Hello, friends,
I'm Jill Morikone,
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and welcome to 3ABN
Sabbath School Panel,
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Rest in Christ.
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I can't believe
we're at lesson number 13.
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The last lesson of this quarter,
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this title is The Ultimate Rest.
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I want to encourage you to grab
your Bible and your notebook
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and a pen or
pencil to take notes
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and especially your
Adult Bible Study Guide.
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If you don't have your own copy,
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you can always go to your local
Seventh-day Adventist Church
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and ask them for a copy
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or you can go to
ABSG.Adventist.org
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and you can
download your own copy
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and study with
us for this edition
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of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
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We are at the end of
our journey of this quarter
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as we look at The Ultimate Rest.
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Of course, last week we
studied the life of Jonah,
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the reluctant
ungracious prophet.
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And we looked at how God worked
redemptively in his own heart
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as well as the
people of Nineveh.
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This week we look
at The Ultimate Rest.
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Wanna introduce my family,
your family to you right now.
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To my left Pastor
Ryan Day, glad you're here.
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Amen.
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I'm glad to be here and
excited about today's lesson,
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gonna be diving into Matthew 24,
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talking about the
soon coming of Jesus.
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Amen.
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To your left,
Pastor John Lomacang,
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glad you're here.
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And one of my specialties
and one that I love very much,
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the everlasting gospel
of Revelation Chapter 14.
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Yay, that's perfect
for you. Absolutely.
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Shelley Quinn, so glad
you're here, my sister.
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Oh, me too. Mine
is RIP, rest in peace.
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Amen.
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Last but not least Pastor
John Dinzey, glad you're here.
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Thank you.
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It's a privilege Thursday will
be rejoice in the Lord always.
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Amen. Okay.
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Before we go any further,
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we want to go to
the Lord in prayer.
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Pastor John,
would you pray for us?
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Sure.
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Gracious
Father, our loving Lord,
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You have sustained
us from week to week,
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as we have walked through
these very blessed lessons,
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the practical aspects of
things that we need as a people.
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And we do pray that as we
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finalize this quarter that
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Your Spirit will
continue to guide
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our hearts and minds.
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Thank You for the
work that has been done,
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the preparatory work but now
send Your Spirit to unite us.
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Yes.
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And may all the glory
and honor go only to you,
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we pray in Christ's name.
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Amen. Amen.
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You know, life is a battle.
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We are engaged in
the Great Controversy,
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the battle
between good and evil,
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between Christ and Satan.
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It began in heaven.
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It began actually
when Satan thought
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he would be like the
Most High, he would ascend,
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he would become like God,
he thought only of himself.
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And his war, as we're
told in Revelation Chapter 12,
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broke out in heaven,
and Satan was defeated.
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And he was cast
down to this earth.
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And we saw this
great controversy battle
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begin to play out in
earth with Adam and Eve.
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And when they partook
of the forbidden fruit,
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it plunged this
world into the battle
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between good and evil.
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I'm so thankful that
Christ Jesus came to pay
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the penalty to free us
from the penalty of sin
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and from the power of sin.
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He came to redeem us
from the curse of the law,
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to free us from
the dominion of Satan,
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to grant us the gift of
eternal life, to redeem us
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and buy us back from
the land of the enemy.
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He came to cleanse us
from any trace of sin,
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restoring us the image of Jesus,
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reconcile us back to the Father.
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The great controversy
as it's being played out
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as a lesson brought out
in two different aspects.
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It's played out
on a global scale
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between Christ and Satan.
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And that battle is taking place
before the entire universe.
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But it's also played
out on a personal scale
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between Christ and Satan
that's in the battlefield
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of your heart,
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and the battlefield of my heart.
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We all have a decision to
make in this great controversy.
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Who will our master be?
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As we look forward
to that ultimate rest?
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Let's read our memory text.
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1 Corinthians 2:9.
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1 Corinthians 2:9,
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"As it is written:
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'Eye has not
seen, nor ear heard,
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nor have entered into
the heart of man the things
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which God has prepared
for those who love Him.'"
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On Sundays lesson, we
look at A Vision Of The End.
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Turn with me to
the Book of Revelation.
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We're going to look
at Revelation Chapter 1,
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and Revelation Chapter 21.
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You know, John, the beloved
disciple was the youngest
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of Jesus' disciples
when he walked this earth.
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But at this
time, He's the oldest.
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He's the surviving
apostle of the rest.
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The others, of course,
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have been
martyred for their faith.
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He's exiled to
the island of Patmos.
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And the young church at
this time is facing intense
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persecution from without,
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and they're facing
heresy from within.
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And John gets this vision,
this Revelation of Jesus.
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Revelation, the Book of
Revelation is all about Jesus.
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It's about His character
and His love and His death,
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resurrection and ascension,
His heavenly sanctuary
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and throne room.
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His plan of
redemption for fallen humanity,
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His plan for the future,
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His soon return the home
be inheritance of the saints.
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We see His power in
His glory and His honor
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and His victory,
and His outworking
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of the plan of redemption,
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and the final
eradication of sin,
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and the ultimate rest,
the ultimate home for you
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and I the redeemed.
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So in John 1:9, he writes,
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"I, John, both your brother
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and companion in the tribulation
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and kingdom and
patience of Jesus Christ,
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was on the island that is called
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Patmos for the word of God
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and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
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John, as we see in
the next few verses
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sees a vision of Jesus.
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He's instructed to
write what he sees,
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and send it to the
seven churches of Asia.
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So let's look just a moment
at John's vision of Jesus.
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Jesus shows up in the sanctuary.
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That's right.
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Revelation 1:12,
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"Then I turn to see the
voice that spoke with me.
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And having turned I saw
seven golden lampstands.
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This, of course, is an allusion
to the lampstands in the
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Old Testament sanctuary.
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And, of course,
the seven lampstands
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also represent
the seven churches.
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Christ is in the sanctuary,
Christ is with His people.
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In the midst of these
difficult intense persecution
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and intense times of
heresy from within the church,
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Christ is with His people.
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But He doesn't just
show up in the sanctuary.
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He shows up dressed
like an Old Testament priest.
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We see that in verse
13, Revelation 1:13,"
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And in the midst of
the seven lampstands,
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One like the Son of
Man," the Son of Man was Jesus'
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favorite self-designation.
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In the Gospels of Mark and Luke,
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He calls Himself
many times the Son of Man.
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How is He clothed?
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With a garment down to the feet.
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Now only a priest or a judge
would wear these long robes,
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and he was girded about
the chest with a golden band.
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If you read Exodus 28,
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you see what the Old
Testament high priest wore
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and the description of that,
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and you'll see
that the Leviticus,
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Levitical priests
were robed like this.
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We see verse 14,
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Jesus doesn't just
show up in the sanctuary,
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and He doesn't just show up
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dressed like an Old
Testament high priest.
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He shows up with wisdom.
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His head and hair
were white like wool,
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as white as snow.
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Now, that doesn't
mean you and I would think
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if someone has white hair,
maybe that means they're old.
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But that doesn't mean
old, that means wisdom.
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It shows honor,
respect, veneration, wisdom.
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In fact, it's
the same description
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we see the Ancient
of Days in Daniel 7:9,
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that judgment scene,
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where the hair of his
head in that case was white,
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like pure wool.
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Now Jesus doesn't
just show up with wisdom,
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He shows up and searches us.
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What does it say?
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His head and hair
were white like wool,
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as white as snow, and his
eyes like a flame of fire.
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In Revelation 19,
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we see Christ
coming on a white horse,
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and His eyes are
like a flame of fire.
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Our God is a consuming fire,
purging away sin and dross.
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Our God is all knowing,
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possessing knowledge of
the inmost secrets of men,
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as well as coming future events.
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And then Jesus
shows up with brightness
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and glory and power,
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His face shining
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with a
countenance like of the sun.
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Who is He?
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Who is this Jesus who showed up?
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If you just look at
the Book of Revelation,
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you see that He is
the faithful witness.
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He is the first
begotten of the dead.
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He is the prince of
the kings of the earth.
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He's the Son of man,
he who lives in was dead,
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He holds the seven stars.
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He walks in the midst
of the golden candlesticks.
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He's the Son of God.
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He is who searches
the reigns and the hearts.
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He that has the seven stars,
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He that is holy and true
that He that the key of David.
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He that shuts and no man opens.
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He is the amen, the
faithful and true witness,
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the beginning of
the creation of God,
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the Lord the Lion
of the tribe of Judah,
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the Root of David, the
Lamb as it had been slain,
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King of kings and Lord of lords.
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He is faithful and
true the Word of God.
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He's the rider
of the white horse.
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He is the Christ, the
Lord God of the holy prophets,
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the Bright and Morning Star.
00:10:06.87\00:10:08.20
He's the Alpha and the Omega,
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He's the beginning and the end.
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He is the first and the last.
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That is the Jesus that shows
up in the Book of Revelation,
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and He shows up
for you and for me.
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Revelation shows the final
triumph of Christ over Satan.
00:10:19.25\00:10:23.85
In this great
controversy, sin is defeated,
00:10:23.89\00:10:27.09
Christ wins.
00:10:27.12\00:10:28.99
Death is no more.
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We see that in Revelation 21.
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Let's look at
that, Revelation 21:1-4.
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"I, John, saw a new
heaven and a new earth,
00:10:37.30\00:10:40.54
for the first heaven
00:10:40.57\00:10:41.90
and the first
earth had passed away.
00:10:41.94\00:10:44.44
There was no more sea.
00:10:44.47\00:10:46.68
Then I, John, saw the holy city,
00:10:46.71\00:10:48.21
New Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God,
00:10:48.24\00:10:52.18
prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
00:10:52.21\00:10:55.45
And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying,
00:10:55.48\00:10:57.75
'Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men,
00:10:57.79\00:11:00.09
He would dwell with
them, they shall be His people.
00:11:00.12\00:11:03.36
God Himself will be
with them, and be their God.
00:11:03.39\00:11:07.73
And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes."
00:11:07.76\00:11:11.33
Amen.
00:11:11.37\00:11:12.70
There will be no more
death, no more sorrow,
00:11:12.73\00:11:14.87
no more crying.
00:11:14.90\00:11:16.44
There will be no more
pain, for the former things
00:11:16.47\00:11:19.87
they have passed away.'"
00:11:19.91\00:11:21.71
You feel like you're
living in a world of turmoil,
00:11:21.74\00:11:24.38
a world that the
great controversy
00:11:24.41\00:11:25.91
is raging in your own heart,
00:11:25.95\00:11:27.95
or the hearts of
your family members
00:11:27.98\00:11:29.75
or church or community.
00:11:29.78\00:11:31.79
There's coming a time,
there will be ultimate rest.
00:11:31.82\00:11:36.19
The new earth
is a place to rest.
00:11:36.22\00:11:37.99
There be no more
sin, no more sickness,
00:11:38.03\00:11:40.40
no more
suffering, no more sorrow,
00:11:40.43\00:11:42.73
no more separation.
00:11:42.76\00:11:44.70
There's going to be
no more destruction,
00:11:44.73\00:11:46.67
no more
devastation, no more despair,
00:11:46.70\00:11:49.87
no more despondencies,
no more difficulties,
00:11:49.90\00:11:52.91
no more death.
00:11:52.94\00:11:54.88
There's gonna be no more trials,
00:11:54.91\00:11:56.71
no more
torment, no more trouble,
00:11:56.75\00:11:59.58
no more tests, no more
tears, because the former things
00:11:59.61\00:12:04.42
have passed away,
because the Lord Jesus has won
00:12:04.45\00:12:08.32
the great controversy.
00:12:08.36\00:12:09.99
And all it takes is you
and I to reach our hand out
00:12:10.03\00:12:13.36
and say yes, I want to be part
of your group of people, God.
00:12:13.40\00:12:17.07
Yes, I want You to come in,
and to cleanse and to restore
00:12:17.10\00:12:20.57
and to change and to transform.
00:12:20.60\00:12:22.80
I want to spend
eternity with you.
00:12:22.84\00:12:24.87
I am putting my will
on the side of Jesus.
00:12:24.91\00:12:29.14
And what will
happen in that day,
00:12:29.18\00:12:31.35
I love this quote,
00:12:31.38\00:12:33.21
"The great controversy is ended.
00:12:33.25\00:12:35.98
Sin and sinners are no more.
00:12:36.02\00:12:39.45
The entire universe is clean.
00:12:39.49\00:12:43.19
One pulse of
harmony and gladness
00:12:43.22\00:12:45.23
beats through the vast creation.
00:12:45.26\00:12:47.50
From Him who created all,
00:12:47.53\00:12:49.93
flow life and
light and gladness,
00:12:49.96\00:12:52.90
throughout the
realms of illimitable space.
00:12:52.93\00:12:56.94
From the minutest
atom to the greatest world,
00:12:56.97\00:13:00.41
all things, animate
00:13:00.44\00:13:02.08
and inanimate, in
their unshadowed beauty
00:13:02.11\00:13:05.28
and perfect joy,
declare that God is love."
00:13:05.31\00:13:11.22
Do you know this God?
00:13:11.25\00:13:12.85
Have you made this God
Lord and Savior of your life?
00:13:12.89\00:13:17.26
You see, Satan wants to
twist the character of God,
00:13:17.29\00:13:20.76
and make you think
that God is a God of hate,
00:13:20.80\00:13:23.70
that God is a God of death,
00:13:23.73\00:13:25.60
that God is a God of punishment,
00:13:25.63\00:13:27.57
but our God is a God of love.
00:13:27.60\00:13:30.34
And someday soon
when Jesus comes again,
00:13:30.37\00:13:34.21
this world that we
live in will be no more.
00:13:34.24\00:13:37.81
These struggles
that we go through
00:13:37.85\00:13:40.32
will happen no more.
00:13:40.35\00:13:42.38
Jesus is coming again.
00:13:42.42\00:13:44.65
And we have the privilege
00:13:44.69\00:13:46.59
of spending
eternity with a God of love.
00:13:46.62\00:13:49.86
Hallelujah. Amen.
00:13:49.89\00:13:51.99
Praise the Lord.
Thank you so much.
00:13:52.03\00:13:54.16
I love that quote
that you just read.
00:13:54.20\00:13:55.63
I believe that was the last line
00:13:55.66\00:13:57.00
of Great Controversy.
00:13:57.03\00:13:58.43
Last paragraph,
00:13:58.47\00:13:59.83
and it's
interesting that conflict series
00:13:59.87\00:14:01.40
begins with God is love
and it ends with God is love.
00:14:01.44\00:14:05.01
And our God of love
wants us to be prepared
00:14:05.04\00:14:07.84
and ready for His soon return.
00:14:07.88\00:14:09.88
And that's what
Monday's lesson is all about.
00:14:09.91\00:14:12.08
It's entitled The
Countdown. That's exciting.
00:14:12.11\00:14:15.15
The countdown because
if we're going to be ready,
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.42
we need to make
sure that we're ready.
00:14:17.45\00:14:18.99
And Jesus has not
left any stone unturned.
00:14:19.02\00:14:21.56
He makes, He made
sure that He put all
00:14:21.59\00:14:23.89
the details in there
so that we might be ready.
00:14:23.93\00:14:27.13
And so we're going
to be going to the Book
00:14:27.16\00:14:28.50
of Matthew Chapter 24.
00:14:28.53\00:14:30.17
So that's going to
be where we're going
00:14:30.20\00:14:31.53
if you want to turn
with me in your Bibles.
00:14:31.57\00:14:33.64
And obviously Jesus is,
00:14:33.67\00:14:36.04
He's going to deliver His final,
00:14:36.07\00:14:38.37
I guess, prophetic farewell
address to His disciples atop
00:14:38.41\00:14:41.74
the Mount of Olives.
00:14:41.78\00:14:43.28
He has just left the temple.
00:14:43.31\00:14:45.05
And the Bible says
that He goes to the top
00:14:45.08\00:14:46.78
of the Mount of Olives,
00:14:46.82\00:14:48.15
and He meets with
His disciples privately.
00:14:48.18\00:14:51.32
And we're going to pick
up there in Matthew 24:3,
00:14:51.35\00:14:54.26
notice what the Bible says,
00:14:54.29\00:14:55.62
"Now as He sat on
the Mount of Olives,
00:14:55.66\00:14:56.99
the disciples came to
Him privately, saying,
00:14:57.03\00:14:59.06
'Tell us, when
will these things be?
00:14:59.09\00:15:02.26
And what will be
the sign of Your coming,
00:15:02.30\00:15:05.23
and the end of the age?'"
00:15:05.27\00:15:07.30
They want to know,
Lord, You've told us
00:15:07.34\00:15:09.04
that You're going to be leaving,
00:15:09.07\00:15:10.41
and that You're going to return,
00:15:10.44\00:15:11.77
but how will we know.
00:15:11.81\00:15:13.14
Because ultimately, as this,
00:15:13.17\00:15:14.51
as this whole study is entitled,
00:15:14.54\00:15:16.11
Rest in Christ, we're not
going to really experience
00:15:16.14\00:15:19.31
the ultimate rest until
Jesus comes back to give us
00:15:19.35\00:15:22.42
that eternal rest in Him
in which we can be with Him,
00:15:22.45\00:15:25.95
and in His
presence for all eternity.
00:15:25.99\00:15:28.26
And so what Jesus is
about to do in Matthew 24,
00:15:28.29\00:15:30.83
is He's about to
present this powerful,
00:15:30.86\00:15:33.36
very detailed panoramic timeline
00:15:33.40\00:15:36.93
that stretches from His
day all the way down to the end
00:15:36.97\00:15:40.20
of the world to the
second coming of Jesus.
00:15:40.24\00:15:42.80
And so we know very well,
00:15:42.84\00:15:44.61
especially as Seventh-day
Adventist Christians,
00:15:44.64\00:15:46.54
that there's going to be
coming this time of trouble.
00:15:46.57\00:15:48.98
And the Book of
Daniel talks about this,
00:15:49.01\00:15:50.35
this time of trouble that
never has been nor ever will be.
00:15:50.38\00:15:53.78
And Jesus wants us
to be prepared for that,
00:15:53.82\00:15:57.02
which immediately
precedes His coming.
00:15:57.05\00:15:59.19
And we want to make sure that
we're prepared for all of that,
00:15:59.22\00:16:01.06
and therefore, that's
why we have these powerful
00:16:01.09\00:16:03.66
prophetic chapters,
such as Matthew Chapter 24,
00:16:03.69\00:16:06.76
the great Olivet Discourse.
00:16:06.80\00:16:08.23
We're going to pick
up in verse 4, again.
00:16:08.26\00:16:10.30
Matthew Chapter 24,
beginning with verse 4,
00:16:10.33\00:16:12.77
and we're going to
read through verse 8.
00:16:12.80\00:16:14.14
Notice what Jesus starts with.
00:16:14.17\00:16:15.64
It says, "And Jesus
answered and said to them:
00:16:15.67\00:16:18.37
'Take heed that
no one deceives you."
00:16:18.41\00:16:22.04
I find that interesting that
that was his very first word.
00:16:22.08\00:16:24.11
It's almost like his thesis
00:16:24.15\00:16:25.48
sentence for everything
that he's about to cover.
00:16:25.51\00:16:27.25
Because you're going to see
this issue come back up over
00:16:27.28\00:16:29.58
and over through that prior
to the second coming of Jesus,
00:16:29.62\00:16:32.52
if we might enter
into that eternal,
00:16:32.55\00:16:35.09
perfect, ultimate rest,
00:16:35.12\00:16:36.83
we need to make sure
that we are safeguarded,
00:16:36.86\00:16:39.36
and that we are not
going to be deceived.
00:16:39.39\00:16:40.86
So He starts with,
let no one deceive you.
00:16:40.90\00:16:43.63
And then He goes on to say,
00:16:43.67\00:16:45.00
"For many will come in My
name, saying, 'I am the Christ,'
00:16:45.03\00:16:48.17
and will deceive not
few, but many, the majority.
00:16:48.20\00:16:52.47
And will hear of wars,
00:16:52.51\00:16:54.04
He says and you will hear
of wars, and rumors of wars.
00:16:54.08\00:16:57.05
See that you are not
troubled, for all these things
00:16:57.08\00:16:59.91
must come to pass,
but the end is not yet.
00:16:59.95\00:17:03.49
For nation will
rise against nation,
00:17:03.52\00:17:05.25
and kingdom against kingdom.
00:17:05.29\00:17:06.86
And there will be
famines, pestilences,
00:17:06.89\00:17:09.32
and earthquakes
in various places."
00:17:09.36\00:17:11.86
And then this is a fascinating
verse here, verse 8, he says,
00:17:11.89\00:17:14.66
"All of these things
that he's just mentioned,
00:17:14.70\00:17:16.73
are just the
beginning of sorrows."
00:17:16.77\00:17:18.70
Now you may not
get catch the fullness
00:17:18.73\00:17:20.44
of this until you
go a little bit deeper,
00:17:20.47\00:17:22.20
and study the
word for sorrows there.
00:17:22.24\00:17:24.57
It's the word in the
Greek, it's pronounced odin,
00:17:24.61\00:17:27.11
odin which means birth pangs.
00:17:27.14\00:17:30.68
It means childbirth, it
can be translated childbirth.
00:17:30.71\00:17:33.25
So what is Jesus saying?
00:17:33.28\00:17:34.62
All these things
that I've just mentioned,
00:17:34.65\00:17:36.28
nations rising against nation,
wars and then rumors of wars,
00:17:36.32\00:17:39.05
pestilences, earthquakes
in various places, famines,
00:17:39.09\00:17:41.72
all of these things, is
this is just the beginning.
00:17:41.76\00:17:44.13
You had these
things for so long,
00:17:44.16\00:17:45.96
but how will you
know I'm coming soon?
00:17:45.99\00:17:48.16
He says, it's gonna
be just like a woman
00:17:48.20\00:17:49.90
who is experiencing birth pains.
00:17:49.93\00:17:51.40
And I have never in
my life ever met a woman
00:17:51.43\00:17:53.77
who gave birth, who was
just sitting on the couch
00:17:53.80\00:17:55.87
one day, and then all
of a sudden looked down
00:17:55.90\00:17:57.51
and said, "Oh, what's
this baby doing here?"
00:17:57.54\00:18:00.34
There were some warning signs
00:18:00.38\00:18:01.71
along the way that
that baby's coming, right?
00:18:01.74\00:18:03.65
And that's exactly what
Jesus is giving us here,
00:18:03.68\00:18:05.61
right here in Matthew 24.
00:18:05.65\00:18:07.08
He says, I'm coming soon.
00:18:07.12\00:18:08.45
And I want to give My children
00:18:08.48\00:18:10.09
whom I love dearly,
that eternal rest with Me
00:18:10.12\00:18:12.92
where they can be
with Me for all eternity,
00:18:12.95\00:18:14.52
but you need to be prepared,
00:18:14.56\00:18:15.92
you need to be
aware of what is coming.
00:18:15.96\00:18:17.69
And so what will happen
00:18:17.73\00:18:19.53
leading up to the second
coming in this great tribulation
00:18:19.56\00:18:22.50
time period that is spoken of.
00:18:22.53\00:18:24.17
Let's read on, we're
right here in verse 23.
00:18:24.20\00:18:26.53
We're gonna skip
down to verse 23.
00:18:26.57\00:18:28.40
So that's Matthew 24,
beginning with verse 23.
00:18:28.44\00:18:31.27
It says, "Then if
anyone says to you, 'Look,
00:18:31.31\00:18:33.68
here is the Christ!' or 'There!'
00:18:33.71\00:18:35.61
Do not believe it.
00:18:35.64\00:18:36.98
For false christs and
false prophets will arise
00:18:37.01\00:18:39.35
and show great
signs and wonders,"
00:18:39.38\00:18:41.35
there it is again, "to deceive,
if possible, even the elect.
00:18:41.38\00:18:46.05
See, He says, I
have told you beforehand.
00:18:46.09\00:18:49.52
Therefore if they say to you,
'Look, He is in the desert!'
00:18:49.56\00:18:52.66
Do not go out, or 'Look,
He is in the inner rooms!'
00:18:52.69\00:18:55.86
Do not believe it.
00:18:55.90\00:18:57.23
For as the
lightning comes from the east
00:18:57.27\00:18:59.17
and flashes even to the west,
00:18:59.20\00:19:01.10
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be."
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.64
That is a powerful,
just image to take in.
00:19:04.67\00:19:07.68
Because a lot of people
think that that is describing
00:19:07.71\00:19:10.25
the swiftness of His coming
00:19:10.28\00:19:11.61
and I do believe that
00:19:11.65\00:19:12.98
it's going to
be swift and quick,
00:19:13.01\00:19:14.35
but not so swift and quick
00:19:14.38\00:19:15.72
that people are
going to miss it like
00:19:15.75\00:19:17.09
some people try to say
in this left behind theory
00:19:17.12\00:19:19.05
and ideology, you will
see the Son of Man coming.
00:19:19.09\00:19:21.79
In fact, I love
this because I can
00:19:21.82\00:19:23.93
imagine this I
grew up in the south,
00:19:23.96\00:19:25.89
and I've even seen
this once or twice since
00:19:25.93\00:19:27.30
I've been here in
Southern Illinois.
00:19:27.33\00:19:28.66
If you've ever seen a
southern lightning storm,
00:19:28.70\00:19:31.63
you don't even
have to be looking
00:19:31.67\00:19:33.77
directly at that lightning storm
00:19:33.80\00:19:35.30
that may be coming out
00:19:35.34\00:19:36.67
of the west or
northwest or whatever direction,
00:19:36.71\00:19:38.97
you can have your back.
00:19:39.01\00:19:40.34
There was times in the south
00:19:40.38\00:19:41.71
going up in
northeastern Arkansas,
00:19:41.74\00:19:43.24
I would have my entire back
turn away from or turn toward
00:19:43.28\00:19:47.62
the lightning storm
looking away from it.
00:19:47.65\00:19:50.02
But I would still see
00:19:50.05\00:19:51.39
the powerful effects
from that lightning storm
00:19:51.42\00:19:53.36
as it would
dance across the sky.
00:19:53.39\00:19:55.16
I would see its
effects all across the sky.
00:19:55.19\00:19:57.36
What Jesus is saying here
is you're not going to miss it.
00:19:57.39\00:19:59.86
Because My coming
will be that visible,
00:19:59.89\00:20:01.83
it will be that grand.
00:20:01.86\00:20:03.73
Let's go on to verse 29.
00:20:03.77\00:20:05.10
He says, "Immediately
00:20:05.13\00:20:06.47
after the
tribulation of those days,
00:20:06.50\00:20:07.84
the sun will be darkened,
00:20:07.87\00:20:09.20
and the moon will
not give its light,
00:20:09.24\00:20:10.94
and the stars will
fall from the heaven,
00:20:10.97\00:20:12.77
and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
00:20:12.81\00:20:15.44
You will know He's coming,
because there will be some
00:20:15.48\00:20:18.01
very clear amazing
signs in the atmosphere,
00:20:18.05\00:20:21.82
and from the stars,
and from the heavens
00:20:21.85\00:20:23.69
and from the sun,
00:20:23.72\00:20:25.05
you're going to know Jesus says,
00:20:25.09\00:20:26.42
when you see
these things happening,
00:20:26.45\00:20:27.79
these miraculous signs,
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.16
you will know
that My coming is near,
00:20:29.19\00:20:30.79
that happens right
before the appearing of Jesus.
00:20:30.83\00:20:33.23
How do we know that?
00:20:33.26\00:20:34.60
Read verse 30, it says,
00:20:34.63\00:20:35.96
"Then the sign of the Son
of Man will appear in heaven,
00:20:36.00\00:20:37.97
and then all the tribes
of the earth will mourn,
00:20:38.00\00:20:40.60
and they will see the Son
of Man coming in the clouds
00:20:40.64\00:20:42.80
of heaven with
power and great glory.
00:20:42.84\00:20:45.21
And He will send His
angels with a great sound
00:20:45.24\00:20:47.58
of a trumpet,
and they will gather
00:20:47.61\00:20:49.71
His elect from the four winds,
00:20:49.74\00:20:51.18
from one end of
heaven to the other."
00:20:51.21\00:20:53.75
This is gonna be
an awesome event.
00:20:53.78\00:20:56.08
This is going to
be the greatest event
00:20:56.12\00:20:57.45
ever to happen on this planet.
00:20:57.49\00:20:59.72
You got people that gather,
you know, for the NBA finals,
00:20:59.75\00:21:02.49
and, you know, the Super Bowl,
00:21:02.52\00:21:04.69
and you know, every four years,
00:21:04.73\00:21:06.06
the Olympics
happen where billions
00:21:06.09\00:21:07.43
of people on this
planet are tuning in.
00:21:07.46\00:21:08.83
Let me tell you something,
00:21:08.86\00:21:10.20
there's not an event
in the history of mankind
00:21:10.23\00:21:11.57
that's going to be as great
as this right here, my friend.
00:21:11.60\00:21:14.20
Jesus says, "I'm on my way,
00:21:14.24\00:21:15.74
I'm coming very soon, and
I want you to be prepared."
00:21:15.77\00:21:18.31
That's what
Matthew 24 is all about.
00:21:18.34\00:21:20.31
That's what the Book of
Revelation is all about.
00:21:20.34\00:21:22.48
That's what the great prophetic
00:21:22.51\00:21:23.85
and apocalyptic Book
of Daniel is all about,
00:21:23.88\00:21:26.01
to prepare God's
people for His soon return.
00:21:26.05\00:21:28.88
And make no mistake about it.
00:21:28.92\00:21:30.25
Jesus says, look, all
of these things may happen.
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.25
But let me tell you
what it's gonna be like
00:21:32.29\00:21:33.79
prior to and leading up to
the second coming of Jesus.
00:21:33.82\00:21:36.42
Matthew 24:37-39, he says,
00:21:36.46\00:21:39.56
"But as the days of Noah were,
00:21:39.59\00:21:41.86
so also will the
coming of the Son of Man be.
00:21:41.90\00:21:44.53
For as the days
before the flood,
00:21:44.57\00:21:46.74
they were eating and drinking,
00:21:46.77\00:21:48.57
marrying and giving in marriage,
00:21:48.60\00:21:50.14
until the day that
Noah entered the ark,
00:21:50.17\00:21:52.71
and did not know
until the flood came
00:21:52.74\00:21:54.94
and took them all
away, so also will the coming
00:21:54.98\00:21:59.41
of the Son of Man be."
00:21:59.45\00:22:00.78
There's going to
be a sense in which
00:22:00.82\00:22:02.32
people are going to be thinking,
00:22:02.35\00:22:03.69
as Paul would
say, peace and safety.
00:22:03.72\00:22:05.42
But when they
say peace and safety,
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.22
then sudden destruction
comes upon them as labor pains.
00:22:07.26\00:22:10.53
There it is, again,
that same word odin,
00:22:10.56\00:22:12.56
labor pains upon
a pregnant woman,
00:22:12.59\00:22:14.36
and they shall no not escape.
00:22:14.40\00:22:16.83
My friends,
Jesus is coming soon.
00:22:16.87\00:22:18.80
That's right.
And what is our part?
00:22:18.83\00:22:20.74
That's the question.
00:22:20.77\00:22:22.14
What should we be doing?
00:22:22.17\00:22:23.51
What is our part to
make sure that we can
00:22:23.54\00:22:25.54
prepare for this soon
arrival of the Son of God?
00:22:25.57\00:22:28.84
Matthew 24.
00:22:28.88\00:22:30.21
I'm going to
start with verse 12.
00:22:30.25\00:22:31.58
We're going to read to verse 14.
00:22:31.61\00:22:32.95
This is powerful.
Notice what Jesus says.
00:22:32.98\00:22:35.35
He says, "And
because lawlessness
00:22:35.38\00:22:36.75
will abound, the love
of many will grow cold."
00:22:36.79\00:22:41.12
One, one major part
is that when we reflect
00:22:41.16\00:22:43.59
the love and
character of Jesus Christ,
00:22:43.63\00:22:45.59
we put love back
into this dark world.
00:22:45.63\00:22:48.63
It is our job to
reflect the character of Jesus.
00:22:48.66\00:22:50.93
It's our job to
share the love of Jesus
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.40
with every
single person around us.
00:22:53.44\00:22:55.04
If we were going to
enter into His rest,
00:22:55.07\00:22:57.57
we need to share God's
love with all of the world.
00:22:57.61\00:23:00.88
But He goes on
to say in verse 13,
00:23:00.91\00:23:02.31
"But he who endures to
the end shall be saved."
00:23:02.34\00:23:05.85
Are you enduring?
00:23:05.88\00:23:07.22
Are you prepared for
the soon return of Jesus?
00:23:07.25\00:23:09.12
Because those who endure
to the end shall be saved,
00:23:09.15\00:23:11.95
those who persevere to
the end shall be saved.
00:23:11.99\00:23:15.59
Paul fought the good
fight, he ran the course,
00:23:15.62\00:23:18.56
he ran the race,
he finished the race.
00:23:18.59\00:23:20.53
Are you doing that as well?
00:23:20.56\00:23:22.00
That's what Jesus
is talking about here.
00:23:22.03\00:23:23.43
We have to persevere.
00:23:23.47\00:23:24.93
And then in verse 14,
00:23:24.97\00:23:26.30
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:23:26.33\00:23:27.67
will be
preached in all the world
00:23:27.70\00:23:29.70
as a witness to the nations,
00:23:29.74\00:23:31.61
and then the end will
come to all the nations."
00:23:31.64\00:23:34.88
We're talking about
the everlasting gospel,
00:23:34.91\00:23:37.45
and I'm not gonna
speak too much on that,
00:23:37.48\00:23:38.98
because that's
what Pastor Lomacang
00:23:39.01\00:23:40.35
is going to speak
on in just a moment.
00:23:40.38\00:23:41.88
But how can we be prepared?
00:23:41.92\00:23:43.49
How can we make sure that
00:23:43.52\00:23:44.85
we're prepared for
Jesus' soon return?
00:23:44.89\00:23:46.99
My friends, we need to
be preaching the gospel.
00:23:47.02\00:23:48.82
We need to be living the gospel
00:23:48.86\00:23:50.23
out in our
lives before the world
00:23:50.26\00:23:52.16
and that's what
Jesus is saying here.
00:23:52.19\00:23:53.53
He's saying, I will come back
00:23:53.56\00:23:55.16
when you manifest
and live out the gospel
00:23:55.20\00:23:57.27
and preach the gospel to
all this lost and dying world.
00:23:57.30\00:24:00.67
Amen.
00:24:00.70\00:24:02.04
Thank you so much, Pastor Ryan.
00:24:02.07\00:24:03.41
We're gonna take a
break, we'll be right back.
00:24:03.44\00:24:04.91
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Welcome back to
lesson 13, The Ultimate Rest.
00:24:41.24\00:24:44.18
We're gonna kick
it over to Pastor
00:24:44.21\00:24:45.55
John Lomacang in
Tuesday's lesson.
00:24:45.58\00:24:47.48
Wow, I tell you,
mine is Marching Orders.
00:24:47.52\00:24:51.22
I could hear the
hallelujah chorus
00:24:51.25\00:24:53.52
in my head as I
think about this topic,
00:24:53.56\00:24:55.49
the Marching Orders.
00:24:55.52\00:24:56.99
We on Tuesday
00:24:57.03\00:24:58.36
and we are going to be talking
about the Everlasting Gospel.
00:24:58.39\00:25:02.23
It comes from the
Greek word aionios,
00:25:02.26\00:25:04.57
meaning everlasting
00:25:04.60\00:25:06.10
since the world
began eternal and forever.
00:25:06.13\00:25:09.20
So the final
message of the three angels
00:25:09.24\00:25:12.17
is one that was planted
00:25:12.21\00:25:13.94
when the Lord
gave the commission.
00:25:13.98\00:25:16.28
He says, "And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman,
00:25:16.31\00:25:18.98
between thy seed and her seed.
00:25:19.01\00:25:21.05
He forecasted
00:25:21.08\00:25:22.92
the ultimate victory
from the Garden of Eden.
00:25:22.95\00:25:26.05
And the great controversy
played itself out and,
00:25:26.09\00:25:29.12
brethren, the good
news is we're at the last
00:25:29.16\00:25:31.49
of the seven churches.
00:25:31.53\00:25:33.06
This is the last
of the four kingdoms
00:25:33.09\00:25:36.46
of Daniel 7 and
Daniel Chapter 2.
00:25:36.50\00:25:38.47
We are living on
the cusp of eternity.
00:25:38.50\00:25:41.24
And the everlasting gospel
00:25:41.27\00:25:43.00
is the marching
orders of this hour.
00:25:43.04\00:25:45.87
Think about the
environment we live.
00:25:45.91\00:25:48.81
And we are
confronted by an indiscriminate
00:25:48.84\00:25:51.31
contagion called sin.
00:25:51.35\00:25:53.28
We live in a society
that puts its irresponsible
00:25:53.31\00:25:56.02
behavior on full display.
00:25:56.05\00:25:58.02
It is in this
context that God says
00:25:58.05\00:26:00.79
the everlasting
gospel has relevance.
00:26:00.82\00:26:03.06
Calamity and disease
are Satan's tools preparing
00:26:03.09\00:26:05.49
the world for its final end.
00:26:05.53\00:26:07.63
There is an irresistible,
00:26:07.66\00:26:09.50
fearful anxiety that
is hovering over humanity.
00:26:09.53\00:26:13.40
It is in this
context that the Lord says
00:26:13.44\00:26:15.67
proclaim the everlasting gospel.
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.77
But notice the context of
lesson his marching orders,
00:26:17.81\00:26:20.38
meaning, we're
not church members,
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.34
we're soldiers.
00:26:22.38\00:26:23.95
We are not members
that are a part of a club
00:26:23.98\00:26:26.25
of people that
identify with the same gospel.
00:26:26.28\00:26:28.62
We are standing on
the whole armor of God.
00:26:28.65\00:26:31.39
And Paul said in his
attitude, in his final farewell,
00:26:31.42\00:26:34.82
I have fought a good fight.
00:26:34.86\00:26:36.22
We must contend for the faith.
00:26:36.26\00:26:37.99
And a part of
that final commission
00:26:38.03\00:26:40.00
is the proclamation of
the everlasting gospel.
00:26:40.03\00:26:42.70
We live in a world
where fires are unquenchable.
00:26:42.73\00:26:45.13
And all of
life's accomplishments
00:26:45.17\00:26:46.87
can go up in an instant.
00:26:46.90\00:26:48.64
But the Lord is saying,
as the world is coming down,
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.97
the gospel should be going up.
00:26:51.01\00:26:52.41
And Revelation 14:6-12
00:26:52.44\00:26:55.54
gives us a picture of
this everlasting gospel,
00:26:55.58\00:26:58.65
which is the preamble
of our eternal victory.
00:26:58.68\00:27:01.28
Let's look at that together.
00:27:01.32\00:27:02.78
Revelation 14:6-12.
00:27:02.82\00:27:05.89
"And I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven,
00:27:05.92\00:27:09.32
having the everlasting gospel,"
00:27:09.36\00:27:11.39
the aionios, the gospel
that began that has no end
00:27:11.43\00:27:15.23
until all of its
components are complete,
00:27:15.26\00:27:18.40
"having the everlasting
gospel, to preach to those
00:27:18.43\00:27:21.67
who dwell on the earth," to who?
00:27:21.70\00:27:23.61
"To every nation,
every tribe, every tongue,
00:27:23.64\00:27:26.24
every people saying
with a," what kind of voice?
00:27:26.27\00:27:29.94
"Loud voice." What is he saying?
00:27:29.98\00:27:33.28
"Fear God and give
glory to Him, for the hour
00:27:33.31\00:27:36.48
of His judgment is
come and worship Him
00:27:36.52\00:27:40.46
who made heaven and earth,
00:27:40.49\00:27:42.09
the sea and the springs
of waters or the fountains
00:27:42.12\00:27:44.49
of waters," as the
King James Version says.
00:27:44.53\00:27:47.60
"And then
another angel," verse 8,
00:27:47.63\00:27:49.53
"followed, saying,
'Babylon is fallen, is fallen."
00:27:49.56\00:27:54.24
Babylon is already
fallen in the eyes of God,
00:27:54.27\00:27:56.57
soon Babylon will be
fallen in the eyes of humanity.
00:27:56.60\00:28:00.71
How does the
Bible describe Babylon?
00:28:00.74\00:28:02.34
That great city,
00:28:02.38\00:28:03.71
the city of
antiquity that is now
00:28:03.75\00:28:05.51
a symbolic organization,
a symbolic coalition,
00:28:05.55\00:28:09.48
standing building
its tower based on works,
00:28:09.52\00:28:12.75
trying to succumb,
trying not to succumb
00:28:12.79\00:28:15.39
to the final
movement of the gospel.
00:28:15.42\00:28:16.96
But here's the good news.
00:28:16.99\00:28:18.33
When we proclaim
the gospel, Jesus says,
00:28:18.36\00:28:20.53
the gates of
hell cannot withstand,
00:28:20.56\00:28:22.53
it cannot prevail against it.
00:28:22.56\00:28:24.27
So keep on standing
firm, and what is that message?
00:28:24.30\00:28:27.54
Why is that city
great? Why is it coming down?
00:28:27.57\00:28:30.24
Because she made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath
00:28:30.27\00:28:33.88
of her fornication.
00:28:33.91\00:28:35.24
"Then a third angel,
follow them," in verse 9
00:28:35.28\00:28:36.91
of Revelation 14,
00:28:36.95\00:28:38.48
saying with a
what kind of voice?
00:28:38.51\00:28:39.85
"Loud voice, 'If anyone worships
00:28:39.88\00:28:42.88
the beast and his image,
00:28:42.92\00:28:44.65
and receives his mark on
his forehead or on his hand,
00:28:44.69\00:28:48.22
he himself shall
also drink of the wine
00:28:48.26\00:28:50.29
of the wrath of
God which is poured out
00:28:50.33\00:28:52.66
full strength into the
cup of his indignation.
00:28:52.69\00:28:57.63
He shall be tormented with fire
00:28:57.67\00:28:59.43
and brimstone in the
presence of the holy angels,
00:28:59.47\00:29:02.87
and in the
presence of the Lamb."
00:29:02.90\00:29:05.34
But this is the part
that ties into the rest aspect
00:29:05.37\00:29:08.38
of our lesson.
00:29:08.41\00:29:09.74
In verse 11,
00:29:09.78\00:29:11.11
"And the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever,
00:29:11.15\00:29:15.82
and they have no
rest day or night,
00:29:15.85\00:29:18.25
who worship the
beast and his image,
00:29:18.29\00:29:20.22
and whoever receives
the mark of his name.
00:29:20.26\00:29:23.09
Here is the
patience of the saints,
00:29:23.12\00:29:26.36
here are they who
keep the commandments
00:29:26.39\00:29:28.60
of God and the what?
00:29:28.63\00:29:30.07
Faith of Jesus.
00:29:30.10\00:29:31.53
Now let me qualify
something very carefully.
00:29:31.57\00:29:33.23
When the Bible
says forever and ever,
00:29:33.27\00:29:35.10
that is as long as
sinful humanity exists,
00:29:35.14\00:29:39.31
but sinful humanity
cannot exist forever and ever,
00:29:39.34\00:29:42.88
because the Bible says
the wages of sin is death,
00:29:42.91\00:29:45.71
but the gift of
God is eternal life
00:29:45.75\00:29:47.28
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
00:29:47.32\00:29:48.98
So when it talks about
the smoke of their torment
00:29:49.02\00:29:50.89
ascending up forever and ever.
00:29:50.92\00:29:52.45
As long as there is something
to burn that smoke will ascend,
00:29:52.49\00:29:56.49
but Malachi says one day
00:29:56.52\00:29:57.86
we will trample on the wicked
because they will be ashes unto
00:29:57.89\00:30:02.83
the soles of our feet on the day
00:30:02.86\00:30:04.63
that the Lord does this.
00:30:04.67\00:30:06.00
So, don't think that
the wicked have anything
00:30:06.03\00:30:08.07
eternal because
here's the Bible.
00:30:08.10\00:30:10.37
He who has the Son
has life. That's right.
00:30:10.41\00:30:13.44
He who does not have
the Son does not have life.
00:30:13.48\00:30:15.84
The wicked don't have the Son,
00:30:15.88\00:30:17.78
therefore they cannot have life.
00:30:17.81\00:30:20.25
When the Bible talks
about marching orders,
00:30:20.28\00:30:21.78
to whom are the
marching orders given?
00:30:21.82\00:30:23.42
Go to Revelation 12:17.
00:30:23.45\00:30:25.95
Go there with me quickly,
to whom are the marching
00:30:25.99\00:30:29.26
orders given?
00:30:29.29\00:30:30.63
Well, the marching
orders are given to those that
00:30:30.66\00:30:33.06
the devil are upset about.
00:30:33.09\00:30:34.43
That's right.
00:30:34.46\00:30:35.80
He wouldn't be
upset about anybody
00:30:35.83\00:30:37.63
who did not have
some kind of antidote
00:30:37.67\00:30:40.60
against his deception.
00:30:40.64\00:30:42.30
And I love the fact that
00:30:42.34\00:30:43.67
the Bible gives
this picture, Ryan.
00:30:43.71\00:30:45.11
You see the woman in Revelation
and the woman in Genesis.
00:30:45.14\00:30:48.41
In Genesis,
00:30:48.44\00:30:49.78
the devil was able to seduce her
00:30:49.81\00:30:51.15
by his beguilement,
00:30:51.18\00:30:52.51
he was able to
lead her into deception.
00:30:52.55\00:30:54.95
But this woman
has a new husband now.
00:30:54.98\00:30:57.49
And when he comes to her
to discuss a relationship,
00:30:57.52\00:31:01.26
she says, oh, wait a
minute, not this time.
00:31:01.29\00:31:03.19
Not this time.
00:31:03.22\00:31:04.56
And so, because
she turns him down.
00:31:04.59\00:31:07.66
The Bible says, and
the dragon is in rage,
00:31:07.70\00:31:10.93
or dragon is expressing
his wrath against the woman.
00:31:10.97\00:31:15.30
And he went to make war
with the rest of her offspring,
00:31:15.34\00:31:18.01
who are they?
00:31:18.04\00:31:19.37
Who keep the
commandments of God and have
00:31:19.41\00:31:20.74
the testimony of Jesus Christ?
00:31:20.78\00:31:22.11
So, why is he upset?
00:31:22.14\00:31:24.61
My brethren, the
three angels' messages
00:31:24.65\00:31:28.18
is a proclamation revealing
Satan's final movements.
00:31:28.22\00:31:32.55
And the devil is upset
00:31:32.59\00:31:33.96
with those who are proclaiming
this everlasting gospel,
00:31:33.99\00:31:37.46
who are proclaiming the
marching orders of heaven,
00:31:37.49\00:31:40.63
who are proclaiming a
message that will not fail,
00:31:40.66\00:31:44.13
but that will result
in the rescue of millions.
00:31:44.17\00:31:49.47
How do I know that?
00:31:49.50\00:31:50.84
You see the first
and the third message
00:31:50.87\00:31:52.57
will proclaim with a loud voice?
00:31:52.61\00:31:55.34
When does the second
message elevate to a loud voice?
00:31:55.38\00:32:00.25
Revelation
Chapter 18. Here it is.
00:32:00.28\00:32:02.72
When does it
elevate to a loud voice,
00:32:02.75\00:32:05.42
to a fever pitch.
00:32:05.45\00:32:07.19
The Bible says
in Revelation 18:4.
00:32:07.22\00:32:13.16
And I heard
another voice from heaven.
00:32:13.19\00:32:16.93
And by the way,
let's go to verse 2.
00:32:16.97\00:32:20.57
"And he cried mightily
with a loud voice saying,
00:32:20.60\00:32:23.64
'Babylon the great
is fallen, is fallen,'
00:32:23.67\00:32:26.57
and has become the
habitation of demons,
00:32:26.61\00:32:28.98
and a prison for
every foul spirit,
00:32:29.01\00:32:31.21
and the cage for every
unclean and hated bird.'"
00:32:31.25\00:32:34.68
And here's why
it has to increase.
00:32:34.72\00:32:36.82
You see, from the
time that the systems
00:32:36.85\00:32:39.35
of Babylon
began to be developed,
00:32:39.39\00:32:41.39
all the movements that claim
to have an allegiance to God's
00:32:41.42\00:32:45.29
Word, but decides to
turn away from the Word
00:32:45.33\00:32:47.76
of God to
tradition, from the Word of God
00:32:47.80\00:32:50.40
to the commandments of men,
00:32:50.43\00:32:51.83
from the day of
God to the day of man,
00:32:51.87\00:32:54.14
from the truth of God's Word
00:32:54.17\00:32:55.50
to the error of humanity,
00:32:55.54\00:32:57.31
to those things that are solid,
to those things that are shaky
00:32:57.34\00:33:00.98
and cause people to
have teachers that having,
00:33:01.01\00:33:03.51
have itching ears.
00:33:03.55\00:33:04.88
And we're living in a
day and age where religion
00:33:04.91\00:33:07.02
has been so
diluted, that God is saying,
00:33:07.05\00:33:10.19
when you proclaim
this final message,
00:33:10.22\00:33:12.65
please proclaim
it with a loud voice.
00:33:12.69\00:33:15.52
Why is he doing that?
00:33:15.56\00:33:16.96
And here's the assurance.
00:33:16.99\00:33:19.03
I'm gonna go back to Matthew 24.
00:33:19.06\00:33:20.63
Here's the assurance that
00:33:20.66\00:33:22.00
the marching
orders will not fail.
00:33:22.03\00:33:24.00
Matthew 24:14,
00:33:24.03\00:33:26.47
"And this gospel of the kingdom
00:33:26.50\00:33:29.87
will be
preached in all the world
00:33:29.90\00:33:32.14
as a witness to all nations,
and then the end will come."
00:33:32.17\00:33:36.41
Why is the Lord proclaiming
this message so vehemently?
00:33:36.44\00:33:40.58
Why is He so
concerned about every nation,
00:33:40.62\00:33:42.75
every kindred, every
tongue, every people?
00:33:42.78\00:33:45.49
Here's the reason why.
00:33:45.52\00:33:46.89
There are sincere Christians
in every walk of life,
00:33:46.92\00:33:50.03
and many of them have not
heard the everlasting gospel.
00:33:50.06\00:33:52.89
Many preachers are
not even proclaiming
00:33:52.93\00:33:55.13
the three angels' messages.
00:33:55.16\00:33:56.70
But the Lord says in
John 10:16, wait a minute,
00:33:56.73\00:34:00.14
how can they come out
unless somebody calls them out?
00:34:00.17\00:34:03.61
John 10:16, "And
other sheep I have,
00:34:03.64\00:34:06.91
which are not of this
fold, them also I must bring in,
00:34:06.94\00:34:10.15
they will hear My voice."
00:34:10.18\00:34:11.91
How?
00:34:11.95\00:34:13.28
Because it's going to be
proclaimed with a loud voice.
00:34:13.31\00:34:15.28
"And they will be one
fold and one shepherd."
00:34:15.32\00:34:17.92
And in that day,
Isaiah 2:3 says this,
00:34:17.95\00:34:21.22
"Many people shall come and say,
00:34:21.26\00:34:23.79
'Come, and let us go up
to the mountain of the Lord,
00:34:23.83\00:34:27.96
to the house of
the God of Jacob,
00:34:28.00\00:34:29.76
He will teach us His ways,
00:34:29.80\00:34:32.43
and we shall walk in his paths.
00:34:32.47\00:34:35.70
For out of Zion
shall go forth the law,
00:34:35.74\00:34:39.04
and the word of the
Lord from Jerusalem.'"
00:34:39.07\00:34:41.54
But how's that going to happen?
00:34:41.58\00:34:42.94
Isaiah 60, "Arise and
shine, for your light has come,
00:34:42.98\00:34:46.45
and the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you.
00:34:46.48\00:34:48.88
So here's the key.
00:34:48.92\00:34:50.25
If you proclaim the gospel,
00:34:50.29\00:34:51.85
you will be a
soldier marching forward
00:34:51.89\00:34:53.72
and the glory of God
will be seen in your life.
00:34:53.76\00:34:57.39
Hallelujah.
00:34:57.43\00:34:58.76
Oh, you guys are on fire altar.
00:34:58.79\00:35:00.96
And my lesson is
Wednesday's Rest in Peace.
00:35:01.00\00:35:04.07
You know, for centuries,
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.03
we have been
awaiting Christ's return.
00:35:06.07\00:35:10.11
And it won't be long
00:35:10.14\00:35:12.21
I believe before He fulfills
00:35:12.24\00:35:15.58
His promise of John 5:28-29.
00:35:15.61\00:35:19.21
Let's begin there.
00:35:19.25\00:35:20.62
John 5:28-29.
00:35:20.65\00:35:23.42
This is Jesus speaking.
00:35:23.45\00:35:25.05
And he says,
00:35:25.09\00:35:26.42
"Do not marvel at
this, for the hour
00:35:26.45\00:35:29.52
is coming in which all
00:35:29.56\00:35:33.36
who are in their
graves will hear His voice,
00:35:33.40\00:35:39.27
and they will come forth,
00:35:39.30\00:35:42.17
those who have done good,
to the resurrection of life,
00:35:42.20\00:35:46.74
those who have done evil,
00:35:46.78\00:35:49.61
to the
resurrection of condemnation.
00:35:49.64\00:35:52.98
Now, wait a minute,
00:35:53.01\00:35:54.98
where are people
when Jesus returns?
00:35:55.02\00:35:58.42
In the grave. The
dead are in the grave.
00:35:58.45\00:36:00.16
Okay, let's look at this.
00:36:00.19\00:36:01.96
This contradicts the
popular teaching that as soon
00:36:01.99\00:36:05.46
as one dies, they go to heaven,
00:36:05.49\00:36:08.26
and they're up there with Jesus.
00:36:08.30\00:36:10.73
I was taught, your
spirit went to heaven.
00:36:10.77\00:36:14.00
You were up there,
came back with him reunited,
00:36:14.04\00:36:17.37
you went back into the grave.
00:36:17.41\00:36:19.07
It was a convoluted teaching.
00:36:19.11\00:36:20.44
But here's what
I want to tell you.
00:36:20.48\00:36:22.54
That teaching is built upon
00:36:22.58\00:36:26.11
a false premise that
we have immortal soul.
00:36:26.15\00:36:30.12
The Bible says
in 1 Timothy 6:16,
00:36:30.15\00:36:33.36
God alone is immortal.
00:36:33.39\00:36:35.66
It says, "He who
alone has immortality,
00:36:35.69\00:36:40.50
dwelling inapproachable
or unapproachable like.
00:36:40.53\00:36:45.03
God is an infinite being
with no beginning, no end.
00:36:45.07\00:36:48.37
His
self-existence. He is eternal.
00:36:48.40\00:36:51.64
The Bible mentions
man's soul over 1600 times,
00:36:51.67\00:36:56.41
not once,
00:36:56.44\00:36:58.71
is it associated
with immortality.
00:36:58.75\00:37:02.68
Not one scripture in the Bible
00:37:02.72\00:37:05.65
says that man
has an immortal soul.
00:37:05.69\00:37:08.52
As a matter of fact, you know,
00:37:08.56\00:37:09.99
when Bible believers,
those who have faith in Christ,
00:37:10.03\00:37:14.20
you know, when we
put on immortality?
00:37:14.23\00:37:17.13
At the last trump. That's right.
00:37:17.17\00:37:18.77
When Jesus returns
00:37:18.80\00:37:20.20
and let me prove that,
1 Corinthians 15:51-55,
00:37:20.24\00:37:24.54
Paul is speaking to Christians.
00:37:24.57\00:37:26.57
He says, "Behold, I
tell you a mystery."
00:37:26.61\00:37:28.88
That's right.
00:37:28.91\00:37:30.25
"We shall not all sleep,"
00:37:30.28\00:37:31.61
that is a Bible
metaphor for death,
00:37:31.65\00:37:33.68
"but we shall all be changed
in the moment in the twinkling
00:37:33.72\00:37:36.25
of an eye, at the last trumpet,"
00:37:36.28\00:37:39.49
that's when we're changed,
"for the trumpet will sound
00:37:39.52\00:37:42.42
and the dead will
be raised incorruptible
00:37:42.46\00:37:46.49
and we shall
change, for this corruption
00:37:46.53\00:37:49.66
must put on incorruption."
00:37:49.70\00:37:51.87
Now, by the way, he is
speaking only to Christians,
00:37:51.90\00:37:56.50
the ones who are going to
raise and put on immortality,
00:37:56.54\00:37:59.64
the only ones that are given.
00:37:59.67\00:38:01.61
God so loved the world,
00:38:01.64\00:38:02.98
He gave His only begotten Son
that whosoever believed in Him
00:38:03.01\00:38:06.75
would not perish, but
have everlasting life.
00:38:06.78\00:38:10.25
So this is that first
00:38:10.29\00:38:11.62
resurrection of the righteous
that Jesus was talking about.
00:38:11.65\00:38:15.26
And Paul says in verse 53,
00:38:15.29\00:38:17.33
"This corruptible
must put on incorruption,
00:38:17.36\00:38:19.59
this mortal must
put on immortality.
00:38:19.63\00:38:22.46
So when this has happened,
00:38:22.50\00:38:24.77
and this mortal
has put on immortality,
00:38:24.80\00:38:27.70
then shall be brought to
pass the saying that is written:
00:38:27.74\00:38:30.91
'Death is
swallowed up in victory.
00:38:30.94\00:38:33.71
O death, where is your sting?
00:38:33.74\00:38:37.01
Hades, where is your victory?'"
00:38:37.05\00:38:41.35
God who alone is immortal
00:38:41.38\00:38:43.99
is going to
grant us immortal life.
00:38:44.02\00:38:46.89
The saved will
put on immortality
00:38:46.92\00:38:50.09
at the last trumpet.
00:38:50.13\00:38:51.59
Now, Jesus compares someone
00:38:51.63\00:38:56.46
the person's
condition between death
00:38:56.50\00:39:00.84
and resurrection to
an unconscious sleep.
00:39:00.87\00:39:04.17
Let's look at
that John 11:11-14.
00:39:04.21\00:39:07.71
John 11:11,
00:39:07.74\00:39:11.15
"Then after these
things, He, Jesus said,
00:39:11.18\00:39:14.32
and after that, He said to them,
00:39:14.35\00:39:17.82
'Our friend Lazarus sleeps,
00:39:17.85\00:39:21.89
but I go that I
may wake him up.'
00:39:21.92\00:39:24.39
And then His
disciples said, 'Oh, Lord,
00:39:24.43\00:39:26.70
if he sleeps he'll get well.'
00:39:26.73\00:39:29.06
However, Jesus
spoke of his death,
00:39:29.10\00:39:32.93
but they thought
that he was speaking about
00:39:32.97\00:39:34.77
taking rest in sleep.
00:39:34.80\00:39:37.31
Then Jesus said to them plainly,
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.01
'Lazarus is dead.'"
00:39:39.04\00:39:40.38
See, in both the Old Testament
00:39:40.41\00:39:42.44
and the New
Testament, it refers to death
00:39:42.48\00:39:47.22
as a sleep.
00:39:47.25\00:39:48.72
In fact, the word in
the Greek can be translated
00:39:48.75\00:39:51.99
as ordinary sleep, asleep,
00:39:52.02\00:39:54.72
sleep, die or to be dead.
00:39:54.76\00:39:58.03
But throughout
the Bible like David,
00:39:58.06\00:40:01.00
what does it talk
about David in the other
00:40:01.03\00:40:03.26
Old Testament
kings, they are sleeping
00:40:03.30\00:40:05.93
with their fathers.
00:40:05.97\00:40:07.30
When Stephen was
martyred and stoned to death,
00:40:07.34\00:40:10.41
Luke wrote, he fell asleep.
00:40:10.44\00:40:13.48
So it's interesting.
00:40:13.51\00:40:16.18
You see, you go
to old graves yards
00:40:16.21\00:40:19.35
and you see RIP, rest in peace.
00:40:19.38\00:40:23.42
You know, for a Christian,
00:40:23.45\00:40:26.42
when a Christian dies,
00:40:26.45\00:40:29.69
they sleep in Jesus,
00:40:29.72\00:40:32.59
the very next
conscious moment that they have.
00:40:32.63\00:40:36.33
There's no real
passing of time for them.
00:40:36.36\00:40:38.73
They're asleep.
00:40:38.77\00:40:40.10
And the next thing they
know they hear Jesus' voice
00:40:40.14\00:40:42.34
and they come up out of
the grave to see His face.
00:40:42.37\00:40:46.84
What does the Bible
say happens when we die?
00:40:46.88\00:40:49.91
Just, I'm gonna go
through this real quickly,
00:40:49.94\00:40:52.25
so you can write
down the reference.
00:40:52.28\00:40:54.15
Okay. Ecclesiastes 9:5.
00:40:54.18\00:40:56.95
Ecclesiastes 9:5 says,
00:40:56.99\00:40:59.55
"The dead know nothing."
00:40:59.59\00:41:02.02
Like a sleep, the
dead are unconscious.
00:41:02.06\00:41:05.53
That's right. Ecclesiastes 9:10.
00:41:05.56\00:41:08.53
Like sleep they are resting.
00:41:08.56\00:41:10.20
It says, "There is no
work or device or knowledge
00:41:10.23\00:41:12.53
of wisdom in the
grave where you're going.
00:41:12.57\00:41:14.90
Psalm 146:4 says,
00:41:14.94\00:41:17.34
"Like sleep, there's
no conscious thought.
00:41:17.37\00:41:20.88
You lie
unconscious in the grave.
00:41:20.91\00:41:22.51
He said, his spirit departs,
he returns to the earth.
00:41:22.54\00:41:25.81
That very day his plans perish."
00:41:25.85\00:41:27.62
Psalm 115:17 said,
00:41:27.65\00:41:29.88
"The dead do
not praise the Lord.
00:41:29.92\00:41:32.82
Job 14:12 says,
00:41:32.85\00:41:35.09
"That you sleep till
you are awaken, he said,
00:41:35.12\00:41:37.53
so man lies down
00:41:37.56\00:41:39.26
and does not rise till
the heavens are no more."
00:41:39.29\00:41:44.77
They will not awake nor
be aroused from their sleep.
00:41:44.80\00:41:48.17
Not till that last trumpet.
00:41:48.20\00:41:49.90
And then Daniel 12:1-2,
00:41:49.94\00:41:52.07
this is during the
prophesied time of trouble,
00:41:52.11\00:41:55.01
just before Christ's return.
00:41:55.04\00:41:56.78
And at Christ's
return, Daniel says,
00:41:56.81\00:41:59.68
"At that time, your
people shall be delivered,
00:41:59.71\00:42:02.12
everyone who is
found written in the book,
00:42:02.15\00:42:04.99
this is the book of life.
00:42:05.02\00:42:06.89
And he says, 'Many of
those who sleep in the dust
00:42:06.92\00:42:11.29
of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life,
00:42:11.33\00:42:16.03
just like Jesus
said, they'll come forward,
00:42:16.06\00:42:18.83
those who are
righteous to everlasting life."
00:42:18.87\00:42:21.40
And then Daniel
said, "Some to shame
00:42:21.44\00:42:23.94
and everlasting contempt."
00:42:23.97\00:42:25.81
Isn't that what Jesus
just said in John 5:28-29.
00:42:25.84\00:42:29.91
So death is a sleep from
which there will be a wakening.
00:42:29.94\00:42:35.88
But I've got to read this.
00:42:35.92\00:42:37.95
Christ's second coming
is the culmination of all
00:42:37.99\00:42:41.52
of our hopes, is it not?
00:42:41.56\00:42:43.66
And it's not just
ours, but it's for the hope
00:42:43.69\00:42:47.60
of all who have died in the Lord
00:42:47.63\00:42:50.07
since centuries passed.
00:42:50.10\00:42:51.43
Let's look at Hebrews 11:13-16.
00:42:51.47\00:42:56.24
Hebrews 11:13. And it says,
00:42:56.27\00:42:59.31
These speaking of
Abel, and Enoch, and Noah,
00:42:59.34\00:43:02.41
and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
00:43:02.44\00:43:03.78
and Sarah,
they've just gone through.
00:43:03.81\00:43:06.41
It said, "These
all died in faith
00:43:06.45\00:43:08.08
not having
received the promises."
00:43:08.12\00:43:10.59
Did you get that?
00:43:10.62\00:43:11.95
"They died in faith,
00:43:11.99\00:43:13.32
but they haven't
received the promise,
00:43:13.36\00:43:14.69
but having seen them afar off,
00:43:14.72\00:43:17.03
they were assured
of them, embraced them,
00:43:17.06\00:43:19.69
and confessed that
they were strangers
00:43:19.73\00:43:21.36
and pilgrims on the earth.
00:43:21.40\00:43:23.26
For those who say such things
00:43:23.30\00:43:24.83
declare plainly that
they seek a homeland.
00:43:24.87\00:43:28.54
And truly,
00:43:28.57\00:43:30.11
if they had called
to mind that country
00:43:30.14\00:43:32.74
from which they'd come out,
00:43:32.77\00:43:34.18
they would have had
opportunity to return.
00:43:34.21\00:43:36.11
But they desired a better place,
00:43:36.14\00:43:39.61
that is, a heavenly country.
00:43:39.65\00:43:41.42
Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God,
00:43:41.45\00:43:43.69
for He has
prepared a city for them."
00:43:43.72\00:43:45.49
Their faith was approved by God,
00:43:45.52\00:43:48.36
they became
heirs of righteousness.
00:43:48.39\00:43:50.83
Hebrews 11 even says,
00:43:50.86\00:43:52.79
Noah was an heir
of righteousness,
00:43:52.83\00:43:55.83
their faith was patient,
00:43:55.86\00:43:57.73
and they
endured great hardships,
00:43:57.77\00:44:00.40
because they believe
00:44:00.44\00:44:02.24
God's promise of a better
life in a heavenly Jerusalem.
00:44:02.27\00:44:06.27
And it says that they've not yet
00:44:06.31\00:44:08.74
received that
gift of eternal life.
00:44:08.78\00:44:11.28
They're looking for that
city that's got to come down
00:44:11.31\00:44:13.72
from heaven, the
one where Jesus said,
00:44:13.75\00:44:15.52
I've gone to
prepare a place for you,
00:44:15.55\00:44:18.79
but they're not going to
get there ahead of anybody else.
00:44:18.82\00:44:21.56
We're not going to
get there ahead of them.
00:44:21.59\00:44:23.29
Listen to this.
00:44:23.32\00:44:24.66
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
00:44:24.69\00:44:27.93
Paul says, "I do not
want you to be ignorant,
00:44:27.96\00:44:30.50
brethren, concerning
those who have fallen asleep,
00:44:30.53\00:44:33.37
lest you sorrow as others
00:44:33.40\00:44:35.04
who have no hope,
00:44:35.07\00:44:36.40
for if we
believe that Jesus died
00:44:36.44\00:44:37.77
and rose again,
even so God will bring
00:44:37.81\00:44:40.74
with Him those
who sleep in Jesus.
00:44:40.78\00:44:43.98
For this we say to you
by the word of the Lord,
00:44:44.01\00:44:46.78
that we who are alive
00:44:46.82\00:44:48.15
and remained until
the coming of the Lord
00:44:48.18\00:44:51.12
will by no means
precede those who are asleep."
00:44:51.15\00:44:56.89
We don't see Him
before they get raised up.
00:44:56.93\00:44:59.16
Listen, "For the Lord
Himself will descend from heaven
00:44:59.19\00:45:01.70
with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel,
00:45:01.73\00:45:04.00
with a trumpet of God
00:45:04.03\00:45:05.37
and the dead in
Christ will rise first.
00:45:05.40\00:45:07.20
Then we who are alive
00:45:07.24\00:45:08.77
and remain shall
be caught up to gather
00:45:08.80\00:45:11.81
with Him in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air,
00:45:11.84\00:45:15.01
and thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
00:45:15.04\00:45:19.15
Therefore, comfort one
another with these words."
00:45:19.18\00:45:21.52
Amen. Amen.
00:45:21.55\00:45:24.09
Wow. Praise the Lord.
00:45:24.12\00:45:25.89
I was enjoying every
one of these presentations,
00:45:25.92\00:45:28.86
praise God.
00:45:28.89\00:45:30.23
And I want to invite
you to now go to Thursday,
00:45:30.26\00:45:34.76
we are covering
Rejoice in the Lord Always.
00:45:34.80\00:45:38.80
A little change of tune from
what's been discussed so far,
00:45:38.83\00:45:41.67
but let's
00:45:41.70\00:45:43.04
go into James 1:2-4.
00:45:43.07\00:45:47.81
Notice what the
Bible says, "My brethren,
00:45:47.84\00:45:51.38
count it all joy when
you fall into various trials,
00:45:51.41\00:45:56.28
knowing that the
testing of your faith
00:45:56.32\00:45:58.32
produces patience.
00:45:58.35\00:46:00.02
But let patience
have its perfect work,
00:46:00.06\00:46:02.46
that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing."
00:46:02.49\00:46:06.19
We are in a great controversy
between good and evil.
00:46:06.23\00:46:10.80
And as we are living
every single day of our lives,
00:46:10.83\00:46:15.00
trials and
difficulties will come our way.
00:46:15.04\00:46:18.71
But remember that the quarterly
00:46:18.74\00:46:23.35
is entitled Rest in Christ.
00:46:23.38\00:46:26.85
Yeah.
00:46:26.88\00:46:28.22
So as we face
these difficulties,
00:46:28.25\00:46:30.05
we should remember
that we have rest in Christ.
00:46:30.09\00:46:33.52
He can help us get
through the worst of situations,
00:46:33.56\00:46:38.09
the worst of problems.
00:46:38.13\00:46:39.89
So that's why the Thursday's
00:46:39.93\00:46:42.60
lesson focuses on
00:46:42.63\00:46:44.37
Philippians 4:4-7.
00:46:44.40\00:46:48.70
Listen to verse 4.
00:46:48.74\00:46:52.57
"Rejoice in the Lord always.
And again, I will say rejoice!"
00:46:52.61\00:46:58.25
This is Paul who said
00:46:58.28\00:46:59.61
I have learned
in whatsoever state
00:46:59.65\00:47:01.98
I am here,
therefore to be content.
00:47:02.02\00:47:04.45
That's right.
00:47:04.49\00:47:05.82
Paul faced a difficult life.
00:47:05.85\00:47:07.52
He knew what it was
to be persecuted himself.
00:47:07.56\00:47:11.19
He was a persecutor.
00:47:11.23\00:47:12.56
He persecuted himself,
also beaten several times,
00:47:12.59\00:47:16.00
but he learned to
rejoice in the Lord always.
00:47:16.03\00:47:19.47
Now this, this word rejoice
00:47:19.50\00:47:22.60
is not the first time
it shows up in Philippians.
00:47:22.64\00:47:25.24
It was already presented
00:47:25.27\00:47:27.74
rejoice in the Lord in 3:1.
00:47:27.78\00:47:31.98
But how do we rejoice in
the Lord always is knowing
00:47:32.01\00:47:37.25
what Jesus said in John 16:33.
00:47:37.29\00:47:41.62
What did Jesus
say in John 16:33?
00:47:41.66\00:47:44.53
He spoke about
things that were happening,
00:47:44.56\00:47:46.43
that were going to happen.
00:47:46.46\00:47:47.80
He said, "These things
00:47:47.83\00:47:49.20
I have spoken to you
that in me you may have peace.
00:47:49.23\00:47:54.40
In the world, you
will have tribulation,
00:47:54.44\00:47:57.84
but be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world."
00:47:57.87\00:48:01.61
So as we go
through difficulties,
00:48:01.64\00:48:03.35
know that this is
not our final home.
00:48:03.38\00:48:08.18
Jesus has
promised a better home.
00:48:08.22\00:48:10.19
That's what He said.
00:48:10.22\00:48:13.59
Let not your heart be troubled.
00:48:13.62\00:48:15.66
You believe in
God, believe also in Me.
00:48:15.69\00:48:17.56
In my Father's
house are many mansions.
00:48:17.59\00:48:20.50
If it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:48:20.53\00:48:21.96
I go to prepare
a place for you."
00:48:22.00\00:48:24.43
Jesus has gone to
prepare a place for us.
00:48:24.47\00:48:28.07
And he says that
when I come again,
00:48:28.10\00:48:30.24
I will receive you to myself
00:48:30.27\00:48:32.44
that where I am
there you may be also,
00:48:32.47\00:48:35.91
talking about the rest
that He wants to give us.
00:48:35.94\00:48:39.98
We're not done with
Philippians Chapter 4.
00:48:40.02\00:48:42.15
Let's go to verse 5.
00:48:42.18\00:48:43.65
It says, "Let your
gentleness be known to all men,
00:48:43.69\00:48:46.49
the Lord is at hand."
00:48:46.52\00:48:48.36
Here again, we see a reference
00:48:48.39\00:48:51.19
to the coming of Christ
00:48:51.23\00:48:52.76
because you know
Christ is coming.
00:48:52.79\00:48:54.96
Don't worry,
don't be overstressed
00:48:55.00\00:48:56.77
about things that you're
going to be facing because all,
00:48:56.80\00:49:00.64
these things must happen.
00:49:00.67\00:49:02.87
But be of good cheer, I
have overcome the world,
00:49:02.90\00:49:05.51
rest in Christ.
00:49:05.54\00:49:06.88
It says, "Be
anxious for nothing,
00:49:06.91\00:49:09.21
but in everything by
prayer and supplication,
00:49:09.24\00:49:11.85
with
thanksgiving let your request
00:49:11.88\00:49:13.72
be made known to God."
00:49:13.75\00:49:15.58
So this part be anxious
for nothing doesn't mean oh,
00:49:15.62\00:49:18.42
whatever, you know,
00:49:18.45\00:49:19.79
that I'm just going
to be a couch potato,
00:49:19.82\00:49:21.89
won't worry about anything.
00:49:21.92\00:49:23.46
No, it's talking about,
00:49:23.49\00:49:25.06
don't let things stress you out,
00:49:25.09\00:49:26.63
don't worry, be overly
concerned about things.
00:49:26.66\00:49:30.47
God is in control.
00:49:30.50\00:49:33.13
But notice that
it says by prayer,
00:49:33.17\00:49:34.84
but in everything by
prayer and supplication,
00:49:34.87\00:49:37.51
two terms here used,
prayer for general things,
00:49:37.54\00:49:42.64
supplications, when
you have a great need,
00:49:42.68\00:49:45.31
present this need to the Lord.
00:49:45.35\00:49:47.08
It shows more of an urgency
when you have a great need.
00:49:47.12\00:49:51.05
But it says, "You present
00:49:51.09\00:49:52.52
these things with thanksgiving."
00:49:52.55\00:49:55.06
And we all have
something to be thankful for.
00:49:55.09\00:49:59.33
We have the blessed hope.
00:49:59.36\00:50:00.70
It says, "Let your
request be made known to God."
00:50:00.73\00:50:03.10
Why would you make your
request be known to God?
00:50:03.13\00:50:04.97
Because He says,
"Ask that you may receive.
00:50:05.00\00:50:08.20
Ask that your joy may be full."
00:50:08.24\00:50:10.81
Let's go to verse 7.
00:50:10.84\00:50:13.98
Notice it says, it
says this, beautiful,
00:50:14.01\00:50:18.05
"And the peace of God,
00:50:18.08\00:50:20.98
which surpasses
all understanding,
00:50:21.02\00:50:24.12
will guard your hearts
00:50:24.15\00:50:26.05
and minds through Christ Jesus."
00:50:26.09\00:50:30.23
As we face this world,
00:50:30.26\00:50:32.39
we have the
assurance that Jesus gave us,
00:50:32.43\00:50:35.70
I will be with you always,
even to the end of the world.
00:50:35.73\00:50:39.90
Rest in Christ,
this whole quarterly,
00:50:39.93\00:50:43.84
this whole, every single lesson
has been about rest in Christ.
00:50:43.87\00:50:48.28
And we must find that
whatever our situation is,
00:50:48.31\00:50:51.55
we can rest in Christ.
00:50:51.58\00:50:53.58
We're going to
face difficult times.
00:50:53.62\00:50:54.95
There may be times of sorrow,
00:50:54.98\00:50:56.35
there may be times of
want, but Christ is with us.
00:50:56.38\00:51:00.46
He has promised to be with
us until the end of the world.
00:51:00.49\00:51:04.33
2 Corinthians 4:17 says,
00:51:04.36\00:51:07.66
"For our light affliction,
00:51:07.70\00:51:10.43
which is but for a
moment is working for us
00:51:10.47\00:51:14.84
a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.
00:51:14.87\00:51:20.21
The things we go
through, if we're in,
00:51:20.24\00:51:22.41
if we place ourselves
in the hands of the Lord,
00:51:22.44\00:51:24.28
the things we go through
will only work for our benefit,
00:51:24.31\00:51:28.22
for our good.
00:51:28.25\00:51:29.58
Romans 8:28,
00:51:29.62\00:51:30.95
"And we know that all things
00:51:30.99\00:51:33.12
work together for
good to them that love God,
00:51:33.15\00:51:36.26
to them that are the called
according to His purpose."
00:51:36.29\00:51:39.69
Before ending,
00:51:39.73\00:51:41.06
I have to go to
Matthew 11:28-30,
00:51:41.10\00:51:44.17
we're talking
about rest in Christ,
00:51:44.20\00:51:46.00
and He offers rest.
00:51:46.03\00:51:48.40
As we end this lesson number 13,
00:51:48.44\00:51:52.41
remember that
Christ offers you rest.
00:51:52.44\00:51:56.58
Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me,
00:51:56.61\00:51:58.91
all you who labor
and are heavy laden,
00:51:58.95\00:52:02.58
and I will give you rest.
00:52:02.62\00:52:04.55
This invitation of
Christ is open to you today.
00:52:04.59\00:52:09.52
He promises
rest, rest in Christ.
00:52:09.56\00:52:12.39
"Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from Me.
00:52:12.43\00:52:17.83
I am gentle and lowly in heart,
00:52:17.87\00:52:20.27
and you will find
rest for your souls."
00:52:20.30\00:52:23.61
Study the life of Christ.
00:52:23.64\00:52:25.64
Notice how He
faced difficulties.
00:52:25.67\00:52:28.28
Notice how He faced
trial and temptation.
00:52:28.31\00:52:31.38
He said, "It is written."
00:52:31.41\00:52:32.91
We can take many
lessons from the life of Christ.
00:52:32.95\00:52:36.62
The Bible says that rising
up a great while before day,
00:52:36.65\00:52:40.86
He went to a
place apart to pray.
00:52:40.89\00:52:43.86
Learn off...
00:52:43.89\00:52:45.99
Learn from Jesus, learn
off of the life of Jesus,
00:52:46.03\00:52:49.13
and He is willing to teach
us individually and personally.
00:52:49.16\00:52:53.17
That's why He makes
the invitation, come to Me.
00:52:53.20\00:52:56.14
This is something
present for us as well.
00:52:56.17\00:52:59.34
Take my yoke upon
you and learn from Me,
00:52:59.37\00:53:00.84
for I am gentle
and lowly in heart,
00:53:00.88\00:53:02.61
and you will find
rest for your souls.
00:53:02.64\00:53:04.41
And you may
remember that Sister Shelley
00:53:04.45\00:53:06.31
made the illustration
00:53:06.35\00:53:07.68
of a giant
elephant compared to a...
00:53:07.72\00:53:10.09
Did you say a
bit ant? Sugary ant.
00:53:10.12\00:53:14.12
Yes, because Jesus
00:53:14.16\00:53:16.66
is all powerful for us
to take His yoke upon us.
00:53:16.69\00:53:22.16
It's like He's
carrying the load,
00:53:22.20\00:53:24.10
but we cooperate with Him.
00:53:24.13\00:53:25.87
It is a cooperation with Christ.
00:53:25.90\00:53:27.97
That happens because
as we have already heard,
00:53:28.00\00:53:31.37
He who has begun a good
work in us will complete it.
00:53:31.41\00:53:34.98
Notice how it
says, "Learn of me,
00:53:35.01\00:53:38.48
for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will..."
00:53:38.51\00:53:42.22
It's not you may,
00:53:42.25\00:53:43.59
you might find
rest for your souls.
00:53:43.62\00:53:44.95
No, "You will find
rest for your souls.
00:53:44.99\00:53:48.12
For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.
00:53:48.16\00:53:52.49
Take the yoke of Christ.
00:53:52.53\00:53:54.60
Learn from Him,
and you will find rest.
00:53:54.63\00:53:57.63
Rest in Christ.
00:53:57.67\00:53:59.10
I hope you have
captured this message.
00:53:59.13\00:54:01.37
And as we have gone through
each one of these 13 lessons
00:54:01.40\00:54:05.07
and the beautiful
message that we have
00:54:05.11\00:54:06.94
heard today from each
one of the participants,
00:54:06.98\00:54:09.94
brings to us the great
joy of the blessed coming
00:54:09.98\00:54:13.62
of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:54:13.65\00:54:15.85
He will soon come
00:54:15.88\00:54:18.15
and we must do
our part to be ready.
00:54:18.19\00:54:21.09
But while that
kind of time comes,
00:54:21.12\00:54:23.43
we have a blessing that
I would like to read to you
00:54:23.46\00:54:26.23
from the book
Desire of Ages, page 331,
00:54:26.26\00:54:30.20
spilling over into page 332.
00:54:30.23\00:54:33.03
Notice, "As through
Jesus we enter into rest,
00:54:33.07\00:54:38.97
heaven begins here.
00:54:39.01\00:54:42.54
We respond to His
invitation, Come, learn of Me,
00:54:42.58\00:54:46.28
and in thus coming we
begin the life eternal.
00:54:46.31\00:54:49.88
Heaven is a ceaseless
00:54:49.92\00:54:51.79
approaching to
God through Christ.
00:54:51.82\00:54:54.82
The longer we are
in the heaven of bliss,
00:54:54.86\00:54:58.13
the more and still more of
glory will be opened to us,
00:54:58.16\00:55:02.36
and the more we know of God,
00:55:02.40\00:55:03.90
the more intense
will be our happiness.
00:55:03.93\00:55:07.97
As we walk with
Jesus in this life,
00:55:08.00\00:55:10.47
we may be filled with His love,
satisfied with His presence.
00:55:10.51\00:55:16.01
All that human nature can
bear, we may receive here."
00:55:16.04\00:55:19.91
Heaven begins on earth,
00:55:19.95\00:55:22.65
begin living in
heaven today with Jesus.
00:55:22.68\00:55:26.35
Amen.
00:55:26.39\00:55:27.72
Thank you all so
much, my heart is full.
00:55:27.76\00:55:29.99
I'm so grateful
for who our God is.
00:55:30.03\00:55:33.63
And the rest that He freely
extends to each one of us.
00:55:33.66\00:55:38.37
Want to give you all one last
00:55:38.40\00:55:39.90
opportunity this quarter
to share a final thought.
00:55:39.93\00:55:42.70
Pastor Ryan? Amen.
00:55:42.74\00:55:44.07
My lesson was all
about the coming of Jesus,
00:55:44.11\00:55:46.07
the soon second coming of Jesus,
00:55:46.11\00:55:47.88
and I referenced 1
Thessalonians Chapter 5.
00:55:47.91\00:55:50.51
I would like to read
verses 4 through 6 here,
00:55:50.55\00:55:52.61
just as a reminder.
00:55:52.65\00:55:53.98
It says, "But you,
brethren, are not in darkness,
00:55:54.02\00:55:55.98
so that this Day,"
00:55:56.02\00:55:57.35
speaking of the
second coming of Jesus,
00:55:57.39\00:55:59.05
"that this Day should
overtake you as a thief.
00:55:59.09\00:56:01.69
You are all sons of the
light and sons of the day.
00:56:01.72\00:56:03.73
You are not of the
night nor of darkness.
00:56:03.76\00:56:06.80
Therefore let us not sleep,
00:56:06.83\00:56:08.76
as others do, but let
us watch and be sober."
00:56:08.80\00:56:12.43
That's right. Thank you, Ryan.
00:56:12.47\00:56:14.10
And the marching
orders are very clearly
00:56:14.14\00:56:16.71
outlined in Isaiah 9:2.
00:56:16.74\00:56:19.04
And the result of
the marching orders
00:56:19.07\00:56:21.74
are here depicted.
00:56:21.78\00:56:23.45
"The people who
walked in darkness
00:56:23.48\00:56:26.11
have seen a great light.
00:56:26.15\00:56:28.22
Those who dwell in the
land of the shadows of death,
00:56:28.25\00:56:31.12
upon them a light has shined."
00:56:31.15\00:56:33.59
Only as you commit
your life to Christ,
00:56:33.62\00:56:35.99
can you receive
the marching orders,
00:56:36.02\00:56:38.06
and allow your
life to be a place
00:56:38.09\00:56:40.03
where the light of God
is continuing to shine.
00:56:40.06\00:56:44.00
You know, we're surrounded
by sorrow and sighing,
00:56:44.03\00:56:46.84
and I've had 12
people in my inner circle
00:56:46.87\00:56:49.34
die within eight months.
00:56:49.37\00:56:52.01
But I don't mourn for them.
00:56:52.04\00:56:53.38
I know they're resting in peace,
00:56:53.41\00:56:55.04
and it'll be a short sleep,
and the next conscious thought,
00:56:55.08\00:56:58.48
they will see Jesus.
00:56:58.51\00:57:00.22
Who we grieve for are
those who are left behind.
00:57:00.25\00:57:03.08
Amen. Amen.
00:57:03.12\00:57:04.55
You know, as we were
preparing for this lesson,
00:57:04.59\00:57:06.62
I was reminded of a song.
00:57:06.65\00:57:08.02
I'm not gonna sing
it, maybe Pastor Ryan
00:57:08.06\00:57:09.96
or Pastor Lomacang will sing it.
00:57:09.99\00:57:11.89
It is soon and very soon,
we are going to see the Lord.
00:57:11.93\00:57:15.96
Soon and very soon, we
are going to see the King.
00:57:16.00\00:57:19.60
Amen. Amen.
00:57:19.63\00:57:20.97
Thank you all so much,
00:57:21.00\00:57:22.34
Pastor Johnny,
Shelley, Pastor John,
00:57:22.37\00:57:23.91
Pastor Ryan, for your
study of the Word of God,
00:57:23.94\00:57:27.44
and for your heart for God
00:57:27.48\00:57:29.14
and for being part
of the 3ABN family.
00:57:29.18\00:57:31.31
Just such a
privilege to study together.
00:57:31.35\00:57:34.02
We thank you for being
a part of the 3ABN family.
00:57:34.05\00:57:37.25
My closing scripture for
you is Romans 10:13, it says,
00:57:37.29\00:57:41.32
"Whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
00:57:41.36\00:57:45.16
How shall they call on
whom they have not believed?
00:57:45.19\00:57:48.03
And how shall they believe
of whom they have not heard?
00:57:48.06\00:57:51.27
And how shall they
hear without a preacher?"
00:57:51.30\00:57:53.44
When you have experienced
Jesus rest for yourself,
00:57:53.47\00:57:57.37
God calls you to go
and tell someone else
00:57:57.41\00:58:00.34
what you have experienced.
00:58:00.38\00:58:01.91
Join us next quarter
00:58:01.94\00:58:03.45
as we begin a brand new quarter,
00:58:03.48\00:58:05.08
Present Truth in Deuteronomy.
00:58:05.11\00:58:07.12