Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230017S
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00:01 Welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:02 We're so glad you're joining us because we do this for you. 00:06 We're studying this Quarter: Three Cosmic Messages 00:11 and we're on Lesson 5 today 00:13 which is the good news of the judgment. 00:17 If you've yet have gotten your Adult Bible Study Guide, 00:22 you can go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:25 download it and join us. 00:27 Get your Bible... a pen and a paper 00:29 and come study with us. 00:31 Music... 01:01 Shelley: Oh, we're so glad you are joining us 01:04 for 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:06 We are studying Lesson 5 of our Adult Bible Study Guide 01:11 which is the Three Cosmic Messages 01:15 found in Revelation 14:6 through 12. 01:19 Today, we are looking at the good news of the judgment. 01:22 Did you know there was good news about the judgment? 01:26 I'm Shelley Quinn... 01:28 let me introduce your 3ABN family 01:31 who is sitting at the table. 01:32 Ryan Day, we're glad you're here. 01:35 Ryan: It's always a blessing to be a part of the 3ABN 01:37 Sabbath School Panel. 01:38 I have Monday's Lesson entitled: God's Mercy and Judgment. 01:42 Shelley: And Brother John Dinzey. 01:44 Dinzey: It's a blessing to be here. 01:45 This is another powerful lesson. 01:47 I have Tuesday: A Magnificent Scene. 01:50 Shelley: It's going to be wonderful... 01:53 Pastor James Rafferty. 01:55 Rafferty: Good to be here, Shelley, 01:56 I have Wednesday's Lesson which is entitled: 01:58 A Glimpse of Heaven. 01:59 Shelley: Oh wonderful! 02:00 And my sister in Christ, Jill Morikone. 02:03 Jill: Thank you, Shelley, 02:04 I have Thursday: Jesus is Worthy. 02:06 Shelley: You know, each one of these lessons 02:09 have been incredible 02:11 and Ryan, I'm going to ask you if you will, 02:15 to ask God's blessing on our discussion today. 02:18 Ryan: Absolutely, "Father in heaven, 02:20 as we take a trip into your throne room... 02:24 as we try to understand this judgment topic, 02:28 Lord, we dare not take upon this subject on our own merits 02:33 or upon our own ideas or thoughts. 02:35 Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to be poured out right now 02:37 on each and every one of us, 02:39 that we approach this humbly with accuracy 02:41 according to your Word 02:42 and according to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, 02:44 we turn this time over to you 02:46 and we ask this in Jesus' holy name, amen. " 02:48 Shelley: Amen... amen. 02:51 The good news of judgment, 02:54 let's begin with Revelation 14:7, 02:57 I know we covered this in our last lesson, 03:00 but we're going to take today... 03:02 we're going to explore the deeper themes 03:07 of the judgment. 03:09 So, Revelation 14:7, 03:11 the first angel who has already announced the gospel 03:15 to be taken around the world, 03:16 says with a loud voice, 03:19 "Fear God and give glory to Him, 03:23 for the hour of His judgment has come; 03:26 and worship Him who made heaven and earth, 03:29 the sea and the springs of water. " 03:32 So, as we look at judgment 03:35 in relation to the great controversy 03:37 and everything that's going on and raging in the universe, 03:41 we know that there is an inevitable judgment to come. 03:46 You know Paul in Acts 24:25, 03:48 he was talking with Felix 03:51 and reasoning about God's love and righteousness 03:55 and the judgment to come. 03:57 What did Felix do? 03:58 "Oh well, go away, I'll think about this 04:01 and maybe come back to it at a later day. " 04:04 But here's what I just wanted to impress again 04:08 and I know we're saying this every time, 04:09 because it is so true. 04:11 God's nature is unselfish love. 04:16 It is centered on others... His love. 04:21 He operates not by the power of control 04:26 but by the power of love. 04:28 That is how His government operates 04:31 and you know what? 04:33 He established boundaries for human behavior. 04:37 What parent loves a child 04:41 and doesn't establish good healthy boundaries? 04:45 So, what God did with His law... His Ten Commandments, 04:51 which I think of His... as His Charter of Rights 04:55 for His government of love. 04:57 He put boundaries 05:00 that protects our relationship with Him 05:04 and gives Him the due that is... 05:08 is due Him... 05:10 due that's due Him... 05:11 Panel: Laughter. 05:12 Shelley: And He put these boundaries 05:15 around our behavior 05:19 so it would protect the rights of all humans. 05:23 To ignore His boundaries is to act lawless 05:29 as if, He has no law 05:32 and 1st John 3:4 said, 05:35 "sin is lawlessness. " 05:38 So, God is just... what does that mean? 05:41 when we say, "God is just. " 05:43 We know He is... He is love, 05:45 we know He's light and righteous... 05:48 but what does it mean to be just? 05:51 It means to be absolutely good... 05:55 to be fair-minded, virtuous, impartial, 05:59 honest, incorruptible, trustworthy 06:03 and righteous. 06:04 God is a God of justice. 06:08 He is consistent 06:10 in the Old Testament and the New 06:13 and that might surprise you if you've never... 06:15 sometimes, people read His warnings in the Old Testament 06:19 and think, "Ooooh! God was being so harsh. " 06:22 No, He was... He's always been a God of judgment 06:26 because justice requires judgment. 06:31 Ecclesiastes 12:14 says, 06:34 "God is going to bring every work into judgment, 06:37 including every secret thing, 06:40 whether good or evil. " 06:42 Paul says in Romans 14:12, 06:44 "Each one of us... " he says, 06:47 "shall give an account of himself to God. " 06:52 Justice requires judgment and what is judgment? 06:57 It is a legal transaction 07:01 that demands our heavenly Father 07:04 is either going to levy one of two possible verdicts. 07:09 To go into judgment means first, 07:14 there are two ways that this can turn out. 07:16 One: you can be condemned. 07:18 An accused person that's found guilty... 07:21 God declares them guilty and worthy of punishment. 07:27 Or, the much preferable way is to be justified 07:32 and that is a legal transaction 07:35 where God looks at us and by righteousness... 07:40 through righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus, 07:44 He pronounces an acquittal of the charges 07:48 because He sees no forensic evidence 07:53 that when we are in Christ, 07:55 it blots out that record of our sins 07:58 and He makes the official declaration 08:02 that we're innocent. 08:03 In 1st Timothy 2:3 and 4, 08:05 Paul tells... he's writing to Timothy, 08:09 and he says, "God our Savior, 08:12 desires all men to be saved 08:15 and to come to the knowledge of the truth. " 08:18 And then we see God's words in Ezekiel 33:11, 08:22 and God says, "As I live, says the Lord God, 08:25 I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, 08:29 but that the wicked would turn from his way... " 08:32 turn... repent... 08:34 be converted... 08:35 "and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! 08:39 For why should you die?" 08:41 You know, God in Christ 08:46 sacrificed Himself to pay sin's penalty. 08:50 He became... He suffered and He died. 08:55 Why? 08:57 To uphold the righteous law of God. 09:00 If God was going to do away with His Charter of Rights... 09:04 with His Ten Commandments, 09:06 then, Christ died in vain. 09:08 Ryan: That's right. 09:10 Shelley: So, He became our substitute 09:12 because we're guilty of breaking the law. 09:16 He was sinless and He makes it possible 09:21 as Paul writes in Romans 3:26, 09:25 that God can remain just 09:29 because He came down and showed it can be done 09:33 but He's also the justifier 09:36 of the one who has faith in Jesus. 09:40 So, God's love and His holiness 09:46 demand justice. 09:48 We all want justice when a wrong is done, 09:50 don't we? 09:52 God's love demands mercy and grace 09:55 and someone has said this clever quote, 09:59 I love it... 10:01 Justice is receiving what we deserve. 10:06 Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. 10:11 But grace is receiving 10:14 what we absolutely don't deserve. 10:17 None of us deserve God's grace but I'm so glad 10:21 that He is a God of grace. 10:24 When we are in Christ, the good news of the judgment 10:28 is that we don't have to fear the judgment. 10:32 Let's look at Daniel chapter 7 and verse 22, 10:35 Daniel 7:22, boy! I've got to hurry, 10:39 "until the Ancient of Days came" 10:44 He's watching... 10:46 "until the Ancient of Days came, 10:47 and a judgment was made 10:48 in favor of the saints of the Most High, 10:51 and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. " 10:56 What is the significance of the judgment hour? 11:00 Sunday's Lesson... I'm going to read what Mark Finley wrote. 11:03 "The Bible's last book, Revelation, 11:06 focuses on the culmination of the age-long controversy 11:11 between good and evil. 11:12 Lucifer, a rebel angel, 11:14 challenged the justice, fairness, and wisdom of God. 11:18 He claimed that God was unfair and unjust 11:21 in a way that He administered the universe. 11:25 And Revelation's final judgment 11:28 is at the very center of this conflict 11:30 over the character of God. " 11:33 So, let's return... 11:35 we're going to re-read the first angel's message, 11:38 Revelation 14:6 through 7, 11:40 John is in vision, he says, 11:43 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 11:46 having the everlasting gospel 11:48 to preach to those who dwell on the earth... 11:51 to every nation, tongue, tribe and people... " 11:55 so the everlasting gospel is the foundation... 11:58 righteousness by faith 12:00 is the foundation of the three angels' message 12:03 and then he says, "Fear God and give glory to Him 12:07 for the hour of His judgment has come. " 12:10 We're living in the judgment hour right now. 12:12 He says, "Worship Him who made heaven, and earth, 12:16 and the sea, and the springs of water. " 12:20 Do you realize the everlasting gospel 12:23 and judgment are inseparable? 12:26 They're intertwined and it's good news for us 12:29 because if you're in Christ... judgment reveals God's grace, 12:34 His mercy, and His justice. 12:37 It reveals His power to deliver 12:41 and it speaks of His moral code of love... 12:46 the Ten Commandments. 12:47 Mark Finley said, "In the Great Controversy 12:50 between good and evil in the universe, 12:52 God answered Satan's charges on the cross, 12:55 but in the judgment, 12:57 He reveals that He has done everything possible 13:02 to save us and lead us to the cross. " 13:05 I want to read what David wrote. 13:08 This is his psalm of repentance. 13:11 Psalm 51:1 through 4, 13:13 He says, "Have mercy on me, O God, 13:15 according to Your lovingkindness; 13:18 according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, 13:20 blot out my transgressions. 13:23 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, 13:26 cleanse me from my sin. 13:29 For I acknowledge my transgressions, 13:32 and my sin is always before me. 13:35 Against You, You only, have I sinned, 13:37 and done this evil in Your sight... 13:40 that you may be found just when You speak, 13:43 and blameless when you judge. " 13:45 When you confess your sin as David did, 13:48 God is faithful and just to forgive you of your sin 13:53 and He will cleanse you 13:55 of all unrighteousness. 13:58 Panel: Amen. 13:59 Shelley: Judgment simply reveals if we've responded to God's love 14:05 and the wooing of the Holy Spirit. 14:07 Ryan: Hmmm... amen, very well put, 14:09 thank you, Shelley, so much for that. 14:11 My name is Ryan Day and I have Monday's Lesson 14:13 entitled: God's Mercy and Judgment 14:16 and, as always, Pastor Mark Finley 14:19 in his beautiful gift of being able to... 14:22 to write and express the gospel so clearly, 14:24 he writes in the Lesson, 14:26 he says: The cross and judgment 14:27 both reveal that God is just and merciful. 14:31 The broken law demands the death of the sinner. 14:34 Justice declares, "The wages of sin is death. " 14:38 Mercy responds, 14:40 "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. " 14:44 Romans 6:23. 14:45 If God's law could be changed or abolished... 14:47 this is the point, Shelley had made earlier, 14:50 "If God's law could be changed or abolished, 14:52 it would be totally unnecessary for Jesus to die. 14:55 Christ's death establishes the eternal nature of the law, 15:00 and the law is the basis of judgment. " 15:03 And, you know, many people have questioned that before... 15:05 you know, what are we judged by? 15:07 The Bible makes it very clear Romans chapter 2 and verse 12, 15:10 the Bible says here, "For as many as have sinned without law 15:14 will also perish without law, 15:15 and as many as have sinned in the law 15:18 will be judged by the law. " 15:20 So, yes, we are indeed judged by the law 15:23 but the lesson brings out and asks us, 15:25 "But how are we judged and by what are we judged?" 15:29 Obviously, it takes a little step further 15:31 in bringing us to Revelation chapter 20 and verse 12 15:34 where obviously, we're seeing 15:36 those final scenes taking place there 15:38 at the end of the 1,000 years when it's all said and done 15:41 and this old world is beginning to pass away 15:44 on the brink of God creating a new heaven and a new earth. 15:47 But it says right there, 15:48 Revelation chapter 20 and verse 12, 15:50 it says, "And I saw the dead, small and great, 15:53 standing before God, 15:55 the books were opened. 15:57 And another book was opened, 15:58 which is the Book of Life. 16:00 And the dead were judged according to their works, 16:04 by the things which were written in the books. " 16:08 I've always found that to be fascinating because 16:11 you read the book of Revelation 16:13 and, you know, the book Revelation 16:15 of course, starts out wonderfully 16:17 in taking us through the different ages 16:20 from the... from the Apostolic Age 16:23 all the way to our current time 16:25 and it's interesting that to every single church, 16:27 Jesus says to them, 16:28 "Not I know your faith... " 16:30 you know, it's interesting 16:32 because we think of Ephesians chapter 2, 16:33 which I want to read in just a few moments, 16:35 you know, because... well, let's read it now, 16:37 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 through 10, 16:38 people think of this text and it's a powerful text, 16:41 there's a powerful truth in it 16:42 but we have to understand from a balanced perspective 16:45 what relationship does works play in our salvation? 16:47 Many people's answer to that question is, 16:49 works plays no role. 16:51 We're not saved by works, 16:52 therefore, works has no importance at all 16:54 in the relationship of... of salvation 16:57 or in our salvational walk with God. 16:59 Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 10, 17:01 this is that powerful text which declares to us 17:04 "For by grace, you have been saved through faith... " 17:06 okay... so, by grace through faith, 17:10 "and not of yourselves; 17:11 it is the gift of God, 17:13 not of works, lest anyone should boast. " 17:16 That's a powerful truth. 17:17 Praise God that we're not saved by works. 17:19 It goes on to say though, 17:20 "For we are His workmanship, 17:22 created in Christ Jesus for good works... " 17:25 which is the response 17:27 of being saved by grace through faith, 17:28 "which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. " 17:32 Many people say because we're not saved by works 17:35 and we're saved by grace through faith, 17:37 for the "works" plays no role at all, 17:39 and it's interesting that you go back to those seven churches, 17:42 Jesus could have said, "You know, I know your faith, 17:44 I know your faith... 17:45 I know your faith, 17:47 I know your faith. 17:48 But He says each and every time, 17:49 "I know your works... " 17:51 "Wait a second, Jesus, if we're not saved by our works 17:52 we're saved by grace through faith, 17:54 then, why in the world would you be concerned about our works?" 17:56 Well, that's the question that Mark Finley is asking 17:58 in this particular lesson here, 18:00 is what relationship does "works" play 18:02 in our salvation? 18:03 We just learned in Ephesians, while we're not saved 18:05 by our works and we are indeed saved by grace through faith, 18:08 we are created for good works 18:10 and, of course, as we read, I think, in a previous lesson, 18:12 we are told in Romans chapter 1 verse 5, 18:15 that it is... it is obviously... 18:17 through the grace... 18:19 through the grace that we're received by God, 18:22 it is for obedience that we've received that grace, 18:24 in other words, 18:25 the response for the grace that we have been saved by, 18:27 through the faith that we have expressed, 18:29 genuinely in Christ Jesus, 18:31 the... the natural results of that... 18:33 the... the testimony that tells the genuineness of that faith 18:37 is indeed our works. 18:39 This is exactly what James is expressing in James chapter 2, 18:43 and I've some of my brethren in church 18:44 that have told me before, "Well, James chapter 2... 18:47 Ephesians 2... 18:48 well, the James contradicts Paul. " 18:50 No, it doesn't. 18:51 If you read James chapter 2, 18:52 you'll see that he's simply just adding to 18:54 and further clarifying 18:55 the relationship of grace and works here 18:57 so, James chapter 2, I'm not going to read it all, 18:59 but I'm going to start reading in verse 14, 19:01 and notice what it says here, 19:02 this is James 2 beginning in verse 14, 19:04 it says, "What does it profit my brethren, 19:07 if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" 19:10 In other words, he's simply asking 19:12 again, not trying to trash the concept of faith, 19:14 he's simply saying, "There's people out there 19:16 that say, 'Oh, I believe in God... 19:18 I already have faith in the Lord, 19:19 I have faith that He's my Savior, 19:20 I have faith that He died for me on the cross, 19:22 I have faith in what He has done for me, 19:24 and that's all that I need. '" 19:25 And so, he says, "But if you don't have works, 19:28 what does it profit you? 19:29 Can faith save him?" 19:30 Can just your declaration alone 19:32 or your... your... your words that you believe in Him, 19:35 maybe your mental acceptance that Christ indeed 19:38 is who He says He is 19:39 or He has done what He says He has done? 19:41 Is that enough to save him? 19:43 Notice what he goes on to say in verses 15 and onward, 19:45 he said, "If a brother or sister is naked 19:47 and destitute of daily food, 19:49 and one of you says to them, 19:51 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' 19:54 but you do not give them the things 19:56 which are needed for the body, 19:57 what does it profit? 19:59 Thus also faith by itself, 20:01 if it does not have works, is dead. " 20:03 In other words, you've heard these people a lot of times, 20:05 sometimes we... 20:06 and I'm just going to kind of level with this here 20:07 for a moment, 20:09 sometimes, we destroy our witness 20:11 and, therefore, the genuineness of our faith 20:13 really comes forward whether it's genuine or not genuine. 20:15 If someone comes to us and says, 20:17 "Hey, you know, I really need help in this area 20:19 or this help and it's something we can do 20:21 but we say, "Ooooooh, brothers, and sisters, 20:23 I'll pray for you... " 20:24 you know... "The Lord will take care of you, 20:26 you'll be in my prayers... " 20:27 but oftentimes, you know, God has given us the ability 20:29 to, perhaps, help our brothers and sisters 20:31 and put forward in those works 20:34 to show forth the genuineness of the faith that we do have 20:37 in Jesus Christ. 20:38 It goes on to say in verse 18, 20:40 "But someone will say, 20:41 'You have faith, and I have works. ' 20:43 Show me your faith without your works, 20:45 and I will show you my faith by my works. " 20:48 Verse 23 now, it says, 20:50 "And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 20:52 'Abraham believed God, 20:53 and it was accounted to him, for righteousness. '" 20:56 But did Abraham just simply make a mental exception, 20:59 acceptance of God? 21:01 "Oh yes, Lord, I know You're speaking to me, 21:02 I know You've told me You're my God 21:04 but that's all I need. " 21:05 No, no, no... it goes on to say, 21:07 "And he was called the friend of God. 21:09 You see then that this man is justified by works, 21:12 and not by faith alone. " 21:13 Abraham put forward... he put forward his works 21:16 that showed the genuineness of his faith 21:18 and his acceptance of God as the one true God. 21:21 Verse 25, it says, "Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot 21:25 also justified by works when she received the messengers 21:28 and sent them out another way? 21:30 For as the body without the spirit is dead, 21:33 so faith without works is dead also. " 21:36 And so, you know, people... 21:38 some people have this mentality 21:39 that, "You know what? 21:41 Do... do nothing because Christ has already done it all. " 21:43 I've heard people say this, "I don't have to do anything... 21:46 I don't have to do any work 21:48 because I'm not saved by my works, 21:49 Christ has done it all for me... that's all I need 21:51 and I just need to believe that and accept that. " 21:54 And while that is a major portion I think of... 21:56 of our faith and our understanding 21:58 and who God is and what He has done for us, 22:00 is accepting for sure 22:01 that we can do nothing in and of ourselves 22:03 to gain salvation... 22:05 that we cannot add anything to the work of Christ, 22:07 and the work of the cross and the plan of redemption 22:10 that only Jesus could fulfill. 22:12 Yes, when we truly believe that 22:13 and we truly believe in Christ Jesus, 22:15 the lesson is simply highlighting and emphasizing the fact 22:18 that each and every one of us... if we say that we are in Christ, 22:22 we should do something about it 22:24 that it plays a healthy role. 22:25 I remember years ago, 22:27 I was... I just learned... not just learned 22:29 but I had been studying the truth of the Sabbath 22:30 for many months 22:32 and... and I was so excited about this new truth 22:34 that I had learned 22:36 and I decided... 22:37 I should go back to some of my Sunday-keeping pastors 22:39 and ministers and Sunday School teachers... 22:41 so, I went back to one of my most respected 22:43 Sunday-School teachers in... in the Sunday-keeping church, 22:45 and I remember telling him the story and how... 22:48 how I've learned this new information of the Sabbath, 22:50 and I was sharing it with him, 22:52 and this is a guy I greatly respected... 22:54 so kind, so calm, so loving all the time, you know, 22:57 he's just one of those guys you could just go to 22:59 and talk to and just open up to... 23:01 just a wonderful guy 23:03 but as I began to share with him 23:04 what the Bible teaches about the Sabbath, 23:06 this brother's attitude changed and he responded to me... 23:09 "You've got a veil over your eyes... 23:11 you've got a cloak over your eyes... 23:12 depart from me, Satan, trying to put me under works. " 23:15 Panel: Hmmm... 23:17 Ryan: Again, the idea that... "I don't have to do anything... 23:19 you're trying to put me under the law... 23:21 you're... you're putting them under the works of the law... " 23:23 when in reality, I wasn't communicating 23:25 that we're saved by the Sabbath, 23:27 we're saved by works... 23:28 but that yet because I am saved, 23:30 I want to keep His commandments 23:31 because I love Him. 23:33 And, of course, this is what the lesson brings out. 23:34 It says, "Our good works empowered by the Holy Spirit, 23:37 does not save us 23:38 but they do testify that our faith is genuine. 23:41 God's final judgment strips away all pretense... 23:45 all hypocrisy... 23:46 all falsehood... 23:47 and pierces into the very depth of our being. " 23:51 I want to finish with this quote here. 23:52 I don't know if I'll be able to have time to read it all, 23:54 but this comes from Testimonies for the Church, 23:56 volume 5, page 471 and 472. 23:59 It says "The fact that they acknowledged the... 24:02 The fact that the acknowledged people of God 24:04 are represented as standing before the Lord 24:07 in filthy garments should lead to humility 24:09 and deep searching of heart 24:11 on the part of all who profess His name. 24:13 Those who are indeed purifying their souls 24:16 by obeying the truth 24:17 will have a most humble opinion of themselves. 24:19 The more closely they view the spotless character of Christ, 24:23 the stronger will be their desire 24:25 to be conformed to His image, 24:28 and the less they will see of purity or holiness 24:30 in themselves. 24:32 But while we should realize our sinful condition, 24:34 we are to rely upon Christ as our righteousness, 24:37 our sanctification, and our redemption. 24:39 We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. 24:42 Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. 24:45 He is able to silence the accuser 24:47 with arguments founded not upon our merits, 24:50 but on His own. " 24:51 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 24:53 Shelley: Amen, praise the Lord. 24:54 We are going to take a short break 24:56 and we'll be right back. 24:57 Music... 25:02 Ever wish you could watch a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again? 25:06 Or share it on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter? 25:09 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 25:14 A clean design makes it easy 25:16 to find the Program you are looking for. 25:18 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:22 so you can follow along. 25:23 Sharing is easy. 25:25 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 25:28 Share a Link... 25:29 Save a Life... for Eternity. 25:31 Shelley: And now we go to Pastor John Dinzey 25:36 who is going to tell us about: A Magnificent Scene. 25:39 Dinzey: Thank you so much. 25:40 Yes, this is Tuesday's portion of the Lesson: 25:42 A Magnificent Scene. 25:44 And when I started looking at this lesson, I said, 25:47 "You know, there's... there's good material here 25:49 but is there something else?" 25:50 It's like, I was missing something 25:52 and I praise the Lord that prayer brought out something 25:55 that I was really blessed by. 25:57 So, I want to share that with you. 25:59 Here, the Lesson begins with the... 26:00 this thought... the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation 26:03 are companion volumes 26:05 and Daniel was shown a history of the world kingdoms 26:10 that would appear upon the scene of history 26:13 and be a kingdom that was controlling other kingdoms. 26:17 He saw Babylon, Medo-Persia, 26:20 Greece... Rome... 26:21 and the break up of the Roman Empire... he saw these things, 26:24 the Lord showed these things to him 26:25 and the 1,260 years depicted in Daniel chapter 7 verse 25. 26:30 But the attention of Daniel is drawn to a scene 26:35 that is truly magnificent... 26:36 it can blow your mind as you consider 26:39 what is taking place here 26:41 and this is quite... quite a blessing. 26:44 So, we go to Daniel chapter 7 verse 9 26:46 and take this in... 26:48 consider what is going on here, it says, 26:52 "I watched till thrones were put in place, 26:55 and the Ancient of Days was seated; 26:58 His garment was white as snow, 27:00 and the hair of His head was like pure wool. 27:03 His throne was a fiery flame, 27:06 its wheels a burning fire. " 27:08 This is a picture of the Ancient of Days 27:11 God the Father... pure holiness 27:14 and we have read in the New Testament 27:17 that he says that He dwells light unapproachable, 27:20 pure holiness of God the Father. 27:23 Psalm 90 verses 1 and 2 says, 27:26 "Lord, You have been our dwelling place 27:29 in all generations. 27:31 Before the mountains were brought forth, 27:33 or ever You had formed the earth and the world, 27:37 even from everlasting to everlasting, 27:41 You are God. " 27:43 This is God the Father that appears upon the scene 27:48 and the throne is set in place... 27:49 in other words... moved to this place. 27:52 So, here in the book Great Controversy, 1888 version, 27:56 of page 479, it says, 27:59 "It is He the source of all being, 28:01 and the fountain of all law, 28:02 that is to preside in the judgment. 28:05 And holy angels as ministers and witnesses, 28:09 in number 'ten thousand times ten thousand, 28:12 and thousands of thousands,' 28:15 attend this great tribunal. " 28:17 How many is that? 10,000 times 10,000... 28:20 that's 100 million... but it says 1,000s of 1,000s... 28:24 this is a magnificent scene 28:27 but, you know, this is a tribunal. 28:30 This is a judgment that is taking place 28:32 as we're going to see in a moment. 28:34 I have been in Court Rooms before 28:36 and you're sitting there 28:37 and all of a sudden, somebody stands and says, 28:39 "All rise... the Honorable Judge Johnson... " 28:42 or whatever his name is... "is presiding... " 28:44 and everybody stands up and there is this silence 28:46 and this moment of... "Oh, oh, judgment is about to start. " 28:49 And this is what's taking place here 28:51 and it is a judgment that is taking place... 28:54 we're talking about good news of the judgment 28:58 and as you see, it... it says that the saints 29:02 possess the kingdom. 29:04 This is good news that we're talking about here. 29:06 So... but we're talking... 29:08 when I was in this court room, 29:09 I was like, "Wow! this is the judge, everybody" 29:12 and, you know, people that are accused, 29:13 I don't know what they dressed before 29:15 but most of them are dressed, 29:17 guys... in a nice suit and tie there 29:19 and they shave and everything 29:21 and the ladies... they're dressed very well. 29:22 They don't come when they are worse... 29:24 they try to look nice 29:25 especially if they're about to be judged 29:27 because I don't know what people think. 29:28 It's... "Well, maybe if I dress well, they'll treat me better. " 29:31 I don't know what people are thinking but 29:32 in this Court Scene, 29:34 it is the angels that are witnesses. 29:37 We do not appear. 29:38 This is what they call the pre-Advent judgment. 29:40 The judgment before Jesus returns to the earth. 29:42 And so, Daniel 7 verse 13 says, 29:45 "I was watching in the night visions... " 29:49 this is a vision... 29:50 "and behold, One like the Son of Man, 29:53 coming with the clouds of heaven! 29:56 He came to the Ancient of Days, 29:59 and they brought Him near before Him. " 30:03 Now, this is Jesus the Son of Man 30:06 is brought before the Father, the Ancient of Days. 30:09 What a scene this is! 30:11 But, you know, I have to back up sometimes when I'm praying 30:15 and studying... 30:16 when I'm studying and looking at verses 30:18 and looking here and there, 30:19 sometimes I say, "I have to stand up... " 30:21 I walk around a little bit... talking with the Lord, 30:23 and... and, you know, sometimes these... 30:26 the Lord's like... He opens the window 30:28 and I want to tell you, this is... 30:30 this is the book of Daniel we're reading, 30:32 the book of what? The book of Daniel 30:34 is not the book of Revelation. 30:35 The Book of Revelation... 30:37 when the book of Revelation takes place, 30:39 Jesus had already come to this earth... 30:41 Jesus had already faced temptation... 30:43 tried every single day by the devil, 30:45 wasn't just three... 30:47 every single day, the devil was after Him 30:49 but he was victorious. 30:50 He was tempted on all points and He was victorious. 30:55 And, let's go ahead and read that here 30:58 in Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 through 16, 31:01 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest 31:04 who has passed through the heavens, 31:06 Jesus the Son of God, 31:07 let us hold fast our confession. 31:12 Let us hold fast... 31:14 For we do not have a High Priest 31:15 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, 31:17 but was in all points tempted as we are, 31:20 yet without sin. " 31:21 Notice again... notice here, 31:23 "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, 31:26 that we may obtain... " what? 31:28 "mercy and find grace to help in time of need. " 31:31 This is good news so what Daniel saw 31:34 was something that was going to take place 31:37 in the future. 31:39 He was privileged to see the Son of Man. 31:42 This is a picture of Jesus after facing temptation, 31:45 after being victorious... He is there. 31:48 He has the right to be there. 31:50 He is worthy to be there before the Father, 31:54 to present the cases and present us 31:57 because you see, the Bible reveals to us 32:01 that Jesus is our Advocate. 32:04 1st John chapter 2 verse 1 says, 32:07 "My little children, 32:08 these things I write unto you, 32:10 so that you may not sin. 32:12 And if anyone sins, 32:14 we have an Advocate with the Father; 32:16 Jesus Christ the righteous. 32:18 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, 32:21 and not for ours only but also for the whole world. " 32:24 Daniel is seeing Jesus in this condition 32:29 that He has been our propitiation for our sins, 32:32 He has been the Lamb of God that was slain 32:35 and died on the cross... 32:37 He is there worthy to be there, He is worthy 32:41 and you'll find out in a moment, 32:42 Revelation chapter 5, you're going to hear about that, 32:44 that the Lamb is worthy... worthy is the Lamb. 32:48 That beautiful song in the Hallelujah Chorus that says, 32:51 "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain... " 32:54 I don't know if you've heard that song before 32:55 but it's... it's magnificent 32:57 and this is a magnificent scene that we're seeing here 32:59 and Daniel was able to see this... 33:03 I don't know if he took in all that he was watching 33:06 because it's really magnificent. 33:07 This is our Savior Jesus Christ appearing before the Father 33:11 to represent you and me. 33:13 And so, my little children, as it says here, 33:17 he's writing these things so that you and I see it, 33:20 we have to fear God and keep His commandments. 33:23 We have to fear God and glorify Him 33:28 because the hour of His judgment is come. 33:31 I want to read this to you from the Great Controversy page 489, 33:35 because this is important... important to know. 33:38 This... it says, "The intercession of Christ, 33:41 on man's behalf in the sanctuary above 33:44 is as essential to the plan of salvation 33:47 as was His death upon the cross. 33:50 By His death He began that work 33:52 which after His resurrection 33:54 He ascended to complete in heaven. 33:57 We must, by faith, enter within the veil, 34:00 'whither the forerunner is for us entered. '" 34:03 Hebrews chapter 6 verse 20. 34:05 "There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. 34:08 There we may gain a clearer insight 34:11 into the mysteries of redemption. 34:13 The salvation of man is accomplished 34:16 at an infinite expense to heaven; 34:19 the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands 34:23 of the broken law. 34:25 Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, 34:29 and through His mediation 34:31 the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith 34:35 may be presented before God. " 34:38 And this is what we're seeing here. 34:40 This is what Daniel was seeing... what a privilege! 34:43 He saw all the way into the year 1844 34:47 when Jesus Christ and the Father go 34:50 from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place 34:53 and judgment began in the year 1844... 34:55 you're going to hear more about that 34:57 as we continue in these lessons. 34:58 We need to pay close attention to what we are studying here 35:03 because our eyes are going to be opened 35:05 and we're going to realize that we have a wonderful God 35:07 a wonderful Savior 35:09 who loved us enough to die for us 35:12 and willing to represent me... 35:15 you... before the Father and say, 35:18 "I died for him... 35:19 he has asked for forgiveness of his sins 35:22 and I claim him as my child. " 35:26 This is a marvelous thing to consider. 35:28 This is what Daniel is saying, 35:30 wow... we... our time is gone... 35:34 but consider the great mercy of God 35:37 and the great love of God... 35:39 here is a magnificent scene... 35:40 continue to look into it because there are wonderful things 35:43 to see here. 35:44 Panel: Amen... amen. 35:46 Rafferty: Amen, what a powerful, beautiful message that we have, 35:48 thank you John for sharing that and Ryan and Shelley. 35:51 My name is James Rafferty and I have Wednesday's Lesson 35:54 and it is entitled: A Glimpse of Heaven 35:57 and we're going to move right into Revelation chapter 4. 36:00 The Quarterly takes us to Revelation chapter 4 36:01 where John beholds an open door in heaven 36:04 and receives an invitation, "Come up here, 36:06 and I will show you things which must take place after this. " 36:10 Revelation 4 verse 1. 36:11 So, Jesus invited the apostle to look through the open door 36:16 into heaven's sanctuary to view eternal scenes 36:20 in the great controversy between good and evil. 36:23 The Quarterly goes on to say, 36:24 "We, too, can look through that open door with John" 36:28 and Johnny... we can look through that open door. 36:32 I love that. 36:33 God gives us these glimpses, right? 36:35 He gives us these... these visions, if you will, 36:37 as we... as we wrestle with Him, as we pray with Him, 36:39 as we walk with Him, 36:40 as we talk with Him, 36:42 God opens our minds 36:43 and that's what He was doing with John 36:44 in the Isle of Patmos. 36:46 That's what He was doing with... with Johnny this last week 36:47 and we too can receive a glimpse of the eternal plan of salvation 36:51 and that's what we're about to witness. 36:53 The Quarterly goes on to say 36:54 right here in Revelation chapter 4. 36:56 Now, when we read Revelation chapter 4, 36:58 2 through 4, 37:00 we see some similarities between the judgment scene in Revelation 37:02 or excuse me in Daniel 7. 37:04 The Quarterly goes on to say, 37:06 "However, there are some differences. 37:09 There are elders there but there are no books. 37:12 There are no elders in Daniel 7. 37:15 In fact, what's truly interesting is 37:17 every scene... throne scene in the Bible 37:20 is minus the elders. 37:22 In Daniel chapter 7... in Ezekiel chapter 1... 37:26 in Isaiah chapter 6... 37:27 you have a lot of similarities in all of these chapters 37:31 the throne-room scene is there... 37:32 the angelic beings... four angelic beings are there 37:36 singing "Holy, holy, holy... " 37:37 but there are no elders. 37:40 So, this is an incredible vision... 37:43 incredible picture into the plan of salvation 37:45 because guess what? 37:46 Post-Christ resurrection, as we enter into this... 37:49 this new prophetic cycle in Revelation chapter... 37:53 chapters 4 and 5... the seven seals, 37:56 we're going to actually see 37:58 what the slain Lamb has accomplished. 38:00 He has enabled there to be elders in heaven, now, 38:05 who are these elders? 38:06 That's the question that the Quarterly asked 38:07 but we'll get to that in just a second. 38:09 So, there's no judgment set... 38:11 there are no books opened in Revelation chapters 4 and 5, 38:15 actually, there is a book in Revelation 5, 38:17 Jill's going to share that with us 38:18 that book though is sealed. 38:20 So, a little bit different scenario here, 38:22 we're getting an introduction here 38:24 to something amazing. 38:26 This... this glimpse into heaven is going to show us 38:31 a picture of God's grace. 38:33 How? Well.. the throne-room scene, 38:35 we have God the Father sitting, the Quarterly goes on to say, 38:38 surrounded by the heavenly beings... 38:40 there's thunder and lightning 38:41 which also is indicative of His presence, 38:44 but then it says Revelation 4 verse 4 38:47 that there are 24 elders present around God's throne. 38:50 Who are these elders? The Quarterly asks. 38:54 Well, in ancient Israel there were 24 divisions 38:57 in the Levitical priesthood. 38:58 And these priests represented the people before God. 39:01 So, they had these 24 divisions among the Levitical priesthood 39:04 and they would go in... in their course 39:06 and they would represent the people before God. 39:09 They would take a little break, right, 39:10 they take a little vacation... 39:11 go on a little cruise... take a little downtime, 39:13 write a book... whatever, right? 39:14 And another, you know, priest would come in 39:17 and they would follow through with the course 39:19 and that's the way they shared the work of interceding 39:22 and mediating for God's people. 39:24 These priests represented people before God 39:26 in 1st Peter 2:9, the apostle declares that 39:28 in the New Testament, believers are a "chosen generation" 39:32 "a royal priesthood" 39:33 so, the 24 elders represent read in the Quarterly here, 39:37 all the redeemed 39:39 that one day will rejoice around the throne of God. 39:42 They represent the people resurrected 39:45 at Christ's resurrection 39:46 and who ascended to heaven with Him. 39:49 Matthew 27 verse 52 39:51 and Ephesians 4:7 and 8 39:53 are the references given here in the Quarterly. 39:55 Now, this is good news. 39:58 There are redeemed people from this earth 40:02 around the throne in heaven. 40:04 That's incredible when you think about it. 40:06 And what's... what's especially interesting here is 40:08 that these redeemed elders... 40:10 and by the way, that word elder 40:13 is always ever used for a human being in the Bible... 40:15 in the Old Testament and the New Testament. 40:17 It's never used for an angel, 40:18 it's never used for any other kind of being, 40:20 you know, in Job chapter 1 40:22 the sons of God come before the Lord 40:24 to present themselves... 40:25 they're different from these elders. 40:26 The word "elder" is specifically used for humans 40:30 and, of course, for these redeemed beings 40:34 who are around the throne and they have white robes 40:36 promised to the churches who overcome. 40:39 They have crowns... 40:41 promised to the churches who overcome. 40:42 They are sitting on thrones... promised to the churches 40:45 specifically, the church of Laodicea. 40:47 "To him that overcomes, 40:49 I will grant to sit with Me on My throne. " 40:51 Well, this is a foretaste... 40:53 an earnest of that if you will. 40:55 Christ resurrected with him... 40:57 took captivity captive with Him to heaven 40:59 and He gave to them a taste 41:02 of what God has promised to everyone of us 41:04 who overcomes by the blood of the Lamb. 41:06 "By the word of our testimony, and loved not our lives 41:09 unto the death. " 41:10 So they are clothed with white robes 41:12 that signifies the righteousness of Jesus Christ 41:13 and when we talk about righteousness, 41:15 it simply means, the right doing of Jesus. 41:17 The right doing of His life, 41:19 and the right doing in His death. 41:21 He did everything right... 41:22 we do everything wrong... He did everything right 41:24 and so, He gives us everything He did right 41:26 and he takes everything we did wrong 41:27 in our place 41:29 when we put our trust... our faith when we accept Him 41:30 as our Savior. 41:32 They have a golden crown upon their heads 41:33 signifying that they are victorious 41:35 in the battle with evil. 41:36 They are part of heaven's royal line of faith-filled believers. 41:41 So, they sit on these thrones 41:43 and it... it's just directing us to this beautiful 41:46 promise that God has given us 41:47 that him that overcomes, 41:49 I will grant to sit with Me on my throne, 41:51 even as I overcame and sat with My Father 41:54 on His throne. 41:55 Panel: Amen. 41:57 Rafferty: So, we see this picture in Revelation chapter 4. 41:58 We're... we're stepping into a glimpse 42:01 of what God has promised to all 42:04 of those who put their faith in Jesus. 42:06 Now, we see this more clearly as we reveal a little verse, 42:09 I'm going to steal a little verse from Jill, 42:11 in Revelation chapter 5, if you don't mind. 42:13 Okay, Revelation chapter 5, 42:14 let's just move down here in Revelation chapter 5. 42:17 After we see the Lamb... 42:20 Jesus Christ symbolized here 42:22 slain from the foundation of the world, 42:24 after we see the Lamb, 42:25 it says here in Revelation chapter 5 verse 8, 42:27 "And when He... the Lamb... had the book, 42:29 the... the sealed book... 42:30 the four beasts and the four and twenty elders 42:33 fell down before the Lamb, 42:35 having every one of them harps, 42:37 and golden vials full of odors, 42:39 which are the prayers of the saints. 42:41 And they sung a new song, saying, 42:43 'Thou art worthy... '" verse 9, 42:46 "to take the book, 42:47 to open the seals thereof: 42:49 for thou wast slain... " 42:51 and here's the key phrase, 42:53 "and has redeemed us to God by thy blood 42:56 out of every kindred, and tongue, 42:58 and people, and nation; 42:59 and... " verse 10, 43:01 "has made us unto our God kings and priests: 43:05 and we shall reign on the earth. " 43:07 So, these two verses are directing us to understand 43:11 what fully who these 24 elders are. 43:14 And what God is saying to us basically is, 43:18 "I have included you in my throne room. " 43:22 You are part of heaven's council. 43:25 You are replacing... in a sense... 43:29 those fallen angels. 43:30 When we look at Revelation 4 43:32 and we compare it with... with Isaiah 6 43:34 and we compare it with Daniel chapter 7 43:36 and... and Ezekiel, 43:38 we... we have to think about 43:39 the fact that the angels are always present, 43:42 the angels are always present in all of these scenes. 43:45 But we know, according to Revelation chapter 12, 43:47 that there was a war that started in heaven. 43:50 Sin didn't start on Planet Earth... it started in heaven 43:53 and in that war, a third part of the angels were deceived 43:55 and they fell... they were cast out of heaven 43:58 with Lucifer... with Satan the devil... 44:00 their leader in rebellion. 44:02 But did you know that mankind is actually... 44:06 redeemed mankind is actually going to replace 44:09 those fallen angels. 44:10 Jesus says that in heaven 44:13 there's going to be neither marrying or giving in marriage 44:14 but we are going to be like the angels... 44:17 that we are going to be in... in Hebrews chapter 2 it says 44:20 that we were made a little while lower than the angels, 44:23 that we were going to be actually 44:25 be taking the place of the angels 44:27 in God's heavenly throne room... 44:29 that we're going to be participating 44:31 with the angels in that anthem through all eternity, 44:35 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts. " 44:38 That we're going to be part of that grand... well... 44:41 in Revelation chapter 4... I mean, excuse me, Rev... 44:44 yeah, Revelation chapter 4 it says in verse 8, 44:47 "And the four beasts and... 44:48 with each of them... each of them having six wings 44:50 full of eyes within and without 44:52 rest not day or night saying, 'Holy, holy, holy, 44:56 is the Lord God Almighty... " 44:57 in Revelation chapter 5, 44:59 as we continued reading there, 45:01 the angels are around the throne 45:02 and the four beasts and the 24 elders 45:06 thousand times ten thousands and thousands of thousands 45:09 and they say with a loud voice 45:11 "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. " 45:14 All of heaven is breaking out in song 45:18 and holy anthem to God 45:20 and we're going to be part of that group. 45:21 Now, right now, in church when they have the music, 45:26 the hymns or the music, 45:27 I don't sing with a loud voice. 45:29 I let the people around me, you know, 45:31 I let them drown my voice... 45:33 I like to sing and the louder the voices are around me, 45:35 the louder I sing. 45:37 The softer the voices are around me, the softer I sing. 45:39 But some day, I'm going to have a voice 45:41 that can be loud and heard 45:44 and in tune... if you know what I mean. 45:46 Panel: Laughter. 45:47 Rafferty: And this is the picture that God has for us, 45:49 it's a beautiful glimpse of heaven 45:50 with this picture behind us we can stand... 45:54 we can step into the... to the judgment with boldness. 45:56 Jill: Amen, thank you so much each one of you. 46:00 What an incredible study! 46:01 Pastor James, that was a beautiful set up. 46:03 Thank you... I love to hear you break down 46:05 the book of Revelation specifically, thank you. 46:08 Revelation 4... of course that throne-room description, 46:11 I'm Jill Morikone, I forgot to say my name, 46:13 and we are on Thursday's lesson 46:16 which is: Jesus is Worthy. 46:19 We're looking at Revelation chapter 5... 46:22 so, we have been reading Revelation 4 and 5, 46:25 but Revelation chapter 5 46:26 is a specific moment in salvation history. 46:30 This is specifically A.D. 31, 46:34 right after the ascension of Jesus 46:37 when He is there in heaven. 46:39 You know, Acts 1:9 through 11, 46:41 gives us the ascension of Jesus from an earthly perspective. 46:45 We see what the disciples saw. 46:46 We see... as Jesus was taken from them, 46:49 up into heaven. 46:50 But Revelation chapter 5 kind of pulls the curtain back, 46:55 and we see what took place in heaven at that moment. 46:59 We see Christ's enthronement 47:02 and inauguration into His ministry as our King and Priest 47:07 in the heavenly sanctuary. 47:08 Before we get to the six takeaways 47:11 from Revelation chapter 5, 47:12 before we go there... 47:14 I want to give just a little bit of history. 47:15 In the Old Testament, 47:17 the Israelite kings were required at their enthronement, 47:21 to provide for themselves a scroll of the law... 47:24 the covenant scroll to read and to obey. 47:27 Later Israelite history... you look at say, King Joash, 47:31 the scroll was presented to the newly-crowned king 47:34 as the royal emblem. 47:37 The newly crowned king would take the scroll, 47:40 sit on the throne and begin his reign. 47:43 In this role, the Israelite king 47:46 was the covenant mediator. 47:48 He was the guardian of God's law there in the land. 47:53 When Christ took the scroll, 47:55 we're going to discover that in Revelation chapter 5. 47:58 "And was seated at the right hand of God... " 48:01 you see that in Psalm 110. 48:03 He became the rightful king of the earth. 48:07 What was lost through Adam, was now regained. 48:10 All authority and sovereignty is given to Christ. 48:14 Fallen human beings... that's you and I 48:17 are now given access to God through the blood of the Lamb. 48:22 Jesus became our High Priest... our Mediator... 48:27 our Advocate there in heaven. 48:29 And we'll discover that the Holy Spirit 48:32 went from being present there in the throne room 48:35 to being disseminated throughout the earth 48:38 which you can find at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. 48:42 So, let's look at our six takeaways... 48:44 we're in Revelation 5, we'll pick it up in verse 1. 48:47 "And I saw in the right hand of Him 48:49 who sat on the throne 48:51 a scroll written inside and on the back, 48:55 sealed with seven seals. " 48:58 Now, ancient scrolls were often sealed. 49:01 Why? 49:02 To protect a document from being tampered with 49:05 and the document can only be opened 49:07 or the seals only broken by the authorized person. 49:12 It's interesting that the scroll is written on the inside 49:15 and on the outside. 49:17 We see this comparison in Ezekiel, you can read that, 49:21 Ezekiel chapter 2 and 3, 49:23 where the scroll is written on the inside and on the outside. 49:26 And in Ezekiel 2 verse 10, 49:29 talks about this scroll and it says, 49:32 "He spread it before me; 49:34 and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, 49:37 written on it were... " what are those words? 49:40 "lamentations and mourning and woe. " 49:44 So, the question is, "What is this sealed scroll?" 49:47 The scroll that's sealed with the seven seals? 49:51 It is the record of human history... 49:55 the record of lamentation, mourning and woe. 49:58 And why is the... human history... 50:00 why is the record mourning and woe? 50:02 Because we're under the condemnation of sin. 50:05 Because all of us have sinned 50:07 and fallen short of the glory of God. 50:10 All of us deserve to die 50:13 and yet, Jesus... the Lamb of God showed up. 50:17 He is the one... our destiny was sealed. 50:20 We were under the condemnation and the curse of the law. 50:24 But Jesus shows up because He can change that. 50:28 He can open the scroll because of the blood of the Lamb 50:33 and He can save us. 50:34 He can change our destiny. 50:37 Let's keep reading, we're in verse 2, 50:38 "I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 50:41 'Who is worthy... 50:42 who can open the scroll and loose its seals?' 50:46 No one in heaven or on earth 50:48 or under the earth 50:50 was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 50:52 So I wept much, 50:56 because no one was found worthy 50:59 to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. " 51:03 Whose blood can cover our sins? 51:05 Whose grace can give us power to live without sin? 51:10 Who is going to be the Mediator between us and God? 51:14 Takeaway Number 1: 51:16 When all seems hopeless, 51:18 your redemption is ready to come. 51:21 Your trial... what you're going through 51:25 is not the end. 51:27 When it seems like there is no help and who is worthy? 51:30 All these angels and the 24 elders 51:34 and everyone in heaven... who is worthy? 51:37 Who can do it? 51:38 When it seems all is hopeless, redemption is ready to come. 51:42 Verse 5, "One of the elders said to me, 51:46 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, 51:51 the Root of David, 51:53 has prevailed to open the scroll 51:55 and to loose its seven seals. " 51:58 So, Lion of the tribe of Judah being a Messianic title 52:01 of the root of David... 52:03 Jesus coming from the line of David. 52:06 Christ came from that line, 52:08 just like the Old Testament kings. 52:09 Who had authority to rule and become the covenant mediator? 52:12 Jesus came as our Messiah. 52:15 Takeaway Number 2: 52:17 Jesus is worthy... Jesus conquered death. 52:20 He lived a perfect life. 52:23 He died as my substitute. 52:26 He fulfilled the claims of the Law. 52:29 He took my punishment so that I could go free. 52:33 He resurrected and ascended 52:36 to the place of the right hand of the Father... 52:39 that's what we see here in Revelation chapter 5. 52:42 He's ready to take on that High Priestly role 52:45 as our Mediator. 52:46 Verse 6, we back in Revelation 5 verse 6, 52:49 "And I looked, 52:51 and behold, in the midst of the throne 52:52 and of the four living creatures, 52:54 and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb. " 52:56 Wait a minute... I thought it was a lion. 52:58 Right? I heard it was a lion. 53:01 "Behold, don't weep, 53:02 the Lion in the Tribe of Judah the root of David... 53:04 that's who's going to open the scroll... " 53:05 So, John's looking... where's the Lion... 53:07 where's the Lion? 53:08 I'm going to be scared... where's the Lion? 53:10 Wait... 53:11 "a Lamb 53:12 as though it had been slain, 53:14 having seven horns and seven eyes, 53:16 which are the seven Spirits of God 53:18 sent out into all the earth. " 53:21 Now, it's interesting to me this word "Lamb" in Greek, 53:24 you all can correct me, but I think it means: 53:26 a little Lamb... 53:28 not just the Lamb... 53:29 but a little Lamb. 53:31 This is used 28 times in Revelation 53:34 to refer to the crucified, risen and glorified Christ. 53:39 This is the Lamb who was slain 53:41 from the foundation of the world. 53:43 Takeaway Number 3: 53:44 God reveals Himself to you and me 53:47 in ways that we can understand and we can embrace. 53:51 You know, I love that because John's looking 53:54 and I would have been terrified if I were there 53:56 and see the Lion of the tribe of Judah... 53:58 but no... he sees the Lamb... 54:00 God reveals Himself to us 54:02 in ways we can understand and embrace. 54:05 Verse 7, "Then He came... " 54:07 this is Jesus the Lion of the tribe of Judah, 54:10 the Lamb of God... "He came 54:12 to take the scroll out of the right hand of Him 54:15 who sat on the throne. " 54:18 This is the inauguration of Jesus' High-Priestly ministry. 54:22 Judgment and authority have been assigned to Christ. 54:27 We read verse 8... 54:29 verse 8... they begin to worship 54:33 and all bowed down before the Lamb. 54:37 Takeaway Number 4: 54:38 Recognize the authority of the Lamb in your life. 54:42 Heaven surely did. 54:43 They're not saying, 54:45 "I'm not sure I'm going to surrender to this. 54:46 I'm not sure I'm going to bow down. " 54:48 No... recognize the authority of the Lamb in your life. 54:52 Verse 9, "They sang the new song saying 'You are worthy 54:56 to take the scroll, and to open its seals; 54:59 You were slain, 55:00 and have redeemed us to God by Your blood 55:02 out of every tribe and tongue and peoples and nation. " 55:05 You know, Revelation 4... worship occurs 55:09 because of creation. 55:10 God is the Creator. 55:12 Revelation 5... worship occurs because of redemption. 55:17 Jesus the Lamb is our Redeemer. 55:21 Takeaway Number 5: 55:22 Jesus' death reunites you and I with the Father. 55:26 Sin bridged a great gulf between us and God. 55:30 But because of Jesus' death, 55:33 we do not have to be afraid of the coming judgment. 55:36 Revelation 5 verse 9... last verse, 55:38 "And have made us... " 55:40 this is continuing the anthem of praise. 55:42 Ryan: Verse 10. 55:44 Jill: Thank you, "Have made us kings and priests" 55:45 thank you... 55:47 "to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. " 55:49 Takeaway Number 6: 55:51 Jesus' death changes our status. 55:54 We're no longer sinners... 55:55 we're no longer cowering in fear. 55:58 We are forgiven... 55:59 saved... transformed by His grace. 56:02 In fact, we have the privilege of becoming kings and priests. 56:07 I'm so grateful that Jesus is worthy. 56:10 Panel: Amen... amen. 56:12 Shelley: Amen... 56:13 what a beautiful study each and every one of you! 56:16 We have just a moment, 56:17 would you like to make a closing comment. 56:19 Ryan: Sure, Jesus says repeatedly to us, 56:21 He knows our works 56:23 and I just want to ask you, my friends, 56:24 what testimony does your works tell about your faith? 56:29 Dinzey: Amen... there in Daniel chapter 7 verse 10 it says, 56:33 the books are open but Jesus Christ... 56:35 when you get to verse 14, 56:36 He is given dominion and power. 56:39 It has an everlasting kingdom 56:40 and you can be a part of that kingdom. 56:43 Rafferty: Amen, Revelation 4 gives us a glimpse into heaven 56:45 and what do we see there? 56:47 We see 24 elders redeemed by the blood of the Lamb 56:50 who has prevailed where we have failed. 56:52 Jill: Amen. 56:53 I love the fact that judgment is given in favor of the saints. 56:58 What an incredible promise in these last days! 57:01 Shelley: Amen, and you know God is righteous. 57:04 His whole purpose of righteousness by faith 57:07 is to re-create His image in us. 57:11 So, it is important... 57:13 He is going to restore His righteousness in us. 57:16 Well, you've heard the good news of the judgment. 57:19 We want you to join us next week. 57:22 We will be studying: The Hour of His Judgment. 57:25 We love you 57:27 and we thank you for studying with us. 57:29 Bye, bye. |
Revised 2023-07-19