Hello, friends,
we'd like to welcome you
00:00:35.53\00:00:37.00
to Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:37.00\00:00:38.43
here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.43\00:00:40.54
in Sacramento, California.
00:00:40.54\00:00:42.37
Very warm welcome to
those joining us online,
00:00:42.37\00:00:44.97
our online members,
00:00:44.97\00:00:46.47
and also those
who are participating
00:00:46.47\00:00:48.44
in our Bible
study across the country
00:00:48.44\00:00:50.38
and around the world,
00:00:50.38\00:00:52.18
also a very warm
welcome to our members
00:00:52.18\00:00:54.58
and our visitors
here at Granite Bay,
00:00:54.58\00:00:56.05
it's always good to
see you week after week
00:00:56.05\00:00:58.02
coming together
to study our lesson.
00:00:58.02\00:01:00.42
We've been summing
through a great lesson quarterly
00:01:00.42\00:01:02.69
entitled
Preparation for the End Times.
00:01:02.69\00:01:06.13
Today we find
ourselves on lesson number 7
00:01:06.13\00:01:08.70
that is entitled
Matthew 24 and 25.
00:01:08.70\00:01:12.47
It's pretty clear
00:01:12.47\00:01:13.50
what our study is
going to be today,
00:01:13.50\00:01:14.74
Matthew 24, 25
00:01:14.74\00:01:16.91
and connected with
Preparation for the End Times.
00:01:16.91\00:01:20.34
Well, before we
get into our music
00:01:20.34\00:01:22.41
and then get into our lesson,
00:01:22.41\00:01:23.78
we'd like to let those
of you who are viewing this
00:01:23.78\00:01:26.61
know about a free
offer that we have.
00:01:26.61\00:01:28.88
It is a DVD that is available.
00:01:28.88\00:01:31.19
If you would like
to call for the DVD,
00:01:31.19\00:01:33.72
we'll be happy
to send it to you,
00:01:33.72\00:01:34.92
it's one of the
Formula 4 Faith DVD series.
00:01:34.92\00:01:38.53
The number to
call is 866-788-3966.
00:01:38.53\00:01:42.56
And you can ask
for offer number 845.
00:01:42.56\00:01:45.83
If you would like to get a
DVD download of this sermon,
00:01:45.83\00:01:50.41
what you need to do is
text the following code SH069.
00:01:50.41\00:01:57.28
SH069 to the number 40544.
00:01:57.28\00:02:02.92
And you'll be able
to get a DVD download
00:02:02.92\00:02:05.25
of this great sermon
00:02:05.25\00:02:07.42
that I think will be a blessing,
00:02:07.42\00:02:08.69
especially as we study together
Preparation for the End Times.
00:02:08.69\00:02:13.19
Well, before we get to
our study for this morning,
00:02:13.19\00:02:15.06
we're going to have
a special musical item,
00:02:15.06\00:02:17.40
you can see the
folks behind me today,
00:02:17.40\00:02:19.33
so we'll turn it over to you.
00:02:19.33\00:02:20.77
He is our peace
00:02:30.85\00:02:34.45
Who has broken down every wall
00:02:34.45\00:02:40.22
He is our peace
00:02:40.22\00:02:44.86
He is our peace
00:02:44.86\00:02:49.50
He is our peace
00:02:49.50\00:02:53.20
Who has broken down every wall
00:02:53.20\00:02:59.04
He is our peace
00:02:59.04\00:03:03.78
He is our peace
00:03:03.78\00:03:08.38
Cast all your cares on Him
00:03:08.38\00:03:13.09
For He cares for you
00:03:13.09\00:03:17.66
He is our peace
00:03:17.66\00:03:22.40
He is our peace
00:03:22.40\00:03:26.97
Cast all your cares on Him
00:03:26.97\00:03:31.34
For He cares for you
00:03:31.34\00:03:35.98
He is our peace
00:03:35.98\00:03:40.58
He is our peace
00:03:40.58\00:03:47.09
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
00:03:47.09\00:03:53.06
Coming down from
the Father above!
00:03:53.06\00:03:59.60
Sweep over my
spirit forever I pray
00:03:59.60\00:04:06.71
In the
fathomless billows of love!
00:04:06.71\00:04:13.42
What a treasure I have
in this wonderful peace
00:04:13.42\00:04:19.99
Buried deep in
the heart of my soul
00:04:19.99\00:04:26.56
So secure that no
power can mine it away
00:04:26.56\00:04:33.27
While the years of eternity roll
00:04:33.27\00:04:40.38
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
00:04:40.38\00:04:46.45
Coming down from
the Father above!
00:04:46.45\00:04:52.92
Sweep over my
spirit forever I pray
00:04:52.92\00:04:59.86
In the
fathomless billows of love!
00:04:59.86\00:05:07.57
My peace
00:05:07.57\00:05:10.21
I give unto you
00:05:10.21\00:05:16.21
It's a peace that
the world cannot give
00:05:16.21\00:05:24.19
It's a peace
00:05:24.19\00:05:26.19
That the world cannot understand
00:05:26.19\00:05:32.69
Peace to know, peace to live
00:05:32.69\00:05:39.60
My peace I give unto you
00:05:39.60\00:05:47.41
My love I give unto you
00:05:47.41\00:05:55.22
It's a love that
the world cannot give
00:05:55.22\00:06:03.12
It's a love
00:06:03.12\00:06:04.99
That the world cannot understand
00:06:04.99\00:06:11.30
Love to know, love to live
00:06:11.30\00:06:18.24
My love
00:06:18.24\00:06:20.34
I give unto you
00:06:20.34\00:06:27.78
Peace to love
00:06:27.78\00:06:32.95
Peace to live
00:06:32.95\00:06:38.23
My peace I give
00:06:38.23\00:06:44.87
Unto you
00:06:44.87\00:06:51.41
Our prayer is going to
be offered by Pastor Ross.
00:06:55.08\00:06:59.41
Dear Father in heaven,
00:06:59.41\00:07:00.55
we are indeed
grateful for the opportunity
00:07:00.55\00:07:02.38
to gather together this morning
00:07:02.38\00:07:03.65
and open up Your Word
and continue our study
00:07:03.65\00:07:06.05
in this important
prophetic end time study
00:07:06.05\00:07:09.42
that we are looking
at Matthew 24 and 25.
00:07:09.42\00:07:12.86
Father, we ask
for the Holy Spirit
00:07:12.86\00:07:14.20
to come and guard
our hearts, our minds,
00:07:14.20\00:07:15.96
lead us into a
clear understanding
00:07:15.96\00:07:17.50
of these very important
truths, in Jesus' name, amen.
00:07:17.50\00:07:22.94
Well, again
good morning everyone
00:07:22.94\00:07:24.17
and welcome to our
Sabbath School Study hour.
00:07:24.17\00:07:27.91
I'd like to bring greetings
00:07:27.91\00:07:29.11
from Pastor Dough
Batchelor and Karen,
00:07:29.11\00:07:31.28
they're over in Uganda
doing evangelistic meetings
00:07:31.28\00:07:35.12
and they appreciate our prayers.
00:07:35.12\00:07:36.89
I know from time to time,
00:07:36.89\00:07:38.25
he is able to post
different pictures on Facebook
00:07:38.25\00:07:40.46
of some of the things
that are taking place.
00:07:40.46\00:07:42.82
One of the challenges they face
00:07:42.82\00:07:44.29
is that this is rainy
season there in Uganda
00:07:44.29\00:07:47.86
and they're meeting
in a big outdoor stadium.
00:07:47.86\00:07:50.17
So they are praying that
the Lord will hold off the rain,
00:07:50.17\00:07:52.33
they've been
getting rain during the day,
00:07:52.33\00:07:54.24
but so far so
good in the evenings,
00:07:54.24\00:07:56.30
and they'll be
finishing up their meeting this,
00:07:56.30\00:07:58.44
actually today, this evening
00:07:58.44\00:08:00.41
will be their
final presentation.
00:08:00.41\00:08:01.88
They might even be watching.
00:08:01.88\00:08:02.94
So if you are
Pastor Doug and Karen,
00:08:02.94\00:08:04.55
welcome to
Sabbath School Study Hour.
00:08:04.55\00:08:07.98
Well, as mentioned
before we're studying through
00:08:07.98\00:08:10.15
lesson number 7
00:08:10.15\00:08:11.59
which is entitled
Matthew 24 and Matthew 25.
00:08:11.59\00:08:16.76
It's a big passage of scripture
00:08:16.76\00:08:18.93
that we need to
cover in the lesson.
00:08:18.93\00:08:20.53
So we're probably not going
to be able to cover everything,
00:08:20.53\00:08:23.43
maybe highlight some
of the important themes
00:08:23.43\00:08:26.47
that we find in
these two chapters.
00:08:26.47\00:08:28.70
And we do have a memory text
00:08:28.70\00:08:30.54
that goes along
with our study for today.
00:08:30.54\00:08:33.01
If you have your
lesson quarterly,
00:08:33.01\00:08:34.28
you can turn to it
00:08:34.28\00:08:35.38
or open your
Bibles to Matthew 24
00:08:35.38\00:08:38.88
and we'll be reading verse
24, that is our memory verse.
00:08:38.88\00:08:41.78
We're going to
spend quite a bit of time
00:08:41.78\00:08:43.02
in Matthew 24
00:08:43.02\00:08:44.49
and then a little bit
of time in Matthew 25.
00:08:44.49\00:08:48.72
So our memory
text is Matthew 24:24
00:08:48.72\00:08:51.63
and it says, the words of Jesus,
00:08:51.63\00:08:53.13
"For false
christs and false prophets
00:08:53.13\00:08:56.20
will rise and show great
signs and wonders to deceive,
00:08:56.20\00:09:00.14
if possible," who?
00:09:00.14\00:09:02.00
"Even the very elect."
00:09:02.00\00:09:04.34
Now if you stop
and think about that,
00:09:04.34\00:09:06.44
who were the ones that the devil
00:09:06.44\00:09:07.71
really wants to deceive,
00:09:07.71\00:09:09.54
those in the world
or those in the church?
00:09:09.54\00:09:13.25
It's really those in the church.
00:09:13.25\00:09:14.62
Those whose names are written
in the Lamb's Book of Life,
00:09:14.62\00:09:16.69
that's the one that he's going
after in particular, right?
00:09:16.69\00:09:19.75
He's got the world,
00:09:19.75\00:09:21.32
but it's those who are
the followers of Christ.
00:09:21.32\00:09:23.56
And that's why Jesus said
00:09:23.56\00:09:25.46
that these false christs
and false prophets would appear
00:09:25.46\00:09:28.83
because they're
really targeting believers,
00:09:28.83\00:09:31.00
and Jesus warned His
disciples in the last days,
00:09:31.00\00:09:33.77
don't be deceived.
00:09:33.77\00:09:36.07
On Sabbath afternoon
00:09:36.07\00:09:37.14
in our little
opening introduction there,
00:09:37.14\00:09:40.24
we have the following statement,
00:09:40.24\00:09:41.41
it says in Matthew 24 and 25,
00:09:41.41\00:09:43.68
Jesus reveals important
truths about the end times
00:09:43.68\00:09:47.45
and about how to prepare.
00:09:47.45\00:09:49.72
Matthew 24 gives us some signs
00:09:49.72\00:09:52.35
with reference to the end times.
00:09:52.35\00:09:54.09
Matthew 25 in particular,
00:09:54.09\00:09:56.29
it tells us how we can be
prepared for the end times.
00:09:56.29\00:09:59.46
We're going to
get to that as well.
00:09:59.46\00:10:00.86
In a sense these chapters
00:10:00.86\00:10:02.16
were Christ's
teaching on last day events.
00:10:02.16\00:10:05.77
And so that's why
we're going to take some time
00:10:05.77\00:10:07.07
to take a look at it.
00:10:07.07\00:10:08.10
It's all part of
our general theme
00:10:08.10\00:10:09.97
talking about
preparation for the last days.
00:10:09.97\00:10:12.74
Sunday, the title
of Sunday's lesson
00:10:12.74\00:10:14.78
is a powerful
confirmation of prophecy,
00:10:14.78\00:10:18.28
and so if you have your Bibles,
00:10:18.28\00:10:19.61
let's look at Matthew 24.
00:10:19.61\00:10:23.02
And we're going to
start reading here in verse 1.
00:10:23.02\00:10:25.59
We'll read a few verses,
00:10:25.59\00:10:26.69
stop and I'll share few thoughts
00:10:26.69\00:10:28.76
and then we'll
keep reading through.
00:10:28.76\00:10:31.39
Matthew 24
beginning verse 1 says,
00:10:31.39\00:10:33.63
"Then Jesus went out and
departed from the temple,
00:10:33.63\00:10:37.07
and His disciples came up
00:10:37.07\00:10:38.47
to show Him the
buildings of the temple."
00:10:38.47\00:10:41.50
Now historians believe
that the events described here
00:10:41.50\00:10:44.41
in Matthew 24:1
00:10:44.41\00:10:46.24
where Jesus left the
temple for the last time
00:10:46.24\00:10:49.54
was most likely Tuesday evening
00:10:49.54\00:10:52.35
of the week of His
betrayal and crucifixion.
00:10:52.35\00:10:55.22
Do you remember they were
two cleansings of the temple
00:10:55.22\00:10:57.85
that Jesus performed.
00:10:57.85\00:10:58.95
The first occurred
00:10:58.95\00:11:00.09
at the beginning of
His public ministry.
00:11:00.09\00:11:02.72
And when Jesus cleansed
the temple for the first time,
00:11:02.72\00:11:05.16
He said, "My
Father's house shall be called
00:11:05.16\00:11:07.76
a house of prayer."
00:11:07.76\00:11:09.06
It's interesting that
when He cleansed the temple,
00:11:09.06\00:11:11.43
the last time at the end
of His three and a half years
00:11:11.43\00:11:14.34
of public ministry referred
to the temple as His house,
00:11:14.34\00:11:17.47
said, "My house shall be
called a house of prayer."
00:11:17.47\00:11:20.18
But because of the
refusal of the religious leaders
00:11:20.18\00:11:22.94
to recognize
Jesus and His mission,
00:11:22.94\00:11:24.88
finally when He left the temple,
00:11:24.88\00:11:27.08
He said, "Your house
is left to you desolate."
00:11:27.08\00:11:30.59
So these are some of the
things that have just happened,
00:11:30.59\00:11:32.75
Jesus had a most passionate
appeal to the religious leaders
00:11:32.75\00:11:36.76
and the Jewish
people to accept Him,
00:11:36.76\00:11:38.66
they rejected Him
00:11:38.66\00:11:39.69
and Jesus now left the
temple for the last time.
00:11:39.69\00:11:43.43
And it says, the
disciples came to Him
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.27
probably as they are
walking out of the temple
00:11:45.27\00:11:47.27
and they pointed out
the magnificent buildings,
00:11:47.27\00:11:49.70
not only of the temple itself
00:11:49.70\00:11:51.01
but surrounding the
temple and the court.
00:11:51.01\00:11:53.21
Jesus said to them, "Do
you not see all these things?
00:11:53.21\00:11:56.98
Assuredly, I say unto you,
00:11:56.98\00:11:58.95
not one stone shall
be left upon another,
00:11:58.95\00:12:02.52
that shall not be thrown down."
00:12:02.52\00:12:05.69
Now the temple courts
00:12:05.69\00:12:07.12
were still under
construction to some degree.
00:12:07.12\00:12:09.76
There was a major renovation
00:12:09.76\00:12:11.13
that was taking place
during the time of Jesus.
00:12:11.13\00:12:13.83
They were expanding
the various buildings
00:12:13.83\00:12:16.56
associated with the
court there at the temple.
00:12:16.56\00:12:19.37
The temple
itself, Josephus says,
00:12:19.37\00:12:21.07
had white marble on the outside,
00:12:21.07\00:12:22.74
it was a beautiful building,
00:12:22.74\00:12:24.17
even Herod had
spent quite a bit of money
00:12:24.17\00:12:25.94
to expand the temple court area.
00:12:25.94\00:12:28.51
This expansion
continued for about 60 years
00:12:28.51\00:12:31.18
or actually 50
years was the expansion
00:12:31.18\00:12:33.45
and construction
period for the temple.
00:12:33.45\00:12:36.48
And it was finally
finished in 63 A.D.
00:12:36.48\00:12:42.32
What happened in 70 A.D?
00:12:42.32\00:12:44.66
Just 7 years
before the destruction
00:12:44.66\00:12:46.66
of the temple and Jerusalem,
00:12:46.66\00:12:48.50
the final expansion
of the courtyard area
00:12:48.50\00:12:50.97
of the temple was
actually completed.
00:12:50.97\00:12:53.23
What a terrible waste,
00:12:53.23\00:12:54.40
because they didn't
recognize their Jesus
00:12:54.40\00:12:56.60
that had come to
them, Messiah to save them.
00:12:56.60\00:12:59.61
So Jesus' disciples
now leave the temple,
00:12:59.61\00:13:01.91
and they make their way
through the Kidron Valley,
00:13:01.91\00:13:04.11
and then they begin
to zigzag their way up
00:13:04.11\00:13:06.72
on the Mount of Olives.
00:13:06.72\00:13:08.82
Verse 3 says, "And when he
sat on the Mount of Olives,
00:13:08.82\00:13:11.35
His disciples came
to Him privately saying,
00:13:11.35\00:13:13.76
"Tell us when
shall these things be?
00:13:13.76\00:13:16.89
And what shall be
the sign of Your coming,
00:13:16.89\00:13:19.09
and of the end of the age?"
00:13:19.09\00:13:20.70
Now there are two questions
that the disciples asked Jesus,
00:13:20.70\00:13:23.37
"When shall these things be?"
00:13:23.37\00:13:25.43
Now, what were
they thinking about
00:13:25.43\00:13:26.77
when they asked the question?
00:13:26.77\00:13:28.44
They had been
pondering the statement of Jesus
00:13:28.44\00:13:31.37
all the way
through the Kidron Valley
00:13:31.37\00:13:32.81
and up to the Mount of Olives
00:13:32.81\00:13:34.18
when Jesus said,
"I tell you the truth,
00:13:34.18\00:13:35.54
not one of these stones
will be left upon another
00:13:35.54\00:13:37.98
that won't be thrown down."
00:13:37.98\00:13:39.71
The disciples
thought that for sure
00:13:39.71\00:13:41.25
the destruction of Jerusalem
must also be the end of the age
00:13:41.25\00:13:45.19
or the end of the world.
00:13:45.19\00:13:47.02
And so when they
asked the question,
00:13:47.02\00:13:48.36
when shall these things be,
00:13:48.36\00:13:49.86
what are the
signs of Your coming.
00:13:49.86\00:13:51.83
Jesus then begins to
answer both questions,
00:13:51.83\00:13:55.03
signs relating to the
destruction of Jerusalem
00:13:55.03\00:13:57.20
which occurred in 70 A.D,
00:13:57.20\00:13:58.80
as well as signs connected
with the Second Coming.
00:13:58.80\00:14:02.34
Now, according to Mark 13,
00:14:02.34\00:14:05.31
the disciples who
came to Jesus privately
00:14:05.31\00:14:07.68
when He was seated
there on the Mount of Olives
00:14:07.68\00:14:09.41
were actually Peter,
James, John, and Andrew.
00:14:09.41\00:14:12.21
They were the ones
that came to Jesus and said,
00:14:12.21\00:14:14.12
"Tell us when
shall these things be?
00:14:14.12\00:14:16.52
And what are the
signs of Your coming
00:14:16.52\00:14:18.49
when all these
things shall be fulfilled."
00:14:18.49\00:14:21.29
In the book
Desire of Ages, page 628,
00:14:21.29\00:14:24.26
we have a very
interesting comment
00:14:24.26\00:14:26.96
on how Jesus
responded to the question
00:14:26.96\00:14:29.70
asked by the disciples.
00:14:29.70\00:14:31.53
It says, "Jesus did
not answer the disciples
00:14:31.53\00:14:33.54
by taking up separately
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:14:33.54\00:14:36.20
and the great day of His coming.
00:14:36.20\00:14:37.91
He mingled the
description of these two events.
00:14:37.91\00:14:40.74
Had He opened to His
disciples future events
00:14:40.74\00:14:43.24
as He beheld them,
00:14:43.24\00:14:45.75
they would have been
unable to endure the sight.
00:14:45.75\00:14:48.72
In mercy to them He blended
00:14:48.72\00:14:50.82
the description of
the two great crises,
00:14:50.82\00:14:53.76
leaving the
disciples to study out
00:14:53.76\00:14:55.69
the meaning for themselves."
00:14:55.69\00:14:58.29
So in Matthew 24,
00:14:58.29\00:14:59.93
Jesus mingled signs connected
00:14:59.93\00:15:02.16
with the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:15:02.16\00:15:04.33
as well as signs connected
with the Second Coming.
00:15:04.33\00:15:06.94
Now, some of the signs are clear
00:15:06.94\00:15:08.77
with reference to
referencing Jerusalem
00:15:08.77\00:15:12.07
or referencing
the Second Coming,
00:15:12.07\00:15:14.21
but there are
some other signs given
00:15:14.21\00:15:16.04
that some are described
as having a dual application.
00:15:16.04\00:15:19.68
It had a historical application
00:15:19.68\00:15:21.48
for those in Jerusalem, 70 A.D.,
00:15:21.48\00:15:23.65
but it also has
an application for us
00:15:23.65\00:15:25.52
who are living
near the end of time.
00:15:25.52\00:15:27.52
And we gonna be
taking a look a little later
00:15:27.52\00:15:29.19
in our study at one of
those dual application verses
00:15:29.19\00:15:32.63
that we find in Matthew 25.
00:15:32.63\00:15:36.23
All right, well, let's begin
then with what Jesus has to say
00:15:36.23\00:15:39.63
about these signs
starting in verse 4,
00:15:39.63\00:15:42.77
"And Jesus
answered and said to them:
00:15:42.77\00:15:44.31
"Take heed that
no one deceives you.
00:15:44.31\00:15:47.04
For many will come in My
name, saying, 'I am Christ,'
00:15:47.04\00:15:50.01
and will deceive many."
00:15:50.01\00:15:51.28
Who are the ones in particular
00:15:51.28\00:15:52.45
that the devil is
trying to deceive?
00:15:52.45\00:15:54.88
The followers of Christ, right?
00:15:54.88\00:15:56.52
Those whose names are written
in the Lamb's Book of Life.
00:15:56.52\00:15:58.95
How's he going to do it?
00:15:58.95\00:16:00.36
Well, it says, "He's gonna
have people coming in his name."
00:16:00.36\00:16:03.66
So there will be those
claiming to be Christians,
00:16:03.66\00:16:06.73
their goal is to deceive,
00:16:06.73\00:16:09.13
and they are
going to try and deceive
00:16:09.13\00:16:10.70
as many as possible,
00:16:10.70\00:16:12.17
especially of those who
are the followers of Christ.
00:16:12.17\00:16:15.14
So Jesus warns us of this.
00:16:15.14\00:16:17.01
I want to have somebody read
00:16:17.01\00:16:18.07
Matthew 24, 25 in just a minute.
00:16:18.07\00:16:22.31
We actually find this warning
three times in Matthew 24
00:16:22.31\00:16:26.41
where Jesus says,
"Do not be deceived.
00:16:26.41\00:16:28.28
Do not be deceived."
00:16:28.28\00:16:29.42
You have the
one here in verse 4,
00:16:29.42\00:16:31.52
you also have it
repeated in verse 11,
00:16:31.52\00:16:34.26
when Jesus said,
"Then many false prophets
00:16:34.26\00:16:37.39
will rise up, and deceive many."
00:16:37.39\00:16:40.53
Second time Jesus said,
"Watch out for false prophets,
00:16:40.53\00:16:43.93
false teachers,
00:16:43.93\00:16:45.43
they are going
to try and deceive."
00:16:45.43\00:16:46.90
And then the third
reference is Matthew 24, 25,
00:16:46.90\00:16:50.67
and if you can read that for us.
00:16:50.67\00:16:52.67
"For false christs and
false prophets will rise
00:16:52.67\00:16:56.54
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:16:56.54\00:16:59.45
if possible, even the elect.
00:16:59.45\00:17:02.45
See, I have
told you beforehand."
00:17:02.45\00:17:05.45
Now I think verse
25 is very interesting.
00:17:05.45\00:17:08.49
Jesus basically says
the same thing in verse 24
00:17:08.49\00:17:11.56
about watch out for
false christs, false prophets,
00:17:11.56\00:17:14.03
they're out to deceive.
00:17:14.03\00:17:15.50
But then He adds in verse 25,
"See, I have told you before,
00:17:15.50\00:17:20.57
don't be deceived,
00:17:20.57\00:17:22.10
be on your
guard, watch, be ready,
00:17:22.10\00:17:24.57
stay faithful to
the Word of God."
00:17:24.57\00:17:28.14
Now, of course, the
most compelling deception
00:17:28.14\00:17:30.45
is a deception that
looks very much like the truth.
00:17:30.45\00:17:34.55
And a false prophet,
if he is to be compelling
00:17:34.55\00:17:37.52
needs to look pretty
close to the real prophet.
00:17:37.52\00:17:40.76
Are you with me?
00:17:40.76\00:17:42.52
Needs to look
close to the real teacher
00:17:42.52\00:17:44.79
or the real Christian leader
00:17:44.79\00:17:47.96
if there is to be deception.
00:17:47.96\00:17:49.66
So Jesus says, "Watch out,
00:17:49.66\00:17:51.73
test everything
by the Word of God,
00:17:51.73\00:17:54.17
don't be
deceived in the last day.
00:17:54.17\00:17:56.54
See I have told you
beforehand," and Jesus said.
00:17:56.54\00:18:00.08
And then looking up
verse 6, Jesus said,
00:18:00.08\00:18:03.21
"And you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars.
00:18:03.21\00:18:06.98
See that you be not troubled,
00:18:06.98\00:18:08.25
for all these
things must come to pass,
00:18:08.25\00:18:11.42
but the end is not yet."
00:18:11.42\00:18:14.06
And, of course, in
the last 100 years,
00:18:14.06\00:18:17.03
our world has seen more war
00:18:17.03\00:18:19.86
than probably any other period
of time in earth's history.
00:18:19.86\00:18:24.03
The combined death toll of
World War I and World War II
00:18:24.03\00:18:28.27
is estimated at,
00:18:28.27\00:18:30.27
it's amazing
number, 160 million people.
00:18:30.27\00:18:34.61
And that spanned a period
of 25-30 years at the most.
00:18:34.61\00:18:39.15
Of course, the
wars were not that long,
00:18:39.15\00:18:40.72
but between World
War I and World War II,
00:18:40.72\00:18:42.88
a 160 million people died.
00:18:42.88\00:18:45.79
It's also
estimated that only 80%...
00:18:45.79\00:18:50.89
No, the other way around,
00:18:50.89\00:18:52.46
only 20% of the males born
in the Soviet Union in 1923
00:18:52.46\00:18:59.43
survived the war.
00:18:59.43\00:19:01.67
So that means 80% of the man
00:19:01.67\00:19:04.41
who from the Soviet Union
were born in 1923, why 1923?
00:19:04.41\00:19:08.94
Well, of course
they would be 18, 19, 20,
00:19:08.94\00:19:11.51
when the war broke out,
00:19:11.51\00:19:13.18
only 20% of them
actually survived the war.
00:19:13.18\00:19:15.52
So the death toll
is just staggering
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.52
when you think of that.
00:19:17.52\00:19:19.05
Well, after World
War I and World War II,
00:19:19.05\00:19:22.19
we had the
introduction of nuclear weapons.
00:19:22.19\00:19:24.89
And since then,
there's always been
00:19:24.89\00:19:26.70
that threat of
nuclear war, right?
00:19:26.70\00:19:29.03
Rumors of war
between the Soviet Union
00:19:29.03\00:19:32.03
and, of course,
the Western powers.
00:19:32.03\00:19:34.67
And even recently
in the news again,
00:19:34.67\00:19:36.71
there is discussion of
a possible nuclear war,
00:19:36.71\00:19:39.91
at least what can be done
00:19:39.91\00:19:41.04
to try and ease tensions
with referencing a nuclear war.
00:19:41.04\00:19:44.61
So these words of Jesus have
definitely proven to be true
00:19:44.61\00:19:48.42
as it relates to our time.
00:19:48.42\00:19:49.82
All right, looking at
verse 7, Matthew 24:7, it says,
00:19:49.82\00:19:54.52
"For nation will
rise against nation,
00:19:54.52\00:19:56.59
kingdom against kingdom.
00:19:56.59\00:19:57.83
There will be famines,
pestilences, and earthquakes."
00:19:57.83\00:20:01.73
I don't have to tell
you about all of the famines
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.70
that we hear about,
especially back in the '80s,
00:20:03.70\00:20:06.43
terrible
famines in North Africa,
00:20:06.43\00:20:09.04
famines in the
former Soviet Union, China,
00:20:09.04\00:20:12.57
and different places
around the world over the years.
00:20:12.57\00:20:15.48
A pestilence, we had the
Ebola outbreak a year or so ago,
00:20:15.48\00:20:19.25
and different
diseases that seem to come,
00:20:19.25\00:20:22.32
these are all prophetic signs.
00:20:22.32\00:20:24.19
And then Jesus says,
00:20:24.19\00:20:25.22
"There would be
earthquakes in various places."
00:20:25.22\00:20:27.69
You know, there's a
few places that you can,
00:20:27.69\00:20:30.33
rather a few events I should say
00:20:30.33\00:20:32.43
that when you heard the news,
00:20:32.43\00:20:34.93
you knew exactly where you were
00:20:34.93\00:20:36.60
when you heard the news
and what you were doing.
00:20:36.60\00:20:39.13
How many of you know
exactly where you were
00:20:39.13\00:20:41.54
and what you were doing
when you heard about 9/11?
00:20:41.54\00:20:44.71
I remember exactly where
I was, in the church office
00:20:44.71\00:20:47.28
and I got a phone call,
00:20:47.28\00:20:48.34
my wife said, "You
got to turn on the news,
00:20:48.34\00:20:50.18
something just happened."
00:20:50.18\00:20:51.78
I also remember back in 2004,
00:20:51.78\00:20:56.35
driving up to my
parent's house for Christmas,
00:20:56.35\00:20:58.79
I think it was
the 24th or 25th, 26th
00:20:58.79\00:21:02.59
somewhere in there.
00:21:02.59\00:21:04.69
We were driving
up to their house
00:21:04.69\00:21:06.63
and it was at night,
the family was sleeping,
00:21:06.63\00:21:09.53
and I was driving
listening to the BBC news,
00:21:09.53\00:21:13.00
somewhere there
in Iowa on our way,
00:21:13.00\00:21:14.57
and I heard a news
report of an earthquake
00:21:14.57\00:21:18.34
that had just struck
off the coast of Indonesia
00:21:18.34\00:21:20.98
off the Island of Sumatra.
00:21:20.98\00:21:23.38
And at first they said,
"This is a very big earthquake
00:21:23.38\00:21:26.82
and there is a
threat of a tsunami."
00:21:26.82\00:21:30.49
And then they kept
going over with other news,
00:21:30.49\00:21:32.15
and then suddenly
they broke in again
00:21:32.15\00:21:33.42
and they said,
"There is a massive wave
00:21:33.42\00:21:36.19
that is making its way not only
00:21:36.19\00:21:38.03
towards the shore in Indonesia,
00:21:38.03\00:21:40.16
but a number of
countries in the Indian Ocean."
00:21:40.16\00:21:43.53
Well, you all know
the rest of the story
00:21:43.53\00:21:45.63
as a result of that earthquake.
00:21:45.63\00:21:48.10
It is estimated that
more than 227,800 people died
00:21:48.10\00:21:55.51
as a result of that
earthquake and that tsunami.
00:21:55.51\00:21:58.41
You probably also
heard stories about
00:21:58.41\00:21:59.75
as the water pulled
back from the shore,
00:21:59.75\00:22:02.45
and it exposed some of the rock,
00:22:02.45\00:22:04.39
and some of the shells,
00:22:04.39\00:22:05.69
and people were
curious about this.
00:22:05.69\00:22:07.79
And there were many
that actually went down
00:22:07.79\00:22:10.19
to look to see
what was going on,
00:22:10.19\00:22:12.86
the next thing they
knew this giant wave of water
00:22:12.86\00:22:15.10
was coming
straight towards them,
00:22:15.10\00:22:17.03
just a terrible death toll
as a result of that earthquake.
00:22:17.03\00:22:20.07
And then it seems
from then onwards,
00:22:20.07\00:22:21.77
we've had plenty
more earthquakes.
00:22:21.77\00:22:24.54
Yeah, I'm sure you
remember the terrible earthquake
00:22:24.54\00:22:26.64
that hit Haiti, 2010,
00:22:26.64\00:22:29.31
an estimated 2 to
250,000 people died
00:22:29.31\00:22:33.75
from that earthquake.
00:22:33.75\00:22:35.05
And then also Japan in 2011,
00:22:35.05\00:22:37.15
you remember that
terrible earthquake,
00:22:37.15\00:22:38.52
again a tsunami about
20,000 people lost their lives
00:22:38.52\00:22:42.42
as a result of
these earthquakes.
00:22:42.42\00:22:44.06
Jesus said, "There would be
an increase in earthquakes."
00:22:44.06\00:22:47.66
These are all signs that we
are nearing the end of time.
00:22:47.66\00:22:51.70
Verse 9, "Then
they will deliver you
00:22:51.70\00:22:54.80
up to tribulation and kill you,
00:22:54.80\00:22:57.07
and you will be hated by
all nations for My name's sake.
00:22:57.07\00:23:01.38
And then many will be offended,
and will betray one another,
00:23:01.38\00:23:04.31
and they will hate one another."
00:23:04.31\00:23:06.68
So Jesus says, "There's
going to be a time of trouble,
00:23:06.68\00:23:08.95
time of tribulation."
00:23:08.95\00:23:10.52
Now, there are
two times of trouble
00:23:10.52\00:23:12.79
or two tribulations
that we find in scripture.
00:23:12.79\00:23:15.96
The one
tribulation is a reference
00:23:15.96\00:23:17.79
to the 1260 years
of papal supremacy,
00:23:17.79\00:23:21.03
when those who wanted to follow
00:23:21.03\00:23:22.36
the teachings of the Bible
faced persecution in Europe
00:23:22.36\00:23:25.70
because they refused to
acknowledge papal supremacy.
00:23:25.70\00:23:29.44
And that's referred
to as a time of trouble.
00:23:29.44\00:23:32.01
But in addition to that,
00:23:32.01\00:23:33.31
right at the time
of the Christian era
00:23:33.31\00:23:35.08
when it began, Christians
faced opposition at first
00:23:35.08\00:23:38.41
from the Jewish
religious establishment.
00:23:38.41\00:23:41.55
You remember the story of Saul
00:23:41.55\00:23:43.02
before he was converted to Paul,
00:23:43.02\00:23:44.85
how he went out
persecuting the Christians.
00:23:44.85\00:23:47.76
And then after 70 A.D.,
00:23:47.76\00:23:49.36
the Christians again
faced terrible persecution
00:23:49.36\00:23:51.79
from pagan Rome,
Nero, and Diocletian,
00:23:51.79\00:23:55.53
there was a terrible 10-year
period of severe persecution
00:23:55.53\00:23:58.60
against the Christians
by Diocletian from 303-313,
00:23:58.60\00:24:03.10
until finally
Christianity was legalized.
00:24:03.10\00:24:05.94
But then we go into the
1260 years of persecution
00:24:05.94\00:24:10.91
from 538 through till 1798.
00:24:10.91\00:24:14.45
And that time period,
you'll find in Revelation 12:6,
00:24:14.45\00:24:18.42
it's also referenced
several times, Revelation 12:6.
00:24:18.42\00:24:21.79
And you'll also
find it in Daniel,
00:24:21.79\00:24:23.79
talks about the
little horn power.
00:24:23.79\00:24:25.66
So that's that 1260 years
00:24:25.66\00:24:28.26
of severe
tribulation of persecution,
00:24:28.26\00:24:30.87
but there is
another time of trouble,
00:24:30.87\00:24:33.23
we're going to look at
that in just a few moments,
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.84
just before Jesus comes.
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.61
And then it says in verse 11,
00:24:37.61\00:24:40.21
"Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many."
00:24:40.21\00:24:44.41
How successful will be
the devil's deceptions?
00:24:44.41\00:24:47.55
Very successful.
00:24:47.55\00:24:49.68
He's going to be
able to deceive how many?
00:24:49.68\00:24:51.82
Many. And who are the
ones that he's going after?
00:24:51.82\00:24:55.26
The elect.
00:24:55.26\00:24:56.93
So is he successful in
deceiving some of the elect?
00:24:56.93\00:25:00.43
According to this verse, yes.
00:25:00.43\00:25:02.50
So we need to be on our guard.
00:25:02.50\00:25:04.10
We need to test all
things by the Word of God.
00:25:04.10\00:25:07.07
Verse 12 says,
"Because lawlessness abounds,
00:25:07.07\00:25:09.97
the love of
many will grow cold."
00:25:09.97\00:25:12.97
And it says lawlessness
00:25:12.97\00:25:14.08
that is setting aside of
God's Ten Commandment law.
00:25:14.08\00:25:17.35
The Ten Commandments are divided
00:25:17.35\00:25:18.45
into two many parts,
00:25:18.45\00:25:19.71
there are two tables of stone.
00:25:19.71\00:25:21.52
How many commandments
written on the first table?
00:25:21.52\00:25:24.59
There are four.
00:25:24.59\00:25:25.65
And what are the
first four commandments
00:25:25.65\00:25:27.12
have to do with?
00:25:27.12\00:25:29.02
Our relationship to God, right.
00:25:29.02\00:25:30.73
Have no other gods before Him.
00:25:30.73\00:25:32.06
Don't worship idols.
00:25:32.06\00:25:33.16
Don't take His name in vain.
00:25:33.16\00:25:34.46
Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy.
00:25:34.46\00:25:36.90
The last six of
the Ten Commandments
00:25:36.90\00:25:39.20
have to do with our
relationship to our fellow man.
00:25:39.20\00:25:42.60
And whenever a country
00:25:42.60\00:25:45.01
or a civil power
sets aside the principles
00:25:45.01\00:25:49.08
of those last six commandments,
00:25:49.08\00:25:52.41
you have
lawlessness in that country.
00:25:52.41\00:25:55.58
You see the Bible
tells us in that last six,
00:25:55.58\00:25:57.75
we need to protect
the elderly parents,
00:25:57.75\00:26:01.69
do not murder, do
not commit adultery,
00:26:01.69\00:26:04.06
don't steal, don't be a
false witness, don't covet.
00:26:04.06\00:26:07.93
Civil authorities
have responsibility
00:26:07.93\00:26:09.63
to protect people
00:26:09.63\00:26:10.83
and the principles of those
last six need to be enforced.
00:26:10.83\00:26:14.47
However, the
first four commandments
00:26:14.47\00:26:16.10
cannot be enforced
00:26:16.10\00:26:17.47
because God does not
accept worship that is false,
00:26:17.47\00:26:21.18
that has to be freely given.
00:26:21.18\00:26:22.64
So in the last days
according to this passage,
00:26:22.64\00:26:25.75
those principles,
00:26:25.75\00:26:27.18
especially the last
six of the Ten Commandments
00:26:27.18\00:26:29.38
are being set aside
00:26:29.38\00:26:31.52
and there will be lawlessness,
00:26:31.52\00:26:32.99
it will abound the Bible says.
00:26:32.99\00:26:34.99
But then verse 13
is an important one.
00:26:34.99\00:26:37.33
And we're going
to have somebody read
00:26:37.33\00:26:38.63
Revelation 14:12
in just a minute.
00:26:38.63\00:26:41.10
So if you want to get
ready for that, verse 13 says,
00:26:41.10\00:26:44.30
"But he that endures to the end,
00:26:44.30\00:26:47.07
the same shall be saved."
00:26:47.07\00:26:49.34
To be a
Christian in the last days
00:26:49.34\00:26:50.81
requires a high
degree of endurance.
00:26:50.81\00:26:55.18
The devil is going
around like a roaring lion
00:26:55.18\00:26:57.31
seeking whom he may devour,
00:26:57.31\00:26:59.28
and we want to be able
to endure, to stand fast.
00:26:59.28\00:27:02.52
What does it take to
endure in the last days?
00:27:02.52\00:27:04.45
Revelation 14:12
describes a group of people
00:27:04.45\00:27:07.92
in the last days
that are able to endure.
00:27:07.92\00:27:10.63
And here's the
description given.
00:27:10.63\00:27:12.56
Revelation 14:12.
00:27:12.56\00:27:15.70
"Here is the
patience of the saints:
00:27:15.70\00:27:17.73
here are those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:27:17.73\00:27:19.90
and the faith of Jesus."
00:27:19.90\00:27:21.64
The word there patience
00:27:21.64\00:27:22.70
can also be
translated as endurance.
00:27:22.70\00:27:25.27
Here is the endurance of
the patience of the saints,
00:27:25.27\00:27:27.74
here are those who keep
the commandments of God.
00:27:27.74\00:27:30.55
And what's the other
characteristic that's given?
00:27:30.55\00:27:33.82
They have the faith of Jesus.
00:27:33.82\00:27:36.95
Now you'll find a similar
description in Revelation 12:17
00:27:36.95\00:27:40.82
of the remnant that
keep God's commandments
00:27:40.82\00:27:42.52
and they have the
testimony of Jesus.
00:27:42.52\00:27:44.73
But here specifically it says,
they have the faith of Jesus.
00:27:44.73\00:27:48.50
Do you think
there's a difference between
00:27:48.50\00:27:49.73
having faith in Jesus and
having the faith of Jesus?
00:27:49.73\00:27:54.74
What does it mean
to have faith in Jesus?
00:27:54.74\00:27:56.81
What do you have to
do to have your name
00:27:56.81\00:27:58.77
written in the
Lamb's Book of Life?
00:27:58.77\00:28:01.04
Well, you need to accept
Jesus as your personal savior,
00:28:01.04\00:28:03.58
to confess your sins, you
make Him Lord of your life,
00:28:03.58\00:28:06.45
you have faith in Jesus,
00:28:06.45\00:28:08.72
your name is
written in the Book of Life,
00:28:08.72\00:28:10.15
you are forgiven.
00:28:10.15\00:28:11.52
But what is
needed in the last days
00:28:11.52\00:28:13.72
when we're facing all types
00:28:13.72\00:28:15.19
of trials and
tribulations, even persecution?
00:28:15.19\00:28:18.96
What kind of faith
is needed then as well?
00:28:18.96\00:28:21.76
The faith of Jesus.
00:28:21.76\00:28:23.87
And the faith of Jesus probably
00:28:23.87\00:28:25.53
can best be
described in Christ's prayer
00:28:25.53\00:28:27.84
in the Garden of Gethsemane,
00:28:27.84\00:28:29.60
just before Jesus
was to be arrested,
00:28:29.60\00:28:31.71
and tortured, and crucified.
00:28:31.71\00:28:34.51
Jesus prayed and He said,
"Father if it is possible,
00:28:34.51\00:28:36.95
let this cup pass from Me..."
00:28:36.95\00:28:39.31
And then what did He say?
00:28:39.31\00:28:41.22
"Nevertheless not My
will, but Thy will be done."
00:28:41.22\00:28:47.12
The faith of Jesus is a full
surrender to the will of God.
00:28:47.12\00:28:51.43
It's not my will,
00:28:51.43\00:28:52.73
but it's Lord whatever
Your will is for my life.
00:28:52.73\00:28:55.90
That's what I want,
a surrender of self,
00:28:55.90\00:28:59.07
that is the faith of Jesus.
00:28:59.07\00:29:01.10
In order to endure at the end,
00:29:01.10\00:29:03.24
God's people will have
that same kind of faith
00:29:03.24\00:29:05.97
that surrendered
to the will of God,
00:29:05.97\00:29:07.98
whatever that might be.
00:29:07.98\00:29:09.61
And then verse 14, it says,
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:29:09.61\00:29:13.31
shall be
preached in all the world
00:29:13.31\00:29:15.82
as a witness unto all nations,
00:29:15.82\00:29:18.32
and then the end will come."
00:29:18.32\00:29:21.32
Now, there's a parallel verse
to this in Revelation 14:6,
00:29:21.32\00:29:25.93
which is
actually the fulfillment
00:29:25.93\00:29:27.50
I believe of Matthew 24:14.
00:29:27.50\00:29:30.73
So we're going to read that,
00:29:30.73\00:29:32.20
I think we're
familiar with this verse
00:29:32.20\00:29:33.84
Revelation 14:6.
00:29:33.84\00:29:36.37
Revelation 14:6,
00:29:36.37\00:29:38.07
"Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:29:38.07\00:29:41.74
having the everlasting gospel
00:29:41.74\00:29:43.41
to preach to those
who dwell on the earth,
00:29:43.41\00:29:46.01
to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people."
00:29:46.01\00:29:50.75
Here we see an angel
fly in the midst of heaven
00:29:50.75\00:29:52.65
and what does he have?
00:29:52.65\00:29:54.32
The everlasting gospel
00:29:54.32\00:29:56.12
that is to be
preached to everyone,
00:29:56.12\00:29:58.19
to every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people.
00:29:58.19\00:30:00.63
And we know that there
are three important emphasis
00:30:00.63\00:30:03.70
of this everlasting gospel.
00:30:03.70\00:30:05.70
Fear God, give Him glory,
00:30:05.70\00:30:07.24
the hour of His
judgment has come,
00:30:07.24\00:30:08.60
worship Him that made
the heavens, the earth,
00:30:08.60\00:30:10.01
the sea and the
fountains of water.
00:30:10.01\00:30:11.84
It talks about Babylon
being fallen, being fallen.
00:30:11.84\00:30:14.48
It talks about the
beast and its mark.
00:30:14.48\00:30:15.98
It talks about false worship.
00:30:15.98\00:30:17.81
And then immediately
00:30:17.81\00:30:18.98
following the proclamation
of the Three Angels' Messages,
00:30:18.98\00:30:21.25
the very next thing that
John sees in Revelation 14
00:30:21.25\00:30:24.39
is Jesus coming on a cloud,
00:30:24.39\00:30:26.42
and He has a sharp
sickle in His hand,
00:30:26.42\00:30:29.12
and He's coming to reap
the harvest of the earth.
00:30:29.12\00:30:32.73
Now the harvest of the earth
is the Second Coming of Christ.
00:30:32.73\00:30:35.90
So when the gospel is preached
to all the world Jesus said,
00:30:35.90\00:30:39.80
then the end will come.
00:30:39.80\00:30:41.80
Specifically what
aspects of the gospel
00:30:41.80\00:30:44.34
need to be
amplified in the last days?
00:30:44.34\00:30:46.64
It's the Three Angels' Messages.
00:30:46.64\00:30:48.71
So when the
Three Angels' Messages
00:30:48.71\00:30:50.21
are proclaimed to all the world,
00:30:50.21\00:30:52.51
to every nation,
kindred, tongue and people,
00:30:52.51\00:30:54.32
then the end will come.
00:30:54.32\00:30:56.32
And I think we're
living close to that time,
00:30:56.32\00:30:58.55
and the gospel has been
proclaimed to all the world.
00:30:58.55\00:31:03.29
Now we move on
to Tuesday's lesson.
00:31:03.29\00:31:05.69
Tuesday's lesson is
an interesting study,
00:31:05.69\00:31:07.66
it's entitled, The
Abomination of Desolation.
00:31:07.66\00:31:11.10
So we want to
find out what this is.
00:31:11.10\00:31:13.50
And we're in Matthew 24,
00:31:13.50\00:31:16.57
and I'm going to start
reading now in verse 15.
00:31:16.57\00:31:19.01
Matthew 24:15.
00:31:19.01\00:31:23.58
Therefore Jesus said,
00:31:23.58\00:31:24.88
"When you see the
'abomination of desolation,'
00:31:24.88\00:31:27.38
spoken of by Daniel the prophet,
00:31:27.38\00:31:29.25
standing in the holy
place," and then he adds,
00:31:29.25\00:31:32.39
"Whoever reads,
let him understand,
00:31:32.39\00:31:34.96
then let those who are in
Judea flee to the mountains.
00:31:34.96\00:31:37.93
And let him that
is on the housetop
00:31:37.93\00:31:39.69
not go down to take
anything out of his house.
00:31:39.69\00:31:42.16
And let him who is in the field
not go back to get his clothes.
00:31:42.16\00:31:46.03
But woe to
those who are pregnant
00:31:46.03\00:31:47.77
and those who are
nursing babies in those days!
00:31:47.77\00:31:50.51
And pray that your
flight be not in winter,
00:31:50.51\00:31:53.81
neither on the Sabbath day."
00:31:53.81\00:31:56.21
Here Jesus is talking about
the destruction of Jerusalem
00:31:56.21\00:31:58.38
and He says pray that you
don't have to flee in winter,
00:31:58.38\00:32:01.65
nor on the Sabbath.
00:32:01.65\00:32:02.92
This is some 40 years
after Jesus said these words,
00:32:02.92\00:32:06.45
He was still
expecting His followers
00:32:06.45\00:32:08.62
to be keeping the Sabbath.
00:32:08.62\00:32:10.43
It's little difficult
to keep the Sabbath holy
00:32:10.43\00:32:12.49
if you're fleeing
for your life, right?
00:32:12.49\00:32:15.30
Now some have suggested
why the reason Jesus said that,
00:32:15.30\00:32:17.67
it wasn't because the Christians
00:32:17.67\00:32:18.97
were to be keeping the Sabbath,
00:32:18.97\00:32:20.77
but rather because
the gates of Jerusalem
00:32:20.77\00:32:23.20
would be closed on the Sabbath,
00:32:23.20\00:32:25.24
so they wouldn't be
able to escape the city.
00:32:25.24\00:32:28.14
Well, who was on the outside
of the walls of Jerusalem
00:32:28.14\00:32:31.35
around that time?
00:32:31.35\00:32:33.18
The Romans were outside.
00:32:33.18\00:32:35.72
Where the gates ever opened
00:32:35.72\00:32:37.82
when the Romans lay
besieged to Jerusalem?
00:32:37.82\00:32:40.82
No.
00:32:40.82\00:32:42.26
The gates were closed.
00:32:42.26\00:32:43.83
So the idea of Jesus saying pray
00:32:43.83\00:32:45.56
that you don't
flee on the Sabbath
00:32:45.56\00:32:47.13
was simply because the
gates needed to be open.
00:32:47.13\00:32:50.03
Well, the gates
were closed every day
00:32:50.03\00:32:52.20
because the Roman
soldiers were on the outside,
00:32:52.20\00:32:54.10
does that make sense?
00:32:54.10\00:32:56.30
So from this
verse, we realize that,
00:32:56.30\00:32:58.11
yes, Jesus was still
expecting His followers
00:32:58.11\00:33:01.08
to keep the Sabbath.
00:33:01.08\00:33:02.61
Now what about this
abomination of desolation.
00:33:02.61\00:33:05.08
We gonna go to a
couple verses here
00:33:05.08\00:33:07.12
and Jesus says, "Whoever
reads let him understand
00:33:07.12\00:33:09.52
and he's talking
about the Book of Daniel.
00:33:09.52\00:33:11.85
So in order to understand
this, let's go to Daniel.
00:33:11.85\00:33:14.92
Daniel 9.
00:33:14.92\00:33:17.99
Daniel 9.
00:33:17.99\00:33:19.23
There are
actually three references
00:33:19.23\00:33:20.43
in the Book of Daniel
00:33:20.43\00:33:21.46
to the
abomination of desolation,
00:33:21.46\00:33:24.07
at least the abomination.
00:33:24.07\00:33:25.33
But I want to look at Daniel 9
00:33:25.33\00:33:27.20
because I think it makes
it the clearest for us here.
00:33:27.20\00:33:29.80
And we're going to
start reading in verse 26.
00:33:29.80\00:33:32.61
Daniel 9:26 and Jesus
says we need to understand
00:33:32.61\00:33:38.28
what the
abomination of desolation is.
00:33:38.28\00:33:41.85
Matthew 9:26, it says,
00:33:41.85\00:33:44.75
"And after sixty-two
weeks Messiah shall be cut off,
00:33:44.75\00:33:48.69
but not for Himself."
00:33:48.69\00:33:50.56
Now let's get the context here
if you read a little earlier,
00:33:50.56\00:33:53.33
verse 24, the Angel Gabriel
comes to the Prophet Daniel
00:33:53.33\00:33:57.67
and says, "Seventy
weeks are for your people."
00:33:57.67\00:34:00.94
This 70 week time period
which is 490 literal years,
00:34:00.94\00:34:05.31
7 times 70, one prophetic day
is equal to one literal year.
00:34:05.31\00:34:09.41
So here the angel
says 490 years is given,
00:34:09.41\00:34:12.98
are given to your people,
00:34:12.98\00:34:14.38
that's probationary
time given to the Jews,
00:34:14.38\00:34:17.09
that time period begins
with the decree to restore
00:34:17.09\00:34:19.62
and rebuild
Jerusalem in 457 B.C..
00:34:19.62\00:34:22.76
And now it's talking
about the last 7 year period
00:34:22.76\00:34:26.23
of that 70 year time period.
00:34:26.23\00:34:28.73
And he says after the 62 weeks,
00:34:28.73\00:34:30.70
now there's a first 7 years
00:34:30.70\00:34:32.83
and then 62 which
brings you up to 69,
00:34:32.83\00:34:36.84
and then there's this last
week that we're talking about.
00:34:36.84\00:34:40.01
Messiah shall be cut off.
00:34:40.01\00:34:41.64
Who is Messiah?
00:34:41.64\00:34:43.35
It's clearly Jesus, the
anointed One, that says,
00:34:43.35\00:34:46.61
"But He will not be
cut off for Himself."
00:34:46.61\00:34:48.38
Did Jesus die for any
sins that He had committed?
00:34:48.38\00:34:50.65
No.
00:34:50.65\00:34:51.69
Jesus died for
the sins of the world.
00:34:51.69\00:34:53.46
So no doubt,
00:34:53.46\00:34:54.52
verse 26 is talking about
the coming of the Messiah.
00:34:54.52\00:34:57.16
It's referencing
Jesus when He came.
00:34:57.16\00:34:59.73
Now, Jesus was anointed at
His baptism in a special sense
00:34:59.73\00:35:03.73
and the Holy Spirit came
upon Him in the form of a dove
00:35:03.73\00:35:06.37
and the voice was
heard from heaven,
00:35:06.37\00:35:07.74
"This is My beloved Son
in whom I'm well pleased."
00:35:07.74\00:35:10.17
That marked the beginning
of Christ's public ministry.
00:35:10.17\00:35:13.48
The word Messiah
means anointed one.
00:35:13.48\00:35:16.64
And from there
Jesus began to preach,
00:35:16.64\00:35:18.51
"Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand."
00:35:18.51\00:35:20.92
So from 27 A.D.,
00:35:20.92\00:35:23.28
there would be a
total of 7 years left
00:35:23.28\00:35:26.52
for the Jewish people
00:35:26.52\00:35:27.72
as a nation
00:35:27.72\00:35:28.96
before
probation closed for them.
00:35:28.96\00:35:32.26
And will tell us exactly
00:35:32.26\00:35:33.60
when in those 7
last days or years,
00:35:33.60\00:35:37.80
the Messiah would be
cut off in just a minute.
00:35:37.80\00:35:40.14
But then in the middle of
the verse, verse 26, it says,
00:35:40.14\00:35:42.47
"And the people of the prince
00:35:42.47\00:35:43.81
who is to come shall destroy
the city and the sanctuary.
00:35:43.81\00:35:48.41
The end shall be with the flood,
00:35:48.41\00:35:50.71
and till end of war
desolations are determined."
00:35:50.71\00:35:55.82
Now this is
connecting with what Jesus said.
00:35:55.82\00:35:58.35
There are two subjects
being addressed in Daniel 9.
00:35:58.35\00:36:02.39
Early on in the prayer,
Daniel is praying and he says,
00:36:02.39\00:36:05.06
"Lord, you know,
00:36:05.06\00:36:06.19
when will these
things be fulfilled?"
00:36:06.19\00:36:08.43
He heard of time
prophecy in Daniel 8
00:36:08.43\00:36:10.43
that he did not
understand the 2300 days.
00:36:10.43\00:36:12.87
So he's praying,
he's confessing his sins,
00:36:12.87\00:36:15.04
the sins of his people, Israel.
00:36:15.04\00:36:16.87
He's asking about Jerusalem
00:36:16.87\00:36:18.51
and the rebuilding of
the temple in Jerusalem.
00:36:18.51\00:36:21.04
So there are two
questions that Daniel has.
00:36:21.04\00:36:23.45
What about my people,
00:36:23.45\00:36:25.01
and what about our city
Jerusalem and the temple.
00:36:25.01\00:36:28.12
Those are the two subjects
00:36:28.12\00:36:29.25
that's been addressed here
in particular by the angel.
00:36:29.25\00:36:32.59
The first part of verse
26 talks about the Messiah,
00:36:32.59\00:36:35.59
the one that
the Jews longed for,
00:36:35.59\00:36:37.66
their deliverer.
00:36:37.66\00:36:38.73
The second part of verse 26
00:36:38.73\00:36:40.46
talks about the city
that would be destroyed.
00:36:40.46\00:36:43.63
That city is Jerusalem.
00:36:43.63\00:36:45.33
Now, I don't want you to
be confused with the phrase
00:36:45.33\00:36:47.50
and the people of the
prince who is to come.
00:36:47.50\00:36:50.57
The prince
referenced there in verse 26
00:36:50.57\00:36:53.01
is not the Messiah.
00:36:53.01\00:36:55.41
The people of the prince
to come is the Roman soldiers.
00:36:55.41\00:36:59.21
The prince is Titus who came
00:36:59.21\00:37:01.28
and destroyed
Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
00:37:01.28\00:37:04.35
Rome is described as the
abomination of desolation.
00:37:04.35\00:37:08.26
Now, there are
two parts to Rome.
00:37:08.26\00:37:10.99
There is pagan
Rome, there is papal Rome.
00:37:10.99\00:37:13.93
And we'll touch on
that in just a moment.
00:37:13.93\00:37:16.03
But here where
it's talking about
00:37:16.03\00:37:17.27
the destruction of Jerusalem,
00:37:17.27\00:37:18.63
it's talking about pagan Rome,
00:37:18.63\00:37:21.54
the prince being Titus,
the people of the prince,
00:37:21.54\00:37:23.94
the Romans, they will
come and destroy the city.
00:37:23.94\00:37:27.24
And then if you
look in verse 27,
00:37:27.24\00:37:29.71
now he's talking about Jesus,
00:37:29.71\00:37:31.95
"Then he shall
confirm a covenant
00:37:31.95\00:37:34.55
with many for one week,
00:37:34.55\00:37:36.45
but in the midst of the week
00:37:36.45\00:37:37.79
he shall bring an end to
sacrifice and offerings."
00:37:37.79\00:37:41.86
So we have one
week, seven years,
00:37:41.86\00:37:44.03
in the midst of
that seven year period,
00:37:44.03\00:37:46.19
Jesus would put an end
to sacrifice and offerings.
00:37:46.19\00:37:48.90
How did Jesus do that?
00:37:48.90\00:37:50.97
He died on the cross.
00:37:50.97\00:37:52.43
And when Jesus died on the cross
00:37:52.43\00:37:53.84
exactly three and a half years
00:37:53.84\00:37:55.97
into that seven year period,
00:37:55.97\00:37:57.64
the veil was rent in the
temple from top to bottom.
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.34
So Jesus did indeed put an
end to sacrifices and offerings.
00:38:00.34\00:38:05.41
And then the
subject changes back
00:38:05.41\00:38:08.25
to the destruction of Jerusalem
00:38:08.25\00:38:09.52
in the last part of the verse
and this is middle of verse 27.
00:38:09.52\00:38:13.99
"And on the wing of
abomination shall be one,
00:38:13.99\00:38:16.89
Titus who makes desolate
even until the consummation,
00:38:16.89\00:38:20.26
which is determined,
00:38:20.26\00:38:21.30
is poured out
upon the desolate."
00:38:21.30\00:38:23.30
So two subjects are being
addressed in these verses.
00:38:23.30\00:38:26.50
Subject A is the Messiah
and what the Messiah would do.
00:38:26.50\00:38:30.31
Subject B is
Jerusalem and the temple,
00:38:30.31\00:38:33.24
and when it would be
destroyed, and who would do it.
00:38:33.24\00:38:36.34
So subject A is the Messiah
00:38:36.34\00:38:38.01
would come
sometime after 27 A.D.
00:38:38.01\00:38:40.92
And then it
talks about Jerusalem
00:38:40.92\00:38:42.42
would finally be destroyed
00:38:42.42\00:38:43.69
by the
abomination of desolation.
00:38:43.69\00:38:45.55
And then it talks about
00:38:45.55\00:38:46.62
when the Messiah will be cut off
00:38:46.62\00:38:48.36
three and a half years into
that seven year time period.
00:38:48.36\00:38:51.83
And then finally,
00:38:51.83\00:38:53.23
Rome is going to
completely destroy the temple,
00:38:53.23\00:38:55.73
and the city, and
desolations are determined.
00:38:55.73\00:38:59.53
So according to
the Book of Daniel,
00:38:59.53\00:39:01.24
that's a reference
00:39:01.24\00:39:02.34
to at least one phase of
the abomination of desolation.
00:39:02.34\00:39:06.57
Now if you go
back to Matthew 24,
00:39:06.57\00:39:10.11
I want you to
notice one other thing,
00:39:10.11\00:39:12.35
this is verse 15.
00:39:12.35\00:39:13.62
Matthew 24:15,
00:39:13.62\00:39:15.52
still talking about the
abomination of desolation.
00:39:15.52\00:39:18.32
It says, "Therefore when you see
00:39:18.32\00:39:19.92
the abomination
of desolation..."
00:39:19.92\00:39:21.66
We know it has
something to do with Rome,
00:39:21.66\00:39:24.49
"spoken about
the prophet Daniel,
00:39:24.49\00:39:26.29
standing in the holy place."
00:39:26.29\00:39:29.66
Now you might be wondering
what is the holy place.
00:39:29.66\00:39:33.44
Where was Jesus when He said
these words to His disciples?
00:39:33.44\00:39:37.37
If you look at the
beginning of the chapter,
00:39:37.37\00:39:38.84
He was sitting on the
Mount of Olives, right?
00:39:38.84\00:39:41.21
Mount of Olives
00:39:41.21\00:39:42.24
was about 300 feet
higher than Jerusalem.
00:39:42.24\00:39:46.21
So from the Mount of Olives,
00:39:46.21\00:39:47.38
He had a
beautiful view of the temple
00:39:47.38\00:39:50.02
as well as the
city of Jerusalem.
00:39:50.02\00:39:52.05
Because Jerusalem was
considered the holy city
00:39:52.05\00:39:54.79
because of the temple.
00:39:54.79\00:39:56.32
There was a section of lands
00:39:56.32\00:39:58.16
surrounding the wall of
the ancient city of Jerusalem
00:39:58.16\00:40:01.83
that was considered holy ground
because the temple was holy.
00:40:01.83\00:40:06.77
The city was
considered the holy city.
00:40:06.77\00:40:09.57
Jesus talking to His disciples
and as they look at the scene
00:40:09.57\00:40:12.57
spread out in front
of them, Jesus says,
00:40:12.57\00:40:14.34
"When you see the
abomination of desolation,
00:40:14.34\00:40:16.95
spoken of by Daniel the Prophet,
00:40:16.95\00:40:18.98
stand in the holy place,
00:40:18.98\00:40:21.05
meaning surrounding
the walls of Jerusalem,
00:40:21.05\00:40:25.32
then know that its
desolation is near."
00:40:25.32\00:40:29.69
Now, did the
disciples understand
00:40:29.69\00:40:31.19
what Jesus was talking about?
00:40:31.19\00:40:34.86
Maybe not at first,
00:40:34.86\00:40:36.97
but they did as
things began to be fulfilled.
00:40:36.97\00:40:39.87
Turn in your Bibles if
you would to Luke 21:20,
00:40:39.87\00:40:43.34
and look at the way
it's recorded for us here.
00:40:43.34\00:40:47.08
Was Luke a Jew?
00:40:47.08\00:40:50.05
No, he wasn't.
00:40:50.05\00:40:51.11
He was a
convert to Christianity.
00:40:51.11\00:40:53.62
But it is interesting,
he understood something
00:40:53.62\00:40:56.25
of what Jesus meant
00:40:56.25\00:40:58.35
when He talked about this
abomination of desolation.
00:40:58.35\00:41:01.62
If you look in Luke 21:20,
00:41:01.62\00:41:05.79
it's made very
clear with reference
00:41:05.79\00:41:08.20
to what this power is.
00:41:08.20\00:41:10.83
Luke 21:20, it says,
00:41:10.83\00:41:15.40
"But when you see Jerusalem
00:41:15.40\00:41:17.17
surrounded by
armies, then know,"
00:41:17.17\00:41:20.31
notice the next
word that's given,
00:41:20.31\00:41:22.41
"its desolation is near."
00:41:22.41\00:41:25.71
Did Luke understand
00:41:25.71\00:41:26.95
what the
abomination of desolation is?
00:41:26.95\00:41:29.05
He understood it,
00:41:29.05\00:41:30.12
it's something to
do with the armies
00:41:30.12\00:41:31.59
surrounding Jerusalem,
00:41:31.59\00:41:33.36
armies standing
in the holy place,
00:41:33.36\00:41:35.39
outside the walls of the city.
00:41:35.39\00:41:37.86
Then look at verse 21.
00:41:37.86\00:41:39.46
"Then let those who in Judea..."
00:41:39.46\00:41:41.10
It's almost a quote
from Matthew 24 here.
00:41:41.10\00:41:43.37
"Then let those who in
Judea flee to the mountains,
00:41:43.37\00:41:45.90
let those who are in
the midst depart from her
00:41:45.90\00:41:48.74
and let not those
00:41:48.74\00:41:49.84
who are in the country enter in.
00:41:49.84\00:41:51.67
For these are the days
of vengeance that all things
00:41:51.67\00:41:55.21
that are written
might be fulfilled.
00:41:55.21\00:41:57.58
But woe to those
who are pregnant,
00:41:57.58\00:41:59.41
and those who are
nursing babies in those days,
00:41:59.41\00:42:02.28
for there will be
great distress in the land
00:42:02.28\00:42:04.85
and wrath upon the people.
00:42:04.85\00:42:06.96
And they will fall by
the edge of the sword,
00:42:06.96\00:42:09.26
will be led away
captive into all nations.
00:42:09.26\00:42:11.93
And Jerusalem will be
trampled by the Gentiles
00:42:11.93\00:42:14.56
until times of the
Gentiles is fulfilled."
00:42:14.56\00:42:18.70
So it's pretty clear
00:42:18.70\00:42:19.73
from comparing
Luke 21 and Matthew 24
00:42:19.73\00:42:22.97
as to what the
abomination of desolation
00:42:22.97\00:42:25.21
that Jesus is
referencing is really all about.
00:42:25.21\00:42:27.64
Does that make
sense with everybody?
00:42:27.64\00:42:29.71
Now, not only does this refer
to ancient Rome or pagan Rome,
00:42:29.71\00:42:35.02
but there is
also a religious phase
00:42:35.02\00:42:38.12
called papal Rome.
00:42:38.12\00:42:40.09
And just like there was a sign
00:42:40.09\00:42:41.72
that was given to the
Christians in Jerusalem
00:42:41.72\00:42:43.83
of impending judgment,
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.79
and they heeded the sign,
and they fled from the city.
00:42:45.79\00:42:48.30
So there are signs
00:42:48.30\00:42:49.40
given to God's people
today in the last days
00:42:49.40\00:42:52.27
that we need to be
watching for that will be to us
00:42:52.27\00:42:55.30
as was the
approach of the Roman armies
00:42:55.30\00:42:57.37
around the
ancient city of Jerusalem.
00:42:57.37\00:42:59.51
And those signs are
outlined in Revelation 13,
00:42:59.51\00:43:03.58
when the beast power
tries to enforce a mark,
00:43:03.58\00:43:07.15
that is to be the
warning to us in the last days.
00:43:07.15\00:43:10.15
And I think in our later lesson,
00:43:10.15\00:43:11.85
we actually gonna be
looking at Revelation 13
00:43:11.85\00:43:14.52
and getting into
that a little bit more.
00:43:14.52\00:43:17.06
The Jewish historian
Josephus who was actually a...
00:43:17.06\00:43:20.96
He was a Jew, but he
was also a citizen of Rome.
00:43:20.96\00:43:24.27
He was actually with the Romans
00:43:24.27\00:43:26.33
at the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:43:26.33\00:43:27.64
And he was appealing to
the Jews inside Jerusalem
00:43:27.64\00:43:30.91
to accept the terms
that the Romans were offering
00:43:30.91\00:43:34.24
so that the city and the
temple wouldn't be destroyed.
00:43:34.24\00:43:36.98
But the Jews inside Jerusalem,
00:43:36.98\00:43:38.85
they cursed and
they rejected Josephus.
00:43:38.85\00:43:41.15
Josephus says that at
the end of that terrible war,
00:43:41.15\00:43:44.52
a 1 million Jews perished
in the destruction of Jerusalem
00:43:44.52\00:43:48.46
and 97,000 were
carried away captives.
00:43:48.46\00:43:51.99
Now, the Jews recognized
00:43:51.99\00:43:54.30
or rather the
Christians recognized
00:43:54.30\00:43:56.16
the warning
that Jesus had given.
00:43:56.16\00:43:57.97
The Romans first
came and surrounded
00:43:57.97\00:43:59.50
the ancient city of Jerusalem,
00:43:59.50\00:44:01.27
the Jews and the Christians
were still inside the city,
00:44:01.27\00:44:04.84
but they
remembered the words of Jesus,
00:44:04.84\00:44:06.34
they couldn't escape,
the gates were closed.
00:44:06.34\00:44:08.94
But a little ways
into that first siege,
00:44:08.94\00:44:11.28
the Romans retreated.
00:44:11.28\00:44:13.52
And it's not quite clear
the reason for them retreating,
00:44:13.52\00:44:16.55
but they did pull back,
00:44:16.55\00:44:18.15
and the gates of
the city were open wide,
00:44:18.15\00:44:20.29
and the Jewish soldiers
set out after the Romans,
00:44:20.29\00:44:24.43
and gained some
rather considerable victories
00:44:24.43\00:44:27.13
against the
retreating Roman army.
00:44:27.13\00:44:29.60
And then, of
course, they returned
00:44:29.60\00:44:30.73
with much rejoicing back
to the city of Jerusalem,
00:44:30.73\00:44:33.94
while the Christians recognized
the sign given to them by Jesus
00:44:33.94\00:44:37.21
and they fled when
the gates were opened,
00:44:37.21\00:44:39.47
and the Jewish soldiers
went out after the Romans,
00:44:39.47\00:44:42.11
the Christians
fled from Jerusalem,
00:44:42.11\00:44:44.41
and they went across the Jordan
to a city built in a Rock Petra
00:44:44.41\00:44:49.92
where they found
safety in hiding.
00:44:49.92\00:44:53.05
And he's told that
not one Christian perished
00:44:53.05\00:44:55.59
in the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:44:55.59\00:44:57.59
Now you can just
imagine the scene,
00:44:57.59\00:44:58.89
here the Jews are coming back,
00:44:58.89\00:45:00.36
the soldiers are coming back
with all their spoils of war,
00:45:00.36\00:45:03.93
and here are the
Christians leaving the city,
00:45:03.93\00:45:06.20
and they say,
"Where you're going?
00:45:06.20\00:45:07.70
Can't you see God has
given us a great victory?
00:45:07.70\00:45:09.80
You shouldn't be fleeing now.
00:45:09.80\00:45:11.47
This is a time of celebration."
00:45:11.47\00:45:13.54
But little did they realize
that just a few years later
00:45:13.54\00:45:16.58
the Romans came back
this time under Titus.
00:45:16.58\00:45:19.31
And when all was said and done,
00:45:19.31\00:45:20.72
the temple was
completely destroyed,
00:45:20.72\00:45:23.02
one million Jews were killed,
00:45:23.02\00:45:24.49
the city was
burnt to the ground,
00:45:24.49\00:45:26.72
the words of Jesus
met their full completion.
00:45:26.72\00:45:29.69
But the
Christians heeded the warning
00:45:29.69\00:45:32.36
and not one of
them lost their life.
00:45:32.36\00:45:34.86
Does God give us a
warning for the last days?
00:45:34.86\00:45:37.67
Do we as Christians
need to heed that warning?
00:45:37.67\00:45:40.37
Absolutely.
00:45:40.37\00:45:41.44
If we do, then God promises
00:45:41.44\00:45:43.44
to take care of
us and keep us safe.
00:45:43.44\00:45:45.51
There is an
interesting statement
00:45:45.51\00:45:46.64
in the book Great
Controversy, page 22,
00:45:46.64\00:45:48.61
it says,
"Christ saw in Jerusalem
00:45:48.61\00:45:50.91
a symbol of the world
00:45:50.91\00:45:52.11
hardened in
unbelief and rebellion,
00:45:52.11\00:45:54.28
and hastening on to meet
00:45:54.28\00:45:55.78
the retributive
judgments of God."
00:45:55.78\00:45:58.45
So in the
destruction of Jerusalem,
00:45:58.45\00:46:00.12
there is a type of
what's coming upon the world.
00:46:00.12\00:46:04.69
Okay, verse 21.
00:46:04.69\00:46:07.23
It says, "For then there
will be a great tribulation,
00:46:07.23\00:46:10.63
such as not being since
the beginning of the world
00:46:10.63\00:46:13.03
even until that time
no, nor ever shall be."
00:46:13.03\00:46:16.34
Verse 22, Matthew 24:22,
00:46:16.34\00:46:19.07
"And unless those days
00:46:19.07\00:46:20.31
were shortened no
flesh would be saved,
00:46:20.31\00:46:22.24
but for the elect sake
those days will be shortened.
00:46:22.24\00:46:25.28
If anyone says to
you, 'Look here is Christ!'
00:46:25.28\00:46:27.82
or 'There!' do not believe it.
00:46:27.82\00:46:29.48
For false christs and
false prophets will rise
00:46:29.48\00:46:31.99
and show great signs
and wonders to deceive,
00:46:31.99\00:46:34.19
if possible,
even the very elect.
00:46:34.19\00:46:36.66
See, I have told you beforehand.
00:46:36.66\00:46:38.43
Therefore if they say to you,
'Look, He is in the desert!'
00:46:38.43\00:46:40.96
do not go out, or 'Look,
He is in the inner rooms!'
00:46:40.96\00:46:44.37
do not believe it."
00:46:44.37\00:46:45.63
So here Jesus talks about
a great time of trouble worse
00:46:45.63\00:46:49.87
than the world has ever seen.
00:46:49.87\00:46:51.67
When Jesus stands up
according to Revelation 22,
00:46:51.67\00:46:55.01
he says, "He that is
holy, let him be holy still,
00:46:55.01\00:46:58.68
he that is filthy,
let him be filthy still."
00:46:58.68\00:47:01.82
Then Jesus says,
"Behold I am coming quickly,
00:47:01.82\00:47:04.52
and my reward is with Me
00:47:04.52\00:47:05.92
to give to every man
according to his deeds."
00:47:05.92\00:47:08.39
So there is a
close of probation,
00:47:08.39\00:47:10.53
and then you have the outpouring
00:47:10.53\00:47:11.69
of the seven last plagues,
00:47:11.69\00:47:13.36
a terrible time of
trouble and then Jesus comes.
00:47:13.36\00:47:16.53
This is
paralleled in Revelation 7.
00:47:16.53\00:47:19.13
I'm just going to
read a few verses here,
00:47:19.13\00:47:20.47
Revelation 7. It says,
00:47:20.47\00:47:23.81
"And after these things
I saw four angels standing
00:47:23.81\00:47:25.94
on the four
corners of the earth,
00:47:25.94\00:47:27.61
holding the four
winds of the earth
00:47:27.61\00:47:29.31
that the wind should
not blow on the earth,
00:47:29.31\00:47:30.81
on the sea, or on any tree."
00:47:30.81\00:47:33.15
What do wings
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:47:33.15\00:47:35.88
War, turmoil, strife, upheaval.
00:47:35.88\00:47:39.22
So here four angels are seen
00:47:39.22\00:47:41.02
holding the four
winds of the earth.
00:47:41.02\00:47:42.79
When it says the four corners,
00:47:42.79\00:47:43.96
it's just talking about
the four points of the compass.
00:47:43.96\00:47:46.53
And then it says in verse 2,
00:47:46.53\00:47:47.93
"Then I saw another
angel ascending from the east,"
00:47:47.93\00:47:50.07
east is the
direction of deliverance,
00:47:50.07\00:47:52.00
it's the direction of heaven,
00:47:52.00\00:47:53.50
"having the seal
of the living God.
00:47:53.50\00:47:55.14
And he cried with a
loud voice to the four angels
00:47:55.14\00:47:57.47
to whom it is granted to
harm the earth and the sea,
00:47:57.47\00:47:59.87
saying, 'Do not harm
the earth, or the sea,
00:47:59.87\00:48:03.14
or the trees till we have
sealed the servants of God
00:48:03.14\00:48:06.31
in their foreheads.'"
00:48:06.31\00:48:08.68
And once that
sealing is complete,
00:48:08.68\00:48:11.45
then the four angels are told
00:48:11.45\00:48:13.19
to let go the
four winds of strife.
00:48:13.19\00:48:15.99
And the verse that we
just read in Daniel 12
00:48:15.99\00:48:18.49
meets its fulfillment.
00:48:18.49\00:48:19.83
A time of trouble worse
than the world has ever seen,
00:48:19.83\00:48:22.10
but the promise is,
at that time your people
00:48:22.10\00:48:26.03
will be delivered every one
that is found written where?
00:48:26.03\00:48:30.07
In the Book of Life.
00:48:30.07\00:48:31.71
Where do our names
have to be written?
00:48:31.71\00:48:34.14
In the Lamb's Book of Life.
00:48:34.14\00:48:36.11
Well, there's a lot more
we can say about Matthew 24,
00:48:36.11\00:48:39.25
but we don't have time
to go through all of that.
00:48:39.25\00:48:41.45
I do want to take
a look in Matthew 25.
00:48:41.45\00:48:45.65
And I'm going to have to go
through this one fairly quick,
00:48:45.65\00:48:47.69
this is a parable, I think
most of us are familiar with.
00:48:47.69\00:48:51.79
And here Jesus is telling us
00:48:51.79\00:48:53.29
how we can be ready
for these end time events.
00:48:53.29\00:48:57.60
Matthew 25:1,
00:48:57.60\00:49:00.44
we call it The
Parable of the Wise
00:49:00.44\00:49:02.04
and the Foolish Virgins.
00:49:02.04\00:49:03.97
Verse 1 says, "Then
the kingdom of heaven
00:49:03.97\00:49:06.24
shall be
likened unto ten virgins
00:49:06.24\00:49:08.08
who took their lamps
00:49:08.08\00:49:09.44
and they went out to
meet the bridegroom."
00:49:09.44\00:49:11.58
How many were there?
00:49:11.58\00:49:13.18
There were 10.
00:49:13.18\00:49:14.25
Any significance of
the number 10 in the Bible?
00:49:14.25\00:49:17.72
How many
commandments do we have?
00:49:17.72\00:49:20.06
Ten commandments.
00:49:20.06\00:49:21.32
Notice that these maidens
are referred to as virgins.
00:49:21.32\00:49:24.63
So here is a group of people
who have the Ten Commandments.
00:49:24.63\00:49:28.50
They recognize the importance
of the Ten Commandments.
00:49:28.50\00:49:32.10
What else do they have?
It says, "They have lamps."
00:49:32.10\00:49:34.97
What does a lamp
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:49:34.97\00:49:37.64
The Word of God.
00:49:37.64\00:49:38.84
Revelation chapter...
Rather Psalms, not Revelation.
00:49:38.84\00:49:41.54
Psalms 119:105, "Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet,
00:49:41.54\00:49:45.38
and a light unto my path."
00:49:45.38\00:49:48.28
It says, they went out
to meet the bridegroom.
00:49:48.28\00:49:51.02
In Bible prophecy who
does the bridegroom represent?
00:49:51.02\00:49:54.36
Jesus is the bridegroom, right?
00:49:54.36\00:49:56.42
So here is a group of Adventists
00:49:56.42\00:49:57.83
waiting for Jesus to come.
00:49:57.83\00:49:59.53
They believe in
the Ten Commandments,
00:49:59.53\00:50:01.20
all ten of the commandments.
00:50:01.20\00:50:03.03
They have the Word of God.
00:50:03.03\00:50:04.37
Yes, they read
and study the Bible,
00:50:04.37\00:50:06.20
they've got the lamp.
00:50:06.20\00:50:08.17
But Jesus says, "Some
are wise, some are foolish."
00:50:08.17\00:50:11.84
We're going to see
the difference here.
00:50:11.84\00:50:14.68
Verse 2.
00:50:14.68\00:50:15.71
"Now the five of
them who were wise
00:50:15.71\00:50:18.58
and five were foolish."
00:50:18.58\00:50:19.71
Verse 3, "Those who were
foolish took their lamps."
00:50:19.71\00:50:22.65
What does the lamp represent?
00:50:22.65\00:50:24.52
The Word of God, so
they all had the Bible,
00:50:24.52\00:50:26.69
and took no oil with them.
00:50:26.69\00:50:29.76
So they had
some oil in the lamp.
00:50:29.76\00:50:31.53
The lamp is
those little clay lamps
00:50:31.53\00:50:33.06
you've probably seen it before
00:50:33.06\00:50:34.13
and there's a
wick on the one side,
00:50:34.13\00:50:35.20
it can hold some oil,
00:50:35.20\00:50:36.77
but that oil will
eventually burn out,
00:50:36.77\00:50:38.97
and then you
need to have extra oil
00:50:38.97\00:50:40.54
to add into the lamp.
00:50:40.54\00:50:42.54
So those who were foolish,
they had the Word of God,
00:50:42.54\00:50:45.17
they had some understanding
of the Word of God,
00:50:45.17\00:50:47.44
they had a little bit of oil.
00:50:47.44\00:50:48.61
They believed in
the Ten Commandments.
00:50:48.61\00:50:50.11
They were looking
forward to the coming of Jesus.
00:50:50.11\00:50:53.05
But it was a superficial
kind of Christian experience.
00:50:53.05\00:50:57.82
They're
considered to be foolish.
00:50:57.82\00:50:59.65
Well, let's read on
verse 4, "But the wise took oil
00:50:59.65\00:51:02.62
with their
vessels in their lamps."
00:51:02.62\00:51:06.19
I find it interesting
in 2 Corinthians 4:7,
00:51:06.19\00:51:10.17
Paul says, "We
have this treasure
00:51:10.17\00:51:12.03
in earthen vessels."
00:51:12.03\00:51:14.37
He's talking about the gospel,
00:51:14.37\00:51:15.47
he's talking
about the Holy Spirit.
00:51:15.47\00:51:17.74
So in order to be
wise in the end time,
00:51:17.74\00:51:20.31
it's not only having
00:51:20.31\00:51:21.74
an understanding of Bible truth,
00:51:21.74\00:51:23.21
it's not only
keeping the commandments,
00:51:23.21\00:51:25.18
it's not only looking for
the Second Coming of Jesus,
00:51:25.18\00:51:27.68
but we need to have
the Holy Spirit where?
00:51:27.68\00:51:29.75
Within us.
00:51:29.75\00:51:30.92
We need to have that
personal relationship,
00:51:30.92\00:51:33.22
that connection with Jesus
00:51:33.22\00:51:35.86
if we're going to
be amongst the wise.
00:51:35.86\00:51:39.03
Now verse 5 says, "But
when the bridegroom was delayed,
00:51:39.03\00:51:42.70
they all slumbered and slept."
00:51:42.70\00:51:44.73
There is a tarrying time.
00:51:44.73\00:51:47.20
If you look in Matthew
24:45 real quick, it says,
00:51:47.20\00:51:52.54
"Then who is a
faithful and wise servant,
00:51:52.54\00:51:54.44
whom his master made
ruler over his household,
00:51:54.44\00:51:56.75
to give them food in due season?
00:51:56.75\00:51:58.68
Blessed is that servant
whom his master, when he comes,
00:51:58.68\00:52:01.35
will find so doing."
00:52:01.35\00:52:02.88
But then if you
look in verse 48,
00:52:02.88\00:52:04.55
"But if that evil
servant says in his heart,
00:52:04.55\00:52:06.72
'My master is
delaying his coming."
00:52:06.72\00:52:10.76
For more than 150 years
00:52:10.76\00:52:12.16
we've been talking
about the coming of Jesus.
00:52:12.16\00:52:14.66
And there is a
tendency to begin to think,
00:52:14.66\00:52:16.40
well, maybe He's not
coming as soon as we think.
00:52:16.40\00:52:20.24
And the delay or the tarrying
sort of puts people to sleep.
00:52:20.24\00:52:24.37
What happens to all ten
virgins during the delay?
00:52:24.37\00:52:27.94
They all fall
asleep, spiritual slumber.
00:52:27.94\00:52:31.68
But then in verse 6, it says,
00:52:31.68\00:52:32.81
"And at
midnight a cry was heard:
00:52:32.81\00:52:34.62
'Behold, the
bridegroom is coming,
00:52:34.62\00:52:36.22
go he out to meet him."
00:52:36.22\00:52:38.42
Now, I would suggest to
you that that midnight cry
00:52:38.42\00:52:40.89
which is closely
connected to Revelation 18,
00:52:40.89\00:52:44.03
the first three verses,
00:52:44.03\00:52:45.93
when the earth is
illuminated with God's glory,
00:52:45.93\00:52:48.60
and an angel cries
Babylon is fallen, is fallen,
00:52:48.60\00:52:51.03
then a voice is
heard from heaven,
00:52:51.03\00:52:52.40
come out of her My people,
00:52:52.40\00:52:54.14
that midnight cry
really takes on force
00:52:54.14\00:52:57.81
when just like the
Christians in Jerusalem
00:52:57.81\00:53:00.34
saw the sign that God gave them.
00:53:00.34\00:53:02.71
So there is a sign that God
is giving us in the last days
00:53:02.71\00:53:05.88
and when we begin to see
those signs being fulfilled
00:53:05.88\00:53:08.65
that will awaken the church.
00:53:08.65\00:53:10.82
We will study the scriptures,
the latter rain comes,
00:53:10.82\00:53:14.06
and you have the
loud cry of Revelation 18.
00:53:14.06\00:53:18.39
Verse 7 says,
00:53:18.39\00:53:19.59
"Then all the virgins arose
and they trimmed their lamps."
00:53:19.59\00:53:21.70
They all went back to the Word
00:53:21.70\00:53:22.90
and started studying
saying, "Is this it."
00:53:22.90\00:53:25.23
Verse 8, "And the
foolish said to the wise,
00:53:25.23\00:53:27.10
'Give us of your oil,
for our lamps are going out."
00:53:27.10\00:53:30.34
But the wise answered
00:53:30.34\00:53:31.44
and said, "No lest then there
00:53:31.44\00:53:32.47
would be not
enough for us and for you,
00:53:32.47\00:53:33.84
but rather go and buy from those
00:53:33.84\00:53:36.75
who sell for yourselves."
00:53:36.75\00:53:39.08
It's interesting
in the last days,
00:53:39.08\00:53:40.58
there are going to be
many trying to sell oil.
00:53:40.58\00:53:44.12
What does the oil represent?
00:53:44.12\00:53:45.82
A Holy Spirit.
00:53:45.82\00:53:47.42
In the last days there is
a counterfeit manifestation
00:53:47.42\00:53:51.56
of the Holy Spirit.
00:53:51.56\00:53:53.19
We want to make sure
that we have the genuine oil,
00:53:53.19\00:53:55.66
not the counterfeit.
00:53:55.66\00:53:57.33
So there are those that go
looking for some experience,
00:53:57.33\00:54:01.07
looking for
something that they don't have.
00:54:01.07\00:54:03.20
Well, the devil is
there willing to give them
00:54:03.20\00:54:04.87
a counterfeit manifestation
of the Holy Spirit.
00:54:04.87\00:54:08.91
Well, then it goes
on, it says, verse 10,
00:54:08.91\00:54:14.25
"And while they went to
buy, the bridegroom came,
00:54:14.25\00:54:16.75
and those who were
ready went in with him,
00:54:16.75\00:54:18.89
and the door was shut."
00:54:18.89\00:54:21.56
What door is that referencing?
00:54:21.56\00:54:24.03
That's the door
that we read about
00:54:24.03\00:54:25.26
in Daniel 12:1 in Revelation 22
00:54:25.26\00:54:28.33
when Jesus says,
"He that is holy,
00:54:28.33\00:54:29.76
let him be holy still.
00:54:29.76\00:54:31.27
He that is filthy,
let him be filthy still,
00:54:31.27\00:54:33.17
that's the door of probation.
00:54:33.17\00:54:34.50
Probation closes.
00:54:34.50\00:54:36.47
Those who were
ready went in with him.
00:54:36.47\00:54:38.31
And verse 11 says,
00:54:38.31\00:54:39.37
"And afterwards
the other virgins
00:54:39.37\00:54:40.68
also came saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us.
00:54:40.68\00:54:43.48
But He answered and He said,
00:54:43.48\00:54:44.75
"Assuredly I say unto
you, I do not know you."
00:54:44.75\00:54:49.45
So the difference
between the wise and the foolish
00:54:49.45\00:54:51.59
is that the wise had a
personal connection with Jesus.
00:54:51.59\00:54:56.09
They knew Jesus
and Jesus knew them.
00:54:56.09\00:54:59.96
The foolish had an
understanding of truth.
00:54:59.96\00:55:02.66
They recognized the binding
nature of the Ten Commandments.
00:55:02.66\00:55:05.90
They had the Bible,
00:55:05.90\00:55:06.94
they were looking
forward to the coming of Jesus,
00:55:06.94\00:55:09.07
but they didn't have
00:55:09.07\00:55:10.11
that personal
connection with Christ,
00:55:10.11\00:55:12.91
and they were unprepared
when the final crisis came.
00:55:12.91\00:55:17.35
That's how we
prepare for the final crisis,
00:55:17.35\00:55:21.05
getting to know Jesus,
spending time with Jesus,
00:55:21.05\00:55:25.89
that is the
most important lesson
00:55:25.89\00:55:28.36
that we can
learn from Matthew 25,
00:55:28.36\00:55:31.53
The Parable of the Ten Virgins.
00:55:31.53\00:55:32.86
We must get to know
Jesus for ourselves.
00:55:32.86\00:55:36.46
Intellectual
understanding is not enough.
00:55:36.46\00:55:39.27
I want to close by
reading this statement
00:55:39.27\00:55:41.00
from the book
Christ Object Lessons.
00:55:41.00\00:55:42.74
I think it's very important.
00:55:42.74\00:55:45.27
And it really highlights
what we need to be doing today.
00:55:45.27\00:55:47.81
It says, "The Spirit
works upon man's heart
00:55:47.81\00:55:50.01
according to his
desire and consent
00:55:50.01\00:55:53.85
implanting in him a new nature,
00:55:53.85\00:55:58.32
but the class represented
by the foolish virgins
00:55:58.32\00:56:01.59
have been content
with a superficial work.
00:56:01.59\00:56:06.06
They do not know God.
00:56:06.06\00:56:09.40
They have not
studied His character."
00:56:09.40\00:56:11.33
And here's the
point I want you to note.
00:56:11.33\00:56:13.10
"They have not
held communion with Him,
00:56:13.10\00:56:17.71
therefore they do not know how
to trust, how to look and love.
00:56:17.71\00:56:23.28
Their service to God
degenerates into just a form."
00:56:23.28\00:56:29.32
The most important lesson
00:56:29.32\00:56:30.39
that I think we can
take from this study
00:56:30.39\00:56:32.19
is the
importance of knowing Jesus.
00:56:32.19\00:56:35.32
Not just knowing about Jesus,
00:56:35.32\00:56:37.26
it's not enough just
to know the doctrines,
00:56:37.26\00:56:39.56
Jesus said to the
religious leaders,
00:56:39.56\00:56:41.16
you search the scriptures
00:56:41.16\00:56:42.70
and in them you think
you have eternal life,
00:56:42.70\00:56:44.37
but these are they
that testify of Me,
00:56:44.37\00:56:47.24
but you won't come to Me.
00:56:47.24\00:56:49.00
The essence of
being ready for the end
00:56:49.00\00:56:51.44
is having that
personal connection with Jesus.
00:56:51.44\00:56:54.24
Amen.
00:56:54.24\00:56:55.48
Is that what you desire?
00:56:55.48\00:56:57.21
Absolutely.
00:56:57.21\00:56:58.58
Well, friends, we want
to thank you for joining us
00:56:58.58\00:57:00.32
here at Sabbath
School Study Hour today.
00:57:00.32\00:57:02.88
And I hope if you have
not studied the lesson,
00:57:02.88\00:57:05.42
you can also take a closer
look at some of the lesson
00:57:05.42\00:57:08.42
and some of the points mentioned
00:57:08.42\00:57:10.19
by just going to the
Amazing Facts website.
00:57:10.19\00:57:12.49
Just amazingfacts.org.
00:57:12.49\00:57:15.03
Until next week, God bless.
00:57:15.03\00:57:18.17
Let's face it,
it's not always easy
00:57:18.17\00:57:20.54
to understand everything
you read in the Bible.
00:57:20.54\00:57:23.30
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.57
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:57:25.57\00:57:27.44
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:57:27.44\00:57:30.05
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:57:30.05\00:57:32.45
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:57:32.45\00:57:35.05
For times and
stations in your area
00:57:35.05\00:57:37.19
or to listen to answers online,
00:57:37.19\00:57:39.09
visit bal.amazingfacts.org.
00:57:39.09\00:57:44.03
Can't get enough
Amazing Facts Bible study?
00:57:44.03\00:57:46.70
You don't have to wait
00:57:46.70\00:57:47.76
until next week to enjoy
more truth filled programming.
00:57:47.76\00:57:51.23
Visit the Amazing Facts
media library at aftv.org.
00:57:51.23\00:57:56.20
At aftv.org, you can enjoy
video and audio presentations,
00:57:56.20\00:58:01.28
as well as printed
material all free of charge,
00:58:01.28\00:58:04.58
24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
00:58:04.58\00:58:07.15
right from your
computer or mobile device.
00:58:07.15\00:58:09.58
Visit aftv.org.
00:58:09.58\00:58:12.29