Hello, friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
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and sit back as we
explore God's word together
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on this edition
of "House Calls."
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Well, friends, welcome
to the most exciting program
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anywhere in the world.
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That's why it's
everywhere in the world.
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This is "House Calls"
and we're going to begin
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another excursion today
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through the most
wonderful book ever written,
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the Word of God,
and I'm not by myself.
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I have my good friend
with me, John Stanton.
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Good to have you here, John.
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It's good to be here,
John, doing another program.
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You know, it's amazing,
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we've been doing this
program for over five years.
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That is amazing.
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You know when I
think about when we started
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the idea in California,
we sat down in Fairfield
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in our living room and said,
wouldn't it be nice one day,
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if we could be sitting
down, sharing this message
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with people around the
world and that was a dream.
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And one day it hit us
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that the Lord had
worked it out, so praise God.
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You know, one of the neat things
that I get asked once in a while
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and you probably
get the same question,
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how do you guys plan
the program, you know?
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What script--how do you
put all this stuff together?
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And, you know, the
answer is we don't.
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We pick a topic and we
just come with our Bibles
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and maybe a few notes
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with regard to
some things to remember,
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certain texts on the topic,
but really the Lord is one that
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planned this and He did way
back when we talked about it,
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when He put it in
our hearts. That's right.
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That one day we
could do a program
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and feed off each other as we
have been doing for many years
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and it's just a
blessing to do it.
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But what we always rely on
is the Holy Spirit and prayers.
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So have pray for
us. Let's do that.
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Bow your heads with us.
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Dear Father, we
thank you so much again
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for being able to
come before Your presence.
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Lord, give us the opportunity
to share from Your Word
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those truths that are
so important for us today.
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And we just pray that
You'll send us Your spirit,
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open our hearts and
minds so that we may hear
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and discern Your voice and
that those that are watching
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or listening or that
they will be impressed
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also by Your
Spirit as to the truth
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that You are
giving us for today.
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Well, most of all we
need Jesus here with us.
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And so we just pray that
His presence would be felt.
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In Jesus' name amen. Amen.
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Well, friends, as you know
our program is very important,
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that's why your questions are
always accepted and appreciated.
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Some of you write
wonderful comments,
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some of you write books,
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some of you just have
those two lined questions.
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And we appreciate any
form, but continue sending them.
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And if you have any
today to send to us,
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send them to
housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's where we
go to the website
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and we download those questions
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and we try our best
to give you an answer
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from the Word of the God.
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If it's going to be our opinion,
we are going to state that,
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but in most cases,
it's from God's Word
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and if we open the
door to anything else
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during that time
that's the email address
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you need to send
your question back to us.
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Well, John, what
do we have for today?
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Well, you know,
I wanted to mention
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before we get into
our question as well,
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that we have a
Facebook fan page now.
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And, you know, I mean, the fan--
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I guess it's just
called the fan page.
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They are not only just fans
but, you know, they are friends.
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And as you know on Facebook
when you have a page set up,
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people get to know that
they haven't seen in a while,
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they're your
friends, they friend you.
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And so we want to
make sure that you know
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that you are our friends
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and we have a fan
page that we set up
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under 'House Calls.'
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You can get to it, I
believe, with a Facebook search.
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And just go ahead
and click, become a fan.
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And what we're gonna do
there on that page, John,
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is let them know what
the topics that are coming.
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Maybe, if they have
some additional questions
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based upon what
we've already covered,
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they may want to
weigh in on that.
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There's a
discussion page on there.
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That's good too.
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If they have a
suggestion maybe for a topic
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that we haven't done yet,
they can throw that out there.
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It's not to send your
questions in necessarily,
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but it's more of
just a discussion,
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an ongoing discussion
about things, not for books,
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but for quick
comments here and there
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and so I just think it
will be a blessing for us
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and for our
friends, those who watch
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and listen to the program.
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You know, sometimes we
could chime into the page
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and when they see us online,
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we could just go
ahead and discuss
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some questions
with them right online.
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And we can also do video clips.
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What I like to do is get some
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short video clips
of maybe past programs
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where there's a
question-answer to something,
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put it on there.
That's a good idea.
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Kind of some
neat things we can do.
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So anyway search for us there
on Facebook under 'House Calls.'
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It's a fan page. Good idea.
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John, we've got a question
here from Ernest and he says--
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An earnest question.
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An earnest question
from Ernest, there you go.
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Could you please tell me
whether or not God created
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unclean animals
from the beginning?
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I'm thinking that
there was no need for them
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in the Garden of Eden
because nothing died then.
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You know a good question.
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And some--and a good thought,
you know, as to--you know,
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we think so much of
today, what's clean,
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what's unclean in terms of food.
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This question I'm surprised
we hadn't gotten it before,
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but it's the first time
I've seen this question come up.
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But it poses
another interesting issue
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that we got to think of first,
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because I don't think
there's so much finding
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the answer to this
question in the Bible.
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But what is the reason,
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why would there be a
reason for this question?
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And so the answer
really to the question
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would be in the
form of the question
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and that is God never
designed animals for food
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from the beginning anyway.
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So there was no such
thing as clean and unclean
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in the beginning
in the Garden of Eden.
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So did God create
animals, you know,
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in the very beginning as
then He created the earth
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and then the Garden of Eden.
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And the answer to
that would be clearly, yes.
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He created all
animals at that time,
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but as sin entered the
world and then as man began to,
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especially after the
flood, began to crave
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and ask the Lord again for food,
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he had already made provision
ahead of time by bringing--
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distinguishing the
clean from the unclean as Noah
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called the animals on the ark.
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But he brought in
more of the clean animals.
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We believe one of those reasons
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is because he was providing
for their request for food
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from the animals after
that time, not to suggest
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that there wasn't any
eating of meat before either.
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But clearly there was no
discussion of eating meat
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in the Garden of Eden in
the earth made, you know,
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for at the first time by God.
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So there really was not thought
to clean or unclean, John.
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So the question really isn't--
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there's no way to answer
the question because it's just--
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the issues there
didn't exist back then.
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You know, I like that, John,
when you think about the fact
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that people concerned with
issues that are relevant today
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or more pertinent to
today than it was in the time
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before sin entered the world.
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Another example would be
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and I'm going to just throw this
ridiculous statement out there,
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would Adam and Eve have needed
to be involved in sacrifices
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and what animals
would they have chosen.
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You would never have
known the answer to that,
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outside of sin
entering the world
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because there was
even no need for that.
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The beauty of it is
that the Lord made provision
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in the event that sin entered
the world He made provision.
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And He knew
before the fall of man
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what man would need
and what he would not need.
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As a matter of fact,
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when Paul addresses
in the letter to Timothy,
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you'll find in 1 Timothy
Chapter 4, this short paragraph
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when it comes to the creation
of the animals that God made,
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it says for every
creature of God is good.
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Good for what He created it for,
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but you find that
when sin entered the world
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a number of things changed.
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One of the things that
we think of in the context
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of what changed, we surely know
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that there was a
change in the serpent.
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Because the Bible
says from this day on,
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you're going to eat dust,
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you're going to
crawl on your belly.
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So why would there
need to be a change
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to crawling on your belly
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if he was not in a
former condition prior to sin
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which suggests
that He was able to fly,
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you know, the
Leviathan the winged serpent,
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is what's referred to
there in the Book of Job.
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So it suggests that up
until the entrance of sin,
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that the serpent
was able to do something
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other than just
crawl on his belly
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and eat dust as
Genesis talks about.
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And so you see there
were definitely changes,
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it suggests to me and
this is--and by the way,
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this is the section
where I talk about my opinion.
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It suggests to us on that note
that there were some changes
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that came in and
after the fall of man,
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after sin entered the world.
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A prime example, another one,
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we know that not only
did death pass upon all men,
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but death
infected all of creation
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as we see plants
die, animals die,
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anything that
lives or has life in it
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comes to a point where it dies.
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If you sever a plant, it dies.
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Even over the course of time,
some plants just wither and die.
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And so we find that death
has affected a lot of things.
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And it's possible, John,
this is just a possibility,
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I have to look
up the information
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to see if it is there.
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It's a possibility
then that there were also
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some changes in the animals,
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those who were originally given
the vegetables of the field,
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now that is the bitter herbs
of the field, as their food.
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Later on, after
sin entered the world,
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even their diet was changed
because man's diet was changed.
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So I don't know what
you could do with that
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but, in fact, after
sin entered the world
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many changes came upon
creation, man and animal.
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The other aspect too is
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and this isn't necessarily
what was asked in this question,
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but when it comes to what to eat
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and what not to eat,
a lot of people think
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well, you can eat clean--
the Bible says you can eat
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clean foods, but you
can't eat unclean foods.
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The issue with the
unclean foods wasn't so much
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that you should not eat them
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as that they were
never designed for food.
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God never said that they were
food from the very beginning.
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So as we--you
know, as many contemplate
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eating unclean foods today,
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it's really kind of an
oxymoron, unclean food,
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because the unclean is not food.
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So unclean foods, I have a
difficulty with that phrase.
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It's like saying--well,
I think you said it better.
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I was going to try to
find a parallel to that,
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but it's like unclean
garbage. It's just not food.
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So that's why God
said it's unclean,
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don't touch it, it's not food.
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Well, the other aspect too,
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I was reading in my
devotional this morning
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before I came here
to do our programs.
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And, you know, I'd seen this
and read this many times before
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but the issue came up recently
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so I specifically took
note in Acts 15: 28, 29.
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There are other little things,
you know, people will say,
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well, you know those old
laws that were given to Moses,
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they're not
applicable anymore, right.
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Well, here we find
Paul and we find Barnabas
00:11:00.37\00:11:05.21
who are teaching the
people in the early church
00:11:05.24\00:11:08.37
how to observe the commandments
00:11:08.40\00:11:11.02
and the statute and
the judgments of the Lord.
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And here they say
in verse 28 of Acts 15,
00:11:13.90\00:11:17.51
because there was an
issue over circumcision
00:11:17.54\00:11:20.58
and so they were
going to come back to them
00:11:20.61\00:11:22.37
and they were going
to say-- and they did say
00:11:22.40\00:11:24.37
"For it seemed
good to the Holy Spirit
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and to us to lay
upon you no greater burden
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than these necessary things."
00:11:30.31\00:11:32.25
So we don't
believe and the Holy Spirit
00:11:32.28\00:11:34.91
is not leading us to
lay upon you the burden
00:11:34.94\00:11:37.45
of circumcising
everyone as far as the Gentiles.
00:11:37.48\00:11:40.58
But then it says,
"except these things."
00:11:40.61\00:11:43.26
And listen to the examples
00:11:43.29\00:11:44.80
of what things they
should observe as Christians.
00:11:44.83\00:11:47.94
"That you should abstain
from things offered to idols,
00:11:47.97\00:11:51.54
from blood." Think about it.
00:11:51.57\00:11:55.21
Today, most of the time,
00:11:55.24\00:11:57.58
the church doesn't
even concern itself
00:11:57.61\00:11:59.28
with how they
order their steaks.
00:11:59.31\00:12:02.72
But what seems to
be indicative here
00:12:02.75\00:12:06.24
is that we still should
not eat the blood in the meat.
00:12:06.27\00:12:10.50
So whether, you
know, while, you know,
00:12:10.53\00:12:12.93
meat itself--eating meat
that is clean is not a sin,
00:12:12.96\00:12:17.36
the blood is not permissible
even under the new covenant.
00:12:17.39\00:12:21.49
That's right. Interesting thing.
00:12:21.52\00:12:22.60
So if you're
ordering a steak, medium rare,
00:12:22.63\00:12:25.77
really the Bible's pretty
clear, cook the meat thoroughly.
00:12:25.80\00:12:30.64
Almost kosher as it were. Yeah.
00:12:30.67\00:12:33.53
And that's why they have
the rules of kosher, you know,
00:12:33.56\00:12:36.45
that still are part of
the Jewish dietary laws.
00:12:36.48\00:12:41.70
But here then it goes
on "from things strangled,"
00:12:41.73\00:12:44.42
you know, how are we--
what meats are we eating,
00:12:44.45\00:12:46.84
how are they
killing their animals,
00:12:46.87\00:12:50.20
"and from sexual immorality."
00:12:50.23\00:12:51.58
Well, we always say, well,
that's a given, we know that.
00:12:51.61\00:12:54.33
"If you keep yourselves
from these you will do well."
00:12:54.36\00:12:57.80
So there are dietary laws that
were given to the early church
00:12:57.83\00:13:03.95
in the new covenant
after Christ resurrected
00:13:03.98\00:13:06.34
and went back and ascended
back to His throne that,
00:13:06.37\00:13:09.88
you know, many
teachers just throw out.
00:13:09.91\00:13:13.23
Paul and Barnabas did
not throw those things out.
00:13:13.26\00:13:15.47
So, you know, you got
to be careful when you say,
00:13:15.50\00:13:19.20
well, all of it
doesn't mean anything.
00:13:19.23\00:13:21.10
It's not applicable anymore.
00:13:21.13\00:13:22.83
So there are still dietary laws
00:13:22.86\00:13:25.19
that were given
in the Old Testament
00:13:25.22\00:13:27.17
that still
carry forward to today
00:13:27.20\00:13:29.22
as to how to live healthily
00:13:29.25\00:13:31.50
and to live in
accordance with God's design
00:13:31.53\00:13:34.61
for us in taking
care of our bodies.
00:13:34.64\00:13:36.97
You know, John,
how amazing it is
00:13:37.00\00:13:38.78
and some of you may
see it in this direction,
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.68
how amazing it is that
when the Lord established
00:13:41.71\00:13:44.59
a ceremonial system
that pointed to all the work
00:13:44.62\00:13:47.60
that He would do, you
know, the table of Showbread,
00:13:47.63\00:13:50.18
Jesus is the bread of
life, the candelabra, Jesus,
00:13:50.21\00:13:53.90
the light of the
world, the laver, the water,
00:13:53.93\00:13:56.16
Jesus, the water of life.
00:13:56.19\00:13:58.68
Everything
aspect-- everything in there
00:13:58.71\00:14:00.84
pointing to one
aspect or another.
00:14:00.87\00:14:03.04
The author of
incense, which, in fact,
00:14:03.07\00:14:04.90
is where the prayers
of the saints ascended,
00:14:04.93\00:14:07.16
the Ark of the Covenant, which
inside has the commandments.
00:14:07.19\00:14:11.24
And Aaron's rod that budes
00:14:11.27\00:14:13.00
and on the side of it
has the Book of the Law
00:14:13.03\00:14:16.13
and over the mercy seat
00:14:16.16\00:14:17.81
which you'll also
find in the outer court
00:14:17.84\00:14:19.81
where Jesus was
crucified outside of Jerusalem.
00:14:19.84\00:14:23.05
You find in the outer
court the altar of sacrifice
00:14:23.08\00:14:26.30
where the lamb was
killed and he was roasted.
00:14:26.33\00:14:29.91
And now we have today
when Jesus talked about--
00:14:29.94\00:14:32.56
when the Bible talks about the
Passover in the Old Testament,
00:14:32.59\00:14:35.67
they were to take a lamb
and they would eat all of it
00:14:35.70\00:14:38.60
symbolizing when Jesus says
to Peter in the New Testament
00:14:38.63\00:14:42.53
that he that
has no part with Me,
00:14:42.56\00:14:45.37
He's talking
about the cleanliness
00:14:45.40\00:14:47.81
of the acceptance of
the sacrifice of Christ.
00:14:47.84\00:14:50.26
But the thing that I
point out here is that
00:14:50.29\00:14:53.22
all of the animals used
in the ceremonial system
00:14:53.25\00:14:56.34
had to be clean, in the sense
of not only for consumption
00:14:56.37\00:15:02.58
but for ceremonial purposes,
00:15:02.61\00:15:04.89
because nothing
that was a scavenger
00:15:04.92\00:15:08.03
would represent Jesus.
00:15:08.06\00:15:10.32
Nothing that took
into its body dead things
00:15:10.35\00:15:14.59
or things that were
putrefying or as it were,
00:15:14.62\00:15:18.58
anything that became
a part of the sanitation
00:15:18.61\00:15:21.14
department of God
could not represent Jesus,
00:15:21.17\00:15:25.40
because He's that pure Lamb
00:15:25.43\00:15:27.21
without spot
and without blemish.
00:15:27.24\00:15:29.33
And so today, when you think of
now the temple services of old,
00:15:29.36\00:15:32.83
you must make the connection
00:15:32.86\00:15:33.89
that your body is
the temple of God.
00:15:33.92\00:15:37.03
And the Bible says if
any man defiles the temple,
00:15:37.06\00:15:39.84
him will God destroy.
00:15:39.87\00:15:41.27
For the temple of God is
holy which temple we are.
00:15:41.30\00:15:43.83
So that's where the
clean and the unclean comes in.
00:15:43.86\00:15:46.02
We must be before the Lord as
clean as His earthly temple was.
00:15:46.05\00:15:51.75
So that earthly
temple in the Old Testament,
00:15:51.78\00:15:54.55
we are the temple
now in the New Testament.
00:15:54.58\00:15:57.98
We abide in Christ
and it makes a difference.
00:15:58.01\00:16:02.23
Good point. I think we
got another question too.
00:16:02.26\00:16:05.02
We need to keep
going with our questions
00:16:05.05\00:16:06.31
because this next one
is one that we've had--
00:16:06.34\00:16:10.34
initially we
talked about it before
00:16:10.37\00:16:12.22
and we've had some
follow-up questions to it.
00:16:12.25\00:16:13.86
So, John, why don't
you lead us into that one?
00:16:13.89\00:16:15.72
As a matter of fact, I received
an email from a gentleman
00:16:15.75\00:16:17.92
and I believe
that all the emails
00:16:17.95\00:16:19.42
that we get are very sincere,
00:16:19.45\00:16:21.99
but I want to read a little bit
of it and what I'd like to do,
00:16:22.02\00:16:25.21
John, is not
just on this program,
00:16:25.24\00:16:27.80
but maybe in another program
to follow, address the question.
00:16:27.83\00:16:31.16
As I mentioned some of you like
to send really long questions
00:16:31.19\00:16:34.93
and in some cases, some of
you don't really send questions
00:16:34.96\00:16:39.29
as much as you try
to straighten us out.
00:16:39.32\00:16:42.08
And we welcome those too,
00:16:42.11\00:16:43.61
because I think that
this is a two-way program.
00:16:43.64\00:16:46.78
You are very much a part of it
00:16:46.81\00:16:47.97
and we do
appreciate anything you send.
00:16:48.00\00:16:50.56
Gentleman sent
us a question here
00:16:50.59\00:16:53.10
and I think his name is Fermon,
00:16:53.13\00:16:57.09
a very unique name, I don't know
00:16:57.12\00:16:59.04
where that originates
from but sounds foreign.
00:16:59.07\00:17:02.24
However, he was
concerned about something
00:17:02.27\00:17:05.38
we taught about the 144,000
and the great multitudes,
00:17:05.41\00:17:09.54
a feeling that
it didn't measure up
00:17:09.57\00:17:11.85
with what the
beliefs of the pioneers were
00:17:11.88\00:17:14.89
and in specifics, the issue that
I'm gonna talk about right now
00:17:14.92\00:17:18.84
is Revelation Chapter 7.
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.23
It's quite a long chapter,
00:17:20.26\00:17:22.01
but what I'm going to
hope to do is condense it
00:17:22.04\00:17:25.23
in the context of his question.
00:17:25.26\00:17:28.42
Let me go ahead and
read what he pointed out here
00:17:28.45\00:17:31.07
and then we'll go right to that
and we'll see this together.
00:17:31.10\00:17:35.26
I pointed out that he
mentioned he was concerned
00:17:35.29\00:17:38.25
that what we
said was unscriptural
00:17:38.28\00:17:40.78
and didn't line
up with the pioneers.
00:17:40.81\00:17:42.89
And thank you so much for
that view, appreciate that.
00:17:42.92\00:17:44.77
Speaking of the pioneers of the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:17:44.80\00:17:46.30
Pioneers of the
Seventh-day Adventist church
00:17:46.33\00:17:48.21
and the 'Great
Controversy,' 'Desire of Ages,'
00:17:48.24\00:17:51.02
Ellen White's writings,
and this is what he said
00:17:51.05\00:17:53.33
and this is the question
I want to address first.
00:17:53.36\00:17:56.22
And by the way, if
you have your Bibles
00:17:56.25\00:17:57.54
go with us to
Revelation Chapter 7.
00:17:57.57\00:18:00.44
If you have the King
James, New King James,
00:18:00.47\00:18:02.39
whatever translation
you have, that's just fine,
00:18:02.42\00:18:04.44
because primarily
we're going to condense it
00:18:04.47\00:18:06.87
and, John, you
know, feel free to
00:18:06.90\00:18:09.38
banter back and
forth here with me
00:18:09.41\00:18:11.18
as we address the issue
00:18:11.21\00:18:13.86
that was brought
up in this question.
00:18:13.89\00:18:14.99
He says first--first
in Revelation Chapter7
00:18:15.02\00:18:17.86
by just reading this 17 verses,
3 sections are brought to view.
00:18:17.89\00:18:24.33
That's the first thing
that I don't agree with.
00:18:24.36\00:18:28.48
But he said there are
three sections, not two.
00:18:28.51\00:18:32.69
And I do agree that they
are positions pointed out here,
00:18:32.72\00:18:35.87
but the thing I
want to emphasize
00:18:35.90\00:18:37.12
more than anything
else is there are two groups
00:18:37.15\00:18:39.37
brought to view in chapter 7,
00:18:39.40\00:18:41.89
not three groups,
not three sections.
00:18:41.92\00:18:45.59
Let's go ahead and
continue reading the question.
00:18:45.62\00:18:47.04
I'll continue
reading the question.
00:18:47.07\00:18:49.22
It says verse 1 to 8
deals with the 144,000,
00:18:49.25\00:18:54.77
verse 9 to 12 deals
with the great multitude,
00:18:54.80\00:18:57.76
but then verses 13 to
17, this is what he says,
00:18:57.79\00:19:02.42
deals with another group which
are radiant and white robes
00:19:02.45\00:19:08.08
and on this point is the
key that opens up the truth.
00:19:08.11\00:19:12.31
When the question
was asked in verse 13,
00:19:12.34\00:19:14.62
"Who are these radiant white
robes and whence came they?"
00:19:14.65\00:19:18.85
The answer in verse 14
and 15, this is what he says,
00:19:18.88\00:19:22.62
clearly shows that it
is not the great multitude
00:19:22.65\00:19:26.59
that the elder was referring to,
00:19:26.62\00:19:30.52
who were sealed from the earth
mentioned in verses 1 to 8.
00:19:30.55\00:19:35.34
Why? Here's his reasoning.
00:19:35.37\00:19:38.14
Because by
reading verses 14 and 15,
00:19:38.17\00:19:40.69
they are said to be
serving God in His temple
00:19:40.72\00:19:43.24
which only the 144,000 would
do, not the great multitude.
00:19:43.27\00:19:46.97
And also that they shall come
out of the great tribulation
00:19:47.00\00:19:50.40
which refers to the
time of Jacob's trouble
00:19:50.43\00:19:53.55
that the 144,000
must pass through
00:19:53.58\00:19:56.12
before the
second coming of Christ.
00:19:56.15\00:19:58.56
And verse 16
refers to their experience
00:19:58.59\00:20:01.42
during the seven last plagues
00:20:01.45\00:20:03.46
that they had to pass
through which corresponding
00:20:03.49\00:20:06.80
reward mentioned in verse 17
00:20:06.83\00:20:10.30
or with corresponding
reward mentioned in verse 17.
00:20:10.33\00:20:13.59
Okay, let me break it down.
00:20:13.62\00:20:15.50
Here's the thing
thant I don't agree with him
00:20:15.53\00:20:17.40
and this is the reason
I'm sharing this with you.
00:20:17.43\00:20:20.13
What I'm going to do now
is read the very division,
00:20:20.16\00:20:22.74
John, that he
pointed out happens.
00:20:22.77\00:20:24.82
He says that up
to verse 12, 9 to 12,
00:20:24.85\00:20:28.38
he says is referring
just to the great multitude.
00:20:28.41\00:20:31.54
Now we did not
disagree that verse 1 to 8
00:20:31.57\00:20:33.83
is referring to the
144,000. That's very clear.
00:20:33.86\00:20:37.44
But you'll find these two words,
00:20:37.47\00:20:39.22
let's begin with verse
9 of Revelation Chapter 7.
00:20:39.25\00:20:42.24
It starts with these two words,
00:20:42.27\00:20:45.23
"After these things," that's
in the King James version,
00:20:45.26\00:20:49.59
in the New King James version
you find the word or the phrase
00:20:49.62\00:20:52.36
"after this," all right.
00:20:52.39\00:20:55.30
It says--or the
other way around,
00:20:55.33\00:20:57.69
"After these things
I looked and behold,
00:20:57.72\00:20:59.92
a great multitude
which no one could number."
00:20:59.95\00:21:02.80
First observation, one
group could be numbered,
00:21:02.83\00:21:06.22
the other one
cannot be numbered.
00:21:06.25\00:21:08.36
And by the way that's consistent
and the person that's addressing
00:21:08.39\00:21:11.66
this is a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:21:11.69\00:21:12.72
that's consistent
with the Bible commentary.
00:21:12.75\00:21:16.31
A group that can be numbered,
00:21:16.34\00:21:17.96
another group that
cannot be numbered.
00:21:17.99\00:21:20.16
All right, let's continue.
00:21:20.19\00:21:22.19
And where is this
group coming from?
00:21:22.22\00:21:23.53
Notice another
point, "Of all nations,"
00:21:23.56\00:21:28.54
middle of verse 9,
"tribes, peoples and tongues
00:21:28.57\00:21:31.65
standing before the
throne and before the Lamb."
00:21:31.68\00:21:34.98
That's where they are.
00:21:35.01\00:21:36.04
First of all, they're
made up of all the nations,
00:21:36.07\00:21:38.05
all the tribes, all the tongues,
00:21:38.08\00:21:39.57
all the people as
compared to the 144,000
00:21:39.60\00:21:43.68
made up of the 12 tribes
of the children of Israel,
00:21:43.71\00:21:46.50
clearly once again
showing that they are separate.
00:21:46.53\00:21:49.28
But this is the part
that, he pointed out this,
00:21:49.31\00:21:51.23
he says the group that's talked
00:21:51.26\00:21:53.47
about in verse
13 has white robes,
00:21:53.50\00:21:55.63
that's why they cannot
represent the great multitude.
00:21:55.66\00:21:58.10
Well, that point is
refuted right away in verse 9.
00:21:58.13\00:22:02.29
It's there as I'll read
verse 9 altogether again.
00:22:02.32\00:22:05.18
"After these things I looked
and behold a great multitude
00:22:05.21\00:22:07.66
which no one could
number of all nations, tribes,
00:22:07.69\00:22:10.33
peoples and tongues
standing before the throne
00:22:10.36\00:22:13.05
and before the Lamb
clothed with white robes
00:22:13.08\00:22:16.98
and palm
branches in their hands."
00:22:17.01\00:22:20.09
So when you say in verse
13 that the great multitude
00:22:20.12\00:22:24.93
doesn't have on white robes,
that's how they are dressed.
00:22:24.96\00:22:27.19
That's how they are introduced,
as having on white robes.
00:22:27.22\00:22:31.15
You know, the
other way to see this too
00:22:31.18\00:22:32.81
and I know you're
probably getting there
00:22:32.84\00:22:34.46
is verses 9 through 12 picture
the great multitude in heaven.
00:22:34.49\00:22:40.12
Verses 13 and 17 is the question
about where they came from
00:22:40.15\00:22:44.19
which is really what's
being dealt with in chapter 7.
00:22:44.22\00:22:48.10
So in 13 to 17, John is giving
the answers to where this group
00:22:48.13\00:22:53.58
that was pictured in
heaven comes from and puts them,
00:22:53.61\00:22:57.88
that great multitude, it
puts them back on the earth
00:22:57.91\00:23:00.13
during the great tribulation,
00:23:00.16\00:23:03.62
okay, which is such
a time as never was,
00:23:03.65\00:23:05.77
which is still to come.
00:23:05.80\00:23:07.93
So these are right in harmony
with Adventist basic teaching
00:23:07.96\00:23:10.91
on the 144,000 and
the great multitude.
00:23:10.94\00:23:13.79
Thank you, John,
but now let's go on
00:23:13.82\00:23:15.45
because verse 10
down to verse 12,
00:23:15.48\00:23:18.80
to the end of verse
12, verse 9 describes
00:23:18.83\00:23:23.00
this multitude that
no one could remember
00:23:23.03\00:23:26.07
having on white robes, but
then now verse 10 to verse12
00:23:26.10\00:23:29.97
describes what they are
doing, okay, showing clearly,
00:23:30.00\00:23:34.01
"And crying with
a loud voice saying,
00:23:34.04\00:23:36.09
'Salvation belongs to our God,
00:23:36.12\00:23:38.04
who sits on the
throne and to the Lamb.'
00:23:38.07\00:23:41.14
And all the angels
stood around the throne
00:23:41.17\00:23:42.85
and the elders and
the four living creatures
00:23:42.88\00:23:44.48
and fell on their
faces before the throne
00:23:44.51\00:23:46.35
and worshipped God saying,
00:23:46.38\00:23:48.65
'Amen, blessing
and glory and wisdom,
00:23:48.68\00:23:53.26
thanksgiving and
honor and power and might
00:23:53.29\00:23:56.08
be to our God
forever and ever, amen.'"
00:23:56.11\00:23:59.59
Okay, so verse 10 down to
verse 12 describes this scene
00:23:59.62\00:24:04.53
that the great
multitude are part of.
00:24:04.56\00:24:05.99
They're praising God, the
24 elders are praising God,
00:24:06.02\00:24:09.37
the four living creatures
are praising God in heaven.
00:24:09.40\00:24:13.38
But now here's the question
00:24:13.41\00:24:14.87
and the question I suggest you
00:24:14.90\00:24:16.20
is not about the
four living creatures
00:24:16.23\00:24:18.12
and not about the 24 elders
because they're already there.
00:24:18.15\00:24:21.37
It can't be about them.
00:24:21.40\00:24:22.79
Nobody else is
introduced into the scenario
00:24:22.82\00:24:24.65
except the next group,
00:24:24.68\00:24:26.21
the multitude that
no one could remember.
00:24:26.24\00:24:28.57
And look what it says--
00:24:28.60\00:24:29.73
and to make sure that
it's referring to that group,
00:24:29.76\00:24:31.67
it also brings in the fact
that they have on white robes.
00:24:31.70\00:24:34.35
Referring to that
group he already saw.
00:24:34.38\00:24:37.13
Notice this and it says,
00:24:37.16\00:24:39.97
"Then one of the
elders answered saying to me,
00:24:40.00\00:24:42.84
'Who are these
arrayed in white robes
00:24:42.87\00:24:46.53
and where did they come from?'"
00:24:46.56\00:24:50.14
Well, how do we
make the connection?
00:24:50.17\00:24:51.87
Verse 13 and verse 9,
both mention white robes
00:24:51.90\00:24:57.03
and verse 9
introduces the multitude
00:24:57.06\00:24:58.80
that no one could
number in white robes.
00:24:58.83\00:25:02.54
And by the way if
you were to read down
00:25:02.57\00:25:04.17
from verse 1 down to verse 4,
00:25:04.20\00:25:07.57
you will not see the 144,000
00:25:07.60\00:25:10.21
referred to as
having on white robes.
00:25:10.24\00:25:16.44
Okay, I just did a pause
there, just to double check,
00:25:16.47\00:25:19.05
not having on white robes.
00:25:19.08\00:25:20.71
So the only group
mentioned in chapter 7
00:25:20.74\00:25:22.55
with white robes, not
saying the 144,000 don't have it
00:25:22.58\00:25:26.77
but they are not mentioned
here with it on, all right.
00:25:26.80\00:25:29.12
So now let's go again.
00:25:29.15\00:25:31.01
Look at the answer, verse 14
00:25:31.04\00:25:33.01
"And I said to
him, 'Sir, you know.'
00:25:33.04\00:25:35.12
So he said to me
'These are the ones
00:25:35.15\00:25:37.43
who come out of
the great tribulation
00:25:37.46\00:25:39.79
and wash their
robes and made them white
00:25:39.82\00:25:42.11
in the blood of the Lamb.'"
00:25:42.14\00:25:43.58
Therefore again, once
again, this group talked about
00:25:43.61\00:25:46.70
in verse 9
having on white robes,
00:25:46.73\00:25:49.00
how did their robes get white?
00:25:49.03\00:25:51.49
It says they made them
white in the blood of the Lamb.
00:25:51.52\00:25:54.33
Now here's the thing
that really must be addressed,
00:25:54.36\00:25:57.40
because it says the 144,000 pass
through the great tribulation
00:25:57.43\00:26:03.40
and when let me add
this, the great multitude
00:26:03.43\00:26:05.69
come out of the
great tribulation.
00:26:05.72\00:26:08.40
That's where you
find the separation.
00:26:08.43\00:26:09.72
I think that he didn't
make that connection there,
00:26:09.75\00:26:12.18
because he pointed out
here, and verse 17 or verse 16
00:26:12.21\00:26:15.33
refers to their experience
during the seven last plagues
00:26:15.36\00:26:18.07
that they had to pass through
00:26:18.10\00:26:19.66
with the corresponding
reward mentioned in verse 17.
00:26:19.69\00:26:23.70
And also he said that the
144,000 must pass through,
00:26:23.73\00:26:27.11
that is, the great tribulation.
00:26:27.14\00:26:28.62
I fully agree with the fact
that they must pass through,
00:26:28.65\00:26:31.34
they pass through
the great tribulation
00:26:31.37\00:26:33.26
but who comes out of the great
tribulation is the question.
00:26:33.29\00:26:37.29
And that's the group that comes
out of the great tribulation,
00:26:37.32\00:26:40.45
the multitude that
no one could number.
00:26:40.48\00:26:42.99
Good, I like the way
you put that together.
00:26:43.02\00:26:44.66
I think it's very
clear, but that's good,
00:26:44.69\00:26:47.41
the word we often don't use
00:26:47.44\00:26:50.09
that is so
important is exegesis.
00:26:50.12\00:26:55.60
And we were talking about
this even before the program,
00:26:55.63\00:26:57.27
how you've got to take
the text and pull out of it
00:26:57.30\00:27:01.56
what the text is actually saying
00:27:01.59\00:27:03.81
rather than trying to
read a view into the text.
00:27:03.84\00:27:06.57
So when they do that
they arrive at a conclusion
00:27:06.60\00:27:09.02
and they try to read
that into the text, eisegesis.
00:27:09.05\00:27:12.79
So a good exegetical
look at this passage,
00:27:12.82\00:27:16.30
I think you've covered that.
00:27:16.33\00:27:18.04
Another point to add to
this just to help understand
00:27:18.07\00:27:21.16
that these two groups are
clearly evident, not three,
00:27:21.19\00:27:24.63
and we gloss right over this.
00:27:24.66\00:27:26.78
I have a sermon actually I
did fairly recently on this
00:27:26.81\00:27:29.14
and I did some good study on it.
00:27:29.17\00:27:30.65
Look at the firth seal.
00:27:30.68\00:27:32.63
Okay, let's go
to the fifth seal.
00:27:32.66\00:27:34.42
Tell our listeners
and viewers where we are.
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.18
The fifth seal which
is Revelation Chapter 6
00:27:36.21\00:27:39.30
beginning with
verse 9. Okay, verse 9.
00:27:39.33\00:27:40.93
Now the sixth seal,
before we read the fifth seal,
00:27:40.96\00:27:43.39
the sixth seal is
the great tribulation.
00:27:43.42\00:27:46.07
You can't mistake
that when you read it,
00:27:46.10\00:27:47.72
because it talks about how
the great earthquake begins.
00:27:47.75\00:27:50.23
It's the beginning of it.
00:27:50.26\00:27:51.29
The sun becomes black,
the moon becomes like blood,
00:27:51.32\00:27:53.40
the stars of
heaven fall to the earth,
00:27:53.43\00:27:56.01
the sky recedes as a
scroll and all the things
00:27:56.04\00:27:58.60
we know
historically that are leading up
00:27:58.63\00:28:00.69
to the second coming of Christ.
00:28:00.72\00:28:01.88
But look at this, verse 9
talking about the fifth seal.
00:28:01.91\00:28:05.75
"He opened the fifth seal
00:28:05.78\00:28:06.93
and I saw under
the altar the souls
00:28:06.96\00:28:08.29
of those who had been
slain for the word of God
00:28:08.32\00:28:10.22
and for the
testimony which they held."
00:28:10.25\00:28:11.68
Now most of the time
we spend on the fifth seal
00:28:11.71\00:28:14.14
is usually
answering that part of it.
00:28:14.17\00:28:16.56
Because these
souls are under the altar
00:28:16.59\00:28:19.00
and they are slain
for the word of God
00:28:19.03\00:28:22.25
and for the
testimony which they held.
00:28:22.28\00:28:24.43
And, you know, we know
that these souls aren't literal
00:28:24.46\00:28:27.01
people confined
underneath the altar,
00:28:27.04\00:28:30.04
but this is their martyred blood
that still cries out to God,
00:28:30.07\00:28:33.50
their prayers that
ascended to God at the time
00:28:33.53\00:28:35.65
they were going through
this terrible persecution
00:28:35.68\00:28:37.44
and the tribulation they went
through still appear before God
00:28:37.47\00:28:41.57
at the altar of incense
and he wants to avenge them
00:28:41.60\00:28:45.14
and that's what
the rest of it says.
00:28:45.17\00:28:46.51
Look at this, verse 10,
00:28:46.54\00:28:48.32
"And they cried with
a loud voice, saying,
00:28:48.35\00:28:49.55
'How long, O
Lord, holy and true,
00:28:49.58\00:28:52.74
until you judge
and avenge our blood
00:28:52.77\00:28:54.74
on those who
dwell on the earth?'"
00:28:54.77\00:28:57.67
Now look at this verse
11, "When the white robe"--
00:28:57.70\00:29:02.11
Read that again.
00:29:02.14\00:29:03.55
"When a white robe,"
white robe, now notice that
00:29:03.58\00:29:07.67
"was given to each of them
00:29:07.70\00:29:11.80
and it was said to
them that they should rest
00:29:11.83\00:29:15.32
a little while
longer until both,"
00:29:15.35\00:29:19.65
there are two things
that are going to happen,
00:29:19.68\00:29:21.00
before this white robe
00:29:21.03\00:29:23.59
or the white
robe is given to them
00:29:23.62\00:29:25.23
so they could have
that white robe guaranteed
00:29:25.26\00:29:27.90
of what will happen so these--
before these two things happen.
00:29:27.93\00:29:31.59
So there's two things
that are gonna happen.
00:29:31.62\00:29:33.05
"Both the number of
their fellow servants
00:29:33.08\00:29:37.39
and their brethren who
would be killed as they were,
00:29:37.42\00:29:41.21
was completed," two things.
00:29:41.24\00:29:44.19
Do you know that that
verse also can be translated
00:29:44.22\00:29:46.32
as their fellow
servants in number?
00:29:46.35\00:29:50.58
That's a very good
point. That's--until the--yeah--
00:29:50.61\00:29:53.27
What are the only
servants that are identified
00:29:53.30\00:29:55.85
in the Book of
Revelation that are numbered?
00:29:55.88\00:29:58.42
The 144,000. 144,000.
00:29:58.45\00:30:00.69
So there's fellow servants
in number and their brethren
00:30:00.72\00:30:04.05
who would be killed as
they were, was completed.
00:30:04.08\00:30:07.73
Two groups identified
that they had to wait for
00:30:07.76\00:30:11.64
before the blood would
be avenged that was shed
00:30:11.67\00:30:15.64
because of their
faithfulness to God.
00:30:15.67\00:30:18.53
Then the very next--
come on, the very next chapter
00:30:18.56\00:30:21.04
we're seeing a number
identified, the 144,000
00:30:21.07\00:30:25.10
and we're seeing a group
who go through great tribulation
00:30:25.13\00:30:28.34
who'd be killed as they
were as this verse says,
00:30:28.37\00:30:30.85
both of them identified in this.
00:30:30.88\00:30:33.96
That's right
because the word both.
00:30:33.99\00:30:35.66
Both.
00:30:35.69\00:30:36.72
There are two groups.
00:30:36.75\00:30:37.78
You've got to pay
attention to the comma.
00:30:37.81\00:30:38.94
I think the comma
is placed in the right,
00:30:38.97\00:30:40.84
in the accurate spot here.
00:30:40.87\00:30:42.81
"Both the number of
their fellow servants
00:30:42.84\00:30:45.80
and their brethren who
will be killed as they were,
00:30:45.83\00:30:48.86
was completed."
00:30:48.89\00:30:51.46
Key. Very key.
00:30:51.49\00:30:53.40
And this is
found in the fifth seal
00:30:53.43\00:30:54.94
before the sixth
seal actually unfolds
00:30:54.97\00:30:58.16
before the great
tribulation occurs.
00:30:58.19\00:31:01.49
So I would suggest to you
00:31:01.52\00:31:03.73
that if the number of the
fellow servants was completed,
00:31:03.76\00:31:06.40
that they had been sealed
00:31:06.43\00:31:07.50
by the time you finally
see the sixth seal opened,
00:31:07.53\00:31:12.01
that's what that tells me.
00:31:12.04\00:31:13.33
So and look at this.
00:31:13.36\00:31:14.43
The first four seals are
definitely four horsemen.
00:31:14.46\00:31:19.28
The sixth seal is definitely
the great tribulation.
00:31:19.31\00:31:22.57
The sixth seal seems
to be a pause to tell us
00:31:22.60\00:31:25.77
that something
important is going to happen
00:31:25.80\00:31:27.71
or needs to happen
before the great tribulation.
00:31:27.74\00:31:31.00
No argument there.
00:31:31.03\00:31:32.06
And then when you
have the sixth seal unfold
00:31:32.09\00:31:34.87
and then you get
to this chapter 7,
00:31:34.90\00:31:36.92
you see in more detail
what happened in the pause
00:31:36.95\00:31:40.04
before the great tribulation.
00:31:40.07\00:31:41.63
Boom.
00:31:41.66\00:31:42.69
Okay, I can't argue with that.
00:31:42.72\00:31:44.76
I mean, I get excited about this
00:31:44.79\00:31:47.55
because the more we
read the Book of Revelation
00:31:47.58\00:31:51.52
and I think you are
about to cover this too,
00:31:51.55\00:31:53.12
the more truth, the
more stuff we begin to see
00:31:53.15\00:31:57.12
that God is revealing to us
00:31:57.15\00:31:59.20
and to those who are
diligent and faithful studying,
00:31:59.23\00:32:02.18
the studiers of this book,
00:32:02.21\00:32:06.39
that the reward
and the blessing comes.
00:32:06.42\00:32:08.68
Anyway, I just think it's
so consistent and so powerful
00:32:08.71\00:32:11.29
as you read this
that actually occurs.
00:32:11.32\00:32:13.67
So in many respects
those who hold the view
00:32:13.70\00:32:17.01
that this man-- and I know
probably with good intentions.
00:32:17.04\00:32:19.66
We're not talking
about his intentions at all,
00:32:19.69\00:32:21.71
but those that hold the view,
00:32:21.74\00:32:23.07
we find that there's a
bit of a breakdown in that
00:32:23.10\00:32:25.49
if you read in this context
the entirety of the scriptures
00:32:25.52\00:32:29.55
that read up to or
lead up to chapter 7.
00:32:29.58\00:32:31.67
That's right.
00:32:31.70\00:32:32.73
Coming up to the point,
that's why it's important
00:32:32.76\00:32:34.49
when you look at
the larger picture,
00:32:34.52\00:32:37.89
and this what
we're talking about here
00:32:37.92\00:32:38.95
and not just the
dissected portion of it,
00:32:38.98\00:32:41.04
each component is a
part of the larger picture.
00:32:41.07\00:32:43.11
We understand
that and know that,
00:32:43.14\00:32:44.68
but when you start taking
into consideration what's there
00:32:44.71\00:32:49.31
and then adding
what is not there
00:32:49.34\00:32:51.36
is where the challenge comes in.
00:32:51.39\00:32:52.97
Another question
I'd like to throw out
00:32:53.00\00:32:54.13
and maybe somebody could
respond to this question,
00:32:54.16\00:32:57.02
does the sealing take
place before the shaking
00:32:57.05\00:33:00.51
or does the sealing
take place after the shaking?
00:33:00.54\00:33:03.57
I'd like to look forward to
your response to that question.
00:33:03.60\00:33:05.91
Another one, the
great tribulation
00:33:05.94\00:33:07.84
talked about in
Revelation Chapter 7,
00:33:07.87\00:33:11.33
is that ahead of us or
has it already happened?
00:33:11.36\00:33:14.59
Third question, is
the worst behind us
00:33:14.62\00:33:16.93
or is the worst ahead of us?
00:33:16.96\00:33:18.86
And so those are
some of the things
00:33:18.89\00:33:20.11
that I'd like you to--
00:33:20.14\00:33:21.17
and the reason I
throw that out there is
00:33:21.20\00:33:22.40
because in your study you'll
discover that some of the things
00:33:22.43\00:33:26.37
that you may
have taken for granted
00:33:26.40\00:33:28.68
are spoken of in Scripture
as well as for those of you
00:33:28.71\00:33:32.44
who read the
writings of Ellen White
00:33:32.47\00:33:34.06
are expounded clearly there
00:33:34.09\00:33:36.39
and the further understanding
or as she would say,
00:33:36.42\00:33:39.53
"greater light" is
being shed on these topics
00:33:39.56\00:33:42.48
than many head up to
this particular point,
00:33:42.51\00:33:45.10
even held on to.
00:33:45.13\00:33:46.24
Let me just throw
this one out there, John,
00:33:46.27\00:33:47.84
for those who are
diligent Bible students
00:33:47.87\00:33:49.44
or those who study the
writings of Ellen White
00:33:49.47\00:33:53.74
because I've studied
for many, many years,
00:33:53.77\00:33:55.98
even long before I was
a pastor I studied that,
00:33:56.01\00:33:58.74
but I also like to
throw this question out
00:33:58.77\00:34:01.08
and you send this back to
me, Revelation Chapter 13,
00:34:01.11\00:34:04.30
there are two beasts mentioned
there in Revelation Chapter 13.
00:34:04.33\00:34:07.93
If you have the time to do that
send me what you've concluded.
00:34:07.96\00:34:11.75
This is the second beast
of Revelation Chapter 13.
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.60
I'd like to find out
what you've come up with.
00:34:14.63\00:34:15.67
If I leave that there to
hang out, I'll do little bit.
00:34:15.70\00:34:17.81
You know, I would suggest too,
00:34:17.84\00:34:19.02
this is a great place
to go to Facebook fan page
00:34:19.05\00:34:21.23
and under discussion to
throw out your comments on that.
00:34:21.26\00:34:24.73
Yeah, but don't forget
our 'House calls' page.
00:34:24.76\00:34:27.01
No, no, no, I'm not
suggesting that at all,
00:34:27.04\00:34:29.18
because that's where we deal
with our questions and stuff,
00:34:29.21\00:34:31.04
but in ongoing dialogue,
00:34:31.07\00:34:32.80
we will be in that fan
page doing some dialogues.
00:34:32.83\00:34:35.17
We are doing the J-best thing,
00:34:35.20\00:34:36.35
we are expanding our borders.
00:34:36.38\00:34:38.08
Appreciate you very much.
00:34:38.11\00:34:39.14
So if you have any questions,
00:34:39.17\00:34:40.32
I think we are going
to wind up here today,
00:34:40.35\00:34:42.01
so we could dive into our topic.
00:34:42.04\00:34:43.71
If you have any questions,
00:34:43.74\00:34:44.77
I know we have
agitated some things today here
00:34:44.80\00:34:46.37
in your mind and
in your thinking,
00:34:46.40\00:34:48.00
send your questions
to housecalls@3abn.org,
00:34:48.03\00:34:51.30
that's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:34:51.33\00:34:53.75
And we will try our
best to do justice to it
00:34:53.78\00:34:57.39
as we answer
from the word of God.
00:34:57.42\00:34:58.78
And for those of you
00:34:58.81\00:34:59.84
who are students of
extra biblical writings
00:34:59.87\00:35:02.40
we will be glad
to address that also.
00:35:02.43\00:35:04.18
Thank you so much.
00:35:04.21\00:35:05.34
Now, John, we are
going to divide-- not divide,
00:35:05.37\00:35:08.10
but dive into our topic
00:35:08.13\00:35:10.34
and so go ahead
and lead us into that
00:35:10.37\00:35:12.05
since I did a lot
of talking already.
00:35:12.08\00:35:13.21
Well, this is part
two of our study on hell.
00:35:13.24\00:35:18.01
And, you know, there's
different misconceptions
00:35:18.04\00:35:20.85
that we find out
there in the world
00:35:20.88\00:35:22.31
taught by many Christian groups.
00:35:22.34\00:35:25.52
And so we're trying to clarify
what the Bible says about hell
00:35:25.55\00:35:29.15
and also some of
those common misconceptions
00:35:29.18\00:35:31.26
and I think the last time we
talked a bit about how hell is--
00:35:31.29\00:35:38.21
hell is something that is
00:35:38.24\00:35:40.53
frequently spoken
of in the scriptures,
00:35:40.56\00:35:42.84
but we don't find
anywhere in those verses
00:35:42.87\00:35:48.54
or at least in the study so far
00:35:48.57\00:35:50.87
where it indicates
that hell is burning now,
00:35:50.90\00:35:53.90
that it is a place that is
deep in the bowels of the earth
00:35:53.93\00:35:58.76
or that Satan is in charge of,
00:35:58.79\00:36:01.14
that is burning right
now or it's hot right now.
00:36:01.17\00:36:04.63
So we did not find any verse
at least leading up to that--
00:36:04.66\00:36:07.62
to that kind of conclusion.
00:36:07.65\00:36:10.06
But there are some questions
that we haven't answered yet
00:36:10.09\00:36:13.15
and we are going to try
and cover some of these things
00:36:13.18\00:36:15.70
and I believe we left also in--
00:36:15.73\00:36:17.95
we covered briefly
Revelation Chapter 20
00:36:17.98\00:36:20.94
and we're going
to go back there,
00:36:20.97\00:36:22.68
pick up kind of
where we left off,
00:36:22.71\00:36:25.03
kind of recap some
of what we talked about
00:36:25.06\00:36:27.68
and then I think
that will take us then
00:36:27.71\00:36:29.11
to the next step of
where we want to go.
00:36:29.14\00:36:30.69
Sounds good to me.
00:36:30.72\00:36:31.75
So let's go to
Revelation Chapter 20.
00:36:31.78\00:36:33.63
And since we're
already in Revelation,
00:36:33.66\00:36:35.83
just turn over
with us to a few--
00:36:35.86\00:36:37.23
Yes, just a few
verses to your right.
00:36:37.26\00:36:41.85
All right, so if you take a
look at Revelation Chapter 20--
00:36:41.88\00:36:44.93
first of all, Chapter 19 talks
about the return of Christ.
00:36:44.96\00:36:48.78
Then we get to
Revelation Chapter 20
00:36:48.81\00:36:51.11
and the first three verses there
00:36:51.14\00:36:53.41
talking about how Satan
has then grabbed a hold of,
00:36:53.44\00:36:57.20
how he's bound by this chain
00:36:57.23\00:36:59.94
and we talked
about the bottomless pit
00:36:59.97\00:37:02.32
and here bottomless pit
is referring to the abyss
00:37:02.35\00:37:05.51
which is really the condition,
00:37:05.54\00:37:07.10
also discussed as the
condition of the world
00:37:07.13\00:37:10.27
that was at the very beginning
00:37:10.30\00:37:12.16
as God began to create it when
nothing quite was on it yet,
00:37:12.19\00:37:15.12
but He began to create.
00:37:15.15\00:37:16.33
It was kind of
in an abyss state.
00:37:16.36\00:37:18.84
God's Spirit
hovered over the deep,
00:37:18.87\00:37:20.75
the deep referring
to this nothingness.
00:37:20.78\00:37:24.38
And then, of course, Isaiah
talks about how the earth he saw
00:37:24.41\00:37:27.19
was without form and
void on the face of the earth
00:37:27.22\00:37:31.32
which we did touch on last time,
00:37:31.35\00:37:32.69
but here the devil then is
bound to this bottomless pit,
00:37:32.72\00:37:35.67
this abyss state of the earth.
00:37:35.70\00:37:38.57
But then go on to
verse 4 where it says that,
00:37:38.60\00:37:42.72
"I saw thrones
and they sat on them
00:37:42.75\00:37:45.25
and judgment was
committed to them
00:37:45.28\00:37:46.76
and I saw the souls of those
00:37:46.79\00:37:47.93
who had been beheaded
for the witness to Jesus--
00:37:47.96\00:37:50.49
their witness to Jesus
and for the word of God,
00:37:50.52\00:37:54.23
who had not worshipped
the beast or his image
00:37:54.26\00:37:56.97
and had not received his mark on
their forehead or on their hands
00:37:57.00\00:38:00.16
and they lived and reigned
00:38:00.19\00:38:01.22
with the Christ
for a thousand years."
00:38:01.25\00:38:03.88
Clearly a thousand years
of them being with Christ,
00:38:03.91\00:38:06.22
not Christ coming
down to be with them.
00:38:06.25\00:38:09.44
You know, we may have
touched on this point,
00:38:09.47\00:38:11.26
but it's worth saying again
00:38:11.29\00:38:12.85
that the thousand
years of peace have,
00:38:12.88\00:38:15.62
John, they have not begun yet.
00:38:15.65\00:38:18.16
We are not in a period right now
00:38:18.19\00:38:20.19
where there is a
thousand years of peace.
00:38:20.22\00:38:21.86
I don't think anybody
would argue with that.
00:38:21.89\00:38:23.43
That's amazing.
00:38:23.46\00:38:24.50
Yeah, and more than that,
00:38:24.53\00:38:26.30
this doesn't seem to indicate
that the thousand years of peace
00:38:26.33\00:38:28.48
will even be on
this earth, right.
00:38:28.51\00:38:31.40
I mean it seems to me
that Jesus comes down,
00:38:31.43\00:38:34.54
John 14:1-3, "I will
come to receive you to Myself
00:38:34.57\00:38:38.43
and where I am
there you will be also."
00:38:38.46\00:38:41.07
Not where you are
there I will be also.
00:38:41.10\00:38:43.25
So He's not coming to join
us, we are going to join Him.
00:38:43.28\00:38:45.23
He's coming down to
pick us up to join Him.
00:38:45.26\00:38:47.86
And that's what
this is talking about,
00:38:47.89\00:38:49.67
how the saints will reign with
Christ for a thousand years.
00:38:49.70\00:38:52.35
And that's where we
pick this story up here.
00:38:52.38\00:38:56.34
What's wonderful about
that exposition is this
00:38:56.37\00:38:59.33
and I want to
just reiterate that
00:38:59.36\00:39:01.35
so the point doesn't
get sailed over your head
00:39:01.38\00:39:03.58
is there is a post-tribulation,
pre-millennialism.
00:39:03.61\00:39:10.42
Big words, don't choke on those.
00:39:10.45\00:39:12.53
Then there's pre-tribulation,
00:39:12.56\00:39:14.90
pre-millennialism,
which simply means,
00:39:14.93\00:39:17.95
post-tribulation,
pre-millennialists believe
00:39:17.98\00:39:21.26
that after the tribulation and
before the millennium starts,
00:39:21.29\00:39:25.11
Jesus is going to come.
00:39:25.14\00:39:27.72
We are post-tribulation,
pre-millennialists.
00:39:27.75\00:39:30.88
We believe that
after the tribulation
00:39:30.91\00:39:32.95
and before the millennium,
00:39:32.98\00:39:35.19
Jesus is going to return.
00:39:35.22\00:39:38.24
Well, there are
pre-tribulations,
00:39:38.27\00:39:40.07
pre-millennialists
that believe the rapture,
00:39:40.10\00:39:42.76
the secret rapture
is going to take place
00:39:42.79\00:39:45.53
before the tribulation
00:39:45.56\00:39:47.86
and before the actual
visible coming of Christ.
00:39:47.89\00:39:51.98
So they believe in
this secret snatching away
00:39:52.01\00:39:54.68
which is a proponent
that is espoused by many
00:39:54.71\00:39:57.60
who read books
like 'Left Behind.'
00:39:57.63\00:40:01.69
And I've always
said, tongue-in-cheek,
00:40:01.72\00:40:03.28
the truth has been left behind.
00:40:03.31\00:40:05.46
But in this same thing,
00:40:05.49\00:40:09.11
you find that they also have
an unusual view of what hell is,
00:40:09.14\00:40:14.53
in the same sense, that
same group believes that hell,
00:40:14.56\00:40:18.51
and I'm not making
this a blanket statement,
00:40:18.54\00:40:21.02
but many evangelicals believe
00:40:21.05\00:40:23.26
that hell is a place
of never ending torment,
00:40:23.29\00:40:27.48
never ending torture.
00:40:27.51\00:40:29.62
A fire is burning the wicked
and they're writhing in pain,
00:40:29.65\00:40:33.60
and as the Bible
says, in anguish,
00:40:33.63\00:40:37.11
men gnashing their teeth
00:40:37.14\00:40:40.80
forever and ever
and ever and ever.
00:40:40.83\00:40:43.93
And they often put
it in this context,
00:40:43.96\00:40:51.50
oh, let's go--
00:40:51.53\00:40:52.85
well, I'll get
to that eventually,
00:40:52.88\00:40:54.97
but let's go ahead and look
at the very next verse, verse 5.
00:40:55.00\00:40:58.03
Because you find that there's
another group introduced here
00:40:58.06\00:41:00.63
which would take us
to the topic of hell,
00:41:00.66\00:41:02.80
which is asking us the question,
00:41:02.83\00:41:04.79
where did the first group
00:41:04.82\00:41:06.04
that is talked
about as being in heaven,
00:41:06.07\00:41:08.17
reigning with
Christ a thousand years,
00:41:08.20\00:41:09.49
where did they come from
00:41:09.52\00:41:11.55
and where is the second
group going to come from,
00:41:11.58\00:41:14.79
that's talked
about it in verse 5.
00:41:14.82\00:41:15.92
Why don't you take
us to verse 5, John?
00:41:15.95\00:41:17.92
Verse 5 says "The rest of
the dead did not live again
00:41:17.95\00:41:22.13
until the thousand
years were finished.
00:41:22.16\00:41:24.52
This is the first resurrection."
00:41:24.55\00:41:26.35
So speaking of verses 4 and 5
00:41:26.38\00:41:29.33
is in the context of
the first resurrection,
00:41:29.36\00:41:31.87
that is, that the saints
that are sleeping in Jesus,
00:41:31.90\00:41:35.50
that they were resurrected
to live and reign with Him
00:41:35.53\00:41:38.05
for a thousand years in heaven,
00:41:38.08\00:41:40.10
but the rest of the dead,
00:41:40.13\00:41:41.16
the wicked that do
not sleep in Jesus,
00:41:41.19\00:41:43.42
did not rise, they did
not experience a resurrection,
00:41:43.45\00:41:48.14
they remained dead.
00:41:48.17\00:41:49.65
That's right.
00:41:49.68\00:41:50.71
That's why verse 6
is so vitally important.
00:41:50.74\00:41:52.13
It makes the connection
between those two verses.
00:41:52.16\00:41:53.89
Continue.
00:41:53.92\00:41:54.95
"Blessed and holy is he who has
part in the first resurrection.
00:41:54.98\00:41:59.61
Over such the
second death has no power,
00:41:59.64\00:42:02.56
but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ
00:42:02.59\00:42:04.87
and shall reign with
Him a thousand years."
00:42:04.90\00:42:09.06
So there you see
again, the "reigning with"
00:42:09.09\00:42:11.64
is not Him
reigning with us on earth
00:42:11.67\00:42:14.20
in this
millennial kingdom on earth,
00:42:14.23\00:42:16.46
but us reigning with Him.
00:42:16.49\00:42:18.65
Reiterating and I
think we can't say it enough,
00:42:18.68\00:42:21.12
He says, "I go to
prepare a place for you
00:42:21.15\00:42:24.26
and I will come again
and receive you unto Myself
00:42:24.29\00:42:26.76
that where I am,
there you may be also,"
00:42:26.79\00:42:30.21
not where you are,
there I may be also.
00:42:30.24\00:42:33.03
And, you know, where the
root of that misconception is?
00:42:33.06\00:42:36.63
Where-- which
direction this is coming from
00:42:36.66\00:42:40.25
as far as some believe
in Christ comes down here
00:42:40.28\00:42:42.84
to reign for the thousand years
00:42:42.87\00:42:43.90
or those believing
that the resurrection occurs
00:42:43.93\00:42:47.21
for the saints to go with Him?
00:42:47.24\00:42:48.85
1 Thessalonians 4,
it's read backward.
00:42:48.88\00:42:51.67
Very good.
00:42:51.70\00:42:52.73
It's read backward.
00:42:52.76\00:42:53.87
Take a look at
that here real quick
00:42:53.90\00:42:55.25
before we continue
on with Revelation 20.
00:42:55.28\00:42:57.44
1 Thessalonians Chapter 4.
00:42:57.47\00:42:59.34
Okay.
00:42:59.37\00:43:01.54
You know, John, I
went back to my old Bible.
00:43:01.57\00:43:03.87
I have two new Bibles
that are newer than this one
00:43:03.90\00:43:06.31
but I went back to my old Bible
that has all the markings in it
00:43:06.34\00:43:09.22
because it says
tried and true that.
00:43:09.25\00:43:10.80
You know what,
this Bible that I have
00:43:10.83\00:43:12.41
and I think that this is
what you're saying about yours,
00:43:12.44\00:43:14.36
it opens to
where you want to go.
00:43:14.39\00:43:16.19
It just kind of--
it works in my hand.
00:43:16.22\00:43:19.38
I don't know what to say.
00:43:19.41\00:43:20.98
It's tested. It's great.
00:43:21.01\00:43:22.79
1 Thessalonians
Chapter 4 and take a look,
00:43:22.82\00:43:25.65
look at this, starting
with Verse 13 this time,
00:43:25.68\00:43:28.83
"But I do not want you
to be ignorant, brethren,
00:43:28.86\00:43:30.87
concerning those
who have fallen asleep
00:43:30.90\00:43:32.57
lest you sorrow as
others who have no hope."
00:43:32.60\00:43:35.01
So Paul here is
going to talk about
00:43:35.04\00:43:36.94
what happens to those
who are sleeping in Christ.
00:43:36.97\00:43:40.76
That's the whole discussion
00:43:40.79\00:43:42.04
of what is to come
in the next few verses.
00:43:42.07\00:43:44.35
Then in verse 14 it says,
00:43:44.38\00:43:45.74
"For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again,
00:43:45.77\00:43:49.72
even so God will bring with
Him those who sleep in Jesus."
00:43:49.75\00:43:54.27
Now most of the
time, evangelicals today
00:43:54.30\00:43:56.92
and I believe honest,
well-meaning Bible Christians
00:43:56.95\00:44:00.66
teach that Jesus is
bringing from heaven the saints
00:44:00.69\00:44:05.56
that have already fallen asleep,
that have ascended to heaven,
00:44:05.59\00:44:08.58
bring with Him from
heaven down those with Him
00:44:08.61\00:44:12.57
so he can reign for a thousand
years on earth with them.
00:44:12.60\00:44:15.52
Right, but If you
look at the context--
00:44:15.55\00:44:17.84
The context is, as
Jesus died and rose again,
00:44:17.87\00:44:22.23
that they will do.
00:44:22.26\00:44:23.40
When Jesus
died, where did He go?
00:44:23.43\00:44:25.77
He went to heaven. To heaven.
00:44:25.80\00:44:26.83
That's right.
00:44:26.86\00:44:27.89
So when we are
raised, where do we go?
00:44:27.92\00:44:30.44
To heaven.
00:44:30.47\00:44:31.74
So Jesus is bringing
those who are being resurrected,
00:44:31.77\00:44:37.82
who sleep in Jesus with
Him to heaven to be with Him.
00:44:37.85\00:44:42.17
And that's the comparison.
00:44:42.20\00:44:43.23
As a fulfillment
of John 14: 1- 3.
00:44:43.26\00:44:45.02
And that's the comparison.
00:44:45.05\00:44:46.09
I mean, I love
that because, it says,
00:44:46.12\00:44:48.36
"If we believe that
Jesus died and rose again."
00:44:48.39\00:44:50.28
Stop.
00:44:50.31\00:44:51.34
Do we believe that
Jesus died and rose again?
00:44:51.37\00:44:52.40
Yes, we do.
00:44:52.43\00:44:53.46
And when He
rose, what did He do?
00:44:53.49\00:44:54.93
He went to heaven.
00:44:54.96\00:44:56.10
Even so. That's right.
00:44:56.13\00:44:58.39
Because you remember
that the resurrection--
00:44:58.42\00:45:00.10
Even the same way.
00:45:00.13\00:45:01.55
The same way, God
will bring with Him,
00:45:01.58\00:45:04.48
God will bring with
Jesus those who sleep in Him,
00:45:04.51\00:45:07.85
those who sleep in Jesus.
00:45:07.88\00:45:09.51
Not God, not Jesus bringing
with Him when He comes back,
00:45:09.54\00:45:12.74
but in the same way that God
raised up Christ from the dead,
00:45:12.77\00:45:16.01
He's going to raise up
those who are sleeping in Jesus
00:45:16.04\00:45:18.66
and they're going
to come back with Him,
00:45:18.69\00:45:20.76
not come back to the earth.
00:45:20.79\00:45:21.86
So the big issue here is
00:45:21.89\00:45:23.63
the misconception of
what Jesusis coming back for.
00:45:23.66\00:45:26.88
You see, the incorrect view
00:45:26.91\00:45:28.71
which is He is
bringing the saints
00:45:28.74\00:45:29.77
from heaven
already down to earth,
00:45:29.80\00:45:32.08
the reason Jesus is
coming back is to establish
00:45:32.11\00:45:34.20
an earthly millennial
reign of a thousand years.
00:45:34.23\00:45:37.81
But that's not
why He is coming back.
00:45:37.84\00:45:39.31
John 14:1-3 says
He is coming back
00:45:39.34\00:45:41.81
to take His
people back to heaven
00:45:41.84\00:45:44.34
to the place that He
is preparing for them.
00:45:44.37\00:45:47.16
So He is coming back
00:45:47.19\00:45:48.31
to take them to
heaven for a thousand years.
00:45:48.34\00:45:50.56
See, the exact opposite of
00:45:50.59\00:45:51.85
what is being taught
is really going to occur.
00:45:51.88\00:45:55.07
And so many are living,
you know, or thinking, Bible,
00:45:55.10\00:45:58.69
you know, believing or
thinking these teachers
00:45:58.72\00:46:02.03
are teaching from the Bible,
00:46:02.06\00:46:03.31
they're thinking that this
00:46:03.34\00:46:04.37
thousand years
is about to start.
00:46:04.40\00:46:06.49
You know some
to the point, John,
00:46:06.52\00:46:07.89
where the explanation
00:46:07.92\00:46:09.82
for Christ's
return becomes symbolic.
00:46:09.85\00:46:12.88
They believe He
already has returned
00:46:12.91\00:46:15.21
and that the thousand
years have already begun.
00:46:15.24\00:46:17.36
And they say,
well, aren't we improving
00:46:17.39\00:46:19.35
in healthcare,
in our technology?
00:46:19.38\00:46:22.79
Isn't the world becoming
00:46:22.82\00:46:24.11
a little bit better of
a place than it used to?
00:46:24.14\00:46:25.92
I mean, look at the Dark Ages,
00:46:25.95\00:46:27.00
look at the horrible
things they went through.
00:46:27.03\00:46:28.40
Aren't we
improving as a society?
00:46:28.43\00:46:30.58
I would suggest to
you, no, we're not.
00:46:30.61\00:46:33.62
In fact, not even suggest
to you, I'd prove it to you.
00:46:33.65\00:46:35.65
Just look at our world
today, we're not getting better.
00:46:35.68\00:46:38.49
We're getting worse.
00:46:38.52\00:46:39.55
And that's why so many people
00:46:39.58\00:46:40.64
are involved in the
political processes of earth.
00:46:40.67\00:46:43.53
They're trying to get it
ready for the coming of Jesus.
00:46:43.56\00:46:45.99
Yes.
00:46:46.02\00:46:47.05
That's just a misconception.
00:46:47.08\00:46:48.73
That's so distorted.
00:46:48.76\00:46:50.29
Jesus is not
coming down and saying,
00:46:50.32\00:46:51.89
"Great, you guys
finally got this earth together
00:46:51.92\00:46:55.09
and here I am.
00:46:55.12\00:46:56.15
Glad you got all those issues
of abortion and not abortion
00:46:56.18\00:46:59.79
and death penalty
and not death penalty.
00:46:59.82\00:47:02.04
Glad you got all
those things sorted out
00:47:02.07\00:47:03.38
so that I can come
and reign on earth.
00:47:03.41\00:47:04.93
Thank you for
getting it together."
00:47:04.96\00:47:06.10
That's not the case.
00:47:06.13\00:47:08.20
And let me give
a verse. Go ahead.
00:47:08.23\00:47:09.75
I'm gonna do the
same thing, but go for it.
00:47:09.78\00:47:11.11
Probably the same one you're
going to give, 2 Peter 3:10.
00:47:11.14\00:47:13.84
Okay, go for it.
That's not the one.
00:47:13.87\00:47:15.61
"But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night,
00:47:15.64\00:47:18.38
in which the heavens will
pass away with a great noise
00:47:18.41\00:47:23.71
and the elements will
melt with fervent heat,
00:47:23.74\00:47:27.41
both the earth and the works
00:47:27.44\00:47:29.22
that are in it
will be burned up."
00:47:29.25\00:47:31.96
When Jesus comes again,
00:47:31.99\00:47:33.69
He is not coming to a place that
people have prepared for Him
00:47:33.72\00:47:36.17
to rule for a thousand years.
00:47:36.20\00:47:37.62
He is coming to
burn the earth up.
00:47:37.65\00:47:39.72
Just to consume all the sin
00:47:39.75\00:47:42.55
that has polluted it for
the millennia that is behind us.
00:47:42.58\00:47:47.66
He's not coming
to reform the earth.
00:47:47.69\00:47:50.97
As a matter of fact,
nothing about the earth
00:47:51.00\00:47:52.32
is in a position of reformation.
00:47:52.35\00:47:53.67
That's why He says about
Babylon in Revelation 18,
00:47:53.70\00:47:56.35
"Come out of her, my people,
00:47:56.38\00:47:58.07
lest you receive of her
sins and of her plagues."
00:47:58.10\00:48:00.96
Here's another text, Psalm 50:3
00:48:00.99\00:48:03.87
"Our God shall come
and shall not keep silence.
00:48:03.90\00:48:07.41
A fire shall devour before Him,
00:48:07.44\00:48:10.46
and it shall be very
tempestuous around Him.
00:48:10.49\00:48:14.48
He shall call to the heavens
from above and to the earth,
00:48:14.51\00:48:17.45
that He may judge His people,"
00:48:17.48\00:48:19.13
and this is what
he is going to say,
00:48:19.16\00:48:20.54
"Gather My
saints together unto Me,
00:48:20.57\00:48:22.79
those that have made a
covenant with Me by sacrifice."
00:48:22.82\00:48:27.28
And so clearly He's gathering--
00:48:27.31\00:48:28.59
He's coming to
gather His saints together.
00:48:28.62\00:48:30.80
He's not coming to bring
them down who's already there.
00:48:30.83\00:48:33.87
And when you read the rest
of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4,
00:48:33.90\00:48:36.37
which I would beg
for you to do right now,
00:48:36.40\00:48:39.26
we'll see clearly that the
meeting takes place in the air.
00:48:39.29\00:48:43.68
The righteous are--
00:48:43.71\00:48:45.00
Taking us out of the earth.
00:48:45.03\00:48:47.07
Exactly. We're being caught up.
00:48:47.10\00:48:48.92
We're not being caught down.
00:48:48.95\00:48:50.60
Notice the Bible
makes it very clear,
00:48:50.63\00:48:52.30
verse 15 of 1
Thessalonians Chapter 4,
00:48:52.33\00:48:56.48
"For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
00:48:56.51\00:48:59.38
that we who are alive and remain
00:48:59.41\00:49:01.55
until the coming of
the Lord will by no means
00:49:01.58\00:49:04.34
precede those who are asleep."
00:49:04.37\00:49:06.95
And the word there in the column
is dead for the word asleep.
00:49:06.98\00:49:10.29
"For the Lord
Himself will descend
00:49:10.32\00:49:12.39
from heaven with a shout,
00:49:12.42\00:49:13.87
with the voice of an archangel,
00:49:13.90\00:49:15.33
with the trumpet of God
00:49:15.36\00:49:16.39
and the dead in
Christ will rise first."
00:49:16.42\00:49:19.70
That's the resurrection.
00:49:19.73\00:49:21.29
"Then we who
are alive and remain
00:49:21.32\00:49:23.04
shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds
00:49:23.07\00:49:25.65
to meet the Lord in the air
00:49:25.68\00:49:27.13
and thus shall
always be with the Lord."
00:49:27.16\00:49:29.49
In other words, the dead are
being raised out of the graves,
00:49:29.52\00:49:32.96
the righteous are
being caught up together
00:49:32.99\00:49:34.68
with them in the clouds,
00:49:34.71\00:49:36.41
being caught up,
not being brought down,
00:49:36.44\00:49:38.96
being caught up
together with them
00:49:38.99\00:49:41.92
in the clouds to
meet, get that, to meet.
00:49:41.95\00:49:46.58
They haven't met the Lord yet.
00:49:46.61\00:49:48.36
They're going to
meet Him in the clouds.
00:49:48.39\00:49:49.94
They're not up there
having dinner with Him,
00:49:49.97\00:49:51.32
they're not there
running back and forth
00:49:51.35\00:49:52.53
playing pianos and
looking down on us,
00:49:52.56\00:49:54.65
they're going to meet Him
in the clouds when He comes.
00:49:54.68\00:49:56.91
That point
cannot be overemphasized
00:49:56.94\00:49:58.91
because this is the verse,
00:49:58.94\00:50:00.14
these are the
verses that are often used
00:50:00.17\00:50:01.75
for the secret rapture and
there's nothing secret about it.
00:50:01.78\00:50:04.70
That's right.
00:50:04.73\00:50:05.83
And in case you're thinking
that it's a different time
00:50:05.86\00:50:08.27
that the Lord comes,
00:50:08.30\00:50:09.46
if you read on, we
don't have to read all these,
00:50:09.49\00:50:11.16
but if you read
on through Chapter 5,
00:50:11.19\00:50:13.24
"This coming is also as a
thief" as described by Peter
00:50:13.27\00:50:17.44
and we read in 2 Peter
Chapter 3. That's right.
00:50:17.47\00:50:20.87
But notice here, it says
00:50:20.90\00:50:22.31
"sudden
destruction comes upon them."
00:50:22.34\00:50:23.96
It's the same event. Right.
00:50:23.99\00:50:25.61
It's an event of
destruction for the wicked.
00:50:25.64\00:50:28.88
All right, so
you can't place this
00:50:28.91\00:50:30.91
unless the wicked are
destroyed twice which is not--
00:50:30.94\00:50:36.20
Right, not in the
second coming of Christ.
00:50:36.23\00:50:37.29
Not in the
second coming of Christ.
00:50:37.32\00:50:38.48
That's the third coming Christ.
00:50:38.51\00:50:39.54
So let's go to that maybe,
that's where we're heading next,
00:50:39.57\00:50:43.53
because we are
talking about hell
00:50:43.56\00:50:45.14
and the common misconceptions.
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.34
We're trying to
clarify those from Scripture
00:50:47.37\00:50:49.34
here in our study today.
00:50:49.37\00:50:51.23
Look at verse 7 of
Revelation 20 as we continue on
00:50:51.26\00:50:53.91
with what happens here
after the thousand years.
00:50:53.94\00:50:57.57
"When the thousand
years have expired,
00:50:57.60\00:50:59.18
Satan will be
released from his prison,"
00:50:59.21\00:51:02.07
which remember, he was bound,
00:51:02.10\00:51:03.27
in verses 1 to 3,
to the bottomless pit,
00:51:03.30\00:51:05.68
which we know is the
earth without form and void,
00:51:05.71\00:51:08.84
destroyed at Christ's return,
00:51:08.87\00:51:11.33
His second coming
and it says in verse 8,
00:51:11.36\00:51:14.27
"And will go out
to deceive the nations
00:51:14.30\00:51:16.77
which are in the
four corners of the earth,
00:51:16.80\00:51:18.61
Gog and Magog, to
gather them together to battle,
00:51:18.64\00:51:21.21
whose number is as
the sand of the sea."
00:51:21.24\00:51:24.13
So if Satan is
going out to tempt,
00:51:24.16\00:51:26.60
there had to have
been another resurrection.
00:51:26.63\00:51:29.15
Very clear. Okay.
00:51:29.18\00:51:30.93
A second resurrection
that is not of the saints,
00:51:30.96\00:51:33.65
but is of the wicked,
00:51:33.68\00:51:34.71
because they're the ones being
deceived again now by Satan.
00:51:34.74\00:51:38.63
He didn't have anyone to
tempt for a thousand years.
00:51:38.66\00:51:40.97
Now we has them to tempt again.
00:51:41.00\00:51:43.14
And before you go
to the next passage,
00:51:43.17\00:51:45.23
I want to hit this in
because this fits right here.
00:51:45.26\00:51:47.60
Go back to verse 5 and look
at the introduction in verse 5.
00:51:47.63\00:51:50.36
It says, "But
the rest of the dead
00:51:50.39\00:51:54.93
did not live again
00:51:54.96\00:51:55.99
until the thousand
years were finished."
00:51:56.02\00:51:58.85
So we know by that verse,
00:51:58.88\00:52:00.84
after the thousand
years they are resurrected.
00:52:00.87\00:52:03.92
And that's why, go
ahead and look at verse--
00:52:03.95\00:52:06.87
look at verse 9,
00:52:06.90\00:52:09.86
this group that Satan
starts to gather together,
00:52:09.89\00:52:12.87
how do they come alive.
Look at verse 9, read verse 9.
00:52:12.90\00:52:18.65
"They went up on
the breadth of the earth
00:52:18.68\00:52:20.70
and surrounded
the camp of the saints
00:52:20.73\00:52:22.58
and the beloved city."
00:52:22.61\00:52:23.97
Okay, so they went up
on the breadth of the earth
00:52:24.00\00:52:27.67
which means they were not
on the breadth of the earth
00:52:27.70\00:52:30.01
and what that means clearly,
00:52:30.04\00:52:31.56
the same language
that's used in the--
00:52:31.59\00:52:35.70
talking about
the baptism of Jesus,
00:52:35.73\00:52:41.33
coming up out of the
water, in the same way,
00:52:41.36\00:52:44.73
went up on the
breadth of the earth.
00:52:44.76\00:52:47.21
He is talking about a coming
up. Coming up out of what?
00:52:47.24\00:52:50.97
Out of their graves.
00:52:51.00\00:52:52.67
Well, let's go
ahead and see that.
00:52:52.70\00:52:56.42
Could I do this?
Yeah, you can finish it up.
00:52:56.45\00:52:58.21
Go to John Chapter
5. Go to John Chapter 5.
00:52:58.24\00:53:01.20
This is where they're
coming up out of their graves
00:53:01.23\00:53:03.65
and the Bible
makes it very, very clear
00:53:03.68\00:53:07.13
that this second resurrection
is about to take place,
00:53:07.16\00:53:11.40
the second resurrection.
00:53:11.43\00:53:12.67
John Chapter 5, John, and
read verse 28 and verse 29.
00:53:12.70\00:53:16.82
You see once
again the two groups.
00:53:16.85\00:53:19.20
"Do not marvel at this for
the hour is coming in which
00:53:19.23\00:53:21.82
all who are in the
grave will hear His voice."
00:53:21.85\00:53:24.84
Okay, how many
who are in the grave?
00:53:24.87\00:53:26.27
All. All, okay.
00:53:26.30\00:53:27.65
So the both,
righteous and wicked are there.
00:53:27.68\00:53:29.61
That's why Paul uses the word,
00:53:29.64\00:53:31.03
"we cannot go before
those who are asleep," dead.
00:53:31.06\00:53:33.78
That's what it is. Continue.
00:53:33.81\00:53:35.57
"And come forth
those who have done good
00:53:35.60\00:53:38.96
to the resurrection of life
00:53:38.99\00:53:40.83
and those who have done evil
00:53:40.86\00:53:42.08
to the
resurrection of condemnation."
00:53:42.11\00:53:43.90
Okay, what are they both
doing there coming forth?
00:53:43.93\00:53:46.41
So when they come forth,
00:53:46.44\00:53:47.68
this group talked
about in Revelation,
00:53:47.71\00:53:49.18
when they come
forth, they come to forth
00:53:49.21\00:53:51.30
onto the breadth of the earth.
00:53:51.33\00:53:53.63
And that's what the
resurrection is all about.
00:53:53.66\00:53:54.93
And this verse is not saying
that there's one resurrection,
00:53:54.96\00:53:58.09
some will be
raised to be condemned,
00:53:58.12\00:53:59.49
some will be raised
to go to heaven. Exactly.
00:53:59.52\00:54:02.21
It actually speaks of
the resurrection of life
00:54:02.24\00:54:05.69
and the resurrection
of condemnation as a noun.
00:54:05.72\00:54:08.86
It's an event.
These are separate events.
00:54:08.89\00:54:11.41
One is the event of
the resurrection of life,
00:54:11.44\00:54:14.36
one is the event of the
resurrection of condemnation.
00:54:14.39\00:54:16.90
There are two
different events here.
00:54:16.93\00:54:18.07
That's right. It's
separated by a thousand years.
00:54:18.10\00:54:20.51
That's why Revelation says,
00:54:20.54\00:54:21.57
the rest of the
dead do not live again.
00:54:21.60\00:54:24.16
As a matter of
fact, Daniel Chapter 12
00:54:24.19\00:54:27.52
and it talks about
here in Daniel 12:2 it says,
00:54:27.55\00:54:32.53
"And many of those who sleep
00:54:32.56\00:54:34.35
in the dust of
the earth shall awake,
00:54:34.38\00:54:38.35
some to everlasting life
00:54:38.38\00:54:41.05
and some to shame and
everlasting contempt."
00:54:41.08\00:54:48.62
Two groups, life
and some to shame
00:54:48.65\00:54:53.77
and everlasting contempt.
00:54:53.80\00:54:55.94
So you clearly see two groups,
00:54:55.97\00:54:57.44
two separate
events. Go on. Very good.
00:54:57.47\00:55:00.84
Well, I'm just going to
go back to Revelation 20.
00:55:00.87\00:55:02.79
Okay, let's do that.
00:55:02.82\00:55:03.85
Finish this section up
before program's up today.
00:55:03.88\00:55:06.95
So when they went up on
the breadth of the earth,
00:55:06.98\00:55:10.22
as they were
convinced by Satan to do that.
00:55:10.25\00:55:13.05
Satan called the troops
together, gathered them,
00:55:13.08\00:55:14.91
they said, "Let's go get
that city, let's attack them."
00:55:14.94\00:55:17.36
And now that he has
troops to do it with
00:55:17.39\00:55:19.65
and that the city
has now descended,"
00:55:19.68\00:55:21.53
that's another point, John,
00:55:21.56\00:55:22.77
what has happened to the
city that's now on the earth.
00:55:22.80\00:55:27.54
It says that "At that point,"
00:55:27.57\00:55:29.36
look at this,
"fire came down from God
00:55:29.39\00:55:32.59
out of heaven and devoured them.
00:55:32.62\00:55:36.07
The devil who deceived them
was cast into the lake of fire
00:55:36.10\00:55:39.96
and brimstone where the
beast and the false prophet are
00:55:39.99\00:55:43.06
and they will be tormented
day and night forever and ever."
00:55:43.09\00:55:46.29
And it says, it
repeats that again down below
00:55:46.32\00:55:50.83
where it says that in verse 14,
00:55:50.86\00:55:54.50
"Death and Hades were
cast into the lake of fire.
00:55:54.53\00:55:57.69
This is the second death.
00:55:57.72\00:56:00.45
And anyone not found
written in the Book of Life
00:56:00.48\00:56:02.38
was cast into the lake of fire."
00:56:02.41\00:56:05.63
So hell, which is an abbreviated
version or word for hellfire.
00:56:05.66\00:56:12.36
Hell is not a place.
00:56:12.39\00:56:14.39
Hell is the burning fire
00:56:14.42\00:56:16.79
which seems to be an
event at the end of time.
00:56:16.82\00:56:20.29
Rather than
seems to be an event,
00:56:20.32\00:56:21.89
will be an event and fire came
down from God out of heaven.
00:56:21.92\00:56:25.39
Where did it come to?
00:56:25.42\00:56:26.83
Fire came down from God of
out of heaven in the location
00:56:26.86\00:56:30.28
where the wicked will
be, that's on the earth.
00:56:30.31\00:56:33.13
And that's why when you
look at this conflagration,
00:56:33.16\00:56:35.70
it's described as "and
the smoke of their torment,"
00:56:35.73\00:56:38.52
Revelation 14,
"descended up forever and ever."
00:56:38.55\00:56:41.10
And you'll discover clearly
that they are going to burn,
00:56:41.13\00:56:44.23
this massive conflagration
00:56:44.26\00:56:45.85
is going to burn
until they are consumed.
00:56:45.88\00:56:49.47
We're going to talk
about that in another program
00:56:49.50\00:56:50.91
because people will
say, "Ha, there you go,
00:56:50.94\00:56:53.15
they are going to burn endlessly
00:56:53.18\00:56:55.57
without any rest and
they'll never stop burning."
00:56:55.60\00:56:58.22
Well, here's the telltale thing
00:56:58.25\00:56:59.63
and I know we have
just a few seconds,
00:56:59.66\00:57:01.67
Chapter 21:1
actually goes with Chapter 20.
00:57:01.70\00:57:04.53
That's right.
00:57:04.56\00:57:05.62
So it tells you right there what
the reason for that fire is.
00:57:05.65\00:57:08.28
Take a look at it.
00:57:08.31\00:57:09.34
We'll maybe hit
on that on next time.
00:57:09.37\00:57:11.83
Well, you know,
friends, that's the whole point.
00:57:11.86\00:57:13.35
Here at 'House
Calls' we do believe
00:57:13.38\00:57:16.18
in standing
firmly on the word of God
00:57:16.21\00:57:17.24
and we encourage you
to continue to do that.
00:57:17.27\00:57:19.28
Study God's word,
understand it for yourself,
00:57:19.31\00:57:21.86
because Jesus
truly is coming soon.
00:57:21.89\00:57:24.99
And so as you look forward
00:57:25.02\00:57:26.05
for that great
event and glorious day,
00:57:26.08\00:57:27.74
the best way to do it is give
your life to Jesus Christ today.
00:57:27.77\00:57:30.96
God bless you and
have a great day in Christ.
00:57:30.99\00:57:33.91