Participants: Pr. John Stanton, Pr. John Lomacang
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL090015
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00:01 Hello, friends, grab your Bible and a friend
00:02 and sit back as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of "House Calls". 00:22 Welcome to "House Calls" program, 00:24 the place where the best meal on the earth 00:26 could be found because it's the bread of life, 00:28 the Word of God, do you believe that John? 00:30 Amen. And so, friends, 00:31 thank you so much for joining us and as you can see 00:33 I'm not by myself, I have Pastor John Stanton, 00:36 my really good friend with me. 00:37 Good to have you here, John. It's good to be here again, 00:38 John, thank you. What are we going to do today? 00:41 We were talking, we're going to finish up 00:42 the subject we have been covering here 00:44 for the last couple of programs on hell. 00:46 Okay. And we'll answer some questions. 00:49 All right. I always enjoy doing that. 00:51 Okay, well as you know friends, 00:52 we always like to get into it with prayer before 00:55 we do anything else, so John led us before 00:58 God's tone in prayer. Let's do that. 01:00 Our Father in heaven, again we won't go forward 01:03 here unless You are with us and so, 01:06 well we open our hearts and minds to you even now 01:08 and just pray that you would fill us with your spirit 01:11 that you would lead us through the spirit of truth 01:13 here today as we cover various questions 01:16 that people are enquiring about with regard 01:18 to Your Word and we pray Lord 01:20 that You will give us not only that instruction 01:23 that Your Spirit gives but also Lord the blessing 01:26 of understanding You better because 01:28 it is you who we seek to know because that is eternal life. 01:31 In Jesus' name we pray, amen. 01:33 Amen. Friends, as you know 01:35 at this program "House Calls" the reason why we call 01:39 it house calls is because we are going to homes 01:41 and hearts and houses around the world 01:44 and praise the Lord for that. 01:46 But you have a chance to come into our heart, 01:47 our home and to our house by your Bible question. 01:51 And so if you have any questions that you like to submit to us, 01:54 send those to the email on your screen housecalls@3abn.org, 01:58 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 02:01 We will download them and by God's grace 02:04 and the work of the Holy Spirit we will answer 02:06 them in harmony with God's will. 02:07 Thank you for all you do to keep this program going forward. 02:10 There are more questions in the Bible than 02:13 we will ever address in our life time, 02:15 so keep them coming, we do appreciate your part. 02:18 What do you have for us today, John? 02:20 Well, John, we have the follow up question 02:21 to an issue that we talked about before. 02:24 Okay. I don't know, 02:26 this may take a little bit of time here to get through but I, 02:29 we don't mind taking the time. 02:31 It's on the issue of how God views the Nation of Israel 02:37 and the church today in His overall plan 02:40 of saving all of humanity. 02:42 Okay. There are some that 02:44 teach today that there are two covenants 02:48 that God has with people. 02:50 The first one is with the people or the children of Israel 02:53 that He created way back when that He gave 02:57 specifically to Moses and the children 02:58 as they took them through wilderness 03:00 to deliver them from Egypt, took them to the wilderness 03:02 and then as they came into the land of Canaan 03:05 and that covenant still exist today with Jews as a people. 03:09 And separately or apart from that he grew 03:12 or began to grow the Gospel of Jesus Christ 03:16 through the church and create a covenant with them. 03:20 I do not believe that. 03:22 I don't believe the Bible teaches that. 03:24 I believe the Bible teaches that there is an everlasting covenant 03:27 that began even before the Jews. 03:29 Clearly we find a covenant going on there with regard 03:32 to the salvation of Adam and Eve after sin. 03:36 There was enmity he says I'll put between you, 03:39 the Satan, speaking of Satan and the woman 03:41 that is those who would even be born by her 03:45 and come after her there will be this, 03:47 the standard that Christ or that God 03:49 would set up and we know that it was through Christ 03:51 to save all of human kind. 03:54 And he renewed that covenant with Noah. 03:58 He renewed the covenant with Abraham, 04:01 Jacob or Isaac and Jacob. 04:03 He renewed the covenant with David 04:05 and several of those who came after him, 04:08 so that is the covenant that then he extended to the church. 04:12 Same covenant, everlasting covenant 04:14 but it was the new covenant in that the old ceremonies 04:20 and writing symbols of the old, prior to Christ 04:22 were done away with but now the new covenant, 04:24 a part of the everlasting overarching covenant with God, 04:27 He has with his Church. That's right. 04:29 Now, that's a brief synopsis of God's covenant 04:32 with humanity to save them, but there are some 04:35 that teach today and here is why 04:36 I want to kind of get to the heart of it. 04:38 There are some who teach today that the covenant that God 04:42 had with the Jews as a nation as a people still exists, 04:45 and that God will cause an incredible conversion 04:49 of the Jews as a people before Christ return, 04:53 before the second coming, and that is apart 04:56 from the work that, that God is doing through the church 04:59 and his covenant with the church 05:01 to save the rest of human kind apart or side 05:05 from the Jews being saved. 05:08 Here is the question that we received in response 05:10 to that synopsis that we gave previously. 05:14 Thank you for taking time to answer my question 05:17 but you are still dodging the issue and I promise 05:20 that these are my last comments on it. 05:22 This person has been very cordial, 05:23 he says an issue where we were arguing extensively over, 05:29 you know, different kinds of positions 05:31 on this, but it's been a good dialog. 05:34 I did and do understand your views but I wrote that, 05:38 I wrote is what I wrote is that the Bible says 05:42 and I believe what the Bible says is different 05:44 than you and what you teach us 05:47 replacement theology is not true. 05:52 And he goes on to say what his follow up positions are. 05:55 In fact I believe its either him or her sometimes 05:58 we get messages from an address and its say 06:01 women or man's name but may be it's a husband 06:04 or wife using it so we don't know. 06:05 Right, okay. Anyway they say here the church 06:09 is spiritual Israel they believe that. 06:11 But it is not nor will it ever replace, 06:14 this is the contention that, this individual has replace 06:18 the physical children of Israel because they still have 06:21 a role to play in God's salvation plan for humanity 06:24 at the risk of repeating myself, he says two points, 06:27 or she says two points Jesus will come again 06:30 and tell the Jews say or won't come again until the Jews say 06:34 bless it is he who comes in name of Lord, 06:38 he believes that or she believes that points 06:40 to a literal conversion of the Jews. 06:43 And number two there won't be a resurrection of the dead 06:46 until the Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah. 06:50 He quotes or she quotes Revelation, 06:52 oh excuse me, Romans 11:15 stating that their acceptance 06:57 is equated to there as life from the dead. 07:02 And I find, you know, my question here I wrote is, 07:05 as a notation here where is this in the Bible that Christ 07:09 won't come until the Jews accept Him. 07:12 I mean from what I read Matthew 24:14 this gospel 07:16 will be preached to all the world, 07:18 that's not an elimination or an exclusion of Jews, 07:21 that's including Jews and then the end will come. 07:25 Right. So, the intention here is Christ 07:27 wants everyone to be saved. 07:29 Even Revelation 10, the mystery of God 07:31 will be finished as it goes to all nations, 07:34 tribes, tongues and people. It should. 07:37 So, it's everyone that is is being saved 07:39 that possibly wants to be saved. 07:43 Then it goes on Romans 11:24 says 07:47 that not that they can be grafted in, 07:50 but they will be grafted in, there's as emphatic 07:53 will be, will happen. 07:56 And so anyway that's kind of last point made. 07:58 But lets cover a few. 07:59 That the Jews will be grafted in. 08:00 They will be not that they can be, but they will be, 08:02 that's what the wording that Paul uses. 08:04 And I agree there is the word will be in that passage. 08:08 But a couple of points, a few points here to kind of get 08:11 the ball rolling, I know you want to weigh 08:12 in on this as well John. 08:15 In the Book of Isaiah over and over again 08:17 and I'll give you several passages here, 08:19 God refers to the children of Israel 08:23 as being His covenant to all of humanity, 08:28 part of the covenant to all of humanity. 08:30 He speaks in fact then he identifies them so closely 08:34 with Christ that there is a dual prophecy 08:38 there in that he is talking about Christ Himself. 08:40 Let me just tell you where that is. 08:42 Isaiah 42:6, let's turn there, 08:46 it's one example of one of these prophecies 08:49 that I'm talking about, 08:50 Isaiah 42 and what verse? 08:53 And in verse 6. 08:56 Okay. Let's start with verse 5. 09:01 "Thus says the Lord God who created the heavens, 09:04 and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth, 09:07 and that which comes from it, 09:09 who gives breath to the people on it, 09:10 and the spirit to those who walk on it. 09:13 Either Lord have called you in righteousness 09:15 and will hold your hand, I will keep you and give 09:19 you as a covenant to the people as a light to the Gentiles." 09:24 Okay. Now, the word I have the word 09:26 you in there capitalized as a reference because 09:28 this is a commonly recognized prophecy about Christ, 09:32 that God the father gives Christ as a covenant 09:35 or as a promise to the people. 09:38 Or as the light to exact. 09:40 Or as the light to the Gentiles, okay. 09:42 But then, turn with me and of course 09:45 you probably recognize the rest of that verse 09:47 before you turn to open blind eyes 09:49 to bring up prisoners something we find, 09:50 Same thing Luke 4. 09:52 Luke 4 quotes. 09:53 But turn over a few chapters to Isaiah 46. Okay. 09:58 No, no, excuse me 49. Okay, I am there. 10:02 Okay, John, could you read 49 verses, 10:06 oh no just verse 6. 10:09 Okay, Indeed He says, "It is too smaller thing 10:14 that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, 10:20 And to restore the preserved ones of Israel, 10:24 I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, 10:28 That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth." 10:32 Okay, interesting thing about these text 10:35 is it's referring to--there is a prophecy there about Christ 10:38 would come but more than that pause, 10:42 we'll see here just in a very short time 10:44 we'll identify these scriptures is also referring to Israel, 10:48 as being a light to the rest of the world. 10:51 Right, Romans 15. 10:53 Acts, actually Acts 13 Acts 13. 10:57 But look here in before we leave Isaiah, 11:00 Isaiah 60:1, "Arise, shine, for your light has come, 11:05 and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 11:07 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, 11:09 and deep darkness the people. 11:11 But the Lord will arise over you, 11:13 and His glory will be seen upon you. 11:15 The Gentiles shall come to your light, 11:17 the kings to the brightness of your coming." 11:21 So again we see here a reference to the light 11:24 that the Gentiles come to. 11:26 So you can kind of get a well rounded picture here 11:30 of what God's intention was for calling Israel 11:33 out of darkness. Right. 11:35 He attended them for being a light that all people of all-- 11:40 over all the whole earth, all Gentiles would come 11:42 to that light and be saved. 11:44 That's true. That's the mission that He gave to Israel. 11:49 So now as Paul and Barnabas use this same language 11:53 is a quote from Isaiah in Acts 13:47, 11:56 you have a little bit of background there, 11:58 as to what they are saying, but listen to these words. 12:05 Acts 13:47, let's start, actually it's-let's start 12:11 with verse 46 that's the key here. All right. 12:15 Or 45, 45 lets back up even more, 12:18 when the Jews saw the multitudes, 12:21 that is the multitudes who are coming from Sabbath to Sabbath 12:23 John, to hear the Word of God, when they were saw 12:26 the multitudes they were filled with envy, 12:30 and contradicting and blaspheming they appose 12:33 the thing spoken by Paul, then Paul and Barnabas grew bold 12:37 and said it was necessary that the Word of God 12:40 should be spoken to you first. 12:43 Now, why is that? 12:45 Why would the Word of God have to go to the Jews 12:48 and the Jewish leaders first? 12:50 Because they were like candles in the midst of darkness, 12:53 the nations that surrounded them. 12:54 They, if they got it then the mission then the God had 12:58 for them could go to the rest of the world. That's right. 13:00 To accomplish that, but then look at these words, 13:03 very sobering, "But since you have rejected it 13:06 and judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life behold 13:10 we turn to the Gentiles, for so the Lord has commanded us, 13:15 'I have set you a light as a light to the Gentiles, 13:17 that you should be for salvation to the end of the earth." 13:20 I like verse 48, it says "When the Gentiles heard this, 13:22 they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord 13:26 and as many as had been appointed 13:28 to eternal life believed." 13:30 Awesome. Yeah. 13:31 Now, look at this, this is an amazing thing. 13:34 Paul and Barnabas, what they are saying here 13:36 is that God is desperate, has been desperate 13:39 to fulfill His purpose through you, 13:43 the Jews as a people, my people Israel as a nation 13:47 but you rejected it. 13:49 In fact when I sent prophets to you to get you to remember 13:52 your mission, you stoned them, you killed them 13:55 you wanted to have nothing to do with what my purpose was, 13:58 my design was for you as the people. That's right. 14:01 That they became so sectarian exclusive that the Samaritans 14:05 which worshiped as they did in many respects, 14:08 they believe were completely unclean, 14:10 don't go near them, don't associate with them 14:13 and God designed that they wouldn't ever 14:15 treat anybody like that. 14:17 As matter of fact the woman that came to Jesus 14:19 when she was at the well, when Jesus is at the well, 14:22 Jesus sent His disciples away knowing 14:24 that they would prejudice against her, 14:26 because she was a Samaritan woman. 14:28 Exactly, He wouldn't have had a chance to reach her. Right. 14:31 Because they would have interfered 14:32 or run into offense and yeah. 14:34 And there was an occasion when a Samaritan woman 14:36 did come to Jesus and He said to them, 14:38 it's not good that I will give the children's food to dogs 14:42 and she said, and they recognized that 14:44 and that's why even in the New Testament 14:47 just before the Lord, the Lord sent Peter to Cornelius house. 14:54 He gave him a vision 14:55 of all these unclean animals. That's right. 14:57 And said you should not call 14:59 any man common or unclean. That's right. 15:01 See, so that was-- that was truly, 15:03 that was the hindrance of the Jews 15:07 carrying the gospel to the world, 15:08 so the Lord says, since you won't do it, 15:11 we will raise up another group of people that will do it. 15:15 And so, John, what's beautiful about this whole thing, 15:17 is why the Lord and I know you didn't finish the question yet. 15:20 Why the Lord loves us we can't boast in our nationality 15:25 or our nation of origin. 15:28 We have to look at our nation of destiny, 15:31 you see from one blood came 15:32 all nations of men. That's right. 15:34 So, God chose them not because they were more and great. 15:37 Anyway I don't want to go too far but. 15:39 And over and over again too, just to finish your point too, 15:42 Paul as he spread the gospel and as the church began to grow, 15:46 it was made up above Jews and Gentiles. 15:47 It wasn't just the Gentiles. 15:49 The Jews that believed in Christ were saved as the Gentiles 15:53 who didn't know about Christ or even know about Judaism 15:57 and its teachings at all, both made up comprised the church. 16:01 And that even Greeks. 16:02 That's right. That's right. 16:04 And so here now, I'm going to read another verse 16:06 that Paul and Barnabas seems to be alluding 16:08 to words of Christ Himself from Matthew 23:37. 16:15 This is Jesus as He looks upon Jerusalem, 16:18 He is looking upon the temple, the beautiful city 16:22 and you know it just looks in fact the pride of Jerusalem, 16:26 in fact the pride I think of the disciples at that time, 16:29 John, was so great. 16:31 Here it is, Jesus is about to become king, 16:33 or about to conquer the Romans and were about 16:36 to set up our kingdom on earth, to be like no other kingdom. 16:39 Instead they see Jesus beginning to weep. 16:43 He is upset, He is crying, 16:44 He is torn inside, His heart is torn 16:48 because of the fact that the people are about to 16:50 reject Him and here is the words 16:51 that we find from Jesus' own lips. 16:54 Verse 37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 16:58 the one that kills the prophets 17:00 and stones those who are sent to her, 17:03 how often I wanted to gather your children together, 17:05 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 17:08 but you were not willing." Not willing. 17:12 See in other words, see this is what happens, 17:15 "your house is left to you desolate." 17:19 You know, John you had a back in Fairfield days. 17:22 I still remember, you know, there is few sermons 17:25 that you preached but I still remember this one sermons 17:28 and it's very appropriate here. 17:30 Your sermons was a very short title to the point if. 17:35 Okay, that's right. 17:36 You remember it, I'm sure. That's right, that's right. 17:39 If over and over again we see in the scriptures 17:41 if, if, if God laid before, Deuteronomy, 17:46 laid before the people, blessings and curses, 17:50 it was their choice. 17:51 If they choose the blessings, if they obeyed, 17:54 they receive the blessings, 17:55 if they disobey they receive the curses. 17:57 You are turning the light on my head right now. 17:59 And if we see over and over and over again, 18:04 it is bad theology to believe that one that remains 18:09 completely disobedient to God is still called a child of God 18:14 and will be in the kingdom. Right. 18:16 Or that God somehow must save them 18:19 because He need a covenant with them. 18:21 Even the covenant itself has an if. 18:25 These are conditional covenant, they are meant for people 18:28 who are obedient to God 18:30 and to assert that God will save a people 18:35 who have rejected Him and still reject Him 18:38 is just not good Biblical theology. Right. 18:43 And so, now I turn you loose 18:44 because your lights you said your ears went on. 18:46 Yeah, my ears are going off. 18:49 Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, let us reason together, 18:54 says the Lord though your sins are like scarlet, 18:57 they shall be as white as snow, 18:59 though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 19:03 Here is one. 19:04 Isaiah 1:19 "If you are willing and obedient, 19:08 you shall eat the good of the land 19:10 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured 19:14 by the sword for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 19:19 That's one of the ifs right there and it's not conditional, 19:22 it is, the only condition there is if you are willing, 19:25 here is the blessing, but if you refuse here is the consequence. 19:29 And when you go, I mean we all know that 1 Chronicles 7:14 19:32 "If my people, which are called by my name, 19:36 will humble themselves, then I will hear from heaven, 19:39 and forgive their sins and heal their land." 19:41 The reason why and I say this right in the context 19:44 the reason why among the Jewish nation today, 19:47 who still reject Jesus, the reason why there is still 19:50 so much controversy is because they will not accept 19:55 the Messiah, they will not. 19:57 And in Daniel 9 the Lord had given them 70 weeks 490 years 20:03 that was their point of probation where it says 20:05 here is the final curtain, here is the last opportunity 20:08 here is my winding down appeal, 20:10 and he gave them seven things to do 20:12 within the period of 490 years. 20:14 And when Steven was stoned, the probation for the nation 20:18 as leaders was closed. 20:20 He says I'm going to somebody else and that's what Paul meant 20:23 when he wrote in the Book of Romans 9. 20:25 He wrote specifically about this nation 20:27 and notice what he said, Romans 9:6. 20:34 "But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect." 20:37 In other words the problem is not God's word. 20:40 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel. There you go. 20:45 He says going on, not all, nor are they all children 20:50 because they are seed of Abraham. 20:53 There is nothing to do race. 20:54 He says you think that because you are-- 20:56 and the woman at the well was the same one who said, 20:58 that she says, "Our father Abraham gave us this well." 21:03 And the Lord looked at her and said 21:06 okay, that's great, next what? 21:09 Does that mean that now I'll send you 21:11 a preeminence to salvation. 21:12 Or that this part is exclusively yours 21:14 because of your father Abraham. 21:16 He was leading her to conversion. 21:18 She was not even converted and she was boasting 21:20 about her father Abraham. 21:22 When she met Jesus that the conversion took place. 21:24 Right, over and over again when you see the word will, 21:28 But I'll do this, I'll do that, 21:30 the will is still based upon the if. 21:32 It's still based upon the if. 21:33 So, it may not be that I can do this, 21:35 but you know the statement is that I'll, 21:37 but I'll if you do this. Right. 21:40 And that's--that is the incredible blessing of 21:43 what we see that God is faithful but we are the ones 21:46 that aren't faithful, if we don't obey and follow the Lord. 21:51 And that's very true, that's why when you read 21:53 what Paul says, it even amplifies it even more, 21:56 that it has less to do with their nation of birth, 21:59 and more to do with their spiritual rebirth. 22:02 And their obedience to the faith. 22:03 And their obedience to the will of God in the faith. 22:06 Notice this and I'll reiterate this, 22:07 I want to read this one more time 22:08 because I want to make sure you got it. 22:11 Romans 9:6, "But it is not that the word of God 22:14 has taken no effect. 22:17 For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 22:21 nor are they all children 22:23 because they are the seed of Abraham, 22:26 but in Isaac your seed shall be called. 22:30 That is those who are the children of the flesh 22:35 these are not the children of God. 22:39 But the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 22:43 Oh, mass, you did that-- Did I opened it. 22:45 You said perfectly. 22:46 I mean it's not the children of the flesh, 22:50 descendants of the nation of Israel. Exactly. 22:53 It's the children of the faith, the seeding of faith in Christ. 22:57 That's right but even goes on further. 23:00 "For this is the word of promise, 23:03 at this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." 23:08 And the Lord goes through that and makes it very, very clear 23:10 and he notice, notice the comparison, I'm going to go. 23:13 When you get a chance read through the Book of Romans 9, 23:17 it just really breaks it down so clearly. 23:19 But let me go ahead and show you how he does the contrast 23:21 between the spiritual and the natural. 23:26 Notice what he goes on and says. 23:29 Verse 25, " As he also, As he says also in Hosea 23:34 I will call them my people who are not my people." 23:38 In other words you are not a Jew, 23:40 "But I'll call you my people, 23:42 and it shall come to pass in the place 23:44 where you were set to them you are my people 23:47 they would be called where they will be called 23:51 Sons of the living God." 23:53 Okay when you are not my people, 23:55 so the Lord is saying because you are not my people, 23:57 you will be called my people. 23:59 And here is the context of that. 24:00 Let me go further back little bit to Romans 2:28. 24:06 I'm turning there very quickly. Go with me to Romans 2. 24:09 This is very important issue John, 24:10 I am glad we're spending some time on this, 24:13 Romans 2:28, 29. 24:19 "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith part 24:23 from the deeds of the law." 24:25 And when you look at the context of this, 24:27 there was so much boasting among the rituals 24:29 that the Jews carried out, that they felt 24:31 that they were prominently favored among those 24:35 or above those who did not honor the rituals that they honored. 24:39 Noticed in verse 29, 24:41 "Or is he the God of the Jews only? 24:43 Is he not also. 24:45 Verse 29 of Romans 3, 24:47 Okay you said Romans 2 earlier. 24:48 Did I say Romans Chapter? Yeah I said Romans 2. 24:51 You meant to 28 and 29, as that goes with this issue. 24:54 Yeah, I'm gonna go back to that, because this is also, 24:57 "Or is he the God of the Jews only? 25:01 Is he not also the God of Gentiles? 25:02 Yes, of the Gentiles also." 25:05 All right and then Chapter 2, Chapter 2 okay. 25:10 Verse 28 and 29, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, 25:16 nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh 25:21 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly 25:24 and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, 25:27 and not in the letter whose praise 25:29 is not from men but from God. 25:31 So, you see clearly, I mean this is just amazing. 25:34 Not once does Paul say or you Jews are saved 25:37 in your own covenant with God, and the church has now save me, 25:40 in its own coming with God. 25:42 And I said this over and over again 25:43 there would have been no reason for the church to exist 25:48 if the nation of Israel had accepted Christ as their Messiah 25:53 and assured in righteousness setting up their standard 25:55 to be the light to the rest of the world. 25:57 There would have been no church as we know it today. 26:00 That would be right, there would have been no need of-- 26:01 They would have been the church. 26:03 Right, and the gospel the gospel that is going to the world 26:07 would have been going through them, through them. 26:09 But I'll be very frank today, 26:11 I mean I was raised in Brooklyn, New York 26:12 and am not and when I want to pause by saying here 26:15 is we are not saying that they are excluded. 26:18 We are talking about the system of their beliefs not the people. 26:22 Right, we are not saying 26:23 that Jews are excluded from salvation. 26:25 We are saying salvation is through Jesus Christ 26:28 who is not an exclusive Jesus. That's right. 26:31 That's why He says, he is not the God of the Jews only 26:33 but also of the Gentiles. 26:35 It is the message, is the calling up on 26:38 a person's life that makes them acceptable before God 26:41 those who accept that purpose 26:43 that God has outlined for them now puts them in the context 26:46 of a people that are carrying the gospel. 26:48 It's the gospel that matters and that's why 26:50 if you go here in Galatians 3, Galatians 3, 26:55 I want to just-I am glad we spent some time on this, 26:59 John, I appreciate it very much that you brought this up. 27:02 We could have easily ignored it 27:03 but it's very worthy of being talked about. 27:06 Look at Galatians 3:28-29. 27:16 Verse 28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 27:21 there is neither slave nor free, 27:23 there is neither male nor female, 27:25 for ye are all one in Christ. 27:29 And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed 27:34 and heirs according to promise." 27:36 See so he is saying here, it's all about your faith walk, 27:40 not about the nation that you were born in. 27:42 Let's talk about just to finish this, 27:44 because it look like we have time for one question. 27:46 Sure, go ahead. 27:47 But, just a kind of finish this up, 27:49 let's talk about the covenant for a second, 27:51 the everlasting covenant. 27:52 When ever you have a covenant, you have two parties to it. 27:56 You have the offerings the one presenting the covenant 28:00 and you have the acceptance. Right. 28:02 If you go back to our history even care wherever you go 28:06 whatever culture you are in, 28:08 there are two signatures on any covenant document. 28:12 The one that is presenting the covenant 28:14 who will do fulfill the promise and the one who was received 28:17 or accepted that their part of that deal. 28:21 Now we are not talking about being saved by works, 28:24 that's not what the covenant is even refereeing to. Right. 28:28 What we are saying is that is by-- 28:31 it is by grace through faith 28:33 that we are saved in Jesus Christ. 28:36 But then going forward our responsibility 28:39 then in that working or relationship with Christ 28:43 is to keep His covenant. 28:44 Over and over again, even Christ Himself said, 28:47 "Keep My commandments." 28:49 Walk in My ways. 28:51 And so it's no-- I think some of this, 28:56 some of the false theology that we have out there 28:58 that if God says it, He has to do it. 29:01 It has its roots in once saved always saved theology, John. 29:05 You know, it goes back to, well, once you accept 29:07 Christ as your Savior, 29:09 there is nothing you can do to loose your salvation. 29:11 There is nothing that you can do even disobey 29:14 that causes you to lose that salvation 29:17 because God promised it He has to, 29:19 his hands are tied, He must fulfill it. 29:22 I would suggest that the act of disobedience, 29:24 John, is the act of not accepting the covenant. 29:29 That's a very good point. That's a good way to put it. 29:31 You can believe in Christ but if you disobey 29:33 you are in action not accepting the covenant, 29:37 you've rejecting God's offering to you. 29:40 I believe that's what the Book of James is all about 29:42 when it says faith works together with its works. 29:45 You know its faith and works kind of hand in hand. 29:48 Yes, we're saved by graces, it's a free gift. 29:50 But our response to that is the works we do. 29:52 If we respond by disobedience, then there is no true faith, 29:57 there is no true salvation. 30:00 And that's one of the reasons why 30:01 when you go to the Book of Hebrews 30:02 it shows that watch this. 30:06 "This is the covenant that I'll make with you 30:11 after those days," says the Lord. 30:13 Again, reestablishing that everlasting covenant. 30:16 And He says, "I do away with the first 30:20 that I may establish the second." 30:22 Okay, am I opening the doors here? 30:24 One more door you opened there. 30:25 And that's in the Book of Hebrews 10, 30:28 "I do away with the first that I may establish the second." 30:30 Now, even if you continue in the Book of Romans 30:33 because Paul makes it so, so clear 30:35 that it's not a disannulling of the covenant 30:38 but the problem is with the people, 30:40 the covenant is not a problem. 30:42 So he says, let me go ahead 30:43 and make it very, very clear to you 30:44 what I need to do here. 30:46 He says, this is the covenant Hebrews 10:16. 30:52 "This is the covenant that I will make with them 30:54 after those days," says the Lord. 30:57 I will put my laws into their minds and in their hearts, 30:59 I will write them. 31:03 Then he adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds 31:05 I will remember no more." 31:08 And when he talks about law, 31:09 "I come into the volume of this book 31:11 to take away the first that I may establish the second." 31:13 He is simply talking about in the old covenant 31:17 you had to be circumcised 31:19 and be of the natural Jewish nation, 31:23 in order to participate in the temple services. 31:26 That's why 1 Corinthians 7:19, he says 31:30 "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, 31:33 but the keeping 31:34 of the commandments of God is what matters" 31:36 I'm reading from the New King James Version 31:38 in that context. 31:39 So, he is saying, get this. 31:41 Everything that was established in the covenant, 31:44 you forget there is a better covenant coming. 31:46 Read Romans 8 about the better covenant. 31:49 Well, and that's the point that jumped to my mind 31:52 is that the new covenant is with the house of... 31:58 Spiritual Israel. Israel, exactly. 32:01 So if you are living under the new covenant 32:05 then Hebrews 8:8 says that "The new covenant 32:09 is with the house of Israel in the house of Judah." 32:13 So, the church is Israel. 32:15 That's right, very clearly, very clearly. 32:17 And Israel is a nation or not the conduit 32:21 through which then the salvation is going, 32:23 the salvation gospel of Christ is going to all the world. 32:28 As a mater of fact he says, if the first covenant was fine 32:32 would there had been any room sort for a second one. 32:37 No, not at all. 32:38 The issue came down with those 32:40 who had rejected this, this offering. 32:42 I like the word you used, disagreement. 32:45 I had to continue the process of salvation, 32:48 so I had to choose those 32:49 who will accept the conditions of this covenant 32:52 and carry and extend it to the world. 32:54 And as a matter of fact my last text, okay. 32:57 Let's go to Isaiah 24, and we will see the reason why, 33:03 well, it is such a topic this is a topic, 33:05 this is a program all by itself 33:06 if you really think about it, John. 33:08 The reason why this is so important 33:12 is because, here it is. 33:17 Okay, Isaiah 24:5 and 6, 33:25 "The earth also is defiled under its inhabitants." 33:29 Now notice, I want you to stop here a moment. 33:31 As the Lord gives us covenant He continues to expand it, 33:33 He continue to extend it, 33:34 He is extending it beyond just the nation of Israel. 33:37 Notice to whom He is extending it 33:39 and He shows the condition 33:40 and why the things that exist today are the way they are. 33:43 "The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, 33:46 because of it's inhabitants, 33:47 because they have transgressed the laws, 33:50 changed the ordinance and broken," The what? 33:53 Everlasting. "Everlasting covenant." 33:56 So the covenant that was made has not been nullified 34:02 or changed simply through Isaac's seed. 34:06 All the nations of the earth would be blessed 34:08 but who is the seed? 34:10 Galatians 3:19 says that the seed is Christ. 34:14 The seed is not the nation of Israel. 34:17 That's right. Anyway- 34:19 Well, we covered a lot of different aspects 34:21 but I wanted to do that because I know so many, 34:23 there are lot of different ideas about the subject out there. 34:28 So this is grafting and this revelation aspect 34:30 where people are preaching, 34:31 well, soon the Jews are going to accept Jesus 34:33 and then they are going to evangelize the world 34:35 and the antichrist is going to set up 34:36 His kingdom in the middle of 70 years 34:38 and then there is going to be a single man 34:41 coming from somewhere in Europe. 34:48 I can't respond in any other way just it exacerbates me, 34:53 to see that the stuff that's been taught, 34:57 which is completely contrary to establish truth-- 35:00 Now, you can pick and choose 35:02 some scriptures to make it fit your scenario. 35:04 Anybody can do that but when you fit it to that scenario, 35:09 you have to ignore a hundred other scriptures 35:12 that clearly appose it and that's the issue we have. 35:16 It's not that people out there teaching this thing 35:18 don't quote some scripture, they do. Yeah. 35:21 They misquote it, take it out of context 35:22 and ignore a plethora of other scriptures 35:25 that tell just the opposite. Right. 35:27 That's the problem we have with lot of the teachers 35:30 out there today pedaling God's word. 35:34 And you look at there, John, you think, okay, 35:37 who got rejected here when it came to the rejection of Christ? 35:43 The leaders were the ones that Jesus rejected 35:47 the leaders, notice, not the people. 35:52 The leaders were the ones that rejected Jesus. 35:56 You can go through the names, 35:58 the Sanhedrims those were the high priests, 36:02 they all led the people into darker, darker deceptions, 36:04 that's why even when the Roman guards came back 36:08 and said, He is not there. 36:12 They gave them blood money as it where 36:14 and say, take this money and tell this lie 36:20 that his body was taken 36:23 and buried somewhere else by His disciples 36:25 and it says in the book of Matthew I think Chapter 27 36:30 and that story is reported until this day, 36:33 so whenever you read it 36:35 until this day that story is reported 36:37 that the disciples had something to do with the great cover up. 36:39 Anyway, thank you so much 36:41 for your questions and comments, friends. 36:42 We took a little bit time on a topic 36:43 that was of utmost importance. 36:45 If you still have any views that you like to express about 36:47 something that you like us to make clearer 36:50 or you like to contribute to what we just talked about, 36:52 send your questions and comments to housecalls@3abn.org, 36:56 that's housecalls@3abn.org. 36:59 And we really appreciate all that you do. 37:01 Now we are going to talk about the end of sin, 37:03 And I think we have enough time to talk about the end of sin. 37:06 Yeah, the very last part of-- I'm so glad-- 37:08 Yes, absolutely hell and lake of fire we left that-- 37:12 Hell is actually a lake of fire 37:14 that's kindled from heaven above to the earth 37:18 and in the last comment that we had made there was 37:22 how Revelation 21:1 actually fits with Revelation 20 37:27 and here is where we pick, 37:29 we are going to pick up here today, 37:31 Revelation 20: 15, "And if anyone not found written 37:37 in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 37:40 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 37:43 for the first heaven 37:44 and the first earth had passed away. 37:46 Also there was no more sea." 37:48 You see the reference there, the implication 37:50 as he transitions from one thought to the next 37:55 is that the lake of fire did its cleansing, 37:58 purifying work on the earth. 38:00 So much so, John, that it became new. 38:05 Praise God for that. It became new. 38:08 In fact there has been a lot of discussion on creation lately. 38:13 Yes, it has been. 38:15 It's really seem to come to the forefront 38:17 which I think is a great thing, 38:18 it's good to have these discussions 38:20 and talk about what we believe about creation. 38:23 But, there is one thing that none of us can ever say 38:25 is that we have a first hand account of what happened, 38:29 okay, because we weren't there. Right. 38:31 We can only read scripture but in the future you and I 38:36 and the rest of those who put their faith in trusting God 38:38 will have a first hand account of recreation. 38:44 That's right, we will see it. 38:45 That fire will cleanse the earth, 38:47 make it you know, that purifying it from sin 38:52 and then God will go forth to make a new heavens atmosphere, 38:56 birds, sky, firmament and a new earth, 39:01 animals, tress, things will see it right in front of our eyes. 39:05 It wouldn't surprise me, I can't prove this scripture, 39:07 we always talk about when it's our opinion. 39:08 It's my opinion. 39:10 I wouldn't be surprised if it took six days, 39:15 if God took six days possibly to create the new earth. 39:20 No, that's not my opinion, I mean it's just my opinion, 39:22 it's not biblical, I can't find it anywhere 39:25 but it seems like, it will be just like God 39:28 to take time to recreate the earth again 39:30 and establish His Sabbath again on the seventh day 39:33 where then we are assured into that new earth to live forever. 39:38 You know its so wonderful that's going to make it new, John, 39:40 and I want to address a couple of passages here 39:42 that sometimes people say, 39:44 you noticed, they haven't read that verse, 39:46 you noticed, there intentionally ignoring it, 39:49 or you know friends, the reason I say it that way is 39:53 because I met a gentleman once, 39:54 I'm not going to say where and he cornered me. 39:59 We know him very well, have good friendship 40:01 but he said, "You know, I always hear 40:03 when you guys read Revelation 20 40:06 and you always stop right before that verse, 40:09 and I said, "What verse?" 40:10 He said this verse, and he said, 40:12 "Why do you guys stop before that verse?" 40:14 "Do you want us to ignore it? 40:17 Do you not believe what it says 40:19 because it seem to say something 40:21 contrary to the verse before that, 40:23 so I want you to clarify because these two verses 40:26 seem to almost be in contradiction with each other." 40:29 Revelation 20:9-10. 40:33 People put those in controversy with each other 40:35 but we are going to clear that up and see 40:37 and help you see that there is no controversy 40:41 between verse 9 and verse 10. 40:42 Notice verse 9 of Revelation 20 40:46 "Then they went up on the breadth of the earth 40:48 and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. 40:52 And fire came down from God 40:55 out of heaven and devoured them." 40:58 The word devoured there 41:00 is another word for the word consumed them, 41:04 or you want to keep going further, annihilated. 41:07 And when you look at the Bible writers 41:09 each of them does his part to give us an amplification 41:15 of what happens here but some people say, 41:17 well, if they were devoured then why include a verse 10. 41:20 Let's go and look at verse 10. 41:23 Let's start with the first character there. 41:24 "And the devil who deceived them 41:27 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, 41:30 where the beast and the false prophet are, 41:33 and they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." 41:37 And so you see here and let's go to verse 14, 41:40 "Then death and Hades was cast 41:41 into the lake of fire or death and hell, 41:43 this is the second death". 41:45 Now let's look at the process. 41:47 First of all those who surround the city 41:52 fire comes down from heaven and devours them, 41:55 then the devil, the beast and the false prophets 41:58 are cast into the same fire, 42:00 in other words they are now inflicted by this fire 42:03 and the results are their torment is obviously longer 42:07 because they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 42:10 But notice something else. 42:11 It says now finally after all that is done, 42:14 then death itself and hell it's in itself 42:18 is going to experience the second death. 42:20 So even hell, even the grave, 42:23 even death itself is going to be destroyed 42:26 and to verify that 1 Corinthians 55, Paul says, 42:32 "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 42:36 So even death itself is going to die. 42:38 Even that death itself is going to be destroyed 42:40 but it's not going to be destroyed 42:42 before it is accomplished 42:45 the wiping out of all sin and all sinners for ever. 42:50 Now, I want to go all way to the ultimate nemesis, 42:53 I'm going to use that word here. 42:55 Go with me to Ezekiel 28, Ezekiel 28. 42:59 And here is the question I'm going to pose 43:01 because lot of people tend to forget 43:03 this guy is included in the picture here, John. 43:06 And they always say, 43:07 well, there are going to be people in the lake of fire 43:09 burning for ever and ever and being tormented and tortured 43:12 and it's going to be screams going up 43:15 for ever and ever and ever and ever. 43:17 And there is going to be gnashing of teeth 43:18 and we are using all this biblical language, 43:21 but what we are saying is it's going to come to an end 43:23 assuredly as the person I'm going to point out 43:26 is going to come to an end. 43:28 Read for us and read this slowly. 43:32 Verses 17 down to verse 19 in Ezekiel 28, all right. 43:39 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty, 43:43 You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. 43:47 I cast you to the ground I led you before kings, 43:50 that they might gaze at you. 43:52 You defiled your sanctuaries 43:53 by the multitude of your iniquities, 43:56 by the iniquity of your trading, 43:58 therefore I brought fire from your midst, it devoured you, 44:03 and I turned you to ashes upon the earth 44:07 in the sight of all who saw you." Keep going. 44:09 "All who knew you 44:11 among the peoples are astonished at you, 44:14 You have become a horror, and shall be no more forever." 44:19 Okay, okay. Now who is that referring to. 44:23 If you go back to verse 14 you will see clearly, 44:27 he is talking about Lucifer. 44:29 You were the anointed cherub of that covet. 44:31 You were on in the garden of God. 44:33 You were perfect in all your ways 44:35 in the day that I created you until iniquity was found in you. 44:38 See, God is talking about the ultimate end of Satan 44:41 once known as Lucifer. 44:44 Isaiah 14 says "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, 44:46 son of the morning you who weaken the nations." 44:49 So the reason why the earth is in the condition of sin 44:51 is because Satan weakened the nations, 44:53 however that weakening of the nations 44:55 is going to come to an end when Satan comes to an end. 44:58 And the Bible says how is he going to come to an end, 45:00 the fire that's going to come forth from the midst of him 45:02 is going to devour him and not only that 45:05 he is going to become ashes up on the earth 45:09 in the sight of all those who saw him 45:11 and then it says, because he has become a horror, 45:14 he shall be no more for ever. 45:17 So, here is my point as death is going to come to an end 45:21 and sin is going to come to an end, 45:23 Satan is going to come to an end, 45:24 we have our reference to that, 45:26 so also sinners are not going to be burning 45:28 for ever and ever and ever and ever. 45:30 So when you read the references in Revelation 45:32 about for ever and ever tormented day and night. 45:35 Yes, when the world is on fire 45:38 and multiple millions maybe the billions of the ages 45:41 because remember now, John, this is the second resurrection. 45:45 If you go back from-- and I'm just using this loosely, 45:48 I don't know what the outcome is. 45:49 But if you go back to the days of Cain and Abel. 45:53 Sinners that did not accept the cavern of salvation 45:56 from then and all the way to the very end of time 45:59 and we could say multiple billions 46:02 when the fires of heaven are caste to the earth, 46:06 it's going to be a massive huge conflagration. 46:09 I can even use the word fire that sounds too small, 46:12 it's going to be an all out unquenchable fire 46:15 that's going to purify and cleanse the earth 46:17 of sin and sinners for ever. 46:20 And this is another point that we have to make here, 46:21 we've to emphasize this. 46:23 The fire is on the earth. There you go. 46:27 The fire is not in a place beneath the earth. 46:30 The fire isn't in some other place 46:32 because it's got a dual purpose, 46:35 it not only destroys the wicked we just read that. 46:38 But it cleanses the earth from all semblance of sin 46:42 and obviously it destroys forever death itself in grave 46:47 and the grave hades. Very clear. 46:49 So, if the fire is on the earth and we as God's people 46:55 live from that point on a new earth, new created, 47:00 how can anyone teach 47:02 that the fire continues on for ever and ever. 47:06 You would be living in your new house on a beautiful hill 47:10 and are you are saying that right next to you 47:12 a fire is burning with people going, 47:16 I mean that's not heaven, 47:18 I mean that's not a beautiful glorious new earth. 47:22 Where only righteousness dwells. Right, get this point. 47:27 The fire it comes from heaven on to the earth 47:30 to cleanse the earth and it destroy sinners. 47:32 It can't burn for ever 47:33 because God is doing something else on the earth 47:35 after it quench or not quench after it's done its work. 47:38 That's right. 47:40 When you see the terms unquenchable fire 47:43 or the fire lasts for ever 47:45 it's speaking of the thoroughness of its work. 47:48 That's right. 47:49 The unquenchable is you cannot put it out, 47:52 it doesn't mean that it will not one day go out. 47:55 It will go out eventually, 47:58 when it finishes its work, when it says for ever. 48:01 One thing that, you know, we read these English words, John, 48:04 and we don't understand what's associated with them. 48:08 When you read terms like for ever, 48:10 it's a description of something or some one, 48:14 it tied to it is an element of what that thing presents. 48:20 In other words, when he is talking 48:22 about something immortal 48:24 for ever is as long as mortal lives. 48:28 If we are talking about something immortal like God 48:31 for ever is eternity because God is immortal. 48:37 So when it the fire destroys these people 48:39 when it says they will be tormented for ever 48:42 and ever day and night, it's saying 48:44 that they will be tormented continually 48:47 until the fire devours them as mortal beings 48:51 until the fire finishes devouring them, 48:55 they will be tormented. 48:56 And you know another example Jude, 48:59 you have the verse there in Jude may be 49:02 but it talks about Jude suffered. 49:05 You mean, Sodom and Gomorrah suffered- 49:07 Jude said, Sodom and Gomorrah suffered 49:09 the vengeance of the eternal fire. 49:14 Eternal as long as it lasted. 49:16 Because we know that Sodom and Gomorrah are not burning again. 49:18 No, they are not burning now. 49:19 So, anyway I just want to give you description 49:21 when you read those words, can understand 49:23 what's behind the English word, 49:25 that we were reading there is more to it. 49:27 And a couple of examples you find also 49:30 in the Book of Exodus 21:6 speaking of service, 49:34 "Then his master shall bring him unto the judges, 49:38 he shall also bring him to the door 49:40 or to the doorpost and his master 49:42 shall pierce his ear with an awl 49:46 and he shall serve him for ever." 49:49 Now, when it speaks about service 49:52 between the master and the slave, 49:54 he says he will serve him for ever. 49:56 Well, is he is still serving him today? 49:57 No, he severed him as long he lived. 49:59 There is another example, 50:01 and they spoke to him in 1 Kings 12:7, 50:03 "If you will be a servant to this people today, 50:06 and serve them and answer them 50:08 and speak good words to them, 50:10 then they will be your servants for ever." 50:14 Wow, I would dare say that the king 50:17 that was spoken of in 1 Kings 12:7 50:21 he is not being served still to this very day 50:23 but as long he lived. 50:25 And this is one thing, John, that is so often 50:27 left out of the equation is that, 50:32 this simple text that we have repeated 50:35 throughout the centuries. 50:37 Come on, are you ready, here we go. 50:39 "For God so loved the world 50:40 that He gave His only begotten Son, 50:42 that whoever believeth in Him should not perish, 50:46 but have everlasting life." 50:49 Two dichotomy, two opposite things. 50:54 And so, the question is, 50:55 do the wicked have everlasting life. 50:58 How could the wicked who do not have everlasting life, 51:02 the ability to live for ever. 51:04 How could they burn for ever, it is completely impossible. 51:08 God would have to keep them alive for ever 51:12 to bring them for ever. Right? 51:16 God would have to keep them alive for ever 51:17 to bring them for ever 51:18 that would make God a tormentor, a torturer. 51:21 Okay, so let's go and answer the next question. 51:22 God is not, so let's go and answer the next question 51:25 that we know it's out there. 51:27 We know that this has been a supposition. 51:30 People will say well it's their souls 51:32 that are burning for ever, not the bodies. 51:35 Well my friend you have to keep in mind, 51:38 a soul withering and crying out. 51:44 No, you don't burn an ethereal non entity 51:48 something without dimension and in minds of many people 51:52 in the neoplatonistic view of the soul 51:58 they believe that there is some separate entity 52:00 that leaves the body, so you can't even fit that 52:03 into the scenario because in order for them 52:05 to be weeping and gnashing of teeth has to be a body. 52:08 Not only that, Jesus himself said 52:12 that in that fire the soul would perish. 52:15 Ezekiel 18, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 52:19 But also, that he says that the God is able 52:21 to destroy both body and soul in hell. 52:25 Matthew 10:28, Matthew 10:28. 52:31 And so you clearly see what is meant by that, 52:34 what is meant by that is clearly. 52:38 How, how thorough the Bible is. 52:40 It says in Matthew 10:28. 52:41 "And do not fear those who kill the body 52:43 but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him 52:46 who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 52:50 And the Greek word there is Gehenna, the lake of fire. 52:54 That's right. So the soul would be destroyed there. 52:56 So, you define the soul as some ethereal thing sorry, 52:58 still going to be destroyed. 53:00 No matter what you define it as, it's going to be destroyed. 53:02 Okay, well, well, where do we go from here. 53:06 Let's go to the next one. Hit on a few things. 53:09 What's the next passage we would like to have 53:11 in reference to this? 53:13 Well, I think, I think one of the things 53:15 that we need to do is define here, 53:17 you touched on already. 53:19 The difference between those who receive eternal life 53:22 and those who receive punishment in hell, 53:24 because there is a couple other questions that exist there. 53:27 You know, we have said that if you are wicked 53:30 and you are tossed into the lake of fire, 53:32 you will be consumed, you will be no more for ever. 53:34 That's right. 53:35 But, the last question that hangs out there 53:38 is so then everybody gets destroyed in an instant, 53:41 I mean what's the justice in that? Okay. 53:44 Because I mean one of the things is. 53:48 So someone has been living 53:49 a pretty good life all their life, 53:51 they rejected Christ don't want anything to do with Him, 53:54 they don't believe in him 53:55 but they generally have treated people pretty well 53:57 next to some one who is a murderer. 54:00 Serial killer. 54:02 Yes, serial killer or even one 54:03 who has been a leader of killing millions as we know, 54:05 a Hitler or someone 54:07 and they are going to be poof and they are gone to, 54:09 that's not really what the Bible says. Exactly. 54:12 There will be a punishment in this and don't forget this, 54:16 we skipped over this verse and I want to quote it there. 54:20 Revelation 20:11 in the middle of this lake of fire description 54:26 we find these two verses which are very important. 54:30 "Then I saw a great white throne 54:35 and him who was seated on it, 54:37 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, 54:40 and there was found no place for them." 54:42 In other words there is no place for the wicked to go. 54:45 That's right. 54:46 "And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God." 54:50 That was the wicked that now had been raised, 54:53 "And books were opened and another book was open 54:58 which is the book of life 54:59 and the dead were judged according to their works." 55:02 Now notice the works are not recorded in the book of life, 55:04 only whether or not you are registered 55:06 as a citizen of heaven. Right. 55:08 The works are recorded in the books that were open, 55:11 the books that recorded their life experience 55:14 and it says by the things which were written in the books 55:17 they were judged. All right, now look at this. 55:21 "The sea gave up the dead who were in it, 55:23 Death and Hades delivered up the dead 55:25 who were in them, that is delivered them to judgment 55:28 and they were judged, each one according to his works." 55:32 The reason why we don't have to go through 55:33 that John is because we are judged 55:35 according to the works of Christ. Right. 55:38 Christ life has been substituted in place of our life. 55:41 Our works are bad stuff, our sins are not even seen, 55:45 they are not even brought into evidence. 55:47 Praise God for that. 55:48 We are equated because of what 55:50 Christ has done for us, 55:51 we've expected his life in our place. 55:54 But the wicked only have their works to stand on. 55:58 And they are finally judged according to their works. 56:00 And then it says that they were cast into the lake of fire. 56:04 So, the issue here is that there is a judgment 56:08 that determines their faith 56:11 and I think although not explicitly said here, 56:14 the indication is that they will receive a punishment 56:17 in accordance with the bad things they have done. 56:21 Like the severity of their punishment 56:22 will be determined by the severity of their sin. 56:24 The punishment fits the crime. 56:26 There you go, wonderfully said. 56:28 So Hitler will burn longer, 56:30 than some one who is not a murderer 56:32 and someone who does heinous things like he did. 56:35 Like the guy that went to the Five and Dime store 56:37 and held it up and got shot in an ensuing battle 56:42 between the police, you know alive for a life. 56:45 But, his sin not being forgiven, 56:49 he will have face that in the judgment. 56:51 But, he would not face the same punishment 56:52 and no judicial system would do that. 56:55 Give the person the same punishment 56:56 and God is a just God 56:58 and the Bible says in Revelation 17. 57:00 "All your judgments are just, 57:02 everything you decided is right and righteous." 57:04 That's right, Amen. 57:06 So, friends you know this topic 57:07 that has come to us courtesy of God's word is a topic 57:12 that can give us the assurance and here is the assurance. 57:15 "Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, 57:18 to give to every man according to his work." 57:23 If you don't want to fear the judgment coming, 57:25 the only way to avoid that 57:27 is to have Jesus Christ as your advocate. 57:30 May God bless you and accept Him into your life today. |
Revised 2014-12-17