Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Jesus, the Living One

Transcript

Jesus, the Living One · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

0:00
Well, turn with me now, please, to the passage we read in Revelation chapter 1, and reading again at verse 17.
0:08
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead, but he laid his right hand on me, saying, Fear not.
0:18
I am the first and the last and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades.
0:29
Well, this revelation that came to John, as he tells us himself here in verse 9, came to him when he was in the Isle of Patmos.
0:42
Patmos was a place that the Roman authorities at the time used as a penal colony.
0:51
They used to send people there who they regarded as troublemakers or potential troublemakers,
0:56
and that's how they regarded some of the leading figures in the church as well at times during the times of the Roman Empire.
1:05
And he tells us he was here in verse 9 in the Isle of Patmos for the patient endurance and tribulation of Jesus.
1:20
He was there because he was regarded as a threat to the authority of the empire.
1:28
He was sent to the Isle of Patmos to be banished there.
1:32
It was an island which was very difficult to escape from.
1:36
In other words, he was one of those persecuted for his role in the church,
1:42
for his leadership in the church, for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:47
And it's interesting, he calls himself their brother and partner in tribulation and the kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus.
1:58
Now, that obviously would be greatly encouraging to those that he was writing to,
2:02
because it's obvious going through the book of the Revelation that he was writing to people who knew what persecution was.
2:09
And he was writing to encourage them, so he describes himself as being at one with them.
2:15
And he's saying to them, although I'm an apostle, I'm in the same situation as you are.
2:21
I haven't escaped the persecutions.
2:23
I'm writing to you from the Isle of Patmos.
2:26
And he says he was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week.
2:32
He was in the Spirit.
2:33
That means he was under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
2:38
That doesn't mean he was in an ecstasy where he didn't know what he was doing.
2:41
But he was under the control, under the inspiration, and under the government or control of the Holy Spirit.
2:49
So, in other words, what he's writing afterwards, the interpretation of the things that he saw and heard,
2:55
they came to him because of the teaching of the Holy Spirit.
2:58
He was under that Holy Spirit's influence at the time.
3:02
He was there in the Lord's Day in the Spirit.
3:04
And it's significant that he mentions it was on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week,
3:10
which was a celebration in many ways of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, as it still is for us.
3:17
This is what the Lord's Day is for us today.
3:20
We are here today celebrating the fact that Christ is risen from the dead,
3:24
ascended to glory, as we've been singing in Psalm 68.
3:27
He ascended up on high and led captivity captive.
3:31
He assumed his place on the throne of heaven, on the throne of the universe,
3:37
presiding over all his enemies, including, as we'll see here, death as well.
3:44
And that's important in the context of the book of the Revelation.
3:48
It's probably a book that most of us don't read too often,
3:52
and a book that has many things in it that are difficult to understand
3:57
and difficult even to present by way of setting out its teaching.
4:02
And it's quite common and understandable that people avoid the book of the Revelation,
4:07
you know, so as not to go into it too deeply,
4:09
because it is, in parts, very difficult to understand,
4:12
even for ourselves who preach the Word of God.
4:15
But it's important that we realize,
4:16
what is the purpose of the book of the Revelation?
4:19
What is the main thread of teaching running through the book of the Revelation?
4:23
It is the triumph of Jesus.
4:27
It is the supremacy of Jesus over all the powers that are in the universe,
4:32
including the power of the devil and his angels,
4:35
the powers of evil.
4:36
This thread right through the book of the Revelation says,
4:39
Jesus is King.
4:42
Jesus is Lord.
4:45
There is no power like the power of the Lord.
4:48
There is no authority like the authority of the Lord.
4:51
And the book of the Revelation is a book,
4:54
however difficult passages in it are to understand,
4:58
it's clear right through that this is the thread of teaching.
5:02
We have a Savior who rules the world.
5:06
We have a Savior who is King,
5:08
not just of time, but of eternity.
5:10
We have a Savior who will always be King,
5:15
who will never relinquish his kingship,
5:19
who will never be defeated in carrying out his kingship.
5:25
Today we're worshipping this King.
5:28
We're worshipping the one about whom
5:30
the book of Revelation is
5:32
and reveals his supremacy.
5:35
So these are the things he says that he heard and saw.
5:42
So let's look more closely at verses 17 and 18,
5:46
17 to 18 especially.
5:49
When I saw him,
5:50
he describes what he saw there in the passage there
5:56
from verse 12,
5:58
when he turned to see.
5:59
And in fact,
6:00
from verse 12 down to 16,
6:02
that's actually the longest description of Jesus
6:06
that you have in the whole Bible.
6:09
It's a precise description of Jesus.
6:12
All these words describe the person of Jesus
6:15
and where he is.
6:17
And it's the longest uninterrupted description
6:20
of Jesus in the Bible.
6:21
That's by the way,
6:22
but it's important.
6:23
And what is John's response?
6:25
Well,
6:26
something a bit like in Acts chapter 9,
6:28
when Paul was on the way to,
6:29
Saul was on the way to Damascus
6:33
when he was carrying certain messages,
6:35
having been for years an opponent of Jesus.
6:39
He met the risen Jesus.
6:41
Jesus came into his path
6:44
and interrupted his progress
6:45
and revealed himself.
6:47
Glory is light from heaven,
6:48
the same Jesus here
6:50
that you find here in Revelation.
6:53
And what John is telling us is,
6:55
when I saw him,
6:57
I fell at his feet as though dead.
7:01
He didn't say,
7:02
Lord, it's great to see you.
7:04
He didn't react as if this was just an ordinary person
7:08
or some important human being
7:10
that was revealing himself to him.
7:12
He fell at his feet as though dead.
7:15
In other words,
7:15
it's telling us today
7:17
what an awesome sight it is
7:20
to see the risen Jesus.
7:21
What an awesome sight is the glorified Lord.
7:27
We're not worshipping today
7:28
somebody who is tiny
7:30
and just of limited significance.
7:33
We're not worshipping today
7:34
somebody who's just a made-up figure
7:37
by the church over many centuries.
7:40
We're worshipping one
7:42
who is so awesome
7:44
that the Saul of Tarsus,
7:48
who thought he was in charge of his own life,
7:50
and John here,
7:53
the apostle who knew Jesus very well,
7:57
fell at his feet as though dead.
8:00
It was such an overwhelming,
8:03
awesome experience
8:04
to have this confrontation
8:07
with the glorified Christ.
8:10
Now, John knew Jesus very well.
8:17
John knew Jesus in his time on earth.
8:19
He was one of his disciples.
8:21
He was one of the closest to Jesus
8:24
in his walk with him
8:25
while Jesus was with the disciples in this world.
8:29
He knew Jesus very well.
8:30
He was very familiar.
8:32
He loved Jesus.
8:34
He knew him as one that was special to him.
8:36
But he had never seen him
8:39
as he saw him here.
8:41
He had never before been confronted
8:44
with a glorified Jesus.
8:49
He didn't fall down before him,
8:51
though he knew Jesus very well previously
8:53
and say,
8:54
Lord, it is good to see you.
8:57
It was good to see him.
8:58
But he fell at his feet
9:01
as though dead.
9:04
He was overwhelmed.
9:07
The glorified, risen Christ
9:09
was such an awesome sight.
9:12
This was the only proper response,
9:15
just to fall prostrate at his feet
9:18
and acknowledge him for who he is.
9:24
And you know,
9:24
this is such a wonderful emphasis,
9:26
not just in terms of the awesomeness
9:30
of the glorified Jesus,
9:31
but go to verse 13.
9:34
In the midst of the lampstands,
9:37
one like a son of man.
9:39
This is Jesus being described.
9:41
The lampstands, he tells us
9:42
in the final verse of the chapter,
9:44
are representative of the seven churches.
9:47
In other words, the whole church.
9:49
I think we can take it that
9:50
the letters to the seven churches
9:52
at the time,
9:53
they were real churches
9:54
in real locations on earth.
9:55
But they really stand for,
9:57
if you like,
9:57
the whole church throughout time
9:59
where Jesus presides over them
10:02
and speaks to them.
10:03
But he says he is in the midst
10:06
of the lampstands.
10:10
Who is in the midst of the lampstands?
10:13
What's he like,
10:14
this person that's in the midst
10:15
of the lampstands?
10:16
Here we are gathered here today
10:18
as worshipers of the Lord,
10:20
and we have the assurance of the Lord
10:22
that wherever the two or three
10:24
are gathered in my name,
10:26
I am there in the midst.
10:27
Who is there in their midst?
10:31
Whose presence are we seeking today?
10:36
Presence of this person.
10:39
This glorified Jesus
10:40
through his Holy Spirit.
10:43
And you know,
10:44
there are many times
10:45
when I, as much as anybody else,
10:47
need to stop myself
10:48
and just ask myself
10:50
and say to myself,
10:52
who are you going to be
10:53
preaching about today?
10:55
Whose presence do you want
10:56
to be with you today?
10:58
Whose presence do you want
11:00
to be in that congregation today
11:01
as you preach the gospel to them?
11:04
This Jesus.
11:06
This person.
11:07
This grand,
11:11
magnificent,
11:13
in many ways,
11:15
indescribable person.
11:18
That's who's here today.
11:23
That's who's here in our midst.
11:27
We can't see him physically
11:28
with your eye,
11:31
but if you experience today
11:32
his touch on your heart
11:33
or on your mind,
11:35
remember who he is.
11:37
Remember what he's like now.
11:41
Remember where he is.
11:44
Remember what John says about him.
11:48
Remember John's response.
11:51
Remember the way he was overwhelmed
11:53
by this vision of Jesus.
11:58
Friends,
12:00
we live in a world
12:01
where Jesus is,
12:03
if thought about at all,
12:05
is denigrated.
12:06
Just a figure you kick aside
12:09
as you think about him briefly.
12:12
Or somebody you find easy
12:14
to ridicule
12:15
as you ridicule the gospel.
12:18
Just think of what it's going
12:19
to be like.
12:22
Just what it's like now
12:24
to be in the presence
12:25
of the Jesus
12:26
who's in the midst of his church.
12:28
Think of what it's going
12:29
to be like to face him
12:30
as he sits on the throne
12:33
of judgment
12:34
and at the end
12:35
of the history of the world.
12:38
Think of all those millions
12:39
of people
12:40
who've dismissed him
12:40
and who come
12:43
when it's too late
12:44
to realize
12:45
what a glorious person he is.
12:48
What authority he has.
12:51
What magnificence is here.
12:54
Who is Jesus to you?
12:55
What's he like
12:58
in your own experience?
12:59
What do you think about today
13:01
as you think of Christ?
13:03
Do you just think of someone
13:05
who appeared on the earth
13:06
for a few years
13:07
and gave great teaching
13:08
to the disciples
13:09
and died on the cross
13:11
of Calvary
13:12
and arose again
13:13
from the dead
13:14
and is that about it?
13:17
Is Jesus in your life
13:19
the biggest
13:21
the most important
13:24
the most significant
13:27
of all people?
13:31
Is he your saviour?
13:34
And if you confess him
13:35
as your saviour
13:36
is this how you see him?
13:40
Is this who you serve?
13:42
John's response
13:45
response is falling
13:47
as though dead
13:48
as his feet
13:49
but he laid his right hand
13:50
on me he said
13:51
and of course that's
13:54
and he touched him
13:55
he laid his right hand
13:56
on me saying
13:56
fear not
13:57
I am the first
13:58
and the last.
14:00
Briefly
14:00
you find in the
14:02
gospel records
14:03
the Lord coming to
14:04
lay his hand
14:05
on certain people
14:06
maybe at the time
14:06
he was healing people
14:08
he communicated something
14:10
through his touch
14:11
as well as
14:12
through his words
14:13
and John is saying
14:15
he laid his hand
14:16
on me saying
14:16
fear not
14:18
in other words
14:18
he's saying
14:19
John don't be afraid
14:20
I understand
14:22
why you've fallen
14:24
at my feet
14:24
as dead
14:25
but don't be afraid
14:27
and he said that
14:28
to the disciples
14:29
when he was walking
14:30
on the sea
14:31
and they were terrified
14:31
and he said
14:33
don't be afraid
14:34
it is I
14:35
it's myself
14:37
and you know
14:38
one of the wonderful things
14:39
that you can take
14:40
from this today
14:41
is that
14:42
the glorified Christ
14:44
for all his magnificence
14:46
in all his magnificence
14:47
the glorified Christ
14:49
still has the same touch
14:51
of comfort
14:52
of assurance
14:53
of reassurance
14:55
for his people
14:56
here on earth
14:57
it's the same Jesus
14:59
who ministers to us
15:00
in our need here
15:02
as minister to John
15:04
here on the isle of Patmos
15:05
that's your counselor
15:08
that's your friend
15:11
this glorious
15:14
exalted Jesus
15:17
he's the one you
15:20
today
15:20
experience in your life
15:23
as a Christian
15:24
the one who lays
15:26
his hand upon you
15:27
and assures you
15:28
it's me
15:29
you can't see me
15:31
I'm glorified
15:33
I'm exalted
15:34
I'm indescribably
15:37
magnificent
15:37
I have all authority
15:39
in heaven and earth
15:40
but I'm here for you
15:43
isn't that something
15:48
that encourages
15:50
your heart today
15:51
as it also
15:52
humbles us
15:53
that this Jesus
15:56
is the one
15:58
who's with us
15:58
on the way
15:59
through life
16:00
when our trust
16:01
is in him
16:02
that whatever
16:03
our circumstances
16:04
it's this Jesus
16:06
that comes to us
16:07
and say
16:07
don't you be afraid
16:08
I'm in control
16:10
I'm on the throne
16:11
of the universe
16:12
I have my hand
16:14
on your life
16:15
I have a grasp
16:17
of you
16:17
and of your future
16:18
as well as your past
16:19
don't be afraid
16:21
where else
16:24
is an assurance
16:25
and reassurance
16:26
like that today
16:28
and so he comes
16:31
to reassure John
16:32
and he says to him
16:33
fear not
16:34
I am the first
16:35
and the last
16:36
and the living one
16:37
I died
16:38
and behold
16:39
I am alive
16:39
forevermore
16:41
I am the first
16:42
and the last
16:43
in other words
16:44
it's really
16:44
telling us something
16:45
about the uniqueness
16:46
of God
16:47
and the uniqueness
16:48
of Jesus
16:49
the uniqueness
16:50
of this person
16:51
it takes us back
16:52
to the likes of
16:53
Isaiah chapter 44
16:54
where God is saying
16:56
there
16:56
thus says
16:57
the Lord
16:58
the King of Israel
16:59
his Redeemer
17:00
the Lord of hosts
17:01
I am the first
17:02
I am the last
17:04
besides me
17:05
there is no God
17:06
who is like me
17:07
let him proclaim it
17:09
let him declare
17:10
let it be said it
17:11
before me
17:11
fear not
17:14
nor be afraid
17:16
have I not told you
17:18
from of old
17:19
and declared it
17:20
is there a God
17:21
besides me
17:22
there is no rock
17:23
I know not any
17:25
the same God
17:27
of Isaiah
17:29
now appearing
17:30
to John
17:31
as the risen
17:32
glorified Christ
17:34
I am
17:35
the first
17:36
and the last
17:36
the living one
17:37
I died
17:39
and am alive
17:39
forevermore
17:41
in other words
17:42
the reassurance
17:44
that comes to us
17:45
from Jesus
17:45
it's not just
17:47
a spoken word
17:48
even though it is
17:49
his word
17:50
it's based
17:51
upon certain
17:52
truths
17:53
if your heart
17:54
is going to be
17:54
comforted today
17:55
you need your
17:56
comfort to come
17:57
on the basis
17:59
of something
17:59
sure
18:00
something certain
18:01
some truth
18:02
that you know
18:02
will not give way
18:03
under your feet
18:04
there it is
18:05
in the Bible
18:05
the truth of God
18:07
the truth that is
18:08
in Christ himself
18:09
that's where your
18:11
comfort is based
18:12
that's where we look
18:13
to for our hope
18:14
isn't it
18:14
we live in a world
18:15
where many
18:16
politicians will say
18:17
no this is hope
18:18
we've got hope
18:19
for you
18:20
what's it based upon
18:21
sadly
18:23
many times
18:24
it's based on
18:25
human wisdom
18:25
only
18:26
but Jesus
18:28
comes to you
18:29
today in the
18:29
gospel and says
18:30
this is comfort
18:31
for you
18:32
this is reassurance
18:34
for you
18:34
this is certainty
18:37
for you
18:38
fear not
18:39
because I am
18:40
the first
18:41
and the last
18:41
I am the living
18:44
one
18:44
who died
18:45
and is alive
18:46
forevermore
18:47
now it's possible
18:48
to translate that
18:50
when he says
18:51
the first
18:51
and the last
18:52
and then what
18:53
follows on from that
18:54
as the first
18:56
you can think of God
18:58
being the source
18:59
of all the creation
19:00
he created
19:01
brought all things
19:02
into being
19:03
I am the first
19:04
I am the one
19:05
who's been there
19:06
from all eternity
19:07
and I brought
19:08
everything else
19:08
that exists
19:09
into being
19:10
and I am the last
19:11
he will bring
19:12
all things
19:13
to the conclusion
19:15
that he has always
19:16
had in his purpose
19:18
and has appointed
19:19
in other words
19:22
you could say
19:22
from this
19:23
that if you ask
19:24
the question
19:25
who's going to have
19:26
the last word
19:27
on human destiny
19:28
who's going to have
19:30
the last word
19:31
on your life
19:31
and my life
19:33
who's going to have
19:34
the last word
19:35
when it comes to
19:36
my relationship
19:37
to eternity
19:38
and the things
19:39
of eternity
19:39
he is
19:40
I have the last word
19:43
he's saying
19:44
not Putin
19:45
not Trump
19:46
not Hitler
19:47
not Nebuchadnezzar
19:49
not Pharaoh
19:50
none of these
19:51
great word leaders
19:52
down through the
19:52
course of history
19:53
though they themselves
19:54
thought that they
19:55
were the masters
19:56
of their own situation
19:57
and of other nations
19:58
as well
19:59
and God is saying
20:00
regarding them
20:02
and regarding
20:02
everybody else
20:03
who's thought
20:04
that they had
20:04
the last word
20:05
over other people
20:07
no God is saying
20:08
Jesus is saying
20:08
I have the last word
20:11
you may think
20:13
you've got the last word
20:14
in your own life
20:15
you may think
20:17
that you're in control
20:18
of your own life
20:18
you may think
20:19
that today
20:20
and I may think
20:21
and others may think
20:22
when we come to
20:23
leave this world
20:23
we're going to be
20:24
in charge of our
20:25
own destiny
20:26
no no we're not
20:28
Jesus is saying
20:30
I have the last word
20:32
I'm in charge of it
20:34
I'm in control of it
20:36
I'm the governor
20:38
and you're my subjects
20:41
I'm the first
20:44
and the last
20:46
the almighty
20:47
but he says then
20:48
I am
20:49
I died
20:50
and I am alive
20:52
and behold
20:54
I'm alive forevermore
20:55
now that can be
20:56
translated
20:56
some people
20:57
will translate it
20:59
something like follows
21:02
I am the living one
21:04
who died
21:05
and behold
21:07
I am alive
21:08
forevermore
21:08
I am the living one
21:11
who died
21:12
and behold
21:14
I am alive
21:14
forevermore
21:15
in other words
21:15
you think of the death
21:17
of Jesus
21:18
as the living one
21:20
the God he is
21:22
in our nature
21:23
having taken
21:24
our human nature
21:25
to himself
21:26
you think of
21:27
this God
21:28
the son of God
21:28
the second person
21:29
of the glorious trinity
21:31
that God is
21:31
the living one
21:33
who came
21:35
into this world
21:35
to die
21:36
who experienced death
21:39
through our human nature
21:40
as he gave himself
21:41
to die
21:42
the death
21:42
of the cross
21:43
I am the living one
21:47
who always had life
21:50
in myself
21:51
who was none other
21:54
than God
21:54
from all eternity
21:55
but I'm the living one
21:58
who died
21:59
my divine nature
22:02
didn't die
22:03
but I died
22:05
through my human nature
22:06
I experienced
22:08
that death
22:09
which you deserved
22:10
through my human nature
22:13
as I gave myself
22:14
to the death
22:16
of the cross
22:16
mystery
22:17
absolutely
22:18
but what a glorious
22:19
truth
22:20
and how important
22:21
to see it
22:21
as a glorious truth
22:23
I am
22:23
the living one
22:25
who died
22:27
or who became dead
22:28
and I'm alive
22:29
forevermore
22:30
I rose from the dead
22:32
I defeated death
22:33
I'm now sitting
22:34
on the right hand
22:35
of God the Father
22:36
I'm in charge
22:37
of the universe
22:38
I have the scroll
22:39
as later chapter here
22:41
5 will tell you
22:43
I have the scroll
22:44
that is opened up
22:46
where all the events
22:48
of history
22:48
are unfolded
22:49
and I'm in charge
22:50
of it
22:50
nobody else
22:52
could open it
22:52
but I opened it
22:54
and I turn its pages
22:57
and I'll do that
23:00
till the last page
23:01
is turned
23:01
and when the last page
23:04
is turned
23:04
that will be the end
23:07
of human history
23:07
in this world
23:08
in this life
23:10
but I will turn it
23:12
I'll be the one
23:14
who'll do that
23:17
and as he says himself
23:22
in John 10
23:22
before he died
23:23
that it was for this reason
23:26
the Father loves him
23:27
because he said
23:29
I lay down my life
23:30
so that I might
23:32
take it again
23:33
this command I received
23:36
from my Father
23:36
what's he talking about
23:37
this is Jesus
23:38
speaking to the disciples
23:40
speaking before his death
23:42
and this is how he speaks
23:43
of himself
23:43
it's because of this
23:47
the Father loves me
23:48
because I lay down my life
23:50
because I the living one
23:52
the living son of God
23:53
I lay down my life
23:55
through my human nature
23:56
I've come to die
23:57
but not only that
24:00
so that I might
24:01
take it again
24:02
in other words
24:05
he's speaking of his
24:06
resurrection
24:06
only the living one
24:09
the son of God
24:12
could lay down his life
24:14
in order to take it again
24:16
in order to take it back
24:19
by resurrection
24:20
from the dead
24:21
and what's resurrection
24:21
from the dead
24:22
it's triumph over death
24:24
the triumph
24:26
that's mentioned here
24:28
as well
24:28
I'm the living one
24:29
who became dead
24:30
and I'm alive
24:32
forevermore
24:34
you see all of that
24:37
fits into this great thread
24:38
that we mentioned
24:39
at the beginning
24:39
running through revelation
24:41
the thread that gives us
24:43
the greatest assurance
24:45
today that if we are
24:46
the Lord's people
24:47
then we're going to
24:49
share in his victory
24:50
we're sharing in it already
24:51
but throughout eternity
24:53
this will be our song
24:54
unto him who loved us
24:56
and washed us from our sins
24:58
to him be glory
25:00
and majesty
25:01
and dominion
25:02
and power
25:02
forevermore
25:03
forevermore
25:03
I am the living one
25:10
who became dead
25:12
and I am alive
25:15
forevermore
25:16
what a saviour you have today
25:20
what a privilege is yours
25:24
to be a Christian
25:25
not just to be taught
25:28
by words that Jesus
25:29
left us in the Bible
25:31
not just to know
25:33
that he has given us
25:34
certain things
25:35
that will last us
25:36
throughout time
25:37
and on into eternity
25:38
but what a privilege
25:40
to know that
25:41
this is our friend
25:43
this is our companion
25:45
this is the one we love
25:48
this is the one
25:50
we look after us
25:52
will look after us
25:54
why are we assured of that
25:56
well because of what
25:58
he's done already
25:59
because he's the living one
26:01
who died
26:02
and now is alive
26:04
forevermore
26:06
and he finishes by saying
26:09
and I have the keys
26:12
of death
26:13
and Hades
26:14
Hades sometimes translated
26:17
hell in the older
26:18
translations
26:19
but Hades is a Greek word
26:21
which really
26:22
really means the realm
26:24
of the dead
26:24
or the place of the dead
26:25
sometimes there's
26:26
there's no distinction
26:27
made between those
26:28
who left this world
26:30
have gone to heaven
26:31
and those who've gone
26:32
to a lost eternity
26:33
you can call hell
26:34
or Hades
26:35
but Hades sometimes
26:36
is just a general description
26:38
of what's beyond this world
26:40
we continue to live
26:42
beyond this world
26:43
and in other passages
26:44
of the Bible
26:45
it's obvious that
26:47
Hades
26:47
the realm of the dead
26:49
is actually
26:50
inhabited by
26:53
those who live
26:55
forevermore
26:56
and those who have
26:58
an eternal death
26:59
in hell
27:00
and
27:00
the way hell
27:02
is usually described
27:03
but you see
27:05
the important thing here
27:06
is
27:06
not so much going into
27:08
the meaning of the words
27:09
as such
27:09
though that's important
27:10
I have the keys
27:13
I have the keys
27:15
of death
27:16
and of Hades
27:17
of the realm
27:17
of the dead
27:18
I'm the only one
27:20
who has the authority
27:21
to unlock it
27:22
or the authority
27:23
to lock it
27:24
and today
27:26
as your saviour
27:27
Jesus is saying
27:28
as he's come
27:29
to release you
27:30
from the guilt
27:31
of sin
27:32
as he's forgiven
27:33
your sin
27:34
as you've come
27:35
to accept him
27:36
as your saviour
27:36
Jesus is saying
27:37
I have turned the key
27:39
in your life
27:40
and released you
27:41
from the grip
27:41
of death
27:42
from the grip
27:43
of condemnation
27:44
as Paul wrote
27:45
to the Romans
27:45
there is therefore now
27:47
no condemnation
27:48
to those
27:49
who are in
27:50
Christ Jesus
27:51
why is there
27:52
no condemnation
27:53
because of what
27:54
Jesus has done
27:55
and who Jesus is
27:56
why is there
27:57
no condemnation
27:58
because he has
27:59
the key
27:59
of death
28:00
and if Christ
28:04
unlocks
28:05
the door of death
28:06
to any one of us
28:07
and saves us
28:09
from it
28:09
nobody's going
28:11
to close it
28:12
on us
28:12
but the other
28:17
side is equally
28:18
true remember
28:19
because if once
28:23
we've lost
28:23
left this world
28:24
and enter
28:25
a lost eternity
28:26
if we're not
28:27
saved
28:28
Jesus
28:30
is going
28:31
to turn
28:31
the key
28:32
on hell
28:33
for us
28:34
and nobody
28:37
has the authority
28:37
to open it
28:38
there is no
28:40
exit
28:41
when Christ
28:43
has turned
28:44
the key
28:44
that's why
28:49
it's so important
28:50
for you
28:50
and for me
28:51
today
28:51
that before
28:53
we die
28:54
we have come
28:55
to know him
28:56
as the one
28:58
who has
28:59
unlocked
28:59
the door
29:00
to life
29:00
for us
29:01
and locked
29:03
the door
29:04
to hell
29:04
forever
29:05
against our
29:06
entry
29:07
john's
29:12
response
29:12
and christ's
29:14
reassurance
29:15
and at the
29:18
end of
29:19
revelation
29:19
it comes
29:21
to a
29:22
climax
29:22
in its
29:22
teaching
29:23
when it
29:24
speaks in
29:25
chapter 20
29:26
about the
29:27
great throne
29:28
the great
29:28
white throne
29:29
that was set
29:31
up before
29:31
whom
29:32
everyone
29:33
who ever
29:34
lived
29:34
will come
29:35
to be
29:36
will come
29:38
to stand
29:38
and this
29:39
is
29:39
you remember
29:39
how it
29:40
says
29:40
in chapter
29:41
20
29:42
and verses
29:42
11 and
29:43
12
29:43
then i saw
29:45
the great
29:46
white throne
29:46
and him
29:48
who was
29:48
seated on
29:48
it from
29:49
his presence
29:50
earth
29:51
and sky
29:51
fled away
29:52
and no
29:53
place was
29:54
found for
29:55
them
29:55
and i saw
29:56
the dead
29:57
great and
29:57
small
29:58
standing
29:59
before the
29:59
throne
30:00
and the
30:01
books were
30:01
opened
30:02
then another
30:03
book was
30:04
opened
30:04
which is
30:05
the book
30:05
of life
30:05
and the
30:07
dead
30:07
were judged
30:08
by what
30:08
was written
30:09
in the
30:09
books
30:09
according
30:11
to what
30:11
they had
30:12
done
30:12
and the
30:13
sea
30:14
gave up
30:14
the dead
30:14
who were
30:15
in it
30:15
death
30:16
and hades
30:17
gave up
30:17
the dead
30:18
who were
30:18
in them
30:19
and they
30:20
were judged
30:20
each one
30:21
of them
30:21
according
30:22
to what
30:23
they had
30:23
done
30:23
then death
30:25
and hades
30:26
were thrown
30:26
into the
30:27
lake of
30:27
fire
30:27
this is
30:29
the second
30:29
death
30:30
the lake
30:31
of fire
30:32
and if
30:33
anyone's
30:33
name was
30:34
not found
30:34
written
30:34
in the
30:36
book of
30:36
life
30:36
he was
30:38
thrown
30:38
into
30:39
the lake
30:41
of fire
30:42
friends these
30:46
things in
30:46
eternity are
30:47
real
30:47
but christ
30:51
has come
30:52
to rescue
30:52
us
30:53
from that
30:56
death and
30:56
hell that the
30:57
bible speaks
30:58
of and
31:00
to bring
31:00
us into
31:01
the possession
31:01
of that
31:02
life which
31:04
he himself
31:05
has authority
31:06
to give
31:07
us a
31:09
life which
31:10
he says
31:10
in john's
31:12
gospel is
31:14
abundant
31:14
life he
31:17
came to
31:18
give us
31:18
life he
31:20
experienced
31:21
and gave
31:21
himself to
31:22
death to
31:22
give us
31:23
life he
31:24
rose from
31:25
the dead
31:25
to give
31:26
us life
31:26
he is
31:28
exalted
31:28
to heaven
31:29
to give
31:30
us life
31:30
he is the
31:33
glorious one
31:33
before whom
31:34
paul and
31:35
john fell
31:36
down at
31:36
his feet
31:37
as though
31:38
dead
31:38
but you
31:40
know all
31:41
of that
31:41
is so
31:43
that you
31:43
and i
31:44
will live
31:44
through him
31:45
so that
31:47
we will
31:47
know him
31:48
as the
31:50
one who
31:51
said i
31:51
am the
31:53
way the
31:54
truth and
31:54
the life
31:55
whoever
31:57
comes to
31:58
me i
32:00
will never
32:01
cast out
32:03
may god
32:04
bless these
32:05
thoughts on
32:06
his word
32:06
to us we're
32:07
going to sing
32:07
in conclusion
32:08
now singing
32:09
in psalm
32:10
95
32:10
psalm 95
32:13
in the
32:14
scottish
32:14
altar 1
32:15
to 6
32:15
oh come
32:18
let us
32:19
sing to
32:19
the lord
32:19
come let
32:20
us everyone
32:21
a joyful
32:22
noise make
32:23
to the
32:23
rock of
32:23
our salvation
32:24
let us
32:25
before his
32:26
presence come
32:27
with praise
32:27
and thankful
32:28
voice let
32:29
us sing
32:30
psalms to
32:30
him with
32:31
grace and
32:31
make a
32:33
joyful noise
32:34
and as we
32:34
sing these
32:35
verses to
32:36
the end of
32:36
verse 6
32:37
we're conscious
32:37
that we're
32:38
singing about
32:40
and we're
32:40
singing to
32:41
the one
32:41
who's described
32:43
in revelation
32:43
as our
32:45
great king
32:45
oh come
32:46
let us
32:47
sing to
32:47
the lord
32:48
oh come
32:55
let us
32:56
sing to
32:57
the lord
32:59
come
33:00
let us
33:02
every
33:03
one
33:05
a joyful
33:08
noise
33:10
make
33:10
to
33:11
the
33:12
moment
33:42
And make a joyful noise.
33:48
For God, a great Lord and great King,
33:55
half of all God's ears,
34:02
shares of the earth that met his hand,
34:09
the strength of hills is his.
34:16
To him the spacious sea belongs,
34:24
for he the same did be.
34:30
That high land also from his hands
34:37
is for man's worshiping.
34:43
O come and let us worship him,
34:51
let us bow down with hope,
34:56
and on our knees before the Lord,
35:04
our ringer, let us all.
35:10
If you would let me get to the main door,
35:14
please, after the benediction.
35:16
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
35:18
the love of God the Father,
35:20
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
35:21
be with you now and evermore.
35:22
Amen.
35:23
Amen.
35:29
Amen.
36:01
Thank you.