Hello, and welcome to the Westside churches special Monday Morning Coffee podcast on this podcast, our preacher Mark Roberts will help you get your week started right. With look back at yesterday's sermon so that we can think through it further and better work the applications into our daily lives . Mark will then look forward into this week's Bible reading so that we can know what to expect and watch for. And, he may have some extra bonus thoughts from time to time. So grab a cup of coffee as we start the week together on Monday Morning Coffee with Mark.

Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to the Monday Morning Coffee podcast for Monday, December the ninth. I'm Mark and I'm drinking some amazing coffee from Fredericksburg, Texas. Dina and I spent some time there last week doing a little r and r. There was a coffee roasting company there and they put together some coffee. We decided to bring some of those beans home and I'm enjoying that tremendously in a mug that says Luke and Bock Texas. Yes , Dean and I went to a little town of Luke and Bock Texas as part of our trip. Just had a great time together. Really enjoyed that an awful lot, and it was good to get to do some Bible reading together as we went down the road. We talked about the book of Revelation, and I think I'm gonna do some writing in the book of Revelation. I was just very helpful, all of that in our podcast this week. But especially, we need to start by talking about how wonderful Christianity is, because that's what I talked about yesterday. Pour yourself that cup of coffee. Get ready, get set. Let's go. Really pleased to share some extra notes with you from the sermon yesterday, because as I often say here on the podcast, you can't say everything in the pulpit. We'd still be there if I shared with you all the stuff that I dug up and researched and read sermon. We just go on forever. But I did come across an interesting note about the difference between eternal life and immortality. Many people, whether inside or outside of the church, often confuse those two, but they are not the same thing. And we ought to clarify that distinction a little bit because it changes how we hope in the Christian life and how we see Christianity as being wonderful. Immortality refers to the concept of never dying. It's the idea of living forever existing eternally. You don't ever die. And that idea is seen in a lot of Greek myths, for example. There's some legends and so forth, but immortality does not necessarily involve any kind of relationship with God or a meaningful existence. You just don't die. And one rider noted that that's kind of like a battery that just never runs out of power. It keeps going, but it may not be accomplishing anything meaningful. It's just running on and on perpetually. And that makes me think of that Energizer bunny. He's just going around beating on that drum, but he's not really getting anything done. And who wants to spend eternity beating on a drum? E Eternal life on the other hand, is not just about living forever, it's about living forever with God. Eternal life is described in the Bible, isn't just the continuation of existence, you don't die. It's the fullest relationship with God that is deep and ultimately perfect. It's a life. It's living where we experience joy and purpose and peace because we are with the creator. One John five verses 11 and 12 say, this is the testimony that God gave us eternal life and this life is in His son. Whoever has the son has life, whoever does not have the Son does , whoever does not have the son of God, does not have life. So eternal life is inseparable from our connection with Jesus. It's not about living forever you , you just don't die. No, it's about being alive, fully alive, eternally alive because we are living with him. So immortality may mean living forever, but eternal life means living forever with God, the incredibly fulfilling, rich, full and wonderful relationship of being with the Lord, not just about avoiding death. It's about being brought into a real life, the fullest purpose of our life, the restoration of fellowship with our creator. It is about wanting to be with God. That is eternal life. And there's a fair amount of that kind of conversation in the Book of Revelation, isn't there? Open your Bible. Let's get into the book of Revelation as our daily Bible reading takes us to Revelation 18 and 19. This week For Monday, our reading is Revelation 18 verses one to eight. And we could well title this section all of our Bible reading for this week as Babylon the Greats funeral. And I wanna say a word or two about the identification of Babylon here. The Great Harlett, one of the excellent scholars that I read after when I'm doing work in the book of Revelation and have used heavily during this time as as we've been podcasting along and studying together, is a work by Craig Kester called Revelation in the End of All Things. And he notes here that John's description of the great Harlet was designed to move first century readers to resist being seduced by the power and wealth of Rome. Yeah , I think that's absolutely right. But he goes on to say the traits of the Harlet are not simply those of Rome, but include those of Babylon ti and Nineveh by encompassing characteristics from all of these cities. The harlet represents a power that is not limited to one place or to one time. I think that's helpful. I think that's helpful. We wanna see that this is a call for all Christians to never compromise, give in and become part of the harlot, part of the sinful powers of this day, even when they are seductive, even when they appear to be winning, even when they appear to be getting ahead. And I think you get a good sense here in our reading today of how Revelation can move things around because it's apocalyptic literature and it's not meant to be taken literally. And if you start getting very detailed with it and really trying to make everything mean something, you can just get weird because one scene declares that Babylon has already fallen 18 two , and then in 18 four, verse four says, come out of Babylon. So this isn't a timeline, this is the pronouncement of the judgment of God, and it is primarily a warning to God's people to not compromise. She will be punished. And the scholar that I just quoted, kester, he makes a good observation here that's very timely for us about the power of funerals. And that's what we're looking at here. We're looking at Babylon's funeral here. And he makes the observation that in a Christmas Carol, the great story by Charles Dickens, the most powerful scene or one of the most powerful scenes is when Scrooge gets to see his funeral and people are dickering over taking personal items from him and nobody cares that he's died. And then of course, the scene that's just so difficult, the very last scene when he's taken to the cemetery and that he sees, he sees his grave and that's what John or actually Jesus through the pit of John is going for here, we need to see the grave of Babylon and we need to see how empty of real power in might Babylon really is. And in fact, we would do well to be reminded that in the early parts of this book, and I keep coming back to this, I think in some ways the first couple of chapters are the most important parts of the book of Revelation. We have already seen that some Christians are compromising, they are going along with Babylon. They are giving into the spirit of the age and living like Romans and trying to synthesize and synchronize Christianity with pagan thoughts. Thetans the Baum , Jezebel, sexual immorality, no , come out of her, my people. Verse four, don't take part in her sins unless you share in her plagues. God is going to punish Babylon. She's delusional. Verse seven, she glorifies herself and lives in luxury. She pretends she'll never be held accountable for what she has done, but God brings judgment, judgment in a day. Verse eight, like Babylon of old that stood and then bam, the Meads and Persians came in one night and the city fell as Daniel says. So here that imagery is employed for Babylon and we need to use that principle that God will judge all world powers that stand against him. That's what we need to get out of our reading today, our reading for Monday. Revelation 18, one to eight . Welcome to Tuesday, Tuesday's. Reading is Revelation 18 verses nine to 14. And this begins a group or actually three groups of mourners who show up at the funeral to lament over the great city's destruction. They weep and wail and cry that the harlett Babylon is brought down. But you'll notice as you read today that that these mourners are just very selfish. Verse 11, the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her since no one buys their cargo anymore. They don't care. They don't care about Babylon, they don't care about the great city. They care about themselves. I think this is an important note for us as we think about sin and how sin works. Sin is ultimately selfish and it's all about me and I don't care about you. And the more people get involved in sin, the more that attitude reigns in their lives. And we just see that in these mourners as in a very selfish way. They say, well, this is a shame 'cause Now I'm not gonna have a political alliance that strengthens my hand. Oh, this is a shame. Now I don't have anybody to sell my wares to. So the three groups here are the kings of the earth versus nine and 10, the merchants of the earth versus 11 to 17, and then the sailors versus 17 to 19. And the kings, they , they are amazed at what's happened here. Notice how many times we're gonna read about this city being great, verse 10 and being mighty. It just emphasizes the destructive power of God and that God can bring judgment even when somebody thinks, oh, the city is invincible, can't be brought down . Oh, oh, yes, oh yes, it can too be brought down and it will be brought down. Then the merchants weep and mourn because they don't have anyone to sell to anymore. And please notice underlining in your Bible at the end, slaves. That is human souls. Verse 13, sometimes people will be critical of the Bible stance and doesn't say enough about slavery. I think verse 13 will cover that for you. Slavery is part of battle on slavery is part of the world. Powers who exploit and use people for their own benefit don't care. Literally the word slave there is the word bodies, which is how they were referred to in Roman times. They're just a a body, just something to be bought and sold and used. And then John adds, no , they're not just bodies, they're human souls. That's who they are. And so they lament over the fall of Babylon, but essentially what they're sorry for is they're sorry for themselves. And we'll see more of that tomorrow as we read about the sailors and the things that they have to say in their funeral. Eulogy over Babylon. Don't forget Westsiders Zoom is on tonight. We'll see you tonight in Zoom. We'll get to talk more about Babylon, more about Revelation, the 18th chapter. If you're not part of the Westside family, then we'll see you tomorrow, Wednesday on the podcast. Revelation 18 versus nine to 14 is our reading for Tuesday. It is Wednesday. And our reading for Wednesday is Revelation 18, verses 15 to 24. Some great contrast in our reading today. It begins with the merchants of the waters. These are the sailors, those who gained well from Babylon and they wail . And once again, it's really a very selfish kind of lament. But notice verse 18, what city was like the great city? The Bible really emphasizes the power of Babylon, which I think represents at least for the seven churches of Asia. They would be thinking of the Roman Empire and the spirit of Rome and all that. Rome is all about. I I , I think as I mentioned on Monday, we can make good application of the principles of this to any power that opposes God. But as they're thinking about all of that, many people would say there's just no way the Roman empire can be overthrown. There's no way that could be brought down. Some have tried to say that Babylon is Jerusalem. I think that's a very strained interpretation. I used to buy that and think about that and really and try to make all of that work. I'm just not as impressed with that as I used to be, but, but if it is Jerusalem, again, Jerusalem is a great city. In New Testament times, who would've thought that Jerusalem could be overthrown and and torn down? There's been lots of great cities that have opposed God. They have built themselves up on ungodliness and sin and immorality and greed and lust. And God has judged those cities and pulled them down. In my lifetime, I saw turned on the news and they were tearing down the Berlin wall, tearing down, tearing apart. The Soviet Union. Who would've ever thought that could happen seemed so powerful and invincible. We just need to be appreciative of the hand of God here. And that's what is talked about beginning in verse 19. Alas , alas for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth in a single hour she's been laid waste . Now get the contact contrast. Verse 20, rejoice over her oh heaven. And you , saints and angels and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her. So there's lamenting and then there's rejoicing. Who's rejoicing? God's people, those who have stood with the lamb, they're rejoicing. And this isn't gloating. Don't , don't get it twisted here. This isn't about personal vengeance. This is rejoicing in the righteous justice of God. That's what this is all about. And then there's a series of no mores there not gonna be found anymore of this. And any more of that, no more of this, no more of the craftsmen, no more of the sound of the mill, no more of the light of the land . And that's just a strong contrast to all the know mores that will be cited in heaven in chapter 21. In in the finish of our reading today. Then verse 24, enter was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who've been s slain upon the earth. I want you to think about this. What that passage says is God knows what's happening to his people and God knows those who dare to raise their hand against the people of God. And God will judge, God will act. That's what Revelation 18 is all about. Fallen. Fallen is Babylon The great as William Stewart says in some of his good material on the book of Revelation, Babylon's not so great is it? No, it is not. God is great. God rules God judges and God makes Babylon answer for her wickedness. See you tomorrow as we continue in to revelation 19. The reading though for Wednesday is Revelation 18, verses 15 to 24 . It is Thursday and today a short reading Revelation 19, one to five, just five verses today. But you'll love what you read because this is, this is the real hallelujah chorus, a loud voice verse one, great multitude cries out. Hallelujah. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Once again. The justice of God is celebrated. It's so important that we draw closer to God through Bible reading that we come to know God and people have this image of a namby pamby God, God who's kind of an elderly person's rocking away in a rocking chair on the back porch, somewhere unaware of what's going on, ignorant of the happenings upon this earth and not really too concerned, maybe saying, don't be so naughty. No, that's not the true God of the Bible. The true God of the Bible is vitally concerned about the things that are happening upon this earth. Those who oppose him and who hurt his people. But beyond just being concerned, God is able to do something about it. That's the emphasis in Revelation 19. The smoke from her. Verse three goes up forever and ever. It is eternal punishment and the 24 elders and the four living creatures, verse four, we haven't, we haven't seen them since chapter four. And then there's a sense here, I think that revelation is, is coming to a completion. We're circling back to where we began, these elders and creatures. They say, praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great. Look at how verse five is a call for endurance. How verse five is a call for don't compromise. Verse five says, we praise God when he brings judgment because our God is powerful and able. That's who God is. That's what God is doing. And that's what re that's what causes heaven to rejoice. Revelation 19, one to five, that's our reading for Thursday. It is Friday. It's Friday, made it through the week. And today we're going to a wedding Revelation 19 verses six to 10 is our reading for Friday. And this is the Marriage Feast of the Lamb. I love these passages for a number of reasons. One of which is they're just so rooted in the Old Testament, in the Old Testament. The idea that God is the husband and his people are his bride. That's deeply rooted in Isaiah 62 in the book of Hosea, for example. Chapter two talks about that. And then of course that idea appears in the New Testament where the church is , the bride in Christ is the groom. Two Corinthians 11 verse two, Ephesians chapter five, very much that idea. Jesus loves to tell parables about a wedding feast and the groom coming and the things that go with all of that. This figure then here in Revelation 19, is a figure that calls us to identify where we are. Are we going to be with the harlett? That's a figure of immorality and just outrageous conduct. Are we going to be committed to Jesus Christ? That's the image of marriage. Think of the difference between visiting a harlett and getting married. That's a huge difference, isn't it? And that is the image that John is pressing here. We want to be married, we want to be fully committed. And the way to do that is to be granted, to clothe herself bright and pure, made herself ready. Verses seven and eight for the fine linen. Now, verse eight again, is the righteous deeds of the saints. Verse nine. Blessed are those who are invited to the married supper of the lamb. It is an incredible scene. So much so that John falls down. He's just overcome to see all of this. He, he is delighted to see what awaits God's people. We have the opportunity to go to the marriage supper of the lamb. I don't wanna press that image too far. I don't wanna make too much of that metaphor, especially since all along as we've been reading the book of Revelation, I'm just constantly begging us not to make something out of every claw and every paw. But I would say this images do mean something. And if the image for heaven here and being with the lamb, let's say that image was a study hall. Maybe you went to study hall, I maybe you got detention and went to study hall. Don't ask me how I know about that. And that image is an image of, of utter quiet and and kind of misery. And nobody's really happy to be there. And it's just pretty dull and boring. What would it say if that was the image that John chose, the Holy Spirit chose through John to describe our eternal home? That would be a little depressing. But sometimes people think of heaven like it's gonna be a study hall, really boring, just standing around all the time on the clouds, doing nothing. That isn't the image here. The images of a marriage feast. Now again, we don't wanna make too much of that and and I don't want you to get lost and start thinking of all kinds of ridiculous marriage celebrations today. Marriage celebrations sometimes stray into immorality and drunkenness and all kinds of corrals . Absolutely not that there's no part of that. And we'll read as we read further in the book of Revelation, that that can't come to the marriage feast. No chance, no way, no how . But marriage feasts are a time of tremendous joy and delight and rejoicing and fun. And that is the image that the Holy Spirit uses here to say. That's what heaven's going to be like. So I wouldn't wanna press that too far. Not gonna tell you that the streets of heaven are paved with literal gold bricks. It's a metaphor. It's a figure of speech. I understand that you understand that. But when the Holy Spirit says the streets are paved with gold that says something about the value and the worth and the incredibleness of heaven. And when the Holy Spirit says it's gonna be like a marriage feast that says something about the joy and happiness that will be found in heaven. Look forward to the Marriage feast brethren. Look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb Sisters. It will be a wondrous and incredibly joyous occasion. And the question is, are you invited? Verse nine, look at how that rings out. Are you going to get an invitation to the married supper of the lamb? Do you have that? That is what the Book of Revelation is all about. That's what it's calling those Christians in the seven churches of Asia to make sure of. And that's what it's calling you and me to be justice sure of . I want to be invited to the married supper of the lamb. What a tremendous text. This really, really is. How encouraging this is to those Christians in that day in the first century. And how, how , how encouraging it is still to this day, to you and to me. That's the podcast Then for the week. I certainly do appreciate you listening to it. Hope you've given us a rating or review so that more people can find the podcast and that you're telling other people about it. Be thinking about that as we move into a new year. Lots of folks will be thinking about diet and exercise. Those are the two big New Year's resolution. But a lot of folks will be thinking about, I need to read my Bible more in the new year. Think about who you can tell about the podcast. Get 'em started. Get 'em listening. 'cause that'll help them in their daily Bible reading. So until Monday when we'll open our Bibles together again, I'm Mark Roberts and I wanna go to the marriage supper of the Lamb . Wow. I wanna go to heaven and I want you to come to , I'll see you on Monday with a cup of coffee.

Thanks for listening to the Westside Church of Christ Podcast. Monday morning Coffee with Mark. For more information about Westside, you can connect with us through our website, just christians.com and our Facebook page, our music is from upbeat.io. That's upbeat with two P'S U-P-P-B-E-A-T, where creators can get free music. Please share our podcast with others and we look forward to seeing you again with a cup of coffee. Of course, on next Monday.