This is fantastic...
00:00:31.56\00:00:33.53
we are about four meetings
in to the Book of Revelation
00:00:33.60\00:00:36.70
and we are realizing
00:00:36.73\00:00:39.10
that this is going to
be a long-term project,
00:00:39.13\00:00:41.14
our goal, of course, has
been to move through the Book
00:00:41.17\00:00:44.64
in fact we could have called
this, "Moving through the Book,"
00:00:44.67\00:00:46.44
it's, "Salvation,
Symbols and Signs"
00:00:46.47\00:00:49.34
or "Revelation Simplified,"
there's just so much here
00:00:49.38\00:00:54.32
and I think,
Jason, you were mentioning
00:00:54.35\00:00:56.92
that you might even
have your AARP Card...
00:00:56.95\00:00:59.59
Jason: By the time we
get through it, yeah...
00:00:59.62\00:01:02.22
I'll be retired and
be like a grandpa...
00:01:02.26\00:01:04.86
And that's... and
that's... and that's good...
00:01:04.89\00:01:07.10
Yvonne: In fact, we'll be
grandparents, you and me...
00:01:07.13\00:01:09.40
James: I'm there already...
00:01:09.43\00:01:12.97
No, that's good because our goal
00:01:13.00\00:01:14.80
is not to rush through the Book,
00:01:14.87\00:01:16.60
our goal is to go
through it systematically
00:01:16.64\00:01:19.21
verse by verse, point by point,
00:01:19.24\00:01:21.04
truth by truth so that...
00:01:21.08\00:01:23.35
so our Viewers can really get
00:01:23.38\00:01:25.55
a grasp of the
Book of Revelation,
00:01:25.58\00:01:27.18
so that we can really get a
grasp of the Book of Revelation
00:01:27.22\00:01:28.92
and I don't know about you guys
00:01:28.95\00:01:30.45
but even when I've studied
this Book for over 30 years,
00:01:30.49\00:01:33.12
I've been learning things
00:01:33.15\00:01:34.52
as we've been going through
this that I didn't know before,
00:01:34.56\00:01:36.66
I think that's part of our goal,
00:01:36.69\00:01:38.66
we want to be open for the
Holy Spirit to actually teach us
00:01:38.69\00:01:41.20
while we're
going through the Book,
00:01:41.23\00:01:43.13
and I thought it
would be really good,
00:01:43.16\00:01:45.03
we've gone through
four meetings so far,
00:01:45.07\00:01:47.04
we've done an overview,
we've done an introduction,
00:01:47.07\00:01:49.30
we've looked at the
Sanctuary symbolism,
00:01:49.34\00:01:51.57
we've looked at Jesus
first and some of the themes
00:01:51.61\00:01:55.88
and some of the tools,
if you will... to the Book,
00:01:55.91\00:01:59.58
you know, when we buy
stuff... when I go to IKEA,
00:01:59.61\00:02:03.25
I buy a bookshelf
or a piece of furniture
00:02:03.28\00:02:06.49
and when I get
it home in the box,
00:02:06.52\00:02:07.86
I'll take out the instructions
and the instructions will say,
00:02:07.89\00:02:10.56
"Here are the tools you're going
to need to put this together,
00:02:10.59\00:02:13.29
you're going to
need a screwdriver,
00:02:13.33\00:02:15.03
you're going to need
a hammer, et cetera,"
00:02:15.06\00:02:16.40
you know how it is and,
you know, sometimes guys...
00:02:16.43\00:02:19.60
I don't know why...
or what it is about us
00:02:19.63\00:02:20.97
but sometimes we just
want to put that thing together
00:02:21.00\00:02:22.77
and not worry about the tools,
we just want to figure it out,
00:02:22.80\00:02:25.57
not even right before
we read the instructions,
00:02:25.61\00:02:27.64
Yvonne: I know,
I know, it's true.
00:02:27.68\00:02:30.11
I'll tell you what!
I've learned over the years
00:02:30.15\00:02:31.65
it may take a little time
to read those instructions
00:02:31.68\00:02:34.45
and get those tools together
00:02:34.48\00:02:35.82
but it's a lot faster
when you get it done right
00:02:35.85\00:02:38.49
and that's the goal
for this Book of Revelation
00:02:38.52\00:02:41.02
we want to jump in,
00:02:41.06\00:02:42.46
and we want to just
kind of figure it out,
00:02:42.49\00:02:44.16
no... we need to
look at the instructions
00:02:44.19\00:02:45.83
and to look at the tools...
00:02:45.89\00:02:47.23
use the tools
that God has given us,
00:02:47.26\00:02:48.73
and so we're
laying out these tools,
00:02:48.76\00:02:50.37
these tools are
basically principles
00:02:50.40\00:02:51.93
that help us to understand
how the Book is laid out,
00:02:51.97\00:02:54.57
and we've... we've touched
on a number of those principles
00:02:54.60\00:02:57.31
so let's... let's just start...
00:02:57.37\00:02:58.71
open up here
with a word of prayer
00:02:58.74\00:03:00.38
and as we... as
we get into the Book,
00:03:00.41\00:03:01.94
let's review... let's recap
for us and those listening,
00:03:02.01\00:03:05.05
let's recap what
we've learned so far,
00:03:05.08\00:03:06.75
Yvonne, would you
like to pray for us?
00:03:06.78\00:03:08.38
Sure... "Father God,
what a privilege it is
00:03:08.42\00:03:10.85
to come before You, the
Creator of the universe,
00:03:10.89\00:03:14.06
the Divine Designer, our friend
00:03:14.09\00:03:17.33
and we can lay
everything at your feet
00:03:17.36\00:03:19.59
and right now, we're asking you
00:03:19.63\00:03:21.50
to be in this conversation,
00:03:21.53\00:03:22.86
to let your
Spirit who is responsible
00:03:22.90\00:03:25.60
for guiding us into all truth,
let your Spirit be with us,
00:03:25.63\00:03:28.67
let your
anointing be here, Lord...
00:03:28.70\00:03:30.97
your presence be felt
and help us, Lord God,
00:03:31.01\00:03:34.44
as we move through the
Book, help us to understand,
00:03:34.48\00:03:37.68
comprehend and to be
able to apply what we learn
00:03:37.71\00:03:41.45
thank you again
for all that you do
00:03:41.48\00:03:43.75
and for who you are,
in Jesus' name... amen...
00:03:43.79\00:03:46.05
All: Amen...
00:03:46.09\00:03:47.42
Ivor, I'm thinking about this...
00:03:47.46\00:03:49.36
tell me what you think...
00:03:49.39\00:03:50.83
we have a lot more
00:03:50.86\00:03:52.66
experience in Revelation
00:03:52.69\00:03:54.80
and perhaps we'll
remember more of these things
00:03:54.83\00:03:56.67
because we've studied
them more, so I'm thinking,
00:03:56.70\00:03:59.00
we should let
these guys go first,
00:03:59.03\00:04:00.90
like... "What do
you guys remember?"
00:04:00.94\00:04:02.50
And then we can fill in
the gaps... what do you think?
00:04:02.54\00:04:04.27
Yeah, I think it's a good
idea, just before we do that,
00:04:04.31\00:04:07.18
you were talking about the tools
00:04:07.21\00:04:09.34
and how we often
like to skip the tools
00:04:09.41\00:04:12.45
and just try to put it
together, but there is the...
00:04:12.48\00:04:16.18
the other problem of asking
00:04:16.22\00:04:18.69
someone else to
put it together for us,
00:04:18.72\00:04:20.66
you know, "Hey, I
don't even know it,
00:04:20.69\00:04:22.36
you do it,
you're the expert... "
00:04:22.39\00:04:23.99
people will often come
to the Book of Revelation
00:04:24.03\00:04:27.90
looking for someone else
to put it together for them
00:04:27.93\00:04:31.03
and so, what we're
trying to do on this Program,
00:04:31.07\00:04:34.17
is give you the
tools and the confidence
00:04:34.20\00:04:38.44
to know that if you
have the right tools
00:04:38.47\00:04:42.68
and you have the
right principles,
00:04:42.74\00:04:44.18
you don't need an
expert, you can look at the...
00:04:44.21\00:04:49.12
at the framework and say,
00:04:49.15\00:04:53.12
"Yeah, this goes
here, this goes here"
00:04:53.15\00:04:55.89
and it empowers you as a
student of the Word of God
00:04:55.92\00:05:00.90
to be able to
understand your conclusions
00:05:00.93\00:05:04.83
and to know that they make sense
00:05:04.87\00:05:06.90
and to know that...
"Yeah, I'm not off in...
00:05:06.94\00:05:09.74
left field
somewhere this looks accurate"
00:05:09.77\00:05:12.51
so, yeah, I absolutely
think it's a great idea
00:05:12.54\00:05:16.44
that as you were
going through this,
00:05:16.48\00:05:19.15
you guys can recap and say,
00:05:19.18\00:05:20.52
"Hey listen, this is... am
I right or am I wrong on this?
00:05:20.55\00:05:23.42
These are the
principles that we've learned
00:05:23.45\00:05:25.05
and this is how we
learn to apply it, so yeah...
00:05:25.09\00:05:29.52
let's go ahead...
hear what you guys...
00:05:29.56\00:05:31.79
now you're in the hot seat.
00:05:31.83\00:05:33.50
Now, with that,
correct me if I'm wrong
00:05:33.53\00:05:38.47
when I'm going
over this stuff...
00:05:38.50\00:05:39.83
Ivor: Sure... sure...
00:05:39.87\00:05:41.20
All right... so we learned
about some really important
00:05:41.24\00:05:43.94
numbers... the number three...
00:05:43.97\00:05:46.61
represents
like... life and death,
00:05:46.64\00:05:49.24
you have the number four
00:05:49.28\00:05:51.28
which is inclusive of all the
people on the earth worldwide...
00:05:51.31\00:05:54.95
the north, east, south...
00:05:54.98\00:05:56.69
north, south, east
and west type of thing,
00:05:56.72\00:06:00.19
the number 12
represents God's Kingdom,
00:06:00.22\00:06:03.69
Old and New Testament...
00:06:03.73\00:06:06.46
then we have the number seven
00:06:06.49\00:06:09.53
which represents a
complete cycle of time
00:06:09.56\00:06:11.87
so, there are a lot of numbers,
144,000 and 2300 days...
00:06:11.90\00:06:21.51
which I'm sure we'll touch on
00:06:21.54\00:06:23.28
but those are some of
the things that I remember.
00:06:23.31\00:06:26.51
Yeah, those... that's
great... those are really key
00:06:26.55\00:06:29.28
to understanding some of the
things that are taking place,
00:06:29.32\00:06:31.99
the
understanding of those numbers
00:06:32.02\00:06:33.66
because again,
the Book is symbolic
00:06:33.69\00:06:35.22
and the numbers represent
more than just numerical value,
00:06:35.26\00:06:39.29
they might have a
symbolic representation.
00:06:39.33\00:06:41.53
One of the things that
really stuck out with me
00:06:41.56\00:06:45.70
is the whole idea of
the Sanctuary symbolism
00:06:45.73\00:06:49.84
because I had
not... in my reading...
00:06:49.87\00:06:52.87
previously... that had not...
00:06:52.91\00:06:55.84
I had not connected with that
so that's really juicy for me
00:06:55.88\00:07:00.58
because it kind of gives me...
00:07:00.62\00:07:02.65
again, a
framework for the overview,
00:07:02.68\00:07:06.12
if you have that overview...
that framework that...
00:07:06.15\00:07:09.99
that outlining of principles,
like "repeat and enlarge,"
00:07:10.03\00:07:13.83
you can then
navigate through the Book
00:07:13.86\00:07:18.77
and kind of know how to
apply that as you navigate,
00:07:18.80\00:07:22.04
and what you just said
00:07:22.10\00:07:23.44
was really
important, Pastor Ivor,
00:07:23.47\00:07:26.17
about being able to
do this on your own,
00:07:26.21\00:07:29.31
not looking to
you guys necessarily,
00:07:29.34\00:07:32.21
to be our "experts"
even though you are,
00:07:32.25\00:07:34.95
you're giving us
the tools that we need
00:07:34.98\00:07:37.65
to study this on our own,
00:07:37.69\00:07:39.02
God gave us minds, so,
we are to use the intellect
00:07:39.05\00:07:43.93
and talents
that we have to learn
00:07:43.96\00:07:46.63
we're getting the tools from you
00:07:46.66\00:07:49.53
and then we take those tools
and apply it so that's important
00:07:49.56\00:07:52.33
with the Sanctuary...
I made some notes...
00:07:52.37\00:07:54.74
the way the
Sanctuary was laid out,
00:07:54.77\00:07:58.81
you have the Outer Court,
00:07:58.84\00:08:00.21
you have the Holy Place
and Most Holy Place, right, so,
00:08:00.24\00:08:04.21
you have the Alter of
Sacrifice and the Laver,
00:08:04.25\00:08:09.68
the Alter of
Sacrifice and the Laver,
00:08:09.72\00:08:11.95
the Alter of
Sacrifice represents the lamb
00:08:12.02\00:08:16.39
which is Jesus
Christ, all right,
00:08:16.42\00:08:18.93
and then the Laver
is the purification
00:08:18.96\00:08:21.43
so it's actually
forgiveness and purification
00:08:21.46\00:08:24.73
represented in those
two areas in the Sanctuary
00:08:24.77\00:08:27.77
and then... we've
got in the Holy Place,
00:08:27.80\00:08:30.91
the Table of
Shewbread, the Alter of Incense,
00:08:30.94\00:08:33.78
the Candlestick and... I
can't read my own writing,
00:08:33.81\00:08:38.58
and it says... so,
those three things are:
00:08:38.61\00:08:43.18
how God sustains
the repentant sinner,
00:08:43.22\00:08:47.79
so all of these things...
00:08:47.82\00:08:49.72
we can find
represented in Revelation
00:08:49.76\00:08:53.96
which I had never seen before
00:08:54.00\00:08:56.36
and then, one of the things
that you said, Pastor James,
00:08:56.40\00:09:00.10
that was so good for me was that
00:09:00.14\00:09:02.60
the whole pre- and
post-1844 interpretation
00:09:02.64\00:09:06.68
and I had never seen that either
00:09:06.71\00:09:09.48
so if the Alter of
Sacrifice is mentioned,
00:09:09.51\00:09:13.55
then we know
that that's pre-1844
00:09:13.58\00:09:17.65
so all of that... I
never knew that before,
00:09:17.69\00:09:20.86
this is so great for me because
I love learning all that stuff
00:09:20.89\00:09:24.26
so that plus the
numbers that Jay mentioned...
00:09:24.33\00:09:29.13
those things
are really important
00:09:29.16\00:09:32.30
and then the whole
"repeat- and enlarge-thing,"
00:09:32.33\00:09:34.77
we're going to see here,
00:09:34.80\00:09:36.14
then you're going to see it here
with a little bit more detail,
00:09:36.17\00:09:39.17
then you're going to see here
with a little bit more detail
00:09:39.21\00:09:42.28
and so, you're seeing the
Divine Designer in action,
00:09:42.34\00:09:46.92
you're seeing how you
just broadens this whole thing
00:09:46.95\00:09:51.49
He's making sure that we
know it and the last thing...
00:09:51.52\00:09:55.59
you guys didn't hear me before.
00:09:55.62\00:09:57.39
James: The more you
say the less we have to.
00:09:57.43\00:10:01.00
Yvonne: And the last thing...
00:10:01.06\00:10:02.56
is the whole, which for me
00:10:02.60\00:10:04.43
as being like the
romantic person that I am,
00:10:04.47\00:10:07.80
is a love story,
Jesus loves us so much
00:10:07.84\00:10:10.94
that He would put in this book
00:10:10.97\00:10:14.44
how He's going to
protect, provide and profess
00:10:14.48\00:10:19.68
his love... which is us...
00:10:19.71\00:10:22.65
so, to me,
00:10:22.68\00:10:24.79
thinking that Revelation now is
a love story, that's beautiful.
00:10:24.82\00:10:30.76
Ivor: Divine Romance...
00:10:30.79\00:10:32.59
Yvonne: Divine
romance... I love it,
00:10:32.63\00:10:34.73
that's another
title we can use...
00:10:34.76\00:10:36.46
Ivor: Divine Romance...
Yvonne: Divine Romance.
00:10:36.50\00:10:39.37
I just want to touch on this,
Yvonne, since you brought it up
00:10:39.40\00:10:42.80
so that we can all be really
clear on the language, there's,
00:10:42.84\00:10:46.17
there's... the
language itself is found
00:10:46.24\00:10:48.64
in Revelation chapter 21,
00:10:48.68\00:10:50.68
it says here in
Revelation chapter 21
00:10:50.71\00:10:54.25
and verse 9,
00:10:54.28\00:10:57.75
"And there came unto
me one of the seven angels
00:10:57.79\00:11:01.76
which had the seven vials
full of the seven last plagues,
00:11:01.79\00:11:04.79
and talked with me,
saying, Come hither,
00:11:04.83\00:11:06.70
and I will shew thee the
bride, the Lamb's wife. "
00:11:06.73\00:11:10.27
There's the... the
language is explicit...
00:11:10.30\00:11:13.44
it's just not
symbolic, it's explicit
00:11:13.47\00:11:15.84
and so you have this... these...
00:11:15.87\00:11:17.84
these seven
letters to the churches,
00:11:17.87\00:11:19.54
these are love letters,
00:11:19.57\00:11:20.91
in fact in the
last letter He said,
00:11:20.94\00:11:22.28
"as many as I love"
and all the way through
00:11:22.31\00:11:26.18
you have Jesus
Christ wooing and calling...
00:11:26.21\00:11:30.09
the Book of Revelation could
be summarized in that sense
00:11:30.12\00:11:32.92
by John 12:32, "And
I, if I be lifted up
00:11:32.95\00:11:36.32
will draw all unto me... "
00:11:36.36\00:11:37.86
He's knocking on the door,
00:11:37.89\00:11:39.29
He's throwing the
little pebbles at the window,
00:11:39.33\00:11:41.56
He's beckoning,
beckoning, beckoning,
00:11:41.63\00:11:44.17
"Come, come, follow me,
follow me, follow me... "
00:11:44.20\00:11:46.30
and finally there
is a group of people
00:11:46.33\00:11:48.24
that follow the
Lamb wherever He goes,
00:11:48.27\00:11:50.11
they don't love their lives
00:11:50.14\00:11:51.47
and they've
fallen in love with Jesus
00:11:51.51\00:11:53.58
and they... and
they... this is manifest
00:11:53.61\00:11:56.38
in Revelation 12:17
and Revelation 14:12
00:11:56.41\00:11:59.11
by two verses that
indicate that there's a people
00:11:59.15\00:12:03.18
who keep the
commandments of God,
00:12:03.22\00:12:05.45
now if you
compare that with John,
00:12:05.49\00:12:07.62
the gospel of John,
chapter 14 and verse 15,
00:12:07.66\00:12:11.19
you'll find what
Jesus says there,
00:12:11.23\00:12:14.03
"If you love me,
keep my commandments"
00:12:14.06\00:12:16.80
they've fallen in love with...
00:12:16.83\00:12:18.47
the fact that they
keep the commandments of God
00:12:18.53\00:12:20.14
indicates they've
fallen in love with Jesus,
00:12:20.17\00:12:21.77
"If you love me,
keep my commandments"
00:12:21.80\00:12:23.44
now prior to that time
there are a number of...
00:12:23.47\00:12:25.84
I would say,
religious experiences
00:12:25.87\00:12:28.28
that we have,
that others have...
00:12:28.31\00:12:30.51
that... that the world has
00:12:30.55\00:12:32.01
that keep the commandments
of God out of obligation,
00:12:32.05\00:12:34.42
the Jews kept the commandments
of God out of obligation...
00:12:34.45\00:12:37.75
not all of them but many of
them that turned from Christ
00:12:37.82\00:12:40.56
and crucified Christ, they
still kept the commandments
00:12:40.59\00:12:43.12
they wanted to keep the Sabbath,
00:12:43.16\00:12:44.49
but it was
obviously out of obligation,
00:12:44.53\00:12:45.99
they hadn't fallen
in love with Jesus...
00:12:46.03\00:12:47.76
they hadn't
fallen in love with God,
00:12:47.83\00:12:49.16
but here's a people who
are going to fall in love...
00:12:49.20\00:12:51.43
so in love with Him that,
"well, if you love me... "
00:12:51.47\00:12:53.90
then they're going to
keep His commandments.
00:12:53.94\00:12:55.50
So that love story
theme is just beautiful
00:12:55.54\00:12:57.04
and I really appreciate...
as we talked about that,
00:12:57.07\00:12:59.94
Ivor kind of
brought this out and I said,
00:12:59.97\00:13:01.44
I knew that words were there,
00:13:01.48\00:13:02.81
"oh, the bride...
the bridegroom... "
00:13:02.84\00:13:04.18
but as he... it's the...
00:13:04.21\00:13:06.31
it's a theme, it's s
tool, it's the tape measure,
00:13:06.35\00:13:09.75
it's the hammer,
it's the screwdriver,
00:13:09.78\00:13:11.15
whatever it is,
it's a theme, I thought,
00:13:11.22\00:13:12.55
"Whoa, we really have to nail
that because that is powerful. "
00:13:12.59\00:13:16.16
Yvonne: Powerful, yes.
00:13:16.19\00:13:17.53
Okay, anymore that
you guys can remember,
00:13:17.56\00:13:20.20
anything else
that you can remember
00:13:20.23\00:13:21.56
before we add a few to it?
00:13:21.60\00:13:22.93
Jason: Just that there's
pretty much like a check...
00:13:22.96\00:13:26.50
checks- and
balances-type system so...
00:13:26.53\00:13:29.47
like you were
saying, you can realize...
00:13:29.50\00:13:32.37
you can find out whether
or not you're in left field
00:13:32.44\00:13:35.21
or if what you're
learning is correct and true
00:13:35.24\00:13:38.51
and test it and prove it.
00:13:38.58\00:13:39.98
James: Love it...
Ivor: It's all good...
00:13:40.02\00:13:43.15
Yvonne: It's rich... this
is some rich stuff right here
00:13:43.18\00:13:45.35
and I'm thankful because, again,
00:13:45.39\00:13:47.86
it's giving me a
different feel for the Book
00:13:47.89\00:13:51.43
because it... actually I mean,
00:13:51.46\00:13:53.23
and I'm sure that I'm not the
only one that feels this way,
00:13:53.29\00:13:55.13
you know, I've
read it but I'm like,
00:13:55.16\00:13:57.37
"I'm just reading through
it just like... reading it...
00:13:57.40\00:13:59.33
just not... " not
connecting the dots
00:13:59.37\00:14:01.50
so what you are telling us
is helping to connect the dots.
00:14:01.54\00:14:06.51
James: Amen...
Yvonne: Well, praise God...
00:14:06.54\00:14:08.78
All right so...
another principle I think
00:14:08.84\00:14:11.01
is important for us to
look at too, is Jesus first...
00:14:11.05\00:14:13.58
we talked about
that... we mentioned it
00:14:13.62\00:14:16.15
but it's in the
Book of Revelation...
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.62
it is clear that Christ is the
first thing that John is shown,
00:14:18.65\00:14:23.99
the first person
that John is shown,
00:14:24.03\00:14:25.49
the first vision that John
is shown is a vision of Christ
00:14:25.53\00:14:27.36
and the first
message that John is given
00:14:27.40\00:14:29.83
is the message of Christ's love,
00:14:29.86\00:14:31.33
it's the gospel in
Revelation 1 verse 5
00:14:31.37\00:14:34.87
from him who loved us
and washed us from our sins
00:14:34.90\00:14:37.34
in His own blood and
it's the vision of Christ
00:14:37.37\00:14:39.77
amidst and
among the candlesticks
00:14:39.81\00:14:42.38
that John has first seen,
00:14:42.41\00:14:43.75
it's not showing
the vision of the dragon
00:14:43.78\00:14:45.11
or the beast or
the horses... any...
00:14:45.15\00:14:47.35
he's shown a vision of Christ
and, you know, we talked about
00:14:47.38\00:14:50.22
the words of that hymn,
"Anywhere with Jesus... "
00:14:50.25\00:14:53.46
Yvonne: Yes, "I
can safely go... "
00:14:53.49\00:14:55.12
James: "Anywhere, anywhere...
fear I cannot know... "
00:14:55.16\00:14:58.79
and so that's the point,
00:14:58.83\00:15:00.46
the point is that
the Book of Revelation
00:15:00.50\00:15:02.03
introduces us to the
One who displaces all fear
00:15:02.06\00:15:05.80
because Jesus... God is love...
00:15:05.83\00:15:07.30
and the Bible says
in 1st John chapter 4,
00:15:07.34\00:15:10.21
that love casts out all fear.
00:15:10.24\00:15:12.67
So we want that love...
that will cast out all that fear
00:15:12.71\00:15:16.91
so Jesus first is
another principle,
00:15:16.95\00:15:18.28
if you're studying
the Book of Revelation,
00:15:18.31\00:15:20.08
look for Jesus,
look for Him first
00:15:20.12\00:15:22.02
and He is going to
be able to guide you
00:15:22.05\00:15:24.15
as you focus on Him, He
will be able to guide you.
00:15:24.19\00:15:26.19
Jason: And that's not
usually presented that way,
00:15:26.22\00:15:29.99
it's usually the beast,
the leopard and the spots
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.49
and all these other stuff,
00:15:31.53\00:15:33.66
they're not usually
presented in that...
00:15:33.70\00:15:35.80
James: Which is there
but it is in chapter 13,
00:15:35.83\00:15:37.57
and many times we
want to jump in there,
00:15:37.60\00:15:39.47
when I was...
Ivor talked about this
00:15:39.50\00:15:41.30
in his experience,
when I was a teenager...
00:15:41.34\00:15:43.97
and I was raised as a Christian,
00:15:44.01\00:15:46.91
I said my prayers every night
whether I was drunk or sober
00:15:46.98\00:15:49.64
but I didn't have a
relationship with God
00:15:49.68\00:15:51.78
but I was
interested in Revelation
00:15:51.81\00:15:54.48
and we watched the
same movies about, you know,
00:15:54.52\00:15:56.48
all this stuff
and what the 666 is
00:15:56.52\00:15:58.95
and I remember when we...
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.32
we partied and we'd
opened up the Book of...
00:16:00.36\00:16:02.92
we'd talk about Revelation 13...
00:16:02.96\00:16:04.93
666...
00:16:04.96\00:16:06.29
so in our minds,
Revelation 13 was 666...
00:16:06.33\00:16:08.63
Revelation... and what...
Jesus, Jesus... no, no, no...
00:16:08.66\00:16:12.07
Revelation 13 is
666, that's it...
00:16:12.10\00:16:14.70
that's the Book of
Revelation, it's all scary stuff
00:16:14.74\00:16:17.97
so, we missed the first
half of the Book many times
00:16:18.01\00:16:21.24
and God... I
believe... understands
00:16:21.28\00:16:23.88
that the world
itself and we as individuals
00:16:23.91\00:16:27.35
are attracted by the idea of all
of the mystery and the number
00:16:27.38\00:16:31.75
and so it's there to attract us.
00:16:31.79\00:16:34.39
Most people that
you'll talk to...
00:16:34.42\00:16:36.62
if you're out
doing door-to-door work
00:16:36.66\00:16:39.23
and you have two
books and one says,
00:16:39.26\00:16:41.80
"Steps to Christ"
00:16:41.83\00:16:43.50
the other one says,
"The Mark of the Beast"
00:16:43.53\00:16:44.90
"Oh, give me the book
on the Mark of the Beast,
00:16:44.93\00:16:46.37
I want to know about
the Mark of the Beast,"
00:16:46.40\00:16:47.74
see, a lot people are in
that... so God allows that
00:16:47.77\00:16:50.94
because He knows that
would get our interest
00:16:50.97\00:16:52.57
but, lo and
behold, what do you know?
00:16:52.61\00:16:54.51
Here is a book about
the Mark of the Beast
00:16:54.54\00:16:56.11
that actually starts with Jesus,
00:16:56.14\00:16:58.15
well, what do
you know about that?
00:16:58.18\00:17:00.12
And so that's where
I think we want to be,
00:17:00.15\00:17:02.38
is... we want to be
starting where God starts,
00:17:02.42\00:17:04.59
God starts with Christ and
we want to start with Christ.
00:17:04.65\00:17:07.26
You guys talked about tools
00:17:07.29\00:17:11.89
and having the tools and reading
the instructions beforehand,
00:17:11.93\00:17:14.56
people might be
wondering like what...
00:17:14.60\00:17:16.87
just like how you
have course work, right,
00:17:16.90\00:17:19.13
when you're in college,
there are certain prerequisites
00:17:19.17\00:17:21.40
you have to take before
you get into your Major,
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.30
so what are the prerequisites
00:17:23.37\00:17:25.54
for reading the
Book of Revelation
00:17:25.57\00:17:28.48
and understanding
the Book of Revelation?
00:17:28.54\00:17:30.01
James: That's a good question.
00:17:30.05\00:17:31.38
I would say, first of all,
00:17:31.41\00:17:35.18
the Book of Daniel and
Revelation go hand-in-hand
00:17:35.22\00:17:38.29
and Daniel was
written first for a reason,
00:17:38.32\00:17:41.62
the Book of Revelation is
based upon the Book of Daniel
00:17:41.69\00:17:45.89
and so, we're going to be
covering Daniel in this series
00:17:45.93\00:17:50.03
as well... or in
this Program as well,
00:17:50.07\00:17:52.63
a little bit
further down the road
00:17:52.67\00:17:55.04
but understanding the
Old Testament in general...
00:17:55.10\00:17:59.31
the Book of
Revelation is the consummation
00:17:59.34\00:18:01.31
of all the books of the Bible,
00:18:01.34\00:18:02.68
okay so, from the
Book of Revelation
00:18:02.71\00:18:05.91
you're going to
find ideas and themes
00:18:05.95\00:18:09.25
that were woven
throughout the entire Scripture
00:18:09.28\00:18:11.45
which almost
sounds kind of daunting,
00:18:11.49\00:18:14.86
"You mean, I have to
study the whole Bible
00:18:14.89\00:18:16.32
in order to get the
Book of Revelation?"
00:18:16.36\00:18:17.76
James: That's the prerequisite,
00:18:17.79\00:18:19.56
you've got to be a
student of the Bible...
00:18:19.59\00:18:20.96
Ivor: Yeah, in reality, it's...
00:18:21.00\00:18:23.63
this is how I'd
like to compare it,
00:18:23.67\00:18:26.23
imagine in your...
00:18:26.27\00:18:30.31
I don't know if you ever played
the game called "Concentration"
00:18:30.34\00:18:33.48
when I was a child, you
know, you have the cards
00:18:33.51\00:18:35.84
and you... all the
cards are facing down
00:18:35.88\00:18:38.71
and then you flip a card...
you have to find the match
00:18:38.78\00:18:41.38
right? somewhere else
00:18:41.42\00:18:43.45
and so, as you're
going through the game,
00:18:43.49\00:18:44.82
you have to remember,
00:18:44.85\00:18:46.19
"Man, where was that... five
or where was that... three?"
00:18:46.22\00:18:48.62
And when you find a match
you're like, "Ah, I got it. "
00:18:48.66\00:18:51.39
The Book of
Revelation is much like that,
00:18:51.43\00:18:54.03
compared to the whole Bible,
00:18:54.06\00:18:55.63
so as we're reading these
stories in the Old Testament,
00:18:55.66\00:18:59.37
you're going to find themes
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.40
in the Book of
Revelation and you're...
00:19:01.44\00:19:03.44
"Where, where have I seen this
before or something like it?"
00:19:03.47\00:19:07.48
And when you can identify
those pictures and make a match,
00:19:07.51\00:19:10.68
you get excited,
"Oh, man, look... "
00:19:10.71\00:19:13.05
so, the key thing is,
00:19:13.08\00:19:15.42
you have to have
those pictures in your mind,
00:19:15.45\00:19:17.52
right? you have to have the...
00:19:17.55\00:19:19.05
you have to have those pictures,
00:19:19.09\00:19:20.49
you have to be
familiar with those stories
00:19:20.52\00:19:23.79
of the Old
Testament, so, for example,
00:19:23.83\00:19:26.73
in the Book of Revelation,
00:19:26.80\00:19:28.13
there's a story
about three unclean...
00:19:28.16\00:19:29.96
there's a particular verse
about three unclean spirits
00:19:30.00\00:19:32.80
come out like... like
frogs coming out of the mouth of
00:19:32.83\00:19:35.74
the Beast, Dragon
and the False Prophet,
00:19:35.77\00:19:38.14
"Where have I
heard about frogs before?
00:19:38.17\00:19:40.44
Oh, you know what? I've
heard about frogs before
00:19:40.48\00:19:43.04
in the story of the
plagues of Egypt... "
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.58
so, now I'm going
to go back there to see
00:19:45.61\00:19:48.08
does the story of the plagues
of Egypt give me any insights
00:19:48.12\00:19:51.62
into the frogs in
Revelation chapter 6, right?
00:19:51.65\00:19:54.72
So the more we're able
to do things like that,
00:19:54.76\00:19:57.79
right, that's the
basis for which...
00:19:57.86\00:20:01.00
those are the... the...
00:20:01.03\00:20:03.70
you know we talked
about the tools and then...
00:20:03.73\00:20:05.13
you're putting a bike together,
00:20:05.17\00:20:06.74
you got the
tires, you got the...
00:20:06.77\00:20:08.70
all the different
parts for the bike,
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.64
the different parts
for the Book of Revelation,
00:20:10.71\00:20:12.77
are in the other
books of the Bible.
00:20:12.81\00:20:15.34
So once we can get those
ideas and bring them together,
00:20:15.41\00:20:19.08
that is the prerequisite
00:20:19.11\00:20:21.98
to understanding
the Book of Revelation.
00:20:22.02\00:20:24.45
Yeah, that's powerful
00:20:24.49\00:20:26.35
and we see that
over and over again,
00:20:26.39\00:20:27.79
and when we get
into the churches,
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.32
we'll read about,
for example, Balaam,
00:20:29.39\00:20:30.86
we'll read about Jezebel
00:20:30.89\00:20:32.63
and that's why it helps us
00:20:32.66\00:20:34.26
because we
recognize that these are
00:20:34.30\00:20:36.26
Old Testament
illusions or illustrations,
00:20:36.30\00:20:39.27
these are Old
Testament characters
00:20:39.30\00:20:40.77
that have been brought
into the Book of Revelation,
00:20:40.80\00:20:42.57
they're not literal people now
00:20:42.60\00:20:44.34
in the literal churches
that are mentioned here,
00:20:44.37\00:20:48.38
these are illusions to
people whose story inform us
00:20:48.41\00:20:51.41
about what's going on in
the history of these churches
00:20:51.45\00:20:54.38
and so you go back to the story,
00:20:54.42\00:20:56.18
you've gone... or
what's gone on in the story,
00:20:56.22\00:20:57.95
you bring it back now to
the history of the church,
00:20:57.99\00:21:00.12
you see where it fits
in our Christian history
00:21:00.16\00:21:03.12
and say, "Oh, yes, okay,
that's where we're at... "
00:21:03.16\00:21:05.56
and you're going to see
this over and over again
00:21:05.59\00:21:07.96
in the Book of
Revelation because,
00:21:08.00\00:21:09.73
primarily the Book of Revelation
is a revelation of history,
00:21:09.76\00:21:12.83
it's the story of the world,
00:21:12.87\00:21:15.87
it's the story of the
church in the world...
00:21:15.90\00:21:17.24
it's the story of how the world
00:21:17.27\00:21:18.61
tries to
encroach upon the church,
00:21:18.64\00:21:19.97
it's the story about how Jesus
rescues His bride from the world
00:21:20.01\00:21:22.74
protects her, woos her
and finally purifies her
00:21:22.78\00:21:27.55
Revelation chapter 12
verse 1 is really our goal,
00:21:27.58\00:21:32.32
a lot of times
when we talk about
00:21:32.35\00:21:33.89
the Book of
Revelation, we jump, you know,
00:21:33.92\00:21:36.59
and think about
Revelation chapter 13
00:21:36.62\00:21:38.63
but I want you to look
at Revelation 12 verse 1
00:21:38.66\00:21:40.36
because we were alluding to
00:21:40.40\00:21:42.86
the words in
Revelation, for example, 21...
00:21:42.90\00:21:45.93
talk about the
bride... making herself ready,
00:21:46.00\00:21:49.00
well, Revelation 12:1 says,
00:21:49.04\00:21:50.37
"And there appeared a
great wonder in heaven;
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.94
a woman clothed with the
sun, the moon under her feet,
00:21:52.97\00:21:56.64
and upon her head a
crown of 12 stars... "
00:21:56.68\00:21:58.58
this is the bride right
here, this woman is the bride...
00:21:58.61\00:22:01.32
she's clothed in white,
she's clothed in the sun,
00:22:01.35\00:22:03.22
white
righteousness of Jesus Christ,
00:22:03.25\00:22:05.49
according to Malachi
chapter 4 and verse 2
00:22:05.52\00:22:08.66
and this is our goal,
once we get to this goal,
00:22:08.72\00:22:11.89
we've arrived... we're
where God wants us to be
00:22:11.93\00:22:14.16
and then, the
dragon is left loose,
00:22:14.20\00:22:16.23
see, it's not
until Revelation 12
00:22:16.26\00:22:18.00
that we see the
dragon let loose,
00:22:18.03\00:22:19.93
the dragon... we
get his history...
00:22:19.97\00:22:21.64
we understand
what he's all about,
00:22:21.70\00:22:23.30
and what is he trying to do?
00:22:23.37\00:22:24.71
well, he's
trying to woo that woman
00:22:24.74\00:22:26.31
who has been
prepared for Christ,
00:22:26.34\00:22:27.91
he's trying to
woo that woman away,
00:22:27.94\00:22:29.44
just like he did in Eden,
00:22:29.48\00:22:30.85
that's why in the
context of Revelation 12,
00:22:30.88\00:22:33.28
he's called the serpent.
00:22:33.31\00:22:34.65
Yvonne: Ahhhhhhhh...
00:22:34.68\00:22:36.02
Because he wooed
her away in the garden
00:22:36.05\00:22:37.39
and now he's getting another
chance in the end of time.
00:22:37.42\00:22:40.56
There is something else...
that thing about this theme
00:22:40.62\00:22:43.22
of the love story,
in Revelation 17 and 18,
00:22:43.26\00:22:48.46
what you have
there is the harlot
00:22:48.50\00:22:52.47
and I'd like to call
her the devil's girlfriend,
00:22:52.50\00:22:55.07
so, here you have
the devil's girlfriend,
00:22:55.10\00:22:57.64
right? trying to turn the world
00:22:57.67\00:23:00.31
against the
true bride of Christ,
00:23:00.34\00:23:03.85
and in fact, you should be aware
00:23:03.88\00:23:06.31
of the company
you hang out with,
00:23:06.35\00:23:08.72
the devil's girlfriend is
trying to tell the true church,
00:23:08.78\00:23:11.65
"You don't need a
man... " you know,
00:23:11.69\00:23:14.02
"you don't need
Christ in your life... "
00:23:14.06\00:23:16.39
in other words, she is trying...
00:23:16.42\00:23:18.16
the devil sends his
girlfriend out to try
00:23:18.19\00:23:20.20
to corrupt the Bride of Christ.
00:23:20.23\00:23:24.57
Every story in the
Book of Revelation,
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.07
every chapter in
the Book of Revelation,
00:23:27.10\00:23:29.47
as we look at it in the
context of a love story,
00:23:29.50\00:23:32.64
so you look at it in
the context of this...
00:23:32.67\00:23:35.41
the stories given
in the Old Testament,
00:23:35.44\00:23:38.11
you begin to see
pictures emerging
00:23:38.15\00:23:41.65
that reveal
divine things, right?
00:23:41.68\00:23:45.09
Again, the Book is
not just thrown together
00:23:45.12\00:23:47.09
and, "Okay, this
chapter is talking about this...
00:23:47.12\00:23:49.06
and everything
is disconnected... "
00:23:49.09\00:23:50.86
everything is connected
revealing an amazing story,
00:23:50.89\00:23:54.36
a story that Hollywood
couldn't even put together,
00:23:54.40\00:23:58.63
and in fact Hollywood
usually lifts its stories
00:23:58.67\00:24:02.84
so again...
understanding these things
00:24:02.87\00:24:08.28
and in fact, in the
Book of 1st Corinthians
00:24:08.31\00:24:10.58
it says that "things
that were written aforetime
00:24:10.61\00:24:12.71
were written for our admonition
00:24:12.75\00:24:15.12
upon whom the ends of
the world are come... "
00:24:15.15\00:24:17.02
the Book of Revelation is really
00:24:17.05\00:24:20.79
a revelation of a
repeat of history,
00:24:20.82\00:24:23.86
you have so many things repeated
00:24:23.89\00:24:26.86
in the history of
Israel in the Old Testament,
00:24:26.90\00:24:29.73
in New Testament
Israel, in Spiritual Israel
00:24:29.76\00:24:32.57
so understanding
the history of Israel
00:24:32.63\00:24:35.00
then being upon the
borders of the Promise Land
00:24:35.04\00:24:38.04
gives us an
insight of where we are
00:24:38.07\00:24:41.14
and what the devil
is trying to bring at us
00:24:41.18\00:24:43.14
as we are upon the borders
of the heavenly promise land,
00:24:43.18\00:24:47.52
and so,
understanding these things again
00:24:47.55\00:24:50.22
really help to crystallize
00:24:50.25\00:24:52.05
and bring together
the Book of Revelation
00:24:52.09\00:24:54.39
in a... in a beautiful way.
00:24:54.42\00:24:55.76
And as Ivor and I
were talking yesterday,
00:24:55.79\00:24:57.63
he was sharing with me
that also, it's, in a sense,
00:24:57.66\00:25:01.06
the Book of
Revelation is an outline
00:25:01.10\00:25:02.76
of a repeating of
the life of Christ
00:25:02.80\00:25:05.53
and so you see
Christ in His life,
00:25:05.57\00:25:08.00
walking through
these different areas
00:25:08.04\00:25:10.91
of growing up as a
child, being baptized,
00:25:10.94\00:25:13.74
going out into the wilderness,
00:25:13.78\00:25:15.11
being met out in the wilderness,
00:25:15.14\00:25:16.48
in Revelation
12, we see the woman
00:25:16.51\00:25:18.35
led out into the wilderness,
00:25:18.41\00:25:19.75
we see the church
anointed with the Holy Spirit,
00:25:19.78\00:25:22.38
Christ was anointed
with the Holy Spirit,
00:25:22.42\00:25:23.79
we see the woman being tempted,
to be unfaithful to God,
00:25:23.82\00:25:27.72
the hour of temptation
comes upon the whole world,
00:25:27.76\00:25:31.36
the Mark of the
Beast is enforced,
00:25:31.39\00:25:32.73
that's that pull that...
and so we see all of this
00:25:32.79\00:25:36.26
in the life of Christ
is a picture, if you will,
00:25:36.30\00:25:39.63
of the
experience of God's people
00:25:39.70\00:25:41.10
because it's Christ
in you, the hope of glory
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.34
and so when Christ comes into us
00:25:43.37\00:25:45.37
and we live the
life He wants us to live,
00:25:45.41\00:25:46.94
the devil comes against us,
00:25:46.98\00:25:48.31
the same way the
devil came against Christ,
00:25:48.34\00:25:50.28
there's nothing new under
the sun, he has no new schemes,
00:25:50.31\00:25:52.48
he just comes... in
these different angles
00:25:52.51\00:25:54.45
and it's the same basic history
00:25:54.48\00:25:56.05
that we see
repeated all over again.
00:25:56.08\00:25:57.72
Ivor: Yes...
00:25:57.75\00:25:59.09
Well, we have run out of
time again and I'm thinking
00:25:59.12\00:26:01.49
as we move through this,
that there's going to be people
00:26:01.52\00:26:05.16
listening who are
going to have questions
00:26:05.19\00:26:07.33
and we want to
encourage questions
00:26:07.40\00:26:09.56
that's why I think it's so good
that we're all here together
00:26:09.60\00:26:12.87
because we... even
on the Set we're having
00:26:12.90\00:26:14.77
these different
questions that are coming up,
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.64
"Hey, what about
this, what about that?"
00:26:16.67\00:26:18.01
And this is a very
informal, very casual study,
00:26:18.04\00:26:22.08
it's not... we're
not having an agenda,
00:26:22.11\00:26:23.91
we got to get through
this and this and this
00:26:23.95\00:26:25.45
and so, I'm thinking...
00:26:25.51\00:26:26.92
we want to encourage
people in their questions.
00:26:26.98\00:26:29.22
Yvonne: Yeah, and they
should send them to sss as in
00:26:29.28\00:26:34.06
Salvation in Symbols
and Signs, sss@3abn. org
00:26:34.09\00:26:40.56
James: sss. @3abn. org
00:26:40.60\00:26:42.53
James: And we
will take questions
00:26:42.56\00:26:44.93
and we'll try to answer them,
00:26:44.97\00:26:47.64
we'll throw
them out there and...
00:26:47.67\00:26:49.04
Yvonne: And we want videos...
00:26:49.07\00:26:50.41
James: And video
questions that we can put up...
00:26:50.44\00:26:52.81
oh, that will be
so... that will be super...
00:26:52.84\00:26:55.71
Everyone can do video questions
now, right with their iPhones?
00:26:55.74\00:26:57.91
Yvonne: That's right...
00:26:57.95\00:26:59.28
Take your phone,
just ask the question and
00:26:59.31\00:27:02.08
send it to... forward
it to us, sss@3abn. org
00:27:02.12\00:27:05.79
James: Now, that's a good idea.
00:27:05.82\00:27:07.19
Jason: By submitting
it, they agree to be on TV.
00:27:07.22\00:27:10.09
James: Okay... you'll be
on worldwide 3ABN television,
00:27:10.13\00:27:12.36
and get your face up in there.
00:27:12.39\00:27:15.33
Yvonne: Yeah... and they
can include their e-mail address
00:27:15.36\00:27:17.67
so we can send them a release
form and that kind of thing...
00:27:17.70\00:27:19.20
James: Okay.
00:27:19.23\00:27:20.57
Yvonne: But if they just send it
to us and we can... address it
00:27:20.60\00:27:25.44
because as things come up,
00:27:25.47\00:27:27.31
people are going
to have questions
00:27:27.34\00:27:28.98
so we need to be
able to address those.
00:27:29.01\00:27:30.95
James: Okay, praise the
Lord. Yvonne: Yeah... amen...
00:27:30.98\00:27:33.35
James: Ivor, close
us out with prayer.
00:27:33.38\00:27:34.78
Ivor: Yeah, let's do it.
00:27:34.82\00:27:36.38
"Heavenly Father,
00:27:36.42\00:27:38.85
we are so thankful that you
are giving us the opportunity
00:27:38.92\00:27:41.86
Lord, to open your
Word, to go through it,
00:27:41.92\00:27:44.93
to understand the
tools and the principles
00:27:44.96\00:27:47.96
and the laws
that govern your Word,
00:27:48.00\00:27:49.70
Father, we pray that you would
00:27:49.73\00:27:51.33
continue to
guide us in our study,
00:27:51.37\00:27:52.90
we pray that you will
continue to open our eyes
00:27:52.93\00:27:55.30
and give us new revelations
of your glory and character,
00:27:55.34\00:27:59.01
we thank you Lord
for answering this prayer
00:27:59.04\00:28:01.98
because we pray it
in Jesus' name... amen.
00:28:02.04\00:28:04.95
All: Amen...
00:28:04.98\00:28:06.31