Let's pray. Our loving God, what
a joy and a privilege it is to
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come before Your throne
today to open Your holy book,
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and hear Your voice speaking
to us through the ministration
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of the Holy Spirit.
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We ask that as we study about
the patience of the saints,
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that You will teach us what we
need to learn, for we know that
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soon in this world unbelievable
events are going to take place.
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And we need that unshakable,
and unbreakable faith in order
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to go through this
period successfully.
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So we ask, Lord, for
divine guidance in our study.
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And we thank You for hearing
our prayer, for we ask it in
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Jesus' name, Amen.
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In Revelation 15:2, 3 we find
the description of an end time
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group of saints who have gained
the victory over the beast,
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over his image, over his mark,
and over the number of his name.
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I'd like to read those verses
as we begin our study today.
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Revelation 15:2, 3.
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At this point this group is seen
as having gained the victory
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over the beast,
his image, his mark,
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and the number of his name.
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Of course, the question begs to
be asked, How did this group of
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saints, the living saints when
Jesus comes, how did they gain
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the victory over the
beast, and over his image,
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and over his mark, and
the number of his name?
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How did they
face this incredible
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crisis upon Planet Earth?
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The answer is that they
exercise what the Bible calls
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the patience of the saints.
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Now that expression, patience
of the saints, appears in two
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very important places
in the book of Revelation.
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The first place is in Revelation
13:10, if you'd go with me
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there, Revelation 13:10.
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And, by the way, this
verse comes immediately before
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the passage that speaks about
the final trial over the beast,
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his image, his mark,
and the number of his name.
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In other words, this verse
introduces the final crisis.
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And I want you to
notice what it says.
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And then, beginning in
verse 11, you have a beast
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that rises from the earth.
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It has two horns like a lamb,
but it speaks like a dragon,
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and it becomes a
persecuting power.
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So notice that the patience
of the saints is spoken of
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as a group who have this quality
immediately before the end time
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crisis over the beast,
his image, and his mark.
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The second place in the
book of Revelation where this
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expression, the
patience of the saints, is found
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is in Revelation 14:12.
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Go with me to Revelation 14:12.
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By the way, this is
the conclusion of the
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third angel's message.
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If you go to the
previous verses, verses 9-11,
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you'll notice it talks there
about worshipping the beast,
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his image, receiving his mark,
and the number of his name.
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And immediately after
the third angel's message,
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we find these words:
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So you'll notice that in
Revelation 13:10 the expression,
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patience of the saints, appears
immediately before the end time
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crisis is described.
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Those who go through
this period must have the
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patience of the saints.
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Revelation 14:12, immediately
after speaking about the beast
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and his image, and his mark,
it says that there's a group
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that needs to have the
patience of the saints.
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So, obviously the patience of
the saints refers to an end time
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group who has
this specific quality.
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Now we need to
define some terms.
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First of all we need to
define the word patience.
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And then, of course, we're
going to see who the saints are.
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The word patience,
in the New Testament,
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is the Greek word Hupermone
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There are two words in the
New Testament, two primary words
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that express patience.
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One is translated in the
King James longsuffering.
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That's the word makrothumia.
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That means to suffer long.
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That's not the word that is
used here in these two passages.
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The word that is
used is hupermone.
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And let me tell you
what that word means.
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It means to hang in
there, no matter what the cost,
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to persevere, to endure, to
be steadfast, to be independent
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unyielding, and defiant in the
face of aggressive misfortune.
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In other words, this word is not
simply sitting down and saying,
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Okay, I'll be patient.
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No, this is an active patience.
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This is an
endurance, or a perseverance.
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By the way, it's the same
word that is used in Matthew 24
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where Jesus says, He who endures
until the end will be saved.
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So this is an active patience.
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It's a patience of people
who are unyielding, unbreaking
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in their faith, and
in their trust in God.
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Now the question
is, who are the saints?
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Because this is the
patience of the saints.
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Who are the saints?
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Well, you know, depending
upon which group of Christians
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you're talking to, they
would understand the word saints
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in a different way.
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You know, for some
people the saints are, you know,
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like all of the saints that
are mentioned in California.
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It seems like there's a saint
for every city in California.
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So they think that
these saints are these heroes,
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these wonderful
Christians throughout the period
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of Christian history.
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But in the Bible the
saints represent primarily,
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specifically in Daniel
and Revelation, those who are
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persecuted by the
little horn, by the beast,
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and by the
harlot of Revelation 17.
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In other words, the
saints are not just any group.
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They are the ones
who are persecuted
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by the end time powers.
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I want to read several
statements from Scripture
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so that you can see this.
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Notice Daniel 7:21, 22.
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We're defining the saints.
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The saints are those who
suffered persecution under
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the beast, the little horn,
and who will suffer persecution
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under the harlot;
this apostate church.
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It says there in Daniel 7:21,
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So the saints are
God's persecuted people.
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Notice Revelation 13:7.
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Here it speaks about
the beast, which is the same
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as the little horn.
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This is the way it reads:
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That is to the beast.
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So once again the saints
are those who are persecuted.
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Those who are persecuted by the
little horn, or by the beast.
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Notice Revelation 17:6,
Revelation 17:6. It says:
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This is a harlot woman,
so it's a fallen church.
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There it is again.
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So my question is this: When it
speaks in Revelation about the
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patience of the saints, is this
referring to a group of people
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who need to exercise
patience, because they are
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being persecuted? Yes.
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Within the context of prophecy,
this is a persecuted group.
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Now we know that in Scripture
the saints and the woman
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represent the same thing.
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Let me just mention
how we determine that.
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We just read in
Daniel 7 that the little horn
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persecutes the saints.
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We read that the
beast of Revelation 13
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also persecutes the saints.
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And how long does the little
horn, how long does the beast;
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how long do they
persecute the saints?
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Well, time, times,
and the dividing of time.
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And in Revelation 13 it's
for a period of 1,260 days,
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or a period of 42 months.
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Now the little horn in
other words, and the beast,
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persecute the
saints for 1,260 years.
00:10:07.14\00:10:10.87
But it's interesting to notice
that in Revelation 12 it says
00:10:10.91\00:10:14.94
that the dragon persecutes
the woman for 1,260 days.
00:10:14.98\00:10:20.08
So let me ask you, Are
the saints and the woman
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the same thing? Absolutely,
because the little horn,
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and the beast persecute
the saints, whereas we're told
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also in Revelation 12 that
the dragon persecutes the woman.
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So the saints are the woman,
and the woman represents what?
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the woman represents,
specifically, the church.
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So are you understanding what
we're talking about when we deal
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with the word patience?
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It's dealing with God's
people who are being persecuted
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by the beast, and by the
harlot, and by the little horn.
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And they have to exercise
incredible perseverance,
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incredible, unshakable, and
unbreakable faith in order to
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stand firm, and not worship
the beast, or receive his mark,
00:11:07.03\00:11:10.93
or the number of his name.
00:11:10.97\00:11:13.17
Now I believe that Jesus
told a parable that illustrates
00:11:13.20\00:11:18.57
what is meant by the expression,
the patience of the saints.
00:11:18.61\00:11:22.74
This parable is found in
the gospel of Luke, Luke 18:1-8.
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And I'm going to just read
this parable, and I want you to
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listen carefully, because
we're going to then study
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each verse individually.
00:11:37.96\00:11:39.46
Luke 18:1-8. Here Jesus
is describing this period
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when God's people, the saints,
are going to have to exercise
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this patience of the saints:
this unshakable, unbreakable,
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unyielding faith and
trust in the face of horrendous
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persecution. It says there:
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Then the Lord said, Hear
what the unjust judge said.
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So this is the parable
that I believe is describing
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the phrase, the
patience of the saints.
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Now we're going to
take a look at this parable,
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and we're going to study
it verse by verse to see how
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it applies
especially to the end time.
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Let's begin at verse 1.
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Then he spoke a parable to them
that men always ought to pray,
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, men always ought to pray,
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and not what?
and not lose heart.
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In other words, they should
always pray and they should
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never give up in their prayer
experience in coming to God.
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And then I want
you to notice verse 2.
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Here's the parable: Saying,
There was in a certain city
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a judge, who did not
fear God, nor regard man.
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Now the question
is, What does the judge
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.84
in this parable represent?
00:14:03.91\00:14:05.81
Well, the fact is folks,
that the judge represents God.
00:14:05.84\00:14:11.18
And you say, Now wait a minute,
Pastor Bohr, it says that this
00:14:11.21\00:14:14.95
judge did not
fear God or regard man.
00:14:14.98\00:14:17.59
How can he represent God?
00:14:17.62\00:14:19.19
The way in which this judge
represents God is a comparison
00:14:19.22\00:14:23.46
by way of contrast.
00:14:23.53\00:14:25.39
In other words, they're not
being compared as being equal,
00:14:25.43\00:14:28.86
they're being
compared by contrast.
00:14:28.90\00:14:32.00
And we'll see
this as we study along.
00:14:32.03\00:14:34.14
We're going to notice in the
parable that this widow comes
00:14:34.20\00:14:38.44
to the judge, and she
keeps on coming and coming.
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And the judge, he
delays giving her justice.
00:14:40.64\00:14:43.91
And finally he says, To get
her off my back, I'm going to
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give her what she's asking for.
00:14:46.55\00:14:48.15
And then, of course, we're
going to notice, in the parable,
00:14:48.18\00:14:50.79
that the lesson is if this judge
actually answers the pleas of
00:14:50.85\00:14:55.06
the widow, in order to get
her off his back, how much more
00:14:55.09\00:14:58.93
will God answer our pleas,
not to get us off His back,
00:14:58.96\00:15:02.50
but because He loves us?
00:15:02.53\00:15:03.97
In other words, it's a
comparison by way of contrast.
00:15:04.00\00:15:07.44
They're not equal,
they're not the same.
00:15:07.47\00:15:09.44
God is in some sense the same
as the judge, but in the sense
00:15:09.47\00:15:13.98
of the reason why he
answers, God is different.
00:15:14.01\00:15:17.45
And so there's a
comparison by way of contrast.
00:15:17.48\00:15:21.52
Now notice Luke 18:3.
00:15:21.55\00:15:25.52
So the judge represents God.
00:15:25.55\00:15:27.06
Now let's notice
the widow. It says:
00:15:27.09\00:15:29.22
Now the question is,
What does the widow represent?
00:15:33.03\00:15:36.43
The judge is God, what
does the widow represent?
00:15:36.46\00:15:38.77
Well, what does a woman
symbolize in Bible prophecy?
00:15:38.80\00:15:43.00
A woman represents
the church. That's right.
00:15:43.04\00:15:46.94
But is this a woman under
ordinary circumstances? No.
00:15:46.98\00:15:51.61
She's not a common,
ordinary, married woman.
00:15:51.65\00:15:54.82
This woman is a
what? she's a widow woman.
00:15:54.85\00:15:59.22
In other words she
is totally destitute of
00:15:59.25\00:16:02.19
any earthly support.
00:16:02.22\00:16:03.66
She has lost everything
she has, we're going to notice,
00:16:03.69\00:16:06.93
as we study along.
00:16:06.96\00:16:08.30
In other words this is a
woman; this is the church under
00:16:08.33\00:16:11.03
extraordinary circumstances.
00:16:11.07\00:16:14.50
Now in the book of Revelation
the woman is used as a
00:16:14.54\00:16:19.37
symbol of the church.
00:16:19.41\00:16:20.78
And the woman is
persecuted by the dragon.
00:16:20.81\00:16:24.15
In other words, the
woman is left destitute.
00:16:24.18\00:16:26.85
She has to flee. She
can't take anything with her.
00:16:26.92\00:16:30.29
This is the period that is
being described in this parable.
00:16:30.32\00:16:33.56
It is a woman. It
represents the church.
00:16:33.59\00:16:36.39
But it's not the common ordinary
church, it's the church that has
00:16:36.42\00:16:40.20
lost everything that it
has; all earthly support.
00:16:40.23\00:16:44.23
In other words, this
woman has been cleaned
00:16:44.27\00:16:48.40
out by her adversary.
00:16:48.44\00:16:50.47
And her only hope is
found in the intervention of the
00:16:50.51\00:16:55.31
judge in her behalf.
00:16:55.34\00:16:57.61
Now, according to the parable,
who does the widow represent?
00:16:57.65\00:17:01.72
Well, if you read
the parable it says,
00:17:01.75\00:17:04.85
Will God not avenge His elect?
00:17:04.89\00:17:08.16
As this judge avenged the widow,
so God will avenge His elect.
00:17:08.19\00:17:13.16
So what does
the widow represent?
00:17:13.19\00:17:15.23
She represents the elect of God.
00:17:15.26\00:17:18.10
Another way of looking
at it is, she represents
00:17:18.13\00:17:21.10
the saints of God.
00:17:21.17\00:17:23.14
Now according to most scholars
who have studied this parable,
00:17:23.17\00:17:27.21
they've concluded that probably
this woman's husband had a debt
00:17:27.28\00:17:31.58
with a creditor, and he died,
and he didn't pay his debt.
00:17:31.61\00:17:36.28
And so the creditor was actually
taking everything away from this
00:17:36.32\00:17:40.86
widow to pay for
her husband's debt.
00:17:40.89\00:17:44.03
In other words, this
woman was totally dispossessed.
00:17:44.06\00:17:47.50
She had no children, she
had no home, she had no money,
00:17:47.60\00:17:51.57
she had no friends.
00:17:51.60\00:17:52.93
She was all alone, and
she was forsaken of everyone.
00:17:52.97\00:17:57.11
She had no human support because
her adversary had cleaned
00:17:57.17\00:18:02.21
her out totally and completely.
00:18:02.24\00:18:05.28
Now let's go to
chapter 18 and verse 3,
00:18:05.31\00:18:10.02
the last half of the verse.
00:18:10.05\00:18:11.39
It says there: And she came to
him saying, Get justice for me
00:18:11.42\00:18:18.83
from my adversary.
00:18:18.86\00:18:20.53
Now that verb came, is not
real well translated there.
00:18:20.56\00:18:25.17
It's actually a
continuous tense.
00:18:25.20\00:18:29.50
It's a continual tense.
00:18:29.54\00:18:30.91
It means that she kept coming.
00:18:30.94\00:18:33.11
She continually came.
00:18:33.14\00:18:34.81
In other words, she didn't just
come once and leave it at that.
00:18:34.84\00:18:38.41
She kept on coming,
and coming, and coming.
00:18:38.45\00:18:41.32
Say, How do we know that?
00:18:41.35\00:18:42.68
Well, first of all,
the tense of the Greek verb
00:18:42.72\00:18:44.82
is a continual tense.
00:18:44.85\00:18:46.99
But also, if you notice verse
5, it says a little bit later
00:18:47.06\00:18:51.16
in verse 5, that the judge says,
00:18:51.19\00:18:53.60
So you notice that this
woman didn't only come once,
00:18:59.60\00:19:02.40
or twice and say, Ah,
what's the use, I give up!
00:19:02.44\00:19:05.21
This judge is never
going to do justice.
00:19:05.24\00:19:07.14
No, she kept on
coming, and coming, and coming,
00:19:07.21\00:19:10.31
even though she was a woman
that was totally destitute.
00:19:10.38\00:19:12.78
I want you to
notice something very
00:19:12.81\00:19:16.15
interesting about this woman.
00:19:16.18\00:19:17.55
This woman, which represents
the church, totally destitute
00:19:17.62\00:19:22.59
of human support, had a
faith which was independent,
00:19:22.62\00:19:28.73
unyielding, and defiant in the
face of aggressive misfortune.
00:19:28.76\00:19:34.44
But in the story we
also have an adversary.
00:19:34.47\00:19:38.21
The Greek word is antidikos.
00:19:38.24\00:19:40.71
The question is,
Who is this adversary?
00:19:40.78\00:19:43.98
What is represented by the
adversary in the parable that
00:19:44.05\00:19:47.32
totally cleaned her out?
00:19:47.35\00:19:48.68
That took everything, and left
her without any human support?
00:19:48.72\00:19:51.59
Who is this adversary?
00:19:51.62\00:19:56.26
Well, 1 Peter 5:8 uses the
same word to describe Satan.
00:19:56.29\00:20:03.20
Notice what it
says in 1 Peter 5:8.
00:20:03.23\00:20:07.40
The antidikos.
00:20:13.58\00:20:14.91
So who is the adversary that
took everything from the widow?
00:20:25.52\00:20:28.39
The adversary
represents the Devil.
00:20:28.42\00:20:30.83
The adversary represents Satan.
00:20:30.89\00:20:33.46
Now the question is, Did
this judge answer the widow's
00:20:33.50\00:20:37.73
pleas immediately? No.
00:20:37.77\00:20:39.80
Did she give up? No.
00:20:39.83\00:20:42.64
What kind of
patience did she have?
00:20:42.67\00:20:45.07
Did she just sit down
and say, I'll wait for
00:20:45.11\00:20:47.31
the judge to do it? No!
00:20:47.34\00:20:48.98
She had a persevering
faith, a persevering patience,
00:20:49.01\00:20:52.78
an active
patience, if you please.
00:20:52.81\00:20:54.52
She says, I'm going to continue
coming to him until I get
00:20:54.55\00:20:57.82
justice, and I'm
not going to give up.
00:20:57.85\00:20:59.89
But there's a
delay in the parable.
00:20:59.92\00:21:03.02
Notice Luke 18:4, 5.
00:21:03.06\00:21:06.43
The judge does not answer
her pleas immediately. It says:
00:21:06.46\00:21:10.67
Is there a delay in the
woman's pleas? Absolutely.
00:21:13.30\00:21:16.91
Did he give her justice
for the right reason? No.
00:21:33.76\00:21:38.49
He actually decided
that he would avenge her
00:21:38.53\00:21:42.23
to get her off his back.
00:21:42.26\00:21:43.60
Is that the way that
God listens to our pleas?
00:21:43.63\00:21:46.43
He says, I'm just sick and tired
of them coming and presenting
00:21:46.47\00:21:49.44
their pleas before me, so
I'm just going to give them what
00:21:49.47\00:21:51.97
they ask, so that
I can get some sleep.
00:21:52.01\00:21:53.81
That's not the way God is.
00:21:53.84\00:21:56.28
You see, God is being
compared with the judge
00:21:56.31\00:21:59.18
by way of contrast.
00:21:59.21\00:22:01.12
There is a delay in both cases.
00:22:01.15\00:22:03.18
But when finally
the judge answers,
00:22:03.22\00:22:05.92
he answers for the wrong reason.
00:22:05.95\00:22:07.46
When God answers, He
answers for the right reason.
00:22:07.49\00:22:10.56
Now let's go to Luke 18:7.
00:22:10.63\00:22:16.13
Here comes now the main
lesson that Jesus wants to
00:22:16.16\00:22:20.24
teach in this parable.
00:22:20.30\00:22:21.67
It says there in
chapter 18, verse 7:
00:22:21.70\00:22:23.97
So who does the
widow represent? the elect.
00:22:29.74\00:22:33.98
Who does the
judge represent? God.
00:22:34.02\00:22:37.35
Do they continue coming?
00:22:45.16\00:22:46.49
Is this a patient endurance?
00:22:46.53\00:22:48.33
Is this a perseverance
that doesn't give up,
00:22:48.36\00:22:50.83
even in the worse
case scenario? Absolutely.
00:22:50.90\00:22:53.87
But does God answer
their pleas immediately?
00:22:53.90\00:22:56.77
No, because it says:
00:22:56.84\00:22:58.87
Now there are different versions
of the Bible, of course,
00:23:09.25\00:23:14.49
and it's interesting to notice
how some of these versions
00:23:14.52\00:23:17.06
translate this expression:
though He bears long with them.
00:23:17.13\00:23:20.93
The New International
Version has this translation:
00:23:20.96\00:23:25.53
Does that mean that he did put
them off for awhile? Absolutely.
00:23:29.44\00:23:33.24
Will he keep putting them off?
00:23:33.27\00:23:35.01
The Jerusalem
Bible has it this way:
00:23:35.04\00:23:37.75
So there is a delay.
00:23:41.08\00:23:42.68
Or the Weymouth
translation says:
00:23:42.72\00:23:45.22
So is it clear that God
is going to delay answering
00:23:48.99\00:23:52.99
the pleas of His people in
this period of human history?
00:23:53.03\00:23:56.80
Absolutely. Now I want
you to notice Luke 18:6-8.
00:23:56.83\00:24:02.84
We already read verses
6 and 7, but I want us to
00:24:02.87\00:24:07.48
notice the flow
now. Luke 18:6-8.
00:24:07.51\00:24:11.08
Who is the judge, by the way.
00:24:18.45\00:24:19.89
Over whom? The adversary, right?
00:24:21.89\00:24:24.63
That's the widow.
00:24:28.26\00:24:29.60
There you have the delay.
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.57
And then comes the answer.
00:24:35.90\00:24:37.94
So even though there's a delay,
is God going to intervene,
00:24:43.04\00:24:46.55
and avenge, His
elect over the adversary?
00:24:46.58\00:24:49.32
And He's going
to do it speedily.
00:24:49.35\00:24:51.12
The Bible says, Yes.
00:24:51.15\00:24:52.49
And then notice
how the passage ends.
00:24:52.52\00:24:54.96
What is Jesus saying?
00:25:03.10\00:25:06.57
He's saying, Nevertheless,
when I come, am I going to find
00:25:06.60\00:25:13.17
this kind of faith that
this widow had, on the earth?
00:25:13.21\00:25:18.01
And the parable ends.
00:25:18.05\00:25:19.65
Now the question is, When
does this parable especially
00:25:19.68\00:25:24.09
apply in human history?
00:25:24.12\00:25:25.92
Well, we need to
look at the context.
00:25:25.95\00:25:28.62
And I'm just going to not
read the verses, because there's
00:25:28.66\00:25:31.66
too many of them, but if
you look at the verses that come
00:25:31.69\00:25:34.93
immediately before the parable,
which would be Luke 17:26-37.
00:25:34.96\00:25:42.90
All of those verses
are talking about the
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.31
second coming of Jesus.
00:25:45.34\00:25:46.68
And if you read the last
verse that we just read from the
00:25:46.74\00:25:50.61
parable, it says, Nevertheless,
when the son of man comes
00:25:50.65\00:25:53.58
will He find faith in the earth?
00:25:53.62\00:25:55.65
The parable concludes by
reference to the second coming.
00:25:55.68\00:25:58.59
So the question is,
When does this parable
00:25:58.62\00:26:01.06
especially apply to?
00:26:01.09\00:26:02.52
There's no doubt that it applies
especially to the time of the
00:26:02.56\00:26:07.03
second coming of Christ, because
the passage that comes before
00:26:07.03\00:26:10.07
the parable is
talking of the second coming.
00:26:10.10\00:26:12.33
The parable ends by asking the
question, When the son of man
00:26:12.37\00:26:15.30
comes, will He
find faith on the earth?
00:26:15.34\00:26:17.04
And so we know, that this
parable, in between the two
00:26:17.11\00:26:20.28
passages that talk about
the second coming, is referring
00:26:20.31\00:26:23.55
to the crisis that will
take place at the end of time.
00:26:23.58\00:26:27.68
Now lets review the symbols.
00:26:27.72\00:26:30.99
The judge represents God.
00:26:31.02\00:26:33.99
The adversary represents Satan.
00:26:34.06\00:26:37.89
The widow symbolizes the church.
00:26:37.93\00:26:44.03
What kind of church?
00:26:44.07\00:26:45.40
Just the church in
times of peace like today,
00:26:45.43\00:26:48.27
where everybody has
plenty? Absolutely not.
00:26:48.30\00:26:51.31
It's the church
in dire straights,
00:26:51.34\00:26:54.51
the church of the end time,
the church of the tribulation,
00:26:54.54\00:26:57.68
we're going to notice.
00:26:57.71\00:26:59.05
And yet we notice
that there's a delay.
00:26:59.08\00:27:02.18
But after the
delay what does God do?
00:27:02.22\00:27:06.52
God answers the
pleas of His people.
00:27:06.55\00:27:10.16
Now the question is, What is
this parable really referring
00:27:10.19\00:27:15.50
to in terms of time?
00:27:15.53\00:27:18.10
Folks, I have no doubts
whatsoever that Jesus is here
00:27:18.13\00:27:22.47
speaking about the terrible time
of tribulation that is going to
00:27:22.50\00:27:28.04
fall upon this earth.
00:27:28.08\00:27:29.61
It's going to be a time of
trouble such as never has been
00:27:29.64\00:27:32.68
seen in the
history of the world.
00:27:32.71\00:27:34.75
And only those who have
the patience of the saints
00:27:34.78\00:27:37.29
will stand before the beast,
and his image, and will refuse
00:27:37.32\00:27:41.36
the mark, even on pain of death.
00:27:41.39\00:27:43.96
They will not be
immediately delivered.
00:27:44.03\00:27:46.90
There will be a delay.
00:27:46.93\00:27:49.10
They will have to go
through this time of trouble,
00:27:49.13\00:27:51.27
lose everything that they have,
and yet they will not cease
00:27:51.30\00:27:55.40
to come to God in prayer
and to plead for His blessing,
00:27:55.44\00:27:59.17
and to plead for His
protection, and to plead for His
00:27:59.21\00:28:03.04
presence with them.
00:28:03.08\00:28:04.41
By the way, most
Christians are expecting a
00:28:04.45\00:28:11.52
pre-tribulation rapture.
00:28:11.55\00:28:13.59
Are you going to need a special
kind of patience and faith
00:28:16.19\00:28:19.16
to get through this period?
00:28:19.19\00:28:20.53
We noticed immediately
after Revelation 13:10 you have
00:28:20.56\00:28:28.44
the beast, his
image, and his mark.
00:28:28.47\00:28:29.94
Immediately after the third
angel's message you have what?
00:28:30.01\00:28:34.58
a reference to those who
keep the commandments of God,
00:28:34.61\00:28:37.38
and have the faith of
Jesus, and those who have
00:28:37.45\00:28:40.25
the patience of the saints.
00:28:40.32\00:28:41.65
And so it's speaking about the
severe crisis that is going to
00:28:41.68\00:28:44.95
come upon the world.
00:28:44.99\00:28:46.32
And the patience of the saints
will be needed by God's people.
00:28:46.35\00:28:49.89
But if you believe that you're
going to go to heaven before
00:28:49.92\00:28:52.36
the tribulation, why
would you prepare for it?
00:28:52.39\00:28:54.40
See, the Devil is shrewd.
00:28:54.46\00:28:57.47
He knows that the
church is going to be here
00:28:57.53\00:29:00.20
during the tribulation.
00:29:00.27\00:29:01.60
He knows that we're
going to need unshakable,
00:29:01.64\00:29:03.44
and unbreakable faith.
00:29:03.47\00:29:04.81
He knows that we're going to
need the patience of the saints
00:29:04.84\00:29:06.91
to get through this
period, to reject the beast
00:29:06.94\00:29:09.01
and his image, and the mark.
00:29:09.04\00:29:10.58
And so he teaches Christians.
00:29:10.61\00:29:12.35
He says, Don't worry about that.
00:29:12.38\00:29:13.75
That's for the Jews
after the church is in heaven.
00:29:13.78\00:29:16.72
And when they find themselves
in the time of trouble,
00:29:16.75\00:29:19.32
they will be totally unprepared
for the crisis that is taking
00:29:19.35\00:29:23.56
place upon the world.
00:29:23.59\00:29:24.93
By the way, that word elect
that is used in the parable,
00:29:24.96\00:29:29.63
I want you to notice Matthew
24: 22, 24, how that word elect
00:29:29.66\00:29:35.67
is used in the context
of the time of trouble,
00:29:35.70\00:29:38.74
and the final tribulation.
00:29:38.77\00:29:40.11
Matthew 24:22. It says,
00:29:40.18\00:29:43.98
This is the tribulation,
according to the context.
00:29:45.91\00:29:49.22
Whose sake? Ah, there's
the key word in the parable.
00:29:57.33\00:30:01.30
Are God's people going to go
through the tribulation? Yes.
00:30:06.10\00:30:09.47
Is there going to be delay?
00:30:09.50\00:30:10.87
There most
certainly will be a delay.
00:30:10.91\00:30:12.97
But is God going to
intervene to answer their pleas?
00:30:13.01\00:30:16.44
Absolutely. Now notice verse 24:
00:30:16.48\00:30:19.45
There's the word again.
00:30:32.76\00:30:34.10
So when does this
parable especially apply to?
00:30:34.13\00:30:37.83
It applies to the period
of tribulation through which
00:30:37.87\00:30:42.00
the elect will go, according
to Jesus in Matthew 24.
00:30:42.04\00:30:46.74
You see, folks, the widow
represents the final generation
00:30:46.81\00:30:52.51
of living saints that
will dwell upon this earth.
00:30:52.55\00:30:56.12
The book of Revelation
calls them the 144,000.
00:30:56.15\00:30:59.65
We have a complete lecture
coming up on the 144,000.
00:30:59.69\00:31:03.76
These people follow
the Lamb wherever He goes.
00:31:03.83\00:31:06.39
These people reject the
beast, they reject his image,
00:31:06.43\00:31:09.70
they reject the mark, they
reject the number of his name.
00:31:09.73\00:31:12.47
They plead day and night for
deliverance from their enemies,
00:31:12.50\00:31:16.04
from the adversary.
00:31:16.07\00:31:17.41
They don't give up.
00:31:17.47\00:31:18.81
They have
unflinching perseverance to face
00:31:18.84\00:31:22.14
this end time crisis.
00:31:22.18\00:31:23.85
Now let me ask you, Who is the
adversary during this period?
00:31:23.91\00:31:28.52
The adversary, folks,
is what? is the Devil.
00:31:28.55\00:31:32.62
Is the Devil going to take away
from the church everything that
00:31:32.65\00:31:36.42
the church has in terms of
earthly support? Absolutely.
00:31:36.46\00:31:40.60
The church, those who
are faithful in the church,
00:31:40.66\00:31:43.53
will be left totally destitute.
00:31:43.60\00:31:45.67
And who will strip them
of everything that they have?
00:31:45.70\00:31:48.44
The Devil will strip them
of everything that they have,
00:31:48.47\00:31:52.31
and they will have
absolutely no earthly support.
00:31:52.34\00:31:56.31
And as the parable says,
They will cry out day and night
00:31:56.34\00:32:01.82
for deliverance over
their adversary who has taken
00:32:01.85\00:32:05.32
everything that they have.
00:32:05.35\00:32:07.26
By the way, the expression cry
out, crying out day and night,
00:32:07.29\00:32:12.33
that's used in the parable,
is the same word that is used
00:32:12.36\00:32:15.50
to describe Jesus on the
cross, where He cries out
00:32:15.53\00:32:19.67
with an intense
agony to His Father,
00:32:19.70\00:32:22.84
Was there a delay in the
case of Jesus Christ? the Father
00:32:29.04\00:32:33.88
answering the pleas
of His Son? Absolutely.
00:32:33.92\00:32:37.05
He said, Father, let this cup
pass from Me if it's possible.
00:32:37.09\00:32:41.12
Nevertheless, not My
will be done, but Yours.
00:32:41.16\00:32:44.43
Did God deliver
Him out of the crisis?
00:32:44.46\00:32:47.36
Did God remove Him from
the trying circumstances
00:32:47.40\00:32:50.33
that He was in? No!
00:32:50.40\00:32:51.87
He continued going
through this crisis.
00:32:51.90\00:32:53.97
And He cried out to His Father.
00:32:54.00\00:32:56.00
Apparently His
Father didn't listen.
00:32:56.04\00:32:58.34
But eventually He was
avenged over His enemy
00:32:58.37\00:33:00.91
when He resurrected
on resurrection morning.
00:33:00.98\00:33:04.75
Now is it just possible
that God's people are going to
00:33:04.78\00:33:08.12
go through a similar
experience to the one that Jesus
00:33:08.15\00:33:10.52
went through in
Gethsemane? Absolutely.
00:33:10.59\00:33:11.92
Through the one that
Jesus went through on Calvary.
00:33:13.15\00:33:16.32
That they will
feel forsaken by God.
00:33:16.36\00:33:18.56
That they will feel that the
agony is too great to resist,
00:33:18.59\00:33:22.96
and yet they will not
let go of the hand of God.
00:33:23.00\00:33:25.67
Is that just possible?
00:33:25.70\00:33:27.04
Not only is it
possible, but that's exactly
00:33:27.10\00:33:29.67
what's going to happen.
00:33:29.70\00:33:31.04
Do you know, Isaiah 54:7, 8
describe this terrible period
00:33:31.07\00:33:37.25
of human history when God's
God's people will have to stand
00:33:37.31\00:33:40.32
before the beast, his image,
his mark, and the number of
00:33:40.38\00:33:43.28
his name, totally destitute
of any earthly support,
00:33:43.35\00:33:46.45
nobody to be with them.
00:33:46.49\00:33:47.96
They will cry out, My God, My
God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?
00:33:47.99\00:33:52.33
And yet they will remain
firm in their faith with God.
00:33:52.36\00:33:56.10
Notice Isaiah 54:7,
8, where this period is
00:33:56.13\00:34:00.84
being described by God. He says:
00:34:00.87\00:34:04.54
How long did God forsake?
00:34:08.71\00:34:10.75
So this period is going to
be a relatively short period;
00:34:33.34\00:34:38.31
a mere moment the Bible says.
00:34:38.34\00:34:40.34
And yet it will be a
period of severe anguish.
00:34:40.38\00:34:43.41
And God's people will continue
coming, and coming, and coming.
00:34:43.45\00:34:47.58
They will not let
loose of the hand of God.
00:34:47.62\00:34:50.69
Let me ask you, when is
it that we have to learn to
00:34:50.75\00:34:53.22
trust God in this way.
00:34:53.25\00:34:54.92
If we don't learn now, we're
never going to exercise that
00:34:54.96\00:34:59.33
kind of patience in the
future, that kind of endurance;
00:34:59.36\00:35:03.00
unyielding faith in the
case of the worst circumstances
00:35:03.03\00:35:07.54
in the history of
the world, where we have
00:35:07.57\00:35:10.01
no earthly support.
00:35:10.04\00:35:11.37
Now do you know that there are
some stories in the Bible that
00:35:11.41\00:35:14.18
illustrate this period?
00:35:14.21\00:35:15.74
You remember the
experience of Jacob, right?
00:35:15.78\00:35:18.98
It's told in Genesis 32.
00:35:19.01\00:35:21.65
The Bible tells us there
that he was returning home after
00:35:21.68\00:35:25.62
twenty years in
the house of Laban.
00:35:25.65\00:35:27.69
And as he's nearing the promised
land he hears that his brother
00:35:27.72\00:35:32.76
Esau is coming with 400
armed men, and they have evil
00:35:32.79\00:35:39.10
intentions of
destroying Jacob and his family.
00:35:39.13\00:35:42.70
The Bible describes
Jacob and his family as being
00:35:42.74\00:35:45.91
totally defenseless.
00:35:45.94\00:35:47.28
They have absolutely no
way of protecting themselves
00:35:47.34\00:35:50.35
against an irate brother.
00:35:50.41\00:35:52.85
And so the Bible tells us that
Jacob feared that he and his
00:35:52.88\00:35:58.69
family would perish.
00:35:58.72\00:36:00.39
And so he goes off to the other
side of the river, and he starts
00:36:00.42\00:36:03.99
pouring his heart
out in prayer to God.
00:36:04.06\00:36:08.03
And while Jacob is
praying, suddenly someone
00:36:08.06\00:36:12.33
comes and grabs him.
00:36:12.37\00:36:13.74
And Jacob, at first at least,
he thinks that this is an enemy.
00:36:13.77\00:36:19.24
It might even be his brother.
00:36:19.27\00:36:20.88
And so he starts
fighting, and he starts
00:36:20.91\00:36:22.84
struggling with this being.
00:36:22.88\00:36:24.25
And they struggle all night.
00:36:24.28\00:36:25.78
And finally, the Bible says,
that when the sun was starting
00:36:25.81\00:36:31.22
to come up, Jacob realized
that he was struggling all night
00:36:31.25\00:36:35.76
with the angel of the Lord, who
is none other than Jesus Christ
00:36:35.79\00:36:40.10
in the Old Testament.
00:36:40.13\00:36:41.46
And so the angel of the
Lord said to Jacob, Let Me go,
00:36:41.50\00:36:46.43
for the sun is rising.
00:36:46.47\00:36:47.80
And Jacob grabbed onto Him
and he said, I will not let You
00:36:47.84\00:36:51.61
go until You bless me.
00:36:51.64\00:36:53.54
And the angel once
again said, Let Me go,
00:36:53.58\00:36:56.44
for the sun is coming up.
00:36:56.48\00:36:58.41
And Jacob says, No way!
00:36:58.45\00:37:00.25
I will not let You go
unless You first bless me.
00:37:00.28\00:37:04.25
Let me ask you,
Did Jacob exercise the
00:37:04.32\00:37:08.76
patience of the saints?
00:37:08.79\00:37:10.16
Did he have that kind of
persevering faith that kept on
00:37:10.19\00:37:13.26
coming, and coming to God?
00:37:13.29\00:37:15.26
He most certainly did.
00:37:15.30\00:37:16.67
And then, of course, the
Bible tells us that Jesus,
00:37:16.70\00:37:21.17
the angel of the Lord, blessed
him there and changed his what?
00:37:21.20\00:37:26.34
changed his name. In
fact, let's read this passage.
00:37:26.37\00:37:29.81
It's found in Genesis 32:24, 31.
00:37:29.84\00:37:33.82
By the way, do you know what
the end time time of trouble
00:37:33.85\00:37:36.62
is going to be called?
00:37:36.69\00:37:38.02
It's the time of whose trouble?
00:37:38.05\00:37:40.09
Oh, why do you
suppose it's called the time
00:37:40.16\00:37:42.39
of Jacob's trouble?
00:37:42.42\00:37:43.76
Because it's going to be similar
to the experience of whom?
00:37:43.83\00:37:47.30
of Jacob. And he
refused to let go of God's hand.
00:37:47.30\00:37:50.83
God's people will refuse to let
go of God's hand until they have
00:37:50.87\00:37:55.20
certainty of God's blessing.
00:37:55.24\00:37:57.57
It says there in Genesis 32:24,
00:37:57.61\00:37:59.94
Notice that he's
there to anguish by himself.
00:38:02.11\00:38:05.21
Now did you notice
that the angel did not
00:38:15.32\00:38:17.89
prevail with Jacob?
00:38:17.93\00:38:19.26
So what does the angel do?
00:38:19.29\00:38:23.37
Another way of translating
is you have overcome.
00:38:56.83\00:39:00.67
Now notice who he
was wresting with.
00:39:13.45\00:39:14.98
Who was Jacob struggling with?
00:39:25.93\00:39:28.60
He was struggling with God.
00:39:28.63\00:39:30.20
Are God's people who go through
the time of trouble going to be
00:39:30.27\00:39:34.30
struggling with God in the midst
of the worst suffering in human
00:39:34.34\00:39:37.71
history, having lost
everything, like the widow,
00:39:37.74\00:39:40.28
destitute of human
support? Absolutely.
00:39:40.31\00:39:43.75
By the way, this
period is described in
00:39:43.78\00:39:46.21
Daniel 12:1, where it says:
00:39:46.25\00:39:49.32
Michael is a symbol of Christ.
00:39:51.32\00:39:53.09
Are God's people going to
go through the tribulation?
00:40:15.98\00:40:18.61
They most certainly are.
00:40:18.65\00:40:20.42
It says that there will be a
time of trouble such as there
00:40:20.48\00:40:23.89
was never in the history of the
world since there was a nation.
00:40:23.95\00:40:27.02
But then it says, At that
time, in the time of trouble,
00:40:27.06\00:40:30.43
God will deliver His people.
00:40:30.49\00:40:33.09
And so the experience of
Jacob foreshadows the experience
00:40:33.13\00:40:37.97
of God's people in the end time.
00:40:38.00\00:40:39.97
As Jacob refused to
let go of the hand of God,
00:40:40.00\00:40:43.44
so God's people will refuse
to let go of God's hand until
00:40:43.47\00:40:48.88
He answers their
pleas over their adversary.
00:40:48.91\00:40:52.98
There's another Bible
story, Old Testament story,
00:40:53.01\00:40:55.98
that illustrates this period.
00:40:56.02\00:40:57.65
It's the story of Job.
00:40:57.69\00:41:01.59
Now let me ask you, If we
apply the symbols of the parable
00:41:01.62\00:41:07.76
who would the widow
represent in the story of Job?
00:41:07.76\00:41:11.33
Of course it would
represent whom? Job.
00:41:11.37\00:41:15.67
Did Job lose everything?
Yes? friends, the support of his
00:41:18.14\00:41:24.75
wife, health, possessions?
00:41:24.78\00:41:28.62
He lost everything, right?
00:41:28.65\00:41:32.65
He was totally
destitute like this widow.
00:41:32.69\00:41:34.92
Did he have an adversary who
was the one who took everything?
00:41:34.96\00:41:38.96
Who was it? the
Devil was the adversary;
00:41:38.99\00:41:44.20
took everything from him.
00:41:44.23\00:41:45.67
Did Job cry out day and night
for justice over his adversary?
00:41:45.70\00:41:50.57
He most certainly did.
00:41:50.64\00:41:52.31
And God answered immediately.
00:41:52.34\00:41:53.71
The first time that he
prayed, God answered him,
00:41:54.41\00:41:56.28
and gave him
everything back. No!
00:41:56.31\00:41:58.91
Did Job keep on
coming, and coming, and coming,
00:41:58.95\00:42:03.08
and not give up?
He most certainly did.
00:42:03.12\00:42:05.85
And what did God do eventually?
00:42:05.89\00:42:08.19
The Bible says that
God eventually avenged him
00:42:08.22\00:42:11.43
over his adversary.
00:42:11.46\00:42:13.43
You know, the faith of Job
is illustrated in his expression
00:42:13.50\00:42:17.80
that's found in Job
13:15, where he says:
00:42:17.83\00:42:22.17
In other words, he has
this faith of the widow.
00:42:25.97\00:42:29.18
He has absolutely
nothing to lean on.
00:42:29.21\00:42:31.05
His adversary has
taken everything from him.
00:42:31.08\00:42:34.28
He cries out day and night for
deliverance from his adversary.
00:42:34.32\00:42:37.65
God delays, but
he doesn't give up.
00:42:37.69\00:42:39.69
And eventually God, at the end
of the story, gives Job what he
00:42:39.72\00:42:44.03
lost, plus another
amount equal to it.
00:42:44.09\00:42:48.56
He gave him twice as
much, in other words.
00:42:48.60\00:42:51.17
He answered the
pleas of His servant.
00:42:51.20\00:42:53.70
Are God's people going to
receive far more than they had
00:42:53.77\00:42:58.01
on this earth after
the period of tribulation?
00:42:58.04\00:43:00.68
They most certainly are.
00:43:00.71\00:43:02.14
Because the things in
this world really don't count.
00:43:02.18\00:43:05.01
They don't matter,
because everything is
00:43:05.05\00:43:07.05
going to burn up, folks.
00:43:07.12\00:43:08.45
It's only our faith and trust
in God that is going to carry us
00:43:08.48\00:43:12.29
through the period
of the tribulation that
00:43:12.32\00:43:14.96
the Bible speaks of.
00:43:14.99\00:43:16.32
You know, there's another
story in the Old Testament
00:43:16.36\00:43:19.33
that illustrates
this same period.
00:43:19.36\00:43:22.50
See we have several: we
have the story of Jacob,
00:43:22.53\00:43:24.57
we have the story of Job, and
we also have the story of the
00:43:24.60\00:43:28.37
three young men
in the fiery furnace.
00:43:28.40\00:43:30.57
Who would the widow
represent in that story?
00:43:30.61\00:43:35.54
The three young men, right?
00:43:35.58\00:43:38.85
Who would the adversary be?
00:43:38.88\00:43:40.88
Well, behind the
scenes it would be the Devil,
00:43:41.88\00:43:44.29
but who,
specifically, historically?
00:43:44.32\00:43:46.82
It would be
Nebuchadnezzar, right?
00:43:46.86\00:43:49.52
Were these three
young men men of prayer?
00:43:49.56\00:43:52.26
Did they have that persevering,
unshakable, and unbreakable
00:43:52.29\00:43:57.33
faith in the face of death?
00:43:57.40\00:43:59.20
They most certainly did.
00:43:59.23\00:44:00.67
And when they come before king
Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar
00:44:00.74\00:44:05.57
says, Don't you know
that we can kill you?
00:44:05.61\00:44:07.68
They say, Yeah, we know you can.
00:44:09.91\00:44:11.81
But the God whom we
serve will deliver us.
00:44:11.85\00:44:15.05
And from your hand
He will deliver us.
00:44:15.08\00:44:17.52
But if He doesn't, nevertheless,
we still serve Him.
00:44:17.59\00:44:21.89
Whether we live, or whether
we die, our mind is made up.
00:44:21.92\00:44:26.59
Is this the kind of
patience of the saints that this
00:44:26.63\00:44:30.13
parable is talking about?
00:44:30.17\00:44:31.50
Most certainly, yes.
00:44:31.53\00:44:33.00
Now, did God answer the pleas of
the three young men immediately?
00:44:33.03\00:44:39.77
Could God have
delivered them before they were
00:44:42.38\00:44:44.38
thrown into the fire?
00:44:44.41\00:44:45.75
Could God have given
Nebuchadnezzar a heart attack?
00:44:45.78\00:44:49.05
He most certainly could have.
00:44:49.08\00:44:51.09
He could have made it
much easier for them not to go
00:44:51.12\00:44:54.29
through the furnace.
00:44:54.32\00:44:55.66
And yet the Bible says that
even though they had a close
00:44:55.69\00:44:59.09
relationship with God,
and their minds were made up,
00:44:59.13\00:45:02.40
that they were going to be
faithful to God, no matter what,
00:45:02.43\00:45:05.37
they had to go
through the furnace of fire.
00:45:07.47\00:45:09.80
Were their pleas
finally answered by God?
00:45:11.64\00:45:15.84
They most
certainly were answered,
00:45:15.88\00:45:18.38
and they were rewarded by God.
00:45:18.41\00:45:20.95
We have New Testament examples
of this period of human history.
00:45:20.98\00:45:25.62
Do you remember
this woman from Canaan?
00:45:25.65\00:45:28.69
She wasn't a Jew, and she had
a daughter who was severely ill.
00:45:28.72\00:45:33.23
And so she's following
Jesus, and she said, Jesus,
00:45:33.26\00:45:36.46
please heal my daughter.
00:45:36.50\00:45:38.90
And do you know
what Jesus does first?
00:45:38.93\00:45:41.60
He continues walking, and acts
like He's not hearing anything.
00:45:41.64\00:45:45.14
But she continues pursuing.
00:45:45.17\00:45:48.54
And she says, Please hear me!
00:45:48.58\00:45:50.25
My daughter is sick!
00:45:50.31\00:45:51.65
Please heal my daughter!
00:45:51.68\00:45:53.01
And then she hears the disciples
say, Lord, this is embarrassing.
00:45:53.05\00:45:56.75
Send her away! I don't
know about you, but I would have
00:45:56.79\00:46:01.49
thought twice about
leaving at that point.
00:46:01.52\00:46:03.56
But she didn't.
She kept on coming.
00:46:03.59\00:46:07.03
And then Jesus says out loud,
I'm not sent but to the lost
00:46:07.13\00:46:13.54
sheep of the house of Israel.
00:46:13.57\00:46:15.80
I'm out of there by then.
00:46:15.84\00:46:18.47
Jesus is saying, I wasn't sent
to save Canaanites like you.
00:46:18.51\00:46:23.55
I was sent to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel.
00:46:23.58\00:46:26.55
But she doesn't give up.
00:46:26.58\00:46:28.85
She continues coming to Jesus.
00:46:28.88\00:46:32.02
And she says, Lord,
please save my daughter.
00:46:32.05\00:46:36.26
And then Jesus caps it all off
by saying, It's not good to take
00:46:36.29\00:46:40.40
the bread of the
children of the kingdom
00:46:40.43\00:46:42.50
and give it to the dogs.
00:46:42.53\00:46:44.03
It appears like
Jesus had called her a dog.
00:46:44.07\00:46:48.07
I'm definitely
out of there by then.
00:46:48.10\00:46:50.97
But this woman had
the type of faith that is
00:46:51.01\00:46:55.61
described in this parable.
00:46:55.64\00:46:57.21
She knew that
Jesus wasn't that way.
00:46:57.25\00:47:00.18
Her answer was delayed, but
she was not about to give up.
00:47:00.25\00:47:04.45
And was her faith
rewarded because she persevered?
00:47:04.49\00:47:08.49
Absolutely. Of course,
the greatest example, folks,
00:47:08.52\00:47:11.99
of this period is
the experience of Jesus.
00:47:12.03\00:47:15.63
When Jesus went through
the experience in the garden
00:47:15.66\00:47:19.27
of Gethsemane, when He
pleaded with His Father,
00:47:19.30\00:47:22.87
If it be possible to take away
the cup, please take it away.
00:47:22.90\00:47:27.28
Was everything
taken away from Jesus?
00:47:28.91\00:47:30.75
Did He lose everything?
00:47:30.78\00:47:33.15
He lost His friends, He lost
even the clothing that He had
00:47:33.18\00:47:40.16
on, because He hung
between heaven and earth,
00:47:40.19\00:47:42.72
naked on the cross.
00:47:42.76\00:47:44.16
He had no earthly support.
00:47:44.23\00:47:45.56
His feet were not
even on the earth.
00:47:45.59\00:47:47.60
And when He was on the cross,
He cried out to His Father,
00:47:50.07\00:47:53.17
My God, My God, why
hast Thou forsaken Me?
00:47:53.20\00:47:56.54
He pleaded for the
Father to deliver Him.
00:47:56.57\00:48:00.74
Did the Father
immediately deliver Him? No.
00:48:00.81\00:48:04.85
Because the Bible
says that He died.
00:48:04.88\00:48:07.55
There was a delay.
00:48:07.65\00:48:08.98
But was His faith eventually
rewarded over the enemy?
00:48:09.02\00:48:13.09
Absolutely. When Jesus came
forth from the tomb and He said,
00:48:13.15\00:48:17.26
I am the resurrection and the
life, His faith, and His trust
00:48:17.36\00:48:21.66
in His Father, and
His continuous coming to
00:48:21.70\00:48:24.30
His Father was rewarded.
00:48:24.33\00:48:26.63
I'd like to read from Hebrews
5: 7, Hebrews 5:7, where this
00:48:26.67\00:48:33.88
suffering of Jesus is described.
00:48:33.91\00:48:35.91
It says there this: Who
in the days of his flesh...
00:48:35.98\00:48:41.65
That means while
He was on this earth.
00:48:41.68\00:48:43.39
...when he had offered up
prayers and supplications,
00:48:43.42\00:48:49.72
with vehement cries, and
tears to Him who was able to
00:48:49.76\00:48:57.80
save him from death.
00:48:57.83\00:48:59.17
Was He saved from
death at that moment?
00:48:59.20\00:49:02.74
Was He saved from dying? No.
00:49:02.77\00:49:05.51
He was saved from death when He
resurrected, but He was allowed
00:49:05.57\00:49:08.88
to go through the
experience of death.
00:49:08.91\00:49:10.58
He was not delivered from
death when He actually died,
00:49:10.61\00:49:13.58
on what is called Good Friday.
00:49:13.65\00:49:15.35
And so it says: with vehement
cries and tears to him who was
00:49:15.38\00:49:18.92
able to save him
from death, and was heard
00:49:18.95\00:49:22.12
because of his Godly fear.
00:49:22.16\00:49:24.56
Now why did God allow
Jesus to go through this?
00:49:24.59\00:49:26.86
Notice verse 8.
Though he was a Son...
00:49:26.93\00:49:30.37
And it should not be a
son, though He was Son,
00:49:30.40\00:49:35.24
a special Son. It
says: Yet He learned what?
00:49:35.27\00:49:40.08
He learned obedience by
the things which He suffered.
00:49:40.11\00:49:45.08
Is the delay during the time of
trouble a blessing or a curse?
00:49:45.11\00:49:49.92
It must be a blessing
because these are God's people;
00:49:49.95\00:49:53.59
they're
faithful, they're sealed.
00:49:53.66\00:49:55.49
God is not going to curse them.
00:49:55.52\00:49:57.33
But God knows that the
best answer to their prayers
00:49:57.36\00:50:01.70
is to delay the
answer, so that they learn to
00:50:01.73\00:50:05.57
totally trust in Him.
00:50:05.60\00:50:06.94
Ellen White says in
The Great Controversy,
00:50:07.00\00:50:09.54
that all
earthliness must be consumed.
00:50:09.57\00:50:12.24
No, and it's not worldliness.
00:50:12.27\00:50:14.51
She doesn't say all
worldliness must be consumed,
00:50:14.54\00:50:17.31
she says all earthliness.
00:50:17.35\00:50:18.75
In other words, everything that
links them, or connects them
00:50:18.78\00:50:21.62
to Planet Earth
must be consumed.
00:50:21.65\00:50:25.19
In other words, their
hearts must be totally
00:50:25.22\00:50:27.99
and completely in heaven.
00:50:28.02\00:50:29.49
You know what, Job
understood very well
00:50:29.52\00:50:34.03
the reason for his suffering.
00:50:34.10\00:50:35.90
Notice what he
says in Job 23:10.
00:50:35.96\00:50:38.93
He says, When He...
00:50:38.97\00:50:40.37
That is when God...
00:50:40.40\00:50:41.74
...has tried me, I shall
come forth as what? as gold.
00:50:41.77\00:50:47.84
So going through the
fire is a refining process.
00:50:47.88\00:50:51.75
Notice what we
find in Isaiah 48:10.
00:50:51.78\00:50:55.85
God says: Behold, I have
refined you, but not as silver.
00:50:55.88\00:51:01.59
I have tested you
in the furnace of what?
00:51:01.62\00:51:05.36
in the furnace of affliction.
00:51:05.39\00:51:08.36
I'd like to read a statement
that we find in a wonderful book
00:51:08.40\00:51:12.93
where you have a
commentary on the parables.
00:51:12.97\00:51:16.34
This is Christ's
Object Lessons, Page 175.
00:51:16.40\00:51:19.37
Some people say, Why
do we need to suffer?
00:51:19.41\00:51:22.34
I mean, Why so much pain?
00:51:22.38\00:51:23.71
Why when I pray to God,
doesn't God answer my prayers?
00:51:23.75\00:51:27.18
Well, let me tell you something,
folks, when we pray and ask God
00:51:27.22\00:51:30.95
for something, God
answers in one of three ways:
00:51:30.99\00:51:33.19
He answers yes, or He
answers no, or He answers wait.
00:51:33.22\00:51:39.69
And the problem is we
take wait as a no answer.
00:51:39.73\00:51:43.40
But God knows when
it's best for him to wait.
00:51:43.43\00:51:47.07
Because we
learned to trust in Him.
00:51:47.10\00:51:49.60
That's the reason why He allows
God's people to go through
00:51:49.64\00:51:52.44
the tribulation in the end time;
to reveal to the world that even
00:51:52.47\00:51:56.98
though the worst may come
to them; they lose everything.
00:51:57.08\00:51:59.48
The adversary takes
everything they have.
00:51:59.51\00:52:01.32
God is going to prove to
the universe that He has a group
00:52:01.35\00:52:04.32
of people who are
absolutely loyal to Him,
00:52:04.35\00:52:06.96
though the heavens fall.
00:52:06.99\00:52:08.32
And the challenges of the Devil
against God are going to be
00:52:08.36\00:52:12.79
answered once and for all.
00:52:12.83\00:52:14.20
There will be a whole generation
of saints who will be faithful
00:52:14.30\00:52:17.37
to God in the worst
circumstances; even willing to
00:52:17.43\00:52:20.97
face death if necessary.
00:52:21.00\00:52:24.27
Christ's Object Lessons, 175.
00:52:24.31\00:52:26.24
The Lord permits
trials in order that we may be
00:52:26.27\00:52:32.05
cleansed from earthliness,
from selfishness, from harsh
00:52:32.08\00:52:39.69
un-Christ like
traits of character.
00:52:39.75\00:52:42.79
Let me ask you, When gold is
tried in the fire, or refined in
00:52:42.82\00:52:49.50
the fire, what do they throw
in the fire? only gold? No.
00:52:49.56\00:52:53.87
There's all kinds of; there's
stones, and there's sturds.
00:52:53.90\00:52:58.07
What happens with all the dirt
and the stones, and everything?
00:52:58.11\00:53:00.98
They're all burned up.
00:53:01.01\00:53:02.34
And what comes out on
the other side? pure gold.
00:53:02.38\00:53:06.82
So she says, The Lord permits
trials in order that we may be
00:53:06.85\00:53:10.19
cleansed from earthliness,
from selfishness, from harsh
00:53:10.22\00:53:14.26
un-Christ like
traits of character.
00:53:14.29\00:53:16.22
He suffers the deep waters of
affliction to go over our souls
00:53:16.26\00:53:22.60
in order that we may
know Him, and Jesus Christ
00:53:22.63\00:53:26.40
whom He has sent, in order that
we may have deep heart longings
00:53:26.47\00:53:31.61
to be cleansed from
defilement, and may come forth
00:53:31.64\00:53:34.94
from the trial
purer, holier, happier.
00:53:34.98\00:53:39.98
Often we enter the
furnace of trial with our souls
00:53:40.02\00:53:44.85
darkened with selfishness.
00:53:44.89\00:53:47.16
But if
patient... but if patient,
00:53:47.22\00:53:48.56
Notice the key word.
00:53:48.59\00:53:49.92
But if patient under the crucial
test, we shall come forth
00:53:49.96\00:53:54.46
reflecting the divine character.
00:53:54.50\00:53:57.73
So is suffering a blessing?
00:53:57.77\00:54:00.47
Will the delay during
the time of trouble be a
00:54:00.54\00:54:03.91
blessing for God's people?
00:54:03.94\00:54:05.34
It most certainly will be.
00:54:05.37\00:54:06.78
But do we need to withstand
delays today in smaller
00:54:06.81\00:54:11.75
things in our lives? Yes.
00:54:11.78\00:54:13.72
This is rehearsal folks.
00:54:13.75\00:54:15.55
Let's not get
aggravated over our little
00:54:15.58\00:54:18.12
trials and tribulations.
00:54:18.15\00:54:19.55
You know, we might lose a job,
and we might have some family
00:54:19.62\00:54:22.62
strife, and we might
have loss of money in the
00:54:22.66\00:54:25.03
stock market, or whatever.
00:54:25.06\00:54:26.39
You know, let's not get bent
out of shape over all of that.
00:54:26.43\00:54:29.93
Let's trust in God.
00:54:29.96\00:54:32.30
Let's continue coming to Him
in times of relative prosperity,
00:54:32.33\00:54:36.37
because the time is coming
when we'll have to come to Him
00:54:36.40\00:54:40.44
in times of severe
crisis and adversity.
00:54:40.48\00:54:44.51
So, once again, I ask the
question, When Jesus ended the
00:54:44.55\00:54:49.28
parable He finished with the
question, Nevertheless when the
00:54:49.32\00:54:55.46
son of man comes, will
He find faith in the earth?
00:54:55.49\00:54:59.96
In other words, Will He find
this kind of faith? the faith
00:55:00.06\00:55:03.37
that is illustrated by
the widow, by Jacob, by Job,
00:55:03.40\00:55:07.64
by the three young men in the
furnace, by the Canaanite woman,
00:55:07.67\00:55:11.74
by Jesus, who kept
on coming, and coming.
00:55:11.77\00:55:14.61
Jesus says, When the son of man
comes, will He find this kind of
00:55:14.64\00:55:18.38
faith and patience,
perseverance on the earth?
00:55:18.41\00:55:23.22
Unfortunately, the
parable ends with the question.
00:55:23.25\00:55:29.19
And you wonder, as you
read the parable, whether this
00:55:29.22\00:55:35.06
question is answered yes or no.
00:55:35.10\00:55:38.00
Is God going to have a group
on the earth that will have the
00:55:38.03\00:55:44.07
kind of faith
that this widow had?
00:55:44.11\00:55:46.84
Well, I praise the Lord that the
answer is not found in Luke 18,
00:55:46.88\00:55:54.08
but it is found in Revelation.
00:55:54.12\00:55:57.19
The two verses that we
began our study with today:
00:55:57.25\00:56:02.09
Revelation
13:10, Revelation 13:10.
00:56:02.12\00:56:09.56
Is God going to have a people
who have this characteristic?
00:56:09.60\00:56:13.27
Absolutely. It says there,
He who leads into captivity
00:56:13.34\00:56:17.61
shall go into captivity.
00:56:17.64\00:56:19.54
He who kills with the sword,
must be killed with the sword.
00:56:19.57\00:56:23.55
Here is the patience
and the faith of the saints.
00:56:23.65\00:56:27.75
Is God going to have a group
who have the faith and patience
00:56:27.78\00:56:31.39
of the saints in the
midst of the trial? Absolutely.
00:56:31.42\00:56:34.72
And as we read at the conclusion
of the third angel's message,
00:56:34.76\00:56:38.13
immediately after God has spoken
about the beast, his image,
00:56:38.16\00:56:41.60
his mark, the number of his
name, we find this declaration.
00:56:41.63\00:56:45.43
There is going to be a group who
will have this kind of faith.
00:56:45.47\00:56:49.20
It says there in
Revelation 14: 12, Here is the
00:56:49.24\00:56:53.21
patience of the saints.
00:56:53.24\00:56:55.08
Here are those who keep
the commandments of God,
00:56:55.14\00:56:59.25
and the faith of Jesus.
00:56:59.28\00:57:01.42
So what is the answer
to the question that Jesus
00:57:01.45\00:57:05.12
asked in this parable?
00:57:05.15\00:57:06.59
Will He find faith?
00:57:06.62\00:57:07.99
Will He find the patience
of the saints on the earth?
00:57:08.02\00:57:11.19
The answer in the book of
Revelation is a resounding, yes.
00:57:11.23\00:57:16.33
And the question is, Will
we be among those who have
00:57:16.36\00:57:20.64
the patience of the saints?
00:57:20.67\00:57:22.67