Participants:
Series Code: RST
Program Code: RST000021S
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00:14 Well, welcome to our last session.
00:17 This day, of course, today is Friday. 00:22 And the Sabbath just began a few minutes ago. 00:26 And we want to study the lesson 00:29 that we find on page 339 of our study notes. 00:34 So please go to page 339. 00:37 And once you have that page, 00:41 we'll have a word of prayer 00:43 to ask the Lord to bless this session, 00:45 as we do morning, afternoon and evening. 00:48 And then we'll get into our study. 00:49 Let's pray. 00:50 Father in heaven, thank You for being with us this day. 00:54 We realize, Lord, 00:55 that there are many people now who are suffering, 00:58 not only in the United States, 00:59 but in so many other countries. 01:02 There are so many people 01:03 that are concerned about what's happening, 01:05 there's almost panic. 01:07 The stores are full, 01:08 it's hard to buy certain items of merchandise, 01:12 but we know, Lord, that You will provide for us. 01:15 And so I ask that You will be with all of those 01:18 who are filled with anxiety, 01:20 that You will lead them to the truth 01:22 which brings peace and joy to the life 01:24 in spite of all of the problems. 01:27 Be with us as we study this lesson, 01:29 we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 01:34 Okay, the title of our presentation 01:37 is examining the subjects of the kingdom. 01:41 Now, basically, 01:43 the last two presentations along with this one, 01:46 which is the third, 01:48 we are discussing the issue of the measuring of the temple, 01:54 the measuring of the Most Holy Place. 01:57 So, first of all, 01:59 we studied about the measuring of the Most Holy Place 02:03 in Revelation 11:1. 02:05 Then in our last study together, 02:08 we studied this from the perspective of marriage 02:11 and the kingdom. 02:13 And now we want to take a look at a parable of Jesus 02:18 that also explains the measuring of the temple 02:22 from a different perspective. 02:25 And we're going to take a look at a parable 02:28 that we find in Matthew 22:1-14. 02:33 Now usually, 02:34 we study this topic of the investigative judgment 02:38 from the perspective of Daniel and Revelation. 02:41 But Jesus also in the parables had a lot to say 02:44 about the investigative judgment. 02:47 So instead of studying this from the Book of Revelation 02:49 or from Daniel, 02:51 we are going to take a look at this parable 02:53 in Matthew 22:1-14, 02:55 where we come to understand 02:58 when, where, 03:00 and how the investigative judgment takes place. 03:05 So, first of all, what we want to do 03:06 is read the parable. 03:09 It begins in Matthew 22:1, 03:14 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them 03:16 again by parables and said: 03:19 'The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king 03:23 who arranged a marriage for his son." 03:26 This kind of awakens the idea 03:28 of what we were talking about before, right? 03:31 "And sent out his servants 03:33 to call those who were invited to the wedding, 03:37 and they were not willing to come. 03:39 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 03:43 'Tell those who are invited, 03:45 'See, I have prepared my dinner, 03:48 my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, 03:51 and all things are ready. 03:53 Come to the wedding.' 03:55 But they made light of it and went their ways, 03:58 one to his own farm, another to his business. 04:03 And the rest seized his servants, 04:06 treated them spitefully, and killed them. 04:10 But when the king heard about it, 04:13 he was furious. 04:14 And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, 04:19 and burned up their city. 04:21 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, 04:25 but those who were invited are not worthy. 04:30 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, 04:35 invite to the wedding.' 04:36 " Has the wedding taken place at this point 04:38 in the parable yet? 04:39 No. 04:40 "So those servants went out into the highways 04:43 and gathered together 04:44 all whom they found, both" 04:46 what? 04:48 Good and bad. 04:51 And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 04:56 But when the king came in to see the guests, 05:00 he saw a man there 05:01 who did not have on a wedding garment. 05:05 So he said to him, 05:06 'Friend, how did you come in here 05:09 without a wedding garment?' 05:11 And he was speechless. 05:13 Then the king said to his servants, 05:15 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, 05:18 and cast him into outer darkness, 05:22 there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 05:26 For many are called, but few are chosen.' 05:31 " That is the parable. 05:32 Now let's unpack the parable verse by verse. 05:38 Verse 1. 05:39 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again 05:42 by parables and said." 05:44 Verse 2, 05:45 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain King." 05:50 Who does the King represent in this parable? 05:53 The King represents God the Father, 05:57 who arranged a marriage for His son. 06:00 Who is the Son? 06:01 Jesus Christ. 06:03 So here we have the father 06:05 arranging a wedding for His Son. 06:08 Who is His Son going to marry? 06:10 Oh, His Son is going to marry the corporate church. 06:14 In other words, the totality of the church. 06:17 Verse 3, 06:18 so if you're going to have a wedding, 06:21 is it necessary to send out invitations? 06:23 Of course, if you don't, nobody will come. 06:26 So it says in verse 3, 06:28 "And sent out His servants, 06:31 to call those who were invited to the wedding, 06:35 and they were not willing to come." 06:39 Now, who were these servants that were sent out 06:42 to give the first invitation to the wedding, 06:45 which has not taken place at this point yet? 06:47 The answer is threefold. 06:50 The first one that was sent out 06:52 to call the Jewish nation to the wedding was 06:56 John the Baptist. 06:58 Notice John 1:6-7, 07:01 and the key expression is sent out. 07:04 It says there, "There was a man," what? 07:08 "Sent from God, whose name was John." 07:12 So was john one of the servants that was sent? 07:15 Yes, why was he sent? 07:17 To give witness to whom? 07:19 To Jesus. 07:20 So it says, "This man came for a witness, 07:22 to bear witness of the light 07:24 that all through him might believe." 07:26 So the first servant that was sent out 07:29 to give the first invitation to the wedding 07:31 was John the Baptist. 07:33 But then also we find that the 12 were sent out 07:38 to also prepare the way for the wedding. 07:41 It says in Matthew 10:5-7, 07:46 these 12 sent out, 07:49 there's the key expression that we find in the parable, 07:51 the 12, 07:53 "These 12 Jesus sent out and commanded them saying: 07:56 'Do not go into the way of the Gentiles.' 08:00 " Now, I'm going to stop here for a moment. 08:02 That word way is the identical word 08:06 that appears later on in the parable 08:09 and it's translated highways. 08:12 So keep that in the back of your mind, 08:14 the way, 08:15 the same word appears later as the highways. 08:19 So "These 12 Jesus sent out 08:21 and commanded them saying: 08:23 'Do not go into the way of a Gentiles.' " 08:26 So what does the way represent? 08:28 The way or the highway means going to whom? 08:31 To the Gentiles. 08:33 "And do not enter a city of the Samaritans." 08:36 So don't go to the Samaritans either, 08:38 "But go rather to, " whom? 08:41 "Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 08:45 And as you go, preach, saying, 08:48 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 08:51 '" So do the 12 also 08:52 give an invitation for the Jewish nation 08:55 to come to the wedding? 08:57 Absolutely. 08:58 The third group is the group of the 70 09:01 that Jesus called to witness for Him. 09:05 In Luke 10:1, 09:07 we find these words, 09:09 "After these things, 09:11 the Lord appointed seventy others also, 09:14 and sent them, 09:15 " see there it is, again, 09:17 "and sent them two by two before his face 09:21 into every city and place 09:22 where He Himself was about to go." 09:25 So all three of these are preparing the way 09:29 for the coming of the Messiah. 09:30 They are actually inviting the Jewish nation to what? 09:35 To the wedding. 09:36 How did they respond 09:39 to this invitation to the wedding? 09:41 Well, you know, 09:43 we're told that they treated the messengers 09:48 by ignoring the message. 09:50 They refused the invitation. 09:52 So then we go to verse 4. 09:55 Now there's going to be a second group of servants 09:57 that are going to be sent out. 09:59 Verse 4 says, 10:01 "Again, he sent out other servants saying, 10:05 " and here's a key chronological point, 10:08 "Tell those who are invited. 10:10 See, I have prepared my dinner, 10:13 my oxen and fatted cattle are killed." 10:16 That's a crucial detail. 10:19 "My oxen and fatted cattle are killed 10:22 and all things are ready. 10:24 Come to the wedding." 10:26 Has the wedding taken place yet? 10:27 No. 10:29 It hasn't taken place yet. 10:30 So here's a second invitation. 10:32 Now there's an interesting detail here. 10:34 And that is that at this point, 10:36 the oxen and fatted cattle have been killed. 10:39 Now what did the sacrifice of animals 10:42 represent in the Jewish system? 10:45 It represented the death of Christ. 10:47 So at this point, Christ has what? 10:50 Christ has died, 10:51 typified by the fatted cattle and the oxen. 10:56 Now, I want you to notice Isaiah 53:7 11:00 that corroborates this point. 11:02 Speaking about the Messiah, Jesus, 11:04 "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, 11:07 yet He opened not His mouth, 11:09 He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. 11:12 And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, 11:15 so He opened not His mouth." 11:19 So at this point, 11:20 we've had a call by John the Baptist, 11:23 a call by the 12, 11:25 a call by the 70, Jesus has died. 11:30 And now another call is sent out. 11:33 Let's go to verses 5 and 6. 11:36 How did they respond to this second invitation 11:38 after the death of Christ?" 11:41 But they made," what? 11:43 "Light of it and went their ways, 11:46 one to his own farm, another to his business, 11:50 and the rest seized his servants, 11:53 treated them spitefully and," what? 11:56 "And killed them." 11:59 Now, let me ask you this. 12:01 Did Jesus send additional messengers 12:04 to the Jews after His death? 12:06 Yes. 12:08 When was probation going to close 12:09 for the Jewish nation? 12:11 In the year 34. 12:13 What year did Jesus die? 12:15 In the year 31. 12:16 So was there still a period of three and a half years 12:20 where the message could go out 12:21 to invite the Jewish nation to the wedding? 12:24 Absolutely. 12:25 So notice here, Matthew 23:34-35. 12:32 Jesus is saying this at the very end of His life 12:36 before His death on the cross. 12:37 In fact, it's during the last week. 12:40 This is in the chapter on the woes 12:42 on the scribes and Pharisees. 12:45 And notice what Jesus said, 12:47 "Therefore, indeed, " 12:49 look the word will is in brackets 12:51 because really it's future tense. 12:53 "Indeed I will send you," what? 12:56 "Prophets," who else? 12:59 "Wise men," who else? 13:02 "Scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify." 13:06 So is this future from the death of Christ? 13:10 Yes. 13:12 "And some of them you will," what? 13:14 "You will scourge in your synagogues 13:17 and persecute from city to city." 13:21 Now, who were these prophets and wise men and scribes, 13:27 and those who persecuted from city to city? 13:30 Well, Peter prophesied to the Jews 13:33 on the day of Pentecost, didn't he? 13:36 Stephen saw a vision of Jesus in heaven 13:39 as He preached his sermon before the Sanhedrin. 13:42 In Acts 7, 13:43 the seven deacons are described as men full of wisdom. 13:48 The Apostle Paul was a theologian or a scribe. 13:52 Herod had James killed with a sword 13:54 and Peter was crucified upside down on a cross. 13:59 The Jewish leadership scourged Peter and John 14:02 in the synagogue, 14:03 and Saul of Tarsus 14:05 persecuted the church from city to city. 14:08 So was there an additional message 14:10 that was given after the death of Jesus? 14:12 Yes. 14:14 Was the invitation to the wedding accepted? 14:17 Absolutely not. 14:20 So now we come to verse 7. 14:22 You can read here these, 14:23 what I just read is corroborated 14:26 by these verses, 14:28 Acts 6:2-3 14:29 refers to the seven deacons as wise men. 14:32 Acts 7:57-58 tells us that 14:35 Stephen was a prophet 14:37 because he had a vision of Jesus. 14:39 Acts 5:40-41 says that 14:41 Peter and John were scourged in the synagogue. 14:44 Acts 12:1-4 tells us that 14:46 James was killed with the sword. 14:50 John 21:18-19 refers 14:52 or are actually hints at the death of Peter. 14:56 And Acts 26:11 says that 14:59 Saul of Tarsus persecuted God's people 15:02 in foreign cities. 15:05 So now we come to verse 7. 15:07 What happens 15:09 when these two invitations are slighted? 15:13 Verse 7 says, 15:14 "But when the king," 15:16 that is God the Father, "heard about this, 15:20 He was furious." 15:23 Now when it says He was furious, 15:25 you need to understand that this is not unholy wrath. 15:29 This is what you call righteous indignation. 15:32 "So He was furious and He sent out his," what? 15:37 "His armies," 15:38 what are those armies that He sent out? 15:41 Titus and the Roman armies. 15:43 And what did they do? 15:44 "They destroyed those murderers, 15:47 and burned up their city." 15:49 What year did this happen? 15:51 It happened in the year 70 AD. 15:55 This is referring 15:56 to the destruction of Jerusalem. 15:59 So what have we seen so far? 16:04 We've found that John the Baptist 16:05 was sent out to call the Jews to the wedding. 16:09 The 12 were sent out, the 70 were sent out, 16:13 the invitation was slighted. 16:15 So after the death of Jesus, 16:18 further messengers are sent out. 16:20 They're treated spitefully, just like the first group. 16:23 So now in the year 70, Jerusalem is burned, 16:29 Jerusalem is destroyed. 16:32 Now in Luke 19:41-44, 16:35 we're told that the Romans destroyed Jerusalem 16:37 because they rejected the invitation to the wedding. 16:40 Let's read that passage. 16:42 It says there, 16:43 "Now as He drew near, 16:46 He saw the city and wept over it, 16:48 saying, 16:50 'If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, 16:54 the things that make for your peace! 16:57 But now they are hidden from your eyes. 16:59 For days will come upon you 17:01 when your enemies will build an embankment around you, 17:05 surround you and close you in on every side, 17:08 and level you, and your children within you, 17:12 to the ground, 17:13 and they will not leave in you one stone upon another," 17:17 what was the reason? 17:19 "Because you did not know 17:21 the time of your visitation." 17:27 What was that time of their visitation? 17:30 The arrival of Christ. 17:33 So this is describing the fact that Jerusalem was destroyed, 17:37 because they rejected the invitation to the wedding. 17:43 So then we find verse 8. 17:45 So God has to go now to a plan B, if you please. 17:50 Then he said to his servants," 17:52 this is the king speaking to his servants, 17:55 "The wedding is ready, 17:56 " has the wedding taken place yet? 17:58 No, it hasn't taken place yet. 18:01 "The wedding is ready, 18:03 but those who were invited were not worthy." 18:08 Now that's an important word, were not worthy. 18:11 Let's read the note. 18:12 God gave two invitations to the Jewish nation 18:15 to be guests at the future wedding of Jesus. 18:18 God gave one invitation before Jesus died on the cross, 18:22 and the other after. 18:24 The Jews slighted both invitations. 18:27 The word worthy is very important 18:30 at this point. 18:31 Matthew 10:5-6 18:33 which we're gonna read in a moment 18:34 and 11 to 15 tells us that 18:37 the lost sheep of the house of Israel 18:39 were the ones who were unworthy. 18:43 So now we know who the ones are, 18:45 who were unworthy, 18:46 because the word is used with reference 18:48 to the Jewish nation. 18:50 Let's read Matthew 10:5-6, 18:53 "These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying: 18:57 'Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, 19:02 and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.' 19:05 " So He tells His 12 disciples, 19:07 you know, don't go to the Gentiles, 19:10 don't go to the Samaritans. 19:13 "But go rather," where? 19:15 "To the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 19:19 So the invitations go first to whom? 19:23 The lost sheep of the house of Israel. 19:25 And now notice verse 11. 19:28 "Now whatever city or town you enter, 19:31 inquire who in it is worthy." 19:37 Is that word in the parable? 19:38 Yes. 19:40 And it applies to whom? 19:42 To the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 19:44 So it says, and when you go verse 12, 19:49 "And when you go into a household, greet it. 19:53 If the household is," what? 19:56 "Worthy, let your peace come upon it. 19:59 But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 20:04 And whoever will not receive you, 20:06 nor hear your words, 20:08 when you depart for that house or city, 20:11 shake off the dust from your feet. 20:13 Assuredly I say to you, 20:15 it will be more tolerable 20:17 for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah 20:19 in the day of judgment 20:20 than for that city!" 20:22 And why would that be? 20:23 Well, because Sodom and Gomorrah 20:25 didn't have the witness of Jesus, 20:26 what greater light could God give? 20:28 You know, Lot was a witness in Sodom, 20:31 you know, he become a little bit defiled with Sodom 20:34 because he offered his daughters. 20:37 That's kind of difficult to understand, 20:39 offered his daughters 20:40 for the men outside to rape them. 20:43 But anyway, the reason why this, 20:46 the case of the Jews would be worse 20:48 is because the Jews had far greater light, 20:50 they had Jesus in their midst. 20:52 So who are the ones that were not worthy? 20:57 The Jewish nation, 20:58 they were the ones 21:00 that received the first two invitations. 21:03 So now there's a problem, 21:05 because there's going to be a wedding. 21:08 But the problem is there, 21:10 nobody has accepted the invitation to the wedding. 21:13 So now God is going to go to a plan B, 21:16 He's going to say, we got to do something about this. 21:18 So we go to verse 9, 21:20 "Therefore go into the," what? 21:24 "Highways," 21:26 that is the identical word 21:28 that is translated way of the Gentiles. 21:32 So where are the servants commanded to go? 21:37 They are commanded to go to the Gentiles, the highways, 21:42 the way, Jesus said, 21:43 "Don't go the way of the Gentiles." 21:45 And then He says, 21:46 "Therefore go into the highways." 21:48 Now go to the Gentiles, 21:49 so now the gospel is going to go to whom? 21:52 The gospel is going to go to the Gentiles. 21:55 And it says, "And as many as you find, 21:58 invite to the wedding." 22:00 So now you have 22:02 the entire Christian dispensation. 22:04 You have the entire period 22:06 of the preaching of the gospel in the whole world. 22:11 The word highways is significant at this point. 22:15 If we remember, in Matthew 10:5-6, 22:18 Jesus instructed His disciples, 22:20 not to go the way of the Samaritans 22:22 or of the Gentiles. 22:24 The gospel was to go first to where? 22:27 Remember Acts Chapter 1 to Jerusalem and Judea, 22:31 and only later in Acts Chapter 8 to Samaria, 22:36 and finally, 22:37 to the uttermost parts of the earth. 22:40 The word way or highway 22:41 thus refers to taking the gospel 22:44 beyond Jerusalem, to the Gentiles. 22:48 Now notice Matthew 8:11-12, 22:51 and then we're going to go to a broader passage 22:55 that says basically the same thing 22:57 in the Gospel of Luke. 22:58 Matthew 8:11-12, 23:01 "And I say to you," who is Jesus speaking to? 23:06 Speaking to Jews, right? 23:08 "And I say to you, 23:09 that many will come from east and west." 23:13 Who are those that are going to come from east and west? 23:16 The Gentiles. 23:18 "And sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 23:21 in the kingdom of heaven." 23:23 But now notice, 23:25 "But the sons of the kingdom..." 23:27 Who are the sons of the kingdom? 23:29 The Jews. 23:30 So who is going to sit with Abraham, 23:32 Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom? 23:34 The Gentiles, so, 23:35 "But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into," what? 23:41 "Outer darkness. 23:43 There will be," what? 23:44 "Weeping and gnashing of teeth." 23:46 Is that in the parable? 23:48 It most certainly is. 23:50 Now, Luke 13:22-30 amplifies this. 23:55 It expands upon 23:56 what we find in Matthew 8:11-12. 24:00 Those who rejected the message, 24:02 actually in this passage admit 24:05 that they ate and drank in the presence of Jesus. 24:09 And that He taught in their streets. 24:12 So to whom did Jesus talk in their streets 24:15 and with whom did He eat when He was here? 24:18 With the Jewish nation. 24:20 According to Jesus, 24:22 the message went first to the Jews, 24:24 yet they would not that they, yet they would be last. 24:27 On the other hand, 24:29 the Gentiles who received the last call 24:31 would be what? First. 24:33 So let's read this passage 24:34 that we find in Luke 13:22-30. 24:40 "And He went through the cities and villages, 24:43 " what cities and villages? 24:45 Jewish cities and villages. 24:48 "And journeying toward Jerusalem. 24:51 Then one said to Him, 24:53 'Lord, are there few who are saved?" 24:57 And He said to them, 24:58 'Strive to enter through the narrow gate, 25:01 for many, I say to you, 25:03 will seek to enter and will not be able. 25:06 When once the Master of the house 25:08 has risen up and shut the door, 25:11 and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 25:14 'Lord, open to us,' 25:16 and He will answer and say to you, 25:18 'I do not know you, where you are from.' 25:23 " Remember the parable of the 10 virgins, 25:25 the door shut, 25:27 and the foolish virgins did what? 25:30 They came and knock on the door, let us in. 25:33 And Jesus said, "I don't know you." 25:36 Is that talking about the close of probation 25:38 for the Jewish nation? 25:39 Absolutely. 25:41 It continues, "Then you will begin to say, 25:45 'We ate and drank in Your presence." 25:49 What? 25:52 Who ate and drank in the presence of Jesus? 25:55 The Jews. 25:56 "And You taught in our streets. 25:59 But he will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, 26:03 where you are from. 26:04 Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' 26:08 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 26:11 when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob 26:14 and all the prophets in the kingdom, 26:16 and you yourselves thrust out. 26:20 They will come from the east and the west, 26:23 from the north and the south, 26:25 and sit down in the kingdom of God. 26:28 And indeed, there are last," who are those? 26:32 The Gentiles, who will be first, 26:36 "And there are first who will be," what? 26:39 "Who will be last." 26:42 Are you catching the picture? 26:43 Has the wedding taken place, 26:45 all during the period of preaching to the Gentiles, 26:48 to the outermost parts of the earth 26:50 throughout the Christian dispensation? 26:52 The wedding has not taken place yet. 26:56 Notice Matthew 21:43-44. 27:00 Jesus said to them, "Therefore I say to you, 27:03 the kingdom of God will be," what? 27:06 He's speaking to the Jewish leaders, 27:08 "will be taken from you and given to a nation, 27:12 "that's the same word that is translated Gentiles, 27:15 "will be given to a nation bearing the fruits thereof." 27:21 And then we have Paul and Barnabas. 27:24 This is in the Book of Acts, 27:25 they're preaching the gospel to a group of Jews. 27:29 And they're rejecting the message 27:30 that Paul and Barnabas are preaching. 27:32 So notice how the story develops. 27:35 This is in Acts 13:46-47. 27:41 It says, 27:42 "Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 27:45 'It was necessary 27:47 that the word of God 27:48 should be spoken to you," what? 27:50 See, did you notice first, 27:52 key word, "but since you," what? 27:55 "Reject it, 27:57 and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, 28:00 we turn to," whom? 28:03 "We turn to the Gentiles. 28:05 For so the Lord has commanded us: 28:08 'I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, 28:11 that you should be for salvation to, " 28:13 where? 28:14 "To the ends of the earth.' 28:16 " Where do we find that expression 28:18 ends of the earth in some other place 28:20 in the Book of Acts? 28:23 You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and Judea, 28:28 that's the Jews by the way, then what? 28:32 Samaria and then the uttermost parts of the earth. 28:36 Are you with me or not? 28:38 So when the gospel 28:39 goes to the outermost parts of the earth, 28:41 has the wedding taken place? 28:42 No, 28:44 the guests are being invited to the wedding 28:47 and invitations are being accepted. 28:49 And among those who accept there are good and bad. 28:55 Does this have anything to do 28:56 with what we've been studying about measuring the temple? 29:00 It's a separation between the good and bad fish. 29:04 Now notice, in verse 10, 29:09 "So those servants went out into the," what? 29:12 "Highways." 29:13 What does that mean? They went to whom? 29:15 To the Gentiles, and what did they do? 29:18 "They gathered together all whom they found." 29:22 Are they throwing the net now? 29:24 Absolutely. 29:25 Is the net gathering all kinds of fish? 29:27 Absolutely. 29:29 "Both bad and good. 29:31 And the wedding hall was," 29:33 what? 29:34 "The wedding hall was filled with guests." 29:40 Now the question is, 29:41 has the wedding taken place yet? 29:43 No, not yet. 29:46 What is the wedding? 29:49 When does a wedding take place? 29:51 After all of those who profess the name of Jesus 29:53 have been gathered. 29:56 Are you following me? 29:58 Now, 30:00 I'm not going to read 30:02 what we find on the bottom of this page, 30:05 and in the middle of the next page, 30:06 because I told you that story in our last session, 30:09 but I do want to read Matthew 13:47-50, 30:13 where, which is the passage 30:15 that I based the illustration on. 30:17 Remember that I talked about when I was a child, 30:19 my parents took me to this pristine island, 30:23 where we watched the fishermen come in, 30:25 or the anglers come in. 30:27 Notice what the biblical foundation of that is. 30:31 Matthew 13:47-50. 30:33 "Again, 30:34 the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet 30:38 that was cast into the sea and gathered some of," what? 30:44 "Every kind," would you say good and bad? 30:48 Yes, 30:50 "which when it was full," 30:52 so the fishing is over, right? 30:55 When the boat is full, the fishing is over. 30:57 What would that be? 31:00 The close of probation, "which, when it was full, 31:03 they drew to shore, 31:04 and they sat down 31:06 and gathered the good into vessels, 31:09 but the bad they threw away. 31:12 So it will be," when? 31:14 "At the end of the age. 31:17 The angels will come forth, 31:19 separate the wicked from among the just," 31:22 which wicked from among the just? 31:26 All of the wicked people 31:28 that are gonna be examined during the millennium? 31:30 No. 31:32 Who are the wicked? 31:33 The ones that were put in the boat. 31:36 Are you with me? 31:38 People who profess Jesus because the net was thrown, 31:41 and they were fished, and they were put in the boat, 31:43 and the boat represents what? 31:45 The church. 31:46 So the bad here, 31:48 the wicked are not really 31:51 the wicked as we know them adulterers, and murderers, 31:54 and liars, and so on that are outside the holy city 31:57 after the millennium. 31:59 These are people who profess Jesus, 32:01 but they're really wicked. 32:03 And so it says, "Then angels will come forth, 32:06 separate the wicked from among the just 32:08 and cast them into the furnace of fire. 32:12 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 32:15 Do you notice the same expression 32:16 in all of these stories, 32:17 the weeping and gnashing of teeth? 32:19 That expression always applies 32:22 to those individuals who profess Jesus 32:25 and yet they were counterfeit believers. 32:27 You can look up that expression every single time. 32:30 Now let's go to verse 11. 32:32 So is the wedding hall full at this point? 32:36 Absolutely. It's bursting at the seams. 32:40 The fish have been gathered, the boat is full. 32:43 Now they're going to bring the boat to the what? 32:45 They're going to bring the boat to the shore 32:48 and there's going to be a work of separation. 32:51 Notice verse 11. 32:54 "But when the king came in to see..." 32:58 What does the king do now? 32:59 He comes into the wedding hall and what does he come in for? 33:04 He comes in to see 33:07 and I want to tell you something about that word. 33:09 You know there's a common word in Greek for seeing, 33:11 it's the word blepo. 33:14 Very common. 33:15 It's the word that mostly is translated to see. 33:18 This is not the word blepo, this is an unusual word. 33:21 This is the word theaomai. 33:23 In a moment, I'll tell you what that means. 33:26 But when the king came in to see," to see whom? 33:30 The guests. 33:33 "He saw a man there 33:37 who did not have on a," what? 33:40 "A wedding garment." 33:42 So is the king now going to examine the guests 33:45 to see if they have the garment 33:47 and they have a right to be there? 33:50 Are you seeing there? 33:52 The parables of Jesus 33:54 fit just right along with the prophecies 33:57 of Daniel and Revelation. 34:00 So next page, the translation see is weak. 34:06 The Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament explains 34:10 that in the New Testament, 34:11 this word see means something far deeper. 34:15 Here's the definition. 34:17 "Regularly connotes intensive, thorough, lingering, 34:23 astonished, reflective, 34:26 comprehending observation." 34:30 So what is this, just coming to see? 34:32 No. What is he doing? 34:34 He is examining the guests. 34:38 Could we use the word, investigating the guests? 34:42 Absolutely. 34:43 Yes. 34:44 Now Ellen White describes the sanctuary context 34:47 of the heavenly examination. 34:50 This is in for Spirit of Prophecy, page 266, 34:56 "As the sins of the people 34:57 were anciently transferred in figure," 35:01 that is a type, 35:03 "to the earthly sanctuary 35:04 by the blood of the sin offering. 35:06 So our sins are in fact 35:09 transferred to the heavenly sanctuary 35:11 by the blood of Christ. 35:13 Furthermore, 35:14 as the typical cleansing of the earthly 35:16 was accomplished by the removal of the sins 35:19 by which it had been polluted, 35:21 so the actual cleansing of the heavenly 35:24 is to be accomplished 35:26 by the removal or blotting out of the sins 35:29 that are there recorded. 35:31 This necessitates 35:33 an examination of the books of record 35:37 to determine who, 35:39 through repentance of sin and faith in Christ 35:43 are entitled to the benefits of His Atonement. 35:47 The cleansing of the sanctuary, 35:49 therefore involves a work of, " what? 35:52 "Of investigative judgment. 35:54 This work," 35:55 listen carefully now, 35:57 "this work must be performed 35:59 prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people, 36:02 for when He comes, 36:03 His reward is with Him to give to every man 36:06 according to His works." 36:10 So are you understanding the point 36:12 that Ellen White is making here? 36:14 When Jesus comes, what is He going to bring? 36:16 His reward. 36:17 Must He have determined 36:19 what the reward is before He comes? 36:21 And where is that reward determined? 36:23 It's determined by an examination of the names 36:27 that are found in the book, 36:30 the examination of the lives. 36:32 Now all believers are examined. 36:35 Notice this statement, 36:37 Christ Object Lessons, page 310. 36:40 "The guests at the gospel feast 36:43 are those who profess to serve God, 36:46 those whose names are written in the Book of Life." 36:49 Wow. 36:51 So what? 36:52 The guests of the gospel feast are those who what? 36:55 Professed to serve God. 36:57 "Those whose names are written in the Book of Life. 37:00 But not all who profess to be Christians 37:03 are true disciples. 37:06 Before the final reward is given, 37:08 it must be decided who are fitted 37:11 to share the inheritance of the righteous. 37:14 This decision must be made prior 37:16 to the Second Coming 37:17 of Christ in the clouds of heaven, 37:19 for when He comes, 37:20 His reward is with Him 37:22 to give every man according as his work shall be." 37:29 How many must appear 37:30 before the judgment seat of Christ? 37:32 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, 37:34 "We must all appear 37:36 before the judgment seat of Christ, 37:38 to give account 37:39 for what we have done in the body." 37:40 That means what we have done in this life. 37:44 "Will we also be judged on the basis of our words?" 37:51 Jesus said, "By your words, 37:52 you will be justified and by your words, 37:55 you will be what? 37:56 You will be condemned." 37:59 So are words going to be examined 38:01 in the judgment? 38:03 They most certainly are. 38:05 How about the secret things inside us 38:09 that don't manifest themselves externally? 38:11 Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, 38:13 "God will bring every work into judgment, 38:17 along with every secret thing." 38:22 So when Jesus comes, what is He going to bring? 38:25 He's going to bring His reward to give to everyone, 38:28 according to his what? 38:30 According to his work. 38:32 Matthew 7:21-23. 38:34 I didn't put all of these passages in here. 38:37 But here is where people claim the name of Jesus, they said, 38:40 "Didn't we prophesy in Your name? 38:43 Didn't we performed miracles in Your name? 38:46 Didn't we cast out demons in Your name?" 38:49 And what is Jesus going to say to them? 38:51 By the way, if they're doing it in the name of Jesus, 38:53 do they claim to be believers? 38:55 Well, of course. 38:57 So what does Jesus say to them? 38:59 He says, "Yeah, come right in." 39:01 No. 39:03 He says what? 39:05 "I don't know you. 39:06 Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity." 39:09 Did they claim to be believers? 39:11 Absolutely. 39:13 We read about Matthew 13:47-50, the good and bad fish. 39:18 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 39:22 tells us that in the church, 39:23 there are ministers of unrighteousness, 39:26 who are garbed as ministers of righteousness. 39:30 Matthew 13:30 says 39:31 that there's going to be wheat and tares in the church. 39:35 Matthew 25:1-10 tells us 39:38 that there will be wise virgins and what? 39:41 Wise virgins and foolish virgins. 39:45 So what is the purpose of this judgment? 39:48 The purpose of the judgment is to reveal to the universe 39:52 if repentance, confession, 39:55 faith and baptism were genuine or not. 40:01 The proof of true conversion is what? 40:04 A sanctified life that produces works 40:07 that flow from repentance. 40:10 God saves us by grace through faith, 40:12 but He will judge us by our works 40:15 because works reveal 40:16 whether faith is genuine or not. 40:21 Words are cheap. 40:23 Notice what Ellen White had to say about this. 40:26 "It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth 40:30 that the work of investigative judgment takes place 40:33 in the courts of heaven." 40:35 The lives of how many? 40:40 "All, the lives of all, are those the guests? 40:45 Those are the guests. 40:46 The lives of all 40:48 His professed followers pass in review before God. 40:54 All are examined 40:56 according to the record of the books of heaven, 40:59 and according to his deeds 41:01 the destiny of each is forever fixed." 41:06 So while God's professed people are on earth, 41:09 the judgment transpires where? 41:11 In heaven, 41:13 and all who have professed the name of Jesus 41:15 are examined in this judgment. 41:17 Notice Christ Object Lessons, page 312. 41:21 Righteousness is right doing and is by their deeds, 41:25 that all will be judged. 41:29 Our characters are revealed," by what? 41:32 "By what we do, 41:33 the works show whether the faith is genuine." 41:39 Is Ellen White correct in her assessment? 41:42 Absolutely. 41:43 Because as we have seen, 41:45 in the Bible 41:46 the judgment is always concerned 41:48 with an examination of our works, words, deeds, 41:52 thoughts, motives, and intentions of the heart. 41:56 Notice Selected Messages volume II, page 380. 42:01 "That which God required of Adam 42:02 before his fall was perfect obedience to His law. 42:06 God requires now what He required of Adam, 42:08 perfect obedience, 42:10 righteousness without a flaw 42:12 without shortcoming in His sight." 42:14 Now, 42:16 is there anybody 42:17 that can render that in themselves? 42:19 No, we always have to have the righteousness of Christ 42:21 standing in place of our own righteousness, 42:23 right? 42:25 If we receive Him as Savior, 42:27 but if we invite Him into our hearts, 42:29 will we come to reflect His character, 42:32 even to the point of the final generation, 42:34 reflecting His character fully? 42:36 Yes. 42:38 So she continues here, "God help us to render to Him, 42:42 all His law requires. 42:44 We cannot do this without," what? 42:46 That faith that brings Christ's righteousness 42:50 into daily practice. 42:53 So are works important? 42:56 Do works save us? 42:58 Do work show if we're saved? 43:00 Yes. 43:01 The problem is putting the cart before the horse. 43:05 You know, 43:06 the horse that pulls is faith, and the cart follows. 43:11 Now let's notice Luke 12. 43:13 We studied this 43:14 in one of our presentations before, 43:17 but let's notice Luke 12:35-38. 43:20 Jesus says to His followers, 43:23 "Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning, 43:27 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, 43:30 when he will," what? 43:32 "Return from the wedding." 43:34 So does the wedding take place in heaven 43:37 before Jesus comes back? 43:38 Absolutely. 43:40 "That when he comes and knocks 43:42 they may open to him immediately. 43:44 Blessed are those servants 43:46 whom the master, when he comes, 43:48 will find watching." 43:50 So where are the guests when Jesus comes? 43:52 They're on earth and what are they doing? 43:54 They're watching and their lamps are burning 43:57 but they're on earth. 43:58 Then it ends by saying, 44:00 "Assuredly, I say to you 44:02 that he will gird himself 44:04 and have them sit down to eat, 44:06 and will come and serve them." 44:09 So now this, 44:11 there's this individual in the wedding chamber 44:14 that has no garment. 44:16 Does he claim to be a follower of Jesus? 44:19 Absolutely. 44:20 He claims to be a follower of Jesus. 44:22 Is he there in the wedding chamber? 44:25 Yeah. 44:26 So he must have sneaked into heaven. 44:30 Does that happen after the Second Coming? 44:32 You tell me. 44:34 After the Second Coming, 44:35 all of God's people are in heaven. 44:38 And suddenly now the king comes out 44:40 to examine the guests. 44:43 And whereas He examines the guests 44:44 that He took to heaven, He says, 44:46 "Now wait a minute, what are you doing too here? 44:49 You've got to get a return ticket." 44:51 No. 44:53 When does the examination take place? 44:55 It takes place in heaven, right? 44:59 Before Jesus comes. 45:01 So what is this describing? 45:03 What is the examination of the garment? 45:06 It's the judgment that takes place when? 45:09 Before the Second Coming. Beginning what date? 45:12 1844. Ending what date? 45:16 No date. 45:19 Ending when probation closes, 45:22 that's the answer that I was looking for. 45:24 Now, notice verse 12. 45:28 He said to him, 45:30 jerk. 45:32 No, it's not what he says. 45:38 He says what? 45:41 Friend. 45:44 Was Jesus nice? 45:45 Yes. 45:47 "Friend, how did you come in here 45:51 without a wedding garment?" 45:53 How was he there? 45:55 He was there through what? 45:57 Through the records in heaven, his name is there. 46:03 And what did he say? 46:04 "Well, Lord, I was born in a bad environment. 46:10 I got bad genetics. 46:13 I had bad influences. 46:16 I lived with a poor family. 46:19 The flesh is weak, the devil is powerful." 46:23 Is there going to be an excuse? 46:25 No. 46:26 What did it say? 46:27 And he was speechless. 46:34 Any excuse in the judgment? 46:36 No. 46:38 Romans 3:19 says, 46:40 "Now we know that whatever the law says, 46:44 it says to those 46:45 who are under the law that," what? 46:48 "That every mouth may be stopped, 46:52 and all the world may become guilty before God." 46:56 Notice Christ Object Lessons, page 315 and 316. 47:01 Speaking about Christians that are really not Christians, 47:05 they appear to be Christians. 47:08 "Many who call themselves Christians 47:11 are mere human moralists." 47:13 In other words, they live moral lives. 47:15 But it doesn't come from a relationship with Christ. 47:17 It doesn't come from within. 47:19 They have refused the gift that alone could enable them 47:23 to honor Christ by representing Him to the world. 47:27 The work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work." 47:30 So the moral life that they live 47:31 is not by the power of the Holy Spirit. 47:33 Do you know people that are very moral, 47:35 who are atheists? 47:38 Sure, there are people that don't kill, 47:39 they don't commit adultery, they don't lie. 47:41 They live a good moral life. 47:42 So they're going to be saved, right? 47:44 No, only the works that are produced by the Holy Spirit 47:48 are acceptable in the sight of God. 47:50 She continues, 47:51 "The work of the Holy Spirit is to them a strange work. 47:54 They are not doers of the word. 47:57 The heavenly principles that distinguish 47:59 those who are one with Christ 48:01 from those who are one with the world 48:03 have become almost indistinguishable. 48:06 The professed followers of Christ are no longer, " 48:09 listen carefully, 48:10 "a separate and peculiar people. 48:14 The line of demarcation is indistinct. 48:18 The people are subordinating themselves to the world, 48:22 to its practices, its customs, its selfishness." 48:26 In other words, the church is accommodating to culture. 48:31 "The church has gone over to the world 48:34 in transgression of the law, 48:36 when the world should have come over to the church 48:39 in obedience to the law. 48:41 Daily the church is being converted to the world. 48:45 All these expect to be saved by Christ's death, 48:49 while they refuse to live His self-sacrificing life. 48:53 They extol the riches of free grace, 48:56 and attempt to cover themselves 48:58 with an appearance of righteousness, 49:01 hoping to screen their defects of character, 49:04 but their efforts will be of no avail 49:07 in the day of God." 49:09 That's a powerful statement. 49:12 Christ Object Lessons 317, Ellen White wrote, 49:15 "Men may now excuse their defects of character, 49:19 but in that day, they will offer," what?" 49:23 They will offer no excuse." 49:27 And then we have in verse 13, the reward. 49:32 "Then the king said to the servants, 49:35 " the servants represent the angels, 49:38 "Bind him hand and foot." 49:40 Who are being bound hand and foot? 49:42 The open sinners, right? 49:44 The adulterers, and the murderers, 49:46 and the liars. 49:47 No who is? 49:52 Those who claimed to follow Jesus. 49:54 "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, 49:57 and cast him into outer darkness, 49:59 there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 50:03 By the way, the five foolish virgins, 50:06 did they come to the wedding chamber 50:08 at night or in the daytime? 50:11 At night, because they had lamps lighted. 50:14 Were they cast out into outer darkness 50:17 when the door closed? 50:18 They remained in darkness, 50:20 whereas the others entered and they were in the light. 50:23 That's what this is talking about. 50:25 So cast him into outer darkness, 50:27 there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 50:30 Did the five foolish virgins come back and cry out, 50:33 "Open the door, open the door." 50:35 Was there wailing and gnashing of teeth? 50:38 Read the chapter 50:39 on the time of trouble in Great Controversy. 50:41 Ellen White says that 50:43 some Christians during the time of trouble 50:45 will confess their sins in anguish, 50:47 but it's too late. 50:49 That will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 50:52 Notice Matthew 13:30, 50:55 "Let both grow together until the harvest. 50:57 And Ellen White says that 50:59 the harvest is the close of probation. 51:00 "And at the time of the harvest, 51:02 I will say to the reapers, 51:04 'First gather together the tares 51:06 and bind them in bundles to burn them." 51:09 Who are the tares that are burned? 51:12 Is Jesus coming in raging fire according to the Bible? 51:15 Yes, He is. 51:16 Who are the tares that are going to be burnt up? 51:21 Those who profess the name of Jesus, right? 51:24 What about the wheat? 51:25 It says, "First gather the tares, 51:27 together the tares 51:28 and bind them in bundles to burn them, 51:31 but gather the wheat into my barn." 51:33 What does the wheat represent? 51:35 Genuine believers, 51:37 they're going to be gathered into the barn. 51:38 What is the barn? 51:40 The heavenly kingdom. 51:42 What's going to happen with the wicked? 51:44 They're going to be consumed. 51:47 And then in verse 14, 51:49 you have this, 51:51 "For many are called, but few are chosen." 51:57 Now let's go to Revelation 17:14, 52:01 which is similar to this, 52:03 it's talking about the end time generation, 52:05 who will face the beast, his image, his mark, 52:09 the number of his name, the false prophet, 52:11 the kings of the earth, 52:13 all of the powers of the world arrayed against them. 52:17 And we find in Revelation 17:14, 52:21 the following, 52:23 "These will make war with the Lamb, 52:26 and the Lamb will overcome them, 52:29 for He is Lord of lords and King of kings, 52:32 and those who are with Him," 52:34 that is with Jesus, are first of all what? 52:37 "Called," secondly, "chosen," and third, "faithful." 52:44 Who are the ones that are going to be ready 52:46 at the Second Coming of Christ? 52:47 Those who were called, 52:50 and because they were called and responded, they're what? 52:53 They're chosen, 52:54 and as chosen people, they remained what? 52:58 They remained faithful. 53:01 Now you have a final story here, 53:04 a story that I told already. 53:05 But let's read it from the Bible. 53:07 I just told you the story. 53:08 So let's now read it from Scripture. 53:11 It's found in Matthew 18:23-25. 53:15 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven 53:17 is like a certain king, 53:20 " it's God the Father, 53:22 "who wanted to settle accounts, 53:24 " this is the judgment, 53:26 "with his servants." 53:28 Who are those? 53:30 Those who claim Jesus, right? 53:32 Because they're His servants, they claim to be His servants. 53:35 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, 53:38 one was brought to him 53:40 who owed him ten thousand talents." 53:42 Which was a huge debt that was impossible to pay. 53:47 "But as he was not able to pay, 53:50 his master commanded that he be sold, 53:52 with his wife and children and all that he had, 53:56 and that payment be made." 53:58 This man deserve this. 54:00 That's what he deserved 54:02 because he had incurred the debt with his master. 54:04 So his master is not making any demand 54:06 that is not just. 54:09 Verse 26, 54:10 "The servant therefore fell down before him..." 54:13 Now the question is, 54:14 was this repentance for sin 54:16 or repentance for the consequences of sin? 54:18 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 54:21 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 54:26 Then the master of that servant was moved with," what?" 54:29 Compassion." 54:31 By the way, that's grace and mercy, right? 54:33 "Released him," and what? 54:38 "And forgave him the debt." 54:42 This is God's justification or forgiveness. 54:46 "But that servant went out," 54:47 and now comes, 54:49 was this guy really sorry, 54:51 how would he have shown that he was truly sorry 54:55 for incurring the debt? 54:57 He would have shown it by his actions towards others. 55:01 That's why the Lord's prayer says, 55:02 "Forgive us our debts, 55:04 as we forgive our debtors." 55:07 We are forgiven as we forgive others. 55:10 It continues. 55:12 "But that servant," verse 28, 55:14 "went out and found one of his fellow servants 55:16 who owed him hundred denarii, 55:18 " that's the equivalent of 100 days of work. 55:22 The pay was one denarii for the common labor. 55:25 "And he laid hands on him and took him by the throat." 55:30 Did his works show that his repentance was not genuine? 55:34 Yes, 55:35 "Saying, 'Pay me what you owe.' 55:38 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet 55:40 and begged him saying, 55:41 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' 55:45 And he would not, 55:46 but went and threw him into prison 55:48 till he should pay the debt.' 55:50 " Wow. 55:52 So and his fellow servants, which is by the way, 55:54 the recording angels saw that what he had done, 55:58 they were very grieved, 55:59 and came and told their master all that he had done. 56:03 "Then his master 56:04 after he had called him said to him, 56:07 "Should you not also have had compassion 56:11 on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" 56:15 And his master was angry, 56:18 and delivered him to the torturers 56:21 until he should pay 56:24 all that was due to him. 56:29 If he was alive, he'd still be in prison. 56:32 He spent the rest of his life in prison. 56:36 And now notice, 56:38 here's the lesson that Jesus wants to teach. 56:41 So that is in the same way as in this parable. 56:44 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you 56:50 if each of you..." 56:52 Is the judgment individual? 56:55 Yes, the judgment involves individuals. 56:58 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you, 57:01 if each of you," from where? 57:05 That's an important expression, "from his heart, 57:09 does not forgive his brother his trespasses." 57:14 Is the judgment investigation a threat 57:17 to a person's salvation? 57:20 No. 57:22 Only if their repentance confession and faith are what? 57:26 Counterfeit. 57:27 If a person on a train has purchased a ticket, 57:32 you know, when I lived in New Jersey, 57:34 I used to go to New York on the New Jersey Transit 57:37 because in New York to park it costs a fortune. 57:40 So better go on the train. 57:42 And you didn't pay for your ticket. 57:43 The attendant would come in 57:45 and after you were in the train, 57:46 the train was rolling. 57:47 He asked you for your ticket. 57:49 Do you think I was scared? 57:50 I was saying, "Whoa, no, he's asking for the tickets." 57:51 No, because I bought the ticket. 57:53 So if you have accepted Christ, 57:55 you have nothing to fear in the judgment. |
Revised 2020-10-17