Welcome again to our program 00:00:21.17\00:00:23.91 that we have titled as "Revelation of the Coming King." 00:00:23.94\00:00:30.12 I'm so excited to be with you here. 00:00:30.15\00:00:31.97 And I'm Ranko Stefanovic, Professor of the New Testament 00:00:32.00\00:00:37.37 at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 00:00:37.40\00:00:40.19 Andrews University. 00:00:40.22\00:00:42.52 The classes that I teach there in the seminary 00:00:42.55\00:00:46.45 are usually on the New Testament. 00:00:46.48\00:00:48.39 And I never had opportunity to introduce myself 00:00:48.42\00:00:52.63 that, you know, who I am. 00:00:52.66\00:00:54.04 Actually as you see my heavy accent indicates 00:00:54.07\00:00:56.67 that even though I'm US citizen today 00:00:56.70\00:01:00.19 that I was not born in North America, okay. 00:01:00.22\00:01:03.08 My heavy accent reveals that I'm from overseas. 00:01:03.11\00:01:06.22 I'm from what used to be Yugoslavia country 00:01:06.25\00:01:09.48 that had about 27, 28 million populations. 00:01:09.51\00:01:13.21 Now we have seven different countries there. 00:01:13.24\00:01:16.41 And for me, it's very hard to understand, 00:01:16.44\00:01:18.60 very hard to explain, but I live here, 00:01:18.63\00:01:22.04 I worked for 18 years 00:01:22.07\00:01:24.90 as a pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 00:01:24.93\00:01:27.38 And actually those credentials 00:01:27.41\00:01:29.26 are the most precious in my life. 00:01:29.29\00:01:31.53 I believe this reflects the call that God gave me 00:01:31.56\00:01:34.83 to serve my people 00:01:34.86\00:01:36.56 and to proclaim the everlasting gospel 00:01:36.59\00:01:38.76 just at the time as we believe 00:01:38.79\00:01:40.64 there's time prior to the second coming of Christ. 00:01:40.67\00:01:43.61 But the Lord is leading me there to Andrews University. 00:01:43.64\00:01:47.43 Prior to that, I worked at Canadian University College, 00:01:47.46\00:01:51.05 very nice small college there in Canada. 00:01:51.08\00:01:54.12 And I chaired the college there. 00:01:54.15\00:01:55.81 I chaired the Department of Religion 00:01:55.84\00:01:57.90 at Andrews University. 00:01:57.93\00:01:59.45 And I just completed my three years of teaching there 00:01:59.48\00:02:02.56 at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 00:02:02.59\00:02:04.97 Andrews University. 00:02:05.00\00:02:06.37 And I'm so excited to be here at 3ABN. 00:02:06.40\00:02:09.30 I want to express my deep gratitude 00:02:09.33\00:02:12.18 to the administration of 3ABN for inviting me 00:02:12.21\00:02:15.53 and making this series possible here. 00:02:15.56\00:02:19.33 And we believe that 00:02:19.36\00:02:20.73 we are trying to learn something. 00:02:20.76\00:02:22.13 We're struggling with those biblical texts 00:02:22.16\00:02:24.64 and those messages that God wants to direct to our hearts, 00:02:24.67\00:02:28.75 to draw us closer to Himself, 00:02:28.78\00:02:31.39 so that we can prepare ourselves 00:02:31.42\00:02:33.15 for the soon coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. 00:02:33.18\00:02:36.40 Let me remind you one more time that what we are doing here, 00:02:36.43\00:02:40.28 we just really want to get a glimpse 00:02:40.31\00:02:42.51 and the insights into the difficult text 00:02:42.54\00:02:45.94 of the Book--of the Book of Revelation. 00:02:45.97\00:02:48.17 It is not possible to cover everything. 00:02:48.20\00:02:50.77 But once this program is over, 00:02:50.80\00:02:53.05 I would like to encourage all of you 00:02:53.08\00:02:55.50 that you go and to continue to study 00:02:55.53\00:02:57.75 the Book of Revelation for yourselves. 00:02:57.78\00:03:00.12 The best way to do it 00:03:00.15\00:03:01.70 is to find several other Christians 00:03:01.73\00:03:04.68 that you can sit together and really dig the word of God 00:03:04.71\00:03:08.88 and try to understand God's will for us--for us today. 00:03:08.91\00:03:12.85 Of course, to do it we need good tools. 00:03:12.88\00:03:16.73 And I'd like to recommend to you the best possible tool 00:03:16.76\00:03:21.34 that we can have a source book, okay. 00:03:21.37\00:03:24.97 For, for--that provides all those insight 00:03:25.00\00:03:29.21 and interpretations-- providing to us 00:03:29.24\00:03:32.73 the interpretive tools for understanding of those 00:03:32.76\00:03:36.11 or that symbolic language of the Book of Revelation. 00:03:36.14\00:03:39.14 So please stick to our Bible. 00:03:39.17\00:03:40.62 This is the infallible tool. 00:03:40.65\00:03:42.38 This is the tool number one, okay. 00:03:42.41\00:03:45.14 But evidently, we need-- we need some other tools. 00:03:45.17\00:03:50.69 When you deal with the symbolism of the Book of Revelation, 00:03:50.72\00:03:54.58 you remember the first step is to go to the Old Testament 00:03:56.84\00:04:00.27 and then the New Testament. 00:04:00.30\00:04:02.27 And to find the background, okay, of many motives and seals 00:04:02.30\00:04:08.78 of those images in the Book of Revelation. 00:04:08.81\00:04:11.38 And I hope that most of you 00:04:11.41\00:04:15.45 have already provided for yourself 00:04:15.48\00:04:18.42 this book titled "A Revelation of Jesus Christ," 00:04:18.45\00:04:21.62 which is a verse-by-verse commentary 00:04:21.65\00:04:25.75 on the Book of Revelation. 00:04:25.78\00:04:27.15 The purpose of this commentary, 00:04:27.18\00:04:28.55 it goes verse-by-verse, okay, 00:04:28.58\00:04:30.01 is to give you all those Old Testament 00:04:30.04\00:04:33.51 and the New Treatment background texts. 00:04:33.54\00:04:37.24 So you don't need to invest too much time 00:04:37.27\00:04:39.71 as other people did. 00:04:39.74\00:04:41.29 So that it can be a great, great help, okay, 00:04:41.32\00:04:45.03 to each one of you as you're studying the Book of Revelation. 00:04:45.06\00:04:49.49 But keep in mind, this is not the infallible guide, 00:04:49.52\00:04:53.25 this is the best what we have today providing to insight. 00:04:53.28\00:04:57.22 But you need also some other books 00:04:57.25\00:04:59.64 written by excellent scholars. 00:04:59.67\00:05:02.19 And it is my strong desirer that the Holy Sprit leads you 00:05:02.22\00:05:06.68 as you study the word of God. 00:05:06.71\00:05:08.48 And that's what we would like to do now. 00:05:08.51\00:05:09.88 We would like to ask God's presence 00:05:09.91\00:05:12.42 and the help of the Holy Sprit as we're trying to understand 00:05:12.45\00:05:16.26 this very, very important book to God's people 00:05:16.29\00:05:18.56 who live at the time prior to the second coming of Christ. 00:05:18.59\00:05:22.72 Our Heavenly Father, 00:05:22.75\00:05:24.79 thank you for giving us another opportunity 00:05:24.82\00:05:28.29 to come before You with all humility, 00:05:28.32\00:05:31.88 with the humble hearts and grateful hearts 00:05:31.91\00:05:37.20 for the Book of Revelation given to us 00:05:37.23\00:05:40.13 and also for all the help that You have promised to us 00:05:40.16\00:05:42.64 from the Holy Sprit, as we are studying this book. 00:05:42.67\00:05:46.85 So, Father, we are asking for Your presence, 00:05:46.88\00:05:48.52 we are asking for the help of the Holy Sprit, 00:05:48.55\00:05:50.87 and please be with us and we pray all of this 00:05:50.90\00:05:54.18 in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ, amen. 00:05:54.21\00:05:59.32 As you know every time in order to help you 00:05:59.35\00:06:04.36 that you would follow the study of this program 00:06:04.39\00:06:10.13 of the certain sections of the Book of Revelation 00:06:10.16\00:06:13.20 that today's presentation 00:06:13.23\00:06:16.19 you can get much more material, okay. 00:06:16.22\00:06:19.09 This "Revelation of Jesus Christ," 00:06:19.12\00:06:21.41 from page 445, okay. 00:06:21.44\00:06:24.36 From page 445, 00:06:24.39\00:06:26.71 going all up to-- up to page 476. 00:06:26.74\00:06:32.85 So 445 to page 476. 00:06:32.88\00:06:37.12 You can see we have many pages. 00:06:37.15\00:06:38.74 We're trying to put in one hour, okay. 00:06:38.77\00:06:41.53 So we'll just get here some insights 00:06:41.56\00:06:45.67 and general information. 00:06:45.70\00:06:47.36 And please you are encouraged that you go 00:06:47.39\00:06:49.91 and that you continue to study-- to study for yourselves. 00:06:49.94\00:06:53.69 So please, let us take this infallible tool, okay. 00:06:53.72\00:06:57.36 Let us take our Bible. 00:06:57.39\00:06:58.76 Let's turn to the page, to the Book of Revelation 14. 00:06:58.79\00:07:05.13 Okay, in order to understand what is here in Chapter 14. 00:07:07.65\00:07:14.67 We have just a briefly to summarize 00:07:14.70\00:07:17.75 what we're talking last time. 00:07:17.78\00:07:20.35 We saw that the Satan is preparing himself 00:07:20.38\00:07:24.18 for that final battle, the battle of Armageddon. 00:07:24.21\00:07:26.91 And we will see very soon what this battle is all about. 00:07:26.94\00:07:30.54 Okay, he has two associates. 00:07:30.57\00:07:32.72 They form that unholy counterfeit trinity, okay. 00:07:32.75\00:07:37.16 So those two associates are the beast from the sea 00:07:37.19\00:07:41.72 and the beast from the earth. 00:07:41.75\00:07:45.79 While the sea beast was the only actor 00:07:45.82\00:07:49.23 associated to Satan during the medieval period, 00:07:49.26\00:07:51.82 the prophetic period of 1,260 days, 00:07:51.85\00:07:54.31 we saw in that final events. 00:07:54.34\00:07:56.28 Actually the role is switched. 00:07:56.31\00:07:58.39 It's the earth beast that will play 00:07:58.42\00:08:00.52 the key role together with the sea beast. 00:08:00.55\00:08:04.84 Together with Satan, they formed the trinity 00:08:04.87\00:08:07.62 which is actually in the Book of Revelation, 00:08:07.65\00:08:09.70 named Babylon. 00:08:09.73\00:08:11.10 So Babylon is a union of these three-entity. 00:08:11.13\00:08:14.64 And we will come very soon to those texts 00:08:14.67\00:08:18.72 that deal with Babylon 00:08:18.75\00:08:20.12 and we will see what the Book of Revelation 00:08:20.15\00:08:21.92 is telling us about that. 00:08:21.95\00:08:24.09 And we saw that end time scenario 00:08:24.12\00:08:29.26 as it is portrayed in Revelation 13 00:08:29.29\00:08:32.24 in those--in those final verses is, 00:08:32.27\00:08:34.63 that all inhabitants of this world 00:08:34.66\00:08:36.69 as God is sealing His people, okay, the rest will be forced 00:08:36.72\00:08:42.24 to accept the so called the Mark of the Beast. 00:08:42.27\00:08:45.18 Mark of the Beast, as we saw is the antithesis, 00:08:45.21\00:08:48.98 okay, of the Seal of God. 00:08:49.01\00:08:53.87 But we saw also what Revelation 13 indicates 00:08:53.90\00:08:57.00 that actually those who received the Mark of the Beast, 00:08:57.03\00:09:00.61 on the forehead, on the right hand 00:09:00.64\00:09:02.82 which is antithesis of God's instruction 00:09:02.85\00:09:05.44 from the Book of Deuteronomy. 00:09:05.47\00:09:06.84 Do you remember? 00:09:06.87\00:09:08.24 Chapter 6 is, when God instructed the people of Israel 00:09:08.27\00:09:11.08 to put the law of God on their forehead 00:09:11.11\00:09:13.38 and on their right hand, okay. 00:09:13.41\00:09:15.39 So this is antithesis. This is the imitation. 00:09:15.42\00:09:17.71 This is the counterfeit, okay, to obedience-- 00:09:17.74\00:09:20.90 obedience to God. 00:09:20.93\00:09:22.30 But see, this Mark of the Beast 00:09:22.33\00:09:24.40 consist of the name of the beast, 00:09:24.43\00:09:28.71 which is actually symbolically presented 00:09:28.74\00:09:30.86 with the number that human number 00:09:30.89\00:09:32.93 that points to their fallen humanity, 00:09:32.96\00:09:34.96 fallen humanity that tries to be equal to God. 00:09:34.99\00:09:38.33 Are you still with me? 00:09:38.36\00:09:40.63 So all those who received the Mark of the Beast, 00:09:40.66\00:09:43.09 they put up on themselves the title of the beast, 00:09:43.12\00:09:46.16 the name of the beast. 00:09:46.19\00:09:47.70 The name is actually symbol for a character, okay. 00:09:47.73\00:09:50.97 So they side--they side with that--with that system. 00:09:51.00\00:09:55.00 Please, let us keep in mind two things. 00:09:55.03\00:09:57.40 Number one is, 00:09:57.43\00:09:58.80 the Mark of the Beast is not the reality yet. 00:09:58.83\00:10:03.91 It's still the matter of the future. 00:10:03.94\00:10:05.31 We cannot label any Christian today in the world 00:10:05.34\00:10:09.16 that has the Mark of the Beast. 00:10:09.19\00:10:11.86 If you try to do it, we are doing contrary 00:10:11.89\00:10:14.68 to what Book of Revelation is teaching us. 00:10:14.71\00:10:17.74 So the Mark of the Beast is still the future reality. 00:10:17.77\00:10:22.58 Second thing is, the Mark of the Beast 00:10:22.61\00:10:25.68 is not any visible sign. 00:10:25.71\00:10:29.57 Friends, the Book of Revelation does not talk about a tattoo 00:10:29.60\00:10:33.26 or some chips that we put under our skin, 00:10:33.29\00:10:36.10 so you go there to the superstore to buy something 00:10:36.13\00:10:39.88 before you put cabbage under the skin 00:10:39.91\00:10:41.74 or you put your head there under skin. 00:10:41.77\00:10:43.94 Friends, if you just go to internet, 00:10:43.97\00:10:45.58 you can see million and million product of imagination 00:10:45.61\00:10:50.02 what people are doing with the Mark of the Beast. 00:10:50.05\00:10:53.10 And I believe that this is really 00:10:53.13\00:10:54.50 the destruction of Satan himself, 00:10:54.53\00:10:57.04 who is trying to hide that great rule from the Bible, 00:10:57.07\00:11:00.34 to receive the Mark of the Beast. 00:11:00.37\00:11:02.26 It means to identify ourselves with the Satan, 00:11:02.29\00:11:06.93 with his character, okay, 00:11:06.96\00:11:09.64 with his desire to become equal to God. 00:11:09.67\00:11:12.13 It means--it means to belong to the system 00:11:12.16\00:11:15.37 that stands in the opposition to God. 00:11:15.40\00:11:18.31 This is not a visible mark, okay. 00:11:18.34\00:11:21.84 Now, there is something that amazes me. 00:11:21.87\00:11:26.90 Let's read the Revelation 13. 00:11:26.93\00:11:28.46 It says, and all the world follows the beast. 00:11:28.49\00:11:32.54 What does it mean? 00:11:32.57\00:11:34.44 That most of the people in this world, 00:11:36.27\00:11:39.19 they received the Mark of the Beast. 00:11:39.22\00:11:41.31 Beside, evidently that end time deception can be so great. 00:11:41.34\00:11:46.91 No wonder that Apostle Paul as we read yesterday 00:11:46.94\00:11:49.50 in 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2 is telling us 00:11:49.53\00:11:53.05 that all those who do not love the truth 00:11:53.08\00:11:57.41 they will be deceived by that great deceptions. 00:11:57.44\00:12:01.64 But there is a question. 00:12:01.67\00:12:04.75 I'd like to remind you one more time. 00:12:04.78\00:12:07.56 John the Revelator did not divide his book into chapters. 00:12:07.59\00:12:13.72 Unfortunately, when we read Revelation 13, 00:12:13.75\00:12:15.91 we come to this end and we think we know everything, but no, no. 00:12:15.94\00:12:19.83 The vision goes on. 00:12:19.86\00:12:22.23 Don't be confused with Chapter 14:1, 00:12:22.26\00:12:26.14 that's not a new vision, it's still the same vision, why? 00:12:26.17\00:12:29.14 Because the Book of Revelation written by John 00:12:29.17\00:12:33.36 who was inspired by God, 00:12:33.39\00:12:35.28 tried to give us the answer to the question. 00:12:35.31\00:12:39.10 The question is, "If the whole world 00:12:39.13\00:12:41.02 will follow the beast, if that deception will be so great, 00:12:41.05\00:12:44.53 is there anybody who will remain faithful to God?" 00:12:44.56\00:12:49.46 By the way, we already got that answer 00:12:49.49\00:12:52.29 when we were in Chapter 7. We have. 00:12:52.32\00:12:55.69 The majority of the people in the world 00:12:55.72\00:12:58.07 will be side with the beast 00:12:58.10\00:12:59.63 and receive the Mark of the Beast, 00:12:59.66\00:13:02.13 the Mark of the Beast. 00:13:02.16\00:13:03.96 But according to Revelation 7, God is sealing His people 00:13:03.99\00:13:06.92 and we saw that God will have His people. 00:13:06.95\00:13:10.63 Yeah, yeah. 00:13:10.66\00:13:12.57 When we compare Revelations 7, Revelation 9, 00:13:12.60\00:13:15.50 you remember that those who are on that other side 00:13:15.53\00:13:20.00 that the great majority 00:13:20.03\00:13:21.40 that portrayed in terms of 200 million 00:13:21.43\00:13:24.16 while God's people are portrayed 00:13:24.19\00:13:28.40 which are symbolic number, okay. 00:13:28.43\00:13:31.17 Now John is going back to that group. 00:13:31.20\00:13:33.10 He's telling us, yes. 00:13:33.13\00:13:35.10 While the most of the people in the world 00:13:35.13\00:13:37.05 will side with the beast 00:13:37.08\00:13:38.45 and receive the Mark of the Beast, 00:13:38.48\00:13:39.85 God will have His people. 00:13:39.88\00:13:43.32 And, friends, praise God, 00:13:43.35\00:13:45.05 this is the purpose of Revelation. 00:13:45.08\00:13:47.44 The purpose of the Book of Revelation 00:13:47.47\00:13:48.99 is not to tell us how powerful Satan is. 00:13:49.02\00:13:51.69 It's not to tell us how great deception will be? 00:13:51.72\00:13:55.20 All of these are true. 00:13:55.23\00:13:57.38 The Book of Revelation does not diminish the end time deception 00:13:57.41\00:14:02.56 and the power and the mighty work of Satan. 00:14:02.59\00:14:06.61 No, the Book of Revelation, 00:14:06.64\00:14:08.01 but this is not the purpose of the book. 00:14:08.04\00:14:10.33 The purpose of the book is to tell us, 00:14:10.36\00:14:12.48 this is what will happen, but praise God, 00:14:12.51\00:14:15.24 God is more powerful. Amen. 00:14:15.27\00:14:18.67 And God, yeah, there are people who will worship, 00:14:18.70\00:14:22.01 the people who'll be so loyal and faithful to Satan, 00:14:22.04\00:14:25.06 but praise God, He will have His people 00:14:25.09\00:14:28.23 who will be loyal and faithful to Him. 00:14:28.26\00:14:31.37 And by the way, it is with those thoughts 00:14:31.40\00:14:33.45 we are now moving to Chapter 14. 00:14:33.48\00:14:35.22 This is very important that we understand. 00:14:35.25\00:14:37.85 So keep in mind, the vision goes on. 00:14:37.88\00:14:40.09 John does not stop interrupt to division chapters, okay. 00:14:40.12\00:14:44.49 "Then I looked," Chapter 14:1, 00:14:44.52\00:14:48.03 "And behold, the lamb was standing on Mount Zion, 00:14:48.06\00:14:52.94 and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand 00:14:52.97\00:14:57.86 having his name and the name of his father 00:14:57.89\00:15:01.47 written on their heads." 00:15:01.50\00:15:03.62 You see, this is almost repetition of Revelation 7. 00:15:03.65\00:15:08.06 The whole world--you remember in the Revelation 6, 00:15:08.09\00:15:11.83 the whole world is filled with fear that Jesus is coming, 00:15:11.86\00:15:16.90 but Revelation 7 says, "What about God's people?" 00:15:16.93\00:15:19.17 God will have them at the time of the end. 00:15:19.20\00:15:20.97 Well, Praise God. 00:15:21.00\00:15:22.37 I want to be friends in that group. 00:15:22.40\00:15:23.77 I don't know what about you. 00:15:23.80\00:15:25.17 I want to be in that group. Keep in mind. 00:15:25.20\00:15:30.34 When people read the Book of Revelation, they say, "Boy, 00:15:30.37\00:15:32.99 the Book of Revelation is so unorganized, disorganized. 00:15:33.02\00:15:36.89 There is no order." Why? 00:15:36.92\00:15:38.97 Because so many times we try to read our-- 00:15:39.00\00:15:41.48 and put our ideas in the book because the people read here 00:15:41.51\00:15:45.72 and they think that this is the second coming of Christ. 00:15:45.75\00:15:48.79 This is not the case. 00:15:48.82\00:15:50.44 This is not the second coming of Christ. 00:15:50.47\00:15:52.20 John wants to tell us 00:15:52.23\00:15:53.74 at the time of the greater deception is, 00:15:53.77\00:15:56.31 God's people-- do you remember? 00:15:56.34\00:15:58.17 Sealing means protection. 00:15:58.20\00:15:59.72 God's people during the time are protected 00:15:59.75\00:16:02.14 from that greater deception. 00:16:02.17\00:16:03.54 Amen. Amen. Okay. 00:16:03.57\00:16:07.47 You see, the sealed people of God are protected. 00:16:07.50\00:16:09.73 Do you remember what we talked? 00:16:09.76\00:16:11.13 While those who turn their back to God 00:16:11.16\00:16:17.38 and those who stand in a position to God, 00:16:17.41\00:16:19.53 they're always in the Book of Revelation referred to 00:16:19.56\00:16:22.42 as the inhabitants of this earth, 00:16:22.45\00:16:24.81 the people who live on this earth. 00:16:24.84\00:16:26.83 God's people in the Book of Revelation 00:16:26.86\00:16:29.82 are the ones who are in the heavenly places. 00:16:29.85\00:16:33.57 Please, please, some questions 00:16:33.60\00:16:37.22 asked--prompted me to illustrate this. 00:16:37.25\00:16:39.84 You know, I'm--as I mentioned, 00:16:39.87\00:16:41.36 I'm coming from country what used to be Yugoslavia. 00:16:41.39\00:16:44.16 And after the Second World War, 00:16:44.19\00:16:47.47 there are several countries in Europe 00:16:47.50\00:16:49.57 like, Germany, France, Scandinavian countries, 00:16:49.60\00:16:52.49 they opened the door for many people 00:16:52.52\00:16:54.60 from former Yugoslavia and other countries 00:16:54.63\00:16:56.81 to come and to work there. 00:16:56.84\00:16:58.75 Those people would go there. 00:16:58.78\00:17:00.74 They lived in those countries for 20-30 and more years. 00:17:00.77\00:17:06.30 And they lived in those countries, 00:17:06.33\00:17:08.72 but when you ask them, "Where are you from?" 00:17:08.75\00:17:10.49 They'll always say, "I'm from Yugoslavia." 00:17:10.52\00:17:13.19 But Yugoslavia was the place where they lived the least. 00:17:13.22\00:17:18.57 But they were born there, they belong there, 00:17:18.60\00:17:20.35 they had their family there, they had their houses there, 00:17:20.38\00:17:24.84 so all the money that they were making 00:17:24.87\00:17:26.82 they would send back to Yugoslavia 00:17:26.85\00:17:28.22 because they belong there. 00:17:28.25\00:17:29.62 They're just waiting for the day of their retirement 00:17:29.65\00:17:32.13 and go there and to live there. 00:17:32.16\00:17:33.86 So you see, they work there in those countries, 00:17:33.89\00:17:36.04 but they did not belong to there. 00:17:36.07\00:17:37.92 Actually, they belong there to another country 00:17:37.95\00:17:40.01 where they came from. 00:17:40.04\00:17:41.41 This is the same in the Book of Revelation. 00:17:41.44\00:17:43.06 God's people, even though they live here on the earth, 00:17:43.09\00:17:46.44 they belong there. 00:17:46.47\00:17:47.98 The investment is there. 00:17:48.01\00:17:49.73 The heart is there. 00:17:49.76\00:17:51.18 The thoughts are there. 00:17:51.21\00:17:52.58 The inspiration is there. 00:17:52.61\00:17:53.98 The same is as Apostle Paul talks in Ephesians Chapter-- 00:17:54.01\00:17:57.31 Abraham, do your remember that? 00:17:57.34\00:17:58.71 Isaac, Jacob, all--Enoch, 00:17:58.74\00:18:02.27 all those people they are listed there. 00:18:02.30\00:18:04.68 They said--they know where they came from. 00:18:04.71\00:18:08.85 And they recognized they just were 00:18:08.88\00:18:11.07 soujourners in this world 00:18:11.10\00:18:13.09 because they were waiting for the city 00:18:13.12\00:18:15.41 which of the builder-- the founder 00:18:18.57\00:18:21.25 and the builder was God Himself. Amen. 00:18:21.28\00:18:23.78 God's people never belonged to this world. 00:18:23.81\00:18:26.85 Now they tried to contribute to the places where they lived, 00:18:26.88\00:18:30.31 but their hearts, their thoughts, 00:18:30.34\00:18:32.15 their desires are there where they're waiting 00:18:32.18\00:18:34.61 Jesus--Jesus Christ to come from. 00:18:34.64\00:18:36.82 This is the situation is here, 144,000. 00:18:36.85\00:18:41.73 They're protected from the last deception. Why? 00:18:41.76\00:18:44.87 Because their hearts, their thoughts are there, 00:18:44.90\00:18:47.81 but they're waiting for Jesus Christ to come from. 00:18:47.84\00:18:50.76 By the way, I cannot wait until Chapter 19 that we talk about 00:18:50.79\00:18:53.66 that wedding supper of the lamb. 00:18:53.69\00:18:55.24 There's this climax chapter of the Book of Revelation for me. 00:18:55.27\00:18:58.95 But John wants one more time to tell us, 00:18:58.98\00:19:02.02 what is so special about this group, 144,000? 00:19:02.05\00:19:05.70 If you remember when we start the Revelation 7, 00:19:05.73\00:19:08.83 I told you that we will come to this section. 00:19:08.86\00:19:11.06 One more time to be reminded about 144,000. 00:19:11.09\00:19:14.60 Please, in my commentary, you have several pages, 00:19:14.63\00:19:17.54 you will notice there on page 446, 447 and 8 00:19:17.57\00:19:21.67 and after some other pages talking about this subject. 00:19:21.70\00:19:24.36 Let me just give you every summary 00:19:24.39\00:19:26.29 that we understand what are the characteristics of 144,000. 00:19:26.32\00:19:30.32 Why that group is so special 00:19:30.35\00:19:32.22 and why that group does not side with the rest of the world 00:19:32.25\00:19:35.56 that will accept the Mark of the Beast? 00:19:35.59\00:19:37.86 Let's read it, it says in verse 2, 00:19:37.89\00:19:39.70 "And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters 00:19:39.73\00:19:43.71 and like the sound of loud thunder, 00:19:43.74\00:19:46.02 and voice which I heard was 00:19:46.05\00:19:47.48 like sound of harpists playing on one harp. 00:19:47.51\00:19:50.89 And they sang a new song before the throne 00:19:50.92\00:19:54.18 and before the four living creatures and the elders. 00:19:54.21\00:19:57.81 And one could learn the song except the 144,000 00:19:57.84\00:20:03.11 who had been purchased from the earth." 00:20:03.14\00:20:04.93 Friends, the concept of the new song 00:20:04.96\00:20:08.43 is a well-known concept in the Bible. 00:20:08.46\00:20:10.82 Do you know which book of the Bible 00:20:10.85\00:20:12.79 actually contains the most expressions of new song? 00:20:12.82\00:20:17.15 It's the Book of Psalms. 00:20:17.18\00:20:18.67 Why the Book of Psalms? 00:20:18.70\00:20:21.55 Have you ever thought about that? 00:20:21.58\00:20:22.95 What is that new song about? 00:20:22.98\00:20:24.66 Actually, that expression used mainly by David 00:20:24.69\00:20:27.27 because David went from one trouble to another trouble, 00:20:27.30\00:20:30.49 from one trouble to another trouble, 00:20:30.52\00:20:31.89 from one difficulty to another difficulty, 00:20:31.92\00:20:33.69 and Lord was always with him. 00:20:33.72\00:20:35.41 That's why new difficulty always makes a new song. 00:20:35.44\00:20:39.82 Unfortunately, I meet the Christians 00:20:39.85\00:20:42.27 who are singing the song that their parents were singing, 00:20:42.30\00:20:45.78 You know, what I mean. 00:20:45.81\00:20:48.09 They don't have any particular experience with God. 00:20:48.12\00:20:50.80 They're just lethargic in their religion. 00:20:50.83\00:20:52.97 They're repeating those songs that even I say, 00:20:53.00\00:20:55.67 parrots are singing there 00:20:55.70\00:20:57.57 and they learned there on the trees. 00:20:57.60\00:20:59.50 You know, what I'm trying to say is. 00:20:59.53\00:21:01.24 They have nothing new experience with God 00:21:01.27\00:21:03.48 that new song we have to learn now to sing 00:21:03.51\00:21:09.97 How close God is to us? 00:21:10.00\00:21:12.39 So when we come to those final events when it happened, 00:21:12.42\00:21:15.36 144,000, we'll use to sing that new song. And why? 00:21:15.39\00:21:20.85 Because no generation before them 00:21:20.88\00:21:24.02 is actually able to sing that song. 00:21:24.05\00:21:27.95 Actually neither angels are able to sing that song 00:21:27.98\00:21:31.39 because that's the song 00:21:31.42\00:21:33.02 of the special experience with God 00:21:33.05\00:21:36.62 as they're preparing themselves for those final events 00:21:36.65\00:21:39.98 and they will go through that time of the great tribulation. 00:21:40.01\00:21:42.63 No other generation in history is able to sing that song. 00:21:42.66\00:21:46.37 Does not mean that the previous generation 00:21:46.40\00:21:47.80 did not have their new song? 00:21:47.83\00:21:49.57 Are you still with me? 00:21:49.60\00:21:52.15 But this new song of 144,000 is a song of their experience, 00:21:52.18\00:21:57.44 as the entire world will side in that rebellion 00:21:57.47\00:22:01.18 with Satan against God. Now loyalty of 144,00 00:22:01.21\00:22:03.90 will be so evident, 00:22:03.93\00:22:09.62 will be so evident and God comes to intervene on their behalf. 00:22:09.65\00:22:14.35 And finally, they are singing that new song, 00:22:14.38\00:22:17.85 the song of their experience with God. 00:22:17.88\00:22:20.36 Now going to verse 4, 00:22:20.39\00:22:22.59 John wants one more time to tell us about 144,000. 00:22:22.62\00:22:28.62 And please, sometimes I see that people are reading these texts, 00:22:28.65\00:22:32.29 they're taking these--these statements out of the context. 00:22:32.32\00:22:35.30 Boy, how it's so easy to take different expressions 00:22:35.33\00:22:38.13 from the Book of Revelation and makes a strange theology 00:22:38.16\00:22:40.87 that you ask yourself a question. 00:22:40.90\00:22:42.68 Where does this theology come from? Amen. 00:22:42.71\00:22:45.40 Please, please, I want to be cynical. 00:22:45.43\00:22:47.30 I will maybe sometimes with brief observation 00:22:47.33\00:22:50.35 make some theologies that people are making over this. 00:22:50.38\00:22:54.80 Okay, with all humbleness of heart 00:22:54.83\00:22:56.49 just that you understand 00:22:56.52\00:22:58.47 how it's very important to stick to those landmarks 00:22:58.50\00:23:01.30 Set in the Book of Revelation 00:23:01.33\00:23:02.89 to understand really what the text means. 00:23:02.92\00:23:05.52 We read in verse 4. 00:23:05.55\00:23:07.41 "These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, 00:23:07.44\00:23:12.07 for they have kept themselves chaste." 00:23:12.10\00:23:14.87 I told I'll make sometimes some observations. 00:23:14.90\00:23:17.51 In different parts of world I met people coming to me 00:23:17.54\00:23:20.25 to boast how decided-- they decided to be holy. 00:23:20.28\00:23:23.82 They want to be among 144,000. 00:23:23.85\00:23:26.34 They decided not to get married 00:23:26.37\00:23:29.02 or to get divorce from the spouse 00:23:29.05\00:23:31.60 in order to be traced to be there. Friends. 00:23:31.63\00:23:37.04 The entire concept comes from that the sexual relationships 00:23:37.07\00:23:40.84 and marriage is evil. I wonder if it is evil. 00:23:40.87\00:23:43.95 Why God before coming of sin created such evil things. 00:23:43.98\00:23:50.19 Actually, marriage is the gift from God that God made. 00:23:50.22\00:23:53.93 So what are these women? 00:23:53.96\00:23:55.48 You have to keep in mind one more time 00:23:55.51\00:23:57.27 that the Book of Revelation is a symbolic book. Amen. 00:23:57.30\00:24:00.48 And woman is a symbol for the church. 00:24:00.51\00:24:05.57 Okay, in the Book of Revelation this is not just a church, 00:24:05.60\00:24:09.27 it's the apostate church of the time of the end. 00:24:09.30\00:24:12.41 We will come to Revelation 17, 00:24:12.44\00:24:15.40 where it talks about the Babylon, okay. 00:24:15.43\00:24:19.04 We saw what Babylon is, 00:24:19.07\00:24:20.50 but says that Babylon has the daughters. 00:24:20.53\00:24:23.45 It means all those different Christian organizations 00:24:23.48\00:24:27.23 that will come under the umbrella of Babylon. 00:24:27.26\00:24:29.99 This is why the women are in plural here. 00:24:30.02\00:24:32.49 God's people-- do you remember that? 00:24:32.52\00:24:33.89 The whole world reside with the beast. 00:24:33.92\00:24:35.70 What about God's people? They--we are chaste. 00:24:35.73\00:24:38.38 They are there with Jesus Christ. 00:24:38.41\00:24:40.48 They did not defy themselves with the corrupting influence 00:24:40.51\00:24:43.80 and the doctrines of Babylon. 00:24:43.83\00:24:45.20 Are you still with me? 00:24:45.23\00:24:46.60 They remain faithful to Christ. Amen. 00:24:46.63\00:24:49.16 Then it says, "Why they are not defied themselves with women?" 00:24:49.19\00:24:54.62 The next statement is--is clarifies, 00:24:54.65\00:24:57.27 that says, "These are the one who followed the lamb 00:24:57.30\00:25:00.82 wherever he goes." Amen. 00:25:00.85\00:25:04.34 Friends, you can only follow the lamb. Okay. 00:25:04.37\00:25:09.84 And be faithful to Him 00:25:09.87\00:25:12.31 or you can go and commit the spiritual adultery, 00:25:12.34\00:25:16.31 which means to side with Babylon. 00:25:16.34\00:25:19.21 Okay, this is what the text means. 00:25:19.24\00:25:21.71 So 144,000, you have to understand it. 00:25:21.74\00:25:23.93 Why 144,000 mentioned? 00:25:23.96\00:25:26.02 Telling us at the time of the end, 00:25:26.05\00:25:27.77 God will have His faithful people. 00:25:27.80\00:25:29.37 Then it says, "These have been purchased from among men 00:25:29.40\00:25:33.49 as first fruits to God and to the lamb." 00:25:33.52\00:25:37.86 One more time, I told you 00:25:37.89\00:25:39.56 I would like to make some observations 00:25:39.59\00:25:41.53 I need also very good Christians. 00:25:41.56\00:25:44.31 They believe that they have to be so holy. 00:25:44.34\00:25:46.86 They decided to separate themselves 00:25:46.89\00:25:49.52 from the body of Christians for preparing themselves 00:25:49.55\00:25:51.49 for the second coming of Christ 00:25:51.52\00:25:52.89 because they want to be the first fruits. 00:25:52.92\00:25:55.67 They want to be a remnant within the remnant. 00:25:55.70\00:25:59.45 When you started doing that, 00:25:59.48\00:26:00.85 finally you realize that you are the only one. 00:26:00.88\00:26:04.49 Everybody else is not okay. 00:26:04.52\00:26:08.36 This is actually misrepresentation of this-- 00:26:08.39\00:26:10.88 of the interpretation of these texts. 00:26:10.91\00:26:13.44 If you go to Jeremiah, the Book of Jeremiah, okay, 00:26:13.47\00:26:18.06 Chapter 2:3. 00:26:18.09\00:26:20.49 Jeremiah 2:3, zyou will read that 00:26:20.52\00:26:23.66 actually Jeremiah calls all the people of Israel, 00:26:23.69\00:26:28.04 holy to the Lord the first fruits of his harvest, 00:26:28.07\00:26:32.41 all who devoured her were guilty, 00:26:32.44\00:26:34.70 and disaster overtook them. 00:26:34.73\00:26:36.44 Keep in mind, according to Jeremiah, 00:26:36.47\00:26:38.34 not one special group in Israel was the first fruits? 00:26:38.37\00:26:42.63 All the people of Israel were first fruit. 00:26:42.66\00:26:45.48 Are you still with me? 00:26:45.51\00:26:46.88 By the way, you will see the same concept 00:26:46.91\00:26:49.17 in the Book of James 1:18. 00:26:49.20\00:26:52.42 The Book of James 1:18. 00:26:52.45\00:26:56.32 James calls all the Christians of his time 00:26:56.35\00:27:00.23 to be the first fruits among his creatures. 00:27:00.26\00:27:03.61 Keep in mind, James does not talk about 00:27:03.64\00:27:06.38 one small group of Christians 00:27:06.41\00:27:08.63 who separated themselves from other Christians 00:27:08.66\00:27:10.92 to be holy to God to be the first fruits. 00:27:10.95\00:27:13.60 So when we talk here about 144,000 00:27:13.63\00:27:18.13 to be the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 00:27:18.16\00:27:20.96 Actually the text does not talk about one group 00:27:20.99\00:27:24.07 who like to separate themselves from other Christians 00:27:24.10\00:27:26.61 who are preparing themselves for the second coming of Christ. 00:27:26.64\00:27:28.52 He's talking about all the faithful group of people 00:27:28.55\00:27:32.30 who are remaining faithful to God 00:27:32.33\00:27:34.92 at the timeof this final crisis. 00:27:34.95\00:27:36.32 Does it make sense to you? 00:27:36.35\00:27:38.77 Because they're so special to God, okay. 00:27:38.80\00:27:41.61 Like the first fruit in ancient Israel 00:27:41.64\00:27:43.75 during the time of harvest. 00:27:43.78\00:27:45.36 So these God's people are on the side of God. 00:27:45.39\00:27:50.56 Let's go to verse 5. 00:27:50.59\00:27:52.44 It says, "And no lie was found in their mouth. 00:27:52.47\00:27:56.93 No lie was found in their mouth, for they are blameless." 00:27:56.96\00:28:02.28 Oh, another thing is, I sometimes find people 00:28:02.31\00:28:05.43 who are so much involved 00:28:05.46\00:28:07.50 with more than Christian Protestant ethics. 00:28:07.53\00:28:10.52 And if you really want to be faithful to God, 00:28:10.55\00:28:14.12 you will not even say that white lie. 00:28:14.15\00:28:16.97 You know, what I'm talking. 00:28:17.00\00:28:18.37 People dividing black lies, white lies, a lies. 00:28:18.40\00:28:22.64 And when you are-- You have your child there. 00:28:22.67\00:28:25.92 You see your child is not doing very in school 00:28:25.95\00:28:28.23 because he doesn't have that capacity, 00:28:28.26\00:28:30.73 you know, but you want to say the truth, 00:28:30.76\00:28:33.24 you tell your child, you are stupid 00:28:33.27\00:28:36.72 because you want to say the truth. 00:28:36.75\00:28:38.27 Your wife asked your boy, "Would you like my dress?" 00:28:38.30\00:28:41.00 You know, you want to be the person who's speaking truth. 00:28:41.03\00:28:43.54 You know, this is the worst dress that you have. 00:28:43.57\00:28:45.20 Friends, what are you doing with the Bible? 00:28:45.23\00:28:47.15 Please, having said that, 00:28:47.18\00:28:49.25 it does not mean that God's people 00:28:49.28\00:28:50.66 are supposed to lie. 00:28:50.69\00:28:52.63 God people will talk the truth. 00:28:52.66\00:28:55.13 But please, let's not read in the text 00:28:55.16\00:28:56.80 something that does not say, when said that 144,000 00:28:56.83\00:29:00.10 and their mouth was not to find lie. 00:29:00.13\00:29:01.74 What kind of lie, is the lie of antichrist? 00:29:01.77\00:29:05.31 Do you remember that the end time deception 00:29:05.34\00:29:08.79 is based on deceiving people and the lies 00:29:08.82\00:29:12.90 that Babylon will create at the time of the end. 00:29:12.93\00:29:15.81 Do you remember we read in 2 Thessalonians 2, 00:29:15.84\00:29:19.28 that all those who did not love the truth will be deceived? 00:29:19.31\00:29:22.94 See, God's people will not be deceived 00:29:22.97\00:29:24.97 because God's people will love the truth. 00:29:25.00\00:29:31.04 Do you see how it's so easy to go to the text? 00:29:31.07\00:29:33.71 You have to put this text in the context because 00:29:33.74\00:29:36.46 the Book of Revelation lie and the truth is the constant. 00:29:36.49\00:29:40.04 And who is the truth according to the New Testament? 00:29:40.07\00:29:42.36 Both Book of Revelation is Jesus Christ. 00:29:42.39\00:29:45.06 You see, when you're in Jesus Christ, 00:29:45.09\00:29:46.75 you have nothing to do with the lie of antichrist. 00:29:46.78\00:29:49.53 And the last thing is, for they are blameless. 00:29:49.56\00:29:54.39 Unfortunately even there at Andrews University, 00:29:56.55\00:29:59.09 they have number of students 00:29:59.12\00:30:02.60 who've developed the entire theology 00:30:02.63\00:30:05.24 which is called "Last Generation Theology," 00:30:05.27\00:30:08.46 that before Jesus comes. 00:30:08.49\00:30:10.64 There will be people who actually 00:30:10.67\00:30:12.71 reach complete perfections 00:30:12.74\00:30:16.68 that they were not be able even with the their thoughts 00:30:16.71\00:30:21.66 to make any sin. 00:30:21.69\00:30:23.46 Friends, should God's people be perfect? 00:30:23.49\00:30:27.43 It's beside any discussion, yes. 00:30:27.46\00:30:29.72 The Bible urges, Christians and telling them 00:30:29.75\00:30:34.89 that God's people pray to the second coming of Christ. 00:30:34.92\00:30:38.28 They'll strive to that character that Jesus Christ had. 00:30:38.31\00:30:43.40 It's their loyalty to God-- you'll be unswerving. 00:30:43.43\00:30:47.92 their loyalty. 00:30:47.95\00:30:50.19 But the Bible is telling us that 144,000 00:30:50.22\00:30:54.27 will not enter the Kingdom of God 00:30:54.30\00:30:56.31 because they were able to become perfect. 00:30:56.34\00:30:58.22 Do you remember in the Revelation 7, 00:30:58.25\00:30:59.90 "They will be there because they washed their hopes 00:30:59.93\00:31:03.43 in the blood of the lamb." 00:31:03.46\00:31:06.06 Do you remember Revelation 7:9-10? 00:31:06.09\00:31:09.04 "When they stand before the Throne of God, 00:31:09.07\00:31:11.22 they will not shout. 00:31:11.25\00:31:12.62 We are here because we were able to become perfect." 00:31:12.65\00:31:15.39 No, they will shout, 00:31:15.42\00:31:16.79 "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb." 00:31:16.82\00:31:20.17 Because the word blameless that is used here, 00:31:20.20\00:31:23.35 which is actually the Greek word amomos. 00:31:23.38\00:31:26.58 Amen. Okay. 00:31:26.61\00:31:28.09 It's--if you go to the Old Testament 00:31:28.12\00:31:31.83 translated in Greek that we know as the Septuagint 00:31:31.86\00:31:34.58 the same word blameless was used for Abraham, 00:31:34.61\00:31:38.19 was used for Noah, 00:31:38.22\00:31:41.87 was used for greatest character. 00:31:41.90\00:31:43.44 Please, how perfect those people were. 00:31:43.47\00:31:46.22 Oh, yeah. They walked with God. 00:31:46.25\00:31:48.69 They were perfect, but does not mean 00:31:48.72\00:31:51.43 that sometimes they couldn't experience for. 00:31:51.46\00:31:54.32 Oh, friends, the Book of Revelation 00:31:54.35\00:31:56.30 is not to tell us something that we have something 00:31:56.33\00:31:58.12 that we cannot ever reach in our lives, no. 00:31:58.15\00:32:02.31 The Book of Revelation is telling us we're simply humans. 00:32:02.34\00:32:05.53 And 144,000 at the time of the end 00:32:05.56\00:32:08.73 is not to rely up on themselves on their abilities, 00:32:08.76\00:32:12.24 what they can do for themselves. 00:32:12.27\00:32:13.95 No, that's not the purpose of relation. 00:32:13.98\00:32:16.42 The purpose of Book of Revelation 00:32:16.45\00:32:17.82 is telling us that 144,000 are just humans 00:32:17.85\00:32:20.63 like Abraham, like Noah, 00:32:20.66\00:32:22.16 like all those people in the past. 00:32:22.19\00:32:23.78 That's why the time of the end. 00:32:23.81\00:32:25.33 During that greater deception, they have to rely like 00:32:25.36\00:32:28.49 no human being before in history on the blood of the lamb. 00:32:28.52\00:32:32.87 Because in Chapter 19-- Chapter 19, 00:32:32.90\00:32:35.63 when they meet Jesus Christ, they'll meet in the special robe 00:32:35.66\00:32:39.99 which is the righteous acts of the saints. 00:32:40.02\00:32:43.67 Not because what they did for themselves, 00:32:43.70\00:32:46.19 but because of what Jesus Christ did for them. 00:32:46.22\00:32:49.19 Boy, I really want to belong to that group. 00:32:49.22\00:32:51.83 And please, keep me in your prayers. 00:32:51.86\00:32:53.86 I will keep you in my prayers. Let's pray for each other. 00:32:53.89\00:32:58.78 What we need at the time of the end 00:32:58.81\00:33:02.48 is the same what people need before, 00:33:02.51\00:33:04.42 but we needed much more is that grace of God. 00:33:04.45\00:33:07.43 Amen. And praise God. 00:33:07.46\00:33:09.35 What he said to Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9, 00:33:09.38\00:33:13.64 "My grace is sufficient." 00:33:13.67\00:33:16.97 Friends, I'm not sufficient. I want to be. 00:33:17.00\00:33:20.35 Everyday I want to be similar to Christ, 00:33:20.38\00:33:22.49 but His grace is sufficient and His grace can do to me. 00:33:22.52\00:33:25.43 And that's what makes 144,000 a special group. 00:33:25.46\00:33:29.06 Now the time is flying, okay. 00:33:29.09\00:33:34.08 I would like us now to go to the next sections. 00:33:34.11\00:33:38.97 There is a question. 00:33:39.00\00:33:41.02 As the whole world is preparing itself for that final crisis? 00:33:41.05\00:33:47.85 What is God doing? 00:33:47.88\00:33:50.60 And the Book of Revelation is so clear telling us 00:33:50.63\00:33:53.99 that during those time--times 00:33:54.02\00:33:56.93 God is warning the inhabitants of this world, 00:33:56.96\00:34:00.34 telling them about His coming and urging them-- 00:34:00.37\00:34:04.40 urging them to love the truth and to side with God. 00:34:04.43\00:34:08.00 Actually, this final warning to the world 00:34:08.03\00:34:11.67 is portrayed in the Book of Revelation 00:34:11.70\00:34:13.77 in terms of Three Angels. 00:34:13.80\00:34:16.73 We call this section the "Three Angels Messages." 00:34:16.76\00:34:23.42 Please, we'll just have a brief insight 00:34:23.45\00:34:26.02 into these three messages. 00:34:26.05\00:34:27.42 They're very significant. Here we have a nutshell. 00:34:27.45\00:34:30.51 Here we have a nutshell what actually this gospel, 00:34:30.54\00:34:34.31 end time gospel is all about? 00:34:34.34\00:34:36.37 Please, there is so much to be said 00:34:36.40\00:34:37.77 and I'm tempted just to stay to one of the text 00:34:37.80\00:34:40.49 because everything is important. 00:34:40.52\00:34:42.24 But I hope that you will find the time 00:34:42.27\00:34:44.64 once this program is over 00:34:44.67\00:34:46.09 to continue to study for yourself. 00:34:46.12\00:34:47.75 It says, "Then another angel a third one." 00:34:47.78\00:34:50.58 Oh, sorry, sorry. Should be in verse in 6. 00:34:50.61\00:34:56.40 You see, we're just humans making mistakes, okay. 00:34:56.43\00:34:59.20 Verse 6, "And I saw another angel flying in heaven, 00:34:59.23\00:35:05.32 having an eternal gospel 00:35:05.35\00:35:08.40 to preach to those who live on the earth." 00:35:08.43\00:35:12.37 Can you help me? 00:35:12.40\00:35:13.77 "To preach those who live on the earth." 00:35:13.80\00:35:16.75 Who are those who live on the earth 00:35:16.78\00:35:18.15 in the Book of Revelation? 00:35:18.18\00:35:19.64 They're always those who're wicked, 00:35:19.67\00:35:22.65 those who're opposing to God. 00:35:22.68\00:35:25.40 Boy, friends, this is the gospel. 00:35:25.43\00:35:27.40 Those people are standing in the position to God 00:35:27.43\00:35:31.28 and God is still trying to save them. 00:35:31.31\00:35:36.47 Is the Book of Revelation, a beautiful book. 00:35:36.50\00:35:39.26 Many people think the Book of Revelation 00:35:39.29\00:35:40.66 is just about the judgment? 00:35:40.69\00:35:42.06 No, it's about salvation. 00:35:42.09\00:35:43.46 God is trying to save those people and says, 00:35:43.49\00:35:47.36 "To preach to those who live on the earth, 00:35:47.39\00:35:49.88 and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people." 00:35:49.91\00:35:53.88 And He said with loud voice. 00:35:53.91\00:35:56.48 "Fear God, and he-- and give him glory 00:35:56.51\00:36:01.10 because the hour of his judgment has come. 00:36:01.13\00:36:04.03 And worship him who made the heaven and the earth 00:36:04.06\00:36:07.62 and the sea and the springs of water." 00:36:07.65\00:36:10.98 Oh, boy, this text is loaded. 00:36:11.01\00:36:12.51 Really, we need a lot of time just to stay with this text. 00:36:12.54\00:36:16.01 But I hope you will find much more material 00:36:16.04\00:36:18.32 as you study for yourself. 00:36:18.35\00:36:19.72 Let me just mention here. 00:36:19.75\00:36:21.12 There are two things, fear God and give Him glory. 00:36:21.15\00:36:25.41 This phrase is very, very significant, 00:36:25.44\00:36:28.30 because it occurs very often, 00:36:28.33\00:36:31.62 very often in the Old Testament. 00:36:31.65\00:36:37.22 By the way, John substitutes 00:36:37.25\00:36:41.78 the well-known Old Testament phrase, 00:36:41.81\00:36:44.32 "Keep God's commandment with giving glory to God." 00:36:44.35\00:36:47.35 Do you remember what Jesus says? 00:36:47.38\00:36:48.75 By this, My Father will be glorified, 00:36:48.78\00:36:51.61 when you obey His commandments and you love each other. 00:36:51.64\00:36:55.35 Okay. 00:36:55.38\00:36:57.07 I know my children, 00:36:57.10\00:36:58.60 they're always giving glory to me when they behaved 00:36:58.63\00:37:01.43 according to what they learn in our home. 00:37:01.46\00:37:04.70 So you see, fear God does not mean to be afraid of God 00:37:04.73\00:37:07.87 to tremble to come before God. 00:37:07.90\00:37:09.79 But you have to show reverence to God. 00:37:09.82\00:37:13.67 Friends, today we live in the world 00:37:13.70\00:37:16.77 when there is that slogan "God is my friend." 00:37:16.80\00:37:18.58 Of course, God is my friend. 00:37:18.61\00:37:20.74 But, you know, how usually we behave toward friends. 00:37:20.77\00:37:24.90 Yeah, God is my friend. 00:37:24.93\00:37:26.82 But let's be reminded of Isaiah 6, 00:37:26.85\00:37:29.07 He's still a God. Amen. 00:37:29.10\00:37:30.85 The heavenly beings-- sinless heavenly beings 00:37:30.88\00:37:33.12 when they come before God, how they relate to Him? 00:37:33.15\00:37:36.78 Okay, so fear God. 00:37:36.81\00:37:38.60 When you fear God, when you know who God is, 00:37:38.63\00:37:41.60 you'll be obedient to Him. 00:37:41.63\00:37:44.16 Usually, if we've friends, we try to use our friends, 00:37:44.19\00:37:47.14 to impose our personality on him? 00:37:47.17\00:37:48.92 Friends, this is not what God is. 00:37:48.95\00:37:51.40 By the way, this phrase brings to mind--brings to mind 00:37:51.43\00:37:56.91 that very, very special text from Ecclesiastics 12:13-14. 00:37:56.94\00:38:04.89 "When Solomon at the end of his life 00:38:04.92\00:38:09.03 made that conclusion 00:38:09.06\00:38:10.43 that the main thing of everything that was said, 00:38:10.46\00:38:12.59 what was that?" 00:38:12.62\00:38:14.01 Fear God and keep his commandments 00:38:14.04\00:38:17.68 because this is all 00:38:17.71\00:38:19.08 what human beings are supposed to do. 00:38:19.11\00:38:21.42 Fear God and keep His commandments. 00:38:21.45\00:38:24.74 Ecclesiastics 12:13-14, but keep in mind something. 00:38:24.77\00:38:28.78 Usually people do not pay attention 00:38:28.81\00:38:31.27 to the following statement. 00:38:31.30\00:38:32.73 "For God will bring every person to judgment 00:38:32.76\00:38:37.99 and judge every thought whether good or evil." 00:38:38.02\00:38:41.05 You know this text. 00:38:41.08\00:38:42.45 By the way, you will see now how this first angel message 00:38:42.48\00:38:46.78 is actually based on this text that Solomon wrote 00:38:46.81\00:38:51.30 because this is exactly what follows. 00:38:51.33\00:38:53.10 Fear God and give Him glory 00:38:53.13\00:38:56.30 because the hour of His judgment has come. 00:38:56.33\00:39:00.54 Are you with me? 00:39:00.57\00:39:01.94 According to Solomon, 00:39:01.97\00:39:03.34 fear God and keep His commandments 00:39:03.37\00:39:04.92 because God will judge on people. 00:39:04.95\00:39:06.65 However, in the Book of Revelation, 00:39:06.68\00:39:08.05 there is no God who will judge? 00:39:08.08\00:39:09.51 The judgment has come already. 00:39:09.54\00:39:11.68 Friends, we talked already about that. 00:39:11.71\00:39:13.27 We refer to these texts already so many times. 00:39:13.30\00:39:16.31 Yeah, there is in the Book of Revelation, 00:39:16.34\00:39:17.90 the judgment that will take place after 1,000 years. 00:39:17.93\00:39:21.37 We will talk about that. 00:39:21.40\00:39:22.81 But according to the Bible 00:39:22.84\00:39:24.21 and Book of Revelation is in line with that. 00:39:24.24\00:39:27.46 This judgment has already begun. 00:39:27.49\00:39:29.32 Keep in mind. This is not the future reality. 00:39:29.35\00:39:31.83 As the message is proclaimed, the judgment has begun already. 00:39:31.86\00:39:35.61 We're talking about the pre-Advent judgment 00:39:35.64\00:39:37.24 there in the heavenly places, but the decision has to be made. 00:39:37.27\00:39:41.29 Who will enter the kingdom and who will be left out? 00:39:41.32\00:39:45.06 Decision has to be made. 00:39:45.09\00:39:46.63 God wants to be a righteous 00:39:46.66\00:39:49.44 and judge before the entire universe. 00:39:49.47\00:39:51.98 And decision and the verdict have to be fair. 00:39:52.01\00:39:55.34 You see, okay, it says, 00:39:55.37\00:39:58.33 "And worship him who made the heaven and the earth 00:39:58.36\00:40:02.08 and sea and springs of water." 00:40:02.11\00:40:04.21 You remember, we talked already 00:40:04.24\00:40:05.97 that the main issue in the final crisis 00:40:06.00\00:40:08.19 is the issue of worship-- is the issue of worship. 00:40:08.22\00:40:13.41 So that worshippers of God, 00:40:13.44\00:40:15.02 they're worshippers of the beast. 00:40:15.05\00:40:17.88 There is a counterfeit trinity, you remember that. 00:40:17.91\00:40:20.58 But that counterfeit trinity can try to counterfeit God, 00:40:20.61\00:40:23.65 but cannot counterfeit what God has done? 00:40:23.68\00:40:26.13 And what is that God has done? 00:40:26.16\00:40:28.67 Who is the one according to this 00:40:28.70\00:40:30.51 first angel message to be worshipped? 00:40:30.54\00:40:32.53 Is the one who created the heaven and the earth 00:40:32.56\00:40:36.28 and the sea and the springs of water? 00:40:36.31\00:40:39.19 I would like to invite all the viewers 00:40:39.22\00:40:41.24 and all of you here, 00:40:41.27\00:40:43.63 if you are able to handle the Greek, 00:40:43.66\00:40:46.80 just Greek alphabet-- 00:40:46.83\00:40:48.44 By the way, you don't need to know Greek at all. 00:40:48.47\00:40:50.68 If you can just to find, Greek New Testament 00:40:50.71\00:40:55.71 published by American Bible Society. 00:40:55.74\00:40:58.52 And if you go to the Old Testament 00:40:59.20\00:41:03.36 in your Bibles there, is that Exodus 20:11. 00:41:03.39\00:41:10.07 You'll see that the Greek New Testament 00:41:10.10\00:41:12.83 is telling you clearly which is actually a scholarly Bible, 00:41:12.86\00:41:16.06 telling you there in the margin 00:41:16.09\00:41:18.74 that this phrase that we read here, 00:41:18.77\00:41:20.98 and worship him who made the heaven and the earth 00:41:21.01\00:41:23.63 and the sea and the springs of waters. 00:41:23.66\00:41:26.19 Is identical phrase that occurs in Exodus 20:11, 00:41:26.22\00:41:31.66 in the context of the fourth commandment. 00:41:31.69\00:41:34.65 Friends, they don't have any agenda, 00:41:34.68\00:41:36.49 but they're telling you that this phrase 00:41:36.52\00:41:38.80 is almost cut and pasted here from the fourth commandments, 00:41:38.83\00:41:43.84 here to the Book of Revelation 14:7. 00:41:43.87\00:41:47.29 What do you learn here is? 00:41:47.32\00:41:49.18 That this fear God-- to fear God, 00:41:49.21\00:41:52.07 give him glory because the hour of His judgment has come. 00:41:52.10\00:41:56.79 Is actually called to worship God the Creator, 00:41:56.82\00:41:59.36 but in the context of the fourth commandment 00:41:59.39\00:42:02.00 which is actually the Sabbath commandment. 00:42:02.03\00:42:03.80 Because the Sabbath is the constant reminder 00:42:03.83\00:42:07.55 to God's people that God has created us 00:42:07.58\00:42:11.35 and that God also provided salvation to us. 00:42:11.38\00:42:15.78 So, friends, what is this everlasting gospel? 00:42:15.81\00:42:18.90 By the way, this is not a different gospel 00:42:18.93\00:42:21.12 than the gospel that has been preached throughout centuries. 00:42:21.15\00:42:25.17 But it has special significance 00:42:25.20\00:42:26.98 and special meaning within that final crisis. 00:42:27.01\00:42:31.64 Now, let's go to verse 8. 00:42:31.67\00:42:34.82 "And another angel, a second one, 00:42:34.85\00:42:37.53 followed, saying, 00:42:37.56\00:42:39.22 "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, 00:42:39.25\00:42:42.64 He who has made all the nations drink 00:42:42.67\00:42:46.12 of the wine of the passion of her immorality." 00:42:46.15\00:42:49.71 We already mentioned that this Three Angel Messages 00:42:49.74\00:42:53.04 given in the context of the final crisis, 00:42:53.07\00:42:58.63 as we live in the time of the preparation 00:42:58.66\00:43:00.52 for the battle of Armageddon. 00:43:00.55\00:43:02.63 When Babylon is made up of those three-entity the dragon, 00:43:02.66\00:43:07.00 the first beast and the second beast. 00:43:07.03\00:43:10.21 But the message of the second angel is, 00:43:10.24\00:43:12.93 now that Babylon will fall one day, 00:43:12.96\00:43:14.98 that Babylon has fallen already. 00:43:15.01\00:43:18.51 Are you still, friends, with me? 00:43:18.54\00:43:19.98 You see, the everlasting gospel 00:43:20.01\00:43:21.38 is not about some future utopia that we're waiting for. 00:43:21.41\00:43:24.50 It's about the reality that this entity 00:43:24.53\00:43:26.90 that stands in the position to God 00:43:26.93\00:43:29.01 is already under the judgment of God. 00:43:29.04\00:43:32.07 God is powerful. 00:43:32.10\00:43:34.15 Do you remember, it is God who allows? 00:43:34.18\00:43:36.91 And God says, 00:43:36.94\00:43:38.31 "You can go so far and you can go any further." 00:43:38.34\00:43:41.52 Second angel message is to brought us assurance, 00:43:41.55\00:43:44.17 "Don't be afraid of Babylon 00:43:44.20\00:43:45.72 because Babylon together with Satan 00:43:45.75\00:43:48.25 already defeated enemies." 00:43:48.28\00:43:50.80 Now we're going to the third angel message. 00:43:50.83\00:43:53.91 "Then another angel, a third one followed them, 00:43:53.94\00:43:58.02 saying with a loud voice, 00:43:58.05\00:44:00.49 "If any one worships the beast and his image 00:44:00.52\00:44:04.30 and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand. 00:44:04.33\00:44:09.06 He also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 00:44:09.09\00:44:12.87 which is mixed in full strength in the cup of his anger, 00:44:12.90\00:44:17.44 and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone 00:44:17.47\00:44:21.09 in the presence of the holy angels 00:44:21.12\00:44:23.18 and the presence of the lamb. 00:44:23.21\00:44:25.23 And the smoke of that torment goes up forever and ever. 00:44:25.26\00:44:30.32 And they have no rest day and night 00:44:30.35\00:44:33.88 those who worship the beast and his image. 00:44:33.91\00:44:38.02 And whoever receives the mark of his name." 00:44:38.05\00:44:42.66 This is another problematic text of the Book of Revelation. 00:44:42.69\00:44:47.03 And many good Christians they invented 00:44:47.06\00:44:48.79 all kind of teachings and doctrines 00:44:48.82\00:44:50.78 or to support their beliefs by this text. 00:44:50.81\00:44:55.10 But you will notice that here is a warning 00:44:55.13\00:44:59.22 to the people who have to decide to what side to belong, 00:44:59.87\00:45:06.83 to telling them-- to telling them 00:45:06.86\00:45:08.99 on the consequences of their action. 00:45:09.02\00:45:11.31 Let me just use one illustration. 00:45:11.34\00:45:13.89 I meet many good Christians and they really believe 00:45:13.92\00:45:17.72 that this is Revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:45:17.75\00:45:20.38 And they come to me, they're asking me, 00:45:20.41\00:45:22.70 "How can such a threat come out of this book 00:45:22.73\00:45:28.87 that is titled to be the Revelation of Jesus Christ?" 00:45:28.90\00:45:31.49 We're talking about loving God. 00:45:31.52\00:45:32.89 And so many times when you're talking about God 00:45:32.92\00:45:35.06 with the big God as a sugar who is melting in his love. 00:45:35.09\00:45:38.16 Friends, we have to keep in mind 00:45:38.19\00:45:40.08 that the gospel message is a good news, 00:45:40.11\00:45:43.14 but also contains the aspect of judgment, 00:45:43.17\00:45:45.55 telling people about the consequences of their action. 00:45:45.58\00:45:48.26 I remember when we got our son. 00:45:48.29\00:45:52.51 Hey, he was my boy. 00:45:52.54\00:45:54.73 And then he was four and five, I will never forget. 00:45:54.76\00:45:58.34 You know, my wife, she loved the children so much. 00:45:58.37\00:46:01.82 I mean, like every mother. 00:46:01.85\00:46:05.23 I remember, one we had an oven 00:46:05.26\00:46:08.60 and my wife always try, you know, 00:46:08.63\00:46:10.55 to talk gently to children always, always. 00:46:10.58\00:46:14.61 I remember one day I heard my wife screaming 00:46:14.64\00:46:19.50 that almost the house was shaking, 00:46:19.53\00:46:23.55 screaming on my son. 00:46:23.58\00:46:26.54 I ran there in the room there and see actually it was my son 00:46:26.57\00:46:30.47 approaching the oven that was so hot 00:46:30.50\00:46:33.70 trying to put his a little hand there in oven. 00:46:33.73\00:46:39.74 Just think, could my wife stand there and say, 00:46:39.77\00:46:42.53 seeing our son trying to put his hand in the oven. 00:46:42.56\00:46:45.44 "Sam? 00:46:45.47\00:46:47.86 Sweetie, don't do it." Is that what she did? 00:46:47.89\00:46:51.35 No. She started screaming. 00:46:53.77\00:46:55.14 Why did she? Because, she wanted to make our son scare. 00:46:55.17\00:46:57.66 To--she was angry with him. 00:46:57.69\00:46:59.34 No, friends, because greater the danger is 00:46:59.37\00:47:03.80 the voice is louder and the warning is stronger. 00:47:03.83\00:47:06.86 Amen. Amen. Why this language? 00:47:06.89\00:47:10.05 Keep in mind-- keep in mind, 00:47:10.08\00:47:13.33 that the beast is using all the kind of threats 00:47:13.36\00:47:17.71 and fear to persuade the people of the earth 00:47:17.74\00:47:22.93 to receive the Mark of the Beast. 00:47:22.96\00:47:24.33 Are you--are you still, friends, with me? 00:47:24.36\00:47:26.42 So God has with His gospel 00:47:26.45\00:47:29.27 with His message of the third angel 00:47:29.30\00:47:31.82 to respond with the fear to the fear of the beast. 00:47:31.85\00:47:34.82 Telling people, "Don't be afraid of what 00:47:34.85\00:47:38.25 the beast is telling that will happen to you." 00:47:38.28\00:47:40.66 The beast is threatening to you that you will be killed, 00:47:40.69\00:47:43.19 that you will suffer persecution." 00:47:43.22\00:47:44.90 God said, "Be more afraid and concerned 00:47:44.93\00:47:48.42 about those far reaching the consequences." 00:47:48.45\00:47:51.65 Because the beast can kill you, the beast can make you suffer, 00:47:51.68\00:47:56.71 but this is just for a time. 00:47:56.74\00:47:58.92 You have to be afraid of those terrible consequences 00:47:58.95\00:48:03.80 is that eternal death that will happen 00:48:03.83\00:48:06.93 your future without any hope through all eternity. 00:48:06.96\00:48:09.95 This is exactly what Jesus said, 00:48:09.98\00:48:11.65 "Don't be afraid of those who're trying to kill 00:48:11.68\00:48:15.68 to take your body, to kill your body." Jesus said. 00:48:15.71\00:48:18.23 Jesus said, "Be more afraid of the one 00:48:18.26\00:48:22.03 who can kill both your body and your soul 00:48:22.06\00:48:25.48 and put it there in the hell." 00:48:25.51\00:48:26.91 It means, you're lost forever through all eternity. 00:48:26.94\00:48:29.29 Amen. Are you still with me? 00:48:29.32\00:48:30.84 Friends, we have to understand-- we have to understand this. 00:48:30.87\00:48:33.67 What God is doing here? 00:48:33.70\00:48:35.07 He is the loving God, but like a loving mother 00:48:35.10\00:48:37.58 He is screaming, He is screaming 00:48:37.61\00:48:40.32 to the inhabitants of this world. 00:48:40.35\00:48:43.27 Keep in mind that these angels who're proclaiming message, 00:48:43.30\00:48:45.93 they said, they're proclaiming this message with a loud voice 00:48:45.96\00:48:49.79 is the voice of my wife, screaming to the child. 00:48:49.82\00:48:53.29 For which purpose? 00:48:53.32\00:48:54.83 Not to make people afraid, but to make people think. 00:48:54.86\00:49:00.38 And to warn them of their action that they have to make, 00:49:00.41\00:49:02.84 but what a loving God, friends. 00:49:02.87\00:49:04.57 Amen. Amen. What a loving God. 00:49:04.60\00:49:06.69 Who want to save all human beings. 00:49:06.72\00:49:09.47 By the way, I'm just here 00:49:09.50\00:49:11.40 like to point to one special 00:49:11.43\00:49:14.20 phrase that is used here in the text, 00:49:17.60\00:49:19.99 and that's why people cannot reconcile 00:49:20.02\00:49:22.21 with the concept of a loving God there. 00:49:22.24\00:49:24.31 It says, "That people will experience the wrath of God." 00:49:24.34\00:49:30.21 We don't have a time to talk about that, 00:49:30.24\00:49:31.95 but in the Bible regularly, 00:49:31.98\00:49:33.74 the wrath of God is not God's anger 00:49:33.77\00:49:36.43 who's trying really to kill people 00:49:36.46\00:49:38.50 and after that to enjoy trampling over them, 00:49:38.53\00:49:41.51 watching them suffering through all eternity. 00:49:41.54\00:49:43.55 Actually, in the Bible the wrath of God is 00:49:43.58\00:49:46.04 when God respect the decision of the people 00:49:46.07\00:49:49.32 and let them go their ways. 00:49:49.35\00:49:51.10 In the Bible, when God gives up to the people 00:49:51.13\00:49:53.30 to the decisions that they have made. 00:49:53.33\00:49:57.00 It means that God respects the decision, our decisions. 00:49:57.03\00:50:00.18 But it says, "That all those--all those 00:50:00.21\00:50:03.51 who side with the beast receives the Mark of the Beast." 00:50:03.54\00:50:06.85 It says, "They will be put there in fire and brimstone 00:50:06.88\00:50:12.27 and the smoke of the torment goes up forever and ever 00:50:12.30\00:50:15.65 and they have no rest day and night. 00:50:15.68\00:50:18.26 Those who worship the beast and his image 00:50:18.29\00:50:20.52 and whoever receives the mark, the mark of his name." 00:50:20.55\00:50:24.71 There is a large body of Christians who believe 00:50:28.41\00:50:32.16 that God will punish human beings 00:50:32.19\00:50:33.99 who were against him. 00:50:34.02\00:50:36.03 Put them in that so called eternal hell 00:50:36.06\00:50:40.23 when people will be tormented in fire 00:50:40.26\00:50:42.52 through all eternity. 00:50:42.55\00:50:44.91 Dear, viewers, I just want to tell you 00:50:44.94\00:50:46.38 there is only one being in the entire universe 00:50:46.41\00:50:48.37 who invest--invent such theology, 00:50:48.40\00:50:51.76 its Satan himself. 00:50:51.79\00:50:54.06 Yum, there're other Christians 00:50:54.09\00:50:56.09 who tried to react to that concept, 00:50:56.12\00:50:57.73 they go to another one. 00:50:57.76\00:50:59.77 Finally, everybody will get in God's Kingdom. 00:50:59.80\00:51:01.90 There is no judgment. Friends, these are two extremes. 00:51:01.93\00:51:06.46 The Bible is telling us 00:51:06.49\00:51:08.11 that people according to Book of Revelation 00:51:08.14\00:51:10.32 will receive according to what they have done? 00:51:10.35\00:51:13.94 But the Bible does not teach of the concept 00:51:13.97\00:51:16.37 of that eternal torment 00:51:16.40\00:51:18.46 through all eternity that people will suffer. 00:51:18.49\00:51:20.08 So now you will ask me a questions, 00:51:20.11\00:51:21.94 how to understand about the smoke 00:51:21.97\00:51:26.70 coming out of that--okay, of that hell, 00:51:26.73\00:51:30.66 okay, for ever and ever. 00:51:30.69\00:51:33.04 I want you to understand one biblical concept is. 00:51:33.07\00:51:36.80 We have to go for instance 00:51:36.83\00:51:38.20 to the Old Testament and the New Testament. 00:51:38.23\00:51:39.86 If you go to the Book of Jude, for instance, Jude. 00:51:39.89\00:51:42.09 It's a small book. 00:51:42.12\00:51:43.49 Just prior to the Book of Revelation there, 00:51:43.52\00:51:47.31 just before the Book of Revelation. 00:51:47.34\00:51:49.78 Jude talks about Sodom and Gomorrah 00:51:49.81\00:51:54.80 and the cities around them. 00:51:54.83\00:51:56.55 Jude verse 7. 00:51:56.58\00:51:58.65 It says, "Since they in the same way 00:51:58.68\00:52:01.29 as these indulged in gross immorality 00:52:01.32\00:52:04.85 and went after strange flesh are exhibited 00:52:04.88\00:52:08.27 as an example in undergoing 00:52:08.30\00:52:10.30 the punishment of the eternal fire." 00:52:10.33\00:52:12.43 We know about Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:52:12.46\00:52:13.83 Do you remember when that fire came down from heaven 00:52:13.86\00:52:16.12 and destroyed two cities? 00:52:16.15\00:52:17.70 According to Jude, 00:52:17.73\00:52:19.34 those people were destroyed eternal fire. 00:52:19.37\00:52:24.97 I was several times in Israel. 00:52:25.00\00:52:26.99 By the way, in two weeks I'll be again there. 00:52:27.02\00:52:29.11 I'll be there on the place where Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:52:29.14\00:52:32.39 according to the tradition they're located. 00:52:32.42\00:52:34.92 I didn't see any fire. 00:52:34.95\00:52:37.25 I did not see any smoke arising there. 00:52:37.28\00:52:40.51 By the way, you can also find 00:52:40.54\00:52:42.20 in the Book of Isaiah 34:8-10, 00:52:42.23\00:52:46.09 with reference to Edom that was destroyed. 00:52:46.12\00:52:48.80 The same concept is found there. 00:52:48.83\00:52:51.26 About smoke coming from ever from ever 00:52:51.29\00:52:54.45 because of that destruction is. 00:52:54.48\00:52:56.29 Just briefly to say, we have to understand 00:52:56.32\00:52:58.35 that ancient Semitic concept 00:52:58.38\00:53:00.48 that is found there in the Bible. 00:53:00.51\00:53:02.51 When you are talking about eternal fire, 00:53:02.54\00:53:04.93 it's not the fire that is eternal, 00:53:04.96\00:53:07.63 it's the destruction that is eternal. 00:53:07.66\00:53:11.17 That war forever it means, 00:53:11.20\00:53:13.76 that the fire a last as long as 00:53:13.79\00:53:16.89 there is the material to be burnt. 00:53:16.92\00:53:19.50 This is that eternal. 00:53:19.53\00:53:20.90 Eternal does not mean through all eternity okay. 00:53:20.93\00:53:25.28 It means, it last as long as 00:53:25.31\00:53:27.78 it has to last to provide the complete explanation, 00:53:27.81\00:53:33.35 the complete destruction, and that's the end. 00:53:33.38\00:53:36.30 There is no, there is no recover, 00:53:36.33\00:53:39.78 okay after that. 00:53:39.81\00:53:41.87 You see, yeah, according to the Bible, 00:53:41.90\00:53:44.36 there is that eternal destruction is. 00:53:44.39\00:53:46.37 There is that eternal fire, but that fire does not mean that 00:53:46.40\00:53:50.49 people would suffer through all eternity. 00:53:50.52\00:53:53.05 It means that people will receive 00:53:53.08\00:53:54.65 that eternal destruction. 00:53:54.68\00:53:56.66 By the way, please allow me. 00:53:56.69\00:53:58.54 There is one text I have to point to this. 00:53:58.57\00:54:01.17 It really parallel the statement. 00:54:01.20\00:54:02.93 It's actually one of the last verses 00:54:02.96\00:54:05.94 of the Old Testament. 00:54:05.97\00:54:07.54 It's the Book of Malachi. 00:54:07.57\00:54:11.76 The Book of Malachi. 00:54:11.79\00:54:13.18 It's in Chapter 4:1. 00:54:19.60\00:54:22.25 It's the last chapter of the Old Testament. 00:54:22.28\00:54:26.83 It says, "For behold the day is coming 00:54:26.86\00:54:32.08 burning like a furnace. 00:54:32.11\00:54:35.27 And all the arrogant 00:54:35.30\00:54:36.85 and every evil doer will be chafed. 00:54:36.88\00:54:40.57 And the day that is coming will be set them ablaze 00:54:40.60\00:54:43.94 says, the Lord of hosts, 00:54:43.97\00:54:45.95 so it will believe them neither a root or branch." 00:54:45.98\00:54:49.85 This is actually what is eternal fire is. 00:54:49.88\00:54:53.07 The destruction is eternal. 00:54:53.10\00:54:56.23 Friends, according to the Bible, 00:54:56.26\00:54:58.14 God will destroy the sin and everything 00:54:58.17\00:55:00.42 what was with that sin. 00:55:00.45\00:55:02.64 So the sin will not rise up anymore in the universe. 00:55:02.67\00:55:07.10 When we say that this destruction 00:55:07.13\00:55:11.19 will be--will be eternal, 00:55:11.22\00:55:13.12 it means that Satan will be destroyed 00:55:13.15\00:55:15.50 as the originator of sin. 00:55:15.53\00:55:18.05 The sin will be destroyed. 00:55:18.08\00:55:19.71 Unfortunately, God will have also 00:55:19.74\00:55:22.96 to give the judgment, that right to judgment 00:55:22.99\00:55:26.20 all those people who made that choice, 00:55:26.23\00:55:28.86 willing choice--willing choice to side with Satan. 00:55:28.89\00:55:33.64 Friends, keep in mind. 00:55:33.67\00:55:35.34 What is that we're talking here about? 00:55:35.37\00:55:37.60 So we're not talking about the people 00:55:37.63\00:55:39.00 who just in ignorance were doing something. 00:55:39.03\00:55:41.79 They did not know something better. 00:55:41.82\00:55:44.37 According to the Book of Revelation, 00:55:44.40\00:55:46.68 these Three Angel Message-- Messages will be worldwide. 00:55:46.71\00:55:51.80 There is a special expression that is used here. 00:55:51.83\00:55:54.46 It says, "And I saw another angel flying in heaven 00:55:54.49\00:55:57.53 having the eternal gospel 00:55:57.56\00:55:59.17 to preach those who live on the earth 00:55:59.20\00:56:01.41 and to every nation-- to every nation 00:56:01.44\00:56:04.43 and to every tribe and tongue and the people 00:56:04.46\00:56:07.79 and he was saying it with a loud voice in Greek, 00:56:07.82\00:56:12.28 its megaphone there." 00:56:12.31\00:56:13.84 Can you imagine? 00:56:15.80\00:56:17.17 The two expressions are important 00:56:17.20\00:56:18.63 to every human being on the earth with a loud voice. 00:56:18.66\00:56:24.42 We're talking about the time 00:56:24.45\00:56:25.82 when nobody will be left in ignorance and say, 00:56:25.85\00:56:29.17 "I did not know." 00:56:29.20\00:56:31.13 We're talking about the time when every human being 00:56:31.16\00:56:34.33 will have to make that decision whether for God 00:56:34.36\00:56:39.80 or against God-- or against God. 00:56:39.83\00:56:42.51 By the way, in our next presentation, 00:56:42.54\00:56:45.95 we will have to conclude the Chapter 14. 00:56:45.98\00:56:49.16 You will see what will be the consequences of that 00:56:49.19\00:56:52.81 because God wants to be a just God. 00:56:52.84\00:56:56.91 He loves the human beings, 00:56:56.94\00:56:59.10 but God wants also to respect our decision. 00:56:59.13\00:57:02.81 What are the consequences of that decision? 00:57:02.84\00:57:05.31 We have to wait for our next presentations. 00:57:05.34\00:57:07.71 But if you go to verse 12, the statement is clear there. 00:57:07.74\00:57:12.33 This is one more time 00:57:12.36\00:57:13.73 the repetition of the Book of Revelation, 00:57:13.76\00:57:16.34 as this message is going throughout the world. 00:57:16.37\00:57:19.52 It says "Here is the perseverance of the saints 00:57:19.55\00:57:23.95 who keep the commandments of God 00:57:23.98\00:57:26.59 and their faith in Jesus." 00:57:26.62\00:57:28.37 Yes, God will have His people in those perilous times. 00:57:28.40\00:57:33.84