Welcome back.
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We need to continue our
study now on the symbolism
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that is used in the Bible.
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How do we
interpret symbols correctly?
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And as we ended our
last session, we were talking
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about the fact that symbols are
liquid, or symbols are fluid.
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Which means that
they take different shapes
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depending on the
context in which they appear.
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And so, I want to
give several examples here
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that we have in our syllabus.
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First of all, when we
talk about a lion, a lion is a
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symbolic animal that
is used in Bible prophecy.
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So what does a lion
represent in Bible prophecy?
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Can it represent Christ?
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Yes, He's the lion
of the tribe of Judah.
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Can it represent the devil?
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Yeah, he goes as a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour.
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Can it represent
Judah, the son of Jacob?
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Yeah.
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Can it represent Babylon?
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Yeah, in Daniel chapter
7 it represents Babylon.
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So when you find,
"lion," in prophetic context,
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don't just assume it
always means the same thing.
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It can mean different
things in different context.
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Let's take the symbol of wine.
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Is wine a symbol that
always means the same thing?
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Of course not.
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Wine can represent
the blood of Christ.
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Right?
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Yeah, He says, "This is
the blood of the new covenant
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which is shed for you."
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And He was talking
about the grape juice.
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Can wine also represent
the blood of the wicked?
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Yeah, of course.
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Can wine also
represent doctrine?
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You don't put new
wine in old lambskins.
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Remember what Jesus said?
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He's saying, "You don't
put My fresh new teachings
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in the old traditions of
the scribes and Pharisees,"
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is what He was saying.
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So wine...
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And by the way, wine can
also represent false doctrine
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if it's fermented wine.
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Because the
harlot gives her wine to
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the kings of the earth, right?
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And so when you find
wine, don't just assume that
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wine always
means the same thing.
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Because symbols can be flexible.
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They can mean different
things in different context.
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What does a star represent?
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Can a star represent Christ?
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Yes, He's the
bright and morning star,
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Revelation 22 verse 16.
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Can a star represent Satan?
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Yeah, he's
Lucifer, the morning star.
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Can it represent ministers?
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Revelation 1 verse 20, the
seven stars in the hand of Jesus
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represent the
ministers to the seven churches.
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Can stars
represent God's people?
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Stars can
represent God's people.
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It says in Daniel chapter
12 that God's people will shine
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as stars throughout eternity.
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And so, when you find a
star or stars in the Bible,
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don't just assume that stars
always mean the same thing.
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It can mean different
things in different context.
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Now what does leaven represent?
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You know, always
when I ask that question,
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the first answer that comes
is that leaven represents sin.
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And that's true, you have
verses here in parentheses;
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Exodus 12:15, Leviticus
2:11, 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
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There are many text that
say that leaven represents sin.
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But not always.
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Because according to
the parable that Jesus told
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in Matthew 13 and verse
33, leaven can be a symbol
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of the Holy Spirit.
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You put leaven in the dough,
and what happens with the dough?
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It grows.
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And the lump
represents the church.
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So the Holy
Spirit is in the church,
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and what
happens with the church?
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It grows.
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So just because you find
leaven, don't think that it
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represents sin all the time.
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It can be a flexible
symbol, and you have to take
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into account the context.
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How about the king of the north?
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Is God the king of the north?
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Yes He is. Where is His throne?
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In the sides of the
north, according to Isaiah 14.
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Let me ask you, can the king
of the north also be a symbol
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of a counterfeit
king of the north?
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Oh yeah, in Daniel chapter 11.
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So don't just assume that
because, "king of the north,"
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is used, it
always refers to God.
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It can also refer to
someone who wants to occupy
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the position of God.
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And by the way, the
devil also wanted to occupy
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the place of God in
the sides of the north.
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What about a he goat?
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Can a he goat represent Christ?
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Yeah, how many goats were
chosen on the Day of Atonement?
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How many he goats?
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Two.
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One of them represented whom?
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Christ.
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And the other one
represented Satan.
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And incidentally, he goats can
also represent prominent rulers
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in other
context, political rulers.
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And so it can
mean different things.
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Let's take for example, sword.
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What does the sword represent?
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Whenever I ask
what, "sword," represents,
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they say, "Well, the sword
represents the Word of God."
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And that's true, Ephesians
6:17 says that the sword of the
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Spirit is the Word of God.
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However, there's
another meaning to the sword.
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Now go with me to Revelation 13.
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I want to
illustrate how important it is
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for us to realize
that symbols are flexible.
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Revelation 13
and verses 9 and 10.
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13, verses 9 and 10.
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This is speaking about
the deadly wound that is given
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to the beast that
rises from the sea.
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This beast in
Revelation 13 verse 1 says that
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it rises from the sea.
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And of course, we
know that it's a symbol of
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the Roman Catholic papacy.
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Now verse 9 says, "If
anyone has an ear, let him hear.
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He who leads into captivity
shall go into captivity;
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he who kills with the sword
must be killed with the sword."
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So who is that who
killed with the sword?
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Who had the sword and
killed with the sword?
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It was the papacy.
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And you say, "How
do you know that?"
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Well, verse 14 says so.
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Speaking about the beast that
rises from the earth, it says,
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"And he deceives those who dwell
on the earth by those signs
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which he was granted to
do in the sight of the beast,
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telling those who dwell
on the earth to make an image
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to the beast who was
wounded by the sword and lived."
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So who was wounded by the sword?
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The beast. So who
used the sword to kill?
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The beast.
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And the same sword
that the beast used to kill
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was the sword that
gave him the deadly wound.
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Now what does
that sword represent?
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See, it cannot
represent the Bible.
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Because really,
the papacy did not use
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the Bible to kill people.
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So immediately you'll see there
that the sword as the Bible
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doesn't fit there.
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You know, it's a different
container, so to speak.
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So you say, now if the
sword there does not represent
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the Word of God, because
the papacy did not use the
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Bible to kill God's
people, then what could it mean?
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Well, you look in other
context to see if the symbol
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can mean something different.
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And let's go to Romans
chapter 13, and you'll see
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that there's another
meaning to the sword.
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Romans chapter 13 and
we'll read verses 1 through 4.
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13, verses 1 through 4.
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It says there, "Let
every soul be subject to the
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governing authorities.
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For there is no
authority except from God,
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and the authorities that
exist are appointed by God.
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Therefore whoever
resists the authority
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resists the ordinance of
God, and those who resist
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will bring
judgment on themselves."
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Now notice verse 3.
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"For rulers..."
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Who are the rulers? The
political leaders, right?
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"For rulers are not a terror
to good works, but to evil.
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Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority?
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Do what is good, and you
will have praise from the same.
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For he," that is the
civil ruler, "is God's minister
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to you for good.
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But if you do evil, be afraid;
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for he does not
bear the sword in vain."
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Does the civil
ruler have a sword?
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Do you know what the
sword of the civil ruler is?
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It is used to punish
violations of civil law.
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Can the civil power punish
violations of religious law?
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For example, if people
don't worship on Sunday
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but they worship on the
Sabbath, does the civil power
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have the say, "Well,
you've got to worship on Sunday.
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You can't worship on Sabbath."
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Of course not.
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Because the sword of the
civil power can only be used
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to punish violations of
civil law, not religious law.
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It cannot legislate
the first table of the law.
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It can only legislate the
second table which protects
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relationships between
human beings in society.
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So the state has its sword,
which is the right to punish
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violations of civil law.
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And the church has its sword,
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which is the Word
of God, the Bible.
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Now how does the
church use the sword?
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By preaching.
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You read Hebrews
4 verses 12 and 13,
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it says that the Word
of God is like a sword,
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a double-edged
sword, and it penetrates
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into the inner most
depths of the human heart.
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And that happens when we preach.
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The Word goes through the
ears, and it goes all the way
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and it pierces the heart.
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So the church has its
sword, which is the Word of God.
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The civil power has
also its sword, which it uses
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to punish
violations of civil law.
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So when we find
the word, "sword,"
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does it always
represent the same thing?
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No, it can take on a different
shape depending on the context
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in which it appears.
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Yesterday I mentioned the
expression, "sons of God."
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You know, in Genesis chapter
6 it says that the sons of God
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saw that the
daughters of men were beautiful.
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And so theologians,
many, many theologians,
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not Adventists, but
non-Adventists ones,
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they say that the sons of God in
Genesis 6 were actually angels.
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And the reason they say that
is because in the book of Job,
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it says that when
God created this world
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the sons of God
shouted for joy and sang.
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And obviously, human beings
were not around at that time.
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And so the sons of God
who shouted and sang for joy
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when God created this
world obviously represents what?
00:11:35.86\00:11:40.23
Angels.
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So what they do is they take
Job, you know, where it says,
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"The sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord,"
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and then chapter 38
verse 7 where it says that they
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sang at creation, and they
say, "See, 'sons of God,' here
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means angels, so in
Genesis 6 it means angels."
00:11:53.32\00:11:56.98
Big mistake.
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Because symbols are flexible.
00:11:59.83\00:12:01.56
Symbols are liquid.
00:12:02.22\00:12:05.13
And they have to be
taken within their context.
00:12:05.42\00:12:07.71
What is the context of,
"sons of God," in Genesis 6?
00:12:07.74\00:12:10.82
The context is clear.
00:12:11.50\00:12:12.98
Right before it says,
"The sons of God came into the
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daughters of men," it
gives the genealogy of Cain.
00:12:16.10\00:12:21.21
And there are three
women in the genealogy of Cain.
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Those are the
daughters of men, by the way.
00:12:24.34\00:12:26.01
And then you have
the genealogy of Seth.
00:12:26.53\00:12:29.30
Those are the righteous.
00:12:29.33\00:12:30.41
And then in 6:1, sons of
God and daughters of men.
00:12:30.44\00:12:33.35
The context
indicates that the sons of God
00:12:33.55\00:12:36.74
are those from the holy line.
00:12:36.85\00:12:38.47
From the holy line that would
eventually lead to the Messiah.
00:12:38.99\00:12:41.87
Are you following me or not?
00:12:42.07\00:12:43.33
Furthermore, in Scripture
God's people are called,
00:12:44.40\00:12:47.60
"sons of God."
00:12:47.63\00:12:48.66
"Behold what manner of
love the Father has given us
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that we should
be called..." What?
00:12:51.53\00:12:53.02
"...the sons of God."
00:12:53.05\00:12:54.09
So converted people
are sons of God as well.
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So the holy line were
people that were converted.
00:12:57.29\00:13:00.09
They were the righteous.
00:13:00.12\00:13:01.40
And they're
called, "sons of God."
00:13:01.43\00:13:02.83
So my point is that
whenever we find symbols,
00:13:03.13\00:13:06.28
let's not assume that the symbol
means the same thing everywhere.
00:13:06.31\00:13:09.86
Because symbols are
liquid, or symbols can take
00:13:10.06\00:13:14.48
different shapes
depending on the context
00:13:14.51\00:13:17.05
in which they appear.
00:13:17.08\00:13:18.46
Now the next
point is very important,
00:13:19.62\00:13:21.42
at the bottom of page 28.
00:13:21.45\00:13:23.49
It is important not to isolate
a symbol from its context.
00:13:23.74\00:13:28.08
Do not lose sight of
the forest for the trees.
00:13:28.71\00:13:32.13
Remember that each individual
symbol is only one piece
00:13:33.62\00:13:38.30
of the puzzle, and not
the puzzle in its entirety.
00:13:38.33\00:13:42.89
Once you have
discovered the meaning of each
00:13:43.65\00:13:45.91
individual symbol, then
you can put them together
00:13:45.94\00:13:49.40
to get a complete picture
of what God wants to teach.
00:13:49.43\00:13:53.08
An illustration of this that
we used at the very beginning
00:13:54.72\00:13:57.97
of this class
was the rock episode.
00:13:58.00\00:14:01.37
We have three symbols
in that story of the rock.
00:14:02.93\00:14:05.74
We have a rock, we have
a rod, and we have water.
00:14:05.77\00:14:11.19
So what do you do?
00:14:12.19\00:14:13.61
You want to look
at the total picture.
00:14:13.92\00:14:15.76
But in order to
get the total picture,
00:14:15.98\00:14:17.53
what do you have to do?
00:14:17.56\00:14:18.76
You have to interpret,
well what does the rock mean?
00:14:19.26\00:14:21.65
And then you say, "Now wait a
minute, what does the rod mean?"
00:14:22.67\00:14:25.34
And so you look at
the meaning of the rod.
00:14:25.37\00:14:27.21
Then you say, "Well, what
does the water represent?"
00:14:27.62\00:14:29.71
So you look at the water.
00:14:29.74\00:14:31.00
And then once you've interpreted
each individual symbol,
00:14:31.03\00:14:34.03
you put them together to
get the complete picture.
00:14:34.06\00:14:36.96
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:14:38.61\00:14:39.89
So in other words, it's
no good just to interpret
00:14:40.53\00:14:42.82
individual symbols.
00:14:42.85\00:14:43.90
The purpose of
interpreting different symbols
00:14:43.93\00:14:46.24
is then to put them
together in a tapestry
00:14:46.27\00:14:49.28
so we see the whole picture.
00:14:49.31\00:14:50.83
Don't get all
caught up in the trees,
00:14:51.14\00:14:52.91
in the individual tree.
00:14:52.94\00:14:54.33
You know, look at the forest.
00:14:54.61\00:14:56.01
Look at what God wants to
teach through a combination
00:14:56.30\00:14:59.48
of all of the symbols and
not only individual symbols.
00:14:59.51\00:15:02.82
And so, it's very
important for us not to isolate
00:15:03.07\00:15:06.56
a symbol from its context.
00:15:06.59\00:15:08.14
The purpose of
studying each individual symbol
00:15:08.17\00:15:10.99
is to then get
the complete picture.
00:15:11.02\00:15:14.00
I like to consider symbols,
like there's lots of symbolism
00:15:14.03\00:15:17.65
in Revelation chapter 11.
00:15:17.68\00:15:19.73
Tremendous symbolism there.
00:15:19.76\00:15:21.52
Now I like to compare
that symbolism with the parts
00:15:21.87\00:15:26.89
of a painting, an oil painting.
00:15:27.00\00:15:30.52
See, an oil painting
has individual parts, right?
00:15:31.17\00:15:36.02
But the genius of the painting
is not all the individual parts.
00:15:36.84\00:15:41.20
It's taking all the individual
parts and putting them there
00:15:41.55\00:15:45.29
so that you can
see the whole picture.
00:15:45.32\00:15:47.00
See, the purpose of the
parts is to see the picture.
00:15:47.52\00:15:50.47
And so the purpose of
interpreting individual symbols
00:15:50.84\00:15:53.56
is to then be able
to fit them together.
00:15:53.59\00:15:56.46
And don't try to force a piece
of the puzzle into the puzzle.
00:15:56.49\00:16:00.12
Make sure that you
interpret the symbol correctly.
00:16:00.90\00:16:03.85
And then every piece of
the puzzle will fit together.
00:16:04.08\00:16:08.56
Now the next point
at the top of page 29,
00:16:09.47\00:16:12.29
look for the main
characteristics of the symbol.
00:16:12.87\00:16:16.06
And then apply it.
00:16:17.20\00:16:18.49
The symbol, and what is
symbolized, are not identical
00:16:19.25\00:16:22.48
in all respects.
00:16:22.51\00:16:23.56
You know, some people
take the symbol and they try
00:16:23.59\00:16:25.44
to apply every detail of the
symbol to what it symbolizes.
00:16:25.47\00:16:28.96
For example, without the
intention of being sacrilegious,
00:16:30.59\00:16:34.79
remember the fact that
Jesus is described as a lamb.
00:16:35.47\00:16:38.47
That does not mean that
He's wooly and He has four legs.
00:16:38.57\00:16:41.55
Don't try to interpret
what each leg represents
00:16:42.43\00:16:45.85
when it comes to Christ.
00:16:45.88\00:16:46.91
No, no, no.
00:16:46.94\00:16:47.97
There's a certain
characteristic of the symbol
00:16:48.15\00:16:51.29
that is to be applied.
00:16:51.32\00:16:52.36
Not every single
detail of the symbol applies
00:16:52.51\00:16:55.79
to what it symbolizes.
00:16:55.82\00:16:57.30
Are you with me?
00:16:58.43\00:16:59.52
Very, very important.
00:16:59.55\00:17:00.80
Next point.
00:17:01.95\00:17:02.99
Do not give contemporary
meanings to prophetic symbols.
00:17:03.28\00:17:07.43
Today, red is the
color of Communism.
00:17:08.33\00:17:11.00
If you don't believe
that, just look at Venezuela.
00:17:12.06\00:17:14.74
You know,
whenever they have rallies,
00:17:15.67\00:17:17.73
it looks like
there's blood in the streets.
00:17:17.94\00:17:19.99
Everybody has a red
shirt and they have a red cap.
00:17:20.02\00:17:23.30
And surprising that they
don't have red pants too.
00:17:23.33\00:17:26.37
Everything is red.
00:17:26.62\00:17:27.77
See, red, they say, is
the color of Communism.
00:17:27.80\00:17:29.65
So when you find in prophecy,
red, that means Communism.
00:17:29.68\00:17:32.60
No, you can't
transpose contemporary meanings
00:17:32.63\00:17:35.10
back into the Bible.
00:17:35.13\00:17:36.37
A bear of Daniel 7.
00:17:38.08\00:17:40.76
You know, does that mean
that the bear represents Russia,
00:17:41.44\00:17:45.04
because Russia has
a bear on its flag?
00:17:45.92\00:17:48.82
Of course not.
00:17:49.19\00:17:50.42
A lion. A lion is
the symbol of England.
00:17:50.84\00:17:53.77
So in Daniel 7, the
lion is England, right?
00:17:54.45\00:17:57.10
Of course not.
00:17:57.61\00:17:58.78
You know, Babylon in Revelation.
00:17:59.58\00:18:02.07
Is that talking about
the literal city of Babylon?
00:18:02.45\00:18:05.94
Of course not.
00:18:05.97\00:18:07.09
And so, what we cannot do
is take contemporary meanings
00:18:07.59\00:18:11.83
of symbols and then
apply them to Scripture and say
00:18:11.86\00:18:16.99
that's what they
mean in the Bible.
00:18:17.02\00:18:18.43
We have to allow the Bible
to interpret its own symbols
00:18:18.57\00:18:21.83
and tell us what
those symbols mean.
00:18:21.86\00:18:24.30
Now for the next few
minutes I want us to take a look
00:18:25.25\00:18:29.83
at several
categories of symbols.
00:18:30.21\00:18:34.69
The first category is
that persons are symbolic.
00:18:35.27\00:18:38.57
I've made a long list here
of different types of symbols
00:18:38.60\00:18:43.38
to kind of help us along
in interpreting these symbols.
00:18:43.75\00:18:47.49
First of all, in
prophecy, persons are symbolic.
00:18:47.68\00:18:50.95
For example, a woman.
00:18:52.53\00:18:53.74
We've studied what
a woman represents.
00:18:53.77\00:18:55.70
A woman represents the church.
00:18:55.73\00:18:58.74
A pure woman
represents a pure church.
00:18:59.01\00:19:02.61
And you have several text there.
00:19:02.64\00:19:04.32
A harlot woman
still represents a church.
00:19:05.00\00:19:09.04
But it is an apostate church.
00:19:09.32\00:19:12.04
It is a church that has
gone astray from the Lord.
00:19:12.07\00:19:14.93
Balaam.
00:19:16.21\00:19:17.32
You know, you'll find in
the book of Revelation, Balaam,
00:19:18.23\00:19:21.92
Revelation 2 and verse 14,
00:19:21.95\00:19:23.67
in relationship to
the church of Pergamum.
00:19:24.15\00:19:26.73
Interesting.
00:19:27.18\00:19:28.21
What stage of church history
is represented by Pergamum?
00:19:28.24\00:19:32.06
Well, Ephesus is the
Apostolic church, right?
00:19:33.36\00:19:35.93
Then you have Smyrna.
00:19:37.22\00:19:38.54
That's the church
that is persecuted
00:19:38.74\00:19:40.52
by the Roman Emperors.
00:19:40.55\00:19:41.99
Nothing bad is
said about Smyrna.
00:19:42.47\00:19:44.53
You know, God has some
things against every church
00:19:44.56\00:19:47.35
except for
Smyrna and Philadelphia.
00:19:47.96\00:19:50.22
He says nothing
bad about Smyrna.
00:19:50.25\00:19:52.16
Smyrna is the persecuted
church by the Roman Emperors.
00:19:52.58\00:19:55.45
But then you have Pergamum.
00:19:55.95\00:19:57.34
Pergamum is the church
where apostasy enters the church
00:19:57.91\00:20:01.91
in the days of Constantine.
00:20:01.94\00:20:03.74
In other words,
the devil is saying,
00:20:05.04\00:20:06.12
"If I can't kill them..."
00:20:06.15\00:20:08.30
That's what he does under
the previous church, Smyrna.
00:20:09.19\00:20:12.04
He says, "If I can't slay
all the martyrs through the
00:20:12.14\00:20:16.32
Roman Emperors, then I've
got to use a different method."
00:20:16.35\00:20:18.95
He says, "What I'll do
is I'll infiltrate them."
00:20:18.98\00:20:21.45
So you have the same
method he used back in Genesis.
00:20:22.73\00:20:24.96
"If I can't kill the seed,
let me just mix the two seeds."
00:20:25.07\00:20:28.58
And you find that
constantly throughout Scripture.
00:20:28.86\00:20:31.25
And so Balaam is mentioned
in the context of that church.
00:20:32.05\00:20:35.55
So why is Balaam
mentioned there in the context
00:20:35.58\00:20:38.47
of the church of Pergamum?
00:20:38.50\00:20:40.08
That's where Satan's
throne is, by the way.
00:20:40.50\00:20:42.73
It's mentioned
there in Revelation.
00:20:42.76\00:20:44.88
The reason is very simple.
00:20:44.91\00:20:46.25
Did Balaam attempt to
curse Israel from outside?
00:20:46.77\00:20:50.54
Yes he did. Was he successful?
00:20:51.41\00:20:53.31
No. So what did he do?
00:20:53.54\00:20:55.65
He introduced
apostasy into Israel
00:20:56.05\00:20:58.86
by getting them to
commit fornication and adultery.
00:20:59.63\00:21:02.72
And then they fell.
00:21:02.75\00:21:03.91
See, so the whole
story of Balaam illustrates
00:21:05.44\00:21:09.47
what happened during
the church of Pergamum.
00:21:09.50\00:21:11.38
That's why Balaam is mentioned.
00:21:12.49\00:21:14.27
You know, we can
also mention Jezebel.
00:21:15.13\00:21:17.64
Jezebel is mentioned
in the context of the
00:21:18.43\00:21:20.77
church of Thyatira.
00:21:20.80\00:21:22.04
And you have a whole
handout on the church
00:21:22.07\00:21:24.67
that existed in the Middle Ages.
00:21:25.32\00:21:26.85
It is the Elijah, the
ecclesiastical Elijah,
00:21:26.88\00:21:30.47
is what I call it.
00:21:30.50\00:21:31.81
Because you have all
kinds of Elijah symbolism
00:21:32.05\00:21:35.05
connected with the
fourth church of Revelation,
00:21:35.08\00:21:38.71
beginning with the fact
that Jezebel is mentioned.
00:21:39.17\00:21:42.00
And then if you go to
Revelation 11, it says
00:21:43.37\00:21:45.55
that the two witnesses,
during the time that they're
00:21:45.58\00:21:47.97
prophesying, which is the Bible,
it says that there is no rain.
00:21:48.00\00:21:51.46
And there is no rain
for three and a half years.
00:21:53.02\00:21:55.56
Does that start ringing a
bell when it comes to Elijah?
00:21:55.59\00:21:58.21
And so what is
Revelation saying when it uses
00:21:58.52\00:22:01.76
Jezebel in the fourth church?
00:22:01.79\00:22:02.85
It's saying, "Hey,
folks, you need to go back
00:22:02.88\00:22:05.00
and you need to
study the whole story."
00:22:05.03\00:22:07.05
Because that whole
story in the Old Testament
00:22:08.01\00:22:10.05
is a symbol of what happened
during that stage of the church.
00:22:10.32\00:22:15.88
Does that make any sense?
00:22:17.10\00:22:18.29
And so, persons in
the Bible are symbolic.
00:22:18.83\00:22:21.49
Is Elijah symbolic?
00:22:21.59\00:22:23.50
Of course Elijah is symbolic.
00:22:23.88\00:22:25.55
There are four Elijah's.
00:22:25.65\00:22:27.24
Actually, there's three.
00:22:27.35\00:22:28.56
But the last
Elijah has two stages.
00:22:28.76\00:22:30.92
Let me explain.
00:22:31.27\00:22:32.30
The first Elijah is
the historical Elijah.
00:22:32.90\00:22:35.56
If you want to understand
the succeeding Elijah's,
00:22:36.61\00:22:40.03
you have to thoroughly know
the story of the first Elijah,
00:22:40.13\00:22:43.15
because that is
the historical root.
00:22:43.18\00:22:45.28
In other words,
the basis or foundation
00:22:46.96\00:22:49.50
for your interpretation of
the Elijahs that come afterwards
00:22:49.53\00:22:53.65
are based on understanding
the historical Elijah.
00:22:53.85\00:22:57.18
Because that is your
foundational prophecy.
00:22:57.56\00:23:00.84
And then when you know that
story, you're able to discern
00:23:01.60\00:23:04.88
the fulfillment
of that in succeeding
00:23:04.91\00:23:08.91
passages of Scripture.
00:23:08.94\00:23:10.51
And so you study the
story of Old Testament Elijah.
00:23:10.87\00:23:14.68
And basically you
have, first of all, a king.
00:23:15.04\00:23:20.81
What kind of a king is he?
00:23:21.30\00:23:22.70
A wimp.
00:23:23.55\00:23:24.76
The Bible says that
Jezebel just manipulated him
00:23:26.68\00:23:29.54
and did whatever
she wanted with him.
00:23:29.57\00:23:31.38
A wimpish king.
00:23:32.22\00:23:33.68
You have a harlot woman.
00:23:36.05\00:23:37.78
Jezebel.
00:23:38.62\00:23:39.73
She was also a witch.
00:23:40.37\00:23:41.88
Yeah, it says in
2 Kings 9 verse 22
00:23:43.46\00:23:46.75
that she practiced the occult.
00:23:47.09\00:23:48.78
Interesting.
00:23:50.15\00:23:51.36
Because Revelation
says that the harlot also,
00:23:51.39\00:23:54.14
the harlot called Babylon,
also is involved in witchcraft.
00:23:54.81\00:23:57.75
Or sorcery is the
word that is used there.
00:23:57.78\00:24:00.10
And so you have a harlot woman.
00:24:00.28\00:24:01.95
And then you have
the prophets of Baal
00:24:02.52\00:24:04.88
who are the
instruments of the woman.
00:24:04.91\00:24:07.03
Because they eat
at Jezebel's table.
00:24:07.48\00:24:09.34
And you don't bite
the hand that feeds you,
00:24:09.37\00:24:12.05
as they say.
00:24:13.17\00:24:14.24
And so who is
manipulating this whole story?
00:24:14.73\00:24:18.08
Who is the dangerous
figure in this whole story?
00:24:18.11\00:24:20.41
Jezebel is the dangerous figure.
00:24:21.09\00:24:22.59
She pulls all the strings.
00:24:22.62\00:24:24.36
You see, she
wants to kill Elijah.
00:24:25.03\00:24:26.70
So she manipulates the
king and she manipulates
00:24:26.73\00:24:29.65
the prophets of Baal.
00:24:29.68\00:24:30.71
And by the way, she
wants everyone to worship Baal,
00:24:30.74\00:24:33.20
the sun god.
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.35
But there's this fly in
the ointment, who is Elijah.
00:24:35.63\00:24:38.25
By the way, the Old
Testament Elijah is a person.
00:24:39.73\00:24:42.29
The New Testament
Elijah, or what I call,
00:24:43.79\00:24:45.80
the prophetic
Elijah, is a person.
00:24:45.83\00:24:47.77
But after Jesus dies on
the cross, Elijah becomes
00:24:48.57\00:24:53.25
a movement.
00:24:53.28\00:24:54.96
There you have our principle.
00:24:55.72\00:24:57.09
See, things are literal
until the Jewish nation passes
00:24:57.60\00:25:00.68
as God's literal people.
00:25:00.71\00:25:02.05
Then you have during the Middle
Ages, it's not one person.
00:25:02.08\00:25:05.63
It is like the
Waldenses and the Albigenses.
00:25:05.88\00:25:09.93
Elijah becomes not one person,
00:25:10.68\00:25:12.91
but it becomes a
movement of people.
00:25:12.94\00:25:14.55
And at the end of time, Elijah
will be a worldwide movement.
00:25:14.58\00:25:17.98
Not one individual.
00:25:18.79\00:25:20.48
Are you understanding me?
00:25:20.51\00:25:21.60
And so you look at the
story in the Old Testament
00:25:22.04\00:25:24.30
and you find the protagonist.
00:25:24.55\00:25:26.11
You know, when
Elijah has to flee,
00:25:26.24\00:25:27.72
he's blamed for the calamities.
00:25:27.75\00:25:29.53
And you look at the end of
Jezebel and you look at the
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.82
end of Ahab, and all of
this becomes typological
00:25:31.85\00:25:35.25
of the Elijahs
that come afterwards.
00:25:35.28\00:25:37.32
And so then you come to
the New Testament Elijah.
00:25:37.50\00:25:39.76
In three text Jesus says
that the New Testament Elijah
00:25:40.19\00:25:42.94
is John the Baptist.
00:25:43.04\00:25:44.71
And so you say,
"Now wait a minute.
00:25:45.46\00:25:46.60
John the Baptist is Elijah."
00:25:46.63\00:25:48.35
Now does Elijah
ever appear by himself?
00:25:48.69\00:25:52.09
No.
00:25:52.80\00:25:53.83
If Elijah appears, his
enemies appear with him.
00:25:54.36\00:25:58.48
And so John the Baptist
has to have three enemies,
00:25:59.58\00:26:03.09
and the story has to
develop in a similar way
00:26:03.19\00:26:05.82
to the historical Elijah.
00:26:05.85\00:26:07.37
And in Mark 6 you have
the fulfillment of the story
00:26:08.23\00:26:10.95
with New Testament Elijah.
00:26:10.98\00:26:12.55
Is there a wimpish king?
00:26:14.20\00:26:15.92
Herod, he's a
wimpy king. Isn't he?
00:26:17.07\00:26:19.79
Easily manipulated.
00:26:19.82\00:26:22.13
He has no backbone.
00:26:22.16\00:26:23.55
Then you have an
adulterous woman.
00:26:24.50\00:26:27.11
Herodias.
00:26:27.87\00:26:29.09
And Herodias has an
instrument that she uses,
00:26:30.05\00:26:32.71
just like in the Old Testament
is was the prophets of Baal.
00:26:32.74\00:26:35.57
In the New Testament,
it's the daughter Salome.
00:26:36.33\00:26:39.34
Now who's pulling
all the strings here?
00:26:39.67\00:26:41.82
Herodias the harlot.
00:26:42.72\00:26:44.11
See the repetition of the story?
00:26:44.31\00:26:46.10
And so she wants the
death of John the Baptist,
00:26:47.47\00:26:50.29
but she has no
power over the king.
00:26:50.58\00:26:54.12
Does the papacy have any
power over the kings right now?
00:26:56.38\00:26:59.03
No, because she
has a deadly wound.
00:26:59.49\00:27:01.10
So what needs to happen
for the harlot to be able to
00:27:01.79\00:27:06.04
kill John the Baptist?
00:27:06.07\00:27:07.62
She has to use her daughter.
00:27:07.95\00:27:09.94
She has to use her
daughter to get at the kings.
00:27:12.13\00:27:14.90
Is that true of the end time?
00:27:16.20\00:27:17.86
Yes, see the
papacy has a deadly wound.
00:27:18.44\00:27:21.83
The relationship between
the harlot and the kings of the
00:27:22.81\00:27:26.13
earth has been severed.
00:27:26.16\00:27:27.47
But the harlot
will use her daughters
00:27:28.46\00:27:31.74
to influence the kings
to eliminate God's people.
00:27:31.77\00:27:35.32
Are you with me?
00:27:35.83\00:27:36.95
And so the historical
Elijah becomes the foundation
00:27:37.30\00:27:41.01
to understand the
New Testament Elijah,
00:27:41.38\00:27:43.59
to understand the
ecclesiastical Elijah,
00:27:43.83\00:27:46.72
and to understand the broadest
fulfillment of the prophecy;
00:27:46.75\00:27:50.96
the end time
global worldwide Elijah.
00:27:50.99\00:27:54.13
Does the end time
Elijah also have three enemies?
00:27:54.93\00:27:57.28
The dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet.
00:27:58.31\00:28:02.56
And do you know
what's interesting?
00:28:03.59\00:28:05.00
It doesn't say,
"a false prophet,"
00:28:05.10\00:28:06.96
it says, "the false prophet."
00:28:06.99\00:28:09.27
And he makes fire come down
from heaven in the sight of men.
00:28:09.30\00:28:12.35
He is a counterfeit Elijah.
00:28:12.38\00:28:14.69
Which means that if the
devil feels that he has to
00:28:16.02\00:28:18.97
bring in a counterfeit
Elijah, it is because there is a
00:28:19.00\00:28:22.35
genuine Elijah.
00:28:22.38\00:28:24.09
Are you with me?
00:28:25.98\00:28:27.11
And so when you find
Elijah and you find Jezebel
00:28:27.69\00:28:31.92
in the fourth church,
don't just say, "Oh well,
00:28:31.95\00:28:34.17
that was a nasty
woman in that church.
00:28:34.20\00:28:36.40
No, you have to go
back and you have to study
00:28:37.17\00:28:40.56
the full Old Testament story.
00:28:40.59\00:28:43.27
And then you have
to look for fulfillment
00:28:43.64\00:28:45.07
in the New Testament.
00:28:45.10\00:28:46.16
You have to look for a
fulfillment there in the
00:28:46.19\00:28:48.28
ecclesiastical period.
00:28:48.31\00:28:49.64
You have to look for the
fulfillment in the end time.
00:28:49.67\00:28:52.20
Because Jesus said that
He's going to send Elijah
00:28:52.23\00:28:54.79
before the great and
terrible Day of the Lord.
00:28:54.82\00:28:56.60
So Jesus Himself,
through Malachi, says, "Listen,
00:28:56.63\00:29:00.84
there is going to be an
Elijah that is going to prepare
00:29:00.87\00:29:03.45
My way for the second coming."
00:29:03.48\00:29:05.45
So, when we find
a name of a person,
00:29:06.89\00:29:11.92
we need to pay attention.
00:29:12.43\00:29:15.18
Because those
persons are symbolic,
00:29:15.21\00:29:18.44
those persons are typological.
00:29:18.47\00:29:20.76
Now in prophecy,
names are also symbolic.
00:29:21.65\00:29:25.65
When you find a name,
pay attention to the name.
00:29:26.44\00:29:30.02
Because the name
has symbolic value.
00:29:30.05\00:29:32.30
You see, today we use names
because we say, for example,
00:29:32.78\00:29:36.73
when we called our daughter,
Jennifer, that's a name that
00:29:36.76\00:29:39.32
that I've always liked.
00:29:39.35\00:29:40.52
So we named our
daughter, Jennifer.
00:29:40.79\00:29:43.51
Probably not a very good
reason to give her that name.
00:29:46.24\00:29:48.91
You know.
00:29:49.57\00:29:50.60
My wife named my son,
so I figured I had the
00:29:51.12\00:29:53.65
right to name my daughter.
00:29:53.68\00:29:54.94
And my wife named my son,
Stephen Paul, just like me.
00:29:56.09\00:30:00.44
Have mercy. Two of them.
00:30:00.47\00:30:02.18
But names are symbolic in
the Bible, they're important.
00:30:04.41\00:30:07.54
It's not like today that we
give a name just to distinguish
00:30:07.64\00:30:09.92
one person from another.
00:30:09.95\00:30:10.98
No, no, no, no.
00:30:11.01\00:30:12.04
In the Bible, names
help us interpret the meaning
00:30:12.07\00:30:15.17
of a passage
that we're studying.
00:30:15.20\00:30:16.65
Let me read you two
statements, first of all,
00:30:17.25\00:30:19.26
from, The Interpreter's
Dictionary of the Bible,
00:30:19.36\00:30:23.05
on the importance of names.
00:30:23.08\00:30:24.78
This is volume 3,
pages 500 and 501.
00:30:25.66\00:30:28.96
"In biblical
thought, a name is not a mere
00:30:29.57\00:30:34.09
label of identification.
00:30:34.12\00:30:35.96
It is an expression of the
essential nature of its bearer.
00:30:36.57\00:30:40.75
A man's name
reveals his character."
00:30:42.63\00:30:44.98
This is in biblical times.
00:30:45.01\00:30:46.74
"Adam was able to give
names to the beasts and birds,
00:30:47.40\00:30:51.17
because as Milton says,
he understood their nature."
00:30:51.52\00:30:55.74
In the next statement, which
is found in volume 3, page 502,
00:30:57.07\00:31:02.96
it says, "To speak
or act in someone's name
00:31:03.81\00:31:07.35
is to act as the
representative of that person,
00:31:07.38\00:31:10.69
and hence to
participate in his authority."
00:31:10.72\00:31:13.62
Which means that if you do
something in the name of Jesus,
00:31:15.43\00:31:18.27
you are
participating in His authority
00:31:18.30\00:31:20.85
because you are using His name.
00:31:20.88\00:31:22.77
"Similarly, to be
called by a person's name
00:31:25.84\00:31:29.80
implies ownership by the person.
00:31:30.27\00:31:32.83
Whatever is so called
comes under the authority
00:31:33.56\00:31:36.55
and the protection of the one
whose name is called upon it.
00:31:36.58\00:31:39.97
That which is
called by Yahweh's name,"
00:31:40.60\00:31:42.79
that is Jehovah, "is His
possession, and therefore
00:31:42.82\00:31:46.11
comes under both His
authority and His protection."
00:31:46.14\00:31:51.11
Now let's take a look
at some biblical names.
00:31:51.68\00:31:53.34
This is only a
short list of examples
00:31:53.37\00:31:55.94
about the importance of a name.
00:31:56.14\00:31:57.90
How about the names of the
seven churches in Revelation?
00:31:59.86\00:32:02.46
Are they symbolic?
00:32:02.49\00:32:03.84
Yes they are.
00:32:04.64\00:32:05.83
Do you know what Ephesus means?
00:32:06.28\00:32:07.94
Desirable.
00:32:08.27\00:32:09.58
Desirable.
00:32:11.32\00:32:12.39
Would anybody desire to
belong to the apostolic church?
00:32:12.62\00:32:15.81
Absolutely.
00:32:16.30\00:32:17.47
What does Smyrna mean?
00:32:18.41\00:32:19.83
It means bittersweet myrrh.
00:32:20.17\00:32:22.45
Do you know what
myrrh was used for?
00:32:23.07\00:32:25.23
To embalm the dead.
00:32:25.26\00:32:26.66
In the church of
Smyrna, if you read the message,
00:32:27.26\00:32:29.11
it has all kinds
of death language.
00:32:29.21\00:32:30.86
Because this is the period when
the church is being slaughtered
00:32:31.07\00:32:33.53
by the Roman Emperors.
00:32:33.56\00:32:34.92
Pergamum means
acropolis or height.
00:32:36.70\00:32:39.37
And of course, the
church at this time was
00:32:40.08\00:32:41.77
favored by the empire.
00:32:41.80\00:32:42.98
And after the
valley of persecution,
00:32:43.01\00:32:44.83
it was at the heights.
00:32:44.86\00:32:46.71
Laodicea means,
judging the people.
00:32:48.18\00:32:51.15
Philadelphia
means brotherly love.
00:32:52.88\00:32:54.54
Is that true of the Millerites?
00:32:54.57\00:32:56.09
Brotherly love. Yeah.
00:32:56.35\00:32:57.38
So the names of the
churches help us understand the
00:32:57.41\00:33:00.60
nature of the
church during that period.
00:33:00.63\00:33:02.99
The name Nimrod.
00:33:04.90\00:33:07.04
Ever heard of Nimrod?
00:33:07.45\00:33:08.76
Who was he?
00:33:09.15\00:33:10.18
He was the builder of
Babylon, in Genesis 11.
00:33:10.74\00:33:14.60
Do you know what his name means?
00:33:14.63\00:33:15.91
Rebellion.
00:33:15.94\00:33:17.21
Did he fit the name?
00:33:18.97\00:33:20.32
Oh, you better believe it.
00:33:20.69\00:33:21.96
What does Babylon mean?
00:33:22.50\00:33:23.99
Confusion.
00:33:24.68\00:33:25.95
What does Eve mean?
00:33:27.45\00:33:28.91
Mother of all the living.
00:33:29.57\00:33:31.90
Does that name fit her?
00:33:32.60\00:33:33.88
Is that a descriptive name?
00:33:33.91\00:33:35.39
Adam didn't just say,
"Oh let's see, what name?
00:33:36.09\00:33:38.08
Oh, Eve. That's so pretty."
00:33:38.11\00:33:39.58
No.
00:33:39.61\00:33:40.64
There's a purpose
in giving the name.
00:33:40.89\00:33:42.74
What does Lucifer mean?
00:33:43.58\00:33:45.05
Light bearer.
00:33:45.54\00:33:46.57
That means that his
light was not his own.
00:33:46.60\00:33:48.66
His light was reflected light.
00:33:50.13\00:33:51.88
Sarai means what? Laughter.
00:33:53.61\00:33:56.69
Why would she
be called laughter?
00:33:56.72\00:33:58.73
Because when God said that
she was going to have a child,
00:33:59.60\00:34:01.76
she laughed.
00:34:01.79\00:34:02.85
She had a sense of humor.
00:34:03.94\00:34:06.02
Daniel means, God is my judge.
00:34:08.44\00:34:10.64
Does that fit the
book of Daniel very well?
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.16
Oh yes.
00:34:14.71\00:34:15.74
A lot of talk
about the judgment.
00:34:15.77\00:34:17.29
Esau means red.
00:34:17.32\00:34:19.08
Interesting.
00:34:21.61\00:34:22.70
When he was born he was all red.
00:34:23.45\00:34:25.37
That's why, you
know, he had red hair.
00:34:26.76\00:34:29.04
So he was called, red.
00:34:29.55\00:34:30.72
And he sold his birthright
for a bunch of red lentils.
00:34:31.49\00:34:34.46
And there's many more
other examples of red things
00:34:36.36\00:34:38.88
that are associated with Esau.
00:34:38.91\00:34:40.66
Michael.
00:34:42.26\00:34:43.39
Who is like God?
00:34:43.87\00:34:46.56
It is a challenge.
00:34:47.78\00:34:49.64
And that's why most of the time
when Jesus is called, Michael,
00:34:50.24\00:34:53.16
in the Bible, He's in a
struggle with the devil.
00:34:53.19\00:34:56.17
So when Michael
comes, it's a challenge
00:34:57.59\00:35:00.40
where Jesus says,
"Who is like God,"
00:35:00.43\00:35:03.62
every time that
He faces the devil.
00:35:04.25\00:35:05.96
His name is significant.
00:35:05.99\00:35:07.90
Methuselah.
00:35:08.44\00:35:09.91
It comes from two
Hebrew words; muth and shalach.
00:35:10.50\00:35:15.11
And when you combine
those two words, it means,
00:35:15.61\00:35:17.74
when he dies, it will be sent.
00:35:17.87\00:35:20.24
What a strange
name to call a son;
00:35:21.67\00:35:23.35
when he dies, it will be sent.
00:35:23.38\00:35:24.87
Why would he have this name?
00:35:25.96\00:35:28.79
It's very simple.
00:35:28.82\00:35:30.00
Methuselah died
the year of the flood.
00:35:30.77\00:35:33.24
And I'm not going to take
the time now to prove that.
00:35:35.74\00:35:38.10
Do you know that Jewish
tradition says that Methuselah
00:35:38.41\00:35:40.78
died ten days before the flood?
00:35:40.81\00:35:42.76
We can't prove
biblically that it was ten days
00:35:43.63\00:35:45.73
before the flood,
but we can prove that he
00:35:45.76\00:35:48.02
died the year of the flood.
00:35:48.05\00:35:49.43
So his name, the
name that was given to him
00:35:49.46\00:35:52.54
by Enoch, was a prophetic name.
00:35:52.57\00:35:54.62
It was an announcement of when
the flood was going to come.
00:35:56.13\00:35:58.61
When he dies, it will be sent.
00:35:58.77\00:36:00.59
So are name important?
00:36:01.35\00:36:03.04
Yes.
00:36:03.29\00:36:04.32
What does the word Satan mean?
00:36:04.35\00:36:07.19
Accuser.
00:36:08.05\00:36:09.25
Does that fit him well?
00:36:09.35\00:36:10.57
Oh yes.
00:36:10.88\00:36:11.91
What does the word devil mean?
00:36:12.08\00:36:13.67
Diabolos.
00:36:13.70\00:36:14.97
It means slanderer.
00:36:15.18\00:36:17.75
Was he a slanderer? Oh yeah.
00:36:20.02\00:36:22.57
Is he a slanderer? Yes.
00:36:22.60\00:36:24.32
Elijah means, my God is Yahweh.
00:36:24.49\00:36:27.62
My God is the Lord.
00:36:29.67\00:36:31.36
Not Baal. Yahweh.
00:36:32.55\00:36:35.19
Enoch means dedicated.
00:36:35.89\00:36:37.65
Was Enoch dedicated to the Lord?
00:36:37.68\00:36:39.65
He most certainly was.
00:36:39.91\00:36:40.94
Ezra means help.
00:36:41.01\00:36:42.34
This is
interesting. Ezra means help.
00:36:42.37\00:36:44.39
What does Ezra help to do?
00:36:45.93\00:36:47.83
Ezra and Nehemiah both
help to rebuild Jerusalem.
00:36:50.88\00:36:54.04
Lazarus... Oh, excuse me.
00:36:55.75\00:36:57.83
Nabal means fool.
00:36:58.04\00:36:59.89
If fact, his wife said that,
you know, he's rightly named.
00:37:02.38\00:37:05.37
Fool.
00:37:06.04\00:37:07.07
What does Lazarus mean?
00:37:08.42\00:37:09.90
It means, may God help.
00:37:11.29\00:37:12.67
Why is that significant?
00:37:12.70\00:37:13.98
Because he certainly was
not helped by the rich man.
00:37:14.01\00:37:16.22
"So may God help me," in
other words is what it means.
00:37:18.97\00:37:22.41
Israel means prince of God.
00:37:22.44\00:37:24.51
And of course, you know
that, "Jacob," before that
00:37:25.31\00:37:27.29
means supplanter.
00:37:27.32\00:37:28.69
So he was changed from a
supplanter to a prince of God.
00:37:30.00\00:37:33.23
And his name was
changed, of course, when he had
00:37:34.36\00:37:37.16
his struggle with the angel.
00:37:37.19\00:37:38.69
And he said, "I will not
let you go until you bless me."
00:37:39.82\00:37:42.68
Solomon means peace giver.
00:37:43.28\00:37:46.77
Here, we have a New
Testament; Boanerges.
00:37:48.82\00:37:51.46
Sons of thunder.
00:37:51.78\00:37:53.50
And expressed well,
they had a hot temper;
00:37:54.80\00:37:57.35
James and John.
00:37:57.74\00:37:58.97
Moses means, one drawn out.
00:37:59.61\00:38:01.94
Why would he be
called, one drawn out?
00:38:03.01\00:38:05.25
Because he was
drawn out of the waters.
00:38:05.81\00:38:07.63
Now here's an
interesting combination,
00:38:09.64\00:38:12.10
Bethlehem means house of bread.
00:38:12.13\00:38:14.63
Where was Jesus born?
00:38:18.68\00:38:20.10
In the house of bread.
00:38:20.80\00:38:21.95
Where did He grow up?
00:38:22.35\00:38:23.71
And that means, to
sprout or to shoot up.
00:38:25.18\00:38:27.50
And He suffered in Gethsemane;
which means, the olive press.
00:38:31.93\00:38:36.91
And He was
crucified at Golgotha,
00:38:40.84\00:38:42.81
the place of the skull.
00:38:42.84\00:38:44.38
Interesting.
00:38:45.91\00:38:46.94
Those names help
us to understand the
00:38:48.16\00:38:49.89
character of those places.
00:38:49.92\00:38:51.61
Jordon means descender.
00:38:52.51\00:38:54.61
You say, "Why would
the river Jordon be called
00:38:55.26\00:38:57.46
Jordon, descender?"
00:38:57.49\00:38:58.89
Because the Jordon river
originates at Mount Hermon.
00:38:59.11\00:39:02.11
You know, near
the Golan Heights.
00:39:03.51\00:39:05.36
And when the Jordon
river begins, torrents of water
00:39:06.34\00:39:10.43
come down Mount Hermon
and then they come to the
00:39:10.64\00:39:14.97
valley, and then the
river flows down the valley
00:39:15.00\00:39:17.72
into the Sea of Galilee,
and then out to the dead sea.
00:39:17.75\00:39:21.92
And so it's very
appropriately named, descender.
00:39:22.37\00:39:25.46
And then you have
Isaiah, salvation of the Lord.
00:39:28.33\00:39:32.30
Doesn't he describe the
salvation through the Messiah?
00:39:32.33\00:39:35.01
Of course.
00:39:35.04\00:39:36.14
And then you have Yahweh-Yireh.
00:39:36.38\00:39:38.50
That's the name
that we find when Abraham
00:39:39.57\00:39:43.96
takes his son to
offer him on Mount Moriah.
00:39:44.36\00:39:47.19
He called the
mount, Yahweh-Yireh.
00:39:47.98\00:39:51.61
That is, the Lord will provide.
00:39:51.91\00:39:54.24
Why was it called,
the Lord will provide?
00:39:54.66\00:39:56.69
Because God did provide
a ram in place of his son.
00:39:57.74\00:40:01.99
And you know what's interesting?
00:40:02.02\00:40:03.05
Isaac is a two-fold symbol.
00:40:03.08\00:40:06.32
Before he's placed on the
altar, he represents Christ.
00:40:08.50\00:40:13.75
But only up till that point.
00:40:16.02\00:40:17.54
And he also represents Christ in
the fact that the third day...
00:40:17.57\00:40:21.21
By the way, this is
happening the third day,
00:40:21.24\00:40:22.80
if you read the story.
00:40:22.83\00:40:24.07
...Abraham
receives him back alive.
00:40:24.73\00:40:26.70
And Hebrews says that
it was like he resurrected
00:40:26.73\00:40:29.57
from the dead.
00:40:29.60\00:40:30.76
However, Isaac was not killed.
00:40:31.39\00:40:35.36
So he could not be a
symbol of the death of Christ.
00:40:35.39\00:40:37.82
He's a symbol of the submission
of Christ to the Father.
00:40:38.92\00:40:41.77
He's a symbol of Christ in
the sense that the third day
00:40:42.85\00:40:45.57
Abraham received him
alive after he considered him
00:40:45.60\00:40:48.70
as good as dead.
00:40:48.73\00:40:49.78
But Isaac was not sacrificed.
00:40:49.88\00:40:51.65
That's why you needed another
symbol, which was the ram.
00:40:51.68\00:40:54.69
Are you following me?
00:40:56.30\00:40:57.33
Now, Delilah; the consumer.
00:40:59.20\00:41:03.56
Does that fit her
character very well?
00:41:05.58\00:41:08.07
Oh, her love
consumed poor ole Sampson.
00:41:08.40\00:41:11.57
Emmanuel means what?
00:41:12.33\00:41:14.21
God with us.
00:41:14.64\00:41:16.18
Jesus means Yahweh
saves, or Jehovah saves.
00:41:17.06\00:41:21.74
Christ,
Christós, means anointed.
00:41:22.69\00:41:26.17
Jacob, supplanter.
00:41:26.85\00:41:28.22
We already had
Israel, prince of God.
00:41:28.79\00:41:30.64
Armageddon means
mount of the congregation.
00:41:31.87\00:41:34.81
I use to believe that it
meant mount of slaughter.
00:41:36.23\00:41:38.80
But really it means
mount of congregation.
00:41:38.83\00:41:40.83
Because the devil is
going to come to the place
00:41:40.86\00:41:42.84
where God's
people are congregated.
00:41:42.87\00:41:44.84
In Isaiah 14 it's, harmo'ed.
00:41:47.90\00:41:51.44
And of course,
Abaddon or Apollyon
00:41:53.58\00:41:58.27
means destroyer.
00:41:58.30\00:42:01.01
So let me ask you, is
it important to understand
00:42:02.15\00:42:04.53
the meaning of biblical
names in order to catch the
00:42:04.56\00:42:06.98
picture of what
God is trying to teach?
00:42:07.01\00:42:08.86
Names are symbols.
00:42:09.71\00:42:11.73
As well as people being symbols.
00:42:13.05\00:42:15.34
Now numbers are also symbolic.
00:42:16.13\00:42:18.52
Number 4; it
represents universality.
00:42:21.43\00:42:26.95
How many points of the compass?
00:42:27.45\00:42:29.04
Four rivers
watered the whole earth.
00:42:30.35\00:42:33.07
Four winds hold the world.
00:42:34.00\00:42:37.27
Four beasts; four nations.
00:42:37.30\00:42:41.49
Four banners in
Israel represents
00:42:41.52\00:42:43.28
all of the encampment.
00:42:43.31\00:42:44.83
So in Revelation chapter 17,
when this beast has ten horns...
00:42:45.66\00:42:50.67
And you have in
Revelation 17 also the number 4.
00:42:54.82\00:42:58.78
We'll come back to
that a little bit later on.
00:42:58.81\00:43:01.29
Are we to pay attention to
the importance of the number?
00:43:01.95\00:43:05.23
Absolutely.
00:43:05.90\00:43:07.01
So the number 4
represents universality.
00:43:07.04\00:43:09.67
The number 7, what
does the number 7 represent?
00:43:09.70\00:43:12.10
The number 7
represents fullness, totality,
00:43:13.25\00:43:19.08
Perfection, we say.
00:43:20.89\00:43:22.42
For example, how long did
it take to create the world?
00:43:24.06\00:43:26.79
Seven days, including
the Sabbath of course.
00:43:28.99\00:43:31.80
How many times did
Israel march around Jericho
00:43:32.46\00:43:35.85
for it to be totally destroyed?
00:43:35.91\00:43:37.72
Seven days.
00:43:38.58\00:43:39.97
How many times did
Naaman dip himself in the Jordon
00:43:40.58\00:43:43.91
to be totally clean?
00:43:43.94\00:43:45.30
How many times was
the fiery furnace heated?
00:43:47.31\00:43:50.41
Seven times.
00:43:51.30\00:43:52.66
How many times was the blood
sprinkled on the mercy seat?
00:43:52.69\00:43:57.94
Seven times.
00:43:58.68\00:43:59.87
How many churches
represent all of the history
00:43:59.90\00:44:02.72
of the Christian church?
00:44:02.75\00:44:03.95
Seven churches.
00:44:03.98\00:44:05.01
How many plagues, the
totality of God's wrath?
00:44:05.04\00:44:09.83
Seven plagues.
00:44:10.23\00:44:11.70
Jesus has seven horns.
00:44:12.19\00:44:13.82
Horns represent
power, all power.
00:44:13.85\00:44:15.17
He has seven eyes.
00:44:15.20\00:44:16.75
All wisdom.
00:44:17.18\00:44:18.56
So is the number 7 symbolic?
00:44:19.55\00:44:21.51
Yes it is.
00:44:22.15\00:44:23.30
How about the number 3?
00:44:23.79\00:44:25.21
The number 3
represents the Godhead.
00:44:26.02\00:44:28.36
How many persons in the Godhead?
00:44:29.73\00:44:31.49
Three.
00:44:32.06\00:44:33.09
There are a lot of
people that feel uncomfortable
00:44:33.29\00:44:34.94
with that these days.
00:44:34.97\00:44:36.46
You know, there's a lot of
people attacking the doctrine
00:44:37.58\00:44:39.85
of the Godhead.
00:44:39.88\00:44:40.91
They're saying, you
know, "The only one who is
00:44:42.02\00:44:44.20
God is the Father.
00:44:44.23\00:44:45.66
Jesus is created by God.
00:44:46.74\00:44:52.59
And the Holy Spirit
isn't even a person.
00:44:53.24\00:44:55.12
The Holy Spirit is a force.
00:44:55.15\00:44:58.40
Or the Holy
Spirit is an influence."
00:44:59.74\00:45:01.82
I don't believe
that for a minute.
00:45:02.74\00:45:04.11
I believe that the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit
00:45:05.53\00:45:07.51
are all three persons.
00:45:07.54\00:45:09.05
Individual distinct persons.
00:45:09.50\00:45:11.72
Each one with
their own individuality.
00:45:13.10\00:45:15.28
They have different functions.
00:45:16.98\00:45:18.72
The Son is under the
authority of the Father.
00:45:19.30\00:45:22.12
And the Holy Spirit is
under the authority of the Son.
00:45:22.91\00:45:25.76
Even in a perfect universe.
00:45:26.32\00:45:27.99
You know, the reason I
emphasize that is because
00:45:29.53\00:45:31.55
there's this argument by those
who are discussing this issue of
00:45:31.58\00:45:35.77
the roles of men and women
in the home and in the church,
00:45:35.87\00:45:38.63
they say, "Listen, if
you believe that the wife is
00:45:38.66\00:45:40.72
suppose to be
subject to the husband,
00:45:40.75\00:45:42.42
then you're saying that the wife
is inferior to the husband."
00:45:42.45\00:45:45.58
False argument.
00:45:47.15\00:45:48.37
Because if you argue that way,
then you're going to have to
00:45:50.43\00:45:52.38
say that Jesus is
inferior to His Father
00:45:52.41\00:45:54.21
because He subjects
Himself to His Father.
00:45:54.24\00:45:56.21
Is Jesus inferior to His Father?
00:45:58.74\00:46:00.57
Whose will does
the Holy Spirit do?
00:46:02.56\00:46:04.54
Christ's.
00:46:06.22\00:46:07.42
Is the Holy Spirit subject
to the authority of Jesus?
00:46:07.72\00:46:10.28
Yes He is.
00:46:10.39\00:46:11.50
So the Holy Spirit is
inferior to Jesus because He's
00:46:12.02\00:46:14.43
subject to Jesus.
00:46:14.46\00:46:15.68
No.
00:46:16.20\00:46:17.32
You see, subjection
does not mean inferiority.
00:46:18.35\00:46:21.99
Two equals can have
one subject to the other
00:46:22.98\00:46:27.13
and still be equal.
00:46:27.67\00:46:29.02
But somehow, people
don't understand that.
00:46:30.48\00:46:32.47
They find it
difficult to understand that.
00:46:33.30\00:46:35.34
But it's very clear in
Scripture that even before sin
00:46:36.69\00:46:41.77
the Son was
subject to the Father.
00:46:41.97\00:46:43.67
There's nothing
bad in that, folks.
00:46:44.91\00:46:46.77
Subjection is divine.
00:46:47.85\00:46:49.57
Wanting to ascend is diabolical.
00:46:50.81\00:46:53.03
Jesus said, "The
greatest is the least.
00:46:55.08\00:46:58.68
He who becomes a
servant is the greatest."
00:47:00.41\00:47:03.02
So all this fight,
"I want this position,
00:47:03.57\00:47:06.12
and I want this
and I want that,"
00:47:06.15\00:47:08.65
that is not of God.
00:47:09.46\00:47:10.66
Anyway, how did I
get off on that subject?
00:47:13.05\00:47:15.50
The number 6 represents
man in apostasy against God.
00:47:20.88\00:47:27.12
Particularly the number 666.
00:47:30.21\00:47:31.76
Do you know the first time
in the Bible where 666 appears?
00:47:31.79\00:47:35.20
Solomon's yearly income
was 666 talents of gold.
00:47:37.21\00:47:42.31
And you know what's interesting?
00:47:43.71\00:47:44.81
Immediately after the
Bible says that was his income,
00:47:44.84\00:47:48.97
in the very next
chapter it speaks about
00:47:49.45\00:47:52.59
the apostasy of Solomon.
00:47:52.62\00:47:54.54
And it gives two reasons.
00:47:56.10\00:47:57.27
Number one, his riches.
00:47:57.38\00:47:59.45
And number two, fornicating
with women from foreign nations.
00:47:59.48\00:48:03.19
So let me ask you,
in Revelation, must the
00:48:04.41\00:48:06.36
number 666 have to do
with a system that is very rich
00:48:06.39\00:48:09.89
and a system that
commits fornication
00:48:09.92\00:48:12.07
and leads God's people astray?
00:48:12.10\00:48:14.46
See how
important the context is?
00:48:15.58\00:48:17.38
It's vitally important.
00:48:17.64\00:48:19.04
The number 10 means whole.
00:48:19.96\00:48:23.07
So you have the ten
in Revelation chapter 17.
00:48:26.17\00:48:29.38
We'll get into that later.
00:48:29.41\00:48:30.81
The number 40 represents
tribulation and trial.
00:48:31.15\00:48:34.14
How many days did Jesus spend
being tempted in the wilderness?
00:48:35.70\00:48:39.49
Forty days.
00:48:39.77\00:48:40.80
How many days did
Goliath challenge Israel?
00:48:40.83\00:48:46.42
Forty days.
00:48:47.36\00:48:48.87
How long did
Israel last in the desert?
00:48:49.51\00:48:52.85
Forty years.
00:48:53.30\00:48:54.76
So 40 in the Bible
represents tribulation and trial
00:48:55.85\00:48:59.64
when you find it.
00:49:00.15\00:49:01.25
And I only put these
as a sampling of numbers.
00:49:01.58\00:49:04.23
There are other
numbers in Scripture
00:49:04.49\00:49:06.94
that are very, very important.
00:49:07.04\00:49:08.73
But you know, all you
have to do is go where?
00:49:08.76\00:49:11.55
To a concordance. Hello.
00:49:12.48\00:49:14.26
And look up the word.
00:49:15.65\00:49:17.07
And look at all of the
references to that number.
00:49:17.94\00:49:21.29
And then, you know,
find a common denominator.
00:49:21.88\00:49:25.02
And look and see if that
interpretation fits the context
00:49:25.05\00:49:28.91
of the passage
that you are studying.
00:49:28.94\00:49:31.05
Beasts are also symbolic.
00:49:31.98\00:49:34.08
They are symbolic of what?
00:49:34.89\00:49:36.42
Of nations,
kingdoms, or empires.
00:49:37.09\00:49:40.08
For example, the four
beasts of Daniel 7 represent
00:49:41.48\00:49:44.86
four kingdoms, right?
00:49:44.89\00:49:46.32
How do you know that?
00:49:47.22\00:49:48.35
You don't even have
to go any other place
00:49:50.05\00:49:51.68
because Daniel 7 tells you so.
00:49:51.71\00:49:53.71
The symbol is
interpreted in Daniel 7.
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.75
The lion represents Babylon.
00:49:59.23\00:50:01.21
The beast from the earth
represents the United States.
00:50:03.06\00:50:06.88
A dove represents the
Holy Spirit who rules over
00:50:09.26\00:50:12.06
the kingdom of grace.
00:50:12.09\00:50:13.37
Now let me mention just
a couple of things as we
00:50:17.11\00:50:19.03
close here this section.
00:50:19.06\00:50:21.48
And by the way, the next
section I want to finish this.
00:50:22.37\00:50:25.29
Is this interesting?
00:50:25.92\00:50:27.11
Does it help you in knowing
how to interpret symbols?
00:50:27.58\00:50:29.93
I certainly hope so.
00:50:30.13\00:50:31.24
It's good to give examples.
00:50:31.27\00:50:33.05
Because when we apply
the examples, it becomes
00:50:33.81\00:50:36.20
much more practical.
00:50:36.23\00:50:37.77
Let's talk just for a
few moments here about
00:50:39.35\00:50:41.80
this beast that rises
from the earth and has
00:50:42.04\00:50:44.22
two horns like a lamb.
00:50:44.25\00:50:45.92
You know, traditionally
we have said that horns
00:50:48.05\00:50:52.43
represent kingdoms or
divisions of kingdoms.
00:50:53.05\00:50:58.32
Right?
00:50:58.35\00:50:59.38
For example, we have
the ten horns on the head
00:51:00.52\00:51:03.60
of the dragon beast.
00:51:03.63\00:51:04.68
They represent the
ten kingdoms into which
00:51:04.71\00:51:07.09
the Roman Empire was divided.
00:51:07.12\00:51:08.49
We say they're kingdoms, right?
00:51:08.59\00:51:10.04
We have the four horns
on the head of the he goat
00:51:10.80\00:51:14.20
in Daniel 8.
00:51:14.23\00:51:15.58
They represent the four
kingdoms that sprang from
00:51:16.11\00:51:19.07
Alexander the Great's kingdom.
00:51:19.10\00:51:20.95
So we say horns are kingdoms.
00:51:21.45\00:51:23.85
But when we come
to Revelation 13,
00:51:26.10\00:51:28.31
we say that these
two horns are principles.
00:51:29.19\00:51:31.85
The two horns like a lamb
00:51:33.84\00:51:35.80
of this beast that ends
up speaking like a dragon.
00:51:36.44\00:51:38.12
We say, "Those two horns
represent two principles."
00:51:38.15\00:51:40.86
Now on what basis can we say
that horns represent kingdoms;
00:51:42.04\00:51:48.04
and then we have a
beast here that has two horns
00:51:48.80\00:51:51.15
like a lamb, and we
say that these horns
00:51:51.18\00:51:55.80
represent principles.
00:51:55.83\00:51:56.90
You know, the closest parallel
to what we find to this beast
00:51:56.93\00:51:59.84
in Revelation 13
is found in Daniel 8.
00:51:59.87\00:52:02.63
There is a ram
that has two horns.
00:52:03.68\00:52:07.08
And one is
taller than the other.
00:52:08.02\00:52:09.71
See, a ram is a male sheep.
00:52:11.31\00:52:13.27
Right?
00:52:13.82\00:52:14.85
That's the closest parallel
to this beast that rises
00:52:15.42\00:52:17.78
from the earth,
is Daniel 8; the ram.
00:52:17.81\00:52:20.23
It has two horns, and one of
them is higher than the other.
00:52:21.01\00:52:24.72
And the highest one came
out last, because the Persians,
00:52:24.75\00:52:27.82
you know, became
predominant later on.
00:52:28.78\00:52:31.10
The Medes were only
there at the very beginning,
00:52:31.13\00:52:33.88
then they disappeared.
00:52:33.91\00:52:34.94
And all the rulers
after that were Persians.
00:52:34.97\00:52:37.23
So this prophecy in Daniel
8 can be proved historically
00:52:37.86\00:52:42.44
that it's true that
this kingdom was composed
00:52:42.73\00:52:47.59
of two kingdoms, right?
00:52:47.62\00:52:49.09
What do the two horns represent?
00:52:49.26\00:52:50.77
There was only one
nation, but that one nation was
00:52:50.80\00:52:55.91
composed of two what?
00:52:55.94\00:52:57.29
Of two kingdoms.
00:52:58.09\00:52:59.31
The Medes and the Persians.
00:52:59.83\00:53:02.12
So if you go to Revelation
13, we ask the question:
00:53:02.59\00:53:06.33
Would these two horns
represent two kingdoms?
00:53:07.21\00:53:10.22
The answer is yes.
00:53:11.00\00:53:12.50
But from the idea of two
kingdoms, if you read the book,
00:53:13.22\00:53:16.52
Jekyll and Hyde, from
the idea of two kingdoms
00:53:17.36\00:53:21.76
springs the idea
of two principles.
00:53:22.66\00:53:26.74
Now what do I mean?
00:53:29.00\00:53:30.03
What are the two
kingdoms that are recognized
00:53:31.31\00:53:33.57
by the United
States Constitution?
00:53:34.26\00:53:36.52
The church and the state.
00:53:39.32\00:53:40.91
The first
amendment protects religion.
00:53:42.10\00:53:45.18
It says that congress cannot
make laws establishing religion
00:53:46.68\00:53:49.96
or forbidding the
free exercise of religion.
00:53:49.99\00:53:51.91
So does the Constitution
recognize the right of religion?
00:53:51.94\00:53:57.00
Is that one kingdom?
00:53:57.75\00:53:58.94
Is the church a kingdom?
00:53:59.14\00:54:00.61
Yes.
00:54:01.09\00:54:02.12
Jesus says, "Upon this
rock I will build My church
00:54:02.46\00:54:05.14
and I will give you
the keys to the kingdom."
00:54:05.17\00:54:07.08
So church is a kingdom.
00:54:07.75\00:54:09.12
Is the state a kingdom?
00:54:10.35\00:54:12.05
So what do we have
in the United States?
00:54:12.90\00:54:14.57
We have one nation
that recognizes the same
00:54:14.60\00:54:17.55
two kingdoms
that Jesus recognized.
00:54:17.58\00:54:19.94
"Render therefore to
Caesar that which is Caesar's,
00:54:21.36\00:54:24.75
and to God that which is God's."
00:54:24.78\00:54:26.92
Are you following me?
00:54:28.33\00:54:29.50
In that way, we are consistent
in our interpretation.
00:54:29.92\00:54:33.38
Because I've had people
ask me, "Why do you say they're
00:54:33.91\00:54:35.91
principle here and
they're kingdoms elsewhere?"
00:54:35.94\00:54:39.22
And I answer,
"They are kingdoms."
00:54:40.67\00:54:43.01
But from the idea of
kingdoms springs the idea
00:54:43.48\00:54:46.65
of two principles, which is
separation of the two kingdoms;
00:54:46.85\00:54:50.63
church and state.
00:54:50.97\00:54:52.00
What Ellen White calls,
republicanism and Protestantism.
00:54:52.03\00:54:55.74
Republicanism has nothing to
do with the republican party.
00:54:55.77\00:54:58.82
It is a republic.
00:55:01.30\00:55:02.93
And that means that
it is a representative
00:55:04.05\00:55:06.27
style of government.
00:55:06.30\00:55:07.98
That's what a republic is.
00:55:09.06\00:55:10.55
A republic is not a democracy.
00:55:11.18\00:55:13.44
It is a representative
style of government.
00:55:14.07\00:55:16.38
And so in the United States,
the founding fathers said,
00:55:17.31\00:55:20.49
"We recognize that there
are two legitimate kingdoms
00:55:20.69\00:55:25.77
in this country.
00:55:25.80\00:55:27.19
One is the church, and
we're going to protect the right
00:55:28.11\00:55:30.83
of people to
worship according to the
00:55:30.86\00:55:32.50
dictates of their conscience.
00:55:32.53\00:55:33.88
And the other is the state."
00:55:33.91\00:55:35.66
By the way, of how many
kingdoms are you citizens?
00:55:36.89\00:55:41.80
We're in one nation, but we
are citizens of two kingdoms.
00:55:45.17\00:55:49.73
I'm a citizen of
the United States.
00:55:52.00\00:55:54.60
But living in the United States,
I'm also a citizen of heaven.
00:55:55.23\00:55:59.26
Because I'm a
member of the church.
00:56:00.14\00:56:01.91
So I have two nationalities
within the same nation.
00:56:02.85\00:56:07.60
And I have two passports.
00:56:09.38\00:56:10.76
My U.S. passport and
the blood of the Lamb.
00:56:10.86\00:56:13.56
Do we have responsibilities
to our church? Yes.
00:56:16.75\00:56:19.50
Do we have
responsibilities for the state?
00:56:19.53\00:56:21.45
Yes.
00:56:21.48\00:56:22.52
What is our financial
responsibility to the state?
00:56:23.27\00:56:26.05
Taxes.
00:56:26.75\00:56:27.78
And what are our financial
responsibilities to the church?
00:56:27.81\00:56:30.39
Tithe.
00:56:30.42\00:56:31.58
But it would be
illegitimate to take God's tithe
00:56:33.01\00:56:35.10
and give it to the state,
or take Caesar's money and
00:56:35.13\00:56:37.46
give it to the church.
00:56:37.49\00:56:38.68
And we've crossed that
line in the Adventist church.
00:56:39.26\00:56:41.74
And it's going to
come back to bite us;
00:56:43.29\00:56:45.05
taking money from
Caesar for the church.
00:56:46.25\00:56:48.55
Because Caesar never gives
without expecting in return.
00:56:49.63\00:56:53.00
And Caesar is going to
say, "Well, you took my money,
00:56:54.31\00:56:56.93
so why don't you
want to do what I say?"
00:56:57.28\00:56:59.45
That's why there needs
to be a strict separation
00:57:01.35\00:57:04.10
between church and state.
00:57:04.13\00:57:05.70
According to prophecy,
the union of church and state
00:57:06.28\00:57:09.03
is going to lead to the
persecution of God's people.
00:57:09.06\00:57:12.08
Now that doesn't mean
that we shouldn't vote
00:57:13.31\00:57:14.85
and we shouldn't
support the state.
00:57:14.88\00:57:16.13
Of course we should.
00:57:16.16\00:57:17.52
As good citizens.
00:57:17.55\00:57:19.05
And we should be
good church members.
00:57:19.35\00:57:21.26
But we should not mix or
mingle the things of the church
00:57:22.00\00:57:24.80
and things of the state.
00:57:24.83\00:57:26.34
They should remain absolutely
separate, one from the other.
00:57:26.37\00:57:30.94
And if we don't separate those
two, the results will be dire.
00:57:31.62\00:57:36.82
And we know that
this is going to happen
00:57:36.99\00:57:38.55
very, very soon in these
United States of America,
00:57:38.58\00:57:42.27
and in the whole world.
00:57:42.40\00:57:43.87