Welcome again to our program,
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"Revelation of The Coming King."
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I would like once
again to introduce myself
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especially for you
who are for the first time
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watching this program.
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I am Ranko Stefanovic,
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professor at Seventh-day
Adventist theological seminary,
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Andrews University.
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The courses that I teach
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are subjects from
the New Testament.
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And most of those
courses that I teach
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is actually the
Book of Revelation
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and the time and events.
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So I am so happy to
be with you here again
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and we are going to
study the word of God,
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the last book of
the New Testament,
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the Book of Revelation.
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And I just want to
remind you once again
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that this series is about
study of the Book of Revelation.
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We started with Chapter 1
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and we will
conclude with Chapter 22.
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But as you know that in such
short time like this program
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it's impossible
to cover everything
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that is in one chapter.
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We would need much more time.
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And I would
like to encourage you
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that once this program is over,
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that you going to continue
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further and much
deeper way, okay,
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that text that is just covered
during this presentation.
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But maybe you will
ask question and you say
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we got now some
guide but what after?
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Praise God, I would
like to suggest to you,
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you need some tools.
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There are many good
tools made by Christians.
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But one of the good tool
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that I would
like to suggest to you
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and all
presentations that we made here
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are based on the
content of this book titled,
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"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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Is a product of
scholarly research.
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And every time I will
always tell you about the pages
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that you can go after this
presentation and open this book,
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get many good material
and we do a lot of prayer.
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Study the word
of God for yourself.
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Rather by yourself
or maybe in company
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with your fellow Christians
from your church there.
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So, today's presentation
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is based on pages
starting with 217.
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So the page 217, and you
have next 40-50 pages there.
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You see it's a
lot, a lot of material.
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It's my strong
desire that the Holy Spirit
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will promise to
teach us into all the truth
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that realty he guide us
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in understanding of
the truth of the Bible.
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And that's what we
will do exactly this time.
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We would like to
ask God for His presence
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and His guidance as we study
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this very interesting section
of the Book of Revelation.
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Our heavenly
father, thank You so much
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for giving us this opportunity,
that we can open Your word,
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the last book of the Bible
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and to see how
great valuable lessons
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we can find on the
pages of this book.
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And, father, so
many times we wonder
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why didn't You write this book
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in much easier way
for us to understand.
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But we know that
You do everything
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what is best for us
humans according to Your wisdom.
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And thank You,
thank You for helping us
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with the different tools
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that we can dig
much deeper in Your word.
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So please be
with us and teach us
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because we would like to
see Jesus Christ in our midst
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and that all human
beings be hidden in Him.
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Father, thank You
for presence in out midst
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and we pray all of this in
the precious name of the one
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who died on the
cross of Calvary,
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Jesus Christ our
Savior and Lord, Amen.
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In order to go further
into the Book of Revelation
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I just need to take
few moments to remind us
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what we covered last time.
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Because what we
studied last time it's crucial,
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let me repeat one more time,
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it's crucial for
the understanding
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of next few chapters
of the Book of Revelation.
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Let me put it in different way.
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The way how we
interpret Revelation 5
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will define our
interpretation of Revelation 6,
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the chapter that we
will be studying together.
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The time in which you put
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and apply the
scene of Revelation 5
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is the starting point
for the interpretation
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of the seven
seals of Revelation 6.
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So I'd like to keep you
in mind that's why Chapter 5
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it's so crucial and so important
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for those
chapters that follow, okay.
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So last time we
could see that Revelation 5
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portrays one of
the crucial moment
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in the history of the
plan of the salvation,
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namely, that when Jesus
after His death on the cross,
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His resurrection,
and finally His accession
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there to the
heavenly places there,
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went there into the
heavenly throne room.
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And according to
Revelation Chapter 4,
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all the heavenly assembly
was there waiting for Him
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to celebrate His triumph.
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But there is something more.
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You saw last time, even though
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we just mentioned few passages,
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how much New Testament
talks about that occasion
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specifically, specifically
stating that, that--
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those heavenly
beings in addition
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to celebrate Jesus' triumph
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they were there to
celebrate His enthronement
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because there in
the heavenly places
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Jesus was enthroned
on the heavenly throne.
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Let me explain one
more time something.
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You know when God
created the first human couple
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it was God's plan for
Adam to be a kind of a ruler.
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He was supposed to be
the father of the human race.
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If you open the Book
of Genesis Chapter 1 there
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from verses 24 and so on
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when God
created man in His image
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then God said to
Adam, "I am giving you
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dominion of the entire
creation on the earth."
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But then we go to
Chapter 3 unfortunately,
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a tragic event in human history
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that Satan deceived
the first human couple.
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And he took for himself--
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he simply stole that
dominion over the planet earth.
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Actually Jesus--
we will see that later
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when we go to
Revelation Chapter 12,
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Jesus called Satan
the ruler of this world.
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But everything
changed with the cross.
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When Jesus died on the cross
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He paid that price
for the human beings
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to redeem them from the kingdom
of darkness and from Satan.
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And then when
Jesus ascended there
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to the heavenly places, okay.
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In the presence of all those
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heavenly beings
there waiting for Him,
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representatives of
all those different world,
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there was a
transference of the dominion
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from Satan to Jesus.
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It is at that moment
that Jesus was enthroned
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at the right hand of the father
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and He became the
ruler of this world.
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Please keep in
mind-- keep in mind
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that Satan is still
messing up in this world.
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We will see that the Book
of Revelation presents him
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as an angry enemy.
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However, Jesus
Christ is still in control.
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We are waiting
still for that time
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when finally He will
become the king, okay.
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This is very, very important.
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It's very important
for the understanding
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the next section of
the Book of Revelation.
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We saw that, that
enthronement of Christ
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took place on
the day of Pentecost.
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So if it was on day of Pentecost
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we have even the
year, it's the year 31 AD.
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Please, this date is
very important, one more time.
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And this is the starting point
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for Revelation Chapter 6.
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By the way, why we are
talking so much about that?
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Because many Christian are
struggling because they see
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the important of the
seven seals of Revelation 6
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but they have hard time
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to put those seals in
the historical context.
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They don't know in
which time period to put it.
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But we have
already here the answers.
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If they are in the
heavenly places in the year 31
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around the day of
Pentecost, Jesus was enthroned
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and He took that sealed scroll,
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the scroll that was
sealed with the seven seals.
00:10:15.10\00:10:18.46
And if Revelation
6:1, after taking that book
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now Jesus is
breaking the seals one after--
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At what time period
or which point in history
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we should put the
beginning of the seals?
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Naturally it's with
the day of Pentecost.
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And by the way, you will see
very soon just in a few moments
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how this is a crucial element
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for the understanding
of the seven seals.
00:10:49.23\00:10:53.90
So the day of Pentecost
that very important point
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in the history of
the plan of salvation,
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it's very
important and that's why
00:11:01.15\00:11:02.96
this event could not
pass without being mentioned
00:11:02.99\00:11:07.62
to John later
there in the vision.
00:11:07.65\00:11:12.19
We see that the
Jesus took that scroll
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and then He
started opening the seals
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with breaking
each one of the seals.
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Keep in mind, the seals--
the seals are broken where?
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In heaven, okay.
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But every time when
Jesus breaks one seal
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there is an event taking place
on earth actually telling us
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that so many times we see
that the history is very messy,
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but actually us that
the heaven and the earth
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or the earth and
heaven are closely connected.
00:11:50.41\00:11:56.25
So now I would
like to invite you
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that you turn with me
to Revelation Chapter 6.
00:11:59.67\00:12:07.20
Let's go now to this chapter.
00:12:07.23\00:12:11.74
And you will
see that the seven--
00:12:11.77\00:12:14.39
the breaking or the
opening of the seven seals,
00:12:14.42\00:12:17.84
they have a certain pattern.
00:12:17.87\00:12:20.43
The first four seals are
quite different than the rest.
00:12:20.46\00:12:27.15
How are they different?
00:12:27.18\00:12:29.17
Because the first four
seals-- every time, every time
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when Jesus opens
one of those seals
00:12:36.72\00:12:40.05
a colorful horse with a
rider appears on the scene.
00:12:40.08\00:12:45.95
So let us not go
to the text and to see
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what we can read
about these seals.
00:12:48.96\00:12:52.17
I like you to go to Chapter 6
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and we will read verses 1, 2
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that actually
describe the first seal.
00:12:57.36\00:13:01.00
"Then I saw when the Lamb
broke one of the seven seals,
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and I heard one of
the four living creatures
00:13:04.83\00:13:08.20
saying as with a
voice of thunder, 'Come.'
00:13:08.23\00:13:12.69
And I looked, and
behold, a white horse,
00:13:12.72\00:13:15.87
and he who sat on it had a bow,
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and a crown was given to him,
00:13:19.44\00:13:22.11
and he went out
conquering and to conquer."
00:13:22.14\00:13:30.09
You will notice this is
a very interesting scene.
00:13:30.12\00:13:34.43
And what is this all about?
00:13:34.46\00:13:37.89
Christians and many students
of the Book of Revelation
00:13:37.92\00:13:41.73
are divided on this.
00:13:41.76\00:13:43.61
Let me just
summarize one more time
00:13:43.64\00:13:46.57
in details these two verses.
00:13:46.60\00:13:49.99
And then you'll see how already
00:13:50.02\00:13:51.70
we have a
significant hint in the text
00:13:51.73\00:13:55.36
what the scene is about.
00:13:55.39\00:13:57.14
So as Christ opens the
first seal a white horse--
00:13:57.17\00:14:02.01
white horse, okay
steps on to the scene.
00:14:02.04\00:14:06.33
The rider on the horse holds
a bow and he's given a crown.
00:14:06.36\00:14:12.03
The word that is used here
00:14:12.06\00:14:13.43
for the crown is
the stephanos crown,
00:14:13.46\00:14:16.36
is the crown of victory.
00:14:16.39\00:14:17.76
This is very, very important.
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.16
We had white color and
we have the stephanos crown.
00:14:19.19\00:14:22.88
It's a garland, okay.
This rider is a conqueror.
00:14:22.91\00:14:28.05
The text says
that he goes for what,
00:14:28.08\00:14:30.03
conquering, in order
to completely conquer.
00:14:30.06\00:14:36.15
It's very
interesting in John's day
00:14:36.18\00:14:38.40
that the Roman emperor,
00:14:38.43\00:14:40.98
when he celebrate
the triumph after the war
00:14:41.01\00:14:43.74
he would ride on a white horse.
00:14:43.77\00:14:47.85
Okay, the
conquering celebration.
00:14:47.88\00:14:51.81
Actually there
are many Christians
00:14:51.84\00:14:53.43
they believe that this
seal portrays antichrist.
00:14:53.46\00:14:59.72
I believe that these view
00:14:59.75\00:15:02.44
and
interpretation does not match
00:15:02.47\00:15:04.57
with what we have here
in the Book of Revelation.
00:15:04.60\00:15:07.70
Let us try to
see it objectively.
00:15:07.73\00:15:10.80
The scene is evidently symbolic
00:15:10.83\00:15:12.50
as normally
Christians they understand it.
00:15:12.53\00:15:16.56
When you go to
the Old Testament,
00:15:16.59\00:15:18.82
God is sometimes
pictured as riding a horse
00:15:18.85\00:15:24.86
with a bow in his hand
00:15:24.89\00:15:27.73
conquering the
enemies of His people.
00:15:27.76\00:15:29.96
And please allow me just
to take one of those texts
00:15:29.99\00:15:33.88
and read which is found
00:15:33.91\00:15:35.28
in the Book of Habakkuk 3:8-13,
00:15:35.31\00:15:38.66
there are many more texts.
00:15:38.69\00:15:40.29
But you will see something
very interesting in these text
00:15:40.32\00:15:42.96
that really
servers as a background
00:15:42.99\00:15:45.20
to what we have here
in the Book of Revelation.
00:15:45.23\00:15:46.96
Habakkuk 3:8-13,
00:15:46.99\00:15:48.79
"Did the Lord rage
against the rivers,
00:15:48.82\00:15:51.86
or was Your anger
against the rivers,
00:15:51.89\00:15:54.95
or was Your
wrath against the sea,"
00:15:54.98\00:15:57.23
now please pay attention.
00:15:57.26\00:15:59.11
"That You rode on Your horses,
00:15:59.14\00:16:02.31
on Your chariots of salvation?
00:16:02.34\00:16:05.39
Your bow was made bare.
00:16:05.42\00:16:07.90
The rods of
chastisement were sworn.
00:16:07.93\00:16:10.85
You cleaved the
earth with rivers.
00:16:10.88\00:16:13.49
The mountains
saw You and quaked.
00:16:13.52\00:16:15.96
The downpour of waters swept by.
00:16:15.99\00:16:18.94
The deep
uttered forth its voice,
00:16:18.97\00:16:21.13
It lifted high its hands.
00:16:21.16\00:16:23.60
Sun and moon
stood in their places.
00:16:23.63\00:16:25.79
They went away at
the light of Your arrows,
00:16:25.82\00:16:30.59
At the radiance of
Your gleaming spear.
00:16:30.62\00:16:33.80
In indignation You
marched through the earth.
00:16:33.83\00:16:36.46
In anger You
trampled the nations.
00:16:36.49\00:16:38.71
You went forth for the
salvation of Your people,
00:16:38.74\00:16:41.48
For the salvation
of Your anointed."
00:16:41.51\00:16:43.43
What do we have here?
00:16:43.46\00:16:45.49
Did you notice
that the image of horses
00:16:45.52\00:16:49.50
is used with reference to God?
00:16:49.53\00:16:50.90
He's riding the horses.
00:16:50.93\00:16:52.70
And he has the weapons.
00:16:52.73\00:16:54.95
He's going to conquer
00:16:54.98\00:16:57.20
and to win the salvation
on behalf of His people.
00:16:57.23\00:17:00.74
I'd like to
invite also the viewers
00:17:00.77\00:17:02.66
if you want to
go to Psalm 45:4, 5
00:17:02.69\00:17:08.84
and you will see there very
similar picture there of God.
00:17:08.87\00:17:14.06
If you go to Revelation 19:11-16
00:17:14.09\00:17:18.84
we have Jesus Christ as
riding on the white horse.
00:17:18.87\00:17:23.17
Revelation 19,
leading the heavenly armies
00:17:23.20\00:17:27.59
in the final battle
of the earth history.
00:17:27.62\00:17:30.78
And friends, this rider
00:17:30.81\00:17:34.54
in the first seal
is not antichrist.
00:17:34.57\00:17:38.14
This is the symbolic
portrayal of God in the Bible
00:17:38.17\00:17:41.59
but there is much more.
00:17:41.62\00:17:43.77
You see the rider-- okay,
rides on the whiter horse.
00:17:43.80\00:17:50.56
White is a symbol of
purity not evil or antichrist
00:17:50.59\00:17:56.17
and it's regularly
associated with Christ
00:17:56.20\00:17:59.21
and His followers in the Bible.
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.52
Did you notice something
else that we mentioned?
00:18:01.55\00:18:04.47
The rider has
the stephanos crown.
00:18:04.50\00:18:08.64
In the Bible you remember
00:18:08.67\00:18:10.04
especially in the
Book of Revelation
00:18:10.07\00:18:11.44
the stephanos
crown is not a crown
00:18:11.47\00:18:13.68
promised to the antichrist.
00:18:13.71\00:18:18.33
It's something that is promise
only to God's victorious people.
00:18:18.36\00:18:22.68
And then finally
two times the word
00:18:22.71\00:18:28.09
'to conquer' and
'conquering' is mentioned.
00:18:28.12\00:18:31.55
This brings to mind
the Revelation 3:21,
00:18:31.58\00:18:34.43
as I conquer or overcome
00:18:34.46\00:18:36.49
and sat with my
father on His throne.
00:18:36.52\00:18:38.92
Then you go to Revelation 5,
00:18:38.95\00:18:41.59
you remember
why Jesus was worthy
00:18:41.62\00:18:46.61
of taking the sealed
scroll because he conquered.
00:18:46.64\00:18:51.10
So actually, all the
descriptions of the horse
00:18:51.13\00:18:55.02
and the rider on the horse is
actually associated with Christ
00:18:55.05\00:19:00.89
and the gospel and His people.
00:19:00.92\00:19:04.50
So what do we've
here in the first seal?
00:19:04.53\00:19:08.13
What is this horse
and the rider all about?
00:19:08.16\00:19:13.16
Let's go back to Revelation 5.
00:19:13.19\00:19:15.66
Okay, in Revelation 5
Jesus took that scroll--
00:19:15.69\00:19:21.24
please you have now to help me.
00:19:21.27\00:19:23.88
What was that started on
the day of the Pentecost?
00:19:23.91\00:19:27.48
The proclamation, the
preaching of the gospel.
00:19:27.51\00:19:30.23
You see when
Jesus took that scroll
00:19:30.26\00:19:33.39
he was proclaimed by
the whole heavenly assembly
00:19:33.42\00:19:37.75
to be a really the real
ruler of the planet earth.
00:19:37.78\00:19:41.46
But then what happened?
00:19:41.49\00:19:42.86
Jesus knew that there are
some territories on the earth
00:19:42.89\00:19:48.81
that are rebellious against Him.
00:19:48.84\00:19:50.96
They don't want to
accept His authority.
00:19:50.99\00:19:55.10
So that's why on
the day of Pentecost
00:19:55.13\00:19:58.27
by using the picture
of the victorious rider
00:19:58.30\00:20:01.70
riding on a horse
He goes conquering
00:20:01.73\00:20:06.10
and starting to conquer
is the best illustration
00:20:06.13\00:20:10.53
of what started on
the day of Pentecost,
00:20:10.56\00:20:13.11
preaching of the gospel,
00:20:13.14\00:20:14.94
trying to conquer the
hearts of people for Christ
00:20:14.97\00:20:20.29
that many, many
territories still to be conquer.
00:20:20.32\00:20:25.18
And you know I
just want to remind you,
00:20:25.21\00:20:26.79
when you go to the Book of Acts,
00:20:26.82\00:20:28.51
you remember that what happened
00:20:28.54\00:20:30.59
with that first day
of the preaching gospel
00:20:30.62\00:20:34.20
3000 people were won for Christ.
00:20:34.23\00:20:36.83
Then the Book of Acts
says that daily people
00:20:36.86\00:20:39.93
were being won for
Christ, then 5000 people.
00:20:39.96\00:20:43.86
Then Apostle Paul mention,
he said but his own time--
00:20:43.89\00:20:46.52
he said the
gospel has been preached
00:20:46.55\00:20:48.87
to every creature on this earth.
00:20:48.90\00:20:52.70
So going with the
first century there
00:20:52.73\00:20:55.25
we see the
conquest of the gospel.
00:20:55.28\00:20:58.78
So the best
interpretation that fits here
00:20:58.81\00:21:02.70
is actually the first
horse, that white horse
00:21:02.73\00:21:06.82
and the rider with
the stephanos crown
00:21:06.85\00:21:09.53
stands as a
symbol for the gospel
00:21:09.56\00:21:12.49
that started being preached
on the day of Pentecost.
00:21:12.52\00:21:15.85
Can I ask you one question?
00:21:15.88\00:21:17.93
When you do it in the right way,
00:21:17.96\00:21:20.02
when you let the
Bible interpret itself,
00:21:20.05\00:21:23.77
is the Book of Revelation
00:21:23.80\00:21:25.17
really so
difficult as people think?
00:21:25.20\00:21:28.54
It's only so difficult
it gives such a great joy.
00:21:28.57\00:21:32.66
Your heart is full
of the love of the God.
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.59
But let's now go
to the second seal.
00:21:34.62\00:21:38.02
I like to invite you with
me to read verses 3 and 4,
00:21:38.05\00:21:42.72
"When He" the Lamb
"broke the second seal,
00:21:42.75\00:21:47.32
I heard the second
living creature saying, 'Come.'
00:21:47.35\00:21:53.01
And another--"
please pay attention,
00:21:53.04\00:21:55.83
"A red horse, went out.
00:21:55.86\00:21:59.05
And to him who sat on it,
00:21:59.08\00:22:01.26
it was granted to
take peace from the earth,
00:22:01.29\00:22:04.66
and that man
would slay one another.
00:22:04.69\00:22:08.40
And a great sword
was given to him."
00:22:08.43\00:22:13.57
So now, as Christ opens
the second seal, a fiery red--
00:22:13.60\00:22:21.02
this is the meaning in Greek,
00:22:21.05\00:22:22.66
fiery red horse
appears on to the scene.
00:22:22.69\00:22:28.56
If you go the Bible
00:22:28.59\00:22:30.73
red is regularly the
color of the bloodshed.
00:22:30.76\00:22:35.58
Okay and really corresponds
to the mission of this horse.
00:22:35.61\00:22:42.49
Did you notice what
we read here in the text
00:22:42.52\00:22:45.11
that the rider
has a large sword?
00:22:45.14\00:22:47.19
What do you do with the sword?
00:22:47.22\00:22:48.78
We know what do with knife.
00:22:48.81\00:22:50.69
But that do you do with a sword?
00:22:50.72\00:22:52.71
Sword is not to be
use in the kitchen.
00:22:52.74\00:22:55.41
It's use for the purpose of war.
00:22:55.44\00:22:58.15
And this rider
according to the text
00:22:58.18\00:23:00.27
is allowed to take
the peace from the earth
00:23:00.30\00:23:03.55
so that people can
slay each another, okay.
00:23:03.58\00:23:10.01
Pay attention to something,
usually people miss it
00:23:10.04\00:23:12.25
when they read the text.
00:23:12.28\00:23:13.65
That's why we have
different interpretation.
00:23:13.68\00:23:15.08
It's not the rider who kills.
00:23:15.11\00:23:19.42
He only carries the sword as
a symbol of what is going on.
00:23:19.45\00:23:24.16
Actually he only takes
the peace from the earth
00:23:24.19\00:23:28.42
and let people kill each other.
00:23:28.45\00:23:30.74
Did you notice it?
00:23:30.77\00:23:32.14
Please read the
careful text, okay.
00:23:32.17\00:23:36.12
So let's see what
this second seal is about.
00:23:36.15\00:23:39.93
Number one, we have
to understand something.
00:23:39.96\00:23:42.75
This fiery red horse
follows the white one,
00:23:42.78\00:23:49.73
okay.
00:23:49.76\00:23:51.44
He right--follows the
first one, the white one.
00:23:51.47\00:23:55.92
And we saw that
the first horseman
00:23:55.95\00:23:59.52
show that through the
preaching of the gospel
00:23:59.55\00:24:01.87
Christ is waging
spiritual warfare
00:24:01.90\00:24:05.30
against the forces of evil.
00:24:05.33\00:24:08.01
He tried to win
people for himself.
00:24:08.04\00:24:10.68
To save them from
the dominion of Satan
00:24:10.71\00:24:12.92
from those
rebellious territories
00:24:12.95\00:24:17.10
to bring them close to Christ.
00:24:17.13\00:24:20.41
However, what happens--
00:24:20.44\00:24:21.81
pleases you have not to help me,
00:24:21.84\00:24:23.78
what happens when the
gospel is been preached?
00:24:23.81\00:24:29.71
And then Christ goes on through
00:24:29.74\00:24:31.26
the gospel
conquering-- to conquer?
00:24:31.29\00:24:35.22
What actually happens?
00:24:35.25\00:24:36.62
The forces of evil
regularly resist to that. Okay.
00:24:36.65\00:24:43.12
They give a strong resistance
00:24:43.15\00:24:44.79
to the spreading of the
gospel there are rarely those
00:24:44.82\00:24:47.89
who rejected the gospel
against those who accepted.
00:24:47.92\00:24:51.41
What is the
result? Prosecution, okay.
00:24:51.44\00:24:55.36
So the gospel
always divides people.
00:24:55.39\00:24:59.08
If you open the New Testament,
00:24:59.11\00:25:00.79
many passages, we
will read about that.
00:25:00.82\00:25:05.01
So while some
people accept the gospel,
00:25:05.04\00:25:07.90
some people reject it
00:25:07.93\00:25:10.65
and they turn against
those who accept the gospel.
00:25:10.68\00:25:14.04
Are you still with me?
00:25:14.07\00:25:15.62
Read the text, this is
the concept that we have here.
00:25:15.65\00:25:18.86
By the way, I
would like you to turn
00:25:18.89\00:25:22.33
to the gospel of
Matthew 10:34, 36.
00:25:22.36\00:25:28.47
This text is very
important Jesus said,
00:25:28.50\00:25:31.27
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth.
00:25:31.30\00:25:36.97
I did not come to
bring peace, but a sword."
00:25:37.00\00:25:40.32
What? Sword?
00:25:40.35\00:25:42.66
The main concept in
the six seal is the sword
00:25:42.69\00:25:46.02
and to take the
peace from the earth.
00:25:46.05\00:25:48.60
"For I came to set a
man against his father,
00:25:48.63\00:25:52.42
and a daughter
against her mother,
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.86
and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law."
00:25:55.89\00:25:59.64
And now, the last sentence,
00:25:59.67\00:26:02.32
"And the man's enemies will be
the members of his household."
00:26:02.35\00:26:10.32
Did you notice
here what Jesus said?
00:26:10.35\00:26:14.53
By the way, you
can see that actually
00:26:14.56\00:26:16.44
the second seal
reflects the sayings of Jesus.
00:26:16.47\00:26:21.92
I like to suggest
you when you have a time
00:26:21.95\00:26:24.90
once this presentation
is over try to underline
00:26:24.93\00:26:28.29
the keywords from
here-- from Matthew 10:34-36.
00:26:28.32\00:26:34.58
And go underline the
keywords in the second seal
00:26:34.61\00:26:40.32
and you will be
surprised what you will get.
00:26:40.35\00:26:42.22
That actually the
second seal is there a writing
00:26:42.25\00:26:48.19
of these words of
Jesus Matthew Chapter 10.
00:26:48.22\00:26:50.09
So what do we have here?
00:26:50.12\00:26:51.49
So what is that we have here is?
00:26:51.52\00:26:56.04
Is when the
gospel is being preached
00:26:56.07\00:26:58.63
persecution is
something that takes regularly.
00:26:58.66\00:27:02.37
But we have another--
I just want to remind you
00:27:02.40\00:27:04.83
that we said that the
Bible is the best interpreter.
00:27:04.86\00:27:07.41
If you want to understand
the Book of Revelation
00:27:07.44\00:27:09.47
you always have to
go to the Old Testament.
00:27:09.50\00:27:12.55
There are many
passages from the New Testament
00:27:12.58\00:27:15.63
that are also reflected
and could see already that.
00:27:15.66\00:27:19.51
By the way, when you
go to the Old Testament--
00:27:19.54\00:27:23.22
I'm just giving
you few references.
00:27:23.25\00:27:24.87
We will not show
them there on the screen.
00:27:24.90\00:27:27.92
Judges 7:22,
00:27:27.95\00:27:30.45
Isaiah 19:2 and Zechariah 14:13.
00:27:30.48\00:27:36.18
In all these
passages you will see
00:27:36.21\00:27:39.75
how very often the
enemies of God's people
00:27:39.78\00:27:42.88
when they turn
against God's people
00:27:42.91\00:27:46.25
they turn against each other.
00:27:46.28\00:27:50.23
So there is a
strong Old Testament
00:27:50.26\00:27:52.03
background here
to the second seal.
00:27:52.06\00:27:54.73
So here in the seal, those
who resist and reject the gospel
00:27:54.76\00:27:58.85
they turn each
other in persecution.
00:27:58.88\00:28:02.64
Let's go now to the
third seal on verses 5 and 6,
00:28:02.67\00:28:09.31
"When He" the Lamb
"broke the third seal,
00:28:09.34\00:28:14.28
I heard the third
living creature saying, 'Come.'
00:28:14.31\00:28:17.88
And I looked, and
behold, a black horse
00:28:17.91\00:28:21.96
and he who sat on it
00:28:21.99\00:28:24.29
had a pair of
scales in his hand.
00:28:24.32\00:28:28.66
And I heard
something like a voice
00:28:28.69\00:28:32.19
in the center of the
four living creatures saying,
00:28:32.22\00:28:36.35
'A quart of
wheat for a denarius,
00:28:36.38\00:28:39.88
and three quarts of
barley for a denarius
00:28:39.91\00:28:43.66
and do not damage
the oil and the wine.'"
00:28:43.69\00:28:47.56
I know what you think.
00:28:47.59\00:28:49.45
How we understand the
first and the second seal,
00:28:49.48\00:28:51.40
it's logical, but what
is the third seal all about?
00:28:51.43\00:28:56.50
Now once again we will see
00:28:56.53\00:28:58.34
how it's important to let
the Bible interpret itself.
00:28:58.37\00:29:03.50
So let's
summaries one more time.
00:29:03.53\00:29:06.30
As Christ the Lamb
opens the third seal,
00:29:06.33\00:29:11.87
now you have the
third horse, what color?
00:29:11.90\00:29:15.74
A black horse with the
rider appears on that horse,
00:29:15.77\00:29:22.46
okay.
00:29:22.49\00:29:25.14
However, this rider
does not have any weapon.
00:29:25.17\00:29:30.76
It's quite different.
00:29:30.79\00:29:32.23
Actually he holds a scale
for weighting food in his hand.
00:29:32.26\00:29:38.20
And John at the moment,
he also hears an announcement
00:29:38.23\00:29:41.75
by the one of the four living
beings, you remember that?
00:29:41.78\00:29:45.36
"A quart of
wheat for a denarius,
00:29:45.39\00:29:47.41
and three quarts of
barley for a denarius
00:29:47.44\00:29:49.85
and do not harm
the oil and the wine."
00:29:49.88\00:29:53.18
Now I hope that I
was able to emphasize
00:29:53.21\00:29:57.20
the key terms here is.
00:29:57.23\00:29:59.21
So what are the
key elements here is?
00:29:59.24\00:30:02.26
We have wheat and
we have barley here.
00:30:02.29\00:30:06.17
These are actually
the central concept.
00:30:06.20\00:30:08.67
And then you have
oil and you have wine.
00:30:08.70\00:30:13.85
If you go to the Old Testament,
00:30:13.88\00:30:15.25
friends, if you go
to the Old Testament,
00:30:15.28\00:30:20.48
oil and wine--
sorry, grain, oil and wine
00:30:20.51\00:30:25.03
were three main
crops in Palestine.
00:30:25.06\00:30:30.25
They were actually
symbol of existence.
00:30:30.28\00:30:35.05
They were in a nutshell,
00:30:35.08\00:30:37.58
the reference to
the daily necessity
00:30:37.61\00:30:40.06
for people to
survive, to live normal life.
00:30:40.09\00:30:43.73
By the way, they are very often
mentioned in the Old Testament
00:30:43.76\00:30:49.62
as the basic
necessities of life.
00:30:49.65\00:30:52.19
I would like just to
mention here few references
00:30:52.22\00:30:59.30
from the Old
Testament just to see actually
00:30:59.33\00:31:03.54
what we are talking about.
00:31:03.57\00:31:06.67
If you go the Book
of Leviticus 26:26.
00:31:06.70\00:31:12.07
By the way we will come
to the Book of Leviticus 26
00:31:12.10\00:31:15.73
one more time when
we read these texts
00:31:15.76\00:31:17.79
but just here this context.
00:31:17.82\00:31:19.58
Moses spoke to
the people of Israel
00:31:19.61\00:31:22.17
telling them if
they are faithful to God
00:31:22.20\00:31:24.61
how many blessing
will come upon them.
00:31:24.64\00:31:28.16
But if they are
not faithful to God
00:31:28.19\00:31:30.67
then they will
experience the curses,
00:31:30.70\00:31:32.82
there will be the
consequence of departure.
00:31:32.85\00:31:34.99
And then Moses said
to them Leviticus 26:26--
00:31:35.02\00:31:38.72
and please pay
attention and you will see
00:31:38.75\00:31:41.08
that all the key words
that are actually found here,
00:31:41.11\00:31:45.79
also occur and they
are used in the third seal.
00:31:45.82\00:31:50.57
Moses said in the name of God,
00:31:50.60\00:31:53.36
"When I break
your staff of bread,
00:31:53.39\00:31:56.66
ten women will bake
your bread in one oven,
00:31:56.69\00:32:01.90
and they will bring back
your bread in rationed amounts,
00:32:01.93\00:32:06.70
so that you will eat
and not be satisfied."
00:32:06.73\00:32:11.44
I apologies one more
time biblical scholar and I
00:32:11.47\00:32:14.54
have sometimes to
refer to original languages.
00:32:14.57\00:32:17.51
This text was written in Hebrew.
00:32:17.54\00:32:19.30
So when you read
the text in Hebrew
00:32:19.33\00:32:21.88
this is little bit explanation.
00:32:21.91\00:32:23.56
It says, "They will bring back
your bread weighted by measure."
00:32:23.59\00:32:30.49
The same expression actually
00:32:30.52\00:32:32.45
that is found
here in the third seal.
00:32:32.48\00:32:35.18
Okay.
00:32:35.21\00:32:36.58
In the Book of Ezekiel,
00:32:36.61\00:32:39.13
when Ezekiel tried to make
appeal to the people, okay.
00:32:39.16\00:32:44.13
Who departed from God and
to bring then to repentance,
00:32:44.16\00:32:47.64
Ezekiel 4:16 we
have the following text.
00:32:47.67\00:32:52.51
Please, let us
read it, "Moreover He"
00:32:52.54\00:32:54.72
God "said unto me,
Son of man, behold,
00:32:54.75\00:32:57.52
I am going to break the
staff of bread in Jerusalem
00:32:57.55\00:33:01.17
and they shall
eat bread by weight."
00:33:01.20\00:33:03.84
Do you see that?
00:33:03.87\00:33:05.24
The same expression that
we have in the third seal.
00:33:05.27\00:33:07.54
"And with
anxiety and drink water
00:33:07.57\00:33:09.93
by measure, and in horror,
00:33:09.96\00:33:13.03
because bread and
water will be scarce,
00:33:13.06\00:33:15.71
and they will be
appalled with one another
00:33:15.74\00:33:18.85
and waste away
in their iniquity."
00:33:18.88\00:33:25.76
You can see the strong
Old Testament background
00:33:25.79\00:33:30.26
that actually
these three entity,
00:33:30.29\00:33:33.30
grain, oil, and wine
were the three main crops.
00:33:33.33\00:33:36.89
And if the people
are faithful to God,
00:33:36.92\00:33:38.40
what will happen?
00:33:38.43\00:33:39.97
God will give them
these things in abundance.
00:33:40.00\00:33:44.55
But according to Ezekiel
when they are unfaithful to God,
00:33:44.58\00:33:47.92
what will happen to them?
00:33:47.95\00:33:50.97
We saw it. Okay.
00:33:51.00\00:33:54.25
But we have another
expression here, is denarius.
00:33:54.28\00:33:58.14
Keep in mind the Bible
was not written in English
00:33:58.17\00:34:00.99
in North
America in 21st century.
00:34:01.02\00:34:03.61
Okay, so we don't
have here dollars.
00:34:03.64\00:34:06.59
We have a money from the
1st century in Roman empire
00:34:06.62\00:34:10.44
and in the 1st
century in Palestine,
00:34:10.47\00:34:13.26
a denarius was a daily wage.
00:34:13.29\00:34:17.15
So it means when
you work the whole day
00:34:17.18\00:34:21.23
in normal circumstance
you would be paid a denarius.
00:34:21.26\00:34:25.64
By the way do you
remember the parable of Jesus
00:34:25.67\00:34:28.88
about those laborers waiting
for somebody to hire them?
00:34:28.91\00:34:35.02
And the gentleman went
hired the first group says,
00:34:35.05\00:34:38.44
I will give you one denarius.
00:34:38.47\00:34:40.29
Then another
group, then another group
00:34:40.32\00:34:42.23
and finally he gave to
everybody the denarius.
00:34:42.26\00:34:45.41
That's why the first
group rebelled but he said,
00:34:45.44\00:34:48.79
I am sorry I am very just.
00:34:48.82\00:34:51.62
You just got
denarius, that's a daily wage
00:34:51.65\00:34:54.51
but I was merciful to people
00:34:54.54\00:34:56.35
who did not work the whole day.
00:34:56.38\00:34:57.87
So denarius was a daily wage.
00:34:57.90\00:35:01.15
So in normal circumstance
people will work the whole day.
00:35:01.18\00:35:04.93
How much they
are paid? A denarius.
00:35:04.96\00:35:07.92
And for that denarius they
were able to buy plenty of food
00:35:07.95\00:35:14.24
for the entire
family of about 4 or 5.
00:35:14.27\00:35:16.98
Are you still with me?
00:35:17.01\00:35:19.87
But, you know, when you work
00:35:19.90\00:35:22.42
you need something
else beside the food.
00:35:22.45\00:35:24.42
So do you want one denarius
00:35:24.45\00:35:26.24
you are able also to provide
00:35:26.27\00:35:28.30
other
necessities for your family.
00:35:28.33\00:35:32.69
Okay. But what do you
have here in the third seal?
00:35:32.72\00:35:37.29
Let's read one more time.
00:35:37.32\00:35:39.19
It's very
important to keep in mind.
00:35:39.22\00:35:41.45
It says, when He broke
the third seal, verse 6,
00:35:41.48\00:35:45.06
"And I heard something
like a voice in the center
00:35:45.09\00:35:47.72
of the four living creatures,
00:35:47.75\00:35:49.87
'A quart of
wheat for a denarius."
00:35:49.90\00:35:54.73
What does it
mean? What does it mean?
00:35:54.76\00:35:59.34
That in normal
circumstance for a daily wage
00:35:59.37\00:36:02.98
you are able to buy enough food
00:36:03.01\00:36:06.37
and everything
else for your family.
00:36:06.40\00:36:09.90
Now in the scene
of the third seal
00:36:09.93\00:36:12.86
for one daily wage you
can buy just enough food
00:36:12.89\00:36:19.48
to feed
yourself and nobody else,
00:36:19.51\00:36:22.20
not the members of the family.
00:36:22.23\00:36:25.44
But something else that says
00:36:25.47\00:36:27.59
that for the same amount
of a money, one denarius,
00:36:27.62\00:36:32.54
you can buy
three quarts of barley.
00:36:32.57\00:36:36.97
Barley was a secondary food
00:36:37.00\00:36:40.36
usually to feed
your cattle there.
00:36:40.39\00:36:44.97
And if people did not
have something to eat,
00:36:45.00\00:36:47.04
usually poor people had to
depend on this kind of food
00:36:47.07\00:36:51.17
but it means if you eat barley
00:36:51.20\00:36:53.82
it means you
are very, very poor.
00:36:53.85\00:36:57.31
But keep in mind
now that the person
00:36:57.34\00:36:59.79
for one daily wage can
buy three quarts of barley,
00:36:59.82\00:37:03.89
so please can you now help me.
00:37:03.92\00:37:07.44
What is the scene
that we have here?
00:37:07.47\00:37:09.11
Give me just
one word in English.
00:37:09.14\00:37:11.10
It's a famine.
00:37:11.13\00:37:13.17
It's a terrible,
terrible famine is there.
00:37:13.20\00:37:17.89
Okay, so what are
we talking here about?
00:37:17.92\00:37:23.69
One more time we are
dealing with symbolic language.
00:37:23.72\00:37:26.28
So imagery of
the third black horse
00:37:26.31\00:37:29.61
and its rider points to what?
00:37:29.64\00:37:32.11
Force on the people,
what happens to the people
00:37:32.14\00:37:34.49
who reject the
gospel and persecute?
00:37:34.52\00:37:37.86
What is the next consequences
of the rejection of the gospel?
00:37:37.89\00:37:40.56
It's a spiritual famine.
00:37:40.59\00:37:43.95
The black color corresponds
00:37:43.98\00:37:45.61
to the mission of
the horse and its rider.
00:37:45.64\00:37:50.53
Let's explain it.
00:37:50.56\00:37:52.65
How did you define the black?
00:37:52.68\00:37:55.62
Dark. It's opposite to white.
00:37:55.65\00:37:59.37
If you go to the New Testament,
00:37:59.40\00:38:01.29
the white color, you
remember the first seal,
00:38:01.32\00:38:04.32
the white horse we
saw it's the gospel.
00:38:04.35\00:38:07.32
It's associated with the
Christ and the gospel message.
00:38:07.35\00:38:12.40
But when you have
now the black color
00:38:12.43\00:38:15.19
it's opposite to the gospel.
00:38:15.22\00:38:18.51
So if the white color denotes
00:38:18.54\00:38:23.88
the preaching of the
gospel, the white horse,
00:38:23.91\00:38:26.24
then the black horse signifies
the absence of the gospel.
00:38:26.27\00:38:32.76
The spiritual famine, you
see when you go to the Bible--
00:38:32.79\00:38:37.65
grain, it's a normal word
00:38:40.82\00:38:47.35
for the word of God.
00:38:47.38\00:38:50.41
You remember the parable of
Jesus of the sower and the seed?
00:38:50.44\00:38:55.08
Or actually in the
gospel of John 6:35-36,
00:38:55.11\00:39:02.10
Jesus says my words
that are speaking to you
00:39:02.13\00:39:06.43
is the bread that
you are suppose to eat.
00:39:06.46\00:39:10.48
So the rejection of the gospel
00:39:10.51\00:39:12.15
usually results in the
famine of the word of God.
00:39:12.18\00:39:15.67
And if you go to the
Book of Amos 8:11-13,
00:39:15.70\00:39:22.94
the Prophet Amos foresaw
00:39:22.97\00:39:27.40
that somewhere in
the future on earth
00:39:27.43\00:39:31.97
there will be a terrible
famine of the word of God.
00:39:32.00\00:39:37.12
But praise God.
00:39:37.15\00:39:38.52
So one more
time, the third seal,
00:39:38.55\00:39:39.94
it's about the spiritual
famine for the word of God.
00:39:39.97\00:39:43.52
But we have here a
very encouraging note
00:39:43.55\00:39:47.39
and what is that?
00:39:47.42\00:39:48.92
The instruction was given,
00:39:48.95\00:39:51.05
"Do not damage
the oil and the wine."
00:39:51.08\00:39:56.16
So this famine, the famine
of the third seal is not fatal.
00:39:56.19\00:40:02.62
The same was that
commission to John, okay,
00:40:02.65\00:40:06.20
to measure the food, okay,
00:40:06.23\00:40:10.67
emphasizing the extreme famine
00:40:10.70\00:40:14.52
the same voice try to
protect the wine and oil.
00:40:14.55\00:40:17.46
And by the way,
when we go to the Bible
00:40:17.49\00:40:20.91
we see that oil
symbolically in spiritual way
00:40:20.94\00:40:25.65
symbolizes the Holy Spirit.
00:40:25.68\00:40:28.93
And wine regular
in the New Testament
00:40:28.96\00:40:31.70
stands for the salvation
that we receive in Jesus Christ.
00:40:31.73\00:40:35.75
So if--do you see here
the grace and the mercy of God
00:40:35.78\00:40:39.32
even though the
people rejected the gospel
00:40:39.35\00:40:42.63
and their consequences
which is the famine,
00:40:42.66\00:40:46.31
the shortage of the word of God?
00:40:46.34\00:40:48.73
But God's grace
and God's salvation
00:40:48.76\00:40:53.39
is still available
to the people, okay.
00:40:53.42\00:40:58.80
For all those who
want to accept Him.
00:40:58.83\00:41:00.88
And now finally we are going
00:41:00.91\00:41:03.78
to the fourth
seal, the four horsemen.
00:41:03.81\00:41:08.93
Verse 7-8 "When the
Lamb broke the fourth seal,
00:41:08.96\00:41:14.72
I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, 'Come.'
00:41:14.75\00:41:19.39
And I looked, and
behold, an ashen horse,
00:41:19.42\00:41:23.80
and he who sat on
it had the name death,
00:41:23.83\00:41:29.12
and Hades was
following with him.
00:41:29.15\00:41:32.59
And authority was given to
them over a fourth of the earth,
00:41:32.62\00:41:36.89
to kill with the
sword and with the famine
00:41:36.92\00:41:41.49
and with pestilence and by
the wild beasts of the earth."
00:41:41.52\00:41:47.05
Now I know what you say,
00:41:47.08\00:41:49.03
evidently the
third seal makes sense.
00:41:49.06\00:41:52.81
But what is the
fourth seal now all about?
00:41:52.84\00:41:57.57
Okay, with the
opening of the fourth seal
00:41:57.60\00:42:00.56
a pale horse appears.
00:42:00.59\00:42:03.95
Keep in mind that the
fourth horse and the horsemen
00:42:03.98\00:42:09.33
follow the third horse,
00:42:09.36\00:42:13.79
the black horse and the rider.
00:42:13.82\00:42:18.28
But even to grasp the
full meaning of this word.
00:42:18.31\00:42:21.35
The word that we translate
as pale of ashen horse here is,
00:42:21.38\00:42:27.56
is the Greek word chloros
00:42:27.59\00:42:30.85
which actually
is the normal word
00:42:30.88\00:42:34.41
for that ashen grey
color of a dead body.
00:42:34.44\00:42:41.80
You will find some commentator
or some Bible translation
00:42:41.83\00:42:45.07
they use the word greenish
00:42:45.10\00:42:49.78
describing the
horse-- the corpse that is,
00:42:49.81\00:42:54.46
you know, in the
state of decaying, okay.
00:42:54.49\00:43:00.58
So the rider's name is death.
00:43:00.61\00:43:02.27
Now you understand why
the rider has the name death.
00:43:02.30\00:43:06.81
And he is followed by Hades
00:43:06.84\00:43:09.24
which is actually
the place of death.
00:43:09.27\00:43:12.63
They are allowed,
this death and Hades,
00:43:12.66\00:43:15.68
are allowed to destroy
people by sword, by famine,
00:43:15.71\00:43:20.94
by plague, and
by the wild beasts.
00:43:20.97\00:43:24.74
And one fourth of the earth
is given to them to harm it.
00:43:24.77\00:43:31.85
It's very
interesting is what appears here
00:43:31.88\00:43:36.28
that the fourth horsemen
actually comprises the actions
00:43:36.31\00:43:41.75
and unites the actions of
the three previous horsemen.
00:43:41.78\00:43:46.18
You see, the fourth seal
00:43:46.21\00:43:48.67
describes the
pestilence on the earth.
00:43:48.70\00:43:52.27
And the graphic portrayal
of the fourth horsemen provides
00:43:52.30\00:43:55.86
a further warning to the
people who reject the gospel.
00:43:55.89\00:44:00.47
One more time.
00:44:00.50\00:44:02.03
The first horseman portrays
the preaching of the gospel.
00:44:02.06\00:44:06.19
The second one the
rejection of the gospel
00:44:06.22\00:44:08.82
and the consequences of that.
00:44:08.85\00:44:10.99
The third one the further
consequences of the gospel
00:44:11.02\00:44:15.10
which is the spiritual famine.
00:44:15.13\00:44:17.75
What now comes next?
00:44:17.78\00:44:20.21
It's actually
the spiritual death.
00:44:20.24\00:44:23.98
These are the
extreme consequences
00:44:24.01\00:44:27.80
for those who reject the gospel.
00:44:27.83\00:44:32.17
However we have a
good new, praise God.
00:44:32.20\00:44:36.24
Is that the death and the Hades,
00:44:36.27\00:44:40.32
their power and their
activities are very limited.
00:44:40.35\00:44:45.45
They're given the authority only
over one fourth of the earth.
00:44:45.48\00:44:52.39
The very beginning of the
book provides the assurance
00:44:52.42\00:44:56.11
that by His own
death and resurrection--
00:44:56.14\00:44:58.69
you remember the
vision of Jesus Christ
00:44:58.72\00:45:00.70
when He appears to
John there on Patmos?
00:45:00.73\00:45:03.45
Jesus made very clear to
John the virtue of His death.
00:45:03.48\00:45:07.50
He won the victory
over death and Hades,
00:45:07.53\00:45:11.57
the two enemies
of the human race.
00:45:11.60\00:45:14.26
When the gospel is accepted,
life is received as a gift.
00:45:14.29\00:45:21.06
And the death does
not have the authority
00:45:21.09\00:45:25.75
over those who are saved in
Jesus Christ any longer. Why?
00:45:25.78\00:45:30.22
Because they
belong to Jesus Christ
00:45:30.25\00:45:33.18
and He is the one
who won to victory
00:45:33.21\00:45:36.53
over these enemies
of the human race. Okay.
00:45:36.56\00:45:43.22
You can say, this
is very interesting.
00:45:43.25\00:45:48.39
But let me go
on one step further
00:45:48.42\00:45:52.85
because the readers of
the Bible they ask questions,
00:45:52.88\00:45:56.66
is that really only
that what we have here
00:45:56.69\00:46:00.53
with regard to
these four horses?
00:46:00.56\00:46:05.47
Just to tell us what happens
when the gospel is preached.
00:46:05.50\00:46:08.10
That this one
level of interpretation.
00:46:08.13\00:46:10.30
Remember when we talk about
00:46:10.33\00:46:11.70
the message of
the seven churches
00:46:11.73\00:46:13.32
that, that three
levels of interpretation,
00:46:13.35\00:46:15.82
so also with
regard to the seven seals.
00:46:15.85\00:46:19.63
Now we are focusing
on the first four seals.
00:46:19.66\00:46:23.55
It appears and the
Bible students also noticed
00:46:23.58\00:46:27.88
that there are
somehow strong parallels
00:46:27.91\00:46:31.73
between the
historical application
00:46:31.76\00:46:34.90
of the seven
churches and the seven seals.
00:46:34.93\00:46:39.89
So the Bible students
they noticed that actually
00:46:39.92\00:46:42.38
the first horseman historically
can stand for the first century
00:46:42.41\00:46:47.73
which was really the
time of the concurring gospel
00:46:47.76\00:46:53.35
and the gospel did throughout
the world in the first century.
00:46:53.38\00:46:58.54
But then--and of
course in Phalaris
00:46:58.57\00:47:03.15
to the church in Ephesus
00:47:03.18\00:47:04.55
you remember we talk about that?
00:47:04.58\00:47:06.96
But then the Bible
students also noticed
00:47:06.99\00:47:10.09
that following the first century
00:47:10.12\00:47:11.69
that great success of
the preaching of the gospel
00:47:11.72\00:47:14.95
during the second
and the third century
00:47:14.98\00:47:17.08
it was a time of
severe persecution.
00:47:17.11\00:47:19.50
Do you remember we talked
about the church in Smyrna?
00:47:19.53\00:47:23.13
Persecuted the church?
00:47:23.16\00:47:24.53
So what the better parallel
to exist than what we have here
00:47:24.56\00:47:31.23
the correspondence
between the second seal
00:47:31.26\00:47:34.68
and the church in Smyrna?
00:47:34.71\00:47:36.47
The second and
third centuries, okay.
00:47:36.50\00:47:39.58
Then what do we
have the next one
00:47:39.61\00:47:42.73
is the Biblical students
noticed that something happened
00:47:42.76\00:47:47.00
following the
second and third centuries
00:47:47.03\00:47:50.08
what happened when Constantine
00:47:50.11\00:47:53.20
finally made Christianity
to be a legal religion,
00:47:53.23\00:47:58.52
actually the official
religion of the Roman Empire.
00:47:58.55\00:48:03.35
Then what happened the next?
00:48:03.38\00:48:06.00
The Christians were not fighting
00:48:06.03\00:48:08.26
for their faith in
Jesus Christ any longer.
00:48:08.29\00:48:10.98
Suddenly they replace
the teaching of the Bible
00:48:11.01\00:48:13.75
with the Greek philosophy.
00:48:13.78\00:48:15.90
They started
arguing over orthodoxy.
00:48:15.93\00:48:19.91
And it's interesting is
that many strange doctrines
00:48:19.94\00:48:24.62
crept into the Christian faith.
00:48:24.65\00:48:28.64
We have here great
famine for the word of God.
00:48:28.67\00:48:33.35
And what the better
parallel than the parallels
00:48:33.38\00:48:36.65
when the church in pergamum
00:48:36.68\00:48:39.52
that stand for the
fourth and the fifth century.
00:48:39.55\00:48:43.87
And now we are
coming to the fourth seal
00:48:43.90\00:48:47.89
that really describes
the complete spiritual death.
00:48:47.92\00:48:53.59
And the Biblical
students actually noticed
00:48:53.62\00:48:56.54
how the fourth seal
can apply to the period
00:48:56.57\00:49:02.14
that we know as
the dark middle ages.
00:49:02.17\00:49:06.91
When really
Christianity was killed,
00:49:06.94\00:49:09.41
when the teaching of the
Bible was replaced by tradition
00:49:09.44\00:49:14.14
that people try to find
salvation in works, in relics,
00:49:14.17\00:49:19.67
but the teaching of
the Bible and the gospel
00:49:19.70\00:49:22.14
completely disappeared
from the mind of people.
00:49:22.17\00:49:25.24
And we saw already
how actually this period,
00:49:25.27\00:49:28.45
the dark middle ages,
could have a strong parallels
00:49:28.48\00:49:33.16
with the church in Thyatira.
00:49:33.19\00:49:34.83
And the woman Jezebel--
00:49:34.86\00:49:36.23
the threat to the
church came not from outside,
00:49:36.26\00:49:39.11
actually it came from inside.
00:49:39.14\00:49:42.86
So the fourth seal can aptly be
applied to the dark middle ages.
00:49:42.89\00:49:50.25
Okay, but keep in mind
00:49:50.28\00:49:51.92
we have two
different applications,
00:49:51.95\00:49:54.06
a symbolic applications
what regularly happens.
00:49:54.09\00:49:58.18
And please I would like
to stop here for a moment.
00:49:58.21\00:50:01.16
When we try to apply
those seals historically, okay.
00:50:01.19\00:50:07.59
When-- to those
different periods,
00:50:07.62\00:50:11.35
we have to keep in mind
00:50:11.38\00:50:12.75
not to impose our
interpretation of that.
00:50:12.78\00:50:15.53
Because if you go and take
00:50:15.56\00:50:17.57
the first seal
and leave it to just
00:50:17.60\00:50:20.46
to the first
century then what happens?
00:50:20.49\00:50:23.05
Keep in mind we
read in the first seal
00:50:23.08\00:50:25.22
that the rider on the horse
00:50:25.25\00:50:28.91
he came out
conquering and to conquer.
00:50:28.94\00:50:36.91
When will the
conquering finally be concluded?
00:50:36.94\00:50:42.53
With the second
coming of Christ.
00:50:42.56\00:50:44.10
We know that before Jesus comes
00:50:44.13\00:50:46.01
the second coming of
Christ they'll be once again
00:50:46.04\00:50:48.78
a powerful
preaching of the gospel.
00:50:48.81\00:50:50.72
So the preaching of the gospel
00:50:50.75\00:50:52.12
did not stop with
the first century.
00:50:52.15\00:50:54.69
The same can be said about
the second seal persecution.
00:50:54.72\00:50:57.94
Did persecution lasts
only during the second
00:50:57.97\00:51:01.38
and the third centuries?
00:51:01.41\00:51:02.78
No. It happened already
at the time of Apostle Paul,
00:51:02.81\00:51:05.53
because he was killed.
00:51:05.56\00:51:06.93
John the
revelator he went through
00:51:06.96\00:51:09.89
severe persecution on Patmos.
00:51:09.92\00:51:11.44
Do you remember that?
00:51:11.47\00:51:12.84
And that persecution did
not stop with the third century.
00:51:12.87\00:51:18.25
So do you see here,
00:51:18.28\00:51:20.02
you have to see the
first level of application.
00:51:20.05\00:51:22.96
The same can be about the
famine of the word of God.
00:51:22.99\00:51:26.77
We can argue it was more
famine for the word of God
00:51:26.80\00:51:31.42
during the
fourth or fifth century
00:51:31.45\00:51:33.19
than today what we witness.
00:51:33.22\00:51:37.15
So keep in mind it's very easy
00:51:37.18\00:51:39.52
to go to one or
to another extreme.
00:51:39.55\00:51:42.89
Do the seven seals have
the historic application?
00:51:42.92\00:51:46.50
Of course. We saw it.
00:51:46.53\00:51:48.89
Only blind person cannot
see those strong parallels.
00:51:48.92\00:51:52.67
But we cannot impose
if we have first to start
00:51:52.70\00:51:55.41
of that universal
application to tell us actually
00:51:55.44\00:51:58.78
what always happens when
the gospel is being preached.
00:51:58.81\00:52:02.86
Then gospel
started being preached
00:52:02.89\00:52:04.97
on the day of Pentecost, okay.
00:52:05.00\00:52:07.95
Now what is the
meaning of all of this?
00:52:07.98\00:52:15.95
We will stop at this moment
00:52:15.98\00:52:18.71
and begin understanding of
the Old Testament background
00:52:18.74\00:52:23.18
that helps us
really to understand
00:52:23.21\00:52:24.58
what seals are all about.
00:52:24.61\00:52:26.41
And evidently when it
is the most interesting,
00:52:26.44\00:52:29.03
we will stop and we will meet
again in our next presentation.
00:52:29.06\00:52:33.90
So I'd like to encourage you
00:52:33.93\00:52:35.30
please come back
to our program is
00:52:35.33\00:52:38.76
because we will
discover some beautiful,
00:52:38.79\00:52:41.91
beautiful truth of the Bible.
00:52:41.94\00:52:43.31
Okay.
00:52:43.34\00:52:44.71
We mentioned
already that the fourth seal
00:52:44.74\00:52:47.89
somehow
encompasses or incorporates
00:52:47.92\00:52:50.57
the activates of the
three previous horsemen.
00:52:50.60\00:52:53.52
Are you still with
me? How do we know that?
00:52:53.55\00:52:55.60
Please let's go back
one more time to the text.
00:52:55.63\00:52:57.83
It's verse 8, verse 8.
00:52:57.86\00:53:00.53
Chapter 6:8 says
"And I looked, and behold,
00:53:00.56\00:53:03.73
an ashen horse,
and he who sat on it
00:53:03.76\00:53:06.74
had the name death, and
Hades was following with him.
00:53:06.77\00:53:10.76
Authority was given to them
over one fourth of the earth."
00:53:10.79\00:53:15.48
And nothing unusual if
we stop here at this moment.
00:53:15.51\00:53:18.66
But look for the
following sentence.
00:53:18.69\00:53:20.81
"To kill with the sword."
00:53:20.84\00:53:22.74
Where did we have the sword?
00:53:22.77\00:53:26.75
Actually in the second,
second seal. "With the famine."
00:53:26.78\00:53:30.84
Where did we have the famine?
00:53:30.87\00:53:33.05
In the third one.
"And with pestilence."
00:53:33.08\00:53:36.43
Where did we
have the pestilence?
00:53:36.46\00:53:38.77
Here in the fourth one.
00:53:38.80\00:53:40.28
And the new element is added
by the wild beasts of the earth.
00:53:40.31\00:53:46.29
It is very interesting
00:53:46.32\00:53:47.97
and so many times
people want to ask about seals.
00:53:48.00\00:53:50.74
They said, "What
is this all about?"
00:53:50.77\00:53:52.78
And I just want to assure you
00:53:52.81\00:53:56.55
that the Christians of the
time of John who had the Bible.
00:53:56.58\00:54:00.68
That Bible was
the Old Testament.
00:54:00.71\00:54:02.68
At the time it was the
only Bible that they have. Okay.
00:54:02.71\00:54:05.54
The New Testament
was not formed yet.
00:54:05.57\00:54:08.33
When they read
this they said, "Amen."
00:54:08.36\00:54:12.42
Because they knew
exactly what it meant.
00:54:12.45\00:54:16.05
And if you open the
Old Testament and we saw
00:54:16.08\00:54:18.35
that the Old
Testament interprets itself.
00:54:18.38\00:54:21.55
You cannot be far
away from the truth.
00:54:21.58\00:54:23.83
So a time that
is just left for us,
00:54:23.86\00:54:25.76
I'd like to make
introduction and to request you
00:54:25.79\00:54:28.52
please can you turn with
me to Leviticus 26:21-26.
00:54:28.55\00:54:36.52
Leviticus
26:21-26. What do we have?
00:54:36.55\00:54:41.68
You remember I told you
00:54:41.71\00:54:43.08
that we will come back
to Leviticus Chapter 26?
00:54:43.11\00:54:46.48
We read the background for the
third seal here from this text.
00:54:46.51\00:54:50.70
What do we have in
Leviticus Chapter 26?
00:54:50.73\00:54:54.40
If you see there at the
beginning of the Chapter,
00:54:54.43\00:54:56.82
Moses wants to give
to the people of Israel
00:54:56.85\00:55:00.22
a warning telling them if
you obey the Lord your God,
00:55:00.25\00:55:04.71
if you are faithful to Him,
00:55:04.74\00:55:07.53
if you do not serve other idols,
00:55:07.56\00:55:10.38
God will bless you always.
00:55:10.41\00:55:13.12
You'll be blessed in the house,
00:55:13.15\00:55:14.95
you will be bless in the field.
00:55:14.98\00:55:16.51
He will give you long life.
00:55:16.54\00:55:18.25
He will give you
security and safety
00:55:18.28\00:55:20.16
from your enemies'
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
00:55:20.19\00:55:22.94
But then comes
the following section.
00:55:22.97\00:55:26.02
However, if you
disobey the Lord your God
00:55:26.05\00:55:31.13
then something will happen.
00:55:31.16\00:55:32.60
So I hope that
we have enough time.
00:55:32.63\00:55:34.56
Maybe I will
even have to interrupt
00:55:34.59\00:55:36.25
the reading of this text,
so please let us try to do it.
00:55:36.28\00:55:39.08
This is what Moses said to them.
00:55:39.11\00:55:41.74
Chapter 26
Leviticus from verse 21,
00:55:41.77\00:55:45.02
"If you act with
hostility against me
00:55:45.05\00:55:48.17
and are unwilling to obey me,
00:55:48.20\00:55:50.21
I will increase the
plague on you seven times
00:55:50.24\00:55:53.33
according to your sins.
00:55:53.36\00:55:55.17
I will let loose among
you the beasts of the field
00:55:55.20\00:55:58.58
which will bereave
you of your children
00:55:58.61\00:56:01.62
and destroy your cattle."
00:56:01.65\00:56:03.02
What do we have here?
00:56:03.05\00:56:04.42
The wild beast,
did you see that?
00:56:04.45\00:56:05.82
"And reduce your number so
that your roads lie deserted.
00:56:05.85\00:56:09.81
And if by these things
you are not turned to me,
00:56:09.84\00:56:12.69
but act with
hostility against me,"
00:56:12.72\00:56:14.75
what will happen next?
00:56:14.78\00:56:16.27
"I will turn against you
00:56:16.30\00:56:18.13
and I will strike you
seven times for your sins.
00:56:18.16\00:56:21.73
I will also
bring upon you," what?
00:56:21.76\00:56:24.66
"A sword upon you
00:56:24.69\00:56:26.19
which will execute
vengeance of the covenant,
00:56:26.22\00:56:28.71
and when you gather
together into your cities,
00:56:28.74\00:56:30.92
I will send," what?
00:56:30.95\00:56:32.67
"Pestilence among you,
00:56:32.70\00:56:34.52
so that you shall be delivered
into the enemies' hands.
00:56:34.55\00:56:38.13
When I break
your staff of bread,
00:56:38.16\00:56:41.74
ten women will bake your bread."
00:56:41.77\00:56:43.82
Do you see that?
00:56:43.85\00:56:45.22
"In one oven, and
they will bring back
00:56:45.25\00:56:47.73
your bread by weight,
00:56:47.76\00:56:49.13
so that you will eat
and not to be satisfied."
00:56:49.16\00:56:53.16
Did you notice something?
00:56:53.19\00:56:56.27
So when John wrote
about a sword, about famine,
00:56:56.30\00:57:02.23
about pestilence,
and the wild beast,
00:57:02.26\00:57:05.18
the first century readers
00:57:05.21\00:57:06.78
did not have any
difficulty to understand it.
00:57:06.81\00:57:09.47
By the way, I have new surprises
for you when we come back.
00:57:09.50\00:57:13.74
And I would like to invite you
00:57:13.77\00:57:15.62
to study the word
of God for yourself.
00:57:15.65\00:57:18.51
You can see that the
Bible is it's own interpreter.
00:57:18.54\00:57:22.25
So I'd like to invite
you and to join me next time,
00:57:22.28\00:57:25.51
because we would
like really to see
00:57:25.54\00:57:27.53
that deep
significance of the seven seals.
00:57:27.56\00:57:30.57