Participants: Jim Reinking
Series Code: LDS
Program Code: LDS000013
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00:34 I'm taking you back,
00:36 because you know there is this template 00:38 this underlying biblical theme of the Bible 00:41 that really pulls all of the great themes 00:44 of the Bible together. 00:46 And so as we have come 00:48 to a prophetic sequence this weekend 00:51 I want to remind you 00:53 of some of the important aspects of this. 00:55 Going back to the very beginning of time 00:58 we are reminded that God in the beginning 01:01 had this wonderful plan for this planet of ours. 01:05 And He put everything in a order 01:07 as He created it six days He did it, 01:10 and when it was done He declared it was very good. 01:15 Not just good, it was very good. 01:17 And when God says something is very good 01:19 let me say-- tell you is perfect. 01:22 And it was a paradise that God intended for us to inhabit. 01:27 He intended for us to live out our lives, 01:31 well, really for eternity in this place 01:34 in which everything was good 01:35 but obviously something went wrong, didn't it, 01:38 because that's not the kind of place 01:39 that we are living in today and we know that it all began 01:42 where as fantastic we've seen it all began there in heaven. 01:47 All that trouble all of the that rebelliousness 01:51 and all of the consequence of sin 01:54 that we see being played out upon this planet 01:56 actually began there in God's presence 01:59 among the angels of God in heaven. 02:01 And remember how many of them according to the Bible 02:03 join Lucifer and his angels of rebellion? 02:07 How many of the angels? A third. 02:10 We know that from Revelation Chapter 12 02:12 and they didn't prevail. 02:14 Where did they end up going? 02:17 Right here to this planet. 02:20 They were cast down to the earth. 02:22 But remember initially 02:24 they only had access at what point, 02:27 what place? Yes, I hear it. 02:31 I hear it, at the tree-- 02:32 at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 02:35 That was the only place 02:37 and that's where it would have remained. 02:39 I think that at some point God 02:40 well, said okay, it's over. 02:43 You know, but it was there faithful decision was made 02:47 by Adam and Eve and so we as human race 02:51 came in position of this knowledge of evil 02:53 something that God never intended. 02:56 He never intended for us to know or to feel, 02:59 to hear, to see the kind of things 03:01 that we see in such a broken world 03:04 that we live in today. 03:06 God had this problem and of course God stepped in, 03:09 He didn't have to He could have walked away 03:13 but God stepped in because He couldn't let us go. 03:17 He loved us and He provided a way out 03:21 and there's a Calvary 03:22 that we find our way out of the mess, right. 03:26 It's at Calvary, its everything, 03:28 it is central and so as I shared with you before 03:34 you know, it all begin at the tree of knowledge 03:36 of good and evil that faithful decision, 03:38 there is another decision to be made at another tree. 03:42 The tree where Jesus-- 03:45 the tree on which Jesus was crucified the cross of Calvary. 03:48 And then what else have we being studying? 03:50 Well, this weekend we discovered 03:52 that Jesus in heaven is now our heavenly intercessor. 03:55 He is our high priest. 03:58 Our subject last night, and this morning 04:00 as we were into the 2,300 day prophecy and if you miss it, 04:05 we are just gonna have to get that information 04:07 into your hands but it was talking about-- 04:11 we were talking about biblically 04:12 what Jesus has been doing 04:15 and how is all going to be rapped up. 04:19 This morning we discovered its gonna be all rapped up 04:22 in the judgment of God's people 04:25 and then of course, we have studied it, 04:28 this is exciting part of it as we look to prophecy 04:31 and that is that Jesus is coming back in power 04:34 and glory for His people. 04:36 And we picked up on that theme again this morning, didn't we? 04:39 You know, when Jesus is finished with His heavenly intercessor 04:41 He is gonna come back in power and glory 04:44 and then He is going to make a new heaven 04:47 and new earth, doesn't He? 04:49 Paradise is going to be restored 04:52 and every theme of the Bible fits into this template. 04:57 We keep that in details to it. 05:00 But it fits and it really makes the Bible much more sensible 05:03 when we understand the template. 05:05 So one of the thing I would point out 05:09 and I know I have done this before 05:10 but because there is some miss understanding 05:13 about prophecy we have to realize 05:16 as we are in this prophetic sequences as we are this weekend 05:20 that there is a direct connection 05:23 between the gospel and the prophetic things 05:27 that we find in the Bible. 05:29 I remind you that as Jesus was coming down 05:32 to those last few days, 05:34 just before His crucifixion 05:36 that last week before His crucifixion 05:38 Jesus made some of the most startling 05:41 and articulated some of the most important prophecies 05:44 that we have in the Bible. 05:45 We got in Matthew 24 then 21 05:47 other passage there in the gospels. 05:50 So it is fascinated me that as Jesus was facing Calvary, 05:56 He actually was looking forward down to the end. 06:02 And my friend, what Jesus did for us at Calvary 06:05 guarantees there is an end 06:07 to the mess that we are in, right? 06:09 And He guarantees this wonderful future, 06:13 this is the end point of the prophecies 06:15 the wonderful future 06:17 that Jesus purchased for us at Calvary. 06:19 So there are prophetic implications 06:21 that are all wrapped up in the gospel 06:24 and to not take note of the prophetic implications 06:28 is to get an important aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 06:35 And of course our study tonight on 144,000 06:38 once again takes us 06:40 to the fascinating apocalyptic book of Revelation 06:44 as we consider the significance 06:47 of this very unique group in Bible prophecy. 06:50 Take your Bibles and turn with me 06:51 to Revelation Chapter 7 is found 06:54 in the New Testament at about page 192 06:57 depending what edition you happen to have in your hand. 07:01 Revelation Chapter 7 and I'm gonna introduce it here 07:05 with the first four verse that we have here. 07:07 Revelation 7 and beginning with verse 1 07:13 where we find it says "After this I saw four angels 07:18 standing at the four corners of the earth, 07:20 holding back the four winds of the earth, 07:22 so that no wind would blow on the earth 07:25 or on the sea or on any tree." 07:29 And immediately we take now very consistently 07:31 with what we found in our study the Book of Revelation 07:34 that we find images that are prophetic 07:37 and that are symbolic in nature, right? 07:40 It's talking about winds blowing, 07:42 angels at the four corners of the earth. 07:45 You know, that's a picture we have verse 2, 07:48 "And I saw another angel ascending 07:50 from the rising of the sun, 07:51 having the seal of the living God 07:54 and he cried out with a loud voice 07:55 to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm 07:58 the earth and the sea and saying, 08:00 'Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees 08:03 until we have sealed the bond-servants 08:05 of our God on their foreheads.' 08:08 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 08:11 one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed 08:13 from every tribe of the sons of Israel." 08:17 So we really are into interested in knowing 08:19 what is this really all about? 08:21 What is this the wind that is being held back 08:23 by these angelic forces? 08:25 What is that all about? 08:27 And what is this matter of the sealing, 08:30 the angelic beings are holding back the winds 08:33 until the one hundred forty-four thousand 08:37 are sealed in their forehead. 08:41 Now, in contrast to this matter of the sealing 08:44 that we will be examining tonight apart, 08:47 tomorrow night we come to the Mark of the Beast 08:49 we will find in contrast 08:53 that those who sell themselves out to the final apostasy 08:57 are going to be marked, 09:00 marked in their forehead and in their hand. 09:04 Now, that's my subject tomorrow night 09:05 so I'm not say any more than that 09:07 other than the point out 09:09 that there are going to be two only two groups 09:12 when it comes down to the end. 09:15 Those who receive the seal of God in their forehead 09:18 and those who receive the Mark of the Beast. 09:22 And-- but anyway what is this talking about 09:26 when it talks about again this angelic beings 09:28 holding back the four winds on the earth. 09:31 Well, again the language is prophetic. 09:34 It is the language that relates very specifically 09:36 to the tribulation and you know, 09:38 as you are been with us 09:39 we really haven't talked at all up 09:41 to this point about the tribulation 09:42 and how this all fits into end time. 09:45 I'm kind of surprised some of you haven't asked me 09:47 that question, how about the tribulation? 09:50 How about the antichrist? 09:51 Of course, the antichrist is tomorrow night 09:53 though I have a little segment on it tonight. 09:56 But its really talking about the tribulation 09:59 and in the Book of Daniel by the way, 10:02 we have a reference to tribulation in Daniel 12:1 10:07 it describes it as the time of trouble. 10:10 Sometimes it's described as Jacob's trouble. 10:14 And in Daniel 7:2 we find a reference 10:17 to the time of tribulation it's called-- 10:20 it's in reference to the winds of strife 10:23 is what the Bible tells us. 10:25 So we have a period of tribulation 10:30 and yet remember-- remember that song 10:32 "The Darkest Hour Comes Just Before Dawn." 10:40 You kind of remember that-- that's not biblical but that-- 10:42 that's something important, doesn't it? 10:44 Darkest hour just before dawn. 10:46 Now, the question is 10:48 who is it that's going to be sealed? 10:50 I mean all of this is being held back, 10:52 the time of tribulation is not gonna happen 10:55 until the sealing work is done. 10:57 So who is it that's gonna be sealed? 10:59 And as you look through the chapter 11:00 it talks about the various tribes of the Israel 11:03 and so many are sealed from this tribe 11:04 et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 11:07 And one of the questions that we must ask ourselves 11:09 it's from the Book of revelation in particular, 11:11 is this literal? 11:13 Is it literally talking about Israel 11:18 or is something else going on? 11:21 Now, again what do we know about the Book of revelation? 11:24 We know that we find 11:26 prophetic symbolisms embodied in the Book of Revelation. 11:30 And could there be something prophetically 11:33 and symbolic indicated here in reference to the sealing 11:38 of the various tribes of Israel. 11:42 Which brings up an interesting question, 11:44 it's a vital question. 11:47 So what is God's-- 11:49 God's purpose for the Jews in the end time? 11:53 Is there a purpose for the Jews in the end time? 11:56 And I'm here to show you tonight 11:57 that God has a purpose for the Jews in the end time. 12:03 It may not be quite what some would tell us. 12:06 Let's look at Exodus 19 the Old Testament page 55, 12:10 page 55 Exodus 19 12:13 and we are gonna be looking at verses 5 and 6. 12:16 For you see there are some interpreters of the Bible 12:19 that would represent that all of the covenant promises 12:22 given to ancient Israel were given unconditionally. 12:25 They are irrevocable is the word that is often used 12:29 and so that is a question that we must examine is it so. 12:33 I mean, their fate has been sealed, has it been sealed? 12:38 They cannot fail. 12:40 Well, as we come to Exodus 19 12:42 we do remember that the children of Israel 12:45 have been brought out of the Egyptian bondage, 12:47 they are Sinai as God has taken His people to Himself 12:52 as He is organizing them as His people. 12:54 And notice what we find here Exodus 19 12:56 as I said in beginning we are looking at verse 5, 13:00 it says "Now then," as God is speaking 13:03 "Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice 13:06 and keep My covenant, 13:08 then you shall be My own possession 13:10 among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine, 13:13 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests 13:15 and a holy nation. 13:17 These are the words 13:18 that you shall speak to the sons of Israel." 13:21 It is a significant statement 13:23 that regards to the status of God's people 13:26 in the Old Testament. 13:28 And the question is, is the promise 13:32 by which they were established as His people is it irrevocable, 13:37 is it unconditional? 13:39 Take a look at the passage 13:41 and you tell me what do you find there? 13:45 There is that two letter word "If" 13:49 back there in verse 5 the worst part of it. 13:51 Now then "if." 13:54 you know a lot rises and falls on the word if 13:59 and what are the conditions of this condition 14:01 or what are the conditions if what? 14:05 Well, let's list them. 14:06 Number one that we find, 14:07 If you obey my voice, God says. 14:14 Now, some people little bit uncomfortable 14:16 with this idea of obedience 14:18 and this idea that we may be actually accountable to God 14:23 but remember we're accountable to one that really loves us 14:26 and has our interest and wants to save us. 14:29 So, you know, 14:31 that are to color our understanding 14:32 of accountability but never the less 14:35 because we have the power of choice. 14:37 There is this matter of accountability? 14:40 If you obey my voice 14:41 what's the other one that you see? 14:44 Number two, If you keep my covenant. 14:46 There are two conditions 14:48 that are indicated right here in Exodus 19 14:51 as it relates to the people of God 14:53 in the Old Testament. 14:55 And so we have to ask ourselves the question 14:58 were they faithful to the covenant? 15:01 Were did they obey the voice of the Lord their God? 15:04 And we have been through this impart 15:06 as we were in end of Daniel Chapter 9 15:09 and I told you take a look at 2 Chronicles, 15:13 take a look at 1 and 2 kings 15:14 the historical books of record of ancient Israel 15:19 and it really does seem like they were more in rebellion 15:22 than they were in a state of faithfulness to God, right? 15:27 That seems to be the same record of it. 15:30 So did they obey the voice of Lord their God? 15:32 Well, remember as what Jesus said in John 1:11 15:35 it says of Jesus, "He came unto His own" 15:39 who were His own? He came to His people. 15:44 And remember we have been studying it 15:46 just recently again. 15:47 We have in the Old Testament 15:49 all of these messianic prophecies. 15:51 We just went through Daniel 9 15:53 and those messianic prophecies 15:55 that predicted the coming of Jesus, right? 15:58 We just went through that. 15:59 Again this morning we went through 16:02 the 70 weeks that been decreased for your people 16:05 to make an end to sin, to make a-- 16:07 you know, to make atonement. 16:10 All of those sins wrapped up in the coming of Jesus 16:14 a period of probation that was given to them. 16:17 And so He came to His own. 16:19 I mean it had been predicted. 16:22 It was foundational to the covenant promises 16:25 that were given to the people of God 16:26 in the Old Testament and sadly it says, 16:29 "And His own received Him not." 16:35 And if they didn't receive Him it means they rejected Him. 16:38 Now, that's a general realization 16:40 because there were many that did embrace Him 16:43 as Lord and Savior 16:44 but as a whole the nation rejected Him 16:49 and what is the consequence you tell me for individual for 16:53 or any nation who rejects the Lord of life. 16:58 What's the consequence? 17:01 It's the rejection of salvation. 17:04 Can God save anybody 17:07 that has rejected Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? 17:10 They made it impossibility. 17:12 I tell you God is not-- its not God been obituary, 17:16 we have a choice and we have a decision in this 17:19 and sad to say that's, 17:21 that's what we find here in John 1:11 they-- 17:23 He came to His own and rejected them not. 17:25 Take a look at Matthew 23 the New Testament page 20. 17:30 Page 20, Matthew 23 and beginning with verse 31. 17:35 And Jesus is coming down to the end of His ministry 17:38 as we come here to Matthew 23. 17:41 His death, His crucifixion and death is just before Him. 17:45 The leadership of the nation evolved in this conspiracy 17:50 to eradicate to get rid of Him 17:53 and my friend all that love could 17:55 do they still had harden their hearts against Him 17:58 and Jesus did not leave them unwarned 18:01 to the consequences that would follow. 18:07 So here we are Matthew 23 and beginning with verse 31 18:11 where He says, so you-- 18:14 and He is speaking to scribes and Pharisees. 18:17 You can see that back in verse 29. 18:19 "So you testify against yourselves, 18:22 that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets." 18:26 Jesus said. 18:28 And then verse 32 18:30 "Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers." 18:34 I mean this is pretty strong isn't it? 18:39 You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets, 18:42 what was that all about? 18:44 And remember we studied the context in Daniel 9 18:49 as Daniel is confessing the sins of His people. 18:52 Remember I call it the rebelliousness. 18:56 Their unwillingness to listen to take council 19:00 and they rejected 19:02 at certain periods of time in their history. 19:04 They rejected the testimony of the prophets 19:07 and historically we know that there were periods 19:09 in which they actually were out to eradicate the prophets, 19:12 they murdered them. 19:14 For instance at the time of-- of King Ahab and Jezebel 19:18 they have been hunting down the prophets 19:20 to eliminate them. 19:22 They didn't want the prophetic voice 19:23 to be heard among God's people. 19:26 And then there is something-- something about verse 32, 19:28 it says, "Fill up" there is something about filling up, 19:32 "The measure of the guilt of your fathers." 19:35 Something in the rejection of Jesus Christ 19:38 was involved for them 19:39 in filling up the measure of the guilt. 19:41 And again we are reminded of the centuries 19:44 in which God waited 19:46 and sort of deal with them patiently. 19:49 Remember what courage we took out of the patience of God 19:51 and dealing with His people in the Old Testament. 19:55 And to be reminded that God has dealt patiently with you 19:59 and He has dealt patiently with me 20:02 and He has done it-- 20:03 His patience comes out of tremendous love 20:07 and a tremendous longing in the heart of God 20:10 that we might be saved. 20:12 And when God sends us these messages to the prophets 20:15 and we find these messages of God's word 20:17 and yes, sometimes they cut across the natural-- 20:20 the grain of our natural inclination 20:22 just that will happen because 20:24 we have been corrupted by this knowledge of evil, right. 20:27 And it may not always you know, 20:30 its not always just feeling good sometimes 20:33 you know, the honesty the Spirit of God convicting us 20:38 that we are sinners, we are lost, 20:39 we are in darkness without Him 20:42 is really the bases on which 20:44 we discover how great our need really is of the Savior 20:51 and by His grace we come and respond. 20:54 But we have a choice, they had a choice 20:57 and they made the wrong choice, didn't they? 20:59 And then its verse 33, Jesus said, 21:02 "You serpents, You brood of vipers, 21:04 how will you escape the sentence of hell?" 21:08 They weren't listening, 21:09 all that love could do they were not listening. 21:12 They had been hardening their hearts 21:14 and Jesus was seeking to rest their attention. 21:21 He was seeking to reach them, 21:23 He was sharing with them the consequences 21:26 of what their actions were leading them. 21:30 He didn't leave them unwarned. 21:33 He deeply loved them, didn't He? 21:36 He deeply love them 21:38 but He knew what was going to happen. 21:40 Verse 34, He says, 21:42 "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets 21:44 and wise men and scribes 21:45 some of them you will kill and crucify, 21:48 some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, 21:51 and persecute from city to city. 21:55 So that upon you may fall the guilt of all" 21:58 man this important statement 22:00 "The guilt of the righteous blood shed on earth, 22:02 from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, 22:06 the son of Berechiah, 22:07 whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." 22:10 How could it be guilt to all the innocent blood 22:12 ever spilled on this planet? 22:17 My friend, in being guilty of the blood of the son of God 22:21 who remember is the life giver as our Creator. 22:26 There was a very real sense 22:27 that they were guilty of all the innocent blood 22:32 that had ever been split. 22:34 Verse 36, "Truly I say to you, 22:36 all these things will come upon this generation." 22:42 And then we get a real glimpse 22:44 of what was going on in the heart of Jesus 22:46 as we come to verse 37, 22:49 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets 22:52 and stones those who are sent to her! 22:56 How often I wanted" 22:59 oh, that deep see the desire in the heart of Jesus. 23:02 "How I wanted to gather your children together, 23:06 the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 23:10 and you were unwilling." 23:14 Jesus was heart broken. 23:17 He knew the storm that was gathering upon His people. 23:21 He knew what was going to happen 23:23 as we study just in Daniel 9. 23:28 You know, after the 69 weeks 23:30 the Messiah would be cut off and have nothing and the people, 23:32 the prince who is to come and destroy the city 23:34 and the sanctuary wars are determined-- 23:37 determined desolations is what was predicted. 23:43 Jesus knew what was going to happen. 23:46 He was heart broken of what was gonna happen 23:48 to His people that were in transcend 23:50 and with this wonderful beautiful message of His coming 23:55 and when it happened they rejected Him. 23:59 I hope that doesn't happen to one of us 24:02 knowing something that the depths of God's love 24:05 was that we would harden our hearts in rebelliousness 24:08 as they did He longed, He longed to gather them, 24:13 He longed to shelter them from the gathering storm. 24:17 And My friend, there is a storm coming, 24:20 the tribulation is before us. 24:23 We don't know again you know, 24:25 this matter of time that you know 24:27 we are in this financial crisis 24:29 that's storm enough right now for some of us, right? 24:32 We just want to survive, we want to get through it 24:35 and you know, there are millions 24:37 who are losing jobs and losing homes 24:40 and let me tell you they are going 24:41 through their times of tribulation. 24:43 And let me tell you God is not this interested in 24:48 what's happening in people's lives. 24:51 Is He? 24:52 He is not this interested 24:53 in what's happening in your life. 24:56 You know, I have never seen this 24:58 because I didn't grow up on the farm now Gale, 25:01 I don't know if you know this about Gale, 25:03 Gale grew up on the farm. 25:04 So Gale, you probably saw this a few times 25:06 but I remember I was holding a series up there 25:08 in the little town of Idaho which is north of Spokane. 25:12 This is back in the 90's and once in the afternoon 25:15 I was out visiting folk that have been coming to the meetings 25:18 when I'm in the country side 25:19 to visit this one family the summer shining 25:22 it was really spring, it was a wonder day. 25:26 And it was fairly warm and so they invited us 25:29 to sit down in the lounge chairs 25:31 that were outside and so we were engaged 25:33 in a very positive conversation enjoying the sunshine 25:36 and somebody said, there must-- 25:39 there must be a hawk or something up there 25:41 because they pointed out over to the-- 25:43 the chicken coop. 25:45 They said, do you see the hen? 25:48 There was this hen with her wings spread out 25:50 and you can see the behinds of all those little chicks. 25:55 And so somebody have seen that 25:57 and said there must be a bird of prey up there hawk 26:00 or something and they were these tall evergreen trees. 26:04 I mean, 40,50 feet whatever they are they were very tall 26:07 and so we were all looking up and trying to see it 26:11 and finally saw it was just a speck, 26:14 just a speck just kind of you know like a bird prey 26:18 that just going around 26:20 and some how that mother hen picked up, 26:24 you know, just sense that danger 26:28 and she called for her chicks. 26:30 I don't know how did they do that Gale, do you know? 26:34 I don't know fluffing to that 26:36 but she was calling for her chicks 26:38 and they came running and there she was-- 26:41 she was willing to give up her life 26:43 for those baby chicks of hers. 26:46 I mean that's pretty tender picture 26:48 that Jesus was using to show His love 26:52 and His concern for those who are heading 26:55 into as I said this awful storm that was before them. 26:59 And then we come to verse 38, where Jesus said, 27:02 "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate." 27:08 Point that some of the saddest words 27:09 written in scripture. 27:11 The word in the Old Testament 27:12 the word Ichabod that is the glory has departed. 27:16 And what does that mean 27:17 your house is been left desolated. 27:19 What house? The house of Israel. 27:22 Sadly to say it's desolated 27:24 because they rejected the Lord of glory 27:28 and they rejected life itself in rejecting Jesus. 27:32 Now, yet I say God has a purpose 27:36 for the Jews in the end times 27:37 so don't run too far ahead of me 27:39 as we are putting this together. 27:41 Let's take a look at Galatians 3 27:42 the New Testament page 148, 148 Galatians 3 27:49 and we are going to being with verses 6 and 7. 27:54 The question is under the New Testament 27:58 that is under the new covenant who is that-- 28:00 that comprises the people of God 28:03 which would be relevant to this question 28:05 of who is it talking about here in Revelation Chapter 7. 28:09 And notice here in Galatians, 28:11 first of all we take note of the fact 28:12 that it was the Apostle Paul 28:13 that was writing to the churches 28:17 in the region of Galatia that was located in Asia Minor. 28:21 So this is a cluster of churches 28:23 and these were gentile churches 28:26 largely comprise of gentile believers 28:30 on unguardedly they were Jewish believers 28:32 that were in fellowship I think that's apparent 28:35 as you follow though the writing of the Apostle Paul. 28:38 And Paul is addressing this issue 28:41 of who is it that comprises the people of God 28:44 under the new covenant in the New Testament. 28:46 For He says, Galatians 3:6 28:48 "Even so Abraham believed God, 28:51 and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. 28:55 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of" what? 29:01 "Of faith who are the sons of Abraham." 29:05 Over Romans, Paul makes the point not everybody 29:09 who can literally trace their ancestry back to Abraham 29:16 or the son's of Abraham. 29:18 The point that he is making the sons of Abraham-- 29:21 sons and daughters of Abraham are those 29:23 who participate in the faith of Abraham, right. 29:28 That's the point He is making. 29:30 And so anyway, and then we come to verse 16, 29:35 He says, "Now the promises" 29:36 and He is talking about the covenant promises 29:38 by which the people God were established 29:40 in the Old Testament. 29:42 "Now the promises were spoken to Abraham 29:44 and to his seed. 29:45 He does not say, 'And to seeds,' 29:47 as referring to many, but rather to one," 29:50 is singular in other words, 29:51 "and to your seed, that is, Christ." 29:54 So the promises were spoken to Abraham 29:58 and among the promises given to Abraham is that 30:02 the Messiah the Savior would come, right. 30:08 Okay, and it is by end 30:11 so the promises given to Abraham 30:14 becomes ours through faith in Christ. 30:18 For the promises were given to Abraham and to His seed. 30:23 You catching that? 30:25 This is significant-- significant verse. 30:27 And so that's why we find 30:29 as we drop down here to the end of the chapter 30:31 and that would be verse 27 30:33 through 29 Paul continues by saying 30:37 "For all of you who were baptized 30:40 into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." 30:43 King James says, "You put on the Lord Jesus Christ." 30:46 And verse 28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, 30:49 there is neither slave nor free man, 30:51 there is neither male nor female 30:53 for you are all one in" whom? 30:56 "In Christ Jesus." 30:58 There is neither Jew nor Greek. 31:01 No longer these artificial designations 31:04 I belong to the people of God you are just-- 31:07 you know, you are not much better 31:09 than a dog being a gentile, 31:11 you know, Jews thinking back in that period of time. 31:16 As Paul says in Ephesians 2 31:18 the dividing wall in Jesus has been toured down. 31:21 That wall that separate Jews and gentiles. 31:24 And actually there was a war there at the temple 31:26 beyond what your gentile dare not go into the temple 31:33 and that wall has been removed in Jesus. 31:36 So there is neither nor gentile 31:39 the ground level before the cross 31:42 the ground is level at the cross you see. 31:46 None have a special standing before God. 31:51 And He makes this point in Romans 31:52 we all have sinned Jew and gentiles haven't we? 31:57 We all are in the need 31:59 of the saving grace of Jesus is His point. 32:04 So we are all in one-- 32:06 we are all one in Christ Jesus verse 28 32:10 as we read and verse 29 32:11 "And if you belong to Christ, 32:14 then you are Abraham's descendants, 32:17 and heirs according to promise." 32:21 So if you my friend, belong to Jesus Christ 32:25 and that happens by faith 32:27 then you are descendant of Abraham. 32:31 You are spiritual descendent of Abraham 32:34 and you have become an heir. 32:37 Have you ever been an heir? 32:40 Okay, we are in the heir of the promises 32:45 that we are given to Abraham. 32:46 We will inherit them. 32:48 You see, there are those 32:50 and I'm spending a little bit time on this 32:51 I do realize but this is an essential question. 32:54 There are those who in effect are saying 32:57 there are two covenants in the end time. 32:59 There is a new covenant for the church 33:01 there is the old covenant for the Jews. 33:04 And God will yet because of covenant promises 33:07 irrevocable God will yet fulfill 33:09 all that the covenant promises to ancient-- 33:11 ancient Israel in the end time for the Jews. 33:15 But my friend, it is clear as we study the Bible 33:18 there are not two covenants at all. 33:22 There are not two peoples and two covenants. 33:24 There is one people in Jesus Christ 33:26 under one covenant and that covenant 33:29 is the new covenant in the blood of Jesus, right. 33:34 In fact, when Jesus in the upper room 33:37 He said this is-- this represents 33:38 the blood of the new covenant and the New Testament. 33:43 You tell me how many gentiles were sitting at that table? 33:49 Not a one, not at this point. 33:53 They were all, you know, 33:54 every one of His disciples were Jews 33:57 and so the new covenant 33:58 was not just given to the church 34:00 that is to the gentile believer it encompass 34:04 both Jews and gentile alike the new covenant. 34:10 And my friend that's the covenant 34:11 that God is going to recognize 34:14 and accept in the end time for all peoples. 34:18 The old covenant came to an end. 34:22 So how does it relate to Revelation Chapter 7? 34:25 Well, I'm representing 34:28 that we will find in the Book of Revelation 34:30 Chapter 7 is prophetic and symbolic. 34:34 It is not literally talking about ancient Israel 34:37 or about the Jews in the end time. 34:42 It is talking about spiritual Israel, 34:46 a spiritual people that are going to be sealed 34:51 that's what it's talking about. 34:52 That is an issue as we come to it, 34:54 what is the name this name Israel 34:58 and where did it come from? 34:59 Anyway and we trace it 35:00 in the Old Testament it goes back to Jacob. 35:02 Remember there was this blood feud 35:04 between Esau and Jacob over the birth right 35:08 and Jacob stole it 35:10 and his mother said to him 35:11 you better get out of town, head down to Laban 35:14 because your brother is so angry he is out, 35:16 he is gonna-- he is gonna kill you. 35:18 As soon as your father is dead he is gonna slay you. 35:21 And so Jacob was fleeing 35:23 and He spent oh, man He began how many years 35:27 they spend out over 20 years 35:28 any way with His uncle Laban 35:31 and God righteously blessed him, remember this? 35:35 You know, a tribe is forming 35:39 and he had great riches and wealth 35:41 and he decided it was time to head home. 35:45 And so he gathered up all-- he had a sneak away 35:47 because Laban was not gonna let him do this 35:49 you know, a little bit of the story 35:51 Laban was not gonna let him go that easily 35:53 but-- so he had to sneak out of town 35:55 and he has headed out 35:56 and they cross over the brook of river Jabbok. 36:00 The report comes to Jacob at that point 36:03 that Esau is coming 36:05 and he has got 400 mountain soldiers 36:09 and they are going to meet the next day 36:12 and he remembers the hatred of his brother Esau 36:15 and fear gripped his heart. 36:18 So he got his family over the Jabbok 36:20 and then he will cross in the darkness of the night 36:22 he was in intense prayer. 36:26 And as He was in prayer 36:28 the Bible describes it-- it was in Genesis 32 36:31 He finds himself in a, 36:34 you know, in the grass he thinks its his enemy 36:38 and he is fighting for his life in the darkness. 36:40 He doesn't know who it is 36:41 but he is struggling for all that is worth 36:45 and so only as the day is about ready to break 36:47 and he sees he break off, 36:49 you know, this begin whoever it was 36:51 is trying to break off the engagement 36:55 that he discovered the divine nature of the being 36:58 that he was wresting with because it was God. 37:05 That sounds a little fantastic to us, doesn't it? 37:08 But he was wresting with God. 37:12 And so Jacob finally said 37:13 I'm not gonna let you go until you bless me. 37:16 And so God blessed Him. 37:17 Genesis 32:28 "And he said, 37:20 'Your name'" this is the blessing 37:21 "Your name shall no longer be Jacob" 37:24 you realize when we get up in heaven 37:25 we are gonna get a new name all of us? 37:29 Okay, let's start it with Jacob. 37:31 "Your name shall no longer be Jacob 37:33 but Israel, for you have striven with God 37:36 and with men and have prevailed." 37:40 The name Israel means over comer or prevailer. 37:46 And my friend that is the prophetic symbolism 37:49 that we find in Revelation 7 37:50 in reference to all of God's people 37:53 in the end time filled by the grace of Jesus 37:56 they are going to be prevailers, 37:58 they are going to be over comers. 38:03 Jesus gained the victory 38:05 that victory is guaranteed to each one of us by faith. 38:09 That's what he has promised us 38:11 and so that is the significance 38:14 about Israel being-- being sealed. 38:18 They are the over comers 38:20 and I think I will prove it 38:23 to you even more directly than that. 38:26 But we must view this matter of the number. 38:28 What do we do with 144,000? 38:30 What is it literally a number? 38:32 My friend, again the Book of Revelation 38:34 is prophetic in is symbolic 38:36 and I'm not going to be diagrammatic about this 38:38 but this is what I think. 38:39 This is what I think. 38:40 The number 144,000 is build upon this number right here 38:45 is the number 12 38:46 it is called a kingdom number in Bible prophecy. 38:49 The number 12 is consistently associated 38:51 with God's covenant people from the 12 38:55 from the 12 tribes of Israel 38:58 we have the people of God in the Old Testament 39:02 from the 12 patriots the 12 tribes 39:04 and the New Testament from the 12 apostles, 39:07 we have the establishment of the Christian church. 39:10 Next Friday night as we get to the subject 39:12 the time of the end we will back into Revelation 12 39:16 we find this pure version 39:17 will end with a crown of 12 stars 39:21 it represents God's covenant people in the end time. 39:24 It's associated with God's people. 39:27 And you are not gonna find the math here 39:28 but basically what happens here 39:30 to magnify the significance of this number 39:33 they multiplied it by itself as we get the 144 39:37 and a further emphasize a significance of this number 39:40 is multiplied by 1000 39:41 that's where we get the 144,000. 39:43 Again I'm not gonna diagrammatic about it 39:45 but I believe-- I believe that's basically 39:48 how the number is put together prophetically. 39:52 Let's take a look at Revelation Chapter 7, 39:54 let's get back to it the New Testament page 192 39:58 as we are talking about this number 40:01 and let's look at verse 9 and 10. 40:05 Revelation 7, 40:08 and if you lost your place like 40:10 I did just turn right on back there 40:12 and here we are as we pick it up in verse 9 40:16 and we have the description. 40:17 You got the structure here Revelation 7 40:20 the first half of the chapter 40:24 they are facing tribulation, 40:26 it's been held back until they are sealed. 40:29 That's what we have. 40:30 And then we come to verse 9 the scene changes. 40:34 In verse 9 this is what we find it says, 40:35 "And after these things I looked" 40:38 John says, "And behold, a great multitude 40:41 which no one could count, 40:45 from every nation and all tribes 40:47 and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne 40:50 and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, 40:52 and palm branches were in their hands." 40:55 Where are they standing? 40:58 Before the throne. 40:59 So where is this taking place? 41:01 There in heaven. 41:03 And verse 10, "They cry out with a loud voice, saying, 41:06 'Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, 41:08 and to the Lamb.'" 41:10 They are rejoicing, they are rejoicing just like 41:15 we are gonna rejoice, right. 41:20 Because it's over. It's done. 41:25 But then we come down to verse 13 it says, 41:27 "Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, 41:29 'These who are clothed in the white robes, 41:31 who are they, and where have they come from?'" 41:33 The white robes look back in verse 9. 41:37 The white robes are those who-- 41:40 this great multitude which no one could count. 41:44 They are the ones that are clothed in white robes. 41:46 So John is wanting to know who are they. 41:51 And notice the response in verse 14, 41:53 and John says, "I said to him, 'My lord, you know.' 41:56 And he said to me, 41:57 'These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, 42:01 and they have washed their robes 42:03 and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.'' 42:05 The robes actually represent our characters. 42:09 So who is that are there standing victorious 42:13 before the throne of God? 42:16 It is those who went threw the great tribulation. 42:19 And who is it that goes through the great tribulation? 42:23 Put it together, the ones who are facing tribulation, 42:27 the first half of the chapter. 42:29 It is those who are sealed 42:32 that are going to go through the tribulation, right. 42:36 Absolutely. 42:39 And that's a structure that we have in Revelation 7. 42:42 First half they are facing the people of God 42:45 are facing tribulation the later half 42:48 they stand victorious a great multitude 42:51 of every nation was to say every nation, 42:53 tribes and peoples and tongues. 42:56 They stand victorious they are one and the same. 42:59 Well, I would share with you 43:00 that this is not talking first of all literally 43:03 of Israel its talking about a spiritual people 43:07 and the number is not literal 43:09 because they couldn't be counted. 43:12 But let's take a look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 43:16 the New Testament page 161. 43:18 Now some of you-- I must-- 43:20 I may be really walked, 43:22 you are thinking just a little bit here tonight 43:26 to share with you that the people of God 43:29 in the end time are going to go through the tribulation 43:33 when we have been told no 43:35 the church is not going to go through the tribulation. 43:39 And may be that's troubling 43:41 and I find some people 43:42 have been really comforted by this idea. 43:44 Well, I don't have to worry about it 43:46 you know and the church is going to be swept away 43:47 before this all happens. 43:49 You know, I'm gonna be out of the here. 43:51 Is it so? 43:52 Well, I made my case for Revelation Chapter 7 43:57 but I would add 2 Thessalonians 2, 44:00 Paul says, "Now we request you, brethren, 44:02 with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 44:05 and our gathering together with Him" 44:07 I really like this language are gathering together. 44:10 We are gonna go to home to heaven together, 44:12 they will forget that. 44:14 It's gonna be wonderful as an unbroken family. 44:17 It says, "That you not be quickly shaken 44:21 from your composure or be disturbed either 44:23 by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us," 44:29 as if from us, "to the effect 44:31 that the day of the Lord has come." 44:34 The day of the Lord is reference to the coming of Jesus 44:36 and evidently there were and they were deceivers 44:40 who were suggesting they were communicating 44:42 with the church in Thessaloniki they were-- 44:45 they were presenting these aberrant views 44:48 about the coming of Jesus 44:49 as if He had already come 44:51 that's why Paul is addressing the issue 44:55 as if He had already come 44:57 which itself implies that may be they were 45:00 may be teaching us spiritual coming 45:02 or it has some potentially 45:05 some interesting parallels to this idea of a secret coming, 45:11 a closed rapture. 45:13 Doesn't it? 45:15 And that's why again clarity in regards 45:18 to what the Bible teaches about the end time 45:20 and about the coming of Jesus is so absolutely necessary. 45:25 So he is dealing with this issue don't let you-- 45:27 don't get caught up in these things. 45:29 And then He makes this argument why it couldn't have happened. 45:31 He says "Let no one" verse 3 45:33 "In any way deceive you, for it will not come" 45:36 speaking of the day of our Lord the coming of Jesus. 45:39 "It will not come unless the apostasy comes first." 45:45 Apostasy, what is that talking about? 45:48 Who is that talking about? 45:50 And what does that mean? 45:52 It literally means a falling away. 45:57 It could not be talking about the ungodly 46:00 for they have not taken a position to fall away from. 46:05 "And the man of lawlessness is revealed, 46:07 the son of destruction, who opposes 46:10 and exalts himself above every so-called God 46:12 or object of worship, 46:14 so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, 46:16 displaying himself as being God." 46:18 And who is that talking about? 46:20 That is talking about the antichrist. 46:23 And so Paul is arguing, 46:26 Jesus couldn't have come the apostasy hasn't happened 46:29 and the antichrist has not yet appeared. 46:33 Which means before Jesus comes 46:36 both will happen and significantly 46:39 the antichrist will be reviled in the end time 46:42 before the coming of Jesus 46:43 not after as some are suggesting. 46:46 Are you with me? 46:49 And by teaching, it means 46:52 that at the antichrist comes first 46:54 so does the tribulation not after. 46:59 This is when the seven last plagues 47:01 fall upon this final display of the evil 47:05 and apostasy in the end time. 47:08 In Revelation 16:19 it says, 47:10 and Babylon it's talking about the apostate system. 47:13 It's the beast in Revelation 13 47:15 that we are coming to tomorrow night. 47:17 "And Babylon the great was remembered before God, 47:20 to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath." 47:24 Somebody up there better be upset about the horrible things 47:28 that are begin played out upon this planet, 47:31 the tragic things that are happening. 47:36 In Daniel 12:1,2 47:39 lets look at the study of the tribulation again 47:41 it's called the time of trouble here. 47:43 It says, "And there will be a time of trouble, 47:45 such as there never was since there was a nation 47:48 even to that same time and at that time thy people, 47:53 shall be delivered" 47:55 notice the promise, shall be delivered. 47:58 It goes on to say "Everyone 47:59 that shall be found written in the book." 48:02 And remember we are studying 48:03 about the book of life this morning. 48:06 Everyone whose names were written 48:07 in the book of life is going to be delivered 48:10 when the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords 48:14 comes back in power 48:15 and glory to claim His people for 48:17 His very own to establish His everlasting kingdom. 48:21 And my friend, when at the darkest hour tribulation 48:24 engulfs this planet 48:26 we know our redemption was lie. 48:30 Our time in deliverance is at hand. 48:34 And it goes on to say "And many of them 48:35 that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." 48:39 That's talking about the resurrection 48:41 which takes place at the coming of Jesus 48:44 so we've got the time of trouble the tribulation 48:47 then deliverance at the coming of Jesus 48:52 when the people of God who are asleep, 48:55 who are dead will be resurrected is what the Bible indicates. 49:00 So again the tribulation takes places 49:02 just before the resurrection before, the coming of Jesus. 49:04 Now, let's look at this matter of sealing. 49:07 I say the most important 49:08 for the last part of the presentation. 49:11 So let's go back to remind us-- 49:12 let's remind ourselves of the language 49:14 back at verses 2 and 3 49:16 as we are in Revelation 7 again, where it says, 49:18 "I saw another angel ascending from the east, 49:22 having the seal of the living God. 49:24 And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels 49:27 to whom it was given to hurt the earth 49:29 and the sea saying, 49:30 'Hurt not the earth or the sea, nor the trees, 49:34 till we have sealed the servants 49:36 of our God in their foreheads.'" 49:40 We got this picture the sealing angel 49:42 coming from the direction of the east. 49:45 Language is prophetic 49:46 but anyway tremendous powerful things 49:48 come from the direction of the east as we will see. 49:51 So the sealing angel comes from the direction of the east. 49:55 Someone else follows soon from the east 50:00 the sealing angel and by now who it is? 50:05 Jesus. 50:07 Matthew 24:27, 50:08 "For just as the lightning comes from the east 50:11 and flashes even to the west, 50:13 so shall the coming of the Son of Man be." 50:17 So the sealing work among God's people 50:20 precedes the coming of Jesus 50:23 and prepares God's people for the coming of Jesus. 50:28 So who is that sealed? 50:30 Well, the people of God. 50:31 But more specifically who is it that seal 50:34 how are we sealed look at 2 Timothy 2 50:37 the New Testament page 166. 50:41 2 Timothy 2 and we are gonna look at verse 19. 50:47 Chapter 2:19 talking about the seal. 50:51 There we got it. 50:53 It says, Nevertheless, 50:54 the firm foundation of God stands, 50:56 having this seal, 50:58 The Lord knows those who are His, 51:01 and, 'Everyone who names the name 51:02 of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.'" 51:06 So those who receive the seal 51:07 of the living God in the end time 51:09 God in effect of saying I know whom are mine. 51:15 who are sealed for eternity 51:16 those who are in the end time 51:19 if we are alive at that period of time. 51:22 And it says something 51:23 about their experience in Jesus Christ. 51:26 Let every one who names the name of the Lord do what? 51:31 Abstain from wickedness. 51:33 As we have on one hand this fine display of evil 51:37 in the end time in the apostate system 51:40 the beast that is marked in contrast 51:43 to this display of evil 51:45 we have God's people 51:49 who will receive the seal of God. 51:53 They are a burning light 51:56 in the darkness that covers the earth. 51:59 And that light comes from whom? 52:03 Its not sub-generated does it work? 52:07 That light comes from Jesus 52:11 and it is a testament of the life of Jesus 52:15 by which He possesses His people, okay. 52:19 Ephesians 1 the New Testament page 150, 52:27 Ephesians 1:13 52:31 and there are some texts that are just so full 52:34 and this one is as it relates to the sealing Ephesians 1 52:38 and here it is as we come to verse 13 52:40 and notice it begins with two words 52:43 and they are vital 52:45 and those words are "In Him" that is in Jesus. 52:49 And my friend with out being in Jesus 52:53 we will find ourselves out of Jesus 52:56 and we will find ourselves in deep trouble. 53:01 So, it begins with "In Him" in Jesus 53:04 "You also, after listening" listening to what? 53:09 "Listening to the message of truth" 53:13 have you been listening these three weeks? 53:16 We have been studying God's word 53:18 we have been seeking truth 53:20 some of it guidance our hearts 53:22 some of it goes against our natural inclinations 53:25 that's just the nature of truth, right? 53:29 And the genuineness of our experience in Jesus 53:33 is reviled with how we relate to truth 53:37 for Jesus is the truth. 53:41 So we can't be casual about truth 53:43 can we in all of this? 53:46 So after listening to the message of truth. 53:48 That's all that's necessary 53:49 being in Jesus just listening 53:51 just being there in the pews and listening 53:53 that's all that's necessary. 53:54 No, no, no it goes on to say 53:56 "Listening to the message of truth, 53:58 the gospel of your salvation having also believed" 54:03 so it's not enough to hear 54:04 but we must believe and my friend, 54:07 we act on what we believe by the grace of Jesus. 54:10 We will. 54:11 "Having also believed you were sealed" 54:14 again it says, "In Him." 54:16 So how do we receive the seal? 54:18 We receive it in Jesus 54:21 and there is this connection of truth 54:24 that is vital in the sealing process 54:27 for we are sealed in Jesus 54:28 as we respond to the truth that is in Jesus. 54:35 And it says, "You are sealed in Him 54:36 with the Holy Spirit of promise." 54:39 Of course the Holy Spirit will be a part 54:41 of the sealing process, wouldn't it? 54:44 And Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, 54:47 John 16:13 54:49 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, 54:51 He will guide you into all the truth." 54:56 And my friend, we need all of the truth, don't we? 55:01 Hebrews 8:10 the New Testament page 172 55:06 as we are bring this to a conclusion. 55:10 Hebrews Chapter 8 55:12 let's talk about how the sealing works 55:15 and it relates to the new covenant promise 55:18 that we find right here beginning with verse 10 55:20 where it says "For this is the covenant 55:22 that I will make with the house of Israel 55:25 after those days, says the Lord 55:26 I will put my laws into their minds, 55:29 and I will write them on their hearts. 55:31 And I will be their god, and they shall be my people." 55:36 That's powerful, that happens in Jesus 55:39 and that happens with the mighty power 55:40 of the Holy Spirit. 55:42 The very principles of the law are imprinted 55:47 into our thinking and into our hearts. 55:50 And what is the fundamental principle of the law? 55:53 Romans 13:10 says, law is the fulfillment of the law 55:58 and so is the principles of love 56:01 that are embedded into our thinking. 56:03 Its part of the regeneration experience. 56:06 The new birth experience is taking place. 56:10 You know in anciently when they have a seal, 56:12 I mean they actually had seals 56:13 they would take wax 56:14 it would be in harden condition 56:16 they would have the warming it up 56:17 so its almost semi fluid 56:19 and then they would put that seal into the wax 56:22 and then they were taken out 56:23 there you would see you know 56:25 you will see the seal and then I would harden. 56:28 And my friend, the corresponding experience 56:29 in the hearts of God's people 56:31 in the minds and hearts of God's people 56:33 is our hearts who that have been so harden 56:37 because of sin must be softened. 56:41 Do we see the seal of God 56:44 and how will the heart harden by sin be softened? 56:49 Now friend, there is only one thing that will soften 56:52 a harden heart is the love of Jesus. 56:56 It's the love of God in Jesus 56:59 that does a softening work in us 57:02 and makes us playable in the master's hand 57:05 and in that condition 57:08 the people of God will be sealed. 57:13 Be written into our heats and to our minds 57:16 Revelation 3:10 here is the promise. 57:22 I'm gonna leave with you, 57:24 "Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, 57:28 I will also keep you from the hour of testing, 57:32 that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, 57:34 to test those who dwell on the earth." 57:38 My friend, we again have nothing to fear of Jesus 57:40 because He is going to keep us 57:42 during this time of testing. 57:44 And my friend, it is a time of testing 57:46 and it will demonstrate the power 57:48 of the gospel of Jesus Christ in transforming lives. 57:54 In spite of this final display of evil 57:58 the people of God have been sealed 58:00 and by His grace they will be faithful till the end. |
Revised 2014-12-17