Welcome back.
00:00:16.64\00:00:18.78
I hope everybody
had a good lunch today.
00:00:18.81\00:00:22.88
I know that there
are different choices
00:00:22.92\00:00:25.15
when I asked Mediterranean,
00:00:25.19\00:00:28.22
Mexican, gringo.
00:00:28.26\00:00:33.96
Lots of choices around here.
00:00:34.00\00:00:37.30
Anyway, we are going to
study beginning on page 179,
00:00:37.33\00:00:42.04
The Third Seal.
00:00:42.07\00:00:44.31
And my goal this
afternoon is to finish
00:00:44.34\00:00:46.68
the third and fourth seals.
00:00:46.71\00:00:49.54
And tomorrow we will dedicate
probably the first two sessions
00:00:49.58\00:00:52.91
in the morning
to the fifth seal,
00:00:52.95\00:00:55.12
and the two
sessions in the afternoon
00:00:55.15\00:00:56.95
to seal number six.
00:00:56.99\00:00:59.12
Then after that, we
still have the interlude
00:00:59.15\00:01:01.36
the sealing of
144,000 in Chapter 7,
00:01:01.39\00:01:05.59
and then we still
have the seventh seal,
00:01:05.63\00:01:08.66
plus all of the
presentations at the end.
00:01:08.70\00:01:11.90
The five that
deal with the Sabbath,
00:01:11.93\00:01:14.57
Sunday seal of God,
Mark of the Beast issue.
00:01:14.60\00:01:17.14
So let's have a word
of prayer and we'll begin.
00:01:17.17\00:01:21.58
Father in heaven,
thank You for the good rest
00:01:21.61\00:01:23.68
that we've been able to enjoy.
00:01:23.71\00:01:25.78
Now, as we gather once again,
00:01:25.81\00:01:27.52
we ask for the
guidance of Your Spirit.
00:01:27.55\00:01:30.32
We ask that You will
help us to understand
00:01:30.35\00:01:31.99
how history has flowed
00:01:32.02\00:01:34.19
and what things
are moving towards
00:01:34.22\00:01:37.63
so that we can be
prepared for the great events
00:01:37.66\00:01:39.89
that will soon
explode upon the world scene.
00:01:39.93\00:01:43.13
Thank you, Lord, for the promise
00:01:43.16\00:01:44.70
of Your presence and
we claim that promise,
00:01:44.73\00:01:46.97
in the name of Jesus.
00:01:47.00\00:01:48.40
Amen.
00:01:48.44\00:01:51.17
All right, page 179.
00:01:51.21\00:01:54.58
The third seal
represents the period
00:01:54.61\00:01:57.38
when Constantine
favored the Christian church
00:01:57.41\00:02:01.98
and as a result,
persecution ceased,
00:02:02.02\00:02:04.99
and the world
entered the church.
00:02:05.02\00:02:09.06
Let's read the verses
that deal with this seal,
00:02:09.09\00:02:12.29
with the third seal.
00:02:12.33\00:02:14.13
Revelation 6:5-6, we
have several symbols here.
00:02:14.16\00:02:19.27
"When he opened the third seal,
00:02:19.30\00:02:21.70
I heard the third
living creature say,
00:02:21.74\00:02:24.44
'Come and see.'
00:02:24.47\00:02:25.97
So I looked, and
behold, a black horse,
00:02:26.01\00:02:30.85
and he who sat on it had a
pair of scales in his hand.
00:02:30.88\00:02:35.38
And I heard a voice in the midst
00:02:35.42\00:02:36.85
of the four
living creatures saying,
00:02:36.89\00:02:39.12
'A quart of wheat for a Darius,
00:02:39.15\00:02:42.19
and three quarts of
barley for a denarius,
00:02:42.22\00:02:46.56
and do not harm
the oil and the wine.'"
00:02:46.59\00:02:51.00
So we have several
symbols in this third seal.
00:02:51.03\00:02:54.90
We have, first of all, a
horse whose color is black.
00:02:54.94\00:02:58.77
We have a rider on the horse
00:02:58.81\00:03:02.11
who has scales in his hand,
00:03:02.14\00:03:05.21
and this rider of the
horse is weighing wheat
00:03:05.25\00:03:10.05
and barley.
00:03:10.09\00:03:11.75
And we're going to
talk about what the wheat
00:03:11.79\00:03:13.69
and the barley represent.
00:03:13.72\00:03:15.99
And then also we find
the command not to hurt
00:03:16.02\00:03:20.13
the oil or the wine.
00:03:20.16\00:03:22.83
Now on the next page,
00:03:22.86\00:03:24.20
let's take a look at
the historical context
00:03:24.23\00:03:26.23
of what we've studied so
far and where we are at now.
00:03:26.27\00:03:29.80
The white horse
describes the victories
00:03:29.84\00:03:33.31
of the early church
according to what we'd studied.
00:03:33.34\00:03:36.85
The red horse describes
the imperial persecutions
00:03:36.88\00:03:41.68
by the Roman emperors
in the early centuries
00:03:41.72\00:03:44.35
of the history of
the Christian church.
00:03:44.39\00:03:46.96
The black horse,
00:03:46.99\00:03:48.36
which is the third seal
represents the infiltration
00:03:48.39\00:03:52.56
of the church by the world.
00:03:52.59\00:03:56.16
Now Satan in the course of
history has used two methods
00:03:56.20\00:03:59.47
to try and defeat God's people.
00:03:59.50\00:04:02.37
The first method is by trying
to kill them by persecution,
00:04:02.40\00:04:08.34
and we find this
method from the very beginning
00:04:08.38\00:04:10.65
of human history.
00:04:10.68\00:04:12.51
Cain killed Abel.
00:04:12.55\00:04:15.48
And, of course, it
wasn't Cain by himself.
00:04:15.52\00:04:18.75
Because 1 John 3:12,
00:04:18.79\00:04:20.92
says that Cain
was of the wicked one.
00:04:20.96\00:04:24.03
In other words, Cain killed Abel
00:04:24.06\00:04:25.69
because Satan was in charge
00:04:25.73\00:04:30.50
behind the scenes,
00:04:30.53\00:04:32.27
and he influenced
Cain to kill Abel.
00:04:32.30\00:04:34.67
So the first method that Satan
uses from the very beginning
00:04:34.70\00:04:37.77
is to try and kill
those who are faithful.
00:04:37.81\00:04:41.71
When that doesn't work,
Satan changes his methodology.
00:04:41.74\00:04:45.91
He says if you can't fight them
00:04:45.95\00:04:48.22
join them because
after Cain killed Abel,
00:04:48.25\00:04:51.22
God brought forth
another seed, Seth.
00:04:51.25\00:04:53.89
So the devil says, well,
00:04:53.92\00:04:55.26
you know, I can't
continue like this,
00:04:55.29\00:04:56.79
you know, I kill one seed
and God brings another seed,
00:04:56.83\00:04:59.09
so I have to use
a different method.
00:04:59.13\00:05:01.46
So what he did at
the time of the flood
00:05:01.50\00:05:03.80
was that he
mingled the sons of God,
00:05:03.83\00:05:06.70
which is the righteous
with the daughters of men.
00:05:06.74\00:05:09.80
And he was much more
successful because the world
00:05:09.84\00:05:12.61
that undoubtedly had
millions of inhabitants,
00:05:12.64\00:05:15.91
only eight people
were left on earth
00:05:15.94\00:05:20.28
that were faithful to God.
00:05:20.32\00:05:21.98
If God had not sent the flood,
00:05:22.02\00:05:24.55
the righteousness would
have been totally uprooted
00:05:24.59\00:05:30.33
from the earth.
00:05:30.36\00:05:31.69
So Satan uses two methods,
persecution, and infiltration.
00:05:31.73\00:05:36.00
In the second seal,
we have persecution.
00:05:36.03\00:05:39.73
In the third seal,
we have infiltration.
00:05:39.77\00:05:43.81
Now in the next section,
00:05:43.84\00:05:45.67
we're going to find
that the third seal,
00:05:45.71\00:05:47.61
the black horse is parallel
00:05:47.64\00:05:50.65
to the third church
period, the church of Pergamum.
00:05:50.68\00:05:56.55
So Ephesus would be
equivalent to the first seal,
00:05:56.58\00:06:00.32
that is the Apostolic Church.
00:06:00.36\00:06:02.42
Smyrna would be
equivalent to the red horse,
00:06:02.46\00:06:05.23
the second seal,
00:06:05.26\00:06:07.00
and that's the
persecuted church.
00:06:07.03\00:06:09.26
And then
Pergamum, the third church
00:06:09.30\00:06:11.23
would be the
compromising church,
00:06:11.27\00:06:13.57
symbolized by the black horse of
00:06:13.60\00:06:16.27
Revelation Chapter 6.
00:06:16.30\00:06:19.77
Now, let's read the
note at the bottom here,
00:06:19.81\00:06:22.88
because it's very important.
00:06:22.91\00:06:25.51
Satan's throne was in Pergamum.
00:06:25.55\00:06:27.78
That's what
Revelation 2:13 says.
00:06:27.82\00:06:31.85
The third seal is
the transition period
00:06:31.89\00:06:36.22
between the conversion
of the Emperor Constantine
00:06:36.26\00:06:40.40
and the rise of the
papacy to supremacy.
00:06:40.43\00:06:43.87
So in other
words, it's the hinge
00:06:43.90\00:06:46.30
between the persecuted church
00:06:46.33\00:06:48.97
and the rise of the
papacy in the year 538.
00:06:49.00\00:06:53.01
Thus, Pergamum is
the connecting link
00:06:53.04\00:06:57.38
between the pagan
Roman Empire and papal Rome.
00:06:57.41\00:07:03.12
During this period,
the restrainer was removed.
00:07:03.15\00:07:07.49
Who is the restrainer
that restrains the man of sin
00:07:07.52\00:07:10.43
from openly manifesting himself?
00:07:10.46\00:07:13.16
It is the Roman Empire.
00:07:13.19\00:07:15.16
As long as the empire is there,
00:07:15.20\00:07:16.87
the papacy
cannot rise to dominion,
00:07:16.90\00:07:18.97
because there's
already somebody who is ruling.
00:07:19.00\00:07:21.87
And so during this period,
the restrainer was removed.
00:07:21.90\00:07:26.68
And I have here
that we should study
00:07:26.71\00:07:28.64
Romans 13:1-5,
00:07:28.68\00:07:31.31
so that the papacy
could fully manifest itself.
00:07:31.35\00:07:35.85
Now, it's
helpful for us to realize
00:07:35.88\00:07:38.89
that the third
church has a person
00:07:38.92\00:07:41.72
that is
mentioned in that church.
00:07:41.76\00:07:44.16
And this person is
an Old Testament figure.
00:07:44.19\00:07:47.00
And that figure is Balaam.
00:07:47.03\00:07:50.57
Now, we would have to go
back to the Old Testament
00:07:50.60\00:07:53.34
to study this
story to Numbers 22-24.
00:07:53.37\00:07:57.44
I'll just give you
a very brief summary
00:07:57.47\00:08:00.08
of what happened in that time.
00:08:00.11\00:08:04.88
In the Old Testament story,
00:08:04.91\00:08:06.25
this is at the top of page 181.
00:08:06.28\00:08:11.29
In the Old Testament story,
00:08:11.32\00:08:12.72
Balaam did his utmost to
curse Israel from outside,
00:08:12.75\00:08:17.49
but he could not
00:08:17.53\00:08:19.29
because there was
no iniquity in Israel.
00:08:19.33\00:08:22.50
They had a proper
and strong relationship
00:08:22.53\00:08:24.57
with the Lord and
God protected the church.
00:08:24.60\00:08:27.40
Satan could not conquer
the church from outside,
00:08:27.44\00:08:31.54
or Israel from the outside,
00:08:31.57\00:08:32.97
so he infiltrated it
with idolatry and fornication.
00:08:33.01\00:08:38.25
Idolatrous pagan
customs came into the church
00:08:38.28\00:08:41.78
as it did into Israel,
through the influence of Balak
00:08:41.82\00:08:45.69
and Balaam who was
doing the work for Balak,
00:08:45.72\00:08:49.62
so idolatrous pagan accustoms
00:08:49.66\00:08:52.43
came into the
church at this time,
00:08:52.46\00:08:54.56
and the church
committed spiritual fornication
00:08:54.60\00:08:57.60
by linking up with the state.
00:08:57.63\00:08:59.20
That's what the
Bible calls fornication,
00:08:59.23\00:09:00.90
spiritually speaking,
and fell also into idolatry
00:09:00.94\00:09:05.71
or idol worship.
00:09:05.74\00:09:07.38
These two sins
were the very ones
00:09:07.41\00:09:10.15
that Israel practiced
on the borders of Canaan,
00:09:10.18\00:09:13.48
and the church of the
fourth century embraced
00:09:13.52\00:09:16.48
when persecution ceased.
00:09:16.52\00:09:18.69
Now I'm going to
read you a passage
00:09:18.72\00:09:20.06
that's not in the syllabus.
00:09:20.09\00:09:21.86
This is found in Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 451,
00:09:21.89\00:09:25.09
about the Old Testament story.
00:09:25.13\00:09:27.06
So you see that
00:09:27.10\00:09:28.76
because Satan was not
able to eliminate Israel by,
00:09:28.80\00:09:32.93
you know, actually
battling against them
00:09:32.97\00:09:34.80
and destroying them physically.
00:09:34.84\00:09:36.30
He said, "Well, you know,
let's just infiltrate them
00:09:36.34\00:09:38.37
with fornication and idolatry."
00:09:38.41\00:09:40.61
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 451,
00:09:40.64\00:09:43.21
speaking about Balaam,
"He immediately returned
00:09:43.24\00:09:45.38
to the land of Moab,
00:09:45.41\00:09:46.95
and latest
plans before the king,
00:09:46.98\00:09:49.35
that is before Balak.
00:09:49.38\00:09:51.02
The Moabites themselves
were convinced that so long
00:09:51.05\00:09:54.29
as Israel remained true to
God, he would be their shield.
00:09:54.32\00:09:58.89
The plan proposed by Balaam
was to separate them from God
00:09:58.93\00:10:03.43
by enticing them into idolatry.
00:10:03.47\00:10:06.70
If they could be led to engage
in licentious worship of Baal
00:10:06.74\00:10:10.11
and Ashtoreth,
their omnipotent Protector
00:10:10.14\00:10:13.34
would become their enemy,
00:10:13.38\00:10:15.38
and they would soon
fall prey to the fierce,
00:10:15.41\00:10:18.18
warlike nations around them.
00:10:18.21\00:10:20.42
This plan was
readily accepted by the king,
00:10:20.45\00:10:23.45
and Balaam himself remained
to assist in carrying it
00:10:23.49\00:10:27.49
into effect.
00:10:27.52\00:10:28.89
Balaam witnessed the success
00:10:28.92\00:10:31.79
of his diabolical scheme."
00:10:31.83\00:10:35.16
So the third church
has the doctrine of Balaam
00:10:35.20\00:10:38.30
because that's the
period of Constantine.
00:10:38.33\00:10:40.17
It's a period of the black horse
00:10:40.20\00:10:42.20
when darkness
comes into the church.
00:10:42.24\00:10:44.54
Now, in Great
Controversy, page 42.
00:10:44.57\00:10:47.11
This one is not in
the syllabus as well.
00:10:47.14\00:10:49.41
Ellen White is obviously
drawing on the story of Balaam
00:10:49.44\00:10:52.55
to describe the period
00:10:52.58\00:10:53.92
when compromise
came into the church.
00:10:53.95\00:10:56.22
This is how it reads,
00:10:56.25\00:10:58.49
"Because he was
not able to destroy
00:10:58.52\00:10:59.89
the church by persecution,
00:10:59.92\00:11:01.72
Satan therefore laid his
plans to war more successfully
00:11:01.76\00:11:06.93
against the government of God,
00:11:06.96\00:11:09.20
by planting his banner
in the Christian church."
00:11:09.23\00:11:13.67
Now, listen carefully,
00:11:13.70\00:11:15.04
"If the followers of
Christ could be deceived,
00:11:15.07\00:11:18.14
and led to displease
God, then their strength,
00:11:18.17\00:11:22.71
fortitude, and
firmness would fail,
00:11:22.74\00:11:25.41
and they would
fall an easy prey."
00:11:25.45\00:11:29.12
Do you see the parallel?
00:11:29.15\00:11:30.55
Third church,
doctrine of Balaam.
00:11:30.59\00:11:33.39
Balaam could not
curse Israel from outside.
00:11:33.42\00:11:36.22
So he infiltrates Israel
00:11:36.26\00:11:37.83
so that God takes
away His protection.
00:11:37.86\00:11:39.93
And as a result,
the church falls.
00:11:39.96\00:11:43.67
Now let's talk about this
horse whose color is black.
00:11:43.70\00:11:46.97
By the way, Jesus does
not ride all these horses.
00:11:47.00\00:11:51.84
The devil is
riding these horses,
00:11:51.87\00:11:54.28
the red horse, the black
horse, and the yellow horse
00:11:54.31\00:11:56.98
because Jesus does
not persecute the church.
00:11:57.01\00:11:59.61
And, you know,
00:11:59.65\00:12:01.18
Jesus does not bring
darkness into the church.
00:12:01.22\00:12:03.39
Jesus doesn't bring
death into the church.
00:12:03.42\00:12:05.42
Jesus is the rider
of the first horse.
00:12:05.45\00:12:08.32
Now notice the color black.
00:12:08.36\00:12:10.76
This is very interesting.
00:12:10.79\00:12:13.03
We just noticed
00:12:13.06\00:12:14.40
that when the
church is persecuted,
00:12:14.43\00:12:15.76
the title of the chapter is...
00:12:15.80\00:12:19.00
What was the
title of the chapter?
00:12:19.03\00:12:21.27
Persecution in
the early centuries.
00:12:21.30\00:12:24.61
Now notice what
the next chapter is,
00:12:24.64\00:12:27.28
an era of spiritual darkness.
00:12:27.31\00:12:31.31
And we're gonna
see in a few moments,
00:12:31.35\00:12:33.11
that in the Bible,
00:12:33.15\00:12:34.48
darkness is used
synonymously with black.
00:12:34.52\00:12:40.36
Are you following me?
00:12:40.39\00:12:42.26
So Ellen White is
following the seals.
00:12:42.29\00:12:45.69
She first in
Acts of the Apostles,
00:12:45.73\00:12:47.76
she speaks about the
conquests of the church.
00:12:47.80\00:12:50.43
Then she goes to the persecution
00:12:50.47\00:12:52.33
in the early centuries,
that's the second seal,
00:12:52.37\00:12:54.84
the red horse, persecution,
00:12:54.87\00:12:56.54
then an era of
spiritual darkness,
00:12:56.57\00:12:58.97
which is the black horse.
00:12:59.01\00:13:01.04
She's commenting on the seals,
00:13:01.08\00:13:03.08
even though she
doesn't quote the verses.
00:13:03.11\00:13:06.05
So you would never know
unless you really look beyond
00:13:06.08\00:13:11.25
the references themselves.
00:13:11.29\00:13:14.32
Ellen White underline
00:13:14.36\00:13:15.69
that the
darkness grew ever deeper
00:13:15.72\00:13:18.43
because the papacy undertook
a war against the Bible.
00:13:18.46\00:13:22.96
Now, Jesus is the
incarnated Word of God, right?
00:13:23.00\00:13:27.04
He's the Word of God
in person in other words.
00:13:27.07\00:13:30.17
And where the
Word is, there is what?
00:13:30.21\00:13:33.54
Light and life.
00:13:33.58\00:13:36.31
The Bible identifies
light with what color?
00:13:36.34\00:13:40.15
We've noticed this.
00:13:40.18\00:13:41.52
Light is identified with
white, we already noticed that.
00:13:41.55\00:13:45.45
And here you have the verses,
00:13:45.49\00:13:47.49
the written Word
of God is also what?
00:13:47.52\00:13:51.23
Light, so Jesus is light,
and the written Word is light.
00:13:51.26\00:13:55.90
During the period
of the white horse,
00:13:55.93\00:13:58.30
God's people
proclaim the Word of God,
00:13:58.33\00:14:01.07
which is light to the world.
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.37
That's an era of white or light.
00:14:03.41\00:14:06.31
God's Word is the original light
00:14:06.34\00:14:09.01
and when it
shines on God's people,
00:14:09.04\00:14:11.48
they reflect
the light to others.
00:14:11.51\00:14:14.18
Where the Word of God is absent,
00:14:14.22\00:14:16.45
there is what?
00:14:16.48\00:14:18.09
There is darkness or blackness.
00:14:18.12\00:14:22.49
So what begins to be replaced
in the times of Constantine?
00:14:22.52\00:14:27.70
What is the Word of
God replaced in the times
00:14:27.73\00:14:31.13
of Constantine?
00:14:31.17\00:14:32.90
Human traditions.
00:14:32.93\00:14:35.00
And what is the greatest
of those human traditions
00:14:35.04\00:14:37.24
that's going to be
the final controversy?
00:14:37.27\00:14:39.64
Sunday worship came
in during that period.
00:14:39.67\00:14:43.61
So they started
forsaking the Word of God,
00:14:43.65\00:14:46.68
which is light, which is
white, and what is the result?
00:14:46.72\00:14:50.25
Darkness or black,
are you with me or not?
00:14:50.29\00:14:52.95
Now let's notice several texts,
00:14:52.99\00:14:54.69
where you find
darkness and black, synonymous.
00:14:54.72\00:14:58.79
Isaiah 50:3, God says,
00:14:58.83\00:15:02.16
"I clothe the
heavens with," what?
00:15:02.20\00:15:05.90
"With blackness,
00:15:05.93\00:15:07.74
and I make
sackcloth their covering."
00:15:07.77\00:15:10.71
By the way, sackcloth was black.
00:15:10.74\00:15:13.21
Notice Jude 12:13.
00:15:13.24\00:15:17.38
Speaking about those
who are beyond the point
00:15:17.41\00:15:20.32
of no return.
00:15:20.35\00:15:21.88
These are spots
in your love feasts,
00:15:21.92\00:15:25.35
while they feast
with you without fear,
00:15:25.39\00:15:28.49
serving only themselves.
00:15:28.52\00:15:30.13
They are clouds without water,
carried about by the winds.
00:15:30.16\00:15:34.23
Lake autumn trees without fruit,
00:15:34.26\00:15:37.10
twice dead,
pulled up by the roots,
00:15:37.13\00:15:40.30
raging waves of the sea
forming up their own shame,
00:15:40.34\00:15:44.44
wandering stars, for
whom is reserved the what?
00:15:44.47\00:15:48.54
The blackness of darkness.
00:15:48.58\00:15:52.78
So the black horse
is a period of what?
00:15:52.81\00:15:56.48
It's a period of darkness.
00:15:56.52\00:15:58.49
Why is it a period of darkness?
00:15:58.52\00:16:00.66
Because there is no light.
00:16:00.69\00:16:02.32
And what is the light?
00:16:02.36\00:16:04.33
The Word of God.
Are you with me or not?
00:16:04.36\00:16:07.36
Notice Proverbs 7:9,
00:16:07.40\00:16:10.00
"In the
twilight, in the evening,
00:16:10.03\00:16:13.44
in the black and dark night."
00:16:13.47\00:16:16.07
Once again, black and dark
are related to one another.
00:16:16.10\00:16:20.08
Jeremiah 4:28,
00:16:20.11\00:16:22.34
"For this shall the earth mourn,
00:16:22.38\00:16:24.91
and the heavens above be," what?
00:16:24.95\00:16:27.42
"Be black, because I have spoken
00:16:27.45\00:16:29.92
I have purposed
and will not relent,
00:16:29.95\00:16:32.02
nor will I turn back from it."
00:16:32.05\00:16:34.99
The way of the
righteous is what?
00:16:35.02\00:16:37.29
Light, but the way of
the wicked is darkness.
00:16:37.33\00:16:41.43
Notice Proverbs 4:18-19,
00:16:41.46\00:16:44.17
"But the path of the
just is as the shining light
00:16:44.20\00:16:47.37
that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day.
00:16:47.40\00:16:50.74
The way of the
wicked is as," what?
00:16:50.77\00:16:53.34
"Darkness: they know
not at what they stumble."
00:16:53.38\00:16:57.91
Notice this interesting
comment, powerful comment.
00:16:57.95\00:17:00.92
Actually, there's several here
00:17:00.95\00:17:02.28
where Ellen White, also
in harmony with the Bible
00:17:02.32\00:17:05.69
relates the idea of
darkness and the color black.
00:17:05.72\00:17:09.92
God desires His
people to be what?
00:17:09.96\00:17:13.06
Light, the white horse.
00:17:13.09\00:17:17.97
God desires to see His
people to be light-bearers
00:17:18.00\00:17:20.97
to a world lying in
the midnight darkness,
00:17:21.00\00:17:25.11
but if they refuse to
go forward in the light,
00:17:25.14\00:17:27.94
which he causes to
shine on their pathway,
00:17:27.98\00:17:30.48
the light will
finally become to them what?
00:17:30.51\00:17:33.72
Darkness, and now notice,
00:17:33.75\00:17:35.75
and instead of being
light-bearers to the world,
00:17:35.78\00:17:38.65
they themselves
will be lost in the what?
00:17:38.69\00:17:41.76
In the blackness
that surrounds them.
00:17:41.79\00:17:43.83
Do you see once
again the idea of darkness
00:17:43.86\00:17:45.99
and blackness together?
00:17:46.03\00:17:47.76
Because where there is
darkness there is no light
00:17:47.80\00:17:50.07
and the Word of God is light.
00:17:50.10\00:17:51.43
So at this time, the Word of God
00:17:51.47\00:17:53.23
has been supplanted by what?
00:17:53.27\00:17:55.84
By human traditions.
00:17:55.87\00:17:57.71
Here's another
statement from Ellen White,
00:17:57.74\00:17:59.31
Great Controversy, page 20.
00:17:59.34\00:18:01.51
The hour of hope and
pardon was fast passing.
00:18:01.54\00:18:04.51
This is for the
Jewish theocracy.
00:18:04.55\00:18:06.65
The cup of God's long-deferred
wrath was almost full.
00:18:06.68\00:18:11.75
The cloud that had been
gathering through the ages
00:18:11.79\00:18:14.82
of apostasy and rebellion,
00:18:14.86\00:18:17.99
now black with woe was about
to burst upon a guilty people.
00:18:18.03\00:18:22.73
So what does black represent?
00:18:22.76\00:18:24.70
Apostasy and
rebellion, according to this.
00:18:24.73\00:18:29.34
In the Spalding and
Magan Collection, page 153.
00:18:29.37\00:18:32.61
Once again the idea of
black and darkness are related.
00:18:32.64\00:18:37.71
He calls upon his servants
to receive from the Holy Spirit
00:18:37.75\00:18:40.68
his sanctifying power,
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.38
that the light may shine
forth in clear distinct rays,
00:18:42.42\00:18:46.25
amid the constantly
increasing moral darkness,
00:18:46.29\00:18:50.43
which is becoming what?
00:18:50.46\00:18:52.69
As black as sackcloth,
00:18:52.73\00:18:54.80
of hair all over our world.
00:18:54.83\00:18:59.40
Creatures of the night
roam and thrive in darkness,
00:18:59.43\00:19:03.47
bats, rats, roaches,
00:19:03.51\00:19:06.57
germs are in the
realm of darkness.
00:19:06.61\00:19:10.05
The black horse stands in
contrast to the white horse.
00:19:10.08\00:19:13.28
During the period
of the white horse,
00:19:13.31\00:19:14.68
God's people radiated
the light of God's Word.
00:19:14.72\00:19:18.85
The black horse
represents darkness that came in
00:19:18.89\00:19:21.79
from a rejection of God's Word.
00:19:21.82\00:19:24.53
Where God's Word is not
there is darkness or blackness.
00:19:24.56\00:19:28.93
Black represents
sin, apostasy, error,
00:19:28.96\00:19:32.23
heresy, and human traditions.
00:19:32.27\00:19:34.34
So far, so good?
00:19:34.37\00:19:36.47
Now, there's another thing
00:19:36.50\00:19:37.84
that is mentioned here
in this particular seal,
00:19:37.87\00:19:41.94
not only darkness or blackness
00:19:41.98\00:19:44.85
but also bread is mentioned.
00:19:44.88\00:19:49.35
More
specifically, wheat and barley.
00:19:49.38\00:19:53.02
By the way, those
were the two grains
00:19:53.05\00:19:55.69
that were used to
bake bread in Israel.
00:19:55.72\00:19:58.76
So when you talk
about wheat and barley,
00:19:58.79\00:20:00.83
you're talking
about making bread
00:20:00.86\00:20:02.60
with the wheat
and with the barley.
00:20:02.63\00:20:04.73
The barley was the harvest
00:20:04.77\00:20:07.17
at the time of
Passover early in the spring
00:20:07.20\00:20:10.24
and the wheat harvest
was at the time of Pentecost
00:20:10.27\00:20:12.84
about 50 days later,
00:20:12.87\00:20:14.51
you had the
harvest of the wheat.
00:20:14.54\00:20:16.98
They were the grains
that were used to make bread.
00:20:17.01\00:20:22.15
Now let's continue
here with this in mind.
00:20:22.18\00:20:24.55
Another symbol for
God's Word is bread.
00:20:24.59\00:20:28.52
Man shall not
live by bread alone,
00:20:28.56\00:20:31.33
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:20:31.36\00:20:35.26
During the third seal,
00:20:35.30\00:20:36.93
there was not only
a scarcity of light,
00:20:36.97\00:20:40.67
in other words, darkness,
but also a scarcity of what?
00:20:40.70\00:20:45.37
Of bread.
00:20:45.41\00:20:46.74
We're going to notice
that in a few moments,
00:20:46.78\00:20:48.68
two ways of
saying the same thing.
00:20:48.71\00:20:51.41
This is the reason
00:20:51.45\00:20:52.78
why wheat and
barley during this period
00:20:52.81\00:20:54.48
were extremely expensive.
00:20:54.52\00:20:57.19
When human traditions
suppress the Word of God,
00:20:57.22\00:21:01.09
the result is
darkness or blackness.
00:21:01.12\00:21:04.13
And the result of the
darkness is famine, pestilence,
00:21:04.16\00:21:08.70
which exists in the
period of the fourth horse.
00:21:08.73\00:21:11.53
In short, both light and
bread symbolize the Word of God.
00:21:11.57\00:21:17.14
Where there is no light
and no bread, there is death.
00:21:17.17\00:21:21.31
Amos 8:11-12,
00:21:21.34\00:21:22.68
which we're going to
read later predicts a time
00:21:22.71\00:21:24.91
when there will be
famine in the land.
00:21:24.95\00:21:28.28
Not famine for
bread, but famine for what?
00:21:28.32\00:21:32.85
For the Word of God.
00:21:32.89\00:21:34.22
Let me ask you, was
the Word of God scarce?
00:21:34.26\00:21:37.19
Did it become scarce
during the times of Constantine
00:21:37.23\00:21:41.43
and intensify as time went on?
00:21:41.46\00:21:44.20
Absolutely.
00:21:44.23\00:21:45.73
Let's notice on page 184.
00:21:45.77\00:21:49.57
Revelation
00:21:49.60\00:21:51.87
6:6, "And I heard
a voice in the midst
00:21:51.91\00:21:53.41
of the four
living creature saying,
00:21:53.44\00:21:55.48
'A quart of
wheat for a denarius,
00:21:55.51\00:21:58.51
and three quarts of
barley for a denarius,
00:21:58.55\00:22:02.28
and do not harm
the oil and the wine."
00:22:02.32\00:22:07.26
Now, what we're going to
notice is very, very important.
00:22:07.29\00:22:11.73
The purpose of
scales in the third seal
00:22:11.76\00:22:15.16
is to weigh
grain, right? Because
00:22:15.20\00:22:17.47
it's grain that's mentioned.
00:22:17.50\00:22:19.63
Elsewhere in Scripture,
00:22:19.67\00:22:21.84
the scale or
balance can represent what?
00:22:21.87\00:22:25.31
Can represent judgment.
00:22:25.34\00:22:27.78
But remember
that symbols are what?
00:22:27.81\00:22:30.91
Flexible, they don't
always mean the same thing.
00:22:30.95\00:22:33.98
So every time that
you find the word scale
00:22:34.02\00:22:37.19
in the Bible
doesn't mean judgment.
00:22:37.22\00:22:39.45
Here it means that the
grains are being weighed
00:22:39.49\00:22:43.43
and they're very scarce,
00:22:43.46\00:22:44.96
because the Word of
God is becoming scarce.
00:22:44.99\00:22:48.53
So the purpose of the
scales in the third seal
00:22:48.56\00:22:50.90
was to weigh grain.
00:22:50.93\00:22:52.33
Elsewhere in
Scripture, the scale or balance
00:22:52.37\00:22:54.60
can represent judgment,
but not in the third seal.
00:22:54.64\00:22:59.14
Barley, the early
spring harvest and wheat,
00:22:59.17\00:23:02.14
the late spring
harvest were staple crops
00:23:02.18\00:23:06.55
that Israel used to make bread.
00:23:06.58\00:23:08.92
These grains were very scarce
00:23:08.95\00:23:11.09
during the period
of the third horse,
00:23:11.12\00:23:12.75
during the dark period.
00:23:12.79\00:23:14.32
The famine during the
period of the third horse
00:23:14.36\00:23:16.96
will intensify and bring about
even worse famine and death
00:23:16.99\00:23:21.70
during the period
of the fourth horse,
00:23:21.73\00:23:23.53
because the fourth
horse is a pale horse.
00:23:23.57\00:23:26.84
It's the horse of death.
00:23:26.87\00:23:28.47
And when there is
famine, there is pestilence,
00:23:28.50\00:23:31.11
and where there is
famine and pestilence,
00:23:31.14\00:23:33.07
there is death.
00:23:33.11\00:23:36.51
Now, the next
paragraph, Revelation 6:6
00:23:36.54\00:23:40.78
describes scarcity of bread
00:23:40.82\00:23:44.25
because the wheat and the barley
00:23:44.29\00:23:45.72
were extremely expensive.
00:23:45.75\00:23:48.82
A denarius was the daily
wage of a common laborer.
00:23:48.86\00:23:52.96
Thus, a laborer was only
making enough to purchase
00:23:52.99\00:23:57.73
one quart of wheat and
three quarts of barley.
00:23:57.77\00:24:01.27
Wow, that would lead to
starvation, wouldn't it?
00:24:01.30\00:24:04.57
Especially if he has a family.
00:24:04.61\00:24:06.47
According to the
Roman historian Cicero,
00:24:06.51\00:24:09.08
who lived around that same time,
00:24:09.11\00:24:11.31
the price mentioned by John
00:24:11.35\00:24:14.02
would have been 8 to 16
times higher than normal.
00:24:14.05\00:24:19.12
So it was very
expensive to make bread,
00:24:19.15\00:24:21.69
there was a scarcity of bread.
00:24:21.72\00:24:24.06
During the third seal,
00:24:24.09\00:24:25.43
there was famine
for bread in the land.
00:24:25.46\00:24:28.06
Barley was a staple used to
feed the very poor and animals.
00:24:28.10\00:24:33.13
It is no coincidence
that the fourth horse is pale
00:24:33.17\00:24:37.21
because the
result of famine is what?
00:24:37.24\00:24:40.28
Death.
00:24:40.31\00:24:41.64
J. A. Seiss,
00:24:41.68\00:24:43.01
who wrote a
commentary on Revelation,
00:24:43.04\00:24:45.81
he's not a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:24:45.85\00:24:47.78
It's a very, very
interesting commentary,
00:24:47.82\00:24:49.88
lots of good insights.
00:24:49.92\00:24:51.52
Of course, lots of
things that Adventists
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.05
would not agree with,
but it's a good commentary
00:24:53.09\00:24:56.22
that has many
insights, wrote this.
00:24:56.26\00:24:59.73
In ordinary times,
a denarius would buy
00:24:59.76\00:25:03.06
twenty-four choenixes of barley,
00:25:03.10\00:25:06.20
but here a denarius
will buy only three,
00:25:06.23\00:25:09.97
the scanty allowance
for a day's subsistence
00:25:10.01\00:25:13.48
for a slave.
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.24
The arrival of
things at such a pass,
00:25:15.28\00:25:18.71
accordingly argues a
severity of hard times,
00:25:18.75\00:25:22.18
distress, and want,
00:25:22.22\00:25:24.12
almost beyond the power
of imagination to depict.
00:25:24.15\00:25:28.52
So the Word of God
is becoming scarce.
00:25:28.56\00:25:31.86
Darkness, blackness is
coming into the church,
00:25:31.89\00:25:34.70
because the church is no
longer sharing the light,
00:25:34.73\00:25:37.33
darkness is entering the church.
00:25:37.37\00:25:39.80
The Word of God is
scarce, very expensive.
00:25:39.83\00:25:43.91
Notice Amos 8:11-12.
00:25:43.94\00:25:46.57
Once again,
00:25:46.61\00:25:47.94
bread is related to
abundance or famine.
00:25:47.98\00:25:53.01
It says there,
"'Behold, the days are coming,'
00:25:53.05\00:25:54.82
says the Lord God.'"
00:25:54.85\00:25:56.45
And Ellen White applies
these verses, incidentally,
00:25:56.48\00:25:59.55
to after the close of probation
00:25:59.59\00:26:01.76
when people are going
to seek the Word of God,
00:26:01.79\00:26:03.29
and they're not
going to find it.
00:26:03.32\00:26:05.36
"'Behold the days are
coming,' says the Lord God,
00:26:05.39\00:26:07.33
'That I will send
a famine on the land,
00:26:07.36\00:26:10.23
not a famine of bread,
nor a thirst for water,
00:26:10.27\00:26:14.70
but of hearing," what?
00:26:14.74\00:26:16.71
"The words of the Lord.
00:26:16.74\00:26:19.64
They shall
wander from sea to sea,
00:26:19.67\00:26:21.94
and from north to east,
they shall run to and fro,
00:26:21.98\00:26:26.25
seeking the word of the Lord,
00:26:26.28\00:26:28.88
and shall not find it."
00:26:28.92\00:26:31.35
So where there is a scarcity
of bread, famine ensues,
00:26:31.39\00:26:37.36
and when the famine intensifies,
00:26:37.39\00:26:40.10
the result is death.
00:26:40.13\00:26:42.83
You have a living example
of that in Venezuela right now.
00:26:42.86\00:26:48.47
Now, what about
the oil and the wine?
00:26:48.50\00:26:51.74
The wine or
libation was a symbol
00:26:51.77\00:26:55.08
of the blood of Jesus
00:26:55.11\00:26:56.44
and the oil is a symbol of what?
00:26:56.48\00:26:59.31
Of the Holy Spirit.
00:26:59.35\00:27:01.08
Ellen White makes the
following important statement.
00:27:01.12\00:27:05.42
In order to
secure a man to himself,
00:27:05.45\00:27:08.52
and ensure his
eternal salvation,
00:27:08.56\00:27:11.03
Christ left the
royal courts of heaven
00:27:11.06\00:27:12.99
and came to this earth,
00:27:13.03\00:27:14.90
endured the agonies of
sin and shame in man stead,
00:27:14.93\00:27:18.53
and died to make him free,
00:27:18.57\00:27:20.97
in view of the infinite
price paid for man's redemption.
00:27:21.00\00:27:25.94
How dare any
professing the name of Christ
00:27:25.97\00:27:29.78
treat with indifference,
one of his little ones?
00:27:29.81\00:27:35.05
How carefully should brethren
00:27:35.08\00:27:36.79
and sisters in the church
guard every word and action,
00:27:36.82\00:27:40.96
less they hurt
the oil and the wine?
00:27:40.99\00:27:45.23
How patiently,
kindly and affectionately
00:27:45.26\00:27:48.86
should they deal with a purchase
00:27:48.90\00:27:51.30
of the blood of Christ?
00:27:51.33\00:27:53.74
To hurt God's
people is to despise what?
00:27:53.77\00:27:58.31
To despise the blood of
Christ and to offend whom?
00:27:58.34\00:28:03.31
And to offend the Holy Spirit
00:28:03.35\00:28:04.81
who might be working
upon that human heart.
00:28:04.85\00:28:08.18
Luke 10:34,
00:28:08.22\00:28:11.22
speaks about the
parable of the Good Samaritan.
00:28:11.25\00:28:13.22
What were the healing agencies
00:28:13.25\00:28:16.66
in the story of
the Good Samaritan?
00:28:16.69\00:28:19.53
Oil, and why?
00:28:19.56\00:28:21.86
Did the Good Samaritan
treat this individual properly
00:28:21.90\00:28:26.27
the way he should
using these remedies?
00:28:26.30\00:28:29.37
Did the priest do it?
00:28:29.40\00:28:31.21
No, the priest didn't do it.
00:28:31.24\00:28:32.91
Did the Levite do it?
00:28:32.94\00:28:34.58
No, no, they mistreated.
00:28:34.61\00:28:36.64
Who were they
really mistreating?
00:28:36.68\00:28:38.75
They were mistreating Christ,
00:28:38.78\00:28:40.72
and there were
mistreating the Holy Spirit.
00:28:40.75\00:28:42.85
So it says
there, so he went to him
00:28:42.88\00:28:45.42
and bandaged his
wounds pouring on oil and wine
00:28:45.45\00:28:48.62
which are the healing agencies,
00:28:48.66\00:28:50.33
and he set him on his own animal
00:28:50.36\00:28:52.09
brought him to an
end and took care of him.
00:28:52.13\00:28:55.06
Now notice on the next
page, all of the verses that say
00:28:55.10\00:28:57.67
that whoever touches
one of Christ's children
00:28:57.70\00:29:00.50
actually is touching the Lord.
00:29:00.54\00:29:02.64
Zechariah 2:8,
00:29:02.67\00:29:05.01
"Whoever pokes the
eye of one of God's people
00:29:05.04\00:29:07.48
is poking God's eye."
00:29:07.51\00:29:09.64
I'm now, I'm paraphrasing.
00:29:09.68\00:29:11.98
"For thus says
the Lord of hosts,
00:29:12.01\00:29:14.65
He sent me after
glory to the nations
00:29:14.68\00:29:17.72
which plunder you,
for he who touches you,
00:29:17.75\00:29:22.49
touches the apple of his eye."
00:29:22.52\00:29:25.13
In other words, to touch
one of the children of Jesus
00:29:25.16\00:29:29.16
is to touch whom?
00:29:29.20\00:29:30.97
Is to touch Jesus.
00:29:31.00\00:29:32.90
You know, Matthew 25:40,
00:29:32.93\00:29:35.90
and the king
will answer to them.
00:29:35.94\00:29:38.57
This is the parable of
the sheep and the goats.
00:29:38.61\00:29:42.91
"Assuredly I say to you,
00:29:42.94\00:29:44.68
inasmuch as you did
it unto one of the least
00:29:44.71\00:29:48.78
of these my
brethren, you did it to whom?
00:29:48.82\00:29:52.29
You did it unto me."
00:29:52.32\00:29:54.36
Mark 9:41,
00:29:54.39\00:29:56.52
"For whoever gives you a cup
of water to drink in my name,
00:29:56.56\00:29:59.89
Jesus says, because
you belong to Christ.
00:29:59.93\00:30:03.63
Assuredly, I say to you,
00:30:03.67\00:30:06.07
he will by no
means lose his reward."
00:30:06.10\00:30:09.04
And, of course, you all
know about Saul of Tarsus.
00:30:09.07\00:30:12.31
He was on his way to Damascus.
00:30:12.34\00:30:14.34
I've been to the place
where supposedly this occurred.
00:30:14.38\00:30:17.48
It was in May of
2001, just a few months
00:30:17.51\00:30:22.35
before the twin
towers came down.
00:30:22.38\00:30:24.79
So now you can't go over
there because it's a war zone.
00:30:24.82\00:30:27.92
But we went to Damascus,
00:30:27.96\00:30:30.06
I preached, I
didn't preach in Syria,
00:30:30.09\00:30:32.93
because it's
forbidden for foreign pastors
00:30:32.96\00:30:35.10
to preach in Syria.
00:30:35.13\00:30:36.46
I preached in
Lebanon, and also in Jordan.
00:30:36.50\00:30:38.30
I went with Sarkus Kanablian
from the Fresno Central Church.
00:30:38.33\00:30:41.90
And it reminded
me when I was there,
00:30:41.94\00:30:44.51
of this
particular episode, where
00:30:44.54\00:30:46.74
Saul is on the way to
persecute the Christians,
00:30:46.78\00:30:49.91
and suddenly a
voice comes from heaven,
00:30:49.94\00:30:51.31
knocks him to the
ground, says "Saul, Saul,
00:30:51.35\00:30:53.15
why do you persecute Me?"
00:30:53.18\00:30:55.65
And he's probably
wondering, I'm not going up.
00:30:55.68\00:30:59.95
I'm going to Damascus.
00:30:59.99\00:31:02.29
"Who are you
that I'm persecuting?"
00:31:02.32\00:31:05.46
And what was the answer?
00:31:05.49\00:31:07.00
"I am Jesus, whom
you are persecuting."
00:31:07.03\00:31:11.20
So to persecute a follower
of Jesus is to persecute Christ.
00:31:11.23\00:31:16.10
It's to hurt the wine,
00:31:16.14\00:31:18.97
the blood that Jesus gave
for the salvation of souls.
00:31:19.01\00:31:23.98
And also, it
hurts the Holy Spirit
00:31:24.01\00:31:25.91
who is working upon human hearts
00:31:25.95\00:31:27.72
to woo them and
bring them to Christ.
00:31:27.75\00:31:30.99
Now let's read
00:31:31.02\00:31:32.35
what Ellen White has to
say about the third seal.
00:31:32.39\00:31:36.49
As noted before Ellen White
00:31:36.52\00:31:38.43
described this
period in the chapter
00:31:38.46\00:31:40.33
The Great Controversy titled
an era of spiritual darkness.
00:31:40.36\00:31:45.40
In several
statements in the chapter,
00:31:45.43\00:31:47.04
she refers to the darkness
that came into the church
00:31:47.07\00:31:50.84
after Constantine's
conversion in quotation marks
00:31:50.87\00:31:55.24
to Christianity.
00:31:55.28\00:31:57.21
Let's read some
of those statements.
00:31:57.25\00:31:59.68
The accession of the
Roman church to power
00:31:59.71\00:32:03.25
marked the
beginning of the Dark Ages.
00:32:03.28\00:32:07.72
As her power
increased, what happened?
00:32:07.76\00:32:10.99
The darkness deepened.
00:32:11.03\00:32:14.10
Great Controversy, page 57,
00:32:14.13\00:32:15.86
the darkness
seemed to grow denser.
00:32:15.90\00:32:20.87
Great Controversy, page 60,
00:32:20.90\00:32:23.00
but the noon of
the papacy was what?
00:32:23.04\00:32:25.71
The midnight of the world.
00:32:25.74\00:32:28.44
The Holy Scriptures,
why were they in darkness?
00:32:28.48\00:32:32.15
Notice, the Holy Scriptures
which are light, by the way,
00:32:32.18\00:32:36.05
were almost unknown,
not only to the people,
00:32:36.08\00:32:39.69
but to the priests.
00:32:39.72\00:32:42.19
In Great Controversy, page 79,
00:32:42.22\00:32:44.59
the world has
passed its midnight.
00:32:44.63\00:32:46.66
This is talking
about John Wycliffe,
00:32:46.70\00:32:49.76
who is the morning
star of the Reformation.
00:32:49.80\00:32:53.20
The hours of
darkness were wearing away
00:32:53.23\00:32:58.47
and in many lands appeared
tokens of the coming dawn.
00:32:58.51\00:33:03.51
Now, it's significant
that Ellen White dedicates
00:33:03.55\00:33:06.61
three pages on the
issue of the change
00:33:06.65\00:33:09.95
of the Sabbath during
this era of spiritual darkness
00:33:09.98\00:33:13.66
because Sunday worship
entered the church during
00:33:13.69\00:33:16.12
the period of whom?
00:33:16.16\00:33:18.33
During the
period of Constantine.
00:33:18.36\00:33:21.33
1 John 2:8-11
00:33:21.36\00:33:23.40
explains that those
who are in darkness,
00:33:23.43\00:33:27.27
they hate their brother.
00:33:27.30\00:33:29.27
So the result of
darkness is what?
00:33:29.30\00:33:32.67
Persecution.
00:33:32.71\00:33:34.18
Those who are in
darkness hate their brother.
00:33:34.21\00:33:36.31
Let me ask you,
00:33:36.34\00:33:37.68
when the darkness
enters the church,
00:33:37.71\00:33:39.45
did the nominal
church begin persecuting
00:33:39.48\00:33:41.42
those that didn't
agree with the church?
00:33:41.45\00:33:43.35
Absolutely.
00:33:43.39\00:33:45.15
So those that are in
darkness hate their brother
00:33:45.19\00:33:48.16
and want to kill them.
00:33:48.19\00:33:50.13
The darkness of
a third horse leads
00:33:50.16\00:33:52.66
those who are in darkness
00:33:52.69\00:33:54.40
to want to kill
those who are in the light.
00:33:54.43\00:33:56.73
The darkness and
famine of the third seal
00:33:56.77\00:33:59.33
leads to death and
the grave in the fourth,
00:33:59.37\00:34:02.24
which we're going
to talk about later.
00:34:02.27\00:34:04.61
Now Ellen White
has several statements
00:34:04.64\00:34:06.68
where she describes
00:34:06.71\00:34:08.98
what happened
during this period,
00:34:09.01\00:34:10.75
very perceptive what she writes.
00:34:10.78\00:34:14.02
The spirit of what?
00:34:14.05\00:34:16.72
Compromise and conformity
00:34:16.75\00:34:21.82
with a world
that is was restrained
00:34:21.86\00:34:24.09
for a time by the
fierce persecutions,
00:34:24.13\00:34:26.26
which horse would that be?
00:34:26.29\00:34:28.43
The red horse, right before,
00:34:28.46\00:34:30.97
was restrained for a time
by the fierce persecutions,
00:34:31.00\00:34:34.30
which the church
endured under paganism.
00:34:34.34\00:34:36.91
But as persecution ceased,
00:34:36.94\00:34:39.47
what horse would that be?
00:34:39.51\00:34:42.71
That would be the
black horse, right?
00:34:42.74\00:34:44.75
The persecution
is the third horse,
00:34:44.78\00:34:47.82
but when it ceases,
that is the black horse,
00:34:47.85\00:34:52.22
and Christianity
entered the courts
00:34:52.25\00:34:54.19
and palaces of kings.
00:34:54.22\00:34:56.02
She laid aside the
humble simplicity of Christ
00:34:56.06\00:34:58.96
and His apostles for the pomp
00:34:58.99\00:35:00.80
and pride of pagan
priests and rulers.
00:35:00.83\00:35:03.50
Listen carefully now,
00:35:03.53\00:35:05.33
and in place of the
requirements of God.
00:35:05.37\00:35:08.80
Where are the required
requirements of God revealed?
00:35:08.84\00:35:12.77
In the Bible,
00:35:12.81\00:35:14.14
she substituted human
theories and traditions.
00:35:14.18\00:35:19.01
And then she
refers to Constantine.
00:35:19.05\00:35:21.38
The nominal
conversion of Constantine
00:35:21.42\00:35:24.15
in the early part
of the fourth century,
00:35:24.19\00:35:25.75
that's a period
of the black horse
00:35:25.79\00:35:28.16
caused great rejoicing,
00:35:28.19\00:35:30.73
and the world cloaked
with a form of righteousness
00:35:30.76\00:35:35.10
walked into the church.
00:35:35.13\00:35:38.03
Now the work of
corruption rapidly progressed,
00:35:38.07\00:35:41.90
paganism, while
appearing to be vanquished.
00:35:41.94\00:35:45.04
What would vanquish mean?
00:35:45.07\00:35:47.18
Defeated, overcome, right?
00:35:47.21\00:35:50.58
So in reference
to the first horse,
00:35:50.61\00:35:56.08
the church went out conquering
and they conquered, overcome.
00:35:56.12\00:35:58.75
But now darkness comes
into the church and it says
00:35:58.79\00:36:01.09
paganism while
appearing to be vanquished
00:36:01.12\00:36:04.29
became the conqueror.
00:36:04.33\00:36:07.60
Her spirit controls the church,
her doctrine, ceremonies,
00:36:07.63\00:36:11.43
and
superstitions were incorporated
00:36:11.47\00:36:14.10
into the faith and worship
00:36:14.14\00:36:16.47
of the professed
followers of Christ.
00:36:16.50\00:36:21.21
So did Satan change his strategy
00:36:21.24\00:36:23.14
under the third seal?
00:36:23.18\00:36:24.88
Yeah, it says persecution.
00:36:24.91\00:36:27.12
By the way, did persecution,
decimate the church?
00:36:27.15\00:36:31.32
Did the
persecution against the church,
00:36:31.35\00:36:33.22
did it make the church smaller?
00:36:33.25\00:36:34.59
Are you kidding?
00:36:34.62\00:36:36.02
The church became
larger and larger,
00:36:36.06\00:36:37.83
more and more
people joined the church,
00:36:37.86\00:36:39.56
because they said, hey,
00:36:39.59\00:36:40.93
if people are
willing to die for this,
00:36:40.96\00:36:43.03
then it must be
worth living for.
00:36:43.06\00:36:47.50
These people
really believe this.
00:36:47.54\00:36:49.04
If they were
willing to die for it, well,
00:36:49.07\00:36:50.61
there's something in
this, let's check it out.
00:36:50.64\00:36:52.84
Ellen White wrote in
Great Controversy, page 42.
00:36:56.51\00:36:59.31
Satan therefore laid his
plans to war more successfully
00:36:59.35\00:37:02.55
against the government of God
00:37:02.58\00:37:04.45
by planting his banner
in the Christian church.
00:37:04.49\00:37:07.86
If the followers of
Christ could be deceived
00:37:07.89\00:37:09.72
and led to displease God,
then their strength, fortitude,
00:37:09.76\00:37:13.26
and firmness would fail,
00:37:13.29\00:37:15.16
and they would
fall an easy prey.
00:37:15.20\00:37:18.27
Did they fall easy prey?
00:37:18.30\00:37:20.57
Yes, they most certainly did.
00:37:20.60\00:37:22.90
Listen to this statement,
00:37:22.94\00:37:24.27
the great adversary now
endeavor to gain by artifice,
00:37:24.31\00:37:29.28
that's under the
third seal the black horse,
00:37:29.31\00:37:31.78
what he had
failed to secure by what?
00:37:31.81\00:37:34.82
Force, that's the second horse.
00:37:34.85\00:37:37.29
Persecution ceased.
00:37:37.32\00:37:39.19
In other words, the persecution
under the red horse ceases,
00:37:39.22\00:37:42.52
and in its
stead were substituted
00:37:42.56\00:37:44.76
the dangerous allurements
of temporal prosperity
00:37:44.79\00:37:47.76
and worldly honor,
which is which seal?
00:37:47.80\00:37:50.97
The seal of darkness.
00:37:51.00\00:37:52.70
Idolaters were led to receive
a part of the Christian faith,
00:37:52.73\00:37:56.24
while they rejected
other essential truths.
00:37:56.27\00:37:58.94
They professed to
accept Jesus as the Son of God
00:37:58.97\00:38:01.34
and to believe in His
death and resurrection.
00:38:01.38\00:38:04.08
But they had no
conviction of sin and felt
00:38:04.11\00:38:06.21
no need of
repentance or a change of heart.
00:38:06.25\00:38:09.52
With some
concessions Now listen carefully
00:38:09.55\00:38:11.75
to the terminology,
00:38:11.79\00:38:13.12
with some concessions
on their part they proposed
00:38:13.15\00:38:16.32
that Christians
should make concessions
00:38:16.36\00:38:18.76
that all might unite.
00:38:18.79\00:38:21.03
Oh, this was an ecumenical age,
00:38:21.06\00:38:23.73
that all may
unite on the platform
00:38:23.77\00:38:26.60
of belief in Christ.
00:38:26.63\00:38:28.07
Let's set aside the doctrines
00:38:28.10\00:38:29.74
and just come together
on what we had in common.
00:38:29.77\00:38:33.31
Nothing new under the sun.
00:38:33.34\00:38:37.38
In the book, Christ Triumphant,
00:38:37.41\00:38:38.75
but this is not
in your syllabus,
00:38:38.78\00:38:40.22
you might want to write it down,
00:38:40.25\00:38:41.58
Christ Triumphant page 319.
00:38:41.62\00:38:44.25
Ellen White describes
the period of the persecution
00:38:44.29\00:38:47.26
of the church.
00:38:47.29\00:38:48.62
In vain were Satan's efforts to
destroy the church by violence.
00:38:48.66\00:38:52.16
The Great Controversy in
which the disciples of Jesus
00:38:52.19\00:38:55.16
yielded up their
lives did not cease
00:38:55.20\00:38:57.17
when those
faithful standard-bearers
00:38:57.20\00:38:59.03
fell at their post.
00:38:59.07\00:39:00.64
By defeat, they conquered.
00:39:00.67\00:39:03.24
God's workmen were slain,
00:39:03.27\00:39:05.17
but his work
went steadily forward.
00:39:05.21\00:39:07.58
The gospel continued to spread
00:39:07.61\00:39:09.14
and the number of its
adherents to increase.
00:39:09.18\00:39:12.31
Said a Christian expostulating
with the heathen rulers
00:39:12.35\00:39:16.48
who were urging
forward the persecution.
00:39:16.52\00:39:19.25
He said, you may
torment, afflict, and vex us.
00:39:19.29\00:39:24.03
Your wickedness puts
our weakness to the test,
00:39:24.06\00:39:27.60
but your cruelty is of no avail.
00:39:27.63\00:39:30.60
It is but a stronger
invitation to bring others
00:39:30.63\00:39:33.47
to our persuasion.
00:39:33.50\00:39:35.30
The more we are mowed down,
00:39:35.34\00:39:37.47
the more we spring up again.
00:39:37.51\00:39:39.74
The blood of the
Christians is seed.
00:39:39.77\00:39:43.01
Tertullian, one of the
Church Fathers said that.
00:39:43.04\00:39:45.68
So Satan says, hey,
the more I persecute,
00:39:45.71\00:39:47.95
the more they grow.
00:39:47.98\00:39:49.32
I got to go to plan B,
00:39:49.35\00:39:51.72
because the whole
empire is becoming Christian.
00:39:51.75\00:39:53.86
Paganism is being defeated.
00:39:53.89\00:39:56.59
Here's another statement. This
00:39:56.62\00:39:57.96
is also on page 188,
Great Controversy, page 43.
00:39:57.99\00:40:02.33
Others were in favor of yielding
00:40:02.36\00:40:05.10
or modifying some
features of their faith
00:40:05.13\00:40:08.64
and uniting with
those who had accepted
00:40:08.67\00:40:11.67
a part of Christianity.
00:40:11.71\00:40:13.91
Does that sound familiar?
00:40:13.94\00:40:16.18
Urging that this might be the
means of their full conversion.
00:40:16.21\00:40:20.72
That was a time of deep anguish
00:40:20.75\00:40:23.52
to the faithful
followers of Christ.
00:40:23.55\00:40:26.22
Under a cloak of
pretended Christianity,
00:40:26.25\00:40:29.59
Satan was insinuating
himself into the church,
00:40:29.62\00:40:32.99
to corrupt their faith,
00:40:33.03\00:40:34.56
and to turn
their minds from what?
00:40:34.60\00:40:37.47
From the word of truth
which leads to darkness.
00:40:37.50\00:40:43.41
Great Controversy, page 45.
00:40:43.44\00:40:46.37
But there is no union
between the Prince of light
00:40:46.41\00:40:49.01
and the prince of darkness.
00:40:49.04\00:40:50.58
The Lord says no union
between white and black.
00:40:50.61\00:40:55.22
And there can be no
union between their followers.
00:40:55.25\00:40:58.35
When Christians
consented to unite
00:40:58.39\00:41:03.89
with those who were but
half converted from paganism,
00:41:03.93\00:41:07.66
they entered upon a path
00:41:07.70\00:41:09.40
which led further
and further from what?
00:41:09.43\00:41:13.23
Further and
further from the truth.
00:41:13.27\00:41:16.57
Now, I want to read you
00:41:16.60\00:41:17.94
some statements that
are not in the syllabus.
00:41:17.97\00:41:19.77
I can actually copy
this off if you want me to.
00:41:19.81\00:41:23.28
These are from authors that
are not Seventh-day Adventists.
00:41:23.31\00:41:27.22
They're not
Seventh-day Adventists.
00:41:27.25\00:41:28.58
I'm going to read three of them.
00:41:28.62\00:41:30.35
One is Dave Hunt, Global
Peace, pages 106 and 107.
00:41:30.39\00:41:34.99
Let me tell you
something about Dave Hunt.
00:41:35.02\00:41:37.23
Dave Hunt was an evangelical,
he died a few years ago,
00:41:37.26\00:41:41.33
an evangelical writer
00:41:41.36\00:41:43.26
who believe that the harlot
of Revelation 17 is the papacy,
00:41:43.30\00:41:47.77
but he believed
that the little horn
00:41:47.80\00:41:49.30
is a future Antichrist,
00:41:49.34\00:41:50.67
he believed in the rapture
of the church, et cetera.
00:41:50.71\00:41:53.31
But he believed
that the seven churches
00:41:53.34\00:41:55.11
represent seven
periods just like we do.
00:41:55.14\00:41:58.25
And he
describes the third period
00:41:58.28\00:42:00.08
of the Christian
church in the following way.
00:42:00.12\00:42:04.15
Global Peace, 106 and 107.
00:42:04.19\00:42:06.05
So you see that
it's not only Ellen White
00:42:06.09\00:42:08.02
that has seen this in
the times of Constantine,
00:42:08.06\00:42:10.33
there are other
Christian writers
00:42:10.36\00:42:12.06
that also have seen that
00:42:12.09\00:42:13.86
happen in the course
of Christian history.
00:42:13.90\00:42:16.93
He's speaking about Constantine,
00:42:16.97\00:42:18.30
and he wrote a
brilliant military commander.
00:42:18.33\00:42:21.84
Constantine also understood
00:42:21.87\00:42:24.27
that there could be
no political stability
00:42:24.31\00:42:27.24
without religious unity.
00:42:27.28\00:42:30.01
Yet to accomplish that
feat would require a union
00:42:30.05\00:42:35.02
between paganism
and Christianity.
00:42:35.05\00:42:38.75
How could it be
accomplished, he asks?
00:42:38.79\00:42:42.02
The empire needed
an ecumenical religion
00:42:42.06\00:42:45.66
that would appeal
to every single citizen
00:42:45.69\00:42:48.56
in a multicultural society.
00:42:48.60\00:42:52.33
So what became the way
00:42:52.37\00:42:57.21
in which everybody
could come into the church,
00:42:57.24\00:42:59.91
not what the Word
of God says, culture.
00:42:59.94\00:43:03.98
Wow, that doesn't
sound familiar today.
00:43:04.01\00:43:06.51
That culture dictates
what the church should do.
00:43:06.55\00:43:09.18
You know, if LGBT is
accepted in the world, you say,
00:43:09.22\00:43:12.59
you know, the church
needs to accommodate to that.
00:43:12.62\00:43:15.52
You know, if the
world says gay marriage.
00:43:15.56\00:43:17.03
Well, you know, if
the world says that,
00:43:17.06\00:43:19.13
that women in the
church should occupy
00:43:19.16\00:43:21.56
the same
leadership positions as men,
00:43:21.60\00:43:24.97
we need to just go
along with culture,
00:43:25.00\00:43:27.27
we need to follow.
00:43:27.30\00:43:30.47
He's writing here about this
period of the Christian church.
00:43:30.51\00:43:33.84
The empire needed
an ecumenical religion
00:43:33.88\00:43:36.48
that would
appeal to every citizen
00:43:36.51\00:43:38.48
in a multicultural society.
00:43:38.51\00:43:42.05
Giving Christianity
official status was not enough
00:43:42.08\00:43:45.65
to bring internal
peace to the empire.
00:43:45.69\00:43:48.59
Christianity had to
undergo a transformation
00:43:48.62\00:43:52.03
so that pagans could convert
00:43:52.06\00:43:54.90
without giving up their
old beliefs and rituals.
00:43:54.93\00:43:58.30
Constantine himself
exemplified this expediency.
00:43:58.33\00:44:03.54
Isn't that a telling statement?
00:44:03.57\00:44:07.74
This next statement is
from Henry Cardinal Newman,
00:44:07.78\00:44:11.05
a Roman Catholic Cardinal.
00:44:11.08\00:44:13.58
Catholic Church
doesn't hide the idea
00:44:13.62\00:44:15.35
that many of the things
that are in the Catholic Church
00:44:15.38\00:44:18.62
actually come from paganism.
00:44:18.65\00:44:20.39
They don't try to hide it.
00:44:20.42\00:44:21.76
They say, you
know, wherever we go,
00:44:21.79\00:44:24.43
we just baptize
the heathen customs
00:44:24.46\00:44:28.06
and let people
continue practicing
00:44:28.10\00:44:30.27
their heathen customs
00:44:30.30\00:44:31.73
as long as they become members
of the Roman Catholic Church.
00:44:31.77\00:44:35.80
They don't try to hide that.
00:44:35.84\00:44:37.57
Notice what Henry
Cardinal Newman had to say.
00:44:37.61\00:44:41.28
We are told in
various ways by Eusebius.
00:44:41.31\00:44:45.25
You know who Eusebius was?
00:44:45.28\00:44:47.32
He was a historian
of the Christian church
00:44:47.35\00:44:49.92
that lived in the
times of Constantine.
00:44:49.95\00:44:51.79
He was actually
Constantine's historian.
00:44:51.82\00:44:54.92
We are told in
various ways by Eusebius,
00:44:54.96\00:44:57.79
that Constantine,
in order to recommend
00:44:57.83\00:45:00.83
the new religion to the heathen,
00:45:00.86\00:45:03.70
transferred into it
the outward ornaments
00:45:03.73\00:45:07.84
to which they had been
accustomed in their own.
00:45:07.87\00:45:12.34
In other words, he
says, well, you know,
00:45:12.37\00:45:13.74
if they worship the sun,
00:45:13.78\00:45:15.54
let's just say
that they're worshiping
00:45:15.58\00:45:17.48
the SON instead of SUN.
00:45:17.51\00:45:21.22
And you know, instead of saying
00:45:21.25\00:45:22.98
that they're supposed to keep
Sunday because they're honoring
00:45:23.02\00:45:26.42
the sun god, let's just say
00:45:26.45\00:45:28.06
that they're
honoring Jesus' resurrection.
00:45:28.09\00:45:30.89
He continues writing,
it is not necessary to go
00:45:35.20\00:45:37.67
into a subject,
00:45:37.70\00:45:39.33
which the diligence
of Protestant writers
00:45:39.37\00:45:42.57
has made familiar to most of us.
00:45:42.60\00:45:45.01
The use of temples and these
dedicated to particular saints.
00:45:45.04\00:45:50.25
Let me see if I have
the rest of this statement.
00:45:50.28\00:45:52.48
Okay, here it is.
00:45:55.68\00:45:57.72
The use of temples
and these dedicated
00:45:57.75\00:45:59.95
to particular saints,
00:45:59.99\00:46:01.82
and ornamented on occasions
with branches of trees,
00:46:01.86\00:46:06.13
incense, lamps and candles,
00:46:06.16\00:46:09.43
votive offerings on recovery
from illness, holy water,
00:46:09.46\00:46:13.64
asylums, holy days and seasons,
00:46:13.67\00:46:17.37
use of calendars, processions,
blessings on the fields,
00:46:17.41\00:46:21.88
sacerdotal
vestments, the tonsure,
00:46:21.91\00:46:25.18
the ring in
marriage, turning to east,
00:46:25.21\00:46:28.42
images at the later date,
00:46:28.45\00:46:30.65
perhaps the ecclesiastical
chant are all of pagan origin,
00:46:30.69\00:46:35.96
and sanctified by their adoption
00:46:35.99\00:46:38.23
into the church.
00:46:38.26\00:46:41.70
That happened during
the period of Constantine.
00:46:41.73\00:46:44.33
And what was the
result? Darkness.
00:46:44.37\00:46:48.00
What was the
result? A scarcity of what?
00:46:48.04\00:46:50.67
A scarcity of bread,
00:46:50.71\00:46:52.64
which will lead to
famine and to death
00:46:52.67\00:46:55.54
under the fourth horse.
00:46:55.58\00:46:57.95
I want to read now
from Philip Schaff.
00:46:57.98\00:47:01.18
Great church historian.
00:47:01.22\00:47:02.88
You can still
get his Encyclopedia
00:47:02.92\00:47:06.76
of the History of
the Christian Church.
00:47:06.79\00:47:09.22
This is in
volume three, page 93.
00:47:09.26\00:47:13.19
But the
elevation of Christianity,
00:47:13.23\00:47:15.13
this is
interesting that he would say
00:47:15.16\00:47:16.63
the elevation of Christianity.
00:47:16.67\00:47:19.67
Do you know what
the word Pergamum means?
00:47:19.70\00:47:22.57
The word
Pergamum means elevation.
00:47:22.60\00:47:27.28
See from the
valley of persecution
00:47:27.31\00:47:29.81
under the second church Smyrna,
00:47:29.84\00:47:32.05
the church is now
00:47:32.08\00:47:33.78
at the heights of prosperity.
00:47:33.82\00:47:38.35
So he states, but the
elevation of Christianity,
00:47:38.39\00:47:41.89
as the religion of the state
00:47:41.92\00:47:44.06
presents also an opposite
aspect to our contemplation.
00:47:44.09\00:47:48.73
It involved great risk
of degeneracy to the church.
00:47:48.76\00:47:54.27
The Roman state, with
its laws, institutions,
00:47:54.30\00:47:58.64
and usages was still
deeply rooted in heathenism,
00:47:58.67\00:48:04.08
and could not be
transformed by a magical stroke.
00:48:04.11\00:48:08.25
The Christianizing of the state
00:48:08.28\00:48:11.02
amounted
therefore in great measure
00:48:11.05\00:48:13.72
to the paganizing and
secularizing of the church.
00:48:13.76\00:48:18.86
Once again, the
Christianizing of the state led
00:48:18.89\00:48:23.43
to the paganizing and
secularizing of the church.
00:48:23.47\00:48:27.20
The world overcame the church
00:48:27.24\00:48:29.44
as much as the
church overcame the world.
00:48:29.47\00:48:32.51
And the temporal
gain of Christianity
00:48:32.54\00:48:34.94
was in many respects,
canceled by spiritual loss.
00:48:34.98\00:48:39.98
The mass of the Roman Empire
was baptized only with water,
00:48:40.02\00:48:44.82
not with the
spirit of the gospel,
00:48:44.85\00:48:47.36
and it smuggled heathen manners
00:48:47.39\00:48:49.76
and practices into the sanctuary
00:48:49.79\00:48:51.96
under a new name.
00:48:51.99\00:48:54.10
The very
combination of the cross
00:48:54.13\00:48:56.77
with the military
enzyme by Constantine
00:48:56.80\00:49:00.10
was the most doubtful omen
portending an unhappy mixture
00:49:00.14\00:49:06.01
of the temporal and
the spiritual powers.
00:49:06.04\00:49:11.31
Interesting, isn't it?
00:49:11.35\00:49:13.72
So are you
catching a glimpse here
00:49:13.75\00:49:15.48
of what's involved
with the black horse?
00:49:15.52\00:49:18.89
See, we're following
the course of history.
00:49:18.92\00:49:20.72
This is historicism.
00:49:20.76\00:49:23.83
Historicism is
simple, not complicated,
00:49:23.86\00:49:26.76
it's the best way to interpret.
00:49:26.80\00:49:28.23
You know, the
evangelical churches,
00:49:28.26\00:49:30.90
they say, well, you
know, you have the rapture,
00:49:30.93\00:49:32.57
and then you have
all of these disasters
00:49:32.60\00:49:34.80
in the seals.
00:49:34.84\00:49:36.20
You're gonna have
the Antichrist riding
00:49:36.24\00:49:38.11
on the white
horse, and, you know,
00:49:38.14\00:49:39.81
you're going to have all kinds
of bloodshed with the sword,
00:49:39.84\00:49:43.01
and you know, you're
going to have famine,
00:49:43.04\00:49:44.91
and they usually
consider it literal famine,
00:49:44.95\00:49:47.22
and then you're going
to have death in the grave.
00:49:47.25\00:49:49.52
And then you're going to
have the martyrs crying out
00:49:49.55\00:49:51.29
because they've been killed,
00:49:51.32\00:49:52.65
all after the
rapture of the church.
00:49:52.69\00:49:56.46
And preterists, they say all
of this was fulfilled way back
00:49:56.49\00:49:59.89
then during the
period of the Caesars.
00:49:59.93\00:50:02.96
So none of this, they
say applies to us today,
00:50:03.00\00:50:05.40
because preterists say
it all happened in the past,
00:50:05.43\00:50:08.27
futurists say, it all is
going to happen in the future.
00:50:08.30\00:50:11.07
So it has no significance
and no meaning for us.
00:50:11.11\00:50:15.24
But when you use
historicism as the method,
00:50:15.28\00:50:19.38
it's beautiful,
00:50:19.41\00:50:20.98
because we can
see the trajectory,
00:50:21.02\00:50:24.02
we can see that God has
given the entire history,
00:50:24.05\00:50:27.42
from the times
of apostolic times,
00:50:27.46\00:50:30.43
through the period persecutions
of the Roman Empire,
00:50:30.46\00:50:34.33
to darkness entering the church,
00:50:34.36\00:50:38.03
and a scarcity of bread,
00:50:38.07\00:50:40.17
leading to death and the
grave through persecution
00:50:40.20\00:50:43.71
by the papacy and also by
a lack of the Word of God,
00:50:43.74\00:50:47.18
which leads them to
the martyrs to cry out
00:50:47.21\00:50:49.68
until when O Lord,
00:50:49.71\00:50:51.45
do You not judge
and avenge our blood
00:50:51.48\00:50:54.25
on those who are
shedding our blood in the earth.
00:50:54.28\00:50:56.89
And then the martyrs,
which is the group of martyrs
00:50:56.92\00:50:59.39
that died during
the Roman Empire,
00:50:59.42\00:51:01.02
and during the
period of the papacy,
00:51:01.06\00:51:03.19
they're told,
00:51:03.22\00:51:05.46
no sweat, rest a little while,
00:51:05.49\00:51:09.36
you got your white
robe, don't worry about it.
00:51:09.40\00:51:12.60
You're okay, you're saved,
00:51:12.63\00:51:13.97
you died for the
sake of the gospel,
00:51:14.00\00:51:16.20
just rest a little while,
00:51:16.24\00:51:18.14
until in the future the papacy
00:51:18.17\00:51:19.91
resurrects from its deadly
wound and persecutes again,
00:51:19.94\00:51:23.21
and then you have all
the rest of the martyrs.
00:51:23.24\00:51:25.98
And then both
groups will be rewarded.
00:51:26.01\00:51:29.35
Are you with me or not?
00:51:29.38\00:51:31.02
And then you have the signs,
00:51:31.05\00:51:35.12
you have the great earthquake.
00:51:35.16\00:51:37.56
And you have the
sun darkened of the moon
00:51:37.59\00:51:40.86
that looks like blood
and the falling of the stars,
00:51:40.90\00:51:43.20
which are
announcing that the judgment
00:51:43.23\00:51:45.67
is about to begin,
00:51:45.70\00:51:47.04
then it's going to
set things straight.
00:51:47.07\00:51:50.57
The cases of the
martyrs are going to be looked
00:51:50.61\00:51:52.74
at in the heavenly books.
00:51:52.77\00:51:54.28
That's Daniel 7.
00:51:54.31\00:51:56.08
And the cases that were
decided wrongly on earth
00:51:56.11\00:51:59.55
are now going to be rectified
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:51:59.58\00:52:04.12
Are you with me?
00:52:04.15\00:52:05.79
And then you have after that,
00:52:05.82\00:52:08.36
during the period
of the sixth seal,
00:52:08.39\00:52:09.72
you have those signs.
00:52:09.76\00:52:11.26
And then between the signs
00:52:11.29\00:52:13.80
and the last part
of the sixth seal,
00:52:13.83\00:52:16.13
you have the interlude,
00:52:16.16\00:52:17.93
the sealing of 144,000
right before the last part
00:52:17.97\00:52:21.84
of the sixth seal.
00:52:21.87\00:52:25.37
You have a
sealing of the faithful
00:52:25.41\00:52:28.94
to enter the time of trouble,
00:52:28.98\00:52:30.31
to be protected in
the time of trouble.
00:52:30.35\00:52:32.95
And then they go
through the time of trouble.
00:52:32.98\00:52:36.22
And you come all
the way to page 641
00:52:36.25\00:52:39.59
of Great Controversy.
00:52:39.62\00:52:41.32
And Jesus is
descending from heaven.
00:52:41.36\00:52:44.09
He's already
begun a second coming
00:52:44.13\00:52:46.23
when He's part of the way down.
00:52:46.26\00:52:48.96
Oh, all of God's
people who are on the earth,
00:52:49.00\00:52:52.43
they still feel unworthy,
00:52:52.47\00:52:54.07
they say, who
shall be able to stand?
00:52:54.10\00:52:56.81
And there's an awful
period of silence in heaven.
00:52:59.84\00:53:04.68
Are you with me?
00:53:04.71\00:53:07.78
And after that
long period of silence,
00:53:07.82\00:53:11.92
the voices heard saying,
00:53:11.95\00:53:13.99
my grace is sufficient for you.
00:53:14.02\00:53:18.86
And Ellen White says
that their faces light up
00:53:18.89\00:53:23.57
and the burden is removed.
00:53:23.60\00:53:25.83
And then Jesus
descends from heaven.
00:53:25.87\00:53:28.07
He comes the rest of
the way is above the earth.
00:53:28.10\00:53:31.17
And He says, "Arise,
arise you who sleep in the dust
00:53:31.21\00:53:33.98
of the earth."
00:53:34.01\00:53:36.08
And the dead in
Christ rise first
00:53:36.11\00:53:38.41
in glorified form,
00:53:38.45\00:53:39.78
the 144,000 have been
glorified before that,
00:53:39.81\00:53:42.85
those of the special
resurrection are there.
00:53:42.88\00:53:45.22
Then all of God's
faithful followers are caught up
00:53:45.25\00:53:49.29
in the cloud to
meet the Lord in the air.
00:53:49.32\00:53:52.19
And then they're taken
to heaven for 1000 years.
00:53:52.23\00:53:55.96
We're just following the order
00:53:56.00\00:53:57.33
of the Book of
Revelation, folks.
00:53:57.37\00:54:00.84
Taken to heaven for 1000 years
00:54:00.87\00:54:02.97
and there will be a
millennial judgment to reveal
00:54:03.00\00:54:07.61
to God's people
and for God's people
00:54:07.64\00:54:12.48
to pronounce
sentence on the wicked
00:54:12.51\00:54:14.98
that stayed behind
based on what is found
00:54:15.02\00:54:18.25
written in the books.
00:54:18.29\00:54:20.92
And then, after the
millennial judgment,
00:54:20.96\00:54:23.83
Jesus returns
with all the saints,
00:54:23.86\00:54:27.56
holy city
descends after Jesus' feet
00:54:27.60\00:54:31.13
fall upon the Mount of Olives.
00:54:31.17\00:54:33.07
Everything opens
into a great plain
00:54:33.10\00:54:35.17
for the New
Jerusalem to rest there.
00:54:35.20\00:54:37.01
According to Zechariah
14:4-5, the holy city descends,
00:54:37.04\00:54:41.61
Jesus and the
saints enter the holy city,
00:54:41.64\00:54:44.75
the gates are
closed, the wicked resurrect.
00:54:44.78\00:54:49.28
Satan goes among them
00:54:49.32\00:54:50.69
saying they're less
in there than we are.
00:54:50.72\00:54:53.25
We can conquer them,
we can overcome them.
00:54:53.29\00:54:56.42
And everybody
gets ready for battle.
00:54:56.46\00:54:59.03
Isn't this an exciting story?
00:54:59.06\00:55:00.40
That's better than Hollywood.
00:55:00.43\00:55:02.96
You know why it's
better? Because it's the truth,
00:55:03.00\00:55:05.90
it's not imaginary,
it's going to happen.
00:55:05.93\00:55:08.00
Many times I've wondered
whether it would be nice
00:55:08.04\00:55:11.07
for some studio to
do a movie on this.
00:55:11.11\00:55:15.21
A movie based on what the Bible
and Spirit of Prophecy say,
00:55:15.24\00:55:18.81
not just imaginary stuff
00:55:18.85\00:55:20.42
because they add a lot of stuff
that that isn't in the story.
00:55:20.45\00:55:23.79
And so then
00:55:23.82\00:55:27.79
all of the wicked resurrect.
00:55:27.82\00:55:30.76
They prepare for battle
00:55:30.79\00:55:32.29
when they're
about ready to attack.
00:55:32.33\00:55:34.40
The panoramic view shows all
of them while they were lost.
00:55:34.43\00:55:38.10
And after they see
the cases of their lives,
00:55:38.13\00:55:41.44
they say God is right or wrong.
00:55:41.47\00:55:46.04
Just and true are your
ways, O God, and they kneel.
00:55:46.07\00:55:51.65
Satan kneels, his angels
kneel before the majesty of God.
00:55:51.68\00:55:56.58
For the first time,
since sin came into the world,
00:55:56.62\00:56:00.52
the whole universe is
agreed that God is right
00:56:00.56\00:56:05.03
sin and Satan are wrong.
00:56:05.06\00:56:07.73
And only at that moment can sin,
00:56:07.76\00:56:10.60
and Satan and
sinners be destroyed,
00:56:10.63\00:56:13.44
without any questions remaining.
00:56:13.47\00:56:15.80
And fire descends from heaven
and fire destroys the wicked,
00:56:15.84\00:56:20.24
destroys Satan and his angels.
00:56:20.28\00:56:22.84
And after they burn out,
00:56:22.88\00:56:25.08
God is going to
make a New Heavens
00:56:25.11\00:56:27.52
and a New Earth like
existed at the beginning
00:56:27.55\00:56:31.89
where righteousness dwells,
00:56:31.92\00:56:34.52
and thus the great
controversy is ended.
00:56:34.56\00:56:40.26
And the whole universe
will see that God is love.
00:56:40.30\00:56:42.66
Do you know how the
Great Conflict series begins?
00:56:42.70\00:56:46.74
God is love. Do
you know how it ends?
00:56:46.77\00:56:48.97
God is love.
00:56:49.00\00:56:51.11
So the whole universe
will see that God was right,
00:56:51.14\00:56:53.34
God is justice,
but God is also love.
00:56:53.38\00:56:56.01
Isn't that an exciting story?
00:56:56.04\00:56:58.25
We need to make sure
that we're inside the city,
00:56:58.28\00:57:00.38
not outside.
00:57:00.42\00:57:01.75
Don't let anything in this world
00:57:01.78\00:57:03.85
keep you from being inside.
00:57:03.89\00:57:05.95
You know, we
think that we're going
00:57:05.99\00:57:07.32
to live forever in this world
00:57:07.36\00:57:08.69
and we have all
these nice things.
00:57:08.72\00:57:10.33
Folks, that's only to get
us from point A to point B.
00:57:10.36\00:57:13.76
That's only to
survive until we get there.
00:57:13.80\00:57:16.23
The food that we eat, and
the house that we live in,
00:57:16.26\00:57:18.77
the car that we drive,
00:57:18.80\00:57:20.14
that's only a temporary
thing that kind of bail us over
00:57:20.17\00:57:23.74
until we get there.
00:57:23.77\00:57:25.67
But our focus
needs to be on heaven.
00:57:25.71\00:57:28.38
You know, as the song
says, Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
00:57:28.41\00:57:32.15
look full in His wonderful face.
00:57:32.18\00:57:34.82
And the things of
earth will grow strangely dim
00:57:34.85\00:57:38.89
in the light of
His glory and grace.
00:57:38.92\00:57:41.76
Some people say as I
was mentioning before,
00:57:41.79\00:57:44.33
that you're so earthly-minded,
you're no heavenly good.
00:57:44.36\00:57:49.06
And when I say
00:57:49.10\00:57:50.77
is that we're so
earthly-minded sometimes,
00:57:50.80\00:57:54.77
so we're so
heavenly-minded sometimes
00:57:54.80\00:57:56.54
that we're no
earthly good either.
00:57:56.57\00:57:57.97
So we have to have a balance.
00:57:58.01\00:58:00.04
We have to be
focused on this life,
00:58:00.08\00:58:02.58
doing the work of God,
00:58:02.61\00:58:04.41
but our focus on eternal
life in heaven with Jesus.
00:58:04.45\00:58:08.02