Participants:
Series Code: ARSS
Program Code: ARSS190018S
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00:17 Hello again.
00:20 Hopefully you had a good break. 00:23 Ready for session number two. 00:26 Amen. Okay. 00:28 We've been discussing 00:30 are literal Jews. 00:34 And we want to pursue that. 00:37 But before we do, let's have a word of prayer. 00:40 Father in heaven as we continue our study, 00:42 we plead for the presence of Your Spirit, 00:45 enlighten our minds, open our hearts. 00:48 And I ask that You will bless those also who are watching 00:50 the live stream, particularly those who perhaps 00:54 have never studied these things. 00:55 I ask, Lord, that You will give them more than human wisdom, 00:59 that they might be able to comprehend 01:00 and see the importance of what we're studying. 01:03 We thank You for the promise of Your presence 01:05 and we claim that promise, 01:07 in the precious name of Jesus. 01:09 Amen. 01:11 Okay, let's go to page 293. 01:13 We have a lot of material to cover in this session, 01:16 because I want to end with the, 01:20 with this particular chapter on the interlude 01:22 of Revelation Chapter 7. 01:24 Now, we've been basically saying 01:27 that the 144,000 are not literal Jews, 01:32 because the end time message is a message that is given 01:35 to every inhabitant of planet Earth. 01:38 So the issue of the mark of the beast 01:40 and the seal of God has to be a global thing, 01:42 not only for the Jews, 01:43 it has to do for everyone on planet Earth, 01:45 from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. 01:49 But now we want to ask the question, 01:52 does God still have a special plan 01:56 for the Jewish theocracy? 01:59 You know, that up to the time that Stephen was stoned, 02:03 God's chosen people to fulfill His mission on earth 02:08 was the Jewish nation, the Jewish theocracy? 02:12 The question is, is the Jewish theocracy still God's vehicle 02:16 to take the gospel to the world? 02:19 Are they still the chosen people? 02:21 Now don't misunderstand me. 02:24 We are to love the Jews. 02:26 God loves the Jews as much as He loves every other nation 02:29 on planet Earth. 02:31 And I'm not saying that 02:33 the Jewish nation does not have any reason to exist. 02:36 It can exist as a political entity, 02:38 as a nation, 02:39 like all other nations of the world. 02:41 The point that we are addressing 02:43 is whether the Jewish theocracy is still God's spiritual people 02:49 to take the message to the world 02:51 as they were up to the time of the stoning of Stephen. 02:55 Are you understanding the distinction? 02:56 Very important. 02:58 We can't be anti-Semitic, 03:01 or anti Muslim or anti anybody. 03:04 We want to see the salvation of everyone on planet Earth. 03:08 Now, let's go to the fig tree episodes. 03:13 Matthew 24:30-35 reads this way. 03:18 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: 03:22 When its branch has already become tender 03:25 and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 03:29 So you also when you see all these things, 03:33 know that it is near at the doors! 03:36 Assuredly, I say to you, 03:37 this generation will by no means pass away 03:40 till all these things take place. 03:43 Heaven and earth will pass away, 03:44 but My words will by no means pass away." 03:50 Now, how do conservative Protestants today 03:54 interpret these words of Jesus? 03:57 Basically, they teach that the budding of the fig tree 04:01 represents the resurgence of the nation 04:05 of Israel in the year 1948. 04:09 They believe that this is the greatest sign 04:12 of the imminent coming of Christ, 04:15 that Christ can come at any moment after 1948 04:18 because the budding of the fig tree 04:20 is the great sign that Jesus can come at any moment. 04:26 Now, are they correct in this assessment of saying 04:29 that the budding of the fig tree of Matthew 24 04:32 is the resurgence of the Jewish nation 04:35 or the reestablishment of the Jewish nation in 1948. 04:39 We need to pursue this from a biblical perspective. 04:44 Now it is true that the fig tree 04:46 is a symbol of Israel. 04:48 Notice Hosea 9:10. Hosea 9:10. 04:53 Here God is speaking and He says, 04:55 "I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. 04:59 I saw your fathers as the firstfruits 05:03 on the fig tree in its first season. 05:06 But they went to Baal Peor, 05:09 and separated themselves to that shame, 05:12 they became an abomination like the thing they loved." 05:16 So does the Bible refer to Israel symbolically 05:21 as a fig tree? 05:23 Yes, Hosea 9:10 tells us, 05:25 not only the fig tree but the vineyard. 05:28 Remember that because we're gonna come back 05:30 to the vineyard idea, Jesus referred to both. 05:33 Now, let's notice Matthew 3:8-10. 05:38 This is the message of John the Baptist, 05:40 and the tree is going to be mentioned. 05:43 Let's read these verses. 05:46 Here, John the Baptist tells those who are listening, 05:49 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance." 05:53 Remember the underlined words. 05:56 "And do not think to say to yourselves, 05:58 'We have Abraham as our father.' 06:01 For I say to you that God is able 06:03 to raise up children to Abraham from these stones." 06:07 The stones are the Gentiles, by the way, 06:09 according to Desire of Ages, because the Jews felt 06:12 that they had stony hearts, 06:14 so they called the Gentiles stones, 06:16 they called them pigs, 06:18 you know that they had all kinds of negative comments 06:22 about the Gentiles. 06:24 So John the Baptist, saying, 06:26 God is able to raise up children of Abraham 06:28 from these Gentiles. 06:30 "And even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees. 06:33 Therefore every tree which does not bear," what? 06:38 "Good fruit," what happens to it? 06:41 "It dries up and it is cut down and thrown into the fire." 06:47 So what are the key elements here? 06:50 Israel needs to repent. 06:52 They should not brag that they have Abraham as their father. 06:56 God is able to raise up children of Abraham 06:58 from the stones or the Gentiles. 07:01 And then Israel is compared to a tree. 07:04 Every tree that doesn't bear fruit, 07:08 good fruit is going to be, 07:10 is going to dry up and be cut down 07:11 and thrown into the fire. 07:13 Those are the key elements. 07:14 Now we meet this tree again, 07:18 two and a half years into the ministry of Christ. 07:22 Luke 13:1-9. 07:25 This is taken place two and a half years 07:27 into Christ's ministry. 07:29 In other words, it's three years 07:30 after John the Baptist begins to preach. 07:33 That's an important chronological detail. 07:35 Let's go through this parable. 07:37 I've added explanations in brackets. 07:40 "There were present at that season 07:41 some who told Him about the Galileans 07:45 whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 07:49 And Jesus answered and said to them, 07:50 'Do you suppose that these Galileans 07:53 were worse sinner than all other Galileans, 07:56 because they suffered such things? 07:59 I tell you, no, but unless you," what? 08:03 There's the key term, "Unless you repent, 08:05 you will all likewise perish." 08:09 Which would be parallel to cutting down the tree, right? 08:13 Verse 4, 08:14 "Or those eighteen on whom the tower 08:16 of Siloam fell and killed them, 08:19 do you think that they were worse sinners 08:21 than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 08:24 I tell you, no, but unless you repent," 08:26 there's the idea again, "you will all likewise perish." 08:30 And now he's going to tell a parable. 08:33 "He spoke also this parable: 08:35 'A certain man, who is God the Father, 08:39 had a fig tree, Israel, 08:42 planted in his vineyard, the world. 08:46 And he came seeking fruit, 08:48 the fruit of the Spirit, on it and found," what? 08:52 "None." 08:54 So three years 08:55 after John the Baptist started his preaching, 08:57 has the tree produced fruit? 08:59 No. 09:01 So once again, we find here in verse 7, 09:05 "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard," 09:08 God, the Father says to Jesus, 09:10 "Look, for three years," 09:12 notice that chronology interesting, six months, 09:15 John the Baptist had preached, 09:16 two and half ministry years Jesus had ministered. 09:19 So, three years have past, "Look these for three years, 09:24 I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree 09:27 and find none." 09:29 So what's the counsel? 09:31 "Cut it down, 09:33 why does it use up the ground? 09:36 However, he answered and said to him," 09:38 because, you know, 09:40 the vinedresser he loved this fig tree. 09:44 So what does he say? 09:46 "Sir, let it alone this year." 09:50 So how many years did he say leave it? 09:52 One, how many years still remained in Christ ministry? 09:57 One year, the chronology is important. 09:59 "Sir, let it along this year also, 10:03 until I dig around it and fertilize it. 10:07 And if it bears fruit, well, but if not, after that, 10:11 you can cut it down." 10:14 So three years after John the Baptist began, 10:16 has the fig tree produced fruit? 10:19 Now the fig tree represents Israel. 10:21 So now we meet this fig tree, 10:26 again, at the very end of Christ's ministry. 10:30 Incidentally, the parable of Luke 13 ends in suspense. 10:34 We don't know if the fig tree produced fruit or not 10:37 that last year. 10:39 So now we are at the very end of last year. 10:43 And we meet this fig tree again. 10:46 Matthew 21:17-19. 10:50 This is right before the death of Christ. 10:53 "Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, 10:57 and He lodged there. 10:59 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, 11:01 He was hungry." 11:03 That is Jesus. 11:04 "And seen a fig tree by the road, 11:07 He came to it and found," what? 11:10 "Nothing on it but leaves." 11:14 So had the fig tree produced fruit that last year? No. 11:17 "So he finds nothing on it 11:19 but leaves and said to it, 11:24 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.' 11:28 And immediately the fig tree withered away." 11:33 Does that sound pretty final? 11:36 Let no fruit grow on you ever again? 11:40 Absolutely. 11:41 What happens to the fig tree? 11:43 It withers away. 11:46 Mark 11 adds some details, 11:51 we find there, "Now the next day, 11:53 when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 11:57 And seeing from afar of fig tree having leaves." 12:01 By the way, the leaves mean that 12:03 that should have had fruit. 12:05 You know that that's characteristic of the fig tree. 12:08 "He went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. 12:11 And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, 12:15 for it was not the season for figs." 12:18 In other words, this tree had produced leaves out of season. 12:23 It was a special tree in the orchard. 12:26 It wasn't the season for figs. 12:28 Was it the season for figs for Israel? 12:31 They've been around a lot longer, right? 12:35 Verse 14, "In response Jesus said to it, 12:38 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' 12:43 And His disciples heard it.'" 12:46 Now in Mark 11:20-21, 12:48 we find what happened to that fig tree. 12:51 Now in the morning, as they pass by, 12:55 they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 13:01 What happens when a tree dries up from the roots? 13:04 That is it. 13:06 "And Peter remembering said to him, 'Rabbi, look! 13:09 The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.'" 13:14 So what would the tree be used for? 13:16 It would be cut down, right? 13:18 And thrown where? 13:20 Into the fire. 13:21 Let me ask you, 13:22 was Jerusalem thrown into the fire in the year 70 13:27 when the Romans came against the city? 13:29 Absolutely. 13:31 So what happened to the Jewish theocracy 13:33 according to this sequence of the fig tree? 13:37 The Jewish theocracy came to an end. 13:39 It dried up by the roots for rejecting Christ. 13:45 Now let's notice Matthew 24 and the fig tree. 13:49 Is the fig tree of Matthew 24, a symbol of the Jewish nation? 13:54 Well, absolutely not. 13:58 You say why not? 14:00 Well, let's pursue this. 14:01 In Matthew 24:32-33, 14:05 it is not only the budding of the fig tree 14:07 that is the sign that the coming of Jesus 14:09 is even at the doors, but rather the collection 14:13 of all the signs in the chapter. 14:16 Because what the evangelical say is that 14:18 this is the one sign that shows that the coming 14:20 of Jesus is imminent. 14:22 But we're going to find that 14:23 Jesus didn't say this was the great sign, 14:26 He says when you see all of the signs. 14:28 Let's read Matthew 24:32-33. 14:32 "As you see the fig tree 14:34 but it is a sign that the summer is near. 14:38 In the same way when you see," what? 14:42 "All these things know 14:45 that is near even at the doors." 14:48 Jesus was not saying that the budding of the fig tree 14:51 is the great sign of the imminence 14:54 of His coming. 14:55 He is saying that the accumulation 14:57 of all the signs will help us know that the end is near. 15:03 And here comes an interesting detail 15:04 when you look at the parallel passage 15:07 in Luke 21:29-31. 15:11 In Luke, Jesus did not single out the fig tree 15:15 as being particularly important, 15:17 he added and all the trees. 15:20 Jesus said, when you see these things happening. 15:23 Let's read Luke 21:29-31. 15:28 "Then he spoke to them a parable: 15:30 'Look at the fig tree and all the trees." 15:33 Not just the fig tree, all the trees. 15:36 "When they are already budding, 15:38 you see and know for yourselves that summer now is near. 15:43 So you also, when you see," what? 15:46 These things not only the not only the fig tree, 15:49 all of the signs. 15:51 "When you see these things happening, 15:53 know that the kingdom of God is near." 15:56 So what was Jesus saying? 15:59 When you see the fig tree and all the trees bud, 16:03 you know that the summer is near. 16:05 Likewise, when you see all these signs, 16:08 you will know that the end is near. 16:11 So can we use Matthew 24 to refer to 1948? 16:16 No, particularly in the light of the three stages 16:19 of the fig tree that we looked at. 16:22 The fig tree dried up by the roots. 16:24 In other words, no one will eat fruit from you ever again. 16:30 Now, also Israel was compared to a vineyard, 16:33 remember Hosea 9-10? 16:35 Israel is compared to a vineyard. 16:37 So let's look at a parable that Jesus told about the vineyard. 16:41 And once again, I have explanations in brackets. 16:45 "Here another parable: 16:47 There was a certain landowner, God the Father, 16:51 who planted the vineyard, 16:54 Israel, 16:55 and set a hedge around it, 16:57 the law, 16:59 dug a wine press in it and built a tower, 17:01 the temple. 17:03 And he leased it to vine dressers, 17:05 the Jewish leaders, 17:06 and went into a far country, heaven." 17:10 Are you catching the picture? 17:12 "Now when vintage time drew near, 17:15 he sent his servants to the vine dressers." 17:18 These are the messengers before the Babylonian captivity. 17:22 "That they might receive its fruit. 17:24 However, the vine dressers took his servants, beat one, 17:27 killed one, and stoned the other." 17:30 Is that what Israel did to the prophets 17:31 that were sent to them? 17:33 Yes. 17:34 Again, he sent other servants, 17:35 this is after the Babylonian captivity up to time, 17:38 the time of John the Baptist more than the first, 17:41 and they did likewise to them." 17:43 Then last of all, 17:45 does that sound kind of final, last of all? 17:48 "Last of all, He sent His Son," who is that? 17:52 "Jesus, He sent His Son to them saying, 17:55 'They will respect my son.' 17:58 But when the vinedresser saw the son, 18:00 they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. 18:02 Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.'" 18:07 This is the death of Christ. 18:10 "So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, 18:13 that is outside Jerusalem, and killed him." 18:17 They still don't know 18:18 what point Jesus is making here. 18:21 "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, 18:23 what will he do to those vine dressers?" 18:25 Oh, they have an answer. 18:26 And you mean they don't know. 18:28 They don't realize that they're going 18:29 to condemn themselves by their own words. 18:32 "They said to Him, 18:34 He will destroy those wicked men miserably, 18:36 and leaves his vineyard to other vine dressers." 18:40 Who would that be? 18:41 "The Gentiles, 18:43 who will render to him the fruits in their seasons. 18:47 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 18:50 'The stone which the builders 18:51 rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 18:54 This was the Lord's doing, 18:56 and it is marvelous in our eyes.'" 18:59 And then Jesus says this, "Therefore I say to you, 19:02 the kingdom of God will be taken from you." 19:08 Did they have the kingdom before this? 19:10 Whether the theocracy, 19:12 the ones through whom God was wanting to reach the world? 19:14 Yes, but Jesus is saying the kingdom of God 19:16 will be taken from you and given to a nation, 19:20 it's the word ethane, which in the New Testament 19:23 is translated Gentiles, 19:25 and given to the Gentiles that bear what? 19:29 That bear the fruit of it. 19:32 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken, 19:35 but on whomever it falls, it will grind him into powder. 19:38 That's exactly what happened to the city of Jerusalem. 19:41 "Now when the chief priests 19:42 and the Pharisees heard his parables, 19:45 they perceived that he was speaking of them." 19:51 So what was the last resort? 19:54 Sending His Son 19:57 and when they killed the Son, what did God do? 20:00 He took the theocracy from them 20:03 and He gave it to the Gentiles. 20:06 That's why the Book of Acts you have... 20:09 By the way, the stoning of Stephen 20:10 closes the door, a probation for the theocracy. 20:13 That's why in Acts Chapter 1, 20:15 it speaks about the gospel going first of all to Jerusalem 20:18 and Judea to the Jews, 20:21 because probation had not ended. 20:23 But then after Stephen is stoned, 20:25 the gospel goes to Samaria, 20:27 and after that to the uttermost ends of the earth. 20:31 So the Book of Acts is organized 20:32 according to that verse, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 20:35 and the ends of the earth. 20:37 Now let's notice the Nathaniel experience. 20:39 Nathaniel is one of the lesser known disciples of Christ. 20:44 We'll read John 1:43-48. 20:48 "The following day, Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, 20:54 and he found Phillip, and said to him, follow me. 20:57 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 21:01 Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, 21:03 'We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, 21:07 and also the prophets, wrote Jesus of Nazareth, 21:09 the son of Joseph. 21:11 And Nathaniel said to him, 21:13 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?' 21:17 Philip said to him, 'Come and see.' 21:19 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward Him, 21:21 and said of him, 21:24 'Behold, an Israelite indeed, 21:28 in whom is no deceit!' 21:31 Nathaniel said to Him, 'How do You know me?' 21:34 Jesus answered and said to him, 'Before Philip called you, 21:37 when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.'" 21:42 Now, if there are Israelites indeed, 21:45 then there are also Israelites not indeed. 21:49 Why did Jesus single out Nathaniel 21:52 as an Israelite indeed? 21:54 The Greek word for in Israel 21:59 Israelites indeed is true or genuine. 22:04 That's what the word indeed is. 22:06 The NIV refers to Nathaniel as a true Israelite, 22:11 which must mean that there are false Israelites. 22:16 This translation is correct, as we can see by the fact 22:19 that the verse ends by saying 22:22 that there was in Nathanial, no pseudos. 22:27 No falsehood. 22:29 So it's between the difference between true and false. 22:34 If there are genuine Israelites, 22:36 then there must also be what? 22:38 Counterfeit ones. 22:41 And here comes a notable point, 22:43 Nathaniel was an Israelite indeed, 22:45 who sat under a fig tree, 22:47 and the fig tree was a symbol of Israel. 22:50 So you have the symbol 22:51 and what the symbol represents together. 22:54 Thus, the reality sat under the symbol, 22:57 the Israelite indeed was sitting under a tree 23:00 that represented Israel. 23:02 Now what made Nathaniel an Israelite indeed? 23:07 The fact that Nathaniel confessed 23:10 that Jesus was the Messiah, 23:13 You are the Son of God, You are the King of Israel. 23:18 Because Nathaniel recognized Jesus as a Messiah 23:22 according to verse 46, he was an Israelite indeed. 23:25 So who is an Israelite, 23:27 according to the definition that Jesus gives? 23:30 An Israelite is one who has accepted Jesus Christ 23:33 as Savior and Lord. 23:36 So are those Jews that are rejecting Jesus really Israel? 23:42 Not in the spiritual sense. 23:45 That takes us to our next point, John 8, 23:48 and through Israel. 23:50 This is a very interesting passage, 23:52 where Jesus is going to say, 23:55 the Jews of his day are descendants of Abraham, 23:58 but not really. 24:01 Let's read the passage, with explanations in brackets. 24:06 Jesus says to them, I know that you are Abraham's descendants, 24:10 but you seek to kill Me, 24:12 because My Word has no place in you. 24:15 I speak what I have seen with My Father, 24:18 and you do what you have seen with your father. 24:21 They answered and said to him, Abraham is our Father. 24:26 Jesus said to them, if... 24:30 He's gonna put a condition here, 24:32 if you were Abraham's children, 24:34 you would do the works of Abraham. 24:38 But you know, 24:41 it's the combination of if but, right? 24:43 If you were, but you're not, 24:46 but now you seek to kill me. 24:50 A man who has told you the truth, 24:52 which I heard from God, Abraham did not do this. 24:56 So you're different than Abraham you saying? 24:58 Abraham loved me. You hate me. 24:59 So how can you say that you're children of Abraham? 25:03 "You do the deeds of your father, 25:04 Jesus says in verse 41, 25:06 then they said to Him, 25:08 we were not born of fornication, 25:09 we have one Father God. 25:14 "Jesus said to them, if," once again, 25:18 "if you, if God were your Father, 25:21 you would love Me, for I proceeded forth 25:24 and came from God, 25:25 nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 25:29 Why do you not understand my speech? 25:31 Because you are not able to listen to My word. 25:34 You are of your father, the devil." 25:38 Why were they of the father, the devil? 25:40 Because they were not like Abraham, 25:42 they were like the devil. 25:44 Abraham loved Jesus, they hated Jesus. 25:47 Are you with me? 25:50 "You are of your father the devil, 25:52 and the desires of your father you want to do, 25:55 He was a murderer from the beginning 25:56 and does not stand in the truth, 25:58 because there is no truth in him. 26:00 When he speaks a lie, 26:01 he speaks from his own resources, 26:03 for he is a liar and the father of it." 26:07 This is interesting in the light 26:09 of the Nathaniel episode, 26:12 you know, there was no lie in his mouth. 26:15 In other words, there was no deceit. 26:17 He was not a counterfeit. 26:19 So is it possible to be a child of Abraham 26:22 without being the child of Abraham? 26:25 Is it possible to be a Jew and not be a Jew 26:28 in the spiritual sense of the word? 26:30 Absolutely. 26:31 What determines whether you're an Israelite or not? 26:34 Your relationship to Christ. 26:37 Now let's notice some additional texts. 26:40 Romans 2:28-29, 26:43 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly." 26:48 Are their outward Jews that are not Jews? 26:53 Yes or no? 26:54 Yes. 26:56 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 27:00 nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh, 27:04 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, 27:09 and circumcision is that of the heart," 27:11 person who has been converted, "In the Spirit, 27:14 not in the letter, whose praise is not from men, 27:17 but from God." 27:20 Notice Romans 9:6-8, 27:23 "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect, 27:27 for they are not all Israel who are of Israel." 27:31 Now, how do you make sense out of that, 27:33 now, not all Israelites are Israelites. 27:38 Verse 7, "Nor are they all children 27:42 because they are the seed of Abraham." 27:45 So not all seed of Abraham are children of Abraham. 27:50 "But in Isaac your seed shall be called." 27:53 Isaac because he brings the Messiah into the world 27:55 from His holy line. 27:57 That is those who are the children of the flesh. 28:00 These are not the children of God, 28:02 but the children of the promise, 28:03 that is the promise of the Messiah, 28:05 are counted as seed. 28:09 Notice Galatians 3:26-29. 28:12 The New Testament is clear on this. 28:14 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 28:18 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ 28:21 and put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, 28:24 there is neither slave nor free, 28:25 there is neither male nor female, 28:27 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 28:30 And if you are Christ's, 28:33 then you are Abraham's seed, 28:35 and heirs according to the promise." 28:37 Is it possible that a person doesn't have a drop 28:39 of Abraham's blood in his veins and is a child of Abraham, 28:44 a son of Abraham? 28:45 Yes. 28:46 Because Israelites are determined 28:49 by their spiritual relationship to Jesus. 28:53 So do you think the 144,000 are Jews 28:55 that don't believe in Jesus? 28:58 They must be Christians, 29:01 not necessarily literal Jews or spiritual Jews 29:03 doesn't matter what nation they come from, 29:07 if they're connected to Christ, they are Abraham's seed, 29:10 according to this. 29:12 Notice Philippians 3:3-8. 29:14 Here Paul is reminiscing about his past experience. 29:19 "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, 29:24 rejoice in Christ Jesus, 29:27 and have no confidence in the flesh." 29:29 So what is the circumcision? 29:32 Those who worship God in the Spirit, 29:34 those who rejoice in Christ Jesus, 29:37 and those who have no confidence in the flesh. 29:40 "Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. 29:42 If anyone thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, 29:45 I'm also, circumcised the eighth day 29:48 of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 29:51 a Hebrew of Hebrews, concerning the law, 29:54 a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, 29:57 concerning the righteousness which is in the law, 29:59 blameless." 30:01 He says I have all these virtues, 30:03 I would have something to boast about, 30:05 because I'm a literal Jew. 30:07 But now notice what he says? 30:09 Verse 7, "But what things were gain to me, 30:12 all of this list of virtues, 30:14 I have counted loss for Christ. 30:19 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence 30:22 of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, 30:25 for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 30:29 and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. 30:34 That is a true Jew, 30:36 a spiritual Jew. 30:40 So in 1948, 30:43 the Jewish nation was still rejecting Jesus as Messiah. 30:47 And therefore 1948 could not be a fulfillment 30:50 of prophecy, 30:52 because God does not restore Israel 30:54 to their land in disobedience. 30:57 You can read the Old Testament, 30:58 when Israel returned to the Lord, 31:00 they returned to the land, 31:02 when they forsook the Lord, 31:03 the Lord cast them out from the land. 31:05 So how could He gather them to the land in 1948, 31:08 if they're still rejecting the Lord? 31:13 God scattered Israel at the destruction of Jerusalem 31:16 because they rejected the Messiah. 31:18 In 1948, the Jewish nation was still rejecting Christ. 31:23 And so no fulfillment of prophecy 31:25 could have taken place at that time, 31:27 it is a distraction. 31:29 It is focusing the eyes in Israel, 31:32 instead of where they should really be focused. 31:35 Now, let's read some statements from Ellen White, 31:37 about who is Israel. 31:40 I'm only going to read some of them 31:42 because we don't have time to read all of them. 31:46 Notice on page 302, that first statement, 31:49 that which God purpose to do for the world through Israel, 31:54 the chosen nation, 31:56 he will find the accomplished through what? 31:59 His church on earth today. 32:02 Never has the Lord been without true representatives 32:04 on this earth, who have made his interests their own. 32:09 These witnesses for God are numbered among the what? 32:13 Spiritual Israel, 32:15 and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises 32:19 made by Jehovah to his ancient people. 32:22 Who is going to inherit the promises 32:23 that God made to Israel? 32:25 Not literal Israel, but spiritual Israel, 32:29 to spiritual Israel have been restored the privileges 32:33 accorded to the people of God, at the time 32:36 of their deliverance from Babylon. 32:37 Nothing could be clearer. 32:40 Notice the next three statements 32:42 on this page to Isaiah. 32:44 "It was given to make very plain to Judah, the truth, 32:47 that among the Israel of God were to be numbered, 32:51 many who were not descendants 32:54 of Abraham after the flesh." 32:57 So are there non Israelites that are Israel? 33:01 Yes. 33:03 Prophets and Kings, 371, 33:05 the Spirit of God was to be poured out 33:07 upon all flesh. 33:09 Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness 33:11 were to be numbered among the Israel of God. 33:15 Does the 144,000 hunger and thirst after the Lord? 33:19 They're willing to die for the Lord. 33:23 Notice, Testimonies, volume 2109, 33:26 I was shown that those who are trying 33:27 to obey God and purify their souls through obedience 33:31 to the truth are God's chosen people, 33:34 his modern Israel. 33:38 Wasn't she explicit about this? 33:40 So the 144,000 literal Israelites. 33:44 No, they're true Israelites 33:45 because they've linked themselves with Jesus 33:47 and they're willing to die. 33:49 Although they're not going to, 33:51 they would be willing to give their lives 33:53 to be loyal to Jesus. 33:55 Let's go to the middle of the next page, 33:57 the large quotation in the middle. 34:00 This is very clear 34:02 among earth's inhabitants scattered in every land, 34:05 that is the four corners of the earth. 34:07 There are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. 34:11 Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, 34:13 these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers 34:16 of the earth, and gross darkness the people. 34:20 In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe 34:23 and South America, in China, in India, 34:26 in the islands of the sea, 34:27 and in all the dark corners of the earth, 34:30 God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones 34:33 that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, 34:37 revealing clearly to an apostate world, 34:39 the transforming power of obedience to His law. 34:45 So is it only Jews here 34:47 that are going to provide this witness? 34:50 No. 34:51 Even now, they are appearing in every nation, 34:55 and every tongue and people 34:57 in the hour of deepest apostasy, 35:00 when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause all both small 35:04 and great, rich and poor, 35:05 free and bond to receive under penalty of death, 35:08 the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, 35:11 these faithful ones, blameless and harmless, 35:14 the sons of God without rebuke will shine 35:17 as lights in the world. 35:19 The darker the night, 35:21 the more brilliantly will they shine? 35:24 Are we talking about literal Israelites 35:26 giving the message and testifying like this? 35:29 No, she says here, heathen Africa, Europe, 35:34 South America, China, India, islands of the sea, 35:37 and all the dark corners of the earth. 35:40 Let's go to the next page. 35:42 The second statement from the top, 35:44 many of these converts from heathenism 35:49 would wish to unite themselves fully with the Israelites 35:51 and accompany them on the return journey to Judea. 35:56 None of these were to say, 35:58 The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people, 36:01 for the word of God, through His Prophet 36:04 to those who should yield themselves to Him 36:06 and observe His law was that they should thence force 36:10 be numbered among what? 36:12 Spiritual Israel, His what? 36:15 His church on earth. 36:16 What is spiritual Israel today? 36:19 The remnant church. 36:21 Notice the next statement. 36:23 Then it is that the redeemed from among men will receive 36:26 their promised inheritance. 36:28 Thus, God's purpose for Israel 36:31 will meet with literal fulfillment, 36:34 not with literal Israel, 36:36 we'll notice that which God purposes, 36:39 man is powerless to this and now, 36:42 even amid the working of evil, 36:43 God's purposes have been moving steadily forward 36:46 to their accomplishment. 36:48 It was thus with also Israel 36:50 throughout the history of the divided monarchy, 36:53 it is thus with spiritual Israel today. 36:59 And then we have this, you know, 37:01 we have this statement on the next page, 37:03 I'm only reading a sampling of them, 37:05 page 305. 37:06 Right at the middle of the page, 37:08 it says, wherein they were weak, 37:11 even to the point of failure, 37:13 the Israel of God today, 37:16 the representatives of heaven that make up the what? 37:19 The true Church of Christ must be strong, 37:22 for upon them devolves the task of finishing the work 37:26 that has been committed to man, 37:28 and ushering in the day of final rewards. 37:31 So what is the conclusion? 37:34 If God stamps His seal only on literal Jews, 37:38 then why would God warn every nation, 37:40 kindred, tongue and people about the dangers 37:42 of worshiping the beast, his image 37:43 and receiving the mark? 37:45 The fact that God warns all nations, kindreds, 37:48 tongues and peoples about the seal of God 37:50 and the mark of the beast indicates that it is possible 37:53 for people from every nation, kindred, tongue 37:56 and people to receive the seal of God, 37:57 or the mark of the beast. 37:59 Clearly then, the sealed ones from the 12 tribes of Israel 38:03 cannot be literal Jews only, 38:08 clear? 38:11 Now we're gonna have to really go fast here. 38:15 To the handful of disappointed pioneers in 1844, 38:19 seemed impossibly large. 38:24 Well, to us, it appears incredibly small. 38:28 In a world that has a population 38:30 of over 9 billion, 38:33 is indeed small. 38:36 Some wonder if there will only be 144,000 living saints 38:40 when Jesus comes? 38:42 Is there any hope that I could belong to that group? 38:47 Are we to understand that all who are faithful 38:50 and receive the seal of God will be literal Jews? 38:53 Are we to understand 38:55 that there will be only 144,000 living saints 38:57 when Jesus comes, not one less, not one more? 39:01 Are we to understand that there will be exactly 39:03 12,000 from each tribe of Israel? 39:07 Why would the tribes of Israel be symbolic 39:10 and the number literal? 39:12 If the 144,000 were literal Jews, 39:15 why would Ellen White say that there would be people 39:18 from every nation, kindred, 39:20 tongue and people in that group? 39:22 As we seek to answer these questions, 39:24 let's notice the following points. 39:27 Point number one. 39:28 First, the Book of Revelation 39:31 presents its message in what kind of language? 39:34 Symbolic language, persons' names, places 39:38 and numbers are all symbolic, numbers such as seven three 39:41 and a half times, three and a half days, 39:44 42 months, 1260 days, 666, 39:47 200 million are all symbolic. 39:50 Revelation 7:14, where the 144,000 appear, 39:56 are saturated with symbols 39:58 such as the lamb, winds, trees, tribes, Israel, seal, 40:03 four corners of the earth, earth, sea, white robes, 40:06 virgins, firstfruits etc. 40:08 Why should we understand the number literally 40:10 when these chapters are full of symbols? 40:14 Are you with me? 40:15 A valid point. 40:17 Second, if there will only be 144,000 living saints 40:22 when Jesus comes, not one less not one more, 40:27 then we would have to conclude that God predetermined 40:29 or pre-chose or handpicked them. 40:33 Right? 40:35 It is very unlikely that exactly 144,000 40:38 would exercise their freedom of choice 40:40 to be among the living righteous when Jesus comes. 40:43 This becomes even clearer when we realize 40:46 that there are exactly 12,000 in Revelation from each tribe 40:50 of Israel. 40:52 What are the odds that exactly 12,000 persons 40:55 from each of the literal 12 tribes of Israel 40:58 will be the living saints when Jesus comes? 41:01 The fact is that the 12 tribes of literal Israel were lost 41:06 when Israel went into the Assyrian captivity 41:08 in 722 BC, 41:11 the 10 tribes of the North intermingled 41:13 with the surrounding nations, the Samaritans of Christ day 41:17 were the result of this amalgamation. 41:21 Third, the literal Greek rendering of a number 41:24 is not 144,000 as if emphasizing 41:29 the conglomerate group, 41:31 but rather 144 000. 41:37 With the emphasis on 144 groups 41:41 of 1000 each. 41:45 What is 144? 41:46 It's 12 times 12, right? 41:49 But 1000 intensifies 41:52 the number 12. 41:55 The intensified multiple of the number 12, 41:58 which Ellen White identifies as the number of God's people 42:00 from all ages would be 12 times, 42:02 12 times a 1000. 42:03 It intensifies the number, the number 12. 42:07 This would seem to emphasize that this group is composed 42:10 of the true Israel of God, 42:12 who live at the end of world history. 42:15 Fourth, the word for a thousand elect 42:20 does not refer precisely 42:22 to a thousand people in some verses, 42:26 but can mean family or tribe it can mean actually 42:29 a larger group of people. 42:31 Ellen White also use the word thousand to describe 42:35 those who are faithful to God among the Israelites. 42:39 Fifth, both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy 42:43 make it clear 42:44 that we are to understand Israel today 42:46 spiritually not literally. 42:49 Therefore, it makes sense that if Israel is spiritual, 42:53 then the number must also be spiritual. 42:56 Why would the number 144,000 be literal 42:59 while Israel is symbolic? 43:02 It is not the correct hermeneutical method. 43:05 See those both are symbolic, or either both are literal, 43:08 you can have it both ways. 43:10 Sixth, the idea that the unnumbered, 43:13 because the idea is that unnumbered multitude, 43:16 either redeemed of all ages of history. 43:20 That's not possible. 43:21 Let's notice, six, 43:23 the idea that the unnumbered multitude 43:25 is composed of the redeemed of all ages is problematic. 43:29 Revelation 7 43:31 where the multitude is mentioned, 43:33 is an interlude in the sixth seal. 43:36 And the sixth seal began when? 43:39 With the great earthquake, 1755, with the dark day 43:43 and the moon looking like blood, 1780, 43:45 and the falling of the stars in heaven in 1833. 43:50 So you have an interlude in the sixth seal. 43:54 So what, what's taking place here 43:56 is taking place in this interlude 43:59 in the sixth seal. 44:00 Bringing the redeemed of all ages into the picture 44:04 of the sixth seal is incongruous 44:07 with the literary context, 44:10 as well as with the events depicted in the sixth seal. 44:15 The capstone argument 44:19 is a symbolic number because the multitude 44:24 which no one can number is actually the same group 44:28 as the 144,000. 44:30 Now let's pursue this, 44:31 we might have to pick up on this in the next class 44:34 just for a few moments 44:35 because we have a lot of material to cover yet. 44:38 At first sight, it might appear incongruous, 44:43 or even contradictory to say that 144,000, 44:46 and the great multitude are the same group. 44:49 How can this be possible when the number 144,000 44:53 is a computable number while the great multitude 44:56 is beyond computation? 44:58 The answer lies in the fact that in the Book of Revelation, 45:01 the juxtaposition between seen and hearing is common. 45:06 Now let's pursue this in several cases 45:09 in the Book of Revelation. 45:10 According to Revelation 1:10, 45:13 a voice spoke to John that sounded like a trumpet. 45:17 And he heard, listen carefully, 45:19 he heard the names of the seven churches 45:22 in their proper order. 45:24 However, 45:25 then John saw the seven churches 45:29 under the illustration 45:30 of a seven-branched candelabrum. 45:33 So what John heard in verse 10, 45:36 he saw in verse 12. 45:40 We find another example in the introductory vision 45:43 to the seals in Revelation 5. 45:45 Here, John first heard, one of the elders say 45:49 that the lion of the tribe of Judah 45:51 would be able to break the seals 45:53 and to open the scroll. 45:55 However, then John looked, and he saw a Lamb 45:59 who had overcome 46:00 and therefore was qualified to break the seals, 46:03 and open the scroll. 46:04 Are you seeing the issue here? 46:08 As we have previously seen, the lamb represents Jesus 46:11 and his inauguration, 46:13 as priest and king of the kingdom of grace. 46:16 The lion represents Jesus at the end 46:18 of His sanctuary ministration 46:20 when the lamb pours out His wrath. 46:23 That is to say the lamb will then roar as a lion. 46:26 Thus the lamb and the lion, 46:28 both represent Jesus at two different stages 46:32 of His saving work. 46:34 So he hears, then he sees, and there appears to be, 46:38 I mean, in what sense is a lion similar to a lamb? 46:42 They appear to be contradictory, 46:44 but they're not. 46:46 Now we can say the same about Revelation 19. 46:50 In verses 1-9, John heard the songs 46:53 of the great multitude in heaven. 46:56 However, in verses 11-21, John heard, 47:01 actually saw should be Jesus coming with His angel hosts, 47:05 to rescue the multitude from destruction 47:08 at the hands of Babylon. 47:09 And so that should be saw rather than heard 47:12 the second time. 47:14 So once again, you have hearing 47:16 and then God shows him visibly what he heard. 47:22 Now, a similar phenomenon occurs with 144,000, 47:26 and the great multitude. 47:28 In Revelation 7:1-8, John heard about the 144,000. 47:33 He did not actually see them, 47:35 but only heard their names and number. 47:38 However, then John saw a great multitude, 47:41 that no one could number. 47:43 in Revelation 7:1-8, 47:48 in order for them to survive the great tribulation 47:51 of the great multitude in the succeeding passage. 47:54 The great multitude portrays the same group 47:57 after they came out victoriously 47:59 from the tribulation. 48:02 Now, let's take a look at the chart 48:05 that we find on the next page. 48:08 Before we do, let's go through these two paragraphs 48:10 which will help us. 48:12 Notice the chart below. 48:14 We're going to see that in a moment, 48:16 and you'll see that there's a chiastic relationship 48:19 and the great multitude. 48:25 Some commentators have assumed that the tribulation spoken 48:28 of here refers to trials and troubles 48:31 that God's people have gone through throughout all ages. 48:35 In other words, that's the redeemed of all ages, 48:37 the trials that they've kind of gone through. 48:39 However, this is not possible. 48:41 The Greek does not merely say 48:43 that the great multitude came out of tribulation. 48:46 It says, they came out of the tribulation, 48:50 the great one. 48:52 In other words, this is not just the trials 48:55 that we have in everyday life. 48:56 This is the same tribulation described in Daniel 12:1, 49:00 and Matthew 24:21, and verse 29. 49:04 Now here's the way Beatrice Neil explained 49:07 that she was a scholar in the Adventist Church, 49:10 who taught theology overseas, 49:12 and I think in the United States, also. 49:15 The Adventist Review, April 2 in 1987, 49:17 she wrote this, if this reasoning is correct, 49:21 we can put equal signs 49:22 between all the items on the list, 49:24 and we're gonna see the list in a moment. 49:26 Israel is the faithful of all nations, 49:29 the tribes of Israel represent all tribes, 49:31 peoples and tongues, 49:33 the 12,000 from each tribe indicate a full complement 49:36 of the redeemed from each ethnic group. 49:38 The four winds symbolized the great tribulation, 49:41 and the seal of God corresponds to the robes 49:44 who made white in the blood of the Lamb. 49:46 Best of all, the 144,000 are not a limited group 49:50 that we have scant hope of belonging to, 49:53 but a vast multitude who cannot be numbered. 49:55 Now, let's look at the chart. 49:58 Number one at the top and number one below it 50:01 are synonymous, 50:03 they expressed the same thing but in different terms. 50:07 In Revelation 7:1-8, John says, I heard, 50:11 that's verse 4. 50:13 He heard the number, verse 4, 144,000, verse 4, 50:19 of the sons of Israel, verse 4, out of every tribe, 50:23 verse 4, sealed, verse 4. 50:27 But then when you go to verse 9, 50:29 he says, I looked, this is the phenomenon 50:32 between hearings and looking, I looked, 50:36 and he sees a multitude, which no one can number. 50:40 Once again, the word number. 50:42 And 144,000 would be parallel to the great multitude 50:47 of a sons of Israel would mean from every nation, 50:51 out of every tribe would be from all tribes 50:53 and peoples and tongues, 50:55 and sealed would be equivalent to clothed in white robes. 50:59 Are you seeing the parallel or not? 51:01 And we're going to prove this from the Spirit of Prophecy. 51:04 She was right. 51:06 The explanatory note, in Revelation 7:1-2, 51:10 the four angels are holding the four winds, 51:12 so that no harm will come upon the earth, 51:14 the sea or the trees, 51:16 until God seals the 144,000 in their foreheads. 51:20 Revelation 7:3-8 tells us that the 144,000 51:25 are sealed before the winds are released, 51:28 in order for them to be able to stand 51:30 during the great tribulation. 51:33 In Revelation 7:9 51:34 following the 144,000 sealed ones 51:38 have already passed through the great tribulation. 51:42 That's verse 14. 51:43 This great tribulation is clearly a reference 51:46 to the final time of trouble that will come upon the earth. 51:52 Now, careful reading of Ellen White's commentary 51:54 about the 144,000, the great multitude 51:56 indicates very clearly that she believed 51:59 that the same group. 52:01 Notice it's rather long quotation, 52:03 I hope we have time to read this before time runs out. 52:07 But you've noticed I placed in brackets, 52:10 the verses that Ellen White is quoting in this passage. 52:15 Let's begin, 52:17 upon the crystal sea before the throne, 52:20 that sea of glass as it were, mingled with fire 52:23 so splendid is it with the glory of God 52:26 are gathered in the company that have gotten the victory 52:28 over the beast, and over his image, 52:30 and over his mark, 52:32 and over the number of his name, 52:33 Revelation 15:2, 52:35 that's a text that deals with 144,000 52:38 with the lamb upon Mount Zion, 52:40 it's Revelation 14:1, it refers to 144,000 52:45 having the hearts of God, Revelation 15:2, 52:49 it's a text about the 144,000. 52:52 They stand the 144,00 that were redeemed from among men. 52:57 That's Revelation 14:4 52:59 have reference to the 144,000 in their resort 53:02 as the sound of many waters, 53:04 and as the sound of a great thunder, 53:06 the voice of harper's harping with their hearts. 53:09 That's Revelation 14:2, it's dealing with 144,000. 53:14 And they sing a new song before the throne, 53:16 a song which no man can learn, save the 144,000. 53:20 That's Revelation 14:3 referring to 144,000. 53:25 It is the song of Moses and the lamb, 53:27 a song of deliverance. 53:29 That's Revelation 15:3, it's referring to the 144,000. 53:34 None but the 144,000 can learn that psalm. 53:37 That's Revelation 14:3, 53:39 it's also a text on the 144,000. 53:42 For it is a song of their experience, 53:44 an experience such as no other company 53:46 have ever had. 53:48 These are they which follow the Lamb 53:49 whether so ever He goeth. 53:52 That's also a text that deals with 144,000, 53:55 Revelation 14:1, 53:57 these having been translated from the earth, 54:00 from among the living, are counted 54:02 as firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 54:05 That's also from a passage on the 144,000, 54:08 Revelation 14:4, but now notice this. 54:12 These are they which came out of the great tribulation. 54:17 Now she's calling about the great multitude, 54:20 Revelation 7:14. 54:22 They have passed through the time of trouble, 54:25 such as never was since there was a nation. 54:28 They have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble. 54:31 They have stood without an intercessor. 54:34 Is this after probation is closed? 54:36 Yes. 54:39 They have stood without an intercessor 54:41 through the final outpouring of God's judgments. 54:43 That's the seven last plagues. 54:45 However they have been delivered, 54:47 for they have washed their robes, 54:49 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, 54:51 Revelation 7:14, the great multitude. 54:57 In their mouth was found no guile, 54:59 for they are without fault. 55:00 Now she goes back to a text of the 144,000, 55:03 Revelation 14:5. 55:05 Therefore are they before the throne of God 55:08 and serve him day and night in his temple, 55:10 and he that sitteth on the throne 55:11 shall dwell among them. 55:13 Now she's quoting a verse on the great multitude. 55:16 They have seen the earth wasted with famine and pestilence, 55:20 the sun having power to scorch men with great heat, 55:25 that's Revelation 16:8-9. 55:28 And they themselves have endured suffering, 55:31 hunger and thirst, 55:33 however, they shall hunger no more. 55:34 Now she's quoting about the great multitude again, 55:37 however, they shall hunger no more, 55:40 neither thirst anymore, 55:41 neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat, 55:44 for the Lamb which is in the midst 55:46 of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them 55:49 unto living fountains of waters, 55:51 and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. 55:56 Are they the same group? 55:59 Yes or no? 56:01 Yes, Ellen White very clearly says so. 56:03 Now notice this additional evidence, 56:05 we have a couple of minutes. 56:07 Even further, Ellen White explicitly wrote 56:10 that only the 144,000 will be able to enter 56:13 the heavenly temple. 56:15 Here's the statement, Early Writings, page 19. 56:18 And as we are about to enter the holy temple, 56:22 Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, 56:24 only the 144,000 enter this place, 56:27 and we shouted alleluia. 56:30 However, Revelation 7:15, 56:33 tells us that the members of the great multitude 56:36 will serve God day and night in his temple. 56:41 The conclusion is inevitable, 56:43 the 144000s the only ones whom God allow us 56:47 to enter the temple, according to Ellen White, 56:49 must be the same group as the unnumbered multitude, 56:53 who served God in His temple, day and night. 56:56 So here's my question. 56:58 Is the number 144,000 a literal number? 57:03 No. 57:05 Why is 144,000 years because God wants to say this, 57:08 this is the totality of God's Israel 57:11 at the end of time. 57:13 That's why the number is intensified 12 times 57:16 12 times a 1000. 57:18 This is all of God's faithful Israel at the end of time. 57:22 And then the great multitude shows us 57:24 that there are far more than exactly 144,000 people. 57:29 Actually there are people from every nation, kindred, 57:31 tongue, and people, are unnumbered multitude 57:34 that will go through the time of trouble victoriously 57:37 as Ellen White states in Great Controversy. 57:42 So are they literal Israelites? 57:45 No. 57:46 Is a number of 144,000 a literal number? 57:50 No. 57:52 And Ellen White, of course says that we should struggle 57:54 with all the power that God has given us, 57:57 to be among that group. 57:58 What a privilege 57:59 to vindicate God in the time of trouble 58:02 and to see the Second Coming of Jesus 58:05 from beginning to end. |
Revised 2022-02-24