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
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and they had
much more experience.
00:10:05.93\00:10:07.80
Now what I'm going to read
is from our second textbook
00:10:08.04\00:10:11.57
in this seminar:
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:10:11.61\00:10:14.64
Our first textbook,
of course, is the Bible.
00:10:14.68\00:10:16.75
But the second textbook that
we've quoted quite a bit from
00:10:17.01\00:10:19.88
is the book
Patriarchs and Prophets.
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And even though this
doesn't have to do directly
00:10:21.92\00:10:24.72
with the subject that we're
studying because we're doing
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.32
an illustration of this
story of the Old Testament
00:10:27.46\00:10:30.63
as a type of Jesus Christ
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I felt it would be a good
idea to bring this quotation
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here into view because I feel
that it's extremely important.
00:10:36.80\00:10:40.30
Patriarchs and
Prophets page 175 says this
00:10:40.74\00:10:46.27
to young people today:
00:10:46.41\00:10:48.28
"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
00:11:02.32\00:11:05.33
that the bestowal
of their affections
00:11:05.46\00:11:08.63
is a matter in which self
alone should be consulted -
00:11:08.76\00:11:13.34
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
00:11:20.24\00:11:23.35
or womanhood they
think themselves competent
00:11:23.48\00:11:27.15
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
00:11:35.19\00:11:38.89
but often too late to
prevent its baleful results.
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For the same lack of
wisdom and self-control
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that dictated the hasty choice
00:11:48.87\00:11:51.04
is permitted to aggravate
the evil until the marriage
00:11:51.17\00:11:55.38
relation becomes a galling yoke.
00:11:55.41\00:11:59.45
Many have thus wrecked
their happiness in this life
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and their hope of
the life to come. "
00:12:03.95\00:12:07.29
Certainly is a wise thing
00:12:07.46\00:12:09.89
to have parents give some
input when it comes to the issue
00:12:10.03\00:12:14.86
of marriage.
00:12:15.00\00:12:16.26
And so Eliezer
- the matchmaker -
00:12:16.50\00:12:19.50
the servant of the father,
"ancient of days" Abraham
00:12:19.63\00:12:24.37
who is looking for a
wife for his son Isaac
00:12:24.54\00:12:27.71
travels to Heron from Canaan.
00:12:27.84\00:12:30.85
And when he arrives in Heron
00:12:31.81\00:12:34.02
he meets this beautiful,
00:12:34.15\00:12:37.92
industrious woman.
00:12:38.05\00:12:41.12
Notice what we find in
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16.
00:12:41.36\00:12:46.70
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16.
00:12:46.93\00:12:51.03
By the way, her name is
Rebekah... or was Rebekah.
00:12:51.27\00:12:55.54
It says here:
00:12:55.97\00:12:57.57
Because Eliezer said:
"Give me some water to drink. "
00:13:21.80\00:13:24.13
But she goes
even a step further.
00:13:24.37\00:13:26.47
She says: "I'll draw
water for your camels as well. "
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And so she draws
water for the camels.
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Now I want you to notice
what type of wife this is.
00:13:32.57\00:13:36.21
She is
beautiful; she is a virgin;
00:13:36.44\00:13:41.02
she is very industrious.
00:13:41.25\00:13:44.02
She is kind; she is courteous.
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She has all of the
qualities that one would desire
00:13:47.52\00:13:51.29
in a wife. And then, of course,
you have the wedding itself.
00:13:51.43\00:13:56.30
She accepts the
idea of marrying Isaac.
00:13:56.53\00:14:00.97
And we are told in
Genesis chapter 24 and verse 67
00:14:01.20\00:14:06.51
that when Rebekah
arrived with Eliezer
00:14:06.64\00:14:09.51
back in the land of
Canaan "Then Isaac brought her
00:14:09.64\00:14:14.08
into his mother Sarah's tent.
00:14:14.22\00:14:16.89
And he took Rebekah
and she became his wife
00:14:17.12\00:14:21.79
and he loved her. "
00:14:21.92\00:14:24.59
Now let's review the
main points of this story.
00:14:24.83\00:14:29.10
You have Abraham...
the "ancient of days, "
00:14:29.43\00:14:33.67
a symbol of God the Father
00:14:33.90\00:14:36.24
sending his servant Eliezer -
00:14:36.47\00:14:40.44
the matchmaker
or the go-between -
00:14:40.61\00:14:43.55
to make arrangements
or to prepare the way
00:14:43.68\00:14:47.48
for the
marriage of his son Isaac
00:14:47.62\00:14:51.42
to a very beautiful woman
00:14:51.65\00:14:54.09
from his
kindred, very industrious,
00:14:54.22\00:14:57.86
a virgin, very hard worker
00:14:57.99\00:15:01.23
and also very
respectful and kind.
00:15:01.36\00:15:05.07
Now what does
this have to teach us?
00:15:05.50\00:15:08.80
Well as you know
in the Old Testament
00:15:09.14\00:15:12.57
marriage was used as a
symbol of the relationship
00:15:12.71\00:15:17.38
between God and His people.
00:15:17.51\00:15:18.91
Allow me just to mention a
few things about God's marriage
00:15:19.15\00:15:23.35
with Israel in
the Old Testament.
00:15:23.49\00:15:25.52
I'm only going to
mention it in passing
00:15:26.42\00:15:28.86
and I'm not going to
read it from scripture.
00:15:28.89\00:15:30.49
But in Exodus chapter 19
00:15:30.63\00:15:33.53
you have the preparation of
Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai
00:15:33.66\00:15:38.90
to receive the covenant
or the Ten Commandments.
00:15:39.03\00:15:42.77
Do you know that
there at Mt. Sinai
00:15:43.24\00:15:45.87
there was a matchmaker?
00:15:46.01\00:15:47.64
A go-between
between God and Israel?
00:15:47.78\00:15:52.45
You say: "Who was
that go-between? "
00:15:52.58\00:15:54.55
It was actually Moses.
00:15:54.78\00:15:57.75
If you read Exodus chapter
19 you're going to discover
00:15:57.99\00:16:01.56
that Moses went up to the
mount and in verses 4 through 6
00:16:01.72\00:16:07.50
God says to Moses: "I
want to make a covenant
00:16:07.60\00:16:11.67
with Israel. You tell them
that if they listen to My voice
00:16:11.80\00:16:16.10
and they keep My covenant
00:16:16.24\00:16:18.27
they're going to
be My special people.
00:16:18.41\00:16:20.91
I want to make a
covenant with them. "
00:16:21.04\00:16:22.91
And by the way, I'm
going to read in a moment
00:16:23.14\00:16:24.78
that this was a
marriage covenant.
00:16:24.91\00:16:27.18
And then, of course, Moses...
he brings the message down
00:16:27.62\00:16:31.02
from Mt. Sinai and
he comes to the people
00:16:31.15\00:16:33.66
and he says to the people:
"Folks, God wants to make
00:16:33.79\00:16:37.49
a covenant with you folks.
00:16:37.63\00:16:40.13
He says that if you listen to
His voice and keep His covenant
00:16:40.36\00:16:44.40
that you will be His
favored people; that you will be
00:16:44.53\00:16:48.10
His bride. Do you
accept? Yes or no? "
00:16:48.14\00:16:51.77
And Israel said: "We do. "
00:16:52.01\00:16:54.68
And so once again
in this story you have
00:16:55.01\00:16:58.18
what the story of
Abraham illustrated.
00:16:58.31\00:17:01.52
The story of Abraham
illustrated what happened
00:17:01.88\00:17:04.59
with Israel at Mt. Sinai.
00:17:04.62\00:17:06.79
Moses is the one who makes
the arrangement, who is the
00:17:07.02\00:17:10.76
messenger of God to Israel
00:17:10.79\00:17:13.19
to get Israel to be
willing to marry God.
00:17:13.33\00:17:17.00
And by the way, the God here
is none less than Jesus Christ
00:17:17.23\00:17:21.64
Himself. Now you're saying:
"But that covenant at Sinai...
00:17:21.67\00:17:25.51
are you sure that that
was a marriage covenant? "
00:17:25.64\00:17:27.94
Absolutely. Go with me
to Jeremiah chapter 31.
00:17:28.18\00:17:32.65
Jeremiah chapter 31.
00:17:32.88\00:17:35.85
And let's notice how
this covenant at Mt. Sinai
00:17:36.08\00:17:39.79
is described.
00:17:39.92\00:17:41.19
Jeremiah chapter 31 and I
would like to read verse 32.
00:17:41.42\00:17:46.93
Actually let's
begin at verse 31.
00:17:47.13\00:17:49.16
It says here:
"Behold, the days are coming
00:17:50.30\00:17:52.90
says the Lord when I
will make a new covenant
00:17:53.03\00:17:56.60
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
00:17:56.74\00:18:00.21
Not according to the covenant
that I made with their fathers
00:18:00.44\00:18:04.28
in the day that I
took them by the hand
00:18:04.51\00:18:07.22
to lead them out of
the land of Egypt. "
00:18:07.38\00:18:11.65
See, that's the covenant
that they made at Sinai.
00:18:11.89\00:18:14.69
Notice what it continues saying:
00:18:14.92\00:18:16.49
"My covenant which
they broke, though I was
00:18:16.83\00:18:21.40
a... " What? "though I was
00:18:21.63\00:18:23.77
a husband to
them says the Lord. "
00:18:23.90\00:18:28.04
And so the story of Abraham
00:18:28.37\00:18:31.57
is really a
prefiguring or an illustration
00:18:31.81\00:18:35.01
of what happened at Mt. Sinai.
00:18:35.14\00:18:37.81
You see, God the Father wants
Israel to marry Jesus Christ
00:18:38.05\00:18:43.69
as their Lord.
00:18:43.82\00:18:44.99
And God sent Moses
with a message to Israel
00:18:45.02\00:18:48.29
as the go-between or
the matchmaker, and Israel
00:18:48.42\00:18:52.19
said: "We do. " By
the way, did you notice
00:18:52.33\00:18:55.63
that at Sinai God
married Israel. He did not marry
00:18:55.66\00:18:59.00
the Gentile nations?
00:18:59.03\00:19:00.80
Just like in
the story of Abraham
00:19:01.04\00:19:03.97
the wife had to be from
among the chosen people.
00:19:04.21\00:19:08.14
The same way Israel
was God's chosen people
00:19:08.48\00:19:11.85
and Jesus makes a
covenant marriage with them.
00:19:11.98\00:19:15.18
But folks, this marriage
of Israel with Jesus Christ at
00:19:15.82\00:19:20.49
Mt. Sinai is also an illus-
tration of a greater marriage
00:19:20.52\00:19:25.53
to take place
later on in history.
00:19:25.66\00:19:28.86
I'm referring to the
marriage of Jesus Christ
00:19:29.20\00:19:33.34
with Israel when
Jesus came to this world
00:19:33.47\00:19:37.04
the first time. Now
let's take a look at that.
00:19:37.17\00:19:40.58
Go with me to John chapter
1 and verses 6 through 9.
00:19:40.91\00:19:46.92
Let me ask you: did
God the Father want Jesus
00:19:47.05\00:19:52.15
His Son to marry Israel
00:19:52.29\00:19:55.79
when Jesus came to this world?
00:19:56.12\00:19:58.19
Absolutely.
00:19:58.43\00:20:00.06
We're going to find marriage
terminology in the gospels.
00:20:00.30\00:20:03.73
But let me ask you:
did God send a go-between
00:20:03.97\00:20:07.40
or a matchmaker
to prepare the way?
00:20:07.54\00:20:10.64
A matchmaker or a go-between
00:20:10.77\00:20:14.98
to prepare the
bride for the husband?
00:20:15.11\00:20:18.48
Absolutely.
00:20:18.71\00:20:20.15
Notice John chapter 1
and verses 6 through 9.
00:20:20.28\00:20:25.72
By the way,
Eliezer was not the heir.
00:20:25.95\00:20:30.09
And this individual
we're going to talk about now
00:20:30.63\00:20:33.40
was not the heir either.
00:20:33.43\00:20:35.06
It says there in John
1 and verses 6 through 9:
00:20:35.20\00:20:38.37
Could we say that Eliezer
was actually a minor figure
00:21:08.16\00:21:14.20
in the marriage story
of Isaac with Rebekah?
00:21:14.34\00:21:17.94
Could you say that Eliezer
00:21:18.27\00:21:19.91
must decrease that Isaac might
00:21:20.04\00:21:22.78
increase? Absolutely.
00:21:22.91\00:21:25.15
Because at the center of the
00:21:25.28\00:21:26.41
story is not
Eliezer - the matchmaker.
00:21:26.45\00:21:29.18
At the center of the
story is whom? Is Isaac
00:21:29.32\00:21:33.09
who is going to marry Rebekah.
00:21:33.22\00:21:35.36
The same is true
with this individual
00:21:35.49\00:21:38.36
whom of course we
know is John the Baptist.
00:21:38.49\00:21:42.00
Now go with me to Luke
chapter 1 and verses 16-17.
00:21:42.23\00:21:47.20
Luke chapter 1 verses 16 and 17.
00:21:47.44\00:21:51.97
When Jesus comes who
is He going to marry?
00:21:53.51\00:21:56.68
Is He going to marry the
Gentiles? Or is He going to
00:21:56.91\00:22:00.22
marry the chosen people?
00:22:00.25\00:22:02.28
He's going to
marry the chosen people.
00:22:02.52\00:22:04.89
Now notice Luke
chapter 1 and verses 16 and 17.
00:22:05.12\00:22:10.03
Speaking about John the Baptist:
00:22:10.86\00:22:12.99
What was the
mission of John the Baptist?
00:22:44.66\00:22:47.03
Was he the go-between?
Was he the matchmaker
00:22:47.13\00:22:50.20
to prepare a
bride for Jesus Christ?
00:22:50.33\00:22:53.37
Absolutely! From
among the chosen people.
00:22:53.60\00:22:56.47
Yes according to the story.
00:22:56.71\00:22:58.67
Now notice also Matthew
chapter 3 and verses 1 to 3.
00:22:58.91\00:23:03.91
Matthew chapter 3
and verses 1 to 3.
00:23:03.95\00:23:07.88
Here once again we find the idea
00:23:09.02\00:23:11.55
of John the
Baptist preparing the way
00:23:11.69\00:23:15.09
for the coming of the
Messiah. Preparing a people
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.99
to be ready for
when Messiah comes.
00:23:18.13\00:23:20.33
It says there in Matthew 3:1:
00:23:20.56\00:23:23.16
Now you're probably saying:
"OK, John the Baptist was there
00:23:53.36\00:23:56.97
to prepare the way of the Lord,
00:23:57.10\00:23:58.87
but there's no reference
directly to marriage in there. "
00:23:59.00\00:24:03.57
Go with me to the
gospel of John chapter 3
00:24:03.81\00:24:07.91
and verses 29 and 30.
00:24:08.04\00:24:10.75
John 3:29-30.
00:24:11.08\00:24:13.98
Here we find the
clear connection or link
00:24:14.22\00:24:17.82
between this story and the
story of the Old Testament,
00:24:17.95\00:24:21.86
of Genesis... the
story of Abraham and Isaac
00:24:22.09\00:24:25.29
and Eliezer and Rebekah.
00:24:25.53\00:24:27.40
Here John the Baptist is speak-
ing, and notice what he says:
00:24:27.83\00:24:31.60
Was John the Baptist the heir?
00:25:05.80\00:25:09.94
John the Baptist
WAS NOT the heir.
00:25:10.17\00:25:12.54
Who was the heir?
00:25:12.77\00:25:14.28
To Abraham and his
seed were the promises made.
00:25:14.41\00:25:18.18
It does not say
to seeds as to many
00:25:18.31\00:25:21.52
but to your Seed who is Christ.
00:25:21.75\00:25:25.09
The promises belong to Jesus.
00:25:25.32\00:25:27.82
In other words, just like
Eliezer could not be the heir
00:25:28.06\00:25:32.39
because he did not come from
his father, John the Baptist
00:25:32.53\00:25:36.56
could not bring about
the marriage. He could not be
00:25:36.70\00:25:41.37
the one who would inherit
or marry because he was only
00:25:41.40\00:25:45.17
the matchmaker.
He was the go-between
00:25:45.31\00:25:47.88
to prepare a people
to marry Jesus Christ.
00:25:48.01\00:25:51.61
Now there's an added detail
in the story of John the Baptist
00:25:52.48\00:25:55.82
which is not found in
the Old Testament story.
00:25:55.98\00:25:58.52
And that is that when
John the Baptist appears...
00:25:59.12\00:26:02.42
By the way, did you
notice that his name is Elijah?
00:26:02.56\00:26:05.33
Elijah is the one who prepares
the way. He's the matchmaker.
00:26:05.56\00:26:09.50
He's the go-between.
He's the friend of the groom
00:26:09.63\00:26:12.67
or the best man.
Now when Elijah appears
00:26:12.80\00:26:16.14
as the one who prepares the way,
00:26:16.27\00:26:19.07
three enemies always
appear along with him
00:26:19.97\00:26:24.78
to try and get rid of him.
00:26:24.91\00:26:27.02
Now let's go to the gospel of
Mark chapter 6 and verses 17-28.
00:26:27.98\00:26:34.06
And we'll have to go
through this quickly.
00:26:34.19\00:26:36.29
Mark chapter 6 and
verses 17 through 28.
00:26:36.52\00:26:39.59
Now before we read this
passage I want to remind you
00:26:39.73\00:26:44.10
about something. Mark
6 verses 17 through 28.
00:26:44.23\00:26:48.34
I want to remind you
about the Elijah story
00:26:48.47\00:26:50.21
in the Old Testament.
00:26:50.34\00:26:51.77
How many enemies did Elijah
have in the Old Testament?
00:26:52.61\00:26:55.58
He had three basic enemies.
00:26:57.61\00:26:59.71
The first one was
Ahab. What was he?
00:26:59.85\00:27:02.68
The king.
00:27:02.92\00:27:04.35
The second one was Jezebel.
00:27:04.79\00:27:08.32
She was a harlot queen.
00:27:08.56\00:27:11.29
She's called a harlot in II
Kings chapter 9 and verse 22
00:27:12.39\00:27:16.53
by the way. It
speaks about her harlotry.
00:27:16.56\00:27:20.07
And a third enemy of Elijah
is actually a group of people:
00:27:20.34\00:27:23.91
the prophets of
Jezebel who do her bidding,
00:27:24.14\00:27:28.68
who eat at her table.
00:27:28.91\00:27:30.48
And so you have three enemies.
00:27:30.71\00:27:32.31
And by the way, who is the
dangerous figure in this story
00:27:32.45\00:27:35.35
of Elijah? Is it Ahab?
00:27:35.58\00:27:38.49
No... Ahab was a wimp.
00:27:38.62\00:27:41.22
Excuse me for
using that expression.
00:27:41.46\00:27:43.43
He had a character like putty.
00:27:43.66\00:27:44.79
It could be very
easily molded by Jezebel.
00:27:44.83\00:27:48.46
Were the prophets of Baal in
themselves a threat to Elijah?
00:27:48.60\00:27:52.43
No. The threat to
Elijah was found in whom?
00:27:52.67\00:27:56.14
In Jezebel... this harlot queen.
00:27:56.37\00:27:59.57
And of course she
maneuvered to work upon the king
00:27:59.81\00:28:02.61
and to work upon the
false prophets of Baal
00:28:02.74\00:28:06.75
to try and get rid of Elijah.
00:28:06.88\00:28:10.19
And by the way,
Elijah's message was a message
00:28:10.62\00:28:13.82
calling Israel to restore
the gospel because it says that
00:28:13.96\00:28:17.59
he built the altar of the
Lord which had been torn down.
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.73
Elijah also restore true worship
00:28:21.06\00:28:24.00
because he
rebuked Ahab. He said:
00:28:24.23\00:28:27.10
"You have abandoned
the commandments of God
00:28:27.24\00:28:30.44
and the worship of God and
you are worshipping Baal. "
00:28:30.57\00:28:35.11
In other words,
Elijah restored three things:
00:28:35.44\00:28:38.11
the gospel, the sacrifice
of the lamb on the altar -
00:28:38.35\00:28:42.05
he restored true worship,
00:28:42.18\00:28:43.85
and he restored the
commandments of God.
00:28:43.99\00:28:46.32
And that got him the
wrath of this three-fold union:
00:28:46.55\00:28:50.86
Ahab, Jezebel,
00:28:51.09\00:28:53.09
and the false prophets of Baal.
00:28:53.23\00:28:55.83
Now if John the Baptist
00:28:56.16\00:28:58.43
is the New Testament Elijah,
00:28:58.57\00:29:00.80
which he is... By
the way, three times
00:29:00.94\00:29:03.41
we find this in
the New Testament.
00:29:03.44\00:29:05.01
In Luke 1:16-17;
00:29:05.14\00:29:07.48
Matthew 11:11-14;
00:29:07.61\00:29:10.38
and Matthew 17:10-13.
00:29:10.61\00:29:13.28
All three passages identify
John the Baptist as Elijah.
00:29:13.52\00:29:16.95
By the way, not Elijah in person
00:29:16.99\00:29:19.09
but one who
fulfills the work of Elijah.
00:29:19.22\00:29:22.52
Now if John the
Baptist is Elijah so to speak,
00:29:22.76\00:29:27.30
do you suppose that his
three enemies will also appear
00:29:27.56\00:29:30.77
along with him? Obviously.
00:29:30.90\00:29:33.94
Are they going to try
and get rid of the matchmaker
00:29:34.17\00:29:38.17
so that he cannot prepare
the bride for the husband?
00:29:38.31\00:29:41.68
Absolutely.
00:29:41.91\00:29:43.21
Let's notice this passage
beginning at verse 17. It says:
00:29:43.45\00:29:49.22
Whom had he married?
00:30:04.40\00:30:06.13
His brother's wife.
00:30:06.37\00:30:07.67
What is that called?
00:30:07.70\00:30:08.97
That's called
adultery by the way.
00:30:09.20\00:30:11.61
And according to
this passage here
00:30:11.84\00:30:16.78
Herod did not throw John in
prison because Herod hated John
00:30:16.91\00:30:20.95
but because Herodias hated John.
00:30:21.18\00:30:23.49
Did you notice that?
Now let's go to verse 18:
00:30:23.62\00:30:27.42
Did he rebuke fornication?
00:30:35.33\00:30:37.40
Yes he did.
00:30:37.63\00:30:38.97
By the way, did John the Baptist
00:30:39.20\00:30:40.47
restore the gospel?
00:30:40.50\00:30:42.34
How did he introduce Jesus?
00:30:42.47\00:30:44.24
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:30:44.37\00:30:46.81
who takes away the
sin of the world. "
00:30:46.94\00:30:48.34
And he restored the seventh
commandment according to this.
00:30:48.48\00:30:51.31
He actually upheld
the commandments of God.
00:30:51.55\00:30:54.02
Now notice verse 19:
00:30:54.45\00:30:56.52
Was Herod a dangerous figure?
00:31:16.27\00:31:18.91
Absolutely not. By the
way, what was his function?
00:31:19.14\00:31:22.18
He was the king.
00:31:22.41\00:31:23.81
Was there a king in
the Old Testament story?
00:31:23.95\00:31:25.95
Absolutely. In both
cases you have a king.
00:31:26.08\00:31:28.95
In both cases do you
have an adulterous woman?
00:31:29.18\00:31:32.45
You most certainly do.
00:31:32.79\00:31:34.36
Does the adulterous woman
in both cases want the death
00:31:34.59\00:31:37.93
of the matchmaker? Absolutely.
00:31:38.06\00:31:40.50
Now let's go to verse 21:
00:31:40.73\00:31:42.26
Opportune for whom?
00:31:45.50\00:31:46.87
For Herodias.
00:31:47.00\00:31:48.54
Oh, now we have a third
00:31:59.78\00:32:01.05
protagonist.
00:32:01.08\00:32:02.32
Now did this young lady have
00:32:26.17\00:32:27.51
a mind of her own?
00:32:27.54\00:32:28.84
Or was she a copy of her mother?
00:32:29.54\00:32:31.98
Did she do the
biddings of her mother?
00:32:32.81\00:32:34.98
Just like the prophets of Baal
did the biddings of Jezebel?
00:32:35.22\00:32:38.32
Absolutely!
00:32:38.45\00:32:39.85
She was an image of
her mother if you please.
00:32:40.09\00:32:43.49
Verse 24:
00:32:43.73\00:32:45.39
By the way, I want you to notice
00:32:48.63\00:32:50.17
the terminology:
00:32:50.20\00:32:51.37
king, mother, daughter.
00:32:51.50\00:32:54.24
King, mother, daughter.
00:32:54.57\00:32:58.01
Very significant when we come
00:32:58.24\00:32:59.87
to the end-time application
00:32:59.91\00:33:01.58
of this. Verse 24 once again:
00:33:01.61\00:33:04.35
Now what would you do
00:33:12.02\00:33:13.62
if your daughter asked for the
00:33:13.86\00:33:16.09
head of Pastor Bohr?
00:33:16.12\00:33:17.73
I'll bet you would say:
"What are you talking about? "
00:33:17.93\00:33:23.16
I... I... at
least I hope you would.
00:33:24.03\00:33:26.27
But I want you to notice
that the daughter was just like
00:33:28.10\00:33:30.94
her mother. Notice verse 25:
00:33:30.97\00:33:34.64
Was he just like Ahab?
00:33:57.80\00:33:59.20
Was his character just like Ahab
00:33:59.33\00:34:00.77
in the Old Testament?
00:34:00.80\00:34:01.97
Absolutely.
00:34:02.00\00:34:03.54
Now notice verse 27:
00:34:03.57\00:34:06.31
Who is the dangerous
figure in this story?
00:34:27.60\00:34:29.83
The dangerous
figure is the mother.
00:34:30.17\00:34:32.60
She's the one who ends
up slaying the matchmaker.
00:34:32.73\00:34:36.44
Now let me ask you:
does this all have an
00:34:38.71\00:34:41.44
end-time application?
It most certainly does.
00:34:41.48\00:34:45.15
You see, we have
typology functioning here.
00:34:45.48\00:34:48.38
The story of Abraham sending
Eliezer to prepare the way
00:34:48.62\00:34:54.06
or to make arrangements
for the marriage of his son
00:34:54.19\00:34:58.83
is actually
symbolic of God sending Moses
00:34:58.96\00:35:03.20
to arrange the marriage
between Jesus and Israel.
00:35:03.33\00:35:07.40
Also it illustrates God sending
John the Baptist to prepare
00:35:07.57\00:35:12.87
the way or make arrangements
for the marriage of Jesus
00:35:12.91\00:35:16.54
to Israel. And you have
the enemy of the matchmaker.
00:35:16.68\00:35:20.62
Now I want you to
notice that we are to expect
00:35:21.52\00:35:24.12
an end-time Elijah.
00:35:24.25\00:35:26.15
Notice Malachi
chapter 4 and verses 5 and 6.
00:35:26.39\00:35:30.49
Malachi chapter 4
and verses 5 and 6.
00:35:30.73\00:35:35.10
You see, John the Baptist
does not exhaust the Elijah
00:35:35.33\00:35:40.10
prophecy of the Old Testament.
00:35:40.14\00:35:42.17
It says there in Malachi 4:5-6
00:35:42.40\00:35:45.81
Does God promise to send Elijah
right before the second coming
00:36:08.60\00:36:14.07
of Jesus Christ? Yes.
00:36:14.10\00:36:16.10
Do you suppose that the purpose
00:36:16.34\00:36:18.37
of that Elijah is to be the
00:36:18.51\00:36:20.61
matchmaker to prepare a people
00:36:20.64\00:36:23.58
to make them ready to marry
00:36:23.71\00:36:26.18
Jesus? Absolutely!
00:36:26.31\00:36:29.18
Now let's pursue that.
00:36:29.42\00:36:31.65
Where is the message
of this end-time Elijah?
00:36:31.99\00:36:36.02
Remember the
message of the first Elijah?
00:36:36.26\00:36:38.89
Restored the gospel
by restoring the altar
00:36:39.66\00:36:43.57
where the sacrifices were made.
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.13
He restored true worship
by rebuking the worship of
00:36:45.37\00:36:49.54
Baal the sun god.
00:36:49.67\00:36:51.14
And he said: "You
have troubled Israel
00:36:51.37\00:36:54.04
because you have
broken the commandments of God
00:36:54.18\00:36:56.58
and followed the Baals. "
00:36:56.81\00:36:58.31
Three things: the gospel,
worship, and the commandments.
00:36:58.55\00:37:02.32
Would you expect
this end-time Elijah
00:37:02.55\00:37:05.02
to have a very similar message?
00:37:05.15\00:37:06.96
Absolutely. Where do
we find that message?
00:37:07.19\00:37:10.33
We find that message
in Revelation 14:6-12.
00:37:10.56\00:37:16.53
Notice Revelation
14 verses 6 and 7:
00:37:16.67\00:37:20.37
the message that prepares a
bride for the great marriage
00:37:20.60\00:37:25.41
of Jesus with His
people at the end of time.
00:37:25.54\00:37:28.44
It says there in
Revelation 14 verse 6:
00:37:28.71\00:37:31.85
This shows that this cannot be
00:37:48.06\00:37:49.86
one person because one person
00:37:49.90\00:37:51.47
can't take the message to every
00:37:51.50\00:37:53.74
nation, kindred, tongue,
00:37:53.77\00:37:55.14
and people. This is a world-wide
00:37:55.17\00:37:57.41
movement.
00:37:57.54\00:37:59.11
Elijah's a symbol
00:37:59.44\00:38:00.88
of a world-wide people.
00:38:00.91\00:38:02.68
Now notice what he says
00:38:02.71\00:38:04.11
in a loud voice:
00:38:04.15\00:38:05.75
By the way, that in the Bible is
00:38:07.05\00:38:08.32
coupled with keeping God's
00:38:08.35\00:38:09.78
commandments all
throughout the Bible.
00:38:09.82\00:38:11.79
Does this first angel's
message restore the gospel?
00:38:27.04\00:38:31.47
It most certainly does.
00:38:31.71\00:38:33.24
Does this first angel's
message restore the commandments
00:38:33.48\00:38:37.15
of God? Yes! In fact, when you
get to the 3rd angel's message
00:38:37.18\00:38:41.28
we find that it says:
"Here are they who... " What?
00:38:41.42\00:38:45.39
"who keep the
commandments of God
00:38:45.52\00:38:47.49
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. "
00:38:47.62\00:38:49.59
Does this first
message restore true worship?
00:38:49.82\00:38:52.66
Yes, because it says:
"Worship Him who made the
00:38:52.89\00:38:55.56
heavens, the earth, the seas,
and the fountains of waters. "
00:38:55.60\00:38:59.17
The purpose of this message
is to go to all of the world
00:38:59.40\00:39:02.37
to prepare a bride
for the great marriage
00:39:02.50\00:39:05.77
of Jesus with His people.
00:39:05.91\00:39:07.98
By the way, the
second angel's message
00:39:08.31\00:39:11.21
warns people that
Babylon is fallen.
00:39:12.31\00:39:16.32
And in a moment we're going to
notice that Babylon has 3 parts.
00:39:16.55\00:39:19.49
Babylon is fallen and
people are supposed to leave
00:39:19.72\00:39:23.49
Babylon and join
God's remnant people
00:39:23.53\00:39:27.30
so that at the end of
time they can participate
00:39:27.46\00:39:30.80
in that great marriage
between Jesus and His people.
00:39:30.93\00:39:36.27
Now let me ask you this:
00:39:37.54\00:39:39.44
do you suppose that the
devil is going to be angry
00:39:39.87\00:39:43.81
at this end-time matchmaker?
00:39:43.95\00:39:46.45
Absolutely.
00:39:47.52\00:39:49.42
Because the purpose of
this end-time matchmaker -
00:39:49.65\00:39:52.22
this end-time Elijah,
00:39:52.25\00:39:53.92
this world-wide movement
00:39:54.06\00:39:56.52
which prepares the way
for the great wedding of Jesus
00:39:56.76\00:40:00.60
with His people at
the very end of time -
00:40:00.73\00:40:02.86
its purpose is
to prepare a bride
00:40:03.00\00:40:06.00
for the great marriage.
00:40:06.33\00:40:07.44
And the devil
hates that message!
00:40:07.67\00:40:10.07
And he hates what
the matchmaker does.
00:40:10.31\00:40:12.51
And so you would expect
that the end-time Elijah
00:40:13.38\00:40:16.41
would also have
how many enemies?
00:40:16.54\00:40:19.58
Now where did you
get that idea from?
00:40:19.61\00:40:21.92
The end-time Elijah
must also have three enemies.
00:40:23.15\00:40:26.22
Now let's examine if the book
of Revelation speaks about 3.
00:40:26.45\00:40:31.06
Go with me to Revelation
chapter 16 and verse 13.
00:40:31.29\00:40:35.83
Revelation
chapter 16 and verse 13.
00:40:36.06\00:40:38.77
Previously in this seminar
we've studied about the beast;
00:40:38.90\00:40:41.70
we've studied about his image;
00:40:41.84\00:40:44.21
and we've
studied about the dragon.
00:40:44.34\00:40:46.34
And so this will be just review.
00:40:46.57\00:40:48.68
I'm going to read it and
then I'm going to tell you
00:40:48.71\00:40:50.68
what these powers represent
00:40:50.71\00:40:52.71
because we've already
studied them in this seminar.
00:40:52.75\00:40:54.92
Revelation 16 and verse 13 says:
00:40:55.28\00:40:58.22
Let me just stop there a minute.
00:41:04.36\00:41:05.79
What are unclean spirits?
00:41:07.96\00:41:09.60
Evil spirits.
What are evil spirits?
00:41:12.00\00:41:14.27
Thank you. Fallen angels.
00:41:16.57\00:41:19.27
So how many unclean
spirits do you have?
00:41:19.71\00:41:22.34
How many unclean angels?
00:41:22.58\00:41:23.98
Three. How many angels
messages does God send?
00:41:24.31\00:41:27.65
Three. What do the angels
use to proclaim God's message?
00:41:28.08\00:41:32.45
With a loud what? Voice.
00:41:32.59\00:41:34.79
Where do these
spirits come from?
00:41:35.89\00:41:38.26
From the mouth. These are
the counterfeit three angels.
00:41:38.69\00:41:42.36
So if you know what
the true three angels teach
00:41:42.50\00:41:44.53
you'll know what the counterfeit
ones are teaching as well.
00:41:44.67\00:41:47.04
So it says: "I saw
3 unclean spirits... "
00:41:48.14\00:41:50.51
How many powers is
Babylon composed of?
00:42:18.57\00:42:22.10
Three: the dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet.
00:42:22.44\00:42:26.78
Now because we've studied this
I'm just going to interpret it
00:42:27.11\00:42:30.18
for you. What is
represented by the dragon?
00:42:30.21\00:42:33.35
We know that the
dragon represents Satan
00:42:33.78\00:42:37.55
in a primary sense.
00:42:37.89\00:42:39.95
But in a secondary sense
the dragon represents the civil
00:42:40.19\00:42:44.46
powers of the world.
For example, in Revelation
00:42:44.49\00:42:47.86
chapter 12 you have this dragon
that stands next to the woman
00:42:47.86\00:42:51.27
to devour her Child as
soon as the Child is born.
00:42:51.40\00:42:55.74
Let me ask you:
what power was that?
00:42:55.97\00:42:58.84
It was the empire of Rome.
The dragon represents Rome.
00:42:58.97\00:43:04.65
In Ezekiel 29 and verse 3
00:43:05.08\00:43:07.38
Pharaoh is called
"the great dragon. "
00:43:07.52\00:43:10.59
In other words, we
find here a reference
00:43:10.92\00:43:13.99
in the dragon to
the kings of the earth
00:43:14.22\00:43:17.73
and the whole world. But
then we also have the beast.
00:43:17.86\00:43:21.16
What does the beast represent?
00:43:21.50\00:43:23.50
We've already studied that
it represents the Roman Catholic
00:43:23.83\00:43:26.90
papacy. And what does
the false prophet represent?
00:43:27.24\00:43:32.07
It represents
apostate Protestantism.
00:43:32.31\00:43:36.14
Now let me ask you:
is the end time scenario
00:43:36.48\00:43:39.68
going to look a lot
like the scenario in the days
00:43:39.81\00:43:43.15
of John the Baptist and in
the days of the prophet Elijah?
00:43:43.18\00:43:48.52
Absolutely.
00:43:48.56\00:43:50.16
By the way, in Revelation 17
00:43:50.39\00:43:53.19
these powers are
called by a different name.
00:43:53.33\00:43:56.36
And I'm not going to read
the text because you've read it
00:43:57.30\00:44:00.37
and you know
what I'm referring to.
00:44:00.60\00:44:01.87
Revelation chapter 17
speaks about a great harlot.
00:44:02.00\00:44:08.04
She's seated on many waters
00:44:10.28\00:44:12.35
which represents what?
Multitudes, nations, tongues,
00:44:12.38\00:44:16.42
and peoples.
00:44:16.55\00:44:17.85
What does a woman
represent in prophecy?
00:44:17.89\00:44:20.02
Represents an
apostate church in this case
00:44:20.26\00:44:23.99
because it's a vile, adulterous
00:44:24.13\00:44:26.09
woman... the great harlot.
00:44:26.13\00:44:28.00
Now you'll notice that she's
00:44:28.23\00:44:30.00
called "the mother of harlots"
00:44:30.03\00:44:32.67
which must mean
that she has what?
00:44:32.93\00:44:34.87
That she has daughters.
00:44:35.20\00:44:37.01
And she commits
fornication with whom?
00:44:37.24\00:44:40.11
With the kings of the earth.
00:44:40.34\00:44:42.21
And so you have the same
idea as in the Elijah story
00:44:42.54\00:44:46.38
in the Old Testament as
well as the New Testament
00:44:46.51\00:44:49.65
Elijah story in
John the Baptist.
00:44:49.78\00:44:51.79
You have a harlot
woman. She moves the strings
00:44:52.12\00:44:55.09
according to Revelation 17.
00:44:55.12\00:44:56.99
She's the dangerous figure.
She uses the kings of the world
00:44:57.23\00:45:00.53
and she uses her daughters or
the image or the false prophet
00:45:00.76\00:45:05.13
to accomplish her purposes.
00:45:05.27\00:45:07.37
And folks, as we look out at
what's happening in the world
00:45:07.50\00:45:10.44
today - particularly in
the United States of America -
00:45:10.47\00:45:13.74
we can certainly see this being
fulfilled before our very eyes.
00:45:13.78\00:45:18.48
How the papacy,
uniting with Protestantism,
00:45:18.71\00:45:23.18
is trying to influence
the rulers of the world
00:45:23.32\00:45:27.16
to accomplish their purposes.
00:45:27.19\00:45:28.96
And folks, it will finally
end up in the persecution
00:45:29.09\00:45:33.03
against the
matchmaker... against Elijah.
00:45:33.16\00:45:36.93
By the way, do you
know that we can very easily
00:45:37.83\00:45:42.87
determine who is on God's side
and who is not on God's side
00:45:43.10\00:45:46.81
in the end time?
00:45:46.84\00:45:48.24
You know, it's so simple.
00:45:49.01\00:45:50.55
The people who proclaim the same
message that Elijah preached
00:45:51.45\00:45:54.85
are on God's side.
00:45:54.98\00:45:56.25
So if the people are
preaching the everlasting gospel
00:45:57.19\00:46:01.79
and they're preaching
that we're supposed to keep
00:46:02.79\00:46:04.76
the commandments of
God which the devil hates,
00:46:04.79\00:46:07.00
the dragon hates them,
00:46:07.13\00:46:08.63
and if we're preaching
that you're supposed to worship
00:46:08.96\00:46:11.23
the Creator on His holy Sabbath,
00:46:11.37\00:46:13.70
you know that
those are on God's side.
00:46:13.84\00:46:16.54
So it doesn't take a
rocket scientist to figure out
00:46:17.57\00:46:20.28
that those who say that the
commandments have been changed
00:46:20.41\00:46:24.21
and that you don't have to
keep the Sabbath, you can keep
00:46:24.35\00:46:26.48
a substitute day are on
the other side of the equation.
00:46:26.51\00:46:30.35
Are you following me?
00:46:30.39\00:46:31.52
There's another way in
which you can determine
00:46:31.65\00:46:33.42
whether you're on
God's side or not.
00:46:33.56\00:46:34.99
If you are persecuTED,
you are on God's side.
00:46:35.36\00:46:39.26
If you are with the persecuTORs,
00:46:39.79\00:46:42.43
you are on the devil's side.
00:46:42.56\00:46:44.10
It's that simple...
it's not complicated.
00:46:44.33\00:46:47.07
In the end time,
those on God's side
00:46:47.30\00:46:49.77
are not going to be all of
the people who have the power
00:46:49.90\00:46:52.91
of the government,
all of the people who have
00:46:53.04\00:46:55.08
their churches full.
No! Those on God's side
00:46:55.11\00:46:58.75
are those who are
going to be persecuted
00:46:58.88\00:47:01.28
for righteousness'
sake. So much for the idea
00:47:01.32\00:47:04.39
that Christians are
supposed to take over the world.
00:47:04.52\00:47:07.96
Now let me ask you: what is
the purpose of this end-time
00:47:09.02\00:47:12.69
Elijah? It is
to prepare the way.
00:47:12.83\00:47:17.73
It is to take
the necessary steps
00:47:18.07\00:47:22.74
to prepare the what?
To prepare the wedding
00:47:22.87\00:47:27.04
for Jesus with His people.
00:47:27.48\00:47:30.65
In fact, let's
notice a few references
00:47:30.98\00:47:33.45
in the New Testament to this.
00:47:33.68\00:47:36.18
Ephesians chapter 5
and verses 25 to 27.
00:47:36.42\00:47:40.26
Ephesians chapter
5 verses 25 to 27.
00:47:40.29\00:47:43.59
See, the purpose of a
matchmaker is to prepare a bride
00:47:43.73\00:47:46.29
for Jesus... a beautiful bride.
00:47:46.43\00:47:49.33
A virgin bride.
00:47:49.66\00:47:51.77
A hard-working bride.
00:47:52.10\00:47:54.57
A courteous and
tactful and loving bride
00:47:54.80\00:47:58.37
just like Rebekah
was in the Old Testament.
00:47:58.61\00:48:01.54
Now notice what it says
here... the apostle Paul:
00:48:01.78\00:48:04.65
By the way, the water represents
00:48:20.03\00:48:21.83
the Holy Spirit.
00:48:21.86\00:48:23.13
The Holy Spirit
washes the church
00:48:23.37\00:48:25.30
through what? Through the Word.
00:48:25.33\00:48:28.30
So what does the
three angels' message do?
00:48:53.76\00:48:56.93
It actually prepares
God's people to be what?
00:48:57.17\00:49:01.94
To be married to Jesus
Christ when Jesus Christ comes
00:49:02.07\00:49:07.48
and prepares a people who
are without spot or wrinkle
00:49:07.71\00:49:12.18
or any such thing
at the coming of Jesus.
00:49:12.31\00:49:15.38
And it's accomplished through
the medium of the Holy Spirit
00:49:15.62\00:49:19.42
through obedience to God's what?
Obedience to God's Holy Word.
00:49:19.55\00:49:25.13
Now let's notice Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11.
00:49:25.99\00:49:30.93
Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11.
00:49:31.17\00:49:34.97
Do you know that there's a
time when the door of probation
00:49:35.40\00:49:39.17
in this world is going to close?
00:49:39.31\00:49:41.58
The work of the
matchmaker will be finished
00:49:42.54\00:49:45.98
and everyone will be on
one side or on the other side.
00:49:46.41\00:49:51.55
They will either be
with God's bride without spot
00:49:51.79\00:49:56.96
or wrinkle or any such thing
00:49:57.09\00:49:59.36
or they will be on the
side of that other woman -
00:49:59.59\00:50:03.13
the harlot - who fornicates
with the kings of the earth.
00:50:03.26\00:50:06.77
There are only two
options, and the day is coming
00:50:07.00\00:50:09.67
when the door of probation
is going to close and God is
00:50:09.80\00:50:13.41
going to speak
these awesome words.
00:50:13.44\00:50:16.24
Notice Revelation
chapter 22 and verse 11:
00:50:16.48\00:50:20.35
It says here: "He who is unjust
00:50:21.08\00:50:26.32
let him be unjust still. "
00:50:26.45\00:50:29.39
Now I need to
explain something to you
00:50:29.42\00:50:31.03
before we finish
reading this verse.
00:50:31.06\00:50:33.13
The King James
doesn't really capture
00:50:33.56\00:50:36.33
the meaning of the verb.
00:50:36.46\00:50:39.30
Really the verb
says "He who is... "
00:50:39.63\00:50:43.30
As it says here in
verse 11: "He who is unjust
00:50:43.44\00:50:48.08
let him be unjust still"
00:50:48.31\00:50:50.58
would be better
translated "He who is unjust
00:50:50.81\00:50:54.58
let him continue
to act unjustly. "
00:50:54.82\00:50:58.95
In other words, it
is a verb of action.
00:50:59.82\00:51:02.39
You can read the New
International Version.
00:51:02.52\00:51:03.99
It has the proper translation.
00:51:04.13\00:51:05.76
In other words, "He who is
unjust will continue to perform
00:51:06.09\00:51:09.76
unjust actions. "
Notice what it continues saying
00:51:09.80\00:51:13.80
there in verse 11:
00:51:13.84\00:51:15.24
"He who is filthy, let him
continue to act in a... " What?
00:51:16.71\00:51:22.74
"in a filthy way. "
00:51:22.88\00:51:24.81
By the way, is God's
bride filthy when Jesus comes?
00:51:25.15\00:51:28.92
No! We read in Ephesians 5
00:51:29.15\00:51:32.09
that Christ's bride has no
what? "No spot, no wrinkle, "
00:51:32.32\00:51:38.29
and then he says: "in
case I missed something
00:51:38.43\00:51:40.40
"or any such thing. "
00:51:40.53\00:51:42.46
In other words, the
message of the three angels
00:51:42.80\00:51:46.13
will have purified a
people and prepared them
00:51:46.27\00:51:49.77
for the coming of Jesus.
00:51:49.90\00:51:51.87
That was the purpose of
the message of John the Baptist
00:51:52.11\00:51:54.88
by the way as well.
00:51:55.01\00:51:56.68
Now notice what
it continues saying:
00:51:56.91\00:51:59.15
"He who is righteous, let
him continue to act righteously"
00:51:59.48\00:52:05.55
is the way that it
should be translated.
00:52:05.59\00:52:07.49
"And he who is holy,
let him continue to behave
00:52:07.72\00:52:12.33
in a holy manner. "
00:52:12.46\00:52:14.76
Let me ask you: was
Rebekah a woman of action?
00:52:15.20\00:52:21.07
Not only was she a
virgin in her state;
00:52:22.10\00:52:25.54
not only was she pure...
00:52:25.77\00:52:27.81
And by the way,
Isaac was monogamous.
00:52:27.84\00:52:30.61
He's one of those heroes in the
00:52:31.78\00:52:33.31
Old Testament who had only
00:52:33.35\00:52:34.88
one wife. Because Isaac
00:52:34.92\00:52:37.55
is a symbol of whom?
00:52:37.69\00:52:39.25
Is a symbol of Jesus
who marries only one bride.
00:52:39.39\00:52:43.36
You see, Babylon
fornicates with many.
00:52:43.69\00:52:46.23
But Jesus is married to one.
He's married to His pure church
00:52:46.46\00:52:52.37
who is clothed with the
sun and standing on the moon
00:52:52.50\00:52:55.90
and with a crown of
twelve stars on her head.
00:52:56.04\00:52:58.87
Victorious over sin;
victorious over Satan;
00:52:59.01\00:53:02.48
and victorious over the world.
00:53:02.61\00:53:04.68
And now I want you to
notice at the very end
00:53:05.01\00:53:09.15
once the church
has prepared herself
00:53:09.38\00:53:12.82
the idea that we find
in Revelation chapter 19
00:53:12.95\00:53:16.39
and verses 7 and 8.
00:53:16.52\00:53:18.79
Revelation 19:7-8.
00:53:19.03\00:53:22.16
Here it's speaking about
what Jesus is going to do
00:53:22.30\00:53:26.63
with His church.
Notice... it says there:
00:53:26.77\00:53:29.90
What was the word that was used
00:53:52.79\00:53:54.20
for the work of
John the Baptist?
00:53:54.23\00:53:55.90
To make a people what? Ready
for the coming of the Lord.
00:53:55.93\00:54:00.90
What is going to happen
when the three angels' messages
00:54:01.14\00:54:03.97
have done their work?
Jesus will have a people
00:54:04.01\00:54:09.14
who are what?
Ready! Now notice verse 8:
00:54:09.28\00:54:13.92
Let me ask you: does that sit
very well with what we just read
00:54:32.20\00:54:35.74
in Revelation 22 and verse 11?
00:54:35.87\00:54:37.81
You see, many people
think the only thing that counts
00:54:38.74\00:54:41.74
is the imputed
righteousness of Christ.
00:54:41.88\00:54:44.91
When you believe in
Jesus, when you repent,
00:54:45.15\00:54:47.45
when you confess your sin,
00:54:47.58\00:54:48.92
Jesus puts His
righteousness to your account
00:54:49.05\00:54:52.09
and God looks upon you
as if you have never sinned.
00:54:52.22\00:54:55.99
And praise the Lord
that is a great truth
00:54:56.22\00:54:59.16
of the gospel. That
is definitely Biblical,
00:54:59.19\00:55:02.16
but that is only half the story.
00:55:02.30\00:55:05.43
That is only half the gospel.
00:55:05.67\00:55:07.47
You say: "What do you mean? "
00:55:07.70\00:55:08.97
The fact is that if God credits
the righteousness to your
00:55:09.20\00:55:14.11
account as a result you will
show righteousness in your life.
00:55:14.14\00:55:20.05
If Jesus has imputed
His righteousness to you,
00:55:21.15\00:55:24.59
you must also be
willing to receive His what?
00:55:24.72\00:55:28.02
His imparted righteousness.
00:55:28.16\00:55:31.29
Because the same Lord
who justifies is the Lord who
00:55:31.53\00:55:35.10
sanctifies. And Jesus
will never justify someone
00:55:35.23\00:55:38.93
who is not
willing to be sanctified.
00:55:39.07\00:55:41.40
Is Jesus going to have a
justified church when He comes?
00:55:42.47\00:55:47.24
He most certainly is.
00:55:47.48\00:55:48.88
Is He going to have a
sanctified church when He comes?
00:55:49.11\00:55:52.15
Absolutely! He
will have a church
00:55:52.38\00:55:55.58
that has prepared itself.
It is ready for the great
00:55:55.72\00:55:59.09
wedding with Jesus
Christ, the Lord and the Savior.
00:55:59.22\00:56:02.89
And then do you know
what Jesus is going to do?
00:56:03.22\00:56:05.89
When He marries His
people... And by the way,
00:56:06.86\00:56:09.03
He marries His
people in absentia.
00:56:09.16\00:56:11.70
I'm not going to
get into that right now.
00:56:11.93\00:56:13.60
He marries His people
in the heavenly sanctuary
00:56:13.84\00:56:16.91
when probation closes.
When you hear those words
00:56:17.14\00:56:20.31
of Revelation 22 verse 11
that's the moment when the
00:56:20.44\00:56:23.28
marriage takes place. And
then Jesus is going to come.
00:56:23.41\00:56:26.55
The church is ready. He's
going to pick up the church
00:56:26.68\00:56:29.52
and He's going to take the
church to heaven... His bride!
00:56:29.65\00:56:32.69
And what's going to
be celebrated there?
00:56:32.92\00:56:35.09
Oh, the great reception:
the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
00:56:35.32\00:56:41.00
where God's people
will sit at the table
00:56:41.33\00:56:43.97
and Jesus Christ - the husband
- will come and He will be
00:56:44.10\00:56:49.54
the One to serve us.
00:56:49.57\00:56:52.71
Are you looking
forward to this time?
00:56:53.04\00:56:55.38
What do we need to
do in order to be ready?
00:56:56.44\00:56:59.25
We must pay heed to the
messages that God has given
00:57:00.15\00:57:05.55
in the book of Revelation.
00:57:05.69\00:57:07.39
We must learn to fear God.
00:57:07.62\00:57:09.39
Give glory to Him.
00:57:09.62\00:57:10.89
Realize we are now in
the hour of the judgment.
00:57:11.13\00:57:14.36
And worship the
Creator and flee from Babylon.
00:57:14.60\00:57:20.10
May that be our
experience is my prayer.
00:57:20.34\00:57:24.41