Hi, friends.
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You know, the
modern flags that we see
00:00:12.41\00:00:14.14
flying from the top
of capital buildings
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right in front
of patriotic homes
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really stem back
from the times of battles
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being fought
between warring nations.
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These beautifully designed
and intricately colored banners
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were flown high
above the battlefield,
00:00:26.39\00:00:28.19
so the warring forces were
able to identify amid the chaos,
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and the smoke,
and the fog of war
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where their forces were rallied
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and where they were
fighting the battle.
00:00:35.13\00:00:36.70
And if you could
capture your enemy's flag,
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it was considered
the highest honor.
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I wonder if that's where we
got the game "Capture the flag".
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With the changes in war,
00:00:45.34\00:00:46.91
now these flags also represent
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a little more of the demarcation
00:00:48.58\00:00:50.48
and identification of
different nationalities.
00:00:50.51\00:00:52.98
Today the flags that represent
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the different
nations of the world
00:00:54.55\00:00:55.88
are very colorful and diverse.
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And all of the colors
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and the shapes
have a specific meaning.
00:00:58.65\00:01:00.79
They're easy to distinguish
and recognize from one another.
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Perhaps one of the most
interesting flags in the world
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is the flag of the Philippines.
00:01:06.90\00:01:08.90
This is unique
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because it is flown
differently in times of peace
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than it is in times of war.
00:01:12.83\00:01:14.60
During times of peace,
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the Filipino
flag that's composed
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red, white, blue, and yellow
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is flown with a blue side up.
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But in times of war,
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they flip it around
and the red side is up
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because there they're
willing to make sacrifices
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of their blood to defend
the freedom of the country.
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In the same way that an embassy
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that is situated in a
foreign country flies their flag
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while still
surrounded by another nation,
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Christians are supposed to
have the flag of God's love
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flying in this fallen world.
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You can read in the
book, Song of Solomon 2:4,
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"His banner over me is love."
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Love is the flag
that identifies Christians
00:01:50.14\00:01:52.57
as a unique kingdom
even here in the world.
00:01:52.61\00:01:55.71
So, friend, the big question is,
00:01:55.74\00:01:57.55
how are you flying your flag?
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Let's face it,
it's not always easy
00:02:06.92\00:02:09.22
to understand everything
you read in the Bible.
00:02:09.26\00:02:11.79
With over 700,000
words contained in 66 books,
00:02:11.83\00:02:15.56
the Bible can
generate a lot of questions.
00:02:15.60\00:02:18.20
To get biblical
straightforward answers,
00:02:18.23\00:02:20.44
call into Bible Answers Live,
00:02:20.47\00:02:22.20
a live nationwide
call-in radio program
00:02:22.24\00:02:24.97
where you can talk
to Pastor Doug Batchelor
00:02:25.01\00:02:27.31
and ask him your most
difficult Bible questions.
00:02:27.34\00:02:29.81
For times and
stations in your area
00:02:29.84\00:02:32.01
or to listen to answers online,
visit Bal.AmazingFacts.org.
00:02:32.05\00:02:37.35
Welcome to
Sabbath School Study Hour.
00:03:17.53\00:03:19.63
I am so excited
that you are tuning in.
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Our international family,
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our family across North America,
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we are so excited
that you have joined us
00:03:26.37\00:03:28.90
for entire
Sabbath School Study Hour,
00:03:28.94\00:03:30.71
coming to you
from the Granite Bay
00:03:30.74\00:03:32.21
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:03:32.24\00:03:33.74
currently located
in Rocklin, California.
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We are studying
together on the end of time
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and that will be
our lesson today.
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Lesson number 11, God's
Seal or the Beast's Mark.
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So stay tuned, but before
we get into our lesson study,
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we're going to sing.
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And we want you to join
us on one of our favorites.
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Every week I say
it's our favorites
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because we truly do.
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We have so many favorites
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and I know that
they are yours as well.
00:04:00.80\00:04:03.54
We're going to sing a
song that's not in your hymnal
00:04:03.57\00:04:05.97
but the lyrics
are on the big screen.
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"Here I am, Lord" and I
hope that you pay attention
00:04:08.64\00:04:11.95
to the words that we're singing.
00:04:11.98\00:04:13.72
Here I am, Lord.
00:04:13.75\00:04:14.95
Is it I, Lord?
00:04:14.98\00:04:16.58
Have you called me?
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Are you going for a God?
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I hope that you will sing
with us on this beautiful song.
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Thank you so
much for joining us.
00:08:36.58\00:08:38.61
And before we have our lesson,
00:08:38.65\00:08:40.68
I'm going to tell
you about our free offer
00:08:40.72\00:08:42.42
that we have for you.
00:08:42.45\00:08:43.49
Every week we
have something that...
00:08:43.52\00:08:46.15
We've encourage you
to write, call, e-mail,
00:08:46.19\00:08:50.56
and now you can text for this.
00:08:50.59\00:08:52.69
It is entitled,
"The Mark of the Beast"
00:08:52.73\00:08:54.20
and it goes along
with our lesson today.
00:08:54.23\00:08:56.80
And it is free,
offer number 127.
00:08:56.83\00:09:00.47
All you have to
do, it's very simple,
00:09:00.50\00:09:02.34
is call 866-788-3966,
00:09:02.37\00:09:06.11
which is 866-Study-More.
00:09:06.14\00:09:10.08
Or you can go to Amazing
Facts' website AmazingFacts.org.
00:09:10.11\00:09:14.85
And here's the easy one,
00:09:14.88\00:09:16.25
you can text the
code "SH049" to 40544.
00:09:16.28\00:09:22.66
Once again, text the
code "SH049" to 40544,
00:09:22.69\00:09:29.26
and you can get
The Mark of the Beast
00:09:29.30\00:09:30.77
biblical study guide.
00:09:30.80\00:09:32.53
It will answer every question
00:09:32.57\00:09:33.60
that you have ever had
about the mark of the beast.
00:09:33.64\00:09:36.07
So go ahead and let us
know that you want that,
00:09:36.10\00:09:38.77
and we would
love to hear from you.
00:09:38.81\00:09:41.21
Father in heaven, thank
you so much for the opportunity
00:09:41.24\00:09:44.21
that we have to be
here to open up Your Word
00:09:44.25\00:09:46.41
and study together
on this important topic
00:09:46.45\00:09:49.35
of the mark of the beast.
00:09:49.38\00:09:50.89
And I pray that You will
make our hearts receptive,
00:09:50.92\00:09:54.16
that we will
have listening ears,
00:09:54.19\00:09:56.09
and that You will speak to us.
00:09:56.12\00:09:57.53
We thank You so much
00:09:57.56\00:09:58.66
for our extended
family around the world.
00:09:58.69\00:10:01.50
And those that are here
with us, here at Granite Bay,
00:10:01.53\00:10:04.27
and be with
Pastor and Dr. DeRose.
00:10:04.30\00:10:06.77
We thank You so much
00:10:06.80\00:10:07.90
that he is bringing
us our lesson study.
00:10:07.94\00:10:09.90
In Jesus' name, amen.
00:10:09.94\00:10:12.74
At this time, Dr. DeRose
will be bringing us our lesson.
00:10:12.77\00:10:19.05
Well, good morning
to each one of you.
00:10:19.08\00:10:22.65
We are indeed
continuing our study
00:10:22.68\00:10:25.32
through the lesson quarterly,
00:10:25.35\00:10:27.12
"Preparation for the End Time"
00:10:27.16\00:10:29.89
and it is indeed lesson 11,
God's Seal or the Beast's Mark?
00:10:29.92\00:10:36.73
God's Seal or the Beast's Mark?
00:10:36.77\00:10:39.30
What do you share when
you introduce yourself?
00:10:45.04\00:10:49.51
Someone's meeting
you for the first time,
00:10:49.54\00:10:51.28
what kind of things do
you reveal about yourself?
00:10:51.31\00:10:57.05
I hear some of you saying,
00:10:57.09\00:10:58.05
well, your name, maybe
what kind of work you do,
00:10:58.09\00:11:00.62
maybe where you live,
00:11:00.66\00:11:02.59
but typically
we don't go through
00:11:02.62\00:11:04.56
the darker chapters
in our life history.
00:11:04.59\00:11:08.20
We wouldn't typically
say at a first meeting,
00:11:08.23\00:11:10.47
"We're glad to meet you.
00:11:10.50\00:11:11.87
My great
grandmother was a prostitute,
00:11:11.90\00:11:14.17
my great grandfather
was a murderer and..."
00:11:14.20\00:11:18.64
You get the picture.
00:11:18.67\00:11:19.74
Open your Bibles to Matthew 1,
00:11:23.28\00:11:26.98
some of you may already
realize where I'm headed.
00:11:27.02\00:11:31.32
And we'll see how this
fits in with our lesson today
00:11:31.35\00:11:34.62
because it's an unusual
way to introduce a book.
00:11:34.66\00:11:40.26
Matthew 1 begins with
the genealogy of Jesus.
00:11:40.30\00:11:45.43
And most of you who've
looked at this genealogy
00:11:45.47\00:11:47.74
written by someone
who was a publican,
00:11:47.77\00:11:50.27
someone, a member of a
despised class in Jesus' day,
00:11:50.31\00:11:54.14
that's Matthew,
the gospel writer.
00:11:54.18\00:11:56.85
As he writes this
genealogy of Jesus,
00:11:56.88\00:12:00.22
he includes some details
that many would, no doubt,
00:12:00.25\00:12:04.49
have been tempted to leave out.
00:12:04.52\00:12:05.99
But under inspiration,
00:12:06.02\00:12:07.39
listen to some of the details
00:12:07.42\00:12:09.86
that Matthew
brings out in verse 3.
00:12:09.89\00:12:12.66
"Judah begot Perez
and Zerah by Tamar,
00:12:12.69\00:12:17.00
Perez begot Hezron,
and Hezron begot Ram.
00:12:17.03\00:12:20.90
Ram begot Amminadab,
Amminadab begot Nahshon,
00:12:20.94\00:12:24.34
and Nahshon begot Salmon.
00:12:24.37\00:12:25.81
Salmon begot Boaz by
Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth,
00:12:25.84\00:12:31.51
Obed begot Jesse, and
Jesse begot David the king.
00:12:31.55\00:12:34.95
David the king
begot Solomon by her
00:12:34.98\00:12:37.52
who had been the wife of Uriah."
00:12:37.55\00:12:40.39
Let's just stop there.
00:12:40.42\00:12:41.42
Did you catch
over some of the names
00:12:41.46\00:12:43.53
that were
mentioned in this genealogy?
00:12:43.56\00:12:46.26
And by the way,
those genealogies
00:12:46.29\00:12:48.40
typically just
highlighted the men.
00:12:48.43\00:12:51.50
How many of you noticed
00:12:51.53\00:12:52.57
some female
names in the genealogy?
00:12:52.60\00:12:57.41
Yes, you heard...
00:12:57.44\00:12:59.47
Which ones?
00:12:59.51\00:13:00.61
Tamar first in verse
3, did you catch that?
00:13:00.64\00:13:03.48
Who was Tamar?
00:13:03.51\00:13:06.15
Yes, she was the
daughter-in-law of Judah,
00:13:06.18\00:13:09.48
who disguised
herself as a prostitute,
00:13:09.52\00:13:12.12
you can read the story.
00:13:12.15\00:13:13.56
And her
father-in-law went into her
00:13:13.59\00:13:15.86
and had an incestuous,
if you will, relationship.
00:13:15.89\00:13:20.06
And that was how...
00:13:20.10\00:13:22.83
that lineage dot was completed.
00:13:22.86\00:13:29.00
Who else is mentioned here?
00:13:29.04\00:13:32.14
Rahab, what was
Rahab's profession?
00:13:32.17\00:13:36.08
She was a prostitute.
00:13:36.11\00:13:39.55
You mentioned Ruth, Ruth
was a gentile, wasn't she?
00:13:39.58\00:13:44.32
Right?
00:13:44.35\00:13:45.35
You remember the story,
00:13:45.39\00:13:46.59
you say, "Well, Ruth sounds
like a little bit nobler class,
00:13:46.62\00:13:49.89
but she was a member of a class
00:13:49.92\00:13:51.23
that was hated and
cursed, the Moabites.
00:13:51.26\00:13:53.93
You can read
about them in the Bible
00:13:53.96\00:13:55.73
and how evil they
were to God's people.
00:13:55.76\00:13:59.50
And then you have
this mention in verse 6,
00:13:59.53\00:14:02.84
at the end, "David the
king begot Solomon by her
00:14:02.87\00:14:06.64
who had been the wife of Uriah."
00:14:06.68\00:14:09.01
Whose name is not
even mentioned there?
00:14:09.04\00:14:11.71
Bathsheba.
00:14:11.75\00:14:13.28
But the way is this sounding
like a peculiar genealogy?
00:14:13.31\00:14:17.85
But it's the genealogy of who?
00:14:17.89\00:14:20.76
Jesus.
00:14:20.79\00:14:21.82
Jesus coming to our
world through brokenness,
00:14:21.86\00:14:25.39
through
relationships tainted by sin,
00:14:25.43\00:14:28.50
through a
heritage that we would say
00:14:28.53\00:14:30.97
from a human perspective,
00:14:31.00\00:14:32.27
what good can come out of it.
00:14:32.30\00:14:35.94
Now why is there a connection
00:14:35.97\00:14:37.54
between this in our lesson study
00:14:37.57\00:14:41.34
dealing with God's
Seal or the Beast's Mark?
00:14:41.38\00:14:45.85
I would like to suggest to you
what we've been studying about
00:14:45.88\00:14:48.82
in these last lessons
00:14:48.85\00:14:50.52
is our heritage, is our lineage.
00:14:50.55\00:14:54.36
It's not someone else.
00:14:54.39\00:14:55.39
As a Christian church,
00:14:55.42\00:14:56.89
the lineage of
the Christian Church
00:14:56.93\00:14:59.23
goes through the Church of Rome,
00:14:59.26\00:15:01.76
the medieval Roman Church
00:15:01.80\00:15:03.13
that we studied
about last week, right?
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.13
For 1260 years,
00:15:06.17\00:15:08.20
we read how those prophecies
00:15:08.24\00:15:09.94
were fulfilled in
Daniel and Revelation,
00:15:09.97\00:15:12.57
and the medieval Roman Church,
00:15:12.61\00:15:14.28
sometimes
referred to as the papacy
00:15:14.31\00:15:16.48
was persecuting God's people.
00:15:16.51\00:15:19.45
This is the lineage of
the Christian Church today.
00:15:19.48\00:15:22.05
Now do some of you
have trouble with that?
00:15:22.08\00:15:24.55
Is that really our
lineage as Christians?
00:15:24.59\00:15:27.46
Now some of you might say,
00:15:27.49\00:15:28.52
"Well, I'm in the
lineage of the Waldenses
00:15:28.56\00:15:31.99
because I'm
embracing God's truth."
00:15:32.03\00:15:34.83
But I'm sharing with you
the Christian heritage is this.
00:15:34.83\00:15:38.73
And as we come to Revelation 13,
00:15:38.77\00:15:40.90
we looked at it
last week as well.
00:15:40.94\00:15:43.47
As we read
about those two beasts
00:15:43.51\00:15:45.31
and the image to the
beast into the picture
00:15:45.34\00:15:47.74
as we studied last
week, this is review.
00:15:47.78\00:15:50.28
Cometh the
Protestantism of America,
00:15:50.31\00:15:54.75
again our heritage.
00:15:54.78\00:15:56.95
And so instead of, as we
talk about the mark of the beast
00:15:56.99\00:16:01.92
as pointing to someone else,
00:16:01.96\00:16:03.99
I believe that the Bible
in the Book of Revelation
00:16:04.03\00:16:07.96
is wanting us to
look very carefully
00:16:08.00\00:16:09.96
at our own selves.
00:16:10.00\00:16:11.07
Yes, yes, don't
misunderstand what I'm saying.
00:16:11.10\00:16:16.47
The traditional
posture that we have taken
00:16:16.50\00:16:18.77
as Seventh-day
Adventist is correct.
00:16:18.81\00:16:21.51
The presentation
in our free offer,
00:16:21.54\00:16:23.71
The Mark of the
Beast is right on target.
00:16:23.75\00:16:26.82
But unfortunately,
sometimes things in the Bible
00:16:26.85\00:16:30.95
that have painted
historical personages
00:16:30.99\00:16:33.96
and future personages in
a less than desirable light
00:16:33.99\00:16:37.99
have led
Christians to point fingers.
00:16:38.03\00:16:42.13
I think the message today
00:16:42.16\00:16:43.50
is more
necessary than ever before
00:16:43.53\00:16:45.97
because we're in a
world that is very sensitive
00:16:46.00\00:16:48.84
about using religion
to oppress other people.
00:16:48.87\00:16:52.21
So as we speak today
about this important topic,
00:16:52.24\00:16:56.21
we are not pointing fingers
00:16:56.24\00:16:57.51
at any individual or any person
00:16:57.55\00:17:00.05
who has a certain heritage,
00:17:00.08\00:17:01.35
this is our
heritage as Christians
00:17:01.38\00:17:04.12
that we're looking at.
00:17:04.15\00:17:06.39
Well, with that background,
00:17:06.42\00:17:08.92
God has been
interested in something
00:17:08.96\00:17:12.06
for His people to share,
00:17:12.09\00:17:13.19
not just a
heritage that's marred,
00:17:13.23\00:17:15.76
but to be infused
with His heritage,
00:17:15.80\00:17:19.37
His line, and His principles.
00:17:19.40\00:17:23.04
In Sunday's lesson, we
see that God is anxious
00:17:23.07\00:17:26.71
not only to invite
everyone to be His,
00:17:26.74\00:17:30.21
but to seal them,
00:17:30.25\00:17:31.98
but to give them signs
that demonstrate their loyalty.
00:17:32.01\00:17:37.25
So the first sign
that we're going to look at
00:17:37.29\00:17:39.89
is actually one
that was highlighted
00:17:39.92\00:17:41.92
in the Old Testament times
00:17:41.96\00:17:43.43
and it comes to us in
a rich, rich heritage.
00:17:43.46\00:17:47.40
Turn in your
Bibles to Genesis 16
00:17:47.40\00:17:51.30
as we pick up the storyline.
00:17:51.33\00:17:53.30
I'm turning to Genesis 16,
00:17:53.34\00:17:54.77
this is, of course,
the story of Abraham,
00:17:54.80\00:17:58.31
the father of the faithful.
00:17:58.34\00:17:59.74
So again, we're
speaking about our heritage.
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.74
Now in Genesis 16,
00:18:06.68\00:18:09.05
we read that there was a
problem that Abraham had.
00:18:09.08\00:18:13.69
Now, you say, to just
jump in here might be unfair
00:18:13.72\00:18:17.49
and I know these
stories are often so familiar,
00:18:17.53\00:18:20.30
but if we were to
take the story of Abraham
00:18:20.33\00:18:23.87
from the beginning,
we'd start in Genesis 12.
00:18:23.90\00:18:27.17
And in Genesis 12,
00:18:27.20\00:18:28.44
the Lord has this
promise that He gives Abraham.
00:18:28.47\00:18:31.57
So let's start
there just to make sure
00:18:31.61\00:18:33.41
we're all in the same page.
00:18:33.44\00:18:35.28
Genesis 12:1,
00:18:35.31\00:18:38.38
God speaks, He says,
"Get out of your country,"
00:18:38.41\00:18:41.82
speaking to Abraham,
00:18:41.85\00:18:43.25
"leave your family,
leave your father's house.
00:18:43.28\00:18:46.25
Go to a land that I'll show you,
00:18:46.29\00:18:48.29
I will make you a great nation,
00:18:48.32\00:18:49.86
I will bless you and
make your name great.
00:18:49.89\00:18:53.73
You shall be a blessing,
00:18:53.76\00:18:54.76
I will bless
those who bless you,
00:18:54.83\00:18:56.13
and I will curse
him who curses you,
00:18:56.16\00:18:58.40
and in you all families of
the earth shall be blessed."
00:18:58.43\00:19:03.57
Now here's the question,
00:19:03.61\00:19:05.04
God was promising to make
of Abraham a great nation,
00:19:05.07\00:19:08.54
of course, he is
referred to as Abram here,
00:19:08.58\00:19:12.71
but how many are in Abram's line
00:19:12.75\00:19:15.78
at this point in the story?
00:19:15.82\00:19:17.15
How many
children does Abram have?
00:19:17.19\00:19:20.22
He has none.
00:19:20.26\00:19:21.52
And as the story plays out,
00:19:21.56\00:19:22.96
Abram begins to get
more and more worried
00:19:22.99\00:19:25.89
about his lack of lineage.
00:19:25.93\00:19:28.80
When we come to chapter 15,
Abraham is clearly struggling,
00:19:28.83\00:19:33.50
and so in chapter 15,
00:19:33.54\00:19:35.60
God again comes to
Abraham in a vision
00:19:35.64\00:19:38.74
and He says,
"Don't be afraid, Abram."
00:19:38.77\00:19:41.58
When do you say to
someone "Don't be afraid?"
00:19:41.61\00:19:45.01
When they're
afraid, that's right.
00:19:45.05\00:19:46.51
Don't be afraid, Abram's afraid.
00:19:46.55\00:19:48.92
He's afraid of what?
00:19:48.95\00:19:49.95
Listen what God
says, "I am your shield,
00:19:49.98\00:19:52.62
I'm your exceeding great reward.
00:19:52.65\00:19:54.66
But Abrams says," he
reveals what his fear is.
00:19:54.69\00:19:57.73
He says, "Lord God,
what will You give me,
00:19:57.76\00:20:01.93
seeing I go childless
00:20:01.96\00:20:04.00
and the heir of my
house is Eliezer of Damascus."
00:20:04.03\00:20:07.17
So he's looking to
one of his servants,
00:20:07.20\00:20:08.77
his chief servant, he's saying,
00:20:08.80\00:20:09.97
this is who's going to
have to inherit my line.
00:20:10.01\00:20:12.57
Lord, but You promised
00:20:12.61\00:20:13.64
You'd make of me a great nation.
00:20:13.68\00:20:18.01
What does God say?
00:20:18.05\00:20:19.38
Verse 4, "This one
shall not be your heir,
00:20:19.41\00:20:22.72
but one who will
come from your own body
00:20:22.75\00:20:25.62
shall be your heir."
00:20:25.65\00:20:27.82
And so God keeps
repeating this promise
00:20:27.86\00:20:30.43
of an abundant
heritage to Abraham.
00:20:30.46\00:20:34.23
Well by the time
we come to chapter 16,
00:20:34.30\00:20:36.56
Abraham's
really getting worried.
00:20:36.60\00:20:38.67
Now by the way,
I should mention,
00:20:38.70\00:20:41.50
one of the key texts in
the Bible is Genesis 15:6.
00:20:41.54\00:20:46.21
It is one of the
key text in the Bible
00:20:46.24\00:20:48.08
repeated again
in the New Testament
00:20:48.11\00:20:50.35
because in Genesis 15:6,
00:20:50.38\00:20:53.08
it says, Abram did what?
00:20:53.11\00:20:55.25
He believed God,
00:20:55.28\00:20:56.55
he believed in the
Lord, he trusted God,
00:20:56.58\00:20:59.52
and God counted it to
him for righteousness.
00:20:59.55\00:21:03.56
So we speak about
righteousness by faith,
00:21:03.59\00:21:06.13
trusting in God that
He'll fulfill His promises.
00:21:06.16\00:21:09.26
And really we're getting
at the essence of this issue
00:21:09.30\00:21:13.10
of God's seal versus
the mark of the beast.
00:21:13.13\00:21:15.34
We're seeing it
here in Abraham story
00:21:15.37\00:21:17.21
even though we may not be
seeing it clearly just yet.
00:21:17.24\00:21:21.48
When we come to Genesis 16,
00:21:21.51\00:21:26.15
what does Abraham do?
00:21:26.18\00:21:30.32
You know the story,
00:21:30.35\00:21:32.05
Abram still has no children,
00:21:32.09\00:21:33.92
his wife, Sarah,
sees there's no children,
00:21:33.96\00:21:37.33
she actually
suggest to Abram in 16:2,
00:21:37.36\00:21:42.60
"See now, the
Lord has restrained me
00:21:42.63\00:21:44.60
from bearing children.
00:21:44.63\00:21:45.63
Please, go to my maid,
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.44
perhaps I shall
obtain children by her."
00:21:47.47\00:21:51.71
Now is this crazy?
00:21:51.74\00:21:54.01
I mean it sounds crazy,
doesn't it, to us today?
00:21:54.04\00:21:57.05
But the thing is
Sarah believes the promise.
00:21:57.08\00:22:00.45
She believes that Abraham
will have children of his own,
00:22:00.48\00:22:03.32
from his own seed,
00:22:03.35\00:22:04.39
and she says,
"Well, I can't do it."
00:22:04.42\00:22:07.02
She's not really trusting
the Lord either, is she?
00:22:07.06\00:22:09.46
And so they take
matters into their own hands,
00:22:09.49\00:22:12.89
and Abraham does
have a child, Ishmael.
00:22:12.93\00:22:17.17
Now we're in chapter 17.
00:22:17.20\00:22:19.23
That was all background
for where we're headed.
00:22:19.27\00:22:22.97
Abram, now 99 years old,
00:22:23.00\00:22:28.08
and again God appears to him.
00:22:28.11\00:22:30.61
"He says I am Almighty God,
00:22:30.65\00:22:32.88
walk before Me and be blameless.
00:22:32.91\00:22:35.28
And I will make My
covenant between Me and you,
00:22:35.32\00:22:38.05
and will multiply
your seed exceedingly."
00:22:38.09\00:22:41.86
And as the story plays out,
00:22:41.89\00:22:44.89
God speaks of an
everlasting covenant.
00:22:44.93\00:22:49.00
And that covenant will be
given not through Ishmael,
00:22:49.03\00:22:55.97
but through a seed that
will be born miraculously,
00:22:56.00\00:23:00.78
a child born to
Abraham and to Sarah.
00:23:00.81\00:23:07.55
And in this
context, in this context,
00:23:07.58\00:23:11.52
God says in Genesis 17:10,
00:23:11.55\00:23:15.96
"This is My
covenant which you shall keep
00:23:15.99\00:23:18.69
between Me and you and
your descendants after you.
00:23:18.73\00:23:23.33
Every male child among
you shall be circumcised,
00:23:23.37\00:23:28.74
and you shall be circumcised
in the flesh of your foreskins,
00:23:28.77\00:23:32.71
and it shall be a
sign of the covenant
00:23:32.74\00:23:35.61
between Me and you."
00:23:35.64\00:23:38.51
We're going to have
one of our members share
00:23:38.55\00:23:41.45
a verse in just a
moment from Romans 4.
00:23:41.48\00:23:46.96
But before we do, I want
you to pick up the significance
00:23:46.99\00:23:50.59
of what's happening here.
00:23:50.63\00:23:52.53
What has Abraham
just done in chapter 16?
00:23:52.56\00:23:56.03
What has he
shown his trust was in?
00:23:56.06\00:24:01.70
His trust was in
his flesh, right?
00:24:01.74\00:24:04.67
In himself.
00:24:04.71\00:24:06.01
Abraham trusted in his flesh,
00:24:06.04\00:24:08.31
Sarah trusted
in Abraham's flesh.
00:24:08.34\00:24:12.25
And now, what is
God asking them to do?
00:24:12.28\00:24:16.28
The sign of the covenant becomes
00:24:16.32\00:24:18.45
a cutting off of the flesh.
00:24:18.49\00:24:22.26
Now you might say,
00:24:22.29\00:24:23.26
"Well, this is being a
little bit too graphic."
00:24:23.29\00:24:26.03
But we need to
turn in our Bibles
00:24:26.06\00:24:28.63
to Romans, Romans 4.
00:24:28.66\00:24:32.07
We have someone who'll be
00:24:32.10\00:24:33.13
reading that
for us, momentarily.
00:24:33.17\00:24:36.57
Romans 4:11 and 12.
00:24:36.60\00:24:39.67
"And he received the
sign of circumcision,
00:24:39.71\00:24:43.68
a seal of the
righteousness of the faith
00:24:43.71\00:24:48.15
which he had while
still uncircumcised,
00:24:48.18\00:24:52.89
that he might be the
father of all those who believe,
00:24:52.92\00:24:57.56
though they are uncircumcised,
00:24:57.59\00:25:00.80
that righteousness
might be imputed to them also,
00:25:00.83\00:25:05.87
and the father of circumcision
00:25:05.90\00:25:08.10
to those who not only
are of the circumcision,
00:25:08.14\00:25:12.31
but who also walk in
the steps of the faith
00:25:12.34\00:25:16.31
which our father Abraham
had while still uncircumcised."
00:25:16.34\00:25:23.05
Thank you.
00:25:23.08\00:25:24.82
Do you catch the picture here?
00:25:24.85\00:25:27.06
Abraham was righteous by
faith in Genesis 15, right?
00:25:27.09\00:25:32.03
And we get to Genesis 17,
now God is asking him a sign,
00:25:32.06\00:25:37.20
God is sealing him, it's a seal,
00:25:37.23\00:25:40.24
it's a sign of what?
00:25:40.27\00:25:43.94
Of righteousness by faith.
00:25:43.97\00:25:47.21
Do you catch this?
00:25:47.24\00:25:48.74
It's a sign that
he's trusting God,
00:25:48.78\00:25:51.41
he's cutting off his flesh,
00:25:51.45\00:25:53.38
he's saying, "I'm not
trusting in what I can do,
00:25:53.42\00:25:55.92
I'm trusting in God's promise."
00:25:55.95\00:25:58.52
And so God gives this
beautiful sign, it really is.
00:25:58.55\00:26:03.39
It's a seal as the
Apostle Paul put it of what?
00:26:03.43\00:26:08.50
A seal of the
righteousness by faith.
00:26:08.53\00:26:12.30
And I'd like to suggest to you
00:26:12.33\00:26:13.64
the essence of God's seal
00:26:13.67\00:26:15.57
always includes this
element of trusting in Him
00:26:15.60\00:26:19.51
and righteousness by faith.
00:26:19.54\00:26:22.54
Somehow trying to
find our righteousness
00:26:22.58\00:26:24.45
by what we do, but
righteousness by what?
00:26:24.48\00:26:28.82
By trusting a God
who calls us righteous
00:26:28.85\00:26:33.42
in the midst of
our sinfulness, right?
00:26:33.46\00:26:40.13
So we can come to
God just as we are.
00:26:40.16\00:26:41.86
He's not content to
leave us in sin, right?
00:26:41.90\00:26:46.50
But he sealed
Abraham before Abraham was
00:26:46.53\00:26:50.47
perfectly for the
child that even been born.
00:26:50.51\00:26:52.77
It was a sign of
Abraham's trust in the Father.
00:26:52.81\00:26:58.15
So we see this seal,
00:26:58.18\00:27:00.15
but what's crazy
about this outward seal
00:27:00.18\00:27:02.78
is what happened to it.
00:27:02.82\00:27:04.35
What was the history
of the Jewish nation?
00:27:04.39\00:27:08.69
By the time we come
to the Book of Galatians,
00:27:08.72\00:27:10.93
turn there, the Jews
had so perverted this sign,
00:27:10.96\00:27:15.36
this seal of
cutting off of the flesh,
00:27:15.40\00:27:17.63
of not depending on the
flesh and trusting in God,
00:27:17.67\00:27:20.27
but they began to
trust in the sign...
00:27:20.30\00:27:24.41
But it was a sign that they
didn't trust in their flesh.
00:27:24.44\00:27:26.68
Does that make any sense at all?
00:27:26.71\00:27:29.98
You say, "You just
said that way too quickly,
00:27:30.01\00:27:32.08
how could it make
sense to anybody."
00:27:32.11\00:27:34.75
Did you catch it?
00:27:34.78\00:27:36.08
God was saying
"You're cutting off the flesh,
00:27:36.12\00:27:38.22
you're not
trusting in the flesh,
00:27:38.25\00:27:39.55
it's a sign of
righteousness by faith."
00:27:39.59\00:27:41.46
And the Jews are going
around saying we are good
00:27:41.49\00:27:44.59
because we are the circumcised,
00:27:44.63\00:27:46.36
we're God's people,
00:27:46.39\00:27:47.40
we are trusting in our
flesh in so many words.
00:27:47.46\00:27:50.27
Look with me at Galatians.
00:27:50.30\00:27:51.90
It had gotten so bad,
00:27:51.93\00:27:53.17
the church had
become so polarized,
00:27:53.20\00:27:54.84
the early church,
and some were thinking
00:27:54.87\00:27:58.07
they had to be
circumcised to be saved.
00:27:58.11\00:28:01.68
Paul put it this
way, in Galatians 5:2,
00:28:01.71\00:28:07.82
"Indeed I, Paul, say to you
that if you become circumcised,
00:28:07.85\00:28:13.69
Christ will profit you nothing."
00:28:13.72\00:28:17.76
Now wait a minute,
how could that happen?
00:28:17.79\00:28:20.30
How could circumcision go
00:28:20.33\00:28:21.53
from a sign or a seal
of righteousness by faith
00:28:21.56\00:28:25.80
to a sign that someone
was not trusting in God?
00:28:25.83\00:28:30.01
Yes, because of tradition.
00:28:30.04\00:28:31.91
And because of
the misinterpretation
00:28:31.94\00:28:33.84
of the good thing
that God had given.
00:28:33.88\00:28:35.24
Now this is really
crazy when you think about it.
00:28:35.28\00:28:37.98
God gives a seal or a
sign of righteousness by faith
00:28:38.01\00:28:41.78
and His people can
pervert it into a sign
00:28:41.82\00:28:47.19
that becomes identified
00:28:47.22\00:28:48.46
with showing our own
righteousness by our works.
00:28:48.49\00:28:54.40
Now this is a sobering thought
as we continue this study
00:28:54.46\00:28:58.03
because this
theme does not stop,
00:28:58.07\00:29:02.40
as we continue to look
at this topic of sealing.
00:29:02.44\00:29:06.68
Sunday's lesson
doesn't stop with that seal
00:29:06.71\00:29:09.28
because in the New
Testament there is another seal,
00:29:09.31\00:29:11.95
another sign
that takes the place
00:29:11.98\00:29:14.62
of circumcision if you will.
00:29:14.65\00:29:16.48
Circumcision is set aside
as the sign of the covenant,
00:29:16.52\00:29:19.32
as a sign of
righteousness by faith
00:29:19.35\00:29:21.39
and in its place is
the sign of baptism.
00:29:21.42\00:29:25.56
Turn in your Bible to
another of Paul's letters,
00:29:25.59\00:29:27.96
this time we're going to Romans.
00:29:27.96\00:29:30.47
And again, we
want to catch this,
00:29:30.50\00:29:32.53
the significance of
baptism in Romans 6, Romans 6.
00:29:32.57\00:29:39.31
There are number of passages
00:29:43.18\00:29:44.58
that are mentioned
in the lesson study
00:29:44.61\00:29:47.25
but let's highlight
this one in particular,
00:29:47.28\00:29:52.59
Roman 6,
00:29:52.62\00:29:53.92
we could begin, well,
I'll begin with verse 1,
00:29:53.96\00:29:57.43
we probably should,
00:29:57.46\00:29:58.49
just in case you've
misunderstood anything
00:29:58.53\00:30:00.63
I've said to this point.
00:30:00.66\00:30:02.20
Romans 6:1 begins
with the question,
00:30:02.23\00:30:04.10
"What shall we say then?
00:30:04.13\00:30:05.67
Shall we continue in
sin that grace may abound?"
00:30:05.70\00:30:11.01
So by speaking about grace
and righteousness by faith,
00:30:11.04\00:30:14.04
we're not
setting aside God's law.
00:30:14.08\00:30:16.58
In fact, Paul makes
it quite emphatic here.
00:30:16.61\00:30:18.78
He says, he's not condoning sin,
00:30:18.81\00:30:22.02
his answer to that
rhetorical question,
00:30:22.05\00:30:24.72
"Shall we continue in sin
that grace may be abound?"
00:30:24.75\00:30:27.12
Verse 2, "Certainly not!
00:30:27.16\00:30:29.59
How shall we who died to
sin live any longer in it?
00:30:29.62\00:30:33.70
And then he
speaks about this sign
00:30:33.73\00:30:35.93
or this seal now of baptism.
00:30:35.96\00:30:38.93
"Or do you not
know that as many of us
00:30:38.97\00:30:41.24
as were baptized
into Christ Jesus
00:30:41.27\00:30:43.71
were baptized into His death?
00:30:43.74\00:30:46.14
Therefore we
were buried with Him
00:30:46.17\00:30:47.91
through baptism into death,
00:30:47.94\00:30:49.94
that just as Christ
was raised from the dead
00:30:49.98\00:30:52.55
by the glory of the Father,
00:30:52.58\00:30:54.75
even so we also should
walk in newness of life."
00:30:54.78\00:30:59.62
So you get the picture here.
00:30:59.65\00:31:01.69
So now our sign of
dying to self of identifying
00:31:01.72\00:31:05.73
with Christ's death is baptism.
00:31:05.76\00:31:09.80
So we go into the
watery grave in baptism.
00:31:09.83\00:31:12.57
We're fully immersed, we die
00:31:12.60\00:31:14.80
and then we are
resurrected up, right?
00:31:14.84\00:31:16.54
That beautiful symbolism.
00:31:16.57\00:31:19.04
And by the way, if you haven't
00:31:19.07\00:31:20.94
been baptized
with Bible baptism,
00:31:20.98\00:31:23.35
this is a reminder
that this is something
00:31:23.38\00:31:26.25
that God has
put His approval on.
00:31:26.28\00:31:28.78
And be sure to talk
with one of the elders
00:31:28.82\00:31:31.35
or one of the pastors here
00:31:31.39\00:31:33.15
because this is something
that God asks of His people.
00:31:33.19\00:31:36.99
You say, "Wait a minute,
if He asked something of us,
00:31:37.03\00:31:39.13
if He asked circumcision
of them in the Old Testament,
00:31:39.16\00:31:41.30
then surely it's some
work that must save us."
00:31:41.33\00:31:45.70
No, Jesus is complete.
00:31:45.73\00:31:49.47
Paul wrote, "You
are complete in Him."
00:31:49.50\00:31:53.64
It's not in our
lineage that we trust,
00:31:53.68\00:31:55.88
it's not in the
signs that we embrace,
00:31:55.91\00:31:58.78
although God uses those,
00:31:58.81\00:32:00.55
it's in
trusting a loving Father.
00:32:00.58\00:32:04.85
Have you thought
about it that way?
00:32:04.89\00:32:06.79
So think about it.
00:32:06.82\00:32:08.42
Are there people that
will be in the kingdom
00:32:08.46\00:32:10.69
that have never
had water baptism?
00:32:10.73\00:32:15.16
You know, Jesus
went through every step
00:32:15.20\00:32:17.40
the sinner needed to do.
00:32:17.43\00:32:18.73
And not only was Jesus
setting the example there
00:32:18.77\00:32:21.40
at the Jordan
when John baptized Him.
00:32:21.44\00:32:23.84
I believe that
Jesus was providing
00:32:23.87\00:32:25.81
a sufficient record
that can be assumed by anyone
00:32:25.84\00:32:32.65
who is in a situation
where they can't be baptized.
00:32:32.68\00:32:36.08
Maybe in an
unusual prison setting,
00:32:36.12\00:32:38.75
or maybe on a cross like that
thief who died beside Jesus.
00:32:38.79\00:32:43.12
No opportunity to
be baptized, was there?
00:32:43.16\00:32:46.13
But Jesus did what?
00:32:46.16\00:32:47.36
He gave him the
assurance of salvation.
00:32:47.40\00:32:49.90
Why?
00:32:49.93\00:32:50.97
Because he trusted in Him.
00:32:51.00\00:32:54.00
So God has used
signs of the covenant
00:32:54.04\00:32:57.34
throughout history.
00:32:57.37\00:32:58.77
But there are other signs
00:32:58.81\00:33:01.31
that mark people
into whose they are.
00:33:01.34\00:33:05.71
We're going to
have a scripture reading
00:33:05.75\00:33:06.92
from the Book of
Revelation in just a moment
00:33:06.95\00:33:08.92
from Revelation 13:16 and 17.
00:33:08.95\00:33:12.92
But before we go
there, just a reminder,
00:33:12.95\00:33:15.12
we've been looking at a drama
00:33:15.16\00:33:16.93
as the Book of
Revelation has been playing out.
00:33:16.96\00:33:18.99
And by the way,
lest we miss something,
00:33:19.03\00:33:21.86
lest we miss
something, some of you think,
00:33:21.90\00:33:24.20
I've been taking
liberty with saying
00:33:24.23\00:33:27.37
the heritage of
some of these powers,
00:33:27.40\00:33:30.17
and Romans 13 is a
heritage we all need to own.
00:33:30.21\00:33:35.01
But turn your
Bibles to Revelation 3.
00:33:35.04\00:33:38.81
Those of you who have
studied the Book of Revelation
00:33:38.85\00:33:40.72
realize that among
the parallel prophecies,
00:33:40.75\00:33:43.79
time prophecies in the Bible
00:33:43.82\00:33:46.19
are the prophecies
of the seven churches,
00:33:46.22\00:33:48.22
which, by the way, are
actually literal messages
00:33:48.26\00:33:50.29
to seven literal
churches in John's day,
00:33:50.33\00:33:52.63
but there are also prophetic
00:33:52.66\00:33:54.83
descriptions of
ages of church history.
00:33:54.83\00:33:58.63
And if you study out the seals,
00:33:58.67\00:34:00.67
it parallels
this very precisely.
00:34:00.70\00:34:03.77
And as you read
through Revelation 2-3,
00:34:03.81\00:34:06.34
in these letters
to the seven churches,
00:34:06.37\00:34:07.91
when we come to
the seventh church.
00:34:07.94\00:34:11.05
Bible scholars for
decades have realized,
00:34:11.08\00:34:13.82
this refers to the
last Christian Church era
00:34:13.85\00:34:18.89
when we come to that
last or the seventh church
00:34:18.92\00:34:21.26
which is known as
the Church of Laodicea.
00:34:21.29\00:34:24.29
So go with me
there to Revelation 3:14.
00:34:24.33\00:34:30.00
It says, "These
things says the Amen,
00:34:30.03\00:34:32.83
the Faithful and
the True Witness,
00:34:32.87\00:34:34.87
the Beginning of
the creation of God."
00:34:34.90\00:34:38.27
These are all
descriptors of Jesus
00:34:38.31\00:34:40.04
who was revealed to John 1.
00:34:40.08\00:34:43.35
And here is the words of Jesus,
verse 15, "I know your works,
00:34:43.38\00:34:47.12
that you are
neither cold nor hot.
00:34:47.15\00:34:48.65
Oh, I could wish
you were cold or hot.
00:34:48.68\00:34:51.55
So then, because
you are lukewarm,
00:34:51.59\00:34:53.25
and neither cold nor hot,
00:34:53.29\00:34:54.56
I will vomit
you out of My mouth.
00:34:54.59\00:34:57.39
Because you say, 'I am
rich, have become wealthy,
00:34:57.43\00:34:59.76
and have need of nothing',
00:34:59.79\00:35:00.86
and do not know
that you are wretched,
00:35:00.90\00:35:02.10
miserable, poor,
blind, and naked,
00:35:02.13\00:35:05.10
I counsel you to buy of
Me gold refined in the fire,
00:35:05.13\00:35:08.40
that you may be
rich, and white garments,
00:35:08.44\00:35:10.14
that you may be clothed,
00:35:10.17\00:35:12.37
that the shame of your nakedness
00:35:12.41\00:35:13.88
may not be revealed,
00:35:13.91\00:35:15.24
and anoint your
eyes with eye salve,
00:35:15.28\00:35:17.98
that you may see.
00:35:18.01\00:35:19.51
As many as I love,
I rebuke and chasten."
00:35:19.55\00:35:23.39
And then what is the message?
00:35:23.42\00:35:24.75
What is the summary of that
message to the end time church?
00:35:24.79\00:35:30.83
"Be zealous and repent."
00:35:30.86\00:35:34.36
So basically as we read
through the Book of Revelation,
00:35:34.36\00:35:36.87
it's not we're putting
down a group of people,
00:35:36.90\00:35:39.87
or a church, or a church system
00:35:39.90\00:35:42.24
that we're putting these people
down anyone connected with it,
00:35:42.27\00:35:45.01
and we're
supposed to walk proudly
00:35:45.04\00:35:47.01
because we have the seal of God
00:35:47.04\00:35:48.88
as we'll look at
a little bit later.
00:35:48.91\00:35:51.91
Another of God's seals,
00:35:51.95\00:35:54.18
but it's realizing that we
all need to examine ourselves.
00:35:54.22\00:35:58.62
The book is the
revelation of what?
00:35:58.65\00:36:01.86
Of Jesus.
00:36:01.89\00:36:03.36
It's not a revelation
of how good His people are,
00:36:03.39\00:36:05.96
it's a revelation
of how good Jesus is.
00:36:05.99\00:36:08.46
And the ones who stand complete
00:36:08.50\00:36:10.03
will see are the
ones who stand complete
00:36:10.07\00:36:12.33
because they
are hidden in Jesus,
00:36:12.37\00:36:15.97
hidden in Jesus.
00:36:16.00\00:36:18.21
Revelation 13
brings into focus...
00:36:18.24\00:36:23.41
Just one of the
places that brings into focus
00:36:23.45\00:36:26.88
the mark that Satan,
00:36:26.92\00:36:29.65
if you will, has
in Satan's kingdom.
00:36:29.68\00:36:32.39
We have someone
who's going to read for us
00:36:32.42\00:36:33.59
Revelation 13:16 and 17.
00:36:33.62\00:36:38.16
"And He causes all,
00:36:38.19\00:36:39.59
both small and great,
rich and poor, free and slave,
00:36:39.63\00:36:44.60
to receive a mark
on their right hand
00:36:44.63\00:36:46.70
or on their foreheads,
00:36:46.74\00:36:48.24
and that no one may
buy or sell except one
00:36:48.27\00:36:51.31
who has the mark or
the name of the beast,
00:36:51.34\00:36:54.28
or the number of his name."
00:36:54.31\00:36:56.85
So again, this
is a bit of review
00:36:56.88\00:36:58.55
but it's critical
for today's topic.
00:36:58.58\00:37:00.45
We looked last week at
the identity of the beast.
00:37:00.48\00:37:03.85
And we saw that it...
00:37:03.89\00:37:05.02
That first beast
power in Revelation 13
00:37:05.05\00:37:08.42
applies with particular force
to the medieval Roman church,
00:37:08.46\00:37:13.06
sometimes referred to as
the institution of the papacy,
00:37:13.09\00:37:16.46
and it's rightly
been pointed out,
00:37:16.50\00:37:18.00
and we've tried to
allude to this already
00:37:18.03\00:37:20.60
that this is not speaking about
individuals in that church,
00:37:20.64\00:37:24.21
it's not speaking
about any individual pope,
00:37:24.24\00:37:26.68
it's speaking about a
system that Pastor John
00:37:26.71\00:37:29.68
so clearly portrayed
last week is a system
00:37:29.71\00:37:34.35
that historically has set itself
00:37:34.38\00:37:36.18
in opposition to
God's principles.
00:37:36.22\00:37:39.55
It is really a
system, if you will,
00:37:39.59\00:37:44.03
that has trusted
in its own judgment,
00:37:44.06\00:37:47.10
in its own flesh, right?
00:37:47.13\00:37:49.23
There is in
contrast to that seal
00:37:53.27\00:37:59.04
that sign of
allegiance to the beast
00:37:59.07\00:38:02.94
that is a sign of
allegiance to God.
00:38:02.98\00:38:05.58
And in the end times,
00:38:05.61\00:38:07.55
what is highlighted
in the Book of Revelation
00:38:07.58\00:38:09.48
is not circumcision,
that's been set aside,
00:38:09.52\00:38:13.46
baptism, although
it's still reinforced
00:38:13.49\00:38:15.52
in the New Testament that
is not the identifiable seal
00:38:15.56\00:38:19.36
that is especially highlighted
in the Book of Revelation.
00:38:19.39\00:38:24.57
We want to look at a
very interesting verse,
00:38:24.60\00:38:27.17
and someone has this
scripture for us as well.
00:38:27.20\00:38:30.01
Because we're going to find
that there is an internal seal
00:38:30.04\00:38:33.91
as well as an external seal.
00:38:33.94\00:38:36.81
And both of
these go hand in hand.
00:38:36.85\00:38:38.98
That internal seal again
00:38:39.01\00:38:40.52
is described very clearly
00:38:40.55\00:38:42.18
in the writings
of the Apostle Paul
00:38:42.22\00:38:44.29
in his letter to
the church of Ephesus.
00:38:44.32\00:38:47.02
Someone's going to read for us
in just a moment from Ephesus,
00:38:47.06\00:38:50.33
the letter to the
Ephesians 1:13 and 14.
00:38:50.36\00:38:55.86
Ephesians 1:13 and 14,
00:38:55.90\00:38:58.37
"In Him you also trusted,
00:38:58.40\00:39:01.30
after you heard
the word of truth,
00:39:01.34\00:39:03.34
the gospel of your salvation,
in whom also, having believed,
00:39:03.37\00:39:07.34
you were sealed with
the Holy Spirit of promise,
00:39:07.38\00:39:10.31
who is the
guarantee of our inheritance
00:39:10.35\00:39:12.95
until the redemption of
the purchased possession,
00:39:12.98\00:39:15.68
to the praise of His glory."
00:39:15.72\00:39:18.75
So the Book of Ephesians
00:39:18.79\00:39:20.52
is writing again
to a polarized church.
00:39:20.56\00:39:24.33
In case, if you
gonna go back in history,
00:39:24.36\00:39:26.43
by the way,
Ephesus is the first church
00:39:26.46\00:39:29.20
mentioned in the
Book of Revelation.
00:39:29.23\00:39:31.37
It is one of those
seven churches identified.
00:39:31.40\00:39:33.60
So it being what we
would call "Turkey" today.
00:39:33.64\00:39:36.71
And as Paul was writing
to this Christian Church,
00:39:36.74\00:39:39.44
there was a lot of tension
between Jews and Gentiles.
00:39:39.47\00:39:43.01
So in the Book of Ephesians,
00:39:43.04\00:39:44.68
Paul is speaking of how
Christ makes us all one,
00:39:44.71\00:39:47.15
we're all one in Him.
00:39:47.18\00:39:48.95
And some of the most beautiful
expressions of salvation
00:39:48.98\00:39:52.65
are found in Ephesians 2,
00:39:52.69\00:39:55.66
about God, who is rich in mercy,
00:39:55.69\00:39:59.13
not looking to us
for what we've done.
00:39:59.16\00:40:01.50
Well, look at
there, Ephesians 2:4.
00:40:01.53\00:40:04.43
Let's just read
some of these verses.
00:40:04.47\00:40:06.90
Ephesians 2:4, "God,
who is rich in mercy,
00:40:06.94\00:40:10.37
because of His great
love with which He loved us,
00:40:10.41\00:40:13.38
even when we were
dead in trespasses."
00:40:13.41\00:40:16.11
So was our situation.
00:40:16.14\00:40:18.15
Our lineage and our own
behavior condemns us, okay?
00:40:18.18\00:40:21.38
We have nothing to boast in.
00:40:21.42\00:40:23.45
But God is what?
00:40:23.49\00:40:25.19
Rich in mercy.
00:40:25.22\00:40:27.79
Now many people aspire to have
wealth in our culture, right?
00:40:27.82\00:40:32.19
But how many people really
aspire to be rich in the things
00:40:32.23\00:40:35.13
that are of most value.
00:40:35.16\00:40:38.70
How many of you
aspire to be rich in mercy?
00:40:38.73\00:40:42.54
Rich in mercy,
00:40:42.57\00:40:43.77
this is the
characteristic of our Father.
00:40:43.81\00:40:46.07
He is rich in mercy,
00:40:46.11\00:40:47.34
and it says, "His great
love wherewith He loved us,
00:40:47.38\00:40:52.71
even when we were
dead in trespasses."
00:40:52.75\00:40:56.28
So how do you feel today?
00:40:56.32\00:40:58.25
Are you seeing
yourself dead in trespasses?
00:40:58.29\00:41:00.82
Do you see your sin before you?
00:41:00.86\00:41:02.96
The Bible often
paints that picture to us.
00:41:02.99\00:41:06.63
And it's not to
drive us into the dirt,
00:41:06.66\00:41:08.50
it's to help us realize
that we have a loving Father
00:41:08.53\00:41:11.47
who forgives all of us who
have trespassed great light.
00:41:11.50\00:41:15.97
Isn't that good news?
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.97
And so, Paul here in this letter
00:41:18.01\00:41:19.51
is establishing our faith,
he's establishing it on Jesus.
00:41:19.54\00:41:24.95
"He made us alive," I'm
continuing Ephesians 2:5,
00:41:24.98\00:41:27.98
"We're made alive
together with Christ.
00:41:28.02\00:41:29.72
He's raised us up together,
00:41:29.75\00:41:31.09
He's made us sit together
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.52
in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus,
00:41:32.55\00:41:34.96
that in the ages to come
00:41:34.99\00:41:36.26
He might show the
exceeding riches of His grace
00:41:36.29\00:41:38.99
and His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus.
00:41:39.03\00:41:41.26
For by grace you have
been saved through faith,
00:41:41.30\00:41:44.30
and that not of yourselves,
00:41:44.33\00:41:45.63
it is the gift of
God, not of works,
00:41:45.67\00:41:48.47
lest anyone should boast."
00:41:48.50\00:41:50.34
But Paul doesn't stop there.
00:41:50.37\00:41:52.01
Many Christian would
like to stop right there
00:41:52.04\00:41:54.61
but he continues in verse 10,
00:41:54.64\00:41:56.24
"For we are His workmanship,
00:41:56.28\00:41:58.25
created in Christ
Jesus for good works,
00:41:58.28\00:42:01.38
which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them."
00:42:01.42\00:42:05.55
So coming back to Ephesians
1 that we just heard read.
00:42:05.59\00:42:09.96
In Ephesians 1, God
speaks of a redeemed people
00:42:09.99\00:42:13.40
that are sealed internally
and they are sealed how?
00:42:13.43\00:42:18.73
With the Holy Spirit of promise.
00:42:18.77\00:42:22.07
How can we live the kind of
00:42:22.10\00:42:23.91
lives that God wants us to live?
00:42:23.94\00:42:26.34
It said, we just read it.
00:42:26.37\00:42:27.84
We're called in
Jesus to good works.
00:42:27.88\00:42:30.75
We're not saved by our works,
00:42:30.78\00:42:32.28
but we're called
to live in harmony
00:42:32.31\00:42:35.75
with God's loving principles.
00:42:35.78\00:42:37.82
What's the longest
chapter in the Bible?
00:42:37.85\00:42:41.36
Psalm 119, that's right.
00:42:41.39\00:42:43.06
What does Psalm 119 all about?
00:42:43.09\00:42:46.23
It's the psalmist rejoicing
in how much he loves the law.
00:42:46.26\00:42:50.30
Now it's true, the law
points to our need for a savior.
00:42:50.33\00:42:54.40
The law drives us to Jesus.
00:42:54.44\00:42:56.64
But once we're there,
the law has not ceased.
00:42:56.67\00:43:00.74
It's another important purpose
00:43:00.78\00:43:02.68
and that is
revealing God's character.
00:43:02.71\00:43:05.71
We see in the law,
God's loving character.
00:43:05.75\00:43:08.32
We see what it looks like
to love God with all our heart,
00:43:08.35\00:43:12.02
mind, and soul, and to
love our neighbor as ourselves.
00:43:12.05\00:43:14.49
And so it should
come as no surprise
00:43:14.52\00:43:16.42
as we're looking at this topic
00:43:16.46\00:43:18.06
from this
perspective that the seal of God
00:43:18.09\00:43:21.46
as identified in
the Book of Revelation
00:43:21.50\00:43:24.60
is a surprising
one to some Christians.
00:43:24.63\00:43:27.50
So go back with
me to Revelation 13,
00:43:27.54\00:43:31.21
we just read, not long ago,
00:43:31.24\00:43:33.04
from Revelation 13 about
the mark or the seal of a power
00:43:33.07\00:43:37.35
that sets itself in opposition
to God and His people.
00:43:37.38\00:43:41.32
But now we come
to Revelation 14.
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.75
And someone, in just a
moment, is going to read
00:43:44.79\00:43:46.79
how just right after this
mark of the beast is described,
00:43:46.82\00:43:52.83
we have the mark or the
seal of God referred to.
00:43:52.86\00:43:56.67
So Revelation 14:1.
00:43:56.70\00:44:03.37
"Then I looked, and behold,
a Lamb standing on Mount Zion,
00:44:03.41\00:44:08.14
and with Him one
hundred and forty-four thousand,
00:44:08.18\00:44:11.51
having His Father's name
written on their foreheads."
00:44:11.55\00:44:16.35
So there is
something in Revelation 13:16,
00:44:16.38\00:44:19.69
it's on the foreheads
of those who are identified
00:44:19.72\00:44:24.26
with the beast powers.
00:44:24.29\00:44:27.13
And there is
something on the forehead
00:44:27.20\00:44:29.83
of those who are
identified with God.
00:44:29.86\00:44:32.23
What is this on the forehead
00:44:32.27\00:44:34.40
of those who
have trusted in Jesus?
00:44:34.44\00:44:39.14
What's on their foreheads?
00:44:39.17\00:44:40.54
Well, it's a
sealing, it's the name.
00:44:44.31\00:44:47.42
You see it
there, Revelation 14:1,
00:44:47.45\00:44:50.45
"The Father's name
is on their foreheads."
00:44:50.49\00:44:54.29
Now turn your
Bibles to Exodus 34
00:44:54.32\00:44:56.99
just to remind you of something,
00:44:57.03\00:44:58.79
God's name is
synonymous with His character.
00:44:58.83\00:45:02.36
When we speak
about the name of God,
00:45:02.40\00:45:04.43
we're speaking
about God's character.
00:45:04.47\00:45:06.70
The righteous are
sealed with God's character.
00:45:06.74\00:45:10.84
Exodus 34,
00:45:10.87\00:45:14.11
you know that Moses was
longing for a revelation,
00:45:14.14\00:45:17.45
a fuller revelation of God.
00:45:17.48\00:45:21.82
He asked God to see him.
00:45:21.85\00:45:27.19
In Exodus 34:5, Exodus 34:5,
00:45:27.22\00:45:30.83
we read this, "Now the
Lord descended in the cloud
00:45:30.86\00:45:33.46
and stood with
him," with Moses there,
00:45:33.50\00:45:35.56
"and proclaimed," what?
00:45:35.60\00:45:38.17
"The name of the Lord."
00:45:38.20\00:45:40.50
So God is now
going to proclaim...
00:45:40.54\00:45:42.10
Is He going to just say,
"Jehovah, Jehovah, Jehovah,"
00:45:42.14\00:45:46.04
is that what
we're going to hear?
00:45:46.07\00:45:47.61
He's going to
proclaim the name of the Lord,
00:45:47.64\00:45:49.51
what are we going to hear?
00:45:49.54\00:45:51.68
Look what it says, verse 6,
00:45:51.71\00:45:53.15
"The Lord passed before him
and proclaimed, 'The Lord,'"
00:45:53.18\00:45:55.95
yes, there is
that holy name of God,
00:45:55.98\00:45:57.89
Jehovah or Yahweh.
00:45:57.92\00:46:00.06
"The Lord God," continues
"merciful and gracious,
00:46:00.09\00:46:05.09
long suffering, and
abounding in goodness and truth,
00:46:05.13\00:46:08.60
keeping mercy for thousands,
00:46:08.63\00:46:10.57
forgiving iniquity
and transgression and sin,
00:46:10.60\00:46:14.07
by no means clearing the guilty,
00:46:14.10\00:46:16.17
visiting the iniquities of
the fathers upon the children
00:46:16.20\00:46:18.91
and the children's children
00:46:18.94\00:46:19.97
to the third and
fourth generation."
00:46:20.01\00:46:21.58
Now we like the
first part of it,
00:46:21.61\00:46:22.78
we say it's a
beautiful character,
00:46:22.81\00:46:24.21
loving, merciful, kind,
00:46:24.25\00:46:26.18
but, by the way,
00:46:26.21\00:46:28.55
do we appreciate
the character of someone
00:46:28.58\00:46:31.75
who overlooks atrocities,
00:46:31.79\00:46:34.62
someone who
overlooks things that harm us.
00:46:34.66\00:46:38.09
God is going to
purify the planet.
00:46:38.13\00:46:42.36
And those that cling to sin
00:46:42.40\00:46:43.93
will lovingly be
put out of their misery
00:46:43.97\00:46:49.30
before the
conclusion of all time.
00:46:49.34\00:46:54.68
What is the seal of God?
00:46:54.71\00:46:56.11
It's God's character
00:46:56.14\00:46:57.21
and it's especially represented,
00:46:57.25\00:46:58.68
it's especially
embodied in God's law.
00:46:58.71\00:47:01.32
And Wednesday and
Thursday's lesson,
00:47:01.35\00:47:03.25
Thursday in particular,
00:47:03.28\00:47:04.49
it speaks of the
Sabbath as a seal.
00:47:04.52\00:47:08.39
By the way, I don't
know if you picked up on it,
00:47:08.42\00:47:10.19
but when we read that message
00:47:10.23\00:47:12.96
to the last
church in Revelation 3,
00:47:12.99\00:47:16.60
how was one of the ways
that Jesus was identified?
00:47:16.63\00:47:19.90
Did you pick up on it?
00:47:19.93\00:47:21.80
It says, "He's the beginning
of the creation of God.
00:47:21.84\00:47:24.87
He is the source of creation."
00:47:24.91\00:47:26.84
So the Laodicean
Church, the end time church,
00:47:26.88\00:47:29.74
has a revelation
of Jesus as creator.
00:47:29.78\00:47:33.52
Look now with me...
00:47:33.55\00:47:36.55
at...
00:47:36.58\00:47:41.19
Exodus 20.
00:47:41.22\00:47:43.79
If we just want to
remind ourselves of something
00:47:43.83\00:47:45.89
that is basically pointed to
00:47:45.93\00:47:49.13
as we look at
God's end time seal.
00:47:49.16\00:47:53.77
Exodus 20, they
are familiar words
00:47:53.80\00:47:57.24
but as we read in the
heart of the commandment,
00:47:57.27\00:47:59.87
God's special sign, the Sabbath,
00:47:59.91\00:48:05.55
it says there in verse 11,
00:48:05.58\00:48:07.32
"For in six days, the Lord made
00:48:07.35\00:48:09.55
the heavens and
the earth, the sea,
00:48:09.58\00:48:13.36
and all that in them is,
00:48:13.39\00:48:16.06
and He rested the seventh day.
00:48:16.09\00:48:18.79
Therefore the Lord blessed
00:48:18.83\00:48:21.10
the Sabbath day
and hallowed it."
00:48:21.13\00:48:25.60
Now think about
this for a minute.
00:48:25.63\00:48:27.94
Think about this for a minute.
00:48:27.97\00:48:30.01
As we come to the
Book of Revelation,
00:48:30.04\00:48:32.57
as we've been looking
at God's end time people,
00:48:32.61\00:48:34.78
the people that trust Him fully,
00:48:34.81\00:48:37.01
that have absolute
confidence in the Father,
00:48:37.05\00:48:41.65
one of the things they're doing
00:48:41.68\00:48:42.92
is they're
representing God's character.
00:48:42.95\00:48:45.95
And as we read about
00:48:45.99\00:48:47.19
the seal of God
in multiple places,
00:48:47.22\00:48:50.03
by the way, you could look back
00:48:50.06\00:48:52.09
as far as Revelation
7, you'd see a seal there.
00:48:52.13\00:48:56.13
A sealing work is
taking place in Revelation 7.
00:48:56.16\00:49:01.10
As you read on, you read about
a sealing work taking place
00:49:01.14\00:49:05.81
in Revelation 14,
we just looked at it.
00:49:05.84\00:49:10.21
In contrast to those who
receive the mark of the beast,
00:49:10.25\00:49:14.32
as that third
angel's message is given,
00:49:14.35\00:49:17.89
we read in Revelation 14:12,
00:49:17.92\00:49:20.96
"Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:49:20.99\00:49:24.13
here are those who do," what?
00:49:24.16\00:49:26.19
"Keep the commandments of
God and the faith of Jesus."
00:49:26.23\00:49:32.73
We're called to worship
the Creator in the last days
00:49:39.04\00:49:42.94
and the sign of the Creator's
authority is the Sabbath.
00:49:42.98\00:49:47.05
God is wanting to place
His seal on our foreheads
00:49:47.08\00:49:50.55
that is basically in our minds.
00:49:50.59\00:49:53.79
You read about a mark
of the beast on the hand
00:49:53.82\00:49:55.72
and on the forehead...
00:49:55.76\00:49:56.76
By the way, and
we'll mention this again
00:49:56.79\00:49:58.99
just before we
finish, this study,
00:49:59.03\00:50:01.10
the mark of the beast
that we have is the free offer
00:50:01.13\00:50:04.30
goes into great
detail in all these things.
00:50:04.33\00:50:06.43
If you're wondering how
to connect all the dots,
00:50:06.47\00:50:09.57
but the point is simply this,
00:50:09.60\00:50:12.71
whether we accept this seal
00:50:12.74\00:50:16.78
of uniting with the beast power,
00:50:16.81\00:50:18.45
the powers that
are in opposition,
00:50:18.48\00:50:20.65
if you will, to God.
00:50:20.68\00:50:23.59
And the hand in the
Bible is a symbol of our works,
00:50:23.62\00:50:27.19
to mind our thoughts
whether we're deceived
00:50:27.22\00:50:31.33
and go along with
the end time powers
00:50:31.36\00:50:34.20
in opposition to God,
00:50:34.20\00:50:35.56
or whether we act in
harmony with those powers
00:50:35.60\00:50:39.70
for fear of economic boycott
00:50:39.73\00:50:43.34
or life itself.
00:50:43.37\00:50:46.78
We bear the
mark of the authority
00:50:46.81\00:50:51.88
of the earthly powers
that trust in themselves.
00:50:51.91\00:50:56.12
"Do God's will."
00:50:56.15\00:50:59.25
In contrast, we have a
choice, will we bear God's seal?
00:50:59.29\00:51:03.39
Will we allow His Holy Spirit
00:51:03.43\00:51:05.56
to put His
character in our lives
00:51:05.59\00:51:08.26
and to embrace His law,
00:51:08.30\00:51:10.57
which is His
character represented.
00:51:10.60\00:51:13.60
And especially, in
the heart of the law
00:51:13.64\00:51:16.00
is the seventh day Sabbath,
00:51:16.04\00:51:17.74
it is our sign that we are His.
00:51:17.77\00:51:21.34
Now lest again, coming
back to that opening imagery,
00:51:21.38\00:51:25.38
lest we somehow
think, this is a reason
00:51:25.41\00:51:27.95
to be proud that we
are keeping the Sabbath,
00:51:27.98\00:51:30.82
that we're here on
church on the seventh day,
00:51:30.85\00:51:34.69
on Saturday, lest we
are proud of ourselves
00:51:34.72\00:51:39.06
if we trust in
our Sabbath keeping,
00:51:39.09\00:51:42.23
we're just as lost as the Jews
00:51:42.26\00:51:45.07
who trusted in
their circumcision.
00:51:45.10\00:51:47.34
Our trust is where?
00:51:47.37\00:51:49.27
Our trust is in Jesus.
00:51:49.30\00:51:51.07
And we keep the Sabbath
as a sign of our loyalty
00:51:51.11\00:51:55.01
to the loving
Savior who saved us.
00:51:55.04\00:51:57.48
Do you see how
that comes through?
00:51:57.51\00:51:59.55
God's last day
message calls for His people
00:51:59.58\00:52:02.45
to come out of Babylon.
00:52:02.48\00:52:04.99
We're entrusted to give
that message to a world,
00:52:05.02\00:52:08.02
many of whom don't understand,
00:52:08.06\00:52:09.66
many wonderful Christians
00:52:09.69\00:52:11.13
don't realize this
special end time sign.
00:52:11.16\00:52:14.63
Do you want to
learn more about it?
00:52:14.66\00:52:16.56
Our closing offer
goes into much more detail
00:52:16.60\00:52:20.54
than we've been
able to touch on here.
00:52:20.57\00:52:21.90
And if you're disappointed
with what I didn't cover,
00:52:21.94\00:52:24.57
get this special
offer, The Mark of the Beast.
00:52:24.61\00:52:27.51
It is offer 127,
00:52:27.54\00:52:29.84
you can get it by
calling our toll free number,
00:52:29.88\00:52:32.61
that's 866-788-3966,
00:52:32.65\00:52:37.45
simply, 866-Study-More
00:52:37.49\00:52:40.86
or you can text
the code "SH049".
00:52:40.89\00:52:46.49
And you would text
that to the number 40544.
00:52:46.53\00:52:51.33
So text "SH049" to 40544,
00:52:51.37\00:52:55.94
and we can get
you an electronic copy
00:52:55.97\00:52:58.24
of the Amazing Facts Study Guide
00:52:58.27\00:53:00.04
entitled The Mark of the Beast.
00:53:00.08\00:53:03.24
Well, thank you
for joining us today.
00:53:03.28\00:53:04.78
By God's grace, we'll
be back again together
00:53:04.81\00:53:07.25
next week studying
more about the end time.
00:53:07.28\00:53:09.92
I invite you to join us then.
00:53:09.95\00:53:13.56
Can't get enough
Amazing Facts Bible Study?
00:53:13.59\00:53:16.32
You don't have to
wait until next week
00:53:16.36\00:53:18.06
to enjoy more
truth filled programming.
00:53:18.09\00:53:20.80
Visit the Amazing Facts
media library at AFTV.org.
00:53:20.83\00:53:25.77
At AFTV.org,
00:53:25.80\00:53:28.00
you can enjoy video
and audio presentations
00:53:28.04\00:53:30.71
as well as printed
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00:53:30.74\00:53:33.88
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00:53:36.51\00:53:38.91
visit AFTV.org.
00:53:38.95\00:53:41.48
The Holy Spirit came up.
00:54:26.06\00:54:27.46
This is the part I
want you to experience.
00:54:27.50\00:54:29.96
If you come to Christ,
your sins are washed away,
00:54:30.00\00:54:32.87
you become a new creature.
00:54:32.90\00:54:34.20
There's a land
of beginning again.
00:54:34.24\00:54:35.87
And how many of you
wish you can get wisdom.
00:54:35.90\00:54:39.91
"For I was hungry and
you gave me something to eat.
00:54:39.94\00:54:44.61
Inasmuch as you'd do it
to one of the least of these,
00:54:44.65\00:54:47.62
my brethren, you did it to me."
00:54:47.65\00:54:50.22
We're here in Ponce,
Puerto Rico, in an iguana park,
00:55:08.90\00:55:12.21
surrounded by big
lizards or small dinosaurs,
00:55:12.24\00:55:15.68
depends on how you look at it.
00:55:15.71\00:55:17.38
These magnificent creatures
00:55:17.41\00:55:18.75
are found mostly in Mexico,
00:55:18.78\00:55:20.28
Central America
and South America,
00:55:20.32\00:55:22.12
and the Caribbean Islands.
00:55:22.15\00:55:23.82
Here's a few
amazing facts about iguanas.
00:55:23.85\00:55:26.25
Iguanas come in a
great spectrum of colors.
00:55:26.29\00:55:29.16
They can be brown, green, blue,
00:55:29.19\00:55:32.76
and their skin will often work
00:55:32.79\00:55:33.96
as camouflage allowing
them to hide in the jungle.
00:55:34.00\00:55:37.43
They're social creatures
who like to eat together.
00:55:37.47\00:55:39.80
And what's really interesting,
even though they look fierce,
00:55:39.83\00:55:42.64
iguanas are vegan vegetarians.
00:55:42.67\00:55:45.84
They're
regarded as popular pets,
00:55:45.87\00:55:47.58
though if they're not cared for,
00:55:47.61\00:55:48.94
they can
actually just stop eating
00:55:48.98\00:55:50.35
and wilt themselves to die.
00:55:50.38\00:55:52.38
Typically, iguanas just lay eggs
00:55:52.41\00:55:54.15
and they
abandon their offspring.
00:55:54.18\00:55:55.85
So those little iguanas
have to fend for themselves
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.39
from the time they're born.
00:55:58.42\00:56:00.92
If they're attacked,
they'll fight with their tail,
00:56:00.96\00:56:03.12
either punching or
whipping their opponent.
00:56:03.16\00:56:05.83
It's interesting to
see a dog running for mercy
00:56:05.86\00:56:08.26
after being
whipped by an iguana.
00:56:08.30\00:56:12.57
Also, to ensure a fast escape,
00:56:12.60\00:56:14.64
they can detach their tail
and later grow another one.
00:56:14.67\00:56:18.11
Iguanas generally
like to live around water,
00:56:18.14\00:56:20.64
and they can swim away
escaping from predators.
00:56:20.68\00:56:23.68
Green iguanas in particular
are excellent swimmers.
00:56:23.71\00:56:26.72
They have the
ability to inflate themselves
00:56:26.75\00:56:29.05
and swim incredible distances.
00:56:29.08\00:56:31.75
This is one way
they've been able to populate
00:56:31.79\00:56:33.59
the different
islands of the Caribbean.
00:56:33.62\00:56:36.02
What's incredible is
these creatures have lungs
00:56:36.06\00:56:38.99
where they are able
to hold their breath
00:56:39.03\00:56:40.63
for up to 28 minutes,
00:56:40.66\00:56:42.56
putting even a
crocodile to shame.
00:56:42.60\00:56:46.20
They also know how to compensate
00:56:46.23\00:56:47.70
for when things get hot or cold.
00:56:47.74\00:56:49.67
They can regulate
their body temperature
00:56:49.70\00:56:51.64
using the loose flaps of skin
00:56:51.67\00:56:53.68
they have under their throats
00:56:53.71\00:56:54.81
and under their legs.
00:56:54.84\00:56:57.01
You might even
say an iguana has ESP
00:56:57.05\00:56:59.65
because God made them
with sort of a third eye
00:56:59.68\00:57:01.88
on top of their head.
00:57:01.92\00:57:03.22
They can't really see with it,
00:57:03.25\00:57:04.72
but it's a
photoreceptor that helps them
00:57:04.75\00:57:06.99
to regulate their
body's circadian rhythms.
00:57:07.02\00:57:10.13
You know, in the same
way that God made iguanas,
00:57:10.16\00:57:12.39
where they're some of
the toughest creatures
00:57:12.43\00:57:14.20
in God's natural kingdom,
00:57:14.23\00:57:16.06
Christians need to learn
00:57:16.10\00:57:17.10
to be resilient in
the spiritual realm.
00:57:17.13\00:57:19.17
Through God's grace,
00:57:19.20\00:57:20.24
we can learn to
be great survivors.
00:57:20.27\00:57:22.74
Paul says in 2
Corinthians 4:8 and 9,
00:57:22.77\00:57:26.01
"We are hard
pressed on every side,
00:57:26.04\00:57:28.08
yet not crushed,
we are perplexed,
00:57:28.11\00:57:30.31
but not in despair, persecuted,
00:57:30.35\00:57:32.51
but not forsaken, struck down,
00:57:32.55\00:57:34.72
but not destroyed."
00:57:34.75\00:57:37.09
I think, friends, we all know
sometimes life can be tough.
00:57:37.12\00:57:40.22
We feel like we're being
beaten, pressed on every side,
00:57:40.26\00:57:43.53
sometimes it's health
problems, relationship problems,
00:57:43.56\00:57:47.10
financial reverses,
00:57:47.13\00:57:48.73
but in the same way God
made the iguana resilient.
00:57:48.76\00:57:51.83
God can help you to bounce back.
00:57:51.87\00:57:53.90
Jesus said that
through His help,
00:57:53.94\00:57:55.47
we can be overcomers,
and we are able to endure.
00:57:55.50\00:57:58.54
If you turn to Him
00:57:58.57\00:57:59.61
and ask Him for His
help and His Spirit,
00:57:59.64\00:58:01.61
He will recreate you
00:58:01.64\00:58:03.11
and make you even
tougher than an iguana.
00:58:03.14\00:58:05.31
Why don't you
like to ask Him now?
00:58:05.35\00:58:07.05