Participants: Ranko Stefanovic
Series Code: RCK
Program Code: RCK000022
|
00:22 Welcome again to our program, "Revelation of the Coming King."
00:28 I don't know I am becoming more and more excited 00:30 and you can see in my presentations, 00:32 I'm now on fire. 00:34 Because this is the section is telling me 00:37 about the time in which I live now, and all we live. 00:41 And what is really waiting for us. 00:44 But it's not simply about the future 00:47 it's about telling us how today we have to come much closer 00:51 in our relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:54 Once again, I'm Ranko Stefanovic, 00:56 Professor of the New Testament 00:58 at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, 01:02 Andrews University. 01:04 And what we're doing here is the part of that long series 01:08 that titled "Revelation of the Coming King". 01:12 So we're trying to cover all 22 chapters 01:16 of the Book of Revelation in this series so. 01:21 If you have missed some of those-- 01:22 of the programs presented, 01:24 you still have a chance to catch it up on. 01:28 We would like to remind you once again, 01:33 that it is impossible to cover everything, 01:35 what is in the Book of Revelation in these hours. 01:39 But we would like to encourage you 01:40 once these programs are over, 01:42 that you take into study the word of God for our self. 01:46 You can do it in much, much deeper way. 01:48 But you need some tools, 01:50 the best tool I recommended to all of you, 01:53 I'm holding just in my hands, is the Bible. 01:56 The Bible is infallible commentary 01:59 on the Book of Revelation. 02:01 If you follow the instructions of the Bible 02:04 and you go to the Bible to find for the key 02:07 of those difficult symbolic expressions 02:11 in the Book of Revelation. 02:13 You cannot be far away from the meaning of that text, okay. 02:18 But you need evidently some other tools 02:20 and for these occasion I just want to recommend one. 02:24 It's actually written by me, 02:26 it took several years of my life to produce this volume 02:30 and which is titled "Revelation of Jesus Christ." 02:36 It's a verse-by-verse commentary on the Book of Revelation. 02:40 The purpose of this commentary is not really to give us 02:44 explanation of everything 02:45 that is in the Book of Revelation, 02:46 even though it covers all verses of the Book of Revelation. 02:49 But the purpose is really to give you the insight 02:52 into those Old Testament in other backgrounds. 02:55 So to help you to understand 02:56 the symbolic language of the Book of Revelation is-- 02:59 that's why you need many other books, 03:01 because no book written on the Book of Revelation 03:05 covers everything what is in this book. 03:09 As you know every time we're giving you the pages, 03:12 so once this program is over, you can go open these pages 03:16 and then you can study for yourself. 03:18 And I'd like to remind you that today, 03:22 if you want to find the material discovered today, 03:24 is from page 463. 03:26 Let me see how far we'll be able to go, okay. 03:29 It's from page 463 of this commentary 03:34 tilted "Revelation of Jesus Christ." 03:37 But let me remind you once again, 03:40 all these tools are good. 03:43 But there is something that is most important is 03:46 that we always ask God for guidance. 03:50 It is only the Holy Spirit 03:51 who is able-- really to help us to make sense 03:54 of these difficult passages of the Book of Revelation. 03:56 And this is exactly what we would like to do 03:58 at this moment. 04:01 Our Heavenly Father, I am asking you humbly 04:06 with sincerity of my heart, that you come here 04:10 and be with us and with that of viewers 04:13 and to help us that we can understand 04:15 these messages of the Book of Revelation. 04:18 Father please be with us and give us your Holy Spirit, 04:22 let the Holy Spirit teach us into all the truth 04:26 and we pray all of this in the precious name 04:29 of the one who died on the cross of Calvary. 04:31 The one who is the main subject of the Book of Revelation, 04:35 Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 04:37 We pray all of this in His precious name, amen. 04:43 Okay, I would like to invite you 04:44 to turn to the Book of Revelation Chapter 14. 04:49 We're still there. 04:53 Okay, at the end-- 04:55 do you remember last time we talked, 04:57 what God will be doing at the time of the preparation 04:59 for the battle of Armageddon for that final crisis. 05:02 You see friends God will not leave any person uninformed. 05:08 The two things that make us to think here. 05:11 Number one, God does not want to leave any person uninformed. 05:16 But there is a second point is, 05:18 if God does want to leave any person uninformed, 05:22 it means no person will have an excuse. 05:25 It's a great responsibility on us. 05:29 You see the purpose of this Three Angels' Messages, 05:31 Revelation 14:6-11. 05:36 It's really to tell people what will happen in the future 05:39 and about the consequences of that choice, 05:42 whether positive or negative. 05:45 But the Three Angels' Messages, 05:46 they conclude with something that is very significant. 05:50 It's in verse 12. 05:52 Boy, this is always 05:53 a constant feature of the Book of Revelation. 05:56 Whenever we talk about what people will be doing 05:58 and choice that people will be making 06:02 and the majority of the people will make that wrong choice. 06:05 The Book of Revelation always turn to positive, telling us-- 06:09 but be careful, if you make the choice for God, 06:13 you are not alone because God will have 06:16 many of His people those times. 06:18 They're called by different names, 06:21 144,000, the Remnant, the worshipers of God, 06:26 the followers of the Lamb, but here there is-- 06:29 for the first time the expression that is used. 06:33 Here verse 12 chapter14:12. 06:37 "Here is the perseverance of the saints, 06:44 those who keep the commandments of God 06:46 and their faith in Jesus." 06:52 How do God's people here referred to? 06:54 As the saints. 06:56 You see the word saint 06:57 does not refer to the person who is sinless. 07:01 We have even the major Christian church 07:03 who has-- has the saints. 07:06 But they recognize that those saints 07:08 are not while they are alive. 07:10 They become saints only when they die. 07:12 Of course and everybody is a saint, 07:15 because people cannot see any longer. 07:17 But see the word saint here is applied to God's people 07:20 who are alive, who will live at the time of the end. 07:23 And the word saint is not the people 07:25 who are really completely sinless. 07:27 The Greek word "hagios" actually it means to be separated. 07:33 It means those people are not the part of the world. 07:37 They do not have a share, okay, 07:40 of decisions of the majority of the world 07:44 who'll side with the beast, because they follow the Lamb. 07:48 And they have that characteristics. 07:50 One more time the Book of Revelation 07:52 is reminding us, what are the characteristics? 07:55 The same that are found in Revelation 12:17. 07:57 "Those who keep the commandments of God 08:01 and their faith in Jesus." 08:02 They're so loyal to Jesus, 08:04 they cannot even imagine to betray Him 08:08 with any, any wrong decision. 08:12 Praise God, I want really to be part of that group 08:16 called "The saints of Jesus Christ." 08:19 Praise God for that. 08:21 If this is your decision, 08:23 today you're making great decision. 08:25 Keep in mind, 08:26 they do not become saints in the final events. 08:29 They have to become saints before the final events come. 08:33 This is what helped them in their loyalty to Christ. 08:37 And now it says, there is a contrast 08:41 and this is the future of those saints. 08:43 Boy, this is very special for me. 08:45 "And I heard the voice from heaven saying, 08:48 "Write, Blessed are the dead 08:52 who die in the Lord from now on!" 08:56 Yes says the spirit, 08:58 ''so that they may rest from their labors, 09:02 for their deeds follow with them."' 09:07 Actually, what we have here blessed are the dead, 09:10 who die in the Lord from now on. 09:12 It's one of the seven blessings of the Book of Revelation. 09:16 Starting Chapter 1:3, we have seven blessings. 09:19 They have chiastic structure, 09:20 they are fantastically organized, 09:22 so this one of those seven blessings. 09:24 Okay, why this warning? 09:27 Why this blessing promised to those 09:29 who die in the Lord? 09:31 Do you remember in the Revelation 13, 09:33 that the beast is threatening to the people 09:36 that whoever does not receive the Mark of the Beast, 09:39 that person should be killed, persecuted as. 09:44 Friends, this is a greater challenge 09:46 to every person in this world. 09:48 But you see, what God is telling His people. 09:51 "If you have even to die for God, 09:56 you're blessed from now on." 10:04 You see when God calls people to serve Him. 10:08 You remember in the Revelation 3:10, 10:12 it said, "Be faithful to God until the point of death. 10:16 And you will receive the " Stefanos, 10:21 "the crown of life." 10:27 Yeah, we have to be reminded 10:29 that loyalty to God is for the point of death. 10:32 But sometimes it's much more difficult 10:35 to live for God and then to die for Christ. 10:39 So this promise involves all those 10:42 who'll even have to give the lives for the gospel 10:47 and those who remain alive. 10:49 But look something else here in this text, 10:52 it says, "Yes," says the Spirit, 10:55 "so that they may rest from their labors, 10:58 for their deeds follow with them." 11:00 I don't know, at first glance, 11:02 this text does not sound anything in particular. 11:07 But if you go to the third angel message, 11:10 you will notice in verse 11 that says, 11:13 that all those who receive the Mark of the Beast, 11:16 they do not have rest day and night-rest day and night. 11:23 Do you see that? 11:24 They don't have-- never rest. 11:26 But what about God's people? 11:28 A God's people if they remain faithful to God, 11:32 they will always have the rest. 11:35 By the way the word rest 11:38 is particularly significant here, 11:41 because when we go to the Book of Hebrews 4:9-11 there, 11:47 we read that there is one rest that is promised to God's people 11:51 of which the Sabbath is the foretaste and foreshadow. 11:56 You see friends, 11:57 people because of the fear of the future 12:00 because the fear for their existence, 12:02 they will succumb to their temptations 12:04 and what will happen 12:06 in the final crisis hoping to find the rest. 12:09 This is actually what Babylon promises to the people. 12:12 But according to the Book of Revelation, 12:14 the true rest is found only if we side with God, 12:19 if we obey God and if we serve and worship God. 12:23 The true rest is found only with God. 12:27 There is no rest. 12:29 According to the Book of Isaiah, there is no rest to the wicked. 12:33 Oh, boy, this is a great, great call to every human being 12:38 to really come closer to God 12:40 and to build his or her future with God. 12:44 Now I would like to ask you one question. 12:48 This is what Three Angels' Messages are all about. 12:51 And the choice, do you want rest? 12:54 Or you hope to find the rest in something 12:57 that does not offer the rest. 13:00 Actually to that concept of rest, 13:02 the human institution and human day worship is related 13:05 in contrast to God's day of rest. 13:09 That really give us the taste, foretaste and foreshadow 13:12 of that eternal rest that we will receive. 13:15 But is that eternal gospel is being preached? 13:18 Now you have to help me. 13:19 How many groups of the people are in the world? 13:26 Actually, three groups. 13:30 Let me explain. 13:32 One group of people who are with God. 13:37 They are sealed and going for the process of sealing. 13:42 They are so faithful to God, they are so alert to God. 13:44 They follow the Lamb, wherever the Lamb goes. 13:48 That's one side. 13:50 On the opposite side are the worshippers of the beast 13:54 and the followers of the beast. Okay. 13:58 They have the Mark of the Beast on themselves 14:02 as the sign of their loyalty to that human institutions 14:06 and the human system, two groups. 14:09 But there is a third group, and which group is that? 14:13 Those who belong either there or there. 14:16 They are neutral. 14:18 They even may call themselves to be Christians. 14:22 And they say, I sometimes even go to the church, 14:25 three times in my life when I was born, 14:29 when I got married 14:30 and the third time they will take me there, when I die. 14:35 They call themselves Christian, 14:36 they say sometimes that if you go like that to the church. 14:39 But they say you see, I belong neither to God nor to Satan. 14:45 Maybe one day I will make my decisions for God. 14:49 See, they are neutral. 14:51 They don't belong to any of those groups. 14:54 You see friends, the efforts of Satan and the effort of God 14:59 is not directed toward that group or that group, 15:02 because that group made already decision for God. 15:05 Or another group, God is still trying to reach them. 15:07 The main target of those Three Angels' Messages 15:11 is that group that comes between. 15:14 God is trying to reach the human beings 15:19 to tell them about the decision that they have to make 15:21 and the consequences of the wrong decisions. 15:25 Not because of the threat, because God loves them. 15:29 In the same time as the parent say to their children. 15:33 Hey, you're making this decision, 15:35 these are the consequences. 15:37 Parents are not doing that, 15:38 because they hate their children, 15:39 but because they love them, and they want to prevent them 15:43 to make a wrong decision. 15:44 Are you still with me? 15:46 But once the proclamation 15:49 of the everlasting gospel is done. 15:54 And when every human being is confronted 15:58 with what decision to make, 15:59 every human being finally will side 16:02 either for God or against God. 16:05 There is the conclusion of the proclamation 16:08 and there's the conclusion of the time that God 16:11 allotted to the human beings to make their decision. 16:15 And then the preaching of the everlasting gospel is concluded. 16:20 Now they are only two groups. 16:24 And those two groups are actually presented 16:29 in this section of the Book of Revelation. 16:31 Friends one more time, 16:33 the Book of Revelation is fantastically organized. 16:36 Because people so many times read superficially, 16:41 they don't see what is there 16:42 and they think that the Book of Revelation is not organized. 16:45 Please read these verses, they do not talk 16:47 about the second coming of Christ. 16:49 Actually these verses uses-- use the Old Testament image, 16:55 to tell us about something. 16:57 It's about two camps, about two groups of people 17:02 in the final events at the conclusion 17:04 of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel. 17:07 And they're portrayed in terms of two harvests. 17:11 Okay let's read quickly what we have here verse 14. 17:16 "Then I looked and behold a white cloud, 17:21 and one sitting on the cloud was like a son of man, 17:25 having a golden crown on his head 17:29 and the sharp sickle in his hand. 17:32 And another angel came out of the temple 17:34 crying out with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud. 17:39 Put in your sickle and read for the hour to reap has come, 17:45 because the harvest of the earth is ripe. 17:49 Then he, who sat on the cloud, swung his sickle over the earth. 17:55 And the earth was reaped." 17:59 What do we have here? 18:01 We have that end time harvest. 18:04 If you really want to understand, 18:05 what we have here. 18:07 We have to read this text 18:09 through the glasses of the parable that Jesus made. 18:13 And actually we're very lucky, that Jesus also provided 18:16 the interpretation of that parable. 18:19 If you remember about that bad and good seed event, 18:22 when that person put there in the ground. 18:24 It's in Matthew 13:39-41 18:28 when Jesus really talks about the end of the world 18:31 in terms of the great harvest. 18:34 Of all those, who have taken God 18:39 to be the first and the last in their lives. 18:41 Those who have sided with God-- 18:43 they are the wheat harvest, okay. 18:45 And they'll be put their 18:46 in the store houses there, oh God. 18:49 But all those who rejected God 18:51 from their lives they will be put there-- 18:54 okay put into other place, ready for the destruction. 18:58 So we have really the two texts 19:01 that they are parallel to each other. 19:03 So this is not about the second coming of Christ 19:05 or better to say, yeah, 19:07 it's the second coming of Christ. 19:08 But not the very arrival of Jesus down to the earth. 19:12 All the preparations are now made, okay. 19:14 The gospel--the preaching of the gospel is concluded. 19:17 Now Jesus is ready to come. 19:19 But before Jesus comes, it has to be made a decision, 19:23 which is actually the proclamation 19:25 of the pre-advent judgment, that has to take place 19:29 prior to the second coming of Christ. 19:30 So we're talking here about the righteous. 19:33 You see we've the harvest of the righteous. Okay. 19:37 As the result of the proclamation 19:39 of the everlasting gospel, 19:40 those people who have accepted the gospel message 19:43 and they have sided with God. 19:45 However, there is another group 19:46 that is mentioned here in these texts. 19:49 It says verse 17 " 19:51 And another angel came out of the temple 19:54 which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle, 19:59 then another angel the one who as a power of the fire 20:03 came out from the altar. 20:05 And he called with loud voice to him 20:08 who had sharp sickle saying, put in your sharp sickle 20:13 and gather the clusters from the wine of the earth, 20:18 because her grapes are ripe. 20:20 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth 20:23 and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, 20:27 and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God." 20:32 Now there's another harvest. But this is the great harvest. 20:38 Great harvest, of whom? 20:41 All those who rejected God. 20:45 Those who made that wrong decision 20:48 willingly and knowingly they made a wrong decision is. 20:52 You see they are also guarded, but for what purpose? 20:57 You see, the first group is put there in the storehouse. 21:01 They are ready for the kingdom, 21:03 but the second group is put there to experience 21:07 the consequences of their decision. 21:11 By the way the language 21:13 that we have here is sometimes confusing is. 21:17 But it's taken from the Old Testament. 21:20 It's taken from for instance, Book of Isaiah 63:1-6. 21:24 We'll not read this text. 21:26 I would like to invite all of you 21:28 that you read this text for yourself. 21:31 The text talks about God who's coming trampling, 21:35 okay in the winepress over the enemies of His people 21:43 who make them suffer. 21:45 And who try to destroy the God's people. 21:50 But there is also another text in the Book of Joel 21:52 and please allow me, 21:53 I would like to turn to this text. It's Joel 2. 21:58 I have to just decide which text to read they are too many. 22:03 But just that that you'll see, 22:04 how the Book of Revelation is rooted in the Old Testament. 22:09 The Book of Joel 3, we read verses 2 and 3. 22:15 Let's read from verse 1, 22:17 "For behold, in those days and at that time, 22:20 when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 22:23 I will gather all the nations 22:24 and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. 22:28 Then I will enter into judgment to with them, 22:30 on behalf of my people and my inheritance Israel, 22:33 Whom they have scattered among the nations. 22:36 And they have divided up my land. 22:39 They have also cast lots for my people, 22:42 traded a boy for a harlot, 22:44 and sold a girl for wine that they may drink. 22:50 Now let's read verse 13, it says, 22:53 put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. 22:57 Come, tread, for the wine press is full. 23:01 The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 23:04 You can see, and there're many, many other texts 23:08 that you can find in my commentary 23:09 when you study for yourself there. 23:12 That you see how this imagery 23:14 is taken actually from the Old Testament. 23:19 Okay, without spending too much time here on this text. 23:24 You'll ask yourself a question, 23:26 what is the purpose of these sections? 23:28 Actually this is the introduction, 23:32 to what follows. 23:36 Have you ever thought 23:41 in what section of the Book of Revelation 23:44 is that threading or trampling 23:50 of the grapes in the press 23:54 is described there in the Book of Revelation. 23:57 Now actually the seven last plagues. 24:02 What you've here is the introduction 24:04 and actually this vision 24:07 is further elaborated here in chapter 15. 24:11 I would like you to turn to chapter 15. 24:13 So that you see what we have here. 24:17 You'll see that actually chapter 15, 24:20 this is an input to these texts here, 24:21 Chapter 15, okay it's repetition of Chapter 14:14-20. 24:28 But they're put in different way. 24:29 Here is the high symbolic language. 24:32 Are you still with me? 24:33 Here is the high symbolic language 24:35 taken from the Old Testament 24:36 and actually the parables of Jesus, okay. 24:39 The two harvests but here now it's described 24:43 in the very practical term about this harvest, 24:48 wheat harvest and the grape harvest. 24:51 Let's read in the Revelation 15. 24:54 "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, 24:58 seven angels who had seven plagues, 25:02 which are the last, because in them 25:06 the wrath of God is finished." 25:08 Now the Book of Revelation begins a new section, 25:12 is telling us 25:14 that as the preaching of the gospel is concluded. 25:17 Those people who made the decision 25:20 knowingly and willingly. 25:22 Please, I'm repeating this constantly, 25:23 knowingly and willingly. They sided with Satan. 25:27 They turned their back completely to God. 25:30 God wants now to show them 25:32 the consequences of their decision. 25:34 Not that God enjoys in indulging Himself 25:37 in punishing people. 25:38 Simply to show them 25:40 the consequences of their decision is. 25:42 So these consequences of decision 25:47 is portrayed as the trampling, 25:52 okay, of the grapes in the press." 25:55 Here in the Revelation 15 they're mentioned 25:58 as the seven last plagues. 26:01 But you'll notice here something in the text. 26:03 It says, "The seven last plagues are the last." 26:07 Why the last? I'm sorry, friends. 26:11 As we are taping this series, 26:16 if some of you comes in and say, 26:17 "You're the last." What does it mean? 26:20 That's somebody came before you. 26:23 You cannot be the last if you are the only one. 26:28 Something to be last, 26:29 something has to come before that last one. 26:32 If these plagues are the last one, 26:33 what does it mean? 26:35 The plagues that were before them 26:37 and these are the plagues of the seven trumpets. 26:41 Unfortunately, there are some Christians 26:43 who called themselves futurists, 26:45 who are advocating the idea that the seven last plagues 26:49 and the seven trumpets are one and the same thing. 26:53 We already dealt with that concept, 26:54 if you remember at the beginning of this series. 26:57 And sometimes the language is confusing 27:00 because the language of the seven trumpets 27:02 and the language of the seven last plagues 27:04 is very, very much similar. 27:06 But you remember the difference 27:08 that that seven trumpets, 27:11 okay, they hated the rebellious humanity. 27:15 During the time as intercession 27:18 was going there in heavenly places. 27:22 They were not simply punitive. 27:25 They were for the purpose to open the eyes of people 27:29 and to bring them back to God. 27:32 So the seven trumpets are taking place 27:35 as the gospel is being preached, as the intercession of Jesus 27:40 in the heavenly place is taking place. 27:42 Are you still with me? 27:44 And they were very, very partial 27:47 in the effect, okay. 27:50 They were intended to save people 27:52 to bring closer to God. 27:54 However, we come to seven last plagues, 27:58 even though the language is very, very similar. 28:02 Keep in mind the seven last plagues are the last. 28:05 The seven trumpets are never in the last plagues. 28:08 They're never referred to as the last 28:10 in the Book of Revelation. 28:12 One more time, when historically and timely, 28:17 where do the seven last plagues take place? 28:21 After the conclusion of the preaching of the gospel-- 28:25 Are you still with me? 28:26 After the conclusion of the preaching of the gospel, 28:32 the decision is made. 28:35 Keep in mind, 28:37 we have something to mention very important, 28:38 seven last plagues are not intended 28:41 to bring anybody to God 28:43 because the mercy is concluded. 28:46 Intercession is done. 28:48 People have made their decisions 28:50 and decision who is for the kingdom 28:53 and who'll be left out is already made. 28:57 By the way, if you go to Revelation 15:8, 29:04 we read that there's something 29:06 that is very significant and very important 29:09 for the understanding of the seven last plagues. 29:13 And it reads there, 29:15 "And the temple was filled with smoke." 29:18 Keep in mind that the angels that are destroying the place 29:23 are coming from the temple it says, 29:24 "And the temple was filled with smoke, 29:27 from the glory of God and from his power 29:30 and no one was able to enter the temple 29:33 until the seven plagues 29:35 of the seven angels were finished." 29:38 Friends, this is very important text, 29:40 telling us about the time, 29:42 the timing of the seven last plagues. 29:45 Keep in mind it says, that before the plagues 29:50 hit the rebellious humanity, what happens there in heaven? 29:53 That the Temple of God that do you remember 29:56 we talked about the temple that is there in heavenly place 29:58 is filled with smoke, so nobody could enter. 30:01 I just want to show to you one more time, 30:04 how Old Testament is important 30:07 for the understanding of the Book of Revelation. 30:10 There're two texts, okay. 30:14 The first text is in Exodus 40: 34 and 35. 30:18 I will not read this text, 30:21 because there is another text, 30:23 that it's almost identical 30:26 which is mentioned in 1 Kings 8:10-11. 30:32 The first text talks about the tabernacle, the tent, 30:37 the sanctuary that was built by Moses in wilderness. 30:41 In 1 Kings 8:10-11, 30:44 we have about the temple built by Solomon. 30:48 You see when the building of the tent 30:50 and the building of the temple 30:51 was concluded, the same happened. 30:53 That's the reason we're reading only one text. 30:55 Let's read 1 Kings 8:10-11, it says, 31:00 "It happened that when the priests came 31:02 from the holy place, 31:04 the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 31:07 so that the priests could not stand 31:09 to minister because of the cloud, 31:12 for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord." 31:17 This is what happened when the temple of Solomon was built. 31:20 Now please, you have now to help me something. 31:23 What does it mean? 31:25 That the temple was filled with the smoke of the glory of God 31:28 and the priest could not enter the temple. 31:33 What happens when the priest are not in the temple? 31:37 There is no intercession. 31:40 Are you still with me? 31:42 There's no intercession. 31:45 We have to understand the significance 31:46 of this phrase from the Old Testament. 31:48 So let's go back to Revelation 15:8. 31:52 The fact that seven last plagues 31:54 are poured out on the rebellious humanity. 32:00 After the temple was filled with smoke of the glory of God 32:04 and for His power no one was able 32:07 to enter the temple until the plagues are poured out. 32:10 What does it mean? 32:12 It means that there are seven last plagues. 32:15 They happened as the intercession of the Jesus Christ 32:20 in the heavenly places is concluded. 32:24 You see people don't have a chance 32:26 any longer to make their decision for God. 32:29 By the way in order to avoid any misunderstanding 32:34 whether by you or by the viewers to say, 32:36 so God is not giving him any chance. 32:38 You'll see that. 32:41 That even the seven last plagues 32:43 will not turn people to God. 32:46 Even to show any desire 32:49 to change their decision that they make. 32:53 The seven last plagues do not bring anybody to God. 32:57 Simply show what is in the human heart. 32:59 That was people, who made their decisions against God. 33:04 They did it knowingly and willingly 33:07 and there is nothing in this world 33:11 that can change their hearts. 33:14 This is friends, this is the main purpose 33:17 of this text to tell us. 33:18 Now there's a question then. 33:20 What is the purpose of the seven last plagues? 33:23 This what we want now to understand. 33:25 Because we'll not go and try to understand every plague, 33:28 because you can study for yourself. 33:30 We want to understand the purpose 33:32 and the intention of these plagues. 33:35 As you read in Chapter 15 from verse 2-5. 33:39 One more time 144,000 is mentioned. 33:42 By the way they are not here 33:43 mentioned refer to as 144,000. 33:48 But you'll notice it's the same group. 33:52 Where are they? Where are they? 33:55 They said in verse 2, "I saw something 33:58 like a sea of glass mixed with fire, 34:01 and those who had been victorious 34:03 over the beast and his image and the number of his name, 34:06 standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 34:10 And they were singing the song of Moses, 34:14 the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb saying." 34:17 Please what that's scene, what picture 34:21 does come to your mind as we're reading this. 34:25 By the way the seven last plagues are built 34:29 on the scene of Egyptian plagues. 34:32 And you remember after the plagues, what happened? 34:34 The people of Israel left the Egypt. 34:37 They came to the sea, 34:38 you remember after the destruction 34:40 of the Egyptians and we have Miriam 34:43 was leading the all choir of the people of the Israel, 34:46 singing the song of Moses. 34:49 By taking this image of Israel coming out of Egypt, 34:54 Exodus of Israel from Egypt. 34:56 Now the Book of Revelation portrays God's people 34:59 at the time of the seven last plagues 35:01 "they are victorious." 35:03 You see Egyptians were killed, 35:05 but Israelis were spared. 35:07 So here as the seven last plagues 35:09 are hitting the rebellious humanity. 35:11 What about God's People? 35:13 Do you remember the wheat harvest? 35:16 They are secured there in the store houses of God. 35:21 The seven last plagues will not harm them. 35:24 Even though God's people 35:25 will in certain measures experience 35:27 the consequences of the seven last plagues. 35:29 Keep in mind they still live on the earth. 35:32 But the Revelation 7, they said, 35:35 they will not hunger any longer. 35:37 They will not thirst any longer. 35:39 The sun will not scorch them, why? 35:42 Because these are all the consequences 35:44 of the seven last plagues. 35:45 God's people somehow will have share an experience. 35:50 But the seven last plagues will not harm them, 35:52 as they will harm the rebellious humanity? 35:55 So they are spared. 35:56 Okay, so now the text goes on in Chapter 16. 36:02 Keep in mind we're now going to Chapter 16. 36:05 Now we have the treading, 36:07 trampling of the grapes in the press there. 36:13 Okay, it says verse 16, "Then I heard the loud voice 36:17 from the temple--" you see it comes from the temple. 36:21 "Saying to the seven angels, 36:23 "Go and pour out on the earth 36:25 the seven bowls of the wrath of God." 36:29 I would like here to address one issue is. 36:31 You see the temple is here the key concept, 36:33 everything comes from the temple of God. 36:36 It's in the temple the decision is made, 36:40 who's for the kingdom and who's not? 36:43 And I know I meet my fellow Christian somewhere 36:47 and they are familiar with the statement 36:48 and during that time, 36:51 God's people will live without the intercessor. 36:54 Keep in mind the close of the probation is. 36:57 There is no intercession there in the heavenly places 36:59 and some of those people they are so much afraid. 37:04 They are asking themselves, boy, 37:05 who will be able to stand on that day. 37:08 How we will be able to live without intercessor. 37:11 Friends, yes during those times 37:14 God's people will live without intercessor, because, 37:17 there's no intercession in the heavenly places. 37:20 But we don't have any statement in the entire Bible, 37:23 that during the time, God's people 37:25 will live without Jesus Christ. 37:28 Amen. 37:29 Our Savior will be with us, He promised to us, 37:32 "I will be with you always, until the very end of the age." 37:38 they followed the Lamb wherever the Lamb goes. 37:41 Nobody and nothing will separate God's people from their Savior. 37:46 But we'll not have the intercessor, 37:48 because our eternal destiny is decided prior to that. 37:53 Okay. Yes. 37:54 So now we're coming to seven last plagues. 37:57 I hope that you have text there in front of yourself. 38:01 I don't have a time now to go 38:04 and to read all these texts. 38:08 But let me just go briefly and summarize 38:11 to what we have here in the first 10 verses 38:14 of the Book of Revelation. 38:16 You'll notice it talks about the first angel. 38:19 And the first plague actually causes, it says, 38:26 "Sore on the people, terrible sores of those 38:29 who have a Mark of the Beast who worship this image." 38:32 Then we're going to the second angel, 38:36 and hits the sea and the blood 38:40 that many people died there. 38:43 Then you have the third plague. 38:45 I'm talking about the rivers and springs of waters 38:48 that become a blood. 38:49 And that is why I say, they caused the blood, 38:52 they persecuted God's people. 38:54 Now God You're just, because You've 38:56 given them to drink the blood." 38:59 I believe as we're reading these verses 39:01 that Egyptians plagues suddenly come to your mind, okay. 39:06 Then we have the verse 7. 39:09 Boy, I am so tempted how much I can go through the text. 39:12 It says, "And I heard the altar saying'--" 39:14 Are you with me? 39:16 "Then I heard altar saying," 'Yes, O Lord God, 39:20 the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments." 39:23 'Please why is this text so much significant, 39:26 that the voice is coming from the altar 39:28 telling that the justice is done. 39:32 Do you remember what we read 39:34 in the scene of the fifth seal that there from the altar? 39:41 The blood of the martyrs, of God's people who were 39:45 suffered because of their gospel, 39:46 they're looking for justice. 39:48 Now from the same altar the voice is coming 39:54 stating that the justice is done. 39:57 And we have finally that the prayers 40:02 of God's people are answered. 40:05 Friends, sometimes we wonder 40:07 if our prayers are ever heard by God? 40:09 Yes, they are. 40:11 But God does everything his own time. 40:13 Sometimes we have to wait for a long time for a justice, 40:16 but believe me justice is with the God. 40:18 We simply have to wait for Him 40:20 and we come to verse 8 and says, 40:22 "The fourth angle poured out his bowl up on the sun 40:27 and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 40:32 Men were scorched with fierce heat 40:34 and they blasphemed in the name of God, 40:37 who has the power over these plagues 40:40 and they did not repent so as to give him glory." 40:43 Please allow me now, that I will stop here 40:46 with verse 9 and we'll continue on. 40:52 A great debate exists among Christians... 41:02 trying to answer the question, 41:05 Are the seven last plagues literal or symbolic? 41:12 Keep in mind that the Book of Revelation 41:13 is written in symbolic language. 41:17 And we saw even though the seven trumpets-- 41:23 that description is very close 41:25 to the description of the seven last plagues. 41:27 But we saw clearly in the light of 41:28 the Old Testament background 41:31 that the plagues of the seven trumpets 41:34 are clearly symbolic. 41:37 But friends, this is one of the most difficult questions 41:41 that we have, one of several difficult questions 41:43 in the Book of Revelation. 41:47 Let me tell you why? 41:49 Because when you read about the first four plagues 41:54 any symbolic meaning doesn't make sense. 41:59 This is recognized almost by all commentators, 42:02 everybody who has invested some time 42:04 in studying this subject. 42:06 There is only one conclusion they must be literal. 42:09 Please, please, please now, you have to be now with me. 42:13 Now, we'll ask the question, 42:15 but why do you rely on what people think. 42:18 No, that's not the point, I just want to tell you 42:20 everybody who is confronted with this question, 42:22 reach at the conclusion, why? 42:25 If we go to Revelation 7, you remember we talked about 42:29 144, 000 who have come out 42:31 of the great tribulation of the seven last plagues. 42:35 One more time, 144,000 who have come out 42:39 of the great tribulation of the seven last plagues, 42:41 they are given the promise. 42:42 The sun will not scorch them any longer. 42:46 They will not be hungry and thirsty any longer. 42:50 Any plague will not harm them any longer, 42:53 which points to literal not to symbolic. 42:58 That sun, that hunger, then thirst, you see that. 43:02 Is the hunger, thirst and the sun and the plagues 43:04 of the seven last plagues, 43:06 because water will become the blood. 43:09 So it's clearly-- I don't have any doubt. 43:16 That the first four of the seven plagues 43:19 must be understood literally, okay. 43:22 About something that happens 43:24 in the nature that will make people suffer. 43:28 However when you come to the fifth plague, 43:31 then sixth plague and the seven, 43:33 then literal meaning does not make sense. 43:36 Are you with me? 43:37 Let's go, let's go to the fifth plague. 43:40 Its verse 10, "Then the fifth angel 43:44 poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast." 43:48 Is throne of the beast something literal? 43:52 Okay, and his kingdom became darkened 43:56 and they gnawed their tongues because of a pain 44:00 and they blasphemed the God of heaven 44:02 because of their pains and their sores, 44:04 they did not repent from their deeds. 44:06 Then if you go from verse 12-16, 44:09 talks about River Euphrates, it talks about the beast, 44:15 a false prophet and the dragon 44:18 and three demons coming above them 44:20 and the battle of Armageddon you can see that. 44:23 That all these things must be understood 44:26 symbolically, interpret symbolically. 44:29 So in the present time I have to say it 44:31 with all humility, okay, and the fear of God, 44:35 our best understanding that we have today. 44:38 And we are departing from the principle 44:40 that we have served that the first four plague 44:43 are disasters in nature. 44:47 It's description of something that it literally happened? 44:51 However when we come to the fifth plague, 44:56 sixth and the seventh plague, 44:59 the literal meaning does not make sense. 45:02 It must be understood symbolically. 45:04 Are you with me? 45:06 This is our best way and please 45:08 we still have to leave the room 45:10 maybe for corrections in the future, okay. 45:12 But this is our best way in Revelation 7, 45:16 the last three verses of Chapter 7. 45:19 They are really, are telling us clearly 45:22 that the first four plagues are literal. 45:27 Okay, are we still, friends, in that home. 45:29 Okay, okay. 45:30 Now, you have now to be here with me. 45:36 What is the purpose of the seven last plagues, we already stated. 45:39 It's not to bring anybody to conversion. 45:43 Keep in mind, what is that the beast 45:46 and the counterfeit trinity in general, 45:49 Babylon, end time Babylon, 45:51 what is that they promised to the people 45:53 if they side with their system 45:55 and they receive the Mark of the Beast. 45:57 They're promising to them a bright future, happiness, 46:03 all the problems in this world will become-- 46:06 and I just want to tell our viewers, 46:08 today we have a many streams 46:11 and groups of Christians, who are hoping that one day, 46:16 if one universal religious system is established, 46:20 if all the people worship and believe God 46:23 in the same way, on the same day. 46:28 And ever resides in the systems 46:31 that all problems in America will be solved 46:33 and all the problems will be solved in this world. 46:39 Actually this is exactly what Babylon 46:40 is promising to the people. 46:42 But can you imagine, now you have to be with me, 46:46 what will happen when people make their decision 46:52 and that one system is created, 46:56 people worship God within their system 46:59 on a particular day with one mindset. 47:04 And when seven last plagues hits the humanity, 47:09 what is that that will happen? 47:14 I am sorry I pause here for a moment. 47:18 You see, suddenly people will become dissolution 47:21 they will ask the question, where are those promises? 47:24 We have made our decision, we've sided with the system, 47:27 this is what we are doing what we are asked to do with that. 47:31 Now contrary to our expectations 47:33 and what was promised to us, now we are suffering. 47:36 Did you see that, how much people 47:38 will suffer during the seven last plagues? 47:42 But there is something else. 47:45 When those people start suffering, 47:48 what is the first thing that they will do? 47:51 They will turn to Babylon and seek for the answer 47:58 asking for the protection, but friends, what is that, 48:02 that is taking place in the fifth plague. 48:09 Did you notice, what is that, 48:11 now takes place in the fifth plague? 48:13 It's actually the very seat of Babylon, 48:17 it's hit by the seven last plagues. 48:21 Please, please, I want one more-- 48:24 I want one more time to make it really clear 48:26 to all of you and to our viewers. 48:28 Sister Shelly, can I put you in the spot? 48:31 Can you imagine, you are in the terrible financial situation, 48:35 I see you and your husband that I appreciate so much-- 48:38 it's just an illustration, okay. 48:39 You have such terrible financial situation 48:41 you have to sell your house and finally to be homeless 48:46 and I come to you and I tell you, 48:48 sister Shelly and brother David, 48:50 don't worry I will give you $100,000 48:55 and you'll get out of that financial situation 48:57 and you will be saved, you say, praise God. 49:00 Then tomorrow you learn out that actually 49:03 I am in trouble financial situation that at my home 49:07 I don't have even money to buy for my food, 49:11 how much would your promise mean to you? 49:15 You say, he cannot help himself, 49:19 how can he help me, are you still with me? 49:21 Then my promise to you 49:22 would be completely useless, am I correct. 49:26 Can you imagine yourself when the rebellious humanity, 49:29 those who sided with the beast with Babylon suffer, 49:33 they turn their eyes over Babylon that they see 49:35 that the fifth plague hits the very Babylon. 49:39 Let's read one more time, 49:41 let's read one more time verse 10, 49:43 "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl 49:46 on the throne of the beast 49:47 and his skin then became darkened, 49:49 they gnawed their tongues because of a pain 49:54 and they blasphemed the God of heaven, 49:57 because of the pains and their sores 49:59 and they did not repent of their deeds." 50:03 Tell me now, all those people who believed Babylon, 50:07 side with Babylon, how would they feel? 50:10 Babylon cannot help itself, how can Babylon help us? 50:15 This is the background, this is the key 50:18 to the understanding of what comes next 50:22 in the description of the seven last plagues. 50:25 Please, let's read verse 12, 50:30 "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl 50:34 on the great River, Euphrates. 50:39 And its water was dried up, 50:42 so that the way would be prepared 50:46 for the kings from the east." 50:50 Please allow me to stop here for a while. 50:56 What happens in the sixth plague? 51:02 Okay, there are some confusing terms 51:05 it says that the seven-- that's the sixth plague 51:11 actually hits the great River Euphrates. 51:16 What happens to the River Euphrates? 51:20 It says that the waters of the river were dried up, 51:24 for which purpose? 51:27 So that the way would be prepared 51:29 for the kings from the east. 51:33 Can I now remind you one more time 51:35 that we are now dealing with the symbolic language 51:38 of the Book of Revelation? 51:42 So we have to understand what these-- 51:48 symbol actually means here. 51:51 May I ask you one more time the question? 51:54 How is the end time that evil system 51:59 that will stand in opposition to God, 52:00 how he's called in the Book of Revelation? 52:03 Babylon, okay. 52:06 Now we have to understand something from history 52:09 and please I've come here now to this blackboard, 52:14 I should have left little bit space here 52:16 but I'll use this part here anyway, okay. 52:20 We have to go little bit to history. 52:24 We have to go to the Old Testament 52:27 because the main power-- the main power 52:30 that stood in opposition to God 52:33 and God's people in the Old Testament was Satan. 52:38 But the earthly power that really send opposition to God 52:41 that Satan used so much was actually Babylon. 52:45 Probably you say that this is exaggeration 52:47 because Babylon just mentioned later in the Old Testament, no. 52:51 Babylon for the first time is mentioned in Genesis 11. 52:56 It is from that time on we have constantly 52:58 in the Old Testament two cities is Jerusalem and Babylon. 53:02 Babylon is the arch enemy of God's people 53:05 in the Old Testament. 53:07 But the Old Testament portrays actually-- 53:09 actually that Babylon and its fall. 53:12 Okay, so please. 53:15 Let's put it here, I just want to put it 53:18 in following way, okay. 53:21 This is not just a coincidence 53:24 because according to Greek historian Herodotus, 53:29 Babylon was square. 53:32 He tell us about something new Jerusalem 53:34 that the square in the Revelation 22 53:37 because Babylon, do you remember, 53:38 is the counterfeit city of Jerusalem. 53:41 But you know-- where is Babylon located? 53:46 In the desert place. 53:49 It was located on the territory of ancient Mesopotamia. 53:56 But see Babylon is the city by itself, 53:59 would not be able to survive and to stand alone. 54:03 Babylon owed its existence just to one entity. 54:08 Do you know the name of that entity? 54:11 It was named Euphrates 54:14 because it was the River Euphrates 54:19 that ran through the city. 54:22 Without the River Euphrates there would not be Babylon. 54:28 Actually Babylon was surrounded 54:30 by a triple wall here around. 54:33 And there are also the walls here 54:38 and nobody even dare to think 54:40 that Babylon could ever be conquered. 54:44 Actually it's because of Euphrates 54:46 the King Nebuchadnezzar beautified Babylon, 54:50 to its excellence, to its excellence. 54:53 So you have to keep in mind that Babylon owed its existence, 54:58 very existence to the River Euphrates. 55:01 The River Euphrates actually sustained Babylon, 55:04 provided the water and that huge vegetation 55:08 so you could come and surround Babylon for a long time. 55:12 Nothing would happen because of the River Euphrates. 55:16 River Euphrates provided life to Babylon. 55:19 Now you have to ask one question. 55:21 What happens when you read this statement 55:27 that the River Euphrates dries up. 55:34 What does it mean? 55:36 Do you remember that that Babylon 55:37 owes its existence to River Euphrates. 55:39 What happens when the waters of River Euphrates dries up? 55:44 No Euphrates, no Babylon. 55:48 By the way keep in mind 55:50 that this ancient imagery of Babylon, 55:54 it's used here as a symbol to portray 55:58 the end time Babylon of the Book of Revelation. 56:02 I would like to suggest you-- 56:04 we have just more than one minute left 56:07 to make introduction to our following lecture. 56:10 If you go to Revelation 17 that talks about Babylon, 56:14 Revelation 17, we read verse 1, okay. 56:20 It says "The one of the seven angels 56:23 who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, 56:27 saying, Revelation 17: 1, "Come here, 56:31 I will show you the judgment of the great harlot 56:36 who sits on many waters." 56:39 What is the name of this harlot in Revelation 17? 56:42 It's a Babylon. Where does Babylon sit on? 56:46 Revelation 17, on many waters. 56:50 What do those waters symbolize? 56:53 It's a River Euphrates, many waters. 56:55 If you go to verse 17-- verse 15 of chapter 17 we read. 56:59 "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits 57:03 are the peoples and the multitudes 57:05 and the nations and the tongues. 57:09 So when you are talking about the end time Babylon 57:12 that sits on the River Euphrates on many waters. 57:16 Would those many waters stand for 57:18 in the book of Revelation chapter 17, okay? 57:23 I'll not give the answer. 57:25 The answer will be in our next lecture, 57:27 and I just want to tell you 57:29 we have the sure word of the prophecy. 57:31 Now let you invite you to join us 57:32 for next lecture to see, how Book of Revelation 57:35 portrays the future that's before us. |
Revised 2014-12-17