So we pray.
00:00:21.62\00:00:23.99
Our Father, we come
before Your throne boldly,
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because we come
in the name of Jesus.
00:00:27.09\00:00:29.62
And we know that when we
pray in the name of Jesus,
00:00:29.66\00:00:33.19
You answer our prayers.
00:00:33.23\00:00:35.80
So we ask that
You will be with us
00:00:35.83\00:00:37.40
through the
Ministry of Your Holy Spirit.
00:00:37.43\00:00:40.17
Enlighten our
minds to understand,
00:00:40.20\00:00:43.81
open our hearts to receive,
00:00:43.84\00:00:47.01
and, Lord, through Your power,
00:00:47.04\00:00:49.41
make us obedient children.
00:00:49.44\00:00:52.01
We ask that as we study
this very important lesson,
00:00:52.05\00:00:54.98
that You will guide us,
00:00:55.02\00:00:56.72
and we claim the
promise of Your presence,
00:00:56.75\00:00:59.65
because we ask it
in the name of Jesus.
00:00:59.69\00:01:02.12
Amen.
00:01:02.16\00:01:04.96
After Jesus described
the order of end time events,
00:01:04.99\00:01:09.23
beginning in Matthew 24:4-31,
00:01:09.26\00:01:14.37
Jesus used an
illustration of nature
00:01:14.40\00:01:17.67
that would
indicate to His followers
00:01:17.71\00:01:19.91
when that coming would be near.
00:01:19.94\00:01:24.05
He also stated that
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before that
generation passed away,
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all of these
things would be fulfilled,
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and they were in the
destruction of Jerusalem.
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He also stated that
00:01:33.32\00:01:35.32
heaven and
earth might pass away,
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but His Word
would never pass away.
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In other words, Matthew 24
00:01:41.76\00:01:43.63
would be
fulfilled, just as He said.
00:01:43.67\00:01:47.14
So let's read Matthew 24:32-35.
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Here is the lesson from nature
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so that we can know how
near the coming of Jesus is.
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"Now learn this
parable from the fig tree:
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When its branch has
already become tender
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and puts forth leaves,
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you know that summer is near.
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So also," now
comes a comparison.
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"So you also, when
you see all these things,
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that is everything
that he said in Matthew 24,
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know that it is
near at the doors!
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Assuredly, I say to
you, this generation
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will by no means pass away,
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till all these
things take place.
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Heaven and earth will pass away,
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but My words will
by no means pass away."
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So he uses the
analogy of the fig tree
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to teach the soon
coming of the Lord
00:02:46.43\00:02:51.67
in power and glory.
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Now dispensationalists,
00:02:54.30\00:02:57.07
those who believe that Israel,
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literal Israel is
being reestablished by God,
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according to His plan,
00:03:03.71\00:03:05.48
believe that the
fig tree of Matthew 24
00:03:05.51\00:03:09.38
is a symbol of Israel,
00:03:09.42\00:03:11.92
and that the
budding of the fig tree
00:03:11.95\00:03:14.59
represents the reestablishment
of the nation of Israel
00:03:14.62\00:03:18.66
in the year 1948.
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According to those
who have this view,
00:03:22.20\00:03:24.60
the reestablishment of
Israel as a nation in 1948,
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is the greatest sign
00:03:28.24\00:03:30.24
that the coming of
Jesus could come at any moment
00:03:30.27\00:03:33.04
that is, is even at the door.
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Therefore, we must examine
this passage more carefully
00:03:36.78\00:03:41.58
to see if this concept is true.
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Now it is true that
in the Old Testament,
00:03:45.89\00:03:48.42
The fig tree and the
vineyard are symbols of Israel.
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Notice as one
example Hosea 9:10,
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God speaks about Israel.
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And he said, "I
found Israel like grapes,"
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there's the vineyard,
00:04:04.24\00:04:05.67
"in the wilderness,
00:04:05.71\00:04:07.18
I saw your fathers
as the first-fruits
00:04:07.21\00:04:10.18
on the fig tree in its season.
00:04:10.21\00:04:13.68
But they went to Baal Peor,
00:04:13.72\00:04:16.42
and separated
themselves to that shame,
00:04:16.45\00:04:19.92
they became an abomination
like the thing they loved."
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The New Testament
also uses the fig tree
00:04:24.56\00:04:27.90
and the vineyard
as symbols for Israel.
00:04:27.93\00:04:33.03
What we want to do
in the next few minutes
00:04:33.07\00:04:35.10
is examine three passages
00:04:35.14\00:04:37.57
that refer to the tree
00:04:37.61\00:04:41.14
in the gospels.
00:04:41.18\00:04:43.95
And so let's go
to the first one.
00:04:43.98\00:04:46.31
It's found in Matthew 3:8-10.
00:04:46.35\00:04:51.25
And after we examine Israel
as a tree in the New Testament,
00:04:51.29\00:04:55.12
we will examine Israel
00:04:55.16\00:04:56.79
as the vineyard
in the New Testament.
00:04:56.83\00:05:00.90
John the Baptist
began his ministry
00:05:00.93\00:05:03.77
six months
before Jesus began His.
00:05:03.80\00:05:08.17
In his message he
compared Israel to a tree.
00:05:08.20\00:05:14.24
Matthew 3:8-10.
00:05:14.28\00:05:17.65
Here John the Baptist preaches,
00:05:17.68\00:05:19.15
"Therefore, bear
fruits worthy of repentance,
00:05:19.18\00:05:24.49
and do not think
to say to yourselves:
00:05:24.52\00:05:27.32
'We have Abraham as our father.'
00:05:27.36\00:05:30.73
For I say to you
00:05:30.76\00:05:32.09
that God is able to
raise up children to Abraham
00:05:32.13\00:05:34.70
from these stones.
00:05:34.73\00:05:36.56
And even now the ax is
laid at the root of the trees.
00:05:36.60\00:05:40.37
Therefore every tree
00:05:40.40\00:05:42.24
which was does not
bear good fruit is cut down
00:05:42.27\00:05:46.31
and thrown into the fire."
00:05:46.34\00:05:49.84
So he calls to repentance.
00:05:49.88\00:05:52.51
He rebukes them for claiming
to be children of Abraham
00:05:52.55\00:05:55.15
when they
didn't have his spirit.
00:05:55.18\00:05:57.42
He compares of them with a tree
00:05:57.45\00:06:00.92
that is supposed
to produce good fruit.
00:06:00.96\00:06:03.53
And if it doesn't
produce good fruit,
00:06:03.56\00:06:05.59
it will be cut down
and cast into the fire.
00:06:05.63\00:06:08.60
And he also told them,
00:06:08.63\00:06:10.50
you know, God
can raise up children
00:06:10.53\00:06:13.00
of Abraham from these
stones if He wants to.
00:06:13.03\00:06:15.94
Now the stones that
Jesus mentioned here
00:06:15.97\00:06:18.84
were not literal stones.
00:06:18.87\00:06:20.34
He wasn't
pointing to literal stones.
00:06:20.38\00:06:22.98
The ax in this verse, on
these verses is symbolic.
00:06:23.01\00:06:27.85
The trees are
symbolic, the fruit is symbolic.
00:06:27.88\00:06:32.79
And the cutting down
of the tree is symbolic
00:06:32.82\00:06:34.99
and the burning of
the tree is also symbolic.
00:06:35.02\00:06:37.56
So the stones also
are symbolic of something.
00:06:37.59\00:06:41.80
John the Baptist is saying,
00:06:41.83\00:06:43.47
donā  t think to say you know,
we are children of Abraham,
00:06:43.50\00:06:46.20
God can raise up children
of Abraham from these stones.
00:06:46.23\00:06:49.37
What do the stones represent?
00:06:49.40\00:06:51.77
In The Desire of Ages, page 107,
00:06:51.81\00:06:54.24
Ellen White wrote the following.
00:06:54.28\00:06:56.54
Speaking about the
Gentiles and the soldiers
00:06:56.58\00:06:58.95
who were gathered there
to listen to John preach,
00:06:58.98\00:07:01.65
and some of them to be baptized.
00:07:01.68\00:07:04.19
"Their hearts might now appear
00:07:04.22\00:07:07.16
as lifeless as the
stones of the desert,
00:07:07.19\00:07:11.33
but His Spirit
could quicken them
00:07:11.36\00:07:13.19
to do His will,
00:07:13.23\00:07:14.60
and receive the
fulfillment of His promise."
00:07:14.63\00:07:19.03
So the first
passage that we notice
00:07:19.07\00:07:21.47
concerning the tree
is John the Baptist,
00:07:21.50\00:07:25.21
calling Israel to repentance,
00:07:25.24\00:07:27.11
saying, don't boast
00:07:27.14\00:07:28.48
because you're
children of Abraham,
00:07:28.51\00:07:29.94
God can raise children of
Abraham from these Gentiles,
00:07:29.98\00:07:33.95
and you better produce fruit,
00:07:33.98\00:07:35.78
because if you
don't produce fruit,
00:07:35.82\00:07:37.95
you will be cut down
and cast into the fire.
00:07:37.99\00:07:42.19
Now we go to the second episode
00:07:42.22\00:07:44.86
that refers to the tree.
00:07:44.89\00:07:49.00
This is about
two and a half years
00:07:49.03\00:07:51.13
after Jesus began His ministry.
00:07:51.17\00:07:54.40
He told a parable
00:07:54.44\00:07:55.87
that has many of
the same common elements
00:07:55.90\00:07:58.51
that the message of
John the Baptist had.
00:07:58.54\00:08:00.91
Let's read the
parable in Luke 13:1-9.
00:08:00.94\00:08:06.68
"There were
present at that season
00:08:06.72\00:08:08.95
some who told Him
about the Galileans
00:08:08.98\00:08:12.15
whose blood Pilate had
mingled with their sacrifices.
00:08:12.19\00:08:16.09
And Jesus
answered and said to them,
00:08:16.12\00:08:18.63
'Do you suppose that
00:08:18.66\00:08:20.00
these Galileans
were worse sinners
00:08:20.03\00:08:22.33
than all other Galileans,
00:08:22.36\00:08:24.10
because they
suffered such things?
00:08:24.13\00:08:26.74
I tell you, no,
but unless you repent,"
00:08:26.77\00:08:30.84
remember, that's a word
that John the Baptist used,
00:08:30.87\00:08:33.98
"unless you repent,
00:08:34.01\00:08:35.78
you will all also,
00:08:35.81\00:08:39.11
you will all likewise perish."
00:08:39.15\00:08:42.38
Then he gives another example.
00:08:42.42\00:08:43.99
"Or those eighteen
00:08:44.02\00:08:45.62
on whom the tower of
Siloam fell and killed them,
00:08:45.65\00:08:49.19
do you think that
they were worse sinners
00:08:49.22\00:08:51.29
than all other men
who dwelt in Jerusalem?
00:08:51.33\00:08:54.70
I tell you, no,
but unless you repent,"
00:08:54.73\00:08:58.03
again, the same word
that John the Baptist used,
00:08:58.07\00:09:00.24
"unless you repent, you
will all likewise perish,"
00:09:00.27\00:09:03.97
which is the same as
cutting down the tree
00:09:04.01\00:09:06.04
after it withers.
00:09:06.07\00:09:07.41
Verse 6, "He also
spoke this parable."
00:09:07.44\00:09:10.35
Now he's going
to give a parable.
00:09:10.38\00:09:12.91
"A certain man,"
this is God the Father,
00:09:12.95\00:09:15.95
"had a fig tree, Israel,
00:09:15.98\00:09:18.75
planted in his
vineyard," that is the world,
00:09:18.79\00:09:22.06
"and he came
seeking fruit on it."
00:09:22.09\00:09:25.13
That's the fruit of the Spirit,
00:09:25.16\00:09:27.06
"and found none."
00:09:27.10\00:09:29.76
Verse 7,
00:09:29.80\00:09:31.13
"Then he said to the
keeper of the vineyard,
00:09:31.17\00:09:33.13
that's Jesus,
'Look, for three years.'"
00:09:33.17\00:09:37.27
The timing is important.
00:09:37.31\00:09:38.91
John the Baptist
had preached six months.
00:09:38.94\00:09:41.34
Jesus was two and a
half years into His ministry.
00:09:41.38\00:09:43.51
That's three years.
00:09:43.55\00:09:45.31
"Look, for three years.
00:09:45.35\00:09:47.72
I have come seeking
fruit on this fig tree
00:09:47.75\00:09:51.19
and find none."
00:09:51.22\00:09:52.85
So in three years
00:09:52.89\00:09:54.22
since John the
Baptist began preaching,
00:09:54.26\00:09:56.16
the fig tree
Israel had borne no fruit.
00:09:56.19\00:09:59.96
And so the owner
of the vineyard says,
00:10:00.00\00:10:02.03
cut it down.
00:10:02.06\00:10:03.67
That's just what
John the Baptist said,
00:10:03.70\00:10:05.20
if the tree
doesn't produce food,
00:10:05.23\00:10:06.80
cut it down and
cast them into the fire.
00:10:06.84\00:10:09.20
So cut it down.
00:10:09.24\00:10:10.61
Why does it use up the ground?
00:10:10.64\00:10:13.84
"However, he that is
Jesus answered and said to him,
00:10:13.88\00:10:19.31
that is to the Father,
00:10:19.35\00:10:20.78
'Sir, let it alone this year,
00:10:20.82\00:10:24.09
Jesus still had one
year of ministry remaining,
00:10:24.12\00:10:27.42
let it along this year,
00:10:27.46\00:10:29.59
also, until I dig
around it and fertilize it.
00:10:29.62\00:10:33.96
And if it bears fruit well,
00:10:34.00\00:10:36.70
but if not, after
that, you can cut it down.'"
00:10:36.73\00:10:42.14
So if in the last year,
00:10:42.17\00:10:44.01
that tree does not bear fruit,
00:10:44.04\00:10:45.91
the fig tree
does not bear fruit,
00:10:45.94\00:10:47.78
cut it down.
00:10:47.81\00:10:49.84
The parable ends in suspense,
00:10:49.88\00:10:51.95
because you don't know
00:10:51.98\00:10:53.31
if the fig tree
produced fruit or not.
00:10:53.35\00:10:55.88
It's kind of like the
story of the prodigal son.
00:10:55.92\00:10:58.55
The story ends with
the father trying to reason
00:10:58.59\00:11:01.32
with the prodigal son,
00:11:01.36\00:11:02.69
who by the way represented
the Jews of Christ's day,
00:11:02.72\00:11:05.09
self-righteous.
00:11:05.13\00:11:06.66
You know, the older
brother criticized his brother
00:11:06.70\00:11:12.27
for going out and
sleeping with harlots
00:11:12.30\00:11:14.10
and spending all
of his father's money,
00:11:14.14\00:11:17.04
ending up among the swine.
00:11:17.07\00:11:18.67
He was critical of him,
00:11:18.71\00:11:20.71
because his father
called a party for him.
00:11:20.74\00:11:23.24
And he said,
00:11:23.28\00:11:24.61
you know, if anyone
deserves a party, it's me.
00:11:24.65\00:11:26.21
So he represented
00:11:26.25\00:11:27.62
the arrogant Jewish
nation of Christ's day.
00:11:27.65\00:11:32.12
But the story
of the prodigal son
00:11:32.15\00:11:33.62
ends with a
father trying to reason
00:11:33.66\00:11:35.56
with the older brother.
00:11:35.59\00:11:37.53
And, you know,
00:11:37.56\00:11:39.89
we don't know
whether the older brother
00:11:39.93\00:11:41.96
actually accepted the
rebuke of his father or not.
00:11:42.00\00:11:46.77
You know, when
Jesus was crucified,
00:11:46.80\00:11:49.60
that He did, but when
He told the story, no.
00:11:49.64\00:11:52.74
Now let's look at
the third reference
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.01
to the tree.
00:11:55.04\00:11:57.55
This is at the very
end of the final year
00:11:57.58\00:12:00.18
of Christ's ministry on earth.
00:12:00.22\00:12:03.62
We're going to find
once again the same tree
00:12:03.65\00:12:05.95
that John the
Baptist spoke about
00:12:05.99\00:12:07.46
and that Jesus spoke
about in His parable.
00:12:07.49\00:12:10.06
Matthew 21:17-19,
00:12:10.09\00:12:13.93
"Then he left them
00:12:13.96\00:12:15.30
and went out of
the city to Bethany,
00:12:15.33\00:12:17.87
and he lodged there.
00:12:17.90\00:12:19.77
Now in the morning, as
He returned to the city,
00:12:19.80\00:12:23.00
He was hungry." So
Jesus was hungry for fruit.
00:12:23.04\00:12:26.98
Verse 19,
00:12:27.01\00:12:28.41
"And seeing a
fig tree by the road,
00:12:28.44\00:12:31.41
He came to it and found
nothing on it but leaves,
00:12:31.45\00:12:36.85
and said to the fig tree,
00:12:36.89\00:12:40.32
'Let no fruit grow
on you ever again.'
00:12:40.36\00:12:46.70
And immediately the
fig tree withered away.'"
00:12:46.73\00:12:51.57
Now the Gospel of Mark
adds an important detail
00:12:51.60\00:12:55.00
that we don't find
in the story in Matthew.
00:12:55.04\00:12:59.84
This was not really the
season for the fig trees
00:12:59.87\00:13:02.74
to produce figs.
00:13:02.78\00:13:04.71
Those who have
orchards with fig trees know
00:13:04.75\00:13:09.25
that the fruit comes out first.
00:13:09.28\00:13:11.79
And then the leaves announced
that the tree has fruit.
00:13:11.82\00:13:15.86
This fig tree was unusual,
00:13:15.89\00:13:19.09
because it had abundant leaves,
00:13:19.13\00:13:21.33
but it had absolutely no fruit.
00:13:21.36\00:13:24.67
Notice Mark 11:12-14,
00:13:24.70\00:13:27.90
where we have
the parallel passage.
00:13:27.94\00:13:30.81
"Now the next day,
00:13:30.84\00:13:32.91
when they had
come out from Bethany,
00:13:32.94\00:13:35.14
He was hungry.
00:13:35.18\00:13:36.88
And seeing from afar of
fig tree having leaves."
00:13:36.91\00:13:40.95
If it had leaves,
00:13:40.98\00:13:42.32
he says this fig
tree has to have fruit.
00:13:42.35\00:13:44.99
"So he saw the fig
tree having leaves,
00:13:45.02\00:13:47.39
he went to see if perhaps
he would find something on it.
00:13:47.42\00:13:51.93
And when He came to it,
He found nothing but leaves."
00:13:51.96\00:13:56.93
And here's a little detail.
00:13:56.97\00:13:58.47
"For it was not
the season for figs.
00:13:58.50\00:14:02.70
In response Jesus said to it,
00:14:02.74\00:14:05.11
'Let no one eat
fruit from you ever again.'
00:14:05.14\00:14:09.78
And His disciples heard it.'"
00:14:09.81\00:14:12.35
Ellen White described
00:14:12.38\00:14:13.72
the ostentatious
nature of this fig tree,
00:14:13.75\00:14:18.15
having an abundance of leaves,
but being devoid of any fruit.
00:14:18.19\00:14:22.99
In Desire of Ages, page 581.
00:14:23.02\00:14:25.39
She wrote,
00:14:25.43\00:14:26.76
"It was not the
season for ripe figs,
00:14:26.80\00:14:30.37
except in certain localities,
00:14:30.40\00:14:33.37
and on the
highlands about Jerusalem,
00:14:33.40\00:14:36.37
it might truly be said,
'The time of figs was not yet.'
00:14:36.40\00:14:41.74
However,
00:14:41.78\00:14:43.14
in the orchard
to which Jesus came,
00:14:43.18\00:14:45.81
one tree appeared to be
in advance of all others,"
00:14:45.85\00:14:50.19
just like God chose Israel
00:14:50.22\00:14:52.02
as a special
people before all nations.
00:14:52.05\00:14:56.02
So once again, we find,
00:14:56.06\00:14:58.46
"However, in the
orchard to which Jesus came,
00:14:58.49\00:15:00.86
one tree appeared to be
in advance of all the others.
00:15:00.90\00:15:04.33
It was already
covered with leaves.
00:15:04.37\00:15:06.90
It is the nature of the fig tree
00:15:06.94\00:15:08.54
that before the leaves open,
00:15:08.57\00:15:10.31
the growing fruit appears.
00:15:10.34\00:15:12.54
However, its
appearance was deceptive.
00:15:12.57\00:15:15.88
Upon searching its branches
00:15:15.91\00:15:17.95
from the lowest
bough to the topmost twig,
00:15:17.98\00:15:21.45
Jesus found nothing but leaves.
00:15:21.48\00:15:24.49
It was a mass of
pretentious foliage,
00:15:24.52\00:15:27.79
nothing more."
00:15:27.82\00:15:30.29
In harmony with Scripture,
00:15:30.33\00:15:31.73
Ellen White
interpreted this fig tree
00:15:31.76\00:15:33.56
as an acted parable
that represented Israel.
00:15:33.60\00:15:37.60
I read from
Desire of Ages, page 583,
00:15:37.63\00:15:41.50
"Jesus had come to the
fig tree hungry to find food.
00:15:41.54\00:15:45.97
So He had come to Israel,
00:15:46.01\00:15:48.98
hungering to find in them
the fruits of righteousness."
00:15:49.01\00:15:54.98
He had poured out
abundant blessings
00:15:55.02\00:15:57.55
upon the nation of Israel.
00:15:57.59\00:15:59.45
In Desire of Ages, page 583,
00:15:59.49\00:16:02.66
we find these words.
00:16:02.69\00:16:04.59
"He had lavished
on them His gifts,"
00:16:04.63\00:16:08.56
with what purpose?
00:16:08.60\00:16:10.07
"That they might bear fruit
for the blessing of the world.
00:16:10.10\00:16:16.04
Every opportunity and
privilege had been granted them
00:16:16.07\00:16:20.41
and in return.
00:16:20.44\00:16:23.24
He sought their sympathy
00:16:23.28\00:16:25.61
and cooperation in
His work of grace."
00:16:25.65\00:16:29.52
So notice God
doesn't simply give blessings
00:16:29.55\00:16:31.89
so that we are blessed.
00:16:31.92\00:16:33.76
He gives us blessings,
so that we can bless others.
00:16:33.79\00:16:36.89
Then she finishes the statement,
00:16:36.93\00:16:39.13
He that is Jesus,
00:16:39.16\00:16:40.66
longed to see in them
00:16:40.70\00:16:44.30
self-sacrifice and compassion,
00:16:44.33\00:16:47.60
zeal for God,
00:16:47.64\00:16:49.27
and a deep yearning of soul
00:16:49.30\00:16:51.37
for the salvation
of their fellow men."
00:16:51.41\00:16:56.58
So you notice here
00:16:56.61\00:16:58.01
that God lavished
Israel with blessings
00:16:58.05\00:17:00.32
so that they would then
become a blessing of salvation
00:17:00.35\00:17:03.42
to the entire world.
00:17:03.45\00:17:05.69
And because the fig tree
00:17:05.72\00:17:07.76
had nothing but
pretentious leaves,
00:17:07.79\00:17:10.36
Jesus cursed the fig
tree, and it withered away.
00:17:10.39\00:17:14.53
The very next day when
Jesus and the disciples
00:17:14.56\00:17:16.83
went by that particular place.
00:17:16.87\00:17:19.47
Mark 11-20 and 21 tells us
00:17:19.50\00:17:22.00
what had
happened to that fig tree.
00:17:22.04\00:17:25.04
It says there,
"Now in the morning,
00:17:25.07\00:17:28.51
as they passed by,
00:17:28.54\00:17:30.45
they saw the fig tree
dried up from the roots."
00:17:30.48\00:17:35.58
Now you know when a
tree dries up by the roots,
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.42
that's it, folks.
00:17:38.45\00:17:39.85
It's dead.
00:17:39.89\00:17:41.22
There's no
possibility of resurrecting it.
00:17:41.26\00:17:44.33
So once again
00:17:44.36\00:17:45.69
now in the
morning as they passed by,
00:17:45.73\00:17:47.06
they saw the fig tree
dried up from the roots.
00:17:47.10\00:17:49.70
"And Peter,
remembering said to Him,
00:17:49.73\00:17:52.47
'Rabbi, look!
00:17:52.50\00:17:54.04
The fig tree which You
cursed has withered away."
00:17:54.07\00:18:00.08
What did Jesus mean to teach
when He cursed the fig tree
00:18:00.11\00:18:04.15
and it withered away
drying up by the roots?
00:18:04.18\00:18:08.05
I want to read now
00:18:08.08\00:18:09.42
three statements
that we find in the book,
00:18:09.45\00:18:11.65
The Desire of Ages.
00:18:11.69\00:18:13.22
Desire of Ages, 582 and 583.
00:18:13.25\00:18:16.73
"The cursing of the fig
tree was an acted parable.
00:18:16.76\00:18:20.80
That barren tree,
00:18:20.83\00:18:22.80
flaunting its
pretentious foliage
00:18:22.83\00:18:26.07
in the very face of Christ,
00:18:26.10\00:18:28.04
was a symbol of
the Jewish nation.
00:18:28.07\00:18:30.97
The Savior desired to
make plain to His disciples
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.71
the cause and the
certainty of Israel's doom."
00:18:33.74\00:18:39.81
Another statement,
00:18:39.85\00:18:41.18
"Withered beneath
the Savior's curse,
00:18:41.22\00:18:43.42
standing forth sere and blasted,
00:18:43.45\00:18:47.42
dried up by the roots,
00:18:47.46\00:18:49.26
the fig tree showed what
the Jewish people would be
00:18:49.29\00:18:53.83
when the grace of God
was removed from them.
00:18:53.86\00:18:57.23
Refusing to impart blessing,
00:18:57.27\00:18:59.70
They would no
longer receive it."
00:18:59.73\00:19:03.57
And one final quotation,
"All the trees in the fig
00:19:03.61\00:19:06.27
orchard were destitute of fruit,
00:19:06.31\00:19:08.64
but the leafless trees
raised no expectation."
00:19:08.68\00:19:11.65
See, the leafless trees
represented the Gentiles,
00:19:11.68\00:19:14.62
just like the stones
00:19:14.65\00:19:16.18
in the times of John the Baptist
00:19:16.22\00:19:17.65
represented the Gentiles.
00:19:17.69\00:19:19.29
So she says, "All the
trees in the fig orchard
00:19:19.32\00:19:22.72
were destitute of fruit,
00:19:22.76\00:19:24.46
but the leafless
trees raised no expectation,
00:19:24.49\00:19:27.93
and caused no disappointment.
00:19:27.96\00:19:30.23
These trees
represented the Gentiles.
00:19:30.27\00:19:33.60
They were as destitute as
were the Jews of godliness,
00:19:33.64\00:19:37.57
but they had not
professed to serve God.
00:19:37.61\00:19:40.91
They made no boastful
pretensions to goodness.
00:19:40.94\00:19:44.58
They were blind to
the works and ways of God.
00:19:44.61\00:19:48.35
With them,"
00:19:48.38\00:19:49.78
days where the trees
represented the Gentiles.
00:19:49.82\00:19:52.65
"With them the time of figs
00:19:52.69\00:19:55.72
was not yet."
00:19:55.76\00:19:59.23
So John the Baptist had warned,
00:19:59.26\00:20:01.63
that if the Jewish
tree did not produce fruit,
00:20:01.66\00:20:04.87
that God would cut it
down and cast it into the fire.
00:20:04.90\00:20:08.90
This is what happened
precisely with Jerusalem.
00:20:08.94\00:20:13.38
In the year 70, we're
told in Matthew 22:1-14,
00:20:13.41\00:20:17.95
actually, verse 7
is a specific verse
00:20:17.98\00:20:20.02
that mentions that.
00:20:20.05\00:20:21.38
We're told that
Jerusalem was destroyed,
00:20:21.42\00:20:25.02
and it was burnt with fire.
00:20:25.05\00:20:30.53
Now, there's another
passage in the gospels
00:20:30.56\00:20:33.19
that describes a fig tree.
00:20:33.23\00:20:35.86
This passage is found
00:20:35.90\00:20:37.73
in John 1:43-48.
00:20:37.77\00:20:43.17
So let's read this passage
00:20:43.20\00:20:45.21
and then make a
few remarks about it.
00:20:45.24\00:20:48.04
This is John 1:43,
00:20:48.08\00:20:51.31
"The following day
Jesus wanted to go to Galilee,
00:20:51.35\00:20:54.15
and He found Philip, and
said to him, 'follow Me.'
00:20:54.18\00:20:58.59
Now Philip was from Bethsaida,
the city of Andrew and Peter.
00:20:58.62\00:21:03.73
Philip found
Nathaniel and said to him,
00:21:03.76\00:21:06.49
'We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law,
00:21:06.53\00:21:09.76
and also the prophets wrote,
00:21:09.80\00:21:11.90
Jesus of
Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
00:21:11.93\00:21:15.44
And Nathaniel said to him,
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.37
'Can anything good
come out of Nazareth?'
00:21:17.41\00:21:21.61
Philip said to
him, 'Come and see.'
00:21:21.64\00:21:24.08
And Jesus saw
Nathaniel coming toward Him,
00:21:24.11\00:21:27.45
and said of him,
00:21:27.48\00:21:29.42
'Behold, an Israelite indeed,
00:21:29.45\00:21:33.69
in whom is no deceit!'
00:21:33.72\00:21:37.09
Nathaniel said to
Him, 'How do you know me?'
00:21:37.13\00:21:40.63
Jesus answered and said to him,
00:21:40.66\00:21:42.63
'Before Philip called you,
00:21:42.66\00:21:44.70
when you were
under the fig tree,
00:21:44.73\00:21:48.44
I saw you.'"
00:21:48.47\00:21:51.17
Now, if there are
Israelites indeed,
00:21:51.21\00:21:54.64
then there must
also be Israelites
00:21:54.68\00:21:57.58
not indeed.
00:21:57.61\00:21:59.45
In fact, the word
indeed that is used here,
00:21:59.48\00:22:02.08
where Jesus says that Nathaniel
was an Israelite indeed,
00:22:02.12\00:22:05.89
actually means genuine or real.
00:22:05.92\00:22:10.13
That's the reason why,
00:22:10.16\00:22:11.49
for example, the NIV
translates the expression,
00:22:11.53\00:22:14.23
a true Israelite,
00:22:14.26\00:22:17.37
the correctness of the
NIVV translation is proved
00:22:17.40\00:22:21.40
by the fact that
verse 47 tells us
00:22:21.44\00:22:24.17
that in Nathaniel
there was no deceit.
00:22:24.21\00:22:29.01
In other words, he was
a true, genuine Israelite.
00:22:29.04\00:22:33.75
Why did Jesus
single out Nathaniel
00:22:33.78\00:22:36.25
as an Israelite indeed?
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.55
Verse 49 provides the answer.
00:22:39.59\00:22:43.36
Verse 49, tells us
00:22:43.39\00:22:45.79
that Nathaniel confessed
that Jesus was the Son of God,
00:22:45.83\00:22:50.73
the Messiah of Israel.
00:22:50.77\00:22:52.83
In other words,
Nathaniel accepted Jesus Christ
00:22:52.87\00:22:56.54
as the Son of God,
00:22:56.57\00:22:58.01
he accepted Him as the Messiah.
00:22:58.04\00:23:00.58
That's what made
him an Israelite indeed.
00:23:00.61\00:23:05.98
It appears
significant that Nathaniel
00:23:06.01\00:23:08.68
was an Israelite indeed.
00:23:08.72\00:23:11.09
And he was under a fig
tree that represented Israel.
00:23:11.12\00:23:15.19
Interesting.
00:23:15.22\00:23:16.56
So you have the
symbol, which is the fig tree,
00:23:16.59\00:23:20.16
and that which the symbol
00:23:20.20\00:23:22.20
represented Nathaniel a
true Israelite, together.
00:23:22.23\00:23:26.53
Thus, in the
passage, we have a symbol
00:23:26.57\00:23:28.70
and what the symbol represents.
00:23:28.74\00:23:31.77
The Israelite indeed
that sat under the fig tree
00:23:31.81\00:23:35.54
was a true Israelite,
00:23:35.58\00:23:37.81
because he recognized
Jesus Christ as the Messiah,
00:23:37.85\00:23:42.98
the Son of God.
00:23:43.02\00:23:45.52
Would that mean then that
those who rejected the Messiah
00:23:45.55\00:23:48.59
as the Son of God
00:23:48.62\00:23:49.96
would be
Israelites, but not indeed?
00:23:49.99\00:23:53.19
We'll come back to
that in a little while.
00:23:53.23\00:23:56.06
Now let's go back
to Matthew Chapter 24
00:23:56.10\00:23:59.60
to determine if the
fig tree that is mentioned
00:23:59.63\00:24:03.51
in this chapter
represents the Jewish nation.
00:24:03.54\00:24:06.07
You see, just
because the fig tree
00:24:06.11\00:24:07.94
in some passages
represents Israel
00:24:07.98\00:24:10.41
doesn't necessarily mean
00:24:10.45\00:24:12.15
that it represents
Israel in every passage.
00:24:12.18\00:24:15.08
So the question is,
00:24:15.12\00:24:16.45
in Matthew 24:32-33,
00:24:16.48\00:24:18.99
does the fig
tree represent Israel?
00:24:19.02\00:24:23.06
And does the
budding of the fig tree
00:24:23.09\00:24:25.33
represent the reestablishment
of the Jewish nation
00:24:25.36\00:24:29.40
as a nation in the year 1948?
00:24:29.43\00:24:34.24
Well, let's notice
00:24:34.27\00:24:35.60
Matthew 24:32-33.
00:24:35.64\00:24:40.54
Jesus said,
00:24:40.58\00:24:42.18
"As you see the fig tree bud,
00:24:42.21\00:24:45.41
it is a sign that
the summer is near.
00:24:45.45\00:24:50.02
In the same way..."
Now comes the comparison.
00:24:50.05\00:24:52.29
"In the same way when
you see all these things,"
00:24:52.32\00:24:58.49
not only the
sprouting of the fig tree,
00:24:58.53\00:25:01.10
"but when you see
all of these things
00:25:01.13\00:25:04.37
know that it is
near, even at the doors."
00:25:04.40\00:25:08.00
Now, why do I mention this?
00:25:08.04\00:25:09.77
Because
dispensationalists believe
00:25:09.80\00:25:12.34
that the
reestablishment of Israel
00:25:12.37\00:25:14.58
as God's nation in 1948
00:25:14.61\00:25:17.11
is the sign that the
second coming of Jesus
00:25:17.15\00:25:21.82
is imminent at any
moment, even at the door.
00:25:21.85\00:25:25.85
So they take this
one sign, and they say,
00:25:25.89\00:25:27.86
this is the sign of
the soon coming of Jesus.
00:25:27.89\00:25:31.53
But we see here
00:25:31.56\00:25:32.93
that Jesus refers
to all these things
00:25:32.96\00:25:36.70
indicate that the
coming of Jesus is near,
00:25:36.73\00:25:39.47
not only the
budding of the fig tree.
00:25:39.50\00:25:42.77
The parallel passage to
Matthew is in Luke 21:29-31.
00:25:42.80\00:25:48.64
It gives us additional details.
00:25:48.68\00:25:50.85
So let's read those verses.
00:25:50.88\00:25:52.78
It says, "Then he
spoke to them a parable:
00:25:52.81\00:25:56.58
'Look at the fig
tree, and all the trees.'"
00:25:56.62\00:26:00.49
Notice it's not
only the fig tree,
00:26:00.52\00:26:02.36
it's all of the trees.
00:26:02.39\00:26:04.59
"When they are already budding,
00:26:04.63\00:26:07.03
you see and know for yourselves
00:26:07.06\00:26:09.16
that summer is now near.
00:26:09.20\00:26:11.70
So you also, when
you see these things."
00:26:11.73\00:26:16.81
It's not talking only
about the fig tree in 1948.
00:26:16.84\00:26:21.54
It's saying, when you
see these things happening.
00:26:21.58\00:26:25.38
That is all of the
signs in Matthew 24,
00:26:25.41\00:26:27.88
"know that the
kingdom of God is near."
00:26:27.92\00:26:32.09
In Luke, Jesus
did not single out
00:26:32.12\00:26:34.89
the budding of the fig tree.
00:26:34.92\00:26:36.83
But He also said, all the trees,
00:26:36.86\00:26:40.03
so the fig tree is
just one of many trees,
00:26:40.06\00:26:43.47
that when you see them bud,
00:26:43.50\00:26:45.57
that's symbolic
of all of the signs
00:26:45.60\00:26:48.20
that point forward to
the soon coming of Christ.
00:26:48.24\00:26:52.84
Now Israel is also
spoken of as a vineyard
00:26:52.87\00:26:57.11
in the New Testament.
00:26:57.15\00:26:58.75
So let's go to
00:26:58.78\00:27:00.12
Matthew 21:33-46.
00:27:00.15\00:27:05.59
Matthew 21:33-40,
00:27:05.62\00:27:10.06
actually 45.
00:27:10.09\00:27:12.19
I'm going to
interpret it as we go along.
00:27:12.23\00:27:14.53
"Hear another parable:
00:27:14.56\00:27:16.33
There was a certain land
owner, that's God the Father,
00:27:16.36\00:27:20.04
who planted a
vineyard, that's Israel,
00:27:20.07\00:27:23.57
and set a hedge
around it, that's the law,
00:27:23.61\00:27:27.54
dug a winepress in
it and built the tower,
00:27:27.58\00:27:30.58
that's the temple,
00:27:30.61\00:27:32.08
and he leased it
to the vinedressers,
00:27:32.11\00:27:34.95
the Jewish leaders,
00:27:34.98\00:27:36.58
and went into a
far country, heaven.
00:27:36.62\00:27:40.76
Now when the
vintage-time drew near,
00:27:40.79\00:27:43.59
and he sent his
servants to the vinedressers."
00:27:43.63\00:27:46.46
These servants that are sent
00:27:46.49\00:27:47.96
are the ones that are sent
00:27:48.00\00:27:49.33
before the Babylonian captivity,
00:27:49.36\00:27:51.37
the true prophets of God.
00:27:51.40\00:27:53.57
So once again,
00:27:53.60\00:27:54.94
"Now when
vintage-time drew near,
00:27:54.97\00:27:56.37
he sent his
servants to the vinedressers
00:27:56.40\00:27:58.81
that they might
receive its fruit.
00:27:58.84\00:28:01.44
And the
vinedressers took his servants,
00:28:01.48\00:28:03.35
beat one, killed
another, and stoned another..."
00:28:03.38\00:28:06.18
Like they did with the prophets,
00:28:06.21\00:28:07.68
the true prophets
in the Old Testament
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.32
before the Babylonian captivity.
00:28:09.35\00:28:11.69
So does God give up? No.
00:28:11.72\00:28:13.72
Verse 36,
00:28:13.76\00:28:15.12
"Again, he sent other servants,"
00:28:15.16\00:28:17.46
this is after the
Babylonian captivity,
00:28:17.49\00:28:20.03
"more than the first, and
they did likewise to them.
00:28:20.06\00:28:24.07
Then last of all,"
this has finality to it.
00:28:24.10\00:28:27.70
Then last of
all, he sent his son,
00:28:27.74\00:28:30.51
that's Jesus, the father
sends His Son Jesus to them,
00:28:30.54\00:28:33.58
saying, 'They
will respect my son.'
00:28:33.61\00:28:37.31
But when the
vinedresser saw the son,
00:28:37.35\00:28:39.98
they said among themselves,
00:28:40.02\00:28:41.88
'This is the heir.'"
00:28:41.92\00:28:44.29
In other words, the
one who is going to inherit
00:28:44.32\00:28:45.85
the promises,
00:28:45.89\00:28:47.32
Galatians 3:16.
00:28:47.36\00:28:50.59
"But when the
vinedresser saw the son,
00:28:50.63\00:28:52.36
they said among
themselves, 'This is the heir.
00:28:52.39\00:28:54.46
Come, let us kill him,"
00:28:54.50\00:28:56.10
this is a death of Christ,
"and seize his inheritance.'
00:28:56.13\00:29:00.80
So they took him and
cast him out of the vineyard,"
00:29:00.84\00:29:03.44
Jesus died outside
Jerusalem and killed Him.
00:29:03.47\00:29:07.28
And now Jesus asked,
00:29:07.31\00:29:08.64
"Therefore, when the
owner of the vineyard comes,
00:29:08.68\00:29:10.88
what he will do to
those vinedressers?"
00:29:10.91\00:29:13.88
They still hadn't understood
that He was talking about them.
00:29:13.92\00:29:17.82
Verse 41, "They said to Him,
00:29:17.85\00:29:20.09
'He will destroy
those wicked men miserably,"
00:29:20.12\00:29:23.22
that's the destruction
of Jerusalem by the way,
00:29:23.26\00:29:25.69
"and lease his
vineyard to other vinedressers,"
00:29:25.73\00:29:29.80
that's the Gentiles,
00:29:29.83\00:29:31.70
"who will render to him
the fruits in their seasons."
00:29:31.73\00:29:35.00
And now Jesus
is going to explain
00:29:35.04\00:29:36.87
what the parable means.
00:29:36.91\00:29:38.27
"Jesus said to them,
00:29:38.31\00:29:40.04
'Have you never
read in the Scriptures:
00:29:40.08\00:29:42.14
the stone, that's Jesus,
00:29:42.18\00:29:43.75
which the builders,
the Jewish nation rejected
00:29:43.78\00:29:46.72
has become the
chief cornerstone.
00:29:46.75\00:29:49.35
This was the Lord's doing
00:29:49.38\00:29:50.99
and it is
marvelous in our eyes?"
00:29:51.02\00:29:53.66
And then Jesus
makes this prediction.
00:29:53.69\00:29:56.32
"Therefore I say to you,
00:29:56.36\00:29:58.33
the kingdom of God
will be taken from you."
00:29:58.36\00:30:01.50
In other words, the
kingdom no longer belongs
00:30:01.53\00:30:03.60
to literal Israel.
00:30:03.63\00:30:04.97
"Will be taken from
you and given to a nation,"
00:30:05.00\00:30:09.70
this is the Gentiles,
the Greek word is Ethne,
00:30:09.74\00:30:13.27
"given to a nation
bearing the fruits of it.
00:30:13.31\00:30:17.51
And whoever falls on this stone,
00:30:17.55\00:30:19.11
speaking of
himself, will be broken."
00:30:19.15\00:30:21.62
In other words,
"Whoever received Jesus
00:30:21.65\00:30:23.39
as Christ and
Savior will be converted,
00:30:23.42\00:30:26.39
but on whomever it falls,
00:30:26.42\00:30:28.72
it will grind him to powder."
00:30:28.76\00:30:31.09
In other words, a person
who does not accept Jesus
00:30:31.13\00:30:33.66
will eventually
end up destroyed.
00:30:33.70\00:30:36.80
Verse 45, "Now
when the chief priests
00:30:36.83\00:30:38.87
and Pharisees
heard his parables,
00:30:38.90\00:30:40.90
they perceived that
He was speaking of them."
00:30:40.94\00:30:45.94
Last of all, He sent His Son.
00:30:45.97\00:30:48.98
There was no other recourse
00:30:49.01\00:30:50.51
that Jesus could take
with the Jewish nation,
00:30:50.55\00:30:53.45
and the Jewish
theocracy came to an end.
00:30:53.48\00:30:55.98
And now the gospel commission
is fulfilled by another nation,
00:30:56.02\00:31:01.72
the Gentiles.
00:31:01.76\00:31:03.26
Now let's turn in our Bibles
00:31:03.29\00:31:04.86
to John 8:37-45.
00:31:04.89\00:31:10.03
Remember that we
talked about individuals
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.20
who are genuine or true Jews,
00:31:12.23\00:31:15.57
and you have
others who even though
00:31:15.60\00:31:18.07
they are descendants of Abraham,
00:31:18.11\00:31:19.97
they are counterfeit Jews.
00:31:20.01\00:31:22.51
They're Jews, but they're not.
00:31:22.54\00:31:24.41
Now you say that
doesn't make any sense?
00:31:24.45\00:31:26.41
Well, then what
I'm going to read
00:31:26.45\00:31:28.42
from the mouth of Jesus
doesn't make any sense either.
00:31:28.45\00:31:31.55
John 8:37,
00:31:31.59\00:31:33.82
Jesus is speaking to
a group of Jews there.
00:31:33.86\00:31:38.06
And He says,
00:31:38.09\00:31:39.43
"I know that you are
Abraham's descendants,
00:31:39.46\00:31:42.03
that is literally,
but you seek to kill Me,
00:31:42.06\00:31:45.97
because My word
has no place in you,
00:31:46.00\00:31:48.34
is what Jesus says.
00:31:48.37\00:31:50.41
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:31:50.44\00:31:53.41
and you do what you
have seen with your father."
00:31:53.44\00:31:56.64
So Jesus says, I have a Father,
00:31:56.68\00:31:58.78
and you have a father as well.
00:31:58.81\00:32:00.15
He's working up to a point,
00:32:00.18\00:32:02.22
which is very, very,
very politically incorrect.
00:32:02.25\00:32:06.59
Notice verse 39,
00:32:06.62\00:32:08.52
"They answered and said to Him,
00:32:08.56\00:32:11.16
'Abraham is our father.'
00:32:11.19\00:32:14.50
Jesus said to them, if,
notice, this is conditional,
00:32:14.53\00:32:18.63
'If you were Abraham's children,
00:32:18.67\00:32:22.37
you would do the
works of Abraham.'"
00:32:22.40\00:32:26.68
So Jesus is contesting
00:32:26.71\00:32:28.61
whether they are
really children of Abraham.
00:32:28.64\00:32:30.78
He's saying, "If you
were Abraham's children,
00:32:30.81\00:32:33.82
you would do the
works of Abraham."
00:32:33.85\00:32:36.45
But now notice this,
"But now you seek to kill Me,
00:32:36.48\00:32:42.46
a Man who has told you the truth
00:32:42.49\00:32:44.69
which I heard from God.
00:32:44.73\00:32:46.39
Abraham did not do this."
00:32:46.43\00:32:49.30
In other words,
there's a disconnect
00:32:49.33\00:32:50.70
between you and Abraham.
00:32:50.73\00:32:52.37
Abraham loved me, you hate me.
00:32:52.40\00:32:54.84
So how can you say
00:32:54.87\00:32:56.34
that you are the
children of Abraham?
00:32:56.37\00:32:59.31
It's not like
father like children.
00:32:59.34\00:33:02.11
It continues in verse 41,
00:33:02.14\00:33:04.91
"You do the
deeds of your father,"
00:33:04.95\00:33:07.35
still, he hasn't
identified who their father is,
00:33:07.38\00:33:09.88
"you do the
deeds of your father.
00:33:09.92\00:33:12.12
Then they said to Him,
00:33:12.15\00:33:13.49
'We were not
born of fornication,
00:33:13.52\00:33:15.62
we have one Father, God.
00:33:15.66\00:33:19.03
Jesus said to
them," notice if again,
00:33:19.06\00:33:21.50
"if you, God were your father,
00:33:21.53\00:33:26.53
you would love Me,
00:33:26.57\00:33:28.27
for I proceeded
forth and came from God,
00:33:28.30\00:33:31.11
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me."
00:33:31.14\00:33:34.54
So what He's saying
is My Father loves me,
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.75
and you despise Me.
00:33:37.78\00:33:40.08
So how can you say
that God is your Father
00:33:40.12\00:33:42.75
if you say that you despise Me,
00:33:42.78\00:33:46.15
and the Father
actually loves me?
00:33:46.19\00:33:48.12
There's a disconnect there.
00:33:48.16\00:33:50.39
Notice verse 43,
00:33:50.43\00:33:53.23
"Why do you not
understand My speech?
00:33:53.26\00:33:56.06
Because you are not
able to listen to My word."
00:33:56.10\00:33:59.93
And now he says this
00:33:59.97\00:34:02.04
very politically
incorrect statement.
00:34:02.07\00:34:06.31
"You are of your
father, the devil..."
00:34:06.34\00:34:09.68
Who hated Jesus and
wanted to see Jesus dead?
00:34:09.71\00:34:12.95
The devil.
00:34:12.98\00:34:14.32
So did they have the
same spirit of the devil?
00:34:14.35\00:34:16.52
Absolutely.
00:34:16.55\00:34:17.95
"So you are of
your father, the devil,
00:34:17.99\00:34:20.86
and the desires of
your father you want to do.
00:34:20.89\00:34:24.49
He was a murderer
from the beginning,
00:34:24.53\00:34:26.70
and does not stand in the truth,
00:34:26.73\00:34:28.90
because there
is no truth in him.
00:34:28.93\00:34:31.93
When he speaks a lie,
00:34:31.97\00:34:33.50
he speaks from
his own resources,
00:34:33.54\00:34:35.50
for he is a liar
and the father of it."
00:34:35.54\00:34:40.04
This reminds us of the
passage about Nathaniel.
00:34:40.08\00:34:43.81
You remember that
Nathaniel was a true,
00:34:43.85\00:34:47.88
genuine Israelite,
00:34:47.92\00:34:50.52
because he confessed the Messiah
00:34:50.55\00:34:51.95
and in him there was no deceit.
00:34:51.99\00:34:54.16
Well, in the last
part of these verses,
00:34:54.19\00:34:56.39
we find an
emphasis on the truth.
00:34:56.42\00:34:59.89
Jesus says,
00:34:59.93\00:35:01.30
"When Satan speaks a lie,
00:35:01.33\00:35:03.20
he speaks from
his own resources,
00:35:03.23\00:35:05.10
for he is a liar
and the father of it.
00:35:05.13\00:35:08.87
Now the amazing
thing about this passage
00:35:08.90\00:35:11.44
is that the Jews were
literally children of Abraham.
00:35:11.47\00:35:16.88
But spiritually, Jesus said,
00:35:16.91\00:35:19.61
you are not children of Abraham,
00:35:19.65\00:35:21.92
because you are
children of the devil.
00:35:21.95\00:35:23.95
You want to do what the
devil wants to do to Me.
00:35:23.99\00:35:27.76
In the physical
sense of the word,
00:35:27.79\00:35:30.13
they were children of Abraham,
00:35:30.16\00:35:31.73
but in the spiritual
sense, they were not.
00:35:31.76\00:35:36.16
Incidentally, the
Apostle Paul repeatedly taught
00:35:36.20\00:35:39.23
the same truth.
00:35:39.27\00:35:41.87
Let's read several verses now
00:35:41.90\00:35:43.97
from the writings
of the Apostle Paul,
00:35:44.01\00:35:46.11
where he taught the same truth
00:35:46.14\00:35:48.14
that to be a genuine Israelite
00:35:48.18\00:35:51.25
means to accept Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord
00:35:51.28\00:35:54.98
as the Messiah,
as the Son of God.
00:35:55.02\00:35:58.59
We find in Romans 2:28-29,
00:35:58.62\00:36:02.79
that the Apostle Paul contrasts
00:36:02.82\00:36:05.23
those who are outwardly Jews
00:36:05.26\00:36:09.06
with those who
are inwardly Jews.
00:36:09.10\00:36:12.27
This is how it reads,
00:36:12.30\00:36:13.94
"For he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly,
00:36:13.97\00:36:18.91
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh."
00:36:18.94\00:36:22.98
Because the Jews,
they prided themselves
00:36:23.01\00:36:24.81
in circumcision.
00:36:24.85\00:36:26.21
They said, this is
the sign of the covenant.
00:36:26.25\00:36:28.18
This is a sign that
we are God's true people.
00:36:28.22\00:36:31.82
And yet Paul is saying,
00:36:31.85\00:36:33.46
he is not a Jew
who is one outwardly,
00:36:33.49\00:36:36.32
nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh.
00:36:36.36\00:36:40.53
But he is a Jew,
who is one inwardly,
00:36:40.56\00:36:45.47
and circumcision
is that of the heart,
00:36:45.50\00:36:48.90
in the Spirit, not in the letter
00:36:48.94\00:36:51.31
whose praise is not
from men but from God."
00:36:51.34\00:36:55.34
So the Jews,
they prided themselves
00:36:55.38\00:36:57.71
in obeying the law
to the very letter,
00:36:57.75\00:36:59.91
but they lacked the Spirit.
00:36:59.95\00:37:01.92
The religion was
not in their heart.
00:37:01.95\00:37:04.45
And their praise
was the praise of men.
00:37:04.49\00:37:07.12
They prayed in public places,
00:37:07.16\00:37:09.12
they gave alms
to be seen by men.
00:37:09.16\00:37:11.89
The Apostle Paul
says, "No, no, no, no.
00:37:11.93\00:37:14.36
He is a Jew who is one inwardly,
00:37:14.40\00:37:16.90
circumcision is
out of the heart,
00:37:16.93\00:37:19.13
in the spirit, not in the letter
00:37:19.17\00:37:21.07
whose praise is not
from men but from God.
00:37:21.10\00:37:25.14
The Apostle Paul
picks up on the same idea
00:37:25.17\00:37:27.28
in Romans 9:6-8,
00:37:27.31\00:37:30.71
"But it is not that the
word of God has taken no effect.
00:37:30.75\00:37:34.75
For they are not,"
listen to this statement.
00:37:34.78\00:37:37.52
"For they are not all
Israel, who are of Israel."
00:37:37.55\00:37:41.86
So what if I said that
00:37:41.89\00:37:43.22
not all
Israelites are Israelites?
00:37:43.26\00:37:45.66
You would say, "Pastor Bohr,
00:37:45.69\00:37:47.23
that is a ridiculous statement."
00:37:47.26\00:37:49.36
And yet the
Apostle Paul is saying,
00:37:49.40\00:37:51.07
"For they are not all
Israel who are of Israel,
00:37:51.10\00:37:55.64
nor are they all children
00:37:55.67\00:37:58.44
because they are
the seed of Abraham."
00:37:58.47\00:38:00.44
Not all the seed of Abraham
are really children of Abraham,
00:38:00.48\00:38:03.71
is what the
Apostle Paul is saying.
00:38:03.75\00:38:06.18
It continues.
00:38:06.21\00:38:07.88
"But in Isaac your
seed shall be called."
00:38:07.92\00:38:11.49
Who came from Isaac?
00:38:11.52\00:38:12.85
The Messiah, folks.
00:38:12.89\00:38:14.32
"In Isaac your
seed shall be called.
00:38:14.36\00:38:16.96
That is those who are
the children of the flesh."
00:38:16.99\00:38:20.53
That means literal Jews,
00:38:20.56\00:38:21.96
descendants of Abraham by blood.
00:38:22.00\00:38:24.73
"That is those
00:38:24.77\00:38:26.10
who are the
children of the flesh,
00:38:26.13\00:38:27.80
these are not
the children of God,
00:38:27.84\00:38:30.11
but the
children of the promise,"
00:38:30.14\00:38:32.67
that is of the
promise of the Messiah,
00:38:32.71\00:38:35.08
"are counted as the seed."
00:38:35.11\00:38:39.21
Let's notice also
Galatians 3:26-29,
00:38:39.25\00:38:43.72
the Apostle Paul
repeatedly makes this point
00:38:43.75\00:38:46.69
that a genuine,
true Israelite or Jew
00:38:46.72\00:38:50.89
is one who has received
Jesus Christ as Savior in Lord.
00:38:50.93\00:38:55.60
Galatians 3:26,
reads as follows.
00:38:55.63\00:38:59.93
"For you are all sons of God
00:38:59.97\00:39:02.77
through faith in Christ Jesus."
00:39:02.80\00:39:06.51
So how are we sons of God?
00:39:06.54\00:39:08.64
We are sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus.
00:39:08.68\00:39:11.61
Now, we're all sons of
God in terms of creation,
00:39:11.65\00:39:15.72
but we are not all sons of
God in terms of redemption.
00:39:15.75\00:39:19.95
We have to accept Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord
00:39:19.99\00:39:23.59
to be sons of God
in terms of redemption.
00:39:23.63\00:39:26.53
For it says,
00:39:26.56\00:39:27.90
"For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus."
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.47
Verse 27,
00:39:31.50\00:39:32.83
"For as many of you as
were baptized into Christ
00:39:32.87\00:39:37.01
have put on Christ.
00:39:37.04\00:39:40.01
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
00:39:40.04\00:39:42.08
there is neither slave nor free,
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.51
there is
neither male nor female,
00:39:44.55\00:39:47.02
for you are all
one in Christ Jesus."
00:39:47.05\00:39:50.12
And by the way, Ephesians 2 says
00:39:50.15\00:39:52.12
that Gentiles
become one with the Jews,
00:39:52.15\00:39:56.22
they become one people
according to Scripture.
00:39:56.26\00:39:59.43
And verse 29 says,
00:39:59.46\00:40:01.13
"And if you are Christ's,
00:40:01.16\00:40:05.27
then you are Abraham's seed
00:40:05.30\00:40:07.44
and heirs
according to the promise."
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.57
So the question is,
00:40:10.61\00:40:11.94
what does it mean to
be the seed of Abraham
00:40:11.97\00:40:14.58
in spiritual terms?
00:40:14.61\00:40:16.18
It means that
if we are Christ's,
00:40:16.21\00:40:19.51
we are Abraham's seed.
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.18
Abraham's seed is not defined
genetically or biologically,
00:40:21.22\00:40:27.36
it is defined by a
spiritual relationship
00:40:27.39\00:40:30.43
with Jesus Christ.
00:40:30.46\00:40:33.46
Let's go to Philippians 3:3-8.
00:40:33.50\00:40:37.80
Philippians 3:3-8.
00:40:37.83\00:40:41.47
Here the Apostle Paul
00:40:41.50\00:40:42.84
is speaking about his
conversion experience.
00:40:42.87\00:40:45.31
"For we are the circumcision,
00:40:45.34\00:40:49.24
who worship God in the Spirit,
00:40:49.28\00:40:52.08
rejoice in Christ Jesus
00:40:52.11\00:40:54.45
and have no
confidence in the flesh."
00:40:54.48\00:40:57.39
Notice who is the circumcision?
00:40:57.42\00:40:59.15
Those who literally
are circumcised Jews? No.
00:40:59.19\00:41:01.59
The Apostle Paul says,
00:41:01.62\00:41:02.96
"We are the circumcision,
who worship God in the Spirit,
00:41:02.99\00:41:06.19
rejoice in Christ Jesus
00:41:06.23\00:41:08.06
and have no
confidence in the flesh."
00:41:08.10\00:41:10.67
And then he
reminisces about his experience.
00:41:10.70\00:41:13.47
"Though I might also
have confidence in the flesh.
00:41:13.50\00:41:17.47
If anyone else thinks
00:41:17.51\00:41:19.27
he may have
confidence in the flesh,
00:41:19.31\00:41:21.08
I more so:
circumcise the eighth day,
00:41:21.11\00:41:26.15
of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:41:26.18\00:41:30.05
a Hebrew of Hebrews,
00:41:30.09\00:41:32.39
concerning the law, a
Pharisee concerning zeal,
00:41:32.42\00:41:35.89
persecuting the church,
00:41:35.92\00:41:37.26
concerning the righteousness
which is in the law,
00:41:37.29\00:41:40.53
blameless."
00:41:40.56\00:41:42.26
Oh, he's claiming a
great heritage here.
00:41:42.30\00:41:45.83
But now notice what he says,
00:41:45.87\00:41:47.74
"However, what
things were gain to me,"
00:41:47.77\00:41:50.84
all this list
that he's provided,
00:41:50.87\00:41:52.91
"these I have
counted loss for Christ.
00:41:52.94\00:41:57.68
Yet, indeed, I also
count all things loss
00:41:57.71\00:42:01.45
for the
excellence of the knowledge
00:42:01.48\00:42:03.85
of Christ Jesus my Lord,
00:42:03.89\00:42:06.22
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things,
00:42:06.25\00:42:09.26
and count them as rubbish,
00:42:09.29\00:42:11.59
that I may gain Christ."
00:42:11.63\00:42:16.10
Hope you're understanding this.
00:42:16.13\00:42:18.00
So you say, "What
does this have to do
00:42:18.03\00:42:20.10
with Matthew Chapter 24?"
00:42:20.14\00:42:22.20
Well, dispensationalists believe
00:42:22.24\00:42:24.57
that the budding of the fig tree
00:42:24.61\00:42:26.44
is the reestablishment
of the nation of Israel
00:42:26.47\00:42:29.58
in disobedience,
00:42:29.61\00:42:30.95
because they still
rejected the Messiah.
00:42:30.98\00:42:33.98
What I'm trying to
show here from Scripture,
00:42:34.02\00:42:37.32
is that the budding
of a big tree there,
00:42:37.35\00:42:39.85
and of all the trees,
00:42:39.89\00:42:42.02
all of the signs are
signs of a coming of Christ.
00:42:42.06\00:42:45.23
In that sense, the fig tree
00:42:45.26\00:42:47.23
does not
necessarily represent Israel.
00:42:47.26\00:42:49.93
Jesus is using it as an analogy
00:42:49.96\00:42:52.73
to show that when
these signs take place,
00:42:52.77\00:42:55.87
the coming of Jesus is near.
00:42:55.90\00:42:58.94
So now let's ask the question.
00:42:58.97\00:43:01.18
Does the church replace Israel?
00:43:01.21\00:43:05.65
You know,
there's this big debate
00:43:05.68\00:43:07.15
in the Christian world
today among evangelicals,
00:43:07.18\00:43:09.62
whether Israel is replaced
00:43:09.65\00:43:12.35
or whether Israel continues,
00:43:12.39\00:43:14.92
whether God still
has a plan for Israel?
00:43:14.96\00:43:18.36
Well, let's go to Genesis 49:28.
00:43:18.39\00:43:24.23
To answer the question,
00:43:24.27\00:43:25.80
does God replace
Israel with the Gentiles?
00:43:25.83\00:43:29.27
Or do the Gentiles
continue the legacy of Israel?
00:43:29.30\00:43:34.54
In Genesis 49:28,
00:43:34.58\00:43:37.35
we find that the
Old Testament Church,
00:43:37.38\00:43:40.72
so to speak,
00:43:40.75\00:43:42.08
began with 12 patriarchs
00:43:42.12\00:43:44.79
that then
multiplied into a great nation
00:43:44.82\00:43:48.69
composed of 12 tribes.
00:43:48.72\00:43:50.89
It says there in Genesis 49:28,
00:43:50.93\00:43:54.13
all these that
is the sons of Jacob
00:43:54.16\00:43:56.30
because Jacob
has listed his sons
00:43:56.33\00:43:58.23
in this chapter one by one.
00:43:58.27\00:44:00.44
"All these are the tribes,
00:44:00.47\00:44:03.17
are the twelve tribes of Israel,
00:44:03.20\00:44:05.97
and this is what
their father spoke to them.
00:44:06.01\00:44:08.34
And he blessed
them, he blessed each one
00:44:08.38\00:44:10.61
according to his own blessing."
00:44:10.65\00:44:12.71
So these 12 sons of Jacob
00:44:12.75\00:44:15.58
then multiplied,
00:44:15.62\00:44:17.32
and they became a single nation,
00:44:17.35\00:44:19.52
they became the
12 tribes of Israel
00:44:19.55\00:44:23.66
that multiplied greatly.
00:44:23.69\00:44:26.53
God then called Moses
00:44:26.56\00:44:29.13
to deliver his
people from bondage.
00:44:29.16\00:44:32.50
When Moses was born,
00:44:32.53\00:44:34.50
the great dragon
that Pharaoh was called
00:44:34.54\00:44:37.81
in Ezekiel 29:3,
00:44:37.84\00:44:40.18
was there
attempting to kill him.
00:44:40.21\00:44:42.88
But Moses then
delivered Israel from bondage,
00:44:42.91\00:44:46.58
and the sign of the release
was the blood of the Lamb
00:44:46.61\00:44:50.72
placed on the doors of
the faithful Israelites,
00:44:50.75\00:44:54.72
and then Moses
organized 12 tribes,
00:44:54.76\00:44:59.56
organized 12 tribes
00:44:59.59\00:45:01.96
that then entered
the Promised Land.
00:45:02.00\00:45:05.73
Now, this is very interesting.
00:45:05.77\00:45:08.77
So Israel begins
00:45:08.80\00:45:12.11
technically with 12 individuals
00:45:12.14\00:45:15.81
that grow into 12 tribes,
00:45:15.84\00:45:18.38
a huge nation
composed of many people.
00:45:18.41\00:45:22.22
What was the
mission that God had
00:45:22.25\00:45:24.42
for choosing Israel
00:45:24.45\00:45:26.72
and multiplying
it into a nation?
00:45:26.76\00:45:30.13
The fact is that
their only purpose
00:45:30.16\00:45:32.19
was to prepare the world
00:45:32.23\00:45:33.86
for the arrival of the Messiah.
00:45:33.90\00:45:36.46
If they failed in their mission,
00:45:36.50\00:45:38.10
they had
absolutely no reason to exist.
00:45:38.13\00:45:41.54
Notice Isaiah 49:6,
00:45:41.57\00:45:43.91
and by the way, when I
say no reason to exist,
00:45:43.94\00:45:46.41
I'm not saying
that the state of Israel
00:45:46.44\00:45:47.94
has no reason to exist.
00:45:47.98\00:45:49.31
Of course, it has a
reason to exist as a nation.
00:45:49.34\00:45:52.08
But what I'm saying is
that it has no reason to exist
00:45:52.11\00:45:54.88
to fulfill the
purpose of preparing the world
00:45:54.92\00:45:57.29
for the Messiah.
00:45:57.32\00:45:58.75
You know we're not
here being anti-Semitic.
00:45:58.79\00:46:02.19
In fact, God has
many faithful people
00:46:02.22\00:46:05.26
within Judaism,
00:46:05.29\00:46:07.43
many people that have
not heard about the Messiah
00:46:07.46\00:46:09.96
that will come
over to the Messiah side
00:46:10.00\00:46:12.57
when they hear the truth,
as it's found in Scripture.
00:46:12.60\00:46:16.34
What was the mission of Israel?
00:46:16.37\00:46:17.74
Isaiah 49:6,
00:46:17.77\00:46:19.71
"Indeed, he says,"
speaking to his people,
00:46:19.74\00:46:23.48
"It is too small a thing
00:46:23.51\00:46:26.05
that You should be My Servant
00:46:26.08\00:46:27.68
to raise up the
tribes of Jacob,"
00:46:27.72\00:46:29.22
in other words, I
haven't chosen you
00:46:29.25\00:46:30.75
only to raise up
the tribes of Jacob,
00:46:30.79\00:46:33.46
"and to restore the
preserved ones of Israel.
00:46:33.49\00:46:36.96
I will also give You as
a light to the Gentiles,
00:46:36.99\00:46:42.33
that You should be My Salvation
to the ends of the earth."
00:46:42.36\00:46:48.24
In the Old
Testament, it was God's plan
00:46:48.27\00:46:50.31
that Israel be so prosperous,
00:46:50.34\00:46:52.51
and that they were
so faithful to God,
00:46:52.54\00:46:54.74
that all of the
surrounding nations
00:46:54.78\00:46:56.21
would come and say,
00:46:56.24\00:46:57.58
what is the secret
of your prosperity?
00:46:57.61\00:46:59.58
What is the secret of your peace
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.45
and your abundance?
00:47:01.48\00:47:02.82
And they would say,
"We serve the Messiah."
00:47:02.85\00:47:05.65
They would prepare the world
00:47:05.69\00:47:07.26
for the coming of the
Messiah to this world.
00:47:07.29\00:47:10.63
God called them to be
a light to the Gentiles
00:47:10.66\00:47:13.93
that they should
be God's salvation,
00:47:13.96\00:47:15.73
as it says here to
the ends of the earth.
00:47:15.76\00:47:18.97
Unfortunately,
00:47:19.00\00:47:20.47
literal Israel
failed in its commitment.
00:47:20.50\00:47:24.44
Before the Babylonian captivity,
00:47:24.47\00:47:26.27
it intermingled with the nations
00:47:26.31\00:47:28.31
and adopted their
cultural practices
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.68
and religious
practices and idolatry.
00:47:30.71\00:47:33.88
And after the
Babylonian captivity,
00:47:33.92\00:47:37.25
Israel shut herself in
a self-righteous armor,
00:47:37.29\00:47:41.76
isolating
herself from the nations.
00:47:41.79\00:47:45.79
For this reason,
00:47:45.83\00:47:47.50
Jesus chose 12
faithful apostles,
00:47:47.53\00:47:51.83
all Jews,
00:47:51.87\00:47:53.54
to continue the
legacy of Israel,
00:47:53.57\00:47:56.47
and to fulfill the mission
00:47:56.50\00:47:58.54
that the Hebrew
theocracy had failed to fulfill.
00:47:58.57\00:48:02.54
The 12 then preached Jesus,
00:48:02.58\00:48:05.55
and as a result,
00:48:05.58\00:48:06.92
the church
became a great nation,
00:48:06.95\00:48:08.72
so to speak.
00:48:08.75\00:48:10.09
Remember, Jesus said,
00:48:10.12\00:48:11.45
"The kingdom
will be taken from you
00:48:11.49\00:48:12.82
and given to a nation
00:48:12.85\00:48:14.19
that produces
the fruits thereof."
00:48:14.22\00:48:15.86
That's a word that
refers to the Gentiles.
00:48:15.89\00:48:21.13
You see, the
mission of the church
00:48:21.16\00:48:22.76
is the same mission
as the Hebrew theocracy.
00:48:22.80\00:48:26.37
Only the Hebrew theocracy
was to prepare the world
00:48:26.40\00:48:28.74
for the coming of the Messiah.
00:48:28.77\00:48:30.41
The church is to announce
that the Messiah has come,
00:48:30.44\00:48:33.14
and that He is the
Savior of the world.
00:48:33.17\00:48:35.91
I'm sure that you've
read Matthew 28:18-20,
00:48:35.94\00:48:40.82
where you have
the great commission
00:48:40.85\00:48:42.18
that Jesus gave
to the disciples.
00:48:42.22\00:48:44.29
Let's read those verses.
00:48:44.32\00:48:46.05
Verse 18, "And Jesus
came and spoke to them saying,
00:48:46.09\00:48:49.02
'All authority
has been given to me
00:48:49.06\00:48:50.66
in heaven and on earth.
00:48:50.69\00:48:52.13
Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations,
00:48:52.16\00:48:55.36
baptizing them in
the name of the Father,
00:48:55.40\00:48:57.57
of the Son and the Holy Spirit,
00:48:57.60\00:48:59.47
teaching them to
observe all things
00:48:59.50\00:49:01.20
that I have commanded you.
00:49:01.24\00:49:02.77
And lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the age.'"
00:49:02.80\00:49:09.01
Interesting.
00:49:09.04\00:49:11.28
That was the purpose
for God choosing 12 apostles
00:49:11.31\00:49:16.32
that then
multiplied into a great nation,
00:49:16.35\00:49:19.95
so to speak.
00:49:19.99\00:49:22.26
Now, Revelation
Chapter 12 is proof
00:49:22.29\00:49:26.16
that God has
only one true Israel
00:49:26.19\00:49:30.77
with one mission.
00:49:30.80\00:49:33.87
Faithful Israel
of the Old Testament,
00:49:33.90\00:49:36.40
as I was mentioning,
00:49:36.44\00:49:37.94
is one with the
faithful New Testament Church.
00:49:37.97\00:49:42.94
If you go to
Revelation Chapter 12,
00:49:42.98\00:49:45.18
you'll notice
that a single woman
00:49:45.21\00:49:47.95
represents the
Old Testament Church
00:49:47.98\00:49:50.25
and the New Testament Church.
00:49:50.29\00:49:51.75
God does not have two women.
00:49:51.79\00:49:54.12
That would be bigamy
00:49:54.16\00:49:55.49
by the way if God
had two, two wives.
00:49:55.52\00:49:59.06
Really, God has only
one woman in Revelation 12,
00:49:59.09\00:50:02.86
the woman that brings
the Messiah into the world.
00:50:02.90\00:50:05.77
That's the Old Testament Church.
00:50:05.80\00:50:07.27
That's why the woman has a crown
00:50:07.30\00:50:09.00
with 12 stars on her head.
00:50:09.04\00:50:11.07
And then that woman
flees to the wilderness
00:50:11.11\00:50:13.34
for 1260 years.
00:50:13.38\00:50:15.34
That's the New Testament Church.
00:50:15.38\00:50:17.38
That's why Jesus began
00:50:17.41\00:50:19.91
the Old Testament
Church with 12 individuals
00:50:19.95\00:50:24.35
that multiplied into 12 tribes.
00:50:24.39\00:50:26.55
And that's the reason why
He chose 12 Jewish apostles
00:50:26.59\00:50:30.13
that then multiplied and
became a great Christian nation.
00:50:30.16\00:50:34.36
Ellen White wrote in
Acts of the Apostles,
00:50:34.40\00:50:36.56
page 19,
00:50:36.60\00:50:38.13
"As in the Old Testament,
00:50:38.17\00:50:40.44
the 12 patriarchs stood as
representatives of Israel."
00:50:40.47\00:50:44.77
So the 12 apostles
stand as representatives
00:50:44.81\00:50:48.94
of the Gospel Church.
00:50:48.98\00:50:51.08
It is no coincidence, folks,
00:50:51.11\00:50:53.31
that we find in Revelation
00:50:53.35\00:50:57.29
that the foundations of the city
00:50:57.32\00:50:59.72
have the names
of the 12 apostles,
00:50:59.75\00:51:02.46
and the gates of the city
had the names of the 12 tribes.
00:51:02.49\00:51:06.43
It's only one city
00:51:06.46\00:51:08.40
with all of the redeemed
from the Old and New Testament.
00:51:08.43\00:51:11.77
The church does
not replace Israel,
00:51:11.80\00:51:14.47
the church
continues the legacy of Israel
00:51:14.50\00:51:17.34
and fulfills the mission
00:51:17.37\00:51:18.84
that the
theocracy failed to fulfill.
00:51:18.87\00:51:22.11
We're told in the Book
00:51:22.14\00:51:25.45
that Abraham looked
for a heavenly city,
00:51:25.48\00:51:29.18
whose builder and maker is God.
00:51:29.22\00:51:32.49
The great heroes of Hebrews 11,
00:51:32.52\00:51:34.39
they understood
00:51:34.42\00:51:35.76
that the literal
Jerusalem over the Middle East
00:51:35.79\00:51:39.09
is not the ultimate
hope of the Christian.
00:51:39.13\00:51:42.66
The hope of the
Christian is the heavenly city,
00:51:42.70\00:51:45.33
whose builder and maker is God.
00:51:45.37\00:51:47.94
In fact, all of the
heroes of Chapter 11 of Hebrews
00:51:47.97\00:51:51.44
look for the heavenly Jerusalem,
00:51:51.47\00:51:53.61
not the earthly.
00:51:53.64\00:51:54.98
And these are the
Old Testament saints
00:51:55.01\00:51:56.91
that are looking
for the heavenly city.
00:51:56.95\00:51:59.05
Notice Hebrews 11:13-16.
00:51:59.08\00:52:02.98
Hebrews 11:13-16.
00:52:03.02\00:52:07.26
After mentioning
several of these heroes,
00:52:07.29\00:52:09.69
it says, "These
all died in faith,
00:52:09.72\00:52:12.33
not having
received the promises,
00:52:12.36\00:52:15.33
but having seen them
afar off were assured of them,
00:52:15.36\00:52:19.63
embraced them,
00:52:19.67\00:52:21.10
and confessed that
they were strangers
00:52:21.14\00:52:22.97
and pilgrims on the earth.
00:52:23.00\00:52:25.51
For those who say
such things declare plainly
00:52:25.54\00:52:29.28
that they seek a homeland."
00:52:29.31\00:52:32.35
In other words, they
were seeking homeland.
00:52:32.38\00:52:34.02
What homeland were they seeking?
00:52:34.05\00:52:35.65
Literal Canaan,
literal Jerusalem?
00:52:35.68\00:52:37.75
No.
00:52:37.79\00:52:39.12
Let's continue reading verse 15.
00:52:39.15\00:52:40.76
"And truly,
00:52:40.79\00:52:42.12
if they had called
to mind that country
00:52:42.16\00:52:43.79
from which they had come out,
00:52:43.83\00:52:45.56
they would have had
opportunity to return.
00:52:45.59\00:52:48.06
But now they desire a better."
00:52:48.10\00:52:49.66
These are the Old
Testament saints, folks.
00:52:49.70\00:52:52.00
"But now they desire a better,
that is a heavenly country.
00:52:52.03\00:52:57.07
Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God,
00:52:57.11\00:53:00.51
for He has
prepared for them a city."
00:53:00.54\00:53:06.65
In 1948,
00:53:06.68\00:53:08.88
the Jewish nation was
still rejecting the Messiah.
00:53:08.92\00:53:12.59
And therefore 1948
00:53:12.62\00:53:14.32
could not be a
fulfillment of prophecy,
00:53:14.36\00:53:17.19
because the Bible says
that God scattered Israel
00:53:17.23\00:53:20.40
at the destruction of Jerusalem
00:53:20.43\00:53:21.76
because they
rejected the Messiah.
00:53:21.80\00:53:23.77
So why would He
gather them in this obedience
00:53:23.80\00:53:26.57
while they are still
rejecting the Messiah?
00:53:26.60\00:53:30.31
Ellen White wrote
some very solemn things
00:53:30.34\00:53:32.91
about earthly Jerusalem.
00:53:32.94\00:53:35.94
In Review and Herald,
February 25, 1896, he wrote,
00:53:35.98\00:53:40.12
"The curse rests upon Jerusalem.
00:53:40.15\00:53:43.25
The Lord has
obliterated those things,
00:53:43.28\00:53:45.92
which men would
worship in and about Jerusalem,
00:53:45.95\00:53:49.66
yet many hold in reverence
literal objects in Palestine,
00:53:49.69\00:53:53.50
while they
neglect to behold Jesus
00:53:53.53\00:53:55.46
as their advocate in
the heaven of heavens.
00:53:55.50\00:53:59.13
In another
statement that we find,
00:53:59.17\00:54:00.90
Review and Herald, June 1896,
00:54:00.94\00:54:03.71
it reads like this,
00:54:03.74\00:54:05.41
"How many there are
00:54:05.44\00:54:07.11
who feel that it
would be a good thing
00:54:07.14\00:54:09.44
to tread the
soil of old Jerusalem,
00:54:09.48\00:54:12.91
and that their faith
would be greatly strengthened
00:54:12.95\00:54:15.82
by visiting the scenes of
the Savior's life and death!
00:54:15.85\00:54:20.26
However,
00:54:20.29\00:54:21.66
old Jerusalem will
never be a sacred place
00:54:21.69\00:54:25.03
until the refining fire
from heaven cleanses it.
00:54:25.06\00:54:28.80
The darkest blot of
guilt rests upon the city
00:54:28.83\00:54:32.73
that refused
the light of Christ.
00:54:32.77\00:54:35.50
Do we want to walk in
the footsteps of Jesus?
00:54:35.54\00:54:38.34
We need not seek out
the paths in Nazareth,
00:54:38.37\00:54:42.58
Bethany and Jerusalem.
00:54:42.61\00:54:44.71
We shall find the
footprints of Jesus
00:54:44.75\00:54:46.95
by the sickbed,
00:54:46.98\00:54:48.52
by the side of
suffering humanity,
00:54:48.55\00:54:51.12
in the hovels
00:54:51.15\00:54:52.49
of the
poverty-stricken and distressed.
00:54:52.52\00:54:55.59
We may walk in these footsteps,
comforting the suffering,
00:54:55.62\00:54:59.69
speaking words of hope
and comfort to the despondent.
00:54:59.73\00:55:03.77
Doing as Jesus did
when he was upon earth,
00:55:03.80\00:55:07.54
we shall walk in
his blessed steps.
00:55:07.57\00:55:11.24
Jesus said, 'If any
man will come after me,
00:55:11.27\00:55:14.38
let him deny himself
00:55:14.41\00:55:16.28
and take up his
cross daily and follow me.'
00:55:16.31\00:55:19.58
When the sin-cursed earth
00:55:19.61\00:55:21.68
is purified from
every stain of sin,
00:55:21.72\00:55:24.95
when the Mount of
Olives is rent asunder,
00:55:24.99\00:55:27.36
and becomes an immense plain,
00:55:27.39\00:55:29.12
this is after the millennium,
00:55:29.16\00:55:30.99
when the Holy City
of God descends upon it,
00:55:31.03\00:55:34.66
the land that is
now called the Holy Land
00:55:34.70\00:55:37.43
will indeed become holy.
00:55:37.47\00:55:41.57
However,
00:55:41.60\00:55:42.94
God's cause and
work will not be advanced
00:55:42.97\00:55:45.37
by making
pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
00:55:45.41\00:55:48.88
The curse of God
is upon Jerusalem
00:55:48.91\00:55:51.31
for the
rejection and crucifixion
00:55:51.35\00:55:53.31
of his only begotten Son.
00:55:53.35\00:55:55.32
However, God will
cleanse away the vile blot.
00:55:55.35\00:55:59.29
The prophet says,
00:55:59.32\00:56:00.66
'I saw a new
heaven and a new earth:
00:56:00.69\00:56:02.72
for the first
heaven and the first earth
00:56:02.76\00:56:05.16
are passed away,
and the sea is no more.
00:56:05.19\00:56:08.60
And I saw the holy
city, New Jerusalem,
00:56:08.63\00:56:11.03
coming down out
of heaven from God,
00:56:11.07\00:56:13.50
made ready as a bride
adorned for her husband."
00:56:13.54\00:56:16.77
I want to make clear
00:56:16.81\00:56:18.14
that we're talking
about the Hebrew theocracy.
00:56:18.17\00:56:20.78
We're talking about Israel
00:56:20.81\00:56:22.94
as the nation to
fulfill God's purpose
00:56:22.98\00:56:25.78
of taking the
gospel to the world,
00:56:25.81\00:56:28.18
the gospel of the Messiah.
00:56:28.22\00:56:30.32
The Hebrew theocracy,
literal Israel failed.
00:56:30.35\00:56:33.32
But the Christian
church continues the legacy,
00:56:33.36\00:56:36.76
continues the mission
and will finish the work.
00:56:36.79\00:56:40.10
We are not
referring to individual Jews.
00:56:40.13\00:56:43.47
We're not referring
00:56:43.50\00:56:44.83
to the nation of Israel as such.
00:56:44.87\00:56:46.90
There are many sincere people
among those literal Israelites.
00:56:46.94\00:56:51.81
They don't understand
that Jesus is the Messiah
00:56:51.84\00:56:54.74
that they've been waiting for.
00:56:54.78\00:56:56.61
The seat that is left empty
00:56:56.64\00:56:59.21
is to be filled by Jesus Christ,
00:56:59.25\00:57:01.65
the Messiah of Israel,
00:57:01.68\00:57:03.72
who was rejected when
Jesus came to this earth.
00:57:03.75\00:57:07.59
God has a passion and a
love for the individual Jews
00:57:07.62\00:57:12.63
in the Jewish nation.
00:57:12.66\00:57:14.20
He wants to see them saved.
00:57:14.23\00:57:16.46
He wants them to see
them accept the Messiah
00:57:16.50\00:57:20.64
as Savior and Lord,
00:57:20.67\00:57:22.17
So that they can experience
00:57:22.20\00:57:24.31
the salvation of God.
00:57:24.34\00:57:27.01
So may this be not
only the experience
00:57:27.04\00:57:30.28
of the literal
Jews, but also of us,
00:57:30.31\00:57:33.42
who are spiritual
Jews accepting Jesus.
00:57:33.45\00:57:36.42