"You alone are my heart's desire
00:00:27.07\00:00:32.25
And I long to worship thee
00:00:32.28\00:00:38.61
You alone are my
strength, my shield
00:00:38.64\00:00:43.74
To you alone
00:00:43.77\00:00:46.46
May my spirit yield
00:00:46.49\00:00:52.11
You alone are my heart's desire
00:00:52.14\00:00:57.18
And I long to worship thee"
00:00:57.21\00:01:04.32
"Be still, my soul
00:02:45.24\00:02:49.09
The Lord is on thy side
00:02:49.12\00:02:55.62
Bear patiently
00:02:55.65\00:02:59.33
The cross of grief or pain
00:02:59.36\00:03:05.50
Leave to thy God
00:03:05.53\00:03:09.39
To order and provide
00:03:09.42\00:03:15.76
In every change
00:03:15.79\00:03:19.48
He faithful will remain
00:03:19.51\00:03:25.68
Be still, my soul
00:03:25.71\00:03:29.60
Thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
00:03:29.63\00:03:35.87
Through thorny ways
00:03:35.90\00:03:39.77
Leads to a joyful end
00:03:39.80\00:03:46.30
Be still, my soul
00:03:46.33\00:03:50.23
Thy God doth undertake
00:03:50.26\00:03:56.41
To guide the future
00:03:56.44\00:04:00.97
As He has the past
00:04:01.00\00:04:06.30
Thy hope, thy confidence,
00:04:06.33\00:04:11.80
Let nothing shake
00:04:11.83\00:04:16.57
All now mysterious
00:04:16.60\00:04:20.62
Shall be bright at last
00:04:20.65\00:04:26.75
Be still, my soul
00:04:26.78\00:04:30.53
The waves and winds still know
00:04:30.56\00:04:36.93
His voice who ruled them
00:04:36.96\00:04:41.42
While He dwelt below
00:04:41.45\00:04:47.63
Be still, my soul
00:04:47.66\00:04:51.56
The hour is hastening on
00:04:51.59\00:04:58.07
When we shall be
00:04:58.10\00:05:01.84
Forever with the Lord
00:05:01.87\00:05:08.18
When disappointment
00:05:08.21\00:05:13.47
Grief, and fear are gone
00:05:13.50\00:05:18.52
Sorrow forgot
00:05:18.55\00:05:22.69
Love's purest joys restored
00:05:22.72\00:05:29.17
Be still, my soul
00:05:29.20\00:05:33.43
When change and tears are past
00:05:33.46\00:05:39.87
All safe and blessed
00:05:39.90\00:05:45.36
We shall meet at last"
00:05:45.39\00:05:52.59
Sing to the Lord a jubilant song
00:06:15.21\00:06:18.95
Sing to the Lord a jubilant song
00:06:18.98\00:06:22.43
Rejoice and sing and
let the earth be glad
00:06:22.46\00:06:25.66
Let the heavens
be filled with joy
00:06:25.69\00:06:30.75
And a jubilant song
00:06:30.78\00:06:38.07
Sing alleluia to the Lord
00:06:38.86\00:06:42.06
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:42.09\00:06:44.23
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:44.26\00:06:46.23
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:46.26\00:06:48.19
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:48.22\00:06:50.16
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:50.19\00:06:51.78
Alleluia to the Lord
00:06:51.81\00:06:54.11
Alleluia
00:06:54.14\00:06:56.39
Tell of His
salvation from day to day
00:06:56.42\00:06:59.77
Shout His marvelous
works among the people
00:06:59.80\00:07:03.09
For great is the Lord
00:07:03.12\00:07:04.82
Great is the Lord
and greatly to be praised
00:07:04.85\00:07:11.70
Sing to the Lord a jubilant song
00:07:11.73\00:07:14.98
Sing to the Lord a jubilant song
00:07:15.01\00:07:18.18
Rejoice and sing and
let the earth be glad
00:07:18.21\00:07:21.38
Let the heavens
be filled with joy
00:07:21.41\00:07:26.63
And a jubilant song
00:07:26.66\00:07:30.42
Lord, you have been out refuge
00:07:36.34\00:07:40.68
From one generation to another
00:07:40.71\00:07:46.55
Before the mountains were made
00:07:46.58\00:07:50.47
Or the land and
the sea were born
00:07:50.50\00:07:55.11
From age to age you are God
00:07:55.14\00:07:59.72
And we pray for the
coming of your Kingdom
00:07:59.75\00:08:04.86
We shall rejoice
00:08:04.89\00:08:07.05
We shall be glad
00:08:07.08\00:08:08.46
All the days of our lives
00:08:08.49\00:08:15.81
Sing to the Lord a jubilant song
00:08:18.42\00:08:22.32
Sing to the Lord
00:08:22.35\00:08:23.60
A jubilant song
00:08:23.63\00:08:25.80
Rejoice and sing and
let the earth be glad
00:08:25.83\00:08:28.99
Let the heavens
be filled with joy
00:08:29.02\00:08:34.33
And a jubilant song
00:08:34.36\00:08:38.23
And a jubilant song
00:08:38.26\00:08:42.75
Sing to the Lord
00:08:42.78\00:08:46.87
A jubilant song
00:08:52.50\00:08:58.74
Amen.
00:09:04.40\00:09:06.55
Let's pray together.
00:09:09.87\00:09:12.98
Oh, is a choir who just sung
00:09:13.01\00:09:17.24
that You would
draw from our hearts
00:09:17.27\00:09:20.12
a new, a new song, a
new expression of praise
00:09:20.15\00:09:25.88
for our sleep
deprive lives in the west.
00:09:25.91\00:09:31.96
Oh, this invitation of
rest, what is that mean?
00:09:31.99\00:09:36.93
How do we connect with it?
00:09:36.96\00:09:39.18
And how in the world
00:09:39.21\00:09:41.99
can this secular
postmodern civilization
00:09:42.02\00:09:48.88
ever get a hold of Your offer.
00:09:48.91\00:09:52.33
Its got to start with us,
00:09:52.36\00:09:53.58
teach us today
that we might have that
00:09:53.61\00:09:56.88
which out of our own experience
00:09:56.91\00:09:58.84
we can share, in
Jesus name, amen.
00:09:58.87\00:10:05.25
The last time you
and I were together
00:10:05.28\00:10:09.98
we were considering
00:10:10.01\00:10:11.69
God's radical call to Islam
00:10:11.72\00:10:19.55
and I'm grateful
for the dialogue,
00:10:19.58\00:10:21.87
the debate, the discussion that
that teaching has engendered.
00:10:21.90\00:10:25.20
I have heard from many of you,
00:10:25.23\00:10:26.99
we email, heard
from some of our viewers
00:10:27.02\00:10:29.80
on television as well.
00:10:29.83\00:10:32.76
We need to be wrestling
with so immense a challenge
00:10:32.79\00:10:35.52
and as the Aussie
say "Good on you, mate."
00:10:35.55\00:10:37.96
Good on you. Good for you.
00:10:37.99\00:10:39.22
We got to wrap
our minds around this.
00:10:39.25\00:10:42.55
One of you wrote an
email to me stating that
00:10:42.58\00:10:44.19
you've been in
dialogue for sometime now
00:10:44.22\00:10:46.33
with a professor
for Islamic studies
00:10:46.36\00:10:51.43
in Middle Eastern country
that needs to remain unnamed
00:10:51.46\00:10:55.38
and he said, I'm gonna
share this teaching with him.
00:10:55.41\00:10:57.10
Have him listen to, downloaded
00:10:57.13\00:10:58.26
from the website
and examine as himself.
00:10:58.29\00:11:00.93
By the way, if you weren't
here our last time together
00:11:00.96\00:11:04.97
"Star Rising Over Islam"
00:11:05.00\00:11:06.29
is the title of the
teaching two weeks ago
00:11:06.32\00:11:08.41
and you can get
it on our website.
00:11:08.44\00:11:10.20
I'll give you that
website in just a minute.
00:11:10.23\00:11:11.67
It's on the new study
guide that you're gonna receive.
00:11:11.70\00:11:14.51
I got another email
00:11:14.54\00:11:15.90
from one of our leading
contacts in the Muslim world.
00:11:15.93\00:11:18.90
This particular individual
00:11:18.93\00:11:20.09
has direct relations with imam's
00:11:20.12\00:11:23.45
and he was praising
God for the teaching
00:11:23.48\00:11:25.82
that is here in Holy Spirit
00:11:25.85\00:11:27.80
that which you and I were
sharing just a few days ago.
00:11:27.83\00:11:30.78
And then on the
other side of the coin
00:11:30.81\00:11:32.36
I did receive an email
00:11:32.39\00:11:33.65
from one of our
viewers that greatly disturbed
00:11:33.68\00:11:37.17
that we would like
Allah with the one true God
00:11:37.20\00:11:42.21
and deeply upset that
we would have the audacity
00:11:42.24\00:11:45.65
to call young adults to commit
00:11:45.68\00:11:47.96
to a mission to
Islamic countries.
00:11:47.99\00:11:50.83
I wrote back to that
viewer and I shared with him,
00:11:50.86\00:11:54.79
you know, well,
its clear we don't,
00:11:54.82\00:11:57.73
we don't hold to
the same perspectives.
00:11:57.76\00:12:00.01
I'm certain that you
join me in praying for God's
00:12:00.04\00:12:04.63
outpouring of blessing
upon this great people,
00:12:04.66\00:12:06.65
the great people
of Islam irrespective
00:12:06.68\00:12:08.57
of what your or my
perspective might be.
00:12:08.60\00:12:13.06
But today what I want
to do jetlagged in all,
00:12:13.09\00:12:15.84
I want to switch gears.
00:12:15.87\00:12:17.67
I want to shift
from the religious east,
00:12:17.70\00:12:21.15
Islam I want to
shift to the west
00:12:21.18\00:12:24.02
to the secular postmodern west.
00:12:24.05\00:12:26.51
Because having
returned just a few hours ago
00:12:26.54\00:12:28.72
as I mentioned from
Australia, Karen and I.
00:12:28.75\00:12:31.61
I must confess to you that
00:12:31.64\00:12:32.69
I have been
brooding in my heart and mind
00:12:32.72\00:12:34.97
how in the world
Islam is one challenge
00:12:35.00\00:12:37.86
but how in the world
00:12:37.89\00:12:38.93
where the
everlasting gospel penetrate
00:12:38.96\00:12:41.44
the secular, postmodern west?
00:12:41.47\00:12:44.66
Every time I visit
Australia I'm taken aback
00:12:44.69\00:12:47.88
by the bold almost
brash western secularism
00:12:47.91\00:12:52.33
that it's so
powerfully displaced.
00:12:52.36\00:12:53.98
Let me just put some snaps.
00:12:54.01\00:12:55.66
We were preaching
in Sydney eight times
00:12:55.69\00:12:57.32
there in Sydney, pictures
that we took a few days ago.
00:12:57.35\00:13:01.37
Sydney obviously the
most telegenic, photogenic,
00:13:01.40\00:13:05.72
most recognized urban
skyline in the world I'm sure.
00:13:05.75\00:13:10.16
When you look at Sydney
the towering glass and steel
00:13:10.19\00:13:14.23
you realize this is
the heart of Australia.
00:13:14.26\00:13:16.82
It is a nation
on a cutting edge.
00:13:16.85\00:13:19.03
They are, they coined
00:13:19.06\00:13:21.84
the word
contemporary as it were.
00:13:21.87\00:13:23.48
They live with state of the art.
00:13:23.51\00:13:24.98
You watch their televisions,
00:13:25.01\00:13:26.09
we did, you read
the newspapers as I did,
00:13:26.12\00:13:27.64
you get a sense of
their, you review their history
00:13:27.67\00:13:30.60
and you realize
the indomitable pluck,
00:13:30.63\00:13:33.68
the raw energy that
raised up this nation
00:13:33.71\00:13:37.12
clustered only on the
seacoast of Australia.
00:13:37.15\00:13:39.63
This is barren
wilderness in the middle
00:13:39.66\00:13:41.85
but that raised up
this mighty nation.
00:13:41.88\00:13:45.76
I mean that any, any
culture that can come up
00:13:45.79\00:13:48.11
with get on your
made and no worries,
00:13:48.14\00:13:49.65
they are a wonderful people,
a fun people to be around.
00:13:49.68\00:13:53.10
But for them and for the west
all of this comes at a price.
00:13:53.13\00:13:58.84
Karen and I were walking
through one of the resorts,
00:13:58.87\00:14:00.43
surfers of Sydney called Manly
00:14:00.46\00:14:02.27
and it came on a psychiatrist
or psychologist office.
00:14:02.30\00:14:06.52
She had a big metal
plaque outside her door
00:14:06.55\00:14:09.67
and it was her name
00:14:09.70\00:14:10.83
and then all
these initials after.
00:14:10.86\00:14:12.16
So she is
obviously highly trained.
00:14:12.19\00:14:14.57
And then
underneath she advertises
00:14:14.60\00:14:16.64
what it is the
service she provides
00:14:16.67\00:14:19.61
and she indicates that
she is in fact a counselor
00:14:19.64\00:14:22.66
for stress relief
and sleep disorders.
00:14:22.69\00:14:27.39
This is in a
lovely seaside resort
00:14:27.42\00:14:30.82
on the outskirts of Sydney.
00:14:30.85\00:14:33.33
You realize that for all that
00:14:33.36\00:14:35.79
we have accomplished in the west
00:14:35.82\00:14:38.19
it is come at a
high, high price.
00:14:38.22\00:14:41.55
This consumption of
all the daylight hours,
00:14:41.58\00:14:44.43
all the night time hours,
00:14:44.46\00:14:45.55
24/7 working,
surviving, partying, playing
00:14:45.58\00:14:49.74
but in the consumption of it all
00:14:49.77\00:14:52.13
what do we end up with?
00:14:52.16\00:14:53.24
We end up with this
massive sleep depravation.
00:14:53.27\00:14:56.08
Not from jetlag but
just from simply living
00:14:56.11\00:14:59.45
in the west, sleep depravation.
00:14:59.48\00:15:04.75
And by the way not
in Australia alone,
00:15:04.78\00:15:06.27
come on, it's a whole west.
00:15:06.30\00:15:07.33
This is USA
Today, three months ago.
00:15:07.36\00:15:10.90
Thank you Larry Ulery,
one of the faculty here
00:15:10.93\00:15:12.74
at Andrews who is
sending this to me.
00:15:12.77\00:15:13.93
Look at this headline,
00:15:13.96\00:15:14.99
I mean, wouldn't
this catch your eye
00:15:15.02\00:15:16.08
"A call to honor the Sabbath."
00:15:16.11\00:15:19.10
So I'm instantly intrigue,
it turns out this piece
00:15:19.13\00:15:22.48
is written by a
Presbyterian pastor,
00:15:22.51\00:15:24.54
all right, pastoring
in Fairfax, Virginia.
00:15:24.57\00:15:27.59
I'm gonna read
just a line or two
00:15:27.62\00:15:29.36
from the middle of his essay.
00:15:29.39\00:15:31.75
This is a editorial essay.
00:15:31.78\00:15:34.30
"Whether religious or
not, people know" okay,
00:15:34.33\00:15:36.80
people in the west,
Australia, Western Europe, UK.
00:15:36.83\00:15:40.18
We got some friends
here from Brazil today.
00:15:40.21\00:15:41.93
Brazil fits into the
category the postmodern west.
00:15:41.96\00:15:46.32
"Whether religious or not,
00:15:46.35\00:15:47.38
people know that they
need to take a day off
00:15:47.41\00:15:49.52
in order to
maintain their sanity
00:15:49.55\00:15:51.10
and remain efficient
and productive at work.
00:15:51.13\00:15:53.34
But I'm convinced"
writes this Presbyterian pastor
00:15:53.37\00:15:55.89
"I'm convinced that
downtime is not enough.
00:15:55.92\00:15:59.41
We need a formal day of rest.
00:15:59.44\00:16:01.35
A true Sabbath
gives us time to refresh
00:16:01.38\00:16:03.88
and renew ourselves,
regain proper perspective
00:16:03.91\00:16:06.15
and redirect our
lives to what is good
00:16:06.18\00:16:07.73
and true and worthwhile.
00:16:07.76\00:16:08.90
There is something
positive and even creative about
00:16:08.93\00:16:11.87
allowing
ourselves to take a break,
00:16:11.90\00:16:13.93
as noted in the Bible
00:16:13.96\00:16:15.06
when it says God
finishes the work
00:16:15.09\00:16:16.74
of creation on the
seventh day by resting"
00:16:16.77\00:16:19.04
and then he
writes in "Genesis 2:2.
00:16:19.07\00:16:21.08
Resting is an
act of creativity."
00:16:21.11\00:16:26.16
You know I got the thinking
00:16:26.19\00:16:27.23
just part of this brooding
post Australia brooding,
00:16:27.26\00:16:30.27
could it be, come on
think little for a moment.
00:16:30.30\00:16:32.44
Could it be that the
secular west sleep deprivation
00:16:32.47\00:16:36.87
which is really pandemic,
00:16:36.90\00:16:39.13
pandemic in our western culture.
00:16:39.16\00:16:41.79
Could it be that
sleep deprivation
00:16:41.82\00:16:43.76
in fact is
opening a massive door
00:16:43.79\00:16:47.35
to the postmodern world?
00:16:47.38\00:16:49.90
I mean, you
think about postmodern.
00:16:49.93\00:16:52.81
They simultaneous
start for community and rest.
00:16:52.84\00:16:56.93
They want to belong,
00:16:56.96\00:16:57.99
they want to be a
part, they need rest.
00:16:58.02\00:16:59.67
The two most
passionate of their needs
00:16:59.70\00:17:02.58
community and
rest they lose one,
00:17:02.61\00:17:04.50
rest in pursuit of
the other community.
00:17:04.53\00:17:06.40
Could it be that we've
discovered the perfect gift
00:17:06.43\00:17:08.70
that if they
could embrace the gift
00:17:08.73\00:17:10.64
they meet their
deepest felt needs.
00:17:10.67\00:17:12.57
With this
caveat, with this caveat.
00:17:12.60\00:17:17.06
If that perfect gift however,
00:17:17.09\00:17:19.00
if that perfect gift hardly
impacts our own existences
00:17:19.03\00:17:24.39
how can we possibly be effective
00:17:24.42\00:17:27.33
in communicating that gift
00:17:27.36\00:17:30.42
to the secular west
and to the secular east?
00:17:30.45\00:17:34.79
Open your Bible with
me that caveat in place
00:17:34.82\00:17:37.51
and let's take a
look at rumor number two.
00:17:37.54\00:17:39.36
We are doing a
series here called,
00:17:39.39\00:17:40.45
rumors from the east.
00:17:40.48\00:17:42.17
Open to the Bible's last
book, this is rumor number two.
00:17:42.20\00:17:44.31
These first few
sessions we've spent together
00:17:44.34\00:17:46.98
have been devoted
to rumor number one.
00:17:47.01\00:17:48.22
There are only
three rumors, only three,
00:17:48.25\00:17:50.08
these rumors from the east,
00:17:50.11\00:17:51.14
titled the series,
rumors from the east.
00:17:51.17\00:17:52.52
Today we take a
look at rumor number two,
00:17:52.55\00:17:56.51
the Apocalypse,
Revelation Chapter 7.
00:17:56.54\00:17:59.68
I want you to read
some verses right here
00:17:59.71\00:18:01.16
at the outset with me please.
00:18:01.19\00:18:02.59
Revelation Chapter 7,
00:18:02.62\00:18:03.69
I'll be in the New
King James Version today.
00:18:03.72\00:18:05.57
If you didn't bring a
Bible there will a pew Bible
00:18:05.60\00:18:07.72
in the rack in the front of you.
00:18:07.75\00:18:09.06
It's page, page
826 in the pew Bible,
00:18:09.09\00:18:14.31
whatever translation you
have read along with me please.
00:18:14.34\00:18:17.15
Revelation
Chapter 7, let's just read
00:18:17.18\00:18:18.65
the first three
verse of Revelation 7:1
00:18:18.68\00:18:21.68
"After these things I
saw four angels standing
00:18:21.71\00:18:24.87
at the four
corners of the earth,
00:18:24.90\00:18:26.68
holding the four
winds of the earth,
00:18:26.71\00:18:28.94
that the wind should
not blow on the earth,
00:18:28.97\00:18:30.64
on the earth, on the
sea, or on any tree."
00:18:30.67\00:18:32.54
And then verse 2,
I saw a fifth angel.
00:18:32.57\00:18:34.35
All right there are already four
00:18:34.38\00:18:35.45
there now here comes a fifth.
00:18:35.48\00:18:36.53
"I saw another angel
ascending from the east,"
00:18:36.56\00:18:39.03
Key words, three
rumors about the east,
00:18:39.06\00:18:40.85
only three in the
Apocalyptic literature.
00:18:40.88\00:18:43.72
So we're now
moving to number two.
00:18:43.75\00:18:45.53
"I saw another angel
ascending from the east,
00:18:45.56\00:18:47.30
having the seal
of the living God.
00:18:47.33\00:18:49.39
And he cried with a loud voice"
in the Greek, megalaphone.
00:18:49.42\00:18:52.37
Megaphone, this is a huge voice.
00:18:52.40\00:18:54.01
"And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels
00:18:54.04\00:18:56.40
to whom it was granted to
harm the earth and the sea,"
00:18:56.43\00:18:58.39
verse 3 "And he said to them,
00:18:58.42\00:18:59.91
'Do not harm the
earth, the sea, or the trees
00:18:59.94\00:19:03.41
until we have
sealed the servants
00:19:03.44\00:19:05.28
of our God on their foreheads.'"
00:19:05.31\00:19:08.13
Stop it right there.
00:19:08.16\00:19:09.80
Would you
scribble this down, please?
00:19:09.83\00:19:10.87
Take out your new study guide
00:19:10.90\00:19:12.48
and make note that
this is rumor number two.
00:19:12.51\00:19:16.26
The study guides ought to be
in your worship bulletin today.
00:19:16.29\00:19:19.65
Ushers, thank
you for getting us--
00:19:19.68\00:19:21.59
if you do that gentlemen,
just hold your hand up
00:19:21.62\00:19:24.32
if you came in
and you didn't get
00:19:24.35\00:19:25.52
a worship
bulletin when you came in
00:19:25.55\00:19:27.02
or several of you
with just one bulletin
00:19:27.05\00:19:29.58
I would like you to have please,
00:19:29.61\00:19:30.65
one of these study
guides for yourself.
00:19:30.68\00:19:32.66
The opening
quotation is worth it.
00:19:32.69\00:19:33.95
Write there
Presbyterian pastor's quotation
00:19:33.98\00:19:36.04
we are gonna get to
that in just a second here.
00:19:36.07\00:19:37.60
Hold your hand up.
00:19:37.63\00:19:38.66
And those of you who
are watching on television
00:19:38.69\00:19:39.91
you get the same study guide.
00:19:39.94\00:19:41.28
Let me put that website
on the screen right now,
00:19:41.31\00:19:43.73
www-- there it is
00:19:43.76\00:19:45.01
www.pmchurch.tv
pioneer church.TV.
00:19:45.04\00:19:50.67
Click on to this teaching series
00:19:50.70\00:19:52.12
"Rumors from the
East" This is part five,
00:19:52.15\00:19:54.99
this one is
entitled "East Winds."
00:19:55.02\00:19:58.40
When you click on the East Winds
00:19:58.43\00:19:59.48
it will say study guide.
00:19:59.51\00:20:00.81
Say yes, I want that study guide
00:20:00.84\00:20:02.22
and you will have
the same study guide
00:20:02.25\00:20:03.79
right there on
your computer screen
00:20:03.82\00:20:05.24
and you can go through
the study guide with us.
00:20:05.27\00:20:07.86
If you are watching it on
DVD just hit the pause button,
00:20:07.89\00:20:09.75
get that study
guide and then please,
00:20:09.78\00:20:12.21
examine this teaching with us.
00:20:12.24\00:20:14.18
So would you jot
this down, please?
00:20:14.21\00:20:15.34
Let's put it up on
the screen, Rumor 2,
00:20:15.37\00:20:17.27
just write in the number 2,
00:20:17.30\00:20:18.66
this is the second of the
three rumors from the east.
00:20:18.69\00:20:21.33
This whole
teaching series devoted
00:20:21.36\00:20:22.51
to just these three
rumors from the east.
00:20:22.54\00:20:25.25
Rumor 2 is Revelation 7
00:20:25.28\00:20:26.79
and then a verse
from Revelation 14.
00:20:26.82\00:20:29.01
Now let's go to that quotation
00:20:29.04\00:20:30.22
from the Presbyterian
pastor, you have it right there.
00:20:30.25\00:20:32.04
You have to fill it in,
00:20:32.07\00:20:33.14
in order for
this to be complete.
00:20:33.17\00:20:35.47
Henry G. Brinton,
pastor of Fairfax,
00:20:35.50\00:20:38.98
Virginia Presbyterian
Church wrote this essay
00:20:39.01\00:20:41.77
in USA Today three months ago.
00:20:41.80\00:20:45.45
The problem, now
these are Brinton's words.
00:20:45.48\00:20:47.77
"The problem with
ignoring the Sabbath"
00:20:47.80\00:20:49.61
would you write that in please?
00:20:49.64\00:20:50.68
That's his word, "The problem
with ignoring the Sabbath
00:20:50.71\00:20:54.82
is that it hurts
us as individuals,
00:20:54.85\00:20:57.09
families and communities."
00:20:57.12\00:20:59.52
And then he quotes an author
00:20:59.55\00:21:01.03
whose book I have in my
library, Wayne Muller, okay.
00:21:01.06\00:21:03.48
"Wayne Muller,
therapist, minister
00:21:03.51\00:21:05.35
and best-selling
author, is convinced that
00:21:05.38\00:21:07.81
modern life has
become a violent enterprise.
00:21:07.84\00:21:10.66
We make war on our
bodies by pushing them
00:21:10.69\00:21:13.16
beyond their
limits, war on our children
00:21:13.19\00:21:15.36
by failing to
give them our time,
00:21:15.39\00:21:17.05
and war on our communities
by failing to be kind
00:21:17.08\00:21:19.63
and generous and
connected to our neighbors."
00:21:19.66\00:21:21.94
Now "To bring an end
to this destruction,"
00:21:21.97\00:21:24.03
here's where the pastor is going
00:21:24.06\00:21:25.73
"we have to
establish a healthier balance
00:21:25.76\00:21:27.64
between work and rest."
00:21:27.67\00:21:29.54
Write in the word rest.
00:21:29.57\00:21:30.63
We need this balance
between work and rest.
00:21:30.66\00:21:33.13
"But I'm convinced" now
this is Brinton not Muller.
00:21:33.16\00:21:35.87
"I'm convinced that
downtime is not enough.
00:21:35.90\00:21:38.59
We need a formal day of rest.
00:21:38.62\00:21:41.21
A true Sabbath." His words.
00:21:41.24\00:21:45.65
Now what in the world
00:21:45.68\00:21:46.71
does this Presbyterian
pastor's essay in USA Today
00:21:46.74\00:21:50.07
and the need for a
formal Sabbath have to do
00:21:50.10\00:21:52.42
with a fifth angels cry
in Revelation Chapter 7?
00:21:52.45\00:21:54.94
These words we
read just a moment ago.
00:21:54.97\00:21:57.03
The cool eyes tucked away
00:21:57.06\00:21:58.96
in a rather of
skewer phrase the seal,
00:21:58.99\00:22:01.75
the seal of the living God.
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.27
Let's hit the table again.
00:22:04.30\00:22:05.76
Let check our envision
00:22:05.79\00:22:06.85
what we just
read in Revelation 7.
00:22:06.88\00:22:08.30
So you have four angels, right?
00:22:08.33\00:22:09.51
Four angels, four
corners of the world
00:22:09.54\00:22:11.29
holding the four winds.
00:22:11.32\00:22:12.50
The number four is inclusive.
00:22:12.53\00:22:14.55
When the number four
appears in Apocalypse
00:22:14.58\00:22:16.30
it indicates the entire globe.
00:22:16.33\00:22:18.79
That makes sense,
north, south, east, west
00:22:18.82\00:22:20.66
four corners, all right.
00:22:20.69\00:22:21.83
So you got four angels
holding back the four winds.
00:22:21.86\00:22:24.67
By the way, we
know the scene comes
00:22:24.70\00:22:26.33
just before the return of Christ
00:22:26.36\00:22:28.45
because the last
description in chapter 6
00:22:28.48\00:22:30.95
is this glorious
depiction of the second coming.
00:22:30.98\00:22:36.10
So in the context of
the end of human existence
00:22:36.13\00:22:39.16
as we know it
these first three verses
00:22:39.19\00:22:41.73
of Revelation 7 take place.
00:22:41.76\00:22:43.39
Now, what we
know from Revelation 7
00:22:43.42\00:22:46.14
there are two realities we know.
00:22:46.17\00:22:47.34
Jot this down in
your study guide,
00:22:47.37\00:22:48.63
put it on the screen for you.
00:22:48.66\00:22:49.70
This much we
know, the friends of God
00:22:49.73\00:22:52.91
"The friends of God will
be sealed in their foreheads."
00:22:52.94\00:22:56.61
We know that just
from our cursory reading
00:22:56.64\00:22:58.60
which we've just done.
00:22:58.63\00:22:59.70
Number one the friends of God
00:22:59.73\00:23:00.78
will be sealed
in their foreheads.
00:23:00.81\00:23:01.96
And number two, "The
four winds will be let loose"
00:23:01.99\00:23:05.36
all four winds will be let loose
00:23:05.39\00:23:06.77
"in a final global cataclysm."
00:23:06.80\00:23:09.60
And by the way, I
really don't blame
00:23:09.63\00:23:11.68
the residents of New Orleans
00:23:11.71\00:23:13.97
for thinking that one of those
winds got loose a little early.
00:23:14.00\00:23:17.50
Just a few weeks ago as you know
00:23:17.53\00:23:19.10
I was down in New Orleans
on the one year anniversary
00:23:19.13\00:23:21.27
of Hurricane Katrina
destroyed the New Orleans
00:23:21.30\00:23:23.35
first
Seventh-day Adventist Church,
00:23:23.38\00:23:24.61
so they are opening the
church after rebuilding it.
00:23:24.64\00:23:27.32
On the one year anniversary
00:23:27.35\00:23:29.61
toward the still raw destruction
00:23:29.64\00:23:33.38
of some of their
perishes there in New Orleans
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.47
and then after the final sermon
00:23:35.50\00:23:37.41
one of the church
members hands me a DVD.
00:23:37.44\00:23:40.11
He says, you need
to take a look at this
00:23:40.14\00:23:41.56
when you get home.
00:23:41.59\00:23:42.63
Our senior
leadership team sat down
00:23:42.66\00:23:44.29
and looked at it, it is amazing.
00:23:44.32\00:23:46.05
I want to share with
you just a brief clip.
00:23:46.08\00:23:47.93
These are home
movies taken by a gentleman
00:23:47.96\00:23:51.89
who is on the
second floor of his house
00:23:51.92\00:23:54.59
as the waters are ascending
00:23:54.62\00:23:57.58
from the broken levy
not far from his home.
00:23:57.61\00:24:00.25
So that's the setting.
00:24:00.28\00:24:01.59
You are gonna see,
this is amateur video,
00:24:01.62\00:24:04.89
we will put it on
the screen right now.
00:24:04.92\00:24:07.83
The levy has broken
00:24:07.86\00:24:08.98
and that's the
front yard, folks.
00:24:09.01\00:24:10.56
I mean, it looks
like a massive sea.
00:24:10.59\00:24:12.86
You can see the wind,
00:24:12.89\00:24:14.41
the fury of the
raging hurricane.
00:24:14.44\00:24:17.79
That's the balcony
of the second floor.
00:24:17.82\00:24:19.48
Keep your eyes on this.
00:24:19.51\00:24:20.61
So he is on the
second floor of his home,
00:24:20.64\00:24:23.34
the water has already
penetrated the first floor
00:24:23.37\00:24:26.60
and in just a moment
he is gonna give you--
00:24:26.63\00:24:28.75
look at the waves,
00:24:28.78\00:24:29.82
those are the
waves in his front yard.
00:24:29.85\00:24:34.96
Now watch this,
this is his front door.
00:24:34.99\00:24:37.12
This is first floor.
00:24:37.15\00:24:38.62
You see the
water, it's now one foot
00:24:38.65\00:24:40.39
from the top of the
front door on the first floor.
00:24:40.42\00:24:44.44
He is standing there
at the top of the stairs
00:24:44.47\00:24:47.71
and you have to
wonder what is going through
00:24:47.74\00:24:49.28
this man's mind as
he takes this picture.
00:24:49.31\00:24:51.71
Because the water is
rising as you watch--
00:24:51.74\00:24:53.85
Now it's coming under
the door, second floor.
00:24:53.88\00:24:56.30
The water now is
coming under the door.
00:24:56.33\00:24:59.77
He shoots again outside.
00:24:59.80\00:25:01.79
The place is a raging
maelstrom, ugly dark water.
00:25:01.82\00:25:08.16
And now the water is beginning
to burst underneath the door
00:25:08.19\00:25:11.56
and you can see
little spurts of it.
00:25:11.59\00:25:13.75
It now
penetrates the second floor.
00:25:13.78\00:25:15.54
In a moment you are gonna
see his shot of the veranda.
00:25:15.57\00:25:19.21
So this is a
second floor of veranda,
00:25:19.24\00:25:21.77
he is gonna look out the
glass doors to that veranda
00:25:21.80\00:25:24.66
and you will notice
now the water beginning
00:25:24.69\00:25:26.62
to pound on the second floor.
00:25:26.65\00:25:28.52
There is the veranda, look
at that water, second floor.
00:25:28.55\00:25:30.56
There is only one
way for him to go,
00:25:30.59\00:25:32.01
he has to cut a hole
in his roof to survive
00:25:32.04\00:25:34.09
and you know,
that's what they did.
00:25:34.12\00:25:35.17
Get into the attic, cut a
hole in the roof above the attic
00:25:35.20\00:25:37.84
and then sit on the roof
for, for a hopeful rescue.
00:25:37.87\00:25:41.71
I mean, you take
a look at that clip
00:25:41.74\00:25:43.24
and you realize the unrestraint
raw power of nature gone wild.
00:25:43.27\00:25:48.59
It is a
terrible thing to behold.
00:25:48.62\00:25:50.45
And here is
Revelation 7 indicating
00:25:50.48\00:25:53.19
that the day is coming
when all four winds get lose.
00:25:53.22\00:25:57.30
But I wish you
scribble this down
00:25:57.33\00:25:58.50
because I'm not
afraid about that day
00:25:58.53\00:25:59.98
and you and I
don't have to be afraid.
00:26:00.01\00:26:01.29
Write this down,
you know, I'm not afraid
00:26:01.32\00:26:02.81
because we have Psalm 46:1.
00:26:02.84\00:26:05.17
Write down that reference.
00:26:05.20\00:26:06.71
That is so, that is
such a beautiful assurance.
00:26:06.74\00:26:09.41
Psalm 46:1, God is
our, do you know this one?
00:26:09.44\00:26:12.38
Say it out loud if you do.
00:26:12.41\00:26:13.48
"God is our refuge and strength,
00:26:13.51\00:26:15.80
A very present help in trouble.
00:26:15.83\00:26:18.60
Therefore we will not be fear.
00:26:18.63\00:26:21.45
Though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea,
00:26:21.48\00:26:23.17
though its waters
roar and be troubled."
00:26:23.20\00:26:25.41
Hallelujah, we have
nothing to fear for the future
00:26:25.44\00:26:28.06
we have that assurance.
00:26:28.09\00:26:29.80
But before the,
before the four winds
00:26:29.83\00:26:33.28
are released in
that final cataclysm
00:26:33.31\00:26:35.33
the fifth angel has a mission
00:26:35.36\00:26:37.23
and that's where
we are headed here.
00:26:37.26\00:26:38.55
Let's take a
look again at verse 2,
00:26:38.58\00:26:40.77
"Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east,
00:26:40.80\00:26:44.17
having the seal
of the living God."
00:26:44.20\00:26:46.01
Hit the pause button right there
00:26:46.04\00:26:47.92
because there is the,
there is the word to clue
00:26:47.95\00:26:50.02
that we are
looking for the word east.
00:26:50.05\00:26:52.39
And we reminded ourselves
already in rumor number one,
00:26:52.42\00:26:54.95
that something happens everyday
of the year in the east.
00:26:54.98\00:26:57.05
What is that that ascends
00:26:57.08\00:26:58.35
out of the east
everyday of the year?
00:26:58.38\00:26:59.41
What comes up?
00:26:59.44\00:27:00.98
Jot it down in your study guide.
00:27:01.01\00:27:02.07
Would you please?
00:27:02.10\00:27:04.10
But of course, in
the east the sun rises.
00:27:04.13\00:27:08.20
Which is the very
same imaginary we saw
00:27:08.23\00:27:09.74
on rumor number
one in Revelation 18:1,
00:27:09.77\00:27:11.82
the sun of righteousness
is rising one last time
00:27:11.85\00:27:13.75
in the east higher and higher
00:27:13.78\00:27:15.15
until the earth is
flood with her shine.
00:27:15.18\00:27:17.52
One last
spectacular burst of God's glory
00:27:17.55\00:27:21.00
and then the end comes.
00:27:21.03\00:27:22.17
We call it the last sunrise.
00:27:22.20\00:27:24.85
In fact, this was, this
was an amazing recognition.
00:27:24.88\00:27:32.09
Do you realize
that the Bible actually
00:27:32.12\00:27:33.99
in one case
names Jesus as sunrise?
00:27:34.02\00:27:37.03
Take a look at this.
00:27:37.06\00:27:38.09
The Greek word, you have it
00:27:38.12\00:27:39.26
in your study guide
for east is anatole.
00:27:39.29\00:27:41.82
Anatole means the rising.
00:27:41.85\00:27:43.67
And so that's why the
east is where the sun rises.
00:27:43.70\00:27:46.70
Dr. Luke uses the very same word
00:27:46.73\00:27:48.96
as a proper name for Christ.
00:27:48.99\00:27:50.31
In fact, jot
this down, will you?
00:27:50.34\00:27:51.57
Luke 1:78, calls
Christ the promised "A"
00:27:51.60\00:27:55.82
as it were
Anatole or the "Sunrise."
00:27:55.85\00:27:59.05
New American Standard
Version actually calls Him,
00:27:59.08\00:28:01.29
He is the
Messiah is the Sunrise.
00:28:01.32\00:28:03.75
Let's put those
versus on the screen.
00:28:03.78\00:28:05.57
Luke 1:78
00:28:05.60\00:28:06.98
"Because of the
tender mercy of our God,
00:28:07.01\00:28:10.33
with which the Sunrise
from on high will visit us."
00:28:10.36\00:28:13.40
What's the good news?
00:28:13.43\00:28:14.46
"He will shine on
those who sit in darkness
00:28:14.49\00:28:16.33
and the shadow of death,
00:28:16.36\00:28:17.40
it will guide our feet
into the way of peace."
00:28:17.43\00:28:20.17
Luke's point is Christ
is the promise sunrise.
00:28:20.20\00:28:22.35
The Messiah as first
coming as the sunrise,
00:28:22.38\00:28:25.27
John comes along
in the apocalypse
00:28:25.30\00:28:26.82
and says he is the promise
sunrise at the second coming
00:28:26.85\00:28:29.57
because, jot this
down, the Son always shines.
00:28:29.60\00:28:34.40
The Son always
shines when Jesus shows up.
00:28:34.43\00:28:37.08
You know, if we only would spend
00:28:37.11\00:28:41.07
that extra time in
the presence of Christ.
00:28:41.10\00:28:44.95
He is going to shine on
you if you just allow yourself
00:28:44.98\00:28:49.37
in your sleep
deprive run ragged schedule.
00:28:49.40\00:28:54.35
If you just keep yourself that
extra moment in His presence.
00:28:54.38\00:28:59.18
The sun was shining on Moses.
00:28:59.21\00:29:00.74
Remember the story
about Moses who would go up
00:29:00.77\00:29:02.63
and have this personal communion
00:29:02.66\00:29:04.85
with the pre-incarnate Christ.
00:29:04.88\00:29:06.05
And you remember
when he would come down
00:29:06.08\00:29:07.21
from those moments of worship
00:29:07.24\00:29:08.89
they would actually have to put,
00:29:08.92\00:29:10.30
remember what
they put over his face.
00:29:10.33\00:29:11.48
What they would put?
They put a veil over his face.
00:29:11.51\00:29:13.91
You can't hide it, when
you been along with Jesus
00:29:13.94\00:29:16.80
it will shine from your light.
00:29:16.83\00:29:18.04
Not like Moses. Not physically.
00:29:18.07\00:29:19.92
But it will
shine intellectually,
00:29:19.95\00:29:21.54
it will shine emotionally,
00:29:21.57\00:29:22.93
it will shine socially,
it will shine personally.
00:29:22.96\00:29:26.87
Whatever is happening here,
00:29:26.90\00:29:28.21
what's clear as it
this sunrise means that
00:29:28.24\00:29:31.88
Jesus is saturated
in this last scene,
00:29:31.91\00:29:36.08
this vision of Revelation 7,
00:29:36.11\00:29:37.97
it is saturated with
the glory of Jesus Himself.
00:29:38.00\00:29:40.13
So the question is
what's happening here?
00:29:40.16\00:29:41.87
Verse 2, read it again.
00:29:41.90\00:29:43.12
"Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east,
00:29:43.15\00:29:44.95
having the seal
of the living God.
00:29:44.98\00:29:46.74
And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels
00:29:46.77\00:29:48.81
to whom it was granted to
harm the earth and the sea,
00:29:48.84\00:29:51.34
and he said" verse 3,
00:29:51.37\00:29:52.88
"Do not harm the
earth, the sea, or the trees
00:29:52.91\00:29:55.16
until we have sealed
the servants of our God
00:29:55.19\00:29:57.45
on their foreheads."
00:29:57.48\00:30:00.54
Now add verse 4.
00:30:00.57\00:30:02.85
"And I heard the number
of those who were sealed.
00:30:02.88\00:30:05.44
One hundred and
forty-four thousand
00:30:05.47\00:30:07.40
of all the tribes of
the children of Israel
00:30:07.43\00:30:10.20
are sealed on their foreheads."
00:30:10.23\00:30:13.62
Now we are gonna sidestep
the whole question of the,
00:30:13.65\00:30:15.73
of the 144,000.
00:30:15.76\00:30:16.88
I put it in your study guide.
00:30:16.91\00:30:18.09
We had a major
teaching on this some time ago.
00:30:18.12\00:30:20.22
John the Baptist
generation part four we get into
00:30:20.25\00:30:23.12
and you get a
study guide with that
00:30:23.15\00:30:24.46
and you can take a look
at that in your leisure.
00:30:24.49\00:30:26.41
Let's just forget the
144,000 expect suffice it to say
00:30:26.44\00:30:30.39
and jot this down please.
00:30:30.42\00:30:31.45
"The 144,000 represent a
final generation of loyal,"
00:30:31.48\00:30:36.48
write in the word
"loyal friends of God."
00:30:36.51\00:30:40.96
The 144,000 a
loyal generation to God.
00:30:40.99\00:30:44.98
And by the way
in between services
00:30:45.01\00:30:46.30
our minister music came to me.
00:30:46.33\00:30:48.75
He said Dwight, you
know hear the Silhouettes
00:30:48.78\00:30:50.32
what's singing today.
00:30:50.35\00:30:51.76
James Lee III used to
sing with the Silhouettes.
00:30:51.79\00:30:54.03
He's a graduate
of Andrew's Academy,
00:30:54.06\00:30:55.34
he went to Andrew's University
00:30:55.37\00:30:56.51
also went to
University of Michigan.
00:30:56.54\00:30:59.01
And get this, this I
can't scribble this down for me.
00:30:59.04\00:31:02.03
This coming Thursday
night in the Kennedy,
00:31:02.06\00:31:04.84
in the Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts,
00:31:04.87\00:31:07.20
one of the most
famous performing art centers
00:31:07.23\00:31:09.47
in this nation.
00:31:09.50\00:31:11.47
James Lee III one
of our own right here,
00:31:11.50\00:31:15.46
James Lee III is providing
the music to be performed
00:31:15.49\00:31:20.40
by the National
Symphony Orchestra,
00:31:20.43\00:31:22.39
the title of his composition
"Beyond Rivers of Vision"
00:31:22.42\00:31:27.08
and in the third
moment James has intentionally
00:31:27.11\00:31:30.19
inserted the
numbers 144,000, 144,000.
00:31:30.22\00:31:36.24
I said, how could that be?
00:31:36.27\00:31:37.38
He says, well, you
will sign a numeric value
00:31:37.41\00:31:39.29
to the numbers with
middle C being zero,
00:31:39.32\00:31:41.14
C short being one,
00:31:41.17\00:31:42.45
D being two and so on
he goes up to 11 up to B
00:31:42.48\00:31:46.24
and there is a
sequence sea shape EECCC,
00:31:46.27\00:31:51.42
144,000.
00:31:51.45\00:31:54.48
Just thought he
needs to be know that.
00:31:57.75\00:31:59.73
Doesn't fit into
the teaching at all
00:31:59.76\00:32:00.98
but-- You know I thought,
00:32:01.01\00:32:04.47
here is this kid
that grew in our midst
00:32:04.50\00:32:06.78
and his-- this is the
first time in the history
00:32:06.81\00:32:09.14
right in the community
of faith I can say to those
00:32:09.17\00:32:10.63
who are watching on television.
00:32:10.66\00:32:12.15
This is a first time in our,
00:32:12.18\00:32:13.40
our little
community of faith's history
00:32:13.43\00:32:15.11
where a
composition from a member
00:32:15.14\00:32:17.06
of this little
community of faith
00:32:17.09\00:32:18.28
is being performed by
the National Orchestra
00:32:18.31\00:32:21.49
and Ken Logan
our minister of music
00:32:21.52\00:32:23.87
is flying over on Thursday
to be a part of that event.
00:32:23.90\00:32:26.73
Isn't that some?
00:32:26.76\00:32:27.80
Yeah, come on, just
little moment of joy.
00:32:27.83\00:32:30.30
Hundred and forty four thousand,
00:32:30.33\00:32:31.57
what is it have to do
with what we are studying?
00:32:31.60\00:32:33.61
Absolutely nothing, all right.
00:32:33.64\00:32:36.87
Now, I want to go
back to that line that we,
00:32:36.90\00:32:39.50
that you just scribbled in.
00:32:39.53\00:32:40.69
The 144,000 represent a
final generation of loyal,
00:32:40.72\00:32:44.26
loyal friends of God.
00:32:44.29\00:32:45.32
You say Dwight, how do
you know that they are loyal?
00:32:45.35\00:32:47.89
Because of the great
New Testament principal
00:32:47.92\00:32:50.61
that we have been
reminding ourselves of here
00:32:50.64\00:32:52.42
in the apocalypse
that is scholar are clear
00:32:52.45\00:32:55.99
that our most every word,
every phrase in the apocalypse,
00:32:56.02\00:33:00.53
in the Book of
Revelation is borrowed heavily
00:33:00.56\00:33:04.48
from an Old Testament source.
00:33:04.51\00:33:06.14
So that if we can find
the Old Testament sources
00:33:06.17\00:33:08.81
we can unlock the
meaning of the apocalypse
00:33:08.84\00:33:11.44
and this passage we
just read is no exception.
00:33:11.47\00:33:13.39
Take a look at
this verse, amazing.
00:33:13.42\00:33:17.49
The Book of Ezekiel again.
00:33:17.52\00:33:18.65
Rumor number one
had us going to Ezekiel,
00:33:18.68\00:33:20.36
rumor number two
has is going to Ezekiel
00:33:20.39\00:33:22.87
and I see two of my
colleagues sitting out here
00:33:22.90\00:33:24.66
Jon Paulien and Ranko Stefanovic
00:33:24.69\00:33:26.30
and I'm telling
you what gentlemen,
00:33:26.33\00:33:27.38
I'm amazed at how
often Paul, oh, not Paul,
00:33:27.41\00:33:30.72
how John dips into the
Ezekiel well for his imaginary.
00:33:30.75\00:33:33.94
The Ezekiel well, amazed.
00:33:33.97\00:33:35.66
All right, let's go
back to Ezekiel Chapter 9.
00:33:35.69\00:33:38.02
What page number would that be?
00:33:38.05\00:33:39.08
Page 562.
00:33:39.11\00:33:43.14
This is a samba
story just four verses long
00:33:43.17\00:33:47.78
but as soon as
you read the story
00:33:47.81\00:33:49.72
instantly you'll recognize,
00:33:49.75\00:33:50.89
oh, that's where John
got that whole metaphor
00:33:50.92\00:33:54.43
that he writes in Revelation 7.
00:33:54.46\00:33:55.72
All right, Ezekiel 4, I got
to quit talking and find it.
00:33:55.75\00:33:58.47
Ezekiel 9 rather, Ezekiel 9:1-4.
00:33:58.50\00:34:02.09
There we go.
00:34:02.12\00:34:04.82
"Then He" He that would be God.
00:34:04.85\00:34:08.30
"The God call out in my hear"
so Ezekiel is having a vision.
00:34:08.33\00:34:11.95
"He called out with
a loud voice, saying,
00:34:11.98\00:34:14.07
"Let those who have
charge over the city draw near,
00:34:14.10\00:34:16.39
each with a deadly
weapon in his hand."
00:34:16.42\00:34:18.09
Verse 2 "And
suddenly six men" materialize
00:34:18.12\00:34:21.29
"six men came from the direction
00:34:21.32\00:34:22.67
of the upper
gate, which faces north,
00:34:22.70\00:34:24.52
each with his
battle-ax in his hand."
00:34:24.55\00:34:26.34
This is not a pretty scene.
00:34:26.37\00:34:27.73
They have a
weapon of destruction
00:34:27.76\00:34:30.76
affixed to their sides.
00:34:30.79\00:34:32.75
"One man among them"
so there is a seventh.
00:34:32.78\00:34:35.18
"One man among them
was clothed with linen"
00:34:35.21\00:34:38.61
all white he's
clothed in the garb
00:34:38.64\00:34:41.84
of the high priest on
the Day of Atonement."
00:34:41.87\00:34:43.95
Which is the day symbolizing
judgment in the Old Testament.
00:34:43.98\00:34:47.36
The day of Atonement.
So he's clothed in white.
00:34:47.39\00:34:49.49
He doesn't have a
weapon. Notice what he has here.
00:34:49.52\00:34:51.22
"One man clothed with linen
00:34:51.25\00:34:53.08
had a writer's
inkhorn at his side."
00:34:53.11\00:34:55.34
So he had this
little fashioned little,
00:34:55.37\00:34:57.31
you know, inkhorn
where you dip the quill
00:34:57.34\00:34:59.14
and then you write.
00:34:59.17\00:35:00.20
So he has this writer's inkhorn
00:35:00.23\00:35:03.05
"And they went in and
stood beside the bronze altar."
00:35:03.08\00:35:05.45
That would be inside,
that would be in the temple.
00:35:05.48\00:35:07.82
Verse 3, "Now the
glory of the God of Israel
00:35:07.85\00:35:10.38
had gone up from the cherub,"
00:35:10.41\00:35:11.62
there in the most holy
place "where it had been,
00:35:11.65\00:35:13.44
to the threshold of the temple.
00:35:13.47\00:35:14.89
And God called to the
man clothed with linen,
00:35:14.92\00:35:18.08
who had the
writer's inkhorn at his side
00:35:18.11\00:35:19.64
and the Lord said to him,"
00:35:19.67\00:35:20.70
Now here it goes, verse 4.
00:35:20.73\00:35:22.48
"Go through the
midst of the city,
00:35:22.51\00:35:24.67
through the midst of Jerusalem,
and put a mark" where?
00:35:24.70\00:35:28.78
Put a mark where?
00:35:28.81\00:35:30.01
"Put a mark on the
foreheads of the men and women
00:35:30.04\00:35:33.78
who sigh and cry
over all the abominations
00:35:33.81\00:35:37.39
that are done within it."
00:35:37.42\00:35:38.81
Now here what so fascinating.
00:35:38.84\00:35:40.36
The Hebrew word for mark there
00:35:40.39\00:35:42.49
is actually the last
letter of the Hebrew alphabet
00:35:42.52\00:35:45.01
its taw, taw.
00:35:45.04\00:35:47.25
And in Ezekiel's
time when he wrote
00:35:47.28\00:35:49.44
that letter the
alphabet he wrote it as an "X."
00:35:49.47\00:35:52.16
So what God is telling
the men dressed in white,
00:35:52.19\00:35:54.47
He says, you go through the city
00:35:54.50\00:35:56.16
and those people who share
my concern for the collapse,
00:35:56.19\00:36:00.73
the moral collapse of this city,
00:36:00.76\00:36:02.18
when you come to
somebody who shares that concern
00:36:02.21\00:36:04.30
I want you to put a little
"X" right on the forehead.
00:36:04.33\00:36:09.85
Mark them.
00:36:09.88\00:36:12.33
Notice ladies and gentlemen,
00:36:12.36\00:36:13.39
the one's marked are
not marked for destruction.
00:36:13.42\00:36:15.64
Are they? No, no, no, no.
00:36:15.67\00:36:17.12
They are marked
for being spared.
00:36:17.15\00:36:19.28
Put a mark, save that one.
00:36:19.31\00:36:24.48
Now what is the behavior
of the rest of the populous
00:36:24.51\00:36:27.65
that is so burden some to God?
00:36:27.68\00:36:29.68
Just drop back in chapter
8 the verse 16, look at 8:16.
00:36:29.71\00:36:32.76
What's going on in that city?
This will be a clue for you.
00:36:32.79\00:36:36.14
Chapter 8 verse 16,
"So He" God "brought me
00:36:36.17\00:36:38.15
into the inner
court of the Lord's house
00:36:38.18\00:36:39.54
and there, at the door
of the temple of the Lord,
00:36:39.57\00:36:41.09
between the porch and the altar,
00:36:41.12\00:36:43.35
were about twenty-five men
00:36:43.38\00:36:45.05
with their backs
toward the church"
00:36:45.08\00:36:47.37
their backs are turned
"toward the temple of the Lord
00:36:47.40\00:36:50.62
and their faces toward the east,
00:36:50.65\00:36:52.20
and they were worshiping
the sun toward the east."
00:36:52.23\00:36:58.17
In other words in the
midst of this community of faith
00:36:58.20\00:37:02.37
there are those who
are worshipping the sun.
00:37:02.40\00:37:06.97
Those would be the ones
00:37:07.00\00:37:08.03
that would not get the
mark of God's allegiance.
00:37:08.06\00:37:13.54
What's Ezekiel's point?
00:37:13.57\00:37:16.40
Jot it down will you
please in your study guide?
00:37:16.43\00:37:18.02
"Clearly" the
precedent here in "Ezekiel
00:37:18.05\00:37:20.83
is helping us
understand that the mark or seal
00:37:20.86\00:37:23.19
that God places in the
foreheads of individuals
00:37:23.22\00:37:25.47
is the sign of
allegiance" its not deselect
00:37:25.50\00:37:29.27
it's a sign of
allegiance "to God."
00:37:29.30\00:37:34.51
In fact,
Revelation contrasts too much.
00:37:34.54\00:37:37.18
Remember from your
study of Revelation,
00:37:37.21\00:37:38.91
there-- and both marks go
in the forehead of individuals.
00:37:38.94\00:37:42.75
In Revelation we just
read about the seal of God
00:37:42.78\00:37:45.75
which goes in the forehead
00:37:45.78\00:37:46.81
but there is
another mark in chapter 13
00:37:46.84\00:37:48.49
called the mark of the
beast and it also goes where?
00:37:48.52\00:37:51.90
It goes in the
forehead. Why in the forehead?
00:37:51.93\00:37:53.98
Because the forehead
is a sign of proactive
00:37:54.01\00:37:56.30
intentional, personal choice.
00:37:56.33\00:37:58.78
I choose, I choose.
00:37:58.81\00:38:01.70
I choose to be
loyal to God in this case
00:38:01.73\00:38:04.44
or to the beast in
chapter 13th's case.
00:38:04.47\00:38:07.17
But very
interesting about the beast.
00:38:07.20\00:38:08.53
The beast will also
identify its loyal adherence
00:38:08.56\00:38:11.90
not only with the
mark to the forehead
00:38:11.93\00:38:14.24
but the beast
will also put a mark
00:38:14.27\00:38:15.92
where else on the person?
00:38:15.95\00:38:16.99
Remember where else?
00:38:17.02\00:38:18.06
Where is it? On the hand.
00:38:18.09\00:38:20.64
Notice with God
there can be no hand,
00:38:20.67\00:38:22.84
no hand mark to
identify loyalty to God.
00:38:22.87\00:38:24.63
Why?
00:38:24.66\00:38:25.69
Because the hand
simply symbolizes
00:38:25.72\00:38:27.69
compliance without agreement.
00:38:27.72\00:38:29.43
I just go along, you
know, I'm not into this.
00:38:29.46\00:38:31.15
I don't care. Go ahead leave me.
00:38:31.18\00:38:33.76
So it can go on the hand
for the beast or the forehead.
00:38:33.79\00:38:36.49
But God said, no, no, no,
no, nothing on the hand for me
00:38:36.52\00:38:39.21
because you can't
follow the crowd into heaven.
00:38:39.24\00:38:41.98
You can't just follow somebody,
00:38:42.01\00:38:44.12
you'll have to make
the decision yourself.
00:38:44.15\00:38:48.09
When you make the choice
I'll put an "X" right on you.
00:38:48.12\00:38:52.91
You are a loyal friend of mine.
00:38:52.94\00:38:55.37
Now back to the question,
00:38:58.91\00:38:59.97
what is this
seal of the living God
00:39:00.00\00:39:01.95
that is symbolically
places on the foreheads
00:39:01.98\00:39:03.57
of God's end time loyal friends?
00:39:03.60\00:39:05.38
There is one more
clue that we have to note.
00:39:05.41\00:39:06.91
Go back to
Revelation, last verse here,
00:39:06.94\00:39:09.51
Revelation Chapter
14, take a look at this.
00:39:09.54\00:39:12.75
One more clue.
00:39:12.78\00:39:15.52
Put Revelation 14
with Revelation 7,
00:39:15.55\00:39:18.02
bingo we have it.
00:39:18.05\00:39:19.82
And by the way that's the
key, ladies and gentlemen.
00:39:19.85\00:39:21.65
The key is to let the
Bible interpret itself.
00:39:21.68\00:39:23.74
I could sit up here
and say, you know what,
00:39:23.77\00:39:24.91
I know what those marks
are, that's a computer barcode.
00:39:24.94\00:39:28.72
It's a little chip
that gets put in your hand
00:39:28.75\00:39:30.21
or in your forehead.
00:39:30.24\00:39:31.30
I mean, I can tell you anything
00:39:31.33\00:39:32.40
and you have no
way to disprove it.
00:39:32.43\00:39:33.87
You say, well,
maybe so, maybe so.
00:39:33.90\00:39:35.55
But if we let the
Bible interpret itself
00:39:35.58\00:39:38.00
we get spared
some of the craziness
00:39:38.03\00:39:40.34
that circulates in
evangelical circles today.
00:39:40.37\00:39:42.81
People are just
grabbing for straws,
00:39:42.84\00:39:44.64
what could that be?
00:39:44.67\00:39:45.74
And so when you buy
00:39:45.77\00:39:46.87
the National
Enquirer at the supermarket
00:39:46.90\00:39:48.39
they say barcode
found in head of boy.
00:39:48.42\00:39:52.41
Craziness.
00:39:54.23\00:39:55.65
Let the Bible interpret
itself, so let's do that.
00:39:55.68\00:39:57.70
Revelation 14:1,
"Then I looked, and behold,
00:39:57.73\00:40:01.28
a Lamb standing on
Mount Zion, and with Him"
00:40:01.31\00:40:04.25
how many people?
00:40:04.28\00:40:05.59
One hundred and
forty-four thousand,
00:40:05.62\00:40:07.07
here the same
people that were sealed.
00:40:07.10\00:40:09.14
"With Him One hundred
and forty-four thousand,
00:40:09.17\00:40:11.45
having His Father's
name written" where?
00:40:11.48\00:40:15.31
"Written on their foreheads."
00:40:15.34\00:40:17.84
Ladies and gentlemen, would
you write that down please?
00:40:17.87\00:40:19.57
"The 'seal of the
living God' in their foreheads,
00:40:19.60\00:40:21.73
7:3 is the
equivalent of the 'name'"
00:40:21.76\00:40:25.76
write it in, "is equivalent
of the 'name of the Father'
00:40:25.79\00:40:28.22
in their foreheads 14:1."
00:40:28.25\00:40:30.79
A equals B.
00:40:30.82\00:40:32.60
What's the big
deal about a name?
00:40:35.79\00:40:37.84
Listen, when you put
your name on something
00:40:37.87\00:40:41.64
what does that signify?
00:40:41.67\00:40:43.59
When you put your name,
00:40:43.62\00:40:44.71
when you scribble
your name on something
00:40:44.74\00:40:46.14
what you are saying
by scribbling your name?
00:40:46.17\00:40:48.23
What are you
saying? That belongs to me.
00:40:48.26\00:40:52.40
That is mine.
00:40:52.43\00:40:54.53
I want to, I want to
share something with you.
00:40:54.56\00:40:59.22
This was given to us
by our friend Doug Martin
00:40:59.25\00:41:03.82
who is over in Hong Kong.
00:41:03.85\00:41:05.02
I bring a camera
up here so you can see
00:41:05.05\00:41:06.89
what it is on the screen.
00:41:06.92\00:41:09.50
This is a beautiful
little lacquered case
00:41:09.53\00:41:14.43
and if you open the
case up inside the case
00:41:14.46\00:41:18.01
is a lovely little
something that is called--
00:41:18.04\00:41:23.93
can you see this?
00:41:23.96\00:41:25.02
This is a seal.
00:41:25.05\00:41:27.18
Now I know that this isn't
something Doug just made out
00:41:27.21\00:41:30.66
because I grew up as a
missionaries kid in Japan.
00:41:30.69\00:41:32.80
My father used to have a seal.
00:41:32.83\00:41:34.94
Japanese and Chinese
use the same characters.
00:41:34.97\00:41:37.32
So my father had a seal
made with his own characters
00:41:37.35\00:41:41.03
and Doug has told me
00:41:41.06\00:41:42.13
and I have to
accept it by faith,
00:41:42.16\00:41:43.25
it in fact this
is my name on these,
00:41:43.28\00:41:45.54
these-- gonna be awful
00:41:45.57\00:41:47.44
if something
terrible that you stamp.
00:41:47.47\00:41:49.80
But the point of the
seal is whenever you,
00:41:49.83\00:41:51.81
whenever you
transact bistre with a seal,
00:41:51.84\00:41:54.39
when you put the
seal on that document
00:41:54.42\00:41:58.07
that is as official as
official can get in the orient.
00:41:58.10\00:42:01.58
So that what you do, let
me turn my notes over here.
00:42:01.61\00:42:03.97
What you do is
you take this seal
00:42:04.00\00:42:07.09
and it comes with a
nice little red pasty ink.
00:42:07.12\00:42:11.17
So you take the seal and you,
00:42:11.20\00:42:12.66
you just put it
in and you make sure
00:42:12.69\00:42:13.87
you get some of
that red paste on it
00:42:13.90\00:42:15.45
and then the
document, you just take it
00:42:15.48\00:42:19.07
and I don't know
if its right side up
00:42:19.10\00:42:20.32
or upside down but who cares.
00:42:20.35\00:42:21.86
So you take it and you just go
00:42:21.89\00:42:26.39
and when you pull it off voila,
00:42:26.42\00:42:29.00
in Chinese this
book belongs to me.
00:42:29.03\00:42:32.66
Thank you, Tim.
00:42:35.06\00:42:36.54
Because and would
you jot this down please?
00:42:36.57\00:42:37.99
In the orient, in the
orient when you use a seal,
00:42:38.02\00:42:41.09
a seal signifies ownership.
00:42:41.12\00:42:43.73
Write that down please.
00:42:43.76\00:42:44.82
We will put that on the screen
so we make sure that we get it.
00:42:44.85\00:42:46.92
"The seal in the
Orient is considered
00:42:46.95\00:42:48.46
a symbol of ownership."
00:42:48.49\00:42:51.17
Look at, if you invite me
to your house for dinner today,
00:42:51.20\00:42:53.01
we would love to come by the way
00:42:53.04\00:42:54.11
except got to be with a
small group having dinner.
00:42:54.14\00:42:56.49
But if we came to
your house for dinner
00:42:56.52\00:42:58.93
and I brought the sort of
seal straight from the sermon
00:42:58.96\00:43:00.58
and while you
were in the kitchen,
00:43:00.61\00:43:02.02
while you were in the
kitchen getting things ready
00:43:02.05\00:43:03.48
I go to you
library and I go stamp,
00:43:03.51\00:43:05.30
stamp, stamp, stamp, stamp,
00:43:05.33\00:43:06.49
my name all through your books.
00:43:06.52\00:43:08.43
Would that work?
00:43:08.46\00:43:09.72
No, it won't work. You know why?
00:43:09.75\00:43:11.42
Because you can
only stamp your seal
00:43:11.45\00:43:15.18
on that which belongs to you.
00:43:15.21\00:43:17.59
Seals cannot on that
which does not belong to you.
00:43:17.62\00:43:21.97
You would never has
us all for dinner again.
00:43:22.00\00:43:23.86
But that's the point of a seal.
00:43:26.13\00:43:28.15
The seal can
only be placed on that
00:43:28.18\00:43:31.14
which belongs to the
one making the stamp.
00:43:31.17\00:43:35.71
You get it?
00:43:35.74\00:43:37.55
I saw another angel coming up
00:43:37.58\00:43:39.70
in the midst of the fore
and he yelled out to the four,
00:43:39.73\00:43:41.67
hey, guys, hold it.
00:43:41.70\00:43:43.39
Don't let, don't let any more
of those Katrina's get through.
00:43:43.42\00:43:46.53
Don't let for it
once, please, hold it back
00:43:46.56\00:43:49.75
until we have sealed
00:43:49.78\00:43:51.52
the friends of
Jesus on their foreheads.
00:43:51.55\00:43:54.24
Nothing on the hand,
no following the crowd,
00:43:54.27\00:43:57.13
not for this group they
are gonna make the choice
00:43:57.16\00:43:59.70
to follow the eternal
Father for the rest of eternity.
00:43:59.73\00:44:03.17
Hold the winds
until we can go...
00:44:03.20\00:44:05.85
the name of the Father on
the loyal friends of Jesus.
00:44:08.91\00:44:13.36
That's the angel says.
00:44:16.49\00:44:19.52
Which is why it reads
00:44:19.55\00:44:20.80
"Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east,
00:44:20.83\00:44:22.48
having the seal
of the living God.
00:44:22.51\00:44:23.69
And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels
00:44:23.72\00:44:25.57
to whom it was granted to
harm the earth and the sea,
00:44:25.60\00:44:27.62
and he said, 'Do
not harm the earth,
00:44:27.65\00:44:28.72
the sea, or the
trees till we have sealed
00:44:28.75\00:44:30.45
the servants of our
God on their foreheads.'"
00:44:30.48\00:44:32.47
Would you write
this down please?
00:44:32.50\00:44:33.58
"At the end of time God
places his seal of ownership,
00:44:33.61\00:44:36.34
'they belong to Me'"
That's what the seal say.
00:44:36.37\00:44:38.37
They belong to Me, its My name,
00:44:38.40\00:44:40.49
I'm putting My name on
the "foreheads of those
00:44:40.52\00:44:42.13
who have chosen
to be loyal to Me."
00:44:42.16\00:44:43.81
He stamps His name
on their foreheads.
00:44:43.84\00:44:46.85
Angels please
see little "X" there,
00:44:46.88\00:44:48.92
that little "X"
means spare them.
00:44:48.95\00:44:50.84
When the four winds
are let loose make sure
00:44:50.87\00:44:53.14
that I do not lose a
single loyal friend of Mine.
00:44:53.17\00:44:56.57
Make sure "X" spare, save...
00:44:56.60\00:45:02.98
they belong to me.
00:45:05.75\00:45:06.89
Question,
conceivably couldn't God
00:45:06.92\00:45:09.86
declare that
about every man, woman
00:45:09.89\00:45:12.57
and child on this planet?
00:45:12.60\00:45:13.64
Couldn't He by
virtue of the fact
00:45:13.67\00:45:14.92
that he is our mutual Creator.
00:45:14.95\00:45:17.24
Couldn't He declare
the whole earth is mine?
00:45:17.27\00:45:20.15
But of course He could.
00:45:20.18\00:45:21.86
And in fact, that precisely
why he gave the human race
00:45:21.89\00:45:24.82
the Seventh-day
Sabbath long ago.
00:45:24.85\00:45:26.37
Would you jot this
down in your study guide.
00:45:26.40\00:45:27.96
"The Sabbath is a seal"
00:45:27.99\00:45:29.86
its a "seal in time
whereby all earth children
00:45:29.89\00:45:33.52
can be reminded that indeed
00:45:33.55\00:45:35.03
they do belong
to their Creator."
00:45:35.06\00:45:36.70
Seal goes down.
00:45:36.73\00:45:39.76
That the Creator in fact,
00:45:39.79\00:45:40.91
is there forever
friend, they belong to Him.
00:45:40.94\00:45:44.96
Which by the way is the grand
00:45:44.99\00:45:46.29
and glorious teaching
of the forth commandment
00:45:46.32\00:45:49.42
in the Decalogue
written on the stone.
00:45:49.45\00:45:50.77
Let's put the forth commandment.
00:45:50.80\00:45:51.93
Now in fact, I wish you
would look it up in your Bible.
00:45:51.96\00:45:54.83
Don't take the screen
worth for just look it up
00:45:54.86\00:45:56.56
please in your
Bible, Exodus Chapter 20,
00:45:56.59\00:46:01.19
one last text to look up
Exodus 20, look at verse 8.
00:46:01.22\00:46:05.12
This is forth commandment,
00:46:05.15\00:46:06.24
yeah, you remember these words.
00:46:06.27\00:46:07.32
Do you?
00:46:07.35\00:46:08.39
Forth commandment verse 8,
00:46:08.42\00:46:09.64
"Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:46:09.67\00:46:14.75
Six days you shall
labor and do all your work,
00:46:14.78\00:46:18.80
but the seventh day
00:46:18.83\00:46:20.05
is the Sabbath of
the Lord your God.
00:46:20.08\00:46:22.94
In it you shall do no work,
00:46:22.97\00:46:24.71
you, nor your
son, nor your daughter,
00:46:24.74\00:46:27.82
nor your male servant,
00:46:27.85\00:46:29.42
nor your female
servant, nor your cattle,
00:46:29.45\00:46:32.37
nor your stranger
who is within your gates"
00:46:32.40\00:46:34.42
why, why, why?
00:46:34.45\00:46:35.53
Verse 11, "For in six
days the Lord made the heavens
00:46:35.56\00:46:38.88
and the earth, the sea,
and all that is in them,
00:46:38.91\00:46:41.35
and rested the seventh day.
00:46:41.38\00:46:43.73
Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day
00:46:43.76\00:46:46.82
and hallowed it."
00:46:46.85\00:46:48.70
Having put His seal
upon a perfect creation
00:46:48.73\00:46:52.17
God then rested.
00:46:52.20\00:46:53.34
And He said, when
you come to that day
00:46:53.37\00:46:55.90
I wish you would rest with Me.
00:46:55.93\00:46:57.88
In the resting in
me it allows My name
00:46:57.91\00:47:01.03
to go on your faking process.
00:47:01.06\00:47:03.70
Let Me stamp
that I'm your Creator
00:47:03.73\00:47:06.46
and then you
recognize you belong to Me.
00:47:06.49\00:47:08.66
Let me seal you on the day I
seal from the very beginning.
00:47:08.69\00:47:14.59
That's why Jesus can come along.
00:47:14.62\00:47:15.69
Look at this Mark Chapter 2,
remember these words, verse 27.
00:47:15.72\00:47:19.19
"And Jesus said to them,
00:47:19.22\00:47:20.25
'The Sabbath was
made for man and woman
00:47:20.28\00:47:22.00
and not man and
woman for the Sabbath.
00:47:22.03\00:47:24.37
Therefore the Son of Man
is also Lord of the Sabbath."
00:47:24.40\00:47:27.96
We are going over
our PowerPoint yesterday
00:47:27.99\00:47:29.81
with Anthony Wills who is a
computing engineer major here
00:47:29.84\00:47:33.08
out wrapping it up
at Andrews University.
00:47:33.11\00:47:35.45
And Anthony say, hey Dwight,
00:47:35.48\00:47:36.80
but what is this
about the Sabbath
00:47:36.83\00:47:38.74
was made for man and
not man for the Sabbath.
00:47:38.77\00:47:40.86
Oh, Jesus is
reminding us is that
00:47:40.89\00:47:42.81
on what day of creation
was the human race began?
00:47:42.84\00:47:46.17
On day, what number
was it? Day six, right.
00:47:46.20\00:47:49.15
Day six, on Friday as it
were Adam and Eve were created.
00:47:49.18\00:47:53.49
It's after Friday once God
has a new generation of friends
00:47:53.52\00:47:59.09
a race of personal
companions for this planet.
00:47:59.12\00:48:05.18
Once He has the friends
00:48:05.21\00:48:07.48
then he makes the day to
celebrate the friendship.
00:48:07.51\00:48:10.77
Here's they make
the day and say man,
00:48:10.80\00:48:11.88
I need somebody to
worship Me on this day,
00:48:11.91\00:48:13.42
I need some humans.
00:48:13.45\00:48:14.51
No, it's the other way around.
00:48:14.54\00:48:15.61
The Sabbath was
made for man and woman
00:48:15.64\00:48:17.74
not man and
woman for the Sabbath.
00:48:17.77\00:48:19.07
And that's why it's
no wonder that Jesus
00:48:19.10\00:48:21.79
who is Lord of the Sabbath
00:48:21.82\00:48:22.90
cries out the
invitation of the Sabbath.
00:48:22.93\00:48:24.56
I love these words, in fact,
write them in your study guide
00:48:24.59\00:48:27.50
the well known
words, Matthew 11:28
00:48:27.53\00:48:29.62
Jesus Christ says, "Come to Me,
00:48:29.65\00:48:31.93
all you who labor
and are heavy laden
00:48:31.96\00:48:34.78
and" I will give you"
what "I will give you rest."
00:48:34.81\00:48:38.29
Write it down, I'll
give you rest, Come to Me.
00:48:38.32\00:48:42.35
The some of
righteous is who rises
00:48:42.38\00:48:43.83
one last time with
his out stretched arms
00:48:43.86\00:48:46.41
healing in that out
stretched arms he said,
00:48:46.44\00:48:47.96
you know, what,
postmodern secular west
00:48:47.99\00:48:50.79
if you just come to me
00:48:50.82\00:48:52.19
I can heal your
sleep depravation,
00:48:52.22\00:48:53.96
I can heal your
stress anxieties.
00:48:53.99\00:48:57.43
Come to Me, I'll give you rest.
00:48:57.46\00:49:00.76
I'll tell you what,
if Australia could come
00:49:00.79\00:49:02.37
and America and
Europe and China,
00:49:02.40\00:49:03.72
write this down, the world Japan
00:49:03.75\00:49:05.48
they could find
this gift of rest
00:49:05.51\00:49:06.91
for the their
sleep-deprived, rest-less souls.
00:49:06.94\00:49:10.39
You live in a world
of restlessness today
00:49:10.42\00:49:14.82
if only they would come.
00:49:14.85\00:49:16.17
I'll tell you what I
need to end by saying,
00:49:16.20\00:49:17.85
if only we would
to him for that rest
00:49:17.88\00:49:22.65
for I fear that we'll
champion the day of the Sabbath,
00:49:22.68\00:49:25.63
have sadly forgotten
the way of the Sabbath.
00:49:25.66\00:49:29.41
We've turned this
day loyal friendship
00:49:29.44\00:49:31.33
with the creator into a day of
clock watching and bed filling.
00:49:31.36\00:49:34.92
And the way after running ragged
00:49:34.95\00:49:37.63
all week from over
work and over study
00:49:37.66\00:49:39.52
we collapse on the
Sabbath contented to call
00:49:39.55\00:49:41.67
our extra long afternoon nap
00:49:41.70\00:49:43.60
as the obligatory
rest for the seventh day.
00:49:43.63\00:49:46.43
Hallelujah, I got my rest in.
00:49:46.46\00:49:48.93
Oh, day of rest in gladness.
00:49:48.96\00:49:50.35
Can you imagine, do you suppose
00:49:50.38\00:49:51.75
the Creator looks forward to
spending the Sabbath with you?
00:49:51.78\00:49:53.82
I'm not asking
about you and Creator.
00:49:53.85\00:49:55.41
Does He enjoy
spending the Sabbath with you?
00:49:55.44\00:49:59.80
If the Sabbath is
simply mean unraveling
00:49:59.83\00:50:03.90
because I've driven myself
off of the previous six days.
00:50:03.93\00:50:09.20
And ladies and gentlemen,
I repeat, if the Sabbath
00:50:09.23\00:50:13.35
rest is not
attractive to us who know better
00:50:13.38\00:50:16.26
how under heaven
could we possibly presented
00:50:16.29\00:50:21.08
to the secular postmodern west?
00:50:21.11\00:50:22.77
How can we tell
them about something
00:50:22.80\00:50:24.44
we haven't
experienced ourselves?
00:50:24.47\00:50:26.75
We can't.
00:50:26.78\00:50:30.11
Let me close with
this simple suggestion
00:50:30.14\00:50:33.36
written a century ago.
00:50:33.39\00:50:35.40
"The Sabbath is a golden clasp
that unites God and His people"
00:50:35.43\00:50:40.96
his friends, "Daily"
write that in please.
00:50:40.99\00:50:43.38
Daily the Sabbath
"Daily it will be their prayer
00:50:43.41\00:50:46.43
that the
sanctification of the Sabbath
00:50:46.46\00:50:48.36
God's seal of ownership.
00:50:48.39\00:50:49.62
Daily they will pray
that it might rest upon them.
00:50:49.65\00:50:52.38
Every day" write that in
00:50:52.41\00:50:54.03
"Every day they will have
the companionship of Christ."
00:50:54.06\00:50:58.40
Did you get that guys,
00:50:58.43\00:50:59.74
the Seventh-day
Sabbath is most meaningful
00:50:59.77\00:51:01.35
when it becomes a daily and
everyday kind of preoccupation.
00:51:01.38\00:51:05.11
Hey, let me ask you a question.
00:51:05.14\00:51:06.17
When a man falls
in love with a woman
00:51:06.20\00:51:08.30
though their time each
week maybe limited to a day here
00:51:08.33\00:51:10.66
or a dinner there
the fact remains that
00:51:10.69\00:51:12.39
when you are in love
00:51:12.42\00:51:14.34
are you not
preoccupied with that love
00:51:14.37\00:51:16.15
the whole week through?
00:51:16.18\00:51:17.27
Are you not?
00:51:17.30\00:51:19.12
Come on,
00:51:19.15\00:51:20.19
I'm not talking about
heart flashes all day long,
00:51:20.22\00:51:24.28
let's be clear.
00:51:24.31\00:51:25.76
What I'm talking about is in
the midst of the phonetic day.
00:51:25.79\00:51:28.49
I can stop and I
can think of Karen
00:51:28.52\00:51:30.04
and I tell you what it brings
a certain glow and joy to me
00:51:30.07\00:51:32.60
because you know, why,
I'm happily married to her.
00:51:32.63\00:51:35.18
Do you know, why now
I'm happily married to her?
00:51:35.21\00:51:36.94
Because everyday
when I leave the house
00:51:36.97\00:51:38.40
she puts me against the wall
and she says repeat after me,
00:51:38.43\00:51:40.70
I'm a happily
married man and I repeat it,
00:51:40.73\00:51:42.63
I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm happy.
00:51:42.66\00:51:49.59
Oh, mercy.
00:51:49.62\00:51:50.65
I tell you when
I turn on my laptop
00:51:50.68\00:51:52.11
its Karen's picture for my,
00:51:52.14\00:51:54.77
for my desktop
that's Karen's picture.
00:51:54.80\00:51:56.37
When I open this
wallet right here
00:51:56.40\00:51:57.71
and I do
business in this community
00:51:57.74\00:51:59.24
when I open the
wallet to take anything out
00:51:59.27\00:52:01.08
the first picture
you see is Karen's.
00:52:01.11\00:52:02.53
Why? Because I'm
preoccupied with her.
00:52:02.56\00:52:04.35
I can't spend all day
with here, I got a life.
00:52:04.38\00:52:07.57
I can't spend all day with her
00:52:12.43\00:52:14.21
and she can't
spend all day with me.
00:52:14.24\00:52:16.65
I've given you
six days to labor,
00:52:16.68\00:52:18.82
I've given you
six days to labor.
00:52:18.85\00:52:20.14
I'm not asking to quit your job,
00:52:20.17\00:52:21.34
I'm not asking to think
00:52:21.37\00:52:22.40
God, God, God, God,
God, God, God, 24/7.
00:52:22.43\00:52:24.99
I'm not asking you.
00:52:25.02\00:52:26.35
I've give you six days
to do what you got to do
00:52:26.38\00:52:28.17
but I've given also
the seventh day to move
00:52:28.20\00:52:31.24
from preoccupation
to personal contact.
00:52:31.27\00:52:34.81
I need some time with you.
I want to draw you into me.
00:52:34.84\00:52:39.26
If you got to have
time with the one you love,
00:52:39.29\00:52:40.85
you can be
preoccupied that's good
00:52:40.88\00:52:43.29
but you still need the
time when you come together
00:52:43.32\00:52:46.23
and that preoccupation
becomes personal contact.
00:52:46.26\00:52:50.98
That's what the Sabbath is,
00:52:51.01\00:52:52.27
personal contact
with the Creator.
00:52:52.30\00:52:55.33
I know you got six
days you got to study,
00:52:55.36\00:52:56.77
I know you got to
get the degree here.
00:52:56.80\00:52:58.34
I know all about it.
00:52:58.37\00:53:01.56
What did that
quota-- how did it read,
00:53:01.59\00:53:02.80
"The Sabbath is golden clasp
that unites God and His people.
00:53:02.83\00:53:05.90
Daily it will be their prayer."
00:53:05.93\00:53:07.60
Here's the suggestion.
00:53:07.63\00:53:08.77
"It will be
their prayer everyday
00:53:08.80\00:53:09.84
that the
sanctification of the Sabbath,
00:53:09.87\00:53:11.14
God's seal of
ownership may rest upon them.
00:53:11.17\00:53:13.29
Every day they will have
the companionship of Christ."
00:53:13.32\00:53:16.30
So here's a
suggestion ladies and gentlemen,
00:53:16.33\00:53:17.80
what if we pray everyday
00:53:17.83\00:53:19.95
"O God, may your Sabbath
blessing rest upon me today."
00:53:19.98\00:53:24.79
I know its Sunday
00:53:24.82\00:53:25.94
but I'm asking for
your Sabbath blessing.
00:53:25.97\00:53:27.48
I know its Monday
00:53:27.51\00:53:28.56
but I'm asking for
your Sabbath blessing.
00:53:28.59\00:53:29.97
I know its Wednesday but
may your Sabbath rest on me.
00:53:30.00\00:53:33.29
You saying Dwight,
what's the Sabbath blessing?
00:53:33.32\00:53:34.96
The Sabbath blessing is resting
00:53:34.99\00:53:37.46
in the realization that He
has put His ownership on me.
00:53:37.49\00:53:42.00
No worries, you don't
have to worry anymore.
00:53:42.03\00:53:45.99
Why do you have
to worry about life?
00:53:46.02\00:53:47.80
Do you understand that
the Father has His name,
00:53:47.83\00:53:49.25
has His name on you?
00:53:49.28\00:53:50.31
When I was a kid growing up
00:53:50.34\00:53:51.69
did I ever worry,
tell me the truth,
00:53:51.72\00:53:53.61
did I ever worry
about a blooming thing?
00:53:53.64\00:53:56.01
No.
00:53:56.04\00:53:57.07
You know why?
00:53:57.10\00:53:58.15
Because I had a
dad, I had a father
00:53:58.18\00:54:00.12
and I knew that
everything was in my dad's hands
00:54:00.15\00:54:02.21
and there was nothing for
me to do but to just have fun.
00:54:02.24\00:54:06.22
When you have a
father who is in control
00:54:06.25\00:54:08.44
and he's got your name on you,
00:54:08.47\00:54:10.34
he says you belong to
me boy, girl, I'm your dad.
00:54:10.37\00:54:13.31
I'm your oblate father.
00:54:13.34\00:54:15.10
No worries,
00:54:15.13\00:54:17.02
no worries, you
don't have to worry about
00:54:17.05\00:54:19.21
getting through
Andrews University.
00:54:19.24\00:54:20.36
You get through just fine.
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.30
He got you here,
He'll get you through
00:54:22.33\00:54:24.53
and He'll get you out of here.
00:54:24.56\00:54:26.10
Amen.
00:54:26.13\00:54:27.77
No worries.
00:54:27.80\00:54:29.56
You are worried
about your bank account,
00:54:29.59\00:54:30.81
you are worried
about running out of money.
00:54:30.84\00:54:32.53
You job is down
to a final thread,
00:54:32.56\00:54:35.09
your career is on
the line, no worries.
00:54:35.12\00:54:38.03
Do you understand
00:54:38.06\00:54:39.23
that in the middle of
that pretty forehead of your
00:54:39.27\00:54:41.48
there is a stamp,
00:54:41.51\00:54:43.05
a stamp with the
crimson of Calvary it's read to
00:54:43.08\00:54:46.98
with the crimson of Calvary
and the stamp says that's mine,
00:54:47.01\00:54:51.12
that boy is Mine.
00:54:51.15\00:54:52.53
You can do what
you want devil to him
00:54:52.56\00:54:54.91
but that boy is Mine
and I'm gonna protect
00:54:54.94\00:54:56.65
and that X, X marks the
spot where a life belongs to me.
00:54:56.68\00:55:01.31
Ladies and
gentlemen, no worries.
00:55:01.34\00:55:03.16
Look at the
cross, look at the cross.
00:55:03.19\00:55:05.18
When some body has
made and infinite investment
00:55:05.21\00:55:08.76
that expensive in your life,
00:55:08.79\00:55:11.37
don't you suppose he is
now committed to protecting
00:55:11.40\00:55:14.24
the investment
he has already made.
00:55:14.27\00:55:15.92
No worries, no worries.
00:55:15.95\00:55:19.53
Oh, ladies and
gentlemen, it is time,
00:55:19.56\00:55:21.05
it is high time to
reclaim the rest of the Sabbath
00:55:21.08\00:55:24.11
for the rest of the week.
00:55:24.14\00:55:25.58
The rest doesn't
start on the seventh day
00:55:25.61\00:55:27.59
it says on the
first, second, third,
00:55:27.62\00:55:29.37
fourth, fifth and six days.
00:55:29.40\00:55:31.89
You rest in Jesus six
days, the seventh day then,
00:55:31.92\00:55:35.79
now we are together.
00:55:35.82\00:55:37.92
The world is shut
out, the television is off,
00:55:37.95\00:55:42.38
the stereo has now
gone through adjustment.
00:55:42.41\00:55:47.08
My reading material is beyond
eyesight in my dormitory room.
00:55:47.11\00:55:52.45
The text book are
covered by towels.
00:55:52.48\00:55:57.50
I want undistracted communion
00:55:57.53\00:56:03.42
with the father who says boy,
00:56:03.45\00:56:05.74
I've already written My
name on your sweaty brow.
00:56:05.77\00:56:10.00
You belong to Me,
no worries, no worry.
00:56:10.03\00:56:13.97
Oh, day of rest and gladness
00:56:14.00\00:56:17.10
that's when it becomes
glad, that's when we have rest.
00:56:17.13\00:56:21.36
I want to sing
that song with you can--
00:56:21.39\00:56:22.72
let's sing that.
00:56:22.75\00:56:23.78
What is it number 383,
00:56:23.81\00:56:27.25
383 and as we sing these words,
00:56:27.28\00:56:30.16
old words I want you to sing
them again for the first time.
00:56:30.19\00:56:34.13
As we sing these words,
"O day of rest and gladness,
00:56:34.16\00:56:37.09
O day of joy and light,
00:56:37.12\00:56:39.69
A garden,
intersected with streams,
00:56:39.72\00:56:41.43
most beautiful and bright."
00:56:41.46\00:56:42.75
As you sing
about the gift of rest,
00:56:42.78\00:56:45.96
would you with
me today just say,
00:56:45.99\00:56:48.11
Jesus, by your grace
00:56:48.14\00:56:50.23
I want a seven day a
week rest that will climax
00:56:50.26\00:56:54.45
in that day of rest and climax.
00:56:54.48\00:56:55.76
Let's sing that great
hymn together as conclude.
00:56:55.79\00:56:58.87
Before you go I wanted
to take one more moment
00:57:06.54\00:57:08.43
and let you know
how glad I am you shared
00:57:08.46\00:57:10.31
this hour of worship of worship
and Bible teaching with us.
00:57:10.34\00:57:13.35
Living in the
world that we do now,
00:57:13.38\00:57:14.97
a civilization
surviving on the edge
00:57:15.00\00:57:16.60
of constant upheaval and change
00:57:16.63\00:57:19.16
I'm grateful that we have
the bedrock hope of Jesus,
00:57:19.19\00:57:21.47
aren't you?
00:57:21.50\00:57:22.63
And I'm thankful that you and I
00:57:22.66\00:57:23.75
can partner together
to reach this generation
00:57:23.78\00:57:26.01
the world over through
the satellite telecast.
00:57:26.04\00:57:29.16
So please know that I thank God
00:57:29.19\00:57:30.55
and you for the generous
way you partner with us.
00:57:30.58\00:57:34.09
Your tax-deductible
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00:57:34.12\00:57:36.22
all across the earth
for such a time as this.
00:57:36.25\00:57:39.57
If you would like to order a DVD
00:57:39.60\00:57:40.86
or a video tape copy
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00:57:40.89\00:57:43.16
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00:57:45.29\00:57:46.40
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00:57:46.43\00:57:47.72
There it is 877-HIS-WILL,
00:57:47.75\00:57:50.01
just the two words 877-HIS-WILL
00:57:50.04\00:57:53.09
and I promise you,
00:57:53.12\00:57:54.17
we will invest every
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00:57:54.20\00:57:56.96
in God's mission to reach
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00:57:56.99\00:58:00.31
Thank you for that partnership
00:58:00.34\00:58:02.34
and I'll see you
here again next time.
00:58:02.37\00:58:04.81