Participants: Graham Weir
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000031A
|
00:26 Hello and welcome.
00:28 I'm Graham Weir, and this is part six, 00:31 the final part in the great series 00:34 of The Reformation Revisited. 00:36 In this series, we're going to be taking 00:39 a close look at the fantastic journey 00:42 that God's people can expect 00:43 to participate in on the way home. 00:46 So this is the celebration program 00:49 which I think you should hold in your mind forever. 00:52 We are also going to take a look, a deep look, 00:55 courtesy of Hubble and NASA, 00:58 deep inside the constellation of Orion. 01:01 And you gonna see through the program 01:03 why this constellation has so much fascination 01:07 for NASA and Hubble, Interesting. 01:10 It's been called a star factory, 01:12 but in there there's some amazing things. 01:14 We're going to take a look at that. 01:17 I think you're gonna enjoy it, so stay tuned. 01:19 Let's begin with a prayer. 01:25 Loving Father in heaven, we praise You and thank You 01:28 for all the wonderful things 01:29 that You have prepared for Your people. 01:33 We have considered the past, 01:34 the heritage of the great Protestant Reformation. 01:38 And in this program, 01:39 we have to consider its close, 01:41 its completion, and up mighty journey home 01:45 that you have prepared for your people, 01:47 the victory circuit around heaven. 01:50 Please bless us, give us ears to hear, 01:52 eyes to see, and incline our heart, 01:54 they want to do your work, because we ask in Jesus name. 01:58 Amen. 02:03 Now text for the program, we'll get to that in a minute. 02:07 Have you ever wondered what a heavenly journey home 02:10 is gonna be like? 02:11 Yes. Ever wondered about that? 02:13 It's a subject of deep thought and inspiration, isn't it? 02:16 To think about what God has prepared 02:17 for that seven-day journey home. 02:21 God word holds the key to what it's going to be like. 02:25 He's revealed in his word, where heaven will be, 02:29 what heaven will be like, where its capital will be, 02:34 what its capital will look like, 02:37 what the people will be like there, 02:40 where people will live, 02:42 and what people will actually do there. 02:47 And I take today's Revelation 21:1-2 02:50 and it say's this, 02:52 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 02:57 for the first heaven and the first earth 02:59 were passed away, and there was no more sea. 03:03 And I John," this is John, the Revelator in vision, 03:07 "I saw, the holy city, New Jerusalem, 03:09 coming down from God out of heaven, 03:12 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." 03:18 And as we read further, 03:19 we discover an amazing description 03:21 of the holy city descending from heaven. 03:24 Reading verse 9, "And there came unto me 03:28 one of the seven angels which had the seven vials 03:31 full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, 03:34 saying, come hither, 03:36 I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife." 03:39 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great 03:42 and high mountain. 03:43 And he showed me that great city, 03:46 the Holy Jerusalem, 03:48 descending out of heaven from God. 03:50 Imagine what John must have thought 03:53 when he saw this vision. 03:55 "Having the glory of God, and her light was like 03:58 unto a stone most precious, even like a Jasper stone, 04:02 clear as crystal." 04:05 a great and high wall... 04:07 and names written on them, 04:09 which are the names of the twelve tribes 04:11 of the children of Israel. 04:13 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, 04:16 and on them were the names of the twelve apostles 04:18 of the Lamb. 04:20 And he measured the city with the reed, 04:23 twelve thousand furlongs. 04:25 The length and the breadth 04:29 and the height of it are equal." 04:33 So what do these measurements mean 04:34 in today's terms? 04:36 Well, a furlong is one-fifth of a kilometer, 04:40 12,000 furlongs will equal 2,400 kilometers. 04:44 We assume that's its total circumference, 04:48 approximately 1,491 miles around the city. 04:54 That's kind of big, isn't it? 04:57 If we divide about four, we get 600 kilometers, 04:59 there were approximately 372 miles down each side. 05:06 And the bit I can't get my head around is the height, 05:10 372 miles height, really? 05:15 It's enormous, it's stupendous. 05:19 The Bible says that the length and the breadth 05:21 and the height of it are equal. 05:24 So can you imagine a city 372 miles high? 05:29 Well, modern jets cruise 05:30 around 9,000 meters or 30,000 feet 05:33 which is only 9 kilometers or 5 miles. 05:38 So in mid-peak terms, this city would be around 05:40 67 times higher than passenger jets fly. 05:46 I can't get my head around that. 05:49 Nothing is impossible for God. 05:51 You think, wait a minute, you got to be way out in space. 05:54 Well, that's not too hard for God, is it? 05:56 But for a human mind, woo! 06:00 Some commentators say about this 06:02 that the answer lies 06:03 in the interpretation of the word "equal". 06:06 They say it means which we think 06:08 it means exactly the same as. 06:11 They said it really means in proportion to. 06:14 Well, I have to confess, I've done some research 06:17 and I can't find anything, 06:18 any references to backup the claim. 06:21 So I don't know for sure. 06:24 And in any case, if we question the meaning of the word, equal, 06:27 in regard to the city's height, 06:29 then we also have to question it 06:31 in regard to the length and the breath too. 06:32 Don't we? 06:34 So that's all too odd for me. 06:38 I'm happy to leave that to God. 06:40 We're gonna find out soon enough, aren't we? 06:42 But it's stupendous, isn't it? 06:45 We have an awesome God. 06:48 I'm also mindful of the Bible text in 1 Corinthians 2:9, 06:53 which says, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, 06:59 nor has it entered into the heart of man 07:01 the things that God hath prepared for him." 07:04 So I'm happy to wait and see, aren't you? 07:07 It's going to be incredible, I can't wait. 07:11 I think when we get there and we see this happening, 07:13 we're gonna say, "Well, heaven was cheap enough." 07:16 Won't we? 07:17 Amen. 07:19 In Revelation 21:17, it says, 07:22 "Then he measured its wall, a 144 cubits." 07:25 A cubit is the average length of a man's arm 07:28 from the tip of the middle finger 07:30 to the point of the elbow, 07:33 so that's roughly about 53 centimeters 07:35 or roughly 20 inches. 07:37 Now if we multiply that by 144, 07:40 we get around 76 meters or roughly 249 feet. 07:45 That's a pretty big wall too, isn't it, 249 feet high? 07:51 And those of you out there watching, 07:53 you may want to get your phone and take a picture 07:56 of these measurements on the screen 07:57 because they're worth remembering 07:59 and checking out. 08:01 Then it says in verse 19, 08:02 "The foundation of the wall of the city were adorned 08:05 with all kinds of precious stones. 08:08 The first foundation was Jasper, 08:12 the second was Sapphire, the third a Chalcedony, 08:18 the fourth an Emerald, the fifth Sardonyx, 08:24 the sixth Sardius, the seventh Chrysolyte, 08:30 the eighth Beryl, the ninth a Topaz, 08:36 the tenth a Chrysoprasus, the eleventh a Jacinth, 08:43 the twelfth an Amethyst. 08:47 The 12 gates were 12 pearls. 08:50 Every, several gate was of one pearl." 08:53 Can you get your mind around this? 08:55 It's stupendous. 08:58 "And the street of the city was pure gold, 09:00 like transparent glass," I can't imagine that. 09:04 What a time it's gonna be! 09:07 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, 09:10 clear as crystal, 09:12 proceeding out of the throne of God 09:14 and of the Lamb." 09:15 And I couldn't find a picture that would describe that, 09:18 that's the best I could find, 09:20 it's going to be nothing compared. 09:23 "On each side of the river stood the tree of life 09:27 bearing 12 manna, 09:28 which meant, which we may have thought 09:30 as type fruit, or crops of fruit, 09:32 and yielding its fruit every month. 09:35 And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nation. 09:39 Yeah, this is the symbol of the leaf 09:42 of the tree of life. 09:44 They are healing us now, aren't they? 09:47 And there should be no more curse, 09:49 but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it. 09:52 No more hearing aids, 09:54 no more glasses, no more false teeth, 09:57 no more sore backs, no more headaches, wow! 10:04 And God will wipe away every tear in their eyes, 10:06 no more tears, no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, 10:13 neither shall there be any more pain 10:16 for the former things that passed away. 10:18 Good news, eh? Amen. 10:20 And the city does not need the Sun 10:23 or the moon to shine on it, 10:25 for the glory of God gives it light. 10:28 And it will give its light if the glory of God, 10:30 if the throne of God, is at the top of that city, 10:34 that's gonna radiate around the whole place. 10:37 It's gonna be astonishing. 10:41 And the city will be lit up with the glory of God's throne 10:44 because it says, "And the Lamb is its lamp." 10:48 So that light will come from Jesus. 10:51 And you could read the full description 10:52 if you want to in Revelation 21:10 to 22:5. 10:56 It's worth reading, in depth, 10:59 and let your mind grasp that picture. 11:02 We spoke extensively in the last episode 11:05 about the writings of Ellen White 11:07 and how the Seventh-day Adventist Church 11:09 regards her writing. 11:11 So in this episode, I'm just going to repeat 11:14 the official statements in the book, 28 Fundamentals, 11:16 about Ellen White. 11:18 It says this, "One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. 11:23 This gift is an identifying mark 11:25 of the remnant church and was manifested 11:28 in the ministry of Ellen G.White. 11:30 As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing 11:33 and authoritative source of truth 11:35 which provide for the church comfort, 11:38 guidance, instruction, and correction. 11:42 They also make clear that the Bible is the standard 11:45 by which all teachings and experience 11:47 must be tested." Is it not so? 11:49 We don't put Ellen White's writings 11:51 above the Bible, 11:52 it's not even equal to the Bible. 11:55 It is a lesser light which directs us 11:57 to the true light. 12:01 Now I'm going to show you something, 12:03 some amazing descriptions that she made 12:05 about her very first vision at the age of 19. 12:10 And this vision is remarkable in its description 12:13 of some of the glories of heaven. 12:15 I'll be quoting from the following publications, 12:18 Testimonies For The Church Volume One, 12:21 which was published in 1855 and 1868, chapter VII titled, 12:26 My First Vision. 12:28 This is also in Early Writing, which was published in 1882, 12:32 Experience and Views, 12:34 where she describes her first vision. 12:38 In her opening reports, 12:39 she was obviously describing her vision 12:41 of the second coming. 12:42 And we read this, 12:44 "Then Jesus' silver trumpet sounded, 12:47 as He descended on the cloud, wrapped in flames of fire. 12:51 He gazed on the graves of the sleeping saints, 12:54 then raised His eyes and hands to heaven, 12:56 and cried, "Awake! 12:57 Awake! Awake! 12:59 Ye that sleep in the dust, and arise." 13:03 Then there was a mighty earthquake. 13:05 The graves opened, and the dead came up clothed 13:08 with immortality. 13:10 The 144,000 shouted, "Alleluia!" 13:15 as they recognized their friends 13:17 who had been torn from them by death, 13:19 and in the same moment we were changed 13:22 and caught up together with them 13:24 to meet the Lord in the air. 13:27 We all entered the cloud together, 13:29 and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass." 13:33 Why seven days? 13:35 Why didn't we get there like that? 13:37 We'll talk more about that later, seven-day journey. 13:44 "We all entered the cloud with seven days 13:46 ascending to the sea of glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, 13:50 and with His own right hand he put them on our heads. 13:53 And He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. 13:57 Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood 14:00 in a perfect square. 14:02 Some of them had very bright crowns, 14:05 others not so bright. 14:07 Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, 14:09 while others had but few." 14:12 Now at this point, we should ask the question, 14:14 "Who are these 144,000?" 14:18 Some denominations, some churches, out there 14:20 who will try to tell you, 14:22 they know who the 144,000 are. 14:23 Yeah. 14:25 Well, I want you to see 14:26 what Ellen White said about this number, 14:28 these people. 14:29 She addressed this question many years later in 1901, 14:32 when she wrote this. 14:34 She said, "When men pick up this theory and that theory, 14:38 when they are curious to know something 14:39 it is not necessary for them to know, 14:42 God is not leading them. 14:45 It is not His plan that His people 14:47 shall present something 14:48 which they have to suppose or imagine, 14:50 which is not taught in the Word. 14:53 It is not His will that they shall get into controversy 14:55 over questions which will not help them spiritually, 14:58 such as who is to compose the 144,000. 15:03 For those who are the elect of God 15:05 will in a short time know without question." 15:08 That's true, aren't we? 15:09 We'll find out. 15:12 "My brethren and sisters appreciate 15:14 and study the truths that God has given 15:16 you and your children. 15:18 She says, "Spend not your time in seeking to know 15:21 that which will be no spiritual help. 15:23 'What shall I do to inherit eternal life?' 15:26 From Luke 10:25, 15:28 that is the all-important question, 15:31 and it has been clearly answered. 15:33 What is written in the law? 15:35 How readest thou?'" 15:37 That's a pretty good answer for me. 15:40 We don't need to waste time speculating about it, do we? 15:43 We'll find out soon enough. 15:46 There are far more important topics 15:48 in God's Word to consider. 15:49 What do you say? 15:51 Amen. Amen. 15:52 Now let's return to that first vision 15:54 as she continues her description, 15:58 she says, "All were perfectly satisfied 16:00 with their crowns. 16:01 And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle 16:03 from their shoulders to their feet. 16:06 Angels were all about us as we marched 16:08 over the sea of glass to the gate of the city... 16:12 Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. 16:15 Out of the throne came a pure river of water, 16:19 and on either side of the river was the tree of life. 16:24 On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, 16:27 and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, 16:32 transparent gold. 16:34 Can you imagine that? 16:36 A gold tree, even boys and girls 16:39 will be fascinated with it. 16:42 "At first I thought I saw two trees," she said, 16:45 "I looked again, and saw that they were united 16:47 at the top in one tree. 16:50 So it was the tree of life 16:51 on either side of the river of life. 16:54 Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, 16:58 and the fruit was glorious; 16:59 it looked like gold mixed with silver." 17:03 Ever seen an apple that looks like gold 17:06 mixed with silver? 17:10 Describing this vision and its effect on her later, 17:13 she said this, "I related this vision 17:17 to the believers in Portland, they had full confidence 17:19 that it was from God. 17:21 They all believed that God had chosen this way, 17:24 after the great disappointment in October 1844, 17:28 to comfort and strengthen His people. 17:32 The Spirit of the Lord attended the testimony, 17:35 and the solemnity of eternity rested upon us. 17:38 An unspeakable awe filled me that I so young and feeble, 17:44 should be chosen as the instrument 17:47 by which God would give light to His people." 17:50 What an awesome experience, "While under the power 17:53 of the Lord, I was filled with joy, 17:56 seeming to be surrounded by holy angels 17:59 in the glorious courts of heaven, 18:01 where all is peace and gladness, 18:04 and it was a sad and bitter change 18:05 to wake up to the realities of mortal life." 18:08 After she came out of vision, what a disappointment! 18:12 Well, in early 1847, 18:13 the Whites accepted an invitation 18:15 from the Stockbridge Howland family 18:17 to come and live on the top floor 18:19 of their spacious well-constructed home 18:22 in Topsham, 18:23 which is about 35 miles north of their former home 18:26 at Gorham. 18:28 And it was here on Sabbath, April 3rd, 1847, 18:33 before a small group of the assembled 18:34 fellow Sabbath keepers that 19-year old Ellen White 18:38 was given one of her most important vision. 18:41 This would have been before she was Ellen White, 18:43 she would have been Ellen Harmon. 18:46 Four days after this impressive vision, 18:49 Ellen wrote of it in detail to Joseph Bates. 18:53 And please note in particular the prepositions 18:57 that she employs in describing 18:59 this mind-boggling cosmic journey 19:01 to this celestial city. 19:03 I'm quoting, "Soon," she says, "I was lost to earthly things 19:08 and was wrapped in a vision of God's glory. 19:12 I saw an angel flying swiftly to me. 19:15 He quickly carried me 19:16 from the earth to the Holy City." 19:19 She says, "There is perfect order 19:21 and harmony in the Holy City. 19:23 All the angels that are commissioned 19:24 to visit the earth had a golden card." 19:29 Wow, and we thought we invented plastic cards. 19:33 Yeah. 19:35 They have a golden card and they present it 19:38 to the angels at the gates of the city 19:41 as they pass in and out. 19:44 She says, "In the city I saw a temple, 19:47 which I entered. 19:49 I passed through a door 19:51 before I came to the first veil. 19:54 This veil was raised, 19:56 and I passed into the holy place. 19:58 Here I saw the altar of incense, 20:01 the candlestick with seven lamps, 20:04 and the table on which was the shewbread. 20:08 After viewing the glory of the holy, 20:10 Jesus raised the second veil 20:12 and I passed into the holy of holies." 20:16 Remember, this is the temple in heaven 20:20 that Moses was given a pattern of. 20:22 This is the real thing. 20:26 "In the holiest I saw an ark. 20:29 On the top and sides of it was purest gold. 20:32 On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, 20:35 with its wings spread out over it. 20:39 Their faces were turned toward each other, 20:41 and they looked downward. 20:43 Between the angels was a golden censer. 20:47 Above the ark, where the angels stood, 20:49 was an exceeding bright glory that appeared 20:52 like a throne where God dwelt. 20:55 Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints' prayers 20:59 came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, 21:04 and He would offer up their prayers 21:06 with the smoke of the incense to His Father. 21:11 In the ark was the golden pot of manna, 21:14 Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of stone 21:18 which folded together like a book. 21:20 Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments 21:25 written on them with the finger of God. 21:29 On one table were four, and on the other six. 21:33 The four on the first table shone 21:35 brighter than the other six. 21:38 But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, 21:41 shone above them all, for the Sabbath 21:44 was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name." 21:48 Do you believe that? 21:49 What a privilege it is to keep the Sabbath day holy 21:52 and remember this! 21:53 What do you say? Amen. 21:54 Amen. 21:56 "The holy Sabbath looked glorious. 21:59 A halo of glory was all around it." 22:03 Well, its vision was indeed impressive, 22:06 and Ellen was totally struck 22:08 with the reality of the experience. 22:10 She was in a real place, 22:12 accompanied by real supernatural persons, 22:14 and looking at real liturgical furniture, 22:18 concerning which we previously already read about in Scripture 22:22 and forever after she would represent this heavenly temple 22:25 and its high priest, 22:26 that's something very real, very literal. 22:31 It's not just a story folks, it is real. 22:38 These visions of heaven 22:39 must certainly raise the question, 22:41 "Is there really life on other worlds?" 22:44 You know NASA spends a lot of money 22:47 trying to find and trying to answer 22:48 that question, don't they? 22:50 Billions... 22:51 Sending rockets up there and radio telescopes, 22:55 who knows what else, to try 22:56 and discover life on other worlds. 22:59 Well, all they've to do is look in here, 23:01 the answer's in here. 23:03 You know the book, The Great Controversy, 23:05 she makes it very clear that there is... 23:08 She said this, "The connection of the invisible 23:11 with the visible world, 23:14 the ministration of the angels of God, 23:16 and the agency of evil spirits, 23:19 are plainly revealed in the Scriptures 23:21 an inseparably woven, interwoven with human history." 23:25 It's clear. It's all layers. 23:28 She quotes 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands, 23:32 were the heavenly messengers beheld by the prophet Daniel. 23:35 The Apostle Paul declared them to be in innumerable company. 23:40 Daniel 7:10, Hebrews 12:22, 23:43 "As God's messengers they go forth, 23:45 like the appearance of a flash of lightning." 23:47 We find that in Ezekiel 1:14, "So dazzling their glory, 23:52 and so swift their flight and the angel that appeared 23:56 at the Savior's tomb, his countenance like lightning, 24:00 and his raiment white as snow." 24:01 Caused the keepers for fear of him to quake 24:04 and fall like dead men." 24:07 No human could do that." 24:10 Thus God's people exposed to the deceptive power 24:13 and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, 24:16 and in conflict with all the forces of evil, 24:18 are assured of the unceasing guardianship 24:22 of heavenly angels. 24:23 Is that good news? Amen. 24:24 Amen. 24:27 You know, in another compilation 24:28 she wrote, the book Maranatha, she wrote this, 24:32 "God has worlds upon worlds that are obedient to His law. 24:39 These worlds are conducted with reference 24:41 to the glory of their Creator. 24:43 And as the inhabitants of these worlds see 24:46 the great price that has been paid 24:49 to ransom man, they are filled with amazement." 24:54 An un-fallen world, they look at the struggle down here, 24:57 they see the great price that Christ has paid 24:59 to redeem man, and they are astonished. 25:03 And this one she wrote about in the book, 25:05 Patriarchs and Prophets, one of my favorite books. 25:08 She said, "The whole universe had been witness 25:10 to the scenes at Sinai. 25:13 In the working yard of the two administrations, 25:15 we've seen the contrast 25:16 between the government of God and that of Satan." 25:20 She says, "Again the sinless inhabitants 25:22 of other worlds 25:23 beheld the results of Satan's apostasy, 25:27 and the kind of government He would have established 25:29 in heaven if He'd been permitted to bear sway." 25:32 And this one in a compilation, That I May Know Him, 25:36 she says " We should consider that it was not merely 25:39 to accomplish the redemption of man 25:41 that Christ came to earth, 25:44 it was not merely that the inhabitants 25:45 of this little world might regard the law of God 25:48 as it should be regarded, 25:51 but it was to demonstrate to all the worlds 25:54 that God's law is unchangeable 25:56 and that the wages of sin is death." 25:59 The whole story isn't just on this planet. 26:01 Is that right? 26:02 It's a much more universal story. 26:05 And this one, in The Review and Herald article in 1896, 26:09 she said, "Many seem to have the idea that this world 26:12 and the heavenly mansions constitute the universe of God. 26:16 Not so. 26:18 The redeemed throng will range from world to world, 26:23 and much of their time will be employed 26:25 in searching out the mysteries of redemption. 26:28 And throughout the whole stretch of eternity 26:31 this subject will be continually opening 26:34 to their minds." 26:37 She said, "The privileges of those who overcome 26:40 by the blood of the Lamb 26:41 and the word of their testimony are beyond comprehension." 26:46 Friends, you don't want to miss out, do you? 26:49 You don't want to miss that. 26:52 And in the book, Adventist Home, she wrote this, 26:55 she wrote a chapter on the privileges 26:57 of the redeemed with these terms, she said, 27:02 "The Lord has given me a view of other worlds. 27:05 Wings were given me, and an angel attended me 27:08 from the city to a place that was bright and glorious." 27:11 Out of this city to another world. 27:15 "The grass of the place was living green, 27:18 and the bird there warbled a sweet song." 27:20 Bird... 27:22 The inhabitants of the place were of all sizes, 27:25 they were noble, majestic, and lovely. 27:28 They bore the express image of Jesus, 27:32 and their countenances beamed with holy joy, 27:35 expressive of the freedom and happiness of the place." 27:39 She said, "I asked one of them 27:41 why they were so much more lovely 27:42 than those on the earth. 27:44 The reply was, 'We have lived in strict obedience 27:48 to the commandments of God. 27:49 We have not fallen in disobedience, 27:52 like those on the earth.'" 27:56 Then she said, "I saw two trees, 28:00 one looked much like the tree of life in the city. 28:04 The fruit of both looked beautiful." 28:07 Now notice this, "but of one they could not eat. 28:12 They had power to eat of both, 28:14 but were forbidden to eat of one." 28:17 Well, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil 28:22 is also present on other worlds. 28:26 Imagine that, the beings on other worlds 28:30 have an opportunity 28:33 to choose evil. 28:38 They have a choice 28:39 and that is the basis of their choice. 28:42 But they don't choose it. 28:45 Then my attending angel said to me, 28:47 "None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree, 28:50 but if they should eat, they would fall." 28:53 Well, the thing is this, 28:57 perhaps because I can see 28:58 what has happened on this planet, 29:00 and believe it or not, we are all on stage 29:04 in the theater of the universe, what do you say? 29:07 This isn't a battle going on this planet only. 29:11 We are warriors. 29:12 We are representatives of Christ 29:15 in the trenches of a fallen world. 29:18 And not only are people on this world watching us, 29:21 but un-fallen beings on other worlds are watching 29:24 who we represent, not only by what we do on Sabbath, 29:29 but what we do every day of the week, 29:31 by how we talk to our friends, by how we talk to our spouses, 29:36 by what we think, by what we eat, 29:40 by what we dress, by what we do. 29:44 All of these actions demonstrate, exhibit 29:48 who it is we're really serving. 29:50 By what we watch, 29:52 it demonstrates who were serving. 29:54 Do you believe that? How important is it? 29:57 Let me ask God for supernatural power 29:59 to overcome sin and represent His character correctly, 30:03 what do you say? 30:08 She said, "Then I was taken to a world 30:09 which had seven moons. 30:11 There I saw good-old Enoch, who had been translated." 30:16 Wow! 30:17 I'm looking forward to meeting Enoch, aren't you? 30:20 Well, and Elijah too. 30:23 "On his right arm he bore a glorious palm, 30:26 and on each leaf was written 'Victory.' 30:29 Around his head was a dazzling white wreath, 30:31 and leaves on the wreath, and in the middle of each leaf 30:34 was written 'Purity,' and around the wreath 30:38 were stones of various colors, 30:39 that shone brighter than the stars 30:42 and cast a reflection 30:43 upon the letters and magnified them. 30:46 On the back part of his head was a bow 30:49 that confined the wreath, 30:50 and upon the bow was written 'Holiness.' 30:55 Above the wreath was a lovely crown 30:57 that shone brighter than the sun. 31:00 I asked him if this was the place 31:02 he was taken to from the earth. 31:04 He said, 'It is not; the city is my home, 31:07 I've just come to visit this place.' 31:10 He moved about the place as if perfectly at home. 31:14 I begged of my attending angel to let me remain in that place. 31:18 I could not bear the thought of coming back 31:20 to this dark world again. 31:22 But then, the angel said to me, 'You must go back. 31:27 And if you are faithful, you, with the 144,000 shall have 31:32 the privilege of visiting all the worlds 31:35 and viewing the handiwork of God.'" 31:37 Wow! 31:38 What do you say, friends? Wow! 31:44 "Heaven is a good place," she said, 31:46 "I long to be there and behold my lovely Jesus, 31:50 who gave His life for me, 31:52 and be changed into His glorious image." 31:55 Are you looking forward to that? 31:57 Wow! 31:58 She says, "Oh! 32:00 For language to express the glory 32:01 of the bright world to come!" 32:04 She said, "I thirst for the living streams 32:07 that make glad the city of our God." 32:11 Well, Ellen White didn't have the benefit 32:12 of Hubble Space Telescope or any other technology 32:15 the NASA could cook up. 32:17 Well, she certainly didn't need it, did she? 32:20 And she surely saw much more than we could ever hope 32:22 to say with our technology today. 32:26 And yet, she still could not find the language 32:28 to accurately describe the wonders that she saw. 32:32 Well, we're going to take a look at 32:34 what has been revealed by NASA and Hubble. 32:37 You see in this picture, 32:38 a close-up, look at the Pleiades, 32:41 mentioned in the Book of Job. 32:43 And you can see this star cluster 32:45 with your naked eye or a good telescope. 32:48 And maybe Job could see it even clearer in his day. 32:50 Did you ever look for that, through the telescope? 32:56 And here is one of the Orion Nebula, 32:58 one of the most fascinating objects 33:00 in our Milky Way. 33:03 And this one is a closer view of Orion. 33:08 And another one closer still 33:12 and this one is an extremely close-up view 33:15 of amazing objects in Orion described by NASA 33:21 as newly forming planetary system. 33:23 They're called Proplyds. 33:28 And these things are forming star system 33:31 just like our Milky Way. 33:32 Each one of these things, you see in the screen there, 33:35 is actually a star system like a Milky Way in formation. 33:39 This is awesome. 33:41 When you look at that, if you take a close-up view 33:43 of these things, it is absolutely awesome. 33:48 Maybe it's why, one reason why, Orion is called a Star Factory. 33:53 Now back to Ellen White's first vision 33:55 where she described her journey to the Heavenly City 33:58 was taking seven days. 34:02 We're gonna take another look and listen carefully 34:05 to what she said about Orion. 34:09 She said, "We all entered the cloud together, 34:12 and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass, 34:16 when Jesus brought the crowns, 34:19 and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. 34:22 He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory." 34:26 She said, "Dark heavy clouds came up 34:28 and clashed against each other. 34:29 The atmosphere parted and rolled back. 34:32 Then we could look up 34:33 through the open space in Orion, 34:35 whence came the voice of God, 'The Holy City will come down 34:41 through that open space.'" 34:46 How interesting! 34:48 The Holy City will descend 34:49 through that open space in Orion. 34:52 Maybe NASA doesn't realize it 34:54 but the Holy Spirit is inspiring them 34:56 to take a close look at this place. 34:59 The scientific relevance of this statement 35:01 is fascinating because Orion is in line 35:05 with the earth's celestial equator, 35:07 and celestial objects near this theoretical line 35:10 are visible worldwide. 35:12 And this fact gives great relevance 35:15 to the Bible statement 35:16 about the second coming in Revelation 1:7, 35:19 which says this, "Behold, He cometh with clouds, 35:23 and every eye shall see Him, 35:28 and they also which pierced Him, 35:29 and all kindred's of the earth shall wail 35:31 because of Him. 35:33 Even so, Amen." 35:35 Well, if the Holy City is going to come down 35:37 through that open space in Orion, 35:39 as Ellen White said, 35:41 so that it will be seen by every eye, 35:44 then it would seem very likely that Jesus will also return 35:48 through that same open space in Orion. 35:53 What are you thinking about? 35:54 I can't prove that, but it looks interesting. 35:58 And perhaps it will also mean that God's remnant people 36:01 will complete their seven-day return journey with Him 36:05 back through Orion to the Holy City. 36:10 Rosemarie pointed out to us yesterday afternoon, 36:12 after talking to you about this, 36:13 about this journey to the Holy City. 36:16 She ever wondered why its got to take seven days. 36:19 She made the comment that, remember in Old Testament times 36:22 when someone overcome, 36:23 someone conquered a city or a nation, 36:26 they brought all the captives back 36:27 and they paraded them around. 36:29 Well, may be God is going to take us, 36:31 His captives from birth, He's going to take them 36:34 around heaven, a journey through heaven 36:36 for seven days parading the captives, 36:39 the victors, the victory march to heaven. 36:42 Wow! Think about that. 36:45 It's a fascinating idea, 36:47 especially in the light of this amazing video 36:49 from NASA and the Hubble telescope, 36:52 zooming right down into the open space in Orion. 36:56 And as you watch this video, let your mind imagine 36:59 that this is just a brief glimpse 37:01 of what our journey home 37:03 to the heavenly City is going to be like. 37:18 All the treasures of the universe 37:20 will be open to the study of God's redeemed, 37:23 unfettered by mortality, 37:25 they've wing their tireless flight 37:27 to world's afar. 37:29 Worlds that shrilled with sorrow at the spectacle 37:32 of human woe and rang with glad songs 37:36 at their tidings of a ransom soul, 37:38 with unutterable delight the children of earth 37:41 enter into the joy and wisdom of un-fallen beings. 37:45 They share the treasures of knowledge 37:47 and understanding gained through ages and ages 37:50 of contemplation of God's handiwork. 37:53 With un-dim vision they gazed upon 37:56 the glory of creation, the sun, and stars, and systems 38:01 all in their appointed order circling the throne of deity. 38:06 Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, 38:09 the Creator's name is written, 38:12 and in all the riches of his power displayed. 38:15 And years of eternity as they roll will bring richer 38:19 and still more glorious revelation 38:22 of God and of Christ. 38:25 As knowledge is progressive, 38:26 so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. 38:31 The more men learn of God, the greater will be 38:34 their admiration of His character. 38:37 As Jesus opens before them riches of redemption 38:40 and amazing achievements of the great controversy 38:43 with Satan, the hearts of the Ransom 38:46 thrilled with more fervent devotion, 38:49 and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold. 38:54 And 10,000 times 10,000 38:57 and thousands of thousands of voices 39:00 unite to swell a mighty chorus of praise, 39:05 In Revelation 5:13, we read, "And every creature 39:10 within heaven, and on the earth, 39:12 and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, 39:16 and all that are in them, heard I saying, 39:20 'Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, 39:23 be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, 39:26 and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.'" 39:29 The great controversy is ended. 39:32 Sin and sinners are no more. 39:35 The entire universe is clean, one pulse of harmony 39:40 and gladness beats through the vast creation 39:44 from Him who created all flow life, and light, 39:48 and gladness 39:49 throughout the realms of illimitable space, 39:53 from the minutest atom to the greatest world, 39:57 all things animate and inanimate 40:00 in their un-shadowed beauty 40:02 and perfect joy declare that God is love. 40:22 Friends, as Ellen White said, "We are homeward bound. 40:28 He loved us so much to die for us, 40:30 has builded for us a city. 40:33 The New Jerusalem is our place of rest. 40:38 There will be no sadness in the city of God. 40:42 No wail of sorrow, no dirge of crushed hopes, 40:45 and buried affections will ever more be heard, 40:47 isn't that good news? 40:50 Soon the garments of heaviness will be changed 40:52 for the wedding garment. 40:54 Soon we shall witness the coronation of our King. 41:00 Those whose lives have been hidden with Christ, 41:04 those who on this earth have fought 41:05 the good fight of faith, 41:07 will shine forth with the Redeemer's glory 41:10 in the kingdom of God." 41:12 What do you say? You want to to do that? 41:14 I tell you what, it makes everything 41:15 on this planet worthwhile. 41:18 It will not be long till we shall see Him, 41:21 on whom our hopes of eternal lives are centered. 41:24 And in his presence all the trials and suffering 41:27 of this life will be as nothing else, 41:31 therefore as it says in Hebrews 10:35-37, 41:36 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, 41:39 which hath great recompense of reward." 41:41 He does, doesn't He? 41:43 Great recompense of reward. 41:45 "For ye have need of patience, that, 41:48 after ye have done the will of God, 41:50 ye might receive the promise. 41:52 For yet a little while, 41:54 and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." 41:59 Look up, look up, 42:02 and let your faith continually increase. 42:06 Let this faith guide you along the narrow path 42:09 that leads through the gates of the city of God 42:12 into the great beyond, the wide, 42:15 unbounded future of glory that is for the redeemed. 42:20 Listen to this final message from Pastor John Bradshaw 42:23 and the Fountainview Orchestra, 42:25 "Jesus is coming again." 42:31 And really that's what it's all about, 42:34 being reunited with our good friend Jesus, 42:37 and that's what God wants. 42:39 This production demonstrates that, you know, 42:41 speaking of earthquakes more than 6,000 years ago, 42:44 there was a great earthquake in the Garden of Eden, 42:47 the greatest earthquake ever to strike this earth. 42:49 It was the earthquake of sin 42:50 because sin separates us from God. 42:54 The human family and a Holy God was separated 42:56 which is why God sent Jesus into this world, 43:00 to bring us back into harmony with God. 43:03 The light of truth burned brightly 43:05 in the early Christian church, but before long, 43:08 it was obscured. 43:09 The dark ages came. 43:10 They were dark because there was no light of truth. 43:13 Then came the reformers, and slowly 43:17 but surely the light of truth 43:19 started to shine brightly again. 43:21 Not just truth as a theory, 43:24 but truth in the person of Jesus. 43:28 You see as we look back over where we've been 43:30 as we've spent this time together, 43:31 what we see is that God is doing everything he can 43:35 to get us to the place where we are ready 43:38 to spend eternity with him. 43:41 I hope, you'll take the opportunity 43:42 to read the book that this production is based on. 43:45 I can recommend it personally. 43:47 It's the book outside of the Bible 43:49 that absolutely changed my life. 43:52 Read it, be encouraged, be blessed. 43:55 See the fingerprints of God down through history 43:59 leading to the place when that great day comes, 44:02 the sky splits wide open and Jesus appears. 44:06 Friend, is the appearance of Jesus your great hope? 44:10 It can be, it must be. 44:13 If you open up your heart to Jesus Christ, 44:16 then what Jesus did when he was on the earth, 44:19 what the Reformers did when they put their lives 44:21 in peril to deliver us truth 44:23 and light will all be for something. 44:26 There's something you can look forward 44:28 to beyond the hurt, and the heartbreak, 44:30 and the disappointments, and the trials of this world. 44:33 You can look forward to the return of Jesus. 44:36 When He comes back, He wants to take you home 44:40 to be with Him forever. 44:43 The best news is Jesus is coming again. 45:53 Lift up the trumpet, and loud let it ring 45:58 Jesus is coming again 46:02 Cheer up, ye pilgrims, be joyful and sin 46:07 Jesus is coming again 46:11 Coming again, coming again 46:16 Jesus is coming again 46:30 Echo it, hilltops proclaim it, ye plains 46:34 Jesus is coming again 46:38 Coming in glory, the Lamb that was slain 46:43 Jesus is coming again 46:48 Coming again, coming again 46:52 Jesus is coming again 47:13 Heaving's of earth, tell the vast, wondering throng 47:18 Jesus is coming again 47:23 Tempests and whirlwinds, 47:26 The anthem prolong 47:31 Jesus is coming again 47:37 Coming again 47:43 Coming again 47:49 Jesus is 47:52 Coming again 48:10 Nations are angry, by this we do know 48:15 Jesus is coming again 48:19 Knowledge increases, men run to and fro 48:24 Jesus is coming again 48:29 Coming again, coming again 48:34 Jesus is coming again 48:39 Coming again, coming again 48:44 Jesus is coming again 48:49 Coming again, coming again 48:54 Jesus is coming again. 48:58 Coming again 49:11 What do you say? 49:12 Amen. Amen. 49:14 You're looking forward to that? 49:16 There's nothing to compare with it. 49:20 Now for our viewers who've been watching 49:21 this program, you heard Pastor Bradshaw 49:25 talk about the great controversy. 49:28 And if you'd like a copy of the music 49:30 that you've seen on this program 49:31 together with a copy of the great controversy, 49:34 here's the information you need, take up your pen, 49:37 get your phone and be prepared. 49:44 Inspired by the Reformation, 49:45 The Great Controversy DVD production is a musical 49:49 and historical journey through Europe. 49:51 It Is writtens' John Bradshaw joins Fountainview Academy 49:55 to host this production, 49:56 filmed in five different countries of Europe, 49:59 at historically meaningful sites. 50:02 These young musicians share not only music, 50:04 but personal testimonies 50:06 and powerful reformation stories 50:08 still relevant to our lives today. 50:13 To order your own set of The Great Controversy DVD 50:15 and book by Fountainview Academy 50:17 or Writtens' singers, visit their online web store 50:20 at Store.Fountainview.ca. 50:24 That's Store.Fountainview.ca. 50:28 Or you may call them in North America 50:30 on 1877 490 4141. 50:40 Let us pray. 50:46 Loving father, what a joy it is to pray to You 50:50 and give thanks and praise to You Lord, 50:53 for that what You've prepared within that love You. 50:57 We are conscious that we are mortal. 51:00 There's a great gulf between us and You because of sin, 51:04 but Jesus has bridged that gulf. 51:08 Lord, we are so thankful, 51:10 and we accept that mighty sacrifice. 51:13 We're so grateful for it, Lord. 51:16 Please forgive us our sins, 51:17 cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 51:20 And move us by Your spirit to want to be transformed 51:22 by the renewing of our mind, 51:25 that we might have a mindset that is fit to be 51:29 a resident in the Holy City, 51:32 that we may withstand all the trouble 51:34 that's in this world, 51:36 and perhaps of more trouble to come. 51:39 Lord, we want to be ready to go home with You, 51:41 and not only do we want to be ready, 51:44 we want to have a train of captives with us. 51:47 He will join us on that victory march 51:49 of seven days throughout the universe 51:52 displaying the wonderful result of Jesus' work. 51:57 Please keep this foremost in our mind 52:01 as we move forward in this old dark world, 52:04 knowing that you are coming again soon. 52:06 Help us to tell as many as we can, 52:09 and to be ready ourselves to meet you in the clouds 52:11 because we ask these things in Jesus precious name. 52:15 Amen. |
Revised 2017-12-31