Welcome again to our program
"Revelation of the Coming King".
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I want to welcome to all of you,
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especially you
for the first time,
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here watching this program.
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And I hope that
you will be encouraged
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to look for the programs before
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so that you see how we started
from the very beginning verse 1
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and going all through
the Book of Revelation.
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I'm glad that you join us.
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That's the reason I'd like
to introduce myself once again.
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I am Ranko Stefanovic,
Professor of New Testament
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in the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary,
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Andrews University.
And I love the word of God.
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This book changed me completely.
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I found Jesus Christ
as my personal Savior.
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And, please, I'd like you to
go back to that first program
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that presented
because I showed to you,
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how really this book,
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last book of the Bible
changed my life completely.
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I met my Savior and
He is my precious friend
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and I would not trade Him
for anything in this world.
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So we are in very,
very interesting section
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of the Book of Revelation.
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For many people
it's so difficult,
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but I hope that
so far you could see
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when we take the
Bible to interpret itself,
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that the Book of Revelation,
yeah, it is difficult book.
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But it's not as difficult
as usually people think.
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And I'm so glad that
we have this opportunity.
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I'd like to express
my deep gratitude to 3ABN
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for making this series possible
and also all these good people
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who are involved in the
production of this program.
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And my special audience,
you are great inspiration to me.
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So I like to invite all of you,
that we ask God for His guidance
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in studying this
difficult section
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of the Book of Revelation.
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Our Heavenly
Father, thanks once again
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that we can come
before the throne of grace,
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because You promised to us,
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when we come before
the throne of grace,
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we will find the help
in the time of our needs.
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So, Father, we
need You at this moment.
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And please give
us Your Holy Spirit
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that the Book of Revelation,
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this message can
be very clear to us,
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that can impact our lives
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and that we can
come much closer to You,
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understanding the
messages of this book.
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Thank You for Your help.
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And we pray all of this
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in the precious name of
our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Amen. Amen.
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Before we go into our subject,
I'd like to encourage you.
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I'm repeating it regularly
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is that we cannot cover
everything go into depth.
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There is much more to be said.
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But I'd like to
encourage you that,
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once this program is over,
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that you go and you
study the subject for yourself.
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But then you will say "Oh, boy,
I tried so many times by myself.
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I cannot do it."
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Praise God, today
we have so many tools.
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There are so many tools,
you can go and find them.
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But my lectures here
follow the content of this book
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that is titled
"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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It's a product of many
years of my own research.
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But this is not
simply my research.
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Actually, there are many
other people who contributed
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never understanding
the Book of revelation
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that refer to here in this book.
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So if you really
want to understand,
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what is the best
way to understand
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the text of the
Book of Revelation
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and what my
church today believes
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about the Book of Revelation?
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I'd like to encourage you
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to keep this book
in front of yourself.
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And the subject that
we are covering today now,
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it's starting with page 217.
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As I said last time, actually
you have next 40, 50 pages.
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So I'm not
following the set order
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that is found here
in this commentary.
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Okay, let us try
just to summarize,
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okay, about what we
were talking about last time.
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You remember?
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That we mentioned
at the starting point,
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for the
understanding of the opening
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of the seven seals is Chapter 5.
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Friends, if you
take Revelation 5
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and try to apply historically
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and say that the content of
Revelation 5 describes the event
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that took place
in the 19th century,
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that this is the
investigative judgment.
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It was at that
occasion, Jesus took the scroll.
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It is only after
taking the scroll,
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that Jesus can break the seals.
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Then what time
element you are supposed
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to put the
breaking of the seals?
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After that.
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But we saw that
the Book of Revelation
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shows clearly
that Chapter 5 portrays
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the enthronement
of Christ's events
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that took place
after the ascension
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of Jesus there to
the heavenly places
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that took place on
the day of Pentecost.
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So the day of
Pentecost, the event that marked
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the beginning of the
preaching of the gospel
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is the starting point
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for the understanding
of the seven seals.
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So we concluded then.
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But when Jesus
opened the first seal,
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we have the gospel
started being preached.
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But the preaching of the gospel
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is always
accompanied by persecution.
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There are people who
accept it. They are blessed.
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But there are people
who reject the gospel,
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not only do they reject,
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they oppose to the
gospel and persecution follows.
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This is what the
second seal is all about.
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You remember
that fiery red horse?
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And then we
have the black horse.
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And the rider actually
announces a terrible famine.
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When people rejected the gospel,
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regularly there is the
famine for the word of God.
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And then the fourth
horse describes really
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the ultimate consequences
of rejection of the gospel
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and that's
complete spiritual death.
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When you reject the word of
God, then what is left to you?
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You're left with
your calculations,
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your means and your works
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that are actually
worthless before God
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and spiritual death
follows completely, okay?
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This is what we have.
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We saw that in addition
to this general application
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that actually the first
four seals, those four horsemen,
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they also have the
historical application.
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Please I don't have
time now to repeat it.
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But they parallel the first four
churches, applied historically
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to those four different
periods of the Christian era.
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But now there is a question,
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what is the meaning
of these seals all about?
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And we saw that the fourth
horseman actually incorporates,
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summarizes the activities
of the three previous,
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okay, horses and horsemen.
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And what are the key expressions
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actually that we have here?
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Let's go back one more time.
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It says, the
conclusion of verse 8
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that the authority was
given to the death in Hades,
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who is death in Hades?
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It's the name for
the rider on the horse.
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Okay, to kill with the sword,
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second seal with famine,
the third seal with pestilence,
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the fourth seal and by
the wild beast of the earth.
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Now we wanted to find
the meaning of all of this.
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And there is
something very interesting.
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We saw already
that these four seals,
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they portray the
experience of the church,
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God's people, as
they are commissioned
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to proclaim the gospel.
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But in order to portray
the situation of His people
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through the Christian history,
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God uses the symbolic language.
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And that symbolic
language is rooted
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in the history of God's
Old Testament people, Israel.
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Are you still with me?
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You remember, we mentioned
already about symbolic language?
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That God always uses
the language of the past
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to describe what will
take place in the future.
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Why so? Because to
tell us that the same God
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who was in the past
with His people to help them,
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He will also be with
His people in the future,
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when His people
faces similar crisis,
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the crisis similar to that
one of His people in the past.
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What message for all of us?
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That's why crucial
to the understanding
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of the Book of
Revelation is always to go
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and find the meaning
of that symbolic language
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and we saw something,
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we will not now
read this text again.
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I just want to remind you is
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that you read the key
text for the understanding
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of the first four seals
in Leviticus Chapter 26.
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Therefore, the first time,
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please, I'd like you
so how to do something
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to find the
previous presentation.
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And please read for
yourself, Leviticus Chapter 26.
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And you will notice
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what is that that Moses
said to the people of Israel.
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If you are faithful to God, boy,
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great blessings
will come up on you,
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but if you are
unfaithful to the covenant
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and you leave God,
there are consequences,
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not that God will do it,
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but the consequences will
come and those consequences
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are portrayed in terms of sword,
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famine, pestilence
and the wild beast.
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And you will notice, these
are exactly the expressions
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that we find here
in the four seals.
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So, friends, what are
we actually talking about?
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I'd like you to turn also
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to the Book of Ezekiel 14:21.
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The Book of Ezekiel 14:21
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and we read there
something very interesting,
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that Ezekiel talked
to the people of Israel
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who are unfaithful to
God. Are you still with me?
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They are unfaithful to
God. They parted from God.
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They are
unfaithful to the covenant.
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They serve those pagan idols.
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And now Ezekiel
is reminding them
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of those curses of the covenant
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that Moses
mentioned in Leviticus 26.
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And he said to them,
"For thus says the Lord God,
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'How much more when I
send my four severe judgments
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against Jerusalem,
sword, famine, wild beast,
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and plague,'" or pestilence "'
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to cut off man
and beast from it.'"
00:12:15.81\00:12:18.54
How does Ezekiel
call these four entities?
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My four severe judgments.
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Please can you turn
to Jeremiah Chapter 51?
00:12:27.12\00:12:30.02
I want you,
friends, that you see
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how the Old
Testament is replete with this,
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that this is
actually the crucial idea
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that the people of Israel
were so much familiar with.
00:12:36.76\00:12:39.82
Jeremiah 15:3, he has a
different reference for that,
00:12:39.85\00:12:43.91
a different title for that.
00:12:43.94\00:12:45.31
He says, Jeremiah 15:3
00:12:45.34\00:12:48.42
"I will appoint over
them four kinds of doom."
00:12:48.45\00:12:52.57
How does he call these things?
00:12:52.60\00:12:54.29
Four kinds of
doom. "Declares the Lord.
00:12:54.32\00:12:57.13
'The sword to slay, the dogs'"
or the beast '"to drag off,
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and the birds of the sky
00:13:01.88\00:13:03.48
and the beasts of the earth
to devour and to destroy.'"
00:13:03.51\00:13:07.50
How does Jeremiah call
them? Four kind of dooms.
00:13:07.53\00:13:15.03
So what are we talking about?
00:13:15.06\00:13:17.75
I'd like to invite the
viewers and my audience here
00:13:17.78\00:13:21.18
because I'm not able
now to go into details.
00:13:21.21\00:13:24.25
I'd like you to
turn to page 219.
00:13:24.28\00:13:26.82
The second line here on the top.
00:13:26.85\00:13:28.70
And just you
see, how many times?
00:13:28.73\00:13:32.17
219 in my commentary there,
00:13:32.20\00:13:35.55
Revelation of Jesus
Christ, second line.
00:13:35.58\00:13:38.64
And you can see there and
go to the second paragraph.
00:13:38.67\00:13:41.34
You can see that how many
times the prophets mentioned
00:13:41.37\00:13:46.29
and reminded the people of
Israel of these four entities,
00:13:46.32\00:13:50.71
four severe
judgments or four doom.
00:13:50.74\00:13:53.23
Why were the prophets
00:13:53.26\00:13:54.89
so much reminding the
people of Israel of this, why?
00:13:54.92\00:13:58.98
Because it was at the time
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when people are in
total apostasy from God
00:14:00.75\00:14:04.10
and they wanted to remind them.
00:14:04.13\00:14:05.58
And please now you
have now to be with me.
00:14:05.61\00:14:09.44
What happens when the people
of Israel are unfaithful to God?
00:14:12.66\00:14:16.87
When you read the Old Testament
00:14:16.90\00:14:18.27
starting from
the Book of Judges,
00:14:18.30\00:14:20.73
God simply because
they departed from God,
00:14:20.76\00:14:23.47
God lifts up His
protection from them.
00:14:23.50\00:14:26.16
Now what happens?
The enemy nations come.
00:14:26.19\00:14:28.93
How do they come?
00:14:28.96\00:14:30.89
With money to help them.
00:14:30.92\00:14:32.29
No, they come with
a sword to kill them.
00:14:32.32\00:14:35.58
Now when you have
the war situation,
00:14:35.61\00:14:37.25
people are killed with a sword.
00:14:37.28\00:14:38.81
What is the next thing?
00:14:38.84\00:14:41.46
My country was torn
by war several times
00:14:41.49\00:14:43.89
You know, what
is the next thing?
00:14:43.92\00:14:45.29
The next thing is famine.
00:14:45.32\00:14:47.59
The first thing
is shortage of food.
00:14:47.62\00:14:51.25
What is the next thing?
00:14:51.28\00:14:52.65
Different kind of
disease, pestilence,
00:14:55.37\00:14:59.69
people are buried,
people are dying there.
00:14:59.72\00:15:02.90
And what is the next one?
00:15:02.93\00:15:05.28
It's death. It's
completely death.
00:15:05.31\00:15:08.96
And then the
land is depopulated.
00:15:08.99\00:15:11.96
We're talking about
Palestine, etcetera.
00:15:11.99\00:15:13.87
What comes next?
00:15:13.90\00:15:15.64
All those wild beasts are coming
00:15:15.67\00:15:18.46
from all around
to feed themselves
00:15:18.49\00:15:21.30
and they're harming the people.
00:15:21.33\00:15:22.76
Actually, the text
says in Leviticus 26,
00:15:22.79\00:15:25.34
"They will harm
and eat your children."
00:15:25.37\00:15:27.78
Simple.
00:15:30.41\00:15:31.78
So now when
people were in apostasy,
00:15:31.81\00:15:36.15
God would send
His prophet to them.
00:15:36.18\00:15:38.90
Go to page 219,
220 all those pages,
00:15:38.93\00:15:42.17
because I really need 1 hour
00:15:42.20\00:15:43.80
just to go
through those references.
00:15:43.83\00:15:45.25
You will see how many
are in the Old Testament.
00:15:45.28\00:15:47.90
And please, please now
you have to be with me.
00:15:47.93\00:15:50.24
The prophets would come
00:15:50.27\00:15:51.64
and preach to the people
and say, you have left God.
00:15:51.67\00:15:57.10
You have broken
the covenant with Him.
00:15:57.13\00:15:59.89
You're serving the idols.
00:15:59.92\00:16:01.78
Be careful because
the sword is coming,
00:16:01.81\00:16:06.72
famine, pestilence
and the wild beast.
00:16:06.75\00:16:10.68
And people knew exactly what
the prophet was talking about.
00:16:10.71\00:16:15.37
I remember when for the
first time, I did this research
00:16:15.40\00:16:21.44
and I was at one
occasion preaching
00:16:21.47\00:16:24.17
and one gentleman
raised hand and he said,
00:16:24.20\00:16:26.97
"Yeah, Jesus
cleaned the Old Testament."
00:16:27.00\00:16:28.85
He said, "I did not realize
00:16:28.88\00:16:30.34
how much of that is
in the Old Testament."
00:16:30.37\00:16:32.71
But we are dealing not
with the Old Testament.
00:16:32.74\00:16:34.90
We are dealing
with the first century.
00:16:34.93\00:16:36.64
"How can you be sure
00:16:36.67\00:16:38.26
that people understood
it exactly in that way?"
00:16:38.29\00:16:40.93
And I was little bit confused,
I decided to do my research
00:16:40.96\00:16:45.14
and then I found
something very interesting
00:16:45.17\00:16:47.69
is that famous
scholar David Downie
00:16:47.72\00:16:51.14
actually quotes Dio Cassius who
was actually a Roman historian,
00:16:51.17\00:16:56.86
he knew nothing
about the Old Testament.
00:16:56.89\00:16:58.40
Are you still with me?
00:16:58.43\00:16:59.93
Nothing about the Old Testament.
00:16:59.96\00:17:02.48
You have that quotation in page
221, second paragraph there.
00:17:02.51\00:17:06.64
Actually he described
the destruction of Palestine
00:17:06.67\00:17:09.86
by Romans
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:17:09.89\00:17:12.22
are you still--
in the year 132 A.D.
00:17:12.25\00:17:16.28
Please keep in mind, he
is just a Roman historian.
00:17:16.31\00:17:20.83
He does not know
the Old Testament.
00:17:20.86\00:17:22.34
Let's listen, let's read
00:17:22.37\00:17:23.95
how actually he describes
the destruction of Palestine.
00:17:23.98\00:17:26.74
Are you with me?
00:17:26.77\00:17:28.14
Second line, he says,
"580,000 men were slain
00:17:28.17\00:17:33.40
in the various raids
and battles," sword huh?
00:17:33.43\00:17:37.04
Sword, "And the number of
those that perished by famine,
00:17:37.07\00:17:42.36
disease, and fire
was past finding out.
00:17:42.39\00:17:46.93
Thus nearly the whole
Judaea was made desolate.
00:17:46.96\00:17:50.29
A result of which the people
had hath forewarning before war.
00:17:50.32\00:17:54.63
And many wolves and hyenas
00:17:54.66\00:17:57.47
rushed howling
into their cities."
00:17:57.50\00:17:59.75
What do we have here?
00:18:02.30\00:18:04.29
Not only that
among the Jewish people,
00:18:04.32\00:18:06.39
but even in the first
century among the Romans,
00:18:06.42\00:18:09.88
these were actually the
consequences of a punishment.
00:18:09.91\00:18:13.77
So we can say
that sword, famine,
00:18:13.80\00:18:17.97
pestilence and the wild beast
are actually, as Ezekiel stated,
00:18:18.00\00:18:24.21
are God's judgments
on the unfaithful Israel.
00:18:24.24\00:18:28.92
Now we have to
go one step further
00:18:28.95\00:18:32.37
and please you
have now to be with me.
00:18:32.40\00:18:37.53
What are those judgments?
00:18:37.56\00:18:39.98
By the way, we call
them, the covenant curses
00:18:40.01\00:18:42.65
or the curses of the covenant.
00:18:42.68\00:18:44.11
It goes like this way.
00:18:44.14\00:18:46.22
God is not the
one who's doing this.
00:18:46.25\00:18:49.12
As we mentioned that,
00:18:49.15\00:18:50.79
but God's people
are faithful to God,
00:18:50.82\00:18:53.12
there is God's
protection upon them.
00:18:53.15\00:18:55.43
When people are
unfaithful to God,
00:18:55.46\00:18:58.08
God says, to the Babylonians,
00:18:58.11\00:19:02.43
go little bit and
discipline my people.
00:19:02.46\00:19:06.78
And Babylonians
they come sword, famine,
00:19:06.81\00:19:11.99
cause pestilence
and the wild beast.
00:19:12.02\00:19:16.14
This is something
that regularly takes,
00:19:16.17\00:19:18.82
but then what happens next?
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.50
Please this very important now
00:19:20.53\00:19:21.90
for the
understanding of the seals.
00:19:21.93\00:19:23.30
We are not dealing now
only with four horsemen.
00:19:23.33\00:19:25.39
We are dealing seven seals.
00:19:25.42\00:19:27.46
When God's people
are harmed that way
00:19:27.49\00:19:32.15
and they are in
that desperate situation,
00:19:32.18\00:19:34.68
what is that the people do?
00:19:34.71\00:19:36.36
You read the Old Testament.
00:19:36.39\00:19:37.76
It's regularly
starting with the Book of Judges
00:19:37.79\00:19:40.12
going all through
the Old Testament,
00:19:40.15\00:19:42.00
all up to the Babylonian exile,
00:19:42.03\00:19:44.15
when people are calm,
that people turn back to God.
00:19:44.18\00:19:47.98
Sometimes God
will send the prophet,
00:19:48.01\00:19:49.80
God will raise the judges
00:19:49.83\00:19:51.20
and people turn toward
God, but keep in mind something,
00:19:51.23\00:19:56.15
God allows to
those Babylonians--
00:19:56.18\00:19:58.65
By the way, when
you read the Bible,
00:19:58.68\00:20:00.24
you will see, for instance,
00:20:00.27\00:20:03.73
if you go to Isaiah 10:5, 6,
00:20:03.76\00:20:08.55
God calls Assyria,
the rod of my anger.
00:20:08.58\00:20:12.87
Do you know rod?
00:20:12.90\00:20:14.27
You take rod to beat somebody.
00:20:14.30\00:20:16.31
So God used Assyria, what?
00:20:16.34\00:20:18.69
To spank His children
00:20:18.72\00:20:20.55
or God called the king
of Babylon, my servant.
00:20:20.58\00:20:24.94
What are we talking about?
00:20:27.11\00:20:28.48
So God used those
surrounding nations,
00:20:28.51\00:20:30.61
telling them, go little
bit discipline my people.
00:20:30.64\00:20:34.65
God did not want
to destroy His people.
00:20:34.68\00:20:36.76
What is the purpose
of this covenant curses?
00:20:36.79\00:20:39.24
That people
realize their situation
00:20:39.27\00:20:41.13
and they come back to God.
00:20:41.16\00:20:43.50
But once those
eliminations they come,
00:20:43.53\00:20:46.01
they don't want to just,
to discipline God's people,
00:20:46.04\00:20:49.35
they want to
destroy them completely.
00:20:49.38\00:20:52.57
Please try to think
about the Old Testament.
00:20:55.15\00:20:57.42
How many times it happened?
00:20:57.45\00:20:59.32
Actually the
last time it happened
00:20:59.35\00:21:00.72
during the Queen of Esther.
00:21:00.75\00:21:03.92
Now God's people
are praying to God.
00:21:03.95\00:21:06.32
And now God's wrath
00:21:06.35\00:21:08.83
turns against the
enemies of His people.
00:21:08.86\00:21:13.69
Please I'd like now
at this moment to ask
00:21:13.72\00:21:19.24
if you can turn to
the Book of Zechariah.
00:21:19.27\00:21:23.97
This is just one of many texts
00:21:24.00\00:21:27.74
that actually sheds
light to this concept.
00:21:27.77\00:21:34.19
By the way, if you go,
I will not read this text,
00:21:34.22\00:21:37.57
Zechariah Chapter 1 to 8.
00:21:37.60\00:21:40.36
Actually, you will
find that these texts
00:21:40.39\00:21:43.59
describes four
horses that Zechariah sees,
00:21:43.62\00:21:47.93
which is really the background
00:21:47.96\00:21:49.51
for the understanding
of the seven seals,
00:21:49.54\00:21:51.14
four backgrounds, okay?
00:21:51.17\00:21:53.28
But if you go now to verse 14,
00:21:53.31\00:21:56.33
this text will not
appear on the screen, okay.
00:21:56.36\00:22:00.05
Actually, let's
read from verse 12.
00:22:00.08\00:22:02.58
We are talking
about the people of Israel
00:22:02.61\00:22:04.22
after the Babylonian exile.
00:22:04.25\00:22:06.72
Now he says, "So the
angel of the Lord said,
00:22:06.75\00:22:09.27
'O Lord of hosts,
00:22:09.30\00:22:10.72
how long will You
have no compassion
00:22:10.75\00:22:13.02
for Jerusalem and
the cities of Judah,
00:22:13.05\00:22:15.35
which You have been
indignant these 70 years?'"
00:22:15.38\00:22:19.01
Now verse 14.
00:22:19.04\00:22:20.64
"So the angel who was
speaking with me said to me,
00:22:20.67\00:22:23.13
'proclaim,'" and says,
"Thus says the Lord of hosts,
00:22:23.16\00:22:27.36
I am exceedingly
jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.
00:22:27.39\00:22:30.85
But I am very angry with
the nations who are at ease,
00:22:30.88\00:22:34.23
for while I was only a
little angry with them,
00:22:34.26\00:22:38.17
they further the disaster."
00:22:38.20\00:22:39.72
Did you see this concept here?
00:22:39.75\00:22:41.58
But this concept is found
00:22:41.61\00:22:43.96
numerous times in
the Old Testament.
00:22:43.99\00:22:46.73
When God's people
turned back to God,
00:22:46.76\00:22:49.67
now God goes in
judgment against their enemies.
00:22:49.70\00:22:53.94
By the way, I would
like to suggest to you.
00:22:53.97\00:22:56.60
This is exactly what
we have in seven seals.
00:22:56.63\00:23:03.51
One more time, what do we
have in the first four seals?
00:23:03.54\00:23:06.94
The covenant curses, okay.
00:23:06.97\00:23:11.08
Now what do we
have in the fifth seal?
00:23:11.11\00:23:13.15
We're coming just
in few minutes there.
00:23:15.46\00:23:17.62
You have God's
people who are killed
00:23:17.65\00:23:19.41
because of the word of
God and their testimony.
00:23:19.44\00:23:22.66
And they're crying to God.
00:23:22.69\00:23:24.60
How long-- it's
the same expression
00:23:24.63\00:23:26.50
that we saw here in Zechariah.
00:23:26.53\00:23:28.76
"How long the Lord God Almighty
00:23:28.79\00:23:30.82
will You not
judge our persecutors?
00:23:30.85\00:23:33.10
Those who killed us.
00:23:33.13\00:23:34.50
Those who are
responsible for our death."
00:23:34.53\00:23:36.15
And God says to them,
"Just wait for a while.
00:23:36.18\00:23:39.98
I will come in
judgment against your enemies."
00:23:40.01\00:23:43.60
And now when you
go to the sixth seal,
00:23:43.63\00:23:47.45
what do you have there?
00:23:47.48\00:23:49.58
That the enemies of God's people
00:23:49.61\00:23:52.37
are coming all
around to hide themselves
00:23:52.40\00:23:57.46
before the wrath of God
because now God is coming
00:23:57.49\00:24:00.81
against them in the
answer to His people.
00:24:00.84\00:24:03.37
Did you see that?
00:24:03.40\00:24:04.80
You could see how
actually the covenant
00:24:04.83\00:24:07.22
concept of the Old Testament
00:24:07.25\00:24:09.43
stands into the
background of the seven seals.
00:24:09.46\00:24:12.61
So in summary, what is
that that we learn here?
00:24:12.64\00:24:16.94
Number one, that the seals,
00:24:18.53\00:24:24.16
they deal primarily with
God's people of the church.
00:24:24.19\00:24:29.81
Do you remember when we
mentioned at the beginning,
00:24:29.84\00:24:31.99
that seals they portrayed
the history of the church.
00:24:32.02\00:24:34.85
Now we see that. We
have some indication.
00:24:34.88\00:24:37.37
That's why it's important
to go to the Old Testament
00:24:37.40\00:24:39.48
and see to that altar.
00:24:39.51\00:24:41.31
Covenant curses are not against
the enemies of God's people.
00:24:41.34\00:24:45.28
Are specifically
directed to God's people,
00:24:45.31\00:24:47.75
are you still with me?
00:24:47.78\00:24:49.39
But in the final stage
of those covenant curses,
00:24:49.42\00:24:53.01
when God's people come to God,
00:24:53.04\00:24:54.90
asking God how long,
they return back to God.
00:24:54.93\00:24:57.93
Now what happens?
00:24:57.96\00:24:59.99
Now God's wrath turns against
the enemies of His people.
00:25:00.02\00:25:04.72
This is exactly what we
have here in the fifth seal.
00:25:04.75\00:25:07.91
Are you still with me?
00:25:07.94\00:25:10.01
Now in the light of that,
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.09
now we are turning
there to the fifth seal.
00:25:12.12\00:25:17.71
And we would
like to see actually
00:25:17.74\00:25:20.47
what we have there.
00:25:20.50\00:25:22.88
So please can you
turn back to your Bibles?
00:25:22.91\00:25:26.21
And we would like
to go to the fifth seal
00:25:26.24\00:25:29.55
and see what the message
actually we can find there.
00:25:29.58\00:25:35.58
So Revelation
6:9-11, the fifth seal
00:25:35.61\00:25:43.37
"When the lamb
broke the fifth seal,
00:25:43.40\00:25:46.15
I saw underneath the
altar the souls of those
00:25:46.18\00:25:49.41
who had been slain
because of the word of God,
00:25:49.44\00:25:52.34
and because of the testimony
which they had maintained,
00:25:52.37\00:25:55.79
and they cried out
with a loud voice, saying,
00:25:55.82\00:25:59.12
'How long, O
Lord, holy and true,
00:25:59.15\00:26:01.90
will you refrain
from judging and avenging
00:26:01.93\00:26:05.06
our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?'
00:26:05.09\00:26:08.58
And there was given to
each of them a white robe,
00:26:08.61\00:26:12.12
and they were told
that they should rest
00:26:12.15\00:26:14.02
for a little
while longer, until."
00:26:14.05\00:26:17.28
I have to pause
here for a moment.
00:26:19.01\00:26:21.31
I'll be reading my translation
00:26:21.34\00:26:22.71
that I have here,
which is not correct.
00:26:22.74\00:26:25.49
I'll explain, it says
00:26:25.52\00:26:26.89
"That the number of their fellow
servants and their brethren
00:26:26.92\00:26:30.62
who are also to be
killed even as they had been,
00:26:30.65\00:26:34.11
would be completed."
00:26:34.14\00:26:37.89
Actually, the fifth
seal really reflects
00:26:37.92\00:26:43.27
one very important text
00:26:43.30\00:26:46.00
from the Book of
Daniel 12:6 and 7.
00:26:46.03\00:26:54.00
Actually, it's really
from verse 5, I will start.
00:26:54.03\00:26:57.23
Said "Then I,
Daniel, looked and behold,
00:26:57.26\00:27:00.00
two others were standing,
one on this bank of the river
00:27:00.03\00:27:03.90
and the other on
that bank of the river.
00:27:03.93\00:27:06.56
And one said to the
man dressed in linen,
00:27:06.59\00:27:09.11
who was above the
waters of the river,
00:27:09.14\00:27:11.23
'How long will it be
until the end of these wonders?'
00:27:11.26\00:27:15.02
I heard the man
dressed in linen,
00:27:15.05\00:27:17.46
who was above the
waters of the river,
00:27:17.49\00:27:20.09
as he raised his right
hand and his left toward heaven,
00:27:20.12\00:27:23.99
and swore by him
who lives forever
00:27:24.02\00:27:29.56
that it would be for a
time, times, a half a time,
00:27:29.59\00:27:35.22
as soon they finish shattering
the power of the Holy people,
00:27:35.25\00:27:39.63
all these events
will be completed."
00:27:39.66\00:27:44.92
Actually, if
you see the keywords
00:27:44.95\00:27:48.58
that are found here
in this text in Daniel,
00:27:48.61\00:27:51.47
you can see
actually many parallels
00:27:51.50\00:27:54.26
between this text
and the fifth seal.
00:27:54.29\00:27:59.80
But there is
something very interesting is
00:27:59.83\00:28:02.13
that here in this vision,
Daniel, here's the question,
00:28:02.16\00:28:06.46
how long will the persecution
of God's people last?
00:28:06.49\00:28:09.77
And what was the answer
00:28:11.02\00:28:12.94
that Daniel
receives there in the vision?
00:28:12.97\00:28:16.13
That it will be for
one certain period of time
00:28:16.16\00:28:22.21
and that period is
referred to as a time,
00:28:22.24\00:28:28.85
okay, times, which is in Hebrew
two times in half of time.
00:28:28.88\00:28:33.72
I don't want now to
spend too much time on that
00:28:33.75\00:28:37.64
because very soon we
will come and we will see
00:28:37.67\00:28:41.64
that this is just one
of several designations.
00:28:41.67\00:28:44.33
In both Book of
Daniel and Revelation,
00:28:44.36\00:28:48.24
you have time, two
times, and half a time.
00:28:48.27\00:28:52.56
Then you have 1,260
days and you have 42 months.
00:28:52.59\00:28:58.51
They all refer to
one and the same period.
00:28:58.54\00:29:01.39
If you put it to days,
you will see 1,260 days.
00:29:01.42\00:29:05.37
Actually, refers to that
period of the Dark Middle Ages,
00:29:05.40\00:29:09.45
persecution of God's people
that started with the year 538
00:29:09.48\00:29:13.45
and concluded with
events of French Revolution.
00:29:13.48\00:29:17.45
The day that is
taken is year 1798.
00:29:17.48\00:29:23.52
So we have here
a strong background
00:29:23.55\00:29:25.70
actually that the fifth seal,
00:29:25.73\00:29:28.72
if you want to
apply it historically,
00:29:28.75\00:29:31.26
refers to the period
of the Dark Middle Ages
00:29:31.29\00:29:34.03
or the
persecution of God's people.
00:29:34.06\00:29:36.23
But at the same
time, the fifth seal
00:29:37.75\00:29:40.26
actually refers generally
00:29:40.29\00:29:41.96
to what God's
people are always doing
00:29:41.99\00:29:43.75
like the Old Testament times.
00:29:43.78\00:29:45.94
Let's try somehow to apply
it with reference to the church.
00:29:45.97\00:29:50.09
You see when the
church is unfaithful
00:29:50.12\00:29:51.94
to the preaching of the gospel,
when the church departs to God
00:29:51.97\00:29:56.14
trying to follow
the human tradition,
00:29:56.17\00:29:59.14
okay, human practice
00:29:59.17\00:30:01.40
and human way of
salvation then what happens?
00:30:01.43\00:30:04.87
God's people are
left to themselves.
00:30:04.90\00:30:08.77
The church is
located in the hostile world
00:30:08.80\00:30:11.82
and the hostile
world just is waiting
00:30:11.85\00:30:14.00
to turn against God's people.
00:30:14.03\00:30:16.49
And actually the fifth seal
provides the general realities.
00:30:16.52\00:30:20.15
But on much deeper level,
00:30:20.18\00:30:22.32
actually the fifth seal really
fits completely and nicely
00:30:22.35\00:30:27.65
into that prophetic period
00:30:27.68\00:30:29.47
that we know as
the Dark Middle Ages
00:30:29.50\00:30:32.04
or 1,260 prophetic days.
00:30:32.07\00:30:35.12
Are you still with me?
So now what do we have here?
00:30:35.15\00:30:38.35
What is that that
John sees? Let's go there.
00:30:38.38\00:30:42.16
John says that
underneath the altar,
00:30:42.19\00:30:45.56
what does he see?
00:30:45.59\00:30:46.96
He sees the souls of
those who were killed
00:30:46.99\00:30:51.94
because of the word of God
00:30:51.97\00:30:54.62
and the testimony
that they have maintained.
00:30:54.65\00:30:57.01
I'd like to remind you
00:30:57.04\00:31:00.21
that the word soul in the Bible
00:31:00.24\00:31:02.79
never refers to certain
entity that is in human body
00:31:02.82\00:31:06.23
and after that when person dies
00:31:06.26\00:31:07.75
that soul goes
somewhere there to heaven.
00:31:07.78\00:31:10.04
Actually, numerous
texts of the Bible,
00:31:12.04\00:31:14.61
biblical
references, they show clearly
00:31:14.64\00:31:19.23
that actually the
Hebrew word "nephesh"
00:31:19.26\00:31:24.16
always refers to the complete
person to the human being.
00:31:24.19\00:31:28.02
So we have here
somehow symbolic references
00:31:28.05\00:31:32.68
to God's people who were harmed,
00:31:32.71\00:31:36.15
oppressed, persecuted and killed
because of the word of God.
00:31:36.18\00:31:40.56
By the way, if
you wanted references
00:31:40.59\00:31:42.31
the meaning of the word soul,
00:31:42.34\00:31:43.78
you can go to the
Book of Genesis 2:7
00:31:43.81\00:31:47.21
"When God created Adam,
Adam became the living soul."
00:31:47.24\00:31:51.85
You can go to
the Book of Acts 2:41
00:31:51.88\00:31:55.79
or Chapter 27, verse 37.
00:31:55.82\00:31:58.01
You can see how the Bible
always by using the term soul
00:31:58.04\00:32:03.31
refers to the complete
person and the person is alive.
00:32:03.34\00:32:07.08
But you will notice here,
00:32:07.11\00:32:09.13
that these martyred saints
are seen underneath the altar.
00:32:09.16\00:32:15.46
The question is,
which altar is it.
00:32:15.49\00:32:17.88
There is only one
altar that is in you here.
00:32:17.91\00:32:21.38
It is the altar of
the burnt sacrifices
00:32:21.41\00:32:26.09
because the imagery of that
is from the Old Testament, okay.
00:32:26.12\00:32:31.72
When the sacrifice was
put there on the altar,
00:32:31.75\00:32:35.45
what happened to the blood?
00:32:35.48\00:32:37.80
The blood was poured
out underneath the altar.
00:32:37.83\00:32:44.85
So we have here a
symbolic references
00:32:44.88\00:32:47.70
that God's people who
are persecuted and killed.
00:32:47.73\00:32:52.05
They are like sacrifices
on behalf of the gospel.
00:32:52.08\00:32:54.79
Are you still with me?
00:32:54.82\00:32:56.28
So like in the case
of Abel, who was killed,
00:32:56.31\00:32:59.29
his blood was crying
to God for vindication.
00:32:59.32\00:33:04.11
So we have the blood
of those martyred saints
00:33:04.14\00:33:07.60
is crying to God
for the vindication
00:33:07.63\00:33:10.54
and asking the question.
00:33:10.57\00:33:11.94
"How long, O holy and true God,
00:33:11.97\00:33:15.69
will you not judge
and avenge our blood
00:33:15.72\00:33:18.94
upon those who
dwell on the earth?"
00:33:18.97\00:33:20.78
Let me just
remind you something.
00:33:20.81\00:33:22.83
I'm going very
quickly to mention
00:33:22.86\00:33:24.81
and I hope you will
be able to write it down.
00:33:24.84\00:33:27.14
If you go to Chapter 8 verse 13,
00:33:27.17\00:33:29.89
Chapter 11 verse
10, Chapter 13 verse 8,
00:33:29.92\00:33:34.34
Chapter 17 verse 2,
00:33:34.37\00:33:35.95
oh, please when you go to my
commentary through that section,
00:33:35.98\00:33:38.88
I have many more verses, you
will see that the expression,
00:33:38.91\00:33:42.20
"Those who dwell on the earth"
00:33:42.23\00:33:44.53
it's always the reference
00:33:44.56\00:33:46.34
to the wicked in
the Book of Revelation.
00:33:46.37\00:33:49.55
One more time, "Those
who dwell on the earth"
00:33:49.58\00:33:53.52
is a constant reference
to those who are against God
00:33:53.55\00:33:59.16
and they are the
enemies of God's people.
00:33:59.19\00:34:01.87
So when God's people are
asking God for the vindication
00:34:01.90\00:34:05.59
with regard to those
who dwell on the earth,
00:34:05.62\00:34:07.76
what are they are
praying to God for?
00:34:07.79\00:34:12.88
For their vindication and
judgment over their enemies.
00:34:12.91\00:34:16.32
You see, they
place their trust in God.
00:34:16.35\00:34:19.00
They believed
God. They serve God.
00:34:19.03\00:34:21.69
But their enemies
are now harming them.
00:34:21.72\00:34:24.06
By the way, I just want to--
00:34:24.09\00:34:27.36
we see how great encouraging
message we have here,
00:34:27.39\00:34:31.32
if you go to the Bible.
00:34:31.35\00:34:33.11
Oh, I can give you many texts.
00:34:33.14\00:34:35.10
You'll find it there in
Psalm, in the Book of Habakkuk.
00:34:35.13\00:34:39.59
We saw in the text of Daniel.
00:34:39.62\00:34:41.65
"How long, O God,"
00:34:41.68\00:34:44.05
it's a perennial cry of
God's people throughout history.
00:34:44.08\00:34:49.58
God's people always experienced
injustice in this world.
00:34:49.61\00:34:54.55
So that the plea
of these Martyrs,
00:34:54.58\00:34:57.57
in the scene of the fifth seal
00:34:57.60\00:34:59.16
presents the plea and
the prayer of God's people
00:34:59.19\00:35:02.25
since Able until
the time very end,
00:35:02.28\00:35:05.57
"How long, God, will
you wait not to protect us?
00:35:05.60\00:35:11.31
How long the time will pass?"
00:35:11.34\00:35:13.13
You saw in the Book of Daniel,
certain period had to pass,
00:35:13.16\00:35:16.25
the time of the
Dark Middle Ages.
00:35:16.28\00:35:18.69
But God said,
"The time is coming
00:35:18.72\00:35:21.53
and I will judge your enemies."
00:35:21.56\00:35:25.30
You notice here in the text,
00:35:25.33\00:35:27.32
that God said to these martyrs,
00:35:27.35\00:35:29.28
"You have to wait
a little bit longer."
00:35:29.31\00:35:33.13
Friends, it's very hard to wait.
00:35:35.18\00:35:37.00
We would like to know, when?
00:35:40.53\00:35:43.31
And that when is looks
for the immediate answer.
00:35:43.34\00:35:47.41
But God says you have to wait.
00:35:47.44\00:35:49.15
You will notice
here, that these martyrs,
00:35:49.18\00:35:52.13
it says, they were
given the white robes.
00:35:52.16\00:35:56.84
What is the message
here that God gives to them?
00:35:56.87\00:35:59.32
He's telling them you are saved.
00:35:59.35\00:36:01.52
Amen. You belong to me.
00:36:01.55\00:36:03.70
You are under my protection.
00:36:05.13\00:36:08.11
But you have to rest.
00:36:08.14\00:36:09.51
Verse 11, you have to rest
a little while longer. Why?
00:36:09.54\00:36:14.67
Because He said--I'm now
reading as it is in my Bible,
00:36:14.70\00:36:19.19
until the number of your fellow
servants and your brothers,
00:36:19.22\00:36:25.38
they have to go
through the same experience
00:36:25.41\00:36:27.83
as you are going through,
00:36:27.86\00:36:30.48
that their
number can be completed
00:36:30.51\00:36:32.01
according to my version.
00:36:32.04\00:36:33.74
This is I tell you, why you need
00:36:33.77\00:36:36.63
a study of the
Book of Revelation
00:36:36.66\00:36:38.45
more than just
one Bible translation.
00:36:38.48\00:36:41.51
It's the best, if
you can go to Greek.
00:36:41.54\00:36:43.33
And today, we have
many different tools.
00:36:43.36\00:36:45.16
Why this so much important?
00:36:45.19\00:36:47.05
Let me tell you, here you have
00:36:47.08\00:36:49.32
one terrible thing
that influences beliefs
00:36:49.35\00:36:52.38
and teachings many
Christians and what is that?
00:36:52.41\00:36:55.75
That actually God is waiting
00:36:55.78\00:36:57.59
for a certain number
of people to be saved.
00:36:57.62\00:37:00.74
But what is the problem?
00:37:02.62\00:37:04.16
That the word the number does
not occur in the original text.
00:37:04.19\00:37:09.77
If you have any
modern version of the Bible
00:37:11.38\00:37:13.97
like my New American, they put
the word 'number' in italics,
00:37:14.00\00:37:17.77
trying to tell you that
this is not in original.
00:37:17.80\00:37:20.54
We as the translators,
we inserted this word here.
00:37:20.57\00:37:25.20
Friends, God does not have in
mind certain number of people.
00:37:25.23\00:37:29.22
Come on, we will
come to the next chapter.
00:37:31.69\00:37:34.17
and God waits
00:37:34.20\00:37:37.11
until that number is
filled then He will come.
00:37:37.14\00:37:39.62
Why, what other doctrine?
00:37:40.85\00:37:43.08
Actually, the
text is telling us,
00:37:43.11\00:37:44.83
God says to
those martyred saints,
00:37:44.86\00:37:47.52
I'm giving you the white robes.
00:37:47.55\00:37:49.34
I just want to tell you,
your salvation is secured.
00:37:49.37\00:37:52.86
Your destiny is in my hands.
00:37:55.30\00:37:59.36
But you have to wait for a while
00:37:59.39\00:38:02.59
because there are
more people to be saved.
00:38:02.62\00:38:05.25
And they will go
through your experience
00:38:05.28\00:38:07.69
and I'm waiting for
them to be completed.
00:38:07.72\00:38:12.19
Not the number to be completed.
00:38:12.22\00:38:14.43
Evidently, here is the
reference to the character,
00:38:14.46\00:38:17.33
to the salvation that has
to be completed with them.
00:38:17.36\00:38:22.08
So you see the fifth seal
within the covenant curses,
00:38:22.11\00:38:24.57
it's a great promise.
00:38:24.60\00:38:26.10
Whenever God's
people depart from God,
00:38:26.13\00:38:28.50
when they are unfaithful to God,
00:38:28.53\00:38:29.93
there are consequences for that.
00:38:29.96\00:38:31.47
This is what the first
four seals are teaching us.
00:38:31.50\00:38:34.66
But whenever God's
people come back to God...
00:38:34.69\00:38:37.14
I taught my children,
00:38:41.31\00:38:43.76
even if you go so far
away from God that way,
00:38:43.79\00:38:48.29
the parting from God
it's always down, down, down
00:38:48.32\00:38:53.34
like in the Book of
Jonah, you remember?
00:38:53.37\00:38:55.26
Jonah started fleeing from God.
00:38:55.29\00:38:58.09
Then he went down to Tarshish.
00:38:58.12\00:39:01.72
Then he went down to the ship.
00:39:01.75\00:39:04.10
Then went down to
the bottom of the ship.
00:39:04.13\00:39:07.47
But then he even went deeper
where he didn't want to go.
00:39:07.50\00:39:10.19
And when he's praying to God,
00:39:10.22\00:39:11.65
he says, I went so
deep, I'm in Sheol.
00:39:11.68\00:39:14.65
But even when he prayed
to God there, God heard him.
00:39:14.68\00:39:17.82
This is what the
fifth seal is telling us.
00:39:17.85\00:39:20.79
There is always
hope for God's people
00:39:20.82\00:39:22.98
and we are reminded
in that very nice book
00:39:23.01\00:39:26.70
that the church of God even
though it is feeble and weak
00:39:26.73\00:39:31.29
and full
imperfection, it's still God's.
00:39:31.32\00:39:34.86
That subject of God's
greatest love and care.
00:39:39.11\00:39:43.45
This is what the
fifth seal is telling us.
00:39:43.48\00:39:45.74
Yes, the fifth seal has
a historical application
00:39:45.77\00:39:48.45
during the medieval period,
00:39:48.48\00:39:49.85
but also gives the message to
the God's people of all times.
00:39:49.88\00:39:53.83
It's always associated with the
preaching of the gospel, okay.
00:39:53.86\00:40:00.04
Now we are coming
to the sixth seal,
00:40:00.07\00:40:01.85
the fifth seal
really historically
00:40:01.88\00:40:03.54
applies to the middle ages.
00:40:03.57\00:40:05.47
Now we are left to which--
we are led to which period,
00:40:05.50\00:40:09.00
the period
after the Middle Ages,
00:40:09.03\00:40:11.22
after the prophetic
period of 1,260 days.
00:40:11.25\00:40:14.58
Are you with me?
00:40:14.61\00:40:15.98
And now we are
coming to the text,
00:40:16.01\00:40:17.71
it's the sixth seal,
we are reading verse 12.
00:40:17.74\00:40:21.30
"I looked when He
broke the sixth seal
00:40:21.33\00:40:24.10
there was a great earthquake,
00:40:24.13\00:40:26.38
and the sun became black
as a sackcloth made of hair,
00:40:26.41\00:40:30.30
and the whole
moon became like blood,
00:40:30.33\00:40:33.36
and the stars of the
sky fell on the earth,
00:40:33.39\00:40:36.34
as a fig tree
casts its unripe figs
00:40:36.37\00:40:39.53
when shaken by a great wind.
00:40:39.56\00:40:42.06
The sky was split
apart like a scroll."
00:40:42.09\00:40:45.83
You see, John does not mean,
00:40:45.86\00:40:48.71
but he uses the
word biblio in the book.
00:40:48.74\00:40:50.94
He means the scroll.
00:40:50.97\00:40:52.34
This is why we have it here.
00:40:52.37\00:40:54.50
"It is rolled up,
and every mountain
00:40:54.53\00:40:57.18
and island were
moved out of their places."
00:40:57.21\00:41:02.00
Please let me
stop here for a while.
00:41:02.03\00:41:05.73
We have now the sixth seal.
00:41:05.76\00:41:08.48
What do we have
here in the sixth seal?
00:41:08.51\00:41:11.28
Keep in mind, that the sixth
seal follows the fifth seal.
00:41:11.31\00:41:13.70
What did we have
in the fifth seal?
00:41:13.73\00:41:15.40
God's people are praying
to God for the protection
00:41:15.43\00:41:17.93
and for the
vindication from their enemies.
00:41:17.96\00:41:20.45
Now what do we
have in the sixth seal?
00:41:21.49\00:41:23.70
Now finally, God
is coming in judgment.
00:41:23.73\00:41:28.04
So what do we have here?
00:41:28.07\00:41:29.81
We read verse 15 "These are
those who dwell on the earth."
00:41:29.84\00:41:34.50
It says "Then the kings of
the earth and the great men
00:41:34.53\00:41:38.59
and the commanders and the rich
00:41:38.62\00:41:40.76
and the strong and every slave
00:41:40.79\00:41:43.31
and free man hid
themselves in the caves
00:41:43.34\00:41:47.00
and among the
rocks of the mountains,
00:41:47.03\00:41:49.09
and they said to the
mountains and to the rocks,
00:41:49.12\00:41:51.25
"Fall on us and hide us
from the presence of Him
00:41:51.28\00:41:56.20
who sits on the throne,
and from the wrath of the lamb,
00:41:56.23\00:41:59.87
for the great day of
their wrath has come,
00:41:59.90\00:42:03.55
and who is able to stand?"
00:42:03.58\00:42:07.06
What do we have
now in the sixth seal?
00:42:07.09\00:42:08.88
Now what God promised to
the martyrs in the fifth seal?
00:42:10.41\00:42:16.43
Now God is fulfilling.
00:42:16.46\00:42:18.25
Finally, God says, now I'm
coming to judge your enemies,
00:42:18.28\00:42:23.56
those who harm you,
those who persecute you
00:42:23.59\00:42:26.83
and those who are
responsible for your suffering.
00:42:26.86\00:42:31.83
Please, I would
like here that we go
00:42:31.86\00:42:34.58
and just that we see,
okay, several points here.
00:42:34.61\00:42:39.46
It's very important to notice.
00:42:39.49\00:42:41.01
If we take the
sixth seal historically
00:42:43.47\00:42:47.55
and here there is no any doubt
00:42:47.58\00:42:49.99
that the sixth seal brings us
00:42:50.02\00:42:53.20
to the time of the
second coming of Christ,
00:42:53.23\00:42:56.01
time prior to the
second coming of Christ
00:42:56.04\00:42:59.67
and the very event of
Jesus coming down to the earth.
00:42:59.70\00:43:03.59
But you will
notice that this period
00:43:03.62\00:43:05.12
comes after the fifth seal,
00:43:05.15\00:43:07.14
after the period of
the Dark Middle Ages.
00:43:07.17\00:43:09.24
Did you notice it?
00:43:09.27\00:43:10.64
Can you connect the two things?
00:43:10.67\00:43:12.49
Now John said, when the sixth
seal was opened by the Lamb,
00:43:12.52\00:43:18.50
there are some supernatural
signs that take place.
00:43:18.53\00:43:22.23
What are they?
00:43:22.26\00:43:23.63
Terrible earthquake,
darkening of the sun,
00:43:23.66\00:43:28.52
and the darkening of the moon,
00:43:28.55\00:43:31.64
and finally the
falling of the stars.
00:43:31.67\00:43:34.47
The Christians have been always
struggling with this problem
00:43:35.82\00:43:41.98
and I just want to tell you
the problem is not so simple.
00:43:42.01\00:43:45.35
But praise God, today we
have the answer for that.
00:43:45.38\00:43:48.07
I, myself, I have struggled.
00:43:48.10\00:43:49.81
For just few years ago,
a good colleague of mine
00:43:49.84\00:43:52.55
and we decided to
study the subject.
00:43:52.58\00:43:54.63
And actually credit goes to him.
00:43:54.66\00:43:56.71
He discovered something in the
text that solved the problem.
00:43:56.74\00:44:00.18
What is the problem?
00:44:00.21\00:44:01.58
You remember we
established a principle,
00:44:01.61\00:44:04.14
at very beginning of
the Book of Revelation,
00:44:04.17\00:44:07.05
telling us that what
John saw in the vision?
00:44:07.08\00:44:12.10
It was shown to him
by means of symbols.
00:44:12.13\00:44:14.23
You remember that?
00:44:14.26\00:44:15.96
So if you want to
follow this principle,
00:44:15.99\00:44:21.35
is the earthquake, the
sun, the moon and the stars,
00:44:21.38\00:44:27.87
are they literal or symbolic?
00:44:27.90\00:44:29.87
I hope I just want to tell you,
00:44:31.17\00:44:35.53
Book of Revelation
is not always easy.
00:44:35.56\00:44:38.49
That's why we have
to listen to each other,
00:44:38.52\00:44:40.02
not try simply
to defend our ideas.
00:44:40.05\00:44:42.66
If we follow the
principle that is found
00:44:42.69\00:44:45.58
in Revelation 1:1,
then it's symbolic.
00:44:45.61\00:44:48.62
Please I'm not saying it is.
00:44:48.65\00:44:51.99
It's really a literal
00:44:52.02\00:44:55.80
because Seventh-day
Adventist Christians
00:44:55.83\00:44:59.44
they believed that the
signs that are portrayed here,
00:44:59.47\00:45:05.30
this earthquake actually
was fulfilled in the year 1755
00:45:05.33\00:45:11.27
with that well-known
worldwide Lisbon earthquake.
00:45:11.30\00:45:15.00
And then that the
dark day of May 19, 1780
00:45:16.50\00:45:21.71
that was
experienced in Eastern New York
00:45:21.74\00:45:23.68
and Southern England actually
that sign was fulfilled then.
00:45:23.71\00:45:26.98
And that the spectacular meteor
shower of the Atlantic Ocean,
00:45:27.01\00:45:30.65
November 13, 1833 gave
the fulfillment of this, okay.
00:45:30.68\00:45:38.59
So darkening of
the sun and the moon,
00:45:38.62\00:45:41.18
the earthquake it
was fulfilled, okay.
00:45:41.21\00:45:44.22
But then, in later history,
00:45:44.25\00:45:47.44
some people
started to question it.
00:45:47.47\00:45:50.54
Let me tell you,
that this understanding
00:45:50.57\00:45:52.83
is not the understanding of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:45:52.86\00:45:54.91
It was understanding of full
Protestants in North America.
00:45:54.94\00:45:57.43
Actually that led
00:45:57.46\00:45:58.83
to the so-called
second great awakening.
00:45:58.86\00:46:02.95
When the Protestants in
America finally started thinking
00:46:02.98\00:46:05.51
about the second coming of
Christ, as we mentioned before,
00:46:05.54\00:46:08.57
it led to the establishing
of biblical societies,
00:46:08.60\00:46:11.18
many reforms and
missionary movements
00:46:11.21\00:46:14.08
to proclaim the word of
God throughout the world.
00:46:14.11\00:46:17.07
But people say, Christians
of that time were mistaken
00:46:17.10\00:46:21.07
because the sun,
the moon and the stars,
00:46:21.10\00:46:23.84
earthquakes are
actually here symbolic.
00:46:23.87\00:46:28.07
And we had to study and
we didn't have the answer
00:46:28.10\00:46:31.97
because if you
follow your own principle
00:46:32.00\00:46:34.62
that you find in Revelation 1,
00:46:34.65\00:46:36.61
then you have to
say, it's symbolic.
00:46:36.64\00:46:38.54
Unfortunately, when
you study the word of God,
00:46:38.57\00:46:41.44
you always get the answer,
so now you have to be with me.
00:46:41.47\00:46:44.26
Let's go back to the text.
00:46:44.29\00:46:47.73
Are you ready for this?
00:46:47.76\00:46:49.46
And you can see
sometimes how it's so simple,
00:46:49.49\00:46:51.51
but somebody has to
find the simplicity.
00:46:51.54\00:46:55.23
It says "I looked when
He broke the sixth seal,
00:46:55.26\00:46:59.04
there was a great earthquake."
00:46:59.07\00:47:01.02
Okay, let's
leave the earthquake.
00:47:01.05\00:47:03.44
It says "And the sun
00:47:03.47\00:47:06.36
became black as sackcloth."
00:47:06.39\00:47:13.36
Are you with me?
00:47:19.24\00:47:20.61
Viewers, you look
there in the text.
00:47:20.64\00:47:22.73
Please, let's go
next one and it says
00:47:22.76\00:47:26.98
"And the moon became like blood,
00:47:27.01\00:47:31.21
and the starsof the
sky fell to the earth,
00:47:31.24\00:47:34.18
as a fig tree casts its unripe
figs when shaken by the wind."
00:47:34.21\00:47:39.06
Here we have the key
00:47:41.24\00:47:43.95
for the understanding of
this phenomenon telling us
00:47:43.98\00:47:46.24
that they are not
symbolic, they are literal.
00:47:46.27\00:47:47.99
Where is the key?
00:47:48.02\00:47:49.39
What is the word
here, that is key here?
00:47:49.42\00:47:50.91
It's the word 'like.'
00:47:50.94\00:47:52.76
You see, you'll never take--
00:47:52.79\00:47:54.45
You see, what comes
after the word like.
00:47:54.48\00:47:57.47
It comes symbol.
00:47:57.50\00:47:58.87
When you say, "My
son sings like a bird."
00:48:01.32\00:48:06.87
The bird is a symbol.
00:48:06.90\00:48:08.27
It comes always
after the word like or as.
00:48:08.30\00:48:11.19
Are you still with me?
00:48:11.22\00:48:13.17
So when John says that
the sun became like sackcloth.
00:48:13.20\00:48:17.32
Sackcloth is the symbol,
00:48:17.35\00:48:19.04
but you don't use one symbol to
compare it with another symbol.
00:48:19.07\00:48:22.80
You take a literal thing.
00:48:22.83\00:48:25.32
And then you use
the word like or as,
00:48:25.35\00:48:28.43
to compare it with the symbol.
00:48:28.46\00:48:30.92
He said that the
moon became like or as
00:48:30.95\00:48:34.47
and then you use the symbol
00:48:34.50\00:48:37.31
and the stars
actually fell like or as,
00:48:37.34\00:48:41.70
and then you use the symbols.
00:48:41.73\00:48:43.10
Do you see that?
00:48:43.13\00:48:45.40
You see, we have to
study the word of God.
00:48:45.43\00:48:48.53
Just to take a superficial
reading and try to challenge
00:48:48.56\00:48:51.68
and say, boy, my Christian
denomination was wrong.
00:48:51.71\00:48:56.40
Based on the superficial reading
does not lead us to the truth,
00:48:56.43\00:49:01.70
does not lead us to the truth.
00:49:01.73\00:49:03.63
Only careful study of the
Bible can help us to understand.
00:49:03.66\00:49:07.61
So what is another evidence that
this is not actually symbolic?
00:49:07.64\00:49:13.20
It's because when you go up
00:49:13.23\00:49:14.95
to the gospel of Matthew...
00:49:14.98\00:49:17.34
Chapter 24:29-30,
00:49:20.42\00:49:26.18
Jesus talking about
the signs of His coming.
00:49:26.21\00:49:30.78
You remember that?
00:49:30.81\00:49:32.18
In verse 29, Jesus said
00:49:32.21\00:49:33.58
"Immediately after the
tribulation of those days,"
00:49:33.61\00:49:37.10
tribulation of what days?
00:49:37.13\00:49:39.03
Jesus refers in
His sermon on the mount
00:49:39.06\00:49:45.10
to the period of the great
tribulation of the Middle Ages,
00:49:45.13\00:49:48.52
the same what we
have in the fifth seal.
00:49:48.55\00:49:51.87
Jesus says "The
sun will be darkened,
00:49:51.90\00:49:54.85
the moon will
not give its light,
00:49:54.88\00:49:57.41
and the stars
will fall from the sky,
00:49:57.44\00:50:00.11
and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
00:50:00.14\00:50:03.34
And then the
sign of the Son of Man
00:50:03.37\00:50:06.92
will appear in the
sky, and all the tribes
00:50:06.95\00:50:09.94
of the earth will
mourn, and they will see
00:50:09.97\00:50:12.94
the Son of Man coming
on the clouds of the sky
00:50:12.97\00:50:16.83
with the power and great glory."
00:50:16.86\00:50:18.41
Please, do you see what I see?
00:50:18.44\00:50:21.83
When you put Matthew 24:29-31,
00:50:21.86\00:50:24.78
when you put the
sixth seal put together,
00:50:24.81\00:50:27.19
you can see that
actually the sixth seal
00:50:27.22\00:50:30.79
is a replica of what
Jesus stated in His sermon
00:50:30.82\00:50:34.05
and Matthew
recorded in chapter 24.
00:50:34.08\00:50:36.63
And Jesus never intended
00:50:36.66\00:50:40.02
to mention the sun, the
moon, and the stars as a symbol.
00:50:40.05\00:50:43.86
For Him, it's real.
00:50:43.89\00:50:46.52
But even without Matthew 24,
00:50:46.55\00:50:48.46
when you simply go to the text
00:50:48.49\00:50:50.56
of the Book of Revelation,
the usage of the word like,
00:50:50.59\00:50:55.64
or the word as, shows
clearly that is not symbolic.
00:50:55.67\00:51:01.32
This is something literal.
00:51:01.35\00:51:03.01
So what we have here
is, that God's people
00:51:03.04\00:51:05.98
after the period of
the Dark Middle Ages
00:51:06.01\00:51:10.68
finally will realize
that some special phenomena,
00:51:10.71\00:51:13.86
supernatural something
to happen in this world
00:51:13.89\00:51:17.29
that actually show to
the inhabitants of this world
00:51:17.32\00:51:20.77
that the history of this earth
00:51:20.80\00:51:23.21
has entered into the
last phase of that history.
00:51:23.24\00:51:27.38
Keep in mind, one more time.
00:51:27.41\00:51:29.34
We saw it. We don't know when.
00:51:29.37\00:51:32.20
We don't know how long.
00:51:32.23\00:51:34.00
Of course, for us when
we are waiting is too long,
00:51:34.03\00:51:36.93
but keep in mind,
00:51:36.96\00:51:38.33
that for God 1,000
years is like one day.
00:51:38.36\00:51:44.15
I remember my
kids, when I told them
00:51:44.18\00:51:46.97
that they have
to wait 10 minutes
00:51:47.00\00:51:48.41
for something nice
that they get from me,
00:51:48.44\00:51:50.18
for them it was
the whole eternity.
00:51:50.21\00:51:52.00
What was for
me? Just one second.
00:51:52.03\00:51:55.09
So we are not informed when,
00:51:55.12\00:51:57.34
but here with these
events, we have, okay,
00:51:57.37\00:52:01.43
the last stage of
the human history.
00:52:01.46\00:52:04.01
And then finally we have
the second coming of Christ.
00:52:04.04\00:52:07.29
The second coming of
Christ finally comes to judgment
00:52:07.32\00:52:10.37
on the enemies of God's
people that we have there.
00:52:10.40\00:52:14.41
And John see the
people of all social levels,
00:52:14.44\00:52:18.68
those who are responsible
for harming God's people.
00:52:18.71\00:52:22.03
They are going and
shouting to the mountains
00:52:22.06\00:52:24.34
and to the
rocks, "Hide us because
00:52:24.37\00:52:26.44
we cannot stand the
glory and the wrath of one
00:52:26.47\00:52:30.62
who is coming on the clouds."
00:52:30.65\00:52:32.44
And now there is a question,
00:52:32.47\00:52:34.02
who is able to stand?
00:52:34.05\00:52:36.12
By the way, let me just refer
00:52:36.15\00:52:38.37
to several passages
here that one more time.
00:52:38.40\00:52:40.66
I'm doing this that you see,
00:52:40.69\00:52:42.78
how much the Book of Revelation
00:52:42.81\00:52:44.31
relies on the Old Testament.
00:52:44.34\00:52:45.92
If you go to the Book
of Isaiah 2:19 we read,
00:52:45.95\00:52:50.87
"Men will go into
caves in the rocks,
00:52:50.90\00:52:53.49
and into the holes in the ground
00:52:53.52\00:52:55.46
before the terror of the Lord
00:52:55.49\00:52:57.33
and the splendor of His majesty,
00:52:57.36\00:52:59.18
when He arises to
make the earth tremble."
00:52:59.21\00:53:02.04
Do you see that?
00:53:02.07\00:53:03.51
In the Book of Hosea,
00:53:03.54\00:53:05.27
the Book of Hosea
10:8 we read there,
00:53:05.30\00:53:09.18
"Then they will
say to the mountains,
00:53:09.21\00:53:11.22
'Cover us' and to
the hills, 'Fall on us.'"
00:53:11.25\00:53:14.33
And then, we have
the sayings of Jesus
00:53:16.01\00:53:19.04
in Luke Chapter 23 verse 30
00:53:19.07\00:53:22.97
talking about
His coming Jesus said
00:53:23.00\00:53:24.92
"Then they will begin
to say to the mountains,
00:53:24.95\00:53:27.89
'Fall on us,' and to
the hills, 'Cover us.'"
00:53:27.92\00:53:30.98
Do you see that how much
of the Book of Revelation
00:53:31.01\00:53:34.46
incorporates both statements
00:53:34.49\00:53:37.27
from the Old
Testament and the New Testament?
00:53:37.30\00:53:39.74
No wonder, no
wonder that we are reminded
00:53:39.77\00:53:44.74
with that
statement that actually
00:53:44.77\00:53:46.56
in the Book of Revelation
00:53:46.59\00:53:48.22
all the books of
the Bible they meet.
00:53:48.25\00:53:51.62
But there is
something very interesting is.
00:53:54.88\00:53:57.12
What is the question...
00:53:58.53\00:54:01.19
that these
enemies of God's people,
00:54:02.95\00:54:05.32
of all social
levels they are asking?
00:54:05.35\00:54:08.16
Great He is His wrath.
00:54:09.72\00:54:12.35
In our next
presentation, we will see
00:54:13.48\00:54:15.65
what that wrath is all about.
00:54:15.68\00:54:18.72
But then, they
asked the question,
00:54:18.75\00:54:20.67
who is able to stand?
00:54:20.70\00:54:23.94
Because somehow
there is a confusion,
00:54:23.97\00:54:26.95
Jesus is coming and
you know what happens
00:54:26.98\00:54:29.65
there is an earthquake.
00:54:29.68\00:54:31.05
There is no distinction
between good and bad.
00:54:32.52\00:54:35.07
Remember, tsunami
everybody suffered.
00:54:35.10\00:54:38.87
So now Jesus is coming,
00:54:38.90\00:54:42.08
His judgments are
coming to the earth.
00:54:42.11\00:54:43.77
His wrath is poured out.
00:54:43.80\00:54:46.37
It appears that
all the inhabitants
00:54:46.40\00:54:48.30
of the world are
subject to the judgment.
00:54:48.33\00:54:50.19
That's why the
wicked are asking,
00:54:50.22\00:54:52.67
who is able to stand?
00:54:52.70\00:54:55.82
And you will notice something.
00:54:55.85\00:54:58.76
You expect now the
seventh seal to be opened,
00:54:58.79\00:55:02.19
but it's not so.
00:55:02.22\00:55:05.03
Before we have the seventh seal,
00:55:05.06\00:55:08.03
we have a so-called interlude.
00:55:08.06\00:55:10.49
We have chapter 7
that really interrupts
00:55:10.52\00:55:14.82
the flow of the
opening seven seals.
00:55:14.85\00:55:17.82
It's kind of interlude.
We can say a parenthesis.
00:55:17.85\00:55:20.66
Today, we will say a footnote
00:55:20.69\00:55:22.66
or exegesis
whatever expression you use.
00:55:22.69\00:55:25.84
What is the purpose of
Revelation 7 we will see
00:55:25.87\00:55:28.06
in our next presentation,
is to provide the answer
00:55:28.09\00:55:32.16
to this question who is
able to stand on that day
00:55:32.19\00:55:37.10
and what is the answer?
00:55:37.13\00:55:39.46
Those who will be able to stand
00:55:39.49\00:55:43.24
are the sealed people of God,
00:55:43.27\00:55:45.53
those who belong to God.
00:55:45.56\00:55:46.95
Oh, boy, there is so
much to be said about that.
00:55:46.98\00:55:48.97
I want to keep you
for my next presentation.
00:55:49.00\00:55:51.29
But keep in mind it is
after Revelation Chapter 7.
00:55:51.32\00:55:54.67
In Chapter 8:1
we have the opening
00:55:55.76\00:55:59.54
of the seventh
seal and it says--
00:55:59.57\00:56:03.45
chapter 8:1
00:56:03.48\00:56:05.59
"When he opened
the seventh seal,
00:56:05.62\00:56:08.19
there was a silence in
heaven for about a half hour."
00:56:08.22\00:56:13.06
The Christians are
struggling with this question.
00:56:13.09\00:56:15.10
What is that silence all about?
00:56:15.13\00:56:17.18
Unfortunately, John
in the Book of Revelation
00:56:17.21\00:56:19.93
never explains
about that silence.
00:56:19.96\00:56:22.64
So we have to go to the
time of the Book of Revelation
00:56:22.67\00:56:25.11
and to understand what it meant.
00:56:25.14\00:56:27.53
If you go to the Old Testament,
00:56:27.56\00:56:29.72
for instance,
Zephaniah 1:7, Zechariah 2:13,
00:56:29.75\00:56:35.64
"Silence is regularly associated
00:56:35.67\00:56:38.03
with the coming
of God in judgment."
00:56:38.06\00:56:39.82
When God is coming to
judge the enemies of His people,
00:56:39.85\00:56:43.40
there is always
silence in heaven.
00:56:43.43\00:56:45.73
Among the Jewish
people, in the time when
00:56:45.76\00:56:47.93
the Book of
Revelation was written,
00:56:47.96\00:56:50.00
it was believed, "The
silence occurs in heaven,
00:56:50.03\00:56:53.19
so that the prayers of
the saints can be heard,
00:56:53.22\00:56:56.01
in answer to
judgment over the wicked."
00:56:56.04\00:56:58.65
So John is using this
concept to tell God's people
00:56:58.68\00:57:03.45
that after the
second coming of Christ.
00:57:03.48\00:57:06.19
There will be
that great silence,
00:57:06.22\00:57:08.56
when the whole
heaven will look in awe
00:57:08.59\00:57:13.49
about that final
judgment that God will come,
00:57:13.52\00:57:17.86
that God will bring
in answer to His people
00:57:17.89\00:57:20.45
to vindicate
them and to save them
00:57:20.48\00:57:22.92
because the
seventh seal finally brings
00:57:22.95\00:57:25.87
God's people into
the kingdom of Heaven.
00:57:25.90\00:57:28.69