Participants:
Series Code: RAD
Program Code: RAD170001A
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00:01 What does the future hold?
00:02 Where can we find certainty in a world of uncertainty? 00:06 The book of Revelation provides hopeful answers for today, 00:09 tomorrow, and forever. 00:11 Join Mark Finley, author and world renowned speaker on a 00:15 journey into the future with 00:21 Welcome to Revelation's Ancient Discoveries. 00:24 Thank you so much for joining us on this journey through 00:27 the book of Revelation. 00:29 Our goal for this series is really twofold: to discover 00:32 Christ in all of His fullness, and all of His majesty, 00:36 and all of His greatness in the book of Revelation; 00:38 and second, to discover end time truths that will prepare you 00:43 for the overwhelming surprise that's coming upon our world. 00:47 Let's pray as we launch into this series. 00:50 Father in Heaven, we thank You for Jesus, and we thank You for 00:56 Revelation, the last book in the Bible that reveals to us 01:00 Christ in all of His beauty. 01:02 Enable us as we study this book to know You better, 01:07 to understand Your truths, and to be prepared for what's 01:11 coming upon our world. 01:12 In Christ's name, Amen. 01:15 My topic tonight is 01:24 You know, as you look around the world scores of 01:27 people are asking, 01:31 What really is in store for our children? 01:35 Will this world be destroyed in a spinning globe of ash in 01:40 some nuclear holocaust? 01:41 Will we spend our last few moments clawing at one another 01:47 for living space in a planet that's run out of food? 01:50 Will global warming destroy the planet? 01:54 This question, 01:57 is a question that is haunting thinkers around the world. 02:03 And so millions of people, who are concerned about the future, 02:06 are developing a new interest in Bible prophesy. 02:10 Every place you look people are not only asking the question 02:15 about the future, but they're really looking for answers. 02:25 Is the future dark and hazy, or is there some key 02:30 to unlock the future? 02:34 ...or is it just make believe? 02:36 Can anyone really know the future for certain? 02:39 One thing is for sure, prophecy is a hot topic today. 02:44 In fact, there are more than 50 million hits recently on 02:50 Internet sites that talk about Bible prophecy. 03:00 But more often than not, they're being let down. 03:05 More often than not the answers that they're getting are 03:09 leaving them empty, shallow, and afraid. 03:12 One thing that you notice about the predictions of the psychics 03:16 is they're predicting doom, predicting 03:19 disaster for the future. 03:20 Let me give you a few examples of prophecies recently by 03:25 psychics, or really it would be actually more accurate to say 03:28 ancient prophecies by seers. 03:32 One is called 03:34 The Great Pyramic Prophecy: it supposedly finds a line through 03:40 the pyramids that traces down the centuries, and this prophecy 03:46 comes to this remarkable, quite startling conclusion. 04:04 Not very reassuring, is it? 04:07 Some prophecy that supposedly talks about Earth being knocked 04:12 off its orbit, and the total chaotic 04:17 destruction of Planet Earth. 04:19 Or take this Mayan prophecy. 04:22 It is indeed an ancient prophecy. 04:24 And when you take a look at the Mayan prophecy many feared 04:29 the world would come to an end along with the Mayan long count 04:33 calendar on December 21, 2012. 04:38 So according to this Mayan prophecy, the world supposedly 04:43 was to come to an end December 21, 2012. 04:47 But we're a few years after that, aren't we? 04:50 The world still exists, unlike the failed prophecies and 04:55 predictions of the psychics. 04:57 The Bible has been accurate. 04:59 Could you believe it? for the last 3,500 years the psychics 05:05 predictions often have utterly failed. 05:08 They're left people in hopeless despair. 05:12 But the prophesies of this book, the prophecies of the 05:17 living word of God, have been accurate generation after 05:21 generation, century after century, 05:25 millennium after millennium. 05:27 And you can take the prophecies of the Bible, 05:30 and here you find hope, here you find confidence, 05:33 here you find courage for the future. 05:36 Somebody says, What's the evidence of that? 05:39 Well, in Scripture there are at least 05:55 That's a pretty good track record, isn't it? 05:58 90% of the prophecies that have already been predicted 06:04 in Scripture are fulfilled, 10% dealing with the future 06:08 that will be fulfilled in the very near future. 06:12 And the interesting thing about these prophecies of the Bible 06:15 is these prophecies speak of hope. 06:18 These prophecies speak of courage. 06:21 These prophecies speak of a brighter future, far brighter 06:26 than you could ever imagine. 06:44 Isaiah 46:9, 10 puts it this way. 06:55 Now what is the evidence that God is God? 06:58 What is one of the greatest evidences that God is divine? 07:03 One of the greatest evidence that God indeed is separate 07:08 from any other of the false God's. 07:12 Isaiah said this to Israel, and the prophecy certainly 07:15 applies to you and me. 07:17 Here's what he says. 07:26 So one of the greatest evidences that God is God is His ability 07:31 to declare the end from the beginning. 07:34 Did you get that? What's the evidence everybody? 07:37 What's the evidence that God is God? 07:39 What can He do? Say it with me. 07:41 He can declare the what? 07:42 That's right! He can declare the end from the beginning, 07:46 and from what? ancient times things that are not yet done. 07:52 So the ability of God to foretell the future is one of 07:56 the greatest evidences indeed that He is God. 07:59 In 2 Peter 1:19 we have this assurance. 08:20 So prophecy is like a light. 08:24 It shines on the future. 08:26 It tells us what is to come. 08:29 Now the reason prophecy is so significant, and particularly 08:34 the book of Revelation, is not simply because a light shines 08:39 on the future to satisfy our intellectual curiosity, 08:43 the reality is that prophecy has a very practical purpose. 08:48 It enables us to know what's coming, 08:51 so we can prepare for what's coming. 08:53 And it enables us to know what's going to take place in the 08:56 future so that we are able to be ready for those events. 09:01 So Jesus, specifically in the book of Revelation, shares with 09:08 us events that are yet to unfold to prepare us for those events. 09:13 So let's go to the book of Revelation. 09:21 It is the last book in the Bible with the last message for human 09:26 beings on Planet Earth just before the coming of Christ. 09:30 Now there are those people that say, Well, Revelation is 09:33 kind of a closed book. 09:35 It's a book of mystic symbols. 09:37 It's a book of prophetic images. 09:39 How can you really understand it? 09:41 I remember not long ago I was teaching a course on Revelation, 09:45 and a man came to me and he said, I always have hesitated 09:48 in studying Revelation, because it really frightens me. 09:53 It really makes me afraid. 09:54 But then he said, Pastor Mark, after I've gone through your 09:57 meetings on Revelation, I have new hope, 10:00 and I have new courage. 10:01 See Revelation does not mean a sealing. 10:04 Revelation does not mean something that's closed. 10:12 So when you think about the book of Revelation, 10:15 it's not that God is trying to hide the future from us, 10:18 it's rather that God is revealing the 10:22 future in Revelation. 10:24 Now somebody says, I want to study about Jesus. 10:26 I don't want to study about Revelation. 10:28 Let's go to Revelation 1:1. 10:30 The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 10:32 Who is this a revelation of? 10:35 The Revelation of Jesus Christ. 10:37 It is Jesus' Revelation. 10:39 Where did He get it? 10:49 Now let's dissect this verse a little bit. 10:51 Let's look at it. Let's look carefully at Revelation 1:1. 10:57 Notice what the Scripture says. 10:59 It says that the book of Revelation is the 11:02 Revelation of Jesus Christ. 11:04 Down through the centuries believers that had been 11:07 persecuted, believers that have faced the sword, fire, 11:12 death, and even crucifixion itself, believers who have been 11:17 severely beaten and oppressed have found courage 11:21 and hope in this book. 11:22 Why? Because it's the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 11:26 It is Jesus' Revelation not only to an end time people, 11:30 but Jesus' Revelation of His triumph over the principalities, 11:34 and powers of hell down through the ages. 11:36 Now if you want to understand the basic theme of Revelation, 11:39 here is a Revelation course in four words. 11:42 Are you ready? A Revelation course in four words. 11:45 There may be things you don't understand about Revelation, 11:47 but if you understand these four words, you'll understand the 11:50 book of Revelation. 11:51 Here it is: Jesus wins, Satan loses. 11:54 What is it everybody? 11:55 Jesus does what? Jesus wins, and Satan loses. 11:59 That's the great theme of the book of Revelation. 12:02 Revelation 22:20 puts it this way. 12:06 Revelation 22, rather Verse 10, says this: 12:16 So is the book of Revelation a sealed book? Is it? 12:20 Do not do what? 12:27 So the book of Revelation is not a what? 12:28 It's not a sealed book, it is an open book. 12:30 It is the Revelation of Jesus that God gave unto Him to show 12:38 His servants things which must shortly come to pass. 12:41 The Christ who gave the Revelation gave it to us because 12:45 He wants us to understand it. 12:46 Let me ask you this question. 12:47 If Jesus is the author of Revelation, and if Revelation is 12:52 the last book in the Bible, would you not think that Christ 12:57 wants us to understand this vital book, 13:01 this last book of the Bible? 13:03 Certainly He would. 13:12 That is the great theme of Revelation. 13:14 In every chapter of Revelation Jesus is triumphant. 13:18 Jesus does not lose one battle in the book of Revelation. 13:23 Things may seem to be oppressive. 13:25 They may seem to be difficult, but Jesus Christ wins. 13:30 Revelation 1:1. Let's go back to it. 13:32 It is the Revelation of who? 13:35 It's the Revelation of Jesus Christ. 13:37 And where did He get that Revelation? 13:38 God gave it to Him. 13:40 Now notice the sequence here. 13:41 God gives to Jesus the message of Revelation. 13:45 There's a message for end time, a message for God's last 13:49 day people, born in the heart of God. 13:50 He gives it to Jesus. 13:52 Jesus then does something with it. 13:55 What does He do with it? 13:57 He sends and signifies it by His what? angel. 14:02 So there's a message born in the heart of God. 14:04 That message from the very heart of God is given to Jesus. 14:08 Jesus gives it to the angel. 14:10 And what does the angel do with it? 14:11 He gives it to John, and John writes it down 14:15 on the Island of Patmos. 14:16 John writes at the end of the first century. 14:21 And as John writes at the end of the first century, 14:25 he's there isolated on the Island of Patmos. 14:29 He is there on that Patmos Island for his 14:33 faith in Jesus Christ. 14:35 The Emperor Domitian wanted to silence John's voice. 14:41 And history tells us that he was burned in a cauldron of oil 14:45 there on the continent in Rome, but he was unaffected. 14:51 And even his tormenters were amazed as God 14:54 miraculously protected him. 14:56 Domitian wants to silence his voice. 14:58 It's in the end of the first century. 15:00 John is exiled on the Island of Patmos. 15:02 And there, separated from family, separated from friends, 15:06 there in his time of greatest tribulation that Island of 15:10 Patmos is illuminated with the glory of God, 15:13 and Heaven's messenger comes and speaks to John, 15:17 and John writes it down. 15:18 In the midst of your tribulation, in the midst of 15:21 your difficulty, in the midst of your heartache, 15:24 isolated at times from family or friends, God is going to 15:28 come and speak to your heart. 15:30 God's going to give light to your soul. 15:32 God is going to minister to you. 15:34 There are times we go through difficulties; 15:36 difficulties in our marriage, difficulties with our families, 15:40 difficulties with our children, difficulties with our health. 15:44 And sometimes like John, we feel so isolated and alone 15:48 when the darkness engulfs us, but yet Christ comes. 15:52 Christ comes and gives us reassurance. 15:55 Christ comes and gives us hope. 15:57 Christ comes and gives us confidence. 15:59 That's the message of the book of Revelation. 16:03 John, on the Island of Patmos, has an amazing 16:06 vision of the future. 16:08 And that brings him hope, and courage. 16:11 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the same Jesus that walked 16:16 and talked the dusty streets of Galilee, the same Jesus that 16:19 broke the bread and fed five thousand, the same Jesus 16:24 that touched the eyes of the blind and they were opened, 16:26 and the ears of the deaf and they were unstopped, 16:28 and the same Jesus that healed the leper; this is the Christ 16:32 of the book of Revelation. 16:34 The same Jesus that prayed for the world in the 16:37 Garden of Gethsemane, the same Jesus that said, Father not My 16:40 will but Thy will be done. 16:42 It's this Christ; this Christ that's the Christ of Revelation? 16:46 He is the Jesus. His hands were stretched out 16:50 on the cross for you. 16:51 He is the Jesus who was nailed to that wooden bar for you. 16:56 In the book of Revelation, Jesus, the Lamb of God, 17:01 is mentioned over twenty-five times. 17:05 He is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world; 17:10 Revelation 13:8. He is the lamb who's able to open the scroll; 17:16 the bloody lamb, and provide salvation for all humanity. 17:21 Revelation 5. He is the Lamb of God who triumphs over the 17:26 dragon, and the powers of hell in Revelation the 17th chapter. 17:30 This is the Christ of the book of Revelation. 17:34 This book of Revelation focuses on one major event. 17:38 It focuses on the return of our Lord. 17:41 Do you remember the disciples as they watched the lingering 17:48 glory of Christ as He ascended into heaven. 17:51 And the angel said, You've seen Jesus go up into heaven, 17:56 but this same Jesus will come again. 17:59 This same Jesus you've seen ascend will descend. 18:03 That's the very theme of the book of Revelation; this longing 18:05 this longing, this aching longing 18:07 for the return of Christ. 18:09 Now the Bible tells us in Revelation 1:3 18:22 So there's a triple blessing. 18:24 What's the blessing? 18:25 The blessing for those that read. 18:26 So together. As we journey through this series, 18:30 Revelation's Ancient Discoveries, and as you, 18:33 with me, are reading from the screen, 18:36 what are you going to receive? 18:37 What's the Bible say? a blessing. 18:39 What? When will you be blessed? 18:41 When you read, and as you hear, as I unfold the 18:45 prophecies of Revelation. 18:47 You will be incredibly, amazingly blessed. 18:50 But the reason to read and to hear is not just to store facts 18:55 in our mind, it's not just to keep something deeply inside. 19:00 It's to keep those things that are written therein, 19:03 so these prophecies will call you to action. 19:07 These prophecies will stimulate the desire to make changes 19:14 in your life, so be prepared to make some changes. 19:18 As God speaks to you, be prepared to be open to His 19:22 Spirit as it moves in your heart. 19:23 Are you open to His Spirit tonight? 19:25 Are you open to His Spirit today? 19:27 Are you willing to say, Jesus, as we study the book of 19:30 Revelation, whatever You want me to do, I'm going to do that. 19:34 Jesus, as we study the book of Revelation, I'm Your man, 19:38 I'm Your woman, I'm Your boy, I'm Your girl. 19:40 And Lord, whatever You ask me to do... 19:43 I don't want to only read to fill my head with some 19:45 intellectual curiosity. 19:47 I don't want to only hear the book of 19:49 Revelation, I want to keep it. 19:51 Lord, place within my heart a desire to do 19:55 exactly what You say. 19:57 As I read truth from Your Word, may that truth be so powerful, 20:02 may that truth be so life-changing, may I be willing 20:06 to follow that truth. 20:08 In the book of Revelation Jesus is Revelation's alpha and omega. 20:14 In Revelation Jesus is Revelation's true 20:17 and faithful witness. 20:19 In the book of Revelation Jesus is the Light of the World. 20:25 He is the One that illuminates this world's darkness. 20:29 In the book of Revelation Jesus is the all-powerful Creator. 20:34 The One who spoke and world's came into existence. 20:37 The One who carpeted the earth with living green. 20:40 The One who flung the sun, moon, and stars into space. 20:43 The One that created the animals, and the One that 20:46 fashioned Adam, and created Eve from his rib. 20:50 In the book of Revelation Jesus is the all-powerful Creator. 20:54 And if He can create a world, He can recreate your life. 20:57 He can make you over again into His very image. 21:01 Jesus is Revelation's dying lamb. 21:04 And, as we mentioned, over twenty-five times Christ is 21:07 mentioned as the lamb in the book of Revelation. 21:10 In Revelation Jesus is Revelation's righteous Judge. 21:16 You know, in this world there are things, there are times 21:20 that are unjust and unfair. 21:22 And one of the great questions that many young people are 21:25 asking, many of the millennial generation, is this: 21:29 If God is so good, why is the world so bad? 21:32 In the book of Revelation Jesus is revealed as the righteous 21:36 judge that will set all things right. 21:39 The One who is incredibly fair. 21:43 Life may be unfair, bad things may happen to good people, 21:48 but one day Jesus is going to sit on His throne. 21:50 And one day He will set everything in your life that 21:56 has gone wrong, Christ will set it right. 21:58 But in Revelation Jesus is the coming King. 22:02 He is the ultimate solution to the problems of this world. 22:07 He is the One that can usher in peace and joy and happiness, 22:13 and meaning and purpose. 22:15 It's a land where there's no cancer or heart disease, 22:17 sickness, suffering, heartache, death or war. 22:20 This is the Christ of the book of Revelation. 22:24 Now in Revelation, Chapter 1, the chapter that we're studying 22:28 especially in our introductory program here, 22:31 Revelation's Ancient Discoveries. 22:33 The Scripture says in Revelation 1:4 this: 22:39 So the book of Revelation is a book about, what everybody? 22:42 grace. What else? peace. 22:50 So Jesus, three things about Him: Jesus is, Jesus was, 22:58 and Jesus is to come. 23:01 Jesus was; He is the all powerful Creator. 23:05 The Bible says that all things were created by Him. 23:09 So Jesus pre-existed from eternity, with never a 23:15 beginning, and will never have an ending. 23:17 He is the eternal Christ. 23:19 He was there in Eden as the active agent of creation 23:24 with the Father; Jesus was. 23:27 Jesus existed down through the millenniums. 23:31 After Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus was born as a babe 23:34 in Bethlehem's manger. 23:35 Jesus was. He lived that perfect life that you 23:39 and I should have lived. 23:41 And Jesus died the death that we should have died. 23:45 He, Jesus was, and then the Bible says, Jesus Is. 23:50 What does it mean that Jesus Is? 23:59 Jesus Is. You know, I've traveled the world. 24:02 And I've stood there at the tomb of Stalin in Red Square. 24:09 And here he lies in his, rather, Lenin's tomb in Red Square. 24:14 And Lenin lies in his tomb. 24:17 And you see his embalmed body by the Russians. 24:21 But yet Lenin, that leader of the former Soviet Union, 24:25 who had power over millions, is dead. 24:27 Or, I've been in Beijing, and saw the mausoleum 24:31 of Chairman Mao. 24:32 He is dead. You think of the great leaders of this world. 24:35 They have lived, they've been on the scene, and they die. 24:38 But Jesus Is. The Bible says that Christ is alive. 24:42 The tomb of Christ is empty. 24:45 He's resurrected from the dead. 24:47 When the Father said, Son, come forth. 24:51 Thy Father calleth Thee. 24:53 Jesus came out of the tomb with new glorious life. 24:57 Jesus, according to the book of Revelation, is. 25:00 And because He is, the Bible says that He stands in 25:04 Heaven for you and me. 25:05 Not only is Christ there, but Jesus is to come. 25:10 He was, He is, and He is to come. 25:17 He's going to stream down the corridor of the sky. 25:19 As lightening flashes from the East even unto the West, 25:22 so shall the coming of the Son of man be. 25:24 One day the earth will shake. 25:26 One day the buildings will tumble. 25:30 One day every mountain and island will be knocked 25:33 out of their places. 25:34 One day Christ will come. 25:37 And that is the great theme of every prophecy. 25:39 That is the great theme of every chapter 25:43 of the book of Revelation. 25:45 Revelation 1:7. Can you read it with me from the screen? 25:48 Let's read it together. 25:56 The eyes of the young, and the eyes of the old, 26:00 the eyes of the educated, and the eyes of the uneducated, 26:04 the eyes of South Americans, and the eyes of Africans, 26:09 and the eyes of Asians, and the eyes of North Americans, 26:14 and the eyes of men and women around the world 26:17 will see Him when He comes. 26:19 Now notice the Bible does not only say the righteous eyes 26:22 will see Him when He comes. 26:24 Notice what Scripture says. 26:31 Now every eye is every eye, because if every eye weren't 26:34 every eye it would be some eyes. 26:35 And some eyes aren't every eye, and every eye is 26:37 not some eyes, right? 26:39 Every eye will see Jesus when He comes. 26:42 He came as a babe in Bethlehem's manger once, 26:46 and only a few recognized Him. 26:48 When He comes again every eye is going to see Him. 26:55 Because in spite of earthquakes, in spite of tsunami disasters, 27:00 in spite of hurricanes, in spite of famines, and fires, 27:05 and floods, in spite of world-wide terrorism and 27:08 global warming, in spite of all of that Jesus Christ promises 27:15 that He will come again. 27:18 Every chapter in the book of Revelation describes this 27:23 glorious, amazing event of the coming of Christ. 27:28 In Revelation, Chapter 5, where you have the opening of 27:33 the seals, we notice again in Revelation, Chapter 5, that 27:40 it is really the introduction of the opening to the seals. 27:43 The opening of the seals comes a chapter later. 27:47 But in Revelation 5:13 you have this introduction to the 27:52 opening of the seals. 27:54 And notice how it ends. 27:55 The Lamb of God is opening the seals and He says, 28:08 Now notice there is praise to the One that sits on the throne. 28:13 This does not seem like victory to the Beast, does it? 28:17 This does not seem like victory for the evil one. 28:20 Here is the triumph of Jesus Christ. 28:24 Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be to Him who sits 28:28 upon the throne for ever and ever. 28:30 We come to Revelation, and we're looking there 28:33 at Chapters 6 and 7. 28:35 And as these seals are opened, after that introduction in 28:41 Revelation Chapter 5, you have four horsemen that 28:45 gallop across the earth. 28:47 There's the rider on the white horse, the rider on the red 28:52 horse, the rider on the black horse, 28:54 and the rider on the pale horse. 28:56 Now we're going to study these things in quite a bit of detail 29:01 as we come to the chapters in Revelation 29:09 regarding these horses. 29:12 So we're going to go over this in very, very specific detail. 29:16 But today here's what I want you to see. 29:19 I don't want to look at so much the details, but I want you 29:22 to see the end game, what's the end game. 29:24 In these chapters the white horse symbolizes the 29:29 purity of Christianity. 29:31 Then you go to the red horse; a blood stained faith. 29:33 The black horse a compromised faith. 29:36 The pale horse... We're going to study in detail later. 29:38 But I want you to see how this chapter ends. 29:41 Notice Revelation 7:14, 15. 29:44 These are the ones... So at the end of the seals, how does 29:48 this whole story end? 30:00 So whatever happens down through history in the 30:03 opening of these seals, no matter what happens in 30:06 persecution, no matter what happens in trial, 30:09 no matter what happens in difficulty, or heartache, 30:12 or sorrow something goes on. 30:14 Jesus Christ is triumphant. 30:17 Jesus Christ is glorious. 30:19 And at the end His people, who come out of great tribulation, 30:24 they serve Him day and night in His temple. 30:27 Here is the incredible good news: 30:30 Jesus wins, and Satan loses. 30:34 Here is the incredible good news: 30:37 Christ, indeed is triumphant! 30:40 Revelation, Chapter 8, Revelation, Chapter 9, 30:44 deals with the trumpets. 30:46 Somebody says, I've read those before. 30:48 I can't make sense out of those trumpets. 30:51 It seems like there is so much bloodshed, 30:54 and the earth is destroyed. 30:55 And I just don't, can't make any sense out of that at all. 31:01 Don't worry right now about the individual details. 31:04 Look at the end game. 31:06 How does this whole thing about the trumpets end? 31:09 Again, the theme is, Jesus wins, Satan loses. 31:13 Look, Revelation 11:15, at the end of the 31:18 trumpets it says this: 31:29 You see again, the book of Revelation is not some book 31:33 of mystic symbols, not some book of scary images, not some 31:38 book of beasts that frighten us. 31:42 Sure, those things are in Revelation, but the key theme 31:47 of Revelation is the triumph of the kingdom of God. 31:51 A number of years ago, when our son was just very, very 31:55 small, my wife took our son, Mark, to get a haircut. 31:59 While they were in the barbershop she noticed that 32:03 there was a man sitting in the barber chair 32:06 reading a newspaper. 32:09 As he was reading that newspaper he said, You know, the things 32:13 in the newspaper are scary. 32:14 You read about crime, you read about riots, you read about 32:18 terrorism, you read about global disasters. 32:21 You know, I almost can't even read the newspaper anymore. 32:23 It's just too scary. 32:25 The barber, young man, said, Hey Sir, you think the 32:30 newspaper's scary, you should try to read 32:33 the book of Revelation. 32:35 Because when you read the book of Revelation that will scare 32:40 you out of your wits. 32:41 I tried to read it the other night, and I saw those great 32:43 beasts, and all it did was frighten me. 32:46 And it scared me half to death! 32:48 My wife overheard that conversation. 32:50 She came back home and she said to me, 32:52 Mark, go get a haircut. 32:54 I said, But honey, what do you mean? 32:56 She said, The barber, he is interested in 33:00 the book of Revelation. 33:01 And if you go to get a haircut you can talk to 33:04 him about Revelation. 33:05 I said, Darling, do I really need a haircut? 33:08 She said, I don't know if you need a haircut or not, 33:09 but you'd better go down and talk to that 33:11 barber about Revelation. 33:13 So I went down. And she said, Now there are three barbers. 33:16 There's a woman on the right. 33:17 You don't want her. 33:18 There's a guy, old guy in the center. 33:20 You don't want him. 33:21 But there's that young guy with long hair. 33:23 He's the guy that was reading Revelation, 33:25 and he's quite scared about it. 33:26 Why don't you go and talk to him about Revelation? 33:30 So I went down; faithful husband, dutiful husband. 33:34 Went down and sat there, and I began praying, Lord, help me. 33:38 Help me to get the right barber. 33:39 The girl came to me and said, Sir, you're next. 33:41 I said, No, no, I'd like that barber over there. 33:43 Do you know him? No, but I've got a good recommendation. 33:45 The old guy comes; Do you want a haircut? 33:48 No, I want that guy over there. 33:50 So pretty soon I go; and I had been praying. 33:52 So I picked up the newspaper. 33:53 And I started reading the newspaper. 33:55 I read the newspaper. 33:56 Boy, you know sir, everything in the newspaper is scary. 33:59 I mean there's terrorism, there's global warfare. 34:02 And immediately the guy got a big smile and he said, 34:05 You should see Revelation! 34:07 I said, But you know what your problem is, you never read the 34:09 end of the book of Revelation. 34:11 And that's why it's scary to you, because you've never read 34:14 the end of the book of Revelation. 34:16 But you read the end of it, and the end of that book of 34:19 Revelation is an amazing book. 34:22 Revelation 11:15. Let's look at it again. 34:32 The barber said to me, Do you know anything about Revelation? 34:35 And I said, Oh, I've read it a few times. 34:37 I read the end of it. 34:38 And, you know, at the end of it there's no more sickness, 34:40 suffering, death, heartache, or war. 34:41 He said, Boy, that doesn't sound like the scary stuff. 34:45 He said, Would you share some things with me in Revelation? 34:47 And I said, I'll make an agreement with you. 34:49 You cut my hair free, and I will teach you 34:52 the Revelation free. 34:54 You say, Pastor, did you do that? 34:55 Well, you know, my pa... No, I'm teaching you a little bit. 34:57 But we had a good time with the barber. 34:59 He began coming to my home, and we began studying 35:02 the Bible together. 35:03 We looked at Revelation. 35:05 A new peace flooded into his life. 35:07 A new joy flooded into his soul. 35:09 It's amazing what Christ did in that man's life. 35:12 As I saw Jesus touch him... I had to travel a great deal, 35:16 so I'd loan him tapes, and DVD's, and tapes in those 35:20 days, but DVD's today. 35:21 We'd loan him DVD's, and he would look at the material 35:26 and he would be just so absolutely thrilled. 35:28 Eventually this barber came to Jesus Christ. 35:32 Eventually we saw him change his entire life. 35:36 And I had the privilege of seeing him go into the water 35:39 being baptized into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 35:42 You see, Revelation need not be a scary book to you. 35:45 Revelation is a book that's filled with hope. 35:48 Take Revelation, Chapter 13 and 14. 35:50 You say, Oh Pastor, don't go there! Don't go there! 35:53 You remember Revelation 13 and 14? 35:55 It says, And I... Revelation 13 starts this way: And I saw 35:59 another beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads 36:02 and ten horns, and upon his heads ten crowns, 36:05 and upon the crowns the name of blasphemy. 36:07 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, 36:08 his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth was like 36:11 the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, 36:15 his seat, and great authority. 36:17 And all the world wondered after the beast. 36:20 Pastor, the beast power of Revelation 13, isn't there some 36:25 place in the Bible that talks about an economic boycott, 36:28 where nobody can buy or sell? 36:29 Wouldn't you be frightened to live through that time? 36:32 Isn't there some place in the Bible that talks about 36:35 Revelation 13, that there's a death decree that's 36:39 going to be passed? 36:41 Pastor, doesn't that frighten you? 36:42 It depends where you're looking. 36:45 You see, if you're looking at all the problems of this world, 36:48 if you're looking at all the difficulties of this world, 36:51 if you're looking at all the heartaches of this world, 36:54 if you're looking at your weakness rather than Christ's 36:58 strength, if you're looking at your frailty rather than 37:01 Christ's enduring might, if you are looking at yourself 37:05 there is no way that you're going to get through that 37:08 great time of trouble. 37:09 But if you are looking at Jesus Christ; if your heart is 37:13 anchored in Christ... 37:15 You know, I love the way that Scripture puts it in Psalm 46. 37:22 God is our refuge and strength, a very help in what? trouble. 37:27 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 37:31 and the mountains carried into the midst of the sea; 37:33 Though the waters shake with the swelling thereof. 37:37 The streams thereof make glad the city of God. 37:40 God is in the midst of her; and she shall not be moved: 37:44 God shall help her, and that right early. 37:47 You see, the earth is going to shake. 37:50 There will be traumatic times ahead, but our God is greater 37:54 than any difficulty. 37:56 Our God is greater than any challenge. 37:58 Psalm 91, A thousand shall fall at thy side, 38:03 and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall 38:06 not come nigh thee. 38:07 Because He shall give His angels charge over thee, 38:10 that will keep thee in all thy ways. 38:13 Get your eyes off the trauma, get your eyes off the beast, 38:16 and put it on Jesus Christ. 38:18 Get your eyes off the time of trouble and focus them beyond 38:22 on Heaven, and the glory of Heaven, 38:24 and the glory of eternity. 38:25 As you do that new hope will fill your heart, new courage 38:31 will fill your life, new joy will fill your being. 38:34 It depends on where you're looking. 38:37 Looking at yourself there's only weakness and frailty. 38:42 Looking at others only will make you critical. 38:48 Looking at the trauma ahead, and the difficulty, 38:52 and the challenge... 38:54 You know, I've talked to some people, they have all these 38:56 sophisticated time charts, they talk all about these events 38:59 that are coming, and some of that is okay. 39:01 We need to be children of light and not children of darkness. 39:05 But if that is your focus instead of Jesus Christ, 39:12 you will feel such weakness, and fear. 39:15 I've had young people that say, I can't, I can't think about the 39:19 future because I'm so afraid. 39:20 Well, don't focus on it. 39:23 It's important to know what's coming. 39:26 Jesus said, You're children of light, 39:27 and not children of darkness. 39:29 But that is not our focus. 39:30 Our focus is on the strength that there is in Jesus Christ. 39:35 Revelation, Chapter 14, summarizes that message of the 39:40 beast power in Revelation 13. 39:42 And what happens at the end of Revelation 14:14, 15? 39:46 And here it is: 39:54 Now notice, I looked and behold a white cloud. 39:57 What does John say? 39:59 He says, I'm looking. 40:01 Not looking at the beast, not looking at an economic 40:06 boycott when no man can buy or sell, not looking 40:10 at the death decree. 40:13 Then I looked, then I looked, then I looked, and behold what? 40:18 a white cloud, and on the cloud One sat like the Son of man. 40:22 The living Christ is coming! 40:29 Crown indicates kingly authority. 40:32 Crown indicates the triumph of Jesus Christ. 40:41 Now what's a cycle all about? cycle used for harvest? 40:44 So this is harvest time, this is harvest time. 40:48 Jesus is coming. And in Revelation, Chapter 14, 40:51 you have two harvests. 40:52 In fact book, the whole book of Revelation is 40:54 a book of contrasts: You have the Lamb and the dragon. 40:57 You have two leaders: Lamb, dragon. 40:59 You have two signs: Seal of God, Mark of the Beast. 41:02 You have in Revelation two harvests: golden grain for the 41:07 garner of God, and glory grapes 41:09 to be tread out in His winepress. 41:12 You have two cities in the book of Revelation: 41:14 Jerusalem and Babylon. 41:16 You have in the book of Revelation these contrasts 41:20 that go through the entire book. 41:21 So here you have this final harvest where Christ comes 41:26 to gather the golden grain into the garner of God. 41:30 You have Christ comes to redeem His people. 41:45 Before the last days of earth's history, the gospel will go 41:49 to the ends of the earth, and Jesus Christ will harvest 41:53 the ends of the earth. 41:54 See every chapter in Revelation, when you go to Chapter 1, 41:57 He's coming with clouds. 41:58 Every eye is going to see Him. 41:59 You go to the end of the seven churches, in 2 and 3, 42:03 and there's judgment, and Christ comes. 42:06 You go to Chapters 4 and 5, and Christ is 42:09 the triumphant Lamb. 42:10 You go in Chapter 6, and 7, and 8, and at the end of 42:14 the Seals Jesus comes. 42:16 You go to the trumpets, and they're in 8 and 42:19 9, and Christ comes. 42:21 You go to 10, 11, and 12 and the kingdoms of this world 42:25 become the kingdoms of our God. 42:26 You go to Revelation 13, and 14 and 42:29 there's the great harvest. 42:30 Christ indeed comes again. 42:36 Jesus Christ has the last word. 42:40 That's what Ancient Discoveries is all about. 42:43 That's what Revelation's Ancient Discoveries is about: 42:46 the Christ who has the last final word. 42:55 seven last plagues? 43:03 It is done! It is finished! 43:07 Suffering and sorrow no more, chaos and calamity no more, 43:13 disease and disaster no more, want and worry no more, 43:19 poverty and pollution no more. 43:22 It is done! It is finished! 43:25 That's the great theme of Revelation. 43:27 We're going to study Armageddon in this series. 43:30 We're going to study the seven last plagues. 43:32 But here is the key thing; the key thing is God 43:36 is going to put an end. 43:37 He's going to put an end to sin, and heartache, 43:40 and suffering forever and ever. 43:42 Jesus is the King of Kings. 43:45 Jesus is the Lord of Lords. 43:48 Jesus will come again. 43:50 Now look friend, somebody says in the last 43:54 days we'll stand alone. 43:55 In the last days we may be rejected. 43:58 In the last days we may be isolated. 44:00 Well, Christ knows what it's like to be rejected, 44:03 because He was rejected, too. 44:05 In everything that we will go through Christ will be there. 44:10 In everything that we will experience, 44:13 Christ will experience it with us. 44:17 Many of you are aware that for a number of years I worked in 44:21 the former Soviet Union. 44:23 And there I met many, many believers; believers who 44:28 suffered fiercely for their faith; believers that really 44:34 were crushed by the evil power of Communism. 44:40 They were put in isolated prisons, sent to Siberia. 44:46 They suffered in the cold. 44:48 They were given crusts of bread to eat. 44:50 And although they were physically crushed, 44:54 and at times mentally faced agony and torment, 44:59 their spirits soared. 45:01 Why? Because the living Christ, in the most oppressive times 45:06 of their life was with them. 45:07 And we can have the confidence that Christ will be 45:11 with us in the drama. 45:12 One day the Earth will shake. 45:14 One day the heavens will be illuminated 45:17 with the glory of God. 45:19 One day the righteous dead will be resurrected. 45:22 I love what it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 45:26 For the Lord Himself shall descend from 45:28 heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, 45:31 with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 45:36 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up 45:39 together with them to meet the Lord in the air. 45:41 This is the great theme of the book of Revelation. 46:05 This is the great theme of the book of Revelation. 46:09 What are you going through right now? 46:13 Are there tears that run down your face? 46:16 Is your heart at times pierced with unusual sorrow? 46:22 Have you gone through trauma in your life? 46:25 Maybe the trauma of a divorce? 46:28 Have you known heartache and disappointment? 46:33 Here is Revelation's message for you. 46:37 Jesus Christ is coming. 46:39 And although in this life we may live through temporary 46:45 heartache, we may live through temporary sorrow, we may live 46:50 through temporary suffering and pain, 46:52 one day it's going to be over. 46:54 This life is like a brief interlude, 46:58 but eternity is coming. 47:01 And that's the incredible good news. 47:03 Jesus says, in Revelation 21:5, read it together with me please. 47:07 Behold, I make all things what? 47:09 Behold I make all things what? new! 47:15 There's a new life for you. 47:17 Jesus can give you a new peace right now. 47:21 Jesus can touch your life right now. 47:23 Jesus can give you a new joy for living right now. 47:27 Jesus wants to come into your life fully right now. 47:32 Because one day He will come again and take you to a land 47:38 where there's no more sickness, or suffering, 47:40 or heartache, or grief. 47:43 Some time ago, during the 2nd World War, Hitler's bombers 47:52 were flying over London. 47:55 Night after night bombing attack, after bombing attack, 47:59 after bombing attack. 48:01 The city was aflame. 48:04 The city was rumbling. 48:06 And there the bombs dropped on one home: 48:11 father, mother, children. 48:13 Everybody in that home was killed. 48:16 Everybody except the father and his little 48:22 seven year old daughter. 48:24 They both were incredibly traumatized. 48:27 And after that initial bombing, he took her into a bomb shelter. 48:33 They went deeply beneath the earth. 48:37 But there in that bomb shelter they heard the bombs, 48:43 and the earth was shaking, and the bombs were exploding, 48:47 and the little girl was incredibly afraid. 48:52 And she said, Daddy, hold my hand! 48:58 He held her hand and said, Honey, go to sleep. 49:01 She said, Daddy, I'm still afraid. 49:03 Daddy, hold my hand. 49:07 She said, Daddy, I can't sleep. 49:10 The bombs! Hold me tight, Daddy! 49:13 He held her hand. And she said, Daddy, 49:16 I still cannot sleep. 49:17 Daddy, turn your face toward me when you sleep. 49:24 And the father rolled over, took the girl's hand. 49:27 And she said, Daddy, I can sleep now, 49:30 because I'm looking into your face. 49:34 Friend of mine, when your life is shaking, when your life 49:39 is crumbling, when it seems your life is falling apart, 49:44 turn your eyes upon Jesus, and look full in His wonderful 49:51 face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim 49:57 in the light of His glory and grace. 50:02 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 50:05 Listen as Tim sings. 50:15 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 50:21 Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth 50:31 will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 50:48 Turn your eyes upon Jesus. 50:53 Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth 51:05 will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. 51:35 Thank you, Tim. Turn your eyes upon who everybody? 51:38 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and look full in His wonderful 51:46 face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim 51:53 in the light of His glory and grace. 51:58 In the book of Revelation that is the appeal that 52:05 Christ gives to you. 52:07 That's the appeal that Christ gives to me. 52:11 There may be somebody watching this telecast tonight 52:16 that you have never made that full, 52:20 total commitment to Christ. 52:22 And you may be wondering, How do I make that commitment? 52:27 You may be a church member, but your religious faith may be 52:32 very, very superficial. 52:34 You may be a church member, and prayer is no longer 52:39 meaningful in your life. 52:40 When you pray it's like your prayer goes up to the 52:44 ceiling and comes back. 52:45 You may be a church member going to church, but it's formal, 52:50 superficial religion. 52:52 The Bible no longer stimulates your heart. 52:55 It no longer moves your life, and you spend 52:59 little time studying. 53:01 There is a crisis coming. 53:03 And let me just open my heart to you. 53:07 If you don't know Christ, no matter what's up here in your 53:12 head, you're not going to get through the coming crisis. 53:16 The Devil's temptations are going to be so overwhelming, 53:21 the pressure to yield your faith is going to be so great, 53:25 the crisis that's coming is so enormous that there's absolutely 53:31 no way that you can get through that crisis without a vital, 53:36 living relationship with Jesus. 53:40 But you're saying, Pastor, how can I have that? 53:44 Jesus says, Come unto Me all you that are burdened and heavy 53:49 laden, and I will give you rest. 53:52 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek 53:56 and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your soul. 53:59 Matthew 11:28-30. 54:01 Jesus says in John, Chapter 6, Him that cometh to Me, 54:06 I will in no wise cast out. 54:08 Christ is inviting you right now, 54:11 wherever you are, to come to Him. 54:12 You say, What does that mean? 54:14 It means making a conscious decision of your will to simply 54:19 say, Christ, I am Yours. 54:21 I cannot save myself. 54:24 Only You can save me. 54:27 So, Jesus, I'm coming right now. 54:30 I'm simply coming. You can bow your head wherever you are. 54:35 Wherever you are in the world, you can bow your head right now. 54:38 If you know Christ, ask Him for a much deeper relationship 54:43 with Christ than you've ever had before. 54:45 Tell Him that superficiality is not going to do for you. 54:50 Tell Him that you want to come right now to Him. 54:53 If you've never accepted Him before 54:56 simply say, Jesus, I believe. 54:58 I believe that you lived and died for me, 55:03 and You can save me. 55:05 I believe that in Christ all my sins are forgiven. 55:08 I believe by Your grace I can be a new man, or new woman. 55:13 Jesus, I believe! Come right now as we pray. 55:21 Father in Heaven, thank You so much that the book of 55:27 Revelation is not a book of mystic symbols simply. 55:31 It's not a book of scary beasts simply. 55:35 It's not a book about end times simply. 55:39 Although it is all of that, and we will study that 55:43 in this Revelation's Ancient Discoveries series, 55:47 but Lord the book of Revelation is a book about Jesus. 55:51 It's a book about His glorious invitation to come. 55:56 And so My Father, we come, we come right now. 56:00 I'm praying for that person who's a Christian 56:03 who drifted away from You. 56:05 Touch them right now. 56:06 Speak to them right now. 56:08 Move on their heart right now. 56:10 I'm praying for that person that's never made 56:12 a decision for You. 56:14 They've happened upon this broadcast. 56:16 Move upon their life right now. 56:18 Give them a sense that we're going to face a tremendous 56:21 crisis, but that Jesus can get them through that crisis. 56:25 So, Father, I pray for them. 56:27 And I thank You, Lord, that as we go through this series, 56:30 Your truth will unfold, and we can walk with You, 56:33 and live with You forever, and ever, and ever. 56:36 In Jesus name, Amen. 56:38 Thank you for joining us for this Revelation's 56:43 Ancient Discoveries series. 56:45 As we go through this series, we will go through chapter 56:50 after chapter in the book of Revelation. 56:52 We will unfold exactly what the prophecies of Revelation teach. 56:58 You will discover new truths that are life changing, 57:04 and that are life transformational. 57:06 So stay with us as we journey through the book of Revelation, 57:11 and let Christ's peace, let Christ's joy wash over you, 57:16 and let the hope and thrill of the second coming of Christ 57:21 move your heart today, tomorrow, and forever, Amen. |
Revised 2018-02-13