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>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
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brought to you by It Is Written.
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Well, this is week 13.
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This is the final
presentation of this quarter,
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where we've been looking
at "God's Mission My Mission."
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And this week, we are looking
at "The End of God's Mission."
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What does that look like?
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We are going to end on a
very, very high note this week,
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but let's begin with prayer.
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Father, we thank
You for being with us
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through this last quarter
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as we've looked at
how You call each of us
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to be active in ministry,
sharing our faith with others,
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both near and far.
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And we ask that as we draw
everything to a close this week,
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You will give us
inspiration and encouragement
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to continue on that mission.
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We thank You, in
Jesus' name, amen.
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Well, we're grateful
to have back with us again
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Greg Whitsett one final time.
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He's the planning
director at Adventist Mission.
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Greg, thanks for
joining us again.
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>>Gregory
Whitsett: Happy to be here.
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>>Eric: So we're looking now
at the very end of things here.
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This is a fascinating title,
"The End of God's Mission."
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We don't think of God's
mission coming to an end.
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We think of God
and His perpetuity.
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He continues, and yet
there is a part of this mission
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that comes to an end.
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Talk about the
events surrounding
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what this last
lesson is all about.
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>>Greg: Well, you
know, it is interesting;
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and, of course, we
probably have to couch it
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because God
always has a mission.
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But the mission
we're talking about,
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of course, is the rescue
of His cherished children
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on Planet Earth. Peter
is amazing in his writing.
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He doesn't
write as much as Paul,
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but he has some
very powerful things,
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and both his
letters, 1 and 2 Peter,
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are filled with so
much good exhortation,
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good teaching for us.
But in verse 11 it says,
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"Therefore, since all
these things will be dissolved,
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"what manner of
persons ought you to be
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"in holy conduct and godliness,
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looking for and hastening
the coming of the day of God?"
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It stops there, it
continues a little bit,
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but that's the part
for the memory verse.
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This responsibility that we
have of two things: to look for
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but also to
hasten Christ's return,
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and we kind of look at
that a little bit this week
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in this lesson.
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>>Eric: And I think
looking forward to--
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we all look forward to
that; at least we should.
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>>Greg: Yeah, exactly.
>>Eric: Looking at the world
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that surrounds us and
the mayhem and the problems
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and the challenges,
looking forward to that,
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and then this concept,
as you say, of hastening,
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that's powerful.
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What about hastening
with respect to mission?
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How does that sort of fit in
together? How can we do that?
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>>Greg: You know,
when I look at that verse,
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"looking for and hastening,"
the looking for is both
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my eagerness, the
condition of my heart,
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but it's also the spending
time in God's Word, in prophecy,
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to understand
what's about to happen,
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but also what's going
on in the world around me,
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the signs of the
times that indicate
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that His coming is near,
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based on what we
know from Scripture.
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But the hastening part
of it is all about mission.
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That's what we are
doing in hastening His return.
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And what I'd like to do is
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actually turn to
Revelation and look at it,
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because Revelation
is a missionary manual.
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It's all about mission
and what our mission is
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after the New Testament period.
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So it's what is God doing,
and what should we be doing?
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But I don't want you to
just take my word for it.
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Let's actually look
at Revelation, chapter 1
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and see, well, what
evidence do we have for this?
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Look specifically--of course,
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it begins with
the beautiful words,
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"The revelation
of Jesus Christ."
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It is God's mission.
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It is Jesus Christ that
Revelation is pointing to.
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That's the center of
everything in this book.
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But let's skip down to verse
6, where it talks about that
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"[God] has made us kings and
priests to His God and Father,
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"to Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen."
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So it's this
doxology, but it's focusing on
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that we are made
as kings and priests.
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And that should
remind us of another passage
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in Peter's
writings in the first book
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where he talks
about us, that we are
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a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood,
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which I think is
such a beautiful thing,
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that we're both kings and
priests, which, if we're kings,
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that means we're
members of God's royal family,
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because He is
King of Kings, right?
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And so, the
whole idea of that is,
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of course, that
we're ruling with Him,
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that we're part of
His governance of earth.
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But more importantly,
that we are priests,
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and the role of a priest is
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to be the ones to
actually bless, right,
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to actually bring
God's blessings back in,
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when the sacrificial system, the
daily sacrifices would begin,
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in the morning
with the sacrifice
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and in the evening.
But the priest would take,
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after he had
sacrificed the lamb,
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he would then take
incense from the altar,
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he'd go in to the holy
place, and that would represent
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the prayers of
the people, of course,
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ascending up before God.
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But then afterwards,
the whole congregation
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in the wilderness tabernacle,
they'd all be waiting
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because the priest would
come out with a blessing,
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and he would bless the people.
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So, as priests, that's our role.
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Our role is to bless people,
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but also the
priests are to educate
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and to draw people to God.
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And so, that's
really what I think this,
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a very clear
indication, verse 7:
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"Behold, He is
coming with clouds,
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"and every eye will see Him,
[and everyone] who pierced Him.
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"And all the tribes of the
earth will mourn because of Him.
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Even so, Amen."
So on the one hand,
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we are kings and
priests; but on the other hand,
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His coming is in the clouds.
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So, we have the
focus on the Second Coming,
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but we see this role
that we have in context
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with His return, which, I
believe, this is pointing,
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this is all about mission.
We are His missionaries.
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>>Eric: Very, very powerful.
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Now, let me jump to Monday's
lesson. In Monday's lesson,
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you summarized the
three angels' messages.
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Take us through this.
Why is it so important for us
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to understand the
three angels' messages,
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and why is it so
relevant for us today?
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>>Greg: You know, you can
only fit so much into one day.
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So I'm glad for this opportunity
to build on this a little bit
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to some of the things I was not
able to share in that lesson.
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The whole book of Revelation
is dealing with the issue
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of once and for all restoring
and correcting the evil,
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the injustice, sin, death,
all of this that's in the world.
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So there's this anticipation,
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this desire that, even though
Christ has died and rose again,
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that we're not yet receiving
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the full gift of His
promise to restore this world.
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So in, actually,
Revelation, chapter 5,
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we have this
interesting picture.
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Maybe what I could ask you to do
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is just to read
verses 1 through 3.
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>>Eric: This is
Revelation 5:1-3.
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"And I saw in the right hand
of Him who sat on the throne
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"a scroll written
inside and on the back,
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"sealed with seven seals.
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"Then I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice,
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"'Who is worthy
to open the scroll
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"and to loose its seals?'
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"And no one in
heaven or on the earth
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"or under the earth was
able to open the scroll,
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"or to look at it.
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"So I wept much,
because no one was found worthy
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"to open and read the
scroll, or to look at it.
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"But one of the elders
said to me, 'Do not weep.
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"'Behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Judah,
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"'the Root of David, has
prevailed to open the scroll
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and to loose its seven seals.'"
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>>Greg: Isn't that something?
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So, let's think
about that for a moment.
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We have this scroll
with the seven seals,
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which is a very
interesting thing by itself.
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But the thing that
stands out to me the most--
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I don't know if it does to you--
but it's actually in verse 4,
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where John writes-- he
inserts himself into this--
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where he says, "I wept much."
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John, what's wrong with you?
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Why are you weeping?
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I mean, that's kind
of absurd, isn't it?
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Why would you--I don't
know if you've ever woken up
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from a dream and you
realize you're crying; you know,
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it's so real. Well, this
isn't a dream. This is a vision.
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This is a
supernatural experience
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he's having that
God is helping him,
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to understand what
Jesus Christ is doing
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to finish the mission.
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But here John is weeping.
He understands something
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that I think we
don't understand.
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And I think that's
important to understand
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the rest of Revelation.
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The scroll actually
represents a legal document.
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And it was a tradition
in Rome that you would have
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multiple seals like this
for a more important document,
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such as a will and
testament or this type of thing.
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So, John knows that
there's a problem in heaven
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because we have this document,
which I think it's a will
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or it's a title or a deed,
and it's very important that
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no one has that ability to
open, but the One who is able--
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you know, John weeps
because he sees the problem--
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but then the One who is
able to is Jesus Christ.
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So he is in the
process-- you know,
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our planet has
been hijacked by Satan,
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and he has tried to
claim ownership of this place.
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And now here, after
Christ's resurrection,
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He comes back to
heaven, and He is able
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to receive that
scroll because He is now
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the rightful
inheritor of what Adam lost.
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Adam lost and died, but
Jesus has now won it back
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through His life,
death, and resurrection.
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So that's kind of
an important picture.
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So what we see happening is that
now we're going to understand
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what are these seven
seals, which this lesson
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we don't get into,
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but the fifth seal
is what's important.
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Because again,
we're trying to understand
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the end-time
mission and the theme
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that we're seeing in
Revelation, but the fifth--
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in chapter 6, could
you read verse 9 and 10?
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>>Eric: "When He
opened the fifth seal,
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"I saw under the altar the souls
of those who had been slain
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"for the word of God
and for the testimony
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"which they held.
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"And they cried with
a loud voice, saying,
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"'How long, O
Lord, holy and true,
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"'until You judge
and avenge our blood
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on those who
dwell on the earth?'"
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>>Greg: Okay, I don't know,
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when we think of blood being
avenged and people crying out,
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I immediately think of Genesis
with the story of Cain and Abel
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and how Abel, you know,
in his--he's having this--
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he's murdered by his brother,
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and God
approaches Cain and says,
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"The blood of your
brother has cried out to me."
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So this is symbolic.
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It's not that
there's souls in heaven
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that are crying
out under the altar.
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This is all symbolic language,
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but it's basically
God sees the injustice,
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the persecution,
this sort of thing.
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And what we didn't read--
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actually, I
forgot to mention this,
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but actually,
the result of Christ
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being able to take the scroll
is that all heaven breaks forth
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in celebration and in praise.
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And it's interesting--
if we can go back to that,
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in chapter 5, verse 9, it says,
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"And they sang a new song,
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"saying: 'You are
worthy to take the scroll,
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"'and to open its
seals; for You were slain,
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"'and have redeemed us to God
by Your blood out of every tribe
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"'and tongue and
people and nation,
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"'and have made us
kings and priests to our God;
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and we shall reign
on...earth.'" Beautiful picture.
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So, there's this injustice
that the Messiah, that the Lamb,
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Jesus, is starting to correct
by His own shed blood, right?
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But then here we
have in chapter 6,
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where there's
still this not yet.
00:12:20.97\00:12:23.04
There's something left.
And so there's this question:
00:12:23.07\00:12:25.51
How long is this
going to continue?
00:12:25.54\00:12:28.14
And so that's the
theme of Revelation,
00:12:29.14\00:12:31.48
which helps us understand
when we get to Revelation 14
00:12:31.51\00:12:34.65
what it all means.
00:12:34.68\00:12:36.48
Of course, in
Revelation 13, just as we come
00:12:36.52\00:12:39.85
into the three angels' messages
in 14, before we get there,
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.96
in chapter 13, we
see that for 42 months
00:12:42.99\00:12:45.96
there's this
persecution of the sea beast,
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.50
and there's martyrs
and things happening.
00:12:48.53\00:12:50.53
Of course, the 42 months
refer to symbolic 1,260 days,
00:12:50.57\00:12:56.00
and it takes us all
the way to the end of time
00:12:56.04\00:12:59.14
with the three angels' messages,
which are focusing on saying,
00:12:59.17\00:13:01.94
okay, now you have the sea
beast; you have the land beast;
00:13:01.98\00:13:04.45
they're actually
forcing you to obey them.
00:13:04.48\00:13:07.62
They're persecuting those who
do not obey them but follow God.
00:13:07.65\00:13:11.09
So then the messages
are very straightforward.
00:13:11.12\00:13:13.29
A lot of people think that these
messages are somehow negative,
00:13:13.32\00:13:17.03
that they're not relevant.
00:13:17.06\00:13:18.96
But all--they can be
easily summarized in this,
00:13:18.99\00:13:22.60
that this is the message
00:13:22.63\00:13:23.93
that anyone who has
ever faced injustice
00:13:23.97\00:13:26.70
are grateful to hear;
because the hour of judgment,
00:13:26.74\00:13:29.64
God is going to
correct the problems.
00:13:29.67\00:13:32.57
So worship Him
because He's going to judge.
00:13:32.61\00:13:34.78
That's what
angel one is all about.
00:13:34.81\00:13:36.11
Angel two, it's all
about "Babylon has fallen."
00:13:36.14\00:13:38.88
This power that's
persecuting is fallen,
00:13:38.91\00:13:42.12
and it reminds me of
another time when God judged.
00:13:42.15\00:13:46.99
And actually it
was Babylon, right?
00:13:47.02\00:13:49.02
Remember Belshazzar's feast
00:13:49.06\00:13:50.86
in Daniel,
chapter 5-- >>Eric: Right.
00:13:50.89\00:13:52.36
>>Greg: ...where the
handwriting on the wall,
00:13:52.39\00:13:55.00
"Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin."
00:13:55.03\00:13:57.47
"You're weighed in the
balances and found wanting."
00:13:57.50\00:14:00.44
That's that moment.
00:14:00.47\00:14:01.94
God is writing on
the wall, so to speak,
00:14:01.97\00:14:03.51
through the second
angel's message to say,
00:14:03.54\00:14:06.27
"Hey, you know, the judgment
says that you are condemned."
00:14:06.31\00:14:10.98
And then the third
angel's message is simply,
00:14:11.01\00:14:12.75
separate yourself from anything
to do with this earthly power
00:14:12.78\00:14:17.92
that's obviously in rebellion
00:14:17.95\00:14:19.82
and is
persecuting the righteous.
00:14:19.85\00:14:21.86
And by faith, keep God's
commandments; be loyal to Him.
00:14:21.89\00:14:25.96
Even though you're not
sure if it's going to play out,
00:14:25.99\00:14:28.13
have faith in God's Word that
everything is going to be fine.
00:14:28.16\00:14:31.87
>>Eric: So, in
these three messages,
00:14:31.90\00:14:33.37
these are three messages
of good news, of justice,
00:14:33.40\00:14:37.11
of rectifying
wrongs, of hope, if you will,
00:14:37.14\00:14:41.91
not anything to fear, a
great deal of hope there.
00:14:41.94\00:14:45.65
And we hope that you are
finding that these messages
00:14:45.68\00:14:47.95
are a great deal of hope.
00:14:47.98\00:14:49.28
We're pulling the last
bits of this quarter together
00:14:49.32\00:14:52.15
as we're looking at
"The End of God's Mission."
00:14:52.19\00:14:54.96
And just so I don't leave you
without one final opportunity,
00:14:54.99\00:15:00.46
if you really want to understand
this quarter's lessons
00:15:00.50\00:15:03.80
so much better, be
sure that you pick up
00:15:03.83\00:15:06.53
the companion book to
this quarter's lesson.
00:15:06.57\00:15:09.37
It is "God's
Mission My Mission."
00:15:09.40\00:15:11.64
You can find it
at itiswritten.shop,
00:15:11.67\00:15:15.48
and it adds a great
deal of depth and breadth
00:15:15.51\00:15:18.98
and resources to what we've been
looking at about God's mission
00:15:19.01\00:15:22.75
being your
mission and my mission.
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.35
We're going to come back
with the very last few thoughts
00:15:25.39\00:15:28.39
about what it means for
God's mission to come to an end
00:15:28.42\00:15:32.13
and the role that you
and I have to play in it.
00:15:32.16\00:15:34.46
We'll be right back.
00:15:34.46\00:15:35.76
¤¤¤
00:15:35.80\00:15:38.13
>>John Bradshaw:
During Hollywood's golden age
00:15:39.10\00:15:41.50
and era of glitz and glamor,
00:15:41.54\00:15:43.54
one man's melody
would transcend time
00:15:43.57\00:15:46.14
and touch the
hearts of millions.
00:15:46.17\00:15:48.54
"Have Yourself a
Merry Little Christmas"
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.05
is still heard and
enjoyed every Christmas season,
00:15:51.08\00:15:54.42
but behind the song is a
story of not only the song
00:15:54.45\00:15:58.79
but also its composer.
00:15:58.82\00:16:01.79
From humble
beginnings in Alabama,
00:16:01.82\00:16:04.03
Hugh Martin would
travel to New York City,
00:16:04.06\00:16:06.56
where a chance encounter
with the legendary Judy Garland
00:16:06.59\00:16:10.00
would catapult him to fame.
00:16:10.03\00:16:12.23
Learn this untold
story of fame, faith,
00:16:12.27\00:16:15.34
and a miraculous transformation.
00:16:15.37\00:16:17.81
Amid trials and tribulations
came a life-changing encounter
00:16:17.84\00:16:20.74
that would shape
Hugh Martin's destiny.
00:16:20.78\00:16:23.95
Join me for "A
Blessed Little Christmas"
00:16:23.98\00:16:26.72
and learn the
story behind the song,
00:16:26.75\00:16:28.82
the story of a
man who turned away
00:16:28.85\00:16:30.69
from the bright lights
to embrace a loving Savior.
00:16:30.72\00:16:33.59
"A Blessed Little
Christmas," brought to you
00:16:33.62\00:16:35.96
by It Is Written TV.
00:16:35.99\00:16:37.99
>>John: There's
something I wanna tell you about
00:16:39.16\00:16:41.10
that is so important.
It's My Place With Jesus,
00:16:41.13\00:16:45.60
It Is Written's
ministry to children.
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.94
Take the children you care about
00:16:48.97\00:16:50.94
to myplacewithjesus.com.
00:16:50.97\00:16:53.74
At My Place With Jesus,
00:16:53.78\00:16:55.31
you'll find so much
that will bless your children
00:16:55.34\00:16:58.21
or grandchildren
or great-grandchildren
00:16:58.25\00:17:01.05
or the children at church.
00:17:01.08\00:17:03.28
There are the My Place
With Jesus Bible Guides,
00:17:03.32\00:17:06.82
21 studies that will take
the children you care about
00:17:06.86\00:17:10.36
into the Word of God.
00:17:10.39\00:17:12.29
They'll learn
the important things,
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.30
especially the love of God
00:17:14.30\00:17:16.80
and the sacrifice
Jesus made for them.
00:17:16.83\00:17:19.60
As well, take your children
to Journey Through the Bible.
00:17:19.63\00:17:23.00
It's there at
myplacewithjesus.com.
00:17:23.04\00:17:25.41
It's a special Bible-reading
program that will get children
00:17:25.44\00:17:29.31
into the habit of
reading their Bible daily
00:17:29.34\00:17:31.88
and connecting
with God regularly.
00:17:31.91\00:17:33.78
So don't forget
myplacewithjesus.com
00:17:33.82\00:17:36.95
from It Is Written.
00:17:36.99\00:17:38.49
¤¤¤
00:17:39.49\00:17:43.96
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:17:43.99\00:17:45.46
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:17:45.49\00:17:47.20
We're looking at "The
End of God's Mission" here.
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.80
We've been talking
about the significance
00:17:49.83\00:17:51.77
of the three angels' message.
00:17:51.80\00:17:54.04
In light of this,
of the importance,
00:17:54.07\00:17:56.64
the significance, the
hope that we find there,
00:17:56.67\00:18:00.18
what should we really
be looking at as our focus
00:18:00.21\00:18:03.88
at the end of time?
00:18:03.91\00:18:04.95
What role do we
play in all of this?
00:18:04.98\00:18:08.65
>>Greg: Well, thankfully,
even though God is quite capable
00:18:08.68\00:18:12.45
of doing everything, we
play such an important role
00:18:12.49\00:18:15.12
because He has
put us dead center
00:18:15.16\00:18:16.89
as kings and priests at
the center of His mission.
00:18:16.93\00:18:19.89
And it's
interesting, you know, there's,
00:18:19.93\00:18:23.03
when we think about mission
and we think about success,
00:18:23.06\00:18:25.83
how do we measure success?
00:18:25.87\00:18:27.47
How do we know that
we're on the right track
00:18:27.50\00:18:29.40
and that sort of thing?
00:18:29.44\00:18:30.64
I think that we can often
focus on the wrong things.
00:18:30.67\00:18:33.94
There's a passage in 1
Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 6,
00:18:33.98\00:18:38.31
where Paul is pointing
out to the church of Corinth--
00:18:38.35\00:18:40.68
you know, they're kind of,
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.15
a little bit of
conflict they're having there.
00:18:42.18\00:18:44.19
He says, "I planted,
Apollos came and he watered,
00:18:44.22\00:18:47.72
but God gave the increase."
00:18:47.76\00:18:50.03
So success ultimately
is God's responsibility.
00:18:50.06\00:18:53.76
But both Paul and Apollos had
a very important part to play
00:18:53.80\00:18:58.10
in the development of the church
00:18:58.13\00:19:00.80
in the city of
Corinth in his time.
00:19:00.84\00:19:03.44
So, clearly, what I
think our focus should be is
00:19:03.47\00:19:08.21
on the role we play, leaving
those results to God's hands
00:19:08.24\00:19:12.81
because He's the only one
that can actually bear fruit.
00:19:12.85\00:19:16.25
He's the one who
gives the blessing
00:19:16.28\00:19:17.95
to the work we're doing.
00:19:17.99\00:19:19.95
But there's two
things I want to focus on
00:19:19.99\00:19:21.69
to think about the success.
00:19:21.72\00:19:23.26
The first is that
God has told us clearly
00:19:23.29\00:19:25.36
in Matthew, chapter
28, verses 18 to 20,
00:19:25.39\00:19:29.16
that we are to "go
and make disciples,
00:19:29.20\00:19:32.00
"baptizing them in
the name of the Father,
00:19:32.03\00:19:33.47
"Son, and the Holy
Spirit, and to teach them
00:19:33.50\00:19:36.07
"all things I
have commanded you.
00:19:36.10\00:19:37.41
And lo, I'll be with you even to
the end of the age," He talks.
00:19:37.44\00:19:39.84
Well, what's interesting
in those verses is that
00:19:39.87\00:19:43.18
there's four things,
00:19:43.21\00:19:44.75
but the heart of it
is to make disciples.
00:19:44.78\00:19:47.45
That's the only imperative.
00:19:47.48\00:19:48.85
The others are actually
forming more like modifiers,
00:19:48.88\00:19:51.75
to add meaning to what
that central command word is.
00:19:51.79\00:19:56.46
But also Paul wrote
00:19:56.49\00:19:58.23
in 1 Corinthians, chapter
4, verse 16, "Imitate me."
00:19:58.26\00:20:03.26
And I remember when I was
studying theology in college,
00:20:03.30\00:20:09.07
Atlantic Union
College in Massachusetts,
00:20:09.10\00:20:13.07
I came across that verse,
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.11
and I was spending
some time studying that.
00:20:15.14\00:20:16.44
I was like, "Boy, that
seems kind of conceited,
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.55
'Imitate me.'"
00:20:18.58\00:20:20.35
What does Paul mean with
that? And I began to realize
00:20:20.38\00:20:22.95
as I explored
and understood more,
00:20:22.98\00:20:24.79
that Paul is saying,
"Just as I'm following Christ,
00:20:24.82\00:20:27.16
you also follow
Christ in that way."
00:20:27.19\00:20:28.96
So he's wanting them to
imitate him in how he follows.
00:20:28.99\00:20:31.96
So, discipleship is at the heart
of what mission is all about.
00:20:31.99\00:20:38.10
Therefore, when it
comes to identifying success,
00:20:38.13\00:20:41.60
we need to be
looking at disciples.
00:20:41.64\00:20:44.17
What qualities do
they need to have?
00:20:44.21\00:20:47.08
Because these disciples
need to be able to withstand
00:20:47.11\00:20:51.65
the opposition of the world.
They need to have a loyalty,
00:20:51.68\00:20:55.35
when many who follow Christ
are actually not being loyal.
00:20:55.38\00:21:00.62
So I think that the same
place that we were just at
00:21:00.66\00:21:04.19
in Revelation 14 is
a great place to look
00:21:04.23\00:21:07.23
to understand what kinds
of disciples they should be.
00:21:07.30\00:21:11.70
Maybe you could read for
us, just to set the context,
00:21:11.73\00:21:15.04
verse 1 and 2 of chapter 14.
00:21:15.07\00:21:17.94
>>Eric: "Then I
looked, and behold,
00:21:17.97\00:21:19.27
"a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
00:21:19.31\00:21:21.18
"and with Him one
hundred and forty-four thousand,
00:21:21.21\00:21:23.78
"having His Father's name
written on their foreheads.
00:21:23.81\00:21:26.31
"And I heard a
voice from heaven,
00:21:26.35\00:21:28.08
"like the voice of many waters,
00:21:28.12\00:21:29.75
"and like the
voice of loud thunder.
00:21:29.78\00:21:32.12
And I heard the sound of
harpists playing their harps."
00:21:32.15\00:21:35.42
>>Greg: Okay, so this is
the scene that we're setting.
00:21:35.46\00:21:37.69
Now let's skip down,
and let's look at 4 and 5.
00:21:37.73\00:21:40.70
Read those, please.
00:21:40.73\00:21:42.00
>>Eric: "These are the ones
who were not defiled with women,
00:21:42.03\00:21:44.60
"for they are virgins.
00:21:44.63\00:21:46.00
"These are the ones who follow
the Lamb wherever He goes.
00:21:46.03\00:21:49.34
"These were
redeemed from among men,
00:21:49.37\00:21:51.44
"being firstfruits
to God and to the Lamb.
00:21:51.47\00:21:53.98
"And in their mouth
was found no deceit,
00:21:54.01\00:21:56.38
for they are without
fault before the throne of God."
00:21:56.41\00:21:59.65
>>Greg: Okay, the
study guide actually gets in
00:21:59.68\00:22:02.25
and has us look at a number
of verses to help us understand
00:22:02.28\00:22:05.45
what some of these are.
00:22:05.49\00:22:07.09
It doesn't have it all
connected with this passage,
00:22:07.12\00:22:09.46
but this is where I'm drawing
that from in the study guide.
00:22:09.49\00:22:14.30
There's basically four pieces
here I'd like to focus on.
00:22:14.30\00:22:18.30
The first one in verse 4 is that
00:22:18.33\00:22:20.44
they are "not defiled with
women, for they are virgins."
00:22:20.47\00:22:24.01
Now, of course, this
means that this is symbolic.
00:22:24.04\00:22:26.31
And in 2 Corinthians,
chapter 11, verse 2,
00:22:26.34\00:22:30.15
Paul is actually exhorting
again the church of Corinth.
00:22:30.18\00:22:33.75
We refer back to
the church of Corinth,
00:22:33.78\00:22:35.75
where he tells them,
"I betroth you to Christ.
00:22:35.78\00:22:38.22
Stay pure and connected to Him."
00:22:38.25\00:22:40.46
So this, the idea
here of them being virgins
00:22:40.49\00:22:44.09
and not being
defiled, not being impure,
00:22:44.13\00:22:45.83
is the idea that
they have one fiancé.
00:22:45.86\00:22:48.20
And, of course,
what is the wedding?
00:22:48.23\00:22:49.93
It's the Second
Coming of Christ.
00:22:49.96\00:22:51.60
So their first love and
their only love is Christ.
00:22:51.63\00:22:55.07
And so, the type of disciples
that we should be making
00:22:55.10\00:22:59.27
are people who are thoroughly
and completely and absolutely
00:22:59.31\00:23:03.11
in love with Christ, and there's
no other gods before them.
00:23:03.14\00:23:06.48
The second is here; these
are the ones who do--what?
00:23:06.51\00:23:10.65
They "follow the
Lamb wherever He goes."
00:23:10.69\00:23:14.06
Let's take a look
at a Bible passage.
00:23:14.09\00:23:16.16
Many of us are
familiar with John 10, verse 10:
00:23:16.19\00:23:21.03
"The thief comes
to...kill, ...to destroy,
00:23:21.06\00:23:23.97
"but I...come that
they might have life.
00:23:25.97\00:23:28.90
and that they might have it
more abundantly," Jesus says.
00:23:28.94\00:23:32.37
And He identifies
Himself as the Good Shepherd.
00:23:32.41\00:23:36.04
But look, if you
could, read verse 27 there.
00:23:36.08\00:23:39.91
>>Eric: "My sheep hear
my voice, and I know them,
00:23:39.95\00:23:43.25
and they follow
me." >>Greg: Ahh.
00:23:43.28\00:23:46.22
So there's something
about--here, of course,
00:23:46.25\00:23:50.69
in Revelation, it was,
we are following the Lamb,
00:23:50.73\00:23:52.53
but here now He's the Shepherd,
00:23:52.56\00:23:53.86
so both images or metaphors
are used for who Christ is.
00:23:53.90\00:23:57.57
But here they have
the ability to know,
00:23:57.60\00:24:00.74
to recognize God's voice.
And a lot of times we think,
00:24:00.77\00:24:04.94
well, that's
just the Word of God.
00:24:04.97\00:24:06.41
And, of course, that is.
00:24:06.44\00:24:07.84
The Word of God is the
standard of knowing God's will.
00:24:07.88\00:24:11.51
But the Bible doesn't
tell us who to witness to
00:24:11.55\00:24:15.35
or what to say to them.
00:24:15.38\00:24:16.79
The Bible doesn't tell me,
you know, if I'm a young person,
00:24:16.82\00:24:19.29
what degree should
I study in college,
00:24:19.32\00:24:21.42
or if I'm wanting
to get a different job?
00:24:21.46\00:24:24.63
Well, should I
take this one or not?
00:24:24.66\00:24:27.13
In Paul's experience, of course,
00:24:27.13\00:24:28.60
the Holy Spirit
met him one night.
00:24:28.63\00:24:31.33
His plan was to go to Asia
Minor, and the Holy Spirit said,
00:24:31.37\00:24:33.77
"No, I want you
to go to Europe,"
00:24:33.80\00:24:36.00
and so he goes in a
different direction.
00:24:36.04\00:24:38.21
This is
something that I think is
00:24:38.24\00:24:39.87
what it means to
hear the voice of God,
00:24:39.91\00:24:43.41
to follow the Lamb
wherever He leads us.
00:24:43.45\00:24:45.38
And later, Jesus even refers
to the fact that He's going
00:24:45.41\00:24:49.85
to give the
disciples the Holy Spirit,
00:24:49.88\00:24:51.52
and He's going to
"guide you into all truth."
00:24:51.55\00:24:53.66
Not that it's
going to be different
00:24:53.69\00:24:55.12
than everything He had taught,
00:24:55.16\00:24:56.79
but that it was
going to continue to open
00:24:56.83\00:24:58.39
and to be revealed
to them more and more
00:24:58.43\00:25:00.26
as they were
carrying out His mission.
00:25:00.30\00:25:02.76
So I think that this is
an important characteristic
00:25:02.80\00:25:04.57
of a disciple,
that they are able
00:25:04.60\00:25:05.97
to discern God's
will and to follow Him
00:25:06.00\00:25:08.07
in every unique situation.
00:25:08.10\00:25:10.04
The next item there
that we see in Revelation 14
00:25:10.07\00:25:12.51
is going down into verse 5,
00:25:12.54\00:25:15.61
is that there's no
deceit found in their mouths,
00:25:15.64\00:25:17.85
or maybe "no guile," it
says in the old King James,
00:25:17.88\00:25:19.95
or no lies, some of the
translations talk about.
00:25:19.98\00:25:23.22
You know, John says that,
00:25:23.25\00:25:25.85
"If anyone says that I have no
sin, the truth is not in them."
00:25:25.89\00:25:29.32
The greatest deception, I
think, is not just the deception
00:25:29.36\00:25:32.69
of speaking
against the Word of God,
00:25:32.73\00:25:35.43
but it's the deception
where I think I'm good,
00:25:35.46\00:25:38.03
where I think that, you
know, I have no problem.
00:25:38.07\00:25:42.50
But to recognize our
own need of correction
00:25:42.54\00:25:45.37
and of growth is so important.
00:25:45.41\00:25:47.44
The last point I want to
point out here is in verse 5.
00:25:47.48\00:25:50.98
It says that they have--
00:25:51.01\00:25:52.08
"They are without fault
before the throne of God."
00:25:52.11\00:25:55.35
And this picture,
also in the study guide,
00:25:55.38\00:25:57.59
you can look at the
different verses there,
00:25:57.62\00:25:59.32
but we see that
the great multitude
00:25:59.35\00:26:02.12
that come out of the tribulation
00:26:02.16\00:26:03.29
had their robes washed
white in the blood of the Lamb.
00:26:03.32\00:26:06.66
So these are important things,
00:26:06.70\00:26:07.96
that this is the
qualities of the disciples.
00:26:08.00\00:26:10.03
So if we're
thinking about success,
00:26:10.07\00:26:11.47
we need to be thinking
these are the kinds of disciples
00:26:11.50\00:26:13.80
that we want to disciple--
not just enough to say,
00:26:13.84\00:26:15.87
"Oh yeah, you have the truth.
00:26:15.90\00:26:17.21
"I'll be baptized,
and I'll come to church,"
00:26:17.24\00:26:18.74
but where they're
growing and strengthening
00:26:18.77\00:26:20.64
also in their
relationship with Christ.
00:26:20.68\00:26:22.91
>>Eric: Greg, we
haven't much time left,
00:26:22.94\00:26:24.95
but if somebody was going
through this quarter's lesson
00:26:24.98\00:26:28.72
and said, "I want to be
more effective in mission,"
00:26:28.75\00:26:31.59
what encouragement
would you give them,
00:26:31.62\00:26:34.49
and how would they move forward?
00:26:34.52\00:26:36.66
>>Greg: Well, I'd
like to turn our attention
00:26:36.69\00:26:38.66
to Hebrews, chapter
10. Hebrews, chapter 10,
00:26:38.69\00:26:41.93
if we could take a
quick look at that,
00:26:41.96\00:26:43.73
I'd like to leave you with this.
00:26:43.77\00:26:46.00
It says in Hebrews,
chapter 10, verse 23 to 25,
00:26:46.03\00:26:50.14
"Let us hold fast the confession
of our hope without wavering,
00:26:50.17\00:26:53.48
"for He who
promised is faithful.
00:26:53.51\00:26:56.54
"And let us consider one another
00:26:56.58\00:26:58.55
"in order to stir
up love and good works,
00:26:58.58\00:27:01.28
"not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together,
00:27:01.32\00:27:03.15
"as is the manner of some,
00:27:03.18\00:27:04.99
"but exhorting one
another, and so much...more
00:27:05.02\00:27:07.19
as [we] see the
Day approaching."
00:27:07.22\00:27:09.26
You know, the ability--
we need to come together,
00:27:09.29\00:27:13.06
press together
"to stir each other up
00:27:13.09\00:27:14.93
in love and good works."
00:27:14.96\00:27:16.33
Of course, this love is a love
to seek and to save the lost.
00:27:16.36\00:27:19.87
The love that God has
for this world is the love
00:27:19.90\00:27:22.00
He wants to have in our hearts,
00:27:22.04\00:27:23.87
which will be the means that we
have to hasten His soon return.
00:27:23.91\00:27:27.94
>>Eric: Powerful words to
leave this quarter off with.
00:27:27.98\00:27:30.45
Greg, thank you so
much for joining us,
00:27:30.48\00:27:32.25
and we appreciate
you joining us, too.
00:27:32.28\00:27:34.68
Thank you for
joining us, and we hope
00:27:34.72\00:27:36.65
that we have
inspired and encouraged,
00:27:36.69\00:27:38.35
and perhaps the
Lord is impressing you
00:27:38.39\00:27:42.52
to be more fervent in sharing
the love of Jesus with others.
00:27:42.56\00:27:47.60
We pray that God will bless you
00:27:47.60\00:27:49.13
as you continue
to put into practice
00:27:49.16\00:27:51.10
the things that you
have learned this quarter,
00:27:51.13\00:27:53.34
and we look
forward to seeing you
00:27:53.37\00:27:55.04
next week for a brand-new
quarter of "Sabbath School"
00:27:55.07\00:27:57.87
here on It Is Written.
00:27:57.91\00:27:59.27
¤¤¤
00:27:59.31\00:28:03.31
¤¤¤
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