Well, it's good to be
back in the Book of Revelation,
00:00:31.16\00:00:34.16
we have moved through
four of the seven churches,
00:00:34.20\00:00:37.50
we have moved from Ephesus to
Smyrna to Pergamos to Thyatira
00:00:37.53\00:00:43.17
and now we're getting
ready to jump into Sardis,
00:00:43.20\00:00:45.97
so we've made...
we've made a lot of progress
00:00:46.01\00:00:48.98
in... in the Book of Revelation
00:00:49.01\00:00:51.51
in the last... oh...
few sessions together
00:00:51.55\00:00:54.18
but we still want to make sure
that we're not running too fast,
00:00:54.22\00:00:58.99
we want to make sure
that we are allowing...
00:00:59.02\00:01:02.92
what did Joseph
say... or Jacob say?
00:01:02.96\00:01:04.96
"The women and the children... "
you know... "to keep up with us"
00:01:04.99\00:01:10.20
in other words, we
consider ourselves...
00:01:10.27\00:01:12.07
Ivor and I were talking
last night... we're just like,
00:01:12.10\00:01:14.50
"Oh, we could be in
Revelation 21 by now...
00:01:14.54\00:01:16.50
wrrrrrrr... wrrr...
wrrr... wrrr... wrrr... "
00:01:16.57\00:01:18.01
Jason: Hey, what
are you trying to say?
00:01:18.07\00:01:19.61
Yvonne: I know... I know...
00:01:19.64\00:01:21.04
James: Because we
just... we know all the stuff...
00:01:21.08\00:01:24.28
we've gone over
all this stuff...
00:01:24.31\00:01:25.65
and that's why I'm just so
thankful that you guys are here
00:01:25.68\00:01:27.92
because... we
could just be talking
00:01:27.95\00:01:29.48
right over top
of people's heads...
00:01:29.52\00:01:31.02
and just be gone...
and you're helping us to
00:01:31.05\00:01:35.06
make it clear, to go
slowly, to rehash, to recap
00:01:35.12\00:01:39.09
so that it's
something that anyone watching
00:01:39.13\00:01:43.10
can get a hold of it and say,
00:01:43.13\00:01:44.53
"Wow, yeah I see that...
okay... that makes sense...
00:01:44.57\00:01:46.60
and so you're helping... "
00:01:46.63\00:01:47.97
Jason: Way to clean it up...
00:01:48.00\00:01:49.34
laughter...
James: Good take huh...
00:01:49.37\00:01:51.41
Yvonne: And dummy it
down... James: You're helping...
00:01:51.44\00:01:54.01
Ivor: We should add in
that part of the reason
00:01:54.04\00:01:57.01
why we're going
through the seven churches
00:01:57.05\00:01:59.95
so slowly is because if you
understand the seven churches
00:01:59.98\00:02:05.22
you have everything you need
00:02:05.25\00:02:07.92
to understand the rest
of the Book of Revelation
00:02:07.96\00:02:11.36
and so the seven churches
are the foundation, right?
00:02:11.39\00:02:15.20
Everything after that is
just laid over the foundation
00:02:15.23\00:02:18.67
so if you can get
the seven churches
00:02:18.70\00:02:20.74
and understand the
history of the seven churches,
00:02:20.77\00:02:23.81
everything else after
that is just more detail...
00:02:23.84\00:02:26.84
James: It's all in your
pocket, it's all in your pocket.
00:02:26.88\00:02:29.08
Ivor: Yeah, it's nothing
new... just more detail...
00:02:29.11\00:02:30.58
Yvonne: So it's
repeat and enlarge...
00:02:30.61\00:02:31.98
Ivor: It's "Repeat and enlarge"
00:02:32.01\00:02:33.55
absolutely... absolutely...
00:02:33.62\00:02:35.08
James: Ivor, pray for
us and we'll get started.
00:02:35.12\00:02:37.49
Ivor: Let's
pray... "Heavenly Father,
00:02:37.55\00:02:38.89
we want to ask that as
we open your Word again
00:02:38.92\00:02:41.29
that you would continue
to give us understanding,
00:02:41.32\00:02:43.83
continue to open our eyes
00:02:43.86\00:02:45.99
and Father, may we see
Christ and Him lifted up...
00:02:46.03\00:02:49.80
in all these Scriptures,
may we become like you
00:02:49.83\00:02:53.10
because ultimately
you've given us this book
00:02:53.13\00:02:56.00
that we may receive the
revelation of Jesus Christ
00:02:56.04\00:02:58.57
in ourselves that we
might become like Christ
00:02:58.61\00:03:01.64
and so, bless us
as we open your Word
00:03:01.68\00:03:04.41
is our prayer in
Jesus' name amen. "
00:03:04.45\00:03:06.45
All: "Amen... "
00:03:06.48\00:03:08.02
James: All right... pop quiz...
00:03:08.05\00:03:09.38
Yvonne: Oh no...
00:03:09.42\00:03:10.75
James: Let's go
back to the first church
00:03:10.79\00:03:13.32
and just tell us
what you've learned so far
00:03:13.36\00:03:16.19
and Ivor and I can fill
in more details if we want to
00:03:16.22\00:03:18.89
but just tell us... let's
progress from there to fore
00:03:18.93\00:03:21.63
and you recap for all
of us what we've learned.
00:03:21.66\00:03:24.33
Jason: Okay, so,
starting with Ephesus...
00:03:24.37\00:03:27.10
they lost their first love
00:03:27.14\00:03:29.64
so, I remember that part...
they lost their first love...
00:03:29.67\00:03:33.64
Smyrna... which means
bitter sweet, is it myrrh?
00:03:33.68\00:03:39.45
James: Hmmm... hmmm...
Jason: bitter sweet... myrrh...
00:03:39.48\00:03:41.02
Smyrna and Philadelphia...
00:03:41.05\00:03:43.65
they were the only two
00:03:43.69\00:03:46.22
that didn't have
anything that was "negative"
00:03:46.25\00:03:48.59
said about them,
00:03:48.62\00:03:50.13
Pergamos... is that
when the compromise started?
00:03:50.16\00:03:59.20
That's when the
compromise began...
00:03:59.23\00:04:00.70
and then Thyatira... was
when Jezebel... the false...
00:04:00.74\00:04:08.18
the "prophetess" came about
and was teaching false doctrines
00:04:08.21\00:04:13.35
and also we learned that
persecution purifies the church
00:04:13.38\00:04:18.45
and Smyrna was
under heavy persecution.
00:04:18.52\00:04:21.99
James: Hmmm...
hmmm... all right Yvonne,
00:04:22.02\00:04:24.39
add to it...
what else you've got?
00:04:24.43\00:04:26.70
Yvonne: Okay...
well... with Ephesus...
00:04:26.73\00:04:29.86
Ephesus... I love the way
Jesus dealt with Ephesus...
00:04:29.90\00:04:34.00
saying, "I know your works...
I know this... I know that... "
00:04:34.04\00:04:38.37
he's saying, "I
see what you've done
00:04:38.41\00:04:41.84
but I have somewhat...
00:04:41.88\00:04:46.21
not against you...
" how did He put it?
00:04:46.25\00:04:48.32
James: No, He
says, "against you"
00:04:48.35\00:04:49.85
Yvonne: oh!
"somewhat against you... "
00:04:49.88\00:04:51.42
James: Yeah...
00:04:51.45\00:04:53.49
Yvonne: "you've
lost your first love"
00:04:53.52\00:04:54.89
so He doesn't just say,
00:04:54.92\00:04:56.39
"Bam, you've
lost your first love"
00:04:56.42\00:04:58.63
I love the way... again...
this is a romantic book,
00:04:58.66\00:05:03.37
this is what appeals
to me that Jesus is not...
00:05:03.40\00:05:07.40
is not just criticizing...
00:05:07.44\00:05:10.11
He is trying to bring
them to another level,
00:05:10.14\00:05:12.77
and He's saying, "I
see what you've done... "
00:05:12.84\00:05:15.44
James:
accentuates the positive...
00:05:15.48\00:05:17.75
Yvonne: Yes... yes...
and one of the things that...
00:05:17.78\00:05:21.88
that I've read is that...
when you're dealing with people,
00:05:21.92\00:05:24.75
you give like a... what's called
the "criticism sandwich" right?
00:05:24.79\00:05:28.56
So, you start
with the good part...
00:05:28.59\00:05:30.89
then in the middle... you
hit them with the issue...
00:05:30.93\00:05:33.86
and then at the end...
you close on the positive
00:05:33.90\00:05:36.80
and what Jesus did
was He gave them, like,
00:05:36.83\00:05:40.47
"I know... I see your works...
but you've lost your first love"
00:05:40.54\00:05:44.67
so He's loving and kind...
even though He's disciplining...
00:05:44.71\00:05:48.84
Ivor: And then He
offers a reward at the end.
00:05:48.88\00:05:50.45
Yvonne: And then He
offers... criticisms...
00:05:50.48\00:05:52.05
He gives them...
the positive, right?
00:05:52.08\00:05:55.48
James: Some incentives...
Yvonne: Then we move to Smyrna,
00:05:55.55\00:05:58.15
and Smyrna and Pergamos
were the interim churches
00:05:58.19\00:06:02.19
and when we talk about the
70 weeks and the 1,260 years
00:06:02.22\00:06:05.53
and the 2,300
days and all that...
00:06:05.56\00:06:07.90
I'm still trying to get
that... those principles
00:06:07.96\00:06:13.13
and you helped yesterday
to eliminate that for me,
00:06:13.17\00:06:18.31
so, Smyrna... there
was heavy persecution
00:06:18.34\00:06:22.91
and Myrrh... which...
00:06:22.94\00:06:24.58
that whole Smyrna
has to do with Myrrh...
00:06:24.61\00:06:27.22
Myrrh... in Chinese
medicine... was used for pain...
00:06:27.25\00:06:30.79
and Frankincense and Myrrh...
they were used for pain...
00:06:30.82\00:06:34.29
and so, this
was... there was pain...
00:06:34.32\00:06:36.76
during this time
and persecution...
00:06:36.83\00:06:39.19
and so, I got that from that
00:06:39.23\00:06:42.96
and then
Pergamos... was elevated...
00:06:43.00\00:06:46.84
the church was
elevated in the world
00:06:46.87\00:06:50.57
and yet... there was...
that was the church where
00:06:50.61\00:06:56.24
I don't think there was any...
no there were some things...
00:06:56.31\00:06:59.81
they had the doctrine
of Balaam or Balaam...
00:06:59.85\00:07:03.62
and so, and they had the
doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
00:07:03.65\00:07:09.12
and then when I had done some
research on the Nicolaitanes
00:07:09.16\00:07:12.66
that I found out about
the whole lasciviousness
00:07:12.69\00:07:16.23
that they were
trying to cover up
00:07:16.26\00:07:18.17
and say that God's
grace covered all that...
00:07:18.20\00:07:20.27
they could do
anything that they wanted to do
00:07:20.30\00:07:22.27
and then... there was Thyatira
and that was the Dark Ages...
00:07:22.30\00:07:27.34
and that was where
there was so much persecution
00:07:27.38\00:07:31.61
and death and killing
and so, so it's really...
00:07:31.65\00:07:35.22
to me... this is
really interesting because
00:07:35.25\00:07:39.02
you can actually find
a personal application
00:07:39.05\00:07:42.79
with each church,
that's what I think
00:07:42.82\00:07:48.36
I mean... and again, if
you're dealing with pain...
00:07:48.40\00:07:53.64
like Smyrna...
Jesus is the balm...
00:07:53.67\00:07:56.57
He is the balm of
Gilead so we can...
00:07:56.60\00:07:59.71
we can tie Jesus
in with every period
00:07:59.74\00:08:02.81
of... of... of...
with every church...
00:08:02.84\00:08:05.95
we can tie Him in and tie us in.
00:08:05.98\00:08:09.02
Ivor: Well, it's like
every issue that these churches
00:08:09.05\00:08:13.05
were going through...
that were having issues...
00:08:13.09\00:08:15.52
we have faced
on a personal level
00:08:15.56\00:08:17.59
one way or another...
00:08:17.63\00:08:18.96
and He offers a solution
to those personal issues
00:08:18.99\00:08:22.46
so, idealism...
00:08:22.50\00:08:24.77
even though there are
historical applications,
00:08:24.80\00:08:28.27
there is a
historical application...
00:08:28.30\00:08:30.47
we don't just
leave it at history...
00:08:30.51\00:08:32.64
we are to learn from
these very experiences
00:08:32.67\00:08:36.68
and realize, "Well,
I'm going through that,
00:08:36.71\00:08:40.68
if I've lost my
first love, then...
00:08:40.72\00:08:42.92
yeah... I need to return
and here's the remedy," so...
00:08:42.95\00:08:46.55
James: Jesus Christ is
saying to me personally...
00:08:46.59\00:08:48.32
and we can find
ourselves in the seven churches,
00:08:48.36\00:08:51.23
now, we still have three to go,
00:08:51.26\00:08:52.59
we can find
ourselves in the seven churches
00:08:52.63\00:08:54.30
and we can find what God wants
for us in the seven churches
00:08:54.33\00:08:57.53
and we're going to
see that very clearly
00:08:57.57\00:09:00.37
when we get into Philadelphia
because Philadelphia...
00:09:00.40\00:09:03.24
even though that's
not the last church...
00:09:03.27\00:09:05.31
is the goal for our
Christian experience,
00:09:05.34\00:09:07.34
it's the church
of brotherly love,
00:09:07.38\00:09:08.78
so we started in
the church of Ephesus,
00:09:08.81\00:09:11.01
just filling in a couple
of gaps here on the timeline,
00:09:11.05\00:09:13.58
so the church of
Ephesus is the Apostolic Age,
00:09:13.62\00:09:15.22
All: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:09:15.25\00:09:16.58
James: Apostolic
age... we're going to find
00:09:16.62\00:09:18.45
as we nail this down...
this "church age" down...
00:09:18.49\00:09:21.96
Apostolic age...
00:09:21.99\00:09:23.32
then pagan Roman
persecution in the Smyrna age...
00:09:23.36\00:09:26.06
and then the
development of the compromise
00:09:26.09\00:09:30.10
of Pergamos and Constantine,
00:09:30.13\00:09:32.03
and in
Thyatira... full compromise
00:09:32.07\00:09:34.97
under the false
prophetess, Jezebel...
00:09:35.00\00:09:37.44
which is a
symbol or representation
00:09:37.47\00:09:39.84
of the mixing of
the church and state,
00:09:39.87\00:09:41.91
and leading people
in the wrong direction
00:09:41.94\00:09:44.15
we're going to find
this history then...
00:09:44.18\00:09:46.55
of the seven churches...
00:09:46.58\00:09:47.92
it's going to
be the same history
00:09:47.95\00:09:49.28
that we see in the seven seals
00:09:49.32\00:09:50.69
and the same history that
we see in the seven trumpets
00:09:50.72\00:09:53.09
and the same history
that is recapped for us
00:09:53.12\00:09:56.26
in Revelation 12 and 13
00:09:56.29\00:09:57.93
and then boom... off we
go... into end-time prophecy
00:09:57.96\00:10:01.80
so all these layers build and
bring us into end-time prophecy.
00:10:01.83\00:10:05.43
Yvonne: And when
you say Apostolic Age...
00:10:05.47\00:10:07.40
some might not really realize
that it has to do with "Apostle"
00:10:07.44\00:10:11.94
the time of the
apostles, the early church...
00:10:11.97\00:10:15.74
James: Yeah, the first church...
00:10:15.78\00:10:18.35
so, once we have the
seven churches understood,
00:10:18.38\00:10:21.48
all of the other epics...
what I mean by that is...
00:10:21.52\00:10:24.32
the seals and the
trumpets and the last portion...
00:10:24.35\00:10:27.02
they're all in our pocket...
they're all in our pocket,
00:10:27.06\00:10:29.42
we get it... so that's
why... when you get to...
00:10:29.46\00:10:32.13
we talked about this...
when we get to Revelation 14,
00:10:32.16\00:10:34.36
you've got the
everlasting gospel
00:10:34.40\00:10:35.73
the everlasting
gospel is not a new idea
00:10:35.76\00:10:37.10
in the Book of Revelation,
00:10:37.13\00:10:38.47
the everlasting gospel
is all through Revelation,
00:10:38.50\00:10:40.34
it's right here,
00:10:40.40\00:10:41.74
we've been talking
about the everlasting gospel,
00:10:41.77\00:10:43.10
the everlasting
gospel is introducing Jesus
00:10:43.14\00:10:45.91
in Revelation 1:1,
it's when Jesus says,
00:10:45.94\00:10:48.71
"I've loved you
00:10:48.74\00:10:50.08
and I've washed you from
your sins in my own blood,"
00:10:50.11\00:10:51.71
it's when Jesus says,
00:10:51.75\00:10:53.08
"Even though you've got
major issues, I'm with you,
00:10:53.11\00:10:55.82
I'm standing among the
candlesticks all seven of them,
00:10:55.85\00:10:58.65
that's the everlasting gospel
00:10:58.69\00:11:00.09
so the Book of Revelation
00:11:00.16\00:11:01.49
is saturated with
the everlasting gospel,
00:11:01.52\00:11:03.63
and we're going to see it more
00:11:03.66\00:11:04.99
and more and
more... not less and less,
00:11:05.03\00:11:07.46
so when we get to
Revelation 14, it's like,
00:11:07.50\00:11:09.83
"Here's the summary
00:11:09.86\00:11:11.20
of everything
we've been talking about
00:11:11.23\00:11:12.70
it's the everlasting gospel,
00:11:12.73\00:11:14.67
it's going to go
to all the world,"
00:11:14.70\00:11:16.04
what a beautiful picture.
00:11:16.07\00:11:17.41
Yvonne: Amen, it's beautiful.
00:11:17.44\00:11:18.77
James: All right, are we ready
to move to the next church?
00:11:18.81\00:11:20.14
Yvonne: Yeah... yeah...
00:11:20.18\00:11:21.51
James: Okay... Sardis...
00:11:21.54\00:11:22.88
Jason, take us
away with chapter 3
00:11:22.91\00:11:24.25
beginning with verse one,
00:11:24.28\00:11:25.61
and we're going to read all
the way through to verse six,
00:11:25.65\00:11:27.78
one through six... chapter 3.
00:11:27.82\00:11:29.18
Jason: All right...
00:11:29.22\00:11:30.55
"And unto the angel of
the church in Sardis write:
00:11:30.59\00:11:34.16
These things saith he that
hath the seven Spirits of God,
00:11:34.19\00:11:37.63
and the seven
stars: I know thy works,
00:11:37.66\00:11:42.36
that thou hast a name
that thou livest, and art dead.
00:11:42.40\00:11:45.77
Be watchful, and strengthen
the things which remain,
00:11:45.83\00:11:49.17
that are ready to die:
00:11:49.20\00:11:50.54
for I have not found thy
works perfect before God.
00:11:50.57\00:11:54.61
Remember therefore how
thou hast received and heard,
00:11:54.64\00:11:58.65
and hold fast, and repent.
00:11:58.68\00:12:00.55
If therefore
thou shalt not watch,
00:12:00.58\00:12:04.12
I will come on thee as a
thief, and thou shalt not know
00:12:04.15\00:12:07.56
what hour I will
come upon thee...
00:12:07.59\00:12:10.03
Thou hast a few
names even in Sardis
00:12:10.06\00:12:12.19
which have not
defiled their garments;
00:12:12.23\00:12:14.33
and they shall walk with me
in white: for they are worthy.
00:12:14.36\00:12:18.33
He that overcometh,
00:12:18.37\00:12:20.04
the same shall be
clothed in white raiment;
00:12:20.07\00:12:22.37
and I will not blot out his
name out of the book of life,
00:12:22.40\00:12:27.14
but I will confess
his name before my Father,
00:12:27.18\00:12:29.34
and before his angels.
00:12:29.41\00:12:31.01
He that hath an
ear, let him hear
00:12:31.05\00:12:33.18
what the Spirit
saith unto the churches. "
00:12:33.21\00:12:37.02
James: Amen... so
what we're doing now,
00:12:37.05\00:12:40.79
if we're following the sequence,
the historical sequence,
00:12:40.82\00:12:43.93
is we're moving now
into the time of reformation.
00:12:43.96\00:12:46.46
Now we... we closed out our
last church in our last session
00:12:46.49\00:12:50.77
we closed out that
last church pretty quickly
00:12:50.80\00:12:53.13
but if we go back
now to these last verses
00:12:53.17\00:12:56.97
in Revelation
chapter 2, it says, verse 25,
00:12:57.01\00:13:00.58
well, I'll start with verse 24,
00:13:00.61\00:13:02.74
"But unto you I say, and
unto the rest in Thyatira,
00:13:02.78\00:13:05.81
as many as have
not this doctrine,
00:13:05.85\00:13:08.28
which have not known the
depths of Satan, as they speak:
00:13:08.32\00:13:10.69
I will put upon
you none other burden.
00:13:10.72\00:13:12.35
But that which you have
already hold fast till I come.
00:13:12.39\00:13:15.42
And he that overcometh,
and keep my works unto the end,
00:13:15.46\00:13:18.43
to him I will give
power over the Nations:
00:13:18.46\00:13:20.30
And he shall rule
them with a rod of iron;
00:13:20.36\00:13:22.16
and the vessels of a potter
shall they be broken to shivers:
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.83
even as I received of my Father.
00:13:24.87\00:13:26.57
And I will give
him the morning star.
00:13:26.60\00:13:28.74
He that hath an ear,
00:13:28.77\00:13:30.11
let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches. "
00:13:30.14\00:13:32.11
This is
referring to reformers...
00:13:32.17\00:13:34.21
this is
referring to honest people
00:13:34.24\00:13:36.38
that were within
the medieval church.
00:13:36.41\00:13:38.51
During the time of
apostasy, there were men,
00:13:38.55\00:13:41.25
there were women
who stood for the truth,
00:13:41.28\00:13:43.89
Wycliffe is understood to be the
Morning Star of the Reformation
00:13:43.92\00:13:47.76
and there were many others,
00:13:47.79\00:13:49.12
we have Calvin and
Luther and Huss and Jerome,
00:13:49.16\00:13:51.99
we have many of
these reformers...
00:13:52.03\00:13:54.76
all of them were in
the church, the church...
00:13:54.80\00:13:58.50
the Christian church then
was one big colossal system,
00:13:58.53\00:14:01.84
where there was no other church,
00:14:01.90\00:14:03.97
it was just one church
and they were part of this
00:14:04.01\00:14:06.11
and when they saw the
truths of the Bible...
00:14:06.14\00:14:11.25
they were raised in a
system where they were taught...
00:14:11.31\00:14:13.15
and I understand this because
I was raised in the same system
00:14:13.18\00:14:15.32
where you understand...
you're taught certain things
00:14:15.35\00:14:18.32
and you're not really
aware of what the Bible teaches
00:14:18.35\00:14:21.29
and when I was 21,
00:14:21.32\00:14:23.16
I got my hands on the
Bible for the first time
00:14:23.19\00:14:25.23
and began to read the Bible,
00:14:25.26\00:14:26.59
and I began to see a
major difference between
00:14:26.63\00:14:28.53
the religion I was raised...
00:14:28.56\00:14:29.90
the Christian
religion I was raised in
00:14:29.93\00:14:31.27
and the things
I was taught to do
00:14:31.30\00:14:32.90
and what the
Bible actually taught,
00:14:32.93\00:14:34.90
what the Book actually said
00:14:34.94\00:14:36.27
and so many of these
people in this system
00:14:36.30\00:14:39.11
came in contact
with the Bible...
00:14:39.17\00:14:41.44
Martin Luther found
one chained to the pulpit,
00:14:41.48\00:14:43.85
the Bible wasn't
available as much back then,
00:14:43.88\00:14:46.11
but he... and as
he started reading it,
00:14:46.15\00:14:47.48
it was amazing
00:14:47.52\00:14:48.85
and he just couldn't
wait to share with the church
00:14:48.88\00:14:50.22
because he knew
all the Leaders...
00:14:50.25\00:14:51.59
they'd say, "Oh, yeah,
that's what we need to do... "
00:14:51.62\00:14:53.49
but they didn't... and
so the Reformation begins
00:14:53.56\00:14:56.66
and that what it's leading
now into the church in Sardis.
00:14:56.69\00:14:59.89
Just a quick overview
of the church in Sardis,
00:14:59.96\00:15:02.60
what we have
is... we have Reformers
00:15:02.63\00:15:05.43
that are coming
out into this light
00:15:05.47\00:15:08.27
and they're
learning... they're growing...
00:15:08.30\00:15:09.74
but they're
stopping... they're stopping...
00:15:09.77\00:15:11.41
their works aren't
made perfect before God
00:15:11.44\00:15:13.04
they're not going further...
00:15:13.07\00:15:14.41
and if they don't go further and
strengthen that which remains
00:15:14.44\00:15:18.61
and which is ready
to die, it says here,
00:15:18.65\00:15:21.15
"You're not going to know what
hour I'm going to come upon you"
00:15:21.18\00:15:23.92
now, God is not
being arbitrary here,
00:15:23.95\00:15:26.62
basically, the
Reformation has never stopped,
00:15:26.65\00:15:30.66
it's never stopped,
00:15:30.69\00:15:32.03
the Reformation from
darkness had to continue on
00:15:32.06\00:15:34.76
and God could only give...
00:15:34.80\00:15:36.13
Jesus says to His
disciples at one point, he said,
00:15:36.16\00:15:38.27
"I've got so many
things I want to tell you
00:15:38.30\00:15:39.63
but you can't bear
them all right now"
00:15:39.67\00:15:41.44
and I remember that with
me... when I was coming out...
00:15:41.47\00:15:43.47
I was learning so fast
00:15:43.51\00:15:45.14
but there were things
that I didn't understand
00:15:45.17\00:15:47.68
and then God says, "I
can't... whoa... hold on... "
00:15:47.71\00:15:50.11
because
sometimes, we want to dump...
00:15:50.15\00:15:51.71
we just want to
back up to someone
00:15:51.75\00:15:53.25
and just dump the
whole truck load on them,
00:15:53.31\00:15:55.38
everything... can't
bear it... it's too much,
00:15:55.45\00:15:57.55
and this is what
happens with the Reformation
00:15:57.59\00:15:59.65
so God is saying basically,
"Keep moving forward... "
00:15:59.69\00:16:02.72
and, but they stop, many of them
stopped, Luther never wanted...
00:16:02.76\00:16:05.06
Ivor: They started splintering.
00:16:05.09\00:16:06.43
James: Yes, into
their little groups,
00:16:06.46\00:16:08.23
Luther... he didn't
want a Lutheran Church,
00:16:08.26\00:16:10.57
he wanted them to keep going...
00:16:10.60\00:16:12.03
but they're stopping
and what happens then?
00:16:12.07\00:16:14.50
If you stop... see what's...
what God is leading them to
00:16:14.54\00:16:17.57
is, He's leading them to the
end of the 2,300-Day Prophecy,
00:16:17.61\00:16:20.51
He's leading them to 1844,
00:16:20.54\00:16:22.21
He's leading
them to the judgment,
00:16:22.24\00:16:23.58
He's leading them to
a message of judgment,
00:16:23.61\00:16:24.95
that's where we're going,
00:16:24.98\00:16:26.31
"Well, I'm going to come on
you on a day you're not aware"
00:16:26.35\00:16:28.78
if you... if you
stop... if you are satisfied...
00:16:28.82\00:16:31.35
if your works aren't
perfect and you are satisfied,
00:16:31.39\00:16:33.69
when that
judgment message comes,
00:16:33.72\00:16:35.12
you're not going
to be aware of it,
00:16:35.16\00:16:36.49
you're going to turn against it
00:16:36.52\00:16:37.86
and that's what a lot
of these churches did,
00:16:37.89\00:16:39.93
God's people had to
come out of them eventually
00:16:39.96\00:16:41.83
because... when
the judgment came...
00:16:41.86\00:16:43.47
and then He says, He promises...
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.03
He says now, "If you overcome...
00:16:45.07\00:16:46.53
you're going to be
clothed with white robes... "
00:16:46.57\00:16:48.80
that's judgment talk...
00:16:48.84\00:16:50.17
and your name is not going
to be blotted out the Book...
00:16:50.21\00:16:52.61
that's judgment talk.
00:16:52.64\00:16:53.98
Ivor: So, what
you can see here is...
00:16:54.01\00:16:55.74
remember where we
are in this period,
00:16:55.78\00:16:57.81
remember, time
and location, right?
00:16:57.85\00:16:59.81
time... 1,260...
location... Holy Place...
00:16:59.85\00:17:03.99
you're seeing
language now being introduced,
00:17:04.02\00:17:08.16
that's pointing us forward
00:17:08.19\00:17:10.93
to the next of the
three time prophecies
00:17:10.96\00:17:13.73
the 2,300 days...
00:17:13.76\00:17:15.23
you see, so now we know that
the 2,300 days are coming up,
00:17:15.26\00:17:19.33
after the fifth church,
00:17:19.37\00:17:20.70
we should be
looking for events to occur,
00:17:20.74\00:17:23.54
that will involve 1844,
right, and the Most Holy Place
00:17:23.57\00:17:29.28
because we're being
introduced to language...
00:17:29.31\00:17:32.81
now I'm looking
forward to that and saying,
00:17:32.85\00:17:35.58
"All right...
since we're in the 1,260,
00:17:35.62\00:17:38.32
I know that
indicators must be coming up
00:17:38.35\00:17:41.02
that are going to
point me to the 2,300."
00:17:41.06\00:17:42.76
Yvonne: Hmmm...
00:17:42.82\00:17:44.16
Ivor: So that's why we say
that these three time markers
00:17:44.19\00:17:47.33
are crucial to understanding,
they're the... you know...
00:17:47.40\00:17:50.53
when you washed
clothes back in the old days,
00:17:50.57\00:17:52.83
you would hang
them on the clothesline,
00:17:52.87\00:17:55.90
the time prophecies
are the clothesline,
00:17:55.94\00:17:58.81
and everything in
the Book of Revelation
00:17:58.87\00:18:01.68
hangs within the context of one
of those three time prophecies.
00:18:01.71\00:18:06.75
Yvonne: Hmmm...
hmmm... it's good...
00:18:06.78\00:18:08.98
James: So the language we have
here about "coming as a thief"
00:18:09.02\00:18:12.52
about the white robe,
00:18:12.55\00:18:15.42
about not being
blotted out of the book...
00:18:15.46\00:18:17.23
are all pointing
forward to... to judgment,
00:18:17.26\00:18:20.20
strengthening those things which
remain which are ready to die,
00:18:20.23\00:18:23.60
Yvonne: Yeah, look at verse one,
00:18:23.67\00:18:26.63
"These things saith he that hath
the seven Spirits of God... "
00:18:26.67\00:18:32.71
what are the
"seven Spirits of God?"
00:18:32.77\00:18:35.31
Why is it seven
Spirits as opposed to the...
00:18:35.34\00:18:39.21
just saying "the
Holy Spirit of God?"
00:18:39.25\00:18:41.58
What are the seven Spirits?
00:18:41.62\00:18:43.22
Well, one of the things
that we can look at here
00:18:43.25\00:18:46.35
is Isaiah chapter 11...
00:18:46.39\00:18:47.72
Yvonne: Okay...
00:18:47.76\00:18:49.09
James: Isaiah chapter
11 points this out also...
00:18:49.12\00:18:50.59
it's a prophecy... the whole
chapter can be divided in half,
00:18:50.63\00:18:55.30
the first half is a prophecy of
Christ... Isaiah chapter 11...
00:18:55.36\00:19:00.00
and the second half is a
prophecy that would apply to us
00:19:00.04\00:19:06.57
in the end of time to...
what we call "the loud cry"
00:19:06.61\00:19:09.18
and the outpouring of the
Holy Spirit in the end of time
00:19:09.21\00:19:12.58
and the reason why we can
turn to Isaiah 11 is because
00:19:12.61\00:19:15.62
this chapter is going to help us
00:19:15.65\00:19:17.82
as we move into the next
section of Revelation seals
00:19:17.85\00:19:20.82
because there's a reference
to this again in the seals,
00:19:20.86\00:19:23.83
in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1,
00:19:23.86\00:19:27.16
"And there shall come forth
a rod out of the stem of Jesse,
00:19:27.20\00:19:30.67
and a Branch... "
00:19:30.70\00:19:32.20
now does your Bible have a
capital "B" for the Branch?
00:19:32.23\00:19:35.00
Yvonne: Yes...
James: Okay, because that's
00:19:35.04\00:19:36.64
referring to Jesus... " a Branch
shall grow out of his roots,"
00:19:36.67\00:19:40.51
now, Jesse was the father of...?
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.78
Yvonne: David...
00:19:43.85\00:19:45.38
okay... so the "Branch" that
comes out of this root of Jesse,
00:19:45.41\00:19:52.42
the root of Jesse...
is referring to David...
00:19:52.45\00:19:55.42
it's coming out... but
really it's referring to Christ
00:19:55.46\00:19:58.69
because Christ is
the root of David...
00:19:58.73\00:20:01.93
the bright and
Morning Star, okay, so...
00:20:01.96\00:20:05.10
the "Branch" that's coming
out here is referring to Christ
00:20:05.13\00:20:08.87
and that goes on in verse 2
00:20:08.90\00:20:10.24
to describe what would
be Christ's experience,
00:20:10.27\00:20:13.41
it says, "The spirit of the
Lord shall rest upon him... "
00:20:13.44\00:20:16.44
okay, that's number
one, "the spirit of God,"
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.45
"the spirit of wisdom" two...
00:20:18.48\00:20:20.98
"spirit of
understanding" three...
00:20:21.02\00:20:22.35
"of counsel"
four... "of might" five...
00:20:22.38\00:20:24.29
"the spirit of knowledge" six...
00:20:24.35\00:20:25.79
and "of the fear
of the Lord" seven...
00:20:25.82\00:20:27.72
what it's talking about here
is that the seven-fold spirit
00:20:27.76\00:20:33.19
is simply the
complete spirit of God,
00:20:33.23\00:20:36.53
the complete spirit of God,
00:20:36.56\00:20:37.90
now Isaiah picks it
up and breaks it down...
00:20:37.93\00:20:40.94
the spirit of knowledge,
the spirit of understanding,
00:20:40.97\00:20:43.34
the spirit of
counsel, the spirit of might,
00:20:43.37\00:20:46.57
he breaks it down and he says...
00:20:46.61\00:20:47.94
"But really, it's just
the full-fold Spirit of God
00:20:47.98\00:20:52.41
is going to rest upon Jesus... "
00:20:52.48\00:20:53.82
He was filled with
the Holy Spirit, okay, so,
00:20:53.85\00:20:57.62
He is the one
that's being referred to
00:20:57.65\00:20:59.92
in Sardis, it says here...
00:20:59.95\00:21:01.29
"And unto the angel of
the church in Sardis write;
00:21:01.32\00:21:03.32
these things saith he that has
the seven Spirits of God... "
00:21:03.36\00:21:06.36
well, who is
that? That's Jesus...
00:21:06.39\00:21:07.90
Yvonne: Hmmm...
James: that's the Branch...
00:21:07.93\00:21:09.40
He's got the
seven Spirits of God,
00:21:09.43\00:21:11.03
He's got the completeness...
He's filled with the complete
00:21:11.10\00:21:14.40
fullness of God's Spirit.
00:21:14.44\00:21:16.57
Yvonne: "In Him was the
fullness of the Godhead... "
00:21:16.60\00:21:20.11
James: Yes... yes...
00:21:20.14\00:21:21.48
now you know, we
have the Spirit of God,
00:21:21.51\00:21:23.35
Peter had the Spirit of God
00:21:23.38\00:21:25.91
when Peter said to
Jesus when he asked,
00:21:25.95\00:21:29.45
"Who do men say that I am?"
00:21:29.48\00:21:31.25
Peter said, "They say... "
00:21:31.29\00:21:32.95
Jesus said, "Well,
who do you say I am?"
00:21:32.99\00:21:35.02
Peter said, "You're the Messiah"
00:21:35.06\00:21:36.39
and Jesus said, "Oh, flesh and
blood hasn't taught that to you
00:21:36.42\00:21:39.63
but the Holy Spirit has
been teaching that to you"
00:21:39.66\00:21:41.86
and then a few
verses later Jesus says,
00:21:41.90\00:21:43.87
"I have to go to the
cross and Gethsemane... "
00:21:43.90\00:21:47.04
and Peter says, "No,
far be it from you Lord"
00:21:47.07\00:21:49.50
and Jesus said, "Get
behind me, Satan... "
00:21:49.54\00:21:51.87
so we have the Spirit of God,
the Spirit of God teaches us...
00:21:51.91\00:21:55.04
we have the Spirit of God
that teaches us knowledge...
00:21:55.08\00:21:57.05
but we also have some issues...
00:21:57.08\00:21:59.01
we have some issues... but
Jesus doesn't have any issues...
00:21:59.05\00:22:02.85
see, He's got the... in fact...
in the context of this verse...
00:22:02.88\00:22:06.62
it says, verse 3,
00:22:06.65\00:22:08.62
"And shall make him
of quick understanding
00:22:08.66\00:22:10.29
in the fear of the
Lord: and he shall not judge
00:22:10.33\00:22:12.29
after the sight of his eyes,
00:22:12.33\00:22:13.66
neither reprove after
the hearing of his ears:
00:22:13.70\00:22:15.10
But with righteousness
shall he judge the poor... "
00:22:15.13\00:22:17.60
so, when the woman is caught
in adultery... in the very act,
00:22:17.63\00:22:20.70
and she's brought before Jesus
00:22:20.74\00:22:22.20
and the Pharisees
quote the Bible and say...
00:22:22.24\00:22:24.87
"Moses said she should be
stoned... what do you say?"
00:22:24.91\00:22:27.14
And He has the Spirit of
God... see... and so He says,
00:22:27.18\00:22:30.38
"Let me just pause here,
00:22:30.41\00:22:32.28
I just want to write
something out in the sand... "
00:22:32.31\00:22:33.68
He starts writing
down in the sand...
00:22:33.72\00:22:35.72
because He knows
the whole situation...
00:22:35.78\00:22:37.39
He's filled with the Spirit...
00:22:37.42\00:22:38.75
and it's the same with us,
00:22:38.79\00:22:40.12
God wants to fill
us with the Spirit
00:22:40.16\00:22:41.52
so we can take in
the whole situation
00:22:41.56\00:22:43.36
and not just a little bit
of what we see with our eyes...
00:22:43.39\00:22:45.99
or a little bit of
what we hear with our ears,
00:22:46.03\00:22:48.03
so we can judge
righteously... that's what...
00:22:48.06\00:22:50.00
so when we look at
Sardis now, the person that's...
00:22:50.03\00:22:53.34
that's looking... he's
looking at the Reformers,
00:22:53.37\00:22:56.60
this is a great... you know...
00:22:56.64\00:22:58.51
how can we find
fault with the Reformers?
00:22:58.54\00:23:00.44
But Jesus has the
full Spirit of God,
00:23:00.48\00:23:02.38
so He can say,
"You're doing good...
00:23:02.44\00:23:04.31
you've got some areas... we...
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.05
but I haven't
found your works perfect,
00:23:06.08\00:23:07.58
there are some areas
where you're slipping... "
00:23:07.62\00:23:09.15
the same thing he said to Peter
00:23:09.18\00:23:10.52
now He's saying it right here
00:23:10.55\00:23:11.89
so the reference
to the Spirit of God
00:23:11.92\00:23:13.25
is helping us to understand
that Jesus sees everything,
00:23:13.29\00:23:15.06
He's got full wisdom,
full knowledge, full might...
00:23:15.09\00:23:17.26
He's able to
discern the whole picture,
00:23:17.29\00:23:19.16
we look up at their
performance and say,
00:23:19.19\00:23:20.70
"Oh, they were great people... "
00:23:20.73\00:23:22.06
well yeah, but
they had some problems
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.43
and Jesus is point
out those problems.
00:23:23.47\00:23:24.97
I'm going to try to
share something here that
00:23:25.00\00:23:31.31
if we don't cover it fully here,
00:23:31.34\00:23:34.04
we'll pick it up
in our next program...
00:23:34.08\00:23:35.81
but we want to cross check...
00:23:35.84\00:23:38.91
remember how we've been
cross checking with history
00:23:38.95\00:23:42.72
so, this power entity
that Sardis is described
00:23:42.75\00:23:48.66
as coming out of, right...
00:23:48.69\00:23:50.59
is symbolically represented
as Jezebel which is Babylon...
00:23:50.63\00:23:54.20
and so what you have here is...
00:23:54.23\00:23:56.63
the Reformers are
coming out of Babylon
00:23:56.67\00:23:58.53
and they are bringing
the process of reformation
00:23:58.57\00:24:02.54
okay, so let's go back to
what we saw in the churches...
00:24:02.57\00:24:08.51
first church... we saw
pointed us to the perfect church
00:24:08.54\00:24:14.45
that eventually fell
from their first love,
00:24:14.48\00:24:17.29
reminds us of Adam and Eve,
00:24:17.32\00:24:18.65
second church... persecution
reminds us of the next book...
00:24:18.69\00:24:21.52
the Book of Exodus...
00:24:21.56\00:24:22.89
the children of
Israel in captivity,
00:24:22.92\00:24:25.06
the next church... compromise...
00:24:25.09\00:24:27.36
we saw that that's
exactly what happened
00:24:27.40\00:24:29.10
when the children of Israel
entered the Promise Land...
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.03
they began to compromise,
00:24:31.10\00:24:32.43
fourth church...
Jezebel... Babylon...
00:24:32.47\00:24:35.77
we saw that right in line
with Old Testament history,
00:24:35.80\00:24:39.37
the children of Israel...
because of their compromise
00:24:39.41\00:24:42.64
ended up in
Babylonian captivity...
00:24:42.68\00:24:44.61
the fifth church...
00:24:44.65\00:24:46.15
Martin Luther basically
makes a decree... if you will...
00:24:46.18\00:24:51.62
he nails the theses on the door
00:24:51.65\00:24:55.96
and as a result...
people start to leave Babylon
00:24:55.99\00:25:01.36
the support of Babylon
begins to dry up, if you will,
00:25:01.40\00:25:05.87
they leave Babylon
00:25:05.90\00:25:07.54
because they're going to
begin a work of Reformation,
00:25:07.57\00:25:09.97
well, guess what happens
in Old Testament history?
00:25:10.01\00:25:11.77
James: Same thing...
00:25:11.81\00:25:13.14
Ivor: Same thing... a decree
is made by a man named Cyrus
00:25:13.17\00:25:17.11
who opens the gates of
Babylon to set the captives free
00:25:17.15\00:25:21.28
so that they can go back and
begin the work of reformation...
00:25:21.32\00:25:25.32
begin the work of
building the house of the Lord,
00:25:25.35\00:25:28.16
so there's just an amazing
parallel but guess what happens?
00:25:28.19\00:25:31.63
When they go back to
build the house of the Lord,
00:25:31.66\00:25:34.06
Nehemiah... years later...
00:25:34.10\00:25:37.73
wants to know the situation
of Jerusalem and guess what?
00:25:37.77\00:25:40.50
He asked, "What about those
who have escaped from Babylon,
00:25:40.54\00:25:43.27
what's the situation there?"
00:25:43.30\00:25:44.64
And what does he hear?
00:25:44.67\00:25:46.01
"They're
building their own houses
00:25:46.04\00:25:48.44
while the house of the
Lord is still in ruins. "
00:25:48.48\00:25:51.75
James: That's what
we're seeing right here.
00:25:51.78\00:25:53.21
Ivor: What happened
with the Reformation,
00:25:53.25\00:25:55.32
everyone started
building their own houses...
00:25:55.38\00:25:56.95
James: All Denominations...
00:25:56.99\00:25:58.32
Ivor: God intended for
one house but the Reformers
00:25:58.35\00:26:02.46
they went on with it
and they would stop...
00:26:02.49\00:26:04.39
James: They're
Followers... specifically...
00:26:04.43\00:26:06.46
Ivor: Exactly...
they're followers, exactly,
00:26:06.49\00:26:08.06
they're followers... stop...
00:26:08.10\00:26:09.43
and so now you have all
these different houses...
00:26:09.46\00:26:12.17
James: Denominations...
Ivor: Denominations...
00:26:12.20\00:26:14.54
James: They all have
a little something...
00:26:14.57\00:26:16.50
Ivor: They all have
a little something...
00:26:16.54\00:26:19.11
but the house of the
Lord is being neglected
00:26:19.14\00:26:21.51
so we know that whatever
happens with the next church,
00:26:21.54\00:26:24.51
has to deal with...
the house of the Lord...
00:26:24.55\00:26:27.68
bringing
everyone into one house...
00:26:27.72\00:26:31.95
Yvonne: Wow! this
is giving me chills...
00:26:31.99\00:26:34.92
really, because it's something,
it's a way of looking at it
00:26:34.96\00:26:39.03
that I haven't...
00:26:39.09\00:26:40.86
James: That brings the
whole Bible together...
00:26:40.90\00:26:42.63
Ivor:
Absolutely... Yvonne: Yeah...
00:26:42.66\00:26:44.00
James: So we've
just cross checked it...
00:26:44.03\00:26:45.37
Ivor: We know that our
interpretation is right
00:26:45.40\00:26:46.74
because it's
following the history
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.40
of the Old
Testament to a "T... "
00:26:48.44\00:26:50.31
Yvonne: Hmmm...
hmmm... James: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:26:50.34\00:26:51.84
Ivor: So if you know the
history of the Old Testament,
00:26:51.87\00:26:54.14
you have everything you need
00:26:54.18\00:26:55.51
to understand the
whole Book of Revelation.
00:26:55.54\00:26:57.88
And I know people are...
00:26:57.91\00:26:59.25
that going to be listening
to this are going to be saying,
00:26:59.28\00:27:01.22
"Yes!" just like you're
saying... "yeah, this is great,
00:27:01.25\00:27:03.22
I got to... I got to...
but I've got a question...
00:27:03.25\00:27:05.19
I've got a question,
I've got a question. "
00:27:05.22\00:27:06.55
Jason: Then they need to
send a video of their question
00:27:06.59\00:27:09.99
to sss@3abn. org
00:27:10.03\00:27:13.70
sss... "S" as in Salvation
and Symbols and Signs...
00:27:13.73\00:27:16.87
at 3abn. org
00:27:16.90\00:27:18.83
James: Amen, this
is really awesome,
00:27:18.87\00:27:21.44
I mean, I just want to say,
"I don't use that word for food,
00:27:21.47\00:27:24.41
I don't use
that word for people,
00:27:24.47\00:27:26.27
I use that word
for the Word of God
00:27:26.31\00:27:28.04
and the truths of God's
Word, this is awesome...
00:27:28.08\00:27:30.05
what we're studying is
awesome, God is awesome.
00:27:30.08\00:27:31.45
Yvonne: Yes... He is...
00:27:31.48\00:27:32.81
James: And the way
this is all coming together
00:27:32.85\00:27:34.18
it's just beautiful to me,
00:27:34.22\00:27:35.55
I think this is
definitely a "Holy Spirit work"
00:27:35.58\00:27:38.79
that's working right now,
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.36
helping us to
understand these Scriptures
00:27:40.39\00:27:42.12
and bringing them forth in a way
00:27:42.16\00:27:43.63
that ties the
whole Bible together
00:27:43.66\00:27:45.13
and gives a meaning
to them. Yvonne: Yes...
00:27:45.16\00:27:46.63
James: So we're going
to close out our session
00:27:46.66\00:27:48.10
with a word of prayer,
Yvonne, would you pray for us?
00:27:48.13\00:27:50.23
Yvonne: Yes... "Father
God, what a privilege it's been
00:27:50.27\00:27:52.33
to open your Word and to
gain new elements from it,
00:27:52.37\00:27:57.44
I mean, every time we open it,
00:27:57.51\00:27:59.07
there's
something new to be gained,
00:27:59.11\00:28:00.58
we can never learn
enough and so we thank you God,
00:28:00.61\00:28:03.95
we thank you for your presence,
we thank you for your power,
00:28:03.98\00:28:06.68
we thank you for your love,
00:28:06.72\00:28:08.58
thank you God for
being in our midst
00:28:08.62\00:28:10.99
and continue to guide us
00:28:11.02\00:28:12.79
and continue to
guide these discussions
00:28:12.82\00:28:15.39
so that we might
come to an understanding
00:28:15.42\00:28:17.93
of your Word, amen. "
00:28:17.99\00:28:19.33
All: "Amen... "
00:28:19.36\00:28:20.70