Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:33.97\00:00:35.39
Once again, Father, we
come before Your throne boldly
00:00:35.42\00:00:39.48
this evening in the name
of Jesus, requesting that You
00:00:39.51\00:00:43.64
will be present in our
midst through the ministry
00:00:43.67\00:00:46.35
of the Holy Spirit; that You
will help us to understand what
00:00:46.38\00:00:49.83
we are going to study.
00:00:49.86\00:00:50.89
And as we study
today and tomorrow,
00:00:50.92\00:00:53.59
we ask that You
will help us understand
00:00:53.62\00:00:56.69
not only academically who
the twenty-four elders are,
00:00:56.72\00:01:00.43
but how they are
occupied in fulfilling Your will
00:01:00.46\00:01:05.23
in the universe, and the lessons
that we can learn from the way
00:01:05.26\00:01:09.26
in which they work.
00:01:09.29\00:01:10.44
And so be with us.
00:01:10.47\00:01:11.51
And we thank You,
Lord, for hearing our prayer,
00:01:11.54\00:01:14.04
for we ask it in
Jesus' name. Amen.
00:01:14.07\00:01:17.27
Now in our last study together
we analyzed the characteristics
00:01:17.30\00:01:23.99
of the twenty-four elders.
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And we noticed that
according to scripture,
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and the Spirit of Prophecy, the
twenty-four elders are strong
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angels. They are the highest
of angels that have been placed
00:01:33.14\00:01:38.10
to represent the
worlds that never sinned.
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Now we noticed the
characteristics that identify
00:01:41.64\00:01:46.13
the twenty-four elders.
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But today we are going
to look at the same subject,
00:01:47.22\00:01:51.09
but from a
different perspective.
00:01:51.12\00:01:53.41
What we're going to do is
follow a process of elimination.
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We're going to show who
the twenty-four elders are not,
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because sometimes by
knowing who they are not,
00:02:03.02\00:02:06.63
we can know who they are.
00:02:06.66\00:02:08.52
So we're looking at it
from two different perspectives:
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Who they are,
and who they are not.
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Now we want to begin by noticing
that the twenty-four elders
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are not cherubim or seraphim.
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Go with me in your
Bibles to Revelation, chapter 4,
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and verse 4, where the twenty-
four elders are described.
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It says there:
00:02:31.29\00:02:32.52
So notice, the twenty-four
elders are sitting on thrones,
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and they have
crowns on their heads,
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and they're around the throne.
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Now lets go to Revelation,
chapter 4, and verse 6.
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Here's another group.
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This is a distinct group.
00:02:57.93\00:02:59.50
It says in verse 6:
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And then let's go to verse
8 where these living creatures
00:03:12.87\00:03:16.37
are identified.
It says in verse 8:
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Now we already noticed in
Isaiah, chapter 6, verses 1
00:03:35.32\00:03:39.58
to 3, creatures that
have 6 wings are seraphim.
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And in Isaiah 6, the seraphim
are singing, holy, holy, holy,
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just like the four
living creatures are here
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in Revelation, chapter 4.
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So very clearly Revelation 4
shows us that the twenty-four
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elders, who are sitting on
thrones, and have crowns on
00:03:59.93\00:04:02.53
their heads, are distinct and
different than the four living
00:04:02.56\00:04:07.08
creatures that are in
the midst of the throne.
00:04:07.11\00:04:10.27
They are two different groups.
00:04:10.30\00:04:12.12
So the twenty-four elders
are not cherubim or seraphim.
00:04:12.15\00:04:15.94
Now here's another question.
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Are the twenty-four elders
part of the angelic hosts?
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The ten thousand times
ten thousand, and thousands of
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thousands of angels that
stand around the throne of God.
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Can we say that the elders are
the same as the angelic hosts?
00:04:30.20\00:04:35.24
Once again, No. These twenty-
four elders are not part of the
00:04:35.27\00:04:41.21
throng of angels that
surround God's throne.
00:04:41.24\00:04:44.22
Go with me to Revelation,
chapter 5, and verses 11 and 12.
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Revelation 5, verses 11 and
12, where the twenty-four elders
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are distinguished
from the angelic hosts.
00:04:53.69\00:04:55.91
It says there,
in Revelation 5:11:
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Question, are the
twenty-four elders part
00:05:24.57\00:05:27.31
of the angelic hosts?
00:05:27.34\00:05:28.68
Absolutely not, because we're
told here, I looked and heard
00:05:28.71\00:05:33.96
the voice of many
angels around the throne,
00:05:33.99\00:05:37.74
the living
creatures, and the elders.
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The throng is
distinguished from the elders,
00:05:41.42\00:05:45.13
so the elders are not
part of the ten thousand,
00:05:45.16\00:05:48.84
times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands
00:05:48.87\00:05:52.01
of angels. Now somebody might
be saying, Well, Pastor Bohr,
00:05:52.04\00:05:55.87
maybe the twenty-four elders are
part of the hosts that cannot
00:05:55.90\00:06:00.01
be numbered from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:06:00.04\00:06:03.24
Perhaps the twenty-four
elders belong to that group
00:06:03.27\00:06:06.14
from every nation on earth.
00:06:06.17\00:06:07.73
Once again, the answer is no.
00:06:07.76\00:06:10.37
Notice, Revelation, chapter
7; Revelation, chapter 7,
00:06:10.40\00:06:14.80
and verses 13 and 14.
00:06:14.83\00:06:17.25
Revelation 7, verses 13 and 14.
00:06:17.28\00:06:20.54
We covered this conversation
in a previous study together.
00:06:20.57\00:06:25.36
John sees, in verse
9, this great multitude,
00:06:25.39\00:06:30.04
which no one can number, from
every nation, kindred, tongue,
00:06:30.07\00:06:34.01
and people. And so then one
of the elders speaks to John.
00:06:34.04\00:06:37.67
And I want you to notice
what he says in verse 13.
00:06:37.70\00:06:40.21
Question: are the twenty-four
elders part of the unnumbered
00:06:53.78\00:06:58.75
hosts from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people?
00:06:58.78\00:07:01.83
Absolutely not, because the
elder is asking the question
00:07:01.86\00:07:06.36
of John, who that group is.
00:07:06.39\00:07:08.61
In other words, the elder does
not belong to the unnumbered
00:07:08.64\00:07:13.29
hosts from every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people.
00:07:13.32\00:07:18.27
Now you're probably
wondering then why Revelation 5,
00:07:18.30\00:07:21.74
verses 9 and 10, tells us
that the twenty-four elders
00:07:21.77\00:07:26.40
were redeemed from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:07:26.43\00:07:30.28
We're going to cover that
issue a little bit later on.
00:07:30.31\00:07:32.89
Are you understanding so far?
00:07:32.92\00:07:34.75
Are the elders part
of the angelic hosts? No.
00:07:34.78\00:07:39.81
Are they part of the
cherubim and seraphim? No.
00:07:39.84\00:07:43.75
Are they part of the unnumbered
throng from every nation,
00:07:43.78\00:07:47.08
kindred, tongue, and people?
00:07:47.11\00:07:48.33
No, because the elder
is asking about that group.
00:07:48.36\00:07:52.54
Now somebody might
say, Well, Pastor Bohr,
00:07:52.57\00:07:55.41
maybe the twenty-four elders
is a different way of describing
00:07:55.44\00:07:59.33
the 144,000. Now the 144,000
are those who will be alive
00:07:59.36\00:08:04.31
when Jesus comes. Notice
that that's not possible.
00:08:04.34\00:08:07.91
Revelation 14, and verse 3.
00:08:07.94\00:08:12.74
Speaking about
the 144,000, it says:
00:08:12.77\00:08:16.31
Question: Are the
144,000 distinguished
00:08:32.95\00:08:36.99
from the twenty-four
elders in this verse?
00:08:37.02\00:08:39.40
Absolutely, because we're
told that they sang a new song
00:08:39.43\00:08:43.09
before the throne, before
the four living creatures,
00:08:43.12\00:08:46.44
and before the elders.
00:08:46.47\00:08:48.07
So the 144,000 are not
the twenty-four elders.
00:08:48.10\00:08:52.91
Now let's ask the question: Are
the twenty-four elders those who
00:08:52.94\00:08:59.22
resurrect in the special
resurrection immediately before
00:08:59.25\00:09:03.23
the second
coming of Jesus Christ?
00:09:03.26\00:09:04.95
Now you know that there's going
to be a special resurrection
00:09:04.98\00:09:07.66
according to Daniel,
chapter 12, and verse 2.
00:09:07.69\00:09:10.12
Also Revelation 1, verse 7 tells
us that those who pierced Jesus
00:09:10.15\00:09:14.84
will resurrect. And there will
be a group of righteous people,
00:09:14.87\00:09:18.15
according to
Revelation 14, verse 13.
00:09:18.18\00:09:20.40
Those who died once the message
of the third angel began to be
00:09:20.43\00:09:24.60
proclaimed, that are
going to resurrect shortly,
00:09:24.63\00:09:27.18
before the arrival of
Jesus at His second coming.
00:09:27.21\00:09:30.17
So the question is, could
the twenty-four elders perhaps
00:09:30.20\00:09:34.44
be those who are going
to resurrect in that special
00:09:34.47\00:09:37.20
resurrection shortly,
or immediately, before the
00:09:37.23\00:09:40.49
second coming of Christ?
00:09:40.52\00:09:41.55
It can't be. Notice
Daniel, chapter 12, and verse 1,
00:09:41.58\00:09:46.95
and also verse 2. It says:
00:09:46.98\00:09:49.61
Of course, Michael
is a name for Christ.
00:09:52.50\00:09:55.00
Now, is this talking about the
end time of trouble? Yes it is.
00:10:10.74\00:10:14.95
Is it talking about the
deliverance of God's people
00:10:14.98\00:10:18.39
from being annihilated
from planet Earth? Absolutely!
00:10:18.42\00:10:22.10
It's something that is
going to happen in the future,
00:10:22.13\00:10:24.52
shortly before the
second coming of Christ.
00:10:24.55\00:10:26.94
And then notice
what we find in verse 2.
00:10:26.97\00:10:29.78
Now, my question is, could
these people who are going to
00:10:40.44\00:10:44.58
resurrect in this
special resurrection,
00:10:44.61\00:10:46.66
perhaps be the
twenty-four elders?
00:10:46.69\00:10:48.76
They can't be. And you
say, Why can't they be?
00:10:48.79\00:10:52.78
Very simple.
According to what we've studied,
00:10:52.81\00:10:56.23
when Jesus arrived in heaven
the twenty-four elders were
00:10:56.26\00:11:00.53
already there. So they cannot
be those who resurrect shortly
00:11:00.56\00:11:04.88
before the second coming
of Jesus, if they were already
00:11:04.91\00:11:07.86
in heaven when Jesus ascended
and went to the holy place.
00:11:07.89\00:11:11.14
Are you understanding my point?
00:11:11.17\00:11:12.20
So they cannot be those
who resurrect in the special
00:11:12.23\00:11:16.37
resurrection that is
spoken of in Daniel, chapter 12,
00:11:16.40\00:11:19.75
and verse 2. Somebody might say,
Well, maybe it's another symbol
00:11:19.78\00:11:24.23
to refer to those who
will come forth in the general
00:11:24.26\00:11:27.76
resurrection when
Jesus is above the Earth
00:11:27.79\00:11:30.45
at His second coming.
00:11:30.63\00:11:31.69
Perhaps they are those
who are alive and remain
00:11:31.72\00:11:34.87
when Jesus comes.
Well, let's read about that
00:11:34.90\00:11:37.75
in 1 Thessalonians,
chapter 4, and verses 15 to 17.
00:11:37.78\00:11:42.23
1 Thessalonians,
chapter 4, verses 15 through 17.
00:11:42.26\00:11:45.75
The Apostle Paul says there:
00:11:45.78\00:11:48.94
So my question is, Can the
twenty-four elders perhaps be
00:12:19.00\00:12:22.33
a way of defining, or a way
of describing, those who will
00:12:22.36\00:12:26.97
resurrect when Jesus comes?
or perhaps the living saints
00:12:27.00\00:12:30.18
when Jesus
comes? Absolutely not.
00:12:30.21\00:12:33.02
And you say, Why not?
00:12:33.05\00:12:34.62
Once again, because when Jesus
went to heaven at His ascension
00:12:34.65\00:12:39.70
the twenty-four elders
were already present there.
00:12:39.73\00:12:42.75
According to this passage the
righteous dead will resurrect
00:12:42.78\00:12:46.62
when Jesus comes, and
the righteous living will be
00:12:46.65\00:12:49.56
transformed when Jesus comes.
00:12:49.59\00:12:51.24
They were not in heaven when
Jesus arrived at His ascension.
00:12:51.27\00:12:54.76
Are you understanding my point?
00:12:54.79\00:12:55.88
Now, there's one further
group that we need to mention
00:12:55.91\00:12:59.18
that perhaps could be
the twenty-four elders,
00:12:59.21\00:13:01.46
and this is the one that
is usually identified with the
00:13:01.49\00:13:04.90
twenty-four elders; Those
who resurrected with Jesus
00:13:04.93\00:13:09.17
when Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:13:09.20\00:13:11.14
We've already
talked about this group.
00:13:11.17\00:13:13.28
They're described in the
last three pages of the book,
00:13:13.31\00:13:15.82
The Desire of Ages. They're
also described in Matthew 27,
00:13:15.85\00:13:19.65
and verses 51 to 53.
00:13:19.68\00:13:21.54
Now my question is, Can the
twenty-four elders be this group
00:13:21.57\00:13:26.11
that resurrected with Christ,
and went to heaven when Jesus
00:13:26.14\00:13:30.52
ascended? No! You say, Why not?
00:13:30.55\00:13:34.02
Because, once again, the
twenty-four elders were present
00:13:34.05\00:13:38.36
there before Jesus arrived with
those who resurrected with Him.
00:13:38.39\00:13:44.02
And so, basically, we've
disqualified practically every
00:13:44.05\00:13:49.65
being in the universe
that is mentioned in the Bible.
00:13:49.68\00:13:52.67
Are the twenty-four elders
part of the angelic hosts? No.
00:13:52.70\00:13:57.58
Are they
cherubim and seraphim? No.
00:13:57.61\00:14:00.53
Are they the living
saints when Jesus comes? No.
00:14:00.56\00:14:03.68
Are they the saints that are
resurrected when Jesus comes?
00:14:03.71\00:14:06.80
No. Are they the ones
that resurrected in the special
00:14:06.83\00:14:09.68
resurrection? No. Are they the
ones that went to heaven with
00:14:09.71\00:14:13.14
Jesus at His ascension? No.
00:14:13.17\00:14:15.17
I don't know of any
other category of human beings,
00:14:15.20\00:14:19.46
or of angels, unless the twenty-
four elders are a category
00:14:19.49\00:14:24.70
of being that is
different than any human group,
00:14:24.73\00:14:29.54
or than any angelic group.
00:14:29.57\00:14:32.26
And we've already identified
the twenty-four elders as those
00:14:32.29\00:14:36.45
who what? those who represent
the worlds that never sinned.
00:14:36.48\00:14:43.28
So you see there are
two ways of looking at this.
00:14:43.31\00:14:46.11
One way is to give
the characteristics of the
00:14:46.14\00:14:48.92
twenty-four elders and
say, they're the sons of God,
00:14:48.95\00:14:51.96
the representatives of
the worlds that never sinned.
00:14:51.99\00:14:54.45
That we do by looking at
the positive characteristics.
00:14:54.48\00:14:57.63
But then as we've
started our study today,
00:14:57.66\00:15:00.55
we're studied it from the other
perspective, by a process of
00:15:00.58\00:15:03.95
elimination, we've eliminated
all of the groups of human
00:15:03.98\00:15:07.55
beings that are going
to be alive and resurrect,
00:15:07.58\00:15:10.11
and we've also disqualified
cherubim, and seraphim,
00:15:10.14\00:15:13.34
and the angelic throng.
00:15:13.37\00:15:14.56
So the twenty-four
elders must be a special group.
00:15:14.59\00:15:17.57
And that's exactly what we've
studied here in the last couple
00:15:17.60\00:15:21.89
of studies together.
00:15:21.92\00:15:23.52
Now, somebody might say, but
Pastor Bohr, how do you explain
00:15:23.55\00:15:28.77
the passage of Revelation,
chapter 5, and verses 8 through
00:15:28.80\00:15:32.49
10? Let's go there for a
moment, because this passage,
00:15:32.52\00:15:36.26
more than any other, has led
Adventists to conclude that the
00:15:36.29\00:15:40.96
twenty-four elders are human.
00:15:40.99\00:15:43.16
We've already noticed that Ellen
White clearly says that they are
00:15:43.19\00:15:46.12
not human. Ellen White says
that they are the highest of
00:15:46.15\00:15:49.47
angels. They are strong angels
that represent the worlds.
00:15:49.50\00:15:53.19
Ellen White settles that issue.
00:15:53.22\00:15:54.78
And we also studied it from
the perspective of scripture.
00:15:54.81\00:15:57.57
But somebody might say, Well,
how do you explain Revelation 5,
00:15:57.60\00:16:02.17
and verses 8 through 10 then?
00:16:02.20\00:16:04.26
Well, let's take a look at that
passage and see what the problem
00:16:04.29\00:16:08.44
is. It says there in Revelation
5, and verses 8 through 10,
00:16:08.47\00:16:13.29
This is the one who
is sitting on the throne.
00:16:15.64\00:16:17.69
Now I want you to notice
that there are two groups here
00:16:33.21\00:16:36.30
that are mentioned: the
four living creatures, and whom?
00:16:36.33\00:16:40.83
and the
twenty-four elders, right?
00:16:40.86\00:16:42.42
Both groups are
going to sing this song.
00:16:42.45\00:16:45.57
That's an important detail.
00:16:45.60\00:16:47.32
Notice what we find following.
00:16:47.35\00:16:50.47
It says, once again, and
when He had taken the book,
00:16:50.50\00:16:53.63
the four beasts, and the
four and twenty elders fell down
00:16:53.66\00:16:57.06
before the Lamb having every
one of them harps and golden
00:16:57.09\00:17:00.54
vials full of odors, which
are the prayers of the saints,
00:17:00.57\00:17:03.45
and they sang a
new song saying...
00:17:03.48\00:17:06.42
Who's singing the song?
00:17:06.45\00:17:07.75
The elders and the four living
creatures, according to the
00:17:07.78\00:17:12.86
context. Now listen to the song.
00:17:12.89\00:17:15.07
I'm reading from the King James.
00:17:23.90\00:17:25.36
Now do you see
where the problem is?
00:17:43.14\00:17:44.60
It tells us here that
the four living creatures,
00:17:44.63\00:17:48.09
and the twenty-four
elders are singing the song.
00:17:48.12\00:17:51.69
And in this song they
are singing, You redeemed us.
00:17:51.72\00:17:55.46
They are singing, You
have made us kings and priests,
00:17:55.49\00:17:59.61
and we are going to
reign upon the earth.
00:17:59.64\00:18:02.10
So you say there
is a discrepancy here.
00:18:02.13\00:18:04.91
Ellen White on one side says
that these are strong angels.
00:18:04.94\00:18:08.34
They're the highest angels.
00:18:08.37\00:18:09.69
And yet we find here in
Revelation 5, verses 8 thru 10,
00:18:09.72\00:18:13.90
that it gives the impression
that the twenty-four elders
00:18:13.93\00:18:16.68
were redeemed from the earth.
00:18:16.71\00:18:18.02
Now allow me to say one thing
before we take a closer look
00:18:18.05\00:18:22.56
at this. Who are the
four living creatures?
00:18:22.59\00:18:26.91
We've already
studied who they are, right?
00:18:26.94\00:18:28.55
The four living
creatures are what? seraphim.
00:18:28.58\00:18:32.78
Now here's my question.
00:18:32.81\00:18:33.87
Were the seraphim
redeemed from the earth?
00:18:33.90\00:18:38.28
Are the seraphim going
to be kings upon the earth?
00:18:38.31\00:18:42.51
Are they going to
reign upon the earth? No!
00:18:42.54\00:18:45.23
And yet they're singing
this song, are they not?
00:18:45.26\00:18:48.80
So we immediately find
the problem with the idea
00:18:48.84\00:18:52.34
that the
twenty-four elders are human,
00:18:52.38\00:18:56.02
because not only are the
twenty-four elders singing
00:18:56.05\00:18:58.83
this song, but the four living
creatures, representing seraphim
00:18:58.86\00:19:02.53
are singing this song.
00:19:02.56\00:19:03.73
And the seraphim were
not redeemed from the earth,
00:19:03.77\00:19:07.00
and they are not going
to reign upon the earth.
00:19:07.03\00:19:09.49
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:19:09.52\00:19:10.93
So immediately we say, there
must be a different explanation
00:19:10.97\00:19:14.72
to this problem. Now
what is the explanation?
00:19:14.75\00:19:17.46
Well, let me just share with you
something about Bible versions.
00:19:17.50\00:19:22.65
And I don't want to
be misunderstood by what
00:19:22.68\00:19:25.96
I'm going to say. But
I'm going to say it anyway,
00:19:25.99\00:19:28.19
because I firmly believe
it in the depths of my heart.
00:19:28.22\00:19:31.77
And right now I'm writing
a couple of articles for a
00:19:31.80\00:19:35.27
Secrets Unsealed newsletter that
deals with Bible translations,
00:19:35.31\00:19:38.76
and Bible versions, because
there's a lot of confusion
00:19:38.80\00:19:42.40
out there about Bible
versions and translations.
00:19:42.43\00:19:45.38
Allow me to tell you that
I personally believe that the
00:19:45.42\00:19:48.65
King James version is
a very good translation.
00:19:48.69\00:19:52.50
I believe that the manuscripts
that were used to translate the
00:19:52.53\00:19:58.21
King James version
are very good manuscripts.
00:19:58.24\00:20:01.52
Actually, the manuscript trail
that the King James translation
00:20:01.56\00:20:06.51
comes from is
called the Textus Receptus.
00:20:06.55\00:20:08.97
And I believe that that
manuscript trail is very,
00:20:09.00\00:20:12.55
very good. I also believe
that the King James version is a
00:20:12.58\00:20:17.28
masterful use of
Victorian English.
00:20:17.31\00:20:19.69
I mean, many people have
memorized the texts from the
00:20:19.72\00:20:23.05
King James version, and they
can repeat them from memory.
00:20:23.08\00:20:26.45
The King James version is
a great version of the Bible,
00:20:26.48\00:20:30.03
and yet it is not a
perfect version of the Bible.
00:20:30.06\00:20:35.67
The Textus Receptus is, first
of all, not a perfect manuscript
00:20:35.70\00:20:40.80
trail, and the King James
translation is not a perfect
00:20:40.83\00:20:44.74
translation. Unfortunately,
some people revere
00:20:44.77\00:20:48.82
the King James version so much
that they almost feel like it
00:20:48.85\00:20:52.86
was verbally dictated by God.
00:20:52.89\00:20:54.97
And anybody who amends, or makes
any changes, to the King James
00:20:55.00\00:20:59.34
translation is accused some
times of being a Jesuit plant
00:20:59.37\00:21:04.79
in the church. Now I want
to make it clear that I believe
00:21:04.82\00:21:08.75
that the King James
version is a very good version.
00:21:08.78\00:21:11.14
Its a good translation.
00:21:11.17\00:21:12.22
It comes from a good manuscript
trail, but the Textus Receptus,
00:21:12.25\00:21:17.90
in the process of
transmission, is not perfect.
00:21:17.93\00:21:21.94
Neither is the King James
version that was translated
00:21:21.97\00:21:25.79
from the manuscripts of the
Textus Receptus perfect either.
00:21:25.82\00:21:30.78
Now, let me give you an example
that sometimes modern versions
00:21:30.81\00:21:36.86
are better at translation
than the King James version.
00:21:36.89\00:21:41.10
Let's go, as our
example, to Acts, chapter 2,
00:21:41.13\00:21:44.80
and verses 25 to
27. Acts 2:25-27.
00:21:44.83\00:21:50.35
And I'm a very practical person.
00:21:50.38\00:21:52.15
Don't anybody take this to mean
that I'm disrespecting the King
00:21:52.18\00:21:56.50
King James version; I don't
like the King James version,
00:21:56.53\00:21:58.93
that I think that the King
James version is full of errors,
00:21:58.96\00:22:01.93
and mistakes. No, what
I'm saying is that sometimes
00:22:01.96\00:22:04.62
modern versions
translate the manuscripts better
00:22:04.65\00:22:08.66
than the King James.
00:22:08.69\00:22:09.72
Notice what we find in
Acts 2, verses 25 to 27,
00:22:09.75\00:22:13.64
in the King James version.
00:22:13.67\00:22:15.22
This is how it reads.
00:22:15.25\00:22:18.01
It's speaking about
the resurrection of Christ,
00:22:18.04\00:22:20.03
and His death, and His
period in the tomb. It says:
00:22:20.06\00:22:23.22
This is Jesus speaking a
thousand years before He's born.
00:22:41.02\00:22:43.53
He's speaking prophetically
about His experience of death,
00:22:43.56\00:22:47.24
burial, and resurrection.
00:22:47.27\00:22:48.93
Notice verse 27. Here
Jesus is speaking, and He says:
00:22:48.96\00:22:52.89
Is that a problematic verse
for Seventh-day Adventists?
00:23:02.76\00:23:05.54
Very problematic, because Jesus
is saying, You're not going to
00:23:05.57\00:23:10.85
leave My soul in hell.
00:23:10.88\00:23:12.16
So the soul of
Jesus went to hell, right?
00:23:12.19\00:23:14.76
That's what people read
when they read the King James.
00:23:14.79\00:23:19.08
But now let me read you
the New International Version,
00:23:19.11\00:23:22.63
and you tell me if
it's a better translation.
00:23:22.66\00:23:24.67
And I'm not talking
about manuscript trails here,
00:23:24.70\00:23:26.94
I'm talking about translations.
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.62
Notice Acts 2: 25-27 in
the New International Version.
00:23:28.65\00:23:33.43
Is that a better translation?
00:23:57.09\00:23:58.32
Much better! So
what is the soul?
00:23:58.35\00:24:01.04
The New International
Version says the soul is Me.
00:24:01.07\00:24:04.55
You will not allow Me to what?
00:24:04.58\00:24:08.29
You will not allow Me, or
abandon Me to remain where?
00:24:08.32\00:24:12.41
In the grave! In
other words, it's not hell;
00:24:12.44\00:24:15.17
the word Hades means
grave according to the
00:24:15.20\00:24:19.90
New International Version.
00:24:19.93\00:24:20.96
Is that a less
problematic translation
00:24:20.99\00:24:23.67
than the King James translation?
00:24:23.70\00:24:25.10
Yes, in fact the NIV is
much better when it comes to the
00:24:25.13\00:24:28.98
state of the dead generally than
is the King James translation.
00:24:29.01\00:24:32.97
Now, having said that, I just
want to say that the King James
00:24:33.00\00:24:37.45
translation, and the
New King James translation,
00:24:37.48\00:24:40.88
simply are mistaken in
the way that they translated
00:24:40.91\00:24:44.60
Revelation,
chapter 5, verses 8 to 10.
00:24:44.63\00:24:47.75
It's that simple. Now you say,
in what way did the King James
00:24:47.78\00:24:54.11
translators make a mistake
there in their translation
00:24:54.14\00:24:57.40
of Revelation, chapter
5, and verses 8 thru 10?
00:24:57.43\00:25:00.83
Well, allow me to say this;
every single Bible translation
00:25:00.86\00:25:06.17
that I consulted, and I'm going
to read several of them now,
00:25:06.20\00:25:10.21
other than the King James and
the New King James, translates
00:25:10.24\00:25:15.18
this passage correctly.
00:25:15.21\00:25:16.78
It is only the King James
and the New King James that does
00:25:16.81\00:25:20.89
not translate this
passage in the proper way.
00:25:20.92\00:25:24.28
All of the other
versions have it right.
00:25:24.31\00:25:26.37
Now allow me to read to you
from several of these versions.
00:25:26.40\00:25:30.37
Revelation 5, verses
9 and 10 specifically.
00:25:30.40\00:25:33.85
I'm going to read now from
the New International Version.
00:25:33.88\00:25:36.94
I'm going to read from several
of them so that you can see
00:25:36.97\00:25:39.39
that I'm telling you the truth.
00:25:39.42\00:25:41.73
New International
Version, Revelation 5:9,10.
00:25:41.76\00:25:45.64
Now listen carefully.
00:25:54.01\00:25:55.11
Is that a different translation?
00:26:10.88\00:26:12.27
You'd better believe it!
00:26:12.30\00:26:13.71
It makes all of the difference
in the world, because what it's
00:26:13.74\00:26:16.77
telling us is that
the twenty-four elders,
00:26:16.80\00:26:19.46
and the four living creatures
are singing about the redeemed,
00:26:19.49\00:26:23.92
they are not the redeemed.
00:26:23.95\00:26:25.98
Now allow me to read you
several other Bible versions.
00:26:26.01\00:26:29.46
The New American
Standard Version reads this way:
00:26:29.49\00:26:33.04
How about the
Revised Standard Version?
00:26:55.45\00:26:58.13
It reads this way:
00:26:58.16\00:26:59.80
The New English
Bible reads it this way:
00:27:22.19\00:27:25.53
And they were singing a new
song; Thou art worthy to take
00:27:25.57\00:27:30.37
the scroll and to break
its seals for Thou wast slain,
00:27:30.40\00:27:33.75
and by thy blood didst purchase
for man, for God, men of every
00:27:33.78\00:27:38.90
tribe and language,
and people and nations.
00:27:38.93\00:27:42.06
Thou hast made them a
royal house to serve our God
00:27:42.09\00:27:46.22
as priests, and they
shall reign upon the earth.
00:27:46.25\00:27:49.69
Here's the Weymouth Translation.
00:27:49.72\00:27:51.95
And you might be getting tired
of me reading translations,
00:27:51.98\00:27:54.84
but I want to make a point
here that the only versions
00:27:54.87\00:27:57.96
that translate this
incorrectly are the King James
00:27:57.99\00:28:00.61
and the New King James.
00:28:00.64\00:28:01.67
All of the rest of the
Bibles have it correct.
00:28:01.70\00:28:03.79
Notice what Weymouth says:
00:28:03.82\00:28:05.29
Here's the Phillips translation:
00:28:31.71\00:28:33.79
Even the Jerusalem
Bible, a Roman Catholic Bible,
00:28:56.80\00:29:00.08
reads this way:
00:29:00.11\00:29:01.14
The New American Bible,
also a Roman Catholic Bible,
00:29:19.08\00:29:22.88
reads this way:
00:29:22.91\00:29:23.94
Let me just read you one more.
00:29:43.94\00:29:45.32
The Jewish New
Testament reads this way:
00:29:45.35\00:29:48.74
Are you catching the point?
00:30:15.15\00:30:18.05
How do we solve the problem
of Revelation, chapter 5,
00:30:18.08\00:30:21.70
verses 9 and 10? We solve the
problem by realizing that in the
00:30:21.73\00:30:27.13
King James, and
the New King James,
00:30:27.16\00:30:28.89
there is a mistranslation.
00:30:28.92\00:30:31.22
Was Ellen White right then
in identifying the twenty-four
00:30:31.25\00:30:35.48
elders not as
human, but as angelic?
00:30:35.51\00:30:38.56
She most certainly was correct.
00:30:38.59\00:30:40.97
Now if you believe that the King
James translation is the correct
00:30:41.00\00:30:45.02
translation, then you have a
discrepancy between the Bible
00:30:45.05\00:30:48.47
and the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:30:48.50\00:30:49.53
But if you believe that the
King James simply mistranslates
00:30:49.56\00:30:54.53
these verses, then there
is perfect harmony between
00:30:54.56\00:30:57.75
scripture and the
writings of Ellen White.
00:30:57.78\00:31:00.71
Now, why is it that
the elders cannot be human?
00:31:00.74\00:31:04.47
Let me give you four reasons.
00:31:04.50\00:31:05.86
1. The elders were already
present in heaven when Jesus
00:31:05.89\00:31:11.44
arrived with those who
resurrected, so they cannot be
00:31:11.47\00:31:15.28
those individuals who
resurrected with Christ,
00:31:15.31\00:31:17.90
because the twenty-four elders
were there when the throne room
00:31:17.93\00:31:21.92
was prepared for Jesus to arrive
with those who resurrected
00:31:21.95\00:31:25.83
with Him. 2. The twenty-four
elders cannot be human because
00:31:25.86\00:31:30.40
the elders and the four living
creatures are singing this song.
00:31:30.43\00:31:34.08
And the four living
creatures are seraphim.
00:31:34.11\00:31:36.83
They weren't
redeemed from the Earth.
00:31:36.86\00:31:38.67
They're not going to
reign upon the Earth.
00:31:38.70\00:31:41.13
So if they're singing this song,
this song cannot be about their
00:31:41.16\00:31:45.56
experience. They're
singing about the experience
00:31:45.59\00:31:48.56
of the redeemed. In the third
place, we notice very clearly in
00:31:48.59\00:31:53.98
Revelation chapter 7, that the
elder is actually distinguished
00:31:54.02\00:31:59.70
from the great multitude that
no one can number from every
00:31:59.73\00:32:02.47
nation, kindred,
tongue, and people.
00:32:02.50\00:32:04.43
And so how can you say that
the elders are those from every
00:32:04.46\00:32:07.85
nation, kindred, tongue,
and people like it says there
00:32:07.88\00:32:10.60
in the passage that we just
read in Revelation, chapter 5,
00:32:10.63\00:32:13.90
if clearly in chapter 7
the elder is distinguished from
00:32:13.93\00:32:18.58
those who come from
every nation, kindred, tongue,
00:32:18.61\00:32:21.32
and people. Finally, Ellen
White explicitly says that the
00:32:21.35\00:32:27.28
twenty-four elders are strong
angels, or are the highest
00:32:27.31\00:32:31.54
of angels. They are the sons of
God, the representatives of the
00:32:31.57\00:32:35.63
worlds that never sinned.
00:32:35.66\00:32:37.28
They are in a special category.
00:32:37.31\00:32:40.15
They are not part
of the angelic hosts.
00:32:40.18\00:32:43.10
They are not part of
the cherubim and seraphim.
00:32:43.13\00:32:46.10
They are not part
of any human group.
00:32:46.13\00:32:48.67
They are in a
category all by itself.
00:32:48.70\00:32:52.29
They are the representatives
of the worlds that never sinned.
00:32:52.32\00:32:56.27
Now we need to transition into
talking about the twenty-four
00:32:56.30\00:33:01.35
elders in the rest of
the book of Revelation.
00:33:01.38\00:33:04.14
You see, we've only noticed the
twenty-four elders in Revelation
00:33:04.17\00:33:07.47
chapter 4 and 5, but the
twenty-four elders are mentioned
00:33:07.50\00:33:11.07
in several other chapters.
00:33:11.10\00:33:12.72
Let me just
mention which chapters.
00:33:12.75\00:33:14.97
They are mentioned
in Revelation chapter 7.
00:33:15.00\00:33:17.85
They are mentioned in
Revelation chapter 11.
00:33:17.88\00:33:21.17
They are mentioned in
Revelation chapter 14.
00:33:21.20\00:33:24.66
And they are mentioned once
again in Revelation chapter 19,
00:33:24.69\00:33:28.61
and verses 1 and 2.
00:33:28.64\00:33:30.47
Now let's take a look at
all of these different passages
00:33:30.50\00:33:35.69
where the twenty-four elders are
mentioned, so that we can see
00:33:35.72\00:33:39.24
at what point in time they are
found, depending on the chapter
00:33:39.27\00:33:43.04
where they are mentioned.
00:33:43.07\00:33:44.10
Now, in Revelation, chapter
4, just reviewing a little bit,
00:33:44.13\00:33:48.76
present there in the heavenly
throne room are God the Father,
00:33:48.80\00:33:52.62
on His throne. Remember that?
00:33:52.65\00:33:53.95
God the Father is
sitting on His throne.
00:33:53.98\00:33:55.76
The twenty-four elders are
on thrones around the throne.
00:33:55.79\00:33:59.97
The four living creatures
are in the midst of the throne.
00:34:00.00\00:34:03.87
And the seven spirits
are before the throne.
00:34:03.90\00:34:07.51
Those are the beings that are
present in Revelation chapter 4.
00:34:07.54\00:34:10.46
Now in Revelation, chapter 4
there are two entities missing:
00:34:10.49\00:34:16.36
1. Christ is not
mentioned in chapter 4.
00:34:16.39\00:34:20.30
And in the second
place the angelic hosts
00:34:20.33\00:34:23.04
are not there either.
00:34:23.07\00:34:24.46
Now when you get to chapter
5 you find the same beings
00:34:24.49\00:34:29.39
that we have in chapter 4,
but you have the addition of the
00:34:29.42\00:34:34.68
great multitude of angels, ten
thousands times ten thousand,
00:34:34.71\00:34:38.63
and thousands of thousands, that
are there in the throne room
00:34:38.66\00:34:42.16
in chapter 5, and then Jesus is
also there presenting Himself as
00:34:42.19\00:34:47.00
the Lamb as
though He had been slain.
00:34:47.03\00:34:49.07
Clearly, when you read
Revelation 4 and 5 from this
00:34:49.10\00:34:52.90
perspective, in Revelation
4, the throne room is being
00:34:52.93\00:34:56.67
prepared. In Revelation, chapter
5, the war hero, Jesus Christ,
00:34:56.70\00:35:01.19
arrives with the heavenly
hosts into the holy place of the
00:35:01.22\00:35:05.38
heavenly sanctuary. And notably,
in chapter 5, we're told that
00:35:05.41\00:35:10.11
the seven spirits
are sent to the earth.
00:35:10.14\00:35:12.84
Interesting that when Jesus
arrives, and He presents Himself
00:35:12.87\00:35:16.12
as the Lamb as though He had
been slain, immediately He sends
00:35:16.15\00:35:20.12
the seven spirits to the Earth.
00:35:20.15\00:35:21.66
What event is
being described there?
00:35:21.69\00:35:24.01
It has to be the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit when?
00:35:24.04\00:35:27.80
On the day of
Pentecost when Jesus arrived
00:35:27.83\00:35:31.18
and He was
inaugurated in heaven.
00:35:31.21\00:35:33.88
Now, in Revelation chapter
11, once again you have several
00:35:33.91\00:35:39.94
of the same beings that you
have in Revelation chapter 4
00:35:39.97\00:35:43.92
and chapter 5. But in Revelation
chapter 11 you don't have
00:35:43.95\00:35:49.04
all of them. You have
God sitting on the throne,
00:35:49.07\00:35:52.38
and you have the Lamb, and
you have a multitude of angels
00:35:52.41\00:35:55.87
that are singing. Not all
of the individuals that are in
00:35:55.90\00:35:59.21
Revelation 4 and 5
are mentioned there.
00:35:59.24\00:36:01.10
However, in Revelation chapter
11, there is no mention of a
00:36:01.13\00:36:05.45
great multitude
of redeemed people.
00:36:05.48\00:36:07.07
And the reason is that
in Revelation 11, verses 15
00:36:07.10\00:36:11.27
and 16, what is being described
is the close of probation.
00:36:11.30\00:36:15.48
In other words, it's the moment
when Jesus stands up as Michael.
00:36:15.51\00:36:20.24
He closes the door of probation
right before the time of trouble
00:36:20.27\00:36:23.68
begins. And then, of course,
after the time of trouble Jesus
00:36:23.71\00:36:27.58
returns with the angels in power
and glory to take His people
00:36:27.61\00:36:31.20
to heaven. So in Revelation 11
God's people are not in heaven
00:36:31.23\00:36:35.20
yet. They're not
gathered in heaven yet.
00:36:35.23\00:36:37.62
That's the reason why,
in Revelation chapter 11,
00:36:37.65\00:36:40.65
there's no mention of the
great multitude which no one
00:36:40.68\00:36:44.82
can number, from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:36:44.85\00:36:48.15
But now listen to
what I'm going to say.
00:36:48.18\00:36:50.08
The interesting thing is
that in Revelation chapter 14,
00:36:50.11\00:36:54.61
and in Revelation chapter
7, and Revelation chapter 19,
00:36:54.64\00:37:00.43
there is another group added
to the groups that were there
00:37:00.46\00:37:04.97
in Revelation 4, and
5, and Revelation 11.
00:37:05.00\00:37:08.41
Now what is the group that is
added in Revelation chapter 14,
00:37:08.44\00:37:13.14
and Revelation 7, as
well as in chapter 19?
00:37:13.17\00:37:16.76
First of all, let's deal
with Revelation chapter 7.
00:37:16.79\00:37:20.75
If you read verses 9 to 14
of chapter 7, you're going to
00:37:20.78\00:37:26.04
discover that every single one
of the beings that was present
00:37:26.07\00:37:29.03
there in Revelation 4
and 5 is mentioned again.
00:37:29.06\00:37:31.81
There's a throne, there's
One sitting on the throne
00:37:31.84\00:37:34.42
who is the Father, there's the
Lamb, there's the twenty-four
00:37:34.45\00:37:37.13
elders, there's the
four living creatures.
00:37:37.16\00:37:39.17
All of them are mentioned.
00:37:39.20\00:37:40.66
But there is an additional group
there in Revelation chapter 7.
00:37:40.69\00:37:44.69
The additional group is a great
multitude of redeemed people
00:37:44.72\00:37:50.16
from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:37:50.19\00:37:53.13
that are singing a song of
praise to God, and to the Lamb.
00:37:53.16\00:37:57.93
Who has joined this
celebration at this point?
00:37:57.96\00:38:02.75
The redeemed have joined
the celebration at this point,
00:38:02.78\00:38:07.05
because if you read Revelation,
chapter 7, verses 9 through 14,
00:38:07.08\00:38:11.63
that's talking about what
happens after the second coming
00:38:11.66\00:38:14.47
of Jesus, when Jesus
takes His people to heaven,
00:38:14.50\00:38:17.29
and His people, the great
multitude from every nation,
00:38:17.32\00:38:20.21
kindred, tongue, and people, are
gathered there before the throne
00:38:20.25\00:38:24.77
worshipping and
praising Jesus Christ.
00:38:24.81\00:38:27.58
In Revelation 14
you have the same idea.
00:38:27.62\00:38:30.06
The same beings
are mentioned again.
00:38:30.10\00:38:32.47
There's a throne, there's a
lamb, there's the twenty-four
00:38:32.51\00:38:35.50
elders, there's the four living
creatures that are mentioned,
00:38:35.54\00:38:38.50
but now there's an additional
group that are standing
00:38:38.53\00:38:41.11
before the throne, and they're
singing the song of Moses
00:38:41.14\00:38:43.97
and the Lamb. Who are those?
00:38:44.01\00:38:45.61
The 144,000 who were
redeemed from the Earth.
00:38:45.65\00:38:49.53
What are they doing there?
00:38:49.56\00:38:50.66
Well, the fact is that
in Revelation chapter 14
00:38:50.69\00:38:54.46
the redeemed have joined
the celebration in heaven,
00:38:54.50\00:38:58.26
because this is after
the great tribulation;
00:38:58.30\00:39:00.69
this is after the
second coming of Christ.
00:39:00.72\00:39:03.55
Then when you get to Revelation
chapter 19, verses 1 thru 9,
00:39:03.58\00:39:07.28
once again you have the
same beings that were there
00:39:07.32\00:39:10.49
in Revelation chapter 4 and 5.
00:39:10.52\00:39:12.06
You have the throne.
00:39:12.09\00:39:13.23
You have the Father
sitting on the throne.
00:39:13.26\00:39:14.82
You have the Lamb. You
have the four living creatures.
00:39:14.85\00:39:17.52
You have the twenty-four elders.
00:39:17.55\00:39:18.98
You have everyone who is
present there in Revelation
00:39:19.01\00:39:21.95
chapter 4 and 5. But once again,
you have a great multitude
00:39:21.98\00:39:26.37
which no one can number from
every nation, that are rendering
00:39:26.40\00:39:30.52
God honor, and praise, and glory
because He has redeemed them
00:39:30.55\00:39:34.66
from the Earth.
So what am I saying?
00:39:34.70\00:39:36.93
I'm saying that in the
book of Revelation there is
00:39:36.97\00:39:39.80
a progression. In Revelation
chapter 4, God is sitting there,
00:39:39.84\00:39:45.35
God the Father; the four
living creatures are there;
00:39:45.39\00:39:48.23
the twenty-four elders are
there; the representatives of
00:39:48.27\00:39:50.94
the worlds that never
sinned; and present there
00:39:50.97\00:39:53.27
is the Holy Spirit. Chapter
5, Jesus and the angelic throng
00:39:53.31\00:39:58.08
join this celebration. The
redeemed are not there yet,
00:39:58.11\00:40:02.56
because in Revelation 4 and 5
we're dealing with the ascension
00:40:02.59\00:40:06.75
of Jesus Christ to heaven.
00:40:06.78\00:40:08.27
Revelation 11, the great
multitude from every nation,
00:40:08.30\00:40:11.84
kindred, tongue, and
people are not there,
00:40:11.87\00:40:13.90
because Revelation 11, 15 and
16 is speaking about the close
00:40:13.94\00:40:17.24
of probation at the seventh
trumpet, and the redeemed have
00:40:17.27\00:40:20.54
not gone to heaven yet.
00:40:20.57\00:40:21.79
But in Revelation chapter 14 you
have the same beings mentioned
00:40:21.83\00:40:26.03
as in chapter 4 and 5,
but now you have the 144,000,
00:40:26.06\00:40:29.69
the living saints that
are alive when Jesus comes.
00:40:29.73\00:40:33.33
They are present
there praising the Lord
00:40:33.36\00:40:35.67
on the heavenly Mount Zion.
00:40:35.70\00:40:37.30
What has happened? What has
happened, folks, is that now
00:40:37.33\00:40:41.15
the living saints have joined
the celebration in heaven.
00:40:41.18\00:40:45.44
And then in Revelation,
chapter 19, this great multitude
00:40:45.47\00:40:49.69
from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people,
00:40:49.73\00:40:51.93
are once again singing
the song of their redemption,
00:40:51.96\00:40:54.63
and they're actually praising
the Lord because He has judged
00:40:54.66\00:40:58.23
the great harlot who want to
shed their blood on the earth.
00:40:58.27\00:41:01.80
So, in other words, the
twenty-four elders, folks,
00:41:01.84\00:41:05.31
are present there in
every one of these scenes.
00:41:05.34\00:41:08.75
They are present there
when Jesus is about to ascend.
00:41:08.78\00:41:13.34
They are present
there when Jesus arrives.
00:41:13.37\00:41:16.25
They are present
there when probation closes.
00:41:16.29\00:41:19.13
And they will be present
there when the redeemed return
00:41:19.16\00:41:22.78
to heaven with Jesus,
both the living saints,
00:41:22.82\00:41:25.77
and those who died in Christ.
00:41:25.81\00:41:28.53
Now allow me to say this,
as we draw this to a close:
00:41:28.56\00:41:35.39
Jesus gave a parable
that illustrates very clearly
00:41:35.42\00:41:42.21
what we've been
talking about this evening.
00:41:42.24\00:41:46.74
Jesus told the
story of the lost sheep.
00:41:46.77\00:41:51.24
Now usually when we talk about
the story of the lost sheep
00:41:51.27\00:41:54.47
we apply it to when a
church member leaves the church
00:41:54.50\00:41:58.48
and goes astray. As church
members we're supposed to go
00:41:58.52\00:42:02.10
and we're supposed to rescue
that sheep from the church
00:42:02.14\00:42:05.69
that went astray. Now
that parable certainly
00:42:05.72\00:42:08.09
has that application, but
the parable actually has a
00:42:08.13\00:42:11.99
much broader application than
just rescuing church members
00:42:12.03\00:42:16.96
who have left church.
00:42:16.99\00:42:18.02
It has a cosmic perspective.
00:42:18.05\00:42:20.92
Notice Luke, chapter
15, and verses 4 thru 7.
00:42:20.96\00:42:25.78
Luke chapter 15,
and verses 4 thru 7.
00:42:25.82\00:42:29.30
Here Jesus tells this
interesting parable, which is
00:42:29.33\00:42:33.92
contained also in the Gospel
of Matthew. Here Jesus says:
00:42:33.95\00:42:39.74
And now notice this:
00:43:01.76\00:43:03.23
And when he what?
00:43:03.26\00:43:04.73
Beautiful parable!
Now what is the cosmic,
00:43:33.07\00:43:36.24
or broader
perspective of this parable?
00:43:36.27\00:43:39.37
Actually, the 99 sheep that
are safe and sound in the fold
00:43:39.41\00:43:46.78
represent the
worlds that never sinned.
00:43:46.81\00:43:51.38
The one sheep that went astray
from the fold represents this
00:43:51.41\00:43:57.25
little planet, planet Earth,
in the midst of the universe
00:43:57.29\00:44:03.10
of God. The act of the
shepherd going after the sheep
00:44:03.13\00:44:07.44
that was lost, and leaving
the others safe and sound,
00:44:07.47\00:44:11.03
represents Jesus leaving
the safety of heaven to come
00:44:11.06\00:44:15.51
to this world to give His
life to rescue the one sheep,
00:44:15.55\00:44:20.00
the one world that was lost.
00:44:20.03\00:44:21.89
And the joy of the shepherd
when he finds the sheep,
00:44:21.92\00:44:25.79
and places it upon his
shoulders, and brings it home
00:44:25.83\00:44:30.03
represents Jesus when
He returns the second time
00:44:30.06\00:44:34.23
and then goes back to heaven.
00:44:34.26\00:44:35.67
He will have rescued this little
world, and He will have put it
00:44:35.70\00:44:39.48
on His shoulders. And when
He gets to heaven He is going to
00:44:39.51\00:44:43.25
call, so to speak,
neighbors, and friends to come
00:44:43.28\00:44:47.33
and celebrate the rescue
of the one world that was lost
00:44:47.36\00:44:52.32
in the midst of
the universe of God.
00:44:52.35\00:44:54.57
I want to read the
inspired commentary on this.
00:44:54.60\00:44:58.51
Christ's Object
Lessons, pages 190 and 191.
00:44:58.55\00:45:02.46
Isn't that a marvelous
interpretation of that parable?
00:46:18.50\00:46:22.44
Now you say, What does this
have to do with the twenty-four
00:46:22.47\00:46:25.25
elders? Do you know that what
took place in Revelation 4 and 5
00:46:25.28\00:46:30.91
is going to be repeated
again on a larger scale?
00:46:30.95\00:46:34.79
You see, what happened in
Revelation, chapter 4 and 5,
00:46:34.83\00:46:38.36
primarily chapter 4 first, is
that all of heaven has prepared
00:46:38.40\00:46:43.60
to receive the war hero who is
returning from the battlefield.
00:46:43.64\00:46:48.80
Present there is God
the Father on His throne.
00:46:48.83\00:46:51.75
Present there are
cherubim and seraphim.
00:46:51.79\00:46:54.74
Present there are the
representatives of the worlds
00:46:54.78\00:46:57.65
that never sinned. Present
there is the Holy Spirit.
00:46:57.68\00:47:01.48
They're all there waiting
to welcome the war hero back
00:47:01.51\00:47:05.27
from where He has
rescued this one lost world.
00:47:05.30\00:47:08.56
Chapter 5, the angelic
throng enters through the gates
00:47:08.59\00:47:12.92
into the city, and they come
with Jesus into the presence
00:47:12.95\00:47:17.24
of all of those who are waiting
in the heavenly throne room.
00:47:17.27\00:47:20.04
And as we noticed, they're
singing, and they're praising
00:47:20.07\00:47:23.16
the Lord. And Jesus raises
His hands and He says, Silence!
00:47:23.19\00:47:26.18
And He goes in before His
Father, because He wants to
00:47:26.21\00:47:29.19
make sure that His sacrifice has
been sufficient to bring all of
00:47:29.22\00:47:32.94
His people home someday.
00:47:32.97\00:47:34.75
The Father gives Him a
hug, and the Father says, Yes,
00:47:34.78\00:47:37.87
it's enough! And then
the Father gives the order.
00:47:37.90\00:47:40.92
He says, Let all the angels,
let all of the heavenly beings
00:47:40.96\00:47:45.33
worship Him. And now
there's an explosion of praise
00:47:45.36\00:47:48.88
in heaven in honor of the
Lamb, and the One who is sitting
00:47:48.92\00:47:52.97
on the throne. But do you
know, that very soon there is
00:47:53.01\00:47:57.02
gong to be another party
even greater than this one?
00:47:57.05\00:48:00.15
You say, How
could it be any greater?
00:48:00.19\00:48:03.00
Yes, once again, Jesus
is going to leave heaven,
00:48:03.04\00:48:09.41
according to the Bible,
with all of His holy angels.
00:48:09.44\00:48:13.96
Are you listening
to what I'm saying?
00:48:13.99\00:48:15.53
He's not going to come with just
a little small group of angels.
00:48:15.56\00:48:19.57
It says in the gospels that
Jesus is going to leave heaven,
00:48:19.60\00:48:22.39
and He's going to come
with all of His holy angels.
00:48:22.42\00:48:26.41
And in heaven the Father
will be sitting on His throne.
00:48:26.44\00:48:30.40
And you say, You mean
the Father isn't coming
00:48:30.43\00:48:32.59
at the second
coming? No, He's not.
00:48:32.62\00:48:34.62
If you read the New
Testament carefully,
00:48:34.65\00:48:36.63
you'll find that we're told,
for example, in Acts chapter 3,
00:48:36.67\00:48:40.18
and verse 20, that the
Father shall send forth Jesus.
00:48:40.22\00:48:45.27
In other words, the
Father's not coming with Jesus.
00:48:45.30\00:48:47.96
Jesus is coming with
all of the holy angels.
00:48:47.99\00:48:50.29
The Father will be
sitting on His throne.
00:48:50.33\00:48:52.56
In the midst of the
throne will be the cherubim
00:48:52.59\00:48:55.59
and the seraphim. Surrounding
the throne will be the
00:48:55.63\00:48:58.53
twenty-four elders,
which are the representatives
00:48:58.56\00:49:01.42
of the worlds that never sinned.
00:49:01.46\00:49:03.10
The Holy Spirit will be
there, because His work on Earth
00:49:03.14\00:49:06.21
has been finished. He's wooed
sinners to accept Jesus Christ
00:49:06.24\00:49:10.03
as Savior and Lord. And
so Jesus will leave heaven.
00:49:10.06\00:49:13.17
Once again the two groups that
were not there in Revelation 4,
00:49:13.21\00:49:16.68
will not be there again, because
Jesus and His holy angels
00:49:16.71\00:49:20.71
will be coming to planet
Earth to pick up all of the rest
00:49:20.74\00:49:24.67
of the redeemed. Do you remember
that Jesus presented before
00:49:24.70\00:49:28.83
the throne of the Father
those who resurrected with Him?
00:49:28.86\00:49:32.98
Do you know that that
group was simply a down payment.
00:49:33.02\00:49:37.10
It was a guarantee that someday
Jesus was going to return to
00:49:37.13\00:49:42.26
heaven with all of His saints:
those who died in Christ,
00:49:42.30\00:49:47.42
and those who
are alive and remain.
00:49:47.46\00:49:50.15
And so Jesus will come down
from heaven, and as He is above
00:49:50.18\00:49:54.75
the Earth, He sill say,
Awake, ye who sleep in the dust
00:49:54.78\00:49:59.28
of the Earth. Suddenly all of
the graves of the righteous will
00:49:59.31\00:50:02.97
move, and God's
people will come forth;
00:50:03.00\00:50:05.66
those who died in
Christ will come forth.
00:50:05.69\00:50:08.73
The living will be
transformed and changed,
00:50:08.76\00:50:11.76
and then Jesus,
and all of the angels,
00:50:11.79\00:50:14.75
and this time not a
group of the redeemed,
00:50:14.79\00:50:17.74
but all of the redeemed will
begin their journey to heaven,
00:50:17.77\00:50:22.97
where the heavenly throne room
is waiting for the reception.
00:50:23.00\00:50:27.68
The Father is there.
00:50:27.72\00:50:30.15
The representatives
of the worlds are there.
00:50:30.18\00:50:33.66
The cherubim and
the seraphim are there.
00:50:33.69\00:50:37.09
The Spirit says, Come, according
to Revelation chapter 22.
00:50:37.13\00:50:41.69
He must be there
if He says, Come.
00:50:41.72\00:50:44.11
And now Jesus will
return to heaven with all of His
00:50:44.14\00:50:48.15
holy angels, like He
did upon His ascension.
00:50:48.18\00:50:50.40
But this time He's not
taking a sampling of His people,
00:50:50.44\00:50:53.81
This time He's bringing people
from every nation, kindred,
00:50:53.84\00:50:57.35
tongue, and people, from every
age of the history of the world;
00:50:57.38\00:51:01.59
bringing them back home! That
which was lost has been found!
00:51:01.62\00:51:05.79
And then Psalm 24 will be
sung again: Open up ye gates,
00:51:05.82\00:51:11.09
and the King of
glory will come in.
00:51:11.12\00:51:13.18
And the sentinel angels who are
waiting at the gates of the city
00:51:13.21\00:51:16.41
will say, And who
is this King of glory?
00:51:16.44\00:51:19.02
And the answer will
come: The Lord of hosts;
00:51:19.05\00:51:21.53
He is the King of glory.
00:51:21.56\00:51:23.21
Once again the gates of
the holy city will open wide,
00:51:23.24\00:51:26.43
and God's people, along
with Jesus, and the holy angels,
00:51:26.46\00:51:30.84
will sweep through
the gates into the city.
00:51:30.87\00:51:34.40
Blessed are those who keep
His commandments that they might
00:51:34.43\00:51:38.14
have a right to the tree
of life, and may enter thru
00:51:38.17\00:51:41.08
the gates into the city.
00:51:41.11\00:51:42.93
And then Jesus will take His
people into that huge heavenly
00:51:42.97\00:51:47.28
throne room. And you say,
How are they all going to fit?
00:51:47.32\00:51:51.60
Well, let me tell you,
the heavenly sanctuary is much
00:51:51.63\00:51:54.83
larger than the one here.
00:51:54.86\00:51:57.16
The sanctuary on Earth
was only a little scale model.
00:51:57.19\00:52:01.46
God did not show Moses the
heavenly sanctuary on the Mount.
00:52:01.49\00:52:05.74
He showed him a scale
model of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:52:05.78\00:52:09.36
What that scale is we
don't know, but we do know that
00:52:09.39\00:52:12.57
ten thousand times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands
00:52:12.61\00:52:15.75
of angels fit in it.
00:52:15.78\00:52:17.41
And so God's people will enter
into the heavenly throne room,
00:52:18.62\00:52:23.28
and then you will have that
marvelous song that is mentioned
00:52:23.32\00:52:27.94
in Revelation 5,
and verses 12 and 13.
00:52:27.97\00:52:31.13
Do you know, this song actually
was sung when Jesus ascended,
00:52:31.17\00:52:36.77
but it is going
to be sung again.
00:52:36.80\00:52:39.44
The whole universe is going to
sing this song when God's people
00:52:39.48\00:52:44.89
arrive with Jesus
and the angels in heaven.
00:52:44.93\00:52:47.92
It says there in verse 12,
actually let's read verse 11
00:52:47.96\00:52:51.75
for the context.
00:52:51.79\00:52:52.82
And then notice verse 13.
00:53:14.19\00:53:15.57
Notice, this is
every creature now.
00:53:17.59\00:53:20.29
Then the four living
creatures said, Amen!
00:53:40.76\00:53:43.77
And the twenty-four elders
fell down and worshiped Him
00:53:43.80\00:53:46.71
who lives forever and ever.
00:53:46.74\00:53:50.96
What do you think? Fantastic!
00:53:50.99\00:53:55.18
We are going to meet the
representatives from all of the
00:53:55.21\00:53:58.26
worlds that never sinned.
00:53:58.29\00:53:59.48
In fact they're probably
going to invite us to be guest
00:53:59.51\00:54:03.08
speakers at their worlds to
tell the story of redemption.
00:54:03.11\00:54:07.35
They're going to say, Could you
put me on your calendar to come
00:54:07.38\00:54:11.90
and speak in my world?
00:54:11.94\00:54:13.19
And I'm going to
say, Give me a break!
00:54:13.23\00:54:15.74
I took lots of appointments
while I was on planet Earth.
00:54:15.78\00:54:18.53
Let me rest a little. No, that's
not what I'm going to say,
00:54:18.56\00:54:21.28
because we're going to
be in the flower of youth,
00:54:21.31\00:54:23.93
in the fullness of strength.
00:54:23.97\00:54:25.26
And we'll be able to
travel to other worlds.
00:54:25.30\00:54:27.89
We'll be able to meet the
representatives of those worlds,
00:54:27.92\00:54:31.48
the inhabitants of those worlds
who have been faithful to God
00:54:31.52\00:54:35.04
and have kept His commandments.
00:54:35.08\00:54:36.90
But folks, in order to get
there we must have a personal
00:54:36.94\00:54:45.26
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:54:45.29\00:54:46.87
We can't let anything in
this world stand in the way
00:54:46.90\00:54:51.24
between us and Jesus.
00:54:51.27\00:54:52.58
You know, Christians are
so attached to their stuff,
00:54:52.62\00:54:57.33
to their things. You know, some
Christians have so much stuff,
00:54:57.36\00:55:01.43
and so many things, that God
couldn't take them out of the
00:55:01.47\00:55:05.50
world with the most
powerful crane in the universe,
00:55:05.54\00:55:08.36
because they're weighed down.
00:55:08.40\00:55:09.90
Let's not get attached
to the things that perish;
00:55:09.93\00:55:14.16
the things that
are vanishing away.
00:55:14.19\00:55:16.10
Let's keep our focus on heaven.
00:55:16.13\00:55:18.20
You know, somebody once said
to me, Oh, you know, you're so
00:55:18.24\00:55:21.36
heavenly minded
you're no earthly good.
00:55:21.39\00:55:24.34
And so I looked at him and
I said, Yeah, and you're so
00:55:24.38\00:55:27.44
earthly minded
you're no heavenly good.
00:55:27.47\00:55:29.17
You know, because the
opposite is also true.
00:55:29.21\00:55:32.02
You know, we're in this
world, folks, to reach souls
00:55:32.06\00:55:35.94
for Christ; to prepare for the
coming of Jesus, so that we can
00:55:35.97\00:55:39.66
be there for this glorious
celebration when Jesus comes
00:55:39.69\00:55:43.69
in power and glory. What
a wonderful, magnificent day
00:55:43.72\00:55:47.68
that will be! Now the question
comes up, and we'll conclude
00:55:47.71\00:55:51.89
with this, and we'll introduce
what we're going to speak about
00:55:51.92\00:55:54.53
in the last
topic in this series.
00:55:54.57\00:55:57.21
What is the role of
the twenty- four elders?
00:55:57.25\00:56:00.43
What is their
function in the universe?
00:56:00.46\00:56:03.60
How does God employ
them in the administration
00:56:03.64\00:56:07.67
of the universe?
00:56:07.70\00:56:08.73
Is there a comparable model
on Earth that would help us
00:56:08.76\00:56:13.67
understand the way in which
the twenty-four elders are used
00:56:13.70\00:56:18.60
by God to administrate
and operate the universe?
00:56:18.63\00:56:21.44
I believe that
there is a model on Earth.
00:56:21.48\00:56:24.81
And do you know what
they're called? Elders.
00:56:24.84\00:56:28.10
The elders of the church are
actually the model of how the
00:56:28.14\00:56:34.08
elders operate in
the heavenly economy.
00:56:34.11\00:56:36.58
Do you remember
the Jerusalem council?
00:56:36.62\00:56:39.02
I'll just get ahead
of myself a little bit.
00:56:39.05\00:56:40.74
Remember the Jerusalem council?
00:56:40.78\00:56:42.92
They were making the decision
that effected the church
00:56:42.95\00:56:45.63
everywhere. The Bible tells
us the elders from all of the
00:56:45.66\00:56:49.23
churches came together to
deliberate and decide exactly
00:56:49.26\00:56:53.63
what needed to be done
with the issue of circumcision.
00:56:53.67\00:56:58.00
In other words, the elders were
the representatives of all of
00:56:58.03\00:57:01.53
the churches on Earth.
00:57:01.57\00:57:03.73
And the elders are God's
representatives from the worlds
00:57:03.77\00:57:07.72
in heaven that gather in
heavenly council to help the
00:57:07.76\00:57:11.68
Lord in the
administration of the universe.
00:57:11.71\00:57:14.15
You say, Well, God
can do everything Himself.
00:57:14.18\00:57:16.58
Yes, but God is a God
who delegates responsibility.
00:57:16.62\00:57:20.25
He cares what people
think, and He wants to involve
00:57:20.28\00:57:23.44
His people in the
administration of the universe.
00:57:23.47\00:57:26.59
What a wonderful God we have!
00:57:26.62\00:57:29.54
So don't miss the last
subject in this series.
00:57:29.57\00:57:32.85