Participants:
Series Code: HC
Program Code: HC210009S
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00:01 Hello, friends, I'm Jill Morikone,
00:02 and I just want to welcome you at home 00:04 to a special live edition 00:05 of our 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:07 That's right, 00:09 this our Fall Homecoming Camp Meeting 00:11 and this is Sabbath School. 00:13 We love to share this time with you. 00:15 We're on lesson number 13, The Ultimate Rest. 00:19 I want to remind you that 00:21 we will be taking your questions 00:23 as soon as we finish our study 00:24 for the next hour at 10 am Central. 00:27 We'll be taking your live questions, 00:29 so get ready as we study. 00:31 To send in your question right now, 00:33 you can text your questions 00:35 to (618) 228-3975. 00:40 That number again to text your questions 00:43 is (618) 228-3975. 00:47 So grab your Bible and your pens and notebooks 00:49 and get ready for the special live edition 00:51 of Camp Meeting Sabbath School. 00:54 Three Angels Broadcasting Network 00:56 is pleased to bring you something better, 00:59 a faith inspiring picture of a loving God 01:02 from the Book of Hebrews. 01:04 Welcome to 3ABN's Virtual Homecoming Camp Meeting. 01:10 Welcome to camp meeting. 01:11 Welcome to our Homecoming Fall Camp Meeting. 01:13 I have been so blessed by the messages, 01:16 by the music, by what God has done 01:19 by the power of His Holy Spirit 01:21 in and through each one of our hearts and lives. 01:24 I'm Jill Morikone, 01:25 this is one of my favorite parts 01:27 at camp meeting because we have the privilege 01:30 and opportunity to open up 01:32 the Word of God and to study together 01:34 for 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:36 I want to remind you that next hour, 01:39 this is an hour this program, 01:41 immediately following at 10 am Central, 01:43 we will be taking your questions live, 01:46 so make sure you text in those questions 01:49 (618) 228-3975. 01:53 That number again is (618) 228-3975. 01:58 I'm joined on the panel by my family, 02:01 your family too at home. 02:02 This is Pastor Ryan Day. 02:04 Glad you're here, Brother. Hey, I'm excited. 02:05 We're going to be talking about the countdown. 02:07 Amen. 02:09 What a privilege to study the Word of God on Sabbath. 02:11 Pastor John, my pastor, so glad you're here. 02:13 Yes, and I have been 02:15 given the title Marching Orders, 02:18 so stand by for news. 02:20 I love that. 02:22 My sister, Shelley Quinn, delighted you're here, Sis. 02:24 Thank you. 02:26 I get to rip it, rest in peace, RIP. 02:30 I love that. 02:32 Last, but not least, Pastor John Dinzey, 02:35 student of the Word, man of God. 02:36 Thank you for being here. 02:38 It's a joy and a blessing to be here. 02:39 Thursday's portion is Rejoice in the Lord Always, 02:43 Rest in Christ. 02:44 Amen. Amen. 02:45 This is, of course, 02:47 the final lesson of third quarter, 02:49 lesson 13, The Ultimate Rest. 02:52 Before we jump into the Word of God, 02:54 we want to go to the Lord in prayer and Pastor Dinzey, 02:57 would you pray for us? 02:59 Sure. 03:01 Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You so much, Lord, 03:05 because of Your mercy and Your goodness. 03:09 And we thank You for the Holy Scriptures 03:11 that are able to make us wise unto salvation. 03:13 Yes. 03:14 And we that as we share of the things 03:16 You have shown to us, 03:18 the light of the glory of the knowledge of Jesus 03:22 will shine through us and be a blessing 03:24 to Your children all over this world. 03:26 We ask You for these things 03:28 in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. 03:30 Amen. Amen. Amen. 03:32 If you've been following 3ABN's Sabbath School Panel, 03:34 you will know that last week we discussed Jonah, 03:37 the restless prophet. 03:38 And this week, in the very last week 03:42 we jump into the ultimate rest. 03:44 You know life is a battle, 03:45 we are engaged in this thing we call the great controversy, 03:50 the battle between good and evil, 03:51 between Christ and Satan. 03:53 That battle began in heaven 03:56 when Satan thought he would be like the Most High. 03:59 You can find that in Isaiah 14 or Ezekiel 28. 04:02 He wanted to ascend, he wanted to be like God, 04:05 he thought only of self. 04:08 In fact, Revelation 12 tells us about that battle in heaven 04:12 and how Satan was cast down to this earth. 04:14 Revelation 12:7-9, "War, it broke out in heaven. 04:19 Michael and his angels fought with a dragon and the dragon 04:23 and his angels fought, but they did not prevail. 04:25 Nor was place found for them in heaven any longer." 04:30 So the great dragon was cast out. 04:32 That serpent of old called the Devil and Satan, 04:35 who deceived the whole world, 04:37 he was cast to the earth and his angels, 04:40 they were cast out with him. 04:42 And this war, this battle, 04:44 this controversy between good and evil, 04:46 between Christ and Satan 04:47 continued on the earth here below. 04:50 Adam and Eve, they engaged 04:53 in the great controversy 04:54 when they partook of the forbidden fruit 04:56 and that plunged this whole world 04:59 into the battle between good and evil. 05:01 Christ came to pay the penalty 05:04 and free us from the penalty of sin 05:06 and from the power of sin. 05:08 He came to redeem us from the curse of the law, 05:11 to free us from the dominion of Satan, 05:13 to grant us the gift of eternal life, 05:16 to buy us back from the land of the enemy, 05:18 to cleanse us from any trace of sin, 05:21 to restore in us the image of Jesus 05:23 to reconcile us back to the Father, 05:26 that's why Jesus came to this earth. 05:29 And the great controversy, 05:30 it's still being played out on a global scale. 05:33 Today, we have the global scale, 05:35 this battle between Christ and Satan 05:37 being played out over the entire universe. 05:40 And it's also played out on a personal note, 05:43 the battleground of each person's heart, 05:45 each person's life and soul as they make a decision, 05:48 each person individually, 05:50 am I going to follow Christ or Satan? 05:52 When we look at the Book of Revelation, 05:54 we see that this battle eventually ends 05:57 and we know that Christ Jesus will win. 06:00 Our memory text and then we're going to Revelation. 06:02 But let's read our memory text first. 06:04 This is 1 Corinthians 2:9. 06:08 1 Corinthians 2:9, "As it is written, 06:11 eye has not seen, nor ear heard, 06:14 nor have entered into the heart of man the things 06:18 which God has prepared for those who love Him." 06:22 Amen. 06:23 This great controversy will one day be over. 06:26 That's right. 06:27 And we'll spend an eternity 06:29 with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 06:31 Sunday's lesson, A Vision of the End. 06:34 We look at this vision that John the Revelator has, 06:36 so let's go to the Book of Revelation. 06:39 We're going to look at Chapter 1 06:41 and then we're going to look 06:42 next, the last chapter, Chapter 21. 06:44 But let's go to Revelation Chapter 1. 06:47 John, of course, is the beloved disciple. 06:50 He was the youngest of Jesus' disciples 06:53 when He walked this earth. 06:56 But now he's the oldest, 06:57 he's the only surviving disciple. 07:00 The others have been martyred for their faith. 07:02 He's exiled to the Island of Patmos. 07:05 The young church has undergone a generational change 07:09 since Jesus walked this earth 07:11 and they're facing intense persecution 07:14 from without and heresy 07:16 and apostasy from within. 07:19 So John is on the Island of Patmos 07:22 and he sees a vision of Jesus from Jesus of Jesus. 07:27 It's the revelation of Jesus Christ. 07:29 And if you look at the Book of Revelation, 07:31 it's all about His character and His love, 07:33 His death, resurrection, ascension, 07:35 His heavenly sanctuary, 07:38 we find in the Book of Revelation 07:39 and His throne room. 07:41 His plan of redemption for fallen humanity, 07:43 His plan for the future, His soon return, His home, 07:46 which is the inheritance of the saints. 07:49 His power, His glory, His honor, His victory, 07:53 His outworking of the plan of redemption 07:56 and the final conclusion of the great controversy, 07:58 all of that 08:00 you can find in the Book of Revelation. 08:02 Let's look at Revelation 1:9, 08:04 verse 9, Chapter 1 and verse 9," 08:06 I, John, both your brother 08:09 and companion in the tribulation 08:10 and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, 08:13 was on the island 08:14 that is called Patmos for the word of God 08:17 and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." 08:19 And we'll see in just a moment 08:21 that John sees a vision of Jesus 08:23 and John is instructed to write 08:25 what he sees and send it to the seven churches in Asia. 08:30 So let's look at the vision of Jesus. 08:33 First of all, Jesus shows up in the sanctuary. 08:36 Let's look at verse 12. 08:38 Revelation 1:12, "I turned to see the voice 08:40 that spoke with me. 08:41 And having turned I saw," what? 08:43 "Seven golden lampstands." 08:46 This is an illusion, of course, 08:47 to the lampstands in the Old Testament sanctuary. 08:51 And the seven lampstands represent the seven churches. 08:55 Christ is in the sanctuary. Where is Jesus? 08:58 He's with His people 08:59 in the midst of difficult times. 09:02 Are you going through a difficult time? 09:03 Does it seem like life is difficult 09:06 and there's persecution from 09:07 without maybe heresy from within? 09:10 Christ shows up in the midst of the churches. 09:14 He shows up in the midst of the difficulties. 09:16 Let's read verse 13, 09:18 we see Jesus showing up dressed like an 09:21 Old Testament high priest and king. 09:24 "In the midst of the seven lampstands 09:27 One like the Son of Man, 09:29 clothed with a garment down 09:30 to the feet and girded about the chest 09:32 with a golden band." 09:33 Now, the Son of man 09:35 is Jesus' favorite self designation, is it not? 09:39 We see that especially in the Book of Mark 09:41 and you can see that in the Book of Luke as well. 09:43 Both of those gospels. 09:44 This One like the Son of man and He is dressed, 09:48 if you study, like the Levitical priest, 09:51 the Old Testament high priest. 09:53 He shows up like Melchizedek, as it were, a priest and king, 09:58 and He shows up with wisdom. 09:59 Look at Verse 14, "His head and hair were white like wool, 10:03 as white as snow." 10:05 It reminds me of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9. 10:07 Yes. 10:08 His hair was white like pure wool, 10:11 representative of that wisdom, veneration, respect. 10:15 Keep going to verse 14, 10:17 "His eyes like a flame of fire." 10:21 Revelation 19:12, we see Christ show up on a white horse 10:24 and He has eyes like a flame of fire. 10:28 Our God is a consuming fire, purging away dross, 10:32 purging away sin. 10:33 He is all knowing, possessing knowledge 10:36 of the inmost secrets of men 10:38 and possessing knowledge of upcoming events. 10:42 "And his feet were like fine brass," 10:44 I'm in verse 15, "refined in a furnace, 10:46 his voice as the sound of many waters. 10:49 He had in his right hand seven stars, 10:51 out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword 10:54 and His countenance was like 10:55 the sun shining in its strength." 10:58 So who is He? 10:59 If you look at the Book of Revelation 11:00 and you look at the designations given to Jesus 11:04 in the Book of Revelation. 11:05 He is the faithful witness. 11:07 He is the first begotten of the dead. 11:08 Yes. 11:10 He is the prince of the kings of the earth. 11:12 He is the Son of man. He who lives and was dead. 11:16 He who holds the seven stars. 11:18 He walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks. 11:21 He is the Son of God, 11:22 He which searches the reigns and tries the hearts. 11:25 He that has the seven stars. 11:28 He that is holy and true. 11:29 He that has the key of David. 11:31 He that shuts and no man opens. 11:33 That's right. He is the Amen. 11:35 He is the faithful and true witness, 11:37 He is the beginning of the creation of God. 11:39 He is the Lord. 11:41 He is the lion of the tribe of Judah. 11:42 He is the root of David. 11:44 He is the Lamb as it has been slain. 11:46 That's right. 11:47 He is the Lamb of God, 11:49 the King of kings and Lord of lords. 11:51 He is faithful and true, the Word of God, 11:53 the rider of the white horse, the Christ, 11:55 the Lord God of the holy prophets, 11:57 the bright and morning star, 11:59 Alpha and Omega, the beginning 12:00 and the end, the first and the last. 12:02 That's the God we work for, that is the God we serve. 12:05 That is the God that we see in this Book of Revelation. 12:09 And in this book, we see the final triumph 12:11 over sin and sinners. 12:12 We see that Christ Jesus is victorious. 12:16 Look with me at Revelation 21, 12:17 this is where we see that victory. 12:19 Revelation 21:1-4, 12:21 "I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 12:24 for the first heaven and the first earth, 12:26 they passed away. 12:27 There was no more sea. 12:28 Then I, John, saw the holy city, 12:31 New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 12:34 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 12:37 I heard a loud voice saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God 12:41 is with men, and He will dwell with them, 12:44 and they shall be His people. 12:46 God Himself will be with them and be their God. 12:49 God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 12:52 there shall be no more death, 12:53 no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain, 12:56 for the former things, they passed away.'" 12:58 That's right. 13:00 The New Earth is a place of rest, 13:01 no more sin, no more sickness, 13:02 no more suffering, no more sorrow, 13:05 no more separation, no more devastation, 13:08 no more destruction, 13:09 no more despair, no more despondency, 13:11 no more difficulties, no more death, 13:14 no more, because why? 13:15 The great controversy will be ended. 13:18 Sin and sinners are no more. 13:21 That's right. The entire universe is clean. 13:25 One pulse of harmony and gladness beats 13:29 through the vast creation. 13:31 From Him who created all 13:33 flows unlimited life and light and gladness 13:39 through the realms of inlimitable space, 13:43 from the minutest atom, to the greatest world. 13:46 All things animate and inanimate, 13:49 in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, 13:53 declare that God is love. 13:56 You see, in the beginning, there was perfection, 13:59 there was harmony, there was God's character, 14:02 His law, His law of love. 14:05 And we've endured 14:07 the 6000 years of controversy of Satan, 14:11 of seeing what happens 14:13 when Satan has a bit of control. 14:15 But this world is not all there is, 14:17 "Eye has not seen nor ear has heard, 14:20 nor has entered into the heart of man 14:22 what God has prepared for those who love Him." 14:23 That's right. 14:25 One day this world will be over 14:27 and what we experience here will be no more 14:29 and we will once again have perfect unity, 14:32 perfect peace, perfect love with our Father, 14:36 who is God overall. 14:38 Hallelujah. Amen. 14:39 Thank you so much, Jill. 14:41 That was a beautiful beginning 14:42 and we got to continue the energy 14:44 because that just set the tone so nice. 14:46 That's right. Thank you so much. 14:48 I'm Ryan Day and, hey, 14:49 we want to remind you before we go any further 14:51 that you need to send in your Bible questions. 14:53 So get out your phone right now. 14:55 We know you got your phone 14:56 beside you and text in your questions 14:59 because we're going to be taking your questions 15:01 immediately after this program. 15:03 That number to text in your questions, 15:05 very simple (618) 228-3975. 15:10 Again, (618) 228-3975. 15:13 Send in those questions, we're ready to answer those. 15:16 I have Monday's lesson 15:18 which is entitled The Countdown. 15:20 And ultimately we're talking 15:21 about the countdown prophetically 15:23 from where we are now, what the Bible reveals 15:25 from where we are now all the way 15:27 into this great ultimate rest time period in 15:29 which we will be with Jesus Christ, 15:31 be dwelling with Jesus Christ. 15:33 And Monday's lesson comes 15:34 from within the context of a prophetic theme 15:36 and more specifically, the prophetic things 15:38 we find in Matthew Chapter 24, 15:41 atop of the Mount of Olives is Jesus is giving 15:43 this great discourse of the signs of the times 15:45 and all that we can expect 15:47 as a countdown to this great time of rest. 15:51 And so we read there, I'm going to begin 15:52 reading right there in Matthew 24:3, 15:56 because Jesus obviously 15:58 has just come out of the temple, 15:59 He's had this big showdown with the Pharisees, 16:02 He's been in there and turning over the money changers, 16:05 He rebuked them for, you know, 16:07 defiling His house, defiling His Father's house of prayer. 16:10 And now here He is as He's left the temple, 16:13 He's going to go meet with His disciples privately 16:15 atop the Mount of Olives. 16:17 And so Matthew 24:3 says, 16:19 "Now, as he set on the Mount of Olives, 16:21 the disciples came to him privately saying, 16:23 'Tell us, when will these things be? 16:26 And what will be the sign of Your coming 16:28 and of the end of the age?' 16:29 "Now, the reason why they're asking that is 16:31 because as Jesus was leaving the temple, 16:33 you know, I guess, to try to relieve the tension, 16:35 because Jesus just, I mean, He really expressed 16:37 Himself emotionally in that scene within the temple walls. 16:41 And so now, they're turning to the temple 16:42 and they're looking at the beautiful temple, 16:44 "Oh, Jesus, look how beautiful our temple is, 16:46 look how enormous, look how great, look how grand, 16:49 look how majestic." 16:50 And Jesus turns to them right there and says, 16:52 "Look, there's coming a time soon 16:53 when there will not be one stone left upon another." 16:55 They knew this to be a time of judgment, 16:57 a time of destruction. 16:59 So now they're intrigued, they're interested 17:01 and so that's why verse 3 says that 17:02 they met with Him privately atop the Mount of Olives, 17:04 and they're asking Him, "Lord, 17:06 tell us when these things are going to be 17:07 and the sign of Your coming and the end of the age." 17:12 So Christ gives a very detailed panoramic timeline, 17:15 stretching from His day to the end of the world. 17:18 And we know too well about a time of trouble that 17:20 comes prior to the second coming of Jesus, 17:22 and Jesus wants us to be ready for when that time comes. 17:25 Of course, we're referring to that time of trouble 17:26 mentioned in Daniel 12:1, when Michael stands up, 17:30 "And there will be a time of trouble 17:31 such as never has been or ever will be." 17:33 And, of course, at that time, God's people will be delivered, 17:36 we will be here, but we will be saved 17:38 through that great tribulation time period, 17:40 but only if we have a relationship with Jesus. 17:42 And that's the purpose of this message. 17:45 So let's get right into Matthew Chapter 24, 17:47 as Jesus now begins to unfold 17:48 all of this in kind of a panoramic view, 17:51 what is going to happen to this, 17:52 a great countdown of events leading up 17:55 to this great time of rest. 17:57 Matthew 24:4, 18:00 "Jesus entered and said to them," 18:02 and I find this to be very interesting 18:03 of all the things that He could open with, 18:06 his very first words out of His mouth, He says, 18:07 "Take heed that no one deceives you." 18:11 Is there a possibility that 18:12 Jesus is trying to hint at the fact that deception 18:15 is going to be a big issue 18:16 in this great countdown of events leading up 18:19 to the second coming of Jesus? 18:20 I believe this is a theme, I believe this is a thesis 18:23 because he mentions it, not once, not twice, 18:25 but three times in this same discourse, 18:27 do not be deceived, do not be deceived. 18:30 And verse 5, he goes on to say, "Do not be deceived, 18:32 for many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ." 18:35 There it is, again, deceived, not a few, but many, 18:39 that represents the majority. 18:41 Verse 6, "And you will hear of wars 18:43 and rumors of wars, see that you are not troubled 18:45 for all these things must come to pass, 18:48 but the end is not yet." 18:50 Verse 7, "For nation will rise against nation and kingdom 18:53 against kingdom, and there will be famines, 18:55 and pestilences, 18:56 and earthquakes in various places." 18:58 You know, as we're hearing this list 18:59 and as we've heard this many times, 19:01 the wars and rumors of wars, 19:02 earthquakes in various places, 19:04 you know, famines, and pestilences, 19:05 and earthquakes and, you know, all of this that 19:07 He's listing, you know, 19:09 these events have happened for a long time. 19:11 We've been seeing these since long before even Jesus 19:14 was ever born, this type of things happen. 19:16 And so a lot of people 19:17 questioned the validity of this, 19:18 they say, "Well, you know, 19:20 it's not really a sign of the time 19:21 because we've always had this type of things, 19:22 there's always been famines, 19:24 there's always been pestilences, 19:25 there's always been earthquakes 19:27 and rumors of wars and wars itself." 19:29 But yet, verse 8 is the key to understanding 19:31 why Christ is listing this 19:33 because in verse 8, He says, 19:35 "All these are the beginning of sorrows." 19:37 Yeah. 19:39 And you have to dig a little deeper 19:40 to really understand what He means by that, 19:41 what He's emphasizing. 19:43 In fact, the same word used here for sorrows, 19:45 it's the Greek word odin, which means birth pangs. 19:50 All of these are the beginning. 19:51 In fact, some modern translations actually say 19:53 all of these are the beginning of birth pangs. 19:56 And it's interesting because 19:57 Paul uses the same word over in 1 Thessalonians 5, 20:00 when he says, "Of the times and seasons, 20:01 brethren, I have no need that I should write to you. 20:03 For you yourselves know perfectly 20:05 that the day of the Lord 20:06 so comes as a thief of the night. 20:07 For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' 20:09 Then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains," 20:12 odin, right there in the Greek, 20:14 "labor pains upon a pregnant woman 20:16 and they shall no not escape." 20:18 That's what Paul is saying to them. 20:20 Jesus is saying all of these things I've just listed. 20:22 It's not that they're new, it's not that, you know, 20:24 that this is somehow 20:25 some new event that's going to happen. 20:27 But rather, all of these are the beginning of birth pains, 20:30 much like a woman who goes into labor. 20:32 You know, she gets that first contraction, 20:33 the second, then the third, 20:35 as you begin to watch this thing play out, 20:37 the closer you get to the arrival 20:38 of that baby coming, 20:40 the interval of time between those contractions, 20:43 they shorten and the intensity of those contractions 20:46 get much more intense. 20:48 I'm not speaking about this, because I have, you know, 20:51 I have interest in this 20:53 or in the sense that I've experienced this, 20:55 but nonetheless, 20:56 it's interesting to note that yes, 20:58 that we're going to see more of these things 21:00 and they're going to be more and more and more intense 21:02 as we get closer to the second coming of Jesus. 21:05 And that is what Jesus 21:06 is communicating here in Matthew 24:4-8. 21:10 So what will happen leading up to the second coming, 21:13 this great time of rest that we're looking forward to? 21:16 Let's continue reading in verse 23 of Matthew 24. 21:20 It says, "Then, if anyone says to you, look, 21:21 here is the Christ or there, do not believe it." 21:24 For here we go again, 21:25 "For false christs and false prophets will rise 21:27 and show great signs and wonders to deceive, 21:30 if possible, even the elect." 21:32 And then he says, "See, I have told you beforehand." 21:35 Christ is saying, I've told you about this. 21:37 I'm telling you now 21:38 it's going to happen, it's going to come. 21:40 And then He goes on to say in verse 26, 21:42 "Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!' 21:44 do not go out, or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' 21:47 do not believe it. 21:48 For as the lightning comes 21:50 from the east and flashes to the west, 21:52 so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." 21:54 You know, it's amazing, 21:56 because I grew up in Northeastern Arkansas, 21:58 the part of the Southern states of the United States 22:00 that is known as Tornado Alley. 22:02 And there would be times 22:03 I would look out toward the Western horizon, 22:05 I've seen this many times, 22:06 there'd be a great storm coming, 22:08 a storm wall would be fast approaching. 22:10 And for a moment, you can stand there 22:11 before it gets rough and you can watch it 22:13 just fast approach 22:14 and you can just see the lightning just coming down 22:17 every so many seconds. 22:18 I have done this before, where I've literally 22:19 turned my back to this storm wall 22:22 that was fast approaching our land and our area 22:24 and I would close my eyes 22:27 pointing in the opposite direction 22:29 and you can still see through your eyelids, 22:33 the flashes of the lightning from behind you 22:36 that's lighting up the entire sky. 22:39 My friends, there's a reason why Jesus said, 22:41 "For as the lightning comes from the East 22:42 and flashes to the West, 22:44 so also with the coming of the Son of man be." 22:46 It's not so much talking about swiftness, 22:48 while I do believe these events will be swift and rapid. 22:51 It's also talking about no one is going to miss it. 22:53 Amen. 22:55 You will know that Jesus has come. 22:56 Amen. 22:57 You will know when your Savior has arrived. 23:00 Let's go to verse 29. 23:01 He says, "Immediately after the tribulation 23:03 in those days the sun will be darkened, 23:05 and the moon will not give its light, 23:06 the stars will fall from the heaven, 23:08 and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 23:11 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 23:14 and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, 23:16 and they will see the Son of Man coming 23:19 in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 23:22 And He will send His angels with a sound of a trumpet, 23:25 and they will gather them His elect from the four winds, 23:29 from one end of heaven to the other." 23:32 This will happen, my friends, 23:33 I believe we're fast approaching 23:34 the soon coming of Jesus. 23:36 Amen. 23:37 The time in which he describes as being like the days of Noah. 23:40 You can read that in Matthew 24:37-39, 23:44 "That just as in the days of Noah was, 23:45 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be 23:48 when they were eating and drinking and marrying 23:50 and given in marriage, 23:51 and then the flood came in it took them all away." 23:53 My friends, Jesus is saying, it's going to be very similar. 23:56 Are we living in days similar to the times of Noah? 23:58 Yeah. Is this world under... 24:00 Is this world flooded with sin? 24:02 Are we fast approaching the end? 24:04 I believe so. 24:05 So in our part, our part in preparing, 24:07 in closing here, Jesus says in Matthew 24:12, and 14, 24:11 I have to read this, this is powerful. 24:13 He says, "Because lawlessness will abound, 24:15 the love of many will grow cold." 24:17 Are we living in a loveless society? 24:18 Yeah. 24:19 That's another sign of the time, my friends. 24:21 It seems like the love of many are growing cold. 24:23 But notice verse 13 and 14. 24:24 It says, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." 24:29 My friends, are you fighting the good fight of faith? 24:32 Are you running the race? Are you running the course? 24:33 Are you hanging in there? 24:35 Because Jesus says, 24:36 "And this gospel of the kingdom 24:37 will be preached in all the world 24:39 as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come." 24:42 Jesus is on his way. Are you ready? 24:45 Hallelujah. Wow. 24:46 Praise the Lord. 24:47 Thank you Ryan, thank you, Jill. 24:49 And once again, a reminder 24:51 as I handled lesson number, 24:55 number Tuesday actually, not the number. 24:58 Lesson number Tuesday, I like that one. 25:00 That's a new one for me, lesson number Tuesday. 25:03 Marching Orders, before I talk about that, 25:05 remember to text us to your questions 25:08 (618) 228-3975. 25:11 And I'm John Lomacang and thank you for staying. 25:14 You guys have lit a fire, that, Shelley, 25:17 we can't let this fire go out. 25:19 But it's the Lord's work to keep that fire going 25:21 and mine is entitled Marching Orders. 25:25 As you were laying the foundation, Ryan, 25:26 talking about the last days, you know, 25:28 it is obvious when we look at a world that 25:32 we're living in today that we are living in the closing 25:35 scenes of earth's history, and more so today. 25:38 There are things that have happened in the last two years 25:40 that have not been in the previous decades 25:43 that we're seeing in our time. 25:45 And as I pointed out, we're living in a time 25:48 where we are confronted by an indiscriminate contagion. 25:51 And for the first time in American history, 25:54 at least in my time, 25:56 we are confronted by an enemy we cannot even see. 25:59 We cannot even touch. 26:00 And to be very candid, COVID-19 does not distinguish 26:05 between the wealthy and the poor. 26:06 That's right. 26:08 So we're living in this day and age where people 26:09 from every class and creed and race 26:11 are beginning to experience what the Bible talks about, 26:14 the birth pangs, pestilences, 26:17 earthquakes, fires, floods, 26:19 our men are, as you talked about, 26:21 the love of many will grow cold. 26:23 But on the other side, love is heating up, 26:25 men shall be lovers of themselves. 26:28 Lovers of money, lovers of pleasure 26:30 more than lovers of God, that's the kind of environment. 26:33 So charged is our environment 26:35 that people are getting to the place that they say, 26:37 "Well, if I die, I die." 26:39 Well, it's not going to be that simple 26:41 because we're going to face the judgment one day. 26:42 Right. Yeah. 26:43 But as the as the news continues 26:45 to come to us each day, 26:46 calamity and disease are Satan's tools 26:49 that are preparing the world for the end 26:51 and he has pulled out all the stops. 26:54 Like in that scene in The Wizard of Oz years ago, 26:56 I remember watching that, 26:58 where, you know, the Wizard of Oz, 26:59 he was behind the curtain pulling all the cords 27:01 and when the curtain was revealed, 27:03 he seemed to be so grand. 27:04 In light of it the world looks 27:06 at Lucifer as Satan, as so grand. 27:09 But behind the scenes, God is still in charge. 27:12 That's right. That's right. Amen. 27:14 But there is an irreversible, 27:15 fearful anxiety that is hovering over humanity today. 27:19 People are asking the question, 27:21 what's going to be happening next? 27:22 And then we look to the West Coast, 27:24 unquenchable fires 27:25 that are consuming people's life's 27:27 accomplishments and they are unchecked, 27:29 people can't do anything about it. 27:31 Then in the East, the floods that are coming, 27:32 washing away the things 27:34 that people have amassed for decades, 27:36 things that have meant so much to them, 27:38 they could see how in a flash 27:40 that all that they have amassed has gone away. 27:43 What is the message? 27:44 The Lord is saying to this world, 27:46 there's nothing in this world that is secure. 27:48 The only security that we can have in this last day, 27:52 these closing scenes, 27:54 is a security anchored in Christ alone. 27:58 So we find the battles medically, socially, 28:00 economically, financially, religiously. 28:03 The citizens of our world are in a solemn awe about 28:07 what's going to take place next 28:10 and that is why I love the title, 28:12 Marching Orders. 28:14 Because it is in this context that 28:16 the Lord begins to refocus our attention, 28:19 He begins to tighten the lens, 28:21 bring it into a sharper focus as it were 28:24 with the messages of the three angels 28:26 of Revelation Chapter 14. 28:28 "Go with me to the urgent proclamation 28:31 in the closing scenes of earth's history. 28:33 Go with me, a God 28:35 who sees the world falling apart." 28:38 And like the doors on a train that are closing, 28:41 the last train out, the Lord is saying, 28:43 listen to My voice, 28:44 there will be no more messages following this. 28:46 That's right. 28:47 Revelation 14:6, 28:49 "Then I saw another angel flying 28:52 in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel 28:55 to preach to those who dwell on the earth." 28:57 How many? 28:58 "To every nation, tribe, tongue 29:00 and people saying with a loud voice, urgency, 29:03 'Fear God and give glory to Him, 29:06 for the hour of His judgment has come, 29:09 and worship Him who made the heaven 29:10 and the heavens and the earth, 29:12 the sea and the springs of waters.' 29:14 And another angel followed, saying, 29:16 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, 29:20 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath 29:23 of her fornication.' 29:24 Then a third angel followed, saying with a loud voice, 29:28 'If anyone worships the beast 29:30 and his image and receives his mark 29:32 on his forehead or in his hand," 29:35 verse 10, "he himself shall also drink of the wine 29:39 of the wrath of God which is poured out 29:41 full strength into the cup of His indignation. 29:46 He shall be tormented with fire 29:48 and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels 29:51 and in the presence of the Lamb.'" 29:53 And verse 11, "And the smoke of their torment 29:55 ascends forever and ever 29:57 and they have no rest day or night, 30:00 who worship the beast and his image 30:01 and whoever receives the mark of his name." 30:04 Here in this crisis hour, 30:07 here is the patience of the saints. 30:09 That's right. 30:10 Here are those who keep the commandments of God 30:13 and the faith of Jesus. 30:14 You know, had it not been for verse 12, 30:16 we could say the world has no hope. 30:18 But here God is saying, 30:19 in the midst of a world gone mad, 30:22 in the midst of a shaking foundation, 30:26 in the midst of a society being agitated, 30:29 stripped of all security, 30:32 here they are, unmoved in a shaken world. 30:35 Here they are, uncompromised in a melting society, 30:38 here they are standing firm in a crumbling society. 30:42 Here they are, an anchor firm in a world being washed away 30:46 by compromise, here they are. 30:48 They are patient. Why? 30:49 Because they know how the story ends. 30:50 That's right. Amen. 30:52 So God is saying to us, I'm giving you marching orders, 30:55 as the world is crumbling, polish your trumpets, 30:58 get your armor, put it on 31:00 and get your prayer life together, 31:02 stand firm and begin to trust in the promises of God. 31:06 What is He saying? 31:07 We have an urgency that should grip us in a society 31:11 that seems to find no hope to the North, to the South, 31:15 to the East and to the West. 31:16 And so the question is, what is being taught here? 31:19 And what should we proclaim to the world? 31:21 Well, I go back to the time of the Israelites 31:23 when they were drawn out of the bondage of Egypt. 31:28 And they too in their journey to the Promised Land, many, 31:31 many years ahead of them. 31:33 They were gripped by fear 31:36 in the midst of an approaching army. 31:38 And, friends today, I know in your home, 31:40 in your family, in your marriage, 31:42 you can somehow sense the approaching footsteps 31:45 of an angry adversary trying to destroy your home, 31:49 trying to destroy your children, 31:50 your marriage, trying to consume your future, 31:53 all the things you saved up, looking at your life 31:56 falling apart as the Israelites did. 32:00 I've got to communicate to you what God communicated to them. 32:03 Exodus 14:15, "When they heard 32:06 the footsteps of an approaching army 32:08 determined to extinguish them from the earth." 32:12 Here's what the Lord said to them. 32:14 Exodus 14:15, "And the Lord said to Moses, 32:18 'Why do you cry to Me? 32:20 Tell the children of Israel to go forward.'" 32:24 Amen. 32:25 Friends, today, we can't go back, 32:26 we got to go forward. 32:28 The Apostle Paul joins the words of Moses 32:30 in Philippians 3:13, he says, 32:32 "This is not the time to stand still. 32:35 This is the time to put on your gospel shoes." 32:37 He says, "Brethren, we're not there yet, 32:40 I do not count myself to have apprehended." 32:42 Philippians 3:13, "But one thing I do, 32:46 forgetting those things which are behind 32:49 and reaching forward to those things, 32:52 which are ahead." 32:53 Was he saying, it's time to press 32:55 toward the goal 32:57 for the prize of the upper call of God in Christ Jesus? 33:00 He's saying, this hour doesn't call 33:02 for the reverse gear. 33:03 This hour calls for one gear alone, go forward. 33:07 That's right. 33:08 Stop looking back, 33:09 let go of the things that had been 33:11 a part of your past defeats and look forward 33:13 to the future victories in Christ. 33:15 I look back to the days of Joshua, 33:17 when the Lord told Joshua, this great army, 33:20 the Lord gave them marching orders. 33:22 And he said in Joshua 6:20, 33:24 "So the people shouted 33:25 when the priests blew the trumpets 33:27 and it happened when the people 33:28 heard the sound of the trumpet." 33:30 Today, God is saying to the church, 33:32 blow the trumpet because the fall of Jericho 33:36 is synonymous to the fall of Babylon. 33:39 But how would it fall unless we proclaim 33:42 with faithfulness the trumpet gospel? 33:45 Blow the trumpet. 33:46 And when they were faithful to the declaration 33:49 to blow the trumpets, 33:50 blow the trumpet seven times walk around that great city, 33:54 the very thing that they did, God is calling us to do today. 33:58 But before we blow the trumpets, 34:00 we've got to say, come out of here my people, 34:02 that you be not partakers of her sins, 34:04 that you do not receive of her plagues. 34:06 You see this as an urgent hour, marching orders. 34:09 What confidence have we been given? 34:12 Matthew 24:14, here's the confidence, 34:15 "If you blow the trumpets, if you shine your armor, 34:18 if you stand firm on the promises of God, 34:21 we know that soon and very soon all destruction 34:24 itself will be destroyed." 34:26 And we will have peace 34:28 because here are the words of blessed assurance." 34:30 Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom 34:34 will be preached in all the world 34:37 as a witness to all nations." 34:40 And here's the good news, let's say it together, 34:42 "And then the end will come." 34:46 That's our marching orders. Amen. 34:48 You guys have stoked the holy ghost fire. 34:51 But now I'm going to calm it down just a little bit 34:55 because we're going to be talking about Rest in Peace. 34:58 If you have your Bibles, turn to John Chapter 5. 35:01 Don't forget, we're going to take your questions 35:06 after this hour and you can text those 35:09 to (618) 228-3975. 35:14 We look forward to answering those questions. 35:16 I'm Shelley Quinn, this is Wednesday's lesson, 35:19 Rest in Peace. 35:21 You know, for long centuries, 35:23 Christians have been awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. 35:28 And Jesus says in John Chapter 5, 35:31 we're going to look at verses 28 and 29. 35:35 He says, "Do not marvel at this, 35:36 for the hour is coming in which," 35:40 catch this, "all those who are in their graves 35:46 will hear His voice and come forth. 35:51 Those who have done good to the resurrection of life 35:55 and those who have done evil 35:58 to the resurrection of condemnation." 36:01 He's talking about two different resurrections, 36:04 so they're actually 1000 years apart 36:07 and they're talked about in Revelation. 36:08 But you know what? 36:10 These words of Jesus contradict the popular teaching 36:14 that is in the church that says that 36:16 when a born again Christian dies, 36:19 where do they say they go? 36:20 They say, "Oh, they go directly to heaven." 36:22 Right. 36:23 "Oh, they're dancing with Jesus, 36:25 they're doing this." 36:26 But see, that is an error of thinking 36:31 and it is based on a deception as you were talking about, 36:36 that we have immortal souls. 36:41 You know, 1 Timothy 6:16, 36:44 we don't have time to turn there. 36:45 But 1 Timothy 6:16 tells us 36:49 God alone is immortal right now. 36:52 That's right. 36:53 It says, "He who alone has immortality dwelling 36:58 in approachable light, whom no man has seen." 37:03 God is an infinite being, He is self existence, 37:07 there was no beginning, no end, eternal, infinite. 37:13 I don't know, our little finite minds 37:16 can't wrap around it. 37:18 But did you know that 37:19 the Bible mentions a man's soul over 1600 times 37:25 and never once associates it with immortality? 37:28 There's not one scripture that 37:31 refers to humans as having an immortal soul. 37:34 As a matter of fact, what does the Bible tell us? 37:38 Paul, a great apostle of grace, 37:41 he makes it perfectly clear in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. 37:46 So if you have your Bibles, turn there, 37:48 because what we see Paul telling us 37:51 is that Christians, 37:54 all of God's people from the Old Covenant, 37:56 the New Covenant, we are all going to 37:59 put on immortality at the second coming of Jesus, 38:04 at the last trump. 38:06 Let's look at that, 1 Corinthians 15:51. 38:10 He's Paul speaking to the Christians and he says, 38:13 1 Corinthians 15:51, 38:15 "Behold, I tell you a mystery: 38:18 We shall not all sleep." 38:21 Now, that's a Bible metaphor for death, 38:24 "But we shall all be changed in a moment, 38:28 in the twinkling of an eye," when? 38:31 "At the last trumpet." 38:34 This is a trumpet that's announcing that 38:36 Jesus is coming. 38:38 "For the trumpet will sound 38:40 and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 38:43 and we shall be changed, for this corruptible 38:47 must put on incorruption." 38:49 And look what he says, verse 53, 38:51 "This mortal must put on immortality." 38:55 So when the corruption is put on incorruption 38:58 and this mortal has put on immortality, 39:00 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 39:05 'Death is swallowed up in victory. 39:07 O, Death, where is your sting? 39:10 O Hades, where is your victory?" 39:12 So this happens, 39:14 we do have immortality promised to us, 39:17 but it doesn't happen until Christ returns. 39:20 God, who alone is immortal right now, 39:23 will grant His people, His redeemed immortality, 39:30 eternal life and they will put on that immortality. 39:35 So, also I want to point out, 39:37 you can turn in your Bibles to John Chapter 11. 39:42 John Chapter 11. 39:43 And in this chapter, 39:45 Jesus compares a person's condition 39:49 between death and resurrection morning, 39:54 when we put on immortality. 39:56 He refers to it as an unconscious sleep. 39:58 John 11:11. 40:01 John 11:11, "These things He said, 40:04 and after that He said to them, 40:07 'Our friend Lazarus sleeps, 40:09 but I go that I may wake him up.'" 40:11 This was Mary and Martha's brother 40:13 and they'd sent word, her brother's died. 40:17 Oh, you know, he's dying, dying. 40:19 And Jesus waited till he had been 40:22 in the grave long enough to start corrupting. 40:24 But He tells His disciples 40:27 who are trying to figure out why He waited to go to Lazarus. 40:30 He says, "Lazarus sleeps, 40:32 but I go that I may wake him up." 40:34 And then the disciples said, 40:36 "Lord, if he sleeps, he gets well." 40:39 However, Jesus, verse 13, says, 40:43 "Jesus spoke of his death, 40:46 but they thought that He was speaking about 40:48 taking rest and sleep. 40:50 "Then Jesus said plainly to them," 40:52 in verse 14, "Lazarus is dead." 40:57 Throughout the Bible, 40:59 Old Testament and New Testament, 41:01 death is referred to as a sleep. 41:04 David in the Old Testament Kings, 41:06 they sleep with their fathers, that means they're dead. 41:10 They call it sleeping with the forefathers. 41:12 When Steven was martyred, Luke wrote in Acts Chapter 7, 41:17 he says, in Acts 7:60, he said that he fell asleep. 41:23 That's right. 41:24 The Greek word for sleep is koimao, koimao, 41:30 and it is used in ordinary sleep 41:32 or it's used of the sleep of death. 41:35 It's translated, asleep, sleep, die or to be dead. 41:41 So RIP, remember when you see 41:44 all of these tombstones with the RIP, 41:47 that's rest in peace because for a Christian, 41:52 when we die or a believer in Christ, 41:54 when we die, it's like we close our eyes, 41:57 we rest in the grave and the next moment 42:00 when we open up our eyes, 42:02 we're in the presence of Jesus. 42:04 Amen. 42:05 And I want to show you that 42:06 this is how the Bible describes it. 42:09 Take down these scripture references 42:11 'cause I've got to go fast, my time's going away. 42:14 What does the Bible say happens when we die? 42:17 Ecclesiastes 9:5 says, 42:21 "Like sleep, the dead are unconscious." 42:24 Ecclesiastes 9:5, 42:26 "For the living know that 42:27 they died, but the dead know nothing." 42:29 Right. 42:30 And then, if you jump down to verse 10, 42:32 Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, 42:35 "Like sleep, they are resting." 42:38 It says, "Whatever your hands find to do, do it 42:40 with all your might, for there is no work or device 42:44 or knowledge or wisdom 42:45 in the grave where you are going." 42:47 Psalm 146:4 says, 42:50 "That when we die it's like sleep, 42:52 there's no conscious thoughts, 42:54 we lie unconscious in the grave." 42:58 Psalm 146:4 says, "His spirit departs." 43:01 This is talking about the breath of life, 43:04 "He returns to his earth and in that very day 43:07 his plans perish." 43:08 Psalm 115:17 says, 43:11 "The dead don't praise the Lord nor do any 43:14 who go down into silence." 43:17 Job 14:12 says, "We sleep till we're awakened." 43:22 Job 14:12, it says, "So man lies down 43:26 and does not rise till the heavens are no more. 43:31 They will not awake nor be aroused from their sleep." 43:35 Daniel 12:1-2. 43:38 Daniel 12:1-2, oh, Daniel's prophesying 43:42 a time of trouble just before Christ returns. 43:46 He says, "At that time," this is Daniel 12:1, 43:50 "At that time, your people shall be delivered, 43:53 everyone who is found written in the book," 43:56 that's the Book of Life, 43:57 "and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth 44:02 shall awake, some to everlasting life, 44:06 some to shame and everlasting contempt." 44:10 So death is a sleep. 44:14 It's a sleep from 44:16 which there will be an awakening. 44:20 Hallelujah. Amen. 44:21 Christ's second coming 44:23 is a culmination of all of our hopes 44:26 and not just ours today, but all of Christ's people. 44:30 If you read Hebrew 11, you see how they were pilgrims 44:34 and strangers on the earth 44:36 and they didn't receive the promises yet. 44:39 But we know that there is a day 44:42 coming that all of us will be perfected together in Christ. 44:48 Amen. Amen. 44:49 Amen. Praise the Lord. 44:51 Well, we now have come to Thursday's portion, 44:53 but before this, I must remind you that 44:55 you can participate in this program 44:57 by sending in your questions 45:00 and it will take about 30 minutes to answer those, 45:03 so please take this opportunity to write the number down 45:05 if you haven't yet. 45:07 The number is (618) 228-3975, 45:10 (618) 228-3975, 45:13 text in your questions and we will do our best 45:16 by God's grace to answer those questions. 45:19 My name is John Dinzey, 45:20 and Thursday's portion is entitled, 45:22 Rejoice in the Lord Always. 45:25 This takes us to Philippians Chapter 4 45:29 beginning in verse 4 45:31 and we're going to read all the way to verse 7. 45:33 The lesson says till 6, but I like verse 7, 45:35 it's wonderful as well. 45:37 Notice that it says, 45:38 "Rejoice in the Lord always and again, 45:43 I will say rejoice." 45:46 Now, this is Paul talking, 45:48 a person that went through a lot of difficult times, 45:50 but yet he was able to say, 45:52 rejoice in the Lord always. 45:54 Notice, he didn't say rejoice in money, 45:57 he didn't say rejoice in your car, 45:59 in your house, rejoice in your job, 46:02 he said rejoice in the Lord. 46:05 And when you rejoice in the Lord, 46:07 you really have the joy that is pure and come from heaven. 46:12 Verse 2, as we continue, it says, "Let your moderation." 46:17 That's verse 5. Verse 5. 46:19 Verse 5, yes. 46:20 Where verse 5 says, 46:21 "Let your gentleness be known to all men, 46:24 the Lord is at hand." 46:25 Notice, we have been talking 46:27 about the time of the end and resting in the Lord. 46:30 The Lord is at hand and if that was ever true, 46:33 it is true today. 46:34 The signs are telling that 46:36 Jesus Christ is coming soon and the best thing 46:39 you could do is rest in Jesus. 46:42 "Be anxious for nothing," it continues, 46:44 "but in everything by prayer 46:47 and supplication with thanksgiving, 46:50 let your request be made known to God." 46:54 Is there a benefit to letting 46:55 your request be made known to God? 46:57 Yes. Amen. Yes. 46:59 Jesus said, "Ask and you will receive." 47:01 That's right. 47:03 Now, notice verse 7 and it says, 47:04 "And the peace of God, 47:07 which surpasses all understanding 47:10 will guard your hearts 47:12 and minds through Christ Jesus." 47:15 These are the benefits of rejoicing in the Lord. 47:18 God will guard your heart and your mind 47:22 through Christ Jesus. 47:24 Amen. This is marvelous to consider. 47:27 Now, studies have been conducted that confirm 47:30 what the Bible says. 47:32 You know, science will eventually 47:33 catch up with the Bible. 47:34 I love it. 47:36 Proverbs 17:22, says, "A merry heart does good, 47:41 like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." 47:47 That's right. And that is so true. 47:49 And science has caught up with this. 47:51 There are many studies 47:52 that confirm that having a merry heart, 47:56 having the joy, especially the joy of the Lord 48:00 has healing virtues. 48:02 It works throughout your bodies to bring you... 48:05 It activates your body's healing properties 48:09 that God put in there, so rejoice in the Lord. 48:13 Let's move to James Chapter 1. 48:16 James Chapter 1, I'm going to begin in verse 2. 48:19 Now, this is something interesting 48:21 because James says something that 48:23 to some people may be shocking. 48:25 "My brethren count it all joy 48:28 when you fall into various trials." 48:31 What? 48:33 He must not be right, he must be dreaming. 48:36 Count it all joy 48:38 when you fall into various trials. 48:39 It is not that you enjoy suffering, 48:42 it is not that you are sadistic, 48:46 but that you recognize that 48:48 if God allows something to come to you, 48:52 He has a benefit in mind for you 48:54 because the Bible says in the Book of Romans, 49:00 "Knowing this, that all things work together 49:04 for good to them that love God, to them 49:07 that are recalled according to His purpose." 49:09 Now, notice some of the benefits 49:11 mentioned here in James. 49:13 Now, we continue verse 3, 49:15 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." 49:20 That's right. 49:21 "But let patience have its perfect work 49:24 that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 49:27 So when trials come, 49:28 you may rejoice in knowing, God loves me. 49:31 He has allowed this trial to come to me 49:34 because He sees something in me that He wants to develop. 49:38 This is the way that you can face trials 49:41 and difficulties. 49:42 Notice, I'm reading to you 49:44 from the Gospel Worker, page 441, marvelous things. 49:48 Notice, trials and temptations may come, but the child of God, 49:53 whether minister or layman knows that Jesus is his helper. 49:58 Amen. 49:59 Jesus says, "I will be with you always, 50:01 even to the end of the world." 50:02 And it says, as we continue reading here, 50:04 it says, "Through self denial 50:07 and suffering with Christ, we grow in grace." 50:11 There's benefit. 50:12 "And in the knowledge of the truth, trials will come, 50:15 but they are in evidence that we are children of God." 50:19 That's right. 50:21 "Paul passed through great trials, 50:22 but he did not despair as though his father in heaven 50:25 were dead, he rejoiced in tribulation, 50:28 for he desired through participation 50:31 in the sufferings of Christ to be 50:33 conformed to His image. 50:36 Let this hero of faith speak for himself." 50:39 Notice what he says, 50:40 "I take pleasure in infirmities, 50:43 in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, 50:46 in the stresses for Christ's sake." 50:49 It is not the suffering you enjoy, 50:51 but the results of the suffering. 50:53 They draw you to the Lord, 50:55 your faith increases and you are also allowing 51:01 the healing blessing of the Lord to come to you. 51:03 That's right. 51:04 And so, we have a dear brother 51:09 that is a volunteer for many, many years. 51:12 Larry McLucas. 51:13 And he is just a blessing, you know, 51:17 when you are walking down the hallway 51:20 and you run into Larry, 51:21 he will say, "It's a good day. 51:25 Today's a fantastic day," he says. 51:28 But he also says this saying, which I really, 51:31 I am blessed by, he says, 51:33 "Everyday is a good day, 51:35 but some days are better than others." 51:38 Now, that's a positive attitude and he, I can tell you, 51:41 he has many health challenges, 51:43 but he rejoices in the Lord. 51:46 John 16:33, Jesus says, 51:49 "These things, I have spoken unto you, 51:52 that in Me, you may have peace." 51:56 We have peace in Jesus. 51:59 "In the world, you will have tribulations, 52:02 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." 52:07 So in knowing this, we can rejoice 52:11 because this world is not our final home. 52:14 That's right. 52:16 Trials may come, difficulties may come, 52:17 we are facing difficult times, but we rejoice because, 52:21 as you have already heard, 52:22 we know what is in the end of the book. 52:24 God's people are delivered and they rejoice forever 52:28 throughout eternity with the Lord. 52:31 Philippians 5:5-7, it says, 52:34 "Let your gentleness be known 52:36 to all men, the Lord is at hand." 52:39 That's right. That's what we read. 52:40 Notice that it says, the Lord is at hand, 52:42 it's in the context of the time of the end that 52:45 we must make our decision to rejoice in the Lord. 52:51 And now, I'd like to read to you 52:54 something that is another evidence of God working. 52:58 It's in 2 Corinthians 4:17, 53:01 "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, 53:06 it is working for us a far more exceeding 53:11 and eternal weight of glory. 53:14 Why we do not look at the things 53:16 which are seen, but at the things 53:18 which are not seen, for the things 53:21 which are seen are temporary." 53:23 That's right. They are temporary. 53:25 But the things which are not seen are eternal. 53:28 Yes. 53:29 So my brother, my sister, rejoice in the Lord, 53:32 rejoice in Jesus Christ and remember the invitation 53:37 that Jesus gives to you in Matthew 11:28-30. 53:42 He says, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, 53:47 and I will give you rest. 53:51 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 53:54 for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 53:57 and you will find rest for your souls, 53:59 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 54:03 Keep your eyes on Jesus, 54:06 face trials and difficulties with your eyes on Jesus, 54:10 look to Him for strength. 54:12 And with Paul, you can say, 54:14 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 54:17 That's right. Amen. 54:19 I to need to end with The Desire of Ages, page 331, 54:22 notice, beautiful, "As through Jesus, 54:25 we enter into rest, heaven begins here. 54:29 We respond to His invitation, 54:31 come learn of me and in thus coming 54:34 we begin the life eternal. 54:36 Heaven is a ceaseless approaching to God 54:40 through Christ." 54:42 So I encourage you, continue to approach Jesus, 54:47 this is where heaven begins, right here. 54:50 Amen. Thank you so much. 54:52 What an amazing study, Pastor Johnny, Shelley, 54:55 Pastor John and Pastor Ryan, thank you for sharing. 54:58 I love that, The Ultimate Rest. 55:00 Want to remind you 55:01 we're taking your questions immediately 55:04 following this program, 55:05 so make sure you text them in, (618) 228-3975. 55:11 That number again is 55:12 (618) 228-3975, 55:16 and we will get to as many of your questions 55:18 as we can in just a moment. 55:20 But we just have a couple moments left here 55:22 before the end of this portion, 55:24 so we want to give each one of you 55:25 a moment to share something. 55:26 Amen. 55:28 Yeah, you know, Jesus said there in Matthew 24, 55:29 "The love of many would wax cold 55:31 on the last days." 55:32 I just was reminded what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, 55:35 he says, "Though I speak with a tongue of men 55:36 and angels, but I have not love, 55:38 I am become sounding brass or clinging cymbal. 55:41 And though I have the gift of prophecy 55:42 and understand all mysteries and all knowledge 55:45 and though I have all faith," 55:46 of course, this means even if he could, 55:48 he says, "If I do not have love I have nothing." 55:50 My friends, the point we're getting at here, 55:52 is that we need love, it's all about love, 55:54 God is love and we need to be 55:56 reflecting that love right here in these last days. 55:59 Amen. 56:00 And we go forward with our marching orders 56:02 until this proclamation, 56:04 this is a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. 56:07 Isaiah 25:9, "And it shall be said in that day, 56:10 behold, this is our God, 56:12 we have waited for Him and He will save us. 56:14 This is the Lord, we have waited for Him, 56:16 we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." 56:21 Amen. 56:22 I just want to repeat John 5:28-29, Jesus said, 56:26 "The hour is coming 56:27 when all who are in their graves 56:29 will hear His voice and come forth, 56:32 some to the resurrection of life 56:35 and righteousness and those who have done evil 56:38 to the resurrection of condemnation." 56:41 That's right. Are you ready to rest in peace? 56:45 And the next thing you know, 56:47 you'll open your eyes and see Jesus. 56:49 Amen. Amen. 56:51 And I like to add Psalm 46:1, beautiful, 56:56 "God is our refuge and strength, 57:01 a very present help in trouble." 57:03 Are you facing trials and difficulties? 57:05 God is near, reach out to Him. 57:08 Amen. Amen. 57:10 What an amazing study, The Ultimate Rest. 57:12 And in the beginning I thought, 57:14 "What in the world do all of these, 57:15 how do they all fit together?" 57:17 But it's amazing because we're called 57:19 to have rest in Christ here and now. 57:21 In the midst of the trials, 57:23 in the midst of the tribulation, 57:24 in the midst of what we are living in, 57:26 we are called to have rest. 57:28 Now, some people will be laid to rest in Jesus, 57:31 meaning sleep in Jesus, but eventually, 57:35 all of those who have accepted Christ 57:37 as their personal savior will have rest in the earth 57:40 made new in heaven and in the earth made new. 57:42 And Jesus is coming soon, so we want to encourage you 57:45 to make your life right with Jesus. 57:49 John 14:26, "Peace I leave with you," 57:52 this is rest, "My peace I give to you, 57:55 not as the world gives, give I unto you. 57:57 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." 58:01 I want to remind you, don't go anywhere 58:04 because camp meeting will continue in 58:06 just about two minutes. 58:08 We will be out on the main stage 58:10 and taking your questions. 58:12 Stay with us. |
Revised 2021-11-04