Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230023S
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00:01 Hello Friends, I'm Jill Morikone,
00:02 I just want to welcome you 00:04 to another edition of 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 00:05 We're getting toward the end of this Quarter 00:08 on Three Cosmic Messages 00:10 which is all about the three angels' messages 00:13 of Revelation chapter 14. 00:15 In fact, we're on Lesson Number 11: 00:17 The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, Part 1. 00:21 Next week, we'll encounter Part 2. 00:23 If you want your own copy of the Adult Bible Study Guide, 00:27 you can go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:30 download a copy and join us for this exciting study 00:34 of the Word of God. 00:36 Music... 01:05 Hello, I'm Jill Morikone, 01:07 we're so glad when you tune into 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:10 We love opening up the Word of God. 01:12 We love sharing with you at home... our 3ABN family. 01:16 We have loved this Quarter written by Elder Mark Finley 01:21 on the three cosmic messages: 01:23 the three angels' messages. 01:25 This Lesson... we're just launching in 01:28 to the third angel... 01:30 we spent quite a bit of time on the first angel's message 01:33 and a few weeks on the second angel's message 01:36 and we're just beginning to dip our toes in, you could say, 01:39 into the third angel's message. 01:41 This is the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast, Part 1, 01:45 and we'll really get into the meat of the matter 01:47 next week with Part 2. 01:49 On the Panel are my brothers in Christ... 01:52 Pastor James Rafferty glad to have you. 01:54 Rafferty: Good to be here, Jill, 01:55 I have Monday's Lesson which is: The Cosmic Struggle. 01:58 Jill: In the middle, Pastor John Dinzey, 02:01 wonderful to have you too. 02:02 Dinzey: It's a blessing to be here again 02:05 and I have Tuesday: Reaping What We Sow. 02:08 Jill: Wow! that sounds good. 02:09 Evangelist and Singer in Israel, Ryan Day, glad you're here. 02:12 Ryan: Amen, I have Wednesday's Lesson 02:14 entitled: Those Who Follow the Lamb. 02:16 Jill: Hmmm... last but not least, Professor Daniel Perrin, 02:20 so glad you're here as well. 02:21 Perrin: Thank you, I have Thursday's Lesson 02:23 which is about Jesus: Our Only Mediator. 02:26 Jill: Ah... sounds wonderful. 02:27 Before we go any further, we want to go the Lord in prayer, 02:30 Pastor James, would you pray for us? 02:31 Rafferty: Yes, 02:33 "Father, again we just want to thank you 02:34 for this beautiful message 02:36 that You have given to us in these last days 02:38 to help us to get our focus on Christ 02:41 and the everlasting gospel 02:42 and we pray as we continue to close this up... 02:45 these last few lessons that we have for this Quarter, 02:47 and Your Spirit will continue to guide us and teach us... 02:50 to instruct us... 02:51 to be with each one of the Viewers 02:53 to guide their hearts to heaven, 02:54 we pray these things in Jesus' name, amen. " 02:56 Jill: Amen. 02:58 Elder Finley brings out on Sabbath's portion of the Lesson, 03:02 I love this... wanted to start with it 03:04 before we go to our Memory Text. 03:05 The central issues in the great controversy 03:09 between Christ and Satan 03:11 are Authority... Worship and Loyalty. 03:14 From the very beginning, Satan wanted the authority 03:18 the worship and the loyalty 03:20 that belonged to God alone. 03:23 Think of Isaiah chapter 14... what does it say? 03:26 Satan... Lucifer... wanted to be like the Most High. 03:30 He wanted the authority that belonged to God. 03:33 He wanted the loyalty of the angels 03:35 that belonged to God. 03:37 He wanted the worship that belonged to God. 03:40 We see in the Garden of Eden, Eve wanting the authority 03:44 that belonged to God. 03:46 He wanted to be like God. 03:48 We see in the Roman Catholic Church, 03:51 and Apostate Protestantism, 03:53 the harlot system. 03:55 We see this counterfeit system 03:57 that it seeks to usurp God's authority. 04:00 We see the Little Horn of Daniel 7... 04:03 we've referenced this before 04:04 that seeks to change times and laws... 04:08 seeking the authority that belongs to God alone. 04:11 We see this in the sea beast of Revelation chapter 13, 04:15 the same power. 04:16 We see that it's given "authority" 04:19 over every tribe, tongue and nation. 04:21 We see that this power seeks to command loyalty 04:26 and it introduces a counterfeit system of worship. 04:31 Satan's counterfeit system... 04:33 the authority... he seeks to usurp it from God. 04:37 It doesn't belong to him but he tries to steal it from God. 04:40 We see in Satan's counterfeit system, 04:43 that he compels worship. 04:46 Panel: Hmmm... 04:48 Jill: Worship is forced. 04:49 Worship is coerced. 04:51 We'll study as we get into this 04:52 in Revelation chapter 13 verse 15, 04:56 "He was granted power 04:57 to give breath to the image of the beast, 04:59 that the image of the beast should both speak and cause 05:03 as many as would not worship 05:05 the image of the beast to be killed. " 05:08 We see worship being involved with coercion or force. 05:12 "If you don't worship... you are going to be killed. " 05:16 We see that loyalty is obtained through fear or force. 05:21 By contrast, God's System... 05:24 authority belongs naturally to God because He is divine... 05:29 because He is pre-existent... 05:30 because He is our Creator and our Redeemer. 05:35 We see that worship is not compelled. 05:38 Worship to God is not forced. 05:41 It is invited by love. 05:43 1st John 4:19... we love Him... why? 05:47 because He first loved us. 05:50 We see in Romans 5:8, 05:52 God commanded His love toward us 05:54 and that while we were yet still... even now... sinners, 05:57 Christ died for us. 06:00 We see in Christ's system that loyalty is through love. 06:05 You see, love begets love. 06:08 Love begets loyalty 06:11 and love begets obedience. 06:14 There's a quote from the Lesson... I love this, 06:17 this is Elder Finley: 06:18 There is only one thing 06:20 that would keep any of us 06:21 from receiving the Mark of the Beast in the end time... 06:25 that is a love for Jesus so deep 06:28 that nothing will break our hold on Him. 06:32 I think that's so important as we step into this topic, 06:35 we can think, sometimes, the Mark of the Beast is scary. 06:38 Well, what am I supposed to do with that? 06:40 I'm not sure I even understand that. 06:41 I even remember my grandmother, she's passed away now 06:44 awaiting the call of the Life-giver. 06:47 But I remember for years when I was growing up, 06:50 she was terrified of the last days. 06:53 Terrified of the Mark of the Beast... 06:55 would she be strong enough 06:57 and would she be able to withstand torture or persecution. 07:01 It was a scary thing for her 07:03 and I think if we keep in mind that it's about love 07:06 and if we have love for Jesus strong enough, 07:10 nothing will break our hold on Him 07:14 and we can walk into those end times without fear 07:18 because we walk with Jesus. 07:20 Our Memory Text is Revelation 7 verses 2 and 3, 07:25 Revelation 7:2 and 3, 07:27 "Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, 07:30 having the seal of the living God. 07:33 And he cried with loud voice to the four angels 07:36 to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, 07:39 saying, 'Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees 07:42 till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads. ' " 07:48 On Sunday's Lesson, we look at Steadfast Endurance 07:52 and we're going to Revelation 14 verse 12. 07:55 We're going to look at characteristics 07:58 of God's end-time people. 08:00 Now, we've quoted this verse many times 08:02 but we're going to quote it again. 08:04 Revelation 14 verse 12, 08:06 "Here is the patience of the saints; 08:09 here are those who keep the commandments of God 08:11 and the faith of Jesus. " 08:14 Now, when you read that many times, what do we think? 08:17 What are the characteristics of God's end-time people? 08:20 We say... they keep the commandments of God 08:22 and they have the faith of Jesus... 08:24 do we not? 08:25 Those are the two characteristics, 08:26 But the lesson brings out that there are three characteristics 08:29 of God's end-time people 08:31 and the first characteristic... we always just rush over. 08:33 "Here is the patience of the saints. " 08:37 That's the first characteristic. 08:39 God's end-time people possess patience. 08:42 What does that mean? 08:44 In the Greek, a steadfast endurance. 08:47 Panel: Yes. 08:49 Jill: It's endurance in the context of suffering. 08:52 God's end-time people will possess steadfast endurance. 08:57 God's end-time people will keep the commandments of God. 09:02 God's end-time people will possess the faith of Jesus. 09:07 So, let's look at those three characteristics. 09:09 We're going to start with the "steadfast endurance" 09:12 of God's end-time people. 09:14 The word in Greek means: remaining under... 09:18 you know, kind of like when you're going through 09:19 a difficult trial and you have to remain under that trial 09:23 and you're under that. 09:24 It's the same word used in Hebrews 10 verse 36, 09:28 "For you have need of endurance, 09:30 so that after you have done the will of God, 09:33 you may receive the promise. " 09:34 The patience of the saints endures 09:36 until they receive the promise. 09:39 It's the same word found in Hebrews 12:1 and 2. 09:42 "Let us lay aside every weight, 09:44 and the sin that so easily besets us, 09:46 and let us run with endurance... " or with patience, 09:50 "the race that is set before us. " 09:53 The patience of the saints runs the race 09:56 no matter how long... 09:58 no matter how difficult. 10:00 It's the same word used in James chapter 1 verse 3, 10:03 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience... " 10:08 or steadfast endurance. 10:10 The patience of the saints grows through trial. 10:14 What have God's end-time people endured? 10:17 They've endured the wrath of the beast power. 10:21 The economic sanctions... 10:22 we'll discuss in further detail of Revelation chapter 13, 10:26 they've endured persecution, 10:28 they've endured ridicule, 10:29 they might endure torture or even death. 10:34 How do we endure? 10:35 I want to give you three ways that we can endure. 10:38 Number 1: Pray for faith. 10:42 I think of the man with the demon-possessed son. 10:47 Remember he came to Jesus 10:48 and... "Please help, help, help cast out the demon... " 10:51 and... and what he said... "I don't have enough faith... 10:55 I don't have enough faith, 10:56 I don't know what I'm going to do... " 10:58 and what did he say? 10:59 "Lord, I believe... help my unbelief. " 11:03 Are you going through a time 11:04 where you need steadfast endurance? 11:06 Are you going through a time of trial and trouble? 11:09 Reach out to God... you can pray for faith. 11:12 "God, help my unbelief, 11:15 give me faith to endure. " 11:18 Number 2: Pray for courage. 11:20 I think of Joshua when he began leading the children of Israel, 11:23 Joshua 1:9, "Have not I commanded you? 11:26 Be strong and of a good courage; 11:29 do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, 11:31 for the LORD you God is with you wherever you go. " 11:35 Number 3: Pray for an eternal perspective. 11:38 Sometimes I get so lost in what's here. 11:42 You don't see the forest for the trees. 11:45 You know, you just see what's right in front of you 11:47 and you don't see that eternal perspective. 11:50 That is the first characteristic of God's end-time people 11:54 is those who have steadfast endurance. 11:57 Those who possess the patience of the saints. 12:00 We're going to look very quickly at the other two characteristics. 12:03 God's end-time people keep the commandments of God. 12:07 They will not believe that the law was nailed to the cross. 12:10 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 12:12 Jill: They will not uphold the traditions of any church 12:15 over the Word of God. 12:17 They will not believe that grace gives them a license to sin. 12:21 God's end-time people will keep all of God's commandments 12:26 including the fourth commandment. 12:29 They will believe that the Seventh-day Sabbath 12:31 was instituted at creation... 12:33 installed in the very heart of the Ten Commandments... 12:37 kept by Jesus and His apostles, yes, even after the cross 12:41 and will be kept in the new heavens and the new earth. 12:44 They believe that God's law is still binding. 12:47 They understand that the commandments of God 12:50 can be kept only by grace through faith. 12:53 The final characteristic 12:55 which Pastor James is going to cover very fully, 12:57 is... they possess... 12:59 God's end-time people will possess the faith of Jesus. 13:03 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 13:04 Jill: What is Jesus' faith? 13:06 His faith endured hunger and temptation, Matthew chapter 4. 13:08 His faith endured ridicule... 13:11 John 6, when the people turned away 13:13 and walked no more with Him. 13:15 His faith endured the betrayal of His friends... 13:19 Judas... when he betrayed Him with a kiss. 13:22 His faith endured separation from His Father 13:25 when He hung on the cross 13:26 and said, "My God, why have You forsaken me?" 13:30 His faith endured pain and torture and death 13:33 because He loved you and me. 13:36 He loved us enough to go to the cross. 13:39 His faith looked beyond the here and now 13:42 and looked into eternity. 13:45 If you want to be part of God's end-time people, 13:49 ask God for His steadfast endurance. 13:53 Seek to keep and obey by the power of His grace alone 13:58 His commandments 13:59 and ask Him to give you the faith of Jesus. 14:04 Rafferty: Amen... amen... 14:05 that was a great introduction. Jill, 14:06 it's always easy to follow you. 14:08 We're going to be looking at in more detail 14:09 this faith of Jesus. 14:11 The Lesson Quarterly calls this... today's Lesson: 14:14 A Cosmic Struggle 14:15 and it is a cosmic struggle to have this faith of Jesus 14:18 and, you know the faith of Jesus 14:19 was the faith that He had in His Father 14:23 that took Him through everything. 14:24 The verses that we're reading here... 14:26 we're not going to read them actually 14:27 but I'm going to give you the references 14:28 are Matthew chapter 27:45 to 50. 14:30 Basically, what we see here is Christ on the cross 14:34 being forsaken of God and yet holding on... 14:36 committing His soul... His Spirit into the hands of God. 14:40 I like to suggest that Revelation chapter 14 verse 12 14:43 points to a people who keep the commandments of God 14:46 and have the faith of Jesus. 14:48 Here's the patience of the saints 14:49 who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. 14:51 The reason they keep the commandments of God 14:53 is because they love God 14:55 and the reason why they love God 14:56 is because God first loved them 14:58 and that is a formula... 15:01 a Scriptural biblical gospel formula 15:04 that is the key to obedience to God's commandments. 15:07 Well, there is another formula with the faith of Jesus. 15:10 The reason why we're going to put our faith on Jesus... 15:13 the reason why we hold on through everything... 15:14 the reason why we're going to be able to endure everything 15:17 that comes against us and maintain our faith in Jesus 15:21 is because we're going to realize His faith in us. 15:24 His faith in us is going to give us faith in Him. 15:27 You see, He's the author and finisher of our faith, 15:30 we're told in Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 1 15:32 and gives to everyone a measure of faith, we're told 15:35 in Romans chapter 12 and verse 3... 15:39 maybe it's 21... you have to look that one up. 15:41 So, there's this powerful statement and it's... 15:44 it's found in the book, Christ Triumphant. 15:47 It's also found in the book, The Desire of Ages. 15:50 In Christ Triumphant, it's... it's... it's quoted in the Quarterly here 15:53 and here's how it reads, it says, 15:54 "Amid the awful darkness, 15:57 apparently forsaken of God, 15:59 Christ had drained the last dregs of the cup of human woe. 16:04 In those dreadful hours... " you ready? 16:07 here's the faith of Jesus... "In those dreadful hours 16:10 He relied upon the evidences... " 16:13 faith is the substance of things hoped for, 16:15 the evidence of things not seen. 16:17 "He relied upon the evidences of His Father's acceptance 16:21 hitherto fore given Him. 16:23 By faith, Christ was victor. " 16:25 In other words, right then and there 16:27 there was no evidence 16:28 but He relied upon the evidence that God had already given Him. 16:32 Panel: Right... amen. 16:34 Rafferty: Okay, let's follow this 16:35 because this is a powerful theme. 16:36 We think about the faith of Jesus. 16:38 The evidences of God's love hithertofore given. 16:40 If you read... now we're just talking about us now, 16:43 we're moving to the human. 16:44 If you read just the gospel of John, 16:47 you're going to find that God gives us evidences of His love 16:51 for example, in John chapter 1 verse 9, 16:53 God tells us that Jesus Christ is the Light 16:57 who lights every man that comes into the world. 17:01 Every human being that is born, God sends a ray of light. 17:04 Okay, someone has been born, send a ray of light, 17:06 someone has been born, another ray of light over here, 17:07 someone has been born, here's another ray of light. 17:10 Rays of light just coming from heaven to all these... 17:12 God gives light to everyone 17:14 because God has faith 17:17 that He's exercising toward us. 17:19 He believes... the reason He's sending us light... 17:20 He believes that we'll respond to that light. 17:23 He hopes that we respond to that light. 17:24 He holds out for us to respond to that light 17:26 because love hopes all things, believes all things, 17:30 endures all things. 17:31 In John chapter 3 verse 16, 17:33 the most precious verse in the Bible, 17:34 we're told that God so loved the world... 17:38 not Christians only... 17:40 not Baptists only... 17:43 not Seventh-day Adventists only... 17:44 not vegan Seventh-day Adventists only... 17:47 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. 17:50 See, God is exercising faith. 17:51 Why is He loving the whole world? 17:53 Because He's holding out... 17:55 He's believing that whosoever believes... 17:57 whosoever... there might be somebody down there... 17:58 maybe there's a lot of bodies down there 18:00 who are going to believe. 18:02 God is exercising faith in giving His Son... 18:04 God is exercising faith toward us in giving us this light. 18:07 In John 6:37, Jesus says, 18:10 "Whoever comes to Me... 18:13 whoever comes to Me, I will not cast out. " 18:17 Panel: Amen... yes. 18:18 He believes in you and... and He will come to him... 18:21 He's not going to cast you out. 18:22 In John chapter 8 verses 1 through 11, 18:24 there's this beautiful story 18:26 of this woman that is caught in adultery. 18:28 Now, that doesn't sound like a beautiful story 18:30 but the way it ends up... it's really beautiful 18:31 because the religious leaders... the Pharisees of the day 18:34 wanting to bring her before Jesus and just get her condemned 18:37 and get her stoned 18:39 and have a reason to accuse Jesus before the Romans 18:41 and just take Him out... 18:42 just take His ministry out. 18:43 And Jesus, you know, the Holy Spirit rested upon Him 18:45 in sevenfold power... that's what we're told 18:48 in Isaiah chapter 11:1 and 2 18:50 and so, Jesus knew what was going on there, 18:51 He discerned the whole situation 18:53 and as they asked Him, you know, 18:55 "Moses said she should be stoned, 18:56 what do you say?" 18:57 He began to write in the sand, the finger of God... 19:00 just like He wrote on the ten... the tablets of the law 19:03 those Ten Commandments with His own finger... 19:05 Jesus again... God Himself writing in the sand 19:07 and you can imagine as He's writing there, 19:10 we don't know exactly what He wrote 19:12 but each one of those accusers left 19:14 from the youngest to the... or the oldest to the youngest... 19:17 they left... right? 19:18 The situation... there was no one left, 19:20 and Jesus asked the question to the woman, 19:22 "Is there no one here to condemn you?" 19:23 And she kind of timidly said, "No man, Lord... " 19:28 because you know Jesus was still there 19:29 and He could have easily condemned her. 19:32 And He said, "Neither do I condemn thee, 19:35 go and sin no more... " 19:36 or leave your life of sin. 19:38 See the gospel empowers obedience, 19:40 the gospel... grace... 19:42 non-condemning grace empowers us 19:44 to leave our life of sin. 19:46 This is the gospel again. 19:47 This is the faith of Jesus toward this woman. 19:49 Jesus believes that when He preaches the gospel to this woman 19:52 she's going to leave her life of sin. 19:53 He doesn't know that but He believes it by faith. 19:56 He exercises faith in her. 19:57 "I'm not going to condemn you, 19:58 I know you were just caught in the act of adultery 20:00 but I believe in you 20:01 and I believe you're going to leave that life of sin. " 20:04 In John chapter 10 verse 10 we're told that the... 20:07 that the devil... Satan... the prince of this world comes 20:10 to kill and to steal and to destroy 20:11 but Jesus comes and He has a different method. 20:13 He's thinking, "You know what? 20:15 I don't think that's going to work... 20:16 I want to... I... 20:18 I think I'm going to give... I'm going to give life. 20:20 I'm going to come... I'm going to give life... 20:22 I want to give abundant life to these people. 20:24 I'm not just going to promise them eternal life, 20:25 I'm going to start healing people. 20:27 I'm going to go through whole towns and villages, 20:28 I'm just going to heal everybody. 20:30 Ten lepers... only one of them has a good motive, 20:31 I'm going to heal them all 20:33 because I'm going to exercise faith in this human being... 20:36 I'm going to exercise faith in every human being. " 20:39 In John chapter 12 verse 32 20:41 we're told that Jesus says, 20:43 "I'm going to be lifted up on the cross 20:45 because I want to draw all unto Me. " 20:48 Everyone is drawn to Jesus 20:50 because Jesus is exercising faith toward everyone. 20:53 In fact, after He was crucified, 20:55 His disciples... you know, Judas, you mentioned, Jill, 20:58 Judas had forsaken Him, right? 20:59 I mean, with a kiss he betrayed Him 21:01 and even the other disciples forsook Him 21:03 and then we're told that, 21:05 you know, Peter denied Him, right? 21:07 And after this is all over, Jesus is resurrected 21:10 and the disciples were all despondent... they're discouraged 21:13 and they're just... 21:15 they're having one of those 3ABN downer days, you know, 21:16 just... nothing's going right, right? 21:18 Jill: We don't have those days... Rafferty: No, no, no, no... 21:19 and so... Panel: Laughter. 21:21 Jill: Just clarifying. 21:23 Rafferty: They're out... they're going back to their old... like, 21:25 they're going back to their... their old school, right? 21:27 We're going to go fishing... they're fishing... 21:29 we're going to go fishing... so they're out there fishing, 21:30 catching nothing... 21:32 you know... Jesus... what happens with Jesus... 21:34 He shows up... cooks them breakfast... 21:36 blesses them with a catch they can't even hardly haul in, 21:39 you know why? He's exercising faith in them. 21:41 Panel: That's right. 21:42 Rafferty: He's exercising... 21:44 and the disciples are... are... are thinking about this, 21:45 I mean... the faith in Jesus, really... it is the gospel, 21:48 it is the gospel. 21:49 We're got the gospel and the law summarized 21:52 in Revelation chapter 14 verse 12. 21:54 It's accepting what Jesus says about us 21:57 when we don't see anything good in ourselves. 22:00 It's believing that we are who He says we are. 22:03 We are loved... we are enlightened... 22:04 we are accepted... we are uncondemned... 22:06 we are invited... we are blessed 22:07 because that's what Jesus says 22:09 and that's what Jesus needed. 22:11 You know, when He was baptized, God said to Him, 22:13 "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased... " 22:17 and then He went out into the wilderness 22:19 and His whole circumstance changed... everything changed. 22:21 He was bearing the weight of the sins of the world, 22:23 He was abandoned... seemingly abandoned by God 22:26 after those 40 days and 40 nights of fasting 22:28 and the devil came to Him and you know what the devil said? 22:30 "Pooh... if You're the Son of God... " 22:33 you know... "If You're the Son of God, 22:35 turn these stones into bread. " 22:37 And what did Jesus do? 22:38 He said, "It is written man does not live by bread alone 22:43 but by every word 22:45 that proceeds out of the mouth of God. " 22:47 And the words that proceed out of the mouth of God were, 22:49 "This is my beloved Son in whom I'm well pleased. " 22:51 See, faith comes by hearing, Romans 10:17 22:54 and hearing by the word of God. 22:55 And so, when we come to Jesus at our worst, 22:58 He comes to us at His best. 23:00 Jesus sees something in us that is placed there by faith. 23:04 Jesus saw something that we didn't see... 23:07 something in the human race that we didn't see 23:09 and so, He exercised faith toward us 23:12 and this faith... we are to keep. 23:14 We're to keep the faith of Jesus. 23:16 Panel: Hmmm... 23:18 Rafferty: When we keep the faith of Jesus, 23:19 just like when we keep the love of God... 23:21 when we keep the faith of Jesus Christ, 23:22 we exercise faith back to Him. 23:24 When we keep the love of God, 23:26 we love Him because He first loved us. 23:28 We're going to have faith in Jesus 23:31 because He first had faith in us. 23:33 Jill: Amen, thank you so much Pastor James, 23:37 I love that... the faith in Jesus. 23:39 What a wonderful explanation! 23:41 Don't go anywhere, 23:43 we're going to be right back after this. 23:44 Pause... 23:48 Music... 23:51 Ever wish you could watch a 3 ABN Sabbath School Panel again 23:54 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 23:58 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 24:02 A clean design makes it easy 24:05 to find the Program you are looking for. 24:07 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 24:11 so you can follow along. 24:12 Sharing is easy. 24:13 Just click "Share" and choose your favorite Social Media. 24:17 Share a Link... Save a Life for Eternity. 24:22 Jill: Welcome back to our study on the Seal of God 24:24 and the Mark of the Beast. 24:25 We're going to turn it over to Pastor John Dinzey. 24:27 Dinzey: Thank you so much, we are now on Tuesday's portion 24:30 as you heard and the title is: Reaping What We Sow... 24:35 Reaping what we sow 24:36 and I'd like to begin by reading the first part 24:38 here in the Lesson, it says, "The prophecy regarding 24:41 the mark of the beast is about religious intolerance, 24:44 an economic boycott, 24:46 persecution, and eventually a death decree. " 24:49 But notice, he says, 24:51 "Surprisingly, it is also a message of encouragement. 24:54 Even in the worst of times, 24:56 God will sustain His people 24:59 who 'keep the commandments of God 25:02 and have the faith of Jesus. ' 25:04 Revelation 14:12. 25:05 And among those commandments, of course, 25:08 is the fourth commandment... 25:09 the seventh-day... 25:11 I mean, the seventh day which is the Sabbath. " 25:13 The Commandment Number 4. 25:15 So, we encourage you to consider 25:18 that this message is also an encouraging message 25:21 because there is a group of faithful people, 25:25 who will face what Revelation 13 brings out 25:29 while the majority of the people are going along with the plan... 25:33 along with what this beast brings out... 25:36 there's a group of people being faithful to God. 25:39 Revelation chapter 12 verse 17 says, 25:42 "And the dragon was wroth or enraged with the woman, 25:47 and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring," 25:50 or the remnant... 25:51 "who keep the commandments of God 25:53 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. " 25:55 And yes, as you've heard before, 25:57 this is here a prophecy and a woman represents a church. 26:01 This is a good church... these are faithful people 26:03 and I ask you the question, 26:05 "Why is the devil enraged 26:09 or has this wrath against this woman?" 26:11 And it's interesting the characteristics you see here. 26:14 They have... they keep the commandments of God 26:18 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 26:20 So, obviously, the devil doesn't like for people to keep 26:24 the commandments of God. 26:26 Let's continue reading in Revelation chapter 14 now, 26:30 we go to verses 9 through 12, 26:31 this is the third angel's message. 26:34 Let's read that to get some context 26:36 because we're going to talk a little bit about 26:38 Revelation chapter 14. 26:39 It says in verse 9, 26:41 "Then a third angel followed them, 26:44 saying with a loud voice, 26:45 'If anyone worships the beast and his image, 26:49 and receives his mark on his forehead or in his hand, 26:54 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 26:59 which is poured out full-strength into the cup of His indignation. 27:04 He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone 27:07 in the presence of the holy angels 27:09 and in the presence of the Lamb. 27:10 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; 27:14 and they have no rest day or night, 27:16 who worship the beast and his image, 27:18 and whoever receives the mark of his name. '" 27:22 Notice again, 27:24 "Here is the patience of the saints; 27:27 here are those who keep the commandments of God 27:30 and the faith of Jesus. " 27:32 Why is this verse 12 there in the midst of this description 27:36 about the wine of the wrath of God 27:40 and then it says 27:42 that those who receive the mark in his forehead. 27:45 Look at verse 9 and look at verse 12... 27:48 compare them because there is there 27:50 a contrast being presented. 27:52 Those that receive the mark 27:54 are following along with Satan's plan 27:56 going along with the plan of the false Sabbath that's presented 28:02 by this beast 28:03 but there in contrast is verse 12 that says, 28:07 "Here's the patience of the saints... " 28:09 those are the faithful of the Lord... 28:11 "are those who keep the commandments of God 28:13 and the faith of Jesus. " 28:15 This is a very clear message, you know, we see it 28:17 and we study it and we understand it as clear 28:19 but perhaps to some of you, it's not clear. 28:21 So, we try to highlight these things for your benefit 28:25 but please consider this and study this 28:27 because it is a message for us living today. 28:31 I read to you from The Great Controversy which... 28:36 The Great Controversy written by Ellen G. White, page 50 28:39 and this is a very enlightening message. 28:43 It says, "This compromise between paganism 28:48 and Christianity resulted in the development of the 'man of sin' 28:53 foretold in prophecy as opposing 28:56 and exalting himself above God. 28:58 That gigantic system of false religion 29:02 is a masterpiece of Satan's power... 29:06 a monument of his efforts to seat himself 29:09 upon the throne of God... " 29:13 upon the throne of the earth actually, it says here, 29:15 "according to his will. " 29:17 He wants to be in control. 29:19 He wants worship and that's why he's pushing this agenda 29:24 and has been pushing it for many, many years. 29:26 He wants worship. 29:28 And there's this worship in contrast to God's worship... 29:33 he wants people to worship his way. 29:35 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3, chapter 2... 29:39 chapter 2 actually verse 3, 29:41 it says, "Let no one deceive you by any means; 29:43 for that Day will not come 29:45 unless the falling away comes first, 29:47 and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. " 29:52 What does he do? Verse 4 says, 29:54 "he opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God 29:59 or that is worshiped, 30:00 so that he sits as God in the temple of God, 30:05 showing himself that he is God. " 30:06 This is showing us that this is a religio-political power... 30:11 takes hold of the civil power... 30:13 wants the... the support of the civil power 30:16 and this is... forms the beast. 30:18 It is against God... 30:20 it is a masterpiece of Satan 30:24 and the idea that it's a religious type of system 30:28 brings people the idea, "Oh, this is of the Lord... 30:32 look, they're using the Bible... 30:34 they're using... they're quoting Scripture 30:37 but the doctrines are doctrines of error... 30:40 some mixture of truth but it's error 30:44 and we need to beware of this Satanic delusion. 30:49 From the Lesson, it says, 30:50 "Religious persecution, of course, is not new. 30:53 It has been around ever since Cain killed Abel 30:56 for worshiping the way God instructed them to worship. 31:00 See Genesis chapter 4 verses 1 through 8. 31:03 Jesus said persecution would happen even to believers 31:06 in the first century and down through the ages... " 31:10 and he says... he quoted here in the Lesson, 31:13 "The time is coming," he warned, 31:16 "that whoever kills you 31:18 will think that he offers God service. " 31:22 So, there's a group of people... even other religious systems 31:27 and this is the dangerous part 31:29 because they... they have a form of godliness 31:33 but they're following Satan's way 31:36 disguised with the religious garb 31:39 that sounds holy, just, and good 31:42 but it is a... it's a deception that is a masterpiece 31:47 and that's why it's so important to read and understand... 31:50 study the three angels' messages. 31:52 We praise the Lord that this is the topic of this Quarterly. 31:55 We bring to you the question presented 31:58 in this Sabbath School Lesson. 31:59 "What will God's end-time people face in the final crisis?" 32:02 Now we move to Revelation 13. 32:06 We're reading verses 15 through 17. 32:09 It says, "He was granted power 32:12 to give breath to the image of the beast, 32:14 that the image of the beast 32:17 should both speak and cause 32:19 as many as would not worship the image of the beast 32:22 to be killed. " 32:23 Notice that this verse implies 32:26 that this power is creating laws... regulations 32:31 for people to follow. 32:32 "He speaks and causes 32:34 that as many as would not worship the image of the beast 32:36 should be killed there. " 32:38 So, there's going to be laws that say, 32:40 "If you don't worship this way, you will be killed. " 32:42 And notice verse 16, 32:44 "He causes all, both small and great, 32:46 rich and poor, 32:48 free and bond... free and slave... " 32:50 accustomed to the King James Version, 32:52 to receive a mark on their right hand 32:55 or on their foreheads. " 32:56 You're going to hear more about this 32:57 in the next week's lesson but just need to quote it here. 33:01 And notice verse 17, "And that no one may buy or sell 33:05 except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, 33:09 or the number of his name. " 33:11 So, these are the characteristics 33:13 of the law that will come upon the land 33:17 and the world 33:19 because he causes all... all both small and great, 33:22 rich and poor... and it's... it's a... 33:24 it's a time of conflict... 33:27 it is a time of test for the world 33:31 so, what will you do? 33:33 Will you be prepared to face this? 33:35 Now, I know we can face this with fear 33:37 but we need to face it trusting in Jesus... 33:40 you can hear about that as we go along. 33:42 And I believe the time has come... 33:46 if it has not come already, it's going to come soon 33:49 that to preach a message of peace and safety 33:52 will be a message from the devil. 33:54 We can have peace and safety in Jesus 33:57 but to say we have peace and safety in society 34:00 will be a false message. 34:03 You see, this is about: 34:05 you will reap what you sow 34:08 and the lesson brings out that the devil is preparing 34:11 "Professed Christians" 34:13 by compromises in their lives to receive the Mark of the Beast 34:18 when the final test comes upon us in the future. 34:21 So, people have made decisions that are lining them up 34:26 to take the Mark of the Beast. 34:27 We need to stop and take a look at our lives... 34:31 take a look at what we're doing. 34:33 Are we identifying with God 34:35 or are we identifying with the devil? 34:38 Be very careful because he has a blending of truth and error... 34:42 let's stick with the truth. 34:44 Panel: Amen. 34:46 Ryan: Amen, amen, thank you Pastor Dinzey so much. 34:47 Pastor James... Sister Jill... 34:49 thank you so much for all that you guys have presented. 34:51 My Friends, we're going to be jumping into Revelation 34:53 chapter 13, my name is Ryan Day 34:55 and we're going to be covering Wednesday's lesson entitled: 34:58 Those Who Follow the Lamb. 35:00 We're going to be looking at a contrasting view 35:03 of these two major systems in the last days... 35:05 in the last days... the two major groups 35:07 and each and every one of us have a choice. 35:10 God does not force us, 35:11 He does not bring about enforcing His will on ours... 35:15 it's our choice to decide which part of... 35:17 which group we decide we want to be a part of, 35:20 which... ultimately in the last days, which person... 35:23 or which ultimate power we're going to serve. 35:26 So, we're in Revelation chapter 13 35:28 and I'm going to be speaking in verse 1, 35:30 we're going to read through probably the first eight verses 35:33 and then we're going to bring some points about... 35:35 through this, so, Revelation chapter 13, 35:37 I'm just going to read through it 35:38 and then we're going to backtrack and make some points. 35:40 So, Revelation chapter 13 verse 1 says, 35:42 "Then I stood upon the sand of the sea, 35:43 and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, 35:46 having seven heads and ten horns, 35:49 and on his horns ten crowns, 35:50 and on his heads a blasphemous name. 35:53 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, 35:56 his feet were like the feet of a bear, 35:58 and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. 36:00 The dragon gave him his power, 36:02 his throne, and great authority. 36:04 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, 36:08 and his deadly wound was healed. 36:11 And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 36:13 So they worshiped the dragon 36:15 who gave authority to the beast; 36:16 and they worshiped the beast, 36:18 saying, 'Who is like the beast? 36:20 Who is able to make war with him?' 36:22 And he was given a mouth 36:24 speaking great things and blasphemies, 36:26 and he was given authority to continue 36:28 for forty-two months. 36:30 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, 36:33 to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, 36:36 and those who dwell in heaven. 36:38 It was granted to him to make war with the saints 36:40 and to overcome them. 36:42 And authority was given him over every tribe, 36:44 tongue, and nation. 36:46 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, 36:48 whose names have not been written 36:50 in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain 36:53 from the foundation of the world. " 36:56 We read those verses because 36:58 we have studied in great detail this... this Babylon System, 37:02 this mystery Babylon the... the mother of harlots. 37:05 Mystery Babylon the great... the mother of harlots 37:07 and, of course, what we find when we study Bible prophecy is 37:10 that same Little Horn from Daniel chapters 7 and 8, 37:13 the same System right here in Revelation chapter 13, 37:15 the first beast 37:17 and, of course, that harlot system of Revelation 37:19 chapter 17, this is that great Antichrist Babylon System 37:23 that is at war against God... 37:25 that the devil himself is using to bring war against God, 37:29 there's just simply six clear identifications 37:32 that I wanted to bring from this, 37:34 just so we're clear on this because we're talking about 37:36 the... the Seal of God... the Mark of the Beast 37:38 and many people have these crazy ideas 37:39 about what the Mark of the Beast is, 37:41 and they don't stop to really ask themselves what it is 37:44 that they're studying 37:45 or what it is that they're trying to identify 37:47 in identifying the Mark of the Beast. 37:48 First of all, you have to know who the beast is 37:51 before you can identify who... what that mark is 37:54 because it's the mark of the beast and not just any beast, 37:58 it's the first beast of Revelation 13 38:00 which we just read about in those eight verses. 38:03 Really quickly, six clear identifications... 38:05 I'm just going to make reference to the verses... 38:07 you can go back and watch this again on 3ABN plus or... 38:10 or right there on YouTube to get a... 38:12 just to go back to and see these identifications 38:13 and match them with the verses, 38:15 but the very first identification we see is 38:17 that this very first beast is... is coming up out of the sea. 38:20 First of all, let's clarify, 38:21 what is a beast in... in Bible prophecy? 38:23 According to Daniel chapter 7, we know that a beast represents 38:26 a great empire... a kingdom... 38:28 a significant worldly power that is... in this case 38:31 dominating the world. 38:32 And so, in this case, 38:33 we find that it's coming up out of the sea. 38:35 We know the sea... according to Revelation 17 verse 15 38:38 represents a large mass populated area. 38:41 So, this beast is rising among a large populated region 38:46 of the earth in which the people are seemingly giving it its power 38:48 as it is rising up and begins to dominate 38:51 in a very mass-populated area and we see that in verse 1. 38:54 Our second identification is that this is a blasphemous power. 38:58 We don't see this once... not twice but three times 39:01 in the same passage in verse 1, verse 5, and verse 6, 39:03 God wants us to know... "This System is not of Me. 39:06 This is a blasphemous power. 39:07 It's blaspheming My name... 39:09 it's blaspheming My tabernacle, 39:10 it's blaspheming what I represent... " 39:12 and we know that blasphemy according to the Bible 39:15 is simply assuming as a created being... 39:17 as men... when we assume the authority of God 39:19 in the form of forgiving sins 39:21 of just simply claiming to be God, 39:23 or going to persecute others in the name of God, 39:26 thinking, again, as... as is brought out clearly here 39:29 that when people persecute you 39:30 and think that they are doing right 39:32 according to the name of God, that's a form of blasphemy... 39:34 Paul brings that out very clearly. 39:35 This is a blasphemous power. 39:37 Third identification... 39:38 we see that it would reign for prophetic 42 months... 39:42 and when we do the Math there clearly, 39:45 we see that it's a period of 1,260 years 39:47 and we see that clearly there in verse 5. 39:50 Also, in verse... or excuse me... 39:52 our fourth point is that this is a persecuting power. 39:54 It persecutes God's saints. 39:55 We see it in Daniel 7, 39:57 we see it in Revelation13, 39:58 the harlot is drunken with the blood of the saints 40:00 in Revelation 17, 40:01 so, right here in verse 7 of Revelation 13, 40:04 it's a persecuting power. 40:05 It's also given world dominion. 40:07 This isn't some little mealy neely little system 40:10 on a street corner somewhere 40:11 over in... you know, who knows where... 40:13 this is a world-dominant power that has its hands in everything. 40:16 It has as Revelation 17 brings out, 40:19 it has special relationships with the leaders of the world. 40:22 It's a very, very influential system. 40:24 We see that in verse 3... verse 4 and verse 7 40:27 of Revelation chapter 13. 40:28 And worse... the last identification... 40:30 but not least, 40:31 there are many more identifications 40:33 but just for the sake of time, our sixth identification 40:34 is that... we see that it receives a deadly wound 40:37 and that deadly wound will be healed... 40:39 hasn't yet... but it's on its way there. 40:41 But we see that its deadly wound is given 40:43 according to verse 3, 40:44 and if you look that up historically 40:46 and you study it accordingly, 40:47 that deadly wound was given none other than 1798 40:51 exactly at the close of that 1260-year period. 40:54 My Friends, there's only one power 40:57 of earthly authority 40:59 that can fit the biblical description 41:01 and it's none other than the Roman-Papal-Church-State Power. 41:03 Now, we go through all of that to make this point 41:06 because if you look back at the point that's made here 41:09 in the... in the Lesson it's asking who's behind this power? 41:13 We... we see this power is just, 41:16 I mean, it's got it's hands in everything, 41:17 it's influencing the world 41:18 but Revelation 13 verse 2 makes it clear 41:20 that the dragon is behind this power 41:22 and who is the dragon? 41:24 We need not wonder, 41:25 we need not guess who this dragon is 41:27 because, the previous chapter, Revelation 12 41:28 as well as Revelation chapter 20 makes it very clear 41:31 that this dragon is none other than the devil himself 41:34 and you might say, "Well, why doesn't the devil just come 41:36 and do his work alone?" 41:37 Well, of course, the devil wants worship 41:38 but he's not going to show up... 41:40 he is eventually going to show up 41:42 but he's not going to reveal himself to the world and say, 41:44 "Hi, I'm Lucifer... the devil and Satan... 41:45 come, bow down and worship me. " 41:46 He knows he's not going to receive worship that way. 41:48 So, how does he do it? 41:50 He does it by what's called worship by representation. 41:52 He deceives the world. 41:53 He finds him a front man, 41:55 in this case, this Antichrist religious political system... 41:58 the Papal System. 41:59 He sets up his front man, he props them up. 42:00 He gives his power... his seat and his authority 42:03 to this System 42:04 and then we read in the Scripture Revelation chapter 13 42:08 verse 3... the latter part... what does it say? 42:10 "And all the world marveled and followed the beast. " 42:14 They even come to the point of worshiping the System 42:16 because the devil deceives the world into believing 42:19 that this System... his front man... 42:21 his System... his... his Papal Leadership, 42:24 his... his Pope... this Antichrist System 42:26 that it serves their best religious interest 42:28 and their best civil interest 42:30 so that all the world gives their allegiance... 42:32 their respect... their... their... their support 42:35 to this System 42:36 and ultimately we see a contrast in the book of Revelation 42:39 and that's the point of this message. 42:41 It's called: those who follow the Lamb 42:43 because when you get a glimpse and a picture 42:45 of what's happening in Revelation 13, 42:47 my friends... please don't miss this point. 42:49 Bible prophecy predicts 42:51 that the vast majority of the world in the last days 42:54 will follow the beast. 42:55 Panel: Hmmm... 42:57 Ryan: The vast majority of the world in the last days 42:59 will worship the beast. 43:01 And you might be sitting here tonight 43:02 or today or wherever you are and say, 43:04 "Ah, you know, praise the Lord 43:05 that I'm not going to worship that beast. " 43:07 My Friends, let me tell you something, 43:08 if you are not 100 percent grounded in Jesus Christ, 43:11 and you have not staked your faith 43:12 and put your life in the hands of the Savior, 43:15 then, you know what? 43:17 We're told that the Spirit of God is being withdrawn 43:18 from this planet day by day by day by day 43:20 and one day, if you're not sealed with the Holy Spirit, 43:23 the devil's spirit is going to have full reign in your life 43:26 and then, when that happens, 43:28 where will your allegiance going to be then? 43:29 Panel: Hmmm... 43:30 Ryan: I don't say that to scare... 43:32 I simply bring about the reality of the fact 43:33 that there are those... 43:35 it's a very small minority according to Scripture, 43:37 it's a very small group... 43:38 Jesus calls it the little flock. 43:40 It's that remnant that keeps the commandments of God 43:43 and has the testimony of Jesus. 43:45 Has the faith of Jesus as brought out very clearly 43:47 by Pastor James. 43:49 We see it there in Revelation chapter 14 verse 4, it says, 43:51 "These are the ones who were not defiled with women, 43:55 for they are virgins. 43:56 These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. " 44:01 That clear... where are you? 44:02 It comes down to really two groups in the end... 44:04 there's no middle ground... 44:06 there's no third, you know, straddling-the-fence option, 44:09 it comes down to you are either a sheep or a goat. 44:11 You are either a part of the wheat or the tares. 44:14 You are either a part of those who are obedient 44:16 or those who are self-righteous and serve self. 44:19 You're... you're a part of those who serve God with humility 44:22 or you are part of those who self-destruct with pride 44:26 at the end of the day 44:27 but really, it all comes down to this 44:28 according to the book of Revelation. 44:30 It comes down to either you worship the Creator 44:32 or you worship the created. 44:34 Panel: Hmmm... that's true. 44:36 Ryan: Where is your allegiance? 44:37 Are you among those who follow the Lamb 44:40 or will you be among those who ultimately end up thinking 44:43 that they know more than the Lamb... 44:45 that they know better than the Lamb... 44:46 that their works... their deeds... their belief... 44:48 their faith is better than that of the Lamb. 44:51 My Friends, it's not too late, give your heart to Jesus now. 44:54 Get into His Word and prepare to be among those 44:57 who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 44:59 Panel: Hmmm... amen. 45:01 Perrin: Thank you, Ryan and each one of you. 45:03 The Lesson is tied together to do one thing 45:05 and that is what Revelation began with... 45:08 to lift up and point to Jesus Christ 45:10 as it's His revelation... the revelation of Jesus Christ. 45:14 I'm Daniel Perrin and I have Thursday's Lesson: 45:17 Jesus Our Only Mediator 45:19 and I liked each one of those words: Jesus Only Mediator... 45:23 God does not work the way we as humans might work, 45:27 "I'll give you three doors 45:28 and you see if you can pick the right one... " 45:30 He gives us one way and He makes it abundantly clear. 45:34 I take you back to Genesis 28 45:36 and all through the Old Testament, 45:38 we find Jesus the only Mediator. 45:40 There's not a place we can look in the older testament 45:43 where we don't find Jesus as our only Mediator 45:47 but in Genesis 28... Jacob... he knows his sin. 45:51 He is on the run. 45:53 He's running from his family... 45:55 from a brother who he presumes is out to kill him 45:58 because he has deceived him, 45:59 he knows he's sinned against God 46:01 and in torment of soul realizing what... 46:06 what's happened with the distance now between him and God, 46:08 he lays himself down to sleep... a fitful sleep 46:12 and God reveals to him through a dream... 46:14 verse 12 says, "Then he dreamed, 46:16 and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, 46:20 and its top reached to heaven... " 46:22 that's good news... 46:23 "and there the angels of God 46:24 were ascending and descending on it. " 46:28 This is not a ladder of his own making, 46:30 not something of his own construction, 46:32 not from his own goodness, 46:33 not from his own worthiness, 46:35 but God Himself reveals this ladder. 46:37 What is this ladder? 46:39 When Jesus comes... there in John chapter 1, 46:42 speaking to Nathaniel who becomes his disciple, 46:45 I believe it was Nathaniel, 46:46 verse 51 of John 1, 46:48 "And Jesus said to him, 46:49 'Most assuredly, I say to you, 46:52 hereafter you shall see heaven open, 46:55 and the angels of God ascending and descending 46:59 on the Son of Man. " 47:01 That ladder that goes all the way up to heaven 47:04 and rests right down on the earth 47:05 right where the sinner sleeps... that is Jesus Himself 47:09 and it's the only ladder... there's not another one 47:12 and this is the ladder upon which angels come down to earth 47:16 and so, when we see an angel coming from heaven 47:19 with the Seal of God. 47:20 The Seal of God is not manufactured on earth. 47:22 It comes from God's very presence 47:25 and it comes through Jesus. 47:27 We don't receive the Seal of God through any other means. 47:30 I want to read to you just one sentence here from 47:33 Sons and Daughters of God, page 25... 47:35 the reference actually comes from the Youth's Instructor 47:39 but it says this, 47:40 "Jesus encircles man with His long human arm 47:45 while with His divine arm, He lays hold of Omnipotence. " 47:49 That's a picture to keep in mind. 47:51 All right, Jesus who is... as Hebrews 2:17, 47:55 "Therefore, in all things He was made like His brethren... " 47:58 He can hold His arm around us completely 48:01 because He's one of us. 48:03 And then, Hebrews 4:14, 48:04 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest 48:06 who has passed through the heavens, 48:08 Jesus the Son of God... " 48:10 He alone holds us together. 48:13 He is that Mediator 48:14 and we don't need to think that Jesus is the Mediator 48:18 in the terms of... He is coming to God who is against us 48:21 and He's going to mediate with God who is against us. 48:24 No, He tells us in John 16:27, the Father Himself loves you 48:29 and if you've seen Me, you've seen the Father. 48:32 But in John 14 verse 6, Jesus says, 48:35 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. 48:38 You don't come to the Father by any other means 48:40 except through Me. " 48:42 And so, what we do is we grab hold of the ladder 48:44 right where we are 48:46 and we see that in the sanctuary too 48:47 as each of those items of furniture representing Jesus... 48:50 they sat right down there on the soil... 48:52 right down there in the sands in the dirt... 48:54 right where sinners walk 48:56 and not descend into some high place to find Him. 48:59 Well, along with every truth, we know there comes a lie. 49:03 Revelation 13:4 and 5... 5 and 6, we've already heard this 49:07 and that word that you referenced, Ryan, blasphemy... 49:09 blasphemy... blasphemy... 49:11 blasphemy is... is not an attack of physical violence. 49:15 Blasphemy is words... it's claims... 49:18 it's deceit that convinces... 49:21 that calls attention away... that re-writes the truth 49:24 and it's no small thing I want to share with you 49:26 what the Bible says about blasphemy... 49:28 John 10:32 and 33, 49:30 Jesus answered them, 49:32 it says, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. 49:34 For which of these do you stone Me?" 49:36 And they said, "Not for any good works 49:38 but because you who are a man 49:40 claim to be God. " 49:41 You who are low established Yourself up high. 49:44 Now, Jesus was Himself, God. 49:46 Matthew 12 verses 34 and 31, Jesus has just cast out a demon 49:51 and the Pharisees... the religious leaders 49:53 claim that it's by the power of Satan that He did that. 49:56 So, in verse 31, Jesus says, 49:58 "Therefore I say to you, 49:59 every sin... every blasphemy will be forgiven, men, 50:02 but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit 50:04 will not be forgiven. " 50:05 And so, here what they've done is, 50:07 they've taken the power of God 50:09 and they've attributed it to Satan. 50:11 So, this is what happens. 50:13 I remember in Grade School, some situations like this, 50:16 you give something to a... a friend of yours, 50:18 "Go put this on the teacher's desk... " 50:20 and he throws it in the trash can, 50:21 "Ha, ha, it's opposite day... " 50:22 well, things that are foolish and childish there, 50:25 we cloak them in the language of religion 50:28 and what we do through blasphemy is we turn things 50:32 upside down... 50:33 what belongs up high, God Himself is thrown down into the earth 50:38 and Satan and his way established up high. 50:41 Panel: Hmmm... 50:43 Perrin: Confusion... wrong destination... 50:44 listen to Daniel 8 verses 11 and 12, 50:47 this is that Little Horn power once again in two phrases here. 50:50 It says, "the place of His sanctuary... " 50:53 it says, "God's sanctuary... " 50:54 by the little horn power... 50:55 the place of His sanctuary is cast down 50:58 and he casts truth down to the ground. 51:00 Others have taken what's high... God's heaven... 51:03 Jesus's heavenly sanctuary ministry 51:06 and say it's all on earth... 51:07 it's all in the hands of people... 51:09 it's all through your power... 51:10 it's all through the power of priests and ministers here... 51:13 not through the power of Jesus. 51:14 Take 2nd Thessalonians 2, we've heard this text many times, 51:19 3 and 4... "a man of sin... the son of perdition" 51:21 verse 4, "who exalts himself above all that is called God 51:25 and is worshiped, 51:26 He sits in the temple of God, 51:28 and shows himself that he is God. " 51:30 He puts himself... here's... takes what's low 51:33 and flip it around so it's on top. 51:35 All right, now we are to work with Jesus. 51:38 We are to cooperate with Him 51:39 but we do not take His mediatorial work. 51:42 We bring people to Jesus like Andrew did 51:45 and like others did. 51:47 Now, the Jews knew what this upside down... 51:49 this was all about. 51:50 Acts 17 verses 5 and 6, 51:52 here's the Jews who... they hear the gospel proclaimed 51:55 and listen to what they say. 51:56 They say... "These men... " this is Paul and Silas... 51:58 "have turned the world upside down... " 52:01 and so, they hear the truth about God... about Jesus... 52:06 about salvation through Jesus 52:08 and they say, "That is upside down. " 52:10 "Being futile in their thoughts" Romans 1:21-22, 52:13 "and foolish... their foolish hearts were darkened. 52:16 Professing to be wise, they became fools... " 52:18 imagine, you spent a day... of hard work... physical labor 52:22 and you come in and you are thirsty, 52:24 "Can I have a glass of water?" 52:25 and somebody puts a glass in your hand 52:27 and you drink back and it's a glass full of dust. 52:31 Oh! giving the exact opposite of what you need. 52:34 This is upside down. 52:36 All right, "Woe to those... " Isaiah 5:20, 52:39 who call evil good, and good evil. 52:42 Signs of blasphemy: 52:44 claiming to forgive sins... 52:46 the Jews knew this who can... 52:47 "Who are you to speak blasphemies... 52:50 who can forgive sins but God alone?" 52:52 Bowing down to humans... 52:53 any time we bow to humans, 52:55 in the cult of worship where we elevate them 52:58 to some human teacher... 53:00 that we're going to follow them regardless of what they say... 53:02 changing God's Word... 53:04 changing God's law whether it be about the Sabbath 53:07 or creation or death or sanctification 53:10 but let me... let me take this a little more personally, 53:13 practically we can turn things upside down. 53:16 Binge watching things late into the night 53:18 but we can't get up five minutes early to read the Scriptures... 53:21 that's upside down. 53:22 You have a thousand text conversation with friends 53:25 throughout the world but we can't pause to pray... 53:28 that's upside down. 53:29 Panel: Hmmm... 53:30 Perrin: Multiple streaming services 53:32 but too tired to go to church. 53:33 We never need the whole Word of God... 53:36 that's upside down. 53:37 We tell somebody all about who it is who hurt us 53:40 but we never tell them about who it is who healed us... 53:44 that's upside down. 53:45 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 53:46 Perrin: First Timothy 2 verse 5, 53:48 "there is one God 53:49 and one Mediator between God and men, 53:51 the man Jesus Christ. " 53:52 But it's not enough just to know about Him. 53:55 We got to come to Him. 53:56 Let me read this to you. 53:57 Let's see if I can make it all the way through, 53:59 Our High Calling, page 75, 54:00 "We ascend to heaven by climbing the ladder... 54:04 the whole height of Christ's work... step by step. 54:07 There must be a holding fast to Christ, 54:09 a climbing up by the merits of Christ. 54:12 To let go is to cease to climb, 54:14 is to fall, is to perish. 54:16 We are to mount by the Mediator 54:19 and all the while to keep hold on the Mediator, 54:22 ascending by successive steps, 54:25 round above round, 54:26 stretching the hand from one round to the next above... 54:30 There is a fearful peril in relaxing our efforts 54:32 in spiritual diligence for a moment, 54:35 for we are hanging, as it were, between heaven and earth. 54:38 We must keep the eye directed upward to God above the ladder. 54:42 You look discouraged at the magnitude of the work before you. 54:47 We point you to the ladder set up on earth 54:50 reaching to the city of God. 54:52 Plant your feet on the ladder... 54:54 forsake your sins... 54:55 climb step by step and you will reach God above the ladder 54:59 and the Holy City of God. " 55:01 That ladder is Jesus Christ. 55:03 Every bit of work that we put forward 55:05 is only in the power of Jesus Christ. 55:08 Thank the Lord... 55:09 thank God for Jesus our only Mediator. 55:12 Jill: Amen, thank you so much. Panel: Wow! 55:15 Jill: I want to plant my feet on the ladder of Jesus Christ, 55:19 thank you, Daniel and Ryan 55:20 and Pastor Johnny and Pastor James. 55:22 What an incredible lesson! 55:23 want to give you an opportunity for final thoughts. 55:26 Rafferty: Powerful... beautiful... the faith of Jesus. 55:28 If God loves us... if God believes in us... 55:32 of God exercises faith toward us 55:33 when we don't even believe in Him. 55:35 If God gives us light... if God loves the world... 55:38 if God doesn't condemn us 55:39 and God promises that He won't cast us out... 55:42 if God gives us spiritual blessings and... 55:43 and temporal blessings, 55:45 if God pours out His... 55:46 His blessings on the good and on the evil, 55:48 the sunshine and rain 55:50 on the just and on the unjust, 55:51 how much more will He love us 55:53 when we do actually believe in Him? 55:55 Do not doubt God's faith, 55:58 God's love... the faith of Jesus toward you. 56:01 Panel: Amen... 56:02 Dinzey: Amen... amen. 56:03 I want to encourage you to study God's Word. 56:07 It is a light for our feet and a light to our path. 56:11 God's Word... we need to read it, understand it and live it 56:15 and God is willing to help you understand the Scriptures 56:19 and by His grace, we shall go through any conflict 56:22 that comes out way... 56:23 looking unto Jesus... the Author and Finisher of our faith. 56:26 Ryan: Amen, Jesus' last words to Jerusalem as a nation 56:29 before going to the cross... 56:31 He says, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 56:33 the one who kills the prophets 56:34 and stones those who are sent to her! 56:36 How often I wanted to gather your children together, 56:39 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 56:41 but you were not willing!" 56:42 My friends, are we willing to follow Jesus? 56:45 Because if we're willing to follow Jesus, 56:47 then we will indeed follow the Lamb wherever He goes. 56:50 Don't be among those who reject and fall into desolation 56:53 but those who receive 56:55 and meet Him in the clouds when He comes. 56:57 Panel: Amen. 56:58 Perrin: I know Pastor Rafferty loves Romans 10:17, 57:01 "faith comes by hearing, 57:03 and hearing by the word of God. " 57:05 You've heard the Word of God today 57:07 and I just invite you when the Program closes, 57:09 open up that Word of God and connect again with Jesus. 57:14 Invite the Holy Spirit to then lead you 57:16 to put into practice by faith 57:18 everything that you've heard... 57:20 everything that Jesus has done for you. 57:22 Jill: Amen, thank you so much. 57:25 I want to leave you with this verse, 57:27 this is Revelation chapter 22 verse 7, 57:29 "Behold, I am coming quickly! 57:32 Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy 57:36 of this book. " 57:38 We've been talking this entire Quarter 57:40 the prophecies of the book of Revelation. 57:43 Have you learned new truths to you? 57:46 Have you learned something that you have not understood 57:48 or, maybe, come to a deeper, fuller understanding 57:52 of the prophecies in the book of Revelation? 57:54 I appeal to you to study them 57:57 and to make a choice 57:59 to surrender your life to the God of the Bible. 58:02 Join us next week... 58:04 we're going to study the Seal of God 58:05 and the Mark of the Beast, Part 2. |
Revised 2023-08-29