If a man dies
shall he live again?
00:00:01.61\00:00:07.17
What does it mean to be absent
00:00:07.20\00:00:08.98
from the body and
present with the Lord?
00:00:09.01\00:00:13.56
Did Jesus go with a thief
to paradise on Good Friday?
00:00:13.59\00:00:19.70
Did the souls of dead people
00:00:19.73\00:00:21.43
really cry out
from below the altar?
00:00:21.46\00:00:25.68
Pastor Bohr
answers these questions
00:00:25.71\00:00:27.65
and more in the amazing series.
00:00:27.68\00:00:35.03
Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:35.06\00:00:37.45
Our Father and our
God, we thank You once again
00:00:37.48\00:00:40.08
for the privilege of
being in Your presence.
00:00:40.11\00:00:42.60
And as we study today about
"The Dead Who Stand Before God"
00:00:42.63\00:00:48.44
we ask that You will
give us divine wisdom
00:00:48.47\00:00:50.57
that we might be able
to understand in what sense
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the dead do stand before God.
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There is much misunderstanding
in the Christian world
00:00:57.44\00:00:59.92
today about
many of these verses.
00:00:59.95\00:01:01.89
Now I ask Lord,
that as people watch
00:01:01.92\00:01:05.01
this presentation,
that You will remove
00:01:05.04\00:01:07.05
every
preconceived idea and notion
00:01:07.08\00:01:09.15
from their minds and
hearts that they might
00:01:09.18\00:01:11.52
see the truth as it is in Jesus.
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And I thank you
Father, for hearing our prayer
00:01:13.93\00:01:16.76
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
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As I mentioned in my
prayer we are going to study
00:01:21.82\00:01:25.07
today about "The Dead
Who Stand Before God."
00:01:25.10\00:01:30.30
This is a verse that we
find in Revelation 20:12,
00:01:30.33\00:01:37.63
but we're not
gonna go there first
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we are going to go first of
all to several other concepts
00:01:39.33\00:01:43.38
that will set the
stage for us to understand
00:01:43.41\00:01:46.17
that particular verse.
00:01:46.20\00:01:48.35
The first thing
that I want us to notice
00:01:48.38\00:01:50.48
is a few things about
the pre-advent judgment.
00:01:50.51\00:01:54.80
You see, the Bible teaches that
if there's gonna be a judgment
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before the second coming of
Jesus and it is the righteous
00:01:57.29\00:02:01.40
who are going to be
judged before Jesus comes.
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Now let's turn in our
Bibles to Revelation 14: 6, 7.
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Revelation 14:6, 7.
What I want you to notice
00:02:11.70\00:02:16.73
here is that the judgment begins
00:02:16.76\00:02:18.98
before the
second coming of Jesus.
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That's the point
that I want us to notice
00:02:21.86\00:02:23.60
from this passage
in Revelation 14:6, 7.
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It says there, "Then I
saw another angel flying
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in the midst of heaven,
having the everlasting gospel
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to preach to those who dwell
on the earth to every nation,
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tribe, tongue, and people.
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Saying with a loud voice,
'Fear God and give glory to Him,
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for the hour of His
judgment will come."'
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Oh, thank you very much.
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I was hoping that
some of you would protest
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because there is no Bible
that I know off that says,
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"For the hour of
His judgment will come."
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It says, "For the hour
of His judgment has come
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and worship Him who
made heaven and earth,
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the sea and the
springs of water."
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Obviously this is
speaking about a judgment
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that takes place before
the second coming of Jesus.
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And you say how do we know that?
00:03:21.43\00:03:22.95
Because, in Revelation 14 after
this message we have two more.
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We have the
Second Angel's Message,
00:03:27.81\00:03:29.51
calling God's
people out of Babylon.
00:03:29.54\00:03:31.51
And we have a
Third Angel's Message,
00:03:31.54\00:03:33.22
warning people about
the mark of the beast
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and warning about worshipping
the image of the beast.
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So you'll notice
here it says the judgment
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has come but
after the announcement
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that their judgment has come,
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you still have
the second message
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and the third
message and then you have
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the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
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So the hour of
God's judgment begins
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before the
second coming of Jesus
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when the first angel
proclaims his message.
00:03:59.01\00:04:02.78
Now the question is, where
does that judgment take place?
00:04:02.81\00:04:06.33
Go with me Daniel
7:9, 10. Daniel 7:9, 10.
00:04:06.36\00:04:13.83
And the point that
I want us to notice
00:04:13.86\00:04:15.62
from this particular
passage is that the judgment
00:04:15.65\00:04:18.61
takes place in heaven.
00:04:18.64\00:04:21.04
It says there
in Daniel 7: 9, 10,
00:04:21.07\00:04:24.62
"I watched till
thrones were put in place,
00:04:24.65\00:04:28.79
and the Ancient
of Days was seated,"
00:04:28.82\00:04:31.88
that's called the father.
00:04:31.91\00:04:33.47
"His garment was white as
snow, and the hair of His head
00:04:33.50\00:04:37.48
was like pure wool.
00:04:37.51\00:04:40.11
His throne was a fiery flame,
its wheels a burning fire.
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A fiery stream issued and
came forth from before Him.
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A thousand
thousands ministered to Him,
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Ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him.
00:04:51.71\00:04:55.87
The court was seated,
and the books were opened."
00:04:55.90\00:04:59.83
Question where is
this judgment taking place?
00:04:59.86\00:05:03.73
Very clearly in heaven,
where the Ancient of Days
00:05:03.76\00:05:07.55
is found that's
where God the Father is.
00:05:07.58\00:05:10.04
And we are told here
that "A thousand thousands
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ministered to Him
and Ten thousand times
00:05:12.59\00:05:15.33
ten thousand stood before Him."
00:05:15.36\00:05:17.20
Those are the angels.
00:05:17.23\00:05:19.25
In other words in heaven
is where that court is seated
00:05:19.28\00:05:23.83
and the books are opened.
00:05:23.86\00:05:26.97
So we've noticed two things
so far about the judgment.
00:05:27.00\00:05:30.10
Number one, the judgment begins
00:05:30.13\00:05:33.03
before the
second coming of Jesus.
00:05:33.06\00:05:35.84
Number two, that judgment
00:05:35.87\00:05:38.10
takes places in
heaven not in earth.
00:05:38.13\00:05:41.62
Now let's notice one other point
00:05:41.65\00:05:44.30
which is very, very important.
00:05:44.33\00:05:46.22
2 Corinthians
5:10. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
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This is a very well
known verse probably
00:05:53.93\00:05:56.72
you read it many,
many times and the point
00:05:56.75\00:05:59.43
that I want us to
get from this verse
00:05:59.46\00:06:01.32
is that all of
us without exception
00:06:01.35\00:06:04.17
will have to
appear before the judgment
00:06:04.20\00:06:06.94
seat of Christ
to render an account
00:06:06.97\00:06:09.59
for what we did during our life.
00:06:09.62\00:06:12.10
Notice 2 Corinthians
5:10, "For we must all appear
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before the
judgment seat of Christ."
00:06:18.98\00:06:21.24
How many must
appear in the judgment?
00:06:21.27\00:06:23.11
All. Notice, "That
each one may receive
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the things done in the body,
00:06:28.37\00:06:30.99
according to what he has
done, whether good or bad."
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So what is
determined when people appear
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before the
judgment seat of Christ?
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What is determined is the reward
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they are going
to receive depending
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on what they did while
they lived in the body.
00:06:44.76\00:06:47.23
We've already
knows that, that means,
00:06:47.26\00:06:48.65
while they lived on this earth
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with this model
corruptible body that we have.
00:06:50.93\00:06:55.94
Now I would like to notice
along with you John 5:28, 29.
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We're gonna answer very
important question here.
00:07:02.63\00:07:04.78
Where do the dead go until
the moment of the resurrection?
00:07:04.81\00:07:11.10
Go with me to John
5:28, 29 and the point
00:07:11.13\00:07:14.42
that I want you to get from this
particular passage John 5:28, 29
00:07:14.45\00:07:19.12
is that when a person
dies they go to the grave
00:07:19.15\00:07:23.13
until Jesus comes to call
them forth from the grave.
00:07:23.16\00:07:26.85
Notice, John 5:28, 29.
00:07:26.88\00:07:30.13
Here Jesus is speaking,
"Do not marvel at this,
00:07:30.16\00:07:34.17
for the hour is coming in which
all who are in their graves
00:07:34.20\00:07:40.64
will hear His voice and
come forth-- those who have
00:07:40.67\00:07:44.43
done good, to the
resurrection of life,
00:07:44.46\00:07:46.51
and those who have done evil,
00:07:46.54\00:07:48.48
to the
resurrection of condemnation."
00:07:48.51\00:07:52.38
Now the question is when will
people receive their reward?
00:07:52.41\00:07:55.90
Do they receive
their reward when they die,
00:07:55.93\00:07:59.01
supposedly and go to heaven
or when they die and supposedly
00:07:59.04\00:08:03.20
and go to hell
or do people receive
00:08:03.23\00:08:05.60
their rewards when Jesus comes.
00:08:05.63\00:08:08.24
The Bible is very,
very clear that people
00:08:08.27\00:08:10.71
receive their
rewards when Jesus comes.
00:08:10.74\00:08:13.36
Notice Matthew 16:27.
00:08:13.39\00:08:16.64
Matthew 16:27
tells us very clearly
00:08:16.67\00:08:20.92
when people will
receive their reward.
00:08:20.95\00:08:24.51
Here Jesus is speaking
once again and He says,
00:08:24.54\00:08:27.57
"For the Son of Man
will come in the glory
00:08:27.60\00:08:30.42
of His Father with His
angels, and then He will reward
00:08:30.45\00:08:36.46
each according to his works."
00:08:36.49\00:08:39.33
When will people
receive their rewards?
00:08:39.36\00:08:42.15
It's at the moment when
Jesus comes with His angels,
00:08:42.18\00:08:45.99
it is not at the
moment when people die.
00:08:46.02\00:08:48.74
People don't go to heaven,
00:08:48.77\00:08:50.10
they don't go to
hell when they die.
00:08:50.13\00:08:52.29
They will be
rewarded when Jesus comes.
00:08:52.32\00:08:55.46
Now, let's review
what we've studied so far.
00:08:55.49\00:08:58.06
Number one, the
judgment of the righteous
00:08:58.09\00:09:02.73
particularly begins before
the second coming of Jesus.
00:09:02.76\00:09:06.94
Point number two, that
judgment takes place where?
00:09:06.97\00:09:11.04
The judgment
takes place in heaven.
00:09:11.07\00:09:13.77
Number three,
how many must appear?
00:09:13.80\00:09:16.33
Every one must appear before
the judgment seat of Christ.
00:09:16.36\00:09:21.72
Point number
four, where are people
00:09:21.75\00:09:24.45
until the moment when
they receive their reward?
00:09:24.48\00:09:26.69
They are in the grave.
00:09:26.72\00:09:29.43
And when is it that
they will receive the reward?
00:09:29.46\00:09:32.10
When Jesus comes with
all of His Holy Angels.
00:09:32.13\00:09:36.74
Now immediately
we ask this question
00:09:36.77\00:09:39.56
which is very important.
00:09:39.59\00:09:41.66
If those who are in
their graves receive
00:09:41.69\00:09:46.16
their reward when Jesus comes
00:09:46.19\00:09:50.37
must they have been
judged before to determine
00:09:50.40\00:09:55.25
what their
reward was going to be?
00:09:55.28\00:09:58.03
Absolutely, yes.
00:09:58.06\00:09:59.78
Now the question
is how did they appear
00:09:59.81\00:10:03.67
before the
judgment seat of Christ,
00:10:03.70\00:10:05.80
before Jesus came
if they were dead?
00:10:05.83\00:10:09.33
Are you
understanding my question?
00:10:09.36\00:10:12.39
The Bible says
that "We must all appear
00:10:12.42\00:10:14.72
before the
judgment seat of Christ."
00:10:14.75\00:10:16.96
That judgment takes place before
the second coming in heaven.
00:10:16.99\00:10:20.48
How can a person who
died in Christ appear
00:10:20.51\00:10:23.45
before the judgment
seat of Christ in heaven
00:10:23.48\00:10:26.11
before Jesus
comes to reward them?
00:10:26.14\00:10:28.80
Are you
understanding my question?
00:10:28.83\00:10:30.82
The answer is simple.
00:10:30.85\00:10:32.99
The righteous who
died in Jesus do not appear
00:10:33.02\00:10:37.08
before the judgment seat
of Christ in person alive
00:10:37.11\00:10:42.08
but they appear before
the judgment seat of Christ
00:10:42.11\00:10:45.33
through the records that
were kept of their lives.
00:10:45.36\00:10:49.52
In other words they stand before
00:10:49.55\00:10:51.35
the throne of Jesus
Christ not in person
00:10:51.38\00:10:54.28
because they're in their graves.
00:10:54.31\00:10:56.15
They stand before the
judgment seat of Christ
00:10:56.18\00:10:58.51
through the
records that were kept
00:10:58.54\00:11:01.05
while they were
living in the body.
00:11:01.08\00:11:03.85
Now that doesn't
mean that we're not going
00:11:03.88\00:11:05.79
to have a body when Jesus comes.
00:11:05.82\00:11:07.53
In the body means,
in this present earthly,
00:11:07.56\00:11:10.71
corruptible, model existence.
00:11:10.74\00:11:13.25
Are you
understanding what I am saying?
00:11:13.28\00:11:14.90
Now allow me to read
you a couple of interesting
00:11:14.93\00:11:17.04
statements from the
book, "The Great Controversy"
00:11:17.07\00:11:20.06
written by Ellen
White where she explains,
00:11:20.09\00:11:22.31
how the righteous will appear
00:11:22.34\00:11:24.58
before the judgment seat
of Christ if they're dead,
00:11:24.61\00:11:27.03
if they're in their graves,
00:11:27.06\00:11:28.42
if they're not
rewarded till Jesus comes.
00:11:28.45\00:11:30.69
Notice, Great Controversy,
page 483 she says this,
00:11:30.72\00:11:35.99
"As the books of record
are opened in the judgment."
00:11:36.02\00:11:40.37
What's opened in the Judgment?
00:11:40.40\00:11:41.72
The books of record.
"The lives," notice this,
00:11:41.75\00:11:45.24
"The lives of all who
have believed on Jesus
00:11:45.27\00:11:49.32
come in review before God.
00:11:49.35\00:11:52.17
Beginning with those who
first lived upon the earth,
00:11:52.20\00:11:56.57
our Advocate presents the cases
of each successive generation
00:11:56.60\00:12:02.32
and closes with the living."
00:12:02.35\00:12:05.92
What is it that is
examined in the judgment?
00:12:05.95\00:12:08.74
She says, "As
the books of record
00:12:08.77\00:12:12.59
are opened in the judgment,
the lives of all who have
00:12:12.62\00:12:16.26
believed on Jesus
come in review before God."
00:12:16.29\00:12:18.92
How are people then standing
00:12:18.95\00:12:20.73
before the
judgment seat of Christ?
00:12:20.76\00:12:22.47
They are not
standing there personally,
00:12:22.50\00:12:24.47
they are standing
there through their records.
00:12:24.50\00:12:27.40
Are you
following what I am saying?
00:12:27.43\00:12:28.97
This is extremely
important for what we're gonna
00:12:29.00\00:12:31.19
study in Revelation 20:12.
00:12:31.22\00:12:33.90
Notice the second statement
is in Great Controversy,
00:12:33.93\00:12:37.14
page 482, the page immediately
00:12:37.17\00:12:40.17
before where I read from.
00:12:40.20\00:12:42.16
"The righteous
dead will not be raised
00:12:42.19\00:12:46.23
until after the judgment."
00:12:46.26\00:12:48.55
Is that point clear
from what we've studied?
00:12:48.58\00:12:50.27
"The righteous dead will not be
raised until after the judgment
00:12:50.30\00:12:55.39
at which they
are accounted worthy
00:12:55.42\00:13:00.31
of 'the resurrection of life.'"
00:13:00.34\00:13:01.70
What is that, that determines
00:13:01.73\00:13:02.94
that the
righteous dead are worthy
00:13:02.97\00:13:04.81
of the resurrection of life?
00:13:04.84\00:13:06.24
It's the fact that their
life is examined before hand
00:13:06.27\00:13:09.00
and the reward is made
at out to be given to them
00:13:09.03\00:13:13.23
when they're resurrected.
00:13:13.26\00:13:14.83
Then she says
this and I'll begin
00:13:14.86\00:13:16.70
with the beginning
of the statement again.
00:13:16.73\00:13:18.49
"The righteous
dead will not be raised
00:13:18.52\00:13:20.18
until after the judgment
at which they are accounted
00:13:20.21\00:13:23.38
worthy of "the
resurrection of life.'"
00:13:23.41\00:13:25.18
Hence here
comes the key portion.
00:13:25.21\00:13:27.42
"Hence they will not be present
in person at the tribunal
00:13:27.45\00:13:33.58
when their records are examined
and their cases decided."
00:13:33.61\00:13:39.02
In other words,
they are not going
00:13:39.05\00:13:41.04
to be there in
person, they appear
00:13:41.07\00:13:43.34
before the
judgment seat of Christ
00:13:43.37\00:13:45.34
through the
records of their lives.
00:13:45.37\00:13:49.12
Raise your hands
if you understanding
00:13:49.15\00:13:50.60
what I am saying.
00:13:50.63\00:13:51.66
Very, very well,
a hundred percent.
00:13:51.69\00:13:54.58
Now let's go to
Revelation 6:15-17.
00:13:54.61\00:13:59.92
Revelation 6:15-17.
By the way we've already
00:13:59.95\00:14:05.16
spoken about the
judgment of the righteous
00:14:05.19\00:14:07.09
they're in their
graves, they are judged worthy
00:14:07.12\00:14:10.32
of life before Jesus
comes, when Jesus comes
00:14:10.35\00:14:12.98
He gives them their
reward at the second coming.
00:14:13.01\00:14:16.01
But now we're gonna
talk about the wicked.
00:14:16.04\00:14:17.96
What happens with the wicked?
00:14:17.99\00:14:19.57
Notice
Revelation 6:15-17. 6:15-17.
00:14:19.60\00:14:26.00
Then the sky and their key words
00:14:26.03\00:14:28.62
that I am going
to underline here,
00:14:28.65\00:14:30.23
that I want you to remember.
00:14:30.26\00:14:31.32
"The sky or heaven
receded as a scroll
00:14:31.35\00:14:36.26
when it is rolled
up, and every mountain
00:14:36.29\00:14:39.80
and island was
moved out of its place."
00:14:39.83\00:14:43.97
This is speaking about
the second coming of Jesus.
00:14:44.00\00:14:46.34
What happened with the sky?
00:14:46.37\00:14:47.65
The sky receded as a scroll,
00:14:47.68\00:14:49.30
in other words
the sky disappeared.
00:14:49.33\00:14:50.77
And it says every island
and every mountain were what?
00:14:50.80\00:14:55.14
Moved out of their
places, in other words
00:14:55.17\00:14:57.30
they weren't found any more.
00:14:57.33\00:14:59.28
Notice, verse 15, "And
the kings of the earth,
00:14:59.31\00:15:02.26
the great men, the
rich men, the commanders,
00:15:02.29\00:15:05.36
the mighty men, every
slave and every free man,
00:15:05.39\00:15:08.69
hid themselves in the caves
00:15:08.72\00:15:11.03
and in the
rocks of the mountains
00:15:11.06\00:15:13.72
and said to the
mountains and rocks,
00:15:13.75\00:15:15.58
'Fall on us and
hide us from the,'"
00:15:15.61\00:15:19.20
I want you to
remember this word,
00:15:19.23\00:15:20.27
"from the face of Him
who sits on the throne."
00:15:20.30\00:15:24.16
Remember the word throne.
00:15:24.19\00:15:25.58
"And from the wrath of the Lamb,
00:15:25.61\00:15:27.36
For the great day
of His wrath has come,
00:15:27.39\00:15:29.41
and who is able to stand?"
00:15:29.44\00:15:31.32
Question, what great event is
being described in these verses?
00:15:31.35\00:15:34.36
There's no doubt
whatsoever that is describing
00:15:34.39\00:15:37.11
the second coming of Jesus.
00:15:37.14\00:15:38.82
What happens at the
second coming of Jesus?
00:15:38.85\00:15:41.12
The sky recedes as a scroll.
00:15:41.15\00:15:44.15
In other words, the sky
is rolled up and disappears.
00:15:44.18\00:15:46.86
Every mountain and every island
are moved out of their places,
00:15:46.89\00:15:51.51
which means that they
are no longer, what? Found.
00:15:51.54\00:15:54.85
And then the wicked
cry hide us from the, what?
00:15:54.88\00:15:58.60
From the face of the one
who is seated on the throne.
00:15:58.63\00:16:03.25
Now Revelation
20:11 picks up on this
00:16:03.28\00:16:08.86
scene of Revelation Chapter 6.
00:16:08.89\00:16:10.86
Go with me to Revelation
20:11. Revelation 20:11.
00:16:10.89\00:16:16.70
This verse is describing
00:16:16.73\00:16:18.42
the same thing as
Revelation 6:15-17.
00:16:18.45\00:16:22.15
This verse is
describing in other words
00:16:22.18\00:16:24.18
the second
coming of Jesus Christ.
00:16:24.21\00:16:25.83
Notice Revelation 20:11,
00:16:25.86\00:16:29.92
"Then I saw a
great white throne,"
00:16:29.95\00:16:32.91
was there a throne in the
passage that we just read?
00:16:32.94\00:16:35.13
Absolutely. "I saw
a great white throne
00:16:35.16\00:16:38.38
and Him who sat
on it, from whose?"
00:16:38.41\00:16:42.24
Do we find the word face
in the other passage? Yes.
00:16:42.27\00:16:45.30
"From whose
face," what happened?
00:16:45.33\00:16:47.28
"Earth and
heaven," what? "Fled away."
00:16:47.31\00:16:51.15
Did we notice that
in Revelation 6, sure.
00:16:51.18\00:16:53.72
And now notice, "And
there was found," no what?
00:16:53.75\00:16:56.38
"No place for them."
00:16:56.41\00:16:58.43
The very same word that's
used in Revelation Chapter 6.
00:16:58.46\00:17:01.31
So what is being
described in Revelation 20:11?
00:17:01.34\00:17:05.31
What's being described
00:17:05.34\00:17:06.92
is the same thing as
in Revelation 6:15-17.
00:17:06.95\00:17:10.73
It is the second coming
of Jesus in power and glory.
00:17:10.76\00:17:14.98
Let me ask you at this
time who receives their rewards?
00:17:15.01\00:17:20.23
The righteous. Do
the wicked received
00:17:20.26\00:17:21.98
their rewards here
at this moment? No.
00:17:22.01\00:17:24.20
The righteous
receive their rewards.
00:17:24.23\00:17:26.29
Jesus says that He is
going to give His reward
00:17:26.32\00:17:28.58
when He comes with
His angels for his people.
00:17:28.61\00:17:31.63
But the question is
what about the wicked
00:17:31.66\00:17:34.11
when Jesus comes?
Notice, Revelation 20:12,
00:17:34.14\00:17:38.43
here is our key verse that we're
studying in our topic today.
00:17:38.46\00:17:41.26
Revelation 20:12
what has just taken place?
00:17:41.29\00:17:46.36
Let me ask you what
has just taken place
00:17:46.39\00:17:48.19
according to
what we just noticed?
00:17:48.22\00:17:49.74
The second
coming of Jesus, right.
00:17:49.77\00:17:52.35
Now I want you to
notice in verse 12,
00:17:52.38\00:17:55.24
the very next verse
something very interesting.
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.61
It says, "And I saw the dead."
00:17:57.64\00:18:04.55
Which dead? Which dead
do you think these are.
00:18:04.58\00:18:09.17
the righteous dead? No.
00:18:09.20\00:18:11.38
Let's continue reading.
00:18:11.41\00:18:12.87
"And I saw the
dead, small and great,
00:18:12.90\00:18:16.17
standing before God."
00:18:16.20\00:18:17.77
You say, now wait a minute.
00:18:17.80\00:18:18.99
How can dead
people stand before God?
00:18:19.02\00:18:21.40
He saw the dead,
standing before God.
00:18:21.43\00:18:23.95
Is this after the second
coming in the previous verse?
00:18:23.98\00:18:26.19
Absolutely. And now
notice, "And books were opened.
00:18:26.22\00:18:32.30
And another book was opened."
00:18:32.33\00:18:34.34
Notice books and book,
"another book was opened,"
00:18:34.37\00:18:37.84
which is the Book of Life.
00:18:37.87\00:18:39.26
And now notice, "And the dead,"
00:18:39.29\00:18:41.27
by the way were
these people dead?
00:18:41.30\00:18:44.60
Yeah, it says I saw the
dead standing before God
00:18:44.63\00:18:47.61
and it says,
"The dead," were what?
00:18:47.64\00:18:50.02
"Were judged
according to their works,
00:18:50.05\00:18:52.11
by the things which
were written in the," what?
00:18:52.14\00:18:55.21
"In the books." Now two
questions beg to be asked.
00:18:55.24\00:18:58.30
Number one, how can
dead people stand before God?
00:18:58.33\00:19:03.11
Before God's judgment bar.
00:19:03.14\00:19:05.40
Question number
two, who are these dead
00:19:05.43\00:19:10.23
that are spoken of
in Revelation 20:12?
00:19:10.26\00:19:13.41
The answers to these
two questions will clarify
00:19:13.44\00:19:16.84
what it means when the Bible
00:19:16.87\00:19:19.14
says that the
dead stand before God.
00:19:19.17\00:19:23.33
Well, allow me to tell
you first of all that the dead
00:19:23.36\00:19:25.94
who stand before God
after the second coming
00:19:25.97\00:19:28.27
are not the righteous
dead, because the righteous dead
00:19:28.30\00:19:30.86
were judged before Jesus came.
00:19:30.89\00:19:32.92
So this must be what's dead?
00:19:32.95\00:19:34.85
It must be the wicked dead.
00:19:34.88\00:19:37.61
Now go with me
to Revelation 20:5
00:19:37.64\00:19:40.32
and I am only gonna read a
portion of Revelation 20:5.
00:19:40.35\00:19:44.29
And the reason I am
only gonna read a portion
00:19:44.32\00:19:46.31
is because this is a
parenthetical statement
00:19:46.34\00:19:48.77
like if you go to
the NIV, you'll notice
00:19:48.80\00:19:51.10
that what I am gonna
read is placed in parenthesis.
00:19:51.13\00:19:53.77
In other words, it breaks
00:19:53.80\00:19:54.86
the flow of thought
in Revelation Chapter 20.
00:19:54.89\00:19:57.73
And so I am only going to
read this particular portion
00:19:57.76\00:20:01.34
because it has a very important
meaning for us to understand
00:20:01.37\00:20:05.72
what the Bible
means when it says that
00:20:05.75\00:20:07.13
the dead stand before God.
00:20:07.16\00:20:09.03
Notice Revelation 20:5,
"But the rest of the dead
00:20:09.06\00:20:15.85
did not live again
until the thousand years
00:20:15.88\00:20:20.90
were," what? "Finished."
00:20:20.93\00:20:23.64
Who are the rest
of the dead here?
00:20:23.67\00:20:25.44
They have to be the wicked,
because the previous verse
00:20:25.47\00:20:29.02
says blessed are those who
00:20:29.05\00:20:30.48
resurrect in the
first resurrection.
00:20:30.51\00:20:33.83
They will live, they will reign
with Jesus a thousand years.
00:20:33.86\00:20:38.73
So, if they're gonna reign
with Jesus a thousand years,
00:20:38.76\00:20:41.27
and they lived
again at the beginning
00:20:41.30\00:20:43.67
of the thousand years it must
mean that they're resurrected
00:20:43.70\00:20:46.74
at the second coming of Jesus.
00:20:46.77\00:20:48.44
So who are the rest of the dead
that did not live again until
00:20:48.47\00:20:52.24
the thousand
years were finished?
00:20:52.27\00:20:53.72
It must be the what?
00:20:53.75\00:20:55.39
It must be the wicked dead.
00:20:55.42\00:20:58.72
Now what are these wicked dead
00:20:58.75\00:21:00.10
doing according to the
text that we're studying?
00:21:00.13\00:21:02.80
The dead it says
were standing before whom?
00:21:02.83\00:21:06.76
Before God. Now
what does that mean
00:21:06.79\00:21:09.11
that the dead were
standing before God?
00:21:09.14\00:21:12.16
Listen folks, it
means the same thing
00:21:12.19\00:21:14.93
as the righteous
dead standing before God.
00:21:14.96\00:21:17.84
How did the righteous
dead stand before God?
00:21:17.87\00:21:20.80
The record of their
lives were examined.
00:21:20.83\00:21:23.69
You see God has in
heaven an exact transcript,
00:21:23.72\00:21:26.73
an exact copy of every
single person on planet earth.
00:21:26.76\00:21:30.36
Every word, every action,
every thought, every feeling,
00:21:30.39\00:21:34.67
every motion, every decision,
God has an exact transcript
00:21:34.70\00:21:39.27
in heaven of the
life of the person.
00:21:39.30\00:21:41.69
That's why when we
appear before the great judgment
00:21:41.72\00:21:44.58
seat of Christ the
Bible says that what is going
00:21:44.61\00:21:47.52
to be examined is
what we did in the body
00:21:47.55\00:21:50.25
whether it was good
or whether it was what?
00:21:50.28\00:21:53.62
Or whether, it was evil.
00:21:53.65\00:21:54.93
So before the second coming,
the righteous dead appear
00:21:54.96\00:21:58.39
before the throne
of God, they are dead
00:21:58.42\00:22:00.82
but they are
appearing through their what?
00:22:00.85\00:22:02.52
Through their records.
00:22:02.55\00:22:03.63
So the question is how
do the wicked dead appear
00:22:03.66\00:22:07.16
before God during
the thousand years?
00:22:07.19\00:22:09.24
If they don't live
again until the thousand years
00:22:09.27\00:22:11.47
are finished that must
mean that they must appear
00:22:11.50\00:22:13.68
before the
judgment seat of Christ
00:22:13.71\00:22:15.34
being already what? Dead.
00:22:15.37\00:22:18.54
But do they
appear there in person?
00:22:18.57\00:22:19.99
Do dead people appear before
the throne of God in person?
00:22:20.02\00:22:23.41
Absolutely not. They
appear through their records.
00:22:23.44\00:22:28.27
Are you with me? In
fact the text says so.
00:22:28.30\00:22:32.00
It says, and the dead were
judged according to their works
00:22:32.03\00:22:37.46
by the things which
were written in the books.
00:22:37.49\00:22:40.79
What is examined? What
is written in the books,
00:22:40.82\00:22:43.30
it's not the dead who are there,
00:22:43.33\00:22:44.84
it's the record of
the life of the dead.
00:22:44.87\00:22:47.96
Are you clear on this point?
00:22:47.99\00:22:49.17
Now let's go to
Revelation Chapter 20
00:22:49.20\00:22:52.29
and I'll show you
that those who resurrected
00:22:52.32\00:22:54.97
when Jesus came
are actually going
00:22:55.00\00:22:56.77
to participate in that judgment.
00:22:56.80\00:22:59.26
They are going to
examine the lives of the wicked
00:22:59.29\00:23:02.50
and the lives of
the devil and his angels
00:23:02.53\00:23:04.76
and they're going to
meet out the punishment.
00:23:04.79\00:23:07.12
You say, where is
the Bible teach this?
00:23:07.15\00:23:08.91
Notice Revelation
20:4. Revelation 20:4.
00:23:08.94\00:23:14.59
It says, "And I saw
thrones, and they sat on them,
00:23:14.62\00:23:20.98
and judgment was
committed to them."
00:23:21.01\00:23:24.17
Now who was the
them, referred to here?
00:23:24.20\00:23:26.79
Well, continue
saying, "Then I saw the souls
00:23:26.82\00:23:29.53
of those who had been beheaded,"
00:23:29.56\00:23:30.93
we're gonna talk about
the souls under the altar
00:23:30.96\00:23:32.99
in our next topic tomorrow.
00:23:33.02\00:23:34.89
So we won't get into this now.
00:23:34.92\00:23:36.53
"Then I saw the souls of
those who had been beheaded
00:23:36.56\00:23:38.66
for their witness to
Jesus and for the word of God,
00:23:38.69\00:23:40.69
who had not worshiped
the beast or his image,
00:23:40.72\00:23:43.60
and had not received his mark
00:23:43.63\00:23:44.93
on their foreheads
or on their hands."
00:23:44.96\00:23:46.52
And they what? "They lived,"
00:23:46.55\00:23:49.37
which means that they were what?
00:23:49.40\00:23:50.49
Dead, of course
if they were beheaded
00:23:50.52\00:23:52.17
they were dead, right?
00:23:52.20\00:23:53.93
And so it says, "And
they lived and reigned
00:23:53.96\00:23:58.49
with Christ for
a thousand years."
00:23:58.52\00:24:00.38
Who are those, the
righteous or the wicked?
00:24:00.41\00:24:02.25
The Righteous.
What are they gonna
00:24:02.28\00:24:04.33
do for a thousand years?
00:24:04.36\00:24:05.39
They are going
to reign with Jesus.
00:24:05.42\00:24:06.45
What else are they going to do?
00:24:06.48\00:24:07.51
It says, "Judgment
was committed to them."
00:24:07.54\00:24:10.77
They are going to judge.
00:24:10.80\00:24:11.89
The question is who
are they're gonna judge?
00:24:11.92\00:24:14.32
Think they are
gonna judge the righteous?
00:24:14.35\00:24:15.99
No, because the
judgment of the righteous
00:24:16.02\00:24:18.32
took place before Jesus came
00:24:18.35\00:24:20.00
and they are already in heaven,
00:24:20.03\00:24:21.41
they don't need any judgment.
00:24:21.44\00:24:22.58
So who are they going to judge?
00:24:22.61\00:24:24.93
It must be the world
and Satan and his angels.
00:24:24.96\00:24:29.17
You say does the
Bible teach such a thing?
00:24:29.20\00:24:30.99
Yes, it does. 1
Corinthians 6:1-3.
00:24:31.02\00:24:34.93
1 Corinthians 6:1-3.
Here the Apostle Paul
00:24:34.96\00:24:40.58
is speaking about
members who sue members.
00:24:40.61\00:24:43.22
He says, you're not supposed
to take your dirty laundry
00:24:43.25\00:24:45.81
before the courts of the world.
00:24:45.84\00:24:47.13
It's better for
you to suffer last than
00:24:47.16\00:24:49.88
to give the church a bad name.
00:24:49.91\00:24:51.67
So it says in 1Corinthians
6:1, "Dare any of you,
00:24:51.70\00:24:55.94
having a matter against another,
00:24:55.97\00:24:57.91
go to the law"
before the righteous,
00:24:57.94\00:25:01.35
"before the unrighteous
and not before the saints?
00:25:01.38\00:25:07.65
Do you not know that the
saints will judge," the what?
00:25:07.68\00:25:12.19
"That the saints
will judge the world."
00:25:12.22\00:25:13.88
By the way the word
world there means the wicked.
00:25:13.91\00:25:17.61
Jesus said love not the world,
know those who are in the world.
00:25:17.64\00:25:22.00
Whoever loves the
world is an enemy of God.
00:25:22.03\00:25:25.55
"So do you not
know that the saints
00:25:25.58\00:25:28.43
will judge the world?"
00:25:28.46\00:25:29.49
That means the wicked.
00:25:29.52\00:25:30.96
And if the world
will be judged by you,
00:25:30.99\00:25:33.46
are you unworthy to
judge the smallest matters?"
00:25:33.49\00:25:36.52
In other words if you
can't resolve your little issues
00:25:36.55\00:25:38.89
here on earth,
what makes you think
00:25:38.92\00:25:40.22
that you're gonna be
able to judge the world?
00:25:40.25\00:25:42.20
And then notice verse
3, the Apostle Paul says,
00:25:42.23\00:25:45.34
"Do you not know that
we shall judge," what?
00:25:45.37\00:25:49.21
"Angels." I suppose
that must be the good angels.
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.01
It can't be the good angels.
00:25:53.04\00:25:54.33
Why would the good
angels need a judgment?
00:25:54.36\00:25:56.18
They're in the presence of God.
00:25:56.21\00:25:58.12
They don't need to be judged.
00:25:58.15\00:25:59.35
So who must these angels be?
00:25:59.38\00:26:01.51
They must be the
devil and his angels.
00:26:01.54\00:26:03.73
"Do you not know that
we shall judge angels?
00:26:03.76\00:26:07.31
How much more, things
that pertain to this life?"
00:26:07.34\00:26:11.81
So the question is how
do the wicked dead stand
00:26:11.84\00:26:16.23
before the throne of God
00:26:16.26\00:26:17.64
while the righteous
are alive in heaven?
00:26:17.67\00:26:19.59
You see, the Bible
says if the righteous
00:26:19.62\00:26:21.37
are alive in
heaven, they lived reigned
00:26:21.40\00:26:23.50
with Jesus a thousand
years and they're judged.
00:26:23.53\00:26:26.34
The wicked were told
that they did not live again
00:26:26.37\00:26:28.94
until the thousand
years were finished.
00:26:28.97\00:26:30.66
In between the dead appear what?
00:26:30.69\00:26:33.62
They appear before God. How?
00:26:33.65\00:26:36.19
Not in person
because they're what?
00:26:36.22\00:26:38.16
Because they're dead.
00:26:38.19\00:26:39.62
They appear
through their records.
00:26:39.65\00:26:43.19
Once again Revelation 20:12
makes this absolutely clear.
00:26:43.22\00:26:48.07
It says, "And I saw
the dead, small and great,
00:26:48.10\00:26:51.12
standing before God,
and books were opened.
00:26:51.15\00:26:54.42
And another book was opened,
which is the Book of Life.
00:26:54.45\00:26:57.77
And the dead were judged
according to their works,
00:26:57.80\00:27:01.17
by the things which
were written in the books."
00:27:01.20\00:27:03.70
What is examined is
the record in the books,
00:27:03.73\00:27:07.33
that's how the
wicked stand before God.
00:27:07.36\00:27:11.39
Now we need to go to
another very important point.
00:27:11.42\00:27:16.10
I want to share
with you an expanded
00:27:16.13\00:27:19.27
meaning of the word spirit.
00:27:19.30\00:27:22.27
You remember that we
studied previously in a lecture
00:27:22.30\00:27:24.76
that the spirit
represents the breath of life
00:27:24.79\00:27:29.01
or the vitalizing
force that God gives us
00:27:29.04\00:27:31.97
so that the body can function.
00:27:32.00\00:27:34.65
But what I want
to say is the spirit
00:27:34.68\00:27:36.45
is that but the spirit is more.
00:27:36.48\00:27:38.72
You say, what do you
mean the spirit is more?
00:27:38.75\00:27:40.98
Once a person is
given the breath of life
00:27:41.01\00:27:44.95
that person begins writing
his or her personal history.
00:27:44.98\00:27:50.30
Say an individual like
Adam lived to be 930 years old.
00:27:50.33\00:27:55.80
He wrote his history
during those 930 years.
00:27:55.83\00:27:59.99
Let me ask you when
Jesus resurrects Adam,
00:28:00.02\00:28:03.60
is He only going to return
to Adam the breath of life
00:28:03.63\00:28:07.56
or is He going to return to Adam
00:28:07.59\00:28:09.50
the person that
Adam was when he died?
00:28:09.53\00:28:13.56
You see He is not gonna
only return the breath of life,
00:28:13.59\00:28:16.27
the bare breath of
life, the energizing force.
00:28:16.30\00:28:18.99
He has to return
with the energizing force,
00:28:19.06\00:28:22.93
the character or
the self identity
00:28:22.96\00:28:27.77
or the individuality
that Adam developed
00:28:27.80\00:28:31.06
during those 930 years of life.
00:28:31.09\00:28:34.82
Are you
understanding what I am saying?
00:28:34.85\00:28:36.46
In other words, the
spirit when a person dies,
00:28:36.49\00:28:40.88
the Bible says
that it returns to God,
00:28:40.91\00:28:42.52
the spirit means
the breath of life.
00:28:42.55\00:28:45.49
Yes, the energizing force plus
the record of the person's life
00:28:45.52\00:28:50.54
will be returned to the person
when the person resurrects.
00:28:50.57\00:28:54.29
That is the spirit.
Now don't misunderstand,
00:28:54.32\00:28:58.02
the spirit is
not some invisible,
00:28:58.05\00:29:00.23
some conscious
entity that leaves the body
00:29:00.26\00:29:03.13
at the moment of death. No.
00:29:03.16\00:29:04.80
What God does is He saves
the record of that person's life
00:29:04.83\00:29:09.72
because when He resurrects
that person He's going to give
00:29:09.75\00:29:12.71
that person the breath of life
plus the record of his life,
00:29:12.74\00:29:17.05
that makes for
example Adam, Adam.
00:29:17.08\00:29:19.95
What would happen if God
returned the breath of life
00:29:19.98\00:29:22.05
to Adam and He gave him the--
the personality of Jane Johnson?
00:29:22.08\00:29:26.54
That wouldn't fit
very well, would it?
00:29:26.57\00:29:28.48
That would be totally,
totally out of character.
00:29:28.51\00:29:30.94
And so--and so what God does,
what He's gonna do is He's going
00:29:30.97\00:29:35.35
to return to the person who
resurrects the breath of life
00:29:35.38\00:29:40.22
and the record of their life's
00:29:40.25\00:29:43.03
which is contained
in the heavenly records.
00:29:43.06\00:29:47.50
Notice
Ecclesiastes 12:7 on this point.
00:29:47.53\00:29:51.55
Ecclesiastes 12:7.
Speaking about the process
00:29:51.58\00:29:55.77
of death it says,
"Then the dust will return
00:29:55.80\00:29:59.93
to the earth as it
was, and the spirit
00:29:59.96\00:30:03.22
will return to God who gave it."
00:30:03.25\00:30:05.68
Do you know what
God saves in heaven
00:30:05.71\00:30:07.24
when a person dies?
00:30:07.27\00:30:08.83
God doesn't go
around saving their breath,
00:30:08.86\00:30:11.34
I think I will save his breath,
I think I will save her breath
00:30:11.37\00:30:13.92
now because God can
give the energizing force.
00:30:13.95\00:30:16.32
The energizing force
is the same for everybody
00:30:16.35\00:30:19.19
but the written record
of the life of each person
00:30:19.22\00:30:23.23
is different for each person.
00:30:23.26\00:30:25.16
And so when God
returns the breath of life,
00:30:25.19\00:30:26.98
He returns the
self-identity along with
00:30:27.01\00:30:29.49
the breath to that person.
00:30:29.52\00:30:30.69
So what is that
God is saving in heaven
00:30:30.72\00:30:33.05
when a person dies?
00:30:33.08\00:30:34.11
What God saves is the
record of that person's life.
00:30:34.14\00:30:37.74
In other words, He saves
00:30:37.77\00:30:39.23
that persons
character if you please.
00:30:39.26\00:30:42.59
Notice 2 Corinthians 5:10,
we already read this verse,
00:30:42.62\00:30:46.26
let's read it again.
00:30:46.29\00:30:47.97
It says there,
"For we must all appear
00:30:48.00\00:30:50.49
before the
judgment seat of Christ
00:30:50.52\00:30:52.25
that each one may receive
the things done in the body,
00:30:52.28\00:30:55.92
according to what he has done,
whether good or whether evil."
00:30:55.95\00:30:59.72
In other words
during the judgment what God
00:30:59.75\00:31:01.86
does is He examines
the record of our life
00:31:01.89\00:31:05.32
which is the preservation
of the spirit if you please.
00:31:05.35\00:31:10.20
The preservation of
the record of our life
00:31:10.23\00:31:13.23
what we were like when we lived.
00:31:13.26\00:31:15.75
Now you know the Bible
speaks about books and the Bible
00:31:15.78\00:31:20.51
also speaks about a book.
00:31:20.54\00:31:22.56
Did you notice that
in Revelation 20:12?
00:31:22.59\00:31:24.80
Now what is it that the
book contains? Singular.
00:31:24.83\00:31:28.75
Go with me to Philippians 4:3.
00:31:28.78\00:31:32.18
Philippians 4:3.
Here the Apostle Paul
00:31:32.21\00:31:37.29
is speaking about
several of his fellow laborers.
00:31:37.32\00:31:40.14
And he says this,
"And I urge you also,
00:31:40.17\00:31:44.54
true companion, help
these women who labored
00:31:44.57\00:31:48.72
with me in the
gospel, with Clement also,
00:31:48.75\00:31:52.34
and the rest of
my fellow workers,
00:31:52.37\00:31:54.89
whose names are
in the Book of Life."
00:31:54.92\00:31:57.83
What is that the
Book of Life contains?
00:31:57.86\00:31:59.90
The Book of Life contains names
00:31:59.93\00:32:02.46
according to
this book, singular.
00:32:02.49\00:32:04.39
Now go with me to Revelation
3:5 and there's many verses
00:32:04.42\00:32:08.14
that I could-- that I could read
00:32:08.17\00:32:10.26
but I am only going to read
two because of time constrains.
00:32:10.29\00:32:13.68
Revelation 3:5. Here
Jesus speaks and He says,
00:32:13.71\00:32:19.56
"He who overcomes shall
be clothed in white garments,
00:32:19.59\00:32:23.05
and I will not
blot out," his what?
00:32:23.08\00:32:26.04
"His name from the Book of Life,
00:32:26.07\00:32:28.63
but I will
confess his name before
00:32:28.66\00:32:31.31
My Father and
before His angels."
00:32:31.34\00:32:33.38
What is that the Jesus is going
to present before the Father?
00:32:33.41\00:32:35.87
Is it the person
in a living state
00:32:35.90\00:32:37.99
or is it the name of the person
00:32:38.02\00:32:40.10
that He
presents in the judgment?
00:32:40.13\00:32:42.00
It is his or her name
according to scripture.
00:32:42.03\00:32:45.52
So what is it
that the book contains?
00:32:45.55\00:32:47.93
The book contains names.
00:32:47.96\00:32:50.32
And by the way those names
00:32:50.35\00:32:52.26
are in the book in
chronological order beginning
00:32:52.29\00:32:56.27
with the first person who
lived on planet earth Adam,
00:32:56.30\00:32:59.75
all the way till
the end of history,
00:32:59.78\00:33:02.16
all of the names
in that book are found
00:33:02.19\00:33:05.75
in chronological
order in the order of birth.
00:33:05.78\00:33:10.57
Now you're saying what do
the books contain? Plural.
00:33:10.60\00:33:14.47
See the books
don't contain the names,
00:33:14.50\00:33:16.69
the book contains the name.
00:33:16.72\00:33:18.41
What is it that
the books contain?
00:33:18.44\00:33:21.20
The fact is folks that the
books according to the Bible
00:33:21.23\00:33:24.49
contain the record of
our life, all of our actions,
00:33:24.52\00:33:29.08
all of our
thoughts, all of our words,
00:33:29.11\00:33:31.53
all of our
feelings, all of our emotions.
00:33:31.56\00:33:34.01
In other words
God keeps in heaven
00:33:34.04\00:33:35.84
an exact transcript of our life
while we lived on planet earth
00:33:35.87\00:33:42.22
from the time of our conception,
till the time of our death.
00:33:42.25\00:33:47.96
That's an awesome
thought, isn't it?
00:33:47.99\00:33:49.84
You know the
Bible speaks about books
00:33:49.87\00:33:51.72
because that's the
best thing that the authors
00:33:51.75\00:33:53.70
could come up
with back then because
00:33:53.73\00:33:55.55
records were kept in scrolls.
00:33:55.58\00:33:57.13
You know, Ellen White
spoke about photography.
00:33:57.16\00:34:00.80
She said, "God is
photographing our lives."
00:34:00.83\00:34:04.16
And so God has
pictures up there.
00:34:04.19\00:34:06.32
I believe that if
God was speaking today
00:34:06.35\00:34:08.65
if He had another inspired
prophet that would write
00:34:08.68\00:34:11.39
Books of the Bible,
God would speak in terms
00:34:11.42\00:34:14.08
not of books or in
terms or photography,
00:34:14.11\00:34:16.82
He would speak in
terms of computers.
00:34:16.85\00:34:18.69
In fact I am going to
give you an illustration
00:34:18.72\00:34:20.79
from the
computer in a few moments.
00:34:20.82\00:34:23.40
Now allow me to
read you a few verses
00:34:23.43\00:34:25.93
from the Bible that
speak about the spirit
00:34:25.96\00:34:28.16
in this expanded meaning.
00:34:28.19\00:34:29.96
You are understanding
that I am not saying
00:34:29.99\00:34:31.26
that the spirit
is conscious, right.
00:34:31.29\00:34:32.85
That the spirit lives
somewhere in the netherworld
00:34:32.88\00:34:35.80
when the person dies.
00:34:35.83\00:34:36.86
I am not saying that.
00:34:36.89\00:34:38.15
I am saying that the spirit
is simply the record of the life
00:34:38.18\00:34:40.74
that God preserves and
keeps until the resurrection
00:34:40.77\00:34:43.20
when He returns that.
00:34:43.23\00:34:44.40
Is that clear? I
want to make it absolutely
00:34:44.43\00:34:46.23
clear because I
don't want anybody saying,
00:34:46.26\00:34:48.19
"Oh, Pastor Bohr
said there's an expanded
00:34:48.22\00:34:50.30
meaning of the word spirit.
00:34:50.33\00:34:51.83
And he believes that
God has a spirit in heaven
00:34:51.86\00:34:54.29
and the real
person is on earth." No.
00:34:54.32\00:34:56.09
What I am saying is
that the person is writing
00:34:56.12\00:35:00.13
the history on earth and God
is transcribing it in heaven.
00:35:00.16\00:35:03.72
In other words, in
heaven there's another
00:35:03.75\00:35:05.31
Steve Bohr in written form.
00:35:05.34\00:35:08.09
Now let's notice a few texts
00:35:08.12\00:35:10.54
that speak
about the word spirit.
00:35:10.57\00:35:12.69
Luke 8:55. And by
the way, you know,
00:35:12.72\00:35:16.60
I use large
print because I usually
00:35:16.63\00:35:19.30
have to use
glasses in order to read.
00:35:19.33\00:35:21.13
So if I read something wrong you
make sure to correct me, okay?
00:35:21.16\00:35:24.85
Luke 8:55.
Speaking about a little girl
00:35:24.88\00:35:28.98
that Jesus
resurrected and it says there,
00:35:29.01\00:35:33.42
"Then," are you
there in Luke 8:55?
00:35:33.45\00:35:38.37
"Then the spirit returned,
and she arose immediately."
00:35:38.40\00:35:45.99
It's that what the text
says, the spirit returned. No.
00:35:46.02\00:35:50.04
It says then,
"her spirit returned."
00:35:50.07\00:35:54.76
That's a
possessive pronoun by the way,
00:35:54.79\00:35:58.10
"and she arose immediately.
00:35:58.13\00:36:00.00
And He commanded that she
be given something to eat."
00:36:00.03\00:36:03.62
Let me ask you when
that little girl resurrected,
00:36:03.65\00:36:05.95
was it the same
little girl that had died?
00:36:05.98\00:36:10.16
Did God return to
her with a breath of life
00:36:10.19\00:36:13.07
what that little girl
had been during her lifetime?
00:36:13.10\00:36:16.41
Do you think that she
recognized her parents?
00:36:16.44\00:36:18.69
The Bible even
gives us the impression
00:36:18.72\00:36:20.48
that she was hungry.
00:36:20.51\00:36:21.54
And so when she
died she was hungry
00:36:21.57\00:36:23.08
and when she woke
up, then people said,
00:36:23.11\00:36:25.30
"well, she is hungry
let's give us some food."
00:36:25.33\00:36:26.92
In other words she picked
up, picked up where she what?
00:36:26.95\00:36:30.06
Where she left off.
00:36:30.09\00:36:31.83
What did Jesus do
when He resurrected her?
00:36:31.86\00:36:34.01
He returned not
only the breath of life
00:36:34.04\00:36:36.06
but He returned to her who
she had been during her life,
00:36:36.09\00:36:40.11
her spirit in other words.
00:36:40.14\00:36:42.14
Are you with me?
00:36:42.17\00:36:43.24
Now let's go to Acts 7:59, 60,
00:36:43.27\00:36:46.62
this just
speaking about Stephen,
00:36:46.65\00:36:48.15
the first Christian martyr.
00:36:48.18\00:36:50.09
Acts 7:59, 60. It says there,
00:36:50.12\00:36:55.15
"And they stoned Stephen
00:36:55.18\00:36:58.10
as he was calling
on God and saying,
00:36:58.13\00:37:01.01
'Lord Jesus,
receive the spirit.'"
00:37:01.04\00:37:05.55
That doesn't say
receive the spirit?
00:37:05.58\00:37:07.92
It says, receive
what? "My spirit."
00:37:07.95\00:37:13.02
Why does he say
receive my spirit?
00:37:13.05\00:37:14.70
What is Stephen saying?
00:37:14.73\00:37:15.81
Stephen is saying
Lord, please save the record
00:37:15.84\00:37:18.76
of my life because
someday after I sleep
00:37:18.79\00:37:21.07
you are gonna wake me up.
00:37:21.10\00:37:24.44
Preserve my spirit,
preserve the record of my life.
00:37:24.47\00:37:28.67
Verse 60, "Then he
knelt down and cried out
00:37:28.70\00:37:32.07
with a loud voice, 'Lord, do
not charge them with this sin.
00:37:32.10\00:37:36.48
And when he had
said this,"' he what?
00:37:36.51\00:37:38.75
"He fell asleep. "I
love that, he fell asleep.
00:37:38.78\00:37:44.03
Let's read about
Jesus. Luke 23:46.
00:37:44.06\00:37:48.12
Luke 23:46. This is about
the death of Jesus on the cross.
00:37:48.15\00:37:54.74
"And when Jesus had
cried out with a loud voice,
00:37:54.77\00:37:58.15
He said, 'Father, into Your
hands I command the spirit.'"
00:37:58.18\00:38:04.73
That's not what he says.
00:38:04.76\00:38:06.07
He says, "Into Your
hands I command," what?
00:38:06.10\00:38:09.52
"My spirit." And
having said this," he what?
00:38:09.55\00:38:14.78
"He breathed his last."
00:38:14.81\00:38:18.04
When Jesus resurrected
on the resurrection morning,
00:38:18.07\00:38:20.39
did He recognize the disciples.
00:38:20.42\00:38:23.90
Do you think he
did? Of course He did.
00:38:23.93\00:38:26.85
Did Jesus remember everything
00:38:26.88\00:38:29.05
that it happened
during his life time?
00:38:29.08\00:38:31.12
Of course, He did.
00:38:31.15\00:38:33.25
Did Jesus remember
every little detail
00:38:33.28\00:38:36.93
of what his disciples had
spoken to Him during his life?
00:38:36.96\00:38:40.06
Of course. What did
God returned to Jesus?
00:38:40.09\00:38:43.58
What was returned to Jesus was
00:38:43.61\00:38:45.34
not only the
capacity to breathe,
00:38:45.37\00:38:47.82
but the record of the life of
Jesus which had been preserved
00:38:47.85\00:38:51.88
by the Father into Your
hands I command my spirit
00:38:51.91\00:38:54.02
for save the record of my life,
00:38:54.05\00:38:56.46
save me up
there in written form.
00:38:56.49\00:38:59.21
When he was resurrected,
the record of his life
00:38:59.24\00:39:01.65
was inputted into
his resurrected body
00:39:01.68\00:39:04.42
and it was
Jesus who resurrected.
00:39:04.45\00:39:07.43
Now, I want you to notice
a very interesting passage
00:39:07.46\00:39:12.44
that we find in the
writings of Ellen White.
00:39:12.47\00:39:15.22
The little old lady caught
this that I am sharing with you.
00:39:15.25\00:39:20.92
She had only two and half
years of primary education,
00:39:20.95\00:39:25.95
but she had divine wisdom.
00:39:25.98\00:39:28.31
Listen to the way she explains
00:39:28.34\00:39:30.28
the expanded
meaning of the word spirit.
00:39:30.31\00:39:33.96
This is found in the
Seventh-day Adventist Bible
00:39:33.99\00:39:35.71
Commentary Volume 6,
Pages 1,192 and 1,193.
00:39:35.74\00:39:41.11
"Our personal
identity is preserved
00:39:41.14\00:39:45.87
in the resurrection,
though not the same particles
00:39:45.90\00:39:49.79
of matter or material substance
as went into the grave."
00:39:49.82\00:39:53.00
God doesn't have to rescue
every little particle of matter
00:39:53.03\00:39:55.32
that we were
composed of when we die.
00:39:55.35\00:39:57.44
Because the body is gonna
be much larger He is gonna need
00:39:57.47\00:39:59.42
more matter than
what we have now.
00:39:59.45\00:40:02.57
She continue saying,
"The wondrous works of God
00:40:02.60\00:40:05.12
are a mystery to man."
00:40:05.15\00:40:06.66
And here comes the key portion,
00:40:06.69\00:40:08.10
"The spirit, the
character of man,
00:40:08.13\00:40:12.96
is returned to God,
there to be preserved."
00:40:12.99\00:40:20.13
What is it that's
preserved? Our what?
00:40:20.16\00:40:22.84
Our character. She
says, "In the resurrection
00:40:22.87\00:40:26.51
every man will have
his own character." Why?
00:40:26.54\00:40:30.81
Because God did what?
00:40:30.84\00:40:32.04
God saved it in heaven.
00:40:32.07\00:40:34.80
He saved the record.
00:40:34.83\00:40:36.64
And when Jesus comes
to resurrect His people,
00:40:36.67\00:40:40.21
and if you
know, let's not use me
00:40:40.24\00:40:43.65
as an example
because I want to be alive
00:40:43.68\00:40:45.16
when Jesus comes.
00:40:45.19\00:40:46.29
But, you know,
let's say Stephen,
00:40:46.32\00:40:48.12
when Stephen is resurrected,
is his self identity,
00:40:48.15\00:40:51.79
his individuality, his
personality returned to him
00:40:51.82\00:40:55.23
as when he was
alive? Absolutely.
00:40:55.26\00:40:58.10
She continues saying, "In
the resurrection every man
00:40:58.13\00:41:00.77
will have his own character.
00:41:00.80\00:41:02.18
God in His own time
will call forth the dead
00:41:02.21\00:41:05.07
giving again the breath of life,
and bidding the dry bones live.
00:41:05.10\00:41:09.68
The same form will come
forth, but it will be free
00:41:09.71\00:41:13.41
from disease and every defect.
00:41:13.44\00:41:16.47
It lives again bearing the
same individuality of features,
00:41:16.50\00:41:20.72
so that friend
will recognize friend."
00:41:20.75\00:41:23.07
Yes, I will recognize Maggie.
00:41:23.10\00:41:26.13
And I believe that
probably Maggie will be alive,
00:41:26.16\00:41:28.44
so we'll say
that she be translated
00:41:28.47\00:41:30.17
from among the living.
00:41:30.20\00:41:32.06
And so it says here,
"There is no law of God
00:41:32.09\00:41:34.40
in nature which
shows that God gives back
00:41:34.43\00:41:36.62
the same identical
particles of matter
00:41:36.65\00:41:38.61
which composed
the body before death.
00:41:38.64\00:41:40.71
God shall give
the righteous dead
00:41:40.74\00:41:43.09
a body that will please Him."
00:41:43.12\00:41:45.21
So what is the spirit?
00:41:45.24\00:41:46.58
The spirit is the
character or the self identity
00:41:46.61\00:41:49.59
of the
individual that is returned.
00:41:49.62\00:41:52.33
By the way, this
explains the reason
00:41:52.36\00:41:54.42
why Job said what he did.
00:41:54.45\00:41:56.51
You know, when I
read Job 19:25-27
00:41:56.54\00:42:00.73
and I am going to
read it from King James
00:42:00.76\00:42:02.44
because it's
more forceful there.
00:42:02.47\00:42:04.00
When I read I said, man,
this guy is pretty selfish.
00:42:04.03\00:42:06.32
He uses my and I as if nobody
else is going to resurrect.
00:42:06.35\00:42:11.10
Notice what he says, "For I know
00:42:11.13\00:42:13.60
that my Redeemer
liveth, and that He shall stand
00:42:13.63\00:42:17.42
at the latter
day upon the earth,
00:42:17.45\00:42:19.47
and though after my
skin worms destroy this body,
00:42:19.50\00:42:23.75
yet in my flesh shall I see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
00:42:23.78\00:42:28.98
and mine eyes shall
behold, and not another."
00:42:29.01\00:42:32.82
So Job is the only
one that's going to see
00:42:32.85\00:42:34.39
Jesus when Jesus comes.
00:42:34.42\00:42:35.91
He says, it will be
my eyes and none other.
00:42:35.94\00:42:38.20
What is Job saying?
00:42:38.23\00:42:39.43
He is saying
that when I resurrect,
00:42:39.46\00:42:42.45
it is going to be
Job, the Job who lived over
00:42:42.48\00:42:47.48
in the Middle East my own eyes
00:42:47.51\00:42:49.74
that I had while I was
alive in the human body,
00:42:49.77\00:42:52.55
he says at that time,
I am going to see Jesus.
00:42:52.58\00:42:57.62
In other words that's going
00:42:57.65\00:42:58.68
to be the same Job
that will see Jesus.
00:42:58.71\00:43:02.76
Now let's talk about
after the millennium.
00:43:02.79\00:43:06.27
Are you understanding how
the dead stand before God now?
00:43:06.30\00:43:09.63
The wicked dead
stand before God through
00:43:09.66\00:43:11.56
their records,
during the millennium.
00:43:11.59\00:43:14.73
But now let's talk
about after the millennium.
00:43:14.76\00:43:18.12
Let me ask you do the
wicked resurrect wicked
00:43:18.15\00:43:20.25
after the millennium or
do they resurrect righteous?
00:43:20.28\00:43:24.69
They resurrect wicked.
00:43:24.72\00:43:26.78
What does God return to them?
00:43:26.81\00:43:28.88
They've been
dead a thousand years,
00:43:28.91\00:43:30.31
some of them more
than a thousand years.
00:43:30.34\00:43:31.77
What does God
returned to the wicked?
00:43:31.80\00:43:33.56
Say for example Nero,
what will He return to Nero?
00:43:33.59\00:43:36.85
When Nero
resurrects, will he be Nero?
00:43:36.88\00:43:39.31
Well, he remembered the
days when he was the emperor
00:43:39.34\00:43:43.55
of the Roman Empire? Of course.
00:43:43.58\00:43:45.69
Will he remember every--all
of the evil things that he did?
00:43:45.72\00:43:48.82
Of course. He will
pick up where he left off.
00:43:48.85\00:43:51.74
Now notice this
statement that we find
00:43:51.77\00:43:53.67
in Great Controversy page 664,
this is an amazing statement.
00:43:53.70\00:43:59.08
She is speaking about the
wicked outside the Holy City
00:43:59.11\00:44:01.59
after they've been resurrected.
00:44:01.62\00:44:03.21
She says, "There
are kings and generals
00:44:03.24\00:44:05.86
who conquered
nations, valiant men who never
00:44:05.89\00:44:09.45
lost a battle,
proud, ambitious warriors
00:44:09.48\00:44:12.65
whose approach
made kingdoms tremble.
00:44:12.68\00:44:16.12
In death these
experienced no change."
00:44:16.15\00:44:21.00
And here comes the key portion,
00:44:21.03\00:44:22.52
"As they come up from the grave,
00:44:22.55\00:44:25.03
they resume the
current of their thoughts
00:44:25.06\00:44:29.21
just where it ceased."
00:44:29.24\00:44:34.55
By the way
current means electricity.
00:44:34.58\00:44:37.63
So what happens when
the wicked resurrect,
00:44:37.66\00:44:39.53
they pick up in the
exact place where they, what?
00:44:39.56\00:44:43.06
Where they left off.
00:44:43.09\00:44:44.12
So what is
returned to the wicked?
00:44:44.15\00:44:46.14
What is returned to the
wicked is the breath of life
00:44:46.17\00:44:49.22
and the record of their life's.
00:44:49.25\00:44:53.23
And that's why
they resurrect wicked
00:44:53.26\00:44:55.34
and that's why the righteous,
resurrect how righteous.
00:44:55.37\00:44:58.63
And during the millennium
00:44:58.66\00:44:59.92
what our God's
people are gonna do?
00:44:59.95\00:45:01.40
They are going to be examining
the cases of the wicked
00:45:01.43\00:45:04.68
to decide what
reward or what punishment
00:45:04.71\00:45:09.07
they deserve
after the 1,000 years.
00:45:09.10\00:45:11.99
Are you following me or not?
00:45:12.02\00:45:13.97
Now let me give
you an illustration.
00:45:14.00\00:45:16.28
Suppose I have a video camera,
00:45:16.31\00:45:19.34
and I film certain
things now in 2007,
00:45:19.37\00:45:25.03
November of 2007 I am
filming several things.
00:45:25.06\00:45:28.77
And then I decide
to put the camera away
00:45:28.80\00:45:32.26
for a very
extended period of time.
00:45:32.29\00:45:34.70
Say I put the
camera away for 12 years.
00:45:34.73\00:45:38.70
You know, I shut it off.
00:45:38.73\00:45:41.08
Twelve years
later I take the camera
00:45:41.11\00:45:43.12
and I begin video tapping again.
00:45:43.15\00:45:47.04
When you watch the video tape,
00:45:47.07\00:45:48.68
do you know that
they're been 12 years
00:45:48.71\00:45:50.88
between the first
thing that you filmed
00:45:50.91\00:45:53.19
and the second
thing that you filmed? No.
00:45:53.22\00:45:56.47
Because the tape
picks up at the exact moment
00:45:56.50\00:46:00.65
where you what?
Where you left off.
00:46:00.68\00:46:02.86
That is the case of the
righteous and the wicked.
00:46:02.89\00:46:07.29
You see when we
die, what happens?
00:46:07.32\00:46:09.64
The video camera is
turned off because God
00:46:09.67\00:46:13.59
has doesn't have to
register any thing more.
00:46:13.62\00:46:16.24
See we're not living in
our present sinful state.
00:46:16.27\00:46:20.83
But then say with the
wicked after a thousand years
00:46:20.86\00:46:24.12
that the video camera is
off then God resurrects them
00:46:24.15\00:46:27.59
and the video
camera begins what?
00:46:27.62\00:46:30.18
Begins tapping again.
00:46:30.21\00:46:33.11
Are you
understanding what I am saying?
00:46:33.14\00:46:34.94
So what happens
during the interim?
00:46:34.97\00:46:36.83
There in the
interim nothing happens,
00:46:36.86\00:46:39.56
the people who are
dead simply remain dead.
00:46:39.59\00:46:42.54
They are not writing anything
00:46:42.57\00:46:44.48
in their personal biography.
00:46:44.51\00:46:47.02
Are you with me?
00:46:47.05\00:46:48.21
Now let's go and
examine another phrase
00:46:48.24\00:46:52.52
and we're gonna have
to go quickly on this one.
00:46:52.55\00:46:54.46
Examine another phrase
which has confused many people.
00:46:54.49\00:46:56.99
Hebrews 12:22-24, it's related
00:46:57.02\00:47:00.87
to what we've been
studying. Hebrews 12:22-24.
00:47:00.90\00:47:06.65
Here the Apostle
Paul whom I believe
00:47:06.68\00:47:08.53
to be the author of the
Book of Hebrews says this,
00:47:08.56\00:47:13.46
"But you have come to Mount Zion
00:47:13.49\00:47:17.52
and to the city
of the living God,
00:47:17.55\00:47:21.55
to the heavenly Jerusalem."
00:47:21.58\00:47:23.87
He is saying that God's
people have come to where?
00:47:23.90\00:47:26.12
To Mount Zion, to
the heavenly Jerusalem.
00:47:26.15\00:47:28.27
Don't we live on earth?
00:47:28.30\00:47:29.33
Don't we live in Fresno?
00:47:29.36\00:47:30.55
Of course we live in Fresno.
00:47:30.58\00:47:31.61
So on what sense,
have we come to Mount Zion
00:47:31.64\00:47:34.12
to the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem?
00:47:34.15\00:47:37.06
Let's continue reading.
00:47:37.09\00:47:38.59
"To an
innumerable company of angels,
00:47:38.62\00:47:41.16
to the general
assembly and church
00:47:41.19\00:47:44.34
of the firstborn who are," what?
00:47:44.37\00:47:49.78
What's the next
word, who are what?
00:47:49.81\00:47:51.69
"Registered or
ripped in heaven."
00:47:51.72\00:47:54.68
So how are we at in Zion
or in the heavenly Jerusalem?
00:47:54.71\00:47:58.83
Are we there personally? No.
00:47:58.86\00:48:00.90
We are there
how? In written form.
00:48:00.93\00:48:03.83
And then it says, "To
God, the judge of all,"
00:48:03.86\00:48:07.46
and here comes
the confusing phrase,
00:48:07.49\00:48:11.57
"and to the spirits of
just men made perfect to Jesus,
00:48:11.60\00:48:17.99
the mediator of a new covenant,"
00:48:18.02\00:48:19.44
we've come to Jesus the
mediator of the New covenant,
00:48:19.47\00:48:21.36
but we come by faith
we don't come in person.
00:48:21.39\00:48:23.72
And it says, "And to
the blood of sprinkling
00:48:23.75\00:48:25.91
that speaks better
things than that of Abel."
00:48:25.94\00:48:29.74
So, you'll notice here
that in the heavenly Jerusalem,
00:48:29.77\00:48:32.76
written there are the spirits
of just men made perfect.
00:48:32.79\00:48:38.01
You're saying,
now wait a minute,
00:48:38.04\00:48:39.46
we're the imperfect before.
00:48:39.49\00:48:41.76
Let's examine other
texts in the Book of Hebrews
00:48:41.79\00:48:44.89
that use the word perfect.
00:48:44.92\00:48:46.87
If we understand the
meaning of the word perfect
00:48:46.90\00:48:49.10
we're going to
understand what the text means
00:48:49.13\00:48:51.11
when it says, "Spirits
of just men made perfect."
00:48:51.14\00:48:55.06
Notice Hebrews 11:39, 40.
00:48:55.09\00:48:59.07
Hebrews 11:39, 40.
Speaking about the heroes
00:48:59.10\00:49:04.66
of the Old Testament
it says, "And all these,
00:49:04.69\00:49:07.05
having obtained a
testimony through faith,
00:49:07.08\00:49:10.44
did not receive the
promise," that is the promise
00:49:10.47\00:49:13.35
of the coming of the
Messiah, Jesus Christ.
00:49:13.38\00:49:15.74
"God having provided
something better thing for us."
00:49:15.77\00:49:19.44
In other words, God has provided
00:49:19.47\00:49:21.16
something better for us then
for all of those Old Testament
00:49:21.19\00:49:23.79
heroes and it says, "That
they should not be made," what?
00:49:23.82\00:49:28.57
"Perfect apart from us."
00:49:28.60\00:49:30.77
Is there something special
for those who live in the times
00:49:30.80\00:49:33.77
when Jesus came and
lived a perfect life
00:49:33.80\00:49:36.36
and died on the cross
that we have an advantage over
00:49:36.39\00:49:39.08
those who lived in
the Old Testament period?
00:49:39.11\00:49:41.36
Yes, the Bible
says that they were not
00:49:41.39\00:49:43.42
made perfect without what?
00:49:43.45\00:49:45.26
Without us. Now
what does that mean,
00:49:45.29\00:49:48.13
they were not made
perfect without us?
00:49:48.16\00:49:50.80
Go with me to
Hebrews 7:19. Hebrews 7:19.
00:49:50.83\00:49:55.29
It's going to speak
about this Old Testament
00:49:55.32\00:49:57.85
period the inadequacy of
the Old Testament period.
00:49:57.88\00:50:00.44
It says in Hebrews 7: 19, "For
the law made nothing," what?
00:50:00.47\00:50:05.51
"Perfect." On the other hand,
00:50:05.54\00:50:09.16
there is the
bringing in of a," what?
00:50:09.19\00:50:12.53
"A better hope, through
which we draw near to God."
00:50:12.56\00:50:15.80
Let me ask you did
the Old Testament system
00:50:15.83\00:50:17.65
really eradicate sin?
00:50:17.68\00:50:21.06
Did the blood of bulls
and goats take away sin
00:50:21.09\00:50:23.92
from the heavenly records? No.
00:50:23.95\00:50:26.10
What is it that takes away sin?
00:50:26.13\00:50:28.51
What takes away sin is
the blood of Jesus Christ.
00:50:28.54\00:50:31.97
All of those
Old Testament heroes
00:50:32.00\00:50:33.69
had Jesus died on the cross
and shed his blood yet? No.
00:50:33.72\00:50:37.78
They without us
could not be made what?
00:50:37.81\00:50:40.79
Could not be made perfect.
00:50:40.82\00:50:42.55
In other words,
their records in heaven
00:50:42.58\00:50:44.31
could not be
cleansed until Jesus
00:50:44.34\00:50:47.54
died on the cross of Calvary.
00:50:47.57\00:50:50.16
Notice Hebrews 10:1.
Hebrews 10:1. It says,
00:50:50.19\00:50:55.29
"For the law,"
that speaking about
00:50:55.32\00:50:57.50
the Old Testament
period, "having a shadow
00:50:57.53\00:51:00.46
of good things to come,"
00:51:00.49\00:51:02.77
what was the Old
Testament system,
00:51:02.80\00:51:04.29
it was what? It
wasn't a reality.
00:51:04.32\00:51:06.65
It was a "Shadow of
good things to come,
00:51:06.68\00:51:09.10
and not the very
image of the things,
00:51:09.13\00:51:11.31
can never with
these same sacrifices,
00:51:11.34\00:51:14.94
which they offer
continually year by year,
00:51:14.97\00:51:17.81
make perfect those who
approach," what? "Perfect."
00:51:17.84\00:51:21.47
Could the Old
Testament sacrifices
00:51:21.50\00:51:23.42
make a person perfect?
00:51:23.45\00:51:24.75
We're not talking
about moral perfection here.
00:51:24.78\00:51:26.86
We're talking about
someone who could be accepted
00:51:26.89\00:51:30.30
before God through the perfect
life and the death of Jesus.
00:51:30.33\00:51:34.22
You know, none of us can
appear before God in ourselves,
00:51:34.25\00:51:36.98
because we are sinners.
00:51:37.01\00:51:38.66
But we needed the perfect life
of Jesus and the death of Jesus,
00:51:38.69\00:51:42.10
so that now He can go to
heaven and He can represent us.
00:51:42.13\00:51:45.80
We have a better
hope in other words
00:51:45.83\00:51:47.76
then the Old Testament saints.
00:51:47.79\00:51:49.41
We have been made
perfect through Jesus Christ,
00:51:49.44\00:51:52.61
through His
perfect life and through
00:51:52.64\00:51:54.38
His death on the cross.
00:51:54.41\00:51:55.50
Are you
understanding what I am saying?
00:51:55.53\00:51:57.98
For those individuals
who were written in heaven
00:51:58.01\00:52:01.61
really have had their
sins blooded out and forgiven
00:52:01.64\00:52:06.80
unless Jesus had come to die.
00:52:06.83\00:52:08.74
Could they have been made
perfect in terms of being saved?
00:52:08.77\00:52:13.04
Absolutely not. Now
notice Hebrews 10:14.
00:52:13.07\00:52:17.40
It says, "For by one offering
He has perfected forever
00:52:17.43\00:52:24.11
those who are being," what?
00:52:24.14\00:52:26.17
"Those who are
being sanctified."
00:52:26.20\00:52:28.67
Are you understanding
what the Bible means
00:52:28.70\00:52:31.01
when it says, "spirits
of just men made perfect?"
00:52:31.04\00:52:33.62
What it means is
they're all of those people
00:52:33.65\00:52:35.85
who died in the Old Testament,
00:52:35.88\00:52:36.97
they had these
records in heaven,
00:52:37.00\00:52:38.55
their spirit was
registered in heaven.
00:52:38.58\00:52:40.36
The record of their
lives was in heaven.
00:52:40.39\00:52:42.03
But all of their sins unless
Jesus died what would happen?
00:52:42.06\00:52:45.43
They would be held against
them because the blood of bulls
00:52:45.46\00:52:49.04
and goats cannot take away sin.
00:52:49.07\00:52:51.01
But when Jesus
died on the cross,
00:52:51.04\00:52:53.02
let me ask you were
they perfected in terms
00:52:53.05\00:52:55.43
of all of their sins
now legally being forgiven
00:52:55.46\00:52:58.87
by the blood of Jesus
Christ who died on the cross.
00:52:58.90\00:53:01.70
Absolutely. So that's
what spirits of just men
00:53:01.73\00:53:04.93
made perfect
means, it doesn't mean
00:53:04.96\00:53:06.78
that there is some
unconscious immortal spirit
00:53:06.81\00:53:09.10
roaming around heaven.
00:53:09.13\00:53:10.74
It simply means that the
records which we already know
00:53:10.77\00:53:14.04
as the word spirit
means the character
00:53:14.07\00:53:15.85
of the record of the life.
00:53:15.88\00:53:17.07
The record of the
life is now made clean
00:53:17.10\00:53:19.68
through the blood of Jesus
00:53:19.71\00:53:21.25
which could not
happen in the Old Testament
00:53:21.28\00:53:23.25
because Jesus had
not yet shed his blood.
00:53:23.28\00:53:26.50
Are you
understanding what I am saying?
00:53:26.53\00:53:27.91
Now let me give you an
illustration in closer.
00:53:27.94\00:53:33.83
We have
computers, and I think if God
00:53:33.86\00:53:37.81
had been speaking
today about this issue
00:53:37.84\00:53:41.62
that we're discussing, He
would have used computers.
00:53:41.65\00:53:44.42
You know, we have the computer
which is a physical machine.
00:53:44.45\00:53:49.76
You plug it in and now, what?
00:53:49.79\00:53:51.77
And now it has
energy to work, right?
00:53:51.80\00:53:54.74
But when you buy
the computer at a store,
00:53:54.77\00:53:58.31
that computer does not
have its own self identity.
00:53:58.34\00:54:01.02
Does not have, you
know, you go to the store
00:54:01.05\00:54:03.84
and you buy a certain computer
00:54:03.87\00:54:04.93
everybody gets the
same computer, right.
00:54:04.96\00:54:06.63
But then you start
inputting information
00:54:06.66\00:54:09.08
and that computer
becomes your own PC,
00:54:09.11\00:54:11.99
your personal computer because
00:54:12.02\00:54:13.61
you are now inputting things
00:54:13.64\00:54:15.23
that gives that
computer its own, what?
00:54:15.26\00:54:17.55
Its own identity.
00:54:17.58\00:54:19.32
Let me ask you a year later are
any of those computers the same?
00:54:19.35\00:54:22.87
They're totally different.
00:54:22.90\00:54:25.25
But let me ask you is
the energy source the same?
00:54:25.28\00:54:28.10
The energy source is the same
but what was inputted, is what?
00:54:28.13\00:54:32.54
Is different. It
becomes your personal computer.
00:54:32.57\00:54:35.73
Now there is always
danger that your computer
00:54:35.76\00:54:38.23
at some point would be what?
00:54:38.26\00:54:40.57
Would crash or
would be destroyed.
00:54:40.60\00:54:44.01
So what do
intelligent people do?
00:54:44.04\00:54:46.32
Intelligent people
they save on discs,
00:54:46.35\00:54:50.30
backups to everything
that you have in the computer.
00:54:50.33\00:54:53.29
In other words
you save the identity
00:54:53.32\00:54:55.32
of the computer in those CDs.
00:54:55.35\00:54:57.69
Are you understanding?
00:54:57.72\00:54:59.05
And therefore if
someday, the computer crashes
00:54:59.08\00:55:02.40
and disintegrates
if the ceiling falls
00:55:02.43\00:55:04.77
and it's broken
into smithereens.
00:55:04.80\00:55:07.41
The person who owns the computer
could say, not a problem.
00:55:07.44\00:55:12.37
So he goes and buys
another computer at the store.
00:55:12.40\00:55:14.83
Let me ask you, can that
person take that computer
00:55:14.86\00:55:17.34
that he bought at the
store and input the information
00:55:17.37\00:55:20.39
that was on the first computer
and give this new computer
00:55:20.42\00:55:23.98
the same identity that
the first computer had?
00:55:24.01\00:55:26.35
Absolutely. That's
exactly what God does in heaven.
00:55:26.38\00:55:30.27
As I live God saves a back up,
because He knows that someday
00:55:30.30\00:55:34.72
this computer is gonna crash.
00:55:34.75\00:55:36.46
He knows that someday unless
Jesus comes while I am alive
00:55:36.49\00:55:40.19
which will be the
very end time generation,
00:55:40.22\00:55:42.38
He knows that we're gonna die
and we're going to disintegrate.
00:55:42.41\00:55:45.32
So God says, I am going
to save a back up in heaven.
00:55:45.35\00:55:48.86
I'm gonna save
the discs in heaven.
00:55:48.89\00:55:51.18
In other words, He says,
because I know that someday
00:55:51.21\00:55:53.25
I am going to have to
give this person a new computer
00:55:53.28\00:55:55.85
I am going to have to
plug that computer in.
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.02
And then what I am
going to do is I am going
00:55:58.05\00:55:59.91
to take the record of their
lives and I am going to input
00:55:59.94\00:56:02.60
the record of their lives
into the resurrected immortal
00:56:02.63\00:56:06.33
and incorruptible body and
they will be the same persons
00:56:06.36\00:56:10.15
that they were
while they were alive.
00:56:10.18\00:56:13.40
Are you understanding
now what God saves in heaven?
00:56:13.43\00:56:15.57
He saves the
record of our lives.
00:56:15.60\00:56:17.71
The righteous do not
appear in person if they died.
00:56:17.74\00:56:20.34
The wicked do not
appear in person if they died.
00:56:20.37\00:56:22.83
The dead appear
before God through
00:56:22.86\00:56:25.73
the record of their lives.
00:56:25.76\00:56:29.28
By the way do you know
that after the millennium
00:56:29.31\00:56:31.54
the wicked are gonna resurrect
and they will once again
00:56:31.57\00:56:34.53
see all of the records?
00:56:34.56\00:56:36.36
They're gonna see him.
00:56:36.39\00:56:37.65
See we'll see him
during the 1,000 years
00:56:37.68\00:56:39.54
after the 1,000
years, the books are gonna
00:56:39.57\00:56:41.66
be open and the
wicked are going to see it.
00:56:41.69\00:56:43.39
Let me read this verse in
closing. Revelation 20:13,
00:56:43.42\00:56:48.00
"The sea gave up
the dead who were in it,
00:56:48.03\00:56:49.78
and Death and Hades delivered
up the dead who were in them."
00:56:49.81\00:56:52.69
This is speaking
about the resurrection.
00:56:52.72\00:56:54.29
"And they were judged,
00:56:54.32\00:56:55.38
each one
according to his works."
00:56:55.41\00:56:56.93
See the wicked
are going to be alive,
00:56:56.96\00:56:58.47
they're going to
resurrect and they're gonna
00:56:58.50\00:56:59.69
see the record of their lives.
00:56:59.72\00:57:01.69
And then the
beautiful thing is that God
00:57:01.72\00:57:03.92
is gonna cast them
into the lake of fire.
00:57:03.95\00:57:06.43
The devil and his
angels and the wicked,
00:57:06.46\00:57:08.31
and then the Bible tells
us that He is going to make
00:57:08.34\00:57:11.31
a new heavens and a new earth.
00:57:11.34\00:57:13.14
Those who were not found
written in the Book of Life
00:57:13.17\00:57:16.22
will be stricken
from the Book of Life
00:57:16.25\00:57:18.56
and they will be
destroyed in the lake of fire.
00:57:18.59\00:57:21.36
How important is it
then to receive Jesus Christ
00:57:21.39\00:57:24.71
as our Savior and Lord.
00:57:24.74\00:57:25.84
Folks, it is a
matter of life and death.
00:57:25.87\00:57:28.87