Participants:
Series Code: TAM
Program Code: TAM000017S
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00:31 Let's pray. Our beloved heavenly Father, once again we come into
00:37 your presence with gratefulness in our hearts because we know 00:41 that You're a loving God, and You want us to know how things 00:45 will unwind in the last days so that we can be prepared. 00:48 We ask that as we study this evening, the last portion of the 00:52 third angel's message, that Your Holy Spirit will be with us. 00:55 Help us to understand the urgency of the times 00:59 in which we are living. 01:00 And help us to understand what the final punishment 01:04 of the wicked, and Satan, and his angels will be, 01:07 so that we can admire and love Your character. 01:10 And we thank You Father for hearing our prayer, 01:12 for we ask it in the precious name of Jesus, Amen. 01:17 I'd like to begin by reading Revelation 14:9-11, 01:25 Revelation 14:9-11. 01:29 In our presentation last time we discussed the first part 01:34 of the third angel's message. 01:36 And I'm going to read that portion, and then do a little 01:39 review, and then we'll begin with what we're going to study 01:43 in our lecture today. 01:44 It says there in Revelation 14:9 01:50 That is followed the first two angels. 02:14 Of course we studied yesterday that Jesus Christ drank the wine 02:21 of the wrath of God from the cup; the cup that His 02:25 own Father gave Him. 02:26 And Jesus drank the cup of the wrath of God 02:30 for everyone on Planet Earth. 02:32 But the sad thing is those who refuse to receive the 02:37 third angel's message will have to drink the cup of God's 02:41 wrath, the wine of God's wrath themselves, 02:44 because they rejected what Jesus Christ did for them 02:48 when He came to this earth. 02:50 What a waste! They could have been saved. 02:53 But instead of following Christ, they chose to 02:57 follow the antichrist. 02:59 And, by the way, we have studied that the antichrist does not 03:03 mean, primarily against Christ, but it means one who seeks 03:09 to occupy the place of Christ. 03:12 So the third angel's message says that those who worship 03:14 the one who seeks to occupy the place of Christ, 03:19 and the image of that beast, which we've already studied, 03:23 and receives his mark; those are going to receive 03:27 the wine of the wrath of God. 03:29 Because they did not accept Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, 03:33 but they chose to follow a counterfeit. 03:36 They chose to follow the beast, who is a 03:38 counterfeit Christ on earth. 03:40 And then we read, continuing in the third angel's message, 03:46 the following: this is the middle of verse 10. 03:51 He shall be tormented... 03:54 That is those who receive the mark of the beast, 03:58 who worship the beast, who worship the image, 03:59 who receive the number of his name. 04:02 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence 04:07 of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. 04:24 So the culmination of the outpouring of God's wrath is 04:29 found when fire and brimstone falls from heaven, and consumes 04:35 those who worship the beast, his image, and receive the 04:39 mark of the beast. 04:40 So what we're studying is a matter of life and death. 04:43 You know, it's not an optional thing. 04:45 Well, you know, I will choose to accept the third angel's 04:50 message, or I'll choose to reject the 04:52 third angel's message. 04:53 The fact is that if we accept the message, we're going to be 04:56 saved, and we're going to survive, and we're going to 04:59 have eternal life because Jesus drank the cup. 05:01 But if we follow the beast, and receive his mark, 05:05 and worship his image, we're going to be lost. 05:08 We're going to drink the cup of the wine of the wrath of God 05:12 without mixture of mercy. 05:15 And the Bible tells us that this is going to be the culmination, 05:20 the fire and brimstone is going to be the culmination of the 05:23 punishment against the wicked. 05:25 Now I want to dwell, especially in our lecture today, about what 05:30 forever means, because you notice here that it says 05:32 that the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever. 05:36 And there are other passages in the Bible that speak 05:39 about eternal fire. 05:41 Notice, for example, Matthew 25: 41, Matthew 25:41. 05:48 This is a very important passage. 05:51 It's the parable, or the story of the sheep and the goats; 05:54 when Jesus separates the sheep and the goats. 05:56 It says there in verse 41: 06:11 Once again, the fire is called what? everlasting fire. 06:15 The fire and brimstone is an everlasting fire. 06:19 Notice Matthew 25:46, Matthew 25:46, 06:25 just a few verses further down. It says: 06:36 And so you have everlasting punishment. 06:38 You have eternal fire. 06:40 You have no rest day or night. 06:43 Does this mean that those who worship the beast and his image, 06:47 and receive the mark, are going to burn forever and ever, 06:52 and ever, and they're never going to go out? 06:54 I want you to notice also Revelation 20:10. 06:59 We're going to answer this question that I just formulated, 07:02 and we're going to take a look at what Scripture 07:04 has to say, not tradition. Revelation 20:10. 07:09 It's speaking here about the Devil. It says there: 07:17 And what? See, there it is again; fire and brim... 07:20 Is the Devil going to suffer the unmitigated wrath of God? 07:24 Is he going to have to drink the cup of the wrath of God? 07:26 the culmination of the drinking of the cup? Absolutely. 07:36 Really the tense of the verb is where the beast and the false 07:39 prophet were cast. 07:42 That's the antecedent verb, so it shows that they were cast 07:45 into the fire immediately before the beginning of the millennium. 07:49 And then it says at the end of the verse: And they will be 07:53 tormented day and night, forever and ever. 07:58 Now does this mean that the wicked are also going to burn 08:03 in the fire forever and ever, and the Devil and his angels 08:06 are going to burn in the fire forever and ever? 08:08 They're going to continue drinking the cup of God's wrath 08:10 forever where they'll never go out? 08:14 Is that what Scripture is trying to teach? 08:16 Well, that's what we're going to take a look at, 08:19 especially in our study today. 08:21 In order to understand what we are going to look at today, 08:26 we need to understand what Scripture means 08:31 by everlasting fire. 08:32 Now you'll notice that Scripture does not say that the wicked 08:37 will burn eternally. 08:39 Scripture says that the fire burns eternally. 08:43 There's a distinction. 08:44 The fire is eternal fire, but it doesn't say that the 08:47 wicked are eternal. 08:48 We're going to notice that that's a very 08:50 significant distinction. 08:52 Now what is the eternal fire? 08:55 Well, in order to understand it, we need to go back to an 08:59 Old Testament story; the story of the destruction 09:02 of Sodom and Gomorrah. 09:04 So I invite you to go with me to Genesis 19:24 09:08 and we'll also read verse 28. 09:10 It says there: Then the Lord rained... Notice this. 09:15 ...brimstone and fire. 09:18 Is this the same expression we find in Revelation? 09:21 Most certainly. 09:27 And where did this brimstone and fire come from? 09:33 Is that where the fire and brimstone comes in Revelation? 09:35 Absolutely. Verse 28. 09:38 We'll jump from verse 24 to verse 28. 09:41 Notice the smoke ascends once the cities are burned 09:44 with fire and brimstone. It says: 09:46 That is Abraham. 09:59 Does Revelation also speak about smoke going up? Absolutely. 10:03 So Revelation speaks about fire and brimstone. 10:06 It speaks about smoke going up, and it speaks about the fire 10:10 and brimstone coming from heaven. 10:11 Now go with me to Jude, verse 7. 10:14 And we only give the verse because Jude only has 10:17 one chapter, so Jude verse 7. 10:19 And let's notice what kind of fire destroyed 10:22 Sodom and Gomorrah. 10:23 There's a particular type of fire that 10:25 destroyed these cities. 10:26 The fire and brimstone that fell from heaven, and the smoke went 10:30 up like a furnace; it was a certain kind of fire. 10:33 Notice Jude 7. It says there: 10:52 These cities are set forth as an example. 11:00 What kind of fire destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah? 11:03 The Bible says that it was eternal fire that destroyed 11:07 Sodom and Gomorrah. 11:08 It was eternal fire and brimstone, if you please. 11:11 Because we just read that fire and brimstone fell from 11:14 heaven upon the cities. 11:15 Now I want you to notice a text that appears to be in 11:19 contradiction with Jude 7. 11:21 2 Peter 2:6, and I underlined the word appears because there 11:26 are no contradictions in the Bible when you study carefully. 11:30 2 Peter 2:6, Speaking about the cities of Sodom 11:34 and Gomorrah it says, 11:49 What were Sodom and Gomorrah reduced to? 11:51 They were reduced to ashes, but they were destroyed 11:54 with what kind of fire? 11:55 They were destroyed with everlasting, 11:57 or with eternal fire. 11:59 Now the question is, are Sodom and Gomorrah 12:01 still burning today? 12:02 Sodom and Gomorrah are not burning today. 12:05 So eternal fire must mean something different than what 12:10 most people assume that it means. 12:12 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 12:13 The question is, what is the fire that destroyed 12:18 Sodom and Gomorrah? 12:20 We need to go to a few other texts in the Old Testament 12:23 that explain what that fire is. 12:25 Go with me to Deuteronomy 4:23, 24, Deuteronomy 4:23, 24. 12:33 Here God is warning Israel not to practice idolatry. 12:39 And notice what it says. 12:41 Take heed to yourselves lest you forget the covenant of the Lord 12:45 your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves 12:49 a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord 12:52 your God has forbidden you. 12:53 In other words, don't make any idols. 12:55 And then it says in verse 24 the reason why you should 12:59 not make these idols. 13:01 For the Lord your God is what? is a consuming fire, 13:07 a jealous God. Let me ask you, What is God? 13:09 God is a what? a consuming fire. 13:12 So we begin to understand what the fire is. 13:15 The fire is whom? God, according to this. 13:19 Ah, you're saying, Is God then a bunch of flames of fire? No. 13:23 We're going to notice that God is fire in a specific sense. 13:27 Now go with me to Hebrews 12:28, 29, where this verse, 13:33 Deuteronomy 4:24 is quoted in the New Testament. 13:37 Hebrews 12:28, 29. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom 13:45 which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve 13:50 God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear. 13:54 Now why should we serve God acceptably, 13:57 with reverence and Godly fear? 13:59 Notice: For our God is a consuming fire. 14:05 Who is the consuming fire? 14:06 God is the consuming fire, according to this. 14:10 Now, does this mean that God is composed of flames of fire? 14:16 Of course not. Fire means something concerning the nature 14:24 of God; who God is. 14:25 I want you to notice Exodus 24: 15-17. 14:30 In our last lecture we noticed that God and sin 14:33 cannot exist together. 14:35 That's why God ultimately has to eradicate sin from the universe. 14:38 Because holiness and sin cannot coexist. 14:42 Now I want you to notice Exodus 24:15. 14:51 Now praise the Lord that there was a cloud that covered 14:55 the mountain, or else Israel would have been wiped out. 14:57 It continues saying in verse 16: 15:11 Now notice this: 15:23 What is it that is like a consuming fire? 15:25 The what? The glory of the Lord. 15:28 Let me ask you, What is it that destroyed the cities of 15:31 Sodom and Gomorrah? 15:32 The fire and brimstone that fell from heaven was a manifestation. 15:37 For a moment God withdrew the veil that covered Him from 15:42 Sodom and Gomorrah seeing Him, and immediately the cities 15:47 were totally destroyed. 15:49 Go with me to Revelation 15:2, Revelation 15:2. 15:55 Here it's speaking about a sea, a crystal sea 15:58 in heaven where God lives. 16:00 And I want you to notice a very interesting detail concerning 16:04 this sea of glass. 16:05 It says in Revelation 15:2 16:25 Here you have this crystal clear sea, which is, it looks like 16:30 it's mingled with what? with fire. 16:33 Do you know why it looks like it's mingled with fire? 16:35 Because as you read in Revelation 21 and 22 the throne 16:40 of God stands immediately above the sea of glass. 16:44 And undoubtedly the glory of God is reflected in that sea of 16:49 glass, and therefore the sea of glass looks like it's 16:52 mingled with fire. 16:54 So, in other words, God is a consuming fire. 16:57 The glory of God is a consuming fire against sin. 17:01 And, of course, we've already studied that the glory of God 17:04 also has to do with His character. 17:06 And the wicked have a character totally opposite 17:09 than the character of God. 17:10 Therefore the glory of God, when He reveals Himself, 17:14 consumes the wicked. 17:16 Now let me ask you, If God is the consuming fire, 17:21 and the consuming fire is the glory of God, 17:24 how long has God had this glory? 17:29 I suppose He got it just 6,000 years ago. Of course not. 17:33 How long has God been a glorious God? 17:36 He's been a glorious God forever. 17:39 So let me ask you, Can we speak of God as everlasting fire? 17:45 or He has everlasting glory? Absolutely. 17:48 So it is God, as the fire, who is everlasting. 17:52 Does that mean that that which the fire 17:55 consumes is everlasting? 17:57 Never in the Bible will you find that what the fire 17:59 consumes is everlasting. 18:01 People just assumed that because the Bible uses the expression 18:04 everlasting fire, or eternal fire. 18:06 But it's the fire that's eternal, because God is eternal; 18:10 His glory is eternal. 18:11 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 18:13 Now I'm going to show from Scripture that the wicked are 18:18 going to be destroyed. 18:21 Notice Malachi 4:1, 3, Malachi 4:1, 3. 18:28 For, behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven; 18:32 and all the proud, yea, all who do wickedly, will be stubble: 18:38 and the day which is coming shall what? burn them up. 18:44 What does burn them up mean? 18:45 It means that it just burns, and burns, and burns, and burns? 18:48 No, to burn up means that ultimately it what? it goes out. 18:53 Exactly. And so it says, And that day, which is coming, 18:56 shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that will leave 19:01 them neither root nor branch. 19:03 Who is the root? Who is the root of all evil? Satan. 19:08 And who are the branches? 19:10 The branches are His followers. 19:11 Jesus says, I am the vine, you are the branches. 19:14 The Devil is the root, and the branches are His followers. 19:17 And now notice verse 3. It says, You shall trample the wicked; 19:22 for they shall be what? ashes under the soles of your feet 19:27 on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts. 19:30 What are the wicked going be? 19:31 They're going to be what? ashes. 19:34 How can they be ashes and still be burning forever and ever? 19:36 It's impossible. What are ashes? 19:39 Ashes are the result of everything there is to burn. 19:43 Once the fire has burned everything the result is ashes, 19:46 and the fire what? the fire goes out. 19:49 Well let me ask you, Does the source of the fire go out? 19:52 Absolutely not, because the source of the fire 19:54 is the glory of God. 19:57 Notice also Revelation 20:9, a very interesting expression. 20:02 Revelation 20:9, speaking about the wicked 20:04 surrounding the holy city. It says: 20:16 See the same as Sodom and Gomorrah. 20:19 See, it originates with God. 20:26 You say, What does that word devour mean? 20:29 Well, I'll just give you this reference: Matthew 13:4. 20:34 It speaks about the parable of the sower, and it says there: 20:39 And as he sowed some seed fell by the wayside, and the birds 20:45 came and devoured them. 20:48 How many seeds were left after the birds finished devouring 20:51 them? Absolutely none. 20:53 It's the same word that's used in Revelation. 20:55 To devour means that the fire totally eats them up, 20:59 and totally destroys them. 21:01 Notice Revelation 21:8, what this fire produces. 21:07 It does not produce eternal life in misery. 21:10 It says in Revelation 21:8 21:26 There it is again. 21:33 Do you know what second death is? 21:35 Second death is simply that death from which there 21:39 is no resurrection. 21:43 You see, everybody has been born into this world as living 21:46 their first life, or has lived their first life. 21:48 Those who die in Christ, when Jesus comes they'll resurrect, 21:54 and they'll live, so to speak, their second life. 21:56 They'll live for the second time. 21:58 But the wicked will all die before Jesus comes, 22:02 or at the coming of Jesus, the rest of those who are alive, 22:05 and they will remain dead during the thousand years. 22:08 After the thousand years they will what? they will resurrect. 22:12 And then they're going to be judged by God, 22:15 as we studied previously. 22:16 And then they're going to be what? destroyed with the fire. 22:20 And that is called what? second death. 22:23 You can't have a second death unless you had the first death. 22:25 So how many deaths are God's people going to suffer? 22:28 Only one death. How many deaths are the wicked going to suffer? 22:33 They are going to suffer two deaths. 22:36 In fact Jeremiah 51 says they shall sleep an eternal sleep, 22:40 and they shall not awake. 22:44 Now, this might surprise you, but the Bible teaches that it's 22:50 the righteous who are going to live in the midst 22:52 of the everlasting fire. 22:54 You say, Wait a minute, Pastor. 22:56 Are you saying that the righteous are going to hell? 22:58 No, I'm not saying the righteous are going to hell. 23:01 I'm saying that the righteous are going to live in the midst 23:04 of the presence of God. 23:06 They're going to live in the midst of the eternal fire, 23:09 and they're not going to be burned, because they have a 23:12 fireproof character. 23:13 You say, Where does the Bible teach such a thing? 23:15 Go with me to Isaiah 33:14, 15, Isaiah 33:14, 15. 23:21 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has 23:26 seized the hypocrites. 23:27 And then the question is asked, 23:41 Who can dwell with the devouring fire? 23:43 Who can dwell with the everlasting burnings? 23:46 What would most Christians say? 23:48 The sinful, wicked people. 23:51 But notice the answer that Isaiah gives. 24:14 Isn't that interesting? 24:16 The Christian world has it the wrong way around. 24:20 They say that the wicked are going to live in the 24:22 fire forever and ever. 24:24 The Bible says that the righteous will live the 24:26 presence of the eternal fire forever, 24:29 and they will not be burned. 24:30 They'll be like the three young men that were cast 24:32 into the fiery furnace. 24:34 You see, they had the character of Jesus Christ, 24:37 and therefore the fires did not consume them. 24:39 That was common little old human fire, but we're talking 24:43 here about the devouring fire of the glory of God. 24:46 And God's people will be able to dwell in the midst of the 24:49 devouring fire and not be consumed. 24:52 Now you say, Well, Pastor, if you say that Satan and his 24:55 angels, and the wicked are not going to burn forever, 24:58 the question is, Are they going to burn for a short period, 25:03 for a long period? 25:05 How long are they going to burn? 25:06 Is everybody going to suffer the same length? 25:09 Well, do you know the Bible tells us that the punishment 25:14 upon the wicked will be according to their what? 25:18 according to their works. 25:20 Let's notice Luke 12:47, 48, Luke 12:47, 28. 25:27 This is a parable of Jesus, and He says: And that servant, 25:30 who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself, 25:34 or do according to his will, shall be beaten with what? 25:37 many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things 25:42 deserving of stripes shall be beaten with what? with few. 25:46 For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be 25:51 required; and to whom much has been committed, 25:55 of him they will ask the more. 25:58 Let me ask you, Is the final punishment going to be according 26:02 to the sinfulness of the individual? Absolutely. 26:05 Notice Revelation 20:13, Revelation 20:13. 26:09 This is after the millennium. It says: 26:24 So the punishment that is going to be meted out is according 26:28 to the works which were performed by the 26:31 individuals who are lost. 26:32 Let me illustrate the point. 26:34 How many of you think that it would be just on the part of 26:37 God to punish Adolph Hitler, and a common ordinary sinner 26:43 with the same punishment? 26:45 Would that be justice? 26:47 That would absolutely not be justice. 26:49 That would be like an individual who goes before a judge 26:52 because he's gone through a red light, 26:54 and another individual goes before the same judge 26:56 because he killed somebody. 26:58 And the judge says, I condemn both of you 27:00 to the electric chair. 27:01 You know, the punishment depends upon the works that the 27:08 individual has committed. 27:10 This means that Satan and his angels, and the wicked 27:12 will suffer differing lengths of punishment 27:16 according to their sinfulness, or according to their works. 27:20 Now you say, But what about forever? 27:23 Doesn't the Bible say that they're going to 27:25 burn forever and ever? 27:26 Well, we've already noticed that they've going to be reduced 27:28 to ashes, so they must not burn forever. 27:30 So what does forever and ever mean? 27:34 Well, let's read the text again. Revelation 20:10. 27:51 You say, What part of forever and ever don't you understand? 27:54 Well, I decided one day that I would go to the library, 27:59 the theological library at Andrews University, in Michigan, 28:02 and I would look at what commentators have to say about 28:06 the words forever. 28:07 In Hebrew the word is olam, and in Greek the word is aion. 28:11 And so I decided I would see what the experts in Hebrew 28:16 and Greek had to say about these words that are 28:19 used: forever and ever. 28:20 And I discovered something very interesting. 28:22 These scholars say that forever means a long period of time 28:28 whose end cannot be seen, but it does not mean that the 28:32 period of time does not have an end. 28:34 Allow me to read you some statements from some of these 28:38 scholars so that you see what the expression forever means. 28:41 And, by the way, the version in Spanish, 28:44 Version Reina Valera 1960 says, for centuries and 28:49 centuries, actually Por los siglos de los siglos. 28:53 Literally in Greek it means for the ages of the ages. 28:57 Now let's read a statement by Allan MacRae. 29:01 He was president and professor of Old Testament Theology 29:04 at the Biblical School of Theology 29:06 in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. 29:08 Notice what he had to say: The LXX, which is the Septuagint, 29:12 the Greek translation of the Old Testament. 29:13 The Septuagint generally translates olam, 29:17 that's the Hebrew word, by aion, that's the Greek word, 29:20 which has essentially the same range of meaning. 29:23 He's saying that olam and aion mean the same thing. 29:26 Now notice this: that neither the Hebrew, nor the Greek word 29:32 itself contains the idea of endlessness... 29:36 See neither one of these words contains the idea of what? 29:40 endlessness... is shown both by the fact that they sometimes 29:44 refer to events or conditions that occurred at a definite 29:47 point in the past. 29:48 In other words, they're not eternal because they 29:50 had a point of beginning, and also by the fact that sometimes 29:53 it is thought desirable to repeat the word, 29:56 not merely saying forever, but forever and ever. 29:59 Also two other scholars, Multon and Millgan, 30:03 they are experts in Greek. 30:05 Notice what they have to say. 30:07 In general the word, the word aion, where you get the word 30:11 forever from in the New Testament, in general the word 30:15 depicts that of which the horizon is not in view. 30:19 In other words, the horizon is distant. 30:21 Whether the horizon be at an infinite distance, 30:26 or whether it lies no further than the span of Caesar's life. 30:30 In other words, the word forever is used for the 30:33 span of Caesar's life. 30:34 But it's also used, especially with regards to God, 30:38 in terms of eternal distance, that which has no end. 30:41 But it refers to God, it's not referring to 30:44 corruptible created things. 30:46 One further statement from Gerhard Kittel, who was the 30:50 editor of the famous theological wordbook of the Old Testament. 30:54 He had this to say: In the plural aion, that's the word 30:59 forever, the aion formula, the meaning of aion merges into 31:05 that of a long but limited stretch of time. 31:09 So notice the word means a long but what? 31:11 limited stretch of time. 31:13 In particular aion, that's the word forever, in this sense 31:17 signifies the time of duration of the world. 31:20 So the word forever can mean the period of 31:22 duration of this world. 31:24 That is to say time as limited by creation and conclusion. 31:30 So the word forever can mean the time between creation 31:32 and the conclusion. 31:34 He continues saying, At this point we are confronted by the 31:37 remarkable fact that in the Bible the same word, aion, 31:42 is used to indicate two things which are 31:45 profoundly antithetical, namely the eternity of God... 31:50 See, from God's perspective, the eternity of God, 31:54 and the duration of the world. 31:56 Now is the duration of the world limited? Yes. 32:00 Is the eternity of God something that has no beginning or end? 32:03 Yes, but the same word is used for both. 32:07 Now what does this mean? 32:10 It means that when the word aion is used with reference to 32:14 God, it means everlasting. 32:16 But when it's used with reference to created things, 32:20 it means a long, indefinite period that 32:23 definitely has an end. 32:25 He continues saying: This two-fold sense, 32:27 which aion shares with the Hebrew olam... 32:30 See both the Old Testament and New Testament 32:32 words share this idea. 32:34 ...points back to a concept to an eternity in which eternity is 32:39 identified with the duration of the world. 32:42 So how long is eternity? the duration of the world, 32:45 says this scholar. 32:47 Now the question is, Is Satan going to burn out? 32:50 He's obviously going to burn a long period of time, 32:53 because the expression, forever is used with regards 32:56 to his destruction. 32:57 It doesn't mean that he's going to exist forever and ever, 33:00 and ever throughout eternity, and he's going to burn forever, 33:03 and he's never going to go out. 33:04 It means that he's going to burn for a long period of time; 33:08 whose end cannot be discerned or cannot be seen. 33:11 As it says in the Spanish version, 33:13 Por los siglos de los siglos. 33:15 Now do you know that the Bible says that Satan is going to be 33:20 reduced to ashes as well as the wicked? 33:22 Go with me to Ezekiel 28:18, 19, Ezekiel 28:18, 19. 33:30 Here is a prophecy speaking about this covering cherub 33:35 who was beautiful. 33:37 It says, You defiled your sanctuaries by the multitude 33:39 of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trading; 33:44 therefore I brought fire from your midst. 33:47 It what? What's the next word? 33:51 It devoured you, and it turned you to ashes. 33:58 Is the Devil going to be reduced to ashes? Yes. 34:01 So is he going to burn out? Absolutely. 34:05 So it says: I turned you to ashes upon the earth 34:09 in the sight of all who saw you. 34:11 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you: 34:15 you have become a horror, and shall be no more forever. 34:23 In what sense is the fire everlasting? in the sense that 34:28 the glory of God is everlasting that destroys Satan. 34:32 But also the fire will destroy Satan, 34:35 and he will never exist forever. 34:37 Are you understanding? 34:39 In other words the fire produces everlasting results. 34:42 But even after Satan goes out, God will still have His glory, 34:46 He is still the consuming, everlasting fire. 34:51 We've already read that God is going to 34:54 eradicate root and branch. 34:57 Let's read that again. 34:59 Malachi 4:1, 3. For, behold, the day is coming, 35:04 burning like an oven; and all the proud, yes, 35:06 all who do wickedly will be stubble: and the day which is 35:09 coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, 35:12 that will leave them neither root nor branch. 35:16 Root is the Devil and the branches are his followers. 35:18 Verse 3. You shall trample the wicked; for they shall be ashes 35:23 under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, 35:27 says the Lord of hosts. 35:30 But now I'm sure that you're wondering how long the Devil 35:35 and his angels are going to be burning. 35:37 How long are the wicked, who will drink the cup of the wine 35:41 of the wrath of God, without mixture of mercy, 35:44 how long are they going to be burning in the fire before they 35:47 actually burn out and cease to exist? 35:50 The answer to this question, particularly with regards to the 35:56 Devil, is found in an ancient ceremonial that God established 36:01 in the Hebrew religious system, in the day of 36:05 atonement ceremony. 36:07 Go with me to Leviticus 16, Leviticus 16:7. 36:14 And you remember in our last lecture asked the question, 36:16 Did Jesus suffer the second death? 36:21 We said that the second death is death from which there is no 36:24 what? no resurrection. 36:26 Did Jesus resurrect? 36:29 So did He suffer the second death? No. 36:32 And let me say it this way, Jesus suffered the 36:36 experience of second death. 36:38 He felt like the wicked will feel outside the holy city 36:41 when they realize that their life is going to be snuffed out 36:44 forever, and they will forever cease to exist. 36:47 Jesus felt the anguish of separation from God, 36:50 the anguish of knowing that His life was coming to an end. 36:55 In fact, in Desire of Ages, that magnificent book, it says that 36:58 He could not see beyond the portals of the tomb. 37:01 He thought that sin was so great and so offensive to His Father 37:07 that the separation from His Father would be eternal. 37:10 In other words, Jesus felt the anguish of everlasting 37:13 separation from God. 37:15 But the sins that He bore were not His. 37:18 The sins that He bore were the sins of the world. 37:24 So you say, If He didn't suffer second death, then sin wasn't 37:28 paid for, because the wages of sin is death, second death. 37:31 Well, here's where the ceremonial of the day of 37:34 atonement comes in. 37:35 Leviticus 16:7. It's speaking about two goats. 37:41 They were chosen on the day of atonement. 37:42 And it says, He shall take the two goats and present them 37:46 before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meetings. 37:51 So two goats were chosen. 37:52 One goat was for the Lord, and the other goat was for Azazel. 37:59 Now let me say that in Hebrew thinking, in Jewish thinking, 38:03 in fact if you go to the apocryphal book of Enoch, 38:05 you'll find that the Jews believed that Azazel 38:10 was the prince of demons. 38:12 They believed that Azazel was the Devil himself. 38:16 And now I want you to notice Leviticus 16:20-22. 38:21 But before I read these verses, let me ask you this question: 38:23 What happened in the daily ceremonial in the sanctuary? 38:29 An animal was sacrificed. 38:31 What happened with the blood? 38:33 The blood was taken into the sanctuary, 38:36 and sin was transferred from the sinner, who put his hand 38:39 on the head of the animal, and then the animal was slain. 38:43 And then through the blood the sin was transferred where? 38:46 into the sanctuary. 38:47 So let me ask you, Were those sins that were transferred into 38:51 the sanctuary forgiven sins? Yeh. 38:54 The sins that Jesus transfers to the sanctuary 38:57 are forgiven sins. 38:58 Isn't that comforting news? 39:00 You know, He's not registering those things up there 39:04 to hold them against you. 39:05 What God is doing is He's introducing sin into the 39:09 sanctuary covered by the blood of the sacrifice; 39:13 covered by the blood of Jesus. 39:14 In other words, forgiven sins are placed in the sanctuary. 39:17 And what did that do with the sanctuary? 39:19 It contaminated the sanctuary. 39:21 It defiled the sanctuary. 39:23 If you don't believe it read Hebrews 9:23. 39:26 It says that the heavenly things had to be cleansed. 39:29 Daniel 8:14 says, Unto 2300 days and the sanctuary 39:34 shall be cleansed. 39:35 In other words, all of the sins that went into the sanctuary, 39:39 through the blood, eventually those sins had to be cleansed 39:41 from the sanctuary. 39:43 Notice Leviticus 16:20-22. 39:46 This is what happened on the day of atonement. 39:48 And this is a very important point. 39:51 And when He has made an end of atoning for the holy place, 39:55 that is atoning for the sanctuary. 39:57 Let me ask you, the scapegoat ceremony... 39:59 Did that take place after the sanctuary had been cleansed, 40:02 or did it take place before the sanctuary was cleansed? 40:06 After the sanctuary was cleansed. 40:09 After the first goat had been sacrificed and died. 40:11 The first goat represents the sacrifice of Jesus. 40:13 In other words, after the first goat was sacrificed for the sins 40:16 of the people, the high priest cleansed the sanctuary, 40:20 and then he came to the second goat. So it says: 40:32 The what kind of goat? the live goat. 40:35 So whatever is done with this goat, 40:37 this goat is not dying for sin. 40:39 This goat is what? alive. 40:42 And without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. 40:46 Verse 21. 41:05 Which, let me ask you, which iniquities, 41:09 which transgressions and which sins was he placing on the 41:11 head of the scapegoat? 41:13 All of those that he was bringing from where? 41:16 From the sanctuary that had been deposited there all year. 41:19 And by putting his hands on the head of the goat, 41:22 and confessing the sins on the head of the goat, 41:25 what is he doing? He's transferring the sins to Azazel, 41:29 the live scapegoat. And it says: 41:44 So where was he sent? into the wilderness. Notice: 41:50 And there was a special person chosen to take him 41:52 to the wilderness. 42:02 A wilderness and a what? uninhabited land. 42:06 In other words, a place where there was no one living. 42:14 Now let me ask you, What happened with the sins of those 42:19 who had not placed their sins in the sanctuary? 42:21 those who had not actually repented of sin 42:24 and confessed their sins? 42:25 Were all of those sins placed on the head of the scapegoat? 42:29 No. Notice Leviticus 23, Leviticus 23. 42:32 Those who did not claim... 42:34 Listen to this. This is important. 42:36 Those who did not claim the blood of the Lord's goat; 42:40 those who did not confess sin, and repent of sin, 42:45 and have their sin go into the sanctuary covered by the blood, 42:48 those individuals suffered the penalty for their own sins. 42:53 Their sins were not placed on the head of the scapegoat. 42:55 In other words, they died for their own sins. 42:58 Notice Leviticus 23:29, 30, where it says this very clearly. 43:04 For any person who is not afflicted in soul, 43:09 on that same day shall be cut off from his people. 43:14 And any person who does any work on that same day, 43:19 that person I will what? destroy from among his people. 43:25 So it was only all of the sins that entered into the sanctuary 43:30 through the blood, sins that people had repented of 43:34 and confessed, that were placed upon the head of the scapegoat. 43:39 And then the scapegoat was sent out into the wilderness 43:42 to a non-inhabited land. 43:44 What was God trying to teach through this? 43:48 I want to read a couple of statements from a woman 43:55 who wrote some amazing things. 43:59 Her name is Ellen White. 44:01 You say, Why are you reading from Ellen White? 44:04 Well, I'm going to read her statements, and I'm going to 44:07 tell you where in the Bible is found what she says. 44:10 Because she definitely knows what she's talking about, 44:13 and she has the backing of Scripture to explain 44:16 this specific point. 44:18 The first statement is found in Early Writings, page 290. 44:22 This is something that she wrote very early in her ministry. 44:25 She says this: Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the 44:31 redeemed saints sat upon them. 44:34 And the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God. 44:38 Let me ask you, Where is that found in the Bible? 44:40 Revelation 20:4. During the millennium God's people will 44:45 reign as kings and priests with Christ. 44:48 And the Bible says that judgment was given to them. 44:52 Notice what it continues saying. 44:53 Christ, in union with His people, judged the wicked dead. 44:57 Is that Biblical? Judgment was committed to them, 45:01 it says in Revelation 20:4, comparing their acts with the 45:05 statute book, the Word of God, and deciding every case 45:10 according to the deeds done in the body. 45:12 Is that Biblical? Yes. 45:15 Revelation 20:11, 12 says that they will be judged 45:18 according to their works. 45:19 Now notice, Then they meted out to the wicked the portion 45:27 which they must suffer according to their works. 45:31 Is that Biblical? If you read 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3, 45:37 which we're not going to take the time to read, it says, 45:39 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? 45:44 It even says, Do you not know that the saints 45:47 will judge angels? 45:48 It has to be the wicked angels, because righteous 45:51 angels need no judgment. 45:53 And so she says, Once again, then they meted out to the 46:00 wicked the portion which they must suffer 46:02 according to their works. 46:03 And it was written against their names in the book of death. 46:06 Satan and his angels were judged by Jesus and the saints. 46:10 That's Biblical: 2 Corinthians 6:2, 3. 46:14 Now listen to this: Satan's punishment was to be far greater 46:20 than that of those whom he had deceived. 46:24 Is that just? Is that justice? Absolutely. 46:28 It says, It was going to be far greater. 46:32 Now what does that mean? in intensity or in length? 46:34 Let's continue reading. 46:36 Satan's punishment was to be far greater than that of those 46:41 whom he had deceived. 46:42 His suffering would so far exceed theirs as to bear no 46:49 comparison with it. 46:53 That seems to give the impression that he might be 46:55 even suffering for centuries. 46:56 Now I'm not putting any time period on it, 47:01 but she says that his punishment would far exceed 47:05 theirs, as to bear no comparison with it. 47:08 Does the Bible say that the Devil is going to suffer for 47:12 a very long period? forever and ever? 47:14 Yes, that means an extremely long period of time, 47:16 whose end is not in view. 47:18 And then she continues saying, After all those whom he had 47:23 deceived had perished, Satan was still to live 47:28 and suffer on much longer. 47:31 You say, Why is that? 47:32 Why would that happen? 47:34 You know, that's, some people say, Oh, that's terrible that 47:36 God would do that to the Devil for such a long period of time. 47:39 Let me tell you what, it's much better than believing that God 47:41 is going to cast the Devil, and all of the wicked, in the fires 47:44 of hell, and they're going to burn forever. 47:46 That's not justice. 47:49 Justice would be that each one is punished 47:52 according to his what? according to his works. 47:55 Is the Devil more guilty? Yes. 47:57 He's the originator, and he's the instigator of sin. 48:00 Now there's another statement. 48:02 This is an amazing statement that's found in Early Writings, 48:05 pages 293 and 294. 48:07 She says this: I saw that some were quickly destroyed. 48:13 Who would be the ones that are quickly destroyed? 48:15 Those who led sinful lives, but, you know, they were not 48:20 sinners in the sense of Adolph Hitler, or Sadaam Hussein, 48:26 or any of these dictators that have the blood probably of 48:29 hundreds of thousands on their hands. 48:31 She says, I saw that some were quickly destroyed 48:35 while others suffered longer. 48:37 They were punished according to their deeds done in the body. 48:42 That's Biblical. Some were many days consuming. 48:45 Notice some of the wicked were many what? many days consuming. 48:50 And just as long as there was a portion of them unconsumed, 48:54 all the sense of suffering remained. 48:56 Let me ask you, Is this going to be torment? 48:58 The Bible says that they would be tormented. Yes, absolutely. 49:03 For a very extremely long period of time 49:06 there's going to be torment. 49:07 Don't think that it's not going to exist. 49:09 The torment is not going to be, I don't think primarily the pain 49:13 and the anguish of the fire, it's going to be the anguish of 49:16 knowing that their life is going to be snuffed out, 49:18 and they're never going to be able to live again 49:20 in the presence of God. 49:22 And so it says, Some were many days consuming. 49:25 And just as long as there was a portion of them unconsumed, 49:28 all the sense of suffering remained. 49:31 Said the angel, The worm of life shall not die. 49:34 Their fire shall not be quenched as long as there is the least 49:38 particle for it to prey upon. 49:40 And now notice this: Satan and his angels suffered long. 49:45 And why did they suffer long? 49:47 Why do they suffer much longer than the wicked? 49:49 Why is it described as forever and ever, which means an 49:53 extremely long period of time? 49:54 You know, the existence of the world, like we've noticed from 49:57 some of those scholars, is used, the word forever to describe 50:01 the time span of the existence of the world. 50:03 Notice, Satan and his angels suffered long. 50:07 Satan bore not only the weight and punishment of his own sins, 50:14 but also of the sins of the redeemed hosts, 50:17 which had been placed upon him. 50:19 Is that Biblical? Where is that? 50:22 In Leviticus 16. All of the confessed sins that went into 50:27 the sanctuary were the ones that were brought out and placed 50:30 on the head of the scapegoat. 50:31 By the way, where is this fulfilled? 50:33 It's fulfilled in Revelation 20, when a powerful angel descends 50:38 from heaven; that's the fit man of Leviticus 16. 50:42 And the Devil is exiled in a world that is a wilderness, 50:46 in a world where all of the wicked have died; 50:49 a non-inhabited land. 50:51 This happens during the thousand years, during the millennium. 50:54 And then, of course, he's destroyed after the millennium. 50:56 And so it says, Satan and his angels suffered long. 50:59 Satan bore not only the weight and punishment of his own sins, 51:02 but also of the sins of the redeemed host, 51:04 which have been placed upon him. 51:07 And he must also suffer for the ruin of souls 51:10 which he had caused. 51:11 Then I saw... Now here's the good news. 51:14 This is different than what most Christians believe. 51:17 Most Christians believe that God is going to put the Devil in the 51:19 fires of hell and he's never going to go out, 51:21 and the same with the wicked. 51:22 But God is a just God. 51:24 Then I saw that Satan and all the wicked host were consumed, 51:29 and the justice of God was satisfied. 51:32 What is this about? 51:33 Is God wanting to torture the wicked? No. 51:36 This is about meeting out what? the punishment that they deserve 51:41 according to their works. 51:42 It has to do with God's justice. 51:44 And remember, at this time there's no mercy. 51:46 Because the door of mercy is closed. 51:48 This is the unmixed wrath of God, according to what 51:52 the third angel says. 51:53 Then I saw that Satan and all the wicked host were consumed, 51:56 and the justice of God was satisfied. 51:59 And all the angelic host, and all the redeemed saints, 52:02 with a loud voice said, Amen! 52:05 Said the angel, Satan is the root. 52:08 His children are the branches. 52:09 Is that Biblical? Absolutely. 52:11 They are now consumed root and branch. 52:15 They have died a what? an everlasting death. 52:19 Is the fire still burning at this point? 52:22 See, that was a tricky question. 52:24 The fire is still burning because the fire is whom? God. 52:28 But are the wicked still burning? Absolutely not. 52:32 Said the angel, Satan is the root. 52:34 His children are the branches. 52:35 They are now consumed root and branch. 52:37 They have died an everlasting death. 52:41 They are never to have a what? a resurrection. 52:45 And God will have a clean universe. 52:49 Is that a beautiful way of looking at it? Absolutely. 52:54 You say, Well, isn't that mean for God to do this? 52:56 Let me ask you, Did Jesus drink the cup of the wine of God's 53:01 wrath for every single one of these persons? 53:04 He most certainly did. 53:05 But you see, if you don't accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, 53:09 if you accept the antichrist instead of the Christ, 53:13 you must drink the cup of the wrath of God. 53:16 Because you did not receive the gift that Jesus bought 53:19 by drinking the cup of God's wrath. 53:21 Are you understanding the third angel's message? 53:23 It's a matter of life and death folks. 53:26 The third angel's message is a dire warning, 53:29 because God doesn't want anyone to worship the antichrist, 53:32 or his image, or to receive the mark of the antichrist. 53:36 By the way, this destruction is called in the Bible 53:39 God's strange act. 53:41 Because God is a Creator; God is is not a destroyer. 53:43 Notice Isaiah 28:21. 53:59 The King James Version says, His strange work. 54:07 So it's unusual and strange for God to destroy. 54:11 But justice requires that He destroy because these people 54:15 slighted and rejected the mercy of God. 54:18 So the Bible says in Revelation 20:7-10 that fire will 54:24 descend from heaven. 54:26 And the fire will devour the Devil, 54:27 and his angels, and the wicked. 54:29 They will suffer differing lengths of punishment, 54:32 but eventually they will all go out. 54:34 Now let me ask you, Where are they punished? 54:36 Are they punished in some corner in the Universe somewhere? No. 54:40 It says that they gathered around the city on the 54:43 breadth of the earth, and fire fell from heaven. 54:46 So let me ask you, Where do they receive their punishment? 54:49 They receive their punishment on the earth. 54:51 Can the fire be everlasting? in terms of them being 54:55 burned everlasting? 54:57 No, it can't be. Do you know why? 54:58 Because the Bible says that God will make a new 55:00 heaven and a new earth. 55:02 How can He make a new earth if the wicked are being consumed, 55:05 and being burned forever and ever on the earth 55:08 around the holy city? 55:10 I'd like to end by reading a statement that we find in that 55:14 majestic book, The Desire of Ages, 107 and 108. It says: 55:18 To sin wherever found our God is a consuming fire. 55:23 In all who submit to His power, the Spirit of 55:28 God will consume sin. 55:29 See, that's what God wants to do now. 55:31 Through the fire of the Holy Spirit He wants to consume sin. 55:34 But if men cling to sin they become identified with it. 55:38 Is this true of the wicked that they become identified with sin? 55:41 They personify sin just like Satan. 55:44 She says, Then the what? the glory of God, that's the fire, 55:49 the glory of God which destroys sin must destroy them. 55:53 Jacob, after his night of wrestling with the angel 55:57 exclaimed, I have seen God face to face, 56:00 and my life is preserved. 56:01 Why was he able to see God face to face? 56:04 Notice, Jacob had been guilty of a great sin 56:07 in his conduct toward Esau, but he had repented. 56:11 His transgression had been what? forgiven, and his sin purged. 56:16 Therefore he could endure the revelation of God's presence. 56:21 But wherever men came before God while willfully cherishing evil, 56:27 they were destroyed. 56:28 At the second advent of Christ the wicked shall be consumed 56:31 with the spirit of His mouth, and destroyed with the 56:34 brightness of His coming. 56:35 And now notice this: The light of the glory of God... 56:40 This is what the fire is. 56:41 The light of the glory of God, which imparts life to the 56:45 righteous will slay the wicked. 56:49 Did you understand what we studied tonight? 56:51 Isn't it simple? People make things so complicated. 56:56 So there is a certain sense in which the fire is everlasting. 57:00 Because God's glory is the everlasting fire. 57:04 But there's another sense in which the results that the fire 57:07 produces are not everlasting. 57:10 Because the things that are burned up by the everlasting 57:14 fire cease to exist. 57:15 They're reduced to ashes. 57:17 I pray to God that we will follow the Christ, 57:19 and not the antichrist; that we will have Jesus drink the cup 57:24 instead of us having to drink it. |
Revised 2023-04-20