Participants: John Stanton, John Lomacang
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL110004
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00:01 Hello friends, grab your Bible
00:03 and a friend and sit back 00:04 as we explore God's word together 00:05 on this edition of House Calls. 00:22 Welcome to another House Calls program 00:24 as you see we are in the saddle 00:27 ready for a wonderful excursion 00:30 through the word of God. 00:31 And I'm so glad I don't take this journey by myself. 00:34 To my right is my good friend John Stanton. 00:36 Good to have you here John. 00:37 Good to be here again John. 00:38 I tell you, if there is anybody 00:40 that I loved to be in the saddle 00:41 and ride on this Christian journey 00:43 with through the word of God, amen, it's you. 00:46 We share a number of things not only the name, 00:48 but we share passion for the word of God. 00:49 And we thank that you also share that passion. 00:52 Thank you for tuning into House Call. 00:53 Let your friends know about this program. 00:55 We want to share 00:57 and let people all around the world 00:59 through internet, through radio, 01:01 even through our Facebook page 01:02 that there is a wonderful message 01:04 and God has it for them for this audience for this day 01:07 and thank you for joining us. 01:09 Before we do anything that we always like to pray 01:11 and John would you have our opening prayer for us today? 01:14 Let's do that. 01:15 Father in heaven, we come before you once again, 01:18 seeking your wisdom, your knowledge, 01:19 your understanding, it comes from your hand Lord 01:22 and so we open our hearts to you right now. 01:25 We just pray that you would guide us through your word, 01:27 that you would bless us today 01:29 with your presence in Jesus name, amen. 01:31 Amen, thank you John. 01:34 Friends you know that your Bible questions 01:35 are so important to us, 01:36 I have a lot of questions here, 01:40 and I thank you for sending them in. 01:42 I have been designated as not designated, 01:44 but I've kind of taken this for myself 01:46 to sort it through 01:48 some of this very creative handwriting. 01:50 Some of you need to print, 01:53 because I'm having to go back to Egyptian hieroglyphics 01:56 in order to be able to understand what you say. 01:58 So try to make it legible, 02:00 I mean really and I appreciate what you send, 02:03 but try to write slowly 02:06 with a thought in mind that I'm gonna have to read this. 02:09 When you send us with the internet 02:10 it's so easy, 02:11 so we have internet as well as regular mail. 02:14 If you have any regular mail 02:15 send them to housecalls@3abn.org 02:19 or you can send them by physical mail 02:21 to our post address which is 3ABN, 02:23 once again, housecalls@3abn.org. 02:26 And we will download those and get your questions. 02:29 And hopefully by God's grace answer them 02:31 according to what will really lead you to Christ. 02:34 But you have a question for us today John, what is that? 02:36 I do, I'll start this off with... 02:38 it's kind of in dept question, 02:39 so I have to read it through here, 02:42 but it's from Patrick and he says, 02:45 that he was very pleased when on our program 02:47 we highlighted the non spiritualizing 02:50 literal aspects of the Bible such as the tree of life 02:53 being a natural tree. That's right. 02:56 This I'm always perplexed when in past programs 03:00 you continually choose to spiritualize the scripture. 03:03 So, he says we do some of one and some of the other. 03:07 In Revelation 20 versus 1 through 3, 03:09 this describes an angel descending from heaven, 03:12 having the key to a literal place 03:13 called the bottomless pit 03:15 and having a great literal chain in his hands. 03:19 The angel is hold of Satan and binds him 03:21 with a chain casting him into the bottomless pit 03:24 for a period of 1000 years. 03:26 Your doctrinal teaching on this subject 03:28 is that the earth is a barren wilderness, 03:31 devoid of all human and animal life 03:34 for 1000 years which is a millennium. 03:36 Consequently Satan has no human beings to tempt 03:40 and so this so called barren and empty earth 03:43 becomes his prison 03:44 and fits the description of a bottomless pit. 03:47 And I think, you know, he provides that enough, 03:49 so it's fairly well, right. 03:51 Although he doesn't agree with it, 03:53 because here we go, here is the last part. 03:55 The book of Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 1 through 4 03:58 speaks of the millennium reign of Christ 04:01 on the earth with his church. 04:04 After the flood, the Lord's word to Noah 04:07 in Genesis 8:22 that, While the earth remains, 04:10 Seedtime and harvest, and watering and heat, 04:15 summer and winter, and the day and night 04:17 shall never cease please explain? 04:20 So, lets first looked at Isaiah Chapter 2 04:23 verses 1 through 4, okay. 04:25 To see what it says, 04:27 it's also repeated in Micah almost word for word, okay. 04:30 So we find this prophecy twice. 04:34 I'm in Isaiah 2, okay, 04:36 you want to go to Micah? 04:37 Oh you are in Isaiah, alright. 04:38 Well, Micah says exact same thing, okay. 04:40 So, let's just read here from Isaiah Chapter 2. All right. 04:46 It says, "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz 04:49 saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 04:52 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days, 04:55 That the mountain of the Lord's house 04:56 shall be established on the top of the mountains, 04:59 And shall be exalted above the hills 05:02 And all nations shall flow to it. 05:04 Many people shall come and say, 05:06 "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, 05:09 To the house of the God of the God of Jacob 05:12 He will teach us His ways, 05:13 And we shall walk in His paths." 05:15 For out of Zion shall go forth the law, 05:18 And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 05:21 He shall judge between the nations, 05:22 And rebuke many people 05:24 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, 05:26 And their spears into pruning hooks 05:28 Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 05:31 Neither shall they learn war anymore." 05:35 Well, a brief synopsis of this passage 05:37 what it strikes me as pertaining to John is that, 05:41 they will come to pass it's says in the latter days. 05:45 Latter days is a references it's pretty clear 05:47 over and over again in scripter. 05:49 The latter days is a time 05:51 just preceding the second coming of Jesus. 05:54 It's not after His appearance, 05:56 it is preceding the second coming, 05:57 so contextually already in this passage 06:00 we are not in the millennium. 06:02 No, we are not. 06:03 Because Jesus is not here, 06:05 and it says that many will come 06:08 to the mountain of the Lord 06:10 and shall learn how to walk in His ways. 06:13 And it also says that the law will be upheld 06:18 and the things that we are going, 06:19 that are going on in fact today 06:21 with the preaching of the gospels 06:23 specially the Three Angels messages 06:25 as Seventh-day Adventist have been preaching here 06:27 speaking of how the law of the Lord, 06:29 the commandments of God are important in these last days. 06:31 How people will come and understand that better, 06:34 and preparation for Christ return. 06:36 I see this as a fulfillment John, 06:39 more of what the day is that we are living today, right, 06:43 not the time to come. 06:45 And when it says that the end here 06:46 that nation will not lift up sword against nation. 06:49 Neither will they learn war anymore 06:50 speaking to the peace that happens after that. 06:52 That's right. 06:54 So, here the contextually 06:56 this cannot pertain to the millennium 06:58 because it happens in the latter days 07:00 prior to the coming of Christ, 07:02 His second coming. 07:03 So, that's our first indication there, 07:05 but I think really the heart of the issue here, 07:07 the statement that He is making 07:08 is in Revelation 20 1 through 3, 07:12 how that pertains to a little time of Satan 07:14 being bound while Christ is reigning on the earth. 07:18 So way in John here on this teaching, 07:21 because it's prevalent today, 07:23 the Christ 1000 years is reigned on the earth, 07:26 not in heaven. 07:27 Well, the problem with that is 07:29 there are only going to be four groups, 07:33 two categories, four groups, right. 07:37 Those four categories are going to be dead, 07:42 and still in the grave, 07:44 dead and not buried, 07:47 that's the category of the wicked. 07:50 The other category is going to be 07:51 was dead now resurrected, 07:54 we are gonna talk about that in the program 07:56 and never died and ascended together 07:59 with those who were dead. 08:01 That's the category of the righteous. 08:03 Now let's look at that again, 08:05 dead and not resurrected yet. 08:08 They are still in the grave, 08:09 the rest of the dead do not live again 08:11 until the 1000 years of finish, 08:12 Revelation 20 of verse 6. 08:15 So, where are they, 08:18 are they actively involve on the earth, no. 08:21 So, were they will be need to change Satan 08:24 from tempting them, no they are dead. 08:27 The next category 08:29 destroyed by the brightness of the coming of the Lord, 08:32 those who are alive when He came. 08:35 So, they are not dead and, in Jeremiah 4 says, 08:37 they will not be lamented, nor mourned, nor buried, 08:43 but they shall be like refuse on the ground. 08:46 So, this two categories, nobody is alive, 08:49 so what you have more than 08:50 anything else is like putting, is like putting. 08:57 Well, let me just put it, Satan who loves to tempt, 09:00 who loves to bring distraction, 09:02 his entire existence is from murder and mayhem 09:05 and but he has no one to tempt. 09:08 That's the chain of circumstances, 09:10 that is what's binding him. 09:13 And so when you say to somebody 09:15 like I've heard this said before 09:17 and this is not the perfect comparison, 09:19 but sometimes when it comes to choosing 09:22 the death sentence or life in prison, 09:26 some people say 09:27 it's better to give people life 09:28 without the possibility of parole, 09:30 and in some tremendously extreme cases 09:34 some of them get life without the possibility of parole 09:38 and they only get one hour a day 09:40 out of their cell, 09:42 that they inhabit by themselves 09:43 no contact with any other inmates. 09:47 So this is literally a sentence, 09:50 so to speak in hell. 09:52 They have nothing to do, 23 hours a day. 09:55 They come out one hour they get confine in this cage 09:58 like yard to get their exercise. 10:01 Then they put back and this solitary existence 10:05 for 23 hours again to repeat this day in and day out, 10:08 day in and day out. 10:09 And John it always amazes me 10:10 when they get like 20 life sentences, 10:11 but we know that they can never happen. 10:14 But, that's what gonna happen in during the 1000 years, 10:18 there is no one to tempt. 10:20 So Satan doesn't have to be bound 10:24 to keep him from being evil. 10:27 The situation calls for him to be in a confined 10:31 totally barren environment, nobody to be tempted. 10:35 And set aside where Satan is 10:37 for just a minute here, right. 10:38 Revelation 20 indicates that 10:41 when Jesus returns which is in 19. 10:45 Revelation 19 is about the second coming of Jesus. 10:47 We also read in the second coming of Jesus, 10:51 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 10:52 tell us that He came down to meet us in the air, 10:57 so that we can go live with Him, 10:58 not that He can live with us. 11:00 There is a place that he has prepared for us, 11:04 John 14, 1 through 3 11:06 that He is preparing even now in heaven, 11:07 so that we can go there to live with Him 11:10 for the 1000 years. 11:12 You know, John don't finish that thought, 11:13 but I wanna add to that, 11:15 I love the way you said that 11:16 He is not coming to live with us, 11:20 we are going to live with Him. 11:22 And that's what He says, 11:23 because that's what the Bible clearly says in John 14. 11:26 Exactly. Yeah, 11:27 and so He comes, He takes us to heaven 11:29 to live with Him in the place that He has prepared for us. 11:33 So Chapter 20 is just working out of that, 11:36 and so sitting aside where Satan is, 11:39 because I don't think that's the crux 11:40 really the issue here, right. 11:43 What we find is that when He is bound 11:47 it says clearly in verse 5, 11:50 that those who are dead do not live again 11:53 until the 1000 years are finished. 11:55 So the wicked are not alive 11:57 during the 1000 year millennium. That's right. 11:59 Regardless of where it is, 12:01 so, because textually here we don't read into it 12:04 where they are per say in just this text only, right. 12:08 But we do know they are not alive. 12:11 And then it says that just before that in verse 4 12:14 and it repeats it as well in verse 6 12:16 that the righteous live and reigned with Christ 12:19 for 1000 years. 12:21 Verse 6, shall reign with him for 1000 years, 12:25 clearly connection to John 14 and 1 Thessalonians 4 12:29 that Christ takes His saints to heaven 12:32 to the new Jerusalem to live with Him for the 1000 years 12:36 while the dead on the earth do not live again 12:40 until those 1000 years are finished. 12:41 Now if you notice in Chapter 21 12:44 that it says that John saw the holy city, 12:48 New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. 12:50 Remember Jesus prepared a place for us, 12:53 that's right, a new city. 12:54 That's why this city has to come down from where? 12:56 Out of heaven. Out of heaven. 12:58 This is after the second coming in Chapter 19. 13:03 That's right, and after the 1000 years. 13:04 And after the 1000 years, 13:06 so He comes, He takes His kingdom 13:09 and the saints with him, 13:11 with the city down out of heaven, 13:13 it lands on the earth 13:14 and that's where you find 13:16 Revelation 20 verses 7 through 10, 13:19 were the wicked are raised, 13:22 see the city now here and attack it. 13:25 And you have to understand Revelation is not written 13:29 also in linear sequential order here. 13:32 There is a little bit of a jumping around of things 13:34 but the only way to put it together 13:35 so it harmonizes is what we just described. That's right. 13:38 Which is why we've concluded 13:40 the 1000 years are not on earth, 13:42 because the wicked are dead 13:43 and is thrown out of the earth, 13:45 or in graves because they are already dead 13:47 before the second coming of Christ, 13:48 they've already died. 13:50 And the saints are in heaven in the New Jerusalem 13:53 which is there where Christ has prepared 13:55 a place for them. 13:57 And then after the 1000 years it comes down to the earth. 14:00 And you pointed it out so wonderfully, 14:02 and the Bible reiterates itself 14:03 and continues to build on the same platform. 14:05 There's not gonna be 14:07 any earthly activity going on here, 14:08 people planting and buying, this whole idea there is. 14:15 There are a number of categories, 14:16 let me just confuse you some and I will explain these. 14:19 There are people that believe the second coming of Christ 14:22 is gonna be in various ways. 14:24 They are post-tribulation premillennialists, 14:29 that's who we are. 14:30 We believe Jesus is coming after the tribulation 14:32 before the 1000 years, that's what that means. 14:35 But, then there are pre- tribulation premillennialist. 14:39 Those who believe that Jesus is gonna take His church 14:41 out of the earth before the tribulation 14:43 and before the millennium starts. 14:46 But, then those same people are pre-tribulation, 14:49 a millennialists, which mean 14:51 although He takes the church out of the earth 14:53 before the tribulation begins, 14:55 He is still gonna reign on earth. 14:57 And so you don't find 14:59 many post-tribulation, postmillennialist. 15:02 No body believes Jesus comes back 15:03 for the first time after 1000 years. 15:05 But the bottom line is when you look at the Bible, 15:07 it says very, very clearly and it reiterates, 15:10 I will read Jeremiah Chapter 4 verse 23, 15:12 down to verse 27 later you see clearly again, 15:15 that there is not gonna be anyone here. 15:18 Listen for Bible here, and this is also a same, 15:21 this is like a picture that you find 15:22 in Genesis before creation, 15:25 the same kind of context is used 15:27 but is similar to reversing what it already happened, 15:30 reversing the condition that was existing prior 15:33 to this void condition being established. 15:38 Jeremiah 4:23, I beheld the earth, 15:41 and indeed it was without form and void 15:43 And the heavens, they had no light. 15:46 I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled, 15:49 And all the hills moved back and forth. 15:52 I beheld, and indeed there was no man, 15:55 And all the birds of the heavens had fled. 15:59 I beheld, and indeed the fruitful 16:01 land was a wilderness, 16:04 And all its cities were broken down, how? 16:07 At the presence of the Lord by His fierce anger. 16:13 But, lets read verse 27 to see the end of this picture. 16:16 For thus says the Lord: 16:18 "The whole land shall be desolate 16:21 Yet, I will not make a full end, why? 16:25 Because the full end is gonna come 16:26 at the end of the 1000 years, 16:28 this is the condition 16:29 that prevails after the coming of Christ. 16:33 That's why when He comes back Revelation says, 16:36 men will be running to the rocks 16:37 and the mountain saying hide us 16:39 from the face of Him that's sits on the throne 16:41 and from the wrath of the lamb. 16:43 For the great day of His wrath is come, 16:44 and who shall be able to stand? 16:46 Unless you are covered by the blood of God 16:47 or by the seal of God, you will not be able to stand 16:49 during that terrible time. 16:51 So why does Satan need to be bound a 1000 years? 16:55 Well, now lets look at that 16:57 if that language is completely literal, 16:59 then there is a real big huge massive chain 17:02 he is gonna be handcuff too 17:04 and then there is pit with no bottom. 17:06 Well, there you go evidence once again, 17:09 that there is no bottomless pit. 17:10 The word there is abyss, or abusos, 17:13 meaning this place of voidness, 17:16 this place of emptiness 17:18 which is used here in Jeremiah 17:20 and used there in the book of Genesis. 17:23 Yeah, just one verse to add it there, 17:26 Isaiah 24, 21 and 22. 17:29 After speaking verse first of all 17:30 in verse 19 and 20 17:32 how the earth is violently broken, 17:33 split open, shaken exceedingly. 17:36 It says in verse 21, 17:37 "It shall come to pass in that day 17:38 that the Lord will punish 17:39 on high the host of exalted ones, 17:43 And on the earth the kings of the earth. 17:45 They will be gathered together, 17:47 As prisoners are gathered in the pit, 17:50 then we talk about the bottomless pit. 17:51 That's right. 17:53 And will be shut up in the prison 17:56 After many days they will be punished. 17:58 After many days how many days is that? 18:00 After 1000 years they will be punished. 18:03 So whether are not you want to refer to the pit 18:06 as just the desolate earth or refer to the pit 18:10 as a desolate earth 18:11 but emphasize the restrictive nature of it, 18:14 I don't have problem with. That's right. 18:16 Okay, but clearly the dead, the wicked are not alive, 18:22 the righteous are not here and Satan is. 18:26 That's right, Satan and his angels 18:28 bounds down on this horrible planet. 18:31 Thank you for that question, 18:32 this is the kind of thing we like, 18:34 because there are people probably, 18:36 well I shouldn't say probably 18:38 many people have that same question, 18:39 why bind to somebody? 18:42 If there is not some kind of his existing reasons. 18:46 Well he is bound, because there is no one to tempt. 18:50 Here is another question? 18:52 Is it truth that in the Old Testament 18:54 people were saved by keeping the law 18:55 while the New Testament salvation is by grace? 19:00 John, if I hear that 19:01 I think of God saving them in different ways, 19:05 and that is called dispensationalism 19:09 or dispense meaning 19:13 particular times sensationalism. 19:15 In this sense sensational, 19:18 I think I like that word in this context 19:20 because it's sensationalizing the grace of God. 19:23 We were never saved by keeping the law. 19:25 We were always saved by grace through faith, 19:31 never by keeping the law. 19:33 However what people use that often to do is to break away 19:38 our obedience from honoring God's law 19:41 saying that it doesn't need to be honored, 19:43 because we were saved by grace through faith. 19:45 Let me give you a couple of examples in the Bible 19:47 and the way let me also add another component to that. 19:50 Sometimes people also add to that category 19:54 that in the Old Testament, 19:56 it shows such evil diabolical nature of God, 20:01 He was cruel, wiped out nations 20:03 and destroyed women and men and children. 20:06 But in the New Testament He is such a loving Jesus, 20:09 He loves us all. 20:11 Well, I want you to remember that in the New Testament 20:13 that's what the seven last plagues, 20:15 the wrath of God is listed and in the Old Testament 20:18 you find passages such as I have loved you 20:20 with an everlasting love, 20:21 therefore with loving kindness 20:23 of I drawn you Jeremiah. 20:25 But let's go and address this thing about grace. 20:27 Go with me to Genesis Chapter 6, 20:29 the earliest reference of God's grace, 20:33 Genesis Chapter 6 and verse 8, all right. 20:37 Go there with me, 20:39 Genesis Chapter 6 and verse 8. Okay. 20:45 I can't see you turning. 20:49 You are very literal with that, please turn it, 20:51 come on go with me. 20:52 Come on turn with us, pick that Bible up. 20:54 Okay, give the text again. 20:55 Genesis Chapter 6 and verse 8, okay. 21:00 A couple of things you find here that often people think 21:02 is just New Testament Lot of people say, 21:04 oh the Holy Spirit wasn't prevalent 21:05 till the New Testament, 21:06 or you finding this very narrative, both. 21:09 That people apply only to the New Testament. 21:11 Look at Genesis Chapter 6. 21:13 First of all of verse 3, then we go to verse 8. 21:16 "And the Lord said, 21:17 "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, 21:22 for he is indeed flesh, 21:23 yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." 21:28 And the Bible says speaking of the condition of the earth 21:31 he was wicked terrible, 21:33 but God said I will destroy man but look at verse 8. 21:36 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 21:43 So you find the spirit of God, 21:45 striving with man, 21:46 and Noah finding grace in the side of God. 21:49 And grace is talked about in the book of Exodus, 21:52 it's in the book of Esther, Psalms, Proverbs, 21:58 and a number of books that follow that Isaiah, 22:01 Jeremiah, Zechariah. 22:04 The Old Testament is the book of grace, 22:06 the New Testament is a book of grace. 22:08 I would also add to that because though you are 22:10 on a progression of thought here, 22:12 but let me add to that. 22:13 That Paul says in Ephesians 2, 8 and 9, 22:18 that it's by grace through faith. 22:20 So grace is what God extents to us, 22:23 faith is by which is the way 22:25 by which we receive that grace, right. Very good. 22:28 Grace is always connecting to faith, 22:30 and if you look at Hebrews Chapter 11, 22:32 you find the definition of faith, 22:35 but then you see some names Abel, Enoch, Noah, 22:40 Abraham, and Sarah, 22:41 Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Rahab. 22:47 All these individuals John are mention 22:49 and in each one do you know 22:51 what the first two words are? 22:53 By faith, okay, by faith, 22:55 by faith, by faith over and over again. That's right. 22:59 By faith they clasp, 23:01 they extended their arm to experience the grace of God. 23:06 And that is in every single situation, 23:08 so these heroes of faith 23:11 which receive the grace of God 23:14 are all throughout the Old Testament. 23:16 So, you cannot say that's a error of 23:18 or dispensation of law 23:20 because it clearly was by grace through faith. 23:22 That's right, so the grace of God, 23:25 that bring us salvation, Paul I mean Timothy says, 23:29 let me read this to you. 23:31 Here it is, going all way down there, 23:33 I'm getting I'm almost there don't loose heart, okay. 23:38 Okay, here it is. 23:40 Running commentary on your search. 23:41 That's right, here it is, okay. 23:47 "For the grace of God 23:48 that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men". 23:54 The grace of God that brings 23:56 salvation has appeared to all men. 23:59 So, how many of us are saved by grace through faith? 24:05 John how many of us? All. 24:07 Titus 2, verse 11. 24:09 For the grace of God that brings 24:11 salvation has appeared to all men. 24:14 Everyone of us has been saved by grace, 24:17 from Noah all the way to those who live in the future, 24:22 will be saved by grace through faith. 24:24 But, Paul says do we make void the law through faith, 24:29 and then he answers God forbid, 24:32 we establish the law. 24:34 So, now grace is not a New Testament thing, 24:37 grace is a God thing and God is always gracious. 24:42 You know, the Old Testament writers expand that word, 24:44 they didn't just say grace, but is gracious, 24:47 you know, the word gracious means? 24:48 Full of grace, right, 24:50 you know, it's likes that taste good 24:52 all that taste so good is beyond good. 24:55 There are good things, but there is things 24:56 that are so much better than just a word good. 24:59 God, so loved the world, 25:01 His gracious long suffering, 25:04 full of abundance and mercy and truth. 25:08 He is an overflowing God, 25:11 His grace has appeared to all men, 25:13 he has so much of it. 25:14 One more question. 25:16 But, yeah, I've got a question 25:17 that may not be too long. 25:21 She, see who is it, Sockeye, kind of a neat name. 25:28 It says can you explain this verse, 25:30 in Luke 10, 41 and 42. Okay Luke 10. 25:34 And it talks about Martha and Mary 25:38 and which choices they made 25:40 when it comes to their life with Jesus. 25:44 And so let me read those too you here 25:45 Luke 10, 41 and 42. 25:48 This is a story about Jesus coming to Mary 25:51 and Martha's house, okay and Lazarus as well. 25:54 And He is going to have a dinner with them, 25:57 have a meal with them. 25:59 And anyway so let me back up a little bit 26:03 it says that, starting verse 38. 26:08 "Now it happened as they went 26:10 that He entered a certain village that is Jesus, 26:12 and a certain woman named Martha 26:13 welcomed Him into her house. 26:15 And she had a sister called Mary, 26:17 who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 26:20 But Mary was distracted with much serving, 26:23 and she approached Him and said, 26:25 "Lord, do You not care 26:26 that my sister has left me to serve alone? 26:29 Therefore tell her to help me." 26:31 And Jesus answered and said to her, 26:33 "Martha, Martha, 26:35 you are worried and troubled about many things. 26:38 But one thing is needed, 26:39 and Mary has chosen that good part, 26:42 which will not be taken away from her." 26:45 You know, this is a great 26:47 and we can do a whole sermon on this. 26:48 That's a beautiful sermon. 26:49 A sermon about today in the day and which we live, 26:53 where we are so busy. 26:55 We are so busy doing things 26:57 and I may be talking to preaching of the choir here, 26:59 because I told many of you are so extremely busy, 27:02 how do you find time for family, 27:06 for work and for spiritual strength. 27:11 And so what essentially is the principle here 27:13 that Jesus is trying to teach Martha 27:15 is that the first and foremost 27:17 responsibility of all of us, 27:18 if we want the healthy life 27:21 is to be spiritually healthy by spending time with Jesus. 27:26 Receiving from Him His words, 27:29 from His word praying at His feet. 27:31 By the way how do you ever get down 27:34 to Jesus feet you kneel? 27:35 There is prayer here too. 27:37 There is many things that Marry is doing that 27:40 she is putting first in her life 27:41 which is to hear the words of Jesus 27:43 at his feet to be taught by Him 27:45 that Martha was not doing. 27:46 She was busy 27:48 doing the hustle and bustle preparing the dinner. 27:50 Now it's not saying that Martha was doing bad things, 27:53 and I don't think any of us when we get busy, 27:55 we aren't necessarily doing bad things, 27:58 but Jesus is saying here 27:59 that even if you are going to be busy 28:01 throughout the day you need to spend time with me, 28:04 so that I can strengthen you, 28:05 I can give you peace throughout all the troubles 28:08 and the trials that you are gonna face everyday. 28:10 Mary had chosen that approach 28:12 Martha didn't and Jesus was simply clarifying to Martha. 28:16 Martha you need to spend more time with Me, 28:19 learning from Me 28:20 and then you are gonna have peace instead of anxiety. 28:23 You know, you just give me a sermon, 28:25 I won't tell you when I'm gonna preach it. 28:28 But that's beautiful, that's beautiful. 28:30 Number of years ago my good friend Doug Batchelor, 28:32 pastor Doug Batchelor wrote a book called "At Jesus Feet" 28:35 and it was about Mary, very, very good book. 28:39 You wanna really be thrilled by the impact of that text, 28:42 that's a very good book to get, ''At Jesus Feet'' 28:44 and we don't have that here at 3ABN, 28:46 but anyway I won't put a commercial out here, 28:50 but I think this is a very good book. 28:51 The best place to be sometimes 28:53 is at the feet of Jesus. 28:54 In this hustle and bustle world 28:57 some times you got to get out of the kitchen Martha 29:01 and get to the feet of Jesus and Mary. 29:04 Well, anyway thank you for your questions 29:06 and your comments. 29:07 Thank you for all the mail you send, 29:09 no matter how it comes we do appreciate it. 29:12 And you know, let me encourage you, 29:13 when you send your mail 29:15 sometimes includes some supportiveness, 29:17 some financial support for 3ABN 29:18 and its network, its radio, its television, 29:20 all the things that happen here, 29:22 we do appreciate it so much. 29:24 For we do believe in quality programming 29:26 and getting people ready for the coming of the Lord 29:28 and this program House Calls is committed to doing that 29:31 giving you what God's word has said. 29:33 If you have any questions and comments 29:35 you would like to send to us, send those questions 29:37 and comments to housecalls@3abn.org 29:40 once again that's housecalls@3abn.org. 29:44 And we really would look forward to hearing from you 29:47 as God impresses your heart to send questions. 29:49 You know what I've learned John, 29:50 I've learned is the word of God always has questions, 29:54 but the word of God always has answers, that's our book. 29:58 Let's take us now to the, 30:00 I think the later part 30:02 of this very important topic of death, 30:06 resurrection, to coming of the Lord, 30:09 the last day deceptions that are forming around us. 30:12 Yeah, we have tight in the end time deceptions, 30:15 the lies and things that Satan is bringing 30:17 upon this world with his speaking 30:22 through the spirit world, 30:23 to help to guide the movements of men 30:26 and to gather them to the battle 30:28 which is the battle of Armageddon 30:29 in these last days. 30:31 The battle is not physical as much as 30:32 it is truth versus error. 30:35 And we've talked about how the Bible is pretty clear, 30:39 very clear on what happens when you die that, 30:44 there is no soul apart from the body. 30:46 We define that very clearly in our second program 30:49 on this four program topic. 30:52 We talked about how when we do die, 30:55 that our dust returns to the earth 30:58 and our thoughts perish, the memory that we had, 31:01 the things we did do no longer 31:03 have any part of things that go on, 31:05 on to the sun on this earth. 31:07 And so it brings us today which is our last program 31:11 and we wanna tight into the resurrection 31:13 which is a lost subject 31:15 for the most part in Christianity. 31:18 We've so emphasized 31:19 that we get to heaven through death, which is not true. 31:24 We've so emphasized the rapture 31:27 that we do it to the exclusion of this huge 31:30 glorious event of the resurrection. 31:32 All those things Satan is trying to do 31:34 to take our minds away from 31:35 this grand event at that time, 31:38 where Jesus will call His saints forth from the grave. 31:42 And that we will meet them in the air. 31:43 We get to that verse in just a minute. 31:45 But let's start with this verse, 31:46 because which is gonna segue us from what happens 31:49 in the grave to then what happens at the resurrection. 31:52 That starts or that verse is found in Job Chapter 14, 31:57 Job 14 beginning with verse 10, 31:59 and I'm gonna read from 10 through 14. 32:02 And then John, you can provide some commentary here 32:05 Sure, great. 32:06 Verse 10, But man dies and is laid away 32:11 Indeed he breathes, 32:12 remember the breath of God that fills us, 32:14 that what gives us life, 32:16 he breaths his last and where is he? 32:20 Big question. Good question. 32:22 As water disappears from the sea, 32:24 And a river becomes parched and dries up, 32:27 So man lies down and does not rise. 32:31 He does not what? Does not rise. 32:33 Does not rise, there is a first allusion 32:35 to the allusion to the resurrection. 32:38 Till heavens, the heavens are no more, 32:40 They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. 32:45 "Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, 32:48 That You would conceal me until what? 32:51 Your wrath is past. Your wrath is past. 32:54 That You would appoint me a set time, 32:58 and remember me. 32:59 Another allusion to the resurrection, 33:01 a set time to be remembered. 33:03 Verse14, If a man dies, shall he live again? 33:08 All the days of my hard service I will do what? 33:12 Wait, wait for what? He will wait till his change, 33:16 he says till my change comes. 33:20 This passage John is full of imagery, 33:24 of truth of wonderful things pointing to the resurrection 33:29 and we can't miss the various pieces of it, 33:32 takes us through this because the resurrection 33:34 is throughout this passage, 33:36 this few, you know, five verses that we just read. 33:39 Job is referring to a set time 33:42 where he will be remembered 33:43 and he will rise again from his sleep 33:45 and that he will be changed. 33:47 It starts with the funeral scene 33:49 right there in verse 10. 33:50 But man dies and is laid away. 33:52 Laid way is clearly the terminology used 33:55 throughout the Old Testament 33:57 where David died and was buried with his father's 34:00 and buried with his and you put that phrase in 34:02 buried with his father's, buried with his father's. 34:04 You will see clearly 34:05 that not only where there many fathers 34:07 in the Old Testament, but every time a person died 34:09 they had a funeral, that's exactly what that means, 34:12 they had a funeral, we still have funerals. 34:14 Man died and he is laid away. 34:16 When does he get laid away? 34:18 Indeed he breaths his last breath 34:21 and this is so vitally important. 34:23 And the question is where is He? 34:25 Instead of saying he is in heaven, 34:27 let the Bible answer that question where is he? 34:29 As water disappears from the sea 34:31 and the river becomes parched and dries up, 34:34 So man lies down and does not rise 34:36 till the heavens are no more, 34:37 They will not awake nor be roused from their sleep. 34:41 In one of our prior programs we've talked about Samuel. 34:47 Being conjured of this evil spirit, 34:49 conjuring up something that look like Samuel, 34:52 a familiar spirit. 34:53 But the Bible says they will not awake, 34:55 they will not be roused, 34:57 that means you have to wake somebody, 34:59 that's what rousing means getup, getup, getup. 35:03 You can't wake up a dead person. 35:04 Only the Lord can do that, right. 35:06 That's why the phrase you find over and over 35:08 and over again. 35:09 And this is another phrase in the Old Testament, 35:12 not only were they buried with their father's, 35:13 but they slept with their father's, 35:15 slept with their father's, slept with their father's. 35:17 This is not talking about 35:18 any kind of unusual physical activity. 35:20 This is talking about simply 35:22 the condition of death is sleep. 35:24 Not soul sleep, but sleep period. 35:29 And peoples either would, do you mean soul sleep. 35:31 They are trying to get you to admit 35:33 that the soul does not sleep. 35:34 Oh the soul does die, Ezekiel 18 verse 4. 35:37 But here is the other thing, he says in verse 13, 35:40 well I wanna add something here in verse 13, 35:43 You would appoint me a set time, 35:47 where is that, okay yeah verse 13. 35:48 Oh, that You would hide me in the grave. 35:51 Job 16 verse 22 look at that very quickly. 35:55 Okay, "For when a few years are finished, 35:59 I shall go the way of no return." 36:04 Okay, no return, the grave, 36:06 I've never gone to a funeral 36:08 where we bring the body back home afterwards. 36:11 And if you ever had an experience 36:13 of that person being home is not what God. 36:16 Job 17 verse 1, here is another one. 36:21 "My spirit is broken, My days are extinguished, 36:25 The grave is ready for me." 36:28 See he is there, I know where I'm going, 36:30 I'm going to the grave 36:32 and he also talks about this later on 36:33 in the book of Job he says, His sons come to honor him, 36:37 and he knows it not They are brought low, 36:39 and he does not perceive it. 36:41 All these things had happened after a person dies 36:45 is something else and it also says 36:48 they will not return to their house. 36:51 So there is no activity going on after this, 36:53 but here is the point I want to remember 36:54 before I throw it back into your lap, John. 36:56 This is something that, 36:57 there is something that exists in this verse 36:59 that will help clear up two misconceptions right away. 37:04 I'm back to verse 13 the latter part. 37:07 You would appoint me a set time and remember me! 37:11 Now in the story here the word remember 37:14 clearly takes us 37:15 to the illusion of the conversation 37:17 it had between Jesus and the thief on the cross. 37:20 The thief on the cross 37:22 knowing his life was ebbing away. 37:25 He said to the Lord in Luke Chapter 23 verse 42. 37:32 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, 37:33 remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 37:36 He didn't say remember me when You go to heaven. 37:40 He said remember me when You come. 37:42 Jesus comes to receive His kingdom 37:44 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 verse 20 to 22. 37:47 He comes to receive His kingdom, 37:49 who is His kingdom? Not a building, 37:52 we are the kingdom of God. 37:54 He comes to receive His kingdom 37:56 and the thief of the cross says 37:59 when You come remember me 38:01 when You come into Your kingdom. 38:03 When You come to get Your kingdom remember me. 38:05 In the same way Job says appoint me a set time, 38:07 and remember me. 38:08 But this is the part that we are gonna go to 1 Corinthians 38:11 and this is the part that segue us 38:13 to help us understand. 38:17 Verse 14, All the days of my hard service 38:21 I will wait, till my change comes. 38:24 This is a powerful passage here, 38:26 because you can't go to heaven 38:27 in the condition where we're in now. 38:29 How could mortal man 38:31 exist in the presence of an immortal God? 38:34 It's kind of like saying how can leaves 38:36 exist in a furnace, 38:39 now porcelain leaves can, or clayed leaves can, 38:44 but not the leaves that in its natural form. 38:47 That point mean when we are in our natural form now 38:51 mortal flesh, corruptible skin, 38:53 when our hands are dried up, do you here that dry, 38:56 can you imagine what happens 38:57 when we are in the presence of flamed, 39:00 that's what cremation is all about. 39:02 Our God is a consuming fire. 39:04 So when we go down here at the change, 39:06 let's talk about this change that's going to come, 39:09 get us there eventually, where you headed right now. 39:11 Yeah, let's go to 1 Corinthians. Chapter 15. 39:14 See what happens. Talk about this change. 39:15 And yeah to see what the apostles 39:20 say about this subject of our change. 39:23 As a matter of fact the apostle says, 39:25 flesh and blood he didn't only mean 39:27 spiritually speaking the corrupt man 39:29 but he also meant literally flesh, 39:31 that is human flesh in the corrupted form and blood, 39:35 in the corrupted form cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 39:38 But Jesus, when He was resurrected, 39:39 He was resurrected in the body, 39:41 but He was no longer 39:43 in the physical corruptible state. 39:45 This whole Chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 39:48 is about the resurrection 39:51 and the importance of the resurrection. 39:52 How Christ was raised as a first fruit 39:54 as an example of how the saints will be 39:57 resurrected from the grave. That's right. 39:59 And if you first of all note verses 22 and 23, 40:05 the statement is made here by Paul, 40:07 "For as in Adam all die, 40:09 even so in Christ all shall be made alive." 40:12 There is no in between, you are either dead you die 40:15 because you are a sinner 40:17 or Christ makes you alive at some point. 40:20 And verse 23 tells us that what point that is. 40:23 "Each one in his own order: 40:25 Christ the firstfruits, that's His resurrection, 40:28 afterward those who are Christ's when? 40:31 At His coming. At His coming. 40:33 So if He hasn't returned yet, 40:35 you are not made alive, okay. 40:37 And you could argue all you want 40:38 that the soul is made alive, 40:40 but even if you argue that you are made alive 40:43 and you are just out of harmony with God's word, 40:46 because the soul can't even made alive 40:48 if you separate it from the body 40:49 which we don't agree with, right. 40:51 So, now lets look at verse 50. 40:55 Just add verse 24 in just for a brief moment, 40:57 because this what I talked about when the rich man, 41:01 when the thief on the cross said to Lord 41:02 remember me when You come into your kingdom 41:04 I made that comment. 41:06 Then comes the end verse 24, 1 Corinthians 15. 41:10 Then comes the end when He delivers the kingdom to God, 41:14 the Father when He puts an end 41:16 to all ruled and all authority and power. 41:20 For He must reign till He puts 41:22 all enemies under His feet, 41:24 and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 41:27 So that's what the thief on the cross is asking. 41:29 Remember me when You come into your kingdom, 41:31 remember me when you come to get your kingdom 41:34 and that's the emphasis right there. 41:36 That's right, verse 50, "Now this I say, brethren, 41:40 that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God 41:43 nor does corruption inherit incorruption." 41:46 All right, so first of all 41:47 flesh and blood can't inherit the kingdom of God. 41:50 And someone would say, 41:51 oh but that soul could go in there. 41:54 But the soul if it was alive 41:55 could not go there by virtue off verse 23, 41:59 and by virtue off the rest of scripture 42:01 which says a soul is body 42:04 that is alive by God's breath. 42:07 That's the definition of soul not a separate spirit. 42:10 Man does not have a separate spirit. 42:12 You cannot find the word immortal soul 42:14 anywhere in the scripture. 42:16 So when it talks about flesh and blood, 42:19 in Paul's mind he is talking about 42:21 the only elements of mankind, 42:23 that we are flesh and blood 42:25 and we cannot inherit the kingdom of God 42:27 in our motility, in our corruptible state. 42:29 Verse 51, Behold, I tell you a mystery: 42:33 We shall not all sleep, 42:34 but we shall all be what? Changed. 42:38 Changed, that's right. 42:40 Didn't Job refer to the change. 42:42 He had to wait till his change comes. 42:46 That's right, and here we find that 42:49 everyone who was sleeping 42:51 is going to be changed at the same time. 42:54 From what to what, 42:57 we are something obviously that we have to be changed 43:00 into something else before we get to heaven. 43:03 That's right. 43:04 Okay, lets go on, keep going. 43:06 Verse 52, "In a moment, not over a passage of time, 43:10 but in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, 43:13 at the last trumpet. 43:14 For the trumpet will sound, 43:16 and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 43:18 and we shall be changed. 43:21 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 43:24 and this mortal must put on immortality. 43:27 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, 43:30 and this mortal has put on immortality, 43:32 then shall be brought to pass 43:33 the saying that is written: 43:35 Death is swallowed up in what? 43:38 Victory. Victory. 43:39 Victory not at death, 43:41 victory at the resurrection. That's right. 43:46 Well, and I'm gonna just finish up, sure. 43:48 "O Death, where is your sting? 43:49 O Hades, where is your victory?" 43:50 The sting of death is sin, 43:52 and the strength of sin is the law. 43:54 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory 43:57 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 43:59 By his resurrection we can then gain victory 44:03 because that we have resurrection power 44:04 running through our lives spiritually to regenerate us 44:08 into His image again 44:10 and then at the end our bodies will be merged 44:12 with the new nature He has given us 44:14 to make us incorruptible in both senses 44:17 and we will then enter 44:18 the kingdom of God as incorruptible, 44:20 immortal saints to live with Him for ever. 44:22 Here is where the Paul says that in Philippians, 44:25 this is so wonderful. 44:27 He says it this way 44:28 and I'm gonna read the verse for you right here. 44:29 Go with me to Philippians Chapter 3, 44:32 Philippians Chapter3, verse 20 and verse 21, 44:38 look how wonderfully he says it. 44:40 "For our citizenship is in heaven, 44:45 you know, what we're citizens 44:46 and when you are Christian, you are citizen of heaven, 44:48 we carry our passport, 44:49 you know, in that passport 44:51 a stamp entrance the entrance seal, 44:55 seal by God's gracious blood. 44:58 We have to be a born again, 45:00 for our citizenship is in heaven, 45:02 from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, 45:07 I want you to get that. 45:09 We are waiting for Him. 45:10 He is not waiting for us, we are waiting for Him. 45:15 Wait for the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. 45:18 Look at why we are waiting? 45:20 Who will transform our lowly body 45:25 that it may be conformed to His glorious body, 45:30 that glorious body that he received at resurrection. 45:33 According to the working by which He is able 45:37 to subdue all things to Himself. 45:39 Subdue all things like what? 45:40 He will put all enemies under His feet. 45:43 He will put all enemies make them his footstool. 45:46 He will subdue all things unto himself, 45:48 but notice we've got to be transformed. 45:51 Right now, we've been transformed 45:53 by the renewing of our minds, 45:55 but we will have renewing of our bodies later on 45:57 at the coming of the Lord, 45:59 that's when that's going to happen. 46:01 That's right, and now as I transition here, 46:03 we mentioned Hebrews Chapter 11. Oh! Yes. 46:05 But the end of Hebrews Chapter 11, 46:07 it talks about those who suffered 46:09 and experience tribulation, 46:11 persecution during the time of the writer of Hebrews 46:16 and providing this message, 46:20 this letter to the church to the Hebrews. 46:22 And so we pick it up here that in verse 35 46:26 speaking of those who have been persecuted it says, 46:30 Women received their dead raised to life again. 46:32 Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, 46:34 that they might do what? 46:36 They might obtain... 46:38 A better resurrection. A better resurrection. 46:40 So what are they looking forward 46:41 to those that are being persecuted 46:43 and even dying for their faith. 46:44 They are not looking for entrance 46:45 into heaven right now. 46:46 No, they are looking for a better resurrection. 46:50 And then as you go down through here, 46:52 they were marked and stoned, and even sawn in two. 46:56 Oh! My goodness, I mean this is just stuff 46:57 is horrible that if you dig down to the bottom, 47:00 verse 39 it gets to the end, 47:03 And all these things, having obtained 47:05 a good testimony through faith, did not do what? 47:08 Did not receive the promise. 47:09 They didn't receive the promise, 47:11 didn't get what they are waiting for? 47:13 Why is that? 47:14 Because the verse you just read, they are waiting. 47:17 That's right. They are waiting. 47:19 Oh, you got to read verse 40. 47:21 I know verse 40, 47:22 God having provided something better for us, 47:25 that they should not be made perfect apart from us. 47:29 We will meet the Lord together, 47:32 dead and alive we will meet Him together. 47:35 This is gonna be a grand reunion of all saints 47:39 of all those who are alive 47:41 to meet the Lord in the air together. 47:43 We will get to that verse next to close out with that. 47:45 To meet Him together, 47:46 so that we may go to heaven with the Lord together 47:49 to inhabit that place that He has prepared for us. 47:52 There is not gonna be someone saying, 47:56 oh I've been there already, 47:57 I've already been there for several hundred years 47:59 and oh you want to see this place 48:00 let me tell you about it. 48:02 Everybody is gonna be talking about it together. 48:04 Oh, I can't wait to see this, 48:05 this is gonna be amazing what Jesus has prepared for us. 48:08 Oh, I can only imagine, 48:09 oh with anticipation all of us 48:11 ready to get to heaven at the same time. 48:14 You know, John, 48:15 as Pastor Howell will stay that will preach, 48:18 I like when he says that. 48:19 But there is another passage showing you how beautiful, 48:23 how wonderful it is to wait for the coming of the Lord. 48:27 Excuse me, go with me to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, 48:33 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4. 48:35 I had a little bit of makeup dust in my throat. 48:39 You know, we put on this anti shines stuff, 48:41 sometimes it gets further than it should. 48:43 First Thessalonians Chapter 4, 48:45 there is going to be a tremendous reunion, 48:48 a tremendous meeting 48:50 and I want you to keep that word in mind, 48:52 meet, meet, meet. That's right. 48:54 Okay, now there are lot of people I haven't met, 48:56 but I'm looking forward to meeting Jesus. 48:58 And there are lot of people that we haven't met 49:00 that we are going to get to meet when the kingdom comes, 49:03 but here is the context. 49:06 First Thessalonians Chapter 4 verse 13, 49:09 "For I do not want you to be ignorant, 49:11 brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, 49:14 lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 49:19 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 49:22 that's his resurrection, 49:23 even so God will bring with Him 49:25 those who sleep in Jesus. 49:27 "Right now those who sleep in Jesus when Jesus comes back, 49:30 God is gonna bring them also in the same way 49:33 He brought Jesus. 49:35 Now notice this, 49:37 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, 49:41 that we who are alive and remain 49:43 until the coming of the Lord 49:45 will by no means precede those who are asleep. 49:47 That's what you meant when you read in Hebrews 11. 49:52 They did not receive the promise, 49:53 they are not going to precede us. 49:55 They are not going anywhere before us. 49:56 But this actually says those who are alive 49:58 will not precede those who are asleep, right. 50:00 So neither one will precede the other. 50:02 Nobody is going before the other. That's right. 50:05 This is the reason why. 50:06 For the Lord Himself, verse 16, 50:09 will descend from heaven with a shout, 50:10 with the voice of an archangel 50:12 with the trumpet of God. 50:13 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 50:16 That's the first thing that's gonna happen. 50:17 In other words, they are not going up to heaven first, 50:19 but there is going be a resurrection first. 50:22 Then we who are alive and remain, 50:25 notice the word remain verse 15 and verse 17. 50:29 We who are alive and remain verse 17, 50:31 shall be caught up how John? In the air. 50:35 How, caught up how? Together. 50:37 Together, that's the key verse. 50:40 See I'm his congregation, he is my congregation. 50:42 Shall be caught up together with Him, 50:45 resurrection, now get this, 50:47 this is the grave, this is those who are alive, 50:50 they are already standing up. 50:51 Resurrection, they are standing up together, 50:55 caught up together to meet. 50:58 And what they are gonna be caught up together to do? 51:00 To meet, the Lord, the Lord. 51:03 Let's not go to the in the air yet, 51:04 they are gonna meet the Lord, 51:06 which means they haven't met Him at the time of death. 51:08 And they are also being and you know, where I'm going 51:10 with this being received by the Lord. 51:12 Okay, all right go there John. 51:15 I will just add this really quickly, yeah. 51:18 From John Chapter 14. 51:22 He says, and if I go verse 3, 51:24 to prepare a place for you, 51:26 I will come again and receive you to Myself 51:28 that's right, that where I am, 51:31 that is heaven there you may be also. 51:33 In other words you are not there yet, 51:35 but when I come again down here to get you, 51:37 I'm gonna receive you to myself, 51:39 so that you can go, then go to be with me. 51:41 These passages they all fit together 51:43 and those that distort them 51:45 are doing an incredible disservice 51:47 to the resurrection event. 51:49 The great reunion, the incredible, 51:50 most prevalent event that declare our victory the end, 51:55 that's right, they are taking it way. 51:56 You get so excited about it, 51:58 there is a tongue twister there, 52:00 because just to battle against the lies 52:03 that are being told the greatest... 52:05 One preacher said 52:07 if you want to hear lot of lies go to a funeral. 52:13 There are more lies told by clergymen at funerals 52:16 than probably any other time. That's right. 52:19 He is in heaven now, he is watching down, 52:21 he is so glad, he is here with us today. 52:23 I'm sure he is looking down smiling on our guest. 52:25 You know he is with the Lord, he is in a better place, 52:29 oh at least he is now in a better place. 52:30 And but they don't ever say, talk about the murder. 52:34 No! Oh! Well, he is in hell burning 52:36 and frying right now and we're gathered together 52:38 to honor that event 52:39 and I mean it just take doesn't work. 52:43 Yeah, it's cynical yeah. 52:45 It's really you hear that, when I hear that 52:48 I do all that I possibly can to not bring 52:52 embarrassment to the moment 52:53 and out of continual compassion 52:55 and care for the family members, 52:57 I want to say I've never stood up 52:59 even when I heard that 53:00 and call the minister a liar or said 53:02 you are not telling the truth. 53:04 But, the Bible makes it so much more beautiful, 53:06 can you imagine I heard this terrible story. 53:08 You know, there are so many children dying nowadays, 53:11 and there are so many children being kidnapped. 53:12 And there is so much sadness and murder 53:16 and woe in the earth. 53:18 I heard this on a few days ago on the news, 53:20 there was lady, 53:22 who, her three year old daughter 53:24 just contracted this illnesses 53:26 and it end up claiming her daughter's life. 53:28 To show the most beautiful pictures of this little girl, 53:31 you want to reach out and hug the picture 53:32 just to get some semblance of realizing 53:35 how wonderful her short life was. 53:38 And the mother had to go on without that. 53:40 Can you imagine the mother now saying, 53:41 well my daughter is in heaven now without her mommy. 53:48 Mommy! Where is my mom? 53:49 You know, she is in heaven now without her mother. 53:52 They don't go to heaven to get her mother. 53:53 And she is looking down on her mother 53:54 and her mother is looking up with tears in her eyes 53:56 and the daughter sees her mother crying. 53:58 All these pictures are painted 54:00 that are so untrue. 54:02 But here is what God's plan is, 54:03 that's why we read these verses. 54:05 At the resurrection that daughter comes forth 54:08 from the grave and I picture this with her mommy 54:14 they ascend to heaven together. 54:16 So glad to be together. 54:17 Gloriously, want a hug and want to embrace, 54:20 I can only imagine when the Lord is coming, 54:22 the mother and this is just dramatic here, 54:25 but it's not impossible 54:26 if the mother is not too far from the cemetery. 54:28 I can imagine the coming of the Lord, 54:30 the mother wants to be in no better place 54:32 than in the cemetery. 54:33 To witness the last great miracle of the resurrection 54:37 that's what God has plan for those of us who love him. 54:40 That's what God has installed for the dead in Christ. 54:44 That's the reunion caught up together to meet Him. 54:46 And I will tell you that's why there is gonna be 54:47 such a victorious shouting 54:49 and singing in the New Jerusalem. 54:51 That's right. 54:52 Boy I tell you, I know I got to preach in there, 54:54 but I mean the courage is not that 54:56 they are gonna be left behind or what going before them, 55:01 but that we are gonna go together, 55:03 what a Grand Coronation. 55:04 And John you are looking for a passage, 55:07 did you find it yet? 55:08 No, no I'll just close out with something. 55:10 Let me add this to a story. 55:11 Look for the passage, we are gonna soon 55:12 wind up this program, 55:13 but, you know, friends one of the things 55:14 that lot of people forget 55:16 is this gonna be this great glorious, 55:19 great wonderful marriage feast in heaven. 55:23 There is going to be this great, 55:25 there is going to be this great banquet 55:27 to which all of us are invited, 55:30 and it's going to be in the New Jerusalem. 55:32 In Isaiah the prophet says, open wide the gates 55:36 that the nation of the saved will enter in. 55:41 And you know when that time comes 55:43 all of the resurrected of the ages 55:45 are going to enter in and we are going to be 55:47 there at that present wonderful banquet together. 55:50 And that's how weddings are, 55:51 we all go to the reception together. 55:53 That's right, and in fact I try to turn 55:55 to that wedding reception, yeah. 55:58 It says let us be glad, 56:00 this is from Revelation 19 verse 7, 56:02 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, 56:04 for the marriage of the Lamb has come, 56:06 and His wife has made herself ready." 56:09 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, 56:11 clean and bright, for the fine linen 56:13 is the righteous acts of the saints. 56:15 Then he said to me, 56:16 "Write: 'Blessed are those 56:17 who are called to the marriage 56:18 supper of the Lamb!' "And he said to me, 56:20 "These are the true sayings of God." 56:23 And you go on there and you see that 56:24 Jesus comes on this white horse 56:27 with a sword in His hand 56:29 and He is called the word of God, 56:32 and it says He is King of Kings 56:33 and Lord of Lords and nothing can stop him, 56:35 he is gonna come and take His saints back. 56:38 And just picture, it tells of the finality of the earth 56:44 and sin and death, 56:47 but yet the glorious event of those being raised 56:50 that they will never have to experience pain, 56:52 suffering, anything again 56:55 that will cause them to be tempted away from their God, 57:00 their Savior Jesus. 57:02 And to live with Him, 57:03 that's where we are gonna for a 1000 years, 57:05 not here on this earth 57:06 to see the wicked dead all over the place. 57:09 We are going to heaven to be with Christ. 57:10 I was just sitting here in my mind 57:12 I got and ruptured in my mind 57:13 I saw the holding and folding before me 57:15 that grand glorious red new of angles coming 57:18 with Jesus to take us, so I just, 57:20 I began to get enveloped 57:21 actually my hair under my sleeves stared to raise, 57:24 so I apologize if I seem to be in some place else, 57:26 but, you know, friends we are looking forward 57:28 one day to be some place else. 57:29 Keep trusting Jesus 57:31 until that great and glorious event comes. 57:33 May Jesus be in your heart today. |
Revised 2014-12-17