Hello friends, grab
your Bible and a friend
00:00:01.08\00:00:03.09
and sit back as we
explore God's word together
00:00:03.10\00:00:05.77
on this edition of House calls.
00:00:05.78\00:00:08.52
Welcome to another
House Calls Program,
00:00:22.41\00:00:24.46
and I'm glad that
you're in your house
00:00:24.47\00:00:26.00
for this House call,
because you'd miss it.
00:00:26.01\00:00:28.48
So sit back and hit
the record button and get
00:00:28.49\00:00:30.72
your pen and
paper and don't forget
00:00:30.73\00:00:32.28
the most
important book, your Bible.
00:00:32.29\00:00:34.53
This is gonna be
an exciting program.
00:00:34.54\00:00:36.45
My name is John
Lomacang and I've good friend,
00:00:36.46\00:00:38.78
John Stanton. Good
to have you here, John.
00:00:38.79\00:00:40.27
It's good to be here, John.
00:00:40.28\00:00:41.66
You know, it's always
good when we're sitting
00:00:41.67\00:00:43.16
in the same saddle because
we kind came from the same
00:00:43.17\00:00:45.92
cloth even
though I'm from New York
00:00:45.93\00:00:48.99
where I called people.
00:00:49.00\00:00:50.17
I went to
California, now I call them.
00:00:50.18\00:00:52.94
And we met in California
together and it's been
00:00:52.95\00:00:55.00
great working with you.
And we kind of think alike.
00:00:55.01\00:00:59.06
Even, you know, some
people think we even look alike.
00:00:59.07\00:01:01.72
Yeah, it's actually
been 13 years that we met.
00:01:01.73\00:01:04.75
Wow. That's right. It's amazing.
00:01:04.76\00:01:07.23
Each of us has little
bit more grey-- That's right.
00:01:07.24\00:01:09.80
You know, I kind of
fight it every now and then.
00:01:09.81\00:01:11.30
That's right.
Little more wisdom.
00:01:11.31\00:01:12.77
Little more wisdom,
but what we need more than
00:01:12.78\00:01:15.80
just grey and
wisdom, we need prayer. Amen.
00:01:15.81\00:01:19.11
And I'm gonna let you
do that. Let's do that.
00:01:19.12\00:01:20.92
Dear Father in heaven,
we depend upon your wisdom
00:01:20.93\00:01:23.95
and today we just pray
that you'd descend upon us
00:01:23.96\00:01:28.62
by the power of
your Holy Spirit.
00:01:28.63\00:01:30.73
That you would strengthen
us and equip us and give us
00:01:30.74\00:01:33.57
insight into your
word as we read it.
00:01:33.58\00:01:36.35
Because it cannot jump off
the page unless you bring it
00:01:36.36\00:01:39.60
to our minds and our hearts.
00:01:39.61\00:01:40.97
And we just pray that
those that are joining us here
00:01:40.98\00:01:43.67
today also will be
blessed by this program and that
00:01:43.68\00:01:46.44
it will bring you
glory in everything
00:01:46.45\00:01:48.54
that we talk about.
In Jesus name, Amen.
00:01:48.55\00:01:51.14
Amen. Thank you.
00:01:51.15\00:01:52.87
And, friends, you
know very well that
00:01:52.88\00:01:54.38
your questions,
here they are, they make
00:01:54.39\00:01:56.56
a big
difference in this program,
00:01:56.57\00:01:58.01
and you've been
faithful in sending them and--
00:01:58.02\00:02:01.23
but you may have some
questions that you can
00:02:01.24\00:02:03.31
think of today or maybe
00:02:03.32\00:02:05.01
this is your
first time tuning in.
00:02:05.02\00:02:06.26
If you have a question,
you can send those questions to
00:02:06.27\00:02:08.91
housecalls@3abn.org"
that's housecalls@3abn.org
00:02:08.92\00:02:13.95
We'll download
them, print them out,
00:02:13.96\00:02:16.44
and bring them before
the world stage unless
00:02:16.45\00:02:18.87
you say to us in your
email to answer that privately.
00:02:18.88\00:02:22.12
But thank you so much
for your participation.
00:02:22.13\00:02:24.25
What do we have today, John?
00:02:24.26\00:02:26.34
We've got a question--
it's not so much a question,
00:02:26.35\00:02:28.48
it's a request that we
just talked briefly on.
00:02:28.49\00:02:31.93
The subject of the Holy
Land that's how it is commonly
00:02:31.94\00:02:37.08
referred to today. Okay.
00:02:37.09\00:02:38.71
It says explain the
land given to God's people
00:02:38.72\00:02:40.72
in the Old
Testament and the conflict
00:02:40.73\00:02:42.13
going on today
because of that land.
00:02:42.14\00:02:45.19
As you know, there's a
great conflict going on today
00:02:45.20\00:02:48.31
in and around the Middle East
00:02:48.32\00:02:51.04
in the region of the Holy Land
00:02:51.05\00:02:52.39
and there are several
groups that have been vying
00:02:52.40\00:02:55.99
for that piece of property
for many, many years today--
00:02:56.00\00:03:00.02
That's right. Or
many, many years now.
00:03:00.03\00:03:02.05
It goes back
obviously to initially the--
00:03:03.65\00:03:08.68
those who occupied that
land were Arabic of descent
00:03:08.69\00:03:13.42
and of course
they-- usually they refer
00:03:13.43\00:03:15.91
to the Old Testament
where it talks of the "ites"
00:03:15.92\00:03:19.10
and all the "ites" that
"Hittites" and the Amorites
00:03:19.11\00:03:21.35
and the Jebusites
and all those that
00:03:21.36\00:03:22.97
inhabited the Land of Canaan.
00:03:22.98\00:03:24.78
And we then read that
God gave that land then
00:03:24.79\00:03:28.15
to the Israelites to
setup for their--the place that
00:03:28.16\00:03:32.09
they would dwell and
inhabit as a kingdom.
00:03:32.10\00:03:34.99
And so you go down
through time and you find out
00:03:35.00\00:03:37.80
that there've been
battles that have been going on
00:03:37.81\00:03:39.76
for a long time over that land.
00:03:39.77\00:03:42.23
Because I believe God
gave that land to his people,
00:03:42.24\00:03:46.44
the devil has tried to
retake that land again.
00:03:46.45\00:03:49.88
So there's truly--there has
been truly a historic battle
00:03:49.89\00:03:53.52
over the holy land
that continues to this day.
00:03:53.53\00:03:57.37
Now Daniel talks about this
in Daniel Chapter 10 and 11.
00:03:57.38\00:04:02.56
And if you get down
toward the end of chapter 11,
00:04:02.57\00:04:04.65
you'd see where
the King of the North
00:04:04.66\00:04:06.55
and the King of the
South are battling over
00:04:06.56\00:04:08.95
the glorious land as
it is referred to there.
00:04:08.96\00:04:12.28
That's the same
land that we referred
00:04:12.29\00:04:14.07
to as the Holy Land. We read
today as well and hear news.
00:04:14.08\00:04:18.19
It seems like constantly
about the battle of the
00:04:18.20\00:04:21.25
Middle East and
Israel as a nation
00:04:21.26\00:04:23.48
and other nations
that are looking to
00:04:23.49\00:04:26.82
eradicate Israel from
existing in that region.
00:04:26.83\00:04:30.70
So yes, there's clearly
has been battles that have
00:04:30.71\00:04:34.20
been going on for
years, but here's what I think
00:04:34.21\00:04:37.17
the most important
thing for us to understand
00:04:37.18\00:04:38.89
this in these days,
although those battles have been
00:04:38.90\00:04:42.60
carrying on for
many, many centuries,
00:04:42.61\00:04:45.68
today, it is being used
the battles, they're being
00:04:45.69\00:04:48.57
used as more of a smoke screen,
00:04:48.58\00:04:50.31
I believe, by the enemy himself.
00:04:50.32\00:04:52.72
That's to say that
as they're battles that
00:04:52.73\00:04:56.44
continue on in that
area, the real battle that God
00:04:56.45\00:05:00.08
wants us to be concerned
with is the battle between
00:05:00.09\00:05:03.32
good and evil,
between Christ and Satan,
00:05:03.33\00:05:06.79
truth and error.
00:05:06.80\00:05:08.00
That is the real battle that
the Book of Revelation talks
00:05:08.01\00:05:11.03
about that we find in
the end that Daniel even
00:05:11.04\00:05:14.38
refers to where the
Satan is casting truth
00:05:14.39\00:05:18.07
to the ground
but God is lifting up
00:05:18.08\00:05:20.26
that truth again. that's right.
00:05:20.27\00:05:21.93
And so that is the true
battle and so when we get
00:05:21.94\00:05:25.10
caught up as the world
is being caught up with the
00:05:25.11\00:05:28.22
battle in the Middle
East over this piece of land.
00:05:28.23\00:05:32.37
I think that Satan is
using that as a smoke screen
00:05:32.38\00:05:34.86
to get us to focus
more on the physical battle.
00:05:34.87\00:05:37.81
People commonly refer to
as the battle of Armageddon
00:05:37.82\00:05:41.56
where as the--that battle
itself is really referring
00:05:41.57\00:05:44.70
more to the battle
between Christ and Satan,
00:05:44.71\00:05:46.87
between good and evil,
between truth and error
00:05:46.88\00:05:50.02
and that is the battle
that we should be focusing on.
00:05:50.03\00:05:52.60
So that's really
all I can say about it.
00:05:52.61\00:05:54.65
That's my reading of
the scriptures and really
00:05:54.66\00:05:58.05
what is--what we're
coming down to in these days.
00:05:58.06\00:06:00.98
There's lots of other
doctrines that are kind
00:06:00.99\00:06:03.95
of folded into that why
people are still focused
00:06:03.96\00:06:06.46
so much on that prophetically.
00:06:06.47\00:06:08.35
But what we really find
is that prophecy is being
00:06:08.36\00:06:11.08
unfolded
worldwide before our eyes.
00:06:11.09\00:06:14.12
And while people
focus on the Middle East,
00:06:14.13\00:06:15.84
I think that,
really the emphasis
00:06:15.85\00:06:18.00
can be even more
adequately placed
00:06:18.01\00:06:19.88
on the US apostate Christianity.
00:06:19.89\00:06:25.28
Other things that are
really unfolding before
00:06:25.29\00:06:27.70
the eyes of many
who don't even see it.
00:06:27.71\00:06:30.36
Lot of people argue and fuss
00:06:30.37\00:06:32.24
and fight over the Middle East.
00:06:32.25\00:06:34.31
I'll be very honest with you.
00:06:34.32\00:06:35.57
I don't think Middle East
is what I want to fight over.
00:06:35.58\00:06:37.72
I want to be in
the New Jerusalem.
00:06:37.73\00:06:39.69
Not that Jerusalem
right over there right now.
00:06:39.70\00:06:41.65
Not the old one.
00:06:41.66\00:06:43.18
Jesus went to
prepare a place for us
00:06:43.19\00:06:45.02
not in the Middle
East. That's right.
00:06:45.03\00:06:46.88
And Jesus is now coming
back to walk the earth with us.
00:06:46.89\00:06:50.07
There's so much
misunderstanding, John,
00:06:50.08\00:06:51.81
and I'm glad you
brought this topic up.
00:06:51.82\00:06:53.83
There's so much
misunderstanding about
00:06:53.84\00:06:55.45
what's happening
and the focal point
00:06:55.46\00:06:58.45
where the Lord is aiming us.
00:06:58.46\00:06:59.81
He's not aiming us
to the Middle East.
00:06:59.82\00:07:02.38
He said in John
14:1-3, I go to prepare a place
00:07:02.39\00:07:06.48
for you and if I
go, I will come again
00:07:06.49\00:07:07.93
to receive you onto myself.
00:07:07.94\00:07:09.56
He's not coming back
to walk the earth. Right.
00:07:09.57\00:07:11.92
Just recently, I
told someone to go to
00:07:11.93\00:07:16.00
National
Geographics on the website
00:07:16.01\00:07:19.71
and put in the
word rapture not true
00:07:19.72\00:07:23.11
and people have
gone there and have seen
00:07:23.12\00:07:25.51
that truly this
dispensationalism.
00:07:25.52\00:07:28.80
Its funny how the word
00:07:28.81\00:07:29.87
sensationalism ended isn't it?
00:07:29.88\00:07:31.95
But this dispensational
view of what's gonna happen
00:07:31.96\00:07:34.35
on the earth
during the 1,000 years
00:07:34.36\00:07:36.36
is people are focusing
so much on the Middle East.
00:07:36.37\00:07:39.05
I even think that
one of the reasons why in
00:07:39.06\00:07:40.94
America we have
such a foreign policy
00:07:40.95\00:07:43.44
including Israel is
because of the religious view
00:07:43.45\00:07:46.47
that many have held
here of this farfetched idea
00:07:46.48\00:07:50.62
that we have to one
day inhabit Jerusalem.
00:07:50.63\00:07:54.27
And they have to restore this--
00:07:54.28\00:07:55.68
the temple services and restore
00:07:55.69\00:07:57.39
the sacrificial system.
00:07:57.40\00:07:59.44
But that's not
what the Bible tells us.
00:07:59.45\00:08:01.68
You know,
Revelation 20, John says,
00:08:01.69\00:08:04.46
I saw the Holy
City, New Jerusalem,
00:08:04.47\00:08:07.69
descending from
God out of heaven.
00:08:07.70\00:08:10.24
And he says, prepared as a bride
00:08:10.25\00:08:11.67
adorned for her husband.
00:08:11.68\00:08:13.40
And you go the Middle
East, and there's no beautiful
00:08:13.41\00:08:16.64
New Jerusalem there, but
when the millennium is down,
00:08:16.65\00:08:21.24
when the 1,000 years are over,
00:08:21.25\00:08:23.35
then the New
Jerusalem is coming down.
00:08:23.36\00:08:25.40
So when I'm
fighting for the Middle East
00:08:25.41\00:08:27.88
over the Temple
Mount and the restoration
00:08:27.89\00:08:29.60
of the sacrificial system,
that's all because that view
00:08:29.61\00:08:33.00
exists because Jesus was
not accepted as the Messiah.
00:08:33.01\00:08:36.47
Right, and the view
is still that God somehow
00:08:36.48\00:08:38.89
even though they
reject Christ, the Messiah,
00:08:38.90\00:08:41.52
that God somehow
calls them his people.
00:08:41.53\00:08:45.60
And really he chose
that nation to do a work,
00:08:45.61\00:08:48.70
a specific work
of taking the Gospel
00:08:48.71\00:08:50.60
to the entire world,
which they chose not to do
00:08:50.61\00:08:53.71
and as a result of
that, as Paul declares that
00:08:53.72\00:08:57.46
he then takes his gospel
to the church through the
00:08:57.47\00:09:00.59
through the Gentiles
proclamation of the good news.
00:09:00.60\00:09:04.35
And so that is
really where the gospel
00:09:04.36\00:09:07.22
is being preached
today. It's from the church.
00:09:07.23\00:09:09.70
And the Jews as a nation are not
00:09:09.71\00:09:12.65
the people of God as far as
00:09:12.66\00:09:15.46
the Bible is
concerned, the New Testament.
00:09:15.47\00:09:18.36
God's people are by
faith those who believe
00:09:18.37\00:09:21.25
in Jesus Christ and
have been--have become
00:09:21.26\00:09:26.60
his people to finish the work
00:09:26.61\00:09:28.20
of declaring the
good news. That's right.
00:09:28.21\00:09:29.91
Jesus made it clear to the Jews
00:09:29.92\00:09:31.45
of his day and to
the Jewish leaders.
00:09:31.46\00:09:33.67
Let me just pause a moment
because lot of times we use
00:09:33.68\00:09:36.41
the word Jew and
people may interpret
00:09:36.42\00:09:40.09
that we have
something against Jews.
00:09:40.10\00:09:42.19
No, not anymore than
we do against Italians,
00:09:42.20\00:09:45.29
or Germans, or Chinese.
It's not a nationality issue.
00:09:45.30\00:09:50.74
So when we use the phrase,
Jews, we particularly mean
00:09:50.75\00:09:56.86
because of the place
that you're born, it does not
00:09:56.87\00:09:59.98
predesignate you as
having more rights to salvation
00:09:59.99\00:10:03.67
than others do. That's
what we're trying to say.
00:10:03.68\00:10:06.68
Because of the place
of your birth or because
00:10:06.69\00:10:09.23
of your lineage,
salvation is not by the lineage
00:10:09.24\00:10:11.98
of your father, and
his father, and his father,
00:10:11.99\00:10:13.91
and so on and so forth going
00:10:13.92\00:10:14.99
all the way back,
but it's by Jesus.
00:10:15.00\00:10:17.86
And let me read that
text from Romans 9:6.
00:10:17.87\00:10:20.92
It is not that the word
of God has taken no effect.
00:10:20.93\00:10:23.60
For they are not all Israel,
00:10:23.61\00:10:24.84
who are of Israel. That's right.
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.16
Nor are they all children
because they're the seed
00:10:27.17\00:10:29.88
of Abraham, but in Isaac,
your seed shall be called.
00:10:29.89\00:10:32.89
That is those who're
the children of the flesh,
00:10:32.90\00:10:35.21
these are not
the children of God.
00:10:35.22\00:10:37.09
That's right. So
race isn't the issue.
00:10:37.10\00:10:38.90
Race is not the issue.
00:10:38.91\00:10:39.90
But the children of the promise
00:10:39.91\00:10:41.14
are accounted as the seeds.
00:10:41.15\00:10:42.60
So really and he goes on
to talk about how by faith,
00:10:42.61\00:10:46.54
we are children of
Abraham. That's right.
00:10:46.55\00:10:48.91
So Paul who was a
Jew did not have anything
00:10:48.92\00:10:51.65
against his own
countrymen. No, not all.
00:10:51.66\00:10:54.21
He prayed for them
and he goes on to talk
00:10:54.22\00:10:56.03
about how they who,
although they were set aside
00:10:56.04\00:10:58.94
for finishing the
work of sharing the gospel,
00:10:58.95\00:11:01.70
how they can be grafted
right back in and become
00:11:01.71\00:11:03.96
part of the children of
Israel again. That's right.
00:11:03.97\00:11:06.37
But it is by faith
and that is what is clear
00:11:06.38\00:11:08.69
in the scriptures
and so when we talk about
00:11:08.70\00:11:10.99
all the things
going on in a battle
00:11:11.00\00:11:12.79
for the Holy Land, it
really is a smoke screen
00:11:12.80\00:11:18.33
for what the devil
is now doing elsewhere.
00:11:18.34\00:11:21.39
Yeah, and this
battle is often referred
00:11:21.40\00:11:23.02
to as the battle of Armageddon.
00:11:23.03\00:11:24.33
What's amazing to me
about that is whenever
00:11:24.34\00:11:25.93
this major battle in
the Middle East starts,
00:11:25.94\00:11:27.58
whenever there's a war
that happens in the Middle East,
00:11:27.59\00:11:30.76
prophets tend to
come out of the woodwork
00:11:30.77\00:11:33.69
and say this is the
battle of Armageddon,
00:11:33.70\00:11:35.34
but the battle of Armageddon
is not a physical battle
00:11:35.35\00:11:38.80
between two armies in the sense
00:11:38.81\00:11:40.66
that here are my
missiles and my weapons.
00:11:40.67\00:11:43.15
That's why there's
this concern about Korea.
00:11:43.16\00:11:45.72
We are not saying
that wars can't happen,
00:11:45.73\00:11:48.36
but every battle that
comes that includes any region
00:11:48.37\00:11:51.28
of the Middle East,
people often tend to think,
00:11:51.29\00:11:53.40
okay, that's the
battle of Armageddon
00:11:53.41\00:11:55.08
beginning to form.
00:11:55.09\00:11:56.14
The battle of
Armageddon is a battle between
00:11:56.15\00:11:58.51
two powers and if
you look at Armageddon
00:11:58.52\00:12:01.23
in the Old
Testament, the Book of Ezekiel
00:12:01.24\00:12:03.43
they are talking
about two opposing powers,
00:12:03.44\00:12:05.79
not two opposing nations.
00:12:05.80\00:12:07.51
So it's really a battle
between the people of God,
00:12:07.52\00:12:10.29
which hold the truth
and those who are not
00:12:10.30\00:12:12.28
the people of God,
which are representations
00:12:12.29\00:12:14.60
or representatives of
darkness. Truth and error.
00:12:14.61\00:12:17.58
I have to say
one other thing too.
00:12:17.59\00:12:18.91
We are so used to
seeing the battle of Armageddon
00:12:18.92\00:12:21.37
that is not in
the Bible. Exactly.
00:12:21.38\00:12:24.09
In fact, I would say
that the battle of Armageddon
00:12:24.10\00:12:26.66
really doesn't exist.
00:12:26.67\00:12:29.10
And if you read
this carefully verse--
00:12:29.11\00:12:31.42
Revelation 16:14, it
says, the spirits of demons
00:12:31.43\00:12:34.65
are gathering them
to the battle of that
00:12:34.66\00:12:38.25
great day of
God Almighty. Right.
00:12:38.26\00:12:40.43
And they gathered
them together to a place
00:12:40.44\00:12:43.17
in Hebrew called
Armageddon. Right.
00:12:43.18\00:12:45.61
So only the forces
of darkness are gathered
00:12:45.62\00:12:48.60
into a place called Armageddon.
00:12:48.61\00:12:52.09
The battle isn't--
Armageddon does not
00:12:52.10\00:12:54.82
include good. Right.
00:12:54.83\00:12:56.28
It is just were
the evil comes from.
00:12:56.29\00:12:58.51
So when you say the
battle of Armageddon,
00:12:58.52\00:13:00.43
there is no real battle
of Armageddon in the Bible.
00:13:00.44\00:13:03.43
It just talks about that's
the place where the forces
00:13:03.44\00:13:05.70
of darkness gathered
for the last great battle
00:13:05.71\00:13:08.95
against God's people. Right.
00:13:08.96\00:13:11.00
So let's clear
that up for a minute.
00:13:11.01\00:13:12.57
Because so many
just-- battle of Armageddon--
00:13:12.58\00:13:15.87
battle of Armageddon, where?
00:13:15.88\00:13:17.88
Well, may I ask
this battle of Armageddon
00:13:17.89\00:13:20.71
is not to decide
to-- I hope we win. Right.
00:13:20.72\00:13:24.30
Because Jesus has already won.
00:13:24.31\00:13:26.28
It's the place of the
valley where it talks about
00:13:26.29\00:13:30.62
the blood shall be
above the horse's bridle.
00:13:30.63\00:13:33.40
This is a place where
the wicked are gathered
00:13:33.41\00:13:35.54
for destruction. And this
is not a physical place. Right.
00:13:35.55\00:13:39.19
But this is a spiritual
terminology simply talking
00:13:39.20\00:13:41.67
about the outcome
of the age long battle
00:13:41.68\00:13:44.77
between truth and error.
00:13:44.78\00:13:45.98
Joel, chapter 3, it's the
valley of decision. Exactly.
00:13:45.99\00:13:49.59
In fact he refers to it
as gathering them together
00:13:49.60\00:13:52.52
in the valley of Jehoshaphat.
00:13:52.53\00:13:55.13
Not of Armageddon. All right.
00:13:55.14\00:13:57.09
So the forces of darkness
are coming from Armageddon
00:13:57.10\00:14:00.20
to a valley called
the valley of Jehoshaphat
00:14:00.21\00:14:02.74
where it's a
valley of decision to make
00:14:02.75\00:14:04.86
your choice
between your stand between
00:14:04.87\00:14:06.77
good and evil. Okay.
00:14:06.78\00:14:08.12
So, you know, just you got to
00:14:08.13\00:14:09.42
read these things carefully.
00:14:09.43\00:14:10.55
We talked the last time
about hermeneutics. Right.
00:14:10.56\00:14:13.71
Pulling scriptures together.
00:14:13.72\00:14:14.81
It's very important
to do in these cases.
00:14:14.82\00:14:16.37
And that's why
Jesus had to lead us up
00:14:16.38\00:14:18.70
that day that rejected him.
00:14:18.71\00:14:20.20
It says, behold your
house-- your house is left
00:14:20.21\00:14:22.48
to you desolate. Right.
He no longer identified.
00:14:22.49\00:14:25.50
Earlier before that
point he says, "My house shall
00:14:25.51\00:14:28.74
be called a house of
prayer for all people." Right.
00:14:28.75\00:14:31.57
Not just a particular
nation. Thank you very much.
00:14:31.58\00:14:33.82
And we did cover that
in quite a bit of detail.
00:14:33.83\00:14:36.56
Here's another question.
A God is a forgiving God.
00:14:36.57\00:14:41.04
He promises to
forgive our sins if we ask.
00:14:41.05\00:14:44.00
What happens when we
know what we want is wrong,
00:14:44.01\00:14:48.03
but are relying on God's
forgiveness once we have got
00:14:48.04\00:14:51.49
what we want?
Please help me understand.
00:14:51.50\00:14:55.85
Let's go to the Book of Romans.
00:14:55.86\00:14:57.28
I want you to go there with me.
00:14:57.29\00:14:58.30
Romans chapter 7.
Okay? And Romans chapter 7.
00:14:58.31\00:15:05.96
We're gonna look at
that very picture of getting
00:15:05.97\00:15:11.11
what you want and by the
way, I call that--that's a
00:15:11.12\00:15:16.74
good definition
for what a youth is.
00:15:16.75\00:15:19.33
A person who gets what
he wants only to find out
00:15:19.34\00:15:21.17
that he didn't want
it anymore, you know.
00:15:21.18\00:15:24.74
We make ways for
decisions and choices that are
00:15:24.75\00:15:28.04
out of harmony with God's will.
00:15:28.05\00:15:29.73
But then when we finally
get what we've been pursuing,
00:15:29.74\00:15:32.09
we realize that's
not what we really needed
00:15:32.10\00:15:33.95
and the Lord knew all
along we didn't need that.
00:15:33.96\00:15:36.08
But what happens
if we make a decision,
00:15:36.09\00:15:38.22
what happens when we
make a decision that doesn't
00:15:38.23\00:15:40.87
please the Lord and
we finally get there.
00:15:40.88\00:15:42.56
Let's see if that's possible.
00:15:42.57\00:15:44.30
Go to Romans chapter 7 and okay.
00:15:44.31\00:15:53.10
What I like you to do
John is start with verse 14.
00:15:53.11\00:15:57.47
Well, start with
verse 13 and read down
00:15:57.48\00:16:00.57
to verse...20. Yeah.
00:16:00.58\00:16:07.52
We will stop along that way.
00:16:07.53\00:16:09.54
We're talking about
this very thing of having
00:16:09.55\00:16:11.91
what you have, but realizing
that's not what you need.
00:16:11.92\00:16:15.14
We'll start there
and then we'll look
00:16:15.15\00:16:16.71
at Lord's response to that.
00:16:16.72\00:16:19.47
Has then what is good become
death to me? Certainly not!
00:16:19.48\00:16:23.79
But sin, that it might
appear sin, was producing
00:16:23.80\00:16:27.31
death in me
through what is good,
00:16:27.32\00:16:29.80
so that sin
through the commandment
00:16:29.81\00:16:31.24
might become exceedingly sinful.
00:16:31.25\00:16:33.86
For we know that
the law is spiritual,
00:16:33.87\00:16:36.14
but I am carnal, sold under sin.
00:16:36.15\00:16:38.81
For what I am
doing, I do not understand.
00:16:38.82\00:16:41.52
For what I will to do,
that I do not practice;
00:16:41.53\00:16:45.20
but what I hate, that I do.
00:16:45.21\00:16:47.43
If, then, I do
what I will not to do,
00:16:47.44\00:16:50.69
I agree with the
law that it is good.
00:16:50.70\00:16:54.04
But now, it is no
longer I who do it,
00:16:54.05\00:16:56.17
but the sin that dwells in me.
00:16:56.18\00:16:58.04
For I know that in me
(that is, in my flesh)
00:16:58.05\00:17:00.68
nothing good dwells; for
to will is present within
00:17:00.69\00:17:04.70
me, but how to perform
what is good I do not find.
00:17:04.71\00:17:08.72
For the good that I
will to do, I do not do;
00:17:08.73\00:17:11.62
but the evil I will
not to do, that I practice.
00:17:11.63\00:17:15.59
Now if I do what
I will not to do,
00:17:15.60\00:17:18.64
it is no longer I who do it,0
00:17:18.65\00:17:20.01
but the sin that dwells in me.
00:17:20.02\00:17:22.36
I find then a law, that
evil is present with me,
00:17:22.37\00:17:25.20
the one who wills to do good.
00:17:25.21\00:17:27.92
Mm. I'm gonna type this
word in here real quickly.
00:17:27.93\00:17:31.62
I'm looking for, uh,
there it is beautiful.
00:17:31.63\00:17:33.77
What Paul was talking about
there and this is a scenario
00:17:35.25\00:17:38.71
that really shows us
what the Christian goes
00:17:38.72\00:17:41.74
through when he or she
comes to the realization of what
00:17:41.75\00:17:45.87
God requiresas compared
to what they want to do.
00:17:45.88\00:17:49.54
There's a daily battle
everyone would go through.
00:17:49.55\00:17:52.49
The daily battle
is not the battle of--
00:17:52.50\00:17:53.98
against the enemy.
00:17:53.99\00:17:55.01
The battle is the
battle against self. Why self?
00:17:55.02\00:17:58.98
Lot of times we go to
churches where they say,
00:17:58.99\00:18:00.93
you know, let's
kick the devil out.
00:18:00.94\00:18:02.33
Let's stamp on his head.
00:18:02.34\00:18:03.59
You know, that's so ridiculous
00:18:03.60\00:18:04.90
because first of all,
we're told in the Word
00:18:04.91\00:18:07.57
you cannot-- we
cannot wrestle against--
00:18:07.58\00:18:10.76
we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood,
00:18:10.77\00:18:14.13
but against principalities,
against powers, against the
00:18:14.14\00:18:17.40
rulers of the
darkness of this world,
00:18:17.41\00:18:19.45
against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
00:18:19.46\00:18:21.81
We cannot
wrestle against something
00:18:21.82\00:18:23.55
we can't physically see.
00:18:23.56\00:18:25.88
So when we go to churches
where they're gonna kick
00:18:25.89\00:18:28.17
the devil out, and evict him,
00:18:28.18\00:18:29.17
and stamp on his
head, and throw him out,
00:18:29.18\00:18:31.40
and all that. That's hype.
00:18:31.41\00:18:33.97
I mean, it just kind of
sickens me when I hear that.
00:18:33.98\00:18:36.37
The real battle we face
is the battle against self.
00:18:36.38\00:18:39.44
That's the place that
we have to focus everyday.
00:18:39.45\00:18:42.16
Because when we
wake up in the morning,
00:18:42.17\00:18:43.76
what we want to do as compared
00:18:43.77\00:18:45.22
to what the Lord wants us to do
00:18:45.23\00:18:46.48
is something
completely different.
00:18:46.49\00:18:49.41
I think you're saying
this in a way that is,
00:18:49.42\00:18:51.67
let me recap,
because I want to make sure
00:18:51.68\00:18:53.24
I understand you correctly,
somebody else does too.
00:18:53.25\00:18:55.41
So you are saying if we
lose the battle with self,
00:18:55.42\00:18:57.96
we become under the--we
come under the power of sin
00:18:57.97\00:19:01.92
and then we're just
a tool of the enemy.
00:19:01.93\00:19:03.37
I mean, that he has his way.
00:19:03.38\00:19:05.36
So the battle
is with self first.
00:19:05.37\00:19:08.34
And if we find that
we're living under our flesh
00:19:08.35\00:19:10.37
or into the power of
our flesh, we can't win.
00:19:10.38\00:19:13.62
And if we decide
then, and we overcome self
00:19:13.63\00:19:16.32
and we are then filled by
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:19:16.33\00:19:20.16
to walk in Him,
then everything we do
00:19:20.17\00:19:23.15
is righteous then, because
it is Christ living in us.
00:19:23.16\00:19:25.92
So really the battle
does start with self.
00:19:25.93\00:19:28.32
Who are you
going to put yourself--
00:19:28.33\00:19:30.21
submit yourself under?
00:19:30.22\00:19:32.60
Okay. Long will power or God's.
00:19:32.61\00:19:34.48
And the reason I had
you read Romans chapter 7
00:19:34.49\00:19:36.27
is because it talks
to those who know God.
00:19:36.28\00:19:38.49
Romans 7 is not written to
those who didn't know Jesus.
00:19:38.50\00:19:41.25
Romans 7 is written to
those who know and acknowledge
00:19:41.26\00:19:43.48
the Lord and
know God and He says
00:19:43.49\00:19:45.34
I speak to those
who know the law.
00:19:45.35\00:19:47.09
So these are
those who understood
00:19:47.10\00:19:48.70
God's requirements, but
they wouldn't in their own
00:19:48.71\00:19:51.43
strength be able
to accomplish it,
00:19:51.44\00:19:53.11
they couldn't do it.
00:19:53.12\00:19:54.26
And then Paul ended
that chapter by saying,
00:19:54.27\00:19:55.96
O wretched man that
I am Who will deliver
00:19:55.97\00:19:58.62
me from the body of this death?
00:19:58.63\00:20:00.11
He got what he went
after only now to realize
00:20:00.12\00:20:02.77
that he didn't really want it.
00:20:02.78\00:20:04.43
And so the beauty of
this and I want to share
00:20:04.44\00:20:07.36
a few things because
the person is saying please
00:20:07.37\00:20:09.18
help me understand
would God still forgive?
00:20:09.19\00:20:12.25
Well, you know what,
forgiveness is extended
00:20:12.26\00:20:14.26
to all of those who realize
they need to be forgiven.
00:20:14.27\00:20:18.39
Forgiveness is not available
to those who don't realize
00:20:18.40\00:20:21.30
they-- let me rephrase that.
00:20:21.31\00:20:23.30
When you refuse
God's forgiveness,
00:20:23.31\00:20:25.81
then you cut off the
only arm that could save you.
00:20:25.82\00:20:28.26
But if you're
asking this question,
00:20:28.27\00:20:30.22
I want to encourage you
by just answering bluntly
00:20:30.23\00:20:33.42
the Lord can
forgive you when you know
00:20:33.43\00:20:35.99
that you need forgiveness.
00:20:36.00\00:20:37.65
He says if you confess
your sins, First John 1:9,
00:20:37.66\00:20:41.05
he is faithful and just
to forgive you of your sins
00:20:41.06\00:20:44.74
and cleanse you
from all unrighteousness.
00:20:44.75\00:20:47.06
So he's already there.
00:20:47.07\00:20:48.59
Just ask for that
forgiveness and you'll
00:20:48.60\00:20:50.40
receive that. But now--
00:20:50.41\00:20:52.39
Well, part of repentance
though maybe giving up
00:20:52.40\00:20:54.97
what you just got. So-- Okay.
00:20:54.98\00:20:58.36
You can presume and
just go get what you want
00:20:58.37\00:21:00.49
and then say, Lord forgive me
00:21:00.50\00:21:01.97
and He may say absolutely
and I'm asking you now
00:21:01.98\00:21:04.99
to give that up again.
00:21:05.00\00:21:06.36
See so does pursuing
it, does getting something
00:21:06.37\00:21:08.67
that is out of
God's will really end up
00:21:08.68\00:21:11.07
being something
that you can hold on to?
00:21:11.08\00:21:13.77
You know repentance is
part of turning away from
00:21:13.78\00:21:16.35
the things that you
have that are not God's will.
00:21:16.36\00:21:19.51
So it doesn't do
you any good to get
00:21:19.52\00:21:21.05
this in the first
place is what I'm saying.
00:21:21.06\00:21:22.89
That's right.
00:21:22.90\00:21:23.91
Because part of
repentance is to give it up.
00:21:23.92\00:21:26.42
That's it. Very
good point again.
00:21:26.43\00:21:29.22
When we're told in
the Book of Acts 3:19
00:21:29.23\00:21:31.74
repent and be converted. Okay.
00:21:31.75\00:21:35.02
Repenting is one
thing, but this conversion,
00:21:35.03\00:21:37.79
there needs to be a
turn in our direction. Right.
00:21:37.80\00:21:40.97
And that's what is
often not the case people get
00:21:40.98\00:21:43.47
what they-- I like that point.
00:21:43.48\00:21:46.22
And I like the way
you put this together.
00:21:46.23\00:21:47.78
Once we have got what
we want, that's the way.
00:21:47.79\00:21:52.37
Would God forgive us?
00:21:52.38\00:21:53.77
Yes, but He will
also require of you
00:21:53.78\00:21:55.86
if what you got
is not what He wants
00:21:55.87\00:21:59.06
you to have and, you know,
00:21:59.07\00:22:00.08
that it's not in
harmony with the God's will,
00:22:00.09\00:22:01.84
then you need to restore it
00:22:01.85\00:22:04.30
or let it go or give
him or her back. You see.
00:22:04.31\00:22:08.57
'Cause some people use
this in the sense of well,
00:22:08.58\00:22:12.43
you know, let me use this
00:22:12.44\00:22:14.89
in a context of a
marriage counselor.
00:22:14.90\00:22:16.15
Some people use it in the sense
00:22:16.16\00:22:17.35
that they
don't-- they're not happy
00:22:17.36\00:22:19.09
in their relationship anymore.
00:22:19.10\00:22:20.59
And they don't have
any grounds for divorce
00:22:20.60\00:22:23.20
and they get rid
of their spouse anyway
00:22:23.21\00:22:24.76
and they feel, oh, God's
gonna forgive you anyhow.
00:22:24.77\00:22:27.32
You know, they
presume on the grace of God
00:22:27.33\00:22:28.85
and they go down the
rule that God doesn't want
00:22:28.86\00:22:31.70
him to go down and
they go after somebody
00:22:31.71\00:22:34.06
that's not even
their's and so what do you do
00:22:34.07\00:22:38.08
when you get to that
place where you've got
00:22:38.09\00:22:41.00
what you've got and you
don't want it any longer.
00:22:41.01\00:22:43.56
You realize that the
Lord doesn't just want
00:22:43.57\00:22:45.90
you to repent but He wants
you to be converted. Right.
00:22:45.91\00:22:48.46
And sometimes that
may, may letting go
00:22:48.47\00:22:52.07
with what you have. Or
in case of divorce. Right.
00:22:52.08\00:22:55.80
It could be that if
you've gotten your divorce,
00:22:55.81\00:22:58.43
which God did not
initially design, you know,
00:22:58.44\00:23:00.58
because there are certain--
there are requirements for
00:23:00.59\00:23:07.21
I wouldn't say just
a successful marriage,
00:23:07.22\00:23:08.98
but for those who
are divorced and it was
00:23:08.99\00:23:12.02
got to be some
things in that marriage
00:23:12.03\00:23:13.81
that are irreconcilable
and God allows for divorce.
00:23:13.82\00:23:16.91
So if you go ahead
and get your divorce,
00:23:16.92\00:23:19.79
and then say,
Lord, I'm sorry later on,
00:23:19.80\00:23:21.65
but at least I got my divorce.
00:23:21.66\00:23:23.05
He may say now
reconcile with that person.
00:23:23.06\00:23:27.69
And you know-- It's
like don't think that
00:23:27.70\00:23:30.84
because we got it now we
can just kind of get out of it
00:23:30.85\00:23:33.22
even though we're
asking for repentance.
00:23:33.23\00:23:35.17
Part of our forgiveness
that we receive involves a
00:23:35.18\00:23:39.09
reconciliation with
those around us we've hurt.
00:23:39.10\00:23:42.14
Right. That's true.
00:23:42.15\00:23:43.81
We don't just have the-in
that sense just right to tell
00:23:43.82\00:23:47.36
oh, well, I guess, Que Sera
Sera whatever will be, will be.
00:23:47.37\00:23:51.71
I'm divorced, can't
do anything about it
00:23:51.72\00:23:52.80
now. See yeah.
00:23:52.81\00:23:54.33
And what always gets me
John and I've seen this happen
00:23:54.34\00:23:56.62
in a number of
cases, people get divorced
00:23:56.63\00:23:58.14
and all of a sudden
they become best friends.
00:23:58.15\00:23:59.62
And I'm
thinking, whatever you did
00:23:59.63\00:24:02.34
to become best
friends, why couldn't you do
00:24:02.35\00:24:04.19
that when you
were married? Right.
00:24:04.20\00:24:05.63
You know. They could have.
00:24:05.64\00:24:06.65
You know, we're
really good friends now.
00:24:06.66\00:24:08.45
We go out to dinner together.
00:24:08.46\00:24:09.73
My new wife and my old wife,
00:24:09.74\00:24:12.01
they're really good
friends and I'm thinking
00:24:12.02\00:24:13.88
there's something
missing there. You know.
00:24:13.89\00:24:16.97
Couldn't you do that
before you got divorced
00:24:16.98\00:24:20.33
and, you know, what it is?
00:24:20.34\00:24:21.76
The Lord didn't build
divorce into--how we got
00:24:21.77\00:24:24.80
to divorce from
this point, please. Yeah.
00:24:24.81\00:24:26.91
You get the point.
00:24:26.92\00:24:28.10
The point is
there's no sin that God
00:24:28.11\00:24:29.47
cannot forgive,
but He will require.
00:24:29.48\00:24:31.96
In many cases, in many instances
00:24:31.97\00:24:34.99
if it can't be done
in reconciliation, he may
00:24:35.00\00:24:37.95
require of you to abandon
that very thing you've got.
00:24:37.96\00:24:41.22
So that you could live your life
00:24:41.23\00:24:42.26
in harmony with His will.
Thank you for that question.
00:24:42.27\00:24:45.62
Long question, but requiring
a very thorough answer.
00:24:45.63\00:24:49.35
What do you have for us, John?
00:24:49.36\00:24:51.00
This can be a transition
of sorts back into our topic.
00:24:51.01\00:24:54.54
Okay. But, but it's on topic.
00:24:54.55\00:24:57.33
But let's see what happens here.
00:24:57.34\00:24:58.61
It's a question from Elizabeth.
00:24:58.62\00:25:00.92
Thank you,
Elizabeth, for sending this in.
00:25:00.93\00:25:03.13
Thank you so much for
your dedication and willingness
00:25:03.14\00:25:06.02
to put in your time, knowledge,
00:25:06.03\00:25:07.07
and resource to help us all.
00:25:07.08\00:25:08.59
I don't no how we
survived spiritually
00:25:08.60\00:25:10.52
before House calls, we
know, because--I don't no--
00:25:10.53\00:25:13.08
The Lord. It's the Lord
work. It's not our work.
00:25:13.09\00:25:16.94
Question I have is about
Joel Chapter 2:2. Oh, wow.
00:25:16.95\00:25:21.30
And then on. It talks
about a special mighty people.
00:25:21.31\00:25:24.20
Who are they?
00:25:24.21\00:25:26.04
And this is a question
that we've received before
00:25:26.05\00:25:29.98
and have--I don't
think I've answered
00:25:29.99\00:25:31.25
this one specifically,
although I think it may have
00:25:31.26\00:25:33.93
come up and, you
know, a while ago in certain
00:25:33.94\00:25:36.83
teachings or
presentations that we've done.
00:25:36.84\00:25:40.04
Let's turn to Joel Chapter 2
00:25:40.05\00:25:42.39
and see what Joel
2:2 is talking about.
00:25:42.40\00:25:47.96
A day of darkness,
this is talking about
00:25:50.02\00:25:51.97
the blowing the trumpet in Zion.
00:25:51.98\00:25:53.38
We mentioned this
last-- in the last program
00:25:53.39\00:25:56.19
about how the trumpet
blows, and it sounds an alarm,
00:25:56.20\00:25:59.72
and the day of
the Lord is coming.
00:25:59.73\00:26:01.33
It's at hand, the day
of darkness and gloominess.
00:26:01.34\00:26:04.15
And all the
things that happen there
00:26:04.16\00:26:05.37
and all of a sudden
then verse 2 introduces that
00:26:05.38\00:26:07.47
people come great and
strong, the like of whom
00:26:07.48\00:26:12.19
has never been; nor will
there ever be any such after
00:26:12.20\00:26:19.88
them, even for many
successive generations.
00:26:19.89\00:26:23.41
And it describes them.
00:26:23.42\00:26:24.44
A fire devours before
them; behind them a flame burns.
00:26:24.45\00:26:27.85
The land is like
the garden of Eden
00:26:27.86\00:26:29.30
before them, and behind
them a desolate wilderness.
00:26:29.31\00:26:32.42
Their approach is like
the appearance of horses.
00:26:32.43\00:26:35.81
I'm just gonna pull
a few things out here.
00:26:35.82\00:26:38.14
With the noise of
chariots over mountain tops,
00:26:38.15\00:26:40.56
they leap, before them,
the people writhe in pain.
00:26:40.57\00:26:44.17
All faces are drained of color.
00:26:44.18\00:26:46.11
They run like mighty
men; they climb the wall like
00:26:46.12\00:26:49.61
men of war; every
one marches in formation.
00:26:49.62\00:26:51.93
They do not break ranks.
00:26:51.94\00:26:53.39
The earth quakes before them.
00:26:56.22\00:26:57.40
Verse 10, the heavens tremble.
00:26:57.41\00:26:58.92
Sun and moon grow dark,
00:26:58.93\00:27:00.15
the stars
diminish their brightness.
00:27:00.16\00:27:02.05
And then, it says, in verse 11,
00:27:02.06\00:27:03.29
the Lord gives
voice before his army,
00:27:03.30\00:27:06.70
for his camp is very great,
00:27:08.74\00:27:10.76
for strong is the one
who executes his word,
00:27:10.77\00:27:13.56
for the day of the Lord
is great and very terrible;
00:27:13.57\00:27:16.42
who can stand or who
can endure it? All right.
00:27:16.43\00:27:19.41
So we try to touch
on a little bit about
00:27:19.42\00:27:21.59
this great army of
people and here're some words
00:27:21.60\00:27:26.49
that jump out to me,
John, in this passage
00:27:26.50\00:27:29.47
and these words parallel
Revelation chapter 9. Okay.
00:27:29.48\00:27:36.34
So here are the
words that we find in both.
00:27:36.35\00:27:41.03
And if--and in one
case, I don't see if this--
00:27:41.04\00:27:44.62
if it's specifically
mentioned like locusts.
00:27:44.63\00:27:47.14
But when you talk
about the fire devours
00:27:47.15\00:27:48.70
before them; behind
them the flame burns,
00:27:48.71\00:27:51.17
garden of Eden
before them, before them--
00:27:51.18\00:27:53.01
or behind them as a
desolate wilderness.
00:27:53.02\00:27:54.69
That talks about what
did locusts do. Right.
00:27:54.70\00:27:56.76
That's a
reference to Locus here.
00:27:56.77\00:27:58.60
So that's one word
that is not found here
00:27:58.61\00:28:01.39
specifically but we
find there in Revelation 9.
00:28:01.40\00:28:08.93
Of course I did
not read all of it.
00:28:08.94\00:28:09.98
Maybe it is
there but-- all right.
00:28:09.99\00:28:12.46
So Revelation 9 and Joel
2. Hear these words, trumpet.
00:28:12.47\00:28:18.63
Battle, man. This
army being like man or men.
00:28:18.64\00:28:23.69
Okay. A man.
00:28:23.70\00:28:25.13
Horses, both places.
00:28:25.14\00:28:28.26
Locusts, torment,
of men being suffering
00:28:28.27\00:28:33.68
and being in
torment. Comparisons. Right.
00:28:33.69\00:28:35.40
These are comparisons
00:28:35.41\00:28:37.55
with this
passage and Revelation 9.
00:28:37.56\00:28:40.20
Enough comparisons,
enough similarities,
00:28:40.21\00:28:42.89
parallels, that we
can't deny a connection.
00:28:42.90\00:28:45.56
And here's where
hermeneutics comes back
00:28:45.57\00:28:47.65
into play. Right.
00:28:47.66\00:28:48.69
If you're comparing
scripture with scripture,
00:28:48.70\00:28:50.58
if you're reading Revelation 9,
00:28:50.59\00:28:51.76
you've got to
come to Joel 2. Right.
00:28:51.77\00:28:55.87
And so this army
talks about in Revelation 9.
00:28:55.88\00:28:59.55
This army has a
leader at its head,
00:28:59.56\00:29:03.65
Abaddon and Apollyon.
00:29:03.66\00:29:07.65
And both references,
most common references,
00:29:07.66\00:29:11.05
or most commonly
interpreted as being references
00:29:11.06\00:29:14.02
to Satan himself. That's right.
00:29:14.03\00:29:16.22
And the
beginning of Revelation 9.
00:29:16.23\00:29:18.22
I'm not there right now
and maybe you're turning
00:29:18.23\00:29:19.80
there, John, but the beginning
00:29:19.81\00:29:21.02
of Revelation 9
talks about this angel
00:29:21.03\00:29:23.20
from the bottomless pit
that lets--that is led out,
00:29:23.21\00:29:26.30
is given the key
and let's himself out
00:29:26.31\00:29:28.06
and then, you know, he
leads his army to battle
00:29:28.07\00:29:30.75
against the people of the earth.
00:29:30.76\00:29:32.64
Similar thing that happens here.
00:29:32.65\00:29:33.89
Now what throws
people off, John,
00:29:33.90\00:29:35.87
is this reference to
the fact that God calls
00:29:35.88\00:29:39.30
it His army. Right.
00:29:39.31\00:29:42.18
People say, okay, well,
then there can't be Satan
00:29:42.19\00:29:44.19
because Satan isn't
part of God's army anymore.
00:29:44.20\00:29:46.58
But let me read you a
quote that I pulled out here.
00:29:46.59\00:29:48.87
This is from, the
Paulson collection.
00:29:48.88\00:29:52.36
It's a series of
letters and manuscripts
00:29:52.37\00:29:54.57
from Sister White's
writings and she says,
00:29:54.58\00:29:57.77
in fact, if you
want to know exactly,
00:29:57.78\00:29:58.83
it's 1894 reference page 137,
00:29:58.84\00:30:01.71
God will use his
enemies as instruments to punish
00:30:01.72\00:30:05.77
those who've followed
their own pernicious ways
00:30:05.78\00:30:09.02
whereby the truth
of God has been a--
00:30:09.03\00:30:11.54
been misrepresented,
misjudged, and dishonored.
00:30:11.55\00:30:15.02
So God actually
uses his enemies to do
00:30:15.03\00:30:19.54
the work of judging.
00:30:19.55\00:30:23.80
A reference-- clear reference
00:30:23.81\00:30:25.19
we can find of that is Babylon.
00:30:25.20\00:30:27.94
Babylon was not a holy
city by any means. That's right.
00:30:27.95\00:30:31.59
But God used that
army to bring Israel down.
00:30:31.60\00:30:36.18
Matter of fact, he even referred
00:30:36.19\00:30:37.68
to Babylon as a
golden cup in His hand.
00:30:37.69\00:30:39.61
In his hand. Right. Here we go.
00:30:39.62\00:30:41.60
But we know he's a very
wicked power. Absolutely.
00:30:41.61\00:30:44.03
So God will-- just
because it's His army
00:30:44.04\00:30:47.53
or reference to
something He uses
00:30:47.54\00:30:49.70
doesn't mean that it's holy.
00:30:49.71\00:30:52.53
And in this case, I
believe, in Joel chapter 2,
00:30:52.54\00:30:55.37
his army is
referring to the realm of Satan
00:30:55.38\00:30:58.32
and his angels
and what they do is
00:30:58.33\00:31:00.21
they are loose from
the Abyss. That's right.
00:31:00.22\00:31:03.31
To do the work that
they want to do anyway
00:31:03.32\00:31:05.93
but God will use them to do
00:31:05.94\00:31:07.49
to bring
judgment upon the world.
00:31:07.50\00:31:09.27
Matter of fact, let
me read the quotation,
00:31:09.28\00:31:10.70
and I appreciate that
and I want to say that
00:31:10.71\00:31:13.16
since we're segmenting,
since we are segueing
00:31:13.17\00:31:16.11
out of our Bible questions
and going into our topic,
00:31:16.12\00:31:19.69
I want to
encourage you if you have
00:31:19.70\00:31:20.94
any Bible questions
you'd like to send to us,
00:31:20.95\00:31:23.55
you can send
those Bible questions to
00:31:23.56\00:31:25.14
housecalls@3abn.org.
That's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:31:25.15\00:31:30.04
And I know that this topic
we're gonna cover right now
00:31:30.05\00:31:31.89
is going to really stir
up a lot of questions because
00:31:31.90\00:31:35.64
we're gonna be
touching on something that
00:31:35.65\00:31:37.45
we didn't have an
opportunity to finish
00:31:37.46\00:31:39.12
in one of our last broadcasts.
00:31:39.13\00:31:41.15
So if you heard us
laying some of the foundation
00:31:41.16\00:31:43.61
in reference-- in
response to a question
00:31:43.62\00:31:46.27
that someone had
about the trumpets,
00:31:46.28\00:31:48.30
John, and the trumpets are found
00:31:48.31\00:31:50.93
in Revelation chapter 8:1-4.
00:31:50.94\00:31:53.64
What we were beginning
to do is lay foundation
00:31:53.65\00:31:56.04
as to what the Bible
meant and what the Bible teaches
00:31:56.05\00:31:58.38
about trumpets in general.
00:31:58.39\00:32:00.90
But what I want to talk
about here is what you just
00:32:00.91\00:32:02.66
mentioned, truly when
God uses the word army
00:32:02.67\00:32:05.59
in the scriptures, it doesn't
00:32:05.60\00:32:07.81
always mean righteous army.
00:32:07.82\00:32:11.29
But it means a
power that He wants to use
00:32:11.30\00:32:15.21
to accomplish
His purpose. Right.
00:32:15.22\00:32:17.99
And there is a
quotation I was looking for
00:32:18.00\00:32:20.82
and I finally found it is
in Great Controversy page 614.
00:32:20.83\00:32:25.16
Listen to this, "A
single angel destroyed
00:32:25.17\00:32:29.36
all the
first-born of the Egyptians
00:32:29.37\00:32:31.17
and filled the
land with mourning.
00:32:31.18\00:32:34.04
When David offended against
God by numbering the people,
00:32:34.05\00:32:37.59
one angel caused
that terrible destruction
00:32:37.60\00:32:40.94
by which his sin was punished."
00:32:40.95\00:32:44.80
This the part that I
want to read carefully.
00:32:44.81\00:32:47.14
"The same destructive
power exercised by holy angels
00:32:47.15\00:32:52.32
when God
commands, will be exercised
00:32:52.33\00:32:55.72
by evil angels when He permits.
00:32:55.73\00:32:59.43
There are forces now
ready, and only waiting
00:32:59.44\00:33:02.20
the divine permission, to spread
00:33:02.21\00:33:05.79
desolation everywhere."
00:33:05.80\00:33:09.32
They're waiting
for a divine permission
00:33:09.33\00:33:12.21
to spread desolation everywhere.
00:33:12.22\00:33:14.88
And, John, I read
earlier-- I read this quotation
00:33:14.89\00:33:17.57
and I'm going to read it again,
00:33:17.58\00:33:19.63
because Ellen White talks
about this divine permission
00:33:19.64\00:33:23.88
and this commission
that's gonna be given to angels
00:33:23.89\00:33:28.46
to spread desolation everywhere
00:33:28.47\00:33:30.74
and she links it
to the seven trumpets.
00:33:30.75\00:33:34.67
That's why this topic
has been so widely important
00:33:34.68\00:33:36.59
to me. She links it
to the seven trumpets.
00:33:36.60\00:33:38.47
She uses
Revelation 6, 7 and 8 together
00:33:38.48\00:33:41.67
to give us a picture
of this--these evil angels
00:33:41.68\00:33:44.78
that are waiting
for a divine commission
00:33:44.79\00:33:47.70
and here's how she
says it in reference
00:33:47.71\00:33:49.49
to the seven trumpets.
00:33:49.50\00:33:50.68
She says, and the
reference, by the way,
00:33:50.69\00:33:52.83
is from the Book
Maranatha page 284, paragraph 5.
00:33:52.84\00:33:55.78
She says, the seven
angels stood before God
00:33:55.79\00:34:01.56
to receive their commission.
00:34:01.57\00:34:03.54
To them, were
given seven trumpets.
00:34:03.55\00:34:05.76
The Lord was
going forth to punish
00:34:05.77\00:34:08.91
the inhabitants of the earth.
00:34:08.92\00:34:10.83
And just before
that, the sentence
00:34:10.84\00:34:12.73
she has is Revelation 6
and 7 are full of meaning,
00:34:12.74\00:34:16.24
terrible are the judgments
of God revealed referring
00:34:16.25\00:34:19.49
to the seven angels
with seven trumpets.
00:34:19.50\00:34:21.43
Getting ready to
go forth, to punish
00:34:21.44\00:34:23.90
the inhabitants of the earth.
00:34:23.91\00:34:25.42
Now the Lord doesn't
have to use good angels
00:34:25.43\00:34:27.29
to do that because
they're enough evil angels
00:34:27.30\00:34:29.14
whose restraint is
removed to be able to allow them
00:34:29.15\00:34:33.14
in a limited
manner to accomplish
00:34:33.15\00:34:35.56
their desires. Right.
00:34:35.57\00:34:37.47
But in harmony with God saying
00:34:37.48\00:34:38.86
now go ahead and do it.
00:34:38.87\00:34:41.03
Because what happens
is, the restraint that God
00:34:41.04\00:34:43.19
had on them is now
removed and I think I used
00:34:43.20\00:34:45.85
a similar expression, like
a dog in somebody else's yard.
00:34:45.86\00:34:48.86
A pit pulling
somebody else's yard.
00:34:48.87\00:34:50.36
You put up a fence to
keep them out of your yard,
00:34:50.37\00:34:52.77
from biting your children.
00:34:52.78\00:34:54.30
What happens one day,
if you're by that fence
00:34:54.31\00:34:56.65
and you're attacked
by a robber or somebody
00:34:56.66\00:34:59.24
who means you ill,
well, you kick the fence down
00:34:59.25\00:35:01.65
for the neighbor's
dog, follow me carefully,
00:35:01.66\00:35:04.05
to come into your yard
to help you in a situation
00:35:04.06\00:35:06.94
that can claim your
life by getting the robber
00:35:06.95\00:35:09.58
or the person
attacking you off of your back.
00:35:09.59\00:35:12.09
That was not your wicked dog.
00:35:12.10\00:35:14.03
That was not
your vicious animal.
00:35:14.04\00:35:16.33
But by removing the restraint,
00:35:16.34\00:35:18.25
that dog helped you at a moment
00:35:18.26\00:35:19.77
you needed great help. Yeah.
00:35:19.78\00:35:21.78
You know, that was a big story
00:35:21.79\00:35:23.13
there to kind of, put your
head around, but if you could
00:35:23.14\00:35:25.48
rewind the tape you'd
get exactly what I'm saying.
00:35:25.49\00:35:27.38
Yeah. No, that's very true.
00:35:27.39\00:35:28.85
In fact, as you read
Revelation chapter 9,
00:35:28.86\00:35:34.56
obviously we connected
that to Joel chapter 2,
00:35:34.57\00:35:36.89
but if you
connect that as well in
00:35:36.90\00:35:38.57
some of the wording
there, you will find that
00:35:38.58\00:35:40.96
Jesus spoke of a
similar event. That's right.
00:35:40.97\00:35:44.38
From Luke chapter 10.
00:35:44.39\00:35:46.80
That's right. Okay.
Now-- And starting in verse 17.
00:35:46.81\00:35:51.30
Okay, The specific
event you're referring
00:35:51.31\00:35:53.54
to is when Joel talked
about this army coming.
00:35:53.55\00:35:56.08
He talked about, but
let me read Revelation 9
00:35:56.09\00:35:58.58
once so that
when you read this--
00:35:58.59\00:35:59.60
Yeah, exactly, go
ahead and read the 9:1 first.
00:35:59.61\00:36:01.73
Revelation 9:1
connects to this. Right.
00:36:01.74\00:36:04.21
I'm just trying to
connect Satan's activity
00:36:04.22\00:36:06.54
with Revelation
9. Okay, here we go.
00:36:06.55\00:36:09.09
And it's this part of it. Okay.
00:36:09.10\00:36:11.43
Then Revelation 9:1,
then the fifth angel sounded,
00:36:11.44\00:36:15.68
and I saw a star fallen
from heaven to the earth,
00:36:15.69\00:36:19.49
to him was given the key
to the bottomless pit. Okay.
00:36:19.50\00:36:22.58
Now read Luke 10:17.
00:36:22.59\00:36:26.93
It says, the seventy
returned with joy saying,
00:36:26.94\00:36:28.93
"Lord, even the demons are
subject to us in your name."
00:36:28.94\00:36:32.51
And he said to
them, I saw Satan fall
00:36:32.52\00:36:34.90
like lightning from heaven.
00:36:34.91\00:36:37.50
Behold I give you
the authority to trample
00:36:37.51\00:36:40.08
on serpents and scorpions. Okay.
00:36:40.09\00:36:43.17
And over all the
power of the enemy
00:36:43.18\00:36:45.20
and nothing shall
by any means hurt you.
00:36:45.21\00:36:48.92
Okay. So notice
he's making a connection.
00:36:48.93\00:36:50.76
A connection there
clearly with the serpents
00:36:50.77\00:36:52.88
and scorpions as talked about
00:36:52.89\00:36:54.50
in Revelation chapter 9.
00:36:54.51\00:36:57.24
And notice what
he said about Satan.
00:36:57.25\00:36:58.55
He saw him like lightning--
Falling like lightning--
00:36:58.56\00:36:59.84
Falling from where?
Falling from heaven.
00:36:59.85\00:37:02.21
And look at Revelation
9:1, I saw a star fallen
00:37:02.22\00:37:05.87
from heaven to the earth. Right.
00:37:05.88\00:37:07.63
Now what is Lucifer's name,
00:37:07.64\00:37:10.64
the morning star.
The morning star. Yeah.
00:37:10.65\00:37:12.33
The morning star.
00:37:12.94\00:37:15.90
Jesus is the bright
and morning star. Right.
00:37:15.91\00:37:18.66
There're so many comparisons
Satan is that morning star,
00:37:18.67\00:37:21.91
that's what Lucifer
means, son of the morning.
00:37:21.92\00:37:24.54
And then son of the morning
is also the morning star.
00:37:24.55\00:37:27.57
So when you look at the Bible
00:37:27.58\00:37:29.35
and allow the Bible
to speak for itself,
00:37:29.36\00:37:31.41
it tells you right
away, and by the way
00:37:31.42\00:37:33.47
this is the first
place Revelation 9:1
00:37:33.48\00:37:36.53
where the bottomless pit
is introduced in Revelation.
00:37:36.54\00:37:40.41
It's the first place.
00:37:40.42\00:37:41.83
And the person, I
think you mentioned this,
00:37:41.84\00:37:44.22
but go further
with the explanation
00:37:44.23\00:37:45.68
as to who this fifth trumpet is.
00:37:45.69\00:37:46.93
I think you
mentioned in Revelation 9:11,
00:37:46.94\00:37:49.13
they had a king over them. Yeah.
00:37:49.14\00:37:50.95
The king over them.
I don't have that here.
00:37:50.96\00:37:52.96
I'll open it real
quick, but if you look--
00:37:52.97\00:37:55.76
if you read down little further,
00:37:55.77\00:37:57.03
it talks about the king
that is over this army of his,
00:37:57.04\00:38:01.34
being the angel, verse 11,
00:38:03.40\00:38:05.16
the angel of the bottomless pit.
00:38:05.17\00:38:06.92
Now what other
angel do you know of?
00:38:06.93\00:38:09.75
That's connected
with the bottomless pit.
00:38:09.76\00:38:12.58
I don't know any other ones.
00:38:12.59\00:38:13.83
If you can find another
one, please let us know. Right.
00:38:13.84\00:38:17.30
But the angel from
the bottomless pit has--
00:38:17.31\00:38:20.22
is the king over this
army whose name in Hebrew
00:38:20.23\00:38:22.97
is Abaddon, or in Greek,
00:38:22.98\00:38:24.38
he is--has the name of Apollyon.
00:38:24.39\00:38:26.14
And he is the
angel of destruction
00:38:26.15\00:38:27.90
and the destroying
angels. That's right.
00:38:27.91\00:38:29.81
That's were the names we mean.
That's what we referred to.
00:38:29.82\00:38:33.76
And so, in short, or in summary,
00:38:33.77\00:38:36.61
the king that is over
them in Revelation 9:11
00:38:36.62\00:38:39.28
is the angel of
the bottomless pit.
00:38:39.29\00:38:42.53
So as John said
again and we reiterate this
00:38:42.54\00:38:44.82
because sometimes
like a fast car going by,
00:38:44.83\00:38:47.98
you don't see it's license plate
but let's slow it down some.
00:38:47.99\00:38:51.30
The license plate
marking is Lucifer,
00:38:51.31\00:38:53.60
the one who fell from heaven,
00:38:53.61\00:38:55.03
who is an angel, who is a king,
00:38:55.04\00:38:58.11
who is a star,
and who is the one
00:38:58.12\00:39:00.02
from the bottomless pit
00:39:00.03\00:39:02.00
connecting all
the pieces together.
00:39:02.01\00:39:03.65
So who is he and
who is he a king over.
00:39:03.66\00:39:07.92
He is angel. That's right.
00:39:07.93\00:39:09.73
He is the one that is
commanding his angels.
00:39:09.74\00:39:12.69
He's the one that is
over them and by the way
00:39:12.70\00:39:14.65
when you look at
Revelation 9 read verse 4.
00:39:14.66\00:39:17.61
Look at the
command that's given there.
00:39:17.62\00:39:19.00
Remember, remember now
they were waiting a command.
00:39:19.01\00:39:22.06
Right. Okay. Read the command.
00:39:22.07\00:39:23.82
They were commanded
not to harm the grass
00:39:23.83\00:39:25.68
of the earth or any
green thing, or any tree;
00:39:25.69\00:39:27.73
but only those
men who do not have
00:39:27.74\00:39:29.43
the seal of God
on their foreheads.
00:39:29.44\00:39:31.57
Okay. Seal of God.
Future or past? Future.
00:39:31.58\00:39:35.15
Okay, When you talk
about the sealing work,
00:39:35.16\00:39:37.39
the closing work, the sealing,
00:39:37.40\00:39:39.12
the choosing of God's people.
00:39:39.13\00:39:41.15
We know that many
people were sealed already
00:39:41.16\00:39:43.34
in death and--
but the sealing work
00:39:43.35\00:39:47.00
is still future. Right.
00:39:47.01\00:39:49.98
So this has to
have-- Have a seal of God
00:39:49.99\00:39:51.70
for his people as
probation is closing.
00:39:51.71\00:39:55.90
This is the reference to it.
00:39:55.91\00:39:57.50
That's why we wanna go
back now to the trumpets
00:39:57.51\00:39:59.73
as we began on a former topic,
00:39:59.74\00:40:01.86
a former show,
former program I should say.
00:40:01.87\00:40:05.17
We started defining
all of the applications
00:40:05.18\00:40:09.41
of the trumpets as
it relates to scripture
00:40:09.42\00:40:11.79
and I think we
were getting ready
00:40:11.80\00:40:14.66
to go to the Book of Amos.
00:40:14.67\00:40:16.80
Amos chapter 3 and verse 6.
00:40:16.81\00:40:18.90
Because we're in Joel chapter 2,
00:40:18.91\00:40:21.23
and Joel 2 talked about
this as a day of warning,
00:40:21.24\00:40:26.41
a day of judgment coming.
00:40:26.42\00:40:28.65
He talked about where in
even the sun will be dark
00:40:28.66\00:40:31.73
and the moon will
not give us light,
00:40:31.74\00:40:33.65
the stars will fall.
00:40:33.66\00:40:35.33
He talked about a very
great and dreadful day,
00:40:35.34\00:40:37.66
but now go to Amos chapter
3 and verse 6 as we use this
00:40:37.67\00:40:41.64
as a spring board
to continue our track
00:40:41.65\00:40:44.66
through the nine applications
00:40:44.67\00:40:46.76
that the Bible gives
about the seven trumpets.
00:40:46.77\00:40:51.76
Okay, now Amos 3,
do you have it John?
00:40:51.77\00:40:55.40
And Hosea,
right, you can go ahead,
00:40:55.41\00:40:58.20
Verse 6. Yes.
00:40:58.21\00:41:00.06
If a trumpet is blown in a city,
00:41:00.07\00:41:02.49
will not the people be afraid?
00:41:02.50\00:41:04.83
If there is calamity in a city,
00:41:04.84\00:41:06.65
will not the Lord have done it?
00:41:06.66\00:41:08.88
Surely, the Lord does
not-- does nothing unless
00:41:08.89\00:41:12.13
He reveals His secret to
His servants the prophets
00:41:12.14\00:41:15.85
and that is
significant there because
00:41:15.86\00:41:17.66
servants and
prophets, as we mentioned
00:41:17.67\00:41:19.37
in the last
program, are connected
00:41:19.38\00:41:22.22
with the work of the
144,000. That's right.
00:41:22.23\00:41:26.51
Notice what's--notice
the connection in verse 6.
00:41:26.52\00:41:29.41
He talks about
trumpet and calamity
00:41:29.42\00:41:32.42
in the same verse and
then he says who's behind it?
00:41:32.43\00:41:38.13
Will not the Lord have done it?
00:41:38.14\00:41:39.73
That's right. Okay.
00:41:39.74\00:41:40.87
so here the
restraint of God is removed
00:41:40.88\00:41:42.78
and the calamity occurs.
00:41:42.79\00:41:44.24
And once again we reiterate,
because the calamity occurs,
00:41:44.25\00:41:47.29
it could happen either
because God directed it
00:41:47.30\00:41:49.59
or God removed the
restraint that prevented it.
00:41:49.60\00:41:52.73
In the same sense, you
know, we talk about earthquakes
00:41:52.74\00:41:54.93
where they said earthquakes
happen because it builds
00:41:54.94\00:41:58.69
to a certain stress point
and then it just gives away.
00:41:58.70\00:42:02.11
And so in the same
sense, in the world
00:42:02.12\00:42:03.82
there are stresses being built
00:42:03.83\00:42:05.59
on the political horizon,
on the ecological horizon
00:42:05.60\00:42:10.47
but in this sense, in
the spiritual horizon,
00:42:10.48\00:42:12.94
the Lord removes the restraint
00:42:12.95\00:42:15.07
and the calamity occurs
and the Lord now and Joel
00:42:15.08\00:42:18.37
and also Amos refers to
these as coming judgments.
00:42:18.38\00:42:21.51
And the restraint
there referred too
00:42:21.52\00:42:24.49
symbolically in
Revelation is the four winds.
00:42:24.50\00:42:28.01
Right, exact four
winds being released. Right.
00:42:28.02\00:42:31.35
And those winds are held on to
00:42:31.36\00:42:33.42
until the 144,000 are sealed.
00:42:33.43\00:42:36.20
But now let's go
to couple other books.
00:42:36.21\00:42:38.90
We're gonna go to the
Book of Leviticus, Leviticus.
00:42:38.91\00:42:43.38
Now the other thing,
John, I want to point out
00:42:43.39\00:42:45.46
is Revelation is
written very much
00:42:45.47\00:42:48.04
in sanctuary language.
00:42:48.05\00:42:51.29
Very much
written in the language
00:42:51.30\00:42:53.30
of the sanctuary. Okay.
00:42:53.31\00:42:56.17
Leviticus, what again?
00:42:58.93\00:43:00.99
Leviticus
chapter 23. Here we are.
00:43:01.00\00:43:05.36
Okay, Leviticus chapter 23.
00:43:05.37\00:43:08.84
Like you said, in the old Bible,
00:43:08.85\00:43:10.09
and I just opened my old Bible
00:43:10.10\00:43:11.37
and it's like right there.
00:43:11.38\00:43:12.55
I'm cracking the pages literally
00:43:12.56\00:43:15.11
still separating
them in this new Bible.
00:43:15.12\00:43:17.39
But I'm enjoying it
because when I've done it once
00:43:17.40\00:43:20.02
it'll go ahead and hold
on for a long period of time.
00:43:20.03\00:43:23.25
Okay, now Leviticus chapter 23
00:43:23.26\00:43:26.65
outlines the feasts of the Lord.
00:43:26.66\00:43:29.68
These feasts were synonymous
to the work that was carried
00:43:29.69\00:43:36.91
on during the time of
the ceremonial services.
00:43:36.92\00:43:41.47
But there's a feast
here that included trumpets.
00:43:41.48\00:43:45.36
It was called the feast
of trumpets very clearly.
00:43:45.37\00:43:49.31
But now the questions
that we will be asking
00:43:49.32\00:43:51.29
are when were the trumpets blown
00:43:51.30\00:43:54.71
and preparatory to what?
00:43:54.72\00:43:57.22
Go ahead and read verse 23-27.
00:43:57.23\00:44:00.65
Leviticus verse 23-27.
00:44:00.66\00:44:03.18
Then the Lord spoke to Moses
saying speak to the children
00:44:03.19\00:44:05.80
of Israel, saying,
in the seventh month,
00:44:05.81\00:44:09.03
on the first day of the month,
00:44:09.04\00:44:10.84
you shall have a Sabbath rest,
00:44:10.85\00:44:12.47
a memorial of
blowing of trumpets,
00:44:12.48\00:44:14.79
a holy convocation. Okay.
00:44:14.80\00:44:17.29
You shall do no
customary work on it
00:44:17.30\00:44:20.21
and you shall offer an offering
00:44:20.22\00:44:21.75
made by fire to the Lord.
00:44:21.76\00:44:23.68
Okay and verse 26 and
27-- Then verse 26 says
00:44:23.69\00:44:26.91
and the Lord
spoke to Moses, saying,
00:44:26.92\00:44:29.12
also the tenth day
of the seventh month.
00:44:29.13\00:44:31.63
So this is how
many days later, John?
00:44:31.64\00:44:33.49
Nine days later.
00:44:33.50\00:44:35.42
That the day, it shall
be the Day of Atonement.
00:44:35.43\00:44:38.58
It shall be a holy
convocation for you;
00:44:38.59\00:44:40.61
you shall afflict your souls,
00:44:40.62\00:44:42.28
and offer an offering
made by fire to the Lord.
00:44:42.29\00:44:45.69
And you shall do no
work on that same day
00:44:45.70\00:44:48.22
for it is the Day of Atonement.
00:44:48.23\00:44:49.50
You shall make atonement for you
00:44:49.51\00:44:51.17
before the Lord your God.
00:44:51.18\00:44:53.30
Okay. Notice what's happening?
00:44:53.31\00:44:55.38
These are
connected. These are connected.
00:44:55.39\00:44:56.77
One right after the other one.
00:44:56.78\00:44:58.22
It seems like the
trumpets are the prelude
00:44:58.23\00:45:01.32
to the Day of Atonement.
00:45:01.33\00:45:02.55
It's announcing and
asking people to come together
00:45:02.56\00:45:05.04
to get ready for
the Day of Atonement.
00:45:05.05\00:45:07.08
And the Day of Atonement
services, John, we also know
00:45:07.09\00:45:09.58
that it was refer
towards the yearly judgment.
00:45:09.59\00:45:11.93
It was the Day of Judgment
for the people of Israel.
00:45:11.94\00:45:14.55
They knew that
when this time came
00:45:14.56\00:45:16.47
if their sins were forgiven
it was the time to now move
00:45:16.48\00:45:19.49
to the feast of tabernacles
00:45:19.50\00:45:21.34
where this great
celebration took place.
00:45:21.35\00:45:23.06
But if their sins were
not blotted out, Acts 3:19,
00:45:23.07\00:45:26.62
then judgment came to
them and their sins remain
00:45:26.63\00:45:30.22
and they were
banished from the camp.
00:45:30.23\00:45:31.88
Says that in verse 29.
00:45:31.89\00:45:32.92
It says those who do
not afflict their souls,
00:45:32.93\00:45:36.01
another which don't
search out their sins
00:45:36.02\00:45:37.93
to be forgiven of
all sin, shall be cut off
00:45:37.94\00:45:41.15
from among his people.
00:45:41.16\00:45:42.24
Okay. There you go. So
they couldn't celebrate.
00:45:42.25\00:45:44.83
And this feast of tabernacles
00:45:44.84\00:45:46.26
literally took seven days.
00:45:46.27\00:45:47.55
It was a time
where they celebrated
00:45:47.56\00:45:49.15
their sins being blotted out.
00:45:49.16\00:45:51.31
And once again Acts
3:19 repent and be converted
00:45:51.32\00:45:54.78
that your sins
may be blotted out.
00:45:54.79\00:45:56.63
So their
repentance was the searching
00:45:56.64\00:45:58.13
of their souls but the provision
00:45:58.14\00:45:59.95
they had to make
was a lamb, a sacrifice,
00:45:59.96\00:46:03.05
the blood shed
for the blotting out
00:46:03.06\00:46:05.20
of their sins, not
just for the covering up
00:46:05.21\00:46:06.96
or the
forgiveness of their sins.
00:46:06.97\00:46:08.79
So here's another
reference and which says to us
00:46:08.80\00:46:11.83
when the
trumpets blow we know that
00:46:11.84\00:46:15.38
in nine more days, the
Day of Atonement services
00:46:15.39\00:46:17.86
are coming and the
Day of Atonement services
00:46:17.87\00:46:20.13
is gonna be
convened and that's the last
00:46:20.14\00:46:22.52
opportunity for your
sins to be blotted out.
00:46:22.53\00:46:25.15
So application connection.
When was the trumpet blown?
00:46:25.16\00:46:29.90
On the first day
of the seventh month.
00:46:29.91\00:46:31.62
When was the Day of Atonement?
00:46:31.63\00:46:33.36
The tenth day of
the seventh month.
00:46:33.37\00:46:36.01
What was the purpose
of the trumpets blowing?
00:46:36.02\00:46:37.82
To warn the people they only had
00:46:37.83\00:46:39.13
a certain amount of time left
00:46:39.14\00:46:40.80
before they could
have their sins atoned for.
00:46:40.81\00:46:44.14
So I would say again
could there be some comparison
00:46:44.15\00:46:47.01
between the
blowing of the trumpets
00:46:47.02\00:46:49.13
in this temple services.
And by the way, you know this.
00:46:49.14\00:46:52.40
Revelation is very
much written in the language
00:46:52.41\00:46:55.15
of the sanctuary showing us
00:46:55.16\00:46:57.03
different aspects
of the work of God.
00:46:57.04\00:46:59.12
That's right. Not
just historical events.
00:46:59.13\00:47:01.28
Yeah, in fact,
the beginning of each
00:47:01.29\00:47:03.69
major seven event
called the major sevens.
00:47:03.70\00:47:08.27
Um, they are minor sevens too.
00:47:08.28\00:47:09.57
But any of the
major seven events has you
00:47:09.58\00:47:11.47
in a position
within the sanctuary
00:47:11.48\00:47:14.36
as it takes you from the gate
00:47:14.37\00:47:16.08
right on through to the
most holy. That's right.
00:47:16.09\00:47:18.74
And that's how you
see the progression
00:47:18.75\00:47:20.48
of these things and
so when we talk about
00:47:20.49\00:47:23.82
the seven trumpets as you read
00:47:23.83\00:47:26.53
the beginning of
Revelation chapter 8,
00:47:26.54\00:47:29.32
the language
there or the place there
00:47:29.33\00:47:31.38
first of all, is
the altar of incense--
00:47:31.39\00:47:33.68
Which we know is
connected with in that context
00:47:33.69\00:47:37.88
connected with Day
of Atonement services
00:47:37.89\00:47:42.16
while it's in the holy
place it is often spoken
00:47:42.17\00:47:45.85
of as being part of
the most holy experience
00:47:45.86\00:47:48.70
or ceremony. That's right.
00:47:48.71\00:47:51.50
So it has moved
then from the seals
00:47:51.51\00:47:53.69
which have you
out in the holy place
00:47:53.70\00:47:56.77
part as you see the
language coming into
00:47:56.78\00:47:58.45
the first
department to now the trumpets
00:47:58.46\00:48:00.98
where it's bringing
you into the most holy.
00:48:00.99\00:48:03.79
Just an interesting
thought there, you know,
00:48:03.80\00:48:05.73
that really jumped
out at me when I really
00:48:05.74\00:48:08.00
began to study the sanctuary
language of Revelation.
00:48:08.01\00:48:10.45
And the connection
is necessary because
00:48:10.46\00:48:11.95
from that altar of
incense-- I've to slow down.
00:48:11.96\00:48:15.42
I'm getting into
my New York mode.
00:48:15.43\00:48:17.20
From the altar of incense,
the prayers of the saints
00:48:17.21\00:48:20.64
rising and the reason
why the altar of incense
00:48:20.65\00:48:23.38
is right before
the most holy place,
00:48:23.39\00:48:24.97
that sweet-smelling
savor is going in to bring
00:48:24.98\00:48:27.89
before he Lord who
is this kind of glory
00:48:27.90\00:48:30.86
the prayers of
the saints rising.
00:48:30.87\00:48:32.62
At what time in our
history will the prayers
00:48:32.63\00:48:35.71
of the saints be rising more
00:48:35.72\00:48:37.17
before God than
at any other time?
00:48:37.18\00:48:39.99
When they're
afflicting their souls
00:48:40.00\00:48:41.37
and sang a wording of Ezekiel 9,
00:48:41.38\00:48:43.66
sighing and crying
for the abominations
00:48:43.67\00:48:45.95
done in the land. That's right.
00:48:45.96\00:48:47.15
Done in the
amidst. They are sighing
00:48:47.16\00:48:49.08
and they're crying and
they're afflicting their souls.
00:48:49.09\00:48:51.85
They are pleading
for forgiveness because
00:48:51.86\00:48:54.10
they know that
they are that close
00:48:54.11\00:48:56.50
to the closing out
of the atonement work.
00:48:56.51\00:48:59.95
And once again, this
shows, this gives application
00:48:59.96\00:49:04.51
and context to another
meaning of the trumpets
00:49:04.52\00:49:07.45
in the Bible and by
the way you'll notice
00:49:07.46\00:49:09.93
this is as
close as we can get to
00:49:09.94\00:49:11.95
a historical event because
it's happening once a year.
00:49:11.96\00:49:14.71
But it was not
necessarily each trumpet meaning
00:49:14.72\00:49:18.15
a point in
history as much it saying
00:49:18.16\00:49:21.28
a preparation for something
00:49:21.29\00:49:22.55
that is coming at this
point in history. Right.
00:49:22.56\00:49:27.00
Now let's go to the
most amazing one I believe.
00:49:27.01\00:49:29.75
One of the ones
that are so indicative
00:49:29.76\00:49:35.04
of what I believe
has a great application
00:49:35.05\00:49:38.83
of the seven trumpets.
00:49:38.84\00:49:39.83
And by the way let me
paraphrase it by saying this.
00:49:39.84\00:49:42.82
When you talk
about the seven plagues
00:49:42.83\00:49:44.39
in Revelation, you
immediately remember
00:49:44.40\00:49:47.07
the seven plagues
in the Book of Exodus
00:49:47.08\00:49:51.21
when the children
of Israel were being
00:49:51.22\00:49:52.96
taken out of Egypt.
00:49:52.97\00:49:54.67
The seven last plagues
affected only the Egyptians.
00:49:54.68\00:49:57.95
The first three
affected everybody
00:49:57.96\00:50:00.12
but the seven last plagues
affected only the Egyptians.
00:50:00.13\00:50:03.77
That was the seven last plagues
00:50:03.78\00:50:05.82
in the Book of Exodus.
00:50:05.83\00:50:07.49
But now we have
the seven last plagues
00:50:07.50\00:50:09.03
in the Book of Revelation.
00:50:09.04\00:50:10.29
So whenever you read
the plagues in Revelation,
00:50:10.30\00:50:13.08
you instantly go
back to the Book of Exodus
00:50:13.09\00:50:15.68
to get context of it. Right.
00:50:15.69\00:50:17.91
And you see that
these things could happen.
00:50:17.92\00:50:21.60
In the same way,
there's only one other place
00:50:21.61\00:50:24.50
in the entire Bible
where seven trumpets
00:50:24.51\00:50:28.29
are talked about and
that's in the Book of Joshua,
00:50:28.30\00:50:32.43
the battle of
Jericho. Let's go there.
00:50:32.44\00:50:35.97
Joshua chapter 6--I
guess you're already there.
00:50:35.98\00:50:38.78
My glasses left and
went somewhere. Uh, okay.
00:50:38.79\00:50:43.01
I'll find them
before the trumpets blow
00:50:43.02\00:50:46.28
but I know
they're here somewhere.
00:50:46.29\00:50:47.92
Anyway Joshua chapter 6. Yes.
00:50:47.93\00:50:51.73
Read that for me
since I can't see right now.
00:50:51.74\00:50:54.56
Well, there's the
instructions that occur
00:50:54.57\00:50:56.76
through the beginning
of chapter 6 in Joshua
00:50:56.77\00:51:00.25
and I'll pick up in
verse 12 as they began to go.
00:51:00.26\00:51:03.76
Joshua rose
early in the morning,
00:51:03.77\00:51:05.60
and the priest took
up the ark of the Lord.
00:51:05.61\00:51:08.33
Then seven priests
bearing seven trumpets of rams'
00:51:08.34\00:51:12.05
horns before the ark of the Lord
00:51:12.06\00:51:14.21
went on continually,
and blew with the trumpets:
00:51:14.22\00:51:17.63
and the armed
men went before them;
00:51:17.64\00:51:21.08
but the rear guard came
after the ark of the Lord
00:51:21.09\00:51:23.77
while the priests
continued blowing the trumpets.
00:51:23.78\00:51:27.11
Now you know it's something
jumped out of me here, John,
00:51:27.12\00:51:29.06
that I had not seen before.
00:51:29.07\00:51:31.24
It is just I should've seen it,
00:51:31.25\00:51:33.78
but the center
piece of the trumpets
00:51:33.79\00:51:36.11
here is the Ark of the Covenant.
00:51:36.12\00:51:40.31
The center piece here
that the trumpets are blown
00:51:40.32\00:51:43.31
before and the people follow
is the Ark of the Covenant.
00:51:43.32\00:51:47.39
That is also a connection
00:51:47.40\00:51:49.11
to the Day of
Atonement language,
00:51:49.12\00:51:51.22
the most of holy place language.
00:51:51.23\00:51:56.49
You know what I'm saying.
00:51:56.50\00:51:57.52
This is another thing
that jumps out of me here
00:51:57.53\00:51:59.48
and the word just is a blessing.
00:51:59.49\00:52:01.88
But here we have
them moving through,
00:52:01.89\00:52:03.54
blowing the trumpets
with the ark moving with them.
00:52:03.55\00:52:08.11
And you know, that's
what so amazing about this
00:52:08.12\00:52:10.29
whole prophecy is
that everything about it
00:52:10.30\00:52:12.70
weeks sanctuary language.
00:52:12.71\00:52:15.33
Yes, the most holy place.
00:52:15.34\00:52:16.68
Most holy, Day of Judgment,
final call bringing down
00:52:16.69\00:52:21.13
of the walls and, and I want
to connect this here because
00:52:21.14\00:52:24.36
remember, seven
angels. Let's get this now.
00:52:24.37\00:52:28.20
When we say, I saw
three angels flying
00:52:28.21\00:52:33.11
in the midst of
heaven, although it's really
00:52:33.12\00:52:35.80
angels flying or
although it's messengers
00:52:35.81\00:52:37.86
proclaiming a
message. They are messengers.
00:52:37.87\00:52:39.61
Okay, so now seven
angels with seven trumpets
00:52:39.62\00:52:43.06
could these be messengers of God
00:52:43.07\00:52:45.49
proclaiming during
this particular time.
00:52:45.50\00:52:48.44
Seven angels, in
Revelation, we talk about
00:52:48.45\00:52:51.03
those three angels messages.
00:52:51.04\00:52:52.46
We say, well,
those are messengers.
00:52:52.47\00:52:54.68
Well, look in
the same sense here.
00:52:54.69\00:52:57.06
Seven priests
with seven trumpets.
00:52:57.07\00:52:59.49
These were sent forward
to take a message to Jericho
00:52:59.50\00:53:02.22
that you're coming
down but how do they do it?
00:53:02.23\00:53:04.76
God's message to
Jericho that it's coming down
00:53:04.77\00:53:07.71
in the last
days God's message to
00:53:07.72\00:53:09.87
Babylon it's
coming down. Exactly.
00:53:09.88\00:53:12.30
And they did it
through the priests
00:53:12.31\00:53:13.46
who were the messengers
sent to blow these trumpets.
00:53:13.47\00:53:16.79
But let's look at it now
Joshua chapter 6 and verse 7.
00:53:16.80\00:53:20.00
This is the most amazing story
00:53:20.01\00:53:21.15
because by the
way I say this again.
00:53:21.16\00:53:22.92
This is the only
reference in the Bible
00:53:22.93\00:53:24.37
outside of Revelation
where you find seven trumpets
00:53:24.38\00:53:26.65
even talked about in
the same single story
00:53:26.66\00:53:29.68
and the outcome is phenomenal.
00:53:29.69\00:53:31.48
Look at it says in verse 4
and seven priests shall bear
00:53:31.49\00:53:35.67
seven trumpets of
rams' horns before the ark
00:53:35.68\00:53:39.88
but the seventh day
you shall march around
00:53:39.89\00:53:43.37
the city seven
times, and the priests shall
00:53:43.38\00:53:47.29
blow the trumpets.
00:53:47.30\00:53:49.63
It shall come to pass
when they make a long blast
00:53:49.64\00:53:52.32
with the rams'
horn, and when you hear
00:53:52.33\00:53:54.31
the sound of the
trumpet that all the people
00:53:54.32\00:53:56.54
shall shout with a great shout
00:53:56.55\00:53:58.70
then the wall of the
city will fall down flat,
00:53:58.71\00:54:02.10
and the people shall
go up every man straight
00:54:02.11\00:54:05.05
before him and so
you see right away
00:54:05.06\00:54:08.20
the blowing of the
trumpet is synonymous
00:54:08.21\00:54:09.97
to the bringing
down of the walls. Right.
00:54:09.98\00:54:12.65
But now let's go--we're
gonna go to the story here.
00:54:12.66\00:54:14.98
It's a beautiful story.
00:54:14.99\00:54:16.91
I'm gonna try to
shorten it some and--
00:54:16.92\00:54:19.55
We just haven't finished.
00:54:19.56\00:54:21.12
Read verse 20 because
this is what happened.
00:54:21.13\00:54:23.40
That was the prescription
now here is the event. Okay.
00:54:23.41\00:54:27.01
And it says verse
20 of Joshua chapter 6.
00:54:27.02\00:54:30.39
So the people
shouted when the priest,
00:54:30.40\00:54:33.95
when the priests
blew the trumpets,
00:54:33.96\00:54:36.62
and it happened
when the people heard
00:54:36.63\00:54:38.68
the sound of the
trumpet, and the people shouted
00:54:38.69\00:54:42.09
with a great shout,
that the wall fell down flat,
00:54:42.10\00:54:46.65
then the people
went up into the city,
00:54:46.66\00:54:49.15
every man straight before
him, and they took the city.
00:54:49.16\00:54:53.95
So what happens when
the trumpet is blown,
00:54:53.96\00:54:56.86
the walls come down flat.
00:54:56.87\00:55:00.20
And you know, John,
this is something else
00:55:00.21\00:55:02.79
and we're just throwing
out a few things here that
00:55:02.80\00:55:05.49
we're not putting any
definitive picture together.
00:55:05.50\00:55:07.96
We're not saying
this is what it means.
00:55:07.97\00:55:09.06
This is what it doesn't mean.
00:55:09.07\00:55:10.08
But we're saying,
if you wanna find out
00:55:10.09\00:55:12.04
what the trumpets mean,
00:55:12.05\00:55:13.05
the best place to read
about it is in the Bible.
00:55:13.06\00:55:16.32
The best place to
get the foundation
00:55:16.33\00:55:17.82
for what Revelation
is communicating to us
00:55:17.83\00:55:19.86
is see how the
trumpets were used in the Bible
00:55:19.87\00:55:23.46
and this is the only
other place outside of
00:55:23.47\00:55:25.18
Revelation chapter
8, 9, and 10, and 11
00:55:25.19\00:55:29.65
where seven
trumpets are talked about.
00:55:29.66\00:55:31.82
And in connection
with the sanctuary language
00:55:31.83\00:55:33.95
as well which we
saw are very important
00:55:33.96\00:55:35.48
because Revelation uses it.
00:55:35.49\00:55:37.24
We see sanctuary emblems here
00:55:37.25\00:55:39.92
and furniture pieces used here.
00:55:39.93\00:55:43.29
It really is
painting a clear picture--
00:55:43.30\00:55:45.54
That's right.
00:55:45.55\00:55:46.66
Of God's judgments and
how they're connected to
00:55:46.67\00:55:50.62
the trumpets and I just
think one that is undeniable.
00:55:50.63\00:55:57.15
So praise the Lord that His word
00:55:57.16\00:55:59.94
is very, very
consistent like that.
00:55:59.95\00:56:02.53
And by the way, you find
we talked about Joel and Amos
00:56:02.54\00:56:05.36
but also the Book of Zephaniah.
00:56:05.37\00:56:07.00
We're not gonna
go there right now,
00:56:07.01\00:56:08.05
but the Book of
Zephaniah chapter 1 verse 14-17
00:56:08.06\00:56:10.94
once again refers to
the great day of God,
00:56:10.95\00:56:13.57
the coming of God's
judgments and when you put
00:56:13.58\00:56:15.97
this whole all nine of
these references together,
00:56:15.98\00:56:21.28
they make a story.
Listen to the story.
00:56:21.29\00:56:24.26
Through the blowing
of the seven trumpets,
00:56:24.27\00:56:25.94
the preaching of the
gospel, the first reference,
00:56:25.95\00:56:28.00
during the great day
of the Lord will warn
00:56:28.01\00:56:30.10
the world of the last
war between truth and error.
00:56:30.11\00:56:33.11
The wide spread
destruction will be assigned
00:56:33.12\00:56:35.33
to the world that the Day
of Atonement work is closing.
00:56:35.34\00:56:38.05
The second coming of
the Lord is at the door
00:56:38.06\00:56:40.52
and that soon the
voice of Jesus will proclaim
00:56:40.53\00:56:43.21
our eternal victory over sin.
00:56:43.22\00:56:46.66
What was the seven
trumpets, the Walls of Jericho
00:56:46.67\00:56:49.96
coming down when the
priests blew trumpets before
00:56:49.97\00:56:52.08
the Day of Atonement,
the final victory over sin,
00:56:52.09\00:56:55.25
the blotting out of sin.
It's an amazing story, John.
00:56:55.26\00:56:58.70
Any closing words
before we wind it up?
00:56:58.71\00:57:00.62
Well, I like to
thank that the people
00:57:00.63\00:57:01.93
shouted with the great shout
00:57:01.94\00:57:03.82
and the Lord is also shouting.
00:57:03.83\00:57:06.39
So they're just
following what the Lord's doing.
00:57:06.40\00:57:08.78
The shout of the
people victorious over sin
00:57:08.79\00:57:11.83
will be led by the
voice of the ark angel,
00:57:11.84\00:57:15.19
the trumpet of God, and then
00:57:15.20\00:57:17.45
the final
declaration with our victory
00:57:17.46\00:57:20.13
over sin eternally. Friends,
this is an amazing topic.
00:57:20.14\00:57:22.95
We encourage you to
go back to Revelation,
00:57:22.96\00:57:25.33
allow the Bible
to be the foundation
00:57:25.34\00:57:27.63
upon which you base
your trust and your faith
00:57:27.64\00:57:29.71
in Jesus Christ and do
that today. God bless you.
00:57:29.72\00:57:33.81