Hello and welcome
to A Sharper Focus.
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Welcome once again
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to the Wednesday
night Bible study
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that it comes to you
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from the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
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of course, with Three
Angels Broadcasting Network
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that's bringing these
messages to you with the hope
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that you will find Jesus Christ
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and that you will
believe in God's Holy Word,
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the Holy Scriptures
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which are able to make
us wise unto salvation.
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Once again, we invite those
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that are in the local
area of Thompsonville, Illinois
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to join us on
Wednesday night's right here
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in the church
which is also a studio,
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and you're welcome to
participate here with us.
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Of course, there's also church
service on Saturday morning,
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Sabbath morning as we call it.
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And you can begin at 9:15 am,
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and I believe you'll be blessed.
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There are good people
here that love the Lord
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and will also stretch
out their hands to you.
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And it's a family
atmosphere, so I praise the Lord
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for the Thompsonville
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and for Three Angels
Broadcasting Network,
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24 hours a day
preaching the gospel
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all around the world,
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and we really need your prayers.
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Speaking of our prayer,
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we would like to go
to the Lord in prayer now
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to ask for His
blessing in this Bible study.
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Let us pray.
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Our loving Heavenly Father,
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we thank You so much
for Your goodness and mercy.
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We thank You, Lord,
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that You look upon us
when no one else will.
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We thank You, Lord, that
You think about us, protect us,
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and are always watching over us.
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We thank You for
supplying that which we need.
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And, Father, in this moment,
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we approach Your throne of grace
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to ask for the
blessing of Your Holy Spirit.
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We pray that every word spoken
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will come from
Your throne of grace.
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Show us great and mighty
things in thy Holy Scriptures.
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And we pray for blessing
upon everyone that is here
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and everyone that joins us
from anywhere in the world.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer,
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for we ask it in the mighty
and the blessed name of Jesus.
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Amen, amen.
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Well, this is
part three of a study
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we've been doing on
what happens when you die,
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what is the state of the dead,
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are they alive somewhere,
are they suffering in hell,
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are they in heaven if
they were good, or are they,
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as I said, in hell
burning if they were bad.
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We have looked at scriptures,
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and we are trying to make
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one of the
final studies on this.
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I say for my participation,
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we may continue
this topic another time.
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There are some scriptures
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that some find
difficult to understand.
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We will not be able
to cover all of these
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during this particular moment,
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but we hope to go
through some of them
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and ask for the Lord's blessing
to help us understand them.
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So we're going to do a little
refresher from previous times
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and that takes us
directly to John 11.
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We're going to
read John 11:11-14.
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In John 11:11-14,
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we find the words of Jesus
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that tell us the
following things.
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I hear some pages turning.
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We begin reading verse
11, "These things said He,
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and after that
He saith unto them,
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Our friend Lazarus
sleepeth, but I go,
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that I may awake
him out of sleep.
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Then said his disciples,
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Lord, if he
sleep, he shall do well.
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Howbeit, or however,
Jesus spoke of his death:
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but they thought
that he had spoken
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of taking of rest in sleep.
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Then said Jesus
unto them plainly,
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Lazarus is dead."
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So we see here
that Jesus Himself said
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that the first death
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or the death we
die upon this earth
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because of some
illness, someone kills us,
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or some other tragedy, accident.
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Jesus and the Bible
calls it a sleepover 50 times.
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The word sleep is found
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for someone
that has passed away.
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And what we're going
to do during this study
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is focus more on what
happens to the righteous
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and what happens to the wicked
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when Jesus Christ returns,
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and we're going to look
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at the scriptures
about these things.
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I would like to point
to you to one individual
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that is said to have
fallen asleep or died.
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And we go to 1 Kings 2,
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1 Kings 2 to
find that scripture,
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and we're going
to look at verse 10.
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1 Kings 2:10.
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If you have found it, say amen.
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Okay, we have
one, we need one more.
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Amen. Praise the Lord.
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Okay, 1 Kings 2:10
tells us the following,
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"So David," that
is David the King,
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"slept with his fathers,
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and was buried in
the city of David."
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So concerning King David,
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it states that he
slept with his fathers
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and was buried in
the city of David.
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In other words, he died
and that's why he was buried.
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You don't bury people
that are just sleeping,
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common sleep, otherwise,
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none of us would be here, right?
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So David slept with his fathers.
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That's the testimony
of the Old Testament.
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When we move over
to the Book of Acts,
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we will find a
declaration by Peter
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on the day of Pentecost.
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Acts 2, and we're
going to read verse 29 first,
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and then we're going
to skip down to verse 34.
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But let's go to verse 29.
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Acts 2:29, this is
what the Bible says,
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"Men and brethren, let
me freely speak unto you
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of the patriarch David,
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that he is both dead and buried,
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and his sepulchre is
with us unto this day."
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Confirming what you
just read in 1 Kings 2:10,
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David died and was buried.
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And here Peter is saying
that he is dead and buried
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and his sepulchre is placed
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where he's resting in
the grave is right here.
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But notice what
happens in verse 34.
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Acts 2:34, are you ready?
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"For David is not
ascended into the heavens,
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but he saith himself,
The Lord said unto my Lord,
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Sit thou on my right hand,
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until I make thine
enemies thy footstool."
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So we see here that David
is not what ascended to heaven,
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David is considered one
of the great Bible heroes.
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One of the Bible
heroes that the Bible says
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he was a man
after God's own heart.
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Yes, the Bible registers
that he committed sins.
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However, when you
look at Psalms 51,
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he fully repented,
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and he was a man
after God's own heart.
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In other words, he followed
the Lord with all of his heart.
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And so, what do
we expect of David?
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We expect to see
David enjoying eternal life,
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but Peter declares that
he is not ascended to heaven.
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Now there are some people
that believe that when you die,
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you go straight to
heaven if you've been good,
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if you've been bad,
you go straight to hell
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as we've mentioned before.
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But Peter says that
David is not in heaven.
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So where is David?
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Well, he just said
his sepulchre is with us,
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he is right here,
so what is David doing?
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Absolutely nothing.
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He is waiting
for the resurrection.
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You see the Bible establishes
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that there are
two resurrections.
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And we're going
to look at scriptures
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that declare that
very, very plainly.
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Let us move over to Genesis 2.
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In Genesis 2, we
are going to find out
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how we got a little bit
into the mess that we are in.
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In Genesis 2, we are going to...
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Actually, it's in verse 3
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that we find out what
happened to this human race.
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But in Genesis 2,
God makes a declaration,
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and here we have
what He is explaining
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as the punishment for evildoing.
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The punishment for sin,
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and this is what He
establishes in Genesis 2,
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we're going to read
verse 16 and verse 17.
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Ready? Let us read.
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"And the Lord God
commanded the man,
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saying, 'Of every
tree of the garden
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thou mayest freely eat.
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But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil,
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thou shalt not eat
of it for in the day
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that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die.'"
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So what did God
declare would be the punishment
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for their disobedience,
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in other words, for
their sin, they would die.
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Now some people have come
along and want to change that.
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They want to change
that to burning in hell
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forever and ever without
end, the Bible doesn't state
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and that's what is
the punishment for sin.
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The Bible says the
punishment for sin is death,
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and we just read
it in Genesis 2:17.
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So do we have God
saying anything else
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other than this in the Bible?
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No, we don't.
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It is repeated over and over
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that those that
are wicked will die.
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Now I'm talking about
the punishment for sin.
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We all know that because
sin entering into the world,
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we are all subjected to death,
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the first death
which is not necessarily
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a punishment for sin,
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but a result of
either bad eating
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or because somebody kills us,
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we eat some poison and we die,
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or somebody kills us,
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or we are somehow
involved in an accident,
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and we die in one
of those circumstances,
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but the punishment for sin,
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the Bible declares
comes after the first death,
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and we will look at
that as we continue.
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We hope you follow along
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and write down
some of these scriptures
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so that you can
continue studying them.
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So in Genesis 3, somebody
comes to oppose what God says.
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Genesis 3:4, and we
know this to be the serpent,
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the devil that came
to tempt Adam and Eve.
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It is registered
that he tempted Eve,
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and Eve, of course,
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later became a
tool for the devil
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to use to get Adam
involved in sinning.
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Genesis 3:4, the Bible says,
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"And the serpent
said unto the woman,
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ye shall not surely die."
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So we have here
somebody opposing God.
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What did God say?
00:11:07.03\00:11:08.36
"When you eat up the
fruit, you are going to die.
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You are going to
commit sin, it will be a sin,
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you have disobeyed my expressed
command and you will die."
00:11:12.83\00:11:17.01
Satan comes along and
says, "You will not surely die."
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And unfortunately, many
have fallen into the same idea
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that the devil presented to Eve,
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and they tell
people, when you die,
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if you've been wicked,
you're not going to die.
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I mean when you sin, if
you're wicked and you die,
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you're not going to die,
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you're going to keep on
living in hell forever and ever
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and burning and burning.
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Does the Bible say that? No.
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That is something that Satan
introduced in the beginning
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in Genesis 3.
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And so, we want to
continue our study to see
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what the Bible tells us.
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So in Ezekiel 18:20,
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we've looked at these
verses in previous studies,
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so we're going to
quickly look at them again.
00:11:57.45\00:12:00.42
Some people
cling to the word soul,
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and somehow they want to give
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immortality to the soul.
00:12:07.16\00:12:10.99
We've done some studying about
the soul in previous programs.
00:12:11.03\00:12:16.77
We're not going to dwell on
it, we're simply going to state
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what the Bible says
concerning the soul.
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Ezekiel 18:20, Ezekiel 18:20,
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and if you have
found it, say amen.
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Amen.
00:12:30.38\00:12:31.71
This is what the Bible says,
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"The soul that
sinneth, it shall die."
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Very clear statement.
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"The soul that
sinneth, it shall die."
00:12:39.35\00:12:41.76
It says, "The son shall not bear
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the iniquity of the father,
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neither shall the father
bear the iniquity of the son.
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The
righteousness of the righteous
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shall be upon him,
00:12:51.23\00:12:52.57
and the wickedness of the wicked
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shall be upon him."
00:12:54.30\00:12:55.64
In other words, every one
will pay for their own sins.
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You're not going to pay
for somebody else's sins,
00:12:58.41\00:13:00.38
you will be
responsible for your own sin.
00:13:00.41\00:13:04.11
Now that's Ezekiel 18:20.
00:13:04.15\00:13:07.02
Let's move to Ezekiel 18:26
00:13:07.05\00:13:10.02
and see what the
Bible tells us in verse 26.
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It is written, "When a
righteous man turneth away
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from his
righteousness," what happens?
00:13:20.23\00:13:24.47
"And committeth
iniquity, and dieth in them,
00:13:24.50\00:13:28.84
for his iniquity that
he hath done he shall die."
00:13:28.87\00:13:33.98
In other words, you see here
that two deaths are mentioned.
00:13:34.01\00:13:39.31
If a man...
00:13:39.35\00:13:40.75
If a righteous
person turns to doing evil,
00:13:40.78\00:13:45.29
and then dies in
that state of doing evil
00:13:45.32\00:13:48.12
and does not repent.
00:13:48.16\00:13:49.99
The Bible says, the punishment
00:13:50.03\00:13:52.09
for living a life
of wickedness, it says,
00:13:52.13\00:13:55.20
"For his iniquity that
he had done, he shall die."
00:13:55.23\00:13:57.93
Two deaths are mentioned here.
00:13:57.97\00:14:01.07
Ezekiel 33:11,
we're still in Ezekiel.
00:14:01.10\00:14:06.37
Ezekiel 33:11,
00:14:06.41\00:14:09.41
notice the
wonderful words of the Lord,
00:14:09.44\00:14:14.02
notice the
wonderful words of the Lord.
00:14:14.05\00:14:16.58
Ezekiel 33:11, "Say unto them,
As I live, saith the Lord God,
00:14:16.62\00:14:23.02
I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked,
00:14:23.06\00:14:28.76
but that the wicked turn
from his way and live," amen?
00:14:28.80\00:14:35.54
Amen.
00:14:35.57\00:14:36.91
Now notice what he says,
00:14:36.94\00:14:38.27
"Turn ye, turn ye
from your evil ways,
00:14:38.31\00:14:41.51
for why will ye
die, O house of Israel?"
00:14:41.54\00:14:46.45
So we see here God
making a statement.
00:14:46.48\00:14:48.88
He doesn't have pleasure
00:14:48.92\00:14:50.65
when somebody
dies in wickedness.
00:14:50.69\00:14:54.56
There is another verse that says
00:14:54.59\00:14:55.96
something a little different
about the righteous dying,
00:14:55.99\00:15:00.03
and we're going to
look at that in a moment.
00:15:00.06\00:15:01.40
But God has no pleasure.
00:15:01.43\00:15:02.80
If you're living a life of evil,
00:15:02.83\00:15:05.00
God is not going to
be happy that you die.
00:15:05.03\00:15:07.87
God is not going to be happy
00:15:07.90\00:15:09.24
that you have to
pay for your sins.
00:15:09.27\00:15:11.87
He doesn't have
pleasure in that.
00:15:11.91\00:15:13.98
And apparently, some
people think that God does,
00:15:14.01\00:15:17.68
and He does not.
00:15:17.71\00:15:19.15
The Bible says that God is love,
00:15:19.18\00:15:21.08
and in His perfect love,
00:15:21.12\00:15:22.45
loves every single
individual in the world,
00:15:22.48\00:15:25.55
whether they be good
or whether they be evil,
00:15:25.59\00:15:27.96
but he has to be righteous,
he has to be just and fair,
00:15:27.99\00:15:32.03
and those that decide
to live a life of evil
00:15:32.06\00:15:36.06
will have to
pay for those things
00:15:36.10\00:15:38.23
as sad as it is
00:15:38.27\00:15:40.17
and as hurtful as
it will be to God,
00:15:40.20\00:15:42.97
He does not delight in
people that have to die
00:15:43.00\00:15:46.71
because of their sins.
00:15:46.74\00:15:48.08
I want you to
invite you to join me
00:15:48.11\00:15:49.61
in Psalms 116...
00:15:49.64\00:15:53.58
116.
00:15:53.62\00:15:57.15
And in Psalms 116,
we're going to read verse 15.
00:15:57.19\00:16:01.72
Psalms 116:15, I
hear some pages turning,
00:16:01.76\00:16:08.16
we'll wait a moment.
00:16:08.20\00:16:09.53
Here in Psalms
116:15, we have a statement
00:16:09.56\00:16:12.73
that's slightly different
from the one we've read
00:16:12.77\00:16:14.80
because now it's
talking about the righteous,
00:16:14.84\00:16:16.50
the previous one
we read was about
00:16:16.54\00:16:18.57
the wicked, the evil people.
00:16:18.61\00:16:20.88
Notice Psalms 116:15,
00:16:20.91\00:16:24.35
"Precious in the
sight of the Lord
00:16:24.38\00:16:27.98
is the death of his saints.
00:16:28.02\00:16:31.65
Precious in the
sight of the Lord
00:16:31.69\00:16:34.06
is the death of his saints."
00:16:34.09\00:16:35.99
Why the difference?
00:16:36.02\00:16:37.36
Because the righteous,
00:16:37.39\00:16:39.36
the saints when they die
living a life of pleasing God,
00:16:39.39\00:16:45.33
living a life of righteousness,
00:16:45.37\00:16:47.04
they have placed themselves
in the hands of the Lord,
00:16:47.07\00:16:50.94
believe in the Lord,
and they know that by grace,
00:16:50.97\00:16:54.08
they are saved through faith.
00:16:54.11\00:16:55.44
It is not of
themselves, it is a gift of God.
00:16:55.48\00:16:58.41
When they die,
00:16:58.45\00:16:59.88
they know that they
will be living eternal life
00:16:59.91\00:17:04.12
and God is pleased that
they have died in righteousness
00:17:04.15\00:17:07.36
instead of wickedness,
00:17:07.39\00:17:08.72
because God has no pleasure
in the death of the wicked,
00:17:08.76\00:17:11.39
but He has pleasure in
the death of the righteous
00:17:11.43\00:17:15.06
because He knows He's
going to resurrect them
00:17:15.10\00:17:17.23
from the death to live
eternal life for ever and ever.
00:17:17.27\00:17:20.50
Amen and amen.
00:17:20.54\00:17:22.27
So there's a
difference between the two.
00:17:22.30\00:17:25.91
So at this point, I would
like to invite you to join me
00:17:25.94\00:17:29.51
in 2 Peter 3:9,
00:17:29.54\00:17:32.71
God has no pleasure in
the death of him that dies
00:17:32.75\00:17:36.72
and He has done
00:17:36.75\00:17:40.36
all that could
possibly done to save everyone.
00:17:40.39\00:17:44.63
And the Bible
states very clearly
00:17:44.66\00:17:46.80
and everyone
knows this scripture
00:17:46.83\00:17:49.53
that He gave His Son
00:17:49.56\00:17:51.00
so that we could
have eternal life.
00:17:51.03\00:17:53.37
We're going to read
that verse a little later on.
00:17:53.40\00:17:55.50
But in 2 Peter 3:9,
00:17:55.54\00:17:58.11
bringing that
thought a little further
00:17:58.14\00:17:59.97
that God has no
pleasure in the death of him
00:18:00.01\00:18:02.21
that dies in his wickedness.
00:18:02.24\00:18:04.48
In 2 Peter 3:9,
the Bible tells us,
00:18:04.51\00:18:07.12
"The Lord is not slack
concerning His promise,
00:18:07.15\00:18:11.42
as some men count slackness,
00:18:11.45\00:18:13.99
but is longsuffering to us-ward,
00:18:14.02\00:18:16.83
not willing that
any should perish,
00:18:16.86\00:18:19.89
but that all should
come to repentance."
00:18:19.93\00:18:23.67
Amen, amen.
00:18:23.70\00:18:25.37
So God has no pleasure
in the death of the wicked,
00:18:25.40\00:18:29.14
and He hopes and He
wants every one to repent
00:18:29.17\00:18:33.21
and makes an effort in
the heart of each individual
00:18:33.24\00:18:35.98
so that they will repent.
00:18:36.01\00:18:37.71
Unfortunately,
hundreds, thousands,
00:18:37.75\00:18:41.62
I dare say
millions will not repent
00:18:41.65\00:18:45.02
and instead of
enjoying eternal life
00:18:45.05\00:18:47.86
without pain,
suffering, or sickness,
00:18:47.89\00:18:50.73
or death, just
peace and happiness,
00:18:50.76\00:18:53.29
and enjoying
all the great things
00:18:53.33\00:18:55.20
that God has created and made,
00:18:55.23\00:18:57.37
and we will see things
00:18:57.40\00:18:58.73
unlike anything we
have seen on this earth.
00:18:58.77\00:19:00.94
Some people
sometimes go on vacation,
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.60
and they see beautiful beaches,
00:19:02.64\00:19:04.47
I know there aren't that
many here in Southern Illinois,
00:19:04.51\00:19:07.81
but sometimes they go
and see beautiful beaches,
00:19:07.84\00:19:09.88
beautiful
mountains, rivers, and lakes,
00:19:09.91\00:19:13.31
flowers, and
animals of all kinds
00:19:13.35\00:19:15.12
all around the world.
00:19:15.15\00:19:16.48
There are some beautiful things
00:19:16.52\00:19:17.85
here in Southern
Illinois as well,
00:19:17.89\00:19:19.22
but when they go
on these vacations,
00:19:19.25\00:19:20.89
and sometimes
people think Hawaii,
00:19:20.92\00:19:23.06
sometimes people think of some
other place in the Caribbean
00:19:23.09\00:19:26.46
and beautiful mountains
in Europe and other places,
00:19:26.49\00:19:30.27
and they say, "Wow!
00:19:30.30\00:19:32.30
Beautiful."
00:19:32.33\00:19:33.80
But the things
that God has for us
00:19:33.84\00:19:37.71
throughout eternity
will far surpass anything
00:19:37.74\00:19:40.68
that we can see or
have seen upon this earth
00:19:40.71\00:19:43.91
because the things that we
see that are still beautiful
00:19:43.95\00:19:46.75
have been affected by the sin
that has come into this world.
00:19:46.78\00:19:52.35
So I tell you,
there is much more to see
00:19:52.39\00:19:55.92
and great and wonderful things.
00:19:55.96\00:19:58.39
So, now we ask the
question, what happens,
00:19:58.43\00:20:02.56
when will the
righteous receive their reward,
00:20:02.60\00:20:05.43
and when will the
wicked receive their reward?
00:20:05.47\00:20:08.74
When you talk about reward,
00:20:08.77\00:20:10.97
it sounds like
something good, doesn't it?
00:20:11.01\00:20:13.07
But there is a
reward for doing evil,
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.64
and we will read
that as we go on.
00:20:15.68\00:20:18.31
So I want to tell you
that when Jesus Christ returns,
00:20:18.35\00:20:22.85
when Jesus Christ returns,
00:20:22.88\00:20:24.85
there are some
categories of people.
00:20:24.89\00:20:28.19
When he returns,
00:20:28.22\00:20:29.72
there will be the
wicked that are alive,
00:20:29.76\00:20:35.46
there are also
wicked that are dead,
00:20:35.50\00:20:39.30
but there are
also righteous people,
00:20:39.33\00:20:41.70
good people that are
alive, and righteous people,
00:20:41.74\00:20:45.14
good people that
have died in Christ.
00:20:45.17\00:20:47.31
In other words, they
lived a life serving the Lord.
00:20:47.34\00:20:50.15
Those are the two possibilities.
00:20:50.18\00:20:53.58
There is no middle ground
because in not choosing God,
00:20:53.62\00:20:56.72
you have chosen the devil's way.
00:20:56.75\00:20:59.39
And so there is no possibility
of middle ground to say,
00:20:59.42\00:21:02.42
well, I'm not going
to pick either side,
00:21:02.46\00:21:03.96
I'm just going
to do my own thing.
00:21:03.99\00:21:07.23
And so when you
choose to do that,
00:21:07.26\00:21:09.30
you are in the side of evil.
00:21:09.33\00:21:11.73
And really, you're not
paying attention to the great
00:21:11.77\00:21:15.60
and wonderful
commandments of God
00:21:15.64\00:21:17.17
the Bible says summarizing
00:21:17.21\00:21:20.18
that we are to
love the Lord, our God,
00:21:20.21\00:21:23.38
with all of our heart,
00:21:23.41\00:21:24.75
with all of our
mind, all of our strength,
00:21:24.78\00:21:27.12
and to love our
neighbor as ourself.
00:21:27.15\00:21:28.95
So if you want to
take this middle ground,
00:21:28.98\00:21:31.59
you're going to find yourself
00:21:31.62\00:21:33.42
that you're not
doing one or the other
00:21:33.46\00:21:36.39
of these great and
mighty commandments.
00:21:36.42\00:21:38.76
And these, of course,
00:21:38.79\00:21:41.00
are a summary of
the Ten Commandments
00:21:41.03\00:21:43.10
which are found in Exodus 20.
00:21:43.13\00:21:45.83
So I will ask you to join me.
00:21:45.87\00:21:48.70
Now, we're going to
talk about the righteous.
00:21:48.74\00:21:51.51
What happens to the righteous,
00:21:51.54\00:21:53.27
and when do they
receive their reward.
00:21:53.31\00:21:55.88
Our first place to go
to is 1 Thessalonians 4,
00:21:55.91\00:21:59.85
1 Thessalonians 4,
00:21:59.88\00:22:02.78
and we're going to
quickly go through that one.
00:22:02.82\00:22:05.59
1 Thessalonians 4,
00:22:05.62\00:22:07.09
because we have many other
scriptures to share with you.
00:22:07.12\00:22:09.12
1 Thessalonians 4, we're going
to begin reading in verse 13,
00:22:09.16\00:22:12.93
and we're going to go
all the way through verse 18.
00:22:12.96\00:22:15.83
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
00:22:15.86\00:22:19.10
This is what the Bible says,
00:22:19.13\00:22:23.00
"But I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren,
00:22:23.04\00:22:25.47
concerning them
which are asleep..."
00:22:25.51\00:22:27.54
Are they talking about
people taking rest or sleep,
00:22:27.58\00:22:29.74
or people that have died?
00:22:29.78\00:22:31.18
They're talking about
people that have died.
00:22:31.21\00:22:32.98
"That ye sorrow not even
as others which have no hope."
00:22:33.01\00:22:35.92
You don't sorrow when
somebody is taking a rest
00:22:35.95\00:22:37.59
and sleep and normal sleep,
00:22:37.62\00:22:38.95
this is talking about the dead.
00:22:38.99\00:22:42.19
"For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again,
00:22:42.22\00:22:45.99
even so also
which sleep in Jesus
00:22:46.03\00:22:50.63
will God bring with him."
00:22:50.67\00:22:52.57
In other words, God
is going to bring them
00:22:52.60\00:22:54.30
with Him to heaven.
00:22:54.34\00:22:56.04
That's what he's talking about.
00:22:56.07\00:22:57.41
Some people confuse this verse
00:22:57.44\00:22:58.77
and think that Jesus is coming
down bringing them with Him,
00:22:58.81\00:23:03.35
but notice that as
you continue reading,
00:23:03.38\00:23:05.81
it will become clear
that He's not talking about
00:23:05.85\00:23:08.02
bringing them
from heaven down here,
00:23:08.05\00:23:09.85
He's talking about
bringing the dead that are here
00:23:09.88\00:23:12.95
resurrecting them and
taking them to heaven.
00:23:12.99\00:23:14.72
Notice then following verse 15,
00:23:14.76\00:23:17.03
"For this we say unto you
00:23:17.06\00:23:18.39
by the Word of
the Lord," by what?
00:23:18.43\00:23:21.20
The Word of the Lord.
He did not make this up.
00:23:21.23\00:23:23.43
This is something that
is coming direct from God.
00:23:23.47\00:23:27.20
"For this we say unto
you by the Word of the Lord,
00:23:27.24\00:23:29.20
that we which are alive
00:23:29.24\00:23:31.94
and remain unto
the coming of the Lord
00:23:31.97\00:23:34.21
shall not prevent
them which are asleep."
00:23:34.24\00:23:36.85
That word prevent is precede.
00:23:36.88\00:23:39.08
In other words, we're
not going to go ahead of them
00:23:39.11\00:23:41.12
that are dead in Christ.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.99
Verse 16, "For the Lord himself
00:23:44.02\00:23:46.25
shall descend from
heaven with a shout..."
00:23:46.29\00:23:50.13
With a what? A shout.
00:23:50.16\00:23:51.56
It's not going to be
something quiet or a secret.
00:23:51.59\00:23:55.53
It's going to be a
glorious, loud event.
00:23:55.56\00:23:58.53
Everyone in the
world will take notice.
00:23:58.57\00:24:00.77
Everything will stop.
00:24:00.80\00:24:02.57
If you're playing a
baseball game, the game stops.
00:24:02.60\00:24:05.84
Whatever activity
you're doing, it will stop
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.94
because the glorious
manifestation of the Son of God
00:24:07.98\00:24:11.15
will capture
everyone's attention,
00:24:11.18\00:24:13.42
and that will be a
glorious, glorious thing.
00:24:13.45\00:24:17.19
Notice, let's continue reading,
00:24:17.22\00:24:18.55
we'll start
reading again verse 16.
00:24:18.59\00:24:20.72
"For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven
00:24:20.76\00:24:23.93
with a shout with the
voice of the archangel,
00:24:23.96\00:24:26.70
and with the trump of God,
00:24:26.73\00:24:28.63
and the dead in
Christ shall rise first."
00:24:28.66\00:24:33.94
We were talking about
those that sleep in Jesus,
00:24:33.97\00:24:36.44
the dead in
Christ will rise first.
00:24:36.47\00:24:39.11
What does that
mean, they'll rise first?
00:24:39.14\00:24:40.51
Well, they're going to
be rising from the ground
00:24:40.54\00:24:42.74
and rising from the earth.
00:24:42.78\00:24:45.68
Notice, "Then we which are alive
00:24:45.71\00:24:49.78
and remain shall
be caught up together
00:24:49.82\00:24:51.99
with them in the clouds..."
00:24:52.02\00:24:55.82
Can you picture that?
00:24:55.86\00:24:57.19
"The dead in Christ rise first,
and then we which are alive
00:24:57.23\00:25:00.13
and remain are
caught up together with them
00:25:00.16\00:25:01.66
in the cloud to
meet the Lord in the air,
00:25:01.70\00:25:06.47
and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
00:25:06.50\00:25:09.80
Amen.
00:25:09.84\00:25:11.37
Verse 18 merely says,
00:25:11.41\00:25:13.07
"Wherefore comfort one
another with these words."
00:25:13.11\00:25:15.61
So in another
words, the righteous dead,
00:25:15.64\00:25:18.21
those servants of the Lord,
00:25:18.25\00:25:19.58
the saints of the
Lord are dead in the ground
00:25:19.61\00:25:23.08
waiting for the
resurrection of the righteous.
00:25:23.12\00:25:26.96
They're not in
heaven enjoying heaven.
00:25:26.99\00:25:29.26
At this point, they are
waiting the resurrection
00:25:29.29\00:25:31.69
and this is what the
Bible mentions many, many times.
00:25:31.73\00:25:35.50
So furthermore,
we want to show you
00:25:35.53\00:25:39.87
that Jesus Himself made a
declaration concerning this
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.20
in John 5:28 and 29,
00:25:43.24\00:25:46.88
John 5:28 and 29.
00:25:46.91\00:25:52.05
And we have a lot of
scriptures to share with you,
00:25:52.08\00:25:54.45
bear with us, write
them down if you need to.
00:25:54.48\00:25:56.89
For further study, we
tend to go a little quick here
00:25:56.92\00:26:00.26
and we hope
that you will capture
00:26:00.29\00:26:02.19
the message as we read it.
00:26:02.22\00:26:04.26
John 5:28 and 29,
the Bible tells us,
00:26:04.29\00:26:08.56
"Marvel not at this,
for the hour is coming,
00:26:08.60\00:26:13.10
in the which all
that are in the graves
00:26:13.13\00:26:17.01
shall hear His voice."
00:26:17.04\00:26:18.61
How many will hear His voice?
00:26:18.64\00:26:20.78
All will hear His voice.
00:26:20.81\00:26:23.01
"And shall come forth,
they that have done good,
00:26:23.04\00:26:27.15
unto the resurrection of life
and they that have done evil,
00:26:27.18\00:26:30.65
unto the
resurrection of damnation."
00:26:30.69\00:26:34.59
So we here, we see here
two different resurrections.
00:26:34.62\00:26:39.06
The
resurrection of the righteous
00:26:39.09\00:26:42.03
and the
resurrection of the wicked.
00:26:42.06\00:26:44.57
The resurrection
of the righteous,
00:26:44.60\00:26:46.63
it says that they have
the resurrection of life,
00:26:46.67\00:26:49.47
living eternal life.
00:26:49.50\00:26:51.61
"And they that have done evil,
00:26:51.64\00:26:52.97
unto the
resurrection of damnation."
00:26:53.01\00:26:55.08
And we will further study that.
00:26:55.11\00:26:57.68
In Daniel 12, we
have something similar
00:26:57.71\00:27:00.45
that is illustrated by this.
00:27:00.48\00:27:02.98
Daniel 12.
00:27:03.02\00:27:06.15
In Daniel 12, we're
going to read verse 1 and 2.
00:27:06.19\00:27:08.76
When I'm in a regular church,
00:27:11.83\00:27:13.16
I ask people to
help me read along,
00:27:13.19\00:27:14.80
so I'm not doing all
the reading by myself.
00:27:14.83\00:27:18.30
Daniel 12:1 and 2, if
you found it, say amen.
00:27:18.33\00:27:24.04
Amen. Oh, praise the Lord.
00:27:24.07\00:27:26.37
Here we go, "And at that
time shall Michael stand up,
00:27:26.41\00:27:33.25
the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people,
00:27:33.28\00:27:37.09
and there shall
be a time of trouble,
00:27:37.12\00:27:39.39
such as never was
since there was a nation
00:27:39.42\00:27:41.76
even to that same time,
00:27:41.79\00:27:43.89
and at that time thy
people shall be delivered,
00:27:43.93\00:27:46.13
every one that shall be
found written in the book."
00:27:46.16\00:27:51.40
Notice how this is
similar to what we read
00:27:51.43\00:27:54.14
in John 5:28 and 29.
00:27:54.17\00:27:56.27
Look at verse 2, "And many
of them that sleep in the dust
00:27:56.30\00:28:01.28
of the earth shall
awake," in other words,
00:28:01.31\00:28:04.08
they'll be resurrected,
"some to everlasting life,"
00:28:04.11\00:28:08.25
the resurrection
of the righteous,
00:28:08.28\00:28:09.95
"and some to shame
and everlasting contempt."
00:28:09.98\00:28:14.99
Two different resurrections
are pictured here in Daniel 12,
00:28:15.02\00:28:18.49
the same thought that we
find in John 5:28 and 29.
00:28:18.53\00:28:25.33
Now, let us further clarify this
00:28:25.37\00:28:28.00
by turning in our
Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15,
00:28:28.04\00:28:32.77
1 Corinthians 15...
00:28:32.81\00:28:34.78
and we are going to read
a couple of verses there,
00:28:38.15\00:28:41.58
verses 22 and 23.
00:28:41.62\00:28:44.99
1 Corinthians 15:22
and 23, let us read,
00:28:45.02\00:28:48.92
"But every man in his own order,
00:28:48.96\00:28:51.29
Christ the
firstfruits," Christ what?
00:28:51.33\00:28:55.26
The firstfruits
of them that slept.
00:28:55.30\00:28:57.53
There is the word
sleep or slept again
00:28:57.57\00:29:00.60
concerning
someone that had died.
00:29:00.64\00:29:02.34
Christ became the
first fruit because,
00:29:02.37\00:29:04.44
not because He's the
first one resurrected
00:29:04.47\00:29:06.68
but because He is
first in priority,
00:29:06.71\00:29:09.88
first in eminence.
00:29:09.91\00:29:13.28
He is first
because of who He is.
00:29:13.31\00:29:16.75
"But now Christ is
risen from the dead
00:29:16.79\00:29:19.45
and become the
firstfruits of them that slept."
00:29:19.49\00:29:23.56
I'm reading in 1
Corinthians verse 20.
00:29:23.59\00:29:25.79
Sorry, we need
to go to verse 23,
00:29:25.83\00:29:29.20
"But every man in his own order,
00:29:29.23\00:29:31.90
Christ the first
fruit," and then what?
00:29:31.93\00:29:37.57
"Afterward they
that are Christ's," when?
00:29:37.61\00:29:40.51
"At his coming."
00:29:40.54\00:29:42.21
So He's talking about
those that sleep in the dust,
00:29:42.24\00:29:45.21
those that are dead in Christ,
00:29:45.25\00:29:47.65
so at His coming
those that are righteous,
00:29:47.68\00:29:53.02
rise from the
dead at His coming,
00:29:53.05\00:29:55.62
not before, at the
Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
00:29:55.66\00:30:00.73
Amen? Amen.
00:30:00.76\00:30:02.80
Well, this takes us
now to the following verses
00:30:02.83\00:30:07.90
that are still in 1 Corinthians.
00:30:07.94\00:30:10.37
Now we go to verse 51.
00:30:10.41\00:30:12.34
Notice here, the
powerful message of the Bible.
00:30:12.37\00:30:16.08
1 Corinthians 15:51-55,
00:30:16.11\00:30:21.48
let us read.
00:30:21.52\00:30:23.18
"Behold, I shew you a mystery.
00:30:23.22\00:30:26.39
We shall not all
sleep," in other words,
00:30:26.42\00:30:28.06
we're not all going to die,
"but we shall all be changed,
00:30:28.09\00:30:33.16
in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye,
00:30:33.19\00:30:36.06
at the last trump,
00:30:36.10\00:30:38.83
for the trumpet shall sound,
00:30:38.87\00:30:40.40
and the dead shall be
raised incorruptible."
00:30:40.44\00:30:43.94
So at His coming,
the trumpet will sound
00:30:43.97\00:30:46.27
and the dead shall
be raised incorruptible.
00:30:46.31\00:30:48.74
Talking about
the righteous dead.
00:30:48.78\00:30:51.55
"And we shall be changed.
00:30:51.58\00:30:54.48
For this corruptible
must put on incorruption,
00:30:54.52\00:31:00.06
and this mortal
must put on immortality."
00:31:00.09\00:31:06.09
You notice that
difference there?
00:31:06.13\00:31:07.76
Must put on immortality.
00:31:07.80\00:31:09.46
"So when this corruptible
shall have put on incorruption,
00:31:09.50\00:31:13.70
and this mortal shall
have put on immortality,
00:31:13.74\00:31:17.61
then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written,
00:31:17.64\00:31:20.08
Death is
swallowed up in victory.
00:31:20.11\00:31:24.88
O death, where is thy sting?
00:31:24.91\00:31:26.41
O grave, where is thy victory?"
00:31:26.45\00:31:29.85
So we see here
interesting words that are used.
00:31:29.88\00:31:33.72
This
corruptible, in other words,
00:31:33.76\00:31:35.36
our bodies are corruptible,
00:31:35.39\00:31:37.29
that we don't go from baby to...
00:31:37.33\00:31:40.43
We have a cycle of life.
00:31:40.46\00:31:43.26
As a baby, we're weak,
00:31:43.30\00:31:44.70
and we get
stronger and stronger,
00:31:44.73\00:31:46.57
then you reach a
point that you're strong,
00:31:46.60\00:31:48.20
you can do anything.
00:31:48.24\00:31:49.57
You can jump over
this or lift that.
00:31:49.60\00:31:52.07
But then eventually, as you age,
00:31:52.11\00:31:55.48
weakness settles in,
00:31:55.51\00:31:57.15
and you begin to age,
gray hair comes along.
00:31:57.18\00:32:00.58
Some of us lose
our hair like myself.
00:32:00.62\00:32:02.98
And then
eventually, weaker and weaker,
00:32:03.02\00:32:05.42
and then you die,
that's being corruptible.
00:32:05.45\00:32:09.62
And then it says,
"This mortal, there's nothing
00:32:09.66\00:32:14.30
in any human being
that has immortality."
00:32:14.33\00:32:18.83
Only God has immortality.
00:32:18.87\00:32:20.34
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6.
00:32:20.37\00:32:23.77
This mortal, that we just
read, will put on immortality,
00:32:23.81\00:32:28.24
when will that happen?
00:32:28.28\00:32:30.11
When Jesus Christ returns,
00:32:30.15\00:32:31.61
at the last
trump, at His coming,
00:32:31.65\00:32:33.55
we will put on immortality.
00:32:33.58\00:32:35.92
We do not have it now.
00:32:35.95\00:32:37.39
And there's no such
thing as an immortal soul.
00:32:37.42\00:32:42.22
We read in Ezekiel 18,
00:32:42.26\00:32:43.93
"That the soul that
sinneth, it shall die."
00:32:43.96\00:32:46.80
So we see that the
Bible is clear in this area,
00:32:46.83\00:32:49.66
and it says, "This mortal
shall put on immortality."
00:32:49.70\00:32:53.54
How many long for that day?
00:32:53.57\00:32:55.67
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:32:55.70\00:32:57.11
And we shall be
changed, the Bible says,
00:32:57.14\00:32:58.81
in the twinkling of
an eye at the last trump.
00:32:58.84\00:33:02.64
Amen.
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.01
So talking
about this last trump,
00:33:04.05\00:33:07.25
we see Jesus in John 6
00:33:07.28\00:33:09.78
making reference
to the last trump
00:33:09.82\00:33:11.99
and resurrecting the righteous.
00:33:12.02\00:33:16.49
We mentioned before
that there are four times
00:33:16.52\00:33:19.29
when Jesus states
that He's going to raise
00:33:19.33\00:33:21.96
the righteous at the last day.
00:33:22.00\00:33:23.70
This time, we're just
going to read two of the verses
00:33:23.73\00:33:25.70
in John 6, there are four,
00:33:25.73\00:33:27.87
but we're going to
just read John 6:39 and 40.
00:33:27.90\00:33:31.11
Are you ready? Say amen.
00:33:31.14\00:33:33.01
"And this is the Father's
will which hath sent me,
00:33:33.04\00:33:37.31
that of all
which He hath given me
00:33:37.35\00:33:41.58
I should lose nothing,
00:33:41.62\00:33:43.25
but should raise it
up again at the last day.
00:33:43.28\00:33:46.92
And this is the
will of Him that sent me,
00:33:46.96\00:33:48.76
that every one which seeth
the Son and believeth on Him,
00:33:48.79\00:33:54.73
may have everlasting life."
00:33:54.76\00:33:56.83
You see the Son, believe on Him,
00:33:56.87\00:33:59.00
you will have everlasting life.
00:33:59.03\00:34:00.80
So, what happens
to those individuals?
00:34:00.84\00:34:04.37
"And I will raise
him up at the last day."
00:34:04.41\00:34:09.54
So please
understand that when you die,
00:34:09.58\00:34:13.82
if you've been righteous,
00:34:13.85\00:34:15.65
believing in Christ
and His righteousness,
00:34:15.68\00:34:17.79
you don't go straight to heaven
00:34:17.82\00:34:19.15
when you die, it's when
Jesus returns at His coming
00:34:19.19\00:34:22.69
that you are
resurrected from the dead,
00:34:22.72\00:34:24.66
and if you are
alive when Jesus comes,
00:34:24.69\00:34:26.73
you, as we read
in 1 Thessalonians 4,
00:34:26.76\00:34:29.46
will join the dead in
Christ that will rise first,
00:34:29.50\00:34:33.20
and then we are
caught up together with them
00:34:33.23\00:34:35.34
and meet the Lord in the air.
00:34:35.37\00:34:37.61
Amen? Amen.
00:34:37.64\00:34:40.44
Now the
resurrection of damnation,
00:34:40.48\00:34:44.18
we read that there
are two resurrections,
00:34:44.21\00:34:45.61
the resurrection
for everlasting life,
00:34:45.65\00:34:49.28
the resurrection of life
00:34:49.32\00:34:50.72
and the
resurrection of damnation.
00:34:50.75\00:34:53.12
Let's go to Revelation 20:6,
00:34:53.15\00:34:56.56
Revelation 20:6,
00:34:56.59\00:34:58.53
and we will find
when that takes place.
00:34:58.56\00:35:01.20
Revelation 20:6,
00:35:01.23\00:35:03.47
we are going to read
about the first resurrection
00:35:03.50\00:35:07.04
and then about the
second resurrection.
00:35:07.07\00:35:09.40
Revelation 20:6, are you ready?
00:35:09.44\00:35:12.04
Say amen.
00:35:12.07\00:35:13.41
Notice, "Blessed and holy is he
00:35:13.44\00:35:17.78
that hath part in
the first resurrection,
00:35:17.81\00:35:21.18
on such the second
death hath no power,
00:35:21.22\00:35:25.69
but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ
00:35:25.72\00:35:28.09
and shall reign with
him a thousand years."
00:35:28.12\00:35:32.29
Praise the Lord.
00:35:32.33\00:35:33.66
So we see here
that there's a blessing
00:35:33.70\00:35:35.66
pronounced on those
00:35:35.70\00:35:37.03
that are part of
the first resurrection,
00:35:37.07\00:35:39.57
the resurrection
of the righteous,
00:35:39.60\00:35:41.14
the resurrection
of everlasting life.
00:35:41.17\00:35:43.87
When do the
wicked that have died,
00:35:43.91\00:35:47.21
when are they resurrected?
00:35:47.24\00:35:49.54
There are two resurrections.
00:35:49.58\00:35:50.91
We know about the
resurrection of the righteous
00:35:50.95\00:35:53.48
that takes place
when Jesus Christ
00:35:53.52\00:35:54.85
returns at the last trumpet.
00:35:54.88\00:35:57.29
Notice what it
says about the wicked,
00:35:57.32\00:36:01.06
Revelation 20:5,
00:36:01.09\00:36:05.09
"But the rest of
the dead lived not again
00:36:05.13\00:36:10.80
until the thousand
years were finished."
00:36:10.83\00:36:15.67
Until the thousand
years are finished.
00:36:15.70\00:36:17.94
Now, the Bible was written
by people inspired by God,
00:36:17.97\00:36:24.65
but people came along and
put Bible verses in there,
00:36:24.68\00:36:28.82
and did not always put
them in the correct place
00:36:28.85\00:36:32.92
because the end
of this verse says,
00:36:32.95\00:36:34.69
this is the first resurrection.
00:36:34.72\00:36:37.06
This is actually
the second resurrection.
00:36:37.09\00:36:38.99
This part that says this
is the first resurrection
00:36:39.03\00:36:40.86
belongs to the next
verse that is read...
00:36:40.90\00:36:44.87
that will be verse 6.
00:36:44.90\00:36:46.40
Now, let us go to Hebrews 9:27
00:36:46.43\00:36:52.44
concerning everyone
00:36:52.47\00:36:54.71
and concerning the
dead that are wicked.
00:36:54.74\00:36:58.45
Hebrews 9:26, we'll come back
to Revelation 20 in a moment.
00:36:58.48\00:37:02.72
Hebrews 9:27,
actually, Hebrews 9:27.
00:37:02.75\00:37:08.19
Hebrews 9:27 has
the following words.
00:37:08.22\00:37:11.69
"As it is appointed
unto men once to die,
00:37:11.73\00:37:15.86
but after this the judgment."
00:37:15.90\00:37:19.23
So it is appointed for people
once to die then the judgment.
00:37:19.27\00:37:23.81
There is a death, and
then you go to heaven,
00:37:23.84\00:37:27.38
death, if you're
wicked then you go to hell.
00:37:27.41\00:37:29.78
There is judgment
before these things take place.
00:37:29.81\00:37:32.68
And we do not have
time to elaborate this.
00:37:32.71\00:37:35.45
There's a
judgment going on right now
00:37:35.48\00:37:37.32
because when
Jesus Christ returns,
00:37:37.35\00:37:40.16
He is coming with His reward.
00:37:40.19\00:37:41.82
That's why when we read
00:37:41.86\00:37:43.19
in 1
Thessalonians 4:12 and onward,
00:37:43.22\00:37:47.16
it states that the righteous
00:37:47.20\00:37:49.73
begin to receive the reward
when Jesus Christ returns.
00:37:49.76\00:37:53.77
There is a judgment
of execution of the,
00:37:53.80\00:37:57.44
what has been
found and what we call
00:37:57.47\00:37:59.27
the phase of the investigation
00:37:59.31\00:38:01.04
as to who accepted Jesus Christ,
00:38:01.08\00:38:03.75
who said I will follow
Him with all of my heart,
00:38:03.78\00:38:06.92
and who has accepted
salvation by His grace.
00:38:06.95\00:38:10.62
And that's why
when Christ returns,
00:38:10.65\00:38:12.65
His reward is with
Him, the Bible says,
00:38:12.69\00:38:14.59
to give to every man
according as His deeds shall be.
00:38:14.62\00:38:19.59
Now let us go and see
that judgment in Revelation 20.
00:38:19.63\00:38:24.53
We go back there, and
we pick up at verse 11.
00:38:24.57\00:38:27.54
Revelation 20:11,
00:38:27.57\00:38:33.38
we're trying to get
to some other verses
00:38:33.41\00:38:35.58
that are in
questioned by some people.
00:38:35.61\00:38:39.85
So Revelation 20:11,
00:38:39.88\00:38:42.02
the Bible tells
us the following,
00:38:42.05\00:38:46.45
we're going to
read verse 11 and 12,
00:38:46.49\00:38:49.02
"And I saw a great white throne,
00:38:49.06\00:38:52.89
and him that sat on it,
00:38:52.93\00:38:54.50
from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away,
00:38:54.53\00:38:59.10
and there was found
no more place for them."
00:38:59.13\00:39:01.57
Notice, "And I saw the dead,
small and great before God,
00:39:01.60\00:39:06.17
and the books were opened,"
there's judgment taking place,
00:39:06.21\00:39:09.58
"and another book was opened,
which is the book of life,
00:39:09.61\00:39:12.98
and the dead were
judged out of those things
00:39:13.01\00:39:16.89
which were written in the books,
00:39:16.92\00:39:18.29
according to their works."
00:39:18.32\00:39:20.92
It is your works
that will determine
00:39:20.96\00:39:23.69
where you will end up
00:39:23.73\00:39:25.76
if you placed yourself
in the hands of the Lord
00:39:25.79\00:39:30.50
and you follow the Lord,
00:39:30.53\00:39:33.54
you will do
works of righteousness
00:39:33.57\00:39:35.47
because without
Jesus, we can do nothing.
00:39:35.50\00:39:37.81
It is in cooperation with Him.
00:39:37.84\00:39:39.71
So the dead are judged
according to their works.
00:39:39.74\00:39:42.91
This is talking
about the wicked.
00:39:42.94\00:39:46.65
They are now facing the judgment
00:39:46.68\00:39:48.48
for the evil
things they have done.
00:39:48.52\00:39:50.59
How do we know?
00:39:50.62\00:39:51.95
Because it said, "I saw
the dead stand before God."
00:39:51.99\00:39:54.62
And we already saw
00:39:54.66\00:39:56.42
that the righteous
have been resurrected
00:39:56.46\00:39:59.69
when Jesus Christ came
before the thousand years began,
00:39:59.73\00:40:02.60
and it says, "And so we
shall ever be with the Lord."
00:40:02.63\00:40:05.57
We're dealing now with
the resurrection of those
00:40:05.60\00:40:08.67
that are wicked.
00:40:08.70\00:40:10.17
What happens to
those that are wicked?
00:40:10.21\00:40:12.27
We now go to
Revelation 20:13 and 14
00:40:12.31\00:40:15.74
which follow
Revelation 20:14 and 15.
00:40:15.78\00:40:22.35
This is what the Bible tells us,
00:40:22.38\00:40:24.22
"And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire.
00:40:24.25\00:40:29.39
This is the second death."
00:40:29.42\00:40:32.33
So death and hell are
cast into the lake of fire.
00:40:32.36\00:40:36.33
Verse 15, "And
whosoever was not found written
00:40:36.36\00:40:41.14
in the book of life
00:40:41.17\00:40:42.74
was cast into the lake of fire."
00:40:42.77\00:40:46.81
A horrible, horrible end
for those that are wicked.
00:40:46.84\00:40:52.08
They are now facing
the rewards for their sins.
00:40:52.11\00:40:58.95
The reward for their wickedness,
00:40:58.99\00:41:01.06
and judgment is executed.
00:41:01.09\00:41:03.26
They are thrown
into the lake of fire.
00:41:03.29\00:41:05.49
What happens to
them in the lake of fire?
00:41:05.53\00:41:08.40
Well, you just
read that this is what,
00:41:08.43\00:41:13.00
the second death in verse 14.
00:41:13.03\00:41:17.64
But there are
other verses in the Bible
00:41:17.67\00:41:19.17
that help us
understand what happens
00:41:19.21\00:41:21.24
even while they're
in the lake of fire.
00:41:21.28\00:41:23.85
Let me summarize,
and then we'll go back
00:41:23.88\00:41:25.58
and see it in the Bible.
00:41:25.61\00:41:28.95
When they're thrown
into the lake of fire,
00:41:28.98\00:41:31.12
they're burning
for a period of time,
00:41:31.15\00:41:33.82
not forever and ever
00:41:33.86\00:41:35.42
because there's
nothing in the wicked people
00:41:35.46\00:41:38.29
that is eternal
or has immortality.
00:41:38.33\00:41:44.37
Only the righteous
receive immortality
00:41:44.40\00:41:46.53
when Jesus Christ returns,
00:41:46.57\00:41:48.07
remember, this corruptible
must put on incorruption
00:41:48.10\00:41:50.61
and this mortal
must put on immortality.
00:41:50.64\00:41:52.97
The Bible does
not state anywhere
00:41:53.01\00:41:54.81
that the wicked
receive immortality.
00:41:54.84\00:41:58.45
And the Bible plainly states
00:41:58.48\00:42:00.38
that those thrown
into the lake of fire
00:42:00.42\00:42:02.52
is the second death.
00:42:02.55\00:42:04.29
Let us see some verses
00:42:04.32\00:42:05.95
that help us
understand these things.
00:42:05.99\00:42:09.22
In 1 Thessalonians 2,
00:42:09.26\00:42:12.53
in 1 Thessalonians 2,
00:42:12.56\00:42:15.36
you notice that in
the verses we read,
00:42:15.40\00:42:18.50
Revelation 20:11-15,
00:42:18.53\00:42:22.94
it states the dead.
00:42:22.97\00:42:25.11
Why is it talking
about just the dead?
00:42:25.14\00:42:27.78
Because all the wicked are dead.
00:42:27.81\00:42:33.01
When Jesus Christ returns,
all the wicked are dead.
00:42:33.05\00:42:39.09
And those that are
alive that are wicked
00:42:39.12\00:42:41.06
are put to death.
00:42:41.09\00:42:42.96
Notice what is written
00:42:42.99\00:42:44.33
in 1 Thessalonians 2:7 and 8,
00:42:44.36\00:42:50.23
I think that is...
00:42:50.27\00:42:52.30
If I wrote it down correctly,
that's where we will find it.
00:42:52.33\00:42:54.70
No, this is not it.
00:42:58.37\00:43:01.18
Oh, I'm in chapter 1.
00:43:01.21\00:43:02.94
Am I in the right place?
00:43:07.05\00:43:08.65
2 Thessalonians, sorry,
00:43:08.68\00:43:10.02
2 Thessalonians 2:7 and 8,
00:43:10.05\00:43:15.69
2 Thessalonians 2:7
and 8, are you ready?
00:43:15.72\00:43:19.63
Say amen.
00:43:19.66\00:43:21.33
Notice, "For the mystery
of iniquity doth already work,
00:43:21.36\00:43:26.74
only he who now
letteth will let,
00:43:26.77\00:43:28.94
until he be
taken out of the way.
00:43:28.97\00:43:31.41
And then shall
that wicked be revealed,
00:43:31.44\00:43:33.88
whom the Lord shall consume
with the spirit of his mouth,
00:43:33.91\00:43:37.81
and shall destroy with
the brightness of His coming."
00:43:37.85\00:43:42.38
This verse
helps us to understand
00:43:42.42\00:43:44.75
what happens to the
wicked that are alive,
00:43:44.79\00:43:48.12
they're destroyed
00:43:48.16\00:43:49.49
by the brightness of His coming.
00:43:49.52\00:43:51.13
So when Revelation 20 is dealing
00:43:51.16\00:43:53.26
and I saw the dead,
00:43:53.29\00:43:54.63
both small and
great, stand before God.
00:43:54.66\00:43:56.43
It's dealing with
all the wicked dead
00:43:56.46\00:43:58.33
that are brought back to life
00:43:58.37\00:43:59.70
to face the
judgment for their evil,
00:43:59.73\00:44:02.57
for the wicked
things they have done.
00:44:02.60\00:44:05.31
So we still have
the question before us,
00:44:05.34\00:44:08.24
what happens to the wicked
00:44:08.28\00:44:09.78
while they are
in the lake of fire?
00:44:09.81\00:44:11.81
Remember, it is
called the second death.
00:44:11.85\00:44:15.02
I remind you of John 3:16.
00:44:15.05\00:44:17.79
John 3:16, you
know it by memory,
00:44:17.82\00:44:21.09
you may not even
need to look it up.
00:44:21.12\00:44:22.92
Really? Okay, we'll see that.
00:44:22.96\00:44:25.16
The Bible says, "For
God so loved the world,
00:44:25.19\00:44:28.30
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:44:28.33\00:44:31.13
that whosoever believeth
in Him should not," what?
00:44:31.17\00:44:34.37
"Perish, but have
everlasting life."
00:44:34.40\00:44:36.97
Who receive everlasting life?
00:44:37.01\00:44:38.71
Those that believe in Him.
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.28
So what happens if
you don't believe in Him?
00:44:40.31\00:44:42.78
What does the Bible say?
00:44:42.81\00:44:45.05
So those that believe
receive everlasting life,
00:44:45.08\00:44:48.02
and those that do
not, they must perish
00:44:48.05\00:44:50.42
because it is those that believe
00:44:50.45\00:44:52.29
that receive everlasting life.
00:44:52.32\00:44:54.19
So if you don't believe,
00:44:54.22\00:44:55.79
you will not
receive everlasting life,
00:44:55.82\00:44:57.56
you will perish.
00:44:57.59\00:44:58.99
That's why it says that
whosoever believes in Him
00:44:59.03\00:45:01.86
will not perish but
have everlasting life.
00:45:01.90\00:45:04.43
Those that believe
have everlasting life,
00:45:04.47\00:45:05.87
those that do not, do
not have everlasting life,
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.44
so they must die.
00:45:08.47\00:45:09.84
So Romans 6:23 makes
this a little clearer.
00:45:09.87\00:45:15.74
Romans 6:23,
00:45:15.78\00:45:18.41
notice the
difference that is made here
00:45:18.45\00:45:20.85
between the believers
and the not believers.
00:45:20.88\00:45:23.79
Ready?
00:45:23.82\00:45:25.15
Romans 6:23,
00:45:25.19\00:45:26.79
"For the wages of sin is death,
00:45:26.82\00:45:32.19
but the gift of
God is eternal life
00:45:32.23\00:45:34.76
through Jesus Christ, our Lord."
00:45:34.80\00:45:37.60
Those that believe,
00:45:37.63\00:45:39.27
receive the gift of eternal life
00:45:39.30\00:45:41.60
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:45:41.64\00:45:42.97
Those that do not,
receive the wages of sin
00:45:43.00\00:45:45.17
which is death,
that's what perish means.
00:45:45.21\00:45:47.08
Perish means to
die, to cease to exist,
00:45:47.11\00:45:50.01
or to be put to death.
00:45:50.05\00:45:52.58
So now what
happens to the wicked
00:45:52.61\00:45:55.65
when they're in
the lake of fire?
00:45:55.68\00:45:57.39
Let's go through some verses
that help us understand this.
00:45:57.42\00:46:00.49
Luke 12:47,
00:46:00.52\00:46:03.22
Luke 12:47,
00:46:03.26\00:46:07.10
I must point out that the wicked
00:46:07.13\00:46:09.76
do not immediately die
00:46:09.80\00:46:11.63
when they are cast
into the lake of fire.
00:46:11.67\00:46:13.17
There's a period of
time that only God measures
00:46:13.20\00:46:17.34
because no one will
suffer one second longer
00:46:17.37\00:46:21.64
than it's fair
and just and good.
00:46:21.68\00:46:24.78
Justice must be met
exactly, not more and not less.
00:46:24.81\00:46:29.68
That's why the Bible makes
this clear in Luke 12:47 and 48.
00:46:29.72\00:46:34.76
Notice the words of Jesus,
00:46:34.79\00:46:37.53
"And that servant,
00:46:37.56\00:46:39.69
which knew his lord's
will and prepared not himself,
00:46:39.73\00:46:46.23
neither did
according to His will,
00:46:46.27\00:46:47.84
shall be beaten
with many stripes."
00:46:47.87\00:46:50.27
What happens to the servant
00:46:50.31\00:46:51.74
that they not
do the Lord's will?
00:46:51.77\00:46:54.64
They are beaten
with many stripes.
00:46:54.68\00:46:58.38
So verse 48,
"But he that knew not
00:46:58.41\00:47:02.08
and did not commit
things worthy of stripes,
00:47:02.12\00:47:04.82
shall be beaten
with few stripes."
00:47:04.85\00:47:06.99
So those that do
less evil, fewer stripes.
00:47:07.02\00:47:11.06
"For unto
whomsoever much is given,
00:47:11.09\00:47:13.26
of him shall be much required,
00:47:13.29\00:47:15.23
and to whom men
have committed much,
00:47:15.26\00:47:17.27
of him they will ask the more."
00:47:17.30\00:47:19.77
So people will be punished
00:47:19.80\00:47:23.74
according to the
wickedness they have done.
00:47:23.77\00:47:27.28
Even human beings,
finite human beings,
00:47:27.31\00:47:31.41
they have limited
capacity to know what is right
00:47:31.45\00:47:35.12
and just and fair have degrees
of punishment on this earth.
00:47:35.15\00:47:39.45
If you commit certain crime,
00:47:39.49\00:47:41.86
you spend certain
amount of time in jail.
00:47:41.89\00:47:44.33
And if you commit a worse crime,
00:47:44.36\00:47:46.46
you spend more time in jail.
00:47:46.49\00:47:48.36
And if you commit
some horrible crimes,
00:47:48.40\00:47:50.87
they'll give you what?
00:47:50.90\00:47:52.23
Life in prison.
00:47:52.27\00:47:54.37
Some people have
done so much wickedness,
00:47:54.40\00:47:56.67
they get double
life imprisonment.
00:47:56.71\00:47:58.14
And I don't know if any
have received more than that.
00:47:58.17\00:48:00.14
I think I even
heard of more than that.
00:48:00.18\00:48:01.88
So there you
see, life in prison.
00:48:01.91\00:48:03.51
Now notice, what
happens in society.
00:48:03.55\00:48:06.75
What happens in
society if they say,
00:48:06.78\00:48:09.05
"You're going to
have a life in prison."
00:48:09.08\00:48:13.19
Some of these individuals
00:48:13.22\00:48:14.79
if they had been
behaving good in the prison,
00:48:14.82\00:48:18.43
they say, "You
have totally reformed.
00:48:18.46\00:48:21.36
We are now going to forgive
the rest of your sentence,"
00:48:21.40\00:48:25.63
and they give
them an early release
00:48:25.67\00:48:28.70
because they have
been behaving well.
00:48:28.74\00:48:31.21
They feel they have changed.
00:48:31.24\00:48:32.67
They have paid for their crime,
00:48:32.71\00:48:35.41
and they set them
back out in society.
00:48:35.44\00:48:38.81
Their original
sentence was longer,
00:48:38.85\00:48:41.12
but it was cut down
because of good behavior.
00:48:41.15\00:48:44.02
So why is it that men
can have compassion on those,
00:48:44.05\00:48:49.52
and they don't
think God has compassion.
00:48:49.56\00:48:51.69
And they want to...
00:48:51.73\00:48:53.26
It does not seem fair.
00:48:53.29\00:48:56.80
Let's say Cain
killed one person.
00:48:56.83\00:48:59.63
Let us say that
Cain killed one person,
00:48:59.67\00:49:01.24
only killed his brother Abel.
00:49:01.27\00:49:03.57
For him to be cast
into the lake of fire,
00:49:03.61\00:49:06.57
to burn forever and
ever and ever without end,
00:49:06.61\00:49:09.91
does not seem
fair that somebody else
00:49:09.94\00:49:12.65
that kills a 100 people.
00:49:12.68\00:49:14.18
They say Hitler is responsible
for hundreds of death
00:49:14.22\00:49:17.05
to join Cain in hell,
and they're both burning.
00:49:17.09\00:49:22.26
They're both
paying the same sentence.
00:49:22.29\00:49:24.66
They're both burning
forever and ever and ever.
00:49:24.69\00:49:27.23
And you say, "Well, I
only committed one sin.
00:49:27.26\00:49:30.43
Why am I here forever and ever?
00:49:30.47\00:49:31.80
He committed hundreds
of sins, thousands of sins,
00:49:31.83\00:49:34.80
and he is still
receiving the same punishment."
00:49:34.84\00:49:38.47
The Bible says, "He that
is worthy of many stripes,
00:49:38.51\00:49:42.74
will receive many stripes.
00:49:42.78\00:49:44.11
He that is
worthy of few stripes,
00:49:44.15\00:49:45.48
will receive few stripes."
00:49:45.51\00:49:46.85
In other words, there
is a degree of suffering
00:49:46.88\00:49:49.75
that takes place
in the lake of fire,
00:49:49.78\00:49:51.75
but eventually, they die.
00:49:51.79\00:49:53.96
Let us look at another scripture
00:49:53.99\00:49:55.32
that helps us see that.
00:49:55.36\00:49:57.69
Let us look at another scripture
00:49:57.73\00:49:59.06
that helps us see that.
00:49:59.09\00:50:00.43
So for this, we need
to turn to Deuteronomy 25.
00:50:00.46\00:50:04.20
Deuteronomy 25,
there is another verse
00:50:04.23\00:50:06.10
we're going to
look at in a moment.
00:50:06.13\00:50:09.64
Deuteronomy 25:2, we
need to move a little quicker
00:50:09.67\00:50:13.98
so that we can get to some
other places we need to go to.
00:50:14.01\00:50:17.11
Deuteronomy 25:2, this has
been long established by God.
00:50:17.15\00:50:22.58
Notice Deuteronomy
25:2, thus it is written,
00:50:22.62\00:50:26.62
"And it shall
be, if the wicked man
00:50:26.65\00:50:28.79
be worthy to be beaten,
00:50:28.82\00:50:32.29
that the judge shall
cause him to lie down,
00:50:32.33\00:50:34.76
and to be
beaten before his face,
00:50:34.80\00:50:36.40
according to his fault,
00:50:36.43\00:50:39.20
by a certain number."
00:50:39.23\00:50:40.84
If you continue reading,
00:50:40.87\00:50:42.20
it says, "Forty stripes
is the most he can get."
00:50:42.24\00:50:44.91
So there was a
degree of punishment
00:50:44.94\00:50:47.11
according to the degree
of how horrendous the sin is.
00:50:47.14\00:50:51.18
Jesus Himself makes
this a little clearer
00:50:51.21\00:50:54.05
in the Book of Matthew 11.
00:50:54.08\00:50:58.29
The Book of Matthew 11,
00:50:58.32\00:51:02.16
Book of Matthew
11, follow me quickly.
00:51:02.19\00:51:06.80
Notice again, that
there is a degree of guilt
00:51:06.83\00:51:11.30
and a degree of punishment,
00:51:11.33\00:51:13.54
but eventually, the wicked die.
00:51:13.57\00:51:16.57
Where are we at?
00:51:16.60\00:51:17.94
Matthew 11, and we're
going to read verses 21 and 22.
00:51:17.97\00:51:22.58
If you found this, say amen.
00:51:22.61\00:51:24.38
Amen.
00:51:24.41\00:51:26.01
Before we start reading,
00:51:26.05\00:51:27.38
there are several
times that Jesus mentions
00:51:27.42\00:51:29.02
almost the same
thing in the gospels.
00:51:29.05\00:51:31.35
Notice this
one, "Woe unto thee,"
00:51:31.39\00:51:34.16
verse 21 and 22,
"Woe unto thee, Chorazin!
00:51:34.19\00:51:39.03
woe unto thee, Bethsaida,
for if the mighty works,
00:51:39.06\00:51:43.77
which were done in you,
00:51:43.80\00:51:45.13
had been done in Tyre and Sidon,
00:51:45.17\00:51:47.34
they would have
repented long ago
00:51:47.37\00:51:49.30
in sackcloth and ashes.
00:51:49.34\00:51:51.47
But I say to you, it
shall be more tolerable
00:51:51.51\00:51:55.78
for Tyre and Sidon
00:51:55.81\00:51:57.38
at that day of
judgment than for you."
00:51:57.41\00:52:02.12
So you see
there's a degree of guilt.
00:52:02.15\00:52:05.22
It would be more
tolerable for them than for you.
00:52:05.25\00:52:08.32
There's a degree
according to the guilt,
00:52:08.36\00:52:11.69
more tolerable
for you than for you
00:52:11.73\00:52:14.10
because of the
wickedness you have,
00:52:14.13\00:52:16.63
less wickedness,
00:52:16.67\00:52:18.00
it will be more
tolerable for you than for you
00:52:18.03\00:52:20.04
because of the wickedness.
00:52:20.07\00:52:21.40
You see there's
a degree of guilt,
00:52:21.44\00:52:24.94
a degree of punishment.
00:52:24.97\00:52:27.18
Amen? If you
understand that, say amen.
00:52:27.21\00:52:29.94
Amen.
00:52:29.98\00:52:31.48
But please understand
00:52:31.51\00:52:33.42
that eventually the wicked
will be consumed to ashes.
00:52:33.45\00:52:37.29
I must move quickly,
so let's go to Ezekiel 28,
00:52:37.32\00:52:41.12
we will at least get
this one in Ezekiel 28.
00:52:41.16\00:52:47.03
So if you're thinking history,
00:52:47.06\00:52:50.03
throughout history, who
is the worst of the worst?
00:52:50.07\00:52:54.80
The worst of the
worst throughout history
00:52:54.84\00:52:58.31
who has
committed the greater sin
00:52:58.34\00:53:00.01
has the greater guilt,
00:53:00.04\00:53:01.38
a greater responsibility,
who would that be?
00:53:01.41\00:53:04.35
I point you to Satan himself.
00:53:04.38\00:53:08.15
What does the Bible say
will happen to Satan himself?
00:53:08.18\00:53:11.85
Please
understand that Ezekiel 28
00:53:11.89\00:53:14.22
is talking about Satan,
00:53:14.26\00:53:15.62
we don't have time
to read all the verses,
00:53:15.66\00:53:16.99
we're going to
read verse 14 and 15,
00:53:17.03\00:53:18.63
and then we're going to jump
a few verses to his punishment.
00:53:18.66\00:53:21.96
Ezekiel 28:14 and 15,
00:53:22.00\00:53:25.20
"Thou art the
anointed cherub that covereth,
00:53:25.23\00:53:29.00
I have set thee so,
00:53:29.04\00:53:30.57
so thou wast upon
the holy mountain of God,
00:53:30.61\00:53:33.54
thou hast walked up and down
00:53:33.58\00:53:34.98
in the midst of
the stones of fire."
00:53:35.01\00:53:37.78
He's talking about
Lucifer, Satan before he sinned.
00:53:37.81\00:53:41.78
Notice, "Thou wast
perfect in thy ways from the day
00:53:41.82\00:53:45.89
that thou wast created
00:53:45.92\00:53:47.26
till iniquity
was found in thee."
00:53:47.29\00:53:50.63
A point in time when
Lucifer became Satan and sinned.
00:53:50.66\00:53:56.20
So I now point you
00:53:56.23\00:53:58.00
to what happens
to him in verse 18.
00:53:58.03\00:54:00.90
Verse 18, "Thou hast
defiled thy sanctuaries
00:54:00.94\00:54:04.54
by the multitude
of thine iniquities,
00:54:04.57\00:54:07.48
by the iniquity of thy traffick,
00:54:07.51\00:54:09.51
therefore will I
bring forth a fire
00:54:09.54\00:54:12.41
from the midst of
thee, it shall devour thee,
00:54:12.45\00:54:16.25
and I will bring thee
to ashes upon the earth
00:54:16.28\00:54:18.99
in the sight of all
them that behold thee."
00:54:19.02\00:54:23.53
Wow! What happens to Satan?
00:54:23.56\00:54:25.79
What happens to
the devil himself?
00:54:25.83\00:54:27.86
God is going to make a
fire in the midst of him
00:54:27.90\00:54:30.47
and he will be
consumed to ashes,
00:54:30.50\00:54:35.17
consumed to ashes.
00:54:35.20\00:54:36.67
The devil himself
will be consumed to ashes.
00:54:36.71\00:54:39.67
Now I ask you, why
would God punish human beings
00:54:39.71\00:54:45.25
forever and ever
without end if Satan himself,
00:54:45.28\00:54:48.18
the Bible says, will
be consumed to ashes.
00:54:48.22\00:54:51.72
It does not fit.
00:54:51.75\00:54:53.76
There is a degree of punishment,
00:54:53.79\00:54:55.46
according to the evil
00:54:55.49\00:54:56.83
and Satan will
suffer more than anyone else
00:54:56.86\00:54:59.49
because there's greater
guilt, greater responsibility,
00:54:59.53\00:55:02.73
more sins that he
is responsible for.
00:55:02.76\00:55:05.53
He will suffer more,
00:55:05.57\00:55:07.10
but he will be
consumed to ashes.
00:55:07.14\00:55:10.24
And so I point you to Jesus
00:55:10.27\00:55:12.51
as the one that
is worthy of your...
00:55:12.54\00:55:18.61
following Him.
00:55:18.65\00:55:20.12
So what happens to the wicked?
00:55:20.15\00:55:22.58
This, I think we have
enough time to read Malachi 4.
00:55:22.62\00:55:28.89
We have enough time I think
to read a couple of verses.
00:55:28.92\00:55:31.43
The rest of the
wicked as we read,
00:55:31.46\00:55:34.03
they are thrown
into the lake of fire.
00:55:34.06\00:55:36.13
Eventually, they die.
00:55:36.16\00:55:37.73
Malachi 4, we're going to
read verses 1 and verse 3.
00:55:37.77\00:55:42.40
Malachi 4:1 says,
"For, behold, the day cometh,
00:55:42.44\00:55:46.17
that shall burn as an
oven, and all the proud, yea,
00:55:46.21\00:55:49.34
and all that do wickedly,
00:55:49.38\00:55:50.78
shall be
stubble," they will be what?
00:55:50.81\00:55:53.78
Stubble.
00:55:53.82\00:55:55.15
"And the day that
cometh shall burn them up,"
00:55:55.18\00:55:57.75
burn them up
means it consumes them,
00:55:57.79\00:55:59.72
"saith the Lord of hosts,
00:55:59.75\00:56:01.36
that it shall leave them
neither root nor branch."
00:56:01.39\00:56:05.59
That means
they're totally consumed.
00:56:05.63\00:56:07.40
Look at verse 3, "And ye
shall tread down the wicked,
00:56:07.43\00:56:11.87
for they shall be ashes
under the soles of your feet
00:56:11.90\00:56:15.20
in the day that I shall do this,
00:56:15.24\00:56:17.47
saith the Lord of hosts."
00:56:17.51\00:56:20.34
So in view of these,
there are many others,
00:56:20.38\00:56:24.08
if you'd like
some of these verses,
00:56:24.11\00:56:25.45
we can send them to you.
00:56:25.48\00:56:26.82
In view of these
scriptures, we point you to,
00:56:26.85\00:56:29.82
what the Bible says,
the wages of sin is death.
00:56:29.85\00:56:32.69
Eventually, the wicked will die
and will be consumed to ashes.
00:56:32.72\00:56:37.09
But the gift of
God is eternal life
00:56:37.13\00:56:40.10
through His Son, Jesus Christ.
00:56:40.13\00:56:42.60
God has no pleasure in
the death of the wicked.
00:56:42.63\00:56:47.70
He will suffer
greatly for it. Why?
00:56:47.74\00:56:50.44
Because God loved them
with an everlasting love,
00:56:50.47\00:56:54.11
He will not enjoy
that one least bit.
00:56:54.14\00:56:57.91
And neither will He prolong
the suffering of the wicked
00:56:57.95\00:57:00.88
one iota of a second longer
00:57:00.92\00:57:03.25
than it's fair
and just and good.
00:57:03.28\00:57:05.55
They will pay for their
sins and cease to exist.
00:57:05.59\00:57:09.59
And the universe will be
rid of all the wicked people.
00:57:09.62\00:57:12.99
There will be no more,
00:57:13.03\00:57:14.83
only the people
that love the Lord
00:57:14.86\00:57:17.13
and love righteousness
00:57:17.17\00:57:18.50
and love the peace and happiness
00:57:18.53\00:57:20.30
that God has to offer.
00:57:20.34\00:57:21.67
I encourage you to
continue studying this topic.
00:57:21.70\00:57:23.97
I encourage you to
continue reading God's Word,
00:57:24.01\00:57:26.81
and you will see that the Bible
has the answers for our life.
00:57:26.84\00:57:29.91
And, as a matter of fact,
00:57:29.94\00:57:32.25
they are able to make
you wise unto salvation.
00:57:32.28\00:57:34.72
Remember, God so loved the world
00:57:34.75\00:57:36.62
that He gave His
only begotten Son,
00:57:36.65\00:57:38.45
that whosoever
believes in Him, will not perish
00:57:38.49\00:57:41.02
but have everlasting life.
00:57:41.06\00:57:42.56
And I encourage you to
accept that everlasting life
00:57:42.59\00:57:44.69
that comes through Jesus Christ.
00:57:44.73\00:57:46.06
I know that
everyone here has done so,
00:57:46.09\00:57:48.46
and it is through
Jesus and only through Him
00:57:48.50\00:57:52.33
that we can have salvation,
00:57:52.37\00:57:54.04
and we encourage
you to follow the Lord
00:57:54.07\00:57:55.87
with all of your heart.
00:57:55.90\00:57:57.24
May God continue to bless
you as you study His Word.
00:57:57.27\00:57:59.74
We'll see you next
time on A Sharper Focus.
00:57:59.77\00:58:02.34