Hello, friends, grab your Bible
and your friend and sit back
00:00:01.36\00:00:04.37
as we explore
God's word together
00:00:04.40\00:00:06.57
on this addition
of "House Calls."
00:00:06.60\00:00:09.00
Welcome to 3ABN's
flagship Bible program
00:00:26.32\00:00:31.96
of the last...
00:00:31.99\00:00:33.33
How many years, John? Eight?
00:00:33.36\00:00:34.70
Ten. Ten.
00:00:34.73\00:00:36.06
Wow!
00:00:36.10\00:00:37.43
We're enjoying
ourselves celebrating
00:00:37.47\00:00:39.70
ten years of communicating
with you the word of God,
00:00:39.73\00:00:43.51
and today is another
day and another opportunity,
00:00:43.54\00:00:45.94
and thank you for
tuning in to join us
00:00:45.97\00:00:48.34
on our excursion
through the word of God.
00:00:48.38\00:00:52.11
To my right is my
twin, John from California...
00:00:52.15\00:00:59.05
from Spokane, Washington.
00:00:59.09\00:01:00.86
Tell us about yourself?
00:01:00.89\00:01:02.22
Most people know I
hangout here at 3ABN.
00:01:02.26\00:01:04.33
You started here,
what's happening with you?
00:01:04.36\00:01:07.93
In Spokane, and
working for Upper Columbia
00:01:07.96\00:01:11.13
Conference at this point
00:01:11.17\00:01:12.50
and personal
evangelism, discipleship,
00:01:12.53\00:01:15.47
and love it, love the area.
00:01:15.50\00:01:18.77
And you love studying the Bible.
00:01:18.81\00:01:20.28
We have been
doing this, you know,
00:01:20.31\00:01:21.64
it's actually
little over ten years
00:01:21.68\00:01:23.01
we've been doing this.
00:01:23.04\00:01:24.38
We started back in 2004.
00:01:24.41\00:01:25.75
Wow. What a blessing.
00:01:25.78\00:01:27.25
So it's amazing.
00:01:27.28\00:01:28.62
It goes back to the age
00:01:28.65\00:01:29.98
when you and I were talking
about would it be great thing
00:01:30.02\00:01:31.89
if we could
actually have a program
00:01:31.92\00:01:33.25
where we could
study the Bible and...
00:01:33.29\00:01:34.62
Share with the world.
00:01:34.66\00:01:35.99
Share with the world and...
00:01:36.02\00:01:37.36
What an amazing thing.
00:01:37.39\00:01:38.73
We began this in our living room
00:01:38.76\00:01:40.10
and now the Lord has given us
00:01:40.13\00:01:41.46
a living room to share with you,
00:01:41.50\00:01:42.83
and so thank you for tuning
in for this wonderful time
00:01:42.86\00:01:45.73
and it is a blessing to us
00:01:45.77\00:01:47.84
and we pray that it
is a blessing to you.
00:01:47.87\00:01:50.57
In just a moment, we will tell
you about the Bible questions
00:01:50.61\00:01:52.71
and how we both
can be of help to you
00:01:52.74\00:01:54.98
and communicating to you
00:01:55.01\00:01:56.34
what God's word says,
but before we do any of that,
00:01:56.38\00:01:58.51
we are gonna to
have prayer together.
00:01:58.55\00:01:59.88
John, would you
pray for us? Yes.
00:01:59.91\00:02:01.98
Father in heaven, again,
00:02:02.02\00:02:03.35
we appeal to you to
fill us with Your spirit
00:02:03.39\00:02:07.62
and strengthen
our hearts and minds
00:02:07.66\00:02:09.09
as we open ourselves
up to you and your voice.
00:02:09.12\00:02:11.66
We're gonna talk about questions
00:02:11.69\00:02:13.16
and we need the answers,
00:02:13.19\00:02:14.66
but these answers are
nothing unless you lead us
00:02:14.70\00:02:16.90
to understand
your will and your plan
00:02:16.93\00:02:19.03
and all the things about
you that we seek to know,
00:02:19.07\00:02:22.90
and so, Father,
bless us during this time
00:02:22.94\00:02:25.21
and we be a blessing to you
00:02:25.24\00:02:27.31
as we turn our lives to
You and seek to do Your will
00:02:27.34\00:02:30.95
and everything we do
in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:02:30.98\00:02:33.35
Amen.
00:02:33.38\00:02:35.32
You know, when
we think about that,
00:02:35.35\00:02:37.49
the Bible question
portion of our program
00:02:37.52\00:02:40.06
has been such a key
factor in your participation
00:02:40.09\00:02:43.73
and whenever you
send those questions in,
00:02:43.76\00:02:45.33
we get excited about it
00:02:45.36\00:02:46.70
because we could see
and understand those things
00:02:46.73\00:02:49.00
that are relevant
and important to you.
00:02:49.03\00:02:50.97
So continue sending them
in and here is the information
00:02:51.00\00:02:54.67
that you need to
send those questions in,
00:02:54.70\00:02:56.71
the email is
housecalls@3abn.org,
00:02:56.74\00:03:00.38
that's housecalls@3abn.org
00:03:00.41\00:03:03.31
and we surely appreciate
all the questions you send in
00:03:03.35\00:03:06.28
and it just really...
00:03:06.31\00:03:09.45
it really makes us encouraged
00:03:09.48\00:03:12.15
that we have a
viewing and listing audience
00:03:12.19\00:03:16.09
all over the world
00:03:16.12\00:03:17.73
and lot of people
always see us sit down,
00:03:17.76\00:03:20.76
but he is my big brother.
00:03:20.80\00:03:23.33
He is 6'9.5".
00:03:23.37\00:03:25.63
I'm just a mere 6'2.5".
00:03:25.67\00:03:27.37
So I got to give way to him.
00:03:27.40\00:03:28.74
So, because of that,
his questions go first.
00:03:28.77\00:03:32.97
Right, all right.
00:03:33.01\00:03:35.31
Happy to go though.
00:03:35.34\00:03:36.68
This is from
Beverly, from New York.
00:03:36.71\00:03:39.61
Beverly, remember, Beverly?
00:03:39.65\00:03:41.22
Yeah, I remember
that, English Beverly.
00:03:41.25\00:03:43.45
All right.
00:03:43.49\00:03:44.82
This question comes to
us in regard to Abraham
00:03:44.85\00:03:48.32
and Abraham's dream.
00:03:48.36\00:03:51.06
It says that Paul
indicates in Hebrews 11
00:03:51.09\00:03:53.46
that Abraham's dream
00:03:53.50\00:03:54.83
wasn't for a
piece of real estate
00:03:54.86\00:03:56.20
in the Middle
East but for a city
00:03:56.23\00:03:57.57
which had foundation,
00:03:57.60\00:03:59.23
whose builder and maker is God.
00:03:59.27\00:04:01.77
Can you explain what actually
was God's plan or intention
00:04:01.80\00:04:06.71
when He made the
promise to Abraham
00:04:06.74\00:04:08.41
to give him a
land for inheritance?
00:04:08.44\00:04:11.55
Great, great question.
00:04:11.58\00:04:14.18
Then, she goes into,
00:04:14.22\00:04:15.55
she says lots of
Americans believe
00:04:15.58\00:04:16.92
that God will punish America
00:04:16.95\00:04:18.29
if we do not lend support
00:04:18.32\00:04:19.65
to Israel on
their survival efforts
00:04:19.69\00:04:21.12
whether the plan is good
or bad and she seems to tie...
00:04:21.16\00:04:25.36
she says here that
we're tying everything
00:04:25.39\00:04:27.56
as our foreign policy, kind of,
00:04:27.60\00:04:29.00
with a focus on
Israel and the Middle East
00:04:29.03\00:04:31.60
and what's happening there.
00:04:31.63\00:04:34.14
Let's talk
about God's real plan,
00:04:34.17\00:04:35.74
His designated plan for Abram
when he renamed him Abraham
00:04:35.77\00:04:42.04
and what He
designed for Abraham to do
00:04:42.08\00:04:44.58
as He gave him and his
descendants their own land.
00:04:44.61\00:04:49.52
Let's go to Genesis 12
00:04:49.55\00:04:53.12
and I'm gonna
read from verses 1-3.
00:04:53.15\00:04:56.56
Okay, Genesis 12:1-3.
00:04:56.59\00:04:58.83
And this is about Abrams
at the time Abram's calling
00:04:58.86\00:05:03.50
and the Lord said to
him, "Get out of your country,
00:05:03.53\00:05:07.10
from your family and
from your father's house
00:05:07.14\00:05:09.94
to a land that I will show you.
00:05:09.97\00:05:12.67
I will make you a great nation.
00:05:12.71\00:05:14.88
I will bless you and
make your name great."
00:05:14.91\00:05:17.81
And then there
is a couple things
00:05:17.85\00:05:19.18
I want to pick up on here,
00:05:19.21\00:05:20.55
a couple occurrences of
this same phrase and it says,
00:05:20.58\00:05:23.82
"And you shall be a blessing."
00:05:23.85\00:05:28.22
Verse 3, "I will
bless those who bless you.
00:05:28.26\00:05:30.39
I will curse those who curse you
00:05:30.43\00:05:32.13
and in you all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed."
00:05:32.16\00:05:36.26
That's right.
00:05:36.30\00:05:37.63
God's plan for Abram
00:05:37.67\00:05:40.97
was to send him
out from the country
00:05:41.00\00:05:42.47
he was in into his own land
00:05:42.50\00:05:44.04
where he could
establish a great nation
00:05:44.07\00:05:46.84
from its descendants,
00:05:46.88\00:05:48.34
but that nation
should be a blessing
00:05:48.38\00:05:52.18
to everyone else.
00:05:52.21\00:05:54.62
God was
establishing Abraham and Israel,
00:05:54.65\00:05:59.05
his son who is
Isaac named Israel
00:05:59.09\00:06:02.19
that followed to make
them the conduit of blessing
00:06:02.22\00:06:06.66
Jacob named
Israel. Jacob. I'm sorry.
00:06:06.70\00:06:08.56
That's what I meant actually,
00:06:08.60\00:06:09.93
but I was thinking
of the son of Abraham.
00:06:09.96\00:06:11.43
So yeah, Jacob, and make
them a blessing to all the earth
00:06:11.47\00:06:15.04
through the gospel
that was go to the world,
00:06:15.07\00:06:17.07
the gospel and the
salvation through Jesus Christ
00:06:17.11\00:06:20.71
and you'll find here
then in the Book of Isaiah
00:06:20.74\00:06:27.12
that it says in
Isaiah 49:6, "Indeed He says,
00:06:27.15\00:06:31.92
'It is too small a thing
that you should be my servant
00:06:31.95\00:06:34.96
to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
00:06:34.99\00:06:37.53
and to restore the
preserved ones of Israel,
00:06:37.56\00:06:39.89
I will give You as a
light to the Gentiles,
00:06:39.93\00:06:42.96
that you shall be my salvation
to the ends of the earth.
00:06:43.00\00:06:45.37
Again, more of the intent behind
00:06:45.40\00:06:47.44
why God set them
apart as his people,
00:06:47.47\00:06:50.37
to not only make
them a great nation,
00:06:50.41\00:06:51.74
to give them their own land,
00:06:51.77\00:06:53.11
but that land will be
a light to the Gentiles.
00:06:53.14\00:06:56.11
Jesus himself said, "who
lights a light in the house
00:06:56.14\00:07:00.95
and puts a basket over it?
00:07:00.98\00:07:03.28
Who does that?
00:07:03.32\00:07:04.65
But you should let it shine
throughout from the hilltop
00:07:04.69\00:07:09.09
to everyone around you
00:07:09.12\00:07:10.46
and He designed that this nation
00:07:10.49\00:07:12.33
that He was establishing
00:07:12.36\00:07:13.70
was to be a
light to the Gentiles
00:07:13.73\00:07:15.73
and to bring salvation
to the ends of the earth,
00:07:15.76\00:07:19.13
and then what we
do is we go forward
00:07:19.17\00:07:21.00
and see in the Book of Acts
00:07:21.04\00:07:22.37
where Peter himself quotes
from this very same passage
00:07:22.40\00:07:25.67
speaking of the church
saying that He has caused us,
00:07:25.71\00:07:29.24
He has given us the
message to bring salvation
00:07:29.28\00:07:31.65
to the end of the world.
00:07:31.68\00:07:33.01
The church was then
giving that responsibility.
00:07:33.05\00:07:35.88
You know, I will go
as far as to say that
00:07:35.92\00:07:39.12
if Israel as a
people, as a nation,
00:07:39.15\00:07:42.46
had fulfilled God's mission
00:07:42.49\00:07:45.19
which Paul and Barnabas
said clearly that they did not,
00:07:45.23\00:07:48.00
they refused to do that.
00:07:48.03\00:07:49.36
The leaders
would not follow Christ
00:07:49.40\00:07:51.40
and usher in His ministry
as Messiah to all the world,
00:07:51.43\00:07:55.37
but had they
fulfilled that purpose,
00:07:55.40\00:07:56.77
there would have been
no need for the church.
00:07:56.81\00:07:58.77
Right, you're
right, you're right
00:07:58.81\00:08:00.14
The church would have
been Israel as the nation
00:08:00.18\00:08:02.98
fulfilling the full plan
God had designed for them
00:08:03.01\00:08:06.28
to bring salvation
to the end of the world.
00:08:06.31\00:08:08.45
But God chose the church
so through the Gentiles now,
00:08:08.48\00:08:11.55
because Israel as a nation,
00:08:11.59\00:08:14.46
the Jews refused to
take up that responsibility,
00:08:14.49\00:08:17.03
is using the church to
convey that message as well.
00:08:17.06\00:08:19.26
So in many respects
the church is fulfilling
00:08:19.29\00:08:22.90
what God originally
designed for Abraham
00:08:22.93\00:08:25.23
and his descendants to do.
00:08:25.27\00:08:27.10
What an amazing thought that
is and a privilege it is for us
00:08:27.14\00:08:29.70
to be able to
serve God in that way
00:08:29.74\00:08:32.34
and to represent Him
as ambassadors of Christ
00:08:32.37\00:08:35.58
to the world that needs to hear
00:08:35.61\00:08:37.45
this wonderful message of
Christ and His redemption.
00:08:37.48\00:08:40.78
And you know, John,
when you talk about that,
00:08:40.82\00:08:43.45
the beauty of the work
that God has called us to do
00:08:43.49\00:08:46.05
as Christians and I just
want to add the word Christians
00:08:46.09\00:08:50.73
because the Bible does
use the word Christians.
00:08:50.76\00:08:53.73
In Acts 13, Paul and
Barnabas makes it clear
00:08:53.76\00:08:59.63
and they're
speaking to the very nation
00:08:59.67\00:09:01.10
that God chose,
00:09:01.14\00:09:02.47
they're speaking to
the leaders of the nation
00:09:02.50\00:09:04.21
that God chose to be
a light to the world,
00:09:04.24\00:09:07.51
but they chose to
forfeit that opportunity
00:09:07.54\00:09:10.45
and now the Lord
instead of saying,
00:09:10.48\00:09:12.38
"Well, I guess we
can't reach the world."
00:09:12.41\00:09:14.68
He chose another group
of individuals, disciples,
00:09:14.72\00:09:18.99
then becoming New
Testament apostles
00:09:19.02\00:09:21.32
and you find in Acts 13:42
00:09:21.36\00:09:27.20
speaking of the sermons
00:09:27.23\00:09:29.90
and when the Jews
went out of the synagogue
00:09:29.93\00:09:31.80
the Gentiles
begged that these words
00:09:31.83\00:09:34.44
might be preached to
them the next Sabbath.
00:09:34.47\00:09:38.37
Now, when the congregation
had broken up many of the Jews
00:09:38.41\00:09:41.04
and devout
proselytes, that's converts,
00:09:41.08\00:09:45.71
followed Paul and
Barnabas who speaking to them,
00:09:45.75\00:09:48.78
persuaded them to
continue in the grace of God.
00:09:48.82\00:09:52.15
And now verse 44,
"On the next Sabbath
00:09:52.19\00:09:53.89
almost the whole
city came together
00:09:53.92\00:09:57.03
to hear the word of God."
00:09:57.06\00:09:58.63
That's what the Lord intended.
00:09:58.66\00:10:00.00
The Lord had
plans for the Israelites
00:10:00.03\00:10:03.30
to be witnesses to the
Amalekites and Jebusites
00:10:03.33\00:10:06.10
and Hittites and
Amorites and Perizzites
00:10:06.13\00:10:09.07
and the list goes on
and on, all of the ites.
00:10:09.10\00:10:11.27
The Lord had plans for them
00:10:11.31\00:10:12.64
to bring the
gospel to these nations,
00:10:12.67\00:10:15.54
but instead of bringing
the gospel to these nations,
00:10:15.58\00:10:18.71
they became like these nations.
00:10:18.75\00:10:22.22
Instead of bringing the
gospel to the Babylonians,
00:10:22.25\00:10:25.29
they became like the Babylonians
00:10:25.32\00:10:27.69
and so look what
it says down verse 45,
00:10:27.72\00:10:30.56
so the gospel is going forward,
00:10:30.59\00:10:32.13
people want to hear it,
00:10:32.16\00:10:33.50
"But when the Jews
saw the multitudes,"
00:10:33.53\00:10:35.70
verse 45, "they
were filled with envy,
00:10:35.73\00:10:39.57
and
contradicting and blaspheming,
00:10:39.60\00:10:41.40
they opposed the
things spoken by Paul.
00:10:41.44\00:10:45.01
Then Paul and
Barnabas grew bold and said,"
00:10:45.04\00:10:47.58
here is the verse.
00:10:47.61\00:10:49.08
"It was necessary
that the word of God
00:10:49.11\00:10:51.41
should be spoken to you first,
00:10:51.45\00:10:53.92
but since you
rejected and judge yourselves
00:10:53.95\00:10:56.28
unworthy of
everlasting life, behold,
00:10:56.32\00:10:58.95
we turn to the Gentiles."'
00:10:58.99\00:11:01.19
But here was God's
commanded in Isaiah 42,
00:11:01.22\00:11:04.03
"For so the Lord
has commanded us,
00:11:04.06\00:11:05.99
I have set you to be
a light to the Gentiles
00:11:06.03\00:11:09.13
that you should be for salvation
00:11:09.16\00:11:10.80
to the ends of the earth."
00:11:10.83\00:11:12.80
So as you were saying,
00:11:12.83\00:11:14.17
John, that's what
Lord chose Israel to do.
00:11:14.20\00:11:17.04
And He says be the light.
00:11:17.07\00:11:18.91
Yeah, and I think
that one of the challenges
00:11:18.94\00:11:20.98
that we have today is lot of...
00:11:21.01\00:11:23.21
Most Christians have
their eyes on the Middle East
00:11:23.24\00:11:28.08
for prophetic events
and what's going to come
00:11:28.12\00:11:29.98
and what's going to happen
and the reason for that is
00:11:30.02\00:11:34.39
because of the
theology behind it,
00:11:34.42\00:11:37.23
because the
situation really is that
00:11:37.26\00:11:41.66
Israel as a nation
rejected their mission
00:11:41.70\00:11:44.67
and then Paul and the
apostles from disciples
00:11:44.70\00:11:48.10
that turned
apostles as you mentioned
00:11:48.14\00:11:49.97
came to the church and
then brought that mission
00:11:50.01\00:11:51.97
and that mission is
coming through the church.
00:11:52.01\00:11:54.18
What most have
adopted as theology
00:11:54.21\00:11:57.71
behind this is
what's called Dual-covenant,
00:11:57.75\00:12:00.32
the Dual-covenant theory.
00:12:00.35\00:12:02.12
And that is that God has two
concurrently running covenants,
00:12:02.15\00:12:05.75
one with the nation of
Israel and one with the church.
00:12:05.79\00:12:09.72
The church is
under a new covenant.
00:12:09.76\00:12:11.29
The nation of Israel
continues to reside under
00:12:11.33\00:12:13.90
the old covenant of God
that originally was made
00:12:13.93\00:12:16.80
through Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob.
00:12:16.83\00:12:19.00
And so these are
concurrently running covenants
00:12:19.03\00:12:21.70
and so what's
happening is as Christians
00:12:21.74\00:12:24.87
they believe that
God has his people
00:12:24.91\00:12:27.48
and is still using
His people of Israel
00:12:27.51\00:12:30.41
to workout his
purposes throughout the earth
00:12:30.45\00:12:32.78
and so their focus, their eyes
on what's happening to Israel.
00:12:32.81\00:12:36.72
When the Bible
doesn't speak of that,
00:12:36.75\00:12:38.22
this Bible talks about
one everlasting covenant
00:12:38.25\00:12:41.19
and that covenant was initially
brought through Abraham
00:12:41.22\00:12:44.63
and then Isaac and then
Jacob who was named Israel
00:12:44.66\00:12:48.10
and throughout that nation
down to the time of Christ
00:12:48.13\00:12:51.50
and then as they have rejected
the Christ, their Messiah,
00:12:51.53\00:12:55.84
it then moves to
the heir of the church,
00:12:55.87\00:12:57.97
the same everlasting covenant,
00:12:58.01\00:12:59.47
but the covenant moves
to a church or to the church
00:12:59.51\00:13:03.98
and will reside with the church
00:13:04.01\00:13:05.35
till the very end
to finish this work.
00:13:05.38\00:13:07.22
Now, Paul talks about how
God did not forsake His people.
00:13:07.25\00:13:11.09
They could be
grafted back in to that line,
00:13:11.12\00:13:15.59
that line of truth
and that the people
00:13:15.62\00:13:19.89
that God had been using
from the very beginning.
00:13:19.93\00:13:22.56
But what some...
00:13:22.60\00:13:23.93
probably the
clearest way to say it is
00:13:23.97\00:13:25.60
what was Israel as a nation
00:13:25.63\00:13:27.64
before is now
Israel, the Church.
00:13:27.67\00:13:30.21
That's right,
that's right, that's right.
00:13:30.24\00:13:31.57
Okay, so when we see Israel,
00:13:31.61\00:13:33.84
when the New
Testament speaks of Israel,
00:13:33.88\00:13:35.44
when Revelation talks
about the people of Israel,
00:13:35.48\00:13:38.61
God's people finishing the work,
00:13:38.65\00:13:40.22
it's not talking about
the nation of Israel anymore,
00:13:40.25\00:13:43.99
it's talking
about Israel, the Church
00:13:44.02\00:13:46.82
and that is an
important thing to remember
00:13:46.86\00:13:48.39
because we're
talking about prophecy
00:13:48.42\00:13:51.66
and end time
events and those things
00:13:51.69\00:13:53.70
or I should not be on
00:13:53.73\00:13:55.16
what's happening
in the Middle East,
00:13:55.20\00:13:57.80
our eye should
be on what's focused
00:13:57.83\00:13:59.37
or what's
happening with the church
00:13:59.40\00:14:02.17
and God's people and
how they are going out
00:14:02.20\00:14:04.64
to the world to
finish sharing the gospel.
00:14:04.67\00:14:07.61
You know, John, this
topic is so vitally important
00:14:07.64\00:14:09.94
because a lot of policies have
been made with Israel in mind
00:14:09.98\00:14:14.22
and in our country, obviously,
00:14:14.25\00:14:17.72
politically and they are allies,
00:14:17.75\00:14:20.72
nothing wrong with
that and we support that.
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.06
I think that is good to
have allies out there any nation
00:14:23.09\00:14:25.83
but part of a driving factor is
00:14:25.86\00:14:29.70
that Israel is seen as
the chosen people of God
00:14:29.73\00:14:33.90
and so when it comes
to the evangelical world,
00:14:33.94\00:14:36.84
if you listen to the
other Christian leaders
00:14:36.87\00:14:39.04
they
continually refer to Israel,
00:14:39.07\00:14:41.04
the literal Israel
today in the Middle East
00:14:41.08\00:14:43.58
as the chosen of
God, the people of God,
00:14:43.61\00:14:46.05
the chosen nation of God
00:14:46.08\00:14:49.02
and truly they were
chosen in the sense...
00:14:49.05\00:14:51.42
as you made it really clear,
00:14:51.45\00:14:52.79
I don't want to go
over that ground any longer,
00:14:52.82\00:14:54.29
but, yes, God chose them
to be heirs of salvation,
00:14:54.32\00:14:58.16
but the Bible says,
He didn't chose them
00:14:58.19\00:15:00.90
because they were
better than anyone else,
00:15:00.93\00:15:04.00
but He chose them to
make them a special people
00:15:04.03\00:15:06.63
like He gives, like today,
00:15:06.67\00:15:08.54
if a person gets a
job at the post office,
00:15:08.57\00:15:10.61
well, when he is not working,
he is just like you and me,
00:15:10.64\00:15:12.87
but when he is at work,
00:15:12.91\00:15:14.24
he has a job to get the messages
00:15:14.28\00:15:15.61
and then mail delivered
that's what made them unique
00:15:15.64\00:15:17.95
over the other nations,
00:15:17.98\00:15:19.31
but now to give you
a couples of passages
00:15:19.35\00:15:21.25
to show that the church show
that the inheritance of Abraham
00:15:21.28\00:15:25.72
is a spiritual inheritance,
not a national inheritance.
00:15:25.75\00:15:29.69
Galatians 3: 29,
00:15:29.72\00:15:34.06
"And if you are Christ's,
then you are Abraham's seed,
00:15:34.10\00:15:39.33
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:15:39.37\00:15:42.27
That is if you are in Christ,
00:15:42.30\00:15:43.74
then this promise that I
made to Abraham, I make to you.
00:15:43.77\00:15:47.51
Romans 2:28,
00:15:47.54\00:15:49.88
"For he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly,
00:15:49.91\00:15:54.18
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh."
00:15:54.22\00:15:59.82
So those who say,
00:15:59.85\00:16:01.19
well, because of
my national heritage,
00:16:01.22\00:16:02.76
because of my lineage age
that I am the chosen of God,
00:16:02.79\00:16:07.40
the Bible does not support
that and then Romans 9:6.
00:16:07.43\00:16:12.47
In other words, the
Bible does not support
00:16:12.50\00:16:13.94
that in an exclusive sense
00:16:13.97\00:16:15.40
that they are the only
one accessible to the gospel.
00:16:15.44\00:16:18.11
Romans 9:6 is another one,
00:16:18.14\00:16:20.41
"But it is not that the
word of God has taken no effect.
00:16:20.44\00:16:24.18
For they are not all
Israel who are of Israel."
00:16:24.21\00:16:30.49
So you may be
born in the nation,
00:16:30.52\00:16:32.15
but you are not necessarily
00:16:32.19\00:16:33.59
Israel in the
sense of the promise
00:16:33.62\00:16:35.59
because when Jacob's
name was changed to Israel,
00:16:35.62\00:16:38.23
it means those who have overcome
00:16:38.26\00:16:40.36
and that clearly as
Revelation 12, verse...
00:16:40.40\00:16:43.97
I believe, verse 10
and 11 points it out,
00:16:44.00\00:16:46.70
"They have overcame by
the blood of the Lamb."
00:16:46.74\00:16:49.10
So when Jesus Christ is
not in the mixed as Israel
00:16:49.14\00:16:52.04
has rejected
Jesus as the Messiah,
00:16:52.07\00:16:54.84
then the promise of Abraham
00:16:54.88\00:16:57.41
is no longer
imparted or imputed to them,
00:16:57.45\00:17:01.15
but so now it
comes down to the church.
00:17:01.18\00:17:03.32
Any further comments?
00:17:03.35\00:17:04.69
Yeah, I want to do
one quick comparison.
00:17:04.72\00:17:07.56
Look up Revelation 1:5 and 6.
00:17:07.59\00:17:11.39
I'm going to read
Exodus 19:5 and 6.
00:17:11.43\00:17:15.33
Okay, I do Revelation.
00:17:15.36\00:17:16.87
So, here is the Lord
speaking to the nation of Israel
00:17:16.90\00:17:20.07
from Exodus 19:5 and 6.
00:17:20.10\00:17:22.14
It says, "Now therefore,
00:17:22.17\00:17:23.51
if you will indeed obey My
voice and keep My covenant,
00:17:23.54\00:17:26.91
then you shall be a
special treasure to Me
00:17:26.94\00:17:29.24
above all people,
for all the earth is Mine
00:17:29.28\00:17:31.85
and you shall be to Me
00:17:31.88\00:17:33.78
a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation."
00:17:33.82\00:17:38.29
So first of all, this
is conditional, right?
00:17:38.32\00:17:41.46
If you obey Me, then
you shall be a nation
00:17:41.49\00:17:44.26
that is designed
specifically for Me to use you,
00:17:44.29\00:17:47.30
a kingdom of
priest and a holy nation.
00:17:47.33\00:17:50.07
Now, read Revelation 1:5 and 6.
00:17:50.10\00:17:54.30
Revelation 1:5 and 6,
"And from Jesus Christ,
00:17:54.34\00:17:57.44
the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead,
00:17:57.47\00:18:00.78
and the ruler over
the kings of the earth.
00:18:00.81\00:18:04.25
To Him who loved us
00:18:04.28\00:18:10.09
and washed us from our
sins in His own blood."
00:18:10.12\00:18:13.36
And verse 6,
"And has made us kings
00:18:13.39\00:18:17.69
and priests to
His God and Father,
00:18:17.73\00:18:21.50
to Him be glory and
dominion forever and ever.
00:18:21.53\00:18:23.90
Amen."
00:18:23.93\00:18:25.27
This is a letter to
the church. That's right.
00:18:25.30\00:18:28.27
And the church
has been made, what?
00:18:28.30\00:18:31.01
Kings and priests.
00:18:31.04\00:18:33.21
In fact, Peter,
in 1 Peter 2:9 said,
00:18:33.24\00:18:35.94
"But you are a
chosen generation,
00:18:35.98\00:18:37.38
a royal
priesthood, a holy nation,
00:18:37.41\00:18:39.55
His own special people."
00:18:39.58\00:18:41.38
Peter is quoting
from Exodus 19:5 and 6.
00:18:41.42\00:18:44.85
That's right.
00:18:44.89\00:18:46.22
So when you say there is this
concurrently running covenant
00:18:46.25\00:18:50.49
that is for both,
that's not biblical.
00:18:50.53\00:18:52.66
It's not the biblical view.
00:18:52.69\00:18:54.03
Peter and Paul and
everyone that associated,
00:18:54.06\00:18:58.47
that was part of the work
of the early apostolic church
00:18:58.50\00:19:01.84
connected the church's work
as a fulfillment of the promise
00:19:01.87\00:19:05.61
given to the nation of Israel.
00:19:05.64\00:19:08.54
And so you can't
keep your eyes focused on
00:19:08.58\00:19:11.38
what's going on over
there because they are no longer
00:19:11.41\00:19:13.65
as a corporate
people, God's people.
00:19:13.68\00:19:17.85
The church is God's people.
00:19:17.89\00:19:20.06
Now, those that are
Jews can accept Christ
00:19:20.09\00:19:22.86
and be grafted back in
00:19:22.89\00:19:24.23
and became part
of the body of Christ
00:19:24.26\00:19:25.76
and the church of
God, Israel, the Church,
00:19:25.79\00:19:28.40
but there is no indication
at all with the New Testament,
00:19:28.43\00:19:31.80
keeps the focus on
the nation of Israel
00:19:31.83\00:19:34.37
after Christ's
death and resurrection.
00:19:34.40\00:19:36.44
I think the point is
really clear but that's the big,
00:19:36.47\00:19:39.21
that's the big, hot
button today in the world
00:19:39.24\00:19:43.55
and the exclusivity of it is
what causes so much controversy
00:19:43.58\00:19:47.85
because I know, I was
raised in New York City
00:19:47.88\00:19:50.09
and there are large,
large gaping communities
00:19:50.12\00:19:53.59
where Jewish
congregations are established,
00:19:53.62\00:19:56.32
the synagogue is
there, and, John,
00:19:56.36\00:19:59.59
that's one of the reasons
why when you look at that,
00:19:59.63\00:20:01.76
when you see the
diversity or the controversy
00:20:01.80\00:20:07.14
between Judaism and Christianity
00:20:07.17\00:20:10.54
which Judeo-Christianity
is scriptural,
00:20:10.57\00:20:13.98
but when you see the controversy
00:20:14.01\00:20:15.38
between those who
have accepted Christ
00:20:15.41\00:20:17.81
and those who have not,
00:20:17.85\00:20:19.68
then you begin to
understand the great controversy
00:20:19.71\00:20:22.05
that exists
here, but in reality,
00:20:22.08\00:20:27.16
national heritage is
not the exclusive right
00:20:27.19\00:20:32.49
that makes us sons
and daughters of God.
00:20:32.53\00:20:34.93
It is a promise by
faith that God extended
00:20:34.96\00:20:38.27
through Abraham that said,
00:20:38.30\00:20:41.04
"Through you all the nations
of the earth will be blessed."
00:20:41.07\00:20:44.97
And truly that's
a spiritual promise.
00:20:45.01\00:20:47.24
It was intended for Israel,
00:20:47.28\00:20:49.24
but in the
rejection of the Messiah
00:20:49.28\00:20:51.51
that promise has now
been conveyed to the church
00:20:51.55\00:20:54.15
as it stands today.
00:20:54.18\00:20:55.65
Very clear point.
00:20:55.68\00:20:57.02
Thank you for
bringing that out, John.
00:20:57.05\00:20:59.32
One more question.
00:20:59.35\00:21:01.26
This is from Andrea,
00:21:01.29\00:21:04.99
doesn't say where
she is from, but it says,
00:21:05.03\00:21:07.43
"Why do we draw
images of Christ and Satan
00:21:07.46\00:21:11.47
and all those
prophets and angels
00:21:11.50\00:21:14.24
when the word of
God said not to?"
00:21:14.27\00:21:17.87
Let me go ahead and read
the passages in the Bible.
00:21:17.91\00:21:19.97
Very good question.
00:21:20.01\00:21:21.34
Thank you so much, Andrea.
00:21:21.38\00:21:24.28
Let me read the Bible
00:21:24.31\00:21:25.65
and particularly
the verse I believe
00:21:25.68\00:21:28.88
or the verses that you
refer to is in Exodus 20:46.
00:21:28.92\00:21:32.79
Do you have that, John?
00:21:32.82\00:21:34.16
I like you to read
00:21:34.19\00:21:35.52
that as I am
preparing some commentary here.
00:21:35.56\00:21:36.89
Exodus 20:4-6 and you
don't have to read all of 6,
00:21:36.93\00:21:41.36
but I think middle of 5 is good.
00:21:41.40\00:21:44.43
Okay.
00:21:44.47\00:21:46.10
"You shall not make for
yourself a carved image,
00:21:46.13\00:21:48.97
any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above,
00:21:49.00\00:21:51.84
or that is in the earth beneath,
00:21:51.87\00:21:53.84
or that is in the
water under the earth,
00:21:53.88\00:21:55.94
you shall not bow down
to them nor serve them.
00:21:55.98\00:21:58.98
For I, the Lord your
God, I am a jealous God,
00:21:59.01\00:22:01.08
visiting the
iniquity of the fathers
00:22:01.12\00:22:02.45
upon the children to the
third and fourth generations
00:22:02.48\00:22:04.82
of those who hate Me, but
showing mercy to thousands,
00:22:04.85\00:22:08.02
to those who love and
keep My commandments."
00:22:08.06\00:22:09.39
Right.
00:22:09.42\00:22:10.76
So the point I
want to bring out here
00:22:10.79\00:22:12.13
is the carved images,
00:22:12.16\00:22:14.30
carved images
which is still a practice
00:22:14.33\00:22:16.90
in many cultures today.
00:22:16.93\00:22:18.33
I've traveled to
India, I have been to Asia.
00:22:18.37\00:22:20.80
I have been to
various parts of the world.
00:22:20.84\00:22:23.94
When I went to
India, I was amazed
00:22:23.97\00:22:25.77
as I am driving
during the night,
00:22:25.81\00:22:28.28
I would see
this big bright light
00:22:28.31\00:22:31.38
near the freeway
and as I passed by,
00:22:31.41\00:22:34.28
I saw people, I
mean, late at night,
00:22:34.32\00:22:38.25
they are in front of a statue,
00:22:38.29\00:22:39.95
either there are
lot of candles there
00:22:39.99\00:22:41.92
or there are
electric floodlights
00:22:41.96\00:22:43.73
pointing at this
image and they are there,
00:22:43.76\00:22:47.96
some of them are
faced to the ground
00:22:48.00\00:22:49.73
and they are bowing
down and they are worshiping
00:22:49.76\00:22:51.73
these images and then
I went to a Hindu temple
00:22:51.77\00:22:55.24
and a Buddhist temple and then
00:22:55.27\00:22:56.97
you see these massive
columns carved of images
00:22:57.01\00:22:59.97
going as high up like an obelisk
00:23:00.01\00:23:03.21
and you walk into these temples
00:23:03.24\00:23:05.21
where they say
remove your shoes,
00:23:05.25\00:23:06.58
I want to go see inquisitively
00:23:06.61\00:23:08.75
looking at some of
these things in other cultures
00:23:08.78\00:23:12.65
and there is a
reverence for these images
00:23:12.69\00:23:17.29
that cannot
possibly do a God can do
00:23:17.33\00:23:22.83
and when the Bible talks about,
00:23:22.86\00:23:25.30
"Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven images."
00:23:25.33\00:23:28.60
It is not
saying, it's not talking
00:23:28.64\00:23:29.97
about pictures per se or
it's not even talking about,
00:23:30.01\00:23:33.21
like if somebody
in a garden setting,
00:23:33.24\00:23:36.68
I have seen this done
in some church parking,
00:23:36.71\00:23:39.15
some church gardens or
in the front of cathedrals
00:23:39.18\00:23:42.55
or in front of,
you know, cemeteries,
00:23:42.58\00:23:45.65
there will be an image of Christ
00:23:45.69\00:23:47.96
holding the commandments or
holding a cross in his hand.
00:23:47.99\00:23:50.99
"When these images
become the focus of worship
00:23:51.03\00:23:57.20
which has been the
case in countless cultures
00:23:57.23\00:24:01.97
that's when the Lord,
00:24:02.00\00:24:03.74
His jealousy is revealed,
for I, the Lord, your God,
00:24:03.77\00:24:07.51
I am a jealous God."
00:24:07.54\00:24:09.04
In other words,
00:24:09.08\00:24:10.41
don't give the worship
of God to those of idols
00:24:10.45\00:24:14.02
and He illustrates that
in the Book of Psalms 115:2.
00:24:14.05\00:24:20.66
Let me go ahead
and read this here.
00:24:20.69\00:24:23.76
Psalm 115:2 starts by here,
00:24:23.79\00:24:26.59
"Why should the Gentiles
say, 'So where is their God?'
00:24:26.63\00:24:30.47
"Now in this context, He
is speaking about Israel.
00:24:30.50\00:24:33.37
So why should the Gentiles
says where is their God?
00:24:33.40\00:24:36.77
"But our God is in heaven.
00:24:36.81\00:24:39.87
He does whatever He pleases."
00:24:39.91\00:24:43.21
Now, look at this comparison.
00:24:43.24\00:24:44.85
"Their idols
are silver and gold,
00:24:44.88\00:24:48.58
the works of men's hands.
00:24:48.62\00:24:50.69
They have mouths,
but they do not speak,
00:24:50.72\00:24:54.09
Eyes they have,
but they do not see,
00:24:54.12\00:24:56.73
They have ears,
but they do not hear,
00:24:56.76\00:24:58.69
Noses they have,
but they do not smell,
00:24:58.73\00:25:01.13
They have hands,
but they do not handle,
00:25:01.16\00:25:03.16
Feet they have,
but they do not walk,
00:25:03.20\00:25:05.33
Nor do they mutter
through their throats.
00:25:05.37\00:25:08.97
Those who make
them are like them,
00:25:09.00\00:25:12.61
So is everyone
who trusts in them.
00:25:12.64\00:25:17.05
O Israel, trust in the Lord,
00:25:17.08\00:25:19.08
He is their
helper and their shield.
00:25:19.11\00:25:21.42
So the Bible is
making very clear comparison,
00:25:21.45\00:25:23.85
and you know,
John, today in our world
00:25:23.89\00:25:25.42
if you are watching,
00:25:25.45\00:25:26.79
and maybe I want to try to
put this in the context the way
00:25:26.82\00:25:29.22
I understand the question.
00:25:29.26\00:25:30.59
Sometimes an evangelistic
series is being given
00:25:30.63\00:25:32.76
or sometimes
somebody will draw painting
00:25:32.79\00:25:34.70
like a very famous
artist Nathan Greene.
00:25:34.73\00:25:37.67
He has some beautiful paintings,
00:25:37.70\00:25:39.73
one of those where
surgeons are working
00:25:39.77\00:25:42.47
in an operating room
00:25:42.50\00:25:43.84
and he has in the
background a picture
00:25:43.87\00:25:46.21
of what he thinks
Christ may look like
00:25:46.24\00:25:50.95
and kind of
residing over this operation,
00:25:50.98\00:25:55.08
guiding the hands, so
to speak of the physicians.
00:25:55.12\00:25:57.52
Then, there is another
one where there is a picture
00:25:57.55\00:26:00.02
of a black sheep and then,
00:26:00.06\00:26:01.82
see Christ in the
wilderness setting
00:26:01.86\00:26:04.29
and He is carrying
this lost sheep back home.
00:26:04.33\00:26:07.43
So there are various images.
00:26:07.46\00:26:09.30
Those are not for
the purpose of worship,
00:26:09.33\00:26:11.33
but those are
illustrating the compassion
00:26:11.37\00:26:13.44
and the blessings of the Lord
00:26:13.47\00:26:15.17
but never should they be
used to be an object of worship
00:26:15.20\00:26:20.71
and that's what the
Bible is talking about.
00:26:20.74\00:26:22.74
Because when you
go on in scripture,
00:26:22.78\00:26:26.05
the Lord and I'll
find the passage for you,
00:26:26.08\00:26:28.42
the Lord on a rod,
00:26:28.45\00:26:30.69
He put a brazen
serpent and He said,
00:26:30.72\00:26:33.56
"All those who
look at this will live."
00:26:33.59\00:26:36.93
Why a serpent when the
serpent is a symbol of Satan.
00:26:36.96\00:26:41.23
The Lord used it as a symbol.
00:26:41.26\00:26:42.93
He said, "If you look at this,
00:26:42.96\00:26:44.30
you will look at this and live."
00:26:44.33\00:26:46.50
It was in fact later on
00:26:46.53\00:26:48.20
when they started to venerate it
00:26:48.24\00:26:50.81
that He said destroy it.
00:26:50.84\00:26:52.17
Destroy it, exactly.
00:26:52.21\00:26:53.54
So when He said look,
He wasn't saying worship.
00:26:53.58\00:26:56.31
He was saying just look to live
00:26:56.34\00:26:57.68
because it was a representation
of the healing power of God,
00:26:57.71\00:27:02.45
but also the One
who would bring healing,
00:27:02.48\00:27:04.75
but also die on the cross.
00:27:04.79\00:27:06.86
So it was, it pointed to Jesus.
00:27:06.89\00:27:09.12
So clearly it was a
representation of Christ,
00:27:09.16\00:27:12.36
but yet it became an object
of worship that He had to say,
00:27:12.39\00:27:15.36
you know, that
needs to be destroyed
00:27:15.40\00:27:16.87
and they finally did destroy it.
00:27:16.90\00:27:18.23
No one knows
where it is to this day.
00:27:18.27\00:27:19.87
And you find in the
Bible a lot pf comparisons,
00:27:19.90\00:27:22.20
you know, the brazen serpent
representation of Christ,
00:27:22.24\00:27:24.67
but the serpent of all, Satan.
00:27:24.71\00:27:26.78
The lamb slain from
the foundation of the world
00:27:26.81\00:27:28.88
Christ, the lamb like Satan.
00:27:28.91\00:27:31.31
Yeah, in fact, the
whole sanctuary service
00:27:31.35\00:27:33.01
centered around images
00:27:33.05\00:27:34.38
that were representation
of things in heaven,
00:27:34.42\00:27:38.52
but they didn't worship them.
00:27:38.55\00:27:39.89
They were
representations to help show us
00:27:39.92\00:27:41.82
the pattern of
salvation and what God was doing
00:27:41.86\00:27:44.39
through the history of
time and through His people,
00:27:44.43\00:27:47.76
and so clearly
the second commandment
00:27:47.80\00:27:49.86
is about creating
something for the purpose
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.10
of bowing down
and worshiping it.
00:27:52.13\00:27:54.60
It's not just about a
picture or a carved image.
00:27:54.64\00:27:57.77
That's we can't
reduce it just to that.
00:27:57.81\00:28:01.01
It's got to be in regard
of the context of worship.
00:28:01.04\00:28:04.81
And so when the Israelites
rebelled in the wilderness,
00:28:04.85\00:28:07.25
one of the rebellion
points was, they said,
00:28:07.28\00:28:10.42
"Make us Gods that
we may return to Egypt
00:28:10.45\00:28:14.46
and Aaron made a
God of the beaten gold.
00:28:14.49\00:28:19.76
He made a golden
calf, but now later on
00:28:19.79\00:28:22.76
when the sanctuary was
build, the temple services,
00:28:22.80\00:28:25.50
you find over the mercy seat,
00:28:25.53\00:28:27.04
you have two
angels made of gold,
00:28:27.07\00:28:30.21
but the Lord never intended
00:28:30.24\00:28:32.51
for those to be
objects of worship
00:28:32.54\00:28:34.78
because in Revelation 19:10
00:28:34.81\00:28:37.78
when John the Revelator
is seen in looking in vision
00:28:37.81\00:28:41.18
and he is about to bow
down and worship the angel,
00:28:41.22\00:28:45.75
the angel said, "Oh,
see that you do not do that,
00:28:45.79\00:28:49.42
I'm of your fellow
servant and your brethren,
00:28:49.46\00:28:52.89
worship God."
00:28:52.93\00:28:54.53
He pointed him.
00:28:54.56\00:28:55.90
So when these pictures
are used in illustrations
00:28:55.93\00:28:58.23
or evangelic series or you
see it in the halls of churches,
00:28:58.27\00:29:01.60
those are not
articles of worship,
00:29:01.64\00:29:03.47
but in some
churches and some movements,
00:29:03.51\00:29:06.27
they do make them
objects of worship.
00:29:06.31\00:29:08.34
That's why you have to be
able to use the discretion
00:29:08.38\00:29:11.11
that God has given to you.
00:29:11.15\00:29:12.51
Illustrations compare
to objects of worship.
00:29:12.55\00:29:16.62
I think we are done
for our questions today.
00:29:16.65\00:29:17.99
Yeah, I think so.
00:29:18.02\00:29:19.35
All right, we are going
to take a little more time
00:29:19.39\00:29:20.72
on our regular topic,
but if you have any question
00:29:20.76\00:29:22.26
you like to send
whether by letter or by e-mail,
00:29:22.29\00:29:25.69
here is the e-mail
that you can send them
00:29:25.73\00:29:27.30
to housecalls@3abn.org,
00:29:27.33\00:29:30.43
that's housecalls@3abn.org.
00:29:30.47\00:29:33.77
If you want to send
it to the snail mail
00:29:33.80\00:29:37.27
and you don't have
computers because some people
00:29:37.31\00:29:38.87
write me and say I
don't have computers,
00:29:38.91\00:29:40.71
you can send them
to 3ABN, P.O. Box 220,
00:29:40.74\00:29:45.31
West Frankfort, Illinois
62896, attention House Calls.
00:29:45.35\00:29:51.55
John, let's dive
back into our topic
00:29:51.59\00:29:53.15
and go ahead and we have
been talking about this topic
00:29:53.19\00:29:55.22
of is there an
afterlife in the context
00:29:55.26\00:29:57.63
of what's
happening in our world today.
00:29:57.66\00:29:58.99
Yeah, we have
kind of reproached it
00:29:59.03\00:30:00.56
from a practical perspective,
00:30:00.60\00:30:01.93
from a temporary
perspective is as of today
00:30:01.96\00:30:04.17
recognizing that there is more
and more an increasing number
00:30:04.20\00:30:08.04
of programs on
TV, movies everywhere,
00:30:08.07\00:30:11.54
subjects you can look up online
00:30:11.57\00:30:13.98
of things that
involve the spiritual world,
00:30:14.01\00:30:17.15
life after death and
trying to connect in with that.
00:30:17.18\00:30:20.45
And of course, we
can read from scripture
00:30:20.48\00:30:22.08
that God clearly said
and commanded His people
00:30:22.12\00:30:27.06
to don't ever seek of
anything that has already died,
00:30:27.09\00:30:32.03
because He knew
that as a substitute
00:30:32.06\00:30:34.46
for that thing that has as died
00:30:34.50\00:30:36.03
or that person or
individual that has died,
00:30:36.06\00:30:38.40
you will get a demonic power
00:30:38.43\00:30:40.24
who will pretend or will come in
00:30:40.27\00:30:43.44
as a representation
of that individual
00:30:43.47\00:30:45.77
and so we are seeing
practical aspects of that.
00:30:45.81\00:30:47.41
John, I was talking to
my wife who is a teacher
00:30:47.44\00:30:51.45
and in an Adventist schools,
00:30:51.48\00:30:53.62
you'll often find many
non-Adventists students
00:30:53.65\00:30:57.19
coming through from families
00:30:57.22\00:30:58.79
who want their children to
get good Christian educations
00:30:58.82\00:31:01.46
and it's amazing how many times
00:31:01.49\00:31:04.16
when they bring this subjects up
00:31:04.19\00:31:05.96
of what the Bible
says about life after death
00:31:05.99\00:31:09.13
that these students talk
00:31:09.16\00:31:12.03
about how sprits have
appeared in their homes.
00:31:12.07\00:31:17.44
She said it's almost
like after several times
00:31:17.47\00:31:21.28
of going through this,
00:31:21.31\00:31:22.68
it became a kind
of regular occurrence
00:31:22.71\00:31:24.95
where they were happy to see
00:31:24.98\00:31:26.88
what the Bible said
about it because their family
00:31:26.92\00:31:29.82
either their mom or
their dad or their grandparents
00:31:29.85\00:31:32.12
or something would
talk about some event
00:31:32.15\00:31:34.56
where this had happened,
00:31:34.59\00:31:36.26
a family member or someone
they knew or loved came back
00:31:36.29\00:31:39.19
from the grave
and appeared to them.
00:31:39.23\00:31:41.80
And so, this is something
that people are interested in
00:31:41.83\00:31:46.07
and I believe
because of that interest,
00:31:46.10\00:31:49.27
the devil is responding in a way
00:31:49.30\00:31:51.07
that he has not
responded before.
00:31:51.11\00:31:53.48
We are seeing more and more
00:31:53.51\00:31:56.14
not only
programming and so forth,
00:31:56.18\00:31:58.11
but it is a consumer society,
00:31:58.15\00:31:59.71
we're seeing more
and more of this stuff
00:31:59.75\00:32:01.12
because people
are seeking it out.
00:32:01.15\00:32:03.92
And so, this is
one of the reasons
00:32:03.95\00:32:05.29
why we felt this program
was necessary at this time.
00:32:05.32\00:32:07.99
And, John, you
know, it goes way back
00:32:08.02\00:32:11.29
when you think
of the foundation,
00:32:11.33\00:32:12.66
foundations have a lot to
do with what's happening today.
00:32:12.69\00:32:15.33
When we were growing up,
00:32:15.36\00:32:17.50
at least when I was
growing up in a way little,
00:32:17.53\00:32:20.50
you know, we are
not far apart in age,
00:32:20.54\00:32:22.70
but it was all put in
the context of comedy,
00:32:22.74\00:32:27.58
Casper the
Friendly Ghost, friendly!
00:32:27.61\00:32:31.11
And then they have Bewitched,
Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
00:32:31.15\00:32:38.12
You know, they
tinkling the Disney
00:32:38.29\00:32:40.89
and all these other programs,
00:32:40.92\00:32:42.86
they made it kind of
palatable and hospitable
00:32:42.89\00:32:46.09
and then the Monsters
and then The Addams Family
00:32:46.13\00:32:51.90
and then all this programs
that kind of chiseled away
00:32:51.93\00:32:57.11
and planted the idea,
00:32:57.14\00:32:58.61
like I remember watching
Bewitched years ago and,
00:32:58.64\00:33:05.08
you know, one of the
actors in the show say,
00:33:05.11\00:33:08.72
"Oh, I did this 500 years ago."
00:33:08.75\00:33:11.99
And so, people get the idea
that that don't read the Bibles
00:33:12.02\00:33:15.56
that somehow these
beings existed centuries ago
00:33:15.59\00:33:20.20
and they have this
continue ongoing life fact
00:33:20.23\00:33:23.53
to which many
of them referred to
00:33:23.57\00:33:24.97
as the soul of
the sprit continuing.
00:33:25.00\00:33:27.40
And then there
are these modern shows
00:33:27.44\00:33:29.70
like this one called Suburgatory
00:33:29.74\00:33:33.81
like sub purgatory.
00:33:33.84\00:33:36.18
It comes from the spin
off of the phrase purgatory
00:33:36.21\00:33:39.95
which is kind of
this ethereal place
00:33:39.98\00:33:42.58
in Catholicism people are taught
00:33:42.62\00:33:44.79
that they go to
purgatory when they die,
00:33:44.82\00:33:47.19
but because it's
happening in the suburbs,
00:33:47.22\00:33:50.06
it's a place
where dead people...
00:33:50.09\00:33:54.46
dead people live and
hangout, the suburbs.
00:33:54.50\00:33:58.70
So they modernize it to reach
the audiences like you and me
00:33:58.73\00:34:02.47
or the yuppies and
the buppies and the,
00:34:02.50\00:34:04.74
you know, the
people that are just
00:34:04.77\00:34:06.57
the cell phone generation.
00:34:06.61\00:34:09.11
Then, there is one
called Six Feet Under, where...
00:34:09.14\00:34:14.18
and then years ago
00:34:14.22\00:34:15.55
there was a one
with Warren Beatty
00:34:15.58\00:34:16.92
called Heaven Can Wait
and all dogs go to heaven.
00:34:16.95\00:34:19.45
And these constant thoughts,
00:34:19.49\00:34:21.46
these bombardments of people
that don't read their Bible,
00:34:21.49\00:34:24.93
they have no safeguard,
00:34:24.96\00:34:26.29
so they don't have
anything to measure it against.
00:34:26.33\00:34:29.50
So once somebody shows
up, I know, I need to say,
00:34:29.53\00:34:33.47
I know an Adventist family
00:34:33.50\00:34:35.00
that attended
one of our churches
00:34:35.04\00:34:36.81
that we passed in
California and after church
00:34:36.84\00:34:38.94
one Sabbath, they were laughing,
00:34:38.97\00:34:40.38
laughing together and
when I said to one of the guys,
00:34:40.41\00:34:43.45
"Hey, what's so funny,"
00:34:43.48\00:34:44.91
after church people
are gathering outside
00:34:44.95\00:34:47.22
and they were
talking about this ghost,
00:34:47.25\00:34:50.45
this ghost that shows
up at their dinner table
00:34:50.49\00:34:52.49
while they are
eating dinner and they said,
00:34:52.52\00:34:54.79
"Oh, it's a funny
ghost," it's not a...
00:34:54.82\00:34:57.36
and one of their sons
00:34:57.39\00:34:58.93
who had received
recent conversion said,
00:34:58.96\00:35:01.73
"This is not funny
dad, this is not funny."
00:35:01.76\00:35:05.33
They laughed, they said,
"Oh, we laugh when it shows up
00:35:05.37\00:35:07.87
and it does little funny
things in the kitchen like,
00:35:07.90\00:35:09.77
it will knock over a cup,
or throw a fork at our table.
00:35:09.80\00:35:13.48
Oh, we have seen it.
Yeah, we have seen it.
00:35:13.51\00:35:15.61
He is in kitchen."
00:35:15.64\00:35:16.98
And I'm thinking, you
guys got to be kidding me
00:35:17.01\00:35:20.22
and I went over
and visited with them
00:35:20.25\00:35:22.98
and we prayed and these
things ceased to happen.
00:35:23.02\00:35:25.85
But that was happening
and I thought that some of us
00:35:25.89\00:35:29.82
as Adventists are
shielded from that,
00:35:29.86\00:35:32.83
but if you don't
have the word of God,
00:35:32.86\00:35:34.20
no matter what
your denomination,
00:35:34.23\00:35:35.66
these things can happen.
00:35:35.70\00:35:37.03
That's true.
00:35:37.07\00:35:38.40
And this doctrine,
this idea, this thought,
00:35:38.43\00:35:41.67
this teaching has
come into the church
00:35:41.70\00:35:45.11
through Greek
philosophy and mythology
00:35:45.14\00:35:49.34
and most don't
know it, most don't know
00:35:49.38\00:35:51.98
where this originated from
and its the original teaching
00:35:52.01\00:35:55.62
was from the Greeks
that perceived the body
00:35:55.65\00:36:01.12
and a spirit as separate.
00:36:01.16\00:36:02.96
They believed that the
body had was the evil part.
00:36:02.99\00:36:06.96
It was a place that you
sowed and did bad things
00:36:07.00\00:36:09.96
that drove you to do bad things
and that the spirits itself
00:36:10.00\00:36:13.00
was the good part
and then when you died,
00:36:13.03\00:36:15.80
you lived on in
your goodness, okay,
00:36:15.84\00:36:19.87
and so what happened was,
00:36:19.91\00:36:21.31
you know, you heard
the term Hellenistic.
00:36:21.34\00:36:26.08
The whole Middle East
had become Hellenistic.
00:36:26.11\00:36:27.72
In other words,
00:36:27.75\00:36:29.08
they become Greek
philosophized so to speak,
00:36:29.12\00:36:32.82
a Greek
influenced that whole area
00:36:32.85\00:36:35.79
and the Jews at the
time were not immune to this.
00:36:35.82\00:36:40.90
They also experienced
this because the Roman Empire,
00:36:40.93\00:36:44.27
as it conquered the
Greeks, it actually expanded
00:36:44.30\00:36:48.14
the Greek
influence and the ideas
00:36:48.17\00:36:50.34
even in its culture and
its design of its buildings
00:36:50.37\00:36:54.61
and things you have a Romanesque
00:36:54.64\00:36:57.65
kind of representation of
what the Greeks had originated.
00:36:57.68\00:37:02.62
So it's very
influenced by the Greeks,
00:37:02.65\00:37:04.59
but so is the theology,
00:37:04.62\00:37:06.55
and this was carried
right into the early church
00:37:06.59\00:37:08.62
especially as the
pagans began to come in
00:37:08.66\00:37:14.00
to the church in droves.
00:37:14.03\00:37:15.36
They brought this
theology with them
00:37:15.40\00:37:17.13
and this is where it comes from.
00:37:17.17\00:37:18.53
So, you know, we
think of it as just, well,
00:37:18.57\00:37:20.67
this is the Bible's teaching
from the very beginning,
00:37:20.70\00:37:22.27
but we don't realize, no one
had an original time and place
00:37:22.30\00:37:25.31
where it came into the
church and it became a doctrine.
00:37:25.34\00:37:30.35
And in fact, I
believe that Paul,
00:37:30.38\00:37:33.62
as he wrote to the church in
Corinth was alluding to this.
00:37:33.65\00:37:37.22
When he said in
2 Corinthians 11,
00:37:37.25\00:37:40.76
you know this text, John.
00:37:40.79\00:37:42.82
He is talking about
the truth versus error.
00:37:42.86\00:37:45.53
The ministers that
were ministering in truth
00:37:45.56\00:37:48.23
and those who were ministering
00:37:48.26\00:37:49.60
in unrighteousness or wickedness
00:37:49.63\00:37:52.87
and so then he says
in 2 Corinthians 11:13,
00:37:52.90\00:37:58.51
"For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers,
00:37:58.54\00:38:03.11
transforming themselves
into apostles of Christ."
00:38:03.14\00:38:06.55
So there are people
who claim to be apostles
00:38:06.58\00:38:08.98
of Jesus who
actually were false workers.
00:38:09.02\00:38:12.52
And then notice this,
00:38:12.55\00:38:13.89
listen to how He
ties in their error,
00:38:13.92\00:38:17.76
"And no wonder,
00:38:17.79\00:38:19.49
For Satan
himself also transforms
00:38:19.53\00:38:22.13
himself into an
angel of what, light."
00:38:22.16\00:38:26.53
Therefore, it's no great thing
if his ministers also transform
00:38:26.57\00:38:29.44
themselves into
ministers of righteousness
00:38:29.47\00:38:31.14
whose end will be
according to their works."
00:38:31.17\00:38:33.07
Paul is associating
what Satan was doing
00:38:33.11\00:38:37.41
coming in the
likeness of good things
00:38:37.45\00:38:40.15
with what the
ministers were doing.
00:38:40.18\00:38:42.48
This is a bridge
that was happening
00:38:42.52\00:38:44.45
that Paul was talking
about between the theology
00:38:44.49\00:38:47.06
that was coming into
the church by false workers
00:38:47.09\00:38:49.79
and the stuff the church
00:38:49.82\00:38:51.16
was trying to do to remain pure
in its form the biblical truths
00:38:51.19\00:38:53.90
which are that these
inflows, these manifestations,
00:38:53.93\00:38:58.70
these things
around were not of God.
00:38:58.73\00:39:01.94
They were not the people
what that they claim to be.
00:39:01.97\00:39:03.81
They weren't the things
that they were representing
00:39:03.84\00:39:06.47
themselves to be
and to this stage, John,
00:39:06.51\00:39:08.94
we the church at
large, for the most part,
00:39:08.98\00:39:12.51
still is
indoctrinated with this error
00:39:12.55\00:39:17.85
of the immortal soul
and life beyond death
00:39:17.89\00:39:22.12
with people that
have passed away,
00:39:22.16\00:39:23.56
they come back to life
and even speaking of them
00:39:23.59\00:39:26.29
as "They are my angel"
00:39:26.33\00:39:28.36
who is guiding me
along through life.
00:39:28.40\00:39:30.37
I have relatives and I often,
00:39:30.40\00:39:34.40
you know, when someone,
they will put on Facebook,
00:39:34.44\00:39:38.27
"Oh, so and so just died.
00:39:38.31\00:39:40.08
He is my angel.
00:39:40.11\00:39:41.44
He is lighting over me.
00:39:41.48\00:39:42.81
Say a prayer for me.
00:39:42.84\00:39:44.18
Speak to this person
for me, send a message."
00:39:44.21\00:39:47.28
And then one
person once said to me
00:39:47.32\00:39:49.62
they were sitting
at church service.
00:39:49.65\00:39:50.99
This was about five months ago.
00:39:51.02\00:39:52.35
They said, and it
really threw them,
00:39:52.39\00:39:54.42
they went back to the
church that they used to attend
00:39:54.46\00:39:56.73
and the preacher was
preaching and he says,
00:39:56.76\00:39:58.43
"Hey, got a postcard
from heaven recently"
00:39:58.46\00:40:02.26
and he said it
just made the hair
00:40:02.30\00:40:03.63
on their shoulders stand up
00:40:03.67\00:40:05.30
and I said why were you there?
00:40:05.33\00:40:06.74
Well, I like the music.
00:40:06.77\00:40:08.87
They went back
because they like the music
00:40:08.90\00:40:10.37
and the worship
styles and all that.
00:40:10.41\00:40:12.51
And I said, see,
when you are going back
00:40:12.54\00:40:13.88
to the very place
you know darkness exists
00:40:13.91\00:40:15.24
and what happens is
00:40:15.28\00:40:16.61
when you don't
receive a love for the truth,
00:40:16.64\00:40:18.21
you set yourself up to become
deceived by all these facets,
00:40:18.25\00:40:21.52
but this teaching, John,
00:40:21.55\00:40:23.32
that pervaded the
New Testament church
00:40:23.35\00:40:25.45
was called Neo-Platonism
which was a teaching
00:40:25.49\00:40:30.63
that separated the body
from the soul, from the spirit.
00:40:30.66\00:40:36.43
You know, you find
body, soul, and spirit.
00:40:36.46\00:40:37.83
The Bible speaks
about the entire man
00:40:37.87\00:40:39.97
and when the Bible
speaks about the body,
00:40:40.00\00:40:42.47
it was talking
about the physical self.
00:40:42.50\00:40:44.24
When it spoke about the soul,
00:40:44.27\00:40:45.61
it was talking about
the intellectual self.
00:40:45.64\00:40:48.64
When it spoke about the spirit,
00:40:48.68\00:40:50.01
it's talking
about the life force
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.11
and God breathed into man's
nostrils the breath of life.
00:40:52.15\00:40:55.52
Job 27:3, "The spirit
of God is in my nostrils."
00:40:55.55\00:40:58.62
It was not talking
about some ethereal
00:40:58.65\00:41:01.22
other self existing in there.
00:41:01.26\00:41:03.89
And so, when a
person passed away,
00:41:03.93\00:41:06.19
you know, the phenomenal
teaching of Neo-Platonism
00:41:06.23\00:41:09.90
was the soul as a
moving essence generates
00:41:09.93\00:41:14.44
the corporal or
the phenomenal world
00:41:14.47\00:41:17.61
and so when a person dies,
00:41:17.64\00:41:20.31
according to Neo-Platonism,
00:41:20.34\00:41:22.44
there is a
separation from body and soul
00:41:22.48\00:41:25.21
and it goes on to
this phenomenal world
00:41:25.25\00:41:28.82
and there they
gather and that's the reason
00:41:28.85\00:41:33.15
why the afterlife
is so embraced today.
00:41:33.19\00:41:36.93
People believe that
these shadowy images
00:41:36.96\00:41:40.00
that they see are visitors
from the phenomenal world.
00:41:40.03\00:41:43.77
These voices that
they hear are visitors
00:41:43.80\00:41:46.77
from the phenomenal world
that really does not exist,
00:41:46.80\00:41:49.94
but Neo-Platonism, and you know,
00:41:49.97\00:41:51.97
one of the things that Jesus did
00:41:52.01\00:41:53.34
to try to destroy this doctrine
because it pervaded the church
00:41:53.38\00:41:56.31
through the Greeks and
then to the Jews of Jesus' day
00:41:56.34\00:41:59.25
was when Lazarus died,
00:41:59.28\00:42:02.18
He stayed away for four days.
00:42:02.22\00:42:04.45
And when you think
about why would He stay away
00:42:04.49\00:42:06.19
for four days and
even Mary and Martha
00:42:06.22\00:42:08.19
were somewhat upset
with Him because he...
00:42:08.22\00:42:10.36
She said, "If you had come early
00:42:10.39\00:42:11.93
my brother would not have died."
00:42:11.96\00:42:14.43
Jesus stayed away
for four days, four days
00:42:14.46\00:42:16.83
because the teaching
that soul like a mosquito
00:42:16.87\00:42:20.20
trying to get into your house
made attempts for three days
00:42:20.24\00:42:23.10
to get back into the body
00:42:23.14\00:42:24.57
and if it was successful
00:42:24.61\00:42:25.94
the person would
come back to life.
00:42:25.97\00:42:27.31
That's the way the
Jews explained things
00:42:27.34\00:42:29.44
that were being done by Jesus
through the resurrected force.
00:42:29.48\00:42:33.38
They were counteracting
all of his miracles by saying,
00:42:33.42\00:42:36.15
"Oh, the soul just returned"
00:42:36.18\00:42:37.82
and was commonly
called Neo-Platonism.
00:42:37.85\00:42:39.89
That's the term used today.
00:42:39.92\00:42:42.26
But, Jesus stayed
away for four days
00:42:42.29\00:42:45.26
to completely destroy
that theory and concept
00:42:45.29\00:42:49.30
and when Jesus said,
00:42:49.33\00:42:50.67
"I am the
resurrection and the life."
00:42:50.70\00:42:52.63
And the news got
back to the Pharisees
00:42:52.67\00:42:54.34
that Lazarus was back alive.
00:42:54.37\00:42:57.57
Lazarus didn't come down.
00:42:57.61\00:42:59.27
Lazarus didn't return
from a different location.
00:42:59.31\00:43:01.64
Lazarus didn't hear His voice
00:43:01.68\00:43:03.24
while He was
talking to people in heaven
00:43:03.28\00:43:05.05
and said I got to go.
00:43:05.08\00:43:07.42
Lazarus came forth from the tomb
00:43:07.45\00:43:08.95
wrapped in grave clothing
00:43:08.98\00:43:11.25
and he had said nothing
about a prior existence.
00:43:11.29\00:43:14.22
From that day on, the Bible says
00:43:14.26\00:43:16.19
they determined
that Jesus must die.
00:43:16.22\00:43:19.86
That's how they
wanted that teaching to go on
00:43:19.89\00:43:22.66
and today it does
not represent Christ.
00:43:22.70\00:43:25.53
It's a false
teaching that Jesus debunked
00:43:25.57\00:43:28.04
and those who
embraced it did not accept
00:43:28.07\00:43:30.31
Christ, false apostles.
00:43:30.34\00:43:31.67
That's right.
00:43:31.71\00:43:33.04
And, so you might say,
well, what does the Bible
00:43:33.07\00:43:34.41
then say about
how life is created,
00:43:34.44\00:43:37.15
how are we made up,
00:43:37.18\00:43:38.51
how is the body comprised,
how is the soul comprised,
00:43:38.55\00:43:42.42
when we're talking about
when the Bible speaks of a soul
00:43:42.45\00:43:45.32
and you find that
in Genesis 2, right?
00:43:45.35\00:43:47.82
That's right, Genesis 2:7.
00:43:47.86\00:43:49.19
So probably just
revisit that really quickly
00:43:49.22\00:43:51.06
and then the
reverse happens at death
00:43:51.09\00:43:53.03
and we'll go to
Psalm 146 for that one.
00:43:53.06\00:43:56.06
Well, actually some...
00:43:56.10\00:43:57.63
yeah, that's a very good
one and then Ecclesiastes 12:7.
00:43:57.67\00:44:02.27
Let's go to Genesis 2,
if you get to read for me,
00:44:02.30\00:44:04.31
okay, I'm there.
00:44:04.34\00:44:05.67
Here it is.
00:44:05.71\00:44:07.04
Genesis 2:7 and the Bible says,
00:44:07.08\00:44:08.88
"And the Lord God formed
man of the dust of the ground,
00:44:08.91\00:44:12.38
and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life,
00:44:12.41\00:44:16.08
and man became a living being."
00:44:16.12\00:44:18.89
Now, I like the
New King James Version
00:44:18.92\00:44:20.76
because as a living being
00:44:20.79\00:44:22.66
the license to talk
about soul, notice, he became
00:44:22.69\00:44:28.86
and the King James says
he became a living soul.
00:44:28.90\00:44:32.00
I want to reiterate, he
wasn't given a living soul,
00:44:32.03\00:44:36.14
he became a living soul.
00:44:36.17\00:44:38.67
The combination of the body
00:44:38.71\00:44:40.54
and the breath of God
made him now a living soul.
00:44:40.58\00:44:44.71
All right?
00:44:44.75\00:44:46.08
So now the reverse of that.
00:44:46.11\00:44:47.45
Go to the reverse of that.
00:44:47.48\00:44:48.82
And the reverse of
that would be upon death
00:44:48.85\00:44:51.95
the psalmist
speaks in Psalm 146:4
00:44:51.99\00:44:54.86
that His spirit departs,
00:44:54.89\00:44:56.69
that the same breath
that God breathed into Adam
00:44:56.73\00:45:00.10
when he first created
him, the spirit departs,
00:45:00.13\00:45:02.66
he returns to his earth,
00:45:02.70\00:45:04.13
that's the body
becoming dust again,
00:45:04.17\00:45:06.10
in that very day his
thoughts or plans perished.
00:45:06.13\00:45:12.21
So the reverse of
exactly what God was doing
00:45:12.24\00:45:14.51
to create Adam
happens at death and say,
00:45:14.54\00:45:18.48
well, okay, so then,
00:45:18.51\00:45:19.91
you know what, what
about this spirit departing
00:45:19.95\00:45:24.19
or the breath going back to God,
00:45:24.22\00:45:25.55
what is that speaking off?
00:45:25.59\00:45:26.92
Well, God knows each and
everyone of us intricately
00:45:26.96\00:45:30.16
and He retains,
He reserves the right
00:45:30.19\00:45:33.70
and He has the
right to raise up everyone
00:45:33.73\00:45:36.26
and to give them
back that which they had,
00:45:36.30\00:45:38.93
life but in a better
life, an eternal life
00:45:38.97\00:45:42.04
that is given to each one
00:45:42.07\00:45:43.84
who accepts His
Son as their Savior
00:45:43.87\00:45:46.01
and their Lord
and so the reason,
00:45:46.04\00:45:49.21
he is talking about
the spirit departing,
00:45:49.24\00:45:50.81
the breath going back up
00:45:50.85\00:45:52.18
is because there is an
element that is part of man,
00:45:52.21\00:45:55.42
you mentioned the
soul as this cognitive,
00:45:55.45\00:45:57.39
this thinking,
this conscious, this...
00:45:57.42\00:46:00.86
The whole man, the
whole thinking function there.
00:46:00.89\00:46:02.22
The whole person and
how it functions together.
00:46:02.26\00:46:04.56
Well, that part is reserved
and retained by God Himself
00:46:04.59\00:46:07.43
to restore a man
upon the resurrection.
00:46:07.46\00:46:09.53
Right.
00:46:09.56\00:46:10.90
The reason why
there is a resurrection
00:46:10.93\00:46:12.40
at the end of time is
because God is the one
00:46:12.43\00:46:14.70
that has the life
giving power to bring back
00:46:14.74\00:46:17.17
those who have died.
00:46:17.21\00:46:19.01
If you're already in heaven,
00:46:19.04\00:46:20.61
there is no
reason to bring you back
00:46:20.64\00:46:23.18
or bring you
somewhere that you already exist
00:46:23.21\00:46:27.02
and so clearly
we're finding here
00:46:27.05\00:46:28.38
in the Bible a
consistency, what I just used?
00:46:28.42\00:46:30.72
What word is that?
00:46:30.75\00:46:32.09
Consistency. Consistently.
00:46:32.12\00:46:33.46
There is
consistent methodical way
00:46:33.49\00:46:35.19
the Bible works
through, all of its topics,
00:46:35.22\00:46:38.56
and this topic on
the giving of life
00:46:38.59\00:46:41.56
and the ending of life
is consistent throughout it.
00:46:41.60\00:46:44.97
And so, when the
spirit returns to God,
00:46:45.00\00:46:47.00
you know, his breath goes forth,
00:46:47.04\00:46:48.37
he returns to this earth
00:46:48.40\00:46:49.74
and that that very
day his thoughts perished.
00:46:49.77\00:46:51.14
I'll read another
one and a couple up...
00:46:51.17\00:46:52.87
Go to Job, John,
Job 34:14 and 15.
00:46:52.91\00:46:56.88
It shows clearly and
it makes very distinct
00:46:56.91\00:47:00.48
differentiation between the body
00:47:00.52\00:47:03.89
and the spirit
because people that
00:47:03.92\00:47:08.42
have embraced the idea
that the soul does not go on
00:47:08.46\00:47:11.59
and the soul is not immortal,
they try to find other avenues.
00:47:11.63\00:47:14.46
You know, when you
destroy one avenue,
00:47:14.50\00:47:16.10
they try to add
another avenue to that.
00:47:16.13\00:47:17.87
I'm gonna read
Ecclesiastes 12:7.
00:47:17.90\00:47:21.00
The opposite of the dust that
received the spirit of life,
00:47:21.04\00:47:26.01
now what happens to the dust?
00:47:26.04\00:47:27.74
Verse 7 of Ecclesiastes 12,
00:47:27.78\00:47:30.28
"Then the dust will
return to the earth as it was,
00:47:30.31\00:47:33.48
And the spirit will
return to God who gave it."
00:47:33.52\00:47:36.79
And the spirit,
there is the breath of life
00:47:36.82\00:47:38.99
that God breathed
into man's nostrils."
00:47:39.02\00:47:41.02
Job 27:3.
00:47:41.06\00:47:43.02
Now, read these
verses in Job 34:14 and 15
00:47:43.06\00:47:47.86
that really clarifies
exactly why people die.
00:47:47.90\00:47:50.67
Go ahead read that.
00:47:50.70\00:47:52.03
"If He should
set His heart on it,
00:47:52.07\00:47:53.40
if He should gather to Himself
His Spirit and His breath,
00:47:53.44\00:47:57.01
all flesh would perish together,
00:47:57.04\00:47:58.94
and man would return to dust."
00:47:58.97\00:48:01.14
Is that clear? Yeah.
00:48:01.18\00:48:02.81
So if the Lord
would take His spirit
00:48:02.84\00:48:04.71
and His breath away,
00:48:04.75\00:48:06.28
all flesh would perish together
and man would return to dust.
00:48:06.31\00:48:13.25
That's exactly
what happens when...
00:48:13.46\00:48:15.39
that's why when, you
know, man cannot give life,
00:48:15.42\00:48:18.66
man cannot put breath in
us to bring the body to life,
00:48:18.69\00:48:23.30
but whenever, you know,
you are about to slip away
00:48:23.33\00:48:26.07
and they do the CPR,
00:48:26.10\00:48:27.44
they are trying to
keep the flow of air
00:48:27.47\00:48:29.07
into the organs to
keep them functioning,
00:48:29.10\00:48:31.37
but when a person,
when you go to cemetery
00:48:31.41\00:48:34.31
we can't bring
up a set of paddles
00:48:34.34\00:48:36.81
to shock the heart
and we can't bring people
00:48:36.85\00:48:40.68
don't go and give these corpses
mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
00:48:40.72\00:48:43.28
and bring them to life.
00:48:43.32\00:48:44.65
Only God can do that.
00:48:44.69\00:48:46.05
Are you still in
Ecclesiastes? Yeah, I'm there.
00:48:46.09\00:48:48.46
Read Ecclesiastes 3:19.
00:48:48.49\00:48:50.06
Sure, okay, here I
am, 3:19, here it is.
00:48:50.09\00:48:55.80
"For what happens
to the sons of men
00:48:55.83\00:48:59.00
also happens to beasts,
one thing befalls them all:
00:48:59.03\00:49:02.84
as one dies, so dies the other.
00:49:02.87\00:49:05.61
Surely, they
all have one breath,
00:49:05.64\00:49:08.58
man has no advantage over
beasts, for all is vanity.
00:49:08.61\00:49:12.51
All go to one place:
all are from the dust,
00:49:12.55\00:49:16.18
and all return to the dust."
00:49:16.22\00:49:19.42
Okay, in verse 21, "Who knows
the spirit of the sons of men,
00:49:19.45\00:49:23.83
which goes upward, and
the spirit of the beasts,
00:49:23.86\00:49:26.86
which goes down to the earth?"
00:49:26.90\00:49:29.80
And the point you
were making there,
00:49:29.83\00:49:31.63
why does the
spirit of man go upward?
00:49:31.67\00:49:34.37
Because it's
returning to God who gave it.
00:49:34.40\00:49:36.27
And He is gonna give it again?
00:49:36.30\00:49:37.64
He is gonna give it
again and He is gonna give it
00:49:37.67\00:49:39.67
at the first resurrection.
00:49:39.71\00:49:41.74
Sadly enough,
there will be those
00:49:41.78\00:49:43.11
who get it at the
second resurrection,
00:49:43.14\00:49:44.48
those are the one's
that will be destroyed,
00:49:44.51\00:49:45.85
but this breath that came
from the Lord returns to God.
00:49:45.88\00:49:48.78
It is the same
breath that the animals
00:49:48.82\00:49:51.49
have in life that we have.
00:49:51.52\00:49:54.12
We have no
advantage over animals.
00:49:54.16\00:49:56.39
So if you say, well,
this breath or the spirit,
00:49:56.42\00:50:00.03
both interchangeable
in the Old Testament
00:50:00.06\00:50:01.83
in many translations,
00:50:01.86\00:50:03.20
is actually a soul
that goes to heaven,
00:50:03.23\00:50:05.03
it's conscious,
then you must believe
00:50:05.07\00:50:07.40
then that the
breath leaves animals
00:50:07.44\00:50:09.47
and all of their consciousnesses
00:50:09.50\00:50:10.97
is also in heaven.
00:50:11.01\00:50:12.81
Matter of fact, you
know, in Ecclesiastes 9:5
00:50:12.84\00:50:15.31
where it says, "The
living know that they will die,
00:50:15.34\00:50:17.75
but the dead know not anything."
00:50:17.78\00:50:19.91
Ecclesiastes 9:4 says,
00:50:19.95\00:50:21.62
"For to him who is joined
to all living there is hope,
00:50:21.65\00:50:25.45
for a living dog is
better than a dead lion."
00:50:25.49\00:50:29.46
You see, the comparisons
there are just amazing,
00:50:29.49\00:50:31.96
but this whole
idea and reiterate
00:50:31.99\00:50:33.33
what you just said a moment ago
00:50:33.36\00:50:35.46
about the fact
that this God breathed
00:50:35.50\00:50:40.27
into man's
nostrils the breath of life,
00:50:40.30\00:50:42.24
God called the
dogs into existence.
00:50:42.27\00:50:44.54
That's why their
spirit doesn't go up
00:50:44.57\00:50:46.47
because they
are not coming forth
00:50:46.51\00:50:47.84
in the first resurrection.
00:50:47.88\00:50:51.28
Can I clarify
something real quick?
00:50:51.31\00:50:52.68
Go.
00:50:52.71\00:50:55.45
In the new earth, this
is hit record, right now.
00:50:55.48\00:50:59.42
Okay, hit record. It
is already on record.
00:50:59.45\00:51:02.59
In the new earth
there will be animals,
00:51:02.62\00:51:06.06
horses of various kinds
00:51:06.09\00:51:09.30
and various
descriptions in the new earth,
00:51:09.33\00:51:13.00
but there will not
be animals in heaven.
00:51:13.03\00:51:16.60
We're going to have
it for a thousand years
00:51:16.64\00:51:19.37
to settle the
issues of the judgment.
00:51:19.41\00:51:22.81
At the end of
the thousand years,
00:51:22.84\00:51:24.65
and this is about
heaven, the saints return,
00:51:24.68\00:51:27.22
the new Jerusalem
comes down to the earth,
00:51:27.25\00:51:29.38
the saints enter
into the new Jerusalem
00:51:29.42\00:51:31.49
and then the second
resurrection takes place,
00:51:31.52\00:51:34.92
then the judgment on the wicked
00:51:34.96\00:51:36.62
and then they are destroyed
00:51:36.66\00:51:37.99
in the fires
that rain from heaven,
00:51:38.03\00:51:40.16
that's the second death.
00:51:40.20\00:51:42.23
There will be no animals
in heaven because so many...
00:51:42.26\00:51:45.07
When I hear this
topic over and over,
00:51:45.10\00:51:47.34
I've heard this delineated,
00:51:47.37\00:51:49.94
I mean,
communicated, and articulated,
00:51:49.97\00:51:52.21
that's the word I'm looking for,
00:51:52.24\00:51:54.64
but many people communicate that
00:51:54.68\00:51:56.31
without asking the question,
00:51:56.34\00:51:57.88
how are these animals
going to get to heaven?
00:51:57.91\00:52:00.72
They don't go on
the first resurrection.
00:52:00.78\00:52:03.12
They don't go on
the second resurrection
00:52:03.15\00:52:04.89
and they don't go at death,
00:52:04.92\00:52:06.55
but these animals
will be in the new earth.
00:52:06.59\00:52:09.66
So only man will go in
the first resurrection.
00:52:09.69\00:52:14.50
The Lord himself, the
dead in Christ rise first,
00:52:14.53\00:52:17.43
1 Thessalonians 4.
00:52:17.47\00:52:19.83
So this idea that there will
be animals in the new earth,
00:52:19.87\00:52:22.40
but there not gonna
be animals in heaven.
00:52:22.44\00:52:24.74
I want to be very candid,
00:52:24.77\00:52:26.14
animals in heaven
for thousand years
00:52:26.17\00:52:27.71
defecating on
the streets of gold.
00:52:27.74\00:52:31.28
I mean, let's get
realistic in that.
00:52:31.31\00:52:33.21
There will be
animals in the new earth
00:52:33.25\00:52:35.38
but not in heaven.
00:52:35.42\00:52:36.75
You don't find any
scripture support for that.
00:52:36.79\00:52:38.85
When Bible says
they will not hurt
00:52:38.89\00:52:41.09
or destroy
anymore my holy mountain,
00:52:41.12\00:52:42.99
that's referring
to the new earth.
00:52:43.02\00:52:44.66
When the earth is made new
and the meek inherit the earth,
00:52:44.69\00:52:47.60
that's not referring to heaven.
00:52:47.63\00:52:49.16
Animals are not in heaven.
00:52:49.20\00:52:51.13
I rise and fall on that point.
00:52:51.17\00:52:54.40
Script to support it.
00:52:54.44\00:52:55.77
I would like to kind
of conclude this subject
00:52:55.80\00:52:57.44
with the resurrection issue.
00:52:57.47\00:52:59.91
Oh, beautiful.
00:52:59.94\00:53:01.41
Because I think
that if your theology
00:53:01.44\00:53:04.71
isn't right about what happens
when you die and the afterlife,
00:53:04.75\00:53:10.19
then the
resurrection doesn't make sense
00:53:10.22\00:53:13.15
and it's
interesting, I was preparing,
00:53:13.19\00:53:15.09
I'm putting together,
kind of a chart, so to speak,
00:53:15.12\00:53:20.26
showing the dispensational
view and the Biblical view
00:53:20.30\00:53:27.24
that is prevalent
today amongst many churches
00:53:27.37\00:53:30.34
and some have a
little mixture of both,
00:53:30.37\00:53:32.91
but the ones that are,
your pure dispensational view,
00:53:32.94\00:53:36.34
they have this line of a story
that they're telling and then
00:53:36.38\00:53:42.08
they get down to
about the resurrection time
00:53:42.12\00:53:44.95
and they run into
all kinds of trouble
00:53:44.99\00:53:47.32
because there are people going
to heaven at different times,
00:53:47.36\00:53:50.63
the rapture isn't of all
saints throughout history,
00:53:50.66\00:53:53.60
the rapture is
only of the church,
00:53:53.63\00:53:55.50
the saints from
all the prior history
00:53:55.53\00:53:57.03
get raptured in
the second resurrection
00:53:57.07\00:53:59.37
and that's the predominant view,
00:53:59.40\00:54:00.97
so I'm seeing out there today.
00:54:01.00\00:54:03.10
And then you have discussions
00:54:03.14\00:54:06.24
about why the
resurrection even happens.
00:54:06.27\00:54:08.84
Right and then you have
those who are left behind.
00:54:08.88\00:54:11.15
Yeah, and then they get confused
00:54:11.18\00:54:12.51
about that and when
you don't follow the Bible
00:54:12.55\00:54:14.48
and read it for what it says,
00:54:14.52\00:54:16.08
plain thus says the Lord,
00:54:16.12\00:54:17.85
this is where
you run into trouble.
00:54:17.89\00:54:19.52
And by the way,
we're just communicating
00:54:19.55\00:54:21.02
what is being said.
00:54:21.06\00:54:22.39
We're not communicating
this as though it's factual.
00:54:22.42\00:54:24.33
Right. Just want
to make that clear.
00:54:24.36\00:54:25.73
Yeah, and hopefully
we can have that program
00:54:25.76\00:54:27.53
where we show the
two, the definite two,
00:54:27.56\00:54:29.23
but the resurrection,
there are two of them,
00:54:29.26\00:54:36.04
and the first resurrection
00:54:36.07\00:54:38.17
is of all the saints
throughout all of history.
00:54:38.21\00:54:42.61
God raises His people
who have trusted in Him
00:54:42.64\00:54:46.01
from Adam and
Eve to very last one
00:54:46.05\00:54:49.28
that gives their heart to Jesus.
00:54:49.32\00:54:50.69
That's right.
00:54:50.72\00:54:52.05
And they go with Jesus
to heaven to live with Him
00:54:52.09\00:54:54.56
for a thousand
years, the millennium,
00:54:54.59\00:54:56.69
and then after the millennium
00:54:56.73\00:54:58.19
they come down in
the new Jerusalem,
00:54:58.23\00:55:01.06
in that great city,
to set on the earth,
00:55:01.10\00:55:03.40
then the second
resurrection occurs
00:55:03.43\00:55:06.84
and that
resurrection is of the wicked.
00:55:06.87\00:55:08.90
That's right and you'll
hear it's in John 5:28 and 29,
00:55:08.94\00:55:15.41
"Do not marvel at this,
for the hour is coming in
00:55:15.44\00:55:20.12
which all who are in the
graves will hear His voice."
00:55:20.15\00:55:24.45
All, who are in the
graves will hear his voice
00:55:24.49\00:55:28.62
and verse 29, "And come
forth, those who have done good,
00:55:28.66\00:55:33.19
to the resurrection of life."
00:55:33.23\00:55:34.60
So the good are in the grave.
00:55:34.63\00:55:36.67
"And those who have done evil,
00:55:36.70\00:55:38.13
to the
resurrection of condemnation."
00:55:38.17\00:55:40.10
So the wicked are in the grave,
00:55:40.14\00:55:42.47
that's where we took
them at the last funeral.
00:55:42.50\00:55:44.74
And the only question
00:55:44.77\00:55:46.68
is when do those
resurrections happen.
00:55:46.71\00:55:49.24
That's the only
thing to resolve.
00:55:49.28\00:55:51.31
Two resurrections,
one of the righteous,
00:55:51.35\00:55:53.38
one of the wicked,
when do they occur?
00:55:53.42\00:55:56.08
And Revelation
answers that question.
00:55:56.12\00:55:57.45
That's right, Revelation
20 and the Bible says,
00:55:57.49\00:55:59.92
"The rest of the dead live
not again, Revelation 20:6,
00:55:59.95\00:56:02.89
I am quoting as
I'm turning there,
00:56:02.92\00:56:04.33
"The rest of the
dead live not again
00:56:04.36\00:56:05.89
until the thousand
years are finished."
00:56:05.93\00:56:08.13
Here it is, yeah,
00:56:08.16\00:56:10.10
"Blessed and holy
is he who has part
00:56:10.13\00:56:11.80
in the first resurrection."
00:56:11.83\00:56:13.64
Revelation 20:6,
00:56:13.67\00:56:15.00
"Over such the
second death has no power."
00:56:15.04\00:56:18.31
Now Revelation 20:5,
00:56:18.34\00:56:20.24
"But the rest of the
dead did not live again
00:56:20.28\00:56:22.61
until the thousand
years were finished."
00:56:22.64\00:56:24.75
The resurrection
talked about in verse 4,
00:56:24.78\00:56:26.65
this is the first resurrection.
00:56:26.68\00:56:28.95
So the saints
that ascend to heaven
00:56:28.98\00:56:30.39
are in the first resurrection.
00:56:30.42\00:56:31.75
The rest of the
dead don't live again
00:56:31.79\00:56:33.12
until the thousand
years are finished,
00:56:33.15\00:56:35.09
the end of the millennium.
00:56:35.12\00:56:36.69
So another point, no
body is alive on earth.
00:56:36.73\00:56:39.76
We'll get into that
on the topic later on.
00:56:39.79\00:56:41.73
And then it brings up
how the judgment occurs,
00:56:41.76\00:56:45.43
the judgment of the wicked
00:56:45.47\00:56:46.80
who are raised in
the second resurrection
00:56:46.84\00:56:48.27
and in that judgment it says
fire comes down out of heaven.
00:56:48.30\00:56:50.81
Fire is not
kindled from beneath.
00:56:50.84\00:56:53.61
Fire comes down out of
heaven and devours sin and death
00:56:53.64\00:56:57.58
and the wicked that
have held on to their sin
00:56:57.61\00:57:00.98
and held on to their
life to the very end,
00:57:01.02\00:57:03.65
and then we know at that
point the earth is recreated.
00:57:03.69\00:57:07.09
That's right.
00:57:07.12\00:57:08.46
And so that is
truly the sequence
00:57:08.49\00:57:10.03
of what will happen
and what we can expect
00:57:10.06\00:57:11.99
here in the near future.
00:57:12.03\00:57:13.36
That's right and
so friends you know
00:57:13.40\00:57:14.73
we believe in
studying God's word
00:57:14.76\00:57:16.10
and we try to make it as
clear as we possibly can.
00:57:16.13\00:57:18.03
Thank you, John,
for those insights.
00:57:18.07\00:57:20.14
We're like a
two-cylinder engine.
00:57:20.17\00:57:21.50
We're firing on both
cylinders and praise God
00:57:21.54\00:57:23.51
our thoughts have been
united by the Holy Spirit.
00:57:23.54\00:57:25.97
So continue studying God's word,
00:57:26.01\00:57:27.44
so when the House Call comes
00:57:27.48\00:57:29.24
you'll be ready to
answer the Lord in truth.
00:57:29.28\00:57:32.25
God bless you.
00:57:32.28\00:57:33.62