Tonight, I come
with exciting news.
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It is a news
that there is answer
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to the complexity of
problems and difficulties
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that there is a final solution
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to the misery,
suffering and pain
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that we face on planet earth.
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It is the news
that it will all come
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to an end at
the coming of Jesus.
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My friend, this
really is our only hope.
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You know, the Bible
emphasizes the coming of Jesus
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over and over again.
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Of the-- of the 41
recorded parables of Jesus
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19 refer specifically to
His return, 19 out of 41.
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It is mentioned a thousand
times throughout the Bible
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and in the New Testament
1:25 speaks of His return.
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Furthermore the Bible records
300 distinctive prophecies
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in reference to
the coming of our Lord.
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Indeed, it is
mentioned so often that
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an individual cannot
really claim to be a Christian
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without earnestly yet joyously
looking forward to Jesus coming.
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And my friend, it is
going to be the greatest
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and most joyous
experience we can imagine.
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And I want to begin
with the promise of it,
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that we have it in the Bible
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beginning with the
words of Jesus and John 14,
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the New Testament page 85.
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John 14:2-3, Jesus is coming
to the end of His ministry,
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this is the
upper room experience,
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this is the setting
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in which these
words were spoken.
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The next day
Jesus was crucified.
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So you know, you and I know,
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that the words that
Jesus spoke on this occasion
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are of specific
input to every Christian.
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And He was
sharing with His disciples
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how He is going
to be leaving them.
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You can read that in chapter 13,
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He says "I'm gonna go away
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and where I'm going
you cannot follow now."
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And as you read there in
the context of Chapter 13
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I'll tell you
this is really struck
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the disciples and
particularly Peter.
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And in fact, we've to pick up
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just a little bit of
that there in John 13
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where Jesus is explaining that.
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And I'm looking at verse 36.
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"Simon Peter said to Him,
'Lord, where are You going?'
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" Jesus has just
said I'm leaving you.
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"Jesus answered, 'Where I go
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you cannot follow Me now,
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but you will follow later.'
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"And notice the
response of Peter.
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"Peter said to Him,
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'Lord, why can I not
follow You right now?
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I will lay down
my life for You.'
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" The idea being
separated from Jesus was
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crushing to Peter.
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He couldn't really imagine
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what it would be to
be apart from Jesus.
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Why Lord, why can I can't,
why can't I go with You now?
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Why cannot I be with You now?
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Don't let these
chapter divisions
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get in the way the flow
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of what the Bible teaches.
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We often miss some
beautiful and powerful things
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because you go on
into chapter 14 verse 1
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and it's that
context that which Jesus said
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"do not let your
heart be troubled,
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believe in God,
believe also in Me."
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He was comforting His disciples
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and reassuring Him wasn't He.
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And then He went on to say
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""In My Father's house
are many dwelling places,
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mansion and if it were not so,
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I would have told you,
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for I go to
prepare a place for you.
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And if I go and
prepare a place for you,
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I will come again,
and receive you to myself;
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that where I am,
there you may be also."
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So Jesus said "I'm
leaving you, I'm going go."
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And by way where did He go?
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He went to heaven didn't He?
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And what is He doing there?
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Oh, my friend, He
hasn't forgotten us.
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Jesus is
preparing places for you
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there's a place for you
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there is a place
for me, in heaven.
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And He said if I go to prepare
place for you I will dwell.
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What will He do?
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I will come again to do what?
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To receive.
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I'm coming back
for you Jesus said.
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I haven't forgotten
you, I'm coming back for you
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this you can count on.
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And my friend, you and I
can count on it too, can't we.
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Jesus is coming back.
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And this is
gonna be so wonderful
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when Jesus comes back.
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Acts 1, the New
Testament page 91,
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page 91 and again
we're looking at the promise
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of the coming of our Lord.
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And we find it here on its,
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in reference to the
ascension of Jesus at the--
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you know after His resurrection.
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And now He is on
the top of Mount Olivet
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and He is ascending to heaven.
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And notice what
we, what we find here
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described in Acts 1
and beginning with verse 9
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"And after that
He said these things,
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He was lifted up" it says
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"He was lifted up
while they were looking on,
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and a cloud received
Him out of their sight.
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And as they were
gazing intently into the sky
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while He was
going, behold, two men"
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They looked like men
but they were angels.
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"Two men in white
clothing stood beside them.
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And they also
said, 'Men of Galilee,
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why do you stand
looking into the sky?
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This Jesus, who has been
taken up from you into heaven,
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will come in just the same way'"
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Notice the phrase here.
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"'In just the same way
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as you have watched
Him go into heaven.'
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"And so there's
as couple of points
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we want to get out
of this particular text.
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First of all,
again as I emphasize it
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Jesus is going to come in
just the way that He went.
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We're going to-- you know,
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we're gonna
locked out into place
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as we look at other
parallel passages of Scripture.
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But also take
note as we're looking
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at these three verses,
five times it emphasize that
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they were looking
intently to the sky.
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They were looking at
Jesus as He was ascending.
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They were watching-- I
mean, all of those words
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His, His ascension was
visible, they could see Him.
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And again we take note
of the fact Jesus said--
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the angels said
He will come back
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in the same way He went.
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Which means He is
coming also will be visible
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that is so clearly
indicated there, right.
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So if you want to make
a list just write there
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and just put at the head of
it the "Manner of His coming."
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The first thing you put
down there is "visible."
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Put it right
across from that verse
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so no what where you
got that in that verse.
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His coming will be visible.
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And then since He is
going to be coming back
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in just the way that He went,
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we want to
settle it in one form,
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did Jesus go to heaven?
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And we have some idea that
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because this is
after the resurrection.
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And this is here in Luke 24:39
one of the first incidences
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in which Jesus
appeared to His disciples.
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Notice what it says
"But they were startled."
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Suddenly Jesus was in the mist,
they were in the upper room.
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Suddenly He was
there. It startled them.
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"And they were frightened
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and thought that they
were seeing a spirit."
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That's what they
thought He is dead.
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He is, and there He was.
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"And He said to them,
'Why are you troubled,
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and why do doubts
arise in your hearts?
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See My hands and My
feet, that it is I Myself.'
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" Its really me is
what Jesus is saying.
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"Touch Me and see."
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See for yourself
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"for a spirit does
not have flesh and bones
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as you see that I have."
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And so my friend,
Jesus ascended into heaven
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physically in the flesh.
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He bears our form
that is our humanity
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in the presence of God there.
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And I believe will bear our form
through the ages of eternity
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represents, imparts
His identity with us.
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And so since He physically
ascended in the heaven
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and that is in the
flesh we are to add that
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as well to our,
to our list here.
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His coming is going
to be a physical coming
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which also indicates
that it is a literal coming.
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We ought not to spiritualize
away the coming of Jesus.
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It will be a literal event.
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It's gonna happen and
it's gonna happen soon.
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Now again I can't say
it's gonna be in your lifetime
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and my lifetime
but I certainly can say
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it's not gonna be 100s of
years, it's not gonna be that.
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And I think the prophecies
are just too clear about that.
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And then I want to take you
on to Luke 9:26 on the screen
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where Jesus said "For whoever
is ashamed of Me and My words,
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of him will the
Son of Man be ashamed
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when He comes in His glory."
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You know, the
period could right there
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and we could say
the coming of Jesus
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is going to glorious.
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His coming in His own glory.
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In all of His power
and all of His majesty.
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But that's not
where the period is put.
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He goes on to say "And
the glory of the Father."
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Oh, my I have
been thinking about
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this passage in recent years.
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He will come in the
glory of His Father,
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what does that mean?
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Does that mean that
God the Father himself
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is coming with Him?
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I think of some
passages in Revelation
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it talks about
period of silence in heaven
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and any way I
oppose that question.
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I don't know that we can say
that for certain from this text
00:10:08.56\00:10:11.18
but there is some
indication of that.
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And again but it goes on to
say "And of the holy angels."
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And they're coming
in the 100s of millions
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as He comes back to this planet.
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So we can say for a
certain from the Word of God
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not only will His
coming be physical,
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not only will we see Him
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but His coming truly
is going to be glorious.
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And so let's add
that to our list shall we.
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His coming is
going to be glorious.
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That will be such a
wonderful thing to see Jesus.
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And can you imagine this,
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when Jesus comes
all of His majesty
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He's the coming king,
right the coming king,
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coming in all of His
glory and all in of His majesty
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and He's coming
with those angels
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in the millions
and 100s and millions.
00:11:04.93\00:11:07.62
Can you imagine
00:11:07.65\00:11:08.96
how this is
going to fill the sky
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and what a powerful thing
this is going to be to see this?
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Oh, my friend,
I'm here to tell you
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the one that in love died for us
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is the one who in
love is coming back for us.
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I said again. He
hasn't forgotten us.
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And He has a plan
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and He is going to
bring it to a completion.
00:11:32.12\00:11:34.86
He is going to end
this whole ugly mess of sin
00:11:34.89\00:11:37.20
upon this planet
00:11:37.23\00:11:38.53
and He is going
to get us out of it.
00:11:38.56\00:11:41.72
He is going to
take us out of it.
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And that's why I
call the great escape,
00:11:44.14\00:11:45.98
we're gonna make
our great escape.
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And I want to tell you
00:11:47.95\00:11:48.98
life is never gonna be the
same from that point forward.
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It's not gonna be the same,
it's gonna be so wonderful.
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Oh, I'll tell
you this is something
00:11:56.89\00:11:58.13
that we'll be looking forward
00:11:58.16\00:11:59.92
and then I want to
you take to Matthew 24,
00:11:59.95\00:12:01.57
the New Testament page 21.
00:12:01.60\00:12:04.47
Page 21, Matthew 24
and beginning with 40.
00:12:04.50\00:12:07.77
In Matthew 24 we
have recorded here
00:12:07.80\00:12:11.48
many of the prophetic statements
of Jesus about His coming.
00:12:11.51\00:12:15.53
In fact these statements
of Jesus in Matthew 24
00:12:15.56\00:12:18.79
were made that final week
of His ministry upon earth.
00:12:18.82\00:12:23.00
That is with the
cross just before Him.
00:12:23.03\00:12:26.05
And all that that means to
us and what that meant to Jesus.
00:12:26.08\00:12:29.52
Jesus was looking beyond.
00:12:29.55\00:12:32.26
He was looking beyond the
cross down to the end of time.
00:12:32.29\00:12:35.91
And so He made
these prophetic utterances
00:12:35.94\00:12:38.21
of what will be
taking place at the end
00:12:38.24\00:12:40.29
and in reference to His coming
00:12:40.32\00:12:42.92
and I think that's
significant, don't you.
00:12:42.95\00:12:45.96
And in fact some of
those astounding prophecies
00:12:45.99\00:12:48.90
we have in the Bible
are recorded right here
00:12:48.93\00:12:51.16
the words of Jesus.
00:12:51.19\00:12:52.57
Matthew 24:40,
00:12:52.60\00:12:54.74
He says "Then there
will be two men in the field
00:12:54.77\00:12:57.91
one will be taken
and one will be left.
00:12:57.94\00:13:00.62
Two women will be
grinding in the mill
00:13:00.65\00:13:03.13
one will be taken
and one will be left."
00:13:03.16\00:13:08.33
You know there are some
interesting representations
00:13:08.36\00:13:11.32
that are made
about this passage here
00:13:11.35\00:13:13.07
that we're
looking at in Matthew 24.
00:13:13.10\00:13:15.68
There are a number of theories
00:13:15.71\00:13:18.23
and they are that theories
about the coming of Jesus.
00:13:18.26\00:13:21.84
And one of the fundamental
questions we want to settle
00:13:21.87\00:13:24.02
when we talk about
the coming of Jesus
00:13:24.05\00:13:25.66
some referred to
it as the rapture.
00:13:25.69\00:13:28.82
And you know one
of the question is
00:13:28.85\00:13:32.49
how will He come?
00:13:32.52\00:13:34.89
And some are teaching this idea
00:13:34.92\00:13:36.81
that the rapture
is actually closed
00:13:36.84\00:13:38.77
a closed rapture it
is a secret rapture.
00:13:38.80\00:13:41.80
And that's an important question
to settle from the Word of God
00:13:41.83\00:13:44.47
is it a secret or
is it an open rapture?
00:13:44.50\00:13:48.73
That's pretty
important don't you think.
00:13:48.76\00:13:51.41
And so there is
some representations
00:13:51.44\00:13:53.03
made here verse 40 and 41
00:13:53.06\00:13:54.82
the idea that you
know it's a close rapture
00:13:54.85\00:13:57.97
and you know the, people go out
and they will be ruptured away
00:13:58.00\00:14:01.03
and everybody does
stays behind are going to be
00:14:01.06\00:14:02.69
around and saying
"the churches are empty
00:14:02.72\00:14:05.64
what happened to them?
00:14:05.67\00:14:07.14
Where did they go?
Where did they go?"
00:14:07.17\00:14:09.92
But my friend, if you
look at verse 40 and 41,
00:14:09.95\00:14:12.41
you don't have to look
at it very carefully to see
00:14:12.44\00:14:15.76
that its just simply
making a simple statement
00:14:15.79\00:14:18.53
that when Jesus comes
they're are gonna be some
00:14:18.56\00:14:21.04
who are gonna be ready
then you're go home with Jesus.
00:14:21.07\00:14:25.70
And there are gonna be some
that are not going to be ready.
00:14:25.73\00:14:29.09
They will be left behind.
00:14:29.12\00:14:31.83
They're gonna be
left behind, right.
00:14:31.86\00:14:35.43
And to go on and make
and develop a theology
00:14:35.46\00:14:39.33
beyond what these verses
say based on these verses
00:14:39.36\00:14:43.26
it's really not appropriate,
00:14:43.29\00:14:44.51
it's not even
appropriate in the context.
00:14:44.54\00:14:47.02
So let's look at the context
verse 42, Jesus said therefore.
00:14:47.05\00:14:51.70
So it says "its gonna happen
00:14:51.73\00:14:52.76
some are going to
be ready some or not
00:14:52.79\00:14:54.72
those who are gonna
be gonna rise with Jesus
00:14:54.75\00:14:58.29
and make their way to heaven.
00:14:58.32\00:14:59.77
"Therefore" Jesus
says "be on the alert,
00:14:59.80\00:15:03.69
for you do not know
which day your Lord is coming."
00:15:03.72\00:15:08.69
We don't know
the day or the hour.
00:15:08.72\00:15:12.94
If we knew the day or the hour
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.91
oh, it's going to
be in 2012 September 14
00:15:14.94\00:15:19.45
at 6 o'clock in the morning.
00:15:19.48\00:15:23.07
You know, what
most people would do,
00:15:23.10\00:15:25.34
ah I have got plenty
of time, I have got years.
00:15:25.37\00:15:29.11
I gonna take
advantage of the time.
00:15:29.14\00:15:31.13
I'm gonna do my own thing.
00:15:31.16\00:15:32.93
And then, then I will get ready.
00:15:32.96\00:15:35.66
And I think
that's part of the reason
00:15:35.69\00:15:36.80
we haven't been given the time.
00:15:36.83\00:15:38.20
And I think impart of
we have been given the time
00:15:38.23\00:15:40.27
because we're to always be ready
for the coming of Jesus right.
00:15:40.30\00:15:44.14
That's why He
says, "be on the alert."
00:15:44.17\00:15:46.82
Since we don't
know the day or the hour
00:15:46.85\00:15:48.35
we're to be on the alert.
00:15:48.38\00:15:50.67
You know, it's like when
you're gonna have company
00:15:50.70\00:15:52.33
Thanksgiving,
Christmas and you've companying.
00:15:52.36\00:15:55.16
You know they're coming may
be they have been a long trip,
00:15:55.19\00:15:57.74
a road trip and the
coming to visit you.
00:15:57.77\00:16:00.07
You know you got
ready, haven't you,
00:16:00.10\00:16:01.89
you've prepared?
00:16:01.92\00:16:03.97
And you're
waiting with anticipation
00:16:04.00\00:16:06.32
the days comes you know and some
00:16:06.35\00:16:08.09
and may be it's gonna
be late in the morning
00:16:08.12\00:16:10.09
or in the afternoon.
00:16:10.12\00:16:11.46
And so you're on the alert.
00:16:11.49\00:16:12.98
You're waiting for that.
00:16:13.01\00:16:14.06
You're waiting for that knock,
00:16:14.09\00:16:15.32
you're waiting them to
drive up, into the driveway.
00:16:15.35\00:16:17.73
There is sense of anticipation.
00:16:17.76\00:16:19.81
That is what
Jesus is saying here
00:16:19.84\00:16:22.49
when He says be on the alert.
00:16:22.52\00:16:24.55
And He says "for you do not know
00:16:24.58\00:16:26.34
which day your Lord is coming."
00:16:26.37\00:16:27.67
As we read verse 43
"But be sure of this,
00:16:27.70\00:16:30.76
that if the head
of the house had known
00:16:30.79\00:16:32.66
at what time of the
night the thief was coming,
00:16:32.69\00:16:36.06
he would have been on the alert
00:16:36.09\00:16:37.64
and would not have allowed
his house to be broken into."
00:16:37.67\00:16:41.85
This idea of the
thief, the thief in the night
00:16:41.88\00:16:47.20
as relates rapture
theology is quite fascinating
00:16:47.23\00:16:51.65
to follow this
through this, this theory.
00:16:51.68\00:16:54.84
And the idea is and again
00:16:54.87\00:16:58.45
that the coming of Jesus
is going to be secretive.
00:16:58.48\00:17:04.92
Many those who are left
behind are gonna have no idea
00:17:04.95\00:17:07.85
other than people are missing
00:17:07.88\00:17:09.96
are gonna have no
idea that He has come.
00:17:09.99\00:17:13.64
Is that what He is talking about
00:17:13.67\00:17:14.98
when it talks about it thief.
00:17:15.01\00:17:16.93
You know, you don't know
when the thief is going to come
00:17:16.96\00:17:19.50
and in reference to this.
00:17:19.53\00:17:21.00
In verse 44, it
says "For this reason
00:17:21.03\00:17:22.98
you also must be ready
00:17:23.01\00:17:24.80
for the Son of Man
is coming at an hour
00:17:24.83\00:17:27.10
when you do not think He will."
00:17:27.13\00:17:30.91
And what is speaking of
here what Jesus is speaking of
00:17:30.94\00:17:34.38
is that His coming
will be unexpected.
00:17:34.41\00:17:40.58
Unexpected is not the
same as that it will be secret.
00:17:40.61\00:17:46.86
1985, my wife my two
kids Kevin was just a toddler.
00:17:46.89\00:17:54.00
And we are still
carrying him around.
00:17:54.03\00:17:55.24
He wasn't very
mobile at that point,
00:17:55.27\00:17:56.93
made a road trip
from the North West
00:17:56.96\00:18:00.57
down to New Orleans
00:18:00.60\00:18:02.44
for a ten day
religious conference.
00:18:02.47\00:18:06.47
We took our Fifth
Wheel, 40 foot Fifth Wheel
00:18:06.50\00:18:09.01
and so we have the
wheels, it's really a nice trip.
00:18:09.04\00:18:12.20
That was a long trip.
00:18:12.23\00:18:13.76
Afterwards we went to Florida.
00:18:13.79\00:18:16.05
Oh, I tell you the lines
were so long at Disney World,
00:18:16.08\00:18:21.60
I mean, we began
we began to tire.
00:18:21.63\00:18:24.74
We decided we're
gonna cut our trip short.
00:18:24.77\00:18:27.81
We were going to
go at the east coast
00:18:27.84\00:18:29.81
and then go through Michigan
see some friends of ours.
00:18:29.84\00:18:32.15
But we decided to head
home and the way that we came
00:18:32.18\00:18:35.67
and so we were heading home
00:18:35.70\00:18:37.93
and I called that
my mom and I said mom,
00:18:37.96\00:18:40.85
we shall-- and they
lived in Auburn, Washington
00:18:40.88\00:18:43.20
that's kind the
bedroom community of Seattle.
00:18:43.23\00:18:47.34
And I said mom,
we're headed home
00:18:47.37\00:18:49.49
and we should
be there by Friday.
00:18:49.52\00:18:52.65
And so we're progressing,
we're making miles in that truck
00:18:52.68\00:18:56.42
and that Fifth
Wheel, 40 foot Fifth Wheel
00:18:56.45\00:18:58.54
that was the story in itself.
00:18:58.57\00:19:01.01
Went through the Grand
Canyon that was wonderful
00:19:01.04\00:19:03.91
but you know it
was something about
00:19:03.94\00:19:05.52
as we were heading west.
00:19:05.55\00:19:07.67
We just had that,
that anxiety to get home,
00:19:07.70\00:19:10.87
that desire to get home.
00:19:10.90\00:19:12.90
And we looked at the map
00:19:12.93\00:19:14.31
and I said "Donna, you know
if we just pick up the miles
00:19:14.34\00:19:16.42
in the next few days we
can get in a day earlier."
00:19:16.45\00:19:19.96
And so we decided
yeah let's do that.
00:19:19.99\00:19:22.63
And so we really
begin to put on some miles.
00:19:22.66\00:19:24.52
I didn't call up
my mom to tell her
00:19:24.55\00:19:25.84
hey we're going to get
in on Thursdays not Fridays
00:19:25.87\00:19:28.54
because we were
going to surprise them,
00:19:28.57\00:19:30.70
my mom and my dad.
00:19:30.73\00:19:33.41
And so finally
the long trip was over
00:19:33.44\00:19:36.38
as we pulled up we parked
00:19:36.41\00:19:38.29
just out of
sight of the front door
00:19:38.32\00:19:40.97
of my parents' home.
00:19:41.00\00:19:43.00
And we snuck up on the house.
00:19:43.03\00:19:46.33
And I said to David,
David who was may before,
00:19:46.36\00:19:50.97
may before who was a brown
as any Indian you've ever seen,
00:19:51.00\00:19:57.23
who got he put
his war bounded on
00:19:57.26\00:19:59.64
that he got down
there in the Grand Canyon.
00:19:59.67\00:20:01.60
I said David, go up
there and knocks on the door.
00:20:01.63\00:20:04.63
And he did.
00:20:04.66\00:20:05.73
And my mother came to the door
00:20:05.76\00:20:07.72
and she didn't even
recognize her own grandson.
00:20:07.75\00:20:10.30
She was asking him "who
are you, what do you want?"
00:20:10.33\00:20:15.00
And David wasn't
quite sure what to say.
00:20:15.03\00:20:17.77
So we jumped out
and said "surprise"
00:20:17.80\00:20:20.52
and where they have surprised.
00:20:20.55\00:20:23.18
Now you know we
kind of snuck in there
00:20:23.21\00:20:26.39
but let me tell
you it was no secret
00:20:26.42\00:20:28.95
when we showed up.
00:20:28.98\00:20:31.44
It wasn't, it was no secret,
it's just that day in the hour
00:20:31.47\00:20:37.22
we just didn't let them
know that day or the hour.
00:20:37.25\00:20:40.21
This idea again on
the secret rapture,
00:20:40.24\00:20:45.21
the idea of the secret
rapture is really a new teaching
00:20:45.24\00:20:49.36
that really primarily
comes out of the 19th Century
00:20:49.39\00:20:52.80
which raises some
interesting questions.
00:20:52.83\00:20:55.44
Did it really, was
something so fundamental
00:20:55.47\00:20:57.27
I share with you 19 of
the 41 parables of the Jesus
00:20:57.30\00:21:00.07
referred to His coming
its all through the Bible
00:21:00.10\00:21:02.52
Old and New Testament.
00:21:02.55\00:21:04.74
Did it really take
the Christian church
00:21:04.77\00:21:06.83
1,800 years to discover
that the coming of Jesus
00:21:06.86\00:21:11.01
was going to be secret?
00:21:11.04\00:21:13.42
When you find no
indication of that prior.
00:21:13.45\00:21:17.94
As you look at it historically.
00:21:17.97\00:21:20.19
And John Nelson Darby was
one of the primary individuals
00:21:20.22\00:21:24.27
that brought this into
mainstream Christianity.
00:21:24.30\00:21:28.57
His followers were
called the Plymouth Brethren
00:21:28.60\00:21:30.89
and this
happened over in England.
00:21:30.92\00:21:33.19
And as you look
at this historically
00:21:33.22\00:21:34.83
this idea of the secret rapture
00:21:34.86\00:21:37.96
is something that you know
that it's only in recent decades
00:21:37.99\00:21:43.05
that this has become generally
00:21:43.08\00:21:45.60
accepted by many
Christians and churches.
00:21:45.63\00:21:49.00
And in fact if you
go back to the churches
00:21:49.03\00:21:51.19
that now are teaching
this idea of the secret rapture
00:21:51.22\00:21:53.32
if you go back
about four or five decades
00:21:53.35\00:21:56.61
and look at their teachings
00:21:56.64\00:21:57.90
in reference to
the coming of Jesus.
00:21:57.93\00:21:59.39
If they do have
something specific
00:21:59.42\00:22:01.40
in their teachings about it
00:22:01.43\00:22:02.74
you will find that they
were not teaching this idea.
00:22:02.77\00:22:06.61
So it's only in recent
decades that this has become
00:22:06.64\00:22:09.56
more generally accepted by some
and has become more popular.
00:22:09.59\00:22:16.55
We need to have that perspective
00:22:16.58\00:22:18.43
because some of us
this is all we've heard
00:22:18.46\00:22:21.39
and we think this is
the way that is always been.
00:22:21.42\00:22:25.55
And I'm not here to
condemn anybody over anything
00:22:25.58\00:22:29.21
in regards to the
teachings of God's word
00:22:29.24\00:22:30.86
but I'm interested in
finding out the real truth
00:22:30.89\00:22:34.81
that what the Bible teaches
00:22:34.84\00:22:35.98
whatever the subject
might be, aren't you.
00:22:36.01\00:22:38.90
That's why we are here.
00:22:38.93\00:22:40.46
And so if
something is not quite right
00:22:40.49\00:22:42.43
we really want
to know about that.
00:22:42.46\00:22:44.46
In fact, I picked
up a book back in 1988,
00:22:44.49\00:22:47.18
"88 reasons why the
rapture would be in 1988"
00:22:47.21\00:22:51.42
and the projection
was made that Jesus
00:22:51.45\00:22:56.04
the rapture would take
place on September 11, 1988.
00:22:56.07\00:22:59.19
Did you know
00:22:59.22\00:23:00.50
that the rapture has
already been has taken place.
00:23:00.53\00:23:03.79
And guess what we
all were left behind.
00:23:03.82\00:23:10.29
I tell you as you look at
this historically in this theory
00:23:10.32\00:23:14.22
a number unfortunately
number of prediction
00:23:14.25\00:23:18.14
have been made specifically
00:23:18.17\00:23:19.59
about when the
rapture would take place.
00:23:19.62\00:23:22.94
And which begins to
raise some other questions
00:23:22.97\00:23:26.08
if they roam and they
make these predictions
00:23:26.11\00:23:29.23
could that be
wrong on the premise.
00:23:29.26\00:23:34.43
And I will give you an
analogy about what's going on.
00:23:34.46\00:23:37.57
It's very much like
the evolutionary theory.
00:23:37.60\00:23:41.28
You have this
theory this construct
00:23:41.31\00:23:43.84
that has been developed
00:23:43.87\00:23:46.31
about how the
origin of the species
00:23:46.34\00:23:49.47
and the other great ages
00:23:49.50\00:23:51.10
is really based on looking
at the geological records.
00:23:51.13\00:23:53.84
What has happened
is science by and large
00:23:53.87\00:23:58.04
has accepted
this as the scientific
00:23:58.07\00:24:02.99
view of how life came
and how life developed
00:24:03.02\00:24:07.97
so that whenever they're
looking at the geological record
00:24:08.00\00:24:12.38
they interpret the evidence
in the geological record
00:24:12.41\00:24:15.81
based on the theory.
00:24:15.84\00:24:19.29
And they fit it into the theory
and if it doesn't fit the theory
00:24:19.32\00:24:23.39
they have a real
you know anomaly.
00:24:23.42\00:24:27.83
In fact for long
time it was called
00:24:27.86\00:24:29.65
the theory of uninformativity.
00:24:29.68\00:24:32.36
They have left that behind
00:24:32.39\00:24:33.88
because clearly in
the geological records
00:24:33.91\00:24:36.55
there have been
some great catastrophes
00:24:36.58\00:24:38.77
and the greatest of them all
of course was the great flood.
00:24:38.80\00:24:42.61
And so that's how
they take this theory
00:24:42.64\00:24:45.36
and they interpret
the geological record
00:24:45.39\00:24:47.76
and that's what going on
with this idea of the rapture
00:24:47.79\00:24:51.30
this dispensation was a view.
00:24:51.33\00:24:53.41
It's a theory, it's a construct
00:24:53.44\00:24:55.93
and when you look at it,
00:24:55.96\00:24:57.08
when you look at
the theory of it,
00:24:57.11\00:24:59.28
it makes sense.
00:24:59.31\00:25:01.68
And if didn't make sense
00:25:01.71\00:25:03.62
then nobody would be
bind into it would it,
00:25:03.65\00:25:06.29
just like the
evolutionary theory.
00:25:06.32\00:25:08.48
You know just looking at it
and it seems to make some sense.
00:25:08.51\00:25:12.16
So its seems to make
sense and so as you study
00:25:12.19\00:25:15.29
as one studies the Bible
based upon the rapture theology
00:25:15.32\00:25:20.47
they are
interpreting the Bible record
00:25:20.50\00:25:23.98
based upon the theory.
00:25:24.01\00:25:27.13
And so this text fits
here we're gonna fit it here
00:25:27.16\00:25:30.20
this text fits over here
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.91
and this one we're
gonna fit right here.
00:25:31.94\00:25:34.55
And you will not find as
you look at it that the text
00:25:34.58\00:25:38.25
inheritably in the
passage or in the context
00:25:38.28\00:25:42.74
is really speaking about
this theory here or there.
00:25:42.77\00:25:47.16
Are you with me?
00:25:47.19\00:25:48.83
That's exactly what is going on.
00:25:48.86\00:25:51.63
And my friend, good
interpretation of the Bible
00:25:51.66\00:25:54.15
we call it exegesis.
00:25:54.18\00:25:56.05
That's when we are interpreting
00:25:56.08\00:25:57.53
and developing our views
of what the Bible teaches
00:25:57.56\00:25:59.93
from what the
Bible actually teaches.
00:25:59.96\00:26:02.42
We call it eisegesis
when we take a theory
00:26:02.45\00:26:06.33
and we make the
Bible fit into it.
00:26:06.36\00:26:09.84
So the Bible text
on this but my friend,
00:26:09.87\00:26:13.14
its not what the
Bible actually teaches.
00:26:13.17\00:26:16.15
And of course we now
have the left behind series
00:26:16.18\00:26:18.94
as many for-- people forget
this whole left behind series
00:26:18.97\00:26:22.16
and the movie, movies
and so novel is what it is.
00:26:22.19\00:26:25.74
It's a fictional
account of the end time.
00:26:25.77\00:26:29.15
And my friend, I'd really wish
00:26:29.18\00:26:30.40
when it came to
essential things like this
00:26:30.43\00:26:32.53
the people were writing
fictional accounts about things.
00:26:32.56\00:26:36.41
I wish what they
were writing was the truth
00:26:36.44\00:26:39.30
because they were left with
is this representation really
00:26:39.33\00:26:43.62
in harmony with what the
Bible teaches about the matter.
00:26:43.65\00:26:46.93
What do we sorted
out fact from fiction?
00:26:46.96\00:26:50.08
And my friend, there is only
way-- one way to sort it out
00:26:50.11\00:26:52.34
and that is through
the teachings of scripture
00:26:52.37\00:26:55.56
we sort out fact from fiction.
00:26:55.59\00:26:57.73
I will tell you a lot of people
00:26:57.76\00:26:58.97
read these books
and seen the movie
00:26:59.00\00:27:00.92
and they take it
as if it was you know
00:27:00.95\00:27:04.05
it was a fiction as
if it was the truth.
00:27:04.08\00:27:08.29
But it's a fictional
account now again I'm not here
00:27:08.32\00:27:11.98
judging
individuals who believe in this
00:27:12.01\00:27:14.59
because there are many
sincere born again Christians
00:27:14.62\00:27:17.78
who love the Lord this is what
if they've heard anything about
00:27:17.81\00:27:20.68
prophecy may be this
is what they've heard.
00:27:20.71\00:27:23.68
So we got to keep that in mind.
00:27:23.71\00:27:25.50
So you know it's a question
I'm spending a little time
00:27:25.53\00:27:28.27
with it oh, no I'm seeing
a little bit of time with it.
00:27:28.30\00:27:31.34
Are you still
there in Matthew 24
00:27:31.37\00:27:33.50
this is the New
Testament page 21?
00:27:33.53\00:27:35.93
I want you to
look at the context.
00:27:35.96\00:27:38.60
And the context makes it
absolutely clear this is not
00:27:38.63\00:27:42.66
what Jesus is talking
about and look it talking about
00:27:42.69\00:27:44.89
verse 45 now and
onward continuing the context.
00:27:44.92\00:27:49.38
Jesus says "Who then is the
faithful and sensible slave"
00:27:49.41\00:27:53.59
or servant "whom his master
put in charge of his household
00:27:53.62\00:27:56.71
to give them their
food at the proper time?
00:27:56.74\00:28:00.15
Blessed is that
slave" the servant
00:28:00.18\00:28:02.59
"whom his master finds
so doing when he comes."
00:28:02.62\00:28:06.09
That's the reference
to the coming of Jesus.
00:28:06.12\00:28:08.48
When He comes.
00:28:08.51\00:28:09.56
"Truly I say to you
that he will put him
00:28:09.59\00:28:11.31
in charge of all
his possessions."
00:28:11.34\00:28:13.14
He is gonna be richly rewarded
by his master when he comes.
00:28:13.17\00:28:18.07
The one that is faithful.
00:28:18.10\00:28:19.38
Verse 48 "But
if that evil slave"
00:28:19.41\00:28:21.84
servant "says in his heart,
00:28:21.87\00:28:23.29
'My master is not
coming for a long time
00:28:23.32\00:28:26.02
and begins to
beat his fellow slaves
00:28:26.05\00:28:28.65
and eat and drink with drunkards
00:28:28.68\00:28:31.41
the master of that
slave will come on a day
00:28:31.44\00:28:34.89
when he does not expect him
00:28:34.92\00:28:36.64
and at an hour
which he does not know,
00:28:36.67\00:28:39.62
and will cut him in
pieces and assign him a place
00:28:39.65\00:28:43.59
with the
hypocrites in that place
00:28:43.62\00:28:45.50
there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."
00:28:45.53\00:28:48.74
So the faithful
servant is going to be rewarded
00:28:48.77\00:28:51.27
the unfaithful
servant what's going to happen
00:28:51.30\00:28:55.00
in a word judgment, right.
00:28:55.03\00:28:59.52
And so we have the two classes
00:28:59.55\00:29:02.24
one will be
ready and one will not.
00:29:02.27\00:29:06.08
We know and it's a context
00:29:06.11\00:29:07.46
of what will happen
for those who are ready
00:29:07.49\00:29:09.09
they are going to be rewarded
and for those who are not.
00:29:09.12\00:29:12.00
And let me say as we
come to the Mark of Beasts
00:29:12.03\00:29:15.39
and some of these things
from the book of Revelation,
00:29:15.42\00:29:17.16
some of these issues
will come into clear focus
00:29:17.19\00:29:21.08
for us to understand, why those
00:29:21.11\00:29:23.95
who are left behind
are faced with judgment.
00:29:23.98\00:29:28.39
And my friend, as
we come to the end
00:29:28.42\00:29:31.58
and the coming of the Jesus
00:29:31.61\00:29:34.03
God is bringing
this mess to and end,
00:29:34.06\00:29:37.18
this problem of sin
to end on the earth.
00:29:37.21\00:29:39.96
He is bringing to an end
and for those who have not
00:29:39.99\00:29:44.15
who have hardened their
hearts in rebellion against God
00:29:44.18\00:29:48.09
they just cannot be rewarded
they will not be rewarded.
00:29:48.12\00:29:52.44
They left God with no choice,
00:29:52.47\00:29:55.01
they are going to be left out,
00:29:55.04\00:29:58.64
they're gonna
experience judgments.
00:29:58.67\00:30:00.88
But remember Jesus said
"this Gospel the kingdom
00:30:00.91\00:30:02.97
must go to the whole world
as a witness to all nations
00:30:03.00\00:30:05.68
and then the end shall come."
00:30:05.71\00:30:07.40
And before the end
comes before Jesus comes
00:30:07.43\00:30:10.52
God is doing all that he
can to say as many as He can.
00:30:10.55\00:30:14.89
And again in context if you take
a look at it in Matthew 24:37,
00:30:14.92\00:30:22.81
in the context of
what we looked at it say
00:30:22.84\00:30:25.47
Jesus says "But as
the days of Noah were,
00:30:25.50\00:30:27.71
so shall also the
coming of the son of man be."
00:30:27.74\00:30:31.03
As it was in the days of Noah.
00:30:31.06\00:30:33.27
There are parallels Jesus
says between what happened
00:30:33.30\00:30:35.42
in Noah's day and His coming.
00:30:35.45\00:30:37.52
And among the
things that we take note
00:30:37.55\00:30:39.49
in parallel for a 120 years.
00:30:39.52\00:30:42.93
Noah preached a
prophetic message
00:30:42.96\00:30:45.40
declaring the end was coming
00:30:45.43\00:30:47.58
and a message of repentance
that was speaking about
00:30:47.61\00:30:50.98
getting into a right
relationship with God.
00:30:51.01\00:30:55.49
120 years he preached
it and then the end came
00:30:55.52\00:30:59.88
as it was in the days of Noah
00:30:59.91\00:31:01.16
so shall be in the
coming of the Son of Man
00:31:01.19\00:31:04.22
and what happened to
the antediluvian world
00:31:04.25\00:31:06.77
for those who did not respond.
00:31:06.80\00:31:11.86
They were left behind
and they were destroyed.
00:31:11.89\00:31:17.61
God didn't will it.
00:31:17.64\00:31:19.30
God didn't want
it to be that way.
00:31:19.33\00:31:22.42
And so those who are
left behind were destroyed
00:31:22.45\00:31:26.17
and those who responded--
00:31:26.20\00:31:27.96
well, they aped
but they were saved.
00:31:27.99\00:31:32.40
Okay they were saved
out of the destruction
00:31:32.43\00:31:35.18
"as it was in the days of Noah,
00:31:35.21\00:31:36.47
so shall also the
coming of the Son of Man."
00:31:36.50\00:31:38.49
Take a look at Luke 17
00:31:38.52\00:31:39.86
the New Testament
page 62, page 62 Luke 17
00:31:39.89\00:31:44.17
which is Luke's record of what
we just read here in Matthew 24.
00:31:44.20\00:31:50.26
And notice how he quotes
Jesus in reference to, you know,
00:31:50.29\00:31:53.96
as it was in the days of Noah
00:31:53.99\00:31:56.31
so shall be in the
coming of the Son of Man.
00:31:56.34\00:31:58.22
Luke 17 and
beginning with verse 26.
00:31:58.25\00:32:02.59
Beginning with verse 26 he says
00:32:02.62\00:32:05.38
"And just as it
happened in the days of Noah."
00:32:05.41\00:32:07.69
There it is.
00:32:07.72\00:32:08.75
That was Matthew
24:37 we just read
00:32:08.78\00:32:11.11
just as it
happened in the days of Noah
00:32:11.14\00:32:13.30
"so it will be also in
the days of the Son of Man."
00:32:13.33\00:32:16.21
That is in his coming.
00:32:16.24\00:32:17.93
Now notice what was going on
00:32:17.96\00:32:19.12
"they were eating
they were drinking
00:32:19.15\00:32:21.21
they were marrying
they were giving in marriage
00:32:21.24\00:32:23.72
until the day that Noah entered
the ark and the flood came."
00:32:23.75\00:32:26.67
And did what to them
all? "Destroyed them all."
00:32:26.70\00:32:29.56
Verse 28 "It was the same as
happened in the days of what?
00:32:29.59\00:32:32.65
They were eating,
they were drinking,
00:32:32.68\00:32:34.62
they were buying,
they were selling,
00:32:34.65\00:32:36.30
they were
planting, they were building,
00:32:36.33\00:32:37.67
but on the day that Lot went
out from Sodom it rained fire
00:32:37.70\00:32:41.82
and brimstone from
heaven and destroyed them all."
00:32:41.85\00:32:45.88
No wonder it's taking time
00:32:45.91\00:32:48.34
for the impact of the
gospel to go to the whole world.
00:32:48.37\00:32:52.97
God's gonna let it play
out the effect of the gospel
00:32:53.00\00:32:57.15
and His call to the laws
and inhabitants of the planet.
00:32:57.18\00:33:00.65
And He is gonna give
everybody in the-- in the end
00:33:00.68\00:33:03.30
He is gonna give everyone
then in the end a chance
00:33:03.33\00:33:07.07
to make their
decision before He wraps it up.
00:33:07.10\00:33:10.93
And my friend, He is not going
to be hurried into doing this
00:33:10.96\00:33:15.79
because he would have all come
00:33:15.82\00:33:18.49
to repentance and to salvation.
00:33:18.52\00:33:22.04
But nevertheless we know
00:33:22.07\00:33:23.29
from our study of the prophecies
00:33:23.32\00:33:24.58
from just last
night in Daniel 2,
00:33:24.61\00:33:26.26
we are in the last days.
00:33:26.29\00:33:29.54
Its not centuries ahead of us.
00:33:29.57\00:33:31.77
It may be close to them
what we think because it says
00:33:31.80\00:33:34.18
He is going to come in
an hour which we think not.
00:33:34.21\00:33:37.48
It's going to be unexpected.
00:33:37.51\00:33:38.79
Let me take you to 1
Thessalonians 4:16-18,
00:33:38.82\00:33:43.23
1 Thessalonians 4 and
beginning with verse 16
00:33:43.26\00:33:47.73
as we talk about the
coming Jesus one of the things
00:33:47.76\00:33:50.83
that is done when it
comes to rapture theology
00:33:50.86\00:33:53.26
is they look at the Greek words
00:33:53.29\00:33:54.89
that refer to
the coming of Jesus.
00:33:54.92\00:33:56.42
There are some six different
Greek words and as you study it
00:33:56.45\00:34:00.25
they're actually
synonyms for the same event.
00:34:00.28\00:34:03.67
But they, they
make the representation
00:34:03.70\00:34:06.55
that whenever you see
the Greek word parousia
00:34:06.58\00:34:10.00
in reference to the coming Jesus
00:34:10.03\00:34:11.62
this is the rapture
and the rest of the words
00:34:11.65\00:34:15.00
is the reference
to the second coming.
00:34:15.03\00:34:17.84
That's what they do.
00:34:17.87\00:34:19.35
And here in 1 Thessalonians
4:16 we find the word parousia
00:34:19.38\00:34:24.02
and this was one of
the key passages scripture
00:34:24.05\00:34:27.35
in the idea of the
rapture you have to know that
00:34:27.38\00:34:30.09
that we're going
to see in the context
00:34:30.12\00:34:31.91
it's not talking about
what is being represented here.
00:34:31.94\00:34:35.86
First Thessalonians 4:16
says "For the Lord Himself
00:34:35.89\00:34:40.08
will descend from
heaven with a shout,
00:34:40.11\00:34:42.06
with the voice of the archangel,
00:34:42.09\00:34:43.56
with the trumpet of God,
00:34:43.59\00:34:45.32
and the dead in
Christ will rise first."
00:34:45.35\00:34:48.76
Oh, I tell you that is powerful.
00:34:48.79\00:34:50.37
When the Lord
himself is descending
00:34:50.40\00:34:52.33
from heaven with
all of those angels
00:34:52.36\00:34:54.74
there is going to be a shout
Jesus is going to be shout.
00:34:54.77\00:34:56.65
Jesus is gonna be shouting,
what do you think that's about?
00:34:56.68\00:35:03.47
And I will tell you it's joyous.
00:35:03.50\00:35:06.80
He is coming back in triumph.
00:35:06.83\00:35:09.23
He is saying here I'm.
00:35:09.26\00:35:11.16
I told you I'll come back.
00:35:11.19\00:35:12.65
I haven't
forgotten you, I'm here.
00:35:12.68\00:35:17.20
So He is coming
back with a shout.
00:35:17.23\00:35:19.19
I just love that, don't you?
00:35:19.22\00:35:21.40
And powerful-- voice
of the arch angels heard
00:35:21.43\00:35:23.27
and powerful things happened
there is a trumpet that is heard
00:35:23.30\00:35:27.65
and at that point the
dead just think of it,
00:35:27.68\00:35:30.93
the dead were stir in the
graves and they will come up
00:35:30.96\00:35:35.84
and they will live again
00:35:35.87\00:35:39.23
because they're n the
presence of the life giver.
00:35:39.26\00:35:43.19
Oh, that's so powerful.
00:35:43.22\00:35:44.26
Verse 17 "Then we
who are alive and remain
00:35:44.29\00:35:46.78
shall be caught
up together with them
00:35:46.81\00:35:48.58
in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air,"
00:35:48.61\00:35:51.00
What an ascension that gonna be.
00:35:51.03\00:35:52.57
"And so we shall
always be with the Lord.
00:35:52.60\00:35:54.42
Therefore comfort one
another with these words."
00:35:54.45\00:35:57.18
How wonderful that's gonna be
00:35:57.21\00:35:58.53
looking intently
seeing Jesus coming.
00:35:58.56\00:36:01.00
It's just
glorious, it's overwhelming.
00:36:01.03\00:36:04.02
And then suddenly, to realize
we're no longer in contact
00:36:04.05\00:36:07.98
with this old earth.
00:36:08.01\00:36:09.81
We're being
drawn up off the earth.
00:36:09.84\00:36:12.02
We're being drawn
into the presence of Jesus.
00:36:12.05\00:36:15.88
We find ourselves
a bit to look down,
00:36:15.91\00:36:17.98
we find ourselves
above the tree tops,
00:36:18.01\00:36:20.90
above the buildings
00:36:20.93\00:36:22.77
and ever been drawn
closer to Him until suddenly
00:36:22.80\00:36:27.47
we find ourselves in the
mist of all of those angels
00:36:27.50\00:36:31.15
and they're not
silent they're singing.
00:36:31.18\00:36:35.02
What a thrill it's gonna
be and to define ourselves
00:36:35.05\00:36:38.57
in the immediate
presence of Jesus.
00:36:38.60\00:36:43.22
All I tell you those
that just look at prophecy
00:36:43.25\00:36:45.47
and say oh, that
kind of interesting
00:36:45.50\00:36:47.77
you know not really
of all that important.
00:36:47.80\00:36:50.32
And they're missing
the whole point of it.
00:36:50.35\00:36:51.78
My friend, this is the end
point of the all the prophecies.
00:36:51.81\00:36:54.52
It is about the coming of
Jesus and it is so relational.
00:36:54.55\00:36:59.73
It is relational.
00:36:59.76\00:37:02.32
It's fundamental of
why Jesus is coming back
00:37:02.35\00:37:05.73
because He loves us, He
purchases us at Cavalry.
00:37:05.76\00:37:09.68
We have responded to the claims
of Jesus Christ in our lives.
00:37:09.71\00:37:13.33
And He is coming back
00:37:13.36\00:37:15.88
my friend, it doesn't
get any better than this.
00:37:15.91\00:37:18.83
It doesn't get
any better than this.
00:37:18.86\00:37:22.12
And so there we are but
remember these chapter divisions
00:37:22.15\00:37:26.66
forget the chapter divisions
00:37:26.69\00:37:27.95
they were just put in there
to help us to locate verses.
00:37:27.98\00:37:31.58
Just imagine verse chapter
5 is not there that division
00:37:31.61\00:37:34.87
and just go on
because He continues on.
00:37:34.90\00:37:37.61
In chapter 5 verse 1
00:37:37.64\00:37:38.70
"Now as to the times
and the epochs,brethren,
00:37:38.73\00:37:41.32
you have no need of
anything to be written to you.
00:37:41.35\00:37:44.02
For you
yourselves know full well
00:37:44.05\00:37:46.14
that the day of
the Lord will come
00:37:46.17\00:37:47.62
just like a thief in the night."
00:37:47.65\00:37:49.92
Now we are coming back
to this theme this motive
00:37:49.95\00:37:52.78
as what we call
it theologically.
00:37:52.81\00:37:54.50
This idea that the
thief at the night,
00:37:54.53\00:37:56.72
books and even movies
have written on the side
00:37:56.75\00:37:58.93
either thief in the
night again the representation
00:37:58.96\00:38:01.45
being that it is secretive.
00:38:01.48\00:38:04.27
So you know the day of the Lord
that is the coming of our Lord
00:38:04.30\00:38:07.35
will come just like
a thief in the night.
00:38:07.38\00:38:09.51
"While they are
saying, 'Peace and safety'
00:38:09.54\00:38:12.42
then destruction will
come upon them suddenly."
00:38:12.45\00:38:16.16
Who we're that we talking about?
00:38:16.19\00:38:19.02
Those who are left behind
00:38:19.05\00:38:20.08
as it was in the
days of Noah, right.
00:38:20.11\00:38:23.13
"Will come upon
them suddenly like
00:38:23.16\00:38:25.42
labor pains upon
a woman with child,
00:38:25.45\00:38:27.75
and they will not escape."
00:38:27.78\00:38:30.32
Does it sound
very secretive to me
00:38:30.35\00:38:34.45
when it says sudden destruction?
00:38:34.48\00:38:38.01
Let me tell you
this is little bit tough
00:38:38.04\00:38:40.33
this is the
tough part of prophecy
00:38:40.36\00:38:41.91
that some are
going to be left out,
00:38:41.94\00:38:43.61
some are gonna be
destroyed but God is end in it.
00:38:43.64\00:38:47.91
And we have one or two choices.
00:38:47.94\00:38:49.72
Either we embrace
Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
00:38:49.75\00:38:52.74
He bore our sins,
He died in our place
00:38:52.77\00:38:55.31
or in the end we will the bare
the consequences of our sins
00:38:55.34\00:38:58.82
and the wages of sin is death.
00:38:58.85\00:39:01.98
Its no arbitrary act
of God but my friend,
00:39:02.01\00:39:04.94
in the end there
will be no place for sin
00:39:04.97\00:39:07.98
and all the whole of
things that come because of sin.
00:39:08.01\00:39:11.64
And so God begin--
there is a process that we see
00:39:11.67\00:39:14.47
as we come to the
millennium tomorrow night,
00:39:14.50\00:39:16.19
God's wrapping it up.
00:39:16.22\00:39:18.44
I know He is bringing to and end
00:39:18.47\00:39:20.57
like that's its been known
here in this planet comes to end
00:39:20.60\00:39:23.63
at the coming of Jesus.
00:39:23.66\00:39:25.43
And it says like labor
pains upon woman with child.
00:39:25.46\00:39:27.59
And I share with
you I think already
00:39:27.62\00:39:29.90
yes, last Sunday
night how my wife and I
00:39:29.93\00:39:32.27
it was actually I was
thinking about his is actually
00:39:32.30\00:39:34.79
11 going on 12 years
before we had our first child.
00:39:34.82\00:39:38.78
And I think I shared with
you my wife had an amiantose
00:39:38.81\00:39:41.66
so she was a mid
thirties at this point
00:39:41.69\00:39:44.11
and we knew it
was gonna be a son
00:39:44.14\00:39:46.17
and so we got
ready this you know mine
00:39:46.20\00:39:49.18
was the generation
that was expected the man
00:39:49.21\00:39:51.95
the fathers the husband
were expected to be part
00:39:51.98\00:39:54.99
of the natural birthing process.
00:39:55.02\00:39:56.71
So we went
through the Bradley Method
00:39:56.74\00:39:59.85
of natural child birthing.
00:39:59.88\00:40:02.35
We went to the
classes, saw the films
00:40:02.38\00:40:05.95
and we thought we
were fairly intelligent.
00:40:05.98\00:40:08.42
The doctors said
the due date is January,
00:40:08.45\00:40:12.36
my wife would
remember January of 1982.
00:40:12.39\00:40:16.04
It is 3 days
after Christmas 1981,
00:40:16.07\00:40:20.40
11 o'clock at night.
00:40:20.43\00:40:21.93
Why do these things
have to take place so late?
00:40:21.96\00:40:25.44
I'm in bed just drifting off
to sleep when my wife calls up
00:40:25.47\00:40:29.62
"my water has broken."
00:40:29.65\00:40:32.94
And you know they
thought about you know
00:40:32.97\00:40:35.54
labor can be intensive
00:40:35.57\00:40:37.29
and can go on
for hours and hours
00:40:37.32\00:40:39.03
and even days
00:40:39.06\00:40:40.63
and then the
forced labor and you know
00:40:40.66\00:40:44.45
to my shame I said to Donna
00:40:44.48\00:40:46.30
"its too early kind of bad."
00:40:46.33\00:40:49.57
You know and I just
knew it just couldn't be
00:40:49.60\00:40:53.13
but she finally got
me up and I thought wow,
00:40:53.16\00:40:55.24
if it's gonna happen
I'm going to start fresh
00:40:55.27\00:40:57.63
so I stepped into the shower.
00:40:57.66\00:41:00.55
Yeah, this is going
to be one of 48 hours
00:41:00.58\00:41:02.54
one of the experiences
00:41:02.57\00:41:03.82
I at least gonna
start out and I shaved.
00:41:03.85\00:41:06.69
You know this 11-11:30 at night.
00:41:06.72\00:41:08.87
And in deed the
first contraction came
00:41:08.90\00:41:10.98
and so my training
kicked in I looked at okay,
00:41:11.01\00:41:16.40
took note of, you know,
00:41:16.43\00:41:18.30
the minute that that
came and I was waiting.
00:41:18.33\00:41:21.47
And sure enough another one came
but it came three minutes later
00:41:21.50\00:41:25.67
and I remember saying
to Donna "three minutes,
00:41:25.70\00:41:28.64
that's not the
way that happened.
00:41:28.67\00:41:30.21
What happened to the 15 minute."
00:41:30.24\00:41:33.31
You know that where
begins which was our first clue
00:41:33.34\00:41:37.73
things we're gonna
happen very quickly.
00:41:37.76\00:41:40.52
We're living in, oh we were
living in the Portland area,
00:41:40.55\00:41:44.35
living in Carberry.
00:41:44.38\00:41:45.44
We were living in Carberry
I was pastoring in that area.
00:41:45.47\00:41:47.91
And we were going to
the hospital in Portland.
00:41:47.94\00:41:50.75
It's the little trip at
night and so we packed our bags.
00:41:50.78\00:41:54.07
We least done that and I
said we better get going.
00:41:54.10\00:41:56.40
We got through the hospital
we are in the birthing room
00:41:56.43\00:41:59.73
and I'm in a gown
00:41:59.76\00:42:01.18
and that really
things are moving along
00:42:01.21\00:42:03.36
and before I knew it I was
cheek to cheek with my wife
00:42:03.39\00:42:06.54
that I was trying
to helping her breath
00:42:06.57\00:42:09.13
through these rapidly
intensifying contractions.
00:42:09.16\00:42:16.30
And then it hit, it
was textbook transition.
00:42:16.33\00:42:21.00
I saw the fear
into my wife's eyes
00:42:21.03\00:42:23.78
as she went into transition.
00:42:23.81\00:42:25.43
The realization
this baby is coming
00:42:25.46\00:42:27.23
and there is no way out.
00:42:27.26\00:42:29.20
You can beg, you can plead
00:42:29.23\00:42:31.78
but I don't know if
anybody that gotten out of it.
00:42:31.81\00:42:35.23
Well, this is what
Paul is talking about
00:42:35.26\00:42:37.75
when he says sudden destruction
and something like labor pains
00:42:37.78\00:42:42.45
and probably which he
was talking about transition.
00:42:42.48\00:42:45.16
What we're going to
see that there is go
00:42:45.19\00:42:46.95
through these
contractions after coming
00:42:46.98\00:42:49.44
and the
presence of Jesus Christ.
00:42:49.47\00:42:51.56
It's going to shaken to and fro
00:42:51.59\00:42:53.49
and then the after realization
for those who are not behind
00:42:53.52\00:42:56.62
they're lost that they
have salvation is behind
00:42:56.65\00:43:01.15
and there is no turning back.
00:43:01.18\00:43:03.59
Its gonna be
pretty awful isn't it.
00:43:03.62\00:43:07.66
I will take you
on to 2 Peter 3:10
00:43:07.69\00:43:12.27
"But the day of the
Lord will come like a thief."
00:43:12.30\00:43:15.38
There it is.
00:43:15.41\00:43:16.61
"In which the
heavens will pass away."
00:43:16.64\00:43:18.49
It's talking about
for moment the atmosphere.
00:43:18.52\00:43:20.60
"It will pass away with a roar
00:43:20.63\00:43:22.02
and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat."
00:43:22.05\00:43:26.33
The elements
what's that talking about
00:43:26.36\00:43:28.37
destroyed with intense heat.
00:43:28.40\00:43:29.48
Where is that heat
been generated from
00:43:29.51\00:43:31.26
will put that together.
00:43:31.29\00:43:33.37
"The elements will be
destroyed with intense heat
00:43:33.40\00:43:35.41
and the earth and its
works will be burned up."
00:43:35.44\00:43:38.52
I will tell you nobody
is gonna go through this
00:43:38.55\00:43:40.06
waking up the next morning
and saying what happened.
00:43:40.09\00:43:44.93
The earth comes to an end.
00:43:44.96\00:43:47.49
It will become to our study
about millennium tomorrow night
00:43:47.52\00:43:50.07
is not the final end.
00:43:50.10\00:43:52.67
Take a look at 2 Thessalonians 1
00:43:52.70\00:43:54.47
the New Testament page 161.
00:43:54.50\00:43:58.04
2 Thessalonians
just a page or two
00:43:58.07\00:44:00.58
if you're still
there in 1 Thessalonians
00:44:00.61\00:44:02.84
and beginning with verse 6
00:44:02.87\00:44:04.32
talking about what happens
to thosewho are left behind.
00:44:04.35\00:44:06.64
"For after all it
is only just for God
00:44:06.67\00:44:09.00
to repay with affliction
those who afflict you,
00:44:09.03\00:44:12.81
and to give relief to you
00:44:12.84\00:44:14.05
who are
afflicted and to us as well
00:44:14.08\00:44:17.39
when the Lord Jesus
will be revealed from heaven
00:44:17.42\00:44:19.92
with His mighty
angels in flaming fire"
00:44:19.95\00:44:23.81
is the description we have
here that really is His glory.
00:44:23.84\00:44:28.21
Verse 8 says
"Dealing out retribution
00:44:28.24\00:44:30.33
to those who do not know God
00:44:30.36\00:44:31.89
and to those who
do not obey the gospel
00:44:31.92\00:44:34.58
of our Lord Jesus."
00:44:34.61\00:44:37.42
Revelation 1:7 "Behold,
He is coming with the clouds,
00:44:37.45\00:44:40.60
and every eye shall see
Him, even those who pierced Him
00:44:40.63\00:44:44.11
and all the tribes of the
earth will mourn over Him.
00:44:44.14\00:44:47.53
So it is to be. Amen."
00:44:47.56\00:44:50.09
My friend that's now talking
about the godly God's people
00:44:50.12\00:44:53.32
that will be shouting hallelujah
00:44:53.35\00:44:56.33
it's going to be
joy inexpressible
00:44:56.36\00:44:58.91
as you see Jesus coming.
00:44:58.94\00:45:00.52
And even talks about the
tribes mourning over them is
00:45:00.55\00:45:02.69
those who are left
behind because they see Him
00:45:02.72\00:45:04.89
and they know they're lost.
00:45:04.92\00:45:08.01
It's horrible.
00:45:08.04\00:45:09.89
But again God is
doing all that He can
00:45:09.92\00:45:12.17
to save as many as He can.
00:45:12.20\00:45:13.71
Jesus said
00:45:13.74\00:45:16.25
"And then the
sign of the Son of Man
00:45:16.28\00:45:18.02
will appear the
sky," it said cloud,
00:45:18.05\00:45:19.64
a cloud of the
angels that surround Jesus.
00:45:19.67\00:45:22.25
"And then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn."
00:45:22.28\00:45:24.57
It says it
again they will mourn.
00:45:24.60\00:45:26.58
"And they" talking
about those who're lost
00:45:26.61\00:45:29.35
"They will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of the sky
00:45:29.38\00:45:33.69
with power and great glory."
00:45:33.72\00:45:36.99
Great glory and so we
all to add that to our list
00:45:37.02\00:45:40.05
His coming is gonna be
powerful we've already noted.
00:45:40.08\00:45:43.34
It is going to
be a glorious event.
00:45:43.37\00:45:47.26
And I want to tell you
00:45:47.29\00:45:48.34
looking a little bit
at the physical phenomena
00:45:48.37\00:45:50.22
that is gonna happen
at the coming of Jesus.
00:45:50.25\00:45:51.89
Revelation 16 indicates
what happens at His presence.
00:45:51.92\00:45:57.30
Beginning with verse 18 it says
00:45:57.33\00:45:58.83
"And there were
flashes of lightning
00:45:58.86\00:46:00.74
and sounds and peals of thunder;
00:46:00.77\00:46:02.95
and there was a
great earthquake,
00:46:02.98\00:46:04.87
such as there had not been
00:46:04.90\00:46:06.42
since man came to
be upon the earth."
00:46:06.45\00:46:08.50
Think about that.
00:46:08.53\00:46:09.67
"So great an earthquake
was it, and so mighty."
00:46:09.70\00:46:13.71
It says "And
every island fled away,
00:46:13.74\00:46:17.03
and the
mountains were not found."
00:46:17.06\00:46:19.01
This old earth is just
gonna be shaken to and fro
00:46:19.04\00:46:21.41
at the presence, the
powerful presence of Jesus.
00:46:21.44\00:46:25.08
The Tsunami as some years ago
00:46:25.11\00:46:27.51
is only a little
bit of the indication
00:46:27.54\00:46:30.19
that destruction
that came out of it.
00:46:30.22\00:46:32.22
The destruction that overwhelms
the whole of the earth
00:46:32.25\00:46:37.52
at the coming of Jesus.
00:46:37.55\00:46:40.24
I want you to
take you to Luke 21
00:46:40.27\00:46:42.23
where it says "Be on guard,
00:46:42.26\00:46:44.10
that your hearts
may not be weighted down
00:46:44.13\00:46:45.98
with dissipation and drunkenness
and the worries of life,
00:46:46.01\00:46:50.06
and that day come on
you suddenly like a trap."
00:46:50.09\00:46:54.15
Like that it's gonna
happen suddenly, unexpectedly
00:46:54.18\00:46:57.25
"for it will come" Jesus said,
00:46:57.28\00:47:00.27
"upon all those who dwell
on the face of all the earth.
00:47:00.30\00:47:03.69
But keep on the
alert at all times,
00:47:03.72\00:47:05.73
praying in order that you
may have strength to escape
00:47:05.76\00:47:08.88
all these things that
are about to take place,
00:47:08.91\00:47:12.26
and to stand
before the Son of Man."
00:47:12.29\00:47:14.43
Oh, my friend, what is
it gonna be in that day
00:47:14.46\00:47:16.62
when Jesus comes
00:47:16.65\00:47:18.38
and to find
ourselves in His presence.
00:47:18.41\00:47:21.93
Well, one of my favorite
authors describes it this way.
00:47:21.96\00:47:26.56
Soon, there appears in
the east a small black cloud
00:47:26.59\00:47:30.15
about half the
size of a man's hand.
00:47:30.18\00:47:32.68
It is the cloud
which surrounds the Savior
00:47:32.71\00:47:34.70
and which seems in the distance
to be shrouded in darkness.
00:47:34.73\00:47:39.18
The people of God
00:47:39.21\00:47:40.50
know this to be the
sign of the Son of Man.
00:47:40.53\00:47:43.42
In solemn
silence they gaze upon it
00:47:43.45\00:47:46.23
as it draws nearer to the earth
00:47:46.26\00:47:48.50
becoming lighter
and more glorious
00:47:48.53\00:47:51.12
until it is a great white cloud
00:47:51.15\00:47:53.86
its base a glory
like consuming fire
00:47:53.89\00:47:57.34
and above it the
rainbow of the covenant.
00:47:57.37\00:48:00.58
Jesus rides forth
as a mighty conqueror
00:48:00.61\00:48:03.55
not now a man of sorrow
00:48:03.58\00:48:05.05
to drink the bitter
cup of shame and woe.
00:48:05.08\00:48:07.13
He comes victor
in heaven and earth
00:48:07.16\00:48:09.66
to judge the living and
the dead faithful and true
00:48:09.69\00:48:13.41
and righteous that He
just judge and wage war.
00:48:13.44\00:48:16.37
And the armies which
were in heaven follow Him
00:48:16.40\00:48:18.74
with anthems
the celestial melody
00:48:18.77\00:48:20.87
the holy angels
they bass unnumbered
00:48:20.90\00:48:23.37
drawn attended on His way.
00:48:23.40\00:48:25.40
The firmament seems
filled with radium forms
00:48:25.43\00:48:27.97
10,000 times 10,000
and thousand and thousands,
00:48:28.00\00:48:33.04
no human pen can
portray that scene.
00:48:33.07\00:48:35.99
No mortal mind is adequate
to conceive His splendor,
00:48:36.02\00:48:39.38
His glory covered the heavens
00:48:39.41\00:48:41.03
and the earth was
full of His praise
00:48:41.06\00:48:43.25
and His
brightness was as the light.
00:48:43.28\00:48:46.44
As a living
call comes still near
00:48:46.47\00:48:48.88
every eye beholds
the prince of life.
00:48:48.91\00:48:51.75
No crown of thorns
now mares that sacred head
00:48:51.78\00:48:54.28
but He died and glory now
rest upon on His holy brow.
00:48:54.31\00:48:57.74
His countenance
outshines the dazzling
00:48:57.77\00:49:00.75
brightness of the noonday sun.
00:49:00.78\00:49:03.00
"And He hath on His vesture
and on His thigh a name written,
00:49:03.03\00:49:06.70
King of kings,
and Lord of lords.
00:49:06.73\00:49:10.75
Before His presence "all
faces are turned into paleness"
00:49:10.78\00:49:14.35
upon the
rejecters of God's grace
00:49:14.38\00:49:16.16
falls the terror
of eternal despair.
00:49:16.19\00:49:18.27
"The heart melteth, and
the knees smite together,
00:49:18.30\00:49:21.21
and the faces of them
all gather blackness."
00:49:21.24\00:49:24.41
The righteous cry with trembling
"Who shall be able to stand?"
00:49:24.44\00:49:28.02
The angels' song is hushed,
00:49:28.05\00:49:30.43
and there is a
period of awful silence.
00:49:30.46\00:49:33.55
Then the voice of
Jesus is heard, saying
00:49:33.58\00:49:36.66
"My grace is
sufficient for you."
00:49:36.69\00:49:39.60
The faces of the
righteous lighted up,
00:49:39.63\00:49:42.20
and joy fills every heart.
00:49:42.23\00:49:44.05
And the angels strike a
note higher and sing again
00:49:44.08\00:49:47.62
as they draw still
nearer to the earth.
00:49:47.65\00:49:50.22
The King of kings
descends upon the cloud,
00:49:50.25\00:49:53.54
wrapped in flaming fire.
00:49:53.57\00:49:55.29
The heavens are
rolled together as a scroll,
00:49:55.32\00:49:57.72
the earth trembles
before His presence,
00:49:57.75\00:50:00.09
and every mountain and island
is moved out of its place.
00:50:00.12\00:50:04.15
"Our God shall come,
and shall not keep silence,
00:50:04.18\00:50:06.46
a fire shall devour before Him,
00:50:06.49\00:50:08.33
and it shall be very
tempestuous round about Him.
00:50:08.36\00:50:10.76
He shall call to the heavens
00:50:10.79\00:50:11.96
from above, and
to the earth beneath,
00:50:11.99\00:50:13.57
that He may judge His people."
00:50:13.60\00:50:15.61
"And the kings of the
earth, and the great men,
00:50:15.64\00:50:18.98
and the chief
captains, and the mighty men,
00:50:19.01\00:50:20.98
and every
bondman, and every freeman,
00:50:21.01\00:50:22.76
hid themselves in the dens
00:50:22.79\00:50:24.68
and in the
rocks of the mountains
00:50:24.71\00:50:26.13
and said to the
mountains and rocks, Fall on us,
00:50:26.16\00:50:28.90
and hide us from the face of
Him that sitteth on the throne,
00:50:28.93\00:50:33.30
and from the wrath of the Lamb
for the great day of His wrath
00:50:33.33\00:50:36.57
is come and who
shall be able to stand?"
00:50:36.60\00:50:39.80
The derisive jests have ceased.
00:50:39.83\00:50:43.23
Lying lips are
hushed into silence.
00:50:43.26\00:50:45.64
The clash of arms,
00:50:45.67\00:50:46.73
the tumult of
battle, with confused noise,
00:50:46.76\00:50:49.06
and garments rolled
in blood' is stilled.
00:50:49.09\00:50:51.84
Not now is heard
but the voice of prayer
00:50:51.87\00:50:54.49
and the sound of
weeping and lamentation.
00:50:54.52\00:50:57.57
The cry bursts forth
from lips so lately scoffing
00:50:57.60\00:51:00.67
"The great day of
His wrath is coming
00:51:00.70\00:51:02.51
who shall be able to stand?"
00:51:02.54\00:51:04.72
The wicked pray to be
buried beneath the rocks
00:51:04.75\00:51:07.05
of the mountains rather
than meet the face of Him
00:51:07.08\00:51:09.92
whom they have
despised and rejected.
00:51:09.95\00:51:13.21
That voice which penetrates
00:51:13.24\00:51:14.83
the ear of the dead, they know.
00:51:14.86\00:51:17.10
How often have its plaintive,
00:51:17.13\00:51:19.39
tender tones
called them to repentance?
00:51:19.42\00:51:22.07
How often has it been
heard in the touching entreaties
00:51:22.10\00:51:24.35
of a friend, a brother,
00:51:24.38\00:51:26.18
a Redeemer to the
rejecters of His grace
00:51:26.21\00:51:28.80
no other could be so
full of condemnation,
00:51:28.83\00:51:32.99
so burdened with denunciation,
00:51:33.02\00:51:36.12
All that we're to them
the voice of a stranger says
00:51:36.15\00:51:38.99
"Jesus I have
called but ye refused.
00:51:39.02\00:51:41.80
I have stretched out my
hand but no man regarded
00:51:41.83\00:51:44.38
but you have
setting all my counsel
00:51:44.41\00:51:46.72
and would none of my reproof."
00:51:46.75\00:51:49.67
That voice awakens memories
00:51:49.70\00:51:51.41
which they would fame
blot out of warnings refused,
00:51:51.44\00:51:54.47
the privileges
slighted of invitations refused.
00:51:54.50\00:52:00.31
There are there are those
00:52:00.34\00:52:03.39
who mark Christ
in His humiliation
00:52:03.42\00:52:05.97
with thrill in power come
to their minds in suppers words
00:52:06.00\00:52:08.69
when juried by the high priest
he solemnly declared hereafter
00:52:08.72\00:52:12.55
shall we see the son of
man sitting on the right hand
00:52:12.58\00:52:15.03
the power and coming
in the clouds of glory
00:52:15.06\00:52:18.27
now they behold
them in His glory
00:52:18.30\00:52:20.58
and they are yet to see Him
00:52:20.61\00:52:21.65
sitting on the
right hand the power.
00:52:21.68\00:52:24.49
Those who derided His claim
00:52:24.52\00:52:25.90
to be the Son of
God are speechless now.
00:52:25.93\00:52:28.42
There is the haughty Herod
who jeered at His royal title
00:52:28.45\00:52:31.33
and bade the mocking
soldiers crown Him king.
00:52:31.36\00:52:33.88
There are the very men
who with impious hands placed
00:52:33.91\00:52:36.24
upon His form the purple robe,
00:52:36.27\00:52:38.15
upon His sacred
brow the thorny crown,
00:52:38.18\00:52:40.67
and in His unresisting
hand the mimic scepter,
00:52:40.70\00:52:43.59
and bowed before Him
in blasphemous mockery.
00:52:43.62\00:52:47.52
The men who beat and
spit upon the Prince of life
00:52:47.55\00:52:50.99
now turn from His
piercing gaze and seek to flee
00:52:51.02\00:52:54.62
from the overpowering
glory of His presence.
00:52:54.65\00:52:58.60
Those who drove the nails
through His hands and feet,
00:52:58.63\00:53:00.95
the soldier who
pierced His side,
00:53:00.98\00:53:02.49
behold these marks
with terror and remorse.
00:53:02.52\00:53:06.05
With awful
distinctness do priests
00:53:06.08\00:53:08.34
and rulers recall
the events of Calvary.
00:53:08.37\00:53:10.58
With shuddering
horror they remember how,
00:53:10.61\00:53:12.54
wagging their heads in satanic
exultation, they exclaimed
00:53:12.57\00:53:15.35
"He saved others,
Himself He cannot save.
00:53:15.38\00:53:18.25
If He be the King of Israel,
00:53:18.28\00:53:19.52
let Him now come
down from the cross,
00:53:19.55\00:53:21.13
and we will believe Him.
00:53:21.16\00:53:22.73
He trusted in God,
let Him deliver Him now,
00:53:22.76\00:53:25.83
if He will have Him."
00:53:25.86\00:53:27.89
Vividly they recall the Savior's
parable of the husbandmen
00:53:27.92\00:53:31.07
who refused to
render to their Lord
00:53:31.10\00:53:32.71
the fruit of the vineyard,
00:53:32.74\00:53:34.28
who abused his
servants and slew his son.
00:53:34.31\00:53:37.64
They remember, too, the sentence
00:53:37.67\00:53:38.84
which they
themselves pronounced,
00:53:38.87\00:53:40.85
the Lord of the vineyard
00:53:40.88\00:53:42.38
"will miserably
destroy those wicked men."
00:53:42.41\00:53:45.63
In the sin and punishment
of those unfaithful men
00:53:45.66\00:53:48.50
the priests and
elders see their own course
00:53:48.53\00:53:51.14
and their own just doom.
00:53:51.17\00:53:53.28
And now there rises
a cry of mortal agony.
00:53:53.31\00:53:55.75
Louder than the shout,
"Crucify Him, crucify Him,"
00:53:55.78\00:53:58.32
which rang through
the streets of Jerusalem,
00:53:58.35\00:54:00.13
swells the awful, cry
"He is the Son of God!
00:54:00.16\00:54:03.11
He is the true Messiah!"
00:54:03.14\00:54:06.34
They seek to
flee from the presence
00:54:06.37\00:54:07.79
of the King of kings.
00:54:07.82\00:54:09.48
In the deep
caverns of the earth,
00:54:09.51\00:54:11.30
rent asunder by the
warring of the elements,
00:54:11.33\00:54:14.01
they vainly attempt to hide.
00:54:14.04\00:54:17.05
In the lives of all who
reject truth there are moments
00:54:17.08\00:54:19.48
when conscience
awakens, when memory presents
00:54:19.51\00:54:22.29
the torturing recollection
of a life of hypocrisy
00:54:22.32\00:54:24.95
and the soul is
harassed with vain regrets.
00:54:24.98\00:54:28.11
But what are these compared
with the remorse of that day
00:54:28.14\00:54:30.51
when "fear
cometh as desolation,"
00:54:30.54\00:54:33.16
when "destruction
cometh as a whirlwind!"
00:54:33.19\00:54:37.30
Those who would have destroyed
Christ and His faithful people
00:54:37.33\00:54:40.15
now witness the glory
which rests upon them.
00:54:40.18\00:54:43.14
In the midst of their terror
00:54:43.17\00:54:44.27
they hear the
voices of the saints
00:54:44.30\00:54:46.13
in joyful strains
exclaiming "Lo, this is our God,
00:54:46.16\00:54:49.87
we have waited for
Him, and He will save us."
00:54:49.90\00:54:54.37
Amid the reeling of the earth,
00:54:54.40\00:54:56.23
and the flash of lightning,
and the roar of thunder,
00:54:56.26\00:54:58.36
the voice of the Son of God
calls forth the sleeping saints.
00:54:58.39\00:55:03.06
He looks upon the
graves of the righteous,
00:55:03.09\00:55:04.78
then, raising
His hands to heaven,
00:55:04.81\00:55:06.44
He cries "Awake, awake, awake,
00:55:06.47\00:55:08.51
ye that sleep in
the dust, and arise!"
00:55:08.54\00:55:11.06
Throughout the length
and breadth of the earth
00:55:11.09\00:55:12.69
the dead shall hear that voice,
00:55:12.72\00:55:14.53
and they that hear shall live.
00:55:14.56\00:55:16.59
And the whole earth shall ring
00:55:16.62\00:55:17.68
with the tread of
the exceeding great army
00:55:17.71\00:55:19.70
of every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:55:19.73\00:55:21.90
From the prison
house of death they come,
00:55:21.93\00:55:24.07
clothed with
immortal glory, crying,
00:55:24.10\00:55:25.79
"O death, where is thy sting?
00:55:25.82\00:55:28.37
O grave, where is thy victory?
00:55:28.40\00:55:30.55
And the living
righteous and the risen saints
00:55:30.58\00:55:32.45
unite their voices in a
long, glad shout of victory.
00:55:32.48\00:55:36.37
The living righteous
are changed "in a moment,
00:55:36.40\00:55:39.20
in the twinkling of an eye."
00:55:39.23\00:55:40.26
At the voice of God
they were glorified now
00:55:40.29\00:55:42.45
they are made immortal
00:55:42.48\00:55:44.49
and are caught out to
meet their Lord in the air.
00:55:44.52\00:55:47.65
Angels "gather together
His elect from the four winds,
00:55:47.68\00:55:49.89
from one end of
heaven to the other."
00:55:49.92\00:55:52.06
Little children are borne
00:55:52.09\00:55:53.44
by holy angels to
their mothers' arms.
00:55:53.47\00:55:56.44
Friends long separated by death
are united, nevermore to part,
00:55:56.47\00:56:00.56
and with songs of gladness
ascend to the holy city.
00:56:00.59\00:56:03.97
On each side of the
cloudy chariot are wings,
00:56:04.00\00:56:07.00
and beneath it
are living wheels;
00:56:07.03\00:56:09.63
and as the chariot rolls
upward, the wheels cry, "Holy,"
00:56:09.66\00:56:13.74
and the wings, as
they move, cry, "Holy,"
00:56:13.77\00:56:16.98
and the retinue of angels cry,
00:56:17.01\00:56:19.53
"Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty."
00:56:19.56\00:56:22.71
And the redeemed
shout, "Alleluia!"
00:56:22.74\00:56:25.25
as the chariot moves
onward toward the New Jerusalem.
00:56:25.28\00:56:29.49
Before entering the City
of God, the Savior bestows
00:56:29.52\00:56:33.32
upon His followers the emblems
of victory and invests them
00:56:33.35\00:56:37.10
with the insignia
of their royal state.
00:56:37.13\00:56:39.83
The glittering
ranks are drawn up
00:56:39.86\00:56:41.35
in the form of a hollow
square about their King,
00:56:41.38\00:56:43.60
whose form rises in majesty
high above saint and angel,
00:56:43.63\00:56:47.28
whose countenance beams upon
them full of benignant love.
00:56:47.31\00:56:51.36
Throughout the
unnumbered host of the redeemed
00:56:51.39\00:56:53.73
every glance is fixed upon Him,
00:56:53.76\00:56:55.56
every eye
beholds His glory whose
00:56:55.59\00:56:56.93
"visage was so
marred more than any man,
00:56:56.96\00:56:58.61
and His form more
than the sons of men."
00:56:58.64\00:57:02.67
Jesus with His
own right hand places
00:57:02.70\00:57:06.09
the crown of glory on ever hand.
00:57:06.12\00:57:09.46
In every hand are
placed the victor's palm
00:57:09.49\00:57:10.88
and the shining harp.
00:57:10.91\00:57:11.94
And then, as the commanding
angels strike the note,
00:57:11.97\00:57:14.49
each hand sweeps the harp
strings with skillful touch,
00:57:14.52\00:57:17.43
awaking sweet music in
rich, melodious strains.
00:57:17.46\00:57:21.18
Rapture unutterable
thrills every heart,
00:57:21.21\00:57:23.81
and each voice is
raised in grateful praise
00:57:23.84\00:57:26.36
"To Him that loved us,
00:57:26.39\00:57:27.42
and washed us from
our sins in His own blood,
00:57:27.45\00:57:29.53
and hath made us
kings and priests
00:57:29.56\00:57:31.23
unto God and His Father to Him
00:57:31.26\00:57:33.20
be glory and
dominion for ever and ever."
00:57:33.23\00:57:36.71
Before the ransomed
throng is the Holy City.
00:57:36.74\00:57:39.42
Jesus opens wide
the pearly gates.
00:57:39.45\00:57:42.45
And then that voice,
richer than any music
00:57:42.48\00:57:45.12
that ever fell on
mortal ear, is heard, saying:
00:57:45.15\00:57:48.58
"Your conflict is ended."
00:57:48.61\00:57:51.22
"Come, ye blessed of My Father,
00:57:51.25\00:57:53.70
inherit the
kingdom prepared for you
00:57:53.73\00:57:56.26
from the
foundation of the world."
00:57:56.29\00:57:58.44
So what it will be for
you and me in that day.
00:58:03.45\00:58:08.58
It's coming,
anything in this world
00:58:08.61\00:58:12.30
we're clinging to miss the
glory that is ahead for us.
00:58:12.33\00:58:19.30
The joy that will
be ours to be united
00:58:19.33\00:58:22.84
face to face with the one head
00:58:22.87\00:58:24.94
that has so loved
us has given himself
00:58:24.97\00:58:28.69
so fully and
completely I love that soul.
00:58:28.72\00:58:32.94