Well, good morning.
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I trust you had
a good night sleep.
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We ordered good
weather for this week.
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Because we knew you were
all coming from far away places,
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and we have some
people from Denver.
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So how many do
we have from Denver?
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Five, wow. Praise the Lord.
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I've been promised
that next year a bus load
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is coming from Denver.
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Hallelujah for that.
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Well, let's have
a word of prayer.
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And then we'll
get into our study.
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Father in heaven, thank You
for giving a good night's rest
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to each one of us.
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Thank You because You've
given us new life this day.
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Thank You so much for
being a wonderful God.
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We thank You
especially for Your Word.
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What would this world be like
if we didn't have any guidance
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as to what's happening.
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But we know exactly
what is happening and
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what's going to take place,
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because You have
informed us in Your Word.
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So as we study about the
interlude in Revelation 7,
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we ask for the
presence of Your Spirit.
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Give us a clear
mind and willing hearts.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer.
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We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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We're going to begin
our study on page 281.
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Page 281.
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This is the
interlude that is found between
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seal number six
and seal number seven.
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This afternoon we will be
studying seal number seven.
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Let me just give you
a little bit of context,
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because we might have some
people that are watching the
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live stream and
they haven't been with us
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in all the other sessions.
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So let me just give
you a little context of
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where the interlude fits within
the sequence of the seals.
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The first seal represents what?
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The apostolic church going
out conquering and to conquer.
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Thousands are joining the
church abandoning paganism.
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So Satan says,
"Okay, that's not working.
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Let's persecute
them and kill them,
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try to kill the church off."
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But the church
grows all the more.
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So Satan says,
"That's not working.
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So let's change the plan."
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So then under the
third seal, the black horse,
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he introduces
apostasy into the church.
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And that's much more successful.
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And the apostasy under the
third horse, the black horse,
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now becomes the
papacy in the fourth horse.
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And people die of famine because
the Word of God is scarce.
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And people also died
because they are killed if they
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don't agree with the
church of that period.
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And so, then in the fifth seal,
the martyrs that were killed
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during the period of the
fourth horse are crying out.
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And they're crying
out for two things.
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They're crying out for what?
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Judgment and to be avenged.
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And so, where does
God answer their pleas.
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In the first part of
the sixth seal He announces,
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"I am going to judge."
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In the second part of the sixth
seal comes the avenging part,
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which is the second coming
of Jesus where Jesus destroys
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those who gave
wrong verdicts on earth.
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Now the sixth seal
ends with a question.
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"The great day of
His wrath has come,
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and who shall be able to stand?"
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Now we would
expect that question
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to be answered, wouldn't we?
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And the answer would be, of
course, in the next chapter.
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And that next chapter,
chapter 7, is the interlude
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that explains who is
going to be able to stand.
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Those who receive the seal
of God are going to be able
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to stand in the
great day of God's wrath.
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So that's where
the interlude fits.
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The interlude is referring
to the final sealing of those
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who will be
alive when Jesus comes.
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It's right before
the close of probation,
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right before
the time of trouble.
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The 144,000 will be sealed,
and the seal will protect them
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during the time of trouble.
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So that's where
this interlude fits.
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This is talking about
the very end time generation.
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Because it's the
sealing of the 144,000,
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and the 144,000 will
be those who are alive
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when Jesus comes.
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What a privilege to be
alive when Jesus comes.
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So let's go to our syllabus,
page 281, as I was mentioning,
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now that we have the context.
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Is this an
important subject to study?
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Some people say, "Who
cares about the 144,000?
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Let's talk about
the love of Jesus."
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Well, we are talking
about the love of Jesus.
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Jesus tells us all
these things so that we don't
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fall into Satan's traps.
00:05:11.37\00:05:13.04
So His messages
are messages of love.
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Two quotations from
the spirit of prophecy.
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One is, Selected
Messages, volume 1, page 174.
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"It is not His will," that
is, God's will, "that they shall
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get into controversy
over questions which will not
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help them spiritually,
such as, 'Who is to compose
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the hundred and
forty-four thousand?'
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This, those who are the elect
of God, will in a short time
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know without question."
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So some people say
Ellen White is saying that
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we shouldn't even
talk about who's going to
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compose the 144,000,
when they're going to live.
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No, Ellen White is saying that
we can't specify individuals
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who belong to the 144,000.
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We can't say this
guy, yes. This one, no.
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This woman, yes. This woman, no.
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No, we can't
choose individuals and say
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who is going to
be among the 144,000.
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But we can know when
that group is going to live.
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The second quotation, Review
and Herald, March 9, 1905,
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reads like this:
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"Let us strive with all
the power that God has given us
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to be among the hundred
and forty-four thousand.
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And let us do all
that we can to help others
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to gain heaven."
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So it's very important then
to struggle with all the power
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that God has given us
to be among the 144,000,
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obviously if we are alive during
the closing scenes of history.
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Now there are several
issues that we need to deal with
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when we talk about the 144,000.
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And that's our next
section. The issues.
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What are the biblical
sources for the 144,000?
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What is the relationship between
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the 144,000 and
the great multitude?
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Because the great
multitude is also in chapter 7.
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So we need to discover
the relationship between
00:07:05.75\00:07:10.09
the 144,000 and
the great multitude.
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Who are the 144,000 and
at what stage of history
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do the 144,000 live?
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In what context do they appear
in the book of Revelation?
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Not only when they exist
historically, but in what
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textual context do they appear
in the book of Revelation?
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Are they natural Israelites
who live in the Middle East?
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Will Ellen G.
White and Mrs. Hastings
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belong to this group?
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We'll talk about Mrs.
Hastings a little bit later on.
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Some people say, "Well, Ellen
White said that Mrs. Hastings
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is going to be
among the 144,000.
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And Ellen White
herself said that she
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would be among the 144,000."
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So we're going
to deal with that.
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Is the number
literal or symbolic?
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What is the seal
that the 144,000 receive?
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What kind of
character will they possess
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and how did they
develop such a character?
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And then, why are Dan and
Ephraim missing from the list?
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So those are some of the
things that we will address.
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We're not going to
address Dan and Ephraim.
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That would take us far beyond
the time that we have here
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in class, but I might
mention a few things about that.
00:08:27.77\00:08:31.11
Now let's talk, first
of all, about the 144,000
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in the book of Revelation.
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The specific number
is mentioned only twice
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in two passages.
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In Revelation 7
and in Revelation 14.
00:08:42.92\00:08:47.19
However, the concept of
the 144,000, even though the
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specific number
is not mentioned,
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is found in two
additional chapters.
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Now let's look at these
four sources in the book of
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Revelation to see
what the emphasis is.
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Each passage has a
particular emphasis.
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Revelation 7:1-8, the
emphasis falls on the sealing
00:09:05.57\00:09:11.25
of the 144,000 so that
the angels can identify them
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and protect them
during the time of trouble.
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In other words, the
seal is a sign of protection
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because they have to go
through the time of trouble
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when there will
be a death decree,
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when they will be
thrown into prison,
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and Satan will have full
control of the impenitent.
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So they need to be protected.
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And those who have the
seal will be protected by God.
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So the emphasis in Revelation
7 is that they receive the seal
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to be protected.
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In Revelation 14:1-5, that's
another place where the specific
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number is mentioned, the
emphasis is on the character
00:09:49.12\00:09:52.62
of the 144,000.
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And because they
have the character,
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they receive the seal.
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And because they have
the seal, they are protected
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in the time of trouble.
00:10:01.00\00:10:02.33
Another place where the
144,000 appear in Revelation,
00:10:02.70\00:10:06.33
although the
specific number is not used
00:10:06.37\00:10:08.20
but it's very clear
as you read these verses
00:10:08.24\00:10:10.51
that it's referring to
the 144,000 because the song
00:10:10.61\00:10:13.41
of Moses and the Lamb is
mentioned as in chapter 14,
00:10:13.61\00:10:18.08
is Revelation 15:2-4.
00:10:18.91\00:10:21.45
And the emphasis here is
on the victory of the 144,000.
00:10:21.82\00:10:26.69
The 144,000 have gained
the victory over the beast,
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over his image, over his mark,
and over the number of his name.
00:10:30.83\00:10:34.50
So the emphasis in
Revelation 15 is on the victory.
00:10:34.80\00:10:38.30
And then the fourth
place where it's found
00:10:38.93\00:10:42.27
is Revelation 19:1-8.
00:10:42.30\00:10:45.51
Here, the emphasis is
on the jubilatory singing
00:10:46.27\00:10:49.51
of the 144,000 because
the harlot has been judged
00:10:49.54\00:10:54.85
and God's people
have been avenged.
00:10:54.88\00:10:58.32
So you have these four
sources for the 144,000
00:10:58.65\00:11:01.76
in the book of
Revelation specifically.
00:11:01.79\00:11:04.03
However, there are
other places in the Scriptures
00:11:04.46\00:11:07.56
where you have the
concept of the 144,000.
00:11:07.60\00:11:10.50
We have to study
the story of Enoch
00:11:12.03\00:11:14.24
in order to
understand the 144,000
00:11:14.94\00:11:17.27
because he's a
type of the 144,000,
00:11:17.31\00:11:19.97
according to the book,
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:11:20.01\00:11:22.84
It would be helpful to
study the story of Elijah.
00:11:23.28\00:11:26.21
The whole story of Elijah
is a typology that has to do
00:11:26.58\00:11:31.02
with the end time generation.
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Ezekiel 9:1-6 which
refers to the sealing.
00:11:34.06\00:11:38.66
The receiving of the
seal on the foreheads of
00:11:38.99\00:11:41.83
those who sign and cry
because of the abominations
00:11:41.86\00:11:45.10
that are done in the earth.
00:11:45.13\00:11:46.74
Then yesterday we looked
at Joel 2 where the question
00:11:47.50\00:11:50.27
is asked, "The great
day of His wrath has come,
00:11:50.31\00:11:52.84
and who is going
to be able to stand?"
00:11:52.87\00:11:54.54
Obviously, that passage
is dealing with the 144,000.
00:11:55.08\00:11:58.65
Joel 3 in connection
with Revelation 14:14-20.
00:11:59.11\00:12:04.09
Once again, we need to
study that passage in order to
00:12:04.19\00:12:07.02
get the full picture.
00:12:07.06\00:12:08.39
Then we studied
several passages yesterday.
00:12:08.52\00:12:10.66
Psalm 15, Psalm 46,
Psalm 91, Psalm 24:3-6.
00:12:10.69\00:12:19.80
All of those passages
we looked at yesterday
00:12:19.90\00:12:22.24
where the question is
asked, the same question
00:12:22.27\00:12:24.84
basically of Revelation 6:17.
00:12:25.17\00:12:27.84
So we need to study
those passages as well.
00:12:27.88\00:12:30.75
Daniel 3 is an illustration of
the liberation of God's people
00:12:31.08\00:12:35.08
from the fiery furnace
of the time of trouble.
00:12:35.38\00:12:37.79
The whole story of
Daniel 3 is a typology.
00:12:37.82\00:12:41.12
The story of Daniel 6,
Daniel and the lion's den.
00:12:41.66\00:12:44.39
Once again, that's
an illustration of the
00:12:44.63\00:12:47.23
end time generation
that will be protected
00:12:47.26\00:12:49.43
from certain death.
00:12:49.46\00:12:50.80
You know, the issue
in the days of Daniel
00:12:50.90\00:12:52.73
was over the law of God.
00:12:52.77\00:12:54.10
"The only way that
we're going to get this guy
00:12:54.14\00:12:55.80
is because of
the law of his God."
00:12:55.84\00:12:59.31
And so, it deals with the
law of God and with worship.
00:12:59.34\00:13:02.54
And so, that story needs
to be studied in order to
00:13:02.78\00:13:05.51
fully understand the 144,000,
the end time generation,
00:13:05.55\00:13:09.98
and the time of trouble.
00:13:10.02\00:13:11.49
And then Exodus 34:28-35.
00:13:12.09\00:13:15.36
This is where the
face of Moses shines.
00:13:15.39\00:13:18.19
The book of Hebrews 12:14-29
picks up on this and applies it
00:13:18.43\00:13:23.13
to those who will be
alive when Jesus comes.
00:13:23.16\00:13:25.87
Then you have, of
course, Zechariah 3,
00:13:25.97\00:13:28.04
which we haven't gotten into.
00:13:28.24\00:13:29.57
Malachi 3:1-5, which
we did look at briefly.
00:13:29.60\00:13:35.51
Isaiah 33:12-17, which has
the same question, basically,
00:13:35.61\00:13:40.98
as Revelation 6:17.
00:13:41.02\00:13:42.78
And Nahum 1:6-7.
00:13:42.82\00:13:44.29
So there are lots of passages
that address the issue of
00:13:44.32\00:13:48.29
the end time
generation, the 144,000,
00:13:48.32\00:13:50.76
the type of
character they will have.
00:13:50.79\00:13:52.49
So we can't just stay
in the book of Revelation
00:13:52.79\00:13:56.30
because we allow
other passages to explain
00:13:56.63\00:13:59.47
the book of Revelation.
00:13:59.50\00:14:00.84
Now let's look at the chronology
from the close of probation
00:14:01.47\00:14:05.74
to the general resurrection.
00:14:05.94\00:14:07.88
The chronology, we're going
to look at the order of events
00:14:08.31\00:14:11.51
from the close of probation
to the general resurrection.
00:14:11.71\00:14:15.98
And I'm going to give
you the pages from the book,
00:14:16.69\00:14:19.35
The Great Controversy.
00:14:19.39\00:14:20.72
Because Ellen White
presents these events
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.96
in the precise order in
which they're going to occur.
00:14:22.99\00:14:25.99
In, Great
Controversy, page 613...
00:14:26.70\00:14:28.86
By the way, you also find
Bible verses that corroborate
00:14:28.90\00:14:31.67
what Ellen White has to say
in the book, Great Controversy.
00:14:31.70\00:14:34.64
On page 613 Ellen
White quotes Daniel 12:1
00:14:35.37\00:14:40.94
which says that
Michael will stand up.
00:14:41.98\00:14:45.38
That expression, "stand
up," means, to begin to reign.
00:14:46.01\00:14:49.48
You say, how do we know that?
00:14:50.45\00:14:51.79
Because earlier in the chapter,
actually the previous chapter,
00:14:52.39\00:14:56.89
earlier in the previous
chapter, Daniel 11:2-4 tell us,
00:14:56.93\00:15:02.10
for example, three kings
will yet stand up in Persia.
00:15:02.13\00:15:08.60
What does that mean, three kings
are yet to stand up in Persia?
00:15:08.64\00:15:11.81
It means three kings
are yet to reign in Persia.
00:15:11.84\00:15:15.38
So, "stand up," means that Jesus
is going to begin to reign.
00:15:15.64\00:15:19.18
Why is He going
to begin to reign?
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.02
Because His kingdom is made up.
00:15:21.78\00:15:23.32
What is His kingdom?
00:15:23.35\00:15:24.69
His people.
00:15:25.09\00:15:26.42
So how did He
reveal who His people are?
00:15:26.45\00:15:28.99
In the investigative judgment.
00:15:29.02\00:15:30.76
So the judgment is finished,
His kingdom is complete,
00:15:30.79\00:15:34.36
now probation closes, Jesus is
going to reign over His kingdom.
00:15:35.03\00:15:38.23
So in, Great
Controversy, page 613, we have
00:15:38.97\00:15:42.87
Jesus standing up.
00:15:42.90\00:15:44.24
That is the close of probation.
00:15:44.27\00:15:47.58
Then I want you to notice
also, The Great Controversy,
00:15:48.14\00:15:50.75
pages 613 and 634,
through 634, that is.
00:15:50.78\00:15:57.29
Here, we have a description
of the great time of trouble
00:15:57.85\00:16:00.36
after the close of probation.
00:16:00.46\00:16:02.42
So in other words, probation
closes, Michael stands up,
00:16:03.02\00:16:06.90
and then you have the
great time of trouble.
00:16:07.36\00:16:09.73
From page 613 to page
634, a very long chapter,
00:16:10.10\00:16:15.14
Ellen White discusses the
issue of the time of trouble.
00:16:15.44\00:16:20.18
Then you get to page 635,
and the title of that chapter
00:16:20.84\00:16:24.05
is, God's People Delivered.
00:16:24.08\00:16:27.05
And there you have a
description of the death decree.
00:16:27.38\00:16:30.65
And then you go to, Great
Controversy, pages 635-636,
00:16:31.95\00:16:35.82
God's voice delivers the
144,000 from the death decree.
00:16:36.89\00:16:41.20
The fact that the
names of the 144,000
00:16:42.06\00:16:44.77
are written in the book...
00:16:44.80\00:16:46.57
Did you notice Daniel 12:1 says,
"Your people will be delivered,
00:16:47.90\00:16:51.27
everyone who is
written in the book."
00:16:51.31\00:16:53.17
When were they
written in the book?
00:16:53.21\00:16:54.94
When was their name
confirmed in the book?
00:16:55.71\00:16:57.78
In the investigative
judgment when their
00:16:58.21\00:16:59.78
cases came up.
00:16:59.81\00:17:01.15
So on page 635 and
636, God's voice delivers
00:17:01.48\00:17:06.19
the 144,000 from
the death decree.
00:17:06.22\00:17:08.72
And the fact that
the names of the 144,000
00:17:09.32\00:17:11.96
are written in the book
indicates that they successfully
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.36
pass the pre-advent
investigative judgment.
00:17:15.40\00:17:18.03
Then on page 637, we're
going in chronological order,
00:17:18.53\00:17:21.94
you have the
special resurrection.
00:17:21.97\00:17:24.14
And that is
found in Daniel 12:2,
00:17:24.74\00:17:27.84
also Revelation
1:7, Matthew 26:64.
00:17:28.44\00:17:32.21
There are several
verses that address this.
00:17:32.25\00:17:34.08
Revelation 14:13, et cetera.
00:17:34.28\00:17:36.52
The special resurrection
includes those who pierced Jesus
00:17:36.62\00:17:39.72
and the greatest
enemies of the truth,
00:17:39.75\00:17:41.89
and it includes also
those who died in the faith
00:17:42.26\00:17:45.59
of the third angel's message.
00:17:45.63\00:17:47.33
Then interestingly
enough, on page 640, God's voice
00:17:48.26\00:17:53.67
announces the day and
hour of Jesus' coming.
00:17:53.70\00:17:56.20
Now isn't that interesting.
00:17:57.24\00:17:58.81
So in other words,
the special resurrection
00:17:59.54\00:18:02.98
and the deliverance of
the 144,000 takes place
00:18:03.21\00:18:06.38
before the
second coming of Christ.
00:18:06.41\00:18:08.12
Right before the
second coming of Christ.
00:18:08.55\00:18:10.82
So then on page 640,
God's voice announces
00:18:11.29\00:18:13.76
the day and hour
of Jesus' coming.
00:18:13.79\00:18:15.76
And then in, Great
Controversy, pages 640-641,
00:18:16.59\00:18:21.40
Jesus arrives above
the surface of the earth.
00:18:21.73\00:18:25.20
Like it says in
1 Thessalonians 4.
00:18:26.03\00:18:28.97
You know, God's people
will be caught up in the clouds
00:18:29.70\00:18:33.24
to meet the Lord in the air.
00:18:33.27\00:18:35.28
And then on page 644, you
have the general resurrection
00:18:35.74\00:18:40.58
of all of those who died
before the third angel's message
00:18:40.62\00:18:45.89
was proclaimed.
00:18:45.92\00:18:47.26
So you have this
chronological sequence.
00:18:47.56\00:18:49.82
And it's just exactly in
the order in which it appears
00:18:49.92\00:18:52.56
in the book of Revelation.
00:18:52.59\00:18:54.86
Now let's go to Ellen
White's chronological portrayal
00:18:55.56\00:19:00.07
in a little more detail?
00:19:00.10\00:19:01.67
Let's follow the
sequence of events
00:19:03.07\00:19:05.14
that she portrays in
chapter 38 to chapter 40
00:19:05.34\00:19:09.28
of, Great Controversy.
00:19:09.41\00:19:10.75
Chapter 38 is
titled, The Final Warning.
00:19:10.88\00:19:14.28
That is the
loud cry, by the way.
00:19:14.88\00:19:16.72
And she begins the chapter
by quoting Revelation 18:1.
00:19:16.75\00:19:21.79
Let's go through this so
that we have the sequence clear.
00:19:22.69\00:19:25.93
The chapter describes
the final loud cry message,
00:19:26.29\00:19:29.30
Revelation 18:1-5, accompanied
by the power of the latter rain.
00:19:29.33\00:19:34.70
It also brings to view the
final test for the whole world
00:19:35.37\00:19:38.97
over the mark of the
beast and the seal of God.
00:19:39.34\00:19:42.61
The sealed ones are
the 144,000 from the
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.95
twelve tribes of Israel,
yet they are from every nation
00:19:45.98\00:19:49.88
kindred, tongue, and people?
00:19:49.92\00:19:51.35
Now isn't that interesting?
00:19:51.95\00:19:53.32
The 144,000 are from
the tribes of Israel,
00:19:53.36\00:19:56.06
but they're
really from every nation,
00:19:56.46\00:19:58.09
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:19:58.13\00:19:59.46
This would seem to
indicate that the 144,000
00:19:59.49\00:20:01.36
are not literal Jews.
00:20:01.40\00:20:02.93
This is Ellen White's
commentary on Revelation 7:1-8.
00:20:04.37\00:20:08.07
Notice this.
00:20:08.10\00:20:09.44
"The Sabbath will be
the great test of loyalty,
00:20:09.84\00:20:12.47
for it is the point of
truth especially controverted.
00:20:13.01\00:20:16.14
When the final test shall
be brought to bear upon men,
00:20:16.54\00:20:19.88
then the line of distinction
will be drawn between
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.02
those who serve God and
those who serve Him not.
00:20:23.08\00:20:26.86
While the observance of the
false Sabbath in compliance with
00:20:27.36\00:20:30.89
the law of the state, contrary
to the fourth commandment,
00:20:30.93\00:20:34.16
will be an avowal of
allegiance to a power that
00:20:34.20\00:20:36.93
is in opposition to God,
the keeping of the true Sabbath,
00:20:36.97\00:20:41.00
in obedience to God's law,
00:20:41.04\00:20:42.67
is an evidence of
loyalty to the Creator.
00:20:42.70\00:20:45.57
While one class, by
accepting the sign of submission
00:20:46.04\00:20:48.78
to earthly powers,
receive the mark of the beast,
00:20:48.81\00:20:51.75
the other choosing
the token of allegiance
00:20:52.08\00:20:55.28
to divine authority
receive the seal of God."
00:20:55.32\00:20:58.59
Are only the Jews going
to receive the seal of God?
00:20:58.99\00:21:01.29
They're the only
ones that are going to be
00:21:01.32\00:21:02.66
tested over the Sabbath?
00:21:02.69\00:21:04.03
Only the Jews are going to
be tested to see whether they
00:21:05.59\00:21:08.10
receive the mark of the beast?
00:21:08.13\00:21:09.66
No.
00:21:10.07\00:21:11.40
The three angels'
messages goes to every nation,
00:21:11.83\00:21:14.07
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:21:14.10\00:21:15.44
That includes the third message.
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.54
And so, we begin to
discern here in chapter 38
00:21:18.14\00:21:22.38
that the final message
is for the entire world,
00:21:22.68\00:21:25.25
not only for the Jews.
00:21:25.28\00:21:26.78
And the seal of God
is received not only by
00:21:27.12\00:21:29.82
literal Jews, it's received
by people from every nation,
00:21:29.85\00:21:34.22
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:21:34.26\00:21:35.59
Are you with me or not?
00:21:35.62\00:21:36.96
Now let's read
the next statement.
00:21:37.19\00:21:39.76
"The restraining
Spirit of God is now being
00:21:40.10\00:21:43.33
withdrawn from the world.
00:21:43.37\00:21:44.83
Hurricanes, storms,
tempests, fire and flood,
00:21:45.57\00:21:50.37
disasters by sea and land follow
each other in quick succession.
00:21:50.57\00:21:55.44
Science seeks to
explain all these."
00:21:56.95\00:22:00.22
Is science trying to
explain all these things?
00:22:01.58\00:22:03.45
Of course. It's
climate change, right?
00:22:03.49\00:22:05.39
You know, scientists today
say it is an absolute scientific
00:22:08.02\00:22:12.23
fact that climate change is
due to too much oil, you know,
00:22:12.26\00:22:19.53
to much gasoline
consumption, and so on.
00:22:19.57\00:22:21.84
The same scientists say
that evolution is a proven fact.
00:22:23.20\00:22:27.41
So we have to take
it with a grain of salt.
00:22:29.21\00:22:31.51
We know that the explanation of
science is not the explanation.
00:22:32.78\00:22:35.85
Yes, the weather is changing.
00:22:35.88\00:22:37.32
Yes, there's more
and more disasters.
00:22:37.35\00:22:38.79
But it doesn't have to do with,
you know, carbons being thrown
00:22:39.09\00:22:44.23
into the atmosphere.
00:22:44.26\00:22:45.59
It has to do with the
sinfulness of humanity.
00:22:45.63\00:22:47.76
And God is
releasing the winds of strife.
00:22:47.80\00:22:50.70
So she says, "Science
seeks to explain all these.
00:22:51.53\00:22:54.40
The signs thickening around
us, telling us of the near
00:22:54.70\00:22:58.47
approach of the Son of God,
00:22:58.51\00:22:59.87
are attributed to any
other than the true cause."
00:22:59.91\00:23:03.68
Powerful statement.
00:23:05.48\00:23:06.82
"Men cannot discern the
sentinel angels restraining
00:23:07.15\00:23:10.69
the four winds that
they shall not blow until
00:23:10.79\00:23:13.86
the servants of God are sealed.
00:23:13.89\00:23:16.12
But when God shall bid
His angels loose the winds,
00:23:16.32\00:23:20.10
there shall be
such a scene of strife
00:23:20.13\00:23:22.93
as no pen can picture."
00:23:22.96\00:23:24.83
You think things are bad today?
00:23:24.87\00:23:26.97
You ain't seen nothing yet.
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.77
When probation closes
and the Spirit is removed,
00:23:30.91\00:23:34.24
the winds are released, this
world is going to be a jungle.
00:23:34.28\00:23:38.01
And that's why only
the 144,000 that are sealed
00:23:38.05\00:23:41.12
will be protected from death.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.49
Notice, Maranatha, page 266.
00:23:44.45\00:23:47.36
"Angels are belting the world,
00:23:47.39\00:23:49.59
refusing Satan his
claims to supremacy,
00:23:50.23\00:23:53.13
made because of the vast
multitude of his adherents.
00:23:53.80\00:23:57.53
We hear not the voices, we
see not with the natural sight
00:23:57.90\00:24:01.77
the work of these angels,
but their hands are linked
00:24:01.80\00:24:04.81
about the world, and
with sleepless vigilance
00:24:04.84\00:24:08.28
they are keeping the
armies of Satan..." How?
00:24:08.31\00:24:11.01
"...at bay till the
sealing of God's people
00:24:11.31\00:24:14.38
shall be accomplished."
00:24:14.42\00:24:16.05
So are the angels
still holding the winds?
00:24:16.38\00:24:19.45
Yes, the angels are
still holding the winds.
00:24:19.82\00:24:22.02
Praise the Lord for that.
00:24:22.06\00:24:23.53
In the book,
Maranatha, page 266,
00:24:24.26\00:24:26.90
"John sees the
elements of nature;
00:24:27.36\00:24:29.20
earthquake, tempest,
and political strife,
00:24:29.23\00:24:31.73
represented as
being held by four angels.
00:24:31.93\00:24:35.47
These winds are under
control until God gives
00:24:35.67\00:24:39.94
the world to let them go.
00:24:39.97\00:24:41.84
There is the
safety of God's church.
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.68
The angels of
God do His bidding,
00:24:44.71\00:24:46.92
holding back the
winds of the earth,
00:24:47.22\00:24:49.48
that the winds should not blow
on the earth, nor on the sea,
00:24:49.52\00:24:53.12
nor on any tree,
until the servants of God
00:24:53.32\00:24:56.09
should be sealed
in their foreheads."
00:24:56.12\00:24:58.33
So the question is, is
the sealing something that
00:24:58.53\00:25:01.46
takes place
during probationary time?
00:25:01.50\00:25:03.67
Yes.
00:25:04.43\00:25:05.77
Does God seal those
at the very end of time,
00:25:05.93\00:25:08.34
those who are going to go
through the time of trouble?
00:25:08.37\00:25:10.21
Absolutely.
00:25:10.81\00:25:12.14
So that's the
chapter, The Final Warning.
00:25:12.17\00:25:15.18
It's the loud cry, through
the power of the latter rain.
00:25:15.74\00:25:19.11
Those who decide to
accept God's Sabbath
00:25:19.58\00:25:23.15
are sealed with the seal of God.
00:25:23.18\00:25:24.95
Those who reject the loud cry
receive the mark of the beast.
00:25:24.99\00:25:29.09
And then, of
course, what happens?
00:25:29.12\00:25:31.46
Probation closes.
00:25:31.66\00:25:33.19
In fact, in chapter 39, the
chapter on, The Time of Trouble,
00:25:33.73\00:25:37.60
Ellen White begins the
chapter by quoting Daniel 12:1;
00:25:38.00\00:25:41.70
Michael shall stand up.
00:25:41.74\00:25:43.47
And then the rest of the chapter
describes the time of trouble.
00:25:43.51\00:25:46.74
So let's go through this.
00:25:47.64\00:25:49.08
God seals His faithful
ones before the time of trouble.
00:25:49.51\00:25:53.35
When Jesus ceases His
intercessions, the four angels
00:25:53.65\00:25:56.99
release the winds of strife.
00:25:57.02\00:25:58.89
There is then a contrast
between Satan who numbers
00:25:59.62\00:26:04.36
the world as his subjects
and the little company who keep
00:26:04.39\00:26:08.60
the commandments of God.
00:26:08.63\00:26:09.96
That's the contrast
that Ellen White draws.
00:26:10.00\00:26:12.37
While God's people
suffer hunger and thirst,
00:26:12.97\00:26:16.30
they do not die.
00:26:16.60\00:26:17.97
Ellen White links the
thirst with the waters
00:26:18.51\00:26:21.94
turned into blood
and hunger with the sun
00:26:21.98\00:26:24.78
that scorches the vegetation.
00:26:24.81\00:26:26.51
That's in, Great
Controversy, pages 628-629.
00:26:27.02\00:26:29.65
This is the period of
the great tribulation.
00:26:29.98\00:26:33.15
Revelation 7:14
states literally in the Greek
00:26:33.42\00:26:36.73
that the unnumbered multitude...
00:26:37.03\00:26:39.16
Now we start
noticing something else.
00:26:39.19\00:26:41.50
That the unnumbered
multitude is actually going to
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.27
go alive through the
time of trouble as well.
00:26:44.30\00:26:46.60
Because the Greek says
that the great multitude
00:26:46.94\00:26:51.11
which no one can number
goes through the tribulation,
00:26:51.14\00:26:55.04
the great one.
00:26:55.14\00:26:56.48
That's the way it
says it in the Greek.
00:26:56.51\00:26:57.85
It doesn't say,
through a great tribulation.
00:26:57.88\00:26:59.91
It says, "through the
tribulation, the great one."
00:26:59.95\00:27:02.62
Those who go through
this tribulation will not die.
00:27:03.08\00:27:06.42
They will be
alive when Jesus comes.
00:27:06.45\00:27:08.99
That's the chapter
on, The Time of Trouble.
00:27:09.19\00:27:11.19
The next chapter in
the order is chapter 40,
00:27:12.33\00:27:16.46
God's People Delivered.
00:27:16.50\00:27:18.07
After the first four
plagues, which are taking place
00:27:18.70\00:27:21.37
during the time of
trouble, God's sealed ones
00:27:21.40\00:27:24.64
are still in danger.
00:27:25.01\00:27:27.01
Page 635.
00:27:27.04\00:27:28.44
That's where the wicked are
about to rush upon God's people.
00:27:28.48\00:27:32.61
But at the outpouring of
the fifth plague of darkness,
00:27:33.25\00:27:36.79
we read this yesterday, they are
delivered by the voice of God.
00:27:36.82\00:27:40.79
The wicked
multitudes are arrested.
00:27:41.29\00:27:43.63
That is the drying
up of the Euphrates.
00:27:43.83\00:27:45.83
The waters that
wanted to drown God's people
00:27:46.03\00:27:48.50
in the sixth plague.
00:27:48.53\00:27:49.90
The seventh plague brings
about the final fall of Babylon.
00:27:50.10\00:27:54.14
The special resurrection
then occurs, and those who
00:27:54.54\00:27:57.54
died in the faith of the third
angel stand with the 144,000.
00:27:57.57\00:28:02.34
Important point.
00:28:02.38\00:28:03.71
They don't stand
among the 144,000.
00:28:03.75\00:28:06.31
Those who resurrect in
the special resurrection
00:28:06.51\00:28:08.62
stand with the 144,000.
00:28:08.88\00:28:11.55
It's a distinct group.
00:28:11.59\00:28:12.92
This all happens
before the day and hour
00:28:13.25\00:28:15.42
of Jesus' coming is announced.
00:28:15.46\00:28:17.56
Jesus descends from heaven,
and the wicked ask the question
00:28:17.83\00:28:21.16
of Revelation 6:17,
"Who shall be able to stand?"
00:28:21.20\00:28:24.67
Now the general resurrection
of the righteous takes place.
00:28:25.00\00:28:27.80
The 144,000 then
stand victorious in heaven.
00:28:28.14\00:28:32.47
So are you
catching the sequence?
00:28:33.44\00:28:35.98
Now let's notice
the next paragraph,
00:28:36.48\00:28:38.41
an important point here.
00:28:38.45\00:28:40.65
It is significant that
Ellen White never quotes
00:28:40.85\00:28:44.19
Revelation 7:1-8 which speaks
of the sealing of the 144,000
00:28:44.69\00:28:50.46
in the chapter titled,
God's People Delivered.
00:28:50.66\00:28:53.29
She only quotes
Revelation 14:1-5,
00:28:54.36\00:28:57.27
Revelation 15:2-4,
and Revelation 7:9-17
00:28:57.67\00:29:02.10
which describes
the great multitude.
00:29:02.14\00:29:04.17
Why did Ellen White
not quote Revelation 7:1-8
00:29:04.91\00:29:08.78
in the chapter titled,
God's People Delivered?
00:29:09.18\00:29:12.51
Simply because she spoke about
the sealing in the chapter,
00:29:13.58\00:29:17.39
The Final Warning.
00:29:17.42\00:29:18.75
Now she is concerned, not
with the sealing of the 144,000,
00:29:19.12\00:29:22.82
but with their
deliverance and final victory.
00:29:23.06\00:29:25.76
In all three passages
she quotes, the 144,000 stand
00:29:26.13\00:29:30.30
victoriously upon the
heavenly hill of Zion.
00:29:30.33\00:29:33.60
So she wouldn't mention
the sealing of the 144,000.
00:29:34.04\00:29:37.37
She mentioned that in
the chapter that has to
00:29:37.41\00:29:39.57
do with the final warning.
00:29:39.61\00:29:40.94
In the chapter,
God's People Delivered,
00:29:41.18\00:29:42.88
she's dealing with the
victory of the 144,000.
00:29:42.91\00:29:46.55
Now let's go to page 288.
00:29:47.22\00:29:51.65
And let's notice here
the case of a Mrs. Hastings.
00:29:52.72\00:29:59.09
You say, who was Mrs. Hastings?
00:29:59.56\00:30:01.26
Well, let's take a look.
00:30:01.30\00:30:02.66
Because people say,
"Ellen White is going to
00:30:02.70\00:30:04.43
be among the 144,000."
00:30:04.47\00:30:05.97
"Mrs. Hastings is going
to be among the 144,000."
00:30:06.00\00:30:09.20
So we're dealing with
some technical matters because
00:30:09.44\00:30:11.57
people are going to
bring these things up.
00:30:11.61\00:30:13.41
Will Ellen White be a
member of the 144,000?
00:30:13.94\00:30:17.25
The evidence clearly
indicates that she will not.
00:30:17.71\00:30:20.42
If God will translate the
144,000 to heaven from among
00:30:20.88\00:30:24.45
the living, Ellen
White cannot be among them
00:30:24.49\00:30:27.39
because she is dead.
00:30:27.42\00:30:28.76
I mean, that's
pretty clear, isn't it?
00:30:29.22\00:30:30.86
Furthermore, Ellen
White never says that she will
00:30:32.46\00:30:34.76
be among the 144,000.
00:30:34.80\00:30:37.47
It is always with the 144,000.
00:30:37.50\00:30:41.14
Is there a difference
between among and with?
00:30:42.00\00:30:43.87
Absolutely.
00:30:44.47\00:30:45.81
To be among means that
you belong to the group.
00:30:45.87\00:30:48.51
With means that
you're with them,
00:30:48.54\00:30:50.25
but not necessarily
a member of the group.
00:30:50.55\00:30:53.75
Notice one example
where Ellen White says that
00:30:54.25\00:30:56.85
she's going to be
among the 144,000.
00:30:56.89\00:30:59.15
Early Writings, page 39.
00:31:00.16\00:31:01.89
"Then the angel
said, 'You must go back,
00:31:02.09\00:31:04.29
and if you are
faithful, you, with the 144,000,
00:31:04.59\00:31:10.20
shall have the privilege
of visiting all the worlds
00:31:10.40\00:31:13.17
and viewing the
handiwork of God.'"
00:31:13.20\00:31:16.24
So not among, but with.
00:31:16.44\00:31:18.47
Every time that
she refers to herself,
00:31:18.51\00:31:20.88
she says, "with," not, "among."
00:31:20.91\00:31:24.11
Furthermore, Ellen White
does not fit the description
00:31:25.08\00:31:28.45
of the 144,000 she herself gives
00:31:28.48\00:31:31.52
in, Great
Controversy, pages 648-649.
00:31:31.62\00:31:34.26
There she says that they go
through the time of trouble,
00:31:34.46\00:31:36.86
they experience
hunger and thirst,
00:31:36.89\00:31:38.93
you know, they
suffer the anguish of Jacob,
00:31:39.53\00:31:42.13
they'll be alive
when Jesus comes.
00:31:42.56\00:31:44.47
Well, she doesn't fit
any of the descriptions
00:31:44.50\00:31:47.07
she herself gives of when
the 144,000 are going to live.
00:31:47.10\00:31:51.37
Now in 1850 Ellen White
wrote a letter of condolence
00:31:52.47\00:31:57.38
to a brother Hastings
who had just lost his wife.
00:31:57.41\00:32:01.78
And I want to read that
statement by Ellen White,
00:32:02.42\00:32:05.39
because she had a custom
of writing to people who were
00:32:05.42\00:32:09.92
in bereavement because of
the passing of a relative.
00:32:09.96\00:32:13.19
This is what she wrote.
00:32:13.66\00:32:15.00
"I hardly know
what to say to you.
00:32:15.03\00:32:17.33
The news of your wife's
death was to me overwhelming.
00:32:17.83\00:32:21.60
I could hardly believe it
and can hardly believe it now.
00:32:21.90\00:32:25.87
God gave me a view..."
00:32:26.27\00:32:27.74
When she uses the word,
view, she means, vision.
00:32:27.84\00:32:29.81
"God gave me a view last
Sabbath night that I will write.
00:32:29.84\00:32:33.42
I saw that she was sealed..."
00:32:33.92\00:32:35.45
Mrs. Hastings was sealed.
00:32:36.05\00:32:37.82
"...and would come up
at the voice of God..."
00:32:38.32\00:32:41.16
Notice, "come up
at the voice of God."
00:32:41.79\00:32:44.19
"...and stand upon the
earth, and would be..." What?
00:32:44.73\00:32:48.53
"...with the 144,000.
00:32:48.73\00:32:51.33
I saw we need not mourn for her;
00:32:52.00\00:32:54.94
she would rest in
the time of trouble..."
00:32:55.27\00:32:57.44
Can she be one of the
144,000 if she's resting
00:32:57.47\00:33:00.24
during the time of trouble?
00:33:00.28\00:33:01.61
No.
00:33:01.64\00:33:02.98
"...she would rest
in the time of trouble,
00:33:03.11\00:33:05.15
and all that we could
mourn for was our loss
00:33:05.48\00:33:08.98
in being
deprived of her company.
00:33:09.02\00:33:10.89
I saw her death
would result in good."
00:33:11.05\00:33:15.26
Now, God seals the
144,000 during the loud cry
00:33:17.33\00:33:21.50
just before the close of
probation, as we've noticed.
00:33:21.86\00:33:24.70
Further, the 144,000 do not
rest during the time of trouble.
00:33:25.30\00:33:29.10
They're going to go
through the time of trouble.
00:33:29.14\00:33:30.94
How could God have
sealed Mrs. Hastings in 1850?
00:33:31.57\00:33:35.61
According to Ellen
White, God will impress His seal
00:33:36.95\00:33:40.02
on the 144,000 in the
same period as the unrighteous
00:33:40.05\00:33:43.79
receive the mark of the beast.
00:33:43.82\00:33:45.32
Was the mark of the beast
being stamped on people in 1850?
00:33:45.35\00:33:49.02
Were people receiving
the seal of God in 1850?
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.36
Absolutely not.
00:33:52.79\00:33:54.13
In, Manuscript 51,
1899, Ellen White stated that
00:33:54.90\00:34:00.74
no one has yet
received the mark of the beast.
00:34:00.77\00:34:03.41
This is almost 50 years after
the death of Mrs. Hastings.
00:34:04.47\00:34:08.88
Nobody had yet
received the mark of the beast,
00:34:08.91\00:34:10.81
or the seal of
God, for that matter.
00:34:10.85\00:34:12.55
So if Ellen White says
that Mrs. Hastings was sealed,
00:34:12.78\00:34:16.85
it must not be the final
end time seal of God that is
00:34:16.95\00:34:21.19
spoken of in
relationship to the 144,000.
00:34:21.22\00:34:24.16
It must be the
seal of the Holy Spirit.
00:34:24.26\00:34:26.90
It must mean that she is secure,
00:34:26.93\00:34:29.13
not necessarily
the end time seal.
00:34:29.90\00:34:32.27
We'll come back
to that in a moment.
00:34:32.30\00:34:33.64
Notice this statement.
00:34:33.67\00:34:35.00
This is, Evangelism, page 234.
00:34:35.37\00:34:37.34
"No one," this is in
1899, "has yet received
00:34:37.87\00:34:41.51
the mark of the beast.
00:34:41.54\00:34:42.88
The testing time
has not yet come.
00:34:43.14\00:34:45.71
There are true
Christians in every church,
00:34:46.28\00:34:48.48
not excepting the
Roman Catholic communion.
00:34:48.52\00:34:51.39
None are condemned
until they have had the light
00:34:51.85\00:34:54.56
and have seen the obligation
of the fourth commandment.
00:34:54.92\00:34:57.46
However, when the
decree shall go forth enforcing
00:34:57.79\00:35:01.50
the counterfeit Sabbath, and
the loud cry of the third angel
00:35:01.53\00:35:05.37
shall warn men against
the worship of the beast
00:35:05.40\00:35:07.87
and his image, the line
will clearly be drawn between
00:35:07.90\00:35:11.34
the false and the true.
00:35:11.37\00:35:12.71
Then those who still
continue in transgression
00:35:12.87\00:35:15.71
will receive the
mark of the beast."
00:35:15.74\00:35:18.65
So Mrs. Hastings must
have received a different seal
00:35:19.81\00:35:23.99
than the end time seal of
God which is given at the same
00:35:24.02\00:35:27.82
time period as
the mark of the beast.
00:35:27.86\00:35:30.19
In, Great Controversy, page 605,
Ellen White once again tells us
00:35:30.53\00:35:34.66
when the seal of
God will be given
00:35:34.70\00:35:37.20
and when the mark of
the beast will be given.
00:35:37.40\00:35:39.33
It's right before
the close of probation
00:35:39.37\00:35:41.47
during the loud cry.
00:35:41.50\00:35:43.00
The loud cry will
separate the living into
00:35:43.20\00:35:45.81
two groups, basically.
00:35:45.84\00:35:47.41
Here is the statement.
00:35:47.71\00:35:49.04
"The Sabbath will be
the great test of loyalty,
00:35:49.08\00:35:51.45
for it is the point of
truth especially controverted.
00:35:51.65\00:35:54.55
When the final test shall
be brought to bear upon men,
00:35:55.12\00:35:57.65
then the line of distinction
will be drawn between
00:35:58.32\00:36:01.72
those who serve God and
those who serve Him not.
00:36:01.76\00:36:04.36
While the observance of
the false Sabbath in compliance
00:36:04.79\00:36:07.86
with the law of the
state, contrary to the fourth
00:36:07.90\00:36:10.53
commandment, will be an
avowal of allegiance to a power
00:36:10.57\00:36:13.77
that is in opposition to God,
the keeping of the true Sabbath,
00:36:13.80\00:36:19.67
in obedience to God's law,
00:36:19.84\00:36:21.54
is an evidence of
loyalty to the Creator.
00:36:21.74\00:36:24.25
While one class, by
accepting the sign of submission
00:36:24.68\00:36:27.18
to earthly powers,
receive the mark of the beast,
00:36:27.22\00:36:30.09
the other choosing the token of
allegiance to divine authority,
00:36:30.29\00:36:33.96
receive..." What?
"...receive the seal of God."
00:36:33.99\00:36:37.23
So is this clear?
00:36:37.26\00:36:38.59
Is Mrs. Hastings going
to belong to the 144,000?
00:36:38.63\00:36:41.50
No. She's going to be with them.
00:36:41.83\00:36:44.23
Because she's going to be
raised up at the voice of God.
00:36:44.67\00:36:48.60
And what happens when
the voice of God speaks?
00:36:48.64\00:36:51.21
We already noticed when
we studied the chronology of
00:36:51.24\00:36:54.04
these events that
it's when the special
00:36:54.08\00:36:56.41
resurrection takes place.
00:36:56.44\00:36:58.51
So what seal did
Mrs. Hastings have?
00:36:59.28\00:37:02.08
Well basically, when Ellen
White says that she was sealed,
00:37:02.88\00:37:06.89
she simply means
that her case is secure.
00:37:07.26\00:37:10.53
She's secure.
00:37:10.73\00:37:12.06
She's going to be
saved, in other words.
00:37:12.09\00:37:13.96
She has the seal
of the Holy Spirit.
00:37:14.26\00:37:16.26
The apostle Paul mentions that
people who have accepted Christ
00:37:16.30\00:37:19.43
and are saved have the
seal of the Holy Spirit
00:37:19.47\00:37:22.24
when they believe.
00:37:22.54\00:37:23.87
And so Mrs.
Hastings was a believer.
00:37:24.01\00:37:25.94
She had the seal
of the Holy Spirit,
00:37:25.97\00:37:27.44
but she did not have the
end time eschatological seal
00:37:27.54\00:37:31.31
that will separate the
righteous from the unrighteous.
00:37:31.71\00:37:35.75
Now let's notice the sealing
as it relates to the four winds.
00:37:36.79\00:37:41.32
Because Revelation 7
refers to the four winds.
00:37:41.62\00:37:44.99
We've already noticed,
you know, several things
00:37:45.03\00:37:47.66
in our study together.
00:37:47.70\00:37:49.03
We've noticed Bible sources
where the 144,000 are mentioned.
00:37:49.13\00:37:54.80
We've noticed
what the issues are.
00:37:55.14\00:37:57.37
We've also noticed the 144,000
in the book of Revelation.
00:37:57.61\00:38:01.78
The chronology
of end time events.
00:38:02.04\00:38:04.35
We've also
noticed more specifically
00:38:04.71\00:38:06.82
the case of Mrs. Hastings.
00:38:06.85\00:38:08.62
Now let's take a
look at the sealing
00:38:08.92\00:38:11.49
as it relates to the winds.
00:38:11.52\00:38:13.49
Both Scripture and Ellen White
explain that while Jesus is
00:38:14.02\00:38:17.73
interceding in the
heavenly Sanctuary,
00:38:17.76\00:38:19.86
the winds of
strife are restrained.
00:38:19.89\00:38:22.33
The Holy Spirit
restrains the winds
00:38:22.73\00:38:24.67
through the
ministration of the angels.
00:38:24.70\00:38:26.94
When Jesus changes His
garments and intercession ends,
00:38:27.34\00:38:31.74
the Holy Spirit is
withdrawn from the earth,
00:38:31.77\00:38:34.14
which is another way
of saying that the angels
00:38:34.54\00:38:37.31
cease to hold the winds.
00:38:37.35\00:38:38.91
So through whom does
the Holy Spirit do His work?
00:38:38.95\00:38:41.88
He does it through the
ministry of the angels.
00:38:42.68\00:38:44.69
In fact, Ellen White has
a statement where she says
00:38:45.62\00:38:47.52
that through the
ministry of the angels
00:38:47.56\00:38:49.06
the Holy Spirit is enabled
to work upon human hearts.
00:38:49.09\00:38:52.59
These are very
interesting statements.
00:38:53.76\00:38:56.13
Let's notice a couple
of statements here from
00:38:56.16\00:38:59.40
the writings of Ellen White.
00:38:59.43\00:39:00.80
Signs of the
Times, November 17, 1898.
00:39:01.74\00:39:04.87
This has to do...
00:39:04.97\00:39:06.31
You know, we say the Holy
Spirit is withholding the winds.
00:39:06.34\00:39:11.05
But the angels
are holding the winds.
00:39:12.05\00:39:13.98
So in other words, the
Holy Spirit through the angels
00:39:14.38\00:39:16.38
holds the winds.
00:39:16.42\00:39:17.75
So when the Holy
Spirit is withdrawn,
00:39:17.92\00:39:19.72
what does that mean?
00:39:19.75\00:39:21.09
It means that the
angels release the winds.
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.12
Notice this statement.
00:39:24.39\00:39:26.29
"The Lord is in
active communication
00:39:26.59\00:39:29.00
with every part
of His dominions.
00:39:29.23\00:39:31.67
He is represented as
bending toward the earth
00:39:32.03\00:39:36.10
and its inhabitants.
00:39:36.14\00:39:37.61
He is listening to
every word that is uttered.
00:39:37.64\00:39:40.84
He hears every groan;
He listens to every prayer;
00:39:41.11\00:39:44.98
He observes the
movements of every one;
00:39:45.38\00:39:47.58
He approves or
condemns every action.
00:39:48.15\00:39:50.25
The hand of Christ draws
aside the veil which conceals
00:39:50.69\00:39:53.99
from our eyes
the glory of heaven;
00:39:54.02\00:39:55.86
and we behold Him..." Where?
00:39:56.16\00:39:58.33
"...in His high and holy
place, not in a state of silence
00:39:58.53\00:40:02.96
and indifference to His
subjects in a fallen world,
00:40:03.00\00:40:05.83
but surrounded by
all the heavenly host:
00:40:06.17\00:40:09.87
ten thousand times ten thousand
and thousands of thousands,
00:40:09.90\00:40:14.51
all waiting to go
out at His bidding
00:40:14.54\00:40:17.55
on errands of mercy and love."
00:40:17.58\00:40:20.35
So how does God remain
in active communication
00:40:21.05\00:40:23.62
with His creation?
00:40:23.65\00:40:25.75
Through the
ministry of the angels.
00:40:26.92\00:40:29.12
Now let's notice,
Ministry of Healing, page 417,
00:40:29.16\00:40:31.73
which is similar, but it
has some additional information.
00:40:31.76\00:40:37.23
"The Bible shows us God
in His high and holy place,
00:40:37.57\00:40:41.47
not in a state of inactivity,
not in silence and solitude,
00:40:42.14\00:40:46.78
but surrounded by ten
thousand times ten thousand
00:40:47.21\00:40:50.41
and thousands of
thousands of holy beings,
00:40:50.45\00:40:53.11
all waiting to do His will."
00:40:53.31\00:40:55.38
Now here comes
something that we didn't find
00:40:55.42\00:40:57.69
in the previous statement.
00:40:57.72\00:40:59.05
"Through these messengers
He is in active communication
00:40:59.99\00:41:05.69
with every part
of His dominion."
00:41:05.73\00:41:07.43
Let me ask you, where is God?
00:41:09.16\00:41:11.07
He's everywhere?
00:41:13.77\00:41:15.10
No He's not everywhere.
00:41:16.27\00:41:17.61
Yes, but
personally we don't pray,
00:41:19.41\00:41:23.41
"Our Father
which art everywhere."
00:41:23.45\00:41:25.21
We pray, "Our Father
which art in heaven."
00:41:27.15\00:41:28.78
God is sitting on
His throne in heaven.
00:41:28.82\00:41:30.42
Jesus has a human
body and He's standing
00:41:30.45\00:41:32.55
before the Father in heaven.
00:41:32.59\00:41:33.99
So who takes our prayers so
that the Lord hears our prayers?
00:41:35.99\00:41:39.03
The angels.
00:41:39.39\00:41:40.73
Who brings the answers back?
00:41:40.76\00:41:42.50
The angels.
00:41:43.00\00:41:44.33
So once again, she states
that God is "surrounded by
00:41:45.00\00:41:50.07
ten thousand times ten thousand
and thousands of thousands,
00:41:50.11\00:41:53.04
all waiting to do His will.
00:41:53.21\00:41:54.91
Through these messengers
He is in active communication
00:41:54.94\00:41:57.58
with every part of His dominion.
00:41:57.61\00:41:59.18
By His Spirit He
is everywhere present.
00:41:59.48\00:42:01.75
Through the agency of
His Spirit and His angels..."
00:42:01.78\00:42:04.89
And the angels are
really the foot soldiers
00:42:05.79\00:42:07.86
of the Holy Spirit.
00:42:07.89\00:42:09.22
"...He ministers to
the children of men.
00:42:09.49\00:42:11.86
Above the distractions of
the earth He sits enthroned;
00:42:12.16\00:42:15.90
all things are open
to His divine survey;
00:42:16.36\00:42:20.04
and from His
great and calm eternity
00:42:20.44\00:42:23.27
He orders that which
His providence sees best."
00:42:23.47\00:42:27.58
How important is
the ministry of angels?
00:42:28.78\00:42:30.91
Extremely important.
00:42:32.01\00:42:33.52
That's why all throughout...
00:42:33.78\00:42:35.12
Have you ever noticed
how the angels were involved
00:42:35.15\00:42:37.79
in the ministry of Christ?
00:42:37.82\00:42:39.29
That would be an
interesting study to do.
00:42:39.59\00:42:41.06
Go to the gospels, look
up the word, angel or angels,
00:42:41.09\00:42:44.36
and see how many times the
angels were involved in the
00:42:44.39\00:42:47.03
ministry of Christ.
00:42:47.06\00:42:48.40
In fact, Ellen White, in
the book, Desire of Ages,
00:42:48.86\00:42:53.17
tells us that the miracles
of Christ were done by the
00:42:53.40\00:42:57.14
power of God through
the ministry of the angels.
00:42:57.17\00:43:00.61
So the angels were involved
in the ministry of Christ.
00:43:01.18\00:43:04.08
You know, some people
say, "Well, how was Jesus able
00:43:04.11\00:43:06.95
to walk on water?"
00:43:06.98\00:43:08.32
You can't walk on water.
00:43:09.18\00:43:10.52
Gravity makes it
impossible to walk on water.
00:43:10.55\00:43:12.82
How did Jesus walk on water?
00:43:13.49\00:43:15.19
Did He defy the laws of physics?
00:43:15.72\00:43:18.16
No.
00:43:18.19\00:43:19.53
You know, I don't
have any proof for this,
00:43:20.23\00:43:22.90
but I believe that the angels
just bore Him in their arms
00:43:22.93\00:43:26.07
so that He could
walk on the water.
00:43:26.27\00:43:28.04
You know, so you
have all of these events
00:43:28.60\00:43:31.77
in the ministry of Christ.
00:43:31.81\00:43:33.27
We mentioned the
centurion, you know.
00:43:33.31\00:43:35.41
He understood how it works.
00:43:35.78\00:43:37.11
He said, you know,
"I'm a man of authority.
00:43:37.15\00:43:38.65
I tell this
servant, 'Go do this,'
00:43:38.68\00:43:40.62
and I tell the other
servant, 'Go do that.'"
00:43:40.65\00:43:42.35
He said, so basically
he's saying, you know,
00:43:42.45\00:43:44.82
"You have also
Your emissaries that can
00:43:44.85\00:43:46.69
go and heal my servant."
00:43:46.72\00:43:48.72
So the
centurion understood this.
00:43:49.26\00:43:51.99
Now, Ellen White wrote
about the moral condition of
00:43:52.93\00:43:55.76
the world when
angels release the winds.
00:43:55.80\00:43:59.00
Here's the moral
condition of the world.
00:43:59.03\00:44:01.20
"When He leaves the sanctuary,
00:44:01.74\00:44:03.57
darkness covers the
inhabitants of the earth.
00:44:03.77\00:44:06.81
In that fearful time the
righteous must live in the
00:44:07.18\00:44:10.55
sight of a holy God
without an intercessor."
00:44:10.58\00:44:13.95
Not without a protector, folks.
00:44:15.08\00:44:17.12
Without an intercessor.
00:44:18.12\00:44:19.69
You know, we need to be
careful about scaring people
00:44:20.32\00:44:23.36
about the time of trouble.
00:44:24.06\00:44:25.46
You know, some ministers
say, "During the time of trouble
00:44:25.99\00:44:29.33
you're on your own."
00:44:29.36\00:44:30.70
No, you're not on your own.
00:44:30.83\00:44:32.27
If you were on your own,
everybody would be killed.
00:44:32.30\00:44:35.27
There's no
longer an intercessor,
00:44:36.27\00:44:38.17
but there's a protector, because
Michael is going to stand up
00:44:38.21\00:44:41.54
to protect His people.
00:44:41.91\00:44:43.65
So let's, during the
time of trouble let's say,
00:44:44.21\00:44:46.72
"Hey, it's going to
be a difficult time,
00:44:46.75\00:44:50.02
but you're going to have
somebody protecting you."
00:44:50.05\00:44:52.22
So once again, "In that
fearful time the righteous
00:44:53.32\00:44:57.46
must live in the sight of a
holy God without an intercessor.
00:44:57.49\00:45:01.46
The restraint which has
been upon the wicked is removed,
00:45:01.70\00:45:04.90
and Satan has entire control
of the finally impenitent."
00:45:05.20\00:45:09.67
Does Satan have full control
of the finally impenitent today?
00:45:09.70\00:45:12.87
Praise God that he doesn't.
00:45:13.71\00:45:15.31
And the world is a mess.
00:45:15.34\00:45:16.85
But can you imagine what
the world is going to be like
00:45:17.68\00:45:19.91
when Satan has full
and complete control
00:45:20.28\00:45:23.92
over all of the wicked?
00:45:23.95\00:45:25.29
He can't kill the righteous.
00:45:25.75\00:45:27.26
It's kind of
like the story of Job.
00:45:27.79\00:45:29.52
God said, "You can
do whatever you want,
00:45:29.69\00:45:31.69
but you can't kill him."
00:45:31.73\00:45:33.19
That story is going
to be repeated again.
00:45:34.00\00:45:36.03
So God protected Job.
00:45:36.77\00:45:38.37
So notice, she
continues writing,
00:45:38.63\00:45:40.60
"God's long-suffering has ended.
00:45:40.64\00:45:42.67
The world has rejected
His mercy, despised His love,
00:45:42.90\00:45:46.47
and trampled upon His law.
00:45:46.57\00:45:48.44
The wicked have passed the
boundary of their probation;
00:45:48.68\00:45:51.35
the Spirit of God,
persistently resisted,
00:45:51.38\00:45:54.15
has been at last withdrawn.
00:45:54.18\00:45:56.58
Unsheltered by divine
grace, they have no protection
00:45:57.55\00:46:01.46
from the wicked one."
00:46:01.49\00:46:02.82
Wow!
00:46:02.86\00:46:04.19
It's amazing.
00:46:04.23\00:46:05.56
"Satan will then plunge the
inhabitants of the earth into
00:46:05.59\00:46:09.20
one great, final trouble.
00:46:09.23\00:46:11.87
As the angels of God
cease to hold in check
00:46:12.23\00:46:15.24
the fierce winds
of human passion..."
00:46:15.27\00:46:17.84
That's what the winds represent.
00:46:17.94\00:46:19.57
Fierce winds of human passion.
00:46:19.77\00:46:21.94
"...all of the elements
of strife will be let loose.
00:46:22.14\00:46:26.08
The whole world will be
involved in ruin more terrible
00:46:26.55\00:46:31.12
than that which came
upon Jerusalem of old."
00:46:31.32\00:46:35.92
You want to know what
happened in Jerusalem of old?
00:46:36.56\00:46:39.29
Read the first
chapter of, Great Controversy.
00:46:39.33\00:46:41.40
Ellen White says that Satan
was in control of the nation.
00:46:42.43\00:46:45.60
It was kind of like
the French revolution,
00:46:46.80\00:46:49.27
where Satan, a
power from the abyss,
00:46:50.14\00:46:52.64
had total control over France.
00:46:52.67\00:46:55.08
Just read those two chapters
00:46:55.68\00:46:57.25
on the destruction of Jerusalem
00:46:57.75\00:46:59.11
and the one on
the French revolution;
00:46:59.15\00:47:00.48
The Bible and the
French Revolution.
00:47:00.52\00:47:01.92
That is what the
world is going to be like.
00:47:02.02\00:47:04.42
In the past it was
just the city of Jerusalem,
00:47:05.05\00:47:07.32
and just France.
00:47:07.72\00:47:09.06
But the whole world
is going to be that way
00:47:09.49\00:47:11.59
when the winds are released.
00:47:11.63\00:47:13.19
So why would God
seal the 144,000?
00:47:13.70\00:47:17.53
Folks, because if He
didn't seal the 144,000
00:47:17.57\00:47:20.70
before the winds were released,
they would cease to exist.
00:47:20.90\00:47:23.97
God is going to
care for His own.
00:47:25.17\00:47:27.31
That's the message.
00:47:28.14\00:47:29.48
Notice the next statement.
00:47:30.55\00:47:32.31
"Angels are now
restraining the winds of strife,
00:47:33.05\00:47:36.42
that they may not blow
until the world shall be warned
00:47:36.82\00:47:39.85
of its coming doom;
but a storm is gathering,
00:47:39.89\00:47:43.19
ready to burst upon the earth;
and when God shall bid His
00:47:43.99\00:47:48.10
angels loose the winds, there
will be such a scene of strife
00:47:48.13\00:47:54.07
as no pen can picture."
00:47:54.37\00:47:58.01
The next statement
we're going to skip because
00:47:59.14\00:48:01.04
I already read that one.
00:48:01.08\00:48:02.41
That's where Ellen
White tells us that science
00:48:02.44\00:48:05.91
tries to explain what is
happening, scientifically.
00:48:05.95\00:48:09.75
They say, "All of our problems
are caused by global warming.
00:48:10.22\00:48:13.62
And the problem is solved
by solving global warming.
00:48:13.96\00:48:17.99
Then we'll have a nice world.
00:48:18.03\00:48:20.00
You know, nice
beautiful environment."
00:48:20.73\00:48:23.23
Is that what the Bible says?
00:48:24.13\00:48:25.83
No, the Bible says things are
going to get worse and worse.
00:48:26.27\00:48:29.34
The environment is
going to fall apart.
00:48:30.11\00:48:32.77
That's what the
book of Isaiah says.
00:48:32.97\00:48:34.44
It doesn't mean that we should
not care for the environment.
00:48:34.48\00:48:37.25
As Adventists, we should care
very much for the environment,
00:48:37.28\00:48:41.48
shouldn't we?
00:48:41.52\00:48:42.85
You know, we should be
good environmentalists.
00:48:42.88\00:48:46.05
But we know that no
matter how much man tries
00:48:46.49\00:48:51.06
to resolve the
issues of this world,
00:48:51.09\00:48:53.03
the world is disintegrating.
00:48:53.06\00:48:56.56
And our hope is in a
new heavens and a new earth.
00:48:57.40\00:49:00.44
Not created by man, but a
new heavens and a new earth
00:49:00.84\00:49:04.07
created by God.
00:49:04.11\00:49:05.57
Now the next point, which
I think we might have time
00:49:07.21\00:49:10.78
to just finish this one,
are the 144,000 literal Jews?
00:49:10.81\00:49:15.82
We should have answered
this question already, right?
00:49:15.85\00:49:18.15
Have we already
answered this question?
00:49:18.42\00:49:20.19
Are they literal Jews?
00:49:20.62\00:49:21.96
To whom do the three
angels' messages go to?
00:49:23.02\00:49:25.36
Every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:49:26.93\00:49:28.60
Only to Jews?
00:49:28.63\00:49:29.96
No.
00:49:30.40\00:49:31.73
So does the third
angel's message warn against
00:49:31.77\00:49:34.70
receiving the mark of the beast?
00:49:34.74\00:49:36.24
So how many nations
are being warned about
00:49:36.94\00:49:39.47
the mark of the beast?
00:49:39.51\00:49:40.84
So is the mark of the
beast going to be received
00:49:42.21\00:49:46.18
by people from every nation?
00:49:46.21\00:49:47.88
So is the seal of
God going to be received
00:49:48.98\00:49:51.25
by people from every nation?
00:49:51.29\00:49:52.62
If that's true, then the
144,000 cannot be literal Jews
00:49:53.36\00:49:57.43
because they're the sealed one.
00:49:57.76\00:49:59.13
So if we just use
a little common sense
00:49:59.79\00:50:01.96
we can reach that conclusion.
00:50:03.10\00:50:04.43
They are not literal Jews.
00:50:04.47\00:50:06.30
Although, the evangelical
world today says that after the
00:50:06.97\00:50:10.81
rapture there's going
to be 144,000 Billy Grahams
00:50:10.84\00:50:15.14
that are going to go
out and proclaim the gospel.
00:50:15.61\00:50:18.05
And they're going to win
over the great multitude.
00:50:18.08\00:50:20.42
That is not biblical.
00:50:20.68\00:50:22.02
Because people from
every nation, kindred, tongue,
00:50:22.45\00:50:24.29
and people are going to
receive the mark of the beast
00:50:24.32\00:50:26.72
and also the seal of God.
00:50:27.02\00:50:28.66
Because the three
angels' messages go to everyone.
00:50:28.69\00:50:31.53
But let's go through
this material anyway.
00:50:31.99\00:50:33.56
Ellen White well understood
that the 144,000 sealed ones
00:50:33.60\00:50:36.70
from the twelve tribes of
Israel are not literal Jews.
00:50:36.73\00:50:39.63
Notice the following clear
statement where Ellen White
00:50:40.07\00:50:42.94
intermingles the texts
that speak of the 144,000
00:50:42.97\00:50:46.01
with those of the numberless
multitude and states that the
00:50:46.04\00:50:49.41
sealed ones will be
from every nation, kindred,
00:50:49.44\00:50:51.88
tongue, and people.
00:50:51.91\00:50:53.25
This is, Counsels
to Teachers, page 532.
00:50:54.05\00:50:56.79
"The message of the
renewing power of God's grace
00:50:57.05\00:51:00.39
will be carried to
every country and clime
00:51:00.66\00:51:04.03
until the truth
shall belt the world.
00:51:04.33\00:51:07.16
Of the number of
them that shall be sealed
00:51:07.70\00:51:10.90
will be those who have
come from every nation,
00:51:11.73\00:51:14.54
and kindred, and
tongue, and people."
00:51:14.57\00:51:17.07
So are they literal Jews?
00:51:18.24\00:51:19.67
No.
00:51:20.21\00:51:21.54
From every country will
be gathered men and women
00:51:21.78\00:51:25.55
who will stand
before the throne of God
00:51:25.58\00:51:28.15
and before the Lamb, crying..."
00:51:28.18\00:51:29.65
Now notice, this
is the great multitude
00:51:29.68\00:51:31.42
she's talking about now.
00:51:31.45\00:51:32.79
We begin to catch a
glimpse that the 144,000
00:51:32.82\00:51:35.36
and the great
multitude are the same group.
00:51:35.49\00:51:38.16
You say, "Well,
how is that possible?
00:51:40.36\00:51:41.76
144,000 is a number
that you can compute.
00:51:41.80\00:51:44.53
A numberless
multitude you can't compute.
00:51:44.80\00:51:46.80
So how do you
say that the 144,000
00:51:47.04\00:51:49.17
and the great
multitude are the same group?"
00:51:49.20\00:51:50.81
We're going to
address that later on.
00:51:50.84\00:51:52.47
So, "From every country
will be gathered men and women
00:51:53.41\00:51:55.98
who will stand
before the throne of God
00:51:56.01\00:51:57.85
and before the Lamb,
crying, 'Salvation to our God
00:51:57.88\00:52:02.32
which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb.'"
00:52:02.35\00:52:04.89
That's Revelation 7:10
about the great multitude.
00:52:04.92\00:52:07.92
"But before this
work can be accomplished,
00:52:07.96\00:52:10.13
we must experience here in
our country the work of the
00:52:10.16\00:52:14.40
Holy Spirit upon our hearts."
00:52:14.43\00:52:16.90
Clearly, although Revelation
7:4 states that the sealed ones
00:52:17.63\00:52:23.37
are of the tribes of
the children of Israel,
00:52:23.47\00:52:26.11
Ellen White perceptively
understands that these
00:52:26.57\00:52:29.78
sealed ones are from
every nation, kindred,
00:52:29.81\00:52:32.71
tongue, and people.
00:52:32.75\00:52:34.08
Therefore, the sealed
ones cannot be literal Jews.
00:52:34.42\00:52:37.65
The 144,000 are members of what?
00:52:37.69\00:52:42.62
Spiritual Israel.
00:52:42.86\00:52:44.86
The spiritual tribes
of Israel, if you please.
00:52:44.89\00:52:48.03
And we don't have time to
get into the idea that really
00:52:48.06\00:52:52.17
you have twelve personality
profiles in the twelve tribes.
00:52:52.20\00:52:56.54
And you will go
through the gate depending on
00:52:57.11\00:52:59.11
what your
personality profile is.
00:52:59.14\00:53:01.11
But that's a subject
for a different time because
00:53:01.38\00:53:03.61
that would actually
take a whole Anchor school
00:53:03.65\00:53:05.45
to study the
characters of the 144,000.
00:53:05.48\00:53:08.35
Maybe we'll do that sometime
if the Lord doesn't come before.
00:53:08.38\00:53:11.49
The three angels'
messages are God's final warning
00:53:12.85\00:53:16.09
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:53:16.73\00:53:18.96
The third angel warns the
world about the dangers of
00:53:19.56\00:53:21.93
worshiping the beast and his
image and receiving his mark.
00:53:21.96\00:53:25.20
It is clear that people
from every nation, kindred,
00:53:25.80\00:53:28.54
tongue, and people
must be warned to receive
00:53:28.57\00:53:30.94
the seal of God and
refuse the mark of the beast.
00:53:30.97\00:53:34.31
In contrast to those
from every nation, kindred,
00:53:35.38\00:53:38.25
tongue, and people who
worship the beast and his image
00:53:38.28\00:53:40.62
and receive his mark on their
foreheads or in the right hand
00:53:40.65\00:53:43.79
are those from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people
00:53:44.22\00:53:46.69
who have the seal of
God in their foreheads.
00:53:46.72\00:53:48.82
If people from every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people
00:53:49.36\00:53:51.79
receive the seal of God,
they cannot be literal Jews.
00:53:51.83\00:53:56.63
And the next
paragraph adds another thought.
00:53:57.13\00:53:59.53
The four angels hold
the four winds of strife
00:53:59.63\00:54:02.37
until God's servants are sealed.
00:54:02.57\00:54:04.57
So, why four angels at
the four corners of the earth?
00:54:05.14\00:54:09.04
Because they're globally
holding the winds, right?
00:54:09.08\00:54:12.15
Of the world.
00:54:12.61\00:54:13.95
Not only in
Israel, of the whole world.
00:54:13.98\00:54:15.82
His seal on the
foreheads of His people who live
00:54:16.22\00:54:19.09
in the four
corners of the earth.
00:54:19.29\00:54:21.06
In other words, those who are
in the four corners of the earth
00:54:21.09\00:54:23.83
receive the seal.
00:54:23.86\00:54:25.19
That is international.
That's not only the Jews.
00:54:25.23\00:54:28.10
When Jesus returns He will
gather His elect from where?
00:54:28.36\00:54:31.53
From the four winds of heaven.
00:54:32.23\00:54:34.07
So once again, that's
a clear indication that
00:54:35.17\00:54:37.97
you're not dealing
just with the Middle East,
00:54:38.01\00:54:39.94
with the literal
nation of Israel.
00:54:40.04\00:54:41.61
The final crisis is global.
00:54:42.14\00:54:44.38
And so, this indicates
that God's people lived
00:54:45.15\00:54:49.25
in all the world, not
only in literal Israel.
00:54:49.35\00:54:54.32
So is this clear?
00:54:54.66\00:54:57.53
Are the 144,000 literal
Jews that live in Israel?
00:54:58.29\00:55:04.37
No.
00:55:04.40\00:55:05.73
And I would like to just mention
that the Seventh-day Adventist
00:55:06.27\00:55:10.21
church has a huge task
with the Protestant world.
00:55:10.24\00:55:15.18
Because
conservative Protestantism
00:55:15.58\00:55:18.45
basically has imbibed
futurism from beginning to end.
00:55:18.65\00:55:23.08
What they teach is that
the church is going to be
00:55:23.62\00:55:26.29
raptured to heaven.
00:55:26.32\00:55:27.66
And once the church
is raptured to heaven,
00:55:28.09\00:55:30.19
then begins the
seven year tribulation.
00:55:30.39\00:55:33.29
And the seven year tribulation
is primarily for the Jews.
00:55:33.83\00:55:36.97
And so, you know,
all of the nations
00:55:37.50\00:55:40.34
will be against the Jews.
00:55:40.37\00:55:42.00
But there will be
144,000 faithful literal Jews
00:55:42.04\00:55:45.77
that will become Christians, and
then they will go and proclaim
00:55:46.07\00:55:49.24
the message to other
Jews and to the world.
00:55:49.28\00:55:52.01
Basically, what happens
is, the attention of people is
00:55:52.68\00:55:56.55
directed to the
Middle East for the
00:55:56.58\00:55:58.35
fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
00:55:58.39\00:56:00.12
And people are
looking over there and saying,
00:56:00.39\00:56:02.16
"Well, let's wait and see what
the Muslims are going to do."
00:56:02.19\00:56:05.29
You know, "Let's wait and see
if the Russians attacks them,
00:56:05.43\00:56:09.36
the bear attacks Israel."
00:56:09.40\00:56:10.80
You know, and
they're all looking at what's
00:56:10.83\00:56:12.53
happening in the Middle East.
00:56:12.57\00:56:13.90
They're expecting
a personal antichrist
00:56:13.94\00:56:16.24
to rebuild a
literal Jewish temple,
00:56:16.27\00:56:18.64
and to sit in the
temple, and to build a great big
00:56:18.67\00:56:21.01
statue of himself, and
command everyone to worship
00:56:21.04\00:56:24.38
the image of himself.
00:56:24.41\00:56:25.91
And so, everybody
in the Christian world
00:56:26.41\00:56:28.52
is looking to the Middle East
for the fulfillment of prophecy,
00:56:29.08\00:56:32.45
for a future antichrist,
for a tattoo that is going to be
00:56:32.79\00:56:36.56
placed on people's
foreheads or on their hands.
00:56:36.59\00:56:39.26
Meanwhile, the true
antichrist sits in Rome.
00:56:40.10\00:56:45.10
And the emissary that will
help him get his power back
00:56:45.80\00:56:48.84
is in the United
States of America
00:56:49.44\00:56:52.11
in Washington DC,
and nobody can see it.
00:56:52.14\00:56:55.18
The politicians can't see it.
00:56:55.88\00:56:57.85
The people can't see it.
00:56:58.68\00:57:00.18
And the reason
why is because they're
00:57:00.92\00:57:02.42
looking in the wrong place.
00:57:02.45\00:57:04.02
The devil has
used a counter play.
00:57:05.12\00:57:07.76
He's getting people to look
at where the conflict isn't.
00:57:07.86\00:57:10.56
It kind of
reminds me of football.
00:57:10.86\00:57:12.79
You know, in football
you have a counterplay.
00:57:12.99\00:57:15.06
It's where all of the
guards pull to one side,
00:57:15.46\00:57:20.40
and the opposite teams says,
00:57:20.74\00:57:22.07
"Oh, the runner is
running to that side."
00:57:22.10\00:57:24.17
So they all go to that side.
00:57:24.21\00:57:25.54
And then the runner goes left.
00:57:25.77\00:57:28.34
And even though
there's no blockers,
00:57:28.68\00:57:30.28
because all of the
linemen went one way,
00:57:30.31\00:57:33.72
many times the runner is
able to score a touchdown.
00:57:34.18\00:57:36.89
So that's what
the devil has done.
00:57:37.09\00:57:38.42
He's done a
counter play, saying,
00:57:38.45\00:57:39.79
"This is where it's
going to take place."
00:57:39.82\00:57:41.19
But it's really going
to take place over here.
00:57:41.22\00:57:43.76
So as Adventists,
we have a huge message
00:57:44.06\00:57:46.70
to present to
the religious world.
00:57:46.73\00:57:48.76
And they need to know
what the true issues are
00:57:49.06\00:57:52.17
in the final conflict
between good and evil.
00:57:52.53\00:57:55.10