The Bible tells us, "In
the beginning was the Word,
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and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God."
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It says TO,, "To Receive
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with meekness
the implanted Word,
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which is able to save your souls
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and to be diligent to present
yourself approved to God,
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rightly dividing
the Word of truth."
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Join us now for the
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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Our study today is
Preparation for the End Time.
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Hello and welcome to our
3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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My name is John Lomacang.
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Thank you for
taking the time to tune in
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for an exciting study in
this lesson about prophecy.
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We have been so
excited about it,
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and today is Matthew 24 and 25.
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And to join me is an
illustrious panel of,
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I should say, my family.
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What better way to say it
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than to have
Mollie sitting next to me.
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Good to see you,
Mollie. Thank you.
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Pastor CA, always to
good to have you onboard.
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Ms. Shelley Quinn,
our program director,
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and Jill Morikone
who has many hats.
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Thank you all for joining
today on this exciting study.
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You know, whenever we get
together on Bible prophecy,
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we know it's going to be good.
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Isn't that right? Yes, amen.
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And today is no exception.
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We're going to tell you
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how to get a copy of
the lesson to follow along,
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but before we do anything else,
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we'd like to have prayer.
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Mollie, since you're to my left,
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would you begin
with prayer for us?
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I would be delighted.
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Holy Father, we come
before You in the name of Jesus,
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and, Lord, we praise You
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and worship You
that this morning,
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Your grace and mercy
was renewed once again.
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Thank you, Father.
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Now, Lord, we just
stand our hearts before You,
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those of all of our
listeners and all of our viewers
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asking You, Lord,
to open our hearts
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that we would be
ready to receive Your Word.
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Let that Word be implanted
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into our heart
today as our prayer,
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in Jesus' name, amen.
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To get a copy of the lesson,
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go to the following
website ABSG.Adventist.org
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and download the lesson.
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You could also go to
your local Adventist church
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if you don't have a copy,
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and I'm sure they'll
be glad to give you a copy
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to join in on a group study,
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and I know you'll be blessed.
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Well, we're talking
about prophecy today,
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but let's begin with our
Bible verse in Matthew 24:24,
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and it's the NIV.
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I learned in
preparing for the lesson
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that it's not just the NIV
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but it has to be the
NIV not the pre-1984 version
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because they
changed the wording in 1984.
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But let's read the text together
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and that's Matthew 24:24.
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Together, "For false messiahs
and false prophets will appear
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and perform great
signs and wonders to deceive,
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if possible, even the elect."
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I like that word "if possible."
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It simply means
it's not possible
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because the elect are
studying the Word of God,
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and the elect
will not be deceived.
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Thank you.
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But Matthew 24 and 25,
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and we're going to be
covering in various aspects,
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I believe, also not only
the prophecies of Matthew 24
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but also the
parable that the Lord
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gives in Matthew
25 of the ten virgins.
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But let me begin by just
saying something about prophecy.
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Prophecy, to me, is
one of the best ways
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to prove to someone
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who does not believe in
God that God does exist.
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Amen.
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Because prophecy itself
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is a divine
prognostication of events
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that will take place
in the distant future.
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Matter of fact, Isaiah
46, turn there with me.
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This is not in my notes,
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but that shows what
divine inspiration is all about.
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Amen.
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Isaiah 46, and we're
going to look together.
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Here I am
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at verse 9 and 10, Isaiah 46.
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Okay, here we are.
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The Bible tells us, "Remember
the former things of old
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for I am God, and
there is no other.
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I am God, and
there is none like Me.
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Declaring the end from the..."
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What, panel? Beginning.
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"From the beginning
and from ancient times,
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things that are not yet done,
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saying, "My counsel shall stand,
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and I will do all my pleasure.'"
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That verse shows that no
one could do that but God.
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Amen.
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No one can tell
you long before...
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Somebody pointed
out the probability
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of the messianic prophecies
of them coming to pass
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in such startling accuracy.
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Matter of fact,
not too long ago,
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I saw a Christian movie,
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and I'd like to
lead in by saying that,
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it was called
The Case for Christ,
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where journalists
had undertaken the task
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because his wife had
a converting experience
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reminding her of her
roots, of her Christian roots,
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but after marrying
him, she became an atheist.
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But upon her daughter's life
being saved in a restaurant,
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the lady said, "The Lord
guided me to be here today."
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And that began in
her a searching for God,
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but her husband
determined to prove
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that God did not exist.
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He traveled far and
wide to various doctors,
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and
psychologists, and historians,
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and theologians, and pastors
to prove that God is not true
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and that the
resurrection never happened.
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Well, the long and short of
it is the movie you should see,
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it's called the Case for Christ.
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He gave his life to Christ
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because the
evidence as a journalist,
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they said the evidence is
what we are interested in,
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the evidence was overwhelming.
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Praise God.
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But there are
different types of prophecies.
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There are messianic prophecies,
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prophecies
dealing with just Christ.
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There are Judaic prophecies
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dealing with the
children of Israel.
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You know, when Daniel says,
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"How long is it going to be
until the temple is rebuilt?"
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That was Judaic prophecy.
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Those prophecies particularly
deal with the nation of Israel.
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And what many people have
fallen into the cavern of doing
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is taking Judaic prophecies
and applying them to the end,
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such as thinking
that literal Israel
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is talked about in Revelation.
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Literal Israel is not
spoken of in Revelation,
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it's spiritual Israel.
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It's not Old Jerusalem
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but New Jerusalem
talked about in Revelation.
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Then there are
eschatological prophecies,
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prophecies simply
dealing with events
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pointing to the last days,
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which is what we're going
to be dealing in quite a bit.
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Then there are
apocalyptic prophecies
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dealing particularly
with the Book of Revelation.
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Then there are, in all those,
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there are
conditional prophecies.
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A prophecy that the Lord says
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"Will happen if
you are obedient,
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this will be your blessing,
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but if you're not,
this will be your curse."
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Conditional prophecies,
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then there are, on
the other side of that,
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obviously,
non-conditional prophecies
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which you have particular
prophets in the Bible,
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like Jeremiah or
some of the minor prophets
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will give a prophecy.
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For example, Ezekiel,
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when it talks
about the destruction,
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the eventual
destruction of Lucifer,
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"A fire shall devour
you in the presence of those
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who knew you."
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That's a prophecy, but it
hasn't been fulfilled yet.
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That's a prophecy
that is non-conditional.
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In other words,
Satan will be destroyed.
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Can I get an amen? Amen.
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That's a non-conditional.
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But you have...
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Also, then you have prophecies
that are single fulfillment,
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like the seven last plagues.
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Thank you, Jesus.
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Just one time, no
repeats, once is enough.
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But then you have...
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Today, we're going
to be talking about some
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that are dual application.
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There is no such
thing as dual fulfillment,
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keep that in
mind, dual application,
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like Matthew 24,
referring to the days of Christ,
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to the days of
the nation of Israel.
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That is before the
destruction of Jerusalem,
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and then the end time.
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So that's why when
we look at Matthew 24,
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let's go there very quickly.
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Matthew 24, we begin with
what Jesus refers to as...
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As Jesus gave these
prophecies to the disciples,
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they recognized that
these prophecies had application
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to their day as well
as to the time of the end.
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Okay, Matthew 24,
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and, Mollie, could
you read verse 3 for us?
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Okay, verse 3, and this is
out of the King James Version.
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Sure.
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"And as He sat upon
the Mount of Olives,
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the disciples came
unto Him privately saying,
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'Tell us when
shall these things be
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and what shall be
the sign of Thy coming
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and of the end of the world?'"
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Okay, notice, "When
will these things be?"
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That is when will the things
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that You just
referred to happen?
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And also what will be
the signs of Your coming
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and of the end of the world?
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Now the disciples
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knew they were not going
to be around for those events.
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But Jesus made reference
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to particular events in His day,
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and He talked about
one of those particularly,
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which was a prophecy, He
said, "Destroy this temple,
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and in three days,
I'm going to rebuild it."
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They said, "Do you know
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how long it took to
build this building?
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It took 40 years.
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Really, you're going
to do it in three days?"
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But they did not understand,
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He was referring
to the body temple.
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The resurrection of the temple,
which, in fact, the Bible says,
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"Know ye not that ye are
the temple of the Holy Spirit."
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So that was...
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And so Jesus began
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and what I want to
begin with, in Sunday,
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let's go there quickly.
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Sunday is a powerful
confirmation of prophecy.
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Now I'm not going to
go through all of those,
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but some of the points
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that I brought
out as Jesus outlined.
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We're living in a day
and age where political...
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We live in a very political age,
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a very political climate,
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and it's becoming more and
more political by the moment.
00:10:00.30\00:10:03.30
Now the polarizations
are conservative, liberal,
00:10:03.33\00:10:06.33
in the middle, the
Green Party, the...
00:10:06.37\00:10:08.37
What's the other one?
00:10:08.40\00:10:09.74
Libertarians, I mean,
all these particular isms
00:10:09.77\00:10:12.27
and arians and
whatever you want to call it.
00:10:12.31\00:10:16.11
But so little is
referred to as prophecy,
00:10:16.14\00:10:21.08
many churches today
don't teach prophecy.
00:10:21.12\00:10:24.32
Many popular television speakers
00:10:24.35\00:10:26.69
don't talk about prophecy.
00:10:26.72\00:10:28.99
They talk about,
"This is your hour,
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your ship is coming
in, it's about time,
00:10:31.39\00:10:33.29
you know, your
wings are going to unfold,
00:10:33.33\00:10:35.43
you're going to rise
to meet your destiny."
00:10:35.46\00:10:38.53
But they're not talking about
the destiny of all of humanity,
00:10:38.57\00:10:42.17
which, in fact, is what
we're talking about today,
00:10:42.20\00:10:44.11
prophecy and the
validity of prophecy,
00:10:44.14\00:10:46.78
knowing that we're
coming to the end of the world.
00:10:46.81\00:10:49.31
Now Matthew 24,
00:10:49.34\00:10:50.68
some of the
confirmations of prophecy
00:10:50.71\00:10:52.95
in the words of Jesus.
00:10:52.98\00:10:54.32
For example,
let's look at verse...
00:10:54.35\00:10:57.15
I'll start with verse 4,
00:10:57.19\00:10:58.52
one of the very first
things Jesus said in verse 4...
00:10:58.55\00:11:01.69
Jill, do you have
that, Matthew 24:4?
00:11:01.72\00:11:03.06
Sure.
00:11:03.09\00:11:04.43
"And Jesus
answered and said to them,
00:11:04.46\00:11:05.79
'Take heed that no
one deceives you.'"
00:11:05.83\00:11:08.23
In other words, one of the
first signs Jesus pointed out
00:11:08.26\00:11:11.30
as evidence of the last
days is the sign of deception.
00:11:11.33\00:11:14.64
In other words,
they all say this,
00:11:14.67\00:11:16.47
but this is what it really is.
00:11:16.50\00:11:18.61
In other words, right now,
00:11:18.64\00:11:19.97
there's this
overwhelming excitement.
00:11:20.01\00:11:23.18
I was just in the Middle
East, not too long ago actually,
00:11:23.21\00:11:25.65
and there's this overwhelming
excitement about the embassy
00:11:25.68\00:11:29.95
being moved to Jerusalem.
00:11:29.98\00:11:32.72
Well, when you
look at the viewpoint
00:11:32.75\00:11:35.02
that some people have about
00:11:35.06\00:11:36.39
what's going to
happen in Jerusalem
00:11:36.42\00:11:37.76
or what they suppose is
going to happen in Jerusalem
00:11:37.79\00:11:40.66
is they had
taken a Judaic prophecy
00:11:40.70\00:11:43.03
that has already been fulfilled
00:11:43.06\00:11:45.03
and applying it to
an eschatological stage,
00:11:45.07\00:11:48.64
thinking that when the
embassy is moved to Jerusalem,
00:11:48.67\00:11:52.27
and Jerusalem is seen
as the capital of Israel,
00:11:52.31\00:11:56.21
then it's setting the stage
00:11:56.24\00:11:57.58
for the ushering
in of the Messiah
00:11:57.61\00:11:59.51
whom the Jews still
believe hasn't come yet.
00:11:59.55\00:12:02.28
And the conversion of the Jews
00:12:02.32\00:12:04.35
and the ushering
in of the tribulation
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.86
and the stage of the antichrist,
00:12:06.89\00:12:08.62
all these things are
being proposed and many authors,
00:12:08.66\00:12:12.93
like Tim LaHaye and
the writer Jerry Jenkins,
00:12:12.96\00:12:16.33
are supposing that the stage
00:12:16.36\00:12:18.03
is being set for
the rapture to happen.
00:12:18.07\00:12:20.87
And so many evangelicals
are looking to Jerusalem
00:12:20.90\00:12:24.04
as a place of
last-day prophecies,
00:12:24.07\00:12:28.44
the ushering in and
the coming of the Messiah.
00:12:28.48\00:12:30.65
Well, we know as Christians,
00:12:30.68\00:12:32.01
Jesus already
came the first time.
00:12:32.05\00:12:33.38
Amen? Amen.
00:12:33.42\00:12:35.08
But He's not coming to set
up His kingdom in Jerusalem,
00:12:35.12\00:12:38.45
He's coming to set up a
New Jerusalem not on earth
00:12:38.49\00:12:42.56
but at the end
of the 1,000 years,
00:12:42.59\00:12:44.03
and in our lesson study, we
will eventually get to that.
00:12:44.06\00:12:46.86
But one of the
things that He said,
00:12:46.90\00:12:48.23
"Take heed that
no one deceive you."
00:12:48.26\00:12:49.60
So while people
are looking for Jesus
00:12:49.63\00:12:51.07
to come in the Middle East,
00:12:51.10\00:12:53.10
He's not coming back
into the Middle East.
00:12:53.13\00:12:55.30
His return is not going to
find Him touching the ground.
00:12:55.34\00:12:58.81
Amen. That's right.
00:12:58.84\00:13:00.18
He's going to call us
up to meet Him in the air.
00:13:00.21\00:13:02.21
And the Jerusalem referred to
00:13:02.24\00:13:04.08
in the Bible is
the New Jerusalem,
00:13:04.11\00:13:05.98
the real Holy City,
00:13:06.01\00:13:08.02
not the city that rejected Jesus
00:13:08.05\00:13:09.62
but the real Holy City
00:13:09.65\00:13:10.99
that's going to come down
at the end of the 1,000 years.
00:13:11.02\00:13:13.29
So deception is one of those.
00:13:13.32\00:13:14.79
The other one, Matthew 24:6-8,
"A war, national instability,
00:13:14.82\00:13:20.33
and cataclysmic certainty,
00:13:20.36\00:13:22.50
and you will hear of
wars and rumors of wars,
00:13:22.53\00:13:24.77
see that you are not trouble
00:13:24.80\00:13:26.13
for all these
things must come to pass,
00:13:26.17\00:13:27.64
but the end is not yet."
00:13:27.67\00:13:29.00
Have we had wars? Yes.
00:13:29.04\00:13:31.07
Have we had
international instability?
00:13:31.11\00:13:32.71
Oh, yeah.
00:13:32.74\00:13:34.08
Have we had
cataclysmic certainty?
00:13:34.11\00:13:36.18
But if you notice,
00:13:36.21\00:13:37.55
the frequency is
becoming more and more.
00:13:37.58\00:13:40.42
That's what's referred to here.
00:13:40.45\00:13:41.82
So we're living
in the day and age
00:13:41.85\00:13:43.18
where cataclysmic certainty
00:13:43.22\00:13:44.55
because we're taking all
the minerals of the earth,
00:13:44.59\00:13:46.76
robbing the earth, sucking out
all this foundation under us,
00:13:46.79\00:13:50.33
oil and gas, and
all the minerals,
00:13:50.36\00:13:52.73
that the world is
becoming more and more unstable.
00:13:52.76\00:13:55.16
The planet is becoming
more and more unstable.
00:13:55.20\00:13:57.53
And the Lord is
saying, "These are indicators."
00:13:57.57\00:13:59.70
And He also says, "For
nation will rise against nation,
00:13:59.73\00:14:02.44
kingdom against kingdom..."
00:14:02.47\00:14:03.81
That's what's happening today.
00:14:03.84\00:14:05.57
"And there will be
famines, pestilences,
00:14:05.61\00:14:07.28
and earthquakes
in various places.
00:14:07.31\00:14:09.08
All these are the
beginning of sorrows."
00:14:09.11\00:14:12.61
But then the stage
is going to change,
00:14:12.65\00:14:14.58
and we'll talk about
this in greater detail
00:14:14.62\00:14:16.05
in the further lesson.
00:14:16.08\00:14:17.75
Verse 8, sorry, verse 9,
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.72
"Then they will deliver you
up to tribulation and kill you,
00:14:19.75\00:14:23.29
and you will be hated by
all nations for My name's sake.
00:14:23.32\00:14:26.59
And then many will be offended,
00:14:26.63\00:14:28.46
will betray one
another, will hate one another."
00:14:28.50\00:14:31.80
We're going to talk about
that, how when the stage is set,
00:14:31.83\00:14:34.84
when those keeping
the commandments of God
00:14:34.87\00:14:36.67
are ostracized
00:14:36.71\00:14:38.41
and the world turns
against them for obedience,
00:14:38.44\00:14:41.01
then this prophecy
will become a fulfillment,
00:14:41.04\00:14:44.21
but not until then.
00:14:44.25\00:14:45.88
Mollie, the
stage is yours. Okay.
00:14:45.91\00:14:47.62
Well, I have Monday,
00:14:47.65\00:14:49.55
and Monday's title
is enduring to the end.
00:14:49.58\00:14:51.99
And I just love that concept.
00:14:52.02\00:14:54.36
But, Pastor, I pick
up with Matthew 24:9.
00:14:54.39\00:14:58.43
Now verses 1-28, pardon me,
00:14:58.46\00:15:01.73
1-8 addressed the people,
that was, "You will hear..."
00:15:01.76\00:15:08.47
and then it morphs to
rumors of war and so forth.
00:15:08.50\00:15:14.08
But it's not directly
giving us instruction.
00:15:14.11\00:15:17.98
But look at verse 9,
00:15:18.01\00:15:19.58
now verse 9, it
changes completely.
00:15:19.61\00:15:22.62
And it says, now remember,
00:15:22.65\00:15:25.45
this is the disciples
that had come to Jesus,
00:15:25.49\00:15:29.16
and they had asked Him,
"Tell us about the end times."
00:15:29.19\00:15:31.76
And so this is what
Jesus tells them in verse 9,
00:15:31.79\00:15:35.40
"Then they will deliver you up,"
00:15:35.43\00:15:36.97
as Pastor Lomacang read,
"to tribulation and kill you,
00:15:37.00\00:15:41.70
and you will be
hated by all nations," why?
00:15:41.74\00:15:44.51
"For My name's sake."
Now think about this, Jill.
00:15:44.54\00:15:47.38
Let's think about
00:15:47.41\00:15:48.94
when we decided to
come to work here at 3ABN.
00:15:48.98\00:15:53.72
And Danny sat us down and said,
00:15:53.75\00:15:55.45
"Now if you
want to come to work,
00:15:55.48\00:15:58.12
if you want to be a
part of this ministry,
00:15:58.15\00:16:00.12
just know this one thing,
00:16:00.16\00:16:01.66
you will be
delivered up to tribulation."
00:16:01.69\00:16:03.96
This is what Jesus is
telling His disciples.
00:16:03.99\00:16:07.40
Very true.
00:16:07.43\00:16:08.76
"And you will be killed,"
00:16:08.80\00:16:10.13
"And if you come
to work here at 3ABN,
00:16:10.17\00:16:11.73
you'll be hated by all nations
00:16:11.77\00:16:14.84
because you work here at 3ABN."
00:16:14.87\00:16:16.71
So we want to
say, you know what,
00:16:16.74\00:16:18.67
I wonder if
Pastor Carter's hiring.
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.98
Or is there a place in
Doug Batchelor's ministry.
00:16:22.01\00:16:25.68
You know, that's what we
might be inclined to say,
00:16:25.71\00:16:28.35
but this is talking
about the King of kings
00:16:28.38\00:16:32.02
and Lord of
lords, our only hope.
00:16:32.05\00:16:34.82
And Jesus is being very honest,
00:16:34.86\00:16:37.19
He is laying out
what it's going to be
00:16:37.23\00:16:40.70
in the end times
for us to serve Him.
00:16:40.73\00:16:43.47
He loves us so
much. He's honest with us.
00:16:43.50\00:16:46.80
He tells us the truth.
00:16:46.84\00:16:48.34
Now what I want to do,
00:16:48.37\00:16:49.80
I want you to
go to Revelation 13
00:16:49.84\00:16:53.04
as I want for you to see,
00:16:53.07\00:16:55.58
I want for us to look at what
this last day battle is over,
00:16:55.61\00:17:01.25
because why should
all of these things
00:17:01.28\00:17:03.45
happen to Christians?
00:17:03.49\00:17:04.85
Do we not love people
with all of our hearts?
00:17:04.89\00:17:07.66
Did Jesus not die to give
us life, hope, and our future?
00:17:07.69\00:17:12.93
But we are going to be hated
00:17:12.96\00:17:15.90
because we have a
message of peace and love.
00:17:15.93\00:17:18.80
But let's look at what
this last day battle is over.
00:17:18.83\00:17:22.37
That's Revelation 13,
00:17:22.40\00:17:23.81
we're going to
look at verses 11-17.
00:17:23.84\00:17:27.41
"Then I saw another beast..."
00:17:27.44\00:17:29.21
Now remember John while
up on the Isle of Patmos
00:17:29.24\00:17:32.18
is shown end day events.
00:17:32.21\00:17:33.95
So this is
something that he was shown,
00:17:33.98\00:17:36.32
"Coming out of the earth
00:17:36.35\00:17:38.22
and he had two horns like a lamb
00:17:38.25\00:17:40.56
and spoke like a dragon.
00:17:40.59\00:17:42.32
And he exercises
all the authority
00:17:42.36\00:17:45.13
of the first
beast in his presence
00:17:45.16\00:17:47.83
and causes the earth
00:17:47.86\00:17:49.20
and those who dwell in
the earth to do something,"
00:17:49.23\00:17:51.87
What is that?
00:17:51.90\00:17:53.23
"To worship the first beast,
whose deadly wound was healed."
00:17:53.27\00:17:57.64
Now I'm going to say this,
00:17:57.67\00:17:59.21
and I know we're
going to say it many times
00:17:59.24\00:18:01.58
from now to the
end of this quarter,
00:18:01.61\00:18:04.05
the battle is over worship.
00:18:04.08\00:18:05.68
Amen.
00:18:05.71\00:18:07.05
The battle is over
your worship, my worship.
00:18:07.08\00:18:09.62
Amen. That's right.
00:18:09.65\00:18:10.99
Now let me give you...
00:18:11.02\00:18:12.35
Now what is that beast
asking for or trying to cause,
00:18:12.39\00:18:15.52
"All of those who dwell
00:18:15.56\00:18:16.89
in this earth to
worship the beast."
00:18:16.93\00:18:19.79
Okay, definition of worship,
00:18:19.83\00:18:22.93
expression of reverence
and adoration for a deity.
00:18:22.96\00:18:28.60
Now I want you to go to Exodus,
00:18:28.64\00:18:31.47
keeping in mind as
we're going to Exodus 20
00:18:31.51\00:18:34.94
that the beast that
comes up out of the earth
00:18:34.98\00:18:39.58
is after our worship demanding
that we worship a beast.
00:18:39.61\00:18:44.29
Okay, let's look at Exodus 20.
00:18:44.32\00:18:47.16
We're going to start in verse 1.
00:18:47.19\00:18:48.82
You know what this is.
This is the first commandment.
00:18:48.86\00:18:53.06
So let's read, "I
am the Lord, your God,
00:18:53.09\00:18:56.77
who brought you out
of the land of Egypt,
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.60
out of the house of bondage,
00:18:58.63\00:19:00.34
you shall have no
other gods before Me.
00:19:00.37\00:19:02.30
You shall not make for
yourself a graven image
00:19:02.34\00:19:05.31
and likeness of anything
that is in heaven above,
00:19:05.34\00:19:08.01
or that is in the earth beneath,
00:19:08.04\00:19:09.74
or that is in the
water under the earth.
00:19:09.78\00:19:12.15
You shall not bow down to
them nor serve them for I,
00:19:12.18\00:19:15.42
the Lord, your
God, am a jealous God,
00:19:15.45\00:19:17.82
visiting the iniquities of
the father's upon the children
00:19:17.85\00:19:20.86
to the third and
fourth generations
00:19:20.89\00:19:23.02
and of those who hate Me.
00:19:23.06\00:19:26.83
But shall showing
mercy to thousands to those
00:19:26.86\00:19:29.20
who love Me and
keeping My commandments."
00:19:29.23\00:19:31.77
So let me ask you this.
00:19:31.80\00:19:33.17
What is the first
commandment about?
00:19:33.20\00:19:36.14
Worshipping God.
It's about worship.
00:19:36.17\00:19:39.21
So we have God in
the first commandment
00:19:39.24\00:19:41.98
telling us that we are to
have no other gods before Him.
00:19:42.01\00:19:44.81
Remember what worship is,
00:19:44.85\00:19:47.25
"Expressing reverence
and adoration for a God,
00:19:47.28\00:19:50.32
for a deity."
00:19:50.35\00:19:51.92
So this that we're
seeing that the beast
00:19:51.95\00:19:55.72
is demanding flies
in the face of what?
00:19:55.76\00:19:58.89
Of the first commandment.
00:19:58.93\00:20:01.06
What is this end
time battle over?
00:20:01.10\00:20:04.17
It's over worship.
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.00
Now, I want to ask
you this, John 14:15,
00:20:06.03\00:20:10.07
how many of you know
what John 14:15 says?
00:20:10.11\00:20:13.07
Jesus is the one that says it,
00:20:13.11\00:20:15.34
He says, "If you
love Me," do what?
00:20:15.38\00:20:18.91
"Keep My commandments."
00:20:18.95\00:20:20.55
First commandment, worship
God and worship God only.
00:20:20.58\00:20:25.15
Okay, let's pick back up.
00:20:25.19\00:20:27.36
We had you in Revelation 13,
00:20:27.39\00:20:29.86
we only read the first 2 verses.
00:20:29.89\00:20:31.83
Now let's look
at Revelation 13:13,
00:20:31.86\00:20:36.40
"He performs..."
00:20:36.43\00:20:37.77
Talking about the beast,
00:20:37.80\00:20:39.30
"He performs great signs
00:20:39.33\00:20:41.87
so that he even
makes fire come down
00:20:41.90\00:20:44.77
from heaven on the
earth in the sight of men."
00:20:44.81\00:20:47.38
So is this beast doing miracles?
00:20:47.41\00:20:50.91
Does that make him the
true and the living God,
00:20:50.95\00:20:53.48
someone we should worship?
00:20:53.52\00:20:54.92
Verse 14, "And he deceives
those who dwell on the earth
00:20:54.95\00:20:59.05
by those signs
which he was granted to do
00:20:59.09\00:21:02.52
in the sight of the beast.
00:21:02.56\00:21:03.93
He's the deceiver telling
those who dwell on the earth
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.20
to make an image to the beast
00:21:07.23\00:21:09.20
who was wounded by
the sword and lived.
00:21:09.23\00:21:12.03
He was granted
power to give breath
00:21:12.07\00:21:14.97
to the image of the beast
00:21:15.00\00:21:16.64
that the image of the
beast should both speak
00:21:16.67\00:21:20.54
and cause as many
as would not worship
00:21:20.58\00:21:23.45
the image of the
beast to be killed."
00:21:23.48\00:21:26.41
So what is this saying?
00:21:26.45\00:21:28.25
If you don't worship
the image of the beast,
00:21:28.28\00:21:31.15
you will be killed.
00:21:31.19\00:21:32.52
Well, what did
Jesus warned us about?
00:21:32.55\00:21:35.29
The scripture we opened
with, which was Matthew 24:9,
00:21:35.32\00:21:39.63
He wants us to be fully informed
00:21:39.66\00:21:42.86
of what these
end times will hold
00:21:42.90\00:21:45.63
so that when we see
these things happening,
00:21:45.67\00:21:48.20
we will say, "Oh,
Jesus told us about that."
00:21:48.24\00:21:51.37
Let's go on, verse
16, "He causes all,
00:21:51.41\00:21:56.21
both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave..."
00:21:56.24\00:22:01.68
This makes it global,
it makes it universal.
00:22:01.72\00:22:04.79
It's not just one
small group of people,
00:22:04.82\00:22:07.72
what is this going to
affect, Pastor Lomacang?
00:22:07.76\00:22:10.19
The whole
world. The whole world.
00:22:10.23\00:22:12.49
"To receive a mark
in their right hand
00:22:12.53\00:22:17.03
or in their foreheads
that no one may buy or sell
00:22:17.07\00:22:21.94
except one who has the mark
00:22:21.97\00:22:24.21
or the name of the beast
or the number of his name."
00:22:24.24\00:22:28.78
So there is a mark, and
we are going to be forced.
00:22:28.81\00:22:34.38
Can you be forced to do anything
00:22:34.42\00:22:36.25
you don't really want to do.
00:22:36.28\00:22:38.12
See that's why God, why
Jesus is so concerned about
00:22:38.15\00:22:43.02
the end times and it's global.
00:22:43.06\00:22:46.70
He wants us to be so informed
that we will be prepared
00:22:46.73\00:22:51.43
when they're trying to
force us to do something
00:22:51.47\00:22:56.67
that we won't be
able to buy and sell,
00:22:56.71\00:22:59.44
that is significant.
00:22:59.47\00:23:01.21
That is, I mean,
that is something
00:23:01.24\00:23:03.55
that will get your attention.
00:23:03.58\00:23:05.08
But if you know what
the end results are...
00:23:05.11\00:23:07.65
Now, let's go
back to Matthew 24,
00:23:07.68\00:23:12.15
we're going to
look at verses 11-13.
00:23:12.19\00:23:15.79
Back to Matthew 24:11-13,
00:23:15.82\00:23:19.63
"Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many.
00:23:19.66\00:23:25.33
And because lawlessness
00:23:25.37\00:23:27.27
will abound the love
of many will grow cold."
00:23:27.30\00:23:30.94
Now verse 13, this was
the title of the day that...
00:23:30.97\00:23:36.44
Monday, this was
the title of my lesson.
00:23:36.48\00:23:39.38
"But he who endures to
the end, shall be saved."
00:23:39.41\00:23:44.69
You know, we can
start out strong.
00:23:44.72\00:23:47.22
Remember the day
that you made Jesus Christ
00:23:47.26\00:23:49.59
the Lord if your life,
00:23:49.62\00:23:50.96
was that not a
high and a holy day?
00:23:50.99\00:23:52.83
When you were baptized,
00:23:52.86\00:23:54.70
when you came up out of
that water with newness of mind,
00:23:54.73\00:23:59.47
you were a new creature.
00:23:59.50\00:24:00.84
"Old things
that had passed away,
00:24:00.87\00:24:02.20
behold all
things have become new."
00:24:02.24\00:24:04.31
We can start out strong,
but we've got to end strong.
00:24:04.34\00:24:08.54
"He that endures to
the end, shall be saved."
00:24:08.58\00:24:12.65
I want to read you a quote
from the Great Controversy,
00:24:12.68\00:24:15.55
"None but those who
have fortified the mind
00:24:15.58\00:24:19.79
with the truths of the Bible
00:24:19.82\00:24:22.09
will stand through
the last great conflict."
00:24:22.12\00:24:25.83
You know what
that is telling us?
00:24:25.86\00:24:27.66
That we must be
in preparation today,
00:24:27.70\00:24:32.33
not when the great
conflict is upon us,
00:24:32.37\00:24:35.24
but prepare yourself today
00:24:35.27\00:24:37.57
because if we're not
prepared to go through it,
00:24:37.61\00:24:41.88
then chances are we
won't endure to the end.
00:24:41.91\00:24:45.75
Amen. Well said.
00:24:45.78\00:24:47.38
I'm going to do something
that I don't usually do.
00:24:47.42\00:24:49.82
I have some prepared remarks
00:24:49.85\00:24:51.52
but I think I'm going
to diverge from those.
00:24:51.55\00:24:55.02
And listening to what
Pastor Lomacang has said
00:24:55.06\00:24:57.26
and what you said, Mollie,
00:24:57.29\00:24:58.83
I want to change up
00:24:58.86\00:25:00.20
and I'm going to introduce
a couple of things on the fly.
00:25:00.23\00:25:01.76
On Tuesday, we're dealing
00:25:01.80\00:25:03.63
with the
abomination of desolation.
00:25:03.67\00:25:07.24
And there are many
ways to approach this,
00:25:07.27\00:25:10.47
but I want to sort of
track in the same trajectory
00:25:10.51\00:25:13.48
that you led us
in, Mollie and Pastor.
00:25:13.51\00:25:16.14
In that, the
conflict in the last days
00:25:16.18\00:25:21.38
is all about worship.
00:25:21.42\00:25:22.75
Yes. It is.
00:25:22.78\00:25:24.12
The three angels'
messages ends with worship.
00:25:24.15\00:25:27.69
You know, you may
start in many places,
00:25:27.72\00:25:30.03
but you're going
to end with worship.
00:25:30.06\00:25:31.39
When Satan took Christ
00:25:31.43\00:25:33.03
into the
wilderness for temptation,
00:25:33.06\00:25:35.33
he danced with the
Lord a little while,
00:25:35.36\00:25:37.27
but he ended with,
"If You will worship me,"
00:25:37.30\00:25:41.04
you know, he got to what
his real point was, worship.
00:25:41.07\00:25:44.57
In the last days, who God is
00:25:48.08\00:25:52.05
and how we approach
Him is very, very crucial.
00:25:52.08\00:25:56.32
It will be the fulcrum,
00:25:56.35\00:25:58.05
the pivotal point
of our staying in God,
00:25:58.09\00:26:03.36
and how we worship God,
and what we think about God,
00:26:03.39\00:26:06.70
and how we approach
God is very, very crucial,
00:26:06.73\00:26:09.70
not only to the image of God
but to our relationship to Him.
00:26:09.73\00:26:13.44
Manasseh made his
children walk through the fire
00:26:13.47\00:26:19.31
as an act of worship.
00:26:19.34\00:26:21.51
You know, son of Hezekiah,
00:26:21.54\00:26:22.88
he is forcing his
children to go that far
00:26:22.91\00:26:25.05
as a son of worship,
as an act of worship,
00:26:25.08\00:26:27.48
which shows how
twisted your mind can become
00:26:27.52\00:26:31.35
if you don't have a
right view of who God is
00:26:31.39\00:26:33.79
and what He expects of you.
00:26:33.82\00:26:35.16
In 1960, an
Adventist missionary pastor
00:26:35.19\00:26:38.36
by the name of Peter Konaffer
00:26:38.39\00:26:40.60
was cannibalized
in Papua New Guinea.
00:26:40.63\00:26:44.77
And they consumed
a part of his body
00:26:44.80\00:26:49.10
as an act of worship.
00:26:49.14\00:26:51.61
He went to the highlands,
way up in the mountains and...
00:26:51.64\00:26:55.48
But this was not an act
of worship to the true God?
00:26:55.51\00:26:57.75
No, but they did it
as an act of worship.
00:26:57.78\00:26:59.71
To the true God or
to a different god?
00:26:59.75\00:27:01.62
To who they felt God was,
I'm heading to that point.
00:27:01.65\00:27:06.92
You're kind of
jumping my ace here.
00:27:06.96\00:27:09.02
But they had an
incorrect concept
00:27:09.06\00:27:16.73
of who God was
and what He desire.
00:27:16.77\00:27:20.64
So your view of God
is very, very important.
00:27:20.67\00:27:24.81
Absolutely.
00:27:24.84\00:27:26.17
And what you expect of God
and what you think God expects
00:27:26.21\00:27:30.38
of you is very, very crucial.
00:27:30.41\00:27:32.88
And in these last
days, a correct view of God
00:27:32.91\00:27:36.35
is very, very important
because as you scan the globe,
00:27:36.38\00:27:39.05
there are a lot of people
00:27:39.09\00:27:40.42
thinking a lot
of things about God
00:27:40.46\00:27:42.62
or who they think is
God that are incorrect.
00:27:42.66\00:27:45.59
And they are part of an
incorrect picture of God
00:27:45.63\00:27:48.46
that Satan has
articulated over the centuries.
00:27:48.50\00:27:52.87
So you can go to
many places on the earth
00:27:52.90\00:27:55.10
and get some very,
really kind of sad views
00:27:55.14\00:27:58.77
of who God is
and what God wants.
00:27:58.81\00:28:01.38
And so the desire of
God is to show us who He is
00:28:01.41\00:28:07.82
and how correct
worship puts us in line
00:28:07.85\00:28:10.65
with His desires
in these last days.
00:28:10.69\00:28:12.59
So the abomination of desolation
00:28:12.62\00:28:16.66
is an
orchestrated attempt by Satan
00:28:16.69\00:28:21.36
to destroy worship,
00:28:21.40\00:28:22.73
and, Pastor, you talked about
dual fulfillments of prophecy.
00:28:22.76\00:28:29.14
And this is one,
Christ talks about
00:28:29.17\00:28:32.51
Daniel's mentioning of
the abomination of desolation,
00:28:32.54\00:28:36.01
Daniel 9:27, Daniel
11-31, Daniel 12:11.
00:28:36.04\00:28:42.22
And when we look at the
words of Christ in Matthew 24,
00:28:42.25\00:28:46.62
it is evident
that one of the things
00:28:46.65\00:28:49.92
He is speaking of
is the destruction
00:28:49.96\00:28:52.83
of the city of Jerusalem.
00:28:52.86\00:28:55.00
The destruction of the temple,
00:28:55.03\00:28:57.43
the destruction of
the daily sacrifices
00:28:57.47\00:28:59.73
carried on in that temple.
00:28:59.77\00:29:01.77
Again, Satan
tearing down worship,
00:29:01.80\00:29:06.07
tearing down the means
and mechanisms of worship.
00:29:06.11\00:29:08.48
So Christ is giving signs,
warnings concerning the end,
00:29:08.51\00:29:14.05
the end of the Jewish fraternity
00:29:14.08\00:29:16.18
as a visible, unified,
identified nation group
00:29:16.22\00:29:19.49
at the hands of the desolator,
that is pagan Rome in AD 70.
00:29:19.52\00:29:25.46
Luke 21:20 explains and
says pretty much the same thing,
00:29:25.49\00:29:29.66
that when you see these
armies surrounding Jerusalem,
00:29:29.70\00:29:33.34
then know that
desolation is near.
00:29:33.37\00:29:37.21
So there is a
primary interpretation.
00:29:37.24\00:29:40.18
Now it's primary in the
sense that it comes first,
00:29:40.21\00:29:42.28
not that it's more important.
00:29:42.31\00:29:43.65
But this was
what was immediately
00:29:43.68\00:29:45.08
upon them that in several years,
00:29:45.11\00:29:47.38
this temple that
you value so much
00:29:47.42\00:29:49.48
and prize so much,
will no longer be here.
00:29:49.52\00:29:52.29
This city that you
take such pride in,
00:29:52.32\00:29:54.62
will no longer be here.
00:29:54.66\00:29:55.99
But there is a
secondary application
00:29:56.02\00:29:57.79
and actually, arguably,
00:29:57.83\00:29:59.69
that secondary
application is more far-reaching
00:29:59.73\00:30:03.63
in its effects and
prophetically, Pastor,
00:30:03.67\00:30:07.57
it has more
universal application.
00:30:07.60\00:30:09.04
That's right.
00:30:09.07\00:30:10.41
The pivot comes when
the word spoken by Daniel,
00:30:10.44\00:30:13.34
Daniel uses a
term in conjunction
00:30:13.38\00:30:15.54
with the king of the north,
00:30:15.58\00:30:17.08
the papal ascendancy
00:30:17.11\00:30:19.31
and the other
spiritual ramifications
00:30:19.35\00:30:21.35
that come to that.
00:30:21.38\00:30:22.72
So again, this is Satan,
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.45
who not only tears
down genuine worship,
00:30:24.49\00:30:28.76
he sets up false worship.
00:30:28.79\00:30:32.36
So his attack
is against worship,
00:30:32.39\00:30:35.20
is against the
worship of the true God.
00:30:35.23\00:30:37.13
One of the things
that is Satan's masterwork
00:30:37.17\00:30:39.83
is to really deface and efface
the image of God in the world.
00:30:39.87\00:30:45.01
There are some
people who still to this day
00:30:45.04\00:30:46.74
think God is a
hard, cruel, cold,
00:30:46.78\00:30:49.24
mean tyrant who is
trying to keep you out.
00:30:49.28\00:30:53.05
And we said this before,
and we'll say this again,
00:30:53.08\00:30:54.92
Mollie, like you said,
00:30:54.95\00:30:56.28
God's not trying to get you out,
00:30:56.32\00:30:58.25
He's trying to get you in.
00:30:58.29\00:30:59.62
Yes. Amen.
00:30:59.65\00:31:00.99
He's trying to do
all He can to get you in,
00:31:01.02\00:31:02.36
but there are those who think,
"He doesn't want me there.
00:31:02.39\00:31:04.89
I've got to work my way
in, I've got to appease Him."
00:31:04.93\00:31:08.06
And the appeasing
has already been done
00:31:08.10\00:31:09.66
by Christ on the cross.
00:31:09.70\00:31:11.03
That work has already been done.
00:31:11.07\00:31:12.40
So in Daniel 8,
we have this goat
00:31:12.43\00:31:15.44
which seems to have a personal
vendetta against the ram.
00:31:15.47\00:31:20.68
And there are some
philosophical and theological
00:31:20.71\00:31:25.18
and prophetic reasons for that,
00:31:25.21\00:31:27.72
Marathon, Thermopylae,
00:31:27.75\00:31:29.08
we don't have
time to go into that.
00:31:29.12\00:31:30.45
But we know that that goat
00:31:30.49\00:31:31.82
is Alexander versus
the Medo-Persian Empire,
00:31:31.85\00:31:34.49
the goat loses its notable horn,
00:31:34.52\00:31:36.02
is replaced by four horns,
00:31:36.06\00:31:37.39
Lysimachus,
Seleucus, Cassandra, Ptolemy,
00:31:37.43\00:31:40.80
and we're
throwing out a lot of stuff
00:31:40.83\00:31:42.36
that we don't have
time to really back up,
00:31:42.40\00:31:44.07
but history will
prove these things out.
00:31:44.10\00:31:47.34
And then out of
the midst of these,
00:31:47.37\00:31:49.54
there comes this little horn
that begins to exalt himself.
00:31:49.57\00:31:54.81
He speaks pompous
words against the most high.
00:31:54.84\00:31:59.75
So we see now the Roman power
00:31:59.78\00:32:02.95
in its pagan manifestation
00:32:02.98\00:32:08.19
which destroys the
temple and the city.
00:32:08.22\00:32:11.39
And then we see the Roman power
in its papal manifestation,
00:32:11.43\00:32:16.23
which sets up a
parallel system of worship
00:32:16.26\00:32:19.80
which is not genuine.
00:32:19.83\00:32:21.90
And we see in the beast and...
00:32:21.94\00:32:27.01
the dragon, the
beast, and the false prophet,
00:32:27.04\00:32:28.68
this parallel system
of working of worship
00:32:28.71\00:32:32.41
working against the original.
00:32:32.45\00:32:34.08
So the abomination
00:32:34.12\00:32:35.85
is a two-phased
assault on heaven and on God.
00:32:35.88\00:32:41.59
First, he tries to
destroy the people of God,
00:32:41.62\00:32:44.49
the children of God,
00:32:44.53\00:32:45.93
and then he sets up a
false system of worship
00:32:45.96\00:32:48.96
to try to get
the rest of the world
00:32:49.00\00:32:54.20
to enter into false worship.
00:32:54.24\00:32:56.84
And so the symbol is
the same, it's the same horn
00:32:59.87\00:33:03.04
speaking great things
against the most high.
00:33:03.08\00:33:05.38
And, of course,
it is that same horn
00:33:05.41\00:33:08.42
that we find in Daniel 7:25
00:33:08.45\00:33:10.79
that seeks to
change times and laws
00:33:10.82\00:33:13.96
and speaks pompous
words against the most high.
00:33:13.99\00:33:20.26
Let's look in Matthew 24:29,
and, boy, time goes so fast.
00:33:20.30\00:33:25.10
Matthew 24:29,
00:33:25.13\00:33:27.97
"Immediately after the
tribulation of those days,
00:33:28.00\00:33:30.71
the sun will be darkened,
00:33:30.74\00:33:32.34
the moon will
not give its light,
00:33:32.37\00:33:33.98
and the stars
will fall from heaven,
00:33:34.01\00:33:37.58
and the powers of
heaven will be shaken."
00:33:37.61\00:33:39.41
So we are seeing that
00:33:39.45\00:33:41.82
in the midst of
this tribulation,
00:33:41.85\00:33:44.95
God is going to orchestrate,
00:33:44.99\00:33:47.49
can I say, Pastor, some
atmospheric pyrotechnics?
00:33:47.52\00:33:50.93
Yes.
00:33:50.96\00:33:52.29
To let the world know
00:33:52.33\00:33:53.66
we're getting to
the end of this thing,
00:33:53.70\00:33:55.03
we're coming to the end.
00:33:55.06\00:33:56.40
We're coming to the
end of the ascendancy
00:33:56.43\00:33:58.13
of this false system of worship,
00:33:58.17\00:34:00.14
but we're also coming to the end
00:34:00.17\00:34:02.77
of this world's epic.
00:34:02.80\00:34:07.08
In other words,
Christ is going to come in
00:34:07.11\00:34:09.74
and set up a kingdom
that shall never fall.
00:34:09.78\00:34:11.75
The next big event
after this shaking,
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.52
after this atmospheric upheaval
00:34:14.55\00:34:17.95
is really the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ.
00:34:17.99\00:34:20.42
There are no more time
00:34:20.46\00:34:22.19
prophecies that
have to be fulfilled.
00:34:22.22\00:34:23.83
We don't have to
wait for anything.
00:34:23.86\00:34:25.49
The next thing
that's going to happen,
00:34:25.53\00:34:26.86
ladies and gentlemen,
is the coming of the Lord,
00:34:26.90\00:34:28.80
which is why, every day,
00:34:28.83\00:34:30.83
we need to live in
respect of the fact
00:34:30.87\00:34:34.80
that Christ is coming soon.
00:34:34.84\00:34:36.50
And there is just time enough
00:34:36.54\00:34:39.07
to get ready for that
grand and glorious event.
00:34:39.11\00:34:43.45
Well said.
00:34:43.48\00:34:44.81
Boy, it's too bad we
don't have more time.
00:34:44.85\00:34:46.88
I've got 10 minutes
to talk about 10 virgins.
00:34:46.92\00:34:51.52
So my lesson on
Wednesday, the 10 virgins,
00:34:51.55\00:34:55.72
let's just go ahead
and read that very quickly.
00:34:55.76\00:34:57.96
Matthew
25:1-13, Matthew 25:1-13.
00:34:57.99\00:35:03.53
You know, Jesus
frequently talked in parables,
00:35:03.57\00:35:06.94
and a parable is just a story
00:35:06.97\00:35:09.77
that has symbolic
meaning to something
00:35:09.80\00:35:13.17
that was common in the culture,
00:35:13.21\00:35:16.28
and this is, this parable...
00:35:16.31\00:35:19.31
Actually, I'll
explain it in a moment.
00:35:19.35\00:35:21.45
It was common practices
00:35:21.48\00:35:24.02
for a wedding in the
Jewish culture at the time.
00:35:24.05\00:35:26.99
Matthew 25, "Then
the kingdom of heaven
00:35:27.02\00:35:28.86
shall be likened to 10 virgins
00:35:28.89\00:35:31.03
who took their lamps and
went out to meet the bridegroom.
00:35:31.06\00:35:33.66
Now five of them were wise,
00:35:33.70\00:35:36.20
five of these virgins were wise,
00:35:36.23\00:35:37.77
five were foolish.
00:35:37.80\00:35:39.33
Those who were foolish,
00:35:39.37\00:35:40.70
took their lamps and
took no oil with them,
00:35:40.74\00:35:42.57
but the wise took oil
00:35:42.60\00:35:43.94
in the vessels with their lamps.
00:35:43.97\00:35:45.61
And when the
bridegroom was delayed,
00:35:45.64\00:35:47.54
they all slumbered and slept.
00:35:47.58\00:35:50.45
And at
midnight, a cry was heard,
00:35:50.48\00:35:52.55
'Behold the
bridegroom is coming,
00:35:52.58\00:35:54.68
go out to meet him.'
00:35:54.72\00:35:56.05
Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps,
00:35:56.08\00:35:59.12
and the foolish
women said to the wise,
00:35:59.15\00:36:01.22
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
00:36:01.26\00:36:03.63
But the wise answered saying,
00:36:03.66\00:36:04.99
'No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you,
00:36:05.03\00:36:08.06
but go rather to those who
sell and buy for yourselves.'
00:36:08.10\00:36:12.20
And while they went to buy,
00:36:12.23\00:36:13.57
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready,
00:36:13.60\00:36:16.74
went in with him to the
wedding and the door was shut.
00:36:16.77\00:36:19.94
Afterward, the other virgins
00:36:19.97\00:36:21.61
came also knocking
on the door saying,
00:36:21.64\00:36:24.35
'Lord, Lord, open to us.'
00:36:24.38\00:36:26.88
But He answered and
said, 'Assuredly, I say to you,
00:36:26.92\00:36:31.15
I do not know you.'"
00:36:31.19\00:36:33.62
He refused them entry.
00:36:33.66\00:36:35.82
And then Jesus
finishes with this,
00:36:35.86\00:36:38.23
"Watch therefore for you know
neither the day nor the hour
00:36:38.26\00:36:42.90
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:36:42.93\00:36:47.27
Jesus was drawing this
from a familiar tradition
00:36:47.30\00:36:49.97
among the Jews,
00:36:50.01\00:36:51.47
where the bridegroom
would go to his father's house,
00:36:51.51\00:36:55.21
he would build on the house
a room to his father's house.
00:36:55.24\00:36:59.58
It was going to be where
he and his bride would live.
00:36:59.61\00:37:03.75
And then the father
would send him late at night,
00:37:03.79\00:37:06.65
it was always late at
night, to retrieve his bride.
00:37:06.69\00:37:10.59
And the bride had
made herself ready.
00:37:10.63\00:37:12.99
She had prepared
herself during this time
00:37:13.03\00:37:15.66
because they were
legally married already.
00:37:15.70\00:37:17.67
They had a marriage contract.
00:37:17.70\00:37:19.60
They just hadn't had the...
00:37:19.63\00:37:22.84
Well, yes.
00:37:22.87\00:37:24.21
They just hadn't spent
their time together yet.
00:37:24.24\00:37:27.28
So what would
happen is the bridegroom,
00:37:27.31\00:37:32.05
as he was coming, somebody,
00:37:32.08\00:37:34.05
one of the groomsmen
would say, "He's on his way."
00:37:34.08\00:37:37.29
And then the bridesmaids would
be out there with their lamps,
00:37:37.32\00:37:41.19
they trimmed their lamps,
00:37:41.22\00:37:42.82
and then they would usher
the bridegroom to the bride.
00:37:42.86\00:37:46.39
They'd light the path.
00:37:46.43\00:37:48.26
So there's symbolic meaning...
00:37:48.30\00:37:52.13
There's so many of this,
00:37:52.17\00:37:53.50
I'm going to
have to go really fast
00:37:53.54\00:37:54.87
because the symbolism
in this is incredible.
00:37:54.90\00:37:57.97
We know that the
church is the bride of Christ,
00:37:58.01\00:38:00.84
we're told this in
Ephesians and in Revelations.
00:38:00.88\00:38:04.01
They were betrothed to
Christ, our bridegroom.
00:38:04.05\00:38:08.32
And in scripture, a church,
the true church, a good church,
00:38:08.35\00:38:13.36
was representative
of a virtuous woman,
00:38:13.39\00:38:18.39
a woman who had
not defiled herself
00:38:18.43\00:38:21.36
with any other relationships.
00:38:21.40\00:38:23.87
So Christ is coming back
00:38:23.90\00:38:26.50
to receive His
bride unto Himself,
00:38:26.53\00:38:30.77
a bride that has
made herself ready
00:38:30.81\00:38:33.11
and completed her task
of ministering this gospel
00:38:33.14\00:38:37.85
to every tongue and
tribes on the earth, right?
00:38:37.88\00:38:40.62
So this is the interesting part,
00:38:40.65\00:38:42.58
the virgin
bridesmaids were church members.
00:38:42.62\00:38:46.96
But did you
notice, He didn't say,
00:38:46.99\00:38:49.52
"Oh, there were five
virgins and five maids."
00:38:49.56\00:38:54.13
He referred to all of
them as virgin bridesmaids,
00:38:54.16\00:38:59.90
but there were two
classes of church members,
00:38:59.93\00:39:03.41
two classes of
people who had participated
00:39:03.44\00:39:08.84
or believed in
the gospel of grace,
00:39:08.88\00:39:11.21
but it had something
different, we'll look at.
00:39:11.25\00:39:13.65
The lamps, the lamp was a
symbol of the Word of God,
00:39:13.68\00:39:17.45
"Thy word is a light to My
path and a lamp to My feet."
00:39:17.49\00:39:21.12
The oil
symbolize the Holy Spirit,
00:39:21.16\00:39:23.73
which we see that
in Zechariah 4:1-14,
00:39:23.76\00:39:28.16
but also the
character that these bridesmaids
00:39:28.20\00:39:32.10
had received through
the Holy Spirit's influence.
00:39:32.13\00:39:36.37
The vessel that held the
oil, that was their hearts.
00:39:36.40\00:39:39.77
So what is the meaning
when Christ is cautioning us
00:39:39.81\00:39:44.05
and saying, "Be
ready, be prepared"?
00:39:44.08\00:39:46.98
He did not distinguish between
wise virgins, foolish maidens.
00:39:47.02\00:39:53.15
He called them all virgins,
00:39:53.19\00:39:55.92
which leads us to believe
all of these church members...
00:39:55.96\00:40:00.50
The virgins weren't hypocrites,
00:40:00.53\00:40:02.76
they were just people
00:40:02.80\00:40:05.07
whose spiritual
progress had been stifled.
00:40:05.10\00:40:08.94
They had really just received
Christ as Lord thinking,
00:40:08.97\00:40:14.08
"Justification,
that's all I need to do,
00:40:14.11\00:40:17.05
is confess my sins,
00:40:17.08\00:40:19.05
He's faithful and just
to forgive me of my sins.
00:40:19.08\00:40:21.42
I don't need to go any more."
00:40:21.45\00:40:23.42
And so their
service to the Lord,
00:40:23.45\00:40:25.82
their participation in
church was very superficial.
00:40:25.85\00:40:30.06
They didn't open up their heart
to receive the Holy Spirit.
00:40:30.09\00:40:35.76
So what we're looking at
00:40:35.80\00:40:39.23
when Christ says to them,
00:40:39.27\00:40:45.81
"Go away from Me,
I never knew you."
00:40:45.84\00:40:48.61
See, they
accepted Christ as Savior,
00:40:48.64\00:40:53.25
but they never let Him
be Lord of their lives.
00:40:53.28\00:40:56.02
They never followed in obedience
00:40:56.05\00:40:59.15
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
00:40:59.19\00:41:02.09
So the wise virgins...
00:41:02.12\00:41:04.06
And the interesting thing
00:41:04.09\00:41:05.43
is about these
people in the church,
00:41:05.46\00:41:07.40
the five foolish virgins,
00:41:07.43\00:41:09.53
is they've got their lamp
of profession in their hand,
00:41:09.56\00:41:13.17
"I'm a Christian.
00:41:13.20\00:41:14.90
I believe in Jesus."
00:41:14.94\00:41:16.44
And they think that's enough.
00:41:16.47\00:41:18.27
But now, the wise virgins
00:41:18.31\00:41:22.21
following their
experience of justification,
00:41:22.24\00:41:25.51
they went all
the way with Jesus.
00:41:25.55\00:41:27.65
They said, "Oh, I
need Your Holy Spirit,
00:41:27.68\00:41:29.88
work in me to will and
to do Your good pleasure.
00:41:29.92\00:41:32.75
Complete the good
work You've begun in me."
00:41:32.79\00:41:35.29
And they developed
Christ-like character
00:41:35.32\00:41:39.53
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:41:39.56\00:41:41.43
They were walking in obedience.
00:41:41.46\00:41:43.43
But we know that
none of them were perfect
00:41:43.47\00:41:45.57
because they all
slept, did they not?
00:41:45.60\00:41:48.10
So this sleep
that settled over them,
00:41:48.14\00:41:51.91
this represents the
darkness of the midnight hour.
00:41:51.94\00:41:55.51
It's a certain
spiritual condition of apathy.
00:41:55.54\00:42:00.45
And please hear
me when I say this,
00:42:00.48\00:42:03.72
Apathy is a very
dangerous heart condition,
00:42:03.75\00:42:08.52
very dangerous heart condition.
00:42:08.56\00:42:10.83
But they all are sleeping,
00:42:10.86\00:42:15.50
when they hear his
voice, they all wake up.
00:42:15.53\00:42:18.07
But the wise
virgins are depicted
00:42:18.10\00:42:21.77
as ones who overflow
with the love, and the light,
00:42:21.80\00:42:26.04
and the life of Christ
00:42:26.07\00:42:27.61
because they've got that
oil, they've got that extra oil.
00:42:27.64\00:42:30.91
And, you know, at
first, it kind of seems selfish
00:42:30.95\00:42:32.91
when the foolish virgins said,
"Oh, share your oil with us."
00:42:32.95\00:42:36.92
I remember thinking the
first time I read this one,
00:42:36.95\00:42:38.92
I was a very young Christian,
00:42:38.95\00:42:40.69
"Well, that was
pretty selfish of them
00:42:40.72\00:42:42.16
not to share their oil."
00:42:42.19\00:42:44.03
But how can you share
your character with another.
00:42:44.06\00:42:47.90
You know, this is the
time when Christ has returned,
00:42:47.93\00:42:50.63
they can't
share their character.
00:42:50.67\00:42:53.13
So the wise rise up
with the character of Christ,
00:42:53.17\00:42:56.37
they follow the bridegroom.
00:42:56.40\00:42:59.01
And, you know,
we'll be following Jesus,
00:42:59.04\00:43:02.18
rising to meet Him in the air,
00:43:02.21\00:43:04.68
and we proceed to that
marriage supper of the lamb.
00:43:04.71\00:43:08.98
Hallelujah!
00:43:09.02\00:43:10.65
But now those who lacked
the true Christian character,
00:43:10.69\00:43:14.32
the foolish virgins, Jesus said
00:43:14.36\00:43:17.26
they were unfit to
attend the marriage feast.
00:43:17.29\00:43:21.66
Their rejection
of sanctification,
00:43:21.70\00:43:24.50
of being set apart from
sin, of walking in obedience,
00:43:24.53\00:43:29.00
shut them out, shut the door
of eternal salvation to them.
00:43:29.04\00:43:33.31
I want to read this
scripture, Matthew 7:21,
00:43:33.34\00:43:36.75
Christ warned generations
00:43:36.78\00:43:38.98
of His followers to come saying,
00:43:39.01\00:43:41.75
"Not everyone who
says to Me 'Lord, Lord,'
00:43:41.78\00:43:46.59
shall enter the
kingdom of heaven,
00:43:46.62\00:43:49.02
but he who does the will
of My Father in heaven.'"
00:43:49.06\00:43:55.90
It is not enough just to say,
"I accept Christ as my Savior."
00:43:55.93\00:44:03.04
We have to accept Him
as our Lord, and we need...
00:44:03.07\00:44:07.34
You know, when Christ
said, "Watch therefore,
00:44:07.38\00:44:09.74
you know neither
the day nor the hour
00:44:09.78\00:44:11.85
when the Son of Man is coming."
00:44:11.88\00:44:15.25
Here's the thing
that I would say,
00:44:15.28\00:44:17.65
Christ could come during
my lifetime, I don't know.
00:44:17.69\00:44:21.22
But I also know that today
could be my last day on earth.
00:44:21.26\00:44:26.03
I don't know
that on the way home,
00:44:26.06\00:44:28.03
some cars not
going to hit me head on.
00:44:28.06\00:44:30.47
We always must be watching,
00:44:30.50\00:44:34.80
for we know neither
the day nor the hour
00:44:34.84\00:44:37.74
when our time is up.
00:44:37.77\00:44:39.21
Amen. Amen.
00:44:39.24\00:44:40.58
Thank you so much, Shelley.
00:44:40.61\00:44:41.94
What a blessing the
study of the Word of God is,
00:44:41.98\00:44:44.21
especially as we're
looking at Matthew 24 and 25.
00:44:44.25\00:44:47.92
I have the parable
that follows yours, Shelley.
00:44:47.95\00:44:50.32
That's the
Parable of the Talents.
00:44:50.35\00:44:53.09
We find this in
Matthew 25:14-30.
00:44:53.12\00:44:56.79
But I actually
want to read verse 13.
00:44:56.83\00:44:58.73
I know that was in your passage,
00:44:58.76\00:45:00.26
but, to me, it applies just
as equally to my passage here
00:45:00.30\00:45:03.73
with the Parable of the Talents.
00:45:03.77\00:45:06.10
Jesus speaking,
"Watch therefore for you know
00:45:06.13\00:45:10.07
neither the day nor the hour
00:45:10.11\00:45:12.11
in which the Son
of Man is coming."
00:45:12.14\00:45:15.34
This parable, the
Parable of the Talents
00:45:15.38\00:45:17.55
focuses on what
Christians are to do
00:45:17.58\00:45:20.72
between now and
the Second Coming.
00:45:20.75\00:45:24.02
During the waiting time,
00:45:24.05\00:45:26.02
what we are to
do during that time.
00:45:26.05\00:45:27.66
So let's look at
that parable, verse 14,
00:45:27.69\00:45:30.43
"For the kingdom of heaven
00:45:30.46\00:45:31.79
is like a man
traveling to a far country
00:45:31.83\00:45:35.10
who called his own servants
00:45:35.13\00:45:36.77
and delivered
his goods to them."
00:45:36.80\00:45:39.53
Another word for
servants in Greek is doulos,
00:45:39.57\00:45:41.94
meaning a slave
or a bondservant.
00:45:41.97\00:45:44.67
But in the New Testament,
00:45:44.71\00:45:46.37
this word is used
with the highest dignity,
00:45:46.41\00:45:49.94
because it's those
believers who willingly live
00:45:49.98\00:45:53.15
under Christ's authority,
00:45:53.18\00:45:55.15
those believers who
are His devoted followers.
00:45:55.18\00:45:57.82
You think of 1 Corinthians 6:20,
00:45:57.85\00:46:00.46
"We are bought with a price,"
and we wear that badge proudly
00:46:00.49\00:46:05.06
because we belong
to the Lord Jesus.
00:46:05.09\00:46:07.23
I think of 1 Peter 1:18 and 19,
00:46:07.26\00:46:10.30
"We are redeemed not
with corruptible things
00:46:10.33\00:46:13.60
as silver and gold,
00:46:13.64\00:46:14.97
but with the
precious blood of Christ."
00:46:15.00\00:46:17.94
Christ Himself has bought us.
00:46:17.97\00:46:20.64
So what a
privilege to be a slave,
00:46:20.68\00:46:23.04
to be a servant of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:46:23.08\00:46:26.35
Verse 15, it says, "And
to one, he gave five talents,
00:46:26.38\00:46:30.79
to another, two,
and to another, one,
00:46:30.82\00:46:33.42
to each according
to his own ability.
00:46:33.46\00:46:36.83
And immediately,
he went on a journey."
00:46:36.86\00:46:39.59
Now it's interesting, the
word for talents used here,
00:46:39.63\00:46:42.60
talentos, is not a coin.
00:46:42.63\00:46:44.77
And when I was growing up,
00:46:44.80\00:46:46.53
I always thought
it referred to a coin,
00:46:46.57\00:46:48.24
"Okay, he gave five coins to one
00:46:48.27\00:46:50.34
and two coins to another."
00:46:50.37\00:46:52.21
But what it's really
referring to is a heavyweight,
00:46:52.24\00:46:56.68
a gold or silver weight.
00:46:56.71\00:46:59.45
And if you do
some research on that,
00:46:59.48\00:47:01.12
a talent
weighed about 75 pounds.
00:47:01.15\00:47:05.59
Now this is a
heavyweight, 75 pounds,
00:47:05.62\00:47:08.79
it could be gold
or a silver weight.
00:47:08.82\00:47:11.19
It was worth, you imagine,
00:47:11.23\00:47:13.06
75 pounds of that in their time,
00:47:13.09\00:47:15.36
it was worth 6,000 days wages.
00:47:15.40\00:47:17.73
Wow!
00:47:17.77\00:47:19.10
Now that would be
16.4 years of working
00:47:19.13\00:47:21.84
if you work seven days a week,
00:47:21.87\00:47:23.20
but if you consider you
work five or six days a week,
00:47:23.24\00:47:26.24
that would last for 20 years.
00:47:26.27\00:47:28.28
So when the master
gave one person, one talent,
00:47:28.31\00:47:31.58
we're thinking, "Oh,
that's a meager gift."
00:47:31.61\00:47:33.95
This is 20 years of wages.
00:47:33.98\00:47:36.55
So this is a substantial gift,
00:47:36.58\00:47:38.39
and the one who had
five talents was quite a bit.
00:47:38.42\00:47:41.72
The talents...
00:47:41.76\00:47:43.09
This is from Christ's
Object Lessons, page 327,
00:47:43.12\00:47:46.16
"The talents that
Christ entrusts to His church
00:47:46.19\00:47:49.06
represent especially
the gifts and blessings
00:47:49.10\00:47:52.13
imparted by the Holy Spirit."
00:47:52.17\00:47:54.47
Amen. We all have
been given talents.
00:47:54.50\00:47:58.11
The Parable of
Talents is about stewardship,
00:47:58.14\00:48:00.34
stewardship of our time,
stewardship of our talents,
00:48:00.38\00:48:04.45
stewardship of our treasure,
stewardship of our testimony,
00:48:04.48\00:48:09.02
and stewardship of our temple.
00:48:09.05\00:48:11.45
What I want to do is look
00:48:11.49\00:48:12.95
at the difference between
the first and second servants,
00:48:12.99\00:48:15.86
the one who received the five
00:48:15.89\00:48:17.23
and the two, and
the third servant,
00:48:17.26\00:48:20.03
the one who went
and hid it in the earth.
00:48:20.06\00:48:22.80
So we see the
servant's response to the master
00:48:22.83\00:48:25.53
when he comes back,
00:48:25.57\00:48:26.90
this is the first
and second servant.
00:48:26.94\00:48:28.30
This is in verse 20,
00:48:28.34\00:48:30.01
"He who had
received five talents came
00:48:30.04\00:48:31.87
and brought five
other talents saying,
00:48:31.91\00:48:34.74
'Lord, you
delivered to me five talents.
00:48:34.78\00:48:36.85
Look, I have gained five
more talents beside them.'"
00:48:36.88\00:48:40.82
So what is this
servant's response?
00:48:40.85\00:48:43.28
To me, it's threefold.
00:48:43.32\00:48:44.65
Immediately, he went to work.
00:48:44.69\00:48:46.89
Number two, he kept
busy the entire time
00:48:46.92\00:48:50.56
the master was away.
00:48:50.59\00:48:51.99
He occupied until
the master returned.
00:48:52.03\00:48:55.16
Number three, he eagerly
waited for the master's return.
00:48:55.20\00:48:58.83
And you can see that,
he's eager to tell the master,
00:48:58.87\00:49:01.40
"Look, you gave me five talents,
00:49:01.44\00:49:03.71
here are five more.
00:49:03.74\00:49:05.37
Now there are ten."
00:49:05.41\00:49:06.88
And what is the master's
response to the servant.
00:49:06.91\00:49:09.68
In verse 21,
"His Lord said to him,
00:49:09.71\00:49:12.15
'Well done, good
and faithful servant.
00:49:12.18\00:49:15.08
You have been
faithful over a few things.
00:49:15.12\00:49:17.05
I will make you ruler over many.
00:49:17.09\00:49:19.25
Enter thou into
the joy of thy Lord.'"
00:49:19.29\00:49:22.89
So the master's
response to the servant
00:49:22.92\00:49:25.19
is threefold as well.
00:49:25.23\00:49:26.56
First, there was a
verbal commendation.
00:49:26.59\00:49:28.96
What does he say, "Well done,
good and faithful servant."
00:49:29.00\00:49:32.73
Second, he's entrusted
00:49:32.77\00:49:34.40
with even
greater responsibility.
00:49:34.44\00:49:37.41
He has given a
reward, the other five.
00:49:37.44\00:49:40.71
The third, he is
given the privilege
00:49:40.74\00:49:44.45
of entering the
joy of the Lord."
00:49:44.48\00:49:47.22
What does it say? "Enter
thou into the joy of thy Lord."
00:49:47.25\00:49:49.58
Now this can mean eternal life,
00:49:49.62\00:49:52.15
as in, he has
eternal life with the Father.
00:49:52.19\00:49:55.72
But I also think, in Hebrews 12,
00:49:55.76\00:49:57.73
Hebrews 12:3, what does it say?
00:49:57.76\00:49:59.63
"Looking unto Jesus,
00:49:59.66\00:50:01.16
the author and
finisher of our faith.
00:50:01.20\00:50:03.53
Who for the joy
that was set before Him,
00:50:03.57\00:50:06.03
endured the cross
despising the shame
00:50:06.07\00:50:09.47
and is set down
at the right hand
00:50:09.50\00:50:12.07
of the throne of God."
00:50:12.11\00:50:13.44
So why did Jesus endure
the cross or how did He endure?
00:50:13.48\00:50:17.31
The joy of seeing you and I
00:50:17.35\00:50:19.91
being saved
eternally in His kingdom.
00:50:19.95\00:50:23.95
It says, "There is
joy in the presence
00:50:23.99\00:50:25.85
of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents."
00:50:25.89\00:50:29.56
So I believe
that, in a special way,
00:50:29.59\00:50:32.69
the work and the talents,
00:50:32.73\00:50:34.06
the stewardship that
we are entrusted with,
00:50:34.10\00:50:37.43
has to do with the work
00:50:37.47\00:50:38.80
for the
salvation of other people.
00:50:38.83\00:50:40.94
We are not
entrusted with these talents
00:50:40.97\00:50:43.10
just for our own betterment,
00:50:43.14\00:50:45.64
our own selfish gratification,
00:50:45.67\00:50:48.21
it's for
salvation of other people.
00:50:48.24\00:50:51.58
Let's look at the
response of the third servant,
00:50:51.61\00:50:53.92
the one who went
and hid it in the earth.
00:50:53.95\00:50:55.68
In verse 24, "He who had
received the one talent came
00:50:55.72\00:50:59.02
and said, 'Lord, I
knew You were a hard man,
00:50:59.05\00:51:02.39
reaping where you have not sown,
00:51:02.42\00:51:05.16
gathering where you have not
scattered seed, I was afraid,
00:51:05.19\00:51:08.80
and I went and hid
your talent in the ground.
00:51:08.83\00:51:11.50
Look, there you
have what is yours."'
00:51:11.53\00:51:14.24
So what is his response,
00:51:14.27\00:51:15.77
number one, he's
lazy and he did nothing.
00:51:15.80\00:51:18.07
Remember, the other one
was active and industrious,
00:51:18.11\00:51:21.18
this man is lazy.
00:51:21.21\00:51:22.54
Number two, instead
of eagerly anticipating
00:51:22.58\00:51:25.28
the return of the
master, he's afraid.
00:51:25.31\00:51:27.72
He's afraid of
meeting the master.
00:51:27.75\00:51:29.85
And let's look at
the master's response,
00:51:29.88\00:51:32.19
"The Lord answered and said,
'You wicked and lazy servant,
00:51:32.22\00:51:35.46
you knew that I reap
where I have not sown
00:51:35.49\00:51:37.59
and gather where I
have not scattered seed.
00:51:37.63\00:51:39.66
You ought to have deposited
my money with the bankers
00:51:39.69\00:51:42.36
and at my coming, I
would have received back
00:51:42.40\00:51:44.47
my own with interest.
00:51:44.50\00:51:46.40
So take the talent from him
and give it to him who has 10.'
00:51:46.43\00:51:50.31
Every one who has,
more will be given,
00:51:50.34\00:51:52.37
and he will have abundance.
00:51:52.41\00:51:53.78
But from him who does not have,
00:51:53.81\00:51:55.58
even what he has
will be taken away.
00:51:55.61\00:51:58.95
And cast the
unprofitable servant
00:51:58.98\00:52:00.65
into the outer darkness,
00:52:00.68\00:52:02.02
there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth."
00:52:02.05\00:52:04.29
So what is the
master's response,
00:52:04.32\00:52:05.75
instead of verbal commendation,
there's a verbal reproof.
00:52:05.79\00:52:09.96
"You wicked and lazy servant."
00:52:09.99\00:52:12.49
Instead of more
responsibility given to him,
00:52:12.53\00:52:15.00
he had
responsibility taken from him.
00:52:15.03\00:52:17.90
The talent was taken to
him and given to someone else.
00:52:17.93\00:52:20.84
And instead of entering
into the joy of the Lord,
00:52:20.87\00:52:23.07
he was cast into outer darkness.
00:52:23.10\00:52:24.97
So these are my six takeaways
00:52:25.01\00:52:27.24
from the Parable of the Talents.
00:52:27.28\00:52:28.98
Six lessons that we can learn.
00:52:29.01\00:52:30.58
Number one, be
productive and active
00:52:30.61\00:52:33.95
in the master's service.
00:52:33.98\00:52:35.52
We are called to labor
in the master's vineyard,
00:52:35.55\00:52:38.15
not to sit back in idleness.
00:52:38.19\00:52:40.29
We're called to keep busy.
00:52:40.32\00:52:41.66
We're called to be productive,
00:52:41.69\00:52:43.53
to occupy until
the master returns.
00:52:43.56\00:52:46.59
Number two, work with
what you have been given,
00:52:46.63\00:52:50.13
large or small,
simply use what you're given.
00:52:50.17\00:52:54.07
The question to be asked
is not how much do I have,
00:52:54.10\00:52:57.21
but what am I
doing with what I have.
00:52:57.24\00:53:00.08
Number three, accept that
00:53:00.11\00:53:02.08
we all receive
different talents.
00:53:02.11\00:53:05.31
Talents are given to each
according to their ability.
00:53:05.35\00:53:07.75
I can say all day,
00:53:07.78\00:53:09.15
"I wish I could preach
like Pastor John or Pastor CA."
00:53:09.18\00:53:12.22
But the Lord has
given me my own gifts.
00:53:12.25\00:53:14.26
So I can say, "I wish I could
00:53:14.29\00:53:15.62
play the piano like Tim Parton,"
00:53:15.66\00:53:17.49
but the Lord has
given me my own gifts.
00:53:17.53\00:53:19.46
I am to serve God
00:53:19.49\00:53:21.40
with whatever
He has given to me.
00:53:21.43\00:53:24.50
Number four, watch your motives.
00:53:24.53\00:53:27.47
We work for the master,
00:53:27.50\00:53:28.90
not for our own selfish purpose.
00:53:28.94\00:53:31.71
The money didn't
belong to the servants,
00:53:31.74\00:53:33.44
it belonged to the master.
00:53:33.48\00:53:35.64
We use our time, our talents,
our treasure, our testimony,
00:53:35.68\00:53:38.75
our temple for
the service of God,
00:53:38.78\00:53:41.62
for the service of
helping to bring other souls
00:53:41.65\00:53:44.62
to the kingdom of heaven.
00:53:44.65\00:53:46.19
Number five,
recognize your accountability.
00:53:46.22\00:53:49.16
We are all held accountable
00:53:49.19\00:53:51.16
for what God has entrusted to us
00:53:51.19\00:53:53.36
during this waiting time.
00:53:53.40\00:53:55.70
This parable is
about stewardship
00:53:55.73\00:53:57.33
and what God has given to us,
00:53:57.37\00:53:59.17
how we are to occupy the
time while we are waiting.
00:53:59.20\00:54:02.57
And finally number six,
never despise heaven's gift.
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Never despise the gift
that God has given to you.
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So we are in the end times,
00:54:11.58\00:54:14.02
we are, as we've studied before,
00:54:14.05\00:54:15.38
in the very toes of
the image of Daniel 2,
00:54:15.42\00:54:18.92
and God is calling us
during this waiting time
00:54:18.95\00:54:22.22
to be busy in
the master's service,
00:54:22.26\00:54:25.06
winning souls for
other people with the gifts
00:54:25.09\00:54:27.90
and abilities
that He's given to us.
00:54:27.93\00:54:31.03
Thank you, Jill. Amen.
00:54:31.07\00:54:32.40
That was fabulous.
00:54:32.43\00:54:33.77
Pastor CA and Mollie,
00:54:33.80\00:54:35.14
I'm going to give you all a
few seconds also to summarize
00:54:35.17\00:54:37.87
since we've gone over
a number of topics here
00:54:37.91\00:54:40.78
in discussing what is
happening in Matthew 24 and 25.
00:54:40.81\00:54:44.21
Thank You, Jill, that
was beautifully outlined
00:54:44.25\00:54:45.98
which you
always do so very well.
00:54:46.01\00:54:48.25
But each one of
you has that gift,
00:54:48.28\00:54:50.85
that talent that God has
anointed by His Holy Spirit.
00:54:50.89\00:54:54.09
If I were to summarize
what we've talked about so far,
00:54:54.12\00:54:56.73
it would be in
light of the evidence
00:54:56.76\00:54:58.53
of Christ's soon return,
00:54:58.56\00:54:59.89
allow the Holy
Spirit to fill your life
00:54:59.93\00:55:02.76
so the talents you have
can be used to get others ready
00:55:02.80\00:55:06.27
for the coming of the Lord.
00:55:06.30\00:55:07.84
The evidence is overwhelming.
00:55:07.87\00:55:09.20
Mollie,
summarize your day for us.
00:55:09.24\00:55:10.81
Well, my day was he
that endures to the end,
00:55:10.84\00:55:14.14
shall be saved.
00:55:14.18\00:55:15.51
And we find in the
Great Controversy that,
00:55:15.54\00:55:17.88
"Only as your mind is fortified
with the truth of God's Word,
00:55:17.91\00:55:22.25
will you be able to endure."
00:55:22.28\00:55:24.02
And I wanted to
just quote Joshua 1:8,
00:55:24.05\00:55:26.42
"This Book of the Law shall
not depart out of your mouth,
00:55:26.45\00:55:29.26
but you shall
meditate on it, day and night,
00:55:29.29\00:55:31.66
that you may observe to do
all that's written therein,
00:55:31.69\00:55:35.40
then you will make
your way prosperous,
00:55:35.43\00:55:37.87
and you will have good success
contingent upon this Word."
00:55:37.90\00:55:42.50
Amen. Pastor CA?
00:55:42.54\00:55:43.87
When the Bible talks about
the patience of the saints,
00:55:43.91\00:55:46.98
it is talking about the
endurance of the saints.
00:55:47.01\00:55:50.01
Endurance comes when you have
your mind focused on a goal.
00:55:50.05\00:55:53.68
You can take the winds,
the arrows, the strife of life
00:55:53.72\00:55:58.55
when you're
focused on your goal,
00:55:58.59\00:56:00.16
and as we stay focused on Christ
00:56:00.19\00:56:01.96
and His soon coming,
00:56:01.99\00:56:03.32
we will be able to endure
whatever Satan sends our way.
00:56:03.36\00:56:06.46
Amen. Shelley?
00:56:06.49\00:56:07.83
The parable of the Ten Virgins,
00:56:07.86\00:56:09.20
all 10 were
members of the church,
00:56:09.23\00:56:11.33
all 10 believed that
Jesus Christ was Messiah,
00:56:11.37\00:56:15.60
but only five
have lived for Jesus
00:56:15.64\00:56:18.37
by having the Holy
Spirit in their heart.
00:56:18.41\00:56:21.04
So my takeaway
for the day would be,
00:56:21.08\00:56:24.15
as Jesus said in
Luke 11, when He said,
00:56:24.18\00:56:29.18
"Ask and it will be
given, seek and you will find,
00:56:29.22\00:56:31.39
knock and the
door will be opened."
00:56:31.42\00:56:33.36
How much more will the
Heavenly Father give you,
00:56:33.39\00:56:35.29
the Holy Spirit, when
you ask and seek and knock?
00:56:35.32\00:56:38.93
And Jill?
00:56:38.96\00:56:40.30
God has given
each one of us gifts
00:56:40.33\00:56:42.03
that we can use in
the service of the master,
00:56:42.06\00:56:44.60
spiritual gifts, abilities.
00:56:44.63\00:56:46.30
So whether you feel like
you have one talent or five,
00:56:46.33\00:56:49.40
use it in the
service of the master.
00:56:49.44\00:56:50.77
Amen.
00:56:50.81\00:56:52.17
Mollie, the
battle is over worship,
00:56:52.21\00:56:53.88
I took away from that.
00:56:53.91\00:56:55.24
The last days, Pastor CA
has hinged on your view of God.
00:56:55.28\00:56:58.68
Very important.
00:56:58.71\00:57:00.05
Shelley, the Holy
Spirit is the only one
00:57:00.08\00:57:01.42
that can prepare us
individually, not collectively.
00:57:01.45\00:57:04.59
And, Jill, time...
00:57:04.62\00:57:06.62
The talents are about
time, talents, testimony,
00:57:06.65\00:57:09.39
and treasure.
00:57:09.42\00:57:10.76
And the Lord has
given every one of us
00:57:10.79\00:57:12.16
time, talents,
testimony, and treasure.
00:57:12.19\00:57:14.66
The evidence of the coming
of the Lord is overwhelming,
00:57:14.70\00:57:17.07
the Holy Spirit
wants to do a work in you,
00:57:17.10\00:57:19.23
but your view of God
will impact where you worship.
00:57:19.27\00:57:22.64
And so, until we see you again,
00:57:22.67\00:57:24.14
may your adherence
and your dedication to God
00:57:24.17\00:57:27.91
impact your worship of God.
00:57:27.94\00:57:29.94