Vision of Triumph
Series: Vision of All Things
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 28th November 2020
Passage: Revelation 17:1-19:21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:07 I read the story recently of a butler who served for a number of years in the grand 17th century
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 Belton House in Lincolnshire in England. As part of his duties, he regularly dusted, in fact I think
00:00:14 --> 00:00:21 he dusted daily and he polished pretty regularly, a World War II bomb that had been dropped on the
00:00:21 --> 00:00:27 grounds of Belton House by German bombers. One day, while polishing this thing, he actually
00:00:27 --> 00:00:33 managed to even knock it over and it fell on his foot while he was cleaning, so it caused him a
00:00:33 --> 00:00:40 great deal of damage. Anyway, one Easter weekend, something like 24 years after it was put on display
00:00:40 --> 00:00:49 at the house, an army officer was visiting Belton House and this officer noticed to his horror that
00:00:49 --> 00:00:59 this bomb was in fact still life and was capable of levelling the entire estate. The place was
00:00:59 --> 00:01:05 evacuated, as you can imagine, and the Royal Air Force, the bomb disposal unit was called in and
00:01:05 --> 00:01:13 the bomb was disposed of. But imagine discovering that you've been cleaning this thing with chemicals
00:01:13 --> 00:01:22 for 24 years, polishing a live bomb that, and you've even dropped this thing on your foot, and at any
00:01:22 --> 00:01:31 point this thing could have exploded. It's possible to live with danger and to be totally unaware of it.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:40 In fact, we can even convince ourselves that we are indestructible, that things will go on as they are
00:01:40 --> 00:01:47 forever. The number of people that I've dealt with as a pastor over the years, who even in their senior
00:01:47 --> 00:02:00 years, still assume that they are indestructible. And it takes an expert analysis, a medical specialist,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:09 or an apocalypse to persuade us of an alternative view. Apocalypse is a Greek word,
00:02:10 --> 00:02:19 which means revelation. It means unveiling of things that were not previously known and which cannot be
00:02:19 --> 00:02:30 known unless they are unveiled to us. And that's what the book of Revelation is. This book is not given
00:02:30 --> 00:02:40 to us to satisfy our curiosity about events in the future. It is given to open our eyes.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:50 to prod us to come awake to reality and to stimulate reforming actions in our lives.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:58 What the book of Revelation does for us and what it's been doing for us in these past weeks is opening
00:02:58 --> 00:03:06 our eyes to the Christian worldview. And that worldview, very simply, is that the crucified,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:16 resurrected Jesus of Nazareth, who was in history, died in history, rose in history, is the one who now
00:03:16 --> 00:03:28 has ascended and reigns over all history and time in eternity. His people suffer on earth with joy while
00:03:28 --> 00:03:35 being threatened and seduced by the powers and the cultures of their day, whatever it is and wherever
00:03:35 --> 00:03:43 they are in the world. And yet what we also discover is that this God is in control at every point
00:03:43 --> 00:03:49 throughout the chaos of history. And he has declared that he will come again and he will judge all
00:03:49 --> 00:03:57 humanity and wind up history as we know it. And the call of Revelation is for Christians to remain faithful to
00:03:57 --> 00:04:04 the good news. And the good news about Jesus and the good news about him as we wait for his return to wind up history
00:04:04 --> 00:04:13 and bring us into his perfect presence forever. And so the challenge of Revelation all the way through,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:29 on every occasion, as it is again today, live for the lamb, not for the beast. That's the challenge.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:39 Live for the bride, groom, not the prostitute. Eternal things, not temporal, to please God rather than
00:04:39 --> 00:04:47 anger him for his eternal city rather than the lake of fire. That's the call right through Revelation
00:04:47 --> 00:04:53 as we have had right from the beginning. And so now as we come to the end, we get to the final
00:04:53 --> 00:05:01 destination. That's where we're up to, the final destination. So I've got an outline for today's talk
00:05:01 --> 00:05:06 on the St. Paul's app. It'd be good if you could go there. Also get your Bibles open. We're looking
00:05:06 --> 00:05:13 sort of across Revelation 17 to 19. You'll notice three points in the app. The prostitute and our
00:05:13 --> 00:05:20 problem, the lamb and our solution, and the bride and living for future hope. So first of all, and most
00:05:20 --> 00:05:28 of the time is on the prostitute and our problem. Chapters 17 and 18, we're introduced to a new figure
00:05:28 --> 00:05:39 in the storyline. It's a woman. She's mysterious, but her title captures for us who she is. 17 verse 5,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:47 Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth.
00:05:47 --> 00:06:02 Now, it is possible for us to plunge into the extravagant imagery of these chapters to try and
00:06:02 --> 00:06:11 come up with an impressive display of convincing explanation of exactly who in history this woman
00:06:11 --> 00:06:20 is astride and who the scarlet beast is, as well as the seven heads, the seven hills, the seven kings,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:25 Babylon, and all the rest. What we need to do with the book of Revelation, I said right from the
00:06:25 --> 00:06:34 beginning, is to step back. Just step back and have a look. Notice, as you read through the text,
00:06:34 --> 00:06:41 the seven of the book of Revelation, the seven kings, the seven kings, the seven kings, and the seven kings,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:46 the seven kings, and the seven kings, and the seven kings. The seven kings, the seven kings, and the seven kings.
00:06:46 --> 00:06:56 This woman represents the problem with the world. Twice in chapter 17, verse 8, we're told that the beast
00:06:56 --> 00:07:08 once was, now is, and yet will come. In other words, this beast manifests itself in one form,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:17 then it passes away, and then it will come back in other forms. That is, this is just simply another
00:07:17 --> 00:07:24 one of the parodies of God that we've had right through, as we read in chapters 1, 4, and 11.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:34 In chapter 17, verses 10 and 12, the angel speaks of coming kings and transfers of power.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:42 In Daniel 7, in the Old Testament, the same language is used to describe successive kingdoms and empires.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:52 The symbolic numbers 7 and 10 in Revelation 17 don't refer to specific kings.
00:07:52 --> 00:08:04 Instead, John is highlighting the way that the beast manifests itself in power in reoccurring
00:08:04 --> 00:08:09 political empires and systems and societies throughout history.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:23 Even though the woman, even though the woman rides on the beast and rules over the kings in 17, verse 7,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:33 and then again in verse 18, we see in verse 16 of chapter 17, that they turn on her and they destroy her.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:39 Such as the city of Rome itself.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:47 The all-powerful Rome, which is in the background here as John receives this revelation.
00:08:49 --> 00:08:56 Rome itself will be destroyed by the very empire it built in AD 410.
00:08:56 --> 00:09:02 What we see here is Babylon.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:09 In chapters 17 and 18, it represents human society without God.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:17 Human society with all its violence and oppression and corruption and injustice and rejection of God.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 And it's saying here, societies come and go.
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 Kingdoms rise and they fall.
00:09:25 --> 00:09:28 And it will go on and on and on.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:33 And each one in its various forms will do exactly the same.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 Stand against God as rule of all.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:47 See, what happens here with the book of Revelation is that the major themes that are set up at the beginning of the Bible
00:09:47 --> 00:09:53 sort of all get intertwined and come to their conclusion at the end of the Bible.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 The threads all come together.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:11 The theme of Babylon and society against God is drawn to a close here as well as they celebrate in chapter 19, the end of Babylon.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:18 Babylon features in the Bible as early as Genesis chapter 10, verse 10.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:24 And it is likely linked to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:40 The symbol of the godless society, proud society in its attempt to storm the heavens, dethrone God and take glory for themselves and make a name for themselves.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 Babel and Babylon are interchangeable.
00:10:43 --> 00:10:54 Throughout the Bible, Babylon came to stand for all that oppose God, all the empires and societies and peoples that oppose God.
00:10:55 --> 00:11:03 Daniel chapter 4, verse 30 is a great example where we have the egotistical Nebuchadnezzar declaring,
00:11:04 --> 00:11:09 Is not this the great Babylon that I have built as my royal residence?
00:11:09 --> 00:11:16 By my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:32 All this sin of human society, all of its rejection of God the creator is in chapter 19, verse 2, described as adultery.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 Prostitution.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 Prostitution.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:39 All human sin is described as adultery.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 Prostitution against God.
00:11:41 --> 00:11:46 And this too is one of the great themes of the Bible from beginning to end.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:58 What we see in the Bible is that God doesn't relate to people primarily as a king to subjects or even as a shepherd to his sheep, but as a husband to a wife.
00:11:58 --> 00:12:13 God's plan from the beginning of creation was to have a solemn and a binding relationship with his people as binding and as comprehensive and as intimate as marriage.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:17 It's the kind of relationship with God that we were created for.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:30 No other religion dares talk about a relationship with God like biblical Christianity.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:38 Human sin, therefore, is depicted as adultery.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42 Sin is loving anything more than God.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:47 Sin is giving the title of our hearts to anything more than God.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:54 Sin is giving the center of our emotions and our imagination to anything apart from God.
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58 God doesn't just want us to rely upon him like a shepherd.
00:12:58 --> 00:13:01 He wants us to love him like a spouse.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:07 And sin is where we love anything more than God.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:37 Sin is where we love anything more than God.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:40 Holidays, he takes long trips around the world with her.
00:13:41 --> 00:13:46 And finally, his wife confronts him about this other relationship.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 And he says,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:54 I really don't understand why you're getting so upset, frankly.
00:13:55 --> 00:13:59 You know, you've got my name, got my surname.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 You've got my money.
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 I pay the bills.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 I cut the grass.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:11 I seriously do not understand what the problem is and why you're getting so worked up.
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 The wife says, but I don't have your heart.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 Something else has your deepest affections of your heart.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:30 Now, most of us are sitting there and going, what sort of an idiot would say that?
00:14:32 --> 00:14:37 Well, who would ever say, what's the problem here?
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40 So here we go.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:44 Do you say you believe?
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 Are you baptised?
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 You go to church.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 You pray the Lord's Prayer.
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 You work at obeying the Ten Commandments.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:56 And yet something else actually has the affections of your heart.
00:14:56 --> 00:15:04 There is something else that you are actually truly living for and has captured your imagination.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 Could be a career.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 Could be family.
00:15:07 --> 00:15:08 Could, in fact, be religion.
00:15:08 --> 00:15:11 It could be children, relationships.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 It could be a political cause.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 It could be your bank accounts.
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 It could be a social cause.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:21 It is possible to give money to God our money.
00:15:21 --> 00:15:26 It's possible to give God our money and to take his name for ourselves.
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 And yet something else has the title over our hearts.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:41 For those who use social media, what do your posts and your likes reveal about what has captured your heart?
00:15:41 --> 00:15:50 Now, surely, as mere creatures, we don't expect our creator to overlook this.
00:15:51 --> 00:15:56 Sin is spiritual adultery, which means it's more than just breaking the rules.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 Very important for us to grapple with that.
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01 It is so much more than just breaking the rules.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:07 It's walking all over the heart of our creator.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 Sin breaks his heart.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 It destroys his relationship with him.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:23 And unless we see human sin as spiritual adultery, we will never grapple with the seriousness of it or the emotional devastation it actually is.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:28 It is so much more than breaking a rule.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:34 It is crushing a heart, the heart of the God who made us for himself.
00:16:34 --> 00:16:42 When we see this prostitute here, we see the fatal attraction of the human race.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:46 You see, it's one thing to be friends with someone.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 It's another thing to go to bed with them.
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 That changes everything.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:56 And as James pointed out to us last week, Satan consistently parodies God.
00:16:56 --> 00:17:00 Evil consistently parodies good.
00:17:00 --> 00:17:10 The power and the affluence of society is seductive simply because it offers us what God offers us.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:17 We love money because it offers us what God offers us.
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 You've got a guilty conscience.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:22 You've got enough money to buy the right lawyers.
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 You can get yourself clean.
00:17:24 --> 00:17:27 It offers us what God offers us.
00:17:27 --> 00:17:29 Get really sick.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 Get the right amount of money.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:32 You can get the best doctors to heal you.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:47 Even John, the apostle, the one who from the very beginning received the vivid vision of the glorified Lord Jesus standing amongst his church.
00:17:47 --> 00:17:53 The one who is said in John's gospel, the disciple who Jesus specifically loved.
00:17:54 --> 00:18:01 We are told here when he gets a vision of this prostitute riding the beast, he is mesmerized.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:04 Verse 6, chapter 17.
00:18:04 --> 00:18:08 When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 Attracted.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:15 And then the angel said to me, why are you astonished?
00:18:16 --> 00:18:20 The power and the glory of the human society is seductive.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:25 Even John needed the angel to grab him and slap him out of it.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:35 And so that's why it's crucial that we see in chapters 18 and 19 the end of Babylon.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:43 With all that it promises, it merely seduces you into destruction.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:48 Reading from verse 21 of chapter 18.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:54 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone, threw it into the sea, and said,
00:18:54 --> 00:18:59 With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 Now this is not rising and falling.
00:19:03 --> 00:19:06 This is never to be found again.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 This is the end.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:11 Of all the rises and fallings, this is the end.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:17 The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters will never be heard in you again.
00:19:18 --> 00:19:21 No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again.
00:19:22 --> 00:19:24 The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:31 The voice of a bridegroom and a bride will never be heard in you again.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:35 In other words, no continuing on in society, no joy, no celebration.
00:19:35 --> 00:19:38 Your merchants were the world's important people.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 The rich people were the important people.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:46 But by your magic spell, all the nations were led astray.
00:19:47 --> 00:19:50 The point is, it will come to naught.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:55 It promises so much, and it delivers death and destruction.
00:19:56 --> 00:20:02 Revelation, this book, wakes us up to the fact that we are living with danger every single day,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:06 and we cannot see it, and the point of revelation is to help us see it.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:11 We are polishing the bomb every day of our life.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:21 And what this book tells us is the author of time itself had to be written into the very drama
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23 to help us to see it.
00:20:23 --> 00:20:26 And he's calling us to evacuate.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:29 Evacuate, evacuate Babylon.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 Do you see the seduction?
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 For instance, take...
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 Here's an exercise.
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Just this next week.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 In this coming week,
00:20:42 --> 00:20:48 look at the advertising across various media platforms
00:20:48 --> 00:20:50 and engage with the message.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Not just the pictures.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Engage with the message.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 And notice the seduction.
00:20:57 --> 00:21:00 They offer power, peace, status, paradise, performance, freedom,
00:21:01 --> 00:21:05 spirituality, comfort, enlightenment, friendship, life, reconciliation,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 identity, escape, balance, and future.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 That's just one week.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:14 And that's advertisements for coffee, cars, phones, holidays, cosmetics, and shoes.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 It's appalling.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:26 $10 billion a year is spent on advertising in this country alone
00:21:26 --> 00:21:33 with quasi-religious promises of meaning and fulfillment and hope
00:21:33 --> 00:21:36 in items that are created and can never produce it.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:42 It's all about what we worship.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 It's about what has captured our hearts.
00:21:49 --> 00:21:53 American Pastor David Platt observes that North American Christians
00:21:53 --> 00:21:58 give 2.5% of their income to the local church
00:21:58 --> 00:22:03 and that local churches give 2% of their income to world mission.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:07 Now, we've got to bear in mind here that Revelation chapter 5,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:10 as we've already seen, is that mission to the nations
00:22:10 --> 00:22:14 is part of what it means to grapple with the cross.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:19 It's part of what it means to come to Christ.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:24 And yet, every $100 that American Christians earn,
00:22:24 --> 00:22:30 they give 5 cents to global mission.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 5 cents.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 Surely, that's got to be a good measure to the extent
00:22:40 --> 00:22:43 by which we are seduced by Babylon
00:22:43 --> 00:22:47 rather than being captured by a biblical worldview
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50 of the end of Babylon.
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54 Now, as you're aware, we've been heard about it this morning.
00:22:55 --> 00:23:00 We're seeking to raise $10 to support the Klintos family,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 our global mission partners in Africa,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:03 doing a very strategic ministry.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 And as of 7 a.m. this morning,
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 I note that we've raised $5.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:13 Project finishes tomorrow.
00:23:14 --> 00:23:17 I think we've got some work to do this afternoon.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:24 Secondly, the lamb and our solution.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 Now, this prostitute in chapter 17
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 represents our biggest problem,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 that is, spiritual adultery.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:34 We are given the solution to our biggest problem in the lamb.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 The only thing that can turn us
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 from spiritual adulterers, prostitutes,
00:23:39 --> 00:23:41 into a pure bride,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 is the blood of Christ.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 The one whom Revelation has already declared earlier on
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 as the lamb of God.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:50 The lamb is the only one
00:23:50 --> 00:23:56 who can cure us from our fatal attraction to Babylon.
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 Now, the John who wrote this vision,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 this vision was given to,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 also is the John who wrote the Gospel of John.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 And so, as we come to chapter 19,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:11 what is sitting in the background of Revelation 19
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 is John chapter 2
00:24:13 --> 00:24:17 and the wedding at Cana in Galilee.
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 Now, this is the wedding
00:24:18 --> 00:24:22 where they run out of wine
00:24:22 --> 00:24:26 and Mary comes to Jesus and says,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:28 you might want to do something about that.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 Now, this is crucial.
00:24:30 --> 00:24:33 You know, these are wedding feasts
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 that go on for days
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 and wine was essential,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 part of that celebration,
00:24:36 --> 00:24:38 the joy of the celebration.
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 And all of a sudden,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 they've run out of wine.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 It's a social crisis in the first century.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 And Mary comes to Jesus and says,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 verse 3, chapter 2,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 they have no more wine.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:56 Woman, Jesus says,
00:24:56 --> 00:24:58 why do you involve me?
00:24:59 --> 00:25:02 My hour has not yet come.
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 So, crisis time,
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 no wine at the wedding.
00:25:08 --> 00:25:11 And Mary comes and says,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 Jesus, no wine.
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 And Jesus' reply is,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:19 I'm not ready to die.
00:25:19 --> 00:25:22 That's what he says.
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 Because every time he refers
00:25:25 --> 00:25:29 to this hour or his hour
00:25:29 --> 00:25:31 in John's gospel
00:25:31 --> 00:25:33 is a reference to the cross.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 His death on the cross.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:38 And so he says to Mary,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:40 I'm not yet ready to die.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:41 And Mary's like,
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 you know, what's that got to do with it?
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 You know, like, we just need wine.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 You know, Jesus, go to your room.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:51 I mean,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 what is going on here
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 at the wedding of Cana?
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 Well, throughout the Old Testament,
00:25:58 --> 00:26:00 especially in places like
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02 Isaiah 62, Ezekiel 16, Jeremiah 2,
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 God reveals himself to be
00:26:04 --> 00:26:08 the bridegroom of his people.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:12 And then,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 in Matthew chapter 9,
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16 the Pharisees come along to Jesus
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 and they complain to him
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 about his disciples
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 because they're so loose
00:26:21 --> 00:26:24 with the Jewish rituals and practices.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:27 And in verse 15 of Matthew 9,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 Jesus says this to them,
00:26:29 --> 00:26:48 See what he's saying there?
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 He said,
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 I am the bridegroom.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 I am the bridegroom.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 I am God.
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 I'm the Lord of my people.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 So in John chapter 2,
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 he's saying,
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 at the wedding of Canaan,
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 he's saying,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:04 Mother, you are right.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:08 There is no joy at a wedding
00:27:08 --> 00:27:09 without the wine.
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 It's part of the celebration.
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 And if my people,
00:27:14 --> 00:27:17 if my bride is going to fall
00:27:17 --> 00:27:19 into my arms with joy,
00:27:20 --> 00:27:23 then I'm going to have to die.
00:27:23 --> 00:27:26 The bridegroom is going to have to die
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 for the bride.
00:27:28 --> 00:27:30 And so on the night that he was betrayed,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 he took the cup of wine
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 and he says,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 this represents my blood.
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 This represents my blood.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:41 We have no joy.
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 We have no hope
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 of a marriage feast with God
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 forever
00:27:45 --> 00:27:47 unless his blood is shed
00:27:47 --> 00:27:49 for the punishment of our sin.
00:27:49 --> 00:27:51 He drinks the cup
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 of God's righteous anger
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 and justice
00:27:54 --> 00:27:56 because we deserve
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 for our adultery.
00:27:59 --> 00:28:01 That's the cup he had to drink for us.
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 And the only way
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 that we will ever participate
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07 in a wedding feast of joy
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 forever with Jesus Christ,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 the Lamb of God,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:13 is that he has to go to the cross
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 in history
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 and to take up
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 the cup of justice
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 and anger from God.
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 He had to drink the cup
00:28:22 --> 00:28:24 of God's wrath in history
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 so that we could drink
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28 the cup of joy
00:28:28 --> 00:28:30 for all eternity.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:34 And that's why we have
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 the victory cry.
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 That's why we have
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 this roar of triumph
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 from heaven
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 in chapter 19,
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 verse 6.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 Hallelujah!
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 For our Lord God,
00:28:42 --> 00:28:43 Almighty,
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 reigns.
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 Let us rejoice
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 and be glad
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 and give him glory.
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 For the wedding
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 of the Lamb
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 has come
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 and his bride
00:28:51 --> 00:28:53 has made herself ready.
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 Fine linen,
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 bright and clean,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:56 was given
00:28:56 --> 00:28:58 her to wear.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:01 His blood
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 is shed
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04 and our sins
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 are wiped clean,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 pure,
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 as white as snow.
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 And his offer
00:29:09 --> 00:29:09 of forgiveness
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 of sins
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 is simply that,
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 it is free.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:14 we didn't achieve it.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 We didn't launder
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 our own sins.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:18 He did it all.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 Our filthy rags
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 of sin and righteousness
00:29:20 --> 00:29:22 have been swapped
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 by bright,
00:29:23 --> 00:29:25 clean clothes
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 of linen
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 made clean
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 by Jesus.
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 The Lamb,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:32 the Lamb
00:29:32 --> 00:29:34 is our only solution.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 And this brings me
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 to the final image
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 that we have here.
00:29:39 --> 00:29:41 for all who put
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 their trust
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 in the Lamb
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 are the bride.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 Now there might be
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 a few blokes here
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 who are struggling
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 with the idea
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 of being a bride
00:29:51 --> 00:29:51 of Christ.
00:29:52 --> 00:29:52 You know,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 it's like it's
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 messing with your
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 masculinity
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 or something like that.
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 Then again,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59 Galatians chapter 4
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 says that all of us
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 are sons of God
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 and so,
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 you know,
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 in the end
00:30:03 --> 00:30:03 we've all got
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 some adjustments to make.
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 So let's just bear
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 with it on this one.
00:30:06 --> 00:30:11 It changes a lot
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 when you realise
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 that you're in a
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 marital union
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 with God
00:30:15 --> 00:30:16 and not just simply
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 a king subject
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 or shepherd sheep
00:30:18 --> 00:30:19 relationship.
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 Firstly,
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 it means that you
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 have a legal relationship.
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 In every culture
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 around the globe,
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 if you are poor
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 but you marry
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 someone rich,
00:30:29 --> 00:30:31 you become rich.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 although we are
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 all spiritual
00:30:34 --> 00:30:35 adulterers,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:37 when we come
00:30:37 --> 00:30:37 to Jesus
00:30:37 --> 00:30:39 by faith
00:30:39 --> 00:30:39 and accept
00:30:39 --> 00:30:40 his death
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 on our behalf,
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 his perfect
00:30:43 --> 00:30:45 righteousness
00:30:45 --> 00:30:47 becomes ours.
00:30:48 --> 00:30:49 He doesn't just
00:30:49 --> 00:30:50 cancel our debt
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 against God
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 and bring us
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 back up to square
00:30:53 --> 00:30:53 zero.
00:30:55 --> 00:30:56 His pure record
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 of righteousness
00:30:57 --> 00:30:59 becomes ours.
00:30:59 --> 00:30:59 All of it
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 is ours.
00:31:01 --> 00:31:03 And if you
00:31:03 --> 00:31:04 are a Christian,
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 that is you now.
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 That is your status
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 before God now.
00:31:08 --> 00:31:09 Secondly,
00:31:09 --> 00:31:11 being Jesus' bride
00:31:11 --> 00:31:11 means that we're
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 in a comprehensive
00:31:12 --> 00:31:13 relationship.
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 Marriage impacts
00:31:15 --> 00:31:16 every area
00:31:16 --> 00:31:17 of your life.
00:31:18 --> 00:31:18 Everything.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 There is no such
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 thing as his
00:31:22 --> 00:31:22 and hers.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 You cannot
00:31:25 --> 00:31:28 compartmentalise it
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29 in just a couple
00:31:29 --> 00:31:29 of parts.
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31 The marriage
00:31:31 --> 00:31:32 refers just to
00:31:32 --> 00:31:32 the bed,
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 but, you know,
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 not to my
00:31:34 --> 00:31:34 hobbies,
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 for instance.
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 The vows
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 are very clear
00:31:41 --> 00:31:41 in the marriage
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 ceremony.
00:31:43 --> 00:31:44 With all
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 that I am
00:31:45 --> 00:31:46 and all
00:31:46 --> 00:31:47 that I
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 have,
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 I honour
00:31:49 --> 00:31:50 you.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:51 The word
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 all,
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 all,
00:31:53 --> 00:31:53 is comprehensive
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 as it always
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55 is.
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56 So,
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 relationship
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57 with Jesus
00:31:57 --> 00:31:58 touches every
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00 aspect of
00:32:00 --> 00:32:00 your life.
00:32:01 --> 00:32:01 Thirdly,
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 it's an intimate
00:32:02 --> 00:32:02 relationship.
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 Relationship
00:32:03 --> 00:32:04 with Jesus
00:32:04 --> 00:32:06 requires contact.
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 It's the love
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 of Christ
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 poured into
00:32:08 --> 00:32:09 our hearts
00:32:09 --> 00:32:09 and our hearts
00:32:09 --> 00:32:10 being poured
00:32:10 --> 00:32:11 out to him.
00:32:11 --> 00:32:11 And so,
00:32:11 --> 00:32:12 I want to keep
00:32:12 --> 00:32:13 asking you this
00:32:13 --> 00:32:13 as we've done
00:32:13 --> 00:32:14 several times.
00:32:14 --> 00:32:14 What is your
00:32:14 --> 00:32:15 devotional life
00:32:15 --> 00:32:16 like right now?
00:32:16 --> 00:32:17 Does it exist?
00:32:17 --> 00:32:18 Is it just a matter
00:32:18 --> 00:32:18 of read the Bible,
00:32:19 --> 00:32:19 keep the devil away
00:32:19 --> 00:32:20 kind of thing?
00:32:20 --> 00:32:20 A chapter a day
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 keeps the devil away?
00:32:21 --> 00:32:22 Or is it,
00:32:22 --> 00:32:22 you know,
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23 what is it?
00:32:23 --> 00:32:23 Is it,
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24 you're pursuing
00:32:24 --> 00:32:25 actual intimacy
00:32:25 --> 00:32:26 with your lover?
00:32:28 --> 00:32:29 Could your
00:32:29 --> 00:32:29 devotional life
00:32:29 --> 00:32:30 be described
00:32:30 --> 00:32:30 as intimate
00:32:30 --> 00:32:31 right now?
00:32:34 --> 00:32:34 Fourthly,
00:32:34 --> 00:32:35 our relationship
00:32:35 --> 00:32:35 with Jesus
00:32:35 --> 00:32:36 is to be fruitful.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 When we put
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 our lives
00:32:38 --> 00:32:39 in Jesus'
00:32:39 --> 00:32:39 hands,
00:32:39 --> 00:32:41 we bear fruit.
00:32:41 --> 00:32:42 It's one of the
00:32:42 --> 00:32:42 absolute
00:32:42 --> 00:32:43 certainties.
00:32:44 --> 00:32:44 When we put
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 our lives
00:32:45 --> 00:32:45 in his hands,
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 we bear fruit.
00:32:46 --> 00:32:47 And fruit
00:32:47 --> 00:32:48 is the outward
00:32:48 --> 00:32:49 working of an
00:32:49 --> 00:32:50 inner life.
00:32:50 --> 00:32:51 That is,
00:32:51 --> 00:32:51 when Jesus'
00:32:52 --> 00:32:52 love pours
00:32:52 --> 00:32:53 into my
00:32:53 --> 00:32:53 heart,
00:32:54 --> 00:32:55 it transforms
00:32:55 --> 00:32:56 who I am.
00:32:57 --> 00:32:57 It transforms
00:32:57 --> 00:32:59 my priorities,
00:32:59 --> 00:32:59 my life,
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00 my attitudes
00:33:00 --> 00:33:01 from the
00:33:01 --> 00:33:02 inside out.
00:33:02 --> 00:33:03 So in such
00:33:03 --> 00:33:03 a way
00:33:03 --> 00:33:04 that I pursue
00:33:04 --> 00:33:05 Jesus'
00:33:05 --> 00:33:05 priorities
00:33:05 --> 00:33:06 and I pursue
00:33:06 --> 00:33:07 his character.
00:33:08 --> 00:33:08 Lastly,
00:33:08 --> 00:33:09 this relationship
00:33:09 --> 00:33:10 with Jesus
00:33:10 --> 00:33:10 is comforting.
00:33:13 --> 00:33:14 At the
00:33:14 --> 00:33:14 wedding feast
00:33:14 --> 00:33:15 in Cana,
00:33:15 --> 00:33:16 which is
00:33:16 --> 00:33:17 obvious now
00:33:17 --> 00:33:17 to us
00:33:17 --> 00:33:19 in John
00:33:19 --> 00:33:20 chapter 2,
00:33:21 --> 00:33:22 Jesus sat
00:33:22 --> 00:33:23 amongst the
00:33:23 --> 00:33:23 joy of
00:33:23 --> 00:33:24 this wedding
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 feast
00:33:24 --> 00:33:25 and it was
00:33:25 --> 00:33:26 pretty obvious
00:33:26 --> 00:33:27 that he was
00:33:27 --> 00:33:28 pondering
00:33:28 --> 00:33:29 his coming
00:33:29 --> 00:33:29 sorrow on
00:33:29 --> 00:33:30 the cross.
00:33:31 --> 00:33:32 That's
00:33:32 --> 00:33:33 obvious.
00:33:35 --> 00:33:36 But because
00:33:36 --> 00:33:36 he went to
00:33:36 --> 00:33:37 the cross,
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 we can now
00:33:40 --> 00:33:40 sit amongst
00:33:40 --> 00:33:41 all the sorrow
00:33:41 --> 00:33:44 of this world
00:33:44 --> 00:33:45 with all the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:45 chaos and the
00:33:45 --> 00:33:46 carnage and the
00:33:46 --> 00:33:47 sin and the
00:33:47 --> 00:33:47 injustice of this
00:33:47 --> 00:33:49 world and we
00:33:49 --> 00:33:50 can ponder
00:33:50 --> 00:33:51 the coming
00:33:51 --> 00:33:52 joy of the
00:33:52 --> 00:33:53 wedding banquet
00:33:53 --> 00:33:53 in his
00:33:53 --> 00:33:54 presence.
00:33:56 --> 00:33:57 It's
00:33:57 --> 00:33:57 comforting.
00:33:59 --> 00:33:59 So friends,
00:33:59 --> 00:34:00 whether you've
00:34:00 --> 00:34:00 got a good
00:34:00 --> 00:34:01 marriage,
00:34:01 --> 00:34:02 a bad
00:34:02 --> 00:34:02 marriage,
00:34:03 --> 00:34:03 you've got no
00:34:03 --> 00:34:04 marriage but want
00:34:04 --> 00:34:05 a marriage,
00:34:06 --> 00:34:06 or you've had a
00:34:06 --> 00:34:07 marriage but not
00:34:07 --> 00:34:07 anymore,
00:34:10 --> 00:34:10 whatever your
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 status, that
00:34:11 --> 00:34:12 covers everyone
00:34:12 --> 00:34:12 here basically,
00:34:13 --> 00:34:14 whatever your
00:34:14 --> 00:34:14 status,
00:34:14 --> 00:34:17 there is only
00:34:17 --> 00:34:18 one spouse
00:34:18 --> 00:34:20 that can give
00:34:20 --> 00:34:20 you the joy
00:34:20 --> 00:34:21 and the
00:34:21 --> 00:34:21 fulfillment that
00:34:21 --> 00:34:22 you need.
00:34:24 --> 00:34:24 Babylon cannot
00:34:24 --> 00:34:25 provide it for
00:34:25 --> 00:34:26 you,
00:34:27 --> 00:34:28 only Jesus
00:34:28 --> 00:34:29 Christ.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:31 And this is
00:34:31 --> 00:34:32 what awaits
00:34:32 --> 00:34:32 all those who
00:34:32 --> 00:34:33 accept the
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 invitation to
00:34:34 --> 00:34:34 the feast.
00:34:35 --> 00:34:35 And this
00:34:35 --> 00:34:36 invitation is
00:34:36 --> 00:34:37 your invitation,
00:34:37 --> 00:34:37 every single
00:34:37 --> 00:34:38 person who
00:34:38 --> 00:34:38 hears these
00:34:38 --> 00:34:39 words.
00:34:39 --> 00:34:40 Chapter 19
00:34:40 --> 00:34:41 verse 9,
00:34:41 --> 00:34:41 then the
00:34:41 --> 00:34:42 angel said to
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 me,
00:34:42 --> 00:34:43 write this,
00:34:43 --> 00:34:45 blessed are
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 those who
00:34:46 --> 00:34:47 are invited
00:34:47 --> 00:34:47 to the
00:34:47 --> 00:34:48 wedding supper
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 of the
00:34:48 --> 00:34:48 Lamb.
00:34:48 --> 00:34:49 And that
00:34:49 --> 00:34:49 is your
00:34:49 --> 00:34:50 invitation right
00:34:50 --> 00:34:50 there,
00:34:50 --> 00:34:51 right now.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:52 It's like
00:34:52 --> 00:34:52 John getting
00:34:52 --> 00:34:53 out and he's
00:34:53 --> 00:34:54 writing the
00:34:54 --> 00:34:55 wedding invitations
00:34:55 --> 00:34:56 and dispersing
00:34:56 --> 00:34:57 it to all of
00:34:57 --> 00:34:57 humanity.
00:34:58 --> 00:34:58 The invitation
00:34:58 --> 00:34:59 is there,
00:34:59 --> 00:35:00 come to
00:35:00 --> 00:35:01 Jesus,
00:35:01 --> 00:35:02 experience his
00:35:02 --> 00:35:02 love, his
00:35:02 --> 00:35:03 acceptance, his
00:35:03 --> 00:35:04 relationship, and
00:35:04 --> 00:35:06 his eternal
00:35:06 --> 00:35:06 joy.
00:35:06 --> 00:35:07 Believe in
00:35:07 --> 00:35:09 Jesus, trust
00:35:09 --> 00:35:10 in the work of
00:35:10 --> 00:35:10 the cross that
00:35:10 --> 00:35:11 he's done for
00:35:11 --> 00:35:11 you.
00:35:13 --> 00:35:16 Do it
00:35:16 --> 00:35:16 today.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:17 Get
00:35:17 --> 00:35:18 connected with
00:35:18 --> 00:35:19 us online,
00:35:19 --> 00:35:20 send us an
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 email, speak
00:35:22 --> 00:35:22 to one of the
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 staff or a
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 friend who's
00:35:23 --> 00:35:23 brought you
00:35:23 --> 00:35:24 here today.
00:35:25 --> 00:35:26 In chapter
00:35:26 --> 00:35:27 18, John
00:35:27 --> 00:35:28 calls us to
00:35:28 --> 00:35:28 leave Babylon.
00:35:30 --> 00:35:31 It's not a
00:35:31 --> 00:35:32 call to a
00:35:32 --> 00:35:33 new geographical
00:35:33 --> 00:35:34 location like,
00:35:34 --> 00:35:35 hey, you
00:35:35 --> 00:35:35 know, let's
00:35:35 --> 00:35:36 leave Sydney
00:35:36 --> 00:35:36 and move to
00:35:36 --> 00:35:37 Orange.
00:35:37 --> 00:35:37 He's not
00:35:37 --> 00:35:38 talking about
00:35:38 --> 00:35:38 that.
00:35:38 --> 00:35:42 It's an
00:35:42 --> 00:35:42 ideological
00:35:42 --> 00:35:44 shift is
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 what he's
00:35:44 --> 00:35:44 calling us
00:35:44 --> 00:35:45 to.
00:35:46 --> 00:35:46 He's calling
00:35:46 --> 00:35:47 us to
00:35:47 --> 00:35:48 adopt a
00:35:48 --> 00:35:49 different set
00:35:49 --> 00:35:49 of values,
00:35:50 --> 00:35:50 a different
00:35:50 --> 00:35:51 set of
00:35:51 --> 00:35:51 priorities,
00:35:52 --> 00:35:52 a different
00:35:52 --> 00:35:53 allegiance,
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 a different
00:35:54 --> 00:35:55 object of
00:35:55 --> 00:35:56 worship.
00:35:56 --> 00:35:57 He is calling
00:35:57 --> 00:35:58 us to be
00:35:58 --> 00:35:59 citizens of
00:35:59 --> 00:36:00 the wedding
00:36:00 --> 00:36:01 feast of the
00:36:01 --> 00:36:01 Lamb.
00:36:01 --> 00:36:04 the message
00:36:04 --> 00:36:05 of Revelation
00:36:05 --> 00:36:07 is that
00:36:07 --> 00:36:08 that is the
00:36:08 --> 00:36:09 only alternative
00:36:09 --> 00:36:12 to the
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 fate of
00:36:12 --> 00:36:12 Babylon,
00:36:14 --> 00:36:15 the city
00:36:15 --> 00:36:16 of God.
00:36:19 --> 00:36:20 It is a
00:36:20 --> 00:36:21 call here to
00:36:21 --> 00:36:21 a new city,
00:36:22 --> 00:36:23 a different
00:36:23 --> 00:36:24 city, a
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 city where
00:36:24 --> 00:36:24 there's no
00:36:24 --> 00:36:25 pain, no
00:36:25 --> 00:36:26 loss, where
00:36:26 --> 00:36:27 there is just
00:36:27 --> 00:36:28 gain and joy
00:36:28 --> 00:36:29 increasing
00:36:29 --> 00:36:30 forever.
00:36:31 --> 00:36:31 Which is
00:36:31 --> 00:36:32 what you
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 were made
00:36:32 --> 00:36:32 for.
00:36:35 --> 00:36:35 But I'm
00:36:35 --> 00:36:36 getting ahead
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 of myself
00:36:36 --> 00:36:36 because we're
00:36:36 --> 00:36:37 going to talk
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 more about
00:36:37 --> 00:36:37 that city
00:36:37 --> 00:36:38 next week.