Let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
we thank You for the Sabbath
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where we can just get
away from the rat race of life;
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what we do
every day of the week,
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and just bask in Your presence
an enjoy fellowship with You
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and with fellow believers.
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We ask, Father, that as we
open Your Holy Word this morning
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that Your Holy Spirit, through
the ministration of the angels,
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will be present here.
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Help us to understand Your Word,
the great things from Your Word,
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and how they impact
our own personal lives;
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our walk with Jesus.
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We thank You, Father, for
the promise of Your presence.
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Because we ask this in
the powerful and wonderful
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name of Jesus,
our Savior and Lord.
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Amen.
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I'd like to invite you to
open your Bibles with me to the
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book of Exodus.
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Exodus chapter 36 and verse 8.
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As we examine the Hebrew
sanctuary, one thing sticks out,
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I might say, as a sore thumb.
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And that is the predominance of
angels in the Hebrew sanctuary.
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They seem to be
all over the place.
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Now in Exodus 36 and verse
8, we have a description of
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angels that were embroidered
on the different veils
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that were found in
the Hebrew sanctuary.
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It says there in
Exodus 36 verse 8...
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Of course, the
cherubim are angels.
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So there were angels embroidered
on the different veils of the
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Hebrew sanctuary.
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Now the Bible also tells us
that on the veil between the
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Holy and the Most Holy
Place of the Hebrew sanctuary
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there were cherubim
embroidered as well.
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Notice Exodus
chapter 36 and verse 35.
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Exodus 36 and verse 35.
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This is talking about the
veil that divided the Holy Place
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from the Most Holy Place.
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Of course, we talked about
the Holy Place last evening
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where we find the
seven branch candlestick,
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we find the table of showbread,
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and we find the
golden altar of incense.
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And then of course, beyond the
veil is the ark of the covenant.
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It says there in
Exodus 36 and verse 35...
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Notice once again the
idea that there were cherubim
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that were embroidered
on this beautiful veil
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between the Holy
and the Most Holy Place.
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But there were two
special angels in the sanctuary.
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Actually, in Solomon's
temple there were four.
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There were two on
the ark of the covenant
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and there were two
that were standing.
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In other words, four
of them surrounded the ark
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which represents
the throne of God.
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Let's read in Exodus chapter
25 and verses 20 through 22
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about these two special
cherubim that overshadowed
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the ark of the covenant.
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It says there in
Exodus 25 and verse 20,
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these are
instructions given to Moses...
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The mercy seat was the cover
of the ark of the covenant.
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Verse 19...
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"Covering" is a key word.
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The mercy seat
represents God's throne.
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The mercy seat is
where the Shekinah came over.
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And so there were these special
cherubim in the tabernacle
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in the wilderness, two of
them on the ark of the covenant
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that overshadowed or
covered the mercy seat,
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which represents
the throne of God.
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And in Solomon's temple, of
course, we had two additional
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cherubim that were standing.
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Which means that God's
throne was surrounded by four.
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This is the reason why
in Psalm 80 and verse 1
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we find the description of where
God sits, or where God dwells.
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It says there in
Psalm 80 and verse 1...
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Where does God dwell?
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Where was His glory manifested?
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Between the cherubim.
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In other words, there
were two covering cherubs
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that overshadowed the mercy
seat where the glory of God
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was manifested in the sanctuary.
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Now inside the ark of
the covenant were found
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the tables of the law
with the Ten Commandments.
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And the reason why
these cherubim, according to
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Scripture, were looking
down towards the mercy seat is,
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they were looking down
in wonder at the law of God,
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which is the
foundation of God's government.
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In fact, let's read
Deuteronomy chapter 10
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and verses 1 through 5
where we find the description
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of the Ten Commandments
that were placed inside
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the ark of the covenant.
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Deuteronomy
chapter 10 and verse 1.
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It says there...
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Now the reason why it says,
"like the first," is because
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the first tables of stone
that had the Ten Commandments
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were thrown to the ground
and broken into smithereens
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when Israel was
worshiping the golden calf.
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So God tells Moses,
"Get two more slabs of stone,
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and I'm going to
write the Ten Commandments
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on those as well."
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So it says...
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And now notice verse 4.
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The only thing that
God ever wrote in Scripture
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with His own finger.
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So notice that we find
inside the ark of the covenant
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the tables with
the Ten Commandments.
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And two cherubim in the
tabernacle in the wilderness,
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two additional ones
standing, that are looking down
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at the mercy seat, looking
down at the law in reverence
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for the constitution
of God's government.
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Now in Solomon's temple, we also
find a predominance of angels.
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Everywhere in the temple
of Solomon, you find angels.
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Notice 2 Chronicles
chapter 3 and verse 7.
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2 Chronicles
chapter 3 and verse 7.
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There were angels
carved into the walls.
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Because Solomon's
temple is a solid structure.
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It's not made with curtains.
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It's actually made
with solid materials.
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And so it says in 2 Chronicles
chapter 3 and verse 7...
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In other words, on all of the
walls of the Hebrew sanctuary
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you find angels there
carved onto the walls.
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Angels are very important,
obviously, in the way that God
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administrates the universe.
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We find angels also on the veil
that divided the Holy from the
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Most Holy in the temple
that was built by Solomon.
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Notice 2 Chronicles
chapter 3 and verse 14.
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2 Chronicles
chapter 3 and verse 14.
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It says there...
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Also in Solomon's temple...
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Which by the way is a
misnomer because it's the temple
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that was built by Solomon.
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...we find these cherubim that
covered the ark of the covenant.
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Notice 2 Chronicles
chapter 5 and verses 7 and 8.
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2 Chronicles
chapter 5 verses 7 and 8.
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We're now noticing the temple
that was built by Solomon.
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It has the same
principle; angels everywhere.
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Angels carved on the walls.
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Angels on this veil between
the Holy and Most Holy Place.
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And we're going to
notice now that they were the
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covering cherubs as well.
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It says there in 2 Chronicles
chapter 5 and verse 7...
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This is after
the temple is built.
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So notice the idea that these
cherubim actually overshadow
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or they cover the ark of the
covenant as they're looking down
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in reverence towards God's law.
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But there were not only
cherubim in the sanctuary.
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There were also
six-winged creatures, angels,
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known as seraphim.
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Notice Isaiah
chapter 6 and verses 1 and 2.
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There were lots of
angels in the sanctuary.
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Notice Isaiah
chapter 6 and verses 1 and 2,
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which is another order of
angel besides the cherubim
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who had four wings.
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Now we find
seraphim who have six wings.
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It says there in verse 1...
00:13:05.76\00:13:07.37
He covered his face
in reverence for God.
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Covering his feet is also
a sign of reverence to God.
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And by the way, if you want
to know how powerful are the
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voices of these seraphim,
if you continue reading there
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in Isaiah chapter 6, it tells
us that when the seraphim sang,
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"Holy, holy, holy,"
the temple literally shook.
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In other words, these
are powerful angels who have
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powerful vocal chords.
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Now we must ask the question.
00:14:03.38\00:14:05.29
Who are angels?
00:14:05.99\00:14:09.58
You know, there's a common
theory today, running even in
00:14:10.00\00:14:13.36
the Christian world, and that is
that angels are spirits of the
00:14:13.39\00:14:17.97
departed that come back
to help those who are still
00:14:18.00\00:14:21.57
walking on planet earth.
00:14:21.60\00:14:23.85
Perhaps this was popularized
by a program on television
00:14:24.21\00:14:27.25
many years ago that was
called, Highway to Heaven,
00:14:27.28\00:14:30.21
with Michael Landon.
00:14:30.54\00:14:31.91
I see many of you saying,
"Yeah, we remember that."
00:14:31.94\00:14:34.56
You know, supposedly he
died and then he came back
00:14:34.59\00:14:38.76
to this earth to
help people on earth.
00:14:38.79\00:14:41.36
And he came back as an angel.
00:14:41.39\00:14:43.36
The fact is that the Bible
does not sustain such an idea.
00:14:43.39\00:14:47.44
The angels are a separate
order of being that existed
00:14:47.47\00:14:51.33
before human beings existed.
00:14:51.36\00:14:53.84
Go with me to Job chapter
38 and verses 4 through 7.
00:14:53.87\00:14:57.18
And what we're
studying is extremely important.
00:14:57.21\00:14:59.29
We're going to study later
on about the state of the dead.
00:14:59.32\00:15:01.84
And you better understand
that angels will not come
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as the spirits of the
departed to talk with you
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and to communicate with you.
00:15:08.98\00:15:10.60
This is a misconception
that exists even within the
00:15:10.63\00:15:14.38
Christian world, unfortunately.
00:15:14.41\00:15:16.93
Job 38 and verses 4 through 7.
00:15:16.96\00:15:20.34
I want to show you that
the angels existed before
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this earth was created.
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It says there, and God asked
Job a series of questions...
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This is speaking
about creation, obviously.
00:15:51.52\00:15:54.09
And something
happened at creation.
00:15:54.12\00:15:56.07
Let me ask you, did the
stars of God, the sons of God,
00:16:06.13\00:16:10.41
exist when this
world was created?
00:16:10.44\00:16:13.13
Absolutely.
00:16:13.16\00:16:14.53
Very clearly, it
speaks about God laying the
00:16:14.56\00:16:16.84
foundations of the earth.
00:16:16.87\00:16:18.24
And we're told that when
God did that, the morning stars
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sang together and all the
sons of God shouted for joy.
00:16:22.08\00:16:26.71
So the angels are a separate
order of being that existed
00:16:27.13\00:16:30.99
before this world
came into existence.
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Now let's talk a little
bit about the number of angels
00:16:34.62\00:16:38.28
and their organization.
00:16:38.31\00:16:40.23
Let's deal first of all
with the fact that the angels
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.87
have a Commander in Chief.
00:16:43.90\00:16:47.11
Let's go to the
book of Joshua chapter 5
00:16:47.54\00:16:50.18
and verses 13 through 15.
00:16:50.21\00:16:52.76
Joshua chapter 5 and
verses 13 through 15.
00:16:52.79\00:16:56.68
Here, we find Joshua
outside the city of Jericho.
00:16:57.05\00:16:59.91
The city of Jericho is about
to fall before the Israelites.
00:16:59.94\00:17:03.04
And there's this individual
that comes and meets Joshua
00:17:03.35\00:17:06.90
and he has a
sword drawn in his hand.
00:17:06.93\00:17:09.33
And Joshua asked him, he
says, "Are you of those who are
00:17:09.98\00:17:13.51
with us or are you against us?"
00:17:13.54\00:17:16.84
And I want you to
notice how this conversation
00:17:16.87\00:17:21.09
develops in Joshua chapter
5 and beginning with verse 13.
00:17:21.12\00:17:25.52
Do the angels have a Commander?
00:17:53.85\00:17:56.82
Absolutely.
00:17:56.85\00:17:58.22
Now notice who
this messenger is.
00:18:03.70\00:18:06.32
This is not any
common ordinary angel.
00:18:06.35\00:18:09.35
This is the
Commander of the angelic host.
00:18:09.38\00:18:12.05
It's none other
than Jesus Christ,
00:18:12.08\00:18:14.22
according to most scholars.
00:18:14.25\00:18:16.16
It says there
continuing in verse 14...
00:18:16.19\00:18:20.17
This was not a common angel.
00:18:30.04\00:18:32.02
Because angels refuse worship,
according to Revelation 19
00:18:33.24\00:18:36.91
verse 10 and
Revelation 22 verses 8 and 9.
00:18:36.94\00:18:39.95
But there's more.
00:18:40.37\00:18:41.74
The same thing that
happened at the burning bush
00:19:04.11\00:19:06.64
took place here
outside of Jericho.
00:19:06.67\00:19:09.04
This Messenger, this
commander, was none other than
00:19:09.24\00:19:13.07
Jesus Christ, Himself.
00:19:13.10\00:19:15.13
Now do you know that
the angels are organized
00:19:15.89\00:19:18.98
in military fashion?
00:19:19.01\00:19:20.76
They function in exact order
and they function in companies.
00:19:20.79\00:19:24.83
You say, "How do we know this?"
00:19:25.13\00:19:26.86
Because in Matthew chapter
26 and verse 53, Jesus said some
00:19:27.17\00:19:32.46
words that we're
probably all acquainted with.
00:19:32.49\00:19:34.86
Matthew chapter 26 and verse 53.
00:19:34.89\00:19:38.00
When they came to arrest
Jesus, Jesus said some very
00:19:38.44\00:19:41.38
interesting words.
00:19:41.41\00:19:42.95
He said...
00:19:43.27\00:19:44.64
Are the angels
organized in legions?
00:19:57.84\00:20:00.90
Absolutely.
00:20:00.93\00:20:02.30
And what were legions?
00:20:02.33\00:20:03.78
Legions were divisions or
companies of the Roman army.
00:20:03.81\00:20:09.04
In other words, God
also has the angels organized
00:20:09.07\00:20:12.96
in military fashion.
00:20:12.99\00:20:14.80
Now I'd like to
throw out an idea.
00:20:14.83\00:20:17.10
If you want to read an
interesting chapter about
00:20:17.13\00:20:19.67
how the angels
function within God's sanctuary,
00:20:19.70\00:20:24.50
you need to read
Ezekiel chapter 1.
00:20:24.53\00:20:26.93
It's not talking about a
UFO in Ezekiel chapter 1.
00:20:26.96\00:20:30.79
It's talking there about
God's throne and how God,
00:20:30.99\00:20:34.14
through His angels,
administrates the universe
00:20:34.17\00:20:38.01
and keeps the
universe functioning in order.
00:20:38.04\00:20:41.05
And everything functions
there in Ezekiel chapter 1
00:20:41.08\00:20:44.80
with absolute
military precision.
00:20:44.83\00:20:48.35
Now what about the
number of the angels?
00:20:49.20\00:20:51.85
Well, the good news is
that there are two good angels
00:20:52.31\00:20:54.92
versus on bad one.
00:20:54.95\00:20:56.59
So the bad ones are outnumbered.
00:20:56.62\00:20:58.99
But how many angels are there?
00:20:59.02\00:21:01.21
Notice Psalm 68 and verse
17 where we find an indication
00:21:01.61\00:21:07.17
of the number of angels.
00:21:07.20\00:21:09.26
It says there, speaking
about the chariots of God,
00:21:09.88\00:21:12.60
which are His angels...
00:21:12.63\00:21:14.00
In Revelation
chapter 5 and verse 11,
00:21:26.33\00:21:28.98
we find another indication
as to the number of the angels.
00:21:29.01\00:21:32.84
Revelation
chapter 5 and verse 11.
00:21:33.02\00:21:35.88
You know, in the Greek language
there's no name for million.
00:21:51.82\00:21:54.75
There's no number for million.
00:21:54.78\00:21:56.33
And so the way in
which you express millions
00:21:56.36\00:21:58.89
is by multiplying thousands.
00:21:58.92\00:22:00.85
And so it says here, "ten
thousand times ten thousand,
00:22:01.12\00:22:05.31
and thousands of thousands."
00:22:05.34\00:22:07.18
That means millions.
00:22:07.21\00:22:09.34
Notice also Hebrews
chapter 12 and verse 22.
00:22:09.54\00:22:13.82
Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 22.
00:22:13.85\00:22:16.84
Here, we're once
again told about the number
00:22:16.87\00:22:20.72
of the angelic messengers.
00:22:20.75\00:22:22.91
It says there...
00:22:22.94\00:22:24.31
How many angels
are we talking about?
00:22:40.15\00:22:42.17
We're talking about
millions and millions of angels.
00:22:42.38\00:22:46.37
I can't tell you how
many, but they are innumerable,
00:22:46.40\00:22:50.91
according to Scripture.
00:22:50.94\00:22:52.31
Now let's talk a little bit
about the mission of the angels.
00:22:52.64\00:22:55.99
What is the
importance of the angels?
00:22:56.02\00:22:57.86
What do the angels do?
00:22:57.89\00:23:00.30
Do they just sit
around playing their harps
00:23:00.33\00:23:02.91
and praising the Lord?
00:23:03.11\00:23:04.85
Absolutely not.
00:23:04.88\00:23:06.25
Each one of them has
their function with regards
00:23:06.30\00:23:09.89
to planet earth.
00:23:09.92\00:23:11.50
Notice Matthew
chapter 4 and verse 11.
00:23:11.53\00:23:14.23
This is speaking about
Jesus after He had gone through
00:23:14.26\00:23:17.43
the grueling experience
of the three temptations.
00:23:17.46\00:23:20.86
By the way, He was
famished because He had gone
00:23:20.89\00:23:24.68
40 days and 40
nights without eating.
00:23:24.71\00:23:27.10
We're told here that the
angels did something with Him.
00:23:27.13\00:23:30.43
Matthew chapter
4 verse 11 says...
00:23:30.95\00:23:33.37
What is the role of the angels?
00:23:42.34\00:23:44.04
The role of the
angels is to what?
00:23:44.07\00:23:46.05
To minister.
00:23:46.08\00:23:47.45
They're ministering
here to Jesus Christ.
00:23:47.48\00:23:50.64
Hebrews chapter 1 and verse
14 tells us that they not only
00:23:50.91\00:23:54.48
ministered to Jesus, but they
also minister to those who will
00:23:54.51\00:23:58.50
inherit salvation.
00:23:58.53\00:24:00.20
It says there in
Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 14,
00:24:00.50\00:24:03.76
speaking about the angels...
00:24:03.79\00:24:05.24
In other words, the angels
are ministers of Jesus Christ
00:24:16.54\00:24:20.33
to meet the needs of
those who are being wooed
00:24:20.36\00:24:24.39
to salvation.
00:24:24.42\00:24:25.79
By the way, do you remember
the dream that Jacob had
00:24:25.87\00:24:29.91
when he had to flee from home?
00:24:29.94\00:24:31.91
He saw a vision of this ladder
that reached to the highest
00:24:31.94\00:24:37.57
heaven and its base
was planted upon the earth.
00:24:37.60\00:24:41.27
And what were ascending
and descending upon the ladder?
00:24:41.69\00:24:45.65
Angels of God were ascending
and descending upon the ladder.
00:24:46.00\00:24:49.65
That means that the angels are
the emissaries of Jesus Christ.
00:24:49.68\00:24:53.82
They take our prayers
to God, our pleas to God.
00:24:53.85\00:24:57.21
And they bring
answers of God to us.
00:24:57.24\00:25:00.60
If fact, let's read
about that ladder in
00:25:00.63\00:25:02.51
John chapter 1 and verse 51.
00:25:02.54\00:25:04.99
Jesus applies the
ladder to Himself.
00:25:05.02\00:25:07.55
John chapter 1 and verse 51.
00:25:07.58\00:25:10.77
In other words, the angels are
the emissaries of Jesus Christ
00:25:27.66\00:25:31.78
to bear our praises and our
thanks and our requests to Jesus
00:25:31.81\00:25:36.69
and to bring the
answers of God back to us.
00:25:36.72\00:25:40.02
Incidentally, the
Bible several times uses the
00:25:40.32\00:25:43.93
possessive pronoun
to refer to the angels.
00:25:43.96\00:25:46.68
It says, "When Jesus
comes with all His holy angels."
00:25:46.71\00:25:51.71
So the angels are His.
00:25:51.74\00:25:53.83
He's the Maximum Commander
that tells them what to do
00:25:54.09\00:25:58.26
and how to minister to those
who will inherit salvation.
00:25:58.29\00:26:01.86
Now do you know that sin...
00:26:02.39\00:26:04.09
And we're going to
study this in a few moments.
00:26:04.12\00:26:05.92
...sin originated in heaven?
00:26:05.95\00:26:08.22
And it originated
before this world existed.
00:26:09.17\00:26:11.98
And it involves the angels.
00:26:12.44\00:26:15.00
This is a very important detail
that we need to keep in mind
00:26:15.62\00:26:18.53
because we're going to
study about this a little bit
00:26:18.56\00:26:20.42
later on in our series.
00:26:20.45\00:26:22.69
The angels are involved
in the great controversy
00:26:22.87\00:26:26.03
between good and evil.
00:26:26.06\00:26:27.43
Because the Bible tells us
that one-third of the angels
00:26:27.62\00:26:30.94
decided to accept
the arguments of Lucifer
00:26:30.97\00:26:33.99
and went over to the evil side.
00:26:34.02\00:26:36.29
Which means that even
before sin came into this world,
00:26:36.32\00:26:39.38
the angels were
involved in the controversy
00:26:39.41\00:26:42.35
between good and evil.
00:26:42.38\00:26:44.35
In fact, in 1 Corinthians
chapter 4 and verse 9
00:26:44.55\00:26:48.25
we find a very
interesting little word.
00:26:48.28\00:26:50.48
The angels are not
passive bystanders in the
00:26:50.79\00:26:56.38
great controversy.
00:26:56.41\00:26:57.78
They are actively engaged.
00:26:57.81\00:26:59.96
They are observing what
is happening in the universe.
00:26:59.99\00:27:03.40
They're observing how God
is solving the problem of sin
00:27:03.43\00:27:07.35
in harmony with His character.
00:27:07.38\00:27:10.00
The angels actually
are called upon to impart
00:27:10.25\00:27:13.36
God's message to the prophets.
00:27:13.39\00:27:15.50
They're called upon to seek
to persuade sinners to repent.
00:27:15.70\00:27:19.10
They're called upon to
protect the people on earth from
00:27:19.46\00:27:23.29
the power of the evil one.
00:27:23.32\00:27:24.82
They're sent to bring God's
word to the minds of people
00:27:25.15\00:27:30.02
so that they can use
the word of God as a weapon
00:27:30.26\00:27:33.19
in times of need.
00:27:33.22\00:27:34.59
They actually speak to
the voice of conscience
00:27:34.62\00:27:37.49
so that we choose to do
good and we reject evil.
00:27:37.52\00:27:40.52
They're actively engaged
in this great controversy
00:27:40.55\00:27:43.68
between good and evil.
00:27:43.71\00:27:45.08
Notice what the apostle
Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians
00:27:45.11\00:27:47.63
chapter 4 and verse 9.
00:27:47.66\00:27:49.11
What are we?
00:28:06.34\00:28:07.71
We are a spectacle to the world.
00:28:07.74\00:28:10.81
That word, "spectacle," is
the Greek word, "theatron,"
00:28:14.33\00:28:18.81
where we get our
word "theater" from.
00:28:19.05\00:28:21.54
In other words, there's
this dramatic thing that is
00:28:21.83\00:28:24.57
happening in the universe.
00:28:24.60\00:28:26.31
And the angels and men
are watching what is happening
00:28:26.34\00:28:31.19
to decide whether God acts
in harmony with His character,
00:28:31.66\00:28:35.42
how God is going to
solve this sin problem.
00:28:35.45\00:28:38.67
Do you know that the Bible tells
us that when sinners repent,
00:28:39.53\00:28:42.41
the angels rejoice?
00:28:42.44\00:28:44.04
There's a close connection
between heaven and earth.
00:28:44.07\00:28:46.55
Notice Luke
chapter 15 and verse 10.
00:28:46.58\00:28:49.32
Luke chapter 15 and verse 10.
00:28:49.35\00:28:51.05
I hope that you're looking
up the verses ahead of time
00:28:51.08\00:28:53.45
because, you know, we
really have to advance.
00:28:53.48\00:28:55.54
There's so much
material to cover.
00:28:55.57\00:28:57.45
Luke 15 and verse 10.
00:28:57.71\00:28:59.78
Here Jesus says...
00:28:59.98\00:29:01.35
I can imagine the angels saying,
"Ha, we rescued another one
00:29:11.42\00:29:15.27
from the hands of the devil."
00:29:15.30\00:29:17.24
They become very happy
when God wins over subjects
00:29:17.56\00:29:22.37
on earth to Himself.
00:29:22.40\00:29:23.92
By the way, do you know
that God also confesses our name
00:29:24.34\00:29:26.86
before His angels?
00:29:26.89\00:29:28.32
Notice what we find in Luke
chapter 12 and verses 8 and 9.
00:29:28.60\00:29:32.26
Luke chapter 12 verses 8 and 9.
00:29:32.29\00:29:34.23
I want you to see that there's
a close connection between
00:29:34.26\00:29:36.61
heaven and earth, between
the angels and human beings.
00:29:36.64\00:29:40.52
The angels are engaged
in the great controversy.
00:29:40.55\00:29:43.20
They're watching
what's happening.
00:29:43.23\00:29:44.98
Luke 12 verses 8 and 9.
00:29:45.01\00:29:47.04
And so, folks, the angels
are actively engaged in watching
00:30:06.90\00:30:11.47
what is happening here.
00:30:11.50\00:30:12.87
They rejoice
when sinners repent.
00:30:12.99\00:30:15.79
And Jesus confesses our
name when we come to Jesus
00:30:15.82\00:30:20.18
and we're not ashamed of Him.
00:30:20.21\00:30:22.68
Now let's talk a little bit
about loyal and disloyal angels.
00:30:23.17\00:30:28.45
You see, this whole mess that we
are experiencing on planet earth
00:30:28.48\00:30:32.20
actually began in heaven.
00:30:32.23\00:30:35.02
And not only in heaven, but
it began in the Most Holy Place
00:30:35.54\00:30:40.01
of the sanctuary.
00:30:40.04\00:30:41.42
You're saying, "What?
00:30:41.45\00:30:42.82
The problem of sin
began in the Most Holy Place
00:30:43.00\00:30:46.58
of the sanctuary?"
00:30:46.61\00:30:47.98
And by the way, it
involved God's holy Law.
00:30:48.01\00:30:52.17
Now let's talk about the
origin of evil in heaven.
00:30:52.20\00:30:55.16
Later on in this series,
we're going to talk about
00:30:55.43\00:30:57.25
the origin of evil on earth.
00:30:57.28\00:30:59.33
You see, sin began with a
being who is known as Lucifer.
00:30:59.98\00:31:05.84
In fact, let's read about his
origin in the book of Ezekiel
00:31:06.04\00:31:10.90
chapter 28 and we'll
read verse 13, and then we'll
00:31:10.93\00:31:14.17
go to verse 15.
00:31:14.20\00:31:15.85
Ezekiel 28 verse 13.
00:31:15.88\00:31:18.32
Speaking about this majestic
being who, by the way, was
00:31:18.35\00:31:22.09
a cherub, it says here...
00:31:22.12\00:31:24.83
Did you know the Garden
of Eden was in heaven before
00:31:28.83\00:31:31.13
it was placed on earth?
00:31:31.16\00:31:32.53
It was a piece of heaven
transplanted to the earth.
00:31:32.90\00:31:35.54
It says here...
00:31:35.57\00:31:36.94
And let's notice verse 15.
00:31:58.27\00:32:00.00
Let me ask you, is evil eternal?
00:32:10.11\00:32:12.04
Is Satan eternal,
is Lucifer eternal?
00:32:12.93\00:32:15.91
No, because he was what?
00:32:15.94\00:32:17.37
He was created.
00:32:17.66\00:32:19.03
Which means that
evil will come to an end.
00:32:19.06\00:32:21.42
Evil and good will not exist
forever as competing systems.
00:32:22.27\00:32:27.14
Evil will be
eradicated from the universe.
00:32:27.34\00:32:29.92
It had a beginning
and it will have an end.
00:32:29.95\00:32:33.02
So the first thing we notice
is that this being was created.
00:32:33.05\00:32:36.80
Now what did he look
like when he was created?
00:32:37.53\00:32:39.61
Ezekiel 28 and verse 12.
00:32:39.89\00:32:42.23
It's using the king
of Tyre as an example.
00:32:42.54\00:32:46.11
And verse 15 says...
00:33:04.58\00:33:06.22
So my question is this.
00:33:16.06\00:33:17.66
Does the Bible
tells us that this being
00:33:18.43\00:33:20.78
was originally
perfect and beautiful?
00:33:20.81\00:33:23.38
Absolutely.
Blameless in his ways.
00:33:23.41\00:33:25.74
He was created not
with a taint of sin.
00:33:25.77\00:33:28.46
No inclination towards sin.
00:33:28.49\00:33:30.93
Now the questions
is, what was his job?
00:33:31.78\00:33:34.97
Well the Bible
tells us what his job was.
00:33:35.76\00:33:38.13
Notice Ezekiel
chapter 28 and verse 13,
00:33:38.39\00:33:41.68
and we're going to read
only the last part of this verse
00:33:41.79\00:33:44.81
because we already
read the first part.
00:33:44.84\00:33:46.71
It says in
Ezekiel 28 and verse 13,
00:33:46.74\00:33:49.46
"The workmanship of
your timbrels and pipes
00:33:50.23\00:33:55.44
was prepared for you on
the day you were created."
00:33:55.93\00:33:59.44
Now, timbrels are
like a tambourine;
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.59
to mark the beat of the music.
00:34:03.00\00:34:05.52
And the word
"pipes" means, flutes.
00:34:05.72\00:34:09.19
In other words, Lucifer
was created to be a what?
00:34:09.41\00:34:12.44
To be a musician.
00:34:12.47\00:34:13.84
Do you think he knows
a little bit about music?
00:34:13.87\00:34:15.82
Do you think he can use
music, even Christian music
00:34:16.52\00:34:19.71
in the world today,
to lead people astray?
00:34:19.74\00:34:22.12
Absolutely.
00:34:22.15\00:34:23.52
He's the master musician.
00:34:23.55\00:34:24.92
He knows how music
affects us physically, mentally,
00:34:25.11\00:34:29.02
psychologically and spiritually.
00:34:29.05\00:34:31.16
And he not only uses
secular music, but many times he
00:34:31.36\00:34:34.67
uses so called sacred music
to distract people from God.
00:34:34.70\00:34:38.67
Now the question is,
what was his position?
00:34:39.33\00:34:41.71
The fact is, the Bible
tells us that he was one of the
00:34:42.42\00:34:44.75
two covering cherubs
next to the throne of God.
00:34:44.78\00:34:47.52
In other words, he was
in the very presence of God
00:34:47.83\00:34:51.14
in the temple of God on
Mount Zion in the New Jerusalem.
00:34:51.17\00:34:55.58
Notice what we find in
Ezekiel chapter 28 and verse 14
00:34:55.78\00:34:59.09
where it speaks
about his position.
00:34:59.12\00:35:00.83
It says here, "You were the
anointed cherub who..." What?
00:35:01.08\00:35:06.22
Remember that word
that we read in Exodus?
00:35:06.46\00:35:08.53
This is the heavenly Mount Zion.
00:35:16.59\00:35:18.38
The fiery stones
represent the angels.
00:35:21.76\00:35:23.87
He walked back and forth
in the midst of the angels,
00:35:23.90\00:35:26.81
according to Scripture.
00:35:26.84\00:35:28.21
He was one of the two
covering cherubs that were over
00:35:28.24\00:35:32.35
the throne of God.
00:35:32.38\00:35:34.23
Let's read Exodus 25
and verse 20 once again
00:35:34.26\00:35:37.18
so that you see the
key word, "covering."
00:35:37.21\00:35:39.45
It says there in
Exodus 25 and verse 20...
00:35:39.64\00:35:42.39
Now you're saying, "Pastor,
are you saying that in heaven
00:35:58.91\00:36:01.54
there is an ark of the covenant
and there's two cherubim
00:36:01.57\00:36:05.09
that cover the
ark of the covenant
00:36:05.12\00:36:07.25
just like in the
sanctuary on earth?"
00:36:07.28\00:36:09.17
Absolutely.
00:36:09.20\00:36:10.57
In our first lecture, we studied
that the earthly sanctuary was
00:36:10.78\00:36:14.01
a shadow or was a copy of what?
00:36:14.04\00:36:16.35
Of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:36:16.97\00:36:18.34
So there is an ark of
the covenant in heaven.
00:36:18.37\00:36:20.74
And God in person
is the Shekinah there.
00:36:21.55\00:36:24.86
And there are two
covering cherubs over the ark.
00:36:25.19\00:36:28.21
You say, "Where does
the Bible say that there is
00:36:28.24\00:36:30.40
such a place in heaven?"
00:36:30.43\00:36:32.18
Notice what we find in the
book of Revelation chapter 11
00:36:32.44\00:36:36.38
and verse 19.
00:36:36.41\00:36:37.92
Revelation chapter 11 verse 19.
00:36:37.95\00:36:41.16
Very clearly, there is
a temple in heaven with an
00:36:41.85\00:36:44.93
ark of the covenant.
00:36:44.96\00:36:46.33
It says there...
00:36:46.36\00:36:47.73
And what is seen when the
temple is opened in heaven?
00:36:54.80\00:36:57.39
So my question is, is
there an ark of the covenant
00:37:09.32\00:37:12.80
in the heavenly sanctuary?
00:37:12.83\00:37:14.37
Absolutely.
00:37:14.40\00:37:15.77
Are there covering cherubs that
cover the ark of the covenant,
00:37:15.80\00:37:19.15
overshadow the
ark of the covenant?
00:37:19.18\00:37:21.74
Absolutely.
00:37:21.77\00:37:23.15
And what do you suppose is found
inside the ark of the covenant?
00:37:23.72\00:37:27.93
What was inside the ark
of the covenant on earth?
00:37:29.09\00:37:32.65
The tables of the
law, the Ten Commandments.
00:37:33.19\00:37:35.23
The earthly is a
reflection of the heavenly.
00:37:35.26\00:37:37.38
So what must be in
the heavenly sanctuary
00:37:37.41\00:37:39.92
underneath the place
where God manifests His presence
00:37:40.98\00:37:44.05
as the foundation of His throne?
00:37:44.08\00:37:45.95
The Ten Commandments must
be in the heavenly temple.
00:37:45.98\00:37:49.73
Now let's talk a little
bit about Lucifer's sin.
00:37:50.30\00:37:54.12
Do you know what
Lucifer wanted to do?
00:37:55.02\00:37:56.81
He wanted to
overthrow the government of God.
00:37:57.27\00:38:00.14
In fact, he wanted to take
over the throne of the universe.
00:38:00.97\00:38:05.06
He suffered a severe
case of spiritual myopia.
00:38:05.73\00:38:09.39
He was near-sighted.
00:38:10.38\00:38:11.75
All he could see was himself.
00:38:12.25\00:38:13.84
In fact, let's read
about that in Isaiah chapter 14
00:38:14.24\00:38:17.13
and verses 12 through 14.
00:38:17.16\00:38:19.00
Isaiah chapter 14
verses 12 through 14.
00:38:19.21\00:38:22.23
It says there...
00:38:22.26\00:38:23.63
Now notice the key word here.
00:38:32.05\00:38:33.74
"Above the stars of
God" means, above the angels.
00:38:42.71\00:38:45.39
What is the key
word in this passage?
00:38:56.09\00:38:57.95
"I..."
00:38:57.98\00:38:59.35
He didn't want God
to be the ruler anymore.
00:39:00.63\00:39:03.41
He wanted to take over
the government of the universe
00:39:03.72\00:39:07.30
by sitting upon God's throne.
00:39:07.33\00:39:09.68
I want you to
remember that expression,
00:39:09.71\00:39:11.32
"I will be like the Most High,"
because in a couple of lectures
00:39:11.35\00:39:15.44
we're going to talk
about how the devil tempted Eve
00:39:15.47\00:39:18.81
and how he was successful in
gaining the victory over Eve.
00:39:18.84\00:39:22.31
He used the same method
because it worked in heaven.
00:39:22.34\00:39:25.29
He said to Eve, "You
shall be like the Most High."
00:39:25.32\00:39:29.07
The temptation on
earth was simply a replica
00:39:29.50\00:39:32.94
of what happened in heaven.
00:39:32.97\00:39:34.34
And when we study this lecture,
you're going to see that.
00:39:34.37\00:39:36.84
Now the Bible tells
us that Lucifer sinned.
00:39:38.17\00:39:40.37
Notice Ezekiel 28 and
verse 16, the word is used.
00:39:40.98\00:39:44.69
It says in Ezekiel 28 and verse
16, speaking about Lucifer...
00:39:44.72\00:39:51.29
Question, did Lucifer sin?
00:39:57.83\00:39:59.63
He most certainly did.
00:39:59.98\00:40:01.35
Now, since when
has the devil sinned?
00:40:01.43\00:40:04.86
Many Christians think
that the law was given for the
00:40:05.63\00:40:07.94
first time on Mount Sinai.
00:40:07.97\00:40:09.68
In other words, when
the Ten Commandments were
00:40:09.78\00:40:11.21
given on Mount Sinai,
that's the first time that the
00:40:11.24\00:40:13.29
law comes in.
00:40:13.32\00:40:14.69
Can't be.
00:40:14.99\00:40:16.36
I want you to notice 1
John chapter 3 and verse 8.
00:40:16.40\00:40:19.95
1 John chapter 3 and verse 8.
00:40:19.98\00:40:22.79
It's speaking here
about where sin originated,
00:40:22.82\00:40:26.22
when sin originated.
00:40:26.25\00:40:27.79
It says there in 1
John 3 and verse 8...
00:40:27.99\00:40:31.07
"He who sins is of the
devil, for the devil has sinned
00:40:31.47\00:40:36.33
since Mount Sinai."
00:40:36.36\00:40:37.97
Is that what the Bible says?
00:40:39.93\00:40:41.30
No, it says the
devil has sinned from when?
00:40:41.46\00:40:45.37
From the beginning.
00:40:45.57\00:40:46.94
What are the works of the devil?
00:40:51.71\00:40:53.13
Sin, right?
00:40:53.43\00:40:54.80
So did Jesus come
to destroy the law
00:40:54.83\00:40:56.95
or did He come to destroy sin?
00:40:56.98\00:40:58.77
He came to destroy sin.
00:40:59.07\00:41:00.44
Now the
question is, what is sin?
00:41:00.47\00:41:02.28
We're told that Lucifer sinned.
00:41:03.03\00:41:05.74
And he sinned at
the very beginning.
00:41:06.04\00:41:08.23
Now what is sin?
00:41:08.26\00:41:09.86
1 John chapter 3 and verse 4 has
the biblical definition of sin.
00:41:10.20\00:41:15.07
1 John chapter 3 and verse 4.
00:41:15.10\00:41:17.95
It says...
00:41:18.15\00:41:19.52
Or as the King James
says, "Sin is the transgression
00:41:28.87\00:41:32.28
of the law."
00:41:32.31\00:41:33.68
Now the question is,
how could Lucifer sin
00:41:33.71\00:41:35.23
is there was no
law to transgress?
00:41:35.26\00:41:37.24
Must there have been a law
in order for Lucifer to sin?
00:41:38.09\00:41:41.78
Absolutely.
00:41:41.81\00:41:43.18
And the law was inside
the ark of the covenant.
00:41:43.21\00:41:46.20
Now some people might
say, "How could a perfect being
00:41:46.23\00:41:49.03
that was created blameless and
had no tendencies toward evil
00:41:49.06\00:41:53.04
suddenly come up with the
idea of rebelling against God?"
00:41:53.07\00:41:56.51
All I can say is that
for some strange reason,
00:41:56.77\00:41:59.73
unexplainable reason, he
decided to use his freedom
00:41:59.76\00:42:03.46
of choice against God.
00:42:03.49\00:42:05.04
This shows that even in heaven,
God respected freedom of choice.
00:42:05.07\00:42:08.89
Because he allowed
this angel to say no to Him.
00:42:08.92\00:42:11.53
Now why would he say no when
he was perfect and blameless
00:42:11.56\00:42:14.38
and beautiful and had no
inclination or tendency to sin,
00:42:14.41\00:42:17.44
that's a mystery.
00:42:17.47\00:42:18.84
And if we could give
an explanation of that,
00:42:18.87\00:42:20.96
then we would be able
to give a reason for sin,
00:42:20.99\00:42:23.08
and ultimately God
would be to blame for sin.
00:42:23.11\00:42:26.23
But of course, God isn't.
00:42:26.58\00:42:27.95
So Lucifer sinned.
00:42:30.02\00:42:31.39
He went against the
law that was found inside
00:42:32.71\00:42:36.36
the ark of the covenant.
00:42:36.39\00:42:38.19
But of course, just one
being against the government
00:42:38.99\00:42:42.47
of God wouldn't cut it.
00:42:42.50\00:42:44.53
And so what he had to do
was spread his rebellion.
00:42:44.79\00:42:48.63
He had to recruit followers.
00:42:48.66\00:42:51.04
He had to recruit people
that would accept his arguments
00:42:51.07\00:42:53.92
and decide to follow him
instead of following God.
00:42:53.95\00:42:56.76
But of course, for this he
had to give God a black eye.
00:42:56.79\00:42:59.87
He had to make God look bad.
00:43:00.49\00:43:02.12
Because, you know, if
he made God look good,
00:43:02.15\00:43:06.50
nobody would want to follow him.
00:43:06.53\00:43:07.90
So he had to malign
the character of God.
00:43:07.93\00:43:10.24
He had to say, "The
law of God is restrictive.
00:43:10.27\00:43:13.24
It takes away your freedom.
00:43:13.44\00:43:14.94
All He wants is slaves.
00:43:15.29\00:43:17.08
All He wants is blind service."
00:43:17.11\00:43:19.25
We're going to find he
said the same thing to Eve
00:43:19.28\00:43:21.26
in the Garden of Eden.
00:43:21.29\00:43:22.66
"And I am the great emancipator.
00:43:22.69\00:43:25.28
I have come to
deliver you from law.
00:43:25.57\00:43:28.06
I have come to give you
freedom so that you can follow
00:43:28.09\00:43:31.08
the inclinations
of your own heart.
00:43:31.71\00:43:33.71
Because your own
heart will always show you
00:43:33.74\00:43:36.05
what is right and what is
wrong without God having to
00:43:36.08\00:43:39.35
tell you what is
right and what is wrong."
00:43:39.38\00:43:41.72
And so the Bible tells
us, if you go with me to
00:43:42.33\00:43:44.79
Ezekiel 28 and verse 16,
the first part of the verse.
00:43:44.82\00:43:48.47
There's an interesting
little word that is used.
00:43:48.50\00:43:50.86
Ezekiel chapter
28 and verse 16 says,
00:43:51.24\00:43:54.07
speaking about Lucifer...
00:43:54.49\00:43:56.04
That word, "trading,"
is very, very interesting.
00:44:05.72\00:44:08.95
It's a commercial word.
00:44:09.51\00:44:11.18
You can look it up in a
concordance if you wish.
00:44:11.21\00:44:13.45
It has to do with
buying and selling.
00:44:13.48\00:44:15.89
And so somehow, Lucifer
was trying to sell something
00:44:16.45\00:44:20.32
to the heavenly beings.
00:44:20.35\00:44:21.72
The question is, what
was he trying to sell them?
00:44:21.75\00:44:24.66
The fact is, he was
trying to sell them lies.
00:44:25.54\00:44:29.87
Do you know that even today
we use a figurative expression
00:44:30.22\00:44:34.39
when somebody tells us
that we find hard to believe?
00:44:34.42\00:44:36.88
We say, "I don't buy that."
00:44:36.91\00:44:39.71
You see, we have a remnant of
this idea of buying and selling.
00:44:41.79\00:44:44.73
He trading was that he
wanted to sell his lies
00:44:44.93\00:44:48.21
to the heavenly hosts.
00:44:48.24\00:44:49.70
In fact, we're told in
John chapter 8 and verse 44,
00:44:49.95\00:44:53.10
John chapter 8 verse 44, that
he is the father of all lies.
00:44:53.13\00:44:58.16
Jesus says there, speaking
to the Jews of His day...
00:44:58.19\00:45:02.09
That's why we call
him, "the father of lies."
00:45:22.16\00:45:26.85
Now let's go to Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 4,
00:45:27.45\00:45:30.47
the first part of the
verse, and notice how he drew
00:45:30.50\00:45:34.53
a third part of
the angels with him.
00:45:34.56\00:45:36.42
He used something to draw them.
00:45:36.79\00:45:38.42
Notice Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 4,
00:45:38.76\00:45:41.61
the first part of the verse.
00:45:41.64\00:45:43.03
Speaking about this
dragon, which symbolizes Satan,
00:45:43.06\00:45:46.46
it says, "his..." What?
00:45:46.49\00:45:48.17
"...his tail..."
00:45:48.37\00:45:50.24
That is, a third of the angels.
00:45:52.32\00:45:53.78
Now what is this that
he used his tail to draw
00:45:56.12\00:45:59.33
a third of the
angels to his side?
00:45:59.36\00:46:01.11
Well, Isaiah 9 verse 15 tells
us what the tail represents.
00:46:01.61\00:46:05.90
Isaiah chapter 9 and verse
15 explains the symbolic meaning
00:46:05.93\00:46:10.99
of the tail.
00:46:11.02\00:46:12.39
It says there...
00:46:12.42\00:46:13.79
So what did the
devil draw a third of the
00:46:25.99\00:46:27.85
angels with him with?
00:46:27.88\00:46:29.30
With his tail.
00:46:29.54\00:46:30.91
Which means that he
lied to the heavenly angels.
00:46:30.94\00:46:35.06
Incidentally, that
word, "trading," that is used
00:46:35.64\00:46:38.75
in Ezekiel chapter 28, the root
of that word is also used in
00:46:38.78\00:46:43.36
two other text
in the Old Testament
00:46:43.39\00:46:45.01
that I want to read now.
00:46:45.04\00:46:46.41
Notice what we find in
Ezekiel 22 and verse 9.
00:46:46.68\00:46:50.54
The same root word
that is translated "trading"
00:46:50.57\00:46:53.39
in chapter 28.
00:46:53.42\00:46:55.14
It says here in
chapter 22 and verse 9...
00:46:55.62\00:46:58.48
Speaking about Tyre.
00:47:01.14\00:47:02.95
"Slander" is the same root word.
00:47:08.24\00:47:09.99
So notice here that the same
root word is translated what?
00:47:17.91\00:47:21.12
Slander.
00:47:21.32\00:47:22.69
So what did Lucifer do?
00:47:22.72\00:47:24.09
He slandered God
and His character.
00:47:24.12\00:47:27.03
This word is also used in
Leviticus 19 and verse 16.
00:47:27.43\00:47:31.44
Leviticus
chapter 19 and verse 16.
00:47:31.64\00:47:35.19
Notice what is says there.
00:47:35.44\00:47:36.81
God is speaking
to Israel. He says...
00:47:36.84\00:47:38.82
Talebearer is the same root word
that is translated "trading."
00:47:44.32\00:47:47.68
Now what did his lies look like?
00:47:57.84\00:47:59.40
One of my favorite books is
called, Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:47:59.73\00:48:03.76
It's a story of the
Old Testament up to the
00:48:03.79\00:48:07.22
time of the Hebrew
kings from the time that
00:48:07.25\00:48:09.37
sin originated in heaven.
00:48:09.40\00:48:11.06
So I want to read you a
statement that's found in
00:48:11.09\00:48:13.14
Great Controversy, page...
00:48:13.17\00:48:14.54
Oh, excuse me. This is
from Great Controversy.
00:48:14.57\00:48:16.46
It's also in
Patriarchs and Prophets.
00:48:16.54\00:48:18.44
But the reference is in
Great Controversy, page 499.
00:48:18.47\00:48:21.61
Same writer, Ellen White.
00:48:21.64\00:48:23.72
She says this,
speaking about Lucifer...
00:48:23.75\00:48:26.67
In other words, don't
let God tell you what to do.
00:48:42.05\00:48:43.97
Your heart will
tell you what to do.
00:48:44.74\00:48:46.51
Now notice...
00:48:48.30\00:48:49.67
So if there's anyone out
there teaching that the law was
00:49:15.05\00:49:17.25
nailed to the cross
or that it was abolished,
00:49:17.28\00:49:19.71
it's a repetition of the
lies of the father of lies.
00:49:19.99\00:49:23.52
Because God is not going
to abolish the constitution of
00:49:23.55\00:49:26.32
His government to save sinners.
00:49:26.35\00:49:28.39
What He does is provide
someone who takes the penalty
00:49:28.68\00:49:31.80
upon Himself to save sinners.
00:49:31.83\00:49:34.72
But He doesn't do
away with His law.
00:49:34.75\00:49:37.29
The Bible tells us that
as a result of the arguments
00:49:37.80\00:49:41.05
of Satan, war
broke out in heaven.
00:49:41.08\00:49:43.27
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 4,
00:49:43.48\00:49:46.32
the first part of the verse.
00:49:46.35\00:49:47.72
And then we'll go
to verses 7 through 9.
00:49:47.75\00:49:49.52
It says there in
chapter 12 and verse 4...
00:49:49.79\00:49:52.43
By the way,
Michael is Jesus Christ.
00:50:01.96\00:50:03.49
You say, "Oh, you're
saying that Michael is Jesus?"
00:50:03.52\00:50:06.51
Yes, but you need to understand
that the Seventh-day Adventist
00:50:06.54\00:50:09.19
Church believes that even though
Jesus is spoken of as Michael,
00:50:09.22\00:50:12.59
He wasn't created by God.
00:50:12.62\00:50:14.95
He is eternal God.
00:50:14.98\00:50:16.64
He's called Michael in
Scripture, which means,
00:50:16.84\00:50:18.95
"who is like God."
00:50:18.98\00:50:21.25
It's a name of a
challenge, "who is like God."
00:50:21.28\00:50:24.42
But we don't believe like some
churches in the world that think
00:50:24.78\00:50:27.60
that Michael was the
first creature of God and
00:50:27.63\00:50:30.42
Jesus was the
first creation of God.
00:50:30.45\00:50:32.68
We believe that
Jesus Christ is eternal God
00:50:32.71\00:50:35.86
even though He's
called Michael here.
00:50:35.89\00:50:37.84
And so it says,
"Michael and His angels..."
00:50:37.87\00:50:40.21
That is, Jesus and His angels.
00:50:40.24\00:50:41.99
So there was this war in heaven.
00:50:45.99\00:50:47.61
And it says in verse 8,
"but they did not prevail..."
00:50:48.22\00:50:51.85
That is the
devil and his angels.
00:50:51.88\00:50:53.25
Now a question
that comes up is this.
00:51:09.15\00:51:10.88
Why didn't God
destroy Satan immediately?
00:51:10.91\00:51:15.19
Think about it.
00:51:16.73\00:51:18.10
The devil had said
that God was a tyrant,
00:51:18.57\00:51:20.66
that His law was restrictive,
that God didn't respect freedom.
00:51:21.26\00:51:25.26
And so now all of these
angels say, "We're going to go
00:51:25.35\00:51:28.28
against God," and
God snuffs them out.
00:51:28.31\00:51:31.02
What would happen?
00:51:32.13\00:51:33.50
The angels would say,
"Well, maybe Lucifer was right.
00:51:34.67\00:51:37.27
Look, because He didn't
respect his freedom of choice.
00:51:38.17\00:51:40.82
He snuffed him out."
00:51:40.85\00:51:42.22
So God said, "I have to allow
the principles of Lucifer's
00:51:43.36\00:51:47.12
government to develop so
that all of the universe can see
00:51:47.15\00:51:50.93
what his plan of
government is like."
00:51:50.96\00:51:53.21
Let me ask you, has his plan
of government been successful?
00:51:53.41\00:51:56.88
Just look at the world today.
00:51:56.91\00:51:58.73
Tell me, is a world without
law a successful government?
00:51:59.02\00:52:03.29
Absolutely not.
00:52:03.67\00:52:05.04
It is a mess.
00:52:05.07\00:52:06.44
But the heavenly beings
would have never known it
00:52:06.59\00:52:08.73
unless God allowed evil to what?
00:52:08.76\00:52:11.46
To develop and to mature.
00:52:11.49\00:52:13.48
And by the way, God is going
to make the devil sit down for
00:52:13.51\00:52:15.86
a thousand years here
without having anyone to tempt.
00:52:15.89\00:52:19.08
Because everybody is going
to be dead, all of his followers
00:52:19.11\00:52:21.51
are going to be dead
00:52:21.54\00:52:22.91
God's people are
going to be in heaven.
00:52:22.94\00:52:24.31
And God is going to
force the devil to sit there
00:52:24.34\00:52:26.23
and He's going to say,
"Look at what you have done."
00:52:26.26\00:52:29.68
You see, if God had
snuffed Lucifer out,
00:52:31.18\00:52:33.52
the heavenly beings
would have probably served God,
00:52:34.60\00:52:36.86
but they would have served Him
out of fear, not out of love.
00:52:36.89\00:52:39.70
And they would have wondered,
"Who is the next who is
00:52:40.34\00:52:43.87
going to disappear from
the scene who uses his or her
00:52:43.90\00:52:47.42
freedom of choice
to go against God.
00:52:47.45\00:52:49.84
Now let's talk
about Lucifer's end.
00:52:50.83\00:52:53.22
Because he will have an end.
00:52:53.25\00:52:55.04
The purpose of the
sanctuary, we're going to find
00:52:55.70\00:52:58.03
in this series, is that God,
through the sanctuary service,
00:52:58.06\00:53:01.22
is exonerating His character.
00:53:01.25\00:53:03.33
In other words, the purpose
of allowing this whole thing
00:53:04.61\00:53:08.36
to transpire before the angels,
before the heavenly beings,
00:53:08.39\00:53:11.52
before this earth, is to show
how God solves the sin problem
00:53:11.55\00:53:15.99
in harmony with His character.
00:53:16.02\00:53:17.77
So that when sin is
destroyed, everyone will say,
00:53:17.80\00:53:20.95
"God is right. God is love.
00:53:20.98\00:53:23.80
God is just. God is good."
00:53:23.83\00:53:26.53
Lucifer will come to an end.
00:53:28.18\00:53:30.00
We're told in
Malachi chapter 4 and verse 3
00:53:30.59\00:53:35.10
that root and branch
of evil will be destroyed.
00:53:36.98\00:53:40.01
It says there, "For
behold, the day is coming,
00:53:40.04\00:53:42.72
burning like an
oven," this is verse 1,
00:53:42.75\00:53:44.71
"and all the proud, yes, all
who do wickedly will be stubble.
00:53:45.12\00:53:49.26
And the day which is
coming shall burn them up,
00:53:49.46\00:53:52.30
says the Lord of hosts,
00:53:52.33\00:53:53.70
that will leave
them neither..." What?
00:53:53.73\00:53:56.00
"...will leave them
neither root nor branch."
00:53:56.04\00:53:58.04
Let me ask you, who is the root?
00:53:58.07\00:53:59.83
The root of all
evil is the devil.
00:54:00.65\00:54:02.50
And who are the
branches? His followers.
00:54:02.53\00:54:04.43
You remember, Jesus says, "I am
the vine, you are the branches."
00:54:04.46\00:54:07.72
Well the devil also is the
root and he has his branches.
00:54:07.75\00:54:11.37
And so, the Bible says that root
and branches will be eradicated
00:54:11.70\00:54:16.62
once and for all.
00:54:16.65\00:54:18.02
In fact, Ezekiel 28,
that passage that we studied
00:54:18.11\00:54:20.93
several texts from this morning.
00:54:20.96\00:54:22.33
Ezekiel 28 verses 18 and
19 tell us what the final end
00:54:22.57\00:54:26.91
of this being will be, and all
those who choose to follow him.
00:54:26.94\00:54:31.17
It says there in
Ezekiel 28 and verse 18,
00:54:31.46\00:54:34.69
speaking about this being...
00:54:34.72\00:54:36.23
"Trading" means, by
the iniquity of your lying.
00:54:43.57\00:54:46.19
Therefore, what
is God going to do?
00:54:46.39\00:54:49.50
Is that good news?
00:55:18.51\00:55:19.88
The question is, who are we
going to ally our lives with?
00:55:20.33\00:55:23.31
You see, to be with the
devil is to be with a loser.
00:55:23.88\00:55:26.27
It's already been
predicted that he's the loser.
00:55:26.95\00:55:29.22
If you're with him,
you're going to lose.
00:55:29.25\00:55:30.99
If you're with
Jesus, you're going to win.
00:55:31.51\00:55:33.31
Because Jesus
already won on the cross,
00:55:33.34\00:55:35.29
according to what we're
going to study in this seminar.
00:55:35.32\00:55:38.10
Now the question is,
after sin is eradicated,
00:55:38.43\00:55:42.23
will it ever rise again?
00:55:43.69\00:55:45.32
Listen, what person in his
right mind would ever what to
00:55:46.68\00:55:53.67
experiment with sin again after
seeing what sin has caused?
00:55:53.70\00:55:59.69
You see, one of the reasons why
God allows sin to proliferate
00:56:00.13\00:56:03.76
and to develop is so
that God's people can see
00:56:03.79\00:56:07.22
what it means to
live independently of God,
00:56:07.25\00:56:10.15
what it means to
trample upon His law.
00:56:10.35\00:56:12.95
At the very end
people will say, "It's a mess
00:56:13.05\00:56:15.42
when you go down that road."
00:56:15.45\00:56:17.24
And people will exalt God's law,
because the law will be written
00:56:17.93\00:56:21.98
upon their hearts.
00:56:22.01\00:56:23.40
People will see that the law
of God is holy, just, and good,
00:56:23.43\00:56:27.60
as the apostle Paul tells us in
Romans chapter 7 and verse 12.
00:56:27.63\00:56:32.37
We will see that sin is the
evil culprit, not God's law.
00:56:32.86\00:56:37.49
You see, God's law is holy.
00:56:37.52\00:56:38.90
It shows that sin is
bad. So what do you do?
00:56:38.93\00:56:41.22
You get rid of
the law that is good
00:56:41.25\00:56:42.83
in order to solve the
problem of sin, which is bad?
00:56:42.86\00:56:45.25
Of course not.
00:56:45.28\00:56:46.65
It does no good to
do away with the law.
00:56:46.68\00:56:49.82
In fact, we're told
in Nahum, our last verse,
00:56:50.35\00:56:53.13
Nahum 1 and verse 9,
that affliction will not rise
00:56:53.16\00:56:57.23
a second time.
00:56:57.33\00:56:58.70
And then the Bible tells
us in Revelation chapter 21
00:56:59.12\00:57:01.83
and verse 4 that God will wipe
away all tears from their eyes.
00:57:01.86\00:57:07.11
And there will be no
more sorrow, no more pain,
00:57:07.70\00:57:11.13
no more
suffering, and no more death.
00:57:11.16\00:57:14.23
Because God will live with
us and we will live with Him.
00:57:14.48\00:57:19.13
And forever more, the
universe will be secure
00:57:19.44\00:57:22.86
because it has been
inoculated against sin.
00:57:22.89\00:57:26.56
Do you want to be there?
00:57:27.15\00:57:28.52