Absolutely, I
think this is great...
00:00:30.53\00:00:32.43
Revelation chapter
20... we are almost finished,
00:00:32.46\00:00:35.63
Revelation 20... then 21 and 22
00:00:35.66\00:00:37.47
and we've covered most of
Revelation 20, if not all of it
00:00:37.50\00:00:40.54
but I think it would be
good for us to revisit it
00:00:40.57\00:00:43.27
and just to
summarize a little bit here
00:00:43.30\00:00:45.81
and share a new
thought that kind of came to us
00:00:45.84\00:00:48.04
in the last, you
know, few hours...
00:00:48.08\00:00:50.75
and just before we move
into Revelation 21 and 22
00:00:50.81\00:00:53.55
and I think in 22,
we're going to summarize...
00:00:53.58\00:00:56.02
we'll just kind of summarize
everything we've learned...
00:00:56.05\00:00:59.25
bring it
altogether... as well as we can
00:00:59.29\00:01:01.99
and just finish it up
so we're almost finished.
00:01:02.02\00:01:04.46
Yvonne: Wow! what
an amazing journey.
00:01:04.49\00:01:06.90
James: What's... that many
programs or something, it has...
00:01:06.93\00:01:08.86
and we've been
learning as we've been going
00:01:08.90\00:01:11.43
we'll talk about that
after we have a word of prayer,
00:01:11.47\00:01:13.27
Yvonne, would you
like to pray for us?
00:01:13.30\00:01:14.64
Sure, "Father God, this
been such a wonderful journey
00:01:14.67\00:01:17.87
and we thank you so
much for your Holy Spirit
00:01:17.91\00:01:20.38
that has led us, guided us
through this book of Revelation
00:01:20.41\00:01:24.18
we just pray right now
that you'll continue to do that
00:01:24.21\00:01:27.98
that we will have
new, fresh insights
00:01:28.02\00:01:30.15
and that we will be able
to... not just be hearers
00:01:30.19\00:01:33.96
but doers of the Word as well,
00:01:33.99\00:01:35.49
thank you for our teachers...
our family... our 3ABN Family...
00:01:35.52\00:01:41.63
Dare to Dream Family, Lord,
00:01:41.66\00:01:43.00
and help us to all, one
day, stand on the sea of glass
00:01:43.03\00:01:47.04
and see Your face,
00:01:47.07\00:01:48.54
we thank you Lord,
in Jesus' name, amen. "
00:01:48.60\00:01:50.51
"Amen. "
00:01:50.54\00:01:51.87
So, this morning I woke up
00:01:51.91\00:01:54.21
a little bit
dissatisfied from yesterday...
00:01:54.24\00:01:57.18
I was thinking about
one of the verses we read
00:01:57.25\00:02:00.15
in Revelation chapter 20,
00:02:00.18\00:02:01.68
it's Revelation 20 and verse 10,
00:02:01.75\00:02:03.85
and it says, "And the
devil that deceived them
00:02:03.89\00:02:05.89
was cast into the
lake of fire and brimstone,
00:02:05.92\00:02:07.89
where the beast and
the false prophet are,
00:02:07.92\00:02:09.92
and shall be tormented day
and night for ever and ever. "
00:02:09.99\00:02:12.39
"Where the Beast and
the False Prophet are... "
00:02:12.43\00:02:14.03
and then I remembered verse 20
00:02:14.06\00:02:18.30
of the previous
chapter... chapter 19,
00:02:18.33\00:02:21.17
it says that when Christ
comes "the beast was taken,
00:02:21.20\00:02:26.17
and with him the false prophet
00:02:26.21\00:02:27.71
that wrought
miracles before him,
00:02:27.74\00:02:29.24
with which he deceived them
00:02:29.28\00:02:30.75
that had received
the mark of the beast,
00:02:30.78\00:02:32.15
and them that
worshipped his image.
00:02:32.18\00:02:34.48
These were both cast alive
00:02:34.52\00:02:35.85
into a lake burning
with fire and brimstone... "
00:02:35.88\00:02:37.22
which is a little different
from the rest of the people
00:02:37.25\00:02:39.95
who are slain... but
these two entities...
00:02:39.99\00:02:44.56
these two powers are cast alive
in the lake of burning fire
00:02:44.59\00:02:47.66
and then in chapter 20...
after the thousand years...
00:02:47.70\00:02:50.73
after the
resurrection of the wicked
00:02:50.77\00:02:52.77
when all the
wicked surround the city,
00:02:52.80\00:02:54.77
this is after the saints
have been in heaven with Christ
00:02:54.80\00:02:57.01
for a thousand years and
the judgment has taken place
00:02:57.04\00:02:58.81
and the books have been opened,
00:02:58.84\00:03:00.24
they're resurrected,
they surround the city
00:03:00.28\00:03:02.44
and the devil himself is taken,
he's cast in the lake of fire
00:03:02.48\00:03:06.61
where the Beast and the
False Prophet already are
00:03:06.65\00:03:08.02
and for years, I've struggled,
people have asked me...
00:03:08.05\00:03:11.05
"Are they... how come they're...
00:03:11.12\00:03:12.85
why does this happen
at the second coming"
00:03:12.92\00:03:14.46
and yesterday we talked about...
00:03:14.49\00:03:15.86
well, chapter 19
is kind of taking us
00:03:15.89\00:03:18.09
all the way down
past the 1,000 years
00:03:18.16\00:03:20.30
and that was good but
this morning I woke up
00:03:20.33\00:03:23.47
and God gave me a blessing,
00:03:23.50\00:03:25.23
I mean it was a
blessing because I thought,
00:03:25.30\00:03:27.04
"Wait a minute, wait a
minute, wait a minute... "
00:03:27.07\00:03:28.40
and so, I asked
Ivor, I said, "Ivor... "
00:03:28.44\00:03:29.77
this morning I said,
"Ivor, what is the beast...
00:03:29.80\00:03:32.31
what is the beast?"
00:03:32.34\00:03:34.01
Ivor: It's a System.
00:03:34.04\00:03:35.61
James: It's a System...
and what is this False Prophet?
00:03:35.64\00:03:38.18
Ivor: It's a System...
James: It's a System...
00:03:38.21\00:03:39.55
because they line
up with the beast...
00:03:39.58\00:03:41.52
the Papal System
in Revelation 13...
00:03:41.55\00:03:43.35
the False Prophet...
00:03:43.39\00:03:44.72
the second beast that
rises up out of the earth
00:03:44.75\00:03:46.09
in Revelation 13...
00:03:46.12\00:03:47.46
they line up with
those two entities
00:03:47.49\00:03:50.16
so these Systems are actually
thrown into the Lake of Fire,
00:03:50.19\00:03:53.46
they are burned up at
the second coming of Jesus...
00:03:53.50\00:03:55.56
I was like, "Whoa,
that just makes sense"
00:03:55.60\00:03:58.70
see, when Christ
comes again there's...
00:03:58.73\00:04:01.77
He comes with flaming
fire taking vengeance...
00:04:01.80\00:04:04.47
and the wicked are destroyed
by the brightness of His coming
00:04:04.51\00:04:07.28
and they're going to be
resurrected but they're not...
00:04:07.31\00:04:09.31
they're not given to the flames
00:04:09.34\00:04:10.68
but the Systems
are given to the flames
00:04:10.71\00:04:12.05
and so... but Satan isn't...
Satan is not given to the flames
00:04:12.08\00:04:16.58
he doesn't join them
until after the thousand years.
00:04:16.62\00:04:18.85
And that's why in Jeremiah 4...
00:04:18.89\00:04:20.32
we read it in our last
program where it's talking about
00:04:20.36\00:04:23.79
how when Christ comes again,
00:04:23.83\00:04:25.16
the earth is
going to be desolate
00:04:25.19\00:04:27.10
but it's not a full end,
right. James: Yes, right.
00:04:27.13\00:04:30.57
Ivor: So it's not a full
end so what happens is...
00:04:30.60\00:04:32.30
He comes... He comes in fire...
00:04:32.33\00:04:34.10
fire's going to
fall on the earth
00:04:34.14\00:04:35.87
but in a symbolic sense,
the Beast and the False Prophet
00:04:35.90\00:04:39.94
which are symbols... right...
00:04:39.97\00:04:41.64
they are destroyed...
00:04:41.68\00:04:43.04
there's no more apostate
Protestantism as a System
00:04:43.08\00:04:46.75
so even when we go back to
Revelation chapter 13 verse 4
00:04:46.78\00:04:52.05
where it talks
about "the deadly wound"
00:04:52.09\00:04:54.46
right, that deadly
wound... right, verse 3...
00:04:54.49\00:04:57.83
it's a deadly wound, it was the
System that was being wounded
00:04:57.86\00:05:01.96
right, it wasn't...
everyone in the System
00:05:02.03\00:05:05.17
received the deadly wound...
00:05:05.20\00:05:06.53
the System itself was wounded...
00:05:06.57\00:05:07.90
James: Separated...
00:05:07.94\00:05:09.27
the Civil Power was
separated from the Church State.
00:05:09.30\00:05:12.17
Ivor: Right, so it ceased
"to be" but it "still was. "
00:05:12.21\00:05:15.14
right, so the same thing
with what we're reading here
00:05:15.18\00:05:17.98
is that the beast as
a System is destroyed
00:05:18.01\00:05:22.48
by the brightness of His coming.
00:05:22.52\00:05:24.45
James: Hmmm... hmmm...
he's given to the flames...
00:05:24.49\00:05:25.92
burned up... and same with the
False Prophet... that System,
00:05:25.95\00:05:29.89
but Satan himself is
still alive for the 1,000 years
00:05:29.92\00:05:32.79
and he walks the earth
looking at and beholding
00:05:32.83\00:05:36.00
the desolation... which
is going to be torture to him
00:05:36.03\00:05:37.77
beholding the
desolation of all of his work...
00:05:37.80\00:05:40.04
of all his genius.
00:05:40.07\00:05:41.40
Ivor: So, so, when
the Bible says that he...
00:05:41.44\00:05:45.24
at the end of the 1,000 years
he deceives the whole world
00:05:45.27\00:05:50.71
they're now
called "Gog and Magog"
00:05:50.75\00:05:53.28
that's the title
that's given to them
00:05:53.31\00:05:55.55
and Gog and Magog...
00:05:55.58\00:05:57.09
we didn't actually
cover this in our last program
00:05:57.12\00:05:59.62
but Gog and Magog takes us
back to the book of Ezekiel 28
00:05:59.65\00:06:03.73
and he uses these two
nations that were basically
00:06:03.76\00:06:07.80
coming against God's people.
00:06:07.83\00:06:10.17
Gog and Magog is
just a symbolic term...
00:06:10.20\00:06:12.97
people are like, "Well is Gog...
is this Russia and China?"
00:06:13.00\00:06:15.57
"Is it...?" no, Gog and Magog...
00:06:15.60\00:06:17.84
when the Bible says
that he went out to gather
00:06:17.87\00:06:20.08
these people from the
four quarters of the earth...
00:06:20.11\00:06:24.91
four quarters make one whole,
00:06:24.95\00:06:28.08
so Gog and Magog is
simply the symbolic name
00:06:28.12\00:06:31.05
for the whole wicked world,
that come against God's people.
00:06:31.09\00:06:35.82
Exactly, so that's who they're
facing at the end of time.
00:06:35.86\00:06:40.53
Gog and Magog... no longer...
00:06:40.56\00:06:42.30
the Beast and the False Prophet
have been destroyed as a System
00:06:42.33\00:06:46.10
at the second coming of Christ.
00:06:46.13\00:06:48.40
So, I think it's really
important here just to pause
00:06:48.44\00:06:52.84
and let our Viewers know
that we don't know everything
00:06:52.87\00:06:56.44
and there are questions
that you're going to have
00:06:56.51\00:06:59.18
when you read inside
the book of Revelation like,
00:06:59.21\00:07:01.85
for example, I've been
asked this question for years
00:07:01.88\00:07:04.82
about Revelation chapter
19, "Well how come the beast...
00:07:04.85\00:07:07.79
and... well...
how does that work?"
00:07:07.82\00:07:09.16
And I didn't have a good answer
00:07:09.19\00:07:10.53
and even when we came
to the program yesterday,
00:07:10.56\00:07:12.16
I was talking
with Ivor and I said,
00:07:12.19\00:07:13.53
"Ivor, do you have a good answer
for this because I don't really"
00:07:13.56\00:07:15.50
and then this
morning it clicks...
00:07:15.53\00:07:17.83
which is a gift from God
00:07:17.90\00:07:19.53
because I don't
have a good answer,
00:07:19.60\00:07:22.44
I've never had a good
answer, so the Holy Spirit...
00:07:22.47\00:07:24.34
your spending that time with the
Lord, and all of a sudden, boom!
00:07:24.37\00:07:26.14
the Holy Spirit
just teaches you...
00:07:26.17\00:07:27.54
He's boom... this is...
00:07:27.58\00:07:28.91
but it has to line
up with the Scriptures.
00:07:28.94\00:07:32.18
See, I can't just say,
"Well, this is how it is... "
00:07:32.21\00:07:34.65
No, I know that
because in the Bible
00:07:34.68\00:07:37.82
especially when it describes
the second coming of Christ
00:07:37.85\00:07:40.36
over and over again, it
says in 2nd Peter chapter 3
00:07:40.39\00:07:42.92
and 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2,
00:07:42.96\00:07:44.39
it says that when Christ comes
He's coming with a flaming fire,
00:07:44.43\00:07:48.43
the fire is going
to consume the earth,
00:07:48.46\00:07:50.07
the fire is... so I
know that's going to happen
00:07:50.10\00:07:52.50
and so, taking
that to Revelation,
00:07:52.53\00:07:54.27
"Oh, they're given to the flames
they're given to the fire...
00:07:54.30\00:07:57.01
they're destroyed
and what are they?"
00:07:57.04\00:07:59.67
They're Systems that are
destroyed when Christ comes
00:07:59.71\00:08:01.74
but Satan isn't
destroyed, he's chained up
00:08:01.78\00:08:04.45
that's why he doesn't join
them until after the 1,000 years
00:08:04.48\00:08:07.75
now, Revelation 19 verse 20
00:08:07.78\00:08:09.82
and Revelation 20 verse
10 make perfect sense...
00:08:09.85\00:08:14.29
they mesh together.
00:08:14.32\00:08:16.19
I think it's really important
for our Viewers to understand
00:08:16.22\00:08:19.56
that when we came into this,
00:08:19.59\00:08:22.30
we came in like,
"Okay, we... we got it...
00:08:22.33\00:08:25.33
well, at least we know
what we're going to say... "
00:08:25.37\00:08:27.74
and through the
programs we've come to a place
00:08:27.77\00:08:30.67
where we're like, "Ah... "
00:08:30.71\00:08:32.04
so we've been
learning ourselves...
00:08:32.07\00:08:33.54
that's what we want
our Viewers to understand
00:08:33.58\00:08:37.61
when you go to the
book it's a learning process
00:08:37.65\00:08:41.18
and the more you
study, the more you learn,
00:08:41.22\00:08:44.65
the more you're able to
connect these pieces and
00:08:44.69\00:08:46.76
that's the most
important thing...
00:08:46.79\00:08:48.12
so even if you're
going through the Program
00:08:48.16\00:08:49.49
and you're like, "You know what?
00:08:49.52\00:08:50.86
I'm still not getting
this particular point...
00:08:50.89\00:08:53.56
or that particular
point," keep going over it,
00:08:53.60\00:08:56.43
it might take
months, it might take years,
00:08:56.46\00:08:59.20
we've been doing this for
years and we're still like,
00:08:59.23\00:09:02.50
"Ah... " the more we do
it, it's the clearer it becomes
00:09:02.54\00:09:05.77
and so, just sharing
a real moment like this
00:09:05.84\00:09:09.74
where we're like,
"Yeah, you know what?
00:09:09.78\00:09:11.41
we have kind of
struggled with this... "
00:09:11.45\00:09:13.01
I think, you know,
would encourage our Viewers.
00:09:13.05\00:09:16.82
Yvonne: Absolutely!
00:09:16.85\00:09:18.19
Ivor: Yeah, it's
okay to struggle.
00:09:18.22\00:09:19.55
Jason: It's comforting
because I'm sitting here like,
00:09:19.59\00:09:21.12
"Man! these guys got it... "
00:09:21.16\00:09:22.49
and so it's comforting to
know that there are things
00:09:22.52\00:09:27.20
that you guys are
still figuring out too.
00:09:27.23\00:09:29.63
Yvonne: And it's
also good to know
00:09:29.66\00:09:31.23
that the Holy Spirit
just keeps He keeps giving...
00:09:31.27\00:09:34.70
if you hang in there
and try to learn this,
00:09:34.74\00:09:38.17
He will give you fresh manna,
00:09:38.21\00:09:40.24
fresh manna.
00:09:40.28\00:09:42.28
Ivor: So, I think we
should get into this ending
00:09:42.31\00:09:46.18
of Revelation
chapter 20 which speaks about
00:09:46.21\00:09:49.25
the wicked being
cast into the Lake of Fire
00:09:49.28\00:09:52.15
so let's go to Revelation
20 and verse 13 and 14,
00:09:52.22\00:09:59.76
actually let's read
verse 13 through to 15.
00:09:59.79\00:10:03.33
Okay, "And the sea gave
up the dead which were in it;
00:10:03.37\00:10:07.24
and death and hell
delivered up the dead
00:10:07.27\00:10:09.17
which were in them:
and they were judged
00:10:09.20\00:10:11.07
every man
according to their works.
00:10:11.11\00:10:12.67
And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire.
00:10:12.74\00:10:15.41
This is the second death.
00:10:15.44\00:10:17.15
And whosoever was not found
written in the book of life
00:10:17.18\00:10:20.32
was cast into the lake of fire.
00:10:20.35\00:10:21.68
Hmmm...
00:10:21.72\00:10:23.05
So this is the quote,
00:10:23.08\00:10:27.66
the final act of God and some-
where in the book of Isaiah
00:10:27.69\00:10:32.39
it calls this act,
"His strange act. "
00:10:32.43\00:10:36.20
Yvonne: Yes. James: Isaiah 29...
00:10:36.26\00:10:37.60
Ivor: Isaiah 29... He's...
you know, the Bible says,
00:10:37.63\00:10:40.80
"I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked
00:10:40.84\00:10:42.87
turn yourselves and live. "
00:10:42.90\00:10:44.87
This is not
something that God enjoys to do
00:10:44.91\00:10:48.61
in fact, there's
a story in the Bible
00:10:48.64\00:10:53.88
that talks about
a king named David
00:10:53.92\00:10:57.95
and how he had a
son named Absalom
00:10:58.02\00:11:01.42
you remember
Absalom was beautiful
00:11:01.46\00:11:04.46
but there was something else...
00:11:04.49\00:11:07.46
so here you have the
story of a father and his son...
00:11:07.50\00:11:11.43
and his son is... the
one that... he made the son
00:11:11.47\00:11:16.27
but this son turns
against the one who made him
00:11:16.30\00:11:21.04
and what does he do?
00:11:21.08\00:11:23.18
He's standing at
the gates, right,
00:11:23.21\00:11:24.55
if you read the story...
00:11:24.58\00:11:25.91
he stands at the
gates and he's trying to...
00:11:25.95\00:11:28.08
he's trying to form
a... this rebellion.
00:11:28.12\00:11:30.19
James: And draw
the people to him.
00:11:30.25\00:11:31.59
Ivor: And draw
the people to him.
00:11:31.62\00:11:32.95
"Man, I would be a better Leader
and the one who leads you. "
00:11:32.99\00:11:35.96
James: "I'll
answer your questions,
00:11:35.99\00:11:37.33
I'll take care of everything. "
00:11:37.36\00:11:38.69
Ivor: "I'll take
care... " exactly.
00:11:38.73\00:11:40.06
And Man, what a picture!
00:11:40.10\00:11:41.43
This one who was beautiful,
00:11:41.46\00:11:42.80
it says, Absalom was
just amazing to look at...
00:11:42.83\00:11:45.83
stunning to look at.
00:11:45.87\00:11:47.20
Hey Man! that reminds me
of another story, Lucifer...
00:11:47.24\00:11:51.07
and so, look at this,
when Absalom is doing this
00:11:51.11\00:11:54.91
getting these people to
rebel against his father,
00:11:54.94\00:11:58.55
and his father is still like,
00:11:58.58\00:11:59.98
"No, don't destroy him,
don't, don't, don't don't... "
00:12:00.02\00:12:02.32
and his soldiers are
like, "We don't get this,
00:12:02.35\00:12:04.99
why do you want to...
00:12:05.05\00:12:06.39
we know he's your
son but why do you...?
00:12:06.42\00:12:08.06
Well anyway, what happens
is they end up killing Absalom
00:12:08.09\00:12:11.66
and David responds,
00:12:11.69\00:12:14.53
David's response
is just mind-boggling
00:12:14.56\00:12:19.47
at least to his soldiers.
00:12:19.50\00:12:21.50
James: They can't comprehend it.
00:12:21.57\00:12:23.64
Ivor: They can't
comprehend why...
00:12:23.67\00:12:25.61
"Why are you
weeping over your son...
00:12:25.64\00:12:27.61
he was trying
to... take you out. "
00:12:27.64\00:12:29.61
And I believe in that
picture we kind of get a glimpse
00:12:29.64\00:12:33.21
of the heart of
God towards the wicked.
00:12:33.28\00:12:35.25
Hmmm... hmmm...
00:12:35.28\00:12:36.62
You know, these people
are trying to take Him out...
00:12:36.65\00:12:38.15
this is... God has no pleasure
in the death of the wicked
00:12:38.19\00:12:42.56
and I think... even as He looks
at the one that he created,
00:12:42.59\00:12:46.93
you know what I'm saying...
00:12:46.96\00:12:48.30
this was you who are
closest in my presence
00:12:48.33\00:12:52.67
there's something in the
heart of God that's like...
00:12:52.70\00:12:55.70
just like David...
you know what I mean?
00:12:55.74\00:13:00.34
And so, first of all
what we need to understand
00:13:00.38\00:13:03.24
is that this destruction of
the wicked is not God like...
00:13:03.28\00:13:06.45
"Yes, ah ha! the
moment I've been waiting for"
00:13:06.48\00:13:09.82
that's not who God is,
that's not how He operates,
00:13:09.85\00:13:13.79
God is love and so as we
begin to consider this idea
00:13:13.82\00:13:17.76
of God destroying
the wicked in fire,
00:13:17.79\00:13:19.39
you know, one of the questions
that people ask most often is...
00:13:19.43\00:13:22.96
"Okay, why does He do this?
00:13:23.00\00:13:25.47
because this is
just... this sounds horrendous"
00:13:25.53\00:13:28.64
but there's something I
want us to understand... so...
00:13:28.67\00:13:31.04
this Lake of Fire... what is it?
00:13:31.07\00:13:33.88
When we find this out,
00:13:33.91\00:13:35.34
it totally changes
our picture of who God is.
00:13:35.38\00:13:38.78
In fact, to me... this is
the greatest picture of love
00:13:38.81\00:13:41.15
that I find almost
anywhere in the Bible.
00:13:41.18\00:13:44.45
Hebrews chapter 12,
00:13:44.49\00:13:46.42
let's go to Hebrews
chapter 12 very quickly.
00:13:46.45\00:13:48.42
and verse 29.
00:13:48.46\00:13:50.13
Hebrews 12 verse 29,
let's have someone read that.
00:13:50.16\00:13:55.46
"For our God is
a consuming fire. "
00:13:55.50\00:13:58.70
Okay, the Bible says,
00:13:58.73\00:14:00.67
"Our God... is a
consuming fire. "
00:14:00.74\00:14:03.54
there is something quite
amazing about that verse,
00:14:03.57\00:14:06.78
can I have someone else
go to Song of Solomon...
00:14:06.84\00:14:10.01
Song of Solomon... chapter
8 and verses 6 through 8.
00:14:10.05\00:14:13.58
So, God is a
fire... why is God a fire?
00:14:13.62\00:14:16.35
That's what we're about to
find out in this next verse
00:14:16.38\00:14:19.15
so, Song of Solomon chapter 8...
00:14:19.19\00:14:23.16
pause...
00:14:23.19\00:14:26.29
verses 6...
actually verses 6 and 7.
00:14:26.33\00:14:35.80
"Set me as a
seal upon thine heart,
00:14:35.87\00:14:40.94
as a seal upon thine arm:
for love is strong as death;
00:14:40.98\00:14:44.91
jealousy is cruel as the grave:
00:14:44.95\00:14:48.02
the coals thereof
are coals of fire,
00:14:48.08\00:14:50.25
which has a most
vehement flame. "
00:14:50.29\00:14:52.45
Ivor: Okay, so,
"many waters... "
00:14:52.49\00:14:54.59
James: "Many
waters cannot quench love,
00:14:54.62\00:14:56.26
neither can the floods drown it:
00:14:56.29\00:14:57.63
if a man would give all the
substance of his house for love,
00:14:57.66\00:15:00.06
it would utterly be condemned. "
00:15:00.10\00:15:01.46
Ivor: So, check this out,
00:15:01.50\00:15:03.13
in the Bible, fire
is a symbol of what?
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.67
Love.
00:15:06.70\00:15:08.64
Why does God
manifest Himself as fire?
00:15:08.67\00:15:11.51
Because He's love.
00:15:11.54\00:15:12.87
Fire is heaven's "love language"
00:15:12.91\00:15:15.91
the reason why
God appears as fire
00:15:15.94\00:15:18.88
is not because He's like, "Hey,
I want to scare people away"
00:15:18.91\00:15:21.62
no, this is heaven, this
is a symbol of love in heaven.
00:15:21.65\00:15:25.22
You've ever been in love?
00:15:25.25\00:15:27.16
Yeah, and it's
interesting because people say,
00:15:27.19\00:15:33.80
"Oh, we got to
rekindle the flame... "
00:15:33.86\00:15:36.40
Ivor: That's
right... that's right.
00:15:36.43\00:15:38.90
Yvonne: Wow! James:
Holy Spirit... fire...
00:15:38.93\00:15:41.27
presence of God in the
burning bush... fire...
00:15:41.30\00:15:43.61
"I'm going to
baptize you with fire... "
00:15:43.64\00:15:45.81
When you look at a
fire... now, I love to camp...
00:15:45.84\00:15:48.44
I love to camp... so I
go out camping on a lake
00:15:48.48\00:15:51.85
and at night
time, we build a fire
00:15:51.88\00:15:54.18
and I can sit in front
of that fire for hours...
00:15:54.22\00:15:57.59
when you look at a
fire, it's warmth...
00:15:57.62\00:16:00.29
it's mesmerizing...
it's just... it draws you...
00:16:00.32\00:16:03.53
you just look at
the flame burning
00:16:03.56\00:16:04.89
and that's why in
Revelation it says,
00:16:04.93\00:16:06.70
"His eyes are as
the eyes of fire... "
00:16:06.73\00:16:08.33
burning like a fire...
not because it's bad...
00:16:08.36\00:16:11.90
Ivor: That sounds scary,
like, "I don't want to look... "
00:16:11.93\00:16:13.64
but what He's saying is,
00:16:13.67\00:16:15.00
"Man! the passion
that I have for you...
00:16:15.04\00:16:17.91
I want you to
see it in my eyes. "
00:16:17.94\00:16:20.01
James: And it's
comforting... it's drawing...
00:16:20.04\00:16:21.48
and it's... you
can just look in...
00:16:21.54\00:16:22.88
what I'm talking
about right? Yvonne: Yeah.
00:16:22.91\00:16:24.25
James: You look into a
fire and you're just...
00:16:24.28\00:16:25.61
"Oooh... "
because... I've made...
00:16:25.65\00:16:27.55
it's scary
because we have a stove...
00:16:27.58\00:16:29.28
a wood stove in our house,
00:16:29.32\00:16:30.65
when I get up in the
morning, I start a fire
00:16:30.69\00:16:32.75
and my problem is,
00:16:32.79\00:16:34.16
I can be sitting there
looking at that fire...
00:16:34.19\00:16:35.86
I'm like, "No, I need
to be doing my devotions...
00:16:35.89\00:16:37.53
I need to be... " you know...
00:16:37.56\00:16:38.89
because I'm just
caught up looking at the fire.
00:16:38.93\00:16:40.30
Ivor: So fire...
when you're in love...
00:16:40.33\00:16:44.13
you feel the fire in your heart,
00:16:44.17\00:16:46.07
right, so, I want you
to think about this...
00:16:46.13\00:16:49.30
the Bible describes
heaven as a city of fire
00:16:49.34\00:16:52.44
right, so there's a sea
of glass mingled with... fire
00:16:52.47\00:16:56.01
who wants to stand on the
sea of glass mingled with fire
00:16:56.04\00:16:58.15
James: Yeah, see...
00:16:58.18\00:17:00.22
Ivor: Wait... wait a minute,
you know what I'm saying?
00:17:00.25\00:17:02.22
If you want to stand on the
sea of glass mingled with fire,
00:17:02.25\00:17:04.12
you'd better be... "fire proof"
00:17:04.19\00:17:07.09
you'd better be able to stand
in the fire and not be... what?
00:17:07.12\00:17:11.39
All: Burned...
Ivor: not be consumed...
00:17:11.43\00:17:13.06
God says, "I will allow
you to sit in my throne"
00:17:13.09\00:17:16.33
guess what? God's
throne is a throne of fire
00:17:16.36\00:17:19.53
his wheels... as burning fire,
his angels as ministering flames
00:17:19.57\00:17:23.84
so, heaven is
this city of fire, why?
00:17:23.87\00:17:26.07
Because it's all
love... it's love.
00:17:26.11\00:17:28.24
So, check this out, when
God created Adam and Eve,
00:17:28.28\00:17:32.15
they had no sin on them,
00:17:32.18\00:17:34.68
they were able to
stand in His burning presence
00:17:34.72\00:17:38.05
without being afraid...
00:17:38.09\00:17:39.42
they, you know,
but when they sinned...
00:17:39.45\00:17:43.02
guess what? They
became afraid of the fire.
00:17:43.06\00:17:46.29
So, when He comes to
them in the garden...
00:17:46.33\00:17:49.03
what are they doing?
00:17:49.06\00:17:50.40
they're hiding themselves, why?
00:17:50.43\00:17:52.10
Because they're
afraid of the fire.
00:17:52.13\00:17:54.00
So God's plan now
00:17:54.04\00:17:56.57
God is like... "Okay,
we've got to find some way
00:17:56.60\00:17:59.04
to get mankind to the place
00:17:59.07\00:18:01.31
where he can again
stand in my presence
00:18:01.34\00:18:04.01
and not be... what? Consumed.
00:18:04.05\00:18:06.75
So the burning bush...
00:18:06.78\00:18:08.22
Moses was like,
"Wait a minute...
00:18:08.25\00:18:11.05
how is it that this bush
burns but is not consumed?"
00:18:11.09\00:18:14.56
God was like, "Hey, Moses,
I just want to let you know
00:18:14.59\00:18:17.69
this... this symbol
of the burning bush...
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.69
I want you to understand that
00:18:19.73\00:18:21.06
this is my
alternate goal for man.
00:18:21.10\00:18:22.86
I want man to be able to
stand in my presence again
00:18:22.93\00:18:26.30
and not be afraid of the fire. "
00:18:26.33\00:18:27.67
James: When he came
down from the mountain,
00:18:27.70\00:18:29.04
they couldn't
even look at his face.
00:18:29.07\00:18:30.41
Ivor: They couldn't
even look at his face.
00:18:30.44\00:18:31.77
James: They're
like, "Awww... awww... "
00:18:31.81\00:18:33.14
Yvonne: That's
right, that's right.
00:18:33.17\00:18:34.51
James: That's not
God... that's someone
00:18:34.54\00:18:35.88
who's been in His
presence. Yvonne: Right.
00:18:35.91\00:18:37.25
Ivor: Remember
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
00:18:37.28\00:18:38.81
what happened to them?
00:18:38.88\00:18:40.22
James: That's what I was
thinking about this whole time.
00:18:40.25\00:18:41.58
Ivor: Then they were cast...
00:18:41.62\00:18:43.32
James: Don't take too much...
I'm coming back for that.
00:18:43.35\00:18:45.39
Ivor: Yeah, look, they were
cast into this fiery furnace
00:18:45.42\00:18:51.19
and what happened?
00:18:51.26\00:18:52.59
What happened to the
guys that threw them in?
00:18:52.63\00:18:54.30
Yvonne: They got consumed.
00:18:54.33\00:18:56.16
Ivor: They
weren't... what? Fire proof...
00:18:56.20\00:18:59.90
Shadrach,
Meshack and Abednego...
00:18:59.93\00:19:01.57
they were thrown into the fire
00:19:01.60\00:19:03.20
and it has no
power over them... why?
00:19:03.24\00:19:05.67
Because the Son of God
was in there with them.
00:19:05.71\00:19:09.24
So, when we
take all this back to
00:19:09.31\00:19:13.18
what happens with the
wicked at the end of time,
00:19:13.21\00:19:16.12
God is saying,
"Listen, you can't...
00:19:16.15\00:19:19.55
I will not allow you into heaven
00:19:19.62\00:19:22.99
because I love you too much,
00:19:23.02\00:19:25.03
because if I
let you into heaven,
00:19:25.06\00:19:28.63
you would be tormented forever.
00:19:28.66\00:19:32.13
You would be running from...
it would be eternal torture"
00:19:32.17\00:19:37.47
what God is telling us
is that it's not the wicked
00:19:37.51\00:19:43.04
that burn forever,
00:19:43.08\00:19:44.71
it's the
righteous that burn forever.
00:19:44.75\00:19:49.05
Yvonne: Wow! I see...
00:19:49.08\00:19:51.45
Ivor: Look at Isaiah 33...
00:19:51.49\00:19:53.15
James: That's the
one I was thinking of.
00:19:53.19\00:19:54.69
Ivor: Go check
it out. Yvonne: Wow!
00:19:54.72\00:19:56.22
James: Isaiah 33...
Yvonne: 33 what verse?
00:19:56.26\00:20:01.76
Ivor: Verse...
ah... um... 14... I think.
00:20:01.80\00:20:07.20
James: I got it marked
right here... it's verse 14.
00:20:07.24\00:20:08.84
Ivor: Yes, you want to read it.
00:20:08.87\00:20:10.21
Yvonne: Sure, "The
sinners in Zion are afraid;
00:20:10.24\00:20:12.27
fearfulness has
seized the hypocrites.
00:20:12.31\00:20:14.38
Who among us shall
dwell with a devouring fire?
00:20:14.41\00:20:17.61
Who among us shall dwell
with everlasting burnings?
00:20:17.65\00:20:20.78
He who walks righteously... "
00:20:20.82\00:20:22.75
Ivor: Okay, wait...
wait... wait... wait... wait...
00:20:22.78\00:20:24.32
Yvonne: Wow!
00:20:24.35\00:20:25.69
Ivor: What?
hold on... hold on...
00:20:25.72\00:20:27.76
wait a minute... hold on...
00:20:27.79\00:20:30.79
James: "In the
presence of the holy angels
00:20:30.83\00:20:32.16
and in the
presence of the Lamb. "
00:20:32.19\00:20:33.53
Ivor: Wait a minute...
I thought it's the wicked
00:20:33.56\00:20:35.36
that are going to dwell
with everlasting burnings.
00:20:35.40\00:20:37.53
Wait, what? The
Bible just said, what?
00:20:37.57\00:20:39.87
That it's the righteous?
00:20:39.90\00:20:41.40
James: It doesn't say
that yet because you said,
00:20:41.44\00:20:44.74
"Wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait... "
00:20:44.77\00:20:48.44
so far the
question is being asked...
00:20:48.48\00:20:50.25
now Yvonne is
going to tell us who...
00:20:50.28\00:20:52.11
Yvonne: "He who
walks righteously
00:20:52.18\00:20:53.98
and speaks uprightly,
00:20:54.02\00:20:55.38
he who despises the
gain of oppressions,
00:20:55.42\00:20:58.22
who gestures with his
hands refusing bribes,
00:20:58.25\00:21:01.09
who stops his ears
from hearing of bloodshed
00:21:01.12\00:21:03.96
and shuts his
eyes from seeing evil;
00:21:03.99\00:21:06.83
he will dwell on high:
00:21:06.86\00:21:09.66
his place of defense
would be the fortress of rocks:
00:21:09.70\00:21:12.77
bread will be given him;
his waters will be sure. "
00:21:12.80\00:21:15.80
Ivor: So it's the righteous
who stand in the presence of...
00:21:15.84\00:21:19.37
James: Verse 17 though...
00:21:19.41\00:21:20.74
Yvonne: "Your eye will
see the king in his beauty:
00:21:20.78\00:21:23.98
they will see the land
that is very far off. "
00:21:24.01\00:21:27.18
James: The King in
His beauty is dwelling
00:21:27.22\00:21:28.72
in the everlasting
flames. Ivor: Exactly...
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.29
James: the King in His beauty
00:21:30.32\00:21:31.65
is dwelling in the
everlasting flames.
00:21:31.69\00:21:33.02
they will see the
land that is very far off.
00:21:33.05\00:21:35.09
Ivor: In... I believe it's
Isaiah, I'm sorry... Ezekiel
00:21:35.12\00:21:39.33
where Ezekiel
catches a vision of God,
00:21:39.39\00:21:42.56
and he says, "Fire was
coming forth from Him... "
00:21:42.60\00:21:46.70
a stream of fire,
right, so, for the righteous,
00:21:46.74\00:21:50.84
oh man! this is
beautiful, right,
00:21:50.87\00:21:54.61
but the wicked... they were
not prepared for fire... why?
00:21:54.64\00:21:58.21
This is the reason why God
wants to baptize us with fire
00:21:58.25\00:22:01.75
because if He
baptizes us with fire, now...
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.75
yeah, we're ready
for fire when He comes.
00:22:04.79\00:22:07.69
So I always give this
example, when my son was little,
00:22:07.72\00:22:12.39
Joshua, he wanted
to dress just like me.
00:22:12.46\00:22:15.96
Anytime he looked like
me... he dressed like me,
00:22:16.00\00:22:19.03
he lost his mind... lost...
00:22:19.07\00:22:22.20
"Dad, you're wearing
jeans and I'm wearing jeans,
00:22:22.24\00:22:25.77
you've got on a T-shirt
and I've got on a T-shirt... "
00:22:25.81\00:22:29.28
and he would just
be like... I mean...
00:22:29.31\00:22:31.58
he would just... he wanted to
look just like his dad, right,
00:22:31.61\00:22:35.38
so guess what?
00:22:35.42\00:22:36.75
Jesus baptizes with fire
00:22:36.79\00:22:40.46
because He wants us
to look like the Father.
00:22:40.49\00:22:44.16
Yvonne: Come on
now, come on now.
00:22:44.23\00:22:45.59
Ivor: So when Jesus
comes in the clouds,
00:22:45.63\00:22:47.46
and we see
Him... we'll be like...
00:22:47.50\00:22:50.17
fire... fire...
00:22:50.20\00:22:56.17
James: Hmmm...
hmmm... Yvonne: Wow!
00:22:56.20\00:22:57.57
Ivor: God is trying
to get us on fire now,
00:22:57.61\00:23:00.48
so that we can stand
in His presence then.
00:23:00.51\00:23:03.31
So when the wicked... remember
at the end of the millennium,
00:23:03.35\00:23:06.38
when the wicked see
the righteous standing
00:23:06.41\00:23:09.05
in the city of glory,
00:23:09.08\00:23:11.55
they're going to be
like, "Wait a minute...
00:23:11.59\00:23:13.25
how is it that they stand in
that... and are not... " what?
00:23:13.29\00:23:18.03
James: Consumed. Ivor: Consumed.
00:23:18.06\00:23:19.39
And God is going to
have to explain to them,
00:23:19.43\00:23:22.03
"Listen, if I were
to let you into heaven,
00:23:22.06\00:23:24.73
it would be
eternal torment for you. "
00:23:24.77\00:23:26.94
And so, you know what He does?
00:23:26.97\00:23:28.54
I like to say it this way,
00:23:28.57\00:23:30.01
"With His great
big arms of fire,
00:23:30.07\00:23:31.97
He embraces the
wicked one final time... "
00:23:32.04\00:23:36.38
and in that embrace,
the wicked will feel...
00:23:36.41\00:23:39.58
this is not God
saying, "I hate you... "
00:23:39.61\00:23:42.72
This is God saying,
00:23:42.78\00:23:44.12
"This is what
heaven would be like
00:23:44.15\00:23:47.89
if you were in my presence"
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.62
and so the wicked will
feel the fire... it's real...
00:23:49.66\00:23:53.33
they will feel... they
will pay for their sins...
00:23:53.36\00:23:56.77
however long that may
be, we can talk about that
00:23:56.80\00:24:00.17
but in that
punishment, they will feel,
00:24:00.20\00:24:02.84
"Yes, yes, I get it now,
00:24:02.87\00:24:04.37
if I were to enter
that place, forever,
00:24:04.44\00:24:07.28
this is what I would experience,
'Lord put me out... please... '"
00:24:07.31\00:24:10.11
and He does the merciful thing
00:24:10.15\00:24:11.61
after they have
suffered for their sins,
00:24:11.65\00:24:15.68
He allows them to become ashes.
00:24:15.72\00:24:18.35
James: Hmmm...
hmmm... Yvonne: Hmmm...
00:24:18.39\00:24:21.16
James: And Isaiah
28 brings this out...
00:24:21.19\00:24:23.89
that's a verse that we don't
have a lot of time to go into...
00:24:23.93\00:24:27.20
but that's a verse
that will help our Viewers
00:24:27.23\00:24:28.93
to understand what it means
00:24:28.96\00:24:30.93
when it says in Revelation
20 it says in verse 13,
00:24:30.97\00:24:33.67
"And the sea gave up
the dead which were in it;
00:24:33.70\00:24:36.40
and death and hell... "
00:24:36.44\00:24:37.97
that word "hell"
means Hades or the grave...
00:24:38.04\00:24:39.67
Ivor: It's not a burning place.
00:24:39.71\00:24:42.04
James: Right, "delivered up
the dead which were in them... "
00:24:42.08\00:24:43.78
and then they're cast
into this Lake of Fire
00:24:43.85\00:24:45.18
which you just described...
00:24:45.21\00:24:46.55
"They were judged... "
00:24:46.58\00:24:47.92
and that word "judged"
means punished... in the Greek,
00:24:47.95\00:24:49.88
they were punished every
man according to their works
00:24:49.92\00:24:51.79
because, according to Isaiah
28 and it would start here with
00:24:51.82\00:24:57.73
verse 14 and you'd
read all the way through
00:24:57.76\00:25:01.56
to verse 21... which describes
this as a "strange act,"
00:25:01.60\00:25:05.63
according to Isaiah 28,
the foundation stone is Jesus
00:25:05.67\00:25:09.64
and everyone is...
their agreement with death
00:25:09.67\00:25:13.01
and the grave is annulled,
00:25:13.07\00:25:14.41
they are resurrected from
the grave... Isaiah 28 is saying
00:25:14.44\00:25:16.61
and they see this
report and the report is
00:25:16.64\00:25:19.21
the Plan of
Salvation, the books are opened,
00:25:19.28\00:25:21.68
the Lamb's Book
of Life is opened,
00:25:21.72\00:25:23.05
and their record is opened and
according to Romans chapter 2,
00:25:23.08\00:25:25.62
they'd been treasuring up
wrath against this day of wrath
00:25:25.65\00:25:28.42
in the righteous revelation
of the judgment of God
00:25:28.46\00:25:31.03
so God gives this righteous
revelation of His love,
00:25:31.06\00:25:33.60
which embraces him
00:25:33.63\00:25:35.03
because the cross is an embrace
of the whole world in love
00:25:35.06\00:25:39.53
but that embrace
has been rejected
00:25:39.57\00:25:42.60
and they feel uncomfortable
and it burns... it hurts...
00:25:42.64\00:25:45.54
and so, this embrace hurts
00:25:45.57\00:25:47.68
because in
contrast to this embrace
00:25:47.71\00:25:50.25
that God reveals to them
through the Plan of Salvation
00:25:50.28\00:25:52.75
that includes everyone,
00:25:52.78\00:25:54.12
they see their works,
00:25:54.15\00:25:55.75
they see their unrighteousness,
they see their rejection...
00:25:55.78\00:25:58.05
and so, that contrast
is just tearing them up...
00:25:58.09\00:26:03.09
it's torturing them...
they can't believe that they...
00:26:03.12\00:26:05.46
why didn't they? How come?
00:26:05.49\00:26:06.96
And yet, at the same time
they don't want... they can't...
00:26:07.00\00:26:10.03
and they
recognize this as Ivor said,
00:26:10.07\00:26:11.90
I love the way you said that,
00:26:11.93\00:26:13.27
they recognize that God
is indeed being merciful
00:26:13.30\00:26:16.77
in ending their lives
00:26:16.81\00:26:18.14
because they would
be tortured for eternity
00:26:18.17\00:26:22.08
if they were to be in that City.
00:26:22.11\00:26:23.45
Ivor: Yeah, it's
important to make this point,
00:26:23.48\00:26:25.51
that it's the fire that is
everlasting... not the wicked...
00:26:25.55\00:26:29.22
James: Not the punishment.
00:26:29.25\00:26:30.59
Ivor: In other words,
the wicked don't... yeah...
00:26:30.62\00:26:32.95
the wicked don't...
00:26:32.99\00:26:34.32
what's everlasting is the fire
00:26:34.36\00:26:36.02
so when we read all those
verses about everlasting fire,
00:26:36.06\00:26:39.03
it's not "everlasting
wicked" it's "everlasting fire"
00:26:39.06\00:26:42.00
God is the "everlasting fire. "
00:26:42.03\00:26:43.60
James: God is
immortal. Ivor: God is immortal.
00:26:43.63\00:26:45.90
The Lake of Fire
is the presence of God
00:26:45.93\00:26:49.00
consuming the earth.
00:26:49.04\00:26:50.84
so the wicked aren't...
they're not "fire proof"
00:26:50.91\00:26:53.64
they get burnt up to ashes.
00:26:53.68\00:26:55.44
The righteous are "fire proof"
so who wants to burn forever?
00:26:55.48\00:26:58.71
Ivor: Raises his right hand.
00:26:58.78\00:27:02.58
Right, they that turn many
to righteousness shall do what?
00:27:02.62\00:27:04.82
"Shine as the stars forever. "
00:27:04.85\00:27:08.32
Hmmm... hmmm... Yes...
00:27:08.36\00:27:09.96
Yvonne: Ah! this is beautiful...
00:27:09.99\00:27:11.89
James: It is...
it's a beautiful picture
00:27:11.93\00:27:13.26
and I love this whole idea
of the fire representing God
00:27:13.29\00:27:15.96
and God is love and
that is unselfish love
00:27:16.00\00:27:18.93
and so, there's a
manifestation on unselfishness
00:27:18.97\00:27:21.37
that repels the wicked...
but draws the righteous
00:27:21.40\00:27:23.77
because we
bathe ourselves in it,
00:27:23.81\00:27:25.67
we finally come to the place,
in our lives, in our choices
00:27:25.74\00:27:28.94
and the way we
live, the way we eat...
00:27:28.98\00:27:30.75
things we
watch... everything we do,
00:27:30.78\00:27:32.65
is unselfish love toward God...
00:27:32.68\00:27:34.42
it's unselfish
worship toward God.
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.35
Ivor: We got to
get on fire, now.
00:27:36.38\00:27:38.22
James: Yeah, amen, so that
wraps up Revelation chapter 20
00:27:38.25\00:27:43.09
and again, I
just want to emphasize
00:27:43.12\00:27:44.89
that this is a powerful chapter
because it reveals punishment
00:27:44.93\00:27:48.26
but it reveals... and justice...
00:27:48.30\00:27:49.86
but it reveals it in
the context of God's love
00:27:49.90\00:27:52.40
and that's the bottom line
00:27:52.43\00:27:53.97
for everything
we've studied here...
00:27:54.00\00:27:55.70
is the love of
God, so praise God.
00:27:55.74\00:27:57.44