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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Welcome to the
best Bible program
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for this hour
anywhere in the world.
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If we didn't believe that
we wouldn't really be here.
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And so today you
have James and John.
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Once again the sons of thunder.
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Good to have you here,
James. Good to be here, John.
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I tell you, we
are coming to you live
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from 3ABN here in
West Frankfort, Illinois.
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We have our Bibles,
hope you have yours.
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Get your pens, get
your family members seated.
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If you're
watching this at church
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or wherever you may be,
sit down for the next hour
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as we walk together
through the word of God.
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A time that is going to
be filled with blessings
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because we're gonna
invite the spirit of God
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to be here with us.
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And I'm so glad that
James is joining me today.
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We did some programs
in the past together.
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And I think the
chemistry is very good.
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And so praise the Lord
that, you know your Bible.
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That's the
biggest part about it.
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That's the neat thing, isn't it?
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And we also know the Lord,
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but before we do anything today,
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I'd like to have you
have our prayer. Amen.
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Before we go, before the people
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with our
questions and our Bible.
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Amen. Let's pray.
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Father, we're just
thankful for another opportunity
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to open Your word
and to share with those
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who are listening, the viewers,
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the beautiful message of truth
that You've given us there.
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We prize it above all
of our earthly possessions.
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And we pray that as
those who are listening join us
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as we open Your word, as we move
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through these
passages, these texts,
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that our hearts will be
knit again together with You
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and that each one
will be drawn closer
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in their personal relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Be with us to this end.
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Send Your spirit to guide
and direct and to speak to us,
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we pray in Jesus
name, amen. Amen. Thank you.
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Now for those of you
who have Bible questions,
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you know, that this part
of the program is significant
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because we always begin
with your Bible questions
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that you send so faithfully.
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And thank you for sending them.
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But if there's
something we say today
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or something that's
in your mind right now
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that you want to
email to us you can do
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so by sending an email
to housecalls@3abn.org.
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That's housecalls@3abn.org.
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And we take
advantage of modern technology.
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But if you're
at some place where
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you have no internet connection
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and you prefer sending a mail,
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send that to P.O. Box 220,
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West Frankfort, Illinois, 62896.
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Attention House Calls and
we'll get that information.
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And hopefully
we'll be able to cover it
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on the topics that come up.
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And if you don't hear
about yours now, be patient.
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We'll cover that in the future.
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But we'll be given
some questions today.
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What do you have for us, James?
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Well, the first
question that comes in
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from a listener
and they are asking.
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"At the first
resurrection will the unsaved
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who are living at
that time be destroyed,
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sent to their graves
until the second resurrection?
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During the 1,000 year
reign with our Lord in heaven
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will there be any
humans living on the earth?
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And that is a
really good question. Wow.
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The first section of scripture
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that I think about in
relation to this question
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is Revelation Chapter 20.
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Revelation Chapter 20
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is one of the last chapters
in the Book of Revelation.
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Revelation 22 is
the last chapter.
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So almost at the
very end of the Bible
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you're going to find
Revelation Chapter 20.
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And the whole chapter deals
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with this question
and goes beyond that.
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So we're not going
to look at every verse
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in Revelation Chapter 20.
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But we're going to look
here at just a couple of verses
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that I think will
really help us to understand
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what takes place
when Jesus returns.
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John says in
Revelation Chapter 20
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and we're going to
begin here with verse 4.
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"And I saw thrones."
Well, verse 3, excuse me.
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Well, we better
start with verse 1.
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I hate to do that. Let's do it.
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Look at the context. Exactly.
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"And I saw an angel
come down from heaven,
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having the key to
the bottomless pit
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and a great chain in his hand.
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And he laid
hold upon the dragon,
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that old serpent,
which is the Devil,
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and Satan, and bound
him a thousand years.
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And he cast him
into the bottomless pit
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and shut him up
and set a seal upon him
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that he should
deceive the nations no more
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till the thousand
years should be fulfilled.
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And after that he must
be loosed a little season.
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And I saw thrones and
they that sat upon them.
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And judgment
was given unto them.
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And I saw the souls of
them that were beheaded
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for the witness of
Jesus and for the word of God
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which had not
worshipped the beast,
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neither his image,
neither received his mark
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upon their
foreheads, or in their hands,
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and they lived and reigned
with Christ a thousand years.
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But the rest of the
dead lived not again
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until the thousand
years were finished.
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This is the first resurrection.
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Blessed and holy is he that has
part in the first resurrection.
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On such the second
death has no power,
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but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ
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and shall reign with
him a thousand years."
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And final verse, "When the
thousand years are expired,
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Satan shall be
loosed out of his prison."
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Actually verse 8, "And shall
go out to deceive the nations
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which are in the four
quarters of the earth,
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Gog and Magog and gather
them together to the battle,
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the number of whom is
as the sand of the sea."
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Now an outline here,
just a brief outline.
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The thousand years begins
at the second coming of Jesus.
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We know that.
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When Jesus returns,
the wicked are destroyed
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by the brightness of His coming.
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2 Thessalonians
Chapter 2 tells us that.
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And that is what
it's been described here
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briefly in
Revelation Chapter 20.
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The focus of Revelation
20 is the first resurrection.
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The first resurrection--
those who have part
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in the first
resurrection and they are those
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who believe in Christ.
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Many of them were
beheaded or martyred for Christ.
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They are going to reign with
Christ for a thousand years.
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Satan on the other hand is,
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we're told, is put
in a prison so to speak.
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It's not a literal prison.
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Bars, chains,
can't hold the demons.
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We are clearly
told that in the gospels
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there were demons who
where held with bars and chains,
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and they just broke them.
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But this is a prison of
circumstance. That's right.
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There's nobody in this
world that he can tempt
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because all of the faithful,
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the righteous have been
resurrected and gone to heaven.
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And all of the
wicked have been destroyed
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by the brightness of
the second coming of Jesus.
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So to answer the
question, it says here,
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during the thousand year
reign with our Lord in heaven
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will there be any
humans living on the earth?
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No. There will be no humans.
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Satan will be on this earth
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but there will be no
humans living on this earth.
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At the first resurrection
the unsaved are slain,
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destroyed, sent to their graves
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until the second resurrection.
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And the righteous
are taken to heaven
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to reign with Christ
for a thousand years.
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Very simple and
to the point. It is.
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And one of the things
that we want to point out
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and add to that is,
when the Lord comes back
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the wicked are not looking
forward to seeing the Lord.
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Now we don't think of a
lamb as a vicious beast.
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I mean I haven't heard of people
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that have been
rushed to emergency
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because they've been, you know,
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viciously attacked by a lamb.
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But it's amazing the
reaction that is talked about
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in Revelation Chapter 6.
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When Jesus is
coming, those who have chosen
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not to prepare to
meet Him in peace,
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they think of Him in a
different light all together.
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Now one
writer-- not one writer--
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one preacher--matter of
fact, Elder C.D. Brooks said,
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"The sun hardens clay
but it also melts butter."
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So-- I like that.
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You know, it is not the
son of man is not Christ
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that makes the
situation difficult.
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It's the condition of the heart.
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Those who are looking
forward to Christ coming,
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they are--
their hearts are soft.
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They are like the melted butter.
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You know, they're just
waiting for Christ to come.
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But those who have rejected Him,
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they're like the hard clay.
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The appearance of
Christ hardens their hearts
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even more against
His second coming.
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And thus you find a
phrase in Revelation Chapter 6,
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and we're
looking here at verse 15.
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Actually look at verse 14
and then we go on to verse 17.
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And it says here in
Revelation Chapter 6.
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"Then the sky receded as a
scroll when it is rolled up
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and every mountain and island
was moved out of its place.
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And the kings of the
earth, the great men,
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the rich men, the commanders,
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the mighty men, every
slave, and every free man,
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hid themselves in the caves
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and in the rocks
of the mountains.
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And said to the
mountains and rocks,
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fall on us and hide
us from the face of Him
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who sits on the throne and
from the wrath of the Lamb.
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For the great day
of His wrath has come
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and who is able to stand?"
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And when you think of that,
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the righteous are not
running away from Christ.
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As a matter of
fact, I like the way
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that Ellen White explains
in "The Great Controversy."
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You know, the righteous
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were hiding in
caves for their safety.
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Now they almost past
each other in flight.
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Now the wicked want to hide
from Christ in His appearing.
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The righteous were hidden
in the caves, in the dens,
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and the
mountains, from persecution
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but now it's time
for them to come out.
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And the wicked are now
wanting to change places
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because the
appearance of Christ is coming.
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And so you find
that these two groups
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don't meet
Christ in peace at all.
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Was the question--
there's a second portion
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of that question about whether
or not they're going to be--
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whether they're
not going to be buried?
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What was that they--
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Yeah, during the thousand year
reign with our Lord in heaven,
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Are there any human
beings living on the earth?
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Okay, let's look
at Jeremiah 25:33.
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Jeremiah 25:33.
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You know one of the
things that's not gonna happen
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during the thousand years
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is there are not
going to be any funerals.
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We think about that.
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There going to
be many, many slain.
00:10:04.02\00:10:05.54
And as you made the
reference about 2 Thessalonians.
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The wicked are going
to be slain and destroyed
00:10:08.42\00:10:10.08
by the brightness of
the coming of the Lord.
00:10:10.11\00:10:11.59
So what's going to happen
during that thousand years?
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What condition is
the world going to be in?
00:10:14.88\00:10:18.25
We've heard of, you
know, nuclear attacks.
00:10:18.28\00:10:22.63
We've heard the atrocious
condition of the holocaust
00:10:22.66\00:10:26.97
and what happened then.
00:10:27.00\00:10:28.40
But this is a condition
that is not caused by God
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but those who are
affected by this choose--
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and when I say choose,
00:10:38.48\00:10:39.86
there are very
few people right now
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that are living
sinful life that say,
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"You know, I really want to
be destroyed when Jesus comes."
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For some reason people think
00:10:47.43\00:10:48.80
that they're gonna
be able to avoid that
00:10:48.83\00:10:50.36
or it's not going to be
as bad as Christians say
00:10:50.39\00:10:52.98
it's going to be.
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But read Jeremiah
25:33 for us there in
00:10:54.41\00:10:58.93
and this talks about
the condition of the world
00:10:58.96\00:11:01.54
when the Lord comes.
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It says in Jeremiah 25:33,
00:11:04.68\00:11:07.36
"The slain of the
Lord shall be at that day
00:11:07.39\00:11:09.73
from one end of the earth even
unto the other end of the earth.
00:11:09.76\00:11:13.57
They shall not be lamented,
neither gathered, nor buried.
00:11:13.60\00:11:17.20
They shall be
dung upon the ground."
00:11:17.23\00:11:19.07
That's right. Like refuse.
00:11:19.10\00:11:20.47
They're just gonna
be all over the ground.
00:11:20.50\00:11:22.32
And so when you
think about that,
00:11:22.35\00:11:23.72
well, what's gonna be happening?
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.12
These are those as
the Bible talks about,
00:11:25.15\00:11:27.24
the first resurrection
has already taken place.
00:11:27.27\00:11:29.91
There has been a
resurrection to life.
00:11:29.94\00:11:33.67
But there is a second
resurrection yet to take place.
00:11:33.70\00:11:35.94
And I don't know if
you've addressed that.
00:11:35.97\00:11:37.41
We talked about that briefly
in Revelation Chapter 20. Yes.
00:11:37.44\00:11:40.48
So that second resurrection is
a resurrection of condemnation
00:11:40.51\00:11:43.87
which is going to happen
00:11:43.90\00:11:45.27
during the latter when
the thousand years end.
00:11:45.30\00:11:48.52
So this is the group
that's gonna be affected.
00:11:48.55\00:11:50.58
They're going to be
laying all over the ground
00:11:50.61\00:11:51.98
and I would say,
after a thousand years.
00:11:52.01\00:11:54.63
You know, this text is true.
00:11:54.66\00:11:56.03
They will be like
dung on the ground.
00:11:56.06\00:11:57.43
They're going to just lay
there and decay and refuse.
00:11:57.46\00:12:00.97
And at the end of
that thousand years
00:12:01.00\00:12:03.44
the Lord is going to allow them
00:12:03.47\00:12:04.84
to come back to
life as a great army.
00:12:04.87\00:12:06.88
The Bible says, "As
the sands of the sea,"
00:12:06.91\00:12:09.30
to face the final
judgment that will be meted out.
00:12:09.33\00:12:13.71
You know, you make a
good point there, John.
00:12:13.74\00:12:15.32
And I think the
verse brings it out
00:12:15.35\00:12:17.42
not directly but indirectly.
00:12:17.45\00:12:19.86
They are not going to be buried.
00:12:19.89\00:12:21.26
They are not going
to be lamented. Why?
00:12:21.29\00:12:23.12
I mean, even if
they weren't lamented,
00:12:23.15\00:12:25.14
let's just say, that
the-- No mourning exactly.
00:12:25.17\00:12:27.42
Yes, no mourning.
00:12:27.45\00:12:29.16
Let's just say
that there's no one
00:12:29.19\00:12:31.79
that really cares about
them enough to mourn over them.
00:12:31.82\00:12:34.27
But why wouldn't
they at least be buried?
00:12:34.30\00:12:36.08
Because to have
corpses laying out
00:12:36.11\00:12:38.79
would cause all kinds
of disease and, you know,
00:12:38.82\00:12:44.48
terrible, you know,
conditions in the earth.
00:12:44.51\00:12:46.92
So why wouldn't anyone
at least bury these corpses?
00:12:46.95\00:12:50.60
Because-- go ahead.
00:12:50.63\00:12:53.14
Well, you've posed the question.
00:12:53.17\00:12:54.54
You want me to answer that?
00:12:54.57\00:12:55.94
You answer. Okay.
00:12:55.97\00:12:57.34
Because you are
either one of those corpse
00:12:57.37\00:12:59.73
or you're in heaven.
00:12:59.76\00:13:01.13
Yeah, there's
nobody on the earth.
00:13:01.16\00:13:02.53
There's no third category.
00:13:02.56\00:13:03.93
There's nobody
there to bury them.
00:13:03.96\00:13:05.33
There's nobody
there to lament them.
00:13:05.36\00:13:06.73
So this verse clearly indicates
along with the other verses
00:13:06.76\00:13:09.00
we've read that there's
nobody alive on the earth
00:13:09.03\00:13:13.52
after the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:13:13.55\00:13:15.08
Now the reason why
this is so important
00:13:15.11\00:13:16.49
is because there
are many Christians,
00:13:16.52\00:13:18.81
honest Christians,
Bible believing Christians,
00:13:18.84\00:13:21.67
but not necessarily Bible
students, students of the Bible,
00:13:21.70\00:13:25.23
who believe that
the thousand years
00:13:25.26\00:13:27.50
is going to be a thousand
years of peace on this earth.
00:13:27.53\00:13:30.18
That there's going to be maybe
a secret rapture of the church.
00:13:30.21\00:13:33.89
And that certain Christians
are going to go to heaven
00:13:33.92\00:13:36.64
but others are gonna
have a second chance.
00:13:36.67\00:13:38.57
And after the Antichrist
has reigned for 7 years
00:13:38.60\00:13:41.54
or 3 and half years, etcetera,
00:13:41.57\00:13:43.69
there will be
these thousand years
00:13:43.72\00:13:45.09
in which we can turn
to the Lord, etcetera
00:13:45.12\00:13:46.93
and they're gonna
be people on the earth
00:13:46.96\00:13:48.33
during the thousand years.
00:13:48.36\00:13:49.73
The Bible doesn't teach that.
00:13:49.76\00:13:51.13
The Bible does
not teach that at all.
00:13:51.16\00:13:53.05
The Bible teaches very
clearly what's going to happen
00:13:53.08\00:13:55.65
at the beginning
of the thousand years.
00:13:55.68\00:13:57.41
And in the Old Testament,
00:13:57.44\00:13:59.02
looking forward
to the end of time,
00:13:59.05\00:14:01.84
as well as in the New Testament
00:14:01.87\00:14:03.24
which confirms
the Old Testament,
00:14:03.27\00:14:04.64
the Bible is very clear
that during the thousand years,
00:14:04.67\00:14:06.85
no one is buried
and no one is lamented.
00:14:06.88\00:14:09.51
Nobody is mourned over because
00:14:09.54\00:14:11.15
there are no
people on the earth.
00:14:11.18\00:14:13.34
The wicked are all slain
00:14:13.37\00:14:14.80
and the righteous
are all taken to heaven.
00:14:14.83\00:14:16.89
That's right. There
is no one here to say,
00:14:16.92\00:14:20.17
"Wow, what do we do
with all these bodies?"
00:14:20.20\00:14:22.47
There is no funeral home to say,
00:14:22.50\00:14:23.87
"Well, we'd like to
make funeral arrangements,"
00:14:23.90\00:14:25.63
because even the
funeral director himself
00:14:25.66\00:14:27.81
will either be among
the saved or among the lost.
00:14:27.84\00:14:30.60
No third category. Amen.
00:14:30.63\00:14:32.18
And so that's why John
5:28 and 29 is so significant.
00:14:32.21\00:14:36.01
"Do not marvel at this or
marvel not at this for the hour
00:14:36.04\00:14:38.66
is coming in the which
all that are in the graves
00:14:38.69\00:14:41.39
will hear His
voice and come forth.
00:14:41.42\00:14:43.50
They that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life,
00:14:43.53\00:14:46.42
they that have done
evil unto the resurrection
00:14:46.45\00:14:48.28
of damnation or condemnation."
00:14:48.31\00:14:50.34
Only two categories
and so it would be whose
00:14:50.37\00:14:52.62
all of us to be in one
of those two categories
00:14:52.65\00:14:55.92
because what a sad situation
00:14:55.95\00:14:57.50
that's going to be to
look at that and think,
00:14:57.53\00:15:00.28
I could have been in
one of these categories.
00:15:00.31\00:15:02.29
And that's one of the reasons
why Matthew, Mark, Luke, John,
00:15:02.32\00:15:08.03
speaks of this
weeping and wailing
00:15:08.06\00:15:11.62
and gnashing of teeth.
00:15:11.65\00:15:13.89
It's an agony, an indescribable
agony of those who said,
00:15:13.92\00:15:17.93
"Do you mean that
what I have rejected
00:15:17.96\00:15:20.88
has actually been true?"
00:15:20.91\00:15:23.12
You know the opportunities
00:15:23.15\00:15:24.52
I've had similar to
the day of the flood.
00:15:24.55\00:15:27.45
When the doors were closed
00:15:27.48\00:15:28.86
there was no
entrance for anyone.
00:15:28.89\00:15:31.13
And as it was in the
days of Noah, sadly enough,
00:15:31.16\00:15:34.35
Matthew says, "So
also will it be in the days
00:15:34.38\00:15:36.58
of the coming of
the Son of Man." Amen.
00:15:36.61\00:15:38.42
And only two categories.
00:15:38.45\00:15:40.56
Revelation 22:12,
00:15:40.59\00:15:42.68
"The righteous,
he that is righteous
00:15:42.71\00:15:44.26
let him be
righteous, he that is filthy,"
00:15:44.29\00:15:46.58
you have the holy
and you have the unjust.
00:15:46.61\00:15:49.43
So, you know, it makes sense--
great answer to the question.
00:15:49.46\00:15:53.74
But the question
is which category
00:15:53.77\00:15:55.39
are you planning to be in?
00:15:55.42\00:15:56.91
That's the real question.
00:15:56.94\00:15:58.32
Wow. That's a deep one there.
00:15:58.35\00:16:01.05
Now this as the topic is really
one that's kind of timely.
00:16:01.08\00:16:05.54
A lot of issues have
risen in the media, in politics.
00:16:05.57\00:16:10.70
It's not a new issue.
It's one that's really old.
00:16:10.73\00:16:14.02
But it brings out a point
that lets us see how far--
00:16:14.05\00:16:20.46
how far things-- and
I'm being general right now
00:16:20.49\00:16:22.83
until I read the question.
00:16:22.86\00:16:24.39
It shows you the breakdown
in morality in our world
00:16:24.42\00:16:28.49
which is not new to us.
00:16:28.52\00:16:29.89
But it shows the
extent of its permeation,
00:16:29.92\00:16:33.18
how far its
tentacles have reached.
00:16:33.21\00:16:36.67
This is an amazing question.
00:16:36.70\00:16:38.20
One person says, "I
work for a church that says
00:16:38.23\00:16:40.97
homosexuality is not sinful
00:16:41.00\00:16:43.75
and has an openly
gay music minister.
00:16:43.78\00:16:47.59
The pastor also says that God of
all religions is the same one.
00:16:47.62\00:16:53.23
I used to think this was okay,
00:16:53.26\00:16:56.01
but I've learned from
the Bible and Holy Spirit
00:16:56.04\00:16:59.29
that this is an apostate church.
00:16:59.32\00:17:02.17
What should I do?
00:17:02.20\00:17:03.78
I'm a recently
single and cannot afford--"
00:17:03.81\00:17:09.03
okay, they have been
recently single in other words
00:17:09.06\00:17:11.71
and they cannot afford to quit.
00:17:11.74\00:17:13.11
That is they don't
want to quit church.
00:17:13.14\00:17:14.51
What do you
recommend that they do?
00:17:14.54\00:17:17.84
You know this is a strong topic.
00:17:17.87\00:17:20.53
One of the first things I want
to say here about this topic is,
00:17:20.56\00:17:24.32
you know, James, this is
one of those sensitive topics
00:17:24.35\00:17:28.06
where we have to separate
00:17:28.09\00:17:29.58
the sin from the
sinner. Absolutely.
00:17:29.61\00:17:31.96
A lot of times people
have seen Christians as--
00:17:31.99\00:17:34.90
and it is sad but
I've seen picketing signs
00:17:34.93\00:17:37.34
where people have held up signs,
00:17:37.37\00:17:39.24
God hates homosexuals. God
hates gays. God hates fags.
00:17:39.27\00:17:42.91
This horrible
insensitive statements.
00:17:42.94\00:17:46.42
We can hold up signs and say,
00:17:46.45\00:17:47.82
God hates
murderers. God hates thieves.
00:17:47.85\00:17:51.04
God hates liars.
God hates adulterers.
00:17:51.07\00:17:53.10
God hates adulterers. God
doesn't hate anyone. Right.
00:17:53.13\00:17:56.49
He loves the sinner
but He hates the sin.
00:17:56.52\00:18:00.68
And so often
Christians have been
00:18:00.71\00:18:02.08
put into that loveless category
00:18:02.11\00:18:05.43
where we come
across in a judgmental way.
00:18:05.46\00:18:07.48
And that's why the
church has become a place
00:18:07.51\00:18:09.19
now where you have the pendulum
swing almost to the other side
00:18:09.22\00:18:14.21
where somebody
who may have been gay
00:18:14.24\00:18:16.10
or lesbian or homosexual
00:18:16.13\00:18:18.17
or whatever the
preference is, decides, okay,
00:18:18.20\00:18:20.75
well, since I'm not accepted
in the regular Christian church,
00:18:20.78\00:18:22.81
I'm gonna open my own. And
everybody is accepted there.
00:18:22.84\00:18:26.74
Well, it's
synonymous to opening a church
00:18:26.77\00:18:28.41
for where everybody is thieves.
00:18:28.44\00:18:32.12
I like the point
you're making here, John.
00:18:32.15\00:18:33.84
This is such a powerful point
00:18:33.87\00:18:36.14
because we have
specialized-- Right.
00:18:36.17\00:18:38.35
The category of homosexuality,
00:18:38.38\00:18:39.91
because we put it in its
own special category. Right.
00:18:39.94\00:18:43.05
Now we're going
to the other extreme.
00:18:43.08\00:18:45.52
And if we would have recognized
00:18:45.55\00:18:47.55
from the
beginning, as Christians,
00:18:47.58\00:18:49.38
that homosexuality is
no different than any--
00:18:49.41\00:18:51.96
than maybe in a
liar. It's no different.
00:18:51.99\00:18:54.48
God has identified in His word
00:18:54.51\00:18:57.40
what sin is and
that identification
00:18:57.43\00:18:59.63
comes through the word of God
00:18:59.66\00:19:01.73
and through the
law of God especially.
00:19:01.76\00:19:04.51
The law of God does not say,
00:19:04.54\00:19:06.27
"Honor your
father and your father
00:19:06.30\00:19:08.12
or honor your
mother and your mother."
00:19:08.15\00:19:09.83
The law of God says, "Honor
your father and your mother."
00:19:09.86\00:19:12.20
But the law of God also says,
00:19:12.23\00:19:13.60
"Thou shall not
steal. Thou shall not kill."
00:19:13.63\00:19:16.91
To put homosexuality outside
00:19:16.94\00:19:19.51
the category of
sin is one extreme.
00:19:19.54\00:19:22.19
To put homosexuality
in a separate category
00:19:22.22\00:19:25.01
of sin is another
extreme. That's right.
00:19:25.04\00:19:27.06
So we're all
sinners saved by grace.
00:19:27.09\00:19:28.79
God loves each one of us.
00:19:28.82\00:19:30.19
God loves the homosexuals
as much as He loves me,
00:19:30.22\00:19:31.75
as much as He loves John,
00:19:31.78\00:19:33.15
as much He loves
anyone of us. That's right.
00:19:33.18\00:19:34.63
We've fallen short
of the glory of God
00:19:34.66\00:19:36.10
and this is a
very important point.
00:19:36.13\00:19:38.51
Revelation 21:8,
as a matter of fact--
00:19:38.54\00:19:41.70
and to answer the
question for the person,
00:19:41.73\00:19:43.65
what should you do?
00:19:43.68\00:19:45.05
You should seek a church
00:19:45.08\00:19:46.45
that stands strongly
on the Bible principle
00:19:46.48\00:19:48.62
that all sin is-- Yes.
00:19:48.65\00:19:50.89
What Jesus came to
save us from. Amen.
00:19:50.92\00:19:53.13
"He shall save His people
from their sin," Matthew 1:21.
00:19:53.16\00:19:56.63
Not to save us in our sin.
00:19:56.66\00:19:58.03
Jesus didn't come to
make sin comfortable to us.
00:19:58.06\00:20:00.68
He came to show
us the ignominious
00:20:00.71\00:20:05.49
magnitude of the
sinfulness of sin.
00:20:05.52\00:20:08.27
So He hasn't
said, "Well, you know,
00:20:08.30\00:20:10.83
since this is something
that you guys really like,
00:20:10.86\00:20:14.13
let's go and
open a church for it."
00:20:14.16\00:20:15.81
So we can open a
church for extortioners.
00:20:15.84\00:20:17.84
We can open a
church for sorcerers.
00:20:17.87\00:20:19.43
We can open a
church for witchcraft.
00:20:19.46\00:20:21.34
We can-- and Satan has done so.
00:20:21.37\00:20:23.78
You know the church of Satan--
00:20:23.81\00:20:25.18
I lived in
California where Anton LaVey,
00:20:25.21\00:20:27.17
the high priest of
the church of Satan.
00:20:27.20\00:20:29.23
Marilyn Manson,
one of the priests
00:20:29.26\00:20:31.03
of the church of Satan.
00:20:31.06\00:20:32.43
So those who want to
worship demons and witches and,
00:20:32.46\00:20:36.31
you know, spirits,
they open their own church.
00:20:36.34\00:20:39.85
And we see that
in Revelation 18.
00:20:39.88\00:20:42.38
It talks about where Babylon,
00:20:42.41\00:20:44.44
this entire
corrupt system of worship
00:20:44.47\00:20:46.63
has become the cage
of every foul spirit
00:20:46.66\00:20:49.95
and unclean and hateful bird.
00:20:49.98\00:20:52.31
So we see that
evil spirits will exist
00:20:52.34\00:20:54.01
in places called churches.
00:20:54.04\00:20:56.65
But Revelation
21:8, I want to show you
00:20:56.68\00:21:00.11
how the Lord puts these
all together in one category.
00:21:00.14\00:21:03.05
And we are talking
about the second death.
00:21:03.08\00:21:04.65
So this is the
reason I chose this passage.
00:21:04.68\00:21:07.08
Read Revelation 21:8.
00:21:07.11\00:21:08.72
Revelation 21:8 says,
00:21:08.75\00:21:10.13
"But the fearful
and the unbelieving
00:21:10.16\00:21:12.84
and the abominable and murderers
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.34
and whoremongers and sorcerers
00:21:15.37\00:21:17.74
and idolaters and all liars
00:21:17.77\00:21:20.00
shall have
their part in the lake
00:21:20.03\00:21:21.89
which burns with
fire and brimstone,
00:21:21.92\00:21:24.53
which is the second death."
00:21:24.56\00:21:25.97
And the word
there, "whoremongers"
00:21:26.00\00:21:27.42
is the broader
word in the Greek,
00:21:27.45\00:21:29.79
"sexually immoral."
00:21:29.82\00:21:31.81
So sexual
immorality, for person wh's gay
00:21:31.84\00:21:36.05
and lesbian and
transgender and bisexual
00:21:36.08\00:21:38.80
is no different from a
guy who's an adulterer.
00:21:38.83\00:21:41.22
Exactly right, fornicator.
00:21:41.25\00:21:42.62
Or fornicator, is
all sexual immorality.
00:21:42.65\00:21:45.09
Anything outside
of the marriage vow,
00:21:45.12\00:21:46.59
the marriage relationship,
according to the Bible.
00:21:46.62\00:21:50.09
And this one
here Paul the apostle,
00:21:50.12\00:21:52.61
1 Corinthians 5:9,
00:21:52.64\00:21:54.75
I want to look at that one here.
00:21:54.78\00:21:56.99
1 Corinthians 5:9.
00:21:57.02\00:21:58.65
So if your pastor says
there's nothing wrong with it
00:21:58.68\00:22:00.51
then he's deleted quite a
bit of his Bible which nowadays,
00:22:00.54\00:22:04.20
James, is not an odd
thing. It's not at all.
00:22:04.23\00:22:06.19
Lot of people say,
well, Paul had an issue. No.
00:22:06.22\00:22:08.71
Paul was under the inspiration
00:22:08.74\00:22:10.11
of God just like anyone else.
00:22:10.14\00:22:12.24
But 1 Corinthians 5:9,
00:22:12.27\00:22:15.43
you know, I'm borrowing
Pastor C.A.'s glasses today.
00:22:15.46\00:22:18.18
So for those of
you who watch and say,
00:22:18.21\00:22:19.58
"Hey, he's got new glasses."
00:22:19.61\00:22:20.98
These glasses belong to Pastor
C.A. Murray, for the record.
00:22:21.01\00:22:26.34
I drove up in here and said,
00:22:26.37\00:22:27.86
"My glasses, I
left them at home."
00:22:27.89\00:22:29.26
And I live so far away, a mile--
00:22:29.29\00:22:31.41
They look good, John.
They look good, really.
00:22:31.44\00:22:32.90
I tell you,
it's a new statement.
00:22:32.93\00:22:35.12
Here we are, 1 Corinthians 5:9.
00:22:35.15\00:22:38.78
Matter of fact, this chapter
is delivery from fornication.
00:22:38.81\00:22:42.59
Deliver the
fornicator for discipline.
00:22:42.62\00:22:45.14
Look what it says here,
00:22:45.17\00:22:47.01
"I wrote to you in my
epistle" and this is old.
00:22:47.04\00:22:51.31
This is a long time
ago Paul wrote this letter.
00:22:51.34\00:22:53.54
He's writing this
to the Corinthians
00:22:53.57\00:22:54.94
but it applies to us today.
00:22:54.97\00:22:56.34
He says, "I wrote
to you in my epistle,
00:22:56.37\00:22:59.30
not to keep company
with sexually immoral people.
00:22:59.33\00:23:03.39
Yet I certainly did not mean
00:23:03.42\00:23:07.05
with the sexually
immoral people of this world
00:23:07.08\00:23:10.17
or with the covetous or
extortioners or idolaters
00:23:10.20\00:23:14.65
since then you would
need to go out of the world.
00:23:14.68\00:23:20.15
But now I have written to you
00:23:20.18\00:23:22.78
not to keep company
with anyone named a brother
00:23:22.81\00:23:26.81
who is a fornicator or
covetous or an idolater
00:23:26.84\00:23:31.19
or a reveler or a
drunkard or an extortioner,
00:23:31.22\00:23:35.13
not even to eat
with such a person.
00:23:35.16\00:23:37.79
For what have I
to do with judging
00:23:37.82\00:23:39.74
those also who are outside?
00:23:39.77\00:23:42.52
Do you not judge
those who are inside?"
00:23:42.55\00:23:45.07
Now just very quickly,
this is an amazing text here.
00:23:45.10\00:23:48.30
It really is and
clearly misunderstood.
00:23:48.33\00:23:50.55
The reason why
Paul is saying here,
00:23:50.58\00:23:52.63
he says, I'm not telling
you not to talk to people
00:23:52.66\00:23:56.53
that are outside of
the household of faith
00:23:56.56\00:23:59.05
because maybe you
need to reach them.
00:23:59.08\00:24:01.39
But he said, what
is really troubling me
00:24:01.42\00:24:03.52
is these sins are now
also in the household of faith.
00:24:03.55\00:24:07.57
Yes. And if you got a
brother who's sexually immoral,
00:24:07.60\00:24:10.59
an extortioner, a
liar, a fornicator,
00:24:10.62\00:24:12.50
covetous, idolater,
don't keep company with him
00:24:12.53\00:24:16.79
because we know--
evil habits corrupt--
00:24:16.82\00:24:22.90
How does that phrase go?
00:24:22.93\00:24:25.12
Evil habits
corrupt good manners--
00:24:25.15\00:24:27.36
Good manners.
00:24:27.39\00:24:28.76
In other words one bad apple
spoils the whole bunch. Yes.
00:24:28.79\00:24:31.05
Let's go ahead and put it
in the context of that cliché.
00:24:31.08\00:24:33.51
So he's in essence saying,
00:24:33.54\00:24:34.91
if this is in the
house of God, be careful.
00:24:34.94\00:24:37.33
Don't keep company with those
00:24:37.36\00:24:39.39
who are in the
household of faith
00:24:39.42\00:24:42.30
and are
practicing this kind of sin.
00:24:42.33\00:24:43.90
John, these
verses are so powerful
00:24:43.93\00:24:46.09
because Paul here is speaking
to the church in Corinth.
00:24:46.12\00:24:50.24
He's speaking
to the church body.
00:24:50.27\00:24:52.23
He's speaking to
the organization here.
00:24:52.26\00:24:55.02
He's not
speaking to individuals.
00:24:55.05\00:24:57.18
He's speaking to
the organized church.
00:24:57.21\00:24:58.70
And he's saying to
the organized church--
00:24:58.73\00:25:00.71
and this is the question
that we're dealing with.
00:25:00.74\00:25:03.07
He's saying to
the organized church,
00:25:03.10\00:25:04.47
"Listen, I don't want
you to go out of the world.
00:25:04.50\00:25:06.72
I don't want you to
stop fellowshipping with
00:25:06.75\00:25:09.49
and individually connecting
with people in the world,
00:25:09.52\00:25:12.38
but as a body do not
bring into fellowship,
00:25:12.41\00:25:15.01
do not bring into membership,
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.68
people who have chosen to
live that lifestyle. Right.
00:25:16.71\00:25:19.77
You can have them in the church
00:25:19.80\00:25:21.17
but don't make
them music leader.
00:25:21.20\00:25:22.57
You can have them in the church
but don't make them deacons.
00:25:22.60\00:25:24.51
You can connect
with these people
00:25:24.54\00:25:26.25
and reach out to these people.
00:25:26.28\00:25:27.65
We need to. Jesus
did. That's right.
00:25:27.68\00:25:29.69
And Jesus told us,
when you discipline
00:25:29.72\00:25:31.79
someone in the church
00:25:31.82\00:25:33.27
consider them a
heathen or publican.
00:25:33.30\00:25:35.23
How do we consider
heathens and publicans?
00:25:35.26\00:25:37.22
We reach out to
them. We pray for them.
00:25:37.25\00:25:39.71
We witness to
them. We help them.
00:25:39.74\00:25:42.19
But we don't take
them into the church
00:25:42.22\00:25:43.79
and give them leadership roles.
00:25:43.82\00:25:45.37
We don't take
them into the church
00:25:45.40\00:25:46.77
and give them membership. Right.
00:25:46.80\00:25:48.17
Because we are calling them
to accept Christ as their Savior
00:25:48.20\00:25:51.54
and we are calling them to
experience the freedom from sin
00:25:51.57\00:25:54.22
that God gives
to us in the gospel.
00:25:54.25\00:25:56.58
And so Paul here is talking
about a person that has come in,
00:25:56.61\00:26:00.21
accepted Christ and now
backs him back into the world.
00:26:00.24\00:26:02.39
And he's saying, "Listen,
he needs to be disciplined."
00:26:02.42\00:26:04.78
That's right. You need to
take him out of the church body.
00:26:04.81\00:26:07.09
As a body you
should not have him
00:26:07.12\00:26:09.21
in this position of membership
00:26:09.24\00:26:11.15
and in this
position of leadership
00:26:11.18\00:26:12.55
if he had any
position of leadership.
00:26:12.58\00:26:14.09
But I don't mean to tell you
00:26:14.12\00:26:15.64
that you should have
nothing to do with him
00:26:15.67\00:26:17.33
in an individual
redemptive sense.
00:26:17.36\00:26:20.49
Right. You see.
00:26:20.52\00:26:21.89
And so it's so powerful to
understand this in that context
00:26:21.92\00:26:24.06
because later on
in 2 Corinthians--
00:26:24.09\00:26:26.81
we are in 1
Corinthians. That's right.
00:26:26.84\00:26:28.21
Where you have all the rebukes.
00:26:28.24\00:26:29.61
In 2 Corinthians Paul says,
00:26:29.64\00:26:31.06
"I think you don't want
to overdo with this guy."
00:26:31.09\00:26:34.24
He's talking about the
same person. That's right.
00:26:34.27\00:26:35.78
"I don't want you
to overdo with this guy
00:26:35.81\00:26:37.22
because I don't want you
to cause them too much sorrow.
00:26:37.25\00:26:39.33
I don't want them
to be too overwhelmed."
00:26:39.36\00:26:40.76
Because what happens many
times when someone backslides
00:26:40.79\00:26:43.98
is they feel
overwhelmed at a certain point
00:26:44.01\00:26:46.97
when the church disciplines
him and that's what it's for.
00:26:47.00\00:26:49.43
Church
discipline is a good thing.
00:26:49.46\00:26:51.02
But they can feel overwhelmed
and come to the point
00:26:51.05\00:26:53.08
where they feel like
God's given up on them.
00:26:53.11\00:26:54.80
And we never want to lead
00:26:54.83\00:26:56.20
someone to come
to that conclusion.
00:26:56.23\00:26:57.60
Yeah, matter of
fact, Jesus says,
00:26:57.63\00:26:59.00
"The smoking flax
I will not quench,
00:26:59.03\00:27:00.49
nor a bruised reed I
will not break." Amen, amen.
00:27:00.52\00:27:02.91
There are those who have been
dealt with in a disciplinary way
00:27:02.94\00:27:06.42
and they are still
weak in so many ways.
00:27:06.45\00:27:09.72
Fledglings as it were
just about ready to give up
00:27:09.75\00:27:12.82
and about to lose their faith
00:27:12.85\00:27:14.63
and you don't want to
just keep hammering away.
00:27:14.66\00:27:17.34
But you hope in
a redemptive sense
00:27:17.37\00:27:19.14
that enough time has passed
00:27:19.17\00:27:21.55
and enough work
has gone on with them
00:27:21.58\00:27:23.58
that they understand
the error of their way.
00:27:23.61\00:27:25.79
And so in a nutshell, you know,
we are living in a day and age
00:27:25.82\00:27:28.77
where the Bible says, "As
it was in the days of Sodom,
00:27:28.80\00:27:32.05
it's gonna be the very same
way just before Jesus comes."
00:27:32.08\00:27:34.32
And we're living in a time--
00:27:34.35\00:27:35.72
Sodom was a city
where men went after men,
00:27:35.75\00:27:39.31
where women were with women.
00:27:39.34\00:27:41.10
And when Paul outlines
this in Romans Chapter 1,
00:27:41.13\00:27:44.12
the sin of sodomy
was what brought down
00:27:44.15\00:27:46.24
the cities of the
plains, Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:27:46.27\00:27:48.90
And so today we have this
00:27:48.93\00:27:51.71
explosion of same sex issues.
00:27:51.74\00:27:57.20
It's among the
teenagers. It's experimental.
00:27:57.23\00:28:00.43
They have songs
that are conditioning
00:28:00.46\00:28:02.00
children,
teenagers. There's a song--
00:28:02.03\00:28:04.83
and because I did a series
00:28:04.86\00:28:06.23
called "Unclean
Spirits" about the cult
00:28:06.26\00:28:08.03
in the music industry
or entertainment industry.
00:28:08.06\00:28:10.23
There's a song that
lot of young people--
00:28:10.26\00:28:12.11
young girls are just
humming as they go along.
00:28:12.14\00:28:14.88
And one famous music artist,
00:28:14.91\00:28:16.36
a female at that
has written a song,
00:28:16.39\00:28:19.72
"I kissed a
girl and I liked it."
00:28:19.75\00:28:21.86
And that's the theme.
And I was going through
00:28:21.89\00:28:25.34
putting research
and materials together
00:28:25.37\00:28:26.97
and I thought-- and
you look at the song,
00:28:27.00\00:28:29.58
very high up on the
charts, very popular,
00:28:29.61\00:28:31.46
at least I don't
know where it stands now.
00:28:31.49\00:28:32.86
But it was very
popular at the time
00:28:32.89\00:28:34.26
it came out, not too long ago.
00:28:34.29\00:28:36.15
But I kissed a
girl and I liked it
00:28:36.18\00:28:38.26
and then you follow these leads
00:28:38.29\00:28:40.42
just to see where
this is all headed.
00:28:40.45\00:28:41.84
And young people
now-a-days are saying,
00:28:41.87\00:28:44.15
"Well, its okay to experiment.
00:28:44.18\00:28:45.55
It doesn't mean I'm gay.
00:28:45.58\00:28:46.95
It doesn't mean
I'm bisexual, you know.
00:28:46.98\00:28:48.39
It's okay for a guy
to experiment with a guy
00:28:48.42\00:28:49.79
just to see, you know,
if that's something I like."
00:28:49.82\00:28:52.59
But you see this is sin.
00:28:52.62\00:28:53.99
They have opened the
door and you sow the wind.
00:28:54.02\00:28:59.11
And you reap the whirlwind.
00:28:59.14\00:29:00.51
You cannot go down
the path of darkness
00:29:00.54\00:29:02.12
and not expect to be
heading in the wrong direction.
00:29:02.15\00:29:05.73
And it's very clear, John,
00:29:05.76\00:29:07.13
you know, when
you read the Bible,
00:29:07.16\00:29:08.53
sometimes where people will say,
00:29:08.56\00:29:10.10
"Well, there isn't a lot
in there about homosexuality."
00:29:10.13\00:29:12.57
Oh, man. Nevertheless
I'd like to--to say this.
00:29:12.60\00:29:16.51
Nevertheless, there's nothing
there to help us to recognize
00:29:16.54\00:29:20.71
that homosexuality
was like fornication,
00:29:20.74\00:29:23.71
was like
adultery, was like lying,
00:29:23.74\00:29:26.26
was like stealing. It is a sin.
00:29:26.29\00:29:28.67
And the reason
why you might say--
00:29:28.70\00:29:30.94
well, the reason why
there isn't a lot in there
00:29:30.97\00:29:32.39
about homosexuality is
because God's not against it.
00:29:32.42\00:29:34.73
No. The reason why
there's not a lot in there
00:29:34.76\00:29:36.28
is because it is an obvious sin
00:29:36.31\00:29:40.63
that God didn't
need to elaborate on.
00:29:40.66\00:29:42.72
If God is talking
against fornication which--
00:29:42.75\00:29:45.12
John, look at the world today.
00:29:45.15\00:29:46.56
We know that,
you know, who knows?
00:29:46.59\00:29:49.37
50% of people
are living together
00:29:49.40\00:29:51.19
instead of getting
married. I don't know.
00:29:51.22\00:29:52.59
That's another one.
But the levels are--
00:29:52.62\00:29:54.06
but that is an
obvious clear sin.
00:29:54.09\00:29:56.30
And so what we're
saying here, friends,
00:29:56.33\00:29:57.81
is not that God is
against homosexuals,
00:29:57.84\00:30:00.74
anymore than He's against
any other sin in the Bible.
00:30:00.77\00:30:04.15
But God is clearly establishing
standard that we don't meet.
00:30:04.18\00:30:08.83
None of us meet that standard,
whether we're in an homosexual--
00:30:08.86\00:30:12.43
homosexuality is our
difficulty or fornication
00:30:12.46\00:30:15.00
or lying or stealing,
none of us meet that standard.
00:30:15.03\00:30:17.63
But we have a Savior.
His name is Jesus Christ.
00:30:17.66\00:30:19.66
That's right. And His
grace is sufficient for us.
00:30:19.69\00:30:23.43
He can give us the grace
and the strength that we need.
00:30:23.46\00:30:26.14
We don't need to
compromise our church standards.
00:30:26.17\00:30:27.87
We don't need to compromise
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:30:27.90\00:30:30.58
God loves all people.
00:30:30.61\00:30:31.98
And God can help and heal all
of us from whatever inherited
00:30:32.01\00:30:35.83
or cultivated
tendency to sin we have.
00:30:35.86\00:30:37.60
That's right. I'm so
glad you point that out.
00:30:37.63\00:30:40.47
There's some people today
that say, "Don't pray for me
00:30:40.50\00:30:43.79
'cause I don't have a
problem. I don't wanna be--
00:30:43.82\00:30:47.12
This is not a
phase I'm going through.
00:30:47.15\00:30:48.65
This is not a lifestyle."
00:30:48.68\00:30:50.10
This is just--
and the other one's--
00:30:50.13\00:30:52.90
and I'm not
completely opposed to the idea
00:30:52.93\00:30:54.77
that people saying--
just hear me out carefully.
00:30:54.80\00:30:57.21
Don't edit the tape right here.
00:30:57.24\00:30:58.99
Some people say,
"Well, how can you say
00:30:59.02\00:31:00.97
there's
something wrong with that?
00:31:01.00\00:31:02.37
I was born this way." We
are all born in sin. Yes.
00:31:02.40\00:31:09.27
But we don't
have to cultivate sin.
00:31:09.30\00:31:12.04
There are those born in families
that are predisposed to alcohol.
00:31:12.07\00:31:14.87
That's me. That's me.
00:31:14.90\00:31:16.38
Alcoholic father,
mother, grandmother.
00:31:16.41\00:31:18.59
I mean, I was drinking
alcohol having blackouts
00:31:18.62\00:31:21.57
when I was a teenager. Okay.
00:31:21.60\00:31:22.97
And I know that I
cannot go near that.
00:31:23.00\00:31:24.80
I know that I cannot touch that.
00:31:24.83\00:31:26.20
So I have that
genetic disposition.
00:31:26.23\00:31:27.60
Wow, I didn't know that.
00:31:27.63\00:31:29.00
I'm genetically
inclined that way.
00:31:29.03\00:31:30.40
But God has given me victory.
00:31:30.43\00:31:31.80
If you put a glass of
alcohol before me today,
00:31:31.83\00:31:33.64
now 28 years ago it
would have been a temptation.
00:31:33.67\00:31:36.33
My roommates
tempted me in that way.
00:31:36.36\00:31:38.48
But today you put and
there's no temptation.
00:31:38.51\00:31:40.66
It's not even a
temptation to me. Why?
00:31:40.69\00:31:43.01
Because God has-- by His grace,
00:31:43.04\00:31:45.12
He has made my weak point,
00:31:45.15\00:31:46.70
my genetically inherited
weak point, my strongest point.
00:31:46.73\00:31:49.86
And He can do that with
any one of us. That's right.
00:31:49.89\00:31:51.83
If we give our hearts and our
lives to Him on a daily basis.
00:31:51.86\00:31:53.64
That is right.
00:31:53.67\00:31:55.04
So the predisposition
is there for many things
00:31:55.07\00:31:57.51
depending on
environmental situations,
00:31:57.54\00:32:00.25
hereditary situations,
babies that are born,
00:32:00.28\00:32:03.67
you know, with low
tolerance to certain drugs
00:32:03.70\00:32:06.18
because they are drug babies.
00:32:06.21\00:32:07.87
And then they are those
who are born to families
00:32:07.90\00:32:09.87
that were
thieves all their lives.
00:32:09.90\00:32:11.75
You know, generation of thieves.
00:32:11.78\00:32:13.61
You've heard the
phrase "The Gypsies."
00:32:13.64\00:32:15.56
Not to say that all
Gypsies are bad people,
00:32:15.59\00:32:17.86
but somebody was
recently pickpocketed in France.
00:32:17.89\00:32:22.57
And they said, "Oh, the
Gypsies just look for tourist
00:32:22.60\00:32:25.02
because they know
how to pickpocket.
00:32:25.05\00:32:26.42
They practice this.
So they are thieves.
00:32:26.45\00:32:28.55
So when you look at the
Bible and you begin to say,
00:32:28.58\00:32:30.21
"Well, which sin is more
debasing than the other?"
00:32:30.24\00:32:33.92
The one, the only thing
00:32:33.95\00:32:35.49
that gives this
sin of homosexuality--
00:32:35.52\00:32:38.94
let me rephrase that.
00:32:42.84\00:32:44.21
One of the things that
the sin of homosexuality does,
00:32:44.24\00:32:47.13
it changes the image
of God in the human race.
00:32:47.16\00:32:51.17
When you read Genesis,
00:32:51.20\00:32:52.57
one of the
things that God did was,
00:32:52.60\00:32:54.17
He made male and
female in the image of God.
00:32:54.20\00:32:57.63
Created He
them, male and female,
00:32:57.66\00:33:01.40
He created them.
00:33:01.43\00:33:03.04
So when man and
woman is joined together,
00:33:03.07\00:33:04.56
they complete the image
of God in the human race.
00:33:04.59\00:33:09.01
If we decided
from this point on,
00:33:09.04\00:33:10.68
men will be with men and
women will be with women,
00:33:10.71\00:33:13.39
what will happen
with procreation? Plummet.
00:33:13.42\00:33:16.92
What will happen
with the image of God?
00:33:16.95\00:33:18.59
Completely distorted.
00:33:18.62\00:33:19.99
And that was
really what brought down--
00:33:20.02\00:33:22.13
when you read Romans 1,
00:33:22.16\00:33:23.53
that was really the reason
why God gave them up. Yes.
00:33:23.56\00:33:26.75
He says in verse 26 Romans 1.
00:33:26.78\00:33:28.64
"For this reason God gave
them up to vile passions."
00:33:28.67\00:33:32.59
"For even their
women," Romans 1:26.
00:33:32.62\00:33:34.67
"Even their women
exchanged the natural use
00:33:34.70\00:33:38.19
for what is against nature.
00:33:38.22\00:33:40.11
Likewise also men, "Verse 27.
00:33:40.14\00:33:42.30
"Leaving the
natural use of the woman,
00:33:42.33\00:33:46.22
burned in their lust for
one another, men with men,
00:33:46.25\00:33:48.79
committing what is shameful,
and receiving in themselves
00:33:48.82\00:33:52.26
the penalty of
their error which was due.
00:33:52.29\00:33:54.79
And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge,
00:33:54.82\00:33:59.00
God gave them
over to a debased mind,
00:33:59.03\00:34:01.12
to do those things
which are not fitting.
00:34:01.15\00:34:04.35
Being filled with
all unrighteousness,
00:34:04.38\00:34:06.52
sexual immorality, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness."
00:34:06.55\00:34:10.30
Notice how all these things
other sins being added to that.
00:34:10.33\00:34:12.06
Yes, very good point.
00:34:12.09\00:34:13.46
Not separating these out. Right.
00:34:13.49\00:34:14.86
God is saying,
"They've been immoral sexually
00:34:14.89\00:34:17.37
one with another, same sex."
00:34:17.40\00:34:19.00
But that was not
a separate sin. No.
00:34:19.03\00:34:21.18
Whisperers. Yes.
00:34:21.21\00:34:22.75
All of these. He had gossip.
00:34:22.78\00:34:24.86
All of the sins that we think
are acceptable in "society."
00:34:24.89\00:34:29.21
Right. And then we have
this other sin, homosexuality,
00:34:29.24\00:34:32.46
which is for years has
not been acceptable in society
00:34:32.49\00:34:35.09
and God is
saying, it's all the same.
00:34:35.12\00:34:36.87
He puts them all
in the same category.
00:34:36.90\00:34:38.49
Envy, whisperers,
evil-minded, vile, and proud.
00:34:38.52\00:34:42.40
You say to a
person, "Pride is just a--"
00:34:42.43\00:34:44.61
say it again. "isn't
just about appearance."
00:34:44.64\00:34:47.83
Ain't that
amazing? So when you think
00:34:47.86\00:34:49.48
about this issue
of homosexuality,
00:34:49.51\00:34:50.96
just to wind up that
question section here.
00:34:50.99\00:34:53.73
Sin is sin. Jesus
came to save us from sin.
00:34:53.76\00:34:56.98
And He can save anybody,
00:34:57.01\00:34:58.38
but just don't be
fooled into thinking
00:34:58.41\00:34:59.99
that you could be
a part of a church
00:35:00.02\00:35:01.84
and under the
leadership of the pastor
00:35:01.87\00:35:03.87
who will lead you down that road
and say, "He's a man of God."
00:35:03.90\00:35:06.94
I would say, 2
Corinthians 11:13 and 14
00:35:06.97\00:35:14.72
brings that out that
for such a false apostles,
00:35:14.75\00:35:19.46
deceitful workers transforming
00:35:19.49\00:35:21.81
themselves into
apostles of Christ.
00:35:21.84\00:35:24.76
These are ministers, but
these are false apostles,
00:35:24.79\00:35:28.66
but they look like ministers.
00:35:28.69\00:35:30.06
And the Bible
says, "For no marvel,
00:35:30.09\00:35:32.46
for Satan himself also appears
as an angel of the light."
00:35:32.49\00:35:36.35
And, you know,
we say this, John,
00:35:36.38\00:35:37.75
because we
recognize, for example,
00:35:37.78\00:35:39.78
that there are a lot of churches
that have imbibed "sin."
00:35:39.81\00:35:45.31
When we look at
the Ten Commandments
00:35:45.34\00:35:46.71
for example, we're
looking at commandment number 4.
00:35:46.74\00:35:50.19
"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:35:50.22\00:35:52.30
And there are a lot of
churches who don't remember
00:35:52.33\00:35:53.87
the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:35:53.90\00:35:55.27
They don't remember that
the seventh-day is the Sabbath.
00:35:55.30\00:35:57.95
And they don't
remember how that is kept holy.
00:35:57.98\00:36:00.05
So we need to be careful not
to follow churches necessarily.
00:36:00.08\00:36:04.09
Not to follow
ministers necessarily
00:36:04.12\00:36:06.40
because their example is
gonna continue in that path.
00:36:06.43\00:36:09.80
We must follow the word of God.
00:36:09.83\00:36:11.40
We must make the Bible
our refuge and our strength.
00:36:11.43\00:36:14.31
We must make the
word of God our leader
00:36:14.34\00:36:16.25
and our counselor
and follow what God says.
00:36:16.28\00:36:19.22
And believe
that He has the grace
00:36:19.25\00:36:20.62
that is sufficient for us.
00:36:20.65\00:36:22.02
That's right. Thank you, James.
00:36:22.05\00:36:23.45
And I hope we
answered the question.
00:36:23.48\00:36:24.97
We've spent a
little time on that
00:36:25.00\00:36:26.37
just to let you
know it's important.
00:36:26.40\00:36:28.27
And we serve a
great Savior. Amen.
00:36:28.30\00:36:32.76
Well, if you have
any Bible questions
00:36:32.79\00:36:34.17
that will come to mind
because of may be something
00:36:34.20\00:36:36.31
we said today or maybe
questions that you have
00:36:36.34\00:36:38.14
that have not yet been answered,
00:36:38.17\00:36:39.93
you can send those questions
to housecalls@3abn.org.
00:36:39.96\00:36:43.35
That's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:36:43.38\00:36:45.74
And if anybody asks you
00:36:45.77\00:36:47.74
about a balanced Bible
program, remember this one.
00:36:47.77\00:36:50.91
Also sometimes you'll see
James on Book of the Books,
00:36:50.94\00:36:53.73
another very good
program that's held by 3ABN.
00:36:53.76\00:36:55.60
And sometimes you'll see
00:36:55.63\00:36:57.00
James Rafferty and
Ty Gibson together.
00:36:57.03\00:36:59.09
And I recommend also
wonderful Bible students
00:36:59.12\00:37:01.98
as they partner together
in sharing the word of God.
00:37:02.01\00:37:04.45
But this is a network
that believes in the undiluted
00:37:04.48\00:37:07.51
Three Angels' Messages,
00:37:07.54\00:37:08.91
one that will
counteract the counterfeit.
00:37:08.94\00:37:11.15
And thank you for all
you do to keep this nation,
00:37:11.18\00:37:13.39
to keep this station
and this network strong.
00:37:13.42\00:37:16.00
Amen. That's the
good one, station network.
00:37:16.03\00:37:18.51
If you put that
together as nation.
00:37:18.54\00:37:20.29
That's a good
one. Accidental, but--
00:37:20.32\00:37:22.27
I got that. Well, lead
us into our topic today.
00:37:22.30\00:37:24.37
We're gonna be
talking about something.
00:37:24.40\00:37:25.77
There was a text in Luke. Yes.
00:37:25.80\00:37:27.99
We're gonna be talking
about the topic of hell today.
00:37:28.02\00:37:30.31
And some people say, the
devil is in charge of hell.
00:37:30.34\00:37:33.63
He's gonna be rotissering
people throughout eternity.
00:37:33.66\00:37:36.54
We don't believe that.
00:37:36.57\00:37:37.94
But we are gonna
address this issue
00:37:37.97\00:37:39.34
what the Bible says about hell
00:37:39.37\00:37:40.74
and what it
doesn't say about hell.
00:37:40.77\00:37:42.14
And it comes to us
really through a question.
00:37:42.17\00:37:43.66
And I really appreciate
the program that we're doing
00:37:43.69\00:37:46.14
because it's based on a lot
of the questions that come in
00:37:46.17\00:37:48.75
that you have
about these Bible topics.
00:37:48.78\00:37:51.02
And this question comes in--
00:37:51.05\00:37:52.42
actually it's
more of a statement,
00:37:52.45\00:37:53.99
not really a
question. Dear, John and John.
00:37:54.02\00:37:56.00
Well, I'm James, but,
of course, you understand.
00:37:56.03\00:37:58.81
If there is no hell then
what is this? Please read on.
00:37:58.84\00:38:02.98
Luke 16:22, 23, 27, and 28.
00:38:03.01\00:38:07.92
"The rich man also
died and was buried.
00:38:07.95\00:38:09.50
And being in torments in Hades,
00:38:09.53\00:38:11.27
he lifted up his eyes
and saw Abraham afar off,
00:38:11.30\00:38:14.68
and Lazarus in his bosom.
00:38:14.71\00:38:16.79
Then he said, 'I beg
you, therefore, Father,
00:38:16.82\00:38:19.08
that you would send
him to my father's house,
00:38:19.11\00:38:21.54
for I have five brothers
that he may testify to them,
00:38:21.57\00:38:23.97
lest they also come to
this place of torment.'"
00:38:24.00\00:38:27.62
It is the story,
the parable if you will,
00:38:27.65\00:38:30.26
John, of a rich man and Lazarus.
00:38:30.29\00:38:32.71
This story is
found in Luke Chapter 16
00:38:32.74\00:38:36.48
and it begins in verse 19
00:38:36.51\00:38:38.83
and goes all the way
to verse 31. That's right.
00:38:38.86\00:38:41.20
Our questioner has just sent
in a couple of those verses,
00:38:41.23\00:38:43.95
of course, to
summarize the point
00:38:43.98\00:38:45.83
that he is making and
that is, if there is no hell
00:38:45.86\00:38:48.33
then how does the story
of the rich man and Lazarus
00:38:48.36\00:38:51.32
fit in to the biblical
teaching on this subject?
00:38:51.35\00:38:55.33
Well, you know,
just to begin out--
00:38:55.36\00:38:57.81
begin with the
catapulting statement.
00:38:57.84\00:38:59.41
There is hell. Okay.
00:38:59.44\00:39:01.65
But there is not
a now existing hell
00:39:01.68\00:39:04.24
in the sense of
the story of Lazarus.
00:39:04.27\00:39:07.17
Very good
point. Very good point.
00:39:07.20\00:39:08.83
I think it's a
great place to start.
00:39:08.86\00:39:11.12
Seventh-day Adventist,
this program and every program
00:39:11.15\00:39:14.63
you see on this station
believes that there's a place
00:39:14.66\00:39:17.98
called hell, that there
is an experience of hell,
00:39:18.01\00:39:20.79
that hell is a biblical
reality and a biblical truth.
00:39:20.82\00:39:23.90
That's right. But the
nature of that reality,
00:39:23.93\00:39:26.19
the nature of that truth is
what we're discussing right now.
00:39:26.22\00:39:29.28
Many Christians
believe it's an eternally
00:39:29.31\00:39:31.31
burning place of
torment that is run by Satan.
00:39:31.34\00:39:34.79
And you're thrown in
there and Satan is there
00:39:34.82\00:39:37.78
tormenting you
endlessly for all eternity.
00:39:37.81\00:39:40.58
We do not believe in
that picture of hell.
00:39:40.61\00:39:42.94
Why? Because it's not
biblical. That's right.
00:39:42.97\00:39:45.18
As a matter of fact,
one of the reasons why--
00:39:45.21\00:39:47.19
let's--before we deal
with the story directly
00:39:47.22\00:39:49.26
and I think that
this-- we have the time that
00:39:49.29\00:39:51.73
is allotted to us to deal
with this we could spend it
00:39:51.76\00:39:54.09
on this parable and branch out
00:39:54.12\00:39:56.10
to the various
scriptures in the Bible.
00:39:56.13\00:39:58.15
One of the things that people
don't really take into account
00:39:58.18\00:40:00.43
is the fact that Satan is
not gonna be around forever.
00:40:00.46\00:40:04.14
When you look at Ezekiel
28. Let's go to Ezekiel 28.
00:40:04.17\00:40:07.65
And we're gonna come back
00:40:07.68\00:40:09.05
and build on the
branches of what these--
00:40:09.08\00:40:10.45
what are these symbols that are
present in the story all about?
00:40:10.48\00:40:14.19
But in the Book of Ezekiel,
one of the things that--
00:40:14.22\00:40:18.10
oh, my God--one of the
things that's so significant
00:40:18.13\00:40:20.40
to the story of the end of
Satan's life is that he made
00:40:20.43\00:40:25.01
these many claims and
that-- but when you look
00:40:25.04\00:40:29.45
at Ezekiel Chapter 28
and through the parable
00:40:29.48\00:40:32.65
of the Prince of Tyre, the
Lord speaks of the end of Satan.
00:40:32.68\00:40:39.10
Yeah, the
anointed cherub, verse 14.
00:40:39.13\00:40:41.13
The one that was
in Eden, verse 13.
00:40:41.16\00:40:43.56
This is a parable that
is speaking of Lucifer.
00:40:43.59\00:40:49.15
And when you look
at verse 18 and 19,
00:40:49.18\00:40:50.55
it says, "You
defiled your sanctuaries
00:40:50.58\00:40:52.17
by the multitude
of your iniquities.
00:40:52.20\00:40:54.73
By the iniquity of your trading.
Therefore, speaking of his end.
00:40:54.76\00:40:58.59
"I brought forth fire from
your midst. It devoured you.
00:40:58.62\00:41:03.53
And I turned you to
ashes upon the earth
00:41:03.56\00:41:05.90
in the sight of all who saw you.
00:41:05.93\00:41:08.85
All who knew you among the
peoples are astonished at you.
00:41:08.88\00:41:12.71
You have become a horror
and shall be no more forever."
00:41:12.74\00:41:16.69
And it's
interesting because the way
00:41:16.72\00:41:18.97
that is written in the
King James is, "I will do this."
00:41:19.00\00:41:22.23
Exactly. Now we know
in the context of this,
00:41:22.26\00:41:24.22
we're talking about
the King of Tyrus. Right.
00:41:24.25\00:41:25.89
We're also
talking about Lucifer.
00:41:25.92\00:41:27.89
And so the King James
is picking up that idea.
00:41:27.92\00:41:30.45
I will do this to you.
00:41:30.48\00:41:31.85
Lucifer is going
to come to an end.
00:41:31.88\00:41:33.48
That's right.
And so you see if--
00:41:33.51\00:41:36.07
if he is going to be ashes
00:41:36.10\00:41:38.08
and he is gonna
be no more forever,
00:41:38.11\00:41:41.72
then the natural conclusion,
00:41:41.75\00:41:44.13
before we even get into
the actual parable itself,
00:41:44.16\00:41:47.36
is that the place called
hell and one of the weaknesses,
00:41:47.39\00:41:49.92
James, of the
English language is the fact
00:41:49.95\00:41:52.11
that it does not adequately
translate the Greek and Hebrew.
00:41:52.14\00:41:55.73
We have one word, "hell."
And we think, "Okay, wow.
00:41:55.76\00:41:59.79
What does that actually mean?"
00:41:59.82\00:42:01.19
Well, the grave is
spoken of as hell. Yes.
00:42:01.22\00:42:04.29
You have Old Testament,
where Sheol over and over
00:42:04.32\00:42:06.87
and over and over
and over again, hell.
00:42:06.90\00:42:09.05
But then you have Hades. This--
00:42:09.08\00:42:10.79
that's the word used in this
parable, the place of burning.
00:42:10.82\00:42:13.45
You have
Gehenna, the lake of fire.
00:42:13.48\00:42:15.28
But you also have Tartarus,
00:42:15.31\00:42:16.68
that singular place
that appears in 1 Peter,
00:42:16.71\00:42:19.01
I believe Chapter 4
where it talks about
00:42:19.04\00:42:22.44
where the spirit
world, where the angels
00:42:22.47\00:42:25.60
that sinned were cast down and
delivered in chains of darkness
00:42:25.63\00:42:29.09
reserved unto judgment, reserved
for the Day of Judgment.
00:42:29.12\00:42:33.38
1 Peter 2. 1 Peter Chapter 2.
00:42:33.41\00:42:35.37
1 Peter 4:17 I was thinking of,
00:42:35.40\00:42:37.32
judgment beginning
at the house of God.
00:42:37.35\00:42:38.89
So you find clearly
that hell has many meanings
00:42:38.92\00:42:43.78
in its original language.
But the weakness of it is--
00:42:43.81\00:42:46.81
so let's break this apart.
00:42:46.84\00:42:49.07
We do have a hell today,
that's existing now, the grave.
00:42:49.10\00:42:53.81
The grave and that
is a biblical truth.
00:42:53.84\00:42:56.33
And, John, I really
like this because Ezekiel 28
00:42:56.36\00:42:59.33
also connects to Malachi.
00:42:59.36\00:43:01.32
Malachi 4:3 tells us
that it's not only the devil,
00:43:01.35\00:43:05.82
Lucifer, who we
brought to nothing,
00:43:05.85\00:43:08.15
brought to ashes,
who will be no more.
00:43:08.18\00:43:10.49
But it is also
the lost, the wicked.
00:43:10.52\00:43:12.70
It says that, "You
will tread down the wicked
00:43:12.73\00:43:15.13
for they shall be ashes
under the soles of your feet
00:43:15.16\00:43:17.48
in the day that I do
this," says the Lord.
00:43:17.51\00:43:19.80
And I, you know,
some people will say,
00:43:19.83\00:43:21.30
"Oh, you know, what?
Well, God is a merciful God.
00:43:21.33\00:43:24.68
And the Bible
clearly teaches, friends,
00:43:24.71\00:43:26.26
that nobody is going to suffer
00:43:26.29\00:43:27.82
for all eternity for
the sins of a lifetime.
00:43:27.85\00:43:30.42
Can you imagine the
mischaracterization of God
00:43:30.45\00:43:34.65
in relating to
this kind of idea,
00:43:34.68\00:43:36.93
this kind of theology,
00:43:36.96\00:43:38.33
that a person lives
for three score and ten,
00:43:38.36\00:43:41.59
commit sins, never
turns to Jesus as their Savior
00:43:41.62\00:43:44.47
and God causes
them to be tormented
00:43:44.50\00:43:47.10
and suffer for eternity for
the life of three score and ten.
00:43:47.13\00:43:51.05
I mean, that is just a
complete misrepresentation
00:43:51.08\00:43:53.77
of the character
and the heart of God.
00:43:53.80\00:43:57.07
The Bible is very
clear that there's
00:43:57.10\00:43:58.48
going to be an end to Lucifer.
00:43:58.51\00:43:59.88
There's going to be
an end of the wicked,
00:43:59.91\00:44:01.28
that they're gonna be
burned up. That's right.
00:44:01.31\00:44:02.87
And they will not
suffer endlessly and infinitely
00:44:02.90\00:44:06.30
on and on and on
forever and ever and ever
00:44:06.33\00:44:08.04
which brings us
to another phrase
00:44:08.07\00:44:09.60
and that is forever and
ever and ever which we've got
00:44:09.63\00:44:11.48
to get to that
at some point too.
00:44:11.51\00:44:13.04
And when you think
of the-- Jesus said,
00:44:13.07\00:44:14.78
"I am the wine.
You are the branches."
00:44:14.81\00:44:17.02
When you read,
since you're in Malachi,
00:44:17.05\00:44:19.06
read verse 1, Malachi 4:1.
00:44:19.09\00:44:21.70
I'm going back to Malachi--
00:44:21.73\00:44:23.10
Okay, okay. I left that.
00:44:23.13\00:44:24.50
Okay, well, I
could-- oh, got it.
00:44:24.53\00:44:26.26
"For, behold, the day comes,
00:44:26.29\00:44:28.87
that shall burn as an
oven, and all the proud,
00:44:28.90\00:44:31.25
yeah, all that do
wickedly, shall be stubble,
00:44:31.28\00:44:33.99
and that day that
comes shall burn them up,
00:44:34.02\00:44:36.02
says the Lord of
hosts, and shall leave them
00:44:36.05\00:44:38.19
neither root nor branch."
00:44:38.22\00:44:39.97
Okay, so Jesus says,
00:44:40.00\00:44:41.58
"I am the wine,
you are the branches."
00:44:41.61\00:44:43.32
Now the branches
are, in this parable,
00:44:43.35\00:44:45.74
are those who chose to
follow Satan. The root is Satan.
00:44:45.77\00:44:52.40
So if the root is
going to be destroyed,
00:44:52.43\00:44:56.77
how will the tree
exist without roots?
00:44:56.80\00:44:59.05
Well, impossible. It cannot.
00:44:59.08\00:45:01.49
So there's no--
this parable in the--
00:45:01.52\00:45:04.17
this is truly a parable.
00:45:04.20\00:45:05.57
And if we break
this parable down,
00:45:05.60\00:45:07.14
let's look at the
language in the parable
00:45:07.17\00:45:08.79
that shows that it,
in fact, is a parable.
00:45:08.82\00:45:11.26
Now Jesus taught many things.
00:45:11.29\00:45:13.18
He used some of the
teachings of the day
00:45:13.21\00:45:16.64
to communicate a
particular truth.
00:45:16.67\00:45:19.30
And this parable, in particular,
00:45:19.33\00:45:21.40
is a message to
the Jewish leaders.
00:45:21.43\00:45:24.82
In fact, they
continually rejected Christ
00:45:24.85\00:45:29.22
even up to this
point, they rejected many--
00:45:29.25\00:45:32.30
in many cases,
the messages of Moses.
00:45:32.33\00:45:36.57
They rejected the
messages of the prophets.
00:45:36.60\00:45:38.96
And when you find even later
on after Stephen is stoned,
00:45:38.99\00:45:42.65
when Stephen is
stoned, he reiterates this
00:45:42.68\00:45:45.66
entire history of
the children of Israel
00:45:45.69\00:45:47.53
or the leadership of Israel.
00:45:47.56\00:45:48.93
And he says, "How
many prophets have the Lord
00:45:48.96\00:45:52.78
sent to you that you
have not stoned?" Yes.
00:45:52.81\00:45:56.05
And so when you
look at this parable--
00:45:56.08\00:45:58.26
let's go through it bit by bit.
00:45:58.29\00:46:00.03
You begin to see
the kind of language
00:46:00.06\00:46:01.53
that is clearly a message.
00:46:01.56\00:46:03.71
And what's so
amazing as you go on further,
00:46:03.74\00:46:06.02
you'll see that it
was so clear in the--
00:46:06.05\00:46:08.20
even in the parable
since it was so clear
00:46:08.23\00:46:10.27
that the Jews perceived
he was talking to them.
00:46:10.30\00:46:12.66
Yeah. And it's
interesting, John.
00:46:12.69\00:46:14.06
First of all, we know
that this is a parable,
00:46:14.09\00:46:17.07
it's the fifth of a line
of parables--That's right.
00:46:17.10\00:46:20.79
That Jesus has
given here in order.
00:46:20.82\00:46:23.29
So--and a parable
is different in nature
00:46:23.32\00:46:26.58
than the plain
reading of scripture.
00:46:26.61\00:46:29.08
A parable is very
much like prophesy.
00:46:29.11\00:46:31.07
It's symbolic. It has symbols.
00:46:31.10\00:46:33.19
We can't take it literally.
00:46:33.22\00:46:34.59
For example, if you
look up the word Lazarus
00:46:34.62\00:46:37.33
in the original
Greek, you're going to find
00:46:37.36\00:46:38.91
that there are
two-- the two people,
00:46:38.94\00:46:42.62
two persons with the
name of Lazarus in the Bible.
00:46:42.65\00:46:46.11
One is the real
Lazarus, that's the person
00:46:46.14\00:46:48.28
that Jesus loved who
died and he resurrected.
00:46:48.31\00:46:51.07
The other one is identified
as an imaginary person.
00:46:51.10\00:46:53.86
That's right. So when
you look up the Greek,
00:46:53.89\00:46:55.52
you'll find that
this is-- this right here,
00:46:55.55\00:46:57.54
this Lazarus is
an imaginary person.
00:46:57.57\00:46:59.44
He's part of a story.
00:46:59.47\00:47:00.84
He's part of a parable
that was a story of custom
00:47:00.87\00:47:03.68
to the Jews and
as well as something
00:47:03.71\00:47:05.39
Jesus was using here
to-- to illustrate a point.
00:47:05.42\00:47:08.12
What was the
point? Verse 14 says,
00:47:08.15\00:47:10.51
"That the Pharisees
also who are covetous
00:47:10.54\00:47:13.15
heard all these
things and they derided him."
00:47:13.18\00:47:16.07
The Pharisees were
covetous because they believe
00:47:16.10\00:47:19.67
that riches meant God's blessing
00:47:19.70\00:47:22.51
and a sure line into
the Kingdom of Heaven.
00:47:22.54\00:47:25.63
If you were
wealthy, if you were rich,
00:47:25.66\00:47:27.12
if you had wealth, then
you were blessed of God.
00:47:27.15\00:47:30.05
You were a righteous person.
You were going to heaven.
00:47:30.08\00:47:31.81
If you were poor, then obviously
00:47:31.84\00:47:33.54
God was chasting
you. You needed to repent.
00:47:33.57\00:47:35.67
And you were not
going to the right place.
00:47:35.70\00:47:37.52
And so Jesus is
using this parable
00:47:37.55\00:47:40.11
of the rich man and Lazarus,
of a rich man who has plenty
00:47:40.14\00:47:43.82
and Lazarus who has nothing
to turn that whole teaching,
00:47:43.85\00:47:47.15
that whole tradition,
that whole false theology
00:47:47.18\00:47:49.65
on end to reverse it completely.
00:47:49.68\00:47:52.49
And when you think about
the para--let's--let's look at
00:47:52.52\00:47:54.88
some of these
things together here.
00:47:54.91\00:47:57.76
If you were to
summarize the entire passage
00:47:57.79\00:48:00.37
or the entire story,
it would be simply this.
00:48:00.40\00:48:03.48
There are those that have a lot,
00:48:03.51\00:48:06.28
that care less about
those that have nothing.
00:48:06.31\00:48:10.60
But then there are
those who have very little
00:48:10.63\00:48:13.34
and they care about
those who have nothing.
00:48:13.37\00:48:16.79
And those who are
wealthy if they would even let
00:48:16.82\00:48:20.55
the crumbs of their table be
given to those who are without,
00:48:20.58\00:48:24.57
it will be more than those
00:48:24.60\00:48:26.91
who don't have
anything, really have.
00:48:26.94\00:48:29.93
So the very ones that
the wealthy are condemning
00:48:29.96\00:48:34.05
are the very ones
that are taking care
00:48:34.08\00:48:35.58
of the needs of the people. Yes.
00:48:35.61\00:48:37.52
So let's put that
into spiritual context.
00:48:37.55\00:48:39.35
Who were the
wealthy in the Bible?
00:48:39.38\00:48:41.04
Those who were
really rich or the ones
00:48:41.89\00:48:44.89
who had the truth
of the gospel. Amen.
00:48:44.92\00:48:47.04
They had this message,
this golden message for many,
00:48:47.07\00:48:50.10
many years, but they refused
to share it with the Gentiles.
00:48:50.13\00:48:54.57
And because they categorized
the Gentiles as heathens,
00:48:54.60\00:48:57.44
as those who just
really were not worthy
00:48:57.47\00:48:59.29
of the Kingdom of
God, yet the Gentiles
00:48:59.32\00:49:03.38
looked at the needs of the poor.
00:49:03.41\00:49:05.82
And the Gentiles, in this
story, primarily are the--
00:49:05.85\00:49:11.44
well, let's make it very
clear. It sounds terrible.
00:49:11.47\00:49:14.30
But when Jesus
used the word "dogs,"
00:49:14.33\00:49:17.48
He was addressing an issue that
was very prevalent in that day.
00:49:17.51\00:49:21.74
What did the dog do? The
dog licked the sores of Lazarus.
00:49:21.77\00:49:26.31
So Lazarus
represented those without.
00:49:26.34\00:49:30.30
And the Gentiles being
represented by the dogs.
00:49:30.33\00:49:32.49
The Gentiles were
more concerned about
00:49:32.52\00:49:33.89
the needs of the people
than those who had much.
00:49:33.92\00:49:38.05
And they're wondering,
who is He talking about?
00:49:38.08\00:49:40.72
And to identify
who the rich are,
00:49:40.75\00:49:43.36
He says Abraham. So
let's go from there.
00:49:43.39\00:49:47.05
You wanna add
that-- Well, I love it
00:49:47.08\00:49:48.45
because when
you're looking at this
00:49:48.48\00:49:49.85
you've got another category
that I haven't seen before
00:49:49.88\00:49:51.71
and that is the Gentiles--
00:49:51.74\00:49:53.11
a Syrophoenician
woman was called the dog.
00:49:53.14\00:49:54.51
That's right, there you go.
00:49:54.54\00:49:55.91
So you're talking
about how there are people
00:49:55.94\00:49:57.31
in the world who
are more sympathetic
00:49:57.34\00:49:58.71
to the poor than
religious people are.
00:49:58.74\00:50:00.82
And that is so
powerful when you look at this--
00:50:00.85\00:50:02.68
That's right. The
story that God is--
00:50:02.71\00:50:04.84
You know, John,
just as an insight,
00:50:04.87\00:50:06.82
in heaven we are
going to read the Bible
00:50:06.85\00:50:08.41
and we're going to
see things in the Bible
00:50:08.44\00:50:10.14
that we've never seen before.
00:50:10.17\00:50:11.54
Things of the past are noticed.
00:50:11.57\00:50:12.94
We're gonna say,
"Oh, how did I miss that?"
00:50:12.97\00:50:14.54
I think disciples of Christ were
the same way when Jesus left.
00:50:14.57\00:50:17.75
How did we miss the
teachings that He was giving us?
00:50:17.78\00:50:21.09
But building on that, yes,
there's--there's the crumbs,
00:50:21.12\00:50:24.11
there's the dogs,
there's all of these symbols.
00:50:24.14\00:50:26.86
All of these representative
symbols in this parable.
00:50:26.89\00:50:29.97
For example, it says
here that when Lazarus dies,
00:50:30.00\00:50:33.54
he goes to Abraham's bosom.
00:50:33.57\00:50:35.90
Now I am hoping there won't be
a lot of people saved in heaven
00:50:35.93\00:50:38.78
according to the
story because I'm sure
00:50:38.81\00:50:40.32
there's not a lot of room
00:50:40.35\00:50:41.72
in Abraham's bosom for a
lot of people. That's right.
00:50:41.75\00:50:43.61
If we take the story literally,
literally, we are limiting
00:50:43.64\00:50:47.31
the amount of
people that can be saved
00:50:47.34\00:50:48.71
because there's
not a lot of people
00:50:48.74\00:50:50.11
that can fit in Abraham's bosom,
maybe one here and one there
00:50:50.14\00:50:52.41
and a couple of other
squeezed in if they're little.
00:50:52.44\00:50:55.29
So we can't take it literally.
00:50:55.32\00:50:57.10
Abraham's bosom is a symbol
of the place of the redeemed,
00:50:57.13\00:51:00.88
the symbol of heaven.
00:51:00.91\00:51:02.28
It's the place where Abraham is.
00:51:02.31\00:51:03.68
So obviously we
wouldn't take that literally.
00:51:03.71\00:51:05.71
And, therefore, we
need to be careful how much
00:51:05.74\00:51:08.16
we literalized this parable
of Lazarus and the rich man.
00:51:08.19\00:51:12.58
Then it goes on to talk
about body parts. I tell you.
00:51:12.61\00:51:16.59
It says that
there's a tongue that's hot
00:51:16.62\00:51:19.23
and needs to be cooled by water.
00:51:19.26\00:51:21.21
There's a finger that needs
to be dipped in some water.
00:51:21.24\00:51:25.43
When a person dies, do
they lose certain body parts
00:51:25.46\00:51:28.87
or certain body parts
go to Abraham's bosom,
00:51:28.90\00:51:30.69
the tongue and the fingers?
00:51:30.72\00:51:32.23
When you see a
person in a casket, friends,
00:51:32.26\00:51:34.52
do you see part
of their body there
00:51:34.55\00:51:36.19
and part of the
body's not there?
00:51:36.22\00:51:38.08
No, there is no separation.
00:51:38.11\00:51:39.48
This actually would deny
00:51:39.51\00:51:40.88
what the truth of
the state of the dead is.
00:51:40.91\00:51:42.89
We know that the body goes back
to the dust from where it came.
00:51:42.92\00:51:46.37
So again we're using
body parts here as symbols.
00:51:46.40\00:51:51.10
It's not literal. It's symbolic.
00:51:51.13\00:51:52.93
And the other thing
about that to show it's not a--
00:51:52.96\00:51:55.06
to show that this is
can-- also speaking about
00:51:55.09\00:51:58.22
a future state of
those who reject God.
00:51:58.25\00:52:01.08
They will be cast,
body and soul--Yes. In hell.
00:52:01.11\00:52:06.38
And so the destruction of
the wicked is not gonna be,
00:52:06.41\00:52:08.68
"Well, we'll preserve some
things for eternal posterity."
00:52:08.71\00:52:14.13
No, that's not
gonna be the case.
00:52:14.16\00:52:15.53
The destruction of
the wicked will be--
00:52:15.56\00:52:16.93
they'll be thrown
entirely in the fires of hell.
00:52:16.96\00:52:20.21
Now I have a little
thing of water here.
00:52:20.24\00:52:22.46
Now honestly,
don't switch the camera
00:52:22.49\00:52:24.87
because we don't
usually drink on camera.
00:52:24.90\00:52:26.30
But if I were to dip my finger
in my own bottle of water...
00:52:26.33\00:52:31.00
I'm really thirsty,
James. Ah, much better now.
00:52:31.03\00:52:35.60
That couldn't crunch my thirst
in a comfortable environment.
00:52:35.63\00:52:38.44
Yes. Let alone in a hell.
00:52:38.47\00:52:41.04
Yeah, this is, and this is
very comfortable environment.
00:52:41.07\00:52:42.94
It's quite
air-conditioned in here.
00:52:42.97\00:52:44.66
It's quite cool,
but I can't imagine
00:52:44.69\00:52:46.42
that coming close to a hot day,
00:52:46.45\00:52:49.39
never mind in a--
in a place of torment.
00:52:49.42\00:52:51.30
And when you
think about even the--
00:52:51.33\00:52:52.93
even the pictures
there that's given,
00:52:52.96\00:52:55.31
it identifies
them, first of all,
00:52:55.34\00:52:56.72
as the children of Abraham.
00:52:56.75\00:52:58.39
The other thing that
is true about the story
00:52:58.42\00:52:59.92
with the parable,
even though the parable
00:52:59.95\00:53:01.67
communicates this
message. This is true.
00:53:01.70\00:53:03.57
There is a gulf fix between
the righteous and the wicked.
00:53:03.60\00:53:06.29
The wicked cannot
join the righteous.
00:53:06.32\00:53:08.83
I mean, the wicked
who don't want to join--
00:53:08.86\00:53:10.68
the righteous don't
want to join the wicked
00:53:10.71\00:53:12.17
and the wicked
can't join the righteous.
00:53:12.20\00:53:14.16
The gulf will be forever fixed.
They can't pass back and forth.
00:53:14.19\00:53:17.16
But amazingly enough,
you find, first of all,
00:53:17.19\00:53:19.17
the wealthy and
they are the ones
00:53:19.20\00:53:20.82
that are a part
of Abraham's lineage.
00:53:20.85\00:53:22.83
They even actually said that.
00:53:22.86\00:53:24.23
But verse 28 is a
very significant one.
00:53:24.26\00:53:25.97
He says, "For I
have five brothers."
00:53:26.00\00:53:28.48
Now what were the five
brothers that the Jews had
00:53:28.51\00:53:31.71
that was so significant
that they boasted about?
00:53:31.74\00:53:34.80
I have five
brothers, the Pentateuch.
00:53:34.83\00:53:38.90
The five major
books of the Bible,
00:53:38.93\00:53:40.64
was that the very writings
00:53:40.67\00:53:42.54
that they harbored
only to themselves.
00:53:42.57\00:53:46.46
These five-- I have five.
00:53:46.49\00:53:49.07
And what happens is,
when Jesus spoke to the Jews,
00:53:49.10\00:53:51.94
He so often said to them,
00:53:51.97\00:53:53.34
"You guys got
this thing mixed up.
00:53:53.37\00:53:55.56
I'm the living word." John 5:39.
00:53:55.59\00:53:57.94
Read that for us
real quickly. John 5:39.
00:53:57.97\00:54:00.86
We know, we know that,
right? Search the scriptures.
00:54:00.89\00:54:03.35
Yes. "For in them you
think you have eternal life,
00:54:03.38\00:54:05.84
and they are they
which testify of me."
00:54:05.87\00:54:07.71
Okay, now get this. In them
you think you have eternal life.
00:54:07.74\00:54:12.66
The Jews would rather
read their five brothers.
00:54:12.69\00:54:15.91
All the five books
of Genesis, Exodus,
00:54:15.94\00:54:17.55
Leviticus, Deuteronomy, Numbers.
00:54:17.58\00:54:19.12
They'd rather read
those five books than accept
00:54:19.15\00:54:22.07
the Messiah who is
standing right in front of them.
00:54:22.10\00:54:24.54
He said, "Search the scriptures,
00:54:24.57\00:54:26.10
for in them you think you
have eternal life." Hello, guys?
00:54:26.13\00:54:31.14
The very book
that you're spending
00:54:31.17\00:54:32.54
all your time on--
on is talking about Me.
00:54:32.57\00:54:34.47
And I'm right here
and you're rejecting Me.
00:54:34.50\00:54:37.30
I don't want the
Messiah. I want the books. Yes.
00:54:37.33\00:54:39.57
Give me the five brothers.
00:54:39.60\00:54:41.88
And then he goes
on to the other thing.
00:54:41.91\00:54:43.42
He breaks it down even
more. He says, look at verse 30.
00:54:43.45\00:54:49.95
Well, to verify that, Verse 20.
00:54:49.98\00:54:52.00
"I have five brothers,
that he may testify to them,
00:54:52.03\00:54:55.15
lest they also come to
this place of torment."
00:54:55.18\00:54:57.48
Abraham said to them. 'They
have Moses and the Prophets.
00:54:57.51\00:55:00.35
Let them hear
them.'" And then verse 30.
00:55:00.38\00:55:03.32
And he said,
"No, father Abraham,
00:55:03.35\00:55:05.76
but if one goes to them from
the dead, they will not repent.
00:55:05.79\00:55:09.27
Even if one rose from the
dead, they will not repent."
00:55:09.30\00:55:12.41
Well, did one
rise from the dead?
00:55:12.44\00:55:15.46
Yeah, and verse 30
says, "If one went unto them
00:55:15.49\00:55:18.60
from the dead,
they will repent."
00:55:18.63\00:55:20.35
In other words
that he was saying,
00:55:20.38\00:55:21.75
"Listen, if, you
know, they'll repent
00:55:21.78\00:55:24.09
if they listen to
you. They'll repent.
00:55:24.12\00:55:26.30
And, yes, one
rose from the dead.
00:55:26.33\00:55:27.70
And did they repent? No.
00:55:27.73\00:55:29.47
Matter of fact, even when
he rose the literal Lazarus,
00:55:29.50\00:55:33.04
that was when
they made up their mind
00:55:33.07\00:55:35.52
that they must kill Jesus.
00:55:35.55\00:55:38.05
And here's where we
made that connection.
00:55:38.08\00:55:39.45
Here's--here's
the connection between
00:55:39.48\00:55:40.98
the real Lazarus and
this imaginary person.
00:55:41.01\00:55:44.59
And the connection is profound
when you think about it because
00:55:44.62\00:55:47.73
even though this is
connecting to Lazarus,
00:55:47.76\00:55:49.85
it's also connecting to
Jesus Christ. That's right.
00:55:49.88\00:55:51.84
And the story is saying
that if you're not willing
00:55:51.87\00:55:54.26
to listen to the Books of Moses,
if you will not hear them,
00:55:54.29\00:55:58.65
you will not hear
even though someone,
00:55:58.68\00:56:01.00
Jesus Christ Himself
is risen from the dead.
00:56:01.03\00:56:03.42
And that's exactly what we see
taking place in this context.
00:56:03.45\00:56:06.71
You know, John, I
think that this whole message
00:56:06.74\00:56:09.80
could be summarized
by one verse in the Bible
00:56:09.83\00:56:13.18
and that's John 3:16.
"For God so loved the world."
00:56:13.21\00:56:18.31
Everyone, okay.
No one is separated.
00:56:18.34\00:56:20.51
No one is put in the special
category. God loves us all.
00:56:20.54\00:56:24.42
We've all sinned and come short
00:56:24.45\00:56:25.82
of the glory of God,
but God loves us all.
00:56:25.85\00:56:27.32
"God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten son
00:56:27.35\00:56:30.59
that whoever believes
in Him would not perish."
00:56:30.62\00:56:34.68
Would not perish. Exactly.
00:56:34.71\00:56:36.28
Okay. If you don't believe
in Jesus, you will perish.
00:56:36.31\00:56:38.47
You don't live on forever and
ever in some eternal torment,
00:56:38.50\00:56:41.96
some burning place and
you're tormented forever
00:56:41.99\00:56:44.86
and ever and ever and ever
without end, infinitely. No.
00:56:44.89\00:56:47.89
There is a hell in the
Bible, but that hell brings
00:56:47.92\00:56:51.37
a perishing to those who
did not believe in Jesus Christ.
00:56:51.40\00:56:54.55
There's eternal life in Jesus
00:56:54.58\00:56:56.25
or there's perishing
without Jesus Christ.
00:56:56.28\00:56:58.46
But God doesn't
want anyone to perish.
00:56:58.49\00:56:59.90
"He so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten son
00:56:59.93\00:57:01.87
that whoever believes
in Him would not perish
00:57:01.90\00:57:03.72
but have everlasting life."
00:57:03.75\00:57:05.39
As a matter of fact, what
we often say in our church,
00:57:05.42\00:57:07.67
in movement is,
we believe in a hell
00:57:07.70\00:57:10.07
that's hotter than the one
that many people believe in,
00:57:10.10\00:57:13.07
because our hell will
actually consume the wicked.
00:57:13.10\00:57:16.39
The hell that is often
taught in many other churches
00:57:16.42\00:57:18.45
will just cause the wicked to
burn forever and ever and ever.
00:57:18.48\00:57:21.26
But the end of our
program in not about the hell
00:57:21.29\00:57:23.30
that we will be
destroyed in but the Christ
00:57:23.33\00:57:25.58
that will save
us from that hell.
00:57:25.61\00:57:27.11
Friends, accept that Lord into
your life and when He comes,
00:57:27.14\00:57:30.51
makes a house call on your life,
00:57:30.54\00:57:31.91
we pray that you'll be
ready. God bless you. Amen.
00:57:31.94\00:57:34.63