[foreboding music]
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- Welcome back.
Session #2 this morning. We are
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going to continue
studying Revelation chapter 11.
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My objective is to finish
our study of Revelation 11
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during this
session. We're going to begin
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on page 194. 194.
Here, we see that the two
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witnesses are
actually two lampstands. So,
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what are lampstands
for? For giving light! Right?
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So, what happened
during the period of the fourth
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trumpet? The light
was eclipsed - not totally
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eliminated, but
eclipsed. Now, in other words,
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the witnesses testified
in obscurity, in darkness.
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Now, what is the key
passage to understand
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the meaning of the lampstands?
Zechariah 4 verses 1 through 6.
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Zechariah 4:1-6.
[reads text on-screen]
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So you see, you have
the bowl, you have the
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two olive trees that
provide the oil for the
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bowl, and then the
oil runs down pipes into
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the seven branches
of the candlestick. It
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continues... [reads text]
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In other words, what is
represented by the lamps?
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[continues reading]
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So, what does the
oil represent? The oil
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represents the Holy
Spirit. And what do the seven
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lamps represent? Well,
the seven lamps represent
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God's church, as
we'll notice in the book of
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Revelation. Now,
in Zechariah 4:14, the
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two olive trees
are called, "The Two
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Anointed Ones". Now
literally, in Hebrew,
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it means, "The Two Sons
of Oil". The Two Anointed
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Ones are the Two Sons
of Oil. They're not called
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the Sons of Oil
because they were anointed, but
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because they furnished
the oil to the candlestick.
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In other words, they
are the source of the oil.
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They are not anointed
with the oil. Now, here's
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an interesting
detail: In Zechariah, there's
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only one what? One
lampstand. And two olive trees,
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that supply the oil
to the one lampstand.
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While in the New Testament,
we have two witnesses,
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or two olive trees,
and two lampstands. What
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is the reason for the
difference? During the
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Old Testament
period, there was only one
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testament. While in
the New Testament, there
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are two testaments.
This is also the reason
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why God gave the religious
leaders of Christ's day
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the key of
knowledge. You can read that in
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Luke 11 verse 52. One
key - the key of knowledge.
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What was the only
source that the individuals had
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in Christ's day
when He was here? The Old
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Testament! He did
not give them the keys of
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knowledge. Later, Jesus
gave Peter and all believers
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what? The keys! In
other words, both testaments
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of the kingdom of heaven.
Peter had two keys because
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he had the Old Testament
witness and the New Testament
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fulfillment. Now,
let's go to the quotation on
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page 195. I'm gonna be
skipping some portions,
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because I really do
want to finish this chapter.
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And whatever I don't
cover, you have it written.
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"It is written," right?
Now, notice this statement-
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very clear from Christ's
Object Lessons, pg. 414.
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"In the parable,
the wise virgins had oil
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in their vessels with
their lamps. Their light
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burned with undimmed
flame through the night
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of watching. It helped
to swell the illumination
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to the bride groom's
honor. Shining out in
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the darkness, it
helped to illuminate the way
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to the home of the
bride groom to the marriage
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feast." Now comes
the comparison. What does
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this represent that she
just described? "Likewise,"
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that means, now she's
gonna make the application,
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"the followers of
Christ are to shed light into
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the darkness of the
world. Through the Holy Spirit,"
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what's the next
two words? "God's Word
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is a light as it
becomes a transforming power
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in the life of the
receiver. By implanting
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in their hearts the
principles of His Word,
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the Holy Spirit
develops in men the attributes
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of God. The light of
His glory, His character,
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is to shine forth in
His," what? "...in His
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followers. Thus, they
are to glorify God to lighten
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the path to the
bride groom's home, to the
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city of God, to
the marriage supper
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of the Lamb." Now, do
we have a seven-branch
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candlestick also in
the book of Revelation?
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[Yes.] Yeah. Revelation
begins with a candlestick.
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How many branches does it
have? It has seven branches.
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What do the seven
branches represent? The seven
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churches. In other words,
the witness of the church...
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The church giving light
in seven stages of church
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history, right?
Because the seven burning lamps
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represent seven
periods of church history. Now,
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is it that
empowers the seven churches
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to give witness and to
give light? The Holy Spirit-
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the oil. And it's interesting
that in Revelation chapter
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4:6, the seven-branched
candlestick is there in
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the presence of the Father
in the heavenly sanctuary,
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in the Holy Place, while
in Revelation chapter 5:6,
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it says that the seven
spirits are sent to the
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earth. So that's
what happens on the Day of
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Pentecost when the Holy
Spirit is poured out upon
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the disciples. By the
way, when the Holy Spirit
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was poured out upon
the disciples, what did
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Peter and John immediately
do? They preached! Right?
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Peter preached a sermon
on the Day of Pentecost.
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How many people
were converted? 3,000!
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So, did Peter open up
the kingdom of God? [Yes.]
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Yes, he did. Did
Peter do it himself? [No.]
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No. Who did it? The
keys of knowledge did it.
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Now, let's read the
bottom of the page, pg. 195.
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"From the two olive
trees, the golden oil
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was emptied through
the golden pipes into
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the bowl of the
candlestick, and thence into the
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golden lamps that gave
light to the sanctuary.
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So, from the holy
ones that stand in God's
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presence, His Spirit
is imparted to," whom?
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To "human instrumentalities
who are consecrated to
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His service. The
mission of the Two Anointed Ones
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is to communicate to
God's people that heavenly
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grace which alone
can make His Word a lamp
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to the feet and a
light to the path, 'not by
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might nor by
power, but by My Spirit,'
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sayeth the Lord of
hosts." Let's read the next
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statement. "Not by
might nor by power, but by
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My Spirit, sayeth the
Lord of hosts. Through
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the golden pipes,
the olive branches empty,
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the golden oil out
of themselves. The olive
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branches are the
anointed ones that stand by the
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Lord of the whole
earth. Through them"... Now,
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notice the
process. "Through them, the
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Holy Spirit is communicated
to," where? To whom?
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To the churches! And
then what does the church
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do? There, the church
proclaims the message.
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Were there witnesses
during the 1,260 days
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that received the
oil and proclaimed the
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message of God in obscurity -
but they preached the message?
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Yeah! Like the
Waldenses and the Albigenses.
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Now, let's notice
the next statement: "The
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Word is the preacher's
light, and as the golden
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oil flows from the
olive tree into the bowl,
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it makes the lamp of
life flash with a clearness
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and power that all
will discern. Those who have
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the privilege of
sitting under such a ministry,
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if their hearts are
susceptible to the Holy
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Spirit's influence,
we'll feel an inner life. The
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fire of God's love will
be kindled within them."
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And now notice, "The
Bible, the Word of God,
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is the bread of
life who feeds the flock
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of God, must Himself
first eat of the bread,
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which came down from heaven.
We must receive the Spirit
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in order to then
impart the Spirit," as we've
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studied before. So,
is it clear why the two
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witnesses are referred
to as lampstands? Because
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during the 1,260
years, what are they doing?
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Yes, there are people
in the church that are
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giving the message!
But they're doing it how?
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Not in fullness of
light, but in obscurity and in
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darkness. In other
words, the sun, moon, and stars
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during the fourth
trumpet are eclipsed.
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Are you seeing the
connection? Now, let's
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go to verse 5. "And
if anybody wants to harm
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them," that is, the two
witnesses, "fire proceeds
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from their mouth and
devours their enemies.
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And if anyone wants
to harm them, he must be
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killed in this
manner." So, you have the two
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witnesses breathing
fire. [laughter] Now, what does
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that mean? Well, this is
symbolic language. Remember,
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we're dealing with
symbols. What is really coming
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out of their
mouths? Words. Do the words
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disturb the
sinners? Ho-ho-ho, yes. Let's
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notice Jeremiah chapter 20
and verse 9. [text on-screen]
00:11:14.27\00:11:20.68
So what is it the
two witnesses are doing?
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"Oh, there's a
fire burning there!" And
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the message has to come
out. Jeremiah 5 and verse
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14. [text on-screen]
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Is this similar terminology
to what we find in Revelation
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11 and verse 5? Absolutely.
So, what is it that the
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two witnesses are
doing? What does it mean when
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it says fire comes out
of their mouth to devour?
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It represents the
Word that they are what?
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The Word that they
are preaching, even in the
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midst of obscurity.
Ellen White has this
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very interesting
statement in Great Controversy
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page 268. "And if any
man will hurt them, fire
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proceedeth out of
their mouth and devoureth
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their enemies. And if
any man will hurt them,
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he must, in this manner,
be killed." Then she comments,
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"Men cannot, with impunity,
trample upon the Word of
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God. The meaning of
this fearful denunciation
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is set forth in the
closing chapter of the
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revelation." And
then she quotes Revelation
00:12:58.91\00:13:02.04
22:18-19. "I
testify unto every man that
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heareth the words
of the prophecy of this
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book, if any man
shall add unto these things,
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God shall add unto
him the plagues that are
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written in this
book. And if any man shall
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take away from the
words of the book of
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this prophecy, God
shall take away his part out
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of the Book of Life and
out of the Holy City and
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from the things which
are written in the book."
00:13:21.36\00:13:24.20
So, do you
understand verse 5? [Yes.] Let's
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go to verse 6. "These," the two
witnesses...[continues reading]
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The book of
Revelation tells that those who
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add or take away, as
we've noticed, from the
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testimony of the
book of Revelation, will
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receive what?
Plagues. So, does the word have
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the capacity to pour out
plagues? It most certainly
00:14:01.94\00:14:04.81
does, upon those who
seek to change its message.
00:14:04.91\00:14:09.68
The question at this
point is, in what sense
00:14:10.21\00:14:12.75
do the two witnesses
have power to open and
00:14:13.45\00:14:15.78
shut heaven? The
answer is that they have the
00:14:15.88\00:14:19.12
keys of the
kingdom of heaven. The keys
00:14:19.22\00:14:22.16
of the kingdom of
heaven open or shut heaven.
00:14:22.26\00:14:24.99
Now, what is meant by
"the keys"? Let's notice
00:14:25.43\00:14:28.56
Matthew 16 and verse 19.
Jesus is addressing Peter.
00:14:28.66\00:14:34.30
[text on-screen]
00:14:35.17\00:14:38.34
Roman Catholics use this
to speak about the authority
00:14:48.12\00:14:50.29
of the pope. That's not
what this text is talking
00:14:50.39\00:14:53.39
about. Let's
continue pursuing this. The
00:14:53.49\00:14:56.73
dual-formed keys, without
a qualifying number, refers
00:14:56.79\00:15:00.80
to what? Two keys!
Thus, the keys have the same
00:15:00.86\00:15:05.30
meaning as the what?
As the two witnesses.
00:15:05.43\00:15:08.67
How do the two witnesses-
that is, the keys-open
00:15:09.20\00:15:12.41
and shut heaven? The
answer is that when God's
00:15:12.47\00:15:15.58
messengers preach
the Word of God through
00:15:15.68\00:15:18.81
the ministration of the
Holy Spirit, people either
00:15:18.91\00:15:22.75
what? Accept or
reject the message. If they
00:15:22.88\00:15:27.62
reject it, the kingdom
of heaven, what? Closes.
00:15:27.66\00:15:31.83
If they accept the
message, the kingdom of heaven
00:15:32.29\00:15:34.86
opens before them.
So, are you understanding
00:15:35.63\00:15:39.83
how the two witnesses
can open and shut heaven?
00:15:39.90\00:15:42.27
When you preach the
Word! If people reject it, is
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heaven shut? If people
accept it, is heaven open?
00:15:47.88\00:15:51.55
Absolutely! Now, let's
continue. With one sermon
00:15:52.05\00:15:55.75
from the Word of God,
Peter opened the kingdom
00:15:55.85\00:15:58.89
of heaven to 3,000
souls on the Day of Pentecost.
00:15:58.99\00:16:02.12
The problem with the
theologians of Christ's
00:16:02.69\00:16:04.99
day is that they did
not preach what? They
00:16:05.09\00:16:08.26
didn't preach the Word
of God, but rather their
00:16:08.40\00:16:10.90
own traditions, and
therefore what did they do?
00:16:11.00\00:16:13.47
They shut the kingdom
of heaven because they
00:16:14.10\00:16:15.90
didn't preach the Word.
Now, let's go to Matthew
00:16:15.97\00:16:20.34
23. This is very interesting.
Matthew 23:2 and verse 13.
00:16:20.41\00:16:25.45
[reads text on-screen]
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The word 'seat' there is
the Greek word 'kathédra'.
00:16:31.62\00:16:35.32
Does that ring a bell?
[Yes!] Catholics say that
00:16:37.96\00:16:41.46
when the pope speaks,
he speaks..." ex-cathedra."
00:16:41.56\00:16:45.57
The word
'cathedra' means 'throne'. He
00:16:46.00\00:16:48.00
"speaks from the
throne." So basically, this says
00:16:48.10\00:16:51.47
that the scribes
and Pharisees who were
00:16:51.57\00:16:53.17
the instructors, who
were supposed to preach
00:16:53.24\00:16:54.71
the Word, sit in
Moses' seat. But then Jesus
00:16:54.78\00:17:00.75
says to them, "But
woe to you, scribes and
00:17:00.85\00:17:03.92
Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you," what? "You shut
00:17:03.99\00:17:08.22
up the kingdom of heaven
against men, for you neither
00:17:08.32\00:17:11.59
go in yourselves, nor
do you allow those who
00:17:11.69\00:17:14.83
are entering to go in."
So what did the religious
00:17:14.93\00:17:17.80
leaders in Christ's day
do? They shut the kingdom
00:17:17.90\00:17:20.40
of heaven, right? And yet
they were sitting on Moses'
00:17:20.47\00:17:22.97
seat. What does that
mean - that they were
00:17:23.10\00:17:24.94
sitting on Moses' seat?
Well, let's read from the
00:17:25.04\00:17:28.18
Jerome [Biblical] Commentary,
which is a Roman Catholic
00:17:28.28\00:17:31.28
commentary about what
it means to sit on Moses'
00:17:31.35\00:17:35.18
seat. "The phrase,
'Moses' seat', is most probably
00:17:35.28\00:17:40.46
a metaphor, for the
authority of the scribes
00:17:40.52\00:17:43.83
to teach." And that's
true in Catholicism, too.
00:17:43.86\00:17:48.60
When the pope speaks
ex-cathedra, what he says
00:17:48.70\00:17:51.67
is absolutely authoritative
and infallible. So, is that
00:17:51.80\00:17:57.11
what the scribes and
the Pharisees believed
00:17:57.21\00:17:59.97
in their day? Yes.
"The phrase 'Moses' seat' is
00:18:00.08\00:18:03.85
most probably a metaphor
for the authority of the
00:18:03.95\00:18:05.71
scribes to teach. In
rabbinical tradition, the
00:18:05.81\00:18:09.65
interpretation of
the law was carried on in
00:18:09.75\00:18:12.15
a scribal tradition
that theoretically went back
00:18:12.25\00:18:15.79
through an
unbroken chain of scribes to
00:18:15.89\00:18:18.99
Moses. This view is,
of course, entirely,"
00:18:19.06\00:18:22.43
what? "...unhistorical."
The Roman Catholic Church
00:18:22.50\00:18:27.07
has the idea that oral
tradition has been passed
00:18:27.14\00:18:31.34
down from one generation
to another and has been
00:18:31.41\00:18:34.44
preserved by what is
called the magisterium.
00:18:34.51\00:18:36.81
Traditions that are
not found in the Bible.
00:18:37.65\00:18:39.81
They're simply
passed on from generation to
00:18:40.22\00:18:42.32
generation by an unbroken
chain of religious leaders.
00:18:42.38\00:18:45.52
But really, there're
traditions that have no
00:18:45.55\00:18:48.79
foundation where?
They have no foundation in
00:18:48.86\00:18:51.56
the Bible! And so,
in what sense did the
00:18:51.59\00:18:54.96
scribes and
Pharisees shut the kingdom of
00:18:55.03\00:18:56.77
heaven? In the sense
that they taught traditions
00:18:56.83\00:19:00.54
that are not found in
Scripture, and therefore
00:19:00.60\00:19:03.61
the kingdom of heaven
was shut to people. Now,
00:19:03.67\00:19:07.64
Luke 11:52 amplifies
this thought. This tells
00:19:07.68\00:19:12.21
us that the scribes took
away the key of knowledge
00:19:12.25\00:19:16.55
and closed the
kingdom to themselves and to
00:19:17.79\00:19:20.82
others. Let's read
that verse. "Woe to you,
00:19:20.89\00:19:23.19
lawyers." This is
parallel to Matthew 23 where you
00:19:23.22\00:19:25.69
have the woes on the
scribes and Pharisees.
00:19:25.76\00:19:27.46
"Woe to you, lawyers,
for you have taken away,"
00:19:27.90\00:19:30.67
what? "...the key
of knowledge! You did
00:19:30.77\00:19:34.37
not enter in
yourselves and those who were
00:19:34.44\00:19:37.14
entering in, you hindered."
The question is, why do
00:19:37.21\00:19:41.54
you have the
Pharisees and the scribes having
00:19:41.64\00:19:44.08
only one key? Because
at this point, there was
00:19:44.21\00:19:47.48
only one what? There
was only one testament.
00:19:47.62\00:19:50.85
But Jesus gave Peter
what? The keys, because
00:19:52.89\00:19:56.76
you have both. Now, here's
Ellen White's explanation -
00:19:56.86\00:20:01.16
beautiful! - "The keys
of the kingdom of heaven
00:20:01.26\00:20:04.23
are the words of
Christ." So how do you open
00:20:04.33\00:20:07.30
heaven? By
preaching the words of Christ.
00:20:07.37\00:20:11.21
"All the words of
Holy Scripture"- ah, so the
00:20:11.67\00:20:14.64
words of Jesus are found
where? In Holy Scripture-
00:20:14.74\00:20:18.35
"are His and are
here included. The words
00:20:18.85\00:20:22.32
have power to," what?
Does the Bible have power
00:20:22.42\00:20:26.25
to open and shut
heaven? The two witnesses? Yes.
00:20:26.35\00:20:29.06
"These words have the
power to open and shut
00:20:29.12\00:20:33.03
heaven. They
declare the conditions upon
00:20:33.13\00:20:35.90
which men are
received or rejected. Thus, the
00:20:36.03\00:20:38.93
work of those who
preach God's Word is a saver
00:20:39.00\00:20:42.27
of life unto life
or of death unto death.
00:20:42.34\00:20:47.34
Theirs is a mission
waited with eternal results."
00:20:47.84\00:20:52.11
Are you understanding
in what sense the witnesses
00:20:52.58\00:20:54.85
have the capacity to
shut and open heaven?
00:20:54.95\00:20:57.65
Did most people
during the 1,260 years, was
00:20:58.65\00:21:01.76
the heaven shut by the
Word, or was the heaven
00:21:01.86\00:21:03.53
opened by the Word?
Shut by the Word. "In
00:21:03.63\00:21:07.13
the days of Elijah,
apostasy led to closing
00:21:07.23\00:21:09.43
heaven for three-and-a-half
literal years as the two
00:21:09.53\00:21:13.64
witnesses closed
heaven for three-and-a-half
00:21:13.74\00:21:15.50
symbolic years. 1
Kings 17:1 tells us that the
00:21:15.60\00:21:20.74
word of Elijah had
power to shut heaven or open
00:21:20.84\00:21:24.71
it. Interesting,
isn't it? The word of Elijah
00:21:24.81\00:21:28.85
opened and shut heaven.
When Israel was in apostasy,
00:21:28.98\00:21:32.52
Elijah's word shut
heaven. When Israel repented
00:21:32.62\00:21:35.82
of her apostasy,
what happened? Rain came
00:21:35.92\00:21:38.79
again. What does the
rain represent? Represents the
00:21:38.86\00:21:42.73
Holy Spirit. God
had already told Israel
00:21:42.83\00:21:45.57
that apostasy would
lead to a withdrawal of rain.
00:21:46.37\00:21:49.57
Why was there no rain
during the period of the
00:21:49.70\00:21:51.27
Testimony of the
Two Witnesses? Because
00:21:51.34\00:21:54.74
the church was in
what? In apostasy. Notice
00:21:54.84\00:21:58.95
2 Chronicles 6:26-27.
[reads on-screen text]
00:21:59.05\00:22:04.75
So when they
repent from apostasy, what
00:22:26.68\00:22:28.44
does God send?
Rain. When the people are
00:22:28.54\00:22:30.98
in apostasy, what happens?
There is no rain. Was the
00:22:31.08\00:22:34.15
church apostate
during the fourth trumpet?
00:22:34.25\00:22:36.08
Absolutely. The
apostasy of the Christian church
00:22:36.69\00:22:40.42
was the reason for
the shutting of heaven in
00:22:40.56\00:22:43.53
the days of the
prophecy of the two witnesses.
00:22:43.63\00:22:45.89
The Word of God and
the Holy Spirit were what?
00:22:45.99\00:22:48.13
Scarce in those days,
as they were in the days
00:22:49.50\00:22:52.60
of Elijah. Now, let's
go to Revelation 11:7.
00:22:52.70\00:22:56.64
When they finished their
testimony... In other words,
00:22:58.27\00:23:00.78
when the two witnesses
finished their testimony-
00:23:00.84\00:23:03.85
this is the New King
James, and we're gonna
00:23:03.91\00:23:06.85
notice that we need to
fine-tune this-the beast
00:23:06.92\00:23:10.29
that ascends out of
the bottomless pit, what is
00:23:10.39\00:23:12.39
the beast from
the bottomless pit?
00:23:12.49\00:23:14.72
The beast from the bottomless
pit is what? Satan and
00:23:17.19\00:23:21.73
his demons - what they
did in France. Now we're
00:23:21.83\00:23:24.60
transitioning to
what? We've described up to
00:23:24.73\00:23:28.30
this point what
period? The fourth trumpet.
00:23:28.40\00:23:32.41
Now, we're transitioning
to the French Revolution,
00:23:32.94\00:23:36.04
the fifth trumpet.
Are you getting the point?
00:23:36.54\00:23:39.65
Now, when they
finish their testimony, the
00:23:40.55\00:23:43.42
beast that ascends out
of the bottomless pit...
00:23:43.52\00:23:45.49
Remember that we studied
the fifth trumpet yesterday
00:23:46.15\00:23:49.76
and you have all
of these demon-like
00:23:49.86\00:23:51.49
creatures coming
out, and Apollyon is their
00:23:51.63\00:23:54.26
leader and so on...
What is that describing?
00:23:54.33\00:23:56.40
The same thing as this!
Because both mention the
00:23:57.23\00:24:00.50
coming up out of
what? The bottomless pit!
00:24:00.64\00:24:03.61
So when they finish
their testimony, the beast that
00:24:04.07\00:24:06.04
ascends out of the bottomless
pit will do what? Will make
00:24:06.14\00:24:09.54
war against them-against
what? Against the two
00:24:09.64\00:24:13.68
witnesses! Overcome
them, and what? Kill them!
00:24:13.78\00:24:18.72
Were they killed
during the 1,260 years? No.
00:24:19.09\00:24:22.26
They witnessed. So, they
were alive...in obscurity!
00:24:22.32\00:24:24.99
But now, a power would
rise that was gonna kill
00:24:25.53\00:24:28.36
them! Now, the translation
when they finish is misleading
00:24:28.50\00:24:33.74
because it leaves
the impression that the
00:24:34.97\00:24:36.81
beast from the abyss
ascended after the 1,260
00:24:36.91\00:24:40.18
years concluded in
1798. So, when they finish-
00:24:40.28\00:24:45.35
when did they
finish? In 1798. It gives the
00:24:45.41\00:24:48.95
impression that
then, the beast from the
00:24:49.02\00:24:50.85
bottomless pit is
gonna come up. But we know
00:24:50.99\00:24:52.62
that the beast from
the bottomless pit came up
00:24:52.69\00:24:54.86
before 1798. Are you
understanding the point?
00:24:54.96\00:24:57.79
So, how do we explain
this? Well, the fact is,
00:24:58.26\00:25:01.33
the same identical word
'finish' is used in 2 Timothy
00:25:01.93\00:25:05.27
4:7 where the apostle
Paul is still alive, he's
00:25:05.33\00:25:09.84
in prison, and he's
saying, "I have finished
00:25:09.97\00:25:13.84
the race." Well if
he'd have finished the race,
00:25:13.94\00:25:17.65
he'd be killed. But
he was about to finish,
00:25:17.75\00:25:20.92
right? However, Paul
was still alive when he
00:25:21.02\00:25:24.32
said this! The same word
appears also in John 17:4
00:25:24.42\00:25:28.92
where Jesus on His way
to Gethsemane prayed to
00:25:29.72\00:25:32.63
His Father and said
that He had finished His work
00:25:32.76\00:25:36.16
on earth, but He still
had to go to Gethsemane
00:25:36.26\00:25:39.23
on the cross! So what
would be a better translation?
00:25:39.33\00:25:43.34
When they are finishing
their testimony, the beast
00:25:44.34\00:25:49.88
from the abyss will rise
to kill them. Ellen White
00:25:50.05\00:25:54.25
had this comment in
Great Controversy [pg.] 273.
00:25:54.35\00:25:57.65
"The beast that ascendeth
out of the bottomless pit
00:25:58.52\00:26:01.12
shall make war against
them and shall overcome
00:26:01.22\00:26:03.22
them and kill them.
The atheistical power that
00:26:03.36\00:26:07.03
ruled in France
during the Revolution and the
00:26:07.13\00:26:09.53
Reign of Terror did
wage such a war against God
00:26:09.60\00:26:13.40
and His Holy Word
as the world had never
00:26:13.47\00:26:16.14
witnessed. The National
Assembly did abolish the
00:26:16.24\00:26:20.61
worship of the
Deity. Bibles were collected
00:26:20.71\00:26:23.58
and publicly what?
Burned with every possible
00:26:23.68\00:26:27.72
manifestation of scorn."
Now, as I mentioned before,
00:26:27.82\00:26:33.19
Revelation 11:2 and
following is a further
00:26:33.96\00:26:39.29
expansion of the
fifth trumpet- actually, the
00:26:39.36\00:26:42.33
fourth and fifth
trumpet- where the shaft of the
00:26:42.43\00:26:44.90
bottomless pit is
opened, and King Abaddon, or
00:26:45.00\00:26:48.70
Apollyon, leads an
army of demons to hurt and
00:26:48.80\00:26:52.37
sting people. Those
who are stung do not die,
00:26:52.47\00:26:56.31
but rather what? Embrace
a painful and pessimistic
00:26:56.41\00:27:00.32
outlook on life.
Let's read these statements
00:27:00.42\00:27:04.95
from Ellen White. "When
France publicly rejected
00:27:05.05\00:27:07.09
God and set aside
the Bible, wicked men and
00:27:07.16\00:27:11.69
spirits of," what? [Darkness.]
Are those the beings that
00:27:11.76\00:27:16.70
come out of the bottomless
pit? Yes! "Spirits of darkness
00:27:16.80\00:27:20.50
exalted in the
attainment of the object so long
00:27:20.57\00:27:23.94
desired - a kingdom
free from the restraints of
00:27:24.04\00:27:27.68
the law of God."
Great Controversy [pg.] 286,
00:27:27.78\00:27:31.31
"The restraining
Spirit of God which imposes a
00:27:31.41\00:27:33.95
check upon the
cruel power of Satan." Let
00:27:34.05\00:27:36.89
me ask you: Was the
bottomless pit under
00:27:36.99\00:27:39.09
lock and key before
the French Revolution? Yes!
00:27:39.19\00:27:43.06
Because the key is given
to the angel of the bottomless
00:27:43.73\00:27:46.16
pit, and with the
key, he what? He opens the
00:27:46.26\00:27:49.76
shaft! So, she says,
"The restraining Spirit
00:27:49.86\00:27:53.23
of God, which imposes
a check upon the cruel
00:27:53.30\00:27:55.30
power of Satan, was
in great measure," what?
00:27:55.37\00:27:58.11
The key opens the
shaft now. "And he whose only
00:27:59.01\00:28:04.41
delight is the
wretchedness of man was," what?
00:28:04.51\00:28:08.45
God didn't cause
this; he was permitted. So,
00:28:09.42\00:28:13.25
was he allowed to
unlock the shaft? Yes; was
00:28:13.32\00:28:16.93
permitted to work
his will. "Those who had
00:28:16.99\00:28:20.10
chosen the service of
rebellion were left to
00:28:20.20\00:28:22.06
reap its fruits
until the land was filled
00:28:22.13\00:28:25.33
with crimes too horrible
for pen to trace." Ellen
00:28:25.43\00:28:31.71
White connected the
1,260 years with the
00:28:31.81\00:28:35.68
beast from the bottomless
pit! In Revelation 11, is
00:28:35.78\00:28:39.91
there a connection between
the work of the two witnesses
00:28:40.02\00:28:42.38
and the beast from the
bottomless pit? So would
00:28:42.48\00:28:45.15
you be surprised if
Ellen White connects them?
00:28:45.25\00:28:47.16
Of course, this was just a
lucky guess. [laughter] Folks,
00:28:49.02\00:28:53.03
these are the things
that prove to me that
00:28:53.09\00:28:55.00
Ellen White had more
than human wisdom. [Amen.]
00:28:55.10\00:28:58.17
How everything she
says harmonizes with when
00:28:58.93\00:29:03.17
you study the text!
Notice what Ellen White
00:29:03.24\00:29:06.37
had to say about this-
Great Controversy [pg.] 268-
00:29:06.47\00:29:10.51
"As they were approaching
the termination of their
00:29:11.28\00:29:13.52
work in obscurity"...
Notice she says, "As they were
00:29:13.62\00:29:16.38
approaching". How'd
she know that? I'm sure she
00:29:16.48\00:29:22.39
didn't read John 17
and 2 Timothy, but God
00:29:22.49\00:29:27.90
revealed it to her.
"As they were approaching
00:29:27.96\00:29:30.67
the termination of
their work in obscurity," that
00:29:30.77\00:29:33.80
is, 1,260 years,
"war was to be made upon
00:29:33.90\00:29:37.77
them by the power represented
as the beast that ascendeth
00:29:37.87\00:29:40.88
out of the bottomless
pit." The next statement,
00:29:40.98\00:29:44.55
Great Controversy [pg.]
268, "When they shall have
00:29:44.65\00:29:47.45
finished"... And notice
that she puts in brackets,
00:29:47.52\00:29:50.42
"[are finishing]
their testimony." [laughs]
00:29:50.52\00:29:53.59
Interesting that she
would put there in brackets,
00:29:53.69\00:29:55.86
"When they are
finishing their testimony." Then
00:29:55.89\00:29:58.63
she describes, "The
period when the two witnesses
00:29:58.76\00:30:00.60
were to prophesy
clothed in sackcloth ended in
00:30:00.70\00:30:03.67
1798. As they were
approaching the termination
00:30:03.77\00:30:07.64
of their work in obscurity,
war was to be made upon
00:30:07.74\00:30:11.57
them by the power represented
as the beast that ascendeth
00:30:11.67\00:30:14.31
out of the bottomless
pit. In many of the nations
00:30:14.38\00:30:17.91
of Europe, the
powers that ruled in church
00:30:18.01\00:30:20.42
and state have for centuries
been controlled by Satan."
00:30:20.52\00:30:23.12
So Satan was still
acting during the 1,260 years
00:30:23.18\00:30:26.76
through the medium
of the papacy, but here
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.82
is brought to view a
what? A new manifestation
00:30:29.92\00:30:34.40
of satanic power.
Because Apollyon and all his
00:30:34.46\00:30:39.13
armies are now
allowed to come out of the
00:30:39.23\00:30:42.07
bottomless pit to
wreak havoc in France. Here's
00:30:42.14\00:30:46.98
another one. "It
had been Rome's policy
00:30:47.08\00:30:49.94
under a profession of
reverence for the Bible
00:30:50.05\00:30:52.71
to keep it locked
up in an unknown tongue
00:30:52.81\00:30:55.22
and hidden away from
the people. Under her
00:30:55.32\00:30:57.69
rule, the witnesses
prophesized, clothed
00:30:57.79\00:30:59.72
in sackcloth, "But
another power, beast,
00:30:59.82\00:31:03.89
the beast from
the bottomless pit was
00:31:04.63\00:31:06.83
to arise to make
open avowed war upon the
00:31:06.93\00:31:11.27
Word of God. So is
the Word of God at the
00:31:11.33\00:31:13.70
center of the
fourth and fifth trumpets?
00:31:13.80\00:31:15.77
Yes. It's obscured
during the fourth; it is killed
00:31:16.40\00:31:19.61
during the fifth.
Philip Shaff, the great church
00:31:19.71\00:31:24.75
historian, wrote
this: "France rejected the
00:31:24.81\00:31:27.78
Reformation and reaped
the Revolution." [chuckles]
00:31:27.88\00:31:32.19
What was at the
center of the Reformation?
00:31:33.79\00:31:36.49
Sola scriptura. Scripture
alone! France said, "No!
00:31:37.23\00:31:43.60
Not Scripture
alone!" And what did she reap
00:31:44.17\00:31:46.84
as a result? The Revolution.
Let's go to Revelation
00:31:46.94\00:31:51.07
chapter 11:8. [reads text]
00:31:51.17\00:31:57.81
Now, are we to understand
Sodom and Egypt as literal
00:32:10.59\00:32:15.66
geographical
locations? No, because the text
00:32:15.76\00:32:19.77
explicitly says that
spiritually, France was
00:32:19.90\00:32:25.77
called "Sodom and Egypt".
I have different translations
00:32:25.87\00:32:30.01
here. The NIV
says, figuratively, Sodom
00:32:30.15\00:32:34.02
and Egypt. The New
American Standard Bible,
00:32:34.12\00:32:36.28
mystically, Sodom and
Egypt. The English Standard
00:32:36.38\00:32:40.32
Version, symbolically,
Sodom and Egypt. The
00:32:40.42\00:32:45.16
RSV,
allegorically, Sodom and Egypt.
00:32:45.26\00:32:49.43
The New Revised
Standard Version, prophetically,
00:32:49.50\00:32:52.30
Sodom and Egypt. So,
we're not dealing specifically
00:32:52.43\00:32:55.10
here with literal geographical
locations. Now, with the
00:32:55.20\00:32:59.74
exception of
Revelation 21:10 where the New
00:32:59.81\00:33:03.14
Jerusalem is
described as the Great City, the
00:33:03.24\00:33:05.95
Great City in Revelation always
applies to Babylon. Historians
00:33:06.08\00:33:11.95
have referred to
France as the eldest daughter
00:33:12.05\00:33:14.16
of the what? Of the
papacy. Is the papacy Babylon?
00:33:14.26\00:33:18.33
Yes, because she was
the papacy's first and
00:33:19.29\00:33:24.47
staunchest supporter.
Do you know that France
00:33:24.57\00:33:28.17
was the first nation
to give temporal power
00:33:28.24\00:33:30.71
to the papacy? And
France, the eldest daughter,
00:33:30.84\00:33:35.44
then arose and gave
the mother deadly wound.
00:33:36.08\00:33:38.81
[chuckles] France persecuted
God's people to the death
00:33:38.91\00:33:43.15
more than any other kingdom
of Europe. And I mentioned
00:33:43.25\00:33:46.25
the Saint Bartholomew['s
Day] Massacre. Notice
00:33:46.35\00:33:49.66
what we find at
the bottom of the page.
00:33:49.72\00:33:51.89
"Unhappy France,
reaped in blood, the harvest
00:33:51.99\00:33:55.36
she had sown." Remember
turning waters into blood?
00:33:55.46\00:33:58.13
This is the bloodiness
of the French Revolution.
00:33:59.60\00:34:02.17
Unhappy France reaped
in blood the harvest she
00:34:02.27\00:34:04.51
had sown. Terrible were
the results of her submission
00:34:04.61\00:34:07.48
to the controlling
power of Rome." That's the
00:34:07.58\00:34:10.91
fourth trumpet, by
the way. "Where France,
00:34:11.01\00:34:13.28
under the influence
of Romanism, had set up
00:34:13.35\00:34:15.58
the first stake at the
opening of the Reformation.
00:34:15.68\00:34:19.32
There, the Revolution
set up its first guillotine."
00:34:19.42\00:34:22.52
I've been in that
exact spot, by the way, there
00:34:23.63\00:34:26.23
in Paris. Very interesting,
as you're standing there,
00:34:26.29\00:34:29.26
to remember what happened
there. "On the very spot
00:34:29.33\00:34:33.17
where the first
martyrs to the Protestant faith
00:34:33.27\00:34:36.04
were burned in the 16th
century, the first victims
00:34:36.10\00:34:39.27
were guillotined in
the 18th. In repelling the
00:34:39.37\00:34:43.65
gospel, which
would've brought her healing,
00:34:43.75\00:34:47.22
France had opened the
door to infidelity and
00:34:47.65\00:34:50.69
ruin. When the restraints
of God's law were cast
00:34:50.79\00:34:54.86
aside, it was found
that the laws of man were
00:34:54.96\00:34:57.33
inadequate to," what? "To
hold in check the powerful
00:34:57.43\00:35:03.50
tides of human
passion, and the nation swept
00:35:03.60\00:35:06.77
onto revolt and anarchy.
The war against the Bible
00:35:06.87\00:35:11.14
inaugurated an era which
stands in the world's history
00:35:11.27\00:35:15.18
as the Reign of
Terror. Peace and happiness
00:35:15.28\00:35:18.35
were banished from
the homes and hearts of
00:35:18.45\00:35:20.82
men. No one was
secure. He who triumphed today
00:35:20.92\00:35:25.25
was suspected, condemned,
tomorrow. Violence and
00:35:26.19\00:35:29.72
lust held undisputed
sway." Does that sound
00:35:29.82\00:35:34.50
like all the demons
being let loose from the abyss?
00:35:34.60\00:35:37.43
Now, it's significant
that only a tenth part
00:35:39.13\00:35:41.27
of the Great City is
mentioned in the prophecy.
00:35:41.34\00:35:45.64
The ten horns were the
ten kingdoms of Europe.
00:35:47.71\00:35:50.35
At this point, only
one of those kingdoms fell.
00:35:50.41\00:35:53.05
Notice Great Controversy
[pg.] 269: "According to
00:35:54.65\00:35:58.19
the words of the prophet,
then a little before the
00:35:58.29\00:36:00.29
year 1798, some power
of," what kind of origin? "Of
00:36:00.36\00:36:05.09
satanic origin and
character would rise to make war
00:36:05.19\00:36:08.70
upon the Bible. And
in the land where the
00:36:08.80\00:36:11.53
testimony of God's
two witnesses should thus
00:36:11.67\00:36:13.70
be silenced, there
would be manifest," what?
00:36:13.84\00:36:17.31
"The atheism of
Pharaoh and the licentiousness
00:36:17.84\00:36:21.54
of Sodom. This
prophecy has received a most
00:36:21.64\00:36:25.11
exact and
striking fulfillment in the
00:36:25.18\00:36:27.35
history of France."
What was the central
00:36:27.45\00:36:32.22
characteristic of
Egypt in the times of Moses?
00:36:32.32\00:36:36.32
Exodus 5:2 has the
answer. [reads text on-screen]
00:36:36.93\00:36:42.76
That's atheism. "I
don't recognize the true God.
00:36:54.98\00:36:59.08
For me, He does not
exist!" Notice Ezekiel
00:36:59.55\00:37:02.72
29:3. [reads text on-screen]
00:37:02.78\00:37:06.96
Claiming the power of
the Creator. So, in other
00:37:22.00\00:37:25.34
words, the reason why
France is called Egypt
00:37:25.41\00:37:30.08
is because of the
spirit of what? Atheism!
00:37:30.15\00:37:34.48
Atheism. I mentioned
yesterday Daniel 11:40
00:37:34.58\00:37:38.95
describes the king
of the south who rose
00:37:39.05\00:37:42.02
against the king of
the north at the time
00:37:42.12\00:37:43.86
of the end. Did
that happen in 1798, at
00:37:43.93\00:37:46.46
the time of the end?
Did France arise against the
00:37:46.53\00:37:48.46
papacy, the king of
the north? By the way, the
00:37:48.56\00:37:50.97
counterfeit king of
the north. Absolutely!
00:37:51.07\00:37:52.93
This is the
identical chronological point
00:37:53.03\00:37:55.80
when the beast up
from the abyss arose in
00:37:55.90\00:37:58.81
Revelation 11. The
king of the south in 1798
00:37:58.91\00:38:02.38
was France who manifested
the same defiant spirit
00:38:03.21\00:38:07.12
as ancient Egypt,
and the king of the north
00:38:07.25\00:38:09.42
is the papacy.
Ellen White describes this
00:38:09.52\00:38:12.95
in Great Controversy
[pg.] 269. "No monarch
00:38:13.05\00:38:17.23
ever ventured upon
more open and high-handed
00:38:17.33\00:38:20.66
rebellion against
the authority of heaven
00:38:20.76\00:38:23.13
than did the king of
Egypt. When the message
00:38:23.20\00:38:26.23
was brought him by
Moses in the name of the Lord,
00:38:26.33\00:38:28.64
Pharaoh proudly answered,
'Who is Jehovah, that I
00:38:28.74\00:38:31.61
should harken unto His
voice to let Israel go?
00:38:31.71\00:38:33.98
I know not Jehovah,
and moreover, I will
00:38:34.08\00:38:36.78
not let Israel go."
How does Ellen White
00:38:36.85\00:38:40.02
explain this? this
is what? Atheism. And
00:38:40.05\00:38:44.02
the nation
represented by Egypt would give
00:38:44.09\00:38:47.62
voice to a similar
denial of the claims of the
00:38:47.69\00:38:51.03
living God and would
manifest a like spirit
00:38:51.06\00:38:54.16
of unbelief and
defiance. Now, what about the
00:38:54.23\00:38:58.00
issue- why was France
called Sodom? Not literal
00:38:58.03\00:39:02.54
Sodom-the same
spirit of Sodom. Well, you
00:39:02.57\00:39:06.57
just need to read
the chapter on the Bible
00:39:06.64\00:39:09.08
in the French Revolution.
There, Ellen White describes
00:39:09.14\00:39:12.28
the immorality that
took place in the city. In
00:39:12.35\00:39:16.62
Great Controversy 269,
she wrote [that] the Great
00:39:16.65\00:39:19.45
City is also
compared spiritually to Sodom.
00:39:19.55\00:39:22.02
"The corruption of
Sodom, in breaking the law of
00:39:22.89\00:39:25.79
God, was especially
manifested in," what?
00:39:25.86\00:39:29.26
"Licentiousness, and
this sin was also to be
00:39:29.83\00:39:35.20
the pre-eminent characteristics
of a nation that should
00:39:35.27\00:39:38.14
fulfill the specification
of this scripture." And
00:39:38.21\00:39:41.51
today, we use the
word 'sodomy' and the word
00:39:41.54\00:39:43.68
'sodomize' to speak
of... ...the worst kind of
00:39:43.75\00:39:50.22
sexual sin. In
Great Controversy 271,
00:39:50.32\00:39:55.62
we find these
words where our Lord also
00:39:56.32\00:40:00.96
was crucified. Now,
she's gonna comment on this
00:40:01.06\00:40:03.67
particular phrase that
we find here in verse 8
00:40:03.73\00:40:07.40
that we're
describing. What does it mean;
00:40:07.50\00:40:11.51
was Christ crucified
in Paris? [laughs] No,
00:40:11.61\00:40:16.81
Christ wasn't crucified
literally, personally, in
00:40:16.91\00:40:18.91
Paris, so how do we
explain this? Well, let's
00:40:19.01\00:40:21.88
unpack it. "France also
fulfilled this specification
00:40:22.02\00:40:26.86
of the prophecy. In
no land had the spirit of
00:40:26.96\00:40:30.16
enmity against
Christ been more strikingly
00:40:30.26\00:40:33.60
displayed. In no country
had the truth encountered
00:40:33.70\00:40:37.00
more bitter and cruel
opposition in the persecution
00:40:37.10\00:40:40.60
which France had
visited upon the confessors of
00:40:40.74\00:40:43.24
the gospel. She had
crucified Christ in the
00:40:43.37\00:40:47.88
person of His disciples."
And how do we understand
00:40:48.01\00:40:52.28
this, that persecuting
the followers of Christ
00:40:52.38\00:40:56.35
is persecuting
Christ? Is that a biblical
00:40:56.45\00:40:58.95
concept? What is
the church? The body of
00:40:59.09\00:41:03.86
Christ. So let me ask
you: If somebody pricks
00:41:03.96\00:41:08.73
you in the finger with
a needle, does the head
00:41:08.76\00:41:13.07
feel it? Of course
the head- it's the head
00:41:13.13\00:41:16.17
that feels it, by the
way. That's your command
00:41:16.24\00:41:18.21
center! Now, do you
remember Saul of Tarsus
00:41:18.27\00:41:23.21
was on the road
to Damascus? People
00:41:23.28\00:41:28.28
say he fell off a
horse. There's no reference
00:41:28.38\00:41:29.88
to a horse there.
He fell to the ground,
00:41:29.98\00:41:32.29
and he heard a
voice saying from heaven,
00:41:32.92\00:41:35.19
"Saul, Saul, why do
you persecute Me?" And he's
00:41:35.22\00:41:37.13
thinking, "Well, is
Damascus up?" And he says, "Who
00:41:37.19\00:41:44.23
are you that I'm persecuting?"
And the answer comes,
00:41:44.30\00:41:47.50
"I am Jesus of Nazareth,
whom you're persecuting."
00:41:47.57\00:41:50.34
So let me ask you: To
crucify Christ in this
00:41:50.87\00:41:54.24
story means to
crucify His what? To crucify
00:41:54.31\00:41:57.75
the body of Christ,
His church. Remember
00:41:57.85\00:42:00.82
the parable of the
sheep and the goats? "Inasmuch
00:42:00.92\00:42:03.25
as you have done
it, unto one of these,
00:42:03.28\00:42:05.25
the least [of
these] My brethren, you
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.32
have done it unto Me."
So Christ was crucified
00:42:07.36\00:42:09.96
in the person of His
people - in His body,
00:42:10.09\00:42:12.79
if you please. Notice
Great Controversy 273.
00:42:12.89\00:42:17.77
The same master
spirit- this is the beast from
00:42:18.37\00:42:22.84
the bottomless
pit- that urged on the
00:42:22.94\00:42:25.51
Saint Bartholomew['s
Day] Massacre led also in
00:42:25.64\00:42:29.34
the scenes of the Revolution.
Jesus Christ was declared
00:42:29.44\00:42:33.08
to be an imposter, and
the rallying cry of the
00:42:33.18\00:42:36.72
French infidels
was, 'Crush the wretch,'
00:42:36.82\00:42:40.82
meaning Christ." Was
Christ crucified symbolically?
00:42:40.92\00:42:44.46
Yes! It was an attack
against Jesus, and they
00:42:45.36\00:42:48.66
crucified Him
through His body, through His
00:42:48.76\00:42:51.23
followers. Jesus is
the Word of God in person,
00:42:51.37\00:42:55.34
and the Bible is
His written biography.
00:42:55.44\00:42:58.01
France, the eldest daughter
of the papacy, crucified
00:42:58.47\00:43:01.14
Christ by crucifying
the Bible, because the
00:43:01.24\00:43:06.85
Bible is what? The
Bible testifies of Christ. So,
00:43:06.95\00:43:12.89
by crucifying the Bible-
and the Bible is centered
00:43:12.99\00:43:16.36
in Christ-it's like crucifying
Christ. By killing the
00:43:16.46\00:43:20.93
two witnesses, they
killed Christ, because
00:43:21.03\00:43:23.93
the two testaments give
witness to Christ. It is
00:43:24.03\00:43:27.24
possible to crucify
Jesus afresh. Isn't that true?
00:43:27.37\00:43:30.87
It says so in the book of
Hebrews and 1 Corinthians.
00:43:31.47\00:43:34.04
The Bible received
the same vile treatment
00:43:34.54\00:43:36.71
in the French
Revolution that Jesus did in His
00:43:36.85\00:43:39.81
trial and
crucifixion. Was Jesus dragged
00:43:39.91\00:43:42.25
through the streets
of Jerusalem? Did people
00:43:42.35\00:43:45.45
mock and make fun
of Him? Did they make
00:43:45.55\00:43:48.02
merry? Absolutely.
The Revolutionaries tried,
00:43:48.16\00:43:52.43
judged, mistreated,
and executed the Bible.
00:43:52.53\00:43:55.60
However, Christ and the
two witnesses resurrected
00:43:56.13\00:43:58.83
and ascended to heaven.
Remember Jesus resurrected
00:43:58.93\00:44:01.14
and then went to heaven?
Did the two witnesses also
00:44:01.24\00:44:03.64
resurrect and go
to heaven? Absolutely.
00:44:03.74\00:44:05.97
Now, notice
concerning the Saint Bartholomew
00:44:06.64\00:44:09.04
Massacre, Ellen White
remarks the following:
00:44:09.14\00:44:11.61
"As Christ was the
invisible Leader of His people
00:44:12.41\00:44:15.68
from Egyptian bondage,
so was Satan the unseen
00:44:15.78\00:44:19.42
leader of his
subjects in this horrible work
00:44:19.52\00:44:23.96
of multiplying
martyrs. For seven days, the
00:44:24.06\00:44:27.53
massacre was continued
in Paris, the first three
00:44:27.63\00:44:30.40
with inconceivable
fury, and it was not confined
00:44:30.50\00:44:34.04
to the city itself but
by special order of the
00:44:34.17\00:44:36.77
king was extended
to all the provinces in
00:44:36.87\00:44:39.27
towns where Protestants
were found. Neither age
00:44:39.37\00:44:42.54
nor sex was
respected. Neither the innocent
00:44:42.64\00:44:45.35
babe nor the man of
gray hairs was spared.
00:44:45.45\00:44:48.18
Noble and peasant,
old and young, mother and
00:44:48.28\00:44:51.29
child, were cut
down together. Throughout
00:44:51.39\00:44:54.29
France, the butchery
continued for two months.
00:44:54.36\00:44:57.33
70,000 of the very?
of the nation perished."
00:44:57.43\00:45:01.13
Now do you know why
France is singled out
00:45:01.23\00:45:03.97
in the fifth
trumpet? Because of what they
00:45:04.07\00:45:08.27
did to God's
people. They suffered the
00:45:08.37\00:45:10.64
consequence. "Whatsoever
a nation sows, that also
00:45:10.77\00:45:14.01
a nation reaps." Let's
go to verse 9. [reads text]
00:45:14.11\00:45:21.42
The greatest
insult: Denying a person a
00:45:30.89\00:45:34.86
burial was the
utmost insult reserved only
00:45:34.96\00:45:38.97
for the worst kinds
of criminals. This is
00:45:39.03\00:45:42.30
the way that France
treated the two witnesses
00:45:42.40\00:45:46.47
during the French
Revolution. By the
00:45:46.57\00:45:49.84
way, it's more than
a coincidence that on
00:45:49.94\00:45:53.11
November 23, 1793,
the National Assembly of
00:45:53.21\00:45:57.32
France gave a decree
that all churches and
00:45:57.45\00:45:59.92
religious services
were to cease. On June 17,
00:45:59.99\00:46:04.03
about three-and-a-half
years later-'cause it's
00:46:04.16\00:46:06.59
three-and-a-half days
that the prophecy says-
00:46:06.70\00:46:08.40
France gave a decree
allowing religious services
00:46:08.50\00:46:11.67
to resume again. Very
interesting. Now, let's
00:46:11.80\00:46:17.51
go to verse 10.
What were people gonna do
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.58
when they saw the
two witnesses killed? Ho,
00:46:20.71\00:46:24.61
they were gonna be
joyful. Why? Well, because
00:46:24.71\00:46:27.12
when you have the
Bible, the Bible kind of
00:46:27.22\00:46:28.92
torments you,
right? If you're doing the
00:46:29.02\00:46:30.82
wrong thing? But
if you get rid of the
00:46:30.92\00:46:32.85
Bible, you know,
you'll live free! Not really.
00:46:32.95\00:46:36.62
You're in bondage.
Notice Revelation 11:10.
00:46:37.09\00:46:40.76
[reads on-screen text]
00:46:40.83\00:46:43.50
The Word of God
torments those who disobey, but
00:46:51.14\00:46:53.98
it brings peace to
those who obey it. "The pangs
00:46:54.08\00:46:57.18
of conscience are
painful to the transgressor."
00:46:57.25\00:47:00.62
In Great Controversy
274, Ellen White wrote,
00:47:01.65\00:47:04.39
"Infidel France had
silenced the reproving
00:47:04.45\00:47:08.02
voice of God's two
witnesses. The Word
00:47:08.09\00:47:10.99
of Truth lay dead in
her streets." So it's
00:47:11.06\00:47:14.13
Christ through the
Word, right? That is
00:47:14.16\00:47:16.40
dead here. "The
Word of Truth lay dead in
00:47:16.46\00:47:19.03
the streets, and those
who hated the restrictions
00:47:19.10\00:47:22.10
and requirements of
God's law were jubilant."
00:47:22.14\00:47:25.27
Evangelicals and conservative
Protestants today, they say
00:47:28.61\00:47:32.35
that after the church
is gone, Moses and Elijah
00:47:32.41\00:47:35.15
are gonna come and
witness to the Jews. I'll tell
00:47:35.18\00:47:37.65
you what: That
totally hides this history,
00:47:37.69\00:47:42.89
and it hides what
we're gonna study about in
00:47:43.49\00:47:45.89
the sixth trumpet. When
the devil led Protestants
00:47:45.93\00:47:50.47
to destroy historicism,
they destroyed the key
00:47:50.53\00:47:54.20
that opens
prophecy. It's that simple.
00:47:54.24\00:47:57.11
Also, page 281, Ellen
White wrote, "Deprived
00:47:58.21\00:48:01.21
of the Bible and abandoned
to the teachings of bigotry
00:48:01.28\00:48:04.81
and selfishness,
the people were shrouded
00:48:04.91\00:48:08.92
in ignorance and superstition
and sunken in vice so that
00:48:09.02\00:48:13.25
they were wholly
unfitted for self-government."
00:48:13.32\00:48:17.39
You can read the
next statement, because we
00:48:17.83\00:48:20.93
need to advance.
Time is really flying by;
00:48:20.96\00:48:23.10
the clock is our worst
enemy. Revelation 11:11.
00:48:24.33\00:48:28.20
Now, were the two witnesses
going to remain dead forever?
00:48:29.07\00:48:35.08
Oh, no, no, no. No,
after three-and-a-half
00:48:35.14\00:48:37.61
days, the breath of
life from God entered
00:48:37.71\00:48:39.45
them, and they stood
on their feet, and great
00:48:39.51\00:48:43.02
fear fell on those
who saw them. On November
00:48:43.12\00:48:48.06
23, as I mentioned,
1793, the National Assembly
00:48:48.12\00:48:51.59
uttered a decree abolishing
religion, but on June 17,
00:48:51.69\00:48:54.66
1797, the French government
removed the restrictions
00:48:54.76\00:48:58.13
against the practice
of religion. Ellen White
00:48:58.20\00:49:02.37
and Great Controversy
287 wrote, "God's faithful
00:49:02.44\00:49:04.91
witnesses slain by
the blasphemous power that
00:49:04.97\00:49:07.18
ascendeth out of
the bottomless pit were
00:49:07.24\00:49:09.38
not long to remain
silent. After three days and a
00:49:09.48\00:49:13.01
half, the spirit of
life from God entered into
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.58
them and they stood
up on their feet, and
00:49:15.68\00:49:17.49
great fear fell upon
them which saw them. It was in
00:49:17.55\00:49:21.19
1793 that the decrees
that abolished the Christian
00:49:21.26\00:49:25.69
religion and set aside
the Bible past the French
00:49:25.76\00:49:28.13
Assembly. Three
years and a half later, a
00:49:28.20\00:49:31.43
resolution
rescinding these decrees, thus
00:49:31.53\00:49:34.00
granting toleration
to the scriptures, was
00:49:34.07\00:49:36.50
adopted by the same
body." Let's go to verse
00:49:36.60\00:49:40.74
12. [reads text on-screen]
00:49:40.84\00:49:44.25
The key question here
is, who are the enemies?
00:49:52.09\00:49:55.29
Well, the answer is
that the enemies are
00:49:56.39\00:49:58.46
twofold. Who are
the first enemies of the
00:49:58.53\00:50:02.63
two witnesses? Those
who obscured the scriptures
00:50:02.70\00:50:09.00
during the 1,260 years.
What is the other enemy?
00:50:09.10\00:50:12.81
It's the enemy of atheism-
infidel France. False religion
00:50:14.21\00:50:22.25
and atheism, in
other words. Both groups
00:50:23.08\00:50:26.35
would watch the marvelous
resurrection of the two
00:50:26.45\00:50:28.86
witnesses. According
to Revelation verse 10,
00:50:28.96\00:50:32.16
the witness says
resurrected when the
00:50:32.26\00:50:35.13
little book of Daniel
8-12 was unsealed. We'll come
00:50:35.23\00:50:37.67
to this in our next
session. Then, Ellen
00:50:37.80\00:50:40.80
White goes on to
speak about the tremendous
00:50:40.90\00:50:44.14
number of Bible
societies that were established
00:50:45.04\00:50:48.08
after the French Revolution.
You can read that there
00:50:48.18\00:50:50.91
on page 287; it's in
the middle of the page.
00:50:51.01\00:50:53.42
"The Bible was suddenly
published in many different
00:50:54.42\00:50:57.62
languages and many
different dialects; Bible
00:50:57.72\00:51:00.26
societies were
established. And now, the Bible
00:51:00.36\00:51:03.16
became prestigious,
whereas before had it
00:51:03.22\00:51:05.99
been crucified
during the Revolution." Now,
00:51:06.09\00:51:09.80
let's read the next
statement. "For the 50
00:51:09.90\00:51:12.37
years preceding
1792, little attention was
00:51:12.43\00:51:16.10
given to the work
of foreign missions. No
00:51:16.20\00:51:18.51
new societies were
formed, and there were but few
00:51:18.54\00:51:20.91
churches that made any
effort to spread Christianity
00:51:21.04\00:51:23.58
in heathen lands.
However, toward the close of
00:51:23.68\00:51:26.45
the 18th century, a
great change took place. Men
00:51:26.58\00:51:29.58
became- now, what did
they become dissatisfied
00:51:29.68\00:51:32.32
with? With what led
to the French Revolution!
00:51:32.39\00:51:35.26
They became dissatisfied
with the results of," what?
00:51:35.79\00:51:39.19
"Rationalism!" By the
way, that's René Descartes,
00:51:40.13\00:51:43.10
right? That we
talked about yesterday?
00:51:43.20\00:51:45.00
And realize the necessity
of what? Divine revelation,
00:51:45.40\00:51:49.07
and an experimental
religion. In other words,
00:51:49.20\00:51:51.84
to have an experience
in religion. "From this
00:51:51.94\00:51:54.51
time, the work of
foreign missions attained an
00:51:54.61\00:51:56.41
unprecedented growth."
Notice the first statement
00:51:56.51\00:52:01.12
on page 207. "While
a student at school,?"-
00:52:01.22\00:52:04.95
this is one of the individuals
that preached between
00:52:05.05\00:52:09.46
1798 and 1844-"had
encountered that spirit
00:52:09.56\00:52:14.00
of," what? "Rationalism,
which pervaded all Europe
00:52:14.10\00:52:17.83
during the latter part
of the 18th and the opening
00:52:17.97\00:52:20.67
of the 19th
century. And when he entered
00:52:20.77\00:52:23.57
the ministry, he
was not only ignorant of
00:52:23.67\00:52:25.41
true faith, but
inclined to skepticism." That's
00:52:25.51\00:52:28.84
what rationalism
does. "He could not rest
00:52:28.94\00:52:31.21
satisfied with the
teachings of rationalism,
00:52:31.31\00:52:33.68
and in studying
the Bible and searching
00:52:33.78\00:52:36.08
for clear light, he
was, after a time, led to a,"
00:52:36.15\00:52:39.55
what? "To a
positive faith." Now let's go
00:52:39.65\00:52:43.73
to verse 13.
[reads text on-screen]
00:52:43.83\00:52:47.20
The Greek word 'loipos':
Better translated, "The
00:52:56.94\00:52:59.91
Remnant were afraid."
Not a good translation.
00:52:59.97\00:53:05.45
The better
translation is feared, the same
00:53:06.41\00:53:09.38
word that is used
in Revelation 14:7.
00:53:09.48\00:53:11.45
"Fear God." Does
that mean being afraid of
00:53:11.55\00:53:13.12
God? No. What did the
Remnant do? The Remnant
00:53:13.22\00:53:17.99
feared God and what?
And gave glory to Him.
00:53:18.09\00:53:23.40
Are these the two
groups at the end of time,
00:53:24.57\00:53:26.30
secularism and
Roman Catholicism versus
00:53:27.00\00:53:30.61
those who fear God and
give glory to Him? This
00:53:30.71\00:53:34.01
is the
introductory verse to the next
00:53:34.14\00:53:36.58
section of the book of
Revelation. Only a fraction
00:53:36.68\00:53:40.28
of the Great City
fell during the French
00:53:40.35\00:53:43.59
Revolution. Revelation 16:17-21
describes the final global
00:53:43.65\00:53:48.22
and cataclysmic
earthquake that will destroy the
00:53:48.96\00:53:51.96
totality of
Babylon. Let's go to the next
00:53:51.99\00:53:55.26
paragraph. Verse 12
addresses the enemies
00:53:55.33\00:53:57.47
of God's people who see
the witnesses resurrect.
00:53:57.50\00:54:00.77
However, Revelation
11:13 also brings to view a
00:54:01.60\00:54:05.27
remnant who feared
God and gave Him glory.
00:54:05.34\00:54:07.64
This is a direct
reference to what? To the first
00:54:08.14\00:54:11.68
angel's message. That
is to say we have here
00:54:11.71\00:54:15.12
the introduction to
the first angel's message
00:54:15.18\00:54:17.85
which falls within
the period of the sixth
00:54:17.92\00:54:22.42
trumpet. Now, I read
this statement from the
00:54:22.49\00:54:26.19
book Education
yesterday, so we won't read it
00:54:26.29\00:54:28.73
again, but there's
an interesting parallel
00:54:28.80\00:54:31.37
between the passion
of Jesus and what we
00:54:31.43\00:54:34.47
might call the
passion of the Bible in the
00:54:34.54\00:54:36.64
French Revolution. Notice
the parallels. Jesus carried
00:54:36.71\00:54:41.51
on a ministry for how
long? Three-and-a-half
00:54:41.58\00:54:45.41
years in the midst
of what? What happened
00:54:45.48\00:54:48.32
when He preached the
Word? Great persecution
00:54:48.35\00:54:51.52
and opposition,
correct? Very few accepted His
00:54:51.55\00:54:56.96
words. When Jesus
was about to finish His
00:54:57.03\00:55:01.00
testimony, demons
united with men to do what?
00:55:01.10\00:55:09.00
To make merry over
Him. This was the hour-and
00:55:09.47\00:55:13.81
this is in Luke
22:3- this was the hour of
00:55:13.88\00:55:17.28
the powers of
darkness. Was Satan allowed to
00:55:17.38\00:55:20.55
manifest his power
at this point? Was he
00:55:20.62\00:55:25.32
released? Yes! All you
have to do is read about
00:55:25.35\00:55:29.79
the trial and
execution of Christ! Ellen White
00:55:29.82\00:55:32.93
says that there
were demons disguised as
00:55:32.99\00:55:34.86
men there! Same thing as
at the French Revolution-
00:55:34.93\00:55:38.80
yes. Satan and his
angels unleashed all
00:55:38.83\00:55:43.14
their power against
Jesus. The enemies of Jesus
00:55:43.20\00:55:45.97
treated Him as the
French Revolutionaries treated
00:55:46.04\00:55:48.61
the scriptures,
dragging Him down the streets
00:55:48.68\00:55:51.21
and making merry
over Him. The enemies of
00:55:51.28\00:55:55.58
Jesus gazed upon Him
as He hung on the cross.
00:55:55.65\00:56:00.09
Was there a great
earthquake? There was
00:56:00.56\00:56:03.93
a great earthquake when
Jesus died, and also when
00:56:03.96\00:56:07.40
He resurrected. You
can read these statements
00:56:07.46\00:56:10.53
from the Spirit of Prophecy-
very interesting. When Jesus
00:56:10.63\00:56:14.04
died, there was
what? Fear on the part of
00:56:14.14\00:56:18.97
the centurion. You
can read that in Matthew
00:56:19.07\00:56:20.71
27:54. "And there
was fear when He," what?
00:56:20.81\00:56:25.21
"When He resurrected.
And then, Jesus was,"
00:56:26.01\00:56:28.62
what? "Jesus was caught
up to heaven in a cloud."
00:56:28.68\00:56:35.49
That's what Revelation
11 mentions. "In a cloud
00:56:36.02\00:56:38.89
after being slain,"
and then what happens
00:56:39.96\00:56:41.86
with the gospel
after this? What happened
00:56:42.00\00:56:46.03
when the Bible resurrected
after the French Revolution?
00:56:46.10\00:56:49.60
Missionaries are
sent everywhere. Bibles
00:56:50.27\00:56:54.44
are printed by the
millions in many languages
00:56:54.51\00:56:58.21
and dialects. Now, the
little book of Revelation
00:56:58.31\00:57:01.48
10 is opened...and
knowledge is increased, because
00:57:01.58\00:57:07.06
now, Scripture is speaking.
Are you with me or not?
00:57:07.12\00:57:09.42
So this has to do with
Revelation 10-the other
00:57:09.96\00:57:12.99
side of the equation.
Revelation 11 describes,
00:57:13.06\00:57:15.93
primarily, the
enemies! The enemies coming
00:57:17.00\00:57:21.37
from the abyss. Revelation
10 describes the other
00:57:21.47\00:57:24.21
side, the side of
the righteous. And so
00:57:24.31\00:57:28.98
then, after the
French Revolution, the gospel
00:57:29.04\00:57:32.38
now goes to every
nation, kindred, tongue,
00:57:32.45\00:57:35.82
and people, as it
says in Revelation chapter
00:57:35.88\00:57:38.25
14. Those who fear
God and give glory to God
00:57:38.32\00:57:42.72
now go to the world
and proclaim the message
00:57:42.79\00:57:47.66
that the
Millerites proclaimed, leading
00:57:49.16\00:57:51.03
up to 1844 and
that the Remnant Church
00:57:51.10\00:57:53.44
proclaimed and continues
to proclaim even till today.
00:57:53.47\00:58:00.28