Let's bow our heads for prayer.
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Father in heaven,
we gather once again
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to study Your holy Word,
the sure word of prophecy,
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for these last days.
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And Father, we ask
that as we open that Word,
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that the Holy Spirit will be
with us to guide our thoughts.
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Our ways are not Your ways,
and Your ways are not our ways.
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That's the reason why
in order to understand You
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we need special revelation.
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And so we ask for Your presence.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer,
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for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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The Holy Spirit had
fallen on the day of Pentecost.
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And the Christian movement
was growing and extending
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like a grass fire.
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In fact, in Acts
chapter 6 and verse 7
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we find a description of
the fact that many members
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and priests were leaving
Judaism and they were joining
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the Christian movement.
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It says there...
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In other words, clergy
and laity were being converted
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to Christianity.
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The Bible tells us that
one of the reasons for this
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phenomenal growth
was the work of Stephen,
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who was one of
the seven deacons.
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In Acts chapter 6 and
verse 8 we're told that Stephen
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was instrumental in
the growth of the church.
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It says there...
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So fast was the
Christian movement growing
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that Judaism was
greatly disturbed.
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In fact, there was
one particular person
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who was very disturbed.
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It was a young man
who was a very promising
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prospect for Judaism.
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It appeared like he
had a brilliant future.
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He was young,
energetic, and relentless.
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His name was Saul of Tarsus.
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Now Saul had tunnel vision.
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He believed that God
had chosen the Jewish nation
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unconditionally and
irrevocably, and woe to whoever
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questioned that fact.
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You see, for Saul of Tarsus,
the preservation of Judaism
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was number one on his list.
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Judaism had to be
preserved at all costs.
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We're told in Acts
chapter 22 and verse 3,
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and here the apostle Paul
is talking about his heritage,
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he says, "I am indeed a Jew..."
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A great teacher, by the way.
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And so here we find
Saul of Tarsus describing
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his Jewish heritage.
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Now Saul wanted to preserve
Judaism for the same reason
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that the Jews that
led Jesus to the cross
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wanted to preserve Judaism.
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In fact, in John chapter
11 and verses 47 through 50
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we find the high priest,
Caiaphas, speaking before
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the Sanhedrin and he was
explaining why they needed
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to do away with Christ.
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There was a special reason.
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It had to do with
national security.
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In other words, the
subsistence of the Jewish nation
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was at stake.
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We find there in John 11:47-50,
this is happening just a
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few months before
the death of Christ...
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What was the
worry of the Sanhedrin?
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That this would grow so great
that Judaism would disappear.
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Notice verse 49. It says...
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"...nor do you consider
that it is expedient for us
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that one man
should die for the people,
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and not that the
whole nation should perish."
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So notice that the main
argument for destroying Christ
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was the preservation
of the Jewish nation.
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The same feeling was in
the heart of Saul of Tarsus.
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He said, "This
growing Christian movement
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is a menace to Judaism,
and it must be destroyed."
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In Acts chapter 26
and verses 9 through 11
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we find a
description of Saul of Tarsus,
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the persecutor of the church.
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It says there in Acts
26 verses 9 through 11,
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Paul is reminiscing
about his previous life...
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So Saul of Tarsus had the
same spirit as the Sanhedrin.
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In his mind, the preservation
of Judaism was uppermost
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in his mind.
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And this is the reason why
Saul of Tarsus was so intent
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on destroying, not only
Christianity, but particularly
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Stephen who was one
of those who was leading
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to the phenomenal
growth of Christianity.
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In fact, we find in Acts
chapter 7 and verses 57 and 58
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that when Stephen was
being stoned, Saul of Tarsus
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was present there.
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It says, "Then they
cried out with a loud voice,
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stopped their ears, and
ran at him with one accord.
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And they cast him out of
the city and stoned him."
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But not only was Saul present
for the stoning of Stephen,
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the Bible gives us the
impression that Saul of Tarsus
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was the ring leader
and the mastermind behind
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the death of Stephen.
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We're told in Acts
chapter 22 and verse 20,
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"And when the
blood of your martyr..."
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This is Saul
speaking, or Paul at this point.
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So we find Saul of
Tarsus actively involved
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and planning the death
of Stephen because he was
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one of the
instruments in the growth of the
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Christian movement.
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Now we find that after
the stoning of Stephen,
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Saul of Tarsus
decided to go on an expedition
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to hunt down Christians
in the city of Damascus.
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In fact, he would have
had to travel a long ways.
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Because Jerusalem is a
very long way from Damascus.
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You have to cross all of
Israel to the northern border.
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You have to go across
Lebanon and into Syria.
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We find a
description of this persecution
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in Acts 9 and verses 1 and 2.
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We're told there...
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That's the name of
the Christian movement.
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And so Saul of Tarsus
was on the way to Damascus
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to arrest Christians and
to take them to Jerusalem
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to stand trial, and
most likely to be killed.
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But it was on the road to
Damascus that Saul of Tarsus
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had an experience that
not only changed his life
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but also changed his theology.
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On the road to
Damascus he had an encounter
00:10:06.51\00:10:10.49
with Jesus Christ.
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He discovered that by
persecuting the church,
00:10:12.86\00:10:16.09
he was actually
persecuting Jesus.
00:10:16.12\00:10:18.92
Because he heard a
voice from heaven that said,
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"Saul, Saul, why
do you persecute Me?"
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And he says, "Who
are You so that I know
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who I am persecuting?"
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And Jesus says, "I
am Jesus of Nazareth
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whom you are persecuting."
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In other words, "By
persecuting My body,
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you are persecuting Me."
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Let's read about
this in Acts chapter 9
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and verses 3 through 6.
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That means that he was
kicking against his conscience.
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The Bible says that he was
sent to a man called Ananias.
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And Ananias met Saul of
Tarsus in the house of an
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individual called Judas.
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And I want you to notice
how the story is picked up
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in Acts 22 verses 16 through 18.
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Here, Luke is telling
the story of this experience
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on the road to Damascus.
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It says here, "But
the Lord said to him,"
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that is to Ananias, "Go."
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And the context
indicates he was suppose to go
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to the house of Judas.
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"But the Lord said
to him, 'Go, for he,'"
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that is Saul of Tarsus,
"'is a chosen vessel of Mine
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to bear My name
before Gentiles, kings,
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and the children of Israel.
00:12:06.25\00:12:08.04
For I will show him how
many things he must suffer
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for My name's sake.'
00:12:11.76\00:12:14.44
And Ananias went his
way and entered the house;
00:12:14.95\00:12:17.59
and laying his hands on
him he said, 'Brother Saul,
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the Lord Jesus, who appeared
to you on the road as you came,
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has sent me that you
may receive your sight
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and be filled
with the Holy Spirit.'
00:12:29.12\00:12:31.50
Immediately there fell from
his eyes something like scales,
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and he received his
sight at once; and he arose
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and was baptized."
00:12:39.63\00:12:40.92
Now listen, he not only
received his physical eyesight.
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The scales that fell
from his eyes were the
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scales of prejudice.
00:12:47.61\00:12:49.43
He now saw that God's
people were those who received
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Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
00:12:54.17\00:12:56.72
Now in Galatians
chapter 3 and verses 26 and 27,
00:12:57.15\00:13:01.11
we find a very
important concept.
00:13:01.34\00:13:04.47
It says there, "All
those who have been baptized
00:13:04.68\00:13:09.27
into Christ have put on Christ."
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Now we know that Saul
of Tarsus was baptized.
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So whom did Saul
of Tarsus put on?
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He put on Jesus Christ.
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Now there's
another important concept.
00:13:21.93\00:13:24.59
In Galatians chapter 3
and verse 15 and verse 16,
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we find that the apostle
Paul says that the promises were
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made to Abraham and to his Seed.
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And there the apostle
Paul, who's writing later on
00:13:38.38\00:13:42.08
after his conversion, says
that the text does not say,
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"'To seeds,' as to many, but,
'To your Seed,' who is Christ."
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In other words, the Seed of
Abraham is one solitary Person.
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And that
solitary Person is whom?
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Jesus Christ.
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Jesus is the Seed of Abraham.
00:14:00.22\00:14:02.58
But now I want you to notice
that those who are in Christ
00:14:02.61\00:14:06.48
through baptism, like
Saul of Tarsus, now become
00:14:06.67\00:14:10.39
Abraham's seed through Jesus.
00:14:10.42\00:14:12.48
Notice Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 29.
00:14:12.66\00:14:18.43
It says, "If you are Christ's,
then you are Abraham's seed
00:14:18.64\00:14:25.11
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:14:25.14\00:14:27.04
What does it mean
to be Abraham's seed?
00:14:27.07\00:14:29.02
Does it mean to have
Jewish blood in your veins?
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No.
00:14:31.38\00:14:32.46
Does it mean that
you live in Israel?
00:14:32.49\00:14:34.90
No.
00:14:34.97\00:14:36.00
Does it mean that
your last name is Goldberg?
00:14:36.17\00:14:38.81
Absolutely not.
00:14:39.01\00:14:40.27
It says here that those
who are in Christ are, what?
00:14:40.64\00:14:43.93
Are Abraham's seed.
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"If you are Christ's,
you are Abraham's seed."
00:14:46.07\00:14:48.37
Which means that if
you are not Christ's,
00:14:48.40\00:14:51.00
you are not Abraham's seed.
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That's a very,
very important concept
00:14:54.92\00:14:56.89
that we're going to pursue.
00:14:56.92\00:14:58.49
So when Saul of
Tarsus was baptized,
00:14:58.69\00:15:01.53
he was baptized into Christ.
00:15:02.12\00:15:03.92
He was incorporated into Christ.
00:15:03.95\00:15:05.89
And through Christ he
became Abraham's seed.
00:15:05.92\00:15:09.27
He was not Abraham's seed
before joining Jesus Christ.
00:15:09.30\00:15:12.96
Now this experience
on the road to Damascus
00:15:13.67\00:15:16.83
totally changed the
focus of Saul of Tarsus.
00:15:17.29\00:15:21.05
Notice Acts
chapter 9 and verse 22.
00:15:21.63\00:15:24.23
Acts chapter 9 and verse 22.
00:15:24.26\00:15:26.79
Here it says...
00:15:27.91\00:15:28.95
What does the
word, "Christ," mean?
00:15:45.37\00:15:47.09
It means, the Messiah.
00:15:47.85\00:15:49.97
In other words, now the
purpose of Saul of Tarsus
00:15:50.38\00:15:53.18
was to prove that
Jesus Christ was, what?
00:15:53.21\00:15:56.56
Was the Messiah.
00:15:56.76\00:15:58.03
Now later on, in the book of
Philippians, the apostle Paul
00:15:58.89\00:16:02.97
describes his conversion
experience and his change
00:16:03.34\00:16:07.60
of focus, his
change of theology.
00:16:07.63\00:16:09.70
Notice Philippians chapter
3 and verses 3 through 11.
00:16:10.28\00:16:13.90
Philippians chapter 3
and verses 3 through 11.
00:16:13.93\00:16:17.76
Here he says...
00:16:18.25\00:16:19.29
Who is the
circumcision? Those who what?
00:16:24.99\00:16:27.50
Worship God in the Spirit.
00:16:28.27\00:16:29.99
"...and have no
confidence in the flesh..."
00:16:30.61\00:16:32.82
In other words, you don't
have confidence that you just,
00:16:32.85\00:16:34.74
that you're literally a Jew.
00:16:34.77\00:16:36.58
He says...
00:16:37.32\00:16:38.35
You almost think he's bragging
a little bit, don't you.
00:17:07.54\00:17:10.41
He's saying, "I
was a Jew of Jews.
00:17:10.61\00:17:13.59
I was the seed of
Abraham, so I thought."
00:17:13.62\00:17:16.05
But now notice what he
continues saying in verse 7.
00:17:16.33\00:17:19.63
"...not having my
own righteousness..."
00:17:45.56\00:17:47.65
Which the Jews delighted in,
according to the New Testament.
00:17:47.85\00:17:51.48
What was the change in
focus of Saul's theology?
00:18:15.43\00:18:19.35
Before, his theology
had been Israel centered.
00:18:19.73\00:18:23.95
Now his theology was what?
00:18:24.67\00:18:27.42
Was Christ centered.
00:18:27.45\00:18:29.55
He says, "Everything
that I considered important,
00:18:29.86\00:18:32.63
my Jewishness, I
consider it a loss
00:18:32.66\00:18:36.62
in order that I
may gain Christ."
00:18:36.65\00:18:39.02
In other words,
"Christ is all in all.
00:18:39.05\00:18:41.36
And when I received
Christ, I became the true seed
00:18:41.39\00:18:45.34
of Abraham."
00:18:45.37\00:18:46.60
And do you know the Bible
tells us that the apostle Paul
00:18:47.04\00:18:49.55
fell in love with Christ so much
that he was willing to suffer
00:18:49.85\00:18:53.21
intentionally for accepting Him.
00:18:53.24\00:18:56.37
Notice 2 Corinthians chapter
11 and verses 22 through 28
00:18:56.40\00:19:00.54
where the apostle Paul
describes all of the sufferings
00:19:00.57\00:19:03.84
that came about
because if his acceptance
00:19:03.87\00:19:07.22
and preaching of Christ.
00:19:07.25\00:19:08.82
He says, "Are they Hebrews?
00:19:09.58\00:19:11.37
So am I.
00:19:11.96\00:19:13.18
Are they Israelites?
00:19:13.77\00:19:15.30
So am I.
00:19:15.52\00:19:16.94
Are they the seed of Abraham?
00:19:17.53\00:19:19.40
So am I.
00:19:19.60\00:19:20.94
Are they ministers of Christ?"
00:19:21.46\00:19:23.26
And then he says, "I
speak as a fool; I am more.
00:19:23.29\00:19:26.53
In labors more abundant,
in stripes above measure,
00:19:27.52\00:19:31.41
in prisons more
frequently, in deaths often.
00:19:31.44\00:19:35.01
From the Jews
five times I received
00:19:35.34\00:19:37.71
forty stripes minus one.
00:19:37.74\00:19:39.52
Three times I was beaten
with rods; once I was stoned;
00:19:39.55\00:19:43.59
three times I was shipwrecked;
a night and a day I have
00:19:43.62\00:19:47.24
been in the deep; in journeys
often, in perils of waters,
00:19:47.27\00:19:51.07
in perils of robbers, in
perils of my own countrymen,
00:19:51.10\00:19:54.59
in perils of the
Gentiles, in perils in the city,
00:19:54.62\00:19:57.38
in perils in the wilderness,
in perils in the sea,
00:19:57.41\00:20:00.53
in perils among false
brethren; in weariness and toil,
00:20:00.56\00:20:03.70
in sleeplessness
often, in hunger and thirst,
00:20:03.73\00:20:06.84
in fastings often,
in cold and nakedness.
00:20:06.87\00:20:11.08
Besides the other things,
what comes upon me daily:
00:20:11.11\00:20:15.60
my deep concern
for all the churches."
00:20:15.63\00:20:18.80
Was Saul truly
converted to Jesus Christ?
00:20:20.22\00:20:22.35
Was his theology
now Israel focused?
00:20:23.22\00:20:26.07
Absolutely not.
00:20:26.39\00:20:27.58
He said, "Jewishness
means nothing outside of Jesus."
00:20:28.02\00:20:32.27
One is not a seed of
Abraham simply by his bloodline.
00:20:32.70\00:20:36.87
One is the seed of Abraham by
being in Christ through baptism.
00:20:37.07\00:20:41.22
Because if you are Christ's,
then you are Abraham's seed.
00:20:41.25\00:20:45.41
Which basically the apostle
Paul is saying that the Jews
00:20:45.44\00:20:49.76
that had not accepted Christ
were not the seed of Abraham.
00:20:49.79\00:20:52.80
We're going to pursue
that in a few moments.
00:20:52.83\00:20:55.21
Now the Bible tells us
that not only Saul of Tarsus,
00:20:55.99\00:21:00.75
but also all of the
New Testament authors,
00:21:01.15\00:21:04.69
clearly tell us that God
does not have two peoples,
00:21:04.99\00:21:08.86
the Jews and the
church, and that he has
00:21:08.89\00:21:11.21
one plan for the Jews and He
has another plan for the church.
00:21:11.24\00:21:14.45
That is an idea that has
come up in the last 150 years
00:21:14.98\00:21:19.88
in the Christian world that
God has one plan for the church,
00:21:19.91\00:21:23.95
which is going to be
taken away to heaven seven years
00:21:23.98\00:21:26.67
before the tribulation and
they're going to go to heaven.
00:21:26.70\00:21:30.42
And then the Jews are
going to be left behind.
00:21:30.45\00:21:32.86
They're going to
re-establish the sacrifices
00:21:32.89\00:21:35.11
and they're going to
suffer terrible tribulation.
00:21:35.14\00:21:37.60
The Bible teaches, and
especially the apostle Paul,
00:21:38.11\00:21:42.34
that God has
only one true people.
00:21:42.37\00:21:45.18
And that people are
defined by their acceptance
00:21:45.21\00:21:48.94
or rejection of Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord.
00:21:48.97\00:21:52.24
Now I want you to notice first
of all we're going to go through
00:21:52.72\00:21:55.15
a list of things that show
that God has only one people.
00:21:55.18\00:21:58.51
John chapter 10 and verse 16.
00:21:59.59\00:22:01.77
Here Jesus is speaking, and I
want you to notice what He says.
00:22:03.46\00:22:07.14
John chapter 10 and verse 16.
00:22:07.17\00:22:10.09
Jesus says here...
00:22:10.12\00:22:11.41
What does He mean, "this fold?"
00:22:18.68\00:22:20.36
What does He
mean by, "this fold?"
00:22:22.52\00:22:24.78
He means the Jews, because
He was sent to the lost sheep
00:22:25.70\00:22:28.56
of the house of Israel.
00:22:28.59\00:22:30.54
We already read that.
00:22:30.57\00:22:31.82
So He says...
00:22:31.85\00:22:32.89
"...and there will be
two flocks and one shepherd."
00:22:41.41\00:22:43.95
No.
00:22:44.59\00:22:45.62
"...one flock and one..." What?
00:22:46.01\00:22:48.68
"...one shepherd."
00:22:48.71\00:22:49.75
Now lest you're wondering
whether He's talking about
00:22:49.95\00:22:52.12
the Gentiles when He says that
there are other sheep not of
00:22:52.15\00:22:55.26
this fold, let's go to John
chapter 11 verses 51 and 52.
00:22:55.29\00:22:59.88
John chapter 11
and verses 51 and 52.
00:23:00.20\00:23:04.03
After Caiaphas says that it's
necessary for one man to die
00:23:04.06\00:23:07.12
and that the
nation doesn't perish,
00:23:07.15\00:23:08.98
notice what we're
told in John 11 verse 51.
00:23:09.16\00:23:12.72
Now listen carefully.
00:23:22.81\00:23:24.09
What nation is that?
00:23:24.12\00:23:25.47
The Jewish nation.
00:23:25.96\00:23:27.42
Was He only going to
gather the Jews to Himself?
00:23:41.41\00:23:44.76
No, He was going to gather
the Gentiles to Himself as well.
00:23:44.79\00:23:48.71
In other words, God
doesn't have two folds;
00:23:48.74\00:23:50.96
a Gentiles fold
and a Jewish fold.
00:23:50.99\00:23:53.45
He says, "I'm going to bring the
Gentiles, and there's going to
00:23:53.55\00:23:56.30
be one fold and there's
going to be one shepherd."
00:23:56.33\00:24:00.39
The Bible also tells us
that there is only one Israel.
00:24:01.33\00:24:04.19
And that Israel is
defined by your relationship
00:24:04.55\00:24:07.74
to Jesus Christ.
00:24:07.77\00:24:09.06
If you are
Christ's, you are Israel.
00:24:09.09\00:24:11.85
If you are not
Christ's, you are not Israel.
00:24:12.08\00:24:13.92
You are not a Jew.
00:24:13.95\00:24:14.98
And you say, "Where
does the Bible say that?"
00:24:15.01\00:24:16.54
Let's read from
the apostle Paul.
00:24:16.94\00:24:18.69
Romans chapter 2
and verses 28 and 29.
00:24:18.79\00:24:21.55
Romans 2:28-29.
00:24:21.82\00:24:23.92
Here the apostle Paul says...
00:24:24.49\00:24:25.70
So is it possible for
a Jew to be one outwardly
00:24:30.44\00:24:32.71
and not be a Jew?
00:24:32.74\00:24:33.86
Of course.
00:24:34.30\00:24:35.33
Because the Jews
loved the letter,
00:24:54.54\00:24:55.95
but they didn't have the Spirit.
00:24:55.98\00:24:57.53
Is it possible to be an
outward Jew and not be a Jew?
00:25:01.29\00:25:04.30
Absolutely,
according to the apostle Paul.
00:25:04.62\00:25:06.91
Now notice Romans
9 verses 6 through 8.
00:25:07.22\00:25:09.65
This same idea that
there's only one true Israel.
00:25:09.68\00:25:12.69
And that's defined by your
relationship to Jesus Christ.
00:25:12.72\00:25:15.78
Romans 9 and verses 6 through 8.
00:25:15.88\00:25:18.21
Here the apostle Paul says...
00:25:19.01\00:25:20.39
Isn't that interesting.
00:25:27.85\00:25:28.88
Are all Israelites Israelites?
00:25:28.91\00:25:31.18
No, the apostle Paul is saying,
"Not all Israel is Israel."
00:25:31.96\00:25:35.44
Now who is Israel then?
00:25:35.99\00:25:37.75
Let's continue reading.
00:25:38.44\00:25:39.62
Are all the seed of
Abraham the seed of Abraham?
00:25:52.62\00:25:55.48
No, absolutely not.
00:25:56.29\00:25:57.57
He says, "Nor are
they all children because
00:25:57.60\00:26:01.11
they are the seed of Abraham."
00:26:01.14\00:26:02.69
Now he explains what he means.
00:26:05.79\00:26:07.36
Who are the
children of the flesh?
00:26:13.46\00:26:15.12
The literal Jews who
have not accepted whom?
00:26:15.84\00:26:19.05
Christ.
00:26:19.43\00:26:20.52
So he says...
00:26:20.55\00:26:21.58
That is, the
promise of the Messiah.
00:26:27.62\00:26:29.36
Are you understanding this?
00:26:33.03\00:26:34.40
In other words, being Israel
or being a Jew is not defined
00:26:34.85\00:26:37.98
geographically or
ethnically or genetically.
00:26:38.01\00:26:41.30
It's defined by your
relationship to Jesus Christ.
00:26:41.50\00:26:45.32
Notice Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 16,
00:26:45.71\00:26:48.19
and then we'll go
to verses 26 to 29.
00:26:48.22\00:26:50.36
We alluded to this, but
let's read it once again.
00:26:50.39\00:26:53.61
It says there in
Galatians 3 verse 16...
00:26:53.90\00:26:56.11
So who is the only
true seed of Abraham?
00:27:06.53\00:27:08.99
One; Christ.
00:27:10.32\00:27:11.74
You say, "But
didn't we just read that
00:27:12.13\00:27:13.59
we are seed of Abraham?"
00:27:13.62\00:27:14.79
Yes, we are.
00:27:14.82\00:27:16.15
But not in a
primary sense like Christ.
00:27:16.18\00:27:18.45
Only if we join Christ,
then we are Abraham's seed.
00:27:18.48\00:27:21.30
Notice verse 26.
00:27:21.33\00:27:22.87
So how does one
become Abraham's seed?
00:27:58.47\00:28:02.20
If you are Christ's,
you are Abraham's seed.
00:28:02.63\00:28:06.11
So my question is, those
who are outside of Christ
00:28:06.44\00:28:10.38
who are literal Jews,
are they Abraham's seed,
00:28:10.41\00:28:12.86
according to the
biblical definition?
00:28:12.89\00:28:14.67
Absolutely not.
00:28:14.70\00:28:16.30
Because we're speaking
about a spiritual relationship
00:28:16.33\00:28:19.81
with Christ that
makes you a spiritual Jew,
00:28:19.84\00:28:22.98
so to speak.
00:28:23.01\00:28:24.04
Now, the Bible also says
that Jesus has only one body.
00:28:24.81\00:28:28.75
He doesn't have two
bodies; the body of the Jews
00:28:29.42\00:28:31.64
and the body of the church.
00:28:31.67\00:28:32.77
He has one body.
00:28:32.80\00:28:34.32
Let's read from
Ephesians chapter 2
00:28:34.55\00:28:36.79
and verses 13 through 18.
00:28:36.82\00:28:39.04
Ephesians chapter 2
and verses 13 through 18.
00:28:39.07\00:28:43.02
Here the apostle
Paul is writing again.
00:28:43.05\00:28:45.02
He says, "But
now in Christ Jesus
00:28:45.28\00:28:47.83
you who were once far off..."
00:28:48.05\00:28:50.01
Those are the Gentiles.
00:28:50.04\00:28:51.37
That is Jew and Gentile.
00:29:00.79\00:29:02.69
How many new men?
00:29:15.21\00:29:16.33
"...one new man from the two..."
00:29:16.77\00:29:19.21
That is, from Jew and Gentile.
00:29:19.24\00:29:20.78
That is Jew and Gentile.
00:29:37.60\00:29:39.17
How many bodies does Jesus have?
00:29:43.40\00:29:45.42
One Jewish body
and one Gentile body.
00:29:46.41\00:29:48.68
No, He has one body...
00:29:48.71\00:29:50.36
...composed of Jew and Greek.
00:29:51.06\00:29:53.19
Or Jew and Gentile.
00:29:53.58\00:29:54.86
Notice 1 Corinthians
chapter 12 and verse 13.
00:29:54.89\00:29:57.55
1 Corinthians
chapter 12 and verse 13.
00:29:57.85\00:30:00.12
Here the apostle Paul writes...
00:30:00.46\00:30:01.83
So how many bodies
are we talking about?
00:30:18.76\00:30:20.48
How many Spirits?
00:30:20.91\00:30:22.39
One Spirit.
00:30:22.49\00:30:23.68
Notice Ephesians
chapter 3 and verse 6.
00:30:23.71\00:30:26.29
Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 6.
00:30:26.32\00:30:28.42
This is a beautiful
message to the Gentiles.
00:30:28.74\00:30:30.88
The apostle Paul is
saying to the Gentiles,
00:30:30.91\00:30:32.89
"If you receive
Christ, you are Jews.
00:30:32.92\00:30:35.17
You are spiritual
Jews, you are Israel.
00:30:36.00\00:30:38.35
Because he who is in
Christ is Abraham's seed."
00:30:38.38\00:30:41.59
Notice what is says in
Ephesians chapter 3 verse 6.
00:30:41.62\00:30:44.50
How many bodies
does Jesus have? One.
00:30:58.00\00:31:00.51
How many folds
does Jesus have? One.
00:31:00.54\00:31:03.18
Now I want you to notice
that He only has one city.
00:31:03.40\00:31:05.99
You know, He doesn't
have the earthly Jerusalem
00:31:06.63\00:31:08.39
for the Jews and the heavenly
Jerusalem for the church.
00:31:08.42\00:31:11.17
That's preposterous.
00:31:11.75\00:31:12.78
It's not biblical.
00:31:12.81\00:31:14.02
Notice Revelation
chapter 21 verse 2.
00:31:14.50\00:31:17.18
By the way, the New Jerusalem
is called, the city of the Lamb.
00:31:17.21\00:31:19.45
The Lamb City, right?
00:31:19.48\00:31:20.93
And the Lamb is its light.
00:31:20.96\00:31:22.66
Now notice
Revelation 21 and verse 2.
00:31:22.69\00:31:25.08
It's speaking here
about the New Jerusalem.
00:31:25.11\00:31:27.89
And it says...
00:31:27.92\00:31:28.95
So the husband
has how many cities?
00:31:39.27\00:31:42.64
Has only one city.
00:31:43.22\00:31:44.71
Now, that city is
composed of Old Testament saints
00:31:45.41\00:31:49.38
and New Testament saints.
00:31:49.80\00:31:51.55
Not only New Testament saints.
00:31:51.58\00:31:53.90
Notice
Revelation 21 and verse 12.
00:31:54.10\00:31:56.40
Revelation 21 and verse 12.
00:31:56.43\00:31:58.76
Speaking about
the city, it says...
00:31:59.49\00:32:01.08
Whose names are on
the doors of the city,
00:32:14.07\00:32:15.83
or the gates of the city?
00:32:15.86\00:32:17.13
The twelve tribes.
00:32:17.60\00:32:18.93
So is the Old
Testament represented there,
00:32:18.96\00:32:21.09
the Old Testament church?
00:32:21.12\00:32:22.42
Absolutely.
00:32:22.45\00:32:23.48
Now what names do the
foundations of the walls have?
00:32:23.51\00:32:26.95
Notice
Revelation 21 and verse 14.
00:32:27.25\00:32:29.52
Revelation 21 and verse 14.
00:32:29.55\00:32:31.51
How many cities does Jesus have?
00:32:39.34\00:32:41.17
Only one city,
composed of Old Testament saints
00:32:41.49\00:32:44.97
and composed of
New Testament saints.
00:32:45.00\00:32:47.47
Because the names of
the tribes are on the doors,
00:32:47.50\00:32:50.54
or on the gates, and the
names of the apostles are on the
00:32:50.57\00:32:53.51
foundations of the walls.
00:32:53.54\00:32:55.24
Now go with me to
Hebrews chapter 11, and I'll
00:32:55.44\00:32:57.62
amplify this thought
that Jesus has only one city.
00:32:57.65\00:33:01.16
Notice Hebrews chapter 11,
we'll read verses 9 and 10,
00:33:01.49\00:33:04.86
and then we'll read
verses 13 through 16.
00:33:05.20\00:33:08.03
This is speaking about
Abraham in the Old Testament.
00:33:08.88\00:33:12.10
It says...
00:33:12.34\00:33:13.37
Now listen, this is Abraham.
00:33:24.57\00:33:26.22
Was Abraham an
Old Testament saint?
00:33:26.42\00:33:28.61
Was he the founder
of the Jewish nation,
00:33:29.18\00:33:32.14
according to
the Jews themselves?
00:33:32.17\00:33:33.70
Yeah, they said,
"We are Abraham's seed."
00:33:33.73\00:33:35.70
Now notice what it
continues saying in verse 10.
00:33:35.73\00:33:37.93
What city did
Abraham look forward to?
00:33:37.96\00:33:39.86
The earthly or the
heavenly Jerusalem?
00:33:39.89\00:33:41.64
The heavenly. Verse 10 says...
00:33:42.08\00:33:43.49
Now let's go to verse 13.
00:33:50.84\00:33:52.61
It's talking about
the Old Testament saints.
00:33:55.73\00:33:57.65
If they're
strangers and pilgrims,
00:34:11.08\00:34:12.81
they're seeking a homeland.
00:34:12.84\00:34:13.88
What is that homeland?
00:34:13.91\00:34:15.19
It's that little city over
in the Middle East today, right?
00:34:15.22\00:34:17.94
No, absolutely not.
00:34:18.14\00:34:19.88
Notice verse 15.
00:34:20.23\00:34:21.68
Did the Old
Testament saints look forward
00:34:40.79\00:34:42.51
to the New Jerusalem?
00:34:42.54\00:34:43.67
Yes they did.
00:34:43.70\00:34:44.73
How about the
New Testament saints?
00:34:44.76\00:34:46.41
Absolutely.
00:34:46.45\00:34:47.48
Is there one city for all
of God's people from all ages?
00:34:47.51\00:34:50.87
Absolutely. Not two cities.
00:34:50.90\00:34:52.98
Now let's look at it
from a different perspective.
00:34:53.44\00:34:55.47
How many wives does God
have, spiritually speaking?
00:34:56.30\00:34:59.27
He has one.
00:35:00.62\00:35:01.66
But those who believe
that God has two mutually
00:35:01.86\00:35:04.06
separable peoples
would make God a bigamist.
00:35:04.09\00:35:06.92
Because He has the church and
He's married with the church,
00:35:08.37\00:35:10.77
but He's also
married with Israel.
00:35:10.80\00:35:12.53
And so He has two wives.
00:35:12.56\00:35:14.63
The Bible doesn't sustain that.
00:35:14.95\00:35:16.46
God has one bride, and
it's the church of all ages.
00:35:17.15\00:35:20.40
Old and New Testament.
00:35:20.68\00:35:22.25
Let's notice that, Revelation
chapter 12 and verses 1 and 2,
00:35:22.28\00:35:27.99
and then we're
going to jump to verse 5.
00:35:28.02\00:35:29.55
It says there in
verse 1 of Revelation 12...
00:35:29.58\00:35:32.68
Now, what does
this woman represent?
00:35:45.20\00:35:47.41
We've already studied this.
00:35:47.44\00:35:48.68
It represents the Old
Testament church, right?
00:35:48.71\00:35:50.67
Was Jesus born from the line of
Abraham and the line of David?
00:35:50.87\00:35:54.51
Absolutely, He was born
from the Old Testament church.
00:35:54.54\00:35:57.05
Who is the child?
00:35:57.08\00:35:58.19
The child is Jesus Christ.
00:35:58.83\00:36:00.60
Now when John sees this woman,
does he see the woman at the
00:36:00.89\00:36:04.82
Old Testament stage or
the New Testament stage?
00:36:04.85\00:36:07.36
It's the Old Testament
stage because the child
00:36:07.90\00:36:09.77
hasn't been born yet.
00:36:09.80\00:36:10.96
Does the mother
exist before the child?
00:36:11.83\00:36:13.51
So is the mother the
Old Testament church?
00:36:14.75\00:36:16.97
Of course.
00:36:17.74\00:36:18.77
So notice that this woman
is going to bear the child.
00:36:19.11\00:36:23.90
This is the Old Testament church
that's going to bring Jesus
00:36:23.93\00:36:26.46
into the world.
00:36:26.49\00:36:27.52
But now I want you to
notice that the very same woman
00:36:27.55\00:36:30.27
flees to the wilderness
for 1260 years after the child
00:36:31.28\00:36:35.44
is caught up to
God and to His throne.
00:36:35.47\00:36:36.71
Is it the same woman?
00:36:36.74\00:36:37.89
So is the Old Testament church
and the New Testament church,
00:36:39.04\00:36:42.25
are they the same woman?
00:36:42.28\00:36:43.83
They're the same
woman at different stages.
00:36:44.37\00:36:46.54
Are you understanding me?
00:36:46.57\00:36:47.83
Let's read verse 5 and verse 6.
00:36:47.86\00:36:51.41
It says, "She
bore a male child..."
00:36:51.44\00:36:53.87
That is the woman.
00:36:53.90\00:36:54.95
"...who was to rule all
nations with a rod of iron..."
00:36:55.25\00:36:57.67
That's the ascension of Christ.
00:37:01.03\00:37:02.47
And then notice verse
6, "Then the woman..."
00:37:02.50\00:37:05.01
Is it the same woman?
00:37:05.21\00:37:06.27
Absolutely, it's the same woman.
00:37:06.65\00:37:08.33
Is that the New
Testament church or is that the
00:37:18.11\00:37:19.97
Old Testament church?
00:37:20.00\00:37:21.22
That's the New Testament church.
00:37:21.42\00:37:22.63
Because Jesus
has already ascended
00:37:22.66\00:37:24.42
to God and to His throne.
00:37:24.45\00:37:25.48
And now this refers to
the period when the church was
00:37:25.51\00:37:28.31
persecuted
during the Middle Ages.
00:37:28.34\00:37:30.19
Are you understanding?
00:37:30.39\00:37:31.42
So God has how many brides?
00:37:31.78\00:37:34.59
How many wives does He have?
00:37:34.85\00:37:36.81
One wife
composed of Old Testament
00:37:37.00\00:37:40.87
and New Testament church,
represented by one woman only.
00:37:40.90\00:37:45.83
Now the Bible also says
that God has only one tree
00:37:46.48\00:37:50.40
representing all of
His people from Old and New
00:37:51.78\00:37:54.29
Testament; Jews and Gentiles.
00:37:54.32\00:37:55.57
You say, "Now where
does the Bible teach that?"
00:37:55.60\00:37:57.47
Have you ever read
the story that we find in
00:37:57.80\00:38:00.45
Romans chapter
11 about the tree?
00:38:00.65\00:38:02.69
The tree that
had natural branches.
00:38:02.89\00:38:05.91
And then you have wild
olive branches that are
00:38:05.94\00:38:08.74
engrafted into the tree.
00:38:08.77\00:38:10.00
Now let me tell you
what you have there.
00:38:10.03\00:38:12.09
Because we don't
have all the time to
00:38:12.12\00:38:13.76
look at all of the details.
00:38:13.79\00:38:15.32
I'm going to read the
passage in a few moments,
00:38:15.35\00:38:16.96
but I want you to get
this clear in your mind.
00:38:16.99\00:38:19.08
The tree has natural
olive branches that are
00:38:19.65\00:38:22.72
retained on the tree.
00:38:22.75\00:38:24.18
Okay?
00:38:24.68\00:38:25.71
The tree
represents Jesus Christ.
00:38:25.77\00:38:27.49
He is the tree and we
are the branches, okay?
00:38:27.52\00:38:31.25
So the natural
branches are retained.
00:38:31.35\00:38:33.89
Those are the ones
who accepted Jesus Christ.
00:38:33.92\00:38:36.11
Then there are natural
branches that are cut off.
00:38:36.89\00:38:39.39
Why are they cut off?
00:38:39.63\00:38:40.92
Because they
rejected Jesus Christ.
00:38:41.91\00:38:43.56
You can read it there.
00:38:43.59\00:38:44.62
And I'm going to
read it in a few moments.
00:38:44.65\00:38:46.26
Then you have natural branches
that after they're cut off
00:38:46.57\00:38:50.02
they're grafted in again.
00:38:50.05\00:38:52.38
What would that represent?
00:38:52.41\00:38:53.72
It represents the fact that
at first they rejected Christ.
00:38:54.10\00:38:56.96
Like whom?
00:38:56.99\00:38:58.02
Like Saul of Tarsus.
00:38:58.48\00:38:59.58
And then he accepted Christ.
00:38:59.61\00:39:01.06
And he's what?
00:39:01.09\00:39:02.12
And he's re-grafted
into the olive tree.
00:39:02.15\00:39:04.24
Then you have
wild olive branches,
00:39:04.86\00:39:07.11
which represents the Gentiles.
00:39:07.14\00:39:09.04
And the wild olive branches
are grafted into the tree.
00:39:09.07\00:39:12.75
But then the apostle Paul says
that if the wild olive branches
00:39:13.94\00:39:18.34
come to reject Christ,
the wild olive branches
00:39:18.85\00:39:22.59
will be cut off from the tree.
00:39:22.62\00:39:23.99
Now what is the key
in this whole passage?
00:39:24.02\00:39:26.12
The key is who
you are attached to.
00:39:26.53\00:39:30.88
What makes you part of the tree?
00:39:31.39\00:39:32.87
Your acceptance
or rejection of whom?
00:39:33.29\00:39:35.62
Your acceptance or
rejection of Jesus Christ.
00:39:35.90\00:39:38.60
Now let's read the passage.
00:39:38.63\00:39:39.90
It's found in Romans chapter 11.
00:39:40.00\00:39:41.90
It's a rather lengthy
passage, but let's read it.
00:39:41.93\00:39:44.74
It's verse 17 through verse 26.
00:39:44.77\00:39:47.39
Here the apostle Paul says...
00:39:47.87\00:39:49.05
Speaking to the Gentiles here.
00:39:54.12\00:39:55.60
In other words, don't make
fun of the natural branches
00:40:04.03\00:40:05.90
that were cut off.
00:40:05.93\00:40:07.10
Now notice why these
branches were broken off.
00:40:18.35\00:40:20.93
Unbelief in whom?
00:40:23.46\00:40:24.60
In Jesus.
00:40:25.13\00:40:26.37
"...and you stand by faith."
00:40:26.40\00:40:28.44
Why were the wild
olive branches grafted in?
00:40:28.64\00:40:31.68
Because they
had faith in Christ.
00:40:31.71\00:40:33.66
Why were the natural
olive branches cut off?
00:40:33.76\00:40:36.67
Because of unbelief in Christ.
00:40:36.70\00:40:38.87
And then he says...
00:40:39.29\00:40:40.32
Are you catching the picture?
00:40:58.19\00:40:59.34
What's the key here?
It's Jesus Christ, isn't it.
00:41:05.28\00:41:07.68
You're part of the
tree if you accepted Christ.
00:41:07.78\00:41:10.08
You're cut off from the
tree if you don't accept Christ.
00:41:10.11\00:41:13.20
But both Jews and Gentiles
are grafted into one tree.
00:41:13.23\00:41:16.96
Verse 24.
00:41:17.56\00:41:18.64
So there's blindness
among Israel until the fullness
00:41:45.88\00:41:48.79
of the Gentiles come in.
00:41:48.82\00:41:50.11
Now what happens when the
fullness of the Gentiles come in
00:41:50.14\00:41:53.11
and join with
the Jews in one body?
00:41:53.14\00:41:55.54
Notice what we find in verse 26.
00:41:56.30\00:41:59.25
What does it mean,
"All Israel will be saved?"
00:42:05.21\00:42:07.43
What is Israel composed
of, according to the context?
00:42:07.46\00:42:10.17
It's composed of
Israel, plus what?
00:42:10.70\00:42:13.35
Plus the Gentiles that
are grafted into the tree.
00:42:13.73\00:42:17.27
In other words, when
Jews and Gentiles are grafted
00:42:17.73\00:42:20.27
into the tree, then all
Israel will be what? Saved.
00:42:20.30\00:42:24.59
Now the question
is, what is Israel?
00:42:24.62\00:42:26.05
Does the apostle Paul
define what Israel is?
00:42:26.08\00:42:28.15
Of course he does.
00:42:28.31\00:42:29.34
It's not literal Israel
over in the Middle East.
00:42:29.37\00:42:32.15
It is spiritual Israel.
00:42:32.18\00:42:34.49
Now, we find in the Bible
there is also going to be only
00:42:35.15\00:42:39.03
one banquet
table in the kingdom.
00:42:39.06\00:42:41.51
God is not going to have
one banquet table for the Jews
00:42:42.46\00:42:44.67
and another banquet
table for the Gentiles.
00:42:44.70\00:42:47.28
Right after healing the son
of the centurion, Jesus spoke
00:42:47.66\00:42:54.19
these words in Matthew
chapter 8 and verses 11 and 12.
00:42:54.22\00:42:57.55
By the way, the centurion
was a Gentile, wasn't he.
00:42:57.58\00:42:59.92
So now Jesus is
going to give the lesson.
00:43:00.50\00:43:02.32
He's going to say this centurion
had more faith than Israel.
00:43:02.35\00:43:06.89
And now notice what He says.
00:43:07.20\00:43:08.66
Verse 11.
00:43:09.15\00:43:10.22
Those are the Gentiles.
00:43:14.70\00:43:15.99
Were Abraham Isaac
and Jacob literal Jews?
00:43:23.94\00:43:26.43
Yes.
00:43:26.78\00:43:27.81
Were they also spiritual Jews?
00:43:27.84\00:43:29.81
They were because they
accepted Christ in promise.
00:43:30.14\00:43:33.62
And so it says...
00:43:33.82\00:43:35.06
Now listen carefully.
00:43:43.57\00:43:44.60
"But the sons of the kingdom..."
00:43:44.63\00:43:46.39
Who are those?
00:43:46.42\00:43:47.61
The literal Jewish
nation that rejects Christ.
00:43:48.98\00:43:51.76
How many people are going
to eat at the banquet table?
00:44:00.80\00:44:02.73
Only Jews are going to
eat at the banquet table.
00:44:02.76\00:44:04.78
No. Jews along with what?
00:44:05.19\00:44:07.21
With Gentiles.
00:44:07.37\00:44:08.40
What about those
who reject Christ?
00:44:08.43\00:44:10.45
They will not eat at the table.
00:44:11.14\00:44:12.66
So once again, what is the key?
00:44:12.69\00:44:14.62
Is the key to be a literal Jew?
00:44:14.65\00:44:16.63
Or not be a literal Jew?
00:44:16.66\00:44:18.01
No, the key of this whole thing
is your relationship to whom?
00:44:18.04\00:44:22.94
To Jesus Christ.
00:44:23.04\00:44:24.34
Now the apostle Paul
also said there is only
00:44:24.84\00:44:26.94
one spiritual temple.
00:44:26.97\00:44:28.44
You know, the temple in
Jerusalem has absolutely
00:44:29.33\00:44:31.70
no significance today.
00:44:31.73\00:44:33.31
It could be rebuilt,
but it has no prophetic
00:44:33.72\00:44:37.02
significance whatsoever.
00:44:37.05\00:44:38.50
Some people say, "Well,
doesn't the Bible say that
00:44:38.95\00:44:40.82
the antichrist is going
to sit in the temple of God
00:44:40.85\00:44:43.41
showing himself to be God?"
00:44:43.44\00:44:44.98
Yes, the Bible does say that.
00:44:45.01\00:44:46.64
But we need to
understand which temple
00:44:46.67\00:44:48.39
the apostle Paul
is talking about.
00:44:48.42\00:44:50.08
Most theologians take it for
granted that he's talking about
00:44:51.80\00:44:55.01
that temple over
in the Middle East.
00:44:55.04\00:44:56.84
But how does the
apostle Paul define the temple
00:44:57.70\00:45:00.63
where the
antichrist is going to sit?
00:45:00.66\00:45:02.22
That's the key.
00:45:02.25\00:45:03.28
Allow Paul to interpret Paul.
00:45:03.52\00:45:05.64
Ephesians chapter 2
verses 19 through 22.
00:45:06.00\00:45:08.81
Ephesians chapter 2:19-22.
00:45:09.13\00:45:11.17
And by the way, our next
lecture is about the antichrist
00:45:11.20\00:45:13.89
who sits in the temple of
God showing himself to be God.
00:45:13.92\00:45:16.58
This lecture today is
preparatory to that one.
00:45:16.89\00:45:20.00
We wouldn't be able to
fully understand that lecture
00:45:20.03\00:45:22.24
without this background
that we're studying today.
00:45:22.27\00:45:24.79
Ephesians 2:19-22.
00:45:24.82\00:45:27.47
"Now therefore," the apostle
Paul says, "you are no longer
00:45:28.46\00:45:30.98
strangers and foreigners."
00:45:31.01\00:45:32.06
He's speaking to the Gentiles.
00:45:32.09\00:45:33.51
Are they members
of the same household?
00:45:38.19\00:45:40.11
Absolutely.
00:45:40.31\00:45:41.34
And now notice...
00:45:41.65\00:45:42.80
The apostles
would be New Testament,
00:45:49.65\00:45:51.26
and the prophets would be what?
00:45:51.29\00:45:52.65
Old Testament.
00:45:53.05\00:45:54.12
"...Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone..."
00:45:54.78\00:45:58.72
The One that
holds it all together.
00:45:58.75\00:46:00.29
So are these literal
stone foundations or are these
00:46:01.85\00:46:04.65
people foundations?
00:46:04.68\00:46:06.14
These are spiritual foundations.
00:46:06.35\00:46:08.01
Is the cornerstone a
literal stone or is it a person?
00:46:08.04\00:46:11.21
It's a person.
00:46:11.47\00:46:12.50
This is a spiritual temple
with spiritual foundations
00:46:12.53\00:46:15.83
and a spiritual cornerstone.
00:46:15.86\00:46:17.21
Verse 21...
00:46:17.24\00:46:18.28
We are the stones.
00:46:34.27\00:46:35.54
1 Peter chapter 2 says we are
the stones that are being built
00:46:35.57\00:46:38.44
upon the foundations of
the apostles and the prophets.
00:46:38.47\00:46:40.77
Jesus Christ being
the chief cornerstone.
00:46:40.80\00:46:42.86
Let me ask you, what
is the Shekinah today
00:46:42.96\00:46:45.19
that is in that temple?
00:46:45.22\00:46:46.58
Let's finish
reading the text, verse 22.
00:46:46.95\00:46:49.51
"In whom you also are
being built together for a
00:46:49.71\00:46:52.71
dwelling place of..." Whom?
00:46:52.74\00:46:55.47
"...of God in the Spirit."
00:46:55.50\00:46:57.82
Does the church
have the Shekinah today?
00:46:58.71\00:47:00.66
Does it have
God's Shekinah glory?
00:47:01.38\00:47:03.26
Yes, what is the Shekinah glory?
00:47:03.29\00:47:05.18
It is the Holy Spirit.
00:47:05.78\00:47:06.81
We can't see Him...
00:47:06.84\00:47:08.12
...but He is
present in the church.
00:47:08.89\00:47:10.78
Are you with me?
00:47:10.81\00:47:11.84
So for the apostle
Paul, what is the temple?
00:47:12.06\00:47:14.77
Is the temple the literal
building over in the Middle East
00:47:14.87\00:47:18.22
that's going to be
rebuilt and there's
00:47:18.25\00:47:19.47
going to be a third temple?
00:47:19.50\00:47:20.53
Absolutely not.
00:47:20.56\00:47:21.59
For the apostle
Paul, the temple is what?
00:47:22.13\00:47:25.84
Is the church.
00:47:26.09\00:47:27.46
Built upon the writings of the
prophets and of the apostles.
00:47:28.07\00:47:31.69
Jesus Christ being
the chief cornerstone.
00:47:31.89\00:47:34.09
So when the Bible says
that the antichrist is going to
00:47:34.12\00:47:36.72
sit in the temple of God
showing himself to be God,
00:47:36.75\00:47:39.03
where should we
look for the antichrist?
00:47:39.13\00:47:41.70
We should look
for him sitting where?
00:47:41.95\00:47:45.50
In the Christian church.
00:47:45.83\00:47:49.88
Not in the literal
temple in Jerusalem.
00:47:50.87\00:47:53.76
Are you with me?
00:47:54.32\00:47:55.35
Now, the Bible also tells us
that all of the redeemed will
00:47:55.75\00:47:59.62
sing the same song.
00:47:59.65\00:48:01.01
Literal and spiritual Israel.
00:48:01.67\00:48:03.77
Notice what we find
in Revelation chapter 15
00:48:04.21\00:48:06.56
verses 3 and 4.
00:48:06.59\00:48:07.85
Revelation
chapter 15 verses 3 and 4.
00:48:08.05\00:48:10.35
Old Testament and New
Testament saints are going to
00:48:10.53\00:48:12.46
sing the same song.
00:48:12.49\00:48:13.73
Notice, it's speaking here
about the 144,000 and it says...
00:48:14.24\00:48:17.58
That's Old Testament.
00:48:20.96\00:48:21.99
So how many songs are going
to be sung by the redeemed?
00:48:43.56\00:48:46.64
There's going to be
a New Testament song
00:48:46.67\00:48:48.40
and there's going to
be an Old Testament song.
00:48:48.43\00:48:50.11
No, it's one song.
00:48:50.35\00:48:52.10
The song of Moses, he
was an Old Testament figure,
00:48:52.13\00:48:55.47
and the song of whom?
00:48:55.50\00:48:56.82
The song of the Lamb.
00:48:56.85\00:48:58.21
That's a New Testament figure.
00:48:58.24\00:49:00.04
In other words, all of the
redeemed will sing one song.
00:49:00.07\00:49:04.26
The Bible also says that all
of us will have only one Father.
00:49:05.28\00:49:08.60
Notice Galatians
chapter 3 and verse 26.
00:49:10.63\00:49:13.56
Galatians 3 verse 26.
00:49:13.79\00:49:15.60
What defines whether
we are sons of God or not?
00:49:15.63\00:49:18.58
Listen carefully to
what the Bible says.
00:49:20.89\00:49:22.87
It's not me, it's the Bible.
00:49:23.07\00:49:24.51
It says...
00:49:24.54\00:49:25.57
How do we become sons of God?
00:49:33.15\00:49:34.89
Through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:49:35.54\00:49:37.04
What if we don't have
faith in Christ Jesus.
00:49:37.07\00:49:39.63
Then we are not sons of God.
00:49:40.52\00:49:42.14
I know that's a harsh
statement, but that's biblical.
00:49:42.94\00:49:45.39
Notice John chapter 1:12-13
where this idea is pursued.
00:49:45.88\00:49:49.62
John 1 verses 12 and 13.
00:49:49.65\00:49:51.42
It says there...
00:49:51.87\00:49:52.90
That is Jesus.
00:49:55.55\00:49:56.64
So what makes
you a child of God?
00:50:11.96\00:50:13.64
Your physical birth
or your spiritual birth?
00:50:13.84\00:50:16.64
Your spiritual birth and the
fact that you receive Christ.
00:50:16.85\00:50:19.63
Because it says,
"As many as receive Him,
00:50:19.66\00:50:22.25
to them He gave the right
to become the children of God."
00:50:22.74\00:50:26.16
Now listen to
the way this works.
00:50:26.29\00:50:27.99
The only true son
of God is Jesus Christ.
00:50:28.55\00:50:31.31
Because He's the
only faithful one.
00:50:32.11\00:50:33.87
The Bible says that
we are children of wrath.
00:50:34.15\00:50:36.31
Jesus even went one
step further, He says,
00:50:36.34\00:50:39.15
"You are of your
father the devil."
00:50:39.18\00:50:40.68
Because we're born
alienated from God.
00:50:42.27\00:50:44.32
That we're conceived in
sin, according to Scripture.
00:50:44.80\00:50:47.21
And we have to be converted.
00:50:47.49\00:50:48.93
We have to accept Christ,
and then we're grafted in
00:50:48.96\00:50:51.75
to the family of God.
00:50:51.78\00:50:52.81
Now, the only one
who deserves to be called
00:50:52.84\00:50:54.82
the son of God is Jesus Christ.
00:50:54.85\00:50:56.35
But when I receive
Jesus Christ as my Savior,
00:50:56.38\00:50:58.85
I become His brother.
00:50:58.88\00:51:00.38
Or in the case of the women
here, you become His sister.
00:51:02.71\00:51:05.53
And so Jesus now comes
to the Father and says,
00:51:05.96\00:51:07.79
"Father, I've
got a new brother."
00:51:07.82\00:51:09.33
And the Father says,
"You do? What's his name?"
00:51:10.57\00:51:12.85
"Pastor Stephen Bohr."
00:51:12.95\00:51:14.08
The Father says,
"Well if he's Your brother,
00:51:14.11\00:51:16.12
he's My son too."
00:51:16.15\00:51:17.50
That's what Jesus meant
when He said, "I am the way,
00:51:18.44\00:51:21.76
the truth, and the life.
00:51:21.79\00:51:23.53
No man comes unto
the Father but by Me."
00:51:23.56\00:51:26.69
So if you're a literal Jew but
you've rejected Jesus Christ,
00:51:27.46\00:51:31.08
the biblical definition is
that you're not a child of God.
00:51:31.11\00:51:34.27
We're children
of God by creation,
00:51:34.30\00:51:36.40
but not by redemption.
00:51:36.43\00:51:38.04
Now let's go to John
chapter 8 verses 32 through 44.
00:51:38.30\00:51:41.76
Here Jesus is
having a conversation
00:51:42.03\00:51:43.92
with the literal Jews.
00:51:43.95\00:51:45.03
And this is very significant.
00:51:45.06\00:51:46.49
It says here...
00:51:46.52\00:51:47.55
Really, it's Abrahams seed.
00:51:56.00\00:51:57.36
It's the same
identical word, "seed,"
00:51:57.39\00:51:58.99
as in Galatians chapter 3.
00:51:59.02\00:52:00.54
And then Jesus
says, "I know that you are
00:52:21.14\00:52:23.83
Abraham's descendents."
00:52:23.86\00:52:24.90
He's speaking physically
now. We're going to see that.
00:52:24.93\00:52:26.98
"I know that you are literally
Abraham's descendents,"
00:52:27.18\00:52:29.59
is what He's saying.
00:52:29.62\00:52:30.65
"But you seek to kill Me because
My word has no place in you.
00:52:30.88\00:52:34.28
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:52:34.61\00:52:37.68
you do what you have
seen with your father."
00:52:37.71\00:52:40.43
He's not talking
about Abraham here, folks.
00:52:41.25\00:52:43.27
"They answered and said to
Him, 'Abraham is our father.'"
00:52:43.68\00:52:47.03
And he was their
father physically speaking,
00:52:48.48\00:52:51.23
but he wasn't
really their father.
00:52:51.26\00:52:52.72
Notice what it continues saying.
00:52:52.75\00:52:54.10
"They answered and said to
Him, 'Abraham is our father.'
00:52:54.70\00:52:57.00
Jesus said to them, 'If you
were Abraham's children...'"
00:52:57.03\00:53:00.82
Which means that they're not.
00:53:01.08\00:53:02.15
"...you would do
the works of Abraham.
00:53:02.68\00:53:04.65
But now you seek to kill Me,
a Man who has told you the truth
00:53:05.19\00:53:09.04
which I heard from God.
00:53:09.07\00:53:10.17
Abraham did not do this."
00:53:10.20\00:53:11.60
"You say you're
Abraham's children,
00:53:11.63\00:53:12.73
but you want to kill Me.
00:53:12.76\00:53:13.79
He would have embraced Me."
00:53:13.85\00:53:15.22
Now notice what
it continues saying.
00:53:15.66\00:53:17.38
Verse 41, "'You do
the deeds of your father.'
00:53:17.54\00:53:20.78
Then they said to Him, 'We
were not born of fornication.
00:53:20.98\00:53:23.23
We have one Father; God.'"
00:53:23.26\00:53:24.60
Verse 42, "Jesus said to them,
'If God were your Father...'"
00:53:26.47\00:53:29.66
Which is saying He isn't.
00:53:29.69\00:53:31.10
"If God were your
Father, you would love Me,
00:53:31.20\00:53:33.10
for I proceeded
forth and came from God;
00:53:33.54\00:53:36.17
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me.
00:53:36.53\00:53:39.01
Why do you not
understand My speech?
00:53:39.21\00:53:41.78
Because you are not
able to listen to My word."
00:53:41.81\00:53:44.00
And then notice what He says.
00:53:44.03\00:53:45.06
These are solemn words.
00:53:45.09\00:53:46.15
"You are of your
father the devil."
00:53:46.18\00:53:48.19
Who wanted Jesus dead?
00:53:49.29\00:53:50.72
The devil.
00:53:51.76\00:53:52.79
Did the Jewish
nation want Him dead too?
00:53:53.59\00:53:55.81
Except for a
few exceptions. Yes.
00:53:56.17\00:53:58.02
So whose children were they?
00:53:58.05\00:53:59.48
Jesus said, "Abraham
saw My day and rejoiced."
00:54:00.65\00:54:03.17
"If you were Abraham's children,
you would be rejoicing,"
00:54:03.81\00:54:06.02
is what He's saying.
00:54:06.05\00:54:07.08
"But you want to kill
Me, just like your father."
00:54:07.11\00:54:09.88
So He says in verse 44, "You
are of your father the devil,
00:54:10.29\00:54:14.63
and the deeds of your
father you want to do.
00:54:14.88\00:54:17.07
He was a murderer from
the beginning, and does not
00:54:17.14\00:54:19.26
stand in the truth, because
there is no truth in him.
00:54:19.29\00:54:22.18
When he speaks a lie, he
speaks from his own resources,
00:54:22.60\00:54:26.00
for he is a liar
and the father of it."
00:54:26.75\00:54:30.13
We've also notice that
Jesus has only one breastplate
00:54:31.02\00:54:33.82
with twelve stones.
00:54:33.85\00:54:35.04
And those twelve stones
represent the twelve tribes
00:54:36.00\00:54:38.64
of Israel and the
twelve apostles of the Lamb,
00:54:38.67\00:54:41.12
from which the Old and the
New Testament church comes.
00:54:41.15\00:54:44.27
There's only one High
Priest with twelve stones.
00:54:44.30\00:54:47.64
There is no such thing
like separating literal Israel
00:54:48.14\00:54:51.23
from the church.
00:54:51.26\00:54:54.04
God has only one people.
00:54:54.74\00:54:56.46
And it's defined by their
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:54:56.49\00:54:59.17
You know what the tragic
thing is, as we near our close?
00:54:59.70\00:55:02.30
Is that most preachers
today believe just the way
00:55:02.72\00:55:05.60
Saul of Tarsus did
before his conversion.
00:55:05.63\00:55:08.19
They jump from the Old
Testament to the end time
00:55:09.21\00:55:14.00
and bypass Jesus Christ.
00:55:14.03\00:55:16.30
They say that God has
elected literal Israel
00:55:16.70\00:55:20.20
unconditionally and irrevocably,
no matter whether they
00:55:20.42\00:55:24.07
receive Jesus or not.
00:55:24.10\00:55:25.68
And they believe that
prophecy will be fulfilled with
00:55:26.33\00:55:28.73
literal Israel and literal
Jerusalem in a literal temple,
00:55:28.76\00:55:31.95
with re-established
literal sacrifices, with a
00:55:31.98\00:55:34.32
literal personal antichrist
sitting in the literal temple
00:55:34.35\00:55:37.56
for a literal
three and a half years.
00:55:37.59\00:55:39.11
And literal enemies will
come from the literal north
00:55:39.49\00:55:42.02
and the literal
south with literal weapons
00:55:42.05\00:55:44.06
and wage a literal war
against literal Jerusalem;
00:55:44.09\00:55:46.97
when Scripture tells us
that the war will be against
00:55:48.68\00:55:51.74
the body of Jesus Christ.
00:55:51.77\00:55:53.50
It will be against the church,
00:55:54.35\00:55:56.07
whether they be
literal Jews or Gentiles,
00:55:56.37\00:55:58.86
all joined in one body.
00:55:58.89\00:56:01.55
Are you understanding me?
00:56:02.34\00:56:03.80
What has happened today is
false prophecy being preached
00:56:05.51\00:56:09.22
from almost every single
pulpit in the Christian world.
00:56:09.25\00:56:11.93
They're telling people,
"Look to the Middle East
00:56:13.06\00:56:15.83
for the fulfillment of prophecy.
00:56:15.86\00:56:17.62
They're going to
rebuild the temple.
00:56:18.64\00:56:20.12
The Russians and the Arabs
are coming against Jerusalem.
00:56:20.96\00:56:23.80
There's going to be a
nasty antichrist who will
00:56:24.45\00:56:26.45
sit in the temple.
00:56:26.48\00:56:27.70
And he's going to rule there
for three and a half years.
00:56:28.51\00:56:30.61
But of course the
church will be gone.
00:56:30.64\00:56:32.00
It will be raptured to heaven.
00:56:32.10\00:56:33.24
The church isn't going
through the tribulation."
00:56:33.27\00:56:35.08
And meanwhile, the
little horn and the beast
00:56:36.54\00:56:40.29
function in Rome.
00:56:41.31\00:56:42.95
And the false
prophet, as we will study,
00:56:44.92\00:56:47.36
works in the United States.
00:56:48.06\00:56:50.14
And nobody can see it
because they're looking
00:56:50.77\00:56:54.41
in the wrong place.
00:56:54.44\00:56:56.32
Is this a serious matter?
00:56:57.33\00:56:58.94
Listen folks, the solution
to the Jewish Palestinian
00:56:59.44\00:57:03.14
problem is very simple.
00:57:03.17\00:57:04.53
If the Jews
accepted Christ as Savior,
00:57:05.08\00:57:07.53
and the Palestinians
accepted Jesus Christ as Savior,
00:57:08.02\00:57:11.27
the conflict in the
Middle East would end instantly.
00:57:12.60\00:57:15.00
Because they would say,
"What are we fighting about?
00:57:15.59\00:57:17.53
We're all brothers
because we're all in Christ."
00:57:17.73\00:57:20.43
Are you understanding
what we've studied?
00:57:22.53\00:57:24.20
Vitally important for what we're
going to study in the future.
00:57:24.40\00:57:27.24