Welcome again to our program,
"Revelation of the Coming King."
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I don't know I am
becoming more and more excited
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and you can see
in my presentations,
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I'm now on fire.
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Because this is the
section is telling me
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about the time in which I
live now, and all we live.
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And what is
really waiting for us.
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But it's not
simply about the future
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it's about telling us how today
we have to come much closer
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in our
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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Once again, I'm
Ranko Stefanovic,
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Professor of the New Testament
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at the Seventh-day
Adventist Theological Seminary,
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Andrews University.
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And what we're doing here
is the part of that long series
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that titled
"Revelation of the Coming King".
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So we're trying to
cover all 22 chapters
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of the Book of
Revelation in this series so.
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If you have
missed some of those--
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of the programs presented,
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you still have a
chance to catch it up on.
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We would like to
remind you once again,
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that it is
impossible to cover everything,
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what is in the Book of
Revelation in these hours.
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But we would
like to encourage you
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once these programs are over,
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that you take into study
the word of God for our self.
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You can do it in
much, much deeper way.
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But you need some tools,
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the best tool I
recommended to all of you,
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I'm holding just in
my hands, is the Bible.
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The Bible is
infallible commentary
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on the Book of Revelation.
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If you follow the
instructions of the Bible
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and you go to the
Bible to find for the key
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of those difficult
symbolic expressions
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in the Book of Revelation.
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You cannot be far away from
the meaning of that text, okay.
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But you need
evidently some other tools
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and for these occasion I
just want to recommend one.
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It's actually written by me,
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it took several years of
my life to produce this volume
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and which is titled
"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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It's a verse-by-verse commentary
on the Book of Revelation.
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The purpose of this commentary
is not really to give us
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explanation of everything
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that is in the
Book of Revelation,
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even though it covers all verses
of the Book of Revelation.
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But the purpose is
really to give you the insight
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into those Old
Testament in other backgrounds.
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So to help you to understand
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the symbolic language of
the Book of Revelation is--
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that's why you
need many other books,
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because no book written
on the Book of Revelation
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covers everything
what is in this book.
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As you know every time
we're giving you the pages,
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so once this program is over,
you can go open these pages
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and then you can
study for yourself.
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And I'd like to
remind you that today,
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if you want to find the
material discovered today,
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is from page 463.
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Let me see how far
we'll be able to go, okay.
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It's from page
463 of this commentary
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tilted
"Revelation of Jesus Christ."
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But let me
remind you once again,
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all these tools are good.
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But there is something
that is most important is
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that we always
ask God for guidance.
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It is only the Holy Spirit
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who is able-- really
to help us to make sense
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of these difficult passages
of the Book of Revelation.
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And this is exactly
what we would like to do
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at this moment.
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Our Heavenly Father,
I am asking you humbly
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with sincerity of my
heart, that you come here
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and be with us and
with that of viewers
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and to help us
that we can understand
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these messages of
the Book of Revelation.
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Father please be with us
and give us your Holy Spirit,
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let the Holy Spirit
teach us into all the truth
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and we pray all of
this in the precious name
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of the one who died
on the cross of Calvary.
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The one who is the main subject
of the Book of Revelation,
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Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord.
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We pray all of this in
His precious name, amen.
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Okay, I would like to invite you
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to turn to the Book
of Revelation Chapter 14.
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We're still there.
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Okay, at the end--
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do you remember
last time we talked,
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what God will be doing at
the time of the preparation
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for the battle of Armageddon
for that final crisis.
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You see friends God will
not leave any person uninformed.
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The two things that
make us to think here.
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Number one, God does not want
to leave any person uninformed.
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But there is a second point is,
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if God does want to
leave any person uninformed,
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it means no person
will have an excuse.
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It's a great
responsibility on us.
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You see the purpose of
this Three Angels' Messages,
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Revelation 14:6-11.
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It's really to tell people
what will happen in the future
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and about the
consequences of that choice,
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whether positive or negative.
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But the Three Angels' Messages,
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they conclude with something
that is very significant.
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It's in verse 12.
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Boy, this is always
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a constant feature of
the Book of Revelation.
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Whenever we talk about
what people will be doing
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and choice that
people will be making
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and the majority of the people
will make that wrong choice.
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The Book of Revelation always
turn to positive, telling us--
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but be careful, if you
make the choice for God,
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you are not alone
because God will have
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many of His people those times.
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They're called
by different names,
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144,000, the Remnant,
the worshipers of God,
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the followers of the
Lamb, but here there is--
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for the first time the
expression that is used.
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Here verse 12 chapter14:12.
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"Here is the
perseverance of the saints,
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those who keep the
commandments of God
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and their faith in Jesus."
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How do God's
people here referred to?
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As the saints.
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You see the word saint
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does not refer to the
person who is sinless.
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We have even the
major Christian church
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who has-- has the saints.
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But they
recognize that those saints
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are not while they are alive.
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They become saints
only when they die.
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Of course and
everybody is a saint,
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because people
cannot see any longer.
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But see the word saint
here is applied to God's people
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who are alive, who will
live at the time of the end.
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And the word
saint is not the people
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who are really
completely sinless.
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The Greek word "hagios" actually
it means to be separated.
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It means those people are
not the part of the world.
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They do not have a share, okay,
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of decisions of the
majority of the world
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who'll side with the beast,
because they follow the Lamb.
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And they have
that characteristics.
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One more time the
Book of Revelation
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is reminding us, what
are the characteristics?
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The same that are
found in Revelation 12:17.
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"Those who keep
the commandments of God
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and their faith in Jesus."
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They're so loyal to Jesus,
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they cannot even
imagine to betray Him
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with any, any wrong decision.
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Praise God, I want
really to be part of that group
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called "The
saints of Jesus Christ."
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Praise God for that.
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If this is your decision,
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today you're
making great decision.
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Keep in mind,
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they do not become
saints in the final events.
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They have to become saints
before the final events come.
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This is what helped them
in their loyalty to Christ.
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And now it says,
there is a contrast
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and this is the
future of those saints.
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Boy, this is
very special for me.
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"And I heard the
voice from heaven saying,
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"Write, Blessed are the dead
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who die in the
Lord from now on!"
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Yes says the spirit,
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''so that they may
rest from their labors,
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for their deeds
follow with them."'
00:09:02.44\00:09:07.67
Actually, what we have
here blessed are the dead,
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who die in the Lord from now on.
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It's one of the seven blessings
of the Book of Revelation.
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Starting Chapter 1:3,
we have seven blessings.
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They have chiastic structure,
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they are
fantastically organized,
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so this one of
those seven blessings.
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Okay, why this warning?
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Why this
blessing promised to those
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who die in the Lord?
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Do you remember
in the Revelation 13,
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that the beast is
threatening to the people
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that whoever does not
receive the Mark of the Beast,
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that person should be
killed, persecuted as.
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Friends, this is
a greater challenge
00:09:44.33\00:09:46.18
to every person in this world.
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But you see, what God
is telling His people.
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"If you have
even to die for God,
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you're blessed from now on."
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You see when God
calls people to serve Him.
00:10:04.01\00:10:08.89
You remember in
the Revelation 3:10,
00:10:08.92\00:10:12.36
it said, "Be faithful to
God until the point of death.
00:10:12.39\00:10:16.95
And you will
receive the " Stefanos,
00:10:16.98\00:10:21.23
"the crown of life."
00:10:21.26\00:10:27.00
Yeah, we have to be reminded
00:10:27.03\00:10:29.58
that loyalty to God is
for the point of death.
00:10:29.61\00:10:32.77
But sometimes it's
much more difficult
00:10:32.80\00:10:34.99
to live for God and
then to die for Christ.
00:10:35.02\00:10:39.08
So this promise
involves all those
00:10:39.11\00:10:42.09
who'll even have to
give the lives for the gospel
00:10:42.12\00:10:46.97
and those who remain alive.
00:10:47.00\00:10:49.76
But look something
else here in this text,
00:10:49.79\00:10:52.91
it says, "Yes," says the Spirit,
00:10:52.94\00:10:55.64
"so that they may
rest from their labors,
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for their deeds
follow with them."
00:10:58.46\00:10:59.99
I don't know, at first glance,
00:11:00.02\00:11:02.13
this text does not
sound anything in particular.
00:11:02.16\00:11:07.64
But if you go to
the third angel message,
00:11:07.67\00:11:10.52
you will notice in
verse 11 that says,
00:11:10.55\00:11:13.56
that all those who
receive the Mark of the Beast,
00:11:13.59\00:11:16.53
they do not have rest day
and night-rest day and night.
00:11:16.56\00:11:22.98
Do you see that?
00:11:23.01\00:11:24.46
They don't have-- never rest.
00:11:24.49\00:11:26.27
But what about God's people?
00:11:26.30\00:11:28.45
A God's people if they
remain faithful to God,
00:11:28.48\00:11:32.69
they will always have the rest.
00:11:32.72\00:11:35.48
By the way the word rest
00:11:35.51\00:11:38.24
is particularly
significant here,
00:11:38.27\00:11:41.95
because when we go to the
Book of Hebrews 4:9-11 there,
00:11:41.98\00:11:47.21
we read that there is one rest
that is promised to God's people
00:11:47.24\00:11:51.68
of which the Sabbath is
the foretaste and foreshadow.
00:11:51.71\00:11:56.26
You see friends,
00:11:56.29\00:11:57.71
people because of
the fear of the future
00:11:57.74\00:12:00.41
because the fear
for their existence,
00:12:00.44\00:12:02.80
they will succumb
to their temptations
00:12:02.83\00:12:04.77
and what will happen
00:12:04.80\00:12:06.17
in the final crisis
hoping to find the rest.
00:12:06.20\00:12:09.43
This is actually what
Babylon promises to the people.
00:12:09.46\00:12:12.40
But according to
the Book of Revelation,
00:12:12.43\00:12:14.37
the true rest is found
only if we side with God,
00:12:14.40\00:12:19.36
if we obey God and if
we serve and worship God.
00:12:19.39\00:12:23.62
The true rest is
found only with God.
00:12:23.65\00:12:27.79
There is no rest.
00:12:27.82\00:12:29.19
According to the Book of Isaiah,
there is no rest to the wicked.
00:12:29.22\00:12:33.91
Oh, boy, this is a great,
great call to every human being
00:12:33.94\00:12:38.46
to really come closer to God
00:12:38.49\00:12:40.39
and to build his or
her future with God.
00:12:40.42\00:12:44.00
Now I would like to
ask you one question.
00:12:44.03\00:12:48.31
This is what Three
Angels' Messages are all about.
00:12:48.34\00:12:51.29
And the choice,
do you want rest?
00:12:51.32\00:12:54.89
Or you hope to find
the rest in something
00:12:54.92\00:12:57.18
that does not offer the rest.
00:12:57.21\00:13:00.23
Actually to
that concept of rest,
00:13:00.26\00:13:02.28
the human institution and
human day worship is related
00:13:02.31\00:13:05.77
in contrast to
God's day of rest.
00:13:05.80\00:13:09.89
That really give us the
taste, foretaste and foreshadow
00:13:09.92\00:13:12.87
of that eternal rest
that we will receive.
00:13:12.90\00:13:15.26
But is that eternal
gospel is being preached?
00:13:15.29\00:13:18.07
Now you have to help me.
00:13:18.10\00:13:19.75
How many groups of the
people are in the world?
00:13:19.78\00:13:26.40
Actually, three groups.
00:13:26.43\00:13:30.50
Let me explain.
00:13:30.53\00:13:32.15
One group of
people who are with God.
00:13:32.18\00:13:37.51
They are sealed and going
for the process of sealing.
00:13:37.54\00:13:42.06
They are so faithful to
God, they are so alert to God.
00:13:42.09\00:13:44.62
They follow the Lamb,
wherever the Lamb goes.
00:13:44.65\00:13:48.86
That's one side.
00:13:48.89\00:13:50.95
On the opposite side are
the worshippers of the beast
00:13:50.98\00:13:54.30
and the followers
of the beast. Okay.
00:13:54.33\00:13:58.69
They have the Mark of
the Beast on themselves
00:13:58.72\00:14:02.60
as the sign of their loyalty
to that human institutions
00:14:02.63\00:14:06.34
and the human
system, two groups.
00:14:06.37\00:14:09.59
But there is a third
group, and which group is that?
00:14:09.62\00:14:13.03
Those who belong
either there or there.
00:14:13.06\00:14:16.89
They are neutral.
00:14:16.92\00:14:18.29
They even may call
themselves to be Christians.
00:14:18.32\00:14:22.56
And they say, I
sometimes even go to the church,
00:14:22.59\00:14:25.38
three times in my
life when I was born,
00:14:25.41\00:14:29.08
when I got married
00:14:29.11\00:14:30.60
and the third time they
will take me there, when I die.
00:14:30.63\00:14:35.50
They call themselves Christian,
00:14:35.53\00:14:36.90
they say sometimes that if
you go like that to the church.
00:14:36.93\00:14:39.46
But they say you see, I belong
neither to God nor to Satan.
00:14:39.49\00:14:45.51
Maybe one day I will
make my decisions for God.
00:14:45.54\00:14:49.56
See, they are neutral.
00:14:49.59\00:14:51.72
They don't belong
to any of those groups.
00:14:51.75\00:14:54.50
You see friends, the efforts
of Satan and the effort of God
00:14:54.53\00:14:59.11
is not directed toward
that group or that group,
00:14:59.14\00:15:02.15
because that group made
already decision for God.
00:15:02.18\00:15:05.02
Or another group, God is
still trying to reach them.
00:15:05.05\00:15:07.95
The main target of
those Three Angels' Messages
00:15:07.98\00:15:11.33
is that group
that comes between.
00:15:11.36\00:15:14.35
God is trying to
reach the human beings
00:15:14.38\00:15:19.15
to tell them about the
decision that they have to make
00:15:19.18\00:15:21.66
and the consequences
of the wrong decisions.
00:15:21.69\00:15:25.24
Not because of the
threat, because God loves them.
00:15:25.27\00:15:29.68
In the same time as the
parent say to their children.
00:15:29.71\00:15:33.21
Hey, you're
making this decision,
00:15:33.24\00:15:34.99
these are the consequences.
00:15:35.02\00:15:37.02
Parents are not doing that,
00:15:37.05\00:15:38.49
because they
hate their children,
00:15:38.52\00:15:39.96
but because they love them,
and they want to prevent them
00:15:39.99\00:15:43.03
to make a wrong decision.
00:15:43.06\00:15:44.43
Are you still with me?
00:15:44.46\00:15:46.45
But once the proclamation
00:15:46.48\00:15:49.88
of the
everlasting gospel is done.
00:15:49.91\00:15:54.01
And when every
human being is confronted
00:15:54.04\00:15:58.12
with what decision to make,
00:15:58.15\00:15:59.68
every human
being finally will side
00:15:59.71\00:16:02.65
either for God or against God.
00:16:02.68\00:16:05.18
There is the
conclusion of the proclamation
00:16:05.21\00:16:08.08
and there's the
conclusion of the time that God
00:16:08.11\00:16:11.96
allotted to the human
beings to make their decision.
00:16:11.99\00:16:15.42
And then the preaching of the
everlasting gospel is concluded.
00:16:15.45\00:16:19.97
Now they are only two groups.
00:16:20.00\00:16:24.78
And those two groups
are actually presented
00:16:24.81\00:16:29.34
in this section of
the Book of Revelation.
00:16:29.37\00:16:31.66
Friends one more time,
00:16:31.69\00:16:33.06
the Book of Revelation
is fantastically organized.
00:16:33.09\00:16:36.26
Because people so many
times read superficially,
00:16:36.29\00:16:41.40
they don't see what is there
00:16:41.43\00:16:42.84
and they think that the Book
of Revelation is not organized.
00:16:42.87\00:16:45.65
Please read these
verses, they do not talk
00:16:45.68\00:16:47.47
about the second
coming of Christ.
00:16:47.50\00:16:49.91
Actually these verses uses--
use the Old Testament image,
00:16:49.94\00:16:55.88
to tell us about something.
00:16:55.91\00:16:57.52
It's about two camps,
about two groups of people
00:16:57.55\00:17:02.50
in the final
events at the conclusion
00:17:02.53\00:17:04.78
of the proclamation of
the everlasting gospel.
00:17:04.81\00:17:07.27
And they're portrayed
in terms of two harvests.
00:17:07.30\00:17:11.25
Okay let's read quickly
what we have here verse 14.
00:17:11.28\00:17:16.63
"Then I looked and
behold a white cloud,
00:17:16.66\00:17:21.01
and one sitting on the
cloud was like a son of man,
00:17:21.04\00:17:25.59
having a golden
crown on his head
00:17:25.62\00:17:29.16
and the sharp
sickle in his hand.
00:17:29.19\00:17:32.48
And another angel
came out of the temple
00:17:32.51\00:17:34.86
crying out with a loud voice
to him who sat on the cloud.
00:17:34.89\00:17:39.68
Put in your sickle and read
for the hour to reap has come,
00:17:39.71\00:17:45.70
because the harvest
of the earth is ripe.
00:17:45.73\00:17:49.52
Then he, who sat on the cloud,
swung his sickle over the earth.
00:17:49.55\00:17:55.44
And the earth was reaped."
00:17:55.47\00:17:59.90
What do we have here?
00:17:59.93\00:18:01.30
We have that end time harvest.
00:18:01.33\00:18:04.43
If you really
want to understand,
00:18:04.46\00:18:05.83
what we have here.
00:18:05.86\00:18:07.24
We have to read this text
00:18:07.27\00:18:09.03
through the glasses of
the parable that Jesus made.
00:18:09.06\00:18:13.05
And actually we're very
lucky, that Jesus also provided
00:18:13.08\00:18:16.82
the
interpretation of that parable.
00:18:16.85\00:18:19.11
If you remember about
that bad and good seed event,
00:18:19.14\00:18:22.26
when that person
put there in the ground.
00:18:22.29\00:18:24.48
It's in Matthew 13:39-41
00:18:24.51\00:18:28.39
when Jesus really talks
about the end of the world
00:18:28.42\00:18:31.77
in terms of the great harvest.
00:18:31.80\00:18:34.19
Of all those, who have taken God
00:18:34.22\00:18:39.34
to be the first and
the last in their lives.
00:18:39.37\00:18:41.33
Those who have sided with God--
00:18:41.36\00:18:43.19
they are the
wheat harvest, okay.
00:18:43.22\00:18:45.29
And they'll be put their
00:18:45.32\00:18:46.86
in the store
houses there, oh God.
00:18:46.89\00:18:49.52
But all those who rejected God
00:18:49.55\00:18:51.88
from their lives
they will be put there--
00:18:51.91\00:18:54.11
okay put into other place,
ready for the destruction.
00:18:54.14\00:18:58.14
So we have really the two texts
00:18:58.17\00:19:01.63
that they are
parallel to each other.
00:19:01.66\00:19:03.65
So this is not about
the second coming of Christ
00:19:03.68\00:19:05.82
or better to say, yeah,
00:19:05.85\00:19:07.22
it's the second
coming of Christ.
00:19:07.25\00:19:08.62
But not the very arrival
of Jesus down to the earth.
00:19:08.65\00:19:12.29
All the
preparations are now made, okay.
00:19:12.32\00:19:14.94
The gospel--the preaching
of the gospel is concluded.
00:19:14.97\00:19:17.94
Now Jesus is ready to come.
00:19:17.97\00:19:19.55
But before Jesus comes,
it has to be made a decision,
00:19:19.58\00:19:23.53
which is
actually the proclamation
00:19:23.56\00:19:25.32
of the pre-advent
judgment, that has to take place
00:19:25.35\00:19:29.17
prior to the
second coming of Christ.
00:19:29.20\00:19:30.78
So we're talking
here about the righteous.
00:19:30.81\00:19:33.46
You see we've the
harvest of the righteous. Okay.
00:19:33.49\00:19:37.42
As the result
of the proclamation
00:19:37.45\00:19:39.17
of the everlasting gospel,
00:19:39.20\00:19:40.57
those people who have
accepted the gospel message
00:19:40.60\00:19:43.11
and they have sided with God.
00:19:43.14\00:19:45.28
However, there is another group
00:19:45.31\00:19:46.84
that is mentioned
here in these texts.
00:19:46.87\00:19:49.39
It says verse 17 "
00:19:49.42\00:19:51.21
And another angel
came out of the temple
00:19:51.24\00:19:53.98
which is in heaven, and
he also had a sharp sickle,
00:19:54.01\00:19:59.12
then another angel the
one who as a power of the fire
00:19:59.15\00:20:03.20
came out from the altar.
00:20:03.23\00:20:05.96
And he called
with loud voice to him
00:20:05.99\00:20:08.62
who had sharp sickle
saying, put in your sharp sickle
00:20:08.65\00:20:13.31
and gather the clusters
from the wine of the earth,
00:20:13.34\00:20:18.02
because her grapes are ripe.
00:20:18.05\00:20:20.85
So the angel swung
his sickle to the earth
00:20:20.88\00:20:23.60
and gathered the clusters
from the vine of the earth,
00:20:23.63\00:20:27.12
and threw them into the great
wine press of the wrath of God."
00:20:27.15\00:20:32.67
Now there's another harvest.
But this is the great harvest.
00:20:32.70\00:20:38.26
Great harvest, of whom?
00:20:38.29\00:20:41.84
All those who rejected God.
00:20:41.87\00:20:45.10
Those who made
that wrong decision
00:20:45.13\00:20:48.02
willingly and knowingly
they made a wrong decision is.
00:20:48.05\00:20:52.02
You see they are also
guarded, but for what purpose?
00:20:52.05\00:20:57.81
You see, the first group is
put there in the storehouse.
00:20:57.84\00:21:01.65
They are ready for the kingdom,
00:21:01.68\00:21:03.55
but the second group
is put there to experience
00:21:03.58\00:21:07.19
the consequences
of their decision.
00:21:07.22\00:21:11.60
By the way the language
00:21:11.63\00:21:13.83
that we have here is
sometimes confusing is.
00:21:13.86\00:21:17.36
But it's taken
from the Old Testament.
00:21:17.39\00:21:20.28
It's taken from for
instance, Book of Isaiah 63:1-6.
00:21:20.31\00:21:24.76
We'll not read this text.
00:21:24.79\00:21:26.60
I would like to
invite all of you
00:21:26.63\00:21:28.35
that you read
this text for yourself.
00:21:28.38\00:21:31.11
The text talks about
God who's coming trampling,
00:21:31.14\00:21:35.88
okay in the winepress
over the enemies of His people
00:21:35.91\00:21:43.03
who make them suffer.
00:21:43.06\00:21:45.28
And who try to
destroy the God's people.
00:21:45.31\00:21:50.07
But there is also
another text in the Book of Joel
00:21:50.10\00:21:52.29
and please allow me,
00:21:52.32\00:21:53.69
I would like to turn
to this text. It's Joel 2.
00:21:53.72\00:21:58.50
I have to just decide which
text to read they are too many.
00:21:58.53\00:22:03.24
But just that that you'll see,
00:22:03.27\00:22:04.91
how the Book of Revelation
is rooted in the Old Testament.
00:22:04.94\00:22:09.13
The Book of Joel 3,
we read verses 2 and 3.
00:22:09.16\00:22:15.93
Let's read from verse 1,
00:22:15.96\00:22:17.81
"For behold, in those
days and at that time,
00:22:17.84\00:22:20.37
when I restore the
fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
00:22:20.40\00:22:23.05
I will gather all the nations
00:22:23.08\00:22:24.81
and bring them down to
the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
00:22:24.84\00:22:28.27
Then I will enter
into judgment to with them,
00:22:28.30\00:22:30.64
on behalf of my people
and my inheritance Israel,
00:22:30.67\00:22:33.82
Whom they have
scattered among the nations.
00:22:33.85\00:22:36.28
And they have
divided up my land.
00:22:36.31\00:22:39.13
They have also
cast lots for my people,
00:22:39.16\00:22:42.63
traded a boy for a harlot,
00:22:42.66\00:22:44.87
and sold a girl for
wine that they may drink.
00:22:44.90\00:22:49.97
Now let's read
verse 13, it says,
00:22:50.00\00:22:53.96
put in the sickle,
for the harvest is ripe.
00:22:53.99\00:22:57.47
Come, tread, for
the wine press is full.
00:22:57.50\00:23:01.84
The vats overflow, for
their wickedness is great.
00:23:01.87\00:23:04.74
You can see, and
there're many, many other texts
00:23:04.77\00:23:08.01
that you can
find in my commentary
00:23:08.04\00:23:09.56
when you study
for yourself there.
00:23:09.59\00:23:12.19
That you see how this imagery
00:23:12.22\00:23:14.48
is taken actually
from the Old Testament.
00:23:14.51\00:23:19.11
Okay, without spending too
much time here on this text.
00:23:19.14\00:23:24.84
You'll ask yourself a question,
00:23:24.87\00:23:26.24
what is the
purpose of these sections?
00:23:26.27\00:23:28.45
Actually this is
the introduction,
00:23:28.48\00:23:32.49
to what follows.
00:23:32.52\00:23:36.86
Have you ever thought
00:23:36.89\00:23:41.09
in what section of
the Book of Revelation
00:23:41.12\00:23:44.67
is that threading or trampling
00:23:44.70\00:23:50.18
of the grapes in the press
00:23:50.21\00:23:54.08
is described there in
the Book of Revelation.
00:23:54.11\00:23:57.34
Now actually the
seven last plagues.
00:23:57.37\00:24:02.28
What you've here
is the introduction
00:24:02.31\00:24:04.90
and actually this vision
00:24:04.93\00:24:07.47
is further
elaborated here in chapter 15.
00:24:07.50\00:24:11.05
I would like you
to turn to chapter 15.
00:24:11.08\00:24:13.64
So that you see
what we have here.
00:24:13.67\00:24:17.50
You'll see that
actually chapter 15,
00:24:17.53\00:24:20.00
this is an input
to these texts here,
00:24:20.03\00:24:21.73
Chapter 15, okay it's
repetition of Chapter 14:14-20.
00:24:21.76\00:24:28.10
But they're put
in different way.
00:24:28.13\00:24:29.95
Here is the high
symbolic language.
00:24:29.98\00:24:32.56
Are you still with me?
00:24:32.59\00:24:33.96
Here is the high
symbolic language
00:24:33.99\00:24:35.36
taken from the Old Testament
00:24:35.39\00:24:36.85
and actually the
parables of Jesus, okay.
00:24:36.88\00:24:39.39
The two harvests but
here now it's described
00:24:39.42\00:24:43.92
in the very practical
term about this harvest,
00:24:43.95\00:24:48.80
wheat harvest and
the grape harvest.
00:24:48.83\00:24:51.65
Let's read in the Revelation 15.
00:24:51.68\00:24:54.82
"And I saw another sign in
heaven, great and marvelous,
00:24:54.85\00:24:58.96
seven angels who
had seven plagues,
00:24:58.99\00:25:02.63
which are the
last, because in them
00:25:02.66\00:25:06.42
the wrath of God is finished."
00:25:06.45\00:25:08.22
Now the Book of
Revelation begins a new section,
00:25:08.25\00:25:12.64
is telling us
00:25:12.67\00:25:14.49
that as the preaching
of the gospel is concluded.
00:25:14.52\00:25:17.91
Those people who
made the decision
00:25:17.94\00:25:20.58
knowingly and willingly.
00:25:20.61\00:25:21.99
Please, I'm
repeating this constantly,
00:25:22.02\00:25:23.74
knowingly and willingly.
They sided with Satan.
00:25:23.77\00:25:27.37
They turned their
back completely to God.
00:25:27.40\00:25:30.23
God wants now to show them
00:25:30.26\00:25:32.13
the consequences
of their decision.
00:25:32.16\00:25:34.63
Not that God enjoys
in indulging Himself
00:25:34.66\00:25:37.55
in punishing people.
00:25:37.58\00:25:38.95
Simply to show them
00:25:38.98\00:25:40.65
the consequences
of their decision is.
00:25:40.68\00:25:42.80
So these
consequences of decision
00:25:42.83\00:25:47.91
is portrayed as the trampling,
00:25:47.94\00:25:52.47
okay, of the
grapes in the press."
00:25:52.50\00:25:55.77
Here in the
Revelation 15 they're mentioned
00:25:55.80\00:25:58.35
as the seven last plagues.
00:25:58.38\00:26:01.72
But you'll notice
here something in the text.
00:26:01.75\00:26:03.20
It says, "The seven
last plagues are the last."
00:26:03.23\00:26:07.71
Why the last?
I'm sorry, friends.
00:26:07.74\00:26:11.89
As we are taping this series,
00:26:11.92\00:26:16.31
if some of you comes in and say,
00:26:16.34\00:26:17.95
"You're the
last." What does it mean?
00:26:17.98\00:26:20.53
That's somebody came before you.
00:26:20.56\00:26:23.08
You cannot be the last
if you are the only one.
00:26:23.11\00:26:28.04
Something to be last,
00:26:28.07\00:26:29.44
something has to
come before that last one.
00:26:29.47\00:26:32.33
If these plagues
are the last one,
00:26:32.36\00:26:33.93
what does it mean?
00:26:33.96\00:26:35.33
The plagues
that were before them
00:26:35.36\00:26:36.97
and these are the
plagues of the seven trumpets.
00:26:37.00\00:26:41.34
Unfortunately,
there are some Christians
00:26:41.37\00:26:43.05
who called themselves futurists,
00:26:43.08\00:26:45.40
who are advocating the
idea that the seven last plagues
00:26:45.43\00:26:49.00
and the seven trumpets
are one and the same thing.
00:26:49.03\00:26:53.14
We already dealt
with that concept,
00:26:53.17\00:26:54.54
if you remember at the
beginning of this series.
00:26:54.57\00:26:57.73
And sometimes the
language is confusing
00:26:57.76\00:27:00.04
because the language
of the seven trumpets
00:27:00.07\00:27:02.17
and the language of
the seven last plagues
00:27:02.20\00:27:04.06
is very, very much similar.
00:27:04.09\00:27:06.72
But you remember the difference
00:27:06.75\00:27:08.60
that that seven trumpets,
00:27:08.63\00:27:11.48
okay, they hated
the rebellious humanity.
00:27:11.51\00:27:15.27
During the time as intercession
00:27:15.30\00:27:18.63
was going there
in heavenly places.
00:27:18.66\00:27:22.62
They were not simply punitive.
00:27:22.65\00:27:25.26
They were for the purpose
to open the eyes of people
00:27:25.29\00:27:29.94
and to bring them back to God.
00:27:29.97\00:27:31.98
So the seven
trumpets are taking place
00:27:32.01\00:27:35.84
as the gospel is being preached,
as the intercession of Jesus
00:27:35.87\00:27:40.19
in the heavenly
place is taking place.
00:27:40.22\00:27:42.29
Are you still with me?
00:27:42.32\00:27:44.56
And they were very, very partial
00:27:44.59\00:27:47.11
in the effect, okay.
00:27:47.14\00:27:50.15
They were
intended to save people
00:27:50.18\00:27:52.75
to bring closer to God.
00:27:52.78\00:27:54.46
However, we come
to seven last plagues,
00:27:54.49\00:27:58.64
even though the
language is very, very similar.
00:27:58.67\00:28:02.09
Keep in mind the seven
last plagues are the last.
00:28:02.12\00:28:05.11
The seven trumpets are
never in the last plagues.
00:28:05.14\00:28:08.32
They're never
referred to as the last
00:28:08.35\00:28:10.30
in the Book of Revelation.
00:28:10.33\00:28:12.90
One more time, when
historically and timely,
00:28:12.93\00:28:17.95
where do the seven
last plagues take place?
00:28:17.98\00:28:21.95
After the conclusion of
the preaching of the gospel--
00:28:21.98\00:28:25.26
Are you still with me?
00:28:25.29\00:28:26.96
After the conclusion of
the preaching of the gospel,
00:28:26.99\00:28:32.54
the decision is made.
00:28:32.57\00:28:34.99
Keep in mind,
00:28:35.02\00:28:37.27
we have something to
mention very important,
00:28:37.30\00:28:38.87
seven last
plagues are not intended
00:28:38.90\00:28:41.11
to bring anybody to God
00:28:41.14\00:28:43.66
because the mercy is concluded.
00:28:43.69\00:28:46.53
Intercession is done.
00:28:46.56\00:28:48.52
People have made their decisions
00:28:48.55\00:28:50.76
and decision who
is for the kingdom
00:28:50.79\00:28:53.27
and who'll be left
out is already made.
00:28:53.30\00:28:57.46
By the way, if you
go to Revelation 15:8,
00:28:57.49\00:29:04.93
we read that there's something
00:29:04.96\00:29:06.60
that is very
significant and very important
00:29:06.63\00:29:09.47
for the understanding
of the seven last plagues.
00:29:09.50\00:29:13.43
And it reads there,
00:29:13.46\00:29:15.15
"And the temple
was filled with smoke."
00:29:15.18\00:29:18.09
Keep in mind that the angels
that are destroying the place
00:29:18.12\00:29:23.40
are coming from
the temple it says,
00:29:23.43\00:29:24.83
"And the temple
was filled with smoke,
00:29:24.86\00:29:27.25
from the glory of
God and from his power
00:29:27.28\00:29:30.20
and no one was
able to enter the temple
00:29:30.23\00:29:33.88
until the seven plagues
00:29:33.91\00:29:35.75
of the seven
angels were finished."
00:29:35.78\00:29:38.36
Friends, this is
very important text,
00:29:38.39\00:29:40.27
telling us about the time,
00:29:40.30\00:29:42.60
the timing of the
seven last plagues.
00:29:42.63\00:29:45.17
Keep in mind it says,
that before the plagues
00:29:45.20\00:29:50.01
hit the rebellious humanity,
what happens there in heaven?
00:29:50.04\00:29:53.83
That the Temple of
God that do you remember
00:29:53.86\00:29:56.00
we talked about the temple
that is there in heavenly place
00:29:56.03\00:29:58.54
is filled with smoke,
so nobody could enter.
00:29:58.57\00:30:01.58
I just want to show
to you one more time,
00:30:01.61\00:30:04.60
how Old Testament is important
00:30:04.63\00:30:07.36
for the understanding
of the Book of Revelation.
00:30:07.39\00:30:10.02
There're two texts, okay.
00:30:10.05\00:30:14.20
The first text is in
Exodus 40: 34 and 35.
00:30:14.23\00:30:18.67
I will not read this text,
00:30:18.70\00:30:21.79
because there is another text,
00:30:21.82\00:30:23.95
that it's almost identical
00:30:23.98\00:30:26.49
which is mentioned
in 1 Kings 8:10-11.
00:30:26.52\00:30:32.05
The first text talks
about the tabernacle, the tent,
00:30:32.08\00:30:37.80
the sanctuary that was
built by Moses in wilderness.
00:30:37.83\00:30:41.48
In 1 Kings 8:10-11,
00:30:41.51\00:30:44.86
we have about the
temple built by Solomon.
00:30:44.89\00:30:48.44
You see when the
building of the tent
00:30:48.47\00:30:50.48
and the building of the temple
00:30:50.51\00:30:51.91
was concluded,
the same happened.
00:30:51.94\00:30:53.75
That's the reason
we're reading only one text.
00:30:53.78\00:30:55.65
Let's read 1
Kings 8:10-11, it says,
00:30:55.68\00:31:00.05
"It happened that
when the priests came
00:31:00.08\00:31:02.59
from the holy place,
00:31:02.62\00:31:04.27
the cloud filled
the house of the Lord,
00:31:04.30\00:31:07.44
so that the
priests could not stand
00:31:07.47\00:31:09.81
to minister
because of the cloud,
00:31:09.84\00:31:12.37
for the glory of the Lord
filled the house of the Lord."
00:31:12.40\00:31:16.98
This is what happened when
the temple of Solomon was built.
00:31:17.01\00:31:19.99
Now please, you have
now to help me something.
00:31:20.02\00:31:21.98
What does it mean?
00:31:23.11\00:31:24.48
That the temple was filled with
the smoke of the glory of God
00:31:25.67\00:31:28.93
and the priest could
not enter the temple.
00:31:28.96\00:31:33.76
What happens when the
priest are not in the temple?
00:31:33.79\00:31:36.88
There is no intercession.
00:31:37.98\00:31:39.38
Are you still with me?
00:31:40.65\00:31:42.02
There's no intercession.
00:31:42.05\00:31:43.42
We have to
understand the significance
00:31:45.37\00:31:46.74
of this phrase
from the Old Testament.
00:31:46.77\00:31:48.33
So let's go back
to Revelation 15:8.
00:31:48.36\00:31:52.15
The fact that seven last plagues
00:31:52.18\00:31:54.62
are poured out on
the rebellious humanity.
00:31:54.65\00:31:57.65
After the temple was filled
with smoke of the glory of God
00:32:00.07\00:32:04.71
and for His
power no one was able
00:32:04.74\00:32:07.29
to enter the temple until
the plagues are poured out.
00:32:07.32\00:32:10.28
What does it mean?
00:32:10.31\00:32:11.68
It means that there
are seven last plagues.
00:32:12.63\00:32:15.51
They happened as the
intercession of the Jesus Christ
00:32:15.54\00:32:19.97
in the heavenly
places is concluded.
00:32:20.00\00:32:21.96
You see people
don't have a chance
00:32:24.82\00:32:26.30
any longer to make
their decision for God.
00:32:26.33\00:32:29.43
By the way in order to
avoid any misunderstanding
00:32:29.46\00:32:34.00
whether by you or
by the viewers to say,
00:32:34.03\00:32:36.32
so God is not
giving him any chance.
00:32:36.35\00:32:38.60
You'll see that.
00:32:38.63\00:32:40.99
That even the seven last plagues
00:32:41.02\00:32:43.58
will not turn people to God.
00:32:43.61\00:32:46.46
Even to show any desire
00:32:46.49\00:32:49.70
to change their
decision that they make.
00:32:49.73\00:32:53.08
The seven last plagues
do not bring anybody to God.
00:32:53.11\00:32:57.39
Simply show what
is in the human heart.
00:32:57.42\00:32:59.56
That was people, who made
their decisions against God.
00:32:59.59\00:33:04.15
They did it
knowingly and willingly
00:33:04.18\00:33:07.46
and there is
nothing in this world
00:33:07.49\00:33:11.08
that can change their hearts.
00:33:11.11\00:33:14.51
This is friends,
this is the main purpose
00:33:14.54\00:33:17.17
of this text to tell us.
00:33:17.20\00:33:18.58
Now there's a question then.
00:33:18.61\00:33:20.30
What is the purpose of
the seven last plagues?
00:33:20.33\00:33:23.83
This what we want
now to understand.
00:33:23.86\00:33:25.83
Because we'll not go and
try to understand every plague,
00:33:25.86\00:33:28.79
because you can
study for yourself.
00:33:28.82\00:33:30.29
We want to
understand the purpose
00:33:30.32\00:33:32.67
and the
intention of these plagues.
00:33:32.70\00:33:35.11
As you read in
Chapter 15 from verse 2-5.
00:33:35.14\00:33:39.25
One more time
144,000 is mentioned.
00:33:39.28\00:33:42.52
By the way they are not here
00:33:42.55\00:33:43.96
mentioned refer to as 144,000.
00:33:43.99\00:33:48.76
But you'll notice
it's the same group.
00:33:48.79\00:33:50.46
Where are they? Where are they?
00:33:52.54\00:33:55.71
They said in verse
2, "I saw something
00:33:55.74\00:33:58.40
like a sea of
glass mixed with fire,
00:33:58.43\00:34:00.98
and those who
had been victorious
00:34:01.01\00:34:03.00
over the beast and his image
and the number of his name,
00:34:03.03\00:34:06.45
standing on the sea of
glass, holding harps of God.
00:34:06.48\00:34:10.66
And they were
singing the song of Moses,
00:34:10.69\00:34:14.12
the servant of God, and
the song of the Lamb saying."
00:34:14.15\00:34:17.77
Please what that's
scene, what picture
00:34:17.80\00:34:21.50
does come to your
mind as we're reading this.
00:34:21.53\00:34:23.84
By the way the seven
last plagues are built
00:34:25.57\00:34:29.10
on the scene of
Egyptian plagues.
00:34:29.13\00:34:32.08
And you remember after
the plagues, what happened?
00:34:32.11\00:34:34.83
The people of
Israel left the Egypt.
00:34:34.86\00:34:37.48
They came to the sea,
00:34:37.51\00:34:38.88
you remember
after the destruction
00:34:38.91\00:34:40.28
of the Egyptians
and we have Miriam
00:34:40.31\00:34:43.82
was leading the all choir
of the people of the Israel,
00:34:43.85\00:34:46.79
singing the song of Moses.
00:34:46.82\00:34:49.56
By taking this image of
Israel coming out of Egypt,
00:34:49.59\00:34:54.29
Exodus of Israel from Egypt.
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.85
Now the Book of
Revelation portrays God's people
00:34:56.88\00:34:59.28
at the time of
the seven last plagues
00:34:59.31\00:35:01.49
"they are victorious."
00:35:01.52\00:35:03.65
You see Egyptians were killed,
00:35:03.68\00:35:05.78
but Israelis were spared.
00:35:05.81\00:35:07.95
So here as the
seven last plagues
00:35:07.98\00:35:09.85
are hitting the
rebellious humanity.
00:35:09.88\00:35:11.93
What about God's People?
00:35:11.96\00:35:13.33
Do you remember
the wheat harvest?
00:35:13.36\00:35:16.37
They are secured there
in the store houses of God.
00:35:16.40\00:35:21.59
The seven last
plagues will not harm them.
00:35:21.62\00:35:24.31
Even though God's people
00:35:24.34\00:35:25.71
will in certain
measures experience
00:35:25.74\00:35:27.32
the consequences of
the seven last plagues.
00:35:27.35\00:35:29.78
Keep in mind they
still live on the earth.
00:35:29.81\00:35:32.45
But the Revelation 7, they said,
00:35:32.48\00:35:35.15
they will not hunger any longer.
00:35:35.18\00:35:37.41
They will not thirst any longer.
00:35:37.44\00:35:39.49
The sun will not
scorch them, why?
00:35:39.52\00:35:42.25
Because these are
all the consequences
00:35:42.28\00:35:44.35
of the seven last plagues.
00:35:44.38\00:35:45.93
God's people somehow
will have share an experience.
00:35:45.96\00:35:50.10
But the seven last
plagues will not harm them,
00:35:50.13\00:35:52.44
as they will harm
the rebellious humanity?
00:35:52.47\00:35:55.07
So they are spared.
00:35:55.10\00:35:56.77
Okay, so now the text
goes on in Chapter 16.
00:35:56.80\00:36:02.70
Keep in mind we're
now going to Chapter 16.
00:36:02.73\00:36:05.08
Now we have the treading,
00:36:05.11\00:36:07.83
trampling of the
grapes in the press there.
00:36:07.86\00:36:13.87
Okay, it says verse 16,
"Then I heard the loud voice
00:36:13.90\00:36:17.74
from the temple--" you
see it comes from the temple.
00:36:17.77\00:36:19.80
"Saying to the seven angels,
00:36:21.06\00:36:23.11
"Go and pour out on the earth
00:36:23.14\00:36:25.76
the seven bowls
of the wrath of God."
00:36:25.79\00:36:28.98
I would like here to
address one issue is.
00:36:29.01\00:36:31.46
You see the temple
is here the key concept,
00:36:31.49\00:36:33.61
everything comes
from the temple of God.
00:36:33.64\00:36:35.27
It's in the temple
the decision is made,
00:36:36.52\00:36:40.02
who's for the
kingdom and who's not?
00:36:40.05\00:36:42.40
And I know I meet my
fellow Christian somewhere
00:36:43.80\00:36:47.50
and they are
familiar with the statement
00:36:47.53\00:36:48.95
and during that time,
00:36:48.98\00:36:51.13
God's people will live
without the intercessor.
00:36:51.16\00:36:54.53
Keep in mind the
close of the probation is.
00:36:54.56\00:36:56.97
There is no intercession
there in the heavenly places
00:36:57.00\00:36:59.55
and some of those
people they are so much afraid.
00:36:59.58\00:37:04.16
They are asking themselves, boy,
00:37:04.19\00:37:05.89
who will be able
to stand on that day.
00:37:05.92\00:37:08.68
How we will be able to
live without intercessor.
00:37:08.71\00:37:11.93
Friends, yes during those times
00:37:11.96\00:37:14.71
God's people will live
without intercessor, because,
00:37:14.74\00:37:17.83
there's no intercession
in the heavenly places.
00:37:17.86\00:37:20.55
But we don't have any
statement in the entire Bible,
00:37:20.58\00:37:23.77
that during the
time, God's people
00:37:23.80\00:37:25.58
will live without Jesus Christ.
00:37:25.61\00:37:28.20
Amen.
00:37:28.23\00:37:29.73
Our Savior will be
with us, He promised to us,
00:37:29.76\00:37:32.79
"I will be with you always,
until the very end of the age."
00:37:32.82\00:37:36.86
they followed the Lamb
wherever the Lamb goes.
00:37:38.88\00:37:41.73
Nobody and nothing will separate
God's people from their Savior.
00:37:41.76\00:37:46.21
But we'll not
have the intercessor,
00:37:46.24\00:37:48.31
because our eternal destiny
is decided prior to that.
00:37:48.34\00:37:53.15
Okay. Yes.
00:37:53.18\00:37:54.55
So now we're coming
to seven last plagues.
00:37:54.58\00:37:57.75
I hope that you have text
there in front of yourself.
00:37:57.78\00:38:01.94
I don't have a time now to go
00:38:01.97\00:38:04.66
and to read all these texts.
00:38:04.69\00:38:08.67
But let me just go
briefly and summarize
00:38:08.70\00:38:11.23
to what we have here
in the first 10 verses
00:38:11.26\00:38:14.45
of the Book of Revelation.
00:38:14.48\00:38:16.43
You'll notice it
talks about the first angel.
00:38:16.46\00:38:19.42
And the first plague
actually causes, it says,
00:38:19.45\00:38:26.91
"Sore on the people,
terrible sores of those
00:38:26.94\00:38:29.87
who have a Mark of the
Beast who worship this image."
00:38:29.90\00:38:32.59
Then we're going
to the second angel,
00:38:32.62\00:38:36.41
and hits the sea and the blood
00:38:36.44\00:38:40.54
that many people died there.
00:38:40.57\00:38:43.04
Then you have the third plague.
00:38:43.07\00:38:45.89
I'm talking about the
rivers and springs of waters
00:38:45.92\00:38:48.17
that become a blood.
00:38:48.20\00:38:49.94
And that is why I
say, they caused the blood,
00:38:49.97\00:38:52.33
they persecuted God's people.
00:38:52.36\00:38:54.19
Now God You're
just, because You've
00:38:54.22\00:38:56.58
given them to drink the blood."
00:38:56.61\00:38:59.22
I believe as we're
reading these verses
00:38:59.25\00:39:01.74
that Egyptians plagues suddenly
come to your mind, okay.
00:39:01.77\00:39:06.62
Then we have the verse 7.
00:39:06.65\00:39:09.84
Boy, I am so tempted how
much I can go through the text.
00:39:09.87\00:39:12.41
It says, "And I
heard the altar saying'--"
00:39:12.44\00:39:14.74
Are you with me?
00:39:14.77\00:39:16.14
"Then I heard altar
saying," 'Yes, O Lord God,
00:39:16.17\00:39:19.99
the Almighty, true and
righteous are your judgments."
00:39:20.02\00:39:23.74
'Please why is this
text so much significant,
00:39:23.77\00:39:26.60
that the voice is
coming from the altar
00:39:26.63\00:39:28.86
telling that
the justice is done.
00:39:28.89\00:39:31.02
Do you remember what we read
00:39:32.73\00:39:34.42
in the scene of the fifth
seal that there from the altar?
00:39:34.45\00:39:41.06
The blood of the martyrs,
of God's people who were
00:39:41.09\00:39:45.10
suffered
because of their gospel,
00:39:45.13\00:39:46.82
they're looking for justice.
00:39:46.85\00:39:48.66
Now from the same
altar the voice is coming
00:39:48.69\00:39:54.42
stating that
the justice is done.
00:39:54.45\00:39:57.74
And we have
finally that the prayers
00:39:57.77\00:40:02.74
of God's people are answered.
00:40:02.77\00:40:05.90
Friends, sometimes we wonder
00:40:05.93\00:40:07.30
if our prayers
are ever heard by God?
00:40:07.33\00:40:09.39
Yes, they are.
00:40:09.42\00:40:10.97
But God does
everything his own time.
00:40:11.00\00:40:13.12
Sometimes we have to wait
for a long time for a justice,
00:40:13.15\00:40:16.15
but believe me
justice is with the God.
00:40:16.18\00:40:18.91
We simply have to wait for Him
00:40:18.94\00:40:20.71
and we come to verse 8 and says,
00:40:20.74\00:40:22.85
"The fourth angle poured
out his bowl up on the sun
00:40:22.88\00:40:27.22
and it was given to it
to scorch men with fire.
00:40:27.25\00:40:32.10
Men were
scorched with fierce heat
00:40:32.13\00:40:34.66
and they
blasphemed in the name of God,
00:40:34.69\00:40:37.28
who has the power
over these plagues
00:40:37.31\00:40:40.44
and they did not repent
so as to give him glory."
00:40:40.47\00:40:43.64
Please allow me now,
that I will stop here
00:40:43.67\00:40:46.59
with verse 9 and
we'll continue on.
00:40:46.62\00:40:49.02
A great debate
exists among Christians...
00:40:52.82\00:40:57.93
trying to answer the question,
00:41:02.33\00:41:05.51
Are the seven last
plagues literal or symbolic?
00:41:05.54\00:41:09.94
Keep in mind that
the Book of Revelation
00:41:12.09\00:41:13.60
is written in symbolic language.
00:41:13.63\00:41:16.21
And we saw even
though the seven trumpets--
00:41:17.36\00:41:19.69
that description is very close
00:41:23.35\00:41:25.28
to the description of
the seven last plagues.
00:41:25.31\00:41:27.51
But we saw
clearly in the light of
00:41:27.54\00:41:28.93
the Old Testament background
00:41:28.96\00:41:31.31
that the plagues
of the seven trumpets
00:41:31.34\00:41:34.17
are clearly symbolic.
00:41:34.20\00:41:36.11
But friends, this is one of
the most difficult questions
00:41:37.74\00:41:41.62
that we have, one of
several difficult questions
00:41:41.65\00:41:43.65
in the Book of Revelation.
00:41:43.68\00:41:45.23
Let me tell you why?
00:41:47.32\00:41:49.88
Because when you read
about the first four plagues
00:41:49.91\00:41:54.02
any symbolic
meaning doesn't make sense.
00:41:54.05\00:41:56.76
This is recognized
almost by all commentators,
00:41:59.24\00:42:02.31
everybody who has
invested some time
00:42:02.34\00:42:04.76
in studying this subject.
00:42:04.79\00:42:06.52
There is only one
conclusion they must be literal.
00:42:06.55\00:42:09.71
Please, please, please
now, you have to be now with me.
00:42:09.74\00:42:13.38
Now, we'll ask the question,
00:42:13.41\00:42:15.23
but why do you rely
on what people think.
00:42:15.26\00:42:18.19
No, that's not the
point, I just want to tell you
00:42:18.22\00:42:20.17
everybody who is
confronted with this question,
00:42:20.20\00:42:22.57
reach at the conclusion, why?
00:42:22.60\00:42:25.62
If we go to Revelation 7,
you remember we talked about
00:42:25.65\00:42:29.13
144, 000 who have come out
00:42:29.16\00:42:31.78
of the great tribulation
of the seven last plagues.
00:42:31.81\00:42:35.01
One more time,
144,000 who have come out
00:42:35.04\00:42:39.09
of the great tribulation
of the seven last plagues,
00:42:39.12\00:42:41.31
they are given the promise.
00:42:41.34\00:42:42.90
The sun will not
scorch them any longer.
00:42:42.93\00:42:46.34
They will not be
hungry and thirsty any longer.
00:42:46.37\00:42:50.01
Any plague will not
harm them any longer,
00:42:50.04\00:42:53.10
which points to
literal not to symbolic.
00:42:53.13\00:42:55.68
That sun, that hunger,
then thirst, you see that.
00:42:58.49\00:43:01.15
Is the hunger, thirst
and the sun and the plagues
00:43:02.68\00:43:04.91
of the seven last plagues,
00:43:04.94\00:43:06.57
because water
will become the blood.
00:43:06.60\00:43:09.82
So it's clearly-- I
don't have any doubt.
00:43:09.85\00:43:12.44
That the first four
of the seven plagues
00:43:16.40\00:43:19.03
must be
understood literally, okay.
00:43:19.06\00:43:22.95
About something that happens
00:43:22.98\00:43:24.39
in the nature that
will make people suffer.
00:43:24.42\00:43:26.95
However when you
come to the fifth plague,
00:43:28.68\00:43:31.06
then sixth plague and the seven,
00:43:31.09\00:43:33.18
then literal
meaning does not make sense.
00:43:33.21\00:43:35.39
Are you with me?
00:43:36.48\00:43:37.85
Let's go, let's go
to the fifth plague.
00:43:37.88\00:43:40.41
Its verse 10,
"Then the fifth angel
00:43:40.44\00:43:44.20
poured out his bowl on
the throne of the beast."
00:43:44.23\00:43:47.82
Is throne of the
beast something literal?
00:43:48.94\00:43:52.04
Okay, and his
kingdom became darkened
00:43:52.07\00:43:56.13
and they gnawed their
tongues because of a pain
00:43:56.16\00:44:00.22
and they
blasphemed the God of heaven
00:44:00.25\00:44:02.36
because of their
pains and their sores,
00:44:02.39\00:44:04.61
they did not
repent from their deeds.
00:44:04.64\00:44:06.96
Then if you go from verse 12-16,
00:44:06.99\00:44:09.06
talks about River Euphrates,
it talks about the beast,
00:44:09.09\00:44:15.58
a false prophet and the dragon
00:44:15.61\00:44:18.65
and three demons
coming above them
00:44:18.68\00:44:20.48
and the battle of
Armageddon you can see that.
00:44:20.51\00:44:23.34
That all these
things must be understood
00:44:23.37\00:44:26.19
symbolically,
interpret symbolically.
00:44:26.22\00:44:28.06
So in the present
time I have to say it
00:44:29.07\00:44:31.82
with all humility,
okay, and the fear of God,
00:44:31.85\00:44:35.54
our best understanding
that we have today.
00:44:35.57\00:44:38.80
And we are
departing from the principle
00:44:38.83\00:44:40.47
that we have served
that the first four plague
00:44:40.50\00:44:43.53
are disasters in nature.
00:44:43.56\00:44:45.79
It's description of something
that it literally happened?
00:44:47.46\00:44:51.90
However when we
come to the fifth plague,
00:44:51.93\00:44:56.72
sixth and the seventh plague,
00:44:56.75\00:44:59.27
the literal meaning
does not make sense.
00:44:59.30\00:45:02.31
It must be
understood symbolically.
00:45:02.34\00:45:04.50
Are you with me?
00:45:04.53\00:45:06.42
This is our best way and please
00:45:06.45\00:45:08.76
we still have to leave the room
00:45:08.79\00:45:10.29
maybe for
corrections in the future, okay.
00:45:10.32\00:45:12.91
But this is our
best way in Revelation 7,
00:45:12.94\00:45:16.70
the last three
verses of Chapter 7.
00:45:16.73\00:45:19.46
They are really,
are telling us clearly
00:45:19.49\00:45:21.98
that the first four
plagues are literal.
00:45:22.01\00:45:25.44
Okay, are we still,
friends, in that home.
00:45:27.39\00:45:29.33
Okay, okay.
00:45:29.36\00:45:30.95
Now, you have now
to be here with me.
00:45:30.98\00:45:36.04
What is the purpose of the seven
last plagues, we already stated.
00:45:36.07\00:45:39.52
It's not to bring
anybody to conversion.
00:45:39.55\00:45:42.18
Keep in mind,
what is that the beast
00:45:43.41\00:45:46.42
and the
counterfeit trinity in general,
00:45:46.45\00:45:49.49
Babylon, end time Babylon,
00:45:49.52\00:45:51.45
what is that they
promised to the people
00:45:51.48\00:45:53.85
if they side with their system
00:45:53.88\00:45:55.85
and they receive
the Mark of the Beast.
00:45:55.88\00:45:57.74
They're promising to them
a bright future, happiness,
00:45:57.77\00:46:03.82
all the problems in
this world will become--
00:46:03.85\00:46:05.99
and I just want
to tell our viewers,
00:46:06.02\00:46:08.33
today we have a many streams
00:46:08.36\00:46:11.13
and groups of Christians,
who are hoping that one day,
00:46:11.16\00:46:16.61
if one universal
religious system is established,
00:46:16.64\00:46:20.13
if all the people
worship and believe God
00:46:20.16\00:46:23.59
in the same
way, on the same day.
00:46:23.62\00:46:28.12
And ever resides in the systems
00:46:28.15\00:46:31.44
that all problems in
America will be solved
00:46:31.47\00:46:33.81
and all the problems
will be solved in this world.
00:46:33.84\00:46:37.96
Actually this is
exactly what Babylon
00:46:39.04\00:46:40.57
is promising to the people.
00:46:40.60\00:46:42.86
But can you imagine,
now you have to be with me,
00:46:42.89\00:46:46.48
what will happen when
people make their decision
00:46:46.51\00:46:52.81
and that one system is created,
00:46:52.84\00:46:56.50
people worship God
within their system
00:46:56.53\00:46:59.76
on a particular
day with one mindset.
00:46:59.79\00:47:03.70
And when seven last
plagues hits the humanity,
00:47:04.71\00:47:09.62
what is that that will happen?
00:47:09.65\00:47:11.53
I am sorry I
pause here for a moment.
00:47:14.58\00:47:17.28
You see, suddenly
people will become dissolution
00:47:18.90\00:47:21.39
they will ask the question,
where are those promises?
00:47:21.42\00:47:24.57
We have made our decision,
we've sided with the system,
00:47:24.60\00:47:27.03
this is what we are doing what
we are asked to do with that.
00:47:27.06\00:47:31.09
Now contrary to our expectations
00:47:31.12\00:47:33.40
and what was promised to
us, now we are suffering.
00:47:33.43\00:47:36.90
Did you see
that, how much people
00:47:36.93\00:47:38.87
will suffer during
the seven last plagues?
00:47:38.90\00:47:41.25
But there is something else.
00:47:42.68\00:47:45.52
When those
people start suffering,
00:47:45.55\00:47:48.82
what is the first
thing that they will do?
00:47:48.85\00:47:51.86
They will turn to
Babylon and seek for the answer
00:47:51.89\00:47:58.73
asking for the protection,
but friends, what is that,
00:47:58.76\00:48:02.39
that is taking
place in the fifth plague.
00:48:02.42\00:48:06.75
Did you notice, what is that,
00:48:09.43\00:48:11.51
now takes place
in the fifth plague?
00:48:11.54\00:48:13.51
It's actually the
very seat of Babylon,
00:48:13.54\00:48:17.15
it's hit by the
seven last plagues.
00:48:17.18\00:48:20.28
Please, please,
I want one more--
00:48:21.85\00:48:24.01
I want one more time
to make it really clear
00:48:24.04\00:48:26.69
to all of you
and to our viewers.
00:48:26.72\00:48:28.83
Sister Shelly, can
I put you in the spot?
00:48:28.86\00:48:31.72
Can you imagine, you are in the
terrible financial situation,
00:48:31.75\00:48:35.45
I see you and your husband
that I appreciate so much--
00:48:35.48\00:48:37.98
it's just an illustration, okay.
00:48:38.01\00:48:39.91
You have such
terrible financial situation
00:48:39.94\00:48:41.74
you have to sell your
house and finally to be homeless
00:48:41.77\00:48:46.07
and I come to
you and I tell you,
00:48:46.10\00:48:48.48
sister Shelly and brother David,
00:48:48.51\00:48:50.62
don't worry I
will give you $100,000
00:48:50.65\00:48:55.24
and you'll get out of
that financial situation
00:48:55.27\00:48:57.29
and you will be
saved, you say, praise God.
00:48:57.32\00:48:59.42
Then tomorrow you
learn out that actually
00:49:00.96\00:49:03.29
I am in trouble financial
situation that at my home
00:49:03.32\00:49:07.66
I don't have even
money to buy for my food,
00:49:07.69\00:49:11.88
how much would your
promise mean to you?
00:49:11.91\00:49:15.26
You say, he cannot help himself,
00:49:15.29\00:49:19.00
how can he help me,
are you still with me?
00:49:19.03\00:49:21.00
Then my promise to you
00:49:21.03\00:49:22.53
would be completely
useless, am I correct.
00:49:22.56\00:49:26.15
Can you imagine yourself
when the rebellious humanity,
00:49:26.18\00:49:29.15
those who sided with the
beast with Babylon suffer,
00:49:29.18\00:49:33.50
they turn their eyes
over Babylon that they see
00:49:33.53\00:49:35.73
that the fifth plague
hits the very Babylon.
00:49:35.76\00:49:39.67
Let's read one more time,
00:49:39.70\00:49:41.07
let's read one
more time verse 10,
00:49:41.10\00:49:43.73
"Then the fifth
angel poured out his bowl
00:49:43.76\00:49:46.02
on the throne of the beast
00:49:46.05\00:49:47.42
and his skin
then became darkened,
00:49:47.45\00:49:49.14
they gnawed their
tongues because of a pain
00:49:49.17\00:49:54.70
and they
blasphemed the God of heaven,
00:49:54.73\00:49:57.06
because of the
pains and their sores
00:49:57.09\00:49:59.40
and they did not
repent of their deeds."
00:49:59.43\00:50:01.83
Tell me now, all those
people who believed Babylon,
00:50:03.30\00:50:07.25
side with Babylon,
how would they feel?
00:50:07.28\00:50:08.97
Babylon cannot help
itself, how can Babylon help us?
00:50:10.30\00:50:15.30
This is the
background, this is the key
00:50:15.33\00:50:18.17
to the
understanding of what comes next
00:50:18.20\00:50:22.19
in the description of
the seven last plagues.
00:50:22.22\00:50:25.54
Please, let's read verse 12,
00:50:25.57\00:50:30.84
"Then the sixth
angel poured out his bowl
00:50:30.87\00:50:34.91
on the great River, Euphrates.
00:50:34.94\00:50:39.02
And its water was dried up,
00:50:39.05\00:50:42.90
so that the way
would be prepared
00:50:42.93\00:50:46.28
for the kings from the east."
00:50:46.31\00:50:50.45
Please allow me to
stop here for a while.
00:50:50.48\00:50:56.52
What happens in
the sixth plague?
00:50:56.55\00:51:01.23
Okay, there are
some confusing terms
00:51:02.79\00:51:05.21
it says that the
seven-- that's the sixth plague
00:51:05.24\00:51:11.82
actually hits the
great River Euphrates.
00:51:11.85\00:51:16.74
What happens to
the River Euphrates?
00:51:16.77\00:51:19.61
It says that the waters
of the river were dried up,
00:51:20.82\00:51:24.51
for which purpose?
00:51:24.54\00:51:27.31
So that the way
would be prepared
00:51:27.34\00:51:29.25
for the kings from the east.
00:51:29.28\00:51:32.04
Can I now remind
you one more time
00:51:33.35\00:51:35.60
that we are now dealing
with the symbolic language
00:51:35.63\00:51:38.69
of the Book of Revelation?
00:51:38.72\00:51:40.49
So we have to
understand what these--
00:51:42.43\00:51:45.70
symbol actually means here.
00:51:48.66\00:51:51.48
May I ask you one
more time the question?
00:51:51.51\00:51:54.53
How is the end
time that evil system
00:51:54.56\00:51:59.17
that will stand
in opposition to God,
00:51:59.20\00:52:00.79
how he's called in
the Book of Revelation?
00:52:00.82\00:52:03.26
Babylon, okay.
00:52:03.29\00:52:06.42
Now we have to understand
something from history
00:52:06.45\00:52:09.35
and please I've come
here now to this blackboard,
00:52:09.38\00:52:14.09
I should have left
little bit space here
00:52:14.12\00:52:16.28
but I'll use this
part here anyway, okay.
00:52:16.31\00:52:20.21
We have to go
little bit to history.
00:52:20.24\00:52:22.39
We have to go to
the Old Testament
00:52:24.91\00:52:27.27
because the main
power-- the main power
00:52:27.30\00:52:29.98
that stood in opposition to God
00:52:30.01\00:52:33.19
and God's people in the
Old Testament was Satan.
00:52:33.22\00:52:38.11
But the earthly power that
really send opposition to God
00:52:38.14\00:52:41.71
that Satan used so
much was actually Babylon.
00:52:41.74\00:52:45.21
Probably you say
that this is exaggeration
00:52:45.24\00:52:47.22
because Babylon just mentioned
later in the Old Testament, no.
00:52:47.25\00:52:51.52
Babylon for the first time
is mentioned in Genesis 11.
00:52:51.55\00:52:55.26
It is from that time
on we have constantly
00:52:56.35\00:52:58.63
in the Old Testament two
cities is Jerusalem and Babylon.
00:52:58.66\00:53:02.43
Babylon is the arch
enemy of God's people
00:53:02.46\00:53:05.12
in the Old Testament.
00:53:05.15\00:53:07.26
But the Old
Testament portrays actually--
00:53:07.29\00:53:09.64
actually that
Babylon and its fall.
00:53:09.67\00:53:12.93
Okay, so please.
00:53:12.96\00:53:14.71
Let's put it here,
I just want to put it
00:53:15.86\00:53:18.08
in following way, okay.
00:53:18.11\00:53:19.48
This is not just a coincidence
00:53:21.62\00:53:24.58
because according to
Greek historian Herodotus,
00:53:24.61\00:53:29.41
Babylon was square.
00:53:29.44\00:53:32.42
He tell us about
something new Jerusalem
00:53:32.45\00:53:34.11
that the square
in the Revelation 22
00:53:34.14\00:53:37.25
because
Babylon, do you remember,
00:53:37.28\00:53:38.73
is the
counterfeit city of Jerusalem.
00:53:38.76\00:53:41.73
But you know--
where is Babylon located?
00:53:41.76\00:53:45.20
In the desert place.
00:53:46.28\00:53:47.71
It was located on the territory
of ancient Mesopotamia.
00:53:49.57\00:53:55.66
But see Babylon is
the city by itself,
00:53:56.92\00:53:59.29
would not be able to
survive and to stand alone.
00:53:59.32\00:54:02.67
Babylon owed its
existence just to one entity.
00:54:03.85\00:54:08.73
Do you know the
name of that entity?
00:54:08.76\00:54:11.30
It was named Euphrates
00:54:11.33\00:54:14.45
because it was
the River Euphrates
00:54:14.48\00:54:19.04
that ran through the city.
00:54:19.07\00:54:20.84
Without the River Euphrates
there would not be Babylon.
00:54:22.38\00:54:25.87
Actually Babylon was surrounded
00:54:28.56\00:54:30.57
by a triple wall here around.
00:54:30.60\00:54:33.52
And there are
also the walls here
00:54:33.55\00:54:38.15
and nobody even dare to think
00:54:38.18\00:54:40.46
that Babylon
could ever be conquered.
00:54:40.49\00:54:43.28
Actually it's
because of Euphrates
00:54:44.31\00:54:46.48
the King Nebuchadnezzar
beautified Babylon,
00:54:46.51\00:54:50.23
to its
excellence, to its excellence.
00:54:50.26\00:54:53.37
So you have to keep in mind
that Babylon owed its existence,
00:54:53.40\00:54:58.37
very existence to
the River Euphrates.
00:54:58.40\00:55:01.04
The River Euphrates
actually sustained Babylon,
00:55:01.07\00:55:04.85
provided the water
and that huge vegetation
00:55:04.88\00:55:08.06
so you could come and surround
Babylon for a long time.
00:55:08.09\00:55:12.49
Nothing would happen
because of the River Euphrates.
00:55:12.52\00:55:16.30
River Euphrates
provided life to Babylon.
00:55:16.33\00:55:19.87
Now you have to
ask one question.
00:55:19.90\00:55:21.83
What happens when
you read this statement
00:55:21.86\00:55:27.92
that the River
Euphrates dries up.
00:55:27.95\00:55:31.39
What does it mean?
00:55:34.51\00:55:36.09
Do you remember
that that Babylon
00:55:36.12\00:55:37.71
owes its existence
to River Euphrates.
00:55:37.74\00:55:39.94
What happens when the waters
of River Euphrates dries up?
00:55:39.97\00:55:44.19
No Euphrates, no Babylon.
00:55:44.22\00:55:47.60
By the way keep in mind
00:55:48.69\00:55:50.73
that this ancient
imagery of Babylon,
00:55:50.76\00:55:54.67
it's used here as
a symbol to portray
00:55:54.70\00:55:58.33
the end time Babylon
of the Book of Revelation.
00:55:58.36\00:56:02.50
I would like to suggest you--
00:56:02.53\00:56:04.22
we have just more
than one minute left
00:56:04.25\00:56:07.72
to make introduction
to our following lecture.
00:56:07.75\00:56:10.00
If you go to Revelation
17 that talks about Babylon,
00:56:10.03\00:56:14.15
Revelation 17, we
read verse 1, okay.
00:56:14.18\00:56:20.02
It says "The one
of the seven angels
00:56:20.05\00:56:23.71
who had the seven
bowls came and spoke with me,
00:56:23.74\00:56:27.55
saying,
Revelation 17: 1, "Come here,
00:56:27.58\00:56:31.16
I will show you the
judgment of the great harlot
00:56:31.19\00:56:36.27
who sits on many waters."
00:56:36.30\00:56:39.06
What is the name of
this harlot in Revelation 17?
00:56:39.09\00:56:42.68
It's a Babylon.
Where does Babylon sit on?
00:56:42.71\00:56:46.42
Revelation 17, on many waters.
00:56:46.45\00:56:49.24
What do those waters symbolize?
00:56:50.46\00:56:53.40
It's a River
Euphrates, many waters.
00:56:53.43\00:56:55.50
If you go to verse 17--
verse 15 of chapter 17 we read.
00:56:55.53\00:56:59.83
"The waters which you
saw where the harlot sits
00:56:59.86\00:57:03.16
are the peoples
and the multitudes
00:57:03.19\00:57:05.44
and the nations and the tongues.
00:57:05.47\00:57:07.64
So when you are talking
about the end time Babylon
00:57:09.24\00:57:12.82
that sits on the River
Euphrates on many waters.
00:57:12.85\00:57:16.40
Would those
many waters stand for
00:57:16.43\00:57:18.76
in the book of
Revelation chapter 17, okay?
00:57:18.79\00:57:23.88
I'll not give the answer.
00:57:23.91\00:57:25.28
The answer will be
in our next lecture,
00:57:25.31\00:57:27.68
and I just want to tell you
00:57:27.71\00:57:29.08
we have the sure
word of the prophecy.
00:57:29.11\00:57:31.04
Now let you
invite you to join us
00:57:31.07\00:57:32.77
for next lecture to
see, how Book of Revelation
00:57:32.80\00:57:35.49
portrays the
future that's before us.
00:57:35.52\00:57:37.82