revelation series: day 4

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Christ With Coffee On Ice

Host: Ally Yost
Episode: Revelation Series: Day 4
Date: July 17, 2026

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Overview

In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode, Ally Yost concludes her four-part series on the Book of Revelation. With warmth, candid storytelling, and an open heart, Ally walks listeners through the final chapters of Revelation (chapters 16–22), focusing on demystifying the book’s “doom and gloom” reputation and instead uncovering its deep messages of hope, justice, and restoration. The episode is a blend of scripture reading, honest reflection, theological insights, and encouragement to remain faithful amidst life’s challenges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revelation: A Book of Hope, Not Fear

• Ally opens by emphasizing how intimidating Revelation can be, often used as a “scare tactic” in Christian culture. She stresses that, “I don’t think the Lord gave us the Book of Revelation to use it as a scare tactic to get people to salvation or to…manipulate people into a place of fear” (04:04).
• The central message: The book is about hope, awe, and a reminder that God is always on the throne, not about inciting fear.
• The "fear of the Lord" discussed is reverent awe, not terror: “It’s a kind of fear of the Lord of, like, ‘Oh, wow. I have forgotten just how mighty, how in control you are, God’” (05:08).

2. Recap of Previous Revelation Chapters (1–15)

• Chapters 1–3: Jesus addresses seven churches, commending some and correcting others, but always encouraging faithfulness and repentance (15:52).
• Chapters 4–11: The scene shifts to heaven; God’s sovereignty is highlighted amid unfolding judgments (seals, trumpets). Even in judgment, God repeatedly offers opportunities for repentance (17:52).
• Chapters 12–15: The spiritual battle intensifies with the introduction of the dragon (Satan), beast, and false prophet; each person will ultimately choose their allegiance (38:17).

3. Deep Dive: Chapters 16–18 – The Seven Bowls and Fall of Babylon

• Seven Bowls of Wrath: Severity intensifies; God’s judgment is now complete and undelayed—His patience has reached its limit (51:11).
• Clear echoes to the plagues of Exodus; the judgments are “complete and final” (51:34), affecting the entire earth.
• A haunting motif: Even amid disastrous judgments, many still refuse to repent, “so it’s not a lack of evidence of God… it’s just hardened hearts” (53:27).
• Armageddon: Interpreted both literally and symbolically (“evil gathers against God, but God wins”—54:46).
• Babylon the Great: Symbolism of corrupt worldly systems (58:07). Babylon is described as the embodiment of rebellion and materialism; in the end, evil destroys itself.
• Warning Against Idolatry: Earthly success is not evil, but it becomes so when it replaces devotion to God (60:08).

Notable Quote

• “Every kingdom built apart from God eventually falls, but God’s kingdom never will... Revelation reminds us not to place our ultimate hope in governments, economies, cultural influence, or earthly success, but in the unshakable reign of Christ.” (61:51)

4. Chapters 19–22: The Triumph of Christ and Restoration

• Celebration in Heaven: After Babylon’s fall, heaven rejoices; “God’s justice has finally been fulfilled” (78:03).
• Wedding Feast of the Lamb: Beautiful picture of Christ united with His people (78:15).
• Final Victory: Jesus returns as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords,” defeating the beast and false prophet (78:39, 64:54).
• The Millennium & Final Judgment:
  • Satan is bound for a thousand years, then briefly released (79:16). The period serves to show that “even perfect external circumstances cannot change a heart that refuses God” (81:33), echoing Eden’s story (81:49).
  • The “Great White Throne Judgment”—unambiguous justice for all (80:08, 64:17).
• New Heaven & New Earth:
  • God’s dwelling is fully among His people, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. And there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever” (68:07).
  • The new Jerusalem described in glorious, detailed imagery (72:19).
  • The curse is reversed; restoration is complete: “The story that began in a garden ends in a glorious city where God once again lives with his people face to face” (83:43).

Notable Quotes

• “Look, I am making everything new... It is finished. I am the Alpha and the Omega.” (70:14)
• “If we were now to summarize the entire book of Revelation in one statement... Jesus wins. Evil loses. God keeps every promise he’s ever made, so we must remain faithful because the best is still to come.” (84:12/84:17)

5. Reflections on Judgment, Free Will, and the Nature of Hell

• Ally addresses common fears and misunderstandings:
  • Hell was not created for humans, but for rebellious angels; people end up there by their own sustained rejection of God (21:36).
  • “The only reason anyone goes to hell… is because it was a choice” (29:10).
  • God’s mercy is evident throughout: “He gives opportunity after opportunity after opportunity of mercy and compassion...” (19:27).
  • The essential nature of free will and love—“What is love without a choice?” (26:05).

Notable Quotes

• “He’s not just a mean God who’s like, yeah, no, sorry, you, you didn’t live the way I wanted you to live and so you’re going to hell now. That’s not… No, he’s not a one and done God. He has mercy.” (30:09)
• “If we were to go to hell just for our sins, every single one of us would be going because every single one of us has sinned.” (29:57)

6. Practical and Pastoral Encouragement

• The Bible is our “Emmanuel to life... If you want to feel near to God, get a Bible. If you want to know what God has for you, get a Bible…” (12:58)
• Life remains messy; only by clinging to Jesus can we find hope and endurance:
  • “Don’t give up on him. Life is going to continue to get messier... But we have to cling on to Jesus. He’s our only hope. He’s the only thing that can get us through life.” (86:03)
• Encourages sharing personal revelations and reflections with the community (85:28).

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Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• On the “Fear of the Lord”:
  • “Fear of the Lord in the sense of a deeper awareness, more of an awe and a reverence and respect for God rather than, oh, my gosh, God, please don’t smite me…” — (04:28-05:16)
• On the purpose of Revelation:
  • “I don’t think the Lord gave us the Book of Revelation to use it as a scare tactic… But I just think, as a Christian, I’ll speak for myself. I have personally been so intimidated by the Book of Revelation for that reason…” — (04:14-04:22)
• Summing up Revelation’s first half:
  • “Jesus is reigning, history is unfolding exactly according to God’s plan. Evil’s time is limited and God’s people are called to remain faithful because Christ wins in the end.” — (38:45-39:01)
• On the Millennium and Human Nature:
  • “Even perfect external circumstances cannot change a heart that refuses to God…humanity’s deepest problem isn’t simply its environment. It’s sin.” — (81:33-81:44)
• On Restoration:
  • “The story that began in a garden ends in a glorious city where God once again lives with his people face to face. And then Jesus leaves us with one final promise. Surely I am coming soon.” — (83:43-84:03)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:04] Introduction & overcoming fear of Revelation
• [15:33] Big-picture recap of Revelation to chapter 15
• [39:19] Transition to the seven bowls and final judgments
• [51:17] Reflection on the meaning of the seven bowls
• [62:27] Preparing for the grand finale (chapters 19–22)
• [64:54] Jesus’ return, the defeat of evil, and new creation
• [70:14] "I am the Alpha and the Omega"—God’s proclamation
• [84:12] Final summary: “Jesus wins. Evil loses.”
• [86:03] Final encouragement: “Keep hanging on to Jesus… remain faithful to Him.”

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Final Thoughts

Ally closes with celebration and gratitude, inviting listeners to carry the hope, assurance, and patient faith modeled in Revelation into their own lives.
She encourages everyone not just to understand Revelation intellectually, but to let its message shape their endurance, their worship, and their kindness in a broken world.

Closing encouragement:
“Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like him? Talk more like him? Be more like Jesus today. I love you guys. I’m so ridiculously proud of you guys…Keep hanging on to Jesus.” (86:01-86:35)

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This episode is a richly encouraging and honest deep dive into the “hardest” book of the Bible, leaving listeners not with fear, but with bold hope.

Transcript

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[Ali Yost]

Hey guys, this is Ali in the future by like two hours. But I just realized before this episode starts that I need to never told you guys. Like when I started this episode and I did the intro, I forgot to tell you guys like one of the most exciting parts. So this is the last week. We've been doing this for three years. This is the last week that we are just doing one episode a week. Starting next week, we are going to be doing two episodes a week every single week. What? Yeah. So prepare to have double the content. I don't know, I just wanted to. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully it goes well. Christ with Coffee and Ice is going to be every Wednesday and Friday instead of every Friday. So instead of getting four episodes a month, we're doing eight, baby. And I am so, so excited. So anyway, I completely forgot to tell you guys that. Just wanted to let you know. So don't be surprised if you see our next episode comes out on Wednesday. You're not going to wait all the way until next Friday to see cwcoi. So love you guys. And now we're getting into the episode. Hello everybody. Welcome to another episode of Christ with Coffee and Ice.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I am your host, Ali Yost.

[Ali Yost]

It is a joy and honor to be here with you guys today. Today guys, we're doing it.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay?

[Ali Yost]

We're doing it. Today is day four and hopefully day four of a four part series of us reading the book of Revelation, which is so cool. We have never done anything like this on the podcast before and it's so funny because there have been times where I have gotten DMS or messages from you guys where you're like cover the book of Revelation. And I'm like, no. Like, that is one of the most intimidating books to read out of the whole Bible. And I think that the truth is. Is, like. And we kind of said this in the first episode when we started this a few weeks ago, is like, I think the reason why the Book of Revelation is so intimidating is because there is so much, like, doom and gloom and end times. And just, like, there's been such an emphasis that a lot of Christians have put on this book of, like, this is it. This is how the world is gonna end. And you better repent of your sins, because Jesus is coming back. And it's like, yes, yes, yes, that is the Book of Revelation. But I'm not sure that's exactly why God gave us the Book of Revelation. I don't think the Lord gave us the Book of Revelation to use it as a scare tactic to get people to salvation or to lead people to salvation to lead people to Jesus. I don't think that book was ever supposed to be used in a way that manipulates people into a place of fear where, like, ooh, if I better get my life together or else this is gonna. And here's the truth is, like, the Book of Revelation, it is very true. And I think, like, we saw that in a little bit of last week's episode and even the week before that, where there are. There are some really hard parts about Revelation where it's okay for us to kind of be like, ooh, that was a little uncomfortable, or that kind of stung, or that seemed really sad, you know, like, there. There are some hard truths about the Book of Revelation, and the entirety of

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the book should be taken seriously.

[Ali Yost]

I'm not saying we should write off that part, but I just think, as a Christian, I'll speak for myself. Like, I have personally been so intimidated by the Book of Revelation for that

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

reason, because I just.

[Ali Yost]

I've been scared that it's just going to be a book that's going to

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

really bum me out and make me

[Ali Yost]

scared, and it shouldn't make you scared. And so I hope up until this point, if you've been keeping up with the last few episodes that you haven't been feeling fear. I have prayed, and we will continue to pray in every episode, that it does instill a deeper fear of the Lord for us. Fear of the Lord in the sense of a deeper awareness, more of an awe and a reverence and respect for God rather than, oh, my gosh, God, please don't smite me. Like, don't strike me with lightning. Don't kill me. Don't cast me away. Like, don't stop loving me. It's not that kind of fear of God, but it's a kind of fear of the Lord of, like, oh, wow. I have forgotten just how mighty, how in control you are, God. I have forgotten time and time again

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

that you are truly the one who is on the throne and has always been on the throne and. And will forever be on the throne.

[Ali Yost]

That is the Book of Revelation is like having a deeper revelation of the Father and who Jesus Christ is and how that will look in his second coming when he comes back. Because it has been promised to us that he will come back one day, that we do not know the time, day, or hour. There will be signs, there will be indicators of the day, but we actually will never know the day of when he comes. But it is promised to us that he is coming back. And so this is also a book of hope. This is a book of rest. I believe that, like, in the message of the book of Revelation, too, is it's our Father assuring us that evil will not win, evil will not prevail, that there is nothing that is happening now, there's nothing that's happened in the past or that will happen in the future that will throw God off and go, oh, whoa, whoa. Wasn't expecting this one. Wait a minute. I know that I said that I would be the one who would have the last say, but I don't know. Evil's looking pretty. No, no. So it should also be a book of, like, oh, we have hope and we have peace. You know, that peace that we get from God, the peace that surpasses all understanding. Like, we should receive a peace knowing that no matter what we walk through, no matter what we see in the world, like, ultimately, God will always have the last say. He will have the last word. So it's a book of hope, guys.

[Libsyn Ads Announcer]

It is.

[Ali Yost]

And so excited and honored to finish it with you guys. And disclaimer, as I've been giving in all the episodes, just in case this is your first episode, tuning in, I will say, not the best timing, friend. You'll definitely want to go back to the last three episodes that we've recorded if this is your first one, because we're just. We're finishing everything today. We're. But I will. I will. In case we do have anyone tuning in that is new, a disclaimer that I am. I am just a girl who loves Jesus. And, you know, we're learning together, so I'm not claiming to be any kind of, like, major Bible, like, theologian. Who has this book figured out? I don't. That's okay, though. I really think that the most important thing about today's episode is that we. Whatever is meant to stick will stick. And whatever the Holy Spirit wants to use, that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He uses it.

[Ali Yost]

That actually is my deepest goal, is, like, above all else. Yes, it'd be great to understand as much of this as we can, but, like, to really relieve ourselves of that pressure of feeling like we have to fully understand what we're about to read. Because odds are we probably won't actually think that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That.

[Ali Yost]

Yes, that's truth. Like, we probably won't.

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That's okay.

[Ali Yost]

That's me. Every time I read the Bible, I don't understand everything. That's okay. That's why this is gonna be a great Bible for us to read a great book. I should say for us to read for the rest of our lives. Because we're gonna. We're gonna have to read things over and over and over again, and we're gonna have different revelations every time we read it. And things are gonna stick out to us. Even things that maybe we've already read a hundred times. Like, that is how the word of God works. That's what keeps it alive. That's what makes it living. I should say, is it is living. It is breathing, and it is alive for a reason, because it. It is God. And he's gonna have his way every

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

time we read it.

[Ali Yost]

And I don't think we're ever gonna have it fully figured out. There will always be opportunity to take something from what we're reading. Maybe not everything, but we'll take something. And I'm. I'm hoping for a few somethings. That'd be great. This series has been really fun for

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

me with you guys, and so I'm

[Ali Yost]

looking forward to it and. Yeah, let's just get into it. I didn't really get distracted in this intro. Usually I'm distracted about who knows what. My hair. Talking about my necklace. I will say my necklace, though, super cute when I first put it on, it's a little heavy. It does kind of feel. You know what? It's. It's good, though. It doesn't make me feel like I'm choking. It makes me feel like it's a weighted blankie.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I don't know.

[Ali Yost]

It is definitely. It had a little weight to it. Now I'm used to it. It's really cute and fun. Also, it's. We're stepping out in like fashion risks on this podcast lately. Okay. I don't know. I've never worn a chunky necklace like this with a cami, like, with such a casual outfit. But I just wanted to feel like I was living on an island. I wanted to feel like I was living in the tropics. I look like I'm supposed to be in Hawaii. And I think that's fun. Okay. I think that's fun. Also, side note, we don't have Bubba with us today. Bubba is my. My orange squish ball. My squish that I've been bringing on my podcast. But we do have his best friend, Bubs. We've got Bubs. Bubs is purple. And you might be asking. Okay, well, you might have two questions. One, Allie, how you doing mentally? You are bringing another squish onto the podcast. You okay? I don't have the full answer to that question yet. Half of the answer is, think so. I think so. But then the second question you may ask is, ally, if you already have one squish, why do you need two? And I will say I only have two squish. I did have a third, but I accidentally left it at my friend Anna's house, and so now she has that guy. But I will say this one is different because he's got a little texture to him, and he sounds like. Does it sound like the ocean? Wait, are we on an island? Is this my ASMR moment? I'm gonna freak out. Does it sound like. Wait, sorry, this is going on for too long anyway. But I like it because it sounds like it's like. And it even looks like. And feels like it's crushing. Like ice. Like crunchy ice. This one's a little stiffer. It does take a little bit more muscle in your hands.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And whatever this. Whatever your wrists. What's this?

[Ali Yost]

That, like, if I be squishing this for a little while, I'll feel it. I'll feel the burn in whatever.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This is forearm.

[Ali Yost]

I don't know what this guy is. Anyway, that's my side tangent. You guys almost got away with me not having a little moment, but I

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

had to have a moment.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, that's it. That's all the life updates I have for you guys today. We're getting into the Bible before all else. We have our Christ, of course, as First John in the beginning of the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

book of First John said, in the

[Ali Yost]

beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And so this is. This is Jesus. We have our Christ. I'm Gonna be reading from my Hosanna revival Bible, which I shout out and I talk about every episode because I love them. You guys are more than welcome to use my code. It's Ali Yost, Just my first and last name. If you are ever interested in a new Bible or a first Bible, you should do it.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It will change your life.

[Ali Yost]

The Bible will genuinely change your life. And it's so funny, because I feel like a lot of times we'll be like, gosh, I wish life had a manual. You know what Emmanuel means? It's so funny. We say, I wish life had a manual, but there's a word that exists out there that's called emmanuel, which means God with us. God is with us. That's what it translates to. Isn't that funny?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So.

[Ali Yost]

So we do have Emmanuel. Emmanuel.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This.

[Ali Yost]

This is literally Emanuel to life. If you want to know how to live life, well, get a Bible. And if you want to feel near to God, get a Bible. If you want to hear the voice of God, get a Bible. If you want to know what God has for you, or maybe even just like, who God has created you to be, get a Bible. You know, you want to be a better friend, get a Bible. You want to be a better partner, a better daughter, a better person, get a Bible. We do have Emmanuel to life. Emmanuel. God with us. He's with us right here. Anyway, so we have our Christ. We do indeed. And then we have our coffee on ice in our new glass tumblers, which we will put the little QR code as we always do. You guys are welcome to shop.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We have Jesus on the back.

[Ali Yost]

I'm repping my. My black font today rather than the white. I love it. Oh, I love it. Okay, guys, we're about to have the best time ever. Okay. This is gonna be so much fun. So should we do a little recap? It might be long, though, because, like,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

we've literally gone through 14, 15 chapters.

[Ali Yost]

But today, I will also say I am reading the NLT translation, which is the new living translation. You guys are more than welcome to also read along. I highly suggest that. Actually, I think this would be really fun. I guess it's kind of giving more of a Bible study vibe where we should do it together. Take out your Bibles. Take out your notepads. I think it's so helpful to actually

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

physically have your Bibles with you, to

[Ali Yost]

just be touching it, reading it, writing,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

highlighting, doing all the things.

[Ali Yost]

At least for me, I feel like

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

that's the best way to retain what it is that's being like, read to me.

[Ali Yost]

But obviously if you're not in a place to do that, that's totally okay. I'm happy to just read it to you. But I do think that these last few episodes have been really great for,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

like, if you do want some serious

[Ali Yost]

time to just read along in the Bible and just have your face in the Bible, this is a great episode for that. And the last few episodes have been too. So let's just do a super, super quick recap just so we know where we're at, because it has been a week since we've touched base of just what we've covered and we've read so far. Okay? So we're not just going to recap every single chapter because that's going to take too long because we've really come

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

a long way and it's a lot.

[Ali Yost]

So here's just the big picture, okay,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

of what we've covered up until this point. So Revelation begins with Jesus revealing himself to John not primarily to scare us about the future, but to encourage the church to remain faithful. In chapters one through three, Jesus speaks directly to seven churches.

[Ali Yost]

Some are commanded for their faithfulness, others are lovingly corrected.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But the message is consistent. Stay faithful, repent where needed. Don't compromise with the world and, and endure until the end. Then in chapters four through five, the scene shifts from earth to heaven. John sees God's throne, which is insane, where all of heaven is worshiping him. Then we meet the Lamb, Jesus, who alone is worthy to open the scroll.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, remember how the Lamb that was slain, he opened the seven seals to that scroll. Jesus, who alone is worthy to open

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the scroll that contains God's plan for bringing history to its final fulfillment. That moment reminds us that no matter how chaotic things become on earth, Heaven

[Ali Yost]

is never in chaos. God is still on the throne. Right? Okay, so as Jesus begins opening the seven seals in chapters eight through or six through eight, I should say, excuse me, we see increasing judgment unfold, which was war, famine, death, persecution, and cosmic disturbances. Like the skies rolling up like a scroll and stars looking like. As if. Like a. What was it described as a tree being shaken and all the stars were

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

falling out of the sky.

[Ali Yost]

Crazy stuff. Okay, so there are sobering reminders that

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

sin has real consequences and that history

[Ali Yost]

is moving toward God's appointed conclusion.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Yet even in judgment, God marks and protects his people, showing us that he knows exactly who belonged to him.

[Ali Yost]

Then come the seven trumpets in chapters eight through 11.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You guys remember that these judgments intensify, but they're also warnings. They're opportunities for people to repent and turn back to God. We also meet the two witnesses who boldly proclaim God's truth despite intense opposition. Though they're killed, God raises them to life, reminding us that God's purpose cannot be stopped.

[Ali Yost]

And I think what's been really cool to see in the book of Revelation as well, well, is that God continually is giving people the chance to repent

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

and to accept them as their Creator.

[Ali Yost]

This isn't just like a one and done doom and gloom. That's it. Anybody who hasn't accepted me until this point is just being damned to hell right now. This is a part where I believe God is so misunderstood. You know where. And I think people have painted this time that will come, that will happen, okay? The end times are real and it will happen because God finishes everything that he starts. And so he started life, he started our life here on Earth and it

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

will come to an end.

[Ali Yost]

And so all of these things will happen. But I, like, this is just a part where I feel like God is so misunderstood because of all of the fear that people have instilled into unbelievers who, where we're just not giving enough context of like what the end times truly is like. I think unfortunately a lot of people have kind of cherry picked from this book and have only used the parts that are really scary. And I'm not saying like every part of this book is true, but if we're not, I just, we're not speaking enough about how God's character is like the beauty of God's character is still

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

being revealed even in the book of

[Ali Yost]

Revelation, like even in the end times.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Even with all of what's going down in this book, like we are still

[Ali Yost]

seeing the character of God, which is love, which is compassion, which is He. He will give opportunity after opportunity after opportunity of mercy and compassion to be like, hey, I'm giving you another chance. Are you willing to turn from your sin? Are you willing to turn from your independence? Are you willing to turn from your evil and accept me as your Creator, as Lord and Savior? And are you willing to accept the fact that you are living in a way that isn't good and that I sent my one and only son to take on your sin? Like I'm actually, I'm giving you a way out. And like that's, that's what God does over and over again in the book of Revelation. And I don't think enough people like see that part. I think a lot of people just see like, oh, okay, so just because I. I choose not to believe in God, I'm just gonna be damned to hell forever. Why would I want to follow a God like that anyway?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Who.

[Ali Yost]

Like that. That doesn't even sound like a nice God. Like, that doesn't even sound like a God I'd want to follow. But that's not the case of the book of Revelation. That's actually not the case of. Of how God deciphers who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. The truth is, is like, he actually gives everyone chance after chance after chance. We're looking at how everything is falling apart and the world is coming to an end right now in the book of Revelation, and we are seeing how God is like, do you want to turn to me now? Do you want to choose? Like, do you want to accept me now? Are you done running from me now? Because I want to be your father. I want to take care of you. But you have to accept the fact that you're sinful. You have to, like, you actually have to accept that and repent for that and be like, yeah, okay, you're right. The way I've been living is wrong. That's not talked about enough. It's not that simple, actually.

[Goldbelly Sponsor Announcer]

That's.

[Ali Yost]

No, that's not the God that you would be following. It's not. It's not a God. That's just like, yes, oh, okay, you didn't want to accept me, then go to hell. It's like, no. God actually, up until the very last

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

minute, still gives people the chance.

[Ali Yost]

And it's in their choice that they go to hell. It's in their choice that they go to the place which also, if the word hell is triggering the truth of

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the matter, is that God is good.

[Ali Yost]

God is good. God is love. God is mercy. Anything that we are experiencing in this life that is good, it is from God. Whether you believe in him or not, it doesn't matter. You are enjoying the fruits of who God is. And so hell is not just a place that God created and was like, I'm gonna make it the most miserable, painful, excruciating, agonizing experience for anyone who doesn't want to follow me. No, actually, hell is. Is just a place where the presence of God, any. Anything of God which is good, love, enjoyable, right? God. God is light. Anything that is the opposite of who God. It is a place where God does not exist. And whether you believe in God or not, if you are living on earth and there are things that you are enjoying on this planet, it is from God. God. The only reason there is any good on this earth is because it's God. Hell was not a place originally for any human being to be going to. Hell was just supposed to be a place where the angels, which in their free will had rebelled against God because they wanted to become their own God, they wanted to become independent aside from God. Lucifer had become jealous and envious and wanted to be God. But the truth is, is nobody can be God like the pot cannot become the potter. And so Lucifer being a product of God, God created angels. He created us human beings. He's created everything that we can see with our eyes, that we can touch with our hands, that we can smell, taste. Everything is created by God. That is why he is the Creator with a capital C. The only reason we can create, have the ability to create that, that's something that's embedded in our DNA, is because we come from someone who is the creator. So we're creatives because he's the creator. Everything comes from God. It doesn't matter how much we want to be our own God or we want to be God, we will never be. There's no angel in heaven, no demon in Hell, or no human being on earth that could be God. He's it, it's just not physically possible to be a product of something as mighty and powerful and glorious as God and try to replace that and put our feet in his shoes. That doesn't he, he's the only one that can fill that role because he's God. So Lucifer gets jealous of that, wants to become a God.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He can't.

[Ali Yost]

And in that, the God was like, okay, that, well, that can't happen here. Like, I'm sorry, but like, you can't, you can't be your own God. You can't rebel, you can't try to make your own kingdom. In my kingdom, I, I've given you everything that you have. Like, I, I, I've made you who you are. You can't now turn and try to be me. So Hell actually was supposed to be

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the destination of which angels, fallen angels, which are demons.

[Ali Yost]

Now that was supposed to be their home. It was never supposed to be for people to go to, but unfortunately in our human nature, because God has given us free will to either choose good or evil. That's just the truth. And the other part of this too is like people could question, like, okay, Ally, if you're saying that everything on earth that is good is from God, that sounds really convenient. Because if everything's come from God and He's created everything.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Why is there evil on Earth?

[Ali Yost]

There's evil on Earth because we have this nature about us as humans to rebel. And it was the same thing that Lucifer did.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It was the same thing that Satan did.

[Ali Yost]

Like, for whatever reason deep down in our human nature that God did not plant in us, okay? He gave us the gift of free will. And in that free will, we actually do have the choice to say, I want to follow God, I want to live by the way that he's created me to live. Or no, I don't actually. I want to do these things instead. And so the truth is, like, what is love without a choice? Like, how, how can God love us? How can God be love if he only gives us one option? He's going to give us the full free will to make whatever choice we want. But if we don't choose him, we're going to go to the place that doesn't have him in it. Like, if we really don't want him. If you really. If you really don't want anything to do with God, God's not gonna force you to live in eternity in a place that is consumed with Him.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It's just Him.

[Ali Yost]

Like, there are good things here on earth, but Heaven, it's like, only going to be good ever. He's gonna cast out all evil. And I think the truth is I didn't know what heaven was. I thought before that heaven was just like a really nice, peaceful place where we get to live kind of like we live now, but there's just no

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

pain or suffering or evil.

[Ali Yost]

And like. Yes, but also the truth about heaven is like, it's. It's all about God. Like, heaven is God's kingdom. That's his house. That's his home. Like, that's, that's. That's his kingdom. So it's not just like a fun, peaceful, forever paradise vacation for us to go to. Like, yes, there will be peace. God says that he will wipe every tear and there will be no more

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

sorrow, no more pain.

[Ali Yost]

There will be no more hunger, exhaustion. Like evil, wars, murder. No evil in heaven. It will be peace. But peace is a product that comes from God. Joy, love, serenity. Like all of those things that we think about when we think about heaven. Like, those are fruits of who God is. That's God. So it's his home. And it's not just a place that we get to live in if we reject. We don't want. That doesn't even make any sense. Like, what do you mean you're gonna Live your whole life, like blatantly rejecting God and saying, I don't want anything to do with you. God gives you chance after chance and even, even in this time, he's giving people chance after chance to say, hey, do you want to choose me now? Because I actually would love to have you in my kingdom with me. I'd love to have you in heaven with me. Actually, there's more than enough room, I planned for every single person who's ever

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

lived in the history of mankind to fit in this place.

[Ali Yost]

There's room for everybody, but it's a choice and it's not God's. It's up to us. The only reason anyone goes to hell or would go to hell is because it was a choice. So anyway, I don't know where that tangent just came from, but to wrap that, it's like, no, he's not just a mean God who's like, yeah, no, sorry, you, you didn't live the way I wanted you to live and so you're going to hell now. That's not. No, he's not a one and done God. He has mercy. And if anyone's going to be cast into hell, it's probably because they blatantly denied God for their entire life and said, no, I don't want anything to do with you. I want to live selfishly. That's what these people were saying.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Because the truth is, is we're all sinful.

[Ali Yost]

Okay? And the truth is, is that if we were to go to hell just for our sins, every single one of us would be going because every single

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

one of us has sinned.

[Ali Yost]

And so God's never going to just

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

cast you to hell because you've lived a really sinful life, because we all have. That was the whole reason he sent his son, Jesus Christ, was to take

[Ali Yost]

on the debt of our sins so that we would actually have a chance to have a relationship with the Father and go to heaven. So actually, the work has already been done. Jesus already paid the debt of our sins. Every single one of us deserved to go to hell because we've all rebelled.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We've all been selfish, we've all acted

[Ali Yost]

in evil in one way, shape or form. No, maybe not all of us have ran around killing people. But like, we have mistreated others.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We have been selfish, we have manipulated,

[Ali Yost]

we have lied, we've convinced people of things to get our way. Yeah, that's all, that's all evil. Like, those are not the characteristics of God. And so if we are to go to a place and be in his presence of pure holiness. I don't even think we would physically actually stand a chance. I think we would disintegrate. So no, he's, he's actually, he's not a harsh God because if he was a harsh God, he would have been like right from the get go with Adam and Eve, I mean we would have just been all from there. We all would have been going to

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

hell at that point.

[Ali Yost]

And so he sends his one and only son, Jesus Christ to come down to earth in human form to live up until the age of 33 to then die on a cross for something

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

he, for something he never did. He lived a perfect.

[Ali Yost]

He was the only human being in the history of ever to live a perfect sinless life.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And he gets crucified on a cross,

[Ali Yost]

taking on the debt of our sin, overcoming all of evil and even death, shame, everything he overcomes death because then three days later he raises from the dead, overcoming all of evil and death. So not even the enemy like Satan then no longer had any control over death. Like he could never, he couldn't scare people with death dying because Jesus overcame that as well. So now we have hope in Christ who has overcome and made and like literally paid our debt, made us clean in the sight of the Father. So now all we have to do is believe in Jesus and say, yep, God, I believe that you did send

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

your son out of mercy for us,

[Ali Yost]

to give us a second chance. Because we live lives that are not pure. We live lives where we lie and we steal and we manipulate and we murder and we do all these awful things. I believe that you did that to give me a second chance. And so I trust him. I'm going to follow him, I'm going to follow you and I'm going to live the life that you want me to live. Because that's the least that I could do for you, for saving my life, giving me a chance to live in heaven with you for all of eternity. Because without that I actually I would have gone to hell forever. That's the revelation here is like all of us, that was our fate. He's not a harsh God.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He's a loving God, He's a merciful God. And that's the part that I wish

[Ali Yost]

people would understand and that was the part that I didn't understand. And that heaven isn't just a la dee da paradise. It's God's house and it's all about him. So it wouldn't make sense for anybody to go there who doesn't want anything to do with him. You're going to go to the place that is absent of anything that has to do with God, which is evil, darkness, pain, suffering. It's awful.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Actually.

[Ali Yost]

I don't believe that's where God wants a single one of us to go.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But it's a choice.

[Ali Yost]

It's genuinely a choice here at Christ With Coffee and Ice. We obviously talk a lot about purpose

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

here, about finding the path God has set for us.

[Ali Yost]

And when it comes to education, that

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

path should lead to a future that matters.

[Ali Yost]

That's why when I heard about Grand

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Canyon University, I was so impressed.

[Ali Yost]

Because they are a private, non profit

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Christian university in beautiful Phoenix, Arizona that

[Ali Yost]

believes education shouldn't be a privilege, but

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

an affordable path forward for everyone.

[Ali Yost]

GCU is grounded in Christianity.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

In truth, they are working to empower

[Ali Yost]

the next generation to lead with integrity

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

and serve with purpose.

[Ali Yost]

And they make it accessible. Did you know GCU has kept tuition

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

at the same rate on its traditional campus for 17 years?

[Ali Yost]

Plus in 2025 alone, they awarded over

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

$404 million in institutional scholarships. Whether you're looking for a degree on campus or online, find your purpose at gcu, Private Christian, affordable nonprofit. Visit GCU Edu to learn more.

[Ali Yost]

What if my friends secretly hate me? What if something bad happens because I

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

didn't do that thing?

[Ali Yost]

Does God really still love me after what I've done? If you've ever had thoughts like that that seem to play on repeat, you're not alone.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Intrusive thoughts can feel incredibly real and urgent.

[Ali Yost]

And for some people, they can actually be signs of ocd. OCD is so much more than what

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

people think it is.

[Ali Yost]

It can affect relationships, faith, fears, guilt, and so many other areas of life. Now the good news is that OCD is highly treatable with a specific kind of therapy called erp, or Exposure and Response Prevent. That's why I wanted to tell you guys about nocd. So NOCD is the world's leading provider of OCD treatment. They're licensed therapists, specialize in ERP therapy, and treatment is completely virtual, covered by insurance for over 138 million Americans with support even in between sessions. So you're never facing OCD alone. To learn more about starting OCD therapy with no CD, go to nocd.com and

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

book a free call with their team. That's nocd.com Anyway, Ali, are we going

[Ali Yost]

to start reading the Book of Revelation or what? I don't know.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Maybe.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, chapters 12 to 13. Just quick recap these chapters.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Now pull back the curtain on the Spiritual battle happening behind everything we see. We meet the dragon, who is Satan, the beast and the false prophet.

[Ali Yost]

These chapters reveal that our battle isn't merely against earthly powers, but against spiritual

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

forces that seek to deceive people away from Christ.

[Ali Yost]

That also was the part where we realized, I mean, this is something we always have known about Satan is he does not have an original thought in his brain. He just wants to be God. Okay? So he doesn't. He's not going to have an original thought. He's just going to copy everything God does. So this is like his version of the Holy Trinity, but it's, it's the counterfeit Trinity and it's.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He's deceiving people in the end times

[Ali Yost]

because he's going to pull out. That's the other thing we need to understand is Satan knows that hell is his home. He knows that that's his kingdom, that's his fate. Him and all his demons, all of the fallen angels that followed him, okay, and worship him as their leader. And agreed and was like, yep, we're going to do this. We're going to rebel, we're going to become our own kingdom, we're going to be selfish, we're going to cause mayhem and we're going to get revenge on God. We're going to torture humans, we're going to, we're going to deceive, we're going to manipulate and we're going to try to get as many of them convinced that this is the right way and lead them away from God. That's what Satan's been doing since day one. So even up until this point, he's gonna pull out everything he's got. Because ultimately Satan knows his fate, but he's gonna go down swinging like he's gonna try to bring as many people

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

down with him as he can.

[Ali Yost]

These chapters reveal that our battle isn't merely against earthly powers, but against spiritual

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

forces that seek to deceive people away from Christ.

[Ali Yost]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We also encounter the mark of the beast. This part a symbol that has been interpreted in different ways throughout church history. But one truth remains clear. Every person will ultimately choose where their allegiance belongs, either to Christ or to the system that opposes him.

[Ali Yost]

Then we concluded with chapters 14 and 15. And these chapters remind us that evil does not get the final word. Amen. We see the Lamb standing victorious with his people.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

God's coming judgment against wickedness, and Heaven preparing for the final outpouring of God's justice.

[Ali Yost]

The saints worship because God is perfectly

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

holy, perfectly just and perfectly faithful to his promises.

[Ali Yost]

So if we had to summarize chapters

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

one through 15 in one sentence, it would be Jesus is reigning history is

[Ali Yost]

unfolding exactly according to God's plan.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Evil's time is limited and God's people are called to remain faithful because Christ wins in the end.

[Ali Yost]

That's where we've been. Now we're ready to continue the story. Okay, so we're gonna, we're gonna continue into chapter 16. We've already been recording for like freaking 45 minutes and we have seven chapters to read. Can we do it? Who cares?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This episode, you'll probably just be extra long. Now.

[Ali Yost]

Chapter 16, I will say, guys, God is now going to pour out the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

seven bowls of his wrath. Chapter 16.

[Ali Yost]

So I fear we're gonna have to buckle up. Okay, I think for the rest of this book we're gonna buckle up because now this is gonna be God. He, at this point, he's taken out

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

all of the most evil of evil,

[Ali Yost]

impure, of nasty, nasty people and also demons. So I mean, it's awesome because ultimately this is what we want. We want God to just clear out all of evil. Goodbye. We are tired, God, Satan, go home. You know, that's what we're going to witness right now. Chapter 16, verse 1.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Then I heard a mighty voice from the temple say to the seven angels, go your ways and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God's wrath. So the first angel left the temple and poured out his bowl on the earth. And horrible malignant sores broke out on everyone who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it became like the blood of a corpse and everything in the sea died. Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs and they became blood. And I heard the angel who had authority over all waters saying, you are just, O Holy One, who is and who always was, because you have sent these judgments. Since they shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is their just reward.

[Ali Yost]

And I heard a voice from the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

altar saying, yes, O Lord God the Almighty, your judgments are true. And just then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. Everyone was burned by this blast of heat and they cursed the name of God who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast. And his kingdom was plunged into darkness. His subjects ground their teeth in anguish and they cursed the God of Heaven for their pains and sores. But they did not repent of their evil deeds and turned to God. Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates river and

[Ali Yost]

it dried up so that the kings

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

from the east could march their armies towards the west without hindrance. And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. They are demonic spirits who work miracles and go out to all the rulers of the world to gather them for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God the Almighty. Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Blessed are all who are watching for me who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed. And the demonic spirits gathered all their rulers and their armies to a place with the Hebrew name Armageddon. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a mighty shout came from the throne in the temple, saying, it is finished. Then the thunder crashed and rolled and lightning flashed and a great earthquake struck, the worst since people were placed on the earth. The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon's sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with wine of his fierce wrath. And every island disappeared and all the mountains were leveled. There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as 75 pounds fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm. One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. Come with me, he said, and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality. So the angel took me in the spirit into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead. Babylon, the great mother of all prostitutes and obscenities. In the world. I could see that she was drunk. Drunk with the blood of God's holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement. Why are you so amazed? The angel asked. I will tell you the mystery of this woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns on which she sits. The beast you saw was once alive, but isn't now. And yet he will soon come up out of the bottomless pit and go to eternal destruction. And the people who belong to this world, whose names were not written in the book of life before the world was made, will be amazed at the reappearance of this beast who had died. This calls for a mind with understanding. The seven heads of the beast represent the seven hills where the woman rules. They also represent seven kings. Five kings have already fallen. The sixth now reign and the seventh is yet to come. But his reign will be brief. The Scarlet Beast that was but is no longer is the eighth king. He is like the other seven and he too is headed for destruction. The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. They will all agree to give him their power and authority. Together they will go to war against the Lamb.

[Ali Yost]

But the Lamb will defeat them because

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

he is lord of all lords and king of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him. Then the angel said to me, the waters where the prostitute is ruling represent masses of people of every nation and language. The Scarlet Beast and his ten horns all hate the prostitute. They will strip her naked, eat her flesh and burn her remains with fire. For God has put a plan into their minds. A plan that will carry out his purposes. They will agree to give their authority to the Scarlet Beast. And so the words of God will be fulfilled. And this woman you saw in your vision represents the great city that rules over the kings of the world. After all this, I saw another angel come down from heaven with great authority. And the earth grew bright with his splendor. He gave with a mighty shout. Babylon is fallen.

[Ali Yost]

That great city is fallen.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

She has become a home for demons.

[Ali Yost]

She is a hideout for every foul

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal. For all the nations have fallen because of the wine of her passionate immorality. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her.

[Ali Yost]

And because of her desires for extravagant

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

luxury, the merchants of the world have grown rich. Then I heard another voice calling from heaven. Come away from her. My people do not take part in her sins, or you will be punished with her. For her sins are piled as high as heaven and God remembers her evil deeds. Do to her as she has done to others, double her penalty. For all her evil deeds. She brewed a cup of terror for others, so brew twice as much for her. She glorified herself and lived in luxury, so match it now with torment and sorrow. She boasted in her heart, I am queen on my throne. I am no helpless widow, and I have no reason to mourn. Therefore these plagues will overtake her in a single day. Death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire. For the Lord God who judges her is mighty. And the kings of this world who committed adultery with her and enjoyed her great luxury will mourn for her as they see the smoke rising from her charred remains. They will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment. They will cry out, how terrible, how terrible for you, O Babylon, you great city. In a single moment God's judgment came on you. The merchants of the world will weep and mourn for her, for there is no one left to buy their goods. She bought great quantities of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple silk and scarlet cloth, things made of fragrant thine, wood, ivory, goods and objects made of expensive wood and bronze, iron and marble. She also bought cinnamon spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, wagons and bodies, that is, human slaves. The fancy things you loved so much are gone, they cry. All your luxuries and splendor are gone forever, never to be yours again. The merchants who became wealthy by selling her these things will stand at a distance, terrified by her great torment.

[Ali Yost]

They will weep and cry out, how

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

terrible, how terrible for that great city. She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens, decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls. In a single moment, all the wealth of the city is gone. And all the captains of the merchant ships and their passengers and sailors and crews will stand at a distance. They will cry out as they watch the smoke ascend. And they will say, where is there another city as great as this? And they will weep and throw dust on their heads to show their grief. And they will cry out, how terrible, how terrible for that great city. The shipowners became wealthy by transporting her great wealth on the seas. In a single moment it is all gone. Rejoice over her fate, O heaven and people of God and apostles and prophets, for at last God has judged her. For your sakes, then A mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a huge millstone. He threw it into the ocean and shouted, just like this. The great city Babylon will be thrown down with violence and will never be found again. The sound of harps, singers, flutes, and trumpets will never be heard in you again. No craftsman and no trades will ever be found in you again. The sound of the mill will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and. And you deceived the nations with your sorceries. In your streets flowed the blood of the prophets and of God's holy people, and the blood of people slaughtered all over the world. Okay, we're going to stop there for just a second.

[Ali Yost]

That.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Wow, we read a lot.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, so that was reading chapters 16, 17, and 18. Let's do a little recap. Okay. What the heck is going on? What's happening? Okay, so. And after doing a little bit of research, most scholars actually do agree that they think the primary purpose of these chapters isn't necessarily to satisfy our curiosity about the future, although obviously it probably does. Like, we are definitely getting a lot more clarity of how things are going to go down, but it's to reveal

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

God's justice, expose the emptiness of evil, and. And encourage believers to remain faithful.

[Ali Yost]

All right, so let's talk about the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

seven bowls of God's wrath. This is now the final series of judgments.

[Ali Yost]

These judgments are more severe than the seals and the trumpets that we already read in the past chapters.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

While the trumpet judgments affected only portions of the earth, the bowl judgments are portrayed as complete and final. They include painful sores, seas and rivers turning into blood, scorching heat, darkness, the

[Ali Yost]

drying of the Euphrates river, and finally,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

a massive earthquake and hailstorm that has never been seen in the history of mankind.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, so theologically, these bulls communicate several truths. Okay, One truth is that God's patience has reached. It's a pointed end. So God has been very patient up until this point, but there is an end to God's patience. And the truth is, it's like, there has to be an end to his patience because, like,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

we gotta wrap this up, you guys. Okay?

[Ali Yost]

Like I said, God starts something and he ends something, and he has a plan for it. He's gotta complete what he has planned. Okay, so his patience couldn't have lasted

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

forever, but it's lasted for a very long time. But this is it.

[Ali Yost]

Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls people to repentance. From the very beginning of the Bible to the end.

[Ali Yost]

That is something God has always encouraged people to do. So these bowls show the moment when

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

judgment is no longer delayed.

[Ali Yost]

And it is like, that's it.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This is the time it will happen.

[Ali Yost]

Many scholars note that these plagues intentionally

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

echo the plagues of Egypt in Exodus, just as God judged Pharaoh while delivering his people. Revelation portrays God judging the world's rebellion

[Ali Yost]

while preparing fully establish his kingdom, which I think is interesting.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

And then one heartbreaking detail appears several times.

[Ali Yost]

And this is something that we've been

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

seeing while reading the book of Revelation is despite the judgments, people still refuse to repent.

[Ali Yost]

And so the issue is not a

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

lack of evidence of God.

[Ali Yost]

Okay. I think it's clear that at this point, people can't be like, well, I don't know, like God and are even real. Like, yeah, I'm pretty sure at this point he's made it abundantly clear that he is the guy.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He's it. He's the one who's in control, who's sitting on the throne.

[Ali Yost]

So it's not a lack of evidence here.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It's just hardened hearts.

[Ali Yost]

Like these people are completely hardened towards

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

God and are filled with evil. Okay.

[Ali Yost]

So then comes Armageddon, which I think

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I said that wrong when I first read it. Did I read it?

[Ali Yost]

I definitely. I don't remember saying that.

[Additional Sponsor Announcer]

Right.

[Ali Yost]

Anyway, it doesn't matter now. One thing worth mentioning is that apparently many Christians do have different views about

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

exactly what Armageddon refers to.

[Ali Yost]

Some understand it is as a literal future battlefield, while others see it as

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

symbolic of the final worldwide conflict between God's kingdom and the forces of evil.

[Ali Yost]

But regardless of whether you think it's literal or symbolic, because I think that that's. That's a common argument with a lot

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

of parts of Revelation.

[Ali Yost]

So regardless on what you believe is actually real or symbolic, I think a majority of us could at least agree

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

on one central point, which is that evil gathers against God, but God ultimately wins. That's what's being said here.

[Ali Yost]

Okay.

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[Ali Yost]

Now moving on to chapter 17, which

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

is the fall of Babylon.

[Ali Yost]

So John is shown a woman called Babylon the great, riding a scarlet beast. Okay, and we got to see that

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

whole vision, that whole moment there. And the woman is described with incredible wealth.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, like she's the. She's it, okay, Luxury, influence.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

But she's also called a prostitute because she has led the nations into spiritual unfaithfulness.

[Ali Yost]

So she's not a legitimate prostitute.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I think something to know about this

[Ali Yost]

is she is a prostitute, but in a way where she has seducted and

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

manipulated, probably through all the flashiness of

[Ali Yost]

her incredible wealth, the luxury, like all

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

of the things that she can give.

[Ali Yost]

But she's called a prostitute for those things because she actually was.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

She has led the nations into spiritual unfaithfulness. Basically, she's led people astray from God to choose the things of this world. Most scholars also believe that Babylon functions symbolically. So for John's original readers, Babylon almost certainly pointed them to the Roman Empire, the dominant political and economic power persecuting Christians more broadly. Babylon represents every worldly system, political, economic, religious and cultural, that opposes God and seduces people away from him.

[Ali Yost]

So at that time, when it says John's original readers, it's like the people

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

that he was writing to at that time, the. For them, it was the Roman Empire.

[Ali Yost]

But for us today, like that there. There's still a Roman Empire of some sort. To us today, it's still just as relevant to us. Rather than being only one future city, Babylon becomes a picture of humanity organized in rebellion against God. That's what Babylon is, is the rebellion

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

against God, things of this world, anything that opposes God and seduces people away from him.

[Ali Yost]

One surprising twist, though, is that the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

beast eventually turns against the woman and destroys her

[Ali Yost]

so that that Part is kind of interesting because you're like, wait a minute, I thought y' all were

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

on the same team. But evil ultimately consumes itself, I think is what's being said there, right?

[Ali Yost]

Throughout Scripture, rebellion against God eventually collapses

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

under its own corruption. It never wins. Evil eventually consumes itself. That's crazy.

[Ali Yost]

So then in chapter 18, we see how Babylon falls, which for us, this is great for evil people, this sucks, okay? But it's good. Like, this is like, hallelujah. The chapter describes kings, merchants, and ship captains mourning not because they love righteousness, but because they've lost the wealth and prosperity Babylon provided. So they're just. They're just mourning all of the perks of what they got from Babylon, which, like, yep, they were living it good, but they were living in rebellion against God, and they were living for this

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

world and the things of this world.

[Ali Yost]

And so this actually reveals one of

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Revelation's biggest themes, which is that God isn't only judging obvious evil. He is also judging corrupt systems built

[Ali Yost]

on greed, exploitation, injustice, idolatry, and self glorification. And something to take note of, you guys, is the repeated emphasis on luxury, commerce and materialism.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It just reminds readers that earthly success can become an idol if it replaces devotion to God.

[Ali Yost]

Again, I don't think that these things are evil. I think sometimes we get it twisted and we think that like, you know, luxury things or wealth or like anything, any materialism, it me is like evil. I don't think that's true. Like, I think until it becomes an idol. And it's the very thing that you

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

worship instead of God is when it's an issue.

[Ali Yost]

Right? That's the definition of an idol is something that has a hold of you more so than. Than God does. And so for these people, they were grieving it because that was their God,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

that was the thing that they worshiped.

[Ali Yost]

So we just need to be mindful that earthly success can quickly become an

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

idol and replace our devotion to God.

[Ali Yost]

And I think, yeah, this is a

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

great reminder of that.

[Ali Yost]

Meanwhile, heaven then rejoices, not because suffering is enjoyable, but because justice has finally

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

arrived and evil has not been ignored forever.

[Ali Yost]

So the big picture as we zoom out on these last few chapters, chapter 16 through 18, is one major question. Okay, the question is, what happens to

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

everything that opposes God?

[Ali Yost]

Can we answer that question? Well, I think we can, because the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

answer is God's justice is complete. Evil does not endure forever. Human empires that appear unstoppable do eventually fall. Wealth, power and influence cannot save anyone apart from Christ Jesus's followers are called to remain faithful even when the world seems to reward compromise.

[Ali Yost]

The one theme that ties these chapters together is this.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Every kingdom built apart from God eventually falls, but God's kingdom never will. And that statement alone actually would have been deeply encouraging for John's first century readers living under Roman oppression. And it's just as relevant today.

[Ali Yost]

Revelation reminds us not to place our

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

ultimate hope in governments, economies, cultural influence, or earthly success, but in the unshakable reign of Christ. Yeesh. Yeesh, guys.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, we have 1, 2, 3, 4 more chapters. Can we do it? Heck yeah, we can. All right, we're doing chapters 19 through 22. Is everybody ready? This is the stinking grand finale.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This is our Super Bowl.

[Ali Yost]

This is it. Oh, my gosh. Okay, wait. Why am I getting excited? Jesus. Okay, I need a sip of my coffee. Chapter 19, verse 1. After this, I heard what sounded like

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

a vast crowd in heaven shouting, praise the Lord. Salvation and glory and power belongs to our God. His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murderer of his servants. And again their voices rang out, Praise the Lord. The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever. Then the 24 elders and the 4 living beings fell down and worshiped God who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, amen. Praise the Lord. And from the throne came a voice that said, praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest. Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or a roar of mighty ocean waves, or the crash of loud thunder. Praise the Lord. For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.

[Ali Yost]

Let us be glad and rejoice, and

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb. And his pride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear, for the fine linen represents the good deeds of God's holy people. And the angel said to me, write this. Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.

[Ali Yost]

And he added, these are true words

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

that come from God. Then I fell down at his feet to worship him. But he said, no, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus. Then I saw heaven opened and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named faithful and true, for he judges fairly and wages A righteous war.

[Ali Yost]

His eyes were like flames of fire,

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God the Almighty. Like juice flowing from a winepress on his robe. At his thigh was written this King of all kings and Lord of all lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky, come gather together for the great banquet God has prepared. Come and eat the flesh of kings, generals and strong warriors, of horses and their riders and all of humanity, both free and slave, small and great. Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured. And with him the false prophet, who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast. Miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who had worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. Their entire army was killed by the sharp sword that came from the mouth of the one riding the white horse. And the vultures all gorged themselves on the dead bodies. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit and a heavy chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that old serpent who is the devil, Satan, and bound him in chains for a thousand years. The angel threw him into the bottomless pit, which he then shut and locked so Satan could not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were finished. Afterward, he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones. And the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They have not worshipped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again. And they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them, the second death holds no power. But they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand Years. When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. He will go out to deceive the nations called Gog and Magog in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle. A mighty army as numberless as sand along the seashore. And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God's people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. Then the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. The final judgment. We're in chapter 20, verse 11. And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done. As recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the old heaven. And the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout come from the throne, saying, look, God's home is now among his people. He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. And there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, look, I am making everything new. And then he said to me, write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true. And he also said, it is finished.

[Ali Yost]

Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay. I am the alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. To all who are thirsty, I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. And all who are victorious will inherit all these blessings. And I will be their God. And they will be my children. But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers and all the liars, their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. And this is the second death. Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, come with me. I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb. So he took me in the spirit to a great high mountain. And he showed me to the holy city, Jerusalem. Descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone, like Jasper, as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high with 12 gates guarded by 12 angels. And the names of the 12 tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side, east, north, south and west. The wall of the city had 12 foundation stones. And on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates and its wall. When he measured it, he found it was a square as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1400 miles. Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216ft thick. According to the human standard used by the angel. The wall was made of Jasper and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.

[Ali Yost]

The wall of the city was built

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

on foundation stones inlaid with 12 precious stones. The first was Jasper, the second, sapphire, the third, agate, the fourth, emerald, the fifth, onyx, the sixth, carnelian, the seventh, crystallite, the eighth, beryl, the ninth topaz. The tenth, chrysoprase, the eleventh, jacinth, the twelfth, amethyst. The 12 gates were made of pearls, each gate from a single pearl. And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city. For the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city. And the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light. And the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.

[Ali Yost]

Its gates will never be closed at

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the end of the day because there is no night there. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of life. Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street on each side of the river grew a tree of life bearing 12 crops of fruit with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything, for the throne of God. And the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him, and they will see his face and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there, no need for lamps or sun, for the Lord God will shine on them and they will reign forever and ever. Then the angel said to me, everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God who inspires his prophets has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon.

[Ali Yost]

We're almost done, you guys. Okay, this is chapter 22, verse 7.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Jesus is coming. Look, I am coming soon. Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. I, John, am the one who heard and saw all these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said, no, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God then. He instructed me, do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

[Ali Yost]

Let the one who is doing harm

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

continue to do harm. Let the one who is vile continue to be vile. Let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously. Let the one who is holy continue to be holy. Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are those dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star, the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let anyone who hears this say, come. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book. If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book, of prophecy. God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. He who is the faithful witness to all these things say, yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come Lord Jesus. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people. And that is the end of the book of Revelation.

[Ali Yost]

Let's just do a little recap on what we just read.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Can I just say that last part though? Yeah, that part was a little scary.

[Ali Yost]

God was like. And by the way, if anybody even thinks about manipulating any of this scripture, imma just let you know what your fate is. Oh my gosh. He already knew. He already knew that people were probably

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

going to try to change the things in the.

[Ali Yost]

Because listen, the truth is hard to hear and sometimes we don't want to hear it. And sometimes we want to.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I think evil people, selfish people, manipulative people would want to use that and switch it up and change things.

[Ali Yost]

But yeah.

[Libsyn Ads Announcer]

Wow.

[Ali Yost]

Oh my gosh, guys, we just read

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

the whole book of Revelation.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, let's just talk about it for just a second. I don't know if you guys were picking up what God was putting down here, but I feel like those last few chapters were giving party, party. So after the fall of Babylon, Heaven

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

erupts in celebration because God's justice has finally been fulfilled. So in chapter 19, we see the marriage supper of the lamb. A beautiful picture of Christ being fully

[Ali Yost]

united with his people. That's us, guys, that's us. Okay? We get to have a meal with Jesus. And he has been like so desperately want. This is the moment that all of us have been waiting for, even Jesus. He's like, finally, finally I get to have a meal with my people. Then Jesus appears as the victorious king riding on a white horse.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

He's called faithful and true. The word of God and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the moment we've been waiting for.

[Ali Yost]

Christ decisively defeats the beast and the

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

false prophet, showing that evil will no longer reign.

[Ali Yost]

Hallelujah. Sorry, am I screaming in your ears? Okay, chapter 20. So now chapter 20 introduces the thousand year reign, which I didn't know about this, actually this. When I was reading this with you guys, this was new for me. I didn't realize that Satan was gonna be put away and for a thousand years and then able to come back out and then officially put away again.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So apparently there's a thousand year reign, often called the millennium. Faithful Christians have understood this chapter in different ways throughout history.

[Ali Yost]

Some see it as a literal future

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

kingdom, while others understand it symbolically.

[Ali Yost]

Okay, I feel like that's typically the argument when it comes to the Book of Revelation. I feel like there's one side or either people literally think it's literal or

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

people think it's symbolic. Either way, I think we could all agree regardless on that stance is that

[Ali Yost]

Satan's defeat is final. That's what's happening. Okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Satan is gone forever. After one last rebellion. He is judged forever. And then comes the great White Throne judgment where every person stands before God, Death itself is defeated, and God brings perfect justice.

[Ali Yost]

One question that I did have, and I don't know if anyone else did, is like, why Satan was even allowed to have one last final moment of rebellion, right? Like after 1000 years of him being locked away, like, why does he have

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

another moment of rebellion?

[Ali Yost]

So obviously Satan is released after a thousand years, but it doesn't actually explicitly tell us why. And because of that, we do have

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

to distinguish between what scripture clearly states

[Ali Yost]

and what some theologians say. Now, apparently several very well respected Christian

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

theologians offer complementary explanations of why.

[Ali Yost]

Because again, it's not clearly stated as to why all scripture says is after the thousand years, he must be released for a little while. That's just what it says. This is actually one of the most common explanations among among evangel scholars, including John Walvrud. If the millennium is understood as a

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

literal earthly reign of Christ, countless people will be born during that period. They will grow up under the perfect rule of Jesus. No corrupt government, no satanic deception.

[Ali Yost]

Peace and justice, right?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Yet when Satan is released, many still choose to follow him. The point is striking. Even perfect external circumstances cannot change a

[Ali Yost]

heart that refuses to God.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

This echoes a theme throughout Scripture. Humanity's deepest problem isn't simply its environment. It's sin. So that's an interesting perspective, actually.

[Ali Yost]

Is that well and honestly. But that even makes. But like, duh, that's exactly what happened

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

in the Garden of Eden.

[Ali Yost]

Like that.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

That also was a perfect environment that

[Ali Yost]

God had created for us. And then Adam and Eve chose sin.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So same thing.

[Ali Yost]

Another kind of theory is that the point of Satan having his one little ass hoorah is to demonstrate God's justice

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

once and for all.

[Ali Yost]

So someone by the name of G.K.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

bale emphasizes that revelation repeatedly shows God exposing evil before judging it. The final rebellion publicly demonstrates that God's judgment is righteous.

[Ali Yost]

Evil isn't destroyed arbitrarily.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It fully reveals itself one last time before God brings history to its conclusion.

[Ali Yost]

So anyway, I don't know. I Guess. I guess that kind of answers my question. But some of that might just be a mystery. You know, we might not totally understand why, you know, those 1,000 years. But whatever. We don't question God, okay?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

It was just all a part of his plan.

[Ali Yost]

So, anyway, then everything changes after that moment. Okay, now we're going into chapters 21 and 22, where we are concluding the book of Revelation. And this is now where John sees a new heaven and a new earth that is being created.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

So the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven, and God dwells with his people forever. There is no more death, mourning, crying,

[Ali Yost]

or pain because the old order has passed away.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

There is no temple because God's presence fills everything. There is no need for the sun because the glory of God gives the city its light.

[Ali Yost]

And Jesus is its lamp.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I love him.

[Ali Yost]

The river of the water of life flows from God's throne, and the tree of life is restored. Which was the tree that was in the Garden of Eden? Okay, it's restored now. And the curse that began in Genesis is finally gone full circle. Do we see it? The Bible ends where it's always intended to.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Not with destruction, but with restoration. The story that began in a garden ends in a glorious city where God once again lives with his people face to face. And then Jesus leaves us with one final promise. Surely I am coming soon. John's response is simple. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

[Ali Yost]

And if we were now to summarize the entire book of Revelation in one statement. Hallelujah. Guys, this is such a cool book.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Okay, is Jesus wins.

[Ali Yost]

Yeah, he does. Okay. Evil loses. God keeps every promise he's ever made, so we must remain faithful, because the best is still to come. It's a book of hope.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I love that.

[Ali Yost]

I love it. Thank you, God. Thank you, Jesus. You guys, we've been recording for two hours Later. Two hours, but we did it. We did it. Okay, everybody, let me know your thoughts. Also, as I always say, would love to hear any of your personal revelations, any aha moments, any like, wow, I loved that. This was my favorite part of the book. Like, please comment below in whatever platform you're listening. And I. I love reading it. I love seeing you guys engage with each other. And I. We all have something to learn from each other for sure. I have a lot to learn from you guys.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

You got some things to learn from

[Ali Yost]

me, but, like, I. Whatever. Really, who we have to learn from is Jesus himself. Okay.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

We have a lot to learn from

[Ali Yost]

God, so I would love to hear what God has revealed to you or Just like what you've loved about this series. I thought it was so fun. It was so fun. We did it. Thank you, God. Okay. All right, guys, before we go, can we do something really cool today? Okay? Enjoy your weekend. Have a beautiful weekend.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

I will see you next time. On a Wednesday. Now.

[Ali Yost]

Fine. Okay, so you don't have to wait a whole week, but can we do something really cool? Can we show somebody how cool Jesus is? Can we walk more like him? Talk more like him?

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Be more like Jesus today.

[Ali Yost]

I love you guys. I'm so ridiculously proud of you guys. Can I say that? Keep hanging on to Jesus. Don't give up on him. Life is going to continue to get messier. It just is. It's not promised that life is going to get easier. It will continue to get messier. But we have to cling on to Jesus. He's our only hope. He's the only thing that can get us through life. So remain faithful to him. I'm really proud of you guys. And I'll see you next time. I'll see you on Wednesday.

[Co-host or Guest Speaker]

Bye.

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