Participants: John Lomacang (Host), John Stanton
Series Code: HCL
Program Code: HCL130019
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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 another House Calls program. 00:24 This is the channel that you intended to tune in 00:26 and I am thanking you that you have done 00:29 so to join John and I, both John and John, 00:33 on another edition of what we believe 00:36 is one of the best Bible answered programs on television. 00:39 If we didn't believe that we wouldn't be here. 00:41 So thank you for tuning in. 00:42 John, it's good to have you here with me today. 00:43 It's good to be here John. Yeah. 00:45 You know, we're gonna continue our trek 00:46 on this topic of the Resurrection. 00:49 It's an amazing topic. 00:50 The Bible has so much to say about 00:52 and so what we attempt to do here 00:54 is not just give answers to Bible questions 00:57 but also to help people 00:59 to come out of darkness into God's marvelous light. 01:02 Isn't that right, John? Amen. 01:04 But before we do anything, 01:05 you know, we're gonna dive into the program 01:06 with your questions and your comments, 01:08 but we always like to begin with prayer. 01:10 So John, takes us before the throne. 01:13 Gracious Father, You're so good to us 01:15 and we just thank You for all that You have done. 01:17 Lord, we pray that as we open Your word that 01:20 You'd send your spirit to guide and direct us, 01:22 and to help us and lead us to know You better 01:27 and to be able to glorify You in all that we do 01:29 and all that we say in our lives in Jesus name, amen. Amen. 01:34 Get your Bibles, get your pens, 01:37 and if you have any questions 01:39 that come across your mind during the program 01:41 which is a fairly good conclusion 01:46 that you may think of something that you want to ask us, 01:48 if you do, and you're not a person 01:51 that sends mail through the regular channels 01:55 that is the post office, 01:56 here is the email that you'd like use, 01:58 housecalls@3abn.org. That's housecalls@3abn.org. 02:04 And that's where we get our questions 02:06 that we will attempt to answer as of right now. 02:11 So John, what do you have for us? 02:12 I've got a question here from Wayne. 02:15 And he says, how is a person to know 02:18 whether or not a prayer for particular subject 02:20 such as an opening door to a new job 02:23 or which direction a person should go 02:25 in regards to following the Lord's way? 02:28 What can a person look for such as whether or not, 02:31 the prayer is being answered 02:32 and how long does a person wait 02:34 for such a prayer to be answered? 02:35 All right. 02:38 A verse specifically isn't coming to mind on this one. 02:41 I am going to share a little bit of experience. 02:43 Remember, we said if wherever we gonna share 02:44 with you our opinion or experience 02:46 we'll tell you that's what it is. 02:48 I am telling you that what-- this is my experience. 02:51 John, and you probably have a bit of this experience-- 02:53 same kind of experience that you can relate to. 02:56 But there are times where I've praying 02:57 for something very specific. 03:00 And following those prayers is a confidence 03:03 and there is a waiting period and there is a trust period 03:06 where I am looking for God's answer 03:09 in the things that happen around me. 03:12 And it doesn't necessarily come 03:15 and almost always doesn't come with 03:17 writing on my wall that I wake up 03:19 and there is God's answer. 03:21 But it's just being aware 03:22 and looking for the ways that He is leading. 03:24 And either He is shutting a door of opportunity 03:28 or He is opening a door or He is leading a new direction 03:32 that He is asking us to follow. 03:33 And it's really a discernment, 03:35 a trust and awareness of what He is doing 03:37 and how He is leading 03:39 that comes with our relationship with God. 03:42 And if you think you're door is opening 03:43 you start to go through it and then things start to close 03:46 back off from that 03:47 and look for a different direction. 03:49 But it's a day by day trust experience with God. 03:52 And sometimes I have gone significantly down a road 03:55 that I thought God was leading only for Him to shut that door. 03:58 I had to regroup and change direction. 04:00 But that's okay because I continue to pray 04:03 and ask for His leading. 04:04 You know, there is a message 04:06 or sermon that I had preached in the past many times 04:10 and it's in regard to how we can hear God's voice. 04:14 And there are several ways, 04:15 you know, we hear, we can hear Him 04:17 through thoughts and impressions. 04:19 We can hear Him through 04:22 even sometimes, verbally through friends, 04:25 or others who come to us 04:26 and share with us His good counsel. 04:29 That could be an audible thing, right. 04:31 A friend of mine that was riding with his wife 04:34 up in Angwin, California, 04:35 I mean, he was coming around the corner 04:36 on a very narrow road 04:39 and all of a sudden as he is coming around that road 04:42 he swirled to the right and stopped the car. 04:45 His wife looked at him. 04:47 And a moment later a car going the other direction 04:50 coming down the middle of the road flew by them, 04:54 would have hit him head on, no doubt. 04:56 And he said to his wife, 04:58 he said "honey I am glad you said something. 05:00 How did you know that car was coming?" 05:03 She says, "I didn't say a word. I didn't say anything." 05:07 He said, "I heard you say, honey, pullover now." 05:11 And she said "I didn't say that." 05:14 It was an angel. 05:15 So in some ways God even sends angels 05:17 to do an audible thing to get us to respond 05:20 when we're in eminent danger. 05:21 But one way, that I find that He speaks to us most often 05:25 that people I think probably don't give Him 05:28 a lot of credit in this way, 05:31 is through the circumstances of life. 05:33 Just what we see happening around us. 05:35 We as Christians don't see thinks as coincidences. 05:39 We see God working in every area of our life 05:42 and the lives of those around us. 05:44 And just discerning how He is working and how those-- 05:47 well those circumstances are telling us 05:48 in regard to our prayers 05:50 can really be a help not only in building confidence 05:53 and trust in God that He hears your prayers 05:56 but in finding the answer that you're looking for. 05:58 And I found those different ways 06:00 and I just shared are really key 06:02 in knowing how God is leading in your life. 06:05 And John, there are-- 06:07 those are very good points that you've made because-- 06:09 I had a little bit of each of those. 06:13 The immediate direction the Lord gave us and somebody, 06:18 you know, hearing an audible voice. 06:21 Didn't' happened very much, really its not, 06:23 its one of those rare incidences 06:25 but it comes out of what I call pivotal moments-- 06:29 when you needed more than ever before. 06:32 And God speaks that way. 06:33 I think one of the things that the Lord gives us in His word. 06:38 There is phrase that people often use 06:40 and we often wonder where it comes from 06:43 but I want those who are watching 06:45 and listening to the program to turn to Judges Chapter 6 06:49 because this is a phrase that we often use 06:51 when people say "well, I am putting my fleece out." 06:55 People often, get that example from the story of Gideon 06:59 when God was choosing Gideon 07:01 to accomplish a particular purpose. 07:03 We say, well, I am praying for this job, 07:05 I am putting my fleece out 07:06 about this decision I need to make. 07:09 I am putting fleece out about the job that I have, 07:11 that I like to have. 07:12 I am putting my fleece out about 07:14 whether or not I should marry this person. 07:16 We often, use this phrase in conjunction with 07:20 what we read here in the Book of Judges. 07:22 And I want to just read through this first. 07:25 Let me encourage you a lesson of foundation 07:26 before you read through this, 07:28 is because when you are a student of the word of God 07:32 you are able to discern between 07:36 whether or not the prayer is answered 07:37 in harmony with God's will 07:39 or whether or not the prayer was just answered. 07:42 And let me tell you the difference. 07:44 If a person is praying for, 07:47 for the Lord's will to be done 07:49 in leading him or her to a job, 07:51 God will never lead you to give you a job 07:54 that's going to violate His revealed will 07:57 or His revealed commandments. 08:00 Great example of that would be, 08:02 you know, I want a job to work at a major airlines 08:05 and then the Lord-- a job comes along 08:08 that requires me to violate the Sabbath. 08:10 God didn't answer that. That's right. 08:13 And so you find in the Bible 08:14 and I know I throw this back to you in a moment. 08:17 You find at the Bible sometimes the Lord says, 08:19 you pray for a sign, the sign would happen 08:23 just as you were told the sign would occur 08:25 but it's a test. And that's in Deuteronomy 5. 08:29 And I want to bring that in a moment. 08:31 But let's first start with this fleece. 08:32 Because many people have used this 08:35 and this is an example of how God leads us. 08:38 And God doesn't always-- 08:41 God doesn't always answer our prayer 08:43 the first time we pray it. 08:45 Because what prayer usually does 08:47 or what prayer is designed to do 08:48 is not just to get God to give me directions all the time 08:51 but to get me to live in harmony 08:53 with God's direction already. 08:55 Because sometimes I am praying a prayer 08:57 and the answer already is no. 08:59 while the answer already is, wait. 09:01 And we know sometimes what that is. 09:03 I say, Lord I need-- I want a new house built. 09:06 Well, the answer is wait 09:07 because you got to build that house 09:10 or how the God works. 09:12 But here is the example. 09:13 Judges 6:37, it says, "Then Gideon said to God, 09:21 'If you'll save Israel 09:23 by my hand as you have said 09:25 look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor, 09:29 if there is dew on the fleece only, 09:32 and it is dry on all ground, then I shall know that 09:36 you will save Israel by my hands, 09:38 as you have said.'" 09:39 Now, one of the only problems 09:40 I ever have with this text here 09:42 is because the Lord has said to Gideon 09:43 this is I am gonna do it. Right. 09:45 And he said, if you really gonna do it that way go ahead. 09:48 Wet the ground, keep the fleece dry. 09:50 And the Lord did that. 09:51 And then he said, but just once more in verse 39. 09:55 "Just once more with the fleece, 09:57 let it now be dry on the fleece, 09:59 and on all the ground let there be dew. 10:02 And God's did so that night. 10:04 It was dry on the fleece only, 10:06 but there was dew on all the ground." 10:07 See so, the Lord said, it is I am gonna do. 10:11 And he said, but I need conformation. 10:12 And sometimes, sometimes and I think that in this case 10:17 what the situation was as Gideon was so overwhelmed 10:20 by the idea that God would use him to deliver Israel. 10:23 He said, are you sure you mean me. 10:27 I think that was more the case rather than, 10:29 I don't really believe what you said. 10:30 Could you kind of come in other way? 10:33 And so but John, here is the point. 10:35 Sometimes God's answers 10:36 or sometimes God's choosing of us is overwhelming 10:39 that we want another conformation 10:41 and it does come. 10:43 Any response on that so far? 10:44 Well, and I think sometimes 10:45 though we think God is answering 10:47 but we need to wait a little while 10:48 before proceeding to conform 10:50 that it is in fact God answering the prayer. 10:52 And so that could also be 10:54 what's happening a little bit here 10:56 is Gideon wants to make sure 10:58 that this is the Lord and that He is asking him to do this 11:02 which I think is an important thing. 11:05 The other time, sometimes you have to wait. 11:07 Sometimes the answer doesn't come. 11:09 You know, Psalms 1, Psalms 27:14, 11:12 "Wait on the Lord." 11:15 Sometimes you pray and you think, 11:18 I know this is what God is called me to do. 11:22 I know what is in harmony with God's will. 11:25 But man the position is just not open yet. 11:27 My wife and I had an experience like that 11:29 in our early years of ministry. 11:30 She is working at a hospital 11:32 the position was just temporary. 11:34 It was for six months. 11:37 And they said at the end of six months 11:40 the position is done because there are 11:42 13 other people ahead of you 11:43 for this position for fulltime. 11:45 So, all 13 people would have to say no 11:48 for her to get that job fulltime. 11:50 So at the end of the time period 11:52 they said goodbye to her. 11:53 They gave her little go away 11:55 and she called me and said what do we do next? 11:57 And we said, let's pray about it. 11:59 So we prayed, we prayed. 12:01 And you know what was amazing about this particular prayer? 12:04 We needed the answer that day 12:05 because had she left the company 12:07 it would have been obviously clear 12:08 that the position was done. 12:10 We prayed about lunchtime. 12:12 At 2 o'clock, the answer came. 12:14 The supervisor and manager 12:15 called her in the office and said, 12:17 we know that there are 13 people ahead of you 12:19 but we're breaking protocol and offering you the job first. 12:23 So that was that prayer that you needed to know now 12:25 because if she came home 12:27 and somebody else occupy the position, boom. 12:30 We knew that, she would not have that job fulltime. 12:33 So two hours between the time we prayed 12:36 and the time God answered the prayer. 12:37 So sometimes, but then there're times 12:38 you have to wait. That's right. 12:40 You have to say, okay Lord, 12:41 well I get this job after the six month period is over. 12:44 He'll say, well, that's can wait till 12:45 we get to the six month period and see. 12:48 And that's how God works. 12:49 But study God's word and you will know 12:51 whether or not the answer comes in 12:53 harmony with God will. 12:54 I mean, sometimes the verse Isaiah 30:21, 12:58 "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 13:01 'This is the way, walk in it.' 13:04 Whenever you turn to the right 13:05 or whenever you turn to the left." 13:07 So you are turning you are looking 13:10 but then the God's leading His voice. 13:12 He will bring fast to our impressions 13:14 that this is the right way or this is the wrong way. 13:17 And you will find true rest in the right way. 13:19 You know, its nice about that statement John, 13:21 as God, God is better, 13:23 God is more reliable than a GPS. 13:25 And if the GPS can direct us-- 13:27 Its right, what can the Lord do. 13:28 What can the Lord do? 13:30 Here is another question, 13:32 a friend of mine believes that 13:34 the redeemed will instruct people from prior ages 13:38 who are deceived by the devil 13:39 who never knew Christ or God, the Father. 13:43 Any thought on that teaching 13:46 and that was something by Herbert W Armstrong, 13:50 is what the person brought in there. 13:52 Herbert W Armstrong. 13:54 Well there are those that believed 13:56 that there was as an age gone by 14:00 where there were people 14:01 and that never heard the gospel 14:04 and all of a sudden now 14:06 they get this opportunity to hear it 14:08 in age's way, way further down. 14:13 In other words, they're kind of like, 14:14 in a holding tank 14:15 waiting for the gospel to be preached to them. 14:18 The Bible doesn't support that at all. 14:19 Matter of fact, I want to go to the Book of Hebrews 9, 14:23 Hebrews 9 and-- but John, 14:25 you may have turned to the passage 14:26 and period is shown there. Yeah. 14:28 I want you to read that first before 14:30 because this is the passage 14:31 that people are often referring to 14:34 with the idea that people that in Noah's day 14:38 who didn't hear the gospel get a chance to hear it. 14:41 But listen this is the passage 14:43 that the person is referring to. 14:44 Yeah, this is from 1 Peter Chapter 3, 14:47 starting with verse 18. 14:48 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, 14:51 the just for the unjust, 14:52 that He might bring us to God, 14:53 being put to death in the flesh 14:56 but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went 15:02 and preached to the spirits in prison, 15:05 who formerly were disobedient, 15:07 when once the Divine longsuffering 15:09 waited in the days of Noah, 15:10 while the ark was being prepared, 15:12 in which a few, that is, eight souls, 15:14 were saved through water." Okay. 15:17 So that is, is often used as a statement. 15:20 And read in a literal sense 15:22 that these individuals are spirits 15:26 and they're in prison somewhere 15:28 and at some holding tank as you said 15:30 and that, Jesus went to preach to them. 15:32 Right, and the challenge of that scripture 15:34 when you read it carefully 15:36 you will see exactly the answer to the, 15:38 to the apparent quandary as to whether or not 15:41 the scripture means that is in verse 19. 15:44 And let's just read it one more time. 15:46 At the verse end of verse 18 it says, 15:48 "Put to death in the flesh but made alive by the spirit. 15:52 By whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison." 15:56 The Holy Spirit was the one 15:58 that was convicting these hearts. 15:59 The Holy Spirit was the one that was pleading with 16:02 those who were in the days of Noah. 16:04 When the Bible says my spirit will not always strive with man. 16:09 So the spirit that was given to quicken Christ from the dead 16:13 is the same spirit 16:14 that preached to those in Noah's day. 16:16 It's not saying that Christ went preached to them 16:19 but the Holy Spirit that was active in Christ day 16:21 was active in the days of Noah. 16:24 Striving with those before the flood came. 16:26 And the reason why that's verification 16:29 is because once a person dies 16:31 their records are closed. That's right. 16:33 I mean there is no-- 16:34 And that's what the rest of scripture. Right. 16:36 It clearly it says, so if you read it that way or this, 16:39 this other way this passage would be 16:41 in contradiction with other scripture. Yeah. 16:45 Which we know the scripture is doesn't contradict itself. 16:47 Doesn't contradict itself. 16:48 Hebrews 9:27 the Bible says 16:51 "And as it is appointed for men to die once, 16:56 but after this the judgment." 16:59 The only thing they have to look forward to is the judgment 17:01 not the preaching of the gospel. 17:03 That judgment is the next event. 17:05 These individuals are locked into that. 17:07 And so in a short way, 17:09 in a short response to the questions, no, no, no. 17:13 If they rejected the gospel 17:16 of get on the Ark in Noah's day 17:18 they were victims of the flood. 17:21 The flood came and took them all away. 17:24 He didn't take them to another evangelistic series. 17:26 They wanted to be cynical here. 17:27 It didn't' take them to another waiting tank 17:29 where they said, that was close. 17:33 But we'll wait, we'll wait till the spirit speaks to us again 17:36 or we're waiting for the next sermon to come 17:39 and then all of the sudden thousands of years later, 17:41 this Holy Spirit now says, 17:43 "hey you remember the gospel you had heard in Noah's day, 17:46 here it is again." Yeah. 17:48 Back to 1 Peter 4:6 it says. 17:51 "For this reason the gospel was preached 17:53 also to those who are dead," 17:56 and it says "that they might be judged 17:58 according to men in the flesh, 17:59 but live according to God in the spirit." 18:01 You see the Bible is very clear that 18:03 when you're living in the spirit you're alive. Right. 18:05 In the spirit, but when you're living in the flesh 18:08 you were dead in the flesh. That's right. 18:11 And that dead is dead to eternal life. 18:14 That life is life eternally through the spirit. Right. 18:18 And so one of the key aspects here is that 18:21 this dead situation, dead living in the flesh 18:24 also is spoken of as if, as if living in bondage. 18:29 So it's appropriate for Peter to use the words 18:32 that this Holy Spirit speaking to those in prison. Right. 18:36 Because they are dead, in their flesh 18:38 and they're in bondage to sin. 18:40 Right, prisoners of sin. 18:41 And the Holy Spirit is working through people, 18:44 and through the word and other things 18:46 to bring them to life through the spirit. That's right. 18:48 And that's all that Peter is talking about here 18:51 to infuse in here this whole theology of a holding tank 18:54 and some place where there is the dead go 18:56 and they hear again the message 18:57 and they're given a second chance. 18:59 Is the theology that goes way beyond scripture itself. 19:02 Right and really it doesn't say 19:05 it does not justly representing Christ 19:07 because that is not the gospel. 19:09 Every age, every opportunity 19:11 has been given to those of that age. 19:14 In fact even Jesus say, "Let the dead," to Peter, 19:16 "Let the dead bury their own." 19:18 Matter of fact, you know, what just came to my mind. 19:20 I think the Lord put it there. 19:21 Well, sorry I'm giving God the full credit. 19:24 He just put it there. 19:25 Romans Chapter 1, and this is the thing 19:28 because I think the suggestion here is they were ignorant 19:31 and they didn't know the gospel. 19:33 But that's not what the Bible suggests. 19:35 That is not what the Bible suggests. 19:37 Romans 1. 19:38 Okay, okay, verse 18, 19:43 verse 18. 19:47 Matter of fact, I would like to start with 19:51 let me just look at verse back here. 19:53 Verse 20. 19:56 Yeah, well, but the verse 18, 19:59 for it-- okay let's start verse 18. 20:03 "For the wrath of God is revealed 20:05 from heaven against all ungodliness 20:07 and unrighteousness of men, 20:09 who suppress the truth in unrighteousness 20:12 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, 20:16 for God has shown it to them." 20:19 And there is the verse. 20:20 "For since the creation of the world 20:23 His invisible attributes are clearly seen, 20:27 being understood by the things that are made, 20:30 even His eternal power and Godhead, 20:33 so that they are without excuse." 20:37 So they can't say, I never knew. 20:40 He said, it's clear. 20:42 Since the creation it's been clearly seen 20:45 there without excuse 20:46 and notice what he says in verse 21. 20:48 "Because, although they knew God, 20:50 they did not glorify Him as God, 20:53 nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, 20:56 and their foolish hearts were darkened. 20:58 Professing themselves to be wise, 20:59 they became fools," 21:01 So there was an age where they said, 21:04 we don't really know about God. 21:06 He said, you're without excuse 21:08 because I have been clearly revealed. 21:11 Yeah, and to make a choice and not to listen 21:14 and not to respond to Gods evidences 21:17 or the gospel itself to not make a choice 21:21 or to make a choice not to hear that 21:23 is making a choice to be condemned. That's right. 21:26 Basically, making a choice against God. 21:28 That's very good, that's very good. 21:29 If you don't make a choice to accept the Lord 21:32 you make a choice to reject Him. 21:33 So there is no such thing as, 21:35 well, I'm not going to get on the bus 21:37 but then I'm not going to get on the bus. 21:39 Are you gonna get on or you not gonna get on? 21:40 There is no third category. 21:42 It's almost the same-- 21:43 I mean tell you the Pharisee said, 21:44 remember they said to Jesus. 21:45 They said, show us the sign. Right. 21:47 And then we'll believe. 21:49 Jesus said, the sign will not be given. Right. 21:52 So, so here it is, are there those 21:55 in prior ages that will have an excuse? 21:59 The answer is absolutely not. 22:00 Everybody would have had an opportunity. 22:03 Oh, oh, okay. 22:06 John, something just happened. 22:07 I just got a-- I just got another email. 22:10 Titus, go to Titus. Okay, Titus. 22:23 Okay, okay Titus Chapter 2. 22:27 "Thank you Lord, thank you God." 22:30 Titus 2:11. Okay, here it is. 22:34 Read it, John. That's the answer. 22:36 "For the grace of God that brings salvation 22:38 has appeared to all men," How many? 22:41 All. All. 22:43 Noah found grace so therefore it was available in Noah's day. 22:47 Noah found grace, 22:49 so the grace that Noah found was available to all men. 22:53 And what was it teaching them to do? 22:55 Verse 12. 22:57 "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, 23:00 we should live soberly, righteously, 23:02 and godly in the present age." That's right. 23:04 So whatever age that was, 23:06 that grace of God that brings salvation. 23:09 When the Bible says in Genesis, 23:11 Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, 23:15 the reason why he did is because the grace of God 23:17 that brings salvation appears to-- 23:20 has appeared to all men. 23:23 Well, thank you Lord, for that one. 23:25 And now see what happens 23:27 when you pray the answer has come when you need it. 23:29 And this way it came in the particular. 23:31 Do you have any more, John? 23:32 I do have one question here. 23:35 And it comes from a gentleman by the name of Allen. 23:39 And there's a couple of questions in here 23:42 but one of them specifically I want to focus on. 23:47 You know, we believe John, we have talked to you. 23:48 We even had programs on this 23:50 that at some point in the future prophecy reveals 23:52 that there will be a removing of the freedoms to worship God 23:58 according to the dictates of our conscience. Okay. 24:00 And that there will be laws imposed 24:03 that are against the Ten Commandments. 24:06 That will bring about a test for the world in the last days. 24:09 Whether or not, they will choose loyalty to God 24:13 or to not be loyal 24:14 and align themselves with Satan the deceiver. 24:17 And at sometimes we speak specifically about that 24:20 being a Sunday law, as an opposition to Sabbath 24:24 or the Fourth Commandment. 24:26 And one of the things that I found sometimes 24:29 is our ministries throughout our church 24:33 the Seventh-day Adventist Church 24:35 that advocate leaving-- 24:39 just leaving the cities, getting out. 24:41 And there are reasons for doing that 24:45 and we have received. 24:46 We've got good counsel about doing that, 24:48 especially families with young children 24:50 and raising them in an area 24:52 that is not gonna be influenced by the cities 24:55 and the corruption that we find 24:56 in those cities and other things. 24:59 But that counsels never 25:01 to the exclusion of work in the cities. 25:03 Its' not leave and then let them be destroyed, 25:06 let the cities leave them to themselves, 25:08 this counsel to also to work the cities. 25:10 In fact, there is more counsel about 25:12 going into the cities to share the gospel 25:14 than there is about leaving the cities. 25:16 That's right, That's right. 25:17 But here is one of the statements 25:19 that I think it's pretty indicative 25:20 of some of the mentality 25:22 that many have and I want to clarify this. 25:25 This individual said-- and this is just, 25:27 it's not just him its-- 25:29 I have heard this many times before. 25:32 Also about in regard to having a country place 25:34 or country home preparing for the Sunday law. 25:38 Spirit of prophecy clearly defines 25:40 that it's time to leave the cities. 25:42 But we are not preparing for this 25:43 because, you know, when that Sunday law comes 25:45 we need to leave the cities. 25:47 And essentially that's the statement made. 25:49 There are two things that are going to happen 25:52 that are part of these end-time events 25:55 with regard to these laws and decrees that happen. 25:57 Number one, is what's known as the Sunday law. 26:02 But there is another one known as the death decree. Okay. 26:06 The counsel to leave the cities immediately 26:10 is in regard to the death decree not the Sunday law. 26:16 And I was sharing this message onetime with a gentleman 26:20 that was in our church and he is a former Navy SEAL. Okay. 26:24 And I used some of his analogy 26:26 or his language I guess you could say. 26:28 Language of the military as it being in battle 26:30 to help kind of prove establish this point 26:32 that kind of resonate it with him. 26:33 Obviously, he is a military person. 26:36 And the comment I made was when the Sunday law happens 26:40 there will be people called by God to rush to the cities 26:47 to preach the gospel, 26:49 to preach against the Sunday law, 26:51 to save many who will be tested by that law. 26:55 Unless, the message has a clarion call 26:58 this loud cry message 26:59 goes forth at the right time. Right. 27:02 No one will hear it or could be saved 27:04 because of that deception. 27:06 So in the Sunday law in many respects 27:08 is a rush to the commotion as so to speak. 27:14 One of the comments he made of that sermon was, 27:15 he said, pastor I never heard it that way before. 27:17 It really resonates with me because he says as a Navy SEAL 27:20 when we hear of an explosion or something 27:23 we're never call to run from it. 27:25 We're always called to run to it. 27:28 When you see something happening you go to it 27:30 and go prepared for battle. 27:33 And it is the same way with Gods. 27:35 God has a calling upon some in His church 27:39 who will be to go to the cities that's in very difficult times 27:42 to preach a message that opposes this Sunday law 27:45 that comes out. 27:47 And when the death decree happens it's too late. 27:49 That's when you flee from the cities, 27:51 get out at all cost and get into the country 27:53 and flee to the mountains and other things 27:55 that we know scripture talks about. 27:56 So I want to clarify that because there is this confusion. 27:59 Some have confused this with, 28:01 when the Sunday law comes flee 28:02 just to--you know, to the mountains. 28:05 But some won't. 28:06 Some will go and preach 28:07 to those who are waiting to hear 28:09 that this law is against God's law, 28:12 choose God not man made laws. 28:15 Okay, all right. All right. 28:16 We'll thank you for clarify in that, John. 28:18 Well, friends our time has come 28:19 to transition into the continuation 28:21 or the finalization of our topic. 28:24 But if you have any questions or emails 28:25 that you like to send to us here is the email address 28:28 that you can send those to. 28:29 Send them to housecalls@3abn.org. 28:33 That's housecalls@3abn.org 28:36 and we will surely get those 28:38 questions answered in a timely manner 28:40 and thank you for being supportive in all the ways 28:42 you are by your prayers and truly by your finances. 28:46 Now we've been talking about the resurrection. 28:50 I tell you so much can be said about this topic 28:54 because it's had been 28:55 the deluded topic in Christendom today. 28:58 It's not talked about as much as it should be. 29:00 And when it's referred to it's referred to 29:02 in a very non scriptural way 29:04 such as souls coming back into bodies. 29:07 And John, you have heard the stories 29:09 and it's just, it's a topic that will give 29:11 anybody who knows the truth introgression. 29:14 I mean, it really gave me a headache the other day 29:16 when I sat at a funeral 29:17 and listened to the acrobatics 29:19 that the minister was going through 29:23 even so far as saying on the authority of God's word 29:26 and he made a statement after that 29:28 that was that would make a little animal 29:31 tilted his head to a side like hearing a dog whistle. 29:34 I'm thinking to myself really? 29:36 What text, what script can you give me for that? 29:39 And much speculation has been added to the arena 29:42 of things that are not supported by scripture. 29:44 So we want to make it very clear. 29:47 What we want to communicate to you 29:48 in this topic today is that 29:51 when the Lord comes there is going to be a resurrection. 29:53 People, there is no immediate pipeline 29:56 from death to heaven. 29:58 There is going to be an event 30:00 that must take place prior to all of those 30:04 who are in the graves in order for them 30:07 to make into the kingdom. This is that great event. 30:10 So that's where we're headed today. 30:12 And that great event is the resurrection. 30:14 Is the resurrection. So what do you want to say? 30:17 Well, since I think we were going to head, 30:19 in our last program we were heading to John 5. 30:22 That's right, that's where we're headed. 30:24 And so I'm turning to John 5, right now. Okay. 30:29 And specifically verses 28 and 29. 30:32 And there, you know, 30:34 Jesus taught about the resurrection. 30:35 What did He say? What did He say? 30:38 Go ahead John, I want you read that for us 30:39 and break it down. 30:43 All right, Jesus said "Do not marvel at this, 30:47 for the hour is coming 30:48 in which all who are in the graves 30:51 will hear His voice." 30:53 Where are they, John? They are in the graves. 30:55 How many of them? All of them. Okay. 30:57 "And come forth-- those who have done good, 31:00 to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, 31:05 to the resurrection of condemnation." 31:08 Now John, if we remember the last program 31:10 I believe we clarified 31:12 those two resurrections. That's right. 31:15 The first resurrection which we want to be a part of says, 31:18 John, in Revelation Chapter 20, 31:22 is the resurrection of life. That's right. 31:24 The second resurrection which we do not want to be part of 31:27 is the resurrection to condemnation. 31:29 Which happens after the 1,000 years. 31:31 That's right. Two different resurrections. 31:35 So when we talk about the resurrection 31:38 being children of God 31:39 we're talking about the first. That's right. 31:41 And that's what we are looking forward to Jesus return, 31:44 coming to take His saints home. 31:46 But we also know at that time 31:47 those who are wicked in graves will not respond, 31:49 will not be raised until after the thousand years 31:52 when they are raised for condemnation. 31:54 That's why in Hebrews 11:35 we talked about this also. 31:57 That the saints that were facing 31:59 martyrdom and persecution and death 32:03 they had a great desire to come forth 32:04 in the better resurrection. 32:07 See, so there is a better resurrection 32:09 not just resurrection. 32:11 There are two resurrections so which one is better? 32:13 If you're a Christian you want to be in the first resurrection 32:15 that's the better resurrection. 32:17 They don't both happen at the very same time either. 32:20 There is a period of a thousand years between them, 32:24 Revelation 20:5, 6. 32:28 "But the rest of the dead live not again 32:29 until the thousand years are finished." 32:32 So that's the very important point you make. 32:34 So the question that these verses answer really quickly 32:37 well if that is, how many are in the grave, verse 28. 32:40 All are in the grave. 32:42 And so that means if they're in the grave 32:45 then they're not in the heaven. 32:47 That's the natural conclusion that this makes. 32:50 And so right away it shows us that 32:52 let's just start this from the cradle to the grave, 32:58 from the grave to the kingdom. 33:01 Not from the cradle to the kingdom. Right. 33:04 You see, cradle, death, kingdom. 33:07 That's what often thought. 33:09 It was cradle, death, grave, 33:11 then resurrection and ascension to heaven. 33:15 I think that plan has made very, very clear. 33:18 In a matter of fact 33:20 I think the natural transition here would be, 33:22 we have a point that's under number 15. 33:24 But I think if it's better right here 33:26 because we talked about the resurrection. 33:28 Let's see what happens. 33:29 Let's see what happens. 33:30 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4. 33:34 Let's see what happens 33:35 and then we'll go back to 1 Corinthians. 33:37 Because 1 Corinthians introduces us 33:39 to what happens in that resurrection. 33:41 The whole chapter is powerful. Oh. 33:43 We should make several points on those. 33:46 1 Thessalonians 4 33:50 and look at verse 16 and 17. 33:57 All right, because John said in John 5:28, 29, 34:02 all of them are in the grave, 34:04 "All of them are in the grave, and will hear his voice." 34:07 Let's go ahead and talk about this voice. 34:09 John, would you read verse 16 and 17. 34:12 "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven 34:14 with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, 34:17 and with the trumpet of God. 34:19 And the dead in Christ will rise first." 34:22 Okay there is the raising. 34:24 Yes. First. 34:26 And it's the dead in Christ, will raise first. 34:28 And they hear his voice. 34:31 "All that are in the grave shall hear his voice." Okay. 34:36 Verse 17, "Then we who are alive and remain" 34:40 in other words those who are on earth 34:41 who did not see death 34:43 "shall be caught up together with them 34:46 in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 34:48 And thus we shall always be with the Lord." 34:52 Okay, so there you go. What voice that gonna be? 34:55 They are gonna hear the voice of the Lord 34:57 when He is descending. 34:58 Now get this very important point. 35:00 They are not hearing the voice of God 35:02 when they get to heaven. 35:03 They're hearing the voice of the Lord as He is returning 35:06 and thus He fulfills the promise He made. 35:08 I will come again and receive you to myself, 35:11 John 14:1-3 that's where I'm. 35:14 That's where He is presently is, 35:16 there you may be also. 35:17 You're going to get there but I got to come to get you. 35:20 Jesus is receiving us we're not receiving Him. 35:23 That's why this verse does not, 35:26 is not the initiation 35:27 of a thousand years of peace. Right. 35:30 And this is not also bringing saints from heaven with Him 35:33 as many interpreted today. Right. 35:35 Here is how we know this. 35:37 John, look at verse 14, 35:38 and I, someone pointed this out to me not too long ago 35:41 and it was a bit of Revelation, to had missed this for years 35:44 but see it. 35:45 Verse 14, "If we believe that Jesus died and rose again. 35:48 Even so God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus." 35:52 We say, well, those who are sleeping in Jesus are in heaven 35:54 so Jesus is bringing back the saints with Him. 35:57 But notice this it says "That God will bring with him" Jesus 36:04 "those who sleep in Jesus." Right. 36:06 Who is doing the bringing? God is. 36:07 God the Father. That's right. 36:08 So God the Father is in heaven 36:10 He sends Jesus to go get the saints 36:13 and then he brings Jesus 36:14 with those saints back to Him. That's right. 36:16 So 14 cannot be interpreted as bringing Jesus, 36:19 bringing the saints with Him from heaven. Right. 36:21 Because that's the misreading of the text. 36:23 That's exactly what the text is saying. 36:25 The text is saying, hey, God is the one doing the bringing. 36:28 God as He brought Christ from the grave, 36:31 as He brought Him forth the grave, 36:33 He also is bringing, as He brought them forth. 36:36 As He brought Christ forth from the grave 36:38 He is also bringing the saints forth from the grave 36:40 and they're coming back with Jesus. That's right. 36:43 And 1 Corinthians will clarify that when we get there 36:45 because the Christ was the firstfruits. That's right. 36:48 Clearly and anyway we'll get to that. 36:50 But one of the questions we ask is, 36:53 and this is something else big, big, big hole 36:58 in the teaching that people die 36:59 and go straight to heaven. 37:00 Now of the major reasons why they cannot die 37:02 and go straight to heaven is because they can't go 37:04 in the condition that they are in. 37:06 In the condition that they're in, 37:07 is a key factor as to whether or not they could go. 37:11 1 Corinthians 15:51, 37:13 something has to happen in order for them to go. 37:16 Something has to happen first. 37:19 And it is--what has to happen first is not death, 37:22 it has to be something beyond death 37:25 that happens before they are able to go. 37:28 Verse 51, John, of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. 37:32 Well, and before we do that. It's to just close the point. 37:34 Look at verse 23 "But each one." 37:38 This is in this is all about the resurrection chapter 15. 37:42 "Each one in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, 37:46 afterward those who are Christ's 37:49 at His coming." That's right. 37:51 "So then" it says, "comes the end, 37:54 when He delivers the kingdom of God 37:55 to the Father." That's right. 37:58 So the ones who came forth, 38:00 Christ was the first one to be victorious over the grave. 38:03 That is to come forth and conquer death. 38:07 But what about the other ones 38:08 when are they going to conquer at the coming of Christ. 38:10 Afterward, yeah. And then the end comes. 38:13 That's what John is saying here 38:15 or that's what the Bible is in essence saying. 38:17 But verse 51, what has to happen before we can go. 38:21 Verse 51, okay, I will read it. 38:23 "Behold, I tell you a mystery," or I show you a mystery 38:27 "we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." 38:33 Now reflect on Job 14. 38:35 Okay, Job said, that I will wait 38:39 in the grave till my change comes. 38:41 Comes, yeah. 38:42 I'm going to wait till my change comes. 38:45 And where is it, what did he say he was gonna wait. 38:47 He says, if I wait the grave will be house. 38:50 All the days of my hard labor 38:52 I will wait till my change comes. 38:55 So what change is he talking about? 38:57 He knew he couldn't go that way. 38:58 He knew that he couldn't go-- 39:00 he could not go into the presence 39:02 of an immortal God with a mortal flesh. 39:05 Thought he was changed he could not. 39:07 Until he was changed. 39:08 And so when you think about the change 39:10 the question is what change is going to take place. 39:13 Well, I will look at the verse 52. 39:15 John, read that for us. 39:16 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 39:19 at the last trumpet. 39:21 For the trumpet will sound, 39:22 and the dead will be raised incorruptible, 39:24 and we shall be changed." 39:26 This is the link directly to 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4. 39:31 We just read it, at the last trumpet. 39:33 Okay, so these are the same event. 39:36 These two scriptures we just read from Thessalonians 39:38 and this is the same event. 39:40 And then it says in verse 53, 39:41 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, 39:44 and this mortal must put on immortality." 39:47 What is the word-- what does the must mean? 39:51 No options. That's it. 39:53 To go you have to put on incorruptibility. 39:56 You have put on immortality. 39:59 "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, 40:01 and this mortal has put on immortality, 40:04 then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, 40:08 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'" That's right. 40:11 There is no victory until the resurrection. 40:14 That's right. Okay, powerful point. 40:17 Until the resurrection, 40:18 the only victory there is going to be 40:20 is the victory of Christ over the grave. 40:23 Then the saints over the grave 40:25 will happen at the resurrection. 40:27 That's where that whole-- that's where whole thing is. 40:29 "O death, where is thy sting? 40:31 O grave, where is thy victory?" That's right. 40:34 See, but until then, 40:36 the grave is going to appear to be victorious 40:38 but the Christ has the keys to death and of the grave. 40:42 Well, I think verse 50 really also is the kind of the book 40:45 and what we are saying here. 40:46 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood 40:48 cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 40:52 nor does corruption inherit incorruption." 40:55 So first, you know, verse 50, 40:57 the first statement that Paul makes here 40:59 before what we just read is, 41:01 you can't go in your current condition. 41:03 You can't, and that's why Jesus 41:05 over and over and over again said to disciples 41:08 "Where I'm going you know the way, 41:10 where I'm going you cannot come." 41:13 You can't come 41:14 because you can't go the way you are. That's right. 41:17 And--watch the change Philippians 3:20, 21. 41:21 Lets' look at the Bible and make it very clear. 41:23 Why is, why is this so important for this event to happen 41:26 because you cannot go to heaven 41:28 in stand in the presence of an immortal God 41:30 with the mortal flesh. You'll cease to exist. 41:34 Philippians 3:20, 21, notice what the Bible says. 41:39 "For our citizenship is in heaven, 41:42 from which we also eagerly wait 41:45 for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 41:48 who will transform our lowly body 41:52 that it may be conformed to His glorious body, 41:58 according to the working by which He is able 42:01 even to subdue all things to Himself." 42:04 There is a transformation from the lowly to the glorious. 42:10 And Paul from the mortal to the immortal, 42:14 from the corruptible to the incorruptible. 42:16 And until that happens, 42:17 we're not going anywhere. That's right. 42:19 See that's is to-- 42:21 We wait. We wait. 42:24 Okay now what details, we just read the details. 42:28 But go to Romans, Romans Chapter 6. 42:33 Romans Chapter 6, 42:35 well way down to Number 14 here. 42:37 Romans 6 and I want to lead into that 42:40 by asking the question 42:44 what characters what characterization 42:47 or what category will be characterized in, 42:50 in order to prepare us for the kingdom. 42:53 Romans 6:8, 9. 43:00 Right, Roman 6:8, 9. 43:07 Okay. 43:09 Now it says here and I-- 43:12 how does the Bible teaches that we finally take 43:14 on the character of Christ knowing this. 43:17 "Now if we died with Christ." Verse 8 of Romans 6. 43:22 "We believe that we shall also live with Him, 43:26 knowing that Christ, 43:27 having been raised from the dead, 43:29 dies no more. 43:31 Death no longer has dominion over Him." 43:34 So the question is, how do we know 43:36 that we eventually become like Christ? 43:39 What is that text revealed? 43:41 We no longer die. 43:43 No, because Christ is risen too. 43:45 Yeah, you're right. 43:46 He is risen, but because we are now like Him 43:53 and He no longer dies we no longer die. 43:56 That's why the Bible says in Revelation 20:6. 43:59 "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. 44:02 Over such the second death has no power." 44:05 There is a part that we are glossing over here. 44:07 And we need to just make a quick statement about. 44:08 There is some who believe that 44:10 in heaven we will be living in spirit form. Very good. 44:14 That we just be floating around with harps. 44:18 Just in this ethereal kind of state. Cloud nine. 44:24 But that's not what the Bible teaches. 44:25 The Bible teaches that we will have bodies 44:29 not unlike the ones we have now 44:32 but incorruptible-- That's right. 44:34 That live and breathe 44:36 and commune with God face to face. 44:39 And then after the thousand years 44:40 when the New Jerusalem comes down 44:41 and sits on this earth 44:43 we will continue to go about business on this earth 44:45 as God intended from the very beginning. 44:47 Building houses, growing gardens, 44:50 doing things that we enjoy doing today. 44:52 So the heavenly existence 44:54 and then the new earth existence 44:57 is not some spirit formed state. 44:59 God has always intended to correct 45:02 what He established in Eden. 45:04 Which was a man and a woman 45:06 who when He finished the creation of them said, 45:08 it was very good. That's right. 45:10 He is bringing us back to that original condition 45:14 and then of course, life is lived eternal. 45:18 There is no spirit. 45:22 There is no spirit form, outside of the body. 45:24 There is no life outside of our body. 45:26 Matter of fact let's go ahead and verify that. 45:28 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 45:29 we just talked about that moment ago. 45:30 Let's spend a little bit of time 45:32 in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15 and see this whole-- 45:37 this whole unfolding of what the condition 45:40 were going to be in is going to be really be. 45:42 All right, let's go ahead 45:45 and verse 35 of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 45:49 Paul directly addresses the issue. 45:51 Yeah, he does. He just says it here. 45:53 "But someone will say, 'How are the dead raised up? 45:58 And what's the next question, John? 46:00 "And with what body do they come?" 46:01 Okay, right away with what body 46:04 not with what spirit. That's right. 46:06 He makes it clear because you can't-- 46:08 when Jesus came forth from the grave 46:10 He didn't' come forth as a spirit. 46:13 When He ascended to heaven Mary was about to grip Him, 46:16 He didn't go to heaven as a spirit He was bodily form. 46:20 She was about to hold on to Him 46:22 when she saw Him in the garden. 46:23 He said wait, wait a minute, wait a minute, 46:24 do not cling to me. 46:26 I'm not going to heaven. I'm not going to my father. 46:29 So now look at verse 36. 46:31 "Foolish one, what you sow 46:33 is not made alive unless it dies. 46:38 And what you sow, you do not sow 46:41 that body that shall be, but mere grain-- 46:44 perhaps wheat or some other grain. 46:47 But God gives it a body as He pleases, 46:53 and to each seed its own body." 46:56 Let's stop briefly and see what it says. 46:58 When you get an orange the orange is the body. 47:04 In the very same sense 47:05 where does the orange come from the seed? 47:07 Now if somebody gives you a seed and say here is an orange. 47:09 You'd say it's not an orange that's a seed. 47:12 So the life that Christ gives 47:14 puts within us ends up having a body. 47:19 He doesn't put the breath of the life in us 47:20 and we just aimlessly 47:23 float around the earth as a breath of life. 47:25 We all have a body. 47:27 He did that in the very beginning, 47:28 formed us from the dust of the ground. 47:30 Breath into our nostrils gave us life 47:32 and from that point on we all had a body. 47:34 So that's what is actually being said here. 47:36 It may be, weed, it may be an orange, 47:38 that's what he was pointed out in the earlier verse. 47:41 But once that life once it comes to a life form 47:45 it's got to have a body. 47:47 That's what is being said. So now look at verse 39. 47:51 Go, John, read that transition and let's go ahead. 47:55 "All flesh is not the same flesh, 47:56 but there is one kind of flesh of men, 47:59 another flesh of animals, 48:00 another of fish, and another of birds. 48:04 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies, 48:07 but the glory of the celestial is one, 48:09 and the glory of the terrestrial is another." 48:11 That's right, there's heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. 48:13 Everybody is got a body so far. Everybody is got a body. 48:16 "There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, 48:18 and another the glory of the stars, 48:20 for one star differs from another star in glory. 48:24 So also is the resurrection of the dead. 48:27 The body is sown in corruption, 48:29 it is raised in incorruption." 48:30 Okay stop before you go any further. 48:32 The body is sown in the incorruption 48:35 it's raised in incorruption 48:37 and doesn't it talk about a spirit there. 48:39 Body, body. That's right. 48:41 Before and after. Go on, go on. 48:44 43, it says, "It is sown in dishonor, 48:46 it is raised in glory. 48:48 It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 48:51 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" 48:54 Okay, but now let's not stop 48:55 and say it's raised a spirit body. 48:57 It's raised the spiritual body. 48:59 Spiritual is totally different than spirit form. 49:01 Thank you. Yes. 49:02 But some people, ah, there it is. 49:04 No spiritual, not spirit body. Go ahead. 49:10 "There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." 49:13 You know, the thought is coming up in mind here John 49:15 sometimes when we argue over the word 49:20 we're arguing to prove our point 49:22 rather than letting the words speak to us itself. 49:26 The statement that you made, 49:27 I have been through over and over again 49:29 and you're reading through down 49:30 something it's very clear. 49:31 And then you come to, something like this, 49:33 its sawn in natural body it raises spiritual. 49:34 Ah, there it is. You know what they're saying? 49:38 That's my point. That one word. 49:39 That little thing. That proves my point. 49:43 We're not, I'm not here, 49:44 and you're not here to prove our point. 49:46 We just here to put the Bible. 49:47 We're here to read the Bible 49:48 and when you go through all this commentary 49:51 in regard to the body and you come to one little word 49:55 and you're trying dismissing everything 49:58 you just read to prove your point. 50:00 You're not letting the Bible speak 50:02 you're speaking for the Bible. Right. 50:04 And that is dangerous ground. Yeah. 50:06 And that's the center of most every argument 50:08 theologically that Christians have amongst each other. 50:11 Where they're to prove our point 50:12 rather than that the Bible speaks 50:14 for itself and proves its point. 50:15 Now what I like a new Christian 50:17 I know that has-has been having 50:20 some of these battles with relatives. 50:22 And they have done that, 50:23 they have kind of taken the absent from the body 50:25 to be the present with the Lord. They have left at there. 50:27 They don't' want to go any further. 50:28 He said, keep on reading. 50:31 Let's read the verses before that 50:33 and lets read the verses after that. 50:35 Don't just pick up the part of the verse you like. 50:38 And that's the point where we are making. 50:39 So you notice we began at verse 35. 50:41 We're keep-- we're continuing to go. 50:43 So far we haven't seen anything 50:45 but, then now the very next verse, 50:48 verse 45 is going to explain 50:50 the natural verses the spiritual. 50:53 Go ahead, John. 50:54 "And so it is written, 'The first man 50:56 Adam became a living being.' 50:58 'The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.'" 51:02 There you go. Now get this verse 46. 51:04 "However, the spiritual is not first, 51:07 but the natural, and afterward the spiritual." 51:10 And this is not meaning spirit to them. Exactly. 51:13 This is spiritual body which is spirit regenerated body. 51:18 That's right to me. That's the spiritual body. 51:20 That means made in image of Christ. 51:22 That's mean holy, if you want to use the right word. 51:25 If somebody says I'm spiritual that means you're holy. 51:28 That's what that means. 51:29 Why you're spiritual as many as received him 51:32 to them he gave power to be sons and daughters. 51:35 If you live, if you live in a spirit 51:38 also walk in the spirit. 51:40 You know, walking around under the theory of body 51:41 you're walking in the spiritual life. 51:43 You're living here, you're spiritual person 51:45 not a spirit person. 51:47 Okay, keep going. Verse 47. 51:50 "The first man was of the earth, made of dust, 51:53 the second Man is the Lord from heaven." Okay. 51:56 "As was the man of dust, so also are 51:59 those who are made of dust, and as is the heavenly Man, 52:03 so also are those who are heavenly. 52:06 And as we have borne the image of--" 52:09 No, read that again. 52:11 "And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, 52:14 we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man." 52:17 Okay, notice what are we going to bear? Image. 52:21 See as we have been like Adam 52:24 now we're going to be like Christ. 52:26 And that's what verse, 52:27 that's what verse 22 was all about. 52:30 If you look earlier verse 22 in this very same chapter. 52:33 "As in Adam all die, 52:35 even so in Christ shall all be made alive." 52:38 This is how you were when you were Adam. 52:40 You were destined for death 52:42 but in Christ you'll be made alive. 52:45 That's why "You have been bearing 52:47 the image of the man of dust for so long." 52:50 But now that you're Christian 52:51 one day you'll bear the image of Christ the heavenly man. 52:55 And verse 50 to top it off. 52:59 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood 53:01 cannot inherit the kingdom of God, 53:02 nor does corruption inherit incorruption." 53:04 Okay, so now flesh and blood. 53:06 What flesh and blood is he talking about? 53:08 He is not talking about 53:09 oh you're not going to have flesh 53:11 when you go to heaven. 53:12 Oh, you're going to be a body without any blood in it. 53:14 That's not what he is talking about. 53:15 He is talking about the very, 53:17 the very formula of the corrupt man. 53:19 Adam was corrupt. He had flesh and blood. 53:22 But the Bible in essence saying, 53:24 hey, that's not the qualification. 53:26 You have to be born of in corruption. 53:31 That is no longer able to send, 53:33 no longer able to physically die 53:36 in order to make it to the kingdom. 53:37 You know, it's a different 53:39 also a different approach to understanding this here 53:43 because God when he created Adam and Eve 53:47 he created them as good, 53:50 very good, perfect beings. That's right. 53:53 To say that when He redeems or restores-- 53:57 all the language uses the Bible. 53:59 You know saves when he makes everything right 54:03 to save it its going to be a spirit formed 54:05 totally different than the original form 54:07 given to Adam to Eve 54:10 it doesn't fit the language of restoration. That's right. 54:14 Where of recreation. 54:16 God is not going to do something totally different. 54:19 He is bringing it back to what He desired to be 54:21 from the beginning which is very good. 54:24 And that's an important thing to understand 54:26 because people have made this out to be 54:28 a complete different experience. 54:30 And when we get to heaven how will we know each other? 54:32 You know, it's so much 54:34 the bad theology out there on this. 54:36 And the point you're making is very well taken, John. 54:38 I want to reiterate that just to lock it down. 54:41 When a person comes to your home 54:42 and you say well my home has been disrepair. 54:45 And he said, okay, we're going to reconstruct it. 54:48 They're not going to knock it down and rebuild it. 54:50 Unless you say, if they say we're going to demolish it. 54:52 That's completely different 54:54 but the restoration process 54:55 is like the reconstruction project. 54:57 Well, we're gonna restore your floors. 54:59 We're gonna restore the ceiling. 55:00 We're gonna restore the brick on the outside. 55:02 We're gonna reface it. 55:03 We're restoring, we're returning it to 55:05 its original, its original condition. 55:08 Like just the other day, John, I saw this on the news 55:11 somewhere in the Midwest 55:12 I think in the fields of Kentucky somewhere 55:14 or Indiana there was a whole lot of cars. 55:17 There was a dealership that closed like 50 years ago. 55:20 And all these cars that were there like 57 Chevy, Impala. 55:25 You know, all these cars that were all 55:27 they were never driven 55:28 some of them have one mile on it 55:30 some of them have 3 miles on it. 55:31 These cars were never driven 55:33 perfectly off the showroom floor 55:35 the only thing is happened was 55:37 they set out in the old in the air 55:38 and rusted the tire rotted away 55:41 but as far as working condition, 55:43 they're an immaculate condition. 55:46 And these cars sold one for the $1,30,000. 55:49 One for $94,000 far above what were what they cost 55:54 when they were first made. 55:55 My point is this, if you think you're valuable 55:58 in the condition that Adam put you 56:00 and you way to you are we made in the image of Christ. 56:03 You're value will increase exponentially 56:05 because the Adam model could die 56:08 but the Christ model will be alive from ever more. 56:12 That's the way I want to see that connection. 56:14 So when we look at this, 56:15 we're saying, you know, death is, 56:17 death is a powerful thing but death has no power 56:19 over what the grave is going to do for us. 56:21 Matter of fact, as we are winding this up 56:24 go to Philippians 3:10, 11. 56:26 See if we could get one more in there 56:27 before we wind up. 56:29 I turn there really quickly. 56:30 Philippians 3:10, 11. I will read it. 56:33 "That I may know Him 56:34 and the power of His resurrection, 56:37 and the fellowship of His sufferings, 56:39 being conformed to His death, 56:41 if, by any means, I may attain 56:43 to the resurrection from the dead." 56:46 Okay see notice what the aim of Paul was. 56:48 People try to use Paul to say, 56:50 oh, that's not what he meant. 56:51 But Paul's aim was, I want to attain 56:54 to the resurrection from the dead. 56:56 Not to the direct route to heaven. 56:58 Anything, John, before I transition now? 57:00 No I think this is the point that 57:01 all the authors of the New Testament 57:02 are really bringing us to. 57:04 They're pointing to the resurrection. That's right. 57:06 And this is a last teaching in many respects 57:10 In Lieu of Rapture and other things. 57:13 Let's restore, let's bring it back to its proper place. 57:15 We're waiting for the second coming 57:17 and the resurrection 57:18 of by Jesus of the dead. That's right. 57:21 And so friends, let's get ready for this event. 57:23 You may not live until Jesus comes. 57:26 You're best bet is to make sure that you're in Christ 57:29 so that when the resurrection comes you'll be ready. 57:32 Have a great day in Christ. |
Revised 2014-12-17