Good morning, friends,
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and welcome once again
to Sabbath School Study Hour
00:00:36.53\00:00:38.93
here at the Granite Bay
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:00:38.93\00:00:41.04
in Sacramento, California.
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Very warm welcome
to our online members
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and our friends
who are joining us
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across the country
and around the world,
00:00:46.64\00:00:48.68
part of our extended
Sabbath School class,
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and as always very warm welcome
to our members and our visitors
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here in person at
church this morning.
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Now over the
past, well, last week,
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it's just one week so far,
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we started a brand
new lesson quarterly
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dealing with one
of my favorite books
00:01:03.96\00:01:06.13
in the New Testament.
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I know the church members
probably know what that is,
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the Book of Revelation.
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So today, we find
ourselves on Lesson Number 2
00:01:11.33\00:01:13.97
of our study in
the Book of Revelation.
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It's actually entitled
Amongst the Lampstands.
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And we're going to be
looking at the last part
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of Revelation 1 as well
as part of Revelation 2.
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We want to let our
friends know who are joining us
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if you don't have a copy
of the Sabbath School lesson
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entitled The Book of Revelation,
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you can download today's lesson
00:01:33.36\00:01:35.29
by simply going
to Lesson.AFTV.org,
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and you can download Lesson 2
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entitled Amongst the Lampstands,
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and that's going to
be our study for today.
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We also have a free
offer that we'd like
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to make available to
anyone in North America,
00:01:47.67\00:01:49.84
we'll be happy
to send you a copy
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of one of the Amazing
Facts study guide lessons.
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It's entitled
Ultimate Deliverance.
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And all you'll have to
do is call 866-788-3966
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and ask for offer
number 105, and we'll be happy
00:02:02.12\00:02:05.95
to send you for
free the study guide.
00:02:05.95\00:02:08.59
Or if you like, you
can actually download
00:02:08.59\00:02:11.29
this study guide for free,
00:02:11.29\00:02:12.93
simply text the code SH090
00:02:12.93\00:02:17.53
to the number 40544.
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You'll then receive a link
and you'll be able to download
00:02:20.97\00:02:23.30
and read the ultimate
deliverance, and of course,
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that's not just
for North America
00:02:25.71\00:02:27.14
but anywhere around the world,
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you'll be able to
receive the free download
00:02:29.58\00:02:32.48
of The Amazing Facts study guide
00:02:32.48\00:02:34.28
Ultimate Deliverance.
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Well, before we get to
our study this morning,
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we always like to begin by
lifting our voices in song.
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I'd like to
invite the song leaders
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to please come forward.
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Thank you so much for
singing along with us.
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And at this time, Pastor Ross
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is going to have
our opening prayer.
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Dear Father in heaven,
once again, we are so grateful
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to be able to gather
together in Your house Your Word
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and study this
very important book,
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a special book
related for our time,
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the Book of Revelation.
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And, Lord, we ask once again
that the Holy Spirit would come
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and got our hearts, our
minds as we look at this
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very important
part of this last book,
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in Jesus name, amen.
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Well, as mentioned
just a little while ago
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in our introduction,
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we're starting
a lesson quarterly
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dealing with the
Book of Revelation.
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And those of you
who were here last week,
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we looked at
the first few verses
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of Revelation 1 last week,
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probably from verse 1
through to about verse 8,
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which gives you a
little bit of the background
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to the Book of Revelation.
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Today, we're going to continue
our study in Revelation 1
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starting in verse
9 going all the way
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through the end of the chapter.
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Our lesson is Lesson
Number 2, and it's entitled
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Amongst the Lampstands.
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Now if you have
your lesson quarterly,
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we have a memory verse
and I'm going to read it
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from our lesson quarterly.
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Revelation 2:7, it
is actually something
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that is repeated to
all of the seven churches.
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It's the words of
Jesus, "He who has an ear,
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let him hear
what the Spirit says
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to the churches."
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Important
council, he who has an ear,
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let him hear.
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Now on Sabbath afternoon,
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this is Lesson Number 2
in your lesson quarterly.
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Sabbath
afternoon, we have a summary
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of what this week's
lesson really covered.
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It said this week, in addition
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to introducing Christ's ministry
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in the heavenly sanctuary,
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we'll spend a
few moments on that,
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we also will begin
by looking at the first
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of His seven special
messages to the church
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addressed collectively to
the seven churches in Asia
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but which also have
meaning for us today.
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Then next week, we
will look at the messages
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that Jesus has to
the other six churches.
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So our mission this
morning in our study
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is to finish up Revelation 1,
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that's from verse 9 through
to the end of the chapter,
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and then take a
look at the first church,
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the church of Ephesus,
that you find in Revelation 2
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from verse 1 through to verse 7.
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And as I looked at the lesson,
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there were number
of important points
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that were brought to view,
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and Revelation being
one of my favorite books,
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I thought, well,
what should we do,
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should we just take
on these different themes
00:08:00.24\00:08:02.24
that we have in the
quarterly for the week
00:08:02.24\00:08:04.18
or should we just
try and do an overview
00:08:04.18\00:08:06.72
of the passage of scripture
00:08:06.72\00:08:08.65
that we need to
study for the week.
00:08:08.65\00:08:09.92
And I thought well,
let's take a look this morning
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at starting in
verse 9, and let's see
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if we can get
through all of Revelation 1
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and also save a little time
to look at the first church,
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the church of
Ephesus in Revelation 2.
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So that is our mission today.
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We're going to look
from verse 9, Revelation 1:9
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all the way through the chapter.
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So if you have your Bibles,
you can turn to Revelation 1.
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And we're going to
start reading here in verse 9.
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Revelation 1:9.
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It says, "I,
John, both your brother
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and companion in tribulation..."
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Well, there's no doubt
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as to who wrote
the Book of Revelation,
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it's the Apostle John.
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John was the
youngest of the disciples.
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At the time that
John wrote Revelation,
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he was an old man,
the Book of Revelation
00:08:53.40\00:08:55.70
is estimated to be
written somewhere around 90 AD,
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so that's some 40
plus years after Christ.
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The other apostles,
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they're already
been put to death
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that already died, but John,
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an old man on
the island of Patmos,
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we'll find that why he's
there in just a few moments.
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It's there that he
writes the Book of Revelation.
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Now John says, "I'm your brother
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in companion and tribulation."
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Did John know
something about tribulation?
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Absolutely.
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And you'll find that more,
he was on the island of Patmos
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because of his faith in God.
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The Christian is not
removed from tribulation
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rather the Bible tells us that
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we are sustained
through tribulation.
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So to be a
Christian doesn't mean
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you won't have
trials and difficulties,
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rather than means that
through trials and difficulties,
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God is able to
sustain you and carry you.
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Matter of fact, in
Acts 14:22, we read,
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"We must through
many tribulations
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enter the kingdom of God."
00:09:47.72\00:09:49.72
So the Christian is
not removed from trials
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rather we are
sustained through trials.
00:09:51.65\00:09:55.22
John goes on to say,
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"I'm your brother and
companion in tribulation
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and the kingdom,"
that is the kingdom of God,
00:09:58.89\00:10:01.90
"and patience of Jesus Christ."
00:10:01.90\00:10:04.57
Now you might be wondering
what is this patience of Jesus.
00:10:04.57\00:10:07.60
What was it that
John was longing for,
00:10:07.60\00:10:10.14
that John was
looking forward to,
00:10:10.14\00:10:12.97
and that was the
promise that Jesus made,
00:10:12.97\00:10:15.58
"I will go
prepare a place for you
00:10:15.58\00:10:17.48
and I will come again."
00:10:17.48\00:10:20.25
So John says, I
am patiently waiting
00:10:20.25\00:10:22.58
for that
promise to be fulfilled,
00:10:22.58\00:10:24.85
not only me, but all
of those who believe.
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.19
We are looking forward
to the coming of Jesus.
00:10:27.19\00:10:30.19
Now the word
patience also carries with it
00:10:30.19\00:10:32.59
a certain degree of endurance.
00:10:32.59\00:10:35.26
To have patience not
only means a passive waiting
00:10:35.26\00:10:38.50
but in the original,
00:10:38.50\00:10:39.83
it has the idea of
an active endurance
00:10:39.83\00:10:42.60
or standing firm
in the midst of trial.
00:10:42.60\00:10:45.41
And so John is one who endured,
he had patience, he held on.
00:10:45.41\00:10:50.48
It's interesting to note
that the early church described
00:10:50.48\00:10:53.28
as having patience or endurance.
00:10:53.28\00:10:56.15
So the church of the
last days the Bible tells us
00:10:56.15\00:10:58.69
also needs to have
patience and endurance.
00:10:58.69\00:11:02.69
It was Jesus that said,
"He that endures to the end,
00:11:02.69\00:11:06.33
the same shall be saved."
00:11:06.33\00:11:08.00
Revelation 14:12,
00:11:08.00\00:11:09.73
talking about God's
people at the end of time.
00:11:09.73\00:11:11.93
"Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:11:11.93\00:11:14.37
here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:11:14.37\00:11:17.01
and have the faith of Jesus."
00:11:17.01\00:11:18.37
So God's people in the last days
00:11:18.37\00:11:19.77
will also have this endurance
or this patience that we see
00:11:19.77\00:11:23.41
demonstrated in the
first century church.
00:11:23.41\00:11:27.25
Verse 9 continues and says,
00:11:27.25\00:11:29.22
"Was on the island
that is called Patmos."
00:11:29.22\00:11:32.75
Now Patmos is a small island
about 10 miles by 6 miles.
00:11:32.75\00:11:37.76
It's in the Aegean Sea
currently about 30 miles west
00:11:37.76\00:11:42.33
of Turkey as we know it today.
00:11:42.33\00:11:45.20
During the time of
John, the island was used
00:11:45.20\00:11:47.34
by the Romans as a prison,
and according to tradition,
00:11:47.34\00:11:50.81
John was sent to Patmos
00:11:50.81\00:11:52.14
by the Roman Emperor
Titus Flavius, Domitian,
00:11:52.14\00:11:55.74
during a time of
intense persecution
00:11:55.74\00:11:58.65
that came
against the Christians.
00:11:58.65\00:12:01.22
He says that he
was on the island
00:12:01.22\00:12:02.85
for the Word of God and
for the testimony of Jesus.
00:12:02.85\00:12:07.22
Now Revelation is...
00:12:07.22\00:12:09.02
The Book of Revelation
is an eyewitness account
00:12:09.02\00:12:11.46
of the things that
God revealed to John.
00:12:11.46\00:12:14.23
In Revelation
1, the earlier part
00:12:14.23\00:12:16.53
John says that he wrote
down what he heard, what he saw,
00:12:16.53\00:12:20.70
and what God revealed to him
through the testimony of Jesus
00:12:20.70\00:12:23.87
or the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:12:23.87\00:12:25.77
Now we know that
the testimony of Jesus
00:12:25.77\00:12:27.78
according to Revelation
19:10 is the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:12:27.78\00:12:33.35
John being a prophet
had the Spirit of Prophecy,
00:12:33.35\00:12:36.48
but it's also
interesting to note
00:12:36.48\00:12:38.22
that God's people
at the end of time
00:12:38.22\00:12:40.22
who also faced
trials and persecutions,
00:12:40.22\00:12:43.02
those that have endurance
00:12:43.02\00:12:44.43
also have the testimony of Jesus
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.13
or the Spirit of Prophecy
according to Revelation 12:17.
00:12:47.13\00:12:51.83
So there's an
interesting connection
00:12:51.83\00:12:53.40
between that
first century Christians
00:12:53.40\00:12:56.10
and then, of
course, the last Christians,
00:12:56.10\00:12:58.27
just prior to
the coming of Christ,
00:12:58.27\00:12:59.91
we'll look more at that
00:12:59.91\00:13:00.98
when we get to the
church of Ephesus in chapter 2.
00:13:00.98\00:13:05.48
Now verse 10 is
an important verse.
00:13:05.48\00:13:08.45
It says, John writes,
00:13:08.45\00:13:09.82
"I was in the
spirit on the Lord's Day."
00:13:09.82\00:13:13.89
Now I've heard people say,
well, John was having a vision
00:13:13.89\00:13:17.49
on the first day of the week.
00:13:17.49\00:13:19.49
He was having a
vision on Sunday,
00:13:19.49\00:13:21.36
and they say the
Lord's Day is Sunday.
00:13:21.36\00:13:23.87
Now why do people say that?
00:13:23.87\00:13:25.50
Well, they say that because
00:13:25.50\00:13:26.60
Jesus rose on the first
day of the week, didn't He?
00:13:26.60\00:13:29.64
Yes, He did.
00:13:29.64\00:13:30.87
But does that
somehow make Sunday sacred
00:13:30.87\00:13:35.28
with reference to the
other days of the week?
00:13:35.28\00:13:37.91
What was more important,
the resurrection of Jesus
00:13:37.91\00:13:41.45
or the death of Jesus on Friday,
00:13:41.45\00:13:44.39
or they both equally important?
00:13:44.39\00:13:46.99
Yes, they're both
equally important.
00:13:46.99\00:13:49.72
So if we're going to
celebrate the first day and say,
00:13:49.72\00:13:52.23
well, this is the
resurrection, what about Friday,
00:13:52.23\00:13:56.20
the sixth day, shouldn't
that also be celebrated?
00:13:56.20\00:13:58.83
No, the Bible gives
us no command anywhere
00:13:58.83\00:14:01.84
to celebrate the death of Jesus
00:14:01.84\00:14:03.84
by setting aside
Friday or to celebrate
00:14:03.84\00:14:07.24
the resurrection of
Jesus by setting aside Sunday.
00:14:07.24\00:14:11.55
What is it that
the Bible gives us
00:14:11.55\00:14:13.55
which is a reminder and
a celebration of the death
00:14:13.55\00:14:16.75
and the resurrection of Jesus.
00:14:16.75\00:14:19.19
Baptism, Paul's very clear
00:14:19.19\00:14:21.16
that baptism is a
symbol of Christ's
00:14:21.16\00:14:23.02
death and resurrection,
and we participate by faith
00:14:23.02\00:14:26.23
in that
experience through baptism.
00:14:26.23\00:14:28.43
So what does the
Bible say is the Lord's Day.
00:14:28.43\00:14:32.33
Well, we just need
to look at three verses,
00:14:32.33\00:14:33.84
it makes it very clear.
00:14:33.84\00:14:35.50
Matthew 12:8, Jesus
says, "The Son of Man is Lord
00:14:35.50\00:14:41.58
even of the Sabbath."
00:14:41.58\00:14:43.65
Which day of the
week is Jesus Lord off?
00:14:43.65\00:14:46.98
Sabbath. That's what he said.
00:14:46.98\00:14:49.28
Exodus 20:10 says,
"But the seventh day
00:14:49.28\00:14:52.79
is the Sabbath of the Lord."
00:14:52.79\00:14:56.52
So if you just turn that around,
00:14:56.52\00:14:57.96
it's the Lord's Day,
the Sabbath, is the Lord's.
00:14:57.96\00:15:01.60
And then Isaiah
58:13 makes it very clear,
00:15:01.60\00:15:05.00
"If you turn away
your foot from the Sabbath,
00:15:05.00\00:15:06.57
from doing thy
pleasures on My holy day."
00:15:06.57\00:15:10.84
So which day of the
week does God claim as His?
00:15:10.84\00:15:14.18
The seventh day Sabbath,
that is the Lord's today.
00:15:14.18\00:15:17.41
It's important
to note that here,
00:15:17.41\00:15:18.95
John writing the
Book of Revelation,
00:15:18.95\00:15:20.28
some 50 years
after Jesus had spoken
00:15:20.28\00:15:24.35
and taught and been
amongst the disciples,
00:15:24.35\00:15:26.86
John still recognizes
a day as being special,
00:15:26.86\00:15:30.53
set apart, he
calls it the Lord's Day,
00:15:30.53\00:15:33.26
he's referring to
the seventh day Sabbath.
00:15:33.26\00:15:36.03
And then the
rest of verse 10 says,
00:15:36.03\00:15:37.50
"And I heard
behind me a loud voice,
00:15:37.50\00:15:39.73
as of a trumpet."
00:15:39.73\00:15:41.94
So in order for
John to see the one
00:15:41.94\00:15:45.04
that he's talking to him,
what does John need to do?
00:15:45.04\00:15:49.14
Where does he hear the voice?
00:15:49.14\00:15:51.38
It says, I heard a
voice as of a trumpet where?
00:15:51.38\00:15:54.42
Behind me.
00:15:54.42\00:15:55.85
In order for John to see the one
00:15:55.85\00:15:57.49
that was talking to him,
00:15:57.49\00:15:59.12
he had to take his eyes
00:15:59.12\00:16:00.86
away from these
earthly surroundings
00:16:00.86\00:16:04.16
and turn to look to
a heavenly environment,
00:16:04.16\00:16:07.76
and we'll see
that in just a minute.
00:16:07.76\00:16:09.66
Sometimes, in order for
us to hear God to see God,
00:16:09.66\00:16:13.47
we have to look away
from our earthly surroundings,
00:16:13.47\00:16:15.80
and by faith, look
to heavenly things,
00:16:15.80\00:16:18.57
look by faith to Jesus
in the heavenly sanctuary
00:16:18.57\00:16:21.78
that is
ministering on our behalf.
00:16:21.78\00:16:24.65
That says he has a
voice like to a trumpet.
00:16:24.65\00:16:27.95
A trumpet in the
Bible is often used
00:16:27.95\00:16:30.35
as a symbol for God's
guidance of His people.
00:16:30.35\00:16:33.92
Numbers 10:2, 5, 6,
00:16:33.92\00:16:38.13
the sound of a
trumpet is often associated
00:16:38.13\00:16:40.00
with the
proclamation of the gospel.
00:16:40.00\00:16:42.83
Psalm 89:15.
00:16:42.83\00:16:46.07
It is also
connected with the bold
00:16:46.07\00:16:47.87
and faithful
preaching of ministers.
00:16:47.87\00:16:51.31
Isaiah 58:1, it
is also connected
00:16:51.31\00:16:55.01
to warnings and judgments.
00:16:55.01\00:16:57.15
And of course, later on
in our study of Revelation,
00:16:57.15\00:16:58.85
we're going to be talking
about the seven trumpets.
00:16:58.85\00:17:01.38
They have to do with
warnings and judgments.
00:17:01.38\00:17:04.02
Now verse 11 says,
this is not Jesus speaking,
00:17:04.02\00:17:07.72
"I am Alpha and Omega,
the first and the last."
00:17:07.72\00:17:13.50
Now that is a
well-known title of Jesus.
00:17:13.50\00:17:15.46
But do we know what
it means? What is Alpha?
00:17:15.46\00:17:19.40
Alpha is the first
letter of the Greek alphabet.
00:17:19.40\00:17:23.54
In essence, it's
the A you might say.
00:17:23.54\00:17:26.21
And what is Omega?
00:17:26.21\00:17:28.21
Omega will be the last
letter of the Greek alphabet,
00:17:28.21\00:17:31.18
we might say Z.
00:17:31.18\00:17:32.95
Now that's an interesting name.
00:17:32.95\00:17:34.18
Jesus says, I
am the A and the Z.
00:17:34.18\00:17:37.02
Why does Jesus say I'm
the Alpha and the Omega?
00:17:37.02\00:17:39.95
What do we do
00:17:39.95\00:17:41.09
with the
letters of the alphabet?
00:17:41.09\00:17:43.36
Well, we
arrange them differently
00:17:43.36\00:17:45.13
to make words, right?
00:17:45.13\00:17:47.23
And what are our words?
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.33
Our words are our
thoughts revealed.
00:17:49.33\00:17:52.63
Isn't it interesting that
Jesus says I am the A and Z
00:17:52.63\00:17:56.14
and then in the gospel of john,
00:17:56.14\00:17:57.97
speaking of Jesus,
he's called the Word,
00:17:57.97\00:18:01.71
and the Word was made
flesh and dwelt among us?
00:18:01.71\00:18:06.18
What is Jesus?
00:18:06.18\00:18:07.28
Jesus is the
thoughts of God revealed.
00:18:07.28\00:18:10.59
Jesus said to His
disciples, "If you have seen Me,
00:18:10.59\00:18:12.92
you've" what, "seen the Father."
00:18:12.92\00:18:15.16
So Jesus is
called the A and the Z,
00:18:15.16\00:18:17.56
He is God's thoughts
revealed through the Word.
00:18:17.56\00:18:21.53
And then He goes on to say,
what do you see writing a book
00:18:21.53\00:18:25.40
or a letter, and send
it to the seven churches
00:18:25.40\00:18:28.40
which are in Asia, to
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum,
00:18:28.40\00:18:31.27
Thyatira, Sardis,
Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
00:18:31.27\00:18:35.64
So John would write
down the things he heard,
00:18:35.64\00:18:38.05
the things he saw, that
which was revealed to him
00:18:38.05\00:18:40.12
through the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:18:40.12\00:18:41.22
He wrote it in a
book or a letter,
00:18:41.22\00:18:43.52
and then it was
sent via the mail
00:18:43.52\00:18:47.22
to the seven churches in Asia.
00:18:47.22\00:18:49.49
Now John didn't
write seven different books
00:18:49.49\00:18:52.33
and send one to
each of the churches,
00:18:52.33\00:18:54.56
rather he wrote
one book or letter
00:18:54.56\00:18:56.90
probably sent it first
to the church of Ephesus
00:18:56.90\00:18:59.40
because that's the first church
00:18:59.40\00:19:01.24
that's referred
to in Revelation 2.
00:19:01.24\00:19:04.21
This letter was then
received in the church.
00:19:04.21\00:19:07.01
Now tradition has it
that it's pretty solid
00:19:07.01\00:19:10.61
that John prior to
him been taken to Patmos
00:19:10.61\00:19:14.42
was the leader of
the church of Ephesus.
00:19:14.42\00:19:17.39
So he has taken
away from the church,
00:19:17.39\00:19:19.75
he was taken to
Patmos, he writes a letter,
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.86
he sends the letter
to his church in Ephesus.
00:19:21.86\00:19:25.63
And you can
imagine the Sabbath morning
00:19:25.63\00:19:27.40
when the church assembles,
00:19:27.40\00:19:28.56
and everyone is
sitting there in the church,
00:19:28.56\00:19:30.57
and the elder of the
church gets up, and he says,
00:19:30.57\00:19:33.20
"Brethren, we've got something
00:19:33.20\00:19:35.40
that has just
arrived in the mail,
00:19:35.40\00:19:38.17
we have got a letter
of our beloved John,"
00:19:38.17\00:19:41.64
and you can imagine how
all the members sat spellbound
00:19:41.64\00:19:45.01
as this letter was
read in its entirety,
00:19:45.01\00:19:48.52
starting Revelation 1:1
00:19:48.52\00:19:49.95
reading all the way
through the end of the book.
00:19:49.95\00:19:52.25
Everybody listened,
00:19:52.25\00:19:53.32
and I'm sure the book
was read more than once
00:19:53.32\00:19:55.12
'cause they wanted to get
every word that they could.
00:19:55.12\00:19:58.29
After the letter
was read to the church,
00:19:58.29\00:20:01.36
a scribe
carefully copied everything
00:20:01.36\00:20:04.50
that John had written
so they would have a copy.
00:20:04.50\00:20:07.50
And then they
probably sent the original
00:20:07.50\00:20:09.57
to the next church,
the church of Smyrna.
00:20:09.57\00:20:12.04
And when the letter
arrived in the church of Smyrna,
00:20:12.04\00:20:14.04
the same thing happened,
somebody in the church read it
00:20:14.04\00:20:16.58
to the congregation,
it was carefully copied,
00:20:16.58\00:20:19.25
and then it was
sent to the next church,
00:20:19.25\00:20:20.75
and so it went all
around the seven churches.
00:20:20.75\00:20:23.39
And I'm sure after it
went around the seven churches,
00:20:23.39\00:20:25.82
it was again mailed
out to other churches,
00:20:25.82\00:20:27.96
and again, it
was read and copied.
00:20:27.96\00:20:29.22
And so it was multiplied
during the Christian era,
00:20:29.22\00:20:32.63
that first century.
00:20:32.63\00:20:34.46
But just imagine being able
to receive a letter from John,
00:20:34.46\00:20:38.30
an eye witness
account of what he had seen,
00:20:38.30\00:20:40.30
what he had heard,
00:20:40.30\00:20:41.37
and being able to
share that with the church.
00:20:41.37\00:20:43.74
Now John in verse 12 says,
"Then I turned to see the voice
00:20:43.74\00:20:47.21
which spake onto me,
00:20:47.21\00:20:49.18
having turned, I saw
seven golden lampstands."
00:20:49.18\00:20:53.48
Now these lampstands
according to Revelation 1:20
00:20:53.48\00:20:56.55
represents the
churches, the seven churches,
00:20:56.55\00:20:59.62
the seven churches represent
00:20:59.62\00:21:01.09
seven phases of
Christian history,
00:21:01.09\00:21:03.16
and we'll get to that later on.
00:21:03.16\00:21:05.06
In the sanctuary, there was
a seven branched candlestick.
00:21:05.06\00:21:09.23
There are two
compartments in the sanctuary.
00:21:09.23\00:21:11.50
The first compartment
is known as the holy place,
00:21:11.50\00:21:14.10
and then there is veil,
00:21:14.10\00:21:15.47
and then you have
the most holy place,
00:21:15.47\00:21:17.31
outside of the
sanctuary was the courtyard.
00:21:17.31\00:21:21.18
Now the Bible is very
clear in the Book of Hebrews,
00:21:21.18\00:21:24.15
that there is a
heavenly sanctuary,
00:21:24.15\00:21:26.48
a sanctuary built
by God and that Jesus,
00:21:26.48\00:21:29.72
our high priest ministers for us
00:21:29.72\00:21:31.72
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:21:31.72\00:21:33.42
It's interesting to note
that there is no courtyard
00:21:33.42\00:21:36.49
in the heavenly sanctuary.
00:21:36.49\00:21:37.69
Do you know why?
00:21:37.69\00:21:39.36
Where was the
lamb to be sacrificed?
00:21:39.36\00:21:42.43
In the courtyard, right?
00:21:42.43\00:21:44.60
It's placed on the
altar of burnt sacrifice
00:21:44.60\00:21:46.84
which was in the courtyard.
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.27
Where was the blood
of the lamb to be taken?
00:21:48.27\00:21:51.21
Into the sanctuary
and throughout the year
00:21:51.21\00:21:54.04
into the first compartment
00:21:54.04\00:21:55.34
and then on the
Day of Atonement,
00:21:55.34\00:21:56.98
the blood of the sacrifice
00:21:56.98\00:21:58.11
was taken into
the most holy place.
00:21:58.11\00:22:00.98
So the courtyard
then would represent
00:22:00.98\00:22:03.25
Christ work for us
here on this earth.
00:22:03.25\00:22:05.89
Jesus came, lived on the earth,
00:22:05.89\00:22:07.56
He died, the Lamb of
God, a sacrifice for our sins.
00:22:07.56\00:22:10.99
And then when
Jesus ascended to heaven,
00:22:10.99\00:22:13.43
He began his high priestly
ministry for us in heaven.
00:22:13.43\00:22:18.03
So John in vision
looks up into heaven,
00:22:18.03\00:22:21.54
and he sees Jesus standing
00:22:21.54\00:22:23.30
amongst the
seven-branched candlestick.
00:22:23.30\00:22:26.47
Where would you find the
seven-branched candlestick
00:22:26.47\00:22:28.48
in the sanctuary?
00:22:28.48\00:22:29.91
Well, if you
went through the door
00:22:29.91\00:22:32.15
leading into the first
compartment of the sanctuary
00:22:32.15\00:22:35.12
and you looked
over to the right,
00:22:35.12\00:22:37.35
what article of
furniture would you see?
00:22:37.35\00:22:39.89
You'd see the table of
showbread directly opposite
00:22:39.89\00:22:43.19
from the table of
showbread would be
00:22:43.19\00:22:45.39
the seven-branched candlestick.
00:22:45.39\00:22:47.03
And what would be
directly in front of you?
00:22:47.03\00:22:49.56
The altar of incense.
00:22:49.56\00:22:51.13
And then what was
behind the altar of incense?
00:22:51.13\00:22:54.20
There was a veil and then you go
00:22:54.20\00:22:56.87
into the most holy place.
00:22:56.87\00:22:58.27
And what was in
the most holy place?
00:22:58.27\00:23:00.38
The Ark of the Covenant.
00:23:00.38\00:23:01.71
So where is Jesus seen?
00:23:01.71\00:23:04.25
He's seen standing amongst
00:23:04.25\00:23:05.58
the seven-branched candlesticks.
00:23:05.58\00:23:08.52
Now this is very interesting.
00:23:08.52\00:23:09.85
In Revelation 4,
00:23:09.85\00:23:12.02
and we'll get to this
later on in our study.
00:23:12.02\00:23:14.19
You have a
picture of God the Father
00:23:14.19\00:23:16.06
seated upon His throne.
00:23:16.06\00:23:18.73
God the Father is
seated upon His throne,
00:23:18.73\00:23:21.00
there are four living creatures
surrounding his throne.
00:23:21.00\00:23:24.57
And then Revelation 4 says
00:23:24.57\00:23:26.43
there are seven
burning lamps of fire
00:23:26.43\00:23:30.61
before the throne or
in front of the throne.
00:23:30.61\00:23:34.94
And then in
chapter 5 of Revelation,
00:23:34.94\00:23:37.18
Jesus appears as a
lamb as it had been slain,
00:23:37.18\00:23:41.75
and He appears before the throne
00:23:41.75\00:23:44.92
by the seven
burning lamps of fire.
00:23:44.92\00:23:47.89
Now if the altar of
incense separates the veil,
00:23:47.89\00:23:52.33
the holy and
the most holy place,
00:23:52.33\00:23:54.10
and you have the
table of showbread,
00:23:54.10\00:23:56.03
and across from
the table of showbread
00:23:56.03\00:23:57.83
is the
seven-branched candlestick,
00:23:57.83\00:24:00.10
when it says that God's throne,
00:24:00.10\00:24:02.24
in front of the throne,
seven burning lamps of fire,
00:24:02.24\00:24:06.61
what article of furniture
00:24:06.61\00:24:08.41
in the first
compartment of the sanctuary
00:24:08.41\00:24:10.91
would then
symbolize God's throne?
00:24:10.91\00:24:14.52
The table of
showbread. Do you see that?
00:24:14.52\00:24:17.12
So the table of showbread
00:24:17.12\00:24:18.32
in the first
compartment of the sanctuary
00:24:18.32\00:24:20.62
represents God's
throne in front of the throne
00:24:20.62\00:24:23.59
of the seven
burning lamps of fire
00:24:23.59\00:24:25.63
and Jesus is seen
in front of the throne
00:24:25.63\00:24:28.56
standing amongst the
seven golden lampstands,
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.40
symbolizing Jesus's
connection with His church.
00:24:31.40\00:24:35.17
Something else
important to note,
00:24:35.17\00:24:36.64
now that we laid
that as a foundation,
00:24:36.64\00:24:38.37
as we study through
the Book of Revelation,
00:24:38.37\00:24:40.58
it's exciting to
see how Jesus moves
00:24:40.58\00:24:45.25
from amongst the
seven-branched candlestick
00:24:45.25\00:24:47.88
to the altar of incense.
00:24:47.88\00:24:50.45
And then in Revelation 11,
00:24:50.45\00:24:51.99
when the seventh trumpet sounds,
00:24:51.99\00:24:53.72
guess where Jesus is?
00:24:53.72\00:24:55.79
By the Ark of the
Covenant in the most holy place.
00:24:55.79\00:24:59.16
So throughout the
book of Revelation,
00:24:59.16\00:25:00.63
Jesus actually
moves from place to place.
00:25:00.63\00:25:03.43
So look for that in your
study throughout this quarter.
00:25:03.43\00:25:06.03
Where is Jesus?
00:25:06.03\00:25:07.24
What part of the
sanctuary is brought to view?
00:25:07.24\00:25:09.74
And you'll see Jesus
moving through the sanctuary.
00:25:09.74\00:25:12.51
All right, we need
to keep going here.
00:25:12.51\00:25:13.84
Verse 13, "And in the
midst of the seven lamps,
00:25:13.84\00:25:16.64
one like unto the Son of Man,"
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.41
clearly it's a
reference to Jesus,
00:25:18.41\00:25:20.02
"clothed with a
garment down to His feet,
00:25:20.02\00:25:22.18
girded about the
chest with a golden band."
00:25:22.18\00:25:25.25
Notice that He is
gird about the chest
00:25:25.25\00:25:27.46
with a golden band.
00:25:27.46\00:25:29.02
The belt was not
around the waist,
00:25:29.02\00:25:30.96
where most people
would wear a belt,
00:25:30.96\00:25:32.69
but this is a belt or
a band around the chest.
00:25:32.69\00:25:35.70
It's relating to
the dress of a priest,
00:25:35.70\00:25:38.43
in particular,
the high priest here.
00:25:38.43\00:25:40.54
So Jesus is
described as a high priest
00:25:40.54\00:25:43.27
ministering for us
00:25:43.27\00:25:44.81
in the first compartment
of the heavenly sanctuary
00:25:44.81\00:25:47.54
when John sees Jesus
envision in Revelation 1.
00:25:47.54\00:25:52.65
Now we know from a study
of the book of Revelation,
00:25:52.65\00:25:54.48
Jesus is administering for
us in the first compartment,
00:25:54.48\00:25:57.79
but He's actually
ministering for us today
00:25:57.79\00:26:00.36
in the most holy place
or the second compartment,
00:26:00.36\00:26:03.93
and we learn more about that
when we get to Revelation 11.
00:26:03.93\00:26:07.86
We have a little
bit of a description
00:26:07.86\00:26:09.40
of what Jesus looks like
00:26:09.40\00:26:11.23
in symbolic language
here in Revelation 1:14.
00:26:11.23\00:26:15.67
It says, "His head and
hair were white like wool,
00:26:15.67\00:26:19.57
as white as snow."
00:26:19.57\00:26:21.61
Now remember,
Revelation is a symbolic book
00:26:21.61\00:26:24.38
and the different
images that are used
00:26:24.38\00:26:26.35
are illustrating
important truths for us.
00:26:26.35\00:26:28.88
What does white
represent in the Bible?
00:26:28.88\00:26:31.89
White represents
wisdom and purity.
00:26:31.89\00:26:34.92
I think we know the
verse in Isaiah 1:18,
00:26:34.92\00:26:37.53
God says, "Come now,
let us reason together.
00:26:37.53\00:26:40.53
Though your
sins be like scarlet,
00:26:40.53\00:26:42.33
they shall be,"
what, "as white as snow."
00:26:42.33\00:26:46.10
And then the last
part of verse 14 says,
00:26:46.10\00:26:48.14
"His eyes were
like a flame of fire."
00:26:48.14\00:26:51.34
So His hair, His countenance
is white, white like snow,
00:26:51.34\00:26:54.91
His eyes like flames of fire.
00:26:54.91\00:26:57.18
What does that mean?
00:26:57.18\00:26:58.41
His eyes as a flame of fire,
it represents intensity of gaze
00:26:58.41\00:27:02.82
and the searching of the heart.
00:27:02.82\00:27:05.42
2 Chronicles 16:9,
this is a wonderful promise.
00:27:05.42\00:27:08.92
It says, "The eyes of
the Lord run to and fro
00:27:08.92\00:27:11.63
throughout the whole earth
00:27:11.63\00:27:13.76
to show Himself
strong on behalf of those
00:27:13.76\00:27:17.17
whose heart is loyal to Him."
00:27:17.17\00:27:19.43
Those eyes of fire are
looking throughout the earth
00:27:19.43\00:27:22.14
to see who is faithful to Jesus.
00:27:22.14\00:27:24.64
He wants to show
Himself strong on their behalf.
00:27:24.64\00:27:28.71
What a wonderful promise.
00:27:28.71\00:27:30.78
Verse 15 continues in
this description and says,
00:27:30.78\00:27:33.75
"His feet were as fine
brass, refined in a furnace,"
00:27:33.75\00:27:38.82
the symbol here of fine brass
00:27:38.82\00:27:40.82
represents purity through trial,
00:27:40.82\00:27:43.69
purity through trial.
00:27:43.69\00:27:44.83
It was through
Christ's experience on the earth
00:27:44.83\00:27:47.50
through his
faithfulness in trial
00:27:47.50\00:27:49.86
that He obtained
salvation for us.
00:27:49.86\00:27:52.37
Jesus prayed in the
garden of Gethsemane,
00:27:52.37\00:27:54.57
"Not my will be done
but Thy will be done."
00:27:54.57\00:27:57.41
Full surrender to
the will of His Father,
00:27:57.41\00:27:59.47
God's people at the end of time
00:27:59.47\00:28:00.84
will also have
their faith tested.
00:28:00.84\00:28:03.48
They will also be
tried, so to speak, by fire.
00:28:03.48\00:28:06.88
We read in Zechariah 13:9,
00:28:06.88\00:28:10.12
"I will bring
one-third through the fire,
00:28:10.12\00:28:12.75
will refine them
as silver is refined,"
00:28:12.75\00:28:15.59
talking about God's
people in the last days,
00:28:15.59\00:28:17.76
"and test them
as gold is tested.
00:28:17.76\00:28:20.30
They will call on My
name, and I will answer them.
00:28:20.30\00:28:22.63
I will say, 'This is My people.'
00:28:22.63\00:28:24.50
And each one will
say, 'The Lord is my God.'"
00:28:24.50\00:28:28.07
So there is a time
of testing and trial
00:28:28.07\00:28:29.97
even for God's
people in the last days.
00:28:29.97\00:28:32.97
The last part of verse 15 says,
00:28:32.97\00:28:35.21
"And His voice is as
the sound of many waters
00:28:35.21\00:28:39.18
or of rushing water,"
00:28:39.18\00:28:41.38
like standing
beside Niagara Falls.
00:28:41.38\00:28:43.89
I've been there several times
00:28:43.89\00:28:45.29
and I hear the roar of the water
00:28:45.29\00:28:47.12
just coming over the falls.
00:28:47.12\00:28:49.62
Back in Jewish literature,
the one who had the voice
00:28:49.62\00:28:53.40
that sounds like many waters
00:28:53.40\00:28:55.36
was none other than the Creator.
00:28:55.36\00:28:57.67
So when it talks
about Jesus having the voice
00:28:57.67\00:28:59.70
that sounds like many waters,
00:28:59.70\00:29:01.50
it's a reference to
Jesus being the Creator.
00:29:01.50\00:29:03.91
And of course, we see
that in the Gospel of John
00:29:03.91\00:29:06.21
where all things that
were made were made by Him.
00:29:06.21\00:29:09.61
Verse 16, still
talking about Jesus, it says,
00:29:09.61\00:29:12.81
"He had in His
right hand seven stars."
00:29:12.81\00:29:16.99
Which hand did Jesus
have the seven stars?
00:29:16.99\00:29:20.39
In his right hand.
00:29:20.39\00:29:21.49
Any significance of the
fact that it's his right hand?
00:29:21.49\00:29:24.33
Absolutely.
00:29:24.33\00:29:25.89
In the Bible, the
right arm or the right hand
00:29:25.89\00:29:28.46
is a symbol of
power and strength.
00:29:28.46\00:29:31.77
You can read in Isaiah 41:10,
00:29:31.77\00:29:34.37
that there is power
and strength, fear not...
00:29:34.37\00:29:37.24
This is Isaiah 41:10,
"Fear not, for I am with you.
00:29:37.24\00:29:40.01
Do not be
dismayed, for I am your God,
00:29:40.01\00:29:42.98
I will strengthen
you, yes, I will help you,
00:29:42.98\00:29:45.61
I will uphold you with
my righteous right hand."
00:29:45.61\00:29:49.78
So here you have Jesus
holding the seven stars
00:29:49.78\00:29:52.95
which are the angels
to the seven churches,
00:29:52.95\00:29:54.66
we'll look at that in a minute,
00:29:54.66\00:29:55.86
but there in His right hand,
meaning that Jesus is the one
00:29:55.86\00:29:59.53
that sustains his church,
He will strengthen his church.
00:29:59.53\00:30:03.70
And then verse 16
continues and says,
00:30:03.70\00:30:05.93
and out of His mouth
went a sharp two-edged sword.
00:30:05.93\00:30:10.54
Remember
Revelation is a symbolic book,
00:30:10.54\00:30:12.71
but here coming
forth from His mouth
00:30:12.71\00:30:14.68
is described a two-edged sword.
00:30:14.68\00:30:16.78
What does that
two-edged sword represent?
00:30:16.78\00:30:19.75
Represents the Word of God.
00:30:19.75\00:30:21.85
Hebrews 4:12 says,
00:30:21.85\00:30:23.92
"For the Word of God
is living and powerful
00:30:23.92\00:30:26.42
and sharper than any,"
what, "two-edged sword."
00:30:26.42\00:30:29.69
Now you might be
wondering why two edges.
00:30:29.69\00:30:31.46
What are the two edges
relating to the Word of God?
00:30:31.46\00:30:35.00
The Old and New Testament? Yes.
00:30:35.00\00:30:37.73
But there's more,
00:30:37.73\00:30:38.80
we'll get to it
in just a minute.
00:30:38.80\00:30:40.50
The last part of the verse says,
00:30:40.50\00:30:41.94
"His
countenance was like the sun
00:30:41.94\00:30:44.27
shining in its strength."
00:30:44.27\00:30:46.31
So Jesus's countenance
shines forth at the sun.
00:30:46.31\00:30:49.31
There's an
interesting Old Testament verse
00:30:49.31\00:30:51.05
in Malachi 4:2, that says,
00:30:51.05\00:30:53.45
"The sun," S-U-N " of
righteousness shall arise
00:30:53.45\00:30:57.82
with healing in His wings."
00:30:57.82\00:30:59.92
That is a messianic prophecy,
it's talking about Jesus.
00:30:59.92\00:31:02.89
So Jesus is like unto the sun
shining forth in its strength.
00:31:02.89\00:31:07.76
Now in Revelation 12, we
have a description of the church
00:31:07.76\00:31:11.77
symbolized as a
woman clothed with the sun,
00:31:11.77\00:31:15.80
standing upon the moon,
00:31:15.80\00:31:17.07
she has a crown of
12 stars above her head.
00:31:17.07\00:31:20.31
So the church is to be clothed
in the righteousness of Jesus,
00:31:20.31\00:31:24.31
clothed with the sun,
standing upon the moon.
00:31:24.31\00:31:26.95
Incidentally, the moon...
What does the moon represent?
00:31:26.95\00:31:29.38
Well, the moon does
not have light of itself,
00:31:29.38\00:31:31.55
it's merely reflects
the light of the sun.
00:31:31.55\00:31:34.09
What is the
church to be founded on
00:31:34.09\00:31:36.83
and to be standing on?
00:31:36.83\00:31:38.76
Where do we get the
clearest reflection of Jesus?
00:31:38.76\00:31:41.93
It's through His Word.
00:31:41.93\00:31:43.40
That's the church must be
standing upon the Word of God.
00:31:43.40\00:31:46.47
Clothed in
Christ's righteousness,
00:31:46.47\00:31:48.30
the 12 stars would be a
symbol of the 12 apostles,
00:31:48.30\00:31:51.31
at least in the New Testament,
00:31:51.31\00:31:52.54
the 12 tribes of
the Old Testament.
00:31:52.54\00:31:55.54
And verse 17, Revelation 1:17,
00:31:55.54\00:31:57.58
it says, "And when I saw Him,
I fell at His feet as dead."
00:31:57.58\00:32:02.35
Now this is
something interesting
00:32:02.35\00:32:03.75
that you'll find
both in the New Testament
00:32:03.75\00:32:05.32
and the Old
Testament that often a profit
00:32:05.32\00:32:07.62
when he sees in
vision, the glory of God,
00:32:07.62\00:32:10.93
his first response
is to fall to the ground
00:32:10.93\00:32:14.30
as though he were dead.
00:32:14.30\00:32:16.30
Actually, we read
about in Daniel 8:17
00:32:16.30\00:32:18.87
where Daniel saw
the glory of God,
00:32:18.87\00:32:20.37
he fell to the
ground and he says,
00:32:20.37\00:32:21.80
"There was no
breath left in me."
00:32:21.80\00:32:24.67
We have the same experience
with the Prophet Ezekiel.
00:32:24.67\00:32:28.31
So when a prophet
sees God in His glory,
00:32:28.31\00:32:30.78
there is no
strength left in him,
00:32:30.78\00:32:32.45
he falls to the
ground, but then it goes on,
00:32:32.45\00:32:34.22
"But He laid
His right hand on me
00:32:34.22\00:32:37.99
and said to me,
'Do not be afraid,
00:32:37.99\00:32:39.99
I am the First and the Last."
00:32:39.99\00:32:42.26
So John in vision
sees the glory of Christ,
00:32:42.26\00:32:44.53
he falls to the
ground, but Jesus reaches over
00:32:44.53\00:32:47.50
and touches the prophet.
00:32:47.50\00:32:49.30
We find that also true
with reference to Daniel,
00:32:49.30\00:32:51.80
Ezekiel, and other
prophets of the Old Testament,
00:32:51.80\00:32:54.50
that often when they
see the glory of God,
00:32:54.50\00:32:56.37
and they
realize their sinfulness
00:32:56.37\00:32:58.41
and their unworthiness,
00:32:58.41\00:33:00.14
there's no
strength left in them,
00:33:00.14\00:33:01.91
and then God will touch them
00:33:01.91\00:33:03.55
and revive them
and give them strength.
00:33:03.55\00:33:06.75
Notice, it's Christ's right hand
00:33:06.75\00:33:09.32
that is laid upon the
prophet and John is revived.
00:33:09.32\00:33:13.25
Verse 18, Jesus
says, "I am He who lives,
00:33:13.25\00:33:16.86
and was dead, and
behold, I'm alive for evermore.
00:33:16.86\00:33:19.46
Amen.
00:33:19.46\00:33:20.56
And I have the keys
of Hades and of death."
00:33:20.56\00:33:24.00
Jesus is the one who
lives was dead and is alive.
00:33:24.00\00:33:28.20
Of course, he's
talking about Christ,
00:33:28.20\00:33:29.40
His incarnation,
He came to the earth,
00:33:29.40\00:33:31.37
He died and
sacrificed for our sins.
00:33:31.37\00:33:33.34
He rose from the dead,
00:33:33.34\00:33:34.58
and now He intercedes,
He ever lives for us.
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.98
Jesus also says,
00:33:37.98\00:33:39.01
"I have the keys
of Hades and Death."
00:33:39.01\00:33:42.12
And what does
the word Hades mean?
00:33:42.12\00:33:44.32
Hades in the Greek
simply means the grave.
00:33:44.32\00:33:46.89
Jesus has the key of the
grave, He is the key of death,
00:33:46.89\00:33:50.79
He can unlock the grave,
00:33:50.79\00:33:52.83
He can set the
captives of death free.
00:33:52.83\00:33:56.00
In John 5:25, we read,
Jesus says, "Most assuredly,
00:33:56.00\00:34:00.04
I say unto you, the
hour is coming, and now is,
00:34:00.04\00:34:03.57
when the dead will hear
the voice of the Son of God,
00:34:03.57\00:34:06.54
and those who hear will live."
00:34:06.54\00:34:09.14
So Jesus has power to
call forth the sleeping dead,
00:34:09.14\00:34:12.58
and they will be raised.
00:34:12.58\00:34:14.85
Of course, death in the
Bible is like unto sleep.
00:34:14.85\00:34:17.62
Verse 19, Revelation
1:19, "Write the things
00:34:17.62\00:34:21.29
which you have seen,
and the things which are,
00:34:21.29\00:34:24.39
and the things that
will take place after this."
00:34:24.39\00:34:26.93
So John is
actually writing Revelation
00:34:26.93\00:34:29.16
as he is seeing
these visions taking place.
00:34:29.16\00:34:31.80
Write the things
that you have seen
00:34:31.80\00:34:33.37
that's
everything up to this point
00:34:33.37\00:34:34.84
in Revelation 1:19,
00:34:34.84\00:34:36.27
the things that
are happening now
00:34:36.27\00:34:37.74
he's to write that down,
00:34:37.74\00:34:39.04
as well as the
things that is yet to come.
00:34:39.04\00:34:41.28
So the Book of Revelation
deals with historical issues,
00:34:41.28\00:34:44.28
it deals with
present time issues,
00:34:44.28\00:34:46.38
and it also deals
with future issues,
00:34:46.38\00:34:48.68
things of the church
will face before Jesus comes.
00:34:48.68\00:34:51.52
Of course Revelation even
extends past the Second Coming
00:34:51.52\00:34:54.89
all the way
that 1000-year period
00:34:54.89\00:34:56.69
that we read
about in Revelation 20
00:34:56.69\00:34:58.69
and the new
heavens and the new earth
00:34:58.69\00:35:00.46
of Revelation 21.
00:35:00.46\00:35:02.60
So those are the
things that are yet to come.
00:35:02.60\00:35:05.23
And then in verse 20,
00:35:05.23\00:35:06.94
our last verse here in chapter 1
00:35:06.94\00:35:08.67
before we talk about
the first church, it says,
00:35:08.67\00:35:12.61
"The mystery of the seven stars
which you saw in My right hand
00:35:12.61\00:35:15.78
and the seven
golden lampstands."
00:35:15.78\00:35:17.51
Now a very important rule
00:35:17.51\00:35:19.45
when studying the
Book of Revelation,
00:35:19.45\00:35:20.78
as a tool, so the Book of Daniel
00:35:20.78\00:35:23.08
or any prophetic
book in the Bible,
00:35:23.08\00:35:25.45
we need to let the
Bible interpret itself.
00:35:25.45\00:35:27.39
It is not for us to guess
what these symbols might mean.
00:35:27.39\00:35:30.56
All of the
symbols are revealed to us
00:35:30.56\00:35:32.13
elsewhere in Scripture,
00:35:32.13\00:35:34.00
sometimes in the same book,
sometimes in a different book.
00:35:34.00\00:35:36.97
For example, Revelation
13 talks about beasts,
00:35:36.97\00:35:40.50
the one comes from the sea,
the other comes from the earth.
00:35:40.50\00:35:43.64
What do beasts
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:35:43.64\00:35:46.44
Well, to get the answer,
00:35:46.44\00:35:47.54
we got to go all the way
back to the Book of Daniel
00:35:47.54\00:35:49.64
and tells us that beast
represent kingdoms or nations.
00:35:49.64\00:35:53.31
One of the beast
in Revelation 13,
00:35:53.31\00:35:55.25
he said, to
come up from the sea.
00:35:55.25\00:35:57.69
What does the sea
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:35:57.69\00:36:00.36
Revelation 17
gives us the answer,
00:36:00.36\00:36:02.79
multitudes, and nations,
and kingdoms, and towns.
00:36:02.79\00:36:05.86
What do stars
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:36:05.86\00:36:09.10
They represent angels, right?
00:36:09.10\00:36:11.57
In Revelations
1:20, it tells us that.
00:36:11.57\00:36:14.40
The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches.
00:36:14.40\00:36:17.27
So in Revelation 12,
where we read about the dragon
00:36:17.27\00:36:20.81
sweeps a third of the
stars of heaven with his tail
00:36:20.81\00:36:24.38
and cast them to the earth,
00:36:24.38\00:36:25.98
what are those one-third
of the stars represent?
00:36:25.98\00:36:28.98
A third of the angels,
00:36:28.98\00:36:30.69
join Satan's
rebellion against God.
00:36:30.69\00:36:32.45
So we need to let the
Bible interpret itself.
00:36:32.45\00:36:35.19
That's why the Bible tells
us no prophecy or scripture
00:36:35.19\00:36:38.19
is for private interpretation,
00:36:38.19\00:36:40.46
it is not for us
to look at something
00:36:40.46\00:36:41.90
and say, "Well, I
think it might mean this,
00:36:41.90\00:36:44.37
or I think it might mean that."
00:36:44.37\00:36:45.73
No, the Bible
tells us what it means.
00:36:45.73\00:36:47.90
And so here in verse
20, the Bible tells us
00:36:47.90\00:36:50.24
what these various symbols mean.
00:36:50.24\00:36:52.71
First, it talks about seven.
00:36:52.71\00:36:55.11
Now numbers are
significant in the Bible.
00:36:55.11\00:36:58.18
There are several that
are particularly significant,
00:36:58.18\00:37:00.78
not all numbers are significant,
00:37:00.78\00:37:02.38
but especially
from one through seven,
00:37:02.38\00:37:05.65
they're very significant.
00:37:05.65\00:37:06.89
The number 10 is significant,
the number 12 is significant,
00:37:06.89\00:37:09.59
the number 40 in the
Bible is significant,
00:37:09.59\00:37:12.06
so as a little
bit of a background,
00:37:12.06\00:37:13.70
I just want to review
through the meaning of numbers,
00:37:13.70\00:37:16.26
especially in
Revelations, prophetic books,
00:37:16.26\00:37:18.60
what they might mean.
00:37:18.60\00:37:19.87
And we'll start at
the very beginning,
00:37:19.87\00:37:21.57
the number one.
00:37:21.57\00:37:23.30
What is the number one
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:37:23.30\00:37:26.94
Well, it's interesting to note
00:37:26.94\00:37:28.14
that the number one
in the original Hebrew,
00:37:28.14\00:37:31.51
there is a singular
form for the word one.
00:37:31.51\00:37:35.48
There is also a
plural form for the word one.
00:37:35.48\00:37:39.65
And that famous
verse, "Hear, O Israel,
00:37:39.65\00:37:41.96
the Lord thy God is
one," the original Hebrew word
00:37:41.96\00:37:45.49
there for one is
in the plural form.
00:37:45.49\00:37:48.23
So you have one singular form,
00:37:48.23\00:37:50.17
which means at least
in our thinking, one,
00:37:50.17\00:37:53.03
but there is also
a plural form of one
00:37:53.03\00:37:55.74
where the Bible says,
"The Lord thy God is one,"
00:37:55.74\00:37:58.77
one represents unity of purpose,
00:37:58.77\00:38:01.81
unity of purpose.
00:38:01.81\00:38:03.65
Jesus said, "For this reason,
a man shall leave his father
00:38:03.65\00:38:06.51
and his mother, and
shall be joined to his wife,
00:38:06.51\00:38:08.28
and that two shall become one."
00:38:08.28\00:38:11.02
Jesus prayed that His
disciples would be one,
00:38:11.02\00:38:14.22
even as He is
one with the Father,
00:38:14.22\00:38:16.83
so one symbolically
represents unity of purpose,
00:38:16.83\00:38:20.50
unity of purpose.
00:38:20.50\00:38:21.86
Then number two
in Bible prophecy
00:38:21.86\00:38:24.07
represents the Word of
God, represents the Word of God.
00:38:24.07\00:38:27.70
Now the Old Testament was
divided up into two parts.
00:38:27.70\00:38:31.24
The first five
books of the Old Testament
00:38:31.24\00:38:33.07
written by Moses
00:38:33.07\00:38:34.14
was often referred to as the law
00:38:34.14\00:38:36.78
and the last or the
rest of the Old Testament
00:38:36.78\00:38:40.28
was referred to as the prophets.
00:38:40.28\00:38:42.45
So the two witnesses with
reference to the scriptures
00:38:42.45\00:38:45.69
was the law and the prophets.
00:38:45.69\00:38:48.59
The New Testament is really
an extension of the prophets.
00:38:48.59\00:38:52.63
So the two parts of the word
is the law and the prophets,
00:38:52.63\00:38:55.80
the law and the prophets.
00:38:55.80\00:38:56.87
And we find that over
and over again in the Bible.
00:38:56.87\00:38:58.67
Sometimes it's
referred to as the two witnesses
00:38:58.67\00:39:01.90
or the testimonies,
the law and the prophets,
00:39:01.90\00:39:04.41
to the law and to the testimony
00:39:04.41\00:39:06.27
if they speak not
according to this,
00:39:06.27\00:39:07.81
there is no light in them.
00:39:07.81\00:39:09.64
So the number two has
reference to the Word of God.
00:39:09.64\00:39:12.75
What does the number three
in Bible prophecy represent?
00:39:12.75\00:39:15.92
It represents the Godhead,
00:39:15.92\00:39:17.62
the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:39:17.62\00:39:20.62
It is also interesting to
note that in Revelation 16,
00:39:20.62\00:39:23.32
you have a counterfeit
Godhead introduced, the dragon,
00:39:23.32\00:39:28.20
the beast, and
the false prophet.
00:39:28.20\00:39:30.40
And we'll be looking at
what that is a little later.
00:39:30.40\00:39:32.47
So three has reference
to the Godhead, the Father,
00:39:32.47\00:39:35.44
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:39:35.44\00:39:36.67
What do you suppose the
number four might represent
00:39:36.67\00:39:38.94
in Bible prophecy?
00:39:38.94\00:39:40.81
Can you think of four
in the book of Revelation?
00:39:40.81\00:39:43.58
What about Revelation 7
00:39:43.58\00:39:45.75
where it talks about four angels
00:39:45.75\00:39:48.12
holding back the
four corners of the earth?
00:39:48.12\00:39:51.05
What are the four
corners of the earth?
00:39:51.05\00:39:53.52
It's simply the four
points of the compass,
00:39:53.52\00:39:55.82
north, south, east, and west.
00:39:55.82\00:39:57.83
So four in the Bible has
a reference to the earth,
00:39:57.83\00:40:01.30
four has a
reference to the earth.
00:40:01.30\00:40:03.97
What about the number five,
00:40:03.97\00:40:05.17
any significance
with the number five?
00:40:05.17\00:40:07.30
Well, I spoke a little earlier
00:40:07.30\00:40:08.50
when talking
about the number two
00:40:08.50\00:40:10.31
that the Old Testament
was divided into two parts,
00:40:10.31\00:40:12.91
the first part, the
Pentateuch written by Moses,
00:40:12.91\00:40:15.61
the five books had
reference to the law
00:40:15.61\00:40:18.31
and then the
rest was the prophets.
00:40:18.31\00:40:19.85
So the number
five in Bible prophecy
00:40:19.85\00:40:22.68
is often associated
with doctrine or teaching.
00:40:22.68\00:40:26.45
And number five, associated
with doctrine or teaching.
00:40:26.45\00:40:29.66
And then a very
interesting number,
00:40:29.66\00:40:31.59
the number six.
00:40:31.59\00:40:33.16
What does the number six
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:40:33.16\00:40:36.90
What day of the
week was man created on?
00:40:36.90\00:40:39.87
The sixth day
of the week, right?
00:40:39.87\00:40:42.44
That's also interesting to note
00:40:42.44\00:40:43.91
that the number
of the beast power
00:40:43.91\00:40:46.11
of Revelation 13
is the number six
00:40:46.11\00:40:49.98
how many times?
00:40:49.98\00:40:51.65
Three times.
00:40:51.65\00:40:52.91
Again, a counterfeit trinity,
00:40:52.91\00:40:54.72
man's attempt to usurp
the position of God, 666.
00:40:54.72\00:40:58.82
So six is man's number.
00:40:58.82\00:41:01.89
And then seven
would be God's number.
00:41:01.89\00:41:05.53
The number seven represents
completion or perfection.
00:41:05.53\00:41:09.03
God created the
earth in six days,
00:41:09.03\00:41:10.60
He rested on the seventh day.
00:41:10.60\00:41:12.67
God told the Israelites that
they would work their fields
00:41:12.67\00:41:14.84
for six years and
then rest the land
00:41:14.84\00:41:16.97
on the seventh year.
00:41:16.97\00:41:18.47
The number 10 in the
Bible would represent what?
00:41:18.47\00:41:21.58
What is the most
famous biblical article
00:41:21.58\00:41:26.95
that comes in 10?
00:41:26.95\00:41:28.72
Ten
Commandments without a doubt.
00:41:28.72\00:41:31.12
The number ten
represents the Ten Commandments.
00:41:31.12\00:41:34.59
Now the Ten Commandments
00:41:34.59\00:41:35.66
written on how
many tables of stone?
00:41:35.66\00:41:39.09
How many of the Ten Commandments
00:41:39.09\00:41:41.76
was universal
for the whole world
00:41:41.76\00:41:43.83
with reference to
worshiping God as the Creator?
00:41:43.83\00:41:47.90
The first four commandments,
which is for everyone
00:41:47.90\00:41:50.97
because all are
created by God, it's universal.
00:41:50.97\00:41:54.51
The first four of
the Ten Commandments
00:41:54.51\00:41:56.04
have to deal
with worship to God,
00:41:56.04\00:41:57.98
and how many of
the Ten Commandments
00:41:57.98\00:41:59.71
have to do without
relationship to our fellowman?
00:41:59.71\00:42:03.15
The last six.
Isn't that interesting?
00:42:03.15\00:42:05.35
Ten commandments come
on two tables of stone,
00:42:05.35\00:42:07.39
the first four have to do
with our relationship to God,
00:42:07.39\00:42:09.86
the last six has to do
00:42:09.86\00:42:11.66
with our
relationship with our fellowman.
00:42:11.66\00:42:13.96
Kind of
interesting numbers there.
00:42:13.96\00:42:15.96
What about the number 12?
00:42:15.96\00:42:17.17
What does 12
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:42:17.17\00:42:20.20
It represents God's people,
12 tribes of the Old Testament,
00:42:20.20\00:42:23.14
you got the 12
apostles of the New Testament.
00:42:23.14\00:42:26.54
And then the next
number, there are others,
00:42:26.54\00:42:28.08
but these are the
main ones is the number 40.
00:42:28.08\00:42:30.85
And what does 40
represent in Bible prophecy?
00:42:30.85\00:42:33.55
How long did the
children of Israel
00:42:33.55\00:42:34.62
wander in the wilderness
00:42:34.62\00:42:35.65
on their way to
the Promised Land?
00:42:35.65\00:42:37.45
Forty years.
00:42:37.45\00:42:38.42
How long was Jesus in
the wilderness fasting?
00:42:38.42\00:42:40.99
Forty days.
00:42:40.99\00:42:42.09
So the number 40,
how long did it rain
00:42:42.09\00:42:43.83
during the time of
Noah and the flood?
00:42:43.83\00:42:45.53
Forty days.
00:42:45.53\00:42:46.59
So 40 represents a
time of testing or trial
00:42:46.59\00:42:49.43
or purifying.
00:42:49.43\00:42:51.20
Number 40 has to do
with testing, trial,
00:42:51.20\00:42:53.30
or purifying.
00:42:53.30\00:42:55.07
And then the
rest of verse 12 says,
00:42:55.07\00:42:56.77
"The seven stars are the
angels of the seven churches."
00:42:56.77\00:43:00.61
I like the idea
that there is an angel
00:43:00.61\00:43:02.38
assigned to each
of God's churches.
00:43:02.38\00:43:06.18
I like the idea that there
is a Granite Bay Church angel.
00:43:06.18\00:43:10.25
An angel assigned to
the Granite Bay Church.
00:43:10.25\00:43:13.46
And that could very well be.
00:43:13.46\00:43:15.32
But the word angel in
the original Greek Anglos
00:43:15.32\00:43:17.96
means messenger.
00:43:17.96\00:43:19.59
And in Revelation,
angels are not only referring
00:43:19.59\00:43:22.33
to angelic beings
00:43:22.33\00:43:23.87
but it can also
represent human beings
00:43:23.87\00:43:26.70
who are carrying
a message from God.
00:43:26.70\00:43:29.67
For example, Revelation 14
00:43:29.67\00:43:31.07
talks about the
three angels messages.
00:43:31.07\00:43:33.81
Those messengers are carried
to the world by God's people
00:43:33.81\00:43:36.68
in the last days.
00:43:36.68\00:43:38.58
And then it talks
about the seven lampstands,
00:43:38.58\00:43:40.52
and of course, the
lampstands represent the church.
00:43:40.52\00:43:44.29
Now what is it
that the church is to do
00:43:44.29\00:43:46.99
in the world?
00:43:46.99\00:43:48.32
Jesus said,
speaking to his disciples,
00:43:48.32\00:43:50.53
"I am the light of the world."
00:43:50.53\00:43:53.46
Jesus is the light of the world.
00:43:53.46\00:43:55.60
But later on, Jesus
said to His disciples,
00:43:55.60\00:43:58.03
"You are the
light of the world."
00:43:58.03\00:44:01.07
So Jesus is the light,
and He says, His Church,
00:44:01.07\00:44:04.31
the disciples,
they're also the light.
00:44:04.31\00:44:07.08
How is it that the
disciples are the light?
00:44:07.08\00:44:09.98
They are only the
light of the world
00:44:09.98\00:44:12.71
as they hold up
Jesus to the world.
00:44:12.71\00:44:15.32
Does that make sense?
00:44:15.32\00:44:16.72
Jesus is the light,
00:44:16.72\00:44:18.22
the church is to hold
Jesus up to the world,
00:44:18.22\00:44:21.46
the lampstand in Revelation
is said to be the church.
00:44:21.46\00:44:25.36
What is the church
to do for the world?
00:44:25.36\00:44:27.73
Hold Jesus up to the
world. He is the light.
00:44:27.73\00:44:31.87
But in order to have a
flame on the lampstand,
00:44:31.87\00:44:34.64
what needs to be in the lamp?
00:44:34.64\00:44:37.81
There needs to be oil.
00:44:37.81\00:44:38.87
What does the oil
represent? The Holy Spirit.
00:44:38.87\00:44:41.31
What does the church need
00:44:41.31\00:44:42.61
in order to hold
Jesus up to the world?
00:44:42.61\00:44:45.38
Needs the Holy Spirit.
00:44:45.38\00:44:47.12
The church can't do
the work of revealing Jesus
00:44:47.12\00:44:50.45
if the church is
void of the Holy Spirit.
00:44:50.45\00:44:54.36
All right, well,
that brings us then
00:44:54.36\00:44:55.66
to our summary
of our introduction
00:44:55.66\00:44:58.79
of Revelation 1.
00:44:58.79\00:45:00.80
And now we have Christ
message to the churches,
00:45:00.80\00:45:03.73
the seven churches,
and I'm going to quickly
00:45:03.73\00:45:05.87
go through the first church,
which is the church of Ephesus.
00:45:05.87\00:45:09.07
Now the church of
Ephesus represents a time period
00:45:09.07\00:45:11.91
from about 31 AD to 100 AD.
00:45:11.91\00:45:15.21
The word
Ephesus means desirable.
00:45:15.21\00:45:17.71
During the Roman period,
00:45:17.71\00:45:18.98
Ephesus was the second
largest city in the empire,
00:45:18.98\00:45:22.78
it had a population of
more than 250,000 people.
00:45:22.78\00:45:26.59
According to
tradition, it was Paul
00:45:26.59\00:45:29.26
that was the first
Christian missionary
00:45:29.26\00:45:31.29
to Ephesus,
somewhere around 52 AD.
00:45:31.29\00:45:34.20
And later, after persecution
broke out in Jerusalem,
00:45:34.20\00:45:38.00
John ended up in Ephesus,
00:45:38.00\00:45:40.10
and he was the pastor
of the church of Ephesus.
00:45:40.10\00:45:42.54
And it was there that
he was sent by the Romans
00:45:42.54\00:45:45.24
because he
refused to offer incense
00:45:45.24\00:45:47.21
of the Emperor's shrine,
00:45:47.21\00:45:48.71
he was sent as an
exile out to Patmos,
00:45:48.71\00:45:51.25
there, as a prisoner.
00:45:51.25\00:45:53.28
Revelation 2:1,
"These things says
00:45:53.28\00:45:55.85
He who holds the seven
stars in His right hand,
00:45:55.85\00:45:58.02
who walks in the midst
00:45:58.02\00:45:59.55
of the seven golden lampstands."
00:45:59.55\00:46:01.22
Again, Jesus is the one
00:46:01.22\00:46:02.32
that's bringing this message
to the church of Ephesus.
00:46:02.32\00:46:05.66
He's acquainted with the church.
00:46:05.66\00:46:07.13
He's walking
amongst the lampstands.
00:46:07.13\00:46:09.43
Verse 2 says,
"I know your works,
00:46:09.43\00:46:11.73
your labor, your patience,
00:46:11.73\00:46:13.20
and that you cannot
bear those who are evil."
00:46:13.20\00:46:15.64
So Jesus starts off
00:46:15.64\00:46:16.97
by speaking
words of encouragement
00:46:16.97\00:46:19.51
to the church of Ephesus.
00:46:19.51\00:46:21.11
It was during this time
00:46:21.11\00:46:22.28
that there was
severe persecution
00:46:22.28\00:46:24.08
that came against Christians.
00:46:24.08\00:46:25.21
And yet, overall,
Christianity was pure
00:46:25.21\00:46:28.72
during that first
century time period.
00:46:28.72\00:46:31.15
They were devout,
00:46:31.15\00:46:32.22
they were
committed to evangelism,
00:46:32.22\00:46:34.09
they were filled
with missionary activity,
00:46:34.09\00:46:36.86
they were faithful to
the doctrine of the apostles,
00:46:36.86\00:46:39.53
there was doctrinal
purity, and they suffered
00:46:39.53\00:46:42.36
under great
trials and persecutions.
00:46:42.36\00:46:45.33
And then it goes on
in verse 3, Jesus says,
00:46:45.33\00:46:48.37
"You have persevered
and you have patience."
00:46:48.37\00:46:53.44
The church of the first century
patiently endured affliction,
00:46:53.44\00:46:57.05
"You have labored
for my name's sake,"
00:46:57.05\00:46:58.91
it was during
the same time period
00:46:58.91\00:47:00.58
31 AD to 100 AD
00:47:00.58\00:47:02.38
that the believers in Christ
were first known as Christians,
00:47:02.38\00:47:06.05
and they were
called as Christians.
00:47:06.05\00:47:08.39
Verse 4 says, "Nevertheless,
I have a few things against you
00:47:08.39\00:47:11.53
because you have
left your first love."
00:47:11.53\00:47:15.03
So the church was very
zealous for doctrinal purity,
00:47:15.03\00:47:18.07
it was very committed
to missionary activity.
00:47:18.07\00:47:21.10
But Jesus says
there's something missing,
00:47:21.10\00:47:23.71
you've turned more into a form
00:47:23.71\00:47:25.97
and you've lacked the
spirit or the power of love.
00:47:25.97\00:47:30.18
1 Corinthians 13 tells us,
00:47:30.18\00:47:32.18
"Though I speak
with the tongues of men
00:47:32.18\00:47:33.48
and angels, but I have not love,
00:47:33.48\00:47:35.45
I have become
as a sounding brass
00:47:35.45\00:47:37.42
and a clanging cymbal.
00:47:37.42\00:47:39.55
Though I have
the gift of prophecy
00:47:39.55\00:47:40.86
and understand all
mysteries and knowledge,
00:47:40.86\00:47:42.72
and though I have all faith
00:47:42.72\00:47:45.39
so that I could
even remove mountains
00:47:45.39\00:47:47.03
but I do not have
love, I am nothing."
00:47:47.03\00:47:50.07
So the church was
lacking in this love,
00:47:50.07\00:47:52.80
this devotion to Christ.
00:47:52.80\00:47:56.27
When love is
absent in the church,
00:47:56.27\00:47:58.41
the church loses its position
00:47:58.41\00:48:01.14
as being the light of the world.
00:48:01.14\00:48:03.31
So the Bible tells
us that God is love.
00:48:03.31\00:48:05.91
And then when there is
love lacking in the church,
00:48:05.91\00:48:08.88
we can't represent Jesus
to a world that is in need.
00:48:08.88\00:48:12.99
Jesus said in John
13, "A new commandment
00:48:12.99\00:48:15.42
I give to you that
you love one another
00:48:15.42\00:48:16.93
as I have loved you,
that you love one another.
00:48:16.93\00:48:20.30
By this will all know
that you are my disciples,"
00:48:20.30\00:48:23.83
how, "By the love that
you have for one another."
00:48:23.83\00:48:27.30
So in order for the church
to hold Jesus up to the world,
00:48:27.30\00:48:30.67
the church needs
the love of Christ.
00:48:30.67\00:48:33.34
Verse 6 says,
"But this you have,
00:48:33.34\00:48:35.28
that you hate, the
deeds of the Nicolaitans
00:48:35.28\00:48:38.65
which I also hate."
00:48:38.65\00:48:40.12
Who were the Nicolaitans?
00:48:40.12\00:48:41.18
The Nicolaitans were
a group of Christians
00:48:41.18\00:48:43.08
who claim that obedience
was not required by God.
00:48:43.08\00:48:47.52
If you had faith in Jesus,
you didn't have to obey Jesus,
00:48:47.52\00:48:50.83
they actually practiced adultery
00:48:50.83\00:48:53.29
and eating things
sacrificed to idols,
00:48:53.29\00:48:55.60
and they said it doesn't matter
what you do with the flesh
00:48:55.60\00:48:57.90
as long as your
spirit is devoted to God.
00:48:57.90\00:49:00.90
Jesus says I hate the
deeds of the Nicolaitans.
00:49:00.90\00:49:05.14
Do we still have Nicolaitans
in Christianity today
00:49:05.14\00:49:07.91
that say you don't have
to keep God's commandments,
00:49:07.91\00:49:10.41
that some of the commandments
of God done away with?
00:49:10.41\00:49:13.38
The church of Ephesus recognized
00:49:13.38\00:49:15.12
the importance of
obedience for the Christian.
00:49:15.12\00:49:17.65
Verse 7 says,
"He who has an ear,
00:49:17.65\00:49:19.62
let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches."
00:49:19.62\00:49:23.39
Now that is given to
each of the churches.
00:49:23.39\00:49:25.23
Jesus says, "He who has an ear,
00:49:25.23\00:49:27.40
let him hear."
00:49:27.40\00:49:28.86
And there in the
original language,
00:49:28.86\00:49:30.17
it's more than just
hearing what Jesus says.
00:49:30.17\00:49:33.07
It's hearing and understanding
and then putting into practice
00:49:33.07\00:49:36.14
those things that
Christ has told us to do.
00:49:36.14\00:49:39.67
So the seven churches represent
these seven time periods
00:49:39.67\00:49:43.11
that we find
representing the Christian era
00:49:43.11\00:49:45.71
from the first century
00:49:45.71\00:49:46.78
all the way to
the church of Laodicea
00:49:46.78\00:49:48.75
which would be
the church of today.
00:49:48.75\00:49:50.45
Each of the
churches have a promise
00:49:50.45\00:49:52.85
that Jesus gives
to those who overcome
00:49:52.85\00:49:55.69
and to the church of Ephesus,
00:49:55.69\00:49:57.36
the promises you will
eat from the tree of life.
00:49:57.36\00:50:00.70
What a wonderful promise that is
00:50:00.70\00:50:02.76
in the midst of
the paradise of God.
00:50:02.76\00:50:04.87
So they are important
lessons that we can learn
00:50:04.87\00:50:07.47
from the seven churches.
00:50:07.47\00:50:09.04
Well, it looks like
we're out of time for today.
00:50:09.04\00:50:11.07
Again, I want to welcome
and thank those who joined us
00:50:11.07\00:50:13.44
part of our study today.
00:50:13.44\00:50:15.44
You don't have to
stop studying now,
00:50:15.44\00:50:16.85
even though the program is over,
00:50:16.85\00:50:18.08
we want to encourage you to
go to the Amazing Facts website,
00:50:18.08\00:50:20.42
and you'll learn so much more
about the Book of Revelation
00:50:20.42\00:50:23.52
and these important lessons.
00:50:23.52\00:50:25.19
I'd like to remind you
about our free offer for today.
00:50:25.19\00:50:28.16
It is a study guide entitled
The Ultimate Deliverance
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.49
talking about the
Second Coming of Jesus.
00:50:31.49\00:50:33.36
If you'd like to receive this,
you'd want to give us a call
00:50:33.36\00:50:35.76
on the number on the screen
00:50:35.76\00:50:36.83
or you could text and
ask for the free offer,
00:50:36.83\00:50:39.43
and we'll be
happy to send it to you.
00:50:39.43\00:50:40.97
Until we study next
week, may God bless.
00:50:40.97\00:50:43.14
Don't forget to request today's
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00:50:45.07\00:50:48.61
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00:50:48.61\00:50:50.81
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00:50:53.31\00:50:54.65
To get your digital
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to 40544
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00:51:01.49\00:51:04.33
And be sure to select
00:51:04.33\00:51:05.36
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00:51:05.36\00:51:08.00
It's now easier
than ever for you
00:51:08.00\00:51:09.93
to study God's
Word with Amazing Facts
00:51:09.93\00:51:12.50
wherever and whenever you want,
00:51:12.50\00:51:14.50
and most important,
to share it with others.
00:51:14.50\00:51:17.07
Amazing Facts Change Lives.
00:51:21.78\00:51:24.45
I was addicted to all
different types of things.
00:51:30.09\00:51:33.15
I finally hit rock bottom
00:51:33.15\00:51:35.16
when I got pulled over one night
00:51:35.16\00:51:37.33
after having enough
partying with some friends.
00:51:37.33\00:51:41.03
I was drunk high on ecstasy.
00:51:41.03\00:51:43.80
And I realized then
that I had to make a change.
00:51:43.80\00:51:47.77
I was in the military
00:51:47.77\00:51:48.74
and listening to very
satanic music every day,
00:51:48.74\00:51:51.94
and heard this whisper to
carve 666 into my knuckles,
00:51:51.94\00:51:56.58
contemplated on it a while
and I was sitting at my desk
00:51:56.58\00:52:00.55
and I had my knife on me.
00:52:00.55\00:52:02.88
And I started carving the
horizontal lines for the sixes
00:52:02.88\00:52:07.09
into my index finger
first with squared edges,
00:52:07.09\00:52:12.49
and started to enjoy it.
00:52:12.49\00:52:14.93
I wanted to make it known
who I wanted to follow actually
00:52:14.93\00:52:19.13
and not knowing
00:52:19.13\00:52:20.40
I was following
Satan at the time,
00:52:20.40\00:52:21.84
just I thought it
was a cool thing to do.
00:52:21.84\00:52:24.47
So I met this guy online,
and that was my husband Vince.
00:52:24.47\00:52:28.84
And I noticed his ears
00:52:28.84\00:52:31.98
and we started talking
and he was just adorable.
00:52:31.98\00:52:35.22
Flew down and actually
met her here in Arizona.
00:52:35.22\00:52:37.72
And at that point,
00:52:37.72\00:52:39.89
I found out quickly after we met
00:52:39.89\00:52:42.76
that I was pregnant.
00:52:42.76\00:52:43.99
So shortly after
our daughter was born,
00:52:43.99\00:52:45.29
it was a very exciting moment.
00:52:45.29\00:52:46.43
But the nurses and doctors
noticed something right away
00:52:46.43\00:52:49.00
that she was
extremely orange with jaundice.
00:52:49.00\00:52:52.50
And she ended up in
the hospital very sick.
00:52:52.50\00:52:56.10
And it was extremely hard on us.
00:52:56.10\00:52:59.61
We were
teenagers, we were scared,
00:52:59.61\00:53:02.68
our baby was sick.
00:53:02.68\00:53:04.78
I was with someone
that was very angry.
00:53:04.78\00:53:08.95
And at that point, we
were in the hospital room.
00:53:08.95\00:53:15.56
And I remember a
chaplain coming in
00:53:15.56\00:53:17.56
and speaking with the people,
00:53:17.56\00:53:19.16
since it was
like a conjoined room,
00:53:19.16\00:53:20.53
we had a roommate.
00:53:20.53\00:53:21.93
And the chaplain
had said, you know,
00:53:21.93\00:53:25.77
if they could pray
for the other family,
00:53:25.77\00:53:27.70
and that's when I
knew there was my chance.
00:53:27.70\00:53:30.21
I had to take that opportunity.
00:53:30.21\00:53:32.44
And I asked my husband,
"Should I go talk to him?"
00:53:32.44\00:53:35.38
And I said, "No way, I
have nothing to do with God.
00:53:35.38\00:53:37.38
I wanted nothing to do
with talking to this chaplain."
00:53:37.38\00:53:39.75
I decided that I was
going to get up anyway.
00:53:39.75\00:53:43.92
And I got up and you
could tell he was very angry
00:53:43.92\00:53:46.25
that I decided to walk over.
00:53:46.25\00:53:48.19
And I went to the chaplain
and I asked him to come over
00:53:48.19\00:53:52.56
and speak to us and he did.
00:53:52.56\00:53:54.40
And he came in, and
we asked him questions,
00:53:54.40\00:53:56.97
and he actually came to
visit us every single day.
00:53:56.97\00:53:59.77
The chaplain that
we met with mentioned
00:53:59.77\00:54:02.07
Amazing Facts study
guides and just the ministries.
00:54:02.07\00:54:05.87
He showed us
videos and study guides
00:54:05.87\00:54:08.61
from Amazing
Facts, specifically,
00:54:08.61\00:54:10.95
it was on final
events in Cosmic Conflict.
00:54:10.95\00:54:13.18
At that point, we
had transferred hospitals
00:54:13.18\00:54:14.92
to an outpatient hospital,
00:54:14.92\00:54:17.25
and we were able
to watch these videos
00:54:17.25\00:54:19.95
and we were hooked onto them.
00:54:19.95\00:54:21.22
It was a huge blessing.
00:54:21.22\00:54:23.76
We would watch Pastor Doug
00:54:23.76\00:54:25.56
and we would sit up late
at night watching sermons.
00:54:25.56\00:54:30.50
And we were just teenagers,
00:54:30.50\00:54:32.60
most kids our age
were doing crazy things.
00:54:32.60\00:54:35.50
And here we are at home
with popcorn and chocolate bars
00:54:35.50\00:54:38.44
watching Pastor Doug.
00:54:38.44\00:54:40.34
This young couple came
into the Camelback Church
00:54:40.34\00:54:42.84
holding a beautiful little baby.
00:54:42.84\00:54:45.51
And this was one
of the first times
00:54:45.51\00:54:46.88
that I had ever
met Vince and Brittany.
00:54:46.88\00:54:49.28
We needed somebody to show us
00:54:49.28\00:54:51.19
that they loved us
and they supported us.
00:54:51.19\00:54:52.52
And Pastor Ben was
there giving us Bible studies
00:54:52.52\00:54:54.46
on marriage
counseling as well as baptism.
00:54:54.46\00:54:57.23
I was still smoking
and drinking lightly
00:54:57.23\00:55:00.40
and a few things
along those lines.
00:55:00.40\00:55:02.63
And it was one
day when I woke up
00:55:02.63\00:55:06.30
on February 15, 2011,
00:55:06.30\00:55:09.84
after watching many sermons
00:55:09.84\00:55:12.14
on Amazing
Facts from Pastor Doug
00:55:12.14\00:55:14.08
and having a
really solid church family
00:55:14.08\00:55:17.15
that I was able to say no more.
00:55:17.15\00:55:19.11
And from that day on, I
stopped all of my addictions.
00:55:19.11\00:55:23.08
And ultimately, their
lives begin to take on
00:55:23.08\00:55:26.59
just a new
dimension of congruity
00:55:26.59\00:55:28.66
because Jesus was there
00:55:28.66\00:55:30.09
and He was the one who
was bringing that sense
00:55:30.09\00:55:32.66
of belonging and hope and help.
00:55:32.66\00:55:35.03
We decided to get
baptized and married,
00:55:35.03\00:55:38.00
and we got baptized one
day and married the next
00:55:38.00\00:55:41.04
and it was an
amazing experience.
00:55:41.04\00:55:43.07
And we found a spot by the lake
and it was absolutely perfect.
00:55:43.07\00:55:46.57
The evening was
coming to a close,
00:55:46.57\00:55:48.71
the sun was
about ready to go down.
00:55:48.71\00:55:50.68
And we were standing in
the water with Pastor Ben
00:55:50.68\00:55:53.31
and the sky was such a deep red,
00:55:53.31\00:55:56.32
the reflections off the sky,
00:55:56.32\00:55:58.72
it was almost as if we
were standing in blood,
00:55:58.72\00:56:01.36
we were washed in
the blood of Jesus.
00:56:01.36\00:56:02.89
That was the
moment that God painted
00:56:02.89\00:56:04.96
the canvas of the sky
with the most beautiful colors
00:56:04.96\00:56:09.10
signifying the journey
00:56:09.10\00:56:11.23
that he was
going to be laying out
00:56:11.23\00:56:12.70
for Vince and Brittany.
00:56:12.70\00:56:14.30
Shortly after we were
baptized, about a month later,
00:56:14.30\00:56:17.44
we had realized
that my scars were gone,
00:56:17.44\00:56:20.71
I was completely
healed physically
00:56:20.71\00:56:22.24
of not having the 666
on my knuckles anymore.
00:56:22.24\00:56:24.91
And I struggled
with that for so long
00:56:24.91\00:56:26.55
because of what I
did, and He forgave me.
00:56:26.55\00:56:30.75
Many times when
we think of the way
00:56:30.75\00:56:32.09
that we've been led to Christ,
00:56:32.09\00:56:33.49
we think there's
usually one individual,
00:56:33.49\00:56:35.66
but having been able to
work alongside Pastor Ben
00:56:35.66\00:56:38.86
and Pastor White,
it's been great to see
00:56:38.86\00:56:41.56
how we've been able
to work with Brittany
00:56:41.56\00:56:43.50
and Vincent and
seeing them just really grow.
00:56:43.50\00:56:45.97
And this has really been
00:56:45.97\00:56:47.44
something that's
been beneficial to me.
00:56:47.44\00:56:48.94
You know,
sometimes I think about this,
00:56:48.94\00:56:50.44
and the Bible says,
00:56:50.44\00:56:52.77
"More blessed is he
who gives and receives,"
00:56:52.77\00:56:54.54
and I feel many
times more blessed
00:56:54.54\00:56:56.95
just seeing them,
00:56:56.95\00:56:58.71
and seeing all the
challenges they've gone through,
00:56:58.71\00:57:01.08
all the difficulties,
00:57:01.08\00:57:02.25
and seeing them
overcome these things,
00:57:02.25\00:57:04.75
it's just, it amazes me.
00:57:04.75\00:57:06.72
As I reflect back on
everything I've done in my life,
00:57:06.72\00:57:11.59
completely going against God,
wanting nothing to do with Him,
00:57:11.59\00:57:15.10
He still tried so hard
00:57:15.10\00:57:16.73
as if I was the
only one that was lost
00:57:16.73\00:57:18.70
just as He promises.
00:57:18.70\00:57:21.20
He still went and found me
00:57:21.20\00:57:23.67
even though I wanted
nothing to do with Him.
00:57:23.67\00:57:25.47
Having Amazing Facts
and the pastors in our lives
00:57:25.47\00:57:29.34
help us so much,
it's really a blessing,
00:57:29.34\00:57:32.78
and I feel like now we're happy
00:57:32.78\00:57:35.22
and we have these two
healthy, beautiful little girls,
00:57:35.22\00:57:38.39
and God has truly blessed us.
00:57:38.39\00:57:41.29
And I just want to
share it with everyone.
00:57:41.29\00:57:43.79
I want to scream
it, I'm so excited,
00:57:43.79\00:57:46.59
and I feel really blessed
to even have this opportunity
00:57:46.59\00:57:50.03
to share my story.
00:57:50.03\00:57:51.23