Well, hello, everybody. 00:00:10.87\00:00:13.17 Good to see you here again. 00:00:13.21\00:00:15.64 Today, we are going to study part 2 00:00:15.68\00:00:18.95 of the 70-week prophecy. 00:00:18.98\00:00:21.08 We're gonna focus particularly on the closing date 00:00:21.12\00:00:24.82 of the 70 weeks. 00:00:24.85\00:00:26.52 But before we do, 00:00:26.55\00:00:27.89 we do want to have a word of prayer 00:00:27.92\00:00:29.79 and so I invite you to bow your heads 00:00:29.82\00:00:31.29 with me as we pray. 00:00:31.33\00:00:33.26 Father in heaven, 00:00:33.29\00:00:34.63 thank You for the privilege of being here again, 00:00:34.66\00:00:37.30 and as we conclude this study on the 70 weeks, 00:00:37.33\00:00:39.93 we ask for the presence of Your spirit. 00:00:39.97\00:00:42.90 It's amazing to us to see 00:00:42.94\00:00:44.34 how this prophecy has been fulfilled to the very latter. 00:00:44.37\00:00:48.88 We know that You sit on Your throne 00:00:48.91\00:00:51.11 and history is under Your control. 00:00:51.15\00:00:53.65 Bless us as we study together 00:00:53.68\00:00:56.02 and comfort us and give us assurance. 00:00:56.05\00:00:58.82 We pray in the precious name of Jesus, amen. 00:00:58.85\00:01:02.86 Well, let's review the 70-week prophecy. 00:01:02.89\00:01:06.49 The 70-week prophecy begins in the year 457 BC, 00:01:06.53\00:01:11.80 in the fall of 457 BC. 00:01:11.83\00:01:15.40 The first 49 years or the first 7 weeks have to do 00:01:15.44\00:01:20.24 with the rebuilding and restoring of Jerusalem. 00:01:20.28\00:01:24.15 That's from the year 457 to 408 BC. 00:01:24.18\00:01:28.68 And then 62 weeks beyond that takes us 00:01:28.72\00:01:31.69 to the anointing of the Messiah, 00:01:31.72\00:01:34.82 and that's redundant 00:01:34.86\00:01:36.36 because the word Messiah means anointed. 00:01:36.39\00:01:39.69 But anyway, Jesus is baptized in the year 27 AD 00:01:39.73\00:01:43.40 in the fall of 27 AD. 00:01:43.43\00:01:46.53 And then for the last week, 00:01:46.57\00:01:47.90 Jesus confirms the covenant 00:01:47.94\00:01:50.74 with the Jewish people 00:01:50.77\00:01:52.34 because the 70th week belongs to the Jewish nation as well. 00:01:52.37\00:01:57.05 And in the middle of that last week, 00:01:57.08\00:02:00.48 Jesus is cut off. 00:02:00.52\00:02:02.78 That means that he's killed, but not for himself. 00:02:02.82\00:02:07.02 So what we studied so far takes us 00:02:07.06\00:02:09.12 from 457 to 408 to 27 to 31, 00:02:09.16\00:02:13.63 the spring of 31. 00:02:13.66\00:02:16.50 However, we still have 3.5 years before the ending 00:02:16.53\00:02:20.84 of the 70 weeks from the year 31, 00:02:20.87\00:02:24.24 from the spring of 31, to the fall of the year 34. 00:02:24.27\00:02:29.88 Now the important point that I want us to notice 00:02:29.91\00:02:32.51 as we begin our study is that probation did not close 00:02:32.55\00:02:37.42 for the Jewish theocracy when Jesus was crucified. 00:02:37.45\00:02:41.72 Probation did not close in the year 31 00:02:41.76\00:02:45.46 because the Jewish people had 70 full weeks, 00:02:45.49\00:02:51.30 not only, you know, leading up to the year 31 AD. 00:02:51.33\00:02:57.81 Now I want to read a series of texts 00:02:57.84\00:03:01.18 that show that probation did not close 00:03:01.21\00:03:05.51 for the Jewish theocracy in the middle of the last week 00:03:05.55\00:03:09.72 when Jesus died on the cross. 00:03:09.75\00:03:11.95 Go with me to Matthew 10:5 and 6, 00:03:11.99\00:03:15.76 Matthew 10:5 and 6. 00:03:15.79\00:03:19.36 Here, Jesus is speaking to His disciples, 00:03:19.39\00:03:23.73 and He gives them prohibition and also a command. 00:03:23.77\00:03:29.40 It says there, 00:03:29.44\00:03:31.01 "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying, 00:03:31.04\00:03:35.58 'Do not go into the way of the Gentiles.'" 00:03:35.61\00:03:39.01 Jesus says don't go to the Gentiles, 00:03:39.05\00:03:41.22 "And do not enter a city of the Samaritans, 00:03:41.25\00:03:44.65 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 00:03:44.69\00:03:49.62 Now why would Jesus say something like that? 00:03:49.66\00:03:51.99 You know, "Don't go to the Gentiles, 00:03:52.03\00:03:53.40 go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 00:03:53.43\00:03:55.56 Simply because Jesus was speaking 00:03:55.60\00:03:58.83 still during the period of the 70 weeks 00:03:58.87\00:04:01.87 which were determined or allotted for the Jews. 00:04:01.90\00:04:05.81 Now notice also Matthew 15:24, Matthew 15:24. 00:04:05.84\00:04:11.81 Here Jesus makes a statement that appears to be calloused. 00:04:11.85\00:04:16.35 It appears that He's saying that the salvation is basically 00:04:16.38\00:04:21.49 simply for the Jews and not for the Gentiles. 00:04:21.52\00:04:24.73 But that's not really what Jesus is saying. 00:04:24.76\00:04:27.46 Matthew 15:24, "But He answered and said, 00:04:27.50\00:04:32.07 'I was not sent except to the lost sheep 00:04:32.10\00:04:36.44 of the house of Israel.'" 00:04:36.47\00:04:38.67 He's saying this to a Canaanite woman 00:04:38.71\00:04:41.18 who's a Gentile. 00:04:41.21\00:04:42.81 Now that appears to be careless. 00:04:42.84\00:04:44.28 Jesus is saying, "I said, I was sent only to the Jews, 00:04:44.31\00:04:46.38 that wasn't sent to the Gentiles." 00:04:46.41\00:04:48.15 We need to understand, however, 00:04:48.18\00:04:49.85 that Jesus said that because the 70 weeks 00:04:49.88\00:04:52.69 were still not finished and the 70 weeks 00:04:52.72\00:04:55.92 were allotted to the Jewish nation. 00:04:55.96\00:04:59.19 So we need to understand that 00:04:59.23\00:05:00.56 this is not a callous statement. 00:05:00.60\00:05:02.06 By the way, Jesus did bring salvation to Gentiles 00:05:02.10\00:05:05.40 during His ministry too. 00:05:05.43\00:05:06.94 But it was the exception, not the rule. 00:05:06.97\00:05:09.30 This Canaanite woman, He said, 00:05:09.34\00:05:11.47 "Salvation has come to your house. 00:05:11.51\00:05:13.58 I haven't found this kind of faith in Israel." 00:05:13.61\00:05:15.94 Also the centurion, 00:05:15.98\00:05:17.31 remember the centurion that Jesus healed His servant? 00:05:17.35\00:05:20.75 The centurion was a Gentile. 00:05:20.78\00:05:22.75 We also have Jesus ministering to the Samaritan woman. 00:05:22.78\00:05:26.29 So it's not that Jesus ignored 00:05:26.32\00:05:28.56 the salvation of the Gentiles and the Samaritans. 00:05:28.59\00:05:31.73 It's that he was set specifically 00:05:31.76\00:05:34.46 to fulfill the events of the final week 00:05:34.50\00:05:36.46 of the 70 weeks, 00:05:36.50\00:05:37.83 which were allowed it to the Jewish nation. 00:05:37.87\00:05:41.04 Now go with me to Matthew 21:12-13, 00:05:41.07\00:05:44.37 Matthew 21:12-13. 00:05:44.41\00:05:47.81 This is at the conclusion of the triumphal entry 00:05:47.84\00:05:51.51 of Jesus into Jerusalem. 00:05:51.55\00:05:53.85 It says there, "Then Jesus went into the temple of God." 00:05:53.88\00:05:59.19 So when He goes in, it's the temple of God, 00:05:59.22\00:06:01.86 "And drove out all those who bought 00:06:01.89\00:06:03.89 and sold in the temple, 00:06:03.93\00:06:05.93 and overturned the tables of the money changers 00:06:05.96\00:06:08.96 and the seats of those who sold those. 00:06:09.00\00:06:11.87 And he said to them, it is written, 00:06:11.90\00:06:14.30 my house shall be called a house of prayer, 00:06:14.34\00:06:17.77 but you have made it a den of thieves." 00:06:17.81\00:06:20.81 So notice when he goes in, 00:06:20.84\00:06:22.18 it's called the temple of God 00:06:22.21\00:06:23.78 and Jesus refers to the temple as My house. 00:06:23.81\00:06:27.95 And then Jesus, in the next couple of chapters, 00:06:27.98\00:06:31.62 tells a series of parables to the different sects 00:06:31.65\00:06:36.56 of the Jewish nation. 00:06:36.59\00:06:38.56 And He concludes by pronouncing the woes 00:06:38.59\00:06:42.00 upon the scribes and Pharisees, 00:06:42.03\00:06:44.17 the scribes were the theologians 00:06:44.20\00:06:46.33 and the Pharisees were the ministers. 00:06:46.37\00:06:48.67 Matthew 23:32 to 38 00:06:48.70\00:06:52.24 has the concluding part of the woes 00:06:52.27\00:06:56.21 upon the scribes and Pharisees. 00:06:56.24\00:06:59.01 It says there beginning with verse 32, 00:06:59.05\00:07:02.45 and Jesus is speaking quite strongly, 00:07:02.48\00:07:04.95 "Fill up then the measure of your father's guilt." 00:07:04.99\00:07:08.92 In other words, the cup is gonna be full. 00:07:08.96\00:07:12.29 There's not gonna be any more room. 00:07:12.33\00:07:15.06 "Fill up then the measure of your father's guilt, 00:07:15.10\00:07:18.93 serpents, brood of vipers, 00:07:18.97\00:07:21.90 how can you escape the condemnation of hell?" 00:07:21.94\00:07:25.21 And now I want you to notice something very interesting. 00:07:25.24\00:07:28.74 Jesus is saying these words 00:07:28.78\00:07:31.88 shortly before his death on the cross, 00:07:31.91\00:07:34.52 shortly before his passion, 00:07:34.55\00:07:36.58 and yet Jesus is going to say 00:07:36.62\00:07:38.92 that even though He's gonna die in two or three days, 00:07:38.95\00:07:43.02 He is gonna send more messengers after His death 00:07:43.06\00:07:46.13 to literal Israel 00:07:46.16\00:07:47.66 because the 70 weeks have not yet come to an end. 00:07:47.70\00:07:51.17 Notice what He continues saying in verse 34, 00:07:51.20\00:07:54.40 "Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, 00:07:54.44\00:08:00.98 wise men, and scribes." 00:08:01.01\00:08:05.41 And now notice, "Some of them you," 00:08:05.45\00:08:08.32 What tense is the verb? 00:08:08.35\00:08:10.25 "Will kill and crucify. 00:08:10.29\00:08:14.36 And some of them you will scourge 00:08:14.39\00:08:18.63 in your synagogues and..." 00:08:18.66\00:08:21.33 By the way, even though the helping verb is not there, 00:08:21.36\00:08:24.63 it is in the Greek, 00:08:24.67\00:08:26.00 "And will persecute from city to city." 00:08:26.03\00:08:30.21 So is Jesus gonna send more messengers 00:08:30.24\00:08:32.57 to literal Israel and they're gonna do 00:08:32.61\00:08:34.88 to the messengers what they did to Jesus 00:08:34.91\00:08:37.35 and all the messengers that came before? 00:08:37.38\00:08:39.71 Absolutely. 00:08:39.75\00:08:41.08 So probation is not close to the Jewish nation 00:08:41.12\00:08:43.28 when Jesus is crucified. 00:08:43.32\00:08:45.22 Verse 35 says, after he sends the messengers, 00:08:45.25\00:08:48.69 it says, "That on you may come all the righteous blood 00:08:48.72\00:08:52.86 shed on the earth, 00:08:52.89\00:08:54.23 from the blood of righteous Abel 00:08:54.26\00:08:56.03 to the blood of Zachariah, son of Berechiah, 00:08:56.06\00:08:59.37 whom you murdered between the temple 00:08:59.40\00:09:01.30 and the altar. 00:09:01.34\00:09:02.67 Assuredly, I say to you, 00:09:02.70\00:09:04.34 all these things will come upon this generation." 00:09:04.37\00:09:08.04 So Jesus is saying, "Even after My death, 00:09:08.08\00:09:10.41 I'm gonna send you, wise men, I'm gonna to send you prophets, 00:09:10.45\00:09:13.98 I'm gonna send you messengers and you are going to do 00:09:14.02\00:09:16.69 the same thing to them that you're going to do to Me 00:09:16.72\00:09:20.66 and that you did to the messengers 00:09:20.69\00:09:22.19 that I sent you in the Old Testament. 00:09:22.22\00:09:25.03 And then notice that Jesus next speaks about 00:09:25.06\00:09:29.00 the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:09:29.03\00:09:32.30 Once again, Matthew Chapter 23 and beginning with verse 37, 00:09:32.33\00:09:39.01 Jesus says, "O Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets 00:09:39.04\00:09:43.95 and stones those who are sent to her. 00:09:43.98\00:09:46.92 How often I wanted to gather your children together, 00:09:46.95\00:09:50.15 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 00:09:50.19\00:09:52.95 but you were not willing." 00:09:52.99\00:09:56.39 And then notice in verse 38, what Jesus has to say, 00:09:56.42\00:10:00.66 "See, your house is left to you desolate." 00:10:00.70\00:10:06.30 And then in the next chapter, 00:10:06.33\00:10:08.90 the first verse says that Jesus departs the temple. 00:10:08.94\00:10:13.48 When Jesus the Shekinah departs the temple, 00:10:13.51\00:10:16.95 the house is left what? 00:10:16.98\00:10:19.31 The house is left desolate 00:10:19.35\00:10:21.72 because God's presence isn't there 00:10:21.75\00:10:23.52 and yet mercy still lingers for three and a half years. 00:10:23.55\00:10:27.62 Remember in the Old Testament 00:10:27.66\00:10:28.99 when the Shekinah left the temple right before 00:10:29.02\00:10:31.76 Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple 00:10:31.79\00:10:33.60 that the Shekinah left the temple 00:10:33.63\00:10:35.46 and lingered for a little while 00:10:35.50\00:10:37.53 on the Mount of Olives as if saying, 00:10:37.57\00:10:39.87 "I don't want to leave." 00:10:39.90\00:10:41.30 Well, Jesus did the same thing. 00:10:41.34\00:10:43.04 He did not want to reject the Jewish theocracy. 00:10:43.07\00:10:47.78 And so after this, He goes to the Mount of Olives, 00:10:47.81\00:10:50.38 and He speaks about the destruction of Jerusalem 00:10:50.41\00:10:52.95 after saying that their house was left desolate. 00:10:52.98\00:10:56.58 When He goes in, 00:10:56.62\00:10:57.99 it's the temple of God and it's My house. 00:10:58.02\00:11:01.52 When He leaves after pronouncing 00:11:01.56\00:11:03.86 the walls on the scribes and Pharisees, 00:11:03.89\00:11:06.03 He says, "Your house is left unto you desolate." 00:11:06.06\00:11:09.76 Now what messengers were sent to the Jews 00:11:09.80\00:11:11.73 during those three and a half years? 00:11:11.77\00:11:14.14 Peter, John, the Seven Deacons, 00:11:14.17\00:11:18.54 men filled with wisdom, also, you know, 00:11:18.57\00:11:23.01 Stephen was sent during that period. 00:11:23.04\00:11:25.91 So messengers were sent to the Jews 00:11:25.95\00:11:29.05 even in those three and a half years 00:11:29.08\00:11:30.92 after the crucifixion. 00:11:30.95\00:11:33.49 You know, it's amazing that even after the Jews 00:11:33.52\00:11:36.69 at the trial of Jesus said we have no king but Caesar, 00:11:36.73\00:11:41.03 after they said his blood be upon us and our children. 00:11:41.06\00:11:45.37 After saying release unto us brothers, 00:11:45.40\00:11:48.34 mercy still lingered for three and a half years. 00:11:48.37\00:11:52.97 The Shekinah did not want to leave first permanently. 00:11:53.01\00:11:56.54 The Shekinah wanted to see if they would repent 00:11:56.58\00:12:00.35 and accept the Messiah. 00:12:00.38\00:12:03.39 Now I mentioned yesterday in our study 00:12:03.42\00:12:06.65 that there's an intimate connection 00:12:06.69\00:12:09.12 between what happened to the Messiah 00:12:09.16\00:12:13.19 and the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:12:13.23\00:12:15.60 Now you remember in the Old Testament 00:12:15.63\00:12:17.87 that the people became a past date, 00:12:17.90\00:12:20.84 they played the harlot as the Bible says, 00:12:20.87\00:12:23.41 and as a result, 00:12:23.44\00:12:24.87 God used Nebuchadnezzar to destroy the city, 00:12:24.91\00:12:28.01 the sanctuary, the walls, 00:12:28.04\00:12:30.18 and they went captive for a period of 70 years. 00:12:30.21\00:12:34.22 After that, they rebuilt their city 00:12:34.25\00:12:37.02 and they rebuilt the temple. 00:12:37.05\00:12:39.02 But in Daniel Chapter 9, 00:12:39.05\00:12:40.52 we find that at the end of the 70 weeks, 00:12:40.56\00:12:44.36 actually beyond the end of the 70 weeks, 00:12:44.39\00:12:47.06 Jerusalem was going to be destroyed again, this time, 00:12:47.10\00:12:51.23 not by the Babylonians but this time by the Romans 00:12:51.27\00:12:55.14 and the reason why Jerusalem was gonna be destroyed 00:12:55.17\00:12:58.21 is because of what happened to the Messiah. 00:12:58.24\00:13:00.84 Go with me to Daniel Chapter 9 and I'll show you this, 00:13:00.88\00:13:03.21 the connection between 00:13:03.24\00:13:04.58 the death of the Messiah 00:13:04.61\00:13:05.95 and the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:13:05.98\00:13:07.32 Jesus said this was gonna happen to Jerusalem 00:13:07.35\00:13:09.98 because they did not know the hour of their what? 00:13:10.02\00:13:13.49 Of their visitation, in other words, 00:13:13.52\00:13:15.12 the crucifixion of Christ, 00:13:15.16\00:13:16.49 the rejection of Christ is directly related 00:13:16.52\00:13:19.06 to the destruction of the city later on. 00:13:19.09\00:13:22.00 In Daniel 9:26, we find these words. 00:13:22.03\00:13:27.04 "And after the 62 weeks, Messiah shall be cut off, 00:13:27.07\00:13:31.77 but not for Himself." 00:13:31.81\00:13:34.31 And after talking about Messiah being cut off 00:13:34.34\00:13:36.71 and not for Himself, 00:13:36.75\00:13:38.35 we find a reference 00:13:38.38\00:13:39.71 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:13:39.75\00:13:41.22 It says, "And the people of the prince who is to come," 00:13:41.25\00:13:44.35 the prince is Jesus and the people of Israel 00:13:44.39\00:13:46.82 that bring destruction upon themselves 00:13:46.86\00:13:48.89 by rejecting the Messiah. 00:13:48.92\00:13:50.76 "And the people of the prince who is to come shall do," what? 00:13:50.79\00:13:54.80 "Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." 00:13:54.83\00:13:58.67 And now the keyword, 00:13:58.70\00:14:00.54 "The end of it shall be with a flood 00:14:00.57\00:14:02.94 till the end of the war." 00:14:02.97\00:14:04.51 What's the next word? 00:14:04.54\00:14:06.07 "Desolations are determined." 00:14:06.11\00:14:10.35 What was gonna happen as a result 00:14:10.38\00:14:11.85 of the Messiah being rejected, 00:14:11.88\00:14:13.62 the people of a prince rejecting the Messiah? 00:14:13.65\00:14:17.55 There was gonna be a war. 00:14:17.59\00:14:19.49 And the result of the war would be what? 00:14:19.52\00:14:21.82 Desolations. 00:14:21.86\00:14:23.63 Notice also verse 27, once again, 00:14:23.66\00:14:26.39 what happens to Messiah 00:14:26.43\00:14:27.76 determines what happens to the city. 00:14:27.80\00:14:30.00 It says in verse 27, 00:14:30.03\00:14:31.73 "Then he shall confirm a covenant," 00:14:31.77\00:14:33.64 this is the same prince of the people, 00:14:33.67\00:14:36.71 "With many for one week, but in the middle of the week, 00:14:36.74\00:14:40.01 he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering." 00:14:40.04\00:14:43.55 And now notice, here's the destruction of Jerusalem. 00:14:43.58\00:14:46.15 "And on the wing of abominations," 00:14:46.18\00:14:48.95 is that a keyword, abominations? 00:14:48.98\00:14:51.19 Yes. 00:14:51.22\00:14:52.55 "And the wing of abominations shall be one who makes" what? 00:14:52.59\00:14:56.86 Desolate. 00:14:56.89\00:14:58.23 Was that a keyword in Matthew Chapter 23, 00:14:58.26\00:15:00.46 your house is left on to you desolate. 00:15:00.50\00:15:02.70 So you have abominations, and it says, 00:15:02.73\00:15:05.43 shall be one who makes desolate, 00:15:05.47\00:15:07.30 "Even until the consummation 00:15:07.34\00:15:09.04 which is determined is poured out on the desolate." 00:15:09.07\00:15:14.94 Are you catching the picture? 00:15:14.98\00:15:16.95 Does the work of the Messiah 00:15:16.98\00:15:18.58 have anything to do with the destruction, 00:15:18.61\00:15:20.48 the second destruction of the city of Jerusalem 00:15:20.52\00:15:22.75 and the temple? 00:15:22.78\00:15:24.12 Absolutely. 00:15:24.15\00:15:25.49 It's because they did not know the hour of their visitation. 00:15:25.52\00:15:29.52 Now we need to notice also that God, 00:15:29.56\00:15:34.30 of course, gives Israel, 00:15:34.33\00:15:36.40 gives the Jewish theocracy 00:15:36.43\00:15:38.43 another three and a half years of probation. 00:15:38.47\00:15:42.70 The door did not close in the year 31. 00:15:42.74\00:15:47.04 I want to read a statement from Great Controversy Page 28 00:15:47.08\00:15:51.11 where Ellen White refers to the additional messengers 00:15:51.15\00:15:54.05 that are sent after the death of Jesus. 00:15:54.08\00:15:58.19 Great Controversy, Page 28, Ellen White wrote, 00:15:58.22\00:16:01.72 "Through the preaching of the apostles 00:16:01.76\00:16:03.83 and their associates, 00:16:03.86\00:16:06.29 God would cause light to shine upon them." 00:16:06.33\00:16:08.76 This is after the crucifixion. 00:16:08.80\00:16:10.83 "They would be permitted to see 00:16:10.87\00:16:12.23 how prophecy had been fulfilled, 00:16:12.27\00:16:14.90 not only in the birth and life of Christ 00:16:14.94\00:16:17.74 but in His death and resurrection. 00:16:17.77\00:16:20.04 The children were not condemned for the sins of the parents. 00:16:20.08\00:16:23.51 But when with all the knowledge 00:16:23.55\00:16:26.48 and the light given to their parents, 00:16:26.51\00:16:28.75 the children rejected the additional light 00:16:28.78\00:16:31.12 granted to themselves, 00:16:31.15\00:16:32.69 they became partakers of their parents' sins 00:16:32.72\00:16:35.42 and filled up the measure of their iniquity." 00:16:35.46\00:16:39.09 So you'll notice that even after the crucifixion, 00:16:39.13\00:16:42.60 God sent Apostles and their associates 00:16:42.63\00:16:45.80 still to linger with Israel and try to get the theocracy 00:16:45.83\00:16:50.57 to receive the Messiah, but it was in vain. 00:16:50.61\00:16:54.24 Now go with me to Matthew Chapter 24. 00:16:54.28\00:16:56.95 I'm gonna show you 00:16:56.98\00:16:58.31 that the destruction of the city of Jerusalem 00:16:58.35\00:17:00.82 in the year 70 by the Romans 00:17:00.85\00:17:03.39 was the abomination of desolation. 00:17:03.42\00:17:06.99 You remember in Daniel 9:26-27, 00:17:07.02\00:17:09.66 the word abomination is used, right? 00:17:09.69\00:17:11.86 And the word desolation or desolate is used. 00:17:11.89\00:17:14.76 Now when is that fulfilled? 00:17:14.80\00:17:17.27 Go with me to Matthew 24:15 and then I'll read a statement 00:17:17.30\00:17:21.80 from the Spirit of Prophecy. 00:17:21.84\00:17:23.71 "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation," 00:17:23.74\00:17:29.14 Are those the words that we read 00:17:29.18\00:17:30.51 in Daniel chapter 9:26 and 27? 00:17:30.55\00:17:32.71 Yes. 00:17:32.75\00:17:34.52 Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, 00:17:34.55\00:17:37.12 in case you still doubted it, 00:17:37.15\00:17:38.79 spoken of by Daniel the prophet. 00:17:38.82\00:17:41.49 So this takes us back to Daniel 9:26 and 27. 00:17:41.52\00:17:45.33 Standing in the holy place, 00:17:45.36\00:17:47.16 when you see the abomination of desolation 00:17:47.20\00:17:49.33 spoken up by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, 00:17:49.36\00:17:52.23 whoever reads let him understand, 00:17:52.27\00:17:54.14 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 00:17:54.17\00:17:58.47 Now what was Jesus referring to when He said that 00:17:58.51\00:18:01.51 when His followers saw the abomination of desolation, 00:18:01.54\00:18:05.08 they should flee to the mountains? 00:18:05.11\00:18:07.22 Well, in Great Controversy, Page 26, 00:18:07.25\00:18:09.35 we have this explanation. 00:18:09.38\00:18:11.49 "And the Savior warned His followers, 00:18:11.52\00:18:15.29 'When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, 00:18:15.32\00:18:18.99 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, 00:18:19.03\00:18:21.03 stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, 00:18:21.06\00:18:23.50 let him understand, 00:18:23.53\00:18:24.97 then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." 00:18:25.00\00:18:28.80 She quotes Matthew 24:15-16, 00:18:28.84\00:18:34.64 and then she makes this comment, 00:18:34.68\00:18:37.15 "When the idolatrous standards of the Romans 00:18:37.18\00:18:40.92 should be set up in the holy ground, 00:18:40.95\00:18:44.12 which extended some furlongs outside the city walls, 00:18:44.15\00:18:48.59 then the followers of Christ 00:18:48.62\00:18:50.13 were to found safety and flight, 00:18:50.16\00:18:52.53 when the warning signs should be seen, 00:18:52.56\00:18:54.86 those who would escape must make no delay." 00:18:54.90\00:18:58.97 So what was the abomination of desolation? 00:18:59.00\00:19:01.37 It was when those followers of Jesus inside saw 00:19:01.40\00:19:05.51 the standards of the Romans occupying holy ground 00:19:05.54\00:19:09.71 which extended a certain distance 00:19:09.74\00:19:11.68 beyond the walls of Jerusalem. 00:19:11.71\00:19:14.48 Now you not only get this from the Spirit of Prophecy, 00:19:14.52\00:19:18.09 you also get it by reading Luke 21:20, 00:19:18.12\00:19:22.16 which is the parallel verse to Matthew 24:15. 00:19:22.19\00:19:27.33 There it says in Luke 21:20, 00:19:27.36\00:19:30.63 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, 00:19:30.67\00:19:34.70 then know that its desolation is near." 00:19:34.74\00:19:38.07 So what is the abomination of desolation? 00:19:38.11\00:19:40.54 It's when the city was surrounded by what? 00:19:40.58\00:19:43.31 By armies. 00:19:43.35\00:19:44.68 Which armies? 00:19:44.71\00:19:46.21 The armies of Rome led by Titus. 00:19:46.25\00:19:50.05 So what follows the work of the Messiah 00:19:50.09\00:19:55.22 in verse 26 and verse 27 have met Daniel Chapter 9? 00:19:55.26\00:19:59.39 Very clearly, the rejection of the Messiah, 00:19:59.43\00:20:02.10 the crucifixion of the Messiah, 00:20:02.13\00:20:04.23 the people of the prince 00:20:04.27\00:20:06.10 causing the destruction of their own city 00:20:06.13\00:20:08.47 leads to the desolation of the city of Jerusalem. 00:20:08.50\00:20:14.21 Now there are other passages that show us 00:20:14.24\00:20:16.44 that probation did not close for the Jewish nation 00:20:16.48\00:20:19.81 for the Jewish theocracy, when Jesus was crucified. 00:20:19.85\00:20:23.45 Notice Acts 5:31. 00:20:23.49\00:20:27.26 This verse 00:20:27.29\00:20:28.62 is referring to the period before the year 34. 00:20:28.66\00:20:33.29 It says there in Acts 5:31, why Jesus ascended to? 00:20:33.33\00:20:38.67 It says here, "Him God," that is Jesus, 00:20:38.70\00:20:42.64 "God has exalted to His right hand 00:20:42.67\00:20:45.47 to be Prince and Savior, and to give" what? 00:20:45.51\00:20:49.74 "Repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." 00:20:49.78\00:20:55.38 So could Israel still repent during this time period? 00:20:55.42\00:20:59.15 They most certainly could. 00:20:59.19\00:21:00.92 Did the Jewish nation repent? 00:21:00.96\00:21:03.36 No. 00:21:03.39\00:21:04.73 Individuals repented 00:21:04.76\00:21:07.26 but the theocracy did not repent. 00:21:07.30\00:21:09.86 The Sanhedrin dug in their heels, 00:21:09.90\00:21:12.73 and they refused to receive the Messiah. 00:21:12.77\00:21:17.07 There's another passage that I want to show you 00:21:17.11\00:21:19.71 that clearly indicates that probation did not close 00:21:19.74\00:21:24.55 when Jesus was crucified and the reason why, folks, 00:21:24.58\00:21:28.55 is because there were still 3.5 years 00:21:28.58\00:21:31.32 in the prophecy of the 70 weeks, 00:21:31.35\00:21:33.99 which were allotted to the Jews. 00:21:34.02\00:21:35.89 Are you understanding my point? 00:21:35.92\00:21:37.89 Jesus could not close the door probation, 00:21:37.93\00:21:40.33 His crucifixion because the 70 weeks, 00:21:40.36\00:21:42.93 said that there were going to be 70 weeks, 00:21:42.96\00:21:45.90 and the 70 weeks did not end at the crucifixion. 00:21:45.93\00:21:48.34 That was the half of the last week. 00:21:48.37\00:21:50.74 It ended three and a half years later. 00:21:50.77\00:21:53.51 Now Matthew 22:1 through 8 00:21:53.54\00:21:55.68 is an interesting parable of Jesus 00:21:55.71\00:21:57.88 and I will give you the interpretation. 00:21:57.91\00:22:00.92 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again 00:22:00.95\00:22:05.05 by parables and said, 00:22:05.09\00:22:07.92 'The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king," 00:22:07.96\00:22:11.09 God the Father, "who arranged a marriage for his son," 00:22:11.13\00:22:16.03 Jesus, "and sent out his servants." 00:22:16.06\00:22:20.20 The apostles and the 70. 00:22:20.24\00:22:22.67 Were the apostles and the 70 sent out 00:22:22.70\00:22:25.21 to preach the gospel of Jesus? 00:22:25.24\00:22:27.48 Absolutely. 00:22:27.51\00:22:28.84 So it says here, 00:22:28.88\00:22:30.35 "And sent out his servants 00:22:30.38\00:22:32.08 to call those who were invited to the wedding," 00:22:32.11\00:22:35.08 that is the wedding of the son that was planted by the Father. 00:22:35.12\00:22:38.75 And they were not willing to come. 00:22:38.79\00:22:41.46 Again, he sent out other servants 00:22:41.49\00:22:43.46 and now notice the chronological detail. 00:22:43.49\00:22:45.99 Again, he sent out other servants saying, 00:22:46.03\00:22:48.53 "Tell those who are invited," 00:22:48.56\00:22:49.90 the same group that were invited first 00:22:49.93\00:22:51.60 by the apostles in the 70. 00:22:51.63\00:22:54.60 Once again, "Tell those were invited. 00:22:54.64\00:22:56.81 See, I have prepared my dinner, 00:22:56.84\00:22:59.17 my oxen and fatted cattle are killed." 00:22:59.21\00:23:03.18 What did the sacrifice of oxen and fatted cattle represent? 00:23:03.21\00:23:08.72 The death of Jesus? 00:23:08.75\00:23:10.59 Didn't the death of animals represent the death of Christ? 00:23:10.62\00:23:13.76 So at this point, Christ has died. 00:23:13.79\00:23:17.33 But other messengers are sent out 00:23:17.36\00:23:19.26 after Jesus dies according to this. 00:23:19.29\00:23:22.70 So once again, it says in verse 4, 00:23:22.73\00:23:25.07 again, he sent out other servants saying, 00:23:25.10\00:23:27.60 "Tell those who are invited. 00:23:27.64\00:23:29.14 See, I have prepared my dinner, 00:23:29.17\00:23:30.94 my oxen and fatted cattle are killed," 00:23:30.97\00:23:32.81 representing the death of Christ, 00:23:32.84\00:23:34.68 "And all things are ready. 00:23:34.71\00:23:36.38 Come to the wedding." 00:23:36.41\00:23:38.71 How did they respond to the additional messengers? 00:23:38.75\00:23:41.32 Oh, "But they made light of it and went their ways, 00:23:41.35\00:23:45.19 one to his own fire, another to his own business, 00:23:45.22\00:23:48.66 and the rest seized his servants, 00:23:48.69\00:23:51.09 treated them spitefully and killed them." 00:23:51.13\00:23:55.20 Are you getting the picture? 00:23:55.23\00:23:57.93 Was Stephen killed? 00:23:57.97\00:24:00.27 Yes. 00:24:00.30\00:24:01.64 Was James killed? 00:24:01.67\00:24:03.71 You can read it in the scriptures. 00:24:03.74\00:24:05.77 They killed the messengers 00:24:05.81\00:24:07.41 that were sent after the crucifixion. 00:24:07.44\00:24:09.44 Now how did the God... 00:24:09.48\00:24:13.21 How did the father of this son react to this rejection? 00:24:13.25\00:24:18.42 Notice verse 7, 00:24:18.45\00:24:19.99 "But when the king heard about it, 00:24:20.02\00:24:22.39 he was furious. 00:24:22.42\00:24:27.26 And he sent out his armies." 00:24:27.30\00:24:29.13 Which armies would those be? 00:24:29.16\00:24:32.00 Which armies? 00:24:32.03\00:24:33.84 The Roman armies, right? 00:24:33.87\00:24:35.70 God the Father sends out the Roman armies 00:24:35.74\00:24:38.54 and what did he do? 00:24:38.57\00:24:40.11 He destroyed those murderers and burned up their city. 00:24:40.14\00:24:44.71 When did that happen? 00:24:44.75\00:24:46.75 In the year 70 AD. 00:24:46.78\00:24:50.35 Did the burning of Jerusalem have anything to do 00:24:50.39\00:24:52.42 with the rejection of the Messiah? 00:24:52.45\00:24:55.12 Clearly, like Daniel 9 says. 00:24:55.16\00:24:58.39 Now verse 8 says then that the message 00:24:58.43\00:25:01.40 is going to go now to the Gentiles. 00:25:01.43\00:25:03.23 See the sequence that we've been studying. 00:25:03.26\00:25:05.47 It says in verse 8, "Then he said to his servants, 00:25:05.50\00:25:08.80 'The wedding is ready, 00:25:08.84\00:25:10.74 but those who were invited were not worthy.'" 00:25:10.77\00:25:13.98 So what's going to happen now? 00:25:14.01\00:25:15.51 Who's going to announce 00:25:15.54\00:25:16.95 that the wedding is going to take place 00:25:16.98\00:25:18.51 and call people to come to the wedding? 00:25:18.55\00:25:20.68 Verse 9, "Therefore, go into the highways..." 00:25:20.72\00:25:25.45 I don't have time to show you this 00:25:25.49\00:25:26.82 but when the word highways is used by Jesus, 00:25:26.86\00:25:30.19 it refers to the Gentiles. 00:25:30.23\00:25:32.86 He told His disciples, don't go into the highways, 00:25:32.89\00:25:36.83 don't go to the Samaritans. 00:25:36.87\00:25:38.77 To go to the highways means to go where? 00:25:38.80\00:25:41.90 It means to go to the Gentiles. 00:25:41.94\00:25:43.91 So he says, "Therefore, go into the highways," 00:25:43.94\00:25:47.11 in other words, 00:25:47.14\00:25:48.48 the Gentiles are not going to do this, 00:25:48.51\00:25:50.31 "and as many as you find, invite to the wedding." 00:25:50.35\00:25:55.72 Is that clear? 00:25:55.75\00:25:57.15 Crystal clear. 00:25:57.19\00:25:59.69 Now the question is, 00:25:59.72\00:26:02.22 when was the ending date of the 70 weeks? 00:26:02.26\00:26:06.46 What event marked the end point of the 70 weeks? 00:26:06.49\00:26:11.53 Unfortunately, when we read the story of Daniel 9, 00:26:11.57\00:26:17.24 there's a clear starting point. 00:26:17.27\00:26:20.08 It says, 00:26:20.11\00:26:21.44 from the command to restore and build Jerusalem for 57 BC. 00:26:21.48\00:26:27.32 Then it gives us a next chronological detail, 00:26:27.35\00:26:30.02 the next 49 years or 70 weeks, 00:26:30.05\00:26:33.05 has to do with the rebuilding of the city 00:26:33.09\00:26:34.99 and restoring the civil religious order. 00:26:35.02\00:26:38.06 Then after that, 62 more weeks, 00:26:38.09\00:26:41.86 it takes you to the year 27, baptism of the Messiah. 00:26:41.90\00:26:46.43 Then in the middle of the last week, 00:26:46.47\00:26:49.84 the Messiah is cut off but not for himself 00:26:49.87\00:26:52.91 and He causes the sacrifice and the oblation to seize. 00:26:52.94\00:26:57.65 But unfortunately, 00:26:57.68\00:27:01.65 there appears to be no event mentioned 00:27:01.68\00:27:03.95 that concludes the 70 weeks, the year 34. 00:27:03.99\00:27:08.99 Wouldn't it be the year 34? 00:27:09.02\00:27:11.09 Of course, it would be. 00:27:11.13\00:27:12.69 Because if Jesus was baptized in the year 27, 00:27:12.73\00:27:15.30 by the way in the fall of 27, fall of 27 to the fall of 28, 00:27:15.33\00:27:18.90 to the fall of 29, to fall of 30, 00:27:18.93\00:27:20.94 to spring of 31 is 3.5 years. 00:27:20.97\00:27:24.64 From the spring of 31 to the spring of 32, 00:27:24.67\00:27:28.04 to the spring of 33, to the spring of 34, 00:27:28.08\00:27:31.71 to the fall of 34 is another 3.5 years. 00:27:31.75\00:27:36.79 Are you following me or not? 00:27:36.82\00:27:38.25 Simple then. 00:27:38.29\00:27:40.96 Now what event marked the ending of the 70 weeks? 00:27:40.99\00:27:46.56 Go with me to Daniel 9:24. 00:27:46.59\00:27:50.07 It doesn't appear on the surface 00:27:50.10\00:27:52.80 but there's a very important detail 00:27:52.83\00:27:55.30 in Daniel 9:24 that indicates... 00:27:55.34\00:27:58.37 That gave us an indicator of when the 70 weeks would end. 00:27:58.41\00:28:03.65 What event would lead to the end of the 70 weeks? 00:28:03.68\00:28:07.22 Daniel 9:24 mentions several things 00:28:07.25\00:28:13.32 that were going to happen during the 70 weeks, 00:28:13.36\00:28:16.32 particularly the last week of the 70 weeks. 00:28:16.36\00:28:19.86 Daniel 9:24 says that six accomplishments 00:28:19.89\00:28:22.73 would take place primarily 00:28:22.76\00:28:24.17 during the final of the 70 weeks. 00:28:24.20\00:28:26.63 It says to finish the transgression, 00:28:26.67\00:28:29.14 to make an end of sins, 00:28:29.17\00:28:31.37 to make reconciliations for iniquity, 00:28:31.41\00:28:34.31 to bring in everlasting righteousness, 00:28:34.34\00:28:37.61 to seal up vision, and prophecy, 00:28:37.65\00:28:41.05 that's what we're going to look at 00:28:41.08\00:28:42.78 and to anoint the most holy. 00:28:42.82\00:28:45.99 Now the point of these six 00:28:46.02\00:28:49.42 that we want to particularly focus on 00:28:49.46\00:28:52.63 is the phrase to seal up vision and prophecy. 00:28:52.66\00:28:59.27 Now there's something very important 00:28:59.30\00:29:00.64 that we need to realize, 00:29:00.67\00:29:02.44 and that is that when this is translated 00:29:02.47\00:29:04.91 to seal up the vision and prophecy, 00:29:04.94\00:29:08.94 it's the identical word that is used in verse 24, 00:29:08.98\00:29:12.91 the same verse where it says to make an end of sins. 00:29:12.95\00:29:17.85 In other words, 00:29:17.89\00:29:19.22 to seal the vision in the prophecy 00:29:19.25\00:29:21.36 means the end of the vision and the prophecy. 00:29:21.39\00:29:24.96 Unfortunately, in the translation, 00:29:24.99\00:29:27.66 in verse 24, you have one reference to chatham, 00:29:27.70\00:29:31.70 which is to seal, 00:29:31.73\00:29:33.47 and the other translation is to end. 00:29:33.50\00:29:38.44 But really the word chatham means to end. 00:29:38.47\00:29:43.28 So basically, the meaning of Daniel 9:24 00:29:43.31\00:29:48.25 is end to end vision and prophecy, 00:29:48.28\00:29:53.42 just like it says to end sins, to bring an end to sins. 00:29:53.46\00:29:59.43 Now why is this important? 00:29:59.46\00:30:02.06 It's extremely important because we need to determine 00:30:02.10\00:30:05.73 who had the last vision for Israel, 00:30:05.77\00:30:09.10 and which was the last prophet of Israel? 00:30:09.14\00:30:12.34 In other words, 00:30:12.37\00:30:13.71 what event ended the prophets that were sent to Israel 00:30:13.74\00:30:18.48 and ended the visions 00:30:18.51\00:30:20.08 that were given to literal Israel 00:30:20.12\00:30:22.12 because the prophecy says 00:30:22.15\00:30:24.19 to bring to an end vision and prophecy. 00:30:24.22\00:30:27.26 In other words, for the Jewish theocracy, 00:30:27.29\00:30:29.49 there would be no more visions, 00:30:29.52\00:30:31.49 and there would be no more prophets. 00:30:31.53\00:30:33.96 The question is, when did this happen? 00:30:34.00\00:30:38.00 Well, when you examine 00:30:38.03\00:30:40.44 the story of Stephen's stoning in Acts 7, 00:30:40.47\00:30:45.87 something is very interesting. 00:30:45.91\00:30:49.81 Most of the chapter, in fact, 00:30:49.84\00:30:52.05 verses 2 through verse 53 is a long sermon 00:30:52.08\00:30:58.05 that Stephen preaches 00:30:58.09\00:31:01.22 telling the whole history of ancient Israel. 00:31:01.26\00:31:03.96 He's speaking to the Sanhedrin. 00:31:03.99\00:31:06.66 He's speaking to the experts, to the theologians, 00:31:06.70\00:31:10.33 and the ministers of the day, and yet, 00:31:10.37\00:31:12.93 he preaches this long sermon from verse 2 through verse 53 00:31:12.97\00:31:17.57 reciting the history of ancient Israel, 00:31:17.61\00:31:20.34 which these individuals knew very well. 00:31:20.38\00:31:24.48 So why did Stephen waste this time 00:31:24.51\00:31:27.25 telling this long story of the history of Israel if... 00:31:27.28\00:31:32.49 You know, they already knew all of the details of this history. 00:31:32.52\00:31:37.16 There's a particular reason. 00:31:37.19\00:31:39.16 Two scholars, 00:31:39.19\00:31:40.53 two Old Testament scholars by the name of Meredith Kline 00:31:40.56\00:31:43.57 and George Mendenhall, many years ago, 00:31:43.60\00:31:47.90 dug up ancient covenants that were made in the nations 00:31:47.94\00:31:52.67 that surrounded Israel. 00:31:52.71\00:31:54.68 And they discovered that covenants were structured 00:31:54.71\00:31:58.81 in a very interesting way. 00:31:58.85\00:32:00.98 When a king was going to rebuke 00:32:01.02\00:32:05.69 a subject king or a subject nation, 00:32:05.72\00:32:09.42 he first thing that the king would do 00:32:09.46\00:32:12.06 would be to recite the benevolent acts 00:32:12.09\00:32:15.70 that he had had towards that rebellious people. 00:32:15.73\00:32:20.14 And if you read Acts 2, Acts 7:2-53, 00:32:20.17\00:32:26.88 you're going to see that the emphasis 00:32:26.91\00:32:29.61 that Stephen gives to this 00:32:29.64\00:32:31.61 is the benevolent acts that God, 00:32:31.65\00:32:34.75 the blessings that God poured out 00:32:34.78\00:32:37.09 upon Israel. 00:32:37.12\00:32:39.29 Now the prophets in the Old Testament 00:32:39.32\00:32:42.96 were actually God's lawyers in divorce court. 00:32:42.99\00:32:47.06 God was saying, "I was good to you. 00:32:47.10\00:32:49.90 I'll release you from bondage. 00:32:49.93\00:32:51.93 I blessed you with every spiritual 00:32:51.97\00:32:53.44 and material blessing, and you played the harlot. 00:32:53.47\00:32:56.60 And so I am asking for a divorce." 00:32:56.64\00:33:00.48 That was what the prophets were called to do. 00:33:00.51\00:33:03.65 God was saying, "I want a divorce." 00:33:03.68\00:33:09.25 However, 00:33:09.28\00:33:10.72 if you read 00:33:10.75\00:33:12.09 the rebukes of the prophets in the Old Testament, 00:33:12.12\00:33:13.62 you're going to discover that God always said, 00:33:13.66\00:33:17.16 "You know, I am asking for a divorce 00:33:17.19\00:33:19.63 because you played the harlot, you had other lovers, 00:33:19.66\00:33:22.53 and you didn't preserve yourself only to me. 00:33:22.56\00:33:25.33 But if you repent I will take you back." 00:33:25.37\00:33:29.00 You have, for example, the book of Hosea. 00:33:29.04\00:33:31.74 That's a very, very important book 00:33:31.77\00:33:33.44 when it comes to this type of covenant. 00:33:33.48\00:33:35.41 God says, "I was so good to you. 00:33:35.44\00:33:37.08 You know, you played the harlot. 00:33:37.11\00:33:38.58 But if you repent, I'll take you back." 00:33:38.61\00:33:41.45 And so the lawyers that are sent, 00:33:41.48\00:33:43.22 the prophets that are sent, you know, 00:33:43.25\00:33:45.45 they're not making a final declaration 00:33:45.49\00:33:49.16 that Israel can't repent, 00:33:49.19\00:33:50.69 and Israel cannot turn to the Lord 00:33:50.73\00:33:52.79 and be accepted once again by the Lord. 00:33:52.83\00:33:57.07 In other words, 00:33:57.10\00:33:58.47 all of the Old Testament covenants were covenants 00:33:58.50\00:34:01.94 that were not final. 00:34:01.97\00:34:04.71 But in this case, in Acts 7, the stoning of Stephen, 00:34:04.74\00:34:08.18 the tone of Stephen is totally different. 00:34:08.21\00:34:11.88 I'm going to show you that in a moment. 00:34:11.91\00:34:14.18 Stephen is the last of God's lawyers 00:34:14.22\00:34:17.85 in divorce court. 00:34:17.89\00:34:20.49 And he's going to tell Israel, this is it. 00:34:20.52\00:34:24.59 No more repentance. 00:34:24.63\00:34:26.39 No more door mercy open. 00:34:26.43\00:34:29.06 The theocracy is over. 00:34:29.10\00:34:31.77 Now let's go to Acts 7:51-53. 00:34:31.80\00:34:37.14 Stephen ends his sermon in a very accusatory tone, 00:34:37.17\00:34:42.68 just like the prophets of the Old Testament did. 00:34:42.71\00:34:45.58 And by the way, who is Stephen speaking to? 00:34:45.61\00:34:49.85 He is speaking to the Jewish Sanhedrin. 00:34:49.88\00:34:53.22 The Supreme Court of the Hebrew theocracy. 00:34:53.25\00:34:58.06 The leadership... 00:34:58.09\00:34:59.43 The Supreme leadership of the Jewish theocracy. 00:34:59.46\00:35:03.50 And in Acts 7:51, Stephen says, 00:35:03.53\00:35:09.50 "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised 00:35:09.54\00:35:13.34 in heart and ears. 00:35:13.38\00:35:16.18 You always resist the Holy Spirit, 00:35:16.21\00:35:19.75 as your fathers did, so do you. 00:35:19.78\00:35:23.72 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? 00:35:23.75\00:35:28.12 And they killed those who foretold 00:35:28.16\00:35:30.26 the coming of the just one, 00:35:30.29\00:35:32.19 of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers 00:35:32.23\00:35:36.30 who have received the law by the direction of angels 00:35:36.33\00:35:39.03 and have not kept it." 00:35:39.07\00:35:40.40 Now there's a very interesting detail. 00:35:40.44\00:35:42.77 If you read Stephen's sermon before this, 00:35:42.80\00:35:47.31 before this passage, verses 51 to 53, 00:35:47.34\00:35:50.65 Stephen always refers to our fathers. 00:35:50.68\00:35:55.75 But when he gets to the end of his sermon, 00:35:55.78\00:35:58.52 did you notice the change? 00:35:58.55\00:36:01.32 He's disengaging himself from the patrimony 00:36:01.36\00:36:05.06 in history of Israel. 00:36:05.09\00:36:07.10 Because he says, 00:36:07.13\00:36:09.56 "Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute, 00:36:09.60\00:36:14.47 and they killed those who foretold 00:36:14.50\00:36:16.64 the coming of the just one." 00:36:16.67\00:36:18.01 In other words, 00:36:18.04\00:36:19.37 he's disconnecting himself from the history of Israel 00:36:19.41\00:36:22.71 because they now are doing the same thing 00:36:22.74\00:36:25.78 that their fathers did, 00:36:25.81\00:36:27.15 and Stephen did not share that spirit. 00:36:27.18\00:36:30.29 Now unlike 00:36:30.32\00:36:34.02 all of the previous prophets, 00:36:34.06\00:36:37.83 Stephen did not make any call to repentance. 00:36:37.86\00:36:41.80 His speech has a finality to it. 00:36:41.83\00:36:46.63 In other words, he's not saying, you know, 00:36:46.67\00:36:48.40 "You stiff-necked people, you know, 00:36:48.44\00:36:50.24 you always persecute those messengers 00:36:50.27\00:36:52.37 that are sent to you. 00:36:52.41\00:36:53.74 But if you repent, God will take you back." 00:36:53.78\00:36:57.01 Doesn't happen. 00:36:57.05\00:36:58.91 In the Old Testament, the prophets would say, 00:36:58.95\00:37:00.62 you know, "God sends you messengers, 00:37:00.65\00:37:02.48 you will pass the tithes. 00:37:02.52\00:37:03.85 But if you come back, 00:37:03.89\00:37:05.22 God will receive you back again." 00:37:05.25\00:37:06.59 Not here, there's a finality. 00:37:06.62\00:37:08.59 There's no call to repentance. 00:37:08.62\00:37:11.23 There's no remedial point here. 00:37:11.26\00:37:16.90 Now when Stephen preached this last part of his sermon, 00:37:16.93\00:37:22.24 I want you to notice the reaction of the Sanhedrin, 00:37:22.27\00:37:25.21 they were hardened beyond repair. 00:37:25.24\00:37:30.41 In verse 54 through 58, 00:37:30.45\00:37:33.88 we find this reaction to the message of Stephen. 00:37:33.92\00:37:37.65 "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, 00:37:37.69\00:37:42.26 and they gnashed at him with their teeth." 00:37:42.29\00:37:46.46 Wow! 00:37:46.49\00:37:48.43 So did a sermon go over real nicely? 00:37:48.46\00:37:52.77 It went over like a lead balloon, right? 00:37:52.80\00:37:56.37 It says that they were cut to the heart, 00:37:56.40\00:37:58.87 they gnashed at him with their teeth. 00:37:58.91\00:38:01.58 "But he being full of the Holy Spirit, 00:38:01.61\00:38:03.31 gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, 00:38:03.35\00:38:05.58 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 00:38:05.61\00:38:07.08 and said, 00:38:07.12\00:38:08.45 'Look, I see the heavens open and the Son of Man standing 00:38:08.48\00:38:10.99 at the right hand of God.' 00:38:11.02\00:38:12.82 Then they cried out with a loud voice, 00:38:12.85\00:38:14.76 stopped their ears and ran at him with one accord. 00:38:14.79\00:38:18.73 And they cast him out of the city." 00:38:18.76\00:38:21.33 So what they did with Jesus? 00:38:21.36\00:38:23.80 "They cast Him out of the city and stoned Him. 00:38:23.83\00:38:27.94 And the witnesses laid down their clothes 00:38:27.97\00:38:31.11 at the feet of a young man named Saul." 00:38:31.14\00:38:37.21 So when he presented his message, 00:38:37.25\00:38:38.78 was there repentance? 00:38:38.81\00:38:41.05 Did He make a call to repentance? 00:38:41.08\00:38:43.72 Absolutely not. 00:38:43.75\00:38:46.12 Who was the last prophet of Israel 00:38:46.15\00:38:48.32 that was given a vision? 00:38:48.36\00:38:50.99 Stephen? 00:38:51.03\00:38:53.36 Was Stephen a prophet that had a vision? 00:38:53.40\00:38:58.23 I see that you're saying... 00:38:58.27\00:38:59.60 Was he a prophet that had a vision? 00:38:59.63\00:39:01.97 Well, didn't he tell the benevolent acts of God? 00:39:02.00\00:39:06.94 Didn't they do what the prophets 00:39:06.98\00:39:08.31 of the Old Testament did, 00:39:08.34\00:39:09.68 tell the whole story of Israel how God was good to them 00:39:09.71\00:39:12.91 and blessed them physically, 00:39:12.95\00:39:14.62 mentally, spiritually, materially? 00:39:14.65\00:39:17.52 He played the role of a prophet. 00:39:17.55\00:39:19.69 By the way, did he also have a vision? 00:39:19.72\00:39:23.19 We just read it. 00:39:23.22\00:39:25.69 By the way, there's no evidence that anyone else 00:39:25.73\00:39:27.60 that was present there saw that vision. 00:39:27.63\00:39:30.47 It was only Stephen. 00:39:30.50\00:39:31.83 And that's what really made them Jewish leadership angry 00:39:31.87\00:39:35.64 was the vision that he said he had, the vision of Jesus. 00:39:35.67\00:39:39.97 And so it says, once again, in verse 55, 00:39:40.01\00:39:45.28 "But he being full of the Holy Spirit 00:39:45.31\00:39:47.22 gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God." 00:39:47.25\00:39:49.52 So he's having this vision, he saw the glory of God, 00:39:49.55\00:39:52.85 and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 00:39:52.89\00:39:56.96 And he said, "Look, I see, the heavens opened, 00:39:56.99\00:40:00.90 and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 00:40:00.93\00:40:04.53 Whoa! 00:40:04.57\00:40:05.90 That infuriated them even worse. 00:40:05.93\00:40:08.97 And it says, 00:40:09.00\00:40:10.34 "Then they cried out with a loud voice, 00:40:10.37\00:40:12.21 stopped their ears and run at him 00:40:12.24\00:40:13.68 with one accord." 00:40:13.71\00:40:15.04 Let me ask you, 00:40:15.08\00:40:16.54 what was the reaction to the last vision given 00:40:16.58\00:40:19.38 to the last prophet of Israel? 00:40:19.41\00:40:21.45 It was rejected. 00:40:21.48\00:40:23.92 In other words, 00:40:23.95\00:40:25.52 prophecy and vision came to an end. 00:40:25.55\00:40:30.66 Just like Daniel 9 had said was going to happen. 00:40:30.69\00:40:35.16 They silenced the last voice of the last prophet to Israel, 00:40:35.20\00:40:41.00 there's nothing more that could be done 00:40:41.04\00:40:43.57 for the Jewish theocracy. 00:40:43.61\00:40:46.68 What more could God do now with the Jewish theocracy? 00:40:46.71\00:40:50.18 Nothing. 00:40:50.21\00:40:51.95 They rejected Christ. 00:40:51.98\00:40:54.35 They rejected the messengers 00:40:54.38\00:40:55.92 that were sent to them after Christ, 00:40:55.95\00:40:58.89 culminating with the rejection of the message 00:40:58.92\00:41:03.43 of the last prophet of Israel who received a vision. 00:41:03.46\00:41:09.06 But here's the good news. 00:41:09.10\00:41:11.90 When the 70 weeks end for the Jewish nation 00:41:11.93\00:41:15.67 and the door is closed, another door opens. 00:41:15.70\00:41:20.94 Did you notice in Acts? 00:41:20.98\00:41:24.55 Not in Acts. 00:41:24.58\00:41:25.91 Yes, Acts 7:58, it says, 00:41:25.95\00:41:31.25 "And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. 00:41:31.29\00:41:34.99 And the witnesses laid down their clothes 00:41:35.02\00:41:36.93 at the feet of a young man named Saul." 00:41:36.96\00:41:43.57 Who was present there 00:41:43.60\00:41:44.93 when the Jewish theocracy came to an end, 00:41:44.97\00:41:46.43 when the vision and the prophet came to an end? 00:41:46.47\00:41:49.50 Saul of Tarsus. 00:41:49.54\00:41:52.14 What was Saul of Tarsus going to do? 00:41:52.17\00:41:55.54 He was going to be the champion 00:41:55.58\00:41:58.35 to take the message to the Gentiles. 00:41:58.38\00:42:03.18 So when the theocracy ends for the Jewish nation, 00:42:03.22\00:42:07.19 God already has chosen right there the champion 00:42:07.22\00:42:11.33 that will now take the message to the Gentiles, 00:42:11.36\00:42:15.20 just like it says in the parables 00:42:15.23\00:42:17.77 that Jesus told. 00:42:17.80\00:42:19.50 Notice Acts 22:20 and 21. 00:42:19.53\00:42:23.81 Here, 00:42:23.84\00:42:25.17 Saul of Tarsus is reminiscing about his participation 00:42:25.21\00:42:30.48 in the martyrdom of Stephen. 00:42:30.51\00:42:33.38 And it says there in Acts 22:20 and 21, 00:42:33.42\00:42:37.52 "And when the blood of your martyr, 00:42:37.55\00:42:40.66 Stephen was shed, 00:42:40.69\00:42:42.89 I also was standing by consenting to his death 00:42:42.92\00:42:47.06 and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. 00:42:47.10\00:42:51.60 Then He said to me, "this is what God says to him, 00:42:51.63\00:42:54.80 "'Depart for I will send you 00:42:54.84\00:42:58.01 far from here to the Gentiles.'" 00:42:58.04\00:43:02.71 Are you catching the picture? 00:43:02.74\00:43:05.15 Does the stoning of Stephen clearly indicate 00:43:05.18\00:43:09.82 that the door has closed for the theocracy, 00:43:09.85\00:43:12.35 and now it's going to go to the Gentiles? 00:43:12.39\00:43:14.36 Yes, the Gentiles, 00:43:14.39\00:43:16.02 the champion to the Gentiles is right there 00:43:16.06\00:43:19.43 at the stoning of Stephen. 00:43:19.46\00:43:21.36 Now go with me to Acts 1, 00:43:21.40\00:43:23.87 Acts 1:6-8, Acts 1:6-8. 00:43:23.90\00:43:29.97 Here, Jesus is still on Earth, 00:43:30.01\00:43:31.37 He's about to ascend to heaven and we find out these words, 00:43:31.41\00:43:37.41 "Therefore, when they had come together," 00:43:37.45\00:43:39.15 that is Jesus and those who are going 00:43:39.18\00:43:40.72 to see the ascension, "they asked Him, saying, 00:43:40.75\00:43:43.08 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 00:43:43.12\00:43:48.39 And He said to them, 00:43:48.42\00:43:49.76 'It is not for you to know times or seasons, 00:43:49.79\00:43:51.93 which the Father has put in His own authority. 00:43:51.96\00:43:55.16 But you shall receive power 00:43:55.20\00:43:57.77 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:43:57.80\00:44:00.17 And you shall be,'" what, "'witnesses to Me,'" 00:44:00.20\00:44:03.61 where first, 00:44:03.64\00:44:05.67 "'in Jerusalem 00:44:05.71\00:44:08.81 and in all Judea and Samaria, 00:44:08.84\00:44:15.02 and to the end of the Earth.'" 00:44:15.05\00:44:18.59 Do you know that that verse has the structure 00:44:18.62\00:44:20.56 of the entire book of Acts? 00:44:20.59\00:44:22.16 Acts 1-7, 00:44:26.16\00:44:29.10 everything is happening in Jerusalem and Judea. 00:44:29.13\00:44:33.74 There are no Gentiles involved in Acts 1-7, 00:44:33.77\00:44:38.27 all of the work has been done in Jerusalem and Judea. 00:44:38.31\00:44:40.81 You can check me out. 00:44:40.84\00:44:43.21 But when you get at Acts 8:25, actually the entire of 8, 00:44:43.24\00:44:49.45 it says now that the gospel has gone to Samaria. 00:44:49.48\00:44:52.89 Now listen carefully, 00:44:56.56\00:44:59.53 the gospel goes in Acts 1 to Acts 7 00:44:59.56\00:45:02.26 to Jerusalem and Judea. 00:45:02.30\00:45:04.90 That's chapters 1 through 6. 00:45:04.93\00:45:06.47 Chapter 7 is the stoning of Stephen, 00:45:06.50\00:45:11.94 which is taking place there in Jerusalem. 00:45:11.97\00:45:16.68 Then in Acts 8, you have the gospel going to Samaria. 00:45:16.71\00:45:22.22 In Acts 9, you have the conversion of Saul. 00:45:22.25\00:45:26.99 And from Acts 10 to Acts 28, 00:45:27.02\00:45:31.19 you have the message going to the Gentiles. 00:45:31.23\00:45:34.76 So this one verse tells you 00:45:34.80\00:45:36.56 how the gospel is going to proliferate. 00:45:36.60\00:45:39.73 It's going to begin in Jerusalem and Judea. 00:45:39.77\00:45:41.77 Why would it begin in Jerusalem and Judea? 00:45:41.80\00:45:43.87 Because the 70 weeks were not finished yet 00:45:43.91\00:45:47.38 when Jesus gave this command. 00:45:47.41\00:45:49.51 But after the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 00:45:49.54\00:45:52.21 because the first seven chapters deal 00:45:52.25\00:45:53.68 with Jerusalem and Judea, 00:45:53.72\00:45:55.18 but the seventh chapter when Stephen is stoned, 00:45:55.22\00:45:59.39 now in the next chapter of the gospel goes to Samaria. 00:45:59.42\00:46:03.16 In Acts 9, 00:46:03.19\00:46:04.63 the champion to the Gentiles is converted. 00:46:04.66\00:46:09.40 And in Acts 10 through Acts 28, 00:46:09.43\00:46:12.00 now the gospel is going to the entire Roman Empire. 00:46:12.03\00:46:17.24 Are you following me? 00:46:17.27\00:46:18.61 Amen. 00:46:18.64\00:46:19.97 Now let's go to Acts 13, Acts 13. 00:46:20.01\00:46:26.28 I'll give you a little bit of historical context 00:46:26.31\00:46:29.08 so that we understand where and why this is taking place. 00:46:29.12\00:46:34.42 Acts 13:1-2 is describing the official beginning 00:46:34.46\00:46:40.03 of Paul's ministry. 00:46:40.06\00:46:42.83 This is when Paul and Barnabas are going to be ordained 00:46:42.86\00:46:46.63 and sent out as missionaries on a missionary journey, 00:46:46.67\00:46:50.71 their first missionary journey. 00:46:50.74\00:46:52.97 And so now after their ordination, 00:46:53.01\00:46:55.61 Paul and Barnabas traveled to Antioch of Pisidian. 00:46:55.64\00:47:00.02 You can read this all in chapter 13. 00:47:00.05\00:47:02.05 I'm just giving you the details. 00:47:02.08\00:47:03.79 So Paul and Barnabas traveled to Antioch of Pisidian, 00:47:03.82\00:47:09.22 and there the Apostle Paul preaches a powerful sermon 00:47:09.26\00:47:12.79 to the Jews in the synagogue. 00:47:12.83\00:47:16.16 When the Gentiles heard this sermon 00:47:16.20\00:47:18.70 because they were present, they're listening, 00:47:18.73\00:47:21.34 they said, "Wow, this is great stuff. 00:47:21.37\00:47:24.24 Paul, why don't you preach to us 00:47:24.27\00:47:26.54 the Gentiles next Sabbath?" 00:47:26.57\00:47:30.38 The Bible tells us that the next Sabbath, 00:47:30.41\00:47:31.95 the whole city came to listen to Paul. 00:47:31.98\00:47:34.88 You can read that in Acts 13:44. 00:47:34.92\00:47:38.39 And when the Jews saw all of the Gentiles in the city, 00:47:38.42\00:47:43.09 who came to listen to the sermon 00:47:43.12\00:47:44.46 of the Apostle Paul, they were filled with jealousy. 00:47:44.49\00:47:48.73 They said, "Last Sabbath, 00:47:48.76\00:47:50.10 there were just a sprinkling of people. 00:47:50.13\00:47:51.47 Look at all the Gentiles that are coming 00:47:51.50\00:47:52.90 to hear about Jesus." 00:47:52.93\00:47:55.70 And so they became jealous. 00:47:55.74\00:47:58.27 And we're told in verse 45 that they contradicted 00:47:58.31\00:48:01.41 and blasphemed the message of Paul. 00:48:01.44\00:48:06.18 So now Paul says something very significant. 00:48:06.21\00:48:10.05 It's found in verses 46 and 47. 00:48:10.09\00:48:14.42 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 00:48:14.46\00:48:18.93 "It was necessary that the Word of God 00:48:18.96\00:48:21.30 should be spoken to you first." 00:48:21.33\00:48:24.93 Why would Paul say that it was necessary 00:48:24.97\00:48:26.90 for the Word of God to be spoken to the Jews first? 00:48:26.94\00:48:30.87 Why would he say that? 00:48:30.91\00:48:33.58 Because of what? 00:48:33.61\00:48:35.44 The 70 weeks. 00:48:35.48\00:48:38.58 You see, the 70 weeks were determined 00:48:38.61\00:48:40.75 for your people in your city is what God told Daniel. 00:48:40.78\00:48:45.59 And so Paul is saying, "You know, 00:48:45.62\00:48:47.72 it was necessary for the gospel 00:48:47.76\00:48:50.03 to be preached first to the Jews." 00:48:50.06\00:48:53.50 But then notice when he says, 00:48:53.53\00:48:55.73 "But since you rejected and judge yourselves 00:48:55.76\00:49:00.90 unworthy of everlasting life, 00:49:00.94\00:49:03.30 behold, we turn to the Gentiles." 00:49:03.34\00:49:08.28 Are you catching the picture? 00:49:08.31\00:49:12.05 So do we have all of the events in the 70 weeks clearly marked 00:49:12.08\00:49:18.69 by important historical events? 00:49:18.72\00:49:21.42 Absolutely. 00:49:21.46\00:49:22.99 Seventy weeks were determined 00:49:23.02\00:49:25.93 for the literal Jewish theocracy. 00:49:25.96\00:49:28.40 457 BC, the command goes forth to restore, 00:49:28.43\00:49:34.40 that means to reestablish the religious system, 00:49:34.44\00:49:37.44 their civil system and to build Jerusalem 00:49:37.47\00:49:40.51 that means to build the city and the walls, 00:49:40.54\00:49:43.71 that took place historically, 457 BC the command was given. 00:49:43.75\00:49:49.35 The next 49 years or 70 weeks, 00:49:49.38\00:49:53.32 you have the story and you can read this 00:49:53.36\00:49:55.52 in the Book of Ezra, 00:49:55.56\00:49:56.89 all of the opposition and so on 00:49:56.93\00:49:58.26 while they were building the city. 00:49:58.29\00:50:00.80 You have the restoring of the religious system 00:50:00.83\00:50:05.43 of the Jews and the political system, 00:50:05.47\00:50:08.50 and you have also the rebuilding 00:50:08.54\00:50:11.27 of the city and of the walls. 00:50:11.31\00:50:15.11 Then you have 62 more weeks 00:50:15.14\00:50:18.31 that take you to the year 27 AD. 00:50:18.35\00:50:21.98 And in the year 27 AD, just like the prophecy says, 00:50:22.02\00:50:26.65 Jesus comes to John, the Baptist in the Jordan, 00:50:26.69\00:50:29.92 and he is baptized in the fall of the year 27 AD. 00:50:29.96\00:50:35.76 Then there's one whole week remaining. 00:50:35.80\00:50:38.43 And we're told that for that week, 00:50:38.47\00:50:40.70 the covenant would be still available for the Jews. 00:50:40.74\00:50:46.01 He will confirm the covenant for one week. 00:50:46.04\00:50:48.04 Why? 00:50:48.08\00:50:49.41 Because the 70 weeks said that the whole 70 weeks 00:50:49.44\00:50:53.21 were for the Jews. 00:50:53.25\00:50:54.58 Are you with me or not? 00:50:54.62\00:50:56.28 And then we're told that in the middle of the week, 00:50:56.32\00:51:00.79 the Messiah would cause the sacrifice 00:51:00.82\00:51:03.09 and the oblation to cease. 00:51:03.12\00:51:05.83 Did that literally happen? 00:51:05.86\00:51:07.66 When Jesus... 00:51:07.70\00:51:09.03 Remember we read, when Jesus died on the cross, 00:51:09.06\00:51:10.97 the Lamb escaped? 00:51:11.00\00:51:13.20 Because the true Lamb of God who takes away 00:51:13.23\00:51:15.70 the sin of the world had been sacrificed. 00:51:15.74\00:51:19.81 So in the middle of the week, 00:51:19.84\00:51:21.18 Messiah is cut off in the year 31, 00:51:21.21\00:51:23.71 but he's not cut off for himself. 00:51:23.75\00:51:27.52 Interesting. 00:51:27.55\00:51:29.68 And then there's 3.5 more years. 00:51:29.72\00:51:32.69 The 3.5 years as we've studied, 00:51:32.72\00:51:35.62 does God send them additional messengers? 00:51:35.66\00:51:38.19 Yes, He does. 00:51:38.23\00:51:39.76 The apostles preach. 00:51:39.79\00:51:41.46 Stephen preaches, the seven deacons preach, 00:51:41.50\00:51:44.20 sends the many messengers. 00:51:44.23\00:51:46.13 What do they do during those 3.5 years 00:51:46.17\00:51:48.60 where additional messengers are sent? 00:51:48.64\00:51:52.21 The story tells us that they reject them. 00:51:52.24\00:51:54.31 They go about their business and they kill some of them. 00:51:54.34\00:51:58.95 So then you reach the ending point 00:51:58.98\00:52:00.62 of the 70 weeks. 00:52:00.65\00:52:02.78 The year 34 AD, the Jewish Sanhedrin, 00:52:02.82\00:52:08.42 here's this powerful sermon that is given by Stephen, 00:52:08.46\00:52:12.89 telling all the benevolent acts of God toward His people, 00:52:12.93\00:52:18.47 and how they were rebellious time and again, 00:52:18.50\00:52:21.17 he is God's lawyer in divorce court. 00:52:21.20\00:52:24.01 But this time, he's not saying repent, 00:52:24.04\00:52:26.11 and God will take you back. 00:52:26.14\00:52:28.11 There was a finality to the story. 00:52:28.14\00:52:31.41 And then, Stephen at the end of his sermon, he says, 00:52:31.45\00:52:35.25 "I have had a vision, 00:52:35.28\00:52:37.75 the last vision given to the last prophet 00:52:37.79\00:52:42.42 of the Jewish theocracy. 00:52:42.46\00:52:43.93 I see heaven open and the Son of God in glory." 00:52:43.96\00:52:49.20 And what does the Jewish Sanhedrin do? 00:52:49.23\00:52:52.47 Oh, they don't say, 00:52:52.50\00:52:53.84 "Oh, we're sorry for what we've done. 00:52:53.87\00:52:55.64 You know, we want to be married with this Messiah, with Jesus." 00:52:55.67\00:53:01.34 Oh, no, their hearts raged within themselves, 00:53:01.38\00:53:04.81 they grit their teeth. 00:53:04.85\00:53:07.45 And it says that they run at him 00:53:07.48\00:53:09.38 with one accord and they kill him. 00:53:09.42\00:53:14.39 But present there was the messenger 00:53:14.42\00:53:18.56 that God had chosen 00:53:18.59\00:53:20.93 to now continue taking the message. 00:53:20.96\00:53:24.23 See, the Gentiles don't take a new message. 00:53:24.27\00:53:27.70 They take the same message 00:53:27.74\00:53:29.10 that the theocracy failed to take. 00:53:29.14\00:53:31.54 That's why the church is still Israel, 00:53:31.57\00:53:34.48 spiritual Israel, 00:53:34.51\00:53:36.61 because it is taking the same message 00:53:36.64\00:53:38.65 to the world now. 00:53:38.68\00:53:40.02 Now the world will not come and see Israel the blessed. 00:53:40.05\00:53:43.22 Now God's people will go out 00:53:43.25\00:53:46.25 and they will preach the gospel. 00:53:46.29\00:53:48.56 And thousands upon thousands of Gentiles will become Jews, 00:53:48.59\00:53:54.56 spiritually speaking. 00:53:54.60\00:53:55.93 And then they will become messengers 00:53:55.96\00:53:58.33 and the message of the gospel 00:53:58.37\00:54:00.07 will proliferate to the entire world. 00:54:00.10\00:54:04.27 Isn't this a magnificent prophecy? 00:54:04.31\00:54:07.44 It's amazing. 00:54:07.48\00:54:09.24 No human mind could have invented this. 00:54:09.28\00:54:14.65 It's the clearest passage in the Bible 00:54:14.68\00:54:16.89 that Jesus is the Messiah 00:54:16.92\00:54:19.95 because everything was fulfilled to the very letter, 00:54:19.99\00:54:23.79 not only as to events 00:54:23.83\00:54:26.06 but as to specific timing as well, 00:54:26.09\00:54:28.96 the greatest messianic prophecy of the Old Testament. 00:54:29.00\00:54:33.60 Let me conclude by saying something about the year 1948. 00:54:33.64\00:54:37.97 Futurists teach that the re-establishment 00:54:38.01\00:54:43.78 of literal Israel as God's chosen people 00:54:43.81\00:54:47.15 in disobedience to their land in 1948 00:54:47.18\00:54:51.79 is the greatest sign 00:54:51.82\00:54:53.56 that the rapture could take place at any time 00:54:53.59\00:54:57.19 and that God is soon going to kick start 00:54:57.23\00:54:59.83 His suspended plan for the liberal Jewish nation, 00:54:59.86\00:55:03.90 and that the Antichrist prophecies, 00:55:03.93\00:55:06.30 and that, you know, 00:55:06.33\00:55:07.67 the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, 00:55:07.70\00:55:09.54 and 3.5 literal years of antichrist, 00:55:09.57\00:55:12.27 all of that is going to be fulfilled 00:55:12.31\00:55:14.34 in the future after the rapture of the church. 00:55:14.38\00:55:18.55 Instead of seeing Christ at the center of the prophecy 00:55:18.58\00:55:21.32 of the 70 weeks, 00:55:21.35\00:55:22.98 they see antichrist as the center of this prophecy. 00:55:23.02\00:55:29.09 God's plan for the literal Jewish nation 00:55:29.12\00:55:31.39 has come to an end. 00:55:31.43\00:55:33.66 That does not mean I will repeat 00:55:33.70\00:55:36.10 that Jews individually cannot reach salvation. 00:55:36.13\00:55:40.90 God loves the Jews. 00:55:40.94\00:55:42.97 The Bible says salvation is of the Jews 00:55:43.00\00:55:45.67 because God called the Jews to preserve the truth 00:55:45.71\00:55:49.04 in the midst of a world of paganism. 00:55:49.08\00:55:51.95 So, you know, we're not saying that individual Jews are lost. 00:55:51.98\00:55:55.82 No, no, no. 00:55:55.85\00:55:57.19 God loves the Jews. 00:55:57.22\00:55:59.52 He just wants them to understand 00:55:59.55\00:56:01.72 that Jesus is the Messiah. 00:56:01.76\00:56:04.69 And that in receiving Christ, they will be free indeed, 00:56:04.73\00:56:09.60 and that they will be saved indeed. 00:56:09.63\00:56:12.30 And when they receive Jesus, then they become real Jews, 00:56:12.33\00:56:17.61 they will become real Israel because not all of Israel, 00:56:17.64\00:56:22.08 Paul says, is Israel. 00:56:22.11\00:56:24.95 Not all the seed of Abraham is the seed of Abraham. 00:56:24.98\00:56:29.22 But in Christ, you are Israel. 00:56:29.25\00:56:32.89 "If you are Christ's, 00:56:32.92\00:56:34.52 you are Abraham's seed 00:56:34.56\00:56:37.36 and heirs according to the promise." 00:56:37.39\00:56:39.73 Amen. 00:56:39.76\00:56:41.63 Why does the devil cause so much turmoil 00:56:41.66\00:56:47.34 in the Middle East? 00:56:47.37\00:56:49.70 Al Qaeda, ISIS, 00:56:49.74\00:56:54.84 militant Islam war against the West. 00:56:54.88\00:56:59.55 It's because Satan wants the Christian world to look 00:56:59.58\00:57:02.42 over there for the fulfillment of prophecy, 00:57:02.45\00:57:05.49 and that's where they're looking. 00:57:05.52\00:57:07.69 And meanwhile, the Antichrist, 00:57:07.72\00:57:09.59 and it's held from the United States 00:57:09.62\00:57:11.59 grows in Rome and in the United States, 00:57:11.63\00:57:15.36 and no one can see it 00:57:15.40\00:57:17.37 because they're looking in the wrong place. 00:57:17.40\00:57:21.80 In football, there's a play that's called the counter play. 00:57:21.84\00:57:26.44 You know, the blockers, 00:57:26.47\00:57:27.81 they all run towards one side because supposedly, 00:57:27.84\00:57:30.31 the runner or the halfback is going to run that way. 00:57:30.35\00:57:34.48 And so when the opposing team sees 00:57:34.52\00:57:36.62 that the blockers are all going this way, 00:57:36.65\00:57:39.09 they say, "Oh, the runner is going that way." 00:57:39.12\00:57:41.52 But then the runner goes around the other end, 00:57:41.56\00:57:44.23 there's no blockers but the other team 00:57:44.26\00:57:46.70 doesn't have anybody to tackle him either 00:57:46.73\00:57:48.73 because they thought he was going the wrong way." 00:57:48.76\00:57:50.43 The devil is an expert at the counter play 00:57:50.47\00:57:55.90 and making it appear that prophecy is fulfilled 00:57:55.94\00:57:58.94 where it isn't. 00:57:58.97\00:58:00.58 We have to let the Christian world know, 00:58:00.61\00:58:03.55 so that they will not make the wrong decisions 00:58:03.58\00:58:06.21 in the time ahead. 00:58:06.25\00:58:07.58