Welcome to our program
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that we have titled
"Revelation of The Coming King."
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Let me first introduce myself.
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I am Ranko Stefanovic, professor
at Seventh-Day Adventist
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theological
seminary, Andrews University,
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Berrien Springs, Michigan.
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And I'm so excited
to be with you here
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and go through the series.
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I'm so excited because
for the first time in my life
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I'm taping series of
the book of Revelation
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that covers all the
chapters of this book.
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It means from
chapter 1 to chapter 22.
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So I want to
express my deep gratitude
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to 3ABN for inviting me.
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And making this
occasion and taping
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of this series possible.
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I'd like to invite our
viewers to support this ministry
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because we want to understand
the word of God better
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and proclaim God's
everlasting gospel to the world.
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Why am I so excited about
the book of the Revelation?
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For at least two reason.
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The first one is very serious.
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The second one is
little bit informal.
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It was after many
years of being a Christian
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when I started to
study the book of Revelation,
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I met Jesus Christ.
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He spoke to me
through this book.
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And believe me, He changed
my life completely upside down.
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And I just want to tell to
all of you if God was able,
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through this book, to
speak to me and to change me,
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He can do it with every
person in the world. Amen.
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Actually my first presentation
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that we'll be just
doing just in few minutes,
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I want to share with you how
actually the book of Revelation
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changed my perspective
with reference to God,
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changed my Christian
life, made me better Christian,
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loving Christian and
motivated me to meet that King
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who'll very, very
soon appear in the clouds.
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Why am I in the
book of Revelation
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for the second reason is.
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If you go to the book
of Genesis in Chapter 11,
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we read that there
was a time in the past
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when all the
people in the earth,
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they spoke one language.
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And that language was English.
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Are you excited about that?
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But then there are
some technical problems
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there at the tower of
Babel and people got accents.
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So please don't blame me.
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Blame the tower of Babel there.
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But they decided not to
stay in the book of Genesis.
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I decided to go to
the book of Revelation
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because according
to this book Chapter 7,
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the time is coming very soon
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when all the people of
all nations, all generations,
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all tongues they will be
there before the throne of God.
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And once again all the
people will use one language
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and that
language will be English.
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You know why I'm doing this?
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I want just to tell you,
yes, I have a heavy accent.
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But I believe if God used
a donkey to speak to Balaam,
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if He was able to use a
rooster to convert Peter,
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He can use also a very
strange accent, even my accent,
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to speak to people
and to present a testimony
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about how God
changes human lives.
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So please pray for me.
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Please pray for
me that God gives me
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that spiritual gift
of speaking tongues.
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And I'll be praying
for you that God gives you
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the spiritual gift of
understanding the tongues.
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Amen. But we're all
together for one purpose.
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So from now on it
will be a long series.
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We will go section by
section and chapter by chapter.
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We'll go-be going
through the book of Revelation.
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But in order to do
it-it's impossible to cover
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everything in the time
that is allotted to us.
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As I mentioned this
is for the first time
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that I'm taping a
series that covers
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the entire book of Revelation.
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At Andrews University,
usually I have 45 hours
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and I'm able to cover about 10
to 12 chapters with my students.
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And they are
constantly complaining how fast
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we're going
through the material.
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That's the reason we
need a good textbook.
00:05:08.89\00:05:12.74
Are you with me?
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So that after each
one of these presentations
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you can go and
take that textbook
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and to find much
deeper sense of the text
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that we will
cover each presentation.
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We need a good textbook.
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And I'm so
happy that this moment
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I can present to
you the best textbook.
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I really mean that.
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The best textbook for
studying the book of Revelation.
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If you use that
textbook you cannot miss
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the meaning of the text.
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And I'd like to encourage
all of you, our viewers
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that you come and bring
that textbook for yourself.
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And believe me, you can buy
that textbook even for 25 cents.
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I know you wonder
what I am talking about.
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I want to present to
you the best textbook
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for studying the
Book of Revelation.
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If you follow the
instructions from this book
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you cannot miss
the understanding
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of the main message of
the Book of Revelation.
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Doesn't mean that
you-we will get the answer
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to every problem,
each detail of this book.
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But this is the unfailable guide
to the understanding of this
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book. So I'd like to encourage
you, I'd like to encourage
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our viewers to take this
book to put in your hands
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because we will refer to
this book very, very often
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as we're trying to get
much deeper sense and meaning
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of the text of the
Book of Revelation.
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But we need
also some other tools
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that can help us
in order to understand
00:07:01.71\00:07:04.16
the messages of
the Book of Revelation.
00:07:04.19\00:07:07.20
In our presentations
that I will be making,
00:07:07.23\00:07:10.10
our studies during this
series actually will be followed
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by the material that
is found in this book
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titled "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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And you'll notice the
author is Ranko Stefanovic.
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It means that this
book is the product
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of many years of research,
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my own research of
the Book of Revelation.
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Actually, we'll find in this
book the product of my research,
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the product of many
other scholars, their research.
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And you'll find also what our
church today officially teaches
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and believes about
the Book of Revelation.
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So I'd like to invite the
viewers and each one of you,
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if you can provide a copy
of this commentary for yourself
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and I'd like to do something
if we can make an agreement.
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Every time at the end of
one segment of my presentation,
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before we conclude, I
will give you the pages
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from this commentary that
will tell you that you can go
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and follow and continue to
study that topic for yourself.
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I'd like to invite
you if you have some
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very good friends of
yours, some other church members
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that are with you
in your congregations,
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make a small group.
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Take that portion of
the Book of Revelation,
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study together and dig much,
much deeper and what riches,
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what wealth of
information you'll get
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from the text of this
last book of the Bible.
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So please pray for me as
we're going through this series.
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I'm a trained scholar.
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I'm trained how
to think critically,
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not to take
anything for granted,
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try to find really
what the text says.
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I read the Book of Revelation
in original languages.
00:09:07.60\00:09:14.83
But I want to remind
you I'm simply human.
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When sometimes
people refer to me
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as an expert in
the Book of Revelation,
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I feel very uncomfortable
because there is only one expert
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and he knows
everything, believe me.
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Unfortunately,
he's not here with us.
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However, he gives some people
opportunity and time to study
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the Book of
Revelation much deeper way
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and to share it with others.
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So I'm not here to teach you.
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I'm not here to
even to preach to you.
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I'm not here to instruct you.
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I am here simply
to share with you
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what I have
learned from this book.
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At the same time to
share with you what my church
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they believes and understanding
that my church today
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has with regard
to different parts
00:10:02.40\00:10:05.73
and portions with this book.
00:10:05.76\00:10:08.15
So please pray for me.
00:10:08.18\00:10:09.62
We're simply human beings.
00:10:09.65\00:10:11.07
And I pray to God that
I'll be praying for you.
00:10:11.10\00:10:13.80
You know, we're all
tempted with something.
00:10:13.83\00:10:16.51
When we come to the
Book of Revelation sometimes
00:10:16.54\00:10:18.64
we hold our favorite view.
00:10:18.67\00:10:20.83
And we think that the
view that I hold is the Bible.
00:10:20.86\00:10:25.35
Everybody who disagrees with
me is contrary to the Bible.
00:10:25.38\00:10:29.96
But we're simply humans.
00:10:29.99\00:10:32.36
We need the mercies of God.
00:10:32.39\00:10:34.86
We need the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
00:10:34.89\00:10:37.33
So please pray for me.
00:10:37.36\00:10:39.18
I will pray for you
because it's my prayer to God
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that this series for
all of us becomes a journey,
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that the last book of the Bible,
that the end we all can say,
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"yes, I found Jesus
Christ in the Book of Revelation
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and He transformed and He
changed my life completely."
00:11:00.15\00:11:04.99
That's actually the reason
00:11:05.02\00:11:06.89
that we're going
here for this book.
00:11:06.92\00:11:10.03
That's why we'd like to
spend this time by studying
00:11:10.06\00:11:13.67
the Book of
Revelation in much deeper way.
00:11:13.70\00:11:17.56
So I promise I
will be praying for you.
00:11:17.59\00:11:19.83
You pray for me.
00:11:19.86\00:11:21.23
So before we go
to the first text
00:11:21.26\00:11:23.09
of the Book of Revelation
to share with you how God
00:11:23.12\00:11:26.16
changed the Book of Revelation
to transform my personal life,
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I'd like just that
we ask God for guidance
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as we're going
through this book.
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Our heavenly Father,
thank you for giving us
00:11:36.32\00:11:41.06
this opportunity so that
we can go and take this book
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'Revelation of The Coming King.'
00:11:46.24\00:11:49.18
And we would like to hear
Your voice speaking to us.
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Father, we are aware
that there are many difficult
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passages in this book.
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And many things we'd
like to understand better
00:11:59.39\00:12:02.52
and we feel how people are
struggling to make so many times
00:12:02.55\00:12:06.07
a sense of some
difficult portions
00:12:06.10\00:12:08.02
of the Book of Revelation.
00:12:08.05\00:12:09.78
But please help us that we can
understand the central message,
00:12:09.81\00:12:13.31
the message that
will really change
00:12:13.34\00:12:16.34
and transform
our personal lives.
00:12:16.37\00:12:18.62
Thank you,
Father for our guidance.
00:12:18.65\00:12:21.12
Thank you for being with us.
00:12:21.15\00:12:22.52
And we pray all of
this in the precious
00:12:22.55\00:12:25.03
name of our Savior
Jesus Christ. Amen.
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As I promised to you that
we will follow this textbook.
00:12:31.38\00:12:38.98
So please I'd like
to ask you that we open
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the first text and
the first statement
00:12:44.25\00:12:47.71
of the Book of Revelation,
namely, Revelation 1:1.
00:12:47.74\00:12:52.96
Are you ready
for this? Yes. Okay.
00:12:52.99\00:12:56.91
So Revelation 1:1.
00:12:56.94\00:13:02.51
I'd just like to
read the first line,
00:13:02.54\00:13:05.93
"The revelation of Jesus Christ
00:13:05.96\00:13:11.09
which God gave him
to show to his servants
00:13:11.12\00:13:16.01
the things which
must soon take place."
00:13:16.04\00:13:19.74
We would like, during the
time that is allotted to us now,
00:13:24.72\00:13:31.49
to understand
something from this opening
00:13:31.52\00:13:33.91
statement of the book.
00:13:33.94\00:13:37.24
And that's about
two central themes
00:13:37.27\00:13:41.13
that this opening
statement introduces to us
00:13:41.16\00:13:44.33
that's very crucial, very
important for the understanding
00:13:44.36\00:13:47.54
of the rest of the book.
00:13:47.57\00:13:50.38
Two central themes.
00:13:50.41\00:13:52.77
The first one, it's introduced
in the opening statement.
00:13:52.80\00:13:59.08
The revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:13:59.11\00:14:02.04
I want to do something.
00:14:02.07\00:14:05.24
The word "revelation"
that we have actually comes
00:14:05.27\00:14:10.17
from the Greek
word "Apocalypses'."
00:14:10.20\00:14:14.07
Just to see how it's little
bit complicated to read Greek.
00:14:14.10\00:14:20.97
But already you
guessed what it means.
00:14:21.00\00:14:24.26
The Greek word "Apocalypses',"
actually renders the meaning
00:14:24.29\00:14:27.78
what we have today
the word "Apocalypse."
00:14:27.81\00:14:32.00
The Greek word "Apocalypses',"
actually consist of two words.
00:14:32.03\00:14:37.12
"Apo" which means from or
of and the word "calypsis"
00:14:37.15\00:14:43.76
which simply means covering.
00:14:43.79\00:14:47.39
So any guess what is the meaning
of the word "Apocalypses'?"
00:14:47.42\00:14:51.92
It simply means unveiling,
revealing, and uncovering.
00:14:51.95\00:14:59.14
So we have already here
something very interesting
00:14:59.17\00:15:02.37
at the-at the very beginning.
00:15:02.40\00:15:04.66
And what is that that
actually we are learn?
00:15:04.69\00:15:08.96
That the opening line
of this book is telling us
00:15:08.99\00:15:13.15
that this is the
unveiling, uncovering,
00:15:13.18\00:15:17.80
revealing of Jesus Christ.
00:15:17.83\00:15:20.05
Now you already
guess that from this
00:15:20.08\00:15:23.92
we have the word "Apocalypse."
00:15:23.95\00:15:27.09
And this opening line
actually gives us the title
00:15:27.12\00:15:32.33
of the last book of the Bible.
00:15:32.36\00:15:33.80
We call it, the
Apocalypse of Jesus Christ.
00:15:33.83\00:15:38.17
Unfortunately, many people
do not call it the Apocalypse
00:15:38.20\00:15:45.50
or Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:15:45.53\00:15:47.22
They simply call
it the "Apocalypse."
00:15:47.25\00:15:49.25
Now there is a question,
the apocalypse of what?
00:15:49.28\00:15:53.52
And I meet many
very good Christians
00:15:53.55\00:15:55.65
but when they come to
the Book of Revelation
00:15:55.68\00:15:57.45
they are telling me, "this book
does not make any sense to me."
00:15:57.48\00:16:01.05
Because for some
people, this is the Revelation
00:16:01.08\00:16:03.61
of those final
events that are terrifying,
00:16:03.64\00:16:06.58
that are very, very,
very, very, very scary.
00:16:06.61\00:16:10.29
That's why many people
are discouraged actually
00:16:10.32\00:16:12.28
to go and to study this book.
00:16:12.31\00:16:18.87
As I mentioned that this
opening statement actually
00:16:18.90\00:16:22.02
provides the title of the book.
00:16:22.05\00:16:25.79
What is the purpose of a title?
00:16:25.82\00:16:30.31
Have you ever thought?
00:16:30.34\00:16:31.71
You have a book seven,
eight hundred pages, thick book.
00:16:31.74\00:16:37.11
And you just have a three, four
words that appear on the cover.
00:16:37.14\00:16:40.48
Actually those three,
four words, they provide
00:16:40.51\00:16:44.63
in a nut shell the
content of the entire book.
00:16:44.66\00:16:50.71
As you read the
title you know exactly
00:16:50.74\00:16:53.21
what the book is all about.
00:16:53.24\00:16:54.80
Am I correct?
00:16:54.83\00:16:56.75
If I want to
learn something about
00:16:56.78\00:16:59.29
history of United
States, I go to the bookstore.
00:16:59.32\00:17:02.34
What is the title
that I am looking for?
00:17:02.37\00:17:05.60
The answer is clear.
00:17:05.63\00:17:07.31
Let me ask you one question.
00:17:07.34\00:17:10.54
When Christians, they call
the last book of the Bible,
00:17:10.57\00:17:14.94
"the Revelation
of Jesus Christ,"
00:17:14.97\00:17:20.99
what do they expect
to find in this book?
00:17:21.02\00:17:26.56
Even today there is
a movie and you'll see
00:17:26.59\00:17:31.12
a flood of young people going
and running to watch that movie.
00:17:31.15\00:17:34.39
And you ask them, what
is the title of the movie?
00:17:34.42\00:17:36.72
They say, "it's the Apocalypse."
00:17:36.75\00:17:39.63
And when young people are
going to watch that movie,
00:17:39.66\00:17:42.12
what do they expect?
00:17:42.15\00:17:43.70
To watch Jesus Christ, His life?
00:17:43.73\00:17:48.67
You know what
young people they say,
00:17:48.70\00:17:50.07
they expect to
see, to watch action.
00:17:50.10\00:17:54.20
Bloodshed, persecution,
torture, final events
00:17:54.23\00:17:59.02
and everything
that is associated that.
00:17:59.05\00:18:01.84
And my question is, who invented
such a meaning of the content
00:18:01.87\00:18:07.76
of the last book of
the Bible or the meaning
00:18:07.79\00:18:09.82
of the word "Apocalypse?"
00:18:09.85\00:18:11.89
Christians. Actually,
it's telling us about the way
00:18:11.92\00:18:16.03
how the Christians understand
the Book of Revelation.
00:18:16.06\00:18:19.09
So please allow me now.
00:18:19.12\00:18:20.91
It is
understanding of this phrase
00:18:20.94\00:18:24.62
that actually
changed my perspectives.
00:18:24.65\00:18:29.58
Please I would like
that we point to something.
00:18:29.61\00:18:32.62
The very title of the
last book of the New Testament
00:18:32.65\00:18:36.67
is telling us what we are
supposed to find in this book.
00:18:36.70\00:18:40.66
It's the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:18:40.69\00:18:43.81
But, you know, many
Christians are debating.
00:18:43.84\00:18:47.67
And English so many
times doesn't look problematic.
00:18:47.70\00:18:53.09
But in Greek it's a big problem.
00:18:53.12\00:18:55.45
When you say the
Revelation of Jesus Christ,
00:18:55.48\00:18:57.40
Apocalypses' to Jesucristo,
00:18:57.43\00:18:59.73
it can be understood
in two different ways.
00:18:59.76\00:19:01.87
Is it so called-no,
00:19:01.90\00:19:03.46
boy, it's just to make
a little bit problematic.
00:19:03.49\00:19:05.46
Is it subjective
or objective genitive?
00:19:05.49\00:19:08.22
Which means, is this the book
that came from Jesus Christ?
00:19:08.25\00:19:13.86
That He is the
source of that Revelation?
00:19:13.89\00:19:16.87
Or is this book
about Jesus Christ?
00:19:16.90\00:19:21.79
You see, usually when we read,
00:19:21.82\00:19:23.19
just a casual reader
does not see the difference.
00:19:23.22\00:19:27.10
That could be understood
in two different ways.
00:19:27.13\00:19:29.08
And the scholars are debating.
00:19:29.11\00:19:31.50
I just want to
suggest to you that both
00:19:31.53\00:19:34.21
meanings are implied here.
00:19:34.24\00:19:35.80
If you see verse 1 it says,
"the Revelation of Jesus Christ
00:19:35.83\00:19:40.02
which God gave Him to
show to His servants the things
00:19:40.05\00:19:43.45
which must soon take
place and He," Jesus, "He sent
00:19:43.48\00:19:47.80
and He communicated it by
His angel to His servant John."
00:19:47.83\00:19:51.49
He's telling us that
it is from Jesus Christ.
00:19:51.52\00:19:54.25
Are you with me?
00:19:54.28\00:19:55.71
It came from Him.
00:19:55.74\00:19:57.11
He's the one who
sent that Revelation.
00:19:57.14\00:19:58.66
But please, let's go to verse 7,
00:19:58.69\00:20:01.85
"behold, He is coming
with the clouds and every eye
00:20:01.88\00:20:08.33
will see Him, even
those who pierced Him,
00:20:08.36\00:20:11.03
and all the tribes of the
earth will mourn over Him,
00:20:11.06\00:20:14.23
so it is to be. Amen."
00:20:14.26\00:20:16.69
Suddenly, He's not
only just the source.
00:20:16.72\00:20:20.77
He, the Book of
Revelation is about Him.
00:20:20.80\00:20:23.72
He is the main object
of the Book of Revelation.
00:20:23.75\00:20:26.72
By the way is that what our
Christian doctrine is all about?
00:20:26.75\00:20:31.69
It came from Jesus Christ but
it's about Jesus Christ. Amen.
00:20:31.72\00:20:37.18
The entire Bible is about that.
00:20:37.21\00:20:38.98
The entire Bible came from
God, came from Jesus Christ.
00:20:39.01\00:20:42.97
But Jesus said,
read it, study it
00:20:43.00\00:20:45.63
because it testifies about me.
00:20:45.66\00:20:47.85
So the Book of
Revelation is in line
00:20:47.88\00:20:50.54
with the basic
premise of Christianity.
00:20:50.57\00:20:54.21
It came from Jesus
but it's about Him.
00:20:54.24\00:20:58.12
By the way, if you go from
chapter 1 all up to chapter 22,
00:20:58.15\00:21:05.32
you will see that Jesus Christ
is the main focus of this book.
00:21:05.35\00:21:11.55
The very
beginning, He's introduced
00:21:11.58\00:21:14.54
the alpha and the omega.
00:21:14.57\00:21:17.54
He's the beginning of the end.
00:21:17.57\00:21:20.12
What I'm trying to
say, this phrase is found
00:21:20.15\00:21:23.17
in chapter 1, is
found in chapter 22.
00:21:23.20\00:21:26.14
The book begins with that.
00:21:26.17\00:21:28.56
And the book
concludes with that.
00:21:28.59\00:21:31.13
The entire book is about this.
00:21:31.16\00:21:34.87
So I just want to tell
you the Book of Revelation
00:21:34.90\00:21:37.68
is not intended to be
kind of Hollywood Apocalypse
00:21:37.71\00:21:42.76
littered with bizarre
and horrible events to come
00:21:42.79\00:21:46.08
on the world that causes
fear and concern to all of us
00:21:46.11\00:21:52.09
by naming it
"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
00:21:52.12\00:21:56.08
The inspired author wanted
to tell us that we understand
00:21:56.11\00:22:01.79
that the book He
wrote under the inspiration
00:22:01.82\00:22:05.01
of the Holy Spirit offered
a new portrayal of Christ
00:22:05.04\00:22:09.68
that could be
found nowhere else.
00:22:09.71\00:22:12.91
That's why this book
is so much important.
00:22:12.94\00:22:16.11
And please allow me to
share two things with you.
00:22:16.14\00:22:20.54
Number one, I promise to
you that I'll explain to you
00:22:20.57\00:22:24.65
how God changed my
life by studying this book.
00:22:24.68\00:22:28.09
What I discovered
that the Book of Revelation
00:22:28.12\00:22:33.31
is as much the gospel
as the four gospels are.
00:22:33.34\00:22:39.27
And I really mean that. Amen.
00:22:39.30\00:22:41.72
Let me explain this.
00:22:41.75\00:22:45.14
You know four gospels.
00:22:45.17\00:22:46.94
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
00:22:46.97\00:22:50.42
When you read those four
gospels, what do you find there?
00:22:50.45\00:22:54.00
You know, let me
just put it in simple way.
00:22:54.03\00:22:56.07
About God who took human form,
00:22:56.10\00:23:01.27
He came down to the earth
to save the falling humanity.
00:23:01.30\00:23:06.94
So after His
ministry, He died on the cross.
00:23:06.97\00:23:11.75
He was buried.
00:23:11.78\00:23:14.15
He resurrected and He ascended
there to the heavenly places.
00:23:14.18\00:23:18.79
You know that.
00:23:18.82\00:23:20.75
What is He doing over there?
00:23:20.78\00:23:23.94
You know that.
00:23:23.97\00:23:25.34
He intercedes on behalf of us.
00:23:25.37\00:23:28.39
Please can you open
any of the four gospels
00:23:28.42\00:23:33.20
to learn about that?
00:23:33.23\00:23:35.81
What is He doing there
in the heavenly places? No.
00:23:35.84\00:23:38.34
Because the four gospels,
they end with His ascension.
00:23:38.37\00:23:44.04
But there are two
books of the New Testament
00:23:44.07\00:23:47.17
that are very important.
00:23:47.20\00:23:49.48
And those two books
they begin at the point
00:23:49.51\00:23:54.69
where the four gospels end.
00:23:54.72\00:23:56.54
Are you still with me?
00:23:56.57\00:23:57.94
So the four gospels they
end with the ascension of Jesus.
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.87
And the book of Hebrews
and the Book of Revelation
00:24:00.90\00:24:04.19
begin with that
point of Jesus' existence.
00:24:04.22\00:24:09.38
They describe Jesus who's
there in the heavenly places.
00:24:09.41\00:24:12.10
When you read
the book of Hebrews,
00:24:12.13\00:24:14.31
Jesus is there the
priest and the high priest
00:24:14.34\00:24:17.35
intercedes on behalf of us.
00:24:17.38\00:24:20.78
But you'll find in
the book of Hebrews
00:24:20.81\00:24:22.99
that Jesus is also our King.
00:24:23.02\00:24:25.72
Hebrews 8:1 says, "we
have a such High Priest
00:24:25.75\00:24:30.05
who sat there on the heavenly
throne at the right hand
00:24:30.08\00:24:35.60
of the great that is
there in the heavenly places."
00:24:35.63\00:24:38.82
But when you go to
the Book of Revelation,
00:24:38.85\00:24:41.26
the emphasis is
on Jesus as our King.
00:24:41.29\00:24:45.83
That's why we titled
this series in such a way.
00:24:45.86\00:24:49.11
And in the Book of Revelation
he's still our priest.
00:24:49.14\00:24:52.40
And you will see very soon
in our further four presentation
00:24:52.43\00:24:55.66
we'll see Him as a priest there.
00:24:55.69\00:24:58.56
But the emphasis of the book
00:24:58.59\00:25:00.87
is on His royal
and kingly ministry.
00:25:00.90\00:25:04.93
So now you see,
both four gospels
00:25:04.96\00:25:08.55
and the Book of Revelation
they deal with the same Jesus.
00:25:08.58\00:25:11.94
Are you still with me? Amen.
00:25:11.97\00:25:13.61
The only difference
is that the four gospels
00:25:13.64\00:25:16.51
they're dealing with the
earthly Jesus, man of Galilee
00:25:16.54\00:25:20.38
who's in the human flesh.
00:25:20.41\00:25:22.36
But the Book of Revelation
portrays the glorified Christ
00:25:22.39\00:25:26.66
who's there in
the heavenly places
00:25:26.69\00:25:29.01
working on behalf of
us and our salvation.
00:25:29.04\00:25:32.19
But let me
explain little bit more.
00:25:32.22\00:25:33.76
This is the second point what
I wanted to introduce here. Yes.
00:25:33.79\00:25:38.36
You know, when we read the four
gospels and before Jesus left,
00:25:38.39\00:25:43.72
He left to His disciples
and to all of us two promises.
00:25:43.75\00:25:50.04
In these two promises all
other promises are incorporated.
00:25:50.07\00:25:54.40
The first promise is-I
will refer to Matthew 28:20.
00:25:54.43\00:26:00.68
"And I will be
with you," how long?
00:26:00.71\00:26:07.45
"Always." How long always?
00:26:07.48\00:26:09.25
"Until the very end of the age."
00:26:09.28\00:26:11.35
This is the first
promise that Jesus left.
00:26:11.38\00:26:14.11
And the second one is-probably
the best representative text
00:26:14.14\00:26:17.82
is the gospel John 14:1-3.
00:26:17.85\00:26:23.17
"I will come again when I
prepare the place for you.
00:26:23.20\00:26:27.93
When I prepare the
place I will come again
00:26:27.96\00:26:30.05
and you will be
there where I am.
00:26:30.08\00:26:31.79
So I will be with you
always until the very end.
00:26:31.82\00:26:35.68
But when the end comes then
I will come again to take you
00:26:35.71\00:26:39.72
so you will be
there where I am."
00:26:39.75\00:26:41.48
See, these two promises
incorporate all other promises.
00:26:41.51\00:26:45.90
And the purpose of
the Book of Revelation
00:26:45.93\00:26:49.01
is to tell us how actually Jesus
00:26:49.04\00:26:51.96
is fulfilling
these two promises.
00:26:51.99\00:26:55.02
The first 19 chapters
of the book describing
00:26:57.30\00:27:01.81
how actually Jesus
while He's there in heaven.
00:27:01.84\00:27:04.32
He's supporting His church.
00:27:04.35\00:27:06.40
He's supporting you and me in
our struggles to overcome sins
00:27:06.43\00:27:10.57
and to prepare ourselves
for that great-the moment
00:27:10.60\00:27:15.82
that we are waiting
so much, to meet Him
00:27:15.85\00:27:18.71
one day when He
comes to the cloud.
00:27:18.74\00:27:20.75
So He's telling us actually
00:27:20.78\00:27:22.22
how He is with His
people until the very end.
00:27:22.25\00:27:26.19
Are you still with me?
00:27:26.22\00:27:27.75
And then the last three,
four chapters of the book-
00:27:27.78\00:27:32.65
it's very hard to
draw the line, okay?
00:27:32.68\00:27:34.96
Are telling us
how He will come again
00:27:34.99\00:27:38.45
and take us there where He is.
00:27:38.48\00:27:41.92
And we will with Me.
00:27:41.96\00:27:45.72
So now you understand why for me
00:27:45.75\00:27:49.52
the Book of Revelation
is a truly the gospel.
00:27:49.55\00:27:56.78
Revealing Jesus
Christ and telling me
00:27:56.81\00:28:00.19
how great a Savior he is to me.
00:28:00.22\00:28:03.57
There is no difference between
00:28:03.60\00:28:05.09
the Book of
Revelation and four gospels.
00:28:05.12\00:28:08.99
So I really, they are
to say that Revelation-
00:28:09.02\00:28:11.48
that the last book
of the New Testament
00:28:11.51\00:28:13.42
is titled the "Apocalypses'."
00:28:13.45\00:28:15.82
The Apocalypse of
Jesus Christ is actually
00:28:15.85\00:28:18.06
the fifth gospel
of the New Testament.
00:28:18.09\00:28:22.45
But please whenever
I present this topic,
00:28:22.48\00:28:25.81
people become excited.
00:28:25.84\00:28:27.60
They say, "oh, boy, I always
thought that the book Revelation
00:28:27.63\00:28:31.63
is telling us about the future.
00:28:31.66\00:28:33.33
From now on I want to
think about the future."
00:28:33.36\00:28:35.99
There is no prophecies
in the Book of Revelation.
00:28:36.02\00:28:38.27
It's just about
Jesus Christ. Just wait.
00:28:38.30\00:28:43.04
Remember, we mentioned
that the very introduction
00:28:43.07\00:28:47.03
to the Book of Revelation
give us two central themes.
00:28:47.06\00:28:50.48
This is just the first theme.
00:28:50.51\00:28:52.05
So please can you
go back to the text?
00:28:52.08\00:28:55.86
He tell us
revelation of Jesus Christ
00:28:55.89\00:28:59.51
which God gave him to
show to his servants the things
00:28:59.54\00:29:04.63
which must soon take place.
00:29:04.66\00:29:06.04
Please can you help me?
00:29:06.07\00:29:07.93
This is the
Revelation of Jesus Christ
00:29:07.96\00:29:10.06
but what is the
purpose of the book?
00:29:10.09\00:29:12.91
To tell us what will
happen in the future.
00:29:12.94\00:29:17.20
And you will notice
how Christians are jumping
00:29:17.23\00:29:20.07
from one to another extreme.
00:29:20.10\00:29:21.96
For some
Christians this is simply
00:29:21.99\00:29:24.20
the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:29:24.23\00:29:25.62
And that's what
they like to hear.
00:29:25.65\00:29:27.75
Some of other
Christians everything
00:29:27.78\00:29:29.34
that they find in
the Book of Revelation
00:29:29.37\00:29:31.65
is about the future.
00:29:31.68\00:29:35.36
And please, I tried to
use different expressions.
00:29:35.39\00:29:39.56
I hope that you
will understand me.
00:29:39.59\00:29:41.94
For some Christians,
the Book of Revelation
00:29:41.97\00:29:43.68
is a kind of a crystal
ball, a kind of a horoscope,
00:29:43.71\00:29:47.79
another Nostradamus book,
00:29:47.82\00:29:53.24
a fortuneteller book.
00:29:53.27\00:29:57.59
However, we have to keep in mind
00:29:57.62\00:29:59.21
that this is the
Revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:29:59.24\00:30:02.62
But the purpose of
the book is to tell us
00:30:02.65\00:30:07.37
what will happen in the future.
00:30:07.40\00:30:08.81
So how can we reconcile
these two opening statements?
00:30:08.84\00:30:14.24
Is it revelation of
Jesus Christ or is it a book
00:30:14.27\00:30:17.22
that is telling
us about the future?
00:30:17.25\00:30:18.95
And my answer
is, "yes." And yes.
00:30:18.98\00:30:24.96
Please let me explain it.
00:30:24.99\00:30:29.63
Any person who is
confronted with the content
00:30:29.66\00:30:33.44
of the Book of
Revelation we realize.
00:30:33.47\00:30:35.59
The Book of
Revelation has 22 chapters.
00:30:35.62\00:30:38.05
But most of those 22
chapters are about the future.
00:30:38.08\00:30:45.02
We cannot deny it.
00:30:45.05\00:30:47.16
And that's what leads some
Christians really just to see
00:30:47.19\00:30:50.76
in the Book of
Revelation the future events.
00:30:50.79\00:30:55.58
But let me
suggest something to you.
00:30:55.61\00:30:59.05
That the primary purpose
of the Book of Revelation,
00:30:59.08\00:31:03.12
one more time
the primary purpose
00:31:03.15\00:31:05.29
or exclusive purpose
of the Book of Revelation,
00:31:05.32\00:31:08.21
is not simply to
inform us about the future.
00:31:08.24\00:31:12.87
But the purpose
of the revelation
00:31:12.90\00:31:14.88
of the future is to move us
00:31:14.91\00:31:16.48
to the right
Christian living, to make us
00:31:16.51\00:31:20.04
to be a better
Christians, and also to impress
00:31:20.07\00:31:24.55
and to seal on our of
mind the promise that Jesus
00:31:24.58\00:31:29.07
made to all of us
that He will be with us
00:31:29.10\00:31:34.33
always until the very
end of the age and finally
00:31:34.36\00:31:37.37
that He will come at the
end and to take us to ourselves.
00:31:37.40\00:31:42.87
So please you now allow me
00:31:42.90\00:31:45.98
to explain it
little bit in my own way.
00:31:46.01\00:31:51.88
In the book
00:31:54.87\00:31:57.15
of "Testimonies to Ministers,"
00:31:57.18\00:32:00.38
page 180, there is a
statement that really
00:32:00.41\00:32:06.67
made this presentation possible.
00:32:06.70\00:32:08.62
The statement
really to move them
00:32:08.65\00:32:10.44
to go into the direction,
to find about that first
00:32:10.47\00:32:13.82
and central theme of
the Book of Revelation.
00:32:13.85\00:32:16.08
Listen to the statement.
00:32:16.11\00:32:18.15
"Advance new principles.
00:32:18.18\00:32:21.40
And crowd in
the clear cut truth.
00:32:21.43\00:32:25.22
But be not too ready to
take a controversial attitude.
00:32:25.25\00:32:30.22
There will be times
when we must stand still
00:32:30.25\00:32:33.29
and see the salvation of God.
00:32:33.32\00:32:36.17
Let Daniel speak,
let the Revelation speak,
00:32:36.20\00:32:39.64
and tell what is truth.
00:32:39.67\00:32:42.19
But whatever phase of
the subject is presented,
00:32:42.22\00:32:45.77
uplift Jesus as
the center of all hope,
00:32:45.80\00:32:50.09
'The root and the
offspring of David,
00:32:50.12\00:32:53.53
and the bright and
the morning star.'"
00:32:53.56\00:32:55.81
What the statement. Amen.
00:32:55.84\00:32:57.33
So now let me explain
how the book that is titled,
00:32:57.36\00:33:02.65
"The Revelation
of Jesus Christ,"
00:33:02.68\00:33:06.55
but its purpose is to tell us
00:33:06.58\00:33:09.13
about what will
happen in the future.
00:33:09.16\00:33:11.74
How that book can
change somebody's life?
00:33:11.77\00:33:15.16
How those two statements really,
they fit nicely together?
00:33:15.19\00:33:20.58
Actually it is
because of the needs
00:33:20.61\00:33:23.40
of my students at
Andrews University.
00:33:23.43\00:33:26.32
I invented, keep in mind, I
invented these illustration.
00:33:26.35\00:33:31.93
This is just
illustration that I usually use
00:33:31.96\00:33:34.79
and I'd like to explain
really how this opening sentence
00:33:34.82\00:33:38.49
of the Book of
Revelation synchronizes
00:33:38.52\00:33:41.44
the title with the
main purpose of the book.
00:33:41.47\00:33:43.83
Are you still with me? Yes.
00:33:43.86\00:33:45.41
So let me use this illustration.
00:33:45.44\00:33:46.81
Can you just imagine
that there is a family,
00:33:46.84\00:33:51.19
a husband and a wife?
00:33:51.22\00:33:53.21
And they have a boy.
00:33:53.24\00:33:54.61
They have problem with him.
00:33:54.64\00:33:56.32
The boy does not know anything
what he will do in his life.
00:33:56.35\00:34:01.26
Of course, the
parents they worry about that.
00:34:01.29\00:34:02.98
But one day, he comes to
his parents telling them,
00:34:03.01\00:34:09.07
"I decided to do
something with my life.
00:34:09.10\00:34:11.44
I decided to go and to
study at that university."
00:34:11.47\00:34:15.15
Oh, boy, the
parents are excited.
00:34:15.18\00:34:18.03
But at the same
time they are sad
00:34:18.06\00:34:20.64
because the son is flying
00:34:20.67\00:34:24.67
to very distant place,
2, 3 hours by airplane.
00:34:24.70\00:34:28.85
He's going to study there
at the Andrews University.
00:34:28.88\00:34:31.19
They will miss him.
00:34:31.22\00:34:32.90
But they're
happy that he decided
00:34:32.93\00:34:34.55
to do something in his life.
00:34:34.58\00:34:35.95
One more time, I
invented this illustration.
00:34:35.98\00:34:37.85
That's not something real.
00:34:37.88\00:34:43.19
The long awaited day has come.
00:34:43.22\00:34:47.69
Everything is packed.
00:34:47.72\00:34:49.86
They're ready to take all
those luggage to put in the car
00:34:49.89\00:34:53.28
and the father is ready to
take his son to the airport.
00:34:53.31\00:34:57.17
But surprisingly, the father
looks to his son and said,
00:34:57.20\00:35:02.59
"Son," he pulls the chairs
and puts there two chairs.
00:35:02.62\00:35:05.92
He said, "Son, please would
you sit here on this chair?
00:35:05.95\00:35:10.90
You and me, we
have first to talk."
00:35:10.93\00:35:13.80
know what happened with Kids?
00:35:13.83\00:35:16.56
They can stay in the bed
until 10:00 in the morning.
00:35:16.59\00:35:19.29
As soon as you want
to talk to them suddenly
00:35:19.32\00:35:21.78
they are in a
rush to go somewhere.
00:35:21.81\00:35:23.95
And the boy said, "Dad, we
have to run to the airport."
00:35:23.98\00:35:26.58
But the father is very serious.
00:35:26.61\00:35:28.02
"Son, please sit there.
00:35:28.05\00:35:30.22
I want to talk to you."
00:35:30.25\00:35:32.08
"It's okay, Dad."
00:35:32.11\00:35:33.76
And the father
looks into his face.
00:35:33.79\00:35:36.26
He said, "Son, let me
just ask you one question.
00:35:36.29\00:35:40.52
Have you ever
thought about the life
00:35:40.55\00:35:46.69
that you will have there in that
city and in that university?"
00:35:46.72\00:35:51.83
You know, the boy.
00:35:51.86\00:35:53.23
"Dad." No, no, the
father is very serious.
00:35:53.26\00:35:55.34
"Son, this is
very serious question."
00:35:55.37\00:35:59.57
And the father said, "my
son, let me explain to you
00:35:59.60\00:36:02.55
how your life will
look there at that city."
00:36:02.58\00:36:05.57
He says, "every
morning you will get up,
00:36:05.60\00:36:11.21
have a quick
breakfast and go to your class.
00:36:11.24\00:36:15.97
Another class,
another class, another class.
00:36:16.00\00:36:20.63
In the lunch time, in the
late afternoon you'll come.
00:36:20.66\00:36:23.05
You'll take that lunch and
you have to run to be on time
00:36:23.08\00:36:26.06
in your work
because you have to work
00:36:26.09\00:36:27.78
in order to
survive in that university.
00:36:27.81\00:36:30.67
And after your
work in the evening,
00:36:30.70\00:36:32.50
you run to your room
there to study and to prepare
00:36:32.53\00:36:37.22
your assignments
for tomorrow class.
00:36:37.25\00:36:41.57
And in the
morning you'll get up.
00:36:41.60\00:36:43.51
You know already the story.
00:36:43.54\00:36:45.72
You'll run to the class.
00:36:45.75\00:36:47.12
After the class, in
the afternoon, work.
00:36:47.15\00:36:50.18
After the work, back
to your room to study,
00:36:50.21\00:36:54.37
to prepare for next day class.
00:36:54.40\00:36:56.64
Then next day and you
know already the story."
00:36:56.67\00:37:00.14
And the father
notices, as the son was cynical,
00:37:00.17\00:37:06.25
etcetera that his hand is
going down and he is carefully
00:37:06.28\00:37:12.13
listening to what his
father is telling him.
00:37:12.16\00:37:14.56
And then the father says,
"and my son, the exam will come.
00:37:14.59\00:37:19.65
You will work, then you will
run back to your room to study,
00:37:19.68\00:37:24.86
to prepare
yourself for the exam.
00:37:24.89\00:37:26.27
And you'll be
studying the whole night.
00:37:26.30\00:37:29.41
And in the morning, you
will come to take the exam.
00:37:29.44\00:37:32.37
After that exam going to work.
00:37:32.40\00:37:34.37
In the evening
go back to your room
00:37:34.40\00:37:35.92
to study for the next exam."
00:37:35.95\00:37:37.41
I invented this story, okay.
00:37:37.44\00:37:41.90
Let me ask you, as
the father is portraying
00:37:41.93\00:37:45.37
that future to his son
which is very realistic,
00:37:45.40\00:37:50.11
what are the thoughts that
they come to his son's mind?
00:37:50.14\00:37:57.78
I'm making a mistake.
00:37:57.81\00:37:59.60
I am leaving.
00:37:59.63\00:38:03.33
Is that the
purpose that the father
00:38:03.36\00:38:05.09
wants to have the
conversion with his son?
00:38:05.12\00:38:07.54
Okay, you have to
hear the rest of my story.
00:38:07.57\00:38:11.98
The father sees that his
son is completely confused.
00:38:12.01\00:38:16.43
And he's thinking
whether to go or to stay.
00:38:16.46\00:38:21.11
Now the father makes
the following statement
00:38:21.14\00:38:23.75
with just few sentences.
00:38:23.78\00:38:25.67
Before that the conversations
were about 15, 20 minutes,
00:38:25.70\00:38:28.59
very long conversation
but just few sentences.
00:38:28.62\00:38:30.60
He said, "my son, this
is the kind of your future
00:38:30.63\00:38:35.80
that is awaiting to
you there in that city.
00:38:35.83\00:38:37.85
But the reason why I
want to have this conversation
00:38:37.88\00:38:42.27
is just for a simpler reason to
assure you that you will finish
00:38:42.30\00:38:47.30
your studies at that university.
00:38:47.33\00:38:49.23
And you will graduate because
your mother and your father
00:38:49.26\00:38:55.04
will be walking
with you to support you.
00:38:55.07\00:38:59.19
The time, sometimes will
come, you will be discouraged.
00:38:59.22\00:39:04.71
You will not know what to do.
00:39:04.74\00:39:06.93
You will give us a phone call.
00:39:06.96\00:39:08.41
We will encourage you.
00:39:08.44\00:39:10.22
Sometimes when the
situation becomes so critical
00:39:10.25\00:39:14.60
we will, we will buy a
flight ticket and come to spend
00:39:14.63\00:39:19.90
some short time with you.
00:39:19.93\00:39:22.25
But because maybe
of your many exams
00:39:22.28\00:39:26.07
and overwhelming
assignments that will be on you,
00:39:26.10\00:39:30.17
you'll have to quit
some hours of your work
00:39:30.20\00:39:32.13
and you'll come into
the financial crisis.
00:39:32.16\00:39:35.87
You just give us a phone call.
00:39:35.90\00:39:37.73
We will go and borrow
money and to send to you.
00:39:37.76\00:39:40.34
Son, yes, the life at that
university will not be easy.
00:39:40.37\00:39:47.85
It will be challenging.
00:39:47.88\00:39:50.23
But we just want to
assure you, you will graduate
00:39:50.26\00:39:53.98
because we will
be beside to you,
00:39:54.01\00:39:58.72
to support you and to help you
00:39:58.75\00:40:01.41
and you will
finish your studies."
00:40:01.44\00:40:04.63
Please now you have to help me.
00:40:04.66\00:40:07.43
What-I invented
his illustration,
00:40:07.46\00:40:09.16
one more time
to make very clear.
00:40:09.19\00:40:11.33
What was the
purpose of that conversation
00:40:11.36\00:40:14.33
that the father
wanted to have with his son.
00:40:14.36\00:40:17.88
But did you notice something?
00:40:17.91\00:40:20.29
Let's say, that the conversation
lasted for 25 minutes.
00:40:20.32\00:40:24.66
When the father started talking
to his son, he was very nervous.
00:40:24.69\00:40:28.79
He even did not want
to listen like many people
00:40:28.82\00:40:30.95
who don't want to listen
00:40:30.98\00:40:33.09
to the prophecies of
the Book of Revelation.
00:40:33.12\00:40:36.30
We don't want to know
that scary things. Okay.
00:40:36.33\00:40:40.28
Of those 25
minutes that the father
00:40:40.31\00:40:42.80
had that conversation
with his son, how much of those
00:40:42.83\00:40:47.18
25 minutes were
about the future?
00:40:47.21\00:40:52.48
Okay, let's be very modest.
00:40:52.51\00:40:54.30
Let's say, at least 20 minutes.
00:40:54.33\00:40:58.69
80% of the father's
talk was about the future
00:40:58.72\00:41:03.58
and everything bad
things that actually provoke
00:41:03.61\00:41:07.13
the concern in the
mind of that young man.
00:41:07.16\00:41:11.88
Creating negative feelings
in his mind and actually
00:41:11.91\00:41:15.18
making him to think to change
his decision not to go there.
00:41:15.21\00:41:19.63
How much of that talk
was about the encouragement
00:41:19.66\00:41:24.07
and the promise that
they will be with him?
00:41:24.10\00:41:27.15
Just maybe 3, 4 minutes.
00:41:27.18\00:41:29.53
But you see, it's
not about the content.
00:41:29.56\00:41:33.22
It's about the purpose. Okay.
00:41:33.25\00:41:37.15
I want to ask another question.
00:41:37.18\00:41:39.28
Maybe some of you will
think, then why did the father
00:41:39.31\00:41:43.34
just spend those 2, 3 minutes
and put son in front of him
00:41:43.37\00:41:47.09
and say, "Son, we
just want to tell you
00:41:47.12\00:41:50.72
when you go to that university,
your mother and your father
00:41:50.75\00:41:54.35
will be with you to
support you and to finish?"
00:41:54.38\00:41:58.86
How seriously would
the son take that promise?
00:41:58.89\00:42:04.40
You know, you have kids.
00:42:04.43\00:42:06.11
"That's okay, Dad. That's okay.
00:42:06.14\00:42:08.42
Let's go to the airport."
00:42:08.45\00:42:09.82
He would not even
hear that promise.
00:42:09.85\00:42:12.58
But you see
after about 20 minutes
00:42:12.61\00:42:14.52
and maybe even longer as
the father was explaining
00:42:14.55\00:42:17.54
all that dark,
bizarre and terrifying future
00:42:17.57\00:42:21.90
that was very realistic,
very realistic and then finally
00:42:21.93\00:42:27.49
the father made
that promise to the son.
00:42:27.52\00:42:31.96
That promise was sealed
in the mind of that boy.
00:42:31.99\00:42:36.76
So let me ask you a question.
00:42:36.79\00:42:39.60
And son-that boy is
at that university there.
00:42:39.63\00:42:43.87
And he became so stressed.
00:42:43.90\00:42:48.05
And he cannot move any longer.
00:42:48.08\00:42:49.54
What is the first thing
that will come to his mind?
00:42:49.57\00:42:53.22
When he's in the
financial situation,
00:42:53.25\00:42:55.19
what will come-you know what.
00:42:55.22\00:42:57.70
Nobody has to teach him.
00:42:57.73\00:42:59.10
He will move there to the phone.
00:42:59.13\00:43:00.55
Pick up the phone
there to call his parents.
00:43:00.58\00:43:04.44
I just told you this
is just an illustration.
00:43:04.47\00:43:07.48
But I know that illustration
change and changed the life
00:43:07.51\00:43:11.89
of many, many of my students
and also camp meeting audience,
00:43:11.92\00:43:16.39
of so many, many
pastors, it helped them.
00:43:16.42\00:43:20.39
How much of the
Book of Revelation
00:43:20.42\00:43:22.05
is about the future?
00:43:22.08\00:43:26.43
But you see it's
not about the content.
00:43:26.46\00:43:30.27
It's about the
purpose of this book.
00:43:30.30\00:43:33.97
You see the Book of Revelation
could be just 15 verses.
00:43:34.00\00:43:38.24
God could tell us everything.
00:43:38.27\00:43:40.48
He's coming in the clouds but
before that He will be with us.
00:43:40.51\00:43:44.46
He will support us.
00:43:44.49\00:43:46.08
He will guide us and lead us.
00:43:46.11\00:43:48.00
We can always rely on Him.
00:43:48.03\00:43:51.05
But you see, Jesus Christ,
He knew that the full impact
00:43:51.08\00:43:57.12
of His promise to be
with us and the full meaning
00:43:57.15\00:44:01.60
of that promise that He
will be with us to help us
00:44:01.63\00:44:04.18
to take the future seriously-
are you still with me?
00:44:04.21\00:44:07.09
To take that future seriously
that we can prepare ourselves
00:44:07.12\00:44:10.52
for that future would not be
effective if He does not tell us
00:44:10.55\00:44:16.19
about what the
future will bring to us.
00:44:16.22\00:44:20.14
Actually, if you
open your Bibles,
00:44:20.17\00:44:25.76
we read in the Gospel
of John 16:4, Jesus said,
00:44:25.79\00:44:33.36
"these things I
have spoken to you
00:44:33.39\00:44:39.09
so that when the hour comes,
00:44:39.12\00:44:42.33
you may remember
that I told you of them."
00:44:42.36\00:44:47.27
What is the purpose of
the biblical prophecies?
00:44:47.30\00:44:51.66
Of course, the
purpose is to move us,
00:44:51.69\00:44:58.85
down to our knees, to
take the future seriously
00:44:58.88\00:45:03.73
but about all not
to make us the concern,
00:45:03.76\00:45:07.39
afraid and
terrified of that future.
00:45:07.42\00:45:09.68
It simply to telling
us that we are not left
00:45:09.71\00:45:13.19
alone on this earth.
00:45:13.22\00:45:15.63
That Jesus Christ is presented
in the four gospels has given us
00:45:15.66\00:45:20.52
that promise
that He will with us
00:45:20.55\00:45:24.41
always until the
very end of the age.
00:45:24.44\00:45:27.69
And the purpose of
the Book of Revelation
00:45:27.72\00:45:29.59
is telling us how He's
fulfilling that promise.
00:45:29.62\00:45:32.13
So when we know
that He is with us,
00:45:32.16\00:45:34.52
we will take our
Christianity seriously.
00:45:34.55\00:45:36.75
We will take our
spiritual life seriously.
00:45:36.78\00:45:39.64
It will make us to be better
Christians to treat other people
00:45:39.67\00:45:42.94
the way how Jesus treats people.
00:45:42.97\00:45:47.72
And also to make us
more serious about the future
00:45:47.75\00:45:51.58
will bring so that
we know Jesus said,
00:45:51.61\00:45:54.97
"when those things that start
taking place you can lift up
00:45:55.00\00:45:58.45
your heads and know that
your salvation is coming on."
00:45:58.48\00:46:03.32
Friends, the
correct understanding
00:46:03.35\00:46:05.88
of the Book of Revelation
will help us not to think
00:46:05.91\00:46:09.26
too much about this life.
00:46:09.29\00:46:11.97
Yeah, we live here.
00:46:12.00\00:46:13.42
We have to use our life
to spread the gospel message,
00:46:13.45\00:46:17.01
to make the life of
people around us better.
00:46:17.04\00:46:20.40
To have that Christ
like character to present
00:46:20.43\00:46:23.84
to the people
that are around us.
00:46:23.87\00:46:25.70
But this life is
not all what we have.
00:46:25.73\00:46:29.12
We have that future.
00:46:29.15\00:46:30.77
But that future makes
sense only if we understand
00:46:30.80\00:46:35.54
that that future is intended to
be the revelation of God's love
00:46:35.57\00:46:41.78
for us and His strong desire
to support us in our lives.
00:46:41.81\00:46:48.07
Once we understand
the message of that book,
00:46:48.10\00:46:52.80
it change our
perspective of this world,
00:46:52.83\00:46:55.78
changes the
perspective of ourselves,
00:46:55.81\00:46:59.86
changes the
perspective of the future.
00:46:59.89\00:47:03.14
So please allow me
the time that is now left
00:47:03.17\00:47:07.98
to challenge you with something.
00:47:08.01\00:47:11.13
Yes, the purpose of the
last book of the New Testament
00:47:11.16\00:47:16.17
is to show to
God's people the things
00:47:16.20\00:47:18.54
that will take
place in the future.
00:47:18.57\00:47:22.99
And praise God for that.
00:47:23.02\00:47:25.73
As the student of
the Book of Revelation,
00:47:25.76\00:47:28.32
I'm so grateful to God
for revealing this to us.
00:47:28.35\00:47:35.05
We know what the
future will bring.
00:47:35.08\00:47:38.02
There's nothing
better in this world.
00:47:38.05\00:47:41.19
The history of this world
is going down, down and one day
00:47:41.22\00:47:44.94
they'll come to its end.
00:47:44.97\00:47:46.83
So keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:47:46.86\00:47:51.16
is telling us clearly
what will happen in the future.
00:47:51.19\00:47:55.07
Are you still with me?
00:47:55.10\00:47:56.61
So we are not left alone.
00:47:56.64\00:47:58.48
Not as a kind of horoscope
00:47:58.51\00:48:00.19
or fortune telling
book or a crystal bowl.
00:48:00.22\00:48:04.11
No, that's not that.
00:48:04.14\00:48:05.80
But it's telling us
where the history is moving to.
00:48:05.83\00:48:12.22
So we know what will happen.
00:48:12.25\00:48:14.22
And according to
the Book of Revelation-
00:48:14.25\00:48:15.73
I want just to tell
the viewers what we learn
00:48:15.76\00:48:18.54
from the Book of Revelation
is that the time is coming
00:48:18.57\00:48:21.40
as the situation in
this world is getting worse
00:48:21.43\00:48:24.90
and worse and worse
and worse, that the secular
00:48:24.93\00:48:28.38
and political leaders of
this world will invite religion
00:48:28.41\00:48:31.90
and try to solve the
problems in this world.
00:48:31.93\00:48:33.89
Unfortunately, they
will not be able to do it.
00:48:33.92\00:48:37.41
Finally, they try to
find the scapegoat for that.
00:48:37.44\00:48:40.57
And according to the Bible
00:48:40.60\00:48:42.28
there will be union
of religion and politic.
00:48:42.31\00:48:45.85
And there will be
distinction between those
00:48:45.88\00:48:48.08
who will be faithful to God
until the very point of death.
00:48:48.11\00:48:51.85
And the Bible is telling
us, "At that drastic moment,
00:48:51.88\00:48:55.56
decisive moment
in human history,
00:48:55.59\00:48:57.33
then Jesus Christ will come."
00:48:57.36\00:48:59.56
This is just in a
nutshell what we learn
00:48:59.59\00:49:01.59
from the Book of Revelation.
00:49:01.62\00:49:02.99
But what is the problem
with regard to those things
00:49:03.02\00:49:06.39
that will take
place in the future?
00:49:06.42\00:49:07.94
There are two things
that we do not know. Okay.
00:49:07.97\00:49:12.14
What is that? The first thing,
00:49:12.17\00:49:15.23
we don't know when
those things will take place.
00:49:15.26\00:49:20.05
We don't know when.
00:49:20.08\00:49:23.89
And, friends, this is
exactly what we'd like to know.
00:49:23.92\00:49:30.34
Unfortunately, many people
take the Book of Revelation,
00:49:30.37\00:49:34.11
they try to set the dates
for the second coming of Christ.
00:49:34.14\00:49:40.43
And so many times what they
know that the text is clearly
00:49:40.46\00:49:43.14
about they try to take different
directions only for own purpose,
00:49:43.17\00:49:49.16
to establish if not the exact
date but the approximate date
00:49:49.19\00:49:52.88
when Jesus will come.
00:49:52.91\00:49:55.34
Unfortunately, I
have to remind you, oh,
00:49:55.37\00:49:58.66
the Bible makes very
clear in Deuteronomy 29:29,
00:49:58.69\00:50:04.05
that that secrets, that
they belong only to God. Amen.
00:50:04.08\00:50:09.73
But to us belong only things
that God has revealed to us.
00:50:12.79\00:50:18.73
And please we
do not have a time.
00:50:18.76\00:50:21.37
Maybe some other occasion
here when we do at 3ABN,
00:50:21.40\00:50:24.90
I can show you, how
New Testament is replete
00:50:24.93\00:50:30.34
with the statements that
human beings will never know
00:50:30.37\00:50:37.11
when the end of time will come.
00:50:37.14\00:50:40.95
Jesus reminds us
in Matthew 24:36,
00:50:40.98\00:50:44.55
"But of that day and hour
actually nobody, nobody knows."
00:50:44.58\00:50:49.86
In the Book of Acts 1:7,
"the disciples came to Jesus
00:50:49.89\00:50:56.10
and asking, 'are you going
out to establish your kingdom?'"
00:50:56.13\00:50:59.16
Jesus told them, "It's
not given to you to know about
00:50:59.19\00:51:04.56
the time and
seasons which the Father
00:51:04.59\00:51:07.77
has kept only for
Himself by His own authority."
00:51:07.80\00:51:11.51
But then Jesus said,
"This is not given to you."
00:51:11.54\00:51:14.78
But Jesus says,
"But what is given to you
00:51:14.81\00:51:16.99
is to be my witnesses."
00:51:17.02\00:51:22.18
Friends, I find
people everywhere.
00:51:22.21\00:51:25.44
They spend their entire
life to make prophetic charts,
00:51:25.47\00:51:31.00
calculate different dates.
00:51:31.03\00:51:34.01
They're spending the entire,
00:51:34.04\00:51:35.42
their entire
lives in doing that.
00:51:35.45\00:51:38.22
But Jesus says that
the time that we are using
00:51:38.25\00:51:40.49
to make those prophetic
charts, to calculate days
00:51:40.52\00:51:43.83
for the second
coming of Christ can be used
00:51:43.86\00:51:46.19
more effectively to
be Christ witnesses.
00:51:46.22\00:51:49.55
It's-I'd like to suggest to you
viewers instead of spending time
00:51:49.58\00:51:54.14
reading those
charts or making them,
00:51:54.17\00:51:56.34
try to make a map of the street,
the city in which you live.
00:51:56.37\00:52:00.24
To go and to proclaim the gospel
message and to reach those
00:52:00.27\00:52:05.14
who need to be
reached for Christ. Amen.
00:52:05.17\00:52:07.28
Actually in the
book "Selected Messages"
00:52:07.31\00:52:09.39
Chapter 2, page 113, we read.
00:52:09.42\00:52:14.03
"Again and again
have I been warned
00:52:14.06\00:52:16.55
in regard to time setting.
00:52:16.58\00:52:19.26
There will never again
be a message for the people
00:52:19.29\00:52:22.91
of God that will
be based on time.
00:52:22.94\00:52:26.78
We are not to know
the definite time either
00:52:26.81\00:52:29.80
for the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit
00:52:29.83\00:52:32.32
or for the coming of Christ."
00:52:32.35\00:52:34.25
Having said that, I'd
like you to keep in mind,
00:52:34.28\00:52:38.04
based on the Book of
Revelation we will know
00:52:38.07\00:52:41.94
that the time is very close.
00:52:41.97\00:52:45.39
How close?
00:52:45.42\00:52:47.40
Sometimes could be
close few months or few years.
00:52:47.43\00:52:50.11
But we will know that
it is close. How close?
00:52:50.14\00:52:52.11
Only God knows.
00:52:52.14\00:52:53.55
But we will be moved to
readiness for that moment.
00:52:53.58\00:52:58.28
Keep in mind, we
know what will happen.
00:52:58.31\00:53:00.56
We don't know when.
00:53:00.59\00:53:02.58
But there is another
thing that we do not know
00:53:02.61\00:53:04.46
about those future
events that are prophesied
00:53:04.49\00:53:09.02
in the Book of Revelation.
00:53:09.05\00:53:10.42
Any guess what is that?
00:53:10.45\00:53:11.82
We don't know how exactly
00:53:11.85\00:53:14.76
those things will take place.
00:53:14.79\00:53:20.20
Maybe you are confused.
00:53:20.23\00:53:22.47
I just want to encourage you.
00:53:22.50\00:53:24.09
Take for instance
the mark of the beast,
00:53:24.12\00:53:26.66
well known concept in
the Book of Revelation.
00:53:26.69\00:53:28.93
Go to internet, to
Google and type it.
00:53:28.96\00:53:34.37
You will find that there
are about 12 to 15 million
00:53:34.40\00:53:39.58
websites just written the topic.
00:53:39.61\00:53:43.92
This shows how much
people are confused.
00:53:43.95\00:53:47.46
And it means people are
struggling to know because
00:53:47.49\00:53:49.90
we do not know what exact-how
exactly the mark of the beast
00:53:49.93\00:53:54.35
will be realized in this world.
00:53:54.38\00:53:55.86
And I can present
here many different topics.
00:53:55.89\00:53:59.02
But please I'd like to
remind you of the statement
00:53:59.05\00:54:01.46
that I found is "Selected
Messages" Chapter 2, page 35.
00:54:01.49\00:54:07.27
"We are not now able to describe
with accuracy the scenes
00:54:07.30\00:54:12.63
to be enacted in
our world in the future
00:54:12.66\00:54:15.75
but this we do
know that this is a time
00:54:15.78\00:54:19.59
when we must watch unto prayer,
00:54:19.62\00:54:22.08
for the great day of
the Lord is at hand."
00:54:22.11\00:54:27.51
So I'd like to
invite us as we are studying
00:54:27.54\00:54:29.37
from the Book of Revelation,
it's so easy to speculate.
00:54:29.40\00:54:32.76
Yeah, we have our curiosity.
00:54:32.79\00:54:34.87
We would like really to learn
what the future will bring,
00:54:34.90\00:54:39.26
how the things
will happen and when.
00:54:39.29\00:54:42.09
Unfortunately, God in His
wisdom has not revealed to us.
00:54:42.12\00:54:47.91
The Book of
Revelation is not given to us
00:54:47.94\00:54:50.69
to satisfy our
curiosity about the future.
00:54:50.72\00:54:56.23
It's given for us to-it's given
to us to move us to readiness.
00:54:56.26\00:55:02.08
See, the graphic
portrayal of those events
00:55:02.11\00:55:05.55
that are found in
the Book of Revelation
00:55:05.58\00:55:07.28
are not always
nice to read about.
00:55:07.31\00:55:09.86
They have their goal to
impress upon us the seriousness
00:55:09.89\00:55:14.72
of the final
crisis and our dependency
00:55:14.75\00:55:17.77
on God during that time.
00:55:17.80\00:55:22.29
The time of crisis when
it comes will be a reminder
00:55:22.32\00:55:26.51
to God's people of Christ's
promise, to be with them
00:55:26.54\00:55:30.19
so that He can sustain them
00:55:30.22\00:55:32.57
during this
difficult, difficult times.
00:55:32.60\00:55:36.93
Now I hope that I
shared with you of this last
00:55:36.96\00:55:42.08
book of the Bible that
is very often misunderstood
00:55:42.11\00:55:45.66
and, I must say, misused
by different Christian groups.
00:55:45.69\00:55:50.98
Actually this book is truly
the revelation of Jesus Christ.
00:55:51.01\00:55:57.82
Everything what is there
is intended really to point
00:55:57.85\00:56:02.86
to the
seriousness of the future.
00:56:02.89\00:56:05.55
And to tell us that
when that future takes place,
00:56:05.58\00:56:10.36
when we get to there God will
00:56:10.39\00:56:14.06
never, never forget His people.
00:56:14.09\00:56:19.18
Such understanding
actually changes a human life.
00:56:19.21\00:56:24.85
You see, when understood
properly the prophesies
00:56:24.88\00:56:28.10
of revelation simply have that
practical purposes to teach us
00:56:28.13\00:56:32.35
how to live today and to move us
00:56:32.38\00:56:36.49
to be better
Christians tomorrow.
00:56:36.52\00:56:40.27
This sentence is
very, very important.
00:56:40.30\00:56:42.68
There are some people who study
the Book of Revelation they say,
00:56:42.71\00:56:45.27
"I don't want to
think about the future.
00:56:45.30\00:56:47.08
It's just about today."
00:56:47.11\00:56:48.90
There are some Christians
they don't think about today.
00:56:48.93\00:56:51.38
They just think about tomorrow
00:56:51.41\00:56:53.60
but they don't
know how to live today.
00:56:53.63\00:56:57.10
See the purpose of
the Book of Revelation
00:56:57.13\00:56:59.16
is to teach us how to
live as Christians today
00:56:59.19\00:57:04.52
but to be ready for tomorrow.
00:57:04.55\00:57:07.08
So I'd like to
invite all of you,
00:57:07.11\00:57:09.38
I'd like to invite our viewers
00:57:09.41\00:57:12.05
to take the word
of God seriously.
00:57:12.08\00:57:16.06
We will follow this
textbook and I'd like to ask you
00:57:16.09\00:57:19.65
that you make a copy
for yourself, to go through
00:57:19.68\00:57:22.72
that material because
every time I will tell you
00:57:22.75\00:57:25.45
about material
that we will cover from
00:57:25.48\00:57:27.50
that "Revelation
of the Coming King."
00:57:27.53\00:57:30.28
May God bless you all.
00:57:30.31\00:57:31.98