Hello again and welcome to
3ABN Pillars Spring Camp Meeting
00:00:47.46\00:00:53.25
2011. This is
our last presentation
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before lunch, and we trust
that you can hold your desire
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for physical food in
abeyance for just one more hour
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as we give you just a
little more spiritual food
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uh, for your soul. So if
you can keep your stomachs from
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growling, we will fill
your ears with the Word of God
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and give you something
that will help you walk the road
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that leads to
glory. Is that all right?
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And we praise the Lord!
You know, the challenge when
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you introduce someone
is to give due deference
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to their study and their time
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without taking away the glory
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that belongs to God.
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Because if we accomplish
anything in this world
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it is through the grace of
God, and the glory goes to Him.
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In that vein, it is fairly
easy to introduce Stephen Bohr
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because he is not a man
who ascribes glory to himself.
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He does give all glory to God.
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He is a student of the Word,
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a preacher and
teacher of the Word,
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and has been given the ability
to do that in two languages.
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He speaks Spanish
extremely well and preaches well
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in Spanish and has a
working knowledge of the English
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language also.
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And he's a fun guy,
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uh, but he's very
serious about his calling...
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and that is to be a
preacher of the Word and to live
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what he preaches.
Someone that we love and respect
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very, very much and who
is a sought-after preacher
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and teacher of the Word.
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And so I know that as he speaks
to our hearts during this next
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hour that God will use him in a
marked way as He has in the past
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to speak to us. And
we ask that you give ear.
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Whenever Pastor Bohr
speaks you want to take out
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pen and paper and you want
to get your fingers limbered
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'cause you're
going to be in the Word
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and you're going to be given
something that comes directly
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from the throne of God.
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So we are very, very
proud and happy to introduce
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Pastor Stephen Bohr. He pastors
there in Fresno, California,
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and of course is Speaker and
Director for Secrets Unsealed,
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his worldwide ministry
that is doing so very much
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to help hasten the coming
of Christ into all the world.
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Before he speaks
we will have prayer
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and then listen to
Todd and Lisa Parrish.
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They are going to be
singing Calvary Covers It All.
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We thank them for
coming to be with us,
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and Jill Morikone is going
to assist them on the piano.
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And just before they sing
let's bow our heads in prayer.
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Then you will hear Todd and Lisa
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and the next voice will
be our pastor, our friend,
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Stephen Bohr. Shall
we pray. Father God,
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we do thank you and
praise You for Your love.
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We thank you for the Word
and the power in the Word.
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Not the power
in the voice of man
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but the power that is
resident in the Word of God.
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We ask just now for this
audience that sits in this house
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and those who hear and
listen around the world
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that Your Word may be made clear
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that Your servant may
receive Your anointing
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to preach with power those
things that You would have us
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to know. And then we ask
for the power to do those things
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for we know that it is in
the doing that we are made like
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Christ Jesus. Feed us this day.
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And we thank you and
praise you in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Calvary
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covers it all,
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My past
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with its sin and stain;
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My guilt and despair
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Jesus took on Him there,
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and Calvary covers
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it all.
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Far dearer than all
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that the world can impart
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Was the message
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that came to my heart,
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How that Jesus alone
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for my sin did atone...
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And Calvary covers
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it all.
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How blessed the thought
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the soul by Him bought,
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Shall be His in the glory
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on high,
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Where with gladness and song
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I'll be one of His throng...
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And Calvary covers
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it all.
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Calvary covers
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it all,
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My past with its sin
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and stain;
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My guilt and despair
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Jesus took on Him there,
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And Calvary covers
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it all.
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Yes, Calvary
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covers it
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all.
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Amen.
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Good morning or afternoon.
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You know, after 12
o'clock it's afternoon, right?
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At least where I
grew up in South America
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you know after noon
means after 12 o'clock.
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So it wasn't because I
was jet-lagged yesterday
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or anything.
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It's been nice meeting many
of you who have stopped by the
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Secrets Unsealed
booth here at Camp Meeting.
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It's been nice also
getting re-acquainted with
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many people that
I've known before.
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The presentation that I'm
going to make this morning
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is actually one of
32 that we just finished
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at Secrets
Unsealed on the sanctuary.
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The series is not available yet.
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It's going through
post-production editing
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but it will be available soon.
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And so I hope that
what we study this morning
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will be inspirational
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and draw us closer to our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
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Father in Heaven, As we
open Your Word this morning
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or this afternoon we ask for the
presence of Your Holy Spirit.
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We ask, Lord, that You
will hover over this place
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through the
ministration of the angels.
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Help us to
concentrate on the Word.
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And Lord, I ask that
You will inspire our hearts
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to a closer walk with Jesus.
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And we thank you
for hearing our prayer.
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For we ask it in
Jesus' name, Amen.
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I'd like to give you
just a chronological sequence
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as we begin on the work
of Christ from the moment
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that He began
his public ministry
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till the time that the
Holy Spirit was poured out
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on the Day of Pentecost.
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The first segment of
the ministry of Christ
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of course is the 3-1/2 years
that He spent on this earth
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before Gethsemane
and before Calvary.
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During those 3-1/2 years
Jesus came to live with us
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in the camp of the sanctuary.
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He lived the life
that all of us should live.
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He faced every
temptation of Satan
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and He was victorious.
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And in this way Jesus wove a
perfect robe of righteousness
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that He could offer us.
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Then at the end of His ministry
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on Thursday evening in
the Garden of Gethsemane
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the sin of the world was laid
upon His soul, upon His heart.
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The very next day on Friday
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around 3
o'clock in the afternoon
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Jesus cried out on
the cross "It is finished.
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Father, into Your
hands I commend My spirit. "
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And Jesus in
this way paid the debt
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for the sin of the whole world.
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Thus He had lived the
life that all of us should live
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and He had died the death
that all of us should die.
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Now Jesus died, so to speak,
at the altar of the sanctuary.
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He came to camp with us.
That represents His life.
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He died at the
altar in the court
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and then He
resurrected at the laver
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which is called the
laver of regeneration
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in Titus chapter 3 and verse 5.
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And then Jesus, after His
resurrection on the 1st day
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of the week, on Sunday morning,
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spent 40 days here on earth
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according to
Acts chapter 1 verse 3
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speaking to His disciples
about things pertaining to the
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kingdom of God.
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Basically, during those 40 days
Jesus explained Bible prophecy
00:11:45.34\00:11:49.72
to His disciples.
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How Bible prophecy had been
fulfilled in what He had done
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and also the prophecies
which were still to be fulfilled
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leading up to
the Day of Pentecost.
00:12:00.45\00:12:03.11
So for 40 days Jesus
was teaching His disciples
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the meaning of Bible prophecy
00:12:07.28\00:12:10.03
which pointed
to what He had done
00:12:10.23\00:12:12.54
and what He was about to do.
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And then after the 40
days Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:12:15.29\00:12:21.22
I'd like to read the story of
the ascension as it's found in
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Acts chapter 1 and verses 9-11.
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Acts chapter 1 verses 9-11.
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This is a very well
known passage. It says:
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And then Jesus ascended to
heaven from the Mt. of Olives.
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The disciples immediately
returned to Jerusalem
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to the upper room.
And for the next 10 days
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the disciples prepared for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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They prayed
such as never before.
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They studied
prophecy such as never before.
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They ironed out their
differences one with another.
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They placed all of their
possessions at the disposal
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of the work. They
were emptied of self
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and they prepared for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
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during those 10 days.
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Now have you ever asked yourself
"what happened with Jesus
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during those 10 days before the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit? "
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What was Jesus doing in heaven
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during those 10 days
between His ascension
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and when the Holy
Spirit was poured out on the
00:14:02.15\00:14:04.51
Day of Pentecost? We know
what was happening on earth
00:14:04.61\00:14:06.84
but what was
happening in heaven?
00:14:07.04\00:14:09.53
We'll come to that a
little bit later, but for now
00:14:09.73\00:14:12.21
I would like us to
continue the chronology
00:14:12.41\00:14:14.46
of Acts chapter 1.
00:14:14.66\00:14:15.84
Now Acts chapter 1 and
verse 13 makes it very clear
00:14:16.15\00:14:20.00
who was present
there in the upper room.
00:14:20.20\00:14:22.65
They're mentioned by name.
00:14:22.95\00:14:24.76
Actually there were 120
but 12 of them are mentioned
00:14:24.96\00:14:28.12
specifically by name. Let's
read that in Acts chapter 1
00:14:28.32\00:14:31.57
and verse 13.
00:14:31.78\00:14:33.59
Now as you look at this
list it becomes very clear that
00:15:06.04\00:15:09.32
one of the
disciples was missing.
00:15:09.52\00:15:12.05
And so now Peter - in Acts
chapter 1 verses 18 and 19-
00:15:12.45\00:15:17.13
tells the story of
Judas... the apostasy of Judas.
00:15:17.33\00:15:20.23
He says that, you know, one
of those who were in our midst
00:15:20.47\00:15:24.76
that belonged to
our number apostatized
00:15:24.97\00:15:27.85
and actually committed suicide.
00:15:28.05\00:15:30.16
Now then in the upper room
the disciples did something
00:15:31.38\00:15:35.53
which, you know, always puzzles
me why they had to do this
00:15:35.73\00:15:39.18
when they did it,
00:15:39.38\00:15:40.95
and that was to elect
a successor for Judas.
00:15:41.15\00:15:45.13
I mean after all, weren't there
more important things to do
00:15:45.33\00:15:48.61
before the Day of Pentecost
than to name a successor for
00:15:48.81\00:15:51.75
Judas? Why did they
feel it was so necessary...
00:15:51.95\00:15:55.89
After Peter
described how Judas apostatized
00:15:56.09\00:15:59.02
why did they feel it
was so necessary to name
00:15:59.22\00:16:03.02
a successor for Judas Iscariot?
00:16:03.12\00:16:06.09
The fact is that Acts chapter
1 tells us the reason why.
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.15
It's because there were two
prophecies in the Old Testament.
00:16:10.35\00:16:14.02
One of them prophesied that
Judas was going to apostatize
00:16:14.22\00:16:19.37
and the second actually
prophesied that a successor
00:16:19.57\00:16:24.27
needed to be named in his place.
00:16:24.48\00:16:26.44
Let's notice that in
Acts chapter 1 and verses 16
00:16:26.64\00:16:31.02
and then we'll jump down
to verse 20 because 18 and 19
00:16:31.22\00:16:34.36
describe the
apostasy and suicide of Judas.
00:16:34.57\00:16:38.15
Notice Acts
chapter 1 and verse 16:
00:16:38.35\00:16:40.26
In other words, he was
not going to return home.
00:17:06.62\00:17:08.63
That prophecy comes
from Psalm 69 and verse 25.
00:17:08.84\00:17:13.27
And now comes the prophecy
that pointed to the need
00:17:13.47\00:17:16.38
to name a successor. It says:
00:17:16.58\00:17:18.37
That's Psalm 109 and verses 7-8.
00:17:21.93\00:17:25.65
So prophecy mandated that
they name a success for Judas
00:17:25.85\00:17:31.84
because prophecy had said
that he was not going to return
00:17:32.04\00:17:35.22
to his home AND a
successor needed to be named.
00:17:35.42\00:17:38.98
But of course the
question comes up... All right,
00:17:39.96\00:17:42.99
a successor needed to be named.
00:17:43.09\00:17:44.58
Judas was going
to commit suicide.
00:17:44.78\00:17:47.33
But why did they feel like
they had to name a successor
00:17:47.53\00:17:51.40
for Judas before the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:17:51.60\00:17:54.78
on the Day of Pentecost?
00:17:54.98\00:17:56.16
Now there's this myth
00:17:56.56\00:17:59.11
that has been existing
in the Adventist church
00:17:59.80\00:18:03.90
for many, many years and that is
00:18:04.10\00:18:05.92
that the disciples rushed
to elect a successor of Judas.
00:18:06.12\00:18:11.97
That really it was God's
plan to make Saul of Tarsus -
00:18:12.21\00:18:15.48
later the apostle Paul
- the apostle number 12
00:18:15.69\00:18:19.57
but that the disciples
kind of jumped the gun.
00:18:19.87\00:18:22.38
You know, they
decided to elect a successor
00:18:22.59\00:18:25.79
before they were
supposed to elect a successor
00:18:25.99\00:18:28.39
and therefore they
elected Matthias instead of
00:18:28.59\00:18:31.83
Saul of Tarsus.
00:18:31.93\00:18:33.83
I would like to say
that this is just simply
00:18:34.03\00:18:37.23
an unwarranted assumption
00:18:37.33\00:18:39.16
and pure speculation...
and it is not Biblical.
00:18:39.32\00:18:43.10
Let me give you three reasons
00:18:43.50\00:18:45.30
and then as we near the
end of our study this morning
00:18:45.41\00:18:47.79
I will present the
fourth and definitive reason
00:18:47.99\00:18:50.51
why it was not God's
plan that Saul of Tarsus
00:18:50.71\00:18:53.76
be apostle number 12.
00:18:53.96\00:18:55.32
Reason #1: Acts chapter
1 makes it very, very clear
00:18:55.62\00:19:00.85
what the specifications
were for the successor of Judas.
00:19:01.15\00:19:04.83
Notice Acts chapter
1 and verses 21 and 22.
00:19:05.23\00:19:09.45
It says there:
00:19:09.75\00:19:11.24
The qualifications
were that the individual
00:19:34.80\00:19:37.86
needed to have been present from
the time of John the Baptist
00:19:37.96\00:19:41.05
till the time of the
resurrection and ascension
00:19:41.25\00:19:43.41
of Christ.
Question: does Saul of Tarsus
00:19:43.51\00:19:46.48
meet that
specification? Absolutely not.
00:19:46.58\00:19:49.81
Reason #2: We're told in
the story in Acts chapter 1 that
00:19:50.63\00:19:55.06
they followed the order
that God had established
00:19:55.16\00:19:57.97
for electing a successor
00:19:58.07\00:19:59.52
and that the Holy
Spirit chose the successor.
00:19:59.82\00:20:02.62
Notice Acts chapter
1 and verses 24 to 26.
00:20:02.92\00:20:06.62
Acts chapter 1 and
verses 24 through 26. Notice:
00:20:06.92\00:20:11.45
So very clearly they sought
the Lord's guidance in prayer
00:20:44.50\00:20:48.00
and we're told... that
they wanted God to show who
00:20:48.21\00:20:52.84
He had chosen. Third reason:
00:20:53.04\00:20:56.04
Ellen White makes it very clear
that Matthias was the choice
00:20:56.72\00:20:59.97
of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
00:21:00.07\00:21:01.87
I want to read from
Spirit of Prophecy volume 3
00:21:02.00\00:21:04.97
and page 264
00:21:05.18\00:21:07.46
where Ellen White explains this:
00:21:07.66\00:21:09.75
Now listen carefully:
00:21:40.57\00:21:41.80
Who selected Matthias?
00:21:48.87\00:21:51.29
Was it the disciples
that rushed to do this?
00:21:51.59\00:21:54.61
Absolutely not! The Holy
Spirit chose the successor.
00:21:54.81\00:21:59.26
So you say: "OK, we know now
00:21:59.56\00:22:03.16
that they decided to
elect a successor because
00:22:03.36\00:22:06.35
Bible prophecy had predicted
that they needed to do that.
00:22:06.45\00:22:09.34
And I believe Jesus had
explained that prophecy to them
00:22:09.55\00:22:11.89
in those 40 days
that He explained to them
00:22:12.09\00:22:14.54
things pertaining
to the kingdom of God.
00:22:14.74\00:22:16.49
But the big question
is: Why did they feel that
00:22:16.79\00:22:20.33
they needed to name a
successor before the outpouring
00:22:20.54\00:22:24.19
of the Holy Spirit
on the Day of Pentecost?
00:22:24.39\00:22:26.12
Why couldn't they have
waited till a little bit later
00:22:26.42\00:22:30.01
maybe when they had more time
00:22:30.21\00:22:32.01
and they were le...
it was less urgent -
00:22:32.21\00:22:35.13
so to speak - to
elect a successor?
00:22:35.33\00:22:37.46
Why did they feel that
they needed to name a successor
00:22:37.66\00:22:40.42
before the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:22:40.62\00:22:43.27
on the Day of Pentecost?
00:22:43.37\00:22:44.69
I believe the answer to
this is found in the fact
00:22:44.89\00:22:48.80
that the number 12 is
very significant in scripture.
00:22:49.00\00:22:53.12
In fact, it's
interesting to notice there
00:22:53.52\00:22:55.82
in Acts chapter 1 and
verse 17 it speaks of Judas
00:22:56.02\00:22:59.76
as having been
numbered with the 12 apostles.
00:22:59.90\00:23:03.47
In other words, the
number is important.
00:23:03.67\00:23:06.00
He was "numbered"
with the 12 apostles.
00:23:06.20\00:23:08.18
And then according to verse
26 when Matthias was elected
00:23:08.38\00:23:12.15
we are told that Matthias was
"numbered" with the apostles.
00:23:12.35\00:23:16.18
In other words, the number
12 is extremely important.
00:23:16.38\00:23:20.06
And I believe that once
we understand the meaning
00:23:20.26\00:23:22.48
of the number 12 we'll
understand why they felt
00:23:22.68\00:23:25.89
that they had to
elect a successor for Judas
00:23:26.09\00:23:28.46
before the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:23:28.66\00:23:30.94
on the Day of Pentecost.
00:23:31.14\00:23:32.52
So the question is: what is
the meaning and significance
00:23:32.72\00:23:36.12
of the number 12? Well,
go with me in your Bibles
00:23:36.22\00:23:38.95
to Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:23:39.15\00:23:41.69
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 1.
00:23:41.90\00:23:44.31
We're going to take a
tour through scripture
00:23:44.52\00:23:46.43
on the meaning of the number
12 because there is the reason
00:23:46.63\00:23:49.67
why they had to elect
a successor before the
00:23:49.77\00:23:52.26
Day of Pentecost.
00:23:52.36\00:23:53.61
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 1:
00:23:53.82\00:23:55.36
a very well-known verse
00:23:55.56\00:23:56.93
to those in the Adventist
church because we study this
00:23:57.23\00:24:00.91
when we deal with
prophecy in evangelism.
00:24:01.11\00:24:04.20
It says there in
Revelation 12 verse 1:
00:24:04.40\00:24:06.63
Now what does a woman
represent in prophecy?
00:24:12.59\00:24:15.46
Immediately we get the answer:
a woman represents the church.
00:24:15.67\00:24:19.34
But it does not
represent the church in general.
00:24:19.64\00:24:22.49
It represents the
faithful in the church.
00:24:22.70\00:24:26.75
It represents the saints of
the Most High if you please.
00:24:27.05\00:24:30.86
It represents
the faithful church.
00:24:30.96\00:24:33.40
Now usually when we
explain what a woman represents
00:24:33.70\00:24:37.70
in prophecy, you know,
we use other texts outside
00:24:37.80\00:24:40.79
Daniel and the Revelation.
For example, we use Ephesians 5
00:24:40.99\00:24:43.66
where it says: "Husbands,
love your wives as Christ loves
00:24:43.86\00:24:46.01
the church. " So we
see the wife is the church
00:24:46.11\00:24:49.81
and the husband is
Jesus so a woman represents
00:24:50.01\00:24:52.58
the church in prophecy.
00:24:52.78\00:24:54.21
But we don't really even
have to go to other passages
00:24:54.41\00:24:57.29
in scripture. The books
of Daniel and Revelation
00:24:57.49\00:25:00.01
themselves show us what
is the meaning of a woman
00:25:00.21\00:25:04.16
in Bible prophecy.
Now I want to go to Daniel
00:25:04.36\00:25:07.87
chapter 7 and verse 25 and
then we're going to compare
00:25:08.07\00:25:10.81
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 14
00:25:11.01\00:25:13.32
so that we can see how to
find the meaning of the woman
00:25:13.52\00:25:18.12
within the prophetic
books of scripture themselves.
00:25:18.15\00:25:21.06
Daniel chapter 7 verse 25 is
speaking about the little horn.
00:25:21.26\00:25:24.99
Of course, the little horn
represents the Roman Catholic
00:25:25.19\00:25:28.96
papacy which
governed for 1,260 years.
00:25:29.16\00:25:33.05
And I want you to notice
several interesting details
00:25:33.25\00:25:36.18
in Daniel 7:25.
00:25:36.39\00:25:37.95
About the little horn, it says:
00:25:39.00\00:25:40.46
So this is what
I want you to see:
00:26:06.77\00:26:09.04
in Daniel 7:25 the little
horn persecutes the saints
00:26:09.24\00:26:14.54
of the Most High for time,
times, and the dividing of time.
00:26:14.74\00:26:18.70
Now let's go to Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 14.
00:26:18.90\00:26:22.16
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 14...
00:26:22.36\00:26:24.50
which is a parallel prophecy.
00:26:24.70\00:26:26.41
And we're going to notice
something very interesting here.
00:26:27.45\00:26:29.85
It says there in
Revelation 12 verse 14:
00:26:30.83\00:26:33.53
Is that the same period
of time of Daniel 7 verse 25?
00:27:06.31\00:27:09.24
Absolutely. Now
what is the parallel?
00:27:09.44\00:27:11.73
In Daniel 7:25 you
have the little horn
00:27:11.94\00:27:14.51
persecuting the saints for time,
times, and the dividing of time.
00:27:14.71\00:27:18.90
In Revelation
12:14 you have the dragon
00:27:19.10\00:27:22.67
persecuting the woman for time,
times, and the dividing of time.
00:27:22.87\00:27:27.38
So let me ask you, what
does the woman represent?
00:27:27.59\00:27:29.91
The woman represents
the saints of the Most High.
00:27:30.11\00:27:33.52
Did you catch it or not?
00:27:34.52\00:27:35.91
Because the parallel is clear.
00:27:36.21\00:27:38.17
And by the way, whose
emissary is the little horn?
00:27:38.37\00:27:40.65
The little horn is
the dragon's emissary
00:27:40.85\00:27:44.01
because in Daniel 7:25 it's the
little horn that is persecuting
00:27:44.21\00:27:47.73
but in Revelation chapter
12 it's the dragon who is
00:27:47.93\00:27:50.89
persecuting. So the
little horn is the instrument
00:27:51.09\00:27:53.91
of the dragon.
00:27:54.11\00:27:56.33
So here very clearly
the woman represents what?
00:27:56.63\00:28:01.06
Represents the
saints of the Most High...
00:28:01.30\00:28:04.15
God's faithful church.
00:28:04.35\00:28:06.33
Now we must ask this question:
00:28:06.73\00:28:08.80
At what stage of God's church
00:28:09.10\00:28:13.19
is Revelation chapter 12
and verse 1 referring to?
00:28:13.39\00:28:16.66
We know that the woman of
00:28:16.96\00:28:19.99
represents God's church...
00:28:20.09\00:28:21.65
God's faithful
church - His saints.
00:28:21.85\00:28:24.76
But the question is:
in Revelation 12 verse 1
00:28:25.06\00:28:27.92
does this woman represent
the Old Testament church
00:28:28.12\00:28:31.20
or does she represent
the New Testament church?
00:28:31.40\00:28:34.96
The fact is that in
Revelation 12 verse 1
00:28:36.75\00:28:38.99
the woman represents
the Old Testament church.
00:28:39.19\00:28:41.80
And you say: "How
do you know that? "
00:28:42.65\00:28:44.56
It's very simple. Because
the woman has a baby in her womb
00:28:44.76\00:28:48.61
that has not been born yet.
00:28:48.71\00:28:50.15
And that baby is Jesus Christ.
00:28:50.25\00:28:52.64
You can't have a New Testament
church before Jesus is born.
00:28:52.94\00:28:56.51
So in Revelation 12:1 this woman
represents the Old Testament
00:28:57.55\00:29:01.78
church from which Jesus is born.
00:29:01.98\00:29:03.93
Jesus is born from the line
of Abraham and from the line
00:29:04.13\00:29:08.66
of David. He is born
from the Old Testament church!
00:29:08.86\00:29:11.49
So in Revelation
12:1 this woman represents
00:29:11.69\00:29:15.42
the Old Testament church.
00:29:15.62\00:29:18.54
Now don't get nervous because
later on in Revelation 12
00:29:18.74\00:29:22.48
the same woman represents
the New Testament church.
00:29:22.68\00:29:25.25
But at this stage in
Revelation 12 verse 1
00:29:25.45\00:29:28.27
she represents the
Old Testament church.
00:29:28.48\00:29:30.49
She's about to bring
the Messiah into the world.
00:29:30.69\00:29:33.28
Now I want you to notice
something interesting because
00:29:33.58\00:29:36.40
we didn't finish
reading Revelation 12:1.
00:29:36.50\00:29:38.75
So let's go back there:
00:29:38.95\00:29:40.60
What number is
identified with the woman
00:29:54.44\00:29:57.33
the saints of the Most
High, God's faithful church?
00:29:57.53\00:29:59.95
The number 12 is identified
with God's faithful church.
00:30:00.16\00:30:04.25
Now the question is: what
do these 12 stars represent?
00:30:04.45\00:30:09.75
Go with me to
Genesis 37 verses 9 and 10.
00:30:10.05\00:30:13.25
Genesis chapter
37 verses 9 and 10.
00:30:13.55\00:30:16.50
Are we doing all right?
00:30:16.60\00:30:17.93
OK, good. Genesis
37 verses 9 and 10.
00:30:18.23\00:30:21.30
It's speaking about a
dream that Joseph had.
00:30:21.70\00:30:24.49
It says there:
00:30:25.56\00:30:26.63
What do the
eleven stars represent?
00:30:56.97\00:30:59.55
The sons of Jacob.
00:30:59.85\00:31:01.96
By the way, who
was the 12th star?
00:31:02.26\00:31:04.53
Joseph.
00:31:04.83\00:31:06.50
And so the 12 stars
represent the 12 sons of Jacob.
00:31:06.80\00:31:11.87
But then later
the 12 sons of Jacob
00:31:12.27\00:31:15.07
multiply and they proliferate
00:31:15.27\00:31:17.73
and they form the
12 tribes of Israel.
00:31:17.93\00:31:21.19
Notice Genesis
chapter 49 and verse 28.
00:31:21.49\00:31:24.91
Genesis 49:28 where we're
told that the 12 sons of Jacob
00:31:25.11\00:31:30.18
then multiply and
they form a great nation
00:31:30.38\00:31:33.84
that originated with the 12.
00:31:34.05\00:31:35.59
It says there in
Genesis 49 and verse 28:
00:31:35.89\00:31:38.85
So it says the 12 sons
of Jacob become later what?
00:31:49.17\00:31:52.69
They become the
12 tribes of Israel.
00:31:52.89\00:31:55.52
In other words, they multiply
and they form a great nation.
00:31:55.72\00:31:59.44
How many disciples
did Jesus establish?
00:32:00.53\00:32:04.00
Twelve.
00:32:04.20\00:32:06.61
That's just coincidence, right?
00:32:06.91\00:32:08.42
Absolutely not.
00:32:08.72\00:32:10.48
Jesus chose 12 apostles.
00:32:10.78\00:32:14.44
Now why did He
choose 12 apostles?
00:32:14.74\00:32:17.43
I believe the reason
is because Jesus is saying
00:32:17.74\00:32:20.46
this is a continuation
of the Old Testament church.
00:32:20.66\00:32:23.76
This is a continuation of
God's people from all ages...
00:32:23.96\00:32:28.22
God's faithful
people from all ages.
00:32:28.42\00:32:30.40
In fact, let me read
you an interesting statement
00:32:30.70\00:32:32.95
from the book Acts of the
Apostles by Ellen White page 19.
00:32:33.15\00:32:36.59
She caught this idea
that I'm sharing with you.
00:32:36.89\00:32:38.95
She said this:
00:32:39.15\00:32:40.17
Notice what we find in
Mark chapter 3 verses 14-19.
00:33:00.13\00:33:04.06
Here we are explicitly
told that Jesus established 12.
00:33:04.26\00:33:08.33
It says there in Mark 3:14:
00:33:08.53\00:33:10.69
Jesus chose 12 apostles
00:33:44.55\00:33:47.97
just like in the Old
Testament there were 12 tribes.
00:33:48.17\00:33:51.61
In other words, the
Christian church begins with 12.
00:33:51.81\00:33:56.37
But those 12 then
multiply and proliferate
00:33:56.57\00:34:00.78
and they became a great
nation, the Christian church.
00:34:00.98\00:34:04.95
By the way, the Christian
church is called a "holy nation"
00:34:05.35\00:34:08.92
in the New Testament.
00:34:09.12\00:34:10.97
And so we find that
the Old Testament church
00:34:11.18\00:34:13.51
begins with 12. The number
12 represents God's people.
00:34:13.71\00:34:16.99
It multiples
into a great nation.
00:34:17.19\00:34:19.53
The New Testament
church begins with 12
00:34:19.73\00:34:22.40
and then it proliferates
into a great nation:
00:34:22.61\00:34:25.09
the Christian
church. Interestingly enough
00:34:25.19\00:34:28.23
God's church is
illustrated by only one woman.
00:34:28.44\00:34:31.43
And this is very important
because dispensationalists
00:34:31.83\00:34:35.06
today, people who give
a futurist interpretation
00:34:35.16\00:34:38.22
of Bible prophecy, they
say that God has two mutually
00:34:38.42\00:34:41.51
separable people.
00:34:41.71\00:34:42.89
You have first of all
the Old Testament Israel.
00:34:43.19\00:34:45.65
God has one plan for them.
00:34:45.85\00:34:47.24
And then God has
another plan for the church
00:34:47.54\00:34:50.55
and that's why He's going
to rapture the church to heaven
00:34:50.75\00:34:53.28
and He's going to leave
His other people behind...
00:34:53.48\00:34:55.46
the Jews.
00:34:55.49\00:34:56.83
The fact is that prophecy shows
that God has only one church.
00:34:57.03\00:34:59.98
One woman!
00:35:00.18\00:35:01.72
Old and New Testament
represented by the number 12.
00:35:02.02\00:35:06.57
The number 12 represents
God's people from all ages:
00:35:06.77\00:35:09.95
Old Testament and New Testament.
00:35:10.15\00:35:12.31
And now we must come
back to our original question.
00:35:12.61\00:35:15.79
Why did they feel such a
sense of urgency to elect
00:35:16.09\00:35:20.17
a successor for Judas
before the Day of Pentecost?
00:35:20.37\00:35:24.69
Why the urgency?
00:35:24.99\00:35:26.23
Why not wait a little
while till after the Holy Spirit
00:35:26.53\00:35:29.00
was poured out and then they
would have time to deliberate
00:35:29.11\00:35:32.19
and they would have time to
maybe look at some additional
00:35:32.29\00:35:35.17
candidates and
then make the election?
00:35:35.27\00:35:37.79
Why elect the
successor before the Holy Spirit
00:35:38.09\00:35:41.91
was poured out on
the Day of Pentecost?
00:35:42.11\00:35:44.04
I believe the
answer to this question
00:35:44.34\00:35:47.16
is directly related
to what happened to Jesus
00:35:47.36\00:35:50.48
during the 10 days
between His ascension
00:35:50.68\00:35:53.65
and the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit on the
00:35:53.86\00:35:55.73
Day of Pentecost.
00:35:55.83\00:35:56.98
Do you know what was
happening to Jesus in heaven
00:35:57.28\00:35:59.79
during those 10 days?
00:35:59.99\00:36:01.43
Both scripture and the Spirit
of Prophecy make it absolutely
00:36:01.73\00:36:06.46
abundantly clear.
00:36:06.66\00:36:08.96
During those 10 days
an impressive ceremony
00:36:09.26\00:36:13.45
was taking place in heaven.
00:36:13.65\00:36:15.09
During those 10 days
Jesus was being clothed
00:36:15.39\00:36:20.85
as the High Priest.
00:36:21.15\00:36:23.80
And after being
clothed as the High Priest
00:36:25.10\00:36:28.20
He was anointed with the
Holy Spirit by His Father
00:36:28.50\00:36:32.19
because the Father gave
the promise to Jesus Christ.
00:36:32.29\00:36:35.01
And then Jesus Christ
poured out the Holy Spirit
00:36:35.21\00:36:39.20
upon His disciples.
00:36:39.40\00:36:40.97
During those 10 days you have
the clothing of Jesus Christ
00:36:41.27\00:36:45.90
as the High Priest to begin
His ministry among His people.
00:36:46.10\00:36:49.57
And then you have the pouring
out of the Spirit upon Jesus
00:36:49.77\00:36:54.22
so that He can pour
it out upon His people.
00:36:54.46\00:36:56.87
Now let me prove
this from scripture.
00:36:57.17\00:36:58.95
Leviticus chapter 8
and verses 6 through 12.
00:36:59.36\00:37:03.17
We're not going to read
those verses but I'm going to
00:37:03.37\00:37:05.05
tell you what
those verses explain.
00:37:05.15\00:37:07.49
In these verses you find Moses
00:37:07.69\00:37:11.15
who by the way plays the
role of God the Father...
00:37:11.35\00:37:14.10
Moses, who
prefigures God the Father,
00:37:14.30\00:37:17.48
clothes Aaron with each part
of the high priestly garments
00:37:18.77\00:37:24.25
when the sanctuary
service is about to begin.
00:37:24.45\00:37:27.76
And piece by piece Moses takes
00:37:28.06\00:37:32.32
each part of the
garments of the high priest
00:37:32.52\00:37:36.02
and places them upon Aaron.
00:37:36.22\00:37:38.84
In other words,
Moses is clothing Aaron
00:37:39.14\00:37:42.60
so that Aaron can be
high priest over Israel
00:37:42.80\00:37:47.10
when the sanctuary service
begins in the very next chapter.
00:37:47.30\00:37:51.84
Now interestingly enough,
00:37:53.36\00:37:55.07
after Moses places all of
the pieces of the high priestly
00:37:55.27\00:37:59.10
garment upon Aaron
the Bible says that
00:37:59.30\00:38:02.05
he then anoints him with oil.
00:38:02.25\00:38:05.21
What does oil represent?
00:38:05.51\00:38:07.49
Represents the Holy Spirit.
00:38:07.79\00:38:09.45
And the oil was so abundant
00:38:09.75\00:38:12.64
with which Moses
poured on the head of Aaron
00:38:12.84\00:38:16.93
that the Bible tells us
that it absolutely dripped down
00:38:17.13\00:38:21.03
his beard, it
dripped down his garments
00:38:21.14\00:38:23.74
and it even dripped
down onto Mount Zion!
00:38:23.94\00:38:27.07
Let's read it: Psalm 133.
00:38:27.97\00:38:30.80
Psalm 133... it's a short Psalm.
00:38:31.00\00:38:34.49
We'll read the whole Psalm.
00:38:34.79\00:38:36.48
It says there:
00:38:36.78\00:38:37.93
"Behold... " And you're
going to catch the nuance,
00:38:38.23\00:38:40.41
the connection with Pentecost,
00:38:40.61\00:38:41.84
"Behold how good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to
00:38:42.14\00:38:45.94
dwell together in unity. "
00:38:46.04\00:38:49.20
When the Day of
Pentecost had fully come
00:38:49.50\00:38:52.39
they were all with one what?
00:38:53.60\00:38:56.22
With one accord.
And Psalm 133 says:
00:38:56.42\00:38:59.18
Are you catching the picture?
00:39:29.81\00:39:31.23
You see, during those 10 days
00:39:32.27\00:39:34.58
God the Father was
placing on Jesus Christ
00:39:34.78\00:39:37.90
the different parts of
the High Priestly garments.
00:39:38.10\00:39:42.00
And then the Father gave
Jesus the promise of the Spirit
00:39:42.40\00:39:45.99
because He gave it to Jesus.
And so Jesus is now anointed
00:39:46.19\00:39:50.46
to be High
Priest over His people.
00:39:50.66\00:39:53.08
And the oil that He
receives from His Father
00:39:53.28\00:39:56.53
is so abundant that
it drips down His beard,
00:39:56.73\00:40:00.18
it drips down His garments,
00:40:00.38\00:40:02.02
and it drips all the
way down to Mount Zion...
00:40:02.22\00:40:04.81
to the mountains of Zion
where the disciples are gathered
00:40:05.01\00:40:08.02
in the upper room.
00:40:08.22\00:40:09.58
In Hebrews
chapter 8 verses 1 and 2
00:40:12.06\00:40:15.00
we find a description of
the role that Jesus fills
00:40:16.20\00:40:19.53
after His
anointing, after He is clothed.
00:40:19.74\00:40:22.64
Here the apostle Paul,
whom I believe to be behind
00:40:22.67\00:40:25.73
the book of Hebrews, says:
00:40:25.93\00:40:27.06
Notice he doesn't say
we "shall have in 1844. "
00:40:33.82\00:40:37.98
He says:
00:40:38.18\00:40:39.30
Are you understanding what
happened during those 10 days
00:40:54.71\00:40:57.44
with Jesus? He was
being clothed by His Father
00:40:57.54\00:41:01.16
as the High
Priest over His people.
00:41:01.36\00:41:03.34
Then the Father gave Him
an abundance of the Spirit
00:41:04.42\00:41:07.47
for Jesus to pour
out upon His disciples
00:41:07.67\00:41:10.65
who were gathered
in the upper room.
00:41:10.75\00:41:11.88
So folks, what
happened on the Day of Pentecost
00:41:12.18\00:41:14.52
usually we focus on
what happened on earth:
00:41:14.72\00:41:17.28
the mighty rushing wind
and the tongues of fire.
00:41:17.48\00:41:19.70
But what happened on earth
was only the earthly signal
00:41:19.90\00:41:23.37
that something
significant had taken place
00:41:23.47\00:41:25.83
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:41:26.03\00:41:27.50
Jesus had been
invested as High Priest.
00:41:27.80\00:41:30.29
We still haven't
answered the question
00:41:31.68\00:41:33.91
why the urgency?
00:41:34.11\00:41:36.23
Well now we're
going to answer it.
00:41:37.71\00:41:39.19
One of the pieces of the
garments of the high priest
00:41:40.27\00:41:45.18
is known as the breastplate.
00:41:46.62\00:41:48.89
Let's read about it.
00:41:53.54\00:41:55.06
Exodus 28. You know, these
are the details that show me
00:41:55.36\00:41:59.19
that the Bible was inspired.
00:41:59.39\00:42:00.83
There's no mistakes.
00:42:01.13\00:42:03.49
Every little detail dovetails
with every other little detail
00:42:03.79\00:42:08.67
in perfect and exact precision.
00:42:08.97\00:42:12.23
The type with the antitype.
00:42:12.53\00:42:14.16
Now notice
Exodus 28 and verse 21.
00:42:14.46\00:42:17.78
And then we're going to
jump down to verses 29 and 30.
00:42:17.98\00:42:21.25
Exodus 28 verse 21.
00:42:21.56\00:42:23.95
Speaking about the
breastplate it says:
00:42:24.25\00:42:26.93
What were the stones... the
12 stones... supposed to have?
00:42:34.16\00:42:38.15
The names of the sons of Israel.
00:42:38.45\00:42:41.04
So what did the
12 stones represent?
00:42:53.01\00:42:55.45
They represented the 12 sons
of Jacob but in a broader sense
00:42:55.85\00:43:00.31
they represented what?
00:43:00.52\00:43:01.83
The 12 tribes of Israel!
00:43:02.13\00:43:03.78
They represented God's people!
00:43:04.08\00:43:05.90
Now let's notice
verse 29. Listen carefully:
00:43:06.91\00:43:10.72
What did Jesus
bear in our place?
00:43:56.62\00:43:58.63
He bore our sins; He bore
our judgment upon Himself.
00:43:59.81\00:44:03.98
And as High Priest, when
we come to Him in repentance
00:44:04.93\00:44:07.98
and confession and
trusting in His merits,
00:44:08.18\00:44:10.72
and we say: "Lord
Jesus, I'm a sinner.
00:44:10.92\00:44:13.86
I deserve death.
00:44:14.07\00:44:15.48
I'm miserable.
00:44:15.78\00:44:17.21
But at the same time I
know You lived Your perfect life
00:44:17.51\00:44:20.58
and I know that You died
the death that I should die.
00:44:20.78\00:44:23.35
Oh Lord Jesus, would
You please take Your life
00:44:23.65\00:44:26.78
and would You
please take Your death
00:44:26.99\00:44:28.81
and place them to my account
so that I can be accepted
00:44:29.01\00:44:31.94
in the Beloved
and You can look at me
00:44:32.14\00:44:33.96
as if I had never sinned? "
00:44:34.06\00:44:35.78
And that Jesus does
00:44:37.00\00:44:38.49
because Jesus has borne my
judgment and your judgment.
00:44:38.79\00:44:43.37
He has the breastplate of
judgment over His heart. Amen.
00:44:43.68\00:44:47.37
In fact, go with me to
Isaiah 53 verses 4 and 5
00:44:47.58\00:44:50.85
where this same
idea "to bear" is used.
00:44:51.15\00:44:54.99
Referring to the Messiah,
Isaiah 53 and verses 4 and 5.
00:44:55.29\00:44:59.82
It says here: "Surely He has
borne our grief's and carried
00:45:00.02\00:45:05.06
our sorrows. "
Did you catch that?
00:45:05.16\00:45:07.06
"Surely He has" what?
00:45:07.16\00:45:08.43
"He has borne. "
That's the same word.
00:45:08.63\00:45:10.72
"Borne our grief's
and carried our sorrows. "
00:45:10.92\00:45:13.83
He took our
judgment upon Himself.
00:45:14.03\00:45:16.01
"Yet we esteemed Him
stricken, smitten by God,
00:45:17.05\00:45:19.88
and afflicted. But He was
wounded for OUR transgressions.
00:45:20.08\00:45:24.35
He was bruised
for OUR iniquities.
00:45:24.55\00:45:27.33
The chastisement for
OUR peace was upon Him
00:45:27.63\00:45:30.54
and by His
stripes we are healed.
00:45:30.74\00:45:33.13
All we like
sheep have gone astray.
00:45:33.43\00:45:35.27
We have turned
every one to his own way
00:45:35.47\00:45:37.46
and the Lord has laid on
Him the iniquity of us all. "
00:45:37.66\00:45:42.70
He wears the breastplate
of judgment because He bore
00:45:44.38\00:45:47.56
MY judgment and YOUR
judgment on the cross.
00:45:47.76\00:45:52.52
Now we know the reason why
they had to elect a successor
00:45:54.68\00:45:57.21
for Judas before
the Day of Pentecost.
00:45:57.41\00:45:59.54
They could not have
Jesus wearing the breastplate
00:46:00.47\00:46:04.65
with 12 stones when
there were only 11 apostles.
00:46:04.85\00:46:09.81
The number of God's
people had to be complete!
00:46:12.14\00:46:15.47
In other words,
there had to be 12 apostles
00:46:16.46\00:46:19.47
because there were 12
stones on the breastplate
00:46:19.77\00:46:23.17
of the High Priest.
00:46:23.48\00:46:24.56
So was it God's plan
for Saul of Tarsus to be
00:46:25.57\00:46:28.54
apostle number
12? Absolutely not!
00:46:28.64\00:46:31.44
The successor had
to be elected before
00:46:31.74\00:46:34.52
the Day of Pentecost.
There needed to be 12 apostles
00:46:34.72\00:46:38.54
represented by the 12 stones
on the breastplate of Christ.
00:46:38.74\00:46:42.50
In other words, Jesus
Christ, of whom Aaron is a type,
00:46:42.70\00:46:46.78
bears His Old Testament church
and His New Testament church
00:46:46.98\00:46:51.97
upon His heart.
00:46:52.17\00:46:54.43
There is nothing, folks,
that Jesus longs for more
00:46:54.73\00:46:57.81
than to have
His people with Him.
00:46:58.02\00:47:00.78
In fact, in John
chapter 17 and verses 24 and 25
00:47:01.08\00:47:05.95
we find a High
Priestly prayer of Jesus
00:47:06.25\00:47:09.88
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:47:10.08\00:47:12.11
and He expressed the
innermost desires of His heart.
00:47:12.31\00:47:14.96
He says in this
prayer to His Father:
00:47:15.26\00:47:18.45
"Father, I want those
that You have given Me
00:47:32.46\00:47:34.94
to be with Me where I am. "
00:47:35.14\00:47:36.65
In fact, Ellen White amplifies
a little bit this concept.
00:47:36.95\00:47:40.20
When Jesus ascends to
heaven and He is actually...
00:47:40.41\00:47:43.42
goes into the
presence of His Father
00:47:43.62\00:47:45.79
to discover whether His
sacrifice has been sufficient
00:47:45.99\00:47:48.97
or not. I want to
read just an excerpt
00:47:49.07\00:47:51.41
from Desire of Ages page 834
00:47:51.61\00:47:54.19
where Ellen White
expresses it this way:
00:47:54.39\00:47:57.11
"When upon the cross He
cried out 'It is finished! '
00:47:57.31\00:48:00.66
He addressed the Father.
00:48:00.86\00:48:02.72
The compact had
been fully carried out.
00:48:03.03\00:48:05.44
Now He declares:
'Father, it is finished.
00:48:05.64\00:48:09.04
I have done Thy will O My God.
00:48:09.24\00:48:11.71
I have completed
the work of redemption.
00:48:11.91\00:48:14.35
If Thy justice is satisfied,
00:48:14.65\00:48:17.53
I will that they also
whom Thou hast given Me
00:48:17.73\00:48:21.68
be with Me where I am. ' "
00:48:21.88\00:48:24.50
What is the
great passion of Jesus?
00:48:25.81\00:48:27.60
To have His people
with Him where He is.
00:48:27.90\00:48:30.87
That's why He wears the
breastplate of judgment.
00:48:31.07\00:48:33.57
He took our judgment so
that we could be with Him.
00:48:33.77\00:48:36.53
Amen! We're all
acquainted with that passage
00:48:36.73\00:48:39.20
in John chapter 14
verses 1 through 3.
00:48:39.40\00:48:41.65
We can repeat it from memory.
00:48:41.85\00:48:43.76
"Let not your heart be troubled.
00:48:43.97\00:48:46.09
You believe in
God... believe also in Me.
00:48:46.39\00:48:49.89
In My Father's house
there will be many mansions. "
00:48:50.19\00:48:53.82
Thank you very much.
00:48:55.30\00:48:56.55
Satan has this idea
that Jesus went to heaven
00:48:58.24\00:49:00.84
to do some heavenly contracting.
00:49:00.85\00:49:03.36
That Jesus went to
heaven to build mansions.
00:49:03.87\00:49:06.19
Jesus does not need
2,000 years to build mansions
00:49:06.40\00:49:09.10
when He created the world
and everything in it in 6 days.
00:49:10.35\00:49:13.39
Jesus said: "In My Father's
house ARE many mansions. "
00:49:15.35\00:49:19.73
They were there when He spoke.
00:49:19.93\00:49:21.37
And then He continues
saying: "In My Father's house
00:49:22.51\00:49:25.37
are many
mansions. If it were not so,
00:49:25.57\00:49:28.11
I would have told
you. I go to prepare
00:49:28.31\00:49:31.57
a place for you. "
00:49:31.77\00:49:33.44
And you know, usually we
emphasize that He went up there
00:49:35.49\00:49:37.83
to build houses and to
prepare a physical place for us.
00:49:38.03\00:49:41.33
That's not the emphasis.
00:49:41.63\00:49:43.32
When He says: "I go to
prepare a place for you"
00:49:44.23\00:49:46.89
He's talking about the
work that He will perform
00:49:47.09\00:49:49.73
in the sanctuary. Amen!
00:49:49.83\00:49:51.87
That's how He prepares
a place for His people:
00:49:52.01\00:49:54.27
by His intercessory work
and by His work of judgment
00:49:54.57\00:49:57.79
in the most holy place
of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:49:58.09\00:50:00.50
Then He says: "I go to
prepare a place for you.
00:50:00.80\00:50:03.67
And if I go to prepare a
place for you, I will come again
00:50:03.87\00:50:08.80
and receive you to Myself
00:50:09.01\00:50:11.54
that where I am there
you may be also. " Amen!
00:50:11.74\00:50:15.73
Isn't that what it's all about?
00:50:15.97\00:50:17.58
Being with Jesus!
00:50:17.88\00:50:20.21
The apostle Paul after
speaking of the resurrection
00:50:20.61\00:50:23.41
He says: "And thus shall
we always be with the Lord. "
00:50:23.61\00:50:27.21
Amen.
00:50:27.51\00:50:28.58
And by the way,
in Ezekiel chapter 48
00:50:30.39\00:50:32.48
it says that when we
are in the New Jerusalem
00:50:32.69\00:50:36.35
that God is going to
change the name of the city.
00:50:37.81\00:50:39.96
The name of the city is
going to be The Lord Is There.
00:50:40.16\00:50:43.47
See, heaven is about Jesus...
it's about being with Him!
00:50:44.87\00:50:47.93
You know, the tree
that produces twelve fruits
00:50:48.43\00:50:52.60
and the river of water of
life and the foundations of
00:50:52.80\00:50:55.79
precious stones
and the gates of pearl?
00:50:55.99\00:50:57.71
All those things are
nice... they're the dessert.
00:50:57.91\00:51:00.31
But the main course is
being with Jesus! Amen.
00:51:02.52\00:51:07.05
Heaven is Jesus!
00:51:07.15\00:51:08.80
And if it were none
of those other things
00:51:09.00\00:51:10.93
it would be
worthwhile being there.
00:51:10.96\00:51:13.14
Ellen White has this beautiful
comment about the garments,
00:51:14.52\00:51:17.79
the breastplate
specifically, of Aaron.
00:51:18.00\00:51:20.69
In Gospel
Workers page 34 she says:
00:51:20.99\00:51:24.00
That's Gospel Workers page 34.
00:52:03.61\00:52:05.89
You know, in
Isaiah 53 we are told
00:52:06.19\00:52:09.19
that when all is said and
done Jesus will see the travail
00:52:09.39\00:52:12.68
of His soul and He
shall be satisfied.
00:52:12.79\00:52:16.70
Why is He going to be satisfied?
00:52:16.91\00:52:18.89
Let's examine one final thing
before we bring this to an end.
00:52:19.19\00:52:22.76
Go with me to Revelation
chapter 21 and verse 12.
00:52:23.06\00:52:26.59
Revelation
chapter 21 and verse 12.
00:52:26.89\00:52:29.98
This is speaking about
the gates of the Holy City.
00:52:31.03\00:52:33.90
Notice once again the number 12.
00:52:35.26\00:52:37.10
It says:
00:52:37.40\00:52:38.68
There you have represented
God's Old Testament people
00:52:58.41\00:53:02.78
by the names on the gates.
00:53:03.08\00:53:06.80
But I want you to notice that
there's the number 12 connected
00:53:07.10\00:53:10.47
also with this wonderful city.
00:53:10.67\00:53:14.51
Revelation 21 and verse 14.
00:53:14.72\00:53:16.95
It's speaking about the
foundations of the walls
00:53:17.16\00:53:18.84
of the city and it says:
00:53:18.94\00:53:20.98
One city composed of
God's people from all ages.
00:53:31.61\00:53:36.35
His Old Testament church
represented by the 12 tribes
00:53:36.55\00:53:40.40
and His New Testament church
represented by the 12 apostles
00:53:40.61\00:53:44.53
who later formed
the Christian church.
00:53:44.73\00:53:48.06
Amen.
00:53:48.36\00:53:49.44
I'd like to end by
reading a statement
00:53:49.74\00:53:52.04
that we find in Testimonies
to Ministers page 15.
00:53:52.34\00:53:55.37
You know, there's a lot
of criticism of the Adventist
00:53:55.57\00:53:57.29
church these days...
00:53:57.39\00:53:58.68
and that's unfortunate.
00:54:01.56\00:54:03.69
There are things in the
church that are not the way
00:54:03.99\00:54:06.49
we would like them to function.
00:54:06.59\00:54:08.26
But it's still
God's church. Amen!
00:54:08.56\00:54:10.87
And Jesus loves this church.
00:54:11.17\00:54:13.05
And He's looking
out for this church.
00:54:13.35\00:54:15.61
He doesn't approve of
everything that's happened
00:54:15.91\00:54:17.62
that shouldn't be happening.
00:54:17.82\00:54:18.87
But this is His church,
and He loves His church.
00:54:19.17\00:54:21.22
In fact, there's nothing in
this world that He loves more
00:54:21.52\00:54:23.99
than His church. Amen.
00:54:24.09\00:54:25.44
Testimonies to Ministers
page 15 Ellen White says this:
00:54:25.47\00:54:29.43
One final statement.
Volume 7 of the Testimonies
00:55:06.81\00:55:10.23
page 16. This is
an amazing statement.
00:55:10.43\00:55:12.93
She says:
00:55:13.53\00:55:14.67
"Enfeebled and defective,
needing constantly to be
00:55:14.87\00:55:19.20
warned and counseled,
00:55:19.40\00:55:20.86
the church is nevertheless
the object of Christ's
00:55:21.06\00:55:24.18
supreme regard. "
00:55:24.38\00:55:25.97
And here comes the
powerful part of the statement.
00:55:26.17\00:55:28.77
Notice this: "He is
making experiments of grace
00:55:30.71\00:55:34.62
on human hearts
00:55:34.82\00:55:36.42
and is effecting such
transformations of character
00:55:36.62\00:55:42.53
that angels are
amazed and express their joy
00:55:42.83\00:55:48.46
in songs of praise. "
00:55:48.66\00:55:50.70
They rejoice to think that
sinful, erring human beings
00:55:51.00\00:55:55.78
can be so transformed.
00:55:55.98\00:55:58.60
Isn't that a
magnificent statement?
00:55:59.54\00:56:01.59
God is making experiments
of grace with His people.
00:56:01.89\00:56:05.82
And even the
heavenly beings are amazed
00:56:06.12\00:56:08.88
to see the miracle of
the transformation of a life.
00:56:09.08\00:56:12.52
Because there's nothing
in this world that Jesus
00:56:12.75\00:56:15.71
pays closer attention
to than His people. Amen!
00:56:15.91\00:56:20.09
Folks, He wants us there.
00:56:20.13\00:56:22.64
Jesus loves us. He
gave Himself for us.
00:56:22.94\00:56:27.09
He lived for us.
00:56:27.39\00:56:29.21
He died for us.
00:56:29.41\00:56:30.98
He intercedes for us.
00:56:31.18\00:56:32.59
In the judgment
He will stand for us.
00:56:32.79\00:56:35.26
If He is for us,
00:56:37.58\00:56:40.39
who can be against
us? as scripture says.
00:56:40.69\00:56:43.81
What still needs to be defined
is whether we will be with Him.
00:56:45.14\00:56:48.25
He wants us with Him.
00:56:48.46\00:56:50.34
But by the choices and the
decisions that we make today
00:56:51.36\00:56:54.26
we decide whether we
will spend eternity with Him.
00:56:54.56\00:56:58.88
Folks, let's not let
anything in this world
00:56:59.18\00:57:01.74
interfere in our
relationship with Christ.
00:57:02.05\00:57:04.59
Not things... not spouses...
00:57:06.51\00:57:09.92
not family... not friends...
00:57:10.22\00:57:13.69
not the world...
not the devil himself.
00:57:13.99\00:57:17.86
Let's not allow
anything to come between
00:57:19.26\00:57:21.99
our beloved Jesus and us
00:57:22.19\00:57:24.98
because very soon He's coming
and then we shall be with Him
00:57:25.09\00:57:28.92
forever.
00:57:29.12\00:57:30.39