If a man dies,
shall he live again?
00:00:01.50\00:00:05.14
What does it mean to
be absent from the body
00:00:07.06\00:00:09.86
and present with the Lord?
00:00:09.89\00:00:13.15
Did Jesus go with a thief
to paradise on Good Friday?
00:00:13.18\00:00:19.34
Did the souls of dead people
00:00:19.37\00:00:21.34
really cry out
from below the altar?
00:00:21.37\00:00:25.46
Pastor Bohr
answers these questions
00:00:25.49\00:00:27.50
and more in the amazing series.
00:00:27.53\00:00:30.16
Shall we bow our
heads for prayer?
00:00:35.39\00:00:37.45
Father in
Heaven, what a joy it is
00:00:38.93\00:00:40.43
to be in Your presence.
00:00:40.46\00:00:42.99
We're so thankful that
You've given us Your word.
00:00:43.02\00:00:46.71
Father, it would be so
difficult to live in this world
00:00:46.75\00:00:49.74
without any
guidance without knowing
00:00:49.77\00:00:51.81
where things are leading to,
00:00:51.84\00:00:54.17
but You have
provided us with information
00:00:54.20\00:00:58.06
about what is
happening and what will happen
00:00:58.09\00:01:01.17
before the coming of Jesus.
00:01:01.20\00:01:03.03
We know that one of the
great deceptions of Satan
00:01:03.06\00:01:05.71
will be persona fine the dead.
00:01:05.74\00:01:10.03
In other words, appearing
as our supposed dead relatives,
00:01:10.06\00:01:14.80
He's gonna use spiritualism
00:01:14.83\00:01:16.43
as one of His great instruments
in deceiving the human race.
00:01:16.46\00:01:20.62
And even
Christians, Father, we know use
00:01:20.65\00:01:22.91
many of these texts
to try and prove that
00:01:22.94\00:01:25.48
when a person dies
their soul goes to heaven.
00:01:25.51\00:01:28.78
And as we study this evening,
00:01:28.81\00:01:30.80
the passage about the
"Souls under the Altar"
00:01:30.83\00:01:33.78
we ask, Father, that You
will give us divine wisdom,
00:01:33.81\00:01:36.91
help us to understand
what the Bible is truly saying
00:01:36.94\00:01:40.36
in this very difficult passage.
00:01:40.39\00:01:42.98
We thank You,
Father, for hearing
00:01:43.01\00:01:44.69
and answering our prayer
00:01:44.72\00:01:46.23
for we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
00:01:46.26\00:01:50.86
I'd like to invite you to
turn with me in your Bibles
00:01:52.55\00:01:56.73
to the Book of
Revelation 6:9-11.
00:01:56.76\00:02:02.28
Revelation 6:9-11.
00:02:02.31\00:02:06.19
Now while you're
looking for that passage,
00:02:06.22\00:02:09.06
I just want to give
you a little bit of context
00:02:09.09\00:02:11.81
so we know where
that passage fits
00:02:11.84\00:02:14.13
within the
structure of Revelation.
00:02:14.16\00:02:17.77
This passage that
we're going to read
00:02:17.80\00:02:19.77
is actually a
description of the fifth seal
00:02:19.80\00:02:22.85
of the Book of Revelation.
00:02:22.88\00:02:24.76
Now probably most of you know
00:02:24.79\00:02:26.69
that Revelation
presents seven seals.
00:02:26.72\00:02:30.19
This seal is number five.
00:02:30.22\00:02:33.05
Now many of those who have
studied the seals have concluded
00:02:33.08\00:02:36.17
and I have concluded this on
the basis of many years of study
00:02:36.20\00:02:40.11
that the seals are actually
describing Christian history
00:02:40.14\00:02:44.29
from the days of the apostles
00:02:44.32\00:02:46.45
till the second coming of
Jesus Christ in power and glory.
00:02:46.48\00:02:51.06
In other words, the seven seals
are describing certain eras
00:02:51.09\00:02:55.05
or period--
Periods of the history
00:02:55.08\00:02:57.56
of the Christian
Church from Apostolic times
00:02:57.59\00:02:59.80
till the end of the age.
00:02:59.83\00:03:02.06
Now the first
seal would represent
00:03:02.09\00:03:04.76
the Church of the Apostles
00:03:04.79\00:03:06.28
that goes out
conquering and to conquer.
00:03:06.31\00:03:09.53
The second seal
which is a red horse
00:03:09.56\00:03:11.52
represents the
period of the church
00:03:11.55\00:03:13.47
during the
persecutions of the Roman Empire
00:03:13.50\00:03:16.47
like, Nero and so on.
00:03:16.50\00:03:19.26
The third horse
or the third seal
00:03:19.29\00:03:21.91
is a black horse
and that represents
00:03:21.94\00:03:24.99
the period bearing
consenting the great's time
00:03:25.02\00:03:28.65
when many of the
errors and superstitions
00:03:28.68\00:03:31.86
that are not found in the Bible
00:03:31.89\00:03:33.59
penetrated and
came into the church.
00:03:33.62\00:03:36.99
The fourth horse
which is a pale one,
00:03:37.02\00:03:40.19
it's also the fourth
seal represents the church
00:03:40.22\00:03:43.86
during the period
of the Middle Ages.
00:03:43.89\00:03:46.53
It is the horse of death.
00:03:46.56\00:03:48.90
It's the period during
which God's people are murdered
00:03:48.93\00:03:52.27
because they want to remain
faithful to the message of God.
00:03:52.30\00:03:56.46
And then we have the passage
00:03:56.49\00:03:58.61
that we're going
to study this evening,
00:03:58.64\00:04:01.25
the passage that
deals with the fifth seal.
00:04:01.28\00:04:05.26
Now let's go in our Bibles
there to Revelation 6:9-11
00:04:05.29\00:04:09.89
and read what we find in
these very important verses.
00:04:09.92\00:04:14.21
It says there, "When
He opened the fifth seal,
00:04:14.24\00:04:18.08
I saw under the altar
00:04:18.11\00:04:20.78
the souls of those who had
been slain for the word of God
00:04:20.81\00:04:25.44
and for the
testimony which they held.
00:04:25.47\00:04:28.32
And they cried
with a loud voice,
00:04:28.35\00:04:30.18
saying, 'How long,
O Lord, holy and true,
00:04:30.21\00:04:34.83
until You judge
and avenge our blood
00:04:34.86\00:04:38.33
on those who
dwell on the earth?'
00:04:38.36\00:04:41.22
Then a white robe was
given to each of them,
00:04:41.25\00:04:44.41
and it was said to them
00:04:44.44\00:04:45.76
that they should rest
a little while longer,
00:04:45.79\00:04:48.92
until both the number
of their fellow servants
00:04:48.95\00:04:51.31
and their brethren,
00:04:51.34\00:04:52.56
who would be killed as
they were, was completed."
00:04:52.59\00:04:58.09
The fifth seal
describes the martyrs of Jesus
00:04:58.12\00:05:02.15
that were slain
during the second seal
00:05:02.18\00:05:05.15
or the second
horse, the red horse,
00:05:05.18\00:05:06.74
the imperial persecutions
and those who were slain
00:05:06.77\00:05:10.17
under the period
of the fourth horse,
00:05:10.20\00:05:12.16
the yellow horse,
the horse of death,
00:05:12.19\00:05:14.25
the martyrs under the fifth seal
00:05:14.28\00:05:16.24
who were slain in
the previous seals
00:05:16.27\00:05:18.50
are crying out to
God from under the altar
00:05:18.53\00:05:22.89
because they
have been slaughtered
00:05:22.92\00:05:24.80
in these persecutions.
00:05:24.83\00:05:27.12
Now we have several
questions that we want to answer
00:05:27.15\00:05:30.32
concerning this passage
00:05:30.35\00:05:32.39
and I'll go
through them one by one.
00:05:32.42\00:05:35.58
First, when does
this scene take place?
00:05:35.61\00:05:40.36
The one that we just read about.
00:05:40.39\00:05:41.86
Well, we've already
provided most of the context
00:05:41.89\00:05:45.35
that we're going to deal with.
00:05:45.38\00:05:47.26
Secondly, which altar
were these souls under?
00:05:47.29\00:05:52.08
What altar is
being talked about here?
00:05:52.11\00:05:55.40
Number three,
why were they killed?
00:05:55.43\00:05:59.10
Why were these
individuals killed?
00:05:59.13\00:06:03.09
Number four, what
were they praying about?
00:06:03.12\00:06:06.24
What were they crying out about
00:06:06.27\00:06:08.09
and why were they crying out?
00:06:08.12\00:06:10.73
Number five, what
do the white robes
00:06:10.76\00:06:13.65
that were given them represent?
00:06:13.68\00:06:16.58
Number six, why were they told
00:06:16.61\00:06:18.98
to rests for a little season
00:06:19.01\00:06:21.16
until the rest of the martyrs
would be killed as they were.
00:06:21.19\00:06:25.98
And of course, the next question
00:06:26.01\00:06:27.71
I just answered
in the previous one.
00:06:27.74\00:06:30.37
Is there more than
one group of martyrs?
00:06:30.40\00:06:33.53
And finally,
00:06:33.56\00:06:35.10
when will the please of
these martyrs be answered?
00:06:35.13\00:06:39.97
So those are the questions
00:06:40.00\00:06:41.41
that we want to
answer in our study today.
00:06:41.44\00:06:46.03
Now in order to understand
the cry of the martyrs
00:06:46.06\00:06:49.07
from under the altar,
00:06:49.10\00:06:50.30
we need to go to
some old background.
00:06:50.33\00:06:53.80
So go with me to Genesis 4:3, 4.
00:06:53.83\00:06:59.14
Genesis 4:3, 4.
00:06:59.17\00:07:03.64
It's speaking here about
the story of Cain and Abel.
00:07:03.67\00:07:07.72
And probably even
those who don't read
00:07:07.75\00:07:09.69
the Bible very much
00:07:09.72\00:07:11.08
are acquainted with
the story of Cain and Abel,
00:07:11.11\00:07:14.00
at least the broad strokes.
00:07:14.03\00:07:16.56
It says there in Genesis 4:1,
00:07:16.59\00:07:19.38
"And in the process of time
00:07:19.41\00:07:21.60
it came to pass that
Cain brought an offering
00:07:21.63\00:07:24.56
of the fruit of
the ground to the Lord.
00:07:24.59\00:07:27.84
Abel also brought of
the firstborn of his flock
00:07:27.87\00:07:31.86
and of their fat.
00:07:31.89\00:07:33.60
And the Lord respected
Abel and his offering."
00:07:33.63\00:07:37.81
But then we're told
that God did not respect
00:07:37.84\00:07:40.86
the offering of Cain.
00:07:40.89\00:07:43.71
Why did God respect
the offering of Abel,
00:07:43.74\00:07:46.64
but not respect
the offering of Cain?
00:07:46.67\00:07:49.20
The simple fact
is the Bible tells us
00:07:49.23\00:07:52.27
that without the
shedding of blood
00:07:52.30\00:07:54.62
there is no remission of sin.
00:07:54.65\00:07:57.61
God had asked for
an animal sacrifice.
00:07:57.64\00:08:00.83
He had shown it in Genesis 3:21,
00:08:00.86\00:08:04.16
when the first
animals were sacrificed,
00:08:04.19\00:08:05.99
the skins were taken to cover
the nakedness of Adam and Eve.
00:08:06.02\00:08:09.63
God showed them that the
only way their nakedness,
00:08:09.66\00:08:13.76
the nakedness of
the sin could be covered
00:08:13.79\00:08:15.65
was through the
death of the animal.
00:08:15.68\00:08:17.70
Cain and Abel knew that.
00:08:17.73\00:08:19.58
Abel obeyed God
and worshiped God
00:08:19.61\00:08:22.42
the way God said that
you're supposed to worship
00:08:22.45\00:08:25.18
and he brought
the animal sacrifice.
00:08:25.21\00:08:27.99
Cain on the other
hand disobeyed God.
00:08:28.02\00:08:31.24
He worshiped God as he pleased
00:08:31.27\00:08:33.16
and he brought the grain
or the fruit of the ground.
00:08:33.19\00:08:37.32
And therefore God
accepted the offering of Abel,
00:08:37.35\00:08:40.28
but He rejected
the offering of Cain.
00:08:40.31\00:08:42.79
You see this
original controversy
00:08:42.82\00:08:44.69
had to do with
obedience and worship.
00:08:44.72\00:08:48.44
Abel obeyed God
and worshipped God
00:08:48.47\00:08:51.39
according to the way
that God had established.
00:08:51.42\00:08:55.46
Now the fact that God had
blessed the offering of Abel
00:08:55.49\00:08:59.73
made Cain very angry.
00:08:59.76\00:09:02.22
Notice Genesis 4:8.
00:09:02.25\00:09:04.89
Notice that the disobedient one,
00:09:04.92\00:09:07.26
the one who
practices false worship
00:09:07.29\00:09:10.12
now is filled with
anger against the one
00:09:10.15\00:09:13.03
who was obedient and
the one who worshipped God
00:09:13.06\00:09:16.02
the way God had commanded.
00:09:16.05\00:09:17.91
Genesis 4:8, "Now Cain
talked with Abel his brother.
00:09:17.94\00:09:23.30
And it came to pass,
when they were in the field,
00:09:23.33\00:09:26.78
that Cain rose up against Abel
00:09:26.81\00:09:30.47
his brother and killed him."
00:09:30.50\00:09:35.29
So you'll notice in this
story that the disobedient one,
00:09:35.32\00:09:39.84
the one who
practiced false worship
00:09:39.87\00:09:42.48
kills the obedient one
who practiced true worship.
00:09:42.51\00:09:46.41
In other words, the
unrighteous slays the righteous.
00:09:46.44\00:09:51.47
Go with me to Hebrews 11:4
00:09:51.50\00:09:53.69
and I'm gonna show you
00:09:53.72\00:09:54.75
that Abel is called
righteous in scripture.
00:09:54.78\00:09:58.65
Hebrews 11:4.
00:09:58.68\00:10:01.55
It says there, "By
faith Abel offered to God
00:10:01.58\00:10:06.17
a more excellent sacrifice."
00:10:06.20\00:10:08.63
Do you see that the issue
had to do with the sacrifice?
00:10:08.66\00:10:12.01
So it says, "By
faith Abel offered to God
00:10:12.04\00:10:14.53
a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain,
00:10:14.56\00:10:17.43
through which he obtained
witness that he was, what?
00:10:17.46\00:10:22.62
Righteous, God
testifying of his gifts
00:10:22.65\00:10:26.40
and through it he
being dead still, what?
00:10:26.43\00:10:30.55
Still speaks."
00:10:30.58\00:10:31.66
In other words, his
sacrifice even after Abel died,
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.94
his sacrifice of
obedience and true worship
00:10:34.97\00:10:38.35
still speaks till this day.
00:10:38.38\00:10:42.21
So you'll notice that this text
says that Abel was righteous.
00:10:42.24\00:10:47.02
Now what about Cain?
00:10:47.05\00:10:48.76
Go with me to 1
John 3, 1 John 3:12.
00:10:48.79\00:10:54.03
1 John 3:12.
00:10:54.06\00:10:56.57
Let's read about Cain.
00:10:56.60\00:10:58.60
It says there in 1 John 3:12,
00:10:58.63\00:11:01.30
"Not as Cain who
was of the wicked one."
00:11:01.33\00:11:06.63
Who was the wicked
one by the way here?
00:11:06.66\00:11:08.88
Satan is the wicked one
because it says not as Cain
00:11:08.91\00:11:13.38
who was of the wicked one.
00:11:13.41\00:11:15.86
In other words, Cain
was a follower of whom?
00:11:15.89\00:11:18.44
Of Satan.
00:11:18.47\00:11:19.71
"Not as Cain who
was of the wicked one
00:11:19.74\00:11:22.60
and murdered his brother.
00:11:22.63\00:11:24.79
And why did he murder him?
00:11:24.82\00:11:27.09
Because his works were
evil and his brother's, what?
00:11:27.12\00:11:32.18
Righteous."
00:11:32.21\00:11:34.23
Now let me ask you something.
00:11:34.26\00:11:36.16
Was there a great
injustice done in this story?
00:11:36.19\00:11:41.62
Absolutely.
00:11:41.65\00:11:43.26
Because the
righteous person is killed.
00:11:43.29\00:11:47.11
The righteous person dies
and the unrighteous person lives
00:11:47.14\00:11:52.28
and actually kills the
person who is righteous.
00:11:52.31\00:11:55.16
So a great travesty
injustice had been made.
00:11:55.19\00:12:01.06
Let me ask you,
did the blood of Abel
00:12:01.09\00:12:04.35
cry out for vindication
00:12:04.38\00:12:08.09
and for this
situation to be rectified?
00:12:08.12\00:12:11.91
Absolutely.
00:12:11.94\00:12:13.15
Go with me to Genesis 4:10.
00:12:13.18\00:12:16.50
Genesis 4:10.
00:12:16.53\00:12:19.71
We're gonna notice
that the blood of Abel
00:12:19.74\00:12:21.95
cried out from the ground.
00:12:21.98\00:12:23.99
It says there, "And He said."
00:12:24.02\00:12:26.57
God is speaking here to Cain.
00:12:26.60\00:12:28.93
"And He said,
'What have you done?
00:12:28.96\00:12:32.64
The voice of
your brother's blood
00:12:32.67\00:12:36.29
cries out to Me
from the ground.'"
00:12:36.32\00:12:41.01
How many of you have
ever seen blood cry out?
00:12:41.04\00:12:46.24
Does blood literally cry out?
00:12:46.27\00:12:48.83
Of course, it
doesn't literally cry out.
00:12:48.86\00:12:51.43
What is meant by this verse
00:12:51.46\00:12:52.94
when it says that the
blood of Abel was crying out?
00:12:52.97\00:12:57.87
It was crying out for what?
00:12:57.90\00:13:00.08
For vengeance and for justice.
00:13:00.11\00:13:04.07
It was crying out for God
00:13:04.10\00:13:05.66
to rectify this injustice
that had been performed
00:13:05.69\00:13:09.75
because the unrighteous
lived and the righteous died.
00:13:09.78\00:13:14.13
And so the blood of
Abel cries out for justice.
00:13:14.16\00:13:19.47
Now we need to go to
another Old Testament source
00:13:19.50\00:13:22.93
that adds a little information
that will help us understand
00:13:22.96\00:13:26.44
a little bit better
00:13:26.47\00:13:27.70
the crying out of the
souls under the altar.
00:13:27.73\00:13:31.87
You know, the question is which
altar is being spoken of here?
00:13:31.90\00:13:35.71
By the way, in the
story of Cain and Abel
00:13:35.74\00:13:37.36
we're not told that
they raised up an altar,
00:13:37.39\00:13:40.47
but it becomes very, very clear
00:13:40.50\00:13:42.57
that if they were-- If they were
supposed to sacrifice animals,
00:13:42.60\00:13:46.27
Abel must have
raised up an altar
00:13:46.30\00:13:48.85
to place that
sacrifice upon the altar.
00:13:48.88\00:13:52.08
Now notice this further
Old Testament background.
00:13:52.11\00:13:55.85
Go with me to Leviticus 4:7.
00:13:55.88\00:13:59.32
Leviticus 4:7.
00:13:59.35\00:14:02.16
By the way, in
the Hebrew sanctuary
00:14:02.19\00:14:04.32
there were two altars.
00:14:04.35\00:14:07.76
There was the altar
of sacrifice in the court
00:14:07.79\00:14:11.31
and there was Altar of Incense
00:14:11.34\00:14:13.68
in the Holy
Place of the sanctuary.
00:14:13.71\00:14:16.88
So the question is
which of these two altars
00:14:16.91\00:14:19.96
is being
described in the fifth seal?
00:14:19.99\00:14:23.16
Is it the altar in the court
00:14:23.19\00:14:25.08
where the
animals were sacrificed
00:14:25.11\00:14:27.00
and placed upon
00:14:27.03\00:14:28.71
or was it the
altar that was found
00:14:28.74\00:14:32.52
in the Holy Place
the Altar of Incense?
00:14:32.55\00:14:36.57
Well, let's go to Leviticus 4:7.
00:14:36.60\00:14:40.98
Something was done with
the blood of the sacrifice
00:14:41.01\00:14:45.85
after the animal had been slain.
00:14:45.88\00:14:48.55
Notice it says there,
00:14:48.58\00:14:50.39
"And the priest
shall put some of the blood
00:14:50.42\00:14:53.35
upon the horns of the altar of
sweet incense before the Lord,
00:14:53.38\00:14:57.47
which is in the
tabernacle of congregation."
00:14:57.50\00:15:01.12
And now notice this.
00:15:01.15\00:15:02.53
"And shall pour--"
That's an important word.
00:15:02.56\00:15:05.34
"And shall pour all the
blood of the bullock, where?
00:15:05.37\00:15:09.97
At the bottom of the altar."
00:15:10.00\00:15:11.73
In other words, on the ground."
00:15:11.76\00:15:13.75
At the bottom of the
altar of the burnt offering,
00:15:13.78\00:15:16.68
which is at the door
00:15:16.71\00:15:19.03
of the tabernacle
of the congregation."
00:15:19.06\00:15:21.10
So you will notice
where was this altar located?
00:15:21.13\00:15:23.98
It was located at the
door of the tabernacle.
00:15:24.01\00:15:28.15
That means, it was in
the court of the sanctuary.
00:15:28.18\00:15:31.98
Where was the blood poured?
00:15:32.01\00:15:33.56
It was poured next to
the altar on to, what?
00:15:33.59\00:15:36.78
On to the ground.
00:15:36.81\00:15:39.33
Now let's go to another passage
00:15:39.36\00:15:42.52
which helps us
understand this even better.
00:15:42.55\00:15:46.16
Go to Leviticus 17:11.
00:15:46.19\00:15:50.32
And I want you to remember
the key points of the passage
00:15:50.35\00:15:53.25
that we just read.
00:15:53.28\00:15:54.46
Number one, the
blood was poured out
00:15:54.49\00:15:56.79
on the ground at
the base of the altar.
00:15:56.82\00:15:58.85
Number two, it is
the altar of sacrifice
00:15:58.88\00:16:02.04
because it was at the
door of the tenth of meeting.
00:16:02.07\00:16:05.25
I want you to remember also
that the blood was poured out.
00:16:05.28\00:16:08.68
That's an important expression.
00:16:08.71\00:16:10.24
The blood was poured out.
00:16:10.27\00:16:12.80
Now let's read Leviticus 17:11.
00:16:12.83\00:16:17.68
We asked the question, how
is it that the blood cries out?
00:16:17.71\00:16:22.65
Well, let's read in this
text something very interesting.
00:16:22.68\00:16:27.28
It says, "For the life."
00:16:27.31\00:16:29.75
That's the word nefesh.
00:16:29.78\00:16:31.10
Remember we
studied that word nefesh
00:16:31.13\00:16:33.29
that sometimes
as translated soul,
00:16:33.32\00:16:35.54
sometimes as translated life,
00:16:35.57\00:16:37.71
sometimes as
translated living being.
00:16:37.74\00:16:40.71
Well, here it's translated life.
00:16:40.74\00:16:42.46
It says, "For the life
of the flesh is, where?
00:16:42.49\00:16:47.15
In the blood."
00:16:47.18\00:16:49.57
So that the
nefesh is found where?
00:16:49.60\00:16:52.79
The nefesh or the
life is found in the blood.
00:16:52.82\00:16:56.44
"And I have given
it to you upon, where?"
00:16:56.47\00:16:59.72
See there's the altar.
00:16:59.75\00:17:01.19
"I have given it
to you upon the altar
00:17:01.22\00:17:03.94
to make
atonement for your souls,
00:17:03.97\00:17:06.20
for it is the blood that
makes atonement for the soul."
00:17:06.23\00:17:10.71
Let's notice also
Deuteronomy 12:23.
00:17:10.74\00:17:15.61
Deuteronomy 12:23.
00:17:15.64\00:17:20.52
It says there, "Only be sure
that you do not eat the blood,
00:17:20.55\00:17:24.75
for the blood is the, what?
00:17:24.78\00:17:26.97
The blood is the life,
00:17:27.00\00:17:29.43
you may not eat the
life with the meat."
00:17:29.46\00:17:34.02
So what is the life?
00:17:34.05\00:17:35.53
The life is the blood.
00:17:35.56\00:17:36.97
So when the Bible says
00:17:37.00\00:17:38.65
that the blood of
Abel was crying out,
00:17:38.68\00:17:41.39
what was it that was
crying out for justice?
00:17:41.42\00:17:44.90
It was the life of
Abel that had been, what?
00:17:44.93\00:17:48.24
That had been taken
unjustly and unrighteous.
00:17:48.27\00:17:52.22
So is it the same thing to
say that the blood cries out
00:17:52.25\00:17:56.47
as to say that
the soul cried out?
00:17:56.50\00:17:59.59
Of course.
00:17:59.62\00:18:00.65
Because the soul or the
nefesh is, what, is the blood.
00:18:00.68\00:18:04.65
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:18:04.68\00:18:06.12
So the soul crying
out, the nefesh crying out
00:18:06.15\00:18:09.07
is the same thing as
Abel's blood crying out
00:18:09.10\00:18:12.46
because the blood is the nefesh.
00:18:12.49\00:18:15.12
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:18:15.15\00:18:16.93
So when it says that
the souls are crying out
00:18:16.96\00:18:19.41
from under the
altar, they are not some--
00:18:19.44\00:18:22.41
Some disincarnated
spirits that have left the body
00:18:22.44\00:18:26.44
and have gone to
heaven some place
00:18:26.47\00:18:28.47
to be there to cry
out to God for justice.
00:18:28.50\00:18:31.13
After all, why would they
cry out to God for justice
00:18:31.16\00:18:34.34
if they're already in heaven?
00:18:34.37\00:18:35.81
I mean, they should
be praising the Lord
00:18:35.84\00:18:37.66
in the presence of God, right?
00:18:37.69\00:18:39.50
If they were up
there, but the fact is
00:18:39.53\00:18:41.86
the Bible tells
us that at this point
00:18:41.89\00:18:44.42
they have not received justice.
00:18:44.45\00:18:46.51
They're not in heaven
because they're crying out.
00:18:46.54\00:18:48.33
They're saying to God,
00:18:48.36\00:18:49.39
"God, until when is
it that You are not going
00:18:49.42\00:18:52.43
to rectify this situation?
00:18:52.46\00:18:54.13
We have been
mowed down unjustly.
00:18:54.16\00:18:56.18
When are You gonna
make things right?"
00:18:56.21\00:18:58.56
Are you following me or not?
00:18:58.59\00:19:00.15
So where is this altar located?
00:19:00.18\00:19:02.60
It's not located
in heaven at all.
00:19:02.63\00:19:05.01
It's located on earth.
00:19:05.04\00:19:06.56
You say how do we know that?
00:19:06.59\00:19:08.67
What did that altar
of sacrifice represent?
00:19:08.70\00:19:11.64
It represented
the sacrifice of whom?
00:19:11.67\00:19:14.29
The sacrifice of Jesus.
00:19:14.32\00:19:16.26
Where was Jesus sacrificed?
00:19:16.29\00:19:18.45
Was He sacrificed in heaven?
00:19:18.48\00:19:19.83
Was He placed upon
the altar in heaven
00:19:19.86\00:19:21.55
so to speak upon
the cross in heaven?
00:19:21.58\00:19:23.59
No. Where was He placed?
00:19:23.62\00:19:24.99
On the cross.
00:19:25.02\00:19:26.37
He was placed on
the cross on the earth.
00:19:26.40\00:19:28.55
See, the court
represents the earth.
00:19:28.58\00:19:30.36
That's where the altar was.
00:19:30.39\00:19:31.47
That's where the victim
after being slain was placed.
00:19:31.50\00:19:33.79
It represented the
cross of Jesus Christ.
00:19:33.82\00:19:36.29
So wherever these
souls under the altar are
00:19:36.32\00:19:39.51
they are not
under a heavenly altar
00:19:39.54\00:19:41.47
they're under of,
what, an earthly altar.
00:19:41.50\00:19:43.86
By the way, if this
is the literal altar
00:19:43.89\00:19:46.13
that must be a big--
00:19:46.16\00:19:47.19
Offer big altar to fit
all of the martyrs under it.
00:19:47.22\00:19:51.05
Well, you have
here symbolic language.
00:19:51.08\00:19:53.72
You don't have literal language.
00:19:53.75\00:19:55.43
What's happening
is that these souls,
00:19:55.46\00:19:57.94
the lives that
have been poured out
00:19:57.97\00:20:00.77
of these righteous
people are crying out for what?
00:20:00.80\00:20:04.70
Are crying out for justice.
00:20:04.73\00:20:09.30
Now we need to answer
00:20:09.33\00:20:10.96
in the rest of
our study together.
00:20:10.99\00:20:13.69
When this scene is occurring?
00:20:13.72\00:20:17.58
Let's go back once
again to our passage
00:20:17.61\00:20:20.23
that we began our study with
00:20:20.26\00:20:22.22
and notice one or two things
00:20:22.25\00:20:23.96
which are extremely
important for understanding
00:20:23.99\00:20:26.43
the rest of our study today.
00:20:26.46\00:20:29.96
Once gain Revelation 6:9.
00:20:29.99\00:20:32.73
"When He opened the fifth seal,
00:20:32.76\00:20:34.14
I saw under the altar
00:20:34.17\00:20:35.91
the souls of
those who had been slain
00:20:35.94\00:20:38.78
for the word of God
00:20:38.81\00:20:39.87
and for the
testimony which they held."
00:20:39.90\00:20:41.51
So you see the
reason why they were slain
00:20:41.54\00:20:43.60
is for the word of
God and for the testimony
00:20:43.63\00:20:47.49
which they held.
00:20:47.52\00:20:48.55
In other words, they were
giving witness to Jesus Christ.
00:20:48.58\00:20:51.34
"And they cried
with a loud voice,
00:20:51.37\00:20:52.80
saying, 'How long,
O Lord, holy and true,
00:20:52.83\00:20:55.48
until You judge and avenge."
00:20:55.51\00:20:56.60
Remember that expression.
00:20:56.63\00:20:57.79
Judge and avenge.
00:20:57.82\00:20:59.67
"Our blood on those
who dwell on the earth?"
00:20:59.70\00:21:03.22
Verse 11, "Then a white
robe was given to each of them."
00:21:03.25\00:21:05.85
We'll talk about
that in a few moments.
00:21:05.88\00:21:07.78
"And it was said to them
00:21:07.81\00:21:09.51
that they should rest
a little while longer."
00:21:09.54\00:21:11.52
We'll come to that also.
00:21:11.55\00:21:13.05
"Until both the number
of their fellow servants
00:21:13.08\00:21:16.18
and their brethren,
00:21:16.21\00:21:17.40
who would be killed as
they were, was completed."
00:21:17.43\00:21:21.02
Let me ask you how
many groups of martyrs
00:21:21.05\00:21:23.42
are being
discussed in this passage?
00:21:23.45\00:21:26.85
There are two groups of martyrs.
00:21:26.88\00:21:28.67
Because the
first group of martyrs
00:21:28.70\00:21:30.12
under the fifth
seal are crying out,
00:21:30.15\00:21:32.33
until when Lord do you not
judge and avenge our blood?
00:21:32.36\00:21:36.71
They're given white
robes and they're told.
00:21:36.74\00:21:39.50
Now you rest a while
00:21:39.53\00:21:41.18
until the rest of
the martyrs are slain,
00:21:41.21\00:21:44.49
until the rest of the martyrs
that their number is complete.
00:21:44.52\00:21:48.12
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:21:48.15\00:21:49.36
So how many groups
of martyrs are there?
00:21:49.39\00:21:51.79
There are two groups of martyrs.
00:21:51.82\00:21:54.02
Now the question is when
were these martyrs slain?
00:21:54.05\00:22:00.03
I'm going to share with you
00:22:00.06\00:22:01.39
now some information that
we find in Daniel Chapter 7.
00:22:01.42\00:22:05.23
And I'm gonna be very brief
00:22:05.26\00:22:06.77
because I have to
give you some context.
00:22:06.80\00:22:10.05
Daniel Chapter 7,
you have four beasts.
00:22:10.08\00:22:12.84
The first beast is a lion
00:22:12.87\00:22:14.18
that represents
the Kingdom of Babylon.
00:22:14.21\00:22:17.24
The second beast is a bear
00:22:17.27\00:22:19.59
which represents the
Kingdom of Medo-Persia.
00:22:19.62\00:22:22.55
The third beast is a leopard
00:22:22.58\00:22:24.77
that represents
the Kingdom of Greece.
00:22:24.80\00:22:27.56
The fourth beast is a
terrible, nondescript beast.
00:22:27.59\00:22:31.28
And that beast represents
Rome, the Roman Empire,
00:22:31.31\00:22:35.94
and then that fourth
beast sprouts 10 horns
00:22:35.97\00:22:39.23
that represents the 10
divisions of the Roman Empire.
00:22:39.26\00:22:43.40
Then among those 10 horns
00:22:43.43\00:22:45.46
once the Roman Empire is divided
00:22:45.49\00:22:47.83
a little horn comes up
00:22:47.86\00:22:50.10
and that little horn does
some very interesting things.
00:22:50.13\00:22:54.55
Notice Daniel 7:21.
00:22:54.58\00:22:57.81
Daniel 7:21.
00:22:57.84\00:23:01.58
It says, "I was
watching, and the same horn."
00:23:01.61\00:23:05.36
This is after the
Roman Empire was divided.
00:23:05.39\00:23:07.80
"The same horn was making, what?
00:23:07.83\00:23:10.80
War against the
saints and, what?
00:23:10.83\00:23:14.64
Prevailing against them."
00:23:14.67\00:23:16.26
Did Cain prevail against evil?
00:23:16.29\00:23:18.59
He most certainly did.
00:23:18.62\00:23:19.87
This little horn was
making war against the saints
00:23:19.90\00:23:23.78
and was prevailing
against the saints.
00:23:23.81\00:23:26.83
How long was he
going to prevail?
00:23:26.86\00:23:29.37
Notice Daniel 7:25.
00:23:29.40\00:23:32.14
Daniel 7:25.
00:23:32.17\00:23:34.70
Speaking about
the same little horn.
00:23:34.73\00:23:36.75
"He shall speak pompous
words against the Most High."
00:23:36.78\00:23:40.53
Here's the important phrase.
00:23:40.56\00:23:42.57
"He shall persecute the
saints of the Most High."
00:23:42.60\00:23:46.71
Was this gonna be
a persecuting power?
00:23:46.74\00:23:48.64
Most certainly.
00:23:48.67\00:23:49.70
Was gonna persecute the
saints of the Most High.
00:23:49.73\00:23:52.67
"And shall intend to
change times and law."
00:23:52.70\00:23:55.31
And then it
says, "Then the saints
00:23:55.34\00:23:57.11
shall be given into his hand."
00:23:57.14\00:23:58.73
For how long?
00:23:58.76\00:23:59.79
"For a time and
times and half a time."
00:23:59.82\00:24:03.17
For how long was this
little horn gonna persecute
00:24:03.20\00:24:05.77
and prevail over the saints?
00:24:05.80\00:24:07.38
For time, times and half a time.
00:24:07.41\00:24:09.22
How long is that?
00:24:09.25\00:24:10.54
Three and a half years.
00:24:10.57\00:24:12.01
But in prophecy, we find
that a day is equal to, what?
00:24:12.04\00:24:17.25
Is equal to a year.
00:24:17.28\00:24:18.87
Now three and a half
years times 360 days,
00:24:18.90\00:24:23.05
each year gives you
a total of 1,260 days
00:24:23.08\00:24:28.74
in three and a half years.
00:24:28.77\00:24:29.95
Which means
that this little horn
00:24:29.98\00:24:31.32
was going to rule how long?
00:24:31.35\00:24:32.96
1,260 years after
it roused to power.
00:24:32.99\00:24:38.57
Now let me ask you, what is
the only system in the world
00:24:38.60\00:24:41.41
that rose after
Babylon, after Medo-Persia,
00:24:41.44\00:24:43.82
after Greece,
after the Roman Empire,
00:24:43.85\00:24:46.72
after the Roman
Empire was divided
00:24:46.75\00:24:48.97
that ruled for
over a 1,000 years.
00:24:49.00\00:24:52.11
There's only one answer to that
00:24:52.14\00:24:54.10
and that is the
Roman Catholic papacy.
00:24:54.13\00:24:58.05
Ruled from 538 to 1,798
00:24:58.08\00:25:01.86
when the pope was taken prisoner
00:25:01.89\00:25:03.52
by the general of
the French armies.
00:25:03.55\00:25:06.73
Now let's notice the
corroborating evidence
00:25:06.76\00:25:09.30
in Revelation 13:5, 7.
00:25:09.33\00:25:12.52
Revelation 13 doesn't
speak about a little horn.
00:25:12.55\00:25:15.29
Revelation 13
speaks about a beast,
00:25:15.32\00:25:18.30
but it's the same power.
00:25:18.33\00:25:19.50
Different symbol same power.
00:25:19.53\00:25:21.78
Revelation 13:5, 7.
00:25:21.81\00:25:25.37
It says here, "And
he was given a mouth."
00:25:25.40\00:25:28.23
That is the beast.
00:25:28.26\00:25:29.31
"Speaking great
things and blasphemies."
00:25:29.34\00:25:31.73
Is that the same
thing the little horn did?
00:25:31.76\00:25:33.82
Yes, we just read
about the little horn.
00:25:33.85\00:25:36.02
"And he was given authority
to continue forty-two months."
00:25:36.05\00:25:39.41
You say, "Well,
that's not the same
00:25:39.44\00:25:40.63
as time, times,
and half a time?"
00:25:40.66\00:25:42.26
Yes, it is.
00:25:42.29\00:25:43.68
You multiply 42 months
time, 30 days each month.
00:25:43.71\00:25:47.02
What's the total? 1,260.
00:25:47.05\00:25:49.98
The same total.
00:25:50.01\00:25:51.64
And so he ruled the same period.
00:25:51.67\00:25:53.35
It says, "He was given authority
to continue 42 months."
00:25:53.38\00:25:56.69
And now notice verse 7.
00:25:56.72\00:25:58.14
"It was granted to him
to make war with the saints
00:25:58.17\00:26:02.03
and to overcome them."
00:26:02.06\00:26:03.09
Is that what we
found in Daniel 7
00:26:03.12\00:26:04.38
about the little horn?
00:26:04.41\00:26:05.54
Absolutely.
00:26:05.57\00:26:06.60
So it's says, "It
was granted to him
00:26:06.63\00:26:08.57
to make war with the
saints and to overcome them.
00:26:08.60\00:26:10.90
And authority was
given him over every tribe,
00:26:10.93\00:26:14.07
tongue, and nation."
00:26:14.10\00:26:16.02
So how long was
this power going to rule?
00:26:16.05\00:26:18.91
How long was this power
going to wear out the saints
00:26:18.94\00:26:21.88
and persecute the
saints of the Most High?
00:26:21.91\00:26:24.33
It was gonna rule 1,260 years.
00:26:24.36\00:26:28.93
What was gonna happen at
the end of those 1,260 years?
00:26:28.96\00:26:32.73
Were the saints
gonna get a respect?
00:26:32.76\00:26:34.95
Were the saints going to have
00:26:34.98\00:26:36.26
a period of rest
from persecution?
00:26:36.29\00:26:40.83
Absolutely.
00:26:40.86\00:26:41.90
Notice Revelation 13:10.
00:26:41.93\00:26:44.36
Revelation 13:10.
00:26:44.39\00:26:48.24
Speaking about
this power, it says,
00:26:48.27\00:26:50.98
"He who leads into captivity
shall go into captivity."
00:26:51.01\00:26:55.17
In other words,
00:26:55.20\00:26:56.23
this power that he led
God's people in captivity,
00:26:56.26\00:26:59.25
he was gonna go into captivity.
00:26:59.28\00:27:01.28
He-- Notice, "He who
kills with the sword."
00:27:01.31\00:27:04.93
Must be what?
00:27:04.96\00:27:06.40
"Must be killed with the sword.
00:27:06.43\00:27:09.28
Here is the patience and
the faith of the saints."
00:27:09.31\00:27:12.66
What did this beast
power used to persecute.
00:27:12.69\00:27:15.82
To wear out the
saints he used, what?
00:27:15.85\00:27:18.83
The sword.
00:27:18.86\00:27:19.89
What was the sword gonna do?
00:27:19.92\00:27:21.25
That same sword
that he used to persecute
00:27:21.28\00:27:23.88
was going to be
used to kill him.
00:27:23.91\00:27:26.74
In other words,
to remove his power.
00:27:26.77\00:27:29.59
By the way, Revelation
13:3 amplifies this point.
00:27:29.62\00:27:34.22
When we're told about
this beast in Revelation 13:3
00:27:34.25\00:27:38.31
and we're only gonna read
the first part of the verse.
00:27:38.34\00:27:40.97
"And I saw one of his
heads as if it had been, what?
00:27:41.00\00:27:47.21
Mortally wounded."
00:27:47.24\00:27:49.01
What happened to the beast
00:27:49.04\00:27:50.07
after it ruled 42
months or 1,260 years?
00:27:50.10\00:27:53.71
The Bible says that it was
going to receive a deadly, what?
00:27:53.74\00:27:56.98
A deadly wound.
00:27:57.01\00:28:00.21
What was going to
give it that deadly wound?
00:28:00.24\00:28:02.75
It was gonna be
killed with, what?
00:28:02.78\00:28:05.29
With a sword according
to what we just noticed.
00:28:05.32\00:28:08.47
Now you say,
"What does that mean
00:28:08.50\00:28:09.91
that it was gonna be
killed with the sword?"
00:28:09.94\00:28:12.37
In other words,
that used the sword
00:28:12.40\00:28:13.95
and now the sword was
going to arise against it.
00:28:13.98\00:28:17.08
How did the Roman Catholic
papacy persecute God's people
00:28:17.11\00:28:19.92
during the Middle Ages?
00:28:19.95\00:28:21.65
The fact is that the church did
not directly slay God's people.
00:28:21.68\00:28:28.31
What the church did was appealed
to the power of the state
00:28:28.34\00:28:32.15
and by using the
power of the state
00:28:32.18\00:28:34.82
God's people were slain.
00:28:34.85\00:28:37.05
In other words, the church would
try the individual for heresy
00:28:37.08\00:28:40.58
and then the church would
deliver the supposed heretic
00:28:40.61\00:28:44.04
into the hands
of the secular power
00:28:44.07\00:28:46.52
for the secular
power to slay that person
00:28:46.55\00:28:49.32
who was not in harmony with
the teachings of the church.
00:28:49.35\00:28:52.69
Now I want to
show you that the sword
00:28:52.72\00:28:55.72
really represents
the power of the state.
00:28:55.75\00:28:58.10
In other words, the church
had the power of the sword,
00:28:58.13\00:29:00.68
it had the power of the state
00:29:00.71\00:29:02.19
to persecute and
kill God's people.
00:29:02.22\00:29:05.13
Notice Romans 13:1-4.
00:29:05.16\00:29:08.71
Romans 13:1-4.
00:29:08.74\00:29:13.31
Here the Apostle Paul
is speaking about Rome.
00:29:13.34\00:29:16.42
And he says this.
00:29:16.45\00:29:17.76
"Let every soul be subject
to the governing authorities."
00:29:17.79\00:29:22.29
He's speaking about
the governing authorities.
00:29:22.32\00:29:24.79
"For there is no
authority except from God,
00:29:24.82\00:29:28.18
and the authorities that
exist are appointed by God.
00:29:28.21\00:29:32.12
Therefore, whoever
resists the authority
00:29:32.15\00:29:35.15
resists the ordinance of God,
00:29:35.18\00:29:38.34
and those who resist will
bring judgment on themselves.
00:29:38.37\00:29:41.92
For rulers--" Notice
he's talking about ruler.
00:29:41.95\00:29:44.73
"For rulers are not a terror
to good works, but to evil.
00:29:44.76\00:29:48.79
Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority?
00:29:48.82\00:29:51.90
Do what is good, and you
will have praise from the same.
00:29:51.93\00:29:55.99
For he is God's
minister to you for good."
00:29:56.02\00:30:00.75
But now notice the key phrase.
00:30:00.78\00:30:02.67
"But if you do evil, be afraid,
00:30:02.70\00:30:05.64
for he does not bear, what?
00:30:05.67\00:30:08.30
The sword in vain,
for he is God's minister,
00:30:08.33\00:30:12.60
an avenger to
execute wrath on him
00:30:12.63\00:30:15.32
who practices evil."
00:30:15.35\00:30:18.69
So what does a sword represent?
00:30:18.72\00:30:20.82
The sword is in
the hand of the state
00:30:20.85\00:30:23.95
of the
authorities or of the rulers.
00:30:23.98\00:30:27.02
And that's the way in which
the church of the Middle Ages
00:30:27.05\00:30:30.04
persecuted the
saints of the Most High.
00:30:30.07\00:30:32.85
It used the power of the sword,
00:30:32.88\00:30:34.64
the power of the state to kill
and to destroy God's people.
00:30:34.67\00:30:38.83
But the Bible says that in 1798,
00:30:38.86\00:30:41.64
at the end of the 1,260 years
00:30:41.67\00:30:43.77
the sword of the state was going
to arise against this system
00:30:43.80\00:30:47.21
and that's exactly what happened
00:30:47.24\00:30:48.99
when France aroused against
the Roman Catholic papacy,
00:30:49.02\00:30:52.27
and the state no longer allowed
itself to be used by this power.
00:30:52.30\00:30:57.48
And by the way,
democratic governments appeared
00:30:57.51\00:30:59.40
all over the Europe
and all over the America
00:30:59.43\00:31:04.24
as a result of the deadly wound.
00:31:04.27\00:31:07.55
So what is the first stage
of martyrs that were killed?
00:31:07.58\00:31:11.62
The first stage of the martyrs
is during the 1,260 years,
00:31:11.65\00:31:16.26
during the time,
times, half a time,
00:31:16.29\00:31:18.60
during the 42 months that's
when this little horn power
00:31:18.63\00:31:22.30
and this
beast's power persecutes
00:31:22.33\00:31:24.93
and wears out the
saints of the Most High.
00:31:24.96\00:31:28.53
Now allow me just for a moment
00:31:28.56\00:31:30.78
to give you
another picture of this,
00:31:30.81\00:31:33.17
of this period persecution
00:31:33.20\00:31:35.06
as it appears in the
series of the seven churches.
00:31:35.09\00:31:38.77
You know, there are seven
churches in Revelation 2 and 3.
00:31:38.80\00:31:42.12
They also represent
the history of the church
00:31:42.15\00:31:44.76
from the days of the
Apostles till the end of time.
00:31:44.79\00:31:47.94
The first church Ephesus
is the church of the Apostles.
00:31:47.97\00:31:51.59
The second church
Smyrna is the persecuted church
00:31:51.62\00:31:55.30
under the Roman Emperors.
00:31:55.33\00:31:57.06
The third church which
is the Church of Pergamum
00:31:57.09\00:32:01.43
represents the time when
error came into the church
00:32:01.46\00:32:05.18
in the days of Constantine.
00:32:05.21\00:32:07.15
The fourth church,
Thyatira represents
00:32:07.18\00:32:10.38
the period of people's supremacy
just like the fourth seal.
00:32:10.41\00:32:14.36
Now I want to read
about of the fourth church
00:32:14.39\00:32:17.93
which is the same
as the fourth seal.
00:32:17.96\00:32:20.54
Go with me to
Revelation 2:20-23.
00:32:20.57\00:32:24.13
Revelation 2:20-23.
00:32:24.16\00:32:28.06
It's speaking about the spirit
00:32:28.09\00:32:29.57
and there's a
woman mentioned here
00:32:29.60\00:32:32.41
who was the
enemy of God's people
00:32:32.44\00:32:34.80
during the
period of this church.
00:32:34.83\00:32:37.49
It says there in verse 20.
00:32:37.52\00:32:39.44
"Nevertheless I have a
few things against you."
00:32:39.47\00:32:43.64
That is against this church.
00:32:43.67\00:32:45.55
"Because you
allow that woman, what?
00:32:45.58\00:32:49.08
Who ruled during the
period of people's supremacy?
00:32:49.11\00:32:53.07
Jezebel, it says."
00:32:53.10\00:32:55.38
Because you allow
that woman Jezebel--
00:32:55.41\00:32:57.36
By the way, it's
not Jezebel in person.
00:32:57.39\00:32:59.31
She didn't
resurrect. It's not her soul.
00:32:59.34\00:33:01.36
It's a system that
is similar in character
00:33:01.39\00:33:04.66
to the way Jezebel
was in the Old Testament.
00:33:04.69\00:33:07.19
"Who calls herself a prophetess,
00:33:07.22\00:33:09.38
to teach and seduce My servants
to commit sexual immorality."
00:33:09.41\00:33:14.61
The King James
translates it fornication.
00:33:14.64\00:33:18.06
"And eat things
sacrificed to idols.
00:33:18.09\00:33:21.26
I gave her time to
repent of her sexual immorality
00:33:21.29\00:33:25.38
or her fornication
and she did not repent.
00:33:25.41\00:33:29.98
Indeed I will
cast her into a, what?
00:33:30.01\00:33:32.36
Sickbed."
00:33:32.39\00:33:33.57
Is that exactly what happened
00:33:33.60\00:33:34.76
when she
received the deadly wound?
00:33:34.79\00:33:36.35
Mostly certainly.
00:33:36.38\00:33:37.53
"I will cast her into a sickbed.
00:33:37.56\00:33:39.53
And those who
commit adultery with her
00:33:39.56\00:33:41.59
into great tribulation."
00:33:41.62\00:33:42.94
By the way, that's
the French revolution.
00:33:42.97\00:33:44.95
It was a convulsion in France.
00:33:44.98\00:33:47.61
"Unless they
repent of their deeds."
00:33:47.64\00:33:49.07
And notice that this
harlot also has children
00:33:49.10\00:33:52.25
that were born from her.
00:33:52.28\00:33:53.49
"I will kill her
children with death,
00:33:53.52\00:33:55.89
and all the churches shall know
00:33:55.92\00:33:57.65
that I am He who
searches the minds and hearts.
00:33:57.68\00:34:00.45
And I will give to each
one according to your works."
00:34:00.48\00:34:05.20
Now the question
is what was Jezebel
00:34:05.23\00:34:06.85
like in the Old Testament?
00:34:06.88\00:34:09.40
When she prefigures
00:34:09.43\00:34:11.04
what this church was
like during the Middle Ages.
00:34:11.07\00:34:13.92
Well, let's read some things
00:34:13.95\00:34:15.20
about Jezebel in
the Old Testament
00:34:15.23\00:34:17.05
because the church
during this period,
00:34:17.08\00:34:19.15
during the period
of people's supremacy
00:34:19.18\00:34:21.13
was going to have the
characteristics of Jezebel
00:34:21.16\00:34:23.35
because the church is called
Jezebel during this period.
00:34:23.38\00:34:26.37
Notice 2 Kings 9:22.
00:34:26.40\00:34:29.52
2 Kings 9:22.
00:34:29.55\00:34:32.62
Let's study a few
things about Jezebel.
00:34:32.65\00:34:34.85
It says, "Now it
happened, when Joram saw Jehu,
00:34:34.88\00:34:38.96
that he said,
'Is it peace, Jehu?'
00:34:38.99\00:34:42.18
So he answered, 'What peace,
00:34:42.21\00:34:44.79
as long as the harlotries
of your mother Jezebel
00:34:44.82\00:34:51.31
and her
witchcraft are so many?'"
00:34:51.34\00:34:54.40
Notice two characteristics
of this woman, Jezebel.
00:34:54.43\00:34:57.94
She was a harlot.
00:34:57.97\00:34:59.30
And she was involved in, what?
00:34:59.33\00:35:01.34
She was involved in witchcraft.
00:35:01.37\00:35:04.25
Furthermore, I want you
to notice something else
00:35:04.28\00:35:06.93
that this woman did.
00:35:06.96\00:35:08.38
1 Kings 18:4.
00:35:08.41\00:35:11.28
1 Kings 18:4.
00:35:11.31\00:35:14.39
It says, "For so it
was, while Jezebel."
00:35:14.42\00:35:17.76
Did what?
00:35:17.79\00:35:19.16
"Massacred the
prophets of the Lord."
00:35:19.19\00:35:22.62
Is that what the little
horn did during the Middle Ages?
00:35:22.65\00:35:25.86
Is that what the beasts did?
00:35:25.89\00:35:27.55
Absolutely.
00:35:27.58\00:35:28.61
Is that what Jezebel does
00:35:28.64\00:35:30.15
during the period
of the fourth church?
00:35:30.18\00:35:31.71
Absolutely.
00:35:31.74\00:35:33.01
So it says, "For so it was,
00:35:33.04\00:35:34.62
while Jezebel massacred
the prophets of the Lord,
00:35:34.65\00:35:37.49
that Obadiah had taken
00:35:37.52\00:35:39.17
one hundred
prophets and hidden them,
00:35:39.20\00:35:41.32
fifty to a cave, and had
fed them with bread and water."
00:35:41.35\00:35:46.45
Now let me ask you.
00:35:46.48\00:35:47.66
Was the blood of God's people
eventually avenged upon Jezebel?
00:35:47.69\00:35:53.39
Was this woman destroyed?
00:35:53.42\00:35:55.63
Was she killed?
00:35:55.66\00:35:56.92
She most certainly was.
00:35:56.95\00:35:58.28
And the blood of
God's people was avenged
00:35:58.31\00:36:00.92
because she had shed
the blood of the righteous.
00:36:00.95\00:36:03.91
Notice 2 Kings 9:7.
00:36:03.94\00:36:06.32
Very interesting terminology.
00:36:06.35\00:36:08.36
2 Kings 9:7.
00:36:08.39\00:36:12.19
It says here,
"You shall strike down
00:36:12.22\00:36:15.63
the house of Ahab your
master, that I may do, what?"
00:36:15.66\00:36:22.57
Is that a word that we
find in Revelation 6:9-11?
00:36:22.60\00:36:27.12
Of course.
00:36:27.15\00:36:28.39
It says, "That I may, what?
00:36:28.42\00:36:31.11
Avenge the blood of
My servants the prophets,
00:36:31.14\00:36:35.99
and the blood of all
the servants of the Lord,
00:36:36.02\00:36:39.91
at the hand of, whom? Jezebel."
00:36:39.94\00:36:43.04
So my question is this.
00:36:43.07\00:36:45.19
Did this system
represented by the beast,
00:36:45.22\00:36:48.57
represented by the little horn,
00:36:48.60\00:36:50.69
represented by Jezebel
under the fourth church?
00:36:50.72\00:36:54.23
Did she persecute and slay
the saints of the Most High?
00:36:54.26\00:36:58.46
She most certainly did.
00:36:58.49\00:36:59.83
During her 1,260
years of dominion.
00:36:59.86\00:37:03.29
Well, let me ask you
after the 1,260 years,
00:37:03.32\00:37:06.18
was that it?
00:37:06.21\00:37:08.95
Was this system going
to rise to power again
00:37:08.98\00:37:12.46
and persecute
God's people again?
00:37:12.49\00:37:14.44
Yes, because we find
them to the fifth seal
00:37:14.47\00:37:16.77
that there are how
many groups of martyrs?
00:37:16.80\00:37:18.90
There are two groups of martyrs.
00:37:18.93\00:37:21.33
The first group
with those who were slain
00:37:21.36\00:37:23.58
during the 1,260 years,
00:37:23.61\00:37:25.51
but they are told
to rest for a while
00:37:25.54\00:37:27.61
and we're going to
that in our next point
00:37:27.64\00:37:29.52
and tell the rest of the martyrs
in the future is complete.
00:37:29.55\00:37:34.65
Now what does that mean
that the first group of martyrs
00:37:34.68\00:37:36.93
who were slain
during the 1,260 years?
00:37:36.96\00:37:39.48
What does it mean that they're
told to rest from their labors?
00:37:39.51\00:37:42.68
Let's read Revelation 6:11
00:37:42.71\00:37:44.97
and then we'll Revelation 14:13
00:37:45.00\00:37:47.20
to find what rest means.
00:37:47.23\00:37:49.18
It says in Revelation 6:11.
00:37:49.21\00:37:51.77
"Then a white robe
was given to each of them,
00:37:51.80\00:37:54.41
and it was said to them
00:37:54.44\00:37:55.90
that they should rest
a little while longer,
00:37:55.93\00:37:59.37
until both the number
of their fellow servants
00:37:59.40\00:38:01.64
and their brethren,
00:38:01.67\00:38:02.70
who would be killed as
they were, was completed."
00:38:02.73\00:38:05.70
In other words,
you're going to be judged
00:38:05.73\00:38:08.10
and avenged when
the rest of the martyrs,
00:38:08.13\00:38:11.49
the number of the rest
of the martyrs is complete.
00:38:11.52\00:38:14.15
What does it mean that they
will rest during this period?
00:38:14.18\00:38:17.55
Revelation 14:13
uses the same word, rest.
00:38:17.58\00:38:21.40
It says there,
"Then I heard a voice
00:38:21.43\00:38:23.18
from heaven saying to me,
00:38:23.21\00:38:24.68
'Write, "Blessed
are the dead who die.'"
00:38:24.71\00:38:29.78
In case, you didn't
understand the dead part.
00:38:29.81\00:38:32.00
"Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on."
00:38:32.03\00:38:36.36
'Yes,' says the Spirit."
00:38:36.39\00:38:37.99
That they may, what?
00:38:38.02\00:38:39.63
"That they may
rest from their labors,
00:38:39.66\00:38:42.07
and their works,
what? Follow them."
00:38:42.10\00:38:44.25
So what
condition are these souls
00:38:44.28\00:38:46.04
under the altar after the
period of the 1,260 years.
00:38:46.07\00:38:50.82
Are they in heaven
under heavenly altar
00:38:50.85\00:38:52.89
and hallelujah Lord, we're here.
00:38:52.92\00:38:55.04
We've been to live
it from our enemies.
00:38:55.07\00:38:56.66
Is that the
condition they are in?
00:38:56.69\00:38:58.42
Of course, not.
What are they doing?
00:38:58.45\00:39:00.48
They are resting.
00:39:00.51\00:39:01.54
How could they be
crying out if they're resting,
00:39:01.57\00:39:04.09
if they're dead?
00:39:04.12\00:39:05.24
The fact is, what is
that that's crying out?
00:39:05.27\00:39:08.10
It is their
life, it is their blood
00:39:08.13\00:39:10.76
that is crying out, for what?
00:39:10.79\00:39:12.47
That is crying out for justice.
00:39:12.50\00:39:14.23
Are you with me or not?
00:39:14.26\00:39:16.03
Now, is there going to be
a second stage of martyrs?
00:39:16.06\00:39:20.74
There most certainly is.
00:39:20.77\00:39:22.54
Go with me to Revelation 13:3
00:39:22.57\00:39:25.82
and we're going to read
the second half of the verse.
00:39:25.85\00:39:28.06
You see, I only read
the first half of the verse.
00:39:28.09\00:39:30.38
First half says, "And
I saw one of his heads
00:39:30.41\00:39:32.60
as if it had been
mortally wounded."
00:39:32.63\00:39:36.50
But then I want you to notice
00:39:36.53\00:39:37.84
the last half
of Revelation 13:3.
00:39:37.87\00:39:40.38
It says, "And his
deadly wound was, what?
00:39:40.41\00:39:43.88
His deadly wound was healed."
00:39:43.91\00:39:47.26
So is this beast--
Is this little horn--
00:39:47.29\00:39:49.45
Are they going to behave
the way they did in the past?
00:39:49.48\00:39:52.84
Are they going to have dominion?
00:39:52.87\00:39:54.30
Are they gonna persecute again?
00:39:54.33\00:39:56.08
Are they gonna kill again?
00:39:56.11\00:39:57.68
Absolutely.
00:39:57.71\00:39:58.74
You say, "Pastor Bohr,
you're talking too strong here."
00:39:58.77\00:40:01.04
The fact is that prophecy
gives us the sequence of powers
00:40:01.07\00:40:05.73
and the sequence of events.
00:40:05.76\00:40:07.43
You can follow it in
the course of history.
00:40:07.46\00:40:09.87
Now notice Revelation 13:3 says,
00:40:09.90\00:40:13.10
"And his deadly wound was, what?
00:40:13.13\00:40:15.27
Was healed.
00:40:15.30\00:40:16.38
And all the world
marveled and followed, what?
00:40:16.41\00:40:20.40
The beast."
00:40:20.43\00:40:21.46
In fact, do you
know that the Bible says
00:40:21.49\00:40:23.61
that there will be
one nation in the world
00:40:23.64\00:40:26.53
that will return the power
00:40:26.56\00:40:28.33
to this first
beast, to this little horn?
00:40:28.36\00:40:31.04
And it's the
United States of America.
00:40:31.07\00:40:33.62
Let's read that
in Revelation 13:11
00:40:33.65\00:40:36.82
and then we'll
read verses 12 and 15.
00:40:36.85\00:40:39.15
We've studied this
prophecy in other venues,
00:40:39.18\00:40:41.29
so I'm not gonna get
into a lot of detail,
00:40:41.32\00:40:43.56
but I just want you to notice
00:40:43.59\00:40:44.85
that this beast
that rises from the earth
00:40:44.88\00:40:48.18
is gonna help this first
beast, get its power back
00:40:48.21\00:40:51.28
and it's actually
gonna give a death decree
00:40:51.31\00:40:53.10
in honor of that first beast.
00:40:53.13\00:40:55.22
It says there,
"Then I saw another beast
00:40:55.25\00:40:57.58
coming up out of the earth,
00:40:57.61\00:40:59.43
and he had two horns like a lamb
00:40:59.46\00:41:01.30
and spoke like a dragon."
00:41:01.33\00:41:04.47
Verse 12.
00:41:04.50\00:41:05.83
"And he
exercises all the authority
00:41:05.86\00:41:07.98
of the first
beast in his presence,
00:41:08.01\00:41:10.10
and causes the earth
00:41:10.13\00:41:11.30
and those who dwell in it
to worship the first beast,
00:41:11.33\00:41:15.41
whose deadly wound
was, what? Healed."
00:41:15.44\00:41:17.89
Does this second beast
00:41:17.92\00:41:19.38
force everybody to
worship the first beast?
00:41:19.41\00:41:21.89
Yes.
00:41:21.92\00:41:22.95
So must the first beast
have the resurrection to power?
00:41:22.98\00:41:26.49
Absolutely.
00:41:26.52\00:41:27.89
Verse 15, "He was granted power
00:41:27.92\00:41:31.03
to give breath to
the image of the beast,
00:41:31.06\00:41:33.32
that the image of the beast
should both speak and cause
00:41:33.35\00:41:37.48
as many as would not worship
00:41:37.51\00:41:39.69
the image of the
beast to be, what?
00:41:39.72\00:41:42.92
"To be killed."
00:41:42.95\00:41:45.06
Is there gonna be
another group of martyrs?
00:41:45.09\00:41:47.15
Absolutely.
00:41:47.18\00:41:48.28
Is it when the
beast resurrects to power
00:41:48.31\00:41:50.26
or the little horn
resurrects once again to power?
00:41:50.29\00:41:52.93
Absolutely, the Bible is clear.
00:41:52.96\00:41:55.92
The Bible makes it very clear
00:41:55.95\00:41:57.36
that the United
States of America
00:41:57.39\00:41:59.42
is going to return the sword
00:41:59.45\00:42:01.88
into the hands
of this first beast.
00:42:01.91\00:42:05.02
The United States of America
00:42:05.05\00:42:06.39
is gonna lend the
power of the state
00:42:06.42\00:42:09.14
to the Roman Catholic
papacy to impose her teachings
00:42:09.17\00:42:13.02
like, Sunday
observance and so on.
00:42:13.05\00:42:15.48
And those who do not go along,
00:42:15.51\00:42:17.53
the Bible says will be slain.
00:42:17.56\00:42:19.60
And you say, "Pastor Bohr,
00:42:19.63\00:42:21.00
in these United
States of America,
00:42:21.03\00:42:23.00
that's an
absolute impossibility."
00:42:23.03\00:42:26.91
I just want you to
remember what I'm saying today.
00:42:26.94\00:42:30.28
And when you'll see it transpire
00:42:30.31\00:42:32.96
just remember
what we're studying
00:42:32.99\00:42:34.99
because it is true
and it is going to happen
00:42:35.02\00:42:38.89
because the Bible says
00:42:38.92\00:42:40.11
that the deadly
wound is gonna be healed
00:42:40.14\00:42:42.07
and the whole
world is gonna marvel
00:42:42.10\00:42:43.81
after the beast
helped by this beast
00:42:43.84\00:42:46.92
that roused from the earth.
00:42:46.95\00:42:49.19
So there is going to be
a second stage of martyrs.
00:42:49.22\00:42:52.57
Now let's study about
that second stage of martyrs.
00:42:52.60\00:42:57.01
Go with me to
Revelation 17, Revelation 17
00:42:57.04\00:43:00.54
and let's study the second
stage of the Jezebel power.
00:43:00.57\00:43:06.76
You remember that
we studied Jezebel
00:43:06.79\00:43:08.37
under the fourth church, right?
00:43:08.40\00:43:10.61
Now we're gonna look at Jezebel
00:43:10.64\00:43:12.34
after the deadly wound is healed
when she rises again to power.
00:43:12.37\00:43:16.87
Revelation 17:1,
00:43:16.90\00:43:19.99
and actually
it'd be nice to read
00:43:20.02\00:43:21.65
all of the first five verses.
00:43:21.68\00:43:23.44
We don't have time, but
read it at your leisure.
00:43:23.47\00:43:26.30
It says there in verse 1,
00:43:26.33\00:43:28.22
"Then one of the seven angels
who had the seven bowls came
00:43:28.25\00:43:32.27
and talked with me,
saying to me, 'Come,
00:43:32.30\00:43:36.34
I will show you the
judgment, of the what?
00:43:36.37\00:43:39.99
Of the great harlot."
00:43:40.02\00:43:43.90
Was Jezebel a great
harlot under the fourth church?
00:43:43.93\00:43:48.13
Absolutely.
00:43:48.16\00:43:50.00
"Who sits on many waters?"
00:43:50.03\00:43:52.06
By the way, she's
called Babylon in that passage.
00:43:52.09\00:43:54.94
There is a cup in
her hand filled with wine
00:43:54.97\00:43:57.73
which are her false doctrines.
00:43:57.76\00:43:59.62
She is decked with gold
and silver and precious stones.
00:43:59.65\00:44:02.98
Her special colors
are purple and scarlet.
00:44:03.01\00:44:07.83
And it says she
sits on many waters
00:44:07.86\00:44:09.74
which are multitudes,
nations, tongues and people.
00:44:09.77\00:44:12.03
In other words, she rules
over the nations of the world.
00:44:12.06\00:44:15.14
Need I give you any
further description?
00:44:15.17\00:44:17.92
Then notice what
we find in verse 6.
00:44:17.95\00:44:21.06
"I saw the
woman, drunk, with what?
00:44:21.09\00:44:26.59
With the blood of the saints
00:44:26.62\00:44:29.09
and with the blood of
the martyrs of Jesus."
00:44:29.12\00:44:33.60
Is this harlot
gonna persecute again?
00:44:33.63\00:44:35.60
Is she gonna
shed innocent blood?
00:44:35.63\00:44:37.34
Yes.
00:44:37.37\00:44:38.81
"And when I saw her, I, what?
00:44:38.84\00:44:41.29
I marveled with
great amazement."
00:44:41.32\00:44:45.58
This is describing the period
when the deadly wound is healed
00:44:45.61\00:44:48.95
and the harlot who
ruled under the fourth church
00:44:48.98\00:44:51.74
is gonna be ruling once again
00:44:51.77\00:44:53.73
over the world in the future
00:44:53.76\00:44:55.43
aided by this beast
that rises from the earth.
00:44:55.46\00:45:00.17
Let me ask you, is
the blood of God's people
00:45:00.20\00:45:03.25
then going to cry out
once more for justice?
00:45:03.28\00:45:09.26
Are the martyrs gonna cry out?
00:45:09.29\00:45:11.17
"How long, O
Lord, until You judge
00:45:11.20\00:45:14.18
and avenge our blood and those
who shed it upon the earth?"
00:45:14.21\00:45:17.91
Yes.
00:45:17.94\00:45:18.97
The second group of
martyrs will cry out,
00:45:19.00\00:45:21.44
but when the last
martyr dies, folks.
00:45:21.47\00:45:24.81
God is going to
answer their plea
00:45:24.84\00:45:28.13
by punishing the harlot.
00:45:28.16\00:45:30.41
Let's read about it
in Revelation 16:5, 6.
00:45:30.44\00:45:35.00
Revelation 16:5, 6.
00:45:35.03\00:45:41.34
This is speaking
00:45:41.37\00:45:42.66
about the period of
the seven last plagues
00:45:42.69\00:45:45.47
that fall upon Babylon
00:45:45.50\00:45:46.78
and the
persecutor of God's people.
00:45:46.81\00:45:48.66
It says, "And I heard the
angel of the waters saying,
00:45:48.69\00:45:51.89
'You are, what? Righteous.'"
00:45:51.92\00:45:55.93
Did you notice that in
the prayer the martyrs say,
00:45:55.96\00:45:58.30
until when or how long,
O Lord, righteous and true?
00:45:58.33\00:46:04.16
Now you'll notice
that the angel says,
00:46:04.19\00:46:06.37
You are, what?
00:46:06.40\00:46:07.86
Righteous, O Lord,
the One who is and who was
00:46:07.89\00:46:12.35
and who is to be,
because You have, what?"
00:46:12.38\00:46:17.15
There is the word.
00:46:17.18\00:46:18.21
Not how long until you judge.
00:46:18.24\00:46:20.05
It says, "You have, what?
00:46:20.08\00:46:21.84
You have judged these things.
00:46:21.87\00:46:24.07
For they have shed the
blood of saints and prophets,
00:46:24.10\00:46:28.73
You have given
them blood to drink.
00:46:28.76\00:46:30.94
For it is their just due."
00:46:30.97\00:46:34.29
Is the day coming when
the plea of the martyrs
00:46:34.32\00:46:36.74
is going to be judged
00:46:36.77\00:46:38.56
and it is going to be
avenged according to this text?
00:46:38.59\00:46:42.45
Absolutely, it will
be during the period
00:46:42.48\00:46:44.99
of the second
and the third plague
00:46:45.02\00:46:47.72
of the Book of Revelation.
00:46:47.75\00:46:49.13
In fact, the Bible
gives a description of a song
00:46:49.16\00:46:53.50
that God's people are gonna
sing once they're in heaven
00:46:53.53\00:46:57.54
after they've been delivered
from this persecuting power.
00:46:57.57\00:47:02.10
Notice Revelation 19:1, 2.
00:47:02.13\00:47:05.66
Revelation 19:1, 2.
00:47:05.69\00:47:10.11
"After these things
I heard a loud voice
00:47:10.14\00:47:12.58
of a great multitude in
heaven, saying, 'Alleluia!'"
00:47:12.61\00:47:16.78
Where is this multitude?
00:47:16.81\00:47:19.02
So, are they
victorious at this point?
00:47:19.05\00:47:20.66
Certainly.
00:47:20.69\00:47:21.82
"After these things
I heard a loud voice
00:47:21.85\00:47:23.35
of a great multitude in
heaven, saying, 'Alleluia!'
00:47:23.38\00:47:26.05
Salvation and
glory and honor and power
00:47:26.08\00:47:28.99
belong to the Lord our God!'"
00:47:29.02\00:47:30.96
And now notice.
00:47:30.99\00:47:32.02
"For true and righteous."
00:47:32.05\00:47:33.78
Are those the same words that
the martyrs cried out to God
00:47:33.81\00:47:36.31
and tell when or for how long,
00:47:36.34\00:47:38.72
O Lord, righteous and true?
00:47:38.75\00:47:40.34
Absolutely.
00:47:40.37\00:47:41.42
So it says, "For true
and righteous are His, what?
00:47:41.45\00:47:45.08
Judgments,
because He has avenged
00:47:45.11\00:47:49.37
or he has judged, rather,
00:47:49.40\00:47:51.51
the great harlot who corrupted
the earth with her fornication,
00:47:51.54\00:47:54.93
and He has
avenged on her the blood
00:47:54.96\00:47:59.12
of His servants shed by her."
00:47:59.15\00:48:01.07
What are God's people gonna sing
00:48:01.10\00:48:02.40
when they get to heaven?
00:48:02.43\00:48:03.46
You have judged
and You have, what?
00:48:03.49\00:48:07.39
You have avenged.
00:48:07.42\00:48:08.64
Let me ask you,
is the case of Abel
00:48:08.67\00:48:11.65
going to be rectified
in the heavenly court?
00:48:11.68\00:48:14.93
Absolutely.
00:48:14.96\00:48:17.28
Is the fate of
all of those martyrs
00:48:17.31\00:48:19.04
who died during the 1,260
years going to be rectified?
00:48:19.07\00:48:22.83
Yes.
00:48:22.86\00:48:23.89
How about the
future group of martyrs
00:48:23.92\00:48:25.51
who will be slain by this union
00:48:25.54\00:48:27.47
or correlation
of church and state,
00:48:27.50\00:48:29.51
are they going to
be judged and avenged?
00:48:29.54\00:48:31.90
Is their blood
going to be avenged?
00:48:31.93\00:48:34.33
Absolutely.
00:48:34.36\00:48:35.39
The Bible says, yes.
00:48:35.42\00:48:36.57
And in fact, do you
know that the Bible tells us
00:48:36.60\00:48:39.10
that then those
who sing this song
00:48:39.13\00:48:43.63
that God has judged and avenged
00:48:43.66\00:48:45.42
are now going to be the
judges of their oppressors.
00:48:45.45\00:48:50.39
What?
00:48:50.42\00:48:51.76
Absolutely.
00:48:51.79\00:48:53.37
Go with me to Revelation 20:4.
00:48:53.40\00:48:56.42
Revelation 20:4.
00:48:56.45\00:49:00.08
"And I saw thrones,
and they sat on them,
00:49:00.11\00:49:03.93
and judgment was
committed to them.""
00:49:03.96\00:49:07.22
Who are they? Who
are the them there?
00:49:07.25\00:49:08.84
Oh, notice.
00:49:08.87\00:49:10.07
"Then I saw the souls of those
00:49:10.10\00:49:12.31
who had been beheaded
for their witness to Jesus
00:49:12.34\00:49:15.26
and for the word of God,
00:49:15.29\00:49:17.17
who had not worshiped
the beast or his image."
00:49:17.20\00:49:19.66
Is this the
second group of martyrs?
00:49:19.69\00:49:21.43
Yes, because the beast
and his image is future.
00:49:21.46\00:49:24.31
So it says, "Who had not
worshiped the beast or his image
00:49:24.34\00:49:27.80
and had not received
his mark on their foreheads
00:49:27.83\00:49:29.99
or on their hands.
00:49:30.02\00:49:31.43
And they, what?
00:49:31.46\00:49:32.93
And they lived."
00:49:32.96\00:49:34.05
Oh, so they were did, but
now what are they gonna do?
00:49:34.08\00:49:36.78
"They lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years."
00:49:36.81\00:49:40.58
And what are they gonna do
during those thousand years
00:49:40.61\00:49:42.46
according to what we just read?
00:49:42.49\00:49:44.85
They are going to judge.
00:49:44.88\00:49:48.06
And according to what
we studied last night,
00:49:48.09\00:49:50.18
who are they gonna be judging?
00:49:50.21\00:49:51.80
They're not gonna
judge the righteous.
00:49:54.13\00:49:55.45
The righteous are all in heaven.
00:49:55.48\00:49:57.31
They're not gonna be
judging the good angels.
00:49:57.34\00:49:59.33
The good angels
are all in heaven,
00:49:59.36\00:50:00.92
they don't need any judgment.
00:50:00.95\00:50:02.26
Who are they gonna judge?
00:50:02.29\00:50:03.65
The Apostle Paul says,
00:50:03.68\00:50:04.89
"Do you not know that the
saints will judge the world.
00:50:04.92\00:50:08.35
Do you not know that
we shall judge angels?"
00:50:08.38\00:50:10.85
In other words,
they will participate
00:50:10.88\00:50:14.11
in the judgment of
those who oppress them,
00:50:14.14\00:50:17.55
who actually led
them to the slaughter.
00:50:17.58\00:50:20.44
Isn't that interesting,
00:50:20.47\00:50:21.88
how things will
be reversed by God?
00:50:21.91\00:50:27.02
Now we need to deal
with one final thing
00:50:27.05\00:50:28.99
before we bring this to an end.
00:50:29.02\00:50:31.60
What are the white
robes that they are given?
00:50:31.63\00:50:36.34
The fact is that every
martyr died a conqueror
00:50:36.37\00:50:40.75
because they died
faithful to Jesus.
00:50:40.78\00:50:43.95
They died covered by
the righteousness of Jesus.
00:50:43.98\00:50:47.93
In fact, let's read
about that in Revelation 7:13.
00:50:47.96\00:50:52.26
Revelation 7:13, 14.
00:50:52.29\00:50:55.22
Speaking about the
white robes it says,
00:50:55.25\00:50:57.32
"Then one of the
elders answered, saying to me,
00:50:57.35\00:51:00.10
'Who are these
arrayed in white robes,
00:51:00.13\00:51:02.78
and where did they come from?'
00:51:02.81\00:51:04.74
And I said to
him, 'Sir, you know.'
00:51:04.77\00:51:07.14
So he said to me,
00:51:07.17\00:51:08.75
'These are the ones who come
out of the great tribulation."
00:51:08.78\00:51:14.10
And what are they done?
00:51:14.13\00:51:15.29
"And washed their
robes and made them, what?
00:51:15.32\00:51:18.97
White in the blood of the Lamb."
00:51:19.00\00:51:21.84
What are the white robes?
00:51:21.87\00:51:23.31
The white robes represent
the righteousness of Jesus.
00:51:23.34\00:51:26.28
Every martyr who died
singing praises to Jesus
00:51:26.31\00:51:30.82
died a conqueror.
00:51:30.85\00:51:33.15
Yes, it appears like
the wicked had prevailed
00:51:33.18\00:51:36.40
because they died.
00:51:36.43\00:51:37.69
But the Bible tells us
00:51:37.72\00:51:38.77
that God is going to
rectify the situation.
00:51:38.80\00:51:41.32
He will resurrect
them from the dead.
00:51:41.35\00:51:43.16
They will sing
praises to His name
00:51:43.19\00:51:45.08
and they will participate
in the millennial judgment
00:51:45.11\00:51:48.55
against their oppressors.
00:51:48.58\00:51:50.58
Now what does this mean that
they were given white robes?
00:51:50.61\00:51:54.60
By the way, they're
given the white robes
00:51:54.63\00:51:56.53
before they actually
are judged and avenged.
00:51:56.56\00:51:59.91
Did you catch that?
00:51:59.94\00:52:01.15
They're given the white robes
00:52:01.18\00:52:02.46
before they are
judged and avenged.
00:52:02.49\00:52:06.17
Now what does that mean
they're given white robes?
00:52:06.20\00:52:08.62
Go with me to our final
passage Matthew 22:11-13.
00:52:08.65\00:52:14.99
Matthew 22:11-13.
00:52:15.02\00:52:17.94
And if we have enough
time we'll read one more,
00:52:17.97\00:52:19.67
but this-- This one I
want us to understand.
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This is a parable of Jesus.
00:52:21.98\00:52:24.32
It says here, "But
when the king came in
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to see the guests.
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"This is a wedding
that has been prepared
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and there have been
people invited to the wedding.
00:52:32.13\00:52:34.86
So it says, "When the king
came in to see the guests."
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Is there any
examination of the guests here?
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Yes, there is.
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"He saw a man there who
did not have on a, what?
00:52:42.18\00:52:47.10
A wedding garment."
00:52:47.13\00:52:48.96
By the way, had
the wedding garments
00:52:48.99\00:52:50.31
been given to people before
the wedding actually took place?
00:52:50.34\00:52:54.33
It becomes very
clear that they were.
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In other words, they were
given their wedding garment
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and then they were
invited to the wedding.
00:52:59.53\00:53:02.57
And an examination was
made to see if they had, what?
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If they had the wedding garment
that had been given before.
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So, are they given
the wedding garment
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before the examination is made
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to see whether they
have the wedding garment?
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Of course.
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Now notice what it
continue say in verse 12.
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"So he said to him, 'Friend,
00:53:22.91\00:53:25.70
how do you come in here
without a wedding garment?'"
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Do you think this individual
someway sneaked into heaven?
00:53:27.90\00:53:31.87
Remember we studied last night?
00:53:31.90\00:53:33.32
How do you appear before
the Judgment Seat of Christ?
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You appear before the
Judgment Seat of Christ.
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How?
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Through your, what?
00:53:39.75\00:53:41.51
Through your records.
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See, your record is gonna reveal
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whether you truly receive
Jesus as Savior and Lord?
00:53:45.22\00:53:48.08
Whether you were
covered with His righteousness?
00:53:48.11\00:53:50.53
And when Jesus comes
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and He examines
your case you're absent,
00:53:51.68\00:53:53.97
but He is looking at
it through the records,
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He's gonna say, "Oh, this one
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has the white garments of
the righteousness of Jesus."
00:53:58.60\00:54:02.99
But what He examines
the records of others?
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He's gonna say,
"This individual was claims
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to have a right to be up here,
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but look he doesn't
have on the wedding garment
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by what is
registered in the books."
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Are you following me or not?
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Now notice, "'Friend,
how did you come in here
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without a wedding garment?'
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And he was, what?
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Speechless.
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Then the king
said to the servants,
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'Bind him hand and foot.'"
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Is this the punishment stage?
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Yes.
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"Bind him hand and
foot, take him away,
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and cast him
into outer darkness,
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there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."
00:54:38.84\00:54:42.02
Do you notice three things here,
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three successive stages?
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Number one, the robe is, what?
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Given.
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Number two, the
robes are examined.
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Number three,
the reward is given.
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In this case,
the positive reward
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for those who had
the wedding garment
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and being cast
into outer darkness
00:55:04.88\00:55:07.85
where there's
weeping and gnashing of teeth
00:55:07.88\00:55:09.49
for those who claim to
have a right to be in heaven,
00:55:09.52\00:55:12.48
but whose records showed
that they really did not, what?
00:55:12.51\00:55:17.09
They really did
not belong there.
00:55:17.12\00:55:18.67
So what does the
Bible mean when it says that
00:55:18.70\00:55:20.57
these martyrs
were given white robes?
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It simply means that
they died conquerors.
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They died in Christ.
00:55:25.77\00:55:27.41
They were covered with
the righteousness of Christ.
00:55:27.44\00:55:29.73
When Jesus closed
their biography in heaven,
00:55:29.76\00:55:33.41
He probably wrote
at the end, conquerors,
00:55:33.44\00:55:36.70
because they were covered
with the righteousness of Jesus.
00:55:36.73\00:55:39.74
What happens when
their records are open,
00:55:39.77\00:55:42.04
when the record of
life is brought out?
00:55:42.07\00:55:45.66
Ah, they have, what?
00:55:45.69\00:55:47.85
They have the wedding garment.
00:55:47.88\00:55:49.44
See, you don't have to
be afraid of the judgment
00:55:49.47\00:55:51.18
as long as you have
the wedding garment.
00:55:51.21\00:55:53.49
So they'll have
the wedding garment.
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And then the time comes
when God's people will be, what?
00:55:55.01\00:55:59.08
When God's
people will be rewarded.
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So the martyrs will rest
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until the number of
the martyrs is complete,
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and then both groups
will be judged and avenged
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and they will
sing praises in honor
00:56:17.46\00:56:20.01
and glory to the God of Heaven.
00:56:20.04\00:56:23.71
Do you understand
a little bit better
00:56:23.74\00:56:24.98
what the Bible's talking about
00:56:25.01\00:56:26.63
when it says that the souls
of the martyrs were crying out?
00:56:26.66\00:56:33.56
It doesn't mean that they were
some disincarnated spirit up
00:56:33.59\00:56:37.52
there under some gigantic
altar in heaven and there,
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you know, they're
saying, "Lord, when are You--
00:56:41.69\00:56:43.47
Until when are You
going to judge and avenge us?
00:56:43.50\00:56:45.71
Well, if they're in heaven,
00:56:45.74\00:56:46.77
why would He need to
judge and avenge them?"
00:56:46.80\00:56:50.08
Besides the altar is not
the heavenly altar at all.
00:56:50.11\00:56:53.13
It's not the
altar in the Holy Place,
00:56:53.16\00:56:54.90
it's the altar in the court
and the court is the earth.
00:56:54.93\00:56:58.97
What is really crying out
is their life the word nefesh,
00:56:59.00\00:57:04.44
the word psyche.
00:57:04.47\00:57:06.52
What is crying
out is their blood
00:57:06.55\00:57:08.34
because the life is the blood
00:57:08.37\00:57:10.43
and they're crying out
for a judgment in their favor
00:57:10.46\00:57:14.53
and they're crying
out to be justified
00:57:14.56\00:57:17.56
and to be
included in the kingdom.
00:57:17.59\00:57:20.28
If we should die, we will
have that great privilege.
00:57:20.31\00:57:23.45
I pray to God that we
will have the white garments
00:57:23.48\00:57:26.05
so that we can
walk the street of God.
00:57:26.08\00:57:28.89