Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Father in heaven,
we thank you once again
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for the awesome
privilege of being here to study
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Your Holy Word. We
ask that as we study
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the concept of the
judgment in the book of Genesis
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that Your Holy Spirit
will be with us to instruct us.
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I ask, Lord, that You
will help us to understand
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that we are now living
in the hour of Your judgment
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and that we need to prepare
to pass through that awesome
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moment in time
when our name comes up
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before the judgment bar.
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We thank you for the
promise of Your presence
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and we thank you
for hearing our prayer.
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For we ask it in
Jesus' name, Amen.
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The title of our study today is
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Innocent Until Proven Guilty.
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Now it might be surprising to
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some of those who are here that
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that's the way in which
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God operates.
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It is not a modern
concept of jurisprudence.
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You know, in the United States
we say that you're innocent
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until proven guilty.
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But this aspect of the judgment
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that we have in our
system of government
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actually is based on a
divine principle that we find
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in scripture. Now
what I want to do is
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go through several stories that
we find in the book of Genesis
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that deal with
the issue of judgment.
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And then we will end
our study by noticing
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the concept of judgment
in the book of Revelation.
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And we'll see that the
same sequence of judgment
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in Genesis is found also
in the book of Revelation.
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Now let's being our
study in Genesis chapter 2
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and verses 16 and 17.
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Genesis chapter 2
and verses 16 and 17.
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It says there, and we've read
this in previous context before:
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Now there are three
things that I want to underline
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in these two verses with
which we began our study today.
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First of all, in these verses
there is a moral authority
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who is God.
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Secondly, that moral authority
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has a moral code or a moral law.
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In this case, it's the command
to not eat from the tree.
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So the moral ruler
has a moral commandment
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or a moral law.
And in these verses
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God who is the moral authority
who has this moral code
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tells man that if
he eats from the tree
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the penalty is going to be
what? Is going to be death.
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So you have a moral authority.
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You have... In the second place,
that moral authority has a law
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or a code and
disobedience to that law
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or to that code
brings as a result death.
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Now let's go to
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 6.
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Did man break that moral code?
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Yes he did.
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Notice Genesis chapter 3
and verse 6. And by the way,
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when I say man here I'm
referring to man AND woman
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because they're both called
man in the book of Genesis.
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It's a generic term.
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And so it says in
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 6:
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Question: did Adam and
Eve break God's moral code?
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Yes they did.
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Did they commit the crime? Yes.
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Crime is breaking the law.
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And so Adam and Eve
broke the moral code
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of the moral ruler, and the
penalty for committing the crime
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was what? Was death.
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Now did Adam and Eve
attempt to cover up their crime?
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You know, when somebody commits
a crime, what do they try to do?
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They try to cover it up.
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They try to hide the fact
that they committed the crime.
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Do we have this in the
story in the book of Genesis?
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Yes we do.
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Notice Genesis
chapter 3 and verses 7 and 8.
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Genesis 3 verses 7 and 8.
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We'll come back to
that in a few moments.
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And now notice verse 8:
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Did these criminals -
so to speak - try to hide
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what they had done? Yes.
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First of all, by covering up
their nakedness with fig leaves
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and secondly by doing what?
By hiding from the presence
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of the Lord. And so we
find a very interesting process
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being followed here.
You have a moral ruler
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who has a moral code.
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He expects His creatures
to obey His moral code.
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He says: "If you don't,
that will bring death. "
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Adam and Eve
committed the crime.
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And now that
they commit the crime
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they tried to hide the crime
because they know that they're
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responsible
before the moral ruler.
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And by the way, we're
told in Genesis chapter 3
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that they were afraid.
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Criminals... when they
commit a crime, are they afraid
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of getting caught?
They most surely are.
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And so you see the same basic
characteristics taking place
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in Genesis as takes place when
an individual commits a crime
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today. And by the way,
before this Adam and Eve
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delighted to be in
the presence of God.
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But when they
committed the crime
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they knew they
had something to hide.
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And they no longer felt
delight to appear before God...
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they were afraid, because
they knew that God was going to
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judge them and God was
going to execute the sentence
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upon them.
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Then I want you to notice
that the evidence in the case
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is examined. There's
an inquiry in other words.
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There's not a sentence first.
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There's not the
execution of the sentence first.
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There is an inquiry or an
investigation into the case.
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Notice what we find in
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 11.
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Genesis chapter 3 and verse 11.
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We're told here... God speaking:
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Let me ask you: did God know
that Adam and Eve had eaten from
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the tree? Did He know that?
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He most certainly did.
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So why is God asking the
question: "Have you eaten
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from the tree that I
told you not to eat from? "
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Because God is
investigating the case.
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God wants to show
us that in the judgment
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He first of all
examines the evidence.
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He examines the case
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before pronouncing sentence and
before executing the sentence
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upon the sinner. And so He says:
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"Have you eaten from the tree
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that I told you
not to eat from? "
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By the way, what is
the action of Adam and Eve
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being compared with?
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I don't know
whether you've noticed this
00:10:02.32\00:10:04.82
but God says: "Have you eaten
from the tree I told you not to
00:10:05.03\00:10:08.75
eat? " Are their actions being
compared with God's commandment?
00:10:08.85\00:10:13.13
Is the law of God the
standard in this judgment?
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It most certainly is!
God is saying: "Did you obey
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My law or did
you disobey My law? "
00:10:20.72\00:10:23.08
So the law is the
standard that is used
00:10:23.38\00:10:26.26
to compare the
deeds of Adam and Eve.
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Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
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And so the law is the
standard of the judgment.
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Now I want you to notice
that God does not look for
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Adam and Eve and say to them:
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"You ate, didn't you?
You ate! I told you not to
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eat. Now you're going to
really suffer for that. "
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No. God comes down.
He examines the case.
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He examines the evidence.
00:10:48.79\00:10:50.03
He says: "Have you
eaten from the tree? "
00:10:50.23\00:10:52.13
And then when it's proven
that they ate from the tree
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He's going to
pronounce sentence.
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Now let's go to Genesis
chapter 3 and verses 12 and 13.
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You know, it's said
that there is no greater fool
00:11:02.58\00:11:05.24
than he who represents
himself in a court of law.
00:11:05.44\00:11:08.59
Now did Adam and Eve
try to defend themselves
00:11:09.43\00:11:13.01
as they were
arraigned before God's tribunal?
00:11:13.21\00:11:16.50
By the way, have you
noticed that in this story
00:11:16.70\00:11:19.24
Adam and Eve were arraigned
by God before His tribunal?
00:11:19.44\00:11:23.00
I want you to
notice Genesis 3 verse 9.
00:11:23.30\00:11:25.49
Before we go to verses 12
and 13 let's notice verse 9,
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the arraignment of Adam and Eve.
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It says there in verse 9:
00:11:31.70\00:11:33.71
Did God know where he was?
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So why does He ask?
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He's calling Adam to appear
where? Adam and Eve to appear
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before His what?
Before His judgment seat
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to answer for their actions.
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So is there an arraignment
00:11:57.63\00:11:58.93
in Genesis chapter 3?
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There most certainly is.
00:12:00.56\00:12:01.72
Now notice how these fools
defend themselves in the court
00:12:02.02\00:12:04.82
of law. Genesis
chapter 3 and verses 12 and 13.
00:12:04.92\00:12:09.34
Genesis 3 verses 12 and 13.
00:12:09.54\00:12:11.83
What is she doing?
She's passing the buck.
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She's blaming somebody else.
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Is she really
sorry for what she did?
00:12:29.47\00:12:32.67
At this point, does
she have sorrow for sin?
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No... she's sorry that
she got... That she got what?
00:12:37.20\00:12:41.47
Or that he got what? Caught,
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because this is
the case of Adam.
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Now let's notice Eve. Verse 13:
00:12:45.32\00:12:47.41
So notice that man says:
"that woman that You gave to me
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gave me the fruit and
I ate. It's her fault. "
00:13:05.45\00:13:09.22
And the woman said:
"That serpent that You made
00:13:09.52\00:13:12.10
gave me the fruit and I ate.
So it's the serpent's fault. "
00:13:12.30\00:13:15.63
Are Adam and Eve truly
repentant at this point?
00:13:16.03\00:13:19.17
They most certainly are not.
00:13:19.57\00:13:21.26
They're actually
sorry that they got caught
00:13:21.56\00:13:24.25
and they're sorry about the
consequences that they're going
00:13:24.55\00:13:27.76
to suffer because of the
sin that they have committed.
00:13:27.87\00:13:31.20
But they're not really
sorry for what they have done.
00:13:31.50\00:13:34.92
Now I want you to notice that
this crime had an accessory.
00:13:35.96\00:13:39.05
Who was the
accessory in the crime?
00:13:40.22\00:13:42.32
It was actually the
serpent... the devil.
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.31
Did God have something to say to
the serpent, to the accessory?
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Did he have a
sentence pronounced upon him?
00:13:48.99\00:13:50.91
Most certainly. Notice
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15.
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Genesis 3 verse 15.
00:13:55.97\00:13:57.43
And then what does God do?
00:14:10.18\00:14:11.97
God pronounces upon
Adam and Eve the sentence
00:14:12.27\00:14:16.97
for their actions. And I'm
just going to read one verse
00:14:17.17\00:14:20.02
where it speaks
about the sentence for man
00:14:20.22\00:14:22.03
but we know that it
happens with the woman as well.
00:14:22.13\00:14:24.64
Genesis chapter 3 and verse 19.
00:14:24.94\00:14:27.94
It says here in
Genesis 3 verse 19...
00:14:28.34\00:14:31.18
God is speaking
specifically to Adam:
00:14:33.23\00:14:35.89
Is God pronouncing
sentence upon man in this verse?
00:14:50.15\00:14:53.79
He most certainly is.
00:14:54.03\00:14:55.41
He said: "I told you
that if you broke My law
00:14:55.71\00:14:58.30
you were going
to surely... " What?
00:14:58.50\00:15:00.05
"you were going to
surely die that day.
00:15:00.25\00:15:02.77
And now I'm telling you
that you are dust, and to dust
00:15:02.97\00:15:06.46
you shall... " What? "and
to dust you shall return. "
00:15:06.66\00:15:10.14
This is the
sentence that God pronounces
00:15:10.44\00:15:13.35
upon Adam and also upon Eve.
00:15:13.55\00:15:16.58
Now I want you to notice
once again Genesis chapter 3
00:15:17.75\00:15:20.79
and verse 7. Could Adam
and Eve appear before God
00:15:20.99\00:15:24.54
without fear in
their naked state?
00:15:25.89\00:15:28.69
Absolutely not.
00:15:28.99\00:15:30.73
Notice Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 7.
00:15:31.03\00:15:33.61
In other words, they
covered their own nakedness.
00:15:42.60\00:15:45.07
Let me ask you: did that
really solve the problem of
00:15:45.47\00:15:49.18
their nakedness?
Could they appear before God
00:15:49.28\00:15:51.62
in full assurance knowing
that God now was going to
00:15:51.82\00:15:54.78
receive and accept them?
00:15:54.89\00:15:56.35
Absolutely not!
00:15:56.55\00:15:58.05
In fact we notice in verse
10 that even after they covered
00:15:58.25\00:16:01.46
themselves they
still feel naked.
00:16:01.56\00:16:03.47
Notice Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 10.
00:16:03.77\00:16:06.28
Was he already covered with
the fig leaves at this point?
00:16:13.88\00:16:16.85
Sure. But he says: "I
was naked. " In other words
00:16:17.16\00:16:20.98
he's saying that even though
he had covered himself with the
00:16:21.18\00:16:23.64
fig leaves he still felt what?
Guilty and naked before God.
00:16:23.74\00:16:28.12
So what needed to happen?
00:16:28.32\00:16:29.73
The shame of their
nakedness needed to be what?
00:16:29.93\00:16:33.45
Needed to be covered.
00:16:33.75\00:16:35.72
Now let me ask you: was
the execution of the sentence
00:16:35.93\00:16:41.16
given that very day?
00:16:41.36\00:16:43.35
God said: "Dust you are
and to dust you shall return. "
00:16:43.65\00:16:46.27
Was the death sentence
executed that very day?
00:16:46.47\00:16:49.65
Yes it was.
00:16:51.34\00:16:53.36
You say: "Now wait a
minute. Adam died when he was
00:16:53.56\00:16:55.64
930 years old. How is it
that you say that that very day
00:16:55.84\00:17:00.33
the sentence of
death was executed? "
00:17:00.53\00:17:03.15
I don't know whether
you've noticed something very
00:17:03.45\00:17:04.99
interesting as we have studied
this story in Genesis chapter 3.
00:17:05.09\00:17:07.68
You have... The first
stage of the judgment is really
00:17:08.08\00:17:10.62
the investigation of the case.
00:17:10.82\00:17:12.55
The second stage of the judgment
00:17:13.05\00:17:15.17
is the
pronouncing of the sentence
00:17:15.37\00:17:17.42
based on the
examination of the evidence.
00:17:17.62\00:17:19.93
They're guilty, so God
says: "This is going to be the
00:17:20.23\00:17:22.39
punishment. " And in
the third place you have
00:17:22.49\00:17:25.21
the execution of the sentence
00:17:25.41\00:17:28.25
that has been pronounced
by God upon Adam and Eve:
00:17:28.45\00:17:31.51
the sentence of death.
00:17:31.81\00:17:33.56
You say: "But they
didn't die that very day. "
00:17:33.86\00:17:35.77
Well, the fact is that
there was a death that day.
00:17:35.97\00:17:39.07
Notice Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 21.
00:17:39.37\00:17:42.57
And by the way, the
death that took place that day
00:17:42.77\00:17:46.49
actually covered the
shame of their nakedness
00:17:46.69\00:17:48.96
so that they could then appear
before God without any shame
00:17:49.16\00:17:52.19
and without any guilt.
Notice Genesis chapter 3
00:17:52.40\00:17:55.63
and verse 21. Genesis
chapter 3 and verse 21.
00:17:55.83\00:17:59.95
It says:
00:18:00.15\00:18:01.18
Tunics of what? Skin.
00:18:11.28\00:18:13.60
Now... skin from what?
00:18:14.10\00:18:16.88
Certainly not from an onion.
00:18:17.38\00:18:19.64
This word is used
over 50 times in Leviticus
00:18:20.14\00:18:23.71
to describe the skin of
animals, sacrificial animals.
00:18:24.01\00:18:28.01
Now skins... plural.
How many people were there?
00:18:28.42\00:18:31.61
Two that needed
their nakedness covered.
00:18:31.82\00:18:34.66
So you have these skins.
00:18:34.96\00:18:36.63
What needed to happen in
order for God to get the skins?
00:18:36.83\00:18:39.69
The animals had to
what? The animals had to die.
00:18:40.00\00:18:44.85
And when those animals
died God took the skins
00:18:45.15\00:18:49.54
and He made garments
and He clothed the nakedness
00:18:49.75\00:18:53.83
of Adam and Eve.
00:18:54.14\00:18:55.33
Now did you notice
that in Genesis 2 God said
00:18:55.73\00:18:58.93
to Adam and Eve:
00:18:58.96\00:18:59.99
"The day that you
eat of the tree, that day
00:19:00.03\00:19:03.77
you will surely die? "
00:19:03.97\00:19:05.31
Well, Adam lived
until 930 years old.
00:19:05.61\00:19:09.08
He didn't die that very day.
00:19:09.28\00:19:10.58
You say: "Well, he
began to die spiritually. "
00:19:10.78\00:19:12.43
Yes... but he didn't
die in the fullest sense -
00:19:12.63\00:19:15.91
second death - on that day.
00:19:16.12\00:19:18.26
So how do we understand God
saying: "The day that you eat of
00:19:18.76\00:19:21.94
the tree that day
you will surely die? "
00:19:22.04\00:19:24.10
The fact is that that
very day there was a death.
00:19:24.40\00:19:26.62
It was the death of lambs,
and those lambs represented
00:19:26.92\00:19:32.44
what? Represented the
future death of Christ.
00:19:32.54\00:19:35.87
In other words, when those
00:19:36.07\00:19:37.72
animals were sacrificed on earth
00:19:37.82\00:19:40.46
it was an earthly announcement
00:19:40.76\00:19:43.30
that at that very moment
Jesus was presenting Himself
00:19:43.51\00:19:46.52
before His Father
in heaven and saying:
00:19:46.72\00:19:48.83
"Father, I will pay. "
00:19:49.03\00:19:52.18
In fact, allow me to read
you a very interesting statement
00:19:52.48\00:19:54.99
that's found in the book
The Faith I Live By page 75.
00:19:55.19\00:19:59.67
It's a devotional book
written by Ellen White.
00:19:59.80\00:20:01.68
And she says this... notice:
00:20:02.08\00:20:03.75
Isn't that a
beautiful statement?
00:20:48.33\00:20:50.07
Now we understand why Adam and
Eve did not die that very day.
00:20:50.37\00:20:53.70
Because a substitute was found.
00:20:53.90\00:20:55.68
You remember the story
that we studied about Abraham
00:20:55.78\00:20:58.17
and Isaac? The
sacrifice of Isaac
00:20:58.37\00:21:00.91
where a substitute was
found in place of Isaac?
00:21:01.21\00:21:04.77
Here you have the first
indication of substitution
00:21:04.97\00:21:08.52
already at the very
beginning of human history.
00:21:08.82\00:21:12.07
And so in Genesis chapter
3 we have the method that God
00:21:12.37\00:21:17.36
is going to use in
the process of judgment
00:21:17.56\00:21:21.11
all throughout the Bible.
00:21:21.31\00:21:23.07
Let's review what we've studied.
00:21:23.17\00:21:25.56
Was there a moral authority
here in the book of Genesis?
00:21:25.96\00:21:29.66
Yes, God... like the government
is the moral authority.
00:21:29.96\00:21:33.47
Did God have a moral code
or a law that he expected to be
00:21:34.27\00:21:38.48
obeyed? Just like
the government has a law.
00:21:38.58\00:21:40.84
Did God say what the penalty
would be if the law was broken?
00:21:41.04\00:21:44.30
Civil codes have a penalty
if certain crimes are committed.
00:21:44.61\00:21:48.49
Did Adam and Eve
commit the crime?
00:21:48.90\00:21:51.42
They most certainly did.
00:21:51.72\00:21:53.36
And when they
committed the crime
00:21:53.76\00:21:55.64
did they try to hide the crime?
00:21:55.67\00:21:57.56
Yes... by covering their naked-
ness and by hiding from God.
00:21:57.78\00:22:01.64
Now they're afraid to appear
before the great judgment seat
00:22:01.84\00:22:05.02
of God in their naked state
because they know that they're
00:22:05.12\00:22:09.28
guilty and God has said that
if they appear in that state
00:22:09.38\00:22:12.94
that day they are going to
what? They are going to die.
00:22:13.14\00:22:16.98
Let me ask you: are they
arraigned before God's judgment
00:22:17.39\00:22:20.78
seat? Just like in judgments
today we have arraignments.
00:22:20.88\00:22:23.86
Absolutely. God
says: "Where are you?
00:22:24.06\00:22:26.50
Come and appear
before My judgment seat. "
00:22:26.80\00:22:29.04
Absolutely. Is
there an examination
00:22:29.24\00:22:31.72
of the evidence in
Genesis chapter 3? Sure.
00:22:31.82\00:22:34.66
"Have you eaten from the tree
00:22:34.76\00:22:36.88
that I told you
not to eat from? "
00:22:36.98\00:22:38.73
God knew that they had eaten
00:22:38.93\00:22:40.70
but God wants them to
present the evidence in the case
00:22:40.80\00:22:45.85
before He actually pronounces
the sentence upon them.
00:22:45.95\00:22:50.76
Did they try to defend
themselves in the court of law?
00:22:51.06\00:22:53.94
Was it very successful?
00:22:54.25\00:22:56.05
It was actually very
foolish because there was really
00:22:56.35\00:22:59.15
no self defense
for what they had done.
00:22:59.25\00:23:02.22
Was there an accessory
that also received a sentence
00:23:03.17\00:23:06.82
that very same day? Absolutely.
00:23:07.02\00:23:09.44
Was there a pronouncing
of the sentence that very day
00:23:09.84\00:23:13.93
based on the
examination of the evidence?
00:23:14.13\00:23:16.11
The fact that they were
found guilty? Absolutely.
00:23:16.31\00:23:19.15
Was there on that very day
an execution of the sentence?
00:23:19.35\00:23:23.36
Absolutely... but the execution
was made upon the substitute
00:23:23.86\00:23:29.76
not upon Adam and Eve.
00:23:29.96\00:23:32.60
Several years ago I
was at Andrews University
00:23:32.80\00:23:35.72
speaking at the Spanish
church there in Berrien Springs.
00:23:35.93\00:23:38.33
And, of course, during the
day - I only preached at night
00:23:38.63\00:23:42.27
so during the day I went
to the James White Library
00:23:42.37\00:23:44.67
to do research on
the book of Genesis.
00:23:44.87\00:23:47.13
And it was really a
blessing to be in that library
00:23:47.43\00:23:50.21
for 9 hours a day among
the thousands - ten thousands -
00:23:50.41\00:23:54.62
of books on theology.
00:23:54.82\00:23:56.74
And of course I was examining
especially the first 3 chapters
00:23:56.94\00:24:01.48
of Genesis. And, you
know, as I read the different
00:24:01.58\00:24:05.52
commentaries I discovered that
the commentaries caught this
00:24:05.62\00:24:09.24
very point that
I'm sharing with you
00:24:09.34\00:24:11.30
in our lecture today, and
that is that in Genesis you have
00:24:11.50\00:24:14.64
the same basic idea of
jurisprudence that we have
00:24:14.74\00:24:17.34
in our American court system.
00:24:17.45\00:24:18.98
That is: you're innocent
until the evidence is examined
00:24:19.28\00:24:22.53
and you're found guilty. And
then the sentencing takes place
00:24:22.73\00:24:25.53
and then the
execution of the sentence.
00:24:25.73\00:24:27.69
There was only one element
missing in those commentaries.
00:24:27.89\00:24:31.03
They all had, yes,
the arraignment. In fact,
00:24:31.23\00:24:33.79
the subtitles many times
in those commentaries said
00:24:33.89\00:24:36.25
the arraignment. You know,
and other commentaries would
00:24:36.45\00:24:40.36
say the inquiry or the
examination of the evidence.
00:24:40.56\00:24:43.38
And they would
say the sentencing.
00:24:43.68\00:24:46.16
But there was one
point which every commentary
00:24:46.36\00:24:48.60
missed and that is the
execution of the sentence.
00:24:48.80\00:24:51.62
They didn't catch the
idea that that very day
00:24:51.92\00:24:54.60
the sentence of
death was executed.
00:24:54.80\00:24:57.63
It was executed
upon those two animals
00:24:57.93\00:25:01.92
that represented Jesus
who was going to come to die
00:25:02.12\00:25:05.59
for the human race. And
by the way, that's the reason
00:25:05.79\00:25:08.53
why in Revelation
chapter 13 and verse 8 we find
00:25:08.63\00:25:12.96
a description of the fact
that Jesus is the Lamb of God
00:25:13.16\00:25:17.67
slain from when?
He is "the Lamb of God
00:25:17.87\00:25:21.47
slain from the
foundation of the world"
00:25:21.67\00:25:24.71
it says there.
00:25:24.81\00:25:25.84
Now was Jesus actually
slain - empirically slain -
00:25:26.12\00:25:29.02
at the very
beginning? Of course not.
00:25:29.22\00:25:31.15
But the promise of
redemption was what?
00:25:31.45\00:25:34.88
The promise of
redemption was made.
00:25:35.08\00:25:37.19
Now do you know that in the
book of Genesis we have other
00:25:37.59\00:25:40.18
stories that
follow this same sequence?
00:25:40.28\00:25:42.06
Not in all of the
details that we've studied
00:25:42.26\00:25:44.30
but the three
main steps are there
00:25:44.50\00:25:46.63
which is first of all the
examination of the evidence,
00:25:46.93\00:25:50.24
second, the
pronunciation of the sentence,
00:25:50.54\00:25:53.70
and third, the
execution of the sentence.
00:25:54.01\00:25:56.60
Now let's notice a few other
stories in the book of Genesis
00:25:56.90\00:26:00.15
that have this concept
that before the sentencing
00:26:00.18\00:26:03.92
and before the
execution of the sentence
00:26:04.12\00:26:06.44
there is an
examination of the evidence.
00:26:06.64\00:26:08.71
This is very important
for when we get to the idea
00:26:08.81\00:26:12.14
of the judgment in
the book of Revelation.
00:26:12.25\00:26:14.23
Go with me to Genesis
chapter 4 and verses 9 and 10.
00:26:14.63\00:26:18.07
This is the
story of Cain and Abel.
00:26:18.37\00:26:20.45
Genesis chapter 4
and verses 9 and 10:
00:26:20.65\00:26:23.90
the story of Cain and Abel.
00:26:24.10\00:26:25.28
And I want you to notice
that the first thing we have
00:26:25.59\00:26:28.16
is an
examination of the evidence.
00:26:28.36\00:26:30.71
It says in verse 9:
00:26:30.91\00:26:32.47
"Then the Lord said to Cain:
'Where is Abel your brother? ' "
00:26:32.77\00:26:37.30
Did God know that Cain
had killed his brother Abel?
00:26:38.81\00:26:42.52
Yes. What is God giving
Cain an opportunity to do?
00:26:42.92\00:26:47.15
He's giving Cain an
opportunity of what?
00:26:47.55\00:26:50.35
Of admitting his
guilt. That's right.
00:26:51.59\00:26:54.35
But God doesn't say:
"You killed your brother,
00:26:54.65\00:26:56.27
didn't you? You
killed your brother. "
00:26:56.37\00:26:57.54
No... He doesn't
accept him as guilty
00:26:57.94\00:27:01.58
before the case is
examined and Cain himself admits
00:27:01.78\00:27:05.51
that he's committed the crime.
00:27:05.71\00:27:06.96
And then notice verse 10:
00:27:07.26\00:27:09.01
"And He said:
'What have you done?
00:27:09.21\00:27:12.21
The voice of your
brother's blood cries out to Me
00:27:12.41\00:27:17.00
from the ground. '
" Is the blood of Abel
00:27:17.20\00:27:20.09
crying out for justice here?
00:27:20.29\00:27:21.72
It most certainly is.
00:27:21.92\00:27:23.06
So the first point that you have
00:27:23.26\00:27:24.82
is an
examination of the evidence.
00:27:25.02\00:27:26.40
God is giving Cain
00:27:26.60\00:27:28.19
an opportunity of
expressing his guilt.
00:27:28.39\00:27:31.37
The second step
is the sentencing.
00:27:31.57\00:27:34.44
Did God then sentence Cain?
00:27:34.64\00:27:36.82
Yes. Notice verse 11.
00:27:37.02\00:27:38.85
Verse 11... it says:
00:27:39.15\00:27:41.43
"So you are... "
What? "cursed from the earth
00:27:41.83\00:27:45.82
which has opened its mouth
to receive your brother's blood
00:27:46.02\00:27:49.26
from your hand. ' "
And then God pronounces
00:27:49.46\00:27:51.05
a series of judgments upon Cain.
00:27:51.15\00:27:54.18
And then let me ask
you: does Cain actually
00:27:54.48\00:27:57.52
flee from there and become
errant like God said he was
00:27:57.72\00:28:01.85
going to? Absolutely.
00:28:01.95\00:28:03.81
Notice Genesis
chapter 4 and verse 16.
00:28:04.01\00:28:06.83
Genesis 4:16 says:
"Then Cain went out from the
00:28:07.13\00:28:11.03
presence of the Lord
and dwelt in the land of Nod
00:28:11.13\00:28:14.65
in the east of Eden. "
00:28:14.68\00:28:16.81
And so once again you
have the idea of the inquiry.
00:28:17.21\00:28:20.41
"Where is Abel your brother? "
00:28:20.61\00:28:22.17
"Have you done something
to Abel your brother? "
00:28:22.47\00:28:25.02
And then God says: "This is
going to be your sentence. "
00:28:25.32\00:28:27.85
And then Cain
actually has to leave.
00:28:28.15\00:28:30.45
The sentence is
executed upon Cain.
00:28:30.65\00:28:33.61
Do you see the three steps?
00:28:33.71\00:28:34.93
Now let's notice another
story, the story of the flood.
00:28:35.33\00:28:38.83
Go with me to Genesis
chapter 6. And by the way,
00:28:39.13\00:28:42.06
I'm trying to make a
very important point here
00:28:42.26\00:28:44.29
as we examine the
concept of judgment in Genesis
00:28:44.49\00:28:46.92
because this is the process
that God is also going to follow
00:28:47.22\00:28:49.99
in the book of Revelation.
00:28:50.19\00:28:51.39
In fact, we are going
to discover that we are NOW
00:28:51.79\00:28:54.29
in the hour of God's judgment.
00:28:54.49\00:28:56.24
Notice Genesis chapter
6 and verse 3. It says:
00:28:56.44\00:29:01.28
Now that little word
"strive" is very interesting.
00:29:14.95\00:29:18.18
"My Spirit shall not strive. "
00:29:18.48\00:29:21.70
It's the Hebrew word diyn.
00:29:22.00\00:29:24.26
You say: "Why is that
such an important word? "
00:29:24.46\00:29:26.47
Because in most places
where it is translated in the
00:29:26.77\00:29:30.60
Old Testament it is
translated judgment.
00:29:30.70\00:29:34.64
It's not translated strive.
00:29:34.94\00:29:37.68
In most references
in the Old Testament
00:29:37.98\00:29:41.00
it's translated
judgment. Let me ask you:
00:29:41.20\00:29:43.43
was the message of Noah
separating the human race
00:29:43.63\00:29:47.65
into two groups?
Based on his preaching,
00:29:47.85\00:29:52.01
were people making decisions
either for or against the Lord?
00:29:52.21\00:29:55.75
Absolutely! And so
the preaching of Noah
00:29:55.95\00:29:59.25
was a preaching of judgment
00:29:59.45\00:30:01.78
where people chose to be
on one side or the other.
00:30:02.08\00:30:05.09
In other words, first of all
you have the taking of sides.
00:30:05.39\00:30:09.19
And then let me
ask you: what happened
00:30:09.59\00:30:12.17
as soon as everybody
had made their decision?
00:30:12.37\00:30:15.15
Noah preached his last words...
00:30:15.45\00:30:18.06
what did God do?
He came and He what?
00:30:18.36\00:30:21.43
He shut the door of the ark.
00:30:21.73\00:30:25.47
Let me ask you: is
that the close of probation?
00:30:27.73\00:30:30.84
Yes. Has the sentence
been pronounced at that point
00:30:32.08\00:30:36.37
against the wicked and in
favor of the righteous? Yes!
00:30:36.57\00:30:40.81
But is the sentence
executed that very moment?
00:30:41.11\00:30:44.40
Is the execution of the sentence
the moment that the door closes?
00:30:45.59\00:30:49.96
Absolutely not.
Seven days go by,
00:30:50.26\00:30:53.74
and then what
happens? The sentence is what?
00:30:53.94\00:30:57.23
Is executed. Do you see
once again in Genesis chapter 6
00:30:57.43\00:31:01.90
these three
steps of the judgment?
00:31:02.10\00:31:04.62
You have an
investigation of the case.
00:31:04.82\00:31:06.74
The preaching that separates
individuals into one group
00:31:06.94\00:31:11.18
or the other. Then
you have the pronunciation
00:31:11.28\00:31:13.84
of the sentence which is indica-
ted by the closing of the door.
00:31:13.94\00:31:16.87
The righteous
will be righteous still
00:31:17.07\00:31:19.17
and the wicked
will be wicked still.
00:31:19.37\00:31:21.20
And then seven days
later you have what?
00:31:21.40\00:31:24.02
You have the
execution of the judgment.
00:31:24.22\00:31:26.53
The same three steps.
00:31:26.83\00:31:29.28
Now let's go to another story.
00:31:29.49\00:31:30.77
Genesis chapter 11
verses 5 through 9.
00:31:30.97\00:31:33.03
I wish we had time to
study other stories in Genesis
00:31:33.23\00:31:35.92
because this characteristic
appears time and again.
00:31:36.12\00:31:39.44
Notice Genesis chapter
11 and verses 5 through 9.
00:31:39.74\00:31:45.16
This is the story
of the Tower of Babel.
00:31:45.87\00:31:48.45
And it says in verse
5... very interesting:
00:31:48.95\00:31:52.91
What did God do?
00:32:04.34\00:32:05.95
He came down to what?
00:32:07.13\00:32:09.78
To see the city
that they had built.
00:32:10.28\00:32:13.06
What is God actually doing here?
00:32:13.16\00:32:14.67
Actually God is investigating
and inquiring to see whether
00:32:15.92\00:32:19.34
they have gone what?
Whether they have gone too far.
00:32:19.37\00:32:23.06
Then what does God do? By
the way, does God literally
00:32:24.85\00:32:27.21
have to come down in person
and say: "I'm going to check
00:32:27.42\00:32:28.99
this out. " No, God
is actually telling us
00:32:29.09\00:32:31.65
the way in which He
operates for our good.
00:32:31.85\00:32:34.61
Not for His good...
He knows everything.
00:32:35.58\00:32:37.45
But He wants to show that
He never pronounces sentence
00:32:37.75\00:32:40.10
and never executes a
sentence without our choice.
00:32:40.30\00:32:44.15
He's telling us that He
examines things thoroughly
00:32:45.10\00:32:48.18
before He sentences and
before He executes a sentence.
00:32:48.48\00:32:52.19
Now let's continue reading.
00:32:52.49\00:32:54.10
We stopped at verse
5. It says in verse 6:
00:32:54.30\00:32:57.50
So is God
pronouncing a sentence here?
00:33:12.81\00:33:15.04
In fact, notice verse 7:
00:33:15.34\00:33:16.56
Where is this
decision being made?
00:33:23.81\00:33:25.67
Where is this judgment...
the decision of this judgment
00:33:26.76\00:33:30.14
being made? Is
it being made before
00:33:30.24\00:33:33.29
the languages
are actually confused
00:33:33.43\00:33:35.66
and before the tower comes down?
00:33:35.87\00:33:38.56
Absolutely. God... He
comes down and He sees.
00:33:38.86\00:33:41.48
And then in the
heavenly council He says:
00:33:41.79\00:33:44.90
"You know, let's go
confuse their language
00:33:45.11\00:33:47.13
so they can't understand
one another's speech. "
00:33:47.34\00:33:49.89
And then what does
God do? Does God actually
00:33:50.09\00:33:52.47
come down and confuse
their languages and execute
00:33:52.67\00:33:55.96
the sentence which He
has determined? Absolutely.
00:33:56.16\00:33:59.20
In fact, let's notice that.
00:33:59.50\00:34:01.18
Once again let's
read verse 7. It says:
00:34:01.48\00:34:03.64
"Come, let Us go down and there
confuse their language... "
00:34:03.84\00:34:08.40
Once again the same idea.
00:34:24.69\00:34:26.63
God sees, God sentences,
00:34:26.83\00:34:30.51
and God executes the sentence.
00:34:30.61\00:34:33.55
Now let's go to one more
example in the book of Genesis
00:34:33.75\00:34:36.76
before we actually go
to the book of Revelation.
00:34:36.96\00:34:39.49
Let's go to Genesis
chapter 18 and verses 20 and 21.
00:34:39.79\00:34:45.23
Genesis 18 and verses 20 and 21.
00:34:45.53\00:34:48.63
This is before the destruction
of Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:34:48.83\00:34:52.16
It says here in verse 20:
00:34:52.56\00:34:54.72
Now isn't that
a strange concept?
00:35:17.30\00:35:19.93
God saying "I'm going to go
down; I'm going to check things
00:35:20.23\00:35:22.70
out. " And basically
He's saying: "I'm going to see
00:35:22.80\00:35:25.74
if they've gone beyond
the point of no return. "
00:35:25.95\00:35:29.14
Is God investigating this...
00:35:30.34\00:35:32.07
these cities before they're
00:35:32.17\00:35:33.49
actually destroyed?
00:35:33.59\00:35:34.80
He absolutely is investigating
00:35:35.00\00:35:36.72
them. But then let me ask you:
00:35:36.82\00:35:38.88
were the inhabitants of the
city divided into two groups
00:35:39.76\00:35:44.12
before the destruction?
00:35:44.32\00:35:45.84
And was there a closing of
the door before the sentence
00:35:46.14\00:35:50.19
was executed? Absolutely!
00:35:50.29\00:35:52.92
Do you remember when
the wicked men of Sodom
00:35:53.12\00:35:55.44
gathered around Lot's house
and they wanted to do violence
00:35:55.64\00:35:58.76
to the two angels that
were inside Lot's house?
00:35:58.96\00:36:01.40
That the angel
pulled Lot inside?
00:36:01.61\00:36:05.12
And what did he
do? He shut the door.
00:36:05.32\00:36:08.43
Let me tell you:
when the door is shut
00:36:08.63\00:36:10.31
the righteous and the wicked
were separated or divided.
00:36:10.51\00:36:14.24
The righteous could
no longer become wicked
00:36:14.64\00:36:16.98
and the wicked could no
longer become righteous.
00:36:17.18\00:36:19.98
In other words,
the closing of the door
00:36:20.64\00:36:23.08
marked the moment of
the close of probation.
00:36:23.38\00:36:26.16
The sentence was
sure at that point.
00:36:26.19\00:36:28.79
But... was the sentence
executed at that moment?
00:36:29.09\00:36:32.85
Absolutely not.
00:36:33.26\00:36:35.16
Now go with me to Genesis
chapter 18 and verses 23-25.
00:36:35.46\00:36:39.90
Here's where things
really get interesting.
00:36:40.10\00:36:42.15
Genesis chapter 18
and verses 23 to 25.
00:36:42.65\00:36:47.78
This is the conversation
of Abraham with the Lord,
00:36:47.98\00:36:51.19
with God. It says
there in verse 23:
00:36:51.39\00:36:54.27
"And Abraham came near and said:
00:36:54.67\00:36:57.62
'Would You also destroy the
righteous with the wicked? ' "
00:36:57.92\00:37:01.70
What is Abraham's concern?
00:37:02.70\00:37:04.82
Are You going to
destroy the righteous
00:37:05.12\00:37:07.03
and the wicked together?
00:37:07.14\00:37:08.52
In other words, aren't
You going to make a separation
00:37:08.72\00:37:10.73
between the righteous and
the wicked before You actually
00:37:10.76\00:37:13.60
destroy? Notice verse 24:
00:37:13.80\00:37:16.00
"Suppose there were 50
righteous within the city.
00:37:16.30\00:37:20.93
Would You also destroy the place
00:37:21.13\00:37:24.41
and not spare it for the 50
righteous that were in it? "
00:37:24.71\00:37:30.14
And now notice verse
25... very important verse:
00:37:31.32\00:37:33.86
"Far be it from You to
do such a thing as this:
00:37:34.16\00:37:38.22
to slay the righteous with
the wicked so that the righteous
00:37:38.46\00:37:43.36
should be as the wicked.
00:37:43.56\00:37:45.60
Far be it from You. Shall
not the Judge of all the earth
00:37:45.91\00:37:51.27
do right? " Is
there a separation
00:37:51.47\00:37:54.95
of the righteous from the wicked
00:37:55.15\00:37:57.32
before these cities
are destroyed? Absolutely.
00:37:57.52\00:38:00.83
Are both groups established
before the sentence is executed?
00:38:01.13\00:38:05.20
Absolutely. Does the door close
before the sentence is executed?
00:38:05.50\00:38:09.84
Absolutely. And so
in the book of Genesis
00:38:10.04\00:38:13.23
time and again we find this idea
00:38:13.43\00:38:16.98
of an
examination of the evidence,
00:38:17.18\00:38:19.55
the pronouncing of the sentence,
00:38:19.85\00:38:22.09
and eventually the
execution of the sentence.
00:38:22.39\00:38:26.54
Now it's interesting
that we find the same concept
00:38:26.94\00:38:29.88
in the book of Revelation
00:38:29.98\00:38:31.02
with concern of
the final judgment
00:38:31.32\00:38:35.12
that is taking place in this
world and that will take place.
00:38:35.32\00:38:38.06
Now allow me to say that
in the book of Revelation
00:38:38.36\00:38:40.80
you have three
stages to the judgment.
00:38:41.00\00:38:44.61
You have first of all
the stage where the righteous
00:38:45.53\00:38:49.23
are judged. The second stage
- and we're going to study these
00:38:49.43\00:38:53.66
so don't worry... I'm
just giving you the concept -
00:38:53.86\00:38:56.13
the second stage is
the millennial stage
00:38:56.34\00:38:59.41
where the wicked are
going to be investigated.
00:38:59.71\00:39:02.43
And then there's a third stage
which is the post-millennial -
00:39:02.73\00:39:06.21
in other words,
after the millennium.
00:39:06.41\00:39:07.81
The wicked are going to be
alive and they are going to
00:39:08.55\00:39:12.24
see their cases
presented before them
00:39:12.44\00:39:15.70
on the basis of the
records that God has kept.
00:39:15.90\00:39:18.21
Now let's talk first
of all about the judgment
00:39:18.61\00:39:21.54
of the righteous.
00:39:21.74\00:39:24.11
Go with me to Revelation
chapter 14 and verses 6 and 7.
00:39:24.41\00:39:28.97
Revelation chapter
14 and verses 6 and 7.
00:39:29.28\00:39:33.78
There are several important
elements in these two verses.
00:39:33.98\00:39:38.20
It says there in Revelation
chapter 14 and verse 6:
00:39:38.60\00:39:42.50
At this point is the
door of probation still open?
00:39:55.37\00:39:59.05
Is the door of mercy still open?
00:40:00.02\00:40:01.49
It has to be. You say: "Why? "
00:40:01.80\00:40:03.86
Well, what good would it
be to preach to every nation,
00:40:04.06\00:40:06.60
kindred, tongue, and people if
the door of probation is closed?
00:40:06.80\00:40:08.85
I mean, the
preaching would be fruitless.
00:40:09.05\00:40:12.01
There would be no reason
to preach if all cases were
00:40:12.21\00:40:14.17
already decided. So when
this angel preaches this message
00:40:14.27\00:40:18.29
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people
00:40:18.49\00:40:20.32
the door of
probation is what? Is open.
00:40:20.52\00:40:23.27
And based on the message, people
are supposed to make what?
00:40:23.47\00:40:27.01
Decisions...
either for or against.
00:40:28.01\00:40:30.99
Now notice verse 7... verse 7:
00:40:31.29\00:40:33.70
Notice what this angel says:
00:40:34.69\00:40:36.67
Question: does the
judgment - this judgment -
00:41:00.43\00:41:04.32
begin before Jesus comes?
00:41:04.42\00:41:06.19
Yes it does.
00:41:07.29\00:41:08.89
Does it begin
before probation closes?
00:41:09.10\00:41:14.66
Absolutely. How do we know that?
00:41:15.56\00:41:18.10
Because it begins when
this angel is preaching...
00:41:18.50\00:41:21.43
the first angel. And by the way,
00:41:21.73\00:41:23.85
after the first angel there's
a second angel's message.
00:41:24.05\00:41:26.87
And after the second
angel's message there's a third,
00:41:27.07\00:41:29.35
and THEN probation closes.
00:41:29.55\00:41:31.51
So does the judgment begin
before the close of probation
00:41:31.91\00:41:35.86
and before Jesus
comes? Absolutely!
00:41:36.06\00:41:38.68
Now who is going to be
judged in this judgment?
00:41:38.88\00:41:42.24
"The hour of His
judgment has come. "
00:41:42.44\00:41:44.95
Folks, it's only the
righteous who are being judged.
00:41:45.81\00:41:49.21
And by the way, where is
this judgment taking place?
00:41:50.07\00:41:53.69
It must be taking
place where? In heaven.
00:41:54.92\00:41:58.55
It's not taking place on earth.
00:41:59.45\00:42:00.99
God is judging His people where?
00:42:01.40\00:42:04.99
He's judging His people
in heaven... not on earth.
00:42:05.29\00:42:09.40
And so we find that when the
1st angel proclaims his message
00:42:09.64\00:42:12.93
the hour of
God's judgment begins.
00:42:13.13\00:42:17.13
You say: "Why would God
have to judge the righteous
00:42:17.43\00:42:19.92
before Jesus comes? Before
the door of probation closes? "
00:42:20.13\00:42:23.22
It's very simple.
00:42:23.52\00:42:24.72
You see, God has to determine
or has to announce to the
00:42:24.92\00:42:28.88
universe which people He has
a right to bring home with Him.
00:42:28.98\00:42:32.76
And that's why He needs to
investigate the cases of the
00:42:33.51\00:42:36.76
righteous. Because those are
the ones that He's going to take
00:42:36.86\00:42:39.92
with Him when He comes.
00:42:40.12\00:42:41.40
And so those have to
be determined urgently
00:42:42.24\00:42:44.67
before He comes. With
the wicked there's no problem
00:42:44.77\00:42:47.11
because the wicked are
going to be left behind.
00:42:47.41\00:42:49.47
The wicked are going
to actually be destroyed
00:42:49.87\00:42:52.01
after the millennium. So
there's no urgency with the
00:42:52.11\00:42:54.56
wicked to judge them at
this point in human history.
00:42:54.66\00:42:57.64
The urgency is to judge
them before Jesus comes...
00:42:57.84\00:43:02.02
the righteous before He comes...
because those are the ones that
00:43:02.22\00:43:05.00
He's going to show that He
has a right to take to heaven
00:43:05.20\00:43:07.64
with Him when He
comes. Are you understanding
00:43:07.74\00:43:09.55
what I'm saying?
And so we find here
00:43:09.65\00:43:11.82
"the hour of His
judgment has come. "
00:43:11.92\00:43:14.65
It takes place in
heaven before the second coming
00:43:14.85\00:43:18.07
and it deals with the righteous.
00:43:18.27\00:43:20.31
You remember Abraham
pleading for the righteous?
00:43:20.51\00:43:22.76
"Are You going to destroy
the righteous with the wicked? "
00:43:22.96\00:43:25.30
He's concerned about the
survival of the righteous
00:43:25.50\00:43:28.10
and he's interceding
before God for the righteous.
00:43:28.30\00:43:31.41
"Are you going to destroy
00:43:31.71\00:43:32.78
the righteous with the wicked? "
00:43:32.88\00:43:34.35
God said: "Don't worry.
00:43:34.45\00:43:35.68
I'm going to be just.
00:43:35.88\00:43:36.91
I'm going to separate
00:43:37.10\00:43:38.39
the righteous from the wicked
00:43:38.49\00:43:39.58
and then I will destroy
the cities of the plains. "
00:43:39.68\00:43:42.85
Now somebody's
probably thinking: "Pastor Bohr,
00:43:43.15\00:43:45.39
this is kind of a
fearful situation...
00:43:45.59\00:43:50.54
you know, the idea that
all of us are going to have to
00:43:50.84\00:43:52.41
pass through the judgment. "
00:43:52.51\00:43:54.07
Let me ask you: must
we fear the judgment?
00:43:54.37\00:43:57.21
Must we be afraid of passing
through the judgment before
00:43:57.41\00:43:59.71
Jesus Christ?
Well, it all depends.
00:43:59.81\00:44:02.06
You see: "It depends on what? "
00:44:03.27\00:44:05.20
Well, let me talk to
you for a moment about the
00:44:05.40\00:44:07.48
Hebrew sanctuary. You
know when an individual
00:44:07.57\00:44:09.58
committed a sin
in the encampment
00:44:09.76\00:44:11.30
they were supposed to bring
00:44:11.40\00:44:13.27
a lamb. You can find this,
for example, in Leviticus 4.
00:44:13.42\00:44:16.53
They brought a lamb.
And then what did they do?
00:44:16.73\00:44:19.60
You would understand
that they were repentant
00:44:19.80\00:44:21.79
because they're
bringing this animal.
00:44:21.99\00:44:23.50
And then they were supposed
to place their hand on the
00:44:23.70\00:44:25.54
head of the animal and what?
00:44:25.64\00:44:27.09
And confess the sin
upon the head of that animal.
00:44:27.29\00:44:30.56
In other words, they repented,
they confessed their sin.
00:44:30.86\00:44:34.26
and then what did they do?
00:44:34.46\00:44:36.15
They slew the animal
00:44:36.35\00:44:38.27
representing the fact
that they were repentant.
00:44:38.77\00:44:41.94
They confessed their sin,
00:44:42.24\00:44:43.45
and in this way sin was
being transferred to the animal
00:44:43.85\00:44:46.52
and the animal
died in their place.
00:44:46.72\00:44:48.81
This, by the way, represented
what happens with sinners.
00:44:49.11\00:44:51.96
You know: we repent of
our sin; we confess our sin.
00:44:52.26\00:44:55.48
We place our sin
upon Jesus Christ
00:44:55.68\00:44:57.92
and Jesus
Christ takes our place.
00:44:58.12\00:45:00.17
But there's something else.
00:45:01.01\00:45:02.66
The blood which
bore the record of sin
00:45:02.96\00:45:05.41
was then taken into the
sanctuary and was sprinkled
00:45:05.61\00:45:08.16
in the sanctuary.
Which means that the sin was
00:45:08.27\00:45:10.29
actually being transferred
from the sinner to the victim
00:45:10.39\00:45:13.88
to the sanctuary. The record
of the sin was in the sanctuary.
00:45:14.08\00:45:18.14
You say: "Well
that's not a good thing
00:45:18.34\00:45:20.10
'cause the Israelites...
they were threatened by having
00:45:20.30\00:45:22.78
their sin written
in the sanctuary. "
00:45:22.88\00:45:24.90
Not really. You know
what they had to fear?
00:45:25.65\00:45:28.09
They had to fear that their
sin wasn't in there covered by
00:45:28.29\00:45:30.64
the blood. That's
where they had to be afraid.
00:45:30.75\00:45:33.18
Because if the sin was on
them and had not gone into the
00:45:33.59\00:45:37.20
sanctuary through
the blood of the animal
00:45:37.31\00:45:39.26
they would have to
suffer the penalty for the sin
00:45:40.49\00:45:42.82
if they didn't bring
the animal and sacrifice it
00:45:43.02\00:45:44.81
and if the sin was not
transferred into the sanctuary
00:45:44.91\00:45:47.77
by the blood. In
other words, the greatest
00:45:47.87\00:45:50.18
assurance for the sinner in
Israel was to have their sin
00:45:50.28\00:45:54.24
in the sanctuary covered
by the blood of the lamb.
00:45:54.44\00:45:57.40
If it wasn't in
there, it was here.
00:45:57.71\00:46:00.80
And so they didn't have to fear
because on the day of judgment -
00:46:01.66\00:46:04.98
the great Day of Atonement
- you know God wasn't out to
00:46:05.18\00:46:07.70
get the Israelites.
What God was out to do was
00:46:07.80\00:46:11.34
to open the books... By
the way, that's what the veil
00:46:11.54\00:46:14.41
represents where the blood was
sprinkled, the transfer of sin,
00:46:14.51\00:46:17.51
you know, goes
into the heavenly books.
00:46:17.71\00:46:19.34
Every time we sin, when we
repent, when we confess our
00:46:19.54\00:46:22.13
sin, you know God writes it
down but He writes next to it
00:46:22.33\00:46:25.43
"forgiven through
the blood of Jesus. "
00:46:25.63\00:46:27.70
And so when those sins
come up in the judgment
00:46:28.10\00:46:30.86
you know, God... I
hate to say this but
00:46:30.96\00:46:34.26
God rubs it in Satan's face.
00:46:34.46\00:46:36.43
He says: "Yes, I realize
that so and so sinned, but
00:46:36.63\00:46:40.72
look. I want to show you
here that that sin was actually
00:46:40.93\00:46:44.53
covered by the blood. "
00:46:44.73\00:46:46.36
In other words, the Day
of Atonement had the purpose
00:46:47.52\00:46:50.62
of pronouncing
God's people not guilty
00:46:50.82\00:46:54.30
because they had repented of
sin. They had confessed their
00:46:54.60\00:46:57.75
sin and they had put
the sin in the sanctuary
00:46:57.85\00:47:00.38
through the blood of the lamb...
through the blood of Jesus.
00:47:00.59\00:47:02.88
In other words, we don't
have to fear the judgment
00:47:03.28\00:47:04.98
as long as we've
repented from sin.
00:47:05.18\00:47:07.48
As long as we confessed our sin
00:47:07.78\00:47:09.59
and our sin has gone into
the sanctuary through the blood
00:47:09.79\00:47:12.65
of Jesus and is covered
there even if it's recorded.
00:47:12.75\00:47:15.70
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:47:16.10\00:47:17.80
You know, it kind of
reminds me a little bit of
00:47:18.10\00:47:19.85
several years ago
when I lived in New Jersey.
00:47:21.07\00:47:23.25
You know, Pastor Finn lived...
he's actually from across the
00:47:25.41\00:47:28.45
river from Brooklyn.
But I used to take the train
00:47:28.55\00:47:32.64
from Trenton, New
Jersey, up to New York
00:47:32.84\00:47:35.15
'cause I didn't like to drive.
00:47:35.35\00:47:36.94
You know, the traffic in
New York City is terrible.
00:47:37.24\00:47:39.80
You had gridlock
all the time and so
00:47:40.00\00:47:41.93
I would take the train.
And interesting, you know,
00:47:42.13\00:47:45.02
when you took the
train. You'd buy the ticket;
00:47:45.22\00:47:46.73
you'd get into the train.
And in the back of the seat
00:47:46.93\00:47:49.25
they had this little pocket.
And you would take the ticket
00:47:49.45\00:47:52.60
that you had brought and
you would put it in the pocket
00:47:52.70\00:47:54.63
and then the train attendant
would come and he would take
00:47:54.83\00:47:58.55
out the ticket
and he would punch it
00:47:58.75\00:48:00.37
to show that it was used.
00:48:00.67\00:48:02.90
Now when I got on the
train and I purchased my ticket
00:48:03.20\00:48:07.06
do you think that when I saw the
attendant coming down the aisle
00:48:07.46\00:48:11.60
of that train car that I was
saying: "Oh no, he's coming down
00:48:11.80\00:48:15.25
the train car. Oh, I'm
so afraid he's going to
00:48:15.35\00:48:18.93
examine to see whether
I have a ticket or not. "
00:48:19.03\00:48:21.86
Do you think I was
worrying and fretting about it?
00:48:22.16\00:48:24.28
No... because I have a ticket.
00:48:24.48\00:48:26.21
You see, we don't have to worry
about God examining our case
00:48:27.30\00:48:31.02
as long as we have a ticket.
00:48:31.32\00:48:34.11
Now if somebody
sneaks into the train
00:48:34.89\00:48:37.30
and doesn't have a ticket
00:48:37.60\00:48:39.36
there's where
you have a problem.
00:48:39.57\00:48:41.72
By the way, Jesus told a parable
of an individual who snuck in
00:48:42.02\00:48:44.98
without the wedding garment.
00:48:46.06\00:48:48.31
And he had reason to fear.
00:48:48.61\00:48:50.66
But those who have their
sins go into the sanctuary
00:48:50.87\00:48:53.42
through the blood of Jesus
have absolutely nothing to fear
00:48:53.62\00:48:57.46
as long as you've repented from
sin, you've confessed your sin
00:48:57.77\00:49:01.16
and the sin has gone into
the sanctuary through the blood
00:49:01.37\00:49:03.99
of Jesus Christ. So the
judgment that takes place
00:49:04.19\00:49:06.85
in heaven of the
righteous is with the purpose of
00:49:07.05\00:49:10.18
God showing to the universe
"I have a right to bring these
00:49:10.38\00:49:13.26
people home because
they're repented from sin.
00:49:13.36\00:49:16.06
They've confessed their sins and
therefore they're My children.
00:49:16.26\00:49:19.58
I can bring them home. "
00:49:19.78\00:49:21.30
And when Jesus comes
He comes to pick them up.
00:49:22.34\00:49:24.82
Let's go to our second stage
00:49:24.92\00:49:27.24
of this judgment before
the second coming of Christ.
00:49:27.74\00:49:30.25
What's going to happen
after everybody has made their
00:49:30.55\00:49:34.42
decision? Is the
door of probation
00:49:34.52\00:49:36.65
going to close for the world?
00:49:36.75\00:49:38.38
It most certainly is.
00:49:39.22\00:49:40.61
Go with me to
Revelation chapter 22.
00:49:41.01\00:49:43.58
Revelation chapter 22
and let's read verse 11.
00:49:43.88\00:49:47.68
This is the conclusion
of the judgment. Notice:
00:49:47.91\00:49:49.86
God has examined the cases.
00:49:50.06\00:49:51.50
"The hour of His
judgment has come. "
00:49:51.60\00:49:53.10
He's examining all the
cases of those who claim Jesus
00:49:53.50\00:49:56.67
to see whether they
were truly repentant
00:49:56.77\00:49:58.55
and whether they
confessed their sins.
00:49:59.57\00:50:01.35
Whether there was
real sorrow for sin.
00:50:01.55\00:50:03.16
When He finishes this
work notice what happens.
00:50:03.36\00:50:06.45
A sentence is pronounced.
00:50:06.75\00:50:08.94
Revelation 22 and verse 11 says:
00:50:09.24\00:50:11.99
Is God pronouncing here
that all cases are decided
00:50:26.71\00:50:30.80
for life or for death
00:50:31.00\00:50:32.48
as soon as the angels
have proclaimed their messages?
00:50:32.68\00:50:35.55
Absolutely.
00:50:35.85\00:50:37.02
And then what is
Jesus going to do?
00:50:37.32\00:50:38.58
Is He going to reward His
people after this pronouncement?
00:50:38.78\00:50:42.20
You have the third stage
which is actually the execution
00:50:42.50\00:50:45.32
of the sentence. By the way,
the execution of the sentence
00:50:45.42\00:50:47.93
is to give His
people their reward.
00:50:48.14\00:50:50.06
Because a judgment
execution is not only negative
00:50:50.46\00:50:53.96
but it is also what? Positive!
00:50:54.16\00:50:56.52
Notice Revelation 22:12.
00:50:56.82\00:50:58.84
Here you have the actual reward
00:50:59.04\00:51:01.03
or the
execution of the judgment.
00:51:01.13\00:51:03.01
And so it says in Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 12
00:51:03.21\00:51:06.43
immediately after the
sentence is pronounced...
00:51:06.46\00:51:09.08
it says:
00:51:09.18\00:51:10.21
If Jesus is going to
come to reward everyone
00:51:21.45\00:51:23.79
according to his
work, must He have examined
00:51:23.89\00:51:25.97
what that work
was before He came?
00:51:26.07\00:51:28.40
Are we on the same wavelength?
00:51:29.68\00:51:31.89
I certainly hope so.
00:51:32.29\00:51:33.79
You see, He cannot
bring His reward with Him
00:51:34.09\00:51:36.14
to give everyone
according to their work
00:51:36.34\00:51:38.07
unless He has examined their
cases in the judgment before.
00:51:38.27\00:51:41.65
So do we have the three stages
00:51:42.05\00:51:44.33
of the judgment
00:51:44.53\00:51:45.89
in Revelation chapter 14
00:51:46.09\00:51:48.66
and Revelation chapter 22?
00:51:48.86\00:51:50.28
We most certainly do.
00:51:50.58\00:51:51.66
Do we have an
investigation of the case?
00:51:51.87\00:51:53.46
Absolutely. Through
the preaching of the gospel
00:51:53.76\00:51:55.85
God is separating
one group from another.
00:51:56.25\00:51:58.19
Do you have the
pronouncing of the sentence
00:51:58.60\00:52:01.25
when the door of
probation closes? Absolutely.
00:52:02.16\00:52:05.27
And do you have the
execution in favor of the saints
00:52:05.57\00:52:08.51
of the Most High when
Jesus comes with His reward?
00:52:08.71\00:52:11.33
Absolutely.
00:52:11.63\00:52:12.76
And so you have in Revelation
the same idea that you have
00:52:12.96\00:52:16.21
in the book of Genesis:
investigation, sentence,
00:52:16.41\00:52:20.40
and execution of the sentence.
00:52:20.60\00:52:22.84
In the case of the second
coming it's an execution of the
00:52:23.14\00:52:26.03
sentence in favor of
the saints of the Most High.
00:52:26.13\00:52:28.94
But I want you to notice
that there are two other stages
00:52:29.99\00:52:32.04
to the judgment.
There's a millennial stage
00:52:32.24\00:52:36.04
and there is also a
post-millennial stage.
00:52:36.34\00:52:39.27
Now if the judgment before the
2nd coming is for the righteous
00:52:39.57\00:52:42.67
the judgment during the
millennium must involve whom?
00:52:43.90\00:52:46.95
It must involve the wicked.
00:52:47.35\00:52:50.28
Now I'm just going to
mention these verses because
00:52:50.58\00:52:53.73
time is short, but when
Jesus comes according to
00:52:53.83\00:52:56.46
I Thessalonians chapter 4
00:52:56.56\00:52:58.07
Jesus is going to come
all the way down to the earth
00:52:59.42\00:53:01.48
and set up His
kingdom here, right?
00:53:01.58\00:53:03.16
No. I Thessalonians 4
says that He will come
00:53:04.24\00:53:08.60
and God's people will be
what? Caught up in the clouds
00:53:08.80\00:53:12.63
to meet the Lord
where? In the air.
00:53:12.83\00:53:15.03
And then John
chapter 14 verses 1 to 3 says
00:53:15.23\00:53:18.64
that God's people will be
taken to "My Father's house"
00:53:18.94\00:53:24.88
Jesus said. Where
is the Father's house?
00:53:25.08\00:53:27.04
In heaven. "Our Father
which art in heaven... "
00:53:27.34\00:53:30.28
And so Jesus comes.
We're caught up in the air
00:53:30.58\00:53:32.96
and then Jesus
takes the righteous where?
00:53:33.16\00:53:36.05
To His Father's house.
00:53:36.25\00:53:37.98
And what are the righteous
going to do up there in
00:53:39.06\00:53:40.68
the Father's house? Well, it's
going to be a working vacation.
00:53:40.78\00:53:45.17
You say: "How's
that? A working vacation? "
00:53:46.17\00:53:48.20
Well actually Revelation 20:4
00:53:49.10\00:53:51.71
says that the
righteous were given
00:53:52.11\00:53:57.21
the right to what? To judge.
00:53:57.41\00:54:00.68
So what is
committed to God's people
00:54:07.72\00:54:10.79
who are in heaven
at the Father's house?
00:54:10.99\00:54:12.96
Judgment is committed to them.
00:54:13.26\00:54:15.44
Question is: what
are they going to judge?
00:54:15.74\00:54:18.46
Not the righteous
'cause the righteous are there.
00:54:19.39\00:54:21.31
It must be that they're
going to judge the wicked.
00:54:22.36\00:54:25.51
And by the way, the
devil and his angels.
00:54:25.91\00:54:28.11
This is the second
stage of the judgment
00:54:28.51\00:54:31.21
or the second
phase of the judgment.
00:54:31.51\00:54:33.33
See, the first stage
is before Jesus comes.
00:54:33.63\00:54:35.61
"The hour of His
judgment has come. "
00:54:35.91\00:54:36.99
It involves the righteous.
00:54:37.20\00:54:38.34
It's so that the heavenly
beings... the angels and the
00:54:38.54\00:54:40.78
heavenly beings can
see that God has a right
00:54:40.88\00:54:42.59
to bring these people home.
00:54:42.69\00:54:43.74
Not to inform God.
It's to show the universe
00:54:43.99\00:54:45.92
that these people truly
repented. They confessed
00:54:46.12\00:54:48.10
their sins. God has a
right to bring them home.
00:54:48.20\00:54:49.75
The purpose of the
millennial judgment is to show
00:54:50.82\00:54:53.34
God's people who went up there
00:54:54.44\00:54:56.83
why the individuals on
earth were left behind.
00:54:57.03\00:55:01.05
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:55:01.35\00:55:02.39
In other words, it is
to convince the righteous
00:55:03.18\00:55:06.11
along with the heavenly
beings that God was right
00:55:06.21\00:55:08.65
in leaving those
people on planet earth...
00:55:08.85\00:55:10.93
leaving those people behind.
00:55:11.23\00:55:12.52
The apostle Paul says
in I Corinthians chapter 6
00:55:14.02\00:55:16.53
and verses 1-3. He says:
"Don't you know that the saints
00:55:16.63\00:55:19.17
will judge the world? "
00:55:19.28\00:55:20.41
In fact, he goes on
to say "Don't you know
00:55:21.29\00:55:24.54
that the saints
will judge angels? "
00:55:24.57\00:55:27.48
That's the same
judgment of Revelation 20:4
00:55:28.50\00:55:31.89
where it says: "judgment
was committed to them. "
00:55:32.09\00:55:34.27
So let me ask you:
are God's people going to
00:55:34.47\00:55:36.28
investigate the wicked
during the thousand years?
00:55:36.39\00:55:38.58
Absolutely.
00:55:38.89\00:55:39.96
What's going to happen
as they examine each case?
00:55:40.16\00:55:42.18
Are they going to pronounce
the sentence upon each of those
00:55:42.29\00:55:44.57
individuals who
were left behind?
00:55:44.67\00:55:46.01
Yes or no? Absolutely!
00:55:46.32\00:55:48.35
When is that
sentence going to be executed?
00:55:48.65\00:55:51.22
It is going to be
executed after the millennium.
00:55:52.31\00:55:54.97
Does God do the same
thing with the wicked?
00:55:56.97\00:55:58.97
He most certainly
does. Now, the final point
00:55:59.07\00:56:01.35
that I need to mention is
the third phase of the judgment.
00:56:01.45\00:56:03.50
That's the post-millennial.
00:56:03.70\00:56:05.06
At that time all of
the wicked will be alive
00:56:05.26\00:56:07.23
because the wicked are not
convinced that God was right.
00:56:07.33\00:56:09.22
The heavenly beings? Yes.
00:56:09.53\00:56:11.00
The righteous who went to
heaven to the Father's house?
00:56:11.40\00:56:13.71
They're convinced
that God is right.
00:56:13.91\00:56:15.18
But the wicked
haven't been convinced.
00:56:15.39\00:56:17.03
So God is going to
resurrect them all.
00:56:17.99\00:56:19.40
The wicked are going to live
according to Revelation 20:5.
00:56:19.60\00:56:23.47
And they are going to see
the record of their lives.
00:56:24.41\00:56:27.02
You can find this in
Revelation chapter 20
00:56:27.12\00:56:28.90
and verses 11 to 15.
00:56:29.10\00:56:30.78
They see... each one
of them sees their life.
00:56:31.28\00:56:33.53
Sees their works.
00:56:33.63\00:56:34.94
And they see that their
name is not in the Book of Life.
00:56:35.14\00:56:37.60
By the way, it was
erased during the 1,000 years
00:56:38.48\00:56:40.83
on the basis of
what was examined.
00:56:42.18\00:56:44.14
And they'll see
all of their works.
00:56:44.34\00:56:45.40
They'll see that their
name is not in the Book of Life.
00:56:45.60\00:56:47.80
And then God will say:
"This is the sentence that was
00:56:49.09\00:56:52.15
pronounced against
you. " And the Bible says
00:56:52.25\00:56:54.25
that they will say:
"Just and true are Your ways
00:56:54.45\00:56:57.84
O God. " Even the
devil will say that.
00:56:58.04\00:57:00.05
And then God will
execute the final penalty
00:57:00.45\00:57:04.53
against Satan, sinners and
He will have a clean universe.
00:57:04.73\00:57:10.56
Isn't this a marvelous concept?
00:57:11.44\00:57:13.59
I pray to God that we will
all claim Jesus as our lawyer.
00:57:14.09\00:57:18.39
Let's not try
and defend ourselves.
00:57:18.69\00:57:20.17
Let's adopt Jesus as our
lawyer and representative
00:57:20.47\00:57:23.72
so we might pass the judgment.
00:57:23.92\00:57:26.38