Hello, I'm Jack McIntosh, from Weimar Institute, 00:00:29.83\00:00:33.32 Weimar, California. 00:00:33.33\00:00:35.14 And today, we're going to look at a very interesting 00:00:35.15\00:00:38.22 verse of scripture in the Book of Revelation. 00:00:38.23\00:00:40.89 It's probably a verse of scripture that many of you 00:00:40.90\00:00:43.59 are familiar with and we're going to look 00:00:43.60\00:00:45.71 at some of the ramifications and the implications 00:00:45.72\00:00:49.03 of this verse, as it relates to the Lord's coming 00:00:49.04\00:00:53.75 and as it relates to our translation 00:00:53.76\00:00:55.92 into the kingdom of God. 00:00:55.93\00:00:58.51 The Chapter of course is Revelation 14, 00:00:58.52\00:01:01.41 very familiar verses in six and seven. 00:01:01.42\00:01:05.35 It reads like this, "Then I saw another angel flying in midair, 00:01:05.36\00:01:11.19 he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live 00:01:11.20\00:01:14.90 on the earth to every nation, tribe, language, and people. 00:01:14.91\00:01:18.58 He said in a loud voice, 'Fear God and give Him glory, 00:01:18.59\00:01:24.49 for the hour of His judgment has come. 00:01:24.50\00:01:26.83 Worship Him, who made the heavens, 00:01:26.84\00:01:28.74 the earth, the seas, and the springs of water.'" 00:01:28.75\00:01:32.56 The reason, one of the reasons, 00:01:32.57\00:01:33.73 that this is such an interesting verse of scripture 00:01:33.74\00:01:37.04 is because when you look at the Book of Revelation, 00:01:37.05\00:01:40.70 if you've ever looked at the word gospel, 00:01:40.71\00:01:43.99 you will notice that the term gospel is used only one time 00:01:44.00\00:01:50.41 in all of the Book of Revelation. 00:01:50.42\00:01:52.88 And this reference to the gospel is not just 00:01:52.89\00:01:57.55 a casual reference as we see in many other parts of scripture. 00:01:57.56\00:02:01.33 It is referred to as the eternal gospel 00:02:01.34\00:02:04.04 or the everlasting gospel, so there's something about 00:02:04.05\00:02:07.44 this version of the gospel that is going to last forever. 00:02:07.45\00:02:10.53 That's the first thing that we see in verse 6. 00:02:10.54\00:02:14.33 The second thing that we notice about this is that 00:02:14.34\00:02:17.13 it is proclaimed to every nation, 00:02:17.14\00:02:20.60 every kindred, tongue, and people and this version 00:02:20.61\00:02:22.67 it says every tribe, every language, and people. 00:02:22.68\00:02:27.18 What that means of course is that 00:02:27.19\00:02:28.83 it is a universal message and it goes to all the world. 00:02:28.84\00:02:33.12 The third thing that we notice about this is that 00:02:33.13\00:02:36.21 the angle says in a loud voice, 00:02:36.22\00:02:38.43 "Fear God, give Him glory 00:02:38.44\00:02:40.02 because the hour of His judgment has come." 00:02:40.03\00:02:43.27 If you look at the language carefully, 00:02:43.28\00:02:45.54 you'll see that this is not a declaration, but a command. 00:02:45.55\00:02:49.26 Now that's very interesting because in most of scripture 00:02:49.27\00:02:52.22 when you see the gospel mention, 00:02:52.23\00:02:54.83 it's not usually called the everlasting gospel, 00:02:54.84\00:02:57.18 but when you do see it mention, 00:02:57.19\00:02:58.99 it's usually in terms of a declaration about 00:02:59.00\00:03:02.10 the Lamb of God who has given his sacrifice for us, 00:03:02.11\00:03:06.77 who has paid the price for our sins. 00:03:06.78\00:03:09.42 But in this case we see that the gospel is, 00:03:09.43\00:03:12.82 is presented in terms of a command. 00:03:12.83\00:03:15.96 And the command is a very specific command. 00:03:15.97\00:03:18.39 It begins with a phrase, "Fear God." 00:03:18.40\00:03:23.26 If you've ever done a study on what it means to fear God, 00:03:23.27\00:03:27.55 you'll find some very, very interesting things. 00:03:27.56\00:03:30.44 If we go over to the Book of Exodus 00:03:30.45\00:03:33.54 for instance in Chapter 20, that's the famous Chapter 00:03:33.55\00:03:39.81 that presents the Ten Commandments. 00:03:39.82\00:03:41.99 We find that in verse 20 of Exodus 20 00:03:42.00\00:03:44.68 and it's very easy to remember because it's 20:20. 00:03:44.69\00:03:48.71 Good vision, if you will. 00:03:48.72\00:03:50.52 You'll notice that Moses says to the people, 00:03:50.53\00:03:55.14 "Do not be afraid, God has come to test you." 00:03:55.15\00:03:59.95 Now of course, the scene here is at the Mountain Sinai 00:03:59.96\00:04:06.77 when they're receiving the law of God 00:04:06.78\00:04:10.28 and there is a lot of fire and smoke and things going on 00:04:10.29\00:04:13.31 and trumpets blowing and the people are afraid, 00:04:13.32\00:04:15.66 they're trembling with fear, 00:04:15.67\00:04:17.34 as you see in verse 18 of Exodus 20. 00:04:17.35\00:04:21.10 And Moses says to them, "Do not be afraid, 00:04:21.11\00:04:25.87 God has come to test you so that the fear of God 00:04:25.88\00:04:30.13 will be with you to keep you from sinning." 00:04:30.14\00:04:34.71 So when the angel in Revelation 14 00:04:34.72\00:04:37.89 in verse 6, verse 7 says, "Fear God". 00:04:37.90\00:04:41.76 There is a very specific reason 00:04:41.77\00:04:45.51 for commanding us to fear God. 00:04:45.52\00:04:48.97 The command is designed to keep us from sinning. 00:04:48.98\00:04:53.08 And if you look throughout scripture you will also see 00:04:53.09\00:04:55.62 that the fear of God is always, 00:04:55.63\00:04:58.83 almost always connected with the commandments of God. 00:04:58.84\00:05:03.65 If we go over to for instance Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 00:05:03.66\00:05:10.43 and if we look at Ecclesiastes 12, 00:05:10.44\00:05:13.39 we see a very interesting juxtaposition 00:05:13.40\00:05:18.85 of the term "Fear God" noticed in verse 13, 00:05:18.86\00:05:23.47 of chapter 12, it says, 00:05:23.48\00:05:26.07 "Now all has been heard, 00:05:26.08\00:05:27.76 here is the conclusion of the matter, 00:05:27.77\00:05:30.09 Fear God and keep His commandments, 00:05:30.10\00:05:33.74 for this is the whole duty of man. 00:05:33.75\00:05:36.79 For God will bring every deed into judgment, 00:05:36.80\00:05:39.60 including every hidden thing, 00:05:39.61\00:05:41.13 whether it is good or evil." 00:05:41.14\00:05:43.47 So we see that the fear of God is supposed to 00:05:43.48\00:05:45.89 keep us from sinning and we see that the fear of God 00:05:45.90\00:05:49.48 is supposed to help us, empower us 00:05:49.49\00:05:52.88 to keep His commandments. 00:05:52.89\00:05:54.80 So, the term "Fear God" there is 00:05:54.81\00:05:56.57 a very, very significant term 00:05:56.58\00:05:59.38 and as I said before is almost always connected 00:05:59.39\00:06:04.84 with the idea of keeping God's commandments 00:06:04.85\00:06:08.98 and being obedient to Him. 00:06:08.99\00:06:10.76 You know, the Apostle John says, 00:06:10.77\00:06:12.54 something very interesting. 00:06:12.55\00:06:15.13 He says, "He that does the will of God abides forever." 00:06:15.14\00:06:20.63 The will of God, is of course expressed 00:06:20.64\00:06:23.32 in His commandments and so it is entirely appropriate 00:06:23.33\00:06:27.31 that we should have the fear of God 00:06:27.32\00:06:29.35 connected with the keeping of His commandments. 00:06:29.36\00:06:32.47 Now, the second part of the message, 00:06:32.48\00:06:34.99 the first part, pardon me says, 00:06:35.00\00:06:38.15 "Fear God," the second part says, 00:06:38.16\00:06:40.08 "Give Him Glory," and that expression 00:06:40.09\00:06:44.24 is also pregnant with meaning. 00:06:44.25\00:06:46.97 If we study and look for the references 00:06:46.98\00:06:50.28 that refer to glorifying God, 00:06:50.29\00:06:53.10 we see some very interesting things emerging, 00:06:53.11\00:06:57.00 one of which is found in Exodus, Chapter 33, 00:06:57.01\00:07:03.14 and if we go there for a second, 00:07:03.15\00:07:06.09 we find-- we pick it up with Moses 00:07:06.10\00:07:09.56 making a very specific request from God. 00:07:09.57\00:07:14.16 Now Moses had a very intimate relationship 00:07:14.17\00:07:17.53 with God, spoke to God, face to face, 00:07:17.54\00:07:20.60 it says in other places as a man speaks to 00:07:20.61\00:07:22.83 his friend you can find that in Exodus 33, in fact verse 11, 00:07:22.84\00:07:26.87 the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, 00:07:26.88\00:07:29.93 as a man speaks with his friend, 00:07:29.94\00:07:32.99 so God is our friend and Moses had 00:07:33.00\00:07:35.94 a very special friendship with God. 00:07:35.95\00:07:38.16 Moses made a very special request of his special friend. 00:07:38.17\00:07:42.31 In verse 18 of Chapter 33 of Exodus, 00:07:42.32\00:07:47.27 Moses says to his friend God, 00:07:47.28\00:07:50.44 "Now show me your glory, and the Lord said, 00:07:50.45\00:07:55.34 I will cause my goodness to pass in front of you, 00:07:55.35\00:07:58.27 and I will proclaim my name, 00:07:58.28\00:08:00.16 the Lord in your presence." 00:08:00.17\00:08:02.13 Now if you notice, when Moses makes 00:08:02.14\00:08:04.50 the request the Lord doesn't talk about light, 00:08:04.51\00:08:08.17 as most people would expect him to talk about. 00:08:08.18\00:08:10.85 He begins to talk about his character, 00:08:10.86\00:08:13.39 you notice, I will cause my goodness 00:08:13.40\00:08:15.98 to pass in front of you. 00:08:15.99\00:08:17.80 And then of course, over in Chapter 34, 00:08:17.81\00:08:21.37 the next chapter, God actually causes 00:08:21.38\00:08:24.40 His glory to pass in front of Moses 00:08:24.41\00:08:27.32 and notice what appears to Moses. 00:08:27.33\00:08:30.27 It isn't light per se, what is it? 00:08:30.28\00:08:33.07 Well, it says, verse 5 of Chapter 34, 00:08:33.08\00:08:36.77 "Then the Lord came down in the cloud 00:08:36.78\00:08:38.92 and stood there with him and proclaimed his name," 00:08:38.93\00:08:42.91 notice his name of course is a designation for his character. 00:08:42.92\00:08:47.85 "And he passed in front of Moses 00:08:47.86\00:08:49.55 proclaiming the Lord, the compassionate, 00:08:49.56\00:08:52.37 the gracious God, slow to anger, 00:08:52.38\00:08:55.17 abounding in love," you see, 00:08:55.18\00:08:56.85 so far we're talking only about character attributes. 00:08:56.86\00:09:00.11 So the glory of God has something 00:09:00.12\00:09:02.38 to do with his character, 00:09:02.39\00:09:05.79 "abounding in love and faithfulness, 00:09:05.80\00:09:08.75 maintaining love to thousands, 00:09:08.76\00:09:10.97 and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin." 00:09:10.98\00:09:14.40 So here we see clearly that giving glory to God 00:09:14.41\00:09:18.94 has something to do with reflecting the character 00:09:18.95\00:09:22.07 of God and that of course is a very significant statement 00:09:22.08\00:09:26.64 for us, as we go back to the verse 00:09:26.65\00:09:29.95 that we're considering here verse 7 of Revelation 14. 00:09:29.96\00:09:34.56 "Fear God and give him glory." 00:09:34.57\00:09:36.30 Now these two requests or commands 00:09:36.31\00:09:38.96 I should say not necessarily request the commands, 00:09:38.97\00:09:41.56 these two commands are given for a reason. 00:09:41.57\00:09:45.13 The next word says, "Because the hour 00:09:45.14\00:09:48.45 of his judgment has come." 00:09:48.46\00:09:50.07 So somehow by being obedient 00:09:50.08\00:09:53.09 to those two commands to Fear God 00:09:53.10\00:09:55.80 and to give Him glory those two things 00:09:55.81\00:09:58.90 are connected to the judgment. 00:09:58.91\00:10:00.94 The reason that we fear God and give Him glory 00:10:00.95\00:10:03.36 is because the hour of his judgment has come. 00:10:03.37\00:10:06.39 Well, you may ask yourself then, 00:10:06.40\00:10:08.95 how is the fear of God and giving Him 00:10:08.96\00:10:11.53 glory connected with the judgment? 00:10:11.54\00:10:14.91 Well, you, you-- the obvious thing here 00:10:14.92\00:10:18.89 of course is that the judgment is presented 00:10:18.90\00:10:21.67 in terms of the everlasting gospel. 00:10:21.68\00:10:24.89 We all know that gospel means good news. 00:10:24.90\00:10:26.26 And here is a very curious thing 00:10:26.27\00:10:29.78 because the term judgment is used 00:10:29.79\00:10:33.68 in terms of the good news. 00:10:33.69\00:10:36.54 Most people of course don't think 00:10:36.55\00:10:38.98 of the judgment as good news, 00:10:38.99\00:10:40.78 in fact in presenting this particular study 00:10:40.79\00:10:45.38 at one to one group recently, 00:10:45.39\00:10:48.49 I asked the question, 00:10:48.50\00:10:49.52 how do we think of the judgment? 00:10:49.53\00:10:52.99 Good news or bad news? 00:10:53.00\00:10:54.23 And the response was we usually think 00:10:54.24\00:10:55.74 of the judgment as bad news. 00:10:55.75\00:10:58.62 However, the Bible clearly shows us 00:10:58.63\00:11:02.46 that the judgment is not necessarily bad news. 00:11:02.47\00:11:06.22 It is bad news for the wicked. 00:11:06.23\00:11:08.91 But I want to show you something 00:11:08.92\00:11:10.74 from the Book of Daniel that clearly indicates 00:11:10.75\00:11:14.46 that the judgment is in fact not bad news 00:11:14.47\00:11:18.12 but good news for the people of God. 00:11:18.13\00:11:21.17 Notice, Daniel 7, pardon me, and verse 21. 00:11:21.18\00:11:26.97 Daniel is talking about a great persecuting power 00:11:26.98\00:11:31.51 that is persecuting the Saints of God. 00:11:31.52\00:11:34.21 "As I watched, this horn was waging war 00:11:34.22\00:11:36.86 against the saints and defeating them," 00:11:36.87\00:11:40.75 verse 22 says, "Until the ancient of days 00:11:40.76\00:11:44.78 came and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints 00:11:44.79\00:11:51.12 of the most high, and the time came 00:11:51.13\00:11:53.27 when they possessed the kingdom." 00:11:53.28\00:11:56.20 Now obviously, what that is saying, 00:11:56.21\00:11:59.47 is that this particular judgment that God pronounces, 00:11:59.48\00:12:03.71 this judgment that is pronounced 00:12:03.72\00:12:05.87 in favor of the saints allows them 00:12:05.88\00:12:08.45 to possess the kingdom. 00:12:08.46\00:12:10.32 In other words, this judgment actually puts 00:12:10.33\00:12:13.58 the people of God, beyond the reach of Satan forever. 00:12:13.59\00:12:18.94 Well, that's good news isn't it? 00:12:18.95\00:12:20.70 Of course it is and that's why the term judgment 00:12:20.71\00:12:23.96 appears in the context 00:12:23.97\00:12:26.79 of the everlasting good news or the everlasting gospel. 00:12:26.80\00:12:29.48 The judgment is good news for us and we should, 00:12:29.49\00:12:34.10 we should recognize it as such. 00:12:34.11\00:12:37.15 In 1 John, the Book of 1 John, 00:12:37.16\00:12:41.28 just before Revelation, 1 John 4, 00:12:41.29\00:12:44.00 John who was one of the disciples 00:12:44.01\00:12:46.59 that was closest to the Lord Jesus Christ 00:12:46.60\00:12:49.87 makes an interesting declaration in Chapter 4, 00:12:49.88\00:12:53.41 of verse--I'm sorry, Chapter 4 and verse 16. 00:12:53.42\00:13:00.37 He says the following, "God is love 00:13:00.38\00:13:05.33 whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. 00:13:05.34\00:13:13.20 In this way, love is made complete 00:13:13.21\00:13:17.51 among us, so that we will have confidence 00:13:17.52\00:13:19.98 on the Day of Judgment 00:13:19.99\00:13:21.10 because in this world we are like him." 00:13:21.11\00:13:23.85 What is the character trait that prepares us 00:13:23.86\00:13:29.06 to have confidence in the Day of Judgment? 00:13:29.07\00:13:31.69 The answer is the love of God transferred to human hearts. 00:13:31.70\00:13:36.32 Remember that the context of this statement 00:13:36.33\00:13:38.64 about being ready and prepared 00:13:38.65\00:13:40.62 and having confidence in the judgment 00:13:40.63\00:13:44.04 is in fact the love of God, 00:13:44.05\00:13:46.84 transferred to human hearts. 00:13:46.85\00:13:50.42 The Apostle Peter of course, 00:13:50.43\00:13:52.88 picks up on this theme of this whole idea of love 00:13:52.89\00:13:58.74 being transferred to us and in second Peter Chapter 1, 00:13:58.75\00:14:05.32 he talks about the divine power 00:14:05.33\00:14:07.33 that has been given so that we've everything 00:14:07.34\00:14:10.44 we need verse 3, for life and godliness 00:14:10.45\00:14:12.90 through our knowledge of him who was called us 00:14:12.91\00:14:14.81 by his own glory and goodness. 00:14:14.82\00:14:16.38 Now he says "Through these he has given us 00:14:16.39\00:14:19.25 his very great and precious promises noticed 00:14:19.26\00:14:22.53 that through them you may participate 00:14:22.54\00:14:25.57 or the King James says, partake 00:14:25.58\00:14:29.37 of the divine nature and escape the corruption 00:14:29.38\00:14:32.03 in the world caused by evil desires." 00:14:32.04\00:14:35.28 So we see then that this idea 00:14:35.29\00:14:40.98 that we're to participate in the divine nature 00:14:40.99\00:14:44.03 that the love of God is 00:14:44.04\00:14:45.22 to possess our hearts and minds, 00:14:45.23\00:14:47.24 we see that this is 00:14:47.25\00:14:48.79 really what prepares us for the judgment. 00:14:48.80\00:14:54.53 And John, of course says that when we have 00:14:54.54\00:14:56.63 this confidence in the judgment 00:14:56.64\00:14:59.32 the confidence comes from the fact notice, 00:14:59.33\00:15:02.07 because in this world we are like him. 00:15:02.08\00:15:06.41 Now he just said a couple of minutes 00:15:06.42\00:15:09.44 before that, that God is love. 00:15:09.45\00:15:11.23 But he's really talking about is the fact 00:15:11.24\00:15:13.38 that the people of God have the character of love. 00:15:13.39\00:15:17.62 And so when we see in the context 00:15:17.63\00:15:20.98 of Revelation 14:7, the commands to Fear God 00:15:20.99\00:15:25.77 and to Give Him Glory, we see that 00:15:25.78\00:15:29.64 we not only are obedient to the commandments of God 00:15:29.65\00:15:32.98 because we have the fear of God in our hearts, 00:15:32.99\00:15:36.27 but we also give Him glory by reflecting his character. 00:15:36.28\00:15:40.46 And by keeping his commandments 00:15:40.47\00:15:42.15 and reflecting his character of love, 00:15:42.16\00:15:44.68 we are prepared for the judgment 00:15:44.69\00:15:48.02 and the judgment of course is good news for the saints. 00:15:48.03\00:15:51.63 The Book of Psalms also picks up this idea 00:15:51.64\00:15:54.37 about the judgment being good news for the people of God 00:15:54.38\00:15:59.56 and it's found in no other place 00:15:59.57\00:16:02.37 than right in the very beginning of the Book of Psalms 00:16:02.38\00:16:05.44 that is Psalms, Chapter 1. 00:16:05.45\00:16:07.91 And I can remember when I first discovered this principle 00:16:07.92\00:16:11.92 that the judgment is indeed good news for the people of God, 00:16:11.93\00:16:15.66 I can remember that I was really quite taken by it 00:16:15.67\00:16:19.22 and really desired to study it more. 00:16:19.23\00:16:22.46 You remember that in Psalms, Chapter 1, 00:16:22.47\00:16:25.62 David pronounces a blessing on people 00:16:25.63\00:16:28.02 that for instance don't walk in the council of the wicked 00:16:28.03\00:16:33.48 or stand in the way of sinners. 00:16:33.49\00:16:35.55 In verse 2, he says, 00:16:35.56\00:16:36.94 "But his delight is in the law of the Lord." 00:16:36.95\00:16:41.55 Now remember what Jesus said 00:16:41.56\00:16:42.87 about the law of God, somebody asked him a question once, 00:16:42.88\00:16:45.74 you know, they said, "Now, rabbi, tell us, 00:16:45.75\00:16:49.73 what's the most important commandment in the scriptures?" 00:16:49.74\00:16:54.64 And the Lord said, "You shall love the Lord 00:16:54.65\00:16:56.84 your God with all your heart, mind and soul." 00:16:56.85\00:17:00.02 And the second commandment is like it 00:17:00.03\00:17:01.61 you shall love your neighbor as yourself, 00:17:01.62\00:17:03.28 and then he said all the law 00:17:03.29\00:17:06.38 and the prophets hang on these two commandments. 00:17:06.39\00:17:12.10 So the ultimate essence if you will of the law of God 00:17:12.11\00:17:17.76 is to love God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. 00:17:17.77\00:17:20.94 That is in fact what righteousness is. 00:17:20.95\00:17:23.11 Righteousness in fact is love. 00:17:23.12\00:17:26.79 To be righteous is to have that law of love 00:17:26.80\00:17:29.95 in our hearts and minds and we'll see that in a minute. 00:17:29.96\00:17:32.87 Now let's go back to Psalms, Chapter 1, 00:17:32.88\00:17:34.52 notice what he says, 00:17:34.53\00:17:35.99 "His delight is in the law of the Lord, 00:17:36.00\00:17:39.70 and in his law he meditates day and night." 00:17:39.71\00:17:42.47 Now this person, who is righteous, 00:17:42.48\00:17:45.12 who meditates in the law of the Lord 00:17:45.13\00:17:48.84 further down in verse 5, he says the following, 00:17:48.85\00:17:52.55 "Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 00:17:52.56\00:17:57.21 nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous." 00:17:57.22\00:18:02.28 In other words, there is a judgment for the righteous 00:18:02.29\00:18:06.00 and there is a judgment for the wicked. 00:18:06.01\00:18:09.14 The judgment for the righteous is one that vindicates 00:18:09.15\00:18:12.32 the character of God that demonstrates 00:18:12.33\00:18:14.43 the character of God and in fact shows 00:18:14.44\00:18:18.50 that it is possible for people in human form to live 00:18:18.51\00:18:23.40 the same life that Jesus did by having the law of the Lord 00:18:23.41\00:18:27.38 written in his heart and mind. 00:18:27.39\00:18:28.57 And by the way, that is the definition of righteousness. 00:18:28.58\00:18:32.73 If we go over to, pardon me, to Isaiah, 00:18:32.74\00:18:37.26 and we look at Chapter 51, 00:18:37.27\00:18:42.38 we see a very interesting definition of righteousness 00:18:42.39\00:18:46.60 there in Chapter 51. 00:18:46.61\00:18:49.29 Notice what it says, "Hear me," 00:18:49.30\00:18:53.06 and the King James says, "Hearken unto me, 00:18:53.07\00:18:55.19 you who know righteousness," 00:18:55.20\00:18:57.89 verse 7, "the people in whose heart is my law." 00:18:57.92\00:19:03.63 You see that the definition of the righteous 00:19:03.64\00:19:06.40 are the people in whose heart is the law of God. 00:19:06.41\00:19:09.88 That's why when Jesus 00:19:09.89\00:19:12.36 at the last supper lifted the cup, 00:19:12.37\00:19:16.01 he said, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:19:16.02\00:19:20.77 And of course we know from the Book of Jeremiah 31, 00:19:20.78\00:19:28.34 this is the first place that the term new covenant 00:19:28.35\00:19:30.64 appears we know that God made a promise. 00:19:30.65\00:19:33.15 He said I will put my law in their minds 00:19:33.16\00:19:36.02 and write it in their hearts. 00:19:36.03\00:19:37.60 Jesus lifted the cup and the cup represented of course 00:19:37.61\00:19:41.61 the putting of the covenant into effect. 00:19:41.62\00:19:45.58 The ratification of the covenant as the book 00:19:45.59\00:19:49.20 "Desire of Ages" says. 00:19:49.21\00:19:50.83 In other words, by spilling his blood, 00:19:50.84\00:19:53.28 the covenant, the promise, 00:19:53.29\00:19:55.17 was put into effect that he would put his law, 00:19:55.18\00:19:57.94 his character of love, the law of love of course 00:19:57.95\00:20:00.87 is the ultimate law, He would put that law 00:20:00.88\00:20:03.83 in our minds and he would write it in our hearts. 00:20:03.84\00:20:06.66 When we have that law in our minds, 00:20:06.67\00:20:09.03 in other words on the front burner 00:20:09.04\00:20:11.90 and when we have that law written in our hearts, 00:20:11.91\00:20:15.20 the fruit of love springs spontaneously 00:20:15.21\00:20:18.55 from within and that is the essence of righteousness 00:20:18.56\00:20:22.24 and it is the essence of the plan of redemption 00:20:22.25\00:20:24.63 because the plan of redemption involves 00:20:24.64\00:20:27.43 a transfer of character from God to human beings, 00:20:27.44\00:20:31.52 the character of God being one of pure love. 00:20:31.53\00:20:35.07 And when we love God supremely 00:20:35.08\00:20:36.73 and our neighbor as ourselves, guess what? 00:20:36.74\00:20:40.14 We're fitted for heaven. 00:20:40.15\00:20:41.20 God doesn't have to do anything more to us 00:20:41.21\00:20:43.10 because we have His character, we're ready. 00:20:43.11\00:20:45.28 That's why John says, in 1 John 4, 00:20:45.29\00:20:48.48 he says, if you have the character of God, 00:20:48.49\00:20:52.49 you have no fear in the judgment. 00:20:52.50\00:20:53.91 If you've the love of the God in your heart, 00:20:53.92\00:20:56.15 you don't have to fear anything in the judgment 00:20:56.16\00:20:59.78 and that indeed is good news. 00:20:59.79\00:21:02.95 My favorite author puts it this way in the book, 00:21:02.96\00:21:06.21 "Christ's Object Lessons," 00:21:06.22\00:21:07.73 she says, "Character determines destiny." 00:21:07.74\00:21:13.66 Isn't that beautiful? Character determines destiny. 00:21:13.67\00:21:17.90 And it really does determine our destiny. 00:21:17.91\00:21:20.21 In fact, just to prove what I'm talking about. 00:21:20.22\00:21:23.33 Let's go over to Matthew 25, because in Matthew 25, 00:21:23.34\00:21:28.17 we find a very interesting declaration of how it is 00:21:28.18\00:21:33.71 that people will be accounted righteous or wicked. 00:21:33.72\00:21:38.45 And here in Matthew 25, it begins with verse 31. 00:21:38.46\00:21:44.44 Jesus told several parables to indicate 00:21:44.45\00:21:47.98 how things were going to rap up over time. 00:21:47.99\00:21:53.55 And at the end of the world I should say, not over time. 00:21:53.56\00:21:56.56 And this last parable that he told concerning the sheep 00:21:56.57\00:22:03.89 and the goats is a very, very interesting one 00:22:03.90\00:22:05.98 because what it does is it presents the judgment. 00:22:06.01\00:22:09.46 It shows us the criteria that God is going to use 00:22:09.47\00:22:13.91 to in fact make a judgment about 00:22:13.92\00:22:16.61 who spends eternity with him. 00:22:16.62\00:22:19.46 And here's what it says, 00:22:19.47\00:22:22.14 "When the son of man comes in his glory, 00:22:22.15\00:22:25.46 and all the angels with him, 00:22:25.47\00:22:27.01 he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 00:22:27.02\00:22:30.98 All the nations will be gathered before him" verse 32 " 00:22:30.99\00:22:34.79 and he will separate the people one from another." 00:22:34.80\00:22:40.29 Well, that indicates the work of judgment, 00:22:40.30\00:22:42.68 the final separation between the righteous 00:22:42.69\00:22:46.50 and the wicked doesn't it. 00:22:46.51\00:22:48.41 And notice the criteria that he will use to separate 00:22:48.42\00:22:52.03 the righteous from the wicked. 00:22:52.04\00:22:55.02 "He will separate the people from another, 00:22:55.03\00:22:57.49 one from another as a shepherd 00:22:57.50\00:22:59.90 separates the sheep from the goats. 00:22:59.91\00:23:03.09 He will put the sheep on his right 00:23:03.10\00:23:04.96 and the goats on his left," 00:23:04.97\00:23:07.32 all right sheep representing the righteous, 00:23:07.33\00:23:09.13 "Then the king will say to those on his right. 00:23:09.14\00:23:12.64 Come, you who are blessed of my father, 00:23:12.65\00:23:15.20 take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you 00:23:15.21\00:23:19.77 since the creation of the world. 00:23:19.78\00:23:23.11 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, 00:23:23.12\00:23:30.66 I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, 00:23:30.67\00:23:33.42 I was a stranger and you invited me in. 00:23:33.43\00:23:39.41 I needed clothes and you clothed me, 00:23:39.42\00:23:42.54 I was sick and you looked after me, 00:23:42.58\00:23:47.89 I was in prison and you came to visit me. 00:23:47.90\00:23:52.96 Then the righteous will answer, 00:23:52.97\00:23:54.59 Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty 00:23:54.60\00:23:58.11 and give you something to drink? 00:23:58.12\00:23:59.59 When did we see you a stranger 00:23:59.60\00:24:00.86 and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? 00:24:00.87\00:24:03.99 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? 00:24:04.00\00:24:07.92 The king replies, I tell you the truth, 00:24:07.93\00:24:11.04 whatever you did for one of the least of these 00:24:11.05\00:24:14.04 my brothers you did it for me." 00:24:14.05\00:24:19.65 And so, we see that this business of reflecting 00:24:19.66\00:24:25.63 the character of God, the compassion of God, 00:24:25.64\00:24:29.88 the love of God, the kindness, the mercy, 00:24:29.91\00:24:33.59 all these things are in fact the criteria for the judgment 00:24:33.60\00:24:39.10 and it is really the transfer of the character of God 00:24:39.11\00:24:42.70 from God himself to us. 00:24:42.71\00:24:44.66 This partaking of the divine nature that Peter talks about 00:24:44.67\00:24:49.16 that really is the bottom line in the judgment, isn't it? 00:24:49.17\00:24:52.73 It's really what will decide our destiny, 00:24:52.74\00:24:56.87 that's why the author of the book 00:24:56.88\00:24:59.24 Christ's Object Lessons says, 00:24:59.25\00:25:01.00 character--character determines destiny. 00:25:01.01\00:25:05.64 So as we go back to Revelation 14, 00:25:05.65\00:25:08.50 we see again that the judgment then, 00:25:08.55\00:25:11.36 the preparation for the judgment is the fear of God 00:25:11.40\00:25:13.83 and giving him glory. 00:25:13.84\00:25:15.61 Now it also says that we should worship him 00:25:15.62\00:25:17.58 who made the heavens, the earth, the seas, 00:25:17.59\00:25:19.14 and the springs of waters, 00:25:19.15\00:25:20.23 well, that's a very interesting thing. 00:25:20.24\00:25:22.30 You see, there are lots of people 00:25:22.31\00:25:24.67 that are worshipping God today, 00:25:24.68\00:25:26.94 but not everybody is worshipping God as the creator 00:25:26.95\00:25:31.12 and if you look at Exodus 20, 00:25:31.16\00:25:33.85 the reason for giving us the commandment to worship God, 00:25:33.86\00:25:38.07 there in Exodus 20, we find that it really talks about God 00:25:38.08\00:25:41.63 as the creator, it gives the reason 00:25:41.64\00:25:44.20 for paying attention to the Sabbath commandment. 00:25:44.21\00:25:48.59 It mentions the fact that God created the heavens 00:25:48.60\00:25:52.19 and the earth and rested on the seventh day, 00:25:52.20\00:25:55.36 so this declaration, this command to worship him 00:25:55.37\00:26:00.69 who made the heavens, the earth, the seas, 00:26:00.70\00:26:02.57 and the fountains of waters is really something 00:26:02.58\00:26:05.51 that goes right back to the law of God, 00:26:05.52\00:26:08.01 the character of God, and the transfer of 00:26:08.02\00:26:10.73 that character to us as human beings. 00:26:10.74\00:26:13.74 So, in conclusion as we look at Revelation 14 again, 00:26:13.75\00:26:18.23 and as we see the three parts of the eternal gospel 00:26:18.24\00:26:22.99 the preparation for the judgment that is, 00:26:23.00\00:26:26.55 to fear God and give him glory. 00:26:26.56\00:26:29.65 We remember then that this involves 00:26:29.66\00:26:32.47 the transfer of character to human beings. 00:26:32.48\00:26:35.72 The love of God is to be in the heart 00:26:35.73\00:26:38.21 according to the new covenant commandment. 00:26:38.22\00:26:40.90 And that these two things the fear of God 00:26:40.91\00:26:44.98 and the glory of God prepare us 00:26:44.99\00:26:48.17 in fact to be declared eternally righteous 00:26:48.18\00:26:51.97 and eternally beyond the reach of Satan forever. 00:26:51.98\00:26:55.70 Worshipping him as the one who made the heavens, 00:26:55.71\00:26:59.45 the earth, the seas, and the fountains of waters 00:26:59.46\00:27:03.07 is also a part of the eternal gospel. 00:27:03.08\00:27:06.00 Some people of course would say 00:27:06.01\00:27:07.53 that worship really has nothing to do with the gospel. 00:27:07.54\00:27:11.69 But apparently, in this declaration of the gospel 00:27:11.70\00:27:14.82 and it is the very last declaration of the gospel, 00:27:14.83\00:27:18.01 we find that worship is very, very important, 00:27:18.02\00:27:21.21 in fact in Revelation rather in Isaiah 66, 00:27:21.22\00:27:25.10 it talks about the fact that one of the things 00:27:25.11\00:27:27.70 that human beings will do when the earth is new 00:27:27.71\00:27:30.92 it says all flesh will come to worship before me, 00:27:30.93\00:27:36.51 so worship is going to be a very, very important part 00:27:36.52\00:27:39.92 of what we--a very important action of what 00:27:39.93\00:27:42.74 we do when the earth is made new. 00:27:42.75\00:27:46.01 And that's why I believe it is included 00:27:46.02\00:27:49.57 in what we now recognize as the last declaration 00:27:49.58\00:27:53.62 of the eternal gospel to prepare us 00:27:53.63\00:27:56.25 for the judgment and for God's kingdom. 00:27:56.26\00:27:58.63