Part B... that's what
this is... it's Part B
00:00:32.69\00:00:36.00
because last time
we got through so fast,
00:00:36.03\00:00:39.30
I mean, time
just got away from us
00:00:39.33\00:00:40.70
and we didn't realize that
we were only half way through
00:00:40.74\00:00:45.21
so now we're on Part B or
Part 2 of the Laodicean church,
00:00:45.24\00:00:49.64
in fact it went so fast that
we didn't have time to do the
00:00:49.68\00:00:52.68
sss@3abn. org with
your video questions...
00:00:52.71\00:00:57.85
now we made up for that,
that's how we ended that one
00:00:57.89\00:01:01.02
and now we're going to do it
again... on the end of this one
00:01:01.06\00:01:04.66
so, the reason why I think this
message is so significant to us
00:01:04.69\00:01:08.26
is because, as we read
these verses we're thinking,
00:01:08.30\00:01:11.63
"Whoa...
00:01:11.67\00:01:13.03
that's... that's
me... that's us... "
00:01:13.07\00:01:15.17
this isn't like
the other churches
00:01:15.20\00:01:16.91
where we can see it in history,
00:01:16.94\00:01:18.64
and we can kind of make
the idealist applications
00:01:18.67\00:01:21.61
of the principles to us
but really it applies there,
00:01:21.64\00:01:24.25
as soon as we started reading
these verses... we were like...
00:01:24.28\00:01:28.62
gulp... "yeah, that's... " and
we see it in our Society today,
00:01:28.65\00:01:32.92
so this message
deserves two parts
00:01:32.95\00:01:35.92
because this message is
not just about our condition
00:01:35.96\00:01:39.16
but it's also about a remedy
00:01:39.19\00:01:40.53
and we really need to
spend some time on that remedy
00:01:40.56\00:01:43.16
so... so it comes home to us
00:01:43.20\00:01:44.67
so Jason, start us
out with a word of prayer
00:01:44.73\00:01:46.20
and let's get right into that.
00:01:46.23\00:01:47.57
Jason: All right...
"Dear Heavenly Father,
00:01:47.60\00:01:49.37
as we open your
Word and study your Word,
00:01:49.40\00:01:51.27
we ask that you'll be with us
00:01:51.31\00:01:52.64
and lead, guide
and direct our study,
00:01:52.67\00:01:54.01
in Jesus' name we pray, amen. "
00:01:54.04\00:01:55.38
All: "Amen... "
00:01:55.41\00:01:56.75
The emphasis here is
that Christ is faithful,
00:01:56.78\00:02:01.35
we talked about that... the
faithfulness of the bridegroom,
00:02:01.38\00:02:04.22
the faithfulness of the husband
and I can't think of that
00:02:04.29\00:02:07.06
in any other terms...
00:02:07.12\00:02:09.32
that are more
practical than our relationships
00:02:09.36\00:02:12.06
not just our
relationship with Christ...
00:02:12.09\00:02:13.96
but our relationships
with our husbands and our wives
00:02:14.00\00:02:17.07
and our family members
who are the ones probably that
00:02:17.10\00:02:20.17
tell us the things
that are more sensitive
00:02:20.20\00:02:24.11
and can cause us the most pain
00:02:24.14\00:02:27.01
and yet they're being
the most faithful to us
00:02:27.04\00:02:29.44
because they care about us...
00:02:29.48\00:02:30.81
they want us to be
more than we are, et cetera,
00:02:30.85\00:02:32.91
you know, there are
some people out there...
00:02:32.95\00:02:34.62
they couldn't care
what we look like...
00:02:34.65\00:02:36.25
they couldn't care because
they just couldn't care about us
00:02:36.28\00:02:37.92
so when we see Christ
telling us these things
00:02:37.95\00:02:41.69
it's because He cares
00:02:41.72\00:02:43.06
and because He has a
remedy and one of the remedies
00:02:43.09\00:02:46.09
that He really
wants us to take a hold of
00:02:46.13\00:02:48.36
is this "gold tried in the fire,
gold tried in the fire... "
00:02:48.40\00:02:51.63
but what is that? I
mean, is He telling us to...
00:02:51.67\00:02:54.44
to trade in all of our
cash and... you know...
00:02:54.47\00:02:57.21
like some people believe
00:02:57.24\00:02:58.71
and have that gold that we need
to survive at the end of times?
00:02:58.74\00:03:01.71
Is He talking about
monetary gold, figuratively...
00:03:01.74\00:03:05.31
or literally... having gold?
00:03:05.35\00:03:06.98
What is the gold?
00:03:07.02\00:03:08.35
Ivor: So we take a look at
1st Peter chapter 1 and verse 7
00:03:08.38\00:03:12.92
the Bible says there,
"That the trial of your faith,
00:03:12.95\00:03:18.46
being much more precious
than of gold that perisheth,
00:03:18.49\00:03:22.80
though it be tried with
fire, might be found unto praise
00:03:22.83\00:03:27.50
and honour and glory at the
appearing of Jesus Christ... "
00:03:27.54\00:03:32.17
so we read this
verse, we see that
00:03:32.21\00:03:34.91
gold... is used
to symbolize faith
00:03:34.94\00:03:37.58
and the question we need to
ask is, "How does faith come?"
00:03:37.61\00:03:42.38
The Bible tells us
faith comes by... what?
00:03:42.42\00:03:44.85
"Hearing... and
hearing by the Word of God... "
00:03:44.92\00:03:47.46
now, what is the
condition of Laodicea?
00:03:47.49\00:03:49.92
Jesus just said, "you
are wretched and miserable,
00:03:49.96\00:03:53.40
naked, blind... in
other words... you're filthy,
00:03:53.43\00:03:56.83
you... you are
in need of a remedy
00:03:56.87\00:04:00.04
and so He's telling us,
"buy of Him gold tried in fire"
00:04:00.07\00:04:03.67
faith... right...
how does faith come?
00:04:03.71\00:04:06.11
faith comes by hearing...
and hearing by the Word of God
00:04:06.14\00:04:10.25
there's a very powerful verse,
00:04:10.28\00:04:11.78
it's in Psalm 119
verse 9 and it's says,
00:04:11.81\00:04:14.38
"Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way?
00:04:14.42\00:04:16.22
by taking heed
according to thy word"
00:04:16.25\00:04:19.85
and so it is this "taking
heed according to the word"
00:04:19.92\00:04:23.12
and we're going to see the gold
represents other things as well
00:04:23.16\00:04:25.49
but Jesus is asking
us, He's telling us,
00:04:25.53\00:04:29.40
"You need a faith that is
able to withstand fiery trials,"
00:04:29.43\00:04:33.70
so you think about the story of
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
00:04:33.74\00:04:37.94
and how they were
brought into a trying situation,
00:04:37.97\00:04:42.94
they were cast
into a burning furnace
00:04:42.98\00:04:46.55
because they refused to bow down
00:04:46.58\00:04:48.68
and it's an amazing
thing because the fire...
00:04:48.72\00:04:52.09
all that the fire
did in that story...
00:04:52.12\00:04:54.62
was... it burned away the
things that were binding them
00:04:54.66\00:04:59.69
James: The Babylonian things.
00:04:59.73\00:05:01.16
Ivor: The Babylonian things...
00:05:01.20\00:05:02.56
the Babylonian
cords that bound them
00:05:02.60\00:05:05.07
and it's because Jesus was
with them in the fire, right,
00:05:05.10\00:05:08.64
so the fire is not designed...
00:05:08.67\00:05:10.27
the persecution, trials,
tribulations are not designed
00:05:10.31\00:05:12.97
to destroy us...
but they are actually
00:05:13.04\00:05:16.75
like God's workmen
to bring out the gold
00:05:16.78\00:05:20.45
and to get rid
of the dross and...
00:05:20.52\00:05:22.85
we're heading
towards the time of trouble
00:05:22.88\00:05:25.75
is what Jesus is
telling us in this final church,
00:05:25.79\00:05:28.76
it's the clothing...
right... so He's saying,
00:05:28.79\00:05:31.03
"Listen, I need you to
be prepared for this time
00:05:31.06\00:05:34.36
and you need a faith... and
that's why the Bible tells us
00:05:34.40\00:05:37.67
in Revelation 12
that these are they
00:05:37.70\00:05:41.24
that have the commandments
of God and the faith... right?
00:05:41.27\00:05:45.71
"of Jesus" James:
Revelation 14:12...
00:05:45.74\00:05:48.38
Ivor: Revelation
14:12... "the faith of Jesus"
00:05:48.44\00:05:49.84
it's His faith... that we need
00:05:49.88\00:05:52.61
because His
faith was tried in fire
00:05:52.68\00:05:55.48
so, now, do I want my faith?
00:05:55.52\00:05:57.62
You know, my faith may... no...
00:05:57.65\00:05:59.75
to be safe, give me
His faith. James: Amen.
00:05:59.79\00:06:03.32
Yvonne: Not the faith in Jesus,
so much as the faith of Jesus.
00:06:03.39\00:06:06.66
Ivor: Right, exactly and where
do we find the greatest picture
00:06:06.70\00:06:09.93
of the faith of Jesus?
00:06:09.96\00:06:11.60
We find it in His
closing moments of His life.
00:06:11.63\00:06:14.67
James: Yes.
Yvonne: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:06:14.70\00:06:16.04
James: I love this
because when I think about
00:06:16.07\00:06:17.54
those Babylonian
cords, I'm thinking,
00:06:17.57\00:06:19.97
"What kind of Babylonian
cords are binding us?"
00:06:20.01\00:06:22.24
And the trials comes and we're
like, "Oh I hate these trials"
00:06:22.28\00:06:25.71
but God is saying, "I'm
not trying to consume you,
00:06:25.75\00:06:28.02
I don't want you to
be even smelling of smoke
00:06:28.05\00:06:31.89
when you come out of this,
00:06:31.92\00:06:33.25
I want to consume
the cords of Babylon
00:06:33.29\00:06:36.16
that are binding you,
that are restricting you,
00:06:36.19\00:06:39.09
that are causing you to
be limited in your walk,
00:06:39.13\00:06:41.73
in your expression, in
your connection with me,
00:06:41.76\00:06:44.30
I want to... I want
to destroy those cords
00:06:44.33\00:06:46.13
so what kind of Babylonian cords
00:06:46.17\00:06:47.77
we need to ask ourselves...
00:06:47.80\00:06:49.14
are confining us
and restricting us
00:06:49.17\00:06:51.21
that God wants to
burn away through the fire?
00:06:51.24\00:06:54.14
And those cords are
burning... now this fire...
00:06:54.18\00:06:57.05
I want to expand on this
fire because the Bible indicates
00:06:57.08\00:06:59.81
that to sin... where we're
found God is a consuming fire,
00:06:59.88\00:07:02.58
that His throne is
set upon a lake of...
00:07:02.62\00:07:06.42
well, a sea of
glass mingled with fire
00:07:06.45\00:07:10.19
and who will be able to
dwell in the everlasting fire?
00:07:10.23\00:07:14.20
So you have all
of these, I think,
00:07:14.23\00:07:16.56
illustrations of the fact that
this gold is actually pointing
00:07:16.60\00:07:21.14
to the person of
God, that it's the purest,
00:07:21.17\00:07:24.14
finest stuff to represent
the purest, finest person,
00:07:24.17\00:07:27.48
and I think this is brought
out in Revelation chapter 1
00:07:27.51\00:07:30.75
and also in the Book of Daniel,
00:07:30.78\00:07:32.11
Revelation chapter 1,
would you read here for us
00:07:32.15\00:07:36.38
Jason, in Revelation chapter
1, would you read verse 13?
00:07:36.42\00:07:40.86
Jason: Verse 13...
00:07:40.89\00:07:44.33
"And in the midst of
the seven candlesticks
00:07:44.36\00:07:46.26
one like unto the Son of man,
00:07:46.29\00:07:48.13
clothed with a
garment down to the foot,
00:07:48.16\00:07:50.17
and girt about the
paps with a golden girdle. "
00:07:50.23\00:07:53.00
James: Now, I'm going
to have you read verse 17,
00:07:53.03\00:07:55.77
but just a second... I want
to make a comment on this verse,
00:07:55.80\00:07:58.17
this is Jesus coming to
John in a glorified persona,
00:07:58.21\00:08:02.38
in a glorified
form and He's... He's...
00:08:02.41\00:08:05.15
He's pictured as having
00:08:05.18\00:08:06.58
"eyes like fire
and feet like brass"
00:08:06.61\00:08:09.28
but He's also
pictured as having this belt...
00:08:09.32\00:08:11.32
this waistband
of gold around Him
00:08:11.35\00:08:13.46
and when John sees
Him in this appearance
00:08:13.49\00:08:15.79
something happens
to him, verse 17...
00:08:15.82\00:08:18.13
Jason: Okay,
"And when I saw him,
00:08:18.16\00:08:20.46
I fell at his feet as dead.
00:08:20.50\00:08:22.43
And he laid his
right hand upon me,
00:08:22.46\00:08:25.07
saying unto me, Fear not; I
am the first and the last... "
00:08:25.10\00:08:28.50
James: Okay, so,
this is the remedy,
00:08:28.54\00:08:31.34
Laodicea feels "rich
and increased with goods
00:08:31.37\00:08:34.14
and in need of nothing"
00:08:34.18\00:08:35.51
and Jesus is
outside the door knocking...
00:08:35.54\00:08:38.01
they're not
connected with Jesus,
00:08:38.05\00:08:39.71
now, the reason they feel rich
00:08:39.75\00:08:41.35
and increased with
goods and in need of nothing
00:08:41.38\00:08:43.15
is because they're
connected with prophecy,
00:08:43.18\00:08:44.89
they're connected with doctrine,
00:08:44.95\00:08:46.29
they're
connected with experience,
00:08:46.32\00:08:47.66
they have all the trappings
00:08:47.69\00:08:49.22
"of
Christianity... of religiosity,"
00:08:49.26\00:08:51.66
they have all the trappings...
but they don't have Jesus.
00:08:51.69\00:08:53.80
It's very similar, I
think, to the first church,
00:08:53.83\00:08:56.10
the church of
Ephesus, Jesus is outside
00:08:56.16\00:08:58.60
and when you don't have Jesus,
you're not seeing the gold
00:08:58.63\00:09:01.14
and when you're
not seeing the gold,
00:09:01.17\00:09:02.60
you're not feeling your need
00:09:02.67\00:09:04.01
and when you're not
feeling your need...
00:09:04.04\00:09:05.51
John felt his
need, he fell as dead...
00:09:05.54\00:09:07.34
and then what happens?
00:09:07.38\00:09:08.71
He says, "Don't
fear, fear not... "
00:09:08.74\00:09:10.25
what happens with Daniel?
00:09:10.28\00:09:11.71
In Daniel chapter 10,
00:09:11.75\00:09:13.11
let's just look
there in Daniel chapter 10
00:09:13.15\00:09:15.42
and I want you to look here,
00:09:15.48\00:09:16.82
we've seen these
verses already once
00:09:16.85\00:09:18.75
but Yvonne, could you read
00:09:18.79\00:09:20.32
Daniel 10 and
verse 5 and then verse 8?
00:09:20.36\00:09:26.03
Yvonne: Daniel 10 verse 5,
00:09:26.06\00:09:29.70
"Then I lifted up mine eyes,
00:09:29.73\00:09:33.30
and looked, and behold a
certain man clothed in linen,
00:09:33.34\00:09:35.54
whose loins were girded
with fine gold of Uphaz... "
00:09:35.57\00:09:39.71
and verse 8,
"Therefore I was left alone,
00:09:39.74\00:09:43.31
and saw this great vision,
00:09:43.35\00:09:44.68
and there
remained no strength in me:
00:09:44.71\00:09:46.68
for my comeliness was
turned in me into corruption,
00:09:46.72\00:09:49.92
and I retained no strength. "
00:09:49.95\00:09:51.95
James: Here it is
again, notice now how
00:09:51.99\00:09:55.09
this man in
linen which is Christ
00:09:55.12\00:09:56.93
because the appearance is
the same as in Revelation,
00:09:56.96\00:09:59.19
He appears to
Daniel, He's got the gold
00:09:59.23\00:10:02.16
and when Daniel sees
Him, he falls like he's dead
00:10:02.20\00:10:06.33
and as soon as he
falls like as if he's dead,
00:10:06.37\00:10:09.24
then the voice
comes to him and says,
00:10:09.27\00:10:10.61
"Hey, Daniel, it's
okay" and He touches him
00:10:10.64\00:10:14.44
and He lifts him up and He
says, "Daniel, you are beloved,
00:10:14.48\00:10:16.78
you're are greatly beloved...
" over and over again...
00:10:16.81\00:10:19.05
I just want to... I don't know,
00:10:19.11\00:10:20.88
I don't know if we
should to go into Daniel here
00:10:20.92\00:10:22.35
because we're going to
do it later so I won't,
00:10:22.38\00:10:23.75
but the point I
want to make here is...
00:10:23.79\00:10:25.69
we talk about Daniel
7, we talk about Daniel 8,
00:10:25.72\00:10:28.06
we talk about Daniel
11, we talk about Daniel 12,
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.39
we talk about Daniel 2...
we don't talk about Daniel 10,
00:10:30.43\00:10:32.59
this is the broccoli,
these are the veggies,
00:10:32.63\00:10:37.20
this is the
superfood right here,
00:10:37.23\00:10:39.53
this is the stuff that
we're not interested in,
00:10:39.57\00:10:42.34
that I'll slip into
my dog under the table
00:10:42.40\00:10:44.27
because I want to
get to my main course,
00:10:44.31\00:10:46.21
this is the stuff
where the nutrients are,
00:10:46.24\00:10:48.08
this is connection with
Christ and what's happening is
00:10:48.11\00:10:51.25
the same thing that happened
with me when I was a kid,
00:10:51.31\00:10:53.88
my mom would serve me my dinner
and it would have the broccoli
00:10:53.92\00:10:57.79
and it would have the veggies
and it would have the meat
00:10:57.85\00:11:00.06
and I'm a meat and potatoes kid,
00:11:00.09\00:11:02.62
so I'm eating my meat
and I'm eating my potatoes
00:11:02.66\00:11:04.63
but I'm not wanting
to eat that broccoli,
00:11:04.66\00:11:05.99
and I don't want
to eat those greens
00:11:06.03\00:11:07.36
and so I'm slipping it
to my dog under the table,
00:11:07.40\00:11:09.43
the problem is... my dog
doesn't like the veggies either
00:11:09.46\00:11:13.34
so they're ending up on the
floor and my mom's seeing that,
00:11:13.37\00:11:17.24
but... and so I had
this plan and the plan was
00:11:17.27\00:11:21.04
eat down... scarf
down the veggies first
00:11:21.08\00:11:24.81
and then you can get
the taste out of your mouth
00:11:24.85\00:11:26.85
save the good stuff for last
and that's what we do sometimes
00:11:26.88\00:11:31.92
we save the good stuff for last
00:11:31.95\00:11:34.52
and we try to get the
other stuff out of the way,
00:11:34.56\00:11:38.06
we just try to go
through it but we don't realize
00:11:38.09\00:11:39.83
that the stuff we're
going to get out of the way
00:11:39.86\00:11:41.56
is the good stuff,
00:11:41.60\00:11:42.93
Daniel 10 is the good stuff,
00:11:42.96\00:11:45.07
this connection with Christ
see... what we're doing is
00:11:45.10\00:11:48.87
we're getting
ready now to go into some
00:11:48.90\00:11:50.64
very complicated prophecies,
00:11:50.67\00:11:52.67
we're going to go
into the seals next,
00:11:52.74\00:11:54.11
and then we're
going to go the trumpets,
00:11:54.14\00:11:55.48
then it's going to get
more intense and more intense,
00:11:55.51\00:11:57.35
we need Jesus, we need Jesus...
00:11:57.38\00:11:59.88
He's the One who's going to
unseal these prophecies for us
00:11:59.91\00:12:02.82
in fact, when we
get into the seals...
00:12:02.85\00:12:04.29
the Lamb opens the
seals, the Lamb opens...
00:12:04.32\00:12:05.89
seals are things
that are mysterious,
00:12:05.92\00:12:07.42
that they can't be understood,
the Lamb opens the seals...
00:12:07.46\00:12:08.99
the Lamb opens the seals...
the Lamb opens the seals,
00:12:09.02\00:12:10.73
we've got to have Jesus
to help us to understand
00:12:10.76\00:12:13.23
and we don't feel the
need of Him, we're Laodiceans,
00:12:13.26\00:12:15.80
we feel rich... increased
in goods and in need of zero,
00:12:15.83\00:12:18.23
so when we see Jesus,
here's the difficult part,
00:12:18.27\00:12:21.10
we see Him and we're
overwhelmed with our need
00:12:21.14\00:12:23.94
and we're
overwhelmed with our comeliness
00:12:23.97\00:12:25.77
and our
unrighteousness and we're like,
00:12:25.81\00:12:27.14
"Ah man, that's no way... "
but that's when we feel our need
00:12:27.18\00:12:30.58
and Jesus is there to
help us, over and over again,
00:12:30.61\00:12:33.01
to lift us up and to touch us
00:12:33.08\00:12:34.42
and to lift us
up and to touch us
00:12:34.45\00:12:35.78
and that's what
Daniel 10 is telling us
00:12:35.82\00:12:37.15
and that's what we need to see,
00:12:37.19\00:12:38.55
that's the remedy
that Laodicea needs,
00:12:38.59\00:12:40.19
we need that remedy,
00:12:40.22\00:12:41.72
and I think the Jews
needed that remedy too
00:12:41.76\00:12:43.83
when we go through it...
00:12:43.86\00:12:45.73
we see that history
played out again and again,
00:12:45.76\00:12:48.26
we make a connection to...
00:12:48.30\00:12:51.40
because Revelation is
not some item over by itself,
00:12:51.43\00:12:54.80
it's reconnecting us to
the rest of the story back here
00:12:54.84\00:12:57.21
and the progression of history,
how it applied to the Jews...
00:12:57.24\00:13:00.91
and the need that they have
00:13:00.94\00:13:02.34
and I really love that,
00:13:02.38\00:13:03.71
I love the way we
make that connection
00:13:03.75\00:13:05.08
to... to the rest of the story.
00:13:05.11\00:13:06.78
Ivor: I think if we
look at the connection
00:13:06.82\00:13:09.82
and actually
build some more on that,
00:13:09.88\00:13:11.62
seeing the condition of Israel
at the first coming of Christ
00:13:11.65\00:13:16.83
and comparing it with the
condition of the church...
00:13:16.86\00:13:19.09
second coming of Christ,
00:13:19.13\00:13:20.46
we can still pull a
lot of lessons from that...
00:13:20.50\00:13:23.16
that will help us not to make
the same mistakes that they made
00:13:23.23\00:13:27.40
so if you remember in
our previous discussions
00:13:27.44\00:13:31.41
we have been looking at the fact
that... that the churches...
00:13:31.44\00:13:35.04
the seals... and the
trumpets... all parallel
00:13:35.08\00:13:37.65
and we can check the seals
as we begin to go through them,
00:13:37.68\00:13:41.68
we can go back and
check with the churches
00:13:41.72\00:13:43.05
yeah, that's a match...
00:13:43.08\00:13:44.42
same with the
trumpets... yeah, that's a match
00:13:44.45\00:13:47.09
but the churches come
first and it would appear
00:13:47.12\00:13:49.86
that there is nothing we
can match the churches with
00:13:49.92\00:13:52.59
until we
realize, "Wait a minute...
00:13:52.63\00:13:54.30
the seven churches are
a reflection or a parallel
00:13:54.33\00:13:57.60
of the history of
the Old Testament Church
00:13:57.63\00:14:00.44
so let's run
through that rapidly,
00:14:00.47\00:14:03.87
we'll start with...
about the fourth church,
00:14:03.91\00:14:05.44
we'll move on
down to the seven...
00:14:05.47\00:14:06.84
and then begin to
make these applications
00:14:06.88\00:14:08.54
so, you'll
remember the fourth church,
00:14:08.58\00:14:11.11
symbolized by
that woman, Jezebel,
00:14:11.15\00:14:13.62
a representation of Babylon,
we saw that that parallel...
00:14:13.65\00:14:18.32
the period of history in which
00:14:18.35\00:14:20.12
God's people were
in Babylonian captivity
00:14:20.16\00:14:22.36
because of their rebellion,
00:14:22.39\00:14:23.79
we saw that the
fifth church, Sardis,
00:14:23.83\00:14:26.83
represented those escaping
00:14:26.90\00:14:28.93
the Protestant
Reformation which began...
00:14:28.96\00:14:31.33
they left, they were
leaving out of Babylon
00:14:31.37\00:14:33.70
and going back to rebuild
00:14:33.74\00:14:35.07
but they did not
complete the Reformation,
00:14:35.10\00:14:38.67
we saw this history parallels
00:14:38.71\00:14:40.61
the story of the
children of Israel,
00:14:40.64\00:14:43.38
leaving Babylonian captivity
00:14:43.41\00:14:45.18
and beginning to do
the work of the Lord
00:14:45.21\00:14:47.85
but the work died out...
00:14:47.88\00:14:50.99
we saw that the
sixth church, Philadelphia
00:14:51.02\00:14:54.46
represented the
Millerite Movement
00:14:54.49\00:14:57.09
and the completing
of that Reformation
00:14:57.13\00:14:59.63
which parallel the
history of Nehemiah
00:14:59.66\00:15:02.06
coming in and finishing
the Reformation that...
00:15:02.10\00:15:05.53
those under
Ezra's time had begun.
00:15:05.57\00:15:08.10
So, perfect parallel there...
00:15:08.14\00:15:10.41
then we see that
actually Nehemiah was...
00:15:10.44\00:15:12.57
since he's waiting for
the coming of the Lord now,
00:15:12.61\00:15:14.48
and when the Lord comes,
00:15:14.51\00:15:15.94
the first coming... what
is the condition of Israel?
00:15:15.98\00:15:18.81
They are not hot,
they are not cold,
00:15:18.85\00:15:21.22
they are lukewarm,
00:15:21.25\00:15:22.58
it is the wise that are prepared
for the coming of the Messiah,
00:15:22.62\00:15:27.76
we think about the
parable of the five wise
00:15:27.79\00:15:30.29
and the five foolish virgins,
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.09
we begin to see
all these parallels
00:15:32.13\00:15:34.46
between what happened in Israel,
they were eventually spued out
00:15:34.50\00:15:38.97
because they
rejected... who? The Messiah...
00:15:39.00\00:15:43.34
in the same way that Jesus says,
00:15:43.41\00:15:46.78
"Look, I will spue
you out of my mouth
00:15:46.81\00:15:49.84
because of your
lukewarmness... "
00:15:49.91\00:15:52.88
and then this whole
picture opens up then
00:15:52.91\00:15:56.99
of how we can
actually be prepared
00:15:57.02\00:15:59.75
for the second coming
of Christ by looking at
00:15:59.79\00:16:02.39
not only how Christ
sought to prepare His disciples,
00:16:02.42\00:16:05.03
but even the
mistakes the disciples made
00:16:05.06\00:16:07.36
because He gave them Gethsemane,
00:16:07.40\00:16:10.27
to prepare them for
the time of trouble.
00:16:10.30\00:16:13.40
What can we learn from that?
00:16:13.44\00:16:15.30
First of all, Peter
thought that he was hot,
00:16:15.34\00:16:18.81
he thought he was rich,
00:16:18.84\00:16:20.68
increased with
goods, needed nothing,
00:16:20.71\00:16:23.31
Jesus said, "By the time
the cock crows three times,
00:16:23.35\00:16:26.65
you would have denied me
thrice... " so think about this,
00:16:26.68\00:16:29.08
how many times... we're
going about our business and
00:16:29.12\00:16:31.45
I was born in
Jamaica, raised up in New York,
00:16:31.49\00:16:35.82
when I married my wife,
Atonte, she lives in California,
00:16:35.86\00:16:39.96
in the country... in California,
00:16:40.00\00:16:41.33
so I remember when I
went out to California
00:16:41.36\00:16:43.87
and the first morning I woke,
00:16:43.90\00:16:48.04
there was a rooster
crowing and I wake up like...
00:16:48.07\00:16:53.74
"Wait a minute...
what was that? Where am I?"
00:16:53.78\00:16:57.75
And I began to think,
00:16:57.81\00:16:59.15
"Am I going to hear
this, like, every morning?
00:16:59.18\00:17:00.92
like, I am really
in the country what?"
00:17:00.95\00:17:04.25
The rooster was
crowing and I was like,
00:17:04.29\00:17:07.16
"This is a movie...
this can't be real... "
00:17:07.19\00:17:10.56
now I'm used to
it, but think about it,
00:17:10.59\00:17:13.93
that rooster is
like the Holy Spirit,
00:17:13.96\00:17:16.63
think about every time
you know that you're supposed
00:17:16.67\00:17:20.20
to be doing
something and you don't,
00:17:20.24\00:17:21.94
you know that... that you
shouldn't laugh at that joke
00:17:21.97\00:17:25.71
but you do and I can
just imagine the Holy Spirit,
00:17:25.74\00:17:29.44
like that rooster,
crowing... ahhhhhhhh...
00:17:29.48\00:17:33.52
I can't even do it...
and you hear that voice
00:17:33.55\00:17:36.89
and you're going, "Oh
man, I just denied Him...
00:17:36.92\00:17:39.12
I just denied
Him... I just denied Him. "
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.96
Remember the Holy
Spirit like that divine rooster
00:17:40.99\00:17:45.39
always there to say,
00:17:45.43\00:17:47.10
"Listen, you're very off-track,
you're very off-track... "
00:17:47.13\00:17:50.50
so as we look at
this and say, "Wow!
00:17:50.53\00:17:52.53
this is Christ
trying to tell us,
00:17:52.57\00:17:54.47
"You don't even know
yourself, you think you're rich
00:17:54.50\00:17:56.71
and increased with goods,
00:17:56.74\00:17:58.17
I'm telling you,
you're going to deny me...
00:17:58.21\00:18:00.84
and so, I'm giving
you this experience... "
00:18:00.88\00:18:03.31
which brings us
to John chapter...
00:18:03.35\00:18:05.05
chapter 6 where... we can
actually tie in John chapter 6
00:18:05.08\00:18:12.62
with what happens
at the last supper
00:18:12.65\00:18:15.69
because remember the message
to the Laodicean is what?
00:18:15.72\00:18:18.76
"I want to come
in... " and do what?
00:18:18.79\00:18:21.36
"Sup with you... "
00:18:21.40\00:18:23.00
so what is Christ doing
00:18:23.03\00:18:24.53
right before this
time of trouble hits
00:18:24.57\00:18:27.64
for Him and His disciples?
00:18:27.67\00:18:29.00
He's eating with them,
the bread and the words...
00:18:29.04\00:18:32.84
that takes us to John 6.
00:18:32.87\00:18:34.21
James: And He says,
00:18:34.24\00:18:35.58
"this bread is my body
and this wine is my blood... "
00:18:35.61\00:18:38.05
and John six
it's the same thing,
00:18:38.08\00:18:40.85
John six is... the
whole chapter is...
00:18:40.88\00:18:43.42
well not the whole chapter
00:18:43.45\00:18:44.79
but the whole later
half of the chapter,
00:18:44.82\00:18:46.42
I'm just going to summarize
it, it's basically Jesus saying,
00:18:46.45\00:18:50.89
"Listen, the bread that
came down from heaven is me...
00:18:50.93\00:18:54.00
I'm the bread of
life, you need to eat me,
00:18:54.03\00:18:55.93
you need to eat my flesh,
you need to drink my blood... "
00:18:55.96\00:18:58.27
and they try to...
they try to throw it out...
00:18:58.30\00:19:00.77
"What? we're not cannibals,
00:19:00.80\00:19:02.44
what are you talking about
eating flesh and drinking...?"
00:19:02.47\00:19:04.24
They know what
He's talking about...
00:19:04.27\00:19:06.98
He is talking
about "supping" on Him
00:19:07.01\00:19:09.64
as the bread of life...
it's... it's... very simple...
00:19:09.68\00:19:12.18
it's very practical, it's
this, it's the Word of God,
00:19:12.21\00:19:14.65
okay, the Word of
God... it's not the media,
00:19:14.68\00:19:17.79
it's not
Facebook, Fox News and CNN,
00:19:17.82\00:19:20.96
it's not sports
and it's not music,
00:19:20.99\00:19:25.53
it's not all of the
stuff that distracts us,
00:19:25.56\00:19:28.66
it's the Word of
God and Jesus says,
00:19:28.70\00:19:30.90
"You know, you're so distracted,
00:19:30.97\00:19:33.10
even... even by your
"religiosity" you're distracted,
00:19:33.13\00:19:36.27
you need to be
in the Word of God
00:19:36.30\00:19:38.91
and so, when He's
supping with the disciples,
00:19:38.94\00:19:41.18
He's reminding
them of that truth,
00:19:41.21\00:19:42.54
and then we're... we're
taken back to John chapter 6,
00:19:42.58\00:19:45.65
he reminds them of that truth
00:19:45.71\00:19:47.05
and then we go to
Revelation chapter 3
00:19:47.08\00:19:49.48
He's knocking on
the door, "Who is it?"
00:19:49.52\00:19:52.15
"It's me... it's Jesus... "
00:19:52.19\00:19:53.52
"Well, what do you want?"
"I just want to sup with you,
00:19:53.56\00:19:55.69
I just want to come
in and eat with you. "
00:19:55.72\00:19:58.06
And that knock...
that rooster crowing...
00:19:58.09\00:20:00.36
that knock comes every
single day, every morning,
00:20:00.40\00:20:03.47
evening, afternoon...
Jesus is knocking on the door,
00:20:03.50\00:20:06.57
every time we turn
on the media device,
00:20:06.60\00:20:09.80
every time we have
this moment of opportunity
00:20:09.87\00:20:12.44
it's a moment for us
to turn our hearts to God,
00:20:12.47\00:20:15.91
when people are
texting us and e-mailing us
00:20:15.94\00:20:19.45
and sending us
these little requests,
00:20:19.48\00:20:20.98
I just got one in
our break, you know,
00:20:21.02\00:20:22.42
"Please pray for
me... " a friend of mine...
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.65
"we're in a situation,
this is the situation,
00:20:24.69\00:20:27.09
call for prayer... "
"Okay, I'll pray for them... "
00:20:27.12\00:20:28.66
no... pray for them right now
00:20:28.69\00:20:30.79
because you won't pray
for them... down the road,
00:20:30.83\00:20:32.16
do it right now,
this is a little reminder,
00:20:32.19\00:20:34.36
right now, it's a
little reminder, and...
00:20:34.40\00:20:37.07
Ivor: What happens
is the voice of God...
00:20:37.10\00:20:39.33
just like the rooster...
00:20:39.37\00:20:40.74
you... first
morning... "That was a rooster!"
00:20:40.80\00:20:43.57
A week later... "yeah,
that was a rooster... "
00:20:43.61\00:20:46.34
a month later... you're
not hearing the rooster anymore
00:20:46.37\00:20:49.31
because you've
become so used to the voice,
00:20:49.34\00:20:52.21
you've learned to shut it out
00:20:52.25\00:20:53.95
and that's Laodicea's problem...
00:20:53.98\00:20:56.69
is that we've learned
to shut out the knock,
00:20:56.72\00:20:58.95
it's become a "white noise"
00:20:59.02\00:21:00.39
yeah, you don't even
hear that knock anymore
00:21:00.42\00:21:05.36
and Jesus is saying,
00:21:05.39\00:21:06.73
"Look, I'm trying to
prepare you for what's coming,
00:21:06.76\00:21:10.53
you're not even
hearing me knocking... "
00:21:10.57\00:21:12.20
you're not hearing
the rooster anymore.
00:21:12.23\00:21:13.64
James: Tone
deaf... Ivor: Tone deaf...
00:21:13.67\00:21:15.00
James: It's a fact that
sometimes we're so tuned out
00:21:15.04\00:21:19.54
certain noises...
including human voices...
00:21:19.57\00:21:22.84
that we become
tone deaf to that noise,
00:21:22.88\00:21:25.41
we're just kind
of tone deaf again...
00:21:25.45\00:21:27.22
Ivor: People
living next to airports...
00:21:27.28\00:21:28.98
they no longer hear the
roaring of the airplane,
00:21:29.02\00:21:32.75
I mean, how loud is that?
00:21:32.79\00:21:34.32
They no longer hear
the roaring of that plane,
00:21:34.36\00:21:37.06
think about the issue of
the disciples in Gethsemane,
00:21:37.09\00:21:41.66
Jesus said, "Look, I
want you to watch with me...
00:21:41.70\00:21:46.20
pray with me...
something's coming,
00:21:46.23\00:21:48.67
we need to be
prepared... " so look...
00:21:48.70\00:21:51.04
if that happened for
the first coming of Christ,
00:21:51.07\00:21:53.94
are we going to have
a Gethsemane experience
00:21:53.98\00:21:56.78
in this time of
Laodicea? Absolutely!
00:21:56.81\00:21:59.98
We can know that
because the history is parallel
00:22:00.02\00:22:02.85
and Jesus is trying to show us,
00:22:02.88\00:22:04.75
"Look, don't
make the same mistake
00:22:04.79\00:22:07.16
that the
disciples made who said,
00:22:07.19\00:22:09.49
'We'll never forsake
you, no, no, no, no, no,
00:22:09.52\00:22:11.79
we will go with
you to the death,
00:22:11.83\00:22:13.16
we're ready to...
we're ready to... what? Mark?
00:22:13.19\00:22:16.30
What Mark? A
Mark on this forehead?
00:22:16.33\00:22:19.53
No, I'll...
I'll rather die... '"
00:22:19.57\00:22:22.67
And then suddenly that
trial comes and you find...
00:22:22.70\00:22:26.71
God says, "Look... "
00:22:26.74\00:22:28.11
back then... they
had a second opportunity
00:22:28.14\00:22:30.58
when this hits, there is no...
00:22:30.61\00:22:33.98
you fail this... there
is no second opportunity.
00:22:34.02\00:22:36.89
James: Hmmm...
hmmm... so we're looking...
00:22:36.92\00:22:39.15
we're looking at
the Laodicean condition
00:22:39.19\00:22:41.32
and we're seeing that it
is bleak... it is intense...
00:22:41.36\00:22:44.96
it is critical... we are...
00:22:44.99\00:22:48.30
we are being
admonished in the strongest way
00:22:48.33\00:22:51.23
but also... it is hopeful,
00:22:51.27\00:22:52.60
God has this deep
love in His heart,
00:22:52.63\00:22:56.04
this deep desire to sup
with us, to connect with us,
00:22:56.07\00:22:58.47
and the thing
that's getting in the way
00:22:58.51\00:23:00.34
is all of our self-righteousness
and self-dependence,
00:23:00.38\00:23:04.41
when... when
all we need to do is
00:23:04.45\00:23:06.51
open that door and let Jesus
in so that He can sup with us
00:23:06.55\00:23:09.45
and there's nothing like that.
00:23:09.48\00:23:10.82
Yvonne: You know
that whole idea of choice,
00:23:10.85\00:23:14.26
it is our choice
to open that door,
00:23:14.29\00:23:17.46
He doesn't push the
door in, He doesn't barge in,
00:23:17.49\00:23:21.13
He leaves it up to us,
00:23:21.16\00:23:23.53
behold I stand at
the door and knock,
00:23:23.57\00:23:26.17
if any man hears my
voice and opens the door... "
00:23:26.23\00:23:28.64
so it's up to
us, to open the door
00:23:28.67\00:23:31.67
but it's even God that
brings us to repentance,
00:23:31.71\00:23:34.48
so, it's like,
"Yeah, it's our choice
00:23:34.51\00:23:37.75
but in His mercy,
00:23:37.78\00:23:39.41
it's even Him... that
makes us want to choose Him,
00:23:39.45\00:23:42.45
God is so merciful but the idea
that nothing could take away
00:23:42.48\00:23:48.02
our power to choose, nothing...
00:23:48.06\00:23:50.63
so He's... He
leaves it up to us,
00:23:50.66\00:23:53.19
if we open the door, He
will come in and connect...
00:23:53.23\00:23:56.90
I like that
word... connect with us,
00:23:56.93\00:24:00.14
He wants... when
you think about somebody
00:24:00.17\00:24:01.67
coming over to eat,
you're hanging out... you know.
00:24:01.70\00:24:04.27
James: Jason... Jason...
Yvonne: Yeah, I know... Jason...
00:24:04.31\00:24:07.88
Just coming and connecting,
that's what Jesus wants,
00:24:07.94\00:24:13.52
He just wants us
to connect with Him.
00:24:13.55\00:24:15.32
James: Now, now
let's look at this,
00:24:15.35\00:24:16.82
just for a second,
let's just touch on this,
00:24:16.85\00:24:18.45
let's just get a
little more out of this, okay,
00:24:18.49\00:24:20.69
we're talking
about food right now
00:24:20.76\00:24:22.09
and could Jesus have
put it in better words,
00:24:22.12\00:24:24.96
at least for some of us,
00:24:24.99\00:24:26.33
could He have put it
in better words than that,
00:24:26.36\00:24:27.86
what is Jesus saying?
00:24:27.90\00:24:29.26
He's saying, "I've got some
food that is out of this world,"
00:24:29.30\00:24:33.10
now think about this... haven't
we partaken some of that food
00:24:33.13\00:24:37.01
as we've doing this study
through the Book of Revelation?
00:24:37.04\00:24:40.88
We go, "Wow! that was good...
Man! that was good stuff... "
00:24:40.91\00:24:44.35
Yvonne: Yeah...
00:24:44.38\00:24:45.71
James: See, if we never
would have opened the door,
00:24:45.75\00:24:47.38
if we never would
have opened the door,
00:24:47.42\00:24:49.05
if we never would
have opened the door...
00:24:49.08\00:24:51.65
and just opened it, and just...
and what Jesus is saying is,
00:24:51.69\00:24:53.89
"You know, the more I feed you,
00:24:53.92\00:24:55.82
the more you're going
to experience something
00:24:55.86\00:24:59.23
that is so tasty, so
delicious, so satisfying,
00:24:59.26\00:25:02.33
so filling, but
the other stuff...
00:25:02.36\00:25:04.40
phish... you just
can't be satisfied...
00:25:04.43\00:25:05.77
Ivor: And see,
this is the thing...
00:25:05.80\00:25:07.14
He's not asking you
to prepare the food...
00:25:07.17\00:25:08.57
you know, if I say, "Hey, I
want to come eat with you. "
00:25:08.60\00:25:11.81
"What? I have to
cook? Maybe next week... "
00:25:11.87\00:25:15.88
Jesus says, "Look, I
brought the food with me...
00:25:15.91\00:25:19.28
so, I'm not asking you to cook,
I'm just... I brought the food"
00:25:19.31\00:25:23.25
and what is the food?
00:25:23.28\00:25:24.62
He says, "This is my
body which is broken for you,"
00:25:24.65\00:25:27.39
He's trying to
bring the cross to us,
00:25:27.46\00:25:28.96
He's trying to let us see
that Christ and Him crucified,
00:25:28.99\00:25:32.33
Christ and Him
lifted up is the remedy,
00:25:32.39\00:25:35.73
that's what opens our eyes,
00:25:35.76\00:25:37.63
that's what clothes
us with the white robe,
00:25:37.67\00:25:40.44
that's what brings
us the faith of Jesus
00:25:40.47\00:25:43.17
I want that faith, as I
behold Him on the cross,
00:25:43.20\00:25:45.54
by beholding...
I become changed...
00:25:45.57\00:25:49.68
so think about those
guys back in Israel who...
00:25:49.71\00:25:52.91
when they were being
bitten by the serpents
00:25:52.95\00:25:55.15
as they looked up at
the serpent on the pole,
00:25:55.18\00:25:57.79
something miraculous
was happening in them
00:25:57.85\00:26:00.99
that made them
impervious, if you will,
00:26:01.02\00:26:04.13
to the venom of the serpent,
but if they look down...
00:26:04.16\00:26:07.33
and that's what we like to
do, if you're around snakes,
00:26:07.36\00:26:09.83
man! the natural
tendency is to look down.
00:26:09.86\00:26:12.23
Yvonne: Right.
00:26:12.27\00:26:13.60
Ivor: God tells Moses,
"Put up a serpent on the pole
00:26:13.64\00:26:15.70
and lift it up...
where they have to look up,"
00:26:15.74\00:26:17.87
yeah, "but I need to
look down because of... "
00:26:17.91\00:26:19.24
"No, no, no, no, no...
an exercise of faith... "
00:26:19.27\00:26:22.18
I need the faith of Jesus,
I'm going to be able to look up
00:26:22.21\00:26:25.95
when serpents are
around me on the ground
00:26:25.98\00:26:28.45
and I naturally
want to look down
00:26:28.48\00:26:31.19
look at my old wounds...
00:26:31.22\00:26:32.55
He says, "Don't look
at yourself, look at me,
00:26:32.59\00:26:35.09
and by looking at me,
you'll become changed. "
00:26:35.12\00:26:37.39
Yvonne: Yes...
00:26:37.43\00:26:38.76
James: Perfect illustration for
the challenge that we have today
00:26:38.79\00:26:40.93
not to be self-sufficient,
00:26:40.96\00:26:42.63
not to look down and
try to protect ourselves,
00:26:42.66\00:26:44.40
but to look up by faith and know
00:26:44.43\00:26:45.77
that Jesus is
going to take care of us,
00:26:45.80\00:26:47.14
He's going to take care of us,
we have our own little trials,
00:26:47.17\00:26:50.34
even... even in
doing these programs,
00:26:50.37\00:26:53.17
we're facing some trials
00:26:53.21\00:26:54.54
and we need to know that
God is opening these doors
00:26:54.58\00:26:56.71
and that God is going to
continue to open the doors
00:26:56.75\00:26:58.51
and we need to look up to Him
00:26:58.55\00:26:59.88
and see where the
door is being opened
00:26:59.91\00:27:01.88
and no man can shut,
no man can shut that door
00:27:01.92\00:27:04.42
and how He's going to
be bringing that food,
00:27:04.45\00:27:06.32
bringing that food,
bringing that food...
00:27:06.35\00:27:08.22
nurturing us...
nurturing us, nurturing us.
00:27:08.26\00:27:09.99
Ivor: That's around the table...
food that's around the table...
00:27:10.03\00:27:14.30
Yvonne: Come on
now... come on now...
00:27:14.33\00:27:15.66
okay our time is up again,
we want to remind our viewers
00:27:15.70\00:27:19.77
to send in their
video questions...
00:27:19.80\00:27:21.70
Yvonne: To sss... as in
Salvation in Symbols and Signs,
00:27:21.74\00:27:26.44
@3abn. org
00:27:26.47\00:27:29.18
James: And we want to
have our closing prayer
00:27:29.21\00:27:30.55
Yvonne, would you pray for us?
00:27:30.58\00:27:31.91
Yvonne: Sure... "Father
God, how rich is your Word
00:27:31.95\00:27:35.08
thank you so much,
thank you for loving us
00:27:35.15\00:27:37.72
and giving us the
power to choose you
00:27:37.75\00:27:39.89
and giving us the abundant
life, Lord, because in you...
00:27:39.92\00:27:43.22
there is life more abundantly...
00:27:43.29\00:27:45.13
so we thank you
so much for that,
00:27:45.16\00:27:46.93
for your presence
and your power, Lord,
00:27:46.96\00:27:49.60
we just praise your
name and we bless you
00:27:49.63\00:27:52.23
and we thank you for loving us
00:27:52.27\00:27:53.90
when we don't
even love ourselves,
00:27:53.94\00:27:55.77
loving us when we were sinners
00:27:55.80\00:27:58.11
and as we continue to
make mistakes and sin, Lord,
00:27:58.14\00:28:01.74
you love us still... thank you,
00:28:01.78\00:28:03.55
in Jesus' name we
pray Father God, amen. "
00:28:03.58\00:28:05.25
All: "Amen. "
00:28:05.28\00:28:07.05