DAY 49 – 2005

“The Seven Churches”

Fred Coulter – June 11, 2005

And greetings, brethren. Welcome to the Sabbath before Pentecost. This is the 49^th day. And as we have seen in Leviticus 23, we are to count seven complete weeks and one day – that’s 50 days. So we’ll talk about the 50^th day tomorrow. In Deuteronomy 16 we are told to count seven weeks from the beginning of the harvesting of the grain. And that first sheaf that was harvested was Christ. And that was a special ceremonial sheaf that was taken to the temple and waved by the priest on the day after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. And this year because Passover came on a Sabbath, then the Passover day is an unleavened bread day and should always be an unleavened bread day when you understand it. Then the first holy day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread becomes the wave sheaf offering day. And that means by time we get through the seven days of Unleavened Bread we are already one week toward Pentecost.

Now even though this year it appeared that the Passover was late according to the Roman Calendar, you need to look and see, yes winter was still going quite late, wasn’t it? Yes, and as a matter of fact the very week before the Passover they had quite a snowstorm back east and in Ohio. So that shows how those things are.

Now, let’s come to I Corinthians 15 because this is important for us to understand, and this is important for us to realize concerning Christ and that wave sheaf offering, because that is what starts the count of the seven weeks. Now let us pick it up in verse 20: “But now Christ has been raised from the dead; He has become the firstfruit of those who have fallen asleep.” Now we find in Exodus 23 that the first of the firstfruits, God said do not fail to offer that because all of that symbolizes Christ.

Now verse 21: “For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead.” Now, let’s understand something very important: You can take care of your body perfectly; you can eat all organic food; you can exercise and do the things you need to, which we ought to, but as we are going to see, as in Adam all die. Because after Adam sinned, part of the judgment that God passed on to Adam and hence it became part of us in our very genes as we’ve talked about earlier, there is a death gene in every one of us. That’s why there’s a time to be born and a time to die. So there’s going to come a time even if you are in the best health all your life, at the end you are going to die because God has the resurrection. So he says: “…so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” And that’s what Jesus said in John 5. He said, “The day is coming when all who are in the grave will hear the voice of the Son of Man and those who have done good will come forth to a resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to a resurrection of judgment” (John 5:28-29, paraphrased).

Now notice this: “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruit; then, those who are Christ’s at His coming.” And we are going to examine that part of His coming as it relates to the church and how the seven churches and the seven weeks of the harvest and how all of that fits together because God is doing something with His church and through His church. And the harvest is continually going on.

Now verse 24: “Afterwards the end comes…” So Christ is coming. Then we have the Millennium, and then we have the White Throne period, and then we have the end: “…when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to Him Who is God and Father, when He shall have put an end to all rule and all authority and power. For it is ordained that He reign until He has put all enemies under His feet” (I Cor. 15:20-25, FV).

Now let’s continue on. We know that Christ in the first chapter of Revelation is called the firstborn from the dead. And also in Colossians 1. So He is the first of the firstfruits. Then we have the promise that those who are Christ’s are going to be raised when the end comes when He returns.

Now let’s understand something about the church. Let’s understand why this is important for us to realize. In the Old Testament the firstborn was always dedicated to God. All the males were to go to God. All the females of firstborn were to go to the festival tithe, which then is still dedicated for the purpose of God. All the males were to be redeemed. And all the unclean animals like the donkey and the horse and so forth, they were to be redeemed. And so important was this redemption that God said if you didn’t redeem it you would break it’s neck. So the firstborn is very special to God.

Now let’s understand something about the church. Let’s come back to Hebrews 12 and let’s see what the church is called, because we, brethren, along with all of those that God has called before us, we belong to what is called “the church of the firstborn”, which is registered in heaven.

Now let’s pick it up in Hebrews 12:22: “But you have come to Mount Sion, and to the city of the living God…” Now this is talking about the things in heaven. It says: “…[in] heavenly Jerusalem; and to an innumerable company of angels…” Now we’ll see this a little bit later. Now notice verse 23: “…to the joyous festival gathering…”, because as we are going to see tomorrow, the Feast of Pentecost pictures the very first resurrection because that is the end of the harvest. There is a seven week harvest, which is a special harvest. Then there is a fiftieth day harvest, which we will cover tomorrow.

“…And to the church of the firstborn [and that’s why we are special to God], registered in the book of life in heaven; and to God, the Judge of all; and to the spirits of the just who have been perfected; and to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant; and to sprinkling of the blood of ratification, proclaiming superior things than that of Abel” (Heb. 12:22-24, FV).

Now let’s also see that as Christ was called the firstfruits and the firstborn, we are also part of the church of the firstborn and we are called firstfruits. Let’s come to James 1. We are also called firstfruits. We are part of the first harvest, but the first harvest occurs over a period of seven weeks and one day. Now here, James 1:17: “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above…” Now this is talking about all the spiritual gifts that God gives us. And you can put in your margin there Galatians 5 concerning the fruits of the Spirit. “…Coming down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation, nor shadow of turning. [Who] According to His own will [we’ve covered that, haven’t we?], He begat us by the Word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all His created beings” (James 1:17-18, FV). And as we saw during Unleavened Bread, salvation is creation and God is creating in us. So here this verifies it, you see. So we are called firstfruits. We are called firstborn. And that’s important for us to understand and realize.

Now let’s come to the book of Revelation. We’re going to spend some time here. And let’s look at things a little bit differently. Let’s come to Revelation 1 and let’s understand quite a few things that are important here in the book of Revelation.

Now everyone gets all excited about prophecy and seeing it fulfilled in the world, don’t they? Yes. God did not neglect to give a prophecy of His church down through history, down through the time until Christ would return (and that is contained in the first six chapters of the book of Revelation), before He gets into the events in the world. And that’s profound because we are, the church is the most important thing that’s happening on the earth. And the greatest work of God that God is doing is the work that He is doing in you to create in you the perfect holiness that comes from Him.

Now the book of Revelation is a marvelous book. And it is not one that you can just pick up and read and understand. You must have a background with most of the rest of the Bible in order to really understand the things that are here. So let’s pick it up here beginning in Chapter one and verse three. Now there is a blessing, and this blessing comes every time you read and study the book of Revelation. Now let’s understand something about studying and God’s Spirit and God’s word and things from this point of view. When we come to God with a humble heart, a willing attitude, and an open mind toward God then God’s Spirit will bring the blessing. If we come to the Word of God like so many people do, and like so many of the Protestants do, and you’re going to see more and more as we come down closer to the end-time, that every single one of these Protestant preachers are liars, liars, liars, liars. And some of them even coming to the point that they say, “It’s so easy, all you have to do is profess Christ. You don’t even have to repent, you don’t even have to be baptized.” If they read the book of Revelation they won’t understand it. And God is not going to give them the understanding. See, because Psalm 111 says, “A good understanding have they that do His commandments” (Psa. 111:10, KJV, paraphrased).

Now here, Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and who keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand.” Now notice it’s two-fold. It’s read, you hear, and you keep. And if those things aren’t all together then you won’t understand. And notice what Christ starts out with: “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood…” That’s quite an opening. And then he continues on here to make sure that we understand how absolutely powerful that the rest of the book of Revelation is going to be. Now let’s see it: “…And has made us kings and priests to God and His Father; to Him be the glory and the sovereignty into the ages of eternity. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending,’ says the Lord, ‘Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come—the Almighty’ ” (Rev. 1:3-8, FV).

So then He instructed John to write and to send the first message to the seven churches which are in Asia. Now that’s very important to understand about the seven churches because there were churches all over the world. There was a church in Corinth, a church in Colosse, Rome, various parts of Asia Minor. There were churches in Britain, there were churches in France, there were churches over in Babylon with the converted Jews. There were churches in Parthia, and in Media. So to select these seven churches is a prophetic message to the churches of God that applies down through time.

Now let’s pick it up here in verse 19: “ ‘Write the things that you saw [everything that he saw: the vision of the Son of man, His glory and so forth], and the things that are [beginning with the time that is], and the things that shall take place hereafter.’ ” And the things that take place hereafter go all the way on to the beginning of God’s plan throughout eternity. Now verse 20: “ ‘The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven lampstands that you saw are the seven churches’ ” (verses 19-22, FV).

Why seven churches? That fits exactly with the seven weeks of harvest. That’s why. Because beginning with Passover on to Pentecost – that is the church age. And so God has revealed about His churches what they do; what they should do; and He also as He does in every place in the Bible, He reveals the sins and shortcomings of His people and calls them to repentance. And He also shows through every one of these that we have to overcome. He also shows that there are certain limits in our behavior beyond which if we don’t repent we won’t receive salvation. Now that’s important to understand.

Now what I want you to do is write down the seven churches. Write them down in a column this way:

1) Ephesus

2) Smyrna

3) Pergamos

4) Thyatira

5) Sardis

6) Philadelphia

7) Laodicea

Now, most people don’t realize that the apostle Paul wrote epistles to seven churches. So what I’m going to do is have you write right next to the column that you wrote here of the seven churches of Revelation, now I want you to write the seven churches that we find that Paul wrote to. Overall is Romans. And Romans applies to all of the churches because this is general instruction on the condition of the world – how the world came to be the way that it was with all of the sin; and what it is that all are sinners, Jews and Gentiles; and how we are forgiven through Christ; and we follow the example of Abraham; that we stand in the grace; that we receive our human nature from Adam; that we have the law of sin and death in us but we overcome it; and if we are Christ’s then we are walking in the Spirit and nothing will keep us from receiving our inheritance. And those are the first eight chapter of the book of Romans. The other eight chapters of the book of Romans: you have the last one, which is all salutation, and then the seven are some general instructions. So Romans is kind of overarching.

Now to the church at Ephesus we have a book written to them, don’t we, by Paul? Ephesians. So put that right next to it. Smyrna – I and II Thessalonians. Now we’ll look at those Scriptures too. Pergamos – I Corinthians. And we’ll look at the Scriptures. We’ll see how the things in each one of these churches, they are instructions for us back in the epistles of Paul which further clarify it. Thyatira – Galatians and II Corinthians. Sardis – Hebrews. Philadelphia – the book to the Philippians. Laodicea – Colossians. And we’re told in Chapter four, verse sixteen that cause this epistle to the Colossians to be read in the church of Laodicea. So there you have a pattern. And there you have some things that you can learn.

Romans

1) Ephesus             Ephesians

2)  Smyrna             II Thessalonians

3)  Pergamos          I Corinthians

4)  Thyatira            Galatians, II Corinthians

5)  Sardis                Hebrews

6)  Philadelphia      Philippians

7)  Laodicea            Colossians

Since we are the harvest of God, since we are the firstfruits of God, since we are the church of the firstborn and Christ is the first of the firstborn among many brethren, now let’s look at the harvest that God has here in Revelation 2 and 3, and then we will look at some of the things in teachings and admonitions in the books as they relate in the parallel columns that we just covered here.

All right, let’s start out with Chapter 2, the church of the Ephesians. Now I’m not going to read every verse because I suppose I could take a sermon for each one and do a sermon on each one. So this is going to be kind of an overview to give you a little bit different perspective.

Now notice verse 2. He says: “ ‘I know your works, and your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil; and that you did test those who proclaim themselves to be apostles, but are not, and did find them liars; and that you have borne much and have endured, and for My name’s sake have labored and have not grown weary; nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.’ ” So they kind of got stagnated. Now we’ll see a little bit of that in the book of Ephesians here. “ ‘Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the first works; for if you do not, I will come to you quickly; and I will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent.’ ” Then he says: “ ‘The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes…’ ” (Rev. 2:2-5, 7, FV). And that’s to every one of the churches. We have to hear. We have to listen. We have to overcome. And there’s something that we need to do.

Now let’s come back here to the book of Ephesians, which is the book to the Christians in Ephesus, and let’s see what a tremendous and wonderful thing that they had. Now the first chapter of the book to the Ephesians is tremendous. And he says, verse 3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ…”, and that He has personally called us. And then as we saw some time ago.. Come over here to verse 17. Very important. So they had all of the understanding. They had the direct teachings of the apostle Paul who was taught by Jesus Christ. Then they had Timothy, and they had Titus, and they had the other elders.

Verse 17: “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. And may the eyes of your mind be enlightened in order that you may comprehend what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” (Eph. 1:3, 17-18, FV). And so they had great and tremendous things given to them. And one of the most inspiring chapters that you have in the New Testament is Ephesians 3.

Now let’s come to Chapter 4 and let’s see how they understood, and how they did not give in to the false prophets. No place in the book of Ephesians do you find that they gave in to any of the false prophets. It mentions them. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 11: “And He gave some as apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…” So what happened? They began to slack away from that in losing their first love. Now notice: “…so that we no longer be children, tossed and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men in cunning craftiness, with a view to the systematizing of the error…” (Eph. 4:11-14, FV). And they are commended that they did exactly that, they didn’t give in to them, and that they are holding the truth in love and so forth.

Now let’s come to the book of Acts and let’s see the warning that the apostle Paul gave to the elders at Ephesus. And after this took place that’s when they lost their first love. And I also think another thing that they did in losing their first love, since the canonized New Testament was finalized there in Ephesus by the apostle John, and the church at Ephesus was the one to make the copies and send it to all the other churches, I’m sure that in slacking off and taking care of the New Testament the way they should have, that was also part of losing their first love.

Now Acts 20, he calls the elders down there and he talks with them. He testified to them. Now let’s pick it up here in verse 26: “Wherefore I testify to you on this day that I am pure from the blood of all, for I have not held back from preaching to you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this: that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will rise up speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:26-30, FV). So when that happened that’s when they lost their first love and God called them to repentance.

Now let’s come here back to Ephesians 5 and let’s see one warning that the apostle Paul gave concerning this. And he told them, “Don’t let any of the unfruitful works of darkness take place among you.” Now let’s come to verse 14: “Therefore He says, ‘You who are sleeping—wake up, and arise from the dead! And Christ shall shine upon you.’ So then, take heed that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as those who are wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. For this reason, do not be foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:14-17, FV). So that ties right in with the message Jesus gave them that they were to repent.

Now let’s come to the church of Smyrna. The church of Smyrna had quite a bit different circumstances than the church at Ephesus. Now the church of Smyrna, you could put down there, is the persecuted church. Now today persecutions are going on. They happen even today. We’ll see that in just a minute. I’ll read an email to you concerning that here in just a minute. Let’s come to Revelation 2:8: “ ‘And to the angel of the church of the Smyrneans write: These things says the First and the Last, Who was dead but is alive. I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich [rich spiritually]), and the blasphemy of those who declare themselves to be Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.’ ” Now we are going to see a type of this in just a minute. “ ‘Do not fear any of the things that you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death’ ” (Rev. 2:8-11, FV).

Now I and II Thessalonians, let’s go there, because there is some more instruction here because of all the churches that the apostle Paul had, the church in Thessalonica suffered persecution, and persecution in quite a different way. It was not for ten days, but it is an example of the persecution that they suffered. Let’s come here to I Thessalonians 2:12: “…and earnestly testifying, that you may walk worthily of God, Who is calling you to His own kingdom and glory. Because of this, we give thanks to God without ceasing: that when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you did not accept it as the word of men, but even as it is in truth—the Word of God, which is also working in you who believe. For, brethren, you became imitators of the churches of God in Judea which are in Christ Jesus; because you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they also suffered from the Jews…” So they were persecuted, they were killed, and as a matter of fact it was in Philippi that Paul, Timothy, and Silas were cast into prison. They went into Thessalonica and they were arrested there. And so they had a terrible amount of persecution here. Notice it says of the Jews: “…who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove you out, and do not please God, and are contrary to all men…” (I Thes. 2:12-15, FV).

Now let’s come over here to I Thessalonians 5:6: “So then, we should not sleep, as others do; but we should watch, and we should be sober. For those who are sleeping sleep in the night, and those who are drunken get drunk in the night. But we who are of the day should be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation…” And that’s what you need if you’re going to be persecuted, if you are going to be killed for what you believe. “…Because God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we remain alive until He comes or we fall asleep before that day, together we may live forever with Him” (I Thes. 5:6-10, FV). So this is the same promise that you see back there in Revelation 2, that regardless of what happens, whether life or death Christ is with you.

Now let’s come here to Acts 7 and let’s see the persecution that Stephen went through when he was brought before the Sanhedrin, which was a type of the synagogue of Satan. And he was arrested and hauled in there because they said he was preaching against the law of Moses, and he didn’t. He upheld the law of Moses but was preaching against the sins of the religious leaders and the governors there of the Sanhedrin and running Judea and Jerusalem, because they had killed Christ.

So let’s pick it up here Acts 7:54, after he told them that they had killed Christ: “And when they heard these things, they were cut to their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him.” They just sat there and grinding their teeth waiting to get on him. “But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord…” See, they were so incensed because he said that, “You are hard-hearted and stiff-necked and you always resist the Holy Spirit.” They couldn’t stand that. So they: “…cast him out of the city and stoned him.” The first real martyr for Christ after Jesus.

So then you know what happened. They laid the garments at the feet of Saul and as Stephen was being stoned he said : “ ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ And he fell to his knees and cried with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge.’ And after he had said this, he died” (Acts 7:54-60, FV). So in being called to persecution, don’t worry about it. You are called to eternal life.

Now let’s give you an example of what’s happening today, and this happens to be in Ethiopia. Now we have a gentleman over there who’s name is Kassahun and he receives all the material. He has translated some of it into Ethiopic, and here is the email that Jim Hyles received. He said:

“I got your email today. Sorry for not writing in such a long time but I have been arrested by false accusations orchestrated by some furious SDA ministers ten days ago, after the Passover. Before the Passover I was distributing leaflets which explain the true Passover and the fallacy of Easter to some SDA members. The leaders reported the situation to the local police. They took me from my home and kept me in their custody until Wednesday. Finally, they released me because they couldn’t prove me guilty – praise God. Yes, I have kept the Passover materials and they are great. Thanks. Passover was great here. I believe it was great for you too. Glory be to His name. Don’t forget that I’m always praying for you. Keep up the good work.”

So you always be praying for him.

So brethren, what I want you to understand is this: The world and the Christianity of this world want you to think and believe that what God has called you to is easy. And we are so rotten and spoiled that the least little thing that comes along we can hardly tolerate it.

Now let’s come back here to Revelation 2 again and let’s come to the next church – the church at Pergamos. Now here’s a church that has some real problems. And here’s a church that even Christ had to fight against because of what they allowed. And here we’re dealing with people that in the church of God, and we see it today because what we can say is this: Every one of these seven churches, not only was for the seven churches that was at the time that John wrote, but it is a history of God’s church down through time until the return of Jesus Christ through Revelation 6. And it is also a snapshot, as it were, of all the attitudes and problems that would prevail in the churches of God. And that’s why they’re coordinated back to the epistles of the apostle Paul so that we can learn the lesson here and go back and see in Paul’s epistles what we need to do to correct it because we’re told here to listen to what Christ has to say and to overcome.

Now the church at Pergamos, he starts out verse 12: “ ‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamos, write: These things says He Who has the sharp two-edged sword.’ ” Now He’s saying, “If you don’t change I’m going to come after you with a sword.” “ ‘I know your works and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is…’ ” See, when you’re close to Satan and you’re close to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil the good looks so good. “And why can’t we do that?” And God says, “You don’t do that.”

“ ‘…But you are holding fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’ ” So they were faithful for a time.

But notice: “ ‘But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the teaching of Balaam…’ ” And Balaam is to use religion for money. Balaam is to teach people to sin, as it says here: “ ‘…who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. Moreover, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.’ ” That is an overbearing hierarchical system.

Now notice Christ’s words: “ ‘Repent! For if you do not repent, I will come to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of My mouth’ ” (Rev. 2:12-16, FV). Then He admonishes them to overcome. He admonishes them to change.

Now let’s come to I Corinthians and let’s see how some of these things are. How does this kind of thing get started? How is it that people come into the church where they have false doctrines and things like this and get settled in and then cause problems later on? Because people follow men instead of Christ. And that’s the very first thing that Paul wrote of back here in the first chapter. He says verse 12: “Now this I say, since everyone among you says, ‘I am of Paul’; or, ‘I am of Apollos’; or, ‘I am of Cephas’; or ‘I am of Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (I Cor. 1:12-13, FV). And all of the things that went on there.

Now Chapter 3:1 he says, “You’re carnal.” And that’s how these things come in. You have people who do not really repent the way that they ought to and so they had carnal minded people there, carnal minded doctrines, and that’s exactly what Satan the devil wants so he can bring in the doctrine of Balaam.

Now notice it also talks about here that the Christianity and the brethren are just like a harvest. Verse 6: “I planted and Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Now we’ll see this a little bit later on. “Therefore, neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters; for it is God Who gives the increase.” And then he says: “But let each one take heed how he builds upon it” (I Cor 3:1, 6-7, 10, FV). So it goes from plant to growth. And then it goes into that each one of us, because we receive the Holy Spirit of God, are a temple of God. So that’s really quite something.