN I TURN IN MY BIBLE TO REVELATION 14,
00:34 I READ THERE OF A WORLDWIDE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
00:40 IN THE SETTING OF SOME VERY AMAZING TRUTHS.
00:43 AND THAT IS WHY THE CARTER REPORT RIGHT NOW
00:45 IS WORKING IN CHINA.
00:47 ISN'T THAT AMAZING?
00:48 ALSO IN INDIA.
00:50 WE'RE TELECASTING IN INDIA.
00:52 AND VERY SHORTLY, WE'RE GOING TO AFRICA.
00:55 AND WHEN WE GO TO AFRICA, THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST IS GOING
00:58 TO BE TELECAST RIGHT ACROSS THAT GREAT CONTINENT AND MILLIONS
01:03 OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO
01:06 THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.
01:09 I'M ASKING TODAY FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP.
01:14 I WANT YOU TO WRITE TO ME, PLEASE.
01:17 AND I WANT YOU TO SUPPORT US IN THIS WORLDWIDE EVANGELISM.
01:22 AND WHEN YOU DO SO, I WANT TO SEND YOU TWO DVDs.
01:28 TWO DVDs.
01:31 ONE IS ABOUT HOW TO SURVIVE THE COMING FINANCIAL MELTDOWN,
01:37 AND THE SECOND ONE IS ABOUT THE HEALTH CRISIS THAT IS JUST
01:41 ABOUT BLOWING AMERICA APART, BUT IT CONCERNS MY FRIENDS
01:45 ALSO IN AUSTRALIA.
01:48 SO PLEASE SUPPORT US IN THIS GREAT WORK, AND WHEN YOU
01:51 SUPPORT US, I'LL SEND YOU THESE TWO DVDs.
01:56 WRITE TO ME, JOHN CARTER, POST OFFICE BOX 1900,
01:59 THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA, 91358.
02:02 IN AUSTRALIA, WRITE TO ME AT TERRIGAL.
02:06 SUPPORT US IN THIS GREAT OUTREACH TO THE WORLD.
02:10 LET CHRIST BE KNOWN AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
02:15 WRITE TO ME PLEASE, TODAY.
02:22 >> I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU
02:25 AND SEE MY FRIENDS, AND TO WELCOME THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
02:28 WATCHING ON 3ABN.
02:31 AND JUST BEFORE I BEGIN MY MESSAGE, I'D LIKE TO JUST PAY
02:34 A LITTLE TRIBUTE TO JOHN.
02:35 HE'S BEEN A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS.
02:39 IF I TELL YOU HOW LONG, YOU'LL KNOW HOW OLD WE ARE.
02:42 IT GOES BACK TO AVONDALE DAYS, BUT PARTICULARLY WHEN
02:45 THE DIFFICULT TIMES CAME IN MID-MINISTRY.
02:49 NOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS
02:52 TO BE AN EVANGELIST.
02:53 IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.
02:55 I HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAD BEEN A UNION PRESIDENT AND ALSO
02:58 A UNION EVANGELIST BEFORE THAT, AND HE SAID TO ME HOW
03:03 THE STRAIN OF BEING AN ADMINISTRATOR WAS NOTHING
03:05 TO THE STRESSES AND STRAINS OF BEING AN EVANGELIST.
03:09 AND UNLESS YOU'VE STOOD BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF THOUSANDS, YOU
03:12 DON'T REALIZE JUST WHAT GOES THROUGH AN EVANGELIST BEFORE
03:15 THE PROGRAM STARTS.
03:16 WILL THE PEOPLE COME?
03:18 WILL I DELIVER A GOOD MESSAGE?
03:20 YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN CHURCH SERVICES, YOU MAY PREACH
03:23 A WEAK MESSAGE.
03:24 THAT CAN HAPPEN.
03:25 I'VE DONE SOME TERRIBLE SERMONS I'D NEVER PREACH AGAIN, BUT THE
03:28 PEOPLE COME BACK NEXT SABBATH, DON'T THEY?
03:31 BUT IN AN EVANGELISTIC PROGRAM, THERE'S A SORT OF PRESSURE
03:34 UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN AN EVANGELIST YOU WOULD NEVER
03:36 APPRECIATE.
03:38 YOU PREACH A WEAK MESSAGE AND THE NEXT MEETING THE PEOPLE
03:40 ARE NOT THERE.
03:42 AND SO IF YOU SEE PASTOR CARTER GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE A TIGER
03:45 BEFORE THE MEETINGS, YOU WON'T APPRECIATE, PROBABLY LIKE I DO,
03:49 THE PRESSURES HE'S GONE THROUGH.
03:51 AND YET, HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT BECAUSE
03:53 HE HAS A VERY GOOD WIFE IN BEVERLEY CARTER,
03:56 WHO HAS SUCH STRONGLY SUPPORTED HIS WORK AND HIS
03:59 MINISTRY.
04:00 AND I'D LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO HER TOO.
04:02 HE COULD NEVER HAVE DONE THE WORK HE'S DONE WITHOUT THE
04:05 BACKING OF HIS WIFE, BEVERLEY.
04:07 AND ALSO I'D LIKE TO PAY A TRIBUTE TO THIS CHURCH, TOO,
04:10 BECAUSE HE HAS A BASE TO OPERATE FROM HERE AS WELL.
04:14 AND TO KNOW HE CAN COME HOME AND HE AND I WILL BE CROSSING
04:17 IN MID-AIR, HOPEFULLY NOT THAT WAY, BUT THAT WAY.
04:21 AND WHEN WE CROSS, HE WILL COME BACK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE BACKING
04:25 HIM AND SUPPORTING HIM IN SO MANY WAYS.
04:28 AND I KNOW HE'S TOLD ME WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES TO HAVE
04:30 FAITHFUL FOLK HERE AS A BACKBONE OF HIS MINISTRY.
04:35 AND I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PEOPLE ON 3ABN WHO ALSO GIVE
04:38 AND HELP TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE FOR PROGRAMS IN RUSSIA
04:42 AND CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA COMING UP.
04:45 THAT'S EXCITING, ISN'T IT?
04:46 AND I THINK THAT TOGETHER WE CAN SEE SOME FRUITAGE OF
04:51 A HARVEST OF SOULS IN CHURCHES FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD,
04:54 AND I THANK GOD AND PRAISE GOD FOR THAT.
04:57 AND TO ME IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AND TO OCCUPY
04:59 THIS PULPIT THAT JOHN NORMALLY OCCUPIES.
05:04 YOU KNOW, THIS SERMON TITLE THIS MORNING, "BEHOLD THE LION,
05:08 SEE THE LAMB," TO ME HAS SOMETHING VERY, VERY SPECIAL
05:11 TO SAY FOR US.
05:13 REMEMBER, THE MESSAGE WAS FIRST GIVEN TO SEVEN CHURCHES THERE
05:17 IN ASIA MINOR IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
05:20 AND THAT CHURCH WAS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH SOME VERY
05:22 DIFFICULT TIMES.
05:24 UP TILL NOW, THE CHURCH HAD NOT BEEN NOTICED SO MUCH BY THE
05:27 ROMANS BECAUSE THEY WERE SEEN AS PART OF JUDAISM.
05:33 AND WHILE THE CHURCH IS NOT SO BIG THAT IT'S NOTICED, IT SEEMS
05:39 TO EXIST BUT IN A FAIRLY REASONABLE WAY.
05:43 BUT AS IT BEGINS TO GROW AND MAKE CONVERTS, AND SOME JEWS
05:47 BECOME CHRISTIANS AND GENTILES BEGIN TO JOIN THE CHURCH,
05:50 THEN THEY COME UNDER A LOT MORE NOTICE.
05:52 AND NOW THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IS ABOUT TO GET INTO REAL TROUBLE.
05:56 YOU KNOW, IT'S EVANGELISM THAT CAUSES A STIR, ISN'T IT?
05:59 WHEN A CHURCH BEGINS TO EVANGELIZE AND GROW, WATCH HOW
06:03 THE DEVIL WILL ROAR AND TRY TO INTIMIDATE AND BREAK UP
06:07 AND DIVIDE AND DISCOURAGE.
06:09 CHRISTIANS WERE TREATED WITH SUSPICION.
06:12 THEY WERE TREATED WITH SUSPICION BECAUSE THEY HAD
06:14 NO IMAGE OF THEIR GOD.
06:15 THEY WERE LOOKED UPON AS ATHEISTS.
06:18 IT WAS ALSO CLAIMED THAT THE CHRISTIANS WERE CANNIBALS,
06:21 WHERE THEY ACTUALLY ATE THEIR GOD IN THE COMMUNION SERVICE,
06:26 WHICH THE PAGANS NEVER UNDERSTOOD.
06:29 AND BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO WORSHIP CAESAR AS A GOD,
06:34 THIS ALSO WAS A VERY BIG ISSUE, WHICH WAS BEGINNING TO LOOM
06:37 AND BECAME EVEN BIGGER.
06:39 TO GIVE AN OFFERING, TO PINCH THE SALT IF MAY BE TO CAESAR,
06:44 WAS SEEN AS POLITICAL LOYALTY.
06:46 YOU COULD GO AWAY AND WORSHIP ANY OTHER GOD YOU LIKED,
06:48 SO LONG AS YOU ALSO INCLUDED CAESAR.
06:51 EMPEROR WORSHIP.
06:53 AND YOU DID THIS, OF COURSE, IN THE TEMPLE.
06:56 AND IN THESE CITIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE BOOK OF
06:59 REVELATION, YOU HAVE THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING IN THE CITY
07:03 IS THE TEMPLE.
07:04 HERE'S WHERE THE EMPEROR WORSHIP TOOK PLACE.
07:07 THIS IS WHERE ALL THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL LIFE
07:10 TOOK PLACE.
07:11 THERE WERE TRADE GUILDS AND THERE WAS LIKE A BANK
07:14 THAT GAVE OUT LOANS.
07:15 AND IT WAS ALSO THE CENTER OF THIS PAGAN WORSHIP, WHICH WAS
07:20 INCLUDED SACRED PROSTITUTION OF BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.
07:26 AND IF YOU WERE NOT CAUGHT UP IN THIS AND DOING THIS,
07:29 YOU WERE SEEN TO BE DISLOYAL TO THE CITY, BECAUSE THIS WAS
07:32 NECESSARY TO HARVEST THE CROPS AND BRING THE GOOD SEASONS
07:36 AND THE RAIN.
07:37 AND SO IT WAS AWKWARD FOR CHRISTIANS.
07:39 YOU KNOW, INTERESTING IN ASIA MINOR AT THAT TIME,
07:43 THERE WERE NO ROMAN LEGIONS.
07:46 THERE WERE PLENTY OF ROMAN LEGIONS THERE IN PALESTINE
07:49 BECAUSE THE JEWS WERE ALWAYS WANTING TO REVOLT, BUT IN ASIA
07:53 MINOR THE ROMANS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE LEGIONS BECAUSE
07:57 THE CITIES WERE VERY PRO-ROMAN.
08:01 THEY LIKED THE EMPEROR.
08:02 THEY LIKED THE PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY THAT CAME
08:05 THROUGH ROME.
08:06 AND SO THESE CITIES WERE INCLINED TO HAVE CHRISTIANS,
08:11 WHICH WOULD COMPROMISE THEIR FAITH.
08:13 YOU SEE, THESE PEOPLE IN THESE CITIES ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.
08:18 THESE CITIES OF EPHESUS AND SMYRNA, THE SEVEN CHURCHES
08:21 TO WHOM THE BOOK OF REVELATION WAS FIRST WRITTEN.
08:24 YOU KNOW, SOME WERE RICH AND INCREASED WITH GOODS
08:27 AND FELT NEED OF NOTHING.
08:28 SOME WERE WATERING DOWN THEIR FAITH.
08:30 SOME WERE COMPROMISING.
08:32 SOME WERE REMAINING LOYAL.
08:33 THEY'RE--IT WAS REALLY A VERY MIXED MESS.
08:37 AND I'D SAY MESS IN SOME RESPECTS BECAUSE CHURCHES ARE
08:40 MESSY PLACES, AREN'T THEY?
08:42 ARE MESSY PLACES.
08:43 THEY'RE WHERE SINNERS ARE, WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE.
08:46 YOU KNOW, I OFTEN LIKEN THE CHURCH TO MY HOUSE WHEN
08:49 MY GRANDCHILDREN COME.
08:50 IF YOU HAVE GRANDCHILDREN, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN.
08:53 DEALING WITH THEM ONE BY ONE IN THEIR HOUSE IS DIFFERENT
08:55 TO HAVING FOUR OF THEM IN YOUR HOME AT THE SAME TIME.
08:58 AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME INTO THAT HOUSE AND JUST
09:01 IN A FEW MOMENTS THEY TRANSFORM THE WHOLE PLACE.
09:03 THE PLACE JUST LOOKS, DARE I SAY IT, I HATE TO OFFEND THEM,
09:07 BUT IT LOOKS A MESS.
09:10 BUT WE LOVE TO HAVE IT BECAUSE THEY'RE OUR GRANDKIDS.
09:13 BUT CHURCHES ARE MESSY TOO.
09:15 THEY'RE NOT DISPLAY HOMES, WHICH ALWAYS LOOK NEAT
09:18 AND NIGHT--NICE AND TIDY.
09:20 BUT JOHN TAKES UP HIS PEN.
09:22 JESUS APPEARS TO HIM AND GIVES HIM A MESSAGE.
09:25 AND THIS MESSAGE THAT COMES FROM JESUS IS THE REASON WE
09:27 SHOULD TAKE THIS BOOK OF REVELATION SO SERIOUSLY.
09:31 HE SEES HIM HERE IN REVELATION 1, AND THE SECOND
09:34 HALF OF THE CHAPTER DEALS WITH THIS VISION OF JESUS,
09:38 BUT REMEMBER REVELATION IS A BOOK THAT COMES FROM JESUS.
09:41 THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT, WELL, SHOULD WE WORRY
09:46 ABOUT REVELATION?
09:47 SOME PEOPLE SORT OF THINK, WELL, IT'S AN OPTION YOU CAN
09:49 TAKE OR LEAVE.
09:51 BUT REMEMBER, REVELATION COMES FROM JESUS.
09:54 HE'S RIGHT THERE IN THE FIRST CHAPTER, AND IN REVELATION 1,
09:58 AND READING HERE IN VERSE 3 THERE'S A SPECIAL BLESSING
10:02 WHICH IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO READ THIS BOOK.
10:04 REVELATION 1, AND READING HERE IN VERSE 3.
10:09 "BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS THE WORDS OF THIS PROPHECY, AND
10:13 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HEAR IT AND TAKE TO HEART WHAT IS
10:16 WRITTEN IN IT, BECAUSE THE TIME IS NEAR."
10:21 WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO START OFF A BOOK.
10:23 IF YOU READ THIS BOOK, IF YOU HEAR IT--REMEMBER, MOST PEOPLE
10:26 WHO GOT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE IN THE FIRST CENTURY
10:29 WERE HEARERS.
10:31 AND IF WE WERE DOING WHAT THE BOOK WAS MEANT TO DO, THIS
10:34 MORNING I WOULD TAKE THIS BOOK AND READ IT THROUGH IN ONE GO.
10:39 AND I WOULD SUGGEST YOU OUGHT TO DO THAT SOMETIME.
10:41 TAKE THE BOOK, FIND A TRANSLATION YOU FEEL
10:44 COMFORTABLE WITH, AND JUST READ IT THROUGH.
10:47 YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT, BUT THE BOOK WILL MAKE
10:50 AN IMPACT UPON YOU.
10:52 IT WILL MAKE A VERY BIG IMPACT.
10:54 AND WE WOULD SAY THAT THIS BOOK HAS A MESSAGE FOR ALL
10:57 CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT HISTORY WHO HAVE FELT THIS BOOK COME
11:01 TO THEM IN A VERY, VERY SPECIAL WAY.
11:04 AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU READ THIS BOOK, THERE ARE ALL THESE
11:07 TYPES OF VISUAL IMAGES THAT COME ON THROUGH AS YOU BEGIN
11:10 TO READ.
11:11 AND YOU'LL SEE THE IMAGES OF HORSEMEN RIDING, HORSE--
11:16 THESE FOUR HORSEMEN.
11:17 AND IT TAKES ME BACK TO MY DAYS WHEN BEFORE WE HAD TELEVISION.
11:21 NOW, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU FOR A CONFESSION.
11:23 THIS'LL SAY--TELL ME HOW OLD YOU ARE.
11:25 HOW MANY CAN REMEMBER THE DAYS BEFORE TELEVISION?
11:33 OKAY.
11:34 WE SAT BY THE RADIO, DIDN'T WE?
11:35 AND WE LISTENED TO THE RADIO PROGRAMS.
11:38 AND WE PROBABLY HAD DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO YOU.
11:41 MY MOTHER USED TO LIKE TO LISTEN TO "WHEN A GIRL MARRIES"
11:43 AND ALL THOSE SORT OF ROMANTIC SORT OF STORIES, AND I USED
11:47 TO LIKE TO LISTEN TO SUPERMAN.
11:49 SUPERMAN WAS MY HERO WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY BECAUSE HE ALWAYS
11:53 PUT THING RIGHT, BUT WE WERE LISTENING TO THE RADIO
11:56 AND WE SAW IT IN OUR MINDS.
11:59 WE HAD THE ABILITY, WHICH I THINK TO SOME DEGREE WE HAVE
12:02 LOST TODAY, THE ABILITY TO SEE THINGS IN OUR MINDS.
12:07 WELL, I GOT DISILLUSIONED ONE DAY WHEN I WENT TO A RADIO
12:11 PROGRAM WHERE THEY ACTUALLY HAD A RADIO PROGRAM
12:13 BEING BROADCAST.
12:14 AND I SAW THEM ALL STANDING AROUND CLASHING CYMBALS,
12:17 BANGING THINGS, AND CAUSING THINGS TO HAPPEN.
12:19 AND THEY WERE JUST READING SCRIPTS.
12:21 AND, WELL, THAT WASN'T THE MENTAL IMAGE I HAD, BUT WE NEED
12:26 TO DEVELOP THE ABILITY TO SEE IMAGES AND IN REVELATION
12:29 WE HAVE THESE IMAGES COMING THROUGH.
12:31 WE HAVE THIS--THE FOUR HORSEMEN COMING OUT AND WE HAVE THESE
12:34 OTHER IMAGES, WHICH WE'LL BRING ON QUICKLY.
12:37 JUST THE IMAGES OF DEMONIC FORCES AND ALL TYPES OF IMAGES
12:41 COMING THROUGH.
12:43 AND THESE, NO DOUBT, MADE A POWERFUL IMPACT UPON
12:46 THE PEOPLE WHO WERE THERE IN THE VERY FIRST CENTURY.
12:49 A WOMAN STANDING ON THE MOON, CLOTHED IN THE SUN.
12:52 THE GREAT, RED DRAGON.
12:53 HERE WE HAVE THE BINDING OF SATAN FOR 1,000 YEARS.
12:56 WE HAVE THESE ALL IN OUR SEMINAR, WHICH I'VE BEEN
12:59 WORKING ON NOW WITH JON PAULIEN AND OUR BIBLICAL RESEARCH
13:02 COMMITTEE FOR 5 YEARS.
13:04 AND YOU ARE PROBABLY THE ONES NOW ABOUT TO LAUNCH OUT TO IT
13:07 IN THIS CHURCH.
13:08 AND I'M GLAD.
13:10 WE WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PROPHECIES
13:13 OF REVELATION.
13:14 SO THESE IMAGES COME ON AND THEY ARE WRITTEN
13:17 TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
13:18 THE TIME IS NEAR, SAYS JOHN, AND THE BOOK FINISHES
13:22 THE SAME WAY.
13:23 IT--DO NOT SEAL UP THE VISION BECAUSE THE TIME IS NEAR.
13:28 BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT REVELATION, REVELATION ALSO HAS A STATEMENT
13:32 IN CHAPTER 1 VERSE 7, WHICH LINKS UP WITH
13:36 MATTHEW 24:30-31.
13:39 AND SOME OF YOU MAY LIKE TO OPEN YOUR BIBLE
13:42 TO REVELATION 1:7, OTHERS TO MATTHEW 24:30-31
13:47 BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN JOHN WRITES THE REVELATION, THE BOOK
13:50 OF REVELATION, INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING FROM JESUS,
13:55 JOHN DOESN'T WRITE UP IN HIS GOSPEL THE STORY THAT JESUS
14:01 GAVE FROM THE MOUNT OF OLIVES ON THE END OF THE WORLD.
14:04 NOW MATTHEW, MARK, AND LUKE HAVE GOT IT.
14:06 BUT YOU LOOK FOR THAT FAMOUS SERMON THAT JESUS GAVE ON THE
14:09 END OF THE WORLD, AND YOU DON'T FIND IT IN JOHN'S GOSPEL.
14:12 THE REASON THIS IS THE CASE IS PROBABLY HE CONSIDERED
14:16 THAT HE HAD DEALT WITH IT IN REVELATION.
14:20 AND IN REVELATION, WE HAVE A VERY CONNECTING LINK WITH
14:25 THE SERMON THAT JESUS GAVE ON THE END OF THE WORLD.
14:28 AND IF THIS LINK IS CORRECT, AND I BELIEVE IT IS TRUE, THEN
14:31 WE ARE RIGHT AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT REVELATION IS AN UNFOLDING
14:36 OF PROPHECIES ALL THROUGH THE CENTURY TO REACH A FINAL CLIMAX
14:39 WITH WHAT WE SPOKE OF LAST WEEK, THE BEAST, THE IMAGE,
14:42 AND THE MARK OF THE END OF TIME.
14:45 WE BELIEVE THAT THOSE WHO RESTRICT REVELATION TO THE VERY
14:48 FIRST CENTURY ONLY ARE WRONG.
14:52 THOSE WHO SAY REVELATION'S PROPHECIES BEGIN TO HAPPEN FROM
14:55 CHAPTER FOUR ONWARDS AFTER THE SECRET RAPTURE WE BELIEVE HAVE
15:01 MISSED THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK.
15:03 THIS MESSAGE OF REVELATION GIVES HOPE, MEANING, PURPOSE
15:07 TO ALL CHRISTIANS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN ERA.
15:11 GOD DOES NOT TURN OFF THE LIGHT OF PROPHECY AND LEAVE
15:14 HIS CHURCH IN DARKNESS.
15:16 NOW, AS YOU LOOK AT THESE TEXTS AND YOU COMPARE THEM,
15:19 YOU CAN SEE A CONNECTING LINK.
15:20 REVELATION 1:7.
15:22 "LOOK, HE'S COMING WITH CLOUDS.
15:23 EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, EVEN THOSE WHO PIERCED HIM.
15:27 ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH WILL MOURN BECAUSE OF HIM."
15:30 YOU WOULD ALMOST THINK THAT JOHN HAD THE TEXT OF MATTHEW
15:35 OPEN BEFORE HIM.
15:36 HE IS COMING WITH CLOUDS, THERE'S A MOURNING.
15:39 YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL THERE AND JOHN REALLY IS REALLY TAKING
15:44 THIS SERMON THAT JESUS GAVE ON THE END OF THE WORLD AND
15:47 DEVELOPING IT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
15:50 YOU MAY LIKE TO DO AN EXERCISE YOURSELF SOMETIME.
15:53 AND IT'S GOOD TO THINK YOURSELF, AND TO LEARN
15:55 AND TO GROW AND DISCOVER.
15:57 AS WE LEARN AND GROW IN GOD'S WORD, IT'S THRILLING.
16:00 IT REALLY IS.
16:01 BRINGS VITALITY AND STRENGTH TO OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE
16:04 AND CONVICTIONS.
16:05 BUT SOMETIME, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LIST OF MATTHEW 24.
16:08 LET'S OPEN OUR BIBLES TO IT.
16:11 MATTHEW 24.
16:15 AND HERE WE HAVE THIS SERMON THAT JESUS GAVE ON THE END
16:18 OF THE WORLD.
16:19 AND REMEMBER, HE LINKS THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM WITH
16:22 THE END OF THE WORLD BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE JERUSALEM
16:26 IS DESTROYED IS LIKE A LITTLE MINIATURE, WHICH DEVELOPS
16:30 THROUGH HISTORY AND IS CLIMAXED IN A WORLDWIDE EVENT AT THE END
16:35 OF TIME, LEADING UP TO THE COMING OF CHRIST.
16:37 AND YOU MAY LIKE A LOOK AT THAT LIST IN MATTHEW 24:6-8.
16:42 AND IT SAYS HERE OF WHAT HISTORY WILL BE LIKE.
16:47 "YOU WILL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS, BUT SEE
16:49 TO IT YOU ARE NOT ALARMED.
16:52 SUCH THINGS MUST HAPPEN, BUT THE END IS STILL TO COME.
16:55 NATION WILL RISE AGAINST NATION, AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.
16:58 THERE WILL BE FAMINES AND EARTHQUAKES IN VARIOUS PLACES.
17:01 ALL THESE ARE THE BEGINNING OF BIRTH PAINS."
17:05 NOW, IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTICE THAT--HOW HE LIKENS THIS.
17:10 WARS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, AND LUKE ADDS PESTILENCES TO
17:14 THE LIST IN HIS ACCOUNT OF IT.
17:16 FALSE CHRISTS AND FALSE PROPHETS ARE LIKE BIRTH PAINS.
17:19 NOW, LET ME FINISH WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY.
17:23 THIS MIGHT STARTLE YOU.
17:25 I'M SO GLAD AND RELIEVED I'M NOT A WOMAN.
17:28 NOW, LET ME FINISH.
17:30 LET ME FINISH.
17:32 I'M TOO MUCH OF A COWARD.
17:35 I HAVE SEEN MY WIFE DELIVER A CHILD AND I'D SAY TO MYSELF,
17:40 "A WOMAN MUST BADLY WANT TO HAVE A CHILD TO GO THROUGH THAT."
17:44 IT IS.
17:45 IT IS.
17:46 THEY--SOME WOMEN DO DIE.
17:48 AND THEY DO COME CLOSE TO DEATH, OTHERS.
17:51 BUT, YOU KNOW, BIRTH PAINS, FROM WHAT I AM TOLD, ARE
17:58 GENTLE, BECOME MORE FREQUENT, MORE AND MORE FREQUENT,
18:02 MORE AND MORE INTENSE UNTIL THE BABY JUST POPS OUT.
18:05 IS THAT RIGHT?
18:07 NO, YOU'VE--SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO HELP IT A LITTLE BIT.
18:10 BUT BIRTH PAINS ARE GENTLE AT FIRST, BECOME MORE AND MORE
18:14 FREQUENT, AND MORE AND MORE INTENSE AS THE BABY IS COMING.
18:18 SO JESUS SAID, "THIS IS HOW HISTORY WILL BE TILL I RETURN."
18:24 DO WE SEE THROUGH HISTORY WARS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES,
18:27 PESTILENCES, FALSE CHRISTS, FALSE PROPHETS?
18:30 THIS IS TRUE OF THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN AGE.
18:32 AND ALL THROUGH THE CENTURIES, CHRISTIANS HAVE SAID THEY'VE
18:35 TAKEN COURAGE, THEY SAID, "YEAH, THE WORLD'S IN A MESS,
18:38 BUT JESUS SAID IT WOULD BE LIKE THIS."
18:41 AND JESUS SAID IT'S GONNA GET WORSE, BUT THANKFULLY HE WILL
18:45 COME AND TAKE THESE PEOPLE HOME.
18:48 AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, DOESN'T IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
18:51 HOW YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE?
18:52 YOU HAVE HOPE, MEANING, PURPOSE IN LIFE.
18:55 YOU CAN PUT UP A LOT MORE IF YOU CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END
18:58 OF THE TUNNEL.
18:59 AND IF YOU KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU AND ACCEPTS YOU BECAUSE
19:01 OF CHRIST AND IF YOU HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, YOU'RE
19:05 LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMING OF JESUS TO SOMETHING BETTER
19:08 THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
19:09 AND SO, WARS, FAMINES, EARTHQUAKES, YES, HAVE ALWAYS
19:12 BEEN THERE, BUT THEY'RE LIKE BIRTH PAINS.
19:14 I GUESS THE LADIES ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN ANSWER
19:16 THIS QUESTION.
19:18 JUST BEFORE THE BABY COMES, ARE THE BIRTH PAINS RELEVANT
19:21 TO YOU?
19:23 THEY BECOME MORE RELEVANT, DON'T THEY?
19:25 SO IT SHOULD BE TODAY.
19:27 THIS YEAR, WE SHOULD BE SEEING THINGS EVEN MORE SO THAN PEOPLE
19:33 SAW 100 YEARS AGO AS THERE WAS A DEVELOPING OF ALL THESE
19:37 THINGS TELLING US THAT SOON JESUS IS GOING TO COME IN
19:40 THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN AND TAKE US HOME.
19:43 AND SO AS THE WORLD DETERIORATES AND THINGS
19:45 GET WORSE, WE'RE LONGING FOR JESUS TO COME.
19:49 AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING, LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT
19:51 GOD'S WORD, PARTICULARLY THE BOOK OF REVELATION.
19:54 ONE OF THE THRILLS OF BEING A CHRISTIAN IS TO LEARN TO GROW.
19:58 YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY SCHOLARS AT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY
20:01 WHO ARE DOING PHDs IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE BOOK
20:05 OF REVELATION.
20:07 THESE WE HAVE TRIED TO INCORPORATE INTO OUR NEW
20:10 SERIES, OUR NEW SERIES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING
20:12 WITH, "REVELATION, HOPE, MEANING, PURPOSE."
20:16 AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT, YOU GO TO OUR
20:18 WEBSITE, REVELATIONHOPE.COM.
20:21 THE SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION HAVE MADE IT AVAILABLE FOR THE WHOLE
20:24 WORLD FIELD, AND YOU CAN HEAR MORE ABOUT IT AND SEE HOW
20:26 YOU CAN RELATE TO IT.
20:28 BUT ON THAT SERIES, YOU WILL SEE A YOUNG LADY FROM PEOPLE'S
20:32 REPUBLIC OF CHINA, REBECCA LIU.
20:35 SHE'S DOING A PHD AT ANDREWS UNDER JON PAULIEN'S TUTORSHIP
20:39 AND SHE WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT IT MEANT IN THE FIRST
20:41 CENTURY WHEN THEY BREATHED LIFE INTO THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST.
20:45 THE PAGANS WOULD DO THIS, AND THEN IT WOULD BEGIN
20:47 TO WORK MIRACLES.
20:48 THE MORE WE LEARN ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT TO THE PEOPLE TO WHOM IT
20:51 WAS WRITTEN--THE MORE WE UNDERSTAND THAT, THE BETTER WE
20:54 UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS FOR US TODAY.
20:57 AND SO IT'S EXCITING TO LEARN AND TO GROW.
21:00 AND THE TRUTHS OF THE BIBLE, THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL WILL
21:03 COME OUT EVEN CLEARER STILL.
21:04 REVELATION.
21:06 REVELATION WAS GIVEN TO ALL CHRISTIANS.
21:09 GOD HAS NEVER, EVER TURNED THE LIGHT OUT OF PROPHECY
21:13 AND LEFT HIS CHURCH IN DARKNESS.
21:16 WELL, THIS BOOK COMES ALIVE WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME.
21:21 AND PEOPLE DO HAVE TOUGH TIMES IN THEIR LIFE.
21:24 YOU CAN LOOK BACK THROUGH THE HISTORY AND YOU CAN SEE
21:27 HOW DIFFERENT CHRISTIANS HAVE RELATED TO THE BOOK
21:29 OF REVELATION.
21:30 NOW, OFTEN WHAT THEY HAVE SAID IS WRONG.
21:33 OFTEN THEY HAVE BEEN WRONG.
21:35 THAT'S BEEN THE CASE, BUT THERE IS ENOUGH IN IT WHERE YOU CAN
21:39 JUST GET IT SO SIMPLY AND CLEARLY THAT IT GIVES YOU--
21:42 STILL GIVES YOU ENCOURAGEMENT.
21:43 THIS BOOK ALTERNATES BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, AND IT SAYS
21:47 ON EARTH, THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LIKE THIS, BUT DON'T
21:50 BE DISCOURAGED.
21:51 GOD IS THERE AND HE'S ON HIS THRONE.
21:54 AND IN THE END IT WILL BE OKAY.
21:56 YOU KNOW, THE FAVORITE BOOK OF PEOPLE IN PRISON IS THE BOOK
22:00 OF REVELATION.
22:02 INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?
22:03 WHEN TOUGH TIMES COME, THIS IS A BOOK TO GIVE HOPE, MEANING,
22:08 AND PURPOSE TO THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS.
22:11 AND IT'S A BOOK-- IT'S NOT AN OPTION.
22:13 IT'S A BOOK WHICH WE NEED TO REALLY GRIP--COME TO GRIPS
22:15 WITH AND UNDERSTAND.
22:17 BUT IF IT IS LINKED WITH THE FIRST COMING OF JESUS, THE
22:20 SECOND ADVENT, IF IT'S LINKED WITH THE SERMON ON THE END
22:24 OF THE WORLD IN MATTHEW 24, NO ONE DOUBTS THAT IT COMMENCES
22:28 IN THE FIRST CENTURY, THE SERMON JESUS GAVE.
22:32 AND IT UNFOLDS THROUGH HISTORY TILL JESUS COMES IN THE CLOUDS
22:35 OF HEAVEN.
22:36 THAT SERMON HE GAVE SPANS ALL THE CENTURIES.
22:39 AND IF WE ARE RIGHT IN LINKING THAT SERMON WITH THE BOOK OF
22:43 REVELATION, THEN WE HAVE SOLID GROUND FOR SAYING THE BIBLE
22:47 REVELATION GIVES HOPE, MEANING, AND PURPOSE THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
22:50 ALRIGHT, IS IT TRUE TODAY WE CAN SEE WARS?
22:54 HAVE WARS COME TO AN END?
22:56 NO, THEY'RE JUST LIKE JESUS SAID, WARS.
23:00 WILL TERRORISTS GET AHOLD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS?
23:03 CHEMICAL WARFARE, WHERE THEY COULD TARGET A TYPE OF PEOPLE,
23:07 A DNA TYPE OF PEOPLE AND WIPE THEM OUT NOW AND THEN JUST GO
23:11 AND TAKE OVER THEIR CITIES WITHOUT ALL THE MESS
23:13 OF OTHER WARFARE.
23:15 THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT WORLD WAR III HAS ALREADY
23:17 BEGUN, FOR OUR COMPUTERS BEING HACKED INTO AND YOU CAN TAKE
23:22 OVER THE COMPUTERS, YOU CAN SHUT THEM DOWN, YOU CAN SHUT
23:24 OFF THE DEFENSES AND THE WATER AND THE ELECTRICITY.
23:27 DO WE SEE EARTHQUAKES IN THE WORLD TODAY?
23:30 SOME PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE SOON.
23:34 THERE'S A FEELING, AN INTENSENESS OF EARTHQUAKES
23:36 HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
23:39 DO WE SEE PESTILENCES?
23:41 WE SEE ALL SORTS OF DISEASES COMING FORTH TO WHICH THERE
23:45 IS MUTATIONS TAKING PLACE.
23:47 DO WE SEE FALSE CHRISTS?
23:49 SOME PEOPLE SAID THAT THIS IS AN AGE OF MESSIANIC CULTS.
23:52 MESSIAH MEANS-- CHRIST MEANS MESSIAH.
23:55 MESSIANIC CULTS ARE FLOURISHING AROUND THE WORLD.
23:58 DO WE SEE FALSE PROPHETS LIKE JESUS SAID?
24:01 YES, WE DO.
24:02 THE CUTTING EDGE.
24:04 WHAT DIVIDING THE CHRISTIAN WORLD AT THIS PRESENT TIME
24:07 IS HOW DOES THE GIFT OF PROPHECY WORK?
24:09 IS THE BIBLE SUFFICIENT TO GUIDE ME AS I'M GUIDED
24:12 BY THE SPIRIT?
24:14 OR IS MY OWN PERSONAL REVELATION, SUPERCEDING
24:18 WHAT GOD SAYS IN THE WORD.
24:20 THIS IS A BIG ISSUE IN MUCH OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD,
24:23 WHERE MANY PASTORS ARE SAYING, PARTICULARLY IN
24:26 THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS
24:28 TO THE BIBLE OFTEN IN THE WAY THAT YOU AND I HAVE.
24:31 BUT MY--GOD GIVES ME THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND TELLS ME HIS
24:34 WILL, AND THEN I HAVE THE SAME GIFT AS I SHARE IT WITH PEOPLE.
24:38 AND THIS HAS BECOME A VERY BIG ISSUE IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD.
24:41 MY PERSONAL REVELATION.
24:43 SO THE WORLD IS REALLY, REALLY--YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T
24:46 HAVE THE BOOK OF REVELATION, IF I DIDN'T HAVE GOD'S WORD,
24:49 I'D BE IN DESPAIR.
24:52 I'D BE REALLY TREMBLING WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
24:56 YOU KNOW, I WAS WATCHING A FOOTBALL MATCH,
24:58 AUSTRALIAN RULES.
24:59 I THINK I SAID ON THE DVDs THAT WE'RE THE BEST IN THE WORLD
25:02 AT AUSTRALIAN RULES.
25:05 AND JON PAULIEN SAYS, "YOU'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT PLAY IT."
25:09 WELL, IT'S ALRIGHT, BUT I WAS WATCHING MY TEAM BEING BEATEN
25:13 AND MY LITTLE GRANDDAUGHTER WAS THERE.
25:15 AND SHE WAS ONLY 2 OR 3, A 3 YEAR OLD AT THE TIME.
25:18 AND SHE'S PLAYING WITH HER DOLL AND MY TEAM, THE GOALS ARE
25:22 BEING KICKED AGAINST MY TEAM, AND I'M SAYING, "NO! NO!
25:26 OH, NO!"
25:28 AND THIS LITTLE GIRL IS PLAYING WITH HER LITTLE DOLL
25:30 AND SHE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK UP.
25:31 AND THIS LITTLE VOICE FLOATS OUT TO ME, "WOULD YOU LIKE
25:36 TO SIT DOWN AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT?"
25:38 [LAUGHING] SHE'S REHEARSING WHAT HER
25:43 MOTHER HAD SAID TO HER.
25:47 WELL, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR WORLD TODAY WHO WOULD
25:50 LOVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY SIT DOWN AND JUST LISTEN.
25:55 JUST LISTEN TO THEM BECAUSE THE WORLD CAN BE A MESSY PLACE
25:58 IN DESPAIR.
26:00 WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE OUGHT TO DO A JOURNEY.
26:05 WE OUGHT TO LEAVE THIS WORLD AND WE OUGHT TO GO AND SEE
26:07 SOMETHING BETTER.
26:08 ANOTHER--PASTOR CARTER ONCE SAID, "GRAEME'S ALWAYS TALKING
26:11 ABOUT HIS GRANDKIDS."
26:12 AND I AM TOO.
26:13 THEY'RE SUCH FUN.
26:16 YOU CAN ENJOY THEM AND HAND THEM BACK.
26:18 WE KNOW THAT, DON'T WE?
26:20 TAKE THE BEST AND FUN.
26:21 I TOOK THEM WHALE WATCHING, SOMETHING I DON'T THINK
26:24 I'LL EVER DO AGAIN.
26:26 WE WENT WHALE WATCHING AND MY WIFE GOT SEASICK CARING FOR ONE
26:31 OF THEM, AND SHE--I DON'T THINK SHE'LL WANT TO GO AGAIN.
26:34 YOU KNOW WHERE WHALES SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME?
26:37 DOWN THERE.
26:38 AND YOU PAY A LOT OF MONEY TO GO AND SEE A WHALE,
26:41 AND YOU'RE SITTING OUT THERE, "WHERE ARE THEY?"
26:44 AND THE GUIDE IS SAYING, "THIS IS UNUSUAL."
26:47 [LAUGHING] AND THEN SUDDENLY THEY SEE ONE
26:50 IN THE DISTANCE AND THEY GO TRY TO SEE IT.
26:52 ALL IT DOES IS TAKE A BREATH AND THEN YOU WAIT ANOTHER,
26:56 WHAT, 20 MINUTES, WHEREVER IT IS, AND YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND.
26:59 WELL, ANYWAY.
27:01 WE'RE A LITTLE BIT LIKE THOSE WHALES.
27:04 WE SPEND MOST OF OUR TIME DOWN HERE WITH OUR WORRIES AND OUR
27:08 CONCERNS AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD CRUSHING OUT OUR LIFE.
27:12 BUT WE NEED TO BREATHE THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN.
27:15 AND THIS IS WHAT REVELATION DOES.
27:18 IT ALTERNATES BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH.
27:20 LET'S GO TO HEAVEN AND HAVE A LOOK AT GOD'S THRONE ROOM.
27:23 REVELATION 4.
27:25 IN REVELATION 4, LET'S BREATHE THE ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN, AND I
27:29 INVITE YOU TO JOIN WITH ME THE JOURNEY AND LET'S LEAVE
27:33 BEHIND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD.
27:35 IT IS TRUE LIFE IS ROUGH HERE.
27:37 IT IS TRUE THINGS DON'T ALWAYS WORK OUT LIKE WE WANT.
27:40 AND IT CAN BE DISAPPOINTING, BUT LOOK AT THIS SCENE.
27:43 AND JOHN INVITES US IN CHAPTER 4 AND VERSE 1.
27:46 "AFTER THIS, I LOOKED AND THERE BEFORE ME WEREHE DOORS
27:50 STANDING OPEN IN HEAVEN.
27:52 AND THE VOICE I HAD FIRST HEARD SPEAKING TO ME LIKE A TRUMPET
27:55 SAID, 'COME UP HERE AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT MUST TAKE PLACE
28:01 AFTER THIS.' AT ONCE, I WAS IN THE SPIRIT,
28:04 AND THERE BEFORE ME WAS A THRONE IN HEAVEN WITH
28:06 SOMEONE SITTING ON IT."
28:08 AND YOU MAY WANT TO READ THROUGH THE REST OF THE VERSES
28:10 YOURSELF RIGHT THROUGH TO VERSE 6, JUST CAST
28:13 YOUR EYE THROUGH.
28:15 BUT AS YOU SEE THIS SCENE, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THERE ARE--
28:18 THE THRONE ROOM SCENE.
28:20 AND AROUND THE THRONE, YOU HAVE 24 ELDERS AND YOU
28:24 HAVE 4 LIVING CREATURES AND IT'S A MAJESTIC SCENE.
28:29 IT REALLY IS A MAJESTIC SCENE.
28:30 THESE 24 ELDERS ARE CLOTHED IN WHITE, WHICH IS THE--WHITE IS
28:35 THE GARB OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN REVELATION.
28:39 AND CROWNS--THESE ARE VICTORY CROWNS.
28:42 VICTORY FROM BATTLE.
28:44 THESE--THIS IS THE GARB OF A PRIEST.
28:46 TWENTY-FOUR COURSES OF PRIESTS IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, AND
28:50 PROBABLY THESE PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN THERE, AND WE MUSTN'T
28:53 GET HUNG UP IN THE DETAILS OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN AND MISS
28:56 THE BIG PICTURE.
28:57 BUT HOW DID THESE PEOPLE GET THERE?
28:59 IT COULD BE THAT JESUS, WHEN HE ROSE FROM THE READ, TOOK THESE
29:02 PEOPLE BACK WITH HIM AS A SAMPLE HARVEST OF WHAT
29:05 WAS YET TO COME.
29:06 THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
29:08 WE HAVE THESE FOUR LIVING CREATURES, WHICH ARE LIKE
29:11 A LION, OX, MAN, AND EAGLE, AND THEY'RE AROUND THE THRONE.
29:15 AND THAT LINKS UP CLOSELY WITH EZEKIEL 3, WHERE WE HAVE THIS
29:21 VISION OF THE THRONE OF GOD AND THERE WE ARE TOLD THEY ACTUALLY
29:24 ARE--IN THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL, THEY ARE CHERUBIM.
29:27 SO THIS IS PROBABLY AROUND THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD WITNESSES
29:31 FOR THE HUMAN RACE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE THRONE OF GOD,
29:35 AND MAYBE THE CHERUBIM ARE WITNESSING WHAT IS HAPPENING
29:38 ON EARTH AND THERE'S A TWO-WAY WAY ABOUT IT.
29:42 BUT WITNESSING TO THE JUSTICE OF GOD BECAUSE WE FIND THE
29:45 HYMNS THAT BREAK OUT DEAL WITH THE GOODNESS AND THE WITNESS
29:49 OF GOD AS CREATOR.
29:51 AND AS YOU LOOK AT THAT SCENE, AND I WANT YOU TO SEE IT
29:55 IN YOUR MIND TOO.
29:56 AS YOU LOOK AT THAT SCENE, THERE'S THUNDER AND LIGHTNING,
29:59 A STORM, A RAINBOW AROUND THE THRONE, AND THIS IS A MAJESTIC
30:04 SEA OF GLASS.
30:05 IT'S ALL REFLECTED IN THE SEA OF GLASS.
30:07 AND WE'RE MEANT TO SEE IT IN OUR MIND.
30:10 HAVE A LOOK AT REVELATION 4:8.
30:14 IN REVELATION 4:8, "EACH OF THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES
30:18 HAD SIX WINGS AND WAS COVERED WITH EYES ALL AROUND,
30:21 EVEN UNDER HIS WINGS.
30:22 DAY AND NIGHT THEY NEVER STOP SAYING, 'HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS
30:27 THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.'"
30:32 AND LOOK IN VERSE 9.
30:33 "WHENEVER THE LIVING CREATURES GIVE GLORY, HONOR, AND THANKS
30:37 TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE," WHAT VERSE 9 IS ACTUALLY
30:41 DOING IS SAYING THIS IS AN ONGOING SCENE.
30:44 THIS IS WHENEVER.
30:46 THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN HEAVEN.
30:48 PRAISE TO GOD.
30:49 YOU KNOW, PRAISE TO GOD IS THE LANGUAGE OF HEAVEN.
30:52 YOU AND I WERE MADE TO WORSHIP GOD.
30:55 THIS IS WHAT WE WERE MADE FOR.
30:57 IT'S PART OF OUR CREATION, PART OF OUR BEING TO--THE OLD
31:00 CATECHISMS SAY WE WERE--WE WERE IDEAL FOR WHAT WE WERE CREATED
31:05 FOR IS TO WORSHIP GOD AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER.
31:09 WOULD WE ENJOY GOD IN HEAVEN?
31:12 I THINK GOD HIMSELF IS GOING TO BE A GREAT FRIEND IN HEAVEN.
31:14 AND ALL THIS IS GOING ON AND THEN SUDDENLY THERE'S A CRISIS.
31:18 IN CHAPTER FIVE, WE FIND THAT IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE HEAVENLY
31:22 CHOIRS STOP AND THERE'S SOME--AND CHAPTER FIVE IS
31:26 DEALING NOW WITH A MOMENT IN TIME, A CRISIS WHICH CAUSES
31:32 THE HEAVENLY CHOIRS TO STOP AND THERE'S A GREAT CRISIS
31:37 TAKING PLACE HERE.
31:39 IN CHAPTER FIVE, WE HAVE HERE IN VERSE ONE, THE ONE SITTING
31:42 ON THE THRONE AND WE HAVE A BOOK, A SCROLL IN HIS HAND.
31:47 AND WHATEVER THIS SCROLL IS, IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH
31:51 THE CURSES OF THE COVENANT BECAUSE THIS IS RELATED
31:54 TO THE HORSEMEN WHO COME OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.
31:57 THE BLESSINGS AND CURSES OF THE COVENANT ARE VERY MUCH PART OF
31:59 THIS SEALING, THESE SEALS THAT ARE LOOSED.
32:04 AND THERE IS A CRISIS BECAUSE NO ONE IS ABLE TO--FOUND WORTHY
32:08 TO OPEN THIS BOOK.
32:10 NOW, IN CHAPTER FIVE WE HAVE HERE THIS STATEMENT.
32:14 AND JOHN WEEPS IN VERSE FOUR.
32:16 "I WEPT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS FOUND WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL
32:20 OR LOOK INSIDE."
32:22 NOW, RANKO STEFANOVIC, WHO HAS THIS IN HIS COMMENTARY WHEN
32:26 HE'S DOING HIS DOCTORAL STUDIES, REALIZED THAT THIS WAS
32:30 CONNECTING UP WITH THE CORONATION OF AN ISRAELITE KING
32:34 IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
32:35 BOOK OF REVELATION IS STEEPED IN THE LANGUAGE
32:38 OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
32:39 AND RANKO STEFANOVIC REALIZED THAT THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT
32:43 LINK.
32:44 WHAT WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING HERE IS A CORONATION OF CHRIST
32:49 UPON HIS ASCENSION TO THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY TO COMMENCE
32:53 HIS MINISTRY ON OUR BEHALF.
32:55 IT IS GIVEN IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE CORONATION
32:59 OF AN ISRAELITE KING.
33:01 AND LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT OUR ISRAELITE KING BECAUSE THIS
33:03 GIVES US AN IDEA OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY TAKING PLACE.
33:06 WHEN THIS KING CAME TO THE THRONE, WHEN THIS KING CAME TO
33:10 THE THRONE, HE WOULD ACTUALLY BE GIVEN A COPY OF THE BOOK OF
33:15 THE COVENANT, AND HE HAD TO MAKE A COPY OF IT.
33:19 AND HE WAS TO BE OBEDIENT TO THE COVENANT.
33:22 AND WHILE HE WAS OBEDIENT TO THE COVENANT, THEN IT WAS SAID
33:26 THAT THE BOOK WAS OPEN.
33:28 BUT WHEN HE FAILED TO OBEY THE COVENANT, AS MOST OF THEM DID,
33:32 THE BOOK WAS SAID TO BE SEALED.
33:34 THAT'S OLD TESTAMENT LANGUAGE.
33:37 AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RELATES BACK TO
33:40 THE OLD TESTAMENT, WHICH HELPS US TO REALIZE WHAT IS
33:42 ACTUALLY GOING ON HERE.
33:44 BUT WHILE HE IS DOING THIS, WHILE JOHN IS WATCHING, JOHN IS
33:48 WATCHING, IT SAYS, "AND HE WEPT BECAUSE NO ONE WAS FOUND
33:51 WORTHY" BECAUSE KING AFTER KING AFTER KING OF ISRAEL FAILED,
33:55 FAILED, FAILED.
33:56 BUT NOW HE'S POINTED IN THE DIRECTION OF SOMEONE WHO WAS
34:00 FAITHFUL TO THE COVENANT.
34:02 SOMEONE FROM THE LINE OF DAVID WHO WAS LOYAL AND FAITHFUL.
34:07 SO WE LOOK HERE NOW IN REVELATION 5 AND IT SAYS HERE
34:12 IN REVELATION 5:5, "THEN ONE OF THE ELDERS SAID TO ME, 'DO NOT
34:18 WEEP.
34:19 SEE THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID,
34:23 HAS TRIUMPHED.
34:24 HE IS ABLE TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND ITS SEVEN SEALS.'
34:30 THEN I SAW A LAMB, LOOKING AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN, STANDING
34:34 IN THE CENTER OF THE THRONE."
34:37 SO BEHOLD THE LION, BUT SEE THE LAMB.
34:42 WHAT AN INTERESTING CONTRAST HERE, ISN'T IT?
34:45 YOU KNOW, DREAMS ARE FUNNY THINGS.
34:47 I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GO WHEN YOU HAVE DREAMS.
34:50 I CLAIM THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY WHEN A DREAM DOESN'T FINISH
34:53 RIGHT TO PUT MYSELF BACK TO SLEEP AND FINISH IT
34:57 THE RIGHT WAY.
34:58 ANYONE ELSE DO THAT?
35:01 I TRIED IT LAST WEEK AND I HAD A BAD DREAM AND I COULDN'T,
35:03 BUT IT WAS BAD--DISAPPOINTING.
35:05 BUT DREAMS ARE SO REAL.
35:06 AND JOHN IS NOW ACTUALLY IN A VISION GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD
35:09 THOUGH THE SPIRIT, AND HE'S TOLD BEHOLD THE LION,
35:13 BUT SEE THE LAMB.
35:15 NOW, THIS HAPPENS OFTEN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION,
35:17 LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK.
35:19 YOU KNOW, JOHN WILL TALK ABOUT BEHOLD SOMETHING, AND THEN
35:24 HE TURNS AND HE SEES THE SAME, BUT IT'S A DIFFERENT IMAGE.
35:29 AND JESUS IS BOTH LION AND BOTH LAMB.
35:33 BUT THIS LION, WHAT COMES TO YOUR MIND WHEN YOU THINK
35:35 OF A LION?
35:36 YOU THINK OF A POWERFUL CREATURE, THE KING OF
35:39 THE JUNGLE WHO TERRIFIES.
35:41 CREATURES FLEE THE CONCEPT OF A WARRIOR COMING OUT OF A BATTLE,
35:46 FRESH WITH HIS SWORD DIPPED IN BLOOD.
35:49 BUT WHEN YOU THINK OF A LAMB, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF A LAMB?
35:53 YOU THINK OF A LAMB--LITERALLY THE GREEK IS LAMBKIN.
35:57 IT'S A LITTLE LAMB, A LITTLE LAMB WHICH HAS JUST HAD ITS
36:02 THROAT CUT.
36:04 IT'S STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE.
36:06 IT'S BEEN OFFERED IN SACRIFICE AND IT'S DYING.
36:10 IT'S STANDING THERE, BUT IT'S DYING.
36:13 AND IT PUZZLES US, HOW COULD JESUS BOTH BE LION AND HOW
36:17 COULD HE BOTH BE A LAMB AT THE SAME TIME?
36:20 YOU KNOW, THE JEWS FROM THE FIRST CENTURY WHO WERE LED
36:23 ASTRAY BY THEIR LEADERS HAD NO TROUBLE SEEING JESUS AS A LION.
36:29 IF HE HAD COME AS A LION, THEY WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN
36:31 THE MESSIAH COME AS A LION.
36:33 AND YOU AND I MUST BE CAREFUL WE DON'T UNDULY BLAME THEM
36:36 BECAUSE IF WE HAD LIVED UNDER THE HEEL OF ROME,
36:40 THE OPPRESSION OF ROME, IF WE HAD LOST OUR FREEDOM LIKE
36:43 THEY HAD FROM PAGAN ROME, I GUESS WE WOULD LIKED TO HAVE
36:48 HAD A MESSIAH TO COME AND DELIVER US THE SAME WAY TOO.
36:51 BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO TRUE FOR US TODAY.
36:56 WE LIVE IN A TROUBLED WORLD OF WARS, FAMINES,
36:59 EARTHQUAKES, TERRORISM.
37:01 YOU KNOW, THE WORLD REALLY IS HEADING--IF JESUS DOESN'T COME
37:05 SOON, YOU WONDER HOW LONG THE WORLD WILL CARRY ON
37:07 THE MESS IT IS IN.
37:09 THE POTENTIAL TO DESTROY OURSELVES, FOR ONE PERSON
37:12 TO DESTROY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, WE'VE NEVER FACED THIS
37:15 IN HUMAN HISTORY BEFORE.
37:17 YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE A GOD WHO ACTS LIKE
37:22 A LION.
37:23 WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MESSIAH WHO COMES AND DELIVERS US.
37:27 AND AS I SAID, AS A LITTLE BOY I USED TO LOVE
37:30 THE SUPERMAN FILMS.
37:31 WHY?
37:32 BECAUSE EVERY TIME LOIS LANE FELL OUT OF A BUILDING,
37:34 WHAT HAPPENED?
37:36 HE WAS THERE.
37:37 A PLANE IS ABOUT TO CRASH.
37:39 HE TAKES IT SAFELY TO LAND.
37:42 THEY SEND A ROCKET SHIP OR SOMETHING.
37:44 THEY SEND A MISSILE TO A DAM.
37:47 WHAT DOES HE DO?
37:49 HE TAKES IT OUT TO OUTER SPACE, YOU KNOW?
37:51 WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO WORSHIP A GOD LIKE THAT?
37:54 IN OUR HEARTS, WE LONG FOR GOD TO DO THE THINGS THAT A LION
37:58 DOES AND STEP IN AND FIX THESE PEOPLE.
38:01 BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE WORLD IS HEADING TOWARDS
38:07 THE STAGE WHERE IT WILL LOOK FOR A STRONG LEADER WHO WILL DO
38:10 THAT SORT OF THING.
38:11 AND MAYBE BE PREPARED TO SURRENDER SOME OF THEIR
38:13 LIBERTIES IN ORDER JUST TO SURVIVE.
38:17 THE WORLD IS HEADING TOWARD SOME GREAT CRISIS.
38:19 YOU JUST SORT OF FEEL IT, DON'T YOU?
38:21 BUT, YOU KNOW, THE JEWS NEVER SEEM TO TAKE ENOUGH NOTICE OF
38:23 ISAIAH 53, AND MAYBE THERE'S THINGS IN GOD'S WORD THAT WE
38:27 DON'T RECOGNIZE YET THAT WE SHOULD BE TAKING NOTICE OF TOO.
38:31 BUT ISAIAH 53 WAS A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE AS TO HOW THIS MESSIAH
38:36 WOULD ACTUALLY BE WHEN HE CAME.
38:39 ISAIAH 53:4-7 IS A VERY MOVING STORY OF WHAT THE MESSIAH WOULD
38:45 BE LIKE, THE SUFFERING SERVANT.
38:47 "SURELY HE TOOK UP OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED OUR
38:50 SORROWS, YET WE CONSIDERED HIM STRICKEN BY GOD, SMITTEN BY
38:54 HIM, AND AFFLICTED.
38:56 BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS CRUSHED
39:00 FOR OUR INIQUITIES, THE PUNISHMENT THAT BROUGHT US
39:04 PEACE WAS UPON HIM, AND BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED.
39:08 ALL WE, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE GONE ASTRAY, EACH ONE OF US HAS
39:12 TURNED TO HIS OWN WAY; AND THE LORD HAS LAID ON HIM
39:16 THE INIQUITY OF US ALL."
39:19 IT'S A VERY MOVING PIECE, ISN'T IT?
39:21 ALL THAT WE HAVE DONE WRONG, ALL OUR SINS, THE SINS OF
39:25 THE WHOLE WORLD WERE LAID UPON THE INNOCENT LAMB OF GOD.
39:30 YOU KNOW, WE LONGED TO SEE THE MESSIAH COME, AND I BELIEVE
39:33 HE WILL COME ONE DAY AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS,
39:36 AND HE WILL ROAR LIKE A LION.
39:40 SURE HE WILL.
39:42 AND THE WORLD WILL TREMBLE IN FEAR AND SUDDENLY THERE
39:45 WILL NOT BE AN ATHEIST LEFT IN THE WORLD.
39:48 THEY'LL BE THE EXTINCT.
39:49 BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR LIVES; MEANWHILE, WE HAVE TO LIVE OUR
39:53 LIVES FOR A PERIOD LIKE MESSIAH IS LIKE A LAMB.
39:59 AND GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS STEP IN AND DO THE THINGS
40:02 THAT WE WANT HIM TO DO.
40:04 AND WE PLEAD WITH HIM, "LORD, THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
40:06 WHY AM I SUFFERING FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN?
40:10 WHY ARE THESE UNJUST PEOPLE DOING THESE THINGS TO ME?"
40:13 YOU KNOW, IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS
40:16 OF JESUS.
40:18 IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO FOLLOW HIM STEP BY STEP.
40:21 AND THE END TIME IS WRITTEN IN REVELATION, IN THE LANGUAGE
40:24 WHERE THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE TRULY FOLLOWING JESUS.
40:29 BUT SEE HOW HE WINS HIS BATTLE AS A LAMB.
40:32 SEE HOW HE WINS HIS BATTLE.
40:34 HE DOESN'T TAKE HIS SWORD AND GO OUT AND CONQUER
40:37 AND DESTROY AT THIS MOMENT.
40:39 HE ALLOWS HIMSELF TO BE NAILED TO THE CROSS, HE BOWS HIS HEAD,
40:45 HE FEELS FORSAKEN BY GOD, AND HE CRIES OUT, "MY GOD, MY GOD,
40:51 WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"
40:54 AND THAT'S HOW HE CONQUERS AND WINS HIS BATTLE.
40:58 GLORY TO THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, THE ONE WHO BORE
41:02 OUR SINS ON CALVARY.
41:04 THIS IS SO CONTRARY TO HUMAN THINKING, ISN'T IT?
41:07 THE HUMAN MIND SAYS CRUSH YOUR ENEMY, DESTROY THEM.
41:11 BUT JESUS COMES AND HE TAKES THE ENEMY'S SINS UPON HIM.
41:17 YOU KNOW, CALVARY WAS LIKE THE LIGHTNING AND ALL ELSE
41:20 THAT COMES THEREAFTER IS THE THUNDER, THE MOPPING UP
41:22 OPERATIONS.
41:24 AND ONE DAY HE WILL COME AS KING OF KINGS
41:26 AND LORD OF LORDS.
41:27 BUT WE'RE LIVING THROUGH A LAMB-LIKE EXPERIENCE AS WE
41:30 FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS.
41:33 IF YOU AND I HAD LIVED IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES,
41:36 SIN WOULD HAVE MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPRESSION UPON US.
41:39 IT WOULD HAVE MEANT WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE TEMPLE,
41:42 AND WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN A LIFE AND WE WOULD HAVE CUT
41:45 THAT LITTLE LAMB'S THROAT.
41:47 YOU'D SAY, "WHY IS THAT LITTLE CREATURE DYING?"
41:50 THAT LITTLE CREATURE IS DYING BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVE DONE.
41:55 YOU WOULD LEARN TO HATE SIN, WOULDN'T YOU?
41:58 HATE SIN FOR WHAT IT'S DONE TO THAT LITTLE LAMB.
42:01 AND GOD WANTS US TO THINK OF HIS SON AS LIKE
42:04 A LITTLE CREATURE.
42:06 YOU KNOW, I HAD A FARMER FRIEND YEARS AGO IN NEW ZEALAND WHO
42:08 EVERY SPRING HAD TO GO AROUND AND CUT THE THROATS OF
42:10 THE LAMBS THEY DIDN'T WANT.
42:11 HE SAID THOSE TINY LITTLE CREATURES COULD HARDLY STAND
42:13 ON THEIR FEET.
42:15 HE SAID, "IT'S A JOB I DETESTED EVERY YEAR, TO TAKE THE KNIFE
42:19 AND DRAW IT THROUGH THE THROAT AND TO SEE THE LITTLE THING
42:22 STAGGER, STAGGER, DYING."
42:26 WHEN GOD WANTS YOU AND I TO HAVE AN IMAGE OF HIS SON,
42:30 AT THIS TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY HE WANTS US TO SEE HIM AS A LAMB.
42:35 ONE DAY HE'LL BE LIKE THE LION, SURE.
42:37 BUT THERE IS A LAMB-LIKE EXISTENCE.
42:39 THIS IDEA OF HEALTH AND WEALTH GOSPEL IS NOT REALISTIC.
42:44 CHRISTIANS DO SUFFER.
42:45 CHRISTIANS DO GET SICK.
42:47 CHRISTIANS DO HAVE THEIR HOMES BROKEN INTO.
42:50 CHRISTIANS DO LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY STAND FOR JESUS.
42:54 BOOK OF REVELATION WAS WRITTEN TO A PEOPLE WHO WERE STRUGGLING
42:57 TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHY IS THE WORLD IN SUCH A MESS
43:02 WHEN JESUS IS IN HEAVEN.
43:05 THE BOOK OF REVELATION WAS WRITTEN TO GIVE US A REALISTIC
43:08 VIEW OF LIFE, THE LION-LAMB TENSION IN THIS BOOK.
43:13 AND DO YOU EVER IDENTIFY WITH IT?
43:15 DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE CRYING OUT, "LORD, HOW LONG?
43:19 HOW LONG, LORD, BEFORE YOU STEP IN AND PUT AN END TO THIS
43:23 AND TAKE US HOME?"
43:25 WE FIND THAT THE TENSE PAIN OF SOME PEOPLE IS SO UNJUST.
43:30 BUT JESUS WAS SLAUGHTERED LIKE A LITTLE LAMB, AND OUR
43:33 LAMB-LIKE EXPERIENCES, IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL,
43:36 CAN ACTUALLY OVERWHELM US.
43:38 MOST PEOPLE WHO START THE CHRISTIAN LIFE DON'T FINISH.
43:43 SAD COMMENTARY ON CHRISTIANITY, BUT IT'S TRUE.
43:45 GOD IS DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS.
43:48 WIDE IS THE GATE, BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
43:51 MOST PEOPLE GO THAT WAY.
43:53 STRAIGHT IS THE GATE, NARROW IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE,
43:55 FEW THEY BE THAT FIND IT.
43:57 YOU AND I HAVE TO MAINTAIN OUR FAITH AND LIVE BY FAITH,
44:03 EVEN WHEN LIFE FALLS APART.
44:05 EVEN WHEN WE ARE BETRAYED BY FRIEND AND OTHER CHRISTIANS
44:08 AND LET DOWN, WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE LAMB.
44:13 WE TAKE OUR EYES ANYWHERE ELSE, IT IS NOT SAFE.
44:17 NO ONE CAN PLUCK US OUT OF HIS HAND, HE SAYS.
44:20 WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION IN HIM.
44:22 SURE, BUT WE CAN TAKE OUR EYES OFF HIM AND THROUGH
44:27 CARELESSNESS AND NEGLECT WE CAN LOSE IT.
44:31 YOU CANNOT DRAW A LINE IN THIS WORLD BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND
44:34 UNBELIEVERS AND SAY, "OKAY, ON THIS SIDE ARE ALL THOSE WHO
44:38 ARE CHRISTIANS AND THEY DON'T GET THEIR HOUSES ROBBED.
44:42 THEY LIVE LONGER AND THEY'VE ALWAYS GOT A JOB AND THEY
44:45 ALWAYS HAVE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY."
44:48 AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, THOSE WHO ARE NOT CHRISTIANS,
44:50 AND THEY DIE EARLY, THEY GET CANCER, THEY LOSE THEIR JOB.
44:54 THE WORLD IS NOT LIKE THAT, IS IT?
44:56 IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD TEND TO SERVE GOD
44:59 FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
45:01 WE'VE BECOME BREAD AND BUTTER CHRISTIANS.
45:03 TRUE FAITH.
45:04 GOD GIVES SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO BELIEVE, BUT NEVER REMOVES
45:07 ALL CAUSE FOR DOUBT.
45:11 WE HAVE THE WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT IN OUR LIFE.
45:13 WE HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF THE WORD OF GOD, BUT THERE ARE
45:16 ALWAYS GOING TO BE THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE
45:18 AND SEEM UNFAIR.
45:21 AND WHEN THAT TIME COMES, WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES
45:24 ON THE LAMB.
45:26 BE FAITHFUL TO CHRIST.
45:27 THERE ARE MOTHERS LEFT ALL ALONE IN THIS WORLD
45:30 TO BRING UP THEIR CHILDREN ALL BY THEMSELVES.
45:32 THERE ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE LOST A SON OR A DAUGHTER IN A CAR
45:34 ACCIDENT, AND IT WASN'T FAIR.
45:37 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO CHRIST, YET THEY
45:40 GET SICK, ROBBED, MURDERED, LOST THEIR JOBS.
45:42 IT CAN BE A ROUGH WORLD, AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE SKEPTICS
45:44 SAY, "WELL, WHERE IS YOUR GOD?
45:46 YOU'VE TRIED TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM.
45:48 WHY ISN'T HE LOOKING AFTER YOU AT THIS TIME?"
45:52 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY SAID TO JESUS, ISN'T IT?
45:56 "WHERE'S YOUR GOD?
45:57 WHY DON'T YOU COME DOWN AND THEN WE'LL BELIEVE YOU?"
46:00 AND THEY TAUNTED HIM AND TEASED HIM, BUT YOU KNOW,
46:03 HE WOULDN'T COME DOWN.
46:05 IF HE HAD, YOU AND I WOULD BE LOST.
46:09 HE SAW THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I WHO WOULD TRUST
46:12 IN HIM AND HE HUNG THERE, DIDN'T HE?
46:15 UNTIL HE CRIED OUT, "IT IS FINISHED."
46:18 HE DIED FOR OUR SINS.
46:20 OH, YES, ONE DAY SOON HE'LL COME AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD
46:23 OF LORDS.
46:24 WHAT A MIGHTY SCENE IT WILL BE.
46:26 ALL THE POWERS ON HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL TREMBLE.
46:29 THEY'LL FLEE.
46:31 THE MOUNTAIN CHAINS WILL RISE AND FALL.
46:34 BOOK OF REVELATION PICTURES IT WHEN JESUS COMES AS KING OF
46:37 KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, WITH ALL HIS ANGELS WITH HIM,
46:40 AND HE'LL ROAR LIKE A LION.
46:43 BUT MEANWHILE, WE HAVE TO SEEM LIKE A LAMB AND SUFFER
46:49 AS HE SUFFERED.
46:51 THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE ARE KINGS AND PRIESTS AND WE WILL
46:54 LIVE AND REIGN WITH CHRIST FOR ETERNITY.
46:57 YOU KNOW, WE DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS,
46:59 REALLY, TO BE A KING AND A PRIEST.
47:01 JESUS SAYS IN REVELATION, "TO THOSE WHO OVERCOME, I WILL
47:06 SHARE MY THRONE WITH YOU."
47:08 JESUS, REMEMBER, HAS INHERITED ALL THINGS.
47:11 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SHARE THE THRONE WITH JESUS?
47:14 I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOT ANY IDEA OF THE GLORIES THAT WILL
47:18 BE IN THE NEXT LIFE WHEN JESUS TAKES US HOME
47:21 TO SOMEWHERE BETTER.
47:22 BUT MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A LAMB-LIKE EXISTENCE.
47:26 YOU KNOW, WE MUST LOOK AWAY FROM THIS WORLD AND SEE THIS
47:29 SCENE BEFORE US, THIS THRONE.
47:31 THE THRONE IN HEAVEN.
47:32 WELL COME BACK TO REVELATION 4 AND 5 IN OUR THINKING BECAUSE
47:36 IT'S A GREAT SCENE, ISN'T IT?
47:39 IN REVELATION 4, WE WANT TO SEE THAT THRONE ROOM SCENE, WHERE
47:45 ALL AROUND WE HAVE THE CHOIR OF HEAVEN, THE 24 ELDERS,
47:51 THE 4 LIVING CREATURES, AN ANGELIC CHOIR.
47:54 AND AS WE LOOK AT REVELATION 4 IN OUR MIND AND OUR THINKING,
48:00 WE LOOK AT THAT SCENE.
48:02 IT'S A MAJESTIC SCENE.
48:05 YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW MUCH TO KNOW THAT GOD IS ON THE THRONE
48:09 AND HE IS IN CONTROL, BECAUSE THE LAMB CAME AND TOOK THAT
48:14 BOOK AND HE'S UNSEALING IT.
48:17 AND THIS BOOK HOLDS THE DESTINY OF THE HUMAN RACE AS HISTORY
48:21 BEGINS TO UNFOLD.
48:23 BUT WE MUST NEVER TAKE OUR EYES OFF THE LAMB.
48:26 YOU KNOW, THIS SCENE OF REVELATION 4 AND 5 HAS INSPIRED
48:30 MUCH MUSIC.
48:32 AND HANDEL WROTE SOMETHING.
48:34 THIS IS THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST.
48:37 THIS IS WHERE CHRIST ASCENDS TO HEAVEN AFTER HIS DEATH AND
48:40 RESURRECTION, AND THIS IS THE PRAISE OF THE HEAVENLY CHOIRS.
48:44 KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
48:47 AND HE WILL REIGN FOREVER.
48:49 THIS IS A TRIUMPHANT ASCENSION OF CHRIST TO HEAVEN.
48:53 AND BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE WILL LIVE TOO.
48:56 LISTEN TO IT.
48:57 LISTEN TO THE HEAVENLY CHOIRS.
48:59 ♪ OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:04 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:06 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ FOR THE LORD GOD ♪
49:10 ♪ OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:14 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:16 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ FOR THE LORD GOD ♪
49:20 ♪ OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ♪ ♪ FOR THE LORD GOD ♪
49:26 ♪ OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:30 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ FOR THE LORD GOD ♪
49:34 ♪ OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
49:41 ♪ THE KINGDOM OF THIS WORLD ♪ ♪ IS BECOME THE KINGDOM ♪
49:51 ♪ OF OUR LORD ♪ ♪ AND OF HIS CHRIST ♪
49:55 ♪ AND OF HIS CHRIST; ♪ ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪
49:59 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪
50:04 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪
50:09 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪
50:15 ♪ FOREVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ KING OF KINGS ♪
50:20 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
50:23 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ AND LORD OF LORDS ♪
50:26 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
50:29 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ KING OF KINGS ♪
50:32 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
50:35 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ AND LORD OF LORDS ♪
50:38 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
50:41 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ KING OF KINGS ♪
50:44 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
50:47 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ AND LORD OF LORDS ♪
50:51 ♪ KING OF KINGS ♪ ♪ AND LORD OF LORDS ♪
50:55 ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪ ♪ FOREVER AND EVER ♪
51:00 ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪ ♪ FOREVER AND EVER ♪
51:05 ♪ KING OF KINGS ♪ ♪ FOREVER AND EVER ♪
51:09 ♪ AND LORD OF LORDS ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪
51:12 ♪ HALLELUJAH! ♪ ♪ AND HE SHALL REIGN ♪
51:14 ♪ FOR EVER AND EVER ♪♪
51:20 >> ONE DAY WE'LL JOIN THAT CHOIR IN HEAVEN.
51:24 WE'LL BE AROUND THE THRONE OF GOD.
51:27 HE IS KING OF KINGS AND HE IS LORD OF LORDS.
51:30 AND WE WILL SHARE THE THRONE FOREVER.
51:33 BUT MEANWHILE, WE HAVE TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE HAVE
51:37 TO KEEP OUR EYES FIXED UPON THE LAMB.
51:41 I WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU AT THIS TIME.
51:43 NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY OR DO
51:47 TO YOU, NEVER TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE LAMB.
51:54 SURE, THE LION WILL COME THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
51:58 LORDS, AND WE WILL REIGN FOREVER WITH HIM, BUT HE'S
52:01 THE LAMB.
52:03 THINK OF THAT LITTLE LAMB.
52:05 ITS THROAT IS CUT.
52:07 IT'S BLEEDING.
52:09 THINK OF WHAT HE DID FOR YOU.
52:11 WHAT SHOULD WE NOT DO FOR HIM?
52:14 LET'S JUST BOW OUR HEADS.
52:18 OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHAT A WONDERFUL GOD WE SERVE.
52:23 WE SERVE A CREATOR WHO CAME AND WON THIS BATTLE BY SUBMITTING
52:29 TO THE DEATH OF CALVARY.
52:31 HE WAS LIKE THAT HELPLESS LITTLE LAMB.
52:34 HE ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BECOME HELPLESS.
52:37 HIS LIFEBLOOD WAS SHED THAT WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN AND WE MIGHT
52:41 LIVE FOREVER AND WE MIGHT SHARE HIS THRONE.
52:45 OH, WHAT A WONDERFUL GIFT.
52:47 THE FAIREST IN HEAVEN CAME DOWN TO LIVE IN OUR WORLD, TO SUFFER
52:53 AS WE SUFFER, AND EVEN MORE SO DIED FOR OUR SINS.
52:57 WELL, LORD, BLESS US AND ENCOURAGE US.
52:59 WE SERVE JESUS.
53:01 OUR EYES ARE FIXED UPON HIM AND WE PLEDGE OURSELVES AT THIS
53:05 TIME, LORD, TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE LAMB AND NEVER,
53:10 EVER TAKE OUR EYES OFF.
53:12 ENCOURAGE US TO KEEP LOOKING, KEEP TRUSTING.
53:16 WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
53:22 [MUSIC] ♪ TO WRITE THE LOVE ♪
53:27 ♪ OF GOD ABOVE ♪ ♪ WOULD DRAIN THE OCEANS DRY. ♪
53:40 ♪ NOR COULD THE SCROLL ♪ ♪ CONTAIN THE WHOLE, ♪
53:50 ♪ THOUGH STRETCHED ♪ ♪ FROM SKY TO SKY. ♪
54:00 ♪ OH HALLELUJAH, JESUS. ♪ ♪ HALLELUJAH. ♪
54:14 ♪ HIGHER THAN ♪ ♪ THE HIGHEST HEAVEN. ♪
54:23 ♪ DEEPER THAN THE DEEPEST SEA. ♪ ♪ WIDER THAN COULD ♪
54:37 ♪ EVER IMAGINE. ♪ ♪ YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR ME. ♪
54:51 ♪ YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR ME. ♪
55:03 ♪ YOUR LOVE IS HIGHER THAN ♪ ♪ THE HIGHEST HEAVEN. ♪
55:13 ♪ IT'S DEEPER THAN ♪ ♪ THE DEEPEST SEA. ♪
55:21 ♪ YOUR LOVE IS WIDER THAN ♪ ♪ I COULD EVER IMAGINE. ♪
55:32 ♪ YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR ME. ♪ ♪ YOUR GREAT LOVE FOR ME. ♪
55:48 ♪ OH, LOVE OF GOD, ♪ ♪ HOW RICH AND PURE. ♪
55:57 ♪ HOW MEASURELESS AND STRONG. ♪ ♪ IT SHALL FOREVER, ♪
56:10 ♪ EVERMORE ENDURE. ♪ ♪ THE SAINTS' ♪
56:16 ♪ AND ANGELS' SONG. ♪
56:27 ♪ HALLELUJAH JESUS. ♪
56:53 ♪ HOLY. ♪ ♪ HOLY ♪
57:02 ♪ HOLY ♪ ♪ HOLY ♪
57:11 ♪ HOLY ♪ ♪ THAT'S WHAT YOU A ♪
57:19 ♪ THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME ♪ ♪ HOLY ♪
57:29 ♪ HOLY ♪♪
57:56 [APPLAUDING]


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Revised 2015-02-05