Welcome to the weekly podcast of Wildwood Baptist Church in Ackworth, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta. We are so glad that you're joining us today. If you'd like to know more about Wildwood Baptist Church, you can find us on the web at wildwoodbaptist.org, or you can email us at info at wildwoodbaptist.org. Thanks for joining us. Let's open the Word of God together. If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, turn with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. We're going to pick up this morning with an event that kind of begins the process of transformation and relocation in the life of every believer and follower of Jesus Christ. While you're turning there, mention this. You probably heard this for those of you that are Price is Right fans. Bob Barker passed away this weekend. He was 99 years old. Isn't that amazing? We talked about life expectancy earlier in our series, and Bob outlived that. I was thinking about his death and thinking about some of the things that we've talked about and learned so far, and I'm hoping for this. I'm hoping that Bob Barker did not hear the words, come on down, when he passed. That would not be the best scenario. So let's hope that hasn't happened. In our study, here's what we're going to discover today. We've learned so far that there are two places that God has made where people go when they pass from this life to the next. And just a reminder, no one permanently dies. Everyone lives forever. Every human being lives forever. Now, I realize if you Google this topic, you're going to see a lot of speculation about the possibility of there being absolutely nothing. after death, there being something, but it's temporary, and that there being something forever. And the Bible teaches that we will live forever. But we won't live forever in the same place. Those who believe in Jesus, according to the Bible, right now, they will go to a place called heaven. And they will live there, but that's not the final place. And we'll talk about that this morning, what that final place will be. Those who don't believe in Jesus have not trusted in Him for their salvation. They will go to a place called hell. Hell also is not the final place for the unbeliever. There's a final place that we're going to talk about next week where those who don't believe in Jesus will eventually go to, and people will continue to live forever in one of those two places. Now this morning, I want to tell you about the event that will catapult us into this incredible journey that will really be in the not-too-distant future according to the signs of the times that we see described in the Bible. I wish I had time to go into that. I don't. But there's an event called the rapture. where the Lord will appear in the sky, and there will be a call, and there will be a trumpet sound, and those who believe in Jesus will go there to be with Him in the sky for that moment, okay? So if you have your Bibles, turn to 1 Thessalonians 4. Let's read verses 13 through 17 together. If you are physically able to do this, will you stand with me in the honor of reading God's word together? Here's what the Apostle Paul tells us about that time of the rapture. He says, but we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep. That word asleep means past this from this life to the next. It doesn't mean sleeping. That you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds. to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Father, I'm going to ask you to help us to understand your Word. Help me to teach it accurately and clearly, communicate it in a way, Lord, that it will transform our faith to believing in things that go far beyond maybe what we believed when we came in and understood this morning. I pray this, that your will be done in our lives so that you will be glorified by them. And we ask that in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you. You can be seated. Now, there's a lot to unpack in this particular scenario. The first bullet point that I want you to fill in, for those of you that are keeping track and filling in the blanks, is this. The rapture is an event involving all who have put their trust in Christ, both alive and deceased. When I use the word deceased here, I just couldn't come up with a better line other than whose bodies have expired. You know, that's not as concise as deceased. But I didn't put dead because we're still alive, right? We live forever. I want you to consider some of the things that we've seen here. And honestly, this sermon could be solely focused on this passage, and we probably would not be able to teach it in its entirety. But there are a few things that I want to point out that we just read that I believe is often misunderstood. Believers who have gone to be with the Lord, they are not in the ground. And so some people who read this passage, they read the words that they will rise, right? The dead in Christ will rise first. And so the picture is, well, they must be down in order for them to rise. Others will suggest what this says is that they receive their resurrected bodies at this time. I don't believe that. Now, some theologians teach that, and they could be right, and the good news is either way we get a new body. But I think what he's saying is that those who have gone on before us, those that are still alive when Jesus comes back, they don't get to be with Jesus before those who are alive. He said those that precede us will be with Jesus first. And so what I think he's talking about is that when Jesus appears in the sky and the archangel makes this cry and the trumpet sounds, which I believe only believers will hear. Unbelievers won't hear it. I believe that. I believe that because there's no reaction by unbelievers that's written about on the earth. All they know is people are gone. Right? And so they're like, they'll have their own excuses and reasons believing that they're gone. So I think believers, their hearts are tuned for the voice of God, right? We know his voice and we follow it. So we're gonna go to the sky and those who have gone on before us, they will be at his side kind of as a welcoming committee. So we'll join together with them in the sky, and that will be a time then Jesus will take us to heaven, and that will be the beginning of the tribulation. Now, let me communicate this in a way that will allow you to know a lot of the different opinions about when rapture happens. Some believe that the rapture is going to happen before tribulation. Some believe that it's going to happen midway through because the first three and a half years of tribulation, which by the way is just the worst time you could ever experience on this earth. And again, if I had this series to plan for over again, I'd do a sermon on the tribulation. I don't think we're gonna be there, but it's good to know what we're missing out of, because it's not gonna be good. We see this in Daniel chapter nine and a lot of other places throughout scripture, but it's gonna be a horrific time. And of the 69 seventies, again, those of you that have studied this, you understand 69 seventies are fulfilled before Christ comes, lives, dies, and rose again. There's one set of seven. seven years that's yet to be lived out before Christ's second coming. And so that one seven years is known as the tribulation. And it's gonna be an absolutely horrific time. So some believe Christians, believers are raptured to be with Christ before it happens. Some believe midway through. Some believe that we're there for the whole time and the rapture and the Lord's second coming happen at the same time. I personally believe and hope that we will not be here for the tribulation. And let me tell you why. Because Romans 8, 1 tells us there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. There will not be a time of greater condemnation than that particular time. We also see how the Bible communicates that that time of wrath and that time of desolation is going to be, the believers are going to miss that or escape it. In fact, one of the places that we read that is in Revelation 3.10. This comment is written to the church in Philadelphia. And believe it or not, they are persevering and they're patiently waiting for the Lord's return. And so they're blessed by that. This is what the Lord writes to them, Revelation 3.10, because you have kept my word about patient endurance. I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth." I believe he's talking about tribulation here to them. Consistent with that promise, when we see John's vision and description of what's happening at the end times, during the time that he describes tribulation, there's no mention of the church being on the earth. throughout that entire description. So I believe that the church is raptured before tribulation, seven years of an absolutely terrible time comes, and then Jesus returns at the end of those seven years. with those who have trusted in Him and who are called to be with Him in the rapture. In fact, if you look back, you'll see where it talked about how we will return with Him. I think that we are the ones that actually return in that second coming. We read about how that return is going to happen when it's described that Jesus ascends into heaven in Acts 1 verse 11. Here's what an angel tells to the apostles. He says, men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. So that tells us how it's going to happen. Just as Jesus gave some final marching orders, Matthew 28, Acts 1-8, those kind of things, before he ascends into heaven, he's gonna come back the exact same way that he goes up. It's like this, they're watching him, oh, there goes Jesus. Where did he go? Ah, same way, here he comes, now. The manner by which he returns completely different from the manner by which he leaves, but still the same way. Up he goes, guess what? Down he comes. That's the way he's going to descend back on the earth. And the Bible even tells us where that place is going to be. If we look at Zechariah 14, verse 4, it says, So we not only know how he returns, we know where he returns. He's going to return to the Mount of Olives, right? Zechariah explains that this is his second coming. Jesus will be visibly present on this earth, and he will return with a grand entrance. In fact, Jesus describes this in Matthew 24, verse 30, where it says, Then will appear in the heaven the sign of the Son of Man. Now, we don't know exactly what that sign is, but there's a precursor to his return. Could be the trump, could be even the shout. then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." So tribes are going to mourn, and you're looking at this going, why are they mourning if the Lord's returning? The answer is they're not prepared. They didn't believe. And so all the things that have been taught, all the things that have been said, most of them, or many of them at the very least, have heard that, but because they didn't believe, they go, oh, this is not good for us. And it won't be for them as well, because Jesus comes as a conquering king. with his second coming. We'll talk about being prepared a little bit later in our series. I felt like it was important to teach on what we should be doing now until the Lord returns. But Titus 2.13 describes this second coming as a blessed hope and as a glorious appearing. It is going to be an incredible spectacle event. for those who believe. And the second coming is described in greatest detail in Revelation 19, verses 11 through 19. Listen to what the Lord reveals to John. John says, then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True. Notice both those words are capitalized. That's a description of the Lord. And in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems. And he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So the Lord's return begins with war and conquering over all who oppose him. It's known as the Battle of Armageddon. And notice that Jesus does not return alone. Verse 14 points that out again. And the armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. Many suggest, oh, that's the angelic host. I don't think so. I think that's us. I think that's believers and passionate followers of Jesus Christ. We come with him to the earth at that particular time. In fact, let's make that the second bullet point on your outline. All raptured believers will return to earth with Jesus at the second coming of Christ. And we will be joined by those who are possibly, well, converted and also potentially martyred during the time of tribulation. By the way, there are many who are saved during tribulation. 144,000 are saved, and they begin to teach and preach and spread the gospel. And obviously, if they'd been saved, they would have gone to heaven with Jesus during the rapture. So there's going to be a lot of evangelism happening even during that terrible time of atrocities and many will be saved and probably killed. Well they will join us and we will stand with our king and we will witness his power. I don't think we're going to fight. I think we will simply watch the power of the Lord revealed and we will observe that and then he will be here and he will rule and reign for a thousand years and it will be a time of unprecedented peace even though There is one final uprising when satan is released. So when jesus conquers at the battle of armageddon, he he binds satan and then he releases him later and there will be some who will be misled just This is exactly the way satan operates just as he took a third of the angelic host with him Deceiving them into thinking he could do something more powerful than the lord He does it again there and they will follow him and then the lord goes you're done It's over and they will be eternally judged and we'll talk about that time next week. Now, here are just a few interesting and important things that happen with the Lord's second coming. There are many more than this, but this is all that I have time to share. At the second coming of Christ, number one, we're going to receive our new bodies. Again, Some people believe that's happening at the rapture. I personally believe it's happening at this particular time. And this is exciting news for all who believe in Christ because no matter how old or young you are today, your body is failing and falling apart. Now, some of us are dealing with some major disabilities and even some disease. Some of us, we've got a runny nose, right? Or we've got a hangnail or something. But the fact of the matter is all of us, our bodies are failing. All of our bodies are falling apart in one degree or another. And in the future, we are given a brand new and perfect resurrected body. And that's when we receive it, when the Lord returns. And it'll be much like Jesus's body when he was resurrected. Now, we know that because of the teaching that Paul offers in 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Listen to what he says in verses 20 through 22. But in fact, Christ, in fact, here's your, did I say this already? We're gonna receive our new bodies. Hopefully I mentioned that. 1 Corinthians 15, 20 through 22. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. The firstfruits, that means the first one of those who have fallen asleep. So he gets his resurrected body, then we get our resurrected bodies later. For as by a man came death, by a man has also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. What he's saying is this body that we currently have is like Adam's, right? It's perishable. Jesus' body was perishable when he came to this earth. The Lamb of God had to die, and our bodies will die as well. But when he was raised from the dead, after three days, he received his resurrected body, and that was imperishable. That's what Paul goes on to describe in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 50 through 54. Paul says, I tell you this, brothers, we can add sisters. Fresh flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, again die, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, I suggest that last trumpet isn't the same trumpet at rapture. Rapture has a trumpet, this is the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. Until you receive your new body, you're not going to understand the complete victory that comes with knowing and trusting in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. When you get that new body, you'll get it. Because not only will your body be perfect, your mind will be perfect. Sin has ravaged your mind and your thinking. Now things that we don't know will be made known. We will see Jesus as he is because we will be able to see him through new eyes, through a new heart, through a new mind that's being given to us. during this time of resurrection with our new bodies. So we recognize the fact that Jesus's second coming actually provides a time of receiving our perfect bodies that will never deteriorate. They will never struggle. They will never fail us ever again. They will last forever. What a wonderful thing. When I think about that, I can't wait to see what that looks like. What does an imperishable, immortal, resurrected body look like? And we're gonna find out when that time happens. Here's the second interesting and important fact for believers when the Lord returns. Our final destination as believers is not up there. It's down here on new earth. See, according to scripture, God revisits what he started in Genesis 1 and 2. We read in Revelation 21.1, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I hear people refer to the place that we're going to spend eternity at as heaven. But more accurately, scripture doesn't say that you'll be in heaven forever. Scripture says that a more appropriate description and name is the new earth. When we describe heaven, we think of a place in the sky. But when we say New Earth, we realize that God finishes what He started when He began all of creation. You see, life was perfect then, and it will be perfect again. Here's what really makes it great. It's our third interesting fact. God doesn't stay up there. He joins us again down here. That's what makes the new earth so incredible, is God's presence will be here. See, God's plan for creation of human beings from the very beginning was to have personal interaction and intimacy with our creator. We read in Genesis 3, 8 where Adam and Eve heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. That's something that they did often with the Lord. And notice this, God didn't follow them around everywhere they went, nor did they follow God everywhere that they went. But they had a time together probably every day. on a regular basis at the very least, where they interacted together in the place that God had prepared for them and had prepared for him to be with them as well. What changed that? The answer is sin. Sin separated us from God. God is perfect and he's holy and he's pure. He couldn't have anything to do with sin. We saw that in our first message of this series, especially with human sin. But all of that changed when Christ presented Himself as a sacrifice, as the proper atonement for our sin. So the door was open for us to have relationship with Him now, but there will come a time when we will be with Him. He will see us and we will see Him face to face, and we will have interaction with Him then in the fullness of His glory and His power and of His presence and His will and way. for the afterlife. When I think about that time, I have lots of questions about what that will be like. Like I think in terms like, will the Trinity possess a perfect body of human nature? Will we be able to sit with God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and have a conversation with Him and in front of Him? Will we be able to touch Him? Will we feel His breath upon us as we have this conversation? What will it be like to have a personal encounter with the perfect presence of pure love? I can't imagine what that's going to be like, but I so look forward to it and I get chills just thinking about it. Here's the fourth thing that will happen when the Lord returns and introduces us to the new earth and the new heaven above us. We will live in a new city, new holy city, called New Jerusalem. In fact, John describes it like this in Revelation 21, verses two and three. John says, and I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. We'll see this in a moment, but in John 14, he says, would I tell you that I'm gonna go prepare for something if I don't? And if I go, I'm gonna prepare this place for you. That's this place, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband. I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. Now the most magnificent part about this city will be the presence of God himself in it. It will be spectacular and amazing and overwhelming and incredible all at the exact same time. And what makes it so special is that if God is coming to be here, can you imagine the place that he's preparing for him to dwell in? We get to be there with him. The description is unbelievable. Listen to Revelation 21, verses 15 through 17. John says, and the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies four square, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. He also measured the wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement. So these measurements would equal a city that is 1,500 miles in height and width and length. It's like a symmetrical cube. And it's about the same distance as the East Coast from the top of Maine to the bottom of Florida. That's about 1,500 miles. But remember, it's a cube. It's as high as it is long and wide. And the wall around the city is something like 70 yards thick. But it's not there to protect us. It's there for ornamentation, right? It's there for beauty and for fortification. Listen, this wall is going nowhere anytime soon. Now, people live on multiple layers that are as high as they are long and wide. And I believe we'll be able to travel to any layer that we desire to visit. Do you remember the cartoon known as the Jetsons? Who'd have thought that that would probably be the best description that we have right now of what life in heaven will be going from one place to another freely. If you're wondering how many people could possibly live in a city that size and shape, maybe it doesn't sound as big as you thought it would be, or maybe it sounds bigger, there's a gentleman named Ron Rhodes who wrote the book called The Wonders of Heaven. Listen to what he says about the size and its inhabitants. He says, someone calculated that if this structure is cube-shaped, it would allow for 20 billion residents, each having their own private 75-acre cube. If our private places are smaller than that, it would accommodate 100,000 billion people with room left over for parks and streets and other things you would see in any normal city. Now, keep in mind, that's just the main city. There's still more of the new earth whose size and description isn't offered in the Bible, but we can be sure that it will be even more grand and more pristine than anything that we have right now on this earth. Are you wondering about your own personal home? Some of us right now, we have really nice homes. Some of us have fairly nice homes. Some of us have a roof over our head that maybe leaks. Some of us may not have a home right now. We may live in our cars or automobiles or, I mean, a means of transportation. Maybe we live in a tent or maybe we sleep only in a sleeping bag. It won't be that way in heaven. There is this incredible picture of many rooms being built for everybody. In fact, this is what the Lord says about that place. John 14, verses two and three, Jesus says, in my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and I will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. We will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever with him now the ESV translation that I just read it refers to these places as rooms But the King James version of the Bible calls them mansions I think that's more appropriate because they will be more magnificent and more Majestic than anything that exists as a room or a home on this earth keep in mind that Jesus was a pretty good carpenter before he went into ministry and And the Bible says that he's gone to prepare a place for us. He was even better at creating before all of those times. So the Bible says that he is in heaven today, not just interceding on our behalf, he is preparing a place for you as a believer to dwell. That's your seventh bullet point. Your eternal mansion is being prepared for you right now. Now, I personally believe that the dimensions and the way that he builds it is both based upon your favorite things, the things that he knows already that you enjoy and like, I don't know, color schemes, whatever that all may be, but also there will be rewards that will be given for our faithfulness in this life. I think that has something to do not only with how he's going to use us in the future, Those who have been faithful in little will be faithful in more up there. But I think there's also going to be a reward system that's granted according to scripture. You may have an even greater mansion than some who you didn't see or thought that your mansion would be greater than them in this life. Imagine the beauty of this place. When you read about streets of gold and pearly gates, here's where you get that from. Revelation 21 verses 18 through 21. John says, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh crystallite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the 10th chrysoprase, the 11th jesynth, the 12th amethyst, and the 12 gates were 12 pure pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. I've known a few jewelers in my day and they would say that's the good stuff. That stuff is worth a fortune. and the one who's building that wall is the owner of the cattle on a thousand hills. He does not lack for funds or resources. This city isn't going anywhere that God doesn't want it to go, and it is insanely beautiful and majestic. The return of the Lord will be the beginning of the most amazing event that you could ever imagine. that you get to experience. You see, when Jesus came the first time, he came quietly and he came humbly. Shepherds and farm animals celebrated, but it was pretty quiet with his first coming outside of that star that directed the wise men's path to him. We don't read anything about his home or his clothes. There's a debate about was it a cave, was it a lean-to, was he? born under the stars. His clothes aren't even mentioned other than the fact that they are taken from him and bartered while he is being crucified. He came to identify with the personal hardship and struggle in a sin-ravaged and broken world. In his second coming, he will enter a new world. and a new city with a new sky above it, and he will come as a conquering king. He will be rich beyond words, and the city that we will dwell with him in will reflect his majesty. John capsulizes the picture that is shown in Revelation 21, verses 22 through 27 with these words. He said, I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb. and the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it. For the glory of God gives its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light the nations will walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations." When's the last time you've heard nations described that way? as glory and honor, right? It's been a long time. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Folks, no more fear, no more crime, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more punishment. Right? There will be no one there who will ever mean to do anyone any harm ever again. And the temple of the Lord will not exist because the presence of the Lord will lead all who are there to worship him. Not on Sunday mornings. Not on Wednesday nights, not on Sunday evening in prayer meeting, every day. When we are in the presence of the Lord, we are aware of His glory and we will worship Him on an ongoing basis. We'll work, we'll have families, we'll have family life. but we will worship the Lord forevermore. If nothing that I've shared with you today is new to you or surprising, maybe you are studied up and you know what lies ahead, can I just tell you every single time I read this next characteristic of heaven, it moves me. Because I think this is the biggest difference. in heaven or on the new earth from here. Listen to what John tells us in Revelation 21 verses four through five. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, behold, I am making all things new. And then he adds, write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. Jesus tells us, here's the truth, your last bullet point, there will be no more sorrow, no more sickness, and no more struggle ever again. Is that place not a place worth waiting for? That's what's in your future as believers and passionate followers of Jesus Christ. I'm going to invite Pastor Steve and members of our praise team to join me on stage now and Their goal is to lead us in a time of commitment and praise to the Lord. I'm gonna invite our deacons to come down and I'm gonna ask you to stand. And as you stand in preparation of this time of praise, I'm gonna ask you to consider a few possibilities. Possibility number one, that you've never placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. When the Lord returns and judgment is cast, he's gonna open a book to see if your name is written in it. And if you've not placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, your name is not gonna be written there. And you will go through eternal damnation and torment forever. We'll talk about that next week, Lord willing. But if your name is there, he says, well done, good and faithful servant. I'll paraphrase. I've got some incredible things in store for you in the future. Maybe today you want to place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Tell him that you've sinned, that you need him as Savior. Ask him to forgive you. Ask him to come in and take control, guide and direct you in the way that he would have you to go. You can do that right here, right now. Deacons are available to pray with. The altar is available to bow out, bow at. Some of us, we know this stuff. We've been told it. We've read it. Maybe today the Holy Spirit is unctioning you to respond. Because I'll tell you this, when you leave here today, there's going to be trouble that you face. There's going to be trial. There's going to be hardship. It's just the nature of the world that we live in today. What gets us through is knowing what lies ahead in eternity. Jesus says this is temporary. This is just a short time. The next leg of your journey, it's forever. And it will help you persevere and get through this short time until the time comes that you get a brand new body in a brand new place and there is nothing but bliss. Maybe today you want to tell the Lord thank you. Thank you for this promise. And I'm holding to what you've promised and believing in it. And I will persevere to the very end, like Jesus told the Church of Philadelphia. Well done in persevering. Maybe today you just want to tell the Lord, I'm going to hang on until you come back. However the Holy Spirit is leading you to respond, You respond as we sing this last song. Let me pray for you. Father, I'm asking you to move in our hearts in such a way that we will not just agree with you, but we will respond to what you're leading us to do next. There may be some here today, God, that have doubted. Maybe some here who've wandered. Maybe some here who've never believed. Maybe some here who've believed but wondered. why they're going through what they're going through. And Lord, the answer is sin has ravaged this world, but the future is incredibly spectacular for those who trust in you. So I pray that you'll open our eyes and our hearts to that truth. Help us to respond in a way that will lead us to identify with the truth of who you are and what you have in store for us by the way that we live out the days that you've given us on this earth. and may today be the first of many where we honor and glorify your name by the faith that we've placed in Jesus Christ. Lead us to respond in a way that honors you best. And we ask that in Jesus' name. Amen. You've been listening to the teaching ministry of Wildwood Baptist Church. We hope that today's message was an encouragement to you. For more information, you can find us at wildwoodbaptist.org, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Just search for Wildwood Ackworth on the web and on social media. Thank you for joining us, and we look forward to hearing from you.