Participants: Pr. Stephen Bohr
Series Code: CUTJ
Program Code: CUTJ000003
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00:35 Shall we bow our heads for prayer.
00:37 Our Father in heaven, what a joy it is to be 00:40 in Your house of worship. 00:42 How wonderful it is to hear the rain. 00:46 And Father, we ask that the abundant rain of Your Spirit 00:50 will be with us this morning as we open and study Your Word. 00:54 We thank You, Father, for the promise that You will be with us 00:57 if we ask in faith. 01:00 And we do so in the precious name of our 01:03 beloved Savior, Jesus. 01:05 Amen. 01:08 Our study today is number three in the series, 01:11 Catching Up To Jesus. 01:14 And basically, what I would like to do, as we begin, 01:17 is review some of the things that we've studied so far, 01:22 some of the common denominators or common elements. 01:26 We've studied about Jesus entering the court 01:31 of the Sanctuary... 01:34 ...and being examined to make sure that He is the perfect 01:37 Lamb who has no stain of sin. 01:41 And if you remember, we studied about how John the Baptist 01:45 introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God. 01:49 Then in our last study together, we noticed that Jesus 01:53 went to the altar, which is the cross. 01:56 And He actually died as the perfect Lamb. 01:59 So these two stages are stages of the ministry of Jesus 02:03 in the court. 02:05 His examination as the perfect Lamb, 02:08 and His death; sacrificed upon the altar. 02:13 And we noticed in our first two studies that there are several 02:17 common denominators in the two subjects that we studied. 02:22 First of all, we noticed that there were definite prophecies 02:26 which pointed to the work that Jesus was going to perform. 02:30 There were prophecies which pointed to Jesus 02:33 as the perfect Lamb. 02:34 There were prophecies which pointed to the death of Jesus 02:37 on the cross. 02:39 But we noticed that these prophecies were misunderstood 02:44 by those who were called to proclaim and announce them. 02:49 And because the prophecies, though they were proclaimed, 02:52 were not understood, the result was a great disappointment. 03:00 We noticed also that God, in each case, called humble 03:04 instruments to proclaim His message. 03:07 In other words, He did not call the doctors, 03:10 the theological doctors, of the day and age. 03:13 He called individuals who had been home schooled. 03:17 He even called children to announce that Jesus 03:20 was the Messiah in the triumphal entry. 03:24 We noticed that at each stage there was great publicity 03:28 about what Jesus was going to do at that particular stage 03:32 of His ministry. 03:34 We also noticed that the established church 03:37 of the day and age rejected the message 03:40 which was being proclaimed. 03:43 And then we also noticed that after the disappointment, 03:47 God's people re-studied the prophecies about what Jesus 03:52 was going to do. 03:53 And as they re-studied Bible prophecy, 03:56 they said, "How could we miss this point 03:59 about what Jesus was really going to do?" 04:03 In other words, there was a remnant which remained 04:06 and studied the word of God, and finally understood 04:09 what Jesus was doing at that particular moment. 04:15 Now in our study today, we're going to move on 04:18 to the aspect of Christ's ministry where He moves 04:23 into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 04:27 We're going to deal with prophecies that speak about 04:30 His resurrection, His ascension, and His installation at the 04:34 right hand of His Father. 04:36 In other words, the door to the court now is going to close 04:39 because Jesus has been presented as the perfect Lamb, 04:44 He's lived a sinless life, He's already died 04:47 at the altar. 04:49 Therefore, His work in the court is finished. 04:51 The door to the court closes. 04:53 And now He is going to enter through the door 04:56 into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary 05:00 to perform His ministry there as Intercessor 05:03 and Priest and Empowerer of the church. 05:08 Now there were specific Bible prophecies of the Old Testament 05:12 that pointed to the fact that Jesus was going to resurrect, 05:16 He was going to ascend, He was going to sit 05:19 at the right hand of God, and He was going to 05:22 pour out the Holy Spirit upon His church 05:25 from the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 05:28 You say, "Where are those prophecies?" 05:30 As we begin, I would like to read three specific ones. 05:36 The first is in Joel 2:28-32. 05:40 Here it speaks about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 05:45 It says there... 06:31 This passage clearly speaks about a time when God 06:35 was going to pour out His Holy Spirit upon His people. 06:41 Another prophecy of the Old Testament which pointed 06:45 to what Jesus was going to do in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary 06:50 is found in Psalm 16:8-10. 06:55 This passage explicitly says that Jesus was not 06:59 going to remain in the grave. 07:00 He was going to resurrect and He was going to sit at the 07:03 Father's right hand. 07:05 Notice Psalm 16:8. 07:09 Here, David the psalmist is speaking. 07:35 The word, "soul," there is translated in the NIV, "me." 07:40 "You will not leave me in Sheol..." 07:43 That is, the grave. 07:50 Very clearly, the flesh of Jesus would rest in hope, 07:54 because His flesh would not see corruption. 07:58 He would not be allowed to remain in Sheol, 08:01 or in the grave. 08:03 And then it continues saying, "You will show me the 08:07 path of life; Your presence is fullness of joy; 08:12 at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 08:18 Very clearly, He was not going to remain in the grave. 08:22 He was going to resurrect. 08:24 And He was going to sit at the Father's right hand 08:27 where there are pleasures forevermore. 08:30 Another prophecy from the Old Testament 08:33 which pointed to the ascension and enthronement of Jesus 08:37 is Psalm 110:1. 08:40 Psalm 110:1 08:43 It says there... 08:57 There's two Lords in this text. 08:59 "The Lord said to the Lord." 09:01 It's really the Father speaking to His Son, Jesus Christ. 09:06 And then when you go to verse 4, it says, 09:08 "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." 09:13 In other words, He's going to sit at the right hand 09:14 of His Father to be Priest after the order of Melchizedek. 09:20 So there were very clear prophecies that Jesus 09:23 was going to resurrect, His body was not going to see corruption, 09:28 He was going to ascend to heaven, 09:30 He was going to sit at the Father's right hand, 09:33 He was going to be Priest, and He was going to pour out 09:37 the Holy Spirit upon His people. 09:41 And yet, unfortunately His followers did not 09:46 fully understand these prophecies. 09:50 Not even ten days before these prophecies were fulfilled 09:54 did they understand what these prophecies meant. 09:58 And you say, "How is that?" 10:00 Go with me to Acts 1:6 and you'll see it very clearly. 10:05 Jesus gathers His disciples; He's about to ascend. 10:10 He spent 40 days on planet earth. 10:12 He's explained Scripture to them during the 40 days. 10:15 And yet they don't understand 10:17 really what Jesus is going to do. 10:19 Notice the questions that the disciples asked Jesus. 10:25 Then they asked Jesus, Acts 1:6, "Will You restore the kingdom 10:33 to Israel at this time?" 10:36 In other words, "Are you going to sit on the throne of David? 10:39 Are you going to take over the kingdom on planet earth 10:42 and rule in Jerusalem?" 10:45 Well Jesus had just spent 40 days with them. 10:48 You would think that they would know what these prophecies 10:51 that we began with meant. 10:54 And yet they didn't. 10:56 Ellen White has a very interesting comment 10:59 about this question that the disciples asked Jesus. 11:03 It's found in a pamphlet, and the name of the pamphlet is, 11:06 Redemption, Or the Ministry of Peter 11:09 and the Conversion of Saul. 11:10 This is what she says. 11:12 "When Jesus opened the understanding of the disciples 11:16 to the meaning of the prophecies concerning Himself, 11:20 He assured them that all power was given Him 11:23 in heaven and on earth, and bade them go preach 11:27 the gospel to every creature." 11:30 And now here comes the key portion of the comment. 11:32 "The disciples, with a sudden revival of their old hope 11:39 that Jesus would take His place upon the throne of David 11:43 at Jerusalem, inquired, 'Wilt thou at this time 11:49 restore again the kingdom to Israel?'" 11:56 They didn't know what Jesus was going to do in heaven. 11:59 They did not understand these prophecies, 12:02 even though Jesus had spent 40 days with them. 12:05 In fact, even on the day of Pentecost before Peter preached, 12:09 they still didn't understand. 12:11 Because you'll notice in Acts 2:11, 12:15 when the Holy Spirit is poured out 12:17 the people asked, "Whatever could this mean?" 12:22 "What could this mean?" 12:24 And others who were present there said, 12:26 "Oh, they're just drunk." 12:28 So they still didn't understand until, as we'll notice, 12:32 Peter explained the meaning of the prophecies 12:36 with which we began our study. 12:41 Now I'd like to say that as a result of not understanding 12:44 these prophecies, and saying to Jesus, 12:48 "Will You restore the kingdom at this Time?" 12:52 the disciples were disappointed in their expectations. 12:57 In fact, Jesus did something just opposite 13:00 of what they were expecting. 13:03 He told them, "Go to Jerusalem, go to the upper room. 13:07 Wait there for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit." 13:11 And then Jesus, instead of taking over the throne 13:14 of the kingdom in Jerusalem, we're told in Acts 1:9-11 13:20 He ascends to heaven and He leaves the disciples. 13:26 No doubt they were heartbroken. 13:28 "We thought this fellow was going to 13:29 take over the throne. 13:31 And instead of taking over the throne, now He's left." 13:35 By the way, let me ask you, had Jesus told them 13:37 that He was going to leave? 13:39 Of course He had. All during His ministry. 13:41 By the way, had He told them that He was going to die? 13:44 Yes. Were there prophecies that He was 13:46 going to be a perfect Lamb? 13:47 Yes. 13:49 But they did not understand these prophecies. 13:52 And so Jesus, instead of taking over the throne, 13:55 He leaves for heaven. 13:57 And then the disciples gather in the upper room, 13:59 as Jesus had said, and so they say, "We need to go 14:02 back to the drawing board. 14:04 We need to pray and we need to search Scripture 14:09 to see if we can understand exactly what Jesus is doing." 14:14 And they started remembering that Jesus had said 14:16 He was going to leave. 14:17 "But what is He going to do up there? 14:20 Here we thought He was going to take over the kingdom." 14:24 Now let me ask you, was what Jesus was going to do 14:29 in heaven greatly publicized on earth? 14:33 Oh yes it was. 14:36 It was publicized on the day of Pentecost. 14:39 Notice what we find in Acts 2:1-4. 14:44 Do you remember that John the Baptist announced 14:46 that Jesus was the Lamb of God who was going to 14:48 take away the sin of the world? 14:50 Do you remember that in the triumphal entry 14:52 there was announced that Jesus was the King? 14:55 And that He died on the cross? 14:57 They didn't understand exactly what was happening. 15:00 Well the fact is that there was an earthly announcement 15:03 that Jesus was going to begin a new phase of His ministry 15:07 in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 15:09 And it was announced powerfully on earth. 15:13 Notice Acts 2:1-4. 15:33 I want you to remember that word, "wind." 15:51 Two natural phenomena; wind and fire. 15:55 Very important. 16:10 Two phenomena on the day of Pentecost. 16:13 Wind and fire. 16:18 This is happening on earth. 16:20 But we're going to notice that it really is an announcement 16:23 of something that is happening where? 16:25 Something that Jesus is doing in heaven. 16:29 You see, when Jesus changes His ministry, 16:31 there's an announcement on earth of what exactly He's doing. 16:37 Now we're told that as a result of the mighty rushing wind 16:41 and the tongues as of fire, they all began to speak 16:45 in different tongues. 16:47 By the way, these were languages. 16:51 Do you know when is the first time in Scripture that 16:53 God gave the gift of tongues? 16:57 At the tower of Babel. 17:02 "What!" 17:03 Yes. 17:06 Were the languages of the world established at Babel? 17:10 Yes they were. 17:12 So the gift of tongues was given at Babel. 17:15 Of course, at Babel the purpose was to divide people. 17:17 At Pentecost, it was to unite people. 17:21 But still, it was the gift of tongues. 17:23 Now I want to read you a very significant statement 17:26 from, Signs of the Times, March 20, 1879. 17:29 Because I want you to understand what happened at Pentecost. 17:32 Why there was this mighty rushing wind 17:34 and why there were tongues of fire. 17:37 Who confused the languages at Babel? 17:39 Who gave the gift of tongues at Babel? 17:42 Notice this statement. 17:44 Speaking about the builders. 17:56 Excuse me? 17:58 Who confused the languages? 18:00 Two angels. 18:02 She continues saying... 18:26 Who confounded... Who gave the gift of tongues? 18:29 The angels confounded their language. 19:12 This is after the languages were confused. 19:25 Who was it that gave the gift of tongues at the tower of Babel? 19:30 God, through the ministration of what? 19:32 Of angels. 19:34 Now do you remember the wind and the tongues of fire? 19:37 Go with me to Psalm 104:3-4. 19:42 Psalm 104:3-4 19:45 I want to talk for a moment about the 19:48 ministration of the angels. 19:49 We need to understand the ministration of the angels 19:51 in order to understand what happened at Pentecost. 19:55 Psalm 104:3 says, speaking about God... 20:11 What are clouds symbolically in Scripture? 20:14 Angels. 20:33 Now allow me to tell you something 20:34 about that word, "spirits." 20:36 It's the Hebrew world, "ruach," 20:39 which very frequently in the Old Testament 20:41 is translated, "winds" or "wind." 20:46 And in the New Testament, the very word that is used for 20:48 the Holy Spirit is also used to speak about 20:52 the ministering spirits; the ministration of the angels. 20:56 So this could very properly be translated, 21:00 "...who makes His angels winds..." 21:04 And then it explains, "...His ministers a..." What? 21:09 "...a flame of fire." 21:14 What is represented by the winds? 21:18 Angels. 21:20 What about flames of fire? 21:25 Angels. 21:27 "Are you saying, Pastor Bohr, that God on the day of Pentecost 21:31 gave the gift of tongues through the ministration of the angels?" 21:36 That's exactly what I'm saying. 21:38 And in a few moments I'm going to explain to you 21:41 what happened on the day of Pentecost. 21:43 By the way, consistently in Scripture the angels 21:46 are associated with fire, as is the Holy Spirit. 21:50 Notice for example 2 Kings 6:17-18. 21:53 Jerusalem was surrounded at this time. 21:56 And the people were afraid that the enemy was going to 21:59 overwhelm the city. 22:01 And Elisha prayed to the Lord that He would open the eyes 22:04 of his servant so that his servant could see 22:07 that Jerusalem was well protected. 22:09 Notice 2 Kings 6:17-18. 22:12 It says... 22:38 What were those chariots of fire? 22:41 Those chariots of fire were angels. 22:44 You say, "Well, how do we know that?" 22:46 Well, for the very simple reason that Psalm 68:17 says, 22:49 "The chariots of God are twenty thousand, 22:52 even thousands of thousands. 22:55 The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place." 22:59 The chariots of God are His angels. 23:01 These chariots of fire were angels marching above the city 23:05 of Jerusalem. 23:07 By the way, in Ezekiel 1:12-13, the four living creatures 23:11 which are the commanders of the angelic host 23:13 are also compared with fire. 23:17 Notice Ezekiel 1:12-13. 23:20 It says there... 23:51 Interesting that in the Old Testament the angels 23:54 are called, winds, and they are called, flames of fire. 24:00 The very two phenomena that took place when? 24:03 On the day of Pentecost. 24:05 It is not a stretch to think that if on the day of Pentecost 24:09 there's the phenomena of wind and fire, 24:12 and the languages, the gift of speaking languages, 24:15 is given to the disciples, then it must be angels. 24:19 Because as we read, back at the tower of Babel 24:22 God, through the ministration of the angels, 24:25 gave the gift of tongues at Pentecost. 24:30 Now I want to share with you some very interesting statements 24:34 where Ellen White actually, in commenting about Pentecost, 24:40 she speaks about the work of the angels at Pentecost, 24:43 and then in the same breath she speaks about the work 24:46 of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 24:48 In other words, the Holy Spirit is accomplishing His work 24:52 through the ministration of the angelic host. 24:56 Listen to this statement. 24:58 My Life Today, page 58. My Life Today, page 58. 25:05 "When the truth of God..." 25:13 Now pay close attention. 25:25 Did you catch that point? 25:50 Notice this statement. 25:51 Volume 2 of Selected Messages, page 57. 25:55 She says... 26:04 When who comes among us? 26:24 Are you noticing what she's saying? 26:26 She's saying that what happened on the day of Pentecost 26:29 was that God unleashed the heavenly host. 26:33 By the way, up till this point, who had claimed 26:36 rulership of this world? 26:38 The devil did. 26:41 He said, "This is my world, 26:42 and I can give it to whomever I please." 26:45 But when Jesus died on the cross, what did He do? 26:48 He took away the kingdom from the devil. 26:50 And this actually gave Jesus the right to what? 26:54 To invade the territory of Satan, 26:57 to unleash on the day of Pentecost 26:59 all of the angelic host. 27:03 In other words, on the day of Pentecost 27:06 all of heaven's angels were unleashed by orders 27:10 of the Holy Spirit. 27:12 And thousands, the Bible says, were converted in one day. 27:16 Winds and tongues of fire, symbolically speaking. 27:21 Allow me to read you another few statements on this point. 27:25 This one is found in the book, Maranatha, 27:28 a devotional book, page 212. 27:32 Ellen White says here, "Before the work is closed up," 27:36 now she's speaking about the end... 27:55 What is going to be poured out? 27:57 The Holy Spirit. 27:58 Who will be in our midst? 28:00 Angels will be in our midst. 28:04 One more statement. 28:05 Review and Herald, January 20, 1891. 28:09 She says, "After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit..." 28:15 You say, "Why were thousands converted?" 28:17 We'll listen to what she continues saying. 28:39 Isn't that an amazing statement? 28:42 I'll read it again. 28:48 Who were the ones that spoke in the ear of the people 28:50 who were converted? 28:52 The Holy Spirit through what? 28:54 Through the ministration of the angels. 28:57 She says, "Angels of God that excel in strength, 29:01 clothed with the brightness of heaven, 29:04 came to the help of the church and swept back 29:07 the forces of Satan." 29:10 And then she says, "The work of the Holy Spirit 29:11 was not limited..." 29:44 In other words, the chain of command is, 29:46 the Holy Spirit unleashes the angelic host 29:50 to speak to the host who need to receive Jesus Christ 29:54 as their Savior and Lord. 29:56 And then the angels win these converts to the Lord. 30:01 And then these individuals become servants 30:05 and instruments in the hands of the Holy Spirit 30:08 to reach other people. 30:11 You know, what happened on the day of Pentecost 30:14 was actually an earthly announcement 30:17 of a heavenly event. 30:18 Usually we focus on what happened on earth. 30:21 You know, you listen to preachers on television, 30:24 these television preachers talk about what happened 30:26 on the day of Pentecost. 30:27 And they focus on the fact that everybody started 30:30 speaking in other tongues, and that there were tongues of fire, 30:33 and there was a mighty rushing wind, 30:35 and that the church received the Holy Spirit, 30:37 and they went out to preach. 30:38 But do you know what? 30:40 The key event was not what happened on earth, 30:41 but what happened in heaven. 30:42 The earthly event was an announcement 30:44 of a heavenly event. 30:47 What was announced by the Holy Spirit 30:49 being poured out by the tongues of fire, 30:51 by the mighty rushing wind, by the unleashing of 30:54 the heavenly host, was the fact that Jesus 30:56 had ascended to heaven, He had sat down 30:59 at the right hand of His Father. 31:00 He was now the intercessor of His people. 31:03 And now He was pouring out the Holy Spirit 31:05 as a sign that He had been installed in the Holy Place 31:09 to perform His work. 31:10 In fact, let me read you from, Acts of the Apostles, page 38. 31:14 Ellen White caught this point. 31:16 There's not very many scholars that have caught this connection 31:18 between the heavenly event and the earthly event. 31:21 Ellen White caught it very clearly. 31:23 She says this... 31:47 What is a token? 31:50 Sign. 31:52 Indication, if you please. 31:55 Once again... 32:14 So was the change in ministration of Jesus 32:17 announced with great earthly publicity? 32:21 Just like His death on the cross? 32:23 Just like the moment that He had presented Himself 32:26 as the perfect Lamb of God who has no sin? 32:29 Absolutely. 32:31 Were the prophecies misunderstood? 32:33 Yes. 32:35 Were God's people disappointed? 32:37 Yes. 32:38 Was there publicity? 32:40 Yes, there was publicity. 32:42 Now let me ask you, how did the established church 32:45 of the day and age receive the message 32:51 which was imparted on the day of Pentecost? 32:56 It was the Jewish church of the day. 32:57 They said, "Oh, this is wonderful. 32:58 Yeah, Jesus just went to heaven and He began 33:01 His ministry up there." 33:03 Is that the way the church reacted? 33:05 No. 33:07 The church of the day and age actually rejected 33:12 what Jesus was doing in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 33:16 You see, if we're going to follow Jesus through the 33:20 Sanctuary, we have to follow Him in order. 33:22 First, you have to accept Him as the perfect Lamb. 33:25 Because He lived the life that you and I should live. 33:29 Second, we must accept Him as our sacrifice. 33:32 He died in my place. 33:35 And then I am ready to go into the Holy Place 33:38 and to accept Him as my Intercessor 33:41 and my representative before the Father. 33:43 I can now claim the benefits of His sacrifice. 33:47 But I can't follow Him into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary 33:50 and accept Him as my Intercessor unless first of all I understand 33:55 that He lived the life I should live and He died the death 33:58 that I should die. 34:00 And because the Sanhedrin and the leaders of the 34:04 Jewish nation refused to follow Jesus into the court, 34:07 they reject the message of John, they reject the message 34:11 of the triumphal entry, they were unprepared 34:14 to understand what Jesus was beginning to do 34:18 in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 34:21 In fact, you know the story, after the day of Pentecost 34:24 the Sanhedrin got together and they told Peter and John, 34:29 "Don't talk about this anymore. 34:31 Keep your mouth shut. 34:33 Don't speak in the name of Jesus. 34:35 There are too many people that are accepting this message." 34:38 In other words, the message was rejected 34:43 by the established church. 34:46 And it was only a small remnant that accepted the message 34:50 and understood that Jesus had moved into the Holy Place 34:54 of the Sanctuary. 34:57 Allow me to read you an interesting statement 34:59 that we find in the book, Great Controversy, page 430. 35:04 By the way, was there a shut door and an open door here 35:07 at Pentecost? 35:09 What door was shut? 35:11 The door of the court. 35:12 Had Jesus fulfilled the work of the court? 35:14 Had He finished? Yes. 35:17 In fact, what did He say on the cross? 35:18 It is what? 35:20 It is finished. 35:21 He's saying, "I finished the work of living a perfect life 35:24 and dying for sin. 35:26 It is finished." 35:28 At that moment He's about to close the door of the court, 35:31 because He's finished His ministration there. 35:33 But now that door is closed. 35:36 Is there another door opened? 35:37 Yes, it's the door to the Holy Place. 35:39 He's going to do His work, not as sacrifice, 35:42 but as Priest. 35:45 And in our next study together we're going to notice 35:47 that the door to the Holy Place is closed 35:50 and another door, the door of the Most Holy Place, 35:53 opens in 1844. 35:55 And this whole experience is repeated all over again. 36:00 The religious establishment rejects the message. 36:03 And it's only a small remnant that follows Jesus through 36:07 the open door into the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 36:10 There is nothing new under the sun. 36:14 Allow me to read you Ellen White's description 36:16 of what happened to the Jewish nation, 36:19 to the established church of the day and age 36:21 when Jesus moved into the Holy Place. 36:23 They were oblivious that Jesus had moved. 36:26 She says this... 36:44 See, Jesus died. 36:45 Did Jesus pay the debt for every human being on planet earth? 36:49 So everybody is going to be saved. 36:52 No. Do you have to claim what Jesus did? 36:56 Yes. 36:57 You see, now Jesus is accepting His clients, so to speak. 37:01 People that claim for themselves what He did on the cross. 37:05 The perfect life He lived. 37:07 We come in repentance to Him, and now His sacrifice 37:10 is credited to my account because I have asked Him 37:14 to be my Intercessor before the Father. 37:17 So she continues saying, "When Jesus, at His ascension, 37:20 entered by His own blood into the heavenly Sanctuary..." 37:31 I want you to remember that expression. 37:33 In our next subject we're going to come back to that. 38:26 Because they did not follow Him into the court, 38:29 they did not follow Him into the Holy Place. 38:33 And by the way, it is a process. 38:36 You have to follow Jesus first into the court. 38:39 You have to understand that He lived a perfect life, 38:42 that He paid the debt for sin, 38:44 and that now you can receive Him as your 38:46 representative in heaven. 38:48 You can claim what He did and make it your own, individually. 38:53 The Jewish nation, the established church, 38:56 rejected this. 38:58 Now let me ask you, on the day of Pentecost 39:03 was the disappointment of the disciples 39:07 clarified by a study of Scripture? 39:13 Did they fully come to understand what Jesus was doing 39:15 on the basis of re-evaluating and understanding Scripture? 39:21 Absolutely. 39:22 You say, "How's that?" 39:25 Well, have you ever read Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost? 39:32 I'm sure that you have read Acts chapter 2... 39:35 ...beyond verse 11. 39:39 You know, in verse 11 and verse 13, the people 39:42 who were present there said, "What can this mean?" 39:46 Some said, "Oh no, they're just drunk." 39:48 And Peter is going to say, "It can't be drunk. 39:49 It's nine o'clock in the morning. 39:54 There has to be some other explanation." 39:57 And then Peter stands up. 39:59 And Peter takes those verses with which we began 40:02 our study today and he says, "Okay, folks, 40:07 what we didn't understand when we asked Jesus, 40:10 'Will you restore the kingdom to Israel at this time,'" 40:13 he says, "now we understand." 40:15 In those ten days they had studied the prophecies 40:17 after Jesus left. 40:20 And now Peter says, "Now those prophecies 40:23 from the Old Testament, I'm going to tell 40:24 you what they really mean." 40:26 Did Scripture clarify what Jesus was doing? 40:30 Absolutely. 40:31 Allow me to read you from Acts 2:16-21. 40:35 You tell me if this is the same passage from Joel chapter 2. 40:40 Here, Peter says... 41:22 Is this the same passage from Joel chapter 2? 41:27 Peter is saying, "What you see right here 41:29 is exactly what was prophesied. 41:31 It's taking place right now." 41:32 Jesus is in heaven and He's poured out the Holy Spirit. 41:35 This is an indication of something that has 41:37 happened in heaven. 41:38 Jesus has entered the Holy Place and He has begun 41:41 His ministration there. 41:42 Now notice Acts 2:25-28. 41:47 Tell me if we've read this passage before. 41:49 Acts 2:25-28 41:55 This is Jesus. 42:26 Is that the same passage that we noticed from the Old Testament? 42:29 Psalm 16? 42:31 Here, Peter is saying, "Now we know that pointed to Jesus. 42:35 He died, His body saw no corruption, He resurrected, 42:40 and He sat down at the right hand of God. 42:43 And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is an indication 42:46 of the work that He has begun to do 42:49 in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary." 42:51 Now you remember the third verse, Psalm 110:1? 42:55 Notice Acts 2:34-35. 43:00 Acts 2:34-35 43:06 In other words, Psalm 16 wasn't talking about David. 43:09 David wasn't talking about himself. 43:25 Interesting. 43:27 Do God's people now understand these prophecies 43:32 and comprehend what Jesus is doing at this point 43:36 in the heavenly Sanctuary? 43:37 They most surely do. 43:39 In other words, after the disappointment 43:41 they study Scripture and their concepts are clarified. 43:47 They say, "We were wrong about what Jesus was going to do. 43:50 He was not going to sit down on the throne of David 43:53 in Jerusalem as King. 43:55 He has gone to sit next to His Father on His throne 43:59 in order to present the cases of all of those who come to Him 44:03 before the Father. 44:04 And to send the Holy Spirit, through the ministration 44:07 of the angels, to give power to His people 44:10 to let the world know what Jesus is doing." 44:13 By the way, Revelation 3:21 points to the moment that 44:17 Jesus took His place next to the Father. 44:19 It says there in Revelation 3:21... 44:37 So this text from the New Testament clearly shows 44:40 that Jesus fulfilled prophecy. 44:42 He sat at the Father's right hand. 44:45 Furthermore, the Bible speaks about an open door 44:49 through which Jesus went. 44:50 It's not only Ellen White. 44:51 Notice Revelation 4:2. 44:54 And we've spoken about this passage of Revelation 4 44:56 previously, so I won't get into a lot of detail. 45:00 Here, John says... 45:11 Like whom? 45:12 Like the Son of Man. 45:14 By the way, was a door opened in order for this scene 45:19 to take place? 45:20 Notice Revelation 4:1. 45:23 Revelation 4:1 45:25 "After these things I looked, and behold, a door 45:28 standing open in heaven. 45:30 And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet 45:33 speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will 45:36 show you things which must take place after this.'" 45:40 So there's an open door. 45:41 And by the way, if you continue reading in Revelation 4, 45:44 you're going to notice that there where the door 45:47 is opened are found the seven candlesticks. 45:52 And the altar of incense is in there. 45:55 Which apartment was the candlestick found in? 45:59 In the Holy Place. 46:00 Where was the altar of incense located? 46:03 In the Holy Place. 46:05 So the door which is opened here, through which John goes 46:10 and eventually sees Jesus arrive at the throne, 46:14 is none other than the door that leads to the Holy Place 46:19 of the Sanctuary. 46:20 In other words, the door to the court has been closed 46:22 and the door to the Holy Place has been opened. 46:26 In other words, Jesus is saying, "The Sanctuary 46:29 is now open for business. 46:34 Now you can claim the payment that I made." 46:38 By the way, did Jesus pay the debt for all of humanity? 46:41 Of course. 46:43 Did He buy the gift of salvation for everyone? 46:46 Of course He did. 46:49 He paid for it, didn't He? 46:51 Infinite price. 46:53 He paid for everyone. 46:56 Does that mean that everybody is going to accept the payment? 47:00 You see, what happens on the day of Pentecost, folks, 47:02 is that now people can individually 47:04 claim what Jesus did. 47:07 You can claim His perfect life. 47:09 You say, "Jesus, my life is a mess. 47:11 It's full of sin. 47:13 I'm sorry. 47:15 Take Your life and credit it to my account, 47:19 and impart it into me so I can live it. 47:23 Jesus, I deserve death. 47:27 But now in repentance I claim Your death 47:32 so that I don't have to suffer it." 47:34 At that moment, Jesus goes before the Father. 47:37 He represents me. 47:40 And the Father doesn't look at me, the Father looks at Him. 47:43 Is that good news? 47:45 Can I get half of an amen? 47:49 That's good news. 47:50 That's what's happened since Pentecost. 47:53 People can come to Jesus, 47:56 and Jesus will receive their prayers. 47:58 In fact, let's notice a few text from the New Testament 48:01 which amplify this point. 48:02 Hebrews 9:12. Hebrews 9:12. 48:06 And I'm reading from the King James Version. 48:08 It says there... 48:25 Many versions say Most Holy Place. 48:26 Not a good translation. 48:37 Notice Hebrews 7:25. 48:40 Speaking about what Jesus does for us today. 48:42 Folks, what Jesus is doing today is, He wants us 48:46 to claim what He paid for. 48:48 He wants us to take what He paid for and put it on our account. 48:53 It says in Hebrews 7:25, "Therefore, He is also able..." 49:11 Those who come to Him. 49:20 Notice Romans 8:34. 49:22 There are so many text that speak about this. 49:25 Romans 8:34 49:27 "Who is He who condemns..." 49:45 So the court points to Jesus as the perfect Lamb. 49:49 It points to Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. 49:52 The Holy Place points to Jesus as our only Intercessor 49:56 when we claim Him personally as our Savior and as our Lord. 50:02 But that is not all that Jesus is doing in the 50:04 Holy Place of the Sanctuary. 50:05 He's not only receiving our prayers in repentance, 50:09 He is also pouring out the power of His Spirit 50:12 so that we can tell other people about what He's doing. 50:17 What did Jesus say in Acts 1:7 to His disciples? 50:24 Actually, let's read verse 8, Acts 1:8. 50:47 What good is it for Jesus to be performing a work 50:49 in the Holy Place if nobody knows about it? 50:53 On the day of Pentecost Jesus is explaining through Peter 50:56 what He went to heaven to do until 1844. 51:02 But if only they know about it, what about the world? 51:06 So Jesus says, "I'm not only going to represent you, 51:09 I'm empowering you through the Holy Spirit, 51:13 through the ministration of the angels, millions of them 51:15 just waiting to work with you, for you to go and tell the world 51:21 about Me living a perfect life, dying on the cross of Calvary, 51:26 and now they can come and they can claim what I have done 51:30 and make it their own." 51:32 Wow! 51:34 Not only forgiveness, but power. 51:37 In fact, notice Acts 5:31-33. 51:41 Acts 5:31-33 51:43 Very interesting. 51:44 Here, Peter is explaining to the Jews who are listening to him 51:48 what Jesus is doing in heaven. 51:52 This is Jesus. 52:11 Let me ask you, do we need to confess our sins 52:13 in order to be forgiven from our sins? 52:16 Do we have to repent of them first? 52:18 Do we have to bring them to Jesus? 52:20 Of course we do. 52:22 That's what this is talking about. 52:25 Verse 32, "And we are His witnesses to these things, 52:29 and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those 52:34 who obey Him." 52:35 By the way, was the sorrow of the disciples turned into joy 52:39 when they understood what Jesus was doing? 52:42 Was the sorrow because Jesus had left turned into joy? 52:45 Notice John 16:20. Very interesting. 52:48 Jesus had told them that they were going to be disappointed, 52:51 they were going to be sad and they were going to be 52:53 filled with sorrow, but their sorrow on Pentecost 52:55 would be turned to joy because they would understand Scripture. 52:58 Notice John 16:20. 53:01 "Most assuredly I say to you that you will 53:05 weep and lament..." 53:09 "There's sadness coming. I'm leaving. 53:11 You're going to weep and lament." 53:14 "...but the world will rejoice..." 53:16 In other words, "When you weep and lament, 53:18 the world is going to make fun of you." 53:22 "...and you will be sorrowful, 53:24 but," now notice this, "but your sorrow 53:28 will be turned into..." What? 53:31 "...your sorrow will be turned into joy." 53:37 So was their bitter disappointment 53:41 at the idea that Jesus did not fulfill their expectations 53:44 changed into joy when they understood the true meaning 53:49 of these prophecies? 53:50 Absolutely. 53:51 Their sorrow was turned to joy. 53:53 And when we study the next time about 1844, 53:56 we're going to notice that after the bitter disappointment 54:00 because Jesus did not fulfill prophecy according to 54:03 their expectations, they went back to the drawing board, 54:07 they studied Scripture, they understood that Jesus 54:10 had gone into the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary 54:13 to begin His final ministration in the Sanctuary. 54:16 And their sorrow was turned into joy. 54:20 They felt like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. 54:23 "Did not our hearts burn within ourselves 54:26 as He opened unto us the Scriptures?" 54:29 By the way, when Peter preached about what Jesus was doing 54:33 in heaven at that moment, 54:37 was there a huge number of converts 54:40 that came to Jesus as clients now? 54:43 Did it spread? 54:44 Of course it did. 54:47 It says that there were three thousand that day 54:49 who came to understand what Jesus was doing. 54:53 Because Peter spoke about the sacrifice of Jesus, 54:56 he spoke about what Jesus had done in the court. 54:58 He said now He's gone to heaven. 54:59 He's interceding. 55:00 Now you can get forgiveness of sins. 55:03 He's willing to intercede for you. 55:06 So when Peter finishes his sermon, 55:11 the men say, "Well what do we need to do 55:14 in the light of this new revelation 55:16 about what Jesus is doing in the Holy Place? 55:18 What should we do?" 55:20 This is a case of people asking the pastor, 55:23 "What do I need to do?" 55:27 What did Peter say? 55:29 "Be baptized... 55:31 ...for the forgiveness of sins, and you will 55:33 receive the Holy Spirit." 55:35 I'm dreaming for the day when we have three thousand people 55:37 coming to me and saying, "What shall we do?" 55:41 And I'll say, "Arise, be baptized... 55:45 ...for the forgiveness of sins, 55:46 and you will receive the Holy Spirit." 55:48 Not a case of me begging people to be baptized, 55:51 but people coming and saying, "I want to be baptized. 55:55 I want to follow Jesus into the Holy Place of the Sanctuary." 55:58 Now allow me to read you Acts 2:36-39 in closing. 56:04 Peter here explains what's happening on Pentecost. 56:17 Notice, now they understand the meaning of prophecy. 56:55 So there's nothing new under the sun. 56:58 Three disappointments... 57:02 ...because of false expectations. 57:04 Three explanations of the disappointments. 57:07 Sorrow turned into joy. 57:09 Now in our next study together, we're going to study the great 57:12 disappointment of 1844. 57:15 And you're going to find that it follows the exact sequence 57:18 of the first three that we've studied. 57:20 People say that the Adventist view can't be true 57:24 because of 1844. 57:25 We'll see that is not the case. |
Revised 2016-06-20