Well, here we are again
this afternoon after lunch.
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A very difficult time.
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It's a tendency to
practice lay activities.
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But we'll go forward and
hopefully we'll be able to
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stay awake and alert.
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We are going to begin
our study this afternoon
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on page 81 of your syllabus.
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Let me just mention to those who
are watching the live stream,
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and those who are
watching on our SumTV channels,
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that you are able to get a copy.
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If you want a hard copy of
the syllabus, you can contact us
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here at Secrets Unsealed.
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If you don't want to purchase
the syllabus, you can actually
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go to our website and
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You'll be able to read
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We put all of our syllabus'
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It didn't use to be that way.
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The reason why we do it is
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Anyway, with that short
commercial, we will have
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a word of prayer, and
then we'll get into our study.
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Father in heaven, we
thank You for the privilege of
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being here this afternoon.
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Thank You for the good lunch
that we've been able to enjoy.
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We thank You,
Father, for Your Word.
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We ask that as we study it, it
will not return unto You void,
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but that it will cause an
impact in our minds and hearts,
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and make us more like Jesus.
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We thank You for hearing
and answering our prayer,
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for we ask it in the precious
name of Your Son, Jesus.
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Amen.
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We begin on page
81 of our syllabus.
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And the question that we
are going to answer is this:
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The elders, human or angelic?
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You say, "Well, we already
saw that they're angels."
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However, there are
still, some things that
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we need to take a look at.
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Particularly, Revelation 5:9-10.
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So let's begin by a
process of elimination.
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Process of elimination simply
means, let's try and determine
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who the 24 elders are not.
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Because if we can
discover who they are not,
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we might be able to
discover who they are.
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So we're going to look
at several possibilities.
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And we're going to cross off
the ones that are not possible.
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First of all, the 24 elders
are no seraphim or cherubim.
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You say, "How do we know that?"
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Well, let's read
Revelation 4:4, 10.
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It says there...
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Those are the
cherubim and seraphim, right?
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Are the 24 elders the
same as the living creatures?
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Are they cherubim and seraphim?
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No, because in these
verses they are distinguished.
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It mentions the living creatures
and it mentions the 24 elders.
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They are not the same thing.
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So the 24 elders are
not cherubim or seraphim.
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Now, are the 24 elders
part of the vast angelic hosts?
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No.
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You say, "How do we
know that they are not part
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of the vast angelic hosts?"
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Well, let's read
Revelation 5:11-12,
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which is on the
next page, page 82.
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So, are the 24 elders
part of the angelic hosts?
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No.
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Because you have
three groups mentioned here.
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You have the many angels, the
living creatures and the elders.
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The elders are
not the angelic hosts.
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Now the next question
is, are the 24 elders part of
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the unnumbered mixed
multitude which is mention in
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Revelation 7; from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people?
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Well, the answer is
that the elders are not part
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of that group from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
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You say, "How do we know
that the elders are not part of
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that group of the redeemed?"
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Well, Revelation
7:13-14 tells us...
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Saying to John, that is.
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The elder is asking
a question about what?
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About the great multitude
from every nation, kindred,
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tongue, and people.
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So is the elder a
part of the group that he's
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asking the question about?
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Absolutely not.
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So the elders are not
part of the vast multitude.
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Now let's read this
note which is very important.
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Revelation 5:9-10 seem
to indicate that the elders
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sing the song of their
redemption "from every kindred,
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and tongue, and
people, and nation."
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However, Revelation 7:13
distinguishes one of the elders
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from the great
multitude that was redeemed from
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"all nations, and kindreds,
and people, and tongues."
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Are you with me?
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This clearly proves that the
translation of Revelation 5:9-10
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in the King James
Version is incorrect
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when it says that the elders,
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along with the four
living creatures, they sing,
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"You have redeemed us from every
nation, tongue, and people.
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And you have made
us kings and priests.
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And we shall
reign upon the earth."
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Obviously, when you
read Revelation 7:13-14,
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you see that the elders do not
belong to that great multitude
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from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
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Now the next point
is, perhaps the 24 elders
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are part of the 144,000
under different circumstances.
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Well, let's
read Revelation 14:3.
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The 144,000, by the way,
are those who are going to be
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alive when Jesus comes.
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They are the living.
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Those who remain and are alive,
according to the apostle Paul.
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It says in Revelation 14:3...
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So the question is,
are the elders part of the
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group of 144,000?
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No.
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Because verse 3 speaks
of the living creatures,
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the elders, and the 144,000.
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So they are not members
of those who will be alive
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when Jesus comes.
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What about those who resurrected
in the special resurrection
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when Christ resurrected?
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Could they be
members of that group?
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No, absolutely not.
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Why not?
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For the simple reason that
the elders were already there
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before Jesus ascended to
heaven with the firstfruits.
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And we'll come to that
point a little bit later.
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But there's another
special resurrection as well.
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You're aware that there's
going to be special resurrection
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immediately before Jesus arrives
at His second coming, right?
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Those who pierced Jesus and
the worst enemies of the faith,
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as well as those who
died in the faith of the
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third angel's
message, will resurrect.
00:09:03.64\00:09:05.51
And then they will see the
entire second coming of Jesus
00:09:05.71\00:09:09.08
from beginning to end.
00:09:09.11\00:09:10.45
The rest of the dead
who died before 1844,
00:09:10.75\00:09:13.88
they will resurrect when
Jesus is above the earth.
00:09:14.28\00:09:17.22
So those who resurrect
in the special resurrection
00:09:17.59\00:09:20.52
and those individuals who are
alive, which are the 144,000,
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they will see the second coming
of Christ from beginning to end.
00:09:24.76\00:09:28.30
The rest of those who died
before, they will resurrect
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in the general resurrection
once Jesus is above the earth.
00:09:33.17\00:09:37.24
Jesus isn't going to
touch the earth, but He will be
00:09:37.41\00:09:39.61
above the earth.
00:09:39.64\00:09:40.98
So can the elders be
members of that group
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that will resurrect in
that special resurrection
00:09:44.78\00:09:47.05
right before the
second coming of Christ?
00:09:47.08\00:09:48.95
Absolutely not.
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Let's read Daniel 12:1.
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"At that time
Michael shall stand up,
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the great prince who
stands watch over the sons of
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your people; and there
shall be a time of trouble
00:10:00.10\00:10:02.56
such as never was
since there was a nation,
00:10:02.60\00:10:04.70
even to that time.
00:10:04.73\00:10:06.07
And at that time your
people shall be delivered,
00:10:06.10\00:10:08.67
everyone who is
found written in the book.
00:10:08.87\00:10:11.17
And many of those who sleep
in the dust of the earth..."
00:10:11.64\00:10:14.28
Not everyone.
00:10:14.31\00:10:15.64
"...many of those who
sleep in the dust of the earth
00:10:15.68\00:10:17.75
shall awake; some
to everlasting life,
00:10:17.78\00:10:20.88
some to shame and
everlasting contempt."
00:10:21.18\00:10:24.19
That's the special resurrection.
00:10:24.22\00:10:25.85
Can the elders be part of
that group that resurrections
00:10:26.25\00:10:30.59
in the special resurrection?
00:10:30.63\00:10:31.96
No, because they were
already in heaven when Jesus,
00:10:31.99\00:10:33.76
when Jesus...
00:10:33.80\00:10:35.13
They went with Jesus to
heaven when Jesus ascended.
00:10:35.16\00:10:37.83
So they can't be part of
that special resurrection
00:10:38.40\00:10:42.07
shortly before the
second coming of Christ,
00:10:42.27\00:10:44.54
before He arrives.
00:10:44.57\00:10:45.91
Can the 24 elders actually be
part of those who will resurrect
00:10:46.31\00:10:51.61
in the general
resurrection when Jesus comes?
00:10:51.65\00:10:54.35
The resurrection of all of the
righteous who lived before 1844,
00:10:55.12\00:10:59.09
before the third
angel's message was proclaimed.
00:10:59.12\00:11:01.62
No, they can't be.
00:11:01.66\00:11:02.99
What's the reason
why they can't be?
00:11:03.43\00:11:05.23
Well, for the same reason
that the elders were already
00:11:05.63\00:11:10.10
in heaven when
Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:11:10.13\00:11:13.17
So they can't be the ones
that are going to resurrect
00:11:13.20\00:11:15.17
when Jesus
comes the second time.
00:11:15.20\00:11:16.91
And of course, you can read
there 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17
00:11:17.91\00:11:22.21
where the dead in Christ
will resurrect when Jesus comes.
00:11:22.31\00:11:24.85
They can't be the
elders that were in heaven
00:11:24.88\00:11:29.28
before Jesus arrived at
the moment of His ascension.
00:11:29.32\00:11:32.19
I already mentioned
at the bottom of page 83
00:11:32.22\00:11:34.76
that they are not part of those
who resurrect in the special
00:11:35.09\00:11:39.83
resurrection when Jesus
came forth from the tomb
00:11:39.86\00:11:42.93
on resurrection morning.
00:11:42.96\00:11:44.43
So let's review
what we've noticed.
00:11:44.77\00:11:47.17
Are they part of the
cherubim and seraphim?
00:11:47.37\00:11:50.01
No.
00:11:50.34\00:11:51.67
Are they part of
the vast angelic hosts?
00:11:51.71\00:11:54.84
No.
00:11:54.88\00:11:56.21
Are they part of the great
multitude from every nation,
00:11:56.24\00:11:59.18
kindred, tongue, and people?
00:11:59.21\00:12:00.55
No.
00:12:00.58\00:12:01.92
Are they part of the 144,000,
00:12:01.98\00:12:05.29
those who will be
alive when Jesus comes?
00:12:05.32\00:12:07.12
No.
00:12:07.16\00:12:08.49
Are they part of
that special resurrection
00:12:08.52\00:12:10.79
right before the second
coming before Jesus arrives?
00:12:10.83\00:12:13.93
No.
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.30
Will they be part of
the general resurrection
00:12:15.33\00:12:17.87
of the righteous
who died before 1844?
00:12:18.07\00:12:21.37
No.
00:12:21.40\00:12:22.74
Are they part of the firstfruits
that Jesus took to heaven?
00:12:22.77\00:12:26.84
No.
00:12:26.88\00:12:28.21
So what is the
conclusion that we must reach?
00:12:28.44\00:12:31.11
We've disqualified every being
that we know of, except one.
00:12:31.51\00:12:36.69
They are not members of
the regular angelic hosts
00:12:37.62\00:12:41.09
or of the human family.
00:12:41.32\00:12:43.56
Therefore, they must be
some other order of being.
00:12:44.06\00:12:48.40
And what are they?
00:12:49.43\00:12:50.77
They are the representatives
of the worlds that never sinned
00:12:51.87\00:12:55.94
in the universe.
00:12:56.30\00:12:57.64
But now let's
deal with the problem.
00:12:58.11\00:13:00.58
A problem in translation.
00:13:01.54\00:13:03.35
How then do we
explain Revelation 5:8-10
00:13:04.08\00:13:08.78
where the 24 elders...
00:13:09.08\00:13:10.82
And by the way, the problem
is only in the King James
00:13:10.85\00:13:13.42
and the New King James Version.
00:13:13.46\00:13:15.16
Not any other version,
00:13:15.19\00:13:16.62
in any of the other
more contemporary versions.
00:13:17.59\00:13:20.73
So what do we do to
explain Revelation 5:8-10
00:13:22.66\00:13:26.07
where the 24 elders
appear to be singing the song
00:13:26.10\00:13:30.34
of their redemption from
"every kindred, and tongue,
00:13:30.37\00:13:33.94
and people, and nation?"
00:13:33.98\00:13:35.48
Why do these verses seem
to say that the 24 elders
00:13:36.01\00:13:39.15
will reign upon the earth?
00:13:39.18\00:13:41.82
Let us consider the passage
as it appears in the King James.
00:13:42.38\00:13:45.29
So we're going to read
it first in the King James,
00:13:45.49\00:13:47.39
then we're going to
try to resolve the issue.
00:13:47.42\00:13:49.46
Verse 8 of
chapter 5 reads as follows
00:13:50.43\00:13:53.80
from the King James Version.
00:13:53.83\00:13:55.26
"And when he had
taken the book...
00:13:55.56\00:13:57.50
By the way, both the
living beings and the elders
00:14:14.32\00:14:16.65
are singing this, right?
00:14:16.69\00:14:18.19
What do the living
creatures represent?
00:14:20.06\00:14:22.72
The cherubim
and seraphim, right?
00:14:24.63\00:14:27.20
So did the
cherubim and seraphim,
00:14:28.40\00:14:30.90
were they
redeemed from the earth?
00:14:30.93\00:14:32.53
See, we begin to
detect a little problem here?
00:14:33.23\00:14:36.10
Because both the living
creatures and the elders
00:14:36.30\00:14:39.77
are singing this song.
00:14:39.81\00:14:41.38
So it says...
00:14:41.61\00:14:42.94
Are the cherubim
and seraphim redeemed?
00:14:55.26\00:14:57.49
No, but they're
singing the song.
00:14:57.99\00:14:59.76
Do you see where the problem is?
00:15:15.54\00:15:17.15
It gives the impression that the
elders who are singing the song,
00:15:17.71\00:15:21.25
besides the four living
creatures, incidentally,
00:15:21.28\00:15:23.69
are actually human
beings that were redeemed.
00:15:23.72\00:15:27.46
Human beings that are
going to reign upon the earth.
00:15:28.02\00:15:30.46
Is this possible in the
light of what we've studied?
00:15:30.99\00:15:33.60
No, it's not possible in
the light of what we've studied.
00:15:33.63\00:15:36.80
So we go to the
paragraph on page 84.
00:15:37.70\00:15:40.10
Does not this passage
explicitly state that God
00:15:40.14\00:15:43.91
redeemed the
elders from the earth,
00:15:43.94\00:15:46.07
that He made them
kings and priests,
00:15:46.47\00:15:48.54
and that they would
rule upon the earth?
00:15:48.74\00:15:50.98
How could they then be strong
angels or the highest of angels
00:15:51.65\00:15:56.38
that represent other
worlds in the heavenly council?
00:15:56.42\00:16:00.26
Now before I answer this
question, I'm going to tread
00:16:01.46\00:16:05.26
softly, I would like
to share a word about
00:16:05.29\00:16:09.33
the King James Version.
00:16:09.36\00:16:11.07
I personally believe
that the King James Version
00:16:11.67\00:16:14.37
is a very good
version of the Bible,
00:16:14.40\00:16:17.24
a very good translation.
00:16:17.27\00:16:18.94
I believe that the manuscript
trail, the Textus Receptus,
00:16:19.47\00:16:23.61
is a good manuscript trail.
00:16:23.65\00:16:25.98
The one that is
used to translate
00:16:26.45\00:16:28.22
the King James Version.
00:16:28.25\00:16:29.68
However, neither
the manuscript trail,
00:16:29.92\00:16:33.69
nor the translation are perfect.
00:16:34.16\00:16:36.76
The King James
Version is a reverent version
00:16:37.96\00:16:40.86
written in
beautiful Victorian English.
00:16:41.50\00:16:44.00
But the
translation is not infallible.
00:16:44.90\00:16:47.87
It is not perfect.
00:16:49.00\00:16:50.34
I can give you an example.
00:16:50.87\00:16:52.47
Daniel says that the little horn
took away the "daily sacrifice,"
00:16:53.07\00:17:00.02
it says in the
King James Version.
00:17:00.05\00:17:01.75
Ellen White says
the word, "sacrifice,"
00:17:02.28\00:17:04.29
does not belong to the text.
00:17:04.32\00:17:06.29
So immediately, we see
that there are some issues.
00:17:06.76\00:17:09.26
Now I'm not saying
that there are major issues,
00:17:09.29\00:17:11.53
that the King James
Version is not a good version
00:17:11.56\00:17:13.80
of the Bible, a
good translation.
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.16
It is a good translation.
00:17:15.20\00:17:16.53
Sometimes it's difficult to read
because the syntax is not the
00:17:16.56\00:17:21.94
syntax that we use today,
and many of the words are not
00:17:21.97\00:17:25.01
words that we use today.
00:17:25.04\00:17:26.71
And that's why
many people prefer
00:17:27.38\00:17:29.11
more contemporary versions.
00:17:29.14\00:17:31.15
Now having said this,
having said this about
00:17:31.41\00:17:34.95
the King James Version,
00:17:34.98\00:17:37.29
some people who are well
intended revere this version
00:17:38.05\00:17:44.36
so much that they
practically give the impression
00:17:44.39\00:17:46.76
that God verbally dictated the
translation of the King James.
00:17:46.80\00:17:51.43
You know, they say, "If it
was good enough for Christ,
00:17:52.53\00:17:54.54
it's good enough for me."
00:17:54.57\00:17:55.90
However, the King
James translation is
00:17:57.81\00:17:59.84
by no means perfect.
00:17:59.87\00:18:01.31
Let me give you an example
00:18:01.91\00:18:03.51
from the much maligned
New International Version.
00:18:04.91\00:18:07.62
Now I'm not really pushing for
the New International Version,
00:18:07.65\00:18:13.19
don't get me wrong.
00:18:13.22\00:18:14.62
There are many passages in the
NIV that have been taken out.
00:18:14.82\00:18:18.63
There are certain
words that are mistranslated.
00:18:19.13\00:18:21.03
There's slanted
translations in certain verses.
00:18:21.06\00:18:24.07
That doesn't mean that
the entire NIV is no good.
00:18:24.10\00:18:26.97
When we study the Bible, we
have to look at many different
00:18:28.04\00:18:30.74
versions of the Bible
to see if we can determine
00:18:30.77\00:18:32.94
the meaning of a text.
00:18:32.97\00:18:34.54
Let me give you one
example from the Bible
00:18:35.18\00:18:37.28
of where the NIV is better
than the King James Version.
00:18:37.31\00:18:42.42
That doesn't mean that the
NIV is better in all respects
00:18:42.45\00:18:46.05
than the King James Version.
00:18:46.25\00:18:47.62
You're understanding
what I'm saying, right?
00:18:47.66\00:18:49.22
By the way, did you
know that Ellen White says
00:18:49.32\00:18:51.83
that it is likely that there
are many things that the editors
00:18:51.86\00:18:59.73
added to Bible texts to
try and make them clearer,
00:18:59.77\00:19:03.27
in Selected Messages, volume 1?
00:19:03.30\00:19:05.34
And she's talking about
the King James Version there.
00:19:06.37\00:19:09.51
So we need to look
at the manuscript trail.
00:19:10.08\00:19:12.08
We need to look at
all of the evidence.
00:19:12.11\00:19:13.88
Now what I want to mention
is that the NIV is much better
00:19:14.12\00:19:19.75
in those text that speak
about the state of the dead.
00:19:19.79\00:19:23.12
The example I want to
give you is from Acts 2:25-27.
00:19:24.66\00:19:28.96
Acts 2:25-27
00:19:29.00\00:19:31.23
We're not digressing right now.
00:19:31.27\00:19:33.74
I just want to show
you that sometimes the more
00:19:33.77\00:19:36.54
contemporary
versions are more precise
00:19:36.57\00:19:38.94
in certain cases than what we
find in the King James Version.
00:19:39.04\00:19:43.01
Acts 2:25-27, here
Peter on the Day of Pentecost
00:19:43.98\00:19:49.42
is quoting a
passage from Psalm 16.
00:19:49.45\00:19:52.65
"For David
speaketh concerning him..."
00:19:53.86\00:19:55.99
David wrote about
Jesus, in other words.
00:19:56.02\00:19:58.23
"I foresaw the Lord
always before my face,
00:19:58.26\00:20:01.30
for he is on my right hand,
that I should not be moved.
00:20:01.33\00:20:06.40
Therefore did my heart rejoice,
and my tongue was glad..."
00:20:06.90\00:20:11.21
This is the King James Version.
00:20:11.24\00:20:12.91
"...moreover also my
flesh shall rest in hope:
00:20:12.94\00:20:16.44
because thou wilt not
leave my should in hell,
00:20:16.85\00:20:20.12
neither wilt thou suffer thine
Holy One to see corruption."
00:20:20.78\00:20:24.05
You see where we
have the problem here?
00:20:24.25\00:20:25.99
You know, people who use
the King James, they'll say,
00:20:27.49\00:20:29.52
"When Jesus
died, He went to hell.
00:20:29.56\00:20:31.39
His soul went to hell.
00:20:31.79\00:20:33.13
Not Him, His soul went to hell."
00:20:33.16\00:20:35.30
So when you read
this in the King James,
00:20:36.20\00:20:38.33
immediately you have to explain,
"Well, the soul is the person.
00:20:38.37\00:20:41.97
And you know, hell
really represents the grave.
00:20:42.27\00:20:45.24
Which, by the way, the
equivalent of the word,
00:20:45.27\00:20:47.68
"hades," which is used 12
times in the New Testament,
00:20:47.71\00:20:50.55
in the Old
Testament it's, "Sheol."
00:20:50.75\00:20:52.51
"Sheol," is used over 50
times in the Old Testament.
00:20:52.78\00:20:55.32
And almost every single time
it can be translated, the grave.
00:20:55.52\00:20:58.42
It doesn't mean,
hell. It means, the grave.
00:20:59.35\00:21:01.49
And so, the King James,
says, "...you will not leave my
00:21:02.09\00:21:04.56
soul in hell, neither
wilt thou suffer thine Holy One
00:21:04.59\00:21:07.36
to see corruption."
00:21:07.40\00:21:08.73
Now notice how the
New International Version
00:21:08.83\00:21:11.43
translates this
verse, or these verses.
00:21:11.47\00:21:14.04
"I saw the Lord
always before me.
00:21:14.24\00:21:16.24
Because he is at my right
hand, I will not be shaken.
00:21:16.27\00:21:19.11
Therefore my heart is
glad and my tongue rejoices;
00:21:19.31\00:21:22.51
my body also will live in
hope, because you will not
00:21:22.71\00:21:26.88
leave me to the
grave, nor will you let your
00:21:26.92\00:21:32.09
Holy One see decay."
00:21:32.12\00:21:34.46
Is that a better translation?
00:21:35.22\00:21:36.66
Very clearly, it's
a better translation.
00:21:37.86\00:21:40.13
So what is the soul in the NIV?
00:21:40.26\00:21:42.96
Me.
00:21:43.00\00:21:44.33
Haven't we always said
as Adventists that the soul
00:21:44.77\00:21:46.94
is the total person?
00:21:46.97\00:21:48.30
So the NIV is a good
Seventh-day Adventist version,
00:21:48.74\00:21:52.04
in this verse.
00:21:52.24\00:21:53.64
Because it says,
"you will not abandon me,"
00:21:53.84\00:21:56.64
not to hell, but to where?
00:21:56.68\00:21:58.65
"...to the grave, nor will you
allow your Holy One see decay."
00:21:58.95\00:22:05.05
So having said this, the reason
why I'm bringing this to view
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.22
is because, just
because the King James Version
00:22:09.52\00:22:13.50
gives us the impression that the
elders are singing the song of
00:22:14.10\00:22:20.10
their redemption
doesn't necessarily mean
00:22:20.14\00:22:22.64
that the King James translation
is the correct translation.
00:22:22.67\00:22:26.31
I want to read now from
several modern versions.
00:22:26.84\00:22:29.98
Versions that have
been written within
00:22:30.28\00:22:32.75
the 20th and 21st century.
00:22:32.78\00:22:36.18
I'm going to read all
of them so that you can see
00:22:36.69\00:22:38.85
how the overwhelming evidence
is that the elders are not
00:22:38.89\00:22:44.26
the redeemed, the elders
are singing about the redeemed.
00:22:44.29\00:22:48.23
First of all, from the NIV.
00:22:48.96\00:22:50.87
"And they sang a new song,
'You are worthy to take the
00:22:51.60\00:22:55.10
scroll and to open its
seals, because you were slain,
00:22:55.14\00:22:58.87
and with your blood
you purchased men for God
00:22:58.91\00:23:04.35
from every tribe and
language and people and nation.
00:23:04.38\00:23:07.48
You have made them to
be a kingdom and priests
00:23:07.52\00:23:10.85
to serve our God, and they
will reign upon the earth.'"
00:23:10.89\00:23:14.59
Here, the elder is not including
himself in this multitude.
00:23:15.42\00:23:20.10
He is singing
about the multitude.
00:23:20.13\00:23:22.46
Notice Revelation 5:9-10 in
the New American Standard Bible,
00:23:23.16\00:23:26.90
which is a very
much appreciated Bible
00:23:26.94\00:23:29.90
in the Christian world today.
00:23:29.94\00:23:31.37
"And they sang
a new song saying,
00:23:31.81\00:23:33.54
'Worthy are You to take the
book and to break its seals;
00:23:33.58\00:23:36.64
for You were slain,
and purchased for God
00:23:36.68\00:23:39.31
with Your blood men
from every tribe and tongue
00:23:39.35\00:23:42.85
and people and nation.
00:23:42.88\00:23:44.32
You have made them to be a
kingdom and priests to our God;
00:23:44.35\00:23:48.76
and they will
reign upon the earth.'"
00:23:48.79\00:23:51.96
Once again, the elders are
singing about the redeemed.
00:23:51.99\00:23:56.33
Notice the
Revised Standard Version.
00:23:56.93\00:23:59.20
"...and they sang a new
song, saying, 'Worthy art thou
00:23:59.93\00:24:03.71
to take the scroll and to open
its seals, for thou wast slain
00:24:03.74\00:24:07.31
and by thy blood didst ransom
men for God from every tribe
00:24:07.34\00:24:12.51
and tongue and people
and nation, and has made them
00:24:12.55\00:24:15.48
a kingdom and
priests to our God,
00:24:15.52\00:24:17.99
and they shall
reign upon earth.'"
00:24:18.02\00:24:21.29
The New English Bible.
00:24:21.72\00:24:23.12
"...and they were
singing a new song:
00:24:23.16\00:24:24.96
'Thou art worthy to take the
scroll and to break its seals,
00:24:24.99\00:24:28.83
for thou wast slain and by
thy blood didst purchase for God
00:24:28.86\00:24:33.00
men of every tribe and
language and people and nation;
00:24:33.03\00:24:36.67
thou hast made them a
royal house, to serve our God
00:24:36.71\00:24:40.51
as priests; and they
shall reign upon the earth.'"
00:24:40.54\00:24:44.18
The Weymouth Bible, which is
more of a dynamic translation,
00:24:44.78\00:24:49.85
reads like this:
00:24:49.88\00:24:51.22
"And now they sing a new
song, saying, 'Worthy art Thou
00:24:51.25\00:24:54.52
to take the book and break its
seals; because Thou hast been
00:24:54.56\00:24:57.89
slain, and hast purchased
for God with Thine own blood
00:24:57.93\00:25:01.60
men out of every tribe and
tongue and people and nation,
00:25:01.80\00:25:05.83
and hast formed them
into a kingdom to be priests
00:25:06.03\00:25:09.24
to our God, and they
shall reign over the earth.'"
00:25:09.27\00:25:12.97
The Phillips translation.
00:25:13.48\00:25:15.08
"They sang a new song and
these are the words they sang:
00:25:15.11\00:25:18.65
'Worthy are thou to take
the book and break its seals,
00:25:18.75\00:25:21.92
for thou hast been slain
and by thy blood hast purchased
00:25:21.95\00:25:26.09
for God men from every tribe and
tongue and people and nation.
00:25:26.12\00:25:30.76
Thou hast made them a
kingdom of priests for our God,
00:25:30.86\00:25:34.23
and they shall reign
as kings upon the earth.'"
00:25:34.26\00:25:37.90
The Jerusalem Bible,
which is a Roman Catholic Bible.
00:25:38.53\00:25:41.07
"They sang a new hymn: 'You
are worthy to take the scroll
00:25:41.50\00:25:44.74
and break the seals of it,
because you were sacrificed,
00:25:44.77\00:25:47.64
and with your blood you bought
men for God of every race,
00:25:47.68\00:25:51.51
language, people, and nation
and made them a line of kings
00:25:51.61\00:25:55.52
and priests to serve our
God and to rule the world.'"
00:25:55.55\00:25:58.92
The New American Bible,
also a Catholic translation.
00:25:59.15\00:26:03.12
"This is the new hymn they sang:
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.06
'Worthy are you to receive the
scroll and break open its seals,
00:26:05.26\00:26:08.86
for you were slain.
00:26:08.90\00:26:10.37
With your blood you purchased
for God men of every race
00:26:10.40\00:26:13.54
and tongue, and
every people and nation,
00:26:13.57\00:26:15.84
you made of them a kingdom,
and priests to serve our God,
00:26:15.87\00:26:18.97
and they shall
reign upon the earth.'"
00:26:19.17\00:26:21.68
And then finally,
the Jewish New Testament.
00:26:22.21\00:26:24.71
Revelation 5:9-10
00:26:24.75\00:26:26.75
"...and they sang a new song,
'You are worthy to take the
00:26:26.78\00:26:29.95
scroll and break its seals;
because you were slaughtered;
00:26:29.98\00:26:34.26
at the cost of your blood
you ransomed for God persons
00:26:34.29\00:26:37.86
from every tribe,
language, people, and nation.
00:26:37.89\00:26:40.66
You made them into a
kingdom for God to rule,
00:26:40.70\00:26:43.57
cohanim,'" that's
priests, "to serve him;
00:26:43.77\00:26:46.97
and they will
rule over the earth."
00:26:47.00\00:26:51.01
Overwhelmingly the
testimony of the translations is
00:26:52.54\00:26:57.05
that the elders are not singing
the song of their redemption,
00:26:57.08\00:27:00.72
they are singing
about the redeemed.
00:27:01.12\00:27:03.79
Are you with me or not?
00:27:03.82\00:27:05.22
Now why is it that the
elders cannot be human?
00:27:05.75\00:27:09.99
Four reasons.
00:27:10.29\00:27:11.63
First, because the
elders were already there
00:27:11.99\00:27:16.43
before Jesus ascended to heaven.
00:27:17.53\00:27:19.70
Unless you had a huge group
of people that went to heaven;
00:27:20.64\00:27:24.37
we know that Moses
went and Elijah went,
00:27:24.41\00:27:26.54
and Enoch went; that's three,
00:27:26.94\00:27:29.31
but 24 elders, I mean,
you don't have any groups that
00:27:29.81\00:27:34.32
went to heaven
before Jesus ascended.
00:27:34.35\00:27:36.89
So they cannot be
human. They were already there.
00:27:37.45\00:27:40.72
Second, both the four living
creatures and the 24 elders
00:27:41.19\00:27:46.80
sang the song of redemption.
00:27:46.83\00:27:48.36
And the four living creatures
are cherubim and seraphim.
00:27:49.56\00:27:52.57
They were not
redeemed from among men.
00:27:53.13\00:27:55.14
And they are not going
to rule over the earth.
00:27:55.60\00:27:57.61
Are you following me or not?
00:27:57.64\00:27:58.97
Now having said
that, Ellen White does say
00:27:59.41\00:28:03.48
that the angels will
sing the song of redemption
00:28:03.78\00:28:06.92
although they
never had the experience.
00:28:06.95\00:28:09.08
And so I included
this quotation here from,
00:28:09.88\00:28:12.79
Bible Commentary,
volume 7, page 922.
00:28:12.82\00:28:15.59
"Holy angels will sing
in the song of the redeemed.
00:28:15.96\00:28:20.60
Though they cannot sing
from experimental knowledge,
00:28:20.70\00:28:24.27
'He hath washed us in His own
blood and redeemed us unto God,'
00:28:24.47\00:28:28.00
yet they understand the great
peril from which the people
00:28:28.20\00:28:31.04
of God have been saved.
00:28:31.07\00:28:32.57
Were they not sent to
lift up for them a standard
00:28:32.81\00:28:36.21
against the enemy?
00:28:36.24\00:28:37.58
They can fully sympathize
with the glowing ecstasy
00:28:37.61\00:28:40.62
of those who have overcome
by the blood of the Lamb
00:28:40.65\00:28:43.49
and the word of
their testimony."
00:28:43.69\00:28:46.12
The third reason why
they are not human is because
00:28:46.49\00:28:50.63
very clearly the elder...
00:28:50.66\00:28:53.26
And this is a
very important point.
00:28:53.29\00:28:55.66
...the elder is distinguished
from those who are redeemed
00:28:55.70\00:29:00.77
from every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people.
00:29:00.80\00:29:03.00
Are you
understanding this point?
00:29:03.04\00:29:04.84
Notice what we find
here in Revelation 7:13-17.
00:29:05.77\00:29:10.98
This is about
the great multitude
00:29:11.01\00:29:12.58
from every nation,
tongue, and people,
00:29:12.61\00:29:14.45
the ones that
supposedly are singing,
00:29:14.48\00:29:16.18
"you redeemed
us from the earth."
00:29:16.22\00:29:18.19
Notice, "And one
of the elders..."
00:29:18.75\00:29:21.19
This is the great
multitude from every nation.
00:29:24.93\00:29:27.23
Notice all of the things
that I put in bracket here.
00:29:56.62\00:29:59.33
Not "we," not "our,"
not "are we," not "us."
00:29:59.36\00:30:03.03
Verse 16, "They..." Not, "We..."
00:30:03.13\00:30:05.47
"...them..." Not, "us."
00:30:10.74\00:30:12.54
"...them..." Not,
"us," not the elders.
00:30:16.34\00:30:18.68
Is that clear?
00:30:26.89\00:30:28.22
The elder is actually speaking
about the group of the redeemed.
00:30:29.09\00:30:33.63
The elder is not one of
the members of the group
00:30:33.66\00:30:37.57
of the redeemed.
00:30:37.60\00:30:38.93
Finally, as we've already
noticed, Ellen White clearly
00:30:39.70\00:30:44.77
indicates that the 24
elders are strong angels
00:30:44.81\00:30:48.31
or the highest of angels.
00:30:48.34\00:30:50.15
So very clearly, Ellen
White did not understand
00:30:50.95\00:30:53.68
that the 24 elders are
human beings that were redeemed
00:30:53.72\00:30:59.02
and that are going
to reign upon the earth.
00:30:59.42\00:31:01.62
Is this clear?
00:31:01.66\00:31:02.99
Yes?
00:31:04.36\00:31:05.69
Okay, good.
00:31:05.73\00:31:07.06
Now let's talk about the
elders in the rest of the
00:31:07.26\00:31:09.80
book of Revelation.
00:31:09.83\00:31:11.17
The elders in
the rest of the book.
00:31:11.67\00:31:13.84
And basically, the
next couple of pages
00:31:14.37\00:31:17.31
you find in the
chart on page 91.
00:31:17.94\00:31:21.11
The chart on page 91.
00:31:22.34\00:31:23.98
So I'm just going
to go to the chart.
00:31:24.01\00:31:26.05
And the 24 elders are
mentioned in these chapters
00:31:26.61\00:31:31.55
that we have here.
00:31:31.59\00:31:32.92
Let's notice the
column under Revelation 4.
00:31:33.25\00:31:37.19
Revelation chapter 4.
00:31:37.23\00:31:38.73
Is the Father
present in Revelation 4?
00:31:39.69\00:31:42.10
Yes.
00:31:42.53\00:31:43.87
Are the 24 elders present?
00:31:43.90\00:31:45.87
Yes.
00:31:46.07\00:31:47.40
Are the four
living creatures present?
00:31:47.44\00:31:49.60
Yes.
00:31:49.64\00:31:50.97
Are the seven Spirits
who are before the throne
00:31:51.01\00:31:53.38
present in chapter 4?
00:31:53.41\00:31:54.94
Yes.
00:31:54.98\00:31:56.31
But in chapter 5 you
have an addition, don't you?
00:31:56.85\00:31:59.51
Do you still
have the Father? Yes.
00:32:00.42\00:32:02.92
Do you still have
the elders? Absolutely.
00:32:02.95\00:32:05.55
Do you have the four
living creatures? Yes.
00:32:05.59\00:32:07.62
The seven
Spirits are sent where?
00:32:07.96\00:32:09.89
They're sent to the earth.
00:32:10.49\00:32:11.89
But who is added
now to the picture?
00:32:11.93\00:32:14.86
The Lamb and the angelic host.
00:32:15.33\00:32:18.93
But now let's
notice Revelation 7
00:32:20.17\00:32:22.20
where you have a description
of the redeemed already
00:32:23.07\00:32:26.27
victorious with the Lord.
00:32:26.31\00:32:28.98
In other words, it's
after the second coming.
00:32:29.64\00:32:31.51
They're celebrating the
feast of tabernacles in heaven.
00:32:31.55\00:32:33.98
They have palm
branches in their hands,
00:32:34.02\00:32:36.25
which were used,
according to Leviticus 23:40,
00:32:36.28\00:32:39.72
at the feast of tabernacles.
00:32:40.16\00:32:42.02
And you'll notice, and we
don't have time to look at
00:32:42.32\00:32:45.06
all of the verses, but
you have the chart there,
00:32:45.09\00:32:47.20
the Father is
mentioned in Revelation 7:10,
00:32:47.23\00:32:50.23
in chapter 7.
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.03
The 24 elders are
mentioned in chapter 7:11.
00:32:52.53\00:32:55.74
The four living creatures are
mentioned also in chapter 7:11.
00:32:56.10\00:33:00.18
The Holy Spirit is
not mentioned because why?
00:33:00.84\00:33:03.85
His work is finished.
00:33:05.05\00:33:06.48
The Lamb is
mentioned in verses 10 and 17.
00:33:07.32\00:33:10.82
The angelic host is
mentioned in chapter 7:11.
00:33:11.22\00:33:15.59
But now there's an added group.
00:33:15.72\00:33:18.06
What is the added group?
00:33:19.69\00:33:21.16
A great multitude
which no one could number.
00:33:21.83\00:33:24.57
Why wasn't the great multitude
that no one could number
00:33:25.53\00:33:28.10
there present in
chapter 4 and chapter 5?
00:33:28.54\00:33:31.31
Because they were not there yet.
00:33:33.48\00:33:35.61
Because the great
multitude are the redeemed
00:33:36.08\00:33:38.58
from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:33:38.61\00:33:40.88
Are you with me or not?
00:33:40.92\00:33:42.25
And then when you
go to chapter 19...
00:33:42.68\00:33:44.82
By the way, you'll
notice on the previous page
00:33:45.42\00:33:49.26
that the 24 elders
are also mentioned in
00:33:49.56\00:33:51.89
Revelation 11:15-16.
00:33:51.93\00:33:54.96
And the great multitude
are not present there because
00:33:55.76\00:33:59.37
the seventh trumpet is
the close of probation,
00:33:59.40\00:34:01.90
and the great
multitude is not yet there
00:34:02.77\00:34:05.57
physically at the
close of probation.
00:34:05.61\00:34:07.78
Revelation 19, you
also have the same group.
00:34:08.38\00:34:10.81
Because the bride
has prepared herself,
00:34:10.85\00:34:12.85
and the bride is now victorious.
00:34:12.88\00:34:15.22
God is present, chapter
19, the 24 elders are present,
00:34:15.68\00:34:18.99
the four living
creatures are present,
00:34:19.02\00:34:20.62
the Holy Spirit is not mentioned
because His work is finished,
00:34:20.89\00:34:23.49
the Lamb is mentioned,
the angelic host is mentioned,
00:34:23.53\00:34:26.29
and once again
the great multitude.
00:34:26.66\00:34:28.56
Because in Revelation
19 the great multitude
00:34:28.66\00:34:31.83
is already there.
00:34:31.87\00:34:33.50
They have already been
rescued from the earth.
00:34:33.84\00:34:36.07
So does this help clarify
who the great multitude is
00:34:36.57\00:34:40.78
and when they are
going to be in heaven?
00:34:40.81\00:34:42.91
Absolutely.
00:34:42.94\00:34:44.28
Now, you can read page 92.
00:34:45.28\00:34:49.92
It's just an
explanation of the chart,
00:34:49.95\00:34:51.65
but I've already
given you the explanation.
00:34:51.69\00:34:53.56
What I want to do is I
want to go to page 93 now.
00:34:53.92\00:34:56.96
Page 93.
00:34:57.63\00:34:59.09
The parable of the lost sheep
describes the final celebration
00:35:00.56\00:35:06.40
that we find in
Revelation 5:12-13.
00:35:06.43\00:35:09.64
Let's read the parable.
00:35:11.61\00:35:13.11
This parable is
found in Luke 15:4-7.
00:35:14.14\00:35:17.55
And I've added
explanations in brackets.
00:35:18.58\00:35:22.15
What would the
hundred sheep represent?
00:35:28.49\00:35:31.99
All of the
worlds of the universe.
00:35:32.83\00:35:34.23
By the way,
there's not a hundred.
00:35:34.26\00:35:35.60
It's a round number
that's placed in the parable.
00:35:36.73\00:35:38.87
It's like the ten virgins;
there's not only going to be
00:35:39.70\00:35:42.80
five wise saved people
that are alive at the end.
00:35:42.84\00:35:47.14
Okay? So numbers are
given in the parables
00:35:47.18\00:35:49.84
to fill in the
details so that people can
00:35:49.88\00:35:52.91
conceive of the story.
00:35:52.95\00:35:54.28
They're added
details to the story.
00:35:54.32\00:35:56.15
And so, the
hundred sheep represent the
00:35:56.69\00:35:58.95
worlds that never sinned.
00:35:58.99\00:36:00.32
"...if he loses one of
them..." Which one did He lose?
00:36:00.36\00:36:02.82
Planet earth, this sinful world.
00:36:03.93\00:36:05.79
"...does not leave the
ninety-nine in the wilderness.."
00:36:06.23\00:36:09.20
In other words, safe and sound.
00:36:11.47\00:36:13.20
"...and go after..."
00:36:13.77\00:36:15.24
What would that represent,
go after the one that was lost?
00:36:15.27\00:36:18.17
That's Jesus
coming down to this earth;
00:36:18.64\00:36:20.24
the Good Shepherd.
00:36:20.28\00:36:21.61
"...the one which is
lost until he finds it?
00:36:22.24\00:36:24.81
And when he has found it,
he lays it on his shoulders..."
00:36:25.28\00:36:29.55
What? Oh, rejoicing.
00:36:29.58\00:36:31.99
You know, sometimes we
focus so much on Him rescuing
00:36:32.02\00:36:35.12
the sheep that we
forget the celebration.
00:36:35.16\00:36:37.59
Notice what happens now.
00:36:39.59\00:36:40.93
He takes it back with rejoicing.
00:36:40.96\00:36:43.37
He lays it on His shoulders.
00:36:43.40\00:36:44.77
And verse 6, "And
when he comes home..."
00:36:44.80\00:36:48.17
What would home be?
00:36:49.00\00:36:50.34
What is the Shepherd's home
00:36:50.37\00:36:51.71
that He left to
rescue the sheep?
00:36:52.11\00:36:54.24
Heaven.
00:36:54.64\00:36:55.98
And so it says,
"And when he comes home,
00:36:56.95\00:36:58.98
he calls together his
friends and neighbors..."
00:36:59.01\00:37:00.78
Who would the friends
and neighbors represent?
00:37:00.82\00:37:02.95
The angels and the
representatives of the worlds.
00:37:04.09\00:37:07.02
"...saying to
them, 'Rejoice with me,
00:37:08.39\00:37:10.83
for I have found my
sheep which was lost.'"
00:37:11.36\00:37:15.63
Now the parables sometimes
have a limited dimension
00:37:26.37\00:37:28.91
and they have a
broader dimension.
00:37:28.94\00:37:30.58
The limited dimension is,
you know, when somebody from the
00:37:30.85\00:37:34.32
church goes astray, you know,
the pastor of the church should
00:37:34.35\00:37:37.19
go or a member of
the church should go
00:37:37.22\00:37:38.99
and rescue that person and bring
that person back to the fold.
00:37:39.02\00:37:41.92
And the church should have a
party over their coming back.
00:37:41.96\00:37:45.56
That is a limited application.
00:37:45.59\00:37:47.16
But the parables of Jesus,
as we saw in last year's Anchor
00:37:47.36\00:37:50.73
where we studied the parables,
we noticed that the parables
00:37:51.33\00:37:54.80
many times have a
broader application.
00:37:54.90\00:37:57.71
Like the story of the
good Samaritan, for example.
00:37:57.74\00:38:00.28
You know, we usually say, "We're
supposed to be good Samaritans."
00:38:00.54\00:38:03.24
Yes, that's true.
00:38:03.28\00:38:04.61
Jesus said, "You
go and do likewise."
00:38:04.65\00:38:06.98
Like the good Samaritan.
00:38:07.02\00:38:08.35
But in the story,
the good Samaritan
00:38:08.45\00:38:10.09
really represents Christ.
00:38:10.12\00:38:12.02
You see, the man who
fell into the hand of thieves,
00:38:12.99\00:38:15.32
his garments were taken
away and he was beaten up.
00:38:16.12\00:38:20.36
Let me ask you, is
the human race beaten up
00:38:20.40\00:38:22.56
and devoid of the garment
of Christ's righteousness?
00:38:22.60\00:38:26.60
Absolutely.
00:38:27.04\00:38:28.37
Who were the thieves
that actually did that to
00:38:28.67\00:38:31.61
this man in the parable?
00:38:31.64\00:38:33.31
Who is the thief of all thieves?
00:38:33.34\00:38:35.11
Satan. He
doesn't come but to what?
00:38:35.71\00:38:37.68
But to steal,
according to John 10.
00:38:37.71\00:38:40.28
So this man
represents the sad condition
00:38:40.95\00:38:44.32
of the people in the
world whom Satan has beat up.
00:38:44.35\00:38:47.72
He's taken away
their righteousness.
00:38:47.82\00:38:49.99
And so what happens now?
00:38:50.39\00:38:51.83
There comes a
priest walking by there.
00:38:51.86\00:38:54.06
Actually, there's a Levite that
comes first, and he passes by.
00:38:54.10\00:38:57.87
Then there's a priest that
passes by and passes him up.
00:38:57.90\00:39:01.60
Here comes a Samaritan.
00:39:01.80\00:39:04.07
And the Samaritan
has compassion on him.
00:39:04.74\00:39:07.31
And he binds his
wounds with wine and oil.
00:39:07.91\00:39:14.68
What does the wine represent?
00:39:15.62\00:39:17.35
The blood of Christ.
What does oil represent?
00:39:18.25\00:39:20.49
What are the healing
agents that Jesus uses to heal
00:39:20.99\00:39:25.03
people who have
been beat up by Satan
00:39:25.06\00:39:27.36
and taken away
their righteousness?
00:39:27.40\00:39:30.07
The Holy Spirit and
the blood of Christ.
00:39:30.40\00:39:33.03
The story doesn't end then.
00:39:34.10\00:39:35.94
He takes this man to the inn.
00:39:36.54\00:39:38.44
The inn represents the church.
00:39:39.07\00:39:40.88
Because the guy, you know, the
wine and the oil has been used
00:39:41.38\00:39:45.71
to heal him, but he's
not totally healed yet.
00:39:45.75\00:39:49.72
So he says to the inn keeper,
which would be the pastor,
00:39:49.98\00:39:53.46
he says, "Take care of
him," and gives him two denarii.
00:39:53.56\00:39:56.22
He gives him resources.
00:39:56.46\00:39:57.79
Has Jesus given
resources to the church
00:39:57.83\00:40:00.26
to take care of those who
are in need, who are unsaved?
00:40:00.46\00:40:03.23
Absolutely.
00:40:03.26\00:40:04.60
And then he says, he
says, "Take care of him.
00:40:04.63\00:40:07.04
And if you spend any
more than what I've given you,
00:40:07.54\00:40:10.21
when I come again
I will repay you."
00:40:10.24\00:40:13.84
There's a second
coming of the Samaritan.
00:40:14.71\00:40:16.78
We studied this
parable last year,
00:40:17.61\00:40:19.48
for those of you who were here.
00:40:19.51\00:40:20.98
The parables are amazing.
00:40:21.58\00:40:23.62
There's much more there
than perhaps we've seen before.
00:40:23.82\00:40:27.52
The parables have
an end time dimension.
00:40:27.56\00:40:29.59
That was the name
of Anchor last year;
00:40:29.62\00:40:31.16
The End Time
Dimension of the Parables.
00:40:31.19\00:40:33.80
But anyway, notice
Ellen White's explanation
00:40:33.83\00:40:36.97
of this parable,
the broader explanation,
00:40:37.00\00:40:39.20
at the bottom of the page.
00:40:39.23\00:40:40.80
"By the lost sheep,
Christ represents not only the
00:40:41.54\00:40:46.17
individual sinner, but the
one world that has apostatized
00:40:46.21\00:40:51.71
and has been ruined by sin.
00:40:51.75\00:40:53.75
This world is but an atom in
the vast dominions over which
00:40:54.45\00:41:00.56
God presides, yet
this little fallen world,
00:41:00.59\00:41:04.76
the one lost sheep, is
more precious in His sight
00:41:05.06\00:41:09.60
than are the ninety-nine that
went not astray from the fold.
00:41:09.63\00:41:13.87
Christ, the loved Commander
in the heavenly courts,
00:41:14.50\00:41:18.34
stooped from His high estate,
laid aside the glory that He had
00:41:18.37\00:41:24.01
with the Father, in order
to save the one lost world.
00:41:24.05\00:41:29.38
For this, He left the sinless
worlds on high, the ninety-nine
00:41:29.68\00:41:35.32
that loved Him, and
came to this earth to be
00:41:35.36\00:41:38.59
'wounded for our transgressions
00:41:38.63\00:41:40.70
and 'bruised
for our iniquities.'
00:41:40.83\00:41:43.37
God gave Himself in His Son..."
00:41:43.63\00:41:45.67
Now know what the reason is.
00:41:45.70\00:41:47.17
"...that He might have
the joy of receiving back
00:41:47.27\00:41:51.57
the sheep that was lost."
00:41:51.61\00:41:54.61
In other words,
Jesus rescues the world.
00:41:55.71\00:41:58.11
He not only rescues
individuals in that world.
00:41:58.41\00:42:02.38
So, let's talk about
the second coming of Jesus
00:42:04.39\00:42:07.99
for a few moments.
00:42:08.02\00:42:09.36
Just before the
second coming of Christ,
00:42:10.13\00:42:12.33
the Father, the
cherubim and seraphim,
00:42:13.23\00:42:17.77
the representatives of
the worlds that never sinned,
00:42:18.70\00:42:22.00
and the Holy Spirit will
gather in the heavenly room
00:42:22.77\00:42:26.37
for the arrival of Jesus with
all the redeemed from all ages.
00:42:27.54\00:42:32.15
Same thing as
Revelation chapter 4.
00:42:34.05\00:42:36.18
Jesus will leave
heaven accompanied by all the
00:42:37.22\00:42:41.26
holy angels on route
to planet earth to receive
00:42:41.29\00:42:47.36
His people from all ages.
00:42:47.40\00:42:49.43
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
00:42:50.10\00:42:53.94
The sampling of the first
fruits that Jesus presented
00:42:54.64\00:42:58.61
before His Father upon His
ascension will now translate
00:42:58.64\00:43:03.18
into the abundant harvest of
all the redeemed from all ages.
00:43:03.21\00:43:08.68
When Jesus nears the
city with His people,
00:43:09.15\00:43:11.42
the angels will sing the
hymn of Psalm 24 once again.
00:43:11.45\00:43:16.69
"Open up, ye gates, and the
King of glory will come in."
00:43:17.33\00:43:21.43
Jesus will then enter through
the gates with His people
00:43:22.23\00:43:25.23
in the midst of an
explosion of praise.
00:43:25.27\00:43:28.50
The Father will be
present at the gates of the city
00:43:28.77\00:43:31.54
to welcome His children home.
00:43:31.74\00:43:34.11
Now you say, "But Pastor
Bohr, I've heard that when Jesus
00:43:35.41\00:43:38.11
comes, He's coming
with the Father also.
00:43:38.15\00:43:40.62
And heaven is going to be
totally empty, because heaven
00:43:41.58\00:43:43.95
is going to be silent
for about half an hour."
00:43:43.99\00:43:47.89
We're going to talk
about the seventh seal.
00:43:48.22\00:43:50.16
That's not what
it's referring to;
00:43:51.03\00:43:52.36
that everybody left heaven and
is on their way to the earth,
00:43:52.39\00:43:54.36
including the Father.
00:43:54.40\00:43:55.73
The Father is not
coming at the second coming.
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.77
In Acts 3:20 it says
He shall send forth Jesus
00:43:58.63\00:44:03.61
at the second coming.
00:44:03.81\00:44:05.14
Notice this clear
statement from Ellen White.
00:44:05.64\00:44:08.21
This is found in,
Review and Herald,
00:44:08.41\00:44:10.25
September 21, 1886.
00:44:10.28\00:44:12.18
It couldn't be clearer.
00:44:12.21\00:44:13.55
See, we develop these
traditions in the church
00:44:13.65\00:44:16.02
that we pass along
without reflection,
00:44:16.22\00:44:18.02
without doing
research, without thinking.
00:44:18.05\00:44:20.06
We say, "Oh yeah, all
of heaven is going to come.
00:44:20.09\00:44:22.02
The Father is going to come to."
00:44:22.06\00:44:23.39
No, the Father doesn't come.
00:44:23.43\00:44:24.76
He's going to be in the
city, just like when Jesus
00:44:26.63\00:44:28.66
ascended to heaven, to
give the welcome to Jesus
00:44:28.70\00:44:30.87
when He ascended.
00:44:30.90\00:44:32.23
The same is going to
be with the redeemed.
00:44:32.27\00:44:33.60
Notice this statement.
00:44:33.64\00:44:34.97
"The sacrifice of our
Savior has made ample provision
00:44:35.07\00:44:39.41
for every
repenting, believing soul.
00:44:39.44\00:44:41.88
We are saved because
God loves the purchase
00:44:42.54\00:44:44.98
of the blood of Christ;
and not only will He pardon
00:44:45.01\00:44:48.78
the repentant sinner,
not only will He permit
00:44:48.82\00:44:52.49
him to enter heaven, but
He, the Father of mercies,
00:44:52.52\00:44:56.89
will wait at the very
gates of heaven to welcome us,
00:44:56.93\00:45:01.16
to give us an abundant entrance
to the mansions of the blest."
00:45:01.76\00:45:05.90
So is the Father coming?
00:45:06.47\00:45:07.80
He's going to be where?
00:45:09.20\00:45:10.54
At the gates to
welcome His people home.
00:45:11.14\00:45:14.41
"Welcome home, children."
00:45:15.01\00:45:16.51
You remember the song?
00:45:17.81\00:45:19.31
"Oh what love, what wondrous
love the Father has shown
00:45:21.15\00:45:25.05
in the gift of His beloved
Son for this fallen race.
00:45:25.09\00:45:28.79
And this Sacrifice is a
channel for the overflow
00:45:29.16\00:45:31.93
of His infinite love, that
all who believe on Jesus Christ
00:45:31.96\00:45:36.10
may, like the prodigal
son, receive full and free
00:45:36.13\00:45:41.44
restoration to
the favor of heaven."
00:45:41.47\00:45:44.64
Won't that be a
marvelous moment?
00:45:45.87\00:45:47.48
Wow!
00:45:48.44\00:45:49.78
Jesus ascending to heaven
with all of the angel hosts.
00:45:49.88\00:45:53.52
He will come with all of
His holy angels, the Bible says,
00:45:53.55\00:45:56.55
to receive the rest of
the dead who died in Christ.
00:45:56.85\00:46:01.62
And those who are alive
and remain, the 144,000,
00:46:01.66\00:46:04.89
caught into the cloud.
00:46:04.99\00:46:07.06
Then to ascend to the
holy city, as Psalm 24 is sung,
00:46:07.96\00:46:12.83
"Open up, ye gates; the
King of glory will come in."
00:46:12.87\00:46:15.44
And then the gates of
the city will open wide,
00:46:15.97\00:46:18.87
and Jesus and the
redeemed will come in.
00:46:18.91\00:46:21.14
And the Father will be there
saying, "Welcome home, children.
00:46:21.18\00:46:25.78
Welcome back."
00:46:26.01\00:46:27.35
Don't miss it for
anything in the world.
00:46:28.25\00:46:31.39
Now we have
about 11 minutes left.
00:46:32.22\00:46:34.76
So we want to go to the next
lesson because the next lesson
00:46:35.89\00:46:38.29
is kind of long.
00:46:38.33\00:46:39.79
So we want to make sure
that we are able to cover
00:46:40.10\00:46:42.66
this entire lesson number seven,
00:46:42.70\00:46:45.03
Future History and Functions
of the Twenty-four Elders.
00:46:45.37\00:46:50.61
Now first of all, I
want to make reference
00:46:51.47\00:46:53.41
to a chapter of the Bible,
00:46:53.44\00:46:54.78
actually several chapters of the
Bible, in the book of Isaiah.
00:46:54.81\00:46:58.51
Isaiah 24 through 27.
00:46:58.81\00:47:01.05
This is called, the little
apocalypse of the Old Testament.
00:47:01.08\00:47:04.29
The little book of
Revelation of the Old Testament.
00:47:04.32\00:47:07.02
Because it contains
many common elements with
00:47:07.32\00:47:10.09
the last book of the Bible.
00:47:10.13\00:47:11.76
And basically, Isaiah
24:1-4 describes the cataclysmic
00:47:12.53\00:47:20.50
second coming of Jesus Christ.
00:47:20.54\00:47:22.64
So let's read those verses,
and you'll see it's describing
00:47:22.74\00:47:25.84
the second coming of Jesus.
00:47:25.87\00:47:27.31
You know, the mighty earthquake,
when islands disappear,
00:47:27.34\00:47:30.85
mountain chains disappear,
and the sun is darkened,
00:47:31.05\00:47:35.18
the stars don't
give their light,
00:47:35.22\00:47:37.09
the moon doesn't give its light.
00:47:37.12\00:47:38.79
There is this catastrophe
that happens to planet earth.
00:47:39.02\00:47:42.02
Isaiah 24:1 says, "Behold, the
Lord makes the earth empty..."
00:47:42.66\00:47:48.23
Does that sound familiar?
00:47:48.90\00:47:50.23
Jeremiah said,
"I beheld the earth,
00:47:50.67\00:47:52.33
and it was
without form and void."
00:47:52.37\00:47:54.34
The word, "void,"
means, "empty," by the way.
00:47:54.37\00:47:56.40
In Spanish, the translation
is, "disordanada e vacía."
00:47:56.71\00:48:01.18
Isn't that beautiful in Spanish?
00:48:02.18\00:48:04.08
What a vivid description of what
is going to happen to this earth
00:48:54.06\00:48:57.17
when Jesus comes.
00:48:57.20\00:48:58.57
Frederick Moriarty, a
Roman Catholic writer...
00:48:58.80\00:49:02.77
I wouldn't quote Roman
Catholic writers very frequently
00:49:02.80\00:49:05.31
but this was a good description
of what is being said here
00:49:05.34\00:49:10.25
in the book of Isaiah.
00:49:10.28\00:49:11.61
He comments on these
verses in the following way.
00:49:12.75\00:49:15.78
"God's word had once
established order in the world,
00:49:15.98\00:49:20.46
Genesis 1; the picture is that
of a return to primeval chaos."
00:49:20.49\00:49:27.60
Just like Jeremiah
says in Jeremiah chapter 4,
00:49:28.40\00:49:31.80
"I beheld the earth, and lo,
it was without form and void.
00:49:31.83\00:49:36.17
And I looked at the heavens,
and there was no light."
00:49:36.20\00:49:40.88
Now the culmination
of the second coming
00:49:41.54\00:49:44.71
is described
later in the chapter.
00:49:44.75\00:49:46.82
In Isaiah 24:18-20 we find
a further vivid description
00:49:46.92\00:49:52.69
of what's going to
occur when Jesus comes.
00:49:52.99\00:49:56.83
It says there...
00:49:56.86\00:49:58.19
This reminds us of
Revelation chapter 6
00:50:09.04\00:50:11.17
where people are
hiding in the caves or running
00:50:11.21\00:50:13.17
because they want to be
hidden from the face of the One
00:50:13.21\00:50:15.71
who is sitting on the throne.
00:50:15.74\00:50:17.55
So once again...
00:50:18.51\00:50:19.85
What a vivid description
of the coming of Christ
00:50:54.25\00:50:56.69
with what's going to
happen with the world
00:50:56.72\00:50:58.19
at the moment of
the seventh plague.
00:50:58.22\00:51:00.09
These verses bring to
mind Revelation 6:15-17
00:51:01.09\00:51:06.39
where people are hiding in caves
00:51:06.43\00:51:07.96
and they're begging for
the rocks to fall on them
00:51:08.00\00:51:10.60
to hide them from
the face of the One
00:51:10.80\00:51:13.44
who is sitting on the throne?
00:51:13.47\00:51:14.80
It also reminds us
of the seventh plague.
00:51:14.90\00:51:17.37
The same phenomena take place,
00:51:17.41\00:51:19.34
according to
Revelation 16:17-21.
00:51:19.37\00:51:24.61
So when this cataclysm comes,
when this catastrophe comes
00:51:25.28\00:51:29.45
at the second
coming, the question is,
00:51:29.48\00:51:32.42
is there anyone left?
00:51:32.62\00:51:35.49
Isaiah 24:6 tells us...
00:51:37.69\00:51:41.16
So when this destruction comes,
00:51:56.04\00:51:58.41
is there going
to be anyone left?
00:51:58.78\00:52:00.82
Yes or no?
00:52:01.72\00:52:03.05
Yes.
00:52:03.42\00:52:04.75
It says, when
this calamity comes...
00:52:04.79\00:52:06.69
Verse 6 comes after
the verses that we read
00:52:06.72\00:52:08.82
about what's going to
happen when Jesus comes.
00:52:08.92\00:52:10.79
It says, "...few men are left."
00:52:10.83\00:52:13.70
So the big question is,
who are the ones that are left?
00:52:15.53\00:52:18.43
Let me ask you, are any of the
wicked people going to be left
00:52:18.47\00:52:20.77
alive when Jesus comes?
00:52:20.80\00:52:22.20
So who must be the ones,
the few men that are left?
00:52:22.97\00:52:25.57
It must be the righteous.
00:52:26.68\00:52:28.18
Now let's read the
note. This is very important.
00:52:29.14\00:52:30.81
You know, this has to
do with Matthew 24:40-41
00:52:31.25\00:52:35.82
where Jesus says
one will be taken
00:52:36.75\00:52:39.05
and the other one will be left.
00:52:39.09\00:52:40.46
The traditional view is
that the one that is taken
00:52:41.02\00:52:43.32
Jesus takes to heaven,
and the one that is left
00:52:43.53\00:52:46.03
is the one that's left behind.
00:52:46.06\00:52:47.76
The wicked dead.
00:52:47.96\00:52:49.53
But I've written a little book.
00:52:50.57\00:52:51.90
And let's read the note.
00:52:51.93\00:52:53.27
It says a little
bit more about it.
00:52:53.30\00:52:54.64
It is a common assumption
among Adventist interpreters
00:52:54.70\00:52:58.07
that the few men who are
left at the second coming
00:52:58.11\00:53:01.04
are the wicked who
die and remain on earth
00:53:01.08\00:53:04.01
during the millennium.
00:53:04.05\00:53:05.38
However, an analysis of
the terminology and context
00:53:05.78\00:53:10.02
indicates that those who are
left represents the righteous
00:53:10.42\00:53:14.69
who remain alive
when Jesus comes.
00:53:14.79\00:53:17.56
Whereas, those who are taken
are overtaken by destruction.
00:53:18.89\00:53:22.30
So if you want a full analysis
of this, I wrote a little book
00:53:23.10\00:53:28.17
called, Taken or Left.
00:53:28.20\00:53:29.87
I don't know if anybody has read
that little book, Taken or Left.
00:53:29.90\00:53:33.84
A few of you have read it.
00:53:33.88\00:53:35.21
Basically, I take the
context, I take the terminology,
00:53:35.48\00:53:39.48
I take the broader context.
00:53:39.75\00:53:42.35
And I have no doubts whatsoever,
after having studied these
00:53:42.38\00:53:46.25
verses very carefully
that those who are left are the
00:53:46.29\00:53:49.16
ones who remain alive.
00:53:49.19\00:53:50.53
Those who are taken
are overtaken or destroyed.
00:53:50.56\00:53:53.16
Now the passage that I
mentioned, one will be taken
00:53:53.80\00:53:58.53
and one will be left,
comes right after Jesus says,
00:53:58.57\00:54:01.87
"As it was in the days of
Noah, so also will it be at the
00:54:01.90\00:54:04.57
coming of the Son of Man."
00:54:04.61\00:54:06.88
So what context must we
look at to see who is left?
00:54:07.34\00:54:11.68
Because immediately
before taken and left
00:54:11.71\00:54:14.22
is the story of the flood.
00:54:14.25\00:54:15.88
So where must we look to
find out who are the left ones?
00:54:16.38\00:54:19.72
You would have to
go back to Genesis.
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.19
Now when the flood
came, who was left?
00:54:22.72\00:54:25.39
Well, let's
read Genesis 7:22-23.
00:54:25.73\00:54:28.53
This is the New King James.
00:54:37.11\00:54:38.44
Now other versions
translate, like for example,
00:54:46.58\00:54:49.62
the English Standard Version,
and there are others as well,
00:54:49.65\00:54:52.25
notice the translation,
"Only Noah was left,
00:54:52.29\00:54:58.09
and those who were
with him in the ark."
00:54:58.49\00:55:01.30
Even where there's a devastating
flood, you ask the question,
00:55:02.33\00:55:05.73
"Wow, that flood
swept everyone away.
00:55:06.03\00:55:08.70
Was anyone left?"
00:55:08.74\00:55:10.07
Right?
00:55:10.44\00:55:11.77
We use the word, "left."
00:55:11.81\00:55:13.14
The word, "left,"
is a remnant word.
00:55:13.17\00:55:14.88
Those who are left
after a great destruction
00:55:15.21\00:55:18.81
or a great calamity.
00:55:18.85\00:55:20.35
That's the way the word
is used in the Old Testament
00:55:20.38\00:55:23.52
and in the New Testament.
00:55:23.82\00:55:25.62
And so, the English
Standard Version translates,
00:55:25.65\00:55:28.69
"Only Noah was left..."
00:55:28.72\00:55:30.19
By the way, did you notice
that in Isaiah 24:6 it says,
00:55:30.23\00:55:33.90
"few men are left"?
00:55:34.00\00:55:35.96
Few are left.
00:55:37.03\00:55:38.87
Notice 1 Peter 3:20.
00:55:39.23\00:55:41.60
Speaking about the
flood in Noah's day.
00:55:44.14\00:55:46.27
"...in which a few,
that is, eight persons,
00:55:46.47\00:55:50.81
were brought
safely through water."
00:55:50.85\00:55:53.95
So who are the few that
remained alive in the flood?
00:55:54.65\00:55:57.62
Those who remained alive.
00:55:58.52\00:56:01.09
Who are the ones that
were taken away by the flood?
00:56:01.49\00:56:03.86
It was the wicked.
00:56:04.39\00:56:05.73
So basically,
Isaiah 24, 25, 26, and 27,
00:56:06.29\00:56:13.10
these chapters are really
describing the cataclysmic
00:56:13.50\00:56:17.14
second coming of Jesus Christ.
00:56:17.17\00:56:18.97
The earth will be laid waste.
00:56:19.34\00:56:22.01
It will be emptied,
it will be plundered.
00:56:22.64\00:56:24.98
All of the wicked
will be destroyed,
00:56:25.55\00:56:28.85
and they will remain dead.
00:56:29.18\00:56:30.52
We're going to see
this in our next class.
00:56:30.55\00:56:31.89
They will remain dead
during the thousand years.
00:56:31.92\00:56:35.06
The righteous will not
live here because this planet
00:56:35.56\00:56:39.43
will be non-inhabitable, so
the righteous will go to heaven
00:56:39.46\00:56:43.63
for a thousand years.
00:56:43.73\00:56:45.30
And this earth will
remain without form and void,
00:56:45.63\00:56:49.80
and the heavens
will have no light.
00:56:50.01\00:56:51.61
You say, why will the
heavens have no light?
00:56:51.64\00:56:54.44
Well, it's very simple.
00:56:54.94\00:56:56.28
Because Matthew 24 tells us
that the powers of the heavens
00:56:56.31\00:57:00.88
shall be shaken.
00:57:01.08\00:57:02.92
Let me ask, what is the power
in heaven that rules the day?
00:57:04.05\00:57:07.69
The sun.
00:57:08.12\00:57:09.46
What is the power
that rules the night?
00:57:09.49\00:57:11.09
The moon.
00:57:11.29\00:57:12.63
And in, Early Writings, page
41, Ellen White says that at the
00:57:12.73\00:57:15.76
voice of God, imagine
how powerful that voice is,
00:57:15.80\00:57:19.40
the sun, moon, and stars will
be moved out of their places.
00:57:19.70\00:57:24.24
She says they
will not disappear,
00:57:24.57\00:57:26.57
but they will be moved who
knows where in the universe.
00:57:26.78\00:57:29.54
So when He makes the new
heavens and the new earth
00:57:29.58\00:57:31.35
He just has to retrieve
them and put them where they
00:57:31.38\00:57:34.55
will benefit the earth.
00:57:34.58\00:57:35.92
And so, in Isaiah 24 we have a
00:57:35.98\00:57:38.89
description of
the second coming.
00:57:38.92\00:57:40.26
Now in our next class, we are
going to go to verses 21 to 23
00:57:40.29\00:57:46.03
of Isaiah 24.
00:57:46.06\00:57:48.46
This is where things are going
to get very, very interesting.
00:57:48.50\00:57:51.57
Because at the end of
chapter 24, we are going to
00:57:51.60\00:57:55.04
meet the elders again.
00:57:55.07\00:57:57.24
But this will be the
elders when the New Jerusalem
00:57:57.67\00:58:00.54
descends from heaven.
00:58:00.64\00:58:02.48
So don't miss the
next exciting episode.
00:58:02.51\00:58:05.41