3ABN presents The
Robe with Stephen Bohr.
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Sadly we have come down
to the very last night of our
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sitting together, and it
has been a very wonderful time.
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Back in the early
days of our church
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the church really struggled
with a number of the things that
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we've been talking about during
these last several meetings.
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We had developed a
theology that said: "If you just
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work hard enough... if
you just try hard enough,
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you can keep the commandments
of God through sheer will
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and effort. " And so Ellen
White said we had gotten into
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producing a preaching
style that was dry and lifeless
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and worse, Christless... that
was based on man's own efforts.
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Then as early as 1882
the light began to shine
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and men and women
realized that our salvation -
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our righteousness
- is in Christ Jesus.
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That the power
comes not from fighting
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but from surrendering...
from surrendering to God.
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And so it is fitting...
these things that Pastor Bohr
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has been taking us through
these last several sessions
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to reaffirm and re-understand...
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to understand anew that
the secret today as always
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is surrender... a
surrendered life to Jesus Christ
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and Christ
working in and through us
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to produce a Christ-like life.
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We've had a good
time together have we not?
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Amen! And we
expect no less this night
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as our friend, our
pastor, leads us into the Word
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and teaches us those things
that God would have us to know.
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We are thankful that he
made his way all the way from
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Fresno, California.
His schedule is quite busy.
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He is a well-respected
and well-loved speaker
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and preacher of the Word.
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And we know that is so
because several of you have come
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from various states in the union
just to hear him and to join us
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and to be with us. And we are
so happy for your presence here
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in this audience and for
our audience around the world.
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Join me now as we
ask God's blessing
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upon this night's service.
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Gracious Father, we do
praise You and thank You
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for Your Word... which
is a lamp unto our feet,
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a light unto our path.
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We are thankful,
dear Lord, for Jesus
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and for the call that
brought each of us from darkness
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to light, from error to truth.
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And we thank You for
those ministers and preachers
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of the Word who have dedicated
their heart, their hand,
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their time, their
talent, and their mind
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to the study of the Word of God.
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And so tonight we
ask in the name of Jesus
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that You would be yet
again with Your manservant.
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That You would let
him down - as it were -
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into the
storehouse of Your Word.
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Fill Him with Your Spirit
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then give us open and
receptive hearts and minds
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that we may hear the
Word. But more than that,
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help us, Lord, to do
that which we know to be right
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for it is in the doing that
we are made like Christ Jesus.
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Bless this
sitting again tonight.
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Be the honored
guest and spokesman.
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And we thank You in
Jesus' name, Amen and Amen.
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God bless you.
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Good evening. Good evening!
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It's good to
see all of you back.
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Amen! I was
wondering after this morning.
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But praise the Lord that
you came back this evening
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to study our last topic
which is: Without the Robe.
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And even though C.A. has prayed
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I would like to
have a short prayer
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to ask the Lord to
be with us. Father,
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once again we draw
close to Your throne
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knowing that human wisdom
is inadequate to understand
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the great things of God.
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For this reason we
come before Your throne
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and we ask for divine wisdom
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that we might trace Your
Word as You would have us do it.
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That we might rightly
divide the Word of Truth.
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We thank you, Lord, for
the promise of Your presence
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because we ask it in
the name of Jesus, Amen.
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Amen.
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In Revelation chapter
16 we have a description
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of the seven last plagues
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that God will pour
out upon planet earth.
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These are seven
devastating afflictions
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that God is going
to send upon a world
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that is
rebellious and has insisted
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on trampling on God's holy law.
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Now in the message
concerning the sixth plague
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we have a very interesting
warning which is interjected
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in the sixth plague.
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Revelation
chapter 16 and verse 15
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gives us this warning
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right in the middle of the
message about the 6th plague.
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Here Jesus is
speaking and He says this:
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Do you see the connection
with Genesis chapter 2 and 3?
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Do you see the connection
with what we have been studying
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in the last four
topics that we dealt with?
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Now obviously this
warning is not for those who
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live in the time
of the sixth plague
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because during the
plagues probation has closed.
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So what Jesus is saying is the
sixth plague is going to come.
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And make sure that
when that time comes
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beforehand you have watched
and you have kept your garments
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so that you don't walk
naked and they see your shame.
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In other words, even though
this is found in the context
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of the sixth plague,
it's a warning that is given
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during
probationary time telling people
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"Make sure when the
sixth plague is poured out
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that you're on the right side. "
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Now in the book of
Revelation we find another verse
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that is similar in many ways
to this one in Revelation 16:15.
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I'm referring to Revelation
chapter 3 and verse 18.
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It's the message of the
faithful and true witness
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to the church of Laodicea.
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Let me ask you: what
is the Laodicean church?
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I don't say it proudly...
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it represents the
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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And you know the
word Laodicea means
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a people of judgment
or... judging the people.
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It's the church that
exists at the end of time
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during the judgment.
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And I want you to notice
the warning that Jesus gives
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to this church. It's
very similar to what we read
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in Revelation 16 verse 15.
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It says... here Jesus
is speaking once again:
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The gold is faith
that works by love.
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We talked about that already.
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And notice what else:
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Notice that the same warning
that is given in the context of
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the sixth plague is
given to the Laodicean church.
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And the Laodicean church is us.
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So let me ask
you: who is in danger
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of being found naked so that
people will see their shame?
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It is the members
of the Laodicean church
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particularly and especially
the church of Laodicea...
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our church.
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Now you notice here that it says
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that Jesus is coming as a thief.
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And we need to watch and we
need to keep our garments...
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the same thing He says
to the Laodicean church.
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Now the question is: what
is this coming of the thief?
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What does that mean?
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Well, I'd like to
invite you to go with me
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to Matthew chapter
24 and verses 37 to 39.
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Did you know that
the coming of Jesus
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is going to take
place in two stages?
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Now I saw some heads
go up when I said that.
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Pastor, are you a believer
in the rapture of the church?
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Absolutely not.
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But the coming of
Jesus has two stages...
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two points of time.
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Let's read Matthew 24:37-39.
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And there's a very important
little word: the word "until"
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that is used twice.
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It says there...
and Jesus is speaking:
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So what is being
compared? The days of Noah
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with the what? With the
coming of the Son of Man.
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Now let's read the description
that follows. Verse 38:
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And now comes the first until...
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The first until marks the
moment when Noah and his family
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enter the ark. And
now notice verse 39:
00:10:22.99\00:10:27.45
In other words, those
who were outside the ark
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did not know...
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"until the flood came
and took them all away. "
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Now notice this:
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Two times the
word "until" is used.
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One to mark the
moment where the door closed
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and another to mark the
moment when it began to rain.
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In between the people did
not know that they were lost.
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Now in order to understand
this - and it says that
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the coming of the Son of
Man will be similar to this.
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It's repeated twice.
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So it must be that
there are two "untils"
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also related to the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
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Now in order to
fully understand this
00:11:18.23\00:11:20.36
we have to go back to
the story of the flood.
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Because Jesus says:
"As it was back then
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so will it also be at the
coming of the Son of Man. "
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And so let's go
back to the flood story
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and let's take a look at
several details that we find
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in this story
that is found primarily
00:11:37.11\00:11:40.53
in Genesis 6 through 8.
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The first thing that
I want us to notice is
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the wickedness that existed
in the world at that time.
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It was a wicked world.
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Genesis chapter 6
and verse 5 tells us:
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Notice... notice the
expressions: every intent,
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only evil, and continually.
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As a result, the Bible
tells us that the earth was
00:12:18.74\00:12:21.91
filled with violence.
00:12:22.11\00:12:23.61
Notice verse 11:
00:12:23.91\00:12:24.96
And so the first
thing we want to notice
00:12:42.58\00:12:44.62
is that
immediately before the flood
00:12:44.82\00:12:47.03
the world had
reached a state of corruption
00:12:47.23\00:12:51.14
without parallel up to that time
in the history of the world.
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Now the question
is: how did this happen?
00:12:56.03\00:12:59.17
How did it happen that
practically the entire world
00:12:59.47\00:13:03.42
was wicked and corrupt
and filled with violence?
00:13:03.62\00:13:07.84
Genesis 6 tells us what it
was that caused this condition
00:13:08.14\00:13:13.15
of the world. You
see, it was actually
00:13:13.25\00:13:16.59
the blending of the sons of God
00:13:16.79\00:13:20.18
with the daughters of men.
00:13:20.38\00:13:23.02
And by the way, in context
00:13:23.32\00:13:25.60
the sons of God are
those in the genealogy of Seth.
00:13:25.80\00:13:29.21
That's Genesis 5... the
chapter immediately before.
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The daughters of men
are the descendants of Cain.
00:13:33.15\00:13:36.72
There are three
women mentioned by name
00:13:36.92\00:13:39.42
in the genealogy of Cain,
and all of them were wicked
00:13:39.62\00:13:43.35
according to the Bible record.
00:13:43.65\00:13:44.95
And so in Genesis 4 you have
the women that are mentioned
00:13:45.25\00:13:48.63
in the genealogy of Cain.
00:13:48.83\00:13:50.18
In Genesis 5 you have
the descendants of Seth:
00:13:50.38\00:13:52.91
the holy line. And
then Genesis 6 verse 1
00:13:53.11\00:13:56.02
sons of God and
daughters of men.
00:13:56.22\00:13:58.92
In other words, it
was the joining together
00:13:59.12\00:14:02.25
or the linking of the
righteous with the unrighteous
00:14:02.45\00:14:05.86
that demoralized the world
00:14:06.06\00:14:07.57
and led to the
wickedness of the world.
00:14:07.77\00:14:09.82
Jesus said: "You are
the salt of the earth. "
00:14:10.02\00:14:12.03
But the problem is that
there was very little salt
00:14:12.33\00:14:15.52
to salt the earth.
00:14:15.72\00:14:17.23
The salt had almost disappeared
00:14:17.33\00:14:19.96
because those who
were followers of God
00:14:20.36\00:14:25.41
had lost their identity
00:14:25.61\00:14:27.49
by intermingling
with the worldlings.
00:14:27.69\00:14:30.81
I want you to notice
how this is emphasized
00:14:31.11\00:14:33.20
twice in Genesis 6:1-5.
00:14:33.40\00:14:36.05
Notice verse 1:
00:14:36.35\00:14:37.71
So you find this intermingling
of the sons of God with
00:14:51.90\00:14:55.17
the daughters of men. And then
notice what God says in verse 3:
00:14:55.37\00:14:58.33
"And the Lord said: 'My
Spirit shall not strive with men
00:14:58.63\00:15:02.45
forever for he is indeed flesh
00:15:02.65\00:15:04.80
yet his days
shall be 120 years. ' "
00:15:05.00\00:15:08.39
In other words, God says,
because of the intermingling:
00:15:08.59\00:15:11.16
"My Spirit is not going
to strive with men forever. "
00:15:11.36\00:15:14.84
And then I want you
to notice that in verse 4
00:15:15.14\00:15:17.60
it comes back to the
theme of the intermingling
00:15:17.80\00:15:20.41
with the sons of God
and the daughters of men:
00:15:20.61\00:15:22.28
the righteous
with the unrighteous.
00:15:22.38\00:15:24.50
And it says in verse 4:
00:15:24.70\00:15:25.92
The same expression
that's used in Genesis 11
00:15:39.36\00:15:42.30
when the builders of
the Tower of Babel said:
00:15:42.50\00:15:44.99
"Let us make ourselves a name. "
00:15:45.19\00:15:47.56
In other words, they
had the same wickedness
00:15:47.86\00:15:50.04
as the builders of
the Tower of Babel.
00:15:50.24\00:15:52.24
And then notice, once again
verse 5 comes back to the idea
00:15:52.44\00:15:55.63
after talking about the
intermingling of the righteous
00:15:55.83\00:15:58.43
with the wicked,
it says in verse 5:
00:15:58.63\00:16:00.52
"Then the Lord saw
that the wickedness of man
00:16:00.72\00:16:04.23
was great in the
earth and that every intent
00:16:04.43\00:16:07.70
of the thoughts of his heart
was only evil continually. "
00:16:07.90\00:16:12.04
Twice in this passage we
are told that the condition of
00:16:12.24\00:16:15.73
the earth and its
corruption and its violence was
00:16:15.93\00:16:19.38
due to the fact
that God's followers
00:16:19.58\00:16:22.90
intermingled with the worldlings
00:16:23.10\00:16:26.86
and as a result the
world became corrupt.
00:16:27.16\00:16:30.53
But not everyone was corrupt.
00:16:30.83\00:16:34.57
God had a small remnant...
00:16:34.88\00:16:38.26
and a very
small remnant at that.
00:16:38.57\00:16:41.26
There must have been
millions of people in this world
00:16:41.56\00:16:44.58
before the flood.
Imagine, 1,656 years
00:16:44.78\00:16:50.09
had passed between
creation and the flood.
00:16:50.29\00:16:52.27
Men lived to be
almost 1,000 years old.
00:16:52.57\00:16:56.08
How many kids can a
1,000-year-old man have?
00:16:56.28\00:16:59.30
That's impressive!
00:16:59.61\00:17:01.24
Ellen White says there was no
scarcity of natural resources.
00:17:01.44\00:17:05.56
Disease was practically unknown.
00:17:05.76\00:17:08.63
And God had said: "Multiply
00:17:08.93\00:17:11.87
and proliferate
and fill the earth. "
00:17:12.08\00:17:14.60
There must have
been millions of people
00:17:14.90\00:17:18.03
because it says that the
earth was filled with violence.
00:17:18.33\00:17:22.55
And yet God had a remnant.
00:17:22.85\00:17:24.94
And of course
that remnant was Noah.
00:17:25.24\00:17:28.05
Let's read about
Noah in Genesis chapter 6.
00:17:28.25\00:17:31.95
Genesis chapter 6
and let's read verse 9
00:17:32.16\00:17:36.12
and then we'll read
chapter 7 and verse 1.
00:17:36.32\00:17:38.87
It says: "This is
the genealogy of Noah.
00:17:39.17\00:17:42.52
Noah was a just man... "
00:17:42.82\00:17:46.09
And then notice
chapter 7 and verse 1:
00:17:52.56\00:17:55.03
Do you think that
righteousness had anything to do
00:18:06.06\00:18:07.98
with his behavior?
00:18:08.18\00:18:09.77
Do you think that this was
just the imputed righteousness
00:18:10.90\00:18:14.05
and he lived just like
everyone else in the world?
00:18:14.25\00:18:16.40
Absolutely not!
00:18:16.70\00:18:18.78
It says he walked with God.
00:18:19.08\00:18:21.43
We're told not only
did he walk with God
00:18:21.73\00:18:23.51
but he was a just man.
00:18:23.71\00:18:25.10
He was perfect
and he was righteous.
00:18:25.40\00:18:27.15
In other words, God
had a faithful remnant
00:18:27.45\00:18:30.18
in the midst of a wicked world.
00:18:30.39\00:18:32.48
And God called Noah -
that faithful remnant -
00:18:32.78\00:18:37.19
to proclaim or to
preach a message to the world.
00:18:37.40\00:18:41.52
Now connected with the message
was a period of probation:
00:18:43.92\00:18:47.16
120 years.
00:18:47.46\00:18:49.56
God told Noah: "My
probation is not unlimited.
00:18:50.47\00:18:54.61
It's going to be a
limited period of time,
00:18:54.91\00:18:57.38
and during this time I want
you to preach righteousness. "
00:18:57.68\00:19:02.28
And by the way, Noah is called
00:19:02.58\00:19:04.71
in II Peter
chapter 2 and verse 5
00:19:04.91\00:19:06.94
a "preacher of righteousness. "
00:19:07.15\00:19:10.07
He was righteous and he preached
the need for righteousness.
00:19:10.37\00:19:14.30
Not only the righteousness
that Christ imputes
00:19:14.50\00:19:17.64
but the righteousness that
is seen as a result in the life:
00:19:17.84\00:19:21.72
the likeness to Jesus Christ.
00:19:22.02\00:19:24.70
He was different than the world.
00:19:24.91\00:19:27.03
But Noah not only preached.
00:19:27.33\00:19:31.06
Noah proved that his
faith was genuine by his works.
00:19:31.26\00:19:36.88
His faith was a
faith that worked!
00:19:37.18\00:19:39.72
He not only spoke the
message with his lips...
00:19:40.03\00:19:43.01
he showed that he believed
his message by his works.
00:19:43.21\00:19:46.44
It was a faith that worked.
00:19:46.74\00:19:49.49
And how did he work?
00:19:49.79\00:19:51.57
He worked by getting the
hammers and by getting the nails
00:19:51.77\00:19:55.63
and by cutting the lumber
and building an ark on dry land
00:19:55.83\00:20:00.97
when it had never rained.
That would take a lot of faith
00:20:01.17\00:20:05.62
to do what God said
in spite of the fact
00:20:06.02\00:20:09.20
that it appeared to be
scientifically impossible.
00:20:09.40\00:20:12.80
So Noah preached, and
he had a faith that worked.
00:20:13.00\00:20:16.34
He was righteous
and he walked with God.
00:20:16.54\00:20:18.80
He was perfect in all his
ways according to scripture.
00:20:19.00\00:20:22.52
And by the way, his message
was accompanied by the power
00:20:22.72\00:20:26.22
of the Holy Spirit
because the text says
00:20:26.42\00:20:29.53
"My Spirit shall not
always contend with man
00:20:29.76\00:20:33.61
but it's going to
contend for 120 years. "
00:20:33.81\00:20:37.15
And so the message of Noah
was accompanied by the power
00:20:37.35\00:20:40.93
of the Holy Spirit,
00:20:41.13\00:20:42.23
and he preaches during
this period of probation.
00:20:42.43\00:20:44.89
He has a faith that
is active and works.
00:20:45.09\00:20:47.06
He shows that what
he believes is true.
00:20:47.26\00:20:50.00
By the way, the message
of Noah was also a message
00:20:50.20\00:20:53.94
of judgment. Do you
know that that word contend
00:20:54.14\00:20:58.93
in Genesis 6 and verse 3
00:20:59.13\00:21:03.08
most of the times that it
is used in the Old Testament
00:21:03.38\00:21:06.68
it is translated
judge or judgment.
00:21:06.88\00:21:10.92
In other words, when
Noah was preaching his message
00:21:11.02\00:21:15.10
through the power of the
Holy Spirit, people were making
00:21:15.30\00:21:18.79
decisions to be on one
side or on the other side...
00:21:18.99\00:21:24.23
and that's a
message of judgment.
00:21:24.43\00:21:26.87
A message that separates the
righteous from the unrighteous.
00:21:27.17\00:21:31.66
And so we find several
elements that are connected with
00:21:31.86\00:21:36.29
this remnant. A
period of probation.
00:21:36.49\00:21:38.75
During that period of
probation Noah is to preach.
00:21:38.95\00:21:41.86
He shows that he believes
his message by his works.
00:21:42.06\00:21:45.59
The message is accompanied
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:45.79\00:21:48.96
And his message is a message
of judgment that will polarize
00:21:49.16\00:21:52.96
the world into two groups.
00:21:53.16\00:21:56.19
And so Noah preaches the
message and he builds the ark
00:21:56.39\00:21:59.30
showing that he
believes what he's preaching.
00:21:59.50\00:22:01.61
Then you can imagine Noah
standing at the door of the ark.
00:22:01.91\00:22:07.01
The animals have come in.
00:22:07.21\00:22:11.45
By the way, the animals
had more sense than the people.
00:22:11.76\00:22:13.94
The people had
fallen below animal level
00:22:14.24\00:22:18.44
because the animals
listened to the voice of God
00:22:18.74\00:22:21.89
and human beings did not.
00:22:22.09\00:22:24.08
They had fallen
below sub-human level...
00:22:24.38\00:22:27.56
the animals. So Noah
stands at the door of the ark.
00:22:27.76\00:22:31.37
He says: "Folks, this is it.
00:22:31.57\00:22:33.03
My preaching ends today
00:22:33.33\00:22:36.69
and the door is going to close
00:22:36.89\00:22:40.01
and you are all
going to be lost.
00:22:40.21\00:22:43.81
Come into the ark! "
00:22:44.11\00:22:46.47
And all they did
was make fun of Noah
00:22:46.67\00:22:48.88
and laugh at him
and mock his message.
00:22:49.08\00:22:52.99
So Noah went into the
ark, and I want you to notice
00:22:53.19\00:22:56.78
what was the next
thing that happened.
00:22:56.98\00:22:59.14
Genesis chapter 7 and verse 16.
00:22:59.44\00:23:02.74
Genesis chapter 7 and verse 16.
00:23:03.04\00:23:06.71
It says there:
00:23:07.01\00:23:09.12
Who shut the door?
00:23:23.28\00:23:25.76
God shut the door!
00:23:26.06\00:23:28.07
Was that the closing
of the door of probation?
00:23:28.37\00:23:31.03
It most
certainly was the closing
00:23:31.13\00:23:33.59
of the door of probation.
00:23:33.79\00:23:34.90
And by the way, God
placed His seal on that door.
00:23:35.10\00:23:38.43
Is there a
sealing at the end of time
00:23:38.83\00:23:40.94
of God's faithful people?
Notice Patriarchs and Prophets
00:23:41.14\00:23:44.39
page 98 speaking about
the closing of the door...
00:23:44.60\00:23:48.10
Ellen White in this magnificent
book Patriarchs and Prophets -
00:23:48.30\00:23:51.95
it's one of my favorite
books in the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:23:52.15\00:23:54.24
just loaded with
valuable information:
00:23:54.40\00:23:56.78
Two groups that came as a
result of the message of Noah:
00:24:15.38\00:24:20.03
a judgment
separation had taken place.
00:24:20.23\00:24:22.95
And then she says:
00:24:23.05\00:24:24.24
And of course the
moment that the door closed
00:24:34.51\00:24:37.86
it started to rain.
00:24:38.06\00:24:40.80
Oh good, you're still
awake after a long day.
00:24:41.10\00:24:44.89
Absolutely not!
00:24:45.19\00:24:47.19
Notice Genesis
chapter 7 and verse 10.
00:24:47.49\00:24:49.92
Genesis chapter 7
and verse 10. It says:
00:24:50.12\00:24:54.16
In other words, the door
closed. Seven days went by
00:25:01.00\00:25:04.86
and then destruction
came. Rain came from heaven
00:25:05.06\00:25:08.97
and the great fountains of
the deep were broken open...
00:25:09.18\00:25:12.82
below and from above.
00:25:13.12\00:25:16.21
Do you think that this
was a time of trial for Noah
00:25:17.70\00:25:20.19
for Noah and his family?
00:25:20.22\00:25:23.09
Imagine. A day
goes by... no rain.
00:25:24.49\00:25:26.64
Two days... no rain.
00:25:26.84\00:25:28.87
Three days, no... Four? No rain.
00:25:29.18\00:25:31.72
Five... no rain. Six... no rain.
00:25:31.92\00:25:33.64
Do you think that maybe
the devil had tried to plant
00:25:33.84\00:25:37.38
in the mind of Noah:
"Well, you know, maybe
00:25:37.58\00:25:40.70
I was wrong.
00:25:40.91\00:25:42.58
Maybe I was deluded. "
00:25:42.88\00:25:44.56
Do you think the faith of
Noah and his family was tested?
00:25:44.86\00:25:48.12
It most certainly was.
00:25:48.43\00:25:49.69
And how do you think
the people outside behaved
00:25:49.99\00:25:52.54
with each passing day?
00:25:52.74\00:25:53.99
They became
more and more violent
00:25:54.29\00:25:56.14
and they mocked
stronger every day.
00:25:56.35\00:25:58.94
Allow me to read you here
from Patriarchs and Prophets
00:25:59.15\00:26:02.48
page 98 and 99:
00:26:02.68\00:26:04.47
And on page 99 she says:
00:26:32.87\00:26:35.22
And so inside... faith tested.
00:26:46.45\00:26:49.57
And outside...
more and more mocking.
00:26:49.77\00:26:54.72
Is something similar going
to happen in connection with
00:26:55.02\00:26:59.23
the second coming of Jesus?
00:26:59.43\00:27:01.04
Ellen White continues in
Patriarchs and Prophets 99...
00:27:02.43\00:27:05.13
By the way, whenever I
quote Ellen White it's always
00:27:05.33\00:27:07.28
to confirm something
that we found in scripture.
00:27:07.48\00:27:09.63
It's never to give additional
light that is not found
00:27:09.94\00:27:13.52
in the Bible. If
you look hard enough
00:27:13.72\00:27:15.60
you'll find that what Ellen
White says IS in the Bible.
00:27:15.80\00:27:18.64
But we have to search for it.
00:27:18.94\00:27:21.05
Sometimes it's
not on the surface.
00:27:21.25\00:27:23.55
Now listen to the
comparison she continues making:
00:27:23.85\00:27:26.02
"So when Christ shall
cease His intercession
00:27:26.32\00:27:31.31
for guilty men... "
When Christ shall what?
00:27:31.51\00:27:33.82
"Cease His
intercession for guilty men
00:27:34.03\00:27:36.76
before His coming
in the clouds of heaven
00:27:36.96\00:27:40.26
the door of mercy will be shut.
00:27:40.46\00:27:44.10
Then divine grace will no
longer restrain the wicked
00:27:44.30\00:27:48.42
and Satan will have full control
00:27:48.72\00:27:51.83
of those who
have rejected mercy. "
00:27:52.03\00:27:54.07
Was that true before
the flood? Absolutely.
00:27:54.27\00:27:56.99
"They will endeavor
to destroy God's people,
00:27:57.29\00:28:00.31
but as Noah was
shut into the ark
00:28:00.52\00:28:04.35
so the righteous will be
shielded by divine power. "
00:28:04.55\00:28:09.73
Amen! You see the parallel?
00:28:09.83\00:28:12.02
So let me ask you: when were the
people before the flood lost?
00:28:12.42\00:28:15.77
When the door closed or
when it started to rain?
00:28:15.97\00:28:19.30
They were lost
when the door closed.
00:28:19.60\00:28:21.16
A period of time went by -
00:28:21.26\00:28:22.62
we could call it a
period of tribulation because
00:28:22.82\00:28:25.22
the wicked every
day got more violent
00:28:25.42\00:28:28.32
and the righteous...
their faith was tested -
00:28:28.52\00:28:31.01
and then, after that period
of trial, rain came from heaven
00:28:31.21\00:28:35.85
and water came
from under the earth.
00:28:36.15\00:28:38.59
The Bible says that the
windows of heaven were opened
00:28:38.89\00:28:41.24
and the fountains of the
great deep were broken up.
00:28:41.44\00:28:45.52
By the way, do you know
that in the New Testament
00:28:45.82\00:28:47.60
there are two words
that are translated flood?
00:28:47.80\00:28:50.34
One word is the word potamos
00:28:50.64\00:28:53.65
which is used for example
in the parable of the man who
00:28:53.75\00:28:55.79
built his house on the
rock and the man who built
00:28:55.99\00:28:57.75
his house on the sand.
00:28:57.95\00:28:59.12
Also it's the word for
flood that is used in Revelation
00:28:59.32\00:29:02.08
chapter 12 where the
flood tries to drown the woman
00:29:02.28\00:29:05.62
who is fleeing
to the wilderness.
00:29:05.82\00:29:07.35
That's the word potamos.
00:29:07.65\00:29:09.18
But there's a special
word that is used for the flood
00:29:09.48\00:29:12.80
in the days of Noah.
00:29:13.00\00:29:14.34
Because some people are saying
that this was some local flood
00:29:14.54\00:29:17.09
over in the
valley of Mesopotamia.
00:29:17.29\00:29:18.73
Even some Adventists
scholars are saying that:
00:29:18.93\00:29:21.43
that this was a local floor,
it was not a universal flood.
00:29:21.73\00:29:24.57
Do you know what the
word is that is used in the
00:29:24.77\00:29:26.87
New Testament?
The word cataclysmos.
00:29:27.07\00:29:31.03
What word in English do
we get from cataclysmos?
00:29:31.33\00:29:35.53
The word cataclysm.
00:29:35.73\00:29:38.18
In other words, the
flood was a cataclysm.
00:29:38.48\00:29:41.18
It was a global catastrophe
00:29:41.38\00:29:44.57
that wiped the wicked
off the face of the earth.
00:29:44.87\00:29:48.78
By the way, the earth
returned to a great degree
00:29:50.03\00:29:54.87
to the condition it was in
00:29:55.07\00:29:56.92
at the beginning
of creation week.
00:29:57.12\00:30:00.12
Was the planet in
darkness? Yes it was.
00:30:01.84\00:30:05.80
Was the planet
filled with water? Yes.
00:30:06.01\00:30:10.58
Were all of the
wicked wiped out?
00:30:10.88\00:30:13.93
There was no life left
on planet earth except for
00:30:14.23\00:30:17.62
Noah and his family.
00:30:17.65\00:30:19.60
Now let me ask you:
what happened with the devil
00:30:19.91\00:30:22.79
during the flood?
00:30:22.99\00:30:24.40
He was getting wet!
00:30:24.70\00:30:27.88
Patriarchs and Prophets page 99.
00:30:29.43\00:30:31.66
And I'm going to
give you a parallel
00:30:31.86\00:30:33.05
to show that this is Biblical.
00:30:33.25\00:30:34.58
Patriarchs and Prophets 99:
00:30:34.88\00:30:36.72
Can you think of any other
period of time when the earth
00:30:51.96\00:30:54.56
will be without form and void
as at the beginning of creation
00:30:54.76\00:30:58.67
and in darkness where
all of the devil's power base
00:30:58.97\00:31:03.62
will be wiped out and
the devil will be compelled
00:31:03.82\00:31:06.81
to remain here?
Absolutely! The millennium!
00:31:07.01\00:31:10.01
In other words, in the flood
story we have a foreshadowing
00:31:10.31\00:31:13.80
of what? We have a
foreshadowing of the millennium
00:31:14.00\00:31:18.13
of Revelation chapter 20
00:31:18.23\00:31:19.69
after the second coming of
Jesus Christ in power and glory.
00:31:19.99\00:31:24.93
I would like to go to
another passage of scripture
00:31:26.12\00:31:28.55
where you have this same idea.
What I want you to notice is
00:31:28.65\00:31:31.49
that God has not
called us to prepare
00:31:31.69\00:31:34.07
for the close of... for
the second coming of Jesus.
00:31:34.27\00:31:36.99
God has called us to prepare
for the close of probation.
00:31:37.29\00:31:40.90
When He says: "Watch, I
am coming as a thief... "
00:31:41.20\00:31:44.02
The coming as a
thief has two stages.
00:31:44.23\00:31:47.52
The first stage of
the coming of the thief
00:31:47.72\00:31:50.38
is when He comes and everybody
in the house is sleeping.
00:31:50.59\00:31:53.39
The second stage of
the coming of the thief
00:31:53.69\00:31:56.90
is when everyone in the
house wakes up in the morning
00:31:57.10\00:31:59.93
and realizes that the
thief has already come.
00:32:00.13\00:32:04.00
So it will be at the
coming of the Son of Man.
00:32:05.28\00:32:07.42
You need to watch
and have your garments.
00:32:07.62\00:32:10.53
Take care of your garments
for the close of probation
00:32:10.73\00:32:13.83
and in that way you will
be ready for the second coming
00:32:15.15\00:32:17.68
of Jesus in power and glory.
00:32:17.88\00:32:20.56
Let's go to the book of
Revelation and see this same
00:32:21.94\00:32:24.33
pattern again.
Revelation chapter 14
00:32:24.53\00:32:27.81
and verses 6 and 7.
00:32:28.01\00:32:30.43
Does God have a message for the
world at the end of time again?
00:32:30.73\00:32:34.31
Is He going to have a remnant
to proclaim this message?
00:32:34.61\00:32:37.28
Is it going to be a message
of judgment that will separate
00:32:37.58\00:32:40.83
the world into two
groups? Absolutely!
00:32:41.03\00:32:43.32
Will it be accompanied by
the power of the Holy Spirit?
00:32:43.52\00:32:46.37
Absolutely! It's
all in Revelation 14.
00:32:46.57\00:32:49.45
Notice verses 6 and 7.
00:32:49.65\00:32:52.52
You can recite this from memory.
00:32:52.82\00:32:54.72
Is this God's
end-time message to the world?
00:33:18.97\00:33:21.30
Absolutely. Is it
the FINAL message?
00:33:21.60\00:33:24.10
Absolutely, because immediately
after the third angel's message
00:33:24.40\00:33:28.19
Jesus is seen on the
clouds with a sickle in His hand
00:33:28.40\00:33:31.57
which means that the three
messages are the last message
00:33:31.87\00:33:35.24
before Jesus comes when He
has the sickle in His hand.
00:33:35.35\00:33:38.83
By the way, do these
messages polarize the world
00:33:39.13\00:33:41.82
into two groups?
00:33:41.92\00:33:43.09
Yes! Because immediately
after the third angel's message
00:33:43.29\00:33:46.62
we find that the
harvest of the earth is what?
00:33:46.82\00:33:51.38
Ripe. And the grapes of
the earth are what? Ripe.
00:33:51.58\00:33:55.24
Let me ask you: what is
it that ripened the grapes
00:33:55.44\00:33:57.62
and the harvest of the earth?
00:33:57.82\00:33:59.08
The three angels' messages.
00:33:59.38\00:34:01.14
But are these messages
accompanied by the power
00:34:01.34\00:34:04.27
of the Holy Spirit
and the latter rain? Sure.
00:34:04.47\00:34:06.50
What was it that
actually ripened the harvest
00:34:06.70\00:34:09.41
in Biblical times?
00:34:09.61\00:34:10.72
It was the latter rain.
00:34:11.02\00:34:12.39
And so just like
in the days of Noah
00:34:12.69\00:34:15.08
we have a message.
It's a message of judgment.
00:34:15.28\00:34:18.06
It's accompanied
by the Holy Spirit.
00:34:18.27\00:34:20.13
It will polarize the
world into two groups:
00:34:20.33\00:34:23.22
those who have the seal of God
00:34:23.42\00:34:24.85
and those who have
the mark of the beast.
00:34:25.05\00:34:27.90
And then what will
happen when the three angels
00:34:28.20\00:34:31.54
finish proclaiming the
message to the world...
00:34:31.74\00:34:33.94
the faithful remnant of
God preaching these messages?
00:34:34.14\00:34:37.64
Folks, then
probation will close.
00:34:37.85\00:34:43.02
Go with me to the
very next chapter...
00:34:43.32\00:34:45.25
Revelation chapter 15
and verses 5 through 8.
00:34:45.28\00:34:48.64
Revelation 15 and
verses 5 through 8.
00:34:48.84\00:34:51.49
The three angels'
messages have been proclaimed.
00:34:51.79\00:34:53.89
The world has been
divided into two groups.
00:34:54.09\00:34:56.41
The Holy Spirit
has done His work.
00:34:56.61\00:34:58.30
Probation has closed,
and now something happens
00:34:58.41\00:35:00.81
in the heavenly temple. Notice:
00:35:01.01\00:35:04.22
Now what is the
tabernacle of the testimony?
00:35:10.59\00:35:12.58
The tabernacle is
the total structure
00:35:12.78\00:35:15.01
composed of holy
and most holy place.
00:35:15.11\00:35:17.92
But notice that this says
"the temple of the tabernacle
00:35:18.12\00:35:21.06
of the testimony. "
Now what is the temple of
00:35:21.26\00:35:23.54
the tabernacle of the testimony?
00:35:23.74\00:35:25.05
There are two words for
temple in the New Testament.
00:35:25.35\00:35:28.32
One is the Greek word heiron
00:35:28.62\00:35:31.73
which is never
used in Revelation.
00:35:31.93\00:35:33.75
The other words is
used 15 times in Revelation.
00:35:34.05\00:35:37.04
It's the Greek word naos.
00:35:37.24\00:35:39.67
Fifteen times it's used.
00:35:39.87\00:35:41.44
Every single time
that this word is used
00:35:41.74\00:35:45.21
in the book of Revelation
00:35:45.31\00:35:46.72
it is speaking of the most holy
place of the heavenly sanctuary.
00:35:46.92\00:35:50.71
It's the same word that is used
for example in Revelation 11:19
00:35:51.01\00:35:54.51
where it says that then
he saw the temple of God
00:35:54.71\00:35:57.57
opened in heaven and
the ark of His testament
00:35:57.78\00:36:01.84
was seen in His
naos... or in His temple.
00:36:02.04\00:36:05.20
So where is this taking place?
00:36:05.50\00:36:07.28
This is taking place
in the most holy place
00:36:07.58\00:36:10.19
of the heavenly
sanctuary. And so it says:
00:36:10.39\00:36:12.17
What is it open for? For
people to come in and be saved?
00:36:20.34\00:36:23.60
No. It was opened
in Revelation 11:19
00:36:23.84\00:36:27.11
for people to come in and
see the ark and see the law
00:36:27.31\00:36:30.20
and understand the
Sabbath among other things
00:36:30.40\00:36:32.49
so that people
could embrace the message
00:36:32.79\00:36:35.23
and be prepared for
the close of probation.
00:36:35.43\00:36:37.36
But now the temple is
open for another reason.
00:36:37.56\00:36:39.83
He continues saying... verse 6:
00:36:40.03\00:36:43.67
"And out of the temple... "
00:36:43.90\00:36:45.60
Notice the temple is
open not to let people in
00:36:45.80\00:36:47.82
but to let what? The
plague angels out. It says:
00:36:48.02\00:36:51.41
Have the plagues been
poured out yet at this point?
00:37:12.08\00:37:14.93
Absolutely not! But is
the temple service closed
00:37:15.13\00:37:19.03
for people to enter?
00:37:19.23\00:37:20.85
Yes, because the plague
angels are going to come out.
00:37:20.95\00:37:23.78
Notice verse 8:
00:37:23.98\00:37:25.20
You have read in the writings
of Ellen White where she says
00:37:38.44\00:37:40.52
that God's
people during that time
00:37:40.72\00:37:41.99
will have to live
without a Mediator.
00:37:42.19\00:37:44.47
Here you have the
Biblical proof of what she says.
00:37:44.87\00:37:47.99
Now don't misunderstand me.
00:37:48.29\00:37:50.32
Jesus isn't going to say:
"I'm leaving... see you later. "
00:37:50.62\00:37:56.49
Jesus will still be
here to protect His people.
00:37:56.59\00:38:00.01
He will be present
here with His people
00:38:00.31\00:38:03.16
like He was with
Noah and his family.
00:38:03.46\00:38:06.18
But there will no longer
be any intercession for sin
00:38:06.48\00:38:10.24
which means that sin at that
point will have had to be taken
00:38:10.54\00:38:15.73
care of.
Sinners will be cleansed
00:38:15.93\00:38:18.38
and the sanctuary will
have also been cleansed.
00:38:18.58\00:38:21.51
Now let me ask you: can we
enter the heavenly sanctuary
00:38:21.71\00:38:24.17
today? Of course we can.
00:38:24.27\00:38:26.99
How do we enter there?
00:38:27.19\00:38:28.52
The book of Hebrews
says we enter by faith.
00:38:28.82\00:38:31.32
Can we enter into
the most holy place
00:38:31.62\00:38:33.56
to sympathize with the
work that Jesus is doing there?
00:38:33.76\00:38:36.05
Absolutely. While He
cleanses the heavenly sanctuary
00:38:36.35\00:38:39.64
from the record of sin, the
Holy Spirit cleanses our lives
00:38:39.84\00:38:43.88
from sin here on earth.
00:38:44.08\00:38:45.98
There's a cleansing of the
earthly temple that is parallel
00:38:46.28\00:38:49.43
to the cleansing of
the heavenly temple.
00:38:49.64\00:38:51.80
And so, no one is
able to enter the temple.
00:38:52.10\00:38:55.80
Nobody is able to
enter the most holy place
00:38:56.00\00:38:58.11
because probation has closed.
00:38:58.41\00:38:59.75
Let me ask you: is
there something that happens
00:39:00.05\00:39:02.55
after this before
the second coming?
00:39:02.75\00:39:04.78
Absolutely.
00:39:06.33\00:39:07.87
What happens after
this door is closed to those
00:39:08.80\00:39:13.49
who want to come in?
When the angels come out
00:39:13.70\00:39:15.94
what is it that happens?
00:39:16.14\00:39:18.59
The seven last plagues.
00:39:18.89\00:39:23.15
Is that the period of
tribulation for the world?
00:39:23.45\00:39:25.67
It most certainly is.
00:39:26.17\00:39:27.73
Are God's people
going to be on the earth?
00:39:28.03\00:39:30.63
Yes. Are the wicked
going to become more and more
00:39:30.93\00:39:33.47
violent each day?
00:39:33.57\00:39:34.89
Are God's people going to say:
00:39:35.10\00:39:36.61
"Lord, have You
forsaken us on this earth? "
00:39:36.81\00:39:40.10
Is the faith of God's
people going to be tested
00:39:40.20\00:39:42.50
during this time
of tribulation? Yes.
00:39:42.71\00:39:44.55
Are the wicked going to
become always more wicked?
00:39:44.79\00:39:47.23
Yes, because they will be under
the total control of Satan...
00:39:47.43\00:39:50.39
only God will not allow
them to control His people
00:39:50.70\00:39:54.00
because God will be the
Protector of His people.
00:39:54.30\00:39:57.02
Let's not scare our
young people by saying:
00:39:57.12\00:39:59.22
"You know the door will close
00:39:59.32\00:40:00.34
and Jesus is
going to forsake you. "
00:40:00.54\00:40:03.02
After all, Jesus
said... You know that text:
00:40:03.32\00:40:07.06
"Lo I am with you always, even
unto the close of probation. "
00:40:07.36\00:40:12.65
No, that's not what He says.
00:40:12.95\00:40:14.39
"I am with you
always, even unto... " when?
00:40:14.59\00:40:17.40
"Until the end of the world. "
00:40:17.60\00:40:18.80
And so after the temple service
closes in the very next chapter
00:40:19.10\00:40:22.56
you have the seven last plagues.
00:40:22.76\00:40:24.42
Is that the period of
tribulation when the faith
00:40:24.62\00:40:26.29
of God's people is
tested? Absolutely.
00:40:26.50\00:40:28.82
Is that the period
when the wicked attempt
00:40:29.02\00:40:32.12
to destroy God's
people? Absolutely.
00:40:32.32\00:40:34.85
And then what
happens after this?
00:40:35.15\00:40:37.00
Well, in Noah's
day it started to rain.
00:40:37.30\00:40:39.57
But in Revelation what
happens is that Jesus comes
00:40:39.87\00:40:43.19
with the armies of
heaven to rescue His people
00:40:43.39\00:40:46.20
in His second coming.
00:40:46.40\00:40:47.53
That is in Revelation chapter 19
and verse 11 through verse 14.
00:40:47.83\00:40:52.36
Do you see the pattern?
00:40:52.50\00:40:53.73
The preaching of the message.
00:40:53.93\00:40:55.25
The closing of
the sanctuary service.
00:40:55.45\00:40:58.08
The period of tribulation,
00:40:58.28\00:40:59.68
and the second coming of Jesus.
00:40:59.88\00:41:02.08
Is there something that happens
between the close of probation
00:41:02.38\00:41:05.87
and the second
coming of Jesus? Yes.
00:41:06.07\00:41:08.35
Do you know what
the devil has done?
00:41:08.55\00:41:09.84
He's tried to
convince Christians
00:41:10.04\00:41:12.84
that they're going to
be raptured away to heaven
00:41:13.04\00:41:15.14
before the tribulation.
00:41:15.34\00:41:17.90
And the devil has a
strategy by doing that.
00:41:18.20\00:41:20.74
He wants people to
be found on this earth
00:41:20.94\00:41:24.01
without any shelter.
00:41:24.21\00:41:26.36
He doesn't want people to
know that the door of probation
00:41:26.66\00:41:29.19
is going to close before
the second coming of Jesus.
00:41:29.39\00:41:33.39
He wants them to
believe that they can prepare
00:41:33.59\00:41:35.41
even till the
moment that Jesus comes.
00:41:35.61\00:41:37.49
And in fact, he
wants Christians to believe
00:41:37.80\00:41:40.80
that they're not
even going to be here
00:41:41.00\00:41:42.91
because they're going to
be whisked away in the rapture
00:41:43.21\00:41:46.48
to heaven and the
tribulation and the plagues
00:41:46.51\00:41:49.73
are going to
fall upon the Jews...
00:41:49.93\00:41:52.51
as if they
haven't suffered enough.
00:41:52.81\00:41:55.15
And so people will
be found on this earth
00:41:56.46\00:41:59.06
without any shelter
and without any preparation
00:41:59.26\00:42:02.79
because the door of
probation will have closed.
00:42:02.89\00:42:04.93
So Jesus says: "Watch!
00:42:05.13\00:42:07.54
I'm coming as a thief. "
00:42:07.74\00:42:10.41
In other words, the door of
probation is going to close.
00:42:10.71\00:42:13.50
You don't know when
it's going to close,
00:42:13.70\00:42:15.03
so always be ready.
00:42:15.23\00:42:17.39
And if we're not
ready, probation will close
00:42:18.74\00:42:21.83
and Jesus Christ will
come and we will discover
00:42:22.04\00:42:27.01
that we were not ready.
00:42:27.21\00:42:30.88
Now let's go to one more
model that we find in scripture
00:42:32.71\00:42:35.26
that illustrates this
same idea of probation closing
00:42:35.46\00:42:39.07
before Jesus comes.
00:42:39.17\00:42:41.08
Are you
understanding the two stages?
00:42:41.28\00:42:42.86
Until the day that
Noah entered the ark
00:42:43.17\00:42:46.37
and they did not know...
that is, those who were outside
00:42:46.57\00:42:49.38
did not know that they
were lost... until when?
00:42:49.59\00:42:52.07
Until the flood came.
00:42:52.27\00:42:53.31
But they were lost all during
that period of seven days.
00:42:53.41\00:42:55.87
They just didn't know it.
00:42:56.17\00:42:57.33
Now notice what we find
in Revelation chapter 22.
00:42:57.63\00:43:01.65
Revelation chapter 22.
And we're going to take a look
00:43:01.85\00:43:04.95
at verses 10 through 12.
00:43:05.16\00:43:07.41
Revelation 22 and
verses 10 through 12.
00:43:07.62\00:43:10.65
It says there...
00:43:11.15\00:43:13.79
and I want you to notice
three points of time here:
00:43:14.09\00:43:16.82
What book is he referring to?
00:43:26.90\00:43:28.37
The book of Revelation.
00:43:28.57\00:43:30.51
So let me ask you: if
the book isn't sealed,
00:43:30.81\00:43:33.14
can a message come from
the book if it's not sealed?
00:43:33.34\00:43:35.83
Yeah. He's being
told: "Don't seal the book
00:43:36.13\00:43:37.88
because a message has
to come from the book. "
00:43:38.08\00:43:39.75
You see, when the
book is sealed or closed
00:43:39.95\00:43:42.12
nobody can understand it
until the book is opened.
00:43:42.32\00:43:44.65
Remember Daniel 12 and verse 4
00:43:44.85\00:43:46.40
where it says "close
the words and seal the book
00:43:46.60\00:43:48.87
until the time of the end? "
But at the time of the end it's
00:43:49.07\00:43:50.96
opened and now
people can understand it.
00:43:51.16\00:43:52.70
So what this is saying is
there's a very important message
00:43:53.00\00:43:56.14
that needs to come
from where? From Revelation.
00:43:56.34\00:43:59.57
It says: "Do not seal the words
of the prophecy of this book"
00:43:59.68\00:44:02.96
and then it says:
00:44:03.16\00:44:04.27
"for the time is at hand. "
00:44:04.47\00:44:08.24
Now what does that refer to?
00:44:08.54\00:44:10.58
"The time is at hand. "
00:44:10.78\00:44:12.06
"Don't seal the words of
the prophecy of this book.
00:44:12.26\00:44:14.22
The time is at hand. "
00:44:14.42\00:44:16.17
What happens
when that time comes?
00:44:16.47\00:44:18.59
The very next verse
tells us what takes place.
00:44:18.89\00:44:21.91
Verse 11:
00:44:22.21\00:44:23.22
Is there a declaration
that is going to be made
00:44:42.05\00:44:45.34
in the heavenly sanctuary
that all cases are decided
00:44:45.54\00:44:49.12
for life or for
death? Absolutely.
00:44:49.32\00:44:52.03
Will a message come from the
book of Revelation after this
00:44:52.23\00:44:55.55
that will benefit sinners
so that they can be saved?
00:44:55.75\00:44:58.13
No!
00:44:58.43\00:44:59.51
So when it says:
"Don't seal the book -
00:44:59.71\00:45:02.02
the words of the
prophecy of this book -
00:45:02.22\00:45:03.85
for the time is
at hand: it's saying
00:45:04.06\00:45:05.63
"you better pay attention
to what Revelation is saying
00:45:05.84\00:45:08.04
because the time for
what is mentioned in verse 11
00:45:08.25\00:45:12.58
is about here
00:45:12.78\00:45:14.12
when all cases will have been
decided for life or for death. "
00:45:14.42\00:45:17.65
Now let me ask you something:
00:45:17.95\00:45:19.07
is it very
important then to be careful
00:45:19.37\00:45:21.40
about the way we study
the book of Revelation?
00:45:21.60\00:45:23.70
See the message
that prepares people
00:45:24.00\00:45:27.06
for the close of
probation comes from this book.
00:45:27.26\00:45:29.30
Don't seal it!
00:45:29.50\00:45:30.64
Is it a serious matter,
for example, to misinterpret
00:45:30.94\00:45:35.53
the trumpets?
00:45:35.63\00:45:37.20
I would say so
00:45:37.51\00:45:38.80
because the
trumpets are in Revelation.
00:45:39.00\00:45:41.00
In fact, God
gives a dire warning:
00:45:41.20\00:45:43.23
"Don't you teach Revelation
until you're absolutely certain
00:45:43.43\00:45:46.88
about what you're teaching
00:45:47.08\00:45:48.20
because you could
lead people astray. "
00:45:48.50\00:45:51.03
Notice verses 18 and
19 the dire warning that
00:45:51.33\00:45:55.14
God gives that we need to
handle the book of Revelation
00:45:55.34\00:45:58.39
with reverent hands
while this book is open
00:45:58.59\00:46:00.91
because the salvation
of the human race depends
00:46:01.01\00:46:03.99
on understand what
we find in this book.
00:46:04.19\00:46:06.44
Says here:
00:46:06.74\00:46:07.76
And then I want you to notice
that the next moment of time
00:46:35.56\00:46:38.82
is the second coming of Jesus.
00:46:39.02\00:46:40.67
Notice verse 12
00:46:40.98\00:46:42.80
of Revelation chapter 22.
00:46:43.10\00:46:46.92
It says in verse 12:
00:46:47.22\00:46:48.62
"And behold, I am" what?
00:46:48.93\00:46:50.89
"coming quickly. " So let
me ask you: is the declaration
00:46:51.19\00:46:53.93
"filthy still, holy
still, filthy still... "
00:46:54.13\00:46:57.94
is that a declaration that
is made before Jesus comes?
00:46:58.24\00:47:01.64
Absolutely...
because verse 12 says:
00:47:01.84\00:47:04.03
And what does He bring?
He's already decided it before.
00:47:06.71\00:47:11.47
"I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End,
00:47:17.59\00:47:20.80
the First and the Last. "
00:47:21.01\00:47:23.87
Are you catching the picture?
00:47:24.07\00:47:26.19
You know, some people make fun -
00:47:26.60\00:47:28.61
even within the
Adventist church -
00:47:28.81\00:47:30.26
you know that Ellen White says
that Jesus is going to remove
00:47:30.46\00:47:33.01
His... He's going to
remove His priestly garments
00:47:33.21\00:47:36.04
and He's going to put
on His kingly garments.
00:47:36.24\00:47:38.41
And they say: "Where
is that in the Bible? "
00:47:38.71\00:47:41.13
Well, if we just used a
little bit of the brain power
00:47:41.53\00:47:44.49
that God has given us
00:47:44.69\00:47:45.75
and we searched the
scriptures we would find it.
00:47:45.95\00:47:49.00
Let me ask you: what function
is Jesus fulfilling today?
00:47:49.30\00:47:52.47
What is His function?
00:47:52.67\00:47:54.04
He is serving as High Priest.
00:47:54.34\00:47:56.11
So is He clothed like a
High Priest? Absolutely.
00:47:56.31\00:48:00.06
When Jesus comes -
according to Revelation 19 -
00:48:00.26\00:48:02.83
how is He clothed?
00:48:03.03\00:48:04.04
So sometime before
He must have changed.
00:48:04.07\00:48:07.79
Of course!
00:48:10.81\00:48:12.30
If now He's
clothed as a High Priest
00:48:12.60\00:48:14.71
and when He comes
He's clothed as a King,
00:48:14.91\00:48:16.82
it must mean that
some time before His coming
00:48:17.02\00:48:19.16
He must have what? He
must have changed His garments.
00:48:19.36\00:48:24.29
That happens
when probation closes.
00:48:24.69\00:48:27.19
You see, God is saying "Watch. "
00:48:27.39\00:48:30.22
"Keep your garments. "
00:48:31.50\00:48:33.22
"Make sure that you
have the imputed and imparted
00:48:33.52\00:48:36.03
righteousness of Jesus Christ
00:48:36.13\00:48:37.88
because I'm coming as a thief.
00:48:38.18\00:48:40.34
Probation can come at a
time when you don't expect.
00:48:40.64\00:48:43.62
Be ready so that you're ready
00:48:43.82\00:48:45.50
for the second
coming of Jesus. "
00:48:45.70\00:48:48.24
Now I'd like to read
some texts about those people
00:48:48.54\00:48:53.59
who will be on the
right side at the end of time.
00:48:53.79\00:48:58.23
Do you know that
what the devil hates
00:48:59.37\00:49:01.14
is a group of people that
keep the commandments of God?
00:49:01.34\00:49:04.23
Notice
Revelation 12 and verse 17:
00:49:05.05\00:49:07.41
Will God have at the end a
commandment-keeping people?
00:49:21.30\00:49:24.31
Will they be obedient
to God's commandments?
00:49:24.51\00:49:26.82
Absolutely! Notice
Revelation 21 and verse 27.
00:49:27.12\00:49:31.54
This is very interesting.
00:49:31.84\00:49:33.20
Is God going to cleanse a
people before Jesus comes?
00:49:33.50\00:49:37.39
Absolutely.
00:49:37.69\00:49:39.07
Revelation 21:27 says:
00:49:39.27\00:49:41.44
Revelation 21:7-8:
00:49:58.01\00:50:00.52
So those inside the
city are commandment what?
00:50:34.99\00:50:39.14
Keepers.
00:50:39.34\00:50:41.03
Whereas those who
are outside the city
00:50:41.23\00:50:43.60
are commandment
what? Commandment breakers.
00:50:43.80\00:50:46.62
Murderers,
adulterers, liars, idolaters.
00:50:46.82\00:50:50.59
All of those are violations
of the Ten Commandments.
00:50:50.79\00:50:53.22
But notice that they
will not only be observers
00:50:53.52\00:50:57.74
of the Ten Commandments
00:50:57.84\00:50:58.88
because they have the law of God
on the heart and in the mind.
00:50:59.08\00:51:03.16
This is not some
legalism where they say:
00:51:03.36\00:51:05.77
"We're going to
keep the Ten Commandments
00:51:05.97\00:51:07.18
in order to be saved. " No!
00:51:07.21\00:51:09.46
They are saved by
Jesus; they love Jesus.
00:51:09.76\00:51:12.94
They... they beg
for forgiveness of sin.
00:51:13.24\00:51:15.44
They confess their sin.
00:51:15.54\00:51:16.70
They trust in
the merits of Jesus.
00:51:16.90\00:51:18.39
And because they appreciate
so much what Jesus has done
00:51:18.59\00:51:21.33
now their life reflects it.
00:51:21.54\00:51:24.06
Notice Revelation
chapter 3 verse 5:
00:51:24.36\00:51:27.54
"He who
overcomes... " We just read
00:51:27.84\00:51:30.83
one text that speaks
about overcoming. Now it says:
00:51:31.03\00:51:33.69
"He who overcomes
shall be clothed in" what?
00:51:33.99\00:51:36.61
Oh, in white garments.
00:51:36.81\00:51:39.17
See, white garments
have to do with overcoming.
00:51:39.37\00:51:41.78
Notice Revelation
chapter 19 verses 6 through 8.
00:51:51.56\00:51:54.84
Once again, the
emphasis on the garments.
00:51:55.14\00:51:56.62
Those... folks, those who are on
Christ's side at the end of time
00:51:56.82\00:52:00.53
they have the robe of
Christ's righteousness
00:52:00.73\00:52:02.82
and they keep
God's commandments.
00:52:03.02\00:52:05.21
The keeping of the commandments
out of love for Jesus
00:52:05.51\00:52:08.34
reveals that they
have in their life
00:52:08.55\00:52:11.03
the
righteousness of Jesus Christ.
00:52:11.23\00:52:12.90
Revelation 19:6-8
we read this morning:
00:52:13.20\00:52:15.92
See, here's the garment.
00:52:37.41\00:52:38.55
So what is God telling us?
00:52:47.24\00:52:51.01
God is saying: "Make
sure you have the robe. "
00:52:51.31\00:52:56.81
"Make sure that you are ready
for the close of probation. "
00:52:57.21\00:53:01.61
Allow me in closing
to read you a statement
00:53:01.91\00:53:05.20
that we find in volume 2 of the
Testimonies pages 190 and 191.
00:53:05.41\00:53:10.74
You know, here Ellen
White is quoting Mark chapter 13
00:53:11.04\00:53:14.38
where it says nobody
knows the day or the hour
00:53:14.58\00:53:16.20
when He is going to come.
00:53:16.40\00:53:17.57
And you say: "Well, that's
talking about the 2nd coming. "
00:53:17.88\00:53:19.72
That's partially true.
It's talking about the close
00:53:19.92\00:53:22.94
of probation follow by
the second coming of Jesus.
00:53:23.04\00:53:26.77
Notice what she has to say:
00:53:27.07\00:53:29.56
She is quoting
Mark 13 verses 33 to 35.
00:53:53.48\00:53:56.91
And notice what
she continues saying:
00:53:57.21\00:53:58.86
Now here comes the amazing
part. And we've already noticed
00:54:10.83\00:54:13.48
that this is found in scripture.
00:54:13.68\00:54:15.93
The close of probation
followed by a time of trial
00:54:15.96\00:54:18.90
and then the second coming.
00:54:19.10\00:54:20.32
She says after stating "we
are waiting and watching for the
00:54:20.52\00:54:23.71
return of the Master... "
00:54:23.91\00:54:24.99
As it was in the days of Noah,
00:55:06.69\00:55:08.39
so also will it be at
the coming of the Son of Man.
00:55:08.59\00:55:11.42
In the days of Noah
there was two untils.
00:55:11.62\00:55:14.11
At the second coming of Jesus
there will also be two untils:
00:55:14.31\00:55:17.93
the close of probation and
the second coming of Jesus.
00:55:18.07\00:55:20.56
And we must be ready
for the close of probation.
00:55:20.76\00:55:23.20
Now in closing let me say this:
00:55:23.50\00:55:25.96
there are two closes
of probation in scripture.
00:55:27.36\00:55:30.26
The first close of
probation is the corporate
00:55:31.86\00:55:34.41
close of
probation for the world.
00:55:34.61\00:55:37.04
That's what we've talked about
today: the corporate close.
00:55:37.34\00:55:41.39
The close of probation
for the whole human race.
00:55:41.53\00:55:43.92
But there's another
close of probation which is
00:55:44.22\00:55:47.17
an individual
close of probation.
00:55:47.38\00:55:50.56
You say: "What is this
individual close of probation? "
00:55:50.86\00:55:54.73
Hebrews chapter 9 and verse 28
00:55:55.03\00:55:58.41
says something very sobering:
00:55:58.61\00:56:01.39
So what happens if we
don't come to the point
00:56:16.72\00:56:19.87
of the corporate close
of probation for the world
00:56:20.08\00:56:24.49
but we should die today?
00:56:24.69\00:56:26.70
Our probation has what? Closed.
00:56:27.00\00:56:32.76
And there are many Adventists
that are looking for the close
00:56:33.06\00:56:35.36
of probation...
they're looking for the future.
00:56:35.46\00:56:36.91
Yes, probation
is going to close;
00:56:37.01\00:56:39.14
we need to flee
for the mountains!
00:56:39.35\00:56:41.27
And we need to do this
and we need to do that.
00:56:41.57\00:56:44.37
And they have
this crisis mentality.
00:56:44.67\00:56:47.53
But if they should die tonight,
probation has already closed.
00:56:47.83\00:56:52.52
And so Jesus says:
"Watch! Keep awake...
00:56:52.82\00:56:55.66
for you don't know
when the time is. "
00:56:55.96\00:56:58.23
Folks, such as never
before we have to pray
00:56:58.53\00:57:01.86
as we never have before.
00:57:02.06\00:57:03.49
We have to study the
Bible such as never before.
00:57:03.79\00:57:07.68
And we have to delight in
witnessing for Jesus Christ
00:57:07.98\00:57:12.70
such as never before.
00:57:12.90\00:57:14.37
We must delight in coming
to church and singing praises
00:57:14.67\00:57:18.45
to Jesus and being in
tune with Jesus Christ
00:57:18.65\00:57:21.62
every moment of our life
00:57:21.92\00:57:23.32
because probation might
come sooner than what we think.
00:57:23.72\00:57:29.70