¤¤¤
00:00:00.33\00:00:04.30
¤¤¤
00:00:11.97\00:00:14.94
>>Eric Flickinger:
Welcome to "Sabbath School,"
00:00:14.98\00:00:16.28
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:00:16.31\00:00:18.38
We are now on our
13th and final lesson
00:00:18.41\00:00:21.92
of this quarter.
00:00:21.95\00:00:23.25
We are looking at "The
Triumph of God's Love,"
00:00:23.28\00:00:26.49
bringing together
everything that we have learned
00:00:26.52\00:00:29.19
during our journey
through "The Great Controversy,"
00:00:29.22\00:00:32.33
and we're going to
end on a high note.
00:00:32.36\00:00:34.60
But let's begin with prayer.
00:00:34.63\00:00:36.20
Father, we ask that
You'll be with us today
00:00:36.23\00:00:38.17
as we conclude our
time together in studying
00:00:38.20\00:00:41.24
"The Great Controversy,"
00:00:41.27\00:00:42.80
and we ask that You will give
us encouragement and strength
00:00:42.84\00:00:45.64
and hope as we face the future.
00:00:45.67\00:00:48.88
We thank You in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:00:48.91\00:00:52.15
Well, we are grateful to
have with us today, once again,
00:00:52.18\00:00:55.18
for the last time,
at least this quarter,
00:00:55.22\00:00:57.02
Pastor Mark Finley.
00:00:57.05\00:00:58.55
Pastor Mark, thank
you for leading us,
00:00:58.59\00:01:00.49
guiding us
through this discussion on
00:01:00.52\00:01:02.49
"The Great Controversy."
It has been inspirational.
00:01:02.52\00:01:05.63
>>Mark Finley: You
know, as I've studied
00:01:05.66\00:01:06.96
and done the research for,
biblically, for these lessons
00:01:07.00\00:01:09.76
and compared it with the
book "Great Controversy,"
00:01:09.80\00:01:12.10
it's been an inspiration to me
00:01:12.13\00:01:13.74
and just to be
able to share this
00:01:13.77\00:01:15.10
with the It Is Written viewers,
audience, that I know well
00:01:15.14\00:01:18.94
and love a great
deal has been a delight.
00:01:18.97\00:01:21.78
>>Eric: So, we're looking now at
the last chapter in this story,
00:01:21.81\00:01:25.28
as it were, "The
Triumph of God's Love."
00:01:25.31\00:01:27.48
How does our belief in
the triumph of God's love
00:01:27.52\00:01:32.39
at the very end
in the end of time,
00:01:32.42\00:01:33.92
how should that-- or
how should that, could that,
00:01:33.96\00:01:36.42
how will that impact the way
00:01:36.46\00:01:39.13
that we live our lives today?
00:01:39.16\00:01:41.10
>>Mark: The Bible
begins in Genesis 1 and 2
00:01:41.13\00:01:43.43
with the perfect world.
00:01:43.47\00:01:44.77
It ends in Revelation 21
and 22 with the perfect world.
00:01:44.80\00:01:48.24
Between Genesis 2
and Revelation 21,
00:01:48.27\00:01:53.41
you have the saga of sin.
00:01:53.44\00:01:55.31
But to know that God's
love is going to triumph,
00:01:55.34\00:01:58.05
to know that we are
on the winning side,
00:01:58.08\00:02:00.25
to know that Satan is
a loser gives us hope.
00:02:00.28\00:02:04.19
Somebody said that
hope lifts your eyes
00:02:04.22\00:02:08.39
from the mud below
to the heavens above,
00:02:08.42\00:02:11.33
that hope is like
oxygen to the soul.
00:02:11.36\00:02:14.83
Hope inspires
you, encourages you,
00:02:14.83\00:02:17.90
gives you clarity of thought.
00:02:17.93\00:02:20.57
Hope is what keeps us
going during the tough times.
00:02:20.60\00:02:24.07
Somebody said that, you know,
00:02:24.11\00:02:25.71
you can endure
anything if you know
00:02:25.74\00:02:28.11
that there's a
better day coming.
00:02:28.14\00:02:30.11
And I think knowing that
in spite of the conflict,
00:02:30.15\00:02:33.45
the
difficulties, the challenges,
00:02:33.48\00:02:35.18
the union of church and state,
persecution, mark of the beast,
00:02:35.22\00:02:38.95
that's not what we're
focused on predominantly.
00:02:38.99\00:02:41.12
We're focused on the fact
that Jesus is going to come,
00:02:41.16\00:02:44.53
usher in a new world
00:02:44.56\00:02:45.86
where there'll
be no more sickness,
00:02:45.89\00:02:47.20
suffering, heartache, or
death, and that keeps us going,
00:02:47.23\00:02:50.63
the triumph of God's love.
00:02:50.67\00:02:52.23
>>Eric: So, we
can focus on that,
00:02:52.27\00:02:53.74
keep our focus on
that, but we also know
00:02:53.77\00:02:55.77
that even though Jesus is
coming in the near future,
00:02:55.80\00:02:58.17
the second coming of
Jesus, as we often refer to it,
00:02:58.21\00:03:00.64
there are some events that
are going to lead up to that.
00:03:00.68\00:03:03.91
What do those events look like?
00:03:03.95\00:03:05.31
>>Mark: Well,
when you think about
00:03:05.35\00:03:06.82
the final events,
just right down at the end,
00:03:06.85\00:03:10.95
we have the coming of Jesus
where Christ is going to come.
00:03:10.99\00:03:14.52
Jesus said, "Let not
your heart be troubled;
00:03:14.56\00:03:17.16
"you believe in
God, believe also in me.
00:03:17.19\00:03:19.76
"In my Father's
house are many mansions;
00:03:19.79\00:03:21.73
"if it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:03:21.76\00:03:23.26
"I go to
prepare a place for you.
00:03:23.30\00:03:24.60
"And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again."
00:03:24.63\00:03:27.27
So, we have the
promise of Christ's coming.
00:03:27.30\00:03:29.94
What happens when He comes?
00:03:29.97\00:03:32.01
The righteous
dead are resurrected,
00:03:32.04\00:03:34.94
the righteous living
are changed in a moment,
00:03:34.98\00:03:37.91
in the twinkling of an eye,
00:03:37.95\00:03:39.48
and together with
the righteous dead,
00:03:39.51\00:03:42.32
the righteous living
ascend to heaven with Christ.
00:03:42.35\00:03:45.32
We find that
00:03:45.35\00:03:46.65
in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4,
verse 16 and 17, where it says,
00:03:46.69\00:03:49.79
"The Lord Himself
[shall] descend from heaven
00:03:49.82\00:03:51.96
"with a shout, with the
voice of [the] archangel,
00:03:51.99\00:03:54.30
"...the trumpet of God.... The
dead in Christ will rise first.
00:03:54.30\00:03:57.63
"[And] then we [which] are alive
and remain shall be caught up
00:03:57.67\00:04:00.40
together with them...to
meet the Lord in the air."
00:04:00.44\00:04:02.77
So, we find that
clearly outlined in Scripture.
00:04:02.80\00:04:06.57
So, that's what
happens to the righteous
00:04:06.61\00:04:08.54
when Jesus comes.
00:04:08.58\00:04:10.08
What happens to the
wicked when Jesus comes?
00:04:10.11\00:04:12.55
Revelation 6 says that they
call for the rocks and mountains
00:04:12.58\00:04:15.68
to fall on them.
00:04:15.72\00:04:17.12
So one group looks up
and-- let's look at Isaiah 25,
00:04:17.15\00:04:22.46
Isaiah 25, and let's
look at verse 8 and verse 9.
00:04:22.49\00:04:27.03
This is a very,
very significant,
00:04:27.03\00:04:29.00
very significant verse.
00:04:29.03\00:04:31.03
Isaiah 25 and we're
going to look there at,
00:04:31.07\00:04:35.00
particularly, verse 9.
00:04:35.04\00:04:37.77
And could you read that?
00:04:37.81\00:04:39.37
>>Eric: "And it
will be said in that day:
00:04:39.41\00:04:40.84
"'Behold, this is our
God; we have waited for Him,
00:04:40.88\00:04:43.95
"'and He will save us.
00:04:43.98\00:04:45.75
"'This is the Lord;
we have waited for Him;
00:04:45.78\00:04:48.05
we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation.'"
00:04:48.08\00:04:51.72
>>Mark: Notice
something clearly.
00:04:51.75\00:04:53.39
It says, "It will
be said in that day:
00:04:53.42\00:04:55.29
'Behold, this is our
God.'" Now, imagine it.
00:04:55.32\00:04:58.03
God's people see the
brightness of His glory,
00:04:58.06\00:05:01.06
lightning shines from
the east even to the west,
00:05:01.10\00:05:03.40
and they say, "This is our God."
00:05:03.43\00:05:05.17
Now, notice the
intro, "This is our God."
00:05:05.20\00:05:06.77
We haven't fallen
for the false christ.
00:05:06.80\00:05:08.77
We--Satan has
masqueraded as Jesus.
00:05:08.80\00:05:11.97
Satan has counterfeited
Christ. He's come to earth.
00:05:12.01\00:05:16.28
He's maybe
appeared in Los Angeles
00:05:16.31\00:05:18.01
or Philadelphia or
New York, maybe Paris,
00:05:18.05\00:05:21.72
maybe London, the
great cities of the world,
00:05:21.75\00:05:24.55
down in South
America, the Asian cities,
00:05:24.59\00:05:27.09
and he's maybe
appeared in a stadium
00:05:27.12\00:05:29.29
as an angel of light,
00:05:29.32\00:05:30.63
maybe claiming that he
can heal the multitudes.
00:05:30.66\00:05:33.29
But notice what the
text says: "This is our God."
00:05:33.33\00:05:36.77
This is our God.
00:05:36.80\00:05:38.10
He is the one who comes
with every eye to see Him,
00:05:38.13\00:05:40.60
Revelation 1:7.
00:05:40.64\00:05:41.94
Every ear to hear
it, Psalm 50, verse 3.
00:05:41.97\00:05:44.27
"This is our God; we
have waited for Him."
00:05:44.31\00:05:46.47
Notice, we haven't
fallen for the false christ.
00:05:46.51\00:05:48.28
We've waited for Him.
00:05:48.31\00:05:49.61
We've not gone
out and been enamored
00:05:49.64\00:05:52.55
by the false miracles of Satan.
00:05:52.58\00:05:54.82
"We have waited for
Him, and He will save us."
00:05:54.85\00:05:57.45
Repeat it again: "This is
our God; we have waited for Him;
00:05:57.49\00:06:00.32
we will be glad and
rejoice in His salvation."
00:06:00.36\00:06:04.06
So, just before
the coming of Jesus,
00:06:04.09\00:06:07.60
there will be false
christs and false prophets.
00:06:07.66\00:06:10.30
There will be,
before the coming of Jesus,
00:06:10.33\00:06:14.07
the
manifestation of false miracles
00:06:14.10\00:06:16.47
and satanic activities.
00:06:16.50\00:06:18.24
Every human being
will make their decision
00:06:18.27\00:06:20.61
for or against Christ.
00:06:20.64\00:06:22.01
Let's go to Revelation 22,
00:06:22.04\00:06:24.28
and maybe you can
read this one for us.
00:06:24.31\00:06:25.78
Revelation 22,
verse 11 and verse 12.
00:06:25.81\00:06:31.62
>>Eric: "He who is
unjust, let him be unjust still;
00:06:31.65\00:06:34.96
"he who is filthy,
let him be filthy still;
00:06:34.99\00:06:37.29
"he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still;
00:06:37.33\00:06:40.50
"he who is holy,
let him be holy still.
00:06:40.53\00:06:43.20
"And behold, I
am coming quickly,
00:06:43.23\00:06:45.43
"and my reward is with me,
00:06:45.47\00:06:47.10
to give to everyone
according to his work."
00:06:47.14\00:06:49.60
>>Mark: So, before
the coming of Jesus,
00:06:49.64\00:06:51.11
every human being
will make their final,
00:06:51.14\00:06:52.84
irrevocable decision
for or against Christ.
00:06:52.87\00:06:56.38
When they have
made that decision,
00:06:56.41\00:06:58.91
human probation will close.
00:06:58.95\00:07:00.92
Now, human
probation does not close
00:07:00.95\00:07:03.92
because God's mercy has run out.
00:07:03.95\00:07:06.49
Human probation does not close
because God's grace has run out.
00:07:06.52\00:07:10.36
Human probation closes
because every human being
00:07:10.39\00:07:13.40
has made their
final, full decision.
00:07:13.43\00:07:15.93
There's no more time necessary
for them to make decisions
00:07:15.96\00:07:20.60
because they've made it.
00:07:20.64\00:07:21.94
They've been
fixed in their decision.
00:07:21.97\00:07:24.04
People either
receive the seal of God
00:07:24.07\00:07:26.17
or the mark of the beast,
00:07:26.21\00:07:27.61
and that is a final
decision that they make.
00:07:27.64\00:07:31.18
Once everybody has
made their final decision
00:07:31.21\00:07:34.15
and probation has closed--
00:07:34.18\00:07:36.25
you see, if God
would keep probation open
00:07:36.28\00:07:38.45
another 5 years, 10
years, 100 years, 1,000 years,
00:07:38.49\00:07:41.49
nobody else would
make any other decision
00:07:41.52\00:07:43.49
because their minds and
characters have been fixed,
00:07:43.53\00:07:47.00
they've made their
final, irrevocable decision,
00:07:47.03\00:07:49.43
but there are promises
that will take us through.
00:07:49.46\00:07:53.10
Once everybody has made their
decision, probation closes.
00:07:53.13\00:07:56.44
It's at that point
that the seven last plagues
00:07:56.47\00:07:58.77
are poured out. But God gives
us promises during the plagues.
00:07:58.81\00:08:01.58
Let's look at Psalm 27, verse 5,
00:08:01.61\00:08:05.95
Psalm 27, verse 5.
00:08:05.98\00:08:08.62
We have plagues and promises,
00:08:08.65\00:08:11.12
and here are the promises of
God written during the plagues.
00:08:11.15\00:08:16.76
Psalm 27, verse 5.
00:08:16.79\00:08:18.69
>>Eric: "For in
the time of trouble
00:08:18.73\00:08:20.03
"He shall hide
me in His pavilion;
00:08:20.06\00:08:22.26
"in the secret
place of His tabernacle
00:08:22.30\00:08:24.33
He shall hide me; He
shall set me high upon a rock."
00:08:24.37\00:08:27.67
>>Mark: Don't you love that?
00:08:27.70\00:08:29.00
"In the time of
trouble He shall"--do what?--
00:08:29.04\00:08:31.77
He'll hide me. Look at
Psalm 91, plagues and promises.
00:08:31.81\00:08:37.05
God's people will be protected,
they will be sheltered,
00:08:37.08\00:08:41.25
they will be hidden in His love
and grace during the plagues.
00:08:41.28\00:08:44.62
Psalm 91 and let's go
down to verse--let's look at--
00:08:44.65\00:08:51.49
this is such a good
Psalm, I-- let's go down
00:08:51.53\00:08:54.10
and look at verse 7.
00:08:54.13\00:08:55.93
>>Eric: "A thousand
may fall at your side,
00:08:55.96\00:08:58.00
"and ten thousand
at your right hand;
00:08:58.03\00:09:00.40
"but it shall not come near you.
00:09:00.44\00:09:02.07
"Only with your
eyes shall you look,
00:09:02.10\00:09:04.27
and see the
reward of the wicked."
00:09:04.31\00:09:05.94
>>Mark: And go ahead
and read verse 9 and 10.
00:09:05.97\00:09:07.61
>>Eric: "Because
you have made the Lord,
00:09:07.64\00:09:09.28
"who is my refuge,
even the Most High,
00:09:09.31\00:09:11.51
"your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you,
00:09:11.55\00:09:14.75
nor shall any plague
come near your dwelling."
00:09:14.78\00:09:18.02
>>Mark: So, we'll be present
00:09:18.05\00:09:19.35
during the
plagues, protected by God.
00:09:19.39\00:09:22.36
Notice verse 11 and 12:
00:09:22.39\00:09:25.33
"For He shall give His
angels charge over you,
00:09:25.36\00:09:28.03
"to keep you in all your ways.
00:09:28.06\00:09:29.46
"...They shall bear
you up [in their hands],
00:09:29.50\00:09:31.90
lest you dash your
foot against a stone."
00:09:31.93\00:09:34.27
So, God is gonna protect us.
00:09:34.30\00:09:36.24
A thousand will fall at
our side, ten thousand are--
00:09:36.27\00:09:38.44
but it won't come nigh us;
00:09:38.47\00:09:40.01
we'll be hidden by
God during the plagues,
00:09:40.04\00:09:42.04
protected by God
during the plagues,
00:09:42.08\00:09:44.15
sheltered by angels
during those plagues.
00:09:44.18\00:09:48.55
Then, at the end of
that plague period--
00:09:48.58\00:09:51.35
now, why would God allow
those plagues to be poured out?
00:09:51.39\00:09:53.82
Why doesn't He just
come when probation closes
00:09:53.86\00:09:55.42
if everybody has
already made their decision?
00:09:55.46\00:09:57.19
The reason is
that during that time,
00:09:57.23\00:10:00.00
we, as righteous,
develop deeper faith.
00:10:00.03\00:10:05.93
Our decisions have been made,
but we develop deeper faith,
00:10:05.97\00:10:08.87
we develop deeper perseverance,
00:10:08.90\00:10:10.51
we have a deeper
longing for heaven,
00:10:10.54\00:10:12.54
so God prepares us spiritually
in a more intense way for heaven
00:10:12.57\00:10:17.45
during the plagues.
00:10:17.48\00:10:18.78
Secondly, during the plagues,
we see the wicked not repenting.
00:10:18.81\00:10:23.12
Revelation 16, that
talks about the plagues,
00:10:23.15\00:10:25.09
says they don't repent,
they cry out in cursing of God.
00:10:25.12\00:10:29.66
And so, we see
that character is fixed.
00:10:29.69\00:10:32.36
The whole universe
sees character is fixed
00:10:32.39\00:10:34.76
during that time.
00:10:34.83\00:10:36.10
During the plagues, during a
time of hardship and difficulty,
00:10:36.13\00:10:38.60
God's people do not yield.
00:10:38.63\00:10:40.60
During the plagues,
00:10:40.64\00:10:41.94
Satan's people become
more wicked, more rebellious.
00:10:41.97\00:10:46.11
And then, at the
end of those plagues,
00:10:46.14\00:10:48.31
Jesus comes as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords.
00:10:48.34\00:10:50.95
>>Eric: That's amazing,
00:10:50.98\00:10:52.28
reading that
through in Revelation 16,
00:10:52.31\00:10:54.15
seeing how He finally comes in
00:10:54.18\00:10:55.75
the sixth and seventh plagues.
00:10:55.78\00:10:57.55
There is a time of
trouble that's coming.
00:10:57.59\00:10:59.85
We want to be prepared.
00:10:59.89\00:11:01.62
How do we sufficiently
prepare for that time of trouble
00:11:01.66\00:11:05.13
so that we end up
on the right side?
00:11:05.16\00:11:06.63
>>Mark: Yeah, the way we prepare
00:11:06.66\00:11:08.00
for the time of
trouble is preparing now.
00:11:08.03\00:11:11.53
You cannot prepare for a
crisis when a crisis comes.
00:11:11.57\00:11:14.77
You prepare for the crisis
now by storing up in your heart
00:11:14.80\00:11:18.77
and mind the Word of God.
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.44
I'm reminded of what
Ellen White says in the book
00:11:20.48\00:11:22.51
"Great Controversy":
00:11:22.54\00:11:23.85
"None but those
who...fortified [their minds]
00:11:23.88\00:11:26.58
"with the [words] of [Scripture]
00:11:26.61\00:11:29.38
will stand through
the [final crisis]."
00:11:29.42\00:11:31.62
So, we now fill our hearts
and minds with the Word of God.
00:11:31.65\00:11:37.46
The Word of God
keeps us from error.
00:11:37.49\00:11:39.89
The Word of God
is a living Word;
00:11:39.93\00:11:41.53
it changes our lives.
00:11:41.56\00:11:43.06
Secondly, we enter into a deep,
meaningful relationship with God
00:11:43.10\00:11:47.20
through prayer, and we know Him.
00:11:47.24\00:11:50.27
It's not simply
we know the truth.
00:11:50.31\00:11:52.44
It's not simply that
it's some intellectual thing
00:11:52.47\00:11:54.74
that we stuff in
the back of our brains,
00:11:54.78\00:11:56.98
not at all, but
rather we are faithful to God
00:11:57.01\00:12:01.62
in the sense that we enter
into a meaningful relationship
00:12:01.65\00:12:06.69
with Him through
Bible study and prayer.
00:12:06.72\00:12:09.86
And of course, now we prepare
for that time by witness.
00:12:09.89\00:12:13.73
Because, as we witness,
00:12:13.76\00:12:15.03
our own strength
becomes stronger.
00:12:15.06\00:12:17.37
>>Eric: That book
that we've been referencing
00:12:17.40\00:12:19.10
throughout this
quarter, the book
00:12:19.13\00:12:21.10
"The Great Controversy,"
you have written a book
00:12:21.14\00:12:23.57
that is a companion to
what we've been studying
00:12:23.61\00:12:26.14
to point people to
"The Great Controversy,"
00:12:26.17\00:12:27.78
which, of course,
points people to the Bible.
00:12:27.81\00:12:29.88
Share with us one more
time about this companion book.
00:12:29.91\00:12:32.61
>>Mark: Well, the
companion book is called
00:12:32.65\00:12:33.95
"The War Between Good and Evil."
00:12:33.98\00:12:35.45
If you want to know a lot more
details about these subjects
00:12:35.48\00:12:39.59
that we're studying,
please order the book
00:12:39.62\00:12:41.72
from It Is Written television.
00:12:41.76\00:12:43.79
You will find this book
to be an inspiration to you,
00:12:43.83\00:12:47.10
an encouragement to you,
00:12:47.13\00:12:48.63
and reveal to you the events
00:12:48.66\00:12:50.50
that are coming
in these last days.
00:12:50.53\00:12:53.47
>>Eric: So, if you'd
like to pick that book up,
00:12:53.50\00:12:55.07
you can go to itiswritten.shop,
00:12:55.10\00:12:57.41
and you will find
there: itiswritten.shop.
00:12:57.44\00:13:00.41
The book will be an
immense blessing to you.
00:13:00.44\00:13:03.24
We're going to be
back in just a moment
00:13:03.28\00:13:04.68
as we take a look at
the very final chapters
00:13:04.71\00:13:08.05
of what the world
is going to look like
00:13:08.08\00:13:10.59
and what God has in
store for His people
00:13:10.62\00:13:13.42
here on It Is Written.
00:13:13.46\00:13:14.96
We're gonna take a
look in just a moment.
00:13:14.99\00:13:16.29
We'll be right back.
00:13:16.32\00:13:17.63
¤¤¤
00:13:17.66\00:13:20.33
>>male announcer: If you'd like
to deepen your understanding
00:13:22.30\00:13:23.87
of the powerful themes
brought out in this program,
00:13:23.90\00:13:26.33
we invite you
to explore the book
00:13:26.37\00:13:28.17
"The Great Controversy."
00:13:28.20\00:13:29.84
For more information, simply
text the code "GC24" to 71392.
00:13:29.87\00:13:35.11
This book delves into
critical end-time themes,
00:13:35.14\00:13:37.48
offering profound
insights into historical events,
00:13:37.51\00:13:40.65
Bible prophecy, and
spiritual preparation
00:13:40.68\00:13:43.15
essential for
today's unique challenges.
00:13:43.18\00:13:45.69
Discover how "The
Great Controversy"
00:13:45.72\00:13:47.66
can illuminate your path
in these uncertain times.
00:13:47.69\00:13:50.69
>>John Bradshaw: He
was born in the shadow
00:13:52.16\00:13:53.63
of the Tower of
London, and by the age of 11,
00:13:53.66\00:13:56.26
he was working on sailing ships.
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.53
In time, he would
become a slave trader.
00:13:58.57\00:14:01.50
But when his life turned around,
00:14:01.54\00:14:03.14
John Newton became a
giant of the Christian faith.
00:14:03.17\00:14:06.71
He was an influential
pastor, a prolific hymn-writer,
00:14:06.74\00:14:10.05
and one of the architects
of the abolition of slavery
00:14:10.08\00:14:13.01
in the British Empire.
00:14:13.05\00:14:15.15
The man who
wrote "Amazing Grace"
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.22
experienced
God's grace in his life
00:14:17.25\00:14:20.02
and left an
indelible mark on the world.
00:14:20.06\00:14:22.72
Don't miss "Men of
Faith: John Newton, Part 1."
00:14:22.76\00:14:26.83
We'll visit London,
England; we'll go to the town
00:14:26.86\00:14:29.63
where his ministry began
00:14:29.66\00:14:31.40
and visit the museum dedicated
to his life and accomplishments.
00:14:31.43\00:14:34.97
Once a hard-drinking, immoral
man involved in witchcraft,
00:14:35.00\00:14:38.81
John Newton's transformed life
00:14:38.84\00:14:40.88
speaks of what God's
grace can do in any human heart.
00:14:40.91\00:14:44.78
"Men of Faith:
John Newton, Part 1,"
00:14:44.81\00:14:48.18
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:14:48.22\00:14:51.05
>>Eric: Welcome
back to "Sabbath School,"
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.29
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:14:58.33\00:15:00.20
We are taking a look
at the very final chapters
00:15:00.23\00:15:02.26
of earth's history,
00:15:02.30\00:15:03.60
"The Triumph of God's Love."
00:15:03.63\00:15:06.10
Pastor Mark, we've been
talking about the plagues.
00:15:06.13\00:15:08.80
There are seven last plagues.
00:15:08.84\00:15:11.17
Walk us through the
end of these plagues.
00:15:11.21\00:15:14.44
How does this all culminate,
00:15:14.48\00:15:16.21
and what comes
after the plagues?
00:15:16.24\00:15:18.15
>>Mark: During the plagues,
00:15:18.18\00:15:19.55
the wicked are so
rebellious they've lost,
00:15:19.58\00:15:23.28
really, they've
lost their minds.
00:15:23.32\00:15:25.55
They are filled
with satanic wrath,
00:15:25.59\00:15:28.62
they attempt to rush upon
the righteous and destroy them.
00:15:28.66\00:15:32.09
But at that point,
hailstones fall from heaven,
00:15:32.13\00:15:35.06
God triumphs, and
you have this picture
00:15:35.10\00:15:37.70
of the
destruction of the wicked.
00:15:37.73\00:15:40.47
They run for the rocks
and mountains to fall on them,
00:15:40.50\00:15:42.94
and this picture of
the coming of Christ--
00:15:42.97\00:15:44.97
Babylon falls; all the confusion
00:15:45.01\00:15:48.08
that has taken
place does not sustain
00:15:48.11\00:15:51.95
the wicked at all.
00:15:51.98\00:15:53.82
And you have Revelation 19
00:15:53.85\00:15:55.92
that starts with
the four hallelujahs,
00:15:55.95\00:15:57.89
and the fourth hallelujah sing
is in Revelation 19, verse 6.
00:15:57.92\00:16:04.23
And if you have
that, read Revelation 19:6.
00:16:04.26\00:16:06.73
You have the four hallelujahs
00:16:06.76\00:16:08.43
that speak of
the universal praise
00:16:08.46\00:16:10.60
that goes to Christ for
the triumph of His love.
00:16:10.63\00:16:13.70
>>Eric: "And I
heard, as it were,
00:16:13.74\00:16:15.04
"the voice of a great multitude,
as the sound of many waters
00:16:15.07\00:16:18.31
"and as the sound of
mighty thunderings, saying,
00:16:18.34\00:16:20.74
'Alleluia! For the Lord
God Omnipotent reigns!'"
00:16:20.78\00:16:24.28
>>Mark: Yeah, see, that's it.
00:16:24.31\00:16:25.61
"The Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
00:16:25.65\00:16:27.75
"Let us be glad and rejoice
and give...glory [to Him],
00:16:27.78\00:16:30.65
"for the marriage
of the Lamb has come,
00:16:30.69\00:16:32.12
...His wife has
made herself ready."
00:16:32.15\00:16:33.96
Here you have the great
marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:16:33.99\00:16:36.62
And then, as John often does,
00:16:36.66\00:16:39.03
he starts with the end
and ends with the start.
00:16:39.06\00:16:42.90
And so, here he then
goes back and describes
00:16:42.93\00:16:45.77
the coming of
Christ that will usher in
00:16:45.80\00:16:49.00
the marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:16:49.04\00:16:50.41
Revelation 19:11,
"I saw heaven opened,
00:16:50.44\00:16:53.17
"and behold, a white horse.
00:16:53.21\00:16:54.71
"And He who sat on him
was called Faithful and True,
00:16:54.74\00:16:57.51
and in righteousness
He judges and makes war."
00:16:57.55\00:17:00.32
And you go down to verse 16;
00:17:00.35\00:17:03.62
it describes the coming
of Christ on a white horse.
00:17:03.65\00:17:05.95
Why a white horse?
00:17:05.99\00:17:07.29
Because Roman
generals rode white horses
00:17:07.32\00:17:10.86
back into Rome at
a time of triumph.
00:17:10.89\00:17:13.29
The white horse symbol
indicates Christ's triumph
00:17:13.33\00:17:15.93
over the principalities
and powers of hell,
00:17:15.96\00:17:18.23
Christ's triumph over the
powers of evil and wickedness.
00:17:18.27\00:17:21.50
And then it says, "And
He"-- verse 16, Revelation 19--
00:17:21.54\00:17:26.04
"He has on His robe and
on His thigh a name written:
00:17:26.07\00:17:28.24
KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS."
00:17:28.28\00:17:30.15
So, here you have
the triumph of Christ.
00:17:30.18\00:17:32.11
Christ come as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords,
00:17:32.15\00:17:34.45
but it's not the end yet, is it?
00:17:34.48\00:17:35.95
>>Eric: Not
yet. >>Mark: Why not?
00:17:35.98\00:17:37.29
>>Eric: Because
we've got the millennium.
00:17:37.32\00:17:38.62
>>Mark: Yeah.
00:17:38.65\00:17:39.89
>>Eric: So, tell us about the
millennium. What's the purpose
00:17:39.92\00:17:41.62
of the millennium? Why
does God allow Satan to be bound
00:17:41.66\00:17:43.89
for 1,000 years but then
free him? What's that all about?
00:17:43.93\00:17:47.30
>>Mark: Well, the reason
God allows Satan to be bound
00:17:47.30\00:17:49.96
for 1,000 years is to
demonstrate a number of things.
00:17:50.00\00:17:53.07
First, that Satan is able
to see the results of sin.
00:17:53.10\00:17:58.57
He's able to see, as he
goes through dead bodies
00:17:58.61\00:18:02.78
and he sees--because
the wicked are destroyed
00:18:02.81\00:18:04.91
by the brightness
of Christ's coming;
00:18:04.95\00:18:06.68
their bodies are on the earth.
00:18:06.72\00:18:08.28
The wicked dead
are not resurrected
00:18:08.32\00:18:10.62
till the end of the 1,000 years.
00:18:10.65\00:18:12.29
So, Satan sees
these dead bodies,
00:18:12.32\00:18:15.46
he sees broken-down
cities, and I would suppose
00:18:15.49\00:18:18.89
that he will hear
echoing in his ears,
00:18:18.93\00:18:20.80
"The wages of sin is death.
The wages of sin is death.
00:18:20.83\00:18:24.27
The wages of sin is death."
00:18:24.30\00:18:26.07
So, one of the purposes
00:18:26.10\00:18:27.87
of this
millennial period is that--
00:18:27.90\00:18:31.24
to demonstrate
that sin brings death,
00:18:31.27\00:18:34.48
that sin brings sorrow,
that sin brings disappointment;
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.75
it brings
heartache; it brings suffering.
00:18:37.78\00:18:40.45
The second reason is that
during this period of time,
00:18:40.48\00:18:44.52
the people of God
are with Christ in heaven
00:18:44.55\00:18:48.86
reigning on thrones.
00:18:48.89\00:18:50.23
Let's look at some of
this, Revelation, chapter 20,
00:18:50.26\00:18:53.60
and why don't you read
verses 1 through 3, Pastor Eric.
00:18:53.63\00:18:58.40
>>Eric: "Then I saw an
angel coming down from heaven,
00:18:58.43\00:19:00.94
"having the key
to the bottomless pit
00:19:00.97\00:19:02.97
"and a great chain in his hand.
00:19:03.00\00:19:04.77
"[And] he laid hold of the
dragon, that serpent of old,
00:19:04.81\00:19:07.68
"who is the Devil and Satan,
00:19:07.71\00:19:09.24
"and bound him
for a thousand years;
00:19:09.28\00:19:11.45
"and he cast him
into the bottomless pit,
00:19:11.48\00:19:13.68
"and shut him up,
and set a seal on him,
00:19:13.72\00:19:16.02
"so that he should
deceive the nations no more
00:19:16.05\00:19:18.55
"till the thousand
years were finished.
00:19:18.59\00:19:20.76
But after these things he must
be released for a little while."
00:19:20.79\00:19:24.13
>>Mark: Well,
notice a couple of things.
00:19:24.16\00:19:25.79
First, an angel
comes down from heaven;
00:19:25.83\00:19:27.66
Satan is bound
with a great chain
00:19:27.73\00:19:29.90
in the bottomless pit.
00:19:29.93\00:19:31.47
Now, is this some iron
chain that binds Satan,
00:19:31.50\00:19:35.04
and is this some
subterranean cavern?
00:19:35.07\00:19:37.37
The "bottomless pit"
here is an interesting word.
00:19:37.41\00:19:40.81
It's--in the
original language of the text,
00:19:40.84\00:19:42.91
it's "abussos abussa,"
which, it means "an abyss,
00:19:42.94\00:19:46.95
a place of darkness." In
fact, in the Septuagint version
00:19:46.98\00:19:50.29
of the Old Testament,
00:19:50.32\00:19:52.32
which is the Greek
translation of the Old Testament
00:19:52.35\00:19:54.52
from the Hebrew, in Genesis,
chapter 1, when it says,
00:19:54.56\00:19:57.36
"The earth was
without form and void,"
00:19:57.39\00:19:59.49
it uses that very
expression of "abussos abussa."
00:19:59.53\00:20:03.73
So, the
expression "bottomless pit"
00:20:03.77\00:20:06.40
really means a desolate earth.
00:20:06.43\00:20:08.54
You can look, for
example, at Jeremiah, chapter 4,
00:20:08.57\00:20:13.01
Jeremiah, chapter 4,
and we'll find the condition
00:20:13.04\00:20:16.88
of the earth, as
predicted by Jeremiah
00:20:16.91\00:20:20.28
during this 1,000-year period.
00:20:20.32\00:20:23.28
Jeremiah, chapter 4,
let's look at verse 27.
00:20:23.32\00:20:28.52
And, in fact, let's go back
and look at verses 23 to 27.
00:20:28.56\00:20:35.13
>>Eric: "I beheld the earth,
and indeed it was without form,
00:20:35.16\00:20:37.80
"and void; and the heavens,
[and] they had no light.
00:20:37.83\00:20:40.94
"I beheld the mountains,
and indeed they trembled,
00:20:40.97\00:20:43.67
"and all the hills
moved back and forth.
00:20:43.71\00:20:45.84
"I beheld, and
indeed there was no man,
00:20:45.87\00:20:48.71
"and all the birds
of the heavens had fled.
00:20:48.74\00:20:51.45
"I beheld, and indeed the
fruitful land was a wilderness,
00:20:51.48\00:20:54.88
"and all its
cities were broken down
00:20:54.92\00:20:57.25
"at the presence of the
Lord, by His fierce anger.
00:20:57.29\00:21:00.32
"For thus says the Lord:
00:21:00.36\00:21:01.86
"'The whole land
shall be desolate;
00:21:01.89\00:21:03.86
yet I will not
make a full end.'"
00:21:03.89\00:21:06.86
>>Mark: Now, notice, it
says he behelds the heavens
00:21:06.90\00:21:09.36
and the earth, verse 23;
it's without form and void.
00:21:09.40\00:21:12.50
The same expression at creation
00:21:12.53\00:21:14.40
and same expression that's
used in the Greek language
00:21:14.44\00:21:17.91
in Revelation 20, verse
1, for the bottomless pit.
00:21:17.94\00:21:21.11
So, the earth is like it was.
00:21:21.14\00:21:22.78
Why? Well, the
heavens, they had no light.
00:21:22.81\00:21:25.75
He says, "I
beheld,... there was no man."
00:21:25.78\00:21:27.98
So, no man lives on
earth during the millennium.
00:21:28.02\00:21:29.95
That's a mistake
that many people have,
00:21:29.98\00:21:32.12
an erroneous idea.
00:21:32.15\00:21:33.46
There's nobody here,
just Satan and his angels.
00:21:33.49\00:21:35.76
"The birds
in...heavens had fled."
00:21:35.79\00:21:37.99
He looks at the wilderness; the
cities were broken down. How?
00:21:38.03\00:21:41.43
"At the presence of the Lord,
[and] by His fierce anger."
00:21:41.46\00:21:43.90
So this is obviously
the second coming of Christ.
00:21:43.93\00:21:46.87
It says, verse 27, "The
whole lands will be desolate;
00:21:46.90\00:21:50.51
yet I will not make
a full end." Why not?
00:21:50.54\00:21:52.94
Because He's going to re-create
a new heavens and a new earth.
00:21:52.97\00:21:55.04
Why would God
allow this to happen?
00:21:55.08\00:21:57.68
The way God is
dealing with the controversy
00:21:57.71\00:21:59.85
between good and
evil, Christ and Satan,
00:21:59.88\00:22:02.18
is so that the controversy
will never raise up again
00:22:02.22\00:22:05.12
the second time.
00:22:05.15\00:22:06.49
Remember in Nahum
1, verse 9, it says,
00:22:06.52\00:22:08.66
"Sin will not rise a
second time." Why not?
00:22:08.69\00:22:11.46
For two reasons.
00:22:11.49\00:22:12.79
The universe has seen
the marvelous love of God,
00:22:12.83\00:22:15.46
and they are
committed to that love.
00:22:15.50\00:22:17.40
Second reason that
it will not rise up
00:22:17.43\00:22:19.47
is we've seen the
wickedness and the evil of sin.
00:22:19.50\00:22:21.97
We've seen what sin does,
that it brings simply disease,
00:22:22.00\00:22:25.27
heartache, suffering, and death.
00:22:25.31\00:22:27.28
So, we have seen
that in Scripture.
00:22:27.31\00:22:31.28
Here, we sense that
during the 1,000 years,
00:22:31.31\00:22:36.28
the whole universe
looks upon this earth,
00:22:36.32\00:22:39.52
sees what it would have
been had God not intervened,
00:22:39.55\00:22:44.09
and took His--
taken His people home.
00:22:44.13\00:22:46.33
They see what a
world is like without God,
00:22:46.36\00:22:49.03
and it solidifies in the
minds of the whole universe
00:22:49.06\00:22:52.77
that sin only brings death.
00:22:52.80\00:22:54.77
Then, during this period of
time in Revelation 20, verse 4--
00:22:54.80\00:23:00.08
and let's go back to
read that because we've seen
00:23:00.11\00:23:02.81
Satan is bound on earth,
wicked dead are in their graves,
00:23:02.84\00:23:06.21
wicked living are destroyed
by the brightness of His coming,
00:23:06.25\00:23:08.88
but what about the righteous
during this period of time?
00:23:08.92\00:23:12.62
>>Eric: "And I saw
thrones, and they sat on them,
00:23:12.65\00:23:14.72
"and judgment was
committed to them.
00:23:14.76\00:23:16.79
"Then I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded
00:23:16.83\00:23:19.76
"for their witness to
Jesus and for the word of God,
00:23:19.79\00:23:22.50
"who had not worshiped
the beast or his image,
00:23:22.53\00:23:25.00
"and had not received
his mark on their foreheads
00:23:25.03\00:23:27.60
"or on their hands.
00:23:27.64\00:23:29.00
And they lived and reigned
with Christ...a thousand years."
00:23:29.04\00:23:31.64
>>Mark: So, a
couple of things here.
00:23:31.67\00:23:35.64
First, that word
"souls," the lives,
00:23:35.68\00:23:38.11
so, "I've seen the lives."
00:23:38.15\00:23:39.48
John says, "I saw the
lives of those who were martyrs,
00:23:39.51\00:23:41.98
and they will be
faithful; they're with Christ."
00:23:42.02\00:23:44.55
But the righteous,
the Bible says there
00:23:44.59\00:23:46.96
that you've just read,
00:23:46.99\00:23:48.29
are reigning on
thrones with Christ.
00:23:48.32\00:23:50.46
What are they doing
during that period of time?
00:23:50.49\00:23:53.60
In the investigative of
pre-Advent judgment from 1844
00:23:53.63\00:23:58.47
until the close of probation,
00:23:58.50\00:24:00.27
the universe has seen, in
the way that God has dealt
00:24:00.30\00:24:03.87
with the controversy
between good and evil,
00:24:03.91\00:24:05.84
His love and grace.
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.24
Now, during the 1,000 years,
00:24:07.28\00:24:10.25
the righteous, who have
been redeemed from earth,
00:24:10.28\00:24:14.48
sitting on thrones, now
they get a chance to behold
00:24:14.52\00:24:17.49
Christ's love, Christ grace,
Christ's goodness, and they see
00:24:17.52\00:24:20.99
that He has dealt
fairly with every life,
00:24:21.02\00:24:23.43
because if you see a loved one
or others that are not there,
00:24:23.46\00:24:26.13
you may say, "Why, God?"
00:24:26.16\00:24:27.46
You know,
"What's happened here?"
00:24:27.50\00:24:28.76
And here God reveals to them,
at the end of this 1,000 years--
00:24:28.80\00:24:33.80
the holy city now
begins to descend.
00:24:33.84\00:24:36.30
As it does, Satan and his
evil angels are resurrected.
00:24:36.34\00:24:41.11
It says, "The rest of the dead
00:24:41.14\00:24:42.44
live not again until the
thousand years are finished."
00:24:42.48\00:24:44.11
So, two resurrections:
00:24:44.15\00:24:45.61
beginning of the 1,000 years,
resurrection of the righteous;
00:24:45.65\00:24:48.78
the end of the 1,000 years,
resurrection of the unrighteous.
00:24:48.82\00:24:52.39
These wicked run against, to try
to attack that city with Satan,
00:24:52.42\00:24:56.89
fire comes down from God out
of heaven, and the Bible says
00:24:56.93\00:24:59.53
it devours them,
they're devoured,
00:24:59.56\00:25:02.40
and then God
recreates the earth,
00:25:02.43\00:25:06.74
like it was in Edenic splendor,
00:25:06.77\00:25:08.30
just amazing when
you think about it.
00:25:08.34\00:25:10.21
>>Eric: So share a little bit
more about this perfect earth
00:25:10.24\00:25:13.58
that the Bible ends with.
00:25:13.61\00:25:15.61
>>Mark: You know, the Bible says
00:25:15.64\00:25:17.25
in Revelation, chapter 21,
00:25:17.28\00:25:19.38
"I saw new heavens and
a new earth," John says.
00:25:19.41\00:25:22.08
"The first heaven
and the first earth
00:25:22.12\00:25:23.79
"were passed away, and I, John,
00:25:23.82\00:25:25.12
"saw the holy
city, the New Jerusalem,
00:25:25.15\00:25:26.65
"descending out
of heaven to earth.
00:25:26.69\00:25:29.92
"And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes,
00:25:29.96\00:25:32.26
"there will be no more
suffering, sickness, heartache,
00:25:32.29\00:25:34.86
sorrow, death, no more pain."
00:25:34.93\00:25:37.20
Just think about
it, living in a world
00:25:37.23\00:25:40.00
of fellowship with Christ,
00:25:40.04\00:25:42.30
living in a world of
companionship with the angels,
00:25:42.34\00:25:45.61
living in a world
where there's friendship
00:25:45.64\00:25:48.24
with everyone who is
worth knowing is there--
00:25:48.28\00:25:53.82
Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, Daniel.
00:25:53.85\00:25:56.82
Just think of
what we're gonna learn
00:25:56.85\00:25:58.52
from the apostle Paul,
from Peter, James, and John.
00:25:58.55\00:26:02.26
You know something?
00:26:02.29\00:26:03.93
I wanna live in a
world like that, don't you?
00:26:03.96\00:26:05.76
Live in a world where
there is no heartache,
00:26:05.79\00:26:07.76
no war, no famine,
no suffering, no death.
00:26:07.76\00:26:10.97
I wanna live in a
world like that, don't you?
00:26:11.00\00:26:12.90
A world where we
can have fellowship,
00:26:12.93\00:26:16.27
a world where love reigns,
a world where peace and joy
00:26:16.30\00:26:20.41
hold hands and dance
together through the land.
00:26:20.44\00:26:23.61
Wouldn't it be a tragedy
to miss that land, that world?
00:26:23.65\00:26:27.68
And God is making an
appeal to you right now.
00:26:27.72\00:26:29.82
You did not turn in to
this broadcast by accident.
00:26:29.85\00:26:33.05
There may be somebody here
that's drifted away from Christ.
00:26:33.09\00:26:35.89
God is appealing
to you to come back.
00:26:35.92\00:26:38.83
This is your hour.
This is your moment.
00:26:38.86\00:26:42.23
Maybe you're making a decision
right now to follow Jesus.
00:26:42.26\00:26:44.87
Maybe you ought
to be rebaptized.
00:26:44.90\00:26:46.27
Maybe you're an Adventist,
but you've drifted away.
00:26:46.30\00:26:48.70
Contact It Is Written;
contact my friends there;
00:26:48.74\00:26:51.97
let them know that you're making
an eternal decision for Christ.
00:26:52.01\00:26:55.31
Maybe you've never been
baptized before by immersion.
00:26:55.34\00:26:58.38
Maybe you're a young
person, maybe you're a teenager,
00:26:58.41\00:27:00.65
maybe a college student,
00:27:00.68\00:27:02.25
but God is
speaking to your heart.
00:27:02.28\00:27:04.32
Maybe your wife is an
Adventist and you are not,
00:27:04.35\00:27:07.16
maybe your husband is an
Adventist and you are not,
00:27:07.19\00:27:09.62
your brother, your sister.
00:27:09.66\00:27:11.33
You wanna be
together in heaven, don't you?
00:27:11.36\00:27:13.50
You wanna enjoy the new
earth together, don't you?
00:27:13.53\00:27:16.26
Make that decision right now.
00:27:16.30\00:27:18.87
Call It Is
Written, let them know,
00:27:18.90\00:27:20.67
send them an email,
respond to our address,
00:27:20.70\00:27:24.94
and follow Jesus.
00:27:24.97\00:27:26.27
And one day I'll
meet you in heaven.
00:27:26.31\00:27:29.11
>>Eric: Pastor Mark,
thank you for leading us
00:27:29.14\00:27:31.38
through this incredible journey;
it has been an immense blessing.
00:27:31.41\00:27:35.78
And we want to thank you
for joining us on this journey.
00:27:35.82\00:27:39.29
As Pastor Mark
shared, if there's a decision
00:27:39.32\00:27:41.96
that you need to make,
00:27:41.99\00:27:43.29
I want to encourage
you to make it as well.
00:27:43.32\00:27:45.26
Choose to follow Jesus.
You will never regret it.
00:27:45.29\00:27:48.26
God bless you. We'll look
forward to seeing you again
00:27:48.30\00:27:50.33
next time here
on "Sabbath School,"
00:27:50.37\00:27:52.13
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:27:52.17\00:27:53.94
¤¤¤
00:27:53.97\00:27:57.97
¤¤¤
00:28:24.47\00:28:26.94
[Captions provided by Aberdeen
Captioning www.abercap.com]
00:28:26.97\00:28:41.98