Participants: Stephen Bohr
Series Code: 11POFCM
Program Code: 11POFCM000013
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00:47 Hello again and welcome to 3ABN Pillars Spring Camp Meeting
00:53 2011. This is our last presentation 00:57 before lunch, and we trust that you can hold your desire 01:02 for physical food in abeyance for just one more hour 01:05 as we give you just a little more spiritual food 01:09 uh, for your soul. So if you can keep your stomachs from 01:12 growling, we will fill your ears with the Word of God 01:16 and give you something that will help you walk the road 01:18 that leads to glory. Is that all right? 01:21 And we praise the Lord! You know, the challenge when 01:23 you introduce someone is to give due deference 01:29 to their study and their time 01:31 without taking away the glory 01:36 that belongs to God. 01:38 Because if we accomplish anything in this world 01:41 it is through the grace of God, and the glory goes to Him. 01:48 In that vein, it is fairly easy to introduce Stephen Bohr 01:51 because he is not a man who ascribes glory to himself. 01:55 He does give all glory to God. 01:57 He is a student of the Word, 01:59 a preacher and teacher of the Word, 02:01 and has been given the ability to do that in two languages. 02:06 He speaks Spanish extremely well and preaches well 02:09 in Spanish and has a working knowledge of the English 02:13 language also. 02:17 And he's a fun guy, 02:19 uh, but he's very serious about his calling... 02:23 and that is to be a preacher of the Word and to live 02:26 what he preaches. Someone that we love and respect 02:29 very, very much and who is a sought-after preacher 02:32 and teacher of the Word. 02:33 And so I know that as he speaks to our hearts during this next 02:36 hour that God will use him in a marked way as He has in the past 02:39 to speak to us. And we ask that you give ear. 02:42 Whenever Pastor Bohr speaks you want to take out 02:44 pen and paper and you want to get your fingers limbered 02:47 'cause you're going to be in the Word 02:49 and you're going to be given something that comes directly 02:53 from the throne of God. 02:55 So we are very, very proud and happy to introduce 02:58 Pastor Stephen Bohr. He pastors there in Fresno, California, 03:01 and of course is Speaker and Director for Secrets Unsealed, 03:05 his worldwide ministry that is doing so very much 03:08 to help hasten the coming of Christ into all the world. 03:11 Before he speaks we will have prayer 03:14 and then listen to Todd and Lisa Parrish. 03:18 They are going to be singing Calvary Covers It All. 03:21 We thank them for coming to be with us, 03:24 and Jill Morikone is going to assist them on the piano. 03:30 And just before they sing let's bow our heads in prayer. 03:34 Then you will hear Todd and Lisa 03:35 and the next voice will be our pastor, our friend, 03:37 Stephen Bohr. Shall we pray. Father God, 03:39 we do thank you and praise You for Your love. 03:42 We thank you for the Word and the power in the Word. 03:46 Not the power in the voice of man 03:49 but the power that is resident in the Word of God. 03:52 We ask just now for this audience that sits in this house 03:56 and those who hear and listen around the world 03:59 that Your Word may be made clear 04:03 that Your servant may receive Your anointing 04:06 to preach with power those things that You would have us 04:08 to know. And then we ask for the power to do those things 04:12 for we know that it is in the doing that we are made like 04:16 Christ Jesus. Feed us this day. 04:19 And we thank you and praise you in Jesus' name, Amen. 04:37 Calvary 04:40 covers it all, 04:46 My past 04:49 with its sin and stain; 04:56 My guilt and despair 05:01 Jesus took on Him there, 05:07 and Calvary covers 05:12 it all. 05:17 Far dearer than all 05:22 that the world can impart 05:27 Was the message 05:30 that came to my heart, 05:36 How that Jesus alone 05:42 for my sin did atone... 05:48 And Calvary covers 05:52 it all. 05:58 How blessed the thought 06:03 the soul by Him bought, 06:08 Shall be His in the glory 06:13 on high, 06:18 Where with gladness and song 06:23 I'll be one of His throng... 06:29 And Calvary covers 06:34 it all. 06:39 Calvary covers 06:45 it all, 06:50 My past with its sin 06:54 and stain; 06:59 My guilt and despair 07:04 Jesus took on Him there, 07:10 And Calvary covers 07:16 it all. 07:31 Yes, Calvary 07:37 covers it 07:42 all. 07:51 Amen. 08:02 Good morning or afternoon. 08:08 You know, after 12 o'clock it's afternoon, right? 08:12 At least where I grew up in South America 08:15 you know after noon means after 12 o'clock. 08:18 So it wasn't because I was jet-lagged yesterday 08:22 or anything. 08:24 It's been nice meeting many of you who have stopped by the 08:27 Secrets Unsealed booth here at Camp Meeting. 08:31 It's been nice also getting re-acquainted with 08:33 many people that I've known before. 08:35 The presentation that I'm going to make this morning 08:38 is actually one of 32 that we just finished 08:42 at Secrets Unsealed on the sanctuary. 08:45 The series is not available yet. 08:48 It's going through post-production editing 08:50 but it will be available soon. 08:53 And so I hope that what we study this morning 08:56 will be inspirational 08:58 and draw us closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 09:03 Let's bow our heads for a word of prayer. 09:06 Father in Heaven, As we open Your Word this morning 09:08 or this afternoon we ask for the presence of Your Holy Spirit. 09:12 We ask, Lord, that You will hover over this place 09:15 through the ministration of the angels. 09:17 Help us to concentrate on the Word. 09:21 And Lord, I ask that You will inspire our hearts 09:24 to a closer walk with Jesus. 09:26 And we thank you for hearing our prayer. 09:29 For we ask it in Jesus' name, Amen. 09:34 I'd like to give you just a chronological sequence 09:37 as we begin on the work of Christ from the moment 09:43 that He began his public ministry 09:45 till the time that the Holy Spirit was poured out 09:50 on the Day of Pentecost. 09:51 The first segment of the ministry of Christ 09:55 of course is the 3-1/2 years that He spent on this earth 10:00 before Gethsemane and before Calvary. 10:05 During those 3-1/2 years Jesus came to live with us 10:08 in the camp of the sanctuary. 10:10 He lived the life that all of us should live. 10:13 He faced every temptation of Satan 10:17 and He was victorious. 10:19 And in this way Jesus wove a perfect robe of righteousness 10:25 that He could offer us. 10:28 Then at the end of His ministry 10:31 on Thursday evening in the Garden of Gethsemane 10:34 the sin of the world was laid upon His soul, upon His heart. 10:40 The very next day on Friday 10:43 around 3 o'clock in the afternoon 10:44 Jesus cried out on the cross "It is finished. 10:50 Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit. " 10:53 And Jesus in this way paid the debt 10:57 for the sin of the whole world. 10:59 Thus He had lived the life that all of us should live 11:03 and He had died the death that all of us should die. 11:07 Now Jesus died, so to speak, at the altar of the sanctuary. 11:11 He came to camp with us. That represents His life. 11:14 He died at the altar in the court 11:18 and then He resurrected at the laver 11:21 which is called the laver of regeneration 11:24 in Titus chapter 3 and verse 5. 11:27 And then Jesus, after His resurrection on the 1st day 11:31 of the week, on Sunday morning, 11:33 spent 40 days here on earth 11:36 according to Acts chapter 1 verse 3 11:39 speaking to His disciples about things pertaining to the 11:43 kingdom of God. 11:45 Basically, during those 40 days Jesus explained Bible prophecy 11:49 to His disciples. 11:51 How Bible prophecy had been fulfilled in what He had done 11:56 and also the prophecies which were still to be fulfilled 12:00 leading up to the Day of Pentecost. 12:03 So for 40 days Jesus was teaching His disciples 12:07 the meaning of Bible prophecy 12:10 which pointed to what He had done 12:12 and what He was about to do. 12:15 And then after the 40 days Jesus ascended to heaven. 12:21 I'd like to read the story of the ascension as it's found in 12:25 Acts chapter 1 and verses 9-11. 12:28 Acts chapter 1 verses 9-11. 12:32 This is a very well known passage. It says: 13:08 And then Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mt. of Olives. 13:13 The disciples immediately returned to Jerusalem 13:17 to the upper room. And for the next 10 days 13:20 the disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 13:23 They prayed such as never before. 13:26 They studied prophecy such as never before. 13:30 They ironed out their differences one with another. 13:34 They placed all of their possessions at the disposal 13:38 of the work. They were emptied of self 13:42 and they prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 13:45 during those 10 days. 13:48 Now have you ever asked yourself "what happened with Jesus 13:52 during those 10 days before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? " 13:55 What was Jesus doing in heaven 13:58 during those 10 days between His ascension 14:02 and when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the 14:04 Day of Pentecost? We know what was happening on earth 14:07 but what was happening in heaven? 14:09 We'll come to that a little bit later, but for now 14:12 I would like us to continue the chronology 14:14 of Acts chapter 1. 14:16 Now Acts chapter 1 and verse 13 makes it very clear 14:20 who was present there in the upper room. 14:22 They're mentioned by name. 14:24 Actually there were 120 but 12 of them are mentioned 14:28 specifically by name. Let's read that in Acts chapter 1 14:31 and verse 13. 15:06 Now as you look at this list it becomes very clear that 15:09 one of the disciples was missing. 15:12 And so now Peter - in Acts chapter 1 verses 18 and 19- 15:17 tells the story of Judas... the apostasy of Judas. 15:20 He says that, you know, one of those who were in our midst 15:24 that belonged to our number apostatized 15:28 and actually committed suicide. 15:31 Now then in the upper room the disciples did something 15:35 which, you know, always puzzles me why they had to do this 15:39 when they did it, 15:41 and that was to elect a successor for Judas. 15:45 I mean after all, weren't there more important things to do 15:48 before the Day of Pentecost than to name a successor for 15:51 Judas? Why did they feel it was so necessary... 15:56 After Peter described how Judas apostatized 15:59 why did they feel it was so necessary to name 16:03 a successor for Judas Iscariot? 16:07 The fact is that Acts chapter 1 tells us the reason why. 16:10 It's because there were two prophecies in the Old Testament. 16:14 One of them prophesied that Judas was going to apostatize 16:19 and the second actually prophesied that a successor 16:24 needed to be named in his place. 16:26 Let's notice that in Acts chapter 1 and verses 16 16:31 and then we'll jump down to verse 20 because 18 and 19 16:34 describe the apostasy and suicide of Judas. 16:38 Notice Acts chapter 1 and verse 16: 17:06 In other words, he was not going to return home. 17:08 That prophecy comes from Psalm 69 and verse 25. 17:13 And now comes the prophecy that pointed to the need 17:16 to name a successor. It says: 17:21 That's Psalm 109 and verses 7-8. 17:25 So prophecy mandated that they name a success for Judas 17:32 because prophecy had said that he was not going to return 17:35 to his home AND a successor needed to be named. 17:39 But of course the question comes up... All right, 17:43 a successor needed to be named. 17:44 Judas was going to commit suicide. 17:47 But why did they feel like they had to name a successor 17:51 for Judas before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 17:54 on the Day of Pentecost? 17:56 Now there's this myth 17:59 that has been existing in the Adventist church 18:04 for many, many years and that is 18:06 that the disciples rushed to elect a successor of Judas. 18:12 That really it was God's plan to make Saul of Tarsus - 18:15 later the apostle Paul - the apostle number 12 18:19 but that the disciples kind of jumped the gun. 18:22 You know, they decided to elect a successor 18:25 before they were supposed to elect a successor 18:28 and therefore they elected Matthias instead of 18:31 Saul of Tarsus. 18:34 I would like to say that this is just simply 18:37 an unwarranted assumption 18:39 and pure speculation... and it is not Biblical. 18:43 Let me give you three reasons 18:45 and then as we near the end of our study this morning 18:47 I will present the fourth and definitive reason 18:50 why it was not God's plan that Saul of Tarsus 18:53 be apostle number 12. 18:55 Reason #1: Acts chapter 1 makes it very, very clear 19:01 what the specifications were for the successor of Judas. 19:05 Notice Acts chapter 1 and verses 21 and 22. 19:09 It says there: 19:34 The qualifications were that the individual 19:37 needed to have been present from the time of John the Baptist 19:41 till the time of the resurrection and ascension 19:43 of Christ. Question: does Saul of Tarsus 19:46 meet that specification? Absolutely not. 19:50 Reason #2: We're told in the story in Acts chapter 1 that 19:55 they followed the order that God had established 19:58 for electing a successor 19:59 and that the Holy Spirit chose the successor. 20:02 Notice Acts chapter 1 and verses 24 to 26. 20:06 Acts chapter 1 and verses 24 through 26. Notice: 20:44 So very clearly they sought the Lord's guidance in prayer 20:48 and we're told... that they wanted God to show who 20:53 He had chosen. Third reason: 20:56 Ellen White makes it very clear that Matthias was the choice 21:00 of the Holy Spirit. Amen! 21:02 I want to read from Spirit of Prophecy volume 3 21:05 and page 264 21:07 where Ellen White explains this: 21:40 Now listen carefully: 21:48 Who selected Matthias? 21:51 Was it the disciples that rushed to do this? 21:54 Absolutely not! The Holy Spirit chose the successor. 21:59 So you say: "OK, we know now 22:03 that they decided to elect a successor because 22:06 Bible prophecy had predicted that they needed to do that. 22:09 And I believe Jesus had explained that prophecy to them 22:12 in those 40 days that He explained to them 22:14 things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 22:16 But the big question is: Why did they feel that 22:20 they needed to name a successor before the outpouring 22:24 of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? 22:26 Why couldn't they have waited till a little bit later 22:30 maybe when they had more time 22:32 and they were le... it was less urgent - 22:35 so to speak - to elect a successor? 22:37 Why did they feel that they needed to name a successor 22:40 before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 22:43 on the Day of Pentecost? 22:44 I believe the answer to this is found in the fact 22:49 that the number 12 is very significant in scripture. 22:53 In fact, it's interesting to notice there 22:56 in Acts chapter 1 and verse 17 it speaks of Judas 22:59 as having been numbered with the 12 apostles. 23:03 In other words, the number is important. 23:06 He was "numbered" with the 12 apostles. 23:08 And then according to verse 26 when Matthias was elected 23:12 we are told that Matthias was "numbered" with the apostles. 23:16 In other words, the number 12 is extremely important. 23:20 And I believe that once we understand the meaning 23:22 of the number 12 we'll understand why they felt 23:26 that they had to elect a successor for Judas 23:28 before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit 23:31 on the Day of Pentecost. 23:32 So the question is: what is the meaning and significance 23:36 of the number 12? Well, go with me in your Bibles 23:39 to Revelation chapter 12 and verse 1. 23:41 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 1. 23:44 We're going to take a tour through scripture 23:46 on the meaning of the number 12 because there is the reason 23:49 why they had to elect a successor before the 23:52 Day of Pentecost. 23:53 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 1: 23:55 a very well-known verse 23:57 to those in the Adventist church because we study this 24:01 when we deal with prophecy in evangelism. 24:04 It says there in Revelation 12 verse 1: 24:12 Now what does a woman represent in prophecy? 24:15 Immediately we get the answer: a woman represents the church. 24:19 But it does not represent the church in general. 24:22 It represents the faithful in the church. 24:27 It represents the saints of the Most High if you please. 24:30 It represents the faithful church. 24:33 Now usually when we explain what a woman represents 24:37 in prophecy, you know, we use other texts outside 24:40 Daniel and the Revelation. For example, we use Ephesians 5 24:43 where it says: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves 24:46 the church. " So we see the wife is the church 24:50 and the husband is Jesus so a woman represents 24:52 the church in prophecy. 24:54 But we don't really even have to go to other passages 24:57 in scripture. The books of Daniel and Revelation 25:00 themselves show us what is the meaning of a woman 25:04 in Bible prophecy. Now I want to go to Daniel 25:08 chapter 7 and verse 25 and then we're going to compare 25:11 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 14 25:13 so that we can see how to find the meaning of the woman 25:18 within the prophetic books of scripture themselves. 25:21 Daniel chapter 7 verse 25 is speaking about the little horn. 25:25 Of course, the little horn represents the Roman Catholic 25:29 papacy which governed for 1,260 years. 25:33 And I want you to notice several interesting details 25:36 in Daniel 7:25. 25:39 About the little horn, it says: 26:06 So this is what I want you to see: 26:09 in Daniel 7:25 the little horn persecutes the saints 26:14 of the Most High for time, times, and the dividing of time. 26:18 Now let's go to Revelation chapter 12 and verse 14. 26:22 Revelation chapter 12 and verse 14... 26:24 which is a parallel prophecy. 26:27 And we're going to notice something very interesting here. 26:30 It says there in Revelation 12 verse 14: 27:06 Is that the same period of time of Daniel 7 verse 25? 27:09 Absolutely. Now what is the parallel? 27:11 In Daniel 7:25 you have the little horn 27:14 persecuting the saints for time, times, and the dividing of time. 27:19 In Revelation 12:14 you have the dragon 27:22 persecuting the woman for time, times, and the dividing of time. 27:27 So let me ask you, what does the woman represent? 27:30 The woman represents the saints of the Most High. 27:34 Did you catch it or not? 27:36 Because the parallel is clear. 27:38 And by the way, whose emissary is the little horn? 27:40 The little horn is the dragon's emissary 27:44 because in Daniel 7:25 it's the little horn that is persecuting 27:47 but in Revelation chapter 12 it's the dragon who is 27:51 persecuting. So the little horn is the instrument 27:54 of the dragon. 27:56 So here very clearly the woman represents what? 28:01 Represents the saints of the Most High... 28:04 God's faithful church. 28:06 Now we must ask this question: 28:09 At what stage of God's church 28:13 is Revelation chapter 12 and verse 1 referring to? 28:16 We know that the woman of 28:20 represents God's church... 28:21 God's faithful church - His saints. 28:25 But the question is: in Revelation 12 verse 1 28:28 does this woman represent the Old Testament church 28:31 or does she represent the New Testament church? 28:36 The fact is that in Revelation 12 verse 1 28:39 the woman represents the Old Testament church. 28:42 And you say: "How do you know that? " 28:44 It's very simple. Because the woman has a baby in her womb 28:48 that has not been born yet. 28:50 And that baby is Jesus Christ. 28:52 You can't have a New Testament church before Jesus is born. 28:57 So in Revelation 12:1 this woman represents the Old Testament 29:01 church from which Jesus is born. 29:04 Jesus is born from the line of Abraham and from the line 29:08 of David. He is born from the Old Testament church! 29:11 So in Revelation 12:1 this woman represents 29:15 the Old Testament church. 29:18 Now don't get nervous because later on in Revelation 12 29:22 the same woman represents the New Testament church. 29:25 But at this stage in Revelation 12 verse 1 29:28 she represents the Old Testament church. 29:30 She's about to bring the Messiah into the world. 29:33 Now I want you to notice something interesting because 29:36 we didn't finish reading Revelation 12:1. 29:38 So let's go back there: 29:54 What number is identified with the woman 29:57 the saints of the Most High, God's faithful church? 30:00 The number 12 is identified with God's faithful church. 30:04 Now the question is: what do these 12 stars represent? 30:10 Go with me to Genesis 37 verses 9 and 10. 30:13 Genesis chapter 37 verses 9 and 10. 30:16 Are we doing all right? 30:18 OK, good. Genesis 37 verses 9 and 10. 30:21 It's speaking about a dream that Joseph had. 30:25 It says there: 30:56 What do the eleven stars represent? 30:59 The sons of Jacob. 31:02 By the way, who was the 12th star? 31:04 Joseph. 31:06 And so the 12 stars represent the 12 sons of Jacob. 31:12 But then later the 12 sons of Jacob 31:15 multiply and they proliferate 31:17 and they form the 12 tribes of Israel. 31:21 Notice Genesis chapter 49 and verse 28. 31:25 Genesis 49:28 where we're told that the 12 sons of Jacob 31:30 then multiply and they form a great nation 31:34 that originated with the 12. 31:35 It says there in Genesis 49 and verse 28: 31:49 So it says the 12 sons of Jacob become later what? 31:52 They become the 12 tribes of Israel. 31:55 In other words, they multiply and they form a great nation. 32:00 How many disciples did Jesus establish? 32:04 Twelve. 32:06 That's just coincidence, right? 32:08 Absolutely not. 32:10 Jesus chose 12 apostles. 32:14 Now why did He choose 12 apostles? 32:17 I believe the reason is because Jesus is saying 32:20 this is a continuation of the Old Testament church. 32:23 This is a continuation of God's people from all ages... 32:28 God's faithful people from all ages. 32:30 In fact, let me read you an interesting statement 32:33 from the book Acts of the Apostles by Ellen White page 19. 32:36 She caught this idea that I'm sharing with you. 32:39 She said this: 33:00 Notice what we find in Mark chapter 3 verses 14-19. 33:04 Here we are explicitly told that Jesus established 12. 33:08 It says there in Mark 3:14: 33:44 Jesus chose 12 apostles 33:48 just like in the Old Testament there were 12 tribes. 33:51 In other words, the Christian church begins with 12. 33:56 But those 12 then multiply and proliferate 34:00 and they became a great nation, the Christian church. 34:05 By the way, the Christian church is called a "holy nation" 34:09 in the New Testament. 34:11 And so we find that the Old Testament church 34:13 begins with 12. The number 12 represents God's people. 34:17 It multiples into a great nation. 34:19 The New Testament church begins with 12 34:22 and then it proliferates into a great nation: 34:25 the Christian church. Interestingly enough 34:28 God's church is illustrated by only one woman. 34:31 And this is very important because dispensationalists 34:35 today, people who give a futurist interpretation 34:38 of Bible prophecy, they say that God has two mutually 34:41 separable people. 34:43 You have first of all the Old Testament Israel. 34:45 God has one plan for them. 34:47 And then God has another plan for the church 34:50 and that's why He's going to rapture the church to heaven 34:53 and He's going to leave His other people behind... 34:55 the Jews. 34:57 The fact is that prophecy shows that God has only one church. 35:00 One woman! 35:02 Old and New Testament represented by the number 12. 35:06 The number 12 represents God's people from all ages: 35:10 Old Testament and New Testament. 35:12 And now we must come back to our original question. 35:16 Why did they feel such a sense of urgency to elect 35:20 a successor for Judas before the Day of Pentecost? 35:24 Why the urgency? 35:26 Why not wait a little while till after the Holy Spirit 35:29 was poured out and then they would have time to deliberate 35:32 and they would have time to maybe look at some additional 35:35 candidates and then make the election? 35:38 Why elect the successor before the Holy Spirit 35:42 was poured out on the Day of Pentecost? 35:44 I believe the answer to this question 35:47 is directly related to what happened to Jesus 35:50 during the 10 days between His ascension 35:53 and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 35:55 Day of Pentecost. 35:57 Do you know what was happening to Jesus in heaven 35:59 during those 10 days? 36:01 Both scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy make it absolutely 36:06 abundantly clear. 36:09 During those 10 days an impressive ceremony 36:13 was taking place in heaven. 36:15 During those 10 days Jesus was being clothed 36:21 as the High Priest. 36:25 And after being clothed as the High Priest 36:28 He was anointed with the Holy Spirit by His Father 36:32 because the Father gave the promise to Jesus Christ. 36:35 And then Jesus Christ poured out the Holy Spirit 36:39 upon His disciples. 36:41 During those 10 days you have the clothing of Jesus Christ 36:46 as the High Priest to begin His ministry among His people. 36:49 And then you have the pouring out of the Spirit upon Jesus 36:54 so that He can pour it out upon His people. 36:57 Now let me prove this from scripture. 36:59 Leviticus chapter 8 and verses 6 through 12. 37:03 We're not going to read those verses but I'm going to 37:05 tell you what those verses explain. 37:07 In these verses you find Moses 37:11 who by the way plays the role of God the Father... 37:14 Moses, who prefigures God the Father, 37:18 clothes Aaron with each part of the high priestly garments 37:24 when the sanctuary service is about to begin. 37:28 And piece by piece Moses takes 37:32 each part of the garments of the high priest 37:36 and places them upon Aaron. 37:39 In other words, Moses is clothing Aaron 37:42 so that Aaron can be high priest over Israel 37:47 when the sanctuary service begins in the very next chapter. 37:53 Now interestingly enough, 37:55 after Moses places all of the pieces of the high priestly 37:59 garment upon Aaron the Bible says that 38:02 he then anoints him with oil. 38:05 What does oil represent? 38:07 Represents the Holy Spirit. 38:09 And the oil was so abundant 38:12 with which Moses poured on the head of Aaron 38:17 that the Bible tells us that it absolutely dripped down 38:21 his beard, it dripped down his garments 38:23 and it even dripped down onto Mount Zion! 38:27 Let's read it: Psalm 133. 38:31 Psalm 133... it's a short Psalm. 38:34 We'll read the whole Psalm. 38:36 It says there: 38:38 "Behold... " And you're going to catch the nuance, 38:40 the connection with Pentecost, 38:42 "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to 38:46 dwell together in unity. " 38:49 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come 38:53 they were all with one what? 38:56 With one accord. And Psalm 133 says: 39:29 Are you catching the picture? 39:32 You see, during those 10 days 39:34 God the Father was placing on Jesus Christ 39:38 the different parts of the High Priestly garments. 39:42 And then the Father gave Jesus the promise of the Spirit 39:46 because He gave it to Jesus. And so Jesus is now anointed 39:50 to be High Priest over His people. 39:53 And the oil that He receives from His Father 39:56 is so abundant that it drips down His beard, 40:00 it drips down His garments, 40:02 and it drips all the way down to Mount Zion... 40:05 to the mountains of Zion where the disciples are gathered 40:08 in the upper room. 40:12 In Hebrews chapter 8 verses 1 and 2 40:16 we find a description of the role that Jesus fills 40:19 after His anointing, after He is clothed. 40:22 Here the apostle Paul, whom I believe to be behind 40:25 the book of Hebrews, says: 40:33 Notice he doesn't say we "shall have in 1844. " 40:38 He says: 40:54 Are you understanding what happened during those 10 days 40:57 with Jesus? He was being clothed by His Father 41:01 as the High Priest over His people. 41:04 Then the Father gave Him an abundance of the Spirit 41:07 for Jesus to pour out upon His disciples 41:10 who were gathered in the upper room. 41:12 So folks, what happened on the Day of Pentecost 41:14 usually we focus on what happened on earth: 41:17 the mighty rushing wind and the tongues of fire. 41:19 But what happened on earth was only the earthly signal 41:23 that something significant had taken place 41:26 in the heavenly sanctuary. 41:27 Jesus had been invested as High Priest. 41:31 We still haven't answered the question 41:34 why the urgency? 41:37 Well now we're going to answer it. 41:40 One of the pieces of the garments of the high priest 41:46 is known as the breastplate. 41:53 Let's read about it. 41:55 Exodus 28. You know, these are the details that show me 41:59 that the Bible was inspired. 42:01 There's no mistakes. 42:03 Every little detail dovetails with every other little detail 42:08 in perfect and exact precision. 42:12 The type with the antitype. 42:14 Now notice Exodus 28 and verse 21. 42:17 And then we're going to jump down to verses 29 and 30. 42:21 Exodus 28 verse 21. 42:24 Speaking about the breastplate it says: 42:34 What were the stones... the 12 stones... supposed to have? 42:38 The names of the sons of Israel. 42:53 So what did the 12 stones represent? 42:55 They represented the 12 sons of Jacob but in a broader sense 43:00 they represented what? 43:02 The 12 tribes of Israel! 43:04 They represented God's people! 43:06 Now let's notice verse 29. Listen carefully: 43:56 What did Jesus bear in our place? 43:59 He bore our sins; He bore our judgment upon Himself. 44:04 And as High Priest, when we come to Him in repentance 44:08 and confession and trusting in His merits, 44:10 and we say: "Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner. 44:14 I deserve death. 44:15 I'm miserable. 44:17 But at the same time I know You lived Your perfect life 44:20 and I know that You died the death that I should die. 44:23 Oh Lord Jesus, would You please take Your life 44:26 and would You please take Your death 44:29 and place them to my account so that I can be accepted 44:32 in the Beloved and You can look at me 44:34 as if I had never sinned? " 44:37 And that Jesus does 44:38 because Jesus has borne my judgment and your judgment. 44:43 He has the breastplate of judgment over His heart. Amen. 44:47 In fact, go with me to Isaiah 53 verses 4 and 5 44:51 where this same idea "to bear" is used. 44:55 Referring to the Messiah, Isaiah 53 and verses 4 and 5. 45:00 It says here: "Surely He has borne our grief's and carried 45:05 our sorrows. " Did you catch that? 45:07 "Surely He has" what? 45:08 "He has borne. " That's the same word. 45:10 "Borne our grief's and carried our sorrows. " 45:14 He took our judgment upon Himself. 45:17 "Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, 45:20 and afflicted. But He was wounded for OUR transgressions. 45:24 He was bruised for OUR iniquities. 45:27 The chastisement for OUR peace was upon Him 45:30 and by His stripes we are healed. 45:33 All we like sheep have gone astray. 45:35 We have turned every one to his own way 45:37 and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. " 45:44 He wears the breastplate of judgment because He bore 45:47 MY judgment and YOUR judgment on the cross. 45:54 Now we know the reason why they had to elect a successor 45:57 for Judas before the Day of Pentecost. 46:00 They could not have Jesus wearing the breastplate 46:04 with 12 stones when there were only 11 apostles. 46:12 The number of God's people had to be complete! 46:16 In other words, there had to be 12 apostles 46:19 because there were 12 stones on the breastplate 46:23 of the High Priest. 46:25 So was it God's plan for Saul of Tarsus to be 46:28 apostle number 12? Absolutely not! 46:31 The successor had to be elected before 46:34 the Day of Pentecost. There needed to be 12 apostles 46:38 represented by the 12 stones on the breastplate of Christ. 46:42 In other words, Jesus Christ, of whom Aaron is a type, 46:46 bears His Old Testament church and His New Testament church 46:52 upon His heart. 46:54 There is nothing, folks, that Jesus longs for more 46:58 than to have His people with Him. 47:01 In fact, in John chapter 17 and verses 24 and 25 47:06 we find a High Priestly prayer of Jesus 47:10 in the Garden of Gethsemane 47:12 and He expressed the innermost desires of His heart. 47:15 He says in this prayer to His Father: 47:32 "Father, I want those that You have given Me 47:35 to be with Me where I am. " 47:36 In fact, Ellen White amplifies a little bit this concept. 47:40 When Jesus ascends to heaven and He is actually... 47:43 goes into the presence of His Father 47:45 to discover whether His sacrifice has been sufficient 47:49 or not. I want to read just an excerpt 47:51 from Desire of Ages page 834 47:54 where Ellen White expresses it this way: 47:57 "When upon the cross He cried out 'It is finished! ' 48:00 He addressed the Father. 48:03 The compact had been fully carried out. 48:05 Now He declares: 'Father, it is finished. 48:09 I have done Thy will O My God. 48:11 I have completed the work of redemption. 48:14 If Thy justice is satisfied, 48:17 I will that they also whom Thou hast given Me 48:21 be with Me where I am. ' " 48:25 What is the great passion of Jesus? 48:27 To have His people with Him where He is. 48:31 That's why He wears the breastplate of judgment. 48:33 He took our judgment so that we could be with Him. 48:36 Amen! We're all acquainted with that passage 48:39 in John chapter 14 verses 1 through 3. 48:41 We can repeat it from memory. 48:43 "Let not your heart be troubled. 48:46 You believe in God... believe also in Me. 48:50 In My Father's house there will be many mansions. " 48:55 Thank you very much. 48:58 Satan has this idea that Jesus went to heaven 49:00 to do some heavenly contracting. 49:03 That Jesus went to heaven to build mansions. 49:06 Jesus does not need 2,000 years to build mansions 49:10 when He created the world and everything in it in 6 days. 49:15 Jesus said: "In My Father's house ARE many mansions. " 49:19 They were there when He spoke. 49:22 And then He continues saying: "In My Father's house 49:25 are many mansions. If it were not so, 49:28 I would have told you. I go to prepare 49:31 a place for you. " 49:35 And you know, usually we emphasize that He went up there 49:38 to build houses and to prepare a physical place for us. 49:41 That's not the emphasis. 49:44 When He says: "I go to prepare a place for you" 49:47 He's talking about the work that He will perform 49:49 in the sanctuary. Amen! 49:52 That's how He prepares a place for His people: 49:54 by His intercessory work and by His work of judgment 49:58 in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. 50:00 Then He says: "I go to prepare a place for you. 50:03 And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again 50:09 and receive you to Myself 50:11 that where I am there you may be also. " Amen! 50:15 Isn't that what it's all about? 50:17 Being with Jesus! 50:20 The apostle Paul after speaking of the resurrection 50:23 He says: "And thus shall we always be with the Lord. " 50:27 Amen. 50:30 And by the way, in Ezekiel chapter 48 50:32 it says that when we are in the New Jerusalem 50:37 that God is going to change the name of the city. 50:40 The name of the city is going to be The Lord Is There. 50:44 See, heaven is about Jesus... it's about being with Him! 50:48 You know, the tree that produces twelve fruits 50:52 and the river of water of life and the foundations of 50:55 precious stones and the gates of pearl? 50:57 All those things are nice... they're the dessert. 51:02 But the main course is being with Jesus! Amen. 51:07 Heaven is Jesus! 51:09 And if it were none of those other things 51:10 it would be worthwhile being there. 51:14 Ellen White has this beautiful comment about the garments, 51:18 the breastplate specifically, of Aaron. 51:20 In Gospel Workers page 34 she says: 52:03 That's Gospel Workers page 34. 52:06 You know, in Isaiah 53 we are told 52:09 that when all is said and done Jesus will see the travail 52:12 of His soul and He shall be satisfied. 52:16 Why is He going to be satisfied? 52:19 Let's examine one final thing before we bring this to an end. 52:23 Go with me to Revelation chapter 21 and verse 12. 52:26 Revelation chapter 21 and verse 12. 52:31 This is speaking about the gates of the Holy City. 52:35 Notice once again the number 12. 52:37 It says: 52:58 There you have represented God's Old Testament people 53:03 by the names on the gates. 53:07 But I want you to notice that there's the number 12 connected 53:10 also with this wonderful city. 53:14 Revelation 21 and verse 14. 53:17 It's speaking about the foundations of the walls 53:18 of the city and it says: 53:31 One city composed of God's people from all ages. 53:36 His Old Testament church represented by the 12 tribes 53:40 and His New Testament church represented by the 12 apostles 53:44 who later formed the Christian church. 53:48 Amen. 53:49 I'd like to end by reading a statement 53:52 that we find in Testimonies to Ministers page 15. 53:55 You know, there's a lot of criticism of the Adventist 53:57 church these days... 54:01 and that's unfortunate. 54:03 There are things in the church that are not the way 54:06 we would like them to function. 54:08 But it's still God's church. Amen! 54:11 And Jesus loves this church. 54:13 And He's looking out for this church. 54:15 He doesn't approve of everything that's happened 54:17 that shouldn't be happening. 54:19 But this is His church, and He loves His church. 54:21 In fact, there's nothing in this world that He loves more 54:24 than His church. Amen. 54:25 Testimonies to Ministers page 15 Ellen White says this: 55:06 One final statement. Volume 7 of the Testimonies 55:10 page 16. This is an amazing statement. 55:13 She says: 55:14 "Enfeebled and defective, needing constantly to be 55:19 warned and counseled, 55:21 the church is nevertheless the object of Christ's 55:24 supreme regard. " 55:26 And here comes the powerful part of the statement. 55:30 Notice this: "He is making experiments of grace 55:34 on human hearts 55:36 and is effecting such transformations of character 55:42 that angels are amazed and express their joy 55:48 in songs of praise. " 55:51 They rejoice to think that sinful, erring human beings 55:55 can be so transformed. 55:59 Isn't that a magnificent statement? 56:01 God is making experiments of grace with His people. 56:06 And even the heavenly beings are amazed 56:09 to see the miracle of the transformation of a life. 56:12 Because there's nothing in this world that Jesus 56:15 pays closer attention to than His people. Amen! 56:20 Folks, He wants us there. 56:22 Jesus loves us. He gave Himself for us. 56:27 He lived for us. 56:29 He died for us. 56:31 He intercedes for us. 56:32 In the judgment He will stand for us. 56:37 If He is for us, 56:40 who can be against us? as scripture says. 56:45 What still needs to be defined is whether we will be with Him. 56:48 He wants us with Him. 56:51 But by the choices and the decisions that we make today 56:54 we decide whether we will spend eternity with Him. 56:59 Folks, let's not let anything in this world 57:02 interfere in our relationship with Christ. 57:06 Not things... not spouses... 57:10 not family... not friends... 57:13 not the world... not the devil himself. 57:19 Let's not allow anything to come between 57:22 our beloved Jesus and us 57:25 because very soon He's coming and then we shall be with Him 57:29 forever. |
Revised 2014-12-17