Shall we bow our heads for prayer? 00:01:12.23\00:01:13.74 Our Father in heaven, once again we draw near to Your throne 00:01:15.34\00:01:18.44 pleading for the presence of Your Holy Spirit 00:01:18.47\00:01:21.64 in our study today. 00:01:21.68\00:01:23.75 As we discuss the time of Jacob's trouble, we ask that You 00:01:23.78\00:01:30.15 will help us to understand what this time will be like, 00:01:30.19\00:01:33.69 and the preparation that will be necessary to go through this 00:01:33.72\00:01:38.56 period victoriously. 00:01:38.59\00:01:40.80 We ask that Your Holy Spirit will speak to us, 00:01:40.83\00:01:43.60 and instruct us, because we ask it in the precious name 00:01:43.63\00:01:47.10 of Jesus Your Son, Amen. 00:01:47.14\00:01:50.37 In our last lecture we studied about the story of Jacob 00:01:50.41\00:01:56.24 and Esau. And we noticed that Jacob and Esau, 00:01:56.28\00:02:01.15 these two brothers, actually represent two different 00:02:01.18\00:02:06.89 characters that people on planet Earth will have throughout the 00:02:06.92\00:02:12.43 course of history, and particularly at the end of time. 00:02:12.46\00:02:15.86 In other words, Jacob and Esau represent two different types 00:02:15.90\00:02:20.47 of characters that will distinguish one group 00:02:20.50\00:02:24.54 from another upon this earth, particularly in the end time. 00:02:24.57\00:02:28.88 And, of course, the struggle between Jacob and Esau 00:02:28.91\00:02:32.55 represents the final struggle in controversy between those people 00:02:32.58\00:02:38.15 with those two character manifestations: the righteous, 00:02:38.19\00:02:41.59 and the wicked. 00:02:41.62\00:02:42.82 Now I just want to review a little bit about what we studied 00:02:42.86\00:02:46.70 in our last lecture to set the stage for what we're going 00:02:46.73\00:02:49.43 to discuss in our lecture today. 00:02:49.46\00:02:51.80 First of all I would remind you about the character of Esau. 00:02:51.83\00:02:56.27 Esau believed that the law of God was a yoke of bondage, 00:02:56.30\00:03:02.84 and he actually believed that the law of God restricted 00:03:02.88\00:03:07.42 his freedom and his liberty. 00:03:07.45\00:03:09.65 He wanted to proclaim his freedom from rules 00:03:09.68\00:03:13.19 and regulations. 00:03:13.22\00:03:14.86 We also notice that Esau had no particular interest in the 00:03:14.89\00:03:20.46 responsibilities connected with the birthright. 00:03:20.50\00:03:23.16 The responsibilities involved being a righteous ruler over 00:03:23.20\00:03:29.50 his household, being the spiritual leader, 00:03:29.54\00:03:32.74 the priest of his house, and having the privilege of 00:03:32.77\00:03:36.01 being the progenitor of the Messiah. 00:03:36.04\00:03:38.18 He could care less about any of these responsibilities. 00:03:38.21\00:03:41.98 And we actually noticed that Esau lived for the here and now 00:03:42.02\00:03:47.36 instead of being forced on the sweet by and by. 00:03:47.39\00:03:51.39 Now the character of Jacob was different. 00:03:51.43\00:03:55.10 Even though we know that Jacob sinned against God 00:03:55.13\00:03:59.53 when he stole the birthright from his brother, 00:03:59.57\00:04:01.94 and he deceived his father, Jacob was not given over to sin. 00:04:01.97\00:04:07.14 In fact, Jacob appreciated the duties of the birthright. 00:04:07.18\00:04:12.95 He actually understood what it meant to be the ruler, 00:04:12.98\00:04:17.15 the righteous ruler of the household. 00:04:17.19\00:04:19.69 He understood what it meant to be a spiritual leader, 00:04:19.72\00:04:23.43 or priest of the household. 00:04:23.46\00:04:25.03 And he understood the awesome responsibility of being the 00:04:25.06\00:04:29.33 progenitor of the Messiah. 00:04:29.36\00:04:30.77 In other words, being a member of the holy line which would 00:04:30.80\00:04:33.97 bring the Messiah into the world. 00:04:34.00\00:04:35.80 And, of course, we studied last time that Esau was a very 00:04:35.84\00:04:40.94 hardened and rude person, whereas Jacob is described as 00:04:40.98\00:04:45.61 being docile and mild. 00:04:45.65\00:04:48.35 We also studied last time that the life of Jacob is really 00:04:48.38\00:04:53.76 an illustration of God's people, particularly at the end of time, 00:04:53.79\00:04:59.23 but actually beginning at the very origin of human history. 00:04:59.26\00:05:03.16 Let me just review some of those elements. 00:05:03.20\00:05:05.53 First of all, Jacob lost his home, his sweet home because 00:05:05.57\00:05:11.57 of his sin, but on the way away from his home he repented. 00:05:11.61\00:05:17.51 He truly repented of his sin, and he confessed his sin to God, 00:05:17.55\00:05:21.78 and God forgave his sin. 00:05:21.82\00:05:24.29 At Bethel God gave Jacob marvelous promises that he was 00:05:24.32\00:05:29.39 going to bless him, that he was going to eventually bring him 00:05:29.42\00:05:32.66 back to his home in Canaan, that from him would come an 00:05:32.69\00:05:36.40 innumerable multitude, and that God would protect him 00:05:36.43\00:05:40.10 from his enemies. 00:05:40.14\00:05:41.77 We also noticed that Jacob ended up in Laban's house, 00:05:41.80\00:05:45.91 a type of Satanic figure, a deceiver, a conniver, 00:05:45.94\00:05:50.18 a very wicked individual who changed Jacob's salary 00:05:50.21\00:05:54.42 repeatedly for his own purposes, who feigned love for his 00:05:54.45\00:05:58.09 daughters, but really didn't love them. 00:05:58.12\00:05:59.85 He was interested more in money and material resources 00:05:59.89\00:06:04.19 than anything else. 00:06:04.23\00:06:05.46 And, of course, the life of Jacob was very, very difficult, 00:06:05.49\00:06:09.43 very trying in the house of Laban, but it was a blessing 00:06:09.46\00:06:13.20 to him because he learned how to trust God. 00:06:13.23\00:06:16.14 He also learned how to be firm, and how to remain unmoved 00:06:16.17\00:06:24.28 in the midst of trials and tribulations. 00:06:24.31\00:06:27.48 And then, of course, we noticed in our study last time 00:06:27.52\00:06:31.32 that Jacob, after spending twenty years at the household 00:06:31.35\00:06:36.36 of Laban, God commanded him to go back to the land of Canaan. 00:06:36.39\00:06:41.43 And, of course, this is where we come to the portion of the 00:06:41.46\00:06:46.43 lecture that we want to emphasize today, and that is 00:06:46.47\00:06:49.90 the event that took place immediately before Jacob 00:06:49.94\00:06:53.81 entered the land of Canaan, or re-entered his lost home. 00:06:53.84\00:06:58.58 However, before we study this event at the very 00:06:58.61\00:07:03.39 end of the experience of Jacob, there's something that I need 00:07:03.42\00:07:08.19 to underline, which is extremely important for us to understand; 00:07:08.22\00:07:11.49 what we're going to discuss in our lecture today, 00:07:11.53\00:07:13.46 and that is that when Jacob had to leave home, 00:07:13.50\00:07:17.63 and he was on his way to Laban's house, God showed him 00:07:17.67\00:07:23.07 this dream of a ladder. 00:07:23.10\00:07:25.17 And after showing him the ladder that bridged heaven and earth, 00:07:25.21\00:07:29.21 God was saying to Jacob, Jacob even though you've sinned, 00:07:29.24\00:07:31.88 you've repented, and communion between heaven and earth, 00:07:31.91\00:07:35.35 between you and me, has not been broken. 00:07:35.38\00:07:38.32 There is an open communion. 00:07:38.35\00:07:40.39 Immediately after this dream God gave Jacob certain promises. 00:07:40.42\00:07:46.06 And I would like to read these promises as they're found 00:07:46.09\00:07:49.93 in Genesis 28:13-16. 00:07:49.96\00:07:53.40 There are basically four of them. 00:07:53.44\00:07:55.24 Remember that he's just left his home because of his sin. 00:07:55.27\00:07:58.51 He's on the way to Laban's house; this satanic figure. 00:07:58.54\00:08:02.41 And he's going to spend twenty years away from home. 00:08:02.44\00:08:06.08 And when he gets to Bethel God gives him this dream, 00:08:06.11\00:08:09.85 and He gives him these promises. 00:08:09.88\00:08:12.15 It says there in Genesis 28:13, And behold the Lord stood above 00:08:12.19\00:08:17.23 it, that is above the ladder, and said, I am the Lord God 00:08:17.26\00:08:22.26 of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac. 00:08:22.30\00:08:26.27 The land on which you lie, I will give it to you, 00:08:26.30\00:08:30.24 and to your descendents. 00:08:30.27\00:08:31.91 Notice first of all the promise of the land. 00:08:31.94\00:08:35.24 Verse 14 continues: Also your descendents... 00:08:35.28\00:08:40.25 Actually, the King James Version says your seed. 00:08:40.28\00:08:43.45 Shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread 00:08:43.49\00:08:47.96 abroad to the west and to the east, to the north and to the 00:08:47.99\00:08:51.56 south. So He says you're going to have innumerable posterity, 00:08:51.59\00:08:56.06 is another promise. 00:08:56.10\00:08:57.33 And then notice, And in you, and in your seed all the families 00:08:57.37\00:09:03.64 of the earth shall be blessed. 00:09:03.67\00:09:05.87 So you have three promises: the land, an innumerable 00:09:05.91\00:09:10.28 posterity, and the blessing. 00:09:10.31\00:09:13.05 But there's one more promise that God made to him. 00:09:13.08\00:09:15.45 Verse 15: Behold I am with you, and will keep you wherever you 00:09:15.48\00:09:22.46 go, and will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave 00:09:22.49\00:09:28.86 you until I have done what I have spoken to you. 00:09:28.90\00:09:33.84 And so as Jacob is leaving home, God is giving Jacob these 00:09:33.87\00:09:39.24 wonderful promises. 00:09:39.27\00:09:40.88 First of all the promise that the land where he had left 00:09:40.91\00:09:46.55 would once again be his; that he would return home. 00:09:46.58\00:09:49.85 Secondly, an innumerable posterity. 00:09:49.88\00:09:52.59 In the third place a blessing. 00:09:52.62\00:09:55.99 And in the fourth place, God promises not to leave Jacob; 00:09:56.02\00:10:00.46 not to forsake him, but to protect him, and to keep him 00:10:00.50\00:10:04.23 along the way. Now let's go to the very end of the twenty year 00:10:04.27\00:10:09.40 period that Jacob spent in Laban's house. 00:10:09.44\00:10:13.27 He's left Laban's house, and now he's returning to Canaan, 00:10:13.31\00:10:17.01 and he's about to enter the land of Canaan. 00:10:17.05\00:10:20.22 God has told him to return. 00:10:20.25\00:10:23.05 In other words, his home which he has lost, 00:10:23.08\00:10:25.65 he is about to recover. 00:10:25.69\00:10:27.32 And as he's there about to enter the land of Canaan, 00:10:27.36\00:10:31.29 where he was cast out of because of his sin, 00:10:31.33\00:10:34.40 he has this experience that is told in Genesis 32. 00:10:34.46\00:10:41.10 In fact, there he's told that his brother Esau is coming 00:10:41.14\00:10:46.07 against him with four hundred armed men. 00:10:46.11\00:10:49.21 In fact, let's read this in Genesis 32:6, chapter 32:6. 00:10:49.24\00:10:58.85 It says: 00:10:58.89\00:11:00.06 Now when Jacob hears that his brother Esau is coming against 00:11:13.80\00:11:17.64 him... By the way, you remember that Esau said, the day will 00:11:17.67\00:11:21.08 come when I will kill my brother Jacob. 00:11:21.11\00:11:24.45 In other words, he was filled with hatred against his brother. 00:11:24.48\00:11:27.12 When Jacob hears this, the Bible tells us that Jacob is very 00:11:27.15\00:11:31.75 distressed, and anxious. 00:11:31.79\00:11:33.79 In fact, let's read it as it's found in Genesis 32:7. 00:11:33.82\00:11:39.43 And we're going to read just the first part of the verse. 00:11:39.46\00:11:41.96 It says here: 00:11:42.00\00:11:43.10 Now the fear that Jacob had is that his sins were so great 00:11:49.70\00:11:55.08 that God was not going to be able to fulfill the promises 00:11:55.11\00:11:59.38 that he had given when Jacob had left home. 00:11:59.41\00:12:02.18 Now God had told him that he was going to 00:12:02.22\00:12:04.35 fulfill these promises. 00:12:04.39\00:12:05.79 But now Jacob, as he's about to enter the land of Canaan, 00:12:05.82\00:12:09.76 his lost home, he begins to fear that when Esau comes 00:12:09.79\00:12:14.83 against him, Esau is going to destroy him, because his sins 00:12:14.83\00:12:18.20 are so great that God is not going to fulfill the promises 00:12:18.23\00:12:23.07 that He made to him twenty years 00:12:23.10\00:12:25.91 earlier. And so it says, that Jacob was greatly afraid 00:12:25.94\00:12:29.84 and distressed. In fact, Jacob knew that he could not be 00:12:29.88\00:12:34.05 presumptuous and demand that God fulfill His promises. 00:12:34.08\00:12:37.79 Let's notice Genesis 32:10. 00:12:37.82\00:12:42.46 When Jacob hears that his brother is coming, and he feels 00:12:42.49\00:12:47.23 his unworthiness, and that he cannot actually even force God 00:12:47.30\00:12:51.67 into fulfilling His promises, the Bible tells us that Jacob 00:12:51.70\00:12:55.84 confesses his unworthiness to God. 00:12:55.87\00:12:58.97 Notice Genesis 32:10. 00:12:59.01\00:13:02.04 He says to God in his prayer, I am not worthy of the least 00:13:02.08\00:13:08.48 of all Thy mercies, and of all the truth, which You have shown 00:13:08.52\00:13:13.89 Your servant. He says, because I'm a sinner, I'm not worthy. 00:13:13.92\00:13:17.19 I'm not worthy for You to fulfill your promises with me. 00:13:17.23\00:13:21.10 I'm not worthy for You to protect me from Esau, 00:13:21.13\00:13:25.17 but God, when You promise You always fulfill Your promises. 00:13:25.20\00:13:30.27 and so he confesses his unworthiness, and he prays 00:13:30.31\00:13:34.91 for God's mercy. 00:13:34.94\00:13:36.48 In fact, notice Genesis 32:11. 00:13:36.51\00:13:41.18 He prays to God for deliverance from his brother. 00:13:41.22\00:13:44.42 It says there, Jacob praying to God: 00:13:44.45\00:13:47.66 And then I want you to notice in verse 12, that Jacob actually 00:14:00.10\00:14:04.84 claims the promise of God. 00:14:04.87\00:14:06.94 Notice verse 12, for You said, I will surely treat you well, 00:14:06.98\00:14:15.05 and make your descendents as the sand of the sea, 00:14:15.08\00:14:18.39 which cannot be numbered for multitude. 00:14:18.42\00:14:20.99 In other words, Jacob is saying, Lord I'm afraid of my brother 00:14:21.02\00:14:25.69 Esau. He's coming to destroy me. 00:14:25.73\00:14:28.16 I'm unworthy even to be speaking to You because of my sinfulness. 00:14:28.20\00:14:32.70 But You have promised that You're going to take me back 00:14:32.73\00:14:36.40 to the land, that You were going to keep me, 00:14:36.44\00:14:38.94 that you were going to give me an innumerable 00:14:38.97\00:14:42.01 host of descendents, that you were going to bless me, 00:14:42.04\00:14:45.81 and now I am claiming those promises, not because I am 00:14:45.85\00:14:50.09 worthy, but because You are worthy; not because I am good, 00:14:50.12\00:14:53.99 but because You are good. 00:14:54.02\00:14:56.46 And so Jacob is there praying, pouring his heart out to God, 00:14:56.49\00:15:04.57 and suddenly a man shows up, and the man lays hold of Jacob. 00:15:04.60\00:15:12.17 And, of course, Jacob thinks it's an enemy, and so he begins 00:15:12.21\00:15:16.24 wrestling with this man. 00:15:16.28\00:15:17.78 Let's notice Genesis 32:24 on this wrestling match. It says: 00:15:17.81\00:15:24.42 In fact, actually, the wrestling match lasted the better part 00:15:32.66\00:15:36.80 of the whole night. 00:15:36.83\00:15:38.03 And Jacob is wrestling with this man, and suddenly the man 00:15:38.07\00:15:42.60 touches his hip, and his hip is thrown out of joint. 00:15:42.64\00:15:48.28 And Jacob says, Oh Oh, this is no ordinary man that I'm 00:15:48.31\00:15:53.45 fighting with. This is a super- natural being. 00:15:53.48\00:15:56.85 In fact, notice what we're told in Genesis 32:25: 00:15:56.89\00:16:02.59 By the way, this is the angel who says, that he could not 00:16:05.63\00:16:11.93 prevail with Jacob, not Jacob with the angel. So it says: 00:16:11.97\00:16:15.50 That is the angel. 00:16:20.01\00:16:21.51 Isn't that interesting that even after he threw his hip out of 00:16:31.55\00:16:36.16 join, Jacob still wrestles with him. 00:16:36.19\00:16:39.63 And Jacob says, this is a super- natural being that I'm 00:16:39.66\00:16:44.17 struggling with, but he did not let him go. 00:16:44.20\00:16:46.40 He hung onto him. 00:16:46.43\00:16:48.10 In fact, notice Genesis 32:26. 00:16:48.14\00:16:52.77 In spite of the excruciating physical pain that Jacob is 00:16:52.81\00:16:56.38 feeling, in spite of the psychological anguish because 00:16:56.41\00:16:59.88 of the load of his sins, and knowing that his brother Esau 00:16:59.91\00:17:03.82 is coming to destroy him, and knowing that he can only depend 00:17:03.85\00:17:07.12 on the promises of God, not because he is good, 00:17:07.16\00:17:09.76 but because God is faithful to His promises. 00:17:09.79\00:17:12.59 We find now in Genesis 32:26 that the angel, or this being, 00:17:12.63\00:17:19.93 this man, as he's called, says to Jacob: 00:17:19.97\00:17:23.30 That is Jacob said: 00:17:28.74\00:17:30.38 Quite a struggle! 00:17:35.22\00:17:36.55 Not willing to let loose of this angel, because he knows 00:17:36.58\00:17:42.12 now that he's more than a human being; 00:17:42.16\00:17:44.83 he's a super-natural being. 00:17:44.86\00:17:46.36 And he wants to have the assurance of God's blessing. 00:17:46.39\00:17:49.46 By the way, God had already given him the assurance of 00:17:49.50\00:17:52.20 his blessing when he left his home and arrived at Bethel. 00:17:52.23\00:17:56.77 By the vision, or the dream of the ladder, God had told Jacob 00:17:56.81\00:18:00.94 I am with you. Your sin is forgiven. 00:18:00.98\00:18:03.01 The bridge between heaven and earth is closed. 00:18:03.04\00:18:06.48 In other words, you can communicate. 00:18:06.51\00:18:08.48 The communion is open. 00:18:08.52\00:18:09.72 But for twenty years Jacob was not able to forgive himself 00:18:09.75\00:18:13.15 for his sin. And so now he's not sure. 00:18:13.19\00:18:15.86 Now I want you to notice in Genesis 32:27, 28, when Jacob 00:18:15.89\00:18:23.00 says to this man, as he's called, I will not let you go 00:18:23.03\00:18:27.90 until you bless me. 00:18:27.94\00:18:29.27 We find in Genesis 32:27, 28, that the name of Jacob 00:18:29.30\00:18:35.78 is changed. It says: 00:18:35.81\00:18:38.18 In other words, when Jacob struggles, and wrestles with 00:18:54.36\00:18:59.23 this man, and refuses to let him go, in spite of the 00:18:59.27\00:19:03.24 excruciating physical pain, and the psychological load of sin 00:19:03.27\00:19:07.41 that is upon him, the angel says, listen, your name will 00:19:07.44\00:19:11.55 no longer be called the supplanter, the one who wants 00:19:11.58\00:19:15.05 to take someone else's place, because now your character 00:19:15.08\00:19:18.89 has changed. You've felt your unworthiness, 00:19:18.92\00:19:21.99 and you're clinging to the promises of God that He gave 00:19:22.02\00:19:25.56 you at Bethel. And so He says, now your name will no longer 00:19:25.59\00:19:29.66 be supplanter, because that's not what you're like anymore. 00:19:29.70\00:19:32.87 He says, your name will now be called Israel, which means 00:19:32.90\00:19:37.14 the Prince of God. 00:19:37.17\00:19:39.54 In other words, there's a change of name when Jacob wrestles 00:19:39.57\00:19:44.58 with this man and prevails against him. 00:19:44.61\00:19:47.98 Now I want you to notice also that Jacob is blessed 00:19:48.02\00:19:54.02 by this man. It says in Genesis 32:29: 00:19:54.06\00:19:59.59 In other words, Jacob wants to know this being's name. 00:20:04.43\00:20:07.44 Now after this episode, it's interesting to notice the name 00:20:16.11\00:20:19.75 that Jacob gave to that place where he wrestled with this man. 00:20:19.78\00:20:24.29 By the way, I mentioned a little earlier that it was with an 00:20:24.32\00:20:27.46 angel, but really in Genesis 32, if you just stick to Genesis 32, 00:20:27.49\00:20:31.76 it says that he struggled with a man, but we're going to notice 00:20:31.79\00:20:35.76 now that this was much more than a common, ordinary man. 00:20:35.80\00:20:39.40 In fact, notice Genesis 32:30, 31, the name that Jacob gave 00:20:39.43\00:20:44.64 that place. It says: 00:20:44.67\00:20:46.68 An now he explains why. 00:20:51.51\00:20:54.72 By the way, Peniel means face of God. He says: 00:20:54.75\00:20:59.92 Who was that man? 00:21:06.93\00:21:09.66 That man, according to this was God, because it says here 00:21:09.70\00:21:14.37 that Jacob saw God face to face. 00:21:14.40\00:21:19.27 And you say, you mean it was God? 00:21:19.31\00:21:21.44 Doesn't it say in Exodus that Moses was not able to see 00:21:21.48\00:21:25.18 the face of God, because he would be destroyed? 00:21:25.21\00:21:28.22 Who was this being? 00:21:28.25\00:21:29.88 Well, it will help us to go to the book of Hosea 12:3, 4, 00:21:29.92\00:21:35.39 because not only does the Bible say that this was a man, 00:21:35.42\00:21:38.49 not only does the Bible tell us that this was God, 00:21:38.53\00:21:41.73 but it gives another name to this being. 00:21:41.76\00:21:44.53 Hosea 12:3, 4. It says here: 00:21:44.57\00:21:50.34 That is Jacob. 00:21:51.41\00:21:52.74 Who did he struggle with? 00:22:01.55\00:22:03.02 With God, but now notice what it says: 00:22:03.05\00:22:06.65 Who did Jacob struggle with? 00:22:14.46\00:22:17.40 He struggled with the what? with the angel. 00:22:17.43\00:22:21.70 Now you say, wait a minute! 00:22:21.74\00:22:23.20 Was it a man, was it God, or was it an angel? 00:22:23.24\00:22:27.18 The Bible says all three. 00:22:27.21\00:22:29.18 Now the question is, who was this individual? 00:22:29.21\00:22:32.81 This individual was none less than Jesus Christ, 00:22:32.85\00:22:38.55 who is identified in the Old Testament by the name 00:22:38.59\00:22:43.09 Michael the Archangel. 00:22:43.12\00:22:46.19 And in several passages He is called the angel of the Lord. 00:22:46.23\00:22:51.47 In other words, in the Old Testament Jesus, 00:22:51.50\00:22:55.77 in His pre-incarnate state is identified as the angel of God's 00:22:55.80\00:23:00.91 presence. He's identified as Michael, the archangel, 00:23:00.94\00:23:05.18 and as the angel of the Lord. 00:23:05.21\00:23:07.55 Now I must make it clear that Jesus is Everlasting God, 00:23:07.58\00:23:10.52 He's Eternal God. 00:23:10.55\00:23:11.45 He's just not a common, ordinary angel. 00:23:11.49\00:23:13.89 He just fulfilled the function of an angel 00:23:13.92\00:23:17.13 in the Old Testament, the commander of the Lord's host. 00:23:17.16\00:23:20.30 And, so actually Jacob had struggled with Michael 00:23:20.33\00:23:24.97 the archangel. And I want you to remember that, 00:23:25.00\00:23:27.84 because we're going to come back to it in a few moments. 00:23:27.87\00:23:30.91 Now we need to go forward in history to see how this 00:23:30.94\00:23:37.61 experience that we've just described from Genesis 32 00:23:37.65\00:23:41.58 will be fulfilled with God's people, because the Bible tells 00:23:41.62\00:23:46.19 us that there's gong to be another time of trouble, 00:23:46.22\00:23:48.52 which is prefigured, or which is illustrated, small scale, 00:23:48.56\00:23:53.60 in the experience of Jacob as he was about to enter 00:23:53.63\00:23:57.43 the land of Canaan. 00:23:57.47\00:23:58.87 Now what I need to do is go to Daniel 11, and we're going to 00:23:58.90\00:24:03.94 read chapter 11 and verse 44, and then we're going to go 00:24:03.97\00:24:08.28 to Daniel 12:1, the very next chapter, and there's a sequence 00:24:08.31\00:24:14.28 here that I want you to see, which is very important. 00:24:14.32\00:24:17.32 And, by the way, we need to learn as we study the Bible to 00:24:17.35\00:24:22.09 read the Bible structurally. 00:24:22.12\00:24:24.03 We need to learn to read and see the sequence of events; 00:24:24.06\00:24:28.66 how things are organized, the order of things as they appear. 00:24:28.70\00:24:32.80 And that's what we're going to notice now. 00:24:32.83\00:24:34.74 We're going to make three comparisons. 00:24:34.77\00:24:36.44 First of all we're going to take a look at Daniel 11:44, and 00:24:36.47\00:24:40.34 Daniel 12:1, and we're going to notice the sequence of events. 00:24:40.38\00:24:43.35 Then I'm going to go to Revelation 14 and 15. 00:24:43.38\00:24:47.72 And I'm going to show you in Revelation 14 and 15 that 00:24:47.75\00:24:50.85 same sequence of events. 00:24:50.89\00:24:52.49 And then we're going to go to the book, The Great Controversy, 00:24:52.52\00:24:55.92 that classic book which presents the true scenario 00:24:55.96\00:24:59.93 of end time events. 00:24:59.96\00:25:01.23 And I'm going to show you that that book gives the identical 00:25:01.26\00:25:04.00 same sequence as Daniel 11 and 12, and Revelation 14 and 15. 00:25:04.03\00:25:08.60 Now notice Daniel 11:44. 00:25:08.64\00:25:12.61 It's speaking about the king of the north. 00:25:12.64\00:25:15.61 And, of course, we don't have time to discuss all of the 00:25:15.64\00:25:18.38 implications about the king of the north, but the king of the 00:25:18.41\00:25:21.58 north represents that end time power which is going to rule 00:25:21.62\00:25:25.92 the world. It's a religious power, and it's going to be a 00:25:25.95\00:25:29.32 persecutor of God's people. 00:25:29.36\00:25:30.99 Notice Daniel 11:44: 00:25:31.03\00:25:34.56 In other words, there's going to be some news from the east, 00:25:40.00\00:25:44.27 and from the north, which is going to trouble 00:25:44.31\00:25:46.24 the king of the north. 00:25:46.27\00:25:47.58 And what is he going to do as a result? It says: 00:25:47.61\00:25:51.68 Do you see the points here? 00:26:00.89\00:26:02.62 1. There are certain tidings, or there's certain news 00:26:02.66\00:26:07.83 from the north and the east that trouble the king of the north. 00:26:07.86\00:26:11.37 And then the king of the north, in consequence of those tidings, 00:26:11.40\00:26:15.64 goes out to what? Goes out to destroy many. 00:26:15.67\00:26:20.28 And, by the way, the word many refers to God's faithful people. 00:26:20.31\00:26:23.88 And then we have Daniel 12:1. 00:26:23.91\00:26:26.72 There are three events in this verse that I want to underline. 00:26:26.75\00:26:31.29 It says there: 00:26:31.32\00:26:32.85 What's going to happen when the king of the north goes 00:26:38.06\00:26:40.13 to annihilate many? 00:26:40.16\00:26:41.40 Michael shall what? shall stand up. 00:26:41.43\00:26:44.93 By the way, that expression, stand up, is interpreted early 00:26:44.97\00:26:49.94 in the book of Daniel, in verses 3 and 4 the expression stand up 00:26:49.97\00:26:53.61 means, begin to rule, or take over the kingdom. 00:26:53.64\00:26:58.95 In other words, the standing up of Michael here, 00:26:58.98\00:27:02.92 means that Jesus is now taking over His what? 00:27:02.95\00:27:06.29 He's taking over His kingdom. 00:27:06.32\00:27:08.62 And then, notice, it continues saying: 00:27:08.66\00:27:11.39 So notice, the king of the north hears these tidings 00:27:33.08\00:27:37.72 from the north and the east; he's distressed. 00:27:37.75\00:27:39.99 In consequence he goes out to destroy and annihilate many. 00:27:40.02\00:27:45.33 When he goes out to destroy and annihilate many, 00:27:45.36\00:27:48.33 Michael stands up and He begins to rule. 00:27:48.36\00:27:51.30 In other words, He ceases to be a priest, 00:27:51.33\00:27:54.27 and now He becomes a what? a king. 00:27:54.30\00:27:57.01 And then when He stands up there's a terrible time of what? 00:27:57.04\00:28:00.84 a time of trouble that there hasn't been since the beginning 00:28:00.88\00:28:04.98 of the world, according to this. 00:28:05.01\00:28:07.18 And, by the way, who is the one who stands up? Michael. 00:28:07.22\00:28:11.09 What is Michael called? 00:28:11.12\00:28:13.46 For example, in Jude 9 He's called Michael the Archangel. 00:28:13.49\00:28:18.76 And then notice in Daniel 12:1 the third element. 00:28:18.79\00:28:23.16 Once again, it says, At that time Michael shall stand up, 00:28:23.20\00:28:26.74 that great prince who stands watch over the sons of Your 00:28:26.77\00:28:29.67 people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never 00:28:29.70\00:28:32.57 was since there was a nation, even to that time. 00:28:32.61\00:28:35.78 And now notice: 00:28:35.81\00:28:36.91 The question is, delivered from whom? 00:28:45.69\00:28:48.09 In context, delivered from whom? 00:28:49.89\00:28:52.86 Who has gone out to destroy and annihilate many? 00:28:52.89\00:28:57.40 The king of the north. 00:28:57.43\00:28:58.47 So God's people are gong to be delivered from whom? 00:28:58.50\00:29:02.30 From the power of the king of the north. 00:29:02.34\00:29:04.47 So let me review, because this sequence is of critical 00:29:04.51\00:29:07.71 importance. Daniel 11:44 says that certain tidings 00:29:07.74\00:29:12.21 from the north and the east are going to bother 00:29:12.25\00:29:14.78 the king of the north. 00:29:14.82\00:29:15.85 As a consequence he's going to go out to destroy 00:29:15.88\00:29:19.12 and annihilate many. 00:29:19.15\00:29:20.39 When he does that Michael is going to stand up, 00:29:20.42\00:29:24.39 Michael the Archangel, and Michael the Archangel is Jesus. 00:29:24.43\00:29:27.96 Standing up means that He's going to cease to be a priest, 00:29:28.00\00:29:30.97 and now He's going to be what? 00:29:31.00\00:29:32.77 He's going to be a king. 00:29:32.80\00:29:34.10 He's going to begin to rule. 00:29:34.14\00:29:36.07 And then, of course, you have a time of trouble, 00:29:36.10\00:29:38.84 such as never was since there was a nation. 00:29:38.87\00:29:41.91 And at that time, during the time of trouble, God's people 00:29:41.94\00:29:45.41 will be what? will be delivered, everyone who is found 00:29:45.45\00:29:48.48 written in the book. 00:29:48.52\00:29:49.55 That is the sequence. 00:29:49.58\00:29:50.92 Now lets notice the same sequence in Revelation 14:15. 00:29:50.95\00:29:57.39 Revelation 14:15. 00:29:57.43\00:30:00.00 By the way, do you know what the tidings from the north 00:30:00.03\00:30:02.86 and from the east really are? 00:30:02.90\00:30:04.47 The seal of God in Revelation 7; the angel comes 00:30:04.50\00:30:13.64 from what direction of the compass? 00:30:13.68\00:30:15.28 He comes from the east; from the rising sun. 00:30:15.31\00:30:18.95 And the loud cry of Revelation 18 comes from heaven. 00:30:18.98\00:30:25.39 By the way, in antiquity heaven was north, because God sits 00:30:25.42\00:30:29.72 in the sides of the north. 00:30:29.76\00:30:31.49 And so, really, the tidings from the north and from the east 00:30:32.63\00:30:35.63 are the three angels' messages, particularly intensified by 00:30:35.66\00:30:42.07 the message of this angel of Revelation 18, which brings the 00:30:42.10\00:30:46.11 sealing message, which is going to separate the righteous 00:30:46.14\00:30:50.15 from the unrighteous. 00:30:50.18\00:30:51.21 And so the tidings in Revelation 14 would be the 00:30:51.25\00:30:54.68 three angels' messages. 00:30:54.72\00:30:56.05 By the way, when the three angels' messages are finished, 00:30:56.08\00:30:59.65 is humanity divided into two groups? 00:30:59.69\00:31:03.26 Revelation 14-20 says yes. 00:31:03.29\00:31:06.93 You have the harvest of the earth, and you have the what? 00:31:06.96\00:31:09.46 And you have the grapes of the earth. 00:31:09.50\00:31:11.53 By the way, have you ever noticed in Revelation 14 00:31:11.57\00:31:15.74 that the grapes are outside the city, outside the holy city, 00:31:15.77\00:31:19.47 and the righteous are inside the holy city? 00:31:19.51\00:31:22.14 Why do you suppose the wicked have come and surrounded 00:31:22.18\00:31:25.58 the city? By the way, this is the church; 00:31:25.61\00:31:28.25 it's spiritual Jerusalem. 00:31:28.28\00:31:29.65 Why have the wicked come there? 00:31:29.68\00:31:31.62 Because they want to what? 00:31:31.65\00:31:34.39 They want to destroy those who are found where? 00:31:34.42\00:31:37.29 inside the city; the righteous. 00:31:37.33\00:31:40.46 And so I want you to notice that the three angels' messages 00:31:40.50\00:31:43.67 intensified by this message that comes from the north 00:31:43.70\00:31:46.30 from heaven; intensified by this sealing message which comes 00:31:46.33\00:31:49.80 from the east, troubles the religious powers of the world, 00:31:49.84\00:31:53.17 and they gather around God's people, 00:31:53.21\00:31:55.64 symbolized by Jerusalem, with the intention of what? 00:31:55.68\00:31:58.88 of destroying them. 00:31:58.91\00:32:00.18 And then I want you to notice something very interesting. 00:32:00.22\00:32:03.85 As soon as the three angels' messages are finished, 00:32:03.89\00:32:07.32 in Revelation 15, you have the closing of the 00:32:07.36\00:32:11.99 heavenly temple service. 00:32:12.03\00:32:13.13 Have you ever noticed in Revelation 15:5-8 that it says 00:32:13.16\00:32:19.40 that the temple was filled with smoke, and no one could enter 00:32:19.43\00:32:24.47 the temple until the seven last plagues had been poured out? 00:32:24.51\00:32:28.54 So you have the what? the closing of probation. 00:32:28.58\00:32:33.31 Let me ask you, when probation closes, does Jesus cease to be 00:32:33.35\00:32:37.55 high priest, and does He take over His position as king? 00:32:37.59\00:32:42.69 He most certainly does! 00:32:42.72\00:32:43.96 He changes His garments from His priestly garments 00:32:43.99\00:32:46.70 to His kingly garments. 00:32:46.73\00:32:48.20 And that's in Revelation 15; the closing of the door. 00:32:48.23\00:32:52.40 And then, of course, you have the time of trouble. 00:32:52.43\00:32:56.47 In Revelation 16 the time of trouble is the period 00:32:56.50\00:33:00.54 of the seven last plagues. 00:33:00.58\00:33:02.14 Are you seeing the sequence that we have here? 00:33:02.18\00:33:05.11 The three angels' messages are the tidings. 00:33:05.15\00:33:08.05 This separates humanity into two groups. 00:33:08.08\00:33:12.29 The wicked come against the church, 00:33:12.32\00:33:14.36 represented by Jerusalem, to attempt to destroy it. 00:33:14.39\00:33:17.39 At that time Jesus closes the sanctuary service. 00:33:17.43\00:33:21.83 He becomes king over His people. 00:33:21.86\00:33:25.00 And as a result you have the time of trouble, 00:33:25.03\00:33:28.07 which is the period of the plagues. 00:33:28.10\00:33:30.74 Now let me ask you, does Revelation indicate that God's 00:33:30.77\00:33:34.04 people will come victorious from this period? Absolutely! 00:33:34.08\00:33:38.11 You can read in Revelation 15:2-4. 00:33:38.15\00:33:41.78 It says that there's a group who are victorious over the beast, 00:33:41.82\00:33:46.39 and over his image, and over his mark. 00:33:46.42\00:33:48.72 Are those the powers which wanted to destroy God's people? 00:33:48.76\00:33:51.69 Absolutely! And so you find the same structure and sequence 00:33:51.73\00:33:56.16 in Revelation 14 and 15, as you found in Daniel 11. 00:33:56.20\00:34:00.07 But it gets even more amazing when we look at what is said 00:34:00.10\00:34:04.41 in the book, The Great Controversy. 00:34:04.44\00:34:05.74 I'm just going to give you the pages. 00:34:05.77\00:34:07.38 In The Great Controversy you have a chapter, which begins on 00:34:07.41\00:34:12.38 page 603, and the title of that chapter is, The Final Warning. 00:34:12.41\00:34:18.85 It's a whole chapter about the sealing. 00:34:18.89\00:34:21.89 That's the angel that comes from the east, and about that mighty 00:34:21.92\00:34:26.33 angel who comes from heaven. 00:34:26.36\00:34:27.96 That's Revelation 18:1-4. 00:34:28.00\00:34:30.93 That's page 603, it's called The Final Warning. 00:34:30.97\00:34:34.40 Those are the tidings from the north and the east, 00:34:34.44\00:34:36.47 incidentally. Interestingly enough, immediately after that 00:34:36.50\00:34:40.98 you have on page 613, after that chapter you have the 00:34:41.01\00:34:45.31 chapter which is called, The Time of Trouble. 00:34:45.35\00:34:48.98 And on page 613 Ellen White says... 00:34:51.12\00:34:55.49 By the way, she begins that chapter by quoting Daniel 12:1. 00:34:55.52\00:34:59.29 You find Ellen White saying on page 613, first of all, 00:34:59.33\00:35:03.53 that everyone has been sealed with the seal of God, 00:35:03.57\00:35:07.14 or has received the mark of the beast. 00:35:07.17\00:35:09.74 All of humanity has been divided into two groups. 00:35:09.77\00:35:12.61 And then she says, on pages 614 and 615, that the wicked are 00:35:12.64\00:35:20.25 enraged against God's people. 00:35:20.28\00:35:22.48 Interesting, same identical sequence, in the correct order. 00:35:22.52\00:35:27.49 And then on page 616 she says, Then God's people will be 00:35:27.52\00:35:32.53 plunged into those scenes, which are called in the Bible, 00:35:32.56\00:35:35.83 the time of Jacob's trouble. 00:35:35.86\00:35:37.17 And she goes on to talk about the experience of Jacob. 00:35:37.20\00:35:41.00 Interestingly enough, in the book, The Great Controversy, 00:35:41.04\00:35:44.77 page 635, the next chapter is titled, God's People Delivered. 00:35:44.81\00:35:51.41 And finally, on page 637, Ellen White quotes Daniel 12:2 00:35:52.81\00:35:58.75 where it speaks about many who sleep in the dust of the earth 00:35:58.79\00:36:01.69 shall be raised; some to everlasting life, 00:36:01.72\00:36:04.16 and some to everlasting shame and contempt. 00:36:04.19\00:36:07.36 Very interesting that in The Great Controversy you have the 00:36:07.40\00:36:11.57 identical sequence that you have in Daniel 11 and 12, 00:36:11.60\00:36:15.57 and Revelation 14 and 15. 00:36:15.60\00:36:18.51 Let me review what Ellen White has to say. 00:36:18.54\00:36:20.38 She speaks about the final warning; those are the tidings 00:36:20.41\00:36:23.01 from the north and from the east. 00:36:23.04\00:36:24.61 Then begins the chapter on The Time of Trouble. 00:36:24.65\00:36:26.98 She speaks about humanity divided into two groups. 00:36:27.02\00:36:31.05 She speaks about the door of probation closing. 00:36:31.09\00:36:34.86 Then she says that the wicked are enraged with the righteous. 00:36:34.89\00:36:38.29 Then she says the righteous will be plunged 00:36:38.33\00:36:40.80 into the time of trouble. 00:36:40.83\00:36:42.13 And then she speaks about the experience of Jacob 00:36:42.16\00:36:45.63 in Genesis 32 as prefiguring what's going to happen 00:36:45.67\00:36:49.14 to God's people. 00:36:49.17\00:36:50.21 And then in the very next chapter she titles it, 00:36:50.24\00:36:52.57 God's people delivered. 00:36:52.61\00:36:54.44 And then she speaks about the special resurrection 00:36:54.48\00:36:56.95 of Daniel 12:1, 2. 00:36:56.98\00:36:59.71 In this way, in three different lines of argument, 00:36:59.75\00:37:04.55 we an see what these prophecies are actually talking about. 00:37:04.59\00:37:08.39 They're talking about the final onslaught of the wicked against 00:37:08.42\00:37:12.56 God's people after the close of probation, and the trials 00:37:12.59\00:37:16.50 that God's people are going to have when the wicked come 00:37:16.53\00:37:18.80 against them just like Esau was coming against Jacob. 00:37:18.83\00:37:22.44 And God's people are going to go through the same type of 00:37:22.47\00:37:26.21 experiences that Jacob went through during this period. 00:37:26.24\00:37:29.94 In fact, let's notice several things that the Bible has to say 00:37:29.98\00:37:34.42 about the time of Jacob's trouble. 00:37:34.45\00:37:36.35 Notice Jeremiah 30:6-9. 00:37:36.38\00:37:39.35 This is actually where we get the name, 00:37:39.39\00:37:41.49 the time of Jacob's trouble. 00:37:41.52\00:37:44.19 It says here in verse 6: 00:37:44.23\00:37:46.96 Are you catching what he's saying here? 00:38:04.41\00:38:07.25 He's saying that men are like they're in labor. 00:38:07.28\00:38:10.39 And their faces; they're in anguish, in other words, 00:38:10.42\00:38:14.19 in pain, and their faces are pale. 00:38:14.22\00:38:16.76 And then notice what it continues saying: 00:38:16.79\00:38:19.26 By the way, is this similar terminology to what we read 00:38:29.27\00:38:31.84 in Daniel 12:1, even though Jacob's name is not mentioned, 00:38:31.87\00:38:35.48 it's the same terminology. It says: 00:38:35.51\00:38:37.91 By the way, those are the yoke and the bonds of Esau. 00:38:53.60\00:38:57.57 That is Israel. 00:39:00.70\00:39:01.80 Who would David the king be at this point? 00:39:08.14\00:39:10.28 David the king would be Jesus Christ. 00:39:10.31\00:39:13.95 Now there are many Christians who believe in the rapture idea. 00:39:13.98\00:39:18.59 They say that the church will be taken out of this world 00:39:18.62\00:39:21.96 before the tribulation. 00:39:21.99\00:39:23.53 The folks who believe this are setting themselves up to be 00:39:23.56\00:39:29.63 caught in the time of trouble without the necessary 00:39:29.66\00:39:32.57 preparation to go through this period, 00:39:32.60\00:39:34.24 because the time of trouble is going to be the worst period 00:39:34.27\00:39:37.91 of distress, and anguish, and tribulation in the history 00:39:37.94\00:39:42.68 of planet earth. 00:39:42.71\00:39:43.71 There's no other period, no matter how bad it got, 00:39:43.75\00:39:46.92 that is even faintly similar to this, and the devil knows it. 00:39:46.95\00:39:52.02 And so the devil tries to convince the church that Jesus 00:39:52.05\00:39:55.36 is going to take the church out of the world before the 00:39:55.39\00:39:57.79 tribulation, so that when they're caught in the 00:39:57.83\00:40:00.20 tribulation, they don't have the necessary preparation: 00:40:00.23\00:40:03.60 faith and perseverance in order to go through 00:40:03.63\00:40:07.04 this time successfully. 00:40:07.07\00:40:08.90 Notice Matthew 24:21, 22 describing this period. 00:40:08.94\00:40:15.78 It is the worst in intensity in the history of the world. 00:40:15.81\00:40:19.08 It says here: 00:40:19.11\00:40:20.58 That word is magoli in Greek, where we get the word megaphone. 00:40:22.98\00:40:26.99 That is those days of the tribulation. 00:40:41.30\00:40:43.30 Is this going to be a terrible time of trial and anguish 00:40:53.92\00:40:56.72 for God's people? 00:40:56.75\00:40:57.85 It's going to be just like the experience of Jacob, 00:40:57.89\00:41:00.79 only it's not going to be only on the borders of literal 00:41:00.82\00:41:03.53 Canaan; it's going to be on the borders of the heavenly Canaan; 00:41:03.56\00:41:07.10 A severe time of trouble when the enemies of God's people are 00:41:08.50\00:41:12.57 coming against them, and we will go through the same 00:41:12.60\00:41:15.74 experience, anguish, wondering whether God will be able to 00:41:15.77\00:41:18.84 fulfill His promises, because of our sinfulness, 00:41:18.87\00:41:21.84 and our unworthiness, and when we cry out to God day and night 00:41:21.88\00:41:26.72 for deliverance. 00:41:26.75\00:41:27.78 We will wrestle with God in prayer. 00:41:27.82\00:41:29.95 But, of course, we need to learn that now, and that's what Jacob 00:41:29.98\00:41:34.56 learned to do in the house of Laban. 00:41:34.59\00:41:36.46 That's where he developed a character. 00:41:36.49\00:41:38.39 He learned to be industrious. 00:41:38.43\00:41:40.36 He learned to be patient in affliction. 00:41:40.40\00:41:42.60 He learned to be patient when he was mistreated, and therefore, 00:41:42.63\00:41:45.63 he was ready for this period, at the end, 00:41:45.67\00:41:48.57 before he entered Canaan. 00:41:48.60\00:41:50.04 Now notice Psalm 91:14-16, Psalm 91:14-16. 00:41:50.07\00:41:57.01 This is known as the Psalm of the tribulation, 00:41:57.05\00:41:59.85 and it has several very important points. 00:41:59.88\00:42:03.32 It says here in verse 14: 00:42:03.35\00:42:06.12 God is speaking. 00:42:07.99\00:42:09.99 Notice: because we have set our love upon God... 00:42:13.83\00:42:17.60 What? Is that a key word? Absolutely! 00:42:20.10\00:42:24.71 What did Jacob say to the being that he was struggling with? 00:42:33.98\00:42:37.89 He says, tell me your what? Tell me your name. 00:42:37.92\00:42:41.69 And then it continues saying, he shall call upon me. 00:42:41.72\00:42:46.29 Did Jacob do that? Yes, he did. 00:42:46.33\00:42:48.56 He shall call upon me... 00:42:48.60\00:42:50.43 There's the same word: time of trouble. 00:42:55.54\00:42:58.77 And, of course, it says there in Psalm 91 that no plague will 00:43:11.32\00:43:16.26 afflict God's people. 00:43:16.29\00:43:17.93 You know, some people are afraid of going through 00:43:17.96\00:43:20.16 the tribulation. They say, I hope God lays me to rest 00:43:20.20\00:43:22.66 before that time comes. 00:43:22.70\00:43:23.83 Don't be so quick! 00:43:23.87\00:43:26.17 You know, some people say it's going to be such a terrible 00:43:27.00\00:43:29.10 time, you know, I hope God will allow me to go to the grave 00:43:29.14\00:43:31.87 and then I'll resurrect when Jesus comes, because it's going 00:43:31.91\00:43:34.61 be a terrible period. 00:43:34.64\00:43:35.78 I don't want to live during the period of the plagues. 00:43:35.81\00:43:37.35 I don't want to live without an intercessor. 00:43:37.38\00:43:39.25 Listen folks, we are going to live without an intercessor, 00:43:39.28\00:43:42.65 but we're not going to live without a protector, 00:43:42.68\00:43:44.85 because God protected Jacob, and God is going to protect 00:43:44.89\00:43:48.49 His people, and God is going to listen to His people. 00:43:48.52\00:43:52.09 We'll be able to claim the promises of God. 00:43:52.13\00:43:54.93 By the way, this period is described in Isaiah 54:7, 8, 00:43:54.96\00:43:59.90 Isaiah 54:7, 8. It says here: 00:43:59.93\00:44:04.81 This is God speaking about Israel. 00:44:07.91\00:44:09.64 And so, for a moment, it's going to look like God withdrew 00:44:26.70\00:44:30.73 His face, and His presence from us. 00:44:30.77\00:44:32.70 By the way, did Jesus go through that same experience? 00:44:32.73\00:44:35.90 Absolutely! Did Job go through that same experience? 00:44:35.94\00:44:38.87 Do you remember the story of the widow in Luke 18, 00:44:38.91\00:44:41.84 who kept on coming, and coming, and coming to the judge 00:44:41.88\00:44:45.25 for justice, and finally he did her justice? 00:44:45.28\00:44:48.38 Well, it's going to be the same during the time of trouble, 00:44:48.42\00:44:51.89 folks. The answer will not come immediately. 00:44:51.92\00:44:54.92 God's people will have to prevail in prayer. 00:44:54.96\00:44:57.53 They will have to wrestle with God. 00:44:57.56\00:45:00.33 They will have to have perseverant, unshakable, 00:45:00.36\00:45:03.33 unbreakable faith as they pray to God, and they have to claim 00:45:03.37\00:45:07.80 God's promises, no matter how they feel, because Ellen White 00:45:07.84\00:45:12.27 says that we're going to feel unworthy. 00:45:12.31\00:45:14.21 We're going to feel like we can't even claim God's promises. 00:45:14.24\00:45:16.95 And the devil is going to whisper, come on, you're too 00:45:16.98\00:45:19.75 sinful for God to protect you, and fulfill His promises 00:45:19.78\00:45:22.58 with you. But we must trust what God says, rather than trusting 00:45:22.62\00:45:26.32 our feelings and our emotions. 00:45:26.35\00:45:28.59 By the way, this end time experience is going to be just 00:45:28.62\00:45:31.66 like the experience of the three friends of Daniel, 00:45:31.69\00:45:34.56 in the valley of Durah. 00:45:34.60\00:45:35.66 Allow me to mention that just for a few moments here. 00:45:35.70\00:45:38.97 Do you remember that Nebuchadnezzar, who, by the way, 00:45:39.00\00:45:43.57 for awhile lived like a beast, raised up an image, 00:45:43.61\00:45:47.64 and he commanded everyone to worship the image that he had 00:45:47.68\00:45:51.98 built, and everyone who would not worship the image, 00:45:52.01\00:45:55.38 was to be what? was to be killed. 00:45:55.42\00:45:58.45 Let's notice when the three young men come before 00:45:58.49\00:46:02.09 Nebuchadnezzar, what they say. 00:46:02.12\00:46:05.26 Daniel 3:15, Nebuchadnezzar says: 00:46:05.29\00:46:08.46 There's the word again. 00:46:30.12\00:46:32.79 Notice what the three young men say, verses 16-18. 00:46:35.46\00:46:39.16 Let me ask you, was that a severe time of trial and anguish 00:47:02.25\00:47:06.82 for these three young men? 00:47:06.86\00:47:08.56 It most certainly was. 00:47:09.56\00:47:11.23 Did they claim God's promise? 00:47:11.26\00:47:13.03 Do you know they claimed the promise in Isaiah that says: 00:47:13.06\00:47:15.30 though you go through the fires, you will not be burned. 00:47:15.33\00:47:17.60 Now their feelings told them that they were going to be 00:47:17.63\00:47:21.44 burnt, but they trusted and relied on the promises of God. 00:47:21.77\00:47:27.34 This is the experience that God's people are going 00:47:27.38\00:47:30.68 to go through. The time of Jacob's trouble is the same 00:47:30.71\00:47:34.05 time that the three young men went through their experience, 00:47:34.08\00:47:37.72 and the same experience on a worldwide scale at the end 00:47:37.75\00:47:41.12 over the beast, his image, his mark, 00:47:41.16\00:47:44.26 and the number of his name. 00:47:44.29\00:47:46.59 By the way, who was that fourth person in the fiery furnace? 00:47:46.63\00:47:51.07 Notice what we find in Daniel 3:25. 00:47:51.10\00:47:54.94 Nebuchadnezzar says: 00:47:54.97\00:47:57.04 Was that the same person that Jacob struggled with? Yes? 00:48:06.61\00:48:11.89 Is it the same individual who will rise to deliver His people 00:48:11.92\00:48:16.76 in Daniel 12:1? Is it the same one that is going to deliver 00:48:16.79\00:48:21.60 His people at the end of time? Absolutely! 00:48:21.63\00:48:24.30 By the way, do you know what He's called a little later on 00:48:24.33\00:48:27.10 in chapter 3? Notice Daniel 3:28. It says: 00:48:27.14\00:48:30.47 Excuse me? Who sent His what? angel. 00:48:39.81\00:48:45.22 Who is the angel? the Son of God, according to this. 00:48:45.25\00:48:49.02 Is this the same being that struggled with Jacob? 00:48:49.06\00:48:52.96 Yes, because that individual is called man. 00:48:52.99\00:48:55.66 Here you have son of man. 00:48:55.70\00:48:56.80 That individual is called God; this is the Son of God, 00:48:56.83\00:49:00.37 and that individual is called the angel; 00:49:00.40\00:49:02.60 here you have the angel. 00:49:02.64\00:49:03.87 This experience is an illustration of the time of 00:49:03.91\00:49:07.78 trouble that Jacob went through, and that God's people will go 00:49:07.81\00:49:11.11 through at the end of time. 00:49:11.15\00:49:12.35 By the way, there's another experience in Daniel which is 00:49:12.38\00:49:14.75 similar to this one, which illustrates the same point: 00:49:14.78\00:49:17.59 when Daniel was thrown into the lions den. 00:49:17.62\00:49:21.76 In fact, the next morning, after Daniel had been thrown into 00:49:24.63\00:49:29.43 the lions den, the king comes and he says, hey Daniel, 00:49:29.46\00:49:34.37 has the God whom you serve continually, 00:49:34.40\00:49:38.51 been able to deliver you from the lions? 00:49:38.54\00:49:42.64 There you have the key word again. 00:49:42.68\00:49:44.95 And at the end of the experience, notice what the king 00:49:44.98\00:49:48.22 says in Daniel 6:27. 00:49:48.25\00:49:50.32 He says, speaking about God. 00:49:50.35\00:49:53.09 Did God fulfill His promises? Yes, He did. 00:50:08.54\00:50:12.97 Do you think it was an easy experience for Daniel to think 00:50:13.01\00:50:15.48 about being thrown into a den of hungry lions? 00:50:15.51\00:50:18.01 If you don't think they were hungry, you continue reading 00:50:18.05\00:50:21.32 the story about when the princes were thrown in. 00:50:21.35\00:50:23.02 The Bible says that they hadn't even reached the ground, 00:50:23.05\00:50:25.69 and the lions were having them for cat food. 00:50:25.72\00:50:28.99 They were gobbling them up. 00:50:29.02\00:50:31.66 Those lions were starving. 00:50:31.69\00:50:34.20 They were hungry. 00:50:34.20\00:50:35.26 But that night that Daniel spent in the lions den 00:50:35.30\00:50:38.10 they acted just like kitty cats. 00:50:38.13\00:50:41.24 Now, let's notice Revelation 7: 13-17. 00:50:41.27\00:50:46.04 This speaks about this end time generation. 00:50:46.07\00:50:48.58 Folks, God's people are going to come victorious 00:50:48.61\00:50:51.58 out of this period. 00:50:51.61\00:50:52.48 That's the point that I want to emphasize. 00:50:52.51\00:50:55.25 If we have the faith of Jacob; if we learn to trust God 00:50:55.28\00:50:59.05 like Jacob; if we learn to confess our sins, 00:50:59.09\00:51:02.12 and to repent from sin, no matter how far down we feel, 00:51:02.16\00:51:06.59 we can trust the promises of God. 00:51:06.63\00:51:07.96 God is going to deliver His people in the midst of this 00:51:08.00\00:51:10.77 terrible end time tribulation. 00:51:10.80\00:51:12.73 It says in Revelation 7:13: 00:51:12.77\00:51:16.17 By the way, the Greek says, these are the ones that came out 00:51:34.52\00:51:38.33 of the tribulation, the great one. 00:51:38.36\00:51:40.80 That's the way it says in Greek. 00:51:42.26\00:51:43.87 They've come out of the tribulation, the great one. 00:51:43.90\00:51:46.40 And now notice: 00:51:46.43\00:51:48.27 Will God fulfill His promises with His people? 00:52:18.80\00:52:21.70 You can take it to the bank. 00:52:21.74\00:52:23.81 But when do we need to learn to trust the promises of God? 00:52:23.84\00:52:28.14 If we come to that time, and we haven't learned to trust, 00:52:28.18\00:52:32.41 we're not going to suddenly trust. 00:52:32.45\00:52:34.28 The time to feel our unworthiness, the time to 00:52:34.32\00:52:38.12 repent of sin, the time to confess our sins, the time to 00:52:38.15\00:52:43.46 develop an unshakable, and unbreakable faith is now, 00:52:43.49\00:52:47.66 because at that time it's going to be too late. 00:52:47.73\00:52:50.17 In fact, in The Great Controversy we find that the 00:52:50.20\00:52:53.94 author says that some will come to this period without the 00:52:53.97\00:52:58.07 necessary preparation, and they will cry out in anguish to God. 00:52:58.11\00:53:02.88 Remember what Esau did when he lost the birthright? 00:53:02.91\00:53:06.88 He cried out with a bitter cry. 00:53:06.92\00:53:09.15 They will cry out to God, because they'll see that they've 00:53:09.18\00:53:11.89 lost the inheritance. 00:53:11.92\00:53:12.92 And she says that everyone around them will simply 00:53:12.95\00:53:16.83 make fun of them as they hear them crying out in anguish. 00:53:16.86\00:53:22.40 I pray to God that we won't be of those who manifest this 00:53:22.43\00:53:27.97 attitude of Esau, but that, rather, we'll be like Jacob 00:53:28.00\00:53:31.24 and hang on to the hand of God, and say, I will not let you go 00:53:31.27\00:53:35.68 until You bless me! 00:53:35.71\00:53:36.95 In fact this experience is going to take place all over again. 00:53:36.98\00:53:40.55 Revelation 13:15. Let's read that. It says: 00:53:40.58\00:53:45.95 Are you going to have a trial again over the beast, 00:53:59.80\00:54:02.27 and over his image? Yes, you are. 00:54:02.30\00:54:04.41 Is it going to be a trial over worship? It most certainly is. 00:54:04.44\00:54:07.51 Is our life going to be in danger? Absolutely! 00:54:07.54\00:54:11.28 In fact the powers of the earth will gather 00:54:11.31\00:54:14.28 against God's people. 00:54:14.32\00:54:15.35 Now do you remember when Jacob overcame that he was 00:54:15.38\00:54:19.72 given a new name? 00:54:19.75\00:54:20.79 Notice Revelation 14:1. 00:54:20.82\00:54:24.16 Those who go victoriously through this end time 00:54:24.19\00:54:27.96 tribulation receive a new name. 00:54:27.96\00:54:31.27 In fact it's the name of God. 00:54:31.30\00:54:32.73 It says in Revelation 14:1: 00:54:32.77\00:54:34.87 And, by the way, those are those who will be alive 00:54:43.14\00:54:44.95 when Jesus comes. 00:54:44.98\00:54:46.08 So is God going to give us a new name? Of course! 00:54:55.22\00:54:58.63 You can read it in Revelation 3:12 as well. 00:54:58.66\00:55:01.70 The message to the church of Philadelphia: He who overcomes 00:55:01.73\00:55:05.43 will receive My new name, it says there. 00:55:05.47\00:55:08.64 And so our names will be changed. 00:55:08.67\00:55:11.71 I don't know what mine will be, but it's going to be changed. 00:55:11.74\00:55:15.88 And it's going to manifest and reveal the victory that we have 00:55:15.91\00:55:20.02 gained over the flesh, over the world, and over the devil. 00:55:20.05\00:55:24.32 Now allow me to read you a statement from 00:55:24.35\00:55:27.42 The Great Controversy in closing. 00:55:27.46\00:55:29.42 This is found on pages 622 and 623. 00:55:29.46\00:55:33.90 Isn't that true that we usually think that things are 00:55:51.75\00:55:54.75 going to be worse, and they really aren't as bad 00:55:54.78\00:55:56.75 as we thought? She says here: 00:55:56.79\00:55:58.45 And then she says this: 00:56:30.25\00:56:31.69 You say that's a hard goal to reach, 00:57:19.10\00:57:22.07 but in Christ we can do all things. 00:57:22.10\00:57:25.71