Good morning.
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Another radiant day.
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A beautiful Fresno day.
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We've had lots of rain here.
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Lots of snow in the mountains.
We're thankful for that.
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Because when summer comes, we
are going to need that moisture.
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Well, this morning we are going
to study about the fifth seal.
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And it's going to take us
actually a couple of sessions
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to do number five.
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And then this afternoon we
will study seal number six.
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So today our task is
to study seal number five
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and seal number six.
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How many of you
did your homework?
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What do you do from 5 to 12?
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Well, or 10?
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Okay, let's pray.
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Father in heaven, we
thank You for the privilege
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of being here this morning.
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We thank You for Your Word.
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We thank You that as
Seventh-day Adventists
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You have given us special light
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on how to
interpret the prophecies.
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And as we study today,
we ask for the Holy Spirit
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to be present,
as we have before.
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For we know that without
the Spirit, we cannot understand
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the Word that was given
originally by the Spirit.
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So be with us,
guide us, and teach us.
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We pray in the
name of Jesus, amen.
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Alright, we're going
to begin on page 205.
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Page 205.
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And let me give you a little
bit of historical context.
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We've studied the first seal.
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What period does the
first seal represent?
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The apostolic period.
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The church is going out
conquering and to conquer.
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Thousands are
coming into the church.
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So what does Satan do now?
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He awakens against
the church persecution,
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saying, "We've
got to stop this."
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But when Satan
persecutes, what happens?
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Oh, the church
grows all the more.
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That's the red horse.
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The church is growing
phenomenally, more than before.
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So Satan says, "I have
to change my strategy."
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So there you
have the black horse.
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He introduces
apostasy into the church.
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He infiltrates the
church with the world.
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And as a result, the
church becomes defiled.
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And then, of course,
because there is famine,
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and because there is a sword,
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under the fourth seal
many people die of starvation,
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spiritual starvation.
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They don't have bread.
The bread is very expensive.
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And furthermore, the
light has become darkness
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under the third seal.
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So during the fourth
seal there's spiritual death
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and there's also the
martyrs who are killed.
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And that brings
us to the fifth seal,
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which is the cry of the
martyrs who have been killed
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during the second seal
and those who have been killed
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during the period
of the fourth seal.
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So let's read
Revelation 6:9-11 on page 205.
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And we'll then interpret
this rather long passage.
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It's longer than
the first four seals.
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So that is the passage
that deals with the fifth seal.
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Now let's ask some questions.
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And then we'll try
to answer the questions.
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What does the word, souls, mean?
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The souls are crying out.
What does the word, souls, mean?
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Second, in what sense
did the souls cry out?
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Next, where is the altar
under which these souls cry out?
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Next, what does
the word, martyr, mean?
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Next, what
period of church history
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is this scene describing?
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Then, why did the
papal power kill the martyrs?
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What was the reason why the
papacy killed these martyrs.
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Next, what do the
white robes that are given
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to the martyrs represent?
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Then, why did God tell the
martyrs to rest for a season?
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During what period are
they resting for a season?
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And then we have
two more questions.
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Is there more than
one group of martyrs?
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And finally, when and
how did, or does, or will
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God answer their plea?
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So we have our
homework cut out for us.
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Now how can dead souls cry out?
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Because these are
martyrs, they're dead.
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So how can souls cry out?
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Virtually all non-Adventist
scholars believe that this text
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or this passage proves that
the soul can live independently
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of the body after death.
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Every non-Adventist
commentary that I consulted
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as I was studying this
passage reached the conclusion
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that the souls under the
altar are the disembodied souls
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of martyrs who died, and their
souls are literally crying out
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independently from the body.
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But the question
is, is this really what
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the passage is saying?
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We need to take a look at
other passages of Scripture
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to understand what it means
that the souls are crying out
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from under the altar.
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So there are two Old
Testament backgrounds
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that help us understand
the crying out of the souls
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under the altar.
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The first background is
the story of Cain and Abel.
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Let's go to Genesis 4:3-4.
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The scriptures
interpret themselves.
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So if you want to know
what the souls are crying out
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under the altar about, go
to other passages of Scripture
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that have similar terminology.
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So it says in Genesis 4:3-4,
"And in the process of time
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it came to pass that Cain
brought of the fruit of the
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ground an
offering unto the Lord.
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And Abel, he also brought
of the firstlings of his flock
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and of the fat thereof.
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And the Lord had respect
unto Abel and to his offering."
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So God tells Cain and
Abel to bring an offering.
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Actually, God had asked
them to bring grain offering
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as well as a
sacrificial offering.
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Cain brings a grain
offering, but he doesn't bring
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a sacrificial offering.
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In other words, Abel
obeyed God to the letter
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and worshiped God the
way that God had commanded
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them to worship.
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So the issue here is
obedience and worship
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in the story of Cain and Abel.
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Abel worships
God the way God says,
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and he obeys
strictly God's command.
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Now in Hebrews 11:4, it says,
"By faith, Abel offered to God
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a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain,
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through which he
obtained witness..."
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That word,
witness, is, marturia,
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where we get the
word, martyr, from.
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"...through which he obtained
witness," or he gave witness,
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"that he was..." What?
"...that he was righteous,
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God testifying..."
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Once again, the word, marturia.
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"...God testifying of his gifts;
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and through it he
being dead still..." What?
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"...still speaks."
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So is Abel still speaking
in spite of the fact that
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Abel is dead?
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Yes. In what
sense is Abel speaking?
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He's giving what?
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Witness, or
testimony, that he was obedient.
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He worshiped God
the way God said.
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And so, that is a witness.
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That's why his
sacrifice was more acceptable
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than the sacrifice of Cain.
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Do you remember that we
have another text that says
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that obedience is
better than sacrifice?
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Yes.
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So if you offer God sacrifice
but you're not obedient,
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God cannot
accept that sacrifice.
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So let's read the note.
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Abel's sacrifice gave witness.
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In other words, it still gives
witness that he was faithful.
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He worshiped God
the way God said.
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Remarkably, the word,
witness, used twice in the verse
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is, marturia, from
where we get the word, martyr.
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Even after his death,
Abel's sacrifice gives witness
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or testimony of his
faithfulness to God.
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Now because Abel
was faithful to God,
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he worshiped God the way
God said, and he obeyed God,
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that caused Cain to be
filled with anger against him.
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So does this give us a
picture of what happens
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during the 1260 years?
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What's going to
happen at the end time?
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Why the martyrs were persecuted?
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Absolutely.
00:10:30.96\00:10:32.29
It says in Genesis 4:8,
"Now Cain talked with Abel
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his brother; and it came to
pass when they were in the field
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that Cain rose up against Abel
his brother and killed him."
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Was this a travesty in justice?
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It was a travesty in justice.
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Because the
righteous person was Abel
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and the wicked person was Cain.
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The wicked win and
the righteous lose.
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There's no justice in that.
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So in chapter 4 and
verse 10 we find something very
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interesting, very
similar to the fifth seal.
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It says, "And He said,"
God is speaking to Cain,
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"What have you done?
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The voice of your
brother's..." What?
00:11:17.01\00:11:19.47
"...of your
brother's blood cries out to Me
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from the ground."
00:11:23.58\00:11:25.38
What is Abel's blood doing?
00:11:26.31\00:11:27.88
It's crying out.
What is it crying out for?
00:11:28.38\00:11:30.99
It's crying out for
justice, for vindication.
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Because a great in
justice has been done.
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Abel was righteous and obedient.
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He worshiped God
the way God said.
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And yet, he gets killed.
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And Cain lives.
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What justice is there in that?
00:11:44.93\00:11:46.60
So the blood of
Abel is crying out
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so that justice will be done.
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Let's read the note because it
has some very important points.
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Satan was the
ringleader in Abel's death.
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We find in 1
John 3:12 these words:
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"...not as Cain who
was of the wicked one
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and murdered his brother.
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And why did he murder him?"
00:12:07.52\00:12:09.36
In other words,
why was Abel a martyr?
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"Because..." Now listen to this.
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Not because of his faith,
00:12:15.53\00:12:17.27
but because of his what?
00:12:18.03\00:12:19.87
"...his works were evil and his
brother's works..." Were what?
00:12:20.24\00:12:25.31
"...were righteous."
00:12:25.44\00:12:26.91
In other words, Abel was
obedient and worshiped God
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the way God had commanded.
00:12:30.18\00:12:32.01
The death of Abel was
a travesty in justice.
00:12:32.51\00:12:35.48
Abel was the
righteous one, and he died,
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and Cain was the
unrighteous one, and he lived.
00:12:38.25\00:12:41.62
Wicked Cain, this
is a significant point,
00:12:42.16\00:12:45.23
shed his brother's blood at the
foot of the altar of sacrifice.
00:12:45.26\00:12:50.27
They raised an altar and
made the sacrifice there.
00:12:50.30\00:12:53.34
Remember that, because we're
going to come back to that.
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And Abel's blood cried out
for vindication and justice
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from where it was shed.
00:12:59.44\00:13:01.08
Below the altar, or
under the altar if you please.
00:13:01.38\00:13:04.18
And Abel's blood cries out
for vindication and for justice.
00:13:04.61\00:13:08.68
To all
appearances, the unrighteous won
00:13:09.08\00:13:11.52
and the righteous lost.
00:13:11.72\00:13:13.62
At some point, the
record needed to be rectified.
00:13:13.96\00:13:17.53
The blood of Abel symbolically
cried out for reparation.
00:13:17.56\00:13:23.00
Does this background help us
to understand the fifth seal?
00:13:23.50\00:13:26.33
It's crucially important.
00:13:26.63\00:13:28.00
See, you can't just
stay in Revelation 6:9-11
00:13:28.27\00:13:32.01
and say, "Well, you know,
these are disembodied spirits,
00:13:32.04\00:13:34.78
you know, separate
from the body that are
00:13:34.81\00:13:36.54
crying out to the Lord."
00:13:36.58\00:13:37.95
No, no, no.
00:13:37.98\00:13:39.31
It's the blood
that is crying out
00:13:39.61\00:13:41.45
for vindication, for justice.
00:13:41.55\00:13:43.69
Notice Hebrews 12:24.
00:13:44.59\00:13:46.65
Does the blood
of Jesus also speak?
00:13:47.02\00:13:49.32
Does it speak better
things than the blood of Abel?
00:13:51.09\00:13:53.96
Absolutely. Notice.
00:13:54.16\00:13:55.66
Why? Because Abel's
blood cries out for justice
00:14:03.87\00:14:07.18
and the blood of
Christ provides the justice.
00:14:07.21\00:14:10.11
That's why the blood of
Christ speaks better things.
00:14:10.71\00:14:13.72
Because the blood of
Christ is going to vindicate
00:14:13.75\00:14:16.42
Abel in the judgment.
00:14:16.45\00:14:18.52
We can better understand the
cries of the righteous martyrs
00:14:19.12\00:14:23.12
by reading imprecatory psalms.
00:14:23.16\00:14:25.86
"Imprecatory," means that
the individuals who are wronged
00:14:25.89\00:14:29.73
are crying out for a
judgment in their favor.
00:14:29.76\00:14:32.73
They're crying out for justice.
00:14:32.77\00:14:34.50
I put one
imprecatory psalm in there.
00:14:34.80\00:14:37.67
There are several
where David is saying,
00:14:37.71\00:14:39.37
"Lord, you know, the
wicked are doing this to me.
00:14:39.41\00:14:42.18
What are You
going to do about it?"
00:14:42.21\00:14:43.78
Those are the
imprecatory psalms.
00:14:43.81\00:14:45.71
Notice Psalm 79:9-10.
00:14:45.81\00:14:49.22
Are you catching the picture?
00:15:12.67\00:15:14.01
The martyrs that have shed
their blood, they're crying out.
00:15:14.68\00:15:17.25
They're saying, "Until when
are you going to allow us to
00:15:17.28\00:15:19.91
be mowed down if we
worship the way you say
00:15:19.95\00:15:22.52
and we obey your commandments?
00:15:22.55\00:15:24.02
How is it that you
allow this to happen?
00:15:24.12\00:15:26.92
Please perform a
righteous judgment."
00:15:26.96\00:15:30.79
Now there's a further
Old Testament background
00:15:31.36\00:15:34.23
to this idea of the
souls that are crying out
00:15:34.26\00:15:37.53
from under the altar.
00:15:37.57\00:15:39.03
And that background is
found in Leviticus 4:7.
00:15:39.63\00:15:45.21
There were two
altars in the Sanctuary.
00:15:45.81\00:15:48.24
The altar of sacrifice
which was in the court,
00:15:48.54\00:15:51.41
and the altar of incense
which was in the Holy Place.
00:15:51.81\00:15:55.22
To which altar is
Revelation 6:9-11 referring?
00:15:55.65\00:16:00.16
Well, the answer is
found in Leviticus 4:7.
00:16:00.72\00:16:05.46
Let's read that verse.
00:16:05.49\00:16:07.50
And here's a key word,
very key word, don't forget it.
00:16:19.44\00:16:22.64
"...and he shall..." What?
00:16:22.94\00:16:24.35
"...pour..."
That's a vital word.
00:16:24.91\00:16:28.62
So which altar
are we talking about?
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.43
We're talking about
the altar of sacrifice.
00:16:45.83\00:16:48.67
Now let's notice the
several points that emerge
00:16:48.94\00:16:51.47
from this particular verse.
00:16:51.51\00:16:53.38
The priest poured out the blood,
"poured," is very important,
00:16:53.88\00:16:57.38
poured out the blood
of the victim at the base
00:16:57.75\00:17:00.02
of the altar of sacrifice.
00:17:00.05\00:17:02.18
The priest did not offer
blood on the altar of incense.
00:17:02.98\00:17:06.96
He only placed incense there.
00:17:07.46\00:17:09.26
So it can't be the
altar of incense that is
00:17:09.29\00:17:12.53
being spoken about here.
00:17:12.56\00:17:13.90
The expression,
"pour out," or, "shed,"
00:17:14.90\00:17:18.93
describes what the wicked do
with the blood of the righteous
00:17:19.43\00:17:23.14
in Revelation 16:6.
00:17:23.67\00:17:25.87
We'll come back to
that a little bit later.
00:17:25.91\00:17:28.01
The word, "slain," is identical
to the one that is used
00:17:29.11\00:17:33.28
in Revelation 5:6.
00:17:33.31\00:17:34.85
"A Lamb as though
it had been slain."
00:17:34.88\00:17:38.29
And the altar of sacrifice
represents Christ's sacrifice
00:17:39.05\00:17:42.79
on earth, so these souls
must be crying out on earth,
00:17:42.82\00:17:46.80
not in heaven.
00:17:46.83\00:17:48.16
Are you catching this
point? A very important point.
00:17:49.73\00:17:52.53
Because what non-Adventists
say is, "These souls
00:17:52.93\00:17:57.14
are crying out from
under the altar in heaven."
00:17:57.17\00:18:00.24
No, the altar isn't in heaven.
00:18:00.28\00:18:01.81
The altar is on earth, because
the court represents the earth.
00:18:01.84\00:18:05.31
The court of the
Sanctuary represents
00:18:06.21\00:18:07.92
the earthly work of Christ.
00:18:07.95\00:18:09.52
Where did Christ live?
00:18:10.72\00:18:12.09
On earth.
00:18:12.45\00:18:13.79
Where did Christ die?
00:18:13.86\00:18:15.19
On earth.
00:18:15.22\00:18:16.56
Where did Christ resurrect?
00:18:17.09\00:18:18.56
On earth.
00:18:18.59\00:18:19.93
And so, the camp
represents the life of Christ;
00:18:20.66\00:18:24.03
the altar of
sacrifice, the death of Christ;
00:18:24.67\00:18:27.87
and the laver, the
resurrection of Christ.
00:18:28.14\00:18:30.14
So the work of the
court takes place on earth.
00:18:30.17\00:18:34.51
Which means that the
souls under the altar,
00:18:34.84\00:18:36.95
they're not in heaven.
00:18:37.05\00:18:38.38
Why would they be crying
out if they're in heaven?
00:18:38.55\00:18:41.12
Why would they say,
"Oh Lord, avenge us."
00:18:41.35\00:18:43.12
They should be praising the Lord
and being real happy up there.
00:18:43.22\00:18:45.95
It doesn't make sense.
00:18:47.36\00:18:48.69
Now in the Old Testament,
there is a close connection
00:18:49.22\00:18:52.03
between the word,
"soul," and, "blood."
00:18:52.69\00:18:56.20
When innocent blood,
that is the life, is shed,
00:18:57.43\00:19:01.24
it symbolically
cries out for justice.
00:19:02.74\00:19:04.84
What is the life of the person?
00:19:04.87\00:19:06.71
When a person dies,
what happens with the blood
00:19:08.28\00:19:10.61
that circulates
through the body?
00:19:10.65\00:19:12.18
It stops circulating.
And the result is what?
00:19:12.85\00:19:15.32
Death.
00:19:15.35\00:19:16.69
Let's read a couple of verses.
00:19:17.19\00:19:18.69
Because, "soul," is very closely
intertwined with, "blood."
00:19:19.09\00:19:23.09
The blood is crying
out, which means that the
00:19:23.53\00:19:25.83
soul is crying out.
00:19:25.86\00:19:27.20
Because the soul, or the blood,
of man is what's crying out.
00:19:27.23\00:19:30.83
Now notice Leviticus 17:11.
00:19:30.87\00:19:33.07
"For the life..."
00:19:33.84\00:19:35.17
That's the
identical word, "soul."
00:19:35.20\00:19:36.84
The word, nephesh.
00:19:37.24\00:19:38.64
But it's
translated here, "life."
00:19:39.54\00:19:41.48
Notice Deuteronomy 12:23.
00:19:55.76\00:19:58.63
"...for the blood
is the..." Nephesh.
00:20:03.23\00:20:05.17
It's the identical word,
"living soul," that we find
00:20:05.43\00:20:07.84
in Genesis when God created man.
00:20:07.87\00:20:10.27
"For the blood is the
soul," you could translate it.
00:20:10.67\00:20:13.44
The blood is the
soul, or the life.
00:20:13.48\00:20:15.61
"...and thou mayest
not eat the..." What?
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.45
"...the life," or the
soul, "with the flesh."
00:20:18.78\00:20:22.28
Obviously, you could
not eat a disembodied soul.
00:20:23.15\00:20:26.45
So what is the soul?
00:20:29.66\00:20:30.99
It's the blood.
00:20:32.09\00:20:33.43
It's the life of the person.
00:20:33.73\00:20:35.40
Because the blood is the
life, or the blood is the soul.
00:20:35.60\00:20:38.30
So what is it that's
crying out under the altar
00:20:38.67\00:20:41.74
in Revelation chapter 6?
00:20:42.24\00:20:44.21
It's the blood, or the life, of
the person that is crying out.
00:20:44.74\00:20:49.94
Now let's go to the
next page and read the note.
00:20:50.48\00:20:54.45
The Bible describes
the death of the righteous
00:20:54.48\00:20:57.19
at the hands of the wicked
as an oblation or offering.
00:20:57.22\00:21:00.92
That's interesting, isn't it?
00:21:02.92\00:21:04.49
Pour out.
00:21:05.46\00:21:06.80
In John 16:2, Jesus
explained that those who would
00:21:07.40\00:21:11.73
slay His followers would
actually believe that they were
00:21:11.77\00:21:15.14
offering God an act of worship.
00:21:15.17\00:21:17.31
The word, "service," that
you find there in John 16:2,
00:21:19.47\00:21:24.55
that they would be
offering service by slaying
00:21:24.58\00:21:27.08
God's faithful people,
is the Greek word, latrein,
00:21:27.28\00:21:30.89
where we get the
word, idolatry, from.
00:21:31.15\00:21:34.02
In other words, they believe
that by killing the righteous,
00:21:34.76\00:21:37.63
by pouring out their
blood, they are offering God
00:21:37.66\00:21:40.40
an act of worship.
00:21:40.43\00:21:41.76
The word, "service,"
in this text is, latrein,
00:21:42.53\00:21:45.07
where we get the
word, idolatry, from,
00:21:45.10\00:21:47.60
which is generally
translated, "service," in
00:21:48.00\00:21:50.14
in the King James Version,
but actually means what?
00:21:50.17\00:21:53.68
It actually means, worship.
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.31
Revelation 16:6 explains that
the wicked, listen carefully,
00:21:57.28\00:22:02.58
poured out the
blood of God's people.
00:22:02.62\00:22:05.69
They believe that they're
offering God an act of worship.
00:22:05.79\00:22:08.46
They believe that
they're offering God a sacrifice
00:22:08.49\00:22:10.93
by killing the righteous.
00:22:10.96\00:22:12.56
Revelation 16:6 explains
that the wicked poured out
00:22:13.03\00:22:16.40
the blood of God's people.
00:22:16.67\00:22:18.23
Once again, this is
sacrificial terminology,
00:22:18.50\00:22:21.87
where the word,
"shed," is used of sacrifices
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.64
in all of these
verses that I mentioned here.
00:22:24.67\00:22:27.41
Leviticus 8:15, et cetera.
00:22:27.44\00:22:30.35
Here's another
interesting detail.
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.21
Significantly, Paul
refers to his martyr's death
00:22:33.48\00:22:38.85
as a pouring out of sacrifice.
00:22:39.12\00:22:41.79
Interesting.
00:22:42.59\00:22:43.93
Paul was going to be martyred,
and he speaks about his life
00:22:44.09\00:22:47.26
being poured out in
sacrifice as a martyr.
00:22:47.30\00:22:49.73
So let's continue here.
00:22:50.27\00:22:53.57
The death of the righteous
at the hands of the wicked
00:22:53.60\00:22:55.90
was a sweet savor unto
God because it revealed the
00:22:55.94\00:23:00.14
faithfulness of His people and
won many souls to the kingdom.
00:23:00.18\00:23:04.71
In the minds of the observers,
if Jesus was worth dying for,
00:23:05.21\00:23:09.48
then He must be
worth living for.
00:23:09.75\00:23:12.49
So does this background help us?
00:23:13.12\00:23:15.49
So what is it
that is crying out?
00:23:15.86\00:23:17.36
Are these disembodies spirits
that are conscious up there
00:23:17.39\00:23:21.10
in heaven and they're crying
out, you know, "Do justice."
00:23:21.13\00:23:23.87
Why would they
cry out, "Do justice,"
00:23:24.07\00:23:25.43
if they're up there already
enjoying the bliss of heaven?
00:23:25.47\00:23:28.40
It makes no sense.
00:23:29.20\00:23:30.54
This is figurative.
00:23:30.77\00:23:32.67
In Revelation, we're
dealing with figures.
00:23:32.71\00:23:34.84
We're dealing with symbols.
00:23:34.94\00:23:36.85
Symbolically their
blood, their life is crying out
00:23:37.51\00:23:41.32
because their life
has been taken from them.
00:23:41.35\00:23:43.69
Just like the blood
of Abel is crying out,
00:23:43.89\00:23:46.42
or the life of Abel is crying
out that God will do justice.
00:23:46.45\00:23:51.89
Because the wicked felt
that by pouring out the blood
00:23:51.93\00:23:54.73
of the martyrs, they were
doing God an act of worship.
00:23:55.10\00:23:58.67
And when things will be seen
in the future in the judgment,
00:23:58.87\00:24:02.07
they'll see that
they were offering Satan
00:24:02.10\00:24:04.67
really an act of worship.
00:24:05.11\00:24:06.98
Now what was the reason for
the martyrdom of these beings
00:24:07.84\00:24:11.81
during the period
of papal supremacy,
00:24:11.85\00:24:13.82
during the period
of the fourth horse?
00:24:13.85\00:24:16.42
Well, the martyrs died,
according to what we read,
00:24:17.19\00:24:19.95
"for the Word of God and
the testimony which they held."
00:24:20.86\00:24:25.26
The "Word of God,"
refers to their teachings.
00:24:26.19\00:24:28.90
And, "the
testimony which they held,"
00:24:29.30\00:24:31.53
describes their practical
life witness that revealed
00:24:31.83\00:24:35.27
the character of Jesus.
00:24:35.30\00:24:36.87
So one is the teachings
and the other is the life.
00:24:37.47\00:24:40.04
And we're going
to unpack that now.
00:24:40.08\00:24:42.31
The word, martyr,
literally means, one who gives
00:24:42.61\00:24:46.05
witness or one
who gives testimony.
00:24:46.08\00:24:48.72
Revelation 12 verse
11 helps us understand
00:24:49.28\00:24:52.95
the meaning of this word.
00:24:52.99\00:24:54.66
This text tells us that
the faithful of God overcame
00:24:55.02\00:24:58.89
the devil, how?
00:24:58.93\00:25:01.33
By the word of their
testimony, and they did not
00:25:01.86\00:25:05.53
love their lives
even unto the death.
00:25:05.57\00:25:09.27
So why were they martyred?
00:25:09.60\00:25:11.11
For the Word of God and for
the testimony that they gave.
00:25:11.41\00:25:15.48
The word, testimony,
is translated, "martyr,"
00:25:16.24\00:25:18.98
in three places
in the New Testament.
00:25:19.18\00:25:23.08
First of all, Stephen is
called, actually Paul later on
00:25:23.28\00:25:28.39
after his conversion
called Stephen, God's martyr.
00:25:28.42\00:25:32.09
That means that
he was God's what?
00:25:32.93\00:25:35.10
He was God's witness.
00:25:35.76\00:25:37.10
By the way, was it
a very good witness?
00:25:37.37\00:25:39.97
Did Saul of Tarsus
know that Stephen was right
00:25:42.00\00:25:44.41
and that he was wrong?
00:25:44.44\00:25:45.77
You better believe he did.
00:25:46.88\00:25:48.44
He knew it.
00:25:48.48\00:25:49.81
Stephen's witness
actually brought about
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.68
the conversion of Saul.
00:25:52.71\00:25:54.12
So was it worth it?
00:25:54.72\00:25:56.05
Did the death of
Stephen produce fruit?
00:25:56.79\00:26:01.62
It most certainly did.
00:26:01.92\00:26:03.26
Wouldn't it be wonderful
to see the encounter of Saul
00:26:03.29\00:26:05.36
and Stephen in the kingdom?
00:26:05.39\00:26:07.00
Yeah, because Stephen didn't
know that Saul was converted.
00:26:08.53\00:26:11.20
So imagine, you know,
when they get to heaven,
00:26:12.13\00:26:15.97
and here comes Stephen
walking in one direction
00:26:16.71\00:26:19.74
and Saul, or Paul, is
walking in the other direction.
00:26:19.77\00:26:22.34
And Stephen has to rub
his eyes, and say, "What!"
00:26:22.38\00:26:24.95
I'm just dramatizing for effect.
00:26:25.71\00:26:27.75
"Saul? You're kidding me.
00:26:28.88\00:26:30.65
What are you doing here?"
00:26:30.85\00:26:32.19
"Well, thank you,
Stephen, for your witness."
00:26:32.22\00:26:35.59
Are you catching the picture?
00:26:39.13\00:26:40.56
Stephen preached
a powerful sermon.
00:26:41.30\00:26:45.83
But he also gave witness.
00:26:46.74\00:26:48.07
He was willing to
die for what he believed.
00:26:48.10\00:26:50.47
So it's also used
in Revelation 2:13
00:26:51.41\00:26:56.54
for a martyr called,
Antipas, who gave his life.
00:26:56.58\00:27:00.72
And finally, it is
used in Revelation 17:6
00:27:00.98\00:27:04.45
where the judgment
falls upon the great harlot
00:27:04.79\00:27:08.29
because she martyred
those who gave witness to Jesus.
00:27:08.79\00:27:14.63
Now we can
understand a little bit better
00:27:15.46\00:27:18.10
what the, "Word of God," and
the, "witness for Jesus," means,
00:27:18.13\00:27:20.97
why these martyrs were killed,
we can notice that a little bit
00:27:21.00\00:27:24.71
better by looking at
a couple of examples.
00:27:24.74\00:27:28.44
First of all, Paul.
00:27:28.88\00:27:31.78
We have this rather
large statement from,
00:27:32.51\00:27:34.38
Review and
Herald, September 8, 1885,
00:27:34.42\00:27:37.82
where Ellen White describes
Paul's encounter with the
00:27:38.02\00:27:42.22
political leaders of his day.
00:27:42.26\00:27:44.03
I read, "When before kings
and dignitaries of the earth,
00:27:45.39\00:27:49.73
who held his life in
their hands, he quailed not;
00:27:50.70\00:27:55.37
for he had given his life to
God, and it was hid in Christ.
00:27:55.87\00:28:00.61
He softened, by his courtesy,
the hearts of these men
00:28:01.18\00:28:06.51
in power, men of fierce
temper, wicked and corrupt
00:28:06.55\00:28:11.39
though they were
in heart and life.
00:28:11.72\00:28:17.66
He did not forget his position
00:28:18.79\00:28:20.60
or the
importance of the occasion.
00:28:21.10\00:28:23.06
He was zealous for the truth..."
00:28:23.53\00:28:25.37
That would be the
Word of God, right?
00:28:25.57\00:28:27.10
"...bold in advocating Christ;
but propriety of deportment,
00:28:27.90\00:28:32.84
the grace of true politeness,
marked all his conduct.
00:28:33.07\00:28:37.28
When he stretched out his hand,
as was his custom in speaking,
00:28:38.11\00:28:42.62
the clanking chains caused
him no shame or embarrassment.
00:28:43.05\00:28:47.76
He looked upon them as
tokens of honor, and rejoiced
00:28:48.12\00:28:52.19
that he could
suffer for the Word of God
00:28:52.23\00:28:54.33
and the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:28:54.83\00:28:57.20
See, now we understand a
little better that expression.
00:28:57.23\00:29:00.87
"Surrounded by philosophers,
kings, and critics,
00:29:01.37\00:29:04.67
he was God's ambassador.
00:29:05.04\00:29:06.88
His reasoning was so clear
and convincing that it made
00:29:07.14\00:29:11.85
the profligate
king tremble as Paul
00:29:12.05\00:29:15.25
dwelt upon his experience..."
00:29:15.28\00:29:17.49
See, there's his testimony.
00:29:17.52\00:29:18.85
"...his experience, showing
what had wrought the change
00:29:18.89\00:29:22.42
in his religious views that
aroused the malice of the Jews.
00:29:22.46\00:29:26.39
He exalted Jesus Christ
as the world's Redeemer."
00:29:26.66\00:29:29.83
There's his witness.
00:29:29.86\00:29:31.40
"Grace, like an angel of
mercy, makes his voice heard
00:29:31.53\00:29:35.94
sweet and clear, repeating
the story of the cross,
00:29:36.14\00:29:40.58
the matchless love of Jesus."
00:29:40.88\00:29:43.45
What a beautiful description
of what the Word of God
00:29:43.58\00:29:46.08
and the testimony
for Jesus Christ is.
00:29:46.75\00:29:53.56
Now we can also notice
what this expression means,
00:29:54.39\00:29:57.39
why the martyrs were killed,
by looking at the example of
00:29:57.43\00:30:01.40
John, the apostle John.
00:30:01.73\00:30:03.57
At the bottom of page 211
we find John appearing before
00:30:04.33\00:30:09.70
the emperor Domitian who was the
one who exiled him to Patmos.
00:30:10.01\00:30:14.71
Let's read this statement.
00:30:14.91\00:30:16.28
It comes from, Acts of
the Apostles, page 569.
00:30:16.38\00:30:20.62
"John answered for himself in
a clear and convincing manner,
00:30:21.08\00:30:25.52
and with such simplicity
and candor that his words
00:30:25.95\00:30:30.43
had a powerful effect.
00:30:30.46\00:30:32.36
His hearers were astonished
at his wisdom and eloquence.
00:30:32.69\00:30:37.33
However, the more
convincing his testimony,
00:30:37.63\00:30:40.57
the deeper was the
hatred of his opposers.
00:30:40.67\00:30:43.77
The emperor Domitian
was filled with rage.
00:30:43.87\00:30:47.58
He could neither dispute the
reasoning of Christ's faithful
00:30:47.64\00:30:50.91
advocate, nor match
the power that attended his
00:30:50.95\00:30:55.18
utterance of truth; yet
he determined that he would
00:30:55.22\00:30:58.92
silence his voice."
00:30:58.95\00:31:00.96
So are you catching the picture
of what the martyrs were like?
00:31:01.62\00:31:05.16
They were nice, but
they shared the Word clearly,
00:31:05.59\00:31:09.43
directly, so that
it could be understood.
00:31:09.46\00:31:11.70
So what did
Domitian do with John?
00:31:11.73\00:31:14.24
Well, Domitian said, "If
you can't kill him, exile him."
00:31:14.60\00:31:18.94
And so, Domitian, first
of all he tried to boil,
00:31:19.41\00:31:23.75
he tried to fry,
would be a better term,
00:31:24.31\00:31:27.38
he tried to fry in
oil the apostle John.
00:31:27.42\00:31:30.29
He was thrown into a
cauldron of burning oil.
00:31:30.39\00:31:32.69
And nothing happened.
00:31:33.32\00:31:34.66
It was like Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
00:31:34.69\00:31:36.76
So Domitian said,
"Well, if I can't fry him,
00:31:37.09\00:31:39.49
I'll exile him to
the island of Patmos."
00:31:39.89\00:31:43.50
And of course,
there is where John wrote
00:31:43.53\00:31:46.10
the book of Revelation.
00:31:46.30\00:31:47.84
Now let's notice the fifth seal
and the book of Revelation 5.
00:31:47.94\00:31:53.58
The martyrs that the Inquisition
slew during the period of
00:31:54.41\00:31:57.61
the fourth seal cried out
for justice under the fifth.
00:31:57.65\00:32:02.15
Notice how Ellen White linked
the fourth and fifth seals.
00:32:02.85\00:32:06.12
This is an important statement
here because we're going to see
00:32:06.32\00:32:09.22
that those who died during
the fourth seal are going to
00:32:09.26\00:32:12.29
cry out for justice
under the fifth seal.
00:32:12.33\00:32:14.56
This is found in, Great
Controversy, pages 59-60.
00:32:15.13\00:32:18.77
"In the thirteenth century was
established that most terrible
00:32:19.23\00:32:23.61
of all the engines of
the papacy, the Inquisition.
00:32:23.64\00:32:27.94
The prince of darkness
wrought with the leaders
00:32:28.51\00:32:31.15
of the papal hierarchy.
00:32:31.18\00:32:32.75
In their secret councils..."
00:32:33.31\00:32:35.22
See, Satan has councils too.
00:32:35.25\00:32:37.72
"In their secret councils,
Satan and his angels controlled
00:32:37.75\00:32:41.82
the minds of evil men,
while unseen in the midst,"
00:32:41.86\00:32:46.06
listen carefully,
"stood an angel of God
00:32:46.26\00:32:49.43
taking the fearful record
of their iniquitous decrees
00:32:49.46\00:32:53.00
and writing the
history of deeds too horrible
00:32:53.20\00:32:56.50
to appear to human eyes."
00:32:56.54\00:32:58.77
So what is
happening as the Inquisition
00:32:59.94\00:33:02.98
is killing the saints of God?
00:33:03.01\00:33:04.95
We're going to find in a
moment that the papacy tried to
00:33:06.72\00:33:09.88
eradicate all those records so
that people would not remember
00:33:09.92\00:33:15.06
the cruelty that they exercised
in killing the martyrs.
00:33:15.09\00:33:18.19
But it's all written
in the heavenly books.
00:33:19.03\00:33:21.06
And it will come out before
them after the millennium,
00:33:21.93\00:33:24.43
as we've seen.
00:33:24.47\00:33:25.80
That's the
unfurling of the scroll.
00:33:25.83\00:33:27.57
She continues,
"'Babylon the great was drunken
00:33:28.77\00:33:33.21
with the blood of the saints.'
00:33:33.24\00:33:34.84
The mangled forms of
millions of martyrs..."
00:33:35.14\00:33:37.85
Now you have
the fifth seal here.
00:33:37.88\00:33:39.45
"...millions of martyrs
cried to God for..." What?
00:33:40.22\00:33:44.55
"...for vengeance
upon that apostate power."
00:33:44.75\00:33:47.56
Is that the crying
out of the martyrs?
00:33:47.92\00:33:49.82
Yes. Which martyrs?
00:33:50.23\00:33:52.29
The ones that were killed during
the period of papal dominion
00:33:52.83\00:33:56.60
when the Inquisition existed.
00:33:57.17\00:33:58.87
So now we have a clear reference
to the fourth and fifth seals.
00:33:58.90\00:34:02.07
Although Ellen White
does not quote the verses.
00:34:02.64\00:34:05.14
So you say, "Well, she
never had anything to say about
00:34:05.74\00:34:08.01
seal number four
and seal number five."
00:34:08.04\00:34:09.64
She did.
00:34:09.68\00:34:11.01
She just doesn't
mention the verses.
00:34:11.31\00:34:13.35
See, we have to be perceptive.
00:34:13.58\00:34:15.68
First of all, we have to
read the biblical passage
00:34:15.72\00:34:19.35
several times, have
it clear in our minds,
00:34:19.39\00:34:21.76
and then go to the
spirit of prophecy to see where
00:34:21.86\00:34:23.86
Ellen White uses
similar terminology.
00:34:23.89\00:34:26.90
Because she's probably
commenting on those verses,
00:34:26.93\00:34:29.43
on those particular verses.
00:34:29.46\00:34:31.17
It is noteworthy that in this
statement, Ellen White affirms
00:34:31.67\00:34:35.80
that the angels kept a careful
record of the wrongful decisions
00:34:35.90\00:34:41.04
of earthly courts
against God's people.
00:34:41.08\00:34:43.51
Notice two other statements
where Ellen White writes
00:34:44.45\00:34:48.15
about the
heavenly record keeping.
00:34:48.18\00:34:50.29
This is where she speaks
about the papacy trying to
00:34:51.85\00:34:55.99
eradicate all the
records about the cruelties that
00:34:56.02\00:34:59.03
they exercised
towards the martyrs.
00:34:59.06\00:35:01.46
"The history of God's people
during the ages of darkness
00:35:02.50\00:35:07.07
that followed upon Rome's
supremacy is written in heaven,
00:35:07.50\00:35:11.04
but they have little
place in human records.
00:35:12.14\00:35:15.11
We can find few
traces of their existence,
00:35:15.41\00:35:18.45
except in the accusations
of their persecutors.
00:35:18.65\00:35:21.95
It was the policy of Rome
to obliterate every trace of
00:35:22.45\00:35:25.69
dissent from her
doctrines or decrees.
00:35:25.72\00:35:27.99
Everything heretical,
whether persons or writings,
00:35:28.46\00:35:32.03
she sought to destroy.
00:35:32.06\00:35:33.60
Expressions of doubt or
questions as to the authority of
00:35:34.16\00:35:37.57
papal dogmas were enough
to forfeit the life of rich
00:35:37.60\00:35:41.97
or poor, high or low.
00:35:42.00\00:35:43.87
Rome endeavored also
to destroy every record
00:35:44.34\00:35:47.44
of her cruelty
toward dissenters.
00:35:47.48\00:35:50.05
Papal councils decreed
that books and writings
00:35:50.58\00:35:53.98
containing such records should
be committed to the flames.
00:35:54.02\00:35:57.25
Before the invention of
printing, books were few in
00:35:57.49\00:36:00.49
number, and in a form not
favorable for preservation.
00:36:00.52\00:36:04.83
Therefore, there was
little to prevent the Romanists
00:36:05.09\00:36:08.30
from carrying
out their purpose."
00:36:08.33\00:36:10.83
Not only were injustices
committed in human courts,
00:36:12.13\00:36:16.20
but the court
records were eradicated.
00:36:16.50\00:36:20.01
But God has an indelible
record in the heavenly books.
00:36:20.74\00:36:24.88
And He will bring them
forth when He judges and avenges
00:36:25.65\00:36:30.62
the blood of His people.
00:36:30.82\00:36:32.15
The second statement,
Great Controversy, page 77.
00:36:32.95\00:36:35.86
"When Rome at one time
determined to exterminate
00:36:36.46\00:36:39.63
the hated sect,"
that's the Waldensians,
00:36:39.66\00:36:42.53
"a bull," that's a papal
letter, "was issued by the pope,
00:36:42.93\00:36:46.84
condemning them as heretics and
delivering them to slaughter.
00:36:46.87\00:36:51.27
They were not accused as idlers,
or dishonest, or disorderly,
00:36:51.77\00:36:56.24
but it was declared that
they had an appearance of piety
00:36:56.54\00:36:59.65
and sanctity that seduced
'the sheep of the true fold.'
00:36:59.68\00:37:04.42
Therefore, the pope ordered
'that malicious and abominable
00:37:05.05\00:37:09.82
sect of malignants,' if they
'refuse to abjure, to be crushed
00:37:09.86\00:37:15.46
like venomous snakes.'"
00:37:15.50\00:37:17.70
And that's a quote
from the historian, Wylie.
00:37:17.73\00:37:21.50
"Did this haughty
potentate expect to meet
00:37:21.94\00:37:26.11
those words again?"
00:37:26.14\00:37:29.11
In other words, did that
pope realize that he's going to
00:37:29.38\00:37:31.75
meet those words again?
00:37:31.78\00:37:33.18
Did he know that they
were registered in the books
00:37:33.68\00:37:37.49
of heaven to
confront him at the judgment?"
00:37:37.52\00:37:41.52
So what is the
cry of the martyrs?
00:37:43.96\00:37:45.73
"How long until
You judge and avenge?"
00:37:46.56\00:37:48.70
God says, "Rest.
Because some day..."
00:37:49.63\00:37:53.80
By the way, judge and
avenge are not the same thing.
00:37:54.00\00:37:56.40
Judge takes place
before the second coming.
00:37:57.84\00:38:00.41
The avenging takes
place at the second coming.
00:38:00.44\00:38:03.14
First of all, the records
have to be examined in heaven,
00:38:04.08\00:38:06.78
and then sentence is reversed, a
sentence in favor of the saints
00:38:07.78\00:38:13.19
and against the little
horn, and then when Jesus comes
00:38:13.22\00:38:16.66
He will avenge His people.
00:38:17.13\00:38:20.10
But we'll come to that later.
00:38:20.13\00:38:21.56
The question is, when
will these church leaders
00:38:22.46\00:38:24.73
have to face the records
that the angels wrote during
00:38:24.77\00:38:27.70
the period of papal supremacy?
00:38:27.74\00:38:29.64
The answer is in
this following statement.
00:38:30.04\00:38:32.97
When is it that those
who martyred God's people
00:38:33.01\00:38:36.01
are going to have to face
the records of what they did?
00:38:36.04\00:38:38.41
It's going to be when the scroll
in the right hand of the Father
00:38:39.25\00:38:43.65
sitting on the throne
is is unfurled after the
00:38:43.69\00:38:45.85
millennium before them.
00:38:45.89\00:38:47.66
Notice this very
interesting statement.
00:38:47.92\00:38:50.83
"There," that is outside the New
Jerusalem after the millennium,
00:38:51.39\00:38:54.63
"are papist priests and
prelates who claim to be
00:38:54.93\00:39:00.14
Christ's ambassadors, yet
employed the rack, the dungeon,
00:39:00.17\00:39:04.57
and the stake to control
the consciences of His people.
00:39:04.81\00:39:08.54
There are the proud pontiffs
who exalted themselves above God
00:39:08.88\00:39:14.85
and presumed to change
the law of the Most High.
00:39:15.18\00:39:19.45
Those pretended fathers
of the church have an account
00:39:19.89\00:39:24.16
to render to God from which
they would fain be excused.
00:39:24.19\00:39:28.76
Too late they are made to
see that the Omniscient One
00:39:28.96\00:39:33.03
is jealous of His law
and that He will in no wise
00:39:33.23\00:39:37.04
clear the guilty.
00:39:37.07\00:39:38.41
They learn now that
Christ identifies His interest
00:39:38.61\00:39:43.18
with that of His suffering
people; and they feel the force
00:39:43.21\00:39:47.35
of His own words, 'Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one
00:39:47.38\00:39:51.55
of the least of
these, My brethren,
00:39:51.59\00:39:53.42
ye have done it unto Me.'"
00:39:53.72\00:39:56.29
The angels wrote in the
books of heaven all of the
00:39:58.49\00:40:02.83
iniquitous acts of
the papal system performed
00:40:02.86\00:40:07.17
against God's people
during the dark ages.
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.37
One day soon, the Lion of
the tribe of Judah will open
00:40:10.97\00:40:17.11
the records before the universe
and God will judge and avenge
00:40:17.15\00:40:21.68
the blood of
those who died unjustly.
00:40:21.72\00:40:24.32
That is to say, God will rectify
the erroneous verdicts of
00:40:25.02\00:40:29.76
earthly courts
against God's people.
00:40:29.79\00:40:31.83
The divine Supreme Court
of the universe will overturn
00:40:32.43\00:40:37.33
the decisions of the
lower human courts on earth.
00:40:37.37\00:40:40.87
The wicked priests, prelates,
and popes will see the sealed
00:40:42.40\00:40:46.27
book opened and they
will remember everything
00:40:46.31\00:40:49.31
they did to God's people.
00:40:49.34\00:40:51.01
They will then confess before
the universe that they were
00:40:51.51\00:40:55.22
wrong and that
God's people were right.
00:40:55.25\00:40:57.85
"Just and true are
your ways, O Lord."
00:40:57.95\00:41:01.19
Daniel 7 vividly describes
the judgment where the verdicts
00:41:01.92\00:41:07.50
of human courts
will be overturned.
00:41:07.53\00:41:10.37
Daniel 7:21, 25
describes the papal little horn
00:41:10.97\00:41:14.87
that persecuted the
saints of the Most High
00:41:15.60\00:41:18.31
for a time, times,
and the dividing of time.
00:41:18.61\00:41:22.48
During this period,
the papacy mowed down
00:41:22.98\00:41:25.91
God's people without mercy.
00:41:25.95\00:41:27.78
The righteous died
and the wicked lived.
00:41:28.02\00:41:30.35
The human court of the
Inquisition found God's people
00:41:30.89\00:41:33.36
guilty and executed them.
00:41:33.39\00:41:34.96
This was during the
period of the fourth horse.
00:41:35.49\00:41:37.86
The unjust verdicts of the
human courts had to be rectified
00:41:38.59\00:41:42.46
and the proper verdict given.
00:41:42.83\00:41:45.03
This is the reason why
the martyrs whom the papacy
00:41:45.53\00:41:48.00
condemned and slew
cried out to God for Him
00:41:48.04\00:41:52.07
to judge and avenge them.
00:41:52.11\00:41:53.98
Are you catching
the picture here?
00:41:54.01\00:41:55.61
So in other words, there
is a flow here to the seals.
00:41:55.64\00:42:02.12
A sequence.
00:42:02.28\00:42:03.62
They're not
independent one from the other.
00:42:03.65\00:42:06.39
Ellen White, once again
in, Christ's Object Lessons,
00:42:07.06\00:42:09.32
pages 179-180, wrote this.
00:42:09.36\00:42:12.49
"Millions have gone down to
the grave loaded with infamy
00:42:13.56\00:42:17.17
because they refused to yield to
the deceptive claims of Satan.
00:42:17.67\00:42:22.37
By human tribunals, the children
of God have been adjudged
00:42:23.10\00:42:28.11
the vilest criminals."
00:42:28.21\00:42:30.28
So who has judged God's
people as vile criminals?
00:42:31.81\00:42:35.65
Human tribunals.
00:42:36.95\00:42:38.42
She continues,
"But the day is near
00:42:40.49\00:42:43.36
when 'God is judge Himself.'
00:42:43.83\00:42:47.06
Then the decisions of
earth shall be..." What?
00:42:47.76\00:42:52.50
"...reversed.
00:42:52.90\00:42:54.24
'The rebuke of His
people shall be taken away.'
00:42:54.34\00:42:57.01
White robes will be
given to every one of them."
00:42:57.77\00:43:03.08
She's actually discussing,
one again, the fifth seal.
00:43:03.61\00:43:06.51
The purpose of the
heavenly judgment in Daniel 7
00:43:07.18\00:43:09.68
is to vindicate the cases
of those whom the little horn
00:43:09.72\00:43:13.69
unjustly condemned and
slew during the 1260 years.
00:43:13.79\00:43:18.63
Thus, Daniel 7:26, 27...
00:43:18.99\00:43:21.40
Are you understanding a
little bit better Daniel 7 now?
00:43:21.43\00:43:24.23
What is the purpose of
the judgment in Daniel 7?
00:43:25.03\00:43:27.44
Is it only
condemning the little horn?
00:43:29.67\00:43:31.91
No. The works of the
little horn are brought to view,
00:43:32.64\00:43:35.34
but with the purpose of showing
that God's people were right.
00:43:35.58\00:43:39.48
To change the verdict that
was given in the human court.
00:43:40.45\00:43:43.89
So in other words, the
purpose is to vindicate
00:43:44.09\00:43:46.55
the saints of the Most High.
00:43:46.59\00:43:47.92
The saints are mainly in
view, not the little horn.
00:43:47.96\00:43:51.09
Only that the little
horn persecuted God's people.
00:43:51.96\00:43:54.60
Are you following me or not?
00:43:55.26\00:43:56.60
And by the way,
people like Desmond Ford said
00:43:56.87\00:44:00.67
Daniel 7 only deals with
the judgment of the little horn
00:44:00.87\00:44:06.47
and the saints who
lived during the 1260 years.
00:44:06.51\00:44:09.24
No.
00:44:09.44\00:44:10.78
What's simply happening is that
the central focus of Daniel 7
00:44:11.45\00:44:15.18
is the judgment of those
whom the little horn persecuted.
00:44:15.22\00:44:18.92
That doesn't mean that God isn't
going to judge everybody else
00:44:18.95\00:44:22.09
in that judgment as well.
00:44:22.32\00:44:23.69
It's kind of like an analogous
case to this is Revelation 20:4,
00:44:24.39\00:44:29.70
a very interesting verse,
where it says that those who
00:44:29.90\00:44:32.43
were beheaded because
they didn't worship the beast
00:44:32.47\00:44:34.77
or his image, they will reign
and they will judge the wicked
00:44:34.80\00:44:39.27
during the thousand years.
00:44:39.31\00:44:40.64
So let me ask you, are they
the only ones that are going to
00:44:40.68\00:44:42.68
participate in
judging the wicked?
00:44:42.71\00:44:44.51
No. That's just
the focus of the verse.
00:44:44.71\00:44:46.82
It doesn't mean that there's
not a broader application.
00:44:47.25\00:44:49.68
Are you following me or not?
00:44:50.49\00:44:51.82
You know, some people take,
for example, Exodus chapter 31
00:44:52.49\00:44:55.92
where God is speaking about
the Sabbath in verses 16 and 17,
00:44:56.12\00:45:00.10
and God says, "It is a
sign between Me and Israel."
00:45:00.13\00:45:03.43
They say, "See,
it's only for Israel."
00:45:04.03\00:45:05.40
It doesn't say only for Israel.
00:45:05.43\00:45:07.17
God says, "It is a
sign between Me and Israel,"
00:45:08.04\00:45:10.41
because Israel was
His people at that moment.
00:45:10.44\00:45:12.51
It doesn't means it's not
a sign for everybody else.
00:45:12.54\00:45:14.88
It doesn't say it's
exclusively for Israel.
00:45:16.18\00:45:18.48
In fact, the New Testament shows
that it's also for the church.
00:45:19.41\00:45:22.08
Paul and Peter and the
apostles observed the Sabbath.
00:45:22.55\00:45:25.69
So just because this
particular passage in Daniel 7
00:45:25.72\00:45:30.03
is dealing with the
persecutions of the little horn
00:45:30.23\00:45:32.76
against God's people
during the 1260 years
00:45:32.79\00:45:35.10
does not mean that it applies
exclusively to that group.
00:45:35.20\00:45:38.43
Are you with me?
00:45:40.00\00:45:41.34
Now, let's go
back here to our notes.
00:45:41.60\00:45:44.81
And we're
reading Daniel 7:26-27.
00:45:47.51\00:45:50.08
"But the courts shall be seated,
00:45:50.11\00:45:51.85
and they shall take
away his dominion..."
00:45:53.21\00:45:55.75
This happens in the judgment.
00:45:55.78\00:45:57.12
This is the judge part.
00:45:57.15\00:45:58.49
"...to consume and
destroy it forever.
00:45:59.19\00:46:01.82
Then the kingdom and dominion,
and the greatness of the
00:46:02.62\00:46:06.83
kingdoms under the whole heaven,
shall be given to the people,
00:46:06.86\00:46:12.00
the saints of the Most High.
00:46:12.23\00:46:14.24
His kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom,
00:46:14.30\00:46:16.27
and all dominions
shall serve and obey Him."
00:46:16.37\00:46:19.57
Do you see
what's happening here?
00:46:20.88\00:46:22.31
From whom is
dominion taken away?
00:46:23.14\00:46:25.11
From the persecutor.
00:46:25.45\00:46:26.88
From the little horn.
00:46:26.92\00:46:28.25
To whom is it given?
00:46:28.68\00:46:30.02
To the saints of the
Most High, and to Jesus.
00:46:30.42\00:46:33.36
So Daniel chapter 7 is saying
that God is going to rectify
00:46:33.89\00:46:39.63
what happened on
earth in earthly tribunals.
00:46:40.53\00:46:43.40
Now let's continue.
00:46:43.93\00:46:45.27
The book of Revelation 5:1-2
contains the indelible record
00:46:45.57\00:46:50.51
of the deeds that the angels
recorded during the period
00:46:50.91\00:46:53.94
of papal supremacy.
00:46:53.98\00:46:55.34
After the millennium, Jesus,
the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
00:46:55.81\00:46:59.61
will open this book and
the wicked oppressors of God's
00:46:59.65\00:47:03.05
people will remember their evil
deeds towards the righteous.
00:47:03.08\00:47:07.22
This book not only
contains the baleful record
00:47:08.06\00:47:11.29
of the papacy history.
00:47:11.33\00:47:12.76
Although, that's the point
of focus in the fifth seal.
00:47:13.26\00:47:16.93
Are you understanding
the fifth seal has a specific
00:47:16.97\00:47:19.17
focus, but it can
also have a broader case?
00:47:19.20\00:47:25.27
You know, why aren't all of the
other cases brought into view,
00:47:25.57\00:47:28.44
that all of the rest
are also going to be judged?
00:47:28.64\00:47:31.08
For the simple reason, that's
not the focus at the moment.
00:47:31.11\00:47:33.85
The focus is the 1260 years,
00:47:34.08\00:47:36.45
the history of
the Christian church.
00:47:36.48\00:47:37.85
Are you with me or not?
00:47:37.89\00:47:39.22
So the book not only
contains the baleful record
00:47:39.82\00:47:42.59
of the papal history, it
contains the entire history
00:47:42.62\00:47:45.79
of the human race,
including the acts of the
00:47:45.83\00:47:48.96
religious leaders against Jesus.
00:47:49.00\00:47:51.43
When the Jewish leadership
chose Barabbas over Jesus,
00:47:52.07\00:47:55.04
Ellen White tells us, now I've
already read this statement,
00:47:55.07\00:47:57.67
"The Jewish
leaders made their choice.
00:47:58.94\00:48:00.91
Their decision was registered
in the book which John saw
00:48:01.51\00:48:06.41
in the hand of Him
that sat upon the throne,
00:48:06.45\00:48:09.18
the book that
no man could open."
00:48:09.52\00:48:11.65
And now notice this.
00:48:11.69\00:48:13.25
Are only the popes going
to see that their judgment
00:48:13.82\00:48:16.56
was reversed
after the millennium?
00:48:16.59\00:48:18.33
Are the popes the only ones?
00:48:18.53\00:48:20.00
No.
00:48:20.66\00:48:22.00
Is Cain going to see
it, what he did to Abel?
00:48:22.03\00:48:25.10
Absolutely.
00:48:25.60\00:48:26.94
Are the religious leaders
of Christ's day going to see
00:48:27.70\00:48:30.51
what they did to Jesus?
00:48:30.54\00:48:31.94
See, I want us
to understand this.
00:48:32.34\00:48:35.64
The focus of
Revelation chapter 6
00:48:35.94\00:48:38.91
is upon a particular period.
00:48:38.95\00:48:40.85
But it does not exclude
the fact that everyone after
00:48:40.95\00:48:44.35
the millennium from
all ages is going to see
00:48:44.39\00:48:47.69
the reversal of wrong
judgments that were done
00:48:47.89\00:48:50.43
in earthly courts.
00:48:50.46\00:48:51.79
So it says, "Thus the Jewish
leaders made their choice.
00:48:51.89\00:48:54.53
Their decision was registered
in the book which John saw
00:48:54.80\00:48:57.70
in the hand of Him
that sat upon the throne,
00:48:57.73\00:49:00.34
the book that no man could open.
00:49:00.37\00:49:02.24
In all its vindictiveness,
this decision will appear
00:49:02.97\00:49:08.28
before them in the day
when this book is unsealed
00:49:08.31\00:49:11.85
by the Lion of
the tribe of Judah."
00:49:12.11\00:49:14.12
And when is that?
00:49:14.15\00:49:15.48
After the millennium, folks.
00:49:15.52\00:49:17.09
That's when the panoramic
view is going to be seen
00:49:17.92\00:49:20.49
above the Holy City.
00:49:20.52\00:49:22.02
The decision will appear
before the Jewish leaders
00:49:23.02\00:49:25.36
after the millennium when
they are outside the Holy City.
00:49:25.39\00:49:29.10
Notice, Great
Controversy, page 667.
00:49:29.86\00:49:33.27
This is speaking
about the panoramic view.
00:49:34.30\00:49:36.64
That's the unfurling
of the scroll, folks.
00:49:36.67\00:49:38.74
Not in high definition,
but ultra-high definition.
00:49:39.74\00:49:46.25
What kind of technology
must God have to have recorded,
00:49:47.65\00:49:51.89
without missing a single
detail, the whole history of
00:49:51.99\00:49:55.32
the human race?
00:49:55.36\00:49:56.69
And we think we're so
great because we're able to
00:49:57.53\00:49:59.79
store lots of
information in a computer.
00:49:59.83\00:50:02.70
What kind of technology is
necessary to have recorded,
00:50:04.37\00:50:08.47
I mean, in infinite
detail everything that has ever
00:50:08.50\00:50:14.58
happened, the entire life
of every person who has ever
00:50:14.61\00:50:17.81
lived on planet earth?
00:50:18.01\00:50:19.55
We don't know that
kind of technology.
00:50:20.62\00:50:22.05
We just kind of have done
a little, itsy bitsy, copying
00:50:22.08\00:50:26.82
of the technology that God has.
00:50:27.62\00:50:29.56
Here it is.
00:50:30.09\00:50:31.43
This is speaking about Christ.
00:50:31.93\00:50:33.53
"The awful spectacle
appears just as it was.
00:50:33.83\00:50:37.50
Satan, his angels, and his
subjects have no power to turn
00:50:38.23\00:50:42.84
from the picture
of their own work.
00:50:42.87\00:50:44.87
Each actor recalls the
part that he performed.
00:50:45.61\00:50:50.08
Herod, who slew the
innocent children of Bethlehem
00:50:50.65\00:50:54.02
that he might
destroy the King of Israel;
00:50:54.05\00:50:56.18
the base Herodias, upon
whose guilty soul rests the
00:50:56.62\00:51:00.92
blood of John the Baptist;
the weak, timeserving Pilate;
00:51:00.96\00:51:05.16
the mocking soldiers;
the priests and rulers
00:51:05.59\00:51:08.93
and the
maddening throng who cried,
00:51:09.23\00:51:11.57
'His blood be on us,
and on our children!'
00:51:11.60\00:51:14.24
all behold the
enormity of their guilt.
00:51:14.70\00:51:17.74
They vainly seek to hide
from the divine majesty of
00:51:18.04\00:51:21.04
His countenance,
outshining the glory of the sun,
00:51:21.08\00:51:24.71
while the redeemed cast their
crowns at the Savior's feet,
00:51:24.75\00:51:27.95
exclaiming, 'He died for me!'"
00:51:28.42\00:51:32.25
Aren't the seals spectacular?
00:51:34.79\00:51:37.13
And when you really understand
all of the implications of
00:51:37.86\00:51:41.70
the seals, it's magnificent.
00:51:41.73\00:51:43.53
No human mind
could have devised this.
00:51:43.57\00:51:46.20
No human mind could
have written down the seals.
00:51:47.14\00:51:49.54
And then when you compare
history, it fits perfectly
00:51:49.74\00:51:52.77
with what you find in
the description of the seals
00:51:52.81\00:51:55.38
in Revelation chapter 6.
00:51:55.41\00:51:57.05
It's too intricate for any human
being to have created this.
00:51:57.31\00:52:01.62
Now there's one
point that we want to cover
00:52:02.28\00:52:04.29
before we bring this
first session on the fifth seal
00:52:04.69\00:52:07.72
to a close.
00:52:07.92\00:52:09.26
And that is that the
fifth seal has two stages.
00:52:09.36\00:52:12.96
A past stage and a future stage.
00:52:13.83\00:52:17.03
The fifth seal makes it
clear that the crying out
00:52:18.07\00:52:21.37
of the martyrs has two
distinct historical stages:
00:52:21.40\00:52:24.74
the martyrs of the past,
that is those that the papacy
00:52:24.94\00:52:28.01
killed during the fourth seal,
and the martyrs of the future
00:52:28.04\00:52:33.85
those whom the papacy
will kill when it resurrects
00:52:34.48\00:52:39.02
from its deadly wound.
00:52:39.05\00:52:40.79
And we're going to notice in
our study that the sixth seal
00:52:41.59\00:52:44.43
also has two stages.
00:52:44.46\00:52:47.16
The fifth seals says,
"Until when are You going to
00:52:48.96\00:52:51.53
judge and avenge our blood?"
00:52:51.57\00:52:53.87
Well, the martyrs are
told, "Hang on, rest for a while
00:52:55.14\00:52:59.07
until the future
martyrs are killed.
00:52:59.44\00:53:02.34
And then I will avenge."
00:53:02.71\00:53:06.28
Let's notice two translations
of Revelation 6:11 that help us
00:53:08.82\00:53:13.12
understand these two stages.
00:53:13.15\00:53:14.92
You know, the New King James
also you kind of get the idea
00:53:15.12\00:53:18.59
that there's two
stages, but these two versions
00:53:18.63\00:53:21.70
that I've included
here make it even clearer.
00:53:21.73\00:53:24.70
The first is Revelation
6:11 in the New Century Version.
00:53:25.70\00:53:30.61
"Then each one of them..."
00:53:31.67\00:53:33.14
That is, of the martyrs who were
slain during the first period.
00:53:33.17\00:53:36.21
"...was given a white robe..."
00:53:36.48\00:53:38.18
And by the way, that's
the judgment in heaven.
00:53:39.31\00:53:42.18
They're judged in heaven,
they're given a white robe.
00:53:42.88\00:53:45.22
"...and what told to..." What?
00:53:46.02\00:53:47.69
"...to wait a short time longer.
00:53:48.26\00:53:51.89
There were
still..." Listen carefully.
00:53:52.93\00:53:54.93
"There were still some of their
fellow servants and brothers
00:53:54.96\00:54:01.94
and sisters in the
service of Christ who must be
00:54:01.97\00:54:06.68
killed as they were.
00:54:06.71\00:54:08.31
They had to wait until
all of this was finished."
00:54:08.94\00:54:11.85
Isn't that a nice translation?
00:54:12.51\00:54:13.98
It makes it super crystal clear.
00:54:14.62\00:54:16.28
And then the
Contemporary English Version.
00:54:17.22\00:54:18.99
Obviously,
these are paraphrases.
00:54:19.02\00:54:21.89
But whenever I use a paraphrase,
it's because it squares with
00:54:22.62\00:54:25.83
what actually is said in
more reputable translations.
00:54:25.86\00:54:31.03
So there's nothing
wrong with using paraphrases
00:54:31.33\00:54:33.70
as long as the paraphrases
don't go beyond what the text
00:54:33.97\00:54:37.64
is actually saying.
00:54:37.67\00:54:39.01
So Revelation 6:11 in the
00:54:39.64\00:54:41.78
Contemporary
English Version says,
00:54:41.81\00:54:43.81
"Then each of those
who had been killed..."
00:54:44.15\00:54:47.35
That's past tense.
00:54:47.38\00:54:48.72
"...was given a white robe and
told to rest for a little while.
00:54:48.82\00:54:52.89
They had to wait
until the complete number
00:54:53.69\00:54:56.83
of the Lord's other servants
and followers would be killed."
00:54:56.86\00:55:00.20
So is there going to be
a future group of martyrs?
00:55:02.66\00:55:05.23
Yes.
00:55:06.50\00:55:07.84
And who's going to be behind
the martyrdom of those people?
00:55:08.40\00:55:11.31
The same system that
did it the first time.
00:55:12.34\00:55:15.28
Because Revelation 13 says that
system received a deadly wound.
00:55:16.11\00:55:20.52
And for a certain
period it was out of action.
00:55:22.02\00:55:26.45
It was out of commission.
00:55:27.66\00:55:29.12
It was
convalescing, if you please.
00:55:29.16\00:55:31.66
But it says in Revelation
13:3 that it's deadly wound
00:55:32.29\00:55:36.77
will be healed.
00:55:37.27\00:55:38.60
And the entire world
will wonder after that system,
00:55:39.13\00:55:43.51
except for a small remnant.
00:55:44.31\00:55:46.31
And that small remnant,
in spite of the fact that
00:55:47.51\00:55:50.48
there will be a death decree
against those who don't worship
00:55:50.51\00:55:53.62
the beast and receive his mark,
00:55:53.65\00:55:55.88
they will
remain faithful to God.
00:55:57.65\00:56:02.06
And many of them, during
the little time of trouble,
00:56:03.49\00:56:05.63
are going to be killed.
00:56:05.66\00:56:07.20
So there are
going to be martyrs.
00:56:08.33\00:56:10.20
Not after probation closes.
00:56:10.23\00:56:12.23
After probation closes, there's
not going to be any martyrs.
00:56:12.97\00:56:15.60
Because what is the purpose of
why God allows a person to die?
00:56:16.40\00:56:21.18
It's a witness.
00:56:23.01\00:56:24.35
We've already notice
that. It's a witness.
00:56:24.38\00:56:26.11
Would the death of
God's people after the
00:56:26.55\00:56:28.72
close of probation be a witness?
00:56:28.75\00:56:30.42
No, because all
of the lost are lost.
00:56:30.72\00:56:32.62
There's no possibility of anyone
being saved by their witness.
00:56:32.72\00:56:37.36
So what would be the purpose?
00:56:37.89\00:56:39.63
There would be no purpose.
00:56:40.23\00:56:41.56
That's why Ellen
White states that after the
00:56:41.96\00:56:44.50
close of probation
there will be no martyrs.
00:56:44.53\00:56:48.97
If you want to study
an interesting story about
00:56:49.50\00:56:51.27
what the time of
trouble is going to be like
00:56:51.31\00:56:52.87
and what God's people are
going to have to go through,
00:56:53.58\00:56:55.81
read the book of Job.
00:56:56.24\00:56:57.58
That's the best
illustration in the whole Bible
00:56:57.61\00:57:00.28
about what's going to
happen to God's people.
00:57:00.68\00:57:02.48
God's people are
going to lose everything.
00:57:02.52\00:57:04.29
Like Job lost everything.
00:57:04.69\00:57:06.19
He lost the
support of his friends,
00:57:06.22\00:57:07.82
he lost the support of
his wife, he lost his health,
00:57:07.86\00:57:10.79
he lost all of his possessions,
he lost his children,
00:57:11.89\00:57:15.63
and for a long time he
felt that he had lost God too.
00:57:16.60\00:57:19.50
He cries out,
"Have You forsaken me?
00:57:20.24\00:57:22.97
Why don't You answer me?"
00:57:23.91\00:57:25.31
But at the very
end, God vindicated Job.
00:57:25.97\00:57:30.68
And God gave Job
twice as much as what he had
00:57:31.51\00:57:35.68
before his great trial.
00:57:35.72\00:57:37.52
The book of Job is a
description of God's people
00:57:37.55\00:57:39.92
as they will live
during the time of trouble.
00:57:40.46\00:57:42.66
And so, we need to
have, like it says in James 5,
00:57:43.36\00:57:46.80
we need to have
the patience of Job,
00:57:46.83\00:57:49.26
the perseverance of Job.
00:57:49.43\00:57:51.20
We need to have a
strong, unbreakable relationship
00:57:51.23\00:57:54.87
with Jesus Christ.
00:57:54.90\00:57:56.24
Because if we are alive during
that little time of trouble,
00:57:56.27\00:57:58.67
we will have to
give witness at the risk
00:57:58.77\00:58:02.01
of losing our own
lives for the sake of Christ
00:58:02.54\00:58:06.28
and for the sake of the gospel.
00:58:06.85\00:58:08.48