Hello again.
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Hopefully you had a good break.
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Ready for session number two.
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Amen. Okay.
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We've been discussing
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are literal Jews.
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And we want to pursue that.
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But before we do,
let's have a word of prayer.
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Father in heaven as
we continue our study,
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we plead for the
presence of Your Spirit,
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enlighten our
minds, open our hearts.
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And I ask that You will bless
those also who are watching
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the live stream,
particularly those who perhaps
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have never studied these things.
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I ask, Lord, that You will give
them more than human wisdom,
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that they might
be able to comprehend
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and see the importance
of what we're studying.
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We thank You for the
promise of Your presence
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and we claim that promise,
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in the precious name of Jesus.
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Amen.
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Okay, let's go to page 293.
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We have a lot of material
to cover in this session,
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because I want to end with the,
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with this particular
chapter on the interlude
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of Revelation Chapter 7.
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Now, we've been basically saying
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that the 144,000
are not literal Jews,
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because the end time message
is a message that is given
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to every
inhabitant of planet Earth.
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So the issue of
the mark of the beast
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and the seal of God
has to be a global thing,
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not only for the Jews,
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it has to do for
everyone on planet Earth,
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from every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
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But now we want
to ask the question,
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does God still
have a special plan
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for the Jewish theocracy?
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You know, that up to the
time that Stephen was stoned,
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God's chosen people to
fulfill His mission on earth
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was the Jewish
nation, the Jewish theocracy?
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The question is, is the Jewish
theocracy still God's vehicle
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to take the gospel to the world?
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Are they still
the chosen people?
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Now don't misunderstand me.
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We are to love the Jews.
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God loves the Jews as much
as He loves every other nation
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on planet Earth.
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And I'm not saying that
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the Jewish nation does
not have any reason to exist.
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It can exist as
a political entity,
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as a nation,
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like all other
nations of the world.
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The point that we are addressing
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is whether the Jewish theocracy
is still God's spiritual people
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to take the message to the world
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as they were up to the
time of the stoning of Stephen.
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Are you
understanding the distinction?
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Very important.
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We can't be anti-Semitic,
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or anti Muslim or anti anybody.
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We want to see the salvation
of everyone on planet Earth.
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Now, let's go to
the fig tree episodes.
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Matthew 24:30-35 reads this way.
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"Now learn this
parable from the fig tree:
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When its branch has
already become tender
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and puts forth leaves,
you know that summer is near.
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So you also when you
see all these things,
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know that it is
near at the doors!
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Assuredly, I say to you,
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this generation will
by no means pass away
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till all these
things take place.
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Heaven and earth will pass away,
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but My words will
by no means pass away."
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Now, how do
conservative Protestants today
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interpret these words of Jesus?
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Basically, they teach that
the budding of the fig tree
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represents the
resurgence of the nation
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of Israel in the year 1948.
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They believe that
this is the greatest sign
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of the imminent
coming of Christ,
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that Christ can come
at any moment after 1948
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because the
budding of the fig tree
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is the great sign that
Jesus can come at any moment.
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Now, are they correct in
this assessment of saying
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that the budding of
the fig tree of Matthew 24
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is the resurgence
of the Jewish nation
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or the reestablishment of
the Jewish nation in 1948.
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We need to pursue this
from a biblical perspective.
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Now it is true that the fig tree
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is a symbol of Israel.
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Notice Hosea 9:10. Hosea 9:10.
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Here God is
speaking and He says,
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"I found Israel like
grapes in the wilderness.
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I saw your
fathers as the firstfruits
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on the fig tree
in its first season.
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But they went to Baal Peor,
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and separated
themselves to that shame,
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they became an abomination
like the thing they loved."
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So does the Bible
refer to Israel symbolically
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as a fig tree?
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Yes, Hosea 9:10 tells us,
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not only the fig
tree but the vineyard.
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Remember that
because we're gonna come back
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to the vineyard idea,
Jesus referred to both.
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Now, let's
notice Matthew 3:8-10.
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This is the message
of John the Baptist,
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and the tree is
going to be mentioned.
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Let's read these verses.
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Here, John the Baptist
tells those who are listening,
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"Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance."
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Remember the underlined words.
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"And do not think
to say to yourselves,
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'We have Abraham as our father.'
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For I say to
you that God is able
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to raise up children to
Abraham from these stones."
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The stones are the
Gentiles, by the way,
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according to Desire of
Ages, because the Jews felt
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that they had stony hearts,
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so they called
the Gentiles stones,
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they called them pigs,
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you know that they had
all kinds of negative comments
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about the Gentiles.
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So John the Baptist, saying,
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God is able to raise
up children of Abraham
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from these Gentiles.
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"And even now the ax is
laid at the root of the trees.
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Therefore every tree
which does not bear," what?
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"Good fruit,"
what happens to it?
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"It dries up and it is cut
down and thrown into the fire."
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So what are the
key elements here?
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Israel needs to repent.
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They should not brag that they
have Abraham as their father.
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God is able to raise
up children of Abraham
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from the stones or the Gentiles.
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And then Israel is
compared to a tree.
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Every tree that
doesn't bear fruit,
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good fruit is going to be,
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is going to dry
up and be cut down
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and thrown into the fire.
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Those are the key elements.
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Now we meet this tree again,
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two and a half years
into the ministry of Christ.
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Luke 13:1-9.
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This is taken place
two and a half years
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into Christ's ministry.
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In other words, it's three years
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after John the
Baptist begins to preach.
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That's an important
chronological detail.
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Let's go through this parable.
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I've added
explanations in brackets.
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"There were
present at that season
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some who told Him
about the Galileans
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whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices.
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And Jesus
answered and said to them,
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'Do you suppose
that these Galileans
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were worse sinner
than all other Galileans,
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because they
suffered such things?
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I tell you, no,
but unless you," what?
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There's the key
term, "Unless you repent,
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you will all likewise perish."
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Which would be parallel to
cutting down the tree, right?
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Verse 4,
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"Or those
eighteen on whom the tower
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of Siloam fell and killed them,
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do you think that
they were worse sinners
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than all other men
who dwelt in Jerusalem?
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I tell you, no,
but unless you repent,"
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there's the idea again,
"you will all likewise perish."
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And now he's
going to tell a parable.
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"He spoke also this parable:
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'A certain man,
who is God the Father,
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had a fig tree, Israel,
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planted in his
vineyard, the world.
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And he came seeking fruit,
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the fruit of the
Spirit, on it and found," what?
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"None."
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So three years
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after John the
Baptist started his preaching,
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has the tree produced fruit?
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No.
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So once again, we
find here in verse 7,
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"Then he said to the
keeper of his vineyard,"
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God, the Father says to Jesus,
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"Look, for three years,"
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notice that chronology
interesting, six months,
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John the Baptist had preached,
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two and half ministry
years Jesus had ministered.
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So, three years have past,
"Look these for three years,
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I have come seeking
fruit on this fig tree
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and find none."
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So what's the counsel?
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"Cut it down,
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why does it use up the ground?
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However, he
answered and said to him,"
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because, you know,
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the vinedresser he
loved this fig tree.
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So what does he say?
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"Sir, let it alone this year."
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So how many years
did he say leave it?
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One, how many years still
remained in Christ ministry?
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One year, the
chronology is important.
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"Sir, let it
along this year also,
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until I dig around
it and fertilize it.
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And if it bears fruit,
well, but if not, after that,
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you can cut it down."
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So three years after
John the Baptist began,
00:10:14.11\00:10:16.78
has the fig tree produced fruit?
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Now the fig tree
represents Israel.
00:10:19.35\00:10:21.95
So now we meet this fig tree,
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again, at the very
end of Christ's ministry.
00:10:26.35\00:10:30.66
Incidentally, the parable
of Luke 13 ends in suspense.
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We don't know if the fig
tree produced fruit or not
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that last year.
00:10:37.60\00:10:39.43
So now we are at the
very end of last year.
00:10:39.47\00:10:43.57
And we meet this fig tree again.
00:10:43.61\00:10:46.37
Matthew 21:17-19.
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This is right
before the death of Christ.
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"Then He left them and
went out of the city to Bethany,
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and He lodged there.
00:10:57.22\00:10:59.62
Now in the morning, as
He returned to the city,
00:10:59.65\00:11:01.82
He was hungry."
00:11:01.86\00:11:03.19
That is Jesus.
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"And seen a fig
tree by the road,
00:11:04.59\00:11:07.23
He came to it and found," what?
00:11:07.26\00:11:10.57
"Nothing on it but leaves."
00:11:10.60\00:11:14.30
So had the fig tree produced
fruit that last year? No.
00:11:14.34\00:11:17.87
"So he finds nothing on it
00:11:17.91\00:11:19.24
but leaves and said to it,
00:11:19.27\00:11:24.28
'Let no fruit grow
on you ever again.'
00:11:24.31\00:11:28.72
And immediately the
fig tree withered away."
00:11:28.75\00:11:33.82
Does that sound pretty final?
00:11:33.86\00:11:36.09
Let no fruit grow
on you ever again?
00:11:36.12\00:11:40.20
Absolutely.
00:11:40.23\00:11:41.80
What happens to the fig tree?
00:11:41.83\00:11:43.67
It withers away.
00:11:43.70\00:11:46.47
Mark 11 adds some details,
00:11:46.50\00:11:51.31
we find there,
"Now the next day,
00:11:51.34\00:11:53.41
when they had come out
from Bethany, He was hungry.
00:11:53.44\00:11:57.48
And seeing from afar of
fig tree having leaves."
00:11:57.51\00:12:01.15
By the way, the leaves mean that
00:12:01.18\00:12:03.12
that should have had fruit.
00:12:03.15\00:12:05.39
You know that that's
characteristic of the fig tree.
00:12:05.42\00:12:08.26
"He went to see if perhaps
he would find something on it.
00:12:08.29\00:12:11.69
And when He came to it,
He found nothing but leaves,
00:12:11.73\00:12:15.50
for it was not
the season for figs."
00:12:15.53\00:12:18.03
In other words, this tree had
produced leaves out of season.
00:12:18.07\00:12:23.30
It was a special
tree in the orchard.
00:12:23.34\00:12:26.54
It wasn't the season for figs.
00:12:26.57\00:12:28.14
Was it the season
for figs for Israel?
00:12:28.18\00:12:31.61
They've been around
a lot longer, right?
00:12:31.65\00:12:34.98
Verse 14, "In
response Jesus said to it,
00:12:35.02\00:12:38.75
'Let no one eat
fruit from you ever again.'
00:12:38.79\00:12:43.96
And His disciples heard it.'"
00:12:43.99\00:12:46.56
Now in Mark 11:20-21,
00:12:46.59\00:12:48.50
we find what
happened to that fig tree.
00:12:48.53\00:12:51.67
Now in the
morning, as they pass by,
00:12:51.70\00:12:55.50
they saw the fig tree
dried up from the roots.
00:12:55.54\00:13:01.28
What happens when a
tree dries up from the roots?
00:13:01.31\00:13:04.05
That is it.
00:13:04.08\00:13:06.68
"And Peter remembering
said to him, 'Rabbi, look!
00:13:06.72\00:13:09.75
The fig tree which You
cursed has withered away.'"
00:13:09.78\00:13:14.32
So what would
the tree be used for?
00:13:14.36\00:13:16.09
It would be cut down, right?
00:13:16.12\00:13:18.09
And thrown where?
00:13:18.13\00:13:20.03
Into the fire.
00:13:20.06\00:13:21.53
Let me ask you,
00:13:21.56\00:13:22.90
was Jerusalem thrown
into the fire in the year 70
00:13:22.93\00:13:27.27
when the Romans
came against the city?
00:13:27.30\00:13:29.50
Absolutely.
00:13:29.54\00:13:31.74
So what happened to
the Jewish theocracy
00:13:31.77\00:13:33.68
according to this
sequence of the fig tree?
00:13:33.71\00:13:37.05
The Jewish
theocracy came to an end.
00:13:37.08\00:13:39.78
It dried up by the
roots for rejecting Christ.
00:13:39.81\00:13:45.42
Now let's notice
Matthew 24 and the fig tree.
00:13:45.45\00:13:49.79
Is the fig tree of Matthew 24,
a symbol of the Jewish nation?
00:13:49.82\00:13:54.76
Well, absolutely not.
00:13:54.80\00:13:58.73
You say why not?
00:13:58.77\00:14:00.10
Well, let's pursue this.
00:14:00.14\00:14:01.84
In Matthew 24:32-33,
00:14:01.87\00:14:05.07
it is not only the
budding of the fig tree
00:14:05.11\00:14:07.24
that is the sign
that the coming of Jesus
00:14:07.28\00:14:09.54
is even at the doors,
but rather the collection
00:14:09.58\00:14:13.15
of all the signs in the chapter.
00:14:13.18\00:14:16.15
Because what the
evangelical say is that
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.19
this is the one sign
that shows that the coming
00:14:18.22\00:14:20.89
of Jesus is imminent.
00:14:20.92\00:14:22.36
But we're going to find that
00:14:22.39\00:14:23.83
Jesus didn't say
this was the great sign,
00:14:23.86\00:14:26.13
He says when you
see all of the signs.
00:14:26.16\00:14:28.93
Let's read Matthew 24:32-33.
00:14:28.96\00:14:32.80
"As you see the fig tree
00:14:32.83\00:14:34.37
but it is a sign
that the summer is near.
00:14:34.40\00:14:38.74
In the same way
when you see," what?
00:14:38.77\00:14:42.34
"All these things know
00:14:42.38\00:14:45.15
that is near even at the doors."
00:14:45.18\00:14:48.75
Jesus was not saying that
the budding of the fig tree
00:14:48.78\00:14:51.82
is the great
sign of the imminence
00:14:51.85\00:14:54.09
of His coming.
00:14:54.12\00:14:55.46
He is saying
that the accumulation
00:14:55.49\00:14:57.96
of all the signs will help
us know that the end is near.
00:14:57.99\00:15:03.13
And here comes an
interesting detail
00:15:03.16\00:15:04.73
when you look at
the parallel passage
00:15:04.77\00:15:07.14
in Luke 21:29-31.
00:15:07.17\00:15:11.07
In Luke, Jesus did not
single out the fig tree
00:15:11.11\00:15:15.04
as being particularly important,
00:15:15.08\00:15:17.65
he added and all the trees.
00:15:17.68\00:15:20.28
Jesus said, when you
see these things happening.
00:15:20.32\00:15:23.62
Let's read Luke 21:29-31.
00:15:23.65\00:15:28.22
"Then he spoke
to them a parable:
00:15:28.26\00:15:30.63
'Look at the fig
tree and all the trees."
00:15:30.66\00:15:33.50
Not just the fig
tree, all the trees.
00:15:33.53\00:15:36.46
"When they are already budding,
00:15:36.50\00:15:38.80
you see and know for yourselves
that summer now is near.
00:15:38.83\00:15:43.00
So you also,
when you see," what?
00:15:43.04\00:15:46.31
These things not only
the not only the fig tree,
00:15:46.34\00:15:49.61
all of the signs.
00:15:49.64\00:15:50.98
"When you see
these things happening,
00:15:51.01\00:15:53.08
know that the
kingdom of God is near."
00:15:53.11\00:15:56.89
So what was Jesus saying?
00:15:56.92\00:15:59.12
When you see the fig
tree and all the trees bud,
00:15:59.15\00:16:03.12
you know that
the summer is near.
00:16:03.16\00:16:05.26
Likewise, when you
see all these signs,
00:16:05.29\00:16:08.26
you will know
that the end is near.
00:16:08.30\00:16:11.73
So can we use
Matthew 24 to refer to 1948?
00:16:11.77\00:16:16.14
No, particularly in the
light of the three stages
00:16:16.17\00:16:19.71
of the fig tree
that we looked at.
00:16:19.74\00:16:22.14
The fig tree
dried up by the roots.
00:16:22.18\00:16:24.91
In other words, no one will
eat fruit from you ever again.
00:16:24.95\00:16:30.52
Now, also Israel was
compared to a vineyard,
00:16:30.55\00:16:33.39
remember Hosea 9-10?
00:16:33.42\00:16:35.59
Israel is
compared to a vineyard.
00:16:35.62\00:16:37.93
So let's look at a parable that
Jesus told about the vineyard.
00:16:37.96\00:16:41.46
And once again, I have
explanations in brackets.
00:16:41.50\00:16:45.67
"Here another parable:
00:16:45.70\00:16:47.50
There was a certain
landowner, God the Father,
00:16:47.54\00:16:51.84
who planted the vineyard,
00:16:51.87\00:16:54.08
Israel,
00:16:54.11\00:16:55.54
and set a hedge around it,
00:16:55.58\00:16:57.55
the law,
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.01
dug a wine press in
it and built a tower,
00:16:59.05\00:17:01.88
the temple.
00:17:01.92\00:17:03.35
And he leased it
to vine dressers,
00:17:03.39\00:17:05.19
the Jewish leaders,
00:17:05.22\00:17:06.86
and went into a
far country, heaven."
00:17:06.89\00:17:10.03
Are you catching the picture?
00:17:10.06\00:17:12.39
"Now when
vintage time drew near,
00:17:12.43\00:17:15.23
he sent his servants
to the vine dressers."
00:17:15.26\00:17:18.60
These are the messengers
before the Babylonian captivity.
00:17:18.63\00:17:22.40
"That they might
receive its fruit.
00:17:22.44\00:17:24.67
However, the vine dressers
took his servants, beat one,
00:17:24.71\00:17:27.54
killed one, and
stoned the other."
00:17:27.58\00:17:30.11
Is that what
Israel did to the prophets
00:17:30.15\00:17:31.68
that were sent to them?
00:17:31.71\00:17:33.05
Yes.
00:17:33.08\00:17:34.42
Again, he sent other servants,
00:17:34.45\00:17:35.78
this is after the
Babylonian captivity up to time,
00:17:35.82\00:17:38.05
the time of John the
Baptist more than the first,
00:17:38.09\00:17:41.12
and they did likewise to them."
00:17:41.16\00:17:43.63
Then last of all,
00:17:43.66\00:17:45.36
does that sound kind
of final, last of all?
00:17:45.39\00:17:48.63
"Last of all, He sent
His Son," who is that?
00:17:48.66\00:17:52.43
"Jesus, He sent
His Son to them saying,
00:17:52.47\00:17:55.47
'They will respect my son.'
00:17:55.50\00:17:58.07
But when the
vinedresser saw the son,
00:17:58.11\00:18:00.01
they said among
themselves, 'This is the heir.
00:18:00.04\00:18:02.34
Come, let us kill him
and seize his inheritance.'"
00:18:02.38\00:18:07.18
This is the death of Christ.
00:18:07.22\00:18:10.05
"So they took him and
cast him out of the vineyard,
00:18:10.09\00:18:13.15
that is outside
Jerusalem, and killed him."
00:18:13.19\00:18:17.23
They still don't know
00:18:17.26\00:18:18.59
what point Jesus is making here.
00:18:18.63\00:18:21.16
"Therefore, when the
owner of the vineyard comes,
00:18:21.20\00:18:23.60
what will he do to
those vine dressers?"
00:18:23.63\00:18:25.43
Oh, they have an answer.
00:18:25.47\00:18:26.87
And you mean they don't know.
00:18:26.90\00:18:28.24
They don't
realize that they're going
00:18:28.27\00:18:29.60
to condemn
themselves by their own words.
00:18:29.64\00:18:32.74
"They said to Him,
00:18:32.77\00:18:34.11
He will destroy
those wicked men miserably,
00:18:34.14\00:18:36.75
and leaves his vineyard
to other vine dressers."
00:18:36.78\00:18:40.05
Who would that be?
00:18:40.08\00:18:41.68
"The Gentiles,
00:18:41.72\00:18:43.05
who will render to him
the fruits in their seasons.
00:18:43.08\00:18:47.32
Jesus said to them, 'Have you
never read in the Scriptures:
00:18:47.36\00:18:50.49
'The stone which the builders
00:18:50.53\00:18:51.86
rejected has become
the chief cornerstone.
00:18:51.89\00:18:54.66
This was the Lord's doing,
00:18:54.70\00:18:56.30
and it is
marvelous in our eyes.'"
00:18:56.33\00:18:59.03
And then Jesus says
this, "Therefore I say to you,
00:18:59.07\00:19:02.87
the kingdom of God
will be taken from you."
00:19:02.90\00:19:08.34
Did they have the
kingdom before this?
00:19:08.38\00:19:10.11
Whether the theocracy,
00:19:10.15\00:19:12.01
the ones through whom God
was wanting to reach the world?
00:19:12.05\00:19:14.35
Yes, but Jesus is
saying the kingdom of God
00:19:14.38\00:19:16.72
will be taken from
you and given to a nation,
00:19:16.75\00:19:20.66
it's the word ethane,
which in the New Testament
00:19:20.69\00:19:23.59
is translated Gentiles,
00:19:23.63\00:19:25.83
and given to the
Gentiles that bear what?
00:19:25.86\00:19:29.80
That bear the fruit of it.
00:19:29.83\00:19:32.13
And whoever falls on
this stone will be broken,
00:19:32.17\00:19:35.14
but on whomever it falls,
it will grind him into powder.
00:19:35.17\00:19:38.47
That's exactly what happened
to the city of Jerusalem.
00:19:38.51\00:19:41.24
"Now when the chief priests
00:19:41.28\00:19:42.61
and the Pharisees
heard his parables,
00:19:42.64\00:19:45.38
they perceived that
he was speaking of them."
00:19:45.41\00:19:48.08
So what was the last resort?
00:19:51.15\00:19:54.32
Sending His Son
00:19:54.36\00:19:57.16
and when they killed
the Son, what did God do?
00:19:57.19\00:20:00.76
He took the theocracy from them
00:20:00.80\00:20:03.73
and He gave it to the Gentiles.
00:20:03.77\00:20:06.70
That's why the
Book of Acts you have...
00:20:06.74\00:20:09.00
By the way, the
stoning of Stephen
00:20:09.04\00:20:10.41
closes the door, a
probation for the theocracy.
00:20:10.44\00:20:13.64
That's why in Acts Chapter 1,
00:20:13.68\00:20:15.21
it speaks about the gospel
going first of all to Jerusalem
00:20:15.24\00:20:18.31
and Judea to the Jews,
00:20:18.35\00:20:21.05
because probation had not ended.
00:20:21.08\00:20:23.18
But then after
Stephen is stoned,
00:20:23.22\00:20:25.52
the gospel goes to Samaria,
00:20:25.55\00:20:27.56
and after that to the
uttermost ends of the earth.
00:20:27.59\00:20:30.99
So the Book of Acts is organized
00:20:31.03\00:20:32.73
according to that verse,
Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria,
00:20:32.76\00:20:35.83
and the ends of the earth.
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.20
Now let's notice the
Nathaniel experience.
00:20:37.23\00:20:39.87
Nathaniel is one of the lesser
known disciples of Christ.
00:20:39.90\00:20:44.24
We'll read John 1:43-48.
00:20:44.27\00:20:48.88
"The following day,
Jesus wanted to go to Galilee,
00:20:48.91\00:20:54.02
and he found Phillip,
and said to him, follow me.
00:20:54.05\00:20:57.79
Now Philip was from Bethsaida,
the city of Andrew and Peter.
00:20:57.82\00:21:01.76
Philip found
Nathaniel and said to him,
00:21:01.79\00:21:03.69
'We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law,
00:21:03.73\00:21:06.96
and also the prophets,
wrote Jesus of Nazareth,
00:21:07.00\00:21:09.40
the son of Joseph.
00:21:09.43\00:21:11.47
And Nathaniel said to him,
00:21:11.50\00:21:13.13
'Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?'
00:21:13.17\00:21:17.21
Philip said to
him, 'Come and see.'
00:21:17.24\00:21:19.77
Jesus saw
Nathaniel coming toward Him,
00:21:19.81\00:21:21.84
and said of him,
00:21:21.88\00:21:24.18
'Behold, an Israelite indeed,
00:21:24.21\00:21:28.38
in whom is no deceit!'
00:21:28.42\00:21:31.79
Nathaniel said to
Him, 'How do You know me?'
00:21:31.82\00:21:34.42
Jesus answered and said to
him, 'Before Philip called you,
00:21:34.46\00:21:37.73
when you were under
the fig tree, I saw you.'"
00:21:37.76\00:21:42.40
Now, if there are
Israelites indeed,
00:21:42.43\00:21:45.07
then there are also
Israelites not indeed.
00:21:45.10\00:21:49.50
Why did Jesus
single out Nathaniel
00:21:49.54\00:21:52.04
as an Israelite indeed?
00:21:52.07\00:21:54.54
The Greek word for in Israel
00:21:54.58\00:21:59.01
Israelites indeed
is true or genuine.
00:21:59.05\00:22:04.19
That's what the word indeed is.
00:22:04.22\00:22:06.65
The NIV refers to
Nathaniel as a true Israelite,
00:22:06.69\00:22:11.59
which must mean that
there are false Israelites.
00:22:11.63\00:22:16.53
This translation is correct,
as we can see by the fact
00:22:16.56\00:22:19.83
that the verse ends by saying
00:22:19.87\00:22:22.30
that there was in
Nathanial, no pseudos.
00:22:22.34\00:22:27.84
No falsehood.
00:22:27.88\00:22:29.64
So it's between the difference
between true and false.
00:22:29.68\00:22:34.42
If there are genuine Israelites,
00:22:34.45\00:22:36.38
then there must also be what?
00:22:36.42\00:22:38.65
Counterfeit ones.
00:22:38.69\00:22:41.39
And here comes a notable point,
00:22:41.42\00:22:43.43
Nathaniel was an
Israelite indeed,
00:22:43.46\00:22:45.39
who sat under a fig tree,
00:22:45.43\00:22:47.43
and the fig tree
was a symbol of Israel.
00:22:47.46\00:22:50.37
So you have the symbol
00:22:50.40\00:22:51.73
and what the symbol
represents together.
00:22:51.77\00:22:54.80
Thus, the reality
sat under the symbol,
00:22:54.84\00:22:57.74
the Israelite indeed
was sitting under a tree
00:22:57.77\00:23:00.48
that represented Israel.
00:23:00.51\00:23:02.34
Now what made
Nathaniel an Israelite indeed?
00:23:02.38\00:23:07.25
The fact that
Nathaniel confessed
00:23:07.28\00:23:10.62
that Jesus was the Messiah,
00:23:10.65\00:23:13.79
You are the Son of God,
You are the King of Israel.
00:23:13.82\00:23:18.59
Because Nathaniel
recognized Jesus as a Messiah
00:23:18.63\00:23:21.96
according to verse 46,
he was an Israelite indeed.
00:23:22.00\00:23:25.70
So who is an Israelite,
00:23:25.73\00:23:27.77
according to the
definition that Jesus gives?
00:23:27.80\00:23:30.14
An Israelite is one who
has accepted Jesus Christ
00:23:30.17\00:23:33.94
as Savior and Lord.
00:23:33.98\00:23:36.71
So are those Jews that are
rejecting Jesus really Israel?
00:23:36.75\00:23:42.05
Not in the spiritual sense.
00:23:42.08\00:23:45.12
That takes us to
our next point, John 8,
00:23:45.15\00:23:48.19
and through Israel.
00:23:48.22\00:23:50.46
This is a very
interesting passage,
00:23:50.49\00:23:52.69
where Jesus is going to say,
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.46
the Jews of his day
are descendants of Abraham,
00:23:55.50\00:23:58.70
but not really.
00:23:58.73\00:24:01.60
Let's read the passage,
with explanations in brackets.
00:24:01.64\00:24:06.01
Jesus says to them, I know that
you are Abraham's descendants,
00:24:06.04\00:24:10.38
but you seek to kill Me,
00:24:10.41\00:24:12.35
because My Word
has no place in you.
00:24:12.38\00:24:15.18
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:24:15.22\00:24:18.09
and you do what you
have seen with your father.
00:24:18.12\00:24:21.39
They answered and said to
him, Abraham is our Father.
00:24:21.42\00:24:26.09
Jesus said to them, if...
00:24:26.13\00:24:30.33
He's gonna put a condition here,
00:24:30.37\00:24:32.00
if you were Abraham's children,
00:24:32.03\00:24:34.54
you would do the
works of Abraham.
00:24:34.57\00:24:38.51
But you know,
00:24:38.54\00:24:41.64
it's the
combination of if but, right?
00:24:41.68\00:24:43.81
If you were, but you're not,
00:24:43.85\00:24:46.01
but now you seek to kill me.
00:24:46.05\00:24:50.42
A man who has
told you the truth,
00:24:50.45\00:24:52.12
which I heard from God,
Abraham did not do this.
00:24:52.15\00:24:56.02
So you're different
than Abraham you saying?
00:24:56.06\00:24:58.43
Abraham loved me. You hate me.
00:24:58.46\00:24:59.83
So how can you say that
you're children of Abraham?
00:24:59.86\00:25:03.37
"You do the
deeds of your father,
00:25:03.40\00:25:04.87
Jesus says in verse 41,
00:25:04.90\00:25:06.84
then they said to Him,
00:25:06.87\00:25:08.20
we were not born of fornication,
00:25:08.24\00:25:09.87
we have one Father God.
00:25:09.90\00:25:11.57
"Jesus said to
them, if," once again,
00:25:14.71\00:25:18.11
"if you, if God
were your Father,
00:25:18.15\00:25:21.68
you would love Me,
for I proceeded forth
00:25:21.72\00:25:24.45
and came from God,
00:25:24.49\00:25:25.82
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me.
00:25:25.85\00:25:28.99
Why do you not
understand my speech?
00:25:29.02\00:25:31.43
Because you are not
able to listen to My word.
00:25:31.46\00:25:34.33
You are of your
father, the devil."
00:25:34.36\00:25:38.60
Why were they of
the father, the devil?
00:25:38.63\00:25:40.80
Because they
were not like Abraham,
00:25:40.84\00:25:42.64
they were like the devil.
00:25:42.67\00:25:44.51
Abraham loved
Jesus, they hated Jesus.
00:25:44.54\00:25:47.88
Are you with me?
00:25:47.91\00:25:50.15
"You are of your
father the devil,
00:25:50.18\00:25:52.45
and the desires of
your father you want to do,
00:25:52.48\00:25:55.22
He was a murderer
from the beginning
00:25:55.25\00:25:56.62
and does not stand in the truth,
00:25:56.65\00:25:58.32
because there
is no truth in him.
00:25:58.35\00:26:00.12
When he speaks a lie,
00:26:00.16\00:26:01.49
he speaks from
his own resources,
00:26:01.52\00:26:03.22
for he is a liar
and the father of it."
00:26:03.26\00:26:07.13
This is interesting in the light
00:26:07.16\00:26:09.50
of the Nathaniel episode,
00:26:09.53\00:26:12.33
you know, there was
no lie in his mouth.
00:26:12.37\00:26:15.67
In other words,
there was no deceit.
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.77
He was not a counterfeit.
00:26:17.81\00:26:19.64
So is it possible to
be a child of Abraham
00:26:19.67\00:26:22.28
without being
the child of Abraham?
00:26:22.31\00:26:25.61
Is it possible to be
a Jew and not be a Jew
00:26:25.65\00:26:28.78
in the spiritual
sense of the word?
00:26:28.82\00:26:30.19
Absolutely.
00:26:30.22\00:26:31.65
What determines whether
you're an Israelite or not?
00:26:31.69\00:26:34.72
Your relationship to Christ.
00:26:34.76\00:26:37.73
Now let's notice
some additional texts.
00:26:37.76\00:26:40.60
Romans 2:28-29,
00:26:40.63\00:26:43.57
"For he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly."
00:26:43.60\00:26:48.60
Are their outward
Jews that are not Jews?
00:26:48.64\00:26:53.27
Yes or no?
00:26:53.31\00:26:54.78
Yes.
00:26:54.81\00:26:56.14
"For he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly,
00:26:56.18\00:26:59.98
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh,
00:27:00.02\00:27:04.89
but he is a Jew
who is one inwardly,
00:27:04.92\00:27:09.32
and circumcision
is that of the heart,"
00:27:09.36\00:27:11.59
person who has been
converted, "In the Spirit,
00:27:11.63\00:27:14.30
not in the letter,
whose praise is not from men,
00:27:14.33\00:27:17.57
but from God."
00:27:17.60\00:27:20.24
Notice Romans 9:6-8,
00:27:20.27\00:27:23.30
"But it is not that the
word of God has taken no effect,
00:27:23.34\00:27:26.98
for they are not all
Israel who are of Israel."
00:27:27.01\00:27:31.71
Now, how do you
make sense out of that,
00:27:31.75\00:27:33.82
now, not all
Israelites are Israelites.
00:27:33.85\00:27:38.19
Verse 7, "Nor
are they all children
00:27:38.22\00:27:42.06
because they are
the seed of Abraham."
00:27:42.09\00:27:45.26
So not all seed of
Abraham are children of Abraham.
00:27:45.29\00:27:50.57
"But in Isaac your
seed shall be called."
00:27:50.60\00:27:53.00
Isaac because he brings
the Messiah into the world
00:27:53.03\00:27:55.37
from His holy line.
00:27:55.40\00:27:57.21
That is those who are
the children of the flesh.
00:27:57.24\00:28:00.24
These are not
the children of God,
00:28:00.28\00:28:02.34
but the children of the promise,
00:28:02.38\00:28:03.91
that is the
promise of the Messiah,
00:28:03.95\00:28:05.81
are counted as seed.
00:28:05.85\00:28:09.15
Notice Galatians 3:26-29.
00:28:09.18\00:28:12.05
The New
Testament is clear on this.
00:28:12.09\00:28:14.52
"For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:28:14.56\00:28:18.39
For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ
00:28:18.43\00:28:21.13
and put on Christ, there
is neither Jew nor Greek,
00:28:21.16\00:28:24.27
there is neither slave nor free,
00:28:24.30\00:28:25.73
there is
neither male nor female,
00:28:25.77\00:28:27.67
for you are all
one in Christ Jesus.
00:28:27.70\00:28:30.41
And if you are Christ's,
00:28:30.44\00:28:33.17
then you are Abraham's seed,
00:28:33.21\00:28:35.48
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:28:35.51\00:28:37.71
Is it possible that a
person doesn't have a drop
00:28:37.75\00:28:39.71
of Abraham's blood in his
veins and is a child of Abraham,
00:28:39.75\00:28:43.99
a son of Abraham?
00:28:44.02\00:28:45.42
Yes.
00:28:45.45\00:28:46.79
Because
Israelites are determined
00:28:46.82\00:28:49.46
by their spiritual
relationship to Jesus.
00:28:49.49\00:28:53.46
So do you think
the 144,000 are Jews
00:28:53.50\00:28:55.73
that don't believe in Jesus?
00:28:55.76\00:28:58.43
They must be Christians,
00:28:58.47\00:29:00.97
not necessarily
literal Jews or spiritual Jews
00:29:01.00\00:29:03.44
doesn't matter what
nation they come from,
00:29:03.47\00:29:06.98
if they're connected to
Christ, they are Abraham's seed,
00:29:07.01\00:29:10.68
according to this.
00:29:10.71\00:29:12.41
Notice Philippians 3:3-8.
00:29:12.45\00:29:14.58
Here Paul is reminiscing
about his past experience.
00:29:14.62\00:29:19.02
"For we are the circumcision,
who worship God in the Spirit,
00:29:19.05\00:29:24.39
rejoice in Christ Jesus,
00:29:24.43\00:29:27.16
and have no
confidence in the flesh."
00:29:27.20\00:29:29.43
So what is the circumcision?
00:29:29.46\00:29:32.70
Those who worship
God in the Spirit,
00:29:32.73\00:29:34.74
those who
rejoice in Christ Jesus,
00:29:34.77\00:29:37.24
and those who have no
confidence in the flesh.
00:29:37.27\00:29:40.28
"Though I also might
have confidence in the flesh.
00:29:40.31\00:29:42.64
If anyone thinks he may
have confidence in the flesh,
00:29:42.68\00:29:45.81
I'm also,
circumcised the eighth day
00:29:45.85\00:29:48.82
of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:29:48.85\00:29:51.75
a Hebrew of
Hebrews, concerning the law,
00:29:51.79\00:29:54.09
a Pharisee, concerning
zeal, persecuting the church,
00:29:54.12\00:29:57.03
concerning the righteousness
which is in the law,
00:29:57.06\00:29:59.23
blameless."
00:29:59.26\00:30:01.56
He says I have
all these virtues,
00:30:01.60\00:30:03.43
I would have
something to boast about,
00:30:03.47\00:30:05.80
because I'm a literal Jew.
00:30:05.83\00:30:07.24
But now notice what he says?
00:30:07.27\00:30:09.07
Verse 7, "But what
things were gain to me,
00:30:09.10\00:30:11.97
all of this list of virtues,
00:30:12.01\00:30:14.84
I have counted loss for Christ.
00:30:14.88\00:30:19.01
Yet indeed I also count all
things loss for the excellence
00:30:19.05\00:30:22.78
of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus, my Lord,
00:30:22.82\00:30:25.85
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things,
00:30:25.89\00:30:29.02
and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
00:30:29.06\00:30:34.66
That is a true Jew,
00:30:34.70\00:30:36.77
a spiritual Jew.
00:30:36.80\00:30:40.64
So in 1948,
00:30:40.67\00:30:43.51
the Jewish nation was still
rejecting Jesus as Messiah.
00:30:43.54\00:30:47.81
And therefore 1948
could not be a fulfillment
00:30:47.84\00:30:50.61
of prophecy,
00:30:50.65\00:30:52.01
because God does
not restore Israel
00:30:52.05\00:30:54.18
to their land in disobedience.
00:30:54.22\00:30:57.29
You can read the Old Testament,
00:30:57.32\00:30:58.65
when Israel
returned to the Lord,
00:30:58.69\00:31:00.09
they returned to the land,
00:31:00.12\00:31:02.09
when they forsook the Lord,
00:31:02.12\00:31:03.46
the Lord cast
them out from the land.
00:31:03.49\00:31:05.53
So how could He gather
them to the land in 1948,
00:31:05.56\00:31:08.73
if they're still
rejecting the Lord?
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.40
God scattered Israel at
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:31:13.64\00:31:16.24
because they
rejected the Messiah.
00:31:16.27\00:31:18.81
In 1948, the Jewish nation
was still rejecting Christ.
00:31:18.84\00:31:23.24
And so no
fulfillment of prophecy
00:31:23.28\00:31:25.81
could have taken
place at that time,
00:31:25.85\00:31:27.95
it is a distraction.
00:31:27.98\00:31:29.58
It is focusing
the eyes in Israel,
00:31:29.62\00:31:32.39
instead of where they
should really be focused.
00:31:32.42\00:31:34.99
Now, let's read some
statements from Ellen White,
00:31:35.02\00:31:37.66
about who is Israel.
00:31:37.69\00:31:40.76
I'm only going
to read some of them
00:31:40.80\00:31:42.16
because we don't have
time to read all of them.
00:31:42.20\00:31:46.00
Notice on page 302,
that first statement,
00:31:46.03\00:31:49.70
that which God purpose to do
for the world through Israel,
00:31:49.74\00:31:54.44
the chosen nation,
00:31:54.48\00:31:56.04
he will find the
accomplished through what?
00:31:56.08\00:31:59.11
His church on earth today.
00:31:59.15\00:32:02.18
Never has the Lord been
without true representatives
00:32:02.22\00:32:04.95
on this earth, who have
made his interests their own.
00:32:04.99\00:32:09.12
These witnesses for God
are numbered among the what?
00:32:09.16\00:32:13.40
Spiritual Israel,
00:32:13.43\00:32:15.60
and to them will be fulfilled
all the covenant promises
00:32:15.63\00:32:19.73
made by Jehovah to
his ancient people.
00:32:19.77\00:32:22.04
Who is going to
inherit the promises
00:32:22.07\00:32:23.61
that God made to Israel?
00:32:23.64\00:32:25.17
Not literal Israel,
but spiritual Israel,
00:32:25.21\00:32:29.68
to spiritual Israel have
been restored the privileges
00:32:29.71\00:32:33.21
accorded to the
people of God, at the time
00:32:33.25\00:32:35.98
of their
deliverance from Babylon.
00:32:36.02\00:32:37.65
Nothing could be clearer.
00:32:37.69\00:32:40.62
Notice the next three statements
00:32:40.66\00:32:42.02
on this page to Isaiah.
00:32:42.06\00:32:43.99
"It was given to make
very plain to Judah, the truth,
00:32:44.03\00:32:47.13
that among the Israel
of God were to be numbered,
00:32:47.16\00:32:51.37
many who were not descendants
00:32:51.40\00:32:54.20
of Abraham after the flesh."
00:32:54.24\00:32:57.37
So are there non
Israelites that are Israel?
00:32:57.41\00:33:01.34
Yes.
00:33:01.38\00:33:03.61
Prophets and Kings, 371,
00:33:03.65\00:33:05.71
the Spirit of God
was to be poured out
00:33:05.75\00:33:07.72
upon all flesh.
00:33:07.75\00:33:09.08
Those who hunger and
thirst after righteousness
00:33:09.12\00:33:11.95
were to be numbered
among the Israel of God.
00:33:11.99\00:33:15.66
Does the 144,000 hunger
and thirst after the Lord?
00:33:15.69\00:33:19.59
They're willing
to die for the Lord.
00:33:19.63\00:33:23.23
Notice,
Testimonies, volume 2109,
00:33:23.26\00:33:26.00
I was shown that
those who are trying
00:33:26.03\00:33:27.74
to obey God and purify
their souls through obedience
00:33:27.77\00:33:31.51
to the truth are
God's chosen people,
00:33:31.54\00:33:34.88
his modern Israel.
00:33:34.91\00:33:38.41
Wasn't she explicit about this?
00:33:38.45\00:33:40.92
So the 144,000
literal Israelites.
00:33:40.95\00:33:44.12
No, they're true Israelites
00:33:44.15\00:33:45.49
because they've
linked themselves with Jesus
00:33:45.52\00:33:47.29
and they're willing to die.
00:33:47.32\00:33:49.49
Although they're not going to,
00:33:49.52\00:33:51.06
they would be
willing to give their lives
00:33:51.09\00:33:53.93
to be loyal to Jesus.
00:33:53.96\00:33:55.46
Let's go to the
middle of the next page,
00:33:55.50\00:33:57.57
the large
quotation in the middle.
00:33:57.60\00:34:00.90
This is very clear
00:34:00.94\00:34:02.37
among earth's inhabitants
scattered in every land,
00:34:02.40\00:34:05.44
that is the four
corners of the earth.
00:34:05.47\00:34:07.81
There are those who have
not bowed the knee to Baal.
00:34:07.84\00:34:11.01
Like the stars of heaven,
which appear only at night,
00:34:11.05\00:34:13.92
these faithful ones will
shine forth when darkness covers
00:34:13.95\00:34:16.65
of the earth, and
gross darkness the people.
00:34:16.69\00:34:20.09
In heathen Africa, in
the Catholic lands of Europe
00:34:20.12\00:34:23.46
and South America,
in China, in India,
00:34:23.49\00:34:26.03
in the islands of the sea,
00:34:26.06\00:34:27.53
and in all the dark
corners of the earth,
00:34:27.56\00:34:30.17
God has in reserve a
firmament of chosen ones
00:34:30.20\00:34:33.94
that will yet shine
forth amidst the darkness,
00:34:33.97\00:34:37.04
revealing clearly
to an apostate world,
00:34:37.07\00:34:39.67
the transforming power
of obedience to His law.
00:34:39.71\00:34:45.18
So is it only Jews here
00:34:45.21\00:34:47.92
that are going to
provide this witness?
00:34:47.95\00:34:50.15
No.
00:34:50.19\00:34:51.72
Even now, they are
appearing in every nation,
00:34:51.75\00:34:55.29
and every tongue and people
00:34:55.32\00:34:57.16
in the hour of deepest apostasy,
00:34:57.19\00:35:00.70
when Satan's supreme effort
is made to cause all both small
00:35:00.73\00:35:04.40
and great, rich and poor,
00:35:04.43\00:35:05.93
free and bond to
receive under penalty of death,
00:35:05.97\00:35:08.17
the sign of
allegiance to a false rest day,
00:35:08.20\00:35:11.04
these faithful ones,
blameless and harmless,
00:35:11.07\00:35:14.34
the sons of God
without rebuke will shine
00:35:14.38\00:35:17.68
as lights in the world.
00:35:17.71\00:35:19.65
The darker the night,
00:35:19.68\00:35:21.02
the more
brilliantly will they shine?
00:35:21.05\00:35:24.85
Are we talking
about literal Israelites
00:35:24.89\00:35:26.65
giving the message
and testifying like this?
00:35:26.69\00:35:29.89
No, she says here,
heathen Africa, Europe,
00:35:29.92\00:35:34.13
South America, China,
India, islands of the sea,
00:35:34.16\00:35:37.83
and all the dark
corners of the earth.
00:35:37.87\00:35:40.64
Let's go to the next page.
00:35:40.67\00:35:42.50
The second
statement from the top,
00:35:42.54\00:35:44.94
many of these
converts from heathenism
00:35:44.97\00:35:48.98
would wish to unite themselves
fully with the Israelites
00:35:49.01\00:35:51.88
and accompany them on
the return journey to Judea.
00:35:51.91\00:35:56.15
None of these were to say,
00:35:56.18\00:35:58.62
The Lord hath utterly
separated me from his people,
00:35:58.65\00:36:01.86
for the word of
God, through His Prophet
00:36:01.89\00:36:04.43
to those who should
yield themselves to Him
00:36:04.46\00:36:06.80
and observe His law was
that they should thence force
00:36:06.83\00:36:10.27
be numbered among what?
00:36:10.30\00:36:12.23
Spiritual Israel, His what?
00:36:12.27\00:36:14.97
His church on earth.
00:36:15.00\00:36:16.57
What is spiritual Israel today?
00:36:16.60\00:36:19.07
The remnant church.
00:36:19.11\00:36:21.21
Notice the next statement.
00:36:21.24\00:36:23.78
Then it is that the redeemed
from among men will receive
00:36:23.81\00:36:26.45
their promised inheritance.
00:36:26.48\00:36:28.32
Thus, God's purpose for Israel
00:36:28.35\00:36:31.25
will meet with
literal fulfillment,
00:36:31.29\00:36:34.59
not with literal Israel,
00:36:34.62\00:36:36.02
we'll notice that
which God purposes,
00:36:36.06\00:36:39.73
man is
powerless to this and now,
00:36:39.76\00:36:42.16
even amid the working of evil,
00:36:42.20\00:36:43.73
God's purposes have
been moving steadily forward
00:36:43.77\00:36:46.70
to their accomplishment.
00:36:46.74\00:36:48.07
It was thus with also Israel
00:36:48.10\00:36:50.51
throughout the history
of the divided monarchy,
00:36:50.54\00:36:53.58
it is thus with
spiritual Israel today.
00:36:53.61\00:36:59.35
And then we have this, you know,
00:36:59.38\00:37:01.78
we have this
statement on the next page,
00:37:01.82\00:37:03.69
I'm only reading
a sampling of them,
00:37:03.72\00:37:05.29
page 305.
00:37:05.32\00:37:06.69
Right at the middle of the page,
00:37:06.72\00:37:08.39
it says, wherein they were weak,
00:37:08.42\00:37:11.39
even to the point of failure,
00:37:11.43\00:37:13.43
the Israel of God today,
00:37:13.46\00:37:16.23
the representatives of
heaven that make up the what?
00:37:16.26\00:37:19.53
The true Church of
Christ must be strong,
00:37:19.57\00:37:22.90
for upon them devolves
the task of finishing the work
00:37:22.94\00:37:26.47
that has been committed to man,
00:37:26.51\00:37:28.11
and ushering in the
day of final rewards.
00:37:28.14\00:37:31.91
So what is the conclusion?
00:37:31.95\00:37:34.25
If God stamps His
seal only on literal Jews,
00:37:34.28\00:37:38.05
then why would
God warn every nation,
00:37:38.09\00:37:40.16
kindred, tongue and
people about the dangers
00:37:40.19\00:37:42.22
of worshiping
the beast, his image
00:37:42.26\00:37:43.66
and receiving the mark?
00:37:43.69\00:37:45.53
The fact that God
warns all nations, kindreds,
00:37:45.56\00:37:48.73
tongues and peoples
about the seal of God
00:37:48.76\00:37:50.57
and the mark of the beast
indicates that it is possible
00:37:50.60\00:37:53.50
for people from every
nation, kindred, tongue
00:37:53.54\00:37:56.00
and people to
receive the seal of God,
00:37:56.04\00:37:57.94
or the mark of the beast.
00:37:57.97\00:37:59.54
Clearly then, the sealed ones
from the 12 tribes of Israel
00:37:59.57\00:38:03.45
cannot be literal Jews only,
00:38:03.48\00:38:08.48
clear?
00:38:08.52\00:38:11.12
Now we're gonna have
to really go fast here.
00:38:11.15\00:38:15.19
To the handful of
disappointed pioneers in 1844,
00:38:15.22\00:38:19.86
seemed impossibly large.
00:38:19.89\00:38:24.63
Well, to us, it
appears incredibly small.
00:38:24.67\00:38:28.04
In a world that has a population
00:38:28.07\00:38:30.21
of over 9 billion,
00:38:30.24\00:38:33.31
is indeed small.
00:38:33.34\00:38:36.81
Some wonder if there will
only be 144,000 living saints
00:38:36.85\00:38:40.82
when Jesus comes?
00:38:40.85\00:38:42.18
Is there any hope that I
could belong to that group?
00:38:42.22\00:38:47.16
Are we to understand
that all who are faithful
00:38:47.19\00:38:50.73
and receive the seal of
God will be literal Jews?
00:38:50.76\00:38:53.66
Are we to understand
00:38:53.70\00:38:55.03
that there will be
only 144,000 living saints
00:38:55.06\00:38:57.93
when Jesus comes, not
one less, not one more?
00:38:57.97\00:39:01.27
Are we to understand
that there will be exactly
00:39:01.30\00:39:03.41
12,000 from
each tribe of Israel?
00:39:03.44\00:39:06.98
Why would the tribes
of Israel be symbolic
00:39:07.01\00:39:10.38
and the number literal?
00:39:10.41\00:39:12.65
If the 144,000
were literal Jews,
00:39:12.68\00:39:15.92
why would Ellen White say
that there would be people
00:39:15.95\00:39:18.52
from every nation, kindred,
00:39:18.55\00:39:20.02
tongue and people in that group?
00:39:20.06\00:39:22.32
As we seek to
answer these questions,
00:39:22.36\00:39:24.36
let's notice the
following points.
00:39:24.39\00:39:27.23
Point number one.
00:39:27.26\00:39:28.93
First, the Book of Revelation
00:39:28.96\00:39:31.27
presents its message
in what kind of language?
00:39:31.30\00:39:34.24
Symbolic language,
persons' names, places
00:39:34.27\00:39:37.97
and numbers are all symbolic,
numbers such as seven three
00:39:38.01\00:39:41.88
and a half times,
three and a half days,
00:39:41.91\00:39:44.08
42 months, 1260 days, 666,
00:39:44.11\00:39:47.42
200 million are all symbolic.
00:39:47.45\00:39:50.52
Revelation 7:14,
where the 144,000 appear,
00:39:50.55\00:39:56.19
are saturated with symbols
00:39:56.22\00:39:58.66
such as the lamb, winds,
trees, tribes, Israel, seal,
00:39:58.69\00:40:03.47
four corners of the
earth, earth, sea, white robes,
00:40:03.50\00:40:06.17
virgins, firstfruits etc.
00:40:06.20\00:40:08.77
Why should we
understand the number literally
00:40:08.80\00:40:10.91
when these chapters
are full of symbols?
00:40:10.94\00:40:14.18
Are you with me?
00:40:14.21\00:40:15.88
A valid point.
00:40:15.91\00:40:17.45
Second, if there will
only be 144,000 living saints
00:40:17.48\00:40:22.55
when Jesus comes, not
one less not one more,
00:40:22.58\00:40:27.09
then we would have to
conclude that God predetermined
00:40:27.12\00:40:29.82
or pre-chose or handpicked them.
00:40:29.86\00:40:33.33
Right?
00:40:33.36\00:40:35.16
It is very unlikely
that exactly 144,000
00:40:35.20\00:40:38.57
would exercise
their freedom of choice
00:40:38.60\00:40:40.24
to be among the living
righteous when Jesus comes.
00:40:40.27\00:40:43.87
This becomes even
clearer when we realize
00:40:43.91\00:40:46.24
that there are exactly 12,000
in Revelation from each tribe
00:40:46.27\00:40:50.38
of Israel.
00:40:50.41\00:40:52.15
What are the odds
that exactly 12,000 persons
00:40:52.18\00:40:55.45
from each of the
literal 12 tribes of Israel
00:40:55.48\00:40:58.42
will be the living
saints when Jesus comes?
00:40:58.45\00:41:01.89
The fact is that the 12 tribes
of literal Israel were lost
00:41:01.92\00:41:06.19
when Israel went into
the Assyrian captivity
00:41:06.23\00:41:08.56
in 722 BC,
00:41:08.60\00:41:11.27
the 10 tribes of
the North intermingled
00:41:11.30\00:41:13.27
with the surrounding nations,
the Samaritans of Christ day
00:41:13.30\00:41:17.04
were the result
of this amalgamation.
00:41:17.07\00:41:21.14
Third, the literal
Greek rendering of a number
00:41:21.18\00:41:24.88
is not 144,000 as if emphasizing
00:41:24.91\00:41:29.58
the conglomerate group,
00:41:29.62\00:41:31.82
but rather 144 000.
00:41:31.85\00:41:37.39
With the emphasis on 144 groups
00:41:37.43\00:41:41.40
of 1000 each.
00:41:41.43\00:41:45.10
What is 144?
00:41:45.13\00:41:46.90
It's 12 times 12, right?
00:41:46.94\00:41:49.17
But 1000 intensifies
00:41:49.20\00:41:52.54
the number 12.
00:41:52.57\00:41:55.24
The intensified
multiple of the number 12,
00:41:55.28\00:41:58.08
which Ellen White identifies
as the number of God's people
00:41:58.11\00:42:00.55
from all ages would be 12 times,
00:42:00.58\00:42:02.28
12 times a 1000.
00:42:02.32\00:42:03.72
It intensifies the
number, the number 12.
00:42:03.75\00:42:07.49
This would seem to emphasize
that this group is composed
00:42:07.52\00:42:10.33
of the true Israel of God,
00:42:10.36\00:42:12.36
who live at the
end of world history.
00:42:12.39\00:42:15.83
Fourth, the word
for a thousand elect
00:42:15.86\00:42:20.90
does not refer precisely
00:42:20.94\00:42:22.77
to a thousand
people in some verses,
00:42:22.80\00:42:26.74
but can mean family or
tribe it can mean actually
00:42:26.78\00:42:29.81
a larger group of people.
00:42:29.84\00:42:31.95
Ellen White also use the
word thousand to describe
00:42:31.98\00:42:35.48
those who are faithful
to God among the Israelites.
00:42:35.52\00:42:39.59
Fifth, both the Bible
and the Spirit of Prophecy
00:42:39.62\00:42:43.22
make it clear
00:42:43.26\00:42:44.69
that we are to
understand Israel today
00:42:44.73\00:42:46.90
spiritually not literally.
00:42:46.93\00:42:49.33
Therefore, it makes sense
that if Israel is spiritual,
00:42:49.36\00:42:53.13
then the number
must also be spiritual.
00:42:53.17\00:42:56.67
Why would the
number 144,000 be literal
00:42:56.71\00:42:59.84
while Israel is symbolic?
00:42:59.87\00:43:02.31
It is not the
correct hermeneutical method.
00:43:02.34\00:43:04.98
See those both are symbolic,
or either both are literal,
00:43:05.01\00:43:08.65
you can have it both ways.
00:43:08.68\00:43:10.42
Sixth, the idea
that the unnumbered,
00:43:10.45\00:43:13.56
because the idea is
that unnumbered multitude,
00:43:13.59\00:43:16.56
either redeemed of
all ages of history.
00:43:16.59\00:43:20.33
That's not possible.
00:43:20.36\00:43:21.80
Let's notice, six,
00:43:21.83\00:43:23.50
the idea that the
unnumbered multitude
00:43:23.53\00:43:25.83
is composed of the redeemed
of all ages is problematic.
00:43:25.87\00:43:29.74
Revelation 7
00:43:29.77\00:43:31.11
where the
multitude is mentioned,
00:43:31.14\00:43:33.11
is an interlude
in the sixth seal.
00:43:33.14\00:43:36.11
And the sixth seal began when?
00:43:36.14\00:43:39.58
With the great earthquake,
1755, with the dark day
00:43:39.61\00:43:43.39
and the moon
looking like blood, 1780,
00:43:43.42\00:43:45.79
and the falling of the
stars in heaven in 1833.
00:43:45.82\00:43:50.23
So you have an
interlude in the sixth seal.
00:43:50.26\00:43:54.23
So what, what's
taking place here
00:43:54.26\00:43:56.36
is taking place
in this interlude
00:43:56.40\00:43:58.97
in the sixth seal.
00:43:59.00\00:44:00.74
Bringing the redeemed of
all ages into the picture
00:44:00.77\00:44:04.61
of the sixth seal is incongruous
00:44:04.64\00:44:07.94
with the literary context,
00:44:07.98\00:44:10.31
as well as with the events
depicted in the sixth seal.
00:44:10.35\00:44:15.92
The capstone argument
00:44:15.95\00:44:19.85
is a symbolic number
because the multitude
00:44:19.89\00:44:24.19
which no one can number
is actually the same group
00:44:24.23\00:44:28.16
as the 144,000.
00:44:28.20\00:44:30.03
Now let's pursue this,
00:44:30.07\00:44:31.40
we might have to pick up
on this in the next class
00:44:31.43\00:44:34.24
just for a few moments
00:44:34.27\00:44:35.60
because we have a lot
of material to cover yet.
00:44:35.64\00:44:38.67
At first sight, it
might appear incongruous,
00:44:38.71\00:44:43.04
or even contradictory
to say that 144,000,
00:44:43.08\00:44:46.61
and the great
multitude are the same group.
00:44:46.65\00:44:49.72
How can this be
possible when the number 144,000
00:44:49.75\00:44:53.15
is a computable number
while the great multitude
00:44:53.19\00:44:56.52
is beyond computation?
00:44:56.56\00:44:58.63
The answer lies in the fact
that in the Book of Revelation,
00:44:58.66\00:45:01.63
the juxtaposition between
seen and hearing is common.
00:45:01.66\00:45:06.90
Now let's pursue
this in several cases
00:45:06.94\00:45:08.97
in the Book of Revelation.
00:45:09.00\00:45:10.61
According to Revelation 1:10,
00:45:10.64\00:45:13.48
a voice spoke to John
that sounded like a trumpet.
00:45:13.51\00:45:17.58
And he heard, listen carefully,
00:45:17.61\00:45:19.91
he heard the names
of the seven churches
00:45:19.95\00:45:22.35
in their proper order.
00:45:22.38\00:45:24.29
However,
00:45:24.32\00:45:25.65
then John saw the seven churches
00:45:25.69\00:45:29.02
under the illustration
00:45:29.06\00:45:30.56
of a seven-branched candelabrum.
00:45:30.59\00:45:33.50
So what John heard in verse 10,
00:45:33.53\00:45:36.83
he saw in verse 12.
00:45:36.87\00:45:40.54
We find another example
in the introductory vision
00:45:40.57\00:45:43.07
to the seals in Revelation 5.
00:45:43.10\00:45:45.67
Here, John first
heard, one of the elders say
00:45:45.71\00:45:49.28
that the lion of
the tribe of Judah
00:45:49.31\00:45:51.31
would be able to break the seals
00:45:51.35\00:45:53.21
and to open the scroll.
00:45:53.25\00:45:55.65
However, then John
looked, and he saw a Lamb
00:45:55.68\00:45:59.39
who had overcome
00:45:59.42\00:46:00.76
and therefore was
qualified to break the seals,
00:46:00.79\00:46:03.16
and open the scroll.
00:46:03.19\00:46:04.53
Are you seeing the issue here?
00:46:04.56\00:46:08.10
As we have previously
seen, the lamb represents Jesus
00:46:08.13\00:46:11.50
and his inauguration,
00:46:11.53\00:46:13.13
as priest and king
of the kingdom of grace.
00:46:13.17\00:46:16.10
The lion
represents Jesus at the end
00:46:16.14\00:46:18.94
of His sanctuary ministration
00:46:18.97\00:46:20.81
when the lamb
pours out His wrath.
00:46:20.84\00:46:23.24
That is to say the lamb
will then roar as a lion.
00:46:23.28\00:46:26.72
Thus the lamb and the lion,
00:46:26.75\00:46:28.55
both represent Jesus
at two different stages
00:46:28.58\00:46:32.19
of His saving work.
00:46:32.22\00:46:34.32
So he hears, then he
sees, and there appears to be,
00:46:34.36\00:46:38.09
I mean, in what sense is
a lion similar to a lamb?
00:46:38.13\00:46:42.13
They appear to be contradictory,
00:46:42.16\00:46:44.57
but they're not.
00:46:44.60\00:46:46.50
Now we can say the
same about Revelation 19.
00:46:46.53\00:46:50.41
In verses 1-9,
John heard the songs
00:46:50.44\00:46:53.61
of the great
multitude in heaven.
00:46:53.64\00:46:56.01
However, in
verses 11-21, John heard,
00:46:56.04\00:47:01.25
actually saw should be Jesus
coming with His angel hosts,
00:47:01.28\00:47:05.35
to rescue the
multitude from destruction
00:47:05.39\00:47:08.22
at the hands of Babylon.
00:47:08.26\00:47:09.72
And so that should
be saw rather than heard
00:47:09.76\00:47:12.69
the second time.
00:47:12.73\00:47:14.33
So once again, you have hearing
00:47:14.36\00:47:16.70
and then God shows
him visibly what he heard.
00:47:16.73\00:47:22.10
Now, a similar
phenomenon occurs with 144,000,
00:47:22.14\00:47:26.37
and the great multitude.
00:47:26.41\00:47:28.34
In Revelation 7:1-8,
John heard about the 144,000.
00:47:28.38\00:47:33.65
He did not actually see them,
00:47:33.68\00:47:35.08
but only heard
their names and number.
00:47:35.12\00:47:38.49
However, then John
saw a great multitude,
00:47:38.52\00:47:41.72
that no one could number.
00:47:41.76\00:47:43.73
in Revelation 7:1-8,
00:47:43.76\00:47:48.00
in order for them to
survive the great tribulation
00:47:48.03\00:47:51.03
of the great multitude
in the succeeding passage.
00:47:51.07\00:47:54.70
The great multitude
portrays the same group
00:47:54.74\00:47:57.54
after they came out victoriously
00:47:57.57\00:47:59.74
from the tribulation.
00:47:59.77\00:48:02.24
Now, let's take
a look at the chart
00:48:02.28\00:48:05.18
that we find on the next page.
00:48:05.21\00:48:08.82
Before we do, let's go
through these two paragraphs
00:48:08.85\00:48:10.85
which will help us.
00:48:10.89\00:48:12.45
Notice the chart below.
00:48:12.49\00:48:14.89
We're going to
see that in a moment,
00:48:14.92\00:48:16.76
and you'll see that
there's a chiastic relationship
00:48:16.79\00:48:19.33
and the great multitude.
00:48:19.36\00:48:24.97
Some commentators have assumed
that the tribulation spoken
00:48:25.00\00:48:28.87
of here refers to
trials and troubles
00:48:28.90\00:48:31.27
that God's people have gone
through throughout all ages.
00:48:31.31\00:48:35.21
In other words, that's
the redeemed of all ages,
00:48:35.24\00:48:36.98
the trials that
they've kind of gone through.
00:48:37.01\00:48:39.18
However, this is not possible.
00:48:39.21\00:48:41.25
The Greek does not merely say
00:48:41.28\00:48:43.32
that the great multitude
came out of tribulation.
00:48:43.35\00:48:46.32
It says, they came
out of the tribulation,
00:48:46.35\00:48:50.43
the great one.
00:48:50.46\00:48:52.89
In other words, this
is not just the trials
00:48:52.93\00:48:54.96
that we have in everyday life.
00:48:55.00\00:48:56.70
This is the same tribulation
described in Daniel 12:1,
00:48:56.73\00:49:00.44
and Matthew 24:21, and verse 29.
00:49:00.47\00:49:04.57
Now here's the way
Beatrice Neil explained
00:49:04.61\00:49:06.98
that she was a scholar
in the Adventist Church,
00:49:07.01\00:49:10.35
who taught theology overseas,
00:49:10.38\00:49:12.38
and I think in the
United States, also.
00:49:12.41\00:49:15.45
The Adventist
Review, April 2 in 1987,
00:49:15.48\00:49:17.82
she wrote this, if
this reasoning is correct,
00:49:17.85\00:49:21.12
we can put equal signs
00:49:21.16\00:49:22.66
between all the
items on the list,
00:49:22.69\00:49:24.69
and we're gonna see
the list in a moment.
00:49:24.73\00:49:26.76
Israel is the
faithful of all nations,
00:49:26.80\00:49:29.36
the tribes of Israel
represent all tribes,
00:49:29.40\00:49:31.73
peoples and tongues,
00:49:31.77\00:49:33.17
the 12,000 from each
tribe indicate a full complement
00:49:33.20\00:49:36.10
of the redeemed
from each ethnic group.
00:49:36.14\00:49:38.77
The four winds symbolized
the great tribulation,
00:49:38.81\00:49:41.54
and the seal of God
corresponds to the robes
00:49:41.58\00:49:43.98
who made white in
the blood of the Lamb.
00:49:44.01\00:49:46.58
Best of all, the
144,000 are not a limited group
00:49:46.61\00:49:50.55
that we have scant
hope of belonging to,
00:49:50.59\00:49:53.25
but a vast multitude
who cannot be numbered.
00:49:53.29\00:49:55.86
Now, let's look at the chart.
00:49:55.89\00:49:58.49
Number one at the top
and number one below it
00:49:58.53\00:50:01.23
are synonymous,
00:50:01.26\00:50:03.80
they expressed the same
thing but in different terms.
00:50:03.83\00:50:07.14
In Revelation
7:1-8, John says, I heard,
00:50:07.17\00:50:11.67
that's verse 4.
00:50:11.71\00:50:13.24
He heard the number,
verse 4, 144,000, verse 4,
00:50:13.27\00:50:19.15
of the sons of Israel,
verse 4, out of every tribe,
00:50:19.18\00:50:23.42
verse 4, sealed, verse 4.
00:50:23.45\00:50:27.19
But then when you go to verse 9,
00:50:27.22\00:50:29.42
he says, I looked,
this is the phenomenon
00:50:29.46\00:50:32.23
between hearings
and looking, I looked,
00:50:32.26\00:50:36.16
and he sees a multitude,
which no one can number.
00:50:36.20\00:50:40.07
Once again, the word number.
00:50:40.10\00:50:42.77
And 144,000 would be
parallel to the great multitude
00:50:42.80\00:50:47.51
of a sons of Israel
would mean from every nation,
00:50:47.54\00:50:51.05
out of every tribe
would be from all tribes
00:50:51.08\00:50:53.88
and peoples and tongues,
00:50:53.92\00:50:55.62
and sealed would be equivalent
to clothed in white robes.
00:50:55.65\00:50:59.92
Are you seeing
the parallel or not?
00:50:59.95\00:51:01.92
And we're going to prove this
from the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:51:01.96\00:51:04.13
She was right.
00:51:04.16\00:51:06.03
The explanatory
note, in Revelation 7:1-2,
00:51:06.06\00:51:10.07
the four angels are
holding the four winds,
00:51:10.10\00:51:12.77
so that no harm
will come upon the earth,
00:51:12.80\00:51:14.90
the sea or the trees,
00:51:14.94\00:51:16.57
until God seals the
144,000 in their foreheads.
00:51:16.60\00:51:20.54
Revelation 7:3-8
tells us that the 144,000
00:51:20.58\00:51:25.38
are sealed before
the winds are released,
00:51:25.41\00:51:28.18
in order for them
to be able to stand
00:51:28.22\00:51:30.65
during the great tribulation.
00:51:30.69\00:51:33.05
In Revelation 7:9
00:51:33.09\00:51:34.92
following the
144,000 sealed ones
00:51:34.96\00:51:38.89
have already passed
through the great tribulation.
00:51:38.93\00:51:42.13
That's verse 14.
00:51:42.16\00:51:43.77
This great tribulation
is clearly a reference
00:51:43.80\00:51:46.67
to the final time of trouble
that will come upon the earth.
00:51:46.70\00:51:51.97
Now, careful reading of
Ellen White's commentary
00:51:52.01\00:51:54.51
about the 144,000,
the great multitude
00:51:54.54\00:51:56.91
indicates very
clearly that she believed
00:51:56.95\00:51:59.15
that the same group.
00:51:59.18\00:52:01.42
Notice it's
rather long quotation,
00:52:01.45\00:52:03.92
I hope we have time to
read this before time runs out.
00:52:03.95\00:52:07.56
But you've noticed
I placed in brackets,
00:52:07.59\00:52:10.93
the verses that Ellen White
is quoting in this passage.
00:52:10.96\00:52:15.33
Let's begin,
00:52:15.36\00:52:17.13
upon the crystal
sea before the throne,
00:52:17.17\00:52:20.00
that sea of glass as
it were, mingled with fire
00:52:20.04\00:52:23.10
so splendid is it
with the glory of God
00:52:23.14\00:52:26.37
are gathered in the company
that have gotten the victory
00:52:26.41\00:52:28.68
over the beast,
and over his image,
00:52:28.71\00:52:30.85
and over his mark,
00:52:30.88\00:52:32.21
and over the number of his name,
00:52:32.25\00:52:33.75
Revelation 15:2,
00:52:33.78\00:52:35.45
that's a text
that deals with 144,000
00:52:35.48\00:52:38.59
with the lamb upon Mount Zion,
00:52:38.62\00:52:40.96
it's Revelation
14:1, it refers to 144,000
00:52:40.99\00:52:45.73
having the hearts of
God, Revelation 15:2,
00:52:45.76\00:52:49.56
it's a text about the 144,000.
00:52:49.60\00:52:52.30
They stand the 144,00 that
were redeemed from among men.
00:52:52.33\00:52:57.24
That's Revelation 14:4
00:52:57.27\00:52:59.54
have reference to the
144,000 in their resort
00:52:59.57\00:53:02.94
as the sound of many waters,
00:53:02.98\00:53:04.61
and as the sound
of a great thunder,
00:53:04.65\00:53:06.72
the voice of harper's
harping with their hearts.
00:53:06.75\00:53:09.85
That's Revelation 14:2,
it's dealing with 144,000.
00:53:09.88\00:53:14.86
And they sing a new
song before the throne,
00:53:14.89\00:53:16.86
a song which no man can
learn, save the 144,000.
00:53:16.89\00:53:20.60
That's Revelation
14:3 referring to 144,000.
00:53:20.63\00:53:25.37
It is the song of
Moses and the lamb,
00:53:25.40\00:53:27.47
a song of deliverance.
00:53:27.50\00:53:29.24
That's Revelation 15:3,
it's referring to the 144,000.
00:53:29.27\00:53:34.04
None but the 144,000
can learn that psalm.
00:53:34.08\00:53:37.61
That's Revelation 14:3,
00:53:37.65\00:53:39.48
it's also a text on the 144,000.
00:53:39.51\00:53:42.22
For it is a song
of their experience,
00:53:42.25\00:53:44.32
an experience such
as no other company
00:53:44.35\00:53:46.72
have ever had.
00:53:46.76\00:53:48.26
These are they
which follow the Lamb
00:53:48.29\00:53:49.96
whether so ever He goeth.
00:53:49.99\00:53:52.23
That's also a text
that deals with 144,000,
00:53:52.26\00:53:55.13
Revelation 14:1,
00:53:55.16\00:53:57.27
these having been
translated from the earth,
00:53:57.30\00:54:00.07
from among the
living, are counted
00:54:00.10\00:54:02.24
as firstfruits unto
God and to the Lamb.
00:54:02.27\00:54:05.27
That's also from a
passage on the 144,000,
00:54:05.31\00:54:08.44
Revelation 14:4,
but now notice this.
00:54:08.48\00:54:12.75
These are they which came
out of the great tribulation.
00:54:12.78\00:54:17.22
Now she's calling
about the great multitude,
00:54:17.25\00:54:20.39
Revelation 7:14.
00:54:20.42\00:54:22.76
They have passed
through the time of trouble,
00:54:22.79\00:54:25.53
such as never was
since there was a nation.
00:54:25.56\00:54:28.33
They have endured the anguish
of the time of Jacob's trouble.
00:54:28.36\00:54:31.73
They have stood
without an intercessor.
00:54:31.77\00:54:34.10
Is this after
probation is closed?
00:54:34.14\00:54:36.40
Yes.
00:54:36.44\00:54:39.04
They have stood
without an intercessor
00:54:39.07\00:54:41.18
through the final
outpouring of God's judgments.
00:54:41.21\00:54:43.71
That's the seven last plagues.
00:54:43.75\00:54:45.55
However they
have been delivered,
00:54:45.58\00:54:47.52
for they have
washed their robes,
00:54:47.55\00:54:49.32
and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb,
00:54:49.35\00:54:51.79
Revelation 7:14,
the great multitude.
00:54:51.82\00:54:57.53
In their mouth
was found no guile,
00:54:57.56\00:54:59.36
for they are without fault.
00:54:59.39\00:55:00.86
Now she goes back to
a text of the 144,000,
00:55:00.90\00:55:03.53
Revelation 14:5.
00:55:03.57\00:55:05.53
Therefore are they
before the throne of God
00:55:05.57\00:55:08.20
and serve him day
and night in his temple,
00:55:08.24\00:55:10.24
and he that
sitteth on the throne
00:55:10.27\00:55:11.61
shall dwell among them.
00:55:11.64\00:55:12.97
Now she's quoting a
verse on the great multitude.
00:55:13.01\00:55:16.54
They have seen the earth wasted
with famine and pestilence,
00:55:16.58\00:55:20.15
the sun having power to
scorch men with great heat,
00:55:20.18\00:55:25.32
that's Revelation 16:8-9.
00:55:25.35\00:55:28.02
And they themselves
have endured suffering,
00:55:28.06\00:55:31.66
hunger and thirst,
00:55:31.69\00:55:33.40
however, they
shall hunger no more.
00:55:33.43\00:55:34.86
Now she's quoting about
the great multitude again,
00:55:34.90\00:55:37.77
however, they
shall hunger no more,
00:55:37.80\00:55:39.97
neither thirst anymore,
00:55:40.00\00:55:41.60
neither shall the sun
light on them, nor any heat,
00:55:41.64\00:55:44.77
for the Lamb
which is in the midst
00:55:44.81\00:55:46.24
of the throne shall feed
them, and shall lead them
00:55:46.27\00:55:49.11
unto living fountains of waters,
00:55:49.14\00:55:51.18
and God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes.
00:55:51.21\00:55:56.65
Are they the same group?
00:55:56.69\00:55:59.72
Yes or no?
00:55:59.75\00:56:01.16
Yes, Ellen White
very clearly says so.
00:56:01.19\00:56:03.73
Now notice this
additional evidence,
00:56:03.76\00:56:05.56
we have a couple of minutes.
00:56:05.59\00:56:07.63
Even further, Ellen
White explicitly wrote
00:56:07.66\00:56:10.50
that only the
144,000 will be able to enter
00:56:10.53\00:56:13.94
the heavenly temple.
00:56:13.97\00:56:15.67
Here's the statement,
Early Writings, page 19.
00:56:15.70\00:56:18.77
And as we are about
to enter the holy temple,
00:56:18.81\00:56:22.18
Jesus raised His
lovely voice and said,
00:56:22.21\00:56:24.48
only the 144,000
enter this place,
00:56:24.51\00:56:27.92
and we shouted alleluia.
00:56:27.95\00:56:30.49
However, Revelation 7:15,
00:56:30.52\00:56:33.92
tells us that the
members of the great multitude
00:56:33.96\00:56:36.76
will serve God day
and night in his temple.
00:56:36.79\00:56:41.13
The conclusion is inevitable,
00:56:41.16\00:56:43.16
the 144000s the only
ones whom God allow us
00:56:43.20\00:56:47.07
to enter the temple,
according to Ellen White,
00:56:47.10\00:56:49.00
must be the same group
as the unnumbered multitude,
00:56:49.04\00:56:53.27
who served God in His
temple, day and night.
00:56:53.31\00:56:56.75
So here's my question.
00:56:56.78\00:56:58.78
Is the number
144,000 a literal number?
00:56:58.81\00:57:03.79
No.
00:57:03.82\00:57:05.25
Why is 144,000 years
because God wants to say this,
00:57:05.29\00:57:08.96
this is the
totality of God's Israel
00:57:08.99\00:57:11.89
at the end of time.
00:57:11.93\00:57:13.26
That's why the number
is intensified 12 times
00:57:13.29\00:57:16.26
12 times a 1000.
00:57:16.30\00:57:18.67
This is all of God's faithful
Israel at the end of time.
00:57:18.70\00:57:22.04
And then the
great multitude shows us
00:57:22.07\00:57:24.37
that there are far more
than exactly 144,000 people.
00:57:24.41\00:57:29.04
Actually there are people
from every nation, kindred,
00:57:29.08\00:57:31.35
tongue, and people,
are unnumbered multitude
00:57:31.38\00:57:34.12
that will go through the
time of trouble victoriously
00:57:34.15\00:57:37.75
as Ellen White
states in Great Controversy.
00:57:37.79\00:57:41.99
So are they literal Israelites?
00:57:42.02\00:57:45.39
No.
00:57:45.43\00:57:46.76
Is a number of
144,000 a literal number?
00:57:46.80\00:57:50.67
No.
00:57:50.70\00:57:52.20
And Ellen White, of course
says that we should struggle
00:57:52.23\00:57:54.27
with all the power
that God has given us,
00:57:54.30\00:57:57.14
to be among that group.
00:57:57.17\00:57:58.51
What a privilege
00:57:58.54\00:57:59.87
to vindicate God
in the time of trouble
00:57:59.91\00:58:02.48
and to see the
Second Coming of Jesus
00:58:02.51\00:58:05.08
from beginning to end.
00:58:05.11\00:58:06.75