Good evening! Its good
to see all of you here.
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We are going to have a word of
prayer, and then I'll tell you
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where we're going to go
in our next three studies.
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Let's bow our heads.
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Father in heaven, what a
privilege it is to call You
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Father. We thank You so
much that we have the privilege
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of being Your children.
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And we ask that this evening
Your Holy Spirit will be with us
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to guide our thoughts,
and to open our hearts.
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We're going to
study a complex subject,
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and we need understanding.
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We need clear minds.
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We just ask that through Your
Holy Spirit You will make it
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possible for us to understand.
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And we thank You, Father,
for the privilege of prayer.
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Thank You for hearing us, for
we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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In the first two sermons in
this series we studied about the
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mission of Jesus on Earth.
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The title of that presentation
was Mission Accomplished.
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And then in our study, our
last study, we dealt with the
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ascension of Jesus Christ
to the holy place in heaven.
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And the title of
that presentation was
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The Return of the War Hero.
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Now during the next three
studies together we are going
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to deal with a specific topic.
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We're going to deal with the
specific group that was present
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there when Jesus
arrived; a group that is called
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in scripture the
twenty-four elders.
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Now I need to make something
very clear as we begin our
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study. And that is that you
need to be here for all three
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studies, because we're going to
have a lot of loose ends until
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at the very end we tie all
of these loose ends together.
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And then
everything will make sense.
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If you come just to
the presentation today,
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you're going to
have part of the picture.
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But if you come to all three,
you're going to have the full
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picture, and I can guarantee
that you're going to understand
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this topic very, very well.
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Now in our last study we
noticed that when Jesus ascended
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to heaven the heavenly
throne room had been prepared
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before His arrival.
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We saw that God the Father
was sitting on His throne.
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Also in the midst of the throne
were four living creatures
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representing the
seraphim and the cherubim.
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Surrounding the throne we
noticed that there was a group
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called the twenty-four elders.
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And before the throne were
the seven spirits representing
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the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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Then later in chapter
5, when Jesus arrives,
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then you have Jesus in the
scene, and you also have the
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angelic hosts who had
gone to Earth to pick up Jesus
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to take Him to heaven.
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Now the specific group that
we want to study about is that
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group called the
twenty-four elders.
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Now the
traditional view that is held,
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especially in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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in almost every single
publication that I have read,
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is that the twenty-four elders
represent those that resurrected
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with Jesus, that Jesus took
to heaven upon His ascension,
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and He presented to His Father
as the first fruits of the great
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harvest that will take place
at the second coming of those
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who died in Christ.
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In other words, they
were a little sample,
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or a small guarantee, that the
rest of those who died in Christ
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would resurrect when Jesus
would return in power and glory.
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Now we need to ask the question,
does this interpretation square
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with what is taught in
scripture, as well as in the
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Spirit of Prophecy, because
our authority is number one
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scripture. And then we go to the
Spirit of Prophecy to see if the
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Spirit of Prophecy squares with
what is taught in scripture.
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And we're going to find
that both of these sources are
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in perfect harmony.
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Now let's go in our
Bibles as we begin our study,
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to Job 38, and let's read
verses 4 through 7. Job 38:4-7.
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Here God is asking Job a series
of questions, and it says this:
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God says,
somewhat sarcastically.
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So what event is being
described in these verses?
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There's no doubt that its
referring to the creation story
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in Genesis, chapter 1,
and Genesis, chapter 2.
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But now notice what
happened at creation.
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It says at the last part of this
passage, when the morning stars
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sang together, and all the
sons of God shouted for joy.
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Interesting! We're told that
at creation, when this world
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was created, the morning stars
sang together, and all the sons
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of God shouted for joy.
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This is taking
place at creation week.
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In other words, these beings
were present when God created
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this world, which means that
they existed before the creation
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of this world. They pre-existed
creation in other words.
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Now we need to understand
that here the expression,
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morning stars, and the
expression, sons of God,
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are really synonymous.
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These are not
two different groups.
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They are the same group
described in two different ways.
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In Hebrew poetry
you have what is called
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synonymous parallelism, where
what is said in the first line
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is repeated in the second
line, but in different words
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the same thought.
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So when we're told here that
the morning stars sang together,
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and all the sons of God shouted
for joy, the morning stars,
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and the sons of
God, are the same group,
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but they're
described in different language
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or different terms.
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Now lets talk a little bit about
the identity of the morning
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stars and the sons of God.
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When we look at scripture
there's no doubt whatsoever
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that stars represent angels.
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This is very, very clear.
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For example, in Revelation,
chapter 12, and verse 3,
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where we're told that the
dragon drew a third of the stars
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of heaven with his tail.
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And then a little bit later,
in verse 9, we're told that the
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devil was cast out of
heaven with his angels.
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In other words, the stars that
he drew with his tail represent
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the angels that decided to
follow him in his rebellion.
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In other words, the
morning stars represent angels.
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Now it's interesting to
notice that Ellen White explains
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that the sons of God are angels.
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So what we're seeing is that the
Bible defines the morning stars
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as angels. Ellen White describes
the sons of God as angels.
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That's why I'm saying
that really its the same group,
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but with two different names.
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Notice The Great Controversy,
page 519, where Ellen White
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describes what
happened in Job 1 and 2.
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Do you remember that the sons of
God came to present themselves
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before the Lord?
Notice how she describes this.
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Now interesting. In the book
of Job it says that the sons
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of God came to present
themselves before the Lord.
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Ellen White here says that...
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So we find that Ellen
White identifies the sons of God
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as angels, and scripture
speaks of the stars as angels.
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Now we're going to go in
a few moments to Job 1 and 2
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where this same expression,
sons of God, is used.
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But before we do, I need to
give you a word of explanation.
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A question that always comes up
when I've dealt with the issue
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of the twenty-four elders is
concerning Genesis, chapter 6,
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where it says that the sons
of God saw that the daughters
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of men were beautiful.
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And so scholars say
the sons of God are angels.
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And so what this means is that
before the flood the angels,
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called the sons of God,
had sexual relations with human
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women, with the
daughters of men,
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and this relationship produced
the giants, or a hybrid that was
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part human and part angel.
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And, of course, they say, you
know, if the sons of God in Job
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are angels, well, the same
expression should mean the same
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thing in Genesis, chapter 6.
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And that sounds very logical.
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However, terms and expressions
need to be understood within
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the context that they are used.
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The expression does not
always means the same thing.
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It can mean different
things in different contexts.
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Let me give you an example.
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What does a lion
represent in scripture?
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If I asked you that question,
I believe that I would have
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several answers. Can a
lion represent Jesus Christ?
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Absolutely! He's the
Lion of the tribe of Judah.
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Can a lion represent the devil?
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He goes forth as a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour.
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Can a lion represent
the kingdom of Babylon?
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Absolutely! In Daniel chapter 7.
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Can a lion represent
Judah, the son of Jacob?
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Absolutely! And so lion doesn't
mean the same thing in every
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context. You have
to respect the context.
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Then you also have leaven.
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When I ask, what does
leaven, or yeast represent?
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The people say,
Oh, it represents sin.
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And that's true, but it
doesn't always represent sin,
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because in the parable
that Jesus gave of the leaven,
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Jesus speaks of putting
the leaven in the dough,
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and it makes the dough grow.
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Now what is Jesus saying?
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He's saying that when the
Holy Spirit is in the church
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represented by the
loaf, the church grows
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just like the
lump of dough grows.
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And so the leaven can
represent also the Holy Spirit.
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And so let's not jump to
conclusions that just because
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sons of God is used in
Job, and it refers to angels,
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that it has the same
meaning in Genesis, chapter 6.
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Actually, if you look at the
context of Genesis, chapter 6,
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you're going to find that
the sons of God has a different
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meaning. Immediately
before Genesis, chapter 6,
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you have in chapter 4 the
wicked descendents of Cain.
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And there are three
evil women in his genealogy.
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Those would be
the daughters of men.
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In chapter 5 you have
the descendents of Seth.
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That is the
lineage of the righteous.
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And then in the very next
verse, Genesis 6, verse 1,
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as well as verse 2, it
speaks about the sons of God
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and the daughters of men.
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The context indicates that the
sons of God are the righteous
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descendents of Seth, whereas
the daughters of men are the
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wicked women mentioned
in the genealogy of Cain.
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So the context must
dictate the meaning.
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Incidentally, in scripture
Adam is called the son of God,
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in Luke 3. And we know
that Adam was not an angel.
00:12:25.82\00:12:31.11
Right? And yet he's
called the son of God.
00:12:31.14\00:12:33.81
So we see that son
of God, or sons of God,
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has different
meanings in different contexts.
00:12:36.61\00:12:38.96
Do you know that the apostle
Paul refers to the righteous
00:12:38.99\00:12:42.89
as sons of God? Notice Romans
8 and verse 14. Romans 8:14.
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Here the apostle Paul says:
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So I suppose that
every believer is an angel.
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Of course not! The
expression, son of God,
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represents the righteous; those
who have accepted Jesus Christ;
00:13:05.01\00:13:08.50
those who are led by the
Spirit just like the descendents
00:13:08.53\00:13:12.18
of Seth. Are you with me?
00:13:12.21\00:13:13.69
So I needed to clear this
up, even though we're digressing
00:13:13.72\00:13:17.58
from the central theme that
we're studying, because I know
00:13:17.61\00:13:20.25
that if I don't touch upon
it, we're going to receive lots
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of phone calls, and we're
going to receive lots of e-mails
00:13:22.60\00:13:25.04
saying, Yeah, but what
about Genesis chapter 6?
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So I decided that
I would clarify this.
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Now let's go to two other places
in Job where the expression,
00:13:29.58\00:13:35.30
sons of God is used. Go
with me to Job, chapter 1,
00:13:35.33\00:13:39.16
and verses 6 and 7. Remember
we already looked at Job 38,
00:13:39.19\00:13:42.99
and verses 4 through 7,
where it speaks about creation,
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and it tells us that the sons
of God, the morning stars sang
00:13:45.92\00:13:49.86
when God created this world,
which means that they existed
00:13:49.89\00:13:52.49
before creation. And they
actually witnessed creation.
00:13:52.52\00:13:56.14
Now there are several things
that I want us to notice about
00:14:23.11\00:14:26.43
these two verses in
Job 1, verses 6 and 7.
00:14:26.46\00:14:29.80
First of all, the sons of God do
not always dwell in the presence
00:14:29.83\00:14:34.64
of God, because we're told in
this passage that a certain day
00:14:34.67\00:14:39.03
they came to present
themselves before the Lord.
00:14:39.06\00:14:42.30
In other words, they
don't dwell where the Lord is.
00:14:42.33\00:14:44.97
They're invited to come
on certain days to be present
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before the Lord. Another thing
that I want us to notice is
00:14:49.59\00:14:53.57
that Satan felt that he had a
perfect right to belong to that
00:14:53.60\00:14:57.86
group, because Satan comes not
with them, but he comes among
00:14:57.89\00:15:03.28
the sons of God. So he's saying,
I have a perfect right to belong
00:15:03.31\00:15:07.58
to this group. Satan came among
these sons of God, a certain day
00:15:07.61\00:15:13.51
from somewhere, because
they came; they were not there.
00:15:13.54\00:15:17.21
Another thing that we notice
here is that when God asks Satan
00:15:17.24\00:15:22.68
where he came from, Satan
answered, I have come from
00:15:22.71\00:15:27.07
the Earth. Now the
Earth is a planet, right?
00:15:27.10\00:15:31.48
The devil is saying, I
have come among the sons of God,
00:15:31.51\00:15:34.56
and my planet, that I
represent, is planet Earth.
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Would it be too much of an
exaggeration to believe that
00:15:39.12\00:15:42.36
the other sons of God
represented other worlds
00:15:42.39\00:15:46.03
in the universe of God?
00:15:46.06\00:15:47.29
If Satan comes to that
meeting representing a planet,
00:15:47.32\00:15:51.53
what would make us think that
the other sons of God are not
00:15:51.56\00:15:55.70
coming also representing what?
00:15:55.73\00:15:58.08
Representing the
planets that they came from.
00:15:58.11\00:16:01.00
Now let's go to Job,
chapter 2, ad verses 1 and 2.
00:16:01.03\00:16:05.21
This will get clearer
and clearer as we go along.
00:16:05.24\00:16:07.97
You know, we're just introducing
this subject, but we're going to
00:16:08.00\00:16:11.07
study some amazing things
in our study today as well
00:16:11.10\00:16:14.53
as in the next two periods that
we're going to spend together.
00:16:14.56\00:16:17.89
Job 2, verses 1 and 2. This is a
second meeting that takes place
00:16:17.92\00:16:23.67
in heaven where the sons
of God are invited to come.
00:16:23.70\00:16:27.55
Notice what it
says in Job 2, verse 1.
00:16:27.58\00:16:30.27
Came whom?
Satan. And now notice:
00:16:45.17\00:16:49.18
Now let's take a look at this.
00:17:02.45\00:17:04.63
Do the same principles
apply to this second meeting
00:17:04.66\00:17:09.23
as to the first
meeting? Absolutely!
00:17:09.26\00:17:11.68
Did the sons of God leave and
go back to where they came from
00:17:11.71\00:17:15.94
after the first meeting?
00:17:15.97\00:17:17.11
Of course! They must have,
because it says that again they
00:17:17.14\00:17:21.06
came. Which means that if again
they came, they must have left
00:17:21.09\00:17:25.08
after the first
meeting. Are you with me or not?
00:17:25.11\00:17:27.49
To wherever they came from.
00:17:27.52\00:17:29.57
Satan came from where?
00:17:29.60\00:17:31.45
He came from planet Earth.
00:17:31.48\00:17:33.61
And after the
meeting where does he go?
00:17:33.64\00:17:35.71
He returns to planet
Earth to afflict Job with boils
00:17:35.74\00:17:41.64
from the tip of his head,
to the bottom of his feet.
00:17:41.67\00:17:44.55
So, in other words, these sons
of God, they come to present
00:17:44.58\00:17:49.24
themselves before the Lord.
00:17:49.27\00:17:50.42
After the meeting takes place
they return to where they came
00:17:50.45\00:17:54.88
from. They do not permanently
live in the presence of God.
00:17:54.91\00:17:59.49
They come from
planets, if you please.
00:17:59.52\00:18:02.63
Now do you know, that
God operates the universe
00:18:02.66\00:18:06.92
in a democratic fashion?
00:18:06.95\00:18:09.09
God has a representative
style of government,
00:18:09.12\00:18:14.06
where representatives from the
different worlds in the universe
00:18:14.09\00:18:17.68
come together to deliberate,
and come together to make
00:18:17.71\00:18:21.16
decisions
concerning the administration,
00:18:21.19\00:18:24.65
and the
operation of the universe.
00:18:24.68\00:18:26.72
Let me give you
another example from scripture.
00:18:26.75\00:18:30.58
Go with me to 2 Chronicles,
chapter 18, and verses 18 to 22.
00:18:30.61\00:18:35.32
This is a powerful passage.
00:18:35.35\00:18:36.54
You remember that in the days
of king Ahab, Ahab had a meeting
00:18:36.57\00:18:41.50
with Jehoshaphat. Ahab was the
king of the ten tribes of the
00:18:41.53\00:18:44.55
north, and Jehoshaphat was a
king of the two tribes of the
00:18:44.59\00:18:47.58
south, known as Judah.
00:18:47.61\00:18:48.70
And they had this family
reunion in the city of Samaria.
00:18:48.73\00:18:52.64
And Jehoshaphat was a good
king, and Ahab was a bad king.
00:18:52.67\00:18:57.17
And so Ahab says to Jehoshaphat,
you know, now that you're here,
00:18:57.20\00:19:01.07
don't you think it would be a
good idea for us to go and fight
00:19:01.10\00:19:03.99
against our common
enemy, the Syrians?
00:19:04.02\00:19:06.55
And Jehoshaphat says, you
know that might be a good idea.
00:19:06.58\00:19:10.42
Don't you think we
should consult the Lord?
00:19:10.45\00:19:12.94
Do you have any prophets around?
00:19:12.97\00:19:14.16
And Ahab says, oh prophets,
I've got prophets galore.
00:19:14.19\00:19:19.20
And so he calls 400
prophets that he had.
00:19:19.23\00:19:22.54
And he says to his 400 prophets,
now Jehoshaphat and I want to go
00:19:22.57\00:19:27.16
fight against the
Syrians, our common enemy.
00:19:27.19\00:19:29.80
Do you think that's a good idea?
00:19:29.83\00:19:31.75
And, of course, the 400
prophets, they were false
00:19:31.78\00:19:34.19
prophets, said, oh, yes, king.
00:19:34.22\00:19:35.86
Go to battle and you're
going to gain a great victory.
00:19:35.89\00:19:38.88
But Jehoshaphat
wasn't too convinced.
00:19:38.91\00:19:42.60
And so he says, now ah,
Ahab, don't you have a prophet
00:19:42.63\00:19:47.83
of the Lord around? And
the king, king Ahab says, yeah,
00:19:47.86\00:19:53.79
I've got him, but
he's in the dungeon.
00:19:53.82\00:19:56.61
And because every time I ask him
to prophesy he prophesies evil,
00:19:56.64\00:20:01.86
and so I've thrown
him into the dungeon.
00:20:01.89\00:20:05.41
And Jehoshaphat
says, that's God's prophet!
00:20:05.44\00:20:08.58
That's where
God's prophets live.
00:20:08.61\00:20:10.36
They live in prison, and
they're hated, and so bring him.
00:20:10.39\00:20:13.19
And so Micaiah
comes before Ahab.
00:20:13.22\00:20:18.29
And Ahab says, should we go
to battle against the Syrians?
00:20:18.32\00:20:22.42
And I want you to
notice what Micaiah answers;
00:20:22.45\00:20:26.23
the name of the prophet.
00:20:26.26\00:20:27.38
It says there in 2
Chronicles 18, verses 18 to 22:
00:20:27.41\00:20:32.15
By the way, who is
the host of heaven?
00:20:52.01\00:20:55.01
All of the angelic host, right?
00:20:55.04\00:20:57.90
In other words, who's going
to convince Ahab to go to battle
00:21:06.74\00:21:09.46
so that he gets killed?
Now listen to what happens.
00:21:09.49\00:21:13.63
You know, everybody had
their suggestion in the heavenly
00:21:18.50\00:21:22.44
council. And now
notice what happens, verse 20.
00:21:22.47\00:21:26.29
This is a meeting
happening in heaven,
00:21:32.73\00:21:34.46
but it has to do
with earthly events.
00:21:34.49\00:21:36.19
Do you think that was a good
angel, a loyal angel that says,
00:21:48.66\00:21:52.49
I'll go out and I'll lie
so that Ahab goes to battle
00:21:52.52\00:21:56.33
and gets killed? Absolutely not!
00:21:56.36\00:21:58.30
God does not use lying
to accomplish His purposes.
00:21:58.33\00:22:02.05
Who was this being that was
there in the heavenly council
00:22:02.08\00:22:05.81
that says, I'll go and
I'll deceive him to go to battle
00:22:05.84\00:22:09.22
so that he gets killed?
00:22:09.25\00:22:10.61
Who do you think
that lying spirit was?
00:22:10.64\00:22:12.39
It was Satan! The same one that
went there in Job, chapter 1,
00:22:12.42\00:22:17.10
to the heavenly council.
00:22:17.13\00:22:18.49
And you're saying,
what was he doing there?
00:22:18.52\00:22:20.01
We'll come to that. Now do
you know that when God makes
00:22:20.04\00:22:24.36
decisions regarding this
world, or any other world
00:22:24.39\00:22:27.05
in the universe, God calls
the heavenly council together?
00:22:27.08\00:22:29.94
God is not a dictator.
00:22:29.97\00:22:32.66
God is not an autocrat.
00:22:32.69\00:22:35.09
God doesn't simply say, I'll
do it all, and this is the way
00:22:35.12\00:22:39.04
we're going to do it.
00:22:39.08\00:22:40.11
God consults the
representatives of the universe.
00:22:40.14\00:22:43.11
Let me read to you from
Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:22:43.14\00:22:45.00
page 36. This is when Lucifer
had these jealous feelings
00:22:45.03\00:22:50.15
towards Christ. We're told:
00:22:50.18\00:22:52.32
That's council, it's not
talking about counseling.
00:22:55.21\00:23:02.47
It's talking like City
Council, in other words,
00:23:02.50\00:23:05.38
when the devil laid his
strategy to tempt Adam and Eve
00:23:05.41\00:23:14.75
and lead them into sin. In
the book, Story of Redemption,
00:23:14.78\00:23:18.62
page 29, we find this
interesting statement:
00:23:18.65\00:23:21.56
That is of Adam and Eve
falling into sin. Notice:
00:23:29.33\00:23:33.39
So everything concerning
the operation and administration
00:23:49.11\00:23:53.61
of the universe is
decided in the heavenly council.
00:23:53.64\00:23:56.72
And God, of course, presides
in the heavenly council.
00:23:56.75\00:24:00.54
So what is being described
in Job, chapters 1 and 2,
00:24:00.57\00:24:04.68
is the heavenly council.
00:24:04.71\00:24:06.30
And those who appear there
are the representatives of all
00:24:06.33\00:24:10.85
of the sinless
realms that God created;
00:24:10.88\00:24:13.74
the representatives of
the worlds that never sinned.
00:24:13.77\00:24:16.94
Now how does Ellen White
identify the twenty-four elders?
00:24:16.97\00:24:23.36
Who are they? Who are the sons
of God, and the morning stars
00:24:23.39\00:24:27.58
according to the
Spirit of Prophecy?
00:24:27.61\00:24:29.83
In The Desire of Ages, in a
statement that we read in our
00:24:29.86\00:24:33.67
last study together, Ellen White
clearly identifies who the sons
00:24:33.70\00:24:39.79
of God are. Remember, the
sons of God are angels, right?
00:24:39.82\00:24:43.06
According to her definition
the sons of God are angels.
00:24:43.09\00:24:45.89
But now she's going to
amplify what that means;
00:24:45.92\00:24:49.30
who the sons of God are.
00:24:49.33\00:24:51.10
When Jesus arrives
in heaven we're told
00:24:51.13\00:24:55.83
who was present there. She says:
00:24:55.86\00:24:58.33
Notice what she says, the sons
of God, the commanders of the
00:25:09.89\00:25:16.10
angel hosts, the representatives
of the unfallen worlds.
00:25:16.13\00:25:20.21
Three phrases that are
describing the same group
00:25:20.24\00:25:22.94
are assembled. And
then she says this:
00:25:22.97\00:25:25.04
Interesting statement! So the
sons of God are the commanders
00:25:42.49\00:25:48.07
of the angel hosts.
They're the highest of angels.
00:25:48.10\00:25:50.41
They're powerful angels.
00:25:50.44\00:25:52.26
They are the representatives
of the worlds that never sinned.
00:25:52.29\00:25:55.90
In other words, the worlds are
represented by powerful angels
00:25:55.93\00:25:59.81
that God has
placed to rule over them.
00:25:59.84\00:26:01.88
Now, the question comes up.
00:26:01.91\00:26:05.59
So you're saying that
there are other inhabited worlds
00:26:05.62\00:26:09.87
in the universe? Absolutely!
00:26:09.90\00:26:12.86
The Bible has many
hints to that effect.
00:26:12.89\00:26:16.02
Let me give you just one
text that indicates that,
00:26:16.05\00:26:20.44
and then I'm going to read you
a quotation from Billy Graham,
00:26:20.47\00:26:23.32
probably the most
famous preacher that exists.
00:26:23.35\00:26:28.33
He's well known
in the whole world.
00:26:28.36\00:26:29.96
Now notice what it
says in Revelation 12:12.
00:26:29.99\00:26:34.25
Did you notice
that? Rejoice what?
00:26:39.33\00:26:41.57
So notice, it says here, Rejoice
oh heavens and you who dwell
00:26:57.65\00:27:01.74
in them. So there's
inhabitants that dwell
00:27:01.77\00:27:05.85
in all of the heavens,
according to this text.
00:27:05.88\00:27:08.26
Now Billy Graham, so that
you know that this is not just a
00:27:08.29\00:27:11.80
preposterous idea that
Pastor Stephen Bohr has,
00:27:11.83\00:27:14.91
notice what he had to say.
00:27:14.94\00:27:16.88
So Billy Graham is saying,
I believe that there are many
00:27:55.38\00:27:58.53
worlds in the universe that are
populated. They are inhabited.
00:27:58.56\00:28:03.03
But listen up! None of them have
sinned except for this planet;
00:28:03.07\00:28:08.65
planet Earth. Now Ellen White
then identifies the sons of God
00:28:08.68\00:28:14.22
as the commanders
of the angel hosts,
00:28:14.26\00:28:16.79
and as the representatives
of the unfallen worlds.
00:28:16.82\00:28:20.45
Now I want to read you
some additional statements
00:28:21.24\00:28:24.23
from Ellen White that
shows that the elders are really
00:28:24.26\00:28:27.35
angels. Now let me ask you,
If the elders are really angels,
00:28:27.38\00:28:31.07
can the twenty-four
elders be those who resurrected
00:28:31.10\00:28:35.49
with Christ? those human beings
who resurrected with Christ?
00:28:35.52\00:28:38.07
It would be impossible.
00:28:38.10\00:28:39.35
Now Revelation,
chapter 5, verse 5.
00:28:39.38\00:28:42.07
Notice, John is weeping
because no one is worthy to open
00:28:42.10\00:28:48.03
the scroll. And no one is
worthy to read the contents
00:28:48.06\00:28:52.60
of the scroll. And we're
told in Revelation 5, verse 5
00:28:52.63\00:28:56.93
that one of the
twenty-four elders comes to John
00:28:56.96\00:29:01.29
to console him.
Let me read that text.
00:29:01.32\00:29:03.60
Who was it that spoke
those words, don't weep,
00:29:20.41\00:29:22.82
behold the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the root of David,
00:29:22.85\00:29:25.28
has prevailed to open the scroll
and to loose its seven seals?
00:29:25.31\00:29:28.15
It says in Revelation 5,
verse 5, that it was one of the
00:29:28.18\00:29:30.88
elders. Now notice what Ellen
White had to say about this
00:29:30.91\00:29:35.17
in Manuscript Releases, Volume
12, and pages 296 and 297.
00:29:35.20\00:29:41.31
This is powerful. She's
speaking about the same event,
00:29:41.34\00:29:45.12
and this is how
she describes it.
00:29:45.15\00:29:47.31
Are you understanding why
I'm bringing this to view?
00:30:42.30\00:30:44.47
Revelation 5, verse 5, says that
it was whom? One of the elders.
00:30:44.50\00:30:50.35
Ellen White says the same words
were spoken by one of the strong
00:30:50.38\00:30:56.16
angels. Now let me
give you another example.
00:30:56.19\00:31:00.65
This one is from
Revelation chapter 7.
00:31:00.68\00:31:03.57
You're aware that
Revelation chapter 7 describes
00:31:03.60\00:31:06.96
a great multitude which no one
can number, from every nation,
00:31:06.99\00:31:11.07
tribe, tongue, and people.
00:31:11.10\00:31:13.20
That's found in Revelation,
chapter 7, and verse 9.
00:31:13.23\00:31:16.34
The great multitude,
which no one can number,
00:31:16.51\00:31:19.15
from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:31:19.18\00:31:20.99
is introduced there in verse 9.
00:31:21.02\00:31:23.13
And John, of course,
wants to know who this group is.
00:31:23.16\00:31:27.58
And so we find in
verse 13 that it tells us:
00:31:27.61\00:31:32.67
In other words, who is
this great multitude that no one
00:31:44.69\00:31:48.77
can number, is what
the elder is asking John.
00:31:48.80\00:31:51.64
Then I want you to notice
that John replies to the elder's
00:31:51.67\00:31:56.42
question by saying:
00:31:56.45\00:31:57.91
This is verse 14.
00:32:00.74\00:32:02.35
And then the elder says
to John, this is in verse 15:
00:32:02.38\00:32:07.54
Now who is John entertaining
a conversation with?
00:32:17.11\00:32:21.06
With one of the what?
00:32:21.09\00:32:22.12
With one of the elders.
00:32:22.15\00:32:23.86
John and the
elder are conversing,
00:32:23.89\00:32:26.67
and they're conversing
about the great multitude.
00:32:26.70\00:32:29.49
Is the elder a part
of the great multitude?
00:32:29.52\00:32:31.82
He is not, because the
elder is actually asking about
00:32:31.85\00:32:36.87
the great multitude.
00:32:36.90\00:32:37.93
He is not part of the great
multitude from every nation,
00:32:37.96\00:32:41.05
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:32:41.08\00:32:42.51
Is that clear in your mind?
00:32:42.54\00:32:44.12
Now, you say, why do
you bring this to view?
00:32:44.15\00:32:46.36
Because I want you to notice
how Ellen White interprets this.
00:32:46.39\00:32:50.44
In Sings of the Times, December
22, 1887, Ellen White describes
00:32:50.47\00:32:58.45
this same scene in these words:
00:32:58.48\00:33:00.73
What does Revelation say?
00:33:22.98\00:33:25.23
Who asked that question?
00:33:25.26\00:33:26.46
The elder! According to Ellen
White who asked the question?
00:33:26.49\00:33:31.17
The angel, whom she has already
identified as one of the strong
00:33:31.20\00:33:37.49
angels already.
She continues saying:
00:33:37.52\00:33:41.11
And so Revelation says
that was one of the elders,
00:34:00.89\00:34:04.87
and Ellen White says
that it was one of the angels
00:34:04.90\00:34:08.73
who is describing this.
00:34:08.76\00:34:10.28
Now I want you to remember this
point because we're going to
00:34:10.31\00:34:14.46
come back to it in
the next two lectures.
00:34:14.49\00:34:17.78
Because there's a problem
in translation in Revelation 5,
00:34:17.81\00:34:22.44
verses 9 and 10. You get
the impression there that the
00:34:22.47\00:34:26.43
twenty-four elders were
redeemed from the earth,
00:34:26.46\00:34:29.36
and they're going
to reign on the earth,
00:34:29.39\00:34:30.95
which would give the
impression that they're humans.
00:34:30.98\00:34:33.88
Actually, we're going to
find that there's a problem in
00:34:33.91\00:34:37.78
translation here because the
elders, we've already noticed,
00:34:37.81\00:34:41.10
are not part of the
great multitude that no one can
00:34:41.13\00:34:44.34
number. I want you to save
this in the corner of your mind,
00:34:44.37\00:34:47.55
because we're going to come
back to it a little bit later.
00:34:47.58\00:34:49.96
Now, two more
quotations from Ellen White.
00:34:49.99\00:34:53.26
This one is found in a
book called, Sermons and Talks,
00:34:53.29\00:34:56.85
Volume 1, page 20. She
says this, and she's also still
00:34:56.88\00:35:01.97
discussing
Revelation, chapter 7.
00:35:02.01\00:35:03.83
The angel said, notice.
00:35:17.38\00:35:18.72
Once again, three times in
this statement Ellen White says,
00:35:43.78\00:35:47.25
even though Revelation
says it was one of the elders,
00:35:47.28\00:35:49.95
Ellen White says, the
angel asked him, the angel said,
00:35:49.98\00:35:53.87
says the angel. In the mind of
Ellen G. White, the elders are
00:35:53.90\00:35:59.21
powerful angels. Now
notice one other statement.
00:35:59.24\00:36:03.18
This is found in Signs of
the Times, November 22, 1905.
00:36:03.21\00:36:07.58
Speaking once again
about Revelation, chapter 7:
00:36:07.61\00:36:10.51
Now notice!
00:36:22.74\00:36:25.23
I mean, if Ellen White had only
one little statement where she
00:36:35.57\00:36:38.00
said an angel, that would be
one thing, but she has several
00:36:38.03\00:36:40.49
statements where she says that
the elder that spoke was one
00:36:40.52\00:36:44.35
of the strong angels
among the heavenly hosts.
00:36:44.38\00:36:47.82
Now in Revelation, chapter 5,
and verse 8, we're told that the
00:36:47.85\00:36:52.80
living creatures, and the
twenty-four elders play harps.
00:36:52.83\00:36:57.25
And they present the prayers
of the saints before the throne
00:36:57.28\00:37:01.31
of God. The elders and
the four living creatures,
00:37:01.34\00:37:04.02
we're told there in Revelation
5, verse 8, that they actually
00:37:04.05\00:37:07.78
present the prayers of
the saints before the throne
00:37:07.81\00:37:10.87
of God in bowls of incense.
00:37:10.90\00:37:13.49
Now Ellen White is going
to comment on this verse,
00:37:13.52\00:37:18.78
Revelation 5 and verse 8.
00:37:18.81\00:37:20.43
And I want you to notice
what she says about these beings
00:37:20.46\00:37:24.61
that offer the prayers of the
saints before the throne of God.
00:37:24.64\00:37:27.96
This is in the devotional book,
Lift Him Up, page 307. She says:
00:37:27.99\00:37:33.16
What does she say heavenly
beings are appointed to what?
00:37:44.68\00:37:48.82
To answer prayers. But then
she says who these beings are.
00:37:48.85\00:37:52.95
Its not just any old
being, any old heavenly being,
00:37:52.99\00:37:57.01
because she says:
00:37:57.04\00:37:58.07
So in the mind of Ellen White
the twenty-four elders are,
00:38:24.35\00:38:28.79
according to her terms, strong
angels, and according to this
00:38:28.82\00:38:34.31
text, the highest of angels.
00:38:34.34\00:38:37.37
So my question is, are the
twenty-four elders those that
00:38:37.40\00:38:42.28
Jesus presented before
the Father forty days after
00:38:42.31\00:38:46.72
His resurrection? It's
impossible because they were not
00:38:46.75\00:38:50.47
angels. They were human beings.
00:38:50.50\00:38:52.55
Now we need to answer the
question, why was Satan among
00:38:52.58\00:38:58.14
the Sons of God in that
meeting in Job chapter 2?
00:38:58.17\00:39:01.94
I think you
already know the answer.
00:39:01.97\00:39:03.87
But let's go in scripture
to Luke 4, and verses 5 and 6.
00:39:03.90\00:39:09.81
Luke, chapter 4, and verses
5 and 6 is going to explain why
00:39:09.84\00:39:13.88
in the Old Testament, that is
until the death of Jesus Christ,
00:39:13.91\00:39:17.79
why, when there was a heavenly
counsel, like the one mentioned
00:39:17.82\00:39:20.64
in Chronicles, and
the one mentioned in Job,
00:39:20.67\00:39:22.94
it says that Satan
went among the Sons of God,
00:39:22.97\00:39:26.41
that is the highest of
angels, the strongest angels.
00:39:26.44\00:39:29.79
The devil goes among that group
and he presents himself before
00:39:29.82\00:39:33.08
the heavenly council. Why?
00:39:33.11\00:39:35.06
Luke 4:5 and 6, speaking
about the temptation of Jesus
00:39:35.09\00:39:40.21
on the mount, it says:
00:39:40.24\00:39:41.69
To whom did these
kingdoms belong at first?
00:39:49.43\00:39:52.78
To whom did the kingdoms belong?
00:39:52.81\00:39:56.09
They belonged to Adam! But
now notice what the devil says.
00:39:56.12\00:40:02.35
Did the devil
claim that this was his?
00:40:24.05\00:40:25.90
He claimed it was
his. Who gave it to him?
00:40:25.93\00:40:29.10
He says, Its
been delivered to me.
00:40:29.13\00:40:30.73
Who delivered it to him?
00:40:30.76\00:40:31.79
Adam delivered it to him.
00:40:31.82\00:40:33.88
Who would have been in
that heavenly council meeting
00:40:33.91\00:40:37.38
if Adam had not
given in to the tempter?
00:40:37.41\00:40:40.14
Adam would have been
there in the heavenly council
00:40:40.17\00:40:43.53
representing planet Earth.
00:40:43.56\00:40:45.38
But the Bible tells us that
the devil stole Adam's throne.
00:40:45.41\00:40:48.86
He stole Adam's territory,
and therefore he says,
00:40:48.89\00:40:52.13
I now represent planet Earth.
00:40:52.16\00:40:54.41
And that's the reason why he
appeared in the heavenly council
00:40:54.44\00:40:57.60
in Chronicles as well
as in the book of Job.
00:40:57.63\00:41:00.77
Satan stole the
legitimate position of Adam,
00:41:00.80\00:41:07.11
the original
representative of planet Earth.
00:41:07.14\00:41:09.51
In fact Jesus, you know, shortly
before His death, He says,
00:41:09.54\00:41:13.74
now is the
judgment of this world.
00:41:13.77\00:41:15.50
Now the ruler of this
world will be what? cast out!
00:41:15.53\00:41:19.48
And He was
talking about the cross.
00:41:19.51\00:41:21.20
So Jesus Himself is
saying, before His death,
00:41:21.23\00:41:24.52
that the devil is
the ruler of this world,
00:41:24.55\00:41:27.73
because we become slaves
of him who we choose to obey.
00:41:27.76\00:41:32.29
Adam chose to obey the devil,
and so now from being lord,
00:41:32.32\00:41:37.06
from occupying the
throne, from having the crown,
00:41:37.09\00:41:39.78
Adam now becomes the servant,
and he becomes the slave
00:41:39.81\00:41:43.24
of the one who conquered
him, as we've studied before.
00:41:43.27\00:41:46.50
Now we need to transition.
00:41:46.53\00:41:50.39
Why do all of the worlds of
the universe have strong angels,
00:41:50.42\00:41:56.92
or the highest of the
angels representing them,
00:41:56.95\00:42:00.19
while planet Earth
was represented by Adam?
00:42:00.22\00:42:06.47
Are you
understanding my question?
00:42:06.50\00:42:08.60
Wouldn't we expect God also to
place a powerful, or the highest
00:42:08.63\00:42:13.02
of angels to
represent planet Earth?
00:42:13.05\00:42:15.16
Why did God do something
different with this Earth,
00:42:15.19\00:42:18.25
and have someone from the human
race represent planet Earth,
00:42:18.28\00:42:21.76
and not one of the
strong, or powerful angels?
00:42:21.79\00:42:24.55
The answer is that
God's plan for the human race
00:42:24.58\00:42:29.59
was a different plan than for
any other world that God created
00:42:29.62\00:42:34.80
in the universe. You see, the
worlds are represented by strong
00:42:34.83\00:42:40.19
angels, or by the highest of
angels, as is going to become
00:42:40.22\00:42:45.00
clearer and clearer. But the
purpose for the creation of this
00:42:45.03\00:42:49.76
world was different than
the creation of any other world
00:42:49.79\00:42:54.07
in the universe. And you
say, how do you know that?
00:42:54.10\00:42:57.95
Sons and
Daughters of God, page 7.
00:42:57.98\00:43:01.51
In this devotional book, Ellen
White explains that this world
00:43:01.54\00:43:06.14
had a different type of
being than every other world
00:43:06.17\00:43:11.31
in the universe.
This is what she says:
00:43:11.34\00:43:13.14
Notice, all heaven is interested
in what's taking place on Earth.
00:43:21.25\00:43:25.33
She says:
00:43:25.36\00:43:26.90
They were a new
and distinct order.
00:43:33.96\00:43:36.82
They were made
in the image of God.
00:43:36.85\00:43:39.29
And, listen carefully, and
it was the Creator's design
00:43:39.32\00:43:42.99
that they should
populate the earth.
00:43:43.02\00:43:45.80
Was this order a distinct order?
00:43:56.60\00:43:58.93
Was it different than any
other planet in the universe?
00:43:58.97\00:44:01.65
Yes. She says this was a
new and a distinct order,
00:44:01.68\00:44:05.32
and the idea was
that man would do what?
00:44:05.35\00:44:07.84
He would populate the what?
00:44:07.87\00:44:09.80
He would populate the Earth.
00:44:09.83\00:44:11.63
Now the question is, what would
be the purpose of populating
00:44:11.66\00:44:15.37
the Earth? Is it possible that
the other worlds do not have
00:44:15.40\00:44:18.20
procreation? That God
established procreation on this
00:44:18.23\00:44:23.03
world for a very
specific purpose?
00:44:23.06\00:44:26.20
The Bible tells us that
man was created a little lower
00:44:26.23\00:44:30.06
than the angels. That after
man would pass the test of being
00:44:30.09\00:44:36.31
loyal to God, God would use
the human race to repopulate
00:44:36.34\00:44:43.14
the vacancies that were left in
heaven by Satan and his angels.
00:44:43.17\00:44:47.18
Now you're saying,
Wow! Is that in the Bible?
00:44:47.21\00:44:51.16
Hold on! You're going to see it.
00:44:51.19\00:44:53.01
First of all, allow me to
read The Truth About Angels,
00:44:53.04\00:44:56.22
page 48 and 49. The
Truth About Angels, 48 and 49,
00:44:56.25\00:45:00.79
where Ellen White explicitly
states that this was God's
00:45:00.82\00:45:03.63
purpose in establishing
procreation on this earth.
00:45:03.66\00:45:06.68
This is the earth
that has procreation.
00:45:06.71\00:45:09.30
It has marriage, and the purpose
of marriage, which the devil has
00:45:09.33\00:45:13.38
destroyed, to a great degree,
is to prepare a group of people
00:45:13.41\00:45:17.61
to take the places that were
left vacant by the fall of Satan
00:45:17.64\00:45:21.09
and his angels. This
is what Ellen White says:
00:45:21.12\00:45:23.47
Notice, after they passed the:
00:45:30.38\00:45:32.89
What does it mean to repopulate?
00:45:47.87\00:45:50.55
Were there
vacancies left in heaven?
00:45:50.58\00:45:53.45
Yes! She says it was God's
purpose to repopulate heaven.
00:45:53.48\00:45:58.60
Now you say, well,
that was before sin.
00:45:58.63\00:46:00.16
What about after sin?
00:46:00.19\00:46:01.33
Was it still God's
plan to repopulate heaven?
00:46:01.36\00:46:03.73
Listen to this statement.
00:46:03.76\00:46:05.02
Prophets and Kings, and then
we're going to go to the Bible.
00:46:05.05\00:46:07.45
Prophets and Kings,
page 588 and 589. She says:
00:46:07.48\00:46:11.88
And now notice
what he says to God.
00:46:32.94\00:46:34.95
Interesting! Are you
understanding what he's saying?
00:46:44.39\00:46:49.58
Are these the ones that
are going to take my place,
00:46:49.61\00:46:51.69
and the place of the
angels that fell from heaven?
00:46:51.72\00:46:54.29
That's Prophets
and Kings, 588 and 589.
00:46:54.32\00:46:57.85
Notice, Story of
Redemption, page 19.
00:46:57.88\00:47:00.68
She mentions this many times.
00:47:00.71\00:47:02.37
Story of
Redemption, page 19. She says:
00:47:02.40\00:47:05.64
This is after Lucifer sinned.
00:47:15.27\00:47:16.80
God says, Should We go ahead?
00:47:16.83\00:47:18.52
Yes, Let's go
ahead with the plan.
00:47:18.55\00:47:20.20
She continues saying:
00:47:20.23\00:47:21.53
What would happen with man if he
passed the test and the trial?
00:47:49.17\00:47:53.11
He would become equal with what?
00:47:53.14\00:47:55.33
With the angels! He was created
a little lower than the angels
00:47:55.36\00:48:00.61
according to Psalm 8, but if
he passed the test of the trial,
00:48:00.64\00:48:04.16
we're told here that he
would be equal with the angels.
00:48:04.19\00:48:09.45
One more statement
then we'll go to the Bible.
00:48:09.48\00:48:12.26
The Truth About Angels, page 49.
00:48:12.29\00:48:14.66
This is so clear that nobody can
misunderstand what Ellen White
00:48:14.69\00:48:17.91
is saying. She says:
00:48:17.94\00:48:19.68
I mean how could she be clearer?
00:48:28.58\00:48:30.23
She says, the vacancies made
in heaven by the fall of Satan
00:48:30.26\00:48:33.95
and his angels will be filled
by the redeemed of the Lord.
00:48:33.98\00:48:37.15
And so people ask, they
say, well, all you're doing is
00:48:37.18\00:48:39.67
reading Ellen White. So far!
00:48:39.70\00:48:43.79
But now let's go and see if
scripture says the same thing;
00:48:43.82\00:48:49.09
if Ellen White is in
harmony with scripture.
00:48:49.12\00:48:51.23
Go with me to Luke,
chapter 20, and verses 34 to 36.
00:48:51.26\00:48:55.97
Luke, chapter 20,
and verses 34 to 36.
00:48:56.00\00:48:59.19
Jesus is entertaining a
conversation with the Sadducees.
00:48:59.22\00:49:04.45
The Sadducees did not believe
in the resurrection of the dead,
00:49:04.48\00:49:09.64
and so they present this
hypothetical case of this
00:49:09.67\00:49:13.72
individual who was
married seven times.
00:49:13.75\00:49:16.48
Who would the spouse be when
the resurrection took place?
00:49:16.51\00:49:20.57
In other words, they're
ridiculing the idea that there's
00:49:20.60\00:49:23.10
going to be a resurrection
by giving this extreme case.
00:49:23.13\00:49:26.50
Now notice Luke 20, 34
to 36, how Jesus answers.
00:49:26.53\00:49:30.26
What does this age
mean? This world, right?
00:49:38.37\00:49:44.45
What is that age?
The new earth, right?
00:49:52.37\00:49:56.23
Why is there not
going to be any marriage?
00:50:02.70\00:50:04.47
Because the purpose of marriage
has been what? fulfilled.
00:50:04.50\00:50:09.32
Luke continues saying,
quoting Jesus once again,
00:50:09.35\00:50:15.03
but those were accounted
worthy to attain that age,
00:50:15.06\00:50:17.52
Now listen carefully.
00:50:23.45\00:50:24.48
Wow! They are equal to what?
00:50:27.58\00:50:30.59
To the angels! Is
that what Ellen White said?
00:50:30.62\00:50:33.50
Absolutely! But there's more.
00:50:33.53\00:50:35.86
Are you catching
the picture here?
00:50:44.54\00:50:46.38
Four conclusions that we can
reach from this answer of Jesus:
00:50:46.41\00:50:50.20
1. Marriage had a
specific purpose in this age.
00:50:50.23\00:50:55.02
And that purpose
was what? procreation.
00:50:55.05\00:50:58.47
2. There will be no
marriage in the world to come,
00:50:58.50\00:51:02.67
because the purpose of
marriage has been fulfilled.
00:51:02.70\00:51:05.21
3. In the world to come
the redeemed will be equal
00:51:05.24\00:51:09.81
to the angels, as we
read from Ellen White.
00:51:09.84\00:51:12.02
4. The redeemed will
be called Sons of God.
00:51:12.05\00:51:16.17
The same name that is
given in the book of Job.
00:51:16.20\00:51:19.20
Now let's conclude by
reading a powerful statement
00:51:19.23\00:51:23.92
from Ellen White. This is found
in the book, Medical Ministry,
00:51:23.95\00:51:27.95
page 99. And this will
be our concluding thought.
00:51:27.98\00:51:31.77
Have you learned
anything new tonight?
00:51:31.80\00:51:33.67
There's a lot of stuff
in scripture that, perhaps,
00:51:33.70\00:51:37.65
we haven't seen before. And
this is only one of the three.
00:51:37.68\00:51:40.57
See, this will give you
just a piece of the puzzle.
00:51:40.60\00:51:42.88
Now you need to come
to the two other pieces,
00:51:42.91\00:51:45.13
so that you have
a complete picture.
00:51:45.16\00:51:46.60
This is what she says:
00:51:46.63\00:51:47.91
There are
individuals who say what?
00:51:58.32\00:52:02.79
That there will be marriages
and births in the new earth.
00:52:02.82\00:52:06.93
Is there going to be procreation
established in the new earth?
00:52:24.68\00:52:29.58
Absolutely not! Why not?
00:52:29.61\00:52:31.07
Because the purpose of
procreation has been fulfilled.
00:52:31.10\00:52:34.33
The vacancies left by the devil
and his angels have been what?
00:52:34.36\00:52:39.22
Have been filled!
She continues saying:
00:52:39.25\00:52:42.36
Those are the words that we just
read from the gospel of Luke.
00:52:47.99\00:52:50.34
Powerful statement! Is
what she is saying Biblical?
00:53:13.95\00:53:18.91
Absolutely Biblical!
And I'll tell you something.
00:53:18.94\00:53:22.68
I'll just testify to this.
00:53:22.71\00:53:24.91
There are many people who
are critical of Ellen White.
00:53:24.94\00:53:28.08
They say, oh no, you Adventists,
you go by what Ellen White says,
00:53:28.11\00:53:32.39
but we go by
what the Bible says.
00:53:32.42\00:53:34.11
Well, surprise, surprise! If
you really sat down with an open
00:53:34.14\00:53:40.21
mind, and a sincere
heart, and you read the writings
00:53:40.24\00:53:43.70
of Ellen White, and you searched
in scripture for what she says,
00:53:43.73\00:53:48.23
you would always find it,
because her writings are in
00:53:48.26\00:53:52.39
harmony with scripture. It's
only a misinterpretation of her
00:53:52.42\00:53:56.31
writings that leads people
to think that what she wrote,
00:53:56.34\00:54:00.02
under inspiration, was contrary
to what the scriptures say.
00:54:00.05\00:54:03.80
You know, I find that there are
two different kinds of people
00:54:03.83\00:54:06.93
that criticize Ellen White.
00:54:06.96\00:54:08.64
The first type are
those that never read anything
00:54:08.67\00:54:12.00
that she wrote.
There are plenty of those.
00:54:12.03\00:54:15.88
They go to the internet
and they open these websites,
00:54:15.91\00:54:19.91
you know, that are
critical of Ellen White.
00:54:19.94\00:54:21.73
Some of them are hateful,
and they raise objections that,
00:54:21.76\00:54:24.79
by the way, have been answered
by the White Estate with luxury
00:54:24.82\00:54:27.68
of detail. If you go to
the White Estate website
00:54:27.71\00:54:30.13
all of these
objections are answered.
00:54:30.16\00:54:32.01
But they bring them up and
the novices who are unacquainted
00:54:32.04\00:54:35.62
with Ellen White, they read
these criticisms of Ellen White,
00:54:35.65\00:54:38.24
and they say, oh,
Adventists; they're a cult,
00:54:38.27\00:54:39.98
because Ellen White, you
know, they have this prophet who
00:54:40.01\00:54:43.30
contradicts scripture. So
one group are those individuals
00:54:43.33\00:54:47.73
who never read
what Ellen White says.
00:54:47.76\00:54:50.28
The other group are those who
read the writings of Ellen White
00:54:50.31\00:54:54.81
with the
intention of criticizing.
00:54:54.84\00:54:57.95
Do you know that there
are people who read the Bible
00:54:57.98\00:55:01.18
with the intention of
criticizing the Bible?
00:55:01.21\00:55:03.35
in finding
mistakes in the Bible?
00:55:03.38\00:55:05.29
If you go to the Bible you might
find some mistakes of minor
00:55:05.32\00:55:09.49
details. But that does
not effect my view of the
00:55:09.52\00:55:12.55
inspiration of the Bible.
00:55:12.58\00:55:13.61
The Bible has shown that
it is beyond human reason
00:55:13.64\00:55:17.80
to have produced it.
00:55:17.83\00:55:18.86
Are there little insignificant
details that might be a problem
00:55:18.89\00:55:22.24
in the Bible? Yes. If you
let these things ruin your faith
00:55:22.27\00:55:25.89
I feel sorry for you.
00:55:25.92\00:55:27.70
But the Bible shows
that it is trustworthy.
00:55:27.73\00:55:31.45
The same is true
with Ellen G. White.
00:55:31.48\00:55:34.11
Her writings,
folks, are trustworthy.
00:55:34.14\00:55:36.70
What we need to do is we need
to sit down, read what she says,
00:55:36.73\00:55:40.55
and then do what I usually do,
and that is now where does the
00:55:40.59\00:55:44.37
Bible say that? And so we go
from her writings to the Bible.
00:55:44.40\00:55:48.11
Sometimes I'll go to the Bible
and I'll read something that
00:55:48.14\00:55:51.85
I can't understand in the
Bible, and I say, I wonder what
00:55:51.88\00:55:54.66
Ellen White has
to say about this.
00:55:54.69\00:55:56.46
And so then I go to the writings
of Ellen White, where she
00:55:56.49\00:55:59.86
comments on that verse, and
she gives some light and some
00:55:59.89\00:56:03.52
understanding that I
had not found in my study
00:56:03.55\00:56:05.96
of scripture. I say, oh, now
I understand what the scripture
00:56:05.99\00:56:09.89
is saying. It works both ways.
00:56:09.92\00:56:11.96
You can go to scripture and then
go to see what Ellen White says,
00:56:11.99\00:56:15.75
or you can go to Ellen White
and then say, now wait a minute.
00:56:15.79\00:56:19.51
Is that found in the Bible?
00:56:19.55\00:56:20.89
And then you go to the Bible.
00:56:20.93\00:56:22.59
They work back and forth.
00:56:22.63\00:56:24.26
In other words, its
not either or, it's both.
00:56:24.29\00:56:28.44
And folks, if we read
the writings of Ellen White
00:56:28.48\00:56:32.63
with an open heart, you'll
receive a tremendous blessing.
00:56:32.66\00:56:36.06
She's not contradicting
scripture, for example, when she
00:56:36.09\00:56:38.94
says that the elders are strong
and the highest of angels.
00:56:38.98\00:56:41.67
As we're going to continue
studying, you're going to be
00:56:41.70\00:56:44.35
amazed as we continue
studying these things at how
00:56:44.39\00:56:47.10
what Ellen White says is in
perfect harmony with scripture.
00:56:47.13\00:56:51.48
So folks, we have
a lot to study yet.
00:56:51.51\00:56:55.55
We still have two more
lectures in this series.
00:56:55.58\00:56:58.39
Now next time, Lord willing,
we're going to talk about Adam,
00:56:58.42\00:57:02.85
the original Son of God, that
God placed upon this planet.
00:57:02.89\00:57:07.29
And then we're going
to study about Jesus.
00:57:07.32\00:57:09.64
And we're going to
look at the characteristics
00:57:09.67\00:57:12.76
of the twenty-four elders.
00:57:12.80\00:57:13.90
And we're going to see
that those characteristics apply
00:57:13.93\00:57:17.21
to Adam before he sinned.
00:57:17.25\00:57:19.31
And they apply to Jesus Christ
who reconquered the position
00:57:19.35\00:57:24.58
that Adam lost. So folks, don't
miss the next exciting episode
00:57:24.62\00:57:29.82
in this series of presentations.
00:57:29.85\00:57:32.90