Hello, and welcome
to A Sharper Focus,
00:00:19.95\00:00:22.75
once again coming to you
00:00:22.78\00:00:24.49
from the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:24.52\00:00:26.69
on this Wednesday evening.
00:00:26.72\00:00:28.62
And we hope
that you are prepared
00:00:28.66\00:00:30.46
to study the Word of God.
00:00:30.49\00:00:32.26
We have a message
from the Word of God
00:00:32.29\00:00:34.26
to share with you.
00:00:34.30\00:00:35.63
And it's actually a continuation
00:00:35.66\00:00:37.20
from another
study that was done,
00:00:37.23\00:00:40.07
this is part two, basically,
on the state of the dead,
00:00:40.10\00:00:42.67
what happens when you die.
00:00:42.70\00:00:44.54
And Pastor Lomacang is
not able to be with you,
00:00:44.57\00:00:46.88
and I have the privilege to
be with you during this hour.
00:00:46.91\00:00:49.31
And we encourage
you to grab your Bible
00:00:49.34\00:00:52.21
and you may want to
grab something to write with
00:00:52.25\00:00:55.55
because you may want
to continue this study.
00:00:55.58\00:00:58.09
And if you have an interest
in continuing this study,
00:00:58.12\00:01:01.36
you need some handouts,
some material, contact 3ABN.
00:01:01.39\00:01:04.96
And we'll be
glad to find something
00:01:04.99\00:01:08.23
to help you
further in your study.
00:01:08.26\00:01:11.23
So before we continue,
00:01:11.27\00:01:13.23
we'd like to invite you
to remember to pray for 3ABN.
00:01:13.27\00:01:18.54
This ministry that
is reaching the world
00:01:18.57\00:01:20.44
with the everlasting gospel,
00:01:20.48\00:01:22.41
the three angels' messages
as mentioned in Revelation 14:6
00:01:22.44\00:01:27.98
and onward, verses 6-12.
00:01:28.02\00:01:30.15
And right now,
00:01:30.19\00:01:31.79
we want to encourage you
to join us in prayer as well.
00:01:31.82\00:01:34.72
We are going to pray and
ask for the Lord to bless us.
00:01:34.76\00:01:37.23
And so let us pray together.
00:01:37.26\00:01:40.80
Our loving Heavenly Father,
00:01:40.83\00:01:42.90
we thank You so much
for the Holy Scriptures
00:01:42.93\00:01:47.34
that are able to make
us wise unto salvation.
00:01:47.37\00:01:50.87
And we thank You, Lord,
00:01:50.91\00:01:52.24
that You have
promised to guide us
00:01:52.27\00:01:54.58
into all truth
through the Holy Spirit.
00:01:54.61\00:01:58.48
We pray, Lord, that
You will indeed guide us
00:01:58.51\00:02:00.88
during this
study, help us, teach us,
00:02:00.92\00:02:03.59
and make clear
in our understanding
00:02:03.62\00:02:06.82
this important message.
00:02:06.86\00:02:08.76
We pray for a blessing
upon everyone that is here,
00:02:08.79\00:02:11.39
and everyone that
is joining us locally,
00:02:11.43\00:02:15.06
and around the world.
00:02:15.10\00:02:16.60
We thank You Lord
for the opportunities
00:02:16.63\00:02:18.70
to study Your Holy Word together
00:02:18.73\00:02:20.64
with the freedom
to reach the world
00:02:20.67\00:02:22.90
with the
message of Jesus Christ.
00:02:22.94\00:02:24.41
And we thank You
00:02:24.44\00:02:26.41
for all that
You have done for us
00:02:26.44\00:02:27.78
during this day.
00:02:27.81\00:02:29.14
We ask You for these
things in Jesus' holy
00:02:29.18\00:02:31.01
and blessed name, amen.
00:02:31.05\00:02:33.42
Amen.
00:02:33.45\00:02:34.78
Well, we are going to
do a brief, brief refresher
00:02:34.82\00:02:39.15
on what we talked
about last time to catch up.
00:02:39.19\00:02:42.26
As a matter of
fact it will be helpful
00:02:42.29\00:02:44.16
especially that there
were perhaps several million
00:02:44.19\00:02:48.16
that were not with us last time
00:02:48.20\00:02:49.70
and they may have
joined us this time.
00:02:49.73\00:02:51.50
So we want to ask you
to join us in John 11.
00:02:51.53\00:02:55.80
John 11, Jesus says something
00:02:55.84\00:02:59.84
that has opened the eyes
of many throughout history.
00:02:59.87\00:03:03.98
And this is in John 11,
00:03:04.01\00:03:05.55
we're going to
look at verses 11-14.
00:03:05.58\00:03:09.05
John 11:11-14.
00:03:09.08\00:03:13.02
And this is what is written.
00:03:13.05\00:03:15.99
"These things said he:
00:03:16.02\00:03:18.26
and after that
he said unto them,
00:03:18.29\00:03:21.23
Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,
00:03:21.26\00:03:24.57
but I go that I may
awake him out of sleep.
00:03:24.60\00:03:28.04
Then said his disciples, Lord,
if he sleep, he shall do well.
00:03:28.07\00:03:32.84
Howbeit Jesus
spoke of his death:
00:03:32.87\00:03:37.81
but they thought
that he had spoken
00:03:37.85\00:03:39.88
of taking a rest in sleep.
00:03:39.91\00:03:43.08
Then said Jesus
unto them plainly,
00:03:43.12\00:03:46.39
Lazarus is dead."
00:03:46.42\00:03:50.26
So what we have here
00:03:50.29\00:03:51.63
is Jesus
helping us to understand
00:03:51.66\00:03:54.53
what really happens
when you die the first time.
00:03:54.56\00:03:57.27
And I say die the first time
00:03:57.30\00:03:58.70
because the Bible
records a second death
00:03:58.73\00:04:01.24
that is
registered in Revelation 20.
00:04:01.27\00:04:04.17
The first death is a
result of many reasons,
00:04:04.21\00:04:08.04
could be some illness,
00:04:08.08\00:04:09.51
it could be some
unfortunate accident,
00:04:09.54\00:04:12.71
or that someone does
something to kill you.
00:04:12.75\00:04:17.19
But the Bible
calls this a sleep.
00:04:17.22\00:04:20.66
As a matter of
fact over 50 times
00:04:20.69\00:04:23.02
there is reference
to death being a sleep.
00:04:23.06\00:04:26.09
And if you are
sleeping, that means
00:04:26.13\00:04:29.36
you are not
participating in anything
00:04:29.40\00:04:31.17
that is happening
with those that are alive.
00:04:31.20\00:04:34.34
And so there are many scriptures
00:04:34.37\00:04:36.04
that help us to understand this.
00:04:36.07\00:04:37.64
We are just
going to look at a few
00:04:37.67\00:04:39.77
because we have covered this,
00:04:39.81\00:04:41.38
I believe very
clearly last time.
00:04:41.41\00:04:44.71
One of them that
we're going to look at
00:04:44.75\00:04:46.08
is found in
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9
00:04:46.11\00:04:49.42
and we're going to
look at verses 5 and 6.
00:04:49.45\00:04:52.72
Ecclesiastes 9:5 and 6.
00:04:52.75\00:04:57.83
Let us read what the Bible says.
00:04:57.86\00:04:59.86
Ready?
00:04:59.89\00:05:01.23
"For the living
know that they shall die:
00:05:01.26\00:05:05.63
but the dead know not anything,
00:05:05.67\00:05:09.20
neither have they
any more a reward,
00:05:09.24\00:05:12.77
for the memory of
them is forgotten.
00:05:12.81\00:05:15.81
And their love,
and their hatred,
00:05:15.84\00:05:18.55
and their envy, is now perished,
00:05:18.58\00:05:21.82
neither have they any
more a portion forever
00:05:21.85\00:05:25.35
in anything that is
done under the sun."
00:05:25.39\00:05:28.99
So what does the Bible
tell us about those that die,
00:05:29.02\00:05:32.79
that they know what?
00:05:32.83\00:05:34.16
Not anything.
00:05:34.20\00:05:36.10
So this right away
helps us to understand
00:05:36.13\00:05:39.93
that all those
games that are out there
00:05:39.97\00:05:43.10
that like Ouija,
however you say it,
00:05:43.14\00:05:46.78
and there are others
00:05:46.81\00:05:48.24
that supposedly you
must contact someone
00:05:48.28\00:05:52.41
that is dead to get information.
00:05:52.45\00:05:55.02
And many people do
this to try to find out
00:05:55.05\00:05:58.32
what's going to
happen in the future.
00:05:58.35\00:05:59.69
but the Bible clearly says
that the dead know not anything.
00:05:59.72\00:06:04.69
And so if you
have ever consulted
00:06:04.73\00:06:07.66
one of those games,
played one of those games,
00:06:07.70\00:06:09.83
and receive some information,
00:06:09.86\00:06:11.90
please understand
this is not reliable,
00:06:11.93\00:06:14.27
and it is Satan
trying to mislead you,
00:06:14.30\00:06:17.94
trying to lead you
down the wrong path
00:06:17.97\00:06:21.34
to make horrible decisions
00:06:21.38\00:06:23.24
that will surely
bring bad results.
00:06:23.28\00:06:27.12
So the dead know not anything.
00:06:27.15\00:06:29.55
As a matter of fact,
00:06:29.58\00:06:30.92
there are people that supposedly
00:06:30.95\00:06:33.15
speak to the dead.
00:06:33.19\00:06:35.79
There are different things
people do to speak to the dead.
00:06:35.82\00:06:38.49
And so, as well we read that
their hatred, and their love,
00:06:38.53\00:06:43.16
and their envy is all gone
00:06:43.20\00:06:45.30
because they do
not exist anymore,
00:06:45.33\00:06:48.94
nothing is
operational, the body, the mind,
00:06:48.97\00:06:53.38
everything ceases to exist.
00:06:53.41\00:06:55.88
Along with this
comes some other beliefs
00:06:55.91\00:06:58.51
that we will
discuss a little further on.
00:06:58.55\00:07:00.68
Remember the dead
know not anything.
00:07:00.72\00:07:03.89
So stay away from anything that
00:07:03.92\00:07:06.92
or anyone that tries to
communicate with the dead.
00:07:06.96\00:07:09.69
And I understand
that some psychics
00:07:09.72\00:07:11.99
and others supposedly
call some people from the dead
00:07:12.03\00:07:14.83
to try to do this.
00:07:14.86\00:07:16.43
So it is a dangerous thing
00:07:16.46\00:07:18.20
because this is
something that Satan uses
00:07:18.23\00:07:21.10
to try to confuse people.
00:07:21.14\00:07:22.47
As a matter of fact,
this has been going on
00:07:22.50\00:07:24.77
since the Garden of Eden.
00:07:24.81\00:07:26.14
What did Satan tell Lucifer?
00:07:26.17\00:07:28.18
I mean tell Eve?
00:07:28.21\00:07:30.61
"You will not surely die."
00:07:30.65\00:07:33.65
And somehow different nations,
the Egyptians, the Greeks,
00:07:33.68\00:07:39.65
and others have
brought on the idea
00:07:39.69\00:07:42.52
that the dead
continue, and they do not,
00:07:42.56\00:07:45.83
they cease to exist
until the Bible calls
00:07:45.86\00:07:50.30
what is called the resurrection.
00:07:50.33\00:07:52.10
And which happens
00:07:52.13\00:07:53.47
when Jesus Christ comes for who?
00:07:53.50\00:07:57.51
For the righteous.
00:07:57.54\00:07:59.17
And when Jesus
comes the third time
00:07:59.21\00:08:02.31
for the
unrighteous or the wicked.
00:08:02.34\00:08:04.88
There is a
resurrection of the righteous
00:08:04.91\00:08:07.52
and there is a
resurrection of the wicked,
00:08:07.55\00:08:09.68
two separate resurrections.
00:08:09.72\00:08:11.69
And this is clearly
mentioned in the Bible,
00:08:11.72\00:08:15.52
and we will continue the study,
00:08:15.56\00:08:17.59
and you will
understand this clearly,
00:08:17.63\00:08:19.66
it is our prayer.
00:08:19.69\00:08:21.16
So what about
the countless stories
00:08:21.20\00:08:24.47
about people seeing dead
people that are walking around,
00:08:24.50\00:08:29.40
or ghosts, or
appearances of people that have,
00:08:29.44\00:08:33.58
I told a few stories last
time, appearances of people
00:08:33.61\00:08:36.88
that have died.
00:08:36.91\00:08:38.61
I was told a story
when I was younger,
00:08:38.65\00:08:40.92
very intriguing.
00:08:40.95\00:08:42.28
There's
supposedly down certain road,
00:08:42.32\00:08:44.42
I forget I think it was Texas,
00:08:44.45\00:08:46.42
that you would be driving a car,
00:08:46.45\00:08:48.06
and suddenly a runner
will start running beside you
00:08:48.09\00:08:52.83
while you are driving,
00:08:52.86\00:08:54.43
and you see
somebody keeping up with you
00:08:54.46\00:08:57.27
while you're
driving 65 miles an hour.
00:08:57.30\00:08:59.77
And of course this
brings fear upon people
00:08:59.80\00:09:02.00
so they start driving faster,
00:09:02.04\00:09:03.37
supposedly this runner
00:09:03.41\00:09:04.77
continues to run at
the same speed as the car,
00:09:04.81\00:09:07.44
and eventually
runs off into the woods.
00:09:07.48\00:09:10.31
Is this a real person?
00:09:10.35\00:09:11.95
No, it's not.
00:09:11.98\00:09:13.65
We know that
nobody can run that fast
00:09:13.68\00:09:16.12
for any extended period of time.
00:09:16.15\00:09:18.22
And so Satan
tries in different ways
00:09:18.25\00:09:20.46
to mislead people.
00:09:20.49\00:09:21.82
Do not be fooled
00:09:21.86\00:09:23.19
because the dead
will not know anything.
00:09:23.22\00:09:24.89
So then brings the question,
00:09:24.93\00:09:27.76
if it's not our dead loved ones,
00:09:27.80\00:09:30.93
who is it that appears?
00:09:30.97\00:09:33.10
Who is it that around us?
00:09:33.13\00:09:34.47
As a matter of fact, I
heard there was a magazine,
00:09:34.50\00:09:38.67
some people were
researching the idea of ghosts
00:09:38.71\00:09:40.88
because so many
stories were coming out.
00:09:40.91\00:09:42.68
And they
offered $5,000 to anyone
00:09:42.71\00:09:45.28
that can produce
a ghost to anyone
00:09:45.31\00:09:46.85
that can provide information
00:09:46.88\00:09:50.62
that can be
verified that ghosts exist,
00:09:50.65\00:09:53.79
And unfortunately
00:09:53.82\00:09:55.16
nobody has been
able to claim the prize.
00:09:55.19\00:09:58.16
I think it went up
to $10,000 at one point
00:09:58.19\00:10:00.93
because they do not exist.
00:10:00.96\00:10:03.03
So what is it
that people are saying?
00:10:03.06\00:10:04.77
Please understand
that Satan is a deceiver,
00:10:04.80\00:10:09.07
and he is a liar.
00:10:09.10\00:10:11.11
And since he is a
deceiver and a liar,
00:10:11.14\00:10:13.17
he will take advantage
of any misunderstanding
00:10:13.21\00:10:15.98
you may have to lead
you down the wrong path.
00:10:16.01\00:10:18.78
So I would like to
point you to a scripture
00:10:18.81\00:10:21.58
that helps us
understand what Satan can do.
00:10:21.62\00:10:24.55
2 Corinthians 11:14.
00:10:24.59\00:10:29.69
2 Corinthians 11:14.
00:10:29.72\00:10:35.36
Let us read.
00:10:35.40\00:10:37.03
It is written in verse 14.
00:10:37.07\00:10:39.83
"And no marvel,
for Satan himself
00:10:39.87\00:10:43.67
is transformed
00:10:43.71\00:10:46.44
into an angel of light."
00:10:46.47\00:10:50.65
So there you have it,
00:10:50.68\00:10:52.08
Satan was once
a beautiful angel.
00:10:52.11\00:10:56.62
And he was in heaven,
00:10:56.65\00:10:59.29
he knows what angels looked like
00:10:59.32\00:11:01.22
because he was one.
00:11:01.26\00:11:02.99
Now he is an evil, wicked,
00:11:03.02\00:11:07.50
and he tries to take
advantage of what he knows
00:11:07.53\00:11:12.63
to try to appear to people.
00:11:12.67\00:11:14.60
I've even heard
stories that actually I think
00:11:14.64\00:11:17.87
it was Roger Morneau
that wrote several stories
00:11:17.91\00:11:21.54
about appearances of demons
00:11:21.58\00:11:24.91
in masquerading as angels.
00:11:24.95\00:11:27.45
And since Satan
is able to do this,
00:11:27.48\00:11:30.32
he can also
00:11:30.35\00:11:31.99
take on the
appearances of people.
00:11:32.02\00:11:34.82
If he can transform
himself into an angel of light,
00:11:34.86\00:11:38.26
he can take on the
appearance of a person
00:11:38.29\00:11:40.60
and duplicate the
voices and phrases
00:11:40.63\00:11:45.03
things they used to
say that to you will say,
00:11:45.07\00:11:47.94
"That's right, my
uncle used to say that.
00:11:47.97\00:11:49.67
My mother used to
say those things."
00:11:49.70\00:11:51.97
And it will
sound in the same way.
00:11:52.01\00:11:54.04
And be not surprised,
I'm sure you have heard,
00:11:54.08\00:11:57.21
when I was younger,
00:11:57.25\00:11:58.68
we used to see
some television program,
00:11:58.71\00:12:01.32
there was one comedian
00:12:01.35\00:12:02.78
there was able to
imitate several presidents
00:12:02.82\00:12:05.85
and sounded just like
them, and several movie stars.
00:12:05.89\00:12:08.76
So if people can do this,
00:12:08.79\00:12:10.83
as a matter of fact some animals
00:12:10.86\00:12:14.83
that are trained to
speak, some birds...
00:12:14.86\00:12:17.53
What kind of birds are
those? Anybody remember?
00:12:17.57\00:12:18.97
Parrots.
00:12:19.00\00:12:20.60
They usually
sound like the voice
00:12:20.64\00:12:23.30
that has trained them.
00:12:23.34\00:12:25.51
And so if these
simple animals can do this,
00:12:25.54\00:12:28.34
imagine what Satan can do?
00:12:28.38\00:12:29.88
Disguising his
voice as your loved one
00:12:29.91\00:12:32.41
to tell you
something and to mislead you.
00:12:32.45\00:12:35.82
The Bible says that the
dead do not know anything,
00:12:35.85\00:12:39.29
keep away from
anything that may deceive you
00:12:39.32\00:12:43.19
in that direction.
00:12:43.22\00:12:44.76
So let us now go to John 5
00:12:44.79\00:12:48.93
because we need to understand
00:12:48.96\00:12:51.03
what happens
00:12:51.07\00:12:52.67
when is it that the righteous
00:12:52.70\00:12:58.67
are going to be resurrected.
00:12:58.71\00:13:00.84
Because some people
believe that when you die,
00:13:00.88\00:13:05.15
if you are righteous,
00:13:05.18\00:13:06.51
you go straight to
heaven immediately.
00:13:06.55\00:13:09.95
And some people
believe that when you die,
00:13:09.98\00:13:13.59
if you are wicked,
you go immediately to hell
00:13:13.62\00:13:15.89
to burn, and you
are burning, and burning
00:13:15.92\00:13:18.46
throughout eternity.
00:13:18.49\00:13:19.83
This is a misunderstanding
and we will go more into this
00:13:19.86\00:13:23.20
in another study.
00:13:23.23\00:13:25.13
But we're just going
to briefly mention this.
00:13:25.17\00:13:27.80
Imagine the misunderstanding
that there is about this
00:13:27.84\00:13:32.71
that has caused many
people a lot of harm.
00:13:32.74\00:13:36.04
As a matter of
fact, John 5:28 and 29
00:13:36.08\00:13:40.75
is what we are going to read.
00:13:40.78\00:13:42.95
If you're ready say, amen.
00:13:42.98\00:13:44.49
Amen.
00:13:44.52\00:13:45.85
"Marvel not at this:
for the hour is coming..."
00:13:45.89\00:13:50.29
If it's coming, that
means it's not arrived,
00:13:50.33\00:13:52.69
"in which all
that are in the graves
00:13:52.73\00:13:55.16
shall hear his voice."
00:13:55.20\00:13:56.67
All that are in the
grave shall hear his voice.
00:13:56.70\00:13:58.73
"And shall come forth,
they that have done good,
00:13:58.77\00:14:02.57
unto the resurrection of
life," that is eternal life,
00:14:02.60\00:14:06.21
"and they that have done evil,
00:14:06.24\00:14:07.94
unto the
resurrection of damnation."
00:14:07.98\00:14:12.31
So the Bible tells us
00:14:12.35\00:14:14.95
what is going to
happen to the righteous
00:14:14.98\00:14:17.52
and what is going to
happen to the wicked.
00:14:17.55\00:14:19.92
Everyone knows this scripture,
00:14:19.95\00:14:21.42
we're not going to
put it on the screen
00:14:21.46\00:14:22.79
because even as
I start quoting it,
00:14:22.82\00:14:24.29
many people will recognize
it, "For God so loved the world,
00:14:24.33\00:14:28.10
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:14:28.13\00:14:30.37
that whosoever believeth in Him,
00:14:30.40\00:14:32.60
should not," what?
00:14:32.63\00:14:33.97
"Perish."
00:14:34.00\00:14:35.44
What does it mean to perish?
00:14:35.47\00:14:37.91
That means to die.
00:14:37.94\00:14:39.61
So those that believe
in Him will not perish,
00:14:39.64\00:14:42.38
but what happen to those
that do not believe in Him,
00:14:42.41\00:14:45.18
they will perish.
00:14:45.21\00:14:48.05
Once again, "For
God so loved the world
00:14:48.08\00:14:49.65
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:14:49.68\00:14:51.12
that whosoever believeth
in Him shall not perish,
00:14:51.15\00:14:53.12
but have everlasting life."
00:14:53.15\00:14:55.19
Who gets everlasting life?
00:14:55.22\00:14:56.69
Those that believe in Him.
00:14:56.73\00:14:59.36
Praise the Lord for that.
00:14:59.39\00:15:00.90
How many people are
looking forward to that?
00:15:00.93\00:15:02.50
Say amen. Amen.
00:15:02.53\00:15:03.87
Amen. Amen.
00:15:03.90\00:15:06.84
Well, at this point,
00:15:06.87\00:15:10.04
we would like to talk to you
about what the scripture states
00:15:10.07\00:15:15.24
concerning speaking to the dead.
00:15:15.28\00:15:18.25
The Bible
mentions this as something
00:15:18.28\00:15:20.82
that is
expressively forbidden by God.
00:15:20.85\00:15:25.09
We are going to go to
Deuteronomy Chapter 18.
00:15:25.12\00:15:28.86
And in Deuteronomy Chapter 18,
00:15:28.89\00:15:30.76
I like it when the Bible
opens up right to the chapter
00:15:30.79\00:15:33.60
practically instantly.
00:15:33.63\00:15:34.96
Deuteronomy 18,
00:15:35.00\00:15:36.33
we're going to go
through verses 10-12.
00:15:36.36\00:15:38.53
Deuteronomy 18:10-12.
00:15:38.57\00:15:41.10
This is what we
have in the Bible.
00:15:41.14\00:15:44.14
"There shall not be
found among you anyone
00:15:44.17\00:15:48.01
that make it his
son or his daughter
00:15:48.04\00:15:52.81
to pass through the
fire, or that uses divination,
00:15:52.85\00:15:56.79
or an observer of
times, or an enchanter,
00:15:56.82\00:16:00.06
or a witch, or a charmer,
00:16:00.09\00:16:03.09
or a consulter
with familiar spirits,
00:16:03.12\00:16:06.23
or a wizard, or a necromancer.
00:16:06.26\00:16:09.30
For all that do these things
00:16:09.33\00:16:11.57
are an
abomination unto the Lord:
00:16:11.60\00:16:14.67
and because of
these abominations
00:16:14.70\00:16:16.94
the Lord thy God drive
them out from before thee."
00:16:16.97\00:16:22.91
So this is a
declaration from the Lord
00:16:22.94\00:16:24.88
that the people of Israel
00:16:24.91\00:16:27.15
were going to occupy
the land of other people
00:16:27.18\00:16:30.22
because they
were doing wickedness,
00:16:30.25\00:16:32.39
such as trying
to contact the dead,
00:16:32.42\00:16:34.52
they were doing
things which is necromancers.
00:16:34.56\00:16:39.43
And we're going to
tell you a few things,
00:16:39.46\00:16:40.80
some people here necromancer
what in the world is that?
00:16:40.83\00:16:43.63
Literally it is a person,
a consulter with the dead.
00:16:43.67\00:16:49.00
And there's very
little difference
00:16:49.04\00:16:50.41
between a necromancer,
00:16:50.44\00:16:51.91
somebody that consults that end,
00:16:51.94\00:16:53.88
and a consulter
with familiar spirits
00:16:53.91\00:16:56.11
which is
practically the same thing.
00:16:56.14\00:16:57.98
Why does God forbid this?
00:16:58.01\00:17:02.72
Why does He forbid this?
00:17:02.75\00:17:04.09
Because He knows that Satan
00:17:04.12\00:17:06.05
is going to take
advantage of the people
00:17:06.09\00:17:08.86
that do these things.
00:17:08.89\00:17:11.36
People for some reason
have this great interest,
00:17:11.39\00:17:14.16
fascination to know
00:17:14.20\00:17:15.53
what is going to
happen next week.
00:17:15.56\00:17:17.60
Or if I could
only see the future,
00:17:17.63\00:17:19.23
what's going to be
happen to my son, my daughter?
00:17:19.27\00:17:21.97
Or am I going to marry
that person or that person?
00:17:22.00\00:17:24.17
And they want to
know these things.
00:17:24.21\00:17:26.24
And unfortunately,
00:17:26.27\00:17:27.61
they make serious
mistakes and even get themselves
00:17:27.64\00:17:29.81
into a lot of
financial problems,
00:17:29.84\00:17:32.81
consulting people that
do these type of things.
00:17:32.85\00:17:37.32
It says a charmer,
00:17:37.35\00:17:40.02
back in those
days it was a person
00:17:40.06\00:17:41.72
that used to tie knots,
and wearing of magic cords,
00:17:41.76\00:17:46.23
and trying to make spells.
00:17:46.26\00:17:48.50
I've been shocked to see
what is going on in this world.
00:17:48.53\00:17:51.37
You can go to some
popular bookstores,
00:17:51.40\00:17:53.60
I'm not going to
mention them by name,
00:17:53.64\00:17:55.17
you've probably
already guessed some of them.
00:17:55.20\00:17:58.04
Going through the bookstore,
looking at different books,
00:17:58.07\00:18:00.21
and I was by the
children's section.
00:18:00.24\00:18:03.28
And there by the
children's section,
00:18:03.31\00:18:04.78
there were two or three
books that surprised me.
00:18:04.81\00:18:08.92
And they were books
00:18:08.95\00:18:10.29
on how to make spells on people.
00:18:10.32\00:18:14.29
And they had spells
to try to cast a spell
00:18:14.32\00:18:18.13
upon somebody to
fall in love with you.
00:18:18.16\00:18:21.20
And there were
spells for good luck,
00:18:21.23\00:18:23.03
and it was in the
children's section.
00:18:23.06\00:18:24.57
And I said,
"What a horrible thing
00:18:24.60\00:18:27.57
is going on in this world?"
00:18:27.60\00:18:29.54
It's going from bad to worse.
00:18:29.57\00:18:32.71
And we need to be aware of
the danger of these things.
00:18:32.74\00:18:36.88
So having told you these things,
00:18:36.91\00:18:39.28
we now go into
one of the stories
00:18:39.31\00:18:41.65
that people use
00:18:41.68\00:18:43.52
to try to justify the idea
00:18:43.55\00:18:49.29
that the dead that are righteous
00:18:49.32\00:18:51.69
go to heaven
00:18:51.73\00:18:53.06
or the dead that
are evil go to hell.
00:18:53.09\00:18:55.53
One of them is the story of Saul
00:18:55.56\00:18:58.77
that consulted a witch,
00:18:58.80\00:19:00.97
and the Witch of Endor.
00:19:01.00\00:19:02.54
Saul chosen by God to be
the first king of Israel,
00:19:02.57\00:19:06.98
after the people kept
saying, "Lord, give us a king,
00:19:07.01\00:19:10.48
give us a king.
00:19:10.51\00:19:11.85
We want a king
like the other nations."
00:19:11.88\00:19:14.48
And Samuel the
prophet was very sad
00:19:14.52\00:19:17.09
that they were asking for a king
00:19:17.12\00:19:19.15
because they wanted to
be like the other nations
00:19:19.19\00:19:21.19
when God was their king.
00:19:21.22\00:19:23.26
No, we want to be
like the other nations.
00:19:23.29\00:19:26.36
As a matter of
fact, the Lord told Saul,
00:19:26.39\00:19:29.83
tell them that the king is
going to take your children,
00:19:29.86\00:19:33.70
so they can join his army,
00:19:33.74\00:19:35.14
they're going to
take your children
00:19:35.17\00:19:36.50
so they can serve at his table,
00:19:36.54\00:19:37.87
they're going to
take your horses,
00:19:37.91\00:19:39.24
they're going to
take your cattle,
00:19:39.27\00:19:40.61
and the king is just
going to misuse his authority.
00:19:40.64\00:19:44.71
And they say,
00:19:44.75\00:19:46.08
"Nay, but we will
have a king over us."
00:19:46.11\00:19:49.38
And so the Lord said,
00:19:49.42\00:19:54.89
"You want a king.
You'll have a king."
00:19:54.92\00:19:57.33
We have to be careful
with what we asked the Lord.
00:19:57.36\00:19:59.79
It is better to
commit our ways to the Lord
00:19:59.83\00:20:03.10
and He will direct our path,
00:20:03.13\00:20:05.00
instead of us
demanding asking for things.
00:20:05.03\00:20:07.70
And this is why
00:20:07.74\00:20:09.50
we have to be
careful with these things
00:20:09.54\00:20:11.17
because bad consequences come
when we insist upon something
00:20:11.21\00:20:15.01
that is not good for us.
00:20:15.04\00:20:16.91
The Lord told
Samuel, "Do not be sad,
00:20:16.95\00:20:20.02
they are not rejecting
you, they are rejecting me."
00:20:20.05\00:20:24.52
And so the process
went on to pick the king,
00:20:24.55\00:20:27.72
and the Lord selected Saul,
00:20:27.76\00:20:30.93
and Saul was a good person.
00:20:30.96\00:20:34.10
Unfortunately, he went astray.
00:20:34.13\00:20:37.20
And when he went astray,
00:20:37.23\00:20:39.83
he went from bad to worse,
00:20:39.87\00:20:43.24
to worse, and
to worse in so much
00:20:43.27\00:20:46.44
that the Lord
stopped talking to him.
00:20:46.47\00:20:50.58
So let us go to
1 Samuel Chapter 28
00:20:50.61\00:20:53.88
to pick up on this story.
00:20:53.92\00:20:56.48
1 Samuel 28,
00:20:56.52\00:20:58.12
you will notice in the Bible
00:20:58.15\00:20:59.49
that when the people of Israel
00:20:59.52\00:21:00.86
had a war with another nation
00:21:00.89\00:21:02.42
or another nation
was attacking them.
00:21:02.46\00:21:04.19
It was the custom of the
Lord, custom of the king,
00:21:04.23\00:21:07.40
custom of the
people to ask the Lord,
00:21:07.43\00:21:09.30
"Lord, do we go
and fight against them?
00:21:09.33\00:21:11.17
Will You be with us?
00:21:11.20\00:21:12.83
Will You fight our battle?"
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.17
And the Philistines were coming,
00:21:15.20\00:21:18.87
the Philistines were
getting closer and closer,
00:21:18.91\00:21:21.54
and Saul was afraid,
the people were afraid,
00:21:21.58\00:21:24.35
so they wanted to know,
"Will the Lord be with us?
00:21:24.38\00:21:26.78
Will He help us
00:21:26.82\00:21:28.32
defeat the Philistines?"
00:21:28.35\00:21:30.62
And the Lord
would not answer Saul.
00:21:30.65\00:21:34.79
So Saul did something
that he knew was forbidden.
00:21:34.82\00:21:39.26
As a matter of fact,
00:21:39.29\00:21:40.66
he had made a
declaration and passed a law,
00:21:40.70\00:21:42.53
"Anyone found
consulting the dead,
00:21:42.56\00:21:45.53
consulting a medium,
00:21:45.57\00:21:48.30
will be," what,
00:21:48.34\00:21:50.61
"killed, cast out."
00:21:50.64\00:21:52.44
Be thrown out of the city.
00:21:52.47\00:21:55.81
Anyway and put to death.
00:21:55.84\00:21:58.01
1 Samuel 20,
00:21:58.05\00:21:59.38
we're going to start in verse 6.
00:21:59.41\00:22:00.98
We're going to go and
first read verse 6 and 7.
00:22:01.02\00:22:02.75
1 Samuel 28:6 and 7.
00:22:02.78\00:22:05.55
"And when Saul
enquired of the Lord,
00:22:05.59\00:22:08.06
the Lord answered him
not, neither by dreams,
00:22:08.09\00:22:11.89
nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
00:22:11.93\00:22:15.06
Then said Saul
unto his servants,
00:22:15.10\00:22:17.37
Seek me a woman that
have a familiar spirit,
00:22:17.40\00:22:20.34
that I may go to
her, and enquire of her.
00:22:20.37\00:22:22.94
And his servant
said to him, Behold,
00:22:22.97\00:22:25.31
there is a woman
00:22:25.34\00:22:26.68
that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor."
00:22:26.71\00:22:30.91
And so right away
they found somebody
00:22:30.95\00:22:35.58
for Saul to talk to
concerning his request.
00:22:35.62\00:22:39.15
And notice that
the Bible mentions
00:22:39.19\00:22:41.39
the different ways that
00:22:41.42\00:22:43.59
in the past God
was talking to Saul.
00:22:43.63\00:22:47.36
And that is by dreams, by
the Urim, or by the prophet.
00:22:47.40\00:22:52.53
And prophets were consulted
00:22:52.57\00:22:53.90
to know what the Lord
was asking for His people
00:22:53.94\00:22:57.94
or what the Lord wanted to do.
00:22:57.97\00:23:00.44
And so the
Urim, you may remember
00:23:00.48\00:23:02.71
there was the Urim and Thummim
00:23:02.74\00:23:05.18
in the High Priest garment,
00:23:05.21\00:23:07.68
and if the Lord enter yes,
00:23:07.72\00:23:11.09
that was one of
the jewels lit up,
00:23:11.12\00:23:13.62
if He answered no, the
other one would light up.
00:23:13.66\00:23:16.66
And Urim positively
would be a positive answer.
00:23:16.69\00:23:21.96
And so let's go now to verse
8 to find out what happened.
00:23:22.00\00:23:25.30
1 Samuel 28:8,
00:23:25.33\00:23:27.74
"And Saul disguised himself,
and put on other raiment,
00:23:27.77\00:23:32.87
and he went, and
two men with him."
00:23:32.91\00:23:35.18
He didn't want to be discovered,
00:23:35.21\00:23:36.95
"and they came to the
woman by night: and he said,
00:23:36.98\00:23:39.41
I pray thee, divine unto
me by the familiar spirit,
00:23:39.45\00:23:43.39
and bring him up, whom
I showed a name unto thee.
00:23:43.42\00:23:47.19
And the woman said unto him,
00:23:47.22\00:23:48.56
behold thou knowest
what Saul hath done,
00:23:48.59\00:23:51.69
how he hath cut off those
that have familiar spirits,
00:23:51.73\00:23:54.93
and the
wizards, out of the land:
00:23:54.96\00:23:57.37
wherefore then layest
thou a snare for my life,
00:23:57.40\00:24:01.44
to cause me to die?"
00:24:01.47\00:24:05.11
Saul knew it was wrong.
00:24:05.14\00:24:07.31
So he disguised himself
00:24:07.34\00:24:08.68
so that people
would not know it is him.
00:24:08.71\00:24:10.91
And he knew he
was doing something
00:24:10.95\00:24:12.45
that he even
said not to be done.
00:24:12.48\00:24:15.28
And so he goes to this woman
00:24:15.32\00:24:19.05
to try to get an answer.
00:24:19.09\00:24:22.86
Now, let us go to verse 10.
00:24:22.89\00:24:25.49
1 Samuel 28:10-12.
00:24:25.53\00:24:28.56
We will read now.
00:24:28.60\00:24:29.93
"And Saul sware
to her by the Lord,
00:24:29.96\00:24:32.73
saying, As the Lord liveth,
00:24:32.77\00:24:35.70
there shall no punishment
happen to thee for this thing.
00:24:35.74\00:24:39.47
He declared by the Lord.
00:24:39.51\00:24:41.44
Then said the woman,
00:24:41.48\00:24:42.81
Whom shall I bring up unto thee?
00:24:42.84\00:24:44.25
And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
00:24:44.28\00:24:46.98
And when the woman saw Samuel,
she cried with a loud voice,
00:24:47.02\00:24:50.95
and the woman
spake to Saul, saying,
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.85
Why hast thou deceived me?
00:24:52.89\00:24:55.99
for thou art Saul."
00:24:56.02\00:24:59.89
The woman discovered
who the man in disguise was.
00:24:59.93\00:25:03.40
And she was afraid for her life.
00:25:03.43\00:25:05.77
But Saul had made an oath,
00:25:05.80\00:25:10.17
swearing in the
name of the Lord.
00:25:10.21\00:25:12.94
So this is a wicked thing to do
00:25:12.97\00:25:15.71
even from the
standpoint of he knew
00:25:15.74\00:25:18.35
he was not
supposed to be consulting,
00:25:18.38\00:25:21.78
this woman was
trying to contact the dead
00:25:21.82\00:25:24.35
which know not anything,
00:25:24.39\00:25:26.19
it was a
communication with the devil
00:25:26.22\00:25:29.36
that he was really seeking for.
00:25:29.39\00:25:33.03
And so the woman
was in great danger.
00:25:33.06\00:25:36.40
Imagine people how wicked it is
00:25:36.43\00:25:39.50
that when they want to
make you believe something,
00:25:39.53\00:25:42.24
they swear in the
name of the Lord of things
00:25:42.27\00:25:44.91
and that adds on to their guilt
and the danger that they are.
00:25:44.94\00:25:50.85
And so let us now
go to the next verses
00:25:53.92\00:25:58.39
that lead us in this study.
00:25:58.42\00:26:04.19
We will now move to verse 13.
00:26:04.23\00:26:06.76
1 Samuel 28:13 and 14.
00:26:06.80\00:26:11.47
"And the king said unto her,
00:26:11.50\00:26:13.47
Be not afraid:
for what sawest thou?
00:26:13.50\00:26:16.67
And the woman said unto Saul,
00:26:16.71\00:26:18.17
I saw gods
ascending out of the earth.
00:26:18.21\00:26:23.65
And he said unto
her, What form is he of?
00:26:23.68\00:26:26.55
And she said, An
old man cometh up,
00:26:26.58\00:26:29.68
and he is covered with a mantle.
00:26:29.72\00:26:31.75
And Saul perceived
that it was Samuel,
00:26:31.79\00:26:34.89
and he stooped with
his face to the ground,
00:26:34.92\00:26:37.69
and bowed himself."
00:26:37.73\00:26:40.26
Notice the different
things that took place.
00:26:40.30\00:26:42.86
It says that Paul, Saul,
perceived that it was Samuel.
00:26:42.90\00:26:48.77
That was his conclusion.
00:26:48.80\00:26:51.57
The woman simply said I
saw an old man with a mantle.
00:26:51.61\00:26:54.94
And he is, "Oh,
he must be Samuel,"
00:26:54.98\00:26:56.38
he thought.
00:26:56.41\00:26:58.08
And then, of course,
00:26:58.11\00:27:01.08
Satan takes
advantage of these things,
00:27:01.12\00:27:03.65
he tries to use familiar things
00:27:03.69\00:27:06.19
that the people that
you're trying to call
00:27:06.22\00:27:07.66
from the dead to
mislead you on the wrong path.
00:27:07.69\00:27:09.76
Remember that
Samuel is mentioned
00:27:09.79\00:27:14.56
in the list of
heroes in Hebrews 11.
00:27:14.60\00:27:18.17
So where should
according to the popular belief
00:27:18.20\00:27:22.24
that when the righteous die,
where is Samuel supposed to be?
00:27:22.27\00:27:25.44
In heaven.
00:27:25.47\00:27:26.81
According to the popular belief
which the Bible does not say
00:27:26.84\00:27:29.11
that when you
die, you go to heaven.
00:27:29.14\00:27:31.38
The Bible simply
says, "You're asleep,
00:27:31.41\00:27:33.55
you're in the grave
waiting for the resurrection."
00:27:33.58\00:27:36.22
So if that idea is true,
00:27:36.25\00:27:38.62
why is this man that supposedly
00:27:38.65\00:27:42.62
is coming from the dead
ascending from the ground?
00:27:42.66\00:27:46.90
Ascending up,
00:27:46.93\00:27:48.26
instead of
coming down from heaven.
00:27:48.30\00:27:50.80
So right away
00:27:50.83\00:27:52.40
even though
people use this passage
00:27:52.43\00:27:54.77
to say that you
can talk to the dead
00:27:54.80\00:27:57.54
or that they're
still alive somehow.
00:27:57.57\00:28:03.55
It right away does away
with what they're thinking is
00:28:03.58\00:28:06.48
because Samuel is said to
be ascending from the earth.
00:28:06.51\00:28:12.29
And now one of the
things I would like to point out
00:28:12.32\00:28:14.36
about this story
is, what does Saul do
00:28:14.39\00:28:19.09
when he thinks it's Samuel?
00:28:19.13\00:28:21.00
It says, he bows himself
00:28:21.03\00:28:23.67
to the ground
thinking he's Samuel.
00:28:23.70\00:28:27.84
But who is it?
00:28:27.87\00:28:29.20
Remember Satan masquerades
00:28:29.24\00:28:31.97
as an angel of light to deceive.
00:28:32.01\00:28:36.08
So Satan is taking
advantage of the opportunity,
00:28:36.11\00:28:38.58
when he's really bowing down
he's bowing down to the devil.
00:28:38.61\00:28:43.08
And that is horrendous.
00:28:43.12\00:28:46.02
But Saul thinks
he's talking to Samuel.
00:28:46.05\00:28:48.39
And the story continues,
00:28:48.42\00:28:50.39
let's go into verse 15 and 16
00:28:50.43\00:28:53.29
to see what takes place.
00:28:53.33\00:28:56.83
"And Samuel said to Saul,
Why has thou disquieted me,
00:28:56.87\00:29:02.57
to bring me up?
00:29:02.60\00:29:04.74
And Saul answered,
I am sore distressed,
00:29:04.77\00:29:07.41
for the Philistines
make war against me,
00:29:07.44\00:29:09.98
and God is departed from
me, and answered me no more,
00:29:10.01\00:29:14.28
neither by
prophets, nor by dreams:
00:29:14.32\00:29:16.48
therefore I have called thee,
00:29:16.52\00:29:18.05
that thou mayest make
known unto me what I shall do.
00:29:18.09\00:29:23.29
Then said Samuel,
00:29:23.32\00:29:24.66
Wherefore then
does thou ask of me,
00:29:24.69\00:29:27.50
seeing the Lord is
departed from thee,
00:29:27.53\00:29:29.50
and is become thine enemy?"
00:29:29.53\00:29:32.93
Wow.
00:29:32.97\00:29:34.30
This is something amazing
that has taken place here.
00:29:34.34\00:29:36.94
This demon and that's what it is
00:29:36.97\00:29:40.28
talking to Saul
is letting him know
00:29:40.31\00:29:44.15
that what he has done,
00:29:44.18\00:29:48.08
what Saul has done
00:29:48.12\00:29:50.72
caused the Lord
to depart from him.
00:29:50.75\00:29:53.05
For this reason,
00:29:53.09\00:29:54.59
I would like to point out
00:29:54.62\00:29:55.96
that when we seek the Lord,
00:29:55.99\00:29:58.29
and we are living
according to His ways,
00:29:58.33\00:30:02.00
we can trust that the
Lord hears our prayer.
00:30:02.03\00:30:04.77
We should wait
and trust in the Lord
00:30:04.80\00:30:07.34
to answer our prayer
according to His will.
00:30:07.37\00:30:10.27
But when people seek the Lord,
when they are practicing evil,
00:30:10.31\00:30:14.51
they should not expect
that the Lord will answer.
00:30:14.54\00:30:17.88
Let's go to
Psalm 66 for a moment
00:30:17.91\00:30:20.85
and see what the Bible says
00:30:20.88\00:30:23.32
concerning those that
are living a wicked life
00:30:23.35\00:30:27.99
and expecting the
Lord to bless them
00:30:28.02\00:30:33.16
even though they are
living in wickedness.
00:30:33.19\00:30:36.33
In Psalm 66:18.
00:30:36.36\00:30:38.70
Pages are stuck together.
00:30:41.84\00:30:44.14
Psalm 66:18, the Bible says,
00:30:44.17\00:30:47.01
"If I regard
iniquity in my heart,
00:30:47.04\00:30:51.68
the Lord will not hear me."
00:30:51.71\00:30:55.68
If I regard
iniquity in my heart,
00:30:55.72\00:30:58.05
the Lord will not hear me.
00:30:58.09\00:30:59.59
So Paul is practicing evil.
00:30:59.62\00:31:02.56
Did I say Paul?
00:31:02.59\00:31:03.93
I mean Saul was practicing evil.
00:31:03.96\00:31:06.93
But now he's expecting
the Lord to answer him,
00:31:06.96\00:31:09.40
when he's not
giving up his evil ways.
00:31:09.43\00:31:12.23
Compare for a
moment Saul to David,
00:31:12.27\00:31:15.70
when it was revealed to David
00:31:15.74\00:31:18.07
that he had
committed a great evil.
00:31:18.11\00:31:20.44
What did David do?
00:31:20.48\00:31:21.98
In Psalm 51,
00:31:22.01\00:31:23.81
you have a psalm of repentance,
00:31:23.85\00:31:26.11
where David is saying,
my iniquities before you,
00:31:26.15\00:31:32.05
cleanse me, forgive me,
00:31:32.09\00:31:34.16
don't take your
Holy Spirit from me.
00:31:34.19\00:31:36.32
And he's asking
the Lord to purge him
00:31:36.36\00:31:38.13
and cleanse him from his evil,
00:31:38.16\00:31:41.53
the evil thing that he has done.
00:31:41.56\00:31:43.06
He repented.
00:31:43.10\00:31:44.43
Saul was not
doing any such thing.
00:31:44.47\00:31:46.43
There is no record of
him after Samuel says to him,
00:31:46.47\00:31:49.37
"You're doing wrong, you
shouldn't be doing this,"
00:31:49.40\00:31:51.31
that he repents, he
continues to do evil.
00:31:51.34\00:31:53.98
And therefore the
Lord departed from him.
00:31:54.01\00:31:56.68
There is another scripture
00:31:56.71\00:31:58.05
that I would like
to point out to you.
00:31:58.08\00:31:59.41
Let's go quickly to Acts 5:32.
00:31:59.45\00:32:03.49
Acts 5:32.
00:32:03.52\00:32:08.72
This is another
scripture that reveals to us
00:32:08.76\00:32:10.83
what happened to Saul and
what could happen to anyone
00:32:10.86\00:32:16.03
that does not walk
according to God's ways,
00:32:16.06\00:32:18.87
that person is in danger.
00:32:18.90\00:32:20.87
In Acts 5:32, the Bible says,
00:32:20.90\00:32:24.37
"And we are his
witnesses of these things,
00:32:24.41\00:32:27.01
and so also is the
Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit,
00:32:27.04\00:32:30.01
whom God hath given
to them that obey him."
00:32:30.05\00:32:34.78
Who does God give
the Holy Spirit to?
00:32:34.82\00:32:37.72
To those that obey Him.
00:32:37.75\00:32:40.09
Saul was not obeying the Lord,
00:32:40.12\00:32:42.12
therefore he could not
receive the Holy Spirit,
00:32:42.16\00:32:45.93
and that's why
00:32:45.96\00:32:48.20
he was not receiving the answers
00:32:48.23\00:32:50.00
he was looking for.
00:32:50.03\00:32:51.43
Instead of repenting,
and going to the Lord,
00:32:51.47\00:32:54.47
and asking the
Lord for forgiveness,
00:32:54.50\00:32:56.37
he continued in his rebellion,
00:32:56.40\00:32:58.17
and went to seek for a woman
00:32:58.21\00:33:03.35
to try to talk to the dead.
00:33:03.38\00:33:05.61
And so let's go
back to our scripture,
00:33:05.65\00:33:09.72
back in Samuel.
00:33:09.75\00:33:11.09
1 Samuel 28.
00:33:11.12\00:33:13.25
1 Samuel 28
00:33:13.29\00:33:16.09
and go to now verses 17-19.
00:33:16.12\00:33:19.03
1 Samuel 28:17-19.
00:33:19.06\00:33:23.23
All right, here we go.
00:33:23.26\00:33:25.10
"And the Lord hath done to him,"
00:33:25.13\00:33:28.77
the voice
continues to talk to Saul,
00:33:28.80\00:33:31.31
"and the Lord hath done
to him, as he spake by me:
00:33:31.34\00:33:34.38
for the Lord hath rent
the kingdom out of thine hand,
00:33:34.41\00:33:39.65
and given it thy
neighbor, even to David:
00:33:39.68\00:33:45.02
Because thou obeyedst
not the voice of the Lord,
00:33:45.05\00:33:49.99
nor executedst his
fierce wrath upon Amalek,
00:33:50.03\00:33:53.76
therefore hath
Lord done this thing
00:33:53.80\00:33:55.83
unto thee this day.
00:33:55.86\00:33:57.73
Moreover the Lord
00:33:57.77\00:33:59.10
will also
deliver Israel with thee
00:33:59.13\00:34:00.64
into the hands
of the Philistines:
00:34:00.67\00:34:03.20
and tomorrow shalt thou
and thy sons be with me:
00:34:03.24\00:34:07.28
the Lord also shall
deliver the host of Israel
00:34:07.31\00:34:09.64
into the hand of
the Philistines."
00:34:09.68\00:34:13.21
So what do we have?
00:34:13.25\00:34:14.88
Even the devil knew
00:34:14.92\00:34:17.25
why the Lord was
not answering Saul.
00:34:17.29\00:34:18.95
So he tells him because
you did not obey his voice,
00:34:18.99\00:34:21.82
and because you did
not do as the Lord told you
00:34:21.86\00:34:23.96
with the people of
Amalek, and that's why
00:34:23.99\00:34:26.49
you're not
receiving these answers
00:34:26.53\00:34:28.16
that you're
seeking for from the Lord.
00:34:28.20\00:34:30.57
And because of this,
because of his disobedience,
00:34:30.60\00:34:33.20
because of him rejecting
the Lord, and not repenting,
00:34:33.23\00:34:36.20
the kingdom was given to David.
00:34:36.24\00:34:40.08
So when we see in
the story that the Bible
00:34:40.11\00:34:44.28
talks about Samuel saying
this, and Samuel saying that,
00:34:44.31\00:34:46.82
remember that the
devil can transform himself
00:34:46.85\00:34:50.15
into an angel of light.
00:34:50.19\00:34:51.95
Saul is hearing
00:34:51.99\00:34:54.92
what the demon is saying to him
00:34:54.96\00:34:57.69
and of course he becomes afraid.
00:34:57.73\00:35:00.60
Now, notice that verse 19 says,
00:35:00.63\00:35:04.97
"Tomorrow shall thou
00:35:05.00\00:35:06.84
and thy sons be with me."
00:35:06.87\00:35:11.51
Interesting
development where the Samuel,
00:35:11.54\00:35:16.81
the voice tells Samuel, Saul,
00:35:16.85\00:35:20.05
that him and his son
were going to be with him.
00:35:20.08\00:35:24.19
Now, if the
popular belief is correct,
00:35:24.22\00:35:28.02
which is not that
when the righteous die,
00:35:28.06\00:35:30.86
they go to heaven.
00:35:30.89\00:35:33.06
Saul that was wicked and
his sons that were wicked
00:35:33.09\00:35:36.77
were not
supposed to be with Samuel
00:35:36.80\00:35:38.57
according to the popular belief,
00:35:38.60\00:35:39.93
they're supposed to go where?
00:35:39.97\00:35:41.57
To hell.
00:35:41.60\00:35:43.14
So what is this voice
telling Samuel or Saul?
00:35:43.17\00:35:47.78
You're going to be together.
00:35:47.81\00:35:49.71
So these very passages,
00:35:49.74\00:35:52.58
story that people used to try
to justify that the righteous,
00:35:52.61\00:35:58.35
you can still
communicate with them
00:35:58.39\00:36:00.92
does not really help the case
00:36:00.96\00:36:03.26
because in this
story they're saying
00:36:03.29\00:36:06.03
you and your sons are
going to be with me tomorrow.
00:36:06.06\00:36:09.16
So I say to you once again
00:36:09.20\00:36:11.90
that there is a
resurrection of the righteous
00:36:11.93\00:36:14.77
and a
resurrection of the wicked.
00:36:14.80\00:36:16.34
What is happening
00:36:16.37\00:36:17.71
until the
resurrection of the righteous
00:36:17.74\00:36:19.34
and the
resurrection of the wicked?
00:36:19.37\00:36:20.84
They are all in the grave,
00:36:20.88\00:36:23.41
sleeping as Jesus
said about Lazarus,
00:36:23.45\00:36:26.48
they're sleeping
until the resurrection.
00:36:26.51\00:36:29.68
So therefore, we
cannot use this story
00:36:29.72\00:36:32.42
to justify the
idea that when you die,
00:36:32.45\00:36:37.13
you go to heaven
if you're righteous,
00:36:37.16\00:36:38.63
or when you're
wicked you go to hell,
00:36:38.66\00:36:40.23
when you're evil.
00:36:40.26\00:36:41.60
So in some ways we are
saying that we have good news
00:36:41.63\00:36:44.63
for those mothers and
fathers that saw their children
00:36:44.67\00:36:48.84
that were wicked,
00:36:48.87\00:36:50.41
die a death in their wickedness,
00:36:50.44\00:36:52.77
and they may be
tormented by the idea,
00:36:52.81\00:36:55.18
they're in hell
burning right now.
00:36:55.21\00:36:57.45
They're not in hell burning
right now, they're sleeping,
00:36:57.48\00:37:00.35
waiting to be judged,
waiting for the resurrection.
00:37:00.38\00:37:04.25
And if they were wicked,
00:37:04.29\00:37:05.85
unfortunately
the time will come,
00:37:05.89\00:37:07.79
when it will be
revealed their punishment.
00:37:07.82\00:37:11.03
And the Bible says, Romans 6:23,
00:37:11.06\00:37:14.46
"For the wages of sin is death,
00:37:14.50\00:37:18.10
it is not
burning forever and ever.
00:37:18.13\00:37:19.47
The Bible says, "The
wages of sin is death.
00:37:19.50\00:37:22.27
We'll talk about that
more in another program.
00:37:22.30\00:37:25.17
So I would like to point to you
00:37:25.21\00:37:26.57
once again
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9.
00:37:26.61\00:37:30.05
Ecclesiastes Chapter 9,
00:37:30.08\00:37:31.98
there may be somebody
00:37:32.01\00:37:33.35
that has just
joined us in the program,
00:37:33.38\00:37:34.72
didn't catch the beginning,
00:37:34.75\00:37:36.22
and we want to point out
00:37:36.25\00:37:37.82
that Saul was not
talking to Samuel.
00:37:37.85\00:37:41.72
Ecclesiastics 9:5 and 6 again,
00:37:41.76\00:37:45.59
"For the living
know that they shall die:
00:37:45.63\00:37:48.10
but the dead know not anything,
00:37:48.13\00:37:50.13
neither have they
any more a reward,
00:37:50.17\00:37:52.97
for the memory of
them is forgotten.
00:37:53.00\00:37:54.70
And their love,
and their hatred,
00:37:54.74\00:37:56.07
and their envy, is now perished,
00:37:56.10\00:37:57.61
neither have they
any more a portion
00:37:57.64\00:37:59.51
for ever in anything
that is done under the sun."
00:37:59.54\00:38:04.68
So who was Saul talking to?
00:38:04.71\00:38:07.55
He was not talking to Samuel.
00:38:07.58\00:38:09.28
He was talking to the devil.
00:38:09.32\00:38:12.35
I would like to point to
you once again as I mentioned,
00:38:12.39\00:38:14.46
Hebrews 11:32.
00:38:14.49\00:38:17.39
Hebrews 11:32.
00:38:17.43\00:38:20.06
We mentioned
that, in Hebrews 11,
00:38:20.10\00:38:22.10
you find a list of Bible heroes.
00:38:22.13\00:38:26.03
And people that exhibited
faith and trust in the Lord.
00:38:26.07\00:38:30.27
And I would like to
mention that Samuel,
00:38:30.31\00:38:32.74
I mean Samuel,
confusing those two names.
00:38:32.77\00:38:36.44
Samuel is mentioned among those
that have faith in the Lord.
00:38:36.48\00:38:40.45
Hebrews 11:32,
00:38:40.48\00:38:41.98
"And what more, and
what shall I more say?
00:38:42.02\00:38:45.89
for the time would
fail me to tell of Gedeon,
00:38:45.92\00:38:49.96
and of Barak, and of
Samson, and of Jephthae,
00:38:49.99\00:38:53.46
and of David, and Samuel,
00:38:53.50\00:38:56.30
and of the prophets."
00:38:56.33\00:39:00.04
So we have once again
00:39:00.07\00:39:02.10
Samuel, the prophet, a
righteous man, a holy man,
00:39:02.14\00:39:08.08
when it is all said and done,
00:39:08.11\00:39:10.05
it's not going to be
in the same place as Saul.
00:39:10.08\00:39:13.98
Unfortunately, Saul
lived the wicked life,
00:39:14.02\00:39:16.45
and he will have his
portion with the wicked.
00:39:16.48\00:39:19.39
Samuel will have his
portion with the righteous.
00:39:19.42\00:39:21.99
Until then,
00:39:22.02\00:39:23.83
the wicked and the
righteous are waiting
00:39:23.86\00:39:26.19
for the
resurrection in the judgment.
00:39:26.23\00:39:27.80
The Bible clearly says,
00:39:27.83\00:39:29.16
"It has appointed
for men once to die
00:39:29.20\00:39:32.37
and then the judgment."
00:39:32.40\00:39:34.24
It doesn't say, "Is
appointed for men to die,
00:39:34.27\00:39:35.97
and then go to heaven
or to hell, and then..."
00:39:36.00\00:39:38.31
No, is appointed
for man once to die,
00:39:38.34\00:39:40.08
and then the judgment,
00:39:40.11\00:39:41.44
and then you will
receive the reward.
00:39:41.48\00:39:45.45
And remember that
Satan can transform himself
00:39:45.48\00:39:49.05
into an angel of light.
00:39:49.08\00:39:50.59
Therefore, stay
away from anything
00:39:50.62\00:39:53.25
that has to do with
talking to the dead.
00:39:53.29\00:39:56.52
Now another
scripture that people appeal to
00:39:56.56\00:40:01.13
is the rich man and Lazarus.
00:40:01.16\00:40:03.80
The rich man and Lazarus
is a very interesting parable.
00:40:03.83\00:40:07.27
And it is a parable.
00:40:07.30\00:40:09.67
And the rich man and
Lazarus perhaps has some details
00:40:09.70\00:40:12.34
that confuses
people into thinking,
00:40:12.37\00:40:14.04
"Oh, look this
good man went to heaven.
00:40:14.08\00:40:16.85
And look this
wicked man went to hell.
00:40:16.88\00:40:20.62
Aha, there it is."
00:40:20.65\00:40:22.18
But unfortunately,
00:40:22.22\00:40:26.05
you would have to
look at this passage
00:40:26.09\00:40:28.79
and compared to the
multitude of other passages
00:40:28.82\00:40:31.23
that talk about
00:40:31.26\00:40:32.59
that when you
die, you're sleeping.
00:40:32.63\00:40:35.83
Remember I said over
50 times the Bible says
00:40:35.86\00:40:38.03
that when you're
dead, you're sleeping.
00:40:38.07\00:40:40.94
And even the very words of Jesus
00:40:40.97\00:40:42.87
that we're going
to look in the moment
00:40:42.90\00:40:44.24
he says, is the
resurrection is at the last day.
00:40:44.27\00:40:48.61
So therefore, when
we look at the parable
00:40:48.64\00:40:50.48
of the rich man and Lazarus,
00:40:50.51\00:40:52.11
we have to keep
some things in mind.
00:40:52.15\00:40:53.78
First of all, you
cannot develop a doctrine
00:40:53.82\00:40:58.55
or support a doctrine
with the details of a parable.
00:40:58.59\00:41:02.96
It is not done a parable,
the intention of a parable
00:41:02.99\00:41:06.26
is to bring out
a moral teaching,
00:41:06.29\00:41:10.97
not a doctrine,
a moral teaching.
00:41:11.00\00:41:14.57
And so let's look at the parable
00:41:14.60\00:41:16.57
and compare it to
what the Bible says.
00:41:16.60\00:41:21.28
First of all,
remember that this parable,
00:41:21.31\00:41:24.48
in this parable,
00:41:27.78\00:41:30.39
it's like the fifth,
there is about six parables,
00:41:30.42\00:41:34.49
or the fifth parables that are,
00:41:34.52\00:41:35.96
have been told in a
series of parables in John 11.
00:41:35.99\00:41:40.33
Before we go to the
rich man and Lazarus,
00:41:40.36\00:41:43.57
I would like to
00:41:43.60\00:41:45.03
point out the words of
Jesus in John Chapter 6.
00:41:48.34\00:41:51.91
Before we go to John,
00:41:51.94\00:41:53.27
let's go to
John Chapter 6 first,
00:41:53.31\00:41:55.01
to have that as a basis
for what happens when you die.
00:41:55.04\00:42:00.45
John Chapter 6,
we mentioned this
00:42:00.48\00:42:01.95
in the previous program
00:42:01.98\00:42:03.39
that we talked about
the state of the dead.
00:42:03.42\00:42:05.42
If you are ready,
we're going to read John 6:39
00:42:05.45\00:42:10.33
and 40, first.
00:42:10.36\00:42:13.13
"And this is the Father's
will which hath sent me,
00:42:13.16\00:42:16.77
that of all
which he hath given me,
00:42:16.80\00:42:18.73
I should lose nothing,"
00:42:18.77\00:42:20.57
for He's the Lord,
00:42:20.60\00:42:21.94
"but should raise it
up again at the last day."
00:42:21.97\00:42:25.21
When? "At the last
day." Notice the next verse.
00:42:25.24\00:42:28.08
"And this is the
will of him that sent me,
00:42:28.11\00:42:30.48
that everyone
which seeth the Son,
00:42:30.51\00:42:33.08
and believeth on him,
00:42:33.11\00:42:34.48
may have everlasting life:
00:42:34.52\00:42:36.79
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:42:36.82\00:42:40.19
So once again two times
00:42:40.22\00:42:42.39
Jesus tells us in John Chapter 6
00:42:42.42\00:42:44.73
that he's going to
raise the righteous up
00:42:44.76\00:42:46.66
at the last day.
00:42:46.70\00:42:48.03
But not only two times,
it's actually four times.
00:42:48.06\00:42:50.17
So let's go to
verse 44, John 6:44.
00:42:50.20\00:42:55.14
"No man can come to me,
00:42:55.17\00:42:57.74
except the Father
which hath sent me draw him:
00:42:57.77\00:43:01.64
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:43:01.68\00:43:05.25
Amen. Who's
going to raise him up?
00:43:05.28\00:43:08.18
Jesus Christ.
00:43:08.22\00:43:09.88
Praise the Lord.
00:43:09.92\00:43:11.99
So that's the third time
Jesus tells us in one chapter.
00:43:12.02\00:43:14.56
Let's go to verse 54.
00:43:14.59\00:43:16.12
John 6:54, Jesus says,
00:43:16.16\00:43:19.19
"Who so eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood,
00:43:19.23\00:43:23.57
hath eternal life,
00:43:23.60\00:43:26.60
and I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:43:26.63\00:43:30.11
Praise the Lord.
00:43:30.14\00:43:31.47
So when we as
using this as a basis
00:43:31.51\00:43:34.41
there are many other
scriptures that we can turn to.
00:43:34.44\00:43:37.11
But using this as a
basis, you must understand
00:43:37.15\00:43:39.25
that when you read the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus,
00:43:39.28\00:43:42.28
it cannot be that
Lazarus went to heaven
00:43:42.32\00:43:45.55
because when is
that supposed to happen?
00:43:45.59\00:43:47.26
At the last day.
00:43:47.29\00:43:49.72
So what is this
parable trying to teach us?
00:43:49.76\00:43:51.63
Usually you find the teaching
at the end of the parable.
00:43:51.66\00:43:54.86
So let's look at
the parable in a moment,
00:43:54.90\00:43:58.20
I would like to
point out one more parable
00:43:58.23\00:44:00.34
before we go there.
00:44:00.37\00:44:01.84
And this is a very
interesting parable.
00:44:01.87\00:44:03.41
Again, the reason
we're looking into this,
00:44:03.44\00:44:05.74
we're going to look at this
quickly in Judges Chapter 9.
00:44:05.77\00:44:09.04
Judges Chapter 9,
I'm trying to point out
00:44:09.08\00:44:11.21
that you cannot use
the details of a parable
00:44:11.25\00:44:13.45
to form a doctrine.
00:44:13.48\00:44:15.28
Otherwise you
will have to accept
00:44:15.32\00:44:19.75
by the words of the parable
00:44:19.79\00:44:21.12
that we're about to
read, that trees can talk.
00:44:21.16\00:44:25.36
Now I know there are people
that try to talk to trees,
00:44:25.39\00:44:27.26
but they're not
talking to trees,
00:44:27.30\00:44:29.43
the trees are
not answering back.
00:44:29.46\00:44:30.80
But in Judges Chapter 9,
00:44:30.83\00:44:32.17
you find an interesting parable,
00:44:32.20\00:44:35.77
a story, a parable that is told.
00:44:35.80\00:44:38.11
Judges Chapter 9,
00:44:38.14\00:44:39.47
we're going to go
through verses 7-11.
00:44:39.51\00:44:42.54
Judges 9:7-11.
00:44:42.58\00:44:44.78
Are you ready?
00:44:44.81\00:44:46.15
Let's do it.
00:44:46.18\00:44:47.52
"And when they
told it to Jotham,
00:44:47.55\00:44:49.08
he went and stood in the
top of mount Gerizim or Gerizim,
00:44:49.12\00:44:53.66
and I lifted up his voice,
and cried, and said unto them,
00:44:53.69\00:44:57.89
Hearken unto me,
ye men of Shechem,
00:44:57.93\00:45:01.16
that God may hearken unto you.
00:45:01.20\00:45:03.80
The trees went forth on a
time to anoint a king over them,
00:45:03.83\00:45:09.44
and they said
unto the olive tree,
00:45:09.47\00:45:11.77
Reign thou over us.
00:45:11.81\00:45:14.24
But the olive
tree said unto them,
00:45:14.28\00:45:16.24
Should I leave my fatness,
00:45:16.28\00:45:18.01
wherewith by me
they honor God and man,
00:45:18.05\00:45:21.62
and go to be
promoted over the trees?"
00:45:21.65\00:45:24.39
So the olive tree
didn't want to be king.
00:45:24.42\00:45:26.22
So let's go to verse 10.
00:45:26.25\00:45:27.82
"And the trees
said to the fig tree,
00:45:27.86\00:45:30.13
Come thou and reign over us.
00:45:30.16\00:45:33.03
But the fig tree said unto them,
00:45:33.06\00:45:35.00
Should I forsake my
sweetness, and my good fruit,
00:45:35.03\00:45:38.60
and go to be
promoted over the trees."
00:45:38.63\00:45:42.80
We will stop there,
but there are more talking
00:45:42.84\00:45:46.47
the trees do,
00:45:46.51\00:45:47.84
and the parable eventually
ends in Judges Chapter 9.
00:45:47.88\00:45:50.05
I encourage you to read it.
00:45:50.08\00:45:51.41
So you see here
there are trees talking.
00:45:51.45\00:45:53.31
Can trees talk?
00:45:53.35\00:45:54.68
No, they cannot.
00:45:54.72\00:45:56.05
But it is a story,
00:45:56.08\00:45:57.42
a parable to
bring out a teaching.
00:45:57.45\00:45:59.25
So when we look at
the rich man and Lazarus,
00:45:59.29\00:46:01.26
you have to understand
that the details of a parable
00:46:01.29\00:46:03.89
you cannot use
to form a doctrine.
00:46:03.93\00:46:05.76
Otherwise we would
have to have as a doctrine
00:46:05.79\00:46:07.66
that trees can talk
and select kings over them.
00:46:07.70\00:46:11.90
So, let's go to Luke Chapter 16,
00:46:11.93\00:46:17.34
where we find the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus.
00:46:17.37\00:46:22.78
Luke Chapter 16,
00:46:22.81\00:46:25.18
we are going to
first read verses 19-21.
00:46:25.21\00:46:27.92
Ready?
00:46:27.95\00:46:30.25
"There was a certain rich man,
00:46:30.29\00:46:32.25
which was clothed in
purple and fine linen,
00:46:32.29\00:46:35.22
and fared sumptuously every day:
00:46:35.26\00:46:38.69
And there was a
certain beggar named Lazarus,
00:46:38.73\00:46:41.16
which was laid at
his gate, full of sores,
00:46:41.20\00:46:44.70
And desiring to be
fed with the crumbs
00:46:44.73\00:46:47.47
which fell from
the rich man's table:
00:46:47.50\00:46:49.54
moreover the dogs
came and licked his sores."
00:46:49.57\00:46:53.38
I love the Bible
how it is in short words
00:46:53.41\00:46:55.21
describes this horrendous scene.
00:46:55.24\00:46:58.08
And apparently, as
you see the rich man
00:46:58.11\00:47:00.65
every day dress
really good, and feasted,
00:47:00.68\00:47:03.85
and there is this poor man,
00:47:03.89\00:47:05.85
just hoping for crumbs,
and he would not feed him.
00:47:05.89\00:47:10.46
And was very sick
apparently because he had sores.
00:47:10.49\00:47:16.90
So we have here a powerful thing
00:47:16.93\00:47:21.27
that we see how
the rich man lived
00:47:21.30\00:47:24.47
and how the poor man lived.
00:47:24.51\00:47:27.38
Let's go to verses 22 and 23.
00:47:27.41\00:47:32.08
"And it came to
pass, that the beggar died,
00:47:32.11\00:47:35.38
and was carried by the
angels into Abraham's bosom:
00:47:35.42\00:47:39.19
the rich man also
died, and was buried,
00:47:39.22\00:47:41.09
And he and in hell it
says he lifted up his eyes,
00:47:41.12\00:47:44.86
being in torments and
seeth Abraham afar off,
00:47:44.89\00:47:48.86
and Lazarus in his bosom.
00:47:48.90\00:47:52.17
So we'll stop
right there for now.
00:47:52.20\00:47:54.47
And so we look at
what we just read.
00:47:54.50\00:47:57.51
It says that the
angels carried the poor man,
00:47:57.54\00:48:01.48
the beggar apparently to heaven,
00:48:01.51\00:48:05.01
and it says to Abraham's bosom.
00:48:05.05\00:48:09.05
And so if we take
the details of this,
00:48:09.08\00:48:12.25
it seems to imply
that when you die,
00:48:12.29\00:48:15.49
the righteous die, they go,
00:48:15.52\00:48:17.99
they are carried by angels.
00:48:18.03\00:48:20.00
And apparently, they
go to Abraham's bosom.
00:48:20.03\00:48:24.17
And many
righteous good people die.
00:48:24.20\00:48:26.74
It will get crowded pretty soon,
00:48:26.77\00:48:29.37
the idea of all
these righteous people
00:48:29.40\00:48:31.97
that just died
today, they all go
00:48:32.01\00:48:33.74
and they are over
there in Abraham's bosom.
00:48:33.78\00:48:36.08
It just does not fit to believe
that the details of a parable
00:48:36.11\00:48:41.38
you can form a doctrine by them.
00:48:41.42\00:48:44.69
Let's go now to verses 24.
00:48:44.72\00:48:46.92
Luke 16:24.
00:48:46.96\00:48:50.46
And the rich man is talking.
00:48:50.49\00:48:53.26
"And he cried and
said, Father Abraham,
00:48:53.29\00:48:56.06
have mercy on me,
00:48:56.10\00:48:58.47
and send Lazarus,
00:48:58.50\00:49:00.67
that he may dip the
tip of his finger in water,
00:49:00.70\00:49:03.47
and cool my tongue
00:49:03.51\00:49:05.07
for I am
tormented in this flame."
00:49:05.11\00:49:08.88
So this scripture as you
see here in Luke Chapter 16,
00:49:12.25\00:49:17.29
it says who died first
according to what we read.
00:49:17.32\00:49:22.62
Who?
00:49:22.66\00:49:23.99
The beggar died first.
00:49:24.03\00:49:27.00
And then who dies?
00:49:27.03\00:49:29.00
The rich man.
00:49:29.03\00:49:30.90
Question: How does the rich man
that is supposed to be in hell
00:49:30.93\00:49:34.20
know that the
beggar is in heaven?
00:49:34.24\00:49:38.04
How?
00:49:38.07\00:49:39.61
How does he know that
the beggar is in heaven?
00:49:39.64\00:49:42.64
It apparently paints a
picture as if he can see there,
00:49:42.68\00:49:46.21
"Hey, I see Lazarus over there.
00:49:46.25\00:49:48.62
That guy that was
outside of my gates
00:49:48.65\00:49:50.72
and he's over there.
00:49:50.75\00:49:52.09
I know him."
00:49:52.12\00:49:53.62
And so he cries asking for mercy
00:49:53.66\00:49:57.43
and then Lazarus may dip
the tip of his finger in water
00:49:57.46\00:50:03.00
and cool his tongue
because he's tormented.
00:50:03.03\00:50:06.23
Wouldn't that be
further torment to ask somebody,
00:50:06.27\00:50:08.97
"I'm tormented in these flames?
00:50:09.00\00:50:11.24
Dip your finger in
water in one little drop."
00:50:11.27\00:50:14.51
How much can you
really get on a finger,
00:50:14.54\00:50:16.44
it's just maybe
one or two drops.
00:50:16.48\00:50:18.35
So really this brief
relief that he was seeking for
00:50:18.38\00:50:23.89
would be by torment still.
00:50:23.92\00:50:26.39
And so perhaps
you may say, well,
00:50:26.42\00:50:29.02
perhaps he's trying
to help us understand
00:50:29.06\00:50:31.86
how hot it is and
how horrible it is
00:50:31.89\00:50:34.13
that even the
blessing of a drop of water
00:50:34.16\00:50:37.27
would be something helpful.
00:50:37.30\00:50:39.77
Unfortunately,
00:50:39.80\00:50:42.90
notice that the rich
man is asking for mercy.
00:50:42.94\00:50:45.47
This paints a horrible picture.
00:50:49.98\00:50:53.62
And really,
apparently it shows a picture
00:50:53.65\00:50:58.15
that there's a
discussion going on,
00:50:58.19\00:51:00.59
a conversation
from hell to heaven,
00:51:00.62\00:51:03.09
that's taking
place, are they really,
00:51:03.12\00:51:06.19
would they really be that close,
00:51:06.23\00:51:07.93
would there be
communication back and forth,
00:51:07.96\00:51:10.17
are you able to see?
00:51:10.20\00:51:11.63
Oh look, there are some
righteous people over there,
00:51:11.67\00:51:14.07
look how they're
enjoying themselves.
00:51:14.10\00:51:16.27
And the righteous can
look over there and say,
00:51:16.30\00:51:18.91
"Look at all
those wicked people,
00:51:18.94\00:51:20.31
how they're suffering.
00:51:20.34\00:51:21.68
I'm glad I'm over here."
00:51:21.71\00:51:23.58
Would you as a
father, as a mother,
00:51:23.61\00:51:27.95
or a brother, or sister
00:51:27.98\00:51:29.48
enjoy heaven when you could go
00:51:29.52\00:51:31.49
and see the wicked
tormented in flames,
00:51:31.52\00:51:34.62
burning forever and ever?
00:51:34.66\00:51:36.32
How can you really enjoy heaven?
00:51:36.36\00:51:39.09
You can't.
00:51:39.13\00:51:40.53
So there's really no such thing.
00:51:40.56\00:51:41.90
And this is a parable
00:51:41.93\00:51:43.80
trying to bring
out a moral teaching
00:51:43.83\00:51:46.90
at the end, not a doctrine.
00:51:46.94\00:51:48.70
Therefore, we have to
put these details aside
00:51:48.74\00:51:51.67
and see what is
Jesus trying to tell us.
00:51:51.71\00:51:54.78
What is Jesus trying to tell us?
00:51:54.81\00:51:57.48
And so we understand as
I said before Romans 6:23,
00:51:57.51\00:52:03.35
"The wages of sin is death,
00:52:03.39\00:52:05.95
but the gift of
God is eternal life."
00:52:05.99\00:52:08.26
So eventually
the wicked will die
00:52:08.29\00:52:11.66
those that will
eventually go to hell.
00:52:11.69\00:52:14.96
And right now we
have the good news
00:52:15.00\00:52:16.67
that nobody is
burning in hell right now.
00:52:16.70\00:52:18.90
Praise the Lord.
00:52:18.93\00:52:20.64
So let us now move
on to verse 25 and 26
00:52:20.67\00:52:25.64
and before you read
them according to the idea
00:52:25.67\00:52:29.31
that you go to
heaven if you're righteous,
00:52:29.34\00:52:32.81
the idea that is mentioned,
00:52:32.85\00:52:34.52
that is taught is that
00:52:34.55\00:52:36.52
it's your soul
that goes to heaven,
00:52:36.55\00:52:37.89
or your spirit
that goes to heaven,
00:52:37.92\00:52:39.25
the body remains in the ground.
00:52:39.29\00:52:41.12
And if that is soul,
00:52:41.16\00:52:42.49
why does the soul or the
spirit that goes to heaven
00:52:42.52\00:52:46.49
have eyes, and tongues,
and fingers, there are...
00:52:46.53\00:52:50.07
See the details of a parable
00:52:50.10\00:52:51.80
cannot be used
to form a doctrine.
00:52:51.83\00:52:54.07
And so remember
that on the last study
00:52:54.10\00:52:56.27
we said that God breathed
00:52:56.30\00:52:59.21
into man's
nostrils the breath of life
00:52:59.24\00:53:03.11
and man became a living soul.
00:53:03.14\00:53:05.61
You are a soul.
00:53:05.65\00:53:07.98
You don't have a
soul, you are a soul.
00:53:08.02\00:53:10.49
And so what goes back to God
00:53:10.52\00:53:14.02
is the breath of
life that was put in man.
00:53:14.06\00:53:16.96
We're going to look at
that on another study coming up.
00:53:16.99\00:53:22.06
So let's go to
Luke 16:25 and 26.
00:53:22.10\00:53:26.37
I will have to drink
00:53:26.40\00:53:27.74
a little bit of water over here.
00:53:27.77\00:53:29.10
Luke 16:25.
00:53:33.88\00:53:38.28
Where are we?
00:53:38.31\00:53:40.88
Verse 25. Okay.
00:53:40.92\00:53:42.32
Thank you very much.
00:53:42.35\00:53:44.85
So verse 25 and 26.
00:53:44.89\00:53:46.55
"But Abraham said, Son,
00:53:46.59\00:53:48.42
remember that
thou in thy lifetime
00:53:48.46\00:53:50.43
receivedst thy good things,
00:53:50.46\00:53:52.09
and likewise
Lazarus evil things:
00:53:52.13\00:53:54.50
but now he is comforted,
and thou art tormented.
00:53:54.53\00:53:58.73
And beside all
this, between us and you
00:53:58.77\00:54:00.97
there is a great gulf fixed:
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.44
so that they which would
pass from hence to you cannot,
00:54:03.47\00:54:09.64
neither can they pass to us,
that would come from thence."
00:54:09.68\00:54:15.62
Wow.
00:54:15.65\00:54:16.99
Do you understand?
00:54:17.02\00:54:18.42
Can you see this,
00:54:18.45\00:54:19.85
is even further
torment for the righteous,
00:54:19.89\00:54:22.22
it will be torment to say,
"Look, there is your mother,
00:54:22.26\00:54:25.33
there is your
father burning in hell.
00:54:25.36\00:54:27.60
But you can't go there."
00:54:27.63\00:54:30.90
It does not fit.
00:54:30.93\00:54:32.27
It is not helpful to
believe in this idea.
00:54:32.30\00:54:36.10
There is a great gulf
00:54:39.41\00:54:41.91
fixed according
to what we see here.
00:54:41.94\00:54:43.31
So they cannot
pass one to another.
00:54:43.35\00:54:44.75
So what he was
requesting could not happen
00:54:44.78\00:54:48.02
according to the parable.
00:54:48.05\00:54:49.92
Now let us see what
Jesus is trying to teach us.
00:54:49.95\00:54:52.32
We go to the last
verses, Luke 16:27-29.
00:54:52.35\00:54:56.12
Let's move quickly over there.
00:54:56.16\00:54:57.49
Oh, boy, let's see, hopefully
we have enough time here.
00:55:00.60\00:55:03.37
"Then he said, I pray
thee therefore, father,
00:55:03.40\00:55:06.63
that thou wouldest send
him to my father's house:
00:55:06.67\00:55:09.54
For I have five brethren,
that he may testify unto them,
00:55:09.57\00:55:12.77
lest they also come
into this place of torment.
00:55:12.81\00:55:15.54
Abraham saith unto him,
00:55:15.58\00:55:16.91
They have Moses
and the prophets,
00:55:16.95\00:55:19.38
let them hear them."
00:55:19.41\00:55:22.68
So there you have it.
00:55:22.72\00:55:24.05
Right now you are
beginning to see the teachings,
00:55:24.09\00:55:26.55
the moral thing that
Jesus is trying to teach them,
00:55:26.59\00:55:32.53
they have what?
00:55:32.56\00:55:33.90
Moses and the
prophets, let them hear them.
00:55:33.93\00:55:36.67
In other words, they
have enough information
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.43
in the scriptures,
00:55:38.47\00:55:40.34
let them hear them.
00:55:40.37\00:55:42.20
Notice how this ends.
00:55:42.24\00:55:44.37
Luke 16:30 and onward.
00:55:44.41\00:55:47.38
Let us read quickly.
00:55:47.41\00:55:50.88
"And he said,
Nay, father Abraham:
00:55:50.91\00:55:52.51
but if one went
unto them from the dead,
00:55:52.55\00:55:55.58
they will repent.
00:55:55.62\00:55:57.22
And he said unto him,
if they hear not Moses
00:55:57.25\00:56:02.22
and the prophets,
neither will they be persuaded,
00:56:02.26\00:56:05.49
though one rose from the dead."
00:56:05.53\00:56:07.06
What do we have here?
00:56:10.07\00:56:11.40
This is the teaching that
Jesus was trying to tell them.
00:56:11.43\00:56:14.00
They did not believe in Jesus.
00:56:14.04\00:56:17.21
They kept asking
Jesus for a sign.
00:56:17.24\00:56:19.01
Show us a sign if
You are the Messiah.
00:56:19.04\00:56:21.01
What can You do?
00:56:21.04\00:56:22.48
Do some great miracle so
that we can believe in You.
00:56:22.51\00:56:25.58
And Jesus is
trying to tell them,
00:56:25.61\00:56:26.98
you have Moses and the prophets
00:56:27.02\00:56:28.75
that should be
enough for you to believe.
00:56:28.78\00:56:31.69
And Jesus said, "Believe
Me for the very works' sake."
00:56:31.72\00:56:33.99
He would tell
the leadership this,
00:56:34.02\00:56:36.52
and they kept rejecting Jesus.
00:56:36.56\00:56:38.99
So what is Jesus
trying to tell us?
00:56:39.03\00:56:41.30
This is not the parable
of the rich man and Lazarus.
00:56:41.33\00:56:44.80
He's not trying to tell
us what happens when you die.
00:56:44.83\00:56:47.70
He's trying to let us know
00:56:47.74\00:56:49.80
that the scriptures
tell us enough information
00:56:49.84\00:56:55.91
so that we know.
00:56:55.94\00:56:57.28
And we have enough
information to make our decision
00:56:57.31\00:56:59.78
for eternal life
or eternal death.
00:56:59.81\00:57:03.99
And very soon afterwards,
00:57:04.02\00:57:07.86
Jesus was going
to do a great miracle
00:57:07.89\00:57:10.13
and resurrect the
real Lazarus, His friend.
00:57:10.16\00:57:14.76
And even though He
did this great miracle
00:57:14.80\00:57:17.47
of resurrecting
the real Lazarus,
00:57:17.50\00:57:20.37
did the people believe?
00:57:20.40\00:57:21.94
They did not believe?
00:57:21.97\00:57:23.37
They were making
plans to kill Lazarus again.
00:57:23.41\00:57:28.51
And wouldn't it be torment
00:57:28.54\00:57:33.25
to raise Lazarus from the dead
00:57:33.28\00:57:35.32
if he was really in heaven.
00:57:35.35\00:57:38.09
It will be torment for
us, "Oh, I have to go back,
00:57:38.12\00:57:39.99
I'm enjoying heaven now."
00:57:40.02\00:57:42.02
So, friends, understand that
00:57:42.06\00:57:44.89
when you die,
00:57:44.93\00:57:46.26
you are sleeping,
awaiting the resurrection.
00:57:46.29\00:57:49.03
And if you believe in Jesus,
you can trust what he said,
00:57:49.06\00:57:52.37
that if you believe in
Him you will not perish,
00:57:52.40\00:57:54.57
but have everlasting life.
00:57:54.60\00:57:56.30
And that begins right now
and forever when Jesus comes.
00:57:56.34\00:58:01.01