Lecture number nine is
titled Michael Shall Stand Up
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which is a phrase that comes
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which we will study
Lord willing this evening.
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But before we
get into our study,
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we want to ask for the
Lord's special blessing.
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And so I invite you
to bow your heads with me
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as we pray.
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Father in heaven, as
we study about the events
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that will transpire
after the close of probation
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and before the
second coming of Christ.
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We ask for the
presence of Your Holy Spirit.
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Lord, we know that
trying times are ahead,
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but at the same
time we're certain
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that God's people
will be delivered.
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Everyone who is
written in the book.
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So I ask that
You will encourage us
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with what we study this evening.
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And that you
will also be with us
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as we conclude this series
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with Your glorious
deliverance tomorrow.
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We thank You Father
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for the promise
of Your presence,
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and we ask this in the
precious name of Jesus.
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Amen.
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The Seventh-day Adventist Church
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holds some unique
beliefs that as far as I know
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are not held by any
other Christian denomination.
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One of those beliefs
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that the Seventh-day
Adventist Church holds
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which is unique is the doctrine
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of the pre-advent
investigative judgment
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in which Jesus examines
the case of every single person
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who has claimed the
name of Jesus Christ,
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beginning with Adam and
ending with a last person
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when the
investigative judgment closes.
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Now this judgment actually
is composed of three stages
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like the judgments on earth.
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First of all,
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you have an
investigation of the evidence.
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Isn't that true
that in earthly judgments
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we have an investigation
of the evidence first.
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Absolutely.
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The second stage of
the judgment is the verdict
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that is proclaimed
based on the evidence.
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And of course,
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the verdict can be
guilty or not guilty.
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And then in the third place
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we have the
execution of the verdict.
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In other words,
the implementation
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of the verdict that
was given at the conclusion
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of the investigation.
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Now, there is one
link in the prophetic chain
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that we have not
taken a look at yet,
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and the reason why is
because this particular link
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in the chain is an event
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that takes place not
on earth but in heaven.
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Now, let's review first
of all the prophetic chain
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and you'll see
that all of the events
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that we have
described transpire on earth.
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You have Babylon, Medo-Persia,
Greece, the Roman Empire,
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the divisions of
the Roman Empire,
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the little horn for
1260 years, the deadly wound,
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the beast that
rises from the earth
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representing the United States.
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The inactivity of the
papacy for over 200 years
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and then the
healing of the wound.
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All of these are events
that transpire on earth.
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But the one link
that we have not studied
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that transpires in heaven
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is found in Daniel 7:9 and 10
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and then we will read
also verses 13 and 14,
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verse 18 and verses 21 and 22.
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Now, you say why are you
jumping over other verses?
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Simply because of the time,
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we don't have the time to
study everything in between.
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And what I want
you to understand
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is that these three
stages of the judgment
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in these verses.
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Now, let's read
Daniel 7:9 and 10.
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And by the way,
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the historical
context of this is immediately
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after the little
horn rules for 1260 years.
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In other words, this
event is taking place
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after the 1260 year
dominion of the little horn.
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Now, if we had
time, I would show you
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that this judgment
actually begins in 1844.
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But for that we would
have to study Daniel 8:14
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on to 2300 days
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and the
sanctuary will be cleansed.
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But we don't have
time to study that
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so what I want
you to remember now
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is that this
judgment takes place
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after the little horn
has ruled for 1260 years.
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Now, notice Daniel 7:9,
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"I watched till
thrones were put in place,
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and the Ancient
of Days was seated."
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Who is the Ancient of Days?
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It is God the Father.
Where does God the Father live?
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In heaven.
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We pray our Father
which are in heaven.
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So where is this taking place?
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In heaven.
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"I watched till
thrones were put in place,
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and the Ancient
of Days was seated."
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So that's
interesting he was seated,
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he must not have been seated
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on that particular throne before
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because He sits down.
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Now comes a description
of the Ancient of Days.
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"His garment was white as snow
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and the hair of His
head was like pure wool.
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His throne was a fiery flame,
its wheels a burning fire,
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a fiery stream, issued and
came forth from before Him.
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A thousand
thousands ministered to Him,
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ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him."
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Who are those?
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The angels. Where
do the angels live?
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In heaven where
the Ancient of Days is.
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This is taking place in heaven.
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And then notice the
last part of verse 10.
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"The court was seated,
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and the books were opened."
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So are you understanding this?
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If you read the previous verses,
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verse 8 you'll find
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that it's after the little
horn has ruled for 1260 years.
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That's when this
judgment takes place.
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And so it says
the court is seated
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and the books are opened.
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Why are the books opened?
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Because it's gonna be an
investigation of the cases
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of all of those who
have professed the name
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of Jesus Christ.
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Let me ask you,
did those who belonged
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to the little horn system claim
to believe in Jesus Christ?
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Yes, because it
is a counterfeit,
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apostate
religious Christian system.
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Are you with me or not?
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So definitely the little
horn is a Christian system
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that professes to serve Christ.
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Now, I want you to
notice that the judgment sits,
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the Ancient of Days sits,
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the books are
opened to be examined
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and now verse 13 and verse 14
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says something very interesting.
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The Father has moved
but now another person
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is gonna move to
where the father moved.
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By the way the place
is the most holy place.
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Verse 13 says,
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"I was watching
in the night visions,
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and behold, One
like the Son of Man,
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coming with the
clouds of heaven!"
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What are the clouds of heaven?
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The angels, very
well. Where does he come to?
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Does he come to earth,
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is this the
second coming of Jesus?
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No, it says He came
to the Ancient of Days.
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Where would that be?
In heaven, very well.
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"And they brought
Him near before Him."
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Who is they brought him?
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The clouds, the
angels, that's right.
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So it says,
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"And they brought
Him near before Him."
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Then and now why
does he go there?
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Why does the Son go
to where the Father is?
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Notice verse 14,
then to Him, to whom?
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To the Son of Man,
and who is the Son of Man?
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Jesus, to him was given.
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So somebody else, who
is giving this to Him?
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God, the Father.
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So it says, To him was given
dominion and glory and what?
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A kingdom.
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So why does Jesus go
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into the presence of
the Father in heaven?
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He goes to receive what?
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The kingdom, His Father
is going to give Him what?
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The kingdom.
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In other words, the
judgment has something to do
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with giving Jesus the kingdom.
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And then notice
what it continue saying
00:09:06.71\00:09:08.44
verse 14 again,
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"Then to him was
given dominion and glory
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and a kingdom that
all peoples, nations,
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and languages should serve Him.
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His dominion is an
everlasting dominion,
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which shall not
pass away, and His what?
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His kingdom the one
which shall not be destroyed."
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But now comes a
very interesting detail.
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The kingdom is given to Jesus
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but then Jesus gives it to
the saints of the Most High.
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Notice what we find in verse 18,
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it says there in verse 18,
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"But the saints of the Most High
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shall receive what?
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Shall receive the
kingdom, and shall what?
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Possess the kingdom
forever, even forever and ever."
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And then notice verse
21, and this is a repetition
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of what we already
noticed in verses 13 and 14.
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It says, I was
watching, and the same horn
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was making war
against the saints,
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and prevailing against them,
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until the Ancient of Days what?
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Came and a
judgment was made, how?
00:10:19.51\00:10:24.49
In favor of whom? The
saints of the Most High.
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Where is this
judgment taking place
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where the judgment is
given in favor of the saints?
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In heaven.
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But now notice what it says
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and the time came for the saints
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to possess the kingdom.
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Are you understanding
what this is saying?
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There are three
stages here in these verses.
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Number one: The judgment sits,
the heavenly books are opened
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and all those who have
professed the name of Jesus
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pass and review in
the heavenly judgment.
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Then you have the
examination comes to an end
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and the kingdom
is given to whom?
00:11:04.43\00:11:07.80
The kingdom is given to Jesus.
Did you catch that or not?
00:11:07.83\00:11:11.43
The kingdom is given to Jesus
00:11:11.47\00:11:13.64
and then finally the subjects
of the kingdom receive what?
00:11:13.67\00:11:20.01
Receive the kingdom.
00:11:20.04\00:11:21.64
Now Ellen White understood this.
00:11:21.68\00:11:24.08
We need to
understand what the kingdom is.
00:11:24.11\00:11:26.35
You know, usually we
understand the kingdom
00:11:26.38\00:11:28.82
as being a
geographical location.
00:11:28.85\00:11:31.79
We say, well, this
world will be Christ kingdom,
00:11:31.82\00:11:35.29
but really the
kingdom is composed
00:11:35.32\00:11:38.49
of those who are saved.
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The subjects of the
kingdom are the kingdom.
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And let me ask you, how
is it that Jesus determines
00:11:46.13\00:11:49.47
who is a subject of His kingdom.
00:11:49.50\00:11:52.24
It's done during what?
00:11:52.27\00:11:54.54
During the
investigative judgment.
00:11:54.58\00:11:57.18
When the last case is decided,
00:11:57.21\00:11:59.21
is the kingdom of Jesus made up.
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Yes, because he's
revealed who to the last person
00:12:02.08\00:12:06.65
is a subject of His kingdom
or belongs to His kingdom.
00:12:06.69\00:12:11.33
Notice how Ellen White
understood this very clearly
00:12:11.36\00:12:14.03
in the book Early
Writings, page 280.
00:12:14.06\00:12:18.23
She's talking about the
moment when probation closes,
00:12:18.27\00:12:20.90
the last case is examined.
00:12:20.94\00:12:23.41
Every case had been
decided for life or death.
00:12:23.44\00:12:28.34
While Jesus had been
ministering in the sanctuary,
00:12:28.38\00:12:32.35
the judgment that's the...
00:12:32.38\00:12:33.92
I added the word investigating
because that's the context.
00:12:33.95\00:12:36.92
The investigative judgment
had been going on for whom?
00:12:36.95\00:12:41.76
For the wicked. No, no, no.
00:12:41.79\00:12:43.89
You say, why does a judgment
before the second coming
00:12:43.93\00:12:46.83
only examine the
cases of the righteous.
00:12:46.86\00:12:48.86
It's very simple
because when Jesus comes,
00:12:48.90\00:12:51.60
He's gonna take the
righteous to heaven,
00:12:51.63\00:12:53.44
so He has to reveal
before who has a right to take.
00:12:53.47\00:12:57.14
Are you with me?
00:12:57.17\00:12:58.51
Does He have to
do that with wicked,
00:12:58.54\00:13:00.21
because the wicked
aren't gonna be taken.
00:13:00.24\00:13:02.08
They can be examined
during the millennium
00:13:02.11\00:13:04.25
and after the millennium
00:13:04.28\00:13:05.61
because they're not
gonna be taken to heaven
00:13:05.65\00:13:07.15
when Jesus comes.
00:13:07.18\00:13:08.58
But the righteous
have to be examined before
00:13:08.62\00:13:10.82
because Jesus has to
reveal before the universe
00:13:10.85\00:13:13.59
who He has a
right to take to heaven
00:13:13.62\00:13:15.79
when He comes back.
00:13:15.82\00:13:17.29
So notice what
she continue saying,
00:13:17.33\00:13:18.79
"Every case had been
decided for life or death.
00:13:18.83\00:13:21.53
While Jesus had been
ministering in the sanctuary,
00:13:21.56\00:13:24.10
the judgment had been
going on for the righteous dead,
00:13:24.13\00:13:27.50
and then for the
righteous living."
00:13:27.54\00:13:29.80
And now notice
what Ellen White writes.
00:13:29.84\00:13:32.87
Christ had received His what?
00:13:32.91\00:13:36.48
His kingdom.
00:13:36.51\00:13:37.85
Now you say what does that mean,
00:13:37.88\00:13:39.21
Christ had received His kingdom.
00:13:39.25\00:13:40.58
Well, she's gonna explain.
00:13:40.62\00:13:42.38
"Having made the
atonement for His people
00:13:42.42\00:13:44.85
and blotted out their sins."
00:13:44.89\00:13:46.42
Now listen to the explanation.
00:13:46.45\00:13:48.26
"The subjects of the
kingdom were made up."
00:13:48.29\00:13:52.23
So what does that mean
that Jesus receives the kingdom?
00:13:52.26\00:13:55.30
It means that the
subjects of His kingdom
00:13:55.33\00:13:58.10
have been made up.
00:13:58.13\00:13:59.47
It's been revealed who is
truly a subject of Jesus Christ.
00:13:59.50\00:14:04.27
How many of you are
understanding what I'm saying.
00:14:04.31\00:14:05.87
Raise your hand
00:14:05.91\00:14:07.24
if you
understand what I'm saying.
00:14:07.28\00:14:08.61
Praise the Lord, at
least half of you understood.
00:14:08.64\00:14:12.25
She continues writing,
00:14:12.28\00:14:14.22
"The marriage of the
Lamb was consummated.
00:14:14.25\00:14:16.75
And the kingdom,
00:14:16.79\00:14:18.12
and the greatness of the kingdom
00:14:18.15\00:14:19.85
under the whole
heaven, was given to whom?
00:14:19.89\00:14:23.83
Was given to Jesus,"
00:14:23.86\00:14:25.19
she's just
commenting on Daniel 7
00:14:25.23\00:14:27.30
and the heirs of salvation,
and Jesus was to reign as what?
00:14:27.33\00:14:33.07
As King of kings
and Lord of lords."
00:14:33.10\00:14:37.87
So are you
understanding why the Father sat
00:14:37.91\00:14:41.34
and why the books were opened.
00:14:41.38\00:14:42.88
Whose cases are
gonna be examined?
00:14:42.91\00:14:44.98
All those who professed
the name of Jesus Christ
00:14:45.01\00:14:47.58
beginning with those who died,
00:14:47.62\00:14:49.78
it continue with the dead
and it ends with the living.
00:14:49.82\00:14:52.89
Whenever a case has
been finally decided,
00:14:52.92\00:14:55.49
the kingdom of Jesus is made up.
00:14:55.52\00:14:58.23
And now, three events take place
00:14:58.26\00:15:00.90
once the kingdom is made up.
00:15:00.93\00:15:04.07
Three successive
events transpire.
00:15:04.10\00:15:07.30
Number one: The
close of human probation.
00:15:07.34\00:15:11.97
When every case
has been examined
00:15:12.01\00:15:14.08
for life or for death of those
who profess the name of Jesus
00:15:14.11\00:15:17.58
probation closes.
00:15:17.61\00:15:18.95
There is no more opportunity
00:15:18.98\00:15:21.48
for the
unrighteous to become righteous
00:15:21.52\00:15:23.49
or for the righteous
to become unrighteous.
00:15:23.52\00:15:25.92
Every case is
decided for eternity.
00:15:25.95\00:15:29.46
And then after
probation closes you have what?
00:15:29.49\00:15:34.03
You have the time of trouble
00:15:34.06\00:15:35.76
such as never has been seen
in the history of the world.
00:15:35.80\00:15:39.00
Will God's people be on earth
during the time of trouble?
00:15:39.03\00:15:43.14
All of those who were
found worthy to be saved,
00:15:43.17\00:15:45.84
will they be on earth?
00:15:45.87\00:15:47.21
They will
definitely be on earth,
00:15:47.24\00:15:48.91
and we're gonna show that.
00:15:48.94\00:15:50.35
And then after the tribulation,
00:15:50.38\00:15:53.11
after the great tribulation
or the time of trouble,
00:15:53.15\00:15:55.75
Jesus will come from heaven
and He will deliver His people.
00:15:55.78\00:16:00.16
So, three successive
events after the close of...
00:16:00.19\00:16:03.29
after every case
has been decided.
00:16:03.32\00:16:05.36
The close of
probation, the time of trouble
00:16:05.39\00:16:08.53
and the second
coming of Jesus Christ
00:16:08.56\00:16:11.07
to rescue His people.
00:16:11.10\00:16:13.47
And I might say that the
idea that probation closes
00:16:13.50\00:16:17.87
before the
second coming of Jesus
00:16:17.91\00:16:20.41
is another one of
those unique beliefs
00:16:20.44\00:16:23.48
of the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:16:23.51\00:16:25.88
You see what most
Christian churches believe,
00:16:25.91\00:16:27.78
at least conservative churches
is that Jesus is gonna come
00:16:27.82\00:16:31.22
seven years before
His glorious coming,
00:16:31.25\00:16:33.62
He's gonna come
00:16:33.66\00:16:34.99
and He's gonna
rapture away the church.
00:16:35.02\00:16:38.49
And He is gonna take
the righteous to heaven
00:16:38.53\00:16:40.90
for a thousand year...
00:16:40.93\00:16:42.26
for seven years, and
then after the seven years,
00:16:42.30\00:16:45.63
Jesus is gonna come back
with the saints that He took
00:16:45.67\00:16:49.97
and He's going to
destroy those individuals
00:16:50.01\00:16:53.71
who were contrary
or against His kingdom
00:16:53.74\00:16:56.41
and He's gonna set up
His millennial kingdom
00:16:56.44\00:17:00.18
here on earth.
00:17:00.22\00:17:02.58
You see there is no other church
00:17:02.62\00:17:04.12
that I know of that believes
00:17:04.15\00:17:05.49
that probation will
close before Jesus comes,
00:17:05.52\00:17:09.79
and there are very few churches
00:17:09.82\00:17:11.43
that believe
that the people of God
00:17:11.46\00:17:14.36
will go through the tribulation
after the close of probation
00:17:14.40\00:17:18.47
before the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:17:18.50\00:17:22.24
Now, in our study today,
00:17:22.27\00:17:23.61
we are going to
look at several snapshots
00:17:23.64\00:17:27.38
of the close of
probation, the time of trouble,
00:17:27.41\00:17:31.18
and the final
deliverance of God's people.
00:17:31.21\00:17:35.38
Where we want to go first
00:17:35.42\00:17:37.02
is to the story in
the Book of Genesis,
00:17:37.05\00:17:39.45
because this
establishes the pattern
00:17:39.49\00:17:42.22
to understand these
three points of time.
00:17:42.26\00:17:45.93
The closing of
probation, the time of trouble
00:17:45.96\00:17:50.00
and the glorious deliverance.
00:17:50.03\00:17:53.34
Now, we all know
that before the flood,
00:17:53.37\00:17:56.87
God called Noah to
preach a message of judgment.
00:17:56.91\00:18:02.38
Noah preached
for how many years?
00:18:02.41\00:18:04.71
He preached for 120 years.
00:18:04.75\00:18:09.02
Was His message accompanied
00:18:09.05\00:18:10.75
by the power of the Holy Spirit?
00:18:10.79\00:18:12.95
Yes.
00:18:12.99\00:18:14.32
Because in Genesis 6:3 God says,
00:18:14.36\00:18:16.46
"My Spirit shall not
always strive with men,
00:18:16.49\00:18:20.16
but it is going to
strive with men 120 years."
00:18:20.20\00:18:24.13
So the message of
Noah was accompanying
00:18:24.17\00:18:26.90
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:18:26.94\00:18:29.77
So Noah preached 120
years. Let me ask you.
00:18:29.80\00:18:34.01
During this period,
could people choose to be saved
00:18:34.04\00:18:38.58
and could people
choose to be lost?
00:18:38.61\00:18:40.22
Absolutely.
00:18:40.25\00:18:41.58
So was it a
message of separation
00:18:41.62\00:18:43.39
or a message of judgment
00:18:43.42\00:18:44.85
depending on how the people
responded to Noah's message.
00:18:44.89\00:18:48.59
Absolutely, it was
a message of judgment.
00:18:48.62\00:18:52.83
People decided
either for the truth
00:18:52.86\00:18:55.33
or against the truth.
00:18:55.36\00:18:58.60
And then Noah stood
at the door of the ark,
00:18:58.63\00:19:00.87
his family was in the
ark and for the last time
00:19:00.90\00:19:05.01
I can imagine him
standing at the door,
00:19:05.04\00:19:07.08
all of the animals were in
that huge transatlantic ship
00:19:07.11\00:19:11.71
and Noah makes one last appeal,
00:19:11.75\00:19:13.72
he says folks those
inside are gonna be saved,
00:19:13.75\00:19:17.39
those outside are gonna
be destroyed by the flood.
00:19:17.42\00:19:21.09
Please take refuge in the ark.
00:19:21.12\00:19:24.63
And the pleas of Noah
were met with ridicule.
00:19:24.66\00:19:31.60
And so I want you to notice
00:19:31.63\00:19:34.10
that three very important
events then transpired.
00:19:34.14\00:19:40.41
Point number one
is in Genesis 7:16.
00:19:40.44\00:19:43.78
See that Genesis
gives us the pattern
00:19:43.81\00:19:46.11
for the rest of the Bible.
00:19:46.15\00:19:47.82
Genesis 7:16,
speaking about the animals
00:19:47.85\00:19:52.29
it says, "So those that entered,
00:19:52.32\00:19:57.26
male and female of all flesh,
00:19:57.29\00:20:00.73
went in as God
had commanded him,"
00:20:00.76\00:20:03.70
and now comes the key phrase,
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.77
"and the Lord shut him in."
00:20:05.80\00:20:10.81
Who shut the door?
00:20:10.84\00:20:12.97
Let me ask you
when the door was shut,
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.64
were all cases
decided for life or death.
00:20:14.68\00:20:18.48
Could those inside change
00:20:18.51\00:20:20.18
to be wicked like those outside?
00:20:20.22\00:20:21.55
No.
00:20:21.58\00:20:22.92
Could the one
outside choose to get inside?
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.42
No.
00:20:24.45\00:20:25.79
All cases were decided
when the door was shut,
00:20:25.82\00:20:29.22
the saved were saved
and the lost were lost.
00:20:29.26\00:20:34.00
But now we have a second point.
00:20:34.03\00:20:36.77
Did it begin to rain immediately
00:20:36.80\00:20:39.47
when the door closed?
00:20:39.50\00:20:40.97
No, how many days went by
00:20:41.00\00:20:43.37
between when the door was closed
00:20:43.41\00:20:44.77
and when it started to rain.
00:20:44.81\00:20:46.64
Seven full days,
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.01
actually it started
raining on the eighth day
00:20:48.04\00:20:50.85
because seven full days passed.
00:20:50.88\00:20:54.08
Now, let me ask you.
00:20:54.12\00:20:55.45
Do you think that the
faith of Noah and his family
00:20:55.48\00:20:58.35
was tried during
those seven days?
00:20:58.39\00:21:02.16
Absolutely, undoubtedly
one day passes, no rain,
00:21:02.19\00:21:05.26
two days, three days,
four days, five days, six days,
00:21:05.29\00:21:09.00
seven days, no rain, clear sky.
00:21:09.03\00:21:13.60
Let me ask you.
00:21:13.64\00:21:14.97
How do you suppose
the enemies of Noah
00:21:15.00\00:21:17.11
and his family
acted outside the ark
00:21:17.14\00:21:19.41
for each day that passed?
00:21:19.44\00:21:21.18
Each day they became
more and more violent,
00:21:21.21\00:21:23.91
the enemies of
Noah and his family.
00:21:23.95\00:21:26.95
So during these seven
days the faith of Noah
00:21:26.98\00:21:29.48
and his family
is severely tested,
00:21:29.52\00:21:31.95
and those outside the ark,
00:21:31.99\00:21:33.99
the enemies become more
and more violent each day.
00:21:34.02\00:21:39.36
But then after
the seven days passed,
00:21:39.39\00:21:43.50
on the eighth day,
early on the eighth day
00:21:43.53\00:21:47.00
what happens with the wicked?
00:21:47.04\00:21:50.81
The wicked are destroyed
and God's people are delivered.
00:21:50.84\00:21:56.98
Are you with me or not?
00:21:57.01\00:21:58.71
So what are the
three points of time?
00:21:58.75\00:22:00.85
The closing of the door,
the testing of the faith,
00:22:00.88\00:22:05.42
the day of
victory for the wicked,
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.92
but finally the
wicked are destroyed
00:22:07.96\00:22:11.33
and the righteous are saved.
00:22:11.36\00:22:15.30
Now, I would like us
to go to the application
00:22:15.33\00:22:19.57
that Jesus gave of this story.
00:22:19.60\00:22:22.50
Let's go to Matthew 24:37-39,
00:22:22.54\00:22:26.94
Matthew 24:37-39.
00:22:26.98\00:22:31.35
You see Jesus drew a parallel
00:22:31.38\00:22:33.25
between what
happen in the days of Noah
00:22:33.28\00:22:35.48
and what is gonna
happen at the end of time.
00:22:35.52\00:22:38.75
Here Jesus explains,
"But as the days of Noah were,
00:22:38.79\00:22:44.59
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:22:44.63\00:22:47.46
Do you see that he's
comparing two events,
00:22:47.50\00:22:49.76
as it was in the
days of Noah back then,
00:22:49.80\00:22:52.37
it's gonna be like that
00:22:52.40\00:22:54.00
at the coming of the Son of Man.
00:22:54.04\00:22:56.44
"For as in the
days before the flood,
00:22:56.47\00:22:59.24
they were eating and drinking,
00:22:59.27\00:23:01.38
marrying and
giving in marriage,"
00:23:01.41\00:23:03.58
and now comes a
very important time alert
00:23:03.61\00:23:06.25
"until the day that Noah what?
00:23:06.28\00:23:10.25
Entered the ark."
00:23:10.29\00:23:11.62
So the first point of time,
00:23:11.65\00:23:13.15
the first until marks the moment
00:23:13.19\00:23:14.72
when Noah what?
00:23:14.76\00:23:16.12
Entered the ark.
00:23:16.16\00:23:17.83
But now, I want you to notice
something very interesting,
00:23:17.86\00:23:20.10
so it says until the day
that Noah entered the ark
00:23:20.13\00:23:23.67
and did not know
until the flood came
00:23:23.70\00:23:29.37
and took them all away.
00:23:29.40\00:23:31.47
Let me ask you,
what didn't wicked know
00:23:31.51\00:23:34.28
between when the door closed
and when it started to rain.
00:23:34.31\00:23:39.11
They did not know
that when the door closed
00:23:39.15\00:23:41.98
they were lost.
00:23:42.02\00:23:46.02
So Jesus says as
it was back then,
00:23:46.05\00:23:49.19
Noah enter the
ark, seven days pass
00:23:49.22\00:23:53.93
where the wicked
don't know that they're lost
00:23:53.96\00:23:57.33
but then destruction comes
00:23:57.37\00:23:59.63
and they realize
that they're what?
00:23:59.67\00:24:02.04
That they are lost
and Jesus ends by saying,
00:24:02.07\00:24:04.61
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.
00:24:04.64\00:24:07.31
Is it just
possible that the door
00:24:07.34\00:24:09.04
of probation for
the world is gonna close
00:24:09.08\00:24:11.55
before the second
coming of Jesus Christ
00:24:11.58\00:24:14.22
to destroy the wicked?
00:24:14.25\00:24:15.95
Absolutely, Jesus
is saying it here.
00:24:15.98\00:24:20.39
Now let me give
you another comparison
00:24:20.42\00:24:21.89
so that we can
understand this even better.
00:24:21.92\00:24:24.36
Jesus explained
that He was gonna come
00:24:24.39\00:24:26.59
as a thief in the night.
00:24:26.63\00:24:29.90
You've read those verses, right?
00:24:29.93\00:24:31.70
A thief in the night.
00:24:31.73\00:24:33.67
Now, how many stages does
the coming of the thief have?
00:24:33.70\00:24:39.44
Really when you look at
it carefully, it has two.
00:24:39.47\00:24:42.78
Let's suppose
00:24:42.81\00:24:44.15
that it's one of those cold days
00:24:44.18\00:24:46.45
in Fresno in December,
you know, when lots of fog,
00:24:46.48\00:24:51.32
that penetrating cold,
and you know you get home,
00:24:51.35\00:24:55.36
you've worked real hard all day
and you sit in your easy chair,
00:24:55.39\00:24:59.93
you know, to watch the news
and then you have a good supper
00:24:59.96\00:25:03.06
and you say, I think
I'll go to bed early tonight,
00:25:03.10\00:25:05.23
so you go to bed and, you know,
00:25:05.27\00:25:08.57
you turn down the thermostat
and you're under the cover
00:25:08.60\00:25:10.94
that's nice and warm,
00:25:10.97\00:25:12.87
and when you're
under the cover you say,
00:25:12.91\00:25:14.41
oh, no I forgot
to lock the door.
00:25:14.44\00:25:19.65
Ah, it's so nice and
warm under these covers,
00:25:19.68\00:25:21.82
I hate to get up, I
turn the thermostat down.
00:25:21.85\00:25:25.29
I lived in this
house for 25 years
00:25:25.32\00:25:28.29
and the thief has never come.
00:25:28.32\00:25:31.79
He not gonna come
tonight and so you go to sleep.
00:25:31.83\00:25:37.27
Lo and behold, at
midnight the thief comes,
00:25:37.30\00:25:43.41
finds the door
unlocked and goes into the house
00:25:43.44\00:25:48.24
and steals whatever he can find.
00:25:48.28\00:25:50.95
Are those inside the house
aware that the thief has come?
00:25:50.98\00:25:54.88
No, because they're what?
00:25:54.92\00:25:56.25
They're not
watching, they are sleeping.
00:25:56.28\00:25:58.82
Let me ask you,
00:25:58.85\00:26:00.19
when do they discover
that the thief has come?
00:26:00.22\00:26:03.83
In the morning but
then it's too late.
00:26:03.86\00:26:07.70
The same will
happen at the end of time.
00:26:07.73\00:26:10.97
Probation will close,
Jesus will come like a thief.
00:26:11.00\00:26:15.50
Coming like a thief
is not the second coming.
00:26:15.54\00:26:18.27
Coming like a thief
00:26:18.31\00:26:19.77
is the closing of
the door of probation.
00:26:19.81\00:26:22.21
What's gonna happen
00:26:22.24\00:26:23.58
with the majority of
the people in the world,
00:26:23.61\00:26:25.01
even Christians,
they're gonna be what?
00:26:25.05\00:26:27.58
They're gonna be sleeping
because they were not watching.
00:26:27.62\00:26:31.39
When will they
discover that they're lost,
00:26:31.42\00:26:34.46
it's only when Jesus
comes in the clouds of heaven
00:26:34.49\00:26:37.03
and they realize
that they're lost.
00:26:37.06\00:26:39.66
But probation close for them
00:26:39.69\00:26:41.76
before the
second coming of Jesus.
00:26:41.80\00:26:44.30
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:26:44.33\00:26:46.40
And so we have these
three points of time,
00:26:46.43\00:26:51.17
the closing of the
door, the time of trouble,
00:26:51.21\00:26:54.84
and then the
destruction of the wicked
00:26:54.88\00:26:57.35
and the
salvation of the righteous.
00:26:57.38\00:27:01.02
So we have several
common denominators
00:27:01.05\00:27:03.85
in the stories that
we are going to study.
00:27:03.89\00:27:07.19
Let's review the common
denominators in the story
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.29
that we just looked
at, the story of Noah.
00:27:10.33\00:27:13.63
Was there a faithful
remnant in the days of Noah?
00:27:13.66\00:27:17.47
Who was the remnant?
00:27:17.50\00:27:19.47
Noah, right? Did
Noah have enemies?
00:27:19.50\00:27:25.21
Yes, the enemies who
made fun of his preaching.
00:27:25.24\00:27:30.15
Let me ask you,
did Noah and his family
00:27:30.18\00:27:32.41
have a severe time
of anguish in the ark?
00:27:32.45\00:27:38.15
Was their faith severely tested
during the time of trouble?
00:27:38.19\00:27:42.96
Absolutely.
00:27:42.99\00:27:45.26
Did God
delivered them immediately
00:27:45.29\00:27:47.26
or was there a delay?
00:27:47.30\00:27:49.33
There was a delay,
00:27:49.36\00:27:50.70
but were they
finally delivered by God?
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.90
Yes, so notice the
common denominators
00:27:53.94\00:27:56.20
because we'll find
these in all of the stories
00:27:56.24\00:27:58.71
that we're gonna study
00:27:58.74\00:28:00.08
that illustrate
these points of time,
00:28:00.11\00:28:02.14
a faithful remnant,
enemies of the remnant,
00:28:02.18\00:28:05.01
a time of trouble and
anguish for the remnant,
00:28:05.05\00:28:07.78
the faith of the remnant tested,
00:28:07.82\00:28:10.09
the remnant not
immediately delivered,
00:28:10.12\00:28:12.19
there is a delay and finally
00:28:12.22\00:28:14.49
the remnant is delivered
by God after the delay.
00:28:14.52\00:28:19.53
Now, we need to go to that verse
00:28:19.56\00:28:22.26
which we have on the
screen Michel shall stand up.
00:28:22.30\00:28:26.90
Go with me to Daniel 12:1.
00:28:26.94\00:28:30.44
I need to give you a little
bit of the previous context.
00:28:30.47\00:28:34.24
The previous
context speaks of a power
00:28:34.28\00:28:36.64
that is called
the king of the north.
00:28:36.68\00:28:39.41
And the king of
the north is coming
00:28:39.45\00:28:41.65
to destroy God's people,
00:28:41.68\00:28:44.25
to destroy
God's faithful people.
00:28:44.29\00:28:46.25
That's the context.
00:28:46.29\00:28:48.02
Now this power is
called the king of the north
00:28:48.06\00:28:49.92
in Daniel 11,
but it's a same power
00:28:49.96\00:28:52.76
that is called the
little horn in Daniel 7 and 8.
00:28:52.79\00:28:55.73
It's the same power
00:28:55.76\00:28:57.10
that is called the
beast in Revelation 13.
00:28:57.13\00:28:59.73
It's same power that
is called the man of sin
00:28:59.77\00:29:02.30
in 2 Thessalonians 2.
00:29:02.34\00:29:04.31
It's the same
power that is called
00:29:04.34\00:29:05.97
the abomination of
desolation in Matthew 24.
00:29:06.01\00:29:09.14
It's the same
power that is called
00:29:09.18\00:29:10.65
the harlot in Revelation 17
00:29:10.68\00:29:12.95
and the same
power that is called
00:29:12.98\00:29:14.32
the antichrist in 1 John 2.
00:29:14.35\00:29:16.42
It's just different
names with different emphasis.
00:29:16.45\00:29:20.02
But the king of the north
is the same as the little horn.
00:29:20.06\00:29:24.23
As the same as
the beast, the papacy,
00:29:24.26\00:29:26.86
the power that we
have been speaking about
00:29:26.90\00:29:28.76
here in the seminar.
00:29:28.80\00:29:31.13
So Daniel 11:44 and 45 speaks
00:29:31.17\00:29:34.97
about the little
horn or the beast
00:29:35.00\00:29:36.77
called the king of the north
00:29:36.81\00:29:38.17
that is coming to
destroy God's people.
00:29:38.21\00:29:42.38
And when he is at the point
00:29:42.41\00:29:44.05
of destroying
God's faithful people,
00:29:44.08\00:29:47.85
something happens.
00:29:47.88\00:29:49.88
I want you to notice Daniel 12:1
00:29:49.92\00:29:53.39
and there are four points
that we're gonna notice here.
00:29:53.42\00:29:56.66
Daniel 12:1, and
the key word, folks,
00:29:56.69\00:30:01.30
is the word delivered.
00:30:01.33\00:30:03.47
I want you to
remember that word, delivered,
00:30:03.50\00:30:05.90
that's a key word.
00:30:05.93\00:30:07.27
The word delivered is used
00:30:07.30\00:30:08.70
in only three
chapters in Daniel.
00:30:08.74\00:30:11.61
It's used in Daniel 12:1,
00:30:11.64\00:30:15.41
it is used in Daniel
3, where the three...
00:30:15.44\00:30:20.68
where Daniel,
where the three young man
00:30:20.72\00:30:22.78
actually are thrown
into the fiery furnace,
00:30:22.82\00:30:25.22
and it is used in Daniel 6
00:30:25.25\00:30:28.12
where Daniel's
thrown into the lions' den.
00:30:28.16\00:30:30.63
Those are the only
three chapters in Daniel
00:30:30.66\00:30:32.99
where the word
delivered is used.
00:30:33.03\00:30:35.43
Remember that
00:30:35.46\00:30:36.80
because we're gonna come back
to it a little bit later on.
00:30:36.83\00:30:40.57
Now, let's read Daniel 12:1,
00:30:40.60\00:30:44.01
"At that time, that is
when the king of the north,
00:30:44.04\00:30:45.97
the little horn, the
beast, the man of sin,
00:30:46.01\00:30:48.58
the abomination and
desolation, the harlot,
00:30:48.61\00:30:51.08
whatever you want to call it
00:30:51.11\00:30:52.45
comes to try and
destroy God's people.
00:30:52.48\00:30:55.58
It says at that
time, Michael shall what?
00:30:55.62\00:31:00.82
Shall stand up? The
question is who is Michael.
00:31:00.86\00:31:05.93
Michael is a name for Jesus.
00:31:05.96\00:31:09.43
The name Michael
means who is like God.
00:31:09.46\00:31:13.77
So Michael is
symbolic of Christ.
00:31:13.80\00:31:17.11
So why would
Michael have to stand up,
00:31:17.14\00:31:20.61
what is he gonna do?
00:31:20.64\00:31:21.98
It says,
"Michael shall stand up,
00:31:22.01\00:31:24.35
the great prince
00:31:24.38\00:31:25.78
who stands watch over
the sons of your people."
00:31:25.81\00:31:30.19
So why does Michael stand up?
00:31:30.22\00:31:32.89
He's gonna stand
watch over his who?
00:31:32.92\00:31:35.76
Over his people.
00:31:35.79\00:31:37.13
At this point does he
know who his people are?
00:31:37.16\00:31:40.23
He must because
he's gonna protect them.
00:31:40.26\00:31:42.80
Now, the question is,
00:31:42.83\00:31:44.47
what does it mean
for Michael to stand up.
00:31:44.50\00:31:48.84
Let's not read
the rest of the verse
00:31:48.87\00:31:50.71
but let's go to the
subtitle that says standing up
00:31:50.74\00:31:53.44
so that we can understand
00:31:53.48\00:31:54.81
what the Bible
means when it says
00:31:54.84\00:31:56.21
that Michael shall stand up.
00:31:56.24\00:31:57.88
What point of time is that?
00:31:57.91\00:32:00.62
Daniel 11:2 and 3
00:32:00.65\00:32:02.78
and I'm reading from
the King James Version
00:32:02.82\00:32:04.79
'cause the same Hebrew word
00:32:04.82\00:32:06.25
is translated the
same in both instances.
00:32:06.29\00:32:09.82
Daniel 11:2 and 3 explains
what the word stand up means,
00:32:09.86\00:32:14.20
It says, "Now I
will show you the truth.
00:32:14.23\00:32:17.17
Behold, there shall stand
up yet three kings in Persia."
00:32:17.20\00:32:22.20
What does that mean,
00:32:22.24\00:32:23.57
three kings will
yet stand up in Persia?
00:32:23.61\00:32:26.41
It means that three
kings are yet to what?
00:32:26.44\00:32:29.74
Are yet to rule in Persia.
They're going to rise to what?
00:32:29.78\00:32:34.15
To rule in Persia.
00:32:34.18\00:32:36.12
And so it continue saying,
"I will show you the truth.
00:32:36.15\00:32:38.95
Behold, there shall yet
stand up three kings in Persia,
00:32:38.99\00:32:42.16
and the fourth shall be
far richer than they all,
00:32:42.19\00:32:44.89
and by his
strength through his riches
00:32:44.93\00:32:46.66
he shall stir up all
against the realm of Grecia."
00:32:46.70\00:32:49.40
And now notice,
00:32:49.43\00:32:50.77
"And a mighty
king shall stand up..."
00:32:50.80\00:32:53.13
What does that mean a
mighty king shall stand up?
00:32:53.17\00:32:55.44
It means that he's
gonna begin to what?
00:32:55.47\00:32:57.97
He's gonna begin to rule.
00:32:58.01\00:32:59.34
We don't have to guess
00:32:59.37\00:33:00.71
because it continues
saying here in Daniel 11:3,
00:33:00.74\00:33:04.95
"A mighty king shall
stand up, that shall" what?
00:33:04.98\00:33:08.42
"That shall rule."
00:33:08.45\00:33:09.78
To stand means to begin to what?
00:33:09.82\00:33:12.22
To rule over your kingdom.
00:33:12.25\00:33:14.86
Now, notice also
Daniel 8:22, Daniel 8:22,
00:33:14.89\00:33:20.40
speaking about the four heads
00:33:20.43\00:33:24.00
or the four horns
actually that are the same
00:33:24.03\00:33:26.23
as the four
heads on the leopard.
00:33:26.27\00:33:28.87
Notice what it says,
"Now that being broken,"
00:33:28.90\00:33:32.04
this is the notable horn,
00:33:32.07\00:33:34.48
"whereas four stood up for
it, four kingdoms shall what?
00:33:34.51\00:33:39.88
Shall stand up
out of the nation,
00:33:39.91\00:33:42.62
but not in his own power."
00:33:42.65\00:33:44.62
So what does stand up
mean in the Book of Daniel?
00:33:44.65\00:33:48.46
It means to begin to what?
00:33:48.49\00:33:52.19
To begin to rule
over the kingdom.
00:33:52.23\00:33:56.33
So let me ask you, when it says
that Michael shall stand up,
00:33:56.36\00:33:59.53
it means that Jesus is
going to begin to what?
00:33:59.57\00:34:03.07
To rule. Why is He
gonna begin to rule?
00:34:03.10\00:34:06.31
Because probation is
closed and His kingdom is what?
00:34:06.34\00:34:10.85
Made up. Are you
following me or not?
00:34:10.88\00:34:13.98
Now, let's continue,
let's go back to Daniel 12:1,
00:34:14.02\00:34:17.75
"At that time
Michael shall stand up,
00:34:17.79\00:34:20.62
the prince who stands
00:34:20.66\00:34:21.99
watch over the
sons of your people..."
00:34:22.02\00:34:23.93
And now notice the second point,
00:34:23.96\00:34:25.66
"And there shall be a" what?
00:34:25.69\00:34:28.20
"A time of trouble,"
that's the great tribulation.
00:34:28.23\00:34:30.77
"There shall be
a time of trouble
00:34:30.80\00:34:32.30
such as never was
since there was a nation,
00:34:32.33\00:34:35.47
even to that time."
00:34:35.50\00:34:38.37
So is this the
great tribulation?
00:34:38.41\00:34:40.78
Is this the time of trouble,
00:34:40.81\00:34:42.14
are God's people on
earth during this period?
00:34:42.18\00:34:44.38
Yes, because
Michael is standing up
00:34:44.41\00:34:46.51
to rule over them
and to protect them.
00:34:46.55\00:34:49.12
So there is a time of trouble
00:34:49.15\00:34:50.85
and then notice
what it continues saying,
00:34:50.89\00:34:53.66
and at that time, that
is in the time of trouble,
00:34:53.69\00:34:57.49
your people shall be what?
00:34:57.53\00:34:59.59
Shall be delivered,
everyone who is found what?
00:34:59.63\00:35:04.07
Written in the book.
00:35:04.10\00:35:05.43
Let me ask you, when
were they written in the book
00:35:05.47\00:35:07.50
or when were they
conformed in the book?
00:35:07.54\00:35:10.91
In the investigative judgment.
Are you with me or not?
00:35:10.94\00:35:14.51
Now, let me read
you the statement
00:35:14.54\00:35:16.95
from Ellen White again,
00:35:16.98\00:35:18.61
it's in the middle of this page.
00:35:18.65\00:35:21.58
"Every case had been
decided for life or death.
00:35:21.62\00:35:26.12
While Jesus had been
ministering in the sanctuary,
00:35:26.15\00:35:29.09
the judgment had been
going on for the righteous dead,
00:35:29.12\00:35:31.69
and then for the
righteous living."
00:35:31.73\00:35:33.06
See while the
judgment is going on,
00:35:33.09\00:35:34.80
cases are still being
decided, probation hasn't close,
00:35:34.83\00:35:37.87
but then she says
Christ had received his what?
00:35:37.90\00:35:41.47
His kingdom having made
the atonements for his people
00:35:41.50\00:35:44.81
and blotted out their sins.
00:35:44.84\00:35:46.47
The subjects of the
kingdom were made up.
00:35:46.51\00:35:49.41
So when the cases are
examined in the judgment,
00:35:49.44\00:35:52.91
it's decided whose name
is retained in the book.
00:35:52.95\00:35:57.29
Let me read you the
statement from Ellen White
00:35:57.32\00:36:01.62
regarding the
conclusion of the judgment.
00:36:01.66\00:36:03.99
She states this,
"Christ says to the overcomer,
00:36:04.03\00:36:07.90
"I will not blot out his
name out of the book of life.
00:36:07.93\00:36:12.13
The names of all those
00:36:12.17\00:36:14.37
who have once
given themselves to God
00:36:14.40\00:36:17.37
are written in the book of life
00:36:17.41\00:36:19.61
and their characters are now
passing in review before him,"
00:36:19.64\00:36:23.21
that's the judgment.
00:36:23.24\00:36:25.28
"Angels of God are
weighing moral worth.
00:36:25.31\00:36:28.62
They are watching the
development of character
00:36:28.65\00:36:31.12
in those now living,
00:36:31.15\00:36:32.65
to see if their
names can be," what?
00:36:32.69\00:36:35.92
"Retained in the book of life."
00:36:35.96\00:36:38.79
Is that what happens in
the investigative judgment?
00:36:38.83\00:36:42.00
Is it shown whose name
is going to be retained
00:36:42.03\00:36:44.33
in the Book of life?
00:36:44.37\00:36:45.73
Now, when Jesus stands up,
00:36:45.77\00:36:48.04
are all of the names that
have been retained in the book.
00:36:48.07\00:36:51.94
Of course, so
that's why Daniel 12:1 says
00:36:51.97\00:36:56.24
that those will be delivered
from the time of trouble
00:36:56.28\00:36:59.61
whose names are
written in the book.
00:36:59.65\00:37:01.55
When were their
names retained in the book?
00:37:01.58\00:37:03.99
During the what?
00:37:04.02\00:37:05.72
During the judgment. Is
this clear in your mind?
00:37:05.75\00:37:08.99
So, four points in Daniel 12:1.
00:37:09.02\00:37:12.43
Point number
one, standing up means
00:37:12.46\00:37:15.00
that Jesus begins to
reign over His kingdom
00:37:15.03\00:37:17.60
because His kingdom is complete,
00:37:17.63\00:37:19.17
He's finished the judgment.
00:37:19.20\00:37:20.90
Secondly, now God's people will
go for a severe time of trouble
00:37:20.94\00:37:24.54
such as never has been seen
in the history of the world.
00:37:24.57\00:37:27.98
And then it says
00:37:28.01\00:37:29.34
that God's people at the
end of the time of trouble
00:37:29.38\00:37:31.78
will be delivered
00:37:31.81\00:37:33.18
but only those
who in the judgment
00:37:33.21\00:37:35.68
were written where?
00:37:35.72\00:37:37.12
Were written in the book.
00:37:37.15\00:37:40.36
Do you see all
of the elements here
00:37:40.39\00:37:43.22
that we mentioned,
00:37:43.26\00:37:44.59
all of the common
denominators here.
00:37:44.63\00:37:46.06
Is there a
faithful remnant here?
00:37:46.09\00:37:48.73
Yes, the people.
00:37:48.76\00:37:50.87
Are there
enemies of the remnant?
00:37:50.90\00:37:53.27
Yeah, the king of the
north and his cohorts.
00:37:53.30\00:37:55.80
Are God's
people gonna go through
00:37:55.84\00:37:57.21
a severe time of trouble?
00:37:57.24\00:37:59.11
Absolutely.
00:37:59.14\00:38:00.48
Is their faith going
to be severely tested?
00:38:00.51\00:38:03.21
Yes.
00:38:03.24\00:38:04.58
Will they be
delivered immediately
00:38:04.61\00:38:06.65
or will there be a delay?
00:38:06.68\00:38:08.58
They have to go
through the time of trouble,
00:38:08.62\00:38:10.32
there will be a delay.
00:38:10.35\00:38:11.69
But will God's
people finally be delivered?
00:38:11.72\00:38:14.49
Yes.
00:38:14.52\00:38:15.86
So we find all of the common
denominators in Daniel 12:1.
00:38:15.89\00:38:21.53
Now, you say,
where does the expression
00:38:21.56\00:38:25.03
time of Jacob's
trouble come from?
00:38:25.07\00:38:29.37
Well, we have to go
to the Book of Genesis
00:38:29.40\00:38:34.34
to understand what the
time of Jacob's trouble
00:38:34.38\00:38:37.61
is because
that's the specific name
00:38:37.65\00:38:39.41
that is given to it.
00:38:39.45\00:38:41.28
Now, the story is
found in Genesis 32,
00:38:41.32\00:38:45.05
and I'm gonna tell you
the story very quickly.
00:38:45.09\00:38:47.52
Jacob was returning
home after a 20 year exile
00:38:47.56\00:38:51.29
because he had stolen the
birthright from his brother
00:38:51.33\00:38:54.03
and he had deceived his father.
00:38:54.06\00:38:56.80
When he is nearing home,
00:38:56.83\00:38:58.20
he hears that his
brother who is the enemy
00:38:58.23\00:39:01.70
is coming with 400 armed men
to destroy him and his family.
00:39:01.74\00:39:08.08
The story tells us
that Jacob and his family
00:39:08.11\00:39:10.51
were totally defenseless.
00:39:10.55\00:39:12.01
In other words,
they could not stand
00:39:12.05\00:39:14.48
against Esau and
the 400 armed men.
00:39:14.52\00:39:18.69
And so Jacob feared for his life
00:39:18.72\00:39:21.26
and for the life of his family.
00:39:21.29\00:39:25.13
And so the Bible
tells us that he feared
00:39:25.16\00:39:27.86
that God would not protected him
00:39:27.90\00:39:29.36
because of the sin that he
had committed 20 years earlier.
00:39:29.40\00:39:33.50
And so the Bible tells us
00:39:33.54\00:39:35.00
that Jacob went to
the brook of Jabbok
00:39:35.04\00:39:38.21
and he poured out his
heart in prayer to God
00:39:38.24\00:39:41.71
in tremendous anguish.
00:39:41.74\00:39:44.68
I want to read just a few verses
00:39:44.71\00:39:46.45
where this anguish is
described in Genesis 32.
00:39:46.48\00:39:50.55
"I am not worthy of the
least of all the mercies
00:39:50.59\00:39:55.56
and of all the truth
00:39:55.59\00:39:57.23
which You have
shown Your servant,
00:39:57.26\00:39:59.63
for I have crossed over
this Jordan with my staff
00:39:59.66\00:40:02.60
and now I have
become two companies."
00:40:02.63\00:40:04.87
And then he uses the
keyword, remember Daniel 12:1,
00:40:04.90\00:40:08.04
God's people will be what?
00:40:08.07\00:40:10.04
Delivered, notice, he says,
"Deliver me, I pray, from whom?
00:40:10.07\00:40:16.18
From the hand of my
brother, from the hand of Esau,
00:40:16.21\00:40:19.11
for I fear him, lest
he come and attack me
00:40:19.15\00:40:22.38
and the mother
with the children."
00:40:22.42\00:40:24.85
So Jacob is
crying out in anguish,
00:40:24.89\00:40:27.19
deliver me, deliver
our family from the enemy,
00:40:27.22\00:40:31.29
from Esau and the 400
men that he is coming with.
00:40:31.33\00:40:36.90
The Bible tells us
that while he is struggling
00:40:36.93\00:40:39.13
there in prayer with
God, a mysterious person comes
00:40:39.17\00:40:43.57
and he begins wrestling
with that mysterious person.
00:40:43.61\00:40:48.01
The mysterious
person Jacob soon discovered
00:40:48.04\00:40:51.28
was not common human being.
00:40:51.31\00:40:54.28
It was the
angel of the covenant.
00:40:54.32\00:40:56.79
And so as the sun was rising,
00:40:56.82\00:40:59.65
Jacob hangs on for dear
life to this individual,
00:40:59.69\00:41:05.79
to this mysterious
person and this person says,
00:41:05.83\00:41:08.86
let me go because it's dawning.
00:41:08.90\00:41:11.33
And Jacob hangs
on to him, he says,
00:41:11.37\00:41:13.34
I will not let you
go until you bless me.
00:41:13.37\00:41:16.34
In other words, until
you give me the assurance
00:41:16.37\00:41:18.77
that I've been forgiven
00:41:18.81\00:41:20.14
and that you're gonna protect me
00:41:20.18\00:41:21.51
along with my family.
00:41:21.54\00:41:23.35
And once again, this being says,
00:41:23.38\00:41:25.71
let me go for the day is dawning
00:41:25.75\00:41:28.25
and Jacob says, I will not
let you go until you bless me.
00:41:28.28\00:41:32.59
The Bible says that
that mysterious person
00:41:32.62\00:41:35.99
then ask Jacob
what his name was.
00:41:36.02\00:41:39.89
And he said Jacob
which means supplanter,
00:41:39.93\00:41:42.86
and this mysterious being says
00:41:42.90\00:41:44.53
your name will no
longer be called Jacob,
00:41:44.57\00:41:47.34
your name will be called Israel,
00:41:47.37\00:41:50.11
because you have
struggled with God and with men
00:41:50.14\00:41:52.91
and you have prevailed.
00:41:52.94\00:41:54.98
In other words you
have gained the victory
00:41:55.01\00:41:57.98
and the Bible says
00:41:58.01\00:41:59.35
that this mysterious
being changed his name there
00:41:59.38\00:42:04.62
from Jacob to Israel
which means prince of God.
00:42:04.65\00:42:08.76
Let's read about the struggle
of Jacob in Genesis 32:24-29.
00:42:08.79\00:42:15.06
"Then Jacob was left alone,
00:42:15.10\00:42:17.57
and a Man wrestled with
him until the breaking of day.
00:42:17.60\00:42:21.04
Now when He saw that He
did not prevail against him..."
00:42:21.07\00:42:24.77
That is the angle did
not prevail against him.
00:42:24.81\00:42:28.08
"He touched the
socket of his hip,
00:42:28.11\00:42:30.45
and the socket of Jacob's hip
00:42:30.48\00:42:32.21
was out of joint as
he wrestled with him.
00:42:32.25\00:42:35.55
And he said, 'Let Me
go, for the day breaks.
00:42:35.58\00:42:38.22
But he said: 'I
will not let You go
00:42:38.25\00:42:41.16
unless You bless me.
00:42:41.19\00:42:42.82
So he said to him,
'What is your name?'
00:42:42.86\00:42:45.49
He said, 'Jacob.'
00:42:45.53\00:42:47.00
And He said: 'Your name
shall no longer be called Jacob,
00:42:47.03\00:42:49.90
but Israel, for you
have struggled with God
00:42:49.93\00:42:52.80
and with men,
and have prevailed.
00:42:52.83\00:42:55.90
Then Jacob asked,
'Tell me your name, I pray.'
00:42:55.94\00:42:59.81
And he said: 'Why is it
that you ask about My name.'
00:42:59.84\00:43:02.88
and He blessed him there.'"
00:43:02.91\00:43:04.31
Now, the question is who
was that mysterious being?
00:43:04.35\00:43:09.28
The Book of Hosea 12:4
tell us who that being was.
00:43:09.32\00:43:15.59
Do you remember Daniel 12:1,
00:43:15.62\00:43:19.13
Michael the ark angel, right?
00:43:19.16\00:43:23.06
Now notice was it an angel
that Jacob was struggling with?
00:43:23.10\00:43:27.00
Yes, he was struggling
with the angel of the covenant
00:43:27.04\00:43:30.01
which is non other than
whom, Jesus Christ Himself.
00:43:30.04\00:43:33.48
By the way Jesus is
not a created angel,
00:43:33.51\00:43:36.04
He is the angel of the covenant.
00:43:36.08\00:43:37.78
He is the Son of God.
He is the messenger of God.
00:43:37.81\00:43:40.98
Now, notice what
it says in Hosea 12:4,
00:43:41.02\00:43:43.95
remembering this event.
00:43:43.99\00:43:45.89
Yes, he struggled with the what?
00:43:45.92\00:43:49.49
Oh, he was
struggling with the angel,
00:43:49.52\00:43:52.13
not un angel, with the angel.
00:43:52.16\00:43:54.63
And what?
00:43:54.66\00:43:56.00
And prevailed, he
wept, sought favor from him.
00:43:56.03\00:43:59.47
This angel was
nonetheless than God.
00:43:59.50\00:44:03.07
You say how do you know that?
00:44:03.10\00:44:04.57
Because of the name
that Jacob gave that place.
00:44:04.61\00:44:08.11
Notice Genesis 32:30,
00:44:08.14\00:44:11.45
"So Jacob called the
name of the place Peniel:
00:44:11.48\00:44:16.62
'For I have seen
God face to face,
00:44:16.65\00:44:20.32
and my life is preserved."
00:44:20.36\00:44:22.66
Peniel means face
of God and Jacob says,
00:44:22.69\00:44:25.76
I have seen God face to face
and my life has been preserved.
00:44:25.79\00:44:30.07
So whom was
Jacob struggling with?
00:44:30.10\00:44:32.60
He was struggling
with Jesus Christ,
00:44:32.63\00:44:35.20
the angel of the
covenant in the Old Testament.
00:44:35.24\00:44:39.57
Now let me ask you,
00:44:39.61\00:44:40.94
do we find all of the common
denominators in this story.
00:44:40.98\00:44:44.25
We most certainly do. Do
we have a faithful remnant?
00:44:44.28\00:44:47.68
Jacob.
00:44:47.72\00:44:49.08
Do we have
enemies of the remnant?
00:44:49.12\00:44:51.05
Absolutely. Is a
time of trouble for Jacob?
00:44:51.09\00:44:54.79
Absolutely. Is his
faith severely tested?
00:44:54.82\00:44:58.13
Does he cry out in
anguish for assurance?
00:44:58.16\00:45:01.56
Absolutely. Did God
answer him immediately?
00:45:01.60\00:45:04.73
No.
00:45:04.77\00:45:06.10
But finally after
all night struggle,
00:45:06.13\00:45:08.54
was he delivered?
00:45:08.57\00:45:09.94
He most certainly was.
00:45:09.97\00:45:11.51
This describes the final
time of trouble of God's people.
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.94
Read in Great Controversy,
00:45:14.98\00:45:16.61
Ellen White's description
of the struggle of Jacob
00:45:16.64\00:45:19.81
representing the
struggle of God's people
00:45:19.85\00:45:22.02
at the end of time.
00:45:22.05\00:45:24.22
Now, the specific expression
the time of Jacob's trouble
00:45:24.25\00:45:27.92
is found in Jeremiah 30
00:45:27.96\00:45:31.23
and we're only gonna
briefly deal with this.
00:45:31.26\00:45:34.63
There is a faithful
remnant here in Jeremiah 30.
00:45:34.66\00:45:39.83
The faithful remnant is,
are the faithful ones in Israel
00:45:39.87\00:45:44.67
when Babylon came against them
00:45:44.71\00:45:47.04
in the person of Nebuchadnezzar.
00:45:47.08\00:45:48.98
The enemy is Nebuchadnezzar.
00:45:49.01\00:45:52.15
The time of trouble is
the anguish of the faithful
00:45:52.18\00:45:55.58
when they were being
taken captive to Babylon.
00:45:55.62\00:45:58.95
God delayed for 70 years
to release them from bondage
00:45:58.99\00:46:03.86
and the faith of
Israel was severely tested
00:46:03.89\00:46:07.16
but did God
finally deliver His people
00:46:07.20\00:46:09.56
from bondage in Babylon.
00:46:09.60\00:46:11.43
Yes, when Cyrus came
00:46:11.47\00:46:13.23
and gave the decree
of their liberation.
00:46:13.27\00:46:15.94
I'm gonna read the passage now.
00:46:15.97\00:46:18.21
This is Jeremiah 30 and
we will begin at verse 5.
00:46:18.24\00:46:23.81
"For thus says the Lord:
00:46:23.85\00:46:25.95
'We have heard a
voice of trembling, of fear,
00:46:25.98\00:46:30.09
and not of peace.
00:46:30.12\00:46:32.05
Ask now, and see,
00:46:32.09\00:46:34.12
whether a man is
ever in labor with child?"
00:46:34.16\00:46:37.23
His anguish is so intense
00:46:37.26\00:46:39.29
that it's like a
woman in labor pains.
00:46:39.33\00:46:43.77
So why do I see every man
with his hands on his loins
00:46:43.80\00:46:48.04
like a woman in labor
and all faces turned pale?
00:46:48.07\00:46:52.77
Alas!
00:46:52.81\00:46:54.18
For that day is great,
so that none is like it,
00:46:54.21\00:46:57.95
and it is the time of what?
00:46:57.98\00:47:00.32
Of Jacob's trouble
but he shall be what?
00:47:00.35\00:47:04.45
Saved out of it. Was
Israel saved out of it?
00:47:04.49\00:47:07.62
It most certainly was.
00:47:07.66\00:47:09.16
And then we find the punishment
that falls upon Babylon.
00:47:09.19\00:47:13.73
It says in verse 8,
00:47:13.76\00:47:15.10
"For it shall come
to pass in that day,
00:47:15.13\00:47:17.17
says the Lord of hosts,
00:47:17.20\00:47:18.53
that I will break
his yoke from your neck,
00:47:18.57\00:47:21.30
and I will burst your bonds,
00:47:21.34\00:47:22.90
foreigners shall no
more, no longer enslave them.
00:47:22.94\00:47:26.07
But they shall serve the Lord
their God and David their king
00:47:26.11\00:47:29.78
whom I will raise up for them."
00:47:29.81\00:47:32.35
By the way this
could not be literal David
00:47:32.38\00:47:34.12
because David had been
dead for a very long time.
00:47:34.15\00:47:36.75
When it says David,
00:47:36.79\00:47:38.12
it's talking about
who would rule over them.
00:47:38.15\00:47:39.99
None other than Jesus Christ.
00:47:40.02\00:47:42.22
So we find all of
the same common elements
00:47:42.26\00:47:45.26
in this time of Jacob's trouble
00:47:45.29\00:47:47.66
as it is called
here in Jeremiah 30.
00:47:47.70\00:47:51.50
Now, let's go to Matthew
24, we have two more stories
00:47:51.53\00:47:54.50
that we need to go
through here very quickly,
00:47:54.54\00:47:56.34
Matthew 24,
00:47:56.37\00:47:58.84
let's read verses
24, actually 21 and 22,
00:47:58.87\00:48:03.45
and let me give you a
little bit of context.
00:48:03.48\00:48:05.58
If you look at
the previous verses,
00:48:05.61\00:48:07.95
you're gonna find that
the abomination of desolation
00:48:07.98\00:48:11.39
is set up and
God's people have to flee
00:48:11.42\00:48:14.86
because they're
being persecuted.
00:48:14.89\00:48:16.73
That is the context.
00:48:16.76\00:48:18.59
Now, notice what
we find in verse 21,
00:48:18.63\00:48:21.50
"For then there will be, what?
00:48:21.53\00:48:24.60
Great tribulation,
such as has not been
00:48:24.63\00:48:29.20
since the beginning of
the world until this time,
00:48:29.24\00:48:32.04
no, ever shall be."
00:48:32.07\00:48:33.41
That sounds pretty much
like Daniel 12:1, doesn't it?
00:48:33.44\00:48:36.51
And then it says,
00:48:36.54\00:48:37.95
"And unless
those days were what,
00:48:37.98\00:48:40.32
shortened no
flesh would be saved,
00:48:40.35\00:48:43.39
but for the elect's
sake," remember the world elect,
00:48:43.42\00:48:46.45
"the elect's sake
those days will be shortened.
00:48:46.49\00:48:50.89
Is God gonna have a remnant?
What is the remnant called?
00:48:50.93\00:48:54.70
The elect.
00:48:54.73\00:48:56.06
Are they gonna be persecuted
or they gonna have to flee?
00:48:56.10\00:48:58.90
Are the enemies
gonna come after them?
00:48:58.93\00:49:00.97
Absolutely
according to the context.
00:49:01.00\00:49:03.71
Is their faith
gonna be severely tested?
00:49:03.74\00:49:06.84
Will they be
immediately delivered?
00:49:06.88\00:49:09.61
Now the days will be shortened
00:49:09.64\00:49:11.11
but they will go
through the tribulation.
00:49:11.15\00:49:13.68
Let me ask you,
00:49:13.72\00:49:15.05
will God's people finally be
delivered from the tribulation.
00:49:15.08\00:49:18.35
Notice verses 29:31,
it says, "Immediately
00:49:18.39\00:49:24.43
after the
tribulation of those days..."
00:49:24.46\00:49:26.46
So God's people are gonna
go through the tribulation,
00:49:26.49\00:49:28.70
"After the
tribulation of those days
00:49:28.73\00:49:30.80
the sun will be darkened,
00:49:30.83\00:49:32.17
the moon will
not give its light,
00:49:32.20\00:49:34.04
the stars will fall from heaven
00:49:34.07\00:49:36.00
and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
00:49:36.04\00:49:38.74
Then the sign of the Son
of Man will appear in heaven
00:49:38.77\00:49:41.31
and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn,
00:49:41.34\00:49:43.95
and they will see the Son of Man
00:49:43.98\00:49:45.51
coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory.
00:49:45.55\00:49:49.08
And he will send his angels
00:49:49.12\00:49:50.89
with a great sound of a trumpet,
00:49:50.92\00:49:52.72
and they will
gather together His," what?
00:49:52.75\00:49:56.06
Will the elect go
through the time of trouble?
00:49:56.09\00:49:58.19
Will they suffer this anguish?
00:49:58.23\00:50:00.00
Will they be persecuted?
Will their faith be tested?
00:50:00.03\00:50:02.93
Absolutely, so it says
00:50:02.96\00:50:04.63
he will gather together
His elect from the four winds,
00:50:04.67\00:50:08.10
from one end of
heaven to the other.
00:50:08.14\00:50:09.94
Are God's people
gonna be delivered
00:50:09.97\00:50:11.61
when Jesus comes
to take them home?
00:50:11.64\00:50:13.98
Absolutely.
00:50:14.01\00:50:15.34
So once again in
the final tribulation,
00:50:15.38\00:50:17.95
we have the same elements
00:50:17.98\00:50:19.38
that we found in
the other stories.
00:50:19.41\00:50:21.75
Now, we have one more story
that we need to take a look at.
00:50:21.78\00:50:24.85
It's called the
parable of the unjust judge.
00:50:24.89\00:50:29.72
Very badly named.
00:50:29.76\00:50:31.83
It's really the parable
of the persistent widow.
00:50:31.86\00:50:36.33
That's a better way
of calling this parable.
00:50:36.36\00:50:39.53
By the way, I want you to notice
00:50:39.57\00:50:42.27
that the word elect
is used in the parable,
00:50:42.30\00:50:46.17
the same word that we
noticed in Matthew 24.
00:50:46.21\00:50:51.21
Furthermore, I want you
to notice that this parable
00:50:51.25\00:50:53.62
applies directly to
the time of the end,
00:50:53.65\00:50:55.85
right before the second coming.
00:50:55.88\00:50:57.22
You say how do we know that.
00:50:57.25\00:50:58.59
Because right
before the parable,
00:50:58.62\00:51:00.72
Jesus has been
talking about the days of Noah
00:51:00.76\00:51:02.99
and the days of Lot
00:51:03.02\00:51:04.36
and comparing
it with His coming.
00:51:04.39\00:51:05.93
And the parable
ends with the words
00:51:05.96\00:51:08.66
when the Son of Man comes
00:51:08.70\00:51:10.23
will he find faith in the earth?
00:51:10.27\00:51:12.00
So the parable is between
two second coming references,
00:51:12.03\00:51:15.47
which means it
applies especially two events
00:51:15.50\00:51:19.87
surrounding the second coming.
00:51:19.91\00:51:21.98
Now, there are several
protagonists in the story
00:51:22.01\00:51:25.21
or actors in the story.
00:51:25.25\00:51:27.12
There is a
judge, there is a widow,
00:51:27.15\00:51:30.25
the widow is
crying out for justice
00:51:30.29\00:51:32.85
over her adversary.
00:51:32.89\00:51:34.22
So there is an
adversary as well.
00:51:34.26\00:51:36.52
There is a delay in justice
being meted out for the widow,
00:51:36.56\00:51:40.40
but finally
justice is meted out.
00:51:40.43\00:51:43.87
Are you seeing
all of the elements
00:51:43.90\00:51:45.40
in this story?
00:51:45.43\00:51:46.77
Now, let's read the parable.
00:51:46.80\00:51:48.54
"Then He spoke
a parable to them,
00:51:48.57\00:51:50.91
that men always ought
to pray and not lose heart.
00:51:50.94\00:51:55.04
Other words be
perseverant in prayer saying:
00:51:55.08\00:51:59.28
"There was in a
certain city a judge..."
00:51:59.31\00:52:01.38
Now what I want
you to understand
00:52:01.42\00:52:02.78
is that the
judge represents God.
00:52:02.82\00:52:06.79
"Who did not fear
God nor regard man."
00:52:06.82\00:52:08.76
You say well, how can a
judge that doesn't fear God
00:52:08.79\00:52:11.99
or regard man be
considered a parallel to God.
00:52:12.03\00:52:16.03
Well, it's by way of contrast.
00:52:16.06\00:52:17.90
We're gonna see that in
the parable Jesus is saying
00:52:17.93\00:52:19.90
if an unjust judge is
gonna do justice to a widow
00:52:19.93\00:52:23.87
to get her of his back,
00:52:23.91\00:52:25.24
how much more will God
do justice for His people
00:52:25.27\00:52:27.74
because He loves them.
00:52:27.78\00:52:29.74
So it's by way of contrast
00:52:29.78\00:52:31.98
that the unjust
judge is compared to God.
00:52:32.01\00:52:34.88
We'll see that in a moment.
00:52:34.92\00:52:36.48
So it says
there was a certain...
00:52:36.52\00:52:37.89
in a certain city a
judge who did not fear God
00:52:37.92\00:52:40.16
no regard man.
00:52:40.19\00:52:41.59
Now there was a widow,
00:52:41.62\00:52:43.79
this widow was totally
destitute of human support.
00:52:43.83\00:52:47.30
She had nowhere to lie her head.
00:52:47.33\00:52:50.17
The adversary had wiped her out.
00:52:50.20\00:52:52.30
Most of those who have
studied this parable say
00:52:52.33\00:52:54.77
that what happen was that
her husband had creditors,
00:52:54.80\00:52:57.91
he owed huge sums of
money to the creditors
00:52:57.94\00:53:00.64
and when the credit...
00:53:00.68\00:53:02.01
when he died the creditors came
00:53:02.04\00:53:04.11
and took
everything away from the widow
00:53:04.15\00:53:06.05
to settle the accounts.
00:53:06.08\00:53:07.45
In other words, she
did not have anything.
00:53:07.48\00:53:10.99
And so it continue saying,
00:53:11.02\00:53:12.92
Now there was a
widow in that city,
00:53:12.95\00:53:15.16
and she came, actually
she kept coming to him saying,
00:53:15.19\00:53:19.16
'Get justice for
me from my' what,
00:53:19.19\00:53:21.83
see they're the one that
took everything from her,
00:53:21.86\00:53:23.73
from my adversary.
00:53:23.77\00:53:26.00
Is there a delay?
00:53:26.03\00:53:28.07
And he would not
for a what, for a while,
00:53:28.10\00:53:32.14
but afterward he
said within himself,
00:53:32.17\00:53:33.94
though I do not
fear God nor regard man,
00:53:33.98\00:53:36.21
yet because this
widow troubles me
00:53:36.24\00:53:37.91
I will avenge her.
00:53:37.95\00:53:39.28
Now notice the judge
said, didn't just come once,
00:53:39.31\00:53:41.45
it says less by her
what, continual coming,
00:53:41.48\00:53:44.65
she weary me.
00:53:44.69\00:53:46.02
So she kept on
coming and coming and coming
00:53:46.05\00:53:48.66
and coming to say,
00:53:48.69\00:53:50.03
do me justice over my adversary.
00:53:50.06\00:53:52.19
She didn't give up.
00:53:52.23\00:53:54.33
And now Jesus explains
what the parable means.
00:53:54.36\00:53:57.53
Beginning at verse
6, "Then the Lord said,
00:53:57.57\00:54:00.84
'Hear what the unjust
judge said and shall God..."
00:54:00.87\00:54:06.41
Who does a judge represent?
00:54:06.44\00:54:08.78
God, it says, "And shall
God not avenge his own" what?
00:54:08.81\00:54:15.48
"Elect." What does
the widow represent?
00:54:15.52\00:54:17.95
The elect.
00:54:17.99\00:54:19.69
By the way are God's
people gonna lose everything?
00:54:19.72\00:54:22.42
You know, a woman symbolically
represents a church.
00:54:22.46\00:54:26.09
A harlot woman
represents a falling church.
00:54:26.13\00:54:29.56
A pure woman
represents pure church.
00:54:29.60\00:54:31.23
What would a widow represent?
00:54:31.27\00:54:33.30
A woman destitute
of every human support.
00:54:33.34\00:54:35.74
It would represent God's
elect in the time of trouble
00:54:35.77\00:54:38.31
having nothing to lean on.
00:54:38.34\00:54:40.54
And so notice, "And
shall God, the judge,
00:54:40.58\00:54:43.85
not avenge his
own elect the widow,
00:54:43.88\00:54:47.12
who do what, who cry
out day and night..."
00:54:47.15\00:54:52.89
Does God answer immediately?
00:54:52.92\00:54:55.52
No, who cry out
day and night to Him,
00:54:55.56\00:55:00.93
do they continually
come and come and come
00:55:00.96\00:55:02.76
like Jacob did.
00:55:02.80\00:55:04.13
Absolutely, though
He bears long with them.
00:55:04.17\00:55:07.94
In other words the God doesn't
answer their prayer immediately
00:55:07.97\00:55:12.31
and then it says, I
tell you that He will what?
00:55:12.34\00:55:16.11
That he will
avenge them speedily.
00:55:16.14\00:55:19.11
And then He ends by asking
the question Nevertheless,
00:55:19.15\00:55:22.78
when the Son of Man comes,
00:55:22.82\00:55:25.19
will he really
find faith on the earth?
00:55:25.22\00:55:28.49
Will he find a group of people
that have this kind of faith?
00:55:28.52\00:55:32.46
So let's review
what we looked at,
00:55:32.49\00:55:34.43
is there a faithful
remnant in this parable?
00:55:34.46\00:55:37.83
Who is the
faithful remnant? The widow.
00:55:37.87\00:55:40.34
Is she totally
destitute of human support,
00:55:40.37\00:55:42.47
has she lost everything?
00:55:42.50\00:55:43.97
Is that true of God's
people during the tribulation?
00:55:44.01\00:55:46.64
Yes.
00:55:46.68\00:55:48.01
Is there an enemy of
the widow who wiped her out?
00:55:48.04\00:55:51.65
Yes, by the way who
does that represent?
00:55:51.68\00:55:54.48
The devil.
00:55:54.52\00:55:55.85
You know that word adversary
that she used in the parable.
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.15
It's not a very usual
word in the New Testament.
00:55:58.19\00:56:00.76
It's the Greek word antidikos,
00:56:00.79\00:56:03.83
it is used in 1
Peter 5:8 where it says,
00:56:03.86\00:56:06.16
you adversary is the devil,
00:56:06.19\00:56:08.00
goes about like a roaring
lion seeking who he may devour.
00:56:08.03\00:56:11.80
So the New Testament
identifies the adversary
00:56:11.83\00:56:14.50
who wiped out the
widow or the church
00:56:14.54\00:56:16.94
of her earthly
support as the devil.
00:56:16.97\00:56:20.38
Does the widow go through
a severe time of trouble?
00:56:20.41\00:56:23.58
Oh, she's crying out in anguish.
00:56:23.61\00:56:25.51
She has nothing to lean on.
00:56:25.55\00:56:27.45
Is the faith of the
widow severely tested?
00:56:27.48\00:56:30.25
Yes.
00:56:30.29\00:56:31.62
Will the faith of God's
people be severely tested
00:56:31.65\00:56:33.96
when they're in this word
without anything to lean on?
00:56:33.99\00:56:36.62
Absolutely.
00:56:36.66\00:56:37.99
Did God answer the
widow's pleas immediately?
00:56:38.03\00:56:40.66
No, there was a delay.
00:56:40.70\00:56:42.76
You know, sometimes we
want God to answer yes or no,
00:56:42.80\00:56:45.60
but God also can answer wait,
00:56:45.63\00:56:49.14
we wouldn't like to
hear that answer, see, wait.
00:56:49.17\00:56:52.57
And we're gonna find
in our study tomorrow,
00:56:52.61\00:56:54.68
the reason why God says wait
00:56:54.71\00:56:58.85
to those who are going
through the time of trouble.
00:56:58.88\00:57:01.08
But let me ask
you after the delay,
00:57:01.12\00:57:03.69
was the widow delivered
and did she received justice?
00:57:03.72\00:57:08.02
She most certainly did.
00:57:08.06\00:57:09.66
So are you seeing
all of these stories
00:57:09.69\00:57:12.09
a common denominator?
00:57:12.13\00:57:14.36
The beautiful thing, folks,
00:57:14.40\00:57:15.86
in all of this
is that even though
00:57:15.90\00:57:17.67
the faith of God's
people will be severely tested.
00:57:17.70\00:57:21.07
God's people will
cry out in anguish
00:57:21.10\00:57:23.57
in the midst of
the time of trouble.
00:57:23.61\00:57:25.34
God's people will
lose every human support.
00:57:25.37\00:57:28.51
God will delay in
the trying times of head,
00:57:28.54\00:57:31.95
to answer the
pleas of his people.
00:57:31.98\00:57:34.72
The good news is
00:57:34.75\00:57:36.08
that at the end of every
single one of these stories
00:57:36.12\00:57:38.69
as well as the ones that
we're gonna study tomorrow,
00:57:38.72\00:57:41.42
God intervenes to
deliver His people
00:57:41.46\00:57:45.23
from their enemies and
to give them the reward.
00:57:45.26\00:57:48.46
That is the wonderful news
00:57:48.50\00:57:50.37
that in the midst
of the time of trouble,
00:57:50.40\00:57:52.23
God will deliver His people,
00:57:52.27\00:57:54.64
everyone who is
found, written in the book.
00:57:54.67\00:57:58.44