Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father in heaven,
what a joy it is to be able to
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come to this place to
open Your Word and learn
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lessons that help us in
our personal walk with Jesus.
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We ask that as we study
today about The Matchmaker
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that Your Holy
Spirit will be with us.
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And help us understand that
You are waiting for a people,
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a people who will reflect
fully the character of Jesus.
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We long for that day:
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the day when Jesus will
come to claim His bride.
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We ask that You will
bless our study together
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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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In our lecture today we
are going to study mainly
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Genesis chapter 24.
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It's the story
of Abraham, Isaac,
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Eliezer, and Rebekah.
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And in order to understand
this story we have to start
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a little bit earlier
in the book of Genesis.
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We need to go back to
Genesis chapter 15 and verse 4.
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Genesis 15:4.
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Here God is speaking
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to Abraham and
Abraham thinks that Eliezer
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perhaps might
have to be the heir.
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And so Abraham is
thinking about adopting Eliezer
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and making him
the promised heir.
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But notice what
God said to Abraham.
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In other words, "You're
not going to adopt Eliezer;
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Eliezer is not
going to be your heir.
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It is going to be
your very own son. "
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Now we've already
studied in this seminar
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earlier the story of Genesis 22
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which I call "the
almost sacrifice of Isaac"
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because Isaac was
not actually sacrificed.
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He was sacrificed in figure
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because he pointed
forward to Jesus Christ.
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Now as we've
studied, in that story Abraham
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is a symbol of God the Father
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and Isaac is a symbol
of Jesus Christ His Son.
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And in the story that
we're going to study today
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once again Abraham is a
symbol of God the Father
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and Isaac is a symbol
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of God's Son Jesus Christ.
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Now it's very important for us
to realize that when Abraham...
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when Abraham in Genesis
chapter 24 sends his servant
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Eliezer to look
for a wife for his son
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Abraham is an old man.
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We might call him
"the ancient of days. "
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In fact, if you look at
the chronology of the Bible
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you'll discover that Abraham
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was approximately 140 years old.
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Probably more
accurate to say 139 years old.
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And Isaac at this point
was approximately 40 years old.
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And so you might call
Abraham "the ancient of days. "
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In fact, let's notice
what Genesis chapter 24
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and verse 1 has
to say about Abraham.
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It says here:
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So you have Abraham...
"the ancient of days. "
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He has a son called
Isaac but there's a problem,
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and that problem is that
Isaac, though he's approximately
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40 years old,
does not have a wife.
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And in order to carry on
the seed so that the Messiah
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can eventually come,
it's necessary for Isaac
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to have a wife.
And so the process...
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In Genesis chapter 24
begins describing the process
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of getting a wife for Isaac.
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Now in Genesis 24 verses 2-4
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we have some clear
specifications that were given
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by Abraham to Eliezer
about the type of wife
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that he was
supposed to secure for Isaac.
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In fact let's read those verses.
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Genesis chapter 24
and verses 2 through 4.
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It says here:
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Notice the clear specification
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that Isaac's wife
was supposed to be
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from Abraham's own kindred...
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from Abraham's own people.
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Now at this time
Abraham was living in Canaan
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but he commanded
Eliezer to go back to Heron
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where Abraham had
settled for a while
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to find a wife from his kindred.
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Now there was a very
special reason for this:
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the Canaanites were almost
totally given over to idolatry.
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And even though the family
of Abraham... some of them were
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practicing idolatry...
they were not wholly given over
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to idolatry. And so God knew
that it was absolutely important
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for Isaac - who is a
type of the Messiah -
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to marry someone from his own
people, from his own kindred.
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You see, in Canaan
idolatry was rampant
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and so God knew that if
Isaac married a Canaanite
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she might be able to turn
his heart away from the Lord.
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And so it was
very clearly specified
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that the bride of Isaac needed
to come from his own kindred.
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He needed to marry
someone from his own family.
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By the way, it's interesting
to notice the process
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that was followed in
finding a wife for Isaac.
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Isaac did not actually
go out hunting for a wife.
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There was actually a
matchmaker or a go-between
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who went seeking the
wife and making arrangements
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so that Isaac
could marry this wife.
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Of course, the name of
this individual was Eliezer.
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He was actually a
servant of Abraham
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and he was sent before
Isaac to prepare the way
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to make the arrangements
for the marriage of Isaac
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with Rebekah. In
other words, in this story
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we not only have
Abraham, the "ancient of days, "
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not only do we have
Isaac, the son of the promise
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who is a symbol of the Messiah,
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not only do we have Rebekah
who became the wife of Isaac,
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but we have a go-between...
we have a matchmaker.
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A friend of the
groom if you please.
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Today we would
call him a best man.
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Now I'd like to make
a short parenthesis here
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and talk a little bit about
the process that was followed
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in finding a wife for a
young man in Biblical times.
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You know, it wasn't just
the case that young people
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chose their own wife.
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They had to receive
counsel from their parents
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because their parents
were actually much more wiser
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than they were because
they had been over the road
00:10:02.46\00:10:05.86
and they had
much more experience.
00:10:06.06\00:10:07.86
Now what I'm going to read
is from our second textbook
00:10:08.16\00:10:11.60
in this seminar:
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:10:11.71\00:10:14.68
Our first textbook,
of course, is the Bible.
00:10:14.78\00:10:16.79
But the second textbook that
we've quoted quite a bit from
00:10:17.10\00:10:19.93
is the book
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:10:20.13\00:10:21.80
And even though this
doesn't have to do directly
00:10:22.01\00:10:24.75
with the subject that we're
studying because we're doing
00:10:24.96\00:10:27.35
an illustration of this
story of the Old Testament
00:10:27.55\00:10:30.66
as a type of Jesus Christ
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I felt it would be a good
idea to bring this quotation
00:10:33.16\00:10:36.73
here into view because I feel
that it's extremely important.
00:10:36.93\00:10:40.35
Patriarchs and
Prophets page 175 says this
00:10:40.85\00:10:46.31
to young people today:
00:10:46.51\00:10:48.31
"What a contrast
between the course of Isaac
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and that pursued by
the youth of our time!
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Even among professed Christians
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young people too often feel
00:11:02.43\00:11:05.34
that the bestowal
of their affections
00:11:05.54\00:11:08.68
is a matter in which self
alone should be consulted -
00:11:08.88\00:11:13.38
a matter that
neither God nor their parents
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should in any wise control.
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Long before they
have reached manhood
00:11:20.34\00:11:23.39
or womanhood they
think themselves competent
00:11:23.59\00:11:27.17
to make their own choice without
the aid of their parents.
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A few years of married life
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are usually sufficient
to show them their error
00:11:35.27\00:11:38.91
but often too late to
prevent its baleful results.
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For the same lack of
wisdom and self-control
00:11:45.12\00:11:48.79
that dictated the hasty choice
00:11:48.99\00:11:51.07
is permitted to aggravate
the evil until the marriage
00:11:51.27\00:11:55.40
relation becomes a galling yoke.
00:11:55.50\00:11:59.49
Many have thus wrecked
their happiness in this life
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and their hope of
the life to come. "
00:12:04.06\00:12:07.30
Certainly is a wise thing
00:12:07.54\00:12:09.93
to have parents give some
input when it comes to the issue
00:12:10.13\00:12:14.92
of marriage.
00:12:15.12\00:12:16.31
And so Eliezer
- the matchmaker -
00:12:16.61\00:12:19.56
the servant of the father,
"ancient of days" Abraham
00:12:19.76\00:12:24.42
who is looking for a
wife for his son Isaac
00:12:24.65\00:12:27.76
travels to Heron from Canaan.
00:12:27.96\00:12:30.89
And when he arrives in Heron
00:12:31.91\00:12:34.04
he meets this beautiful,
00:12:34.24\00:12:37.94
industrious woman.
00:12:38.14\00:12:41.15
Notice what we find in
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16.
00:12:41.45\00:12:46.71
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16.
00:12:47.02\00:12:51.09
By the way, her name is
Rebekah... or was Rebekah.
00:12:51.39\00:12:55.58
It says here:
00:12:56.08\00:12:57.63
Because Eliezer said:
"Give me some water to drink. "
00:13:21.93\00:13:24.19
But she goes
even a step further.
00:13:24.49\00:13:26.52
She says: "I'll draw
water for your camels as well. "
00:13:26.72\00:13:29.79
And so she draws
water for the camels.
00:13:29.99\00:13:32.39
Now I want you to notice
what type of wife this is.
00:13:32.69\00:13:36.24
She is
beautiful; she is a virgin;
00:13:36.54\00:13:41.04
she is very industrious.
00:13:41.34\00:13:44.04
She is kind; she is courteous.
00:13:44.24\00:13:47.43
She has all of the
qualities that one would desire
00:13:47.63\00:13:51.33
in a wife. And then, of course,
you have the wedding itself.
00:13:51.53\00:13:56.35
She accepts the
idea of marrying Isaac.
00:13:56.66\00:14:01.00
And we are told in
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 67
00:14:01.30\00:14:06.55
that when Rebekah
arrived with Eliezer
00:14:06.75\00:14:09.55
back in the land of
Canaan "Then Isaac brought her
00:14:09.75\00:14:14.10
into his mother Sarah's tent.
00:14:14.30\00:14:16.90
And he took Rebekah
and she became his wife
00:14:17.21\00:14:21.81
and he loved her. "
00:14:22.01\00:14:24.61
Now let's review the
main points of this story.
00:14:24.91\00:14:29.16
You have Abraham...
the "ancient of days, "
00:14:29.56\00:14:33.72
a symbol of God the Father
00:14:34.02\00:14:36.27
sending his servant Eliezer -
00:14:36.57\00:14:40.49
the matchmaker
or the go-between -
00:14:40.70\00:14:43.59
to make arrangements
or to prepare the way
00:14:43.79\00:14:47.52
for the
marriage of his son Isaac
00:14:47.72\00:14:51.44
to a very beautiful woman
00:14:51.74\00:14:54.12
from his
kindred, very industrious,
00:14:54.32\00:14:57.87
a virgin, very hard worker
00:14:58.07\00:15:01.28
and also very
respectful and kind.
00:15:01.48\00:15:05.12
Now what does
this have to teach us?
00:15:05.62\00:15:08.84
Well as you know
in the Old Testament
00:15:09.24\00:15:12.60
marriage was used as a
symbol of the relationship
00:15:12.80\00:15:17.42
between God and His people.
00:15:17.62\00:15:18.95
Allow me just to mention a
few things about God's marriage
00:15:19.26\00:15:23.37
with Israel in
the Old Testament.
00:15:23.57\00:15:25.56
I'm only going to
mention it in passing
00:15:26.57\00:15:28.89
and I'm not going to
read it from scripture.
00:15:28.99\00:15:30.52
But in Exodus chapter 19
00:15:30.73\00:15:33.56
you have the preparation of
Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai
00:15:33.76\00:15:38.95
to receive the covenant
or the Ten Commandments.
00:15:39.16\00:15:42.83
Do you know that
there at Mt. Sinai
00:15:43.34\00:15:45.93
there was a matchmaker?
00:15:46.13\00:15:47.68
A go-between
between God and Israel?
00:15:47.88\00:15:52.47
You say: "Who was
that go-between? "
00:15:52.67\00:15:54.59
It was actually Moses.
00:15:54.89\00:15:57.77
If you read Exodus chapter
19 you're going to discover
00:15:58.08\00:16:01.59
that Moses went up to the
mount and in verses 4 through 6
00:16:01.80\00:16:07.51
God says to Moses: "I
want to make a covenant
00:16:07.71\00:16:11.72
with Israel. You tell them
that if they listen to My voice
00:16:11.92\00:16:16.16
and they keep My covenant
00:16:16.36\00:16:18.32
they're going to
be My special people.
00:16:18.52\00:16:20.96
I want to make a
covenant with them. "
00:16:21.16\00:16:22.96
And by the way, I'm
going to read in a moment
00:16:23.26\00:16:24.83
that this was a
marriage covenant.
00:16:25.03\00:16:27.20
And then, of course, Moses...
he brings the message down
00:16:27.70\00:16:31.04
from Mt. Sinai and
he comes to the people
00:16:31.25\00:16:33.68
and he says to the people:
"Folks, God wants to make
00:16:33.88\00:16:37.53
a covenant with you folks.
00:16:37.73\00:16:40.16
He says that if you listen to
His voice and keep His covenant
00:16:40.46\00:16:44.44
that you will be His
favored people; that you will be
00:16:44.64\00:16:48.15
His bride. Do you
accept? Yes or no? "
00:16:48.25\00:16:51.82
And Israel said: "We do. "
00:16:52.12\00:16:54.70
And so once again
in this story you have
00:16:55.10\00:16:58.20
what the story of
Abraham illustrated.
00:16:58.41\00:17:01.56
The story of Abraham
illustrated what happened
00:17:01.97\00:17:04.61
with Israel at Mt. Sinai.
00:17:04.71\00:17:06.81
Moses is the one who makes
the arrangement, who is the
00:17:07.11\00:17:10.79
messenger of God to Israel
00:17:10.89\00:17:13.23
to get Israel to be
willing to marry God.
00:17:13.43\00:17:17.06
And by the way, the God here
is none less than Jesus Christ
00:17:17.36\00:17:21.69
Himself. Now you're saying:
"But that covenant at Sinai...
00:17:21.79\00:17:25.55
are you sure that that
was a marriage covenant? "
00:17:25.75\00:17:27.99
Absolutely. Go with me
to Jeremiah chapter 31.
00:17:28.29\00:17:32.69
Jeremiah chapter 31.
00:17:32.99\00:17:35.87
And let's notice how
this covenant at Mt. Sinai
00:17:36.17\00:17:39.80
is described.
00:17:40.00\00:17:41.21
Jeremiah chapter 31 and I
would like to read verse 32.
00:17:41.51\00:17:46.94
Actually let's
begin at verse 31.
00:17:47.24\00:17:49.20
It says here:
"Behold, the days are coming
00:17:50.43\00:17:52.95
says the Lord when I
will make a new covenant
00:17:53.15\00:17:56.66
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
00:17:56.86\00:18:00.25
Not according to the covenant
that I made with their fathers
00:18:00.55\00:18:04.33
in the day that I
took them by the hand
00:18:04.63\00:18:07.26
to lead them out of
the land of Egypt. "
00:18:07.47\00:18:11.69
See, that's the covenant
that they made at Sinai.
00:18:11.99\00:18:14.73
Notice what it continues saying:
00:18:15.03\00:18:16.50
"My covenant which
they broke, though I was
00:18:16.90\00:18:21.45
a... " What? "though I was
00:18:21.76\00:18:23.81
a husband to
them says the Lord. "
00:18:24.01\00:18:28.07
And so the story of Abraham
00:18:28.47\00:18:31.61
is really a
prefiguring or an illustration
00:18:31.92\00:18:35.04
of what happened at Mt. Sinai.
00:18:35.24\00:18:37.86
You see, God the Father wants
Israel to marry Jesus Christ
00:18:38.16\00:18:43.73
as their Lord.
00:18:43.93\00:18:45.01
And God sent Moses
with a message to Israel
00:18:45.11\00:18:48.32
as the go-between or
the matchmaker, and Israel
00:18:48.52\00:18:52.20
said: "We do. " By
the way, did you notice
00:18:52.40\00:18:55.68
that at Sinai God
married Israel. He did not marry
00:18:55.78\00:18:59.05
the Gentile nations?
00:18:59.15\00:19:00.86
Just like in
the story of Abraham
00:19:01.16\00:19:04.00
the wife had to be from
among the chosen people.
00:19:04.30\00:19:08.17
The same way Israel
was God's chosen people
00:19:08.57\00:19:11.89
and Jesus makes a
covenant marriage with them.
00:19:12.09\00:19:15.20
But folks, this marriage
of Israel with Jesus Christ at
00:19:15.90\00:19:20.52
Mt. Sinai is also an illus-
tration of a greater marriage
00:19:20.63\00:19:25.56
to take place
later on in history.
00:19:25.76\00:19:28.90
I'm referring to the
marriage of Jesus Christ
00:19:29.30\00:19:33.39
with Israel when
Jesus came to this world
00:19:33.59\00:19:37.09
the first time. Now
let's take a look at that.
00:19:37.29\00:19:40.60
Go with me to John chapter
1 and verses 6 through 9.
00:19:41.00\00:19:46.94
Let me ask you: did
God the Father want Jesus
00:19:47.14\00:19:52.19
His Son to marry Israel
00:19:52.39\00:19:55.82
when Jesus came to this world?
00:19:56.22\00:19:58.21
Absolutely.
00:19:58.51\00:20:00.07
We're going to find marriage
terminology in the gospels.
00:20:00.37\00:20:03.79
But let me ask you:
did God send a go-between
00:20:04.09\00:20:07.45
or a matchmaker
to prepare the way?
00:20:07.65\00:20:10.68
A matchmaker or a go-between
00:20:10.88\00:20:15.01
to prepare the
bride for the husband?
00:20:15.21\00:20:18.52
Absolutely.
00:20:18.82\00:20:20.19
Notice John chapter 1
and verses 6 through 9.
00:20:20.39\00:20:25.75
By the way,
Eliezer was not the heir.
00:20:26.05\00:20:30.10
And this individual
we're going to talk about now
00:20:30.70\00:20:33.41
was not the heir either.
00:20:33.51\00:20:35.12
It says there in John
1 and verses 6 through 9:
00:20:35.32\00:20:38.40
Could we say that Eliezer
was actually a minor figure
00:21:08.28\00:21:14.26
in the marriage story
of Isaac with Rebekah?
00:21:14.46\00:21:17.99
Could you say that Eliezer
00:21:18.39\00:21:19.96
must decrease that Isaac might
00:21:20.16\00:21:22.83
increase? Absolutely.
00:21:23.03\00:21:25.19
Because at the center of the
00:21:25.39\00:21:26.46
story is not
Eliezer - the matchmaker.
00:21:26.56\00:21:29.22
At the center of the
story is whom? Is Isaac
00:21:29.42\00:21:33.10
who is going to marry Rebekah.
00:21:33.30\00:21:35.38
The same is true
with this individual
00:21:35.58\00:21:38.39
whom of course we
know is John the Baptist.
00:21:38.59\00:21:42.06
Now go with me to Luke
chapter 1 and verses 16-17.
00:21:42.36\00:21:47.26
Luke chapter 1 verses 16 and 17.
00:21:47.56\00:21:52.02
When Jesus comes who
is He going to marry?
00:21:53.63\00:21:56.71
Is He going to marry the
Gentiles? Or is He going to
00:21:57.01\00:22:00.25
marry the chosen people?
00:22:00.35\00:22:02.32
He's going to
marry the chosen people.
00:22:02.62\00:22:04.92
Now notice Luke
chapter 1 and verses 16 and 17.
00:22:05.22\00:22:10.04
Speaking about John the Baptist:
00:22:10.94\00:22:13.01
What was the
mission of John the Baptist?
00:22:44.75\00:22:47.05
Was he the go-between?
Was he the matchmaker
00:22:47.25\00:22:50.24
to prepare a
bride for Jesus Christ?
00:22:50.44\00:22:53.40
Absolutely! From
among the chosen people.
00:22:53.70\00:22:56.53
Yes according to the story.
00:22:56.83\00:22:58.73
Now notice also Matthew
chapter 3 and verses 1 to 3.
00:22:59.03\00:23:03.96
Matthew chapter 3
and verses 1 to 3.
00:23:04.06\00:23:07.92
Here once again we find the idea
00:23:09.11\00:23:11.57
of John the
Baptist preparing the way
00:23:11.77\00:23:15.10
for the coming of the
Messiah. Preparing a people
00:23:15.30\00:23:18.01
to be ready for
when Messiah comes.
00:23:18.21\00:23:20.36
It says there in Matthew 3:1:
00:23:20.66\00:23:23.23
Now you're probably saying:
"OK, John the Baptist was there
00:23:53.46\00:23:57.02
to prepare the way of the Lord,
00:23:57.22\00:23:58.90
but there's no reference
directly to marriage in there. "
00:23:59.11\00:24:03.63
Go with me to the
gospel of John chapter 3
00:24:03.93\00:24:07.94
and verses 29 and 30.
00:24:08.14\00:24:10.77
John 3:29-30.
00:24:11.17\00:24:14.01
Here we find the
clear connection or link
00:24:14.31\00:24:17.86
between this story and the
story of the Old Testament,
00:24:18.06\00:24:21.89
of Genesis... the
story of Abraham and Isaac
00:24:22.19\00:24:25.30
and Eliezer and Rebekah.
00:24:25.60\00:24:27.41
Here John the Baptist is speak-
ing, and notice what he says:
00:24:27.91\00:24:31.64
Was John the Baptist the heir?
00:25:05.93\00:25:09.99
John the Baptist
WAS NOT the heir.
00:25:10.29\00:25:12.57
Who was the heir?
00:25:12.88\00:25:14.33
To Abraham and his
seed were the promises made.
00:25:14.53\00:25:18.23
It does not say
to seeds as to many
00:25:18.43\00:25:21.54
but to your Seed who is Christ.
00:25:21.84\00:25:25.11
The promises belong to Jesus.
00:25:25.41\00:25:27.86
In other words, just like
Eliezer could not be the heir
00:25:28.16\00:25:32.40
because he did not come from
his father, John the Baptist
00:25:32.60\00:25:36.60
could not bring about
the marriage. He could not be
00:25:36.80\00:25:41.39
the one who would inherit
or marry because he was only
00:25:41.50\00:25:45.22
the matchmaker.
He was the go-between
00:25:45.42\00:25:47.92
to prepare a people
to marry Jesus Christ.
00:25:48.12\00:25:51.65
Now there's an added detail
in the story of John the Baptist
00:25:52.57\00:25:55.86
which is not found in
the Old Testament story.
00:25:56.07\00:25:58.56
And that is that when
John the Baptist appears...
00:25:59.23\00:26:02.45
By the way, did you
notice that his name is Elijah?
00:26:02.65\00:26:05.34
Elijah is the one who prepares
the way. He's the matchmaker.
00:26:05.64\00:26:09.56
He's the go-between.
He's the friend of the groom
00:26:09.76\00:26:12.71
or the best man.
Now when Elijah appears
00:26:12.91\00:26:16.19
as the one who prepares the way,
00:26:16.39\00:26:19.11
three enemies always
appear along with him
00:26:20.07\00:26:24.81
to try and get rid of him.
00:26:25.01\00:26:27.05
Now let's go to the gospel of
Mark chapter 6 and verses 17-28.
00:26:28.08\00:26:34.07
And we'll have to go
through this quickly.
00:26:34.27\00:26:36.31
Mark chapter 6 and
verses 17 through 28.
00:26:36.61\00:26:39.60
Now before we read this
passage I want to remind you
00:26:39.80\00:26:44.16
about something. Mark
6 verses 17 through 28.
00:26:44.36\00:26:48.39
I want to remind you
about the Elijah story
00:26:48.59\00:26:50.24
in the Old Testament.
00:26:50.45\00:26:51.81
How many enemies did Elijah
have in the Old Testament?
00:26:52.71\00:26:55.63
He had three basic enemies.
00:26:57.72\00:26:59.74
The first one was
Ahab. What was he?
00:26:59.94\00:27:02.71
The king.
00:27:03.01\00:27:04.37
The second one was Jezebel.
00:27:04.87\00:27:08.35
She was a harlot queen.
00:27:08.65\00:27:11.30
She's called a harlot in II
Kings chapter 9 and verse 22
00:27:12.49\00:27:16.58
by the way. It
speaks about her harlotry.
00:27:16.68\00:27:20.13
And a third enemy of Elijah
is actually a group of people:
00:27:20.44\00:27:23.96
the prophets of
Jezebel who do her bidding,
00:27:24.26\00:27:28.70
who eat at her table.
00:27:29.00\00:27:30.53
And so you have three enemies.
00:27:30.83\00:27:32.34
And by the way, who is the
dangerous figure in this story
00:27:32.54\00:27:35.38
of Elijah? Is it Ahab?
00:27:35.68\00:27:38.50
No... Ahab was a wimp.
00:27:38.70\00:27:41.25
Excuse me for
using that expression.
00:27:41.55\00:27:43.44
He had a character like putty.
00:27:43.75\00:27:44.83
It could be very
easily molded by Jezebel.
00:27:44.93\00:27:48.50
Were the prophets of Baal in
themselves a threat to Elijah?
00:27:48.73\00:27:52.48
No. The threat to
Elijah was found in whom?
00:27:52.78\00:27:56.17
In Jezebel... this harlot queen.
00:27:56.47\00:27:59.63
And of course she
maneuvered to work upon the king
00:27:59.93\00:28:02.64
and to work upon the
false prophets of Baal
00:28:02.84\00:28:06.77
to try and get rid of Elijah.
00:28:06.97\00:28:10.22
And by the way,
Elijah's message was a message
00:28:10.72\00:28:13.84
calling Israel to restore
the gospel because it says that
00:28:14.05\00:28:17.63
he built the altar of the
Lord which had been torn down.
00:28:17.84\00:28:20.76
Elijah also restore true worship
00:28:21.17\00:28:24.06
because he
rebuked Ahab. He said:
00:28:24.36\00:28:27.14
"You have abandoned
the commandments of God
00:28:27.34\00:28:30.48
and the worship of God and
you are worshipping Baal. "
00:28:30.68\00:28:35.14
In other words,
Elijah restored three things:
00:28:35.54\00:28:38.16
the gospel, the sacrifice
of the lamb on the altar -
00:28:38.46\00:28:42.07
he restored true worship,
00:28:42.28\00:28:43.88
and he restored the
commandments of God.
00:28:44.08\00:28:46.36
And that got him the
wrath of this three-fold union:
00:28:46.66\00:28:50.87
Ahab, Jezebel,
00:28:51.17\00:28:53.12
and the false prophets of Baal.
00:28:53.32\00:28:55.88
Now if John the Baptist
00:28:56.28\00:28:58.47
is the New Testament Elijah,
00:28:58.67\00:29:00.84
which he is... By
the way, three times
00:29:01.04\00:29:03.46
we find this in
the New Testament.
00:29:03.56\00:29:05.04
In Luke 1:16-17;
00:29:05.24\00:29:07.51
Matthew 11:11-14;
00:29:07.71\00:29:10.42
and Matthew 17:10-13.
00:29:10.72\00:29:13.32
All three passages identify
John the Baptist as Elijah.
00:29:13.62\00:29:16.98
By the way, not Elijah in person
00:29:17.08\00:29:19.12
but one who
fulfills the work of Elijah.
00:29:19.32\00:29:22.56
Now if John the
Baptist is Elijah so to speak,
00:29:22.86\00:29:27.35
do you suppose that his
three enemies will also appear
00:29:27.65\00:29:30.83
along with him? Obviously.
00:29:31.03\00:29:33.98
Are they going to try
and get rid of the matchmaker
00:29:34.28\00:29:38.22
so that he cannot prepare
the bride for the husband?
00:29:38.42\00:29:41.72
Absolutely.
00:29:42.02\00:29:43.25
Let's notice this passage
beginning at verse 17. It says:
00:29:43.55\00:29:49.24
Whom had he married?
00:30:04.53\00:30:06.18
His brother's wife.
00:30:06.48\00:30:07.72
What is that called?
00:30:07.82\00:30:09.02
That's called
adultery by the way.
00:30:09.32\00:30:11.64
And according to
this passage here
00:30:11.94\00:30:16.80
Herod did not throw John in
prison because Herod hated John
00:30:17.00\00:30:20.98
but because Herodias hated John.
00:30:21.28\00:30:23.53
Did you notice that?
Now let's go to verse 18:
00:30:23.73\00:30:27.45
Did he rebuke fornication?
00:30:35.46\00:30:37.45
Yes he did.
00:30:37.75\00:30:39.01
By the way, did John the Baptist
00:30:39.31\00:30:40.52
restore the gospel?
00:30:40.62\00:30:42.39
How did he introduce Jesus?
00:30:42.59\00:30:44.28
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:30:44.48\00:30:46.86
who takes away the
sin of the world. "
00:30:47.06\00:30:48.37
And he restored the seventh
commandment according to this.
00:30:48.57\00:30:51.36
He actually upheld
the commandments of God.
00:30:51.66\00:30:54.06
Now notice verse 19:
00:30:54.56\00:30:56.56
Was Herod a dangerous figure?
00:31:16.39\00:31:18.94
Absolutely not. By the
way, what was his function?
00:31:19.25\00:31:22.20
He was the king.
00:31:22.50\00:31:23.84
Was there a king in
the Old Testament story?
00:31:24.05\00:31:25.99
Absolutely. In both
cases you have a king.
00:31:26.19\00:31:28.99
In both cases do you
have an adulterous woman?
00:31:29.29\00:31:32.47
You most certainly do.
00:31:32.87\00:31:34.37
Does the adulterous woman
in both cases want the death
00:31:34.67\00:31:37.94
of the matchmaker? Absolutely.
00:31:38.15\00:31:40.50
Now let's go to verse 21:
00:31:40.80\00:31:42.31
Opportune for whom?
00:31:45.62\00:31:46.93
For Herodias.
00:31:47.13\00:31:48.59
Oh, now we have a third
00:31:59.88\00:32:01.07
protagonist.
00:32:01.17\00:32:02.34
Now did this young lady have
00:32:26.28\00:32:27.54
a mind of her own?
00:32:27.64\00:32:28.88
Or was she a copy of her mother?
00:32:29.68\00:32:32.00
Did she do the
biddings of her mother?
00:32:32.90\00:32:35.00
Just like the prophets of Baal
did the biddings of Jezebel?
00:32:35.30\00:32:38.34
Absolutely!
00:32:38.54\00:32:39.89
She was an image of
her mother if you please.
00:32:40.19\00:32:43.52
Verse 24:
00:32:43.82\00:32:45.42
By the way, I want you to notice
00:32:48.75\00:32:50.22
the terminology:
00:32:50.32\00:32:51.40
king, mother, daughter.
00:32:51.60\00:32:54.27
King, mother, daughter.
00:32:54.67\00:32:58.04
Very significant when we come
00:32:58.34\00:32:59.99
to the end-time application
00:33:00.09\00:33:01.63
of this. Verse 24 once again:
00:33:01.73\00:33:04.37
Now what would you do
00:33:12.10\00:33:13.65
if your daughter asked for the
00:33:13.95\00:33:16.12
head of Pastor Bohr?
00:33:16.22\00:33:17.76
I'll bet you would say:
"What are you talking about? "
00:33:18.02\00:33:23.22
I... I... at
least I hope you would.
00:33:24.15\00:33:26.30
But I want you to notice
that the daughter was just like
00:33:28.21\00:33:30.98
her mother. Notice verse 25:
00:33:31.08\00:33:34.69
Was he just like Ahab?
00:33:57.93\00:33:59.25
Was his character just like Ahab
00:33:59.45\00:34:00.83
in the Old Testament?
00:34:00.93\00:34:02.01
Absolutely.
00:34:02.11\00:34:03.58
Now notice verse 27:
00:34:03.68\00:34:06.35
Who is the dangerous
figure in this story?
00:34:27.69\00:34:29.87
The dangerous
figure is the mother.
00:34:30.27\00:34:32.65
She's the one who ends
up slaying the matchmaker.
00:34:32.85\00:34:36.48
Now let me ask you:
does this all have an
00:34:38.83\00:34:41.48
end-time application?
It most certainly does.
00:34:41.58\00:34:45.19
You see, we have
typology functioning here.
00:34:45.59\00:34:48.42
The story of Abraham sending
Eliezer to prepare the way
00:34:48.73\00:34:54.08
or to make arrangements
for the marriage of his son
00:34:54.29\00:34:58.86
is actually
symbolic of God sending Moses
00:34:59.06\00:35:03.24
to arrange the marriage
between Jesus and Israel.
00:35:03.45\00:35:07.46
Also it illustrates God sending
John the Baptist to prepare
00:35:07.67\00:35:12.91
the way or make arrangements
for the marriage of Jesus
00:35:13.01\00:35:16.58
to Israel. And you have
the enemy of the matchmaker.
00:35:16.78\00:35:20.65
Now I want you to
notice that we are to expect
00:35:21.60\00:35:24.15
an end-time Elijah.
00:35:24.35\00:35:26.17
Notice Malachi
chapter 4 and verses 5 and 6.
00:35:26.47\00:35:30.50
Malachi chapter 4
and verses 5 and 6.
00:35:30.80\00:35:35.15
You see, John the Baptist
does not exhaust the Elijah
00:35:35.45\00:35:40.14
prophecy of the Old Testament.
00:35:40.24\00:35:42.22
It says there in Malachi 4:5-6
00:35:42.52\00:35:45.84
Does God promise to send Elijah
right before the second coming
00:36:08.73\00:36:14.10
of Jesus Christ? Yes.
00:36:14.20\00:36:16.14
Do you suppose that the purpose
00:36:16.44\00:36:18.42
of that Elijah is to be the
00:36:18.62\00:36:20.64
matchmaker to prepare a people
00:36:20.74\00:36:23.61
to make them ready to marry
00:36:23.81\00:36:26.23
Jesus? Absolutely!
00:36:26.43\00:36:29.21
Now let's pursue that.
00:36:29.51\00:36:31.69
Where is the message
of this end-time Elijah?
00:36:32.09\00:36:36.04
Remember the
message of the first Elijah?
00:36:36.34\00:36:38.92
Restored the gospel
by restoring the altar
00:36:39.74\00:36:43.61
where the sacrifices were made.
00:36:43.71\00:36:45.17
He restored true worship
by rebuking the worship of
00:36:45.47\00:36:49.59
Baal the sun god.
00:36:49.79\00:36:51.17
And he said: "You
have troubled Israel
00:36:51.47\00:36:54.09
because you have
broken the commandments of God
00:36:54.29\00:36:56.63
and followed the Baals. "
00:36:56.93\00:36:58.34
Three things: the gospel,
worship, and the commandments.
00:36:58.64\00:37:02.36
Would you expect
this end-time Elijah
00:37:02.66\00:37:05.05
to have a very similar message?
00:37:05.25\00:37:06.99
Absolutely. Where do
we find that message?
00:37:07.29\00:37:10.36
We find that message
in Revelation 14:6-12.
00:37:10.66\00:37:16.57
Notice Revelation
14 verses 6 and 7:
00:37:16.77\00:37:20.42
the message that prepares a
bride for the great marriage
00:37:20.72\00:37:25.45
of Jesus with His
people at the end of time.
00:37:25.65\00:37:28.49
It says there in
Revelation 14 verse 6:
00:37:28.80\00:37:31.87
This shows that this cannot be
00:37:48.17\00:37:49.90
one person because one person
00:37:50.00\00:37:51.50
can't take the message to every
00:37:51.60\00:37:53.77
nation, kindred, tongue,
00:37:53.87\00:37:55.19
and people. This is a world-wide
00:37:55.29\00:37:57.44
movement.
00:37:57.64\00:37:59.15
Elijah's a symbol
00:37:59.55\00:38:00.90
of a world-wide people.
00:38:01.00\00:38:02.66
Now notice what he says
00:38:02.82\00:38:04.15
in a loud voice:
00:38:04.25\00:38:05.78
By the way, that in the Bible is
00:38:07.14\00:38:08.34
coupled with keeping God's
00:38:08.45\00:38:09.83
commandments all
throughout the Bible.
00:38:09.93\00:38:11.82
Does this first angel's
message restore the gospel?
00:38:27.14\00:38:31.53
It most certainly does.
00:38:31.83\00:38:33.29
Does this first angel's
message restore the commandments
00:38:33.59\00:38:37.19
of God? Yes! In fact, when you
get to the 3rd angel's message
00:38:37.29\00:38:41.32
we find that it says:
"Here are they who... " What?
00:38:41.52\00:38:45.43
"who keep the
commandments of God
00:38:45.63\00:38:47.52
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. "
00:38:47.72\00:38:49.61
Does this first
message restore true worship?
00:38:49.91\00:38:52.68
Yes, because it says:
"Worship Him who made the
00:38:52.98\00:38:55.61
heavens, the earth, the seas,
and the fountains of waters. "
00:38:55.71\00:38:59.21
The purpose of this message
is to go to all of the world
00:38:59.51\00:39:02.42
to prepare a bride
for the great marriage
00:39:02.63\00:39:05.80
of Jesus with His people.
00:39:06.00\00:39:08.03
By the way, the
second angel's message
00:39:08.43\00:39:11.25
warns people that
Babylon is fallen.
00:39:12.41\00:39:16.36
And in a moment we're going to
notice that Babylon has 3 parts.
00:39:16.66\00:39:19.51
Babylon is fallen and
people are supposed to leave
00:39:19.81\00:39:23.52
Babylon and join
God's remnant people
00:39:23.62\00:39:27.35
so that at the end of
time they can participate
00:39:27.55\00:39:30.86
in that great marriage
between Jesus and His people.
00:39:31.06\00:39:36.32
Now let me ask you this:
00:39:37.66\00:39:39.49
do you suppose that the
devil is going to be angry
00:39:39.99\00:39:43.85
at this end-time matchmaker?
00:39:44.05\00:39:46.47
Absolutely.
00:39:47.60\00:39:49.46
Because the purpose of
this end-time matchmaker -
00:39:49.76\00:39:52.26
this end-time Elijah,
00:39:52.36\00:39:53.95
this world-wide movement
00:39:54.15\00:39:56.55
which prepares the way
for the great wedding of Jesus
00:39:56.85\00:40:00.61
with His people at
the very end of time -
00:40:00.82\00:40:02.92
its purpose is
to prepare a bride
00:40:03.12\00:40:06.05
for the great marriage.
00:40:06.45\00:40:07.48
And the devil
hates that message!
00:40:07.78\00:40:10.12
And he hates what
the matchmaker does.
00:40:10.42\00:40:12.55
And so you would expect
that the end-time Elijah
00:40:13.49\00:40:16.45
would also have
how many enemies?
00:40:16.65\00:40:19.61
Now where did you
get that idea from?
00:40:19.71\00:40:21.95
The end-time Elijah
must also have three enemies.
00:40:23.24\00:40:26.24
Now let's examine if the book
of Revelation speaks about 3.
00:40:26.54\00:40:31.08
Go with me to Revelation
chapter 16 and verse 13.
00:40:31.38\00:40:35.87
Revelation
chapter 16 and verse 13.
00:40:36.17\00:40:38.82
Previously in this seminar
we've studied about the beast;
00:40:39.02\00:40:41.74
we've studied about his image;
00:40:41.94\00:40:44.25
and we've
studied about the dragon.
00:40:44.45\00:40:46.39
And so this will be just review.
00:40:46.69\00:40:48.70
I'm going to read it and
then I'm going to tell you
00:40:48.80\00:40:50.70
what these powers represent
00:40:50.80\00:40:52.75
because we've already
studied them in this seminar.
00:40:52.85\00:40:54.96
Revelation 16 and verse 13 says:
00:40:55.37\00:40:58.25
Let me just stop there a minute.
00:41:04.44\00:41:05.83
What are unclean spirits?
00:41:08.08\00:41:09.64
Evil spirits.
What are evil spirits?
00:41:12.12\00:41:14.31
Thank you. Fallen angels.
00:41:16.68\00:41:19.32
So how many unclean
spirits do you have?
00:41:19.82\00:41:22.38
How many unclean angels?
00:41:22.69\00:41:24.02
Three. How many angels
messages does God send?
00:41:24.42\00:41:27.67
Three. What do the angels
use to proclaim God's message?
00:41:28.17\00:41:32.48
With a loud what? Voice.
00:41:32.68\00:41:34.82
Where do these
spirits come from?
00:41:35.99\00:41:38.28
From the mouth. These are
the counterfeit three angels.
00:41:38.78\00:41:42.42
So if you know what
the true three angels teach
00:41:42.62\00:41:44.57
you'll know what the counterfeit
ones are teaching as well.
00:41:44.77\00:41:47.07
So it says: "I saw
3 unclean spirits... "
00:41:48.25\00:41:50.54
How many powers is
Babylon composed of?
00:42:18.68\00:42:22.16
Three: the dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet.
00:42:22.56\00:42:26.83
Now because we've studied this
I'm just going to interpret it
00:42:27.23\00:42:30.21
for you. What is
represented by the dragon?
00:42:30.31\00:42:33.38
We know that the
dragon represents Satan
00:42:33.88\00:42:37.57
in a primary sense.
00:42:37.98\00:42:39.97
But in a secondary sense
the dragon represents the civil
00:42:40.28\00:42:44.48
powers of the world.
For example, in Revelation
00:42:44.58\00:42:47.89
chapter 12 you have this dragon
that stands next to the woman
00:42:47.99\00:42:51.33
to devour her Child as
soon as the Child is born.
00:42:51.53\00:42:55.79
Let me ask you:
what power was that?
00:42:56.09\00:42:58.87
It was the empire of Rome.
The dragon represents Rome.
00:42:59.07\00:43:04.68
In Ezekiel 29 and verse 3
00:43:05.18\00:43:07.42
Pharaoh is called
"the great dragon. "
00:43:07.62\00:43:10.61
In other words, we
find here a reference
00:43:11.01\00:43:14.01
in the dragon to
the kings of the earth
00:43:14.31\00:43:17.76
and the whole world. But
then we also have the beast.
00:43:17.96\00:43:21.22
What does the beast represent?
00:43:21.62\00:43:23.54
We've already studied that
it represents the Roman Catholic
00:43:23.95\00:43:26.95
papacy. And what does
the false prophet represent?
00:43:27.35\00:43:32.12
It represents
apostate Protestantism.
00:43:32.42\00:43:36.19
Now let me ask you:
is the end time scenario
00:43:36.59\00:43:39.71
going to look a lot
like the scenario in the days
00:43:39.91\00:43:43.17
of John the Baptist and in
the days of the prophet Elijah?
00:43:43.27\00:43:48.52
Absolutely.
00:43:48.65\00:43:50.17
By the way, in Revelation 17
00:43:50.47\00:43:53.20
these powers are
called by a different name.
00:43:53.40\00:43:56.42
And I'm not going to read
the text because you've read it
00:43:57.42\00:44:00.40
and you know
what I'm referring to.
00:44:00.70\00:44:01.90
Revelation chapter 17
speaks about a great harlot.
00:44:02.11\00:44:08.08
She's seated on many waters
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.39
which represents what?
Multitudes, nations, tongues,
00:44:12.49\00:44:16.46
and peoples.
00:44:16.66\00:44:17.87
What does a woman
represent in prophecy?
00:44:17.97\00:44:20.05
Represents an
apostate church in this case
00:44:20.35\00:44:24.03
because it's a vile, adulterous
00:44:24.23\00:44:26.13
woman... the great harlot.
00:44:26.23\00:44:28.06
Now you'll notice that she's
00:44:28.36\00:44:30.05
called "the mother of harlots"
00:44:30.15\00:44:32.73
which must mean
that she has what?
00:44:33.04\00:44:34.92
That she has daughters.
00:44:35.32\00:44:37.05
And she commits
fornication with whom?
00:44:37.35\00:44:40.14
With the kings of the earth.
00:44:40.44\00:44:42.24
And so you have the same
idea as in the Elijah story
00:44:42.64\00:44:46.40
in the Old Testament as
well as the New Testament
00:44:46.60\00:44:49.67
Elijah story in
John the Baptist.
00:44:49.88\00:44:51.83
You have a harlot
woman. She moves the strings
00:44:52.23\00:44:55.11
according to Revelation 17.
00:44:55.21\00:44:57.02
She's the dangerous figure.
She uses the kings of the world
00:44:57.32\00:45:00.55
and she uses her daughters or
the image or the false prophet
00:45:00.85\00:45:05.19
to accomplish her purposes.
00:45:05.39\00:45:07.41
And folks, as we look out at
what's happening in the world
00:45:07.61\00:45:10.48
today - particularly in
the United States of America -
00:45:10.58\00:45:13.85
we can certainly see this being
fulfilled before our very eyes.
00:45:13.88\00:45:18.50
How the papacy,
uniting with Protestantism,
00:45:18.80\00:45:23.23
is trying to influence
the rulers of the world
00:45:23.43\00:45:27.19
to accomplish their purposes.
00:45:27.29\00:45:28.97
And folks, it will finally
end up in the persecution
00:45:29.17\00:45:33.04
against the
matchmaker... against Elijah.
00:45:33.24\00:45:36.98
By the way, do you
know that we can very easily
00:45:37.95\00:45:42.90
determine who is on God's side
and who is not on God's side
00:45:43.20\00:45:46.86
in the end time?
00:45:46.96\00:45:48.28
You know, it's so simple.
00:45:49.10\00:45:50.58
The people who proclaim the same
message that Elijah preached
00:45:51.55\00:45:54.89
are on God's side.
00:45:55.09\00:45:56.27
So if the people are
preaching the everlasting gospel
00:45:57.29\00:46:01.81
and they're preaching
that we're supposed to keep
00:46:02.87\00:46:04.77
the commandments of
God which the devil hates,
00:46:04.88\00:46:07.03
the dragon hates them,
00:46:07.23\00:46:08.67
and if we're preaching
that you're supposed to worship
00:46:09.07\00:46:11.29
the Creator on His holy Sabbath,
00:46:11.49\00:46:13.74
you know that
those are on God's side.
00:46:13.94\00:46:16.58
So it doesn't take a
rocket scientist to figure out
00:46:17.67\00:46:20.33
that those who say that the
commandments have been changed
00:46:20.53\00:46:24.24
and that you don't have to
keep the Sabbath, you can keep
00:46:24.45\00:46:26.52
a substitute day are on
the other side of the equation.
00:46:26.62\00:46:30.37
Are you following me?
00:46:30.47\00:46:31.55
There's another way in
which you can determine
00:46:31.75\00:46:33.46
whether you're on
God's side or not.
00:46:33.66\00:46:35.03
If you are persecuTED,
you are on God's side.
00:46:35.44\00:46:39.29
If you are with the persecuTORs,
00:46:39.88\00:46:42.49
you are on the devil's side.
00:46:42.69\00:46:44.16
It's that simple...
it's not complicated.
00:46:44.46\00:46:47.12
In the end time,
those on God's side
00:46:47.42\00:46:49.81
are not going to be all of
the people who have the power
00:46:50.01\00:46:52.94
of the government,
all of the people who have
00:46:53.14\00:46:55.12
their churches full.
No! Those on God's side
00:46:55.22\00:46:58.79
are those who are
going to be persecuted
00:46:58.99\00:47:01.30
for righteousness'
sake. So much for the idea
00:47:01.40\00:47:04.40
that Christians are
supposed to take over the world.
00:47:04.60\00:47:07.98
Now let me ask you: what is
the purpose of this end-time
00:47:09.13\00:47:12.71
Elijah? It is
to prepare the way.
00:47:12.92\00:47:17.78
It is to take
the necessary steps
00:47:18.18\00:47:22.77
to prepare the what?
To prepare the wedding
00:47:22.97\00:47:27.08
for Jesus with His people.
00:47:27.59\00:47:30.69
In fact, let's
notice a few references
00:47:31.09\00:47:33.49
in the New Testament to this.
00:47:33.79\00:47:36.22
Ephesians chapter 5
and verses 25 to 27.
00:47:36.52\00:47:40.29
Ephesians chapter
5 verses 25 to 27.
00:47:40.39\00:47:43.60
See, the purpose of a
matchmaker is to prepare a bride
00:47:43.80\00:47:46.33
for Jesus... a beautiful bride.
00:47:46.53\00:47:49.39
A virgin bride.
00:47:49.79\00:47:51.80
A hard-working bride.
00:47:52.20\00:47:54.61
A courteous and
tactful and loving bride
00:47:54.91\00:47:58.43
just like Rebekah
was in the Old Testament.
00:47:58.73\00:48:01.57
Now notice what it says
here... the apostle Paul:
00:48:01.87\00:48:04.69
By the way, the water represents
00:48:20.12\00:48:21.87
the Holy Spirit.
00:48:21.97\00:48:23.18
The Holy Spirit
washes the church
00:48:23.48\00:48:25.42
through what? Through the Word.
00:48:25.45\00:48:28.35
So what does the
three angels' message do?
00:48:53.86\00:48:56.99
It actually prepares
God's people to be what?
00:48:57.29\00:49:01.99
To be married to Jesus
Christ when Jesus Christ comes
00:49:02.19\00:49:07.50
and prepares a people who
are without spot or wrinkle
00:49:07.83\00:49:12.20
or any such thing
at the coming of Jesus.
00:49:12.40\00:49:15.42
And it's accomplished through
the medium of the Holy Spirit
00:49:15.72\00:49:19.45
through obedience to God's what?
Obedience to God's Holy Word.
00:49:19.65\00:49:25.14
Now let's notice Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11.
00:49:26.07\00:49:30.99
Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11.
00:49:31.29\00:49:35.02
Do you know that there's a
time when the door of probation
00:49:35.52\00:49:39.20
in this world is going to close?
00:49:39.41\00:49:41.60
The work of the
matchmaker will be finished
00:49:42.66\00:49:46.02
and everyone will be on
one side or on the other side.
00:49:46.52\00:49:51.59
They will either be
with God's bride without spot
00:49:51.89\00:49:56.99
or wrinkle or any such thing
00:49:57.19\00:49:59.39
or they will be on the
side of that other woman -
00:49:59.69\00:50:03.18
the harlot - who fornicates
with the kings of the earth.
00:50:03.38\00:50:06.83
There are only two
options, and the day is coming
00:50:07.13\00:50:09.71
when the door of probation
is going to close and God is
00:50:09.91\00:50:13.45
going to speak
these awesome words.
00:50:13.55\00:50:16.28
Notice Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11:
00:50:16.58\00:50:20.37
It says here: "He who is unjust
00:50:21.24\00:50:26.35
let him be unjust still. "
00:50:26.55\00:50:29.43
Now I need to
explain something to you
00:50:29.53\00:50:31.06
before we finish
reading this verse.
00:50:31.16\00:50:33.14
The King James
doesn't really capture
00:50:33.64\00:50:36.38
the meaning of the verb.
00:50:36.58\00:50:39.36
Really the verb
says "He who is... "
00:50:39.76\00:50:43.36
As it says here in
verse 11: "He who is unjust
00:50:43.56\00:50:48.13
let him be unjust still"
00:50:48.43\00:50:50.61
would be better
translated "He who is unjust
00:50:50.91\00:50:54.62
let him continue
to act unjustly. "
00:50:54.92\00:50:58.97
In other words, it
is a verb of action.
00:50:59.93\00:51:02.43
You can read the New
International Version.
00:51:02.63\00:51:04.01
It has the proper translation.
00:51:04.21\00:51:05.78
In other words, "He who is
unjust will continue to perform
00:51:06.18\00:51:09.89
unjust actions. "
Notice what it continues saying
00:51:09.92\00:51:13.84
there in verse 11:
00:51:13.94\00:51:15.29
"He who is filthy, let him
continue to act in a... " What?
00:51:16.81\00:51:22.79
"in a filthy way. "
00:51:22.99\00:51:24.85
By the way, is God's
bride filthy when Jesus comes?
00:51:25.25\00:51:28.95
No! We read in Ephesians 5
00:51:29.25\00:51:32.11
that Christ's bride has no
what? "No spot, no wrinkle, "
00:51:32.41\00:51:38.32
and then he says: "in
case I missed something
00:51:38.52\00:51:40.41
"or any such thing. "
00:51:40.61\00:51:42.50
In other words, the
message of the three angels
00:51:42.90\00:51:46.17
will have purified a
people and prepared them
00:51:46.37\00:51:49.80
for the coming of Jesus.
00:51:50.01\00:51:51.92
That was the purpose of
the message of John the Baptist
00:51:52.22\00:51:54.92
by the way as well.
00:51:55.12\00:51:56.70
Now notice what
it continues saying:
00:51:57.00\00:51:59.18
"He who is righteous, let
him continue to act righteously"
00:51:59.59\00:52:05.58
is the way that it
should be translated.
00:52:05.68\00:52:07.53
"And he who is holy,
let him continue to behave
00:52:07.83\00:52:12.35
in a holy manner. "
00:52:12.56\00:52:14.83
Let me ask you: was
Rebekah a woman of action?
00:52:15.33\00:52:21.11
Not only was she a
virgin in her state;
00:52:22.20\00:52:25.57
not only was she pure...
00:52:25.87\00:52:27.85
And by the way,
Isaac was monogamous.
00:52:27.95\00:52:30.66
He's one of those heroes in the
00:52:31.89\00:52:33.35
Old Testament who had only
00:52:33.45\00:52:34.92
one wife. Because Isaac
00:52:35.02\00:52:37.57
is a symbol of whom?
00:52:37.77\00:52:39.28
Is a symbol of Jesus
who marries only one bride.
00:52:39.48\00:52:43.37
You see, Babylon
fornicates with many.
00:52:43.77\00:52:46.25
But Jesus is married to one.
He's married to His pure church
00:52:46.55\00:52:52.41
who is clothed with the
sun and standing on the moon
00:52:52.61\00:52:55.95
and with a crown of
twelve stars on her head.
00:52:56.15\00:52:58.91
Victorious over sin;
victorious over Satan;
00:52:59.11\00:53:02.52
and victorious over the world.
00:53:02.72\00:53:04.72
And now I want you to
notice at the very end
00:53:05.12\00:53:09.18
once the church
has prepared herself
00:53:09.48\00:53:12.84
the idea that we find
in Revelation chapter 19
00:53:13.04\00:53:16.40
and verses 7 and 8.
00:53:16.60\00:53:18.82
Revelation 19:7-8.
00:53:19.12\00:53:22.23
Here it's speaking about
what Jesus is going to do
00:53:22.43\00:53:26.69
with His church.
Notice... it says there:
00:53:26.89\00:53:29.95
What was the word that was used
00:53:52.87\00:53:54.21
for the work of
John the Baptist?
00:53:54.35\00:53:55.96
To make a people what? Ready
for the coming of the Lord.
00:53:56.06\00:54:00.94
What is going to happen
when the three angels' messages
00:54:01.24\00:54:04.02
have done their work?
Jesus will have a people
00:54:04.13\00:54:09.19
who are what?
Ready! Now notice verse 8:
00:54:09.39\00:54:13.94
Let me ask you: does that sit
very well with what we just read
00:54:32.33\00:54:35.78
in Revelation 22 and verse 11?
00:54:35.98\00:54:37.85
You see, many people
think the only thing that counts
00:54:38.86\00:54:41.79
is the imputed
righteousness of Christ.
00:54:41.99\00:54:44.95
When you believe in
Jesus, when you repent,
00:54:45.26\00:54:47.49
when you confess your sin,
00:54:47.69\00:54:48.96
Jesus puts His
righteousness to your account
00:54:49.16\00:54:52.11
and God looks upon you
as if you have never sinned.
00:54:52.31\00:54:56.00
And praise the Lord
that is a great truth
00:54:56.30\00:54:59.18
of the gospel. That
is definitely Biblical,
00:54:59.28\00:55:02.21
but that is only half the story.
00:55:02.41\00:55:05.48
That is only half the gospel.
00:55:05.78\00:55:07.53
You say: "What do you mean? "
00:55:07.83\00:55:09.02
The fact is that if God credits
the righteousness to your
00:55:09.32\00:55:14.14
account as a result you will
show righteousness in your life.
00:55:14.24\00:55:20.09
If Jesus has imputed
His righteousness to you,
00:55:21.24\00:55:24.61
you must also be
willing to receive His what?
00:55:24.81\00:55:28.04
His imparted righteousness.
00:55:28.24\00:55:31.32
Because the same Lord
who justifies is the Lord who
00:55:31.62\00:55:35.15
sanctifies. And Jesus
will never justify someone
00:55:35.35\00:55:38.98
who is not
willing to be sanctified.
00:55:39.18\00:55:41.46
Is Jesus going to have a
justified church when He comes?
00:55:42.57\00:55:47.29
He most certainly is.
00:55:47.59\00:55:48.90
Is He going to have a
sanctified church when He comes?
00:55:49.20\00:55:52.18
Absolutely! He
will have a church
00:55:52.48\00:55:55.60
that has prepared itself.
It is ready for the great
00:55:55.80\00:55:59.12
wedding with Jesus
Christ, the Lord and the Savior.
00:55:59.32\00:56:02.93
And then do you know
what Jesus is going to do?
00:56:03.33\00:56:05.92
When He marries His
people... And by the way,
00:56:06.94\00:56:09.09
He marries His
people in absentia.
00:56:09.29\00:56:11.76
I'm not going to
get into that right now.
00:56:12.06\00:56:13.65
He marries His people
in the heavenly sanctuary
00:56:13.95\00:56:16.94
when probation closes.
When you hear those words
00:56:17.24\00:56:20.34
of Revelation 22 verse 11
that's the moment when the
00:56:20.55\00:56:23.32
marriage takes place. And
then Jesus is going to come.
00:56:23.52\00:56:26.57
The church is ready. He's
going to pick up the church
00:56:26.77\00:56:29.55
and He's going to take the
church to heaven... His bride!
00:56:29.75\00:56:32.73
And what's going to
be celebrated there?
00:56:33.03\00:56:35.11
Oh, the great reception:
the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
00:56:35.41\00:56:41.04
where God's people
will sit at the table
00:56:41.45\00:56:44.02
and Jesus Christ - the husband
- will come and He will be
00:56:44.22\00:56:49.59
the One to serve us.
00:56:49.69\00:56:52.76
Are you looking
forward to this time?
00:56:53.16\00:56:55.43
What do we need to
do in order to be ready?
00:56:56.56\00:56:59.28
We must pay heed to the
messages that God has given
00:57:00.24\00:57:05.58
in the book of Revelation.
00:57:05.78\00:57:07.42
We must learn to fear God.
00:57:07.72\00:57:09.43
Give glory to Him.
00:57:09.73\00:57:10.92
Realize we are now in
the hour of the judgment.
00:57:11.22\00:57:14.42
And worship the
Creator and flee from Babylon.
00:57:14.72\00:57:20.15
May that be our
experience is my prayer.
00:57:20.45\00:57:24.46