Music...
00:00:01.36\00:00:20.35
Shall we pray?
00:00:20.42\00:00:22.32
"Father in heaven,
00:00:22.38\00:00:23.99
as we near the
end of this Series
00:00:24.05\00:00:26.52
and speak about
marriage customs in Scripture,
00:00:26.55\00:00:31.59
we need your
special wisdom and guidance.
00:00:31.63\00:00:35.13
Marriages in Biblical times
00:00:35.16\00:00:38.47
were different
than marriages today,
00:00:38.50\00:00:40.10
so give me the wisdom to
explain the Biblical customs.
00:00:40.14\00:00:45.21
Give those who are
watching this understanding
00:00:45.24\00:00:48.98
that the lessons we
learn might be instrumental
00:00:49.01\00:00:52.48
in our personal walk
day to day with Jesus.
00:00:52.51\00:00:55.95
We thank you for
hearing our prayer,
00:00:55.98\00:00:59.32
for we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen. "
00:00:59.35\00:01:02.59
There's a big difference
between eastern weddings
00:01:02.62\00:01:07.93
and western weddings.
00:01:07.96\00:01:09.33
Today we're going to talk about
wedding customs as they existed
00:01:09.36\00:01:14.57
in the days of Jesus Christ.
00:01:14.60\00:01:17.41
The customs were very different
00:01:17.44\00:01:20.18
than the customs
for weddings today.
00:01:20.21\00:01:22.81
Now, in our next
lesson, we are going to study
00:01:22.84\00:01:26.35
about the parable
of the ten virgins.
00:01:26.41\00:01:29.25
We're going to
dedicate an entire session
00:01:29.28\00:01:32.09
just to that one parable.
00:01:32.12\00:01:33.66
However, today I am
going to make reference
00:01:33.69\00:01:37.49
to the parable
of the ten virgins
00:01:37.53\00:01:39.19
so that we are introduced
to what we are going to study
00:01:39.23\00:01:44.40
more fully tomorrow.
00:01:44.43\00:01:46.37
So, first of all
let's go through the process
00:01:46.43\00:01:49.80
of a wedding in
the times of Christ
00:01:49.84\00:01:53.68
and in the Old Testament.
00:01:53.71\00:01:55.11
First of all, you have the
betrothal or the engagement.
00:01:55.14\00:01:59.71
The engagement between
the bride and the groom
00:01:59.75\00:02:03.79
took place at the
home of the bride's father
00:02:03.82\00:02:08.06
and at that place, when
the engagement was made,
00:02:08.09\00:02:12.13
the groom paid the
dowry to the bride's father
00:02:12.16\00:02:18.13
for having the bride.
00:02:18.17\00:02:21.10
Then, after this,
00:02:21.14\00:02:23.04
the groom would
return to his father's house
00:02:23.07\00:02:27.84
to prepare a
home... a permanent home
00:02:27.88\00:02:31.38
where he and his wife-to-be
were to live out their lives.
00:02:31.41\00:02:36.75
During the
period of preparation,
00:02:36.79\00:02:39.82
the bride, at her home,
also prepared for the wedding.
00:02:39.85\00:02:44.13
Of course, it was necessary
to send out invitations
00:02:44.16\00:02:48.20
so that the guests to the
wedding would be able to come
00:02:48.23\00:02:53.34
and so invitations were
sent out after the engagement
00:02:53.37\00:02:58.47
inviting those
who would be guests
00:02:58.51\00:03:02.18
or invitees to the wedding.
00:03:02.24\00:03:05.61
Now, it needed to be determined
00:03:05.65\00:03:08.98
once the people were
in the wedding chamber
00:03:09.02\00:03:13.02
who had a right to be there...
00:03:13.05\00:03:15.96
who was a legitimate guest
who had received the invitation.
00:03:15.99\00:03:20.23
So, in some cases,
00:03:20.30\00:03:22.83
the groom's father would send
out a special wedding garment
00:03:22.86\00:03:27.90
that the invitees had to wear
00:03:27.94\00:03:30.91
in order to be in the
wedding chamber officially.
00:03:30.94\00:03:34.81
In a moment we're going
to see some examples of this
00:03:34.84\00:03:39.51
and then, the wedding
would eventually take place
00:03:39.55\00:03:44.19
in the father of the groom...
the father of the groom's home.
00:03:44.22\00:03:50.63
That's where the wedding
would actually take place.
00:03:50.66\00:03:53.80
And then of course,
following the wedding,
00:03:53.83\00:03:56.16
you had the celebration...
you had the wedding reception.
00:03:56.20\00:04:00.17
Now, the parable
of the ten virgins
00:04:00.20\00:04:03.41
gives us some idea of what
eastern weddings were like.
00:04:03.44\00:04:08.68
The story is found
in Matthew chapter 25
00:04:08.71\00:04:12.51
and verses 1 to 13.
00:04:12.55\00:04:15.68
Now, Jesus instructed
His individual followers
00:04:15.72\00:04:21.32
to be ready to go in with Him
00:04:21.36\00:04:24.69
to the wedding chamber as
invited guests to the wedding.
00:04:24.73\00:04:29.50
In other words, the individuals
who were followers of Jesus
00:04:29.53\00:04:33.00
they are invited to
be guests at the wedding.
00:04:33.03\00:04:36.67
We'll unpack that
further as we move along.
00:04:36.71\00:04:40.28
Now, let's take a look at
the parable of the ten virgins.
00:04:40.31\00:04:44.35
All of the ten virgins
claimed to be believers
00:04:44.38\00:04:48.68
in Jesus Christ
00:04:48.72\00:04:50.29
but five were genuine believers
00:04:50.32\00:04:53.12
and five were
counterfeit believers.
00:04:53.15\00:04:56.32
Now, the virgins were
supposed to light the way
00:04:56.36\00:05:00.56
to the wedding chamber.
00:05:00.60\00:05:01.93
This represents the
fact that God's people
00:05:01.96\00:05:05.80
who have accepted the
invitation to the wedding
00:05:05.83\00:05:09.77
need to lighten the
way to the wedding chamber.
00:05:09.80\00:05:13.01
They need to provide
light so that other people
00:05:13.04\00:05:16.21
will join in
going to the wedding
00:05:16.24\00:05:20.15
and the wedding chamber.
00:05:20.18\00:05:21.92
But you find in the parable
of the ten virgins... a delay.
00:05:21.98\00:05:26.72
The groom does not
come for the wedding
00:05:26.76\00:05:30.43
as soon as the
virgins were expecting
00:05:30.46\00:05:34.10
and so, they slumber.
00:05:34.16\00:05:36.90
But then, when the
groom is about to arrive
00:05:36.93\00:05:41.47
to enter the wedding chamber,
00:05:41.50\00:05:43.14
you have what is
called the midnight cry.
00:05:43.17\00:05:46.44
There's a cry: Behold
the bridegroom commeth,
00:05:46.47\00:05:49.71
prepare to receive Him.
00:05:49.74\00:05:51.98
And so, now, all of
the virgins wake up.
00:05:52.01\00:05:55.38
Five of them have
extra oil in their vessels
00:05:55.42\00:05:59.02
and five of them
had oil in their lamps
00:05:59.05\00:06:02.86
but no provision for extra oil.
00:06:02.89\00:06:05.96
And so, the groom arrives...
00:06:05.99\00:06:08.96
the wise virgins
enter the wedding chamber
00:06:09.00\00:06:12.50
and the door is shut.
00:06:12.53\00:06:14.80
Meanwhile, the foolish virgins
have gone to try and buy oil
00:06:14.87\00:06:20.74
but when they come back,
00:06:20.78\00:06:22.11
they realize
that the door is shut.
00:06:22.14\00:06:25.71
The wedding takes
place behind closed doors
00:06:25.75\00:06:30.45
and the foolish
are left outside.
00:06:30.49\00:06:33.72
In fact, they are
sent into outer darkness
00:06:33.76\00:06:37.93
where there is
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:06:37.99\00:06:41.93
Now, it's very
important for us to understand
00:06:41.96\00:06:45.87
that Jesus told
His followers to watch
00:06:45.90\00:06:49.17
because they did not know
when the groom was coming.
00:06:49.20\00:06:52.94
Now, we need to understand
that that is not referring
00:06:52.97\00:06:56.71
to the second coming of Christ.
00:06:56.75\00:06:58.18
That is referring to the moment
that Jesus comes to His Father
00:06:58.21\00:07:03.15
to marry His bride or
to receive the kingdom.
00:07:03.18\00:07:07.59
In other words, when Jesus says,
00:07:07.62\00:07:10.76
"You know, watch...
00:07:10.83\00:07:12.16
because you don't know
when your Lord is coming... "
00:07:12.19\00:07:13.90
it's not talking about
His coming to this earth
00:07:13.93\00:07:16.36
in His second coming,
00:07:16.40\00:07:17.73
it's talking about
Jesus going to the Father
00:07:17.77\00:07:21.14
for the marriage to His
kingdom or to His bride.
00:07:21.17\00:07:24.67
We will unpack this
more as we move along.
00:07:24.71\00:07:28.48
Now, another wedding
parable that Jesus gave
00:07:28.51\00:07:32.18
is found in Matthew chapter
22 and verses 1 through 14.
00:07:32.21\00:07:38.09
I want to read a short
statement from Ellen White,
00:07:38.12\00:07:40.86
Great Controversy page 428
00:07:40.89\00:07:43.36
where Ellen White sets the
stage for a very important event
00:07:43.39\00:07:47.20
in this particular parable.
00:07:47.26\00:07:48.86
This quotation says,
00:07:48.90\00:07:51.20
"In the parable of Matthew 22
00:07:51.23\00:07:53.30
the same figure of the
marriage is introduced... "
00:07:53.34\00:07:56.71
as in the parable of the
ten virgins... that is...
00:07:56.74\00:08:00.98
"and the Investigative
Judgment is clearly represented
00:08:01.01\00:08:05.21
as taking place
before the marriage. "
00:08:05.25\00:08:07.25
So before the marriage... before
Jesus is in the wedding chamber,
00:08:07.28\00:08:10.89
and He marries His bride...
or He marries the kingdom
00:08:10.92\00:08:13.92
there is an
investigation of the guests
00:08:13.96\00:08:16.83
to see if they
have the wedding garment
00:08:16.86\00:08:19.69
and they are actually
authorized to be there
00:08:19.73\00:08:23.16
for the wedding.
00:08:23.20\00:08:24.83
So, let's go through
this parable in Matthew 22
00:08:24.87\00:08:28.37
verses 1 through 14
00:08:28.40\00:08:30.24
and I'm only
going to synthesize...
00:08:30.27\00:08:32.74
we don't have time to go
into all of the details...
00:08:32.77\00:08:36.34
I did one entire
presentation that lasted an hour
00:08:36.38\00:08:39.88
on every detail of this parable,
00:08:39.91\00:08:42.12
but I'm only going to
give you the highlights.
00:08:42.15\00:08:43.92
In the parable,
00:08:43.95\00:08:46.02
a first invitation is
given to the Jewish theocracy.
00:08:46.05\00:08:50.13
They reject the invitation.
00:08:50.16\00:08:52.06
Then the fatted
cattle are killed...
00:08:52.09\00:08:55.13
a symbol of the death of Christ
00:08:55.16\00:08:57.50
and then a second
invitation goes out
00:08:57.53\00:09:00.87
to the same group of people...
to the Hebrew theocracy.
00:09:00.90\00:09:04.11
But the Hebrew theocracy rejects
the second invitation as well.
00:09:04.14\00:09:09.71
So, then in the year 70,
00:09:09.74\00:09:12.48
God the Father sends His
armies... the Roman legions
00:09:12.51\00:09:16.15
and they destroy the city
of Jerusalem and the temple
00:09:16.18\00:09:19.75
in the year 70.
00:09:19.82\00:09:21.29
Now, the wedding has not
taken place at this point.
00:09:21.32\00:09:24.86
Invitations are being sent out.
00:09:24.89\00:09:26.43
So, because the first two
invitations were rejected,
00:09:26.49\00:09:30.20
it's necessary for now the
invitations to go more broadly
00:09:30.27\00:09:36.34
and so, now the message...
00:09:36.37\00:09:38.77
the invitation
goes to the Gentiles...
00:09:38.81\00:09:41.51
to the uttermost
parts of the earth.
00:09:41.54\00:09:44.21
And so, through the lighting of
the way to the wedding chamber,
00:09:44.25\00:09:48.58
through the
preaching of the gospel,
00:09:48.62\00:09:51.42
many people are
accepting the invitation
00:09:51.45\00:09:54.26
to come as
guests to the wedding.
00:09:54.29\00:09:57.43
In fact, in Matthew 22
and verse 10, we are told,
00:09:57.46\00:10:01.03
"So those servants
went out into the highways,
00:10:01.06\00:10:04.43
and gathered
together all whom they found,
00:10:04.47\00:10:07.77
both bad and good:
00:10:07.80\00:10:10.17
and the wedding hall
was filled with guests. "
00:10:10.21\00:10:14.04
So, throughout
the Christian era...
00:10:14.08\00:10:16.71
throughout the
Christian dispensation,
00:10:16.75\00:10:19.35
invitations are being sent out.
00:10:19.38\00:10:21.65
People are accepting the
invitations to the wedding
00:10:21.68\00:10:25.22
that will take place later on.
00:10:25.25\00:10:27.86
And now, comes the
next event in the parable
00:10:27.89\00:10:31.63
and that is the
examination of the garments
00:10:31.66\00:10:35.36
of those who
accepted the invitation
00:10:35.43\00:10:37.17
to see if they had the right
to be in the wedding chamber
00:10:37.20\00:10:40.90
where the
wedding will take place.
00:10:40.94\00:10:44.67
We find in chapter
22 and verses 10...
00:10:44.71\00:10:48.31
actually 11 and 12
the following words.
00:10:48.34\00:10:51.88
"But when the king came
in to see the guests... "
00:10:51.91\00:10:56.58
now that word "see"
is very interesting.
00:10:56.62\00:10:59.42
There's a common
word in Greek for see...
00:10:59.45\00:11:02.22
it's the word "blepo. "
00:11:02.26\00:11:03.99
That is not the word here.
00:11:04.03\00:11:05.66
The word here is "theaomai"
which is better translated
00:11:05.69\00:11:10.60
that the king came in to examine
or to scrutinize the guests.
00:11:10.67\00:11:16.60
It continues...
"The king saw a man there
00:11:16.64\00:11:21.11
who did not have on
a wedding garment. "
00:11:21.14\00:11:25.55
In other words, he
was in the wedding chamber
00:11:25.58\00:11:28.08
but he didn't
have a wedding garment.
00:11:28.12\00:11:29.55
At this point, the
wedding has not taken place.
00:11:29.58\00:11:32.32
It's the
examination of the guests
00:11:32.35\00:11:34.49
to see if they have the
garment for the wedding.
00:11:34.52\00:11:37.83
Verse 12, "So
he said to him... "
00:11:37.86\00:11:41.46
the king says to him, "Friend,
how did you come in here
00:11:41.50\00:11:45.27
without a wedding garment?"
00:11:45.30\00:11:47.40
And he was speechless.
00:11:47.44\00:11:51.81
You see, the groom's father
00:11:51.84\00:11:53.48
sent out an
invitation to the wedding
00:11:53.51\00:11:56.48
with a special
garment for each guest.
00:11:56.54\00:11:59.48
Once in the wedding chamber,
00:11:59.51\00:12:01.72
the father examined
the garments of the guests
00:12:01.78\00:12:07.02
to determine if each was
wearing the wedding garment
00:12:07.06\00:12:10.16
that the father had sent out.
00:12:10.19\00:12:12.19
We find in the book
Great Controversy, page 482,
00:12:12.23\00:12:17.70
a very interesting
passage explaining the fact
00:12:17.73\00:12:23.17
that the invitation is given
during the gospel dispensation.
00:12:23.20\00:12:27.28
The guests who
accept the invitation
00:12:27.34\00:12:30.15
are believers during
the gospel dispensation.
00:12:30.18\00:12:33.35
However, the
wedding... we're going to find
00:12:33.38\00:12:36.55
takes place in heaven
00:12:36.58\00:12:37.92
while the invited
guests are still on the earth.
00:12:37.95\00:12:41.32
In other words,
their garments are examined
00:12:41.36\00:12:44.73
in a heavenly
Investigative Judgment
00:12:44.79\00:12:46.76
because their
names are up there...
00:12:46.80\00:12:48.73
their records are up there...
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.10
the records are
examined up there
00:12:50.13\00:12:52.20
but believers are here.
00:12:52.23\00:12:53.84
They've gone to the wedding
by faith... not physically.
00:12:53.87\00:12:58.27
In other words, the
examination of the garments
00:12:58.31\00:13:00.48
does not take place after
the second coming of Christ.
00:13:00.51\00:13:03.21
It would be absurd to think that
Jesus comes the second time...
00:13:03.24\00:13:07.42
He takes His followers...
00:13:07.45\00:13:10.25
those who had accepted
the invitation to heaven
00:13:10.29\00:13:12.19
and then in
heaven, the King comes out
00:13:12.22\00:13:14.42
and He finds an individual who
doesn't have the wedding garment
00:13:14.46\00:13:17.13
and says, "Sorry Buddy, you
got to go back to the earth. "
00:13:17.16\00:13:19.96
That's not what
this is talking about.
00:13:20.00\00:13:22.50
You see, the examination
comes before the wedding
00:13:22.53\00:13:25.60
and once the
examination is finished,
00:13:25.63\00:13:27.90
the wedding takes place
in heaven... in the chamber
00:13:27.94\00:13:31.34
Jesus marries His bride...
He takes over the kingdom
00:13:31.37\00:13:34.74
but His
Followers are on the earth.
00:13:34.78\00:13:37.65
Here's the
statement from Ellen White.
00:13:37.68\00:13:40.45
"Those who in the
judgment are 'accounted worthy'"
00:13:40.48\00:13:43.62
that is... those who
have the wedding garment,
00:13:43.65\00:13:46.82
"will have a part in the
resurrection of the just.
00:13:46.86\00:13:49.92
So, those in the examination
who are found to be worthy
00:13:49.99\00:13:54.00
because they have the garment,
00:13:54.03\00:13:55.36
will have a part in the
resurrection of the just.
00:13:55.40\00:13:58.40
Jesus said... "
00:13:58.43\00:14:00.04
and now she is going to quote
Scripture, Luke 20:35 and 36.
00:14:00.07\00:14:04.37
"They which shall be accounted
worthy to obtain that world... "
00:14:04.41\00:14:08.71
that is the world to come...
00:14:08.74\00:14:10.08
"and the
resurrection from the dead,
00:14:10.11\00:14:11.91
are equal unto the angels;
00:14:11.98\00:14:13.98
and are the children of God,
00:14:14.02\00:14:15.95
being the children
of the resurrection. "
00:14:15.98\00:14:19.72
She continues, "And again... "
00:14:19.75\00:14:22.62
she's going to
quote another verse...
00:14:22.66\00:14:24.16
John 5:29...
00:14:24.23\00:14:25.56
"And again He declares
that 'they that have done good'
00:14:25.59\00:14:28.76
shall come forth 'unto
the resurrection of life. '
00:14:28.80\00:14:32.27
John 5 verse 29."
00:14:32.30\00:14:34.70
Then she comments,
00:14:34.74\00:14:37.04
"The righteous dead will not be
raised until after the judgment
00:14:37.11\00:14:41.91
at which they
are accounted worthy
00:14:41.94\00:14:43.55
of 'the resurrection of life. '"
00:14:43.58\00:14:45.11
In other words, the righteous
are not going to resurrect
00:14:45.15\00:14:48.48
until their garments
have been examined in heaven
00:14:48.52\00:14:52.32
through their records
00:14:52.35\00:14:53.69
and then, if they
are accounted worthy,
00:14:53.72\00:14:56.16
they will
resurrect from the dead.
00:14:56.22\00:14:58.23
So, she once again says,
00:14:58.26\00:15:01.03
"The righteous dead will not be
raised until after the judgment
00:15:01.06\00:15:03.83
at which they
are accounted worthy
00:15:03.87\00:15:05.83
of 'the resurrection of life. '
00:15:05.87\00:15:07.20
Hence they will not
be present in person
00:15:07.24\00:15:11.57
at the tribunal
00:15:11.61\00:15:13.64
when their records are examined
and their cases decided. "
00:15:13.68\00:15:16.68
In other words,
they're going be on earth.
00:15:16.71\00:15:18.61
But their cases are examined
00:15:18.65\00:15:21.08
in the pre-Advent
Investigative Judgment in heaven
00:15:21.12\00:15:25.09
and so, then the
wedding takes place in heaven.
00:15:25.12\00:15:27.96
Jesus marries His kingdom.
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.56
Jesus marries the
totality of His people.
00:15:31.59\00:15:34.30
See, the bride is
not the individuals...
00:15:34.33\00:15:37.33
the bride are the
totality of the saved.
00:15:37.37\00:15:40.27
Those who accepted the
invitation and had the garment
00:15:40.30\00:15:44.21
and those
individuals who profess Jesus
00:15:44.24\00:15:48.94
but their records show
00:15:48.98\00:15:50.68
that they did not
live as followers of Jesus,
00:15:50.71\00:15:53.88
will be cast out
into outer darkness
00:15:53.92\00:15:57.42
where there was
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:15:57.45\00:16:01.52
We find in Matthew 22
verse 13, the following words,
00:16:01.56\00:16:06.63
"Then the king
said to the servants,
00:16:06.66\00:16:09.26
'Bind him hand and foot,
00:16:09.30\00:16:11.93
take him away... "
00:16:11.97\00:16:13.44
this is the man
without the garment...
00:16:13.47\00:16:15.70
"and cast him
into outer darkness;
00:16:15.74\00:16:17.94
there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth. "
00:16:17.97\00:16:21.88
So, the wedding
takes place in heaven.
00:16:21.91\00:16:24.88
Jesus marries His bride
00:16:24.91\00:16:26.48
which is the
totality of saved believers...
00:16:26.51\00:16:29.05
which is the same as
Jesus taking over the kingdom
00:16:29.08\00:16:32.95
because His kingdom is complete.
00:16:32.99\00:16:35.29
It's been revealed who
are subjects of His kingdom.
00:16:35.32\00:16:38.59
His kingdom are His people.
00:16:38.63\00:16:39.96
His bride are the
totality of His people.
00:16:40.00\00:16:43.40
Now, let's notice
other enlightening texts
00:16:43.43\00:16:47.07
that help us understand this.
00:16:47.10\00:16:48.97
Go with me to Luke
chapter 12 and verses 35 to 37.
00:16:49.00\00:16:54.08
Luke 12:35 to 37.
00:16:54.11\00:16:57.18
Here Jesus tells His
disciples... His followers,
00:16:57.21\00:17:01.42
"Let your waist be girded
and your lamps burning... "
00:17:01.45\00:17:06.52
so, the lamps
burning connects actually
00:17:06.55\00:17:09.09
with the parable
of the ten virgins.
00:17:09.12\00:17:11.56
"Let your waist be
girded and your lamps burning;
00:17:11.59\00:17:14.36
and you
yourselves be like men... "
00:17:14.40\00:17:17.17
now, here's an important point,
00:17:17.23\00:17:19.50
"who wait for their master,
00:17:19.53\00:17:21.74
when he will
return from the wedding,
00:17:21.77\00:17:24.51
that when he comes and knocks
00:17:24.54\00:17:27.34
they may open to
him immediately. "
00:17:27.38\00:17:28.94
Now, did you notice
something interesting here?
00:17:28.98\00:17:32.18
It says that the
followers of Jesus are waiting
00:17:32.21\00:17:35.38
for the Master to
return from the wedding.
00:17:35.45\00:17:38.49
So, the wedding must take
place in a different location.
00:17:38.52\00:17:42.02
The wedding
takes place in heaven
00:17:42.09\00:17:44.56
but the individual
followers of Jesus are on earth
00:17:44.59\00:17:47.73
and the totality of
the followers of Jesus
00:17:47.76\00:17:50.47
are His kingdom or His bride.
00:17:50.50\00:17:53.00
Now, it continues
saying in verse 37.
00:17:53.03\00:17:57.17
"Blessed are those servants
whom the master, when he comes,
00:17:57.21\00:18:02.34
will find watching. "
00:18:02.38\00:18:05.31
And then notice that after this,
you have the wedding supper
00:18:05.35\00:18:09.22
or we call it the
Reception after the wedding.
00:18:09.25\00:18:11.85
It continues saying,
00:18:11.89\00:18:13.76
"Assuredly, I say to you
that he... " that is Jesus...
00:18:13.79\00:18:18.29
"will gird himself and
have them sit down to eat,
00:18:18.33\00:18:23.57
and will come and serve them. "
00:18:23.63\00:18:26.63
Now, let's notice
another passage in Scripture
00:18:26.67\00:18:30.14
that helps us understand this.
00:18:30.17\00:18:31.91
Daniel chapter 7 verses 9
and 10 and verses 13 and 14.
00:18:31.97\00:18:38.18
Now, I need to give
you a little bit of context
00:18:38.21\00:18:40.95
so you understand.
00:18:40.98\00:18:42.32
In Daniel chapter
7, you have a lion
00:18:42.35\00:18:45.25
which represents
the kingdom of Babylon.
00:18:45.29\00:18:47.19
You have a bear... Medo-Persia.
00:18:47.22\00:18:49.59
You have a leopard... Greece.
00:18:49.62\00:18:51.56
You have a dragon beast
which is the Roman Empire.
00:18:51.59\00:18:54.46
Then, the dragon
beast sprouts ten horns
00:18:54.50\00:18:58.20
which means that the
Roman Empire was divided
00:18:58.23\00:19:00.70
and the division was complete
in the year 476 after Christ.
00:19:00.74\00:19:05.07
And then, among the
ten rises a Little Horn
00:19:05.11\00:19:09.04
and rules for 1,260 years.
00:19:09.08\00:19:12.61
That Little Horn represents
the Papacy from 538 to 1798
00:19:12.65\00:19:18.25
and after this, you
have a judgment scene.
00:19:18.29\00:19:22.22
In other words, the
judgment has to take place
00:19:22.26\00:19:24.29
sometime after 1798.
00:19:24.33\00:19:27.06
Notice, Daniel
chapter 7:9 and 10,
00:19:27.10\00:19:31.03
after speaking about the
1260 years that the Little Horn
00:19:31.07\00:19:34.54
basically did
whatever God allowed it to do,
00:19:34.57\00:19:37.74
we find these words.
00:19:37.77\00:19:39.27
Verses 9 and 10, "I watched
till thrones were put in place,
00:19:39.31\00:19:43.65
and the Ancient
of Days was seated:
00:19:43.68\00:19:46.31
His garment was white as snow,
00:19:46.35\00:19:48.78
and the hair of His
head was like pure wool.
00:19:48.82\00:19:52.05
His throne was a fiery flame,
00:19:52.09\00:19:54.72
it's wheels a burning fire;
00:19:54.76\00:19:57.16
A fiery stream issued and
came forth from before Him.
00:19:57.19\00:20:00.66
A thousand
thousands ministered to Him;
00:20:00.70\00:20:03.57
ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him.
00:20:03.60\00:20:06.63
The court was seated,
and the books were opened. "
00:20:06.67\00:20:11.31
That means that the
judgment is going to begin
00:20:11.34\00:20:14.51
sometime after 1798
00:20:14.54\00:20:16.95
and it's actually in 1844.
00:20:16.98\00:20:19.68
Now, this doesn't end the story.
00:20:19.71\00:20:22.78
You see, the
Father lives in heaven.
00:20:22.82\00:20:26.05
We pray, "Our Father,
which art in heaven... "
00:20:26.09\00:20:27.82
So, the Ancient
of Days is in heaven.
00:20:27.86\00:20:31.33
He's surrounded by all the
angels by 10,000 times 10,000
00:20:31.36\00:20:35.93
and thousands of thousands.
00:20:35.96\00:20:37.30
The angels live in heaven
00:20:37.33\00:20:39.20
and now... once
the Father is seated
00:20:39.23\00:20:42.70
and the judgment is to
begin, you have another scene
00:20:42.74\00:20:46.51
and that is in verses 13 and 14.
00:20:46.54\00:20:50.25
Here Daniel describes...
00:20:50.28\00:20:52.91
"I was watching
in the night visions,
00:20:52.95\00:20:55.25
and behold, One
like the Son of Man,
00:20:55.28\00:20:57.95
coming with the
clouds of heaven!"
00:20:57.99\00:21:00.19
Now, some people say,
00:21:00.22\00:21:02.79
"Well, yeah, see,
that's the second coming... "
00:21:02.82\00:21:04.46
no, it's not the second coming.
00:21:04.49\00:21:05.83
We need to read
the text carefully.
00:21:05.86\00:21:08.46
It says, "He came to
the ancient of days... "
00:21:08.50\00:21:12.30
The Father is in heaven...
He's coming to the Father.
00:21:12.33\00:21:15.34
What is He coming
to the Father for?
00:21:15.37\00:21:17.74
Let's continue...
00:21:17.77\00:21:19.41
"He came to the Ancient of Days,
00:21:19.44\00:21:20.78
and they brought
Him near before Him... "
00:21:20.81\00:21:23.45
"they" is the angels bring
Jesus near before the Father.
00:21:23.48\00:21:26.31
Why does He go there?
00:21:26.35\00:21:28.12
Verse 14, "Then to
Him... " that is... to Jesus...
00:21:28.15\00:21:31.75
"was given... "
00:21:31.79\00:21:33.12
and obviously the Father's
the one who's giving it,
00:21:33.15\00:21:34.62
"to Him was given
dominion and glory
00:21:34.66\00:21:38.66
and a kingdom
00:21:38.69\00:21:40.60
that all peoples, nations,
and languages should serve Him.
00:21:40.63\00:21:44.57
His dominion is an
everlasting dominion,
00:21:44.60\00:21:47.54
which shall not pass away,
00:21:47.57\00:21:49.30
and His kingdom... the one...
which shall not be destroyed.
00:21:49.34\00:21:53.54
So, this is the beginning
of the Investigative Judgment.
00:21:53.58\00:21:57.05
The Father sits...
the books are opened...
00:21:57.08\00:21:59.48
and now, Jesus
Christ moves to the Father
00:21:59.51\00:22:02.05
because Jesus is
going to receive His kingdom
00:22:02.08\00:22:04.85
which is the same thing
as Jesus marrying His bride.
00:22:04.89\00:22:08.69
Let's notice another
text which explains this.
00:22:08.72\00:22:12.99
Luke 19 verses 11 and 12.
00:22:13.03\00:22:16.46
Luke 19:11 and 12.
00:22:16.50\00:22:18.90
This is the
parable of the pounds.
00:22:18.93\00:22:21.67
"Now as they heard these things,
00:22:21.70\00:22:24.31
He spoke another parable,
because He was near Jerusalem
00:22:24.34\00:22:28.81
and because they thought
00:22:28.84\00:22:30.51
the kingdom of God
would appear immediately.
00:22:30.55\00:22:32.68
Therefore He said... "
now this is a short parable,
00:22:32.71\00:22:35.88
"Therefore He said,
00:22:35.92\00:22:37.25
'A certain
nobleman... '" this is Jesus...
00:22:37.29\00:22:40.66
"went into a far
country... " that is heaven...
00:22:40.69\00:22:44.73
"to receive for
himself a kingdom... "
00:22:44.76\00:22:47.50
where is he going
to receive the kingdom?
00:22:47.53\00:22:50.23
In the far
country where he went.
00:22:50.27\00:22:52.37
So, it says, "A certain
nobleman went into a far country
00:22:52.40\00:22:56.14
to receive for
himself a kingdom... "
00:22:56.17\00:22:58.97
but that doesn't end...
00:22:59.01\00:23:00.34
it says, "to receive a
kingdom and to return. "
00:23:00.38\00:23:03.58
So, He receives the
kingdom in the far country
00:23:03.61\00:23:07.08
and then He
comes... according to this.
00:23:07.12\00:23:09.48
Ellen White
understood this very well...
00:23:09.52\00:23:11.85
that the marriage... is
Jesus taking over the kingdom.
00:23:11.89\00:23:15.19
The marriage of Jesus
with the bride... means
00:23:15.22\00:23:17.86
that all of the
garments have been examined.
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.43
It's been revealed who are
true subjects of the kingdom...
00:23:20.50\00:23:24.03
Christ's kingdom is complete...
00:23:24.07\00:23:25.87
His bride is complete
00:23:25.90\00:23:27.70
and after the bride is complete,
then the door closes...
00:23:27.74\00:23:32.07
as we'll see the
time of trouble comes
00:23:32.11\00:23:34.61
and then Jesus will
return to pick up His people.
00:23:34.64\00:23:38.11
Ellen White wrote in
Early Writings, page 280.
00:23:38.18\00:23:42.02
"Every case had been
decided for life or death. "
00:23:42.05\00:23:45.85
This is when Probation closes.
00:23:45.89\00:23:47.42
"While Jesus had been
ministering in the sanctuary,
00:23:47.46\00:23:51.29
the judgment had been
going on for the righteous dead,
00:23:51.33\00:23:55.13
and then for the
righteous living. "
00:23:55.16\00:23:57.37
Now, notice this,
00:23:57.40\00:23:59.47
"Christ had
received His kingdom,
00:23:59.53\00:24:01.97
having made the
atonement for His people
00:24:02.00\00:24:05.01
and blotted out their sins. "
00:24:05.04\00:24:06.37
And now notice
what she means by:
00:24:06.41\00:24:09.61
Christ had received the kingdom.
00:24:09.64\00:24:11.21
She explains, "The subjects
of the kingdom were made up. "
00:24:11.25\00:24:16.02
So, notice clearly that after
the Investigative Judgment,
00:24:16.05\00:24:20.79
the subjects of the
kingdom have been made up
00:24:20.82\00:24:24.19
because the
judgment has revealed
00:24:24.23\00:24:26.09
who has accepted the
invitation to the wedding
00:24:26.13\00:24:28.96
and who is genuine.
00:24:29.00\00:24:30.73
And then, she goes on to say,
00:24:30.77\00:24:33.90
"The subjects of the
kingdom were made up. "
00:24:33.94\00:24:36.24
And then, she uses
another illustration,
00:24:36.27\00:24:38.51
she says, "The marriage of
the Lamb was consummated. "
00:24:38.54\00:24:41.04
So, taking over the kingdom...
00:24:41.08\00:24:43.28
which is the bulk
of all His people,
00:24:43.31\00:24:45.11
is the same as Jesus
marrying His total people.
00:24:45.15\00:24:50.32
Now, the quotation continues,
00:24:50.39\00:24:53.66
"The marriage of the
Lamb was consummated.
00:24:53.69\00:24:55.79
And the kingdom, and
the greatness of the kingdom
00:24:55.82\00:24:58.56
under the whole heaven,
00:24:58.59\00:24:59.93
was given to Jesus and
the heirs of salvation,
00:24:59.96\00:25:03.53
and Jesus was to
reign as King of kings
00:25:03.57\00:25:06.13
and Lord of lords. "
00:25:06.17\00:25:08.04
Now, the Lamb's bride in
the Bible is the New Jerusalem
00:25:08.07\00:25:12.77
which is the capital
and symbol of His kingdom.
00:25:12.81\00:25:17.28
So, we know that Jesus
marrying the New Jerusalem
00:25:17.31\00:25:21.28
is the same as Jesus
taking over the kingdom.
00:25:21.32\00:25:25.15
Notice Revelation
chapter 21 and verse 2.
00:25:25.19\00:25:28.99
Here it refers
to the New Jerusalem
00:25:29.02\00:25:31.83
as the kingdom of Christ...
00:25:31.86\00:25:34.10
as the bride of Christ.
00:25:34.13\00:25:36.26
It says there in
Revelation 21 verse 2,
00:25:36.30\00:25:38.93
"Then I John, saw the
holy city, New Jerusalem,
00:25:38.97\00:25:43.07
coming down out
of heaven from God,
00:25:43.10\00:25:46.37
prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. "
00:25:46.41\00:25:49.68
So, it says
here, the New Jerusalem
00:25:49.71\00:25:51.98
is like a bride
prepared for her husband.
00:25:52.01\00:25:55.88
What does that mean?
00:25:55.92\00:25:57.32
Is the New Jerusalem
just as a physical city
00:25:57.35\00:26:01.12
the bride of Christ?
00:26:01.19\00:26:03.12
Does Jesus marry brick and
mortar and gold and silver?
00:26:03.16\00:26:09.00
No... He's
marrying the New Jerusalem
00:26:09.03\00:26:13.00
with all of the
citizens of the city inside.
00:26:13.03\00:26:16.27
In other words, He's
marrying His kingdom...
00:26:16.30\00:26:19.71
His people that are
found within the city.
00:26:19.74\00:26:23.11
Notice Luke chapter 19:41 to 44
00:26:23.14\00:26:26.05
where Jesus
referred to Jerusalem
00:26:26.11\00:26:28.98
as the people in Jerusalem.
00:26:29.02\00:26:30.69
It says there in
verse 41 of Luke 19,
00:26:30.72\00:26:33.72
"Now as he drew near, He
saw the city and wept over it,
00:26:33.76\00:26:37.99
saying... "
00:26:38.03\00:26:39.36
now, He's talking...
He's talking to the city
00:26:39.39\00:26:41.66
as if the city
is... is a person.
00:26:41.70\00:26:44.13
"If you have known, even you,
00:26:44.17\00:26:46.30
especially in this your day,
00:26:46.33\00:26:48.40
the things that
make for your peace!
00:26:48.44\00:26:50.47
But now they are
hidden from your eyes.
00:26:50.51\00:26:52.51
For days will come upon you
00:26:52.54\00:26:54.51
when your enemies will
build an embankment around you,
00:26:54.54\00:26:57.51
surround you and
close you in on every side,
00:26:57.55\00:27:00.68
and level you... " and
now notice what is included,
00:27:00.72\00:27:03.92
"and level you, and
your children within you. "
00:27:03.99\00:27:07.12
So, it's not only the city,
it's the children in the city.
00:27:07.16\00:27:11.03
"And they will not leave
in you one stone upon another,
00:27:11.06\00:27:14.86
because you did not know... "
00:27:14.90\00:27:16.97
that is... the city of Jerusalem
00:27:17.00\00:27:18.77
and, of course,
the children within it,
00:27:18.80\00:27:21.27
"you did not know the
time of your visitation. "
00:27:21.30\00:27:25.44
So, the city of Jerusalem is
not only the physical city...
00:27:25.47\00:27:28.81
it is the people within the
city... the kingdom of Jesus...
00:27:28.84\00:27:32.11
the
conglomerate of God's people.
00:27:32.15\00:27:34.78
Notice also
Matthew 23 and verse 38,
00:27:34.82\00:27:37.42
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
00:27:37.45\00:27:40.06
the one who
kills the prophets... "
00:27:40.12\00:27:41.96
did the physical
city of Jerusalem
00:27:41.99\00:27:43.32
the brick and mortar...
00:27:43.36\00:27:44.69
mortar killed the
prophets? of course not.
00:27:44.73\00:27:46.56
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
the one who kills the prophets
00:27:46.59\00:27:49.96
and stones those
who are sent to her!
00:27:50.03\00:27:52.03
How often I wanted to
gather your children... "
00:27:52.07\00:27:54.60
see, the city has the children.
00:27:54.64\00:27:56.47
"How often I wanted to
gather your children together,
00:27:56.50\00:27:59.74
as a hen gathers her
chicks under her wings,
00:27:59.77\00:28:02.38
but you were not willing!"
00:28:02.44\00:28:04.01
Now, let's talk
for a few moments
00:28:04.05\00:28:07.15
about the wedding reception.
00:28:07.18\00:28:09.05
We've talked about the
wedding taking place in heaven,
00:28:09.08\00:28:11.95
we've talked about the invited
guests individually are on earth
00:28:11.99\00:28:16.73
the totality of God's
people on earth are the kingdom
00:28:16.76\00:28:20.96
or the bride...
00:28:21.00\00:28:22.33
whereas the individuals
are the invited guests
00:28:22.36\00:28:25.37
to the moment when Jesus marries
the totality of His kingdom
00:28:25.40\00:28:29.64
or His bride.
00:28:29.70\00:28:31.04
Revelation 19
verse 9 reads as follows:
00:28:31.07\00:28:34.34
Then he said to me, "Write:
00:28:34.38\00:28:37.05
'Blessed are
those who are called
00:28:37.08\00:28:39.45
to the marriage
supper of the Lamb!'
00:28:39.48\00:28:41.78
And he said to me, 'These
are the true sayings of God. '"
00:28:41.82\00:28:47.56
So, we find that
after the wedding,
00:28:47.59\00:28:50.23
you have the wedding reception
or the marriage supper.
00:28:50.26\00:28:54.73
Now, let's put all of
these things into perspective.
00:28:54.76\00:28:59.23
Let's look at the
composite picture of this.
00:28:59.27\00:29:02.07
I'm going to go
through several points here.
00:29:02.10\00:29:04.91
First, those who
preach the gospel
00:29:04.94\00:29:08.54
are inviting the
guests to the wedding.
00:29:08.58\00:29:11.05
There are many who accept
the invitation to the wedding.
00:29:11.08\00:29:14.78
There are genuine believers
and counterfeit believers.
00:29:14.82\00:29:18.45
But they all receive an
invitation to the wedding
00:29:18.49\00:29:21.46
and they receive a garment.
00:29:21.49\00:29:22.82
But they have
to wear the garment
00:29:22.86\00:29:24.59
in order to be accepted
as invitees to the wedding.
00:29:24.63\00:29:28.93
So, you have those
who preach the gospel
00:29:28.96\00:29:31.97
inviting the guests
to come to the wedding
00:29:32.00\00:29:34.94
which will take place
near the very end of time.
00:29:34.97\00:29:38.01
Once again, I
cannot emphasize enough
00:29:38.04\00:29:40.64
that the bride is the
totality of God's people...
00:29:40.68\00:29:45.01
the kingdom is the
totality of faithful believers.
00:29:45.05\00:29:49.32
In 1844, Jesus came to His
Father... this is in Daniel 7,
00:29:49.35\00:29:54.92
to begin the process that would
eventually make it possible
00:29:54.96\00:30:00.53
for Jesus to receive the kingdom
00:30:00.56\00:30:02.96
or to marry His
bride... the church as a whole.
00:30:03.00\00:30:07.40
Since 1844, the king has
been examining the garments
00:30:07.44\00:30:12.84
of each person individually
00:30:12.87\00:30:15.74
who has accepted the
gospel invitation to the wedding
00:30:15.78\00:30:19.58
to determine if
they have a right
00:30:19.61\00:30:22.48
to remain in the
wedding chamber for the wedding.
00:30:22.52\00:30:26.82
The judgment began with those
who first lived upon the earth,
00:30:26.86\00:30:30.83
that is, with Adam... the first
being to live on this earth
00:30:30.86\00:30:34.76
and this judgment will
end with those who are alive
00:30:34.80\00:30:38.60
just before the
close of probation.
00:30:38.63\00:30:41.80
I repeat once again,
these persons as individuals
00:30:41.84\00:30:46.27
are the invited
guests to the wedding.
00:30:46.31\00:30:49.04
However, the people as a whole,
the faithful church of all ages
00:30:49.08\00:30:54.78
in its entirety...
00:30:54.82\00:30:56.15
both those who died
and will be resurrected
00:30:56.18\00:30:59.12
and those who are alive at
the second coming of Christ,
00:30:59.15\00:31:01.56
they are Christ's
kingdom or Christ's bride.
00:31:01.59\00:31:07.73
I want to read a
statement that we find
00:31:07.76\00:31:10.80
in Christ's
Object Lessons, page 307
00:31:10.83\00:31:13.44
where it
explains that the wedding
00:31:13.47\00:31:16.00
is the wedding
between Jesus and humanity...
00:31:16.07\00:31:19.57
that is... faithful humanity.
00:31:19.61\00:31:21.14
It says there, "The
parable of the wedding garment
00:31:21.18\00:31:24.21
opens before us a lesson
of the highest consequence.
00:31:24.25\00:31:27.88
By the marriage is represented
00:31:27.92\00:31:29.88
the union of
humanity with divinity...
00:31:29.92\00:31:32.59
that is... all of
humanity with Jesus Christ.
00:31:32.62\00:31:36.06
"The wedding garment
represents the character
00:31:36.09\00:31:39.53
which all must
possess who shall be accounted
00:31:39.56\00:31:43.40
fit guests for the wedding. "
00:31:43.43\00:31:45.30
Now, people say,
00:31:45.33\00:31:47.27
"Well, why would Jesus
want to do an investigation?"
00:31:47.34\00:31:50.21
Isn't everybody who has accepted
Jesus Christ a genuine believer?
00:31:50.24\00:31:55.11
Absolutely not.
00:31:55.14\00:31:56.48
The Bible tells
us that in the church
00:31:56.51\00:31:58.85
there are wheat and tares.
00:31:58.88\00:32:00.22
Both the wheat and
tares claim Jesus as Savior.
00:32:00.25\00:32:03.15
There is foolish
and wise virgins.
00:32:03.18\00:32:05.82
There are those who
have a wedding garment
00:32:05.85\00:32:08.76
and those who don't
in the wedding chamber
00:32:08.79\00:32:10.83
and there are also those
who are good fish and bad fish.
00:32:10.86\00:32:15.76
There are those who
have a form of godliness
00:32:15.80\00:32:17.90
and people who
have true godliness.
00:32:17.93\00:32:20.44
You see, not everyone
who has claimed Jesus Christ
00:32:20.50\00:32:23.67
as Savior and Lord has
been true and faithful.
00:32:23.71\00:32:26.78
Those who are found
without a wedding garment
00:32:26.81\00:32:29.84
are removed from
the book of Life.
00:32:29.88\00:32:33.11
However, God's faithful people
00:32:33.15\00:32:36.32
who have been
purged and examined...
00:32:36.35\00:32:38.59
they will be pure
and faithful and clean.
00:32:38.62\00:32:43.39
At the time when
the probation closes,
00:32:43.43\00:32:46.39
the bride has
made herself ready.
00:32:46.43\00:32:49.16
She is complete
00:32:49.20\00:32:51.20
and Jesus will
marry His kingdom...
00:32:51.23\00:32:54.70
Jesus will marry His bride.
00:32:54.77\00:32:57.41
After the marriage takes place,
00:32:57.44\00:33:00.04
then, the door of
Probation shuts...
00:33:00.08\00:33:04.95
actually before the
wedding takes place...
00:33:05.01\00:33:07.55
the door of Probation shuts
00:33:07.62\00:33:09.82
and those who are
left out are lost.
00:33:09.88\00:33:13.49
They're cast into outer darkness
00:33:13.52\00:33:17.09
where there is
wailing and gnashing of teeth.
00:33:17.13\00:33:20.73
So, at the moment when
the marriage takes place,
00:33:20.76\00:33:24.33
the marriage is
about to take place,
00:33:24.37\00:33:27.67
the door closes...
the chamber is shut
00:33:27.70\00:33:31.67
and those who
arrive late, are not saved.
00:33:31.71\00:33:35.48
However, after the
wedding takes place,
00:33:35.51\00:33:39.21
God's people will
still be on earth.
00:33:39.25\00:33:42.88
There will be a time of trouble
such as never has been seen
00:33:42.92\00:33:46.55
in the history of the world.
00:33:46.59\00:33:47.96
Matthew chapter 24
verses 21 and 22 tells us
00:33:47.99\00:33:52.39
that it's a
worst time of trouble
00:33:52.43\00:33:54.23
in the history of the world.
00:33:54.26\00:33:55.76
We're told that
the beast and his image
00:33:55.80\00:33:58.13
will try to impose
the Mark of the Beast
00:33:58.17\00:34:01.00
and those who do not comply,
00:34:01.04\00:34:03.00
they will be
under death sentence...
00:34:03.04\00:34:05.14
they will not be
able to buy or sell.
00:34:05.17\00:34:07.28
But Jesus will come from heaven
00:34:07.31\00:34:09.94
and He will rescue His people
00:34:09.98\00:34:12.81
and when He rescues His people,
00:34:12.85\00:34:15.58
He will gather His elect
from the four winds of heaven
00:34:15.62\00:34:19.75
and take them to heaven for
the marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:34:19.79\00:34:25.89
Let's notice this quotation
from Adventist Home, page 503.
00:34:25.93\00:34:31.97
"To the mind of Jesus,
00:34:32.00\00:34:34.04
the gladness of
the wedding festivities
00:34:34.10\00:34:36.97
pointed forward to
the rejoicing of that day
00:34:37.01\00:34:40.64
when He shall bring home His
bride to the Father's house. "
00:34:40.68\00:34:45.65
The bride is all of His people.
00:34:45.68\00:34:48.35
"And the
redeemed with the Redeemer
00:34:48.38\00:34:51.02
shall sit down to the
marriage supper of the Lamb. "
00:34:51.05\00:34:54.49
So, you notice Jesus
goes to His Father...
00:34:54.52\00:34:58.53
does the work of examination...
00:34:58.56\00:35:01.16
those who have
the wedding garment,
00:35:01.23\00:35:03.47
they become part
of Christ's kingdom...
00:35:03.50\00:35:05.70
permanently Christ marries His
kingdom... marries His bride,
00:35:05.73\00:35:10.51
then the time of trouble ensues,
00:35:10.54\00:35:12.97
Jesus returns to this
earth and He picks up His bride
00:35:13.01\00:35:18.61
and takes His bride to heaven
00:35:18.65\00:35:20.48
for the celebration
of the wedding supper.
00:35:20.52\00:35:22.78
Once again, "to
the mind of Jesus,
00:35:22.82\00:35:24.75
to the gladness of
the wedding festivities
00:35:24.79\00:35:27.02
pointed forward to
the rejoicing of that day
00:35:27.06\00:35:29.19
when He shall bring home
His bride to the Father's house,
00:35:29.22\00:35:32.63
and the redeemed
with the Redeemer
00:35:32.69\00:35:34.76
shall sit down to the
marriage supper of the Lamb. "
00:35:34.80\00:35:38.53
We also find in
Counsels to the Church, page 36,
00:35:38.57\00:35:42.24
"Soon we heard His
lovely voice again, saying,
00:35:42.30\00:35:47.74
'Come, My people,
00:35:47.78\00:35:49.78
you have come out of
great tribulation... '"
00:35:49.81\00:35:52.58
this is after they've gone
through the time of trouble,
00:35:52.61\00:35:54.78
"and done My will;
and suffered for Me;
00:35:54.82\00:35:57.95
come in to supper,
00:35:57.99\00:36:00.06
for I will gird
Myself, and serve you. "
00:36:00.09\00:36:03.59
Ellen White who is
seeing this in vision says,
00:36:03.63\00:36:07.13
"We shouted, 'Alleluia! glory!'
00:36:07.16\00:36:10.07
and entered into the city.
00:36:10.13\00:36:11.93
And I saw a
table of pure silver;
00:36:11.97\00:36:15.14
it was many miles in length,
00:36:15.20\00:36:18.17
yet our eyes
could extend over it. "
00:36:18.21\00:36:20.74
Obviously, God is
going to fix our eyes
00:36:20.78\00:36:23.24
if we're going to see a
table many miles in length
00:36:23.28\00:36:26.08
and our eyes could
extend over all the table
00:36:26.11\00:36:29.35
and then she speaks of the fruit
that is going to be on the table
00:36:29.38\00:36:33.39
for the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
00:36:33.42\00:36:35.06
Most of these products
are California products
00:36:35.09\00:36:38.36
because Ellen
White retired and died
00:36:38.39\00:36:41.26
in the Napa
Valley in California.
00:36:41.30\00:36:44.17
But, she has a caveat...
00:36:44.20\00:36:46.30
she says that there's
going to be other kinds of fruit
00:36:46.33\00:36:48.94
besides the ones that
she mentions, let me read it,
00:36:48.97\00:36:51.31
"I saw the fruit
of the tree of life,
00:36:51.34\00:36:55.48
the manna,
almonds, figs, pomegranates,
00:36:55.51\00:36:59.61
grapes... "
00:36:59.68\00:37:01.02
and for those who
love tropical fruits...
00:37:01.05\00:37:03.62
"and many other
kinds of fruits. "
00:37:03.69\00:37:05.65
Perhaps, many of them that Ellen
White was not acquainted with.
00:37:05.69\00:37:10.13
Now, we need to solve a
potential problem at this point.
00:37:10.16\00:37:14.73
The Bible makes it clear
00:37:14.76\00:37:17.30
that the wedding
takes place in heaven
00:37:17.33\00:37:20.20
before Jesus returns to
this earth for the second time
00:37:20.24\00:37:23.91
to pick up His bride
00:37:23.97\00:37:25.34
and take His bride to heaven.
00:37:25.37\00:37:27.64
However, many modern
versions leave the impression
00:37:27.68\00:37:32.61
that Jesus will
gather His people
00:37:32.65\00:37:35.85
to take them to heaven
00:37:35.88\00:37:37.95
after the wedding
supper has taken place.
00:37:37.99\00:37:40.62
These translations are confusing
00:37:40.66\00:37:43.29
because other
texts as we have noticed
00:37:43.32\00:37:46.36
clearly affirm... that we
will literally sit at the table
00:37:46.39\00:37:51.13
at the supper of the Lamb
00:37:51.17\00:37:53.27
and Jesus will serve us.
00:37:53.30\00:37:55.27
So, the question is,
00:37:55.30\00:37:57.27
"When is the
marriage supper of the Lamb?"
00:37:57.31\00:37:59.31
Does it take
place before Jesus comes
00:37:59.34\00:38:02.34
and He comes after the supper?
00:38:02.38\00:38:04.25
or does it take place
00:38:04.28\00:38:05.81
after He takes
His people to heaven
00:38:05.85\00:38:09.05
and they will sit with Him?
00:38:09.08\00:38:10.55
Let me read you two
versions of the Bible
00:38:10.59\00:38:14.22
that present
different scenarios.
00:38:14.26\00:38:16.59
The New King
James Version reads,
00:38:16.62\00:38:18.93
here Jesus is speaking,
00:38:18.96\00:38:21.50
this is Luke 12:35 to 37,
00:38:21.53\00:38:24.00
"Let your waist be
girded and your lamps burning;
00:38:24.03\00:38:27.90
and you yourselves be like
men who wait for their master,
00:38:27.94\00:38:31.84
when he will return
from the wedding... "
00:38:31.87\00:38:34.21
notice... when he will
return from the wedding...
00:38:34.24\00:38:36.71
"that when he comes and knocks
00:38:36.75\00:38:38.95
they may open
to him immediately.
00:38:38.98\00:38:41.18
Blessed are those
servants whom the master,
00:38:41.22\00:38:43.49
when he comes,
will find watching.
00:38:43.52\00:38:45.09
Assuredly, I say to you
that he will gird himself
00:38:45.15\00:38:48.29
and have them sit down to eat,
00:38:48.32\00:38:50.23
and will come and serve them. "
00:38:50.26\00:38:52.13
So, you notice... you have here
00:38:52.16\00:38:53.93
the return of
Jesus from the wedding
00:38:53.96\00:38:56.50
and then, the
redeemed will sit down
00:38:56.53\00:38:59.00
to partake of the
marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:38:59.03\00:39:01.90
The NIV, however,
presents it differently.
00:39:01.94\00:39:04.81
Here's what it says,
00:39:04.84\00:39:06.91
"Be dressed ready for service
and keep your lamps burning,
00:39:06.94\00:39:12.08
like men
waiting for their master
00:39:12.11\00:39:14.58
to return from
a wedding banquet,
00:39:14.62\00:39:17.22
so that when he comes and knocks
00:39:17.25\00:39:20.26
they can immediately
open the door for him.
00:39:20.29\00:39:22.49
It will be good
for those servants
00:39:22.52\00:39:24.53
whose master finds
them watching when he comes.
00:39:24.59\00:39:27.10
I tell you the truth,
00:39:27.13\00:39:28.73
he will dress himself to serve,
00:39:28.76\00:39:30.93
will have them
recline at the table
00:39:30.97\00:39:33.07
and will come
and wait on them. "
00:39:33.10\00:39:35.14
So, it gives the impression
00:39:35.17\00:39:36.50
that there's going to
be two marriage suppers.
00:39:36.54\00:39:38.14
One before Jesus comes
00:39:38.17\00:39:40.01
and the one after Jesus
takes His people to heaven.
00:39:40.04\00:39:43.04
It will be noticed that the NIV
00:39:43.11\00:39:46.08
and many other
contemporary versions,
00:39:46.11\00:39:48.38
Jesus returns to the earth from
the heavenly wedding banquet
00:39:48.42\00:39:52.89
to gather His waiting people.
00:39:52.92\00:39:54.76
In other words,
the wedding takes place
00:39:54.79\00:39:58.09
in heaven before Jesus comes
00:39:58.13\00:40:01.36
and the wedding
supper takes place
00:40:01.40\00:40:04.97
also before Jesus comes.
00:40:05.00\00:40:07.70
The question is:
Which translation fits best
00:40:07.74\00:40:11.04
with all of the
Biblical evidence?
00:40:11.07\00:40:13.21
We need to
understand the use of terms.
00:40:13.27\00:40:16.04
The Greek words
used for marriage
00:40:16.08\00:40:19.65
which are gámos and gameó
00:40:19.68\00:40:21.88
include both the
wedding and the wedding feast.
00:40:21.92\00:40:24.79
In other words, the
Greek words gámos and gameó
00:40:24.82\00:40:27.72
they're used for a
marriage... they include both.
00:40:27.79\00:40:30.59
They include the
wedding and the wedding feast.
00:40:30.63\00:40:33.40
In our times, we make a
distinction between the wedding
00:40:33.43\00:40:37.23
and the wedding
feast or the reception.
00:40:37.27\00:40:39.30
However, in Biblical times
00:40:39.33\00:40:41.50
the covenant vow in the
marriage lasted very few minutes
00:40:41.54\00:40:46.27
but the celebration of the
feast sometimes lasted days
00:40:46.31\00:40:51.01
even months
00:40:51.05\00:40:52.38
and in some rare
cases, even years.
00:40:52.41\00:40:55.78
The Greek language
does not have a word
00:40:55.82\00:40:59.22
that distinguishes between
the wedding and the feast
00:40:59.25\00:41:02.79
as we do today.
00:41:02.82\00:41:04.53
We call it the
wedding and the reception.
00:41:04.56\00:41:07.03
The Greek did not
have two distinct words
00:41:07.06\00:41:09.50
for these two distinct things
00:41:09.56\00:41:10.97
because people at
that time perceived
00:41:11.00\00:41:13.64
that the wedding
and the reception
00:41:13.67\00:41:16.20
were actually part
of one single event.
00:41:16.24\00:41:19.27
However, there's
an interesting detail.
00:41:19.31\00:41:22.31
The Greek does have a word
00:41:22.34\00:41:25.28
that is used
only for the feast...
00:41:25.31\00:41:27.75
only for the wedding feast
00:41:27.78\00:41:29.78
and that word
is the word deipnon
00:41:29.82\00:41:33.56
and that word is used
in Revelation chapter 19
00:41:33.59\00:41:37.09
and verse 9 where it says,
00:41:37.13\00:41:38.69
"Blessed are those who are
invited to the wedding feast. "
00:41:38.73\00:41:43.16
So, we know that Jesus
will come to receive His people.
00:41:43.23\00:41:47.64
Those invited guests who prove
faithful... who had the garment
00:41:47.70\00:41:51.91
and He will take them to
heaven for the wedding feast.
00:41:51.97\00:41:55.24
So, this is the process.
00:41:55.31\00:41:57.01
Jesus will marry
His kingdom in heaven.
00:41:57.05\00:42:00.38
The church or the
kingdom is on earth.
00:42:00.42\00:42:03.69
Then Jesus will return
from the wedding in heaven
00:42:03.72\00:42:07.32
and He will take His waiting
people from earth to heaven
00:42:07.36\00:42:12.33
where there
will be the reception
00:42:12.36\00:42:15.33
at the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
00:42:15.36\00:42:18.20
I cannot emphasize enough Folks,
00:42:18.23\00:42:21.00
that the bride is the church
or the kingdom as a whole...
00:42:21.04\00:42:25.97
all of the believers...
00:42:26.01\00:42:27.88
while the church
members as individuals
00:42:27.91\00:42:31.55
are the guests to the wedding.
00:42:31.58\00:42:34.48
The bride is
the New Jerusalem...
00:42:34.52\00:42:37.35
a symbol of
Christ's entire kingdom...
00:42:37.39\00:42:40.39
all of His faithful
people within the city.
00:42:40.46\00:42:43.99
Ellen White had a
remarkable statement
00:42:44.03\00:42:46.90
where she puts
everything together.
00:42:46.93\00:42:49.73
See, this woman had two and a
half years of Primary education.
00:42:49.76\00:42:53.77
She's criticized by many
00:42:53.80\00:42:55.94
but how precise she
was in what she said about
00:42:55.97\00:43:01.01
wedding customs
and the processes
00:43:01.04\00:43:04.01
that we've been looking at.
00:43:04.05\00:43:05.38
This statement is long but
I'm going to read the entire one
00:43:05.41\00:43:08.55
because it's very significant.
00:43:08.58\00:43:11.59
Great Controversy, 426 and 427.
00:43:11.62\00:43:14.52
"I saw angels
hurrying to and fro in heaven.
00:43:14.56\00:43:18.16
An angel with a
writer's inkhorn by his side
00:43:18.19\00:43:21.73
returned from the earth
00:43:21.76\00:43:23.30
and reported to Jesus
that his work was done
00:43:23.33\00:43:25.90
and the saints were
numbered and sealed. "
00:43:25.93\00:43:28.44
So, this is the
end of the judgment.
00:43:28.47\00:43:30.41
In other words,
all of God's people
00:43:30.44\00:43:32.34
are in the wedding chamber,
00:43:32.37\00:43:33.71
their cases have been
examined, they had the garment
00:43:33.74\00:43:36.78
and now the wedding
is going take place.
00:43:36.81\00:43:38.48
She continues,
"Then I saw Jesus,
00:43:38.51\00:43:41.38
who had been
ministering before the ark
00:43:41.42\00:43:43.79
containing the Ten Commandments,
00:43:43.82\00:43:45.15
throw down the censer. "
00:43:45.22\00:43:46.65
In other words, he was
using the censer to intercede.
00:43:46.72\00:43:49.72
Now, intercession is ended.
00:43:49.76\00:43:51.29
She continues,
"He raised His hands,
00:43:51.36\00:43:53.80
and with a loud
voice said, 'It is done. '
00:43:53.83\00:43:57.37
Then all the angelic
host laid off their crowns
00:43:57.40\00:44:00.64
as Jesus made the
solemn declaration,
00:44:00.67\00:44:03.37
'He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still;
00:44:03.41\00:44:05.97
and he which is filthy,
let him be filthy still;
00:44:06.01\00:44:08.54
and he that is righteous,
let him be righteous still;
00:44:08.58\00:44:11.21
and he that is holy,
let him be holy still. '"
00:44:11.25\00:44:14.12
Then she continues,
00:44:14.15\00:44:16.18
"The marriage represents
the reception by Christ
00:44:16.25\00:44:20.82
of His kingdom. "
00:44:20.86\00:44:22.36
See it really clear
00:44:22.39\00:44:23.89
but in order to
receive the kingdom,
00:44:23.93\00:44:26.09
He has to show beforehand
who belongs to the kingdom
00:44:26.13\00:44:29.00
by the Investigative Judgment.
00:44:29.03\00:44:30.63
So, the marriage
represents the reception
00:44:30.67\00:44:34.17
by Christ of His kingdom.
00:44:34.24\00:44:35.57
The Holy City,
the New Jerusalem,
00:44:35.60\00:44:37.71
which is the capital and
representative of the kingdom,
00:44:37.74\00:44:42.01
of course, because all
of His people are in it,
00:44:42.04\00:44:44.08
is called 'the
bride, the Lamb's wife. '
00:44:44.15\00:44:46.75
Said the angel to
John: 'Come hither,
00:44:46.82\00:44:49.35
I will show thee the
bride, the Lamb's wife. '
00:44:49.38\00:44:52.22
He carried me away in the
spirit,' says the prophet,
00:44:52.25\00:44:55.12
'and showed me that
great city, the holy Jerusalem,
00:44:55.16\00:44:57.99
descending out of
heaven from God. '
00:44:58.03\00:45:01.06
Clearly, then, the bride
represents the Holy City. "
00:45:01.10\00:45:05.50
That is the entirety of
God's people in the city, Folks,
00:45:05.53\00:45:09.90
it's not the bare city...
00:45:09.97\00:45:11.91
the physical city
of brick and mortar
00:45:11.94\00:45:14.34
if there is such a
thing and gold and silver.
00:45:14.38\00:45:16.34
Once again, it says
here, "Clearly then,
00:45:16.38\00:45:20.35
the bride
represents the Holy City,
00:45:20.38\00:45:22.88
and the virgins that go
out to meet the bridegroom
00:45:22.92\00:45:27.16
are a symbol of the church. "
00:45:27.19\00:45:28.89
That is... of the
individuals in the church.
00:45:28.92\00:45:31.26
"In Revelation,
the people of God
00:45:31.29\00:45:33.73
are said to be the
guests at the marriage supper.
00:45:33.76\00:45:36.30
If guests, they cannot be
represented also as the bride. "
00:45:36.36\00:45:42.24
So, as
individuals, they are guests.
00:45:42.27\00:45:45.01
They cannot be represented
as individuals as the bride.
00:45:45.04\00:45:48.28
The bride is the
totality of Christ's kingdom...
00:45:48.31\00:45:51.85
the totality of His people.
00:45:51.88\00:45:53.68
She continues,
00:45:53.72\00:45:55.05
"Christ, as stated
by the prophet Daniel,
00:45:55.08\00:45:58.02
will receive from the
Ancient of Days in heaven,
00:45:58.05\00:46:01.12
'dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom. '
00:46:01.16\00:46:04.33
He will receive
the New Jerusalem,
00:46:04.36\00:46:07.53
the capital of His kingdom,
00:46:07.56\00:46:09.76
'prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband. '
00:46:09.80\00:46:13.13
Having received the kingdom,
He will come in His glory,
00:46:13.20\00:46:17.74
as King of kings
and Lord of lords,
00:46:17.77\00:46:20.01
for the
redemption of His people,
00:46:20.04\00:46:22.18
who are to 'sit down... '"
now comes the wedding feast...
00:46:22.21\00:46:25.65
"who are to sit down with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,'
00:46:25.71\00:46:29.12
at His table in His kingdom,
00:46:29.15\00:46:32.19
to partake of the
marriage supper of the Lamb. "
00:46:32.22\00:46:36.22
She continues,
00:46:36.26\00:46:38.19
"The proclamation, 'Behold,
the Bridegroom commeth... '"
00:46:38.23\00:46:41.26
she's going back to the
parable of the ten virgins,
00:46:41.30\00:46:43.40
"in the summer of 1844,
00:46:43.43\00:46:47.20
led thousands to expect the
immediate advent of the Lord.
00:46:47.24\00:46:50.77
At the appointed
time the Bridegroom came,
00:46:50.81\00:46:55.68
not to the earth,
as the people expected,
00:46:55.71\00:46:59.31
but to the
Ancient of Days in heaven,
00:46:59.35\00:47:02.08
to the marriage, the
reception of the kingdom. "
00:47:02.12\00:47:05.29
Can't be any clearer...
00:47:05.32\00:47:07.72
Jesus went to the
Ancient of Days in heaven...
00:47:07.79\00:47:11.33
to the marriage...
00:47:11.36\00:47:12.69
the reception of the kingdom.
00:47:12.73\00:47:14.93
The marriage is
Christ receiving the kingdom.
00:47:14.96\00:47:17.23
She continues, "They that
were ready went in with Him
00:47:17.27\00:47:21.30
to the marriage:
and the door was shut. '
00:47:21.34\00:47:23.41
They were not to be present
in person at the marriage... "
00:47:23.44\00:47:28.54
so, the guests are
not there personally...
00:47:28.58\00:47:31.75
"for it takes place in heaven,
while they are upon the earth.
00:47:31.78\00:47:37.09
The followers of Christ
are to 'wait for their Lord,
00:47:37.12\00:47:40.42
when He will
return from the wedding. "
00:47:40.46\00:47:42.62
She's quoting Luke 12:36.
00:47:42.66\00:47:44.79
"However, they are
to understand His work,
00:47:44.86\00:47:48.13
and to follow Him by
faith as He goes in before God.
00:47:48.16\00:47:53.07
It is in this sense
00:47:53.10\00:47:55.20
that they are said to
go in to the marriage. "
00:47:55.24\00:47:57.87
So, people don't go physically
into the marriage chamber...
00:47:57.91\00:48:02.61
they go there by faith
00:48:02.64\00:48:04.71
because the
records are in heaven.
00:48:04.75\00:48:07.15
In another statement by
Ellen White in Desire of Ages,
00:48:07.18\00:48:10.85
page 151, she wrote,
00:48:10.89\00:48:12.52
"In both the Old
and the New Testament,
00:48:12.55\00:48:15.29
the marriage relation
is employed to represent
00:48:15.32\00:48:18.56
the tender and sacred
union that exists between Christ
00:48:18.59\00:48:23.23
and His people. "
00:48:23.26\00:48:24.83
That is... all of His people.
00:48:24.87\00:48:27.07
She continues,
"To the mind of Jesus
00:48:27.10\00:48:30.04
the gladness of
the wedding festivities
00:48:30.11\00:48:32.97
pointed forward to
the rejoicing of that day
00:48:33.01\00:48:36.64
when He shall
bring home His bride. "
00:48:36.68\00:48:40.45
Who is His bride?
00:48:40.52\00:48:42.65
Not individuals... but
the entirety of God's people.
00:48:42.68\00:48:46.86
So, it says, once again...
00:48:46.92\00:48:49.39
"To the mind of Jesus
00:48:49.42\00:48:50.76
the gladness of
the wedding festivities
00:48:50.79\00:48:52.13
pointed forward to
the rejoicing of that day
00:48:52.19\00:48:54.56
when He shall bring His
bride to the Father's house...
00:48:54.60\00:48:58.73
that's to heaven
00:48:58.77\00:49:00.10
and the redeemed
with the Redeemer
00:49:00.14\00:49:02.57
shall sit down to the
marriage supper of the Lamb. "
00:49:02.60\00:49:07.04
It cannot be any
clearer than this.
00:49:07.08\00:49:10.01
Well, let me give
you another illustration
00:49:10.05\00:49:12.71
that Jesus
presented as a parable.
00:49:12.75\00:49:14.45
It's known as the
Parable of the Dragnet.
00:49:14.48\00:49:18.15
Let's read Matthew
13 verses 47 to 50,
00:49:18.19\00:49:21.76
this is another way of
looking at the same teaching.
00:49:21.79\00:49:24.19
Matthew 13 verse 47,
00:49:24.23\00:49:27.00
"Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like a dragnet
00:49:27.03\00:49:30.50
that was cast into the sea
00:49:30.53\00:49:33.70
and gathered some of every kind,
00:49:33.74\00:49:36.40
which, when it was
full, they drew to the shore;
00:49:36.44\00:49:40.68
and they sat down and
gathered the good into vessels,
00:49:40.71\00:49:44.41
but threw the bad away. "
00:49:44.45\00:49:46.45
And now comes the comparison.
00:49:46.48\00:49:48.45
So it will be at
the end of the age.
00:49:48.48\00:49:51.02
Angels will come forth,
00:49:51.05\00:49:53.32
separate the wicked
from among the just,
00:49:53.36\00:49:56.06
and cast them into
the furnace of fire. "
00:49:56.09\00:49:58.79
And now, notice...
00:49:58.83\00:50:00.20
There will be wailing
and gnashing of teeth. "
00:50:00.23\00:50:03.97
Now, what does the "sea"
in this parable represent?
00:50:04.00\00:50:08.40
The "sea" represents all
the inhabitants of the world.
00:50:08.44\00:50:12.57
The "fish" in the sea represent
00:50:12.61\00:50:15.68
the individual
members of humanity.
00:50:15.71\00:50:18.81
Individual persons...
00:50:18.85\00:50:20.18
the fisherman are those
who proclaim the gospel...
00:50:20.22\00:50:25.15
those who have
accepted the invitation
00:50:25.19\00:50:26.82
and proclaimed
the gospel to others.
00:50:26.86\00:50:29.39
They are fishers of
men according to Jesus.
00:50:29.42\00:50:32.83
The "net" is the gospel message.
00:50:32.86\00:50:36.93
The casting of the net
00:50:36.97\00:50:39.00
means the preaching
of the gospel message
00:50:39.03\00:50:42.20
to catch the fish.
00:50:42.24\00:50:44.34
The boat represents the church.
00:50:44.37\00:50:50.15
The separation of the
good fish from the bad fish
00:50:50.18\00:50:52.71
is the Investigative Judgment
00:50:52.75\00:50:55.05
and the casting
out of the bad fish
00:50:55.08\00:50:58.22
and the
gathering of the good fish
00:50:58.25\00:51:01.32
represents the
execution of the judgment
00:51:01.36\00:51:04.39
when God's people will
be received into the kingdom
00:51:04.43\00:51:08.50
and share in the
marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:51:08.56\00:51:12.10
In Matthew chapter 4 verses
18 through 20, Jesus wrote...
00:51:12.13\00:51:16.91
Jesus said... Matthew wrote...
00:51:16.94\00:51:19.57
"And Jesus walking
by the Sea of Galilee,
00:51:19.61\00:51:22.81
saw two brothers,
Simon called Peter,
00:51:22.84\00:51:26.01
and Andrew his brother,
00:51:26.05\00:51:28.25
casting a net into the sea;
00:51:28.28\00:51:30.15
for they were fishermen.
00:51:30.19\00:51:31.99
Then He said to
them, 'Follow Me,
00:51:32.02\00:51:35.22
and I will make
you fishers of men. '"
00:51:35.26\00:51:38.89
So, there's going
to be a separation
00:51:38.93\00:51:41.66
of the good fish
from the bad fish
00:51:41.70\00:51:44.07
just like there
would be a separation
00:51:44.10\00:51:46.43
of the wheat from the tares...
00:51:46.47\00:51:47.80
a separation of the wise virgins
from the foolish virgins...
00:51:47.84\00:51:51.97
a separation of those
who have a form of godliness
00:51:52.01\00:51:54.61
from those who
have true godliness
00:51:54.64\00:51:56.88
and we could go on.
00:51:56.91\00:51:59.15
Many parables of Jesus
00:51:59.18\00:52:01.35
speak of this idea of
an Investigative Judgment
00:52:01.38\00:52:04.29
to determine if an individual
00:52:04.32\00:52:06.62
deserved to remain within the
wedding chamber for the wedding.
00:52:06.65\00:52:10.69
The Bible is
clear on this point.
00:52:10.73\00:52:13.43
Now, if there is one doctrine
00:52:13.46\00:52:16.26
that the Christian world rejects
00:52:16.30\00:52:19.03
that the Seventh-day
Adventist church holds,
00:52:19.07\00:52:21.77
is the idea of a pre-Advent
Investigative Judgment.
00:52:21.80\00:52:26.01
They say, "Why
would Jesus have to make
00:52:26.07\00:52:28.18
an Investigative
Judgment in heaven?
00:52:28.21\00:52:30.28
To examine all those
who have professed His name.
00:52:30.31\00:52:32.85
Well, I think the answer is
obvious after we've studied.
00:52:32.88\00:52:36.28
In the church, there are
true and counterfeit believers.
00:52:36.35\00:52:39.75
So, the
judgment has to determine
00:52:39.79\00:52:42.16
who is
counterfeit and who is genuine
00:52:42.19\00:52:44.66
before Jesus comes
to give His reward.
00:52:44.69\00:52:47.53
See, the Christian
world... the problem is
00:52:47.56\00:52:51.10
that they believe that
a person's situation...
00:52:51.13\00:52:54.64
a person's Sentence
takes place when a person dies.
00:52:54.67\00:52:58.57
You know, the basic teaching
is that when a person...
00:52:58.61\00:53:02.51
person dies...
00:53:02.54\00:53:04.88
person that
accepted Jesus Christ...
00:53:04.91\00:53:07.42
well, they immediately...
their soul flies off to heaven.
00:53:07.45\00:53:10.89
If the person did not
receive Jesus Christ as Savior
00:53:10.92\00:53:14.66
and was
considered a wicked person,
00:53:14.72\00:53:17.56
that person then
goes... at the moment of death
00:53:17.59\00:53:20.66
to burn in the fires of hell.
00:53:20.70\00:53:22.63
So, in other words,
00:53:22.66\00:53:24.40
judgment has taken
place when the person died.
00:53:24.43\00:53:27.27
Because if the person's soul
goes to heaven when they died,
00:53:27.30\00:53:30.47
their case is decided.
00:53:30.51\00:53:31.84
If a wicked person
goes to hell when they died,
00:53:31.87\00:53:34.44
their case is decided.
00:53:34.51\00:53:35.88
So, why would there be
00:53:35.94\00:53:37.28
a pre-Advent
Investigative Judgment
00:53:37.31\00:53:40.02
that begins in 1844 in heaven,
00:53:40.05\00:53:42.82
if everybody's case is
decided when they died?
00:53:42.85\00:53:45.45
Many Christians also believe
00:53:45.52\00:53:48.36
that the judgment
is when Jesus comes.
00:53:48.39\00:53:50.43
You know, the Creed says
00:53:50.46\00:53:52.26
that He will come to
judge the living and the dead.
00:53:52.29\00:53:55.20
Well, if He's coming to
judge the living and the dead,
00:53:55.26\00:53:58.07
that means that their
cases are going to be decided
00:53:58.10\00:54:00.50
when Jesus comes.
00:54:00.54\00:54:01.87
But the Bible
does not teach that.
00:54:01.90\00:54:04.01
The Bible teaches that we
go out and preach the gospel.
00:54:04.04\00:54:08.14
Those who hear the
gospel accept the invitation.
00:54:08.18\00:54:11.01
Their names are
written in the book of Life.
00:54:11.05\00:54:13.82
Then, a moment comes in history,
1844 where the judgment begins,
00:54:13.85\00:54:19.12
the examination of each
person who professed Jesus.
00:54:19.15\00:54:21.92
It begins with those who first
lived... beginning with Adam...
00:54:21.96\00:54:26.16
each successive generation...
00:54:26.19\00:54:28.50
ends with those who are alive
00:54:28.53\00:54:30.80
before the door
of probation closes.
00:54:30.83\00:54:32.97
When every case
has been decided,
00:54:33.00\00:54:35.30
the kingdom of
Jesus is complete.
00:54:35.34\00:54:37.57
The bride is complete
00:54:37.61\00:54:39.87
and now, Jesus
marries His kingdom...
00:54:39.94\00:54:43.55
marries His bride in heaven
00:54:43.58\00:54:45.98
while the members of his
bride are here on the earth.
00:54:46.01\00:54:50.25
And then after the
severe time of trouble
00:54:50.29\00:54:53.05
such as never has been seen
in the history of the world,
00:54:53.09\00:54:55.52
Jesus... at the end
of the tribulation...
00:54:55.59\00:54:58.39
when His beautiful
bride is about to be destroyed
00:54:58.43\00:55:03.06
by the powers of the earth,
00:55:03.10\00:55:04.87
Jesus will come to the rescue.
00:55:04.90\00:55:06.63
Not one of God's
individual people
00:55:06.67\00:55:08.74
will die during
the time of trouble...
00:55:08.77\00:55:10.81
His entire bride...
00:55:10.84\00:55:13.31
His entire
kingdom will remain alive
00:55:13.34\00:55:16.01
during the time of trouble
00:55:16.04\00:55:17.45
except for those, of
course, who died in Christ
00:55:17.48\00:55:20.08
which will
resurrect when Jesus comes
00:55:20.12\00:55:21.88
and then, Jesus...
00:55:21.92\00:55:24.25
as 1st Thessalonians
chapter 4 tells us,
00:55:24.29\00:55:27.46
He will call forth
the dead from the grave
00:55:27.49\00:55:30.63
and they will resurrect.
00:55:30.66\00:55:31.99
Those who are alive...
He will catch up together
00:55:32.03\00:55:34.93
with those who die and resurrect
00:55:34.96\00:55:36.50
and He... they'll be
caught up in the clouds
00:55:36.53\00:55:38.63
to meet the Lord in the air
00:55:38.67\00:55:40.00
and then, Jesus
will take them to heaven
00:55:40.04\00:55:42.50
for the marriage
supper of the Lamb.
00:55:42.54\00:55:45.14
And God's people will be
there for a thousand years
00:55:45.17\00:55:49.54
and they will examine the cases
of those who were left behind...
00:55:49.58\00:55:53.28
those individuals
who were wicked...
00:55:53.31\00:55:55.45
who were found to be wanting,
00:55:55.48\00:55:57.59
they will remain on earth dead
00:55:57.62\00:55:59.42
and during the thousand years,
00:55:59.45\00:56:01.16
judgment will be
committed to God's people
00:56:01.19\00:56:03.76
to do an Investigative
Judgment of the wicked.
00:56:03.79\00:56:06.29
Their cases will be examined
to see why they were excluded
00:56:06.33\00:56:11.33
from being in heaven at the
marriage supper of the Lamb.
00:56:11.37\00:56:14.20
And then, after
the thousand years,
00:56:14.24\00:56:16.60
the wicked will see their
cases above the holy city.
00:56:16.64\00:56:21.01
Even God will
convince them that He was right
00:56:21.04\00:56:24.11
in leaving them
outside the holy city.
00:56:24.15\00:56:27.55
And after they see their cases,
00:56:27.58\00:56:30.65
they say, "Just and
true are Your ways, O God. "
00:56:30.69\00:56:34.56
And then, of course,
00:56:34.59\00:56:36.36
the execution of the
judgment takes place...
00:56:36.39\00:56:39.23
the judgment that was
determined by the examination
00:56:39.26\00:56:42.53
of the records in
heaven during the 1,000 years
00:56:42.56\00:56:45.77
and before the
wicked... after the 1,000 years,
00:56:45.80\00:56:48.70
then the execution of
the Sentence takes place
00:56:48.74\00:56:51.91
and God's people are
secure in the city...
00:56:51.94\00:56:55.08
the wicked are destroyed...
00:56:55.11\00:56:56.44
and God makes a new
heavens and a new earth
00:56:56.48\00:56:59.35
where righteousness dwells.
00:56:59.38\00:57:01.18
Now, one final point.
00:57:01.25\00:57:02.98
Our case... if we
are alive will be decided
00:57:03.02\00:57:07.82
when Probation closes.
00:57:07.86\00:57:09.19
There is a close of Probation...
00:57:09.22\00:57:11.29
what I call the
Corporate Close of Probation
00:57:11.33\00:57:13.63
at the end of time
00:57:13.66\00:57:15.00
where the door will be
closed... no one can be saved.
00:57:15.03\00:57:18.67
This is right
before the tribulation
00:57:18.70\00:57:21.04
and before the second coming.
00:57:21.07\00:57:22.64
But there's
another close of Probation
00:57:22.67\00:57:24.87
and that's the
individual close of Probation.
00:57:24.91\00:57:27.18
You see, if I should die
00:57:27.21\00:57:29.91
and not have accepted
Jesus Christ as my Savior,
00:57:29.94\00:57:32.71
my case is decided.
00:57:32.75\00:57:34.95
It only remains for
my case to be examined
00:57:34.98\00:57:38.05
and to find that
I'm found wanting.
00:57:38.09\00:57:40.99
This is the reason why
I should always watch...
00:57:41.02\00:57:44.63
I should always pray...
00:57:44.66\00:57:46.53
I should always occupy...
00:57:46.56\00:57:48.43
I should always be awake.
00:57:48.46\00:57:50.27
My relationship
with Jesus must be strong
00:57:50.30\00:57:53.44
because if I should die,
00:57:53.47\00:57:55.07
my Probation is closed.
00:57:55.10\00:57:56.60
I trust that God
will bless us and keep us
00:57:56.67\00:58:00.08
and make us one of
those who are ready
00:58:00.14\00:58:03.55
for the wedding supper.
00:58:03.58\00:58:05.41