¤ ¤
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Hello friends. Welcome to
another Wednesday night Bible
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study here at the 3ABN Worship
Center: A Sharper Focus. And our
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local audience would like to
welcome you with a hearty Amen.
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Amen. And wherever you're
joining us from, from around the
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world or around the community,
we'd like to thank you for
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tuning in to spend this
thoughtful hour studying the
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word of God. Now you may say
boy that shirt is bright. Well
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it's pretty cold here in
the midwest. It's supposed to be
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spring, amen? I'm just reminding
you that although it may look
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gray outside and the flowers are
blooming somewhere, so I just
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want to brighten up the evening.
But the one who is going to
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brighten up our time together
tonight is the Holy Spirit. So
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we're going to pray tonight, but
in just a few moments I'll tell
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you how to get a copy of the
lesson to follow along. So get
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your Bibles, get your pens,
invite your family and your
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friends to sit down and
study with us. But before we do
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anything, let's always begin
with a word of prayer. Let's bow
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our heads. Our kind Father in
heaven, the one who searches our
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hearts, knows our thoughts,
the one who gives us power and
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strength and wisdom to overcome
the challenges that we face on a
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daily basis, the one who
delivers us from all evil,
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forgive us of our sins. Lord we
pray to night that you'll send
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your Holy Spirit in power
to open our hearts and minds to
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wonderful theme as we continue
studying your word. So Father
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we thank you in advance for what
you will do and how our lives
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will be drawn closer to you.
This is our prayer. In Jesus'
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name we pray, Amen. Now tonight
if you want a copy of the lesson
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We are finishing up lesson
number 25. We just have an
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outline we're going to
go through. So if you go to
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this website,
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ASF.3abn.org. You can download
right now lesson number 25, the
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Truth About the Millennium and
then lesson number 26 which is
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The Truth About Heaven and the
New Earth. You can download that
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lesson tonight from that
particular website. But before
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we do anything we're going
to go ahead and begin with our
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theme song. What is our theme
song? Together, what is it?
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Victory in Jesus. Let's sing
that song together before we
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begin our lesson
study. Here we are. ¤ ¤
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¤I heard an old, old story
how the Savior came from glory¤
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¤How He gave His life on Calvary
to save a wretch like me¤
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¤I heard about his groaning,
of the precious blood atoning¤
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¤Then I repented of my
sin and won the victory¤
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¤Oh victory in
Jesus my Savior forever¤
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¤He sought and bought me
with His redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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¤I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory¤
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¤and I heard about
the streets of gold¤
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¤Beyond the crystal sea¤
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¤About the angels singing
and the old redemption story¤
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¤And some sweet day I'll sing
up there the song of victory¤
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¤Oh victory in
Jesus my Savior forever¤
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¤He sought me and bought
me with His redeeming blood¤
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¤He loved me e'er I knew
Him and all my love is due Him¤
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¤He plunged me to victory
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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¤He plunged me to victory,
beneath the cleansing flood¤
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Amen? He plunged me to what?
To victory beneath the cleansing
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flood. And that is baptism,
but more importantly than that,
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that's the power of the blood
of Jesus. Can you say amen to
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that? Well tonight we're
continuing our study on the
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Truth About the Millennium. The
Truth About the Millennium. And
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I think I mentioned the website.
Didn't I do that? But if you
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just tuned in here it is again.
ASF.3abn.org. Download lesson
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number 25 which we're finishing
and lesson number 26. Now what
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we learned last week was very
important, and the week before
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that and the week before that.
What we did was we began by
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getting rid of some of the myths
about the 1000 years. Now there
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are those who believe that the
1000 years is going to be spent
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on earth. That's why we have
many today that are trying to
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reform the earth for Jesus
to come back and reign on earth.
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But let me get back to the
questions and I'll make them
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easy in a yes or no answer. Is
the earth going to be inhabited
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by humans during the 1000 years?
Yes or No? Well I wouldn't call
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that inhabited. Well there are
going to be some dead folk down
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here and they're not going to
be mourned, gathered, lamented
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or buried. For they're going
to be like the Bible says in
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Jeremiah, like refuse on the
ground. How many categories are
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there going to be when Jesus
comes back? How many? Two. Those
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who are just and those who are
unjust, those who are filthy and
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those who are righteous or clean
Only two categories. I don't
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want to be the party pooper, but
there is no yellow line in this
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thing called eternal life.
You're either going towards
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Christ or you're going away
from Him. There's no yellow line
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where people... Years ago... The
reason why that stuck in my mind
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years ago, years ago, when I
was growing up in New York City
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my dad used to like to watch
the Honeymooners. That's when
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comedy was clean. With Jackie
Gleason. You remember that?
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And Ralph Crandon had to
update his driver's license and
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there was a question in there
What's the yellow line for?
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And Norton said everyone knows
what the yellow line is for and
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Ralph said what, he says for
motorcycles. And the point of
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the matter is the yellow line
is just to keep you divided from
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the left or right. Isn't that
right? There's no purpose for
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for that yellow line as far as
travel as far as traveling. It's
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the two categories. It's not
to travel on. It's a warning.
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Either you're going in the
right direction or you're going
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in the wrong direction. Either
you're going towards home or
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you're going away from home. And
in the New Earth, we're going to
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talking about that starting
tonight, but what I'm going to
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do as we wind up the study
about the millennium, no one
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will be on the earth except
those who are dead. How many
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resurrections will there be. Two
Which one in the good one? The
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first resurrection. If you
die and I want to clear this up.
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Somebody sent me a mail and
I want to clear this up. What's
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good about getting mails
and emails is that people are
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watching the program and I want
to clear something up because
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this person added something to
it that I didn't say. And I said
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the first death happens to
us all but the second death only
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happens to the wicked. Now what
I meant by that is the first
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death affects all of humanity
but not everybody is going to
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die the first death. There are
going to be those who will be
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alive when Jesus comes. Am
I right? We who are alive and
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remain. They will be alive but
the first death applies to all
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for all have sinned and
the wages of sin is death. So
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everyone alive who has ever been
alive will be affected in one
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way or the other, or might
be affected in one way or the
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by the first death. There
are those who will be alive when
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Jesus comes. But the second
death only affects the wicked.
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So here's the point, here's the
equation. You can die once and
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then twice or you can die twice
and live once. You get it? Die
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once. If you die, you have had
life before that, you die, your
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waiting for Jesus to come back,
you live again. Die once the
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the first death and then twice
or live once and die twice.
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You'll get that all clear in
your head but the second death
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does not happen to the
righteous. Praise the Lord for
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that. We also discovered that
during the millennium the saints
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will judge the world. So what
we're going to do tonight, we're
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going to put together a quick
outline because you know when
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you go over a topic for three
weeks for those who don't get
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the early stage or the middle
stage or the ending stage,
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we're actually
in the fourth week
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of the topic of the millennium,
what I'm going to do tonight is
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just put together a summary
and if you have your paper, if
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you downloaded the syllabus what
I want to do to transition into
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the area that we're going to
break down in here, we're going
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to walk through three particular
areas. How many area did I say?
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Three. Three particular
areas. They are outlined in A
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Millennium begins, B Millennium
Continues and C Millennium Ends.
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Begins, Continues and Ends. Now
what I want to rejoice with is
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the fact that when we
were studying last week, the
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the last text that we
ended with was from the book
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of Nahum. Nahum 1:9 where if
you remember that it says that
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affliction shall not rise up
what? A second time. Amen. So
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when the issue of sin is finally
resolved there will be no second
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possibility. I want to make that
really, really clear. There was
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some confusion about that.
Somebody may say well isn't it
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possible that sin could rise
up a second time. Because people
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are going to be there like they
were the first time. Well the
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sin problem is being addressed
now. Right? So here's what
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you say. If there's a
possibility for sin to rise up
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a second time, you know the
ramifications of that? There's a
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possibility of a need of another
savior. There's a possibility of
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a need of another Calvary.
There's a possibility of a...
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Now here's what's so ridiculous
about that. If the devil is not
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going to be around... Do I need
to go further? If the devil's
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not going to be around and sin
is going to be destroyed, if the
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very root of sin is going to be
destroyed, how are you going to
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get fruit if there's no root.
And the Bible says in Malachi 4,
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go there very quickly just
to benefit those who are maybe
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tuning in for the first time.
Go to Malachi. Jesus said He is
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the vine, John 15, Jesus says
I am the Vine, you are the what?
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Branches. So any righteousness
that we have comes from who?
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From Jesus. So therefore if
Satan would, because, not if,
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but because Satan is a
liar from the beginning, he's a
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murderer from the beginning.
Lies and murder are from whom?
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From Satan. Okay now. So if
the one who produces this is no
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longer around, can it be
produced? Yes or No? Absolutely
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not. Let's look at this and show
you the evidence of it. Malachi
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chapter 4 and this is talking
about the lake of fire and
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brimstone which will be a part
of the second death. It's not
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burning right now. Malachi 4:1
the Bible says: For behold the
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day is what? Is coming, burning
like an oven and all the proud,
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yes, all who do what? Wickedly
will be stubble. The day which
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is coming shall burn them up,
says the Lord of hosts that will
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leave them neither root nor
branch. Now here it is: If those
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who do wickedly are going to
be burned up, whose going to be
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left? Those who don't do
wickedly. Why won't we do
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wickedly. Come on, give me a
theological answer, why won't
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we do wickedly? Because we will
be completely reproduced in the
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image and the character of Jesus
What do you say? So if you are
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now made, like the Bible says,
we will see Him as He is for we
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will be like Him. 1 John 3:1,2.
We will see Him as He is for we
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will be like Him. So if we're
going to be like Jesus and Jesus
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said to the prince of this world
The prince of this world has
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come and he has nothing in me.
So was there sin in Jesus? No.
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He bore our sins but He didn't
have sin within Him. The prince
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tried to get in. He said that
he had nothing in Him. So if
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there's no sin in Jesus and
we are made in His character,
00:14:01.34\00:14:05.77
there'll be no sin where? In us.
So there's no sin in us so it
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can't come out. What's not in
cannot come out. Amen to that.
00:14:10.35\00:14:16.69
So let's finish it. Look at
verse 3 of Malachi 4. You shall
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trample the wicked for they
shall be ashes under the soles
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of your feet on the day that I
do this, says the Lord of hosts.
00:14:25.66\00:14:31.20
Now we also discovered in
Ezekiel 28 that Satan himself is
00:14:31.23\00:14:35.50
going to be turned to ashes,
right? So the devil himself is
00:14:35.54\00:14:38.37
going to be turned to ashes and
those who do wickedly will be
00:14:38.41\00:14:42.08
turned to ashes. There'll be
no continued existence for the
00:14:42.11\00:14:46.55
devil and there'll be no
continued existence for those
00:14:46.58\00:14:49.55
who do wickedly. All sin will
be eradicated. Is that clear? So
00:14:49.58\00:14:55.29
let's look at the outline very
quickly tonight. We're going to
00:14:55.32\00:14:57.53
walk through this and not going
to spend time on this. You've
00:14:57.56\00:15:00.90
received a download copy from
the website that you visited
00:15:00.93\00:15:04.03
and we all have a copy. We're
going to walk through this very
00:15:04.07\00:15:07.27
quickly just to give you
the idea of the three segments.
00:15:07.30\00:15:09.47
Start with section A. How does
the millennium begin? Together.
00:15:09.50\00:15:17.31
Jesus returns. Let's look at the
next one. Okay what happens when
00:15:17.35\00:15:21.18
Jesus returns? What takes place?
The first resurrection. Then
00:15:21.22\00:15:26.05
after the first resurrection
what happens? The saints are
00:15:26.09\00:15:29.52
what? Caught up to meet Jesus.
The living saints along with the
00:15:29.56\00:15:33.80
resurrected saints, because the
resurrection just took place.
00:15:33.83\00:15:36.77
What happens? The living wicked
are what? Destroyed. They are
00:15:36.80\00:15:41.90
destroyed by the brightness of
the Lord's coming. There's the
00:15:41.94\00:15:44.77
references.
00:15:44.81\00:15:46.14
The other one; who's alive
on earth. No one left alive on
00:15:46.17\00:15:50.48
earth. The wicked that
were living destroyed by the
00:15:50.51\00:15:52.31
brightness and the wicked that
were dead are still in their
00:15:52.35\00:15:55.32
graves and then what happens?
To bind the devil. What's the
00:15:55.35\00:15:58.69
last part? Satan is bound for
how long? A thousand years. Now
00:15:58.72\00:16:02.42
very carefully before we go to
the second section. What binds
00:16:02.46\00:16:06.59
the devil? What binds the devil?
Okay, a set of circumstances.
00:16:06.63\00:16:11.87
Nobody to tempt. If you're a
thief and you like to steal but
00:16:11.90\00:16:14.80
there's no one to rob,
really. If you like to kill and
00:16:14.84\00:16:20.51
everybody's dead, really, right?
If you want to deceive and
00:16:20.54\00:16:24.95
everybody's no longer
deceivable because they're all
00:16:24.98\00:16:29.25
dead. Oh. Don't want to
be cynical but there's nobody
00:16:29.28\00:16:32.35
that's going to be alive. The
only ones that are going to be
00:16:32.39\00:16:35.49
barking around this earth for a
thousand years is the devil and
00:16:35.52\00:16:39.46
his angels. That's it. I tried
to envision that and I thought
00:16:39.49\00:16:44.73
boy. I cannot imagine. I mean,
growing up some of us probably
00:16:44.77\00:16:48.77
were exposed to scary movies.
You don't need to tell me that
00:16:48.80\00:16:53.98
you weren't because I know that
somebody saw something scary
00:16:54.01\00:16:56.41
along the way. I don't watch
them anymore, praise the Lord
00:16:56.44\00:16:59.55
for that. But this earth is
going to be infested by demons
00:16:59.58\00:17:06.19
for a thousand years. The
same ones that are active today
00:17:06.22\00:17:09.76
tempting, working with the devil
to try to cause people to fall
00:17:09.79\00:17:14.80
and be lost. They're going to
be bound to the earth for 1000
00:17:14.83\00:17:18.83
years with no one to tempt. With
nothing to do. A thousand years.
00:17:18.87\00:17:23.44
Now I'm going to just add
something here to kind of give
00:17:23.47\00:17:27.11
you... We didn't talk about this
but here's the reason why it's a
00:17:27.14\00:17:30.25
thousand years. When you follow
the cycles of seven, and I like
00:17:30.28\00:17:36.48
that statement Ellen White makes
She says the great controversy
00:17:36.52\00:17:39.49
has been going on for nearly
6000 years is soon to come to a
00:17:39.52\00:17:44.63
close. The Bible has time
periods referred to as in cycles
00:17:44.66\00:17:54.54
of seven. And each cycle is
talked about... My mind just
00:17:54.57\00:18:01.21
right now I got warm rush here
that is called the... I'll come
00:18:01.24\00:18:07.15
back to it in a moment. But
at the end of the cycle of sixes
00:18:07.18\00:18:10.55
the land returned to its
rightful owner. Would you
00:18:10.59\00:18:15.02
believe? Praise the Lord. Thank
you for those of you who are
00:18:15.06\00:18:18.23
awake tonight. At the beginning
of the jubilee the land returns
00:18:18.26\00:18:23.06
to the rightful owner and during
that time the land is allowed to
00:18:23.10\00:18:29.20
rest but when the controversy
is over for 1000 years is the
00:18:29.24\00:18:35.68
land is returned to its rightful
owner and the land is allowed
00:18:35.71\00:18:40.58
to rest. There's no activity
on the earth at all. That even
00:18:40.62\00:18:42.85
applied to slaves or servants.
When the jubilee came they have
00:18:42.88\00:18:47.46
to return, the slaves were set
free, the servant was set free.
00:18:47.49\00:18:49.96
And the land was given back.
And even in the agricultural
00:18:49.99\00:18:53.26
setting the Bible talks about
this when they planted for the
00:18:53.29\00:18:56.87
seventh time, the land rested
so that it could replenish
00:18:56.90\00:19:00.44
itself and at the end of that
year of rest, then it was ready
00:19:00.47\00:19:03.97
to be planted again. So a
lot of the cycles in the Bible
00:19:04.01\00:19:07.61
follow the term the jubilee,
the jubilee cycle. There's more
00:19:07.64\00:19:12.41
things that we could apply to
it later on. Now let's go to the
00:19:12.45\00:19:16.95
center section what happens to
continue the millennium. Section
00:19:16.99\00:19:20.92
B, here we are. During the
thousand years, saints reign
00:19:20.96\00:19:25.59
with Christ for how long? A
thousand years, because they
00:19:25.63\00:19:30.37
were caught up to be with Christ
That's in Revelation 20:4.
00:19:30.40\00:19:34.44
Saints also participate in
the judgment. Now in what way do
00:19:34.47\00:19:38.24
they participate in the judgment
Let me just make this statement.
00:19:38.27\00:19:40.74
They don't participate in the
judgment in the sense of meting
00:19:40.78\00:19:43.78
out the punishment. But
they participate in the judgment
00:19:43.81\00:19:47.22
seeing that the decisions that
are made by Christ are just and
00:19:47.25\00:19:50.22
Because Jesus Himself is the
judge. The Father judges no one
00:19:50.25\00:19:55.49
but has given all judgment
to the Son. The other one: The
00:19:55.52\00:19:59.09
earth is completely desolate.
Here is the reference Jeremiah
00:19:59.13\00:20:01.93
4:23-26. No man, no birds, the
cities are broken down by the
00:20:01.96\00:20:07.54
fierceness of God and by
His anger the cities are broken
00:20:07.57\00:20:10.41
at the presence of the Lord. But
the Bible also says in verse 26,
00:20:10.44\00:20:14.74
Yet He will not make a full end.
Look at the next one. All the
00:20:14.78\00:20:17.65
wicked are still dead.
Revelation 20:5. But the rest of
00:20:17.68\00:20:24.85
the dead lived not again till
the thousand years are finished.
00:20:24.89\00:20:27.82
And then finally Satan and his
angels bound to earth. Jude and
00:20:27.86\00:20:35.46
2 Peter call it chains. Call it
what? Chains. The earth is going
00:20:35.50\00:20:40.77
to be dark. The light, they
Bible talks about that. It says
00:20:40.80\00:20:47.24
as though the lights had been
blotted out as though the earth
00:20:47.28\00:20:50.38
is wrapped in darkness and
desolation and for a thousand
00:20:50.41\00:20:53.72
years the chain of circumstances
bound in darkness because you
00:20:53.75\00:20:57.39
don't really handcuff
together. You really can't.
00:20:57.42\00:21:01.32
But the circumstances under
which sin has led him to be in
00:21:01.36\00:21:06.26
will be the reason why he is
imprisoned for a thousand years.
00:21:06.29\00:21:10.53
Let me give you another example.
You can put somebody on an
00:21:10.57\00:21:14.20
island, let me just use
this as an example. We've got to
00:21:14.24\00:21:17.24
Australia for many, many years
but I learned the history of
00:21:17.27\00:21:20.84
Australia. Australia used to
be a place where prisoners from
00:21:20.88\00:21:26.05
England were sent all the way
down to this rock, way down in
00:21:26.08\00:21:32.15
Australia. And when you go to
Australia sometimes some of the
00:21:32.19\00:21:36.16
people will joke around with you
and say be careful, my relatives
00:21:36.19\00:21:39.36
are prisoners. You know, they
say be careful, my relatives
00:21:39.39\00:21:42.36
started out by being in prison.
The fact of the matter is you
00:21:42.40\00:21:46.20
can put them on that piece
of land with no jail, with no
00:21:46.23\00:21:50.31
chains and just drive away or
float away and where do they go?
00:21:50.34\00:21:56.91
So they can roam around the
entire continent of Australia
00:21:56.95\00:22:02.18
and where do they go? Nowhere.
They're bound by circumstances.
00:22:02.22\00:22:10.23
Like Siberia. Don't ever want to
go there. Let's look at the last
00:22:10.26\00:22:14.16
part before we start a new
lesson. So these are there.
00:22:14.20\00:22:17.07
First up in section C, here
it is. New Jerusalem descends to
00:22:17.10\00:22:23.84
the earth. The end of
the thousand years, the new
00:22:23.87\00:22:26.41
Jerusalem descends to the earth.
As we study further about heaven
00:22:26.44\00:22:30.88
we'll point out the new
Jerusalem doesn't descend to the
00:22:30.91\00:22:33.65
earth with the saints in it.
It descends first and then Jesus
00:22:33.68\00:22:37.62
comes back with his saints. What
a time it's going to be because
00:22:37.65\00:22:41.36
the walls are going to be clear.
I'll tell you about that in just
00:22:41.39\00:22:43.22
a moment. But I'm not going to
go too much into that. Then the
00:22:43.26\00:22:46.80
second resurrection takes
place. The resurrection of the
00:22:46.83\00:22:48.76
righteous or the wicked? The
wicked. Then the wicked attack
00:22:48.80\00:22:54.07
the new Jerusalem. The Bible
doesn't give a particular time
00:22:54.10\00:22:58.54
frame of who long this is
going to take but somehow he
00:22:58.57\00:23:00.28
convinces all these evil men of
the ages, go far back as you can
00:23:00.31\00:23:05.25
think, all the way back from
Cain if in fact he's going to be
00:23:05.28\00:23:09.58
in that number, all the way
to the last power that reigned.
00:23:09.62\00:23:14.12
All these evil men and
their evil machines are going to
00:23:14.16\00:23:16.86
somehow think when they see this
glorious city, they're going to
00:23:16.89\00:23:21.10
think that they can overtake the
city. Let's go on. The wicked
00:23:21.13\00:23:25.93
attack the new Jerusalem and
then the White Throne Judgment
00:23:25.97\00:23:28.44
occurs. You'll find that in
Revelation 20:11-13. The White
00:23:28.47\00:23:32.91
Throne Judgment occurs. Now
what is the result of the White
00:23:32.94\00:23:36.14
Throne Judgment? That's when the
books are opened and those who
00:23:36.18\00:23:41.35
who are wicked will be judged
according to their works. Then
00:23:41.38\00:23:44.12
what takes place, again? The
second death occurs. How does
00:23:44.15\00:23:47.42
the second death occur? Someone
tell me. Fire came down from God
00:23:47.46\00:23:52.83
out of heaven and what? Devoured
them. Not only does the fire
00:23:52.86\00:23:56.16
come down but the earth became
a lake of fire. In the same way
00:23:56.20\00:24:01.90
that the earth was destroyed
by water, there was no ocean
00:24:01.94\00:24:04.54
somewhere where people were
thrown in to drown. The earth
00:24:04.57\00:24:08.01
became an entire planet of water
this time it will be will be an
00:24:08.04\00:24:11.21
entire planet of fire.
Then finally, let's say the
00:24:11.25\00:24:14.48
last one together:
00:24:14.52\00:24:15.85
Sin Eradicated Eternally. Let's
say that one more time. Sin
00:24:15.88\00:24:19.95
what? Eradicated Eternally. It's
hard to think that way, isn't it
00:24:19.99\00:24:25.53
Think about it. It's hard
to think about anything not
00:24:25.56\00:24:29.30
existing any longer. It's hard
to think that one day we won't
00:24:29.33\00:24:34.47
have any more struggles. But
I want to tell you tonight, one
00:24:34.50\00:24:35.84
day there'll be no more
temptation. Amen. Thank you
00:24:35.87\00:24:40.94
David. One day there'll
be no more heartache, no more
00:24:40.98\00:24:43.45
suffering, no more death, no
more trials, no more anger, no
00:24:43.48\00:24:47.12
more hostility, no more
deception. Can I go on? I'll be
00:24:47.15\00:24:50.39
here for weeks because there's
so much wrong with this world
00:24:50.42\00:24:52.75
there's so much wrong with this
planet, so much wrong with this
00:24:52.79\00:24:56.16
human heart that the Lord will
eradicate sin eternally. And so
00:24:56.19\00:25:03.43
here's the best way to be happy
about that. Here's the best way
00:25:03.47\00:25:07.94
to be happy about that last
statement. If you begin to live
00:25:07.97\00:25:13.71
a righteous life before Jesus
comes you won't be sad when sin
00:25:13.74\00:25:19.55
is eradicated because your life
will not include the things of
00:25:19.58\00:25:23.52
sin. And I do have big ears.
If you begin to include in your
00:25:23.55\00:25:31.26
life those things that are
connected to heaven, you will
00:25:31.29\00:25:34.03
not miss the things connected
to earth when Jesus comes back.
00:25:34.06\00:25:37.53
The reason why Lot's wife
lost her life is because her
00:25:37.57\00:25:43.61
affections were still where
God was trying to take her from.
00:25:43.64\00:25:48.64
If your affections... That's
why the Bible says set your
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.51
affections on things where?
Above and not on things of the
00:25:50.55\00:25:54.62
earth. I'm not going to condemn
anybody. There are some people
00:25:54.65\00:25:58.75
live lavishly and wealthy and
just have all these... You know
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.82
they've got the whole garage
with 16 cars, all the models. If
00:26:01.86\00:26:06.49
they can afford that, fine. If
their heart's not connected to
00:26:06.53\00:26:09.06
that, wonderful. But
I've seen some situations
00:26:09.10\00:26:11.93
I'm thinking to myself, you know
you really want the Lord to come
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.20
back? They'll not have a chance
to drive their new car just
00:26:14.24\00:26:15.70
imported from Germany. You know.
Nothing wrong with having those
00:26:15.74\00:26:21.18
things, there are very wealthy
people spoken of in the Bible
00:26:21.21\00:26:23.14
so wealth is not a sin. I don't
want to give that impression at
00:26:23.18\00:26:26.95
all. Somebody one said
that money doesn't buy happiness
00:26:26.98\00:26:29.98
and somebody else responded,
give me a chance to conclude
00:26:30.02\00:26:32.25
that myself. But if your heart
is connected to this money,
00:26:32.29\00:26:36.39
remember the Lord says you
cannot serve God and money.
00:26:36.42\00:26:38.96
There are some individuals
and James brings out a continual
00:26:38.99\00:26:43.33
_ each of those who gather
up riches for the last days.
00:26:43.37\00:26:47.70
what happens is where your
treasure is there will your
00:26:47.74\00:26:51.27
heart be also. So if you love
all the things you're surrounded
00:26:51.31\00:26:54.54
with it's hard to say it's
time to leave the city. Wait a
00:26:54.58\00:26:58.25
minute. You mean I've
00:26:58.28\00:26:59.61
got to leave all this behind.
Well the fact of the matter is
00:26:59.65\00:27:02.82
and here's the bulletin for
tonight. This is the truth of
00:27:02.85\00:27:07.82
the ages: You can't take it with
you. Amen? So you might as well
00:27:07.86\00:27:11.99
leave it. The only choice is
leave it or burn with it. I'm
00:27:12.03\00:27:17.27
not burning with the car, what
do you think? That rich young
00:27:17.30\00:27:21.34
ruler, he had it all. I was
reading about that earlier this
00:27:21.37\00:27:24.47
week and I discovered that it
was not only his possessions. He
00:27:24.51\00:27:29.38
wanted eternal life but he did
not want Jesus to be his leader.
00:27:29.41\00:27:33.45
That was the issue. He said what
good think shall I do. The Lord
00:27:33.48\00:27:40.49
says follow me. I want eternal
life but I don't want to follow
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.79
you. Then he walked but he
walked away. He didn't walk with
00:27:42.82\00:27:48.30
Jesus so anytime you don't Jesus
to be your leader then you're
00:27:48.33\00:27:51.03
you're moving in the wrong
direction. The reason I want
00:27:51.07\00:27:53.64
Jesus as my leader every
day is because the Bible says in
00:27:53.67\00:27:56.84
Revelation 14 they follow
the Lamb wherever He goes, amen.
00:27:56.87\00:28:03.65
So if you're in the valley
of the shadow you may be on the
00:28:03.68\00:28:08.58
hilltop, follow the Lamb
wherever He goes and we're going
00:28:08.62\00:28:12.02
out tonight where he went
and how wonderful it is to
00:28:12.05\00:28:15.62
be ready for
00:28:15.66\00:28:16.99
where the Lord presently
is. Amen? So let's go to our new
00:28:17.03\00:28:20.13
lesson. We just went through
an outline and those of you who
00:28:20.16\00:28:22.90
followed along in our final
outline, the specifics are in
00:28:22.93\00:28:26.67
lesson number 25. But tonight
our new lesson is entitled The
00:28:26.70\00:28:32.47
Truth About Heaven and the
New Earth. You know that as I've
00:28:32.51\00:28:37.08
listened to this lesson,
I've just been amazed how many
00:28:37.11\00:28:43.05
times and I'm going to say that
I've even heard it sometimes
00:28:43.08\00:28:45.25
amongst us, how people get
things mixed up. I'm going to
00:28:45.29\00:28:51.96
give you one drop, one drop
of something to think about.
00:28:51.99\00:28:53.80
Because I've heard people
say this... I remember when I
00:28:53.83\00:28:56.50
was growing up I used to say the
very same thing. When I lost my
00:28:56.53\00:29:00.50
puppy, when I lost my dog, I
lost my favorite pet, I would
00:29:00.54\00:29:02.24
ask is he going to be in heaven?
But we'll discover where pets
00:29:02.27\00:29:07.21
are going to be. We'll discover
what the Bible says about heaven
00:29:07.24\00:29:12.11
about heaven and the New Earth.
What is going to be there, who
00:29:12.15\00:29:16.45
is going to be there, what's
going to be there and what's not
00:29:16.48\00:29:18.82
going to be there. All right.
So let's not... Because so many
00:29:18.85\00:29:23.16
people have all these, you know
statements about what's going
00:29:23.19\00:29:25.96
to be in heaven and
sometimes we even mix up text
00:29:25.99\00:29:30.10
and sometimes even people
perceive it, Oh when I get to
00:29:30.13\00:29:33.10
heaven I'm going to the heavenly
zoo. Think about it. The lion
00:29:33.13\00:29:38.47
shall lay down with the
lamb. We say that. That's in the
00:29:38.51\00:29:43.31
Bible. I'll just tell you this
now so we can break it down a
00:29:43.35\00:29:46.72
little later. The lion and lamb
are going to be in the New Earth
00:29:46.75\00:29:49.18
Not in heaven. I want to follow
this very carefully. We going to
00:29:49.22\00:29:53.82
talk about that later on. Now
your wheels are spinning. Okay
00:29:53.86\00:29:59.79
we'll talk about it a little
later, all right? The New Earth
00:29:59.83\00:30:02.20
is going to be the creation
restored. Remember that. When
00:30:02.23\00:30:07.80
God created the earth during
the week He created animals. He
00:30:07.84\00:30:12.41
didn't send them down here.
He created animals. Then He
00:30:12.44\00:30:17.11
created Adam and Adam named
all the animals. Jesus is coming
00:30:17.15\00:30:21.15
back for His church and in the
New Earth my own personal desire
00:30:21.18\00:30:27.99
and I said this one day to
a little child who said is my
00:30:28.02\00:30:31.49
puppy, just a puppy, when we
lost our only dog that we had as
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.90
a married couple, it was a long
time ago. We were so torn by
00:30:34.93\00:30:40.00
seeing him hit right in front of
us. You know we just bought him
00:30:40.04\00:30:43.10
a brand new chain. Somebody
had given him to us when I was
00:30:43.14\00:30:47.11
going passing around
Thanksgiving baskets in the
00:30:47.14\00:30:50.11
mountains of Northern California
I went to a house and the lady
00:30:50.15\00:30:53.45
said I want to give you
something and she took me to her
00:30:53.48\00:30:56.08
back yard and there was a dog
that had a litter of puppies and
00:30:56.12\00:30:59.39
I picked the one that was most
estranged from the whole pile
00:30:59.42\00:31:02.89
and I named him Snuggles. He was
a chow-Labrador. And wherever I
00:31:02.92\00:31:07.73
went... Just imagine pulling out
from the church and there's a
00:31:07.76\00:31:14.90
whole long line of traffic
behind me going really slow
00:31:14.94\00:31:16.57
and I'm thinking why are they
going so slow? Then I see this
00:31:16.60\00:31:20.98
little brown dot in the middle
of the traffic and it's my dog
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.11
running in front of all the cars
and trucks because he's trying
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.32
to catch up with me. That's
how close he was. When I'd stop
00:31:27.35\00:31:30.55
I'd say Snuggles
you're going to get killed.
00:31:30.59\00:31:32.69
I'd stop and he'd jump
00:31:32.72\00:31:34.22
in the car right into my lap and
stick his head out the window
00:31:34.26\00:31:37.93
or I'd lay on the couch and he'd
jump on my chest and put his
00:31:37.96\00:31:40.60
face right here and he'd go
(big sigh) and we had such a
00:31:40.63\00:31:44.83
connection. Very loyal dog. And
then one evening we went to the
00:31:44.87\00:31:47.94
store and he was so used to
just running and he heard a dog
00:31:47.97\00:31:52.61
bark across the road, just two
lanes, one each direction, and
00:31:52.64\00:31:55.44
he ran out right across the road
at night and a pickup truck hit
00:31:55.48\00:32:01.28
him and knocked him way up
in the air and he landed and he
00:32:01.32\00:32:03.05
died in my arms.
00:32:03.08\00:32:04.42
After that we never got a
puppy again. Oh the pain of
00:32:04.45\00:32:08.46
death. And we called a
deacon and he buried him in the
00:32:08.49\00:32:10.86
mountains of California.
And after that man I think for a
00:32:10.89\00:32:15.30
week we were not even any good.
We'd see a piece of hair in the
00:32:15.33\00:32:18.00
house, I'm talking
about the new earth okay.
00:32:18.03\00:32:20.54
And so I thought in the new
00:32:20.57\00:32:21.90
earth there are going to be some
dogs, there are going to be some
00:32:21.94\00:32:24.37
pets, there are going to be
some animals and horses, why not
00:32:24.41\00:32:26.24
mine? Come on say amen somebody.
But here's my point. If he's not
00:32:26.27\00:32:30.25
there I'm not going to be upset.
Can I get an amen? Whatever the
00:32:30.28\00:32:35.35
Lord decides will be better than
what we have now. Isn't that
00:32:35.38\00:32:37.72
right? So let's not
00:32:37.75\00:32:39.09
get bent out of shape and give
God a list of all the reasons
00:32:39.12\00:32:41.59
why we...
00:32:41.62\00:32:42.96
Lord if you have this in the new
earth I'll go. I've heard some
00:32:42.99\00:32:49.16
people say if he's not going to
be in heaven I don't want to be
00:32:49.20\00:32:53.57
there. And I thought to myself
if you don't want to be in
00:32:53.60\00:32:58.07
heaven, I'm not pointing at
you, if you don't want to be in
00:32:58.11\00:32:59.44
heaven I'm not losing it because
you don't want to be there.
00:32:59.47\00:33:01.04
Amen somebody. I'm going because
Jesus is going to be there right
00:33:01.08\00:33:05.15
That's the number one reason
why we're going. Not because
00:33:05.18\00:33:07.72
Oh if my cousin doesn't make it
I don't want to be... I've heard
00:33:07.75\00:33:09.75
somebody say if my brother's
not going to be there I don't
00:33:09.78\00:33:11.12
want to be there. Then I guess
you both won't be there. I don't
00:33:11.15\00:33:14.89
want to be very harsh but the
fact of the matter is the only
00:33:14.92\00:33:17.69
reason why we should go is
because Jesus is going to be
00:33:17.73\00:33:19.89
there. Not for mansions, not for
golden streets, not for fruit.
00:33:19.93\00:33:22.53
We're going because that's the
place to be. So tonight let's
00:33:22.56\00:33:26.74
begin with a promise.
Question number one, here it is:
00:33:26.77\00:33:29.50
What promise did Jesus make?
John 14, all you theologians
00:33:34.44\00:33:39.08
know this very well. John 14:1-3
where we find our answer tonight
00:33:39.11\00:33:44.12
In this world where so many
things are going wrong this text
00:33:44.15\00:33:47.69
is a constant comfort. You know
that one day there's going to be
00:33:47.72\00:33:51.26
a permanent change. Here it
is: On the screen, John 14:1-3:
00:33:51.29\00:33:56.13
Let's read this together. We all
know this. I think we should all
00:33:56.16\00:33:58.60
recite this
together. Together here we are:
00:33:58.63\00:34:00.47
I want to be where Jesus is.
Jesus already came down to be
00:34:27.16\00:34:30.83
where I am. But this time I want
to be where He is, amen? You see
00:34:30.87\00:34:34.87
what people don't understand...
We've traveled right now I think
00:34:34.90\00:34:37.41
on our list we've been to 52
countries. I want you to turn
00:34:37.44\00:34:40.34
with me to the book of Hebrews
9 We've been to 52 countries,
00:34:40.38\00:34:43.35
matter of fact, Hebrews 11
not Hebrews 9. We've been to 52
00:34:43.38\00:34:48.15
countries and I haven't seen a
country yet that I'm willing to
00:34:48.18\00:34:52.15
trade for heaven. I haven't seen
a country on earth yet... I mean
00:34:52.19\00:34:57.13
I haven't been to Dubai
yet. I've heard about... My good
00:34:57.16\00:35:00.43
friend Doug Bachelor went to
Dubai and you know he comes from
00:35:00.46\00:35:03.47
a lot of wealth. His dad
was a billionaire, it's hard to
00:35:03.50\00:35:07.50
impress him. He said to me, John
you know it's hard, it's hard to
00:35:07.54\00:35:10.01
impress me. I was impressed.
Dubai, the tallest building in
00:35:10.04\00:35:14.78
the world. He said you walk in
the hotel lobby and everything's
00:35:14.81\00:35:18.05
gold. I mean, the best of the
best, the best of the best of
00:35:18.08\00:35:22.72
the best. Gold plated and
platinum plated things all
00:35:22.75\00:35:24.85
around you. It's just money
flowing. And I found out that
00:35:24.89\00:35:27.72
like over a hundred million
dollars a day, I forgot, a crazy
00:35:27.76\00:35:33.06
amount, a hundred million
dollars a day flow into these
00:35:33.09\00:35:35.86
areas just because of the oil.
I mean that's a small amount I'm
00:35:35.90\00:35:38.67
sure I'm way off by a whole lot.
So if you have the money flowing
00:35:38.70\00:35:43.81
in you got to find something to
do with it. I want to tell you
00:35:43.84\00:35:47.14
as I read this text not even
Dubai is a place I want to be
00:35:47.18\00:35:51.18
eternally. Come on, amen
somebody. Hebrews 11:9: The
00:35:51.21\00:35:55.82
Bible says by faith, speaking
about Abraham, he sojourned in
00:35:55.85\00:35:59.99
the land of promise as in a
foreign country, dwelling in
00:36:00.02\00:36:06.49
tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same
00:36:06.53\00:36:10.60
promise. For he waited for the
city which has foundations whose
00:36:10.63\00:36:17.17
builder and maker is God. Verse
16. But now they desire a better
00:36:17.21\00:36:26.38
that is a what kind of country?
A heavenly country for God is
00:36:26.41\00:36:31.69
not ashamed to be called
their God for he has, together,
00:36:31.72\00:36:37.79
prepared a city for them.
Tonight there's a city prepared
00:36:37.83\00:36:41.10
for us. A wonderful city and
it's a city of peace because the
00:36:41.13\00:36:47.10
Prince of peace reigns there.
A city of no violence. When you
00:36:47.14\00:36:50.37
compare this city the Bible
talks about in Revelation to the
00:36:50.41\00:36:53.61
city that Isaiah talked about,
go to Isaiah 24, let's look at
00:36:53.64\00:36:59.11
the city as Isaiah sees the
earth, and this is just the tip
00:36:59.15\00:37:02.62
of the iceberg. Isaiah 24 here
it is. Isaiah 24 Hmm talking
00:37:02.65\00:37:17.03
about the day of judgment and
tribulation to come. Everybody's
00:37:17.07\00:37:20.70
going to be involved. Start
with verse 1. Behold the Lord
00:37:20.74\00:37:24.34
makes the earth empty and makes
it waste, distorts its surface
00:37:24.37\00:37:31.88
and scatters abroad its
inhabitants. And notice how many
00:37:31.91\00:37:34.68
will be affected, verse 2. And
it shall be: As with the people
00:37:34.72\00:37:38.85
so with the priest; as with the
servant so with his master; as
00:37:38.89\00:37:41.42
with the maid, so with her
mistress; as with the buyer so
00:37:41.46\00:37:44.19
with the seller; as with the
lender so with borrower; as with
00:37:44.23\00:37:47.43
the creditor, so with the debtor
The land shall be entirely
00:37:47.46\00:37:51.63
emptied and utterly plundered.
For the Lord has spoken this
00:37:51.67\00:37:56.47
word. Notice what he says.
Verse 4: The earth mourns and
00:37:56.50\00:37:59.97
fades away, the world languishes
and fades away; the haughty
00:38:00.01\00:38:04.65
people of the earth languish.
The earth is also defiled under
00:38:04.68\00:38:08.38
its inhabitants, because
the people that live here, us.
00:38:08.42\00:38:11.59
Because they have transgressed
the laws, changed the ordinance,
00:38:11.62\00:38:14.92
broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore the curse has devoured
00:38:14.96\00:38:19.33
the earth and those who dwell in
it are desolate. Therefore the
00:38:19.36\00:38:24.73
inhabitants of the earth
are burned and few men are left.
00:38:24.77\00:38:29.74
That means so little after the
devastation, so little. That's
00:38:29.77\00:38:33.24
the condition of the world
we live in now compared to the
00:38:33.27\00:38:36.04
world that the Lord is preparing
for us. Amen. So let's put the
00:38:36.08\00:38:38.98
answer to question number
one. What promise did Jesus make
00:38:39.01\00:38:42.78
concerning His desire to have
us with Him? I will come again.
00:38:42.82\00:38:51.16
Write that. He will come again.
He will return. I will come back
00:38:51.19\00:38:58.10
I will come again. The
reason why he's coming back is
00:38:58.13\00:39:01.54
because, while we
00:39:01.57\00:39:03.07
live here we're not citizens
down here. Right? When you
00:39:03.10\00:39:08.58
accepted Jesus Christ you
changed your citizenship You got
00:39:08.61\00:39:11.91
a different passport. See when
I travel there that country of
00:39:11.95\00:39:17.95
origin, country of nationality,
USA, USA. When I get to the new
00:39:17.99\00:39:24.39
Jerusalem they'll say, passport
please. Citizen of heaven, amen.
00:39:24.43\00:39:30.90
I've got the proof today. Go to
Philippians 3. Got the proof for
00:39:30.93\00:39:34.77
that. Philippians 3 look at
this. Philippians 3. Okay here
00:39:34.80\00:39:46.05
we are. Okay here it is:
Philippians 3. Look at verse 20
00:39:46.08\00:39:54.39
and verse 21. Citizens,
citizens. For our citizenship is
00:39:54.42\00:40:02.10
where? In heaven, from which we
also eagerly wait for the
Savior, the Lord Jesus
00:40:02.13\00:40:07.40
Christ, who will transform
our lowly body that it may be
00:40:07.44\00:40:11.47
be conformed to His glorious
body according to the working
00:40:11.51\00:40:16.38
by which He is able even to
subdue all things to Himself.
00:40:16.41\00:40:20.45
So where is our citizenship?
It's in heaven. As an evangelist
00:40:20.48\00:40:25.32
would sing years ago, Is your
name written there. Praise the
00:40:25.35\00:40:30.33
Lord. That's why He's coming
back to get us because would it
00:40:30.36\00:40:34.80
make sense... When we had that
terrible tragedy of September
00:40:34.83\00:40:36.16
11, 2001. We arrived in Canada
on United Airlines airplane and
00:40:36.20\00:40:42.20
because we were on an American
carrier we were allowed to come
00:40:42.24\00:40:45.91
into America. Here's the
key. Because we have a heavenly
00:40:45.94\00:40:50.71
citizenship we'll be allowed to
go to heaven, amen. That's the
00:40:50.75\00:40:54.45
key reason the heavenly
citizenship is stamped on
00:40:54.48\00:40:57.45
the passport the blood of Jesus
Christ. Let's go to question
00:40:57.49\00:41:00.56
number two. Here it
is: Question number two...
00:41:00.59\00:41:07.96
There's a reason here.
Go to John 3:13. Okay. Oh.
00:41:11.13\00:41:24.41
John 3:13. Here it
is: The Bible says:
00:41:24.45\00:41:28.62
That is the Son of man who is
in heaven. Now let me put this
00:41:40.03\00:41:43.33
together because I know you're
thinking of Elijah, you're
00:41:43.37\00:41:45.50
thinking of Moses, you're
thinking of Enoch. They did not
00:41:45.53\00:41:49.00
ascend to heaven. They were
carried to heaven. Did you hear
00:41:49.04\00:41:53.71
that? They didn't ascend
on their own power. They were
00:41:53.74\00:41:58.48
carried. Swept away in a chariot
of fire, see. Enoch walked with
00:41:58.51\00:42:02.58
God and remember God
took him and Moses, the Lord
00:42:02.62\00:42:06.42
resurrected him. He was a trophy
of those who will come forth
00:42:06.45\00:42:09.49
from the grave in the
resurrection. They did not
00:42:09.52\00:42:12.13
ascend on their own power like
the saints are going to ascend
00:42:12.16\00:42:16.70
on the power of Christ. So
what this is talking about here,
00:42:16.73\00:42:20.40
there's no one has ascended to
heaven but He who came down from
00:42:20.44\00:42:24.17
heaven than is the Son of man
who is in, was up, came down,
00:42:24.21\00:42:28.08
went back. Is that clear? Now
the reason I'm bringing this up
00:42:28.11\00:42:32.95
is I'm going to go to the very
next question and I'm going to
00:42:32.98\00:42:35.18
address this issue about the new
show Heaven is for Real, or this
00:42:35.22\00:42:39.55
new movie Heaven is for Real.
Where this little kid said he
00:42:39.59\00:42:42.86
went to heaven. I'm not going
to mention anything right now
00:42:42.89\00:42:46.26
but I just but let's just go on
to the question number two. What
00:42:46.29\00:42:48.70
reason does the Bible give for
the necessity of Jesus' return?
00:42:48.73\00:42:51.43
No one has ascended to heaven
How many? No one. Tonight loved
00:42:51.47\00:42:56.97
ones are not in heaven, Liberace
is not there, Dean Martin is not
00:42:57.01\00:43:00.64
there, Frank Sinatra is not
there, Michael Jackson's not
00:43:00.68\00:43:03.51
there. NO ONE has ascended to
heaven. And we know the reason
00:43:03.55\00:43:06.92
why no one has ascended.
It's because we cannot ascend
00:43:06.95\00:43:11.45
until we are changed
00:43:11.49\00:43:12.82
to be immortal. Amen? Isn't
that right? The Bible says, when
00:43:12.85\00:43:17.63
this mortal puts on
immortality and that happens at
00:43:17.66\00:43:22.23
last trumpet. But that's
not happened as yet. Until this
00:43:22.26\00:43:25.53
mortal puts on immortality
and this corruptible puts on
00:43:25.57\00:43:29.07
incorruption, mortality cannot
exist in the presence of an
00:43:29.10\00:43:33.31
immortal God. David the Psalmist
says our God is a consuming fire
00:43:33.34\00:43:37.55
What will happen to perishable
things in the presence of a fire
00:43:37.58\00:43:42.38
Come on tell me, what will
happen Burned up like dry leaves
00:43:42.42\00:43:45.59
on a summer day. It'll burn
up just like that. Our God is a
00:43:45.62\00:43:49.89
consuming fire. But if you're
immortal, you'll be able to
00:43:49.92\00:43:53.96
walk into the presence of God
without being consumed. And only
00:43:54.00\00:43:56.93
as you are clothed in
the character of Christ
00:43:56.97\00:43:59.87
can you walk in the
00:43:59.90\00:44:01.24
presence of His Father and
not be consumed. That's the
00:44:01.27\00:44:05.47
qualification, not
your righteousness but His
00:44:05.51\00:44:09.64
righteousness. No one has
ascended but He came down.
00:44:09.68\00:44:12.51
That was a big issue with the
Jews. Well wait a minute, wait
00:44:12.55\00:44:15.35
a minute. He said how did you
get fed in the wilderness? Well
00:44:15.38\00:44:21.02
ah our father Moses fed us with
the bread that came down from
00:44:21.06\00:44:25.19
heaven. He did didn't he? And
Jesus said to the Jewish leaders
00:44:25.23\00:44:29.93
Young man, young Jesus, well I
am the bread that came down from
00:44:29.96\00:44:36.20
heaven. You're not even old
enough. How are you the bread
00:44:36.24\00:44:43.48
that came down from heaven?
For those who understood as
00:44:43.51\00:44:49.85
Jesus said to the woman at the
well. He didn't argue with the
00:44:49.88\00:44:53.56
Pharisees. They were determined
to tell Jesus He's not the bread
00:44:53.59\00:44:56.62
But once she met Jesus and
found that He is the Christ she
00:44:56.66\00:45:00.30
says give me of that water that
I may never thirst again. That's
00:45:00.33\00:45:04.03
the right response. They said
you're not the bread and she
00:45:04.07\00:45:07.34
said you are the water, give
me that water that I might not
00:45:07.37\00:45:11.27
thirst again. So one has
ascended. So put that as the
00:45:11.31\00:45:13.34
number two question. What reason
does the Bible give for the
00:45:13.38\00:45:15.91
necessity of Jesus' return?
No one has ascended. We cannot
00:45:15.94\00:45:18.75
ascend to heaven without the
power of Christ. We're not going
00:45:18.78\00:45:22.98
on our own recognizance, we're
not flying away. People sing
00:45:23.02\00:45:25.69
that song, I'll Fly Away. No
you'll be on the wings of Christ
00:45:25.72\00:45:30.23
You'll be going on his wing.
We'll be flying but not on our
00:45:30.26\00:45:34.33
recognizance. When I die, I'll
fly away. Bulletin: NOT. Won't
00:45:34.36\00:45:41.80
happen. Number three. How did
Jesus confirm that man cannot go
00:45:41.84\00:45:48.98
to heaven until He returns.
Cannot go to heaven until He
00:45:49.01\00:45:54.25
returns. Question number
three. All right. How did Jesus
00:45:54.28\00:45:58.42
confirm that? Oh man. There's
so many of these responses I
00:45:58.45\00:46:03.43
had to pick one of them. I
had to pick one of them. Because
00:46:03.46\00:46:05.93
Jesus was clear, Jesus was so
clear. I thank the Lord for the
00:46:05.96\00:46:11.70
clarity of His word. Can you say
Amen to that? John 13:33, Here's
00:46:11.73\00:46:17.74
what the word of the Lord
says, from the lips of Jesus. He
00:46:17.77\00:46:22.18
says...
00:46:22.21\00:46:37.99
Then he goes on to the very next
verse. He says: Love one another
00:46:38.03\00:46:42.56
and He made at least four
statements. He says, Where I am
00:46:42.60\00:46:45.50
going you cannot come. You know
the way but you can't come. I'll
00:46:45.53\00:46:49.64
come back to get you. You cannot
come. Where are you going Jesus?
00:46:49.67\00:46:52.91
And He said to them you know the
way, but let's put it this way:
00:46:52.94\00:46:55.84
I am the way, the truth and the
life. But you can't come. I'll
00:46:55.88\00:46:59.28
be back. So People cannot go.
So when somebody says that they
00:46:59.31\00:47:05.22
went to heaven... I mean
years ago there was a book
00:47:05.25\00:47:07.12
Twenty-two Minutes in Heaven.
Forty Minutes in Hell. Again
00:47:07.16\00:47:14.70
about 25 years ago all of a
sudden, for those of you who are
00:47:14.73\00:47:19.00
more mature, I'm not referring
to the kids here, but all of a
00:47:19.03\00:47:21.90
sudden we started having these
reports of people seeing these
00:47:21.94\00:47:25.54
lights. Remember that? They're
going toward a light, they're
00:47:25.57\00:47:29.51
going toward a light. I saw the
light. And they said that the
00:47:29.54\00:47:32.81
light was warm and embraced
me and then this little kid came
00:47:32.85\00:47:37.15
back with the foresight well
everybody's going to be there
00:47:37.19\00:47:39.09
nobody's going to be lost. And
the devil, like he did years ago
00:47:39.12\00:47:43.39
in that evil movie Poltergeist.
I saw it before I was converted.
00:47:43.43\00:47:55.00
He communicates lies through
innocent voices. Subtle. Daddy I
00:47:55.04\00:47:59.07
saw grandpa there.
00:47:59.11\00:48:04.31
What did he look like? He had
on, he had on... I saw my baby
00:48:04.35\00:48:08.22
sister, the one that died before
she was born. What'd she look
00:48:08.25\00:48:09.82
like? And he describes her. Then
you must have been there. Don't
00:48:09.85\00:48:15.82
even know the devil's been
around longer than his baby
00:48:15.89\00:48:18.63
sitter's been around. The devil
and his angels. People have
00:48:18.66\00:48:24.17
deleted Satan and his angels
from the center of the world.
00:48:24.20\00:48:29.67
Now days particularly
it's preference, lifestyle,
00:48:29.70\00:48:33.31
I prefer this way, you
prefer it that way. Tradition.
00:48:33.38\00:48:36.95
I was saying to
somebody yesterday.
00:48:36.98\00:48:39.05
I don't believe in
traditional marriage.
00:48:39.08\00:48:40.82
I really don't. I believe in
Biblical marriage. Traditions
00:48:40.88\00:48:46.45
change don't they. Whatever
society _ tradition. Let's
00:48:46.49\00:48:50.93
start a new tradition. We'll all
go to church, left foot first,
00:48:50.96\00:48:53.60
right foot next. Tradition. But
the Bible doesn't change. Am I
00:48:53.63\00:48:58.10
right? So if somebody argues
with you about traditional
00:48:58.13\00:49:00.60
marriage say I don't believe
in traditional marriage. Let
00:49:00.64\00:49:02.90
them sit there and simmer.
Aren't you a Christian. Yeah but
00:49:02.94\00:49:05.87
I do not believe in traditional
marriage. Let them sit there and
00:49:05.91\00:49:10.25
sweat a little bit. I believe in
scriptural marriage. Amen? That
00:49:10.28\00:49:13.92
is constant and you cannot argue
with me based on my religious
00:49:13.95\00:49:16.72
freedom. That's what I'm
basing it on, not my tradition.
00:49:16.75\00:49:20.02
So here's the point. Where
I'm going you cannot come. So if
00:49:20.06\00:49:22.92
people say they went to heaven,
they didn't go. Let me justify
00:49:22.96\00:49:26.90
what is clear. Because the Bible
talks about the prophets that
00:49:26.93\00:49:31.13
had glimpses of heaven. Some
people dream. I had a dream a
00:49:31.17\00:49:34.57
few nights ago. It wasn't about
heaven but I'm sure that some of
00:49:34.60\00:49:38.04
us somewhere along the way in
our lifetime may have dreamed of
00:49:38.07\00:49:40.14
something glorious and woke up
in the morning and desired from
00:49:40.18\00:49:42.74
that day on to live righteous
because the dream was so
00:49:42.78\00:49:45.61
beautiful about heaven and
even the presence of Jesus.
00:49:45.65\00:49:48.25
One day I did have a dream, I
told my wife about it the next
00:49:48.28\00:49:51.42
morning. I dreamed that I was in
a room, just me and Jesus, and
00:49:51.45\00:49:55.09
we had such a one-to-one
conversation. No one was there
00:49:55.12\00:49:58.39
and I woke up that next morning
and I said, I've seen Jesus. The
00:49:58.43\00:50:03.06
Bible says no one has seen the
Father and the Son. And I said
00:50:03.10\00:50:07.04
Ah how wonderful. It was a dream
And in the Bible, the Bible also
00:50:07.07\00:50:14.31
talks about visions that
prophets had. Go to Revelation
00:50:14.34\00:50:16.38
chapter 4. Let's give you
an example. So how does Jesus
00:50:16.41\00:50:19.01
confirm that man cannot go to
heaven until He returns? He says
00:50:19.05\00:50:24.75
where I am going you cannot
come. The reason why you're
00:50:24.79\00:50:29.22
not coming until
00:50:29.26\00:50:30.59
you've changed. We're not going
in the condition that we're in.
00:50:30.63\00:50:33.76
Revelation 4. Let's look
at some examples in the Bible.
00:50:33.80\00:50:36.93
Revelation 4, okay. This is
the text that's often used to
00:50:36.97\00:50:44.11
bolster the rapture or the
secret rapture. But there's no
00:50:44.14\00:50:48.01
secret rapture in this
thing. Let's read the verse.
00:50:48.04\00:50:52.71
Revelation 4:1: After these
things I looked and behold a
00:50:52.75\00:50:56.25
door standing open where?
In heaven. And the first voice
00:50:56.28\00:51:01.46
which I heard was like a trumpet
Oftentimes those who believe in
00:51:01.49\00:51:06.39
rapture connect this to the last
trumpet. Does this say this is
00:51:06.43\00:51:09.93
the last trumpet. It said
a trumpet. And then they say
00:51:09.96\00:51:13.03
speaking with me saying come
up hither, as the King James, or
00:51:13.07\00:51:17.41
come up here and I will
show you things which must take
00:51:17.44\00:51:20.81
place after this. And notice how
he was caught up. Immediately I
00:51:20.84\00:51:27.08
was in the Spirit. The Spirit
began to impress upon him.
00:51:27.12\00:51:31.25
That was the work of
00:51:31.29\00:51:32.62
Holy Spirit to bring to
his mind what God wanted him
00:51:32.65\00:51:35.66
to see. He was still on the
earth. And behold a throne set
00:51:35.69\00:51:40.33
in heaven and one sat on the
throne and He who sat there was
00:51:40.36\00:51:45.20
like a jasper and a Sardis stone
in appearance and there was a
00:51:45.23\00:51:49.34
rainbow about the throne in
appearance like an emerald. I'll
00:51:49.37\00:51:54.38
tell you, the devil has taken
a symbol that belongs to Christ
00:51:54.41\00:51:57.28
and has made it a putrid symbol
in society, the rainbow. That's
00:51:57.31\00:52:02.68
what he does. So you see here,
I'm not going to read the whole
00:52:02.72\00:52:05.89
thing, you get a chance to
do that, and you'll see in this
00:52:05.92\00:52:08.76
very verse one of the activities
of the angel is to praise God
00:52:08.79\00:52:11.93
day and night. The four and
twenty elders, the angels, they
00:52:11.96\00:52:15.76
praise the Lord day and night
and they say in verse 11 of the
00:52:15.80\00:52:19.50
same chapter, You are holy oh
Lord to receive glory and honor
00:52:19.53\00:52:25.31
and power for you created
all things and by your will they
00:52:25.34\00:52:32.08
exist and were created. So
John is caught up in vision.
00:52:32.11\00:52:35.52
But where is John? Somebody tell
me. Where is he? On the Isle of
00:52:35.55\00:52:40.06
Patmos, but he's caught up in
vision. He's in chains. He's a
00:52:40.09\00:52:44.73
prisoner. But God has
given him a glimpse of the
00:52:44.76\00:52:47.56
heavenly abode of
00:52:47.60\00:52:50.77
God. He's given him a glimpse
but he's not there. But today
00:52:50.80\00:52:54.37
one of the reason why
these things have been happening
00:52:54.40\00:52:56.00
more so over the last 25,
30 years is because Satan is
00:52:56.04\00:53:00.01
setting the world up
for the ultimate deception.
00:53:00.04\00:53:03.11
The Resurrection is a new film.
Don't watch it. I don't watch it
00:53:03.14\00:53:05.98
I don't watch it. Don't watch
it Don't even... There's a film
00:53:06.01\00:53:09.15
called The Resurrection. A
little boy comes back after
00:53:09.18\00:53:12.42
being dead 20 years. I saw the
commercial and what's your son's
00:53:12.45\00:53:16.66
name... Only the father and the
son know this. They said it'll
00:53:16.69\00:53:23.73
challenge everything you've ever
believed. That what they said.
00:53:23.77\00:53:25.27
It'll challenge everything you
think. But that's exactly what
00:53:25.30\00:53:28.34
the devil wants you to do.
You know what he wants you to
00:53:28.37\00:53:29.87
challenge? The word of God.
That's really what he wants you
00:53:29.90\00:53:32.37
to challenge. But the Bible says
But that, what, I'm coming home,
00:53:32.41\00:53:40.08
I'm coming home, tell the world
I'm coming home. They play that
00:53:40.12\00:53:44.49
in the background so you can
hear that ethereal voice in your
00:53:44.52\00:53:47.66
head all day long. No. Here's
what I think. Jesus is coming
00:53:47.69\00:53:53.06
again (sung loudly). He's coming
and we're going home. Ain't no
00:53:53.09\00:53:56.13
dead people coming back to my
house. Right? In the book of Job
00:53:56.16\00:54:03.17
the Bible says, He shall not
awake... Job 14. Since you made
00:54:03.20\00:54:08.94
me go there let's go to Job 14.
Look at this. I'm thanking God
00:54:08.98\00:54:13.28
for His word. You know what, the
only think that will secure you
00:54:13.31\00:54:16.12
from the deception to come is a
thus saith the Lord. Isn't that
00:54:16.15\00:54:19.52
right? Don't believe in any
experience no matter how warm
00:54:19.55\00:54:23.53
it feels. It's a lie. Job
14. It's a lie. People, oh but I
00:54:23.56\00:54:34.17
witnessed it myself. Well you
just got deceived, that's what
00:54:34.20\00:54:37.94
it's called, deception, right?
Job 14 starting with verse 10:
00:54:37.97\00:54:43.04
Okay, I'm going to start
reading because I don't have _
00:54:43.08\00:54:47.62
But man dies and
00:54:47.65\00:54:49.18
is laid away, indeed he breathes
his last and where is he? As
00:54:49.22\00:54:54.62
water disappears from the sea
and a river becomes parched and
00:54:54.66\00:54:58.46
dried up, so man lies down and
does not rise. Come on say that
00:54:58.49\00:55:06.47
together, does not rise. Till
the heavens are no more, they
00:55:06.50\00:55:10.34
shall not awake nor be roused
from their sleep. Oh, that you
00:55:10.37\00:55:15.94
would hide me in the grave, that
you would conceal me until your
00:55:15.98\00:55:18.71
wrath is past, that You
would appoint me a set time and
00:55:18.75\00:55:22.18
remember me! If a man dies shall
he live again? All the days of
00:55:22.22\00:55:26.45
my hard service I will wait till
my change comes. What change?
00:55:26.49\00:55:31.29
From mortal to immortal One more
Job chapter 17. Now they have
00:55:31.33\00:55:37.83
this new phrase called home-
going services. Well I've got an
00:55:37.87\00:55:40.87
answer for that one too. Praise
the Lord. Job 17, home-going
00:55:40.90\00:55:45.57
we're doing home-going.
They ain't going home. They
00:55:45.61\00:55:48.18
going to the
00:55:48.21\00:55:49.78
cemetery. But they want to
call it a home, the Lord has
00:55:49.81\00:55:51.41
something for that too. Here it
is. Job 17:13. If I wait for the
00:55:51.45\00:55:59.45
grave as my house... Home-going
is where? The grave. If I make
00:55:59.49\00:56:04.26
bed in the darkness, if I say
to corruption you are my father
00:56:04.29\00:56:08.80
and to the worm you are my
mother and my sister. Where is
00:56:08.83\00:56:13.03
my hope? As for my hope, who can
see it? Will they go down to the
00:56:13.07\00:56:17.24
gates of Sheol (that's the
grave), shall we rest together
00:56:17.27\00:56:20.31
in the dust. That's their home,
the dust? From dust thou art,
00:56:20.34\00:56:25.51
the Lord said to Adam,
unto dust thou shalt return.
00:56:25.55\00:56:28.48
They're in the dust, so don't
00:56:28.52\00:56:30.49
get deceived. The Lord says...
Did we just get to number three,
00:56:30.52\00:56:33.82
that's it? The Lord says where
I am going you cannot come. So
00:56:33.86\00:56:38.69
tonight my brothers and sisters,
let's make sure that we are
00:56:38.73\00:56:41.33
prepared for the coming of the
Lord, not for some new Hollywood
00:56:41.36\00:56:45.43
production that either the
resurrection's taking place or
00:56:45.47\00:56:50.84
heaven is real. Heaven IS
for real, right? Don't get that
00:56:50.87\00:56:53.48
mixed up, but we don't go
at different times. We all go
00:56:53.51\00:56:57.88
together. We all go at the
same time. The Lord is going to
00:56:57.91\00:57:01.58
descend, He's coming back with
a trumpet to wake up all of our
00:57:01.62\00:57:03.75
loved ones who are resting in
Jesus. Isn't that wonderful? And
00:57:03.79\00:57:07.02
when that trumpet blows the
dusty graves from all over the
00:57:07.06\00:57:11.13
earth of all the sleeping saints
will be opened. They'll come
00:57:11.16\00:57:14.23
forth immortal,
00:57:14.26\00:57:17.13
perfectly reproduced in the
character of Christ. They'll be
00:57:17.17\00:57:19.53
no more sighing, no sin, no
death, no suffering, no scars,
00:57:19.57\00:57:22.90
no wrinkles. They're going to
be perfect for the first time.
00:57:22.94\00:57:28.01
Smooth, no tattoos David said.
Everything's going to be fixed.
00:57:28.04\00:57:33.38
God is going to get us ready for
a place and a time that we have
00:57:33.42\00:57:37.19
never had in our lives. And as
the Apostle Paul said, Eyes have
00:57:37.22\00:57:39.89
not seen, ears have not heard
it and it hasn't even entered
00:57:39.92\00:57:43.36
into our minds or hearts what
God has prepared for those that
00:57:43.39\00:57:47.60
love Him. So here's my
encouragement. Heaven is for
00:57:47.63\00:57:51.23
real. We're going to continue
studying about heaven, but if
00:57:51.27\00:57:53.34
you hear things that don't make
sense consult the word of God
00:57:53.37\00:57:56.37
and sooner or later it'll come
into A Sharper Focus. May God
00:57:56.40\00:58:01.24
continue to bless you.
00:58:01.28\00:58:02.91
¤ ¤
00:58:02.94\00:58:14.82