Revelation
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 5th October 2014
Passage: Revelation 19:1-20:15
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 A Brazilian writer by the name of Fernando Sabino penned this somewhat famous phrase,
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:20 It's a phrase that's been used in a movie or two, a book or two, a TV show or two.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:26 It's also a quote that would not be completely out of place in trying to summarize the book of
00:00:26 --> 00:00:32 Revelation. That's how it's felt up to this point. Even in the sections that we've skipped over,
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 we've just jumped from chapter 12 to chapter 19, but all the bits that we've looked at and the bits
00:00:36 --> 00:00:42 we haven't looked at have made it really clear life is tough, but it won't always be that way.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:48 The church is under persecution. Christians are struggling. In fact, the whole of the scriptures
00:00:48 --> 00:00:55 up to this point resound with this cry of God's people, how long, O Lord? When will justice come?
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 When will you fix this? And then here in Revelation, over and over, there is the promise
00:01:00 --> 00:01:08 that justice is coming, that very soon God will make it right. And today, finally, in the second
00:01:08 --> 00:01:17 last scene of the book of Revelation, we reach that moment. But this scene doesn't open with the vision
00:01:17 --> 00:01:24 of an event. There is an event or two in there, but this vision that John sees here in chapter 19
00:01:24 --> 00:01:33 is actually a vision of identity rather than a vision of an event. As we get to this final act
00:01:33 --> 00:01:40 in history, we need to almost go back to the beginning. We need to look at Jesus again as he is,
00:01:40 --> 00:01:46 as he has shown himself to be, and as he will always remain. And so look with me at verse 11,
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 at this vision of Jesus, this timeless vision of Jesus.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:57 I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse whose rider is called Faithful
00:01:57 --> 00:02:04 and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are
00:02:04 --> 00:02:11 many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe
00:02:11 --> 00:02:17 dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white
00:02:17 --> 00:02:23 horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to
00:02:23 --> 00:02:28 strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury
00:02:28 --> 00:02:36 of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written, King of Kings
00:02:36 --> 00:02:44 and Lord of Lords. This is a description of who Jesus is. It's true that he does things that qualify
00:02:44 --> 00:02:52 him and justify these titles, but this picture is Jesus in his glory and splendor. He is the victorious
00:02:52 --> 00:02:59 king. He is the victorious one who rides in on the horse. The one who has already won the battle against
00:02:59 --> 00:03:04 Satan on the cross. The one who has already done what needs to be done, and the one who already now
00:03:04 --> 00:03:11 sits on the throne in heaven and will forever sit on the throne in heaven. Before we get to the end,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:20 we must remember who Jesus is. He is the king who reigns with all power and authority and majesty.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:28 For the church of the first century suffering fierce persecution, and for our church suffering the daily
00:03:28 --> 00:03:38 temptation towards apathy or laziness or compromise, for all of us we must be reminded that the struggles we
00:03:38 --> 00:03:46 face, the battles we engage in daily, are just the fading evidence of an already beaten resistance,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:53 because the victorious king is on the throne now. Before we worry about what comes next,
00:03:54 --> 00:04:02 John begins, God begins, by revealing Jesus to us again. Jesus will not make some late arrival that
00:04:02 --> 00:04:08 will suddenly turn the tide of the church's battle in history. He is not the warrior waiting for
00:04:08 --> 00:04:16 just the right moment for the final showdown. He is on the throne now. He has sufficient authority
00:04:16 --> 00:04:23 and power now. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords. He is the one who judges. He is the one
00:04:23 --> 00:04:30 who will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God almighty. He is king now.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:39 And having seen Jesus, now we get to the event. Now we get to the finish line. Now we get to the
00:04:39 --> 00:04:45 final battle. But it's not much of a battle. I don't know if you noticed this, but the battle is
00:04:45 --> 00:04:51 actually over before it even begins. Listen to what the angel says in verse 17. John sees the angel
00:04:51 --> 00:04:55 standing in the sun and the angel cries out in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair,
00:04:56 --> 00:05:01 come gather together for the great supper of God so that you may eat the flesh of kings,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:06 generals and mighty men of horses and their riders and the flesh of all people free and slave,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:13 small and great. Come gather together for supper. There is about to be a whole army laid waste,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:17 a feast for the birds. But the armies haven't even gathered for battle yet.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 So far all we have is the angel predicting what's going to happen when the army does gather for
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 battle. In a second the armies will gather in opposition to God. The kings of the earth and
00:05:28 --> 00:05:33 those who have opposed God will gather together for battle. But this angel is already confident
00:05:33 --> 00:05:38 that this is not a battle. The outcome is already decided. Before the battle takes place,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:45 he invites the birds to feet on the spoils. Because listen to how it plays out. Verse 19,
00:05:46 --> 00:05:50 I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against
00:05:50 --> 00:05:59 the rider on the horse and his army. But, so the scene is set for an epic showdown between good and evil.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:08 But verse 20 kind of, it's an anticlimax. The beast was captured. With him the false prophet who had
00:06:08 --> 00:06:13 performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he deluded those who had received the
00:06:13 --> 00:06:18 mark of the beast and worshipped his image. The two of them are thrown alive into the fiery lake of
00:06:18 --> 00:06:23 burning sulfur. The leadership of these armies that would oppose God are beaten before the battle can
00:06:23 --> 00:06:29 happen. And the armies that remain in verse 21 are killed with the sword that came out of the mouth
00:06:29 --> 00:06:36 of the rider on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. No sooner has this
00:06:36 --> 00:06:44 apparent opposition to God and to Jesus' kingship gathered as an army to face off with Jesus as they
00:06:44 --> 00:06:49 are defeated. The beast is thrown into the lake of fire. The false prophet, their representative of
00:06:49 --> 00:06:55 Satan, they are thrown into the lake of fire. There is no power for Satan when he stands in the
00:06:55 --> 00:07:03 presence of a victorious king, Jesus. And everyone else in this battle is cut down by the word of God.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:10 Cut down by the sword that comes out of Jesus' mouth. There is no battle here. All there is,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:19 is the exertion of authority and power that Jesus already has. The battle was fought when Jesus came to
00:07:19 --> 00:07:25 earth the first time. The battle was fought at the cross. And so Jesus uses the authority and power
00:07:25 --> 00:07:30 that he was given when he rose from the dead. We looked at this last week in chapter 12. He was
00:07:30 --> 00:07:35 snatched up to heaven. He sits on the throne now with the name above every name, with authority to rule
00:07:35 --> 00:07:44 and to judge. And so he exercises that authority which he already has. The end of time will not be a battle
00:07:44 --> 00:07:50 between Jesus and Satan. It will be the final destruction of an already defeated enemy in the
00:07:50 --> 00:07:57 devil. It's there again in chapter 20. John's kind of tells this story in two sequences, if you like.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:03 In chapter 20 and verse 7, we get the same thing using different words. When the thousand years are
00:08:03 --> 00:08:08 over, we're going to come back to that. But when the thousand years are over, Satan will be released
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:17 Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Gog and Magog are just cities out of the old. It's a person
00:08:17 --> 00:08:21 and a city out of the Old Testament that fought against God's people, Israel. So it's just
00:08:21 --> 00:08:26 representative. Satan's going to go out and gather anybody who doesn't call Jesus their Lord and
00:08:26 --> 00:08:32 gather them for an apparent battle with the king. It says, in number, they're like the sand on the
00:08:32 --> 00:08:36 seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:42 the city he loves. So the tension is building. This numerous army that is too numerous to
00:08:42 --> 00:08:49 count is gathered in opposition to Jesus as king. They are led by Satan himself. But again,
00:08:50 --> 00:08:58 anti-climax. Have a look at it. Verse 9. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:08 There is no battle. Those who oppose God will be destroyed. Verse 10. The devil who deceived
00:09:08 --> 00:09:12 them was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur where the beast and the false prophet had been
00:09:12 --> 00:09:22 thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever. The nations are gathered, same as they
00:09:22 --> 00:09:27 were in chapter 19. They're deluded by Satan into thinking that there is some possibility that they
00:09:27 --> 00:09:34 can rule themselves, that they can oppose Jesus. But there is no battle. There is no victory for those
00:09:34 --> 00:09:41 who would work to undermine the rule and reign of Jesus. Even as they surround the people of God,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:49 they are destroyed. It's the same scene described twice. It's the final showdown between Jesus and
00:09:49 --> 00:09:56 his enemy, but it's not really a showdown. It is the inevitable conclusion to the victory that
00:09:56 --> 00:10:03 Jesus won on the cross. Satan has been defeated. The battle has already been won.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:10 I don't know that that many of us take a whole lot of interest in the rugby league state of origin.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:15 I personally don't, and I'm thankful that my Bible study group doesn't because it meant we could still
00:10:15 --> 00:10:19 have Bible study on Wednesday nights for a few weeks earlier in the year. But I remember this year's
00:10:19 --> 00:10:23 state of origin, it struck me as strange that they needed to play a third game.
00:10:23 --> 00:10:28 You know, given it was the first time New South Wales had won in nine years, and maybe they wanted
00:10:28 --> 00:10:34 to savour the moment. But it's a best of three series. So once you've won two games, the third
00:10:34 --> 00:10:41 one seems a little bit redundant. But they did play a third game, and something strange happened,
00:10:41 --> 00:10:47 because in that third game, Queensland won quite convincingly. But at the end of the game,
00:10:47 --> 00:10:55 New South Wales was awarded a trophy. And Queensland was looking somewhat dejected and forlorn, having
00:10:55 --> 00:11:02 ended a nine-year winning streak. And approaching that final game, there may have been a sense of
00:11:02 --> 00:11:07 hope. There may have been a sense that there is a chance for victory, but actually the outcome
00:11:07 --> 00:11:13 was already decided. It didn't matter what happened in that last 80 minutes of football,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:17 the trophy would be awarded to the team that had already won the victory, that had already done
00:11:17 --> 00:11:23 what needed to be done to win the trophy. And in the same way, we may look at life and feel like
00:11:23 --> 00:11:28 God is on the losing side at the moment. We may feel like we are on the losing side at the moment.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:32 We may feel like Satan is taking all this ground in our lives and in our cities and in our world,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:39 but we need to understand that the victory has already been won. When we get to the end of time,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:43 it doesn't matter what happens between now and then, you can be assured that the victor will
00:11:43 --> 00:11:50 receive the crown and the victor is Jesus. When he died on the cross and rose again, Satan was emptied
00:11:50 --> 00:12:00 of his power. His greatest weapon, death, was defeated. And so Jesus is already exalted.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:08 His rule and his reign aren't open to challenge. They are established and they will be established
00:12:08 --> 00:12:17 forever and ever. Let me tell you why this is incredibly good news. Because the victory that
00:12:17 --> 00:12:25 we long for in life, the freedom from sin and temptation, the freedom from sickness, the freedom
00:12:25 --> 00:12:34 from death, the freedom from Satan is inevitable. Because the battle has already been won.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:42 No matter how much you struggle, no matter how many times you stumble, our hope is certain.
00:12:44 --> 00:12:51 Because it's already won. Because the fight has already taken place. Because Jesus is already
00:12:51 --> 00:13:02 on the throne. Because of the cross, what we hope for is inevitable. One day Jesus will return
00:13:02 --> 00:13:05 and bring the justice that we so desperately desire.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:12 This week, when I was working on this sermon, I, for a break, went for a wander down the road
00:13:12 --> 00:13:17 and ended up in a shop buying a pair of jeans. It's amazing what you do to procrastinate when
00:13:17 --> 00:13:22 you're struggling. While I was in there buying a pair of jeans, I was just chatting with the girl who
00:13:22 --> 00:13:28 was selling them and taking my money from me. And she asked me innocently enough,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:33 have you got much planned for the weekend? Now, as an Anglican minister, that's an open goal.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:39 So I just casually said, oh, weekends are pretty busy for me with work. And she kind of let it go
00:13:39 --> 00:13:45 for a sec and then said, oh, what do you do? After I told her I was an Anglican minister, she didn't
00:13:45 --> 00:13:51 believe me at first. But eventually said, okay, fair enough. Doesn't seem to be joking.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:56 And we ended up having a conversation for quite a while. She asked me a question, what's the
00:13:56 --> 00:14:01 difference between Catholic and Christian? Do you actually believe Jesus is real? You know,
00:14:01 --> 00:14:05 are you allowed to get married? Is your wife a Christian? Does it affect the way you raise your
00:14:05 --> 00:14:10 kids? All these questions over and over and over. But the main question that stuck with me was,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:16 does believing that there is more than this life give you hope now?
00:14:16 --> 00:14:24 I had some fantastic answers about five minutes later. But in the moment, I fumbled out something
00:14:24 --> 00:14:32 like absolutely. I struggled to elaborate, but I knew I wanted to say yes, and I wanted to say it
00:14:32 --> 00:14:39 strongly. So I said, absolutely. It is really tempting for us, even as we wade through a book like
00:14:39 --> 00:14:45 Revelation, to get excited about the finish line that God is painting for us. And it is exciting.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:52 But we've got to understand that the hope that he gives us is not just about the future. It's a hope
00:14:52 --> 00:14:59 that transforms now as well. As we get to this end point of Revelation, and as we see what is the
00:14:59 --> 00:15:05 final scene, we know this is the final scene because Satan is being defeated and cast into the lake of
00:15:05 --> 00:15:10 fire forever. He will not come back from there. This is the light in the sand where Jesus is making
00:15:10 --> 00:15:19 things right. As we have our eyes lifted to that glorious destination, there is still the need for
00:15:19 --> 00:15:26 a pastoral word. There is still the need for us to wrestle with the reality of pain and suffering
00:15:26 --> 00:15:35 and doubt because we're not there yet. As exciting as this picture is, we've got to admit that sometimes
00:15:35 --> 00:15:40 we're not that excited. As much as we want to get there one day, we are easily distracted.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:47 And so we come to chapter 20, which I believe is a pastoral word for the first century church,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:52 but for us as well. Now, before we go into this section, I want to acknowledge that chapter 20
00:15:52 --> 00:15:56 verses 1 to 6 are some of the most confusing verses that I've come across in scripture.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:02 Lots of people who love Jesus have different opinions about what is really going on here.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:07 I read a lot of commentaries and had a lot of people tell me different things.
00:16:08 --> 00:16:12 Throughout generations, people have argued about this and people have used this passage
00:16:12 --> 00:16:16 in some really unhelpful ways, but I want us to focus on what's the key here.
00:16:17 --> 00:16:23 A quick reminder, when we read prophecy, which is what Revelation is, we need to remember that
00:16:23 --> 00:16:29 it's highly symbolic. What that means is these are pictures which point to realities,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:36 not pictures of reality. It's a subtle difference, but it's important. So when we look at chapter 9
00:16:36 --> 00:16:42 and verse 11 and we see Jesus depicted as a rider on a white horse, that seems normal enough. So we go,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:49 he must be riding a horse. But that's not the point. The symbol is that he is victorious. That's why he's
00:16:49 --> 00:16:56 riding a horse. The symbol is he's pure and holy. That's why he's dressed in white. They're symbols that
00:16:56 --> 00:17:02 point to truth. The blood on him is pointing us to the blood that he shed, which was the means by which
00:17:02 --> 00:17:08 he won the victory over Satan. It is symbolic. And so when we look at this passage in front of us,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:15 we need to try and wade past the getting stuck on details and understand what is Jesus trying to say
00:17:15 --> 00:17:21 to us? What is this vision trying to point us to? And I think there is a clear emphasis.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:27 We see Satan bound at the beginning of chapter 20. And I think that's pointing us back to what
00:17:27 --> 00:17:33 Jesus achieved on the cross. Last week, we saw him cast out of heaven and being effectively bound
00:17:33 --> 00:17:37 and limited. I believe that's what's going on there. But then it shifts in verse 4. And this is
00:17:37 --> 00:17:44 where the pastoral word comes in, I believe. Verse 4 says, I saw thrones on which were seated those who
00:17:44 --> 00:17:50 had been given authority to judge. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their
00:17:50 --> 00:17:56 testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshipped the beast or his image
00:17:56 --> 00:18:01 and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with
00:18:01 --> 00:18:07 Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:14 This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:20 The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign
00:18:20 --> 00:18:26 with him for a thousand years. Now, we've got to remember that this letter, this book of Revelation
00:18:26 --> 00:18:36 was first written to a first century church, to a martyr church, to a church that was very familiar
00:18:36 --> 00:18:43 with its members being killed simply for trusting in Jesus. We have a much more comfortable version of
00:18:43 --> 00:18:48 what it is to be God's church. But even today, our experience of being a Christian is the exception
00:18:48 --> 00:18:54 rather than the rule. God's church faces opposition in the world and this church, when it was receiving
00:18:54 --> 00:19:01 these words, knew what it was to have their brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers and husbands and
00:19:01 --> 00:19:07 wives and children killed for refusing to bow down and worship the Roman Emperor.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:17 The victorious vision of Jesus in chapter 19 rubs with that experience. The idea that he is riding in to
00:19:17 --> 00:19:25 restore all things rubs against the experience of burying a loved one. Maybe it even rubs against your
00:19:25 --> 00:19:33 experience of following Jesus now. It rubs against the times where you fail in temptation again and again.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:40 It rubs against the times where you doubt God's faithfulness, where you wonder whether or not he could
00:19:40 --> 00:19:50 really love you. And so again, God wants to remind us, as we look at the end and it may seem distant,
00:19:52 --> 00:20:02 remember, God will vindicate his people. Although they are dying, although they're being tossed aside
00:20:02 --> 00:20:09 and treated like they are nothing and worthless, they will reign with Christ in victory and authority.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:18 God will not forget those who trust in him, who remain faithful to him. He is taking the hope of
00:20:18 --> 00:20:26 future and transforming the present with it. Those who have lost loved ones, those who may face death
00:20:26 --> 00:20:31 themselves, are being reminded that your hope means death is no longer to be feared.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:36 Don't fear the first death, Jesus encourages us in Luke's gospel.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:42 Fear the one who can throw body and soul into hell.
00:20:43 --> 00:20:49 When we trust in Jesus and our eternity is secure, there is nothing to fear in this life.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:55 Because our end remains secure.
00:20:56 --> 00:21:01 The victory of the cross and its future benefits give us hope now.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:08 Not just an idea, not just something to look forward to, but it redefines our experience now.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10 It redefines our reality now.
00:21:10 --> 00:21:14 So that even as we suffer, even as we find difficulty in life,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:18 we have a hope that is stronger than anything life can throw at us.
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 Stronger even than death.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:24 Christian hope allows us to see the right finish line.
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 And it's not our death.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 Because that will come for everyone.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:33 It is what is talked about in these last few verses here.
00:21:33 --> 00:21:39 One of the things that I like to do, although I'm liking it less and less the older I get,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 is running.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 It tricks me into thinking that I'm sort of healthy
00:21:43 --> 00:21:46 and that maybe I'll get even healthier.
00:21:47 --> 00:21:51 And occasionally, when I run, because I'm in so much pain
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 and just thinking this is ridiculous, why did I do this?
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 I play mind games with myself.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58 And so I create finish lines that I have to get to
00:21:58 --> 00:22:01 and then I give myself permission to walk or to have a break.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 One day I got particularly ambitious
00:22:03 --> 00:22:06 and I decided that I would run to Gordon and back.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:09 For those playing at home, it's about 10k.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 I was feeling extra ambitious,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 so I thought I would do it on the other side of the train line,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:16 which basically goes like this, from here to Gordon.
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 The problem with this is,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:22 you can only see as far as the top of the next hill.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:26 And so in agony, I would start my way up a hill thinking,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 this must be the last one.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 If I just get to the top of here, I'll be at Gordon
00:22:30 --> 00:22:33 and then I can have a break and turn around and come back.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 And it must have been seven or eight times
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 that I was absolutely devastated to discover
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 that there was another hill.
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 The downhill didn't soften the blow
00:22:41 --> 00:22:43 of knowing that there was more work to come.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:48 When we have the wrong finish line in view,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 we will only be disappointed.
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 Because as I got to the top of each hill,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 I'd achieved what was my goal,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 but it wasn't actually my goal
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 because the real finish line was getting to Gordon
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 and then getting back.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 A danger for us as Christians
00:23:03 --> 00:23:06 is we get distracted by right now.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 We get distracted by the reality of death
00:23:10 --> 00:23:12 and think that it's the finish line.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:15 And so we think that everything
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 that's going to satisfy us
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 and make us happy
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 has to be achieved between now and that line.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 And so we try things,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:25 we grab things that we think will make us happy,
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 and the reality is we're disappointed
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 because it's not where we're going.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 It's not what we were designed for.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 It's not the end point.
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 It's not the finish line.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:38 Our hope for eternity gives us the ability
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 to see that the true finish line comes
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 when we face God.
00:23:42 --> 00:23:45 Physical death will be a reality for all.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 But Jesus says,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 do not fear those who can only harm the body.
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 Fear the torment of eternal judgment
00:23:56 --> 00:24:00 because that is the finish line for everyone.
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 Have a look with me at verse 11.
00:24:03 --> 00:24:07 These are some scary and difficult verses to read.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 Having seen the final victory,
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 having seen Satan cast into the lake of fire,
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 John sees this.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:19 I saw a great white throne
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 and him who was seated on it.
00:24:22 --> 00:24:24 Earth and sky fled from his presence
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 and there was no place for them.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 And I saw the dead, great and small,
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 standing before the throne
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 and books were opened.
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 Another book was opened,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 which is the book of life.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 The dead were judged
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 according to what they had done
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 as recorded in the books.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 The sea gave up the dead that were in it
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 and death and Hades gave up the dead
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 that were in them
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 and each person was judged
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 according to what he had done.
00:24:46 --> 00:24:48 Then death and Hades were thrown
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 into the lake of fire.
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 The lake of fire is the second death.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:57 Everyone will face God's judgment.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 The good and the bad.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:03 King, slave, small, great, man, woman,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 all will stand before God
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 and give account for the lives they have lived,
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 the good and the bad.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 Did you catch there?
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 Earth and sky disappear.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 There will be nowhere to hide.
00:25:17 --> 00:25:20 Those who have died are brought back
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 from the sea and death and Hades
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 and then those places are destroyed.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 Remember, this is symbolic.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:25 The point is,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 there is nowhere else except for
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 in front of the judgment seat of God.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 Everything that exists
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 and everything that has ever existed
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 will stand and be held accountable
00:25:35 --> 00:25:37 for the lives that they have lived.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 This is a scary thing to talk about.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:46 Judgment is a word that we try and avoid as Christians.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 We avoid it in a room like this
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 even when we're among friends.
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 We especially avoid it
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 when that helpful non-Christian friend
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 asks whether or not we think they'll be judged.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 We like to water down that possibility.
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 We like to step around it.
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 And there's a rightness to that
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 because there is a gravity of this
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 that we must understand.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:12 This judgment is final.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:16 This judgment is an eternal fork in the road.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 It's the difference between
00:26:17 --> 00:26:20 eternal delight in heaven with our maker
00:26:20 --> 00:26:23 or eternal torment.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:31 This is the finish line
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 which should dictate how we run.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 This is the finish line
00:26:35 --> 00:26:37 that should dictate how we live.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 This is the great equaliser.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor.
00:26:40 --> 00:26:44 all will stand and face their creator.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 It's good and right
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 that we feel the weight of that.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 Especially for those of us
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 who have loved ones
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 who we know right now
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 are on the wrong side of that ledger.
00:26:58 --> 00:27:02 It's good and right
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 that there is something to be feared.
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 Judgment is scary.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 Unless
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13 verse 15
00:27:13 --> 00:27:17 if anyone's name was not found
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 written in the book of life
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 he was thrown into the lake of fire.
00:27:20 --> 00:27:26 If your name is in the book of life
00:27:26 --> 00:27:29 judgment is not to be feared.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 It might be embarrassing
00:27:31 --> 00:27:34 as your life and your deeds
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36 are made public and laid bare
00:27:36 --> 00:27:39 but if you have placed your trust
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 in the death and resurrection of Jesus
00:27:41 --> 00:27:43 then your name is in the book of life.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:48 And this will not be your finish line.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 This will be your entry
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 into heaven.
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 Our judgment
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 is in no way based on the good or bad
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 that we've done
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 even though they're going to be there
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 and they're going to be in the books
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 the difference between the lake of fire
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 and eternal delight in heaven
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 is one thing.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 Those who have their name
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 written in the book of life.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:16 And so if you are trusting Jesus
00:28:16 --> 00:28:19 then judgment is not something to be feared.
00:28:19 --> 00:28:22 It's something to be excited about.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 It's something to be anticipated.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:28 Even as we wrestle now
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 with the pain of people in our lives
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 who don't know Jesus
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33 and this is all of my family right now
00:28:33 --> 00:28:37 my brothers, my sisters, my mum, my dad
00:28:37 --> 00:28:41 we must understand
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 that even in these few verses
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 there is incredible hope
00:28:45 --> 00:28:48 because it doesn't matter
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 what they have or haven't done
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 to this point.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 It doesn't matter
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 what they will or won't do
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 from this point forward
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 all that matters
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 is that they accept
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 the offer of Jesus
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 to forgive them
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 and wash them
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 and have their names
00:29:01 --> 00:29:03 written in this book of life.
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 So long as there is breath in them
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 there is hope
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and there is opportunity.
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11 And if you're sitting in this room tonight
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13 and you hear about judgment
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 and it is something that scares you
00:29:14 --> 00:29:17 I want to encourage you
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 that Jesus invites you
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 to trust him
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 so that judgment
00:29:19 --> 00:29:21 is not scary but exciting
00:29:21 --> 00:29:24 because judgment
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 becomes the beginning
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 of heaven
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 for those whose names
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 are in the book of life.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 This is the final act.
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 What we see
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 as we jump into the next chapter
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 and we're going to next week
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37 is that the new heaven arrives.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 And so this judgment
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 is actually a part
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 of God preparing
00:29:42 --> 00:29:44 a perfect eternity for us.
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 This is an essential part
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 of God removing
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 all that is sinful
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 and sick
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 and all that is opposed to him.
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55 This is a necessary part
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 of God fulfilling
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 all his promises to us.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 This is part of God
00:30:01 --> 00:30:03 giving us all that we have hoped for
00:30:03 --> 00:30:05 and all that he has promised.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08 This final judgment
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 will mean the end
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10 of the old way of things
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 and the beginning
00:30:10 --> 00:30:12 of God's perfect
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 new creation.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 And so if you believe
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 that Jesus died
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 to forgive your sins
00:30:17 --> 00:30:19 then the idea of judgment
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 is not something
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 to be shy about
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 or nervous about.
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 It's not even something
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 to be afraid of.
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 It's something
00:30:26 --> 00:30:27 to look forward to
00:30:27 --> 00:30:29 because it marks
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 the beginning
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 of heaven for you.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:34 It marks the arrival
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 of everything
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 that God has promised
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 and everything
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 that you could ever want.
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 This passage
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 in Revelation
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 is the moment
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 that we've been building
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 to the whole way
00:30:46 --> 00:30:46 through this book.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 We've had little glimpses
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 of heaven on the way through.
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 We've seen the lamb
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 on the throne.
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 We've seen the churches
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 gathered around.
00:30:52 --> 00:30:54 We've had these little bits
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 of excitement
00:30:54 --> 00:30:56 but now as we're getting
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 to the end
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 John is no longer
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 having to look
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 from earth to heaven
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 because heaven
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 has come to earth.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 Earth and sky
00:31:02 --> 00:31:03 have been destroyed.
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 Justice has come.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 The finish line
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 is in view
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 and it is inevitable.
00:31:09 --> 00:31:10 Jesus' final,
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 complete,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 full,
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 glorious victory
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 is here
00:31:13 --> 00:31:18 and it's not scary.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 Everything will be
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 okay in the end
00:31:23 --> 00:31:25 and if it's not okay
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 then it's not the end.
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28 It's not a bad
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 summary of Revelation
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 but it probably
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 doesn't do it
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 justice really.
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 Everything will not
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 be okay in the end.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 Everything will be
00:31:36 --> 00:31:38 perfect in the end.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:40 Everything will be
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 beyond our deepest
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 desires and hopes.
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 God's perfect creation
00:31:47 --> 00:31:49 for all eternity.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 And so maybe
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 a better summary is
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 that picture in
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 chapter 21
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 and verse 1.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 Then I saw
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 a new heaven
00:31:59 --> 00:32:01 and a new earth.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 That's the summary.
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 That's where we're going to.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 That's the point
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 of all of this.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 Everything that we've
00:32:07 --> 00:32:07 looked at
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 is that that is
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 the guaranteed
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 finish line
00:32:10 --> 00:32:10 for those who know
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 Jesus.
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 A new and better
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 heaven and earth.
00:32:13 --> 00:32:15 A new and perfect
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 heaven and earth.
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 That is our hope.
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 So that means
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 right now
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 as you suffer
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 you know
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 that it will not
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 last forever.
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 That means that
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 right now
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 as you face
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 difficulty
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 and hardship
00:32:26 --> 00:32:26 you know
00:32:26 --> 00:32:27 that there is
00:32:27 --> 00:32:27 nothing that
00:32:27 --> 00:32:28 anybody can do
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 to you
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 that will take
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 away what is
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 best
00:32:31 --> 00:32:31 and that is
00:32:31 --> 00:32:32 your eternal
00:32:32 --> 00:32:33 home in heaven.
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 What a hope
00:32:36 --> 00:32:37 we have
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39 in this king
00:32:39 --> 00:32:40 who rides
00:32:40 --> 00:32:40 the white horse.
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 What a hope
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 we have to share
00:32:43 --> 00:32:44 with those
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 who don't yet
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 know it.
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 You don't have
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 to do anything.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:50 You just
00:32:50 --> 00:32:52 have to trust
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 this king.
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 What a hope
00:32:55 --> 00:32:55 we have
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 to rest
00:32:56 --> 00:32:57 on no matter
00:32:57 --> 00:32:58 what life
00:32:58 --> 00:32:58 throws at us.
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 Because the
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 victory is won
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 and the end
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 is inevitable.
00:33:07 --> 00:33:08 Let's pray.
00:33:17 --> 00:33:18 Father God
00:33:18 --> 00:33:19 we want to ask
00:33:19 --> 00:33:19 that you would
00:33:19 --> 00:33:22 help us
00:33:22 --> 00:33:24 help us
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 as we
00:33:25 --> 00:33:25 struggle
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 help us
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 as we
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 doubt
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 help us
00:33:27 --> 00:33:27 as we
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 feel the
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 pain
00:33:28 --> 00:33:28 of those
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 around us
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 who don't
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 yet know
00:33:30 --> 00:33:30 you.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 Help us
00:33:32 --> 00:33:32 as we
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 deal with
00:33:33 --> 00:33:34 persecution
00:33:34 --> 00:33:34 in our
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 own life
00:33:35 --> 00:33:35 as we
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 deal with
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 temptation
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 as we
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 deal
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 with
00:33:37 --> 00:33:37 failure.
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 Help us
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 to understand
00:33:41 --> 00:33:42 that it's
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 not a
00:33:42 --> 00:33:42 battle
00:33:42 --> 00:33:43 that can
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 be
00:33:43 --> 00:33:43 lost.
00:33:46 --> 00:33:46 That you
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 have won
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 the victory
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 irreversibly
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 and all
00:33:51 --> 00:33:51 we await
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 is that
00:33:52 --> 00:33:52 final
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 ceremony
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 that final
00:33:54 --> 00:33:55 celebration
00:33:55 --> 00:33:58 our
00:33:58 --> 00:33:59 eternal
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 home.
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 Father if
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 there are
00:34:04 --> 00:34:04 people in
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 this room
00:34:05 --> 00:34:05 who don't
00:34:05 --> 00:34:06 yet know
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 the hope
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 that we
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 have been
00:34:07 --> 00:34:08 talking about
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 who don't
00:34:08 --> 00:34:08 know what
00:34:08 --> 00:34:09 it is to
00:34:09 --> 00:34:10 be forgiven
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 who don't
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 know what
00:34:11 --> 00:34:11 it is to
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 feel safe
00:34:12 --> 00:34:13 even in
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 that final
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 judgment
00:34:14 --> 00:34:17 I pray
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 that right
00:34:17 --> 00:34:17 now
00:34:17 --> 00:34:20 you would
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 give them
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 the assurance
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 that you
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 have forgiven
00:34:22 --> 00:34:22 them in
00:34:22 --> 00:34:23 Jesus.
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 I pray
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 that you
00:34:26 --> 00:34:26 would give
00:34:26 --> 00:34:27 us boldness
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 to speak
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 about the
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 hope that
00:34:29 --> 00:34:29 is in
00:34:29 --> 00:34:30 you.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 Protect
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 us from
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 being timid
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 or shy
00:34:33 --> 00:34:35 or apologetic.
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 May we
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 boldly declare
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 that there
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 is a finish
00:34:40 --> 00:34:40 line for
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 all creation
00:34:41 --> 00:34:44 but that in
00:34:44 --> 00:34:44 you there is
00:34:44 --> 00:34:45 the offer
00:34:45 --> 00:34:45 of life
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 and forgiveness
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 for more
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 than just
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 now.
00:34:53 --> 00:34:53 Father
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 thank you
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 so much
00:34:55 --> 00:34:55 for Jesus.
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 Give us
00:34:57 --> 00:34:58 this vision
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 of Jesus
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 this vision
00:35:00 --> 00:35:00 of our
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 King
00:35:01 --> 00:35:01 victorious
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 and powerful
00:35:02 --> 00:35:05 and may
00:35:05 --> 00:35:05 it release
00:35:05 --> 00:35:06 us to live
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 lives of
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 peace
00:35:07 --> 00:35:08 and joy
00:35:08 --> 00:35:09 and hope
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 that bring
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 all glory
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 to you.
00:35:12 --> 00:35:13 In Jesus
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 name we
00:35:13 --> 00:35:13 pray.
00:35:14 --> 00:35:15 Amen.
00:35:15 --> 00:35:27 We have had
00:35:27 --> 00:35:27 a great
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 challenge
00:35:28 --> 00:35:30 placed before
00:35:30 --> 00:35:30 us in
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 the end
00:35:31 --> 00:35:31 here.