Revelation
Speaker: Sam Low
Date: 18th October 2014
Passage: Revelation 22:1-21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 Believe it or not, today is our final message in Revelation, at least for this round.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:06 We'll probably get back to it at some point.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:07 It's a pretty good book.
00:00:08 --> 00:00:13 But this 13-week series is finally drawing to an end, and some of you might be breathing
00:00:13 --> 00:00:14 a sigh of relief.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:18 Some of you might be really upset because you've enjoyed being in the one book for an
00:00:18 --> 00:00:22 extended period, and some of you don't remember the conversation you just had, let alone sermons
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 from a week or 13 weeks ago, so you've got no idea what I'm talking about.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:33 But the fact is, tonight is the last installment in our trip through Revelation for the last
00:00:33 --> 00:00:33 13 weeks.
00:00:33 --> 00:00:39 And so it's really important for us, as we jump into this last scene, that we realize
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 what it is that's drawing to a close.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:49 This book of Revelation is not just a 13-week sermon outline that Jesus gave to John so that
00:00:49 --> 00:00:52 we would have something to do for this particular set of 13 weeks.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 It's a revelation.
00:00:54 --> 00:00:55 It's a vision.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 It's a prophecy.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:57 It's a unit.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:03 And so we need to, as we draw to the close, be mindful of everything that's gone before.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 All 13 weeks, plus the 12 and a half chapters that we didn't actually get to deal with in
00:01:07 --> 00:01:08 detail.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:12 So there is a lot that we need to try and squash back into our minds.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:18 You need to remember the wonder and the amazement and the encouragement and maybe the fear as
00:01:18 --> 00:01:18 well.
00:01:18 --> 00:01:23 All the different things that God has pushed into your mind and heart over the last 13
00:01:23 --> 00:01:27 weeks because that ride is about to come to an end.
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 Revelation is about to finish.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:35 And it almost feels a bit like that feeling you get when holidays is over.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:38 It doesn't matter how amazing your holiday was.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:41 It doesn't matter how refreshing it was laying on the beach and doing nothing.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44 It doesn't matter how fantastic or how long it was.
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 The moment you turn back into your street or back into your driveway, it's like it just
00:01:48 --> 00:01:51 fades away into the distance and reality comes racing back.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:52 I've got to go to school tomorrow.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 I've got to get up and go to work in the morning.
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57 I've got to get up and make lunches for the kids tomorrow.
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 Whatever it is, reality comes racing back into focus.
00:02:01 --> 00:02:07 And so as this vision ends, we need to focus and be aware of everything that's gone before.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:13 What I want you to try and do is I want you to do your best to imagine that you are John,
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15 to put yourself in his shoes.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 So you're being shown this vision by an angel.
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 You're being given a sneak peek into eternity.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:26 You're seeing things that are true from the past, things that are true now, things that
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 will be true in the future.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:30 And you are being amazed again.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:33 You're being encouraged again as God's love is put on display.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 You're being reminded that Jesus is victorious.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 You're being encouraged to stand firm in the trials that are coming.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:46 And this amazing encounter is about to finish.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 It's about to come to an end.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:56 Now, last week, sorry, we looked at essentially the finale, if you like, of the book of Revelation.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59 There's a lot of pressure when you get to a finale because we have expectations.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 The finale needs to tie it all together, needs to finish things.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:08 And you know when you're reading a book or a series of book or watching a series of TV shows,
00:03:08 --> 00:03:12 you've got certain things that you want to be achieved when you get to the finale.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:17 And if they're not, you kind of feel like it was a letdown or maybe there's another series coming
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 and it's not the last event.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:24 And so the finale of Revelation, which isn't just the finale of Revelation, it's the finale of the whole Bible.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:26 It's the finale of all of human history.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 There's a lot of pressure for this to finish neatly.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 I mean, I don't know if you guys have seen the last Harry Potter, but it's like it was supposed to pull it all together.
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38 Harry was supposed to defeat Voldemort and all that sort of stuff.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 But, you know, it's obvious that deep down, I can't remember the lady who wrote its name,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 but she knew that people would be asking the question, what happens next?
00:03:46 --> 00:03:50 And so you've got that really strange, weird scene where we pretend that they've suddenly grown up 30 years,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:54 even though they look exactly the same, and they have little kids running around.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:58 And it's a bit of a letdown because the finale didn't achieve its purpose.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 And so it had to go weird at the end to pretend that it was all finishing neatly.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:08 But the good news is, Revelation didn't disappoint us when we got to the episode in chapter 21.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 In fact, if anything, it was better than we were hoping for.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 Even as we looked through Revelation and saw that the victory was won,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 even when we saw Jesus on the throne,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:21 even when we were encouraged that there would be vindication for his people,
00:04:21 --> 00:04:27 you couldn't have begun to imagine just how good the picture was going to be when you got to chapter 21.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:33 This glorious heavenly city comes down and God dwells with his people.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 There is no more pain.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 There is no more tears.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 The shadow of death has been removed.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:46 Sin and Satan and temptation and failure are no longer a part of our experience as God's people.
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 There is a city with no sea and no night.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51 It is perfect in every way.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 It is beautiful beyond description,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 so it requires strange imagery that we looked at last week.
00:04:58 --> 00:05:02 It's apparently a cube city with jewels and pearls for gates
00:05:02 --> 00:05:07 and we know that those are images trying to explain to us that it is immeasurably beautiful,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 that it is immeasurably large,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 that there is room for all those who would come in
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14 and most importantly, that when we get there,
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 every injustice will be righted.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:28 Every Christian will be vindicated, washed clean, adopted and perfectly satisfied living in the presence of God.
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 I mean, you could not have asked for more.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 God has fixed everything that was wrong
00:05:34 --> 00:05:37 and in chapter 22 in these first few verses,
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 the image just keeps rolling out and getting better and better.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:44 I mean, the big problem with our existence on this earth is death.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 It's the issue that we struggle with in everything.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 It's the thing that we try and avoid.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 It's the thing that we fear.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 It's the thing that drives us.
00:05:52 --> 00:05:55 And yet, chapter 22 opens with these amazing words
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 to describe the future city that God has prepared.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 In verse 1,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:10 Life is flowing in this new city.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 There is no death.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15 Life is flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:15 And then verse 2,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 Down the middle of the great street of the city,
00:06:18 --> 00:06:20 on each side of the river stood the tree of life.
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 There is no death in this city.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:26 There is only life coming from the great source of life,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 our Saviour Jesus.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 There's something really, really clever here
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 that God has done in this image.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:34 The word that is used for tree here
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 when it talks about the tree of life
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 is not the word that you would normally use for tree.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:44 It's a word that kind of refers to a dried piece of wood
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 or a bit of wood that's been removed
00:06:46 --> 00:06:49 that might be used to build something like a cross.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 It's the same word that the New Testament uses in other places
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 to describe the tree that Jesus was nailed to.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 If you think back to the Garden of Eden
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 and the apparently perfect picture there,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 you've got trees, you've got fruit,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 and you've still got that here,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 but there's something extra going on with this tree of life.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 The tree of life in the eternal city
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 is the cross of Jesus.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 The source of life, the defeat of death,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:22 all flows from the death and resurrection of Jesus.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 This future city will be life.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 Life will flow through it.
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 Night will be removed.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:34 And the shadow of what Jesus has achieved
00:07:34 --> 00:07:36 will mean that we live forever.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 It removes the curse.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 It deals with the issue.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 Have a look at verse 3, just this first sentence.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:48 Just let it sit for a second.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 No longer will there be any curse.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 In this new city where death is removed,
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 so is every problem that we have faced
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 in our experience, in our existence.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:02 If you go right back to the beginning of the Bible
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 in Genesis chapter 3,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 when Adam and Eve get it all wrong,
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 when they reject God
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 and they try and take His place as being in charge,
00:08:09 --> 00:08:09 what happens?
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 Everything breaks.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 Friction is introduced.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 Opposition is introduced.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 Our relationships become broken
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 and damaged and painful.
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 Our interaction with the creation that we live in
00:08:21 --> 00:08:23 becomes difficult and a struggle.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:24 And most importantly,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:28 our ability to have an unhindered relationship
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 with the God who made us
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 is removed.
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 And when we get to this city,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:40 every part of that curse is dealt with.
00:08:41 --> 00:08:43 Our relationships will be restored.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 There will no longer be jealousy
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 or spite or unforgiveness
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 or selfishness or hurt.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 Our struggles in our day-to-day life,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 that feeling of,
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 I don't want to get up today,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:54 I can't be bothered.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:55 None of that.
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 There will only be joy
00:08:57 --> 00:08:59 as we fulfill tasks
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01 that God will have for us
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 in the new creation.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 But most importantly,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:09 we finally get to have access to God.
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 It says in verse 3,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 There will no longer be any curse.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17 The throne of God and of the Lamb
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 will be in the city
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 and His servants will serve Him.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:19 And this bit,
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 really important,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:22 they will see His face
00:09:22 --> 00:09:25 and His name will be on their foreheads.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 The first thing that Adam and Eve did
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 in Genesis
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 when they realized
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 they'd done the wrong thing
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 was they hid
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 from God's presence.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:36 They feared to be in God's presence.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 There was shame.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 They knew they'd done the wrong thing.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 But the reality was
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 God in His perfection
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 became dangerous
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 to sinful people
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 like Adam and Eve.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 And that's ultimately why
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 He removed them from the garden
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 and their relationship
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 was given distance
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 so that they would not be destroyed.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 So there was a chance
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 of restoration.
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 And we read this incredible thing
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 in Exodus chapter 33
00:09:58 --> 00:10:01 when Moses is leading God's people.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 And Moses is like the guy.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 He's got like special,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:05 you know,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 direct access to God.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 And he cries out
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 and he says to God,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 let me see your glory.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 So show me your glory.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 And God's response is,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:17 I will hide you
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 and walk past you
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 and give you just a sneak peek
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 of my back
00:10:21 --> 00:10:23 because if you see my face
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 you will die.
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 Now remember,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 Moses is like the top of the top
00:10:28 --> 00:10:30 of God's people at this point.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 There is no one better.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 There is no one more chosen.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:35 Yet for him to see God's face
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 would mean being destroyed
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 because God is that holy
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 and that perfect
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 and even Moses has no right
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 to stand face to face
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 with the God of heaven.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 And yet,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:51 in the finale,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 in the end,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:56 those who bear the name of Jesus
00:10:56 --> 00:11:00 will see God face to face.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:03 you will have access
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 to the one who spoke
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06 the earth into being.
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 I mean,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 it's hard for us to comprehend
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 just how different this city,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 this future eternal existence
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 is going to be
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15 because our lives
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 are so tainted
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 by sin and rebellion
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 and this will be perfect.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 This will be absolutely perfect.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 Heaven will be the fulfillment
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 of every good thing
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 that God has promised,
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 every blessing
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 that has been held back,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 every curse removed,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 every relationship restored
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 and we will get to see
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 God face to face.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 No more wondering
00:11:40 --> 00:11:40 what he thinks.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:41 No more wondering
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 what he's like.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:43 No more wondering
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 if he loves us.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:47 We will have direct access
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49 to our great heavenly father.
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 And we are told
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 that his servants
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 will reign with him
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 forever and ever.
00:11:55 --> 00:11:58 no more being
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 on the sideline,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 no more missing out,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 no more being oppressed
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 because we follow
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 a saviour that is
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 mocked and ridiculed.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 We will be vindicated.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 We will reign with him.
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 We will celebrate
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 and share in his victory.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16 The glory of this finale
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 of this image
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 is almost overwhelming.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 If you just reflect
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 on it a little bit,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 if you just grab
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 one issue
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 that is in your life
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 right now,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 it is resolved here.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 The thing that is
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 causing you
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 the most pain
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 and grief
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 in your life
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33 right now,
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 it is resolved here.
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 And not just made okay.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 It is perfectly
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 restored.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Restored.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 Whether that is
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 physical,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 emotional,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50 perfectly restored.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53 But now,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 the vision is over.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 John is still
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 in exile
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 on the island
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 of Patmos.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 We still have
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 to go to work
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 or school tomorrow
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 or do our normal
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 day-to-day lives.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 And suddenly,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 those circumstances
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 come screaming
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 back into focus.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 Now that the vision
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 is over,
00:13:15 --> 00:13:15 it might feel
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 a little bit like
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 you've just arrived
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 home from holiday.
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 The angel gives
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 John a little sign
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 off.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 These words
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 are trustworthy
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 and true.
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 He says,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 you can trust these
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 because Jesus
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 is the one
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 who sent me
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 with this message.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 But then you've
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 got to ask the question,
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 what do we do
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 with this vision?
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 Now that our
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 day-to-day experience
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 comes back in
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 and we're not
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 just sitting here
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 drunk on the excitement
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 of how fantastic
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 it's going to be,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 what do we do
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 with this book?
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 What do we do
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 tomorrow as we
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 struggle?
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 What do we do
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 the next day
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 as we struggle?
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 What's the point
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 of all of this?
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 One of the
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 interesting things
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 I find in my role
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 is that I kind of
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 live in between
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 adults and kids
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 in my role
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 here at church.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 So I get to kind of
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 hang out with all
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 the different age groups
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 and get to talk
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 about Jesus with them
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 and I love
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 the different ways
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 that we express
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 what we understand
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 from the Bible.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 And so if I was
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 to talk with many
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 of you about
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 the book of
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 Revelation,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 we would find
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 it quite difficult
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 to sort of
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 summarize it,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 to bring it down
00:14:17 --> 00:14:17 into a neat
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 little package.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 There's so much
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 in there,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 so many images
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 and we want
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 to kind of
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 make sure
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 we've ticked
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 all the boxes
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 and included
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 everything.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 And so we might
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 be a little bit
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 nervous about
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 a task like that
00:14:26 --> 00:14:26 but I love
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 that if I went
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 to kids church
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 next door,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 they could probably
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 give me a one-word
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 answer and that
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 would be exactly
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 correct.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 They might not
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 know they were
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 correct,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 they might just
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 be reaching for
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 the answer that
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 they know is
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 probably correct
00:14:37 --> 00:14:39 but they would
00:14:39 --> 00:14:39 probably be right.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 They know that
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 when you get
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 asked a question
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 by somebody
00:14:44 --> 00:14:44 at church,
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 the answer is
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 probably Jesus.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:47 If not,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 it's Bible
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 but Jesus is
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 always good to
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 start with.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 But I pray
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 they never grow
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 out of that.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 I pray that
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 we never grow
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 out of that
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 because that
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 is the point,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 that is the
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 summary.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 for 13 weeks
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 the main
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 character
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 has been
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 Jesus.
00:15:09 --> 00:15:09 For every
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 chapter in
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 scripture
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 the main
00:15:11 --> 00:15:11 character
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 has been
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 Jesus
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 and in
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 this final
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 city,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 this eternal
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 future,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 the main
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 character
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 is still
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Jesus.
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 I don't know
00:15:19 --> 00:15:19 if you remember
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 chapter 1,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 John is given
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 this vision
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 of Jesus
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 amongst his
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 churches,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 blazing like
00:15:25 --> 00:15:25 fire with a
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 sword out of
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 his mouth,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 speaking words
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 like a rushing
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 wind,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 this picture
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 of a glorious
00:15:31 --> 00:15:31 Jesus.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 In chapters
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 4 and 5
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 the Lamb
00:15:35 --> 00:15:35 Jesus is
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 on the throne
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 and all
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 of the heavenly
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 hosts gather
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 round,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 bow down
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 and worship
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 him,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:40 crying out
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 holy,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 holy,
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 holy is
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 the Lamb
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 who was
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43 slain.
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 In chapter
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 12 it's
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 Jesus who
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 is exalted
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to the throne
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 having defeated
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 Satan and
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 cast him out
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 of heaven.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 In chapter
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 19 it's
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 Jesus who
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 arrives on
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 the white
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 horse as
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 the victorious
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 king.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 And here
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 in chapters
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 21 and
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 22 it's
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 the throne
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 of God
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and the
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 Lamb Jesus
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 who is in
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 the city.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:05 It is his
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 presence,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 it is his
00:16:07 --> 00:16:07 blood that
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 has washed
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 us clean
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 and given
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 us access
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 to this
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 great city.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 It is all
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 about Jesus.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 And just to
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 make sure that
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 we don't miss
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 this point,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 Jesus interrupts
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 John reflecting
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 on this great
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 vision that
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 he's just
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 seen.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 Verse 7
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 Behold I
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 am coming
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 soon.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 It's not the
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 angel talking
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 anymore,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 it's not the
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 angel pointing,
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 Jesus' voice
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 cuts through
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 and says
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 I am
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 coming soon.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 Blessed is
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 he who
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 keeps the
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 words of
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 the prophecy
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 in this
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 book.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 It's all
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 about Jesus.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 Now there's
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 a really
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 strange little
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 verse that
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 comes up
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 here which
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 I think is
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 there for
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 our encouragement.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 I don't
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 know if you
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 noticed it
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 when Jase
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 was reading
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 it out but
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 this is
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 the end.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 This is
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 like victorious,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 this is no
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 more Satan,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 this is no
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 more issue,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 no more
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 sin,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 this is
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 everything
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 should be
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 fantastic but
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 this is the
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 Harry Potter
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 as a dad
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 moment in
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 the finale.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 Have a look
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 at verse 8.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 I John
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 am the one
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 who heard
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and saw
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 these things.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 I John
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 am the one
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 who saw
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 this incredible
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 vision of
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Jesus and
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 so what
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 does he
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 do?
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 And when
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 I had
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 heard and
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 seen them
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 I fell
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 down to
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 worship at
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 the feet of
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 the angel
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 who had
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 been
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 showing
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27 me.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 It's
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 all about
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 Jesus.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 It's not
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 about the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 angel but
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 John the
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 disciple.
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 The first
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 thing he
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 does having
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 seen this
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 glorious victorious
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 picture of
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 Jesus is
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 bow down to
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 an angel.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 The angel
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 corrects him.
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 He said to
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 me,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:49 do not
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 do it.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 I am a
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 fellow servant
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 with you and
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 with your
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 brothers the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 prophets and
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 of all who
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 keep the
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 words of
00:17:55 --> 00:17:55 this book
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 worship God.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 That's the
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 point.
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 It's all
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 about Jesus.
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 It's showing
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 us who he
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 is.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 It's showing
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 us his
00:18:03 --> 00:18:05 infinite worth,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 his unique
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 worth that he
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 alone is to
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 be worshipped.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 But I think
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 this little
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 strange John
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 episode,
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 remember this
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 is the end.
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 It should be
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 all neat.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 This should be
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 the point where
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 John gets it,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 where it clicks
00:18:18 --> 00:18:18 and it makes
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 sense and he
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 worships Jesus
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 but he
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 fails
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 spectacularly.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 I believe
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 that Jesus
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 includes this
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 little bit for
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 us so that
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 we might
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 understand a
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 little bit of
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 what it's
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 like to live
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 between seeing
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 this vision
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 and fully
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 experiencing it
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 when he
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 comes back.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 Having just
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 heard the
00:18:38 --> 00:18:38 words,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 I'm coming
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 soon,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 John is
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 trying to
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 deal with
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 the hope
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 and his
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 reality and
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 he fails.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 And so
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 often great
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 hope and
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 great encouragement
00:18:49 --> 00:18:51 like this are
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 followed by
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 temptation and
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 failure,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 are followed
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 by distraction.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 If you think
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 of the
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 disciple Peter
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 when Jesus
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 is in
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 Gethsemane,
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 he is the
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 first one to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 jump to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Jesus'
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 defence,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 showing his
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 colours,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 how committed
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 he is,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 he pulls
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 his sword,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:08 but just
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 moments later
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 he denies
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 Jesus three
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 times.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 I can think
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13 in my own
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 life of times
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 where I have
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 gotten up to
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 speak of
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 the incredible
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 grace of
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 God,
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 which in
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 no way
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 depends on
00:19:20 --> 00:19:20 anything that
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 I could or
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 couldn't do
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 and which is
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 an open
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 invitation for
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 absolutely
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 anybody to
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 come to
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 Jesus,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:28 and literally
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 moments later
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 be standing
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 chatting to
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 somebody and
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 internally judging
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 the things that
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 I'm hearing.
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 It is a
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 difficult reality
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 for us that
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 we are still
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 in the battle.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 As glorious
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 as our hope
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 is, we are
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 still in the
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 battle and
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 there is
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 encouragement
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 here.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 This vision
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 was given
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 to John
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 not because
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 of who
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 John is,
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 he's just
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 like us,
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 but because
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 our God
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 is gracious
00:19:54 --> 00:19:57 and that
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 same grace
00:19:57 --> 00:19:59 forgives John
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 in this
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 moment,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 sets him
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 back on his
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 feet and
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 points him
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 in the right
00:20:03 --> 00:20:03 direction,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 worship Jesus.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 And as we
00:20:07 --> 00:20:07 struggle and
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 fail in our
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 lives, the
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 same grace
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 that called
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 us and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 showed us
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 Jesus will
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 forgive us
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 and pick us
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 up and
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 strengthen us
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 to keep
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 going.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 Worship him
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 alone.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 That's what it
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 means to keep
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 the words of
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 this prophecy.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 It means you
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 see Jesus as
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 one who is
00:20:25 --> 00:20:25 worthy of
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 your worship,
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 who is worthy
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 of your
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 allegiance,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 who is worthy
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 of your
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 commitment,
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 who is worthy
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 of your
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 service,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:31 who is worthy
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 of your
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 whole life.
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 That's what
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 it's all
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 about.
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 This vision
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 isn't necessarily
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 a specific
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 description of
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 how it's
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 going to
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 happen and
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 what it's
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 going to
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 look like.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 the end
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 in
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 revelation
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 is a
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 person.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 It's
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 Jesus.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 When we
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 get to the
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 end, we
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 will see
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 him fully.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 That's what
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 will make it
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 the end.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 Jesus says,
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 I'm coming
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 soon, so
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 worship me
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 alone.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 He says
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 again,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 verse 12,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 behold, I
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 am coming
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 soon.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 Three times
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 he makes
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 it clear,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 I am
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 coming
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 soon.
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 So get
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 excited.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 Revelation
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 coming to
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 an end is
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 not the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 end of
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 your
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 holidays.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 It's
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 Christmas
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 Eve.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 The point
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 is to
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 tell you
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 that something
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 amazing is
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 just around
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 the corner.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 You know
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 that feeling
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 on Christmas
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Eve.
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 It happens
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 here when we
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 gather for
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 church, the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 11pm
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 service.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 Little plug,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:33 Christmas Eve
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 11pm is
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 really exciting
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 because you
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 know that if
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 church runs
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 long enough,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 it's Christmas
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Day and you
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 can go home
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 and open a
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 present.
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 I remember
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 as a kid
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 wanting to
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 pester my
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 parents,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 come on,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 can I open
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 one, can I
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 open two,
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 can I open
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 three, can I
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 just open a
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 couple of
00:21:47 --> 00:21:47 presents the
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 day before.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 Christmas Eve
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 is all about
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 the anticipation
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 and the
00:21:51 --> 00:21:51 excitement and
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 the expectation
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 of what is
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 to come.
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 Jesus says
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 in verse 12,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 behold, I am
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 coming soon.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 He's whetting
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 our appetite.
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 my reward is
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 with me and I
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 will give to
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 everyone according
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 to what he has
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 done.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 I am the
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 alpha and the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 omega, the
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 first and the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:10 last, the
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 beginning and
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 the end.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 Blessed are
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 those who
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 wash their
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 robes that
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 they may have
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 the right to
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 the tree of
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18 life and may
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 go through the
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 gates into the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 city.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 If you are
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 trusting Jesus,
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 revelation should
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 be making you
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 excited because
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 Jesus is coming
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 soon.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 and when he
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 shows up,
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31 everything that
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 we have seen
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 in these last
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 two chapters
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 comes with
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 him.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 Perfection,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 complete
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 forgiveness,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 access to our
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 heavenly father
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 face to face.
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 I'm coming
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 soon so get
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 excited.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:46 excited.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 I want to say
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 that if the
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 vision that we
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 have been given
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in these chapters
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 is not something
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 that's appealing
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 to you, is not
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 something that's
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 exciting, I want
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 to challenge you
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 to look again.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 I understand
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 it's imagery, it's
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 prophecy, it's
00:23:04 --> 00:23:07 not just plain, but
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 I want to challenge
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 you that if it's
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 not exciting, you
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 need to look
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 again.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 If you're being
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 distracted by the
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 angels in your
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 life like John
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 was or if you're
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 busy bowing down
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 to comfort or
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 security or a
00:23:18 --> 00:23:21 career or
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 whatever else, it
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 just means you
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 need to look
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 again.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 You need to
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 look at Jesus.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 You need to
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 understand who
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 he is and how
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 worthy he is and
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 how good he is and
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 how satisfying he
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 is and you need
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 to start getting
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 excited for what
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 is to come.
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 The whole
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 Christian life is
00:23:41 --> 00:23:43 a response to
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 Jesus.
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 That's why this
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 book is such an
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 incredible gift.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 That's why this
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 is the way it
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 finishes.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Because then we
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 will see him
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 fully and in the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 light of that
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 complete revelation
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 we will be
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 released to live
00:23:57 --> 00:23:57 the lives that we
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 were made to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 live.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 But even now in
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 the battle we
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 need to look
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 again at Jesus.
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 He is the
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 motivation for us
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 to live the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 Christian life.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 The incredible
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 love and grace
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 and forgiveness
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 that he has
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 shown us are
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 motivation when
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 we're struggling.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 But more than
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 that he is the
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 power for you
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 to live the
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 Christian life.
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 He is the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 power that
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 forgives you by
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 his blood so
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 that you can be
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 washed clean so
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 that you can have
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 access to the
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 tree of life.
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 His spirit at
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 work in you is
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 the strength to
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 convict you and
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 grow your heart to
00:24:30 --> 00:24:30 love him as he
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 deserves.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:34 All of being a
00:24:34 --> 00:24:34 Christian is about
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 fixing your eyes
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 on Jesus and
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 having your heart
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 respond to him.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 It has nothing to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 do with how strong
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 you are, how
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 disciplined you
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 are, how good
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 you are.
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 It's all about
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 him.
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 There's this
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 amazing couple of
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 verses there in
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 verse 17.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 The spirit and the
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 bride say come.
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 Having gotten this
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 vision of Jesus,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 even the Holy
00:25:01 --> 00:25:03 Spirit says come.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 The Holy Spirit is
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 getting excited.
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 He anticipates the
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 glorious city.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 And let him who
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 hears say come.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 Let anyone who
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 hears these words
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 and begins to see
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 Jesus in his glory
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 say come because
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 it's good news.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 Whoever is thirsty,
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 let him come.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 And whoever wishes,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 let him take the
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 free gift of the
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 water of life.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 Jesus says I am
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 coming soon and he
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 means it.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 But in his
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 incredible grace and
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 sovereignty, that
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 little gap that he
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 has given us
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 between the
00:25:41 --> 00:25:43 vision and his
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 arrival is an
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 invitation for
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 whoever wishes.
00:25:49 --> 00:25:51 Whoever wants to
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 be in that city
00:25:52 --> 00:25:52 can come.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 Whoever wants to
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 know forgiveness
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 and joy and
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 peace and
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 perfection and
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 satisfaction can
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 come and take the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 free gift of the
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 water of life.
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 love.
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 We've got to
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 understand the
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 hope that we
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 have is an open
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 offer to anyone
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 who would come.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:15 It's not a hope to
00:26:15 --> 00:26:17 be apologized for.
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 When we can speak of
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 the kind of
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 perfection that is in
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 these pages, don't be
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 embarrassed about it.
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 Every issue that
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 anyone on this
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 earth is dealing
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 with right now will
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 only be fully and
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 finally dealt with in
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 heaven.
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 We can tell
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 people about that.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 We can point them
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 to the solution in
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 Jesus.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 There is nothing to
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 be sorry for or
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 shy about.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:49 Jesus says, I am
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 coming soon.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:55 And with him comes
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 his kingdom, this
00:26:57 --> 00:27:00 perfect creation, and
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 a perfect relationship
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 with God.
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 If you're struggling
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 now, hear the
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 words of Jesus, I'm
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 coming soon.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 If you're going
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 great and life is
00:27:16 --> 00:27:19 fantastic, hear the
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 words of Jesus, I'm
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 coming soon and with
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 me comes something
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 better.
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 If right now you're
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 feeling pretty
00:27:26 --> 00:27:28 apathetic, hear the
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 words of Jesus.
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 Jesus says, I'm
00:27:30 --> 00:27:32 coming soon.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 Jesus says, he's
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 coming soon.
00:27:43 --> 00:27:45 Three times.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 He means it.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 Are you ready for
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 when he comes?
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 Are you excited for
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 when he comes?
00:27:56 --> 00:27:58 Jesus says, I'm
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 coming soon.
00:27:58 --> 00:28:01 Are you living now in
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 light of this image of
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 Jesus?
00:28:04 --> 00:28:06 In light of the king, the
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 risen one, the saviour?
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 Are you living now in
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15 anticipation of
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 perfection?
00:28:17 --> 00:28:19 Jesus says, I'm
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 coming soon.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:23 Amen.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:25 Come, Lord Jesus.