Vision of Eternal Rest
Series: Vision of All Things
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 5th December 2020
Passage: Revelation 21:1-22:5
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Good morning all. Great to be with you again on church and online.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:07 Just let me add one more thing.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 This is effectively the close off of Vision 2020
00:00:11 --> 00:00:15 and what an amazing journey it's been.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:21 Someone who's been with us that whole time has been Nick and Sam.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:22 They've both been with us that whole time.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 And it's quite appropriate that today is their last day
00:00:26 --> 00:00:30 before they take seven weeks of long service leave
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 at the end of Vision 2020.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 So thank you guys. Thank you for serving us.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 In the next seven weeks, may you experience rest
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 as we launch into looking at eternal rest now.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:49 Let me pray as we begin.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 Gracious God, thank you for Nick, for Sam, for Isla, for Juddy.
00:00:53 --> 00:00:56 Thank you for their contribution to our church life.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 And I pray that these next seven weeks for them
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 will be a glimpse of heaven.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:05 I pray that they will drink deeply from you,
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 that they will experience rest as a family
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 and especially rest for their souls in you.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:15 So Lord, refuel them for the next stage of ministry.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:17 And as we launch into your word now,
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 give us a vision, a clear vision of the end.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 And I pray, Lord, that our hearts will beat,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 that adrenaline will course
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 as we look forward to the day coming.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:31 Amen.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:37 And so as we close off Vision 2020
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 and as we close off Revelation
00:01:39 --> 00:01:41 and our time of celebration,
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 we start looking to the future
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45 as we've already started to do.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 I want to begin today by,
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 as I've done on numerous occasions in the past,
00:01:52 --> 00:01:54 drawing our attention to the life
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 of one of the greatest philosophical thinkers,
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 one of the sharpest political minds,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 one of the most quoted individuals
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 and widely respected entertainers
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 of the past 100 years.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 Arnold Schwarzenegger was born
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 the son of a low-ranking Austrian police officer
00:02:16 --> 00:02:19 and he was destined to be a nobody
00:02:19 --> 00:02:22 until his hands wrapped around a barbell
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 for the very first time.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:26 By the age of 18, he was traveling the world,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:31 competing in bodybuilding championships.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 And at one point, he's living in England
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 and his coach, Wag Bennett, said to him,
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 Arnie, what do you want to do with your life?
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 And Wag said Arnold's response
00:02:46 --> 00:02:50 was phenomenal for an 18-year-old.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53 He said, I want to be the richest
00:02:53 --> 00:02:55 and the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 I want to live in the United States.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 I want to be an actor, a movie director.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 I want to own an apartment block
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 and I want to have a political career.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10 18 years of age,
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 he saw the vision of the future
00:03:13 --> 00:03:18 and that vision controlled his day-by-day actions.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 One training partner,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:27 living and in fact working with Arnie at that time,
00:03:27 --> 00:03:31 said that Arnold was so focused on his future
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 that on one occasion,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:36 we were doing reps with masses amounts of weight
00:03:36 --> 00:03:42 and he said, I did one more than Arnie.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 And he said, Arnie looked at me and said,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46 you'll never ever do that again.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 And he said, no matter how hard I tried,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51 no matter how much training I did,
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54 I could never beat him from that moment.
00:03:57 --> 00:03:58 He knew what he wanted,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:01 wasn't distracted,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:03 he saw the future
00:04:03 --> 00:04:05 and he went for it.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:11 You see, whatever we think the future is,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 it will determine
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 how we live in the present,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 whether you're an atheist or a Christian.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:24 Your future determines how you live.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 So I want us to focus today,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:30 Revelation 21, 22,
00:04:30 --> 00:04:33 on a rock-solid certain future hope
00:04:33 --> 00:04:37 that should control how we live right now.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:39 As I said last week,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 Revelation was not given to us
00:04:41 --> 00:04:44 to satisfy our curiosity about things in the future,
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 but to open our eyes.
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 It's there to prod us
00:04:49 --> 00:04:52 to become awake to the reality of what is
00:04:52 --> 00:04:56 and to stimulate and reform actions in our lives.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 It opens our eyes to the Christian worldview.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 The crucified, resurrected Jesus
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 is the one who reigns in heaven.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 His people suffer on earth with joy
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 while being threatened and seduced
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 by the powers and cultures of its day.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 God, however, is in control
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 throughout the chaos of history
00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 and he has determined
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 and he will come again
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 to judge all of humanity
00:05:23 --> 00:05:25 and Christians are therefore called
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 to remain faithful to Jesus
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 and the good news about him
00:05:29 --> 00:05:31 as we wait for his return
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 to wind up history
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36 and to bring us into his perfect presence forever.
00:05:37 --> 00:05:40 Last week, we saw the destruction of Babylon,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43 Babylon, the city which represents
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 the representation of idolatrous human societies
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 in all their forms
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 which are set against the creator God.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 By the end of chapter 20,
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 all evil is dealt with and judged
00:05:56 --> 00:05:59 and as we launch into chapters 21 and 22,
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 we're introduced to a new city.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:06 And we'll notice a number of contrasts
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07 between the two cities of Babylon,
00:06:07 --> 00:06:08 the prostitute,
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10 and Jerusalem, the bride.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:13 Babylon seduced and corrupted the nations
00:06:13 --> 00:06:17 but Jerusalem is a light to the nations.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:22 Babylon is full of abominations and filth
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 but impurity and deceit
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 are excluded from Jerusalem.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:29 In Babylon, wine intoxicates the nations.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:31 In Jerusalem, there is water of life
00:06:31 --> 00:06:34 and a tree of life
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 for the healing of the nations.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 God's people are called out of Babylon
00:06:39 --> 00:06:42 and they are called to enter Jerusalem.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 And so before us today is an alternative city,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 alternative Babylon,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 a place of eternal rest.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 And I want us to see three things quickly
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 from this today.
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 And if you've got the St. Paul's app,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:57 I encourage you to open that up
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 and you have those three things in front of you.
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 The nature of eternal rest,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 receiving eternal rest,
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 and thirdly, living for eternal rest.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:06 So the nature of eternal rest is in verse 2.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 It says,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 I saw the holy city,
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 this is chapter 21,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:10 I saw the holy city,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 the new Jerusalem,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 coming down out of heaven from God.
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17 So the Bible describes here
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 a vision of the end of the world history,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 the climax of history.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:25 It's a picture of heaven.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:29 And this vision is not of individual souls
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 rising up, escaping the world,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:37 going to a white, fluffy, cloudy place
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 where we're playing harps.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:41 That's not what we have here.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:48 What you see instead is heaven coming down
00:07:48 --> 00:07:50 and transforming the world.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 That's what you see.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:57 The climax of God's plan is a rewoven,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 healed, perfected material world.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:03 A world where even the good things of this world
00:08:03 --> 00:08:06 are made to be infinitely better
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 than they currently are.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:13 The Bible does not give us a picture of heaven
00:08:13 --> 00:08:16 where we hover around with wings
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 amongst clouds, playing harps
00:08:18 --> 00:08:21 and communicating via mental telepathy.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:26 It's a real material world like this one
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 where people hug each other
00:08:27 --> 00:08:30 and walk and run and laugh and dance
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 and kiss and eat and work and play.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:35 It's a place like we've never experienced
00:08:35 --> 00:08:39 in this world but it's also very, very similar
00:08:39 --> 00:08:39 to this world.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 The Swiss Alps will be the Swiss Alps
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 but perfected.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 I don't know how that's possible
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 but it will be.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 Maybe the less skiers or something.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 I'm not sure what the deal is
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 but it will be perfected.
00:08:59 --> 00:09:02 The difference is everything in this world
00:09:02 --> 00:09:02 is broken.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 Even the beautiful things.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 There will be all pure, right and whole.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Every one of us,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 every single human being
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 has this sense,
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 a longing for the perfect,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 for the complete.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 As good as this world might be at times,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 it doesn't give us
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 the satisfaction that lasts.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 Even the best marriages will end.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 The best cars will rust.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 The best holidays will be but a memory.
00:09:37 --> 00:09:40 It all leaves us longing for the next thing,
00:09:40 --> 00:09:42 the thing that will last.
00:09:43 --> 00:09:45 It might be longing for a body
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 that we've never had,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 the approval that we've never had,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:49 the home that we've never had,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 a beach or a wave that we've never had,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 the family that we've never had.
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 Whatever it is,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 these chapters say
00:09:55 --> 00:09:58 that all of our desires
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 for fulfillment
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 and satisfaction
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and contentment
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 is coming.
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 Verse 3 tells us
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09 why it will be so right.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 Why all of our hopes
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 and our expectations
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 will be fulfilled.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:14 It says,
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 now the dwelling of God
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18 is with people
00:10:18 --> 00:10:20 and he will live with them.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 They will be his people
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 and God himself
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 will be with them
00:10:24 --> 00:10:26 and be their God.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 Right at the beginning of the Bible
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 we are told
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 that's exactly what we were created for.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 It's what God's plan has been all along
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 for him and his people
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 to dwell together
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 in perfect harmony.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 We have that
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 at the beginning of the Bible
00:10:40 --> 00:10:40 at creation
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 God dwells with his people
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 in the Garden of Eden.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 They walk
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 and they talk together.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 Everything is perfect.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 In fact,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50 at the end of six days of creating
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 it says that God rested.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 He wasn't tired.
00:10:58 --> 00:11:01 Rest was the goal of creation.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 On the seventh day
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 God rested.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 You don't then
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 and then it was Monday again
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 he had to get back to work.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 Rest was it.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 The seventh day was it.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:13 Rest.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:18 All things in their proper order
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 in harmony with each other
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 for their joy
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 is biblical rest.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 And here at the end of all things
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 God is again dwelling with his people
00:11:30 --> 00:11:30 in heaven.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 Rest.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 God
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 has always planned
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 and desired
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 to be with his people
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 in a state of perfect harmony.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 Rest is the goal.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:48 But as we know
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 in Genesis 3
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 that rest was
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 totally
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55 ruined
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 when we lost
00:11:57 --> 00:11:57 our relationship
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 with God
00:11:58 --> 00:12:00 through sin.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 And on that moment
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 even our relationship
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 with our true selves
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 was broken.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 Fell apart.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 Adam and Eve
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 immediately began
00:12:11 --> 00:12:11 to experience
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13 fear and anxiety
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 and their relationship
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 with each other
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 fell apart.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 Their relationship
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 with the physical world
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 fell apart
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 as the snake
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 tempted Eve.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 They began
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 to experience
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 aging and disease
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 and pain
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 and death.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 When your relationship
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 with God
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 falls apart
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 everything
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 falls apart.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:38 restlessness
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41 is the consequence.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 Constantly
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 striving
00:12:44 --> 00:12:46 for contentment
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 and satisfaction
00:12:47 --> 00:12:49 is the consequence.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:52 but when the relationship
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 with God
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 is put right
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 every other relationship
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 is put right.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 Everything sad
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 and broken
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 and wrong
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 will be wiped away.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 That is the day
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 that's coming.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 For me
00:13:00 --> 00:13:03 I'm a diabetic
00:13:03 --> 00:13:03 I'm constantly
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 hooked up to a pump
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 and I've got
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 hearing aids now
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 and so
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 everything's breaking.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 Everything's breaking.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:14 But for me
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 that's not my major concern.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 The thing that I look forward to
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 in heaven
00:13:18 --> 00:13:22 is not a new pancreas.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 The thing that I look forward to
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 more than anything else
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 is the weight
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29 to be lifted.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 The weight to be gone.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 The weight of expectations
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 and the need to lead
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 and the constant feeling
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 of being a failure
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 as a disciple
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 and as a leader
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 and everything
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 to be gone
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 to be lifted like that.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 Heaven is a place
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53 of rest
00:13:53 --> 00:13:55 of endless joy
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 happiness
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 freedom
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 fulfillment
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 beauty
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 love
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 contentment.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 The future
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 for the inhabitants
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 of Babylon
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 is darkness
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 despair
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 and loneliness.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 The future
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 for the members
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 of the new Jerusalem
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 the bride of Christ
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 the church
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 is light
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 joy
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 and intimate
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 relationship.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 And that's what we see
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 in the second half
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 of chapter 21.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 In verse 9
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 one of the angels
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 says to John
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 come
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 I will show you
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 the bride
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 the wife
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 of the lamb
00:14:28 --> 00:14:30 and he carried me
00:14:30 --> 00:14:30 away
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 in the spirit
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 to a mountain
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 high and great
00:14:32 --> 00:14:34 and he showed me
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 the holy city.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 So here's John
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 taken away
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 in a vision
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 to see the bride
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 the wife
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 of the lamb
00:14:41 --> 00:14:43 and when he gets there
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 what does he see?
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 A city.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 Now the details
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 of the rest
00:14:51 --> 00:14:51 of the chapter
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 reveal
00:14:52 --> 00:14:54 an unusual city.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 It's huge.
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 It's a huge
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 cube.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 2200 kilometers
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 by 2200 kilometers
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 by 2200 kilometers.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08 That's massive.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 That's a lot
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 of stories.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Here to Townsville
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and somewhere
00:15:18 --> 00:15:18 further west
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 and I don't know
00:15:20 --> 00:15:20 how many
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Mount Everest
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 on top of each other.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 An awful lot.
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 The measurements
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 and the details
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 here are symbolic.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 This cube
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 echoes the most
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 holy place
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 in Solomon's temple
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 in 1 Kings 6.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 The holy city
00:15:34 --> 00:15:36 is now
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 the most holy place.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 The place
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 where God
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 meets with his people.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 In the past
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 it was only
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 the high priest
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 who could ever
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 enter the most holy place
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 and only once a year
00:15:45 --> 00:15:46 and after very
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 specific preparation
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 the blood of Jesus
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 has opened the way
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 for every
00:15:51 --> 00:15:53 single person
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 to now
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 be in his presence
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 forever.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 The jewels
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 on the high priest
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 breastplate
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 which represented
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 the people of God
00:16:01 --> 00:16:03 are now embedded
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 into the city walls.
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 The old temple
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 had one single entrance.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 This one
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 has gates
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 on all four sides
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 welcoming people
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 from all four corners
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 of the globe.
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 The temple
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 was the symbol
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 of God's presence
00:16:19 --> 00:16:19 with his people
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 and now that symbol
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 has given way
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 to reality.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:28 It's not literally
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 2 by
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 it's not literally
00:16:31 --> 00:16:33 a big cube.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 These numbers
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 are significant.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 This vision
00:16:36 --> 00:16:36 of the John C
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 is so
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 magnificent
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41 so incomprehensible
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 that he tries
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 to grab for language
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 and symbols
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 to try and describe
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 the beauty
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 and the magnificence
00:16:47 --> 00:16:47 of it.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 This is a city
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 that contains
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 all of God's people.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 All of God's people
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 from Old Testament
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 to New Testament
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 that's what all the
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 specific numbers
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 are referring to.
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 That's the symbolism
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of it.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 And it's a city
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 about the size
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 of the world
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 as they knew it
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 at the time.
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 The thick walls
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 and the angelic watchmen
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 on each gate
00:17:12 --> 00:17:15 which are never closed
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 are references
00:17:16 --> 00:17:18 to its safety
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 and its security.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 Perfect relationship
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 with God
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 perfect relationship
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 with all people
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 and perfect relationship
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 with the created order.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 It's hard to picture.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 But imagine
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 this world
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 with everything
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 negative
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 everything broken
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40 sinful
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 evil
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 decaying
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 dark
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 destructive thing
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 every one of those things
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 taken out of it
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47 so that all
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 that we have left
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 is the stuff
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 that's good
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 whole
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 light
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 righteous
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 loving
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 kind
00:17:54 --> 00:17:56 and all of that stuff
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 being perfected
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 millions and millions
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 of times over
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 and you start to get
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 a glimpse
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 of what forever
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 with God
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 is going to be like.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 Revelation 21
00:18:08 --> 00:18:10 verses 4 and 5
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 really just sum it up.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13 God will wipe away
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 every tear
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 with their eyes
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 that we know
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 more death
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 or mourning
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 or crying
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 or pain
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 for the old order
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 of things
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 has passed away.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 He who was seated
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 on the throne
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 said I am making
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 everything
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 new.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 That is the hope
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 of the Christian
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 and that is the nature
00:18:34 --> 00:18:36 of our eternal rest.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 So how do we get it?
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 The simple answer
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 is
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 you believe
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 in the death
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 and resurrection
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 of Jesus Christ
00:18:44 --> 00:18:46 and you cling
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to him
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 all the days
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 of your life.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 Jesus' death
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 is alluded to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 in verse 6
00:18:52 --> 00:18:55 where it says
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 to him
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 who is thirsty
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 I will give
00:18:57 --> 00:18:57 to drink
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 without cost
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 from the spring
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 of the water
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 of life.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 As I said
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 last week
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 the John who
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 gets this vision
00:19:06 --> 00:19:06 in Revelation
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 is the John
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 who wrote John's Gospel
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 and what's standing
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 behind verse 6
00:19:10 --> 00:19:13 is John 4
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 where Jesus
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 meets a woman
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 at the well
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 and says
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 that he can give
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 water to her
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 that will mean
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 that she will never
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 ever be thirsty
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 again
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 and she thought
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 this is fantastic
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 you know
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 get me buckets
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 and I'll have
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 some of that.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 She of course
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 thought he was
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 talking about
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 actual water
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 he was talking
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 about eternal life.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 Jesus offered her
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 in that moment
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 a foretaste
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 of this new heaven
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 and this new earth.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 The deepest longings
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 of our life
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 the longing
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 for love
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 the longing
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 for value
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 the longing
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 for life
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 to last
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 are satisfied
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 in and by Jesus.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 Jesus says
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 that we can have it
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 for free
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 he offers it to us
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 it says there
00:19:55 --> 00:19:57 without cost.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 How is that possible?
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 How is it possible
00:20:01 --> 00:20:03 that he can offer
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 that to us
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06 without cost?
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 Well
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 at the end
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 of John's gospel
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 we have Jesus
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 on the cross.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 That's how it's possible.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 He's the one
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 who has taken
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 our sin
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 to the cross.
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 And one of the
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 significant things
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 he says
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 at the end
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 of John's gospel
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 while he's on the cross
00:20:26 --> 00:20:26 he said a number
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 of things
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 but one of the
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 significant things
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 he said
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 was
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 I am thirsty.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:34 I am thirsty.
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 It wasn't just
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 a physical thirst
00:20:36 --> 00:20:38 because straight afterwards
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 he says
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 my God
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 my God
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 why have you
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 forsaken me?
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 On the cross
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Jesus
00:20:44 --> 00:20:46 was experiencing
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 cosmic hopelessness
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 so that we could
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 experience
00:20:51 --> 00:20:53 living hope.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 On the cross
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 Jesus experienced
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 cosmic thirst
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 separation
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 from God
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 that's what
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 we deserve
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 so that we
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 could have
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 the spring
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 of the water
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 of life
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 instead.
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 On the cross
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 Jesus
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 took the curse
00:21:06 --> 00:21:06 of God
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08 for our sin
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 so that we
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 can experience
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 an eternal
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 future
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 of blessing
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 in his presence.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 On the cross
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 the sun went
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 down at midday
00:21:15 --> 00:21:17 darkness fell
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 so that we
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 could experience
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 an eternal
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 future of light
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 and glory
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 and safety.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 He was nailed
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 to the cross
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 of death
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 so that we
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 can have access
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 to the tree
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 of life.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 Jesus
00:21:29 --> 00:21:31 left the rest
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 of heaven
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 came into
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 this world
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 so that we
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 could receive
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 eternal rest
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 with him
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 forever.
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 And he
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 didn't just
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 die
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 he rose
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 again.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 His resurrection
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 his new
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 body
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 is the first
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 installment
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 of everything
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 being made
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 new forever.
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 It all hinges
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 on that.
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 It all hinges
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 on resurrection.
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 So if you're
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 sitting here
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 today going
00:22:01 --> 00:22:03 pie in the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 sky Steve
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 let's get
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 historical for
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 a moment.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 Walk away
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 from here
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 and investigate
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 the resurrection
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 of Jesus.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Historical
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 resurrection
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 of Jesus
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 that is the
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 first fruit
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 of this promise
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 here of
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 eternal rest
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 with Christ.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 If you need
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 help doing
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 that I'd be
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 delighted to
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 help you do
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 that.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:28 his resurrection
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 is a promise
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 to us that
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 this world
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 is not
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 everything
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 and that
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 there is
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 hope beyond
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 death.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 His resurrection
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 guarantees our
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 resurrection with
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 him and
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 therefore guarantees
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 our hope
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 and he invites
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 us to join him
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 in it.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 So thirdly
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 how does this
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 future shape
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 our present?
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 What does it
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 mean to live
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 for eternal
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 rest?
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 You see
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 the person
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 who knows
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 that their
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 destiny is
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 glorious
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 and certain
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 because of
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 the radical
00:22:59 --> 00:22:59 love and
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 the sacrifice
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 of a forgiving
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 and loving
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 God will be
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 free and I
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 mean set
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 free to
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 live the
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 most radical
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10 life of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:10 love and
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 sacrifice here
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 on earth.
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 You see
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 if someone
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 picture this
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 someone falls
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 out of an
00:23:16 --> 00:23:16 aeroplane
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 you're flying
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 along right
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 someone falls
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 out of an
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 aeroplane and
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 they don't have
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 a parachute
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 on
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 you don't
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 go
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 I'll jump
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 out of the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 aeroplane and
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 see if I can
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 rescue them.
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 There's no
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 point.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 Two deaths
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 is not better
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 than one.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 Doesn't make
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 any sense.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 However
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 if the person
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 falls out of
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 the aeroplane
00:23:38 --> 00:23:38 and you happen
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 to have a
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 parachute on
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 then you just
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 may in that
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 moment attempt
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 one of those
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 James Bond
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 kind of rescue
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 attempts where
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 you free fall
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 like a bullet
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 and you catch
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 them and
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 pull the cord
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 and you rescue
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 them.
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 You see
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 it is the
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 hope of
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 eternal
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 rest
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 safety and
00:23:58 --> 00:23:58 love in the
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 end that
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 releases
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 radical
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 sacrificial
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 love right
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 now.
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 So the
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 book of
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Revelation
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 and our
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 future hope
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 should cause
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 the Christian
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 to move
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 away from
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 lives of
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 self-centeredness
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 and flimsy
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 loyalties and
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 undisciplined
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 devotion and
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 presumption of
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 God's
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 patience into
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 people whose
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 lives are
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 consistently
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 living for
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 more than
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 self-preservation
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 self-praise and
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 self-fulfillment.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:34 the Christian
00:24:34 --> 00:24:36 is not just
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 the citizen
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 of this
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 city,
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 New Jerusalem
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 into the
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 future,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 they're part
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 of it right
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 now.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 And at the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 very least,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 what that
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 means is
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 that there is
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 to some
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 degree that
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 we can in
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 fact wipe
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 away the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 tears of
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 our city
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 right now
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 through
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 acts of
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 selfless
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 love and
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 mercy and
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 justice.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 The
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 Christian
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 hope is
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 a life
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 transforming
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 living hope
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 and not an
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 abstract idea.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 These
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 chapters were
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 originally written
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 to people who
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 were suffering
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 terrible things.
00:25:18 --> 00:25:20 they had
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 homes taken
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 away and
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 plundered,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:23 as I said
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 right at the
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 beginning of
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 this series.
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 They were
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 sent into
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 the arena
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 and torn
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 apart by
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 wild animals
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 as the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 crowds watched
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 and applauded.
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 Christians
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 were impaled
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 on stakes
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 while still
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 alive,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 covered with
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 tar and
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 set alight.
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 They also
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 suffered the
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 daily struggle
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 of not being
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 seduced by
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 the power
00:25:44 --> 00:25:44 and the
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 affluence of
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 Rome,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 the daily
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 struggle of
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 not planting
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 their hopes
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 firmly in
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 a temporary
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 empire.
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 That's what
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 they faced.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 What does
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 John give
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 them?
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 Free
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 tickets to
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 the Maldives?
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 No.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 Great
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 career
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 advancement?
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 No.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 He gave
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 them this
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 is what he
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 gave them.
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 He gave
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 them this.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 He gave
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 them the
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 new heavens
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18 and the
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 new earth.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 He gave
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 them the
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 glimpse of
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 God's
00:26:22 --> 00:26:22 plan of
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 the climax
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 of history
00:26:24 --> 00:26:24 and it's
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 a simple
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 fact that
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 when he
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 gave them
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 this,
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 it worked.
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 The early
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 Christians took
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 their suffering
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 with such
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 peace.
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 They sang
00:26:35 --> 00:26:35 hymns as
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 the beasts
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 were tearing
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 them apart
00:26:37 --> 00:26:37 and they
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 forgave the
00:26:38 --> 00:26:38 people who
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 were killing
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 them.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 But the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 more the
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 Christians
00:26:41 --> 00:26:41 were killed,
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 the more
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 the Christian
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 movement grew
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 and expanded
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 because when
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 people watched
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 how Christians
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 were dying,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 it became
00:26:50 --> 00:26:50 obvious to
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 them that
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 they had
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 something
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 different.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 They
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 obviously
00:26:53 --> 00:26:53 had a
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 living hope.
00:26:58 --> 00:26:58 Us
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 human beings,
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 we are such
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 hope-shaped
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 creatures.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 Our hopes
00:27:03 --> 00:27:03 and our
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 aspirations for
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 the future
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 determine how
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 we live
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 right now.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 Imagine for a
00:27:10 --> 00:27:10 moment that I
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 offered two of
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 you a job
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 starting tomorrow.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 Two people
00:27:15 --> 00:27:15 here offered
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 a job and
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 the job was
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 I'm going to
00:27:18 --> 00:27:18 sit you at
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 a table with
00:27:20 --> 00:27:20 an uncomfortable
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22 chair in a
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 damp, dark,
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 smelly, windless
00:27:24 --> 00:27:26 room for 10
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 hours a day,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 six days a week
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 and your job is
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 to screw widgets
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 onto wadgets.
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 And if you
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 don't know what
00:27:34 --> 00:27:34 they are,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 neither do I.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 Same room,
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 exact same
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 situation.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 But I
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 take one of
00:27:43 --> 00:27:43 you aside and
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 I say at the
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 end of this
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 year I'm
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45 going to give
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 you $5.
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 That's your
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 job, give
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 you $5.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 The other
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 one I take
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 aside and
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 say at the
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 end of this
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 year I'm
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 going to
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 give you
00:27:52 --> 00:27:54 $10.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 One will
00:27:58 --> 00:27:58 quit before
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 the year's
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 out and the
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 other will
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 whistle while
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 they work.
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 They will
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 experience exact
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 same circumstances
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 in utterly
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 different ways
00:28:09 --> 00:28:11 because what
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 they believe
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 about their
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 future.
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 Do you
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 believe that
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 this world is
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 all that there
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 is and that
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 when you die
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 you rot?
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 Or do you
00:28:23 --> 00:28:23 believe in a
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 new heavens and
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 a new earth
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 and a judgment
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 day when all
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 wrong is put
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 right and all
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 right is made
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 even better?
00:28:32 --> 00:28:36 depending on
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 which one you
00:28:37 --> 00:28:39 believe you're
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 going to live
00:28:39 --> 00:28:41 in two very
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 different ways.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 People from
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 every language
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 culture, people
00:28:46 --> 00:28:46 from every
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 people group
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 have taken
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 this living
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 hope of a
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 glorious future
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 with their
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 created God
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 into the
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 center of their
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 lives and
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 they have
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 triumphed over
00:28:55 --> 00:28:55 the most
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 harshest of
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 circumstances.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00 That is what
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 the hope of
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 eternal rest
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 does.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 And so for
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 the Christian
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 who's hearing
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 this right now
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 here in the
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 room on the
00:29:07 --> 00:29:10 screen, mark
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 the concluding
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 message of
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 Revelation from
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 the mouth of
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 the Lord Jesus.
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 I am coming
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 soon.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 Three times
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 we read
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 these three
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 words, those
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 words, four
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 words in
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 Revelation 22
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 verse 7,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 verse 12 and
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 verse 20.
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 The unveiling
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 of the scroll
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 has now
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 happened.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 The scroll
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 has been
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 opened, the
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 destiny of
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 humanity has
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 been revealed,
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 the message of
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Revelation is
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45 complete and
00:29:45 --> 00:29:47 he says to
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 us just
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 wait a
00:29:49 --> 00:29:51 little longer.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 Just wait.
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 Verse 7 he
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 says, I am
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 coming soon
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 therefore don't
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 disobey this
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 Revelation.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 May the message
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 of this book
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 shape your
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 values, your
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 priorities and
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 your life day
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 by day.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 Verse 12 he
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 says again, I
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 am coming soon
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 therefore don't
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 hide this
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 Revelation.
00:30:10 --> 00:30:10 This is not a
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 book that gets
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 put back on
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 your shelf.
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 These words are
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 to be read,
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 they are to be
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 proclaimed.
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 This Revelation
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 must remain
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 open until
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 Jesus returns
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 and that all
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 people get a
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 chance to see
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 and believe
00:30:22 --> 00:30:24 this final rest.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 Verse 20
00:30:25 --> 00:30:27 Jesus says, I am
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 coming soon,
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 therefore do
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 not meddle
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 with this
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 Revelation.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 These words
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 are final.
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 There is not
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 a better
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 message,
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 there is not
00:30:35 --> 00:30:35 a newer
00:30:35 --> 00:30:36 message,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 there is not
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 a supplement
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 to this
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 message.
00:30:38 --> 00:30:39 Everything we
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 need to know
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 about human
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 destiny has
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 been revealed
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 in this
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 Revelation.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 Every single
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 one of us
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 here in this
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 room on
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 screen is
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 living for
00:30:49 --> 00:30:49 the future.
00:30:50 --> 00:30:50 Every single
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 one of us.
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 That is,
00:30:54 --> 00:30:54 there is not
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 a single human
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 being who lives
00:30:56 --> 00:30:56 for the present.
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 It is a
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 nonsense when
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 people say,
00:31:00 --> 00:31:00 I am living
00:31:00 --> 00:31:01 for today.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:01 No, you are
00:31:01 --> 00:31:02 not.
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 No, you are
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 not.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 You are
00:31:06 --> 00:31:06 living for
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 today because
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 of what you
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 think about
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 the future.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 So what is
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 the future
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 that has
00:31:16 --> 00:31:16 determined
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 your life?
00:31:19 --> 00:31:20 Christianity
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 declares
00:31:20 --> 00:31:22 there is no
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 other, no
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 greater hope
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 than Jesus
00:31:25 --> 00:31:26 Christ, billions
00:31:26 --> 00:31:26 of people around
00:31:26 --> 00:31:27 this world
00:31:27 --> 00:31:28 have discovered
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 it in the
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 last 2
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 years.
00:31:30 --> 00:31:31 And the
00:31:31 --> 00:31:31 closing verses
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 of Revelation
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 also has a
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 message for
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 those who
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 have not yet
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37 embraced Jesus
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 Christ.
00:31:40 --> 00:31:42 Chapter 22
00:31:42 --> 00:31:42 verse 17
00:31:42 --> 00:31:43 is an invitation
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 for you,
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45 the non-Christian.
00:31:47 --> 00:31:47 The spirit
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 and the bride
00:31:48 --> 00:31:48 says,
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 come.
00:31:50 --> 00:31:51 And let the
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 one who
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 hears
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 say,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 come.
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 Come.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:54 Let the
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 one who
00:31:55 --> 00:31:55 is thirsty
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 come.
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 Let the
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 one who
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 wishes take
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 the free
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 gift of the
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 water of
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 life,
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 come.
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 Come now
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 to Jesus
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 and find rest
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 for your
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 souls.
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 Come to
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 Jesus and
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 find eternal
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 rest.
00:32:12 --> 00:32:12 Come to
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 Jesus and
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 receive from
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 him life and
00:32:14 --> 00:32:16 satisfaction and
00:32:16 --> 00:32:16 hope.
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Come to
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Jesus and
00:32:18 --> 00:32:19 get a future
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 that's worth
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22 waiting for and
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 working for.
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 Amen.