1 00:00:04,660 --> 00:00:10,419 Greetings. This is Pastor David Bass at New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a 2 00:00:10,419 --> 00:00:15,279 moment of truth, where we challenge you to think through an important issue of life and faith. 3 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:21,859 And today, I would like to challenge you to think through the issue of how do we interpret biblical 4 00:00:21,859 --> 00:00:30,500 prophecy? How do we interpret biblical prophecy? Now, that may seem a little obvious to most people. 5 00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:36,020 Well, you read it, and then you tell us what it means, right? Well, there's a little more to it than 6 00:00:36,020 --> 00:00:42,640 that. And I'm afraid that is a very important issue in the life of the church today that many, 7 00:00:42,759 --> 00:00:50,399 many people have neglected, and they assume that because they read it and interpret it in the way 8 00:00:50,399 --> 00:00:57,280 and the style that they've been taught, that that's the way it is. When in reality, there are very 9 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:04,599 specific rules for interpreting what we call apocalyptic. Yes, that literature in the Bible, 10 00:01:05,019 --> 00:01:15,159 the letters, prophecies that are laid out by the biblical writers, all fit a particular style of 11 00:01:15,159 --> 00:01:22,340 writing. And every style of writing, which is called genre, every style of writing or genre has its own 12 00:01:22,340 --> 00:01:28,260 particular rules by which to interpret that literature. And we went over those a little bit 13 00:01:28,260 --> 00:01:37,459 last week, so I won't tell you, go over those again and repeat them. But there are particular 14 00:01:37,459 --> 00:01:44,599 rules for interpreting apocalyptic, and many of those are ignored by today's interpreters. And this 15 00:01:44,599 --> 00:01:51,799 has been increasingly frustrating for me as a Bible student, as a pastor, and as somebody who has 16 00:01:51,799 --> 00:02:00,959 studied apocalyptic literature for years now. There are many in our world who consider themselves to be 17 00:02:00,959 --> 00:02:09,520 experts at interpreting Bible prophecy. They've maybe downloaded a few videos off the internet, 18 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:16,500 and they've graduated from what I call YouTube University. And perhaps they've downloaded some 19 00:02:16,500 --> 00:02:22,520 very exciting and the graphics are getting better and better with these videos, aren't they? Perhaps 20 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:31,139 they've downloaded a few videos on the Great Tribulation. Boy, that lends itself so well to graphics, 21 00:02:31,139 --> 00:02:41,099 doesn't it? To YouTube videos with dragons and antichrists and seven-year tribulations with all of the 22 00:02:41,099 --> 00:02:48,680 outcomes that that entails. So there are many experts out there who have graduated from YouTube 23 00:02:48,680 --> 00:03:00,060 University, and I call them apocalypse astrologers because they have a whole stack of then Bible 24 00:03:00,060 --> 00:03:08,879 text tarot cards. Bible text tarot cards. And they will do a reading for you on Bible prophecy at the 25 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:15,300 drop of a hat. And they will sound oh so expert and oh so smooth in their presentations, and they'll 26 00:03:15,300 --> 00:03:23,000 turn over perhaps a card, a Bible text tarot card with rapture. Oh, that's always a popular one. 27 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:29,860 The rapture is in your future, and you can have a Bible text tarot card reading done on your life 28 00:03:29,860 --> 00:03:36,219 maybe they turn over another card with the temple. Oh, that's a very popular one too. A little bit 29 00:03:36,219 --> 00:03:43,300 more obscure perhaps, because indeed Israel will soon rebuild the temple, what's called the 30 00:03:43,300 --> 00:03:49,479 Tribulation Temple. That's the Tribulation Temple Bible text tarot card. And on and on we could go. 31 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:56,340 Where you have a prophetic reading done for you by this graduate of YouTube University, 32 00:03:56,340 --> 00:04:03,979 this apocalypse astrologer. Well, I'm being a little facetious here because I've seen this for years 33 00:04:03,979 --> 00:04:10,199 and years and years now, ever since 1976 when I first read Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth. 34 00:04:10,879 --> 00:04:20,079 And these apocalypse interpreters, these apocalypse astrologers, have been doing these kinds of Bible 35 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:27,620 text tarot readings now for decades and decades and decades. And still, the church goes on, though. 36 00:04:27,819 --> 00:04:35,420 And this is my point, is that the church continues to build. The church continues then to take dominion 37 00:04:35,420 --> 00:04:41,420 over the world that Christ has claimed since his resurrection and ascension into heaven. 38 00:04:42,079 --> 00:04:47,120 And the gates of hell, we are promised, will not stand against us. That's a very aggressive 39 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:56,579 and offensive in terms of offense and defense. We are meant to be offensive in our taking of ground 40 00:04:56,579 --> 00:05:03,139 for the Lord Jesus Christ and his kingdom. And the literature, a prophecy, assures us this. 41 00:05:03,740 --> 00:05:11,800 Consequently, we say that indeed there will be a time of glory and peace and salvation 42 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:19,699 and renovation of the earth prior to Christ's return. That makes us post-millennialists. That is 43 00:05:19,699 --> 00:05:28,199 the millennium, that time of peace and grace and salvation and prosperity will happen before 44 00:05:28,199 --> 00:05:34,939 Christ's return. And Christ will accomplish this through his church. And so we call ourselves 45 00:05:34,939 --> 00:05:41,720 post-millennialists. And we are having a midweek Bible study, New Geneva, Orthodox Presbyterian 46 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:49,360 Church is having a midweek Bible study in which we are studying this particular position of 47 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:57,240 post-millennialism. And we're doing that at Leo's Place in Idaho Falls at 7 p.m. on Thursday nights. 48 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:04,100 And we invite you to join us and to hear perhaps this perspective. We've also been comparing and 49 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:11,220 contrasting with a variety of other views. And we've been looking at the different rules 50 00:06:11,220 --> 00:06:17,819 for interpreting apocalyptic literature, for interpreting biblical prophecy. And there are 51 00:06:17,819 --> 00:06:23,959 rules for doing this. And we went over the first three last week, and we'll go through the other 52 00:06:23,959 --> 00:06:30,339 seven here today as well. And I'll quickly go over the first three we covered last week. Number one, 53 00:06:30,699 --> 00:06:36,660 apocalyptic by its very nature reveals spiritual realities through the text. Spiritual realities. 54 00:06:36,660 --> 00:06:43,759 The text was not meant to be interpreted literally. Apocalyptic by its very nature spiritualizes the 55 00:06:43,759 --> 00:06:50,899 text. We saw this in some detail last week. So don't let your Bible teachers tell you that you need 56 00:06:50,899 --> 00:06:59,240 to interpret prophecy literally. That's exactly the wrong method. Number two, apocalyptic mostly uses 57 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:07,040 numbers symbolically, not literally. Once again, highly symbolic literature is apocalyptic. And so even 58 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:13,759 the numbers then are generally used symbolically. And we went over that in some detail too. And I refer you 59 00:07:13,759 --> 00:07:22,540 to our last week's message on this topic for further explanation of that. Number three, apocalyptic uses 60 00:07:22,540 --> 00:07:32,180 vivid, imaginative, and sometimes bizarre metaphors to portray contemporary, that is near and soon to be 61 00:07:32,180 --> 00:07:41,740 fulfilled, historical realities, not far-off future events. Yes, the audience to whom the Apostle John was 62 00:07:41,740 --> 00:07:48,819 writing in Revelation, for example, was that first century audience, not the audience in 2001, 63 00:07:48,819 --> 00:07:56,819 2002, no, no, 2023, no. It was written first and foremost to them. It doesn't mean that we can't 64 00:07:56,819 --> 00:08:03,399 apply it. It doesn't mean that there isn't a rich trove of meaning there for us. It's just that that 65 00:08:03,399 --> 00:08:12,779 first meaning, that first audience was John's contemporaries. Okay, number four then. And we come 66 00:08:12,779 --> 00:08:20,139 now to rule number four for interpreting apocalyptic, and that is apocalyptic or Bible prophecy 67 00:08:20,139 --> 00:08:28,420 uses the tool of recapitulation in order to return to or revisit previous themes that have been 68 00:08:28,420 --> 00:08:34,919 articulated to further expand those themes and develop them. Number four, apocalyptic uses the tool 69 00:08:34,919 --> 00:08:41,340 of recapitulation. That's maybe a new word for many of you, but indeed it means you go back to a previous 70 00:08:41,340 --> 00:08:48,879 theme and you expand upon it and you flourish it and grow it maybe a little bit more than you did at 71 00:08:48,879 --> 00:08:55,720 first. And that happens in Revelation, for example. In Revelation chapter six, verses one and two, we see 72 00:08:55,720 --> 00:09:03,419 this where John says, now I watched when the lamb opened one of the seven seals and I heard one of the four 73 00:09:03,419 --> 00:09:10,139 living creatures say with a voice like thunder, come. And I looked and behold, a white horse and its rider 74 00:09:10,139 --> 00:09:17,159 had a bow and a crown was given to him and he came out conquering and to conquer. Yes, that is none other 75 00:09:17,159 --> 00:09:26,559 than our Lord Jesus Christ beginning then to take his kingdom as those seals are broken. Well, recapitulation 76 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:33,799 says that theme is taken up and developed even further later in the work. And that's precisely what 77 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:41,779 happens in Revelation 19, beginning at verse 11, where we see, then I saw heaven opened and behold, a white 78 00:09:41,779 --> 00:09:49,279 horse. The one sitting on it is called faithful and true and in righteousness, he judges and makes war. And then 79 00:09:49,279 --> 00:09:58,000 that of course goes on to develop the theme of Christ conquering over the forces of evil and taking dominion over 80 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:04,399 his inheritance. Well, that theme is first laid out back in chapter six. The wording is almost the same. 81 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:12,980 Behold, right? A white horse in both chapter six and chapter 19. That's the essence of recapitulation. 82 00:10:13,259 --> 00:10:19,740 It isn't a straight line narrative as so many literalists have it. No, no, no, no, no. 83 00:10:19,740 --> 00:10:26,179 In the very nature of prophetic literature, in the very nature of apocalyptic, this idea of 84 00:10:26,179 --> 00:10:33,159 recapitulation, where you go back, you circle back, if you will, and you revisit a theme you've laid down 85 00:10:33,159 --> 00:10:40,659 already and you expand it and develop it even more. So do not let your prophetic teachers tell you 86 00:10:40,659 --> 00:10:47,580 that Revelation is a straight line narrative. It's not. It has the feature of recapitulation, 87 00:10:47,580 --> 00:10:55,360 for example. Okay. Rule number five for interpreting apocalyptic, for interpreting Bible prophecy. 88 00:10:55,899 --> 00:11:03,600 Number five, apocalyptic uses the technique of oscillation to move from between heaven and earth 89 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:10,679 to show that God knows and controls what goes on, although it may not be apparent to us on earth 90 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:18,259 at the time. The technique of oscillation in interpretation, that is, we go back and forth 91 00:11:18,259 --> 00:11:23,720 between heaven and earth. For example, in Revelation chapter four, verses one and two, 92 00:11:23,919 --> 00:11:30,100 where John says, after this, I looked and he's on the island of Patmos. At this juncture in chapter four, 93 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:35,899 he's on the island of Patmos. And what happens is, after this, I looked and behold, 94 00:11:35,899 --> 00:11:42,159 a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a 95 00:11:42,159 --> 00:11:49,059 trumpet said, come up here and I will show you what must take place after this. At once I was in the 96 00:11:49,059 --> 00:11:55,320 spirit and behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. A classic example of 97 00:11:55,320 --> 00:12:01,120 oscillation. And this will happen throughout the book of Revelation, where the prophet John and thus 98 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:07,779 we, the audience, as a consequence, are taken between heaven and earth, back and forth we go. 99 00:12:08,019 --> 00:12:15,399 But the purpose of this technique of oscillation is to let us know that God in heaven sees precisely 100 00:12:15,399 --> 00:12:21,879 what's going on in earth. In fact, he has ordained what transpires on earth, and he has ordained it 101 00:12:21,879 --> 00:12:29,539 first and foremost, priorly, because he has declared it in heaven to be so. And what he declares 102 00:12:29,539 --> 00:12:37,059 to be so in heaven will indeed take place on earth. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 103 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:45,960 And the technique of oscillation in apocalyptic literature enables that for us. And even as we 104 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:51,279 see in Zechariah 4, example, another example of this idea of oscillation in Zechariah chapter four, 105 00:12:51,399 --> 00:12:58,019 the prophet Zechariah is taken into heaven. Verse one says, the angel who talked with me came again 106 00:12:58,019 --> 00:13:03,440 and woke me like a man who was awakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, what do you see? 107 00:13:03,879 --> 00:13:10,179 I said, I see and behold a lampstand, all of gold with a bowl on top of it. And he goes on to describe 108 00:13:10,179 --> 00:13:17,700 his vision. But oscillation, the idea that one, a prophet perhaps is taken back and forth between 109 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:24,440 earth and heaven. And we as an audience, consequently, get to see what's going on both 110 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:30,580 in heaven and in earth. And that is a very great comfort for those being persecuted, for that 111 00:13:30,580 --> 00:13:39,019 first audience of John's, which was indeed being persecuted. So the technique of oscillation is very 112 00:13:39,019 --> 00:13:45,059 vital to apocalyptic. And don't let your teachers tell you otherwise. Number six, rule number six, 113 00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:52,360 apocalyptic uses the device of an angelic guide to help us interpret what we see and hear as he guides 114 00:13:52,360 --> 00:14:02,740 the author through the vision. And we see this all the way through then Bible prophecy, where an angelic 115 00:14:02,740 --> 00:14:09,899 guide is indeed accompanying the prophet. We see it in Daniel chapter 12, for example, where Daniel 116 00:14:09,899 --> 00:14:17,179 says, then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others stood, that is two angels, one on this bank of the 117 00:14:17,179 --> 00:14:23,419 stream, and one on that bank of the stream. Of course, those angels then guide Daniel through the 118 00:14:23,419 --> 00:14:30,600 closing of that prophecy. And then in Revelation chapter 21, the great climax of the book of 119 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:37,480 Revelation, we see in verse nine, then came one of the seven angels who had been, who had had the seven 120 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:43,580 bowls full of the seven last plagues. And he spoke to me saying, come, I will show you the bride, the wife 121 00:14:43,580 --> 00:14:51,440 of the lamb. And of course, that angel then guides him through that closing vision of the consummation of 122 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:58,899 all things in Revelation chapter 21 and 22. So, an angelic guide helps us interpret what we see and hear in 123 00:14:58,899 --> 00:15:05,580 prophetic literature, in apocalyptic. Rule number seven, the first audience, this is so important, dear listener, 124 00:15:05,580 --> 00:15:12,899 and it's neglected by so many modern teachers. The first audience of apocalyptic is that contemporary 125 00:15:12,899 --> 00:15:22,279 reader to whom the author wrote, whose culture and life circumstances he shares, not some far-off future 126 00:15:22,279 --> 00:15:29,259 reader with whom he does not share these things. That's a very important rule, being neglected and 127 00:15:29,259 --> 00:15:39,379 ignored by so many today. Isn't it? We see that time and time again by contemporary Revelation 128 00:15:39,379 --> 00:15:49,340 apocalypse astrologers with their interpretive tarot cards, if you will. Yes. For example, all through 129 00:15:49,340 --> 00:15:55,580 Revelation, the Apostle John tells us that these things are soon to happen, that these things will 130 00:15:55,580 --> 00:16:05,279 transpire very soon. And of course, we see that they do time and time again. Written then to that first 131 00:16:05,279 --> 00:16:11,980 audience. In Ezekiel, for example, Ezekiel chapter 1, in the 30th year, in the fourth month, on the fifth 132 00:16:11,980 --> 00:16:18,919 day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the Kabbalah, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of 133 00:16:18,919 --> 00:16:26,759 God. Indeed, he was writing to the exiles of Israel in the Kabbalah. And again, he says in chapter 3, 134 00:16:26,879 --> 00:16:33,740 I came to the exiles at Tel Aviv, who were dwelling by the Kabbalah canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. 135 00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:41,980 So his visions were first given to that first audience, not to some prophetic YouTube graduate 136 00:16:41,980 --> 00:16:49,120 2,000 years later. No, that first audience was to him. And then we also see, for example, in the book 137 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:55,019 of Zechariah, in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet 138 00:16:55,019 --> 00:17:01,320 Zechariah, the son of Bechariah, son of Edu, saying, the Lord was very angry with their fathers. 139 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:07,720 Therefore, say to them, that is the fathers, thus declares the Lord of hosts, return to me. 140 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:14,680 So that prophetic revelation, that prophetic literature, those prophecies were first given 141 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:24,220 to the first audience, not to some apocalypse astrologer who can't wait to lay out his Bible 142 00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:30,319 text tarot cards for you. No. Number eight, rule number eight for interpreting apocalyptic literature, 143 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:36,880 prophetic literature, apocalyptic often concludes with the end of all things and the commencing of 144 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:44,980 the eternal state. Yes, the apocalyptic literature, the prophetic literature, one of its styles, 145 00:17:45,299 --> 00:17:52,220 one of its methods, one of its modes is to end their prophecies with the end of all things, 146 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:59,220 end times, if you will. Even though the prophecy is addressed to contemporary audiences as a matter 147 00:17:59,220 --> 00:18:05,980 of style, as a matter of form, they often end with the end of all things. Daniel 12 is a classic 148 00:18:05,980 --> 00:18:11,920 example. The book of Daniel, the revelations of Daniel, were written to that first audience 149 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:21,200 of exiles who were in Babylon about the future, about the near future, it was. But as a pro forma, 150 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:27,099 as a matter of style, he ends with Daniel chapter 12 with the end of all things, where he says, 151 00:18:27,319 --> 00:18:32,720 at that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charges for people. There shall be a time of 152 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:38,200 trouble such as never been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time, your people shall 153 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:43,160 be delivered. Everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep 154 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:48,819 in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting 155 00:18:48,819 --> 00:18:54,599 contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above. And those who turn 156 00:18:54,599 --> 00:19:02,059 many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. Okay. So apocalyptic literature often then ends 157 00:19:02,059 --> 00:19:12,279 and concludes with the end of all things. Revelation 21 and 22 are classic examples of that. Then I saw 158 00:19:12,279 --> 00:19:17,319 a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away and the sea was 159 00:19:17,319 --> 00:19:24,579 no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride 160 00:19:24,579 --> 00:19:32,819 adorned for her husband. Indeed, revelation ends with the conclusion of all things. So rule number eight, 161 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:39,599 apocalyptic often concludes, even though it hasn't dealt with it, perhaps through the rest of the 162 00:19:39,599 --> 00:19:45,900 prophecy, apocalyptic often concludes with the end of all things in the commencing of the eternal state. 163 00:19:45,900 --> 00:19:52,799 Rule number nine, in interpreting apocalyptic, interpreting prophetic literature, which I dare say 164 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:59,460 most of modern teachers neglect and ignore these 10 rules I've been going over with you. Well, rule 165 00:19:59,460 --> 00:20:06,599 number nine, apocalyptic has as one of its major motifs, the warfare between good and evil. That is 166 00:20:06,599 --> 00:20:13,299 the struggle of God and his faithful with Satan and his minions. Indeed, that battle 167 00:20:13,299 --> 00:20:21,619 is between good and evil. And it's a major theme throughout apocalyptic literature. And we see 168 00:20:21,619 --> 00:20:30,240 that, for example, in Revelation chapter 12, verses 7 through 17, where we hear, now war arose in heaven, 169 00:20:30,619 --> 00:20:36,480 Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was 170 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:41,039 defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, 171 00:20:41,039 --> 00:20:47,059 that ancient serpent who was called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown 172 00:20:47,059 --> 00:20:53,500 down to the earth and his angels were thrown down with him. Yes, dear listener, that's one of the major 173 00:20:53,500 --> 00:21:00,599 motifs then of apocalyptic literature is that there is warfare between good and evil and apocalyptic 174 00:21:00,599 --> 00:21:07,960 helps to account for that. Rule number nine. Okay. Rule number 10. And with this, we conclude rule number 175 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:16,940 10. Apocalyptic has, as one of its major motifs, the everlasting and eventual dominion of God's kingdom 176 00:21:16,940 --> 00:21:26,180 over all of creation. Yes, as we saw in Revelation chapter 6, our Lord Jesus Christ, after his ascension, 177 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:33,299 indeed goes out to conquer, to take charge of possession of his creation, of his inheritance. 178 00:21:33,299 --> 00:21:40,240 And he's been doing it for 2,000 years now because apocalyptic unfolds for us as one of its major 179 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:49,180 motifs, the eventual dominion of God's kingdom over all creation. Zechariah 14, the conclusion of 180 00:21:49,180 --> 00:21:56,319 Zechariah tells us, for example, and the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day, the Lord will 181 00:21:56,319 --> 00:22:04,920 be one and his name one. A great declaration, is that not, of God's eventual taking dominion of all 182 00:22:04,920 --> 00:22:11,660 of his creation? Daniel chapter 2 tells us the same thing with the great stone from heaven. In the days 183 00:22:11,660 --> 00:22:17,480 of those kings, Daniel 2 tells us, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, 184 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:23,619 nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring 185 00:22:23,619 --> 00:22:29,839 them to an end. And it shall stand forever, just as you saw, that a stone was cut from a mountain by no 186 00:22:29,839 --> 00:22:35,640 human hand, and that it broken pieces, the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. 187 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:41,200 A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its 188 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:49,259 interpretation sure. Indeed, the day is already underway. And that is one of the major tenets of 189 00:22:49,259 --> 00:22:56,460 post-millennialism is that the day is already underway, where God is indeed conquering and 190 00:22:56,460 --> 00:23:03,799 establishing his kingdom. That stone, which is indeed God's kingdom, which a prophecy of Christ 191 00:23:03,799 --> 00:23:12,079 and his kingdom is already taking dominion over all of creation. Revelation, the church sings in 192 00:23:12,079 --> 00:23:18,720 Revelation chapter 15. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, 193 00:23:19,140 --> 00:23:26,619 great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the 194 00:23:26,619 --> 00:23:33,319 nations. Christ is now the King of the nations. He is ruling with a rod of iron, and he will smash 195 00:23:33,319 --> 00:23:40,099 them in pieces like a potter's vessel, as the psalm says. And he's doing that right now, and he's been 196 00:23:40,099 --> 00:23:45,839 doing it for the last 2,000 years, dear listener. That is a major premise, then, of 197 00:23:45,839 --> 00:23:55,279 the post-millennialist. And I urge you to give ear to what we have to say, because for the last 2,000 198 00:23:55,279 --> 00:23:59,819 years, the church has been flourishing and growing. There have been setbacks, but with every step 199 00:23:59,819 --> 00:24:06,799 backwards, there's two steps forward. And God is taking dominion over his creation. Don't be myopic 200 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:13,460 and only see today's headlines. Take the long view, because God has promised that he will take 201 00:24:13,460 --> 00:24:19,740 dominion over all of his creation before he returns, and he'll do it through his church. He won't do it. 202 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:26,160 It's not as if man is going to do this. That's a criticism often put to us. It's not that man is 203 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:31,960 going to take dominion. No, God is taking dominion through his church. He's using us. And the church 204 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:38,920 has flourished and grown 1.4 billion adherents in the world. It's gone from just a few handful of 205 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:47,099 disciples scared in the upper room to a magnificent church claiming the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 206 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:53,640 and is continuing to take dominion and improve and grow and flourish. Just one example from history, 207 00:24:53,640 --> 00:25:05,319 the poor Bishop Telemachus, who bravely stepped out of the stands into the gladiatorial games in order 208 00:25:05,319 --> 00:25:10,599 to stop the butchering and the murder and the bloodshed. He was struck down by one of the 209 00:25:10,599 --> 00:25:16,140 gladiators to the cheers of the crowds until they fell silent and realized what they had done, 210 00:25:16,140 --> 00:25:22,180 what they had been cheering. From the death of Telemachus, the emperor canceled the deadly 211 00:25:22,180 --> 00:25:27,960 gladiatorial games, and the world was a better place. Bit by bit, little by little, the church 212 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:34,460 is taking dominion over all the world, and they will continue to with missions and with evangelism 213 00:25:34,460 --> 00:25:39,799 and with the blood of the saints. It's the blood of the saints and the word of their testimony, 214 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:45,359 John tells us in Revelation, that is indeed taking dominion of the world, and it will continue. 215 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:53,460 And I just urge you to come and visit us at our midweek Bible study. We are doing this at Leo's 216 00:25:53,460 --> 00:26:00,640 Place on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Come and join us. It's been a great fellowship, a great time of 217 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:07,819 laughter and enjoyment, as well as serious study. So bring your family, come individually if you want. 218 00:26:07,819 --> 00:26:17,160 Leo's Place at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. We look forward to seeing you. And we also meet for Holy 219 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:24,539 Worship, New Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian Church. We meet for Holy Worship on Sunday at 10 a.m. at 101 220 00:26:24,539 --> 00:26:30,180 4th Street on the corner of 4th and Boulevard. And you can call us for more information or more 221 00:26:30,180 --> 00:26:34,099 feedback, too. Perhaps you want to give me a little feedback on this. Perhaps you disagree. That's okay. 222 00:26:34,099 --> 00:26:50,440 We can disagree agreeably. And call us at 208-523-0196. Call us for more information or feedback at 208-523-0196.