Father in heaven, we thank
You for the awesome privilege
00:00:34.80\00:00:37.63
of being in Your house of
worship on Your holy Sabbath.
00:00:37.67\00:00:40.90
What a beautiful day.
00:00:41.54\00:00:43.24
So crystal clear and sunny.
00:00:43.47\00:00:46.01
We just ask that the sunshine of
Jesus will shine in this place.
00:00:46.41\00:00:50.58
Give us clear
minds and tender hearts
00:00:51.28\00:00:54.58
to receive the word of truth.
00:00:54.92\00:00:56.85
And we thank You for hearing
and answering our prayer,
00:00:57.49\00:01:00.26
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus.
00:01:00.69\00:01:04.33
Amen.
00:01:04.36\00:01:05.73
Every knowledgeable
Seventh-day Adventist
00:01:08.13\00:01:10.87
has heard of the
Great Disappointment
00:01:12.10\00:01:15.40
of October 22, 1844.
00:01:16.17\00:01:20.04
At that time, a group of
believers known as Millerites
00:01:21.61\00:01:26.68
expected Jesus to come to this
earth for His second coming.
00:01:27.48\00:01:34.96
And yet, we know that
October 22, 1844 passed,
00:01:36.19\00:01:41.40
and that group was
bitterly disappointed
00:01:41.96\00:01:46.20
when Jesus did not come
according to their preaching
00:01:46.23\00:01:50.04
and according to
their expectations.
00:01:50.34\00:01:53.31
Among those who
preached this message
00:01:54.58\00:01:56.95
and belonged to the movement
were several of the great
00:01:56.98\00:02:01.35
pioneers of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:02:01.38\00:02:04.42
Among them,
James and Ellen White,
00:02:05.12\00:02:08.99
Joseph Bates, J.N.
Loughborough, and Hiram Edson.
00:02:09.62\00:02:16.00
After the disappointment,
those who had belonged to the
00:02:17.40\00:02:21.77
movement who did not abandon
it restudied the prophecies
00:02:21.80\00:02:27.88
that they had studied
before which seemed to indicate
00:02:28.24\00:02:31.65
that Jesus was going to
return on October 22, 1844.
00:02:31.68\00:02:36.89
And they discovered that
they has been wrong about
00:02:37.79\00:02:41.29
the event which was going
to take place at that date.
00:02:42.26\00:02:47.13
They found that
their timing was correct,
00:02:47.80\00:02:50.27
but the event which
was going to transpire,
00:02:50.37\00:02:52.73
they were wrong about.
00:02:54.04\00:02:56.10
Now, to many in the
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:02:57.31\00:03:00.24
particularly some of
our scholars, this event,
00:03:01.04\00:03:06.18
October 22, 1844, and
its posterior explanation
00:03:07.08\00:03:13.89
have become an embarrassment.
00:03:14.52\00:03:16.99
They wish that the
event and its explanation
00:03:18.19\00:03:21.76
could be expunged from
Seventh-day Adventist history.
00:03:21.80\00:03:25.47
"After all," they
say, "how can a church
00:03:26.53\00:03:29.84
which claims to be the
remnant church of Bible prophecy
00:03:29.94\00:03:33.64
have its origin in a
great disappointment?
00:03:33.68\00:03:37.91
How could that be
God's remnant church?"
00:03:38.11\00:03:42.22
In fact, in the early
1960's an evangelical theologian
00:03:44.09\00:03:49.16
by the name of
Donald Grey Barnhouse,
00:03:49.19\00:03:51.89
who was editor at that
time of Eternity Magazine,
00:03:52.29\00:03:55.46
actually called the explanation
of the Great Disappointment
00:03:56.06\00:03:59.73
by the pioneers, "The
greatest face-saving explanation
00:03:59.90\00:04:06.17
in human history."
00:04:06.57\00:04:08.18
Yet, in the series that we're
going to study beginning today
00:04:10.75\00:04:14.48
titled, Catching Up With
Jesus, we are going to see
00:04:15.15\00:04:21.26
that in the formative
years of the Christian church
00:04:21.29\00:04:24.83
there were three other great
disappointments that occurred.
00:04:25.83\00:04:31.30
And no Christian
theologian today will question
00:04:32.63\00:04:36.57
the fact that even though
these disappointments existed,
00:04:36.67\00:04:41.04
that God was not
involved directly and positively
00:04:41.41\00:04:46.35
in those movements.
00:04:46.38\00:04:48.18
In our next
series, which begins today,
00:04:49.92\00:04:53.49
we're going to study six
topics related to the movements
00:04:53.79\00:04:59.73
of Jesus through
the Hebrew Sanctuary.
00:04:59.76\00:05:02.30
In fact, we're going to
follow Jesus through five stages
00:05:03.23\00:05:06.90
of His
ministration in the Sanctuary.
00:05:07.10\00:05:09.60
We're going to begin when He
presents Himself in the court
00:05:09.64\00:05:12.91
as the perfect unblemished lamb.
00:05:12.94\00:05:16.75
Then we will move on to
the moment that He comes to the
00:05:17.28\00:05:20.32
altar to be
sacrificed as the Lamb of God
00:05:20.35\00:05:23.85
who takes away
the sin of the world.
00:05:23.89\00:05:25.95
Then we will follow
Jesus into the Holy Place
00:05:26.49\00:05:30.06
on the day of Pentecost.
00:05:30.09\00:05:32.13
Later on we will follow
Jesus into the Most Holy Place
00:05:33.76\00:05:37.20
in 1844 to begin the
judgment of the dead.
00:05:37.23\00:05:41.67
And finally in our last
stage we will follow Jesus
00:05:41.70\00:05:45.04
into the Most Holy
Place to observe His judgment
00:05:45.07\00:05:48.88
of the living.
00:05:49.18\00:05:50.51
In other words, we're going
to follow Jesus in five stages
00:05:51.41\00:05:54.38
that He marches through
in the Hebrew Sanctuary.
00:05:54.48\00:05:57.12
The perfect Lamb, His
death, the day of Pentecost,
00:05:57.15\00:06:00.62
the beginning of the
judgment of the dead in 1844,
00:06:00.66\00:06:03.53
and the judgment of the
living which will take place
00:06:03.56\00:06:06.73
very, very soon.
00:06:06.76\00:06:08.46
Now at each of these
stages we're going to notice
00:06:09.40\00:06:12.23
that there are
common denominators.
00:06:12.27\00:06:14.90
And I want to share
those common denominators
00:06:15.40\00:06:17.87
that characterize all
five of these experiences,
00:06:18.07\00:06:22.11
perhaps with the
exception of the last one.
00:06:22.14\00:06:24.51
There's one or two
details in the last stage,
00:06:24.55\00:06:28.02
the judgment of the
living, where God's people are
00:06:28.05\00:06:30.62
finally going to
catch up with Jesus.
00:06:30.65\00:06:32.92
I'll come back
to that in a moment.
00:06:32.95\00:06:35.06
At each of these stages,
when Jesus is going to begin
00:06:36.09\00:06:41.06
that stage of His ministration,
there are specific Bible
00:06:41.10\00:06:46.27
prophecies which
pointed to that work of Jesus
00:06:46.30\00:06:51.14
that He was going to
begin in the Sanctuary.
00:06:51.17\00:06:53.61
Specific Bible prophecies.
00:06:53.64\00:06:55.94
Secondly, before Jesus
actually took that step
00:06:56.34\00:07:00.78
in that Sanctuary service,
there was great publicity
00:07:01.52\00:07:06.22
announcing that something very
important was going to occur.
00:07:06.25\00:07:11.13
There was a great
religious revival leading up to
00:07:11.16\00:07:14.06
Jesus beginning
that phase of His work.
00:07:14.10\00:07:16.53
Because it was
necessary to point people
00:07:17.53\00:07:19.77
to the fact that
Jesus was going to begin
00:07:19.80\00:07:22.60
something very significant.
00:07:22.64\00:07:25.24
At each stage there is an
opening or a closing of a door
00:07:25.84\00:07:30.61
in the Sanctuary.
00:07:30.65\00:07:31.98
And there were three
doors; the door to the court,
00:07:32.78\00:07:35.28
the door to the Holy Place,
00:07:35.32\00:07:36.72
and the door to
the Most Holy Place.
00:07:36.75\00:07:38.72
At each one of these stages
there is an opening of a door
00:07:38.75\00:07:42.09
or a closing of a
door in the Sanctuary.
00:07:42.12\00:07:45.36
We're going to notice
that at each of these stages,
00:07:46.29\00:07:49.00
with the
exception of the last stage,
00:07:49.26\00:07:51.73
God's professed people
initially misunderstand
00:07:52.03\00:07:57.27
the work which
Jesus is about to begin.
00:07:57.31\00:08:00.81
They're preaching it,
they're announcing it,
00:08:01.94\00:08:05.18
there's this
great religious revival,
00:08:05.75\00:08:07.78
but those who are
announcing the message
00:08:07.88\00:08:09.98
actually do not
fully understand what Jesus
00:08:10.02\00:08:13.66
is really going to do.
00:08:13.69\00:08:15.16
At each stage God chooses
always humble instruments
00:08:17.06\00:08:22.76
with very
little formal education
00:08:22.96\00:08:25.20
to proclaim the message.
00:08:25.23\00:08:26.74
He bypasses those in academia.
00:08:27.07\00:08:31.27
He bypasses those who belong
to the religious establishment.
00:08:31.97\00:08:35.88
At the first stage He
raises up John the Baptist.
00:08:36.18\00:08:39.61
Home schooled.
00:08:39.65\00:08:41.32
Second stage, He uses
babes to announce that Jesus
00:08:41.62\00:08:45.85
is the king of Israel as
He marches into Jerusalem
00:08:45.89\00:08:49.29
in the triumphal entry.
00:08:49.32\00:08:50.93
From the mouths of
babes, we're told in Scripture.
00:08:50.99\00:08:55.13
When He enters the Holy Place
the announcement is made by
00:08:56.16\00:08:58.83
Simon Peter, a fisherman.
00:08:58.87\00:09:01.10
When He begins His
work in the Most Holy Place;
00:09:01.90\00:09:04.57
William Miller, a farmer.
00:09:04.87\00:09:06.98
And finally, the last stage when
He's going to judge the living,
00:09:07.74\00:09:11.31
we're told by the spirit
of prophecy that God will use
00:09:11.55\00:09:14.92
few great men.
00:09:14.95\00:09:17.52
At each stage, the individual
or individuals that God calls
00:09:18.45\00:09:22.76
to announce what
Jesus is going to do
00:09:22.79\00:09:25.03
are home schooled
and very little educated.
00:09:25.33\00:09:30.07
But they allow themselves
to be used by the Lord.
00:09:30.27\00:09:33.74
At each stage, as Jesus
marches through the Sanctuary,
00:09:34.94\00:09:38.77
the church of the day
outright rejects the message.
00:09:39.07\00:09:43.41
In other words, the religious
establishment of the day
00:09:43.51\00:09:46.31
opposes the religious
revival and rejects the message
00:09:46.35\00:09:50.35
which God is sending
through His instrument.
00:09:50.39\00:09:53.59
And the reason why is because
the church of the day and age,
00:09:54.22\00:09:56.76
the established church,
has no spiritual discernment.
00:09:56.79\00:10:01.60
And therefore, they continue
their meaningless religious
00:10:02.26\00:10:04.90
ceremonies, oblivious to
what Jesus is about to do.
00:10:04.93\00:10:09.60
Finally, what takes
place in all of these cases
00:10:11.04\00:10:16.08
is that eventually a
small remnant, after they're
00:10:16.11\00:10:20.92
disappointed because Jesus does
not fulfill their expectations,
00:10:20.95\00:10:25.22
a small remnant catches up
with Jesus and understands fully
00:10:25.25\00:10:32.39
what Jesus is
doing at that stage.
00:10:32.43\00:10:35.70
And they follow
Jesus through the open door
00:10:35.73\00:10:38.73
to understand fully what
He's doing at that moment.
00:10:39.07\00:10:43.30
Each stage portrays a
different function of Jesus.
00:10:44.57\00:10:49.21
The first stage
amplifies His perfect life.
00:10:49.71\00:10:54.95
The second stage deals
with His vicarious death.
00:10:55.52\00:10:58.69
The third stage deals
with His intercessory ministry
00:10:59.12\00:11:02.96
in the Holy Place of
the Sanctuary and His
00:11:03.06\00:11:05.33
empowering of the
church to preach the gospel.
00:11:05.36\00:11:07.90
The fourth stage involves
the judgment of the dead.
00:11:08.43\00:11:12.70
And the fifth stage deals
with the judgment of the living.
00:11:13.44\00:11:18.91
So those are the
common denominators
00:11:20.21\00:11:22.34
of these movements of
Jesus through the Sanctuary.
00:11:22.44\00:11:26.51
Once again, I
would like to review them
00:11:26.72\00:11:28.72
because they're very important.
00:11:28.98\00:11:30.32
We're going to come back
to them on a regular basis.
00:11:30.35\00:11:33.09
Each stage is announced
by specific Bible prophecies.
00:11:33.12\00:11:36.93
At each stage there's a
religious revival to announce
00:11:37.36\00:11:40.10
that something
is going to happen.
00:11:40.13\00:11:41.46
Jesus is going to do something
to attract attention to Him.
00:11:41.50\00:11:44.57
At each stage
there's an opening or closing
00:11:44.73\00:11:47.34
of a door in the Sanctuary.
00:11:47.37\00:11:49.24
At each stage
God's people initially
00:11:49.50\00:11:52.47
misunderstand
what they're preaching.
00:11:52.51\00:11:54.31
They don't fully understand the
import of what they're saying.
00:11:54.34\00:11:57.35
At each stage God
chooses humble instruments,
00:11:57.78\00:12:01.28
to proclaim the message,
with little formal education.
00:12:01.48\00:12:05.95
At each stage the religious
establishment of the day
00:12:06.09\00:12:08.96
rejects the message.
00:12:08.99\00:12:10.43
At each stage there's
a great disappointment
00:12:10.46\00:12:13.46
that takes place when Jesus does
not fulfill the expectations.
00:12:13.50\00:12:17.00
But at each stage,
after the disappointment
00:12:17.47\00:12:19.83
there's a small remnant
who catches up with Jesus
00:12:19.87\00:12:23.81
and fully
understands what He is doing.
00:12:23.84\00:12:27.18
So 1844 was not unique.
00:12:28.94\00:12:31.38
What happened in 1844
happened three other times
00:12:32.45\00:12:36.89
early in Christian history.
00:12:36.92\00:12:39.79
And I'd like to share
the first of those occasions
00:12:40.29\00:12:43.76
in our study this morning.
00:12:44.13\00:12:46.63
I would like to speak
first of all about the prophecy
00:12:47.93\00:12:50.93
which indicated that Jesus
was going to present Himself,
00:12:50.97\00:12:56.00
as He came through
the door of the Sanctuary,
00:12:57.01\00:13:01.01
of the court of the
Sanctuary, to present Himself
00:13:01.04\00:13:04.38
as a lamb without blemish.
00:13:04.48\00:13:07.78
You see, the death of
Jesus could have no value
00:13:08.95\00:13:11.05
unless He lived a perfect life.
00:13:11.09\00:13:12.72
Because it would have
been an imperfect sacrifice.
00:13:12.75\00:13:15.12
So the first movement
of Jesus into the Sanctuary
00:13:15.16\00:13:17.56
is when He comes into the court.
00:13:17.59\00:13:20.13
By the way, there were specific
Bible prophecies that pointed
00:13:20.16\00:13:23.60
to this aspect of the
ministration of Jesus.
00:13:23.63\00:13:26.50
Notice Leviticus 21:21.
00:13:27.84\00:13:31.01
Leviticus 21:21
00:13:31.04\00:13:33.88
It's speaking
here about the priest
00:13:33.91\00:13:36.48
that offered the sacrifice.
00:13:36.75\00:13:38.15
Actually, the priest not
only offered the sacrifice,
00:13:38.18\00:13:40.72
he had to examine the
victim to make sure that the
00:13:40.92\00:13:44.02
victim had no blemish.
00:13:44.05\00:13:45.65
And unblemished priest
had to examine the sacrifice
00:13:45.69\00:13:50.26
to make sure that the
sacrifice had no blemish.
00:13:50.29\00:13:53.09
Notice Leviticus 21:21.
00:13:53.13\00:13:55.66
So notice that the priest who
was going to offer the sacrifice
00:14:14.75\00:14:18.39
had to be
himself without defect.
00:14:18.65\00:14:22.39
But there was more.
00:14:22.89\00:14:24.23
The victim which he
was going to sacrifice
00:14:24.76\00:14:27.20
also had to be without defect.
00:14:27.40\00:14:30.03
Notice Leviticus 1:10.
00:14:30.23\00:14:32.83
Leviticus 1:10
00:14:33.03\00:14:35.54
It's speaking about
the sacrifices of animals
00:14:35.57\00:14:38.51
that belonged to the flock.
00:14:38.54\00:14:40.28
And it says there
in Leviticus 1:10...
00:14:40.54\00:14:43.31
So in the ceremonial
service, which was a prophecy
00:15:02.53\00:15:05.87
about Christ, you had
to have a perfect priest,
00:15:05.90\00:15:10.31
unblemished priest...
00:15:10.34\00:15:11.81
Not morally speaking,
but physically speaking,
00:15:11.84\00:15:14.34
in the Old Testament.
00:15:14.38\00:15:15.71
Which represented the
perfect character of Christ
00:15:15.74\00:15:19.91
in the New Testament.
00:15:19.95\00:15:21.28
But the unblemished
priest had to examine the victim
00:15:21.32\00:15:25.52
to make sure that the
victim was unblemished.
00:15:25.55\00:15:29.59
In other words, had no defect.
00:15:29.62\00:15:31.93
Now the question
is, when and where
00:15:32.79\00:15:37.03
were these prophecies fulfilled
of the perfect unblemished
00:15:37.47\00:15:41.30
priest and the
unblemished sacrifice?
00:15:41.34\00:15:44.97
Well the fact is that this was
fulfilled when John the Baptist
00:15:45.57\00:15:50.68
introduced Jesus on
the banks of the Jordan.
00:15:50.71\00:15:54.32
Go with me to John chapter 1
and we'll read verses 29 and 36.
00:15:54.72\00:16:01.76
John 1:29, and
we'll also read verse 36.
00:16:01.96\00:16:08.73
It says there...
00:16:10.30\00:16:11.63
What was the
message of John the Baptist?
00:16:35.39\00:16:37.49
"Repent, because the
Lamb of God is here."
00:16:37.63\00:16:42.90
He presented Jesus
as the Lamb of God.
00:16:43.37\00:16:46.60
Well let me ask
you, was Jesus a priest?
00:16:46.90\00:16:50.41
Certainly He was.
00:16:51.51\00:16:52.84
Was He an unblemished priest?
00:16:53.44\00:16:55.48
See, the unblemished
priest in the Old Testament
00:16:56.01\00:16:58.28
represented the fact that Jesus
was to be an unblemished priest,
00:16:58.38\00:17:02.52
in terms of not having sin.
00:17:02.55\00:17:04.52
Notice what we
find in Hebrews 7:26.
00:17:04.62\00:17:09.02
It's speaking about Jesus.
00:17:09.06\00:17:10.76
Hebrews 7:26
00:17:10.79\00:17:13.93
It says there...
00:17:15.23\00:17:16.56
And what characteristic
does this High Priest have?
00:17:21.34\00:17:23.91
Was Jesus an unblemished priest?
00:17:36.89\00:17:40.09
Yes He was.
00:17:40.12\00:17:41.46
In fact, the Old
Testament unblemished priest
00:17:41.49\00:17:43.73
pointed to Jesus who
would be an unblemished priest.
00:17:43.83\00:17:47.10
But let me ask you, was Jesus
also an unblemished sacrifice
00:17:47.13\00:17:51.40
when He offered His life?
00:17:51.43\00:17:52.80
Was He an unblemished lamb?
00:17:52.90\00:17:54.60
Yes He was.
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.04
Notice what we
find in 1 Peter 1:18-19.
00:17:56.07\00:18:01.38
1 Peter 1:18-19
00:18:01.58\00:18:06.11
This is a passage which
is very, very well known.
00:18:06.35\00:18:09.12
It says there...
00:18:09.78\00:18:11.12
But how were we
redeemed? Notice...
00:18:25.03\00:18:27.10
Did Jesus live a sinless life?
00:18:40.45\00:18:42.28
He did.
00:18:42.82\00:18:44.15
You see, He was
the perfect priest
00:18:44.19\00:18:46.15
and He was the perfect
victim, the perfect sacrifice.
00:18:46.69\00:18:50.49
In fact, notice what
we find in Hebrews 4:15.
00:18:51.09\00:18:54.40
You probably don't
even have to look this up,
00:18:54.43\00:18:56.67
because it's
quoted so many times.
00:18:56.70\00:18:58.80
It says there in Hebrews 4:15...
00:18:59.43\00:19:01.80
So the unblemished priest
and the unblemished sacrifice
00:19:19.55\00:19:22.52
in the Old Testament represented
the fact that Jesus was
00:19:22.56\00:19:25.46
going to be the
unblemished priest, and He was
00:19:25.49\00:19:28.30
going to be the
unblemished victim as well.
00:19:28.33\00:19:31.57
I'd like to ask a question.
00:19:32.53\00:19:34.04
Did John the Baptist
fully understand this?
00:19:34.80\00:19:39.64
Did John the Baptist
fully understand what he was
00:19:40.31\00:19:42.74
preaching when he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God
00:19:42.78\00:19:45.45
who takes away
the sin of the world.
00:19:45.55\00:19:47.28
Look, here's the
perfect unblemished Lamb."
00:19:47.32\00:19:49.75
Did John the Baptist understand
fully what he was preaching?
00:19:49.78\00:19:52.92
He didn't.
00:19:54.02\00:19:55.36
In fact, in Desire Of
Ages, page 112, we find this
00:19:55.92\00:20:00.76
very interesting statement.
00:20:00.80\00:20:02.60
When John the Baptist said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God..."
00:20:03.63\00:20:07.07
John the Baptist
did not understand
00:20:20.65\00:20:22.15
the import of his
words, interestingly enough.
00:20:22.18\00:20:25.25
Now let me ask you,
did the mission of John
00:20:25.62\00:20:28.99
have great publicity?
00:20:29.02\00:20:30.53
Yes.
00:20:31.66\00:20:32.99
Was it necessary for the eyes
of people to be focused on Jesus
00:20:33.03\00:20:36.06
as the Lamb of God?
00:20:36.10\00:20:37.43
Certainly.
00:20:37.47\00:20:38.80
Even though John the
Baptist didn't fully understand
00:20:38.83\00:20:40.54
what he was preaching, how
Jesus was going to be a lamb,
00:20:40.57\00:20:43.41
it was still necessary
for there to be publicity.
00:20:43.44\00:20:45.81
So he went out into
the desert and he preached.
00:20:45.84\00:20:48.08
And the message
reached Jerusalem, Judea,
00:20:49.08\00:20:51.28
and the surrounding areas.
00:20:51.31\00:20:52.78
Notice what we find in
the gospel of Matthew 3:5-6.
00:20:52.81\00:20:58.85
This was a
greatly publicized event.
00:20:59.35\00:21:02.02
Matthew 3:5-6
00:21:02.06\00:21:06.29
It says there...
00:21:07.46\00:21:08.80
Was there a
great religious revival
00:21:21.14\00:21:23.14
as a result of
the preaching of John?
00:21:23.41\00:21:25.08
There most certainly was.
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.88
It says here, all
Jerusalem, Judea, all the region
00:21:27.35\00:21:30.62
around the
Jordan went out to him.
00:21:30.65\00:21:32.39
There was this
enthusiasm because they knew
00:21:32.42\00:21:34.49
that the Messiah
would come only after the
00:21:34.69\00:21:39.09
forerunner had come,
Elijah had come first,
00:21:39.13\00:21:42.43
to prepare the way.
00:21:42.46\00:21:43.80
So they said, "John the
Baptist, he lives in the desert
00:21:43.83\00:21:46.23
like Elijah, he dresses like
Elijah, he eats like Elijah.
00:21:46.27\00:21:49.30
This must be the Elijah which
is going to prepare the way."
00:21:49.34\00:21:52.11
And there was a great
revival and enthusiasm.
00:21:52.14\00:21:55.64
And John preached that
Jesus was the Lamb of God,
00:21:57.68\00:22:00.55
but he did not fully understand
what he was preaching.
00:22:01.68\00:22:05.42
Ellen White, speaking
about the extent of the reach
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.99
of the message of John, says
in, Desire Of Ages, page 104...
00:22:09.02\00:22:13.83
Great religious revival,
00:22:26.44\00:22:28.51
pointing to Jesus
as the Lamb of God;
00:22:28.88\00:22:31.81
the preaching of
John the Baptist.
00:22:31.85\00:22:34.08
And yet, did John fully
understand in what sense
00:22:35.72\00:22:39.69
Jesus was going to
be the Lamb of God?
00:22:39.72\00:22:41.79
We already read, he didn't.
00:22:42.62\00:22:45.06
He was wrong about
the kind of kingdom
00:22:46.59\00:22:49.06
that the Messiah
was going to establish.
00:22:49.10\00:22:51.63
He did not understand
that the Messiah's kingdom
00:22:52.43\00:22:54.60
would come in two stages.
00:22:54.64\00:22:56.24
A first coming as
King of suffering,
00:22:57.01\00:22:59.67
of the kingdom of grace,
00:22:59.81\00:23:01.18
and His coming
later as King of glory.
00:23:01.51\00:23:05.01
He did not understand
in what sense the Messiah
00:23:06.48\00:23:09.58
was going to
establish His kingdom.
00:23:09.62\00:23:11.52
He believed He
was the Lamb of God,
00:23:11.62\00:23:13.25
he preached He
was the Lamb of God,
00:23:13.29\00:23:14.72
but he failed to
understand the sense in which
00:23:14.82\00:23:18.13
He was the Lamb of God
in all of its fullness.
00:23:18.16\00:23:20.96
In fact, John the
Baptist thought that Jesus
00:23:21.00\00:23:23.16
was going to destroy the
Romans and He was going to put
00:23:23.26\00:23:26.63
His throne in Jerusalem
and He was going to rule
00:23:26.67\00:23:29.57
over the world in righteousness.
00:23:29.60\00:23:32.44
We catch this in Matthew
chapter 3, if you go with me,
00:23:32.97\00:23:35.64
Matthew 3:12 where John
the Baptist is preaching.
00:23:35.68\00:23:39.71
This is at the
beginning of his ministration.
00:23:39.75\00:23:41.98
And it says there
in Matthew 3:12...
00:23:42.85\00:23:45.75
Speaking about the Messiah.
00:23:49.96\00:23:51.49
In other words,
when Messiah comes
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.51
He's going to
save the righteous,
00:24:07.71\00:24:09.31
and the wicked He's
going to burn with fire.
00:24:09.34\00:24:11.41
He believed that was going
to happen with the first coming
00:24:11.85\00:24:14.52
of the Messiah.
00:24:14.55\00:24:15.88
Did he misunderstand
what he was preaching?
00:24:17.35\00:24:19.75
He most certainly did.
00:24:20.16\00:24:21.69
He was wrong about the
kind of kingdom that the Messiah
00:24:22.82\00:24:25.39
was going to implement.
00:24:25.43\00:24:26.76
Surprise, surprise.
00:24:26.80\00:24:28.20
There's nothing
new under the sun.
00:24:28.86\00:24:30.67
Desire Of Ages, page
103, Ellen White has this
00:24:31.83\00:24:35.27
very interesting statement
about John's understanding
00:24:35.47\00:24:39.84
of what he was doing.
00:24:39.87\00:24:41.21
She says...
00:24:41.24\00:24:42.58
Expected Him to come in
glory, to establish a kingdom of
00:25:10.41\00:25:14.54
righteousness,
according to this.
00:25:14.58\00:25:17.15
He did not fully understand
the nature of Messiah's kingdom.
00:25:17.18\00:25:20.82
In another statement that
we find in, Desire Of Ages,
00:25:21.48\00:25:24.02
page 136, Ellen White
amplifying the misunderstanding
00:25:24.05\00:25:28.82
of John says, "During
the weeks that followed
00:25:28.86\00:25:31.89
the baptism of Jesus,
John, with new interest,
00:25:31.93\00:25:36.67
studied the
prophecies and the teaching of
00:25:36.70\00:25:39.37
the sacrificial service."
00:25:39.40\00:25:40.74
See, after Jesus was baptized
he says, "I need to understand
00:25:40.77\00:25:43.64
a little bit more
about this lamb concept,
00:25:43.67\00:25:46.04
what kind of a
lamb He's going to be;
00:25:46.07\00:25:48.11
this perfect unblemished lamb."
00:25:48.14\00:25:50.31
And then she says, "He did
not distinguish clearly..."
00:25:51.35\00:25:55.95
In other words, he's
studying the prophecies, saying,
00:26:16.17\00:26:18.14
"I know this
fellow is the Messiah,
00:26:18.17\00:26:20.08
and I know He's the Lamb of
God, but I need to understand
00:26:20.11\00:26:24.15
a little bit better in
what sense He is the Lamb."
00:26:24.18\00:26:27.32
And he struggled with Scripture,
00:26:27.35\00:26:29.32
but he did not fully understand.
00:26:29.95\00:26:32.85
And therefore, John
was bitterly disappointed.
00:26:33.79\00:26:39.13
So you thought 1844 was
the first great disappointment.
00:26:41.43\00:26:44.87
But as Jesus begins His
ministry in the Sanctuary
00:26:46.33\00:26:48.94
you have the idea
of a disappointment
00:26:49.04\00:26:52.34
from the very start.
00:26:52.84\00:26:54.18
And we're going to
notice at the cross
00:26:54.24\00:26:55.81
another disappointment.
00:26:55.84\00:26:57.18
In the Holy Place,
another disappointment.
00:26:57.21\00:26:59.58
1844, another disappointment.
00:27:00.05\00:27:02.15
It follows this very pattern
00:27:02.18\00:27:03.79
that we're
studying this morning.
00:27:03.82\00:27:05.15
So if you say that the
Adventist Church cannot be the
00:27:05.59\00:27:07.56
remnant church of
prophecy because it started
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.29
with a disappointment, you're
going to have to disqualify
00:27:09.32\00:27:11.99
all of Christianity.
00:27:12.03\00:27:13.43
Because all of
Christian movement originated
00:27:14.70\00:27:18.07
in a series of disappointments,
00:27:18.10\00:27:19.93
where eventually God's
people caught up and understood
00:27:20.70\00:27:24.34
the true import of
what Jesus was going to do.
00:27:24.54\00:27:27.74
John was deeply
disappointed because the Messiah
00:27:28.91\00:27:31.75
did not come
according to his expectations.
00:27:31.78\00:27:34.68
Therefore, Matthew chapter 11,
he gathers some of his disciples
00:27:35.78\00:27:39.85
and he says,
"Fellows, come here."
00:27:39.89\00:27:41.66
He's in prison at this time.
00:27:42.12\00:27:43.49
He says, "I want you
to go and find Jesus.
00:27:44.59\00:27:49.46
And I want you to
ask Him a question,
00:27:50.70\00:27:52.40
because I'm having
my doubts about Him"
00:27:52.43\00:27:54.20
Matthew 11:2-3 has the story.
00:27:55.34\00:27:58.17
Matthew 11:2-3
00:27:58.21\00:27:59.97
Now wait a minute.
00:28:16.56\00:28:17.89
Hadn't he
announced triumphantly,
00:28:18.59\00:28:20.46
"Behold, the Lamb of God who
takes away the sin of the world.
00:28:20.50\00:28:23.37
The spotless Lamb, here He is."
00:28:23.40\00:28:25.73
And now he's disappointed.
00:28:27.54\00:28:28.90
Because Jesus isn't
measuring up to what he thought
00:28:28.94\00:28:32.07
He was going to do.
00:28:32.44\00:28:33.78
So he sends his
disciples, "Ask Him whether He's
00:28:34.31\00:28:36.11
the one we're expecting, or
whether the Messiah is another."
00:28:36.14\00:28:39.31
Matthew 11:3-5
tell us what Jesus did.
00:28:41.95\00:28:44.95
Concerning this, in
Desire Of Ages, page 214,
00:29:10.45\00:29:15.12
Ellen White makes this
very penetrating remark.
00:29:15.15\00:29:18.42
In another statement on
page 215, she says this...
00:29:44.38\00:29:48.55
See, Jesus was fulfilling
prophecy in a different way
00:30:25.35\00:30:27.56
than he expected.
00:30:27.59\00:30:28.92
And by the way, there
were specific prophecies that
00:30:30.23\00:30:32.33
pointed to the work
of John the Baptist.
00:30:32.36\00:30:34.26
Isaiah 40:1-3; a voice
that cries into the wilderness.
00:30:34.73\00:30:39.53
Also the book of
Malachi chapter 3 where God says
00:30:41.17\00:30:44.34
that He's going to send His
messenger to prepare the way
00:30:44.37\00:30:47.41
for the Lord.
00:30:47.44\00:30:48.78
Specific prophecies that pointed
to the mission and ministry
00:30:48.81\00:30:52.61
of John the Baptist.
00:30:52.65\00:30:54.15
Now the good news is that
even though John the Baptist
00:30:56.55\00:30:59.29
was bitterly disappointed,
which is the term that
00:30:59.32\00:31:04.19
Ellen White uses, he
did not lose his faith.
00:31:04.23\00:31:10.30
Many of his followers did.
00:31:11.53\00:31:12.87
Many of those who had
become excited in the desert
00:31:12.90\00:31:15.14
when he was preaching said,
"Oh yeah, the Messiah is here."
00:31:15.17\00:31:17.54
They jumped on the bandwagon.
00:31:17.57\00:31:18.91
After a while when Jesus didn't
fit in with what they viewed
00:31:18.94\00:31:23.35
as the mission of the
Messiah, they all fizzled out.
00:31:23.71\00:31:26.85
But John the
Baptist was not one of them.
00:31:27.62\00:31:29.62
In fact, Ellen White says
in, Desire Of Ages, page 216...
00:31:30.39\00:31:33.66
He knew that there
was an explanation.
00:31:44.53\00:31:46.53
He didn't know
exactly what it was yet,
00:31:47.64\00:31:49.54
but he was searching.
00:31:50.07\00:31:51.41
Now let me ask you, what
did the religious establishment
00:31:52.44\00:31:54.68
of the day do
with John's message?
00:31:54.71\00:31:56.58
The established
church of the day and age.
00:31:58.05\00:31:59.78
The Jewish
church, is you please.
00:31:59.81\00:32:01.38
How did they react to the
message of John the Baptist?
00:32:01.42\00:32:03.95
They rejected it outright.
00:32:04.79\00:32:06.65
You have some people
say, "Oh no, how could that
00:32:09.52\00:32:11.59
little group of Adventists
in 1844 be God's true church?
00:32:11.63\00:32:16.67
And say that all of Christendom
in that day and age was wrong."
00:32:17.37\00:32:21.27
We're going to
notice that at every stage
00:32:23.30\00:32:24.77
the established
church was wrong.
00:32:24.81\00:32:26.57
And there was a small
remnant that was right.
00:32:27.98\00:32:30.45
Not only in 1844, but at
each stage that Jesus enters
00:32:31.91\00:32:36.05
His ministry this takes place.
00:32:36.08\00:32:38.22
Let's notice how they
reacted to the message of John,
00:32:38.25\00:32:40.56
the religious establishment.
00:32:40.59\00:32:42.02
Notice Matthew 11:18.
00:32:42.26\00:32:44.83
Matthew 11:18
00:32:44.86\00:32:47.46
They even went so far as
to say that John the Baptist
00:32:49.66\00:32:51.93
had a demon.
00:32:51.97\00:32:53.30
By the way, I've
heard people say that about
00:32:55.17\00:32:57.57
the ministry of Ellen White too.
00:32:58.04\00:33:00.01
People who once walked with us.
00:33:02.91\00:33:05.11
There's nothing
new under the sun.
00:33:06.51\00:33:08.28
It says there
in Matthew 11:18...
00:33:10.49\00:33:12.39
How did the
religious establishment respond
00:33:22.00\00:33:24.07
to his message?
00:33:24.10\00:33:25.43
They rejected it outright.
00:33:25.47\00:33:27.10
The established
church rejected the message.
00:33:27.14\00:33:29.57
Luke 7:29-30 is another text
which speaks about the reaction
00:33:30.31\00:33:34.81
of the religious leaders.
00:33:34.84\00:33:36.31
Luke 7:29-30
00:33:37.18\00:33:39.65
There was no
problem with the people.
00:33:40.75\00:33:42.08
The people enjoyed
the message of John.
00:33:42.12\00:33:44.15
But the
leadership was the problem.
00:33:44.19\00:33:46.19
The hierarchy of the
church, if you please.
00:33:46.69\00:33:49.32
It says in verse
29-30 of Luke 7...
00:33:49.66\00:33:52.26
In other words, the
common ordinary people had no
00:34:02.00\00:34:04.67
problem with John.
00:34:04.71\00:34:06.54
Who had the problem with John?
00:34:06.88\00:34:08.58
Notice verse 30...
00:34:08.78\00:34:10.15
By the way, in Christ's
day those were the preachers.
00:34:13.18\00:34:15.88
"But the
Pharisees and lawyers..."
00:34:17.09\00:34:19.65
The lawyers
were the theologians.
00:34:19.69\00:34:21.99
"...rejected the will
of God for themselves,
00:34:23.83\00:34:27.26
not having been
baptized by John."
00:34:27.30\00:34:31.17
How did the
religious establishment
00:34:33.80\00:34:35.57
react to the message of John?
00:34:35.60\00:34:37.07
They rejected it outright.
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.31
Notice Matthew 17:12.
00:34:41.71\00:34:44.11
Matthew 17:12
00:34:44.15\00:34:45.95
Another text that speaks about
how the religious establishment
00:34:45.98\00:34:48.78
responded to
the message of John.
00:34:48.82\00:34:50.82
Matthew chapter 17 and
we'll read verses 11-13.
00:34:53.15\00:34:59.66
It says there...
00:35:01.53\00:35:02.86
How did they treat John?
00:35:24.92\00:35:26.42
They did to him
whatever they wished.
00:35:27.92\00:35:29.96
Notice that whoever
rejected John the Baptist
00:35:35.66\00:35:38.80
also rejected Jesus.
00:35:38.83\00:35:40.47
Is it just possible that if
we reject the testimony of Jesus
00:35:42.34\00:35:45.37
we are going to reject Jesus?
00:35:45.47\00:35:47.38
You show me one prophet in
the Bible that the people loved.
00:35:49.38\00:35:52.21
Just one.
00:35:54.05\00:35:55.38
Anybody want to try?
00:35:55.52\00:35:56.85
There's no prophet in
the Bible the people loved.
00:35:58.19\00:36:00.52
They were hated by the very
people to whom they were sent.
00:36:01.72\00:36:04.89
So if Ellen White is
not loved that much in the
00:36:07.30\00:36:09.76
Adventist church, she
was on the right track.
00:36:09.80\00:36:13.27
Because if everybody
loved her, she would most likely
00:36:14.57\00:36:16.94
be a false prophet because
she would be telling people
00:36:16.97\00:36:19.97
what they want to hear.
00:36:20.01\00:36:21.34
Do I need to
apologize for being so bold?
00:36:25.25\00:36:27.58
Good. Because I'm not.
00:36:29.18\00:36:31.32
Verse 12, "But I say to you
that Elijah has come already,
00:36:34.22\00:36:37.19
and they did not
know him but did to him
00:36:37.29\00:36:40.30
whatever they wished..."
00:36:40.33\00:36:41.66
If you reject the
prophet, you reject Jesus,
00:36:45.13\00:36:48.50
is what it's saying.
00:36:48.60\00:36:49.94
Now let me ask you, was the
reason for the disappointment
00:36:59.28\00:37:03.18
ever explained to John?
00:37:03.22\00:37:05.29
And what method did God
use to explain the reason
00:37:05.92\00:37:09.06
for the disappointment?
00:37:09.09\00:37:10.53
Well the fact is
that John was in prison,
00:37:12.09\00:37:14.40
as we've already noticed,
and he sent his disciples
00:37:15.23\00:37:19.33
to ask Jesus
whether He was the Messiah.
00:37:19.37\00:37:21.40
And Jesus, according
to, The Desire Of Ages,
00:37:22.77\00:37:26.07
did not answer that
question right away.
00:37:26.11\00:37:27.51
He said, "Stick
around today and watch."
00:37:27.54\00:37:31.51
And then at the end of the
day Jesus spoke these words
00:37:33.68\00:37:36.25
in Matthew 11 beginning
with verse 3, Jesus said this,
00:37:36.28\00:37:40.42
showing them what
He wanted them to see,
00:37:41.76\00:37:44.16
He says, "Go and tell John the
things which you hear and see:
00:37:46.29\00:37:52.83
The blind see, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed,
00:37:54.50\00:37:59.51
and the deaf hear,
the dead are raised up,
00:37:59.97\00:38:03.91
and the poor have the
gospel preached to them."
00:38:04.71\00:38:08.08
And then He warns John.
00:38:08.72\00:38:10.15
"And blessed is he who is
not offended because of Me."
00:38:10.25\00:38:14.09
Now you say,
"What's so significant
00:38:16.62\00:38:17.96
about the answer of Jesus?"
00:38:17.99\00:38:19.53
What's significant is the
fact that Jesus is actually
00:38:20.46\00:38:23.97
paraphrasing Isaiah 61:1-2.
00:38:24.00\00:38:27.60
You know, when Jesus said,
you know, "I'm healing the lame
00:38:30.17\00:38:32.64
and the lepers,"
and all of these things,
00:38:32.67\00:38:35.44
He was actually paraphrasing a
prophecy from the Old Testament;
00:38:36.14\00:38:39.71
Isaiah 61:1-2.
00:38:39.75\00:38:41.88
So what He's telling
the disciples of John is,
00:38:41.92\00:38:44.15
"You go tell John that
this individual is doing
00:38:44.19\00:38:48.86
what Isaiah 61 says
He's suppose to be doing."
00:38:48.89\00:38:51.73
In fact, allow me to read
that passage from Isaiah 61:1-2.
00:38:53.90\00:38:57.33
By the way, this is
the very passage that Jesus
00:38:57.37\00:38:59.47
began His
ministry with in Nazareth.
00:38:59.50\00:39:02.67
You can find it
in Luke chapter 4.
00:39:04.11\00:39:05.97
It set the tone for
the ministry of Jesus.
00:39:07.74\00:39:10.41
It says there
in Isaiah 61:1-2...
00:39:11.11\00:39:15.92
"...good tidings..."
which can also be translated,
00:39:26.46\00:39:29.30
"the gospel."
00:39:29.33\00:39:30.67
To preach the
gospel to the poor.
00:39:30.70\00:39:32.13
Is that one thing that
Jesus told the disciples
00:39:32.23\00:39:34.27
of John to go tell John?
00:39:34.30\00:39:36.67
Absolutely.
00:39:37.34\00:39:38.67
"...the LORD has anointed Me to
preach good tidings to the poor;
00:39:41.34\00:39:44.21
He has sent Me to
heal the brokenhearted,
00:39:45.28\00:39:47.68
to proclaim
liberty to the captives,
00:39:48.78\00:39:51.32
and the opening of the
prison to those who are bound;
00:39:51.95\00:39:54.69
to proclaim the
acceptable year of the LORD..."
00:39:54.72\00:39:57.23
So Jesus is paraphrasing a
passage of the Old Testament
00:39:58.79\00:40:01.90
that refers to His ministry.
00:40:01.93\00:40:03.26
He's explaining
to John the Baptist
00:40:03.30\00:40:05.93
that he needs to hang in
there because He is the Messiah.
00:40:05.97\00:40:08.87
And He's using
Scripture to persuade him.
00:40:08.90\00:40:12.37
Ellen White has this
remarkable statement to make in,
00:40:15.48\00:40:17.71
Desire Of Ages, page 217.
00:40:17.75\00:40:20.22
She says that John recalled
the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-2.
00:40:22.35\00:40:27.79
She specifically says so.
00:40:28.26\00:40:29.79
And that's not
surprising because the disciples
00:40:29.82\00:40:32.06
of John quoted that
verse or paraphrased that verse
00:40:32.09\00:40:35.16
when they went
back to talk to John.
00:40:35.20\00:40:36.97
She says that he understood
that the works of Christ...
00:40:39.20\00:40:44.01
Same book, Desire
Of Ages, page 224,
00:40:56.35\00:40:59.15
Ellen White has this to say...
00:41:00.76\00:41:02.42
How did God explain
the disappointment to John?
00:41:30.95\00:41:33.72
By using what?
00:41:34.82\00:41:36.16
Scripture.
00:41:36.49\00:41:37.83
He took him to Scripture.
00:41:38.33\00:41:39.69
The angels led him to Scripture.
00:41:39.73\00:41:41.60
And he came to understand
that Jesus was the Messiah,
00:41:42.36\00:41:46.10
how the Messiah
was going to come,
00:41:46.13\00:41:47.84
and what He was going to do.
00:41:47.87\00:41:49.27
And therefore we're
told in, Desire Of Ages,
00:41:49.70\00:41:52.61
that John died in peace.
00:41:52.64\00:41:55.88
He did not die a
disappointed man.
00:41:56.85\00:41:58.98
Because Scripture explained the
reason for the disappointment.
00:41:59.01\00:42:03.08
Are you seeing a
pattern in this story?
00:42:04.42\00:42:06.25
Hmmm.
00:42:06.96\00:42:08.29
Specific prophecies
of the Old Testament
00:42:09.32\00:42:11.33
that point to the
Lamb, unblemished Priest.
00:42:11.36\00:42:14.96
And that John would be the one
who would preach this message
00:42:18.53\00:42:22.37
about the Lamb.
00:42:22.40\00:42:23.74
A great religious revival...
00:42:24.14\00:42:26.04
...pointing to Jesus.
00:42:27.01\00:42:28.74
And John is preaching what
he doesn't fully understand.
00:42:29.88\00:42:32.38
He's mistaken about
what kind of kingdom
00:42:32.41\00:42:34.75
Jesus is going to establish.
00:42:34.78\00:42:36.82
Everybody jumps on board.
00:42:39.22\00:42:41.12
Many of them by emotion.
00:42:41.22\00:42:42.89
The religious establishment
says, "We don't want any of it.
00:42:44.66\00:42:47.70
We don't believe
any of his message."
00:42:48.00\00:42:49.86
And after a while John
is disappointed because
00:42:51.40\00:42:53.47
Scripture isn't
fulfilled the way he thinks
00:42:53.80\00:42:55.34
it's going to be fulfilled.
00:42:55.37\00:42:56.71
Afterwards God comes, through
the ministration of angels
00:42:58.24\00:43:04.25
and through the
disciples of John,
00:43:04.28\00:43:05.91
and explains to him
prophecies of Scripture
00:43:06.25\00:43:10.89
from the Old Testament.
00:43:10.92\00:43:12.25
And John says,
"Ah, it makes sense."
00:43:12.29\00:43:15.62
Instead of dying
a disappointed man,
00:43:17.13\00:43:19.83
he dies in full assurance that
Jesus is the promised Messiah.
00:43:19.86\00:43:24.83
Do you think that
this is just coincidence?
00:43:26.94\00:43:29.87
That's why I called this
series, Catching Up To Jesus.
00:43:30.54\00:43:35.24
We're going to find,
folks, in our study together
00:43:37.01\00:43:39.18
that God's people are
always catching up to Jesus.
00:43:39.28\00:43:41.78
You know, Jesus
doesn't want that to happen.
00:43:43.92\00:43:45.52
When Jesus moves, He wants His
people to move right with Him.
00:43:45.55\00:43:49.92
But God's people are
slow of understanding.
00:43:52.33\00:43:54.46
Therefore Jesus can't
wait, because He has a calendar
00:43:55.73\00:43:58.37
that He needs to fulfill.
00:43:58.57\00:43:59.90
So He says, "See you later.
00:43:59.93\00:44:01.94
You'll catch up some day.
00:44:03.10\00:44:04.57
You'll have an
understanding of prophecy."
00:44:04.61\00:44:06.14
He says, "I'm going to
go do what I'm going to do."
00:44:06.17\00:44:08.01
So He goes in and He
begins to do the work.
00:44:08.04\00:44:10.25
And He knows that
through a study of prophecy
00:44:10.28\00:44:13.11
people will say,
"Oh, now I get it."
00:44:13.15\00:44:17.79
And so now the people
are going to follow Him
00:44:18.35\00:44:20.29
and they're going
to catch up with Him.
00:44:20.96\00:44:22.29
Interestingly enough,
John catches up with Jesus
00:44:23.53\00:44:26.43
there in the court.
00:44:26.63\00:44:28.00
And we're going to
notice in future studies
00:44:28.86\00:44:30.73
that when Jesus died on the
cross, the hopes of everybody
00:44:30.93\00:44:33.70
were dashed.
00:44:34.47\00:44:35.80
Afterwards, Jesus
catches up to two disciples
00:44:36.71\00:44:38.71
on the road to Emmaus.
00:44:38.74\00:44:40.08
He opens up beginning at
Moses and all the prophets,
00:44:40.11\00:44:42.74
He told them all the Scriptures
the things concerning Himself.
00:44:42.78\00:44:46.15
They say, "Oh, now we get it."
00:44:46.18\00:44:49.58
And so now they follow Jesus
to the stage of His ministry
00:44:50.25\00:44:53.12
at the altar.
00:44:53.15\00:44:54.49
The same thing we're
going to notice happened
00:44:55.79\00:44:58.96
when Jesus entered
into His ministration in the
00:44:58.99\00:45:01.16
Holy Place of the Sanctuary.
00:45:01.20\00:45:02.90
Then the disciples
didn't even understand
00:45:03.97\00:45:05.50
what Jesus was
going to do in heaven.
00:45:05.53\00:45:07.00
Ten days before, they
say, "Lord, are you going to
00:45:07.04\00:45:09.50
restore the kingdom
to Israel at this time?"
00:45:09.54\00:45:11.97
Hello!
00:45:12.87\00:45:14.21
And then when the Spirit
is poured out, the others say,
00:45:15.81\00:45:18.31
"What could this mean?"
00:45:18.35\00:45:19.68
Others said,
"Oh, they're drunk."
00:45:21.08\00:45:22.98
They didn't understand...
00:45:24.49\00:45:25.82
...until Peter stood
up and started preaching
00:45:26.39\00:45:29.02
prophecies from
the Old Testament.
00:45:29.62\00:45:31.13
"Oh, now we get it."
00:45:31.16\00:45:32.59
And the
disappointment is turned to joy.
00:45:34.86\00:45:36.93
So what's so unique about 1844?
00:45:38.67\00:45:40.84
Nothing.
00:45:42.64\00:45:43.97
Just because the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:45:44.71\00:45:46.54
originated in a
disappoint means nothing.
00:45:46.57\00:45:49.34
Because at each stage
in the ministry of Jesus
00:45:50.31\00:45:52.88
you have the same
phenomenon occurring.
00:45:52.91\00:45:55.12
And you would expect
it to happen in 1844.
00:45:55.15\00:45:57.69
Wouldn't you?
00:45:59.29\00:46:00.62
Now allow me to say this:
00:46:01.39\00:46:02.79
When Jesus gets to the
fifth stage of His ministration,
00:46:05.89\00:46:09.43
we're going to notice, which
is the judgment of the living,
00:46:09.90\00:46:14.47
there will no
longer be any catching up.
00:46:16.04\00:46:18.67
Because you will
either be caught up...
00:46:20.58\00:46:23.28
...or you will be
left behind forever.
00:46:25.51\00:46:28.12
Because once Jesus finishes
His judgment of the living,
00:46:30.72\00:46:34.02
the door of the Most
Holy Place is going to close.
00:46:34.06\00:46:38.73
And there will be
no more opportunity
00:46:39.56\00:46:41.56
for God's people to catch up.
00:46:41.60\00:46:43.60
So in the final stage,
there is no catching up.
00:46:45.67\00:46:48.37
In the final stage
we're either with Jesus,
00:46:49.64\00:46:52.64
we enter with Him into His
final stage of ministration
00:46:52.67\00:46:55.81
in the Most Holy Place
when He begins the judgment
00:46:55.84\00:46:58.31
of the living, or we
will be left behind forever.
00:46:58.35\00:47:03.39
Now I'd like to read a passage
that we find in, Desire Of Ages,
00:47:07.59\00:47:12.09
pages 224-225.
00:47:12.43\00:47:14.73
Some people say, "How could
Jesus ignore John the Baptist
00:47:15.83\00:47:19.43
in prison?"
00:47:19.47\00:47:20.80
Well we've noticed that angels
came and they comforted him.
00:47:21.97\00:47:24.54
He died in peace,
he died a happy man.
00:47:24.57\00:47:26.91
But some people, you know, they
say, "How could that happen?
00:47:27.44\00:47:29.91
Why didn't Jesus
at least go visit him?
00:47:30.68\00:47:32.85
Why didn't Jesus go deliver him?
00:47:33.92\00:47:35.38
Why didn't He encourage
him when he was discouraged?"
00:47:35.42\00:47:38.55
Ellen White has this to
say about this experience.
00:47:41.42\00:47:44.13
You've heard this
statement many times before.
00:47:45.33\00:47:47.30
You know, when we have
calamities come to our lives,
00:47:47.33\00:47:49.36
let's praise the Lord.
00:47:49.40\00:47:51.30
Because there's
always a silver lining.
00:47:53.70\00:47:55.57
There's a plan even though
we can't see it at the moment.
00:47:55.67\00:47:59.01
She says...
00:48:01.31\00:48:02.64
So when we get into
eternity, into heaven,
00:48:23.20\00:48:26.27
when all our trials are
over and we have a chance to
00:48:27.70\00:48:32.37
speak with Jesus face to face...
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.71
That's my second most
favorite hymn, by the way.
00:48:36.01\00:48:38.41
The first is,
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Him.
00:48:38.45\00:48:40.55
The second is, Face To Face.
00:48:40.58\00:48:42.18
When we have a chance to
talk to Him face to face,
00:48:43.02\00:48:44.92
Jesus is going to say, "So I
suppose that you're wondering
00:48:45.52\00:48:48.69
why I allowed that
calamity to come to your life."
00:48:48.72\00:48:51.69
Notice I didn't say, "Why I sent
that calamity to your life."
00:48:52.93\00:48:55.36
"Why I allowed that
calamity to come to your life."
00:48:55.40\00:48:57.67
Jesus is going to say,
"Now let me explain it."
00:48:58.17\00:48:59.97
And He's going to
give an explanation.
00:49:00.00\00:49:01.34
And we'll say, "Lord, thank
You for doing it that way."
00:49:01.37\00:49:04.81
See, the trouble is, we're
not able to see the future.
00:49:06.78\00:49:12.11
We're not able to see
all of the circumstances
00:49:13.28\00:49:16.12
of why things
happen the way they do.
00:49:16.15\00:49:17.92
So God doesn't
explain everything.
00:49:17.95\00:49:20.26
He says, "Trust Me.
00:49:20.29\00:49:21.62
And some day I will explain it."
00:49:22.42\00:49:24.26
So He says, "Hang in there."
00:49:25.36\00:49:26.70
And John the
Baptist hung in there...
00:49:26.73\00:49:28.66
...until he was
able to understand fully
00:49:30.13\00:49:32.33
what was transpiring.
00:49:33.00\00:49:34.34
Ellen White continues saying,
00:49:34.50\00:49:36.17
"Not Enoch, who was
translated to heaven..."
00:49:36.91\00:49:41.04
You know, this brings to
mind something very interesting.
00:50:25.89\00:50:28.52
Do you know when Ellen White
wrote the book, Desire Of Ages?
00:50:28.99\00:50:33.06
And where?
00:50:33.73\00:50:35.06
She wrote it in Australia...
00:50:35.96\00:50:37.93
...near Avondale College...
00:50:39.70\00:50:41.20
...where these days Ellen
White is not too popular...
00:50:42.20\00:50:44.94
...and greatly
disliked in some circles.
00:50:46.78\00:50:50.51
Do you know that when
she wrote, she was suffering
00:50:51.91\00:50:55.92
with rheumatoid arthritis.
00:50:55.95\00:50:58.85
She was in
constant agonizing pain
00:50:59.95\00:51:03.79
when she wrote, Desire Of Ages.
00:51:03.83\00:51:05.19
The interesting thing is,
she wrote the most beautiful
00:51:05.23\00:51:07.63
things about Jesus when she
was experiencing the worst pain.
00:51:07.66\00:51:12.20
Because she was sharing
in the sufferings of Jesus.
00:51:13.23\00:51:18.54
So Ellen White says, "And
of all the gifts that heaven
00:51:20.01\00:51:23.65
can bestow upon men,
fellowship with Christ
00:51:23.68\00:51:26.38
in His sufferings is
the most weighty trust
00:51:26.41\00:51:29.52
and the highest honor."
00:51:29.55\00:51:30.89
So it's honor
to suffer with Him.
00:51:30.92\00:51:32.75
In fact, the Bible says
that if we suffer with Him,
00:51:35.99\00:51:39.13
we will reign with Him.
00:51:39.16\00:51:41.00
See, He was a
suffering Messiah before He was
00:51:43.33\00:51:46.33
the glorious Messiah.
00:51:46.37\00:51:47.70
We must be the suffering
people before we are glorified.
00:51:47.74\00:51:50.41
We must share in His sufferings.
00:51:50.97\00:51:52.74
It's a blessing to us.
00:51:53.48\00:51:55.31
Is it not a blessing?
00:51:56.41\00:51:57.78
You say, "No it isn't.
00:51:58.48\00:51:59.81
I don't enjoy being in pain."
00:51:59.85\00:52:01.32
I'm not saying that we enjoy it.
00:52:02.92\00:52:04.45
What I'm saying is that
it brings us closer to Jesus,
00:52:04.49\00:52:06.99
if we look at it
the way we should.
00:52:07.19\00:52:10.53
Because He went through
it far worse than we do.
00:52:11.19\00:52:14.06
Now allow me in closing
to mention one final thing.
00:52:16.46\00:52:18.70
Why was it important for
Jesus to fulfill this stage
00:52:18.73\00:52:22.34
of His ministry; present Himself
as a perfect unblemished lamb?
00:52:22.37\00:52:26.94
See, at each stage
Jesus performed something
00:52:27.24\00:52:29.61
that is going to qualify
Him for the following stages.
00:52:29.64\00:52:32.48
Jesus couldn't suffer
the death on the cross
00:52:32.91\00:52:34.68
without living a perfect life.
00:52:34.72\00:52:36.18
The sacrifice had to be perfect.
00:52:36.58\00:52:37.99
Jesus could not begin His
intercession in the Holy Place
00:52:38.65\00:52:41.56
unless He offered His blood
with which He could minister.
00:52:42.06\00:52:44.59
And He could not begin
the process of cleansing
00:52:46.06\00:52:48.10
the Sanctuary unless He
had His blood that He could use
00:52:48.13\00:52:50.77
to cleanse the Sanctuary.
00:52:50.80\00:52:52.13
So in other words, each
step of Jesus is a building
00:52:52.17\00:52:55.17
or a stepping stone.
00:52:55.20\00:52:56.74
Now why was it important
for Jesus to live a perfect life
00:52:58.97\00:53:02.98
as the Lamb of God?
00:53:03.01\00:53:04.35
Let me put it succinctly.
00:53:05.35\00:53:06.85
The Bible says that the
law is holy and just and good.
00:53:09.18\00:53:15.06
And the law demands perfection.
00:53:17.16\00:53:18.99
Doesn't the law
demand perfection?
00:53:20.96\00:53:22.70
It does demand perfection.
00:53:23.37\00:53:25.03
How many of those
present here are able to offer
00:53:25.13\00:53:27.47
perfection to the Lord?
00:53:27.50\00:53:29.20
No hand comes
up. Praise the Lord.
00:53:32.71\00:53:34.71
You know, some of the
hands of the Pharisees
00:53:36.34\00:53:37.85
would have gone up.
00:53:37.88\00:53:39.21
"Oh yeah, I'm ready."
00:53:40.72\00:53:42.15
The fact is that the
law demands a perfect life.
00:53:43.05\00:53:49.56
None of us in this
world have that perfect life
00:53:51.03\00:53:53.03
to offer the law.
00:53:53.06\00:53:54.40
And therefore, the
law says you must what?
00:53:55.53\00:53:57.73
You must die.
00:53:58.50\00:53:59.83
So what did Jesus do?
00:54:00.97\00:54:02.30
He came to this world to live
the life that we should live.
00:54:03.04\00:54:06.27
And He could do
that for all human beings
00:54:07.88\00:54:09.41
because He took
the place of all.
00:54:09.51\00:54:11.28
He created us all, so He
could take the place of all.
00:54:11.31\00:54:13.78
When He made Adam
and Eve, He made us all.
00:54:15.28\00:54:17.29
Because we all
come from Adam and Eve.
00:54:17.92\00:54:19.85
I mean, if you want to make a
monkey of yourself, that's fine.
00:54:21.32\00:54:23.93
But my Bible tells me
that I was created in the
00:54:25.16\00:54:27.50
image and likeness of God.
00:54:27.53\00:54:28.96
And so Jesus
lived a perfect life...
00:54:31.90\00:54:33.97
...in my place...
00:54:35.64\00:54:37.07
...so that He could offer
His life, His perfect life,
00:54:38.14\00:54:41.74
in place of my imperfect life
so that He could represent me
00:54:41.78\00:54:46.48
in heaven and I could
be accepted in the Beloved,
00:54:46.51\00:54:50.52
and God could look at me
as if I had never sinned.
00:54:50.55\00:54:53.42
Is that good news?
00:54:54.59\00:54:55.92
If you were willing
to accept that, you would
00:54:56.73\00:54:58.13
never be depressed.
00:54:58.16\00:54:59.56
Wow.
00:55:01.76\00:55:03.10
You know, a psychiatrist
once said, "If people
00:55:03.73\00:55:05.70
would be willing to
accept the forgiveness of God,
00:55:05.73\00:55:08.70
half of them
could go home tomorrow."
00:55:08.80\00:55:10.81
Because God forgives; but
we can't forgive ourselves.
00:55:14.44\00:55:17.21
If God says that He's faithful
and just to forgive our sins
00:55:18.01\00:55:21.35
and cleanse us
from all unrighteousness
00:55:21.38\00:55:22.95
if we confess our
sins, take it to the bank.
00:55:22.98\00:55:25.15
Because God does not make a
promise He's not able to fulfill
00:55:26.09\00:55:28.52
or willing to
fulfill or will not fulfill.
00:55:28.66\00:55:31.06
So Jesus lived a perfect life
00:55:32.53\00:55:34.43
so that we could be
accepted in the Beloved.
00:55:35.43\00:55:37.37
That's why He had to
live as the unblemished lamb.
00:55:37.47\00:55:41.17
And by the way, Jesus
officiated in His own sacrifice.
00:55:41.64\00:55:44.84
In the Old Testament
you needed two symbols;
00:55:45.74\00:55:47.28
a priest and a lamb.
00:55:47.31\00:55:48.64
But both of those
symbols are gathered in Jesus,
00:55:50.11\00:55:52.48
because the Bible says
that Jesus offered Himself,
00:55:52.51\00:55:54.68
in the book of Hebrews.
00:55:55.65\00:55:56.99
He was the unblemished Priest
00:55:57.02\00:55:58.45
who officiated
His own sacrifice.
00:55:58.49\00:56:01.02
And you know, Jesus not
only lived that perfect life
00:56:03.93\00:56:07.10
so that His life, His perfect
life, could stand in place
00:56:07.13\00:56:11.50
of my imperfect life, but
Jesus lived as a perfect lamb
00:56:11.53\00:56:15.00
because He wants to take
that life and He wants to
00:56:16.14\00:56:18.67
impart it to us.
00:56:18.71\00:56:20.08
Not only impute, not only
that His life stands in place
00:56:21.31\00:56:23.95
of my life and I can
continue living as the devil.
00:56:23.98\00:56:26.45
No.
00:56:27.25\00:56:28.58
The gospel contemplates
full recovery from sin.
00:56:29.05\00:56:32.09
His perfect life is so
that He can represent me.
00:56:33.15\00:56:36.02
His life can stand
in place of my life.
00:56:36.06\00:56:37.79
But also so that
He can take that life,
00:56:37.83\00:56:39.96
through the Holy
Spirit, pour it into my heart
00:56:40.00\00:56:42.86
so that then His life
can shine through my life.
00:56:43.06\00:56:46.43
And that could not happen unless
Jesus had lived a perfect life.
00:56:47.00\00:56:50.87
So His perfect
life makes it possible
00:56:52.07\00:56:54.24
for His righteousness
to be imputed to us,
00:56:54.28\00:56:57.05
and it makes it
possible for His righteousness
00:56:57.15\00:56:59.55
to be imparted to us.
00:56:59.65\00:57:01.98
That's why that first stage
was so critically important.
00:57:02.85\00:57:06.55
In our next study
we're going to talk about
00:57:07.79\00:57:09.42
the death of Jesus at the altar.
00:57:09.46\00:57:11.39
It's going to be fascinating.
00:57:12.79\00:57:14.13
We'll go through the
same process all over again.
00:57:14.16\00:57:16.26
And we'll see that there's
nothing new under the sun.
00:57:17.33\00:57:19.97
That Jesus fulfills
His ministry by stages.
00:57:21.40\00:57:24.54
And each one of them is
extremely significant for us.
00:57:24.67\00:57:29.94