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CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING
1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
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Jean Ross: Good morning,
friends, and welcome again to
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"Sabbath School Study Hour" here
at the Granite Bay Seventh Day
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Adventist Church in
Sacramento, California.
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We'd like to welcome our
online members and those who are
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joining us across the
country and around the world,
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part of our a
standard Sabbath school class.
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And we'd also like to welcome
our regular Sabbath School
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members and those who
are visiting with us today.
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We're just delighted that
you have chosen to be with us
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in our study time.
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Now, for if you've been coming
for the last few weeks, you know
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that our lesson quarterly
has been dealing with the two
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Old Testament
books, Ezra and Nehemiah.
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And today we're going to
continue our study with that.
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We're on lesson number
nine, if you following along
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with your
quarterlies, lesson number nine,
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and it's got an
interesting title.
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It's Trials,
Tribulations, and Lists.
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So, that's what we're
going to be looking at today,
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Trials, Tribulations, and Lists.
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For those of you who are joining
us that might not have a copy of
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our lesson, you can just
simply download today's lesson
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at lesson.aftv.org.
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Again, that's lesson.aftv.org.
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Download lesson number nine
and you can study along with us.
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We also have a free
offer we'd like to let
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our friends know about.
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It's a book entitled, The Armor
Of God," and this is free for
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anyone who'd call and ask.
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The number to call is...
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and ask for Offer Number 173.
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We'll be happy to send that
out to anyone in North America.
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Or if you'd like, you can get
a digital copy of our free offer
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by simply texting the
code SH101 to the number 40544.
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You'll get a link and you'll
be able to download the book and
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read it, "The Armor Of
God," and I encourage you
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to take a look at that.
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Well, before we
get to our study today,
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we're in for a
wonderful blessing.
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We've got the Pine Hills
Adventist Academy Choraliers
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that are with us this morning,
and they're going to be bringing
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us a special
musical item at this time.
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¤ Even before we
call on Your name ¤
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¤ To ask You, O God ¤
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¤ When we seek for
the words to glorify You ¤
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¤ You hear our prayer ¤
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¤ Unceasing love ¤
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¤ O unceasing love ¤
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¤ Surpassing all we know ¤
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¤ Glory to the Father ¤
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¤ And to the Son ¤
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¤ And to the Holy Spirit ¤
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¤ Even with
darkness sealing us in ¤
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¤ We breathe Your name ¤
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¤ And through all the
days that follow so fast ¤
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¤ We trust in You ¤
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¤ Endless Your grace ¤
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¤ O endless Your grace ¤
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¤ Beyond all mortal dream ¤
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¤ Both now and forever ¤
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¤ And unto ages ¤
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¤ And ages ¤
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¤ Amen ¤
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Jean: I invite you to
bow your heads as we have
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a Word of prayer.
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Dear Father, once again we are
grateful for this beautiful day
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that You've given us for the
opportunity to gather in peace
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and open up Your Word in study.
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And so, today we invite
You, Holy Spirit, to be with us.
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We know that the Bible is
Your book and in order for us to
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correctly understand it, we need
the Holy Spirit to guard our
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hearts and our minds.
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So, bless us today, for we
ask this in Jesus's name, amen.
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Our lesson today is going to be
brought to us by our family life
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pastor here at Granite
Bay, Pastor Shawn Brummund.
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Pastor Shawn Brummund:
Oh, good morning to everyone.
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It's nice to see you.
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Thank you for that
introduction, Pastor Ross.
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And thank you so much for the
Pine Hills Academy for sharing
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their hard work
and their talents.
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And as I was closing my eyes, I
was envisioning myself not here
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in the sanctuary, but in a much
holier place which is before
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the throne of God in heaven.
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And I started to picture
the angels as they were singing.
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And so, thank
you so much for that.
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And I know that all of us look
forward to the time when we can
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see the angelic choir as
well and be inspired by them.
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It's always good to be
here in Granite Bay Seventh Day
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Adventist Church studying the
Word of God as we continue to
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look at two important figures in
books as they were both leaders.
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Of course, Ezra was a priest,
a minister of the gospel.
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And of course, they were also
prophets, Bible writers as well.
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And so, we're going to be
looking at some very intriguing
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and faith-inspiring
truths as we go through
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this particular lesson.
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Lesson number nine, which is
Trials, Tribulations, and Lists.
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Now, I hope that you brought
your Bibles because we're going
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to have our Bibles open several
times throughout this lesson.
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If you're at home and you're
watching this, or wherever you
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might be watching online or on
television, I want to encourage
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you to grab your Bible if you
haven't grabbed it all ready,
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and let's make this an
interactive study as we continue
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to get our nose in this
most important book and continue
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to grow in our own
personal knowledge.
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And so, that's always important.
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Today, I'm going to do something
a little bit different because
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as I went through this
particular lesson study,
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I started to realize
very quickly that it goes
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in a number of
different directions.
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Every day, in fact, it goes in a
different direction, and we just
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don't even have near the time to
be able to kind of unpack all of
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those different directions.
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And so, Sunday's lesson and
topic is going to be the core of
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our particular study here today,
and that is the God of History,
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as it's entitled on
that particular day.
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And so, I want to start, first
off, by returning to how the
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Israelites got into Babylon
in the first place because over
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the last couple of months
now as we're wrapping up this
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particular quarter,
we've discovered that, indeed,
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God had brought the
Israelites out of Israel,
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the land of promise,
the land that was flowing
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with milk and honey,
the land that God had
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intended to be the headquarters
of the light of the gospel
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to the rest of the world.
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And we find that sadly, the
Israelites had failed on that,
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even to the point where God had
to come in and find them being
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removed from that land,
that Promised Land, and put into
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a faraway land, an
empire, by the name of Babylon.
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So, come with me to Daniel
chapter 1, and verses 1 and 2
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as the lesson study points as
to and let's read that together.
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So, we're opening to the
Book of Daniel and we're going
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to the very first chapter in the
first couple of verses there.
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So, let's go to the
introduction to that book.
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Going to Daniel chapter 2--
and sorry, Daniel chapter 1,
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and we're going to look at the
first couple of verses there.
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Daniel chapter 1,
and verses 1 and 2.
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It says, "In the third year of
the reign of Jehoiakim king of
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Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king
of Babylon came to Jerusalem
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and besieged it.
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And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king
of Judah into his hand, with
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some of the articles of the
house of God, which he carried
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into the land of Shinar to the
house of his god; and he brought
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the articles into the
treasure house of his god."
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And so, we find here
something very important.
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Not only did God allow the king
of Babylon and his army to be
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able to come in and successfully
conquer the capital of Israel,
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Jerusalem, and capture the king,
and, of course, became the ruler
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of that particular land and then
brought many of its captives
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over as captive slaves into his
land, but it also tells us that
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not only did he bring people,
but he also brought several of
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the articles or items that were
found in the holy temple of God
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in Jerusalem as well.
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And this was not
an unusual practice.
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In fact, we have discovered,
or scholars, and historians,
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archaeologists, have discovered
that it was not an unusual
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practice to be able to do that.
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And so, this was not the
first time that a king did this.
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In fact, it was standard for a
king if they came into a foreign
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country and they were successful
in conquering it, why they would
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go into the temple, they would
remove, more often than not,
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they would remove the idol, or
idols that represented in that
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particular land and people
in which they worshiped and some
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of the sacred articles and so
on in their different temples.
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And then they would bring it to
their temple, and this was kind
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of a symbolic way of saying that
our god is stronger than your
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god, and he has given us
victory over you as a people,
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and therefore your
god must be weaker.
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And so, this is exactly what
Nebuchadnezzar did as, again,
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was a standard
back in those days.
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Now, of course, the big
difference here is that these
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items didn't belong to idols.
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The articles that he brought out
of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem
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didn't belong to false
gods, as Nebuchadnezzar had done
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with other idols and articles
and gods in other lands that he
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conquered, but rather these
particular items belonged to the
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genuine God of heaven and earth.
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And so, now he's dealing
with the authentic God, now he's
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dealing with the true
creator of heaven and earth.
00:12:01.48\00:12:06.25
And so, yes, it is true that God
had allowed the Babylonians to
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conquer the Israelites, but
we have to remember that God did
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not allow the Babylonians and
Nebuchadnezzar to conquer God.
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And as it turns out,
those temple items belonged,
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not only to the Israelites,
but they belonged to God.
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And we're going to soon find out
that God had made sure that he
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watched over those articles,
and that they were going
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to return to the temple as well.
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In the meantime, I want to look
at a very important truth that
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this unpacks for us on this
particular day of study and that
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is that God is the judge of
all nations and all countries.
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He is the creator of all people.
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The Bible makes it very clear
that there is no other source of
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life, that God is the one
that gives the breath of life,
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not only to the Israelites,
not only to the Moabites,
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and to the Ammonites, and
to the Egyptians in that part
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of the world, but also to the
Europeans, and to the Asians,
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and to the Africans,
and to North Americans.
00:13:11.89\00:13:14.52
God is the creator
of all people, amen?
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And so, it's very important for
us to understand the Bible makes
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this very clear as you go
through many of its different
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prophets and writings, that
God is an international God.
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And it's important
for us to understand that.
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This is also
reflected in the New Testament.
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This is why when Jesus, after
His resurrected--resurrection,
00:13:34.58\00:13:38.41
just before He sent it to His
Father in heaven, He had given
00:13:38.45\00:13:41.42
very specific
instructions to his apostles.
00:13:41.45\00:13:44.12
And He said, "Go
therefore and make disciples
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of the entire Middle East."
00:13:46.42\00:13:49.79
Is that what He said?
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No, He said, "Go make disciples
of all nations, all nations,
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baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son,
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and of the Holy Spirit," why?
00:13:59.87\00:14:03.04
Because Jesus didn't die on the
cross just for the Israelites.
00:14:03.07\00:14:06.11
He didn't just die on the cross
for those in that part of the
00:14:06.14\00:14:08.91
world, but rather He died for
the sins of the entire world, of
00:14:08.94\00:14:14.28
all humanity and all nations.
00:14:14.32\00:14:17.02
And sometimes we can lose sight
of that when we're reading the
00:14:17.05\00:14:19.95
Bible if we're not looking
for it and allowing that truth
00:14:19.99\00:14:23.19
to come out to us because
there's so much focus on the
00:14:23.22\00:14:27.10
Middle East, there's so much
focus on the core of the Middle
00:14:27.13\00:14:29.73
East, which is the nation
of Israel, God's special nation
00:14:29.76\00:14:33.47
and had a special mission.
00:14:33.50\00:14:36.81
By the way, when we look at
the three angels' messages of
00:14:36.84\00:14:39.24
Revelation 14, again, we find
an international God with an
00:14:39.27\00:14:42.61
international
message for the whole world.
00:14:42.64\00:14:46.05
Okay, "And therefore I saw
another angel flying in the
00:14:46.08\00:14:48.45
midst of heaven having the
everlasting gospel to preach
00:14:48.48\00:14:50.79
to every nation,
tribe, tongue, and people."
00:14:50.82\00:14:56.56
And so, again, we have
this comprehensive international
00:14:56.59\00:15:00.90
message from an international
God, and we don't want
00:15:00.93\00:15:06.03
to lose sight of that.
00:15:06.07\00:15:08.60
You know, one of the things
that makes each succeeding
00:15:08.64\00:15:11.27
GC session, and when I say GC
I'm kind of speaking in house.
00:15:11.31\00:15:14.38
If you're not a Seventh
Day Adventist, GC is an acronym
00:15:14.41\00:15:17.28
we use for General Conference,
which is kind of the,
00:15:17.31\00:15:21.28
how can I say?
00:15:21.32\00:15:23.22
It's the business
meeting or board meeting
00:15:23.25\00:15:24.92
for the entire world church
00:15:24.95\00:15:27.26
and organization of the
Seventh Day Adventist Church.
00:15:27.29\00:15:29.42
And so, there's delegates
and representatives from
00:15:29.46\00:15:32.43
all the different nations
in which we have a presence,
00:15:32.46\00:15:36.00
a church school, a church,
and so on, that come together
00:15:36.03\00:15:39.43
every five years.
00:15:39.47\00:15:42.07
And during that time, we
kind of make world decisions and
00:15:42.10\00:15:45.67
policies in regards
to the world church.
00:15:45.71\00:15:48.81
And not only that, but we
also give world reports, mission
00:15:48.84\00:15:51.95
reports, how has the Lord led in
the last five years in regards
00:15:51.98\00:15:55.85
to the three angels'
message and gospel commission
00:15:55.88\00:15:59.12
that God has given to us?
00:15:59.15\00:16:01.99
And what makes each GC session
more and more exciting is that
00:16:02.02\00:16:05.76
we see more and more nations
represented each time we get
00:16:05.79\00:16:09.70
together at the
end of each five years.
00:16:09.73\00:16:12.63
And so, I don't hear a lot of
amens out there, but we should
00:16:12.67\00:16:15.84
be excited about that because
that is something that we should
00:16:15.87\00:16:19.61
be paying attention to
because that's the greatest sign
00:16:19.64\00:16:23.35
and the only sign of the
times that we are involved in.
00:16:23.38\00:16:27.18
You know, Jesus had
said in Matthew chapter 24,
00:16:27.22\00:16:29.72
and verse 14, and I hope
you know that one because
00:16:29.75\00:16:33.19
that's the most important sign.
00:16:33.22\00:16:35.26
"And this gospel will be
preached in all the world
00:16:35.29\00:16:37.13
as a witness to all
nations," how many nations?
00:16:37.16\00:16:40.50
"All nations and
then the end will come."
00:16:40.53\00:16:43.83
And so, the more we see nations
represented at the GC each
00:16:43.87\00:16:47.80
session, the more closer we are
to the coming of Jesus Christ.
00:16:47.84\00:16:52.14
And I don't know about you, but
I can't wait until Jesus comes.
00:16:52.17\00:16:56.28
That's another thing
we have to be careful
00:16:56.31\00:16:58.08
that we don't lose sight of.
00:16:58.11\00:16:59.95
You can get so wrapped up in
this world and things of this
00:17:00.05\00:17:01.75
world, we forget that
Jesus is coming, and we start
00:17:01.78\00:17:05.85
to lose that
hope and anticipation.
00:17:05.89\00:17:09.16
God has called us to be Seventh
Day Adventists, people that are
00:17:09.19\00:17:12.66
excited about
the return of Jesus.
00:17:12.69\00:17:15.20
You know, one of the favorite
parts, by far, for me whenever
00:17:15.23\00:17:18.70
I have the privilege
of attending a GC session
00:17:18.73\00:17:21.54
is the Parade of Nations.
00:17:21.57\00:17:24.61
And so, some of
you have been there.
00:17:24.64\00:17:26.44
How many have been to
the Parade of Nations?
00:17:26.47\00:17:28.31
Raise your hands if you've
been there, I see a few hands
00:17:28.34\00:17:30.55
that are risen.
00:17:30.58\00:17:32.25
If you haven't been there, boy,
if you can be at the closing
00:17:32.28\00:17:34.32
weekend of a GC
session, that's when you have
00:17:34.35\00:17:36.55
the highest attendance.
00:17:36.58\00:17:38.29
We have some huge stadium
with 40,000, 50,000 people
00:17:38.32\00:17:40.36
worshiping on Sabbath
morning at the same time.
00:17:40.39\00:17:44.19
And that, alone, is just an
amazing, awesome experience.
00:17:44.23\00:17:49.53
But then to be able to have the
Parade of Nations, which kind of
00:17:49.56\00:17:52.40
is the climax of the GC session
where you have all these nations
00:17:52.43\00:17:56.64
parading in their different
cultural garb, wear, clothes,
00:17:56.67\00:18:03.58
their flags, and so
on, as they parade across
00:18:03.61\00:18:07.48
the platform and so on.
00:18:07.52\00:18:09.72
It's just a
marvelous experience.
00:18:09.75\00:18:12.19
So, I know if you've been there,
you know what that's like.
00:18:12.22\00:18:14.29
If you haven't, try to be there,
or at least watch it on TV
00:18:14.32\00:18:17.83
or online as we have it
streamed and so on nowadays.
00:18:17.86\00:18:22.36
So, even though Israel was his
key nation, the key nation of
00:18:22.40\00:18:25.73
God in Old Testament
times, indeed, God had created
00:18:25.77\00:18:28.47
that nation for a very
specific important purpose.
00:18:28.50\00:18:33.17
God has always been involved
in the workings of all nations.
00:18:33.21\00:18:36.54
And so, just because the focus
has been more on the Middle East
00:18:36.58\00:18:39.78
doesn't mean that God hasn't
been paying attention to China
00:18:39.81\00:18:42.08
or to Japan or to
Nigeria or to Tasmania.
00:18:42.12\00:18:45.49
You know, He's looking at all
these nations and always has.
00:18:45.52\00:18:49.92
You know, God is
the God of all nations.
00:18:49.96\00:18:53.06
And so, it's important
for us to understand that.
00:18:53.09\00:18:56.36
Now, in extension of that, the
Bible also makes it very clear
00:18:56.40\00:18:59.67
that because God is the creator,
and He is the maker of all
00:18:59.70\00:19:04.17
things, He's the one
that is really in charge
00:19:04.21\00:19:07.04
of the universe.
00:19:07.08\00:19:08.98
He's also the one that needs
to be able to draw, as we might
00:19:09.01\00:19:12.48
say, a metaphorical line in the
sand for each and every nation.
00:19:12.51\00:19:17.65
So, in other words, as each
nation rises up, and certainly
00:19:17.69\00:19:19.95
history tells us that different
nations have risen up in
00:19:19.99\00:19:23.39
different times replacing
previous nations and such, that
00:19:23.43\00:19:27.66
each nation, God draws a line
in the sand, if we could say,
00:19:27.66\00:19:31.77
and He says, "You know, if you
start to move towards rebellion,
00:19:31.80\00:19:35.54
and wickedness and evil and so
on, once you come to that line
00:19:35.57\00:19:40.04
and you cross that line, you put
Me in a very difficult situation
00:19:40.08\00:19:46.08
because then I have to
have to execute judgment.
00:19:46.11\00:19:50.39
I have to bring some kind
of punishment upon that nation
00:19:50.42\00:19:55.19
for that sin and
for that wickedness."
00:19:55.22\00:19:59.46
And so, it's
important for us to understand,
00:19:59.49\00:20:01.70
God is longsuffering.
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.60
He said that
more than once through
00:20:03.63\00:20:05.27
His first Bible writer, Moses.
00:20:05.30\00:20:07.00
Moses understood it in
God, he saw it in God certainly,
00:20:07.04\00:20:09.67
as Moses was losing it
more often with the Israelites
00:20:09.70\00:20:12.97
than God did.
00:20:13.01\00:20:14.98
As the Israelites were
rebellious and complaining and
00:20:15.01\00:20:17.05
murmuring and causing problems
and so on, we find that God
00:20:17.08\00:20:20.68
was very longsuffering,
and God is still longsuffering.
00:20:20.72\00:20:24.92
And I hope you can
say amen to that as well,
00:20:24.95\00:20:27.12
because He's still
working on you and me, isn't He?
00:20:27.16\00:20:29.66
And so, even the sincerest
of us need a longsuffering God
00:20:29.69\00:20:32.86
because, you know, that grace
and mercy as we grow in the
00:20:32.89\00:20:35.53
grace and sanctification of God
is important to be able to have.
00:20:35.56\00:20:41.40
But longsuffering is
not endless suffering.
00:20:41.44\00:20:44.77
In other words, God has a check
on all evil in all nations.
00:20:44.81\00:20:49.31
And so, once you cross that line
in the sand, then we find there
00:20:49.34\00:20:55.88
that God's longsuffering
comes to an end, judgment
00:20:55.92\00:21:00.82
and punishment then follows.
00:21:00.86\00:21:02.96
Now, we can see this played out
and living color as we study the
00:21:02.99\00:21:06.33
Bible, in particular, in regards
to the lesson study and Ezra's
00:21:06.36\00:21:09.36
day and Nehemiah's day
and even previous to that,
00:21:09.40\00:21:12.53
as we're backing up a
little bit, when we study
00:21:12.57\00:21:14.87
the Bible record about Israel
and the old empire of Babylon
00:21:14.90\00:21:18.37
that was existing back then.
00:21:18.41\00:21:20.68
Now, we've already studied and
learned in the past lessons that
00:21:20.71\00:21:23.85
God had declared a 70-year
period in which the Israelites
00:21:23.88\00:21:28.12
would find themselves exiles,
removed from the Promised Land.
00:21:28.15\00:21:33.36
And this is what we
could call an imprisonment.
00:21:33.39\00:21:36.73
This is their punishment term.
00:21:36.76\00:21:39.06
You know, God came up with
a verdict, and He said, "Okay,
00:21:39.09\00:21:41.03
because of your wickedness,
because you have come, not only
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.60
to that line, but you've crossed
that line into deep wickedness,
00:21:43.63\00:21:48.40
deep apostasy,
there's no other choice."
00:21:48.44\00:21:51.91
And so, God then exile
them over into Babylon.
00:21:51.94\00:21:56.21
And He said, "Now your
term is going to be 70 years of
00:21:56.24\00:22:00.82
imprisonment as slaves and
captives in this foreign land."
00:22:00.85\00:22:06.76
But at the same time, I think
it's also understand, important
00:22:06.79\00:22:09.52
understand as we look at the big
picture starting with Genesis,
00:22:09.56\00:22:11.99
and we'll be looking at that
momentarily, God reveals that
00:22:12.03\00:22:16.00
He understands, not only
that when we cross that line
00:22:16.03\00:22:19.77
as a nation that God has to
bring some kind of punishment
00:22:19.80\00:22:22.80
and judgment upon us, but
He also understands that when
00:22:22.84\00:22:26.71
that is going to
come even before it comes.
00:22:26.74\00:22:30.18
God knows the
beginning from the end.
00:22:30.21\00:22:32.85
And so, not only that was that
70-year period and imprisonment
00:22:32.88\00:22:36.08
and punishment period for the
Israelites, but it was also what
00:22:36.12\00:22:39.15
we could call a probationary
period for the empire
00:22:39.19\00:22:43.83
of Babylon.
00:22:43.86\00:22:46.13
Now, God is not only the God
of Israel, but He's also the God
00:22:46.16\00:22:49.90
of Babylon, isn't He?
00:22:49.93\00:22:52.03
Okay, He's the
God of all nations.
00:22:52.07\00:22:53.90
And so, He's not only interested
in the workings of Israel,
00:22:53.94\00:22:56.10
He's also interested in
the workings of Babylon.
00:22:56.14\00:22:59.41
And by the way, when you look
at prophets, particularly Isaiah
00:22:59.44\00:23:04.35
and Jeremiah, you'll find
that there'll be all kinds of
00:23:04.38\00:23:07.68
different prophecies and
declarations that God gives,
00:23:07.72\00:23:10.99
not to Israel, but to
Moab and to Ammon and to Edom
00:23:11.02\00:23:15.16
and to all kinds,
Egypt, many of the different
00:23:15.19\00:23:18.53
international nations
00:23:18.56\00:23:20.73
that the Bible writers were
aware of in their world and time
00:23:20.76\00:23:24.40
that God was proclaiming
different proclamations, sadly,
00:23:24.43\00:23:27.84
many of them,
judgments on them as well.
00:23:27.87\00:23:32.51
And so, God knew that this was a
probationary period for Babylon.
00:23:32.54\00:23:36.04
And we can find that for
both of these in one of the most
00:23:36.08\00:23:39.15
fascinating passages, and we're
going to back up from Daniel now
00:23:39.18\00:23:42.55
and go to the Prophet
Jeremiah, Jeremiah chapter 25.
00:23:42.58\00:23:46.59
And so, again, open your Bibles
and come with me, Jeremiah
00:23:46.62\00:23:49.79
chapter 25, and we're
going to start with verse 7.
00:23:49.82\00:23:54.20
Jeremiah chapter 25, and we're
going to start with verse 7.
00:23:54.20\00:24:03.14
Jeremiah chapter
5-- or 25, I should say,
00:24:03.17\00:24:06.04
and verse 7 it
says, and this is God.
00:24:06.07\00:24:09.08
It says, "Yet you have not
listened to Me, says the Lord."
00:24:09.11\00:24:13.28
Now, this is God
speaking to Israel.
00:24:13.31\00:24:15.38
"Yet you have not listened
to Me, says the Lord, that you
00:24:15.42\00:24:17.62
might provoke Me to anger
with the works of your hands
00:24:17.65\00:24:21.12
to your own hurt."
00:24:21.16\00:24:23.49
You see that, friends?
00:24:23.53\00:24:25.59
God always has our best
interest in mind, doesn't He?
00:24:25.63\00:24:28.93
You know, sometimes we don't
feel that way because we want
00:24:28.96\00:24:30.97
to go this way and God
is saying going that way.
00:24:31.00\00:24:34.04
And we say, "Yeah, but
I want to go this way."
00:24:34.07\00:24:37.57
You know, and then God,
you know, doesn't bless us
00:24:37.61\00:24:40.34
and things don't go
well in life and such.
00:24:40.38\00:24:42.88
But God always says, "Listen,
if you're going this way,
00:24:42.91\00:24:46.41
He says this way,
He's not saying this way
00:24:46.45\00:24:48.72
because He wants to
be a stick in the mud.
00:24:48.75\00:24:51.15
He's saying go this way because
this is the best way for you,
00:24:51.19\00:24:55.16
not for God but
ultimately, for you.
00:24:55.19\00:24:58.79
And sometimes we have a hard
time of being convinced of that.
00:24:58.83\00:25:03.70
The Israelites certainly did.
00:25:03.73\00:25:05.73
He said anger with the works
of your hand to your own hurt.
00:25:05.77\00:25:07.97
God had their
best interest in mind.
00:25:08.00\00:25:09.97
Verse 8, "Therefore
thus says the Lord of hosts:
00:25:10.01\00:25:12.11
'Because you have not
heard My words, 9 behold,
00:25:12.14\00:25:15.78
I will send and take all
the families of the north,'
00:25:15.81\00:25:18.15
says the Lord, 'and
Nebuchadnezzar the king
00:25:18.18\00:25:20.75
of Babylon, My servant, and
will bring them against this
00:25:20.78\00:25:25.85
land, against its inhabitants,
and against these nations all
00:25:25.89\00:25:28.59
around, and will utterly
destroy them, and make them
00:25:28.62\00:25:32.06
an astonishment, a hissing,
and perpetual desolations."
00:25:32.09\00:25:36.33
So, this is the
judgment and declaration upon
00:25:36.36\00:25:39.17
verdict upon Israel.
00:25:39.20\00:25:41.10
"Moreover I will take from them
the voice of mirth and the voice
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.37
of gladness, the voice of
the bridegroom and the voice
00:25:43.41\00:25:45.61
of the bride, the sound of
the millstones and the light
00:25:45.64\00:25:48.28
of the lamp.
00:25:48.31\00:25:50.31
And this whole land shall be a
desolation and an astonishment,
00:25:50.35\00:25:52.41
and these nations shall
serve the king of Babylon,"
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.12
for how long?
00:25:55.15\00:25:57.12
Seventy years, there it is.
00:25:57.15\00:25:59.22
Okay, many of us have read
Daniel chapter 9 where Daniel
00:25:59.25\00:26:01.32
claims that verse, you know,
as the 70 years were coming
00:26:01.36\00:26:05.13
to its conclusion.
00:26:05.16\00:26:07.13
And God kind of threw a
curveball at him in the vision
00:26:07.20\00:26:09.83
that he gave him in the previous
chapter, in chapter 8 and
00:26:09.86\00:26:13.97
sounded like maybe it's going
to be decades, maybe centuries
00:26:14.00\00:26:17.74
before the sanctuary will be we
rebuilt and cleansed on the Day
00:26:17.77\00:26:21.98
of Atonement, and so on and
so, Daniel claims that 70 years.
00:26:22.01\00:26:27.32
Verse 12 it says, "Then it will
come to pass, when seventy years
00:26:27.35\00:26:30.29
are completed, that I will
punish the king of Babylon and
00:26:30.32\00:26:36.66
that nation, the land of the
Chaldeans, for their iniquity,'
00:26:36.69\00:26:39.86
says the Lord; 'and I will
make it a perpetual desolation."
00:26:39.89\00:26:46.37
And see, you see that
double judgment, friends?
00:26:46.40\00:26:49.30
We see that God is not
only watching the workings and
00:26:49.34\00:26:52.34
keeping track of what's going on
in Israel, but He's also doing
00:26:52.37\00:26:55.41
so in the nation of Babylon
because He's also the God
00:26:55.44\00:26:57.88
of Babylon and of all nations.
00:26:57.91\00:27:00.75
He's interested in all peoples
at all times, in all places.
00:27:00.78\00:27:05.69
And so, God says, "Listen,
not only am I declaring judgment
00:27:05.72\00:27:09.49
and a verdict on
Israel, but also on Babylon."
00:27:09.52\00:27:14.20
And so, God is basically
saying, "Listen, even before the
00:27:14.23\00:27:16.23
70 years come to its pass,
to its conclusion, I understand
00:27:16.26\00:27:20.97
that that's when Babylon
is going to cross that line
00:27:21.00\00:27:23.71
in the sand, and I'm going to
need to be able to punish them
00:27:23.74\00:27:27.04
for their iniquity, for
their evil in sin, as well."
00:27:27.08\00:27:32.81
Now, we don't want to get
confused when it says here that
00:27:32.85\00:27:34.98
Nebuchadnezzar was God's
servant as we read in verse 9.
00:27:35.02\00:27:38.55
And it's because we can walk
away from that and say, "Well,
00:27:38.59\00:27:40.76
wow, Nebuchadnezzar
must have been a devout man
00:27:40.79\00:27:42.96
of the true God of heaven."
00:27:42.99\00:27:44.83
Well, no.
00:27:44.86\00:27:46.96
What this is really revealing
is that Nebuchadnezzar really
00:27:47.00\00:27:48.93
wasn't walking or knew God in
any way, as the evidence reveals
00:27:48.96\00:27:52.83
in the Bible, especially in
the Book of Daniel, but rather
00:27:52.87\00:27:56.10
instead, God is calling him His
servant because Nebuchadnezzar,
00:27:56.14\00:28:00.21
despite his own understandings,
because Nebuchadnezzar, right up
00:28:00.24\00:28:03.98
to his conversion, we'll
talk about that in a moment,
00:28:04.01\00:28:06.55
understood that he was in
control of his life and that he
00:28:06.58\00:28:10.19
was doing everything under
his own power and his own might
00:28:10.22\00:28:13.12
and his own abilities and such.
00:28:13.15\00:28:15.69
And so, he didn't know it,
but God was actually using him
00:28:15.72\00:28:18.69
for his purposes.
00:28:18.73\00:28:20.76
And so, he was a servant,
even though he didn't know it.
00:28:20.80\00:28:23.00
And this reveals another
very important theological truth
00:28:23.03\00:28:26.47
of the Bible and that
is that God is sovereign.
00:28:26.50\00:28:30.44
God is sovereign over
all things at all times
00:28:30.47\00:28:33.68
in all the universe,
including here on earth.
00:28:33.71\00:28:37.21
And so, even though he refers
to the evil one is the prince of
00:28:37.25\00:28:39.78
this world, the prince of the
world really is just, you know,
00:28:39.81\00:28:42.58
he's still subject to God.
00:28:42.62\00:28:47.82
And God is always ten
steps ahead of the devil.
00:28:47.86\00:28:50.39
Never think that the
devil as ahead of God.
00:28:50.43\00:28:52.66
You know, sometimes we
give the devil too much credit
00:28:52.69\00:28:55.03
and say, "Well, the devil is
really winning in this case."
00:28:55.06\00:28:56.97
No, he's not.
00:28:57.00\00:28:59.00
The devil never wins.
00:28:59.03\00:29:00.90
He's never winning, God is
always ten steps ahead of him.
00:29:00.94\00:29:04.51
So, never, never
give the devil more credit
00:29:04.54\00:29:06.61
than he really deserves.
00:29:06.64\00:29:09.48
God is the one that's
sovereign, not the devil.
00:29:09.51\00:29:11.58
Never is the devil sovereign.
00:29:11.61\00:29:13.92
And so, it's
important for us to understand.
00:29:13.95\00:29:15.98
And so, when He calls him
His servant, God is declaring
00:29:16.02\00:29:18.85
His sovereignty.
00:29:18.89\00:29:21.19
He's the one that
reigns upon this earth
00:29:21.22\00:29:23.59
and upon the universe.
00:29:23.63\00:29:26.06
Now, the fascinating thing
about Nebuchadnezzar is that
00:29:26.09\00:29:28.30
eventually he does become God's
servant, not just because God
00:29:28.33\00:29:32.10
is sovereign in spite of
Nebuchadnezzar's rebellion
00:29:32.13\00:29:35.77
and sin, but Nebuchadnezzar
actually finds God
00:29:35.80\00:29:38.14
in his heart eventually.
00:29:38.17\00:29:40.14
And so, one of the most
fascinating chapters that you
00:29:40.18\00:29:42.08
can read in all of the
Scriptures is found in Daniel
00:29:42.11\00:29:44.28
chapter 4 because in Daniel
chapter 4, we find a new man.
00:29:44.31\00:29:48.08
We find a different person
altogether, and that's the king
00:29:48.12\00:29:53.46
of this
particular ancient nation.
00:29:53.49\00:29:56.66
And so, Nebuchadnezzar does
eventually find a conversion
00:29:56.69\00:29:59.69
experience, and you can only
imagine the influence that that
00:29:59.73\00:30:04.20
had on the nation of Babylon.
00:30:04.23\00:30:06.77
Would it be an influence
for good or would it be
00:30:06.80\00:30:08.90
an influence for evil?
00:30:08.94\00:30:11.91
This is an easy question.
00:30:11.94\00:30:14.41
An the influence for--I mean
for good, wouldn't it, okay?
00:30:14.44\00:30:18.81
It would be an
influence for good.
00:30:18.85\00:30:21.62
So, here we have the most
powerful man and the superpower
00:30:21.65\00:30:24.89
of the world.
00:30:24.92\00:30:26.86
He's the king of Babylon,
and he goes through seven years,
00:30:26.89\00:30:30.19
through a very
humbling experience when he's
00:30:30.23\00:30:32.13
reestablished on the
throne, he is real established
00:30:32.16\00:30:35.36
as a brand-new person.
00:30:35.40\00:30:38.13
And so, how he handled--I guess,
he really believed in religious
00:30:38.17\00:30:41.60
liberty because I always
wondering, how did he handle
00:30:41.64\00:30:43.84
that Marduk, and all the other
gods and idols and, you know,
00:30:43.87\00:30:46.64
all the false religion
that was so rampant throughout
00:30:46.68\00:30:49.04
his capital and everything.
00:30:49.08\00:30:51.55
And so, I suppose that he
understood that, you know,
00:30:51.58\00:30:54.32
the religious liberty,
like here in the United States.
00:30:54.35\00:30:57.65
You know, you can--you have
the liberty and the right to be
00:30:57.69\00:31:02.36
wrong in regards
to your religion.
00:31:02.39\00:31:05.99
And so, you know, you can follow
any religion that you want.
00:31:06.03\00:31:10.87
And so, Nebuchadnezzar still
said, "But as for me and my
00:31:10.90\00:31:14.40
house, we will serve the Lord."
00:31:14.44\00:31:18.07
And so, you can only imagine the
what influence that had for good
00:31:18.11\00:31:22.28
and what check that head on
evil for a time, at least during
00:31:22.31\00:31:25.51
his lifetime, of the
remainders of his lifetime.
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.18
And so, that extended it.
00:31:29.22\00:31:31.39
But even in spite of that
influence, God still knew, even
00:31:31.42\00:31:33.66
before Nebuchadnezzar was
converted, that indeed Babylon
00:31:33.69\00:31:37.29
eventually after
Nebuchadnezzar's death
00:31:37.33\00:31:39.79
and his ancestors, Belshazzar,
in particular, his grandson,
00:31:39.83\00:31:44.47
would take the throne
and he would move into
00:31:44.50\00:31:47.77
a direction of rebellion
and evil to the point where
00:31:47.80\00:31:50.17
he crosses that line in
the sand at the conclusion
00:31:50.21\00:31:53.48
of the 70-year period.
00:31:53.51\00:31:55.24
And so, it's fascinating.
00:31:55.28\00:31:57.01
God knows all history before
it ever takes place, and God is
00:31:57.05\00:31:58.85
sovereign over all things.
00:31:58.88\00:32:02.75
And so, that's important
for us to be able to pick up.
00:32:02.78\00:32:07.82
Now, the Bible's revelation
is that God is sovereign
00:32:07.86\00:32:10.06
and uses that to
bring a check on evil.
00:32:10.09\00:32:12.69
And I don't know about you,
but that brings great hope to me
00:32:12.73\00:32:15.56
because I don't know if you've
noticed, but evil has a way of
00:32:15.60\00:32:19.17
rising up in different
places, in different nations
00:32:19.20\00:32:23.41
on a regular basis.
00:32:23.44\00:32:25.94
You know, I don't know about
you, but every time I watch the
00:32:25.97\00:32:27.98
news, it just keeps revealing
that there's more and more evil,
00:32:28.01\00:32:30.58
you know, we just snuff out
ISIS, and, you know, Al Qaeda,
00:32:30.61\00:32:33.82
and then ISIS rises up.
00:32:33.85\00:32:35.68
And then we're going to
stuff out ISIS, and some other--
00:32:35.72\00:32:37.85
you know, there's always evil
that continues to rise up in
00:32:37.89\00:32:41.39
different measures, in different
forms, in different nations
00:32:41.42\00:32:44.53
at different times,
you know, and so on.
00:32:44.56\00:32:48.00
Well, God is keeping track
of all those things as well, and
00:32:48.03\00:32:51.37
He's bringing a check to them.
00:32:51.40\00:32:53.60
And so, that's important
for us to understand, especially
00:32:53.64\00:32:58.27
if we're involved
and victims of that evil.
00:32:58.31\00:33:02.54
You know, if you find yourself
in World War II in Germany, some
00:33:02.58\00:33:07.55
of these other nations that were
conquered by the Nazi regime and
00:33:07.58\00:33:10.22
such, you know, there was great
atrocities and evil that took
00:33:10.25\00:33:15.99
place during that time.
00:33:16.02\00:33:18.46
And most of that evil wasn't
discovered by the rest of us
00:33:18.49\00:33:21.23
nations, including Americans,
until the World War was
00:33:21.26\00:33:25.87
complete, until the Nazi
regime and Hitler was defeated.
00:33:25.90\00:33:29.74
And so, to the American soldiers
and other European soldiers that
00:33:29.77\00:33:33.48
came in, they were horrified
to find these gas chambers that
00:33:33.51\00:33:37.15
were designed for mass
extermination of millions of
00:33:37.18\00:33:41.78
Jews, pastors, Christians,
homosexuals, you know,
00:33:41.82\00:33:46.15
just this massive massacre
of precious human beings.
00:33:46.19\00:33:53.26
And so, but God knew.
00:33:53.29\00:33:56.40
God understood that, and
even though He lets evil extend
00:33:56.43\00:33:59.40
for a time, He
always has that line
00:33:59.43\00:34:01.87
and He brings a check to it.
00:34:01.90\00:34:04.17
And so, that's
important for us to understand.
00:34:04.21\00:34:08.34
In Daniel chapter 2 and verse
21, it tells us that He changes
00:34:08.38\00:34:11.65
times and He changes season.
00:34:11.68\00:34:13.92
He removes kings, and He
also lifts up kings as well.
00:34:13.95\00:34:19.45
And so, God is really
in charge of all things.
00:34:19.49\00:34:22.59
He is sovereign.
00:34:22.62\00:34:24.63
It also tells us the sovereignty
of God, the Most High rules in
00:34:24.66\00:34:27.50
the kingdom of man and
gives it to whoever He chooses.
00:34:27.56\00:34:32.70
And so, you know, sometimes we
think we're in charge, you know.
00:34:32.73\00:34:38.24
You know, it's important to
vote in a democracy, but even in
00:34:38.27\00:34:40.84
democracy, God is
still sovereign, you know,
00:34:40.88\00:34:43.78
because there's
no perfect democracy.
00:34:43.81\00:34:45.88
Have you noticed that
in the United States here?
00:34:45.91\00:34:48.35
You know, there's
no perfect democracy.
00:34:48.38\00:34:50.55
You know, we don't even
know how many people are voting,
00:34:50.59\00:34:52.72
and who's voting, who's
legitimate, who's not legit.
00:34:52.75\00:34:54.96
I mean, there's all kinds
of holes even in democracy,
00:34:54.99\00:34:57.43
isn't it?
00:34:57.46\00:34:59.26
You know, as powerful and
beautiful as that principle
00:34:59.29\00:35:01.26
and practice is, and we
need to be able to preserve
00:35:01.30\00:35:03.53
and protect that.
00:35:03.57\00:35:05.40
It's not perfect, is it?
00:35:05.43\00:35:07.64
And then we got all kinds of
smears and lies, and we don't
00:35:07.67\00:35:10.01
know what's the truth, what's
fake on news and TV and every,
00:35:10.04\00:35:15.41
you know, all this information's
coming at us and we're trying
00:35:15.44\00:35:18.11
to make the best
decision when we vote.
00:35:18.15\00:35:20.15
And God is looking upon all
that, and He's still placing the
00:35:20.18\00:35:23.15
person that He has in store.
00:35:23.18\00:35:28.62
He's sovereign over all of us,
and it's important for us to be
00:35:28.66\00:35:33.73
able to understand that.
00:35:33.76\00:35:35.63
It is Him that lifts up
kings and brings down kings.
00:35:35.66\00:35:38.83
It is Him who removes and
gives kingdoms to men according
00:35:38.87\00:35:43.10
to who He chooses.
00:35:43.14\00:35:47.74
Genesis chapter 15, I want to
invite you to come to one of my
00:35:47.78\00:35:51.15
favorite passages there because
it just, on this subject anyway,
00:35:51.18\00:35:55.62
and it's just probably the first
revelation of God's sovereignty
00:35:55.65\00:36:01.69
and His judgmentship,
if I could use that word.
00:36:01.72\00:36:08.56
Genesis chapter 15
and verse 13 onwards.
00:36:08.60\00:36:16.17
Genesis chapter 15 and verse 13.
00:36:16.20\00:36:21.68
So, we're going to read
it right through to verse 16.
00:36:21.71\00:36:24.28
Okay, so Genesis chapter 15, and
this is back in Abraham's time.
00:36:24.31\00:36:28.58
His name is Abram at this
point, but it's Abraham later.
00:36:28.62\00:36:31.85
"Then He said to Abram: 'Know
certainly that your descendants
00:36:31.89\00:36:34.66
will be strangers in a land that
is not theirs, and will serve
00:36:34.69\00:36:39.43
them, and they will afflict
them four hundred years.'"
00:36:39.46\00:36:41.90
Now, what nation was that?
00:36:41.93\00:36:44.20
That was Egypt, wasn't it?
00:36:44.23\00:36:46.30
Okay, doesn't name it here,
but, of course, later on the
00:36:46.33\00:36:50.27
Scriptures and
history tells us it was Egypt.
00:36:50.31\00:36:53.81
"They will be strangers
in a land that is not theirs,
00:36:53.84\00:36:56.04
and will serve them, and they
will afflict them 400 years.
00:36:56.08\00:36:59.21
And also the nation
whom they serve," I will?
00:36:59.25\00:37:03.55
I will judge.
00:37:03.59\00:37:05.42
So, there's God the
judge, not only of Israel,
00:37:05.45\00:37:07.46
but also of Egypt.
00:37:07.49\00:37:08.86
"Afterward they shall come
out with great possessions.
00:37:08.89\00:37:11.36
Now as for you, you shall
go to your fathers in peace;
00:37:11.39\00:37:13.83
you shall be
buried at a good old age.
00:37:13.86\00:37:16.56
But in the fourth generation
they shall return here,"
00:37:16.60\00:37:20.77
that's the Promised Land
where Abraham is presently,
00:37:20.80\00:37:24.97
for the iniquity of the
Amorites is not yet complete."
00:37:25.01\00:37:30.75
Now, isn't that fascinating?
00:37:30.78\00:37:33.88
This is no small verse, this is
no small passage, this is a huge
00:37:33.92\00:37:37.19
passage in regards to the
sovereignty and the judgeship of
00:37:37.22\00:37:42.49
God, and God is looking upon all
the nations, and He is keeping
00:37:42.52\00:37:47.86
track of the workings of every
single nation of human beings.
00:37:47.86\00:37:51.97
And it tells us there that
the iniquity of the Amorites
00:37:52.00\00:37:56.24
was not yet complete.
00:37:56.27\00:37:58.34
Now, the fascinating thing
is that If you go back just a
00:37:58.37\00:38:01.04
couple of chapters, or even just
one chapter of Genesis chapter
00:38:01.08\00:38:04.11
14, verse 13, we find there the
context is Lot, the nephew of
00:38:04.15\00:38:09.35
Abraham, as well as the
residents of Sodom and Gomorrah
00:38:09.38\00:38:12.82
were taken captive by some kings
in the north and taken away.
00:38:12.85\00:38:16.32
And so, Abraham decides that
he's going to take his militia
00:38:16.36\00:38:20.40
in his own camp with 318 trained
men and servants of his camp,
00:38:20.43\00:38:25.17
and rescue them.
00:38:25.20\00:38:27.30
But he doesn't go alone.
00:38:27.34\00:38:29.34
He actually brings
with him another army,
00:38:29.37\00:38:31.91
another military
ally that he has.
00:38:31.94\00:38:34.44
And as it turns
out, they are Amorites.
00:38:34.48\00:38:37.61
They're three brothers,
and they're all Amorites.
00:38:37.65\00:38:40.32
And so, he joins and hence, the
only other military and people
00:38:40.35\00:38:43.99
that he's politically and
militarily aligned with is the
00:38:44.02\00:38:48.69
Amorites, why?
00:38:48.72\00:38:51.23
Because the Amorites were
the most righteous in the land.
00:38:51.26\00:38:55.03
They had not yet filled
their iniquity or their cup of
00:38:55.06\00:38:58.10
iniquity, if we might say.
00:38:58.13\00:39:00.57
And so, that's why we find that
Abraham is in alliance with them
00:39:00.60\00:39:04.34
and, of course, they
successfully rescued Lot in
00:39:04.37\00:39:06.68
Sodom and Gomorrah.
00:39:06.71\00:39:08.81
And so, the Lord tarried for
400 years because the probation
00:39:08.84\00:39:13.25
of the Amorites had
not yet been complete.
00:39:13.28\00:39:16.25
They had not come to
that line and crossed
00:39:16.28\00:39:18.52
that line of wickedness yet.
00:39:18.55\00:39:21.06
And so, there's three
key reasons why God allowed
00:39:21.09\00:39:25.56
the Israelites to slug
it out as long as they did,
00:39:25.59\00:39:29.13
400 years in the land of Egypt.
00:39:29.16\00:39:32.33
Well, number one, this is a
sideline, they needed to grow
00:39:32.37\00:39:35.04
large enough to be
able to see the nation.
00:39:35.07\00:39:37.37
You know, right now, they only
was about 70 year, or not even,
00:39:37.41\00:39:40.61
in Abraham's day was.
00:39:40.64\00:39:42.91
And so, you know, with his camp,
there was, you know, several
00:39:42.94\00:39:45.58
hundred, but the family itself,
you know, was just a few dozen.
00:39:45.61\00:39:50.29
So, it wasn't nearly enough
to seed a nation, and so they
00:39:50.32\00:39:52.89
needed to grow into the
millions, which they did,
00:39:52.92\00:39:55.22
to seed a nation.
00:39:55.26\00:39:57.09
Number two, the Amorites did
cross that line in the sand yet,
00:39:57.13\00:39:59.26
and so God had to wait.
00:39:59.29\00:40:01.20
And then also, the Egyptians
had not also completed their
00:40:01.23\00:40:04.33
iniquity because when God came
in and He set the captives free,
00:40:04.37\00:40:10.64
He set the Israelites free,
He also brought judgment upon
00:40:10.67\00:40:14.41
the nation of Egypt,
and He uses that language.
00:40:14.44\00:40:17.95
And so, probation for the
Amorites and the Egyptians
00:40:17.98\00:40:20.62
had not yet been complete.
00:40:20.65\00:40:22.82
God's longsuffering
was still being applied.
00:40:22.85\00:40:26.02
And so, that's the fascinating
thing about this sovereignty of
00:40:26.05\00:40:29.56
God and His--and
how He judges nations.
00:40:29.59\00:40:32.56
Now, this is paralleled again at
the conclusion of the 70 years
00:40:32.59\00:40:34.93
of the Israelites
who were captive slaves
00:40:34.96\00:40:37.53
in the land of Babylon.
00:40:37.57\00:40:39.87
And when they come to the
conclusion of that probationary
00:40:39.90\00:40:42.80
period, it's the time to release
the Israelites but also bring
00:40:42.84\00:40:46.31
judgment upon Babylon, we
find that Daniel chapter 5
00:40:46.34\00:40:50.75
is the key chapter.
00:40:50.78\00:40:53.15
And I think we have just enough
time to read through that,
00:40:53.18\00:40:55.32
so come with me to Daniel
chapter 5 because we're going
00:40:55.35\00:40:58.82
to park there and
just go through the chapter
00:40:58.85\00:41:01.66
because it doesn't take a lot
of commentary or explanation.
00:41:01.69\00:41:04.99
It is such a
powerful chapter in of itself.
00:41:05.03\00:41:08.50
And so, I just want to invite
you to read through it with me
00:41:08.53\00:41:12.17
and we find that on Sunday's
lesson, it says in verse 1,
00:41:12.20\00:41:16.07
Belshazzar--now this is the
grandson of Nebuchadnezzar now.
00:41:16.10\00:41:20.58
"The king made a great feast
for a thousand of his lords,
00:41:20.61\00:41:23.85
and drank wine in the
presence of the thousand.
00:41:23.88\00:41:26.65
While he tasted the wine,
Belshazzar gave the command to
00:41:26.68\00:41:29.65
bring the gold and
silver vessels which his father
00:41:29.68\00:41:32.32
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from
the temple which had been in
00:41:32.35\00:41:35.96
Jerusalem, that the king
and his lords, his wives,
00:41:35.99\00:41:40.50
and his concubines
might drink from them.
00:41:40.53\00:41:43.40
Then they brought the gold
vessels that had been taken from
00:41:43.43\00:41:46.30
the temple of the house of God
which had been in Jerusalem;"
00:41:46.33\00:41:51.84
ouch, "and the king
and his lords, his wives,
00:41:51.87\00:41:55.81
and his
concubines drank from them."
00:41:55.84\00:42:00.62
Now, if these were the vessels
of Marduk or Asherah or Baal
00:42:00.65\00:42:08.26
or some of these false
gods, nothing would have--
00:42:08.29\00:42:12.23
would have come to nothing.
00:42:12.26\00:42:14.46
But these don't belong
to a false god, do they?
00:42:14.46\00:42:16.77
These vessels belong to the
authentic God of the universe.
00:42:16.80\00:42:19.37
Verse 5, "They drank wine,
and praised the gods of gold
00:42:19.40\00:42:22.37
and silver, bronze
and iron, wood and stone.
00:42:22.40\00:42:27.64
In the same hour the fingers of
a man's hand appeared and wrote
00:42:27.68\00:42:30.55
opposite the lampstand on
the plaster of the wall of the
00:42:30.58\00:42:33.35
king's palace; and the king saw
the part of the hand that wrote.
00:42:33.38\00:42:38.65
Then the king's
countenance changed."
00:42:38.69\00:42:41.99
Okay, before that, he was full
of arrogance, and confidence,
00:42:42.02\00:42:44.53
and pride.
00:42:44.56\00:42:46.63
"His thoughts troubled him, so
that the joints of his hips were
00:42:46.66\00:42:48.76
loosened and his knees
knocked against each other."
00:42:48.80\00:42:52.00
Now, friends this is probably an
exaggeration to a real degree,
00:42:52.03\00:42:54.94
but really what Daniel's trying
to say in the strongest way is
00:42:54.97\00:42:57.77
this, this guy started to
fall apart very, very quickly.
00:42:57.81\00:43:02.04
"The king cried aloud to
bring in the astrologers,
00:43:02.08\00:43:04.61
the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers.
00:43:04.65\00:43:07.15
The king spoke, saying
to the wise men of Babylon,
00:43:07.18\00:43:09.55
'Whoever reads this writing,
and tells me its interpretation,
00:43:09.58\00:43:12.39
shall be clothed with purple
and have a chain of gold around
00:43:12.42\00:43:15.26
his neck; and he shall be
the third ruler in the kingdom.'
00:43:15.29\00:43:20.43
Now all the king's wise men--"
00:43:20.46\00:43:22.26
In other words, he'll be
the third most powerful leader
00:43:22.30\00:43:24.37
in the kingdom.
00:43:24.40\00:43:26.37
"Now all the king's wise men
came, but they could not read
00:43:26.40\00:43:28.64
the writing, or make known
to the king its interpretation."
00:43:28.67\00:43:31.11
Does that sound familiar?
00:43:31.14\00:43:33.27
Yeah, if you read Daniel chapter
2, this is kind of a repeat
00:43:33.31\00:43:35.71
as Nebuchadnezzar experienced.
00:43:35.74\00:43:37.91
"Then King Belshazzar
was greatly troubled, his
00:43:37.95\00:43:40.25
countenance was changed,
and his lords were astonished.
00:43:40.28\00:43:43.55
The queen, because of the words
of the king and his lords--"
00:43:43.59\00:43:47.02
Now, this is probably not
his wife because his wives,
00:43:47.06\00:43:50.76
you know, probably
including his first wife.
00:43:50.79\00:43:55.53
And concubines were with him in
the party, but this is probably
00:43:55.56\00:43:58.67
the queen, this is
probably his grandmother.
00:43:58.70\00:44:02.04
And so, this is
probably a surviving wife
00:44:02.07\00:44:04.37
of the previous king.
00:44:04.41\00:44:06.71
And so, "The queen,
because of the words of the king
00:44:06.74\00:44:08.88
and his lords, came
to the banquet hall.
00:44:08.91\00:44:11.58
The queen spoke,
saying, 'O king, live forever!
00:44:11.61\00:44:14.48
Do not let your
thoughts trouble you,
00:44:14.52\00:44:16.45
nor let your countenance change.
00:44:16.48\00:44:18.55
There is a man in your
kingdom in whom is the Spirit
00:44:18.59\00:44:20.59
of the Holy God.
00:44:20.62\00:44:22.59
And in the days
of your father--'"
00:44:22.62\00:44:24.63
Now, when they use the term
"father," don't get confused.
00:44:24.66\00:44:27.20
Father was a term to anybody
that was previous to you and any
00:44:27.23\00:44:30.67
of your ancestor, that could be
your father, your grandfather,
00:44:30.70\00:44:32.70
your great grandfather.
00:44:32.73\00:44:35.00
"Your father, light and
understanding and wisdom,
00:44:35.04\00:44:37.17
like the wisdom of the gods,
were found in him; and King
00:44:37.21\00:44:40.04
Nebuchadnezzar your
father-- your father the king--
00:44:40.08\00:44:43.11
made him chief of the magicians,
astrologers, Chaldeans,
00:44:43.14\00:44:45.88
and soothsayers.
00:44:45.91\00:44:48.05
Inasmuch as an excellent spirit,
knowledge, understanding,
00:44:48.08\00:44:50.32
interpreting dreams, solving
riddles, and explaining enigmas
00:44:50.35\00:44:53.02
were found in this Daniel, whom
the king named Belteshazzar,
00:44:53.05\00:44:56.89
now let Daniel be called, and
he will give the interpretation.
00:44:56.93\00:45:01.13
Then Daniel was
brought in before the king.
00:45:01.16\00:45:03.53
The king spoke, and said to
Daniel, 'Are you that Daniel
00:45:03.57\00:45:05.87
who is one of the captives
from Judah, whom my father
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.27
the king brought from Judah?
00:45:08.30\00:45:10.67
I have heard of you, that
the Spirit of God is in you,
00:45:10.71\00:45:14.41
and that light and understanding
and excellent wisdom
00:45:14.44\00:45:16.68
are found in you.
00:45:16.71\00:45:18.85
Now the wise men, the
astrologers, have been brought
00:45:18.88\00:45:21.02
in before me, that they should
read this writing and make known
00:45:21.05\00:45:23.42
to me its interpretation,
but they could not give
00:45:23.45\00:45:25.59
the interpretation of the thing.
00:45:25.62\00:45:28.09
And I have heard of you, that
you can give interpretations
00:45:28.12\00:45:31.06
and explain enigmas.
00:45:31.09\00:45:33.09
Now if you can read the
writing and make known to me its
00:45:33.13\00:45:35.30
interpretation, you shall be
clothed with purple and have a
00:45:35.33\00:45:37.70
chain of gold around your neck,
and shall be the third ruler
00:45:37.73\00:45:40.74
in the kingdom.
00:45:40.77\00:45:43.17
Then Daniel answered, and said
before the king," I like his
00:45:43.20\00:45:45.37
answer, "Let your gifts be for
yourself, and give your rewards
00:45:45.41\00:45:50.11
to another; for I will
read the writing to the king,
00:45:50.15\00:45:53.11
and make known to
him the interpretation."
00:45:53.15\00:45:55.55
He says, "Don't worry about the
rewards, means nothing to me."
00:45:55.58\00:45:59.29
"O King, the Most
High God decides--"
00:45:59.32\00:46:02.46
Daniel kind of saw the
writing on the wall, he knew
00:46:02.49\00:46:04.56
what was coming down.
00:46:04.59\00:46:06.90
"O king, the Most High God
gave Nebuchadnezzar your father
00:46:06.93\00:46:11.10
a kingdom and
majesty, glory and honor.
00:46:11.13\00:46:13.44
And because of the majesty
that He gave him, all peoples,
00:46:13.47\00:46:15.70
nations, and languages
trembled and feared before him.
00:46:15.74\00:46:18.47
Whomever he wished, he
executed; whomever he wished,
00:46:18.51\00:46:20.88
he kept alive;
whomever he wished, he set up;
00:46:20.91\00:46:23.35
and whomever he
wished, he put down.
00:46:23.38\00:46:25.75
But when his heart was lifted
up, and his spirit was hardened
00:46:25.78\00:46:28.28
in pride, he was
deposed from his kingly throne,
00:46:28.32\00:46:31.45
and they took
his glory from him.
00:46:31.49\00:46:33.92
Then he was driven from the sons
of men, his heart was made like
00:46:33.96\00:46:36.69
the beasts, and his dwelling
was with the wild donkeys.
00:46:36.73\00:46:39.39
They fed him with grass like
oxen, and his body was wet with
00:46:39.43\00:46:42.73
the dew of heaven, till he knew
that the Most High God rules in
00:46:42.76\00:46:45.93
the kingdom of men, and appoints
over it whomever He chooses.
00:46:45.97\00:46:52.11
But you his son, Belshazzar,
have not humbled your heart,
00:46:52.14\00:46:58.71
although you knew all this."
00:46:58.75\00:47:04.55
So, you have to remember here
that Belshazzar is not ignorant.
00:47:04.59\00:47:07.79
He's not in the dark in
regards to his grandfather,
00:47:07.82\00:47:10.69
Nebuchadnezzar.
00:47:10.73\00:47:12.86
In fact, you can only imagine
Nebuchadnezzar repeating that
00:47:12.89\00:47:15.23
more than once before
he had gone to his grave.
00:47:15.26\00:47:19.00
"And you have lifted yourself
up against the Lord of heaven.
00:47:19.03\00:47:22.04
They have brought the vessels
of His house before you, and you
00:47:22.07\00:47:25.01
and your lords, your
wives and your concubines,
00:47:25.04\00:47:27.84
have drunk wine from them.
00:47:27.88\00:47:30.25
And you have praised the gods
of silver and gold, bronze and
00:47:30.28\00:47:33.25
iron, wood and stone, which
do not see or hear or know;
00:47:33.28\00:47:36.25
and the God who holds
your breath in His hand
00:47:36.28\00:47:39.92
and owns all your
ways, you have not glorified.
00:47:39.95\00:47:44.43
Then the fingers of the
hand were sent from Him,
00:47:44.46\00:47:47.40
and this writing was written.
00:47:47.46\00:47:49.86
And this is the
inscription that was written:
00:47:49.90\00:47:52.17
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
00:47:52.20\00:47:55.70
This is the
interpretation of each word.
00:47:55.74\00:47:57.67
MENE: God has numbered
your kingdom, and finished it;
00:47:57.71\00:48:05.08
TEKEL: You have been
weighed in the balances,
00:48:05.11\00:48:08.32
and found wanting."
00:48:08.35\00:48:10.55
Does it sound like a line
in the sand has been crossed?
00:48:10.59\00:48:14.22
"PERES:" which is
singular for a parson.
00:48:14.26\00:48:18.36
"Your kingdom has been
divided, and given to the Medes
00:48:18.39\00:48:22.90
and Persians.
00:48:22.93\00:48:26.03
Then Belshazzar gave the
command, and they clothed Daniel
00:48:26.07\00:48:28.67
with purple and put a
chain of gold around his neck,
00:48:28.70\00:48:31.17
and made a proclamation
concerning him that he should be
00:48:31.21\00:48:33.61
the third ruler in the kingdom
of Babylon, of the kingdom.
00:48:33.64\00:48:38.31
And That very night Belshazzar,
king of the Chaldeans,
00:48:38.35\00:48:40.85
was slain.
00:48:40.88\00:48:44.09
And Darius the Mede
received the kingdom,
00:48:44.12\00:48:46.52
being about
sixty-two years old."
00:48:46.55\00:48:49.96
And so, there we have it,
friends, a powerful chapter that
00:48:49.99\00:48:52.46
tells us the conclusion
of the judgment of Babylon,
00:48:52.49\00:48:57.87
and also the
conclusion of the imprisonment
00:48:57.90\00:49:00.44
and the
punishment of the Israelites.
00:49:00.47\00:49:02.60
Now, we don't
want to get confused.
00:49:02.64\00:49:04.47
Darius the Mede certainly
received the kingdom in that
00:49:04.51\00:49:07.48
part of the newly annexed area
of Babylon that was annexed,
00:49:07.51\00:49:11.75
or added, to the territory now
of the Medes and the Persians,
00:49:11.78\00:49:14.88
but that was
not the new capital.
00:49:14.92\00:49:17.05
And so, the ultimate
king in which the King Darius,
00:49:17.09\00:49:19.69
the Mede,
answered to was King Cyrus.
00:49:19.72\00:49:23.29
Cyrus is the ultimate King.
00:49:23.32\00:49:25.76
And so, there was kings
and then there were sub kings.
00:49:25.79\00:49:27.96
Darius was a sub
king and the Median king,
00:49:27.96\00:49:30.40
but then we also have
Cyrus, the Persian king.
00:49:30.43\00:49:33.40
Very much like in Jesus's day,
we have King Herod who was the
00:49:33.44\00:49:37.11
king of Judea in Jesus's day,
but was he the king of Rome,
00:49:37.14\00:49:41.78
of the Roman Empire?
00:49:41.81\00:49:43.58
No, okay, Caesar, okay was
the king of the Roman Empire,
00:49:43.61\00:49:47.18
Nero and so on.
00:49:47.22\00:49:49.22
And so, well, you have
kings and you have sub kings,
00:49:49.25\00:49:51.39
and so that's
important for us to understand.
00:49:51.42\00:49:54.99
Well, that brings us to the
conclusion Ezra chapter 1 and
00:49:55.02\00:49:58.06
verses 7 through 11, of course,
that's one of the lists that the
00:49:58.09\00:50:01.90
lesson study brings out,
and it's a list of the different
00:50:01.93\00:50:04.63
temple items that were returned.
00:50:04.67\00:50:06.80
And so, not only again were the
Israelites permitted to go back
00:50:06.84\00:50:10.34
to Israel and rebuild the
temple, but the very same items
00:50:10.37\00:50:14.98
that Belshazzar brought out and
drank from so rebelliously and
00:50:15.01\00:50:20.45
so wickedly in great rebellion,
we find then were rightfully
00:50:20.48\00:50:25.55
returned to the true
God of heaven, again,
00:50:25.59\00:50:28.09
revealing that you never
want to mess with God's people.
00:50:28.12\00:50:31.86
You never want to mess
with God's things, because God
00:50:31.89\00:50:35.80
takes that very
personally, and He is sovereign.
00:50:35.83\00:50:39.70
Well, we have an offer here
that we offered at the beginning
00:50:39.73\00:50:42.57
in case you just joined
our program beforehand--
00:50:42.60\00:50:46.74
I mean, since we
offered that at the beginning,
00:50:46.78\00:50:49.18
we want to make sure that
you can take advantage of it.
00:50:49.21\00:50:51.35
It's a little booklet entitled,
"The Armor Of God" written
00:50:51.38\00:50:53.65
by our senior
pastor Doug Batchelor,
00:50:53.68\00:50:55.75
also the president of
Amazing Facts Ministries,
00:50:55.78\00:50:58.25
and so please
take advantage of that.
00:50:58.29\00:51:00.12
You can see the
number on your screen.
00:51:00.16\00:51:02.36
And not only can you get a
hard copy of that if you're in
00:51:02.39\00:51:04.99
America, Canada, or in one of
the US territories, but you can
00:51:05.03\00:51:09.40
also get a digital copy of that
and you can text it to the code,
00:51:09.43\00:51:13.13
or you can text the code SH101
00:51:13.17\00:51:16.34
and you just dial
that to the number 40544.
00:51:16.37\00:51:20.04
Again, the
information is on your screen.
00:51:20.08\00:51:22.44
God bless you until
we see you next week.
00:51:22.48\00:51:24.61
And remember, God loves
you and we love you too.
00:51:24.65\00:51:27.75
male announcer: Don't
forget to request today's
00:51:27.78\00:51:29.72
life-changing free resource.
00:51:29.75\00:51:31.55
Not only can you receive
this free gift in the mail,
00:51:31.59\00:51:33.56
you can download a digital
copy straight to your computer
00:51:33.59\00:51:35.82
or mobile device.
00:51:35.86\00:51:37.66
To get your digital copy of
today's free gift, simply text
00:51:37.69\00:51:40.43
the keyword on your screen to
40544 or visit the web address
00:51:40.46\00:51:45.30
shown on your screen.
00:51:45.33\00:51:47.24
And be sure to select
the digital download option
00:51:47.27\00:51:49.34
on the request page.
00:51:49.37\00:51:51.27
It's now easier than ever
for you to study God's Word with
00:51:51.31\00:51:53.68
Amazing Facts
wherever and whenever you want
00:51:53.71\00:51:56.85
and most important,
to share it with others.
00:51:56.88\00:52:00.35
announcer: Amazing
Facts, changed lives.
00:52:04.05\00:52:07.96
male: My life was in turmoil.
00:52:11.93\00:52:14.20
My wife and I were
fighting all the time.
00:52:14.20\00:52:16.53
I got away from
everything and everybody.
00:52:16.56\00:52:19.20
I don't know, I just
always had this emptiness
00:52:19.23\00:52:21.24
in my heart I wanted it filled.
00:52:21.27\00:52:24.01
I just felt like I went
my whole life, you know,
00:52:24.04\00:52:26.17
just searching for something.
00:52:26.21\00:52:28.91
And my father died,
and that ruined me a lot.
00:52:28.94\00:52:31.91
My father didn't believe in
suicide, and I didn't want to
00:52:31.95\00:52:35.42
live but rather than disrespect
him, I decided I would just
00:52:35.45\00:52:38.75
become so mean,
someone else would do it to me
00:52:38.79\00:52:41.12
and I wouldn't have to.
00:52:41.16\00:52:43.06
So, I joined the army thinking
what better place to get killed
00:52:43.09\00:52:45.16
than in the army?
00:52:45.19\00:52:47.13
And while I was in the
army, my daughter got injured.
00:52:47.20\00:52:49.40
She was in an accident, and
she was blind and paraplegic,
00:52:49.43\00:52:55.70
and it's just like I
felt the whole world was
00:52:55.74\00:52:57.64
coming down on me.
00:52:57.67\00:52:59.64
One morning I just
really got mad, and I gave God
00:52:59.67\00:53:02.28
a cussing like
you wouldn't believe.
00:53:02.31\00:53:04.61
I said, "I'm not Moses, not
Abraham, you know, I don't--
00:53:04.65\00:53:09.48
but I put my sandals
on just like they do.
00:53:09.52\00:53:11.65
And I'm a man.
00:53:11.69\00:53:13.46
I don't want to know why this
is happening to me, I just want
00:53:13.49\00:53:15.19
to know that it's
happening for a reason.
00:53:15.22\00:53:17.83
If you tell me right now this
is all for reason, then you can
00:53:17.86\00:53:20.83
stack it on me from
here to the end of time,
00:53:20.86\00:53:24.23
and I will
never complain again."
00:53:24.27\00:53:27.57
And that little TV came
on, had been sitting there
00:53:27.60\00:53:30.77
just static all night long.
00:53:30.81\00:53:33.34
And there was this minister
well, he pops up and he says,
00:53:33.38\00:53:36.11
"Today's lesson's
from the Book of Job,
00:53:36.14\00:53:38.25
God only lets those
suffer that He loves the most."
00:53:38.28\00:53:41.42
And I said, "Well, that's
all you have to say, Lord.
00:53:41.45\00:53:43.32
I appreciate that."
00:53:43.35\00:53:45.25
From that day forward,
I knew that He was there
00:53:45.29\00:53:47.19
and He's in my life,
and that He would help me.
00:53:47.22\00:53:50.73
I went to prison just
almost immediately after that.
00:53:50.76\00:53:54.83
I was in prison
for aggravated assault.
00:53:54.83\00:53:57.07
I was in one of the
worst prisons in the state
00:53:57.10\00:53:59.30
of Tennessee.
00:53:59.33\00:54:01.44
It was full of gang activity.
00:54:01.47\00:54:03.24
I got my throat cut,
52 stitches in my neck.
00:54:03.27\00:54:06.98
I could take those
fingers and just stick them
00:54:07.01\00:54:08.81
all the way
through out my mouth.
00:54:08.84\00:54:11.05
I'd gone to the library that day
because it was really about the
00:54:11.08\00:54:13.21
only thing to do, but I ran
across this little book called
00:54:13.25\00:54:15.42
"The Richest Caveman."
00:54:15.45\00:54:18.39
This book is
hilarious, but it is great.
00:54:18.42\00:54:21.96
I'm sitting there with
this big beard I'm thinking hey,
00:54:21.99\00:54:24.39
I know what it's like
to look like a caveman.
00:54:24.43\00:54:27.23
But I'm not an educated
person, I guess you'd say,
00:54:27.23\00:54:29.73
but I'm a simple guy.
00:54:29.76\00:54:31.70
I'm just really a simple guy.
00:54:31.73\00:54:33.94
That's what I loved
about Doug Batchelor, because
00:54:33.97\00:54:36.04
this guy is just as
straight out as you can get.
00:54:36.07\00:54:40.11
And my wife and I, we've kept
contact through all these years
00:54:40.14\00:54:44.38
and so much has gone on,
and I told her, I said, "Listen,
00:54:44.41\00:54:50.59
this is the center
of my world right now."
00:54:50.62\00:54:54.42
And I said, "I really want you
to be involved in it with me.
00:54:54.46\00:54:57.49
I need it."
00:54:57.53\00:54:59.53
And I said, "You will too if
you ever just take hold of it."
00:54:59.56\00:55:02.03
I told my wife I said, "Listen,
they've got this Amazing Facts
00:55:02.06\00:55:04.70
Bible Study on here, and
this is the best way for you
00:55:04.73\00:55:08.74
to get this
information, I think."
00:55:08.77\00:55:11.64
I said, "Because it's
broken down, and they give you
00:55:11.67\00:55:15.44
questions and make you
look for these things, you know,
00:55:15.48\00:55:21.28
so it's not anyone telling
you, you find it on your own,
00:55:21.32\00:55:24.82
and they teach you to
actually use the Bible."
00:55:24.85\00:55:27.66
She was there faithfully every
Wednesday until we decided,
00:55:27.69\00:55:31.96
you know, she
wanted to be baptized also.
00:55:31.99\00:55:35.40
She saw it coming around.
00:55:35.43\00:55:37.70
The choice was made.
00:55:37.73\00:55:39.77
In October 4, 2014, my wife
and I were baptized in the water
00:55:39.80\00:55:44.67
at the same time, and we
started our walk together,
00:55:44.71\00:55:50.41
I guess you'd say.
00:55:50.45\00:55:52.68
I went through everything that
a man could possibly go through,
00:55:52.71\00:55:55.25
I guess, from marital
trouble, loss of family members,
00:55:55.28\00:56:01.16
death of my family.
00:56:01.19\00:56:03.26
My children were
harmed and my daughter
00:56:03.29\00:56:05.66
was handicapped for life.
00:56:05.69\00:56:08.03
I went to prison, but
still, I kept my word to God
00:56:08.06\00:56:12.97
that He could stack it
on me as much as He wanted,
00:56:13.00\00:56:16.27
and I'd never
question Him, and I didn't.
00:56:16.30\00:56:19.71
But I could can say this
much, He never put nothing on me
00:56:19.74\00:56:23.55
that I couldn't
handle, and He walked with me.
00:56:23.58\00:56:27.68
And I'd like to say
that anyone who is in prison,
00:56:27.72\00:56:33.29
not to give up, don't lose hope.
00:56:33.32\00:56:35.86
Put your faith in
the Lord and study.
00:56:35.89\00:56:39.23
You seek Him and
He will seek you.
00:56:39.26\00:56:41.63
And my name is Charlie
Green, and I want you to know
00:56:41.66\00:56:44.23
that you and Amazing
Facts have changed my life.
00:56:44.27\00:56:48.27
announcer: In six
days, God created the heavens
00:57:00.38\00:57:02.65
and the earth.
00:57:02.68\00:57:04.65
For thousands of
years, man has worshiped God
00:57:04.69\00:57:07.36
on the seventh day of the week.
00:57:07.39\00:57:09.46
Now, each week millions of
people worship on the first day.
00:57:09.49\00:57:13.86
What happened?
00:57:13.90\00:57:15.76
Why did God
create a day of rest?
00:57:15.80\00:57:17.80
Does it really
matter what day we worship?
00:57:17.83\00:57:20.24
Who was behind this great shift?
00:57:20.27\00:57:22.20
Discover the truth behind God's
law and how it was changed.
00:57:22.24\00:57:25.87
Visit sabbathtruth.com.
00:57:25.91\00:57:28.71
announcer: Can't get enough
"Amazing Facts Bible Study?"
00:57:31.38\00:57:34.22
You don't have to wait
until next week to enjoy more
00:57:34.25\00:57:36.99
truth-filled programming.
00:57:37.02\00:57:39.22
Watch Amazing Facts
Television by visiting aftv.org.
00:57:39.25\00:57:45.16
At aftv.org, you can
view Amazing Facts programming
00:57:45.19\00:57:49.46
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
00:57:49.50\00:57:51.93
right from your
computer or mobile device.
00:57:51.97\00:57:54.74
Why wait a week?
00:57:54.77\00:57:56.60
Visit aftv.org.
00:57:56.64\00:57:58.77
It's that easy.
00:57:58.81\00:58:01.51
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