Well hello, everybody.
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It's good to see you today.
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Today we're going to
begin a new series titled,
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The Secrets of Pentecost.
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It will be a ten part series
where we're going to study
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the different
aspects of what took place
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on the day of Pentecost when
the Holy Spirit was poured out
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upon the disciples.
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However, before we
begin our study, we want to
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ask for the Lord's presence.
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We should never open
God's Word without prayer.
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And so I invite you to bow
your heads with me as we ask
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for the Lord to
be present with us.
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Father in heaven, we come
before Your throne this evening
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thanking You so much for the
many blessings that You pour out
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upon us each day.
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We especially thank You for the
gift that is above all gifts;
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the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Because we know that
when we have the Holy Spirit,
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all of the other
blessings come in His train.
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And we ask that as we begin this
series, that Your Holy Spirit
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will be with us to instruct
us about the great things that
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took place on
the day of Pentecost,
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and what that means for us.
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We thank You, Father, for
the promise of Your presence
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and for being with us.
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Because we ask it in the
precious name of Jesus, amen.
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The title of our study today
is, The Return of the War Hero.
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And as we begin, I would
like to say that the law of God
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requires absolute
sinless perfection.
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Now if we don't offer the law
the sinless perfection that the
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law requires, the law
tells us that we must die.
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So basically, human
beings have a double whammy.
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Because first of all,
we can't offer the law
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sinless perfection.
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Because the Bible
says that, "All have sinned
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and come short of
the glory of God."
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And secondly, because
we cannot offer the law
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sinless perfection, the
law tells us that we must die.
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And so basically, all of
the human race is on death row.
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Now how could man
escape from this predicament?
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There was only one solution.
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And that solution
was that Jesus Christ,
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who created all human
beings, would come to this earth
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as a human being
and would live the life
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that the law requires from us,
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and die the death that
the law requires from us.
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In other words, the only
solution is if Jesus would
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assume human flesh, live
a perfect life that He could
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offer the law in our place, and
then suffer the death penalty
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that all of us were under.
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Now after man sinned, and
the spirit of prophecy tells us,
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that Jesus appeared
before His Father three times.
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And He pleaded with His
Father to allow Him to come
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to this earth
to save sinful man.
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It was difficult for the Father
to consent, because the Father
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knew what Jesus was
going to go through.
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He knew what a great
sacrifice this would be.
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But the third time, the
Father said, "Yes, I give You
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My permission to go to
the earth and assume humanity
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and save the human race."
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And then Jesus went out
and He announced to the angels
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that a way had been
found for man to be saved.
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That He was going to become
incarnate and He was going to
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live the life that is required
of man and He was going to
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die the death that
is required of man.
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The spirit of prophecy
tells us that the angels started
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offering themselves and
saying, "I'll go," "I'll go."
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And Jesus said, "No, only
one who is one with the Father
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is able to come and
atone for the sin of man."
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And then Jesus,
about 4000 years later,
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gathered the angels
together and He said to them,
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"The time has come.
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I am now going to go to
the battlefield on planet earth
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to fight the war that
man doesn't have to fight
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because I will
fight in his place.
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I will fight the
enemy, I will defeat him,
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and in 33 years I will be back.
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And so I want you to
start preparing the party
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to receive Me back after My
great victory over the enemy
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on planet earth."
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And then by a miracle
that none of us will be able
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fully to understand, the
divine Christ was transplanted
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to this world and
was given a human nature.
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And now we have God
and man in one person
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on planet earth ready
to do battle with the enemy
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and take away from Satan what
Satan had taken away from man.
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Now when Jesus came to
this earth, His mission involved
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two main things.
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In order to be
victorious Jesus, first of all,
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had to live a perfect life
that He could offer the law
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in our place.
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Secondly, Jesus had
to pay the death penalty
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that the law requires of
us because we are all sinners.
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Now in order for the
devil to be successful
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in his battle against Christ,
the devil had to keep Jesus
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from living that perfect life.
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In other words, the
devil had to infect Jesus
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with the virus of sin so that
Jesus would fail in His mission
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of living a perfect life
that He could offer the law.
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And then the devil also,
if he could not infect Jesus
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with the virus of sin,
he could try and keep Jesus
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from going to the
cross to offer His life.
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Now the devil would use four
methods, four basic methods,
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to get Jesus to
fail in His mission.
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Number one, he
would try to infect Him
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with the virus of sin.
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Number two, he would try to
kill Him before the hour came
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for Jesus to give
His life voluntarily.
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Number three, the devil
would try to distract Him
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down a side road,
and in this way keep Him
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from going to the cross.
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And number four, the devil would
try and discourage and frustrate
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Jesus to the point
that Jesus would say,
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"What's the use of doing this?
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What's the use of
going through with this?
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I'm just going to leave
and I'm going to go to a place
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where I'm appreciated
and where I'm loved."
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And by the way, if
you read, Desire of Ages,
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in the chapter titled,
Gethsemane, Jesus could have
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chosen to leave before
He finished His mission.
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And so basically you had
this battle that was going to
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transpire when Jesus came.
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Jesus, intending
to live a perfect life
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and offer voluntarily His life
in place of the life of sinners,
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and the devil trying
to infect Him with sin
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and prevent Him to
live the perfect life,
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and preventing Him
from going to the cross.
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And then after
three and a half years
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of the devil being unsuccessful
in his battle against Christ,
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not being to infect Him
even once with the virus of sin,
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Jesus was hanging on
the cross, still alive,
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about to give His life
in place of human beings,
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and Jesus cried out
while He was on the cross,
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"It is finished."
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And He was crying
out to His Father.
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And then the Bible says
that He inclined His head
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and He gave up the spirit.
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He ceased to breathe.
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He had won the
victory over the enemy.
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I'd like to read a description
of this as we find in,
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The Desire of Ages, page 758.
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Ellen White describes
the end of this battle
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and the victory of
Christ over the enemy.
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This is what she states.
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And now notice...
Sometimes we think that,
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you know, the battle is
going to be won someday.
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Notice what she states,
"The battle had been won."
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Because Jesus had
lived His perfect life
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and He had paid for sin.
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So she says...
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Notice the word that is used.
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The word, "victory," and
also the word, "conqueror."
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Not that he was
going to lose his kingdom,
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but that his kingdom was lost.
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Not that he was
going to be defeated,
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but that he had been defeated.
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At the cross when
Jesus said, "It is finished,"
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and then said to His Father,
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"Into Your hands I
commend My spirit,"
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and inclined His head,
provision for salvation
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had been made.
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But, Jesus then
went to the tomb.
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And the devil said, "If
I can keep Him in the tomb,
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there still will not be
salvation because He has to
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intercede for sinners.
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And for that, He
has to be alive."
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And so the devil did his utmost
to keep Jesus in the tomb.
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He influenced the
Romans to put a huge stone
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in front of the grave.
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He also influenced
Pilate to put a Roman guard.
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And then the devil
stationed his evil angels
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outside the tomb
intending to keep the life-giver
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inside the tomb.
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But very early on the
first day of the week,
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two angels
descended from heaven.
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One of the angels removed the
huge stone like it was a pebble,
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and sat on it.
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The other angel
stood in front of the tomb
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and cried out in a loud
voice, "Oh thou Son of God,
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Thy Father calls Thee."
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Suddenly out of the
tomb came Jesus Christ.
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And Jesus, with a voice
that thundered and made the
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earth shake, cried out, "I am
the resurrection and the life."
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At that point, Satan knew
that his kingdom was doomed.
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And then of course we
know that Jesus spent 40 days
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here on this earth first of
all to give indubitable proofs
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that He had resurrected,
and secondly to teach
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His disciples the
meaning of the prophecies
00:11:09.63\00:11:12.37
that they had misunderstood.
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In other words, the Bible
tells us that it was explaining
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to them the things
concerning the kingdom of God.
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And then after
spending 40 days here,
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Jesus gathered on the Mount
of Olives with His disciples.
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And He ascended to
heaven from the Mount of Olives.
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Let's read about
that in Acts 1:9-11.
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Acts 1:9-11
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And so Jesus disappeared
from the sight of His disciples.
00:12:10.46\00:12:14.33
Now, have you ever
wondered how heaven reacted
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when Jesus arrived?
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You say, "Well, I don't think
that the Bible has anything
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to say about the end of the
ascension when Jesus actually
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arrived in heaven, does it?"
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The fact is, the Bible tells
us that all heaven was preparing
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to receive Jesus
upon His ascension.
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In fact, Jesus had told
the angels 33 years before,
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"You better prepare the
party, because in 33 years
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I will be back, and I will
be victorious over the enemy."
00:12:45.56\00:12:49.23
Now let's go to Revelation
4 where we have a description
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of the preparation of
the heavenly throne room
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to receive Jesus
Christ upon His ascension.
00:12:56.97\00:13:00.41
It says in Revelation 4:1...
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So John sees this
door opened in heaven.
00:13:20.96\00:13:23.70
It is not the door of heaven.
00:13:23.80\00:13:25.77
It is a door opened in heaven.
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Now the question is,
where does this door lead to?
00:13:29.27\00:13:32.67
We're going to come
to that in a few moments.
00:13:32.71\00:13:34.84
Let's go on to verse 2.
00:13:34.88\00:13:36.51
So I want you to visualize this.
00:13:47.42\00:13:49.02
You know, there's a
door that opens in heaven.
00:13:49.12\00:13:51.93
And then John, in
vision, goes through the door
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and he sees a throne,
and there is one Person
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who is sitting on the throne.
00:13:57.80\00:13:59.77
Now who is that Person
that is seated on the throne?
00:14:00.40\00:14:02.97
As we study along, we're going
to see that it's God the Father.
00:14:03.00\00:14:05.71
Now the question
is, where was Jesus?
00:14:06.24\00:14:08.61
Well, let's read Revelation 3:21
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.11
and notice
something very interesting.
00:14:12.15\00:14:13.88
Revelation 3:21
00:14:13.92\00:14:15.32
Let me ask you, when
Jesus ascended to heaven,
00:14:15.35\00:14:17.75
where did He sit?
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.12
The Bible tells us.
00:14:19.85\00:14:21.19
Notice Revelation 3:21.
00:14:21.32\00:14:23.63
Here, Jesus is speaking.
00:14:26.83\00:14:28.93
Where did Jesus sit
after He overcame or gained the
00:14:38.21\00:14:41.34
victory over the enemy?
00:14:41.38\00:14:42.71
He sat with His
Father on His throne.
00:14:42.94\00:14:45.58
But now we have a problem.
00:14:45.61\00:14:47.08
You say, "What is the problem?"
00:14:47.85\00:14:49.18
The fact is
that in Revelation 4,
00:14:49.55\00:14:51.95
how many are
sitting on the throne?
00:14:51.99\00:14:53.56
Only one, the Father.
00:14:54.26\00:14:55.82
Where did Jesus sit
when He ascended to heaven?
00:14:56.16\00:14:58.53
With the Father on the throne.
00:14:58.56\00:15:00.40
So it must be
that in Revelation 4,
00:15:00.43\00:15:03.80
Jesus has not yet
ascended to sit with
00:15:03.83\00:15:06.94
His Father on the throne.
00:15:06.97\00:15:08.37
Are you following me or not?
00:15:08.40\00:15:09.74
Because the
Father is by Himself.
00:15:09.77\00:15:11.91
If Jesus had already ascended,
the Son would be seated
00:15:11.94\00:15:15.28
on the throne with the Father.
00:15:15.31\00:15:17.15
Now let's notice Revelation 4:3.
00:15:17.58\00:15:20.18
It tells us what the
appearance of the one
00:15:20.98\00:15:23.49
on the throne is like.
00:15:23.52\00:15:24.95
Now jasper and
sardius are red stones.
00:15:31.29\00:15:34.46
And the Bible tells us
that God dwells in the midst
00:15:34.56\00:15:37.33
of a consuming
fire, which is red.
00:15:37.37\00:15:39.83
And so you have this
theme of red coloring
00:15:39.93\00:15:43.91
as God is seen
sitting on His throne.
00:15:43.94\00:15:46.51
And so it says...
00:15:46.54\00:15:47.88
And then I want you to
notice that God the Father
00:15:57.29\00:15:59.45
is not sitting there by Himself.
00:15:59.49\00:16:01.52
There are other
beings present as well
00:16:01.56\00:16:03.73
in this heavenly throne room
that is going to receive Jesus.
00:16:03.76\00:16:06.76
Notice Revelation 4:4.
00:16:06.80\00:16:09.06
Now we don't have
time to identify who these
00:16:21.14\00:16:24.88
twenty-four elders are.
00:16:24.91\00:16:26.31
You'll have to accept by faith
that the twenty-four elders
00:16:26.35\00:16:29.68
are the representatives of
the worlds that never sinned.
00:16:29.72\00:16:32.49
And if you're
interested, Secrets Unsealed
00:16:32.52\00:16:34.72
has a whole six part series
about the twenty-four elders
00:16:34.76\00:16:38.43
where you can find the
biblical and spirit of prophecy
00:16:38.46\00:16:41.40
evidence for
this particular point.
00:16:41.43\00:16:43.70
But I want you to notice that
present there is God the Father,
00:16:43.73\00:16:46.63
and then also are
all the representatives
00:16:46.90\00:16:49.57
of the worlds of the universe.
00:16:49.60\00:16:51.01
The heavenly
council have been invited
00:16:51.04\00:16:53.24
to the reception of Jesus.
00:16:53.44\00:16:55.34
And then we're going to
skip verse 5 for the time being.
00:16:55.44\00:16:58.48
We're going to come
back to it in a moment.
00:16:58.51\00:17:00.25
And let's go to chapter 4
and verse 6, and then verse 8.
00:17:00.28\00:17:03.75
Here we have another
group that is present.
00:17:03.79\00:17:06.25
It says there in
Revelation 4:6...
00:17:06.52\00:17:09.46
And now we'll jump to verse 8.
00:17:20.64\00:17:22.44
Now the question is, who
are these four living creatures?
00:17:39.65\00:17:43.12
They are actually seraphim.
00:17:43.43\00:17:45.79
They are six-winged angels.
00:17:46.03\00:17:48.66
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:17:48.80\00:17:50.13
Well, all we have to
do is go to Isaiah 6:1-3.
00:17:50.47\00:17:54.80
We already
noticed in Revelation 4
00:17:54.84\00:17:56.91
two characteristics.
00:17:57.21\00:17:58.54
Number one, they have six wings.
00:17:58.57\00:17:59.97
And number two, they
sing, "Holy, holy, holy."
00:18:00.08\00:18:02.34
Remember those two details.
00:18:02.38\00:18:03.71
Now let's go to Isaiah
6:1-3, which is the call
00:18:03.75\00:18:07.65
of the prophet Isaiah.
00:18:07.68\00:18:09.05
And Isaiah has
this vision of heaven
00:18:09.35\00:18:12.55
and God sitting on His throne.
00:18:12.59\00:18:13.92
Just like in Revelation 4.
00:18:13.96\00:18:15.36
And I want you to notice the
details beginning with verse 1.
00:18:15.62\00:18:18.43
So you have a
throne, and then it says,
00:18:30.31\00:18:32.07
"Above it stood
seraphim; each one had..."
00:18:32.11\00:18:35.18
How many wings?
00:18:35.21\00:18:36.54
Ah, six wings.
00:18:36.58\00:18:38.45
So who are the
four living creatures?
00:18:53.03\00:18:55.16
Seraphim.
00:18:55.33\00:18:56.67
And incidentally, even
though they're not mentioned,
00:18:56.70\00:18:58.53
the Bible describes
the cherubim in a very
00:18:58.57\00:19:02.24
similar way to the seraphim.
00:19:02.27\00:19:04.11
So most likely the cherubim
were present there as well.
00:19:04.14\00:19:08.38
Now there was another
being present there as well.
00:19:08.61\00:19:11.01
Let's go back to verse 5, which
is the verse that we skipped.
00:19:11.18\00:19:14.48
Notice verse 5.
00:19:14.52\00:19:15.85
And then we have
this interesting detail.
00:19:22.32\00:19:24.49
Now are there
seven Holy Spirits?
00:19:33.74\00:19:36.27
No. There's one Holy
Spirit, but the number seven
00:19:36.30\00:19:38.77
represents
fullness or completeness.
00:19:38.81\00:19:41.21
In other words, the
Holy Spirit is present there
00:19:41.24\00:19:43.81
in His fullness
in this throne room.
00:19:43.85\00:19:46.82
And so who do you
have present there?
00:19:47.25\00:19:49.08
The Father is on the throne,
the cherubim and the seraphim
00:19:49.12\00:19:52.29
are present there, the
representatives of the worlds
00:19:52.32\00:19:54.89
have been invited, the
Holy Spirit in His fullness
00:19:54.92\00:19:57.76
is present there
in the throne room.
00:19:57.79\00:19:59.96
Now I want you to
notice also Revelation 4
00:20:00.56\00:20:04.70
and we'll see where
this scene is taking place.
00:20:04.73\00:20:08.47
It's very important
for us to understand
00:20:08.50\00:20:10.27
where this is taking
place, in what part of heaven.
00:20:10.31\00:20:13.17
Because this is
a door in heaven.
00:20:13.21\00:20:15.14
It's not the door of
heaven, it's a door in heaven
00:20:15.18\00:20:17.61
that leads into a building.
00:20:17.65\00:20:19.11
Now the question is,
what particular location
00:20:19.15\00:20:22.15
are we talking about here?
00:20:22.18\00:20:23.52
There can be no doubt
that this is referring to the
00:20:24.02\00:20:27.16
Holy Place of the
heavenly Sanctuary.
00:20:27.19\00:20:29.19
You say, "How do we know that?"
00:20:29.22\00:20:30.56
Revelation 4:5 tells us...
00:20:30.59\00:20:33.40
Let me ask you, where was
the seven branched candlestick
00:20:44.67\00:20:48.28
in the Sanctuary?
00:20:48.31\00:20:49.64
It was in the Holy Place.
00:20:50.08\00:20:51.41
And it was the oil
that fed the lamps.
00:20:51.45\00:20:53.42
And the oil
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:20:53.45\00:20:55.62
And so symbolically we
find here that the Holy Spirit
00:20:56.02\00:20:59.22
is represented by the
number seven, the seven lamps.
00:20:59.25\00:21:02.22
So where is this taking place?
00:21:02.26\00:21:04.29
In the Holy Place.
00:21:04.86\00:21:06.19
Because the seven
branch candlestick
00:21:06.23\00:21:08.00
was in the Holy Place.
00:21:08.03\00:21:09.36
Now we have another clue.
00:21:09.40\00:21:10.73
Notice Revelation 5:8.
00:21:10.77\00:21:13.70
Revelation 5:8
00:21:13.74\00:21:16.57
And we'll come back to
this chapter in a few moments.
00:21:16.81\00:21:19.81
It's in chapter 5,
but it's taking place
00:21:19.84\00:21:22.04
in the same throne room.
00:21:22.08\00:21:23.65
It says there in
Revelation 5:8...
00:21:23.85\00:21:26.11
That's the Father.
00:21:28.92\00:21:30.25
Let me ask you, in which
apartment was the incense
00:21:43.26\00:21:46.27
offered in the Sanctuary?
00:21:46.30\00:21:47.90
It was in the Holy Place.
00:21:48.17\00:21:49.70
So we have two clues
that this is taking place
00:21:49.80\00:21:52.81
in the Holy Place of
the heavenly Sanctuary.
00:21:52.84\00:21:55.31
Number one, the
seven branch candlestick,
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.05
which
represents the Holy Spirit.
00:21:58.08\00:21:59.75
And number two,
the altar of incense,
00:21:59.78\00:22:02.55
because incense
is being presented.
00:22:02.58\00:22:04.55
So the throne room that is
being prepared for the arrival
00:22:04.59\00:22:07.86
of the war Hero, the arrival
of Christ, is the Holy Place
00:22:07.89\00:22:12.69
of the heavenly Sanctuary.
00:22:12.73\00:22:14.16
Now I want you to notice
the song that is being sung
00:22:14.43\00:22:17.63
by those who are present
there in the throne room.
00:22:17.83\00:22:20.64
Revelation 4:9-11
00:22:20.84\00:22:23.37
You're going to notice
that this hymn is directed
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.97
to the one who is
sitting on the throne.
00:22:26.01\00:22:27.68
It's directed to God the Father.
00:22:27.71\00:22:29.31
And the central theme
of the hymn is creation.
00:22:29.41\00:22:33.31
There's no
reference to redemption.
00:22:33.35\00:22:35.15
There's a
reference only to creation,
00:22:35.58\00:22:37.99
in honor of the one who
is sitting on the throne.
00:22:38.02\00:22:40.22
It says there in
Revelation 4:9...
00:22:40.36\00:22:42.56
Now notice what the
theme of the song is.
00:22:59.44\00:23:01.64
Now you say, "Isn't Jesus the
Creator according to the Bible?"
00:23:14.62\00:23:17.93
Yes, Jesus is the Creator.
00:23:18.29\00:23:19.96
Jesus is the Master Builder,
but the Father is the Architect.
00:23:20.00\00:23:25.63
Did you notice the
last part of this verse?
00:23:25.67\00:23:27.77
It gives us the clue. It says...
00:23:27.80\00:23:30.17
In other words,
Jesus implemented the will
00:23:35.01\00:23:39.95
of the Father or the plan
of the Father in creation.
00:23:39.98\00:23:42.95
But the Father is
the absolute Creator,
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.52
and the one who is
being praised here.
00:23:45.55\00:23:47.49
Now who is
notoriously absent in chapter 4?
00:23:47.66\00:23:51.19
Number one, Jesus is
found nowhere in chapter 4.
00:23:51.73\00:23:56.06
And secondly, there is no
reference to the angelic host.
00:23:56.73\00:24:01.54
So you say, "Where were
the angelic host in chapter 4?"
00:24:01.90\00:24:05.97
The answer, we're going to
find, is that the angelic host
00:24:06.61\00:24:09.48
had left heaven to
come and pick up Jesus.
00:24:09.58\00:24:14.02
And there were other angels
that were stationed at the gates
00:24:14.72\00:24:17.65
to give Jesus the
welcome when He arrived.
00:24:17.69\00:24:20.66
That's the reason why the
angelic host were not present
00:24:20.69\00:24:23.76
there in the throne
room in the Holy Place.
00:24:23.79\00:24:26.49
It's because they had left
to bring Jesus back to heaven
00:24:26.53\00:24:30.37
and to welcome Him
into the gates of the city.
00:24:30.40\00:24:34.20
Now let's go to Revelation
5 where this plot develops.
00:24:34.57\00:24:39.17
Revelation 5:1-2
00:24:39.21\00:24:42.21
So I want you to imagine, in
the right hand there's a scroll.
00:24:56.52\00:24:59.49
And the scroll is
sealed with seven seals.
00:24:59.96\00:25:02.86
In other words, the contents
of the scroll cannot be revealed
00:25:02.90\00:25:06.07
unless the seals are broken.
00:25:06.10\00:25:08.10
Then it continues
saying in verse 2...
00:25:08.14\00:25:10.07
The word, "worthy,"
means, who is qualified.
00:25:16.61\00:25:18.65
And now suddenly
there's a crisis in heaven.
00:25:23.85\00:25:25.95
Because we're
told in Revelation 5:3,
00:25:27.39\00:25:30.23
"And no one in heaven..."
00:25:30.26\00:25:32.73
Let me ask you, could God
the Father open the scroll?
00:25:32.83\00:25:36.97
No. The Father was
there in heaven, wasn't He?
00:25:37.40\00:25:39.23
It says...
00:25:39.63\00:25:40.97
Cherubim and seraphim couldn't.
00:25:49.01\00:25:50.85
The Holy Spirit couldn't.
00:25:51.65\00:25:53.15
The representatives
of the worlds couldn't.
00:25:53.55\00:25:55.48
God the Father couldn't.
00:25:55.95\00:25:57.35
There was no one there,
00:25:58.59\00:25:59.92
there was no one on
earth, who could open the scroll
00:26:00.46\00:26:03.89
and reveal its contents.
00:26:03.93\00:26:05.56
There's a crisis in heaven.
00:26:05.59\00:26:06.96
How does John react to the
fact that there's no one there
00:26:08.30\00:26:11.30
to open the scroll
and reveal its contents?
00:26:11.47\00:26:14.14
Notice Revelation 5:4.
00:26:14.17\00:26:17.24
John says...
00:26:17.34\00:26:18.67
Let me ask you, at this
point was Jesus in heaven?
00:26:28.18\00:26:31.09
He could not have
been in heaven because
00:26:31.85\00:26:33.39
Jesus is later declared
worthy to open the scroll.
00:26:33.42\00:26:36.26
So if He was there, it
wouldn't have been said that
00:26:37.19\00:26:39.96
no one was found who was worthy.
00:26:40.00\00:26:41.96
Are you
understanding what I'm saying?
00:26:42.00\00:26:43.47
Jesus was not
present at that moment.
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.07
Now we need to understand
that the word, "wept,"
00:26:46.43\00:26:48.60
that is used here is a
very strong word in Greek.
00:26:48.64\00:26:52.41
There are other words
that are used to describe
00:26:52.44\00:26:54.91
common ordinary crying.
00:26:54.94\00:26:56.28
But this would
probably be better translated,
00:26:56.31\00:26:59.51
wailing or mourning.
00:26:59.55\00:27:01.98
In other words, John
is wailing or mourning.
00:27:02.02\00:27:04.62
He's expressing
deep grief because no one
00:27:04.65\00:27:07.72
can unfurl the scroll and
reveal what the scroll contains.
00:27:07.76\00:27:11.89
You know, this word, "klaió,"
the Greek word, "klaió,"
00:27:12.43\00:27:15.16
is used, for example, for
Peter when he wept bitterly
00:27:15.40\00:27:18.87
after denying Christ.
00:27:18.90\00:27:20.34
That's not
common ordinary crying.
00:27:20.37\00:27:22.24
And then it also is used to
describe when the daughter of
00:27:22.50\00:27:26.64
the ruler of the synagogue died.
00:27:26.68\00:27:28.38
People were sobbing
and they were crying out.
00:27:28.54\00:27:30.95
It's used of the
disciples when they mourned
00:27:31.18\00:27:33.72
the death of Jesus Christ.
00:27:33.75\00:27:35.12
And it's used to describe the
mourning of Jesus over Jerusalem
00:27:35.15\00:27:38.45
as He descended
the Mount of Olives
00:27:38.49\00:27:40.02
for the last time
towards the temple.
00:27:40.06\00:27:41.96
In other words, John is filled
with anxiety and with grief.
00:27:41.99\00:27:45.69
This scroll must have
something extremely important
00:27:45.73\00:27:49.16
for John to cry
with such anguish.
00:27:49.20\00:27:52.13
So the question is,
what did the scroll contain?
00:27:52.37\00:27:55.50
Well I had a teacher in the
seminary who studied extensively
00:27:56.20\00:28:01.41
this particular
chapter of Revelation.
00:28:01.44\00:28:04.51
His name was Kenneth Strand.
00:28:04.61\00:28:06.65
And he wrote a book called,
00:28:06.68\00:28:08.02
Interpreting the Book
of Revelation, page 55,
00:28:08.05\00:28:10.55
and he explains what
that scroll contained.
00:28:10.65\00:28:13.86
He says this...
00:28:14.52\00:28:15.86
What was the
scroll? A will or a what?
00:28:31.67\00:28:34.18
Or a testament.
00:28:34.51\00:28:35.84
Let me ask you
something, can just anybody open
00:28:35.88\00:28:38.25
a will or a testament?
00:28:38.28\00:28:39.78
What does a will
or a testament reveal?
00:28:42.05\00:28:44.39
It reveals who
will inherit what.
00:28:45.05\00:28:47.89
And if the will is never
opened, people don't inherit.
00:28:48.72\00:28:53.09
This is the will of the
human race, if you please.
00:28:54.20\00:28:58.03
And if no one opens the
scroll, nobody will inherit
00:28:58.30\00:29:02.87
what was lost by
Adam when he sinned.
00:29:02.90\00:29:06.41
Now Kenneth Strand
continues explaining...
00:29:06.44\00:29:09.51
See, if a qualified
person who has been delegated
00:29:50.32\00:29:53.05
that responsibility
doesn't open the scroll,
00:29:53.09\00:29:55.39
no one will inherit
the lost inheritance.
00:29:55.62\00:29:58.99
And so that's why
John is filled with grief.
00:29:59.39\00:30:02.86
Now the spirit of prophecy
adds some interesting details
00:30:03.33\00:30:06.43
that help us understand
the contents of this scroll.
00:30:06.47\00:30:09.87
In Manuscript
Release, volume 9, page 7,
00:30:10.61\00:30:14.11
Ellen White explains that this
scroll has the entire history
00:30:14.44\00:30:18.65
of the human race and the
decisions that each person
00:30:18.68\00:30:22.48
has made within the
flow of human history,
00:30:22.52\00:30:25.29
which determines whether
they're going to inherit life
00:30:25.32\00:30:28.12
or whether they're
going to inherit death.
00:30:28.16\00:30:30.46
Notice how she describes it.
00:30:30.66\00:30:32.36
In other words, this scroll
contains the entire history
00:31:11.40\00:31:14.54
of the human race and the
decisions that have been made
00:31:14.57\00:31:18.11
within the course of
history, which will determine
00:31:18.14\00:31:21.31
what your inheritance will be;
whether you will inherit life
00:31:21.34\00:31:25.25
or whether you
will inherit death.
00:31:25.28\00:31:27.32
It's a will or a testament.
00:31:27.68\00:31:29.62
It's a book of
destiny, in other words.
00:31:29.65\00:31:32.05
Now Ellen White
has another statement,
00:31:32.45\00:31:34.72
which is very
interesting, where she describes
00:31:34.76\00:31:37.13
a specific historical event
that was written in that scroll.
00:31:37.16\00:31:41.00
This statement is found
in, Christ's Object Lessons,
00:31:41.46\00:31:43.93
page 294.
00:31:43.97\00:31:45.93
Christ's Object
Lessons, page 294.
00:31:45.97\00:31:48.90
She's talking
about when the Jews said,
00:31:49.47\00:31:52.81
"Let His blood be upon
us and upon our children."
00:31:53.38\00:31:56.41
Do you remember that,
when they stated that?
00:31:56.44\00:31:58.61
Now notice how Ellen White
comments about this decision.
00:31:58.78\00:32:02.68
So do you notice that when
they pronounced those words,
00:32:16.93\00:32:19.43
their decision
was written where?
00:32:19.53\00:32:22.00
It was written in that scroll at
that moment in the year 31 AD.
00:32:22.34\00:32:27.44
And then notice what
she continues saying.
00:32:27.64\00:32:29.64
Now let's notice some important
details of this statement.
00:32:42.62\00:32:46.59
Number one, when the
Jews cried out in AD 31,
00:32:47.00\00:32:51.30
"His blood be on us
and on our children,"
00:32:51.67\00:32:54.14
their decision was
written in the scroll.
00:32:54.34\00:32:56.24
Is that point clear?
00:32:56.27\00:32:57.61
When they said that,
their decision, their actions,
00:32:57.64\00:33:00.78
were written in the scroll.
00:33:00.81\00:33:02.18
Then we must notice also
that the scroll had not yet
00:33:03.28\00:33:07.32
been opened when Ellen White
wrote this statement in 1900.
00:33:07.35\00:33:10.89
Is that clear?
00:33:11.65\00:33:12.99
Because Ellen White
stated in that year, in 1900
00:33:13.19\00:33:16.56
when she wrote this
statement, that their decision
00:33:16.59\00:33:19.43
will appear before them
when this book is unsealed.
00:33:19.46\00:33:23.57
So was the opening of
the book future in 1900?
00:33:24.10\00:33:28.27
It was future in 1900.
00:33:28.80\00:33:30.94
It was written in the
year 31, but it remained sealed
00:33:30.97\00:33:35.01
until a future time.
00:33:35.11\00:33:37.08
Future even from the year 1900.
00:33:37.11\00:33:39.75
Now those who cried
out, "His blood be upon us
00:33:39.98\00:33:43.52
and upon our children,"
were all dead in 1900.
00:33:43.55\00:33:46.69
Would you agree with that?
00:33:46.72\00:33:48.06
So the question is, if they were
all dead, how could they see
00:33:48.42\00:33:52.09
the result of their decision?
00:33:52.13\00:33:53.80
The answer is
that they must what?
00:33:54.86\00:33:57.07
They must
resurrect in order to see the
00:33:57.57\00:34:00.10
result of their decision.
00:34:00.14\00:34:01.50
Now let me ask you,
when is it that the wicked
00:34:01.60\00:34:03.97
are going to resurrect?
00:34:04.01\00:34:05.34
They are going to resurrect
after the thousand years.
00:34:05.84\00:34:09.31
So when is it that this
scroll is going to be unfurled
00:34:09.51\00:34:12.31
or this scroll is
going to be opened?
00:34:12.35\00:34:14.15
It is going to be opened before
those who said these words
00:34:14.35\00:34:18.22
after the millennium when
the panoramic view of the entire
00:34:18.59\00:34:22.62
history of the human race
is shown above the holy city.
00:34:22.66\00:34:26.46
Are you following me or not?
00:34:26.49\00:34:27.83
So in the year 31 it was
written there in the scroll.
00:34:28.16\00:34:33.50
The scroll remained sealed.
00:34:33.80\00:34:35.34
In 1900 it was still
sealed, because Ellen White says
00:34:35.37\00:34:38.61
that it's going to be unsealed
in the future from that date.
00:34:38.64\00:34:41.78
And we know that
those who said those words
00:34:41.94\00:34:44.58
are going to be
witnesses of their decision.
00:34:44.61\00:34:46.82
Which means they must resurrect,
and they will resurrect
00:34:46.85\00:34:49.48
after the millennium.
00:34:49.52\00:34:50.85
So the scroll is going
to be unfurled before them
00:34:50.89\00:34:53.62
after the thousand years.
00:34:53.66\00:34:55.79
Now let's go to verse 5.
00:34:55.82\00:34:57.49
Now notice the
tenses of the verbs.
00:35:07.84\00:35:09.80
"...has prevailed..."
00:35:10.11\00:35:12.04
Incidentally, that word,
"prevailed," is translated
00:35:12.71\00:35:15.24
differently, but it's
the same word, "overcome,"
00:35:15.28\00:35:17.75
that has been used previously.
00:35:18.68\00:35:21.02
"He who overcomes, I will grant
to sit with Me on My throne,
00:35:21.12\00:35:23.82
as I overcame and sat
with My Father on His throne."
00:35:23.92\00:35:27.32
So it says that...
00:35:27.36\00:35:28.96
And what gives Him the
right to open the scroll?
00:35:33.23\00:35:35.40
The fact that He's prevailed.
00:35:35.43\00:35:36.77
It says, "...has
prevailed..." To do what?
00:35:36.80\00:35:39.03
So this verse tells us
what it is that qualifies Jesus
00:35:45.01\00:35:49.14
to open the scroll.
00:35:49.18\00:35:50.65
What is it that qualifies Him?
00:35:51.05\00:35:52.85
The fact that He is the
Lion of the tribe of Judah.
00:35:53.21\00:35:57.05
But then we're going to notice
something very interesting.
00:35:57.85\00:36:00.09
And that is that in chapter
5:6 Jesus presents Himself
00:36:00.49\00:36:08.36
before His Father as a Lamb.
00:36:08.40\00:36:12.30
Now is there a difference
between a lamb and a lion?
00:36:13.13\00:36:15.90
Absolutely.
00:36:16.60\00:36:17.94
You see, Jesus is presented,
when He goes before His Father
00:36:17.97\00:36:21.04
He's the Lamb as
though it had been slain.
00:36:21.14\00:36:23.98
But it says that when He
opens the scroll, He is what?
00:36:24.25\00:36:27.52
He is the Lion of
the tribe of Judah.
00:36:27.58\00:36:29.95
So when He appears before
the Father at the ascension
00:36:29.98\00:36:32.95
He's the Lamb, but when the
scroll is opened He's the Lion.
00:36:32.99\00:36:36.12
What does that mean?
00:36:36.16\00:36:37.49
Ellen White has an
interesting comment
00:36:37.53\00:36:39.09
in, Acts of the
Apostles, page 589.
00:36:39.13\00:36:41.86
By the way, that's after
the thousand years they'll see
00:36:48.00\00:36:50.31
what the results
of their decision was.
00:36:50.34\00:36:52.27
And so now John hears the
words of this powerful being
00:36:58.78\00:37:02.98
that says,
"Don't worry about it.
00:37:03.02\00:37:04.62
The Lion of the tribe of
Judah will open the scroll.
00:37:04.65\00:37:08.06
He has prevailed as the Lamb,
00:37:08.09\00:37:09.86
and He will open
the scroll as the Lion."
00:37:09.89\00:37:12.29
Are you following me or not?
00:37:12.33\00:37:13.70
Now let's go to verse 6.
00:37:14.23\00:37:16.00
And now there's an
interesting detail.
00:37:35.28\00:37:37.19
Up to that point, the seven
Spirits have been present there
00:37:37.49\00:37:42.02
where the throne room is.
00:37:42.26\00:37:43.59
But now notice
there's going to be a change.
00:37:43.63\00:37:45.56
Let me ask you, what historical
event is being described here
00:37:55.37\00:37:58.54
in Revelation 5:6?
00:37:58.57\00:38:00.21
When is it that the Holy Spirit
was sent out to the earth?
00:38:00.41\00:38:03.81
It was on the day of Pentecost.
00:38:04.41\00:38:06.48
So when Jesus is about to
be received in the throne room,
00:38:06.95\00:38:11.45
the seven Spirits
are present there?
00:38:11.75\00:38:13.56
After the Lamb comes
and presents Himself there,
00:38:13.99\00:38:17.53
then the seven
Spirits are sent to the earth.
00:38:17.79\00:38:21.16
In a moment we're going
to see a little bit more
00:38:21.20\00:38:23.16
what that means.
00:38:23.20\00:38:24.53
And so Jesus
presents Himself as the Lamb
00:38:24.80\00:38:27.44
as though it had been slain.
00:38:27.47\00:38:28.80
Is He coming
from the battlefield?
00:38:28.84\00:38:30.44
You better believe it.
00:38:30.61\00:38:31.94
Does He have the
wounds to prove it?
00:38:31.97\00:38:33.31
Oh absolutely.
00:38:33.34\00:38:34.68
He's been in a war, in a battle.
00:38:34.71\00:38:36.64
But the good news is, He comes
wounded, but He comes alive.
00:38:36.88\00:38:41.32
He's the victor.
00:38:41.48\00:38:42.82
Now notice verse 7.
00:38:42.85\00:38:44.19
This is an important detail.
00:38:44.35\00:38:45.69
There's movement here.
00:38:45.72\00:38:47.06
It says there,
"Then He..." What?
00:38:47.26\00:38:49.62
Ah, He came.
00:38:50.06\00:38:51.39
He wasn't there before.
00:38:51.43\00:38:52.76
And so you can visualize this.
00:39:00.44\00:39:01.77
He comes and He takes
the scroll out of the hand
00:39:01.80\00:39:04.84
of the Father who is
sitting on the throne.
00:39:04.87\00:39:07.08
And in a few moments we're
going to see what that means.
00:39:07.11\00:39:09.24
Now when Jesus takes the scroll,
suddenly there's this burst
00:39:09.58\00:39:14.35
of praise from the elders
and from the living creatures.
00:39:14.38\00:39:18.72
It's found in chapter 5:8-10.
00:39:18.82\00:39:23.06
And there's a
translation problem here.
00:39:39.04\00:39:40.88
I'll just
mention it very briefly,
00:39:40.91\00:39:42.48
but I won't go into detail.
00:39:42.51\00:39:43.98
It says, "And they
sang a new song saying,
00:39:44.11\00:39:46.28
'You are worthy
to take the scroll
00:39:46.48\00:39:49.12
and to open its seals...'"
00:39:49.15\00:39:50.72
For what reason?
00:39:50.89\00:39:52.22
So was Jesus there in chapter 4?
00:39:57.33\00:40:00.26
No one was worthy.
00:40:00.83\00:40:02.16
Now is there someone
that has arrived who is worthy
00:40:02.23\00:40:04.57
in chapter 5?
00:40:04.60\00:40:05.93
Yes, that's the ascension.
00:40:05.97\00:40:07.30
And the Holy Spirit is sent out.
00:40:07.34\00:40:08.67
This is happening on
the day of Pentecost.
00:40:08.70\00:40:10.61
And so it says...
00:40:10.71\00:40:12.04
I'm reading from
the New King James.
00:40:20.18\00:40:21.88
All of the other versions
other than the King James
00:40:22.18\00:40:24.79
and the New King James say,
"You have redeemed people..."
00:40:24.82\00:40:29.29
They're not the redeemed.
00:40:29.82\00:40:31.26
They're singing
about the redeemed.
00:40:31.29\00:40:33.03
And every other version
other than the King James
00:40:39.87\00:40:42.30
and the New King James
says, "...and have made them..."
00:40:42.34\00:40:45.37
In other words, the
elders and the living creatures
00:40:50.05\00:40:52.21
are singing about the redeemed.
00:40:52.25\00:40:54.35
They're saying, "Jesus,
You redeemed human beings."
00:40:54.38\00:40:57.62
But the twenty-four elders
are not those who were redeemed.
00:40:57.92\00:41:02.06
Now in the series on
the twenty-four elders,
00:41:02.09\00:41:04.79
I have a whole lecture
that deals with this issue
00:41:04.83\00:41:07.56
of the proper
version to use in this case.
00:41:07.60\00:41:11.57
Now, then in chapter 5:11-12,
the angels join the celebration.
00:41:11.83\00:41:18.11
Suddenly the angels are there.
00:41:18.14\00:41:19.47
Where were they before?
00:41:19.51\00:41:20.84
They weren't there in chapter 4.
00:41:20.88\00:41:22.21
Now they're there.
00:41:22.24\00:41:23.58
The Lamb is there
because the Lamb has arrived.
00:41:23.61\00:41:25.41
He's the war Hero who is
returning from the battlefield,
00:41:25.45\00:41:29.15
wounded but alive.
00:41:29.18\00:41:30.52
Notice Revelation 5:11-12.
00:41:30.55\00:41:33.52
And then in chapter
5:13, the whole universe
00:41:55.58\00:41:59.28
begins singing about the victory
of the Father and the Son.
00:41:59.31\00:42:02.38
It says there in chapter 5:13...
00:42:02.42\00:42:04.85
Isn't this a majestic scene?
00:42:22.24\00:42:24.07
Now the interesting
thing is that Ellen White
00:42:24.77\00:42:28.98
saw this scene in vision.
00:42:30.08\00:42:32.05
But she doesn't mention
the individuals that were
00:42:33.65\00:42:38.59
present there with the
same terminology as Revelation.
00:42:38.62\00:42:42.82
She interprets the terminology.
00:42:42.86\00:42:45.43
In other words, she doesn't
speak of living creatures,
00:42:45.59\00:42:48.86
and elders, and Lamb, and simply
say, "One was on the throne,"
00:42:48.90\00:42:53.37
and seven Spirits.
00:42:53.40\00:42:54.74
She takes the symbolic language
and she interprets the language.
00:42:54.84\00:42:58.57
She gives the
meaning of the language.
00:42:58.61\00:43:00.34
Now I want to read a
rather extensive passage from,
00:43:00.44\00:43:03.91
Desire of Ages, where if
you don't feel goosebumps
00:43:03.95\00:43:07.55
when I'm reading this, there's
something wrong with you.
00:43:07.58\00:43:09.92
Notice, Desire of
Ages, page 833-835.
00:43:10.29\00:43:14.92
It says there...
00:43:15.79\00:43:17.13
"...and the
multitude of captives..."
00:43:26.37\00:43:28.30
This is our next
subject in this series.
00:43:28.34\00:43:30.24
"The heavenly host..."
00:43:35.24\00:43:36.58
That's the angels.
00:43:36.61\00:43:37.95
You can just hear them singing.
00:43:55.56\00:43:57.07
You know, they're
welcoming back the war Hero.
00:43:57.10\00:43:59.47
He's back after 33
years and He is victorious.
00:43:59.50\00:44:02.90
Now notice, those
were inside the holy city.
00:44:03.51\00:44:06.27
Those who stayed behind to give
Jesus a welcome into the city.
00:44:06.31\00:44:09.21
Why would He be called,
"The Lord strong and mighty;
00:44:24.43\00:44:26.86
the Lord mighty in battle"?
00:44:26.90\00:44:28.53
Because He's coming
back from the battlefield.
00:44:28.56\00:44:30.93
And then they say...
00:44:31.57\00:44:32.90
This is not the open
door in heaven, by the way.
00:44:53.92\00:44:55.79
This is the door
that leads into the city.
00:44:55.82\00:44:58.33
Now we know
where the angels were,
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.04
why they weren't
there in chapter 4.
00:45:09.07\00:45:10.71
Now notice,
"There is the throne."
00:45:11.47\00:45:13.71
You're going to see
clearly that Ellen White
00:45:13.74\00:45:15.58
is interpreting
Revelation chapters 4 and 5.
00:45:15.61\00:45:18.11
"There is the throne.
00:45:18.41\00:45:20.05
And around it the
rainbow of promise."
00:45:21.18\00:45:23.18
Is this the scene
of Revelation 4 and 5?
00:45:23.22\00:45:25.39
Absolutely.
00:45:25.62\00:45:26.96
"There are
cherubim and seraphim."
00:45:26.99\00:45:29.72
Who would those be?
00:45:30.26\00:45:31.59
The living creatures.
00:45:32.16\00:45:33.66
And then she goes to the other
group, the twenty-four elders.
00:45:34.06\00:45:36.43
She says, "The
commanders of the angel host,
00:45:36.46\00:45:39.03
the sons of God,
00:45:39.33\00:45:40.97
the representatives of the
unfallen worlds, are assembled."
00:45:41.34\00:45:44.97
And some people
say, "Well Pastor Bohr,
00:45:45.01\00:45:46.91
that's speaking
about three groups.
00:45:47.01\00:45:49.18
Because it says there, 'the
commanders of the angel host,
00:45:49.21\00:45:52.15
the sons of God,
and the representatives
00:45:52.18\00:45:54.38
of the unfallen worlds.'
00:45:54.42\00:45:55.75
Three different groups."
00:45:55.78\00:45:57.12
Nope.
00:45:57.15\00:45:58.49
Ellen White commonly
used this type of terminology
00:45:58.52\00:46:01.52
where she described the same
group in three different ways.
00:46:01.62\00:46:04.53
Let me give you
three other examples.
00:46:04.89\00:46:06.76
This is from the next
page of your material.
00:46:06.80\00:46:08.86
I want you to notice first
of all when she speaks about
00:46:09.86\00:46:12.87
revival and reformation.
00:46:12.90\00:46:14.57
Notice what she says.
00:46:15.10\00:46:16.44
This is in,
Christian Service, page 42.
00:46:16.47\00:46:18.31
Let me ask you, are
those three phrases synonymous?
00:46:29.72\00:46:32.12
They most certainly are.
00:46:32.62\00:46:33.96
Ellen White also speaks about
how the wicked are going to
00:46:34.16\00:46:36.76
gather together in
unity at the end of time.
00:46:36.79\00:46:39.36
A global apostasy.
00:46:39.39\00:46:41.03
Notice how she describes
this in, Selected Messages,
00:46:41.46\00:46:44.10
volume 3, page 92.
00:46:44.13\00:46:45.87
Are those three
phrases synonymous?
00:46:53.31\00:46:55.11
They most certainly are.
00:46:55.51\00:46:56.85
Let me give you
one other example.
00:46:56.88\00:46:58.35
Desire of Ages, page 530.
00:46:58.55\00:47:00.82
She's speaking about
the life that is in Christ.
00:47:00.85\00:47:03.52
See, this is a way
in which Ellen White
00:47:08.66\00:47:10.93
emphasized something.
00:47:10.96\00:47:12.29
So when Ellen
White says here that,
00:47:12.33\00:47:14.83
"the commanders of the
angel host, the sons of God,
00:47:15.06\00:47:18.27
the representatives
of the unfallen worlds;"
00:47:18.30\00:47:20.07
those are not
three separate groups.
00:47:20.10\00:47:21.74
They are three different ways
of describing the same group.
00:47:21.84\00:47:24.07
Now, we go back
to the statement.
00:47:24.11\00:47:25.91
She says, "The commanders of
the angel host, the sons of God,
00:47:26.21\00:47:28.94
the representatives of the
unfallen worlds, are assembled.
00:47:28.98\00:47:32.21
The heavenly council
before which Lucifer had accused
00:47:32.38\00:47:35.55
God and His Son, the
representatives of those
00:47:35.58\00:47:38.29
sinless realms over which
Satan had thought to establish
00:47:38.32\00:47:41.32
his dominion; all
are there to..." What?
00:47:41.36\00:47:44.39
Ah, the welcoming party,
00:47:44.89\00:47:46.29
"...to welcome the Redeemer.
00:47:46.33\00:47:47.90
They are eager to
celebrate His triumph
00:47:47.93\00:47:50.33
and to glorify their King.
00:47:50.37\00:47:51.97
But He waves them back."
00:47:52.43\00:47:53.90
Do you remember that
Jesus had to, in Revelation 5:7,
00:47:54.10\00:47:56.64
He had to come to the
Father to take the scroll?
00:47:56.67\00:47:58.81
Notice what it says.
00:47:59.41\00:48:00.74
"But He waves them back.
00:48:00.78\00:48:02.11
Not yet; He cannot
now receive the coronet
00:48:02.24\00:48:05.38
of glory and the royal robe.
00:48:05.41\00:48:07.08
He enters into the
presence of His Father."
00:48:07.42\00:48:11.29
See, there He is;
He comes to the Father
00:48:11.32\00:48:13.82
to receive the scroll.
00:48:14.62\00:48:15.96
And of course, He's
going to open the scroll.
00:48:15.99\00:48:17.33
He's going to
reveal who are His children
00:48:17.36\00:48:19.26
that are going
to inherit with Him.
00:48:19.29\00:48:20.63
He's going to open the
will and He's going to say,
00:48:20.70\00:48:22.86
"These will inherit with Me."
00:48:22.90\00:48:24.47
Now notice...
00:48:24.50\00:48:25.83
"He points to His wounded
head, to His pierced side,
00:48:25.87\00:48:29.37
the marred feet;
00:48:29.84\00:48:31.17
He lifts His hands,
bearing the print of nails."
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.68
How is Jesus
presenting Himself? As what?
00:48:33.78\00:48:36.44
As a Lamb.
00:48:36.71\00:48:38.05
Ellen White doesn't
use the word, "Lamb."
00:48:38.08\00:48:39.45
She expresses
literally the Lamb represents
00:48:40.72\00:48:44.89
the wounds on Jesus.
00:48:44.92\00:48:46.59
She continues saying, "He points
to the tokens of His triumph."
00:48:47.46\00:48:50.23
This will be our next study.
00:48:50.26\00:48:51.59
"He presents to God the wave
sheaf, those raised with Him
00:48:51.96\00:48:55.50
as representatives of that great
multitude who shall come forth
00:48:55.53\00:48:58.83
from the grave at
His second coming.
00:48:58.87\00:49:00.54
He approaches the Father,
00:49:01.74\00:49:03.20
with whom there is joy
over one sinner that repents;
00:49:04.14\00:49:07.08
who rejoices
over one with singing.
00:49:07.34\00:49:09.34
Before the foundations
of the earth were laid,
00:49:09.74\00:49:11.98
the Father and the Son
had united in a covenant
00:49:12.01\00:49:16.28
to redeem man if he
should be overcome by Satan.
00:49:16.32\00:49:19.05
They had clasped Their
hands in a solemn pledge
00:49:19.42\00:49:22.52
that Christ should become
the surety for the human race.
00:49:22.56\00:49:25.99
This pledge
Christ has fulfilled.
00:49:26.09\00:49:28.40
When upon the cross He
cried out, 'It is finished,'
00:49:28.60\00:49:31.27
He addressed the Father.
00:49:31.30\00:49:32.63
The compact had
been fully carried out.
00:49:32.87\00:49:35.94
Now He declares,
'Father, it is finished.
00:49:35.97\00:49:38.87
I have done Thy will, O My God.
00:49:38.91\00:49:40.91
I have completed
the work of redemption.
00:49:40.94\00:49:43.61
If Thy justice is satisfied,
"I will that they also,
00:49:43.65\00:49:47.32
whom Thou hast given Me,
be with Me where I am."'"
00:49:47.35\00:49:50.62
Isn't that what
the scroll reveals,
00:49:50.72\00:49:52.39
who's going to be with Him?
00:49:52.42\00:49:53.76
Absolutely.
00:49:53.79\00:49:55.12
Now notice what
it continues saying.
00:49:55.16\00:49:56.49
"The voice of God is
heard proclaiming that
00:49:56.56\00:49:58.49
justice is satisfied.
00:49:58.53\00:50:00.00
Satan is vanquished.
00:50:00.03\00:50:02.03
Christ's toiling,
struggling ones on earth
00:50:02.06\00:50:04.60
are 'accepted in the Beloved.'
00:50:04.63\00:50:06.57
Before the heavenly
angels and the representatives
00:50:06.74\00:50:09.10
of the unfallen worlds,
they are declared justified.
00:50:09.14\00:50:12.41
Where He is, there
His church shall be."
00:50:12.44\00:50:15.71
In other words, the
church will inherit with Him.
00:50:15.81\00:50:17.91
Then say says, "'Mercy
and truth are met together;
00:50:18.45\00:50:20.78
righteousness and peace
have kissed each other.'
00:50:20.82\00:50:23.42
The Father's arms encircle
His Son, and the word is given,
00:50:23.69\00:50:27.06
'Let all the angels
of God worship Him.'"
00:50:27.16\00:50:30.09
Do you remember that
after the Lamb took the scroll,
00:50:30.39\00:50:33.09
that there was this
celebration by the elders,
00:50:33.13\00:50:35.46
and the celebration
by the living creatures,
00:50:35.50\00:50:37.60
and by all the heavenly angels,
00:50:37.63\00:50:39.03
and by all the
universe actually?
00:50:39.07\00:50:40.64
Now Ellen White is
going to quote verse 5:12.
00:50:40.84\00:50:43.91
So you know that she's
referring to Revelation 5.
00:50:43.94\00:50:46.64
"With joy unutterable, rulers
and principalities and powers
00:50:47.14\00:50:51.21
acknowledge the
supremacy of the Prince of life.
00:50:51.25\00:50:55.08
The angel host
prostrate themselves before Him,
00:50:55.18\00:50:57.79
while the glad shout
fills all the courts of heaven,
00:50:57.82\00:51:00.82
'Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive power,
00:51:00.92\00:51:03.79
and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honor,
00:51:03.83\00:51:06.09
and glory, and blessing.'"
00:51:06.13\00:51:07.66
Revelation 5:12
00:51:07.70\00:51:09.40
"Songs of triumph mingle
with the music from angel harps,
00:51:09.66\00:51:12.87
till heaven seems to
overflow with joy and praise.
00:51:12.90\00:51:16.04
Love has
conquered. The lost is found.
00:51:16.14\00:51:18.61
Heaven rings with voices
in lofty strains proclaiming,
00:51:18.64\00:51:22.24
'Blessing, and honor, and
glory, and power, be unto Him
00:51:22.44\00:51:26.25
that sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb
00:51:26.28\00:51:29.08
forever and ever.'"
00:51:29.12\00:51:31.52
What a scene!
00:51:32.92\00:51:34.26
Are you understanding what
Revelation 4 and 5 is all about?
00:51:35.02\00:51:37.79
Now the question is, when
will this scroll be unfurled?
00:51:38.66\00:51:42.73
We mentioned that those
who pronounced the words,
00:51:44.07\00:51:46.63
"Let His blood be upon
us and upon our children,"
00:51:46.67\00:51:48.94
are going to see the
result of their decision.
00:51:49.14\00:51:51.61
For that, they
have to resurrect.
00:51:51.64\00:51:53.48
And they're going to
resurrect after the millennium.
00:51:53.81\00:51:56.44
Notice Revelation 20:13-14.
00:51:56.98\00:52:00.52
Revelation 20:13-14
00:52:00.72\00:52:03.72
We're only going to read the
verse, and then we're going to
00:52:04.72\00:52:07.06
read the comments made
by the spirit of prophecy.
00:52:07.09\00:52:09.42
Because time is flying by.
00:52:09.46\00:52:11.06
Now what does this mean,
"The sea gave up the dead,
00:52:17.77\00:52:20.57
and Death and Hades
delivered up the dead"?
00:52:20.67\00:52:23.30
It means that they are what?
00:52:23.34\00:52:24.87
They're resurrected.
00:52:25.27\00:52:26.61
And then notice what it says.
00:52:26.74\00:52:28.14
Are the wicked going to
see a record of their lives?
00:52:31.98\00:52:34.28
Is it going to
appear in the scroll? Yes.
00:52:35.45\00:52:37.99
Now let me read you
the spectacular description
00:52:38.02\00:52:40.39
that is given in the book, Great
Controversy, pages 666-669.
00:52:40.42\00:52:45.09
All the wicked are
gathered around the city,
00:52:47.16\00:52:49.23
and there's this
panoramic view above the city.
00:52:49.26\00:52:51.57
Do you see what the scroll is?
00:53:04.45\00:53:05.78
We read in Ellen White, she says
the whole history of the world
00:53:05.81\00:53:08.15
is contained there, from
the times of Adam till the end.
00:53:08.18\00:53:10.59
She continues saying...
00:53:11.32\00:53:12.65
A scroll is being
opened before them now.
00:54:07.91\00:54:10.15
Do you remember?
00:54:42.71\00:54:44.05
Are those who cried
out, "His blood be upon us
00:54:44.08\00:54:46.45
and upon our children,"
going to see that event again?
00:54:46.48\00:54:48.95
Yes.
00:54:48.98\00:54:50.32
And then we're going
to skip the next paragraph
00:55:25.45\00:55:27.52
where Ellen White describes
events from the early church;
00:55:27.62\00:55:30.56
the book of Acts after
the ascension of Christ.
00:55:30.86\00:55:33.63
She mentions Paul, Peter, John.
00:55:33.73\00:55:36.46
She mentions Nero as
being outside the city.
00:55:36.77\00:55:40.00
She mentions Nero's mother.
00:55:40.24\00:55:42.80
And then she moves on to
describe the Middle Ages.
00:55:43.17\00:55:47.38
In the following
paragraph she says...
00:55:47.58\00:55:49.24
And then at the end of
this statement she says...
00:56:04.16\00:56:06.09
Now let me ask you,
what decisions have we made
00:56:21.11\00:56:25.88
within the course of history?
00:56:26.38\00:56:28.02
What is written in that
scroll concerning our thoughts
00:56:29.18\00:56:34.16
and our actions?
00:56:34.19\00:56:35.52
Where are we going to be?
00:56:36.49\00:56:37.96
Inside the city?
00:56:38.49\00:56:40.06
Or are we going to be
outside the Holy City?
00:56:41.06\00:56:43.83
The decisions that we make
within the course of history,
00:56:44.57\00:56:47.74
either to accept Christ and
follow Him or to reject Him,
00:56:48.34\00:56:51.71
will determine
our eternal destiny.
00:56:52.34\00:56:55.34
And the sad thing is,
that Jesus lived a perfect life
00:56:56.18\00:56:59.38
in our place and
died in our place.
00:56:59.41\00:57:01.58
What a waste it would
be for us not to be there
00:57:02.02\00:57:05.45
for the great celebration
when Jesus returns home
00:57:05.49\00:57:09.19
with all of His people.
00:57:09.22\00:57:10.76