Welcome again to
our program titled
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"Revelation of the Coming King."
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I'm Ranko Stefanovic, Professor
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at the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary,
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Andrews University.
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And I'm so excited
that we can spend this time
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to delve in the Book of
Revelation and try to understand
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the relevance message
of that book for us today.
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Last time I
spoke about my accent.
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But this is not the only thing
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that people are confused
about with regard to me.
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They ask about my name.
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So let me just take few moments
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and say a little
bit about my name.
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My name is Ranko Stefanovic.
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Ranko in my Croatian
language means an early one.
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You know, sometimes parents
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they make mistake
by naming children.
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They sort of giving them
certain names, early one, okay.
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But my last name Stefanovic
actually comes from Greek.
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In Greek language there
are two words for a crown.
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One is the Greek word diadema.
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You can guess already that from
that we have English diadem.
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And it's a royal crown.
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When we go to the
Book of Revelation,
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we see in the
Revelation 19 that Jesus has
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many diadema crowns on His head.
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So that crown is
reserved exclusively
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for God and Jesus Christ.
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But we will come to that.
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You will notice in
the Book of Revelation
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that there is
another entity in the book
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that claims such a crown.
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Probably you already guessed.
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If you go to
Revelation Chapter 12
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and Revelation Chapter
13, you'll that the dragon
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and the sea beast
claims that crown.
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So we're dealing here
with the power opposing to God
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and claiming the
provocative's of God.
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But human beings are
not promised such a crown.
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The second word for crown in
Greek, it's a stephanos crown.
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That's not the royal crown.
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It's a garland
given to the winners
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in ancient Olympic Games.
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It's the crown of victory.
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This is a crown
that is promised to us.
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For instance when we
read in 2 Timothy Chapter 4,
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Paul says, "I finish
the race. My life is over.
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And I know that to me
stephanos crown is promised."
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He said, not only
to me but to all those
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who are waiting for His coming.
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Revelation 3:11, "Be faithful
until the point of death
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and I'll give you
the stephanos of life."
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It is out of this
Greek word stephanos
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that actually my
names comes from, okay.
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Stefan, western Steven are
both derived from this word.
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And Stefanovic, actually means
a little Steven in my language.
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You're the person
who lives somewhere.
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He was a foreigner
there and people ask,
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who is this person?
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He is son of
Steven, little Steven.
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In my language it's Stefanovic.
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That's how actually how
people got their second names.
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So this is little bit about
my name but in the same time
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we want to see different aspects
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of the Book of
Revelation, Revelation there.
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So if you among our viewers,
if you have the name Steven
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just to know that is rooted
strictly in the biblical promise
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that one day when our
Savior Jesus Christ come,
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we will get the
stephanos of life.
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But today we would
like to go to another aspect
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of the Book of Revelation.
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Keep in mind we're still
in verse 1 and believe me
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we can spend hours and hours
just in the first three verses
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of the Book of
Revelation which are truly
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are a part of the prologue,
of the prologue of the book,
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but about that we'll talk later.
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So please I
would like to ask you,
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if you can open
your Bibles again,
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but please I want
to fulfill my promise.
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I will do it always at
the beginning of our study
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and at the end.
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If you are able to hold
in your hands my commentary
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that we recommended last time.
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You still have a chance somehow
to provide a copy for yourself.
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Our presentation
today, it's based on the pages
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if you want to follow and
later to study for yourself
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from page 17, 17
my commentary so,
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17,18, 19, 20, 21 and so on.
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And then also part of
what we'll cover today
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it's found in
pages 58, 59, 60, and 61.
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But our focus will be
primarily from pages 17.
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So I would like
to encourage you,
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once we're done
with this presentation,
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I'd like you really to
get more information there
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from my commentary,
but to think the Bible
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is a sort of primary text
book as we mentioned last time.
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And please go and continue
to study this book for yourself,
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whether by yourself or in
group of some devoted Christians
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who would like
also to study together
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to get to the meaning,
the meaning of that book.
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So what are we
talking about today?
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Please would you turn
back to that opening text
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of the Book of Revelation?
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Revelation 1:1, "The
Revelation of Jesus Christ"
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we saw it last time but
this is the title of the book.
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"Which God gave Him" and then
we saw the purpose of the book
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"to show to His servants,
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the things which
must soon take place."
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But now we're going to
the last part of this verse.
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It said "And He" who is
that he? Jesus Christ Himself.
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"He sent" and my new
American Standard Version says
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"and He communicated it by
His angel to His servant John."
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The casual reader of
the Book of Revelation,
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especially when you
read this in English.
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And because of
different Bible translations,
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you don't see anything
too much significant here,
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except when Jesus
revealed to John the Revelator,
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things that are mentioned at
the very beginning of this text.
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Things that will
take place in the future.
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And I just want to tell you,
I want simply to show to you
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how sometimes we need really
to go to the biblical language.
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I know, we are, not
everybody can read Greek
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and Hebrew and that's okay.
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That's why we need
different Bible translation.
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And sometimes we need the people
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who know those
languages to tell us what is in.
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Because here in this
clause its one of the most
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significant awards that we
have in the Book of Revelation.
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I'm repeating, one of the
most significant expressions
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in the Book of Revelation.
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And this word really tell
us how to interpreter the book.
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Okay, so what is the word?
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Let's read one more
time the last clause.
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It says "And He Jesus,
He sent" and now I have here
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and says, "And
he communicated it
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by His angel to
His servant John."
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I would like to invite
all of you and our viewers
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who probably have
different versions here
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in front of yourself.
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My new American
Standard Bible says
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"That Jesus communicate, He sent
and He communicated it to John."
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Dear viewers, if
you have in your hand
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King James Bible for
instance, you'll find
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that the King James
Bible has a different word.
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It says "signified."
The Jesus signified.
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By the way you are
here in front of me,
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I'll say that you see that even
my new American Standard Bible
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says here in the margin
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that the correct word
should be "signified."
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So the word that
Jesus communicated,
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it's actually an interpretation.
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And for instance in
New International Version
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has that Jesus showed to John.
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But they try to
see what the meaning
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of this word is all about.
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I would like to suggest to
you that the King James Bible
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or New King James Bible
together what is found here
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in the margin of
my Bible translation
00:10:00.95\00:10:03.37
that I have here are
the closest to the meaning
00:10:03.40\00:10:07.07
that the word is in Greek.
00:10:07.10\00:10:09.88
So again as I did last
time, I want little bit
00:10:09.91\00:10:13.65
to challenge you that you
see how it looks in Greek.
00:10:13.68\00:10:18.10
So the word that is
in Greek here is semeion.
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This is 'S' so called sigma.
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Okay in Greek
it's the word semeion.
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So what is the meaning,
the meaning of this word?
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There's no little
bit analysis of this word
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and I hope that this
will not be boring again.
00:10:38.44\00:10:41.56
The word semeion it's a
verb, but comes from the noun.
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You see, if you cover
these letters then what is left?
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It's the word sema which
is a noun, feminine noun.
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Actually there is also
in the Book of Revelation
00:10:59.33\00:11:02.73
another word noun that
is very similar to sema
00:11:02.76\00:11:06.94
which is semeion
which is actually neuter
00:11:06.97\00:11:11.56
but the meaning is the same.
00:11:11.59\00:11:14.76
So what is the
meaning of the word sema?
00:11:14.79\00:11:17.84
It simply means
a sign or a symbol.
00:11:17.87\00:11:24.71
I will show you something
from the Book of Revelation
00:11:24.74\00:11:27.50
just in few minutes.
00:11:27.53\00:11:30.43
And I know that our viewers
are an international community,
00:11:30.46\00:11:36.99
different
languages of the world.
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And if you go
anywhere in the world
00:11:39.21\00:11:41.30
there is international
word what United States
00:11:41.33\00:11:45.16
we call a traffic light.
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It's typically
North American expression.
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If you go to Britain where
English is official language,
00:11:50.60\00:11:55.53
they use the word semaphore,
which is the international term
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for Spanish,
Portuguese, Croatian language,
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all languages of the world.
00:12:04.31\00:12:05.76
This is the official word for
the traffic light, semaphore.
00:12:05.79\00:12:09.09
You'll notice sema and phore.
00:12:09.12\00:12:14.56
Sema means a symbol
00:12:14.59\00:12:17.43
and phore is some
called the variation for light.
00:12:17.46\00:12:20.16
So what is the
semaphore, a traffic light?
00:12:20.19\00:12:22.53
You know, when you see
green, it tells you something.
00:12:22.56\00:12:26.60
When you see red- you
see these are all signs
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and they mean something.
00:12:31.66\00:12:33.34
When you see red,
that sign means stop.
00:12:33.37\00:12:36.31
By the way let
me use another word
00:12:36.34\00:12:38.62
that we are very much familiar
with is the word semantics.
00:12:38.65\00:12:43.23
Sema means a symbol and tics,
00:12:43.26\00:12:48.45
it's little bit
changed a transitory term
00:12:48.48\00:12:51.68
that actually is
the word for the text.
00:12:51.71\00:12:54.37
So what is semantics?
00:12:54.40\00:12:57.92
When we use symbols to express
something that is not visible.
00:12:57.95\00:13:03.45
You say M, you say T.
00:13:03.48\00:13:07.29
You see those
teeth, its simply breathing
00:13:07.32\00:13:09.27
but then you use
those signs to express it.
00:13:09.30\00:13:12.14
That's what semantic
is, you use sign or symbols.
00:13:12.17\00:13:15.65
By the way this is feminine.
00:13:15.68\00:13:18.02
Let's go to the
Book of Revelation
00:13:18.05\00:13:19.42
to see how neuter term is used.
00:13:19.45\00:13:22.50
It's used two times for
instance in the Revelation 12.
00:13:22.53\00:13:27.84
This is the word
that we're talking about.
00:13:27.87\00:13:29.91
Revelation 12:1.
00:13:29.94\00:13:32.37
You will see we're spending
little bit more time on that
00:13:32.40\00:13:35.70
because this
is- I do have to say
00:13:35.73\00:13:38.55
that this is probably a
single most important word
00:13:38.58\00:13:42.10
in the Book of
Revelation with regard
00:13:42.13\00:13:43.79
to the
interpretation of the book.
00:13:43.82\00:13:45.23
It says, you have the
book, the chapter "A great sign"
00:13:45.26\00:13:52.05
what the word is used semeion,
neuter "appeared in heaven."
00:13:52.08\00:13:56.30
What is the sign? "A woman."
00:13:56.33\00:13:59.92
So please let's
practice the knowledge.
00:13:59.95\00:14:02.73
If semeion means sign or
symbol, what does it mean?
00:14:02.76\00:14:06.76
That what follows
is not the real thing.
00:14:06.79\00:14:10.13
It says a woman, pregnant woman,
00:14:10.16\00:14:13.62
pregnant 1410 whose
child is there telling us that
00:14:13.65\00:14:15.88
this is not the Mary
that this is not a woman
00:14:15.91\00:14:20.77
but actually it's a symbol
that John see of something.
00:14:20.80\00:14:24.15
By the way we'll
come to Revelation 12.
00:14:24.18\00:14:26.76
Okay, let's go to verse 3.
00:14:26.79\00:14:30.65
"Then another semeion" which
is a sign "appeared in heaven."
00:14:30.68\00:14:36.20
Another symbol,
what's that symbol?
00:14:36.23\00:14:38.31
It's a dragon
telling us the dragon
00:14:38.34\00:14:40.89
is not the literal dragon.
00:14:40.92\00:14:43.36
Because when we go to verse 9,
00:14:43.39\00:14:45.84
it says clearly that
this dragon is the old serpent
00:14:45.87\00:14:49.83
who's actually
the devil and Satan.
00:14:49.86\00:14:53.15
I would like to
show to you something
00:14:53.18\00:14:55.02
few more things that we
see how the word is used.
00:14:55.05\00:14:58.15
Please, I'm taking
time for that because,
00:14:58.18\00:15:01.08
because today
people are going interpret
00:15:01.11\00:15:03.76
the Book of Revelation without
really taking into consideration
00:15:03.79\00:15:08.90
the purpose of the
book that Jesus seem
00:15:08.93\00:15:11.71
to indicate there
how to be interpreted.
00:15:11.74\00:15:13.47
Okay, if you go to the
Gospel of John 12:32 and 33,
00:15:13.50\00:15:21.31
then we read
that there Jesus said.
00:15:22.74\00:15:24.81
You notice statement is known.
00:15:24.84\00:15:26.71
"And I, if I be
lifted up from the earth,
00:15:26.74\00:15:32.66
will draw all men to myself."
00:15:32.69\00:15:35.83
This is what Jesus said.
00:15:35.86\00:15:38.37
But John wrote his
gospel many decades after
00:15:38.40\00:15:42.06
and he now makes
comment on these words of Jesus
00:15:42.09\00:15:45.21
and he said, "But he, Jesus,
was saying of this to indicate
00:15:45.24\00:15:52.30
the kind of death by
which He was to die."
00:15:52.33\00:15:57.81
Let me-let me
make sense of this.
00:15:57.84\00:16:00.38
Jesus said, "And I, when
I'm lifted up from the earth,
00:16:00.41\00:16:04.95
I will draw all my-
all people to myself."
00:16:04.98\00:16:08.42
What's the meaning of that?
00:16:08.45\00:16:10.14
Evidentially the
disciples at that moment
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.83
did not understand
what Jesus was saying.
00:16:11.86\00:16:13.67
It was decades
later that John understood
00:16:13.70\00:16:16.35
when he was writing the gospel.
00:16:16.38\00:16:18.29
After everything what happened
00:16:18.32\00:16:19.69
with Jesus crucifixion
and His ascension to heaven.
00:16:19.72\00:16:22.14
And he said, "The
Jesus was saying this"
00:16:22.17\00:16:25.02
now they put the word indicate.
00:16:25.05\00:16:27.99
Actually is the
word semeion use.
00:16:28.02\00:16:31.79
Can you practice it?
00:16:31.82\00:16:33.68
Jesus said this to
show by means of symbol
00:16:33.71\00:16:38.76
what will happen to Him.
00:16:38.79\00:16:41.02
So we know then, "when I'm
lifted up, " it means the cross.
00:16:41.05\00:16:46.21
Let's see another case.
00:16:46.24\00:16:48.61
The Gospel of John 21:18 to 19.
00:16:48.64\00:16:56.61
Is the Book of Revelation,
00:16:57.90\00:16:59.88
a reciting
exciting book for you?
00:16:59.91\00:17:01.64
Okay, 21, again
the words of Jesus.
00:17:01.67\00:17:06.16
"Truly, truly, I say to
you, when you were younger,
00:17:06.19\00:17:10.33
you used to gird yourself,
and walk wherever you wished.
00:17:10.36\00:17:15.40
But when you grow old, you
will stretch out your hands,
00:17:15.43\00:17:21.31
and someone else will gird you,
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.75
and bring you where
you do not wish to go."
00:17:24.78\00:17:28.73
So these are the words
that Jesus said to Peter,
00:17:28.76\00:17:31.04
but evidently
Peter did not understand
00:17:31.07\00:17:33.84
what Jesus told him.
00:17:33.87\00:17:35.88
Was the-Jesus tried to
tell him you stretch your hands.
00:17:35.91\00:17:41.97
Somebody will take you to
the place you don't want was.
00:17:42.00\00:17:44.62
Actually it was again decades
later when John was writing
00:17:44.65\00:17:48.67
his book that he understood
it and he makes a comment.
00:17:48.70\00:17:52.30
Now this he said, signifying
the word semeion was used.
00:17:52.33\00:17:58.13
It means showing him by means
of symbol what kind of death
00:17:58.16\00:18:03.96
he would glorify God
and then he has spoken this,
00:18:03.99\00:18:07.39
He said to him follow me.
00:18:07.42\00:18:09.64
So I hope that now we
can get a little bit insight
00:18:09.67\00:18:13.51
into the meaning
of the word semeion.
00:18:13.54\00:18:16.14
But there is another
word that is probably-
00:18:16.17\00:18:18.59
another biblical
passage that is more significant
00:18:18.62\00:18:22.85
and when John in Revelation
1:1 quoted the words of Jesus.
00:18:22.88\00:18:28.77
In using the word semeion,
00:18:28.80\00:18:30.50
actually he had
another book in his mind
00:18:30.53\00:18:35.31
and that's the Book of Daniel.
00:18:35.34\00:18:39.61
I don't know if
you're familiar with or not-
00:18:39.64\00:18:42.66
but the Bible, yes,
originally was written in Hebrew
00:18:42.69\00:18:46.92
and few chapters
were written in Aramaic.
00:18:46.95\00:18:51.36
But actually it is
300 years before Christ
00:18:51.39\00:18:55.16
that the Bible was
translated into Greek language
00:18:55.19\00:18:59.27
known as the Septuagint.
00:18:59.30\00:19:01.40
So Septuagint is
Greek translation
00:19:01.43\00:19:05.15
of the Old Testament.
00:19:05.18\00:19:07.31
So in Daniel 2:28 of
the Septuagint Version.
00:19:07.34\00:19:14.27
We have the following
words, I'd like us to read it.
00:19:15.59\00:19:20.86
"However, there
is a God in heaven
00:19:20.89\00:19:24.35
who reveals mysteries,'
and now let's pay attention
00:19:24.38\00:19:29.65
"and he has made known" actually
the word semeion is used.
00:19:29.68\00:19:37.54
God made known,
what does it mean?
00:19:37.57\00:19:40.03
It means that God revealed
to the King Nebuchadnezzar
00:19:40.06\00:19:44.84
by means of symbol what will
take place in the latter days.
00:19:44.87\00:19:50.64
"This was your dream
and the visions in your mind
00:19:52.96\00:19:57.78
while you were on your bed."
00:19:57.81\00:20:02.72
Actually it is
the Septuagint Version
00:20:02.75\00:20:05.13
that uses the word
semeion to indicate that
00:20:05.16\00:20:08.23
with the King
Nebuchadnezzar saw in that dream
00:20:08.26\00:20:11.71
was actually a symbol
or symbolic presentation
00:20:11.74\00:20:15.74
by which God wanted to
show to the King Nebuchadnezzar
00:20:15.77\00:20:19.08
what will take
place in the future.
00:20:19.11\00:20:20.96
I hope now that we have
already a sense of feeling
00:20:20.99\00:20:24.54
what the
meaning of this word is.
00:20:24.57\00:20:26.26
So I would like to give you
a lexical meaning of this word.
00:20:26.29\00:20:29.74
It simply means, to
show or to communicate
00:20:29.77\00:20:36.82
something by
means of sign or symbol.
00:20:36.85\00:20:41.85
It means to show, to
communicate something
00:20:46.47\00:20:51.71
by means of signs or symbols.
00:20:51.74\00:20:53.51
So let us now
practice this knowledge here.
00:20:53.54\00:20:55.65
Let's go back to Revelation 1:1.
00:20:55.68\00:20:58.99
Let's go the last clause
of verse 1, And He Jesus,
00:20:59.02\00:21:03.58
"He sent and He
showed it by His angel,
00:21:03.61\00:21:10.22
by means of symbol
to His servant John."
00:21:10.25\00:21:14.68
I don't know if
it is good English
00:21:14.71\00:21:16.16
what I expressed it here,
but I hope you're able to get
00:21:16.19\00:21:19.93
the meaning of this text.
00:21:19.96\00:21:22.50
As I mentioned
that this is probably
00:21:22.53\00:21:24.29
single most important
word in the Book of Revelation
00:21:24.32\00:21:27.48
with regard to the
interpretation of the book.
00:21:27.51\00:21:29.73
And the text is telling
us, this word is telling us
00:21:29.76\00:21:32.57
that when Jesus came
and He revealed the content
00:21:32.60\00:21:37.76
of the Book of Revelation
to John, what John saw it,
00:21:37.79\00:21:41.98
what was shown to him, it
was not something literal,
00:21:42.01\00:21:46.67
it was shown to
him by means of symbol.
00:21:46.70\00:21:51.40
Oh, now we have a great
discovery now telling us that
00:21:51.43\00:21:57.87
John received
his visions in visual
00:21:57.90\00:22:03.73
or figurative presentations.
00:22:03.76\00:22:07.11
Oh, we learned something new
but please let us build on this.
00:22:07.14\00:22:12.76
When I usually
talk to my students
00:22:12.79\00:22:15.87
and different people about this,
00:22:15.90\00:22:18.08
people will reach
different conclusions and say...
00:22:18.11\00:22:20.58
I will never forget I
was in one part of the world
00:22:20.61\00:22:23.89
talking about this and
then people asked me question
00:22:23.92\00:22:26.60
because somebody else
who had heard my presentation
00:22:26.63\00:22:29.86
before was talking to
them and telling them,
00:22:29.89\00:22:32.64
you see nothing in the
Book of Revelation is real.
00:22:32.67\00:22:36.79
Everything is symbol.
00:22:36.82\00:22:38.89
And in order to
explain to those people
00:22:38.92\00:22:43.39
what actually a text
says it says, let's take
00:22:43.42\00:22:46.67
for instance New Jerusalem
in the Book of Revelation.
00:22:46.70\00:22:49.90
You see, there is no city.
00:22:49.93\00:22:52.63
It's a simply, simply
a symbol of something.
00:22:52.66\00:22:56.41
Symbol of what?
00:22:56.44\00:22:58.59
So I have to
intervene and from that time
00:22:58.62\00:23:02.02
it was actually, it
happened three, four years ago
00:23:02.05\00:23:05.19
I used New Jerusalem little
bit to clarify what is this.
00:23:05.22\00:23:09.19
So it's very important
that we keep in mind about this
00:23:09.22\00:23:14.28
what was shown to John
by means of symbol is that
00:23:14.31\00:23:18.16
what is in the
Book of Revelation?
00:23:18.19\00:23:20.34
What John saw in the
vision are real things,
00:23:20.37\00:23:24.87
real events and real systems.
00:23:24.90\00:23:28.92
Are you still with me?
00:23:28.95\00:23:30.87
However it was shown to John
in vision by means of symbols.
00:23:30.90\00:23:36.64
Okay, so real things were shown
to him by means of a symbol.
00:23:41.62\00:23:48.23
Okay. And...
00:23:48.26\00:23:51.86
I would like
little bit to clarify it.
00:23:51.89\00:23:54.56
Since I used
already the illustration
00:23:54.59\00:23:57.00
of New Jerusalem, please
allow me to take a few minutes
00:23:57.03\00:24:02.70
to talk about this.
00:24:02.73\00:24:04.82
This is my favorite
subject and probably
00:24:04.85\00:24:06.94
this is one of the
most misunderstood subjects
00:24:06.97\00:24:10.40
of the Book of Revelation.
00:24:10.43\00:24:11.80
When I was a
teenager by that time,
00:24:11.83\00:24:15.31
I had read the Bible
already several times
00:24:15.34\00:24:17.78
and I had the Book of Revelation
00:24:17.81\00:24:19.23
I did not understand too much.
00:24:19.26\00:24:20.90
And I went to the
Book of Revelation,
00:24:20.93\00:24:22.61
there are some
things that puzzled me.
00:24:22.64\00:24:24.84
And one thing is
that you read that
00:24:24.87\00:24:27.23
they are in chapter
21 that New Jerusalem
00:24:27.26\00:24:30.54
is the city coming from God.
00:24:30.57\00:24:33.40
And the city is
surrounded by huge walls.
00:24:33.43\00:24:38.39
Then I asked my parents,
they were godly Christians
00:24:38.42\00:24:41.91
and other godly
people I asked them,
00:24:41.94\00:24:45.18
why does New
Jerusalem need the walls?
00:24:45.21\00:24:49.51
And of course explanation
I got, what you know,
00:24:49.54\00:24:54.24
we have to feel
safe on the new earth.
00:24:54.27\00:24:58.93
You know, teenagers
they ask strange questions,
00:24:58.96\00:25:00.72
they said, saved from what?
00:25:00.75\00:25:04.73
It's the same as I just
want to tell you is the same is,
00:25:04.76\00:25:07.68
we read about the tree of life
00:25:07.71\00:25:09.68
and the leaves were
the healing of nations.
00:25:09.71\00:25:11.92
Ten different
commentators, because
00:25:11.95\00:25:14.80
when we eat those
leaves we will not get sick.
00:25:14.83\00:25:18.38
How is that you'll
get sick on the new earth?
00:25:18.41\00:25:20.84
There is no sin any
longer, there is no tears,
00:25:20.87\00:25:22.82
there is no death here.
00:25:22.85\00:25:24.32
And you see so many
times we're struggling
00:25:24.35\00:25:26.35
nor they come to understand
the Book of Revelation
00:25:26.38\00:25:28.96
and it's not always
easy to understand it.
00:25:28.99\00:25:31.48
We're struggling with
regard to the meaning of death.
00:25:31.51\00:25:34.22
Something like
really to a little bit
00:25:34.25\00:25:36.71
to the Book of Revelation,
to Jerusalem make sure.
00:25:36.74\00:25:40.66
Okay, the city is
surrounded by walls.
00:25:40.69\00:25:46.09
Any idea when you go
to Revelation Chapter 22,
00:25:46.12\00:25:49.90
how wide are those
walls? How wide is the city?
00:25:49.93\00:25:54.51
Of course I know we can now
go and give different measures,
00:25:54.54\00:25:58.19
but the best
length that we have here
00:25:58.22\00:26:02.92
is about 1,400 miles
00:26:02.95\00:26:10.88
which is in metric
system about 2,000 kilometers.
00:26:10.91\00:26:15.42
Boy, that's a huge city, ah.
But please can you help me now?
00:26:15.45\00:26:20.55
How deep are the city walls?
00:26:25.06\00:26:29.95
Again 1,400 miles and of course
00:26:29.98\00:26:36.95
we can still say,
yeah, it's a huge city.
00:26:38.59\00:26:44.69
But we have
another problem here.
00:26:44.72\00:26:46.37
How tall are the walls?
00:26:50.18\00:26:53.87
1,400 miles.
00:26:53.90\00:27:01.41
It doesn't make
sense, is because
00:27:04.09\00:27:07.52
if you go to
Palestine, you can see the best
00:27:07.55\00:27:10.80
and the safest
city in Ancient times
00:27:10.83\00:27:13.51
there were about
20 yards in height.
00:27:13.54\00:27:17.95
That's a same city. But
can you imagine 1,400 miles.
00:27:17.98\00:27:23.11
Actually I just
want to use one joke.
00:27:23.14\00:27:25.73
When I was in one
place number of years ago,
00:27:25.76\00:27:28.44
one lady came to me and
she said now I understand
00:27:28.47\00:27:30.99
why New Jerusalem,
we cannot see a sun.
00:27:31.02\00:27:34.78
It was just- she was
joking, but it was so cute.
00:27:34.81\00:27:40.03
What is the purpose of this?
00:27:40.06\00:27:41.43
By the way let's
explain how the city looks like.
00:27:41.46\00:27:44.90
Is that?
00:27:47.76\00:27:49.28
Then we have, I'm
sorry it go like this,
00:27:49.31\00:27:53.18
then it go like
this, okay, and all this.
00:27:53.21\00:27:55.66
And then, boy I'm
not an artist, I'm sorry.
00:27:55.69\00:27:58.11
Okay, how does it work here now?
00:28:00.84\00:28:04.88
It goes this.
00:28:04.91\00:28:07.40
Okay, we see that actually
the city is the perfect cube.
00:28:07.43\00:28:12.97
So what is the meaning of that?
00:28:15.85\00:28:18.31
And now it
brings us to something
00:28:18.34\00:28:20.39
that is very fascinating.
00:28:20.42\00:28:22.08
John said, "I did not
see a temple in the city."
00:28:22.11\00:28:27.56
Why? Because the
Lord God is the temple.
00:28:27.59\00:28:30.92
I did not see the temple.
00:28:30.95\00:28:33.46
And I know
usually we take this text
00:28:33.49\00:28:35.41
but then we go to
Revelation Chapter 7,
00:28:35.44\00:28:38.04
it talks about 144,000
telling us that 144,000
00:28:38.07\00:28:43.10
will serve God in his temple.
00:28:43.13\00:28:47.82
So there is a
temple in the new earth.
00:28:47.85\00:28:51.71
And John does not say that
00:28:51.74\00:28:53.11
there is no
temple on the new earth.
00:28:53.14\00:28:56.17
He said, I did not see
temple in the New Jerusalem,
00:28:56.20\00:28:59.07
why?
00:28:59.10\00:29:00.61
'Cause there is
something fascinating in this.
00:29:00.64\00:29:03.16
If you go to the Old Testament,
00:29:03.19\00:29:05.48
the most holy
place was a perfect cube.
00:29:05.51\00:29:10.71
So now, why there is
no temple in the city?
00:29:13.86\00:29:16.41
Because the New Jerusalem
functions as the temple
00:29:16.44\00:29:20.59
of the new earth
and the presence of God
00:29:20.62\00:29:23.04
makes it temple.
00:29:23.07\00:29:24.44
Because where God is present
we have the sanctuary there,
00:29:24.47\00:29:27.15
we have the temple.
00:29:27.18\00:29:28.55
Okay, can you help me?
00:29:28.58\00:29:29.95
What was located
in the most holy place
00:29:29.98\00:29:33.18
of the earthly sanctuary?
00:29:33.21\00:29:34.58
What was inside?
00:29:34.61\00:29:35.98
It was the Ark of the Covenant.
00:29:36.01\00:29:37.83
Remember with that
Kapporet there, Mercy Seat.
00:29:37.86\00:29:41.54
What did the Ark of
the Covenant symbolized?
00:29:41.57\00:29:44.39
The throne of God.
00:29:44.42\00:29:46.29
Now John said, I saw the
throne of God in the city
00:29:46.32\00:29:53.51
and everybody has
access to that throne.
00:29:53.54\00:29:56.97
Won't be faith any longer.
00:29:57.00\00:29:58.37
We don't need priest any longer,
00:29:58.40\00:30:00.55
everybody can
approach that throne.
00:30:00.58\00:30:04.73
Come into the
presence of God because He says
00:30:04.76\00:30:07.75
and we will see
His face finally.
00:30:07.78\00:30:13.74
Please I want
everybody to understand me.
00:30:13.77\00:30:18.75
I'm not here discussing
with the New Jerusalem
00:30:18.78\00:30:22.06
will have walls or not.
00:30:22.09\00:30:24.85
When we get there
one day, we will see it.
00:30:24.88\00:30:28.95
But you keep in mind,
what John saw on Patmos,
00:30:28.98\00:30:32.95
it was real thing.
00:30:32.98\00:30:34.64
So he saw the real city.
00:30:34.67\00:30:37.09
However how can you describe
something as Apostle Paul said,
00:30:37.12\00:30:42.76
what human eyes did not see.
00:30:42.79\00:30:46.47
What we never
heard with our ears.
00:30:46.50\00:30:48.80
What cannot come to our mind,
00:30:48.83\00:30:51.19
this is what God
prepared to those who loved him.
00:30:51.22\00:30:53.78
How can John, portray
the city or better to say
00:30:53.81\00:30:58.36
how could Jesus portray
to him a city that is so safe
00:30:58.39\00:31:03.83
because we know
in the 1st Century
00:31:03.86\00:31:05.69
during the time of John,
00:31:05.72\00:31:07.09
a safe city it
meant the best city
00:31:07.12\00:31:10.68
was surrounded by good walls.
00:31:10.71\00:31:13.84
Without wall its not safe city.
00:31:13.87\00:31:17.64
Nobody would be
able- actually would like
00:31:17.67\00:31:20.81
or want to live in that city,
00:31:20.84\00:31:22.57
it means anybody can
come and destroy that city.
00:31:22.60\00:31:27.69
So it signify really
safety with possibility yeah,
00:31:27.72\00:31:30.47
the New Jerusalem
can have the walls.
00:31:30.50\00:31:32.49
But we want to try to find
out the meaning of that reality
00:31:32.52\00:31:37.52
that John saw to telling us,
00:31:37.55\00:31:39.40
to telling us that the city will
be really the temple of God,
00:31:39.43\00:31:44.19
which is safe and I try
always to tell my students
00:31:44.22\00:31:47.45
maybe if Jesus showed
to John, New Jerusalem
00:31:47.48\00:31:50.67
today John will say,
00:31:50.70\00:31:53.64
boy I saw angels in police
cars patrolling their streets,
00:31:53.67\00:31:58.07
no drug dealers no criminals.
00:31:58.10\00:32:00.51
You see the thing
is, it's a safe city,
00:32:00.54\00:32:03.69
it's the place were God
will dwell with His people.
00:32:03.72\00:32:06.97
But symbolic meanings
drawn from the sanctuary system.
00:32:07.00\00:32:13.46
We have the tree of
life and the river there,
00:32:13.49\00:32:15.81
telling us that New Jerusalem
will be the rose garden of Eden.
00:32:15.84\00:32:20.58
And also the concept of a
safe city from the time of John.
00:32:20.61\00:32:24.89
You see that those elements,
00:32:24.92\00:32:26.55
keep in mind
that God always speak
00:32:26.58\00:32:29.55
to the people in the language
that people can understand.
00:32:29.58\00:32:32.98
God speaks to us in
our language that we know.
00:32:33.01\00:32:35.92
It is only the
things that we know,
00:32:35.95\00:32:38.09
that we can understand
things that are known,
00:32:38.12\00:32:40.52
but please just one more aspect.
00:32:40.55\00:32:42.28
I'm tempted now to talk
too much about New Jerusalem
00:32:42.31\00:32:44.68
and we'll talk about that when
we reach Revelation Chapter 22.
00:32:44.71\00:32:49.28
one of special
aspect of that message
00:32:49.31\00:32:51.54
given to me is that says,
00:32:51.57\00:32:54.51
an ethno will come to the
city from that word ethnic comes
00:32:54.54\00:33:00.43
and the word is translated into
English as gentiles or nations.
00:33:00.46\00:33:05.79
We'll come to that city
and bring the gifts to God
00:33:05.82\00:33:10.32
and the glory to God.
00:33:10.35\00:33:11.91
When John wrote this,
00:33:11.94\00:33:13.31
it had special
meaning for him, yes.
00:33:13.34\00:33:16.48
At the time of John
there was the city of Jerusalem
00:33:16.51\00:33:21.82
and that city
have several courts.
00:33:21.85\00:33:28.42
The widest area
around the temple
00:33:28.45\00:33:31.24
was so called the
Court of the Gentiles.
00:33:31.27\00:33:36.17
The Gentiles were
allowed only to that court
00:33:36.20\00:33:40.27
because the Jews did not believe
00:33:40.30\00:33:42.11
in the
conversion of the Gentiles,
00:33:42.14\00:33:43.73
so they did not care there,
but there are many Gentiles,
00:33:43.76\00:33:46.19
they wanted to come to
worship the God of Israel.
00:33:46.22\00:33:48.64
So they were allowed
only to come into that place
00:33:48.67\00:33:51.56
there was a next court.
00:33:51.59\00:33:53.42
One is the court of
women, only women were-
00:33:53.45\00:33:57.55
female were
allowed only in that court.
00:33:57.58\00:33:59.43
Then there was next
court, the court of Israel
00:33:59.46\00:34:04.71
and the very temple
was the priest could come
00:34:04.74\00:34:07.11
and officiate
sacrifices at there.
00:34:07.14\00:34:09.91
And John, but he was in
Jerusalem, he could watch.
00:34:09.94\00:34:13.96
Because from the Court of
the Gentiles to the next court,
00:34:13.99\00:34:16.73
the court of women,
00:34:16.76\00:34:18.13
there at the entrance there
was a huge inscription, it said,
00:34:18.16\00:34:22.13
"Any Gentile who
passes through this gate
00:34:22.16\00:34:27.68
will be
responsible for his own death."
00:34:27.71\00:34:30.91
By the way, if you go to
Israel there in the museum,
00:34:30.94\00:34:34.66
you can see that
inscription that is found,
00:34:34.69\00:34:36.97
it's there in the museum.
00:34:37.00\00:34:38.66
The Gentiles were
not allowed there.
00:34:38.69\00:34:40.42
By the way it was in
that Court of the Gentiles
00:34:40.45\00:34:43.48
that the greedy Sadducees
invested all kind of business.
00:34:43.51\00:34:48.45
It is from that
court that actually Jesus,
00:34:48.48\00:34:51.28
you remember that
expelled all those sellers there
00:34:51.31\00:34:54.71
and money exchange etcetera.
00:34:54.74\00:34:56.37
They did everything to
prevent Gentiles to worship
00:34:56.40\00:35:01.20
and to give glory
to the God of Israel.
00:35:01.23\00:35:04.61
But would do you have now?
00:35:04.64\00:35:07.23
The New
Jerusalem that they promise
00:35:07.26\00:35:10.11
that given to the Prophet Isaiah
00:35:10.14\00:35:12.62
at my house will be called
00:35:12.65\00:35:15.49
the house of prayer to
all nations, nations Gentiles.
00:35:15.52\00:35:20.60
Finally will be fulfilled.
00:35:20.63\00:35:24.34
You see friends when we
read about New Jerusalem,
00:35:24.37\00:35:27.85
we try to speculate
is it real city or not.
00:35:27.88\00:35:30.59
The answer is,
it is a real city.
00:35:30.62\00:35:33.99
It was shown to
John by means of symbols
00:35:34.02\00:35:38.29
that he could
understand etcetera.
00:35:38.32\00:35:41.64
But there is much more in that.
00:35:41.67\00:35:43.53
That, that symbolic
language is telling us,
00:35:43.56\00:35:46.66
that with that promised city
00:35:46.69\00:35:49.17
that God one day
will give His people,
00:35:49.20\00:35:51.77
we'll have all God's
promises given to the humanity
00:35:51.80\00:35:54.64
finally to be fulfilled.
00:35:54.67\00:35:56.58
So when we read
about that gold and silver.
00:35:56.61\00:35:59.38
When we read about
those precious stones,
00:35:59.41\00:36:01.80
its not a really-
00:36:01.83\00:36:03.20
the issue is not about
precious stones in God.
00:36:03.23\00:36:05.97
It's about glory of
God, that we build in a city
00:36:06.00\00:36:09.04
and I just want to tell
you, I cannot wait. Amen. Amen.
00:36:09.07\00:36:13.38
But cross in that city
and finally see His face.
00:36:13.41\00:36:18.75
And that desire of human beings
00:36:18.78\00:36:20.68
that is best express
in the words of Moses
00:36:20.71\00:36:23.61
"Lord show me your face."
00:36:23.64\00:36:27.61
Finally we will be realized
00:36:27.64\00:36:31.61
and we will all be
able to see God's face
00:36:31.64\00:36:35.64
and find ourselves near
to the next throne of God.
00:36:35.67\00:36:39.64
That is what message of
the Book of Revelation is.
00:36:39.67\00:36:44.61
So now the time,
that is left to ask.
00:36:44.64\00:36:48.81
We want to understand little bit
00:36:48.84\00:36:50.49
about that symbolic language.
00:36:50.52\00:36:53.04
So please, we have to
ask ourselves one question.
00:36:53.07\00:36:56.66
Who is that, that shows
00:36:56.69\00:36:59.59
that symbolic language
of the Book of Revelation?
00:36:59.62\00:37:02.78
Read clearly in verse 1,
00:37:02.81\00:37:04.63
that actually it's Jesus,
00:37:04.66\00:37:08.25
who chose that
language to show to John,
00:37:08.28\00:37:12.12
the events that will
take place in the future.
00:37:12.15\00:37:13.94
Are you still with me?
00:37:13.97\00:37:15.81
And God always speaks to
the people in the language
00:37:15.84\00:37:19.41
that they can understand.
00:37:19.44\00:37:21.56
That's why New Jerusalem
is portrayed in such way,
00:37:21.59\00:37:24.57
but not only that, when
we move on through the book.
00:37:24.60\00:37:28.99
We see also that so many times
00:37:29.02\00:37:31.48
when John sees
something in the vision,
00:37:31.51\00:37:34.69
he tried to describe it,
but the words are lacking.
00:37:34.72\00:37:39.42
So he chooses his own
symbols to explain it.
00:37:39.45\00:37:43.86
How do we know that, that John
00:37:43.89\00:37:45.34
so many times
chooses his symbols?
00:37:45.37\00:37:47.04
You notice for instance
in the Revelation Chapter 1.
00:37:47.07\00:37:51.72
When He sees glorified Christ,
00:37:51.75\00:37:54.11
He says, His hair was like.
00:37:54.14\00:37:58.31
His face was like,
His eyes were like,
00:37:58.34\00:38:03.73
His garment was
like, His feet were like.
00:38:03.76\00:38:06.86
When you use the world like,
00:38:06.89\00:38:08.26
when you say my
daughter she sings like a bird.
00:38:08.29\00:38:13.00
Bird is the symbol.
00:38:13.03\00:38:16.06
He's smart like,
00:38:16.09\00:38:18.39
you see so many times
John by using the words like
00:38:18.42\00:38:21.81
or ask he adds his own symbols.
00:38:21.84\00:38:25.99
So now we have the
Book of Revelation.
00:38:26.02\00:38:28.32
We want to start, we
want to interpret it,
00:38:28.35\00:38:31.60
but we want to understand
that symbolic language
00:38:31.63\00:38:34.86
because what means
the Book of Revelation
00:38:34.89\00:38:36.89
probiotic is that
symbolic language.
00:38:36.92\00:38:39.95
So please, I'd like to
give you certain principles.
00:38:39.98\00:38:44.43
I hope it will help us in order
to understand that and uncode,
00:38:44.46\00:38:52.35
okay, that symbolic languages.
00:38:52.38\00:38:56.54
When we read the
Bible in general, okay.
00:38:56.57\00:39:01.74
The books of the Old Testament
00:39:01.77\00:39:03.68
and the books of
the New Testament,
00:39:03.71\00:39:05.17
when we have the
text in front of our self,
00:39:05.20\00:39:07.85
we approach the
text with presupposition
00:39:07.88\00:39:13.36
that what we read there
in the text, its literal.
00:39:13.39\00:39:18.44
Are you with me? Yes.
00:39:18.47\00:39:22.78
Some Christians, they
don't follow that principle.
00:39:22.81\00:39:26.22
Let me tell you
just an illustration.
00:39:26.25\00:39:28.03
They read Genesis Chapter 1.
00:39:28.06\00:39:30.61
God created
something the first day,
00:39:30.64\00:39:33.42
something the second day,
00:39:33.45\00:39:34.82
the third day and
they try to reconcile
00:39:34.85\00:39:36.73
little bit with the science,
00:39:36.76\00:39:38.13
so suddenly those
days are not too literal
00:39:38.16\00:39:40.84
but they're symbolic.
00:39:40.87\00:39:42.90
Some people they have a problem
00:39:42.93\00:39:44.51
with the coming of
sin in Genesis Chapter 3,
00:39:44.54\00:39:47.10
said that was not a
real serpent with Satan,
00:39:47.13\00:39:49.72
there was something else.
00:39:49.75\00:39:52.48
Many people they have a
problem with the Book of Jonah,
00:39:52.51\00:39:55.08
so Jonah never existed.
00:39:55.11\00:39:56.56
Jonah is symbol
of something else,
00:39:56.59\00:39:58.57
I'm sorry, I'm
conservative Christian.
00:39:58.60\00:40:02.34
Preach the Bible as it is.
00:40:02.37\00:40:03.74
I believe that the
Bible is it really the record
00:40:03.77\00:40:06.38
what happened of course
00:40:06.41\00:40:08.39
through the lenses
of the biblical author.
00:40:08.42\00:40:11.44
Using his personality,
the biblical author portray
00:40:11.47\00:40:13.89
what happens and
it really happened.
00:40:13.92\00:40:18.20
When you read it,
00:40:18.23\00:40:19.60
it's literal,
it indeed happened.
00:40:19.63\00:40:23.45
But there is always but,
00:40:23.48\00:40:25.98
unless the text
indicates clearly
00:40:26.01\00:40:30.54
that the symbolic
meaning is intended.
00:40:30.57\00:40:34.02
So many times we read
something in the Bible
00:40:34.05\00:40:37.89
and we see that the
literal meaning does not fit.
00:40:37.92\00:40:43.04
It's obviously a
symbolic meaning.
00:40:43.07\00:40:44.74
For instance you
read the Book of Psalms,
00:40:44.77\00:40:46.94
when David said "Many
waters they came against me."
00:40:46.97\00:40:52.07
They are not literal waters
00:40:52.10\00:40:54.23
evidently that he
refers to his enemies.
00:40:54.26\00:40:57.00
Or when you read in
Isaiah Chapter 5 he said,
00:40:57.03\00:41:00.15
"Let me sing a
song about my dear one,
00:41:00.18\00:41:02.35
my dear one has a vineyard."
00:41:02.38\00:41:05.03
He put a tower
there in the vineyard.
00:41:05.06\00:41:07.56
He put the fence around it
00:41:07.59\00:41:09.99
and later he explains few verses
later Isaiah Chapter 5 he said,
00:41:10.02\00:41:14.45
"The vineyard is
the house of Israel."
00:41:14.48\00:41:18.04
The tower is the law
of God that is put there.
00:41:18.07\00:41:21.14
So, you see, we're
dealing with symbolic language.
00:41:21.17\00:41:23.66
So the text must
clearly indicate to us,
00:41:23.69\00:41:26.61
that the symbolic
meaning is intended.
00:41:26.64\00:41:29.11
Now when we come to
the Book of Revelation,
00:41:29.14\00:41:32.99
the principle is
completely opposite.
00:41:33.02\00:41:37.22
When you have the
text in front of yourself
00:41:37.25\00:41:40.96
from the Book of Revelation,
00:41:40.99\00:41:42.36
you read the Book of Revelation,
00:41:42.39\00:41:44.83
you come with presupposition
that these text is symbolic.
00:41:44.86\00:41:49.83
How do you know that?
00:41:49.86\00:41:51.41
Because at the very beginning
of the Book of Revelation,
00:41:51.44\00:41:54.42
John makes very clear
to what Jesus showed to him
00:41:54.45\00:41:57.75
in the vision were
shown by means of symbol.
00:41:57.78\00:41:59.82
Are you still with me?
00:41:59.85\00:42:01.60
Unless, the text
indicates clearly
00:42:01.63\00:42:07.90
that the symbolic or figurative,
00:42:07.93\00:42:10.42
sorry that literal
meaning is intended.
00:42:10.45\00:42:14.59
Are you with me?
00:42:14.62\00:42:16.44
So when we read when John said,
00:42:16.47\00:42:18.49
by the way we will do it
very soon when John said.
00:42:18.52\00:42:21.01
I, John, your brother, I
was on Island called Patmos.
00:42:21.04\00:42:27.37
It's obvious that it is
literal or when he says.
00:42:27.40\00:42:31.28
When I saw the
angels speaking to me,
00:42:31.31\00:42:34.03
I fell down before his
feet and he said, don't do it.
00:42:34.06\00:42:38.11
I simply like servant like
you, its literal meaning, okay.
00:42:38.14\00:42:44.35
So in order to
establish certain principles,
00:42:44.38\00:42:49.65
we want to
recognize difficulties
00:42:49.68\00:42:53.86
in the Book of
Revelation because to determine,
00:42:53.89\00:42:56.99
what is literal
and what is symbolic.
00:42:57.02\00:43:00.12
It's not always clear to us.
00:43:00.15\00:43:02.47
We have already the principle,
00:43:02.50\00:43:04.31
what John sees in the vision.
00:43:04.34\00:43:07.14
What was shown to him
00:43:07.17\00:43:08.87
and what he wrote
down in the book it was,
00:43:08.90\00:43:11.71
it was by means of symbol.
00:43:11.74\00:43:14.89
But sometimes there
are some difficult things,
00:43:14.92\00:43:17.71
because you see some symbols
00:43:17.74\00:43:19.11
are very clearly
explained in the book.
00:43:19.14\00:43:21.48
For instance we already
mentioned in chapter 12.
00:43:21.51\00:43:26.92
John talks about the dragon
00:43:26.95\00:43:29.63
beside the pregnant
women you remember that.
00:43:29.66\00:43:32.13
In Chapter in
verse 7 to verse 9,
00:43:32.16\00:43:34.77
he makes very clear
00:43:34.80\00:43:36.17
that the dragon
was the devil of Satan.
00:43:36.20\00:43:39.18
If you go to
Revelation Chapter 17
00:43:39.21\00:43:43.72
"John sees a prostitute
Babylon sitting on many waters."
00:43:43.75\00:43:48.69
In verse 15 of the same chapter,
00:43:48.72\00:43:52.47
he explains that
the water upon which
00:43:52.50\00:43:55.07
the prostitute was sitting
00:43:55.10\00:43:56.84
signifies secular and
political powers of this world.
00:43:56.87\00:44:00.43
You see, there're many symbols
in the book clearly explain,
00:44:00.46\00:44:06.82
but what is the problem that
many symbols are not explained.
00:44:06.85\00:44:12.82
And this is actually
that adds difficulty to us
00:44:12.85\00:44:17.14
when we try to understand
the Book of Revelation.
00:44:17.17\00:44:19.96
So to determine sometimes,
00:44:19.99\00:44:23.20
what is literal
and what is symbolic
00:44:23.23\00:44:27.61
or figurative in
the Book of Revelation,
00:44:27.64\00:44:31.00
it's not an easy
task for the interpreter.
00:44:31.03\00:44:36.70
And we will come for
instance to Revelation 16,
00:44:36.73\00:44:42.32
we have Seven Last Plagues.
00:44:42.35\00:44:45.25
When we read the last three
plagues fifth, six and seven
00:44:45.28\00:44:50.53
it's clearly
that it is symbolic.
00:44:50.56\00:44:54.79
We have River Euphrates.
00:44:54.82\00:44:57.45
The fifth plague
strikes the throne of the beast
00:44:57.48\00:45:02.54
and the seventh plague,
00:45:02.57\00:45:03.94
you have the fall of Babylon
is clearly the symbolic language
00:45:03.97\00:45:08.28
and that's what the problem.
00:45:08.31\00:45:09.83
But when we deal with
the first plague to fourth,
00:45:09.86\00:45:14.05
striking the sun, the water
etcetera is not clear to us.
00:45:14.08\00:45:19.98
And I will show to you
strictly on the base of Book of
00:45:20.01\00:45:23.22
Revelation, will be
surprise that actually
00:45:23.25\00:45:25.15
its literal, its not symbolic.
00:45:25.18\00:45:27.23
So see in one chapter,
00:45:27.26\00:45:30.16
one more time we're
using our best abilities
00:45:30.19\00:45:34.26
and help of the Holy
Spirit to understand it,
00:45:34.29\00:45:36.35
the first four seal
we interpret as literal,
00:45:36.38\00:45:39.01
the last three as symbolic.
00:45:39.04\00:45:42.41
So you see, it tell
us about the difficulty.
00:45:42.44\00:45:46.36
By the way, we will come
also to Revelation Chapter 6.
00:45:46.39\00:45:50.46
You know that
about the darkening
00:45:50.49\00:45:51.86
of the sun of the moon,
and the falling of the star.
00:45:51.89\00:45:54.74
There are today some Christians
00:45:54.77\00:45:56.14
they believe that
it's figurative symbolic,
00:45:56.17\00:45:58.13
it's not literal sign.
00:45:58.16\00:45:59.53
By the way I will
show to you exactly
00:45:59.56\00:46:01.22
from the book
that it is literal,
00:46:01.25\00:46:03.93
you don't need
to doubt about that.
00:46:03.96\00:46:05.74
But just few years
ago we were struggling,
00:46:05.77\00:46:08.06
we did not know how
from the book to show
00:46:08.09\00:46:10.89
if it is literal or symbolic.
00:46:10.92\00:46:12.99
So it's not always easy
00:46:13.02\00:46:14.39
and I like to encourage
all of you and our viewers is,
00:46:14.42\00:46:17.85
when we have some symbols
of the Book of Revelation
00:46:17.88\00:46:21.25
and the book does
not show to us clearly
00:46:21.28\00:46:23.85
whether it is
literal and symbolic,
00:46:23.88\00:46:25.68
we can disagree.
00:46:25.71\00:46:28.29
But instead of fighting,
00:46:28.32\00:46:30.48
we should listen to
each other, study together,
00:46:30.51\00:46:33.81
but the other
people disagree with me,
00:46:33.84\00:46:35.40
they are heretics because
of that they disagree with me.
00:46:35.43\00:46:38.03
It means that we have
difficulty in the book.
00:46:38.06\00:46:41.04
We have to study, we
have to pray together.
00:46:41.07\00:46:43.34
Only when we are united,
when we study the text together,
00:46:43.37\00:46:46.74
we can find the answer.
00:46:46.77\00:46:49.07
But disagreeing, we
will never able to reach it.
00:46:49.10\00:46:52.52
I just wanted to that
you are aware even though
00:46:52.55\00:46:55.28
we have certain
guidelines and principles.
00:46:55.31\00:47:00.84
At the beginning of the book,
00:47:00.87\00:47:02.87
John makes very clear
what was shown to him.
00:47:02.90\00:47:05.71
It was shown to him by symbol,
00:47:05.74\00:47:07.72
but it's not
everything so simple,
00:47:07.75\00:47:09.73
as simple as it looks like.
00:47:09.76\00:47:12.20
So I'd like to encourage
you, you know, that we do it.
00:47:12.23\00:47:14.96
So now, how to
interpret symbolic language?
00:47:14.99\00:47:18.85
You'll see, it's a
symbol, but how to interpret it.
00:47:18.88\00:47:23.78
One of the ways to
interpret symbolic language
00:47:23.81\00:47:27.32
is today to take
newspapers and to interpret it.
00:47:27.35\00:47:33.77
But what is the problem
that John that Revelator,
00:47:33.80\00:47:37.37
when Jesus showed
to him those visions,
00:47:37.40\00:47:39.33
he did not have New York
Times or Time Magazine etcetera.
00:47:39.36\00:47:46.03
You already have a hint
how to do it, so it means
00:47:46.06\00:47:50.07
when Jesus showed
to John those visions
00:47:50.10\00:47:53.59
in what language or
what kind of symbols
00:47:53.62\00:47:57.40
that Jesus choose
to communicate to John,
00:47:57.43\00:48:01.60
the symbols that he
understood 2,000 years ago.
00:48:01.63\00:48:05.83
So now people are asking,
00:48:05.86\00:48:07.24
what do scholars,
what are you doing
00:48:07.27\00:48:08.98
when you interpret
the Book of Revelation,
00:48:09.01\00:48:11.06
research ancient literature?
00:48:11.09\00:48:14.22
From the time of
John, in order to understand
00:48:14.25\00:48:19.39
what those symbols meant to John
00:48:19.42\00:48:24.12
and to those Christians
at the time when John lived.
00:48:24.15\00:48:30.47
So we have to understand,
00:48:30.50\00:48:33.86
we have to understand
that the Book of Revelation
00:48:33.89\00:48:39.64
was originally
written 2,000 years ago,
00:48:39.67\00:48:43.47
not in 21st century.
00:48:43.50\00:48:45.77
It was written in the language
of the people of that time.
00:48:45.80\00:48:51.90
Another point is, we
have also to keep in mind
00:48:51.93\00:48:59.41
is as we interpret
that symbolic language,
00:48:59.44\00:49:02.25
that symbolic
language was not abstract,
00:49:02.28\00:49:07.41
it was pictorial.
00:49:07.44\00:49:09.47
What does it mean?
00:49:09.50\00:49:11.82
That when that
language was chosen,
00:49:11.85\00:49:14.73
it was taken from the history
of God's people of the past.
00:49:14.76\00:49:20.79
So when Christians of
time of John when they read it,
00:49:20.82\00:49:26.16
when we read today it's
not only about the symbol,
00:49:26.19\00:49:30.50
it's about great
message that is given to us.
00:49:30.53\00:49:32.82
So the time is left
we have few minutes,
00:49:32.85\00:49:35.49
so please allow me
because the viewers will say,
00:49:35.52\00:49:38.13
I'm studying the
Book of Revelation.
00:49:38.16\00:49:39.53
Yes, I have your commentary,
00:49:39.56\00:49:40.93
my comment is written
for the primary purpose,
00:49:40.96\00:49:43.62
not always to
give the interpretation
00:49:43.65\00:49:45.78
but to help you in
understanding the symbol, okay.
00:49:45.81\00:49:51.01
But you say, I'd
like to search it deeper?
00:49:51.04\00:49:54.26
Where can I find the
meaning of those symbols?
00:49:54.29\00:49:57.07
In order to provide the
answer to that question,
00:49:57.10\00:50:00.20
we ask ourselves a question.
00:50:00.23\00:50:01.83
Where was the symbolic language
00:50:01.86\00:50:05.59
of the Book of
Revelation taken from?
00:50:05.62\00:50:09.65
And let me be frank
with you, its very simple.
00:50:09.68\00:50:14.42
It was actually
almost 100 years ago
00:50:14.45\00:50:18.13
that's our famous scholars,
00:50:18.16\00:50:20.03
they went verse by verse,
00:50:20.06\00:50:22.26
verse by verse,
phrase by phrase,
00:50:22.29\00:50:26.08
they went to the Old
Testament and they discovered,
00:50:26.11\00:50:30.76
you know, when you put all
verses of the Book of Revelation
00:50:30.79\00:50:33.83
when you put them
together we have 404 verses.
00:50:33.86\00:50:39.00
That actually today we know
00:50:39.03\00:50:40.40
that more than 300
verses of the Book of Revelation
00:50:40.43\00:50:44.21
300 verse of the
Book of Revelation.
00:50:44.24\00:50:46.19
You can praise them
directly to the Old Testament.
00:50:46.22\00:50:49.84
See that symbolic
language is taken from there,
00:50:49.87\00:50:54.44
why is that so.
00:50:54.47\00:50:56.94
Keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:50:56.97\00:50:59.47
is like a
parable that Jesus did.
00:50:59.50\00:51:02.98
So when God wanted to
inform His people through John.
00:51:03.01\00:51:07.96
That at the time of the end,
00:51:07.99\00:51:11.48
there will be a power that-
00:51:11.51\00:51:14.11
God's people
trying to destroy them.
00:51:14.14\00:51:16.69
If you want to use at
parabolic story to tell them,
00:51:16.72\00:51:20.68
what would you use.
00:51:20.71\00:51:22.67
You use the language it says,
00:51:22.70\00:51:24.08
that power will
be called Babylon.
00:51:24.11\00:51:27.42
Now everything becomes clear,
00:51:27.45\00:51:29.58
because the early
Christians in the 1st Century
00:51:29.61\00:51:31.52
knew who Babylon was.
00:51:31.55\00:51:33.76
It was the tool and instrument
00:51:33.79\00:51:35.43
in the hands of Satan
responsible for taking
00:51:35.46\00:51:38.54
the people of
Israel in Babylon etcetera.
00:51:38.57\00:51:42.00
So what happened in the past,
00:51:42.03\00:51:44.42
finally will
happen in the future.
00:51:44.45\00:51:45.88
Let me show to you
another illustration.
00:51:45.91\00:51:48.36
Revelation Chapter
12 we mentioned it,
00:51:48.39\00:51:50.24
I'm going back to that.
00:51:50.27\00:51:52.10
John sees a woman
00:51:52.13\00:51:53.50
that is pregnant in
pain to deliver a child
00:51:53.53\00:51:58.90
and then there is dragon
00:51:58.93\00:52:00.30
there waiting for the child
to be born to be destroyed.
00:52:00.33\00:52:03.32
Let me ask you something.
00:52:03.35\00:52:04.72
Now, you have to help me.
00:52:04.75\00:52:06.15
What suddenly
picture comes to your mind,
00:52:06.18\00:52:08.67
woman that is in pain to bear
the child and there is a dragon
00:52:08.70\00:52:15.05
that is the enemy
trying to destroy the child,
00:52:15.08\00:52:16.98
what come to you Genesis 3:15.
00:52:17.01\00:52:21.92
Then God said to the women,
you're in pain bear children
00:52:21.95\00:52:26.34
but I'll make,
making enmity between you
00:52:26.37\00:52:30.55
and the Satan he
will tramp on your head.
00:52:30.58\00:52:34.46
You see that you have here
the fulfillment of that promise.
00:52:34.49\00:52:37.37
Another one, we read
in Book of Revelation
00:52:37.40\00:52:42.42
Chapter 15, how 144,000 are
standing there at the Sea of
00:52:42.45\00:52:48.94
Glass singing the
song of Moses and the Lamb.
00:52:48.97\00:52:53.19
Just they-they have come
out of the Seven Last Plagues.
00:52:53.22\00:52:56.20
What suddenly
comes to your mind?
00:52:56.23\00:52:58.82
The Egyptian plagues
and the people of Israel,
00:52:58.85\00:53:02.78
the Red Sea there, Mary-Miriam
actually leading that song,
00:53:02.81\00:53:08.29
the song of
Moses singing to God.
00:53:08.32\00:53:10.10
You see that the
entire Book of Revelation
00:53:10.13\00:53:13.12
is written like that.
00:53:13.15\00:53:14.57
So if you really
want to understand
00:53:14.60\00:53:16.45
the meaning of
that symbolic language,
00:53:16.48\00:53:18.10
what is the first step?
Go back to the Old Testament.
00:53:18.13\00:53:21.89
You cannot miss it,
00:53:21.92\00:53:23.35
more than 80% of all that
symbolic language is taken
00:53:23.38\00:53:27.59
from the Book of Revelation.
00:53:27.62\00:53:28.99
Let me just if you will
be with me the word lamb,
00:53:29.02\00:53:32.28
the root of David,
sealing of the faithful,
00:53:32.31\00:53:34.61
the Seven Seals, the Trumpets,
00:53:34.64\00:53:36.73
144,000 standing
at the Sea of Glass,
00:53:36.76\00:53:40.32
Locusts from the
Abyss, the Image of the Beast,
00:53:40.35\00:53:43.75
Sodom and Egypt,
Babylon, drying up of Euphrates,
00:53:43.78\00:53:48.33
the Seven Last
Plagues, New Jerusalem,
00:53:48.36\00:53:51.09
Gog and Magog
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera
00:53:51.12\00:53:54.53
they're all taken
from the Old Testament.
00:53:54.56\00:53:57.91
I want just to go quickly here.
00:53:57.94\00:54:00.35
We will see, we will
come to the second trumpet.
00:54:00.38\00:54:04.42
It talks about Great
Mountain in Revelation 8: 8 to 9
00:54:04.45\00:54:10.40
"Great Mountain burning with
fire was thrown into the sea,
00:54:10.43\00:54:14.24
the third of the
sea became blood."
00:54:14.27\00:54:17.37
By the way, if you go
to Jeremiah Chapter 51,
00:54:17.40\00:54:20.46
your talking about a
Babylon, destroying mountain,
00:54:20.49\00:54:24.14
destroying the
earth and that mountain
00:54:24.17\00:54:28.23
will be thrown into the
sea and will be destroyed.
00:54:28.26\00:54:32.90
You see then the
Book of Revelation
00:54:32.93\00:54:34.60
is not as
difficult as it appears.
00:54:34.63\00:54:38.20
That symbolic language
is much easier to understand
00:54:38.23\00:54:41.96
when you know what that
00:54:41.99\00:54:43.36
symbolic
language was taken from,
00:54:43.39\00:54:45.34
but just briefly to mention.
00:54:45.37\00:54:47.38
We have so many parts
of the Book of Revelation.
00:54:47.41\00:54:50.01
We try to understand
that symbolic language.
00:54:50.04\00:54:52.56
By the way some of
that symbolic language
00:54:52.59\00:54:54.45
was taken from
the New Testament.
00:54:54.48\00:54:57.32
John also used
the symbols from Asia
00:54:57.35\00:55:02.47
from the time where
He lived in the same way
00:55:02.50\00:55:04.17
as we use the symbolic language.
00:55:04.20\00:55:06.54
But much of the
symbolic language
00:55:06.57\00:55:08.35
was taken from the
Jewish apocalyptic literature.
00:55:08.38\00:55:12.06
You see when the Jewish came
out of the Babylonian exile,
00:55:12.09\00:55:15.57
there is a huge
stream of literature
00:55:15.60\00:55:18.62
that was written trying
to explain to the people
00:55:18.65\00:55:21.42
about those unfulfilled
prophecies of the Old Testament.
00:55:21.45\00:55:25.14
Why they did not take place
00:55:25.17\00:55:27.99
and they used the
language of the Book of Daniel,
00:55:28.02\00:55:30.68
they had that many
other symbols, many books
00:55:30.71\00:55:33.88
so that symbolic language
00:55:33.91\00:55:35.97
was so much in the minds
of God's people of Israel
00:55:36.00\00:55:40.14
during the time
and early Christians,
00:55:40.17\00:55:42.30
they did not have difficulty
00:55:42.33\00:55:44.14
when they read about the woman,
00:55:44.17\00:55:45.54
when they read about the beast,
00:55:45.57\00:55:46.94
when they read about horn,
00:55:46.97\00:55:48.34
when they read about 1,260 days,
00:55:48.37\00:55:50.99
there was no
difficulty to understand it
00:55:51.02\00:55:52.98
because this is the language
they used in a synagogue,
00:55:53.01\00:55:56.47
they used in their conversions
about the Old Testament,
00:55:56.50\00:55:59.92
about God's
unfulfilled prophecies.
00:55:59.95\00:56:03.78
You see friends, how
the Book of Revelation
00:56:03.81\00:56:07.89
is given in the real world.
00:56:07.92\00:56:11.54
It speaks, so powerfully,
it spoke to the people
00:56:11.57\00:56:15.94
who lived at the time
of John 2,000 years ago.
00:56:15.97\00:56:20.17
Keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:56:20.20\00:56:22.33
was not written to us today.
00:56:22.36\00:56:24.52
I know what you think.
00:56:24.55\00:56:25.96
It was not written to us today,
00:56:25.99\00:56:27.80
it was return to those
Christians 2,000 years ago.
00:56:27.83\00:56:31.71
But it was not
written for them only.
00:56:31.74\00:56:35.28
It was written for us as well,
00:56:35.31\00:56:38.14
but originally it
was written to them.
00:56:38.17\00:56:41.60
So we need a little
bit to be acquainted
00:56:41.63\00:56:45.66
about the way how the
Book of Revelation was written.
00:56:45.69\00:56:49.93
We have to be familiar
with that symbolic language
00:56:49.96\00:56:55.98
about the sources from which
00:56:56.01\00:56:57.81
that symbolic
language was taken from.
00:56:57.84\00:57:01.30
But above all, I'd
like to advice you,
00:57:01.33\00:57:04.96
when you take the
Book of Revelation
00:57:04.99\00:57:07.02
the first thing go
down to your knees,
00:57:07.05\00:57:10.15
close your eyes, and
say Lord, I'm doing my best,
00:57:10.18\00:57:14.24
I want to understand the message
of the Book of Revelation.
00:57:14.27\00:57:17.61
So please speak to me,
give me your Holy Spirit,
00:57:17.64\00:57:20.52
use all those good tools.
00:57:20.55\00:57:22.61
This is the best text book.
00:57:22.64\00:57:24.24
Other tools pray to God
00:57:24.27\00:57:26.33
and the Book of Revelation
will speak to you powerfully.
00:57:26.36\00:57:29.90