Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:35.28\00:00:36.90
Father in heaven, what a joy it
is to come into your presence,
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to open the pages of Your holy
book, and to hear Your voice
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speaking to us through the
ministry of the Holy Spirit.
00:00:45.50\00:00:49.13
We ask, Father, that as we open
Your Word that reverent hands
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might handle it in a way that
we can understand what Your will
00:00:53.95\00:00:58.65
is, and what You
want us to understand.
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We thank You for the privilege
of coming before Your throne
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in prayer. We know
that You have heard us,
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because we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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Well, in our study today we
are going to take a look at the
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identity of the
twenty-four elders.
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Now the first part of
this we studied last time,
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so we need to do a
little bit of review.
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I see some new
people here today.
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Praise the Lord!
We're very glad to have you.
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Now some of the things that I'm
going to say are going to appear
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a little bit strange for those
who weren't here for the first
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presentation on
the twenty-four elders.
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However, bear with me, and as
we go along things will become
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clearer and clearer,
reviewing from last time.
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You remember that at
creation the morning stars,
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and the sons of
God shouted for joy.
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This tell us that the sons
of God, and the morning stars
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existed before the
creation of this world.
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Now we also noticed that in Job
chapter 2, as well as in chapter
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1, we find these sons of God
coming to a meeting in heaven
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in the presence of God.
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And we notice that these sons of
God that are spoken of in Job 1
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and 2, actually are the
representatives of the worlds
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that never sinned. In
other words, there are many,
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many worlds in God's universe
that are filled with living
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creatures, with individuals
who have never committed sin.
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They're absolutely
holy and righteous.
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And each one of these worlds has
a representative in the heavenly
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council. We also noticed
in our study that Ellen White
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identifies the twenty-four
elders as strong angels.
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In another place she
calls them the highest angels.
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Now we noticed in our
study that in Job, chapter 1,
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and also chapter 2, Satan came
to this heavenly meeting among
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the sons of God. And the
question is, what was Satan
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doing there among the sons
of God in the heavenly council
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when he was such a
discordant note there?
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The answer is that the original
representative of planet Earth
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was Adam. But as we
know, the devil conquered Adam.
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And when the devil was able
to overcome him, the devil stole
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his throne, and stole his
position, and Satan became the
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representative of planet Earth.
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That's the reason why in Job 1
and 2, Satan went among the sons
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of God, that is all of the
representatives of the worlds;
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Satan went
representing planet Earth.
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Now we also talked
about God's original plan
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for the human race.
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We noticed that the creation
of man and woman was a new
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and distinct order
of creation by God.
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We noticed that it was God's
purpose that the human race
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reproduce, multiply. And
the purpose of multiplying was
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that a holy race would take the
places of Satan and his angels
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that fell from heaven.
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In other words, those who would
reproduce on planet Earth would
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actually repopulate
heaven, which had been depleted
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by the fall of
Satan and his angels.
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We also noticed that God's
plan was that human beings,
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once they passed the test and
the trial, would become equal
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to the angels. And we
proved that from scripture;
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from Luke chapter 20.
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Do you remember when Jesus
was talking with the Sadducees
00:05:01.11\00:05:04.21
about the resurrection?
00:05:04.25\00:05:05.54
There's a clear passage
that Jesus clearly teaches
00:05:05.58\00:05:09.82
what I've shared.
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Now in our study today we
want to begin by talking about
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the original representative
from planet Earth.
00:05:16.40\00:05:20.33
And, of course, that original
representative of planet Earth
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before sin was
none less than Adam.
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Now we're going to
notice several characteristics
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about Adam when he
was created by God.
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First of all, and this is very
obvious, but I want to prove
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very point from scripture,
and from the Spirit of Prophecy.
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Adam was a created being.
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He was created by God.
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Notice Genesis, chapter
1, and verses 26 and 27.
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Let's not take
anything for granted.
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Genesis 1: 26, 27.
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So I think its very clear
that man was originally created
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by God. And it took place after
God had created the heavenly
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intelligences because
they sang at creation.
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Now Ellen White confirms
this idea that Adam was created
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by God. I don't think that I
need to read any quotations from
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her writings. Patriarchs
and Prophets, the second chapter
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makes this absolutely clear.
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So Adam was created by God.
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The second point that I want
us to notice about Adam is that
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Adam, when he was created,
was called the son of God.
00:07:01.22\00:07:06.64
In Luke, chapter 3, and
verse 38, we have the conclusion
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of the genealogy of Christ.
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And the genealogy ends in
Luke 3, verse 38, by saying,
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The son of Enos, the son
of Seth, the son of Adam,
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the son of God.
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So you notice that Adam
is called the son of God;
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not by
procreation but by creation.
00:07:33.54\00:07:37.35
Now Ellen White confirms
this idea that Adam, when he was
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created, he was called the son
of God, because God created him.
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In Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 45, we find the following
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statement about Adam
being the son of God. She says:
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So clearly the Bible and
the Spirit of Prophecy tell us
00:08:22.32\00:08:25.64
that Adam was created
by God, also that Adam,
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when he was created,
was called the son of God.
00:08:29.76\00:08:33.15
Now another
interesting detail about Adam,
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the original representative from
planet Earth in the heavenly
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council. We are told that he
was crowned at creation as king
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over this Earth. Notice
Psalm 8, and verses 3 through 8.
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Psalm 8 and verses 3 through 8.
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Here the psalmist says:
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Notice that's speaking
about the creation of Adam.
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And now notice this:
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Was man crowned at the
very beginning? Absolutely!
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Now, every king has
a realm of dominion.
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What was the realm of
dominion of this king, Adam,
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who was crowned at creation?
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It continues saying:
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That means rulership.
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An expression that means
you have placed him to rule
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over everything.
And then it explains:
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Now in the Old Testament
when this expression is used,
00:10:01.15\00:10:04.48
beasts of the field, birds
of the air, and fish of the sea.
00:10:04.51\00:10:08.17
That means everything
relating to planet Earth:
00:10:08.21\00:10:10.68
heaven, dry land, and seas.
00:10:10.71\00:10:13.89
In other words, Adam was crowned
and he was placed as king over
00:10:13.92\00:10:19.51
this planet, and everything
relating to the planet.
00:10:19.54\00:10:23.23
Ellen White confirms what
we just read from Psalm 8.
00:10:23.26\00:10:27.92
In Review and Herald, February
24, 1874, she makes this
00:10:27.96\00:10:32.62
remarkable statement:
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So notice, Adam was
crowned, he was created,
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he was called the son of
God, and he was crowned as king,
00:11:04.72\00:11:09.17
and he was placed to have
dominion over this planet.
00:11:09.21\00:11:13.34
Now another detail that I want
us to notice about Adam is that
00:11:13.37\00:11:18.30
Adam and Eve had a
particular type of clothing
00:11:18.34\00:11:22.54
that covered them at creation.
00:11:22.57\00:11:24.32
Now you say, what
do you mean, clothing?
00:11:24.35\00:11:26.37
The Bible says
that they were naked.
00:11:26.41\00:11:28.43
Well, let's take a
closer look at this.
00:11:28.46\00:11:30.41
In Genesis, chapter 2, and
verse 25, the Bible tells us
00:11:30.45\00:11:34.46
that Adam and Eve were naked.
00:11:34.49\00:11:36.51
But what the text is really
saying is that they were naked
00:11:36.54\00:11:41.38
with regards to artificial
human garments made out of human
00:11:41.42\00:11:46.23
materials. Actually, the Bible
tells us that they were covered
00:11:46.26\00:11:51.39
with garments of light,
such as God and the angels wear.
00:11:51.42\00:11:56.33
Let me read you a
statement that we find in
00:11:56.36\00:11:59.04
Patriarchs and Prophets, page
45, where Ellen White describes
00:11:59.07\00:12:02.88
the covering of Adam and Eve.
00:12:02.91\00:12:04.44
This is what she says:
00:12:04.48\00:12:06.11
That's an important detail.
00:12:18.22\00:12:19.59
So the garments of Adam and Eve
were the same garments that are
00:12:19.62\00:12:23.13
worn by whom? By the angels.
00:12:23.17\00:12:25.34
Remember that. That's important.
00:12:25.37\00:12:27.51
So once again, she says:
00:12:27.54\00:12:28.79
Incidentally, do you know
that this is the same garment
00:12:43.23\00:12:46.97
that covers God? Do you know
that garments that God wears
00:12:47.00\00:12:50.71
are also white
garments of light?
00:12:50.74\00:12:53.67
Notice Psalm 104 where we
find this clearly revealed
00:12:53.71\00:12:57.29
in scripture. Psalm 104, and
we want to read verses 1 and 2.
00:12:57.32\00:13:03.04
It says there:
00:13:03.07\00:13:04.20
In fact, if you read Daniel 7,
and verse 9, that speaks about
00:13:25.02\00:13:29.22
the beginning of the judgment
in heaven, we are told that the
00:13:29.26\00:13:33.42
Ancient of Days was
clothed in white garments.
00:13:33.46\00:13:37.97
Those garments
are garments of light.
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In fact the Bible tells
us that God dwells in light
00:13:40.46\00:13:43.68
unapproachable; we're
told in the New Testament.
00:13:43.71\00:13:46.87
Incidentally, the true church
in Revelation, chapter 12,
00:13:46.90\00:13:51.60
and verse 1, the pure, righteous
church is represented as a woman
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who is clothed with the sun.
00:13:57.24\00:13:59.42
You see, the
clothing is clothing of light.
00:13:59.46\00:14:02.88
And light is white.
00:14:02.92\00:14:05.12
So we notice then that Adam
and Eve were covered with a robe
00:14:05.16\00:14:10.40
of white garments of light.
00:14:10.43\00:14:12.67
Now another detail that I
want us to notice about Adam,
00:14:12.71\00:14:16.27
and we're talking about Adam
particularly because he was the
00:14:16.31\00:14:19.75
head and
representative of the race.
00:14:19.78\00:14:21.94
I want to read you
several statements where
00:14:21.97\00:14:24.99
the Spirit of Prophecy tells
us that Adam was the original
00:14:25.02\00:14:29.66
father, head, and representative
of the human race;
00:14:29.69\00:14:34.01
of the entire human family.
00:14:34.04\00:14:35.92
In other words, he represented
planet Earth as the king
00:14:35.95\00:14:40.82
of this realm. Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 48, we might just
00:14:40.85\00:14:45.05
read one now because
time flies by. It says there:
00:14:45.08\00:14:48.65
What was Adam? He was the head
and representative of the whole
00:15:09.38\00:15:14.57
human family. Don't forget that
because that's a very important
00:15:14.60\00:15:17.69
detail for what we're going
to talk about a little bit later
00:15:17.72\00:15:20.33
on. Do you know that the Bible
also corroborates this idea
00:15:20.36\00:15:24.93
that is expressed in Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 48?
00:15:24.96\00:15:28.69
Even though God created Adam
and Eve, and Eve sinned first,
00:15:28.72\00:15:34.23
the Bible tells us that God
held Adam accountable for sin.
00:15:34.26\00:15:39.80
And the Bible tells us
that Jesus is the second Adam.
00:15:39.83\00:15:43.97
He is not the second Eve.
00:15:44.00\00:15:45.69
In other words, Adam
was placed as the head,
00:15:45.72\00:15:49.35
and the representative
of the human race.
00:15:49.38\00:15:51.73
This has a lot to say also about
the women's ordination debate
00:15:51.76\00:15:55.51
that's going on now in
many churches in Christendom.
00:15:55.54\00:16:00.08
So I want you to notice then
all of these details that we've
00:16:00.11\00:16:04.13
studied about Adam, because we
are going to come back to them
00:16:04.16\00:16:07.58
a little bit later on.
00:16:07.61\00:16:09.20
Now let's transition
to Revelation, chapter 4,
00:16:09.23\00:16:12.41
and chapter 5, and let's study
a few more details about the
00:16:12.44\00:16:19.84
beings that were present there
in the scene of Revelation 4,
00:16:19.87\00:16:23.71
and Revelation 5. Now this will
be review, because we studied
00:16:23.74\00:16:26.89
this last time. If
you remember Revelation 4,
00:16:26.92\00:16:30.55
the heavenly throne room is
being prepared for the return
00:16:30.58\00:16:34.25
of Jesus to heaven
upon His ascension.
00:16:34.28\00:16:38.01
And you remember that present
there, preparing to receive
00:16:38.04\00:16:42.77
Jesus at His
ascension, were several beings.
00:16:42.80\00:16:46.18
First of all
there was the Father,
00:16:46.21\00:16:48.38
who was sitting on the throne.
00:16:48.41\00:16:49.58
Secondly the seven
Spirits were before the throne,
00:16:49.61\00:16:53.81
representing the
fullness of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:53.84\00:16:56.27
In the third place we notice
that there were four living
00:16:56.30\00:16:59.45
creatures in the midst of the
throne that represent seraphim.
00:16:59.48\00:17:03.40
And finally we notice that
surrounding the throne were
00:17:03.43\00:17:07.91
twenty-four elders. Those were
the beings that were present
00:17:07.94\00:17:11.20
in Revelation, chapter 4.
00:17:11.23\00:17:12.67
But in Revelation 4 there were
also certain beings that were
00:17:12.70\00:17:16.87
absent. In Revelation 4 the
angelic hosts were not there.
00:17:16.90\00:17:21.38
Also Jesus Christ was not
there, in Revelation, chapter 4.
00:17:21.41\00:17:27.06
In other words, as we
look at Revelation 4 we say,
00:17:27.09\00:17:30.92
Where was Jesus, and where was
the heavenly hosts of angels?
00:17:30.95\00:17:35.64
Well, the fact is that
when you get to Revelation 5
00:17:35.67\00:17:39.26
Jesus actually
arrives in heaven.
00:17:39.29\00:17:42.66
And He arrives with all of the
hosts of angels, as we studied.
00:17:42.69\00:17:47.41
And then Jesus and the angelic
hosts join the scene in heaven
00:17:47.44\00:17:51.80
and, of course, Jesus goes
into the presence of His Father
00:17:51.83\00:17:55.61
to make sure that His sacrifice
had been accepted by His Father.
00:17:55.64\00:17:59.72
Now let's talk about the twenty-
four elders that were around
00:17:59.75\00:18:05.57
the throne before Jesus arrived,
and also after Jesus arrived.
00:18:05.60\00:18:12.34
We've already noticed that the
sons of God, according to the
00:18:12.37\00:18:17.60
Spirit of Prophecy, are angels.
00:18:17.63\00:18:20.82
The representatives
of the worlds are angels.
00:18:20.85\00:18:24.05
Now I know that that surprised
a lot of people last time.
00:18:24.08\00:18:27.30
But allow me to read
you that statement from
00:18:27.33\00:18:29.63
The Great Controversy
once again, page 518,
00:18:29.66\00:18:33.23
about the sons of God, because
the twenty-four elders really
00:18:33.26\00:18:37.35
are the sons of God.
00:18:37.38\00:18:38.91
They are the representatives of
the world's that never sinned.
00:18:38.94\00:18:41.92
Notice what she says.
00:18:41.95\00:18:42.98
The Great Controversy, 518.
00:18:43.01\00:18:44.72
Did you notice that in the
book of Job it says that the
00:19:08.97\00:19:11.83
sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord?
00:19:11.86\00:19:15.04
Ellen White says that on a
certain occasion the angels
00:19:15.07\00:19:19.01
of God came to present
themselves before the Lord.
00:19:19.04\00:19:22.52
Interesting! So, in other
words, the sons of God are to be
00:19:22.55\00:19:27.76
related to the
angels in some way.
00:19:27.79\00:19:31.26
But let me make something clear.
00:19:31.29\00:19:32.51
The sons of God are not members
of the common angelic hosts.
00:19:32.54\00:19:39.19
They are distinguished from
the common hosts of ten thousand
00:19:39.22\00:19:44.30
times ten thousand,
and thousands of angels.
00:19:44.33\00:19:47.29
You say, How do we know that?
00:19:47.32\00:19:48.78
Let's go to Revelation,
chapter 5, and verses 11 and 12.
00:19:48.81\00:19:52.58
Revelation 5: 11, 12. I want you
to notice that these sons of God
00:19:52.61\00:19:57.51
or these angels, as Ellen White
identifies them, are actually
00:19:57.54\00:20:01.52
distinguished from the
tremendous hosts of millions
00:20:01.55\00:20:05.72
and millions of angels.
00:20:05.75\00:20:07.19
They're not part of
the general angelic hosts.
00:20:07.22\00:20:10.21
Notice Revelation 5, verse 11.
00:20:10.24\00:20:12.62
Now listen carefully.
00:20:19.39\00:20:20.42
Question, are the many angels
distinguished from the elders?
00:20:25.63\00:20:28.82
Yes, they are! Once again:
00:20:28.85\00:20:30.62
So, the question is, are
the elders different than the
00:20:53.23\00:20:57.87
angelic hosts? Yes, they are.
00:20:57.90\00:20:59.63
But are they angels?
Yes, they are angels.
00:20:59.76\00:21:03.69
We noticed that Ellen White
identifies them as strong angels
00:21:03.72\00:21:08.03
and as the highest angels.
00:21:08.06\00:21:11.27
Now let's look at
the characteristics
00:21:11.30\00:21:14.22
of the twenty-four elders, so
that we can specify a little bit
00:21:14.25\00:21:18.73
more, and understand a little
bit better what we're studying.
00:21:18.76\00:21:20.99
Let's go to Revelation, chapter
4, and verse 4, and notice
00:21:21.02\00:21:25.91
several characteristics
about the twenty-four elders.
00:21:25.94\00:21:28.61
It says there in Revelation,
chapter 4, and verse 4:
00:21:28.64\00:21:31.91
A better translation is thrones.
00:21:38.44\00:21:40.58
And upon the seats or thrones...
00:21:40.61\00:21:43.32
What position were they in?
00:21:46.90\00:21:49.34
Sitting! Clothed in what?
00:21:49.37\00:21:53.00
What? Crowns of gold.
00:21:57.52\00:22:00.06
Interesting. So you have these
beings, the twenty-four elders.
00:22:00.09\00:22:04.96
They're sitting on thrones.
00:22:04.99\00:22:06.63
They're clothed
in white garments.
00:22:06.66\00:22:09.15
And they have crowns
of gold on their heads.
00:22:09.18\00:22:13.59
And, incidentally, they
are also created beings,
00:22:13.62\00:22:18.01
according to Revelation,
chapter 4, and verses 10 and 11.
00:22:18.04\00:22:21.97
Now some people have assumed
that these characteristics
00:22:22.00\00:22:25.94
disqualify the twenty-four
elders from being angels,
00:22:25.97\00:22:30.90
because they say, Well, you
know, in the book of Revelation
00:22:30.93\00:22:33.76
its the redeemed
that are clothed in white.
00:22:33.79\00:22:36.92
Its the redeemed
that have crowns.
00:22:36.95\00:22:39.70
And Jesus has a crown.
00:22:39.73\00:22:41.39
But nowhere do you find
in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:22:41.42\00:22:45.14
or in the Bible, the idea that
the twenty-four elders actually
00:22:45.17\00:22:51.10
are angels rather
than human beings.
00:22:51.13\00:22:53.90
The characteristics would seem
to reveal that the twenty-four
00:22:53.93\00:22:58.10
elders are actually
human and not angelic.
00:22:58.13\00:23:02.62
Well, hasty
conclusions sometimes are risky.
00:23:02.65\00:23:07.47
Allow me, first of all, to read
you a statement from Ellen White
00:23:07.50\00:23:11.77
where she describes
the twenty- four elders.
00:23:11.80\00:23:15.62
She says in The Desire of Ages,
we read this quotation before,
00:23:15.65\00:23:20.33
speaking about those
who are present when Jesus
00:23:20.36\00:23:23.69
arrives in heaven.
00:23:23.72\00:23:24.75
So notice she uses three
different phrases to describe
00:23:36.51\00:23:40.50
this group. She says,
00:23:40.53\00:23:42.03
And then she says:
00:23:49.92\00:23:51.07
We spoke about this last time.
00:23:52.94\00:23:54.67
Now, can we show from scripture,
and from the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:24:10.61\00:24:16.99
that the angels have
the characteristics that the
00:24:17.02\00:24:20.96
twenty-four elders have?
00:24:20.99\00:24:22.04
Can we prove that the
angels are created beings?
00:24:22.07\00:24:25.41
Can we prove that the angels,
at least the twenty-four elders,
00:24:25.44\00:24:29.95
sit on thrones, and they rule?
00:24:29.98\00:24:31.86
Can we prove that they
have crowns on their heads,
00:24:31.89\00:24:36.47
and that they are
robed in white garments?
00:24:36.50\00:24:39.56
The answer is absolutely yes.
00:24:39.59\00:24:42.29
Go with me to
Colossians, chapter 1, verse 16.
00:24:42.32\00:24:45.42
First of all we're going
to talk about the angels;
00:24:45.45\00:24:47.37
whether they
were created or not.
00:24:47.40\00:24:48.82
It says there in Colossians,
chapter 1, and verse 16,
00:24:48.85\00:24:53.53
speaking about
Jesus, the Creator. It says:
00:24:53.56\00:24:57.04
Would that include the
twenty- four elders? Absolutely!
00:25:04.33\00:25:07.23
Notice the
different ranks of rulers.
00:25:12.20\00:25:14.22
Ellen White corroborates
this idea in Review and Herald,
00:25:23.55\00:25:26.88
April 5, 1906. She says:
00:25:26.91\00:25:30.16
So are the angels created beings
like the twenty-four elders?
00:25:39.22\00:25:43.63
They most certainly are.
00:25:43.66\00:25:45.07
Now you say, Do
the angels wear crowns?
00:25:45.10\00:25:48.44
Absolutely! And, you know, one
of the arguments that is used
00:25:48.47\00:25:52.08
against the idea that the
twenty-four elders could be
00:25:52.11\00:25:54.30
angels, is that the word
for crowns that is used here
00:25:54.33\00:25:58.30
for the twenty-four elders,
is the Greek word stephanos.
00:25:58.33\00:26:02.32
And theologians say,
Well, stephanos means the crown
00:26:02.35\00:26:07.80
of a person who
has gained the victory.
00:26:07.83\00:26:09.46
So how can you say that the
twenty-four elders are angels?
00:26:09.49\00:26:14.04
They haven't gained the victory.
00:26:14.07\00:26:15.43
They never sinned. So how do we
resolve this problem of the word
00:26:15.46\00:26:21.25
stephanos being used for
the crowns that the twenty-four
00:26:21.28\00:26:24.68
elders have, and not say that
they were victorious over sin?
00:26:24.71\00:26:28.98
Those who assume that the
twenty-four elders are those who
00:26:29.01\00:26:31.82
resurrected with Jesus,
and Jesus took to heaven,
00:26:31.85\00:26:34.44
they say they had to be
human beings because they wear
00:26:34.47\00:26:38.02
the crowns of the
victor, the stephanos.
00:26:38.05\00:26:40.00
Are you understanding my point?
00:26:40.03\00:26:41.15
However, even though, usually,
the word stephanos is used
00:26:41.18\00:26:47.65
for the crown of a victor, it
is not always used in that way
00:26:47.68\00:26:51.57
in scripture. Let me
give you a couple of examples.
00:26:51.60\00:26:54.71
Matthew, chapter 27, and verse
29, speaks about the crown that
00:26:54.74\00:26:59.21
was placed on the head of
Christ; the crown of thorns.
00:26:59.24\00:27:01.61
It says there in Matthew 27:29,
When they had twisted a crown
00:27:01.64\00:27:06.66
of thorns, they
put it on His head.
00:27:06.69\00:27:09.38
That word crown there
is the word stephanos.
00:27:09.41\00:27:13.00
Do you think that those who
were placing this crown on the
00:27:13.03\00:27:17.51
head of Jesus were saying
that Jesus was the victor?
00:27:17.54\00:27:20.31
Of course not. They were just
saying, Hey, this is the king;
00:27:20.34\00:27:24.94
your king, the king of the Jews.
00:27:24.97\00:27:26.70
It continues saying:
00:27:26.73\00:27:27.86
And so here the word
stephanos is used for a king,
00:27:38.17\00:27:43.46
simply a king. Another
example we find in Revelation,
00:27:43.49\00:27:47.79
chapter 14, and verse 14.
00:27:47.82\00:27:49.67
The same word stephanos
is used; not for a victor,
00:27:49.70\00:27:53.10
but its used for a king.
00:27:53.14\00:27:55.25
Notice Revelation 14, verse 14.
00:27:55.28\00:27:57.59
This is speaking about Jesus
sitting on a cloud. It says:
00:27:57.62\00:28:01.05
Then I looked, and we
usually apply this to the
00:28:01.08\00:28:04.37
second coming of Christ.
00:28:04.40\00:28:05.88
That's the stephanos.
00:28:16.35\00:28:17.45
So the word stephanos generally
refers to the victors crown,
00:28:21.61\00:28:26.05
but not always. Just because
stephanos is used for the
00:28:26.08\00:28:29.32
twenty-four elders, does not
necessarily mean that they were
00:28:29.35\00:28:32.73
victorious over sin, and
that they were human beings.
00:28:32.76\00:28:35.70
Now, do you know that there are
many statements from Ellen White
00:28:35.73\00:28:38.97
where she says that
the angels use crowns?
00:28:39.00\00:28:41.71
Allow me to read you
several of those statements.
00:28:41.74\00:28:44.68
The first one is found
in Early Writings, page 148.
00:28:44.71\00:28:49.63
Speaking about
mans fall she says:
00:28:49.66\00:28:52.72
Early Writings, page
167, when Jesus was suffering
00:29:02.99\00:29:07.02
in Gethsemane. Ellen White says:
00:29:07.05\00:29:09.24
Early Writings, page 191,
speaking about the ascension
00:29:18.40\00:29:21.99
of Christ to heaven. She says:
00:29:22.02\00:29:23.60
Early Writings, pages 279 and
280, speaking about the close
00:29:34.18\00:29:38.43
of probation, she says:
00:29:38.46\00:29:39.95
One final reference, at
the second coming of Christ,
00:29:56.04\00:29:59.28
Early Writings, page
286, Ellen White says:
00:29:59.31\00:30:02.46
Are angels created beings? Yes.
00:30:13.78\00:30:16.83
Do angels wear crowns? Yes.
00:30:16.86\00:30:19.85
Now, what kind of
garments cover angels?
00:30:19.88\00:30:23.88
Well, let's notice
Matthew, chapter 28.
00:30:23.91\00:30:27.17
We won't read it
because of the scarcity of time.
00:30:27.21\00:30:29.54
But if you want to read
it on your own, you can.
00:30:29.57\00:30:31.26
Matthew 28, verse 3, tells
us that the angel that came down
00:30:31.29\00:30:35.06
from heaven to resurrect Christ,
his garments were white as snow.
00:30:35.09\00:30:38.48
In Acts, chapter 1, and verse
10, we're told that the two
00:30:38.51\00:30:43.94
angels that came and spoke
to the disciples, as Jesus was
00:30:43.97\00:30:48.09
ascending to heaven, were
clothed in white garments.
00:30:48.12\00:30:51.80
So do angels
wear white garments?
00:30:51.83\00:30:53.59
Don't assume that just because
the twenty-four elders wear
00:30:53.62\00:30:56.00
white garments, Oh,
the twenty- four elders,
00:30:56.03\00:30:57.78
you know, they can't be angels,
they have to be human beings,
00:30:57.82\00:31:00.67
because in Revelation
human beings are the ones that
00:31:00.71\00:31:02.93
that are garbed in
white. Don't just assume that.
00:31:02.96\00:31:05.48
Early Writings, page 181, Ellen
White confirms that the angels
00:31:05.51\00:31:09.42
wear white garments.
00:31:09.45\00:31:10.48
She says, regarding the angel
who came to resurrect Christ,
00:31:10.51\00:31:14.18
I quote:
00:31:14.21\00:31:20.37
The Spirit of Prophecy,
Volume 3, pages 200 and 201,
00:31:20.41\00:31:24.92
Ellen White is talking about
the angels that came to the tomb
00:31:24.95\00:31:28.34
of Jesus. She says:
00:31:28.37\00:31:31.46
In Patriarchs and Prophets,
page 45, which we already read,
00:31:40.78\00:31:44.81
Ellen White speaks about
the clothing that covered Adam
00:31:44.84\00:31:47.32
and Eve. She says:
00:31:47.35\00:31:48.82
Let me ask you, Are angels also
representatives of the worlds
00:31:58.60\00:32:04.18
that never
sinned? Yes, Job 1 and 2!
00:32:04.21\00:32:08.04
Ellen White says that those
who came to present themselves
00:32:08.07\00:32:11.62
before the Lord were angels.
00:32:11.65\00:32:13.85
So they represent
worlds that never sinned.
00:32:13.88\00:32:17.73
Now I want to read you a
passage that I read once before.
00:32:17.76\00:32:21.92
This is a long passage from
the book, The Desire of Ages,
00:32:21.95\00:32:26.83
actually its the last three
pages of The Desire of Ages,
00:32:26.86\00:32:30.07
where Ellen White is
simply describing the ascension
00:32:30.10\00:32:33.59
of Christ, and what took
place as Jesus was ascending,
00:32:33.62\00:32:37.88
and once Jesus arrived.
00:32:37.91\00:32:39.73
And I must warn you that many
times Ellen White does not use
00:32:39.76\00:32:43.46
the Biblical terminology,
but she is commenting on things
00:32:43.49\00:32:47.24
in scripture. But she doesn't
use the language of scripture,
00:32:47.27\00:32:50.75
because she's actually
interpreting the symbols
00:32:50.78\00:32:53.76
of scripture in
matter of fact language.
00:32:53.79\00:32:55.82
This passage is found in
The Desire of Ages, 833 to 835.
00:32:55.85\00:33:01.49
She says:
00:33:01.52\00:33:03.29
Now we talked about those,
right? those who resurrected
00:33:14.12\00:33:18.50
with Jesus? Are they
ascending with Christ?
00:33:18.53\00:33:21.28
Yes, that's important!
00:33:21.31\00:33:23.14
Now notice:
00:33:28.85\00:33:30.96
Who are those? The angels.
00:33:32.27\00:33:34.68
Notice, the reason why
the angels are not there
00:34:31.45\00:34:33.53
in chapter 4 is because
they've gone to pick up Jesus.
00:34:33.56\00:34:36.70
They're ascending to
heaven with Christ. She says:
00:34:36.73\00:34:39.90
And now listen. Who's
there when Jesus goes in
00:34:48.18\00:34:53.25
to the holy place? She says:
00:34:53.28\00:34:57.14
Do we find that in Revelation,
chapter 4? the throne? Yes.
00:34:58.12\00:35:02.73
Did we see that in
Revelation 4? Absolutely!
00:35:04.90\00:35:07.76
Now the Bible calls
them living creatures.
00:35:11.18\00:35:15.31
Ellen White interprets
the living creatures as what?
00:35:15.34\00:35:19.77
cherubim and seraphim.
00:35:19.80\00:35:21.45
We studied this in one
of the previous lectures.
00:35:21.48\00:35:24.60
And then she identifies
the other group that is there.
00:35:24.63\00:35:27.30
Notice she's identified
the throne, the cherubim,
00:35:27.33\00:35:31.18
and the seraphim, which
are the four living creatures.
00:35:31.21\00:35:33.30
And now she's going to identify
the twenty-four elders. She says
00:35:33.33\00:35:36.68
Question: Are the twenty-four
elders those that resurrected
00:36:03.17\00:36:06.51
with Christ, and went to heaven
when Jesus went to heaven?
00:36:06.54\00:36:09.19
It can't be because the twenty-
four elders, which are angelic
00:36:09.22\00:36:14.85
according to what we
identified last time from
00:36:14.88\00:36:19.62
The Great Controversy,
and several other statements,
00:36:19.65\00:36:21.81
are already there in Revelation,
chapter 4, before Jesus arrives
00:36:21.84\00:36:27.18
in chapter 5. Now she continues
saying, But He waves them back.
00:36:27.21\00:36:31.76
That is Jesus waves
back the heavenly hosts.
00:36:31.79\00:36:33.88
Not yet. He cannot now receive
the coronet of glory in royal
00:36:33.91\00:36:38.59
robe. He enters into
the presence of His Father.
00:36:38.62\00:36:41.28
Revelation simply identifies
Him as the One who was seated
00:36:41.31\00:36:44.49
on the throne. He's
never called the Father.
00:36:44.52\00:36:46.19
Ellen White is interpreting.
00:36:46.22\00:36:47.60
She's saying the One on
the throne is the Father.
00:36:47.63\00:36:49.91
There's a
rainbow over the throne.
00:36:49.94\00:36:51.48
The four living creatures
are cherubim and seraphim.
00:36:51.51\00:36:54.13
And she's saying that the
twenty-four elders are the
00:36:54.16\00:36:56.64
commanders of
the heavenly hosts.
00:36:56.67\00:36:58.36
They are the sons of God.
00:36:58.39\00:36:59.52
Ah, but there's one more
symbol in Revelation, chapter 4,
00:36:59.55\00:37:03.64
and in Revelation, chapter 5.
00:37:03.67\00:37:05.00
Notice what she
continues saying:
00:37:05.03\00:37:07.52
How is Jesus presenting Himself?
00:37:26.63\00:37:28.47
Revelation 5, it says that there
is in the midst of the throne
00:37:28.50\00:37:32.46
a Lamb as though
it had been slain.
00:37:32.49\00:37:35.80
Ellen White does
not speak of a lamb.
00:37:35.83\00:37:38.94
She's interpreting
what the lamb means.
00:37:38.97\00:37:42.53
It's Jesus who is presenting
Himself there. Are you with me?
00:37:42.56\00:37:47.27
We talked about this in
our second presentation.
00:38:27.60\00:38:29.86
Notice it doesn't say that Satan
will be vanquished. She says:
00:39:00.47\00:39:03.46
Listen carefully.
00:39:13.39\00:39:14.42
Are they two different groups?
00:39:18.14\00:39:19.80
Yes, they're two
different groups.
00:39:19.83\00:39:22.16
That is God's people.
00:39:28.26\00:39:29.36
Now she's going to
quote Revelation 5, verse 12,
00:39:57.58\00:39:59.64
in case you were wondering
whether she was actually dealing
00:39:59.67\00:40:02.10
with Revelation 5.
00:40:02.13\00:40:03.19
Are you understanding who
the twenty-four elders are?
00:40:37.90\00:40:42.03
They're angelic, but they're
not part of the angelic hosts.
00:40:42.06\00:40:46.07
They are not human.
00:40:46.10\00:40:48.32
Now, when Jesus ascended there
was somebody missing there.
00:40:48.35\00:40:54.16
You say, Well, who was missing?
00:40:54.19\00:40:57.19
Do you know who was missing
that wasn't present there?
00:40:57.22\00:41:01.68
Satan was not there.
00:41:01.71\00:41:05.86
Who would have normally have
been there when the heavenly
00:41:05.89\00:41:10.56
council was gathered together
for an event that involved
00:41:10.59\00:41:13.21
planet Earth? Satan
would have been there.
00:41:13.24\00:41:17.02
But when you read Revelation
4 and 5, Satan isn't there.
00:41:17.05\00:41:20.82
And the question is,
Why wasn't Satan there?
00:41:20.85\00:41:23.97
The Bible makes that clear.
00:41:24.00\00:41:25.77
John, chapter
12, verses 31 to 33.
00:41:25.80\00:41:29.14
This is happening on Palm Sunday
just before the death of Christ.
00:41:29.17\00:41:33.04
Jesus was going to
die just five days later.
00:41:33.07\00:41:35.55
And I want you to notice
what Jesus said about the devil.
00:41:35.58\00:41:39.78
John 12:31-33, Jesus says:
00:41:39.81\00:41:43.26
Interesting! Jesus is saying,
Now the ruler of this world...
00:41:51.91\00:41:55.66
Who is the ruler of this world?
00:41:55.69\00:41:56.85
At that time the devil!
00:41:56.88\00:41:58.57
Notice it's future. Now what was
going to cast him out? He says:
00:42:00.39\00:42:04.37
So why didn't Satan go
representing planet Earth
00:42:15.71\00:42:18.71
before the heavenly council?
00:42:18.74\00:42:20.18
Like he did in the book of Job.
00:42:20.22\00:42:21.62
Like he did in Chronicles,
as we studied before?
00:42:21.65\00:42:24.20
Because the Earth now had a new
ruler and king, who had defeated
00:42:24.23\00:42:31.55
the one who took
the throne from Adam.
00:42:31.58\00:42:33.98
Several years later John,
in the book of Revelation,
00:42:34.01\00:42:37.68
is reminiscing about
the casting out of Satan.
00:42:37.71\00:42:40.82
Revelation, chapter 12.
00:42:40.85\00:42:42.02
Revelation,
chapter 12 and verse 12,
00:42:42.06\00:42:46.02
we find this,
(actually verses 10 through 12,
00:42:46.06\00:42:49.09
but you'll only read a
portion of that passage.
00:42:49.12\00:42:50.97
This is happening at the
cross according to the context.
00:42:53.64\00:42:56.37
Was the devil an accuser of
the brethren in the days of Job?
00:43:11.15\00:43:14.01
You better believe he was!
00:43:14.04\00:43:15.96
But now the accuser of
the brethren, at the cross,
00:43:15.99\00:43:19.99
was cast down. So the
question is, Who then is the new
00:43:20.02\00:43:24.62
representative of planet Earth?
00:43:24.65\00:43:27.40
It is Jesus Christ!
00:43:27.43\00:43:29.19
Let's notice a few details
about Christ to see if He fits
00:43:29.22\00:43:33.69
the same
description of the elders.
00:43:33.72\00:43:35.86
1 Corinthians,
chapter 15, and verse 22.
00:43:35.89\00:43:40.09
1 Corinthians,
chapter 15, verse 22.
00:43:40.12\00:43:43.09
Jesus is being
compared to the first Adam.
00:43:43.12\00:43:46.81
It says there:
00:43:46.84\00:43:47.87
Two Adams being compared.
00:43:57.56\00:43:59.14
Jesus is the new Adam.
00:43:59.17\00:44:00.80
The last Adam, the
second Adam, if you please.
00:44:00.83\00:44:03.59
1 Corinthians,
chapter 15, and verse 45.
00:44:03.62\00:44:06.47
One more text: Romans,
chapter 5, and verse 18.
00:44:16.58\00:44:20.66
So Jesus is spoken of
as Adam; as the last Adam.
00:44:35.52\00:44:40.56
Now, is Jesus
called the Son of God?
00:44:40.60\00:44:44.92
He most certainly is!
00:44:44.95\00:44:47.02
Notice Luke,
chapter 1, and verse 35.
00:44:47.05\00:44:50.10
Luke, chapter 1, verse 35.
00:44:50.13\00:44:52.40
Not that Jesus wasn't the Son of
God before, but when He became
00:44:52.43\00:44:56.37
a man, He became the Son
of God in a special sense;
00:44:56.41\00:44:59.11
in the sense of His humanity.
00:44:59.15\00:45:01.53
Notice Luke 1, verse 35.
00:45:01.57\00:45:03.86
This is the
annunciation to Mary.
00:45:03.89\00:45:06.31
Was Adam called the son of God?
00:45:21.89\00:45:23.25
Yes! He was a man that
came into existence by creation.
00:45:23.28\00:45:27.79
Now Jesus is
called the Son of God
00:45:27.82\00:45:29.65
because He's the second Adam.
00:45:29.69\00:45:31.12
He comes into the world not
as other human beings come in,
00:45:31.16\00:45:35.58
but as a direct creation of God
placing Him in the womb of Mary.
00:45:35.61\00:45:40.54
Ellen White says in Volume 1
of Selected Messages, page 226,
00:45:40.57\00:45:45.46
that when Jesus
became incarnate she says:
00:45:45.50\00:45:48.32
That is speaking
about Luke 1, verse 35.
00:45:51.26\00:45:55.15
And so Jesus is the last Adam.
00:46:02.53\00:46:06.44
Jesus is the Son of God.
00:46:06.47\00:46:09.25
Let me ask you, Is
Jesus also king at present?
00:46:09.28\00:46:13.75
Does He sit on a throne?
00:46:13.79\00:46:16.30
Yes, He does! Go with
me to Hebrews chapter 4,
00:46:16.34\00:46:19.36
and verse 16. Hebrews,
chapter 4, and verse 16.
00:46:19.40\00:46:22.51
Here we find the Apostle
Paul, whom I believe to behind
00:46:22.55\00:46:26.05
the book of Hebrews.
00:46:26.09\00:46:27.23
Now Jesus is king, but He's
king of the kingdom of grace.
00:46:37.07\00:46:40.12
Later on He will be
king of the kingdom of glory.
00:46:40.16\00:46:43.87
Notice in the book,
God's Amazing Grace, page 68,
00:46:43.91\00:46:47.59
Ellen White amplifies what
we just read from Hebrews 4.
00:46:47.62\00:46:50.59
She says:
00:46:50.63\00:46:51.66
And so Jesus is the new
king, and He has a kingdom,
00:47:02.64\00:47:06.34
and He's crowned with
a crown over this realm.
00:47:06.38\00:47:09.33
In Acts of the Apostles,
page 38, Ellen White makes this
00:47:09.37\00:47:13.64
interesting comment about what
happened to Jesus when He went
00:47:13.67\00:47:17.58
to heaven, and when
He was finally installed
00:47:17.61\00:47:20.61
as our high priest.
This is what she says:
00:47:20.64\00:47:22.71
They were to wait
for the Holy Spirit.
00:47:33.79\00:47:35.15
She continues saying:
00:47:35.18\00:47:36.21
We just read in The Desire
of Ages about that. Notice this:
00:47:38.45\00:47:41.57
What happened with Jesus?
00:47:46.48\00:47:48.42
He was what? enthroned.
00:47:48.46\00:47:50.33
So He must have
become a what? a king.
00:47:50.37\00:47:54.64
She continues saying:
00:47:54.68\00:47:55.71
Now listen to this:
00:48:19.40\00:48:20.68
Question: Was Jesus the
new head and representative
00:48:34.32\00:48:39.93
of the human race?
00:48:39.97\00:48:41.00
I'm just going to give you
this reference for you to read
00:48:41.03\00:48:45.17
because time is of the essence.
00:48:45.20\00:48:47.22
If you go to Psalm 8, verses
3 to 5, that we already read
00:48:47.25\00:48:51.03
before; remember that it speaks
about Adam being crowned with
00:48:51.06\00:48:54.81
glory and splendor,
and being given dominion?
00:48:54.84\00:48:57.59
Clearly the context of
Psalm 8; its talking about the
00:48:57.63\00:49:00.88
creation of Adam. But the
interesting detail is that the
00:49:00.92\00:49:04.14
same passage from Psalm
8 is quoted in Hebrews 2,
00:49:04.17\00:49:08.18
verses 5 through 9. But
in Hebrews 2, 5 through 9,
00:49:08.22\00:49:12.19
that passage that is applied
to Adam in Psalm 8 is applied to
00:49:12.23\00:49:16.85
Jesus Christ in the book of
Hebrews, which means that Jesus
00:49:16.88\00:49:21.08
is the new Adam, created to
occupy the position of Adam,
00:49:21.11\00:49:25.30
to redeem the position
that man lost at the beginning.
00:49:25.33\00:49:28.85
Allow me to read you, also, some
statements from Ellen White.
00:49:28.88\00:49:31.63
Isn't it amazing how Ellen
White is so much in harmony
00:49:31.67\00:49:34.22
with scripture? Listen to this:
00:49:34.25\00:49:35.98
Signs of the Times,
June 11, 1894. She says:
00:49:36.01\00:49:40.53
Now listen.
00:50:03.55\00:50:04.58
Here's another one: Signs
of the Times, January 16, 1896.
00:50:09.21\00:50:13.43
She says:
00:50:13.46\00:50:14.49
Let's read a couple more.
00:50:30.46\00:50:31.84
Manuscript 126, 1901. She says:
00:50:31.87\00:50:35.66
And one final one: The Gospel
Herald, March 1, 1901. She says:
00:50:53.67\00:50:57.92
So in whose place
is Jesus standing now?
00:51:06.65\00:51:09.70
In the place that
originally was given to whom?
00:51:09.73\00:51:12.17
To Adam and was
taken away from whom?
00:51:12.20\00:51:14.90
From the devil. She says:
00:51:14.93\00:51:17.61
Now we need to answer one final
question before we bring this
00:51:29.52\00:51:33.26
to a close. Have you
understood what we've studied?
00:51:33.29\00:51:36.17
It's amazing how, when
you've studied scripture,
00:51:36.20\00:51:39.07
and you've studied the
Spirit of Prophecy together,
00:51:39.10\00:51:40.98
how everything becomes clear.
00:51:41.02\00:51:42.73
I want to end with one question.
00:51:42.76\00:51:44.41
Will Adam ever be placed on
the throne that he lost again?
00:51:44.44\00:51:48.50
I want to read you a
thrilling passage that is found
00:51:48.54\00:51:52.77
in the book, The
Great Controversy, page 647.
00:51:52.81\00:51:56.03
If this doesn't make
your skin tingle nothing will.
00:51:56.06\00:52:00.21
Listen to what she says.
00:52:00.24\00:52:02.13
She's speaking about
when the two Adams meet
00:52:02.16\00:52:04.89
eventually in heaven. She says:
00:52:04.92\00:52:06.86
You can imagine! People saying,
Oh, we're in this mess because
00:53:26.55\00:53:30.36
of you! If you hadn't sinned
we wouldn't be in this mess!
00:53:30.39\00:53:34.66
She continues saying...
00:53:34.70\00:53:36.09
By the way, those
were my inspiration.
00:53:36.13\00:53:37.68
She continues saying:
00:53:37.72\00:53:39.28
Now listen to this:
00:53:57.73\00:53:58.83
Is Adam going to
occupy the throne again?
00:54:10.34\00:54:13.70
Yes, he is going to
occupy the throne again.
00:54:13.73\00:54:17.02
And it's all because Jesus had
to come down and fight against
00:54:17.06\00:54:22.82
the tempter. Against he
who took the throne from Adam.
00:54:22.85\00:54:26.15
He had to take the throne from
the devil so that He could give
00:54:26.19\00:54:30.32
it back to Adam, and to all
of those who accept Jesus Christ
00:54:30.35\00:54:34.34
as Savior and Lord.
00:54:34.37\00:54:35.40
I don't know, folks, about
you, but its comforting to me
00:54:35.43\00:54:39.55
to know that that old accuser,
who always was going to heaven
00:54:39.58\00:54:44.77
to accuse God's people,
to give them a black eye,
00:54:44.81\00:54:48.07
to make them look
bad, has been cast down.
00:54:48.10\00:54:51.36
And now planet Earth is
represented by Jesus Christ.
00:54:51.40\00:54:56.92
The Bible tells us that we have
an advocate with the Father,
00:54:56.95\00:55:01.88
Jesus Christ the righteous.
00:55:01.91\00:55:04.58
Its comforting, I'm sure, for
the heavenly intelligences also,
00:55:04.62\00:55:08.06
that they don't have to put
up with the rants, and ravings
00:55:08.09\00:55:11.78
of this foe of God.
00:55:11.81\00:55:13.64
But, you know, the conflict
in this world continues,
00:55:13.67\00:55:17.21
doesn't it? You know, right
after that text that I read in
00:55:17.24\00:55:21.16
Revelation, chapter 12,
where it says the accuser of our
00:55:21.20\00:55:25.09
brethren has been cast down,
it says, Rejoice ye heavens,
00:55:25.12\00:55:28.98
and ye who dwell in them.
00:55:29.02\00:55:30.16
Notice, ye heavens,
and ye who dwell in them.
00:55:30.19\00:55:32.99
You're talking about not
only one world, this world,
00:55:33.03\00:55:36.62
you're talking about heavens,
and all those who dwell in them;
00:55:36.66\00:55:39.91
In all of the heavens!
00:55:39.94\00:55:41.12
Ah, but then the tone changes,
because He goes on to say,
00:55:41.16\00:55:46.00
Whoa! Notice, rejoice heaven!
00:55:46.04\00:55:49.92
The past is gone, but woe to the
the inhabitants of the earth,
00:55:49.95\00:55:55.45
and the sea; for the
devil has come down to you,
00:55:55.48\00:55:58.84
because he's
been cast out right?
00:55:58.88\00:56:00.48
The devil has come down
to you having great wrath
00:56:00.52\00:56:04.62
because he knows
that his time is short.
00:56:04.65\00:56:09.04
So folks, the twenty-four elders
play a very important function
00:56:09.07\00:56:14.54
in the universe.
God has a representative
00:56:14.58\00:56:19.02
style of government.
00:56:19.05\00:56:20.08
And the worlds of the universe
have their representatives
00:56:20.11\00:56:23.86
in the heavenly council.
00:56:23.90\00:56:25.60
God knows everything.
00:56:25.63\00:56:27.30
God could dictate everything.
00:56:27.33\00:56:29.21
God could do everything.
00:56:29.25\00:56:30.77
But God cares about
what His creatures think.
00:56:30.80\00:56:35.72
And God involves them in His
administration of the universe.
00:56:35.75\00:56:42.09
What a wonderful God we have!
00:56:42.12\00:56:44.14
Now we have some technical
matters that we have to deal
00:56:44.17\00:56:46.50
with yet. And this
will be in our next lecture.
00:56:46.53\00:56:49.27
Now, Pastor, wait a minute!
00:56:49.31\00:56:51.52
Doesn't Revelation 5, 9 and
10, tell us that the twenty-four
00:56:51.55\00:56:56.12
elders were redeemed from the
Earth, and that they shall reign
00:56:56.16\00:57:00.26
upon the Earth? How can you say
then that the twenty-four elders
00:57:00.30\00:57:04.37
are angels? If it says there
clearly that the twenty-four
00:57:04.41\00:57:09.26
elders were redeemed from
the earth, and they shall reign
00:57:09.30\00:57:14.12
upon the earth? Is it
perhaps that the translation
00:57:14.15\00:57:19.12
that we find in the King
James Version is not the proper
00:57:19.15\00:57:23.46
and correct translation?
00:57:23.49\00:57:24.84
In our next study together
we will deal with some technical
00:57:24.87\00:57:28.31
matters that are very important
to define in this study
00:57:28.34\00:57:31.75
that we are going through.
00:57:31.78\00:57:32.81