Participants: Pastor Stephen Bohr
Series Code: CGC
Program Code: CGC000044S
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01:13 Shall we bow our heads for prayer?
01:16 Our Father in heaven, what a joy it is to be able to 01:19 come to this place to open Your Word and learn 01:23 lessons that help us in our personal walk with Jesus. 01:27 We ask that as we study today about The Matchmaker 01:31 that Your Holy Spirit will be with us. 01:33 And help us understand that You are waiting for a people, 01:37 a people who will reflect fully the character of Jesus. 01:42 We long for that day: 01:44 the day when Jesus will come to claim His bride. 01:47 We ask that You will bless our study together 01:50 and we thank you for hearing our prayer. 01:52 For we ask it in Jesus' name, Amen. 01:58 In our lecture today we are going to study mainly 02:03 Genesis chapter 24. 02:06 It's the story of Abraham, Isaac, 02:11 Eliezer, and Rebekah. 02:15 And in order to understand this story we have to start 02:19 a little bit earlier in the book of Genesis. 02:22 We need to go back to Genesis chapter 15 and verse 4. 02:27 Genesis 15:4. 02:32 Here God is speaking 02:35 to Abraham and Abraham thinks that Eliezer 02:39 perhaps might have to be the heir. 02:42 And so Abraham is thinking about adopting Eliezer 02:46 and making him the promised heir. 02:48 But notice what God said to Abraham. 03:09 In other words, "You're not going to adopt Eliezer; 03:13 Eliezer is not going to be your heir. 03:16 It is going to be your very own son. " 03:20 Now we've already studied in this seminar 03:24 earlier the story of Genesis 22 03:27 which I call "the almost sacrifice of Isaac" 03:31 because Isaac was not actually sacrificed. 03:35 He was sacrificed in figure 03:37 because he pointed forward to Jesus Christ. 03:40 Now as we've studied, in that story Abraham 03:43 is a symbol of God the Father 03:46 and Isaac is a symbol of Jesus Christ His Son. 03:52 And in the story that we're going to study today 03:56 once again Abraham is a symbol of God the Father 04:00 and Isaac is a symbol 04:03 of God's Son Jesus Christ. 04:07 Now it's very important for us to realize that when Abraham... 04:13 when Abraham in Genesis chapter 24 sends his servant 04:20 Eliezer to look for a wife for his son 04:23 Abraham is an old man. 04:27 We might call him "the ancient of days. " 04:31 In fact, if you look at the chronology of the Bible 04:33 you'll discover that Abraham 04:36 was approximately 140 years old. 04:41 Probably more accurate to say 139 years old. 04:45 And Isaac at this point was approximately 40 years old. 04:51 And so you might call Abraham "the ancient of days. " 04:56 In fact, let's notice what Genesis chapter 24 04:59 and verse 1 has to say about Abraham. 05:02 It says here: 05:16 So you have Abraham... "the ancient of days. " 05:20 He has a son called Isaac but there's a problem, 05:25 and that problem is that Isaac, though he's approximately 05:29 40 years old, does not have a wife. 05:33 And in order to carry on the seed so that the Messiah 05:37 can eventually come, it's necessary for Isaac 05:41 to have a wife. And so the process... 05:45 In Genesis chapter 24 begins describing the process 05:50 of getting a wife for Isaac. 05:53 Now in Genesis 24 verses 2-4 05:57 we have some clear specifications that were given 06:01 by Abraham to Eliezer about the type of wife 06:05 that he was supposed to secure for Isaac. 06:09 In fact let's read those verses. 06:10 Genesis chapter 24 and verses 2 through 4. 06:15 It says here: 06:58 Notice the clear specification 07:01 that Isaac's wife was supposed to be 07:05 from Abraham's own kindred... 07:09 from Abraham's own people. 07:12 Now at this time Abraham was living in Canaan 07:16 but he commanded Eliezer to go back to Heron 07:22 where Abraham had settled for a while 07:24 to find a wife from his kindred. 07:28 Now there was a very special reason for this: 07:31 the Canaanites were almost totally given over to idolatry. 07:36 And even though the family of Abraham... some of them were 07:40 practicing idolatry... they were not wholly given over 07:44 to idolatry. And so God knew that it was absolutely important 07:48 for Isaac - who is a type of the Messiah - 07:52 to marry someone from his own people, from his own kindred. 07:59 You see, in Canaan idolatry was rampant 08:02 and so God knew that if Isaac married a Canaanite 08:06 she might be able to turn his heart away from the Lord. 08:10 And so it was very clearly specified 08:13 that the bride of Isaac needed to come from his own kindred. 08:19 He needed to marry someone from his own family. 08:24 By the way, it's interesting to notice the process 08:27 that was followed in finding a wife for Isaac. 08:31 Isaac did not actually go out hunting for a wife. 08:35 There was actually a matchmaker or a go-between 08:41 who went seeking the wife and making arrangements 08:46 so that Isaac could marry this wife. 08:49 Of course, the name of this individual was Eliezer. 08:54 He was actually a servant of Abraham 08:57 and he was sent before Isaac to prepare the way 09:03 to make the arrangements for the marriage of Isaac 09:07 with Rebekah. In other words, in this story 09:10 we not only have Abraham, the "ancient of days, " 09:14 not only do we have Isaac, the son of the promise 09:18 who is a symbol of the Messiah, 09:20 not only do we have Rebekah who became the wife of Isaac, 09:25 but we have a go-between... we have a matchmaker. 09:30 A friend of the groom if you please. 09:33 Today we would call him a best man. 09:37 Now I'd like to make a short parenthesis here 09:40 and talk a little bit about the process that was followed 09:44 in finding a wife for a young man in Biblical times. 09:48 You know, it wasn't just the case that young people 09:52 chose their own wife. 09:55 They had to receive counsel from their parents 09:59 because their parents were actually much more wiser 10:02 than they were because they had been over the road 10:05 and they had much more experience. 10:08 Now what I'm going to read is from our second textbook 10:11 in this seminar: Patriarchs and Prophets. 10:14 Our first textbook, of course, is the Bible. 10:17 But the second textbook that we've quoted quite a bit from 10:20 is the book Patriarchs and Prophets. 10:21 And even though this doesn't have to do directly 10:24 with the subject that we're studying because we're doing 10:27 an illustration of this story of the Old Testament 10:30 as a type of Jesus Christ 10:33 I felt it would be a good idea to bring this quotation 10:36 here into view because I feel that it's extremely important. 10:40 Patriarchs and Prophets page 175 says this 10:46 to young people today: 10:48 "What a contrast between the course of Isaac 10:54 and that pursued by the youth of our time! 10:58 Even among professed Christians 11:02 young people too often feel 11:05 that the bestowal of their affections 11:08 is a matter in which self alone should be consulted - 11:13 a matter that neither God nor their parents 11:17 should in any wise control. 11:20 Long before they have reached manhood 11:23 or womanhood they think themselves competent 11:27 to make their own choice without the aid of their parents. 11:32 A few years of married life 11:35 are usually sufficient to show them their error 11:39 but often too late to prevent its baleful results. 11:45 For the same lack of wisdom and self-control 11:48 that dictated the hasty choice 11:51 is permitted to aggravate the evil until the marriage 11:55 relation becomes a galling yoke. 11:59 Many have thus wrecked their happiness in this life 12:03 and their hope of the life to come. " 12:07 Certainly is a wise thing 12:10 to have parents give some input when it comes to the issue 12:15 of marriage. 12:16 And so Eliezer - the matchmaker - 12:19 the servant of the father, "ancient of days" Abraham 12:24 who is looking for a wife for his son Isaac 12:27 travels to Heron from Canaan. 12:31 And when he arrives in Heron 12:34 he meets this beautiful, 12:38 industrious woman. 12:41 Notice what we find in Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16. 12:46 Genesis chapter 24 and verse 16. 12:51 By the way, her name is Rebekah... or was Rebekah. 12:55 It says here: 13:21 Because Eliezer said: "Give me some water to drink. " 13:24 But she goes even a step further. 13:26 She says: "I'll draw water for your camels as well. " 13:29 And so she draws water for the camels. 13:32 Now I want you to notice what type of wife this is. 13:36 She is beautiful; she is a virgin; 13:41 she is very industrious. 13:44 She is kind; she is courteous. 13:47 She has all of the qualities that one would desire 13:51 in a wife. And then, of course, you have the wedding itself. 13:56 She accepts the idea of marrying Isaac. 14:01 And we are told in Genesis chapter 24 and verse 67 14:06 that when Rebekah arrived with Eliezer 14:09 back in the land of Canaan "Then Isaac brought her 14:14 into his mother Sarah's tent. 14:17 And he took Rebekah and she became his wife 14:21 and he loved her. " 14:24 Now let's review the main points of this story. 14:29 You have Abraham... the "ancient of days, " 14:33 a symbol of God the Father 14:36 sending his servant Eliezer - 14:40 the matchmaker or the go-between - 14:43 to make arrangements or to prepare the way 14:47 for the marriage of his son Isaac 14:51 to a very beautiful woman 14:54 from his kindred, very industrious, 14:57 a virgin, very hard worker 15:01 and also very respectful and kind. 15:05 Now what does this have to teach us? 15:09 Well as you know in the Old Testament 15:12 marriage was used as a symbol of the relationship 15:17 between God and His people. 15:19 Allow me just to mention a few things about God's marriage 15:23 with Israel in the Old Testament. 15:26 I'm only going to mention it in passing 15:28 and I'm not going to read it from scripture. 15:30 But in Exodus chapter 19 15:33 you have the preparation of Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai 15:39 to receive the covenant or the Ten Commandments. 15:43 Do you know that there at Mt. Sinai 15:46 there was a matchmaker? 15:47 A go-between between God and Israel? 15:52 You say: "Who was that go-between? " 15:54 It was actually Moses. 15:57 If you read Exodus chapter 19 you're going to discover 16:01 that Moses went up to the mount and in verses 4 through 6 16:07 God says to Moses: "I want to make a covenant 16:11 with Israel. You tell them that if they listen to My voice 16:16 and they keep My covenant 16:18 they're going to be My special people. 16:21 I want to make a covenant with them. " 16:23 And by the way, I'm going to read in a moment 16:24 that this was a marriage covenant. 16:27 And then, of course, Moses... he brings the message down 16:31 from Mt. Sinai and he comes to the people 16:33 and he says to the people: "Folks, God wants to make 16:37 a covenant with you folks. 16:40 He says that if you listen to His voice and keep His covenant 16:44 that you will be His favored people; that you will be 16:48 His bride. Do you accept? Yes or no? " 16:52 And Israel said: "We do. " 16:55 And so once again in this story you have 16:58 what the story of Abraham illustrated. 17:01 The story of Abraham illustrated what happened 17:04 with Israel at Mt. Sinai. 17:07 Moses is the one who makes the arrangement, who is the 17:10 messenger of God to Israel 17:13 to get Israel to be willing to marry God. 17:17 And by the way, the God here is none less than Jesus Christ 17:21 Himself. Now you're saying: "But that covenant at Sinai... 17:25 are you sure that that was a marriage covenant? " 17:28 Absolutely. Go with me to Jeremiah chapter 31. 17:32 Jeremiah chapter 31. 17:36 And let's notice how this covenant at Mt. Sinai 17:39 is described. 17:41 Jeremiah chapter 31 and I would like to read verse 32. 17:47 Actually let's begin at verse 31. 17:50 It says here: "Behold, the days are coming 17:53 says the Lord when I will make a new covenant 17:56 with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 18:00 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers 18:04 in the day that I took them by the hand 18:07 to lead them out of the land of Egypt. " 18:11 See, that's the covenant that they made at Sinai. 18:14 Notice what it continues saying: 18:16 "My covenant which they broke, though I was 18:21 a... " What? "though I was 18:23 a husband to them says the Lord. " 18:28 And so the story of Abraham 18:31 is really a prefiguring or an illustration 18:35 of what happened at Mt. Sinai. 18:38 You see, God the Father wants Israel to marry Jesus Christ 18:43 as their Lord. 18:45 And God sent Moses with a message to Israel 18:48 as the go-between or the matchmaker, and Israel 18:52 said: "We do. " By the way, did you notice 18:55 that at Sinai God married Israel. He did not marry 18:59 the Gentile nations? 19:01 Just like in the story of Abraham 19:04 the wife had to be from among the chosen people. 19:08 The same way Israel was God's chosen people 19:11 and Jesus makes a covenant marriage with them. 19:15 But folks, this marriage of Israel with Jesus Christ at 19:20 Mt. Sinai is also an illus- tration of a greater marriage 19:25 to take place later on in history. 19:29 I'm referring to the marriage of Jesus Christ 19:33 with Israel when Jesus came to this world 19:37 the first time. Now let's take a look at that. 19:40 Go with me to John chapter 1 and verses 6 through 9. 19:47 Let me ask you: did God the Father want Jesus 19:52 His Son to marry Israel 19:56 when Jesus came to this world? 19:58 Absolutely. 20:00 We're going to find marriage terminology in the gospels. 20:03 But let me ask you: did God send a go-between 20:07 or a matchmaker to prepare the way? 20:10 A matchmaker or a go-between 20:15 to prepare the bride for the husband? 20:18 Absolutely. 20:20 Notice John chapter 1 and verses 6 through 9. 20:25 By the way, Eliezer was not the heir. 20:30 And this individual we're going to talk about now 20:33 was not the heir either. 20:35 It says there in John 1 and verses 6 through 9: 21:08 Could we say that Eliezer was actually a minor figure 21:14 in the marriage story of Isaac with Rebekah? 21:18 Could you say that Eliezer 21:20 must decrease that Isaac might 21:22 increase? Absolutely. 21:25 Because at the center of the 21:26 story is not Eliezer - the matchmaker. 21:29 At the center of the story is whom? Is Isaac 21:33 who is going to marry Rebekah. 21:35 The same is true with this individual 21:38 whom of course we know is John the Baptist. 21:42 Now go with me to Luke chapter 1 and verses 16-17. 21:47 Luke chapter 1 verses 16 and 17. 21:53 When Jesus comes who is He going to marry? 21:56 Is He going to marry the Gentiles? Or is He going to 22:00 marry the chosen people? 22:02 He's going to marry the chosen people. 22:05 Now notice Luke chapter 1 and verses 16 and 17. 22:10 Speaking about John the Baptist: 22:44 What was the mission of John the Baptist? 22:47 Was he the go-between? Was he the matchmaker 22:50 to prepare a bride for Jesus Christ? 22:53 Absolutely! From among the chosen people. 22:56 Yes according to the story. 22:58 Now notice also Matthew chapter 3 and verses 1 to 3. 23:03 Matthew chapter 3 and verses 1 to 3. 23:09 Here once again we find the idea 23:11 of John the Baptist preparing the way 23:15 for the coming of the Messiah. Preparing a people 23:18 to be ready for when Messiah comes. 23:20 It says there in Matthew 3:1: 23:53 Now you're probably saying: "OK, John the Baptist was there 23:57 to prepare the way of the Lord, 23:59 but there's no reference directly to marriage in there. " 24:03 Go with me to the gospel of John chapter 3 24:08 and verses 29 and 30. 24:11 John 3:29-30. 24:14 Here we find the clear connection or link 24:17 between this story and the story of the Old Testament, 24:22 of Genesis... the story of Abraham and Isaac 24:25 and Eliezer and Rebekah. 24:27 Here John the Baptist is speak- ing, and notice what he says: 25:05 Was John the Baptist the heir? 25:10 John the Baptist WAS NOT the heir. 25:12 Who was the heir? 25:14 To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. 25:18 It does not say to seeds as to many 25:21 but to your Seed who is Christ. 25:25 The promises belong to Jesus. 25:28 In other words, just like Eliezer could not be the heir 25:32 because he did not come from his father, John the Baptist 25:36 could not bring about the marriage. He could not be 25:41 the one who would inherit or marry because he was only 25:45 the matchmaker. He was the go-between 25:48 to prepare a people to marry Jesus Christ. 25:52 Now there's an added detail in the story of John the Baptist 25:55 which is not found in the Old Testament story. 25:59 And that is that when John the Baptist appears... 26:02 By the way, did you notice that his name is Elijah? 26:05 Elijah is the one who prepares the way. He's the matchmaker. 26:09 He's the go-between. He's the friend of the groom 26:12 or the best man. Now when Elijah appears 26:16 as the one who prepares the way, 26:19 three enemies always appear along with him 26:24 to try and get rid of him. 26:27 Now let's go to the gospel of Mark chapter 6 and verses 17-28. 26:34 And we'll have to go through this quickly. 26:36 Mark chapter 6 and verses 17 through 28. 26:39 Now before we read this passage I want to remind you 26:44 about something. Mark 6 verses 17 through 28. 26:48 I want to remind you about the Elijah story 26:50 in the Old Testament. 26:52 How many enemies did Elijah have in the Old Testament? 26:57 He had three basic enemies. 26:59 The first one was Ahab. What was he? 27:02 The king. 27:04 The second one was Jezebel. 27:08 She was a harlot queen. 27:12 She's called a harlot in II Kings chapter 9 and verse 22 27:16 by the way. It speaks about her harlotry. 27:20 And a third enemy of Elijah is actually a group of people: 27:24 the prophets of Jezebel who do her bidding, 27:28 who eat at her table. 27:30 And so you have three enemies. 27:32 And by the way, who is the dangerous figure in this story 27:35 of Elijah? Is it Ahab? 27:38 No... Ahab was a wimp. 27:41 Excuse me for using that expression. 27:43 He had a character like putty. 27:44 It could be very easily molded by Jezebel. 27:48 Were the prophets of Baal in themselves a threat to Elijah? 27:52 No. The threat to Elijah was found in whom? 27:56 In Jezebel... this harlot queen. 27:59 And of course she maneuvered to work upon the king 28:02 and to work upon the false prophets of Baal 28:06 to try and get rid of Elijah. 28:10 And by the way, Elijah's message was a message 28:13 calling Israel to restore the gospel because it says that 28:17 he built the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. 28:21 Elijah also restore true worship 28:24 because he rebuked Ahab. He said: 28:27 "You have abandoned the commandments of God 28:30 and the worship of God and you are worshipping Baal. " 28:35 In other words, Elijah restored three things: 28:38 the gospel, the sacrifice of the lamb on the altar - 28:42 he restored true worship, 28:43 and he restored the commandments of God. 28:46 And that got him the wrath of this three-fold union: 28:51 Ahab, Jezebel, 28:53 and the false prophets of Baal. 28:56 Now if John the Baptist 28:58 is the New Testament Elijah, 29:00 which he is... By the way, three times 29:03 we find this in the New Testament. 29:05 In Luke 1:16-17; 29:07 Matthew 11:11-14; 29:10 and Matthew 17:10-13. 29:13 All three passages identify John the Baptist as Elijah. 29:16 By the way, not Elijah in person 29:19 but one who fulfills the work of Elijah. 29:22 Now if John the Baptist is Elijah so to speak, 29:27 do you suppose that his three enemies will also appear 29:30 along with him? Obviously. 29:34 Are they going to try and get rid of the matchmaker 29:38 so that he cannot prepare the bride for the husband? 29:41 Absolutely. 29:43 Let's notice this passage beginning at verse 17. It says: 30:04 Whom had he married? 30:06 His brother's wife. 30:07 What is that called? 30:09 That's called adultery by the way. 30:11 And according to this passage here 30:16 Herod did not throw John in prison because Herod hated John 30:21 but because Herodias hated John. 30:23 Did you notice that? Now let's go to verse 18: 30:35 Did he rebuke fornication? 30:37 Yes he did. 30:39 By the way, did John the Baptist 30:40 restore the gospel? 30:42 How did he introduce Jesus? 30:44 "Behold the Lamb of God 30:46 who takes away the sin of the world. " 30:48 And he restored the seventh commandment according to this. 30:51 He actually upheld the commandments of God. 30:54 Now notice verse 19: 31:16 Was Herod a dangerous figure? 31:19 Absolutely not. By the way, what was his function? 31:22 He was the king. 31:23 Was there a king in the Old Testament story? 31:26 Absolutely. In both cases you have a king. 31:29 In both cases do you have an adulterous woman? 31:32 You most certainly do. 31:34 Does the adulterous woman in both cases want the death 31:38 of the matchmaker? Absolutely. 31:40 Now let's go to verse 21: 31:45 Opportune for whom? 31:47 For Herodias. 31:59 Oh, now we have a third 32:01 protagonist. 32:26 Now did this young lady have 32:27 a mind of her own? 32:29 Or was she a copy of her mother? 32:32 Did she do the biddings of her mother? 32:35 Just like the prophets of Baal did the biddings of Jezebel? 32:38 Absolutely! 32:40 She was an image of her mother if you please. 32:43 Verse 24: 32:48 By the way, I want you to notice 32:50 the terminology: 32:51 king, mother, daughter. 32:54 King, mother, daughter. 32:58 Very significant when we come 32:59 to the end-time application 33:01 of this. Verse 24 once again: 33:12 Now what would you do 33:13 if your daughter asked for the 33:16 head of Pastor Bohr? 33:17 I'll bet you would say: "What are you talking about? " 33:24 I... I... at least I hope you would. 33:28 But I want you to notice that the daughter was just like 33:30 her mother. Notice verse 25: 33:57 Was he just like Ahab? 33:59 Was his character just like Ahab 34:00 in the Old Testament? 34:02 Absolutely. 34:03 Now notice verse 27: 34:27 Who is the dangerous figure in this story? 34:30 The dangerous figure is the mother. 34:32 She's the one who ends up slaying the matchmaker. 34:38 Now let me ask you: does this all have an 34:41 end-time application? It most certainly does. 34:45 You see, we have typology functioning here. 34:48 The story of Abraham sending Eliezer to prepare the way 34:54 or to make arrangements for the marriage of his son 34:58 is actually symbolic of God sending Moses 35:03 to arrange the marriage between Jesus and Israel. 35:07 Also it illustrates God sending John the Baptist to prepare 35:12 the way or make arrangements for the marriage of Jesus 35:16 to Israel. And you have the enemy of the matchmaker. 35:21 Now I want you to notice that we are to expect 35:24 an end-time Elijah. 35:26 Notice Malachi chapter 4 and verses 5 and 6. 35:30 Malachi chapter 4 and verses 5 and 6. 35:35 You see, John the Baptist does not exhaust the Elijah 35:40 prophecy of the Old Testament. 35:42 It says there in Malachi 4:5-6 36:08 Does God promise to send Elijah right before the second coming 36:14 of Jesus Christ? Yes. 36:16 Do you suppose that the purpose 36:18 of that Elijah is to be the 36:20 matchmaker to prepare a people 36:23 to make them ready to marry 36:26 Jesus? Absolutely! 36:29 Now let's pursue that. 36:31 Where is the message of this end-time Elijah? 36:36 Remember the message of the first Elijah? 36:39 Restored the gospel by restoring the altar 36:43 where the sacrifices were made. 36:45 He restored true worship by rebuking the worship of 36:49 Baal the sun god. 36:51 And he said: "You have troubled Israel 36:54 because you have broken the commandments of God 36:56 and followed the Baals. " 36:58 Three things: the gospel, worship, and the commandments. 37:02 Would you expect this end-time Elijah 37:05 to have a very similar message? 37:07 Absolutely. Where do we find that message? 37:10 We find that message in Revelation 14:6-12. 37:16 Notice Revelation 14 verses 6 and 7: 37:20 the message that prepares a bride for the great marriage 37:25 of Jesus with His people at the end of time. 37:28 It says there in Revelation 14 verse 6: 37:48 This shows that this cannot be 37:49 one person because one person 37:51 can't take the message to every 37:53 nation, kindred, tongue, 37:55 and people. This is a world-wide 37:57 movement. 37:59 Elijah's a symbol 38:00 of a world-wide people. 38:02 Now notice what he says 38:04 in a loud voice: 38:07 By the way, that in the Bible is 38:08 coupled with keeping God's 38:09 commandments all throughout the Bible. 38:27 Does this first angel's message restore the gospel? 38:31 It most certainly does. 38:33 Does this first angel's message restore the commandments 38:37 of God? Yes! In fact, when you get to the 3rd angel's message 38:41 we find that it says: "Here are they who... " What? 38:45 "who keep the commandments of God 38:47 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. " 38:49 Does this first message restore true worship? 38:52 Yes, because it says: "Worship Him who made the 38:55 heavens, the earth, the seas, and the fountains of waters. " 38:59 The purpose of this message is to go to all of the world 39:02 to prepare a bride for the great marriage 39:05 of Jesus with His people. 39:08 By the way, the second angel's message 39:12 warns people that Babylon is fallen. 39:16 And in a moment we're going to notice that Babylon has 3 parts. 39:19 Babylon is fallen and people are supposed to leave 39:23 Babylon and join God's remnant people 39:27 so that at the end of time they can participate 39:30 in that great marriage between Jesus and His people. 39:37 Now let me ask you this: 39:39 do you suppose that the devil is going to be angry 39:43 at this end-time matchmaker? 39:47 Absolutely. 39:49 Because the purpose of this end-time matchmaker - 39:52 this end-time Elijah, 39:54 this world-wide movement 39:56 which prepares the way for the great wedding of Jesus 40:00 with His people at the very end of time - 40:03 its purpose is to prepare a bride 40:06 for the great marriage. 40:07 And the devil hates that message! 40:10 And he hates what the matchmaker does. 40:13 And so you would expect that the end-time Elijah 40:16 would also have how many enemies? 40:19 Now where did you get that idea from? 40:23 The end-time Elijah must also have three enemies. 40:26 Now let's examine if the book of Revelation speaks about 3. 40:31 Go with me to Revelation chapter 16 and verse 13. 40:36 Revelation chapter 16 and verse 13. 40:38 Previously in this seminar we've studied about the beast; 40:41 we've studied about his image; 40:44 and we've studied about the dragon. 40:46 And so this will be just review. 40:48 I'm going to read it and then I'm going to tell you 40:50 what these powers represent 40:52 because we've already studied them in this seminar. 40:55 Revelation 16 and verse 13 says: 41:04 Let me just stop there a minute. 41:07 What are unclean spirits? 41:12 Evil spirits. What are evil spirits? 41:16 Thank you. Fallen angels. 41:19 So how many unclean spirits do you have? 41:22 How many unclean angels? 41:24 Three. How many angels messages does God send? 41:28 Three. What do the angels use to proclaim God's message? 41:32 With a loud what? Voice. 41:35 Where do these spirits come from? 41:38 From the mouth. These are the counterfeit three angels. 41:42 So if you know what the true three angels teach 41:44 you'll know what the counterfeit ones are teaching as well. 41:48 So it says: "I saw 3 unclean spirits... " 42:18 How many powers is Babylon composed of? 42:22 Three: the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 42:27 Now because we've studied this I'm just going to interpret it 42:30 for you. What is represented by the dragon? 42:33 We know that the dragon represents Satan 42:37 in a primary sense. 42:40 But in a secondary sense the dragon represents the civil 42:44 powers of the world. For example, in Revelation 42:47 chapter 12 you have this dragon that stands next to the woman 42:51 to devour her Child as soon as the Child is born. 42:55 Let me ask you: what power was that? 42:58 It was the empire of Rome. The dragon represents Rome. 43:05 In Ezekiel 29 and verse 3 43:07 Pharaoh is called "the great dragon. " 43:10 In other words, we find here a reference 43:14 in the dragon to the kings of the earth 43:17 and the whole world. But then we also have the beast. 43:21 What does the beast represent? 43:23 We've already studied that it represents the Roman Catholic 43:27 papacy. And what does the false prophet represent? 43:32 It represents apostate Protestantism. 43:36 Now let me ask you: is the end time scenario 43:39 going to look a lot like the scenario in the days 43:43 of John the Baptist and in the days of the prophet Elijah? 43:48 Absolutely. 43:50 By the way, in Revelation 17 43:53 these powers are called by a different name. 43:57 And I'm not going to read the text because you've read it 44:00 and you know what I'm referring to. 44:02 Revelation chapter 17 speaks about a great harlot. 44:10 She's seated on many waters 44:12 which represents what? Multitudes, nations, tongues, 44:16 and peoples. 44:17 What does a woman represent in prophecy? 44:20 Represents an apostate church in this case 44:24 because it's a vile, adulterous 44:26 woman... the great harlot. 44:28 Now you'll notice that she's 44:30 called "the mother of harlots" 44:32 which must mean that she has what? 44:35 That she has daughters. 44:37 And she commits fornication with whom? 44:40 With the kings of the earth. 44:42 And so you have the same idea as in the Elijah story 44:46 in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament 44:49 Elijah story in John the Baptist. 44:52 You have a harlot woman. She moves the strings 44:55 according to Revelation 17. 44:57 She's the dangerous figure. She uses the kings of the world 45:00 and she uses her daughters or the image or the false prophet 45:05 to accomplish her purposes. 45:07 And folks, as we look out at what's happening in the world 45:10 today - particularly in the United States of America - 45:13 we can certainly see this being fulfilled before our very eyes. 45:18 How the papacy, uniting with Protestantism, 45:23 is trying to influence the rulers of the world 45:27 to accomplish their purposes. 45:29 And folks, it will finally end up in the persecution 45:33 against the matchmaker... against Elijah. 45:37 By the way, do you know that we can very easily 45:43 determine who is on God's side and who is not on God's side 45:46 in the end time? 45:49 You know, it's so simple. 45:51 The people who proclaim the same message that Elijah preached 45:54 are on God's side. 45:57 So if the people are preaching the everlasting gospel 46:02 and they're preaching that we're supposed to keep 46:04 the commandments of God which the devil hates, 46:07 the dragon hates them, 46:08 and if we're preaching that you're supposed to worship 46:11 the Creator on His holy Sabbath, 46:13 you know that those are on God's side. 46:17 So it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out 46:20 that those who say that the commandments have been changed 46:24 and that you don't have to keep the Sabbath, you can keep 46:26 a substitute day are on the other side of the equation. 46:30 Are you following me? 46:31 There's another way in which you can determine 46:33 whether you're on God's side or not. 46:35 If you are persecuTED, you are on God's side. 46:39 If you are with the persecuTORs, 46:42 you are on the devil's side. 46:44 It's that simple... it's not complicated. 46:47 In the end time, those on God's side 46:49 are not going to be all of the people who have the power 46:53 of the government, all of the people who have 46:55 their churches full. No! Those on God's side 46:58 are those who are going to be persecuted 47:01 for righteousness' sake. So much for the idea 47:04 that Christians are supposed to take over the world. 47:09 Now let me ask you: what is the purpose of this end-time 47:12 Elijah? It is to prepare the way. 47:18 It is to take the necessary steps 47:22 to prepare the what? To prepare the wedding 47:27 for Jesus with His people. 47:30 In fact, let's notice a few references 47:33 in the New Testament to this. 47:36 Ephesians chapter 5 and verses 25 to 27. 47:40 Ephesians chapter 5 verses 25 to 27. 47:43 See, the purpose of a matchmaker is to prepare a bride 47:46 for Jesus... a beautiful bride. 47:49 A virgin bride. 47:52 A hard-working bride. 47:54 A courteous and tactful and loving bride 47:58 just like Rebekah was in the Old Testament. 48:01 Now notice what it says here... the apostle Paul: 48:20 By the way, the water represents 48:21 the Holy Spirit. 48:23 The Holy Spirit washes the church 48:25 through what? Through the Word. 48:53 So what does the three angels' message do? 48:57 It actually prepares God's people to be what? 49:02 To be married to Jesus Christ when Jesus Christ comes 49:07 and prepares a people who are without spot or wrinkle 49:12 or any such thing at the coming of Jesus. 49:15 And it's accomplished through the medium of the Holy Spirit 49:19 through obedience to God's what? Obedience to God's Holy Word. 49:25 Now let's notice Revelation chapter 22 and verse 11. 49:31 Revelation chapter 22 and verse 11. 49:35 Do you know that there's a time when the door of probation 49:39 in this world is going to close? 49:42 The work of the matchmaker will be finished 49:46 and everyone will be on one side or on the other side. 49:51 They will either be with God's bride without spot 49:57 or wrinkle or any such thing 49:59 or they will be on the side of that other woman - 50:03 the harlot - who fornicates with the kings of the earth. 50:07 There are only two options, and the day is coming 50:09 when the door of probation is going to close and God is 50:13 going to speak these awesome words. 50:16 Notice Revelation chapter 22 and verse 11: 50:21 It says here: "He who is unjust 50:26 let him be unjust still. " 50:29 Now I need to explain something to you 50:31 before we finish reading this verse. 50:33 The King James doesn't really capture 50:36 the meaning of the verb. 50:39 Really the verb says "He who is... " 50:43 As it says here in verse 11: "He who is unjust 50:48 let him be unjust still" 50:50 would be better translated "He who is unjust 50:54 let him continue to act unjustly. " 50:59 In other words, it is a verb of action. 51:02 You can read the New International Version. 51:04 It has the proper translation. 51:06 In other words, "He who is unjust will continue to perform 51:09 unjust actions. " Notice what it continues saying 51:13 there in verse 11: 51:16 "He who is filthy, let him continue to act in a... " What? 51:22 "in a filthy way. " 51:25 By the way, is God's bride filthy when Jesus comes? 51:29 No! We read in Ephesians 5 51:32 that Christ's bride has no what? "No spot, no wrinkle, " 51:38 and then he says: "in case I missed something 51:40 "or any such thing. " 51:42 In other words, the message of the three angels 51:46 will have purified a people and prepared them 51:49 for the coming of Jesus. 51:52 That was the purpose of the message of John the Baptist 51:55 by the way as well. 51:56 Now notice what it continues saying: 51:59 "He who is righteous, let him continue to act righteously" 52:05 is the way that it should be translated. 52:07 "And he who is holy, let him continue to behave 52:12 in a holy manner. " 52:15 Let me ask you: was Rebekah a woman of action? 52:22 Not only was she a virgin in her state; 52:25 not only was she pure... 52:27 And by the way, Isaac was monogamous. 52:31 He's one of those heroes in the 52:33 Old Testament who had only 52:34 one wife. Because Isaac 52:37 is a symbol of whom? 52:39 Is a symbol of Jesus who marries only one bride. 52:43 You see, Babylon fornicates with many. 52:46 But Jesus is married to one. He's married to His pure church 52:52 who is clothed with the sun and standing on the moon 52:56 and with a crown of twelve stars on her head. 52:59 Victorious over sin; victorious over Satan; 53:02 and victorious over the world. 53:05 And now I want you to notice at the very end 53:09 once the church has prepared herself 53:12 the idea that we find in Revelation chapter 19 53:16 and verses 7 and 8. 53:19 Revelation 19:7-8. 53:22 Here it's speaking about what Jesus is going to do 53:26 with His church. Notice... it says there: 53:52 What was the word that was used 53:54 for the work of John the Baptist? 53:55 To make a people what? Ready for the coming of the Lord. 54:01 What is going to happen when the three angels' messages 54:04 have done their work? Jesus will have a people 54:09 who are what? Ready! Now notice verse 8: 54:32 Let me ask you: does that sit very well with what we just read 54:35 in Revelation 22 and verse 11? 54:38 You see, many people think the only thing that counts 54:41 is the imputed righteousness of Christ. 54:45 When you believe in Jesus, when you repent, 54:47 when you confess your sin, 54:49 Jesus puts His righteousness to your account 54:52 and God looks upon you as if you have never sinned. 54:56 And praise the Lord that is a great truth 54:59 of the gospel. That is definitely Biblical, 55:02 but that is only half the story. 55:05 That is only half the gospel. 55:07 You say: "What do you mean? " 55:09 The fact is that if God credits the righteousness to your 55:14 account as a result you will show righteousness in your life. 55:21 If Jesus has imputed His righteousness to you, 55:24 you must also be willing to receive His what? 55:28 His imparted righteousness. 55:31 Because the same Lord who justifies is the Lord who 55:35 sanctifies. And Jesus will never justify someone 55:39 who is not willing to be sanctified. 55:42 Is Jesus going to have a justified church when He comes? 55:47 He most certainly is. 55:49 Is He going to have a sanctified church when He comes? 55:52 Absolutely! He will have a church 55:55 that has prepared itself. It is ready for the great 55:59 wedding with Jesus Christ, the Lord and the Savior. 56:03 And then do you know what Jesus is going to do? 56:06 When He marries His people... And by the way, 56:09 He marries His people in absentia. 56:11 I'm not going to get into that right now. 56:13 He marries His people in the heavenly sanctuary 56:17 when probation closes. When you hear those words 56:20 of Revelation 22 verse 11 that's the moment when the 56:23 marriage takes place. And then Jesus is going to come. 56:26 The church is ready. He's going to pick up the church 56:29 and He's going to take the church to heaven... His bride! 56:32 And what's going to be celebrated there? 56:35 Oh, the great reception: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb 56:41 where God's people will sit at the table 56:44 and Jesus Christ - the husband - will come and He will be 56:49 the One to serve us. 56:53 Are you looking forward to this time? 56:56 What do we need to do in order to be ready? 57:00 We must pay heed to the messages that God has given 57:05 in the book of Revelation. 57:07 We must learn to fear God. 57:09 Give glory to Him. 57:11 Realize we are now in the hour of the judgment. 57:14 And worship the Creator and flee from Babylon. 57:20 May that be our experience is my prayer. |
Revised 2023-11-13