Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
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Our Father in heaven, what
a joy and a privilege it is
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to come into Your presence
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to sing praises to Your name,
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to speak with You in prayer,
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and to hear You speak with us
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through the
ministration of Your Holy Word.
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We ask that as we open that Word
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that Your Holy Spirit
will hover over this place
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and give us clear minds
and tender hearts to receive
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the message
that You have for us.
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We thank you for the privilege
of approaching Your throne
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boldly... knowing that
You hear us and You answer.
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And Father, we ask
that You will answer
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because we ask it in the
precious name of Your beloved
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Son Jesus Christ, Amen.
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We'd like to begin our
study today at that verse
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which has basically been the
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theme of the Genesis series:
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Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15.
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Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15.
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Here God is
speaking to the serpent.
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He's speaking to
Satan... to the devil...
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and notice what He says:
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Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15
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speaks about two seeds.
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One Seed is righteous
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and the other seed is wicked.
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But in our study this morning
we don't want only to talk about
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the righteous Seed
and the wicked seed.
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In fact, we're going to discover
that there's only one kind
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of righteous Seed
but there are actually
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two types of wicked seeds.
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Now you're probably wondering
what I mean by two types
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of wicked seeds. Well, the
fact is that in our study today
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we're going to notice that there
is one type of wicked person
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who is overtly wicked.
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In other words, openly wicked.
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We would call them ungodly.
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And by the way,
this type of individual
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would be illustrated by
the publicans and the sinners
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of Christ's day.
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Outcasts of society.
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Ungodly so to speak.
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But then there's a
second type of wicked seed,
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and that is those
who are covertly wicked.
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In other words, they don't
appear wicked on the surface
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but they are wicked actually
in their thoughts and in
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their hearts. They
are covertly wicked.
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And of course this type of
wicked person is illustrated
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by the scribes
and the Pharisees.
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And so when Genesis 3:15
speaks about a wicked seed
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we need to understand
that that seed includes
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two different
types of wicked people.
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First, those who
are overtly wicked -
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in other words, they
live a disorderly lifestyle
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and don't care much about it -
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and those who
are covertly wicked.
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In other words, they
put on a wonderful veneer,
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a wonderful exterior,
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but their hearts and their
minds are far away from God
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illustrated by the
scribes and the Pharisees.
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Now in our study today
we are going to particularly
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take a look at the
second type of wicked seed:
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those who are covertly wicked.
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Those who have a wonderful
front but whose hearts and
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whose minds are
alienated from God.
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Now this type of wicked person
is illustrated in the parable
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of the wheat and the tares.
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This parable is
found in Matthew chapter 13
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and verses 24 through 30.
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And basically I'm
going to read the passage
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and then we're going to go
back and interpret the symbols
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of this parable.
Matthew chapter 13
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and verses 24 to 30.
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It says this:
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This is the famous parable
of the wheat and the tares.
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And we're going to notice
that the tares in this parable
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represent a particular
type of wicked person:
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a person who
does not appear wicked
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but in the sight of God is
even more wicked than those
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who are overtly unrighteous.
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Now we have several
symbols in this parable.
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Let's take a look at
the symbols in order.
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Back to Matthew 13 and verse 24.
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Matthew 13 and verse 24.
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We have three symbols
here that we want to interpret.
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It says there in verse 24:
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Three symbols.
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Number one: the sower
who is referred to as a man.
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Second symbol: good seed.
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And the third symbol: the
field where the seed is planted.
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So we have a
sower; we have good seed;
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and we have a field.
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Now what is represented
by these three symbols?
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Let's go down to the
interpretation that Jesus gave
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of this parable. And
it's wonderful that Jesus gave
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an explanation of the parable.
He didn't always do that.
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Notice Matthew 13
and verses 37 and 38.
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Matthew 13:37-38.
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So we know who the Sower is.
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The Sower is Jesus.
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Then it says:
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And by the way, I'm
going to qualify that.
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It is not just the
world in general...
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it is the church
of Jesus in the world.
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We're going to notice
that as we study along.
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It's particularly the
church as the church is found
00:10:03.54\00:10:06.93
in all of the
places of the world.
00:10:07.13\00:10:09.14
So it says: "He who sows the
good seed is the Son of Man. "
00:10:09.64\00:10:12.45
That's another way
of saying the righteous.
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The saved, if you please.
00:10:31.12\00:10:33.38
And so you have three symbols.
00:10:33.68\00:10:35.80
You have the Sower,
00:10:36.10\00:10:37.80
the good seed, and the field.
00:10:38.00\00:10:40.34
The Sower is Jesus.
00:10:40.64\00:10:42.44
The good seed are the righteous.
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And the field represents
the world... more specifically
00:10:45.66\00:10:49.71
the church of Jesus as
it is found in the world.
00:10:49.91\00:10:55.39
But there's
more to this parable.
00:10:55.63\00:10:57.49
Notice Matthew
13 verses 25 and 26.
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We have here three additional
symbols in the parable.
00:11:02.61\00:11:06.47
It says there in verse 25:
00:11:07.33\00:11:09.95
I want you to notice
that... that's very important.
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We're going to come
back to it in a moment.
00:11:15.93\00:11:17.55
Should they have been vigilant?
00:11:21.47\00:11:22.95
Should the men
have been vigilant?
00:11:23.35\00:11:25.78
Should those who take care
of the field have been vigilant?
00:11:26.19\00:11:29.46
Absolutely.
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Particularly referring to
the leaders of the church...
00:11:34.65\00:11:38.11
So they're sleeping.
There's an enemy who comes.
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So we have tares.
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Now what do these
symbols represent:
00:11:57.74\00:11:59.84
the symbol of sleep,
the enemy, and the tares?
00:12:00.14\00:12:05.86
Well, we don't have to guess
00:12:06.16\00:12:08.19
because in Matthew 13:38-39
00:12:08.39\00:12:11.79
Jesus explains the symbols.
00:12:12.00\00:12:14.89
It says there:
00:12:15.19\00:12:16.85
So what do the tares represent?
00:12:22.45\00:12:24.40
The tares represent the sons
or the seed of the wicked one.
00:12:24.81\00:12:30.56
And who is this
wicked one? It says:
00:12:31.67\00:12:34.34
So you have
sleeping; you have the enemy;
00:12:40.53\00:12:45.38
and you have the tares.
00:12:45.68\00:12:47.55
Now allow me to read you
a very interesting statement
00:12:47.85\00:12:52.05
that we find in Testimonies
to the Church, Volume 3,
00:12:52.45\00:12:57.19
page 113 about
the sleeping aspect
00:12:57.59\00:13:02.51
of this parable.
00:13:02.71\00:13:04.24
The author, Ellen
White, had this to say:
00:13:06.30\00:13:09.29
Then she says this:
00:13:36.77\00:13:39.35
"Satan never sleeps... "
00:13:39.55\00:13:42.25
This is a very
telling statement.
00:13:58.20\00:14:00.79
If the church were awake,
00:14:01.09\00:14:03.69
the church would be able
to make sure that the enemy
00:14:04.09\00:14:07.98
did not plant
tares in the church.
00:14:08.01\00:14:11.24
But because many times the
church is under the effects
00:14:11.74\00:14:15.42
of anesthesia or the church
is sleeping and not vigilant,
00:14:15.62\00:14:19.62
the devil comes in
and he plants tares
00:14:19.85\00:14:22.47
and we can't even tell
what the devil is doing.
00:14:22.87\00:14:25.97
By the way, even
worse than sleeping
00:14:26.88\00:14:32.04
and have the devil
plant the tares in the church
00:14:32.24\00:14:35.29
is the idea of knowingly
00:14:35.69\00:14:39.23
planting tares in the church.
00:14:39.73\00:14:43.20
And you say: "Pastor,
are you saying that sometimes
00:14:43.50\00:14:46.11
tares are planted in the
church by the servants? "
00:14:46.31\00:14:49.91
That's exactly what I'm saying.
00:14:50.31\00:14:52.00
I'd like to read another
statement that we find in
00:14:52.50\00:14:55.02
Testimonies Volume 5, page 172.
00:14:55.12\00:14:58.35
You know, we live in a world
- in a religious world - where
00:14:58.75\00:15:02.74
everybody thinks that that
which is big and spectacular
00:15:02.84\00:15:07.37
is the best.
00:15:07.47\00:15:09.13
And so we have the idea that
we need to plant mega-churches:
00:15:09.73\00:15:13.86
churches with 10,000...
20,000... 30,000 members.
00:15:14.16\00:15:18.85
And we have the idea that
we want to fill the church.
00:15:19.15\00:15:23.89
But the question is: what
are we filling the church with?
00:15:24.23\00:15:30.01
Is it just possible
that not only are we sleeping
00:15:30.51\00:15:35.10
and allowing the devil
to come and plant the tares
00:15:35.20\00:15:37.58
but we are knowingly
participating in the process
00:15:37.68\00:15:40.96
of planting the tares.
Allow me to read this statement.
00:15:41.16\00:15:44.33
Very telling statement...
powerful. She says this:
00:15:44.53\00:15:47.90
"The accession of members... "
00:15:48.70\00:15:51.73
Accession means the
entrance of members.
00:15:53.17\00:15:55.15
"who have not
been renewed in heart
00:15:55.45\00:15:59.22
and reformed in life
00:15:59.62\00:16:02.63
is a source of
weakness to the church. "
00:16:03.90\00:16:07.77
I'm going to read that again.
00:16:08.17\00:16:09.88
"The accession of members who
have not been renewed in heart
00:16:10.96\00:16:14.00
and reformed in life
00:16:15.13\00:16:17.92
is a source of
weakness to the church. "
00:16:18.32\00:16:21.50
And we say that
strength is in numbers.
00:16:22.00\00:16:26.48
Think again.
Strength is in piety.
00:16:26.78\00:16:31.14
Strength is in character.
00:16:32.20\00:16:34.59
She continues saying:
00:16:34.90\00:16:36.52
"This fact is often ignored. "
00:16:36.92\00:16:40.10
And now she's going
to meddle with me...
00:16:40.60\00:16:42.69
"Some ministers and churches
00:16:43.71\00:16:48.17
are so desirous of
securing an increase of numbers
00:16:48.37\00:16:53.61
that they do not bear
faithful testimony against
00:16:54.83\00:16:58.58
unChristian
habits and practices. "
00:16:58.79\00:17:01.86
"Let 'em come in...
the importance is having
00:17:04.69\00:17:07.47
just lots of
people in the church. "
00:17:07.57\00:17:09.56
She continues saying:
00:17:10.83\00:17:12.43
"Those who accept the truth
00:17:13.73\00:17:16.10
are not taught that they
cannot safely be worldlings
00:17:16.30\00:17:21.20
in conduct while they
are Christians in name.
00:17:21.30\00:17:25.09
Heretofore they
were Satan's subjects.
00:17:26.14\00:17:28.67
Henceforth they are
to be subjects of Christ.
00:17:29.07\00:17:33.66
The life must testify
to the change of leaders.
00:17:34.17\00:17:38.70
Public opinion... " We
would call them polls today...
00:17:39.79\00:17:45.41
"Public opinion favors a
profession of Christianity.
00:17:45.44\00:17:50.75
Little self-denial or
self-sacrifice is required
00:17:51.45\00:17:57.44
in order to put on a form of
00:17:57.64\00:18:00.60
godliness and to have one's
00:18:00.70\00:18:03.11
name enrolled upon the church
00:18:03.31\00:18:05.46
book. Hence,
many join the church
00:18:05.56\00:18:09.51
without first
becoming united to Christ.
00:18:09.71\00:18:12.85
In this Satan triumphs. "
00:18:13.77\00:18:16.99
Now notice this:
00:18:18.17\00:18:19.45
"Such converts are his
most efficient agents. "
00:18:19.76\00:18:24.63
Are the openly irreligious
00:18:25.94\00:18:29.10
the greatest
threat to the church?
00:18:29.41\00:18:31.25
No! She says: "Such
converts are the devil's
00:18:31.76\00:18:35.31
most efficient agents.
00:18:35.52\00:18:37.28
They serve as
decoys to other souls.
00:18:37.68\00:18:41.94
They are false lights
00:18:42.34\00:18:44.63
luring the unwary to perdition.
00:18:44.93\00:18:47.40
It is in vain that men
seek to make the Christian path
00:18:47.90\00:18:52.48
broad and
pleasant for worldlings.
00:18:52.68\00:18:56.00
God has not smoothed or
widened the rugged, narrow way.
00:18:56.50\00:19:02.21
If we would enter into life,
00:19:02.61\00:19:05.10
we must follow the same path
which Jesus and His disciples
00:19:05.30\00:19:09.61
trod... the path of humility,
00:19:09.81\00:19:12.87
self-denial, and sacrifice. "
00:19:13.07\00:19:16.51
That is a
powerfully telling statement.
00:19:17.21\00:19:20.23
And I fear sometimes that
even within our own church -
00:19:20.63\00:19:24.30
not our own local church
but within the Seventh-day
00:19:24.50\00:19:27.60
Adventist church - we're
so anxious to grow in numbers
00:19:27.70\00:19:31.86
that we don't present a
clear and decided testimony
00:19:32.06\00:19:36.53
so that we make sure that people
know what they're deciding
00:19:36.84\00:19:39.90
for before they join the
church before they are baptized.
00:19:40.00\00:19:43.39
And as a result, what
happens is we are consciously
00:19:43.59\00:19:47.91
planting tares
within the church.
00:19:48.13\00:19:52.13
Not even sleeping any more
00:19:52.33\00:19:53.98
but actually
knowingly doing this.
00:19:54.18\00:19:58.31
Now you notice in
this parable that it says
00:19:59.12\00:20:02.24
that the tares are the
sons of the wicked one.
00:20:02.45\00:20:05.69
Now allow me to pursue
that just for a moment.
00:20:06.61\00:20:09.64
Notice John
chapter 8 and verse 44.
00:20:10.45\00:20:13.75
Remember we're talking
about a particular type of
00:20:13.95\00:20:16.64
wicked person today.
We're not talking about
00:20:16.74\00:20:18.63
those who are openly wicked.
We're not talking about those
00:20:18.83\00:20:22.18
who are overtly unrighteous.
00:20:22.28\00:20:24.41
You know, you can tell by
their lives that they don't
00:20:24.61\00:20:27.58
profess Christianity...
they don't care about religion.
00:20:27.68\00:20:30.57
They don't care about ordering
their lives according to the
00:20:30.87\00:20:33.47
Ten Commandments.
We're talking about
00:20:33.57\00:20:35.09
a covert type of wicked person
00:20:35.29\00:20:37.66
which in the sight of
Jesus was the worst type.
00:20:37.86\00:20:40.13
Now in John 8 verse 44
Jesus is speaking - listen up -
00:20:41.17\00:20:44.94
to religious people.
00:20:45.14\00:20:47.18
He's not speaking to
the publicans and sinners.
00:20:47.68\00:20:50.27
He's speaking to the righteous
00:20:50.57\00:20:52.78
and notice what He says to them:
00:20:52.98\00:20:54.98
What are the tares?
00:21:00.39\00:21:01.81
The sons of whom?
00:21:01.91\00:21:03.11
The sons of the wicked one.
00:21:03.41\00:21:05.44
Now Jesus says to these
00:21:05.74\00:21:07.48
religious people:
00:21:07.58\00:21:09.10
I find it amazing here that
Jesus would call those religious
00:21:25.37\00:21:30.15
people - the scribes,
the Pharisees... those who
00:21:30.25\00:21:34.16
went to the temple and
worshiped God every day,
00:21:34.26\00:21:37.36
those individuals who
apparently had great piety -
00:21:37.56\00:21:41.39
and Jesus would say to
them: "You are of your father
00:21:41.60\00:21:45.86
the devil. " You are the
devil's seed in other words.
00:21:46.17\00:21:50.13
Amazing! So is it
possible to be religious
00:21:50.43\00:21:53.91
and still be the
seed of the devil?
00:21:54.11\00:21:56.13
Absolutely. And I know
that what I'm saying here
00:21:56.43\00:21:58.99
is not politically
correct... but it's the truth.
00:21:59.09\00:22:03.11
As they said to
Martin Luther once,
00:22:03.54\00:22:06.24
you know, when he stood
there at the Diet of Worms.
00:22:06.44\00:22:09.00
He says: "My conscience is
captive to the Word of God.
00:22:09.20\00:22:13.15
Here I stand... I
can do no other. "
00:22:13.36\00:22:15.44
They said: "That is
heresy, Dr. Luther. "
00:22:17.63\00:22:20.39
And Luther says:
"Heresy - but it is the truth! "
00:22:20.89\00:22:25.54
Now I want you to notice I
John chapter 3 and verse 12.
00:22:28.29\00:22:31.42
Here it speaks
about someone else
00:22:32.90\00:22:35.17
who was of this
type of wicked person.
00:22:35.47\00:22:38.60
I John 3:12.
00:22:39.00\00:22:41.10
Speaking about an
individual who is called Cain.
00:22:41.80\00:22:44.19
Anybody ever heard of Cain?
00:22:44.39\00:22:45.81
Let me ask you: was
Cain a religious person?
00:22:47.02\00:22:49.09
Was he? Sure he was.
00:22:50.28\00:22:52.54
Did he raise an altar? Yes.
00:22:52.64\00:22:55.51
Did he bring an
offering? He sure did.
00:22:55.71\00:22:58.84
Did he come and
present the offering?
00:22:59.44\00:23:01.73
Did he bow and worship the
Lord? He most certainly did.
00:23:02.70\00:23:05.91
He was a religious person,
00:23:06.21\00:23:08.43
and yet I want you to
notice I John 3 verse 12.
00:23:08.73\00:23:11.41
It says:
00:23:11.81\00:23:12.85
By the way, is this
story going to be repeated?
00:23:37.93\00:23:40.54
In this Genesis series
we studied a whole lecture
00:23:41.21\00:23:43.90
on the Battle of Armageddon
00:23:44.00\00:23:45.37
and we analyzed in detail
the story of Cain and Abel.
00:23:45.77\00:23:48.78
And we noticed that this story
is actually a small-scale model
00:23:49.72\00:23:54.11
of what's going to
happen at the very end of time.
00:23:54.31\00:23:56.69
The only difference is that
at the beginning you have two
00:23:56.99\00:23:59.40
individuals; at the end
you have two world-wide groups.
00:23:59.50\00:24:02.68
Is it just possible that
at the end of human history
00:24:03.18\00:24:06.72
those who
profess to be religious -
00:24:06.92\00:24:10.37
those who are
overtly religious -
00:24:10.57\00:24:13.01
are actually going
to become persecutors
00:24:13.31\00:24:16.45
of God's people?
00:24:16.65\00:24:18.37
Do you know that Jesus
said in John 16 verses 1-2
00:24:18.77\00:24:21.63
that the day is coming
when those who kill you
00:24:22.13\00:24:25.32
will actually think that
they're doing God a service?
00:24:25.42\00:24:28.37
It's amazing.
00:24:29.23\00:24:30.86
The end-time scenario is
not of irreligious people,
00:24:31.16\00:24:36.14
apostate people, worldly people
00:24:36.54\00:24:42.14
becoming the
enemy of God's people.
00:24:42.44\00:24:44.78
The scenario is people
who profess to be religious
00:24:45.18\00:24:48.89
coming against God's people.
00:24:49.09\00:24:51.87
Notice also John
chapter 6 and verse 70.
00:24:52.37\00:24:55.46
John chapter 6 and verse 70.
00:24:55.76\00:24:57.66
It's speaking here
about Judas Iscariot.
00:24:57.96\00:25:00.97
That's a very interesting story.
00:25:03.28\00:25:05.39
Notice what Jesus
had to say about Judas.
00:25:05.69\00:25:08.60
John 6 and verse 70.
00:25:08.90\00:25:10.72
What did Jesus call Judas?
00:25:22.90\00:25:25.85
He called him a devil.
00:25:26.77\00:25:28.59
Now, let's take a look at Judas.
00:25:29.09\00:25:31.00
Was Judas part
of the inner circle?
00:25:32.87\00:25:34.83
Did he claim to follow Jesus?
00:25:37.02\00:25:38.59
He most certainly did.
00:25:38.89\00:25:40.76
Did the disciples think
that he had a promising future?
00:25:41.16\00:25:44.66
Oh yes. I mean,
even till the very end
00:25:45.36\00:25:50.37
Judas had the
disciples deceived.
00:25:51.66\00:25:54.27
Was he a tare in
the midst of the wheat?
00:25:55.87\00:25:58.14
Absolutely.
00:25:58.54\00:25:59.88
In fact, when Jesus said to
Judas: "What you're gonna do
00:26:00.18\00:26:04.11
go and do it quickly"
the disciples were so blind
00:26:04.31\00:26:07.86
that they thought that Jesus
was sending Judas on an errand.
00:26:08.06\00:26:11.14
They didn't understand
that Jesus was saying:
00:26:12.67\00:26:14.74
"Go and betray Me. "
00:26:14.94\00:26:16.47
They were so blinded because
00:26:16.77\00:26:19.57
Judas was a very capable man.
00:26:19.77\00:26:21.55
You find in Desire of Ages
00:26:21.85\00:26:23.05
a description of him. He was
the tallest of the disciples.
00:26:23.15\00:26:25.85
Very wise when it came to
the administration of money.
00:26:26.60\00:26:29.68
A shrewd
businessman you might say.
00:26:29.99\00:26:32.36
You know, very charismatic.
00:26:33.36\00:26:34.92
They considered him a great
asset for the future of the
00:26:35.22\00:26:37.98
church. And yet Jesus
said: "One of you is a devil. "
00:26:38.09\00:26:43.83
One in the inner circle.
00:26:44.13\00:26:46.63
A tare if you please.
00:26:46.73\00:26:49.73
Do you know that the scribes and
the Pharisees were also tares?
00:26:50.03\00:26:54.61
They were also this
second type of wicked person
00:26:54.95\00:26:58.28
or unrighteous person?
00:26:58.58\00:26:59.76
And by the way, God considers
this type of unrighteous person
00:27:00.06\00:27:04.06
worse than the one who is
overtly unrighteous and worldly.
00:27:04.26\00:27:08.44
If you don't believe it,
you remember the story of the
00:27:08.77\00:27:11.22
Pharisee and the publican
00:27:11.32\00:27:12.73
that came to the temple to pray?
00:27:12.93\00:27:14.67
And the Pharisee says:
"I thank you, Lord, that
00:27:15.07\00:27:18.54
I'm not like other men.
00:27:18.74\00:27:20.15
I fast twice a week.
00:27:21.39\00:27:24.08
I pay tithe from
everything that I earn. "
00:27:24.48\00:27:27.07
And he says: "I
especially thank you, Lord,
00:27:28.04\00:27:31.05
that I'm not like
this miserable, overt
00:27:31.25\00:27:35.96
publican that has
come to worship here. "
00:27:36.36\00:27:39.91
Let me ask you: who
went home justified?
00:27:42.57\00:27:44.85
Jesus said that the
publican went home justified.
00:27:46.58\00:27:50.43
The overt sinner went
home justified because he said:
00:27:50.63\00:27:53.95
"Lord, be merciful
to me - a sinner. "
00:27:54.25\00:27:56.88
He repented of his sin,
00:27:57.08\00:27:58.67
and it was more acceptable for
him than it was for the person
00:27:58.97\00:28:02.70
who had this
righteous holy veneer.
00:28:02.90\00:28:06.72
Notice what Jesus said
in Matthew 23 and verse 33.
00:28:07.74\00:28:12.75
Speaking about the
scribes and the Pharisees
00:28:12.95\00:28:15.98
Jesus had to say this.
00:28:16.28\00:28:18.26
Politically
incorrect language, folks.
00:28:20.19\00:28:23.00
Jesus said:
00:28:23.51\00:28:24.66
Speaking to the
scribes and Pharisees.
00:28:28.98\00:28:30.72
Now let me ask you:
what do snakes breed?
00:28:31.02\00:28:33.98
Snakes.
00:28:35.80\00:28:37.57
So if Jesus here calls
these individuals serpents,
00:28:37.87\00:28:41.39
who were they born from?
00:28:41.59\00:28:43.02
They must have been
born from the serpent, right?
00:28:43.32\00:28:46.34
They're babies of the
serpent if you please.
00:28:47.12\00:28:49.80
So Jesus said:
"Serpents, Brood of vipers!
00:28:49.90\00:28:53.12
Individuals who had a
wonderful external veneer
00:28:57.63\00:29:02.03
of righteousness but
in the sight of God wicked
00:29:02.23\00:29:04.54
because their hearts
were far away from God.
00:29:04.64\00:29:06.99
Notice Matthew 23:27-28.
00:29:07.40\00:29:11.03
This is the famous chapter
where Jesus pronounces His woes
00:29:11.77\00:29:15.22
upon the scribes
and the Pharisees.
00:29:15.42\00:29:17.16
Matthew 23 verses 27 and 28.
00:29:17.56\00:29:20.44
Jesus says this:
00:29:20.74\00:29:22.13
Let me ask you, have you seen
some pretty nice looking graves?
00:29:39.31\00:29:42.77
I've seen some real nice ones.
00:29:44.47\00:29:46.33
You know, for those of you
who are going to Battle Creek
00:29:46.73\00:29:49.00
this Fall you're going to
see some mausoleums that are
00:29:49.20\00:29:52.24
incredible there
at Oak Hill Cemetery.
00:29:52.44\00:29:55.05
Impressive. Let me ask you,
though: what is inside there?
00:29:55.35\00:29:59.98
It looks beautiful outside
but inside it's full of what?
00:30:01.32\00:30:05.45
It's full of bones... dry bones.
00:30:05.85\00:30:09.86
Notice once again: "Woe
to you scribes and Pharisees,
00:30:11.12\00:30:14.22
hypocrites! for you
are like whitewashed tombs
00:30:14.43\00:30:17.24
which indeed
appear beautiful outwardly
00:30:17.44\00:30:19.49
but inside are full of... "
00:30:19.80\00:30:23.11
You know, it's a sobering
thought that the strongest words
00:30:40.27\00:30:45.17
of rebuke of Jesus
00:30:45.38\00:30:46.70
fell upon health reforming,
tithe paying, Sabbath keeping
00:30:47.00\00:30:51.44
people. Thank you, Melvin.
00:30:51.55\00:30:56.90
Hallelujah!
00:30:57.20\00:30:58.67
You know, Jesus had a lot more
to say about the self righteous
00:31:00.23\00:31:03.67
than about the unrighteous.
00:31:03.87\00:31:05.83
I don't know
whether you've noticed that.
00:31:06.13\00:31:07.76
Now I'd like to read another
statement that we find in the
00:31:08.89\00:31:12.13
book Our High Calling.
00:31:12.24\00:31:13.97
This is a statement
in a devotional book.
00:31:14.07\00:31:16.33
Powerful! Notice what it says:
00:31:16.74\00:31:20.52
No doubt where they stand.
00:31:49.45\00:31:52.12
You know, if you want to know
00:31:52.32\00:31:53.40
where they stand, just go to
00:31:53.50\00:31:55.35
San Francisco on Gay Pride Day.
00:31:55.55\00:31:57.49
I mean, you know...
00:31:59.06\00:32:00.48
I don't agree with what they do
00:32:00.78\00:32:02.38
but they come out and they
00:32:02.58\00:32:04.08
proclaim it and they announce it
00:32:04.18\00:32:05.74
That's the first type of person.
00:32:06.86\00:32:09.09
First type of Satan's seed.
00:32:09.29\00:32:12.51
But there's a second type
00:32:13.01\00:32:14.04
which is even worse.
00:32:14.23\00:32:15.58
She says:
00:32:15.88\00:32:16.91
What kind of Christians are you?
00:32:46.08\00:32:48.15
What kind of Christian am I?
00:32:49.16\00:32:51.08
Am I a good seed?
00:32:52.25\00:32:54.51
Or do I fit in one of
these two categories of seeds
00:32:54.91\00:32:58.57
that we're
discussing this morning?
00:32:58.97\00:33:01.12
Now you'll notice in the
parable that the servants
00:33:02.86\00:33:05.15
say to the owner of the field
00:33:05.35\00:33:07.93
"What do you want us to do? "
00:33:08.33\00:33:09.79
"Do you want us
to pluck up the tares
00:33:10.09\00:33:13.17
so they don't damage the
wheat? " In fact, let's read it:
00:33:13.47\00:33:15.65
Matthew 13:27-29.
00:33:15.95\00:33:18.22
Matthew 13:27-29.
00:33:18.62\00:33:21.71
It says here:
00:33:23.72\00:33:25.24
So in other words
the tares and the wheat
00:34:11.13\00:34:13.46
are supposed to
grow together until when?
00:34:13.66\00:34:16.44
Until the harvest.
00:34:16.84\00:34:18.41
You say: "Well Pastor, I
guess that means that there's no
00:34:19.55\00:34:21.78
church discipline. "
00:34:21.88\00:34:23.66
Do you know we live in a period
00:34:24.06\00:34:25.54
of time when if discipline is
00:34:25.64\00:34:28.84
applied to someone they say "Oh,
00:34:28.94\00:34:30.18
that's so unkind
00:34:30.38\00:34:31.94
to put someone on censure
00:34:32.44\00:34:34.40
or to remove someone
from the church books.
00:34:35.43\00:34:38.06
That's not kind. "
00:34:38.46\00:34:40.38
We live in a time such as that.
00:34:41.49\00:34:43.44
In a disciplineless society.
00:34:43.74\00:34:47.86
And so you say: "But here,
Pastor, it says that you're
00:34:50.21\00:34:52.19
supposed to let the wheat
and the tares grow together
00:34:52.29\00:34:55.80
until the
harvest. " That's true.
00:34:56.00\00:34:58.84
But allow me to read you a
statement that gives the balance
00:35:00.08\00:35:03.30
and the explanation about
the fact that this doesn't mean
00:35:03.70\00:35:06.92
that we're to allow anything
in the church. Anything goes...
00:35:07.12\00:35:10.88
even overt open sin.
00:35:11.13\00:35:13.51
This statement is in Christ
Object Lessons page 71 and 72.
00:35:14.11\00:35:18.60
When someone practices open sin
00:35:32.68\00:35:34.77
do you have to judge their
00:35:34.97\00:35:36.00
motives?
00:35:36.03\00:35:37.26
For example, an individual
in church commits adultery.
00:35:37.66\00:35:40.97
If you say: "We're going to
discipline you for committing
00:35:42.92\00:35:46.56
adultery" would it be
right for that person to say
00:35:46.66\00:35:49.86
"You can't judge me? "
00:35:49.96\00:35:51.25
Of course not.
00:35:51.56\00:35:52.93
Because the behavior is what?
00:35:53.33\00:35:55.71
It's open... it's an open book.
00:35:56.01\00:35:59.08
That's overt sin.
00:36:00.59\00:36:02.55
And in those cases Ellen White
says that church discipline
00:36:03.05\00:36:06.58
is not only
allowable but desirable.
00:36:06.78\00:36:10.28
She says: "Christ has plainly
taught that those who persist
00:36:10.58\00:36:12.70
in open sin must be
separated from the church. "
00:36:12.80\00:36:16.33
In other words, you can judge
00:36:27.94\00:36:29.10
the outside. When the outside is
00:36:29.20\00:36:30.91
openly contrary to God's will
00:36:31.11\00:36:33.05
church discipline can and
00:36:33.35\00:36:35.24
should be applied.
00:36:35.34\00:36:36.64
But you cannot judge people's
intentions and motivations.
00:36:37.04\00:36:40.94
You cannot judge
their character -
00:36:41.14\00:36:42.85
you cannot judge their heart -
00:36:43.05\00:36:44.08
because only God can see that.
00:36:44.18\00:36:45.95
She says: "He has not committed
to us the work of judging
00:36:47.17\00:36:49.85
character and motive. He
knows our nature too well
00:36:50.05\00:36:54.14
to entrust this work to us... "
00:36:54.34\00:36:55.89
Now for those of you
who think that perhaps
00:37:41.36\00:37:43.98
God made a mistake by saying
"Let the tares grow with the
00:37:44.18\00:37:46.97
wheat" and it would have
been better to uproot the tares
00:37:47.07\00:37:49.61
God practices what He preaches.
00:37:49.91\00:37:52.41
You remember the
story of Lucifer in heaven?
00:37:53.52\00:37:56.36
Did God know that
Lucifer was a tare?
00:37:57.59\00:38:01.51
Yes He did.
00:38:02.62\00:38:04.16
Did He uproot him immediately?
00:38:04.46\00:38:06.82
He did not.
00:38:07.12\00:38:08.40
Did He allow the devil
to remain there in the midst
00:38:08.70\00:38:12.07
of the righteous and holy
angels to do his vile work?
00:38:12.27\00:38:15.83
Yes. In fact, 1/3 of the angels
00:38:16.06\00:38:19.30
sided with
Satan or with Lucifer.
00:38:19.50\00:38:21.98
Why didn't God pull
up the tares right away?
00:38:22.12\00:38:25.81
Because He knew that the
angelic host would have doubts
00:38:26.11\00:38:31.77
because it was necessary for
the great controversy to come
00:38:31.97\00:38:35.33
to full fruition
00:38:35.37\00:38:37.19
when you could
see the mature tares
00:38:38.10\00:38:41.88
and the mature wheat
together at the very end.
00:38:41.98\00:38:45.73
And of course the moment came
when the difference was clearly
00:38:46.13\00:38:49.49
seen... the lines
were drawn in heaven.
00:38:49.59\00:38:51.85
And then Satan and his
angels were cast out of heaven.
00:38:52.15\00:38:55.38
So God Himself
showed the principle.
00:38:55.68\00:38:57.97
You also have the
example of Judas Iscariot.
00:38:58.27\00:39:00.52
Did Jesus know from the very
beginning that Judas Iscariot
00:39:01.85\00:39:05.20
was a tare? Of course He did.
00:39:05.40\00:39:08.10
Why didn't He say:
"Forget it. You're a tare.
00:39:08.20\00:39:09.89
I don't want you as
one of My disciples? "
00:39:10.09\00:39:11.60
Did He allow Judas
to come in? Yes He did.
00:39:12.10\00:39:15.09
In fact, do you know when
that scribe came to Christ
00:39:15.33\00:39:18.64
and he said: "I'll
follow You wherever You go"
00:39:18.95\00:39:22.29
and Jesus says: "Birds
have nests and foxes have holes
00:39:22.49\00:39:25.86
but the Son of Man doesn't
have any place to lie His head"
00:39:26.06\00:39:29.06
do you know that that individual
that came to Jesus was Judas?
00:39:29.26\00:39:31.87
And Jesus was saying to
Judas "Listen, if you're in this
00:39:33.69\00:39:36.83
for the loaves and fishes,
00:39:37.03\00:39:38.41
if you're in this
for fame and for money,
00:39:38.61\00:39:40.96
you can forget it because
there's no money in this.
00:39:41.10\00:39:44.19
Birds have nests... I
don't even have a nest.
00:39:45.22\00:39:47.77
Foxes have holes...
I don't have any place
00:39:48.07\00:39:50.54
that I can call home. "
00:39:50.64\00:39:51.91
So Jesus tried to discourage him
00:39:52.93\00:39:55.11
but he still decided
to join the disciples.
00:39:55.31\00:39:57.16
And do you know the
Sprit of Prophecy tells us
00:39:58.12\00:40:00.55
that Judas was a source of
contention among the disciples
00:40:00.75\00:40:04.33
all the way through
the ministry of Jesus.
00:40:04.53\00:40:06.45
And yet the
disciples thought he was great.
00:40:07.74\00:40:09.98
And the tare and
the wheat grew together
00:40:10.96\00:40:15.13
until at the end of the
3-1/2 year ministry of Jesus
00:40:15.33\00:40:19.83
the difference between
Judas and the disciples
00:40:20.13\00:40:23.50
is clearly
revealed and clearly seen.
00:40:23.70\00:40:26.92
And we all know
what happened to Judas.
00:40:27.12\00:40:29.18
Judas went and committed
suicide and he hung himself.
00:40:29.48\00:40:33.11
You see, if Jesus had
uprooted Judas before this
00:40:33.51\00:40:36.28
the disciples would have
thought: "What is this man
00:40:36.48\00:40:38.52
doing? This is one
of the most prominent
00:40:38.62\00:40:43.27
and one of the
most promising prospects
00:40:43.47\00:40:45.92
that we have in this group. "
00:40:46.12\00:40:48.57
But Jesus had to
allow things to mature.
00:40:48.87\00:40:51.94
Now we still have to talk
about the harvest, the reapers,
00:40:53.10\00:40:55.65
the binding and the burning.
00:40:55.85\00:40:57.17
Let's go to Matthew
chapter 13 and verse 30.
00:40:57.57\00:41:01.49
Matthew chapter 13 and verse 30.
00:41:01.79\00:41:05.00
It says here:
00:41:06.16\00:41:07.74
Now there's four symbols
that I want us to take a look at
00:41:32.47\00:41:35.06
as we near the end
of our study today.
00:41:35.26\00:41:38.21
First of all... the harvest.
00:41:38.62\00:41:41.32
Secondly... the reapers.
00:41:42.40\00:41:45.24
Third... the binding
and fourth... the burning.
00:41:45.54\00:41:51.40
By the way, all of
these are stages in a process.
00:41:52.82\00:41:57.01
What is represented by
the process of separating
00:41:58.61\00:42:04.20
the wheat from the tares
00:42:04.40\00:42:06.28
and binding the tares and
binding the wheat in bundles?
00:42:06.58\00:42:11.14
Revelation chapter 14
and verse 7 has the answer.
00:42:12.97\00:42:15.89
There's this angel -
powerful angel - that
00:42:17.30\00:42:20.14
flies in the midst of heaven
00:42:20.34\00:42:21.90
having the everlasting gospel
to preach to every nation,
00:42:22.30\00:42:25.34
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:42:25.55\00:42:27.36
And he says in a loud voice
00:42:27.66\00:42:29.58
"Fear God and give glory to Him
00:42:29.78\00:42:31.65
for the hour of His judgment
00:42:31.95\00:42:34.39
has come. "
00:42:34.69\00:42:36.58
Let me ask you: when are
the righteous separated from
00:42:36.98\00:42:39.70
the wicked? Is it at the moment
of the second coming of Christ?
00:42:39.80\00:42:42.89
Is that when the righteous
are separated from the wicked?
00:42:43.96\00:42:46.39
When Jesus comes? No.
00:42:46.42\00:42:49.30
The process takes place in
heaven before the second coming
00:42:50.17\00:42:55.20
of Jesus. Because after
the first angel proclaims
00:42:55.30\00:42:59.68
"the hour of His
judgment has come"
00:42:59.88\00:43:02.25
when you get to the third
angel's message, there you have
00:43:03.21\00:43:06.42
the two harvests. You
have the harvest of the earth
00:43:06.62\00:43:09.30
and you have the
grapes of the earth.
00:43:09.50\00:43:10.95
They are totally separated.
00:43:11.15\00:43:12.70
But the judgment
took place in heaven
00:43:12.90\00:43:16.25
before the
second coming of Christ.
00:43:16.65\00:43:18.81
Because if this angel announced
"the hour of His judgment
00:43:19.11\00:43:21.73
has come, " this is happening
while the door of probation
00:43:21.83\00:43:25.22
is still open, correct?
00:43:25.32\00:43:26.91
What good would it be to preach
that the hour of His judgment
00:43:27.21\00:43:29.19
has come if
probation has closed?
00:43:29.29\00:43:31.07
It wouldn't do any good.
00:43:31.47\00:43:32.89
And so this judgment takes
place before the second coming
00:43:33.19\00:43:35.51
of Christ on earth.
00:43:35.61\00:43:37.21
That's when the
wheat is tied in bundles.
00:43:37.51\00:43:41.91
It's separated from the tares
00:43:42.11\00:43:43.42
and the tares are
separated from the wheat.
00:43:43.72\00:43:46.56
In fact, allow me
to read you a statement
00:43:46.96\00:43:48.96
that we find in the book
Christ Object Lessons page 72.
00:43:49.16\00:43:52.50
Ellen White had a profound
perception when it came to
00:43:55.30\00:43:58.47
what the Bible teaches.
00:43:58.78\00:44:00.89
She says this:
00:44:01.19\00:44:02.78
Did you catch that?
00:44:20.95\00:44:22.36
The harvest is
when? The second coming?
00:44:22.66\00:44:24.65
The harvest is the
end of probationary time.
00:44:24.95\00:44:28.78
You know, we can go
back to the story of Noah...
00:44:29.93\00:44:32.03
which we've studied
in this seminar before.
00:44:32.23\00:44:34.38
When were the righteous
saved and the wicked lost?
00:44:36.24\00:44:39.53
Was it the moment
it started to rain?
00:44:39.93\00:44:42.15
Or was it when the
door of the ark closed?
00:44:42.46\00:44:45.71
You know the answer.
00:44:46.11\00:44:47.42
The closing of the door
took place before the rain.
00:44:47.72\00:44:51.06
And so the closing of the
door of probation for the world
00:44:52.18\00:44:55.40
is going to close
before Jesus actually comes
00:44:55.60\00:44:58.92
to gather His
people into His barn.
00:44:59.12\00:45:01.59
So you have the
separating of the wheat
00:45:01.89\00:45:04.21
and the tares, and you
have the tying of the wheat
00:45:04.41\00:45:07.36
in bundles and the
tying of the tares in bundles.
00:45:07.56\00:45:10.35
This represents the
judgment that is taking place
00:45:10.65\00:45:13.19
in heaven right now as I speak.
00:45:13.22\00:45:16.29
Jesus is separating the
righteous from the wicked
00:45:16.62\00:45:20.27
and He's tying the
righteous in bundles
00:45:20.47\00:45:23.02
in such a way
that when Jesus comes
00:45:23.32\00:45:26.55
He will send His angels to
gather the wheat into His barn.
00:45:26.75\00:45:32.28
Now let's notice Matthew
chapter 13 and verses 40-43.
00:45:32.52\00:45:37.40
Matthew 13 verses 40-43.
00:45:37.70\00:45:40.64
There's several
things that we want to notice
00:45:40.94\00:45:43.04
in this passage.
Here Jesus is explaining
00:45:43.24\00:45:46.77
the meaning of the harvest
and the binding and the burning
00:45:46.87\00:45:50.24
and so on. It says here:
00:45:50.34\00:45:51.82
Did these individuals
belong to His kingdom?
00:46:26.51\00:46:28.93
How can He gather
them out of His kingdom
00:46:29.43\00:46:32.13
if they did not at some
point belong to His kingdom?
00:46:32.33\00:46:34.97
And so it says:
00:46:35.82\00:46:36.89
That word offend is very
00:46:48.10\00:46:49.20
interesting.
00:46:49.30\00:46:50.40
It usually applies in the
00:46:50.60\00:46:52.37
gospels to people
00:46:52.47\00:46:53.79
who have been with
Jesus, have followed Jesus,
00:46:53.99\00:46:57.93
and at some point a
stumbling block comes
00:46:58.13\00:47:00.81
and they are offended.
00:47:01.01\00:47:02.54
In fact, in John 16:1-2
Jesus says to the disciples:
00:47:03.04\00:47:06.57
"I'm telling you these things
so that you are not offended. "
00:47:06.77\00:47:10.11
So the fact that these are
gathered out of His kingdom
00:47:11.48\00:47:14.46
and the fact that the things
that offend are gathered out
00:47:15.69\00:47:19.63
indicates that these are
not overtly wicked people.
00:47:19.83\00:47:22.82
These are what? These
are covertly wicked people.
00:47:23.02\00:47:27.55
And so it says:
00:47:28.26\00:47:29.87
"They will gather
out of His kingdom
00:47:31.02\00:47:32.78
all things that
offend. " And now notice this:
00:47:32.98\00:47:37.31
"those who practice... " What?
00:47:37.41\00:47:40.95
"lawlessness. "
00:47:41.45\00:47:43.41
And you say: "Oh well,
Pastor Bohr, see there it is.
00:47:43.81\00:47:46.46
These are people
who are overtly wicked.
00:47:46.56\00:47:48.58
They're openly wicked... it
says that they're lawless. "
00:47:49.45\00:47:51.40
Let me ask you: do
you remember that passage
00:47:53.03\00:47:55.05
in Matthew chapter 7? In
fact, let's go there just
00:47:55.25\00:47:57.58
for a moment. Matthew chapter 7
00:47:57.68\00:48:01.05
and verses 21 to 23.
00:48:01.35\00:48:03.57
Don't miss this point.
00:48:03.97\00:48:05.66
Matthew 7:21-23.
00:48:05.96\00:48:09.50
Here it says this:
00:48:09.81\00:48:11.29
"Not every who says
to Me 'Lord, Lord... ' "
00:48:13.33\00:48:16.69
Would these be Christians?
00:48:18.36\00:48:20.29
Would they? Of course.
00:48:21.51\00:48:24.35
A non-Christian
wouldn't call Jesus Lord.
00:48:24.65\00:48:26.55
"Not everyone who
says to Me 'Lord, Lord'
00:48:27.67\00:48:30.93
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven
00:48:31.79\00:48:34.00
but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven.
00:48:34.20\00:48:37.08
Many will say to Me in that day:
00:48:38.05\00:48:40.35
'Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in Your name? '
00:48:40.75\00:48:46.51
Were these Christians?
00:48:47.65\00:48:48.94
Sure they were.
00:48:49.24\00:48:50.43
'Cast out demons in Your name,
00:48:52.65\00:48:55.14
and done many
wonders in Your name? '
00:48:56.37\00:48:59.27
Why?
00:48:59.47\00:49:03.63
Is it possible to apparently
have the gift of prophecy,
00:49:03.93\00:49:06.52
to cast out demons,
and to perform miracles
00:49:06.72\00:49:08.74
and not be on the side of Jesus?
00:49:08.94\00:49:10.61
Do it all in the
name of Jesus? Absolutely.
00:49:10.91\00:49:13.68
Notice verse 23:
00:49:14.81\00:49:17.20
"And then I
will declare to them:
00:49:17.50\00:49:20.25
'I never knew you. ' "
00:49:22.20\00:49:23.92
Yeah, because some people
say: "Well, Pastor, you know
00:49:24.12\00:49:26.27
they were once with God.
You know, when they cast out
00:49:26.47\00:49:28.56
demons and they did these
things in the name of Jesus
00:49:28.66\00:49:30.82
they were with Jesus
and then they went astray. "
00:49:31.02\00:49:32.84
But the fact is Jesus
says here: "I NEVER knew you. "
00:49:34.06\00:49:37.33
Not even while they
were casting out demons
00:49:38.58\00:49:40.88
and prophesying in His name
00:49:41.08\00:49:42.65
and doing miracles in His name.
00:49:42.85\00:49:44.44
"And then I will declare
to them: 'I never knew you.
00:49:44.84\00:49:48.58
Depart from Me you
who practice... ' " What?
00:49:48.88\00:49:53.07
"You who practice lawlessness. "
00:49:53.47\00:49:56.33
So when this parable in
Matthew 13 speaks of those
00:49:57.86\00:50:02.66
who practice lawlessness
00:50:02.86\00:50:04.44
does that necessarily
mean that it's talking about
00:50:04.64\00:50:06.61
those who are overtly wicked?
00:50:06.82\00:50:08.46
Absolutely not.
00:50:09.34\00:50:10.93
Do you know, folks, that
there is a lot of wickedness
00:50:11.33\00:50:14.12
that goes on in the church
unseen except by holy angels?
00:50:14.33\00:50:17.94
People who come
to church, they pray,
00:50:20.45\00:50:23.89
listen to sermons.
00:50:24.09\00:50:26.25
Maybe even come
to prayer meeting.
00:50:28.06\00:50:29.82
The religious life
appears to be in order.
00:50:31.05\00:50:33.81
But there's a second,
unseen, life to human beings
00:50:35.05\00:50:40.44
that is taking
place behind the scenes.
00:50:40.54\00:50:42.64
That's what this is talking
00:50:43.61\00:50:45.00
about. And folks, I'll tell you,
00:50:45.10\00:50:47.61
in the religious world today
00:50:47.81\00:50:49.10
there's a lot of
self-righteousness.
00:50:49.20\00:50:50.82
There are people who are
openly condemning gay marriage
00:50:52.16\00:50:55.47
and they're openly
condemning abortion
00:50:55.77\00:50:59.01
when if you examine their lives
00:51:00.12\00:51:03.06
you would find that their
lives are filled with hypocrisy
00:51:03.26\00:51:06.55
and that they are
really living a lie
00:51:06.95\00:51:09.13
because it's all a
façade to gain power and to gain
00:51:11.10\00:51:15.10
influence. And so Jesus says
00:51:15.20\00:51:19.99
that He will gather out
of His kingdom - notice,
00:51:21.38\00:51:24.04
"out of His kingdom
those that are offended... "
00:51:24.24\00:51:28.45
That refers most of
the time to the righteous
00:51:28.75\00:51:32.36
or professedly righteous.
00:51:32.56\00:51:33.94
"and those who
practice lawlessness. "
00:51:34.15\00:51:36.02
Matthew 7 indicates
that these are individuals
00:51:36.32\00:51:38.31
who externally are OK
internally they have a problem.
00:51:38.51\00:51:41.91
And now notice what
it continues saying:
00:51:42.31\00:51:44.32
Let me ask you:
when are the wicked
00:51:50.86\00:51:52.44
cast into the furnace of fire?
00:51:52.64\00:51:54.30
This parable
actually takes us where?
00:51:56.49\00:51:59.59
It takes us all the way
to the period at the end
00:52:00.09\00:52:04.14
of the millennium.
In fact, do you know -
00:52:04.35\00:52:08.81
just a little sidelight
- do you know the Spirit of
00:52:09.01\00:52:12.16
Prophecy says that
there's going to be a group
00:52:12.26\00:52:14.87
of individuals
outside the Holy City
00:52:15.07\00:52:17.12
who are going to feel like
God has incorrectly put them
00:52:17.32\00:52:21.93
out there? In fact, listen up:
00:52:22.04\00:52:27.23
this passage in Matthew 7:
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
00:52:28.21\00:52:33.07
in Your name? Lord,
Lord, didn't we cast out demons
00:52:33.17\00:52:35.17
in Your name? Lord, Lord,
didn't we perform miracles
00:52:35.37\00:52:37.14
in Your name? " Do you know
when they're actually going to
00:52:37.34\00:52:39.13
speak this according
to the Spirit of Prophecy?
00:52:39.23\00:52:41.11
They're outside the Holy City
and they're saying to the Lord
00:52:41.31\00:52:43.40
"Lord, what are
we doing out here?
00:52:43.61\00:52:44.64
We're supposed to be inside. "
00:52:44.72\00:52:46.06
Wow!
00:52:48.22\00:52:49.70
So that's not
applying to the second coming
00:52:51.49\00:52:53.68
but to what happens
after the millennium.
00:52:53.79\00:52:55.97
And so it says that
they will be gathered
00:52:57.40\00:53:00.01
and they will be cast
into the furnace of fire.
00:53:00.04\00:53:03.17
This is after the millennium.
00:53:03.37\00:53:05.75
And then notice:
"There will be... " What?
00:53:06.83\00:53:10.19
Some people say: "See,
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:53:13.50\00:53:15.78
This is the everlasting fire. "
00:53:15.98\00:53:17.50
It doesn't say
anything about everlasting fire.
00:53:17.70\00:53:19.83
It doesn't say endless
00:53:20.23\00:53:22.51
everlasting wailing
and gnashing of teeth.
00:53:22.71\00:53:25.21
It simply says: "Wailing
and gnashing of teeth. "
00:53:25.62\00:53:28.78
And by the way, do you know that
every time that Jesus uses that
00:53:30.09\00:53:32.91
expression "wailing
and gnashing of teeth"
00:53:33.02\00:53:35.40
in the gospels
it applies to people
00:53:35.60\00:53:37.44
who profess His name.
00:53:37.54\00:53:39.27
He's always addressing
it to the Hebrew nation...
00:53:40.33\00:53:43.38
to the Jewish nation.
00:53:43.68\00:53:44.71
That's another indication
as to who the tares are.
00:53:45.00\00:53:47.74
"There will be wailing
and gnashing of teeth. "
00:53:48.88\00:53:52.13
But now notice the
contrast with God's people.
00:53:52.43\00:53:54.58
It says there in verse 43:
00:53:55.08\00:53:57.90
Have you learned
anything this morning?
00:54:15.67\00:54:17.34
Listen, folks,
we need to realize
00:54:18.55\00:54:22.20
that just because
we're in the church
00:54:22.51\00:54:25.03
does not mean that
we are in the kingdom.
00:54:25.33\00:54:27.80
We need to realize that there
are two kinds of wicked people
00:54:29.97\00:54:33.06
in the sight of God.
00:54:33.36\00:54:35.10
There are those
who are overtly wicked.
00:54:36.34\00:54:38.78
Openly wicked. I
mean, you can tell it.
00:54:39.08\00:54:41.94
And people who commit works
of wickedness in the church:
00:54:43.16\00:54:45.78
members. They're
supposed to be disciplined.
00:54:45.98\00:54:48.23
Disfellowshiped... no
matter how much people say
00:54:48.53\00:54:51.95
"Oh, that's unkind. "
00:54:52.05\00:54:53.21
No! Discipline is
always loving and kind.
00:54:53.51\00:54:55.90
But at the same time it's
firm, because the God of love
00:54:56.20\00:54:59.03
is also a God of justice.
00:54:59.23\00:55:00.58
Are you following me?
00:55:02.95\00:55:04.59
And then of course you have
the second kind of wicked person
00:55:04.99\00:55:07.99
which Jesus condemned
more than the first type,
00:55:08.09\00:55:10.63
and that is
individuals who outwardly
00:55:10.93\00:55:15.05
appear righteous before man
00:55:15.25\00:55:17.39
but inside are
filled with wickedness.
00:55:17.69\00:55:22.02
And basically, they're
living a double life...
00:55:23.31\00:55:26.03
a life of hypocrisy.
00:55:26.23\00:55:28.88
My question is: what kind
00:55:29.38\00:55:32.27
of seed are you?
00:55:33.43\00:55:35.24
Are you a son of the kingdom?
00:55:36.69\00:55:38.63
Am I a son of the kingdom?
00:55:39.92\00:55:41.77
Or are you one of these
other two types of seeds
00:55:43.47\00:55:47.85
that we've spoken about?
00:55:48.08\00:55:49.60
I pray to God that we
00:55:50.51\00:55:54.50
will be the seed
of the woman's seed.
00:55:54.70\00:55:59.79
That we will truly belong
to those who are described
00:56:00.19\00:56:04.16
as the
righteous in this parable.
00:56:04.36\00:56:06.52
That the inside will be
in harmony with the outside.
00:56:07.64\00:56:10.95
And that the outside
will not only be a veneer
00:56:12.19\00:56:15.30
hiding that which is inside.
00:56:15.50\00:56:18.39
And by the way, folks,
the inside and the outside
00:56:19.46\00:56:22.79
must always be in harmony.
00:56:22.99\00:56:24.32
Some people say: "Well,
the only thing that matters
00:56:27.31\00:56:29.73
is my heart. It
doesn't matter what I do.
00:56:29.93\00:56:32.04
God knows my heart. "
No, the fact is, folks,
00:56:32.25\00:56:34.18
that when the heart
changes the life changes.
00:56:34.38\00:56:36.63
The problem is when we try
to live the life and the heart
00:56:37.95\00:56:40.52
isn't changed. That's the tares.
00:56:40.62\00:56:43.23
And so what we need is
a conversion experience
00:56:43.63\00:56:47.04
where we have a change of heart
00:56:47.27\00:56:49.74
and the change of heart -
out of love for Jesus - leads us
00:56:50.14\00:56:54.35
to live a changed
life for His honor
00:56:54.65\00:56:59.84
and for His glory.
00:57:00.24\00:57:02.14
How about it? Do you
want to live that kind of life
00:57:02.54\00:57:05.81
that God would have us live?
00:57:06.21\00:57:07.98
Praise the Lord!
00:57:08.38\00:57:10.52
I pray to God that
that will be our experience
00:57:10.72\00:57:14.24
as we have studied
this well-known parable
00:57:14.44\00:57:17.69
of Jesus of the
wheat and the tares.
00:57:17.89\00:57:22.03