We’re all familiar with the experience of being tourists, but exiles? No way. And yet, we are told in multiple places in the Bible to think of ourselves as exiles here on earth, because this is not our true home. In this message from Revelation 14–18, Pastor J.D. shows us the value of living as exiles in a place that frequently seems alluring but will ultimately pass away. What we are meant to do is fix our eyes on the heavenly city, the one with true, lasting foundations. That, after all, is our eternal home.

If you’ve ever watched a movie with a big reveal the SECOND time, it’s a much different experience. The suspense is gone, and you can be calm, cool, and collected. Why? Because you knew the end before the story even got there. The coming of the Antichrist is a lot like that, as God tells us ahead of time what to expect from the end of history. And because we know the end, we can live today with patience, peace…and even joy.

Judgments. Fire and hail. A beast from a bottomless pit. Taken on their own, quite frankly, these things seem like the stuff of nightmares. In the midst of such frightening images, we might ask, where is hope to be found? In this message from Revelation 8–11, Pastor J.D. encourages us to find hope by keeping our gaze on this glorious picture: Jesus reigns victorious, his mission will ultimately be accomplished, and his Word will triumph.