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A Bible study of the book of Daniel, chapter 9.
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TVTranscript
00:00:00We got it.
00:00:01Hello friends, I'm Pastor Joel Laswell.
00:00:03Welcome you to our study at this time.
00:00:05We're getting into Daniel chapter 9.
00:00:08And we're going to talk about,
00:00:10especially in this study right here,
00:00:13something that ties in with,
00:00:15and a question I've always had on my mind
00:00:17that I've delved into from time to time.
00:00:20There's that time again.
00:00:22The 490 years, the 70 weeks there,
00:00:25spoken of in Daniel 9 verse 24.
00:00:27But how that is, that time, that length of time,
00:00:32and God's mercy and long-suffering due to that.
00:00:36He's given them more time.
00:00:38And I want to look at God's,
00:00:40because it ties in with the rest of prophecy.
00:00:43Believe it or not, there's some deep truths
00:00:47in looking at the long-suffering and mercy of God,
00:00:50especially when it pertains to His people, of course.
00:00:54And here in Daniel chapter 9.
00:00:56And so we're going to do that.
00:00:59And before we get to that,
00:01:00we want to have a word of prayer together.
00:01:02And ask the Lord to bless us as we open His Word.
00:01:06So if you can kneel, I invite you to kneel at this time.
00:01:10You know, prayer is not posture necessarily,
00:01:13but we want to come before our Maker
00:01:14with a reverence and an awe
00:01:19because of who He is.
00:01:21He is our Creator.
00:01:22Let's bow our heads.
00:01:23Father in Heaven, we do thank You for this chance
00:01:26to come together and study Your Word
00:01:28and open it and read it
00:01:29and to come to You and ask to guide us through it.
00:01:34Send us the Holy Spirit
00:01:35and give us discernment and wisdom
00:01:36as we look at these things
00:01:38and help us to put the puzzle pieces together
00:01:41that You've revealed to us through Your Word
00:01:44in looking at prophecy here.
00:01:47And we're in the book of Daniel chapter 9.
00:01:50And help us to tie all these things
00:01:51that we've been learning together.
00:01:53And may our faith be strengthened
00:01:55because we see these things
00:01:58that You have shared hundreds of years ago
00:02:01through Your prophets
00:02:02being fulfilled in our day today.
00:02:06It's just remarkable
00:02:08that we have the opportunity
00:02:09to be living in the time of the end.
00:02:12And we pray, Lord,
00:02:13that You will forgive us our sins.
00:02:14We claim the blood of Jesus
00:02:16that was shed there at Calvary
00:02:18and that He's in the sanctuary now
00:02:20helping us, giving us the strength,
00:02:24the faith, the courage, the power
00:02:26to overcome our sins
00:02:27and thus aid Him in the cleansing of the sanctuary.
00:02:30Daniel had some questions
00:02:32about all these things
00:02:33and we're learning about that in particular
00:02:36and gaining answers that He sought.
00:02:41Another remarkable thing.
00:02:42And so we pray that You will bless us now.
00:02:45Be with those who couldn't be with us at this time.
00:02:47Be with those who are looking at the videos
00:02:49and listening to the audios
00:02:51of all these series of studies.
00:02:54Please guide and direct them
00:02:55to Your Word and to Jesus.
00:02:57And may we meet them someday
00:02:59on that sea of glass.
00:03:00What a remarkable thing that will be.
00:03:02And so give me the words to speak this morning.
00:03:05I humbly ask, Lord,
00:03:07because I need it.
00:03:09I don't want any of my opinions to come through.
00:03:11I want it to be the truth
00:03:13that You may be glorified.
00:03:15I ask His favor in Jesus' name
00:03:16for He is the one that is worthy.
00:03:19Amen.
00:03:21And amen.
00:03:23Well, friends,
00:03:24it's good to be with you.
00:03:27We are in the time of the end series.
00:03:30This is message 24,
00:03:33the third part of message 24,
00:03:36which I've entitled this series,
00:03:38The Annihilator.
00:03:40The Annihilator.
00:03:41Episode 3.
00:03:42And so far in our study of Daniel 9,
00:03:48Daniel chapter 9,
00:03:50we've seen a most heartfelt prayer
00:03:53from Daniel to God, right?
00:03:55Seeking forgiveness for his sins
00:03:57and for the rebellion of Israel
00:03:59against the Lord.
00:04:01Daniel, remember,
00:04:02had assumed that the ma'are
00:04:04of Daniel 8 and verse 14
00:04:06was an extension
00:04:07of the 70-year captivity
00:04:09of God's people
00:04:10as spoken of by
00:04:12Jeremiah the prophet
00:04:13in Daniel,
00:04:15or in Jeremiah chapter 25
00:04:17of his book,
00:04:18Jeremiah's book.
00:04:20Daniel also sought understanding
00:04:21about the 2300 years,
00:04:24if you recall,
00:04:26and the cleansing
00:04:28of the sanctuary.
00:04:31Now, Daniel gives such a wonderful petition,
00:04:35and we should take note of it.
00:04:37In his prayer,
00:04:38Daniel did at least seven things
00:04:40that deserve our attention.
00:04:41I want to review them with you again,
00:04:43but then we'll get into our study.
00:04:45But he trusted God,
00:04:47had our best interest in mind, right?
00:04:51A second thing was that he prayed
00:04:53very earnest from his heart.
00:04:55He prayed to God
00:04:57as if speaking to a friend.
00:04:58That's the type of relationship
00:05:00that we all should have
00:05:02with our Creator.
00:05:04A third thing that Daniel did
00:05:06was that he depended
00:05:07on God's righteousness
00:05:08and not his own.
00:05:10He's very humble.
00:05:11He was meek.
00:05:13A fourth thing was that
00:05:14he used Scripture
00:05:15while speaking to God.
00:05:17And that's very, very important.
00:05:18We need to delve into God's Word
00:05:21and have it memorized
00:05:23and bring it up to the Lord,
00:05:25especially His promises.
00:05:27Not to say,
00:05:28Oh, God, you promised it up.
00:05:29You can say that,
00:05:30but with the right attitude.
00:05:33Remember that attitude of
00:05:35humility and meekness.
00:05:38Daniel used Scripture
00:05:40when he spoke to God in prayer.
00:05:42A fifth thing that he did
00:05:43was he confessed his own sins
00:05:44and then the sins of his people,
00:05:47his group.
00:05:49And that shows a care,
00:05:52like a partnership.
00:05:54You're one with the people
00:05:56of your group.
00:06:00A sixth thing that he did
00:06:02was that he sought
00:06:03the glory of God
00:06:04and of God's sanctuary.
00:06:07And that should be
00:06:09something that we all
00:06:11should be doing
00:06:12is to seek the glory of God,
00:06:14to bring glory to His name
00:06:17because of His love for us
00:06:19and what He has done for us.
00:06:20And the seventh thing
00:06:21that Daniel did
00:06:21was that he claimed
00:06:22God's promises.
00:06:24God has given us promises.
00:06:26He wants us to claim
00:06:28those promises.
00:06:29He wants us to know them
00:06:31and to act in faith upon them.
00:06:34And so,
00:06:35we clearly see that Daniel
00:06:37sought God
00:06:38with all his heart
00:06:39toward the end of that 70 years.
00:06:42And he was imploring
00:06:43for his goodness
00:06:44and mercy
00:06:46towards Israel.
00:06:48And I'll
00:06:49close this part
00:06:51with something
00:06:52I shared with you
00:06:53from the Review and Herald,
00:06:55February 9, 1897.
00:06:57The last time we were together,
00:06:59I shared this with you.
00:07:00Quote,
00:07:01Our necessities
00:07:02are as urgent,
00:07:03our difficulties
00:07:04are as great,
00:07:06and we need to have
00:07:07the same intensity
00:07:08of purpose
00:07:09and in faith
00:07:10roll our burden
00:07:11upon the great
00:07:12burden bearer.
00:07:13Get this.
00:07:14There is need
00:07:16for hearts
00:07:16to be as deeply moved,
00:07:19the prophet says,
00:07:21to be as deeply moved
00:07:23in our time
00:07:25as in the time
00:07:26when Daniel prayed.
00:07:29End quote.
00:07:32And so,
00:07:33I wanted to bring that
00:07:33to your attention.
00:07:34Again,
00:07:34it's very valuable lessons
00:07:36that we learned there
00:07:37in the first part of Daniel
00:07:38when he came to the Lord
00:07:41in prayer
00:07:42because he thought
00:07:44that God was adding
00:07:46490 years
00:07:47to that 70 years.
00:07:49He was older.
00:07:51He was coming
00:07:51to the end
00:07:52of the 70 years.
00:07:52He knew within a couple
00:07:53of years,
00:07:54you know,
00:07:54when the Greeks
00:07:55had overcome Babylon,
00:07:57he knew,
00:07:57well,
00:07:57within a couple of years,
00:07:58we're going to be
00:07:58going back home.
00:08:01And then he has
00:08:01this vision.
00:08:04And it would be shocking.
00:08:05It would be shocking
00:08:06to you and I.
00:08:06Daniel is a man
00:08:08like you and I.
00:08:09A human being
00:08:10like you and I are.
00:08:12And so,
00:08:13what I have for you now
00:08:15is,
00:08:15to me,
00:08:15the big question is,
00:08:16why did Daniel believe
00:08:17that God had increased
00:08:19the time
00:08:19of the desolation
00:08:21of the sanctuary
00:08:22and pray so deeply
00:08:24for Israel's forgiveness?
00:08:25Why?
00:08:26Why would he not think
00:08:28that God would just
00:08:28destroy them,
00:08:30you know,
00:08:30and choose another?
00:08:31Choose another group
00:08:32of people
00:08:33like God had offered
00:08:34to do with Moses,
00:08:35you recall.
00:08:36Though Daniel thought
00:08:38that God had increased
00:08:39the time of Israel's
00:08:40captivity,
00:08:40he also knew,
00:08:41you see,
00:08:42by experience
00:08:44in his faith
00:08:45that God was
00:08:45long-suffering
00:08:47and merciful.
00:08:49And we can see
00:08:50this exemplified
00:08:51actually all throughout
00:08:52the Old Testament.
00:08:53But my question is,
00:08:54why?
00:08:56Why has God been
00:08:58so merciful
00:09:00and long-suffering?
00:09:01I mean,
00:09:02we cannot,
00:09:02we're not God,
00:09:03we cannot know
00:09:04God that deeply
00:09:05or we would be God,
00:09:07but we can look at it
00:09:08and contemplate it,
00:09:10can we not?
00:09:12I want to take a look
00:09:14at the three stages
00:09:16of Israel's history
00:09:18to learn about
00:09:20the long-suffering
00:09:21and mercy of God
00:09:22for his people
00:09:23and other reasons
00:09:24for it,
00:09:25you know,
00:09:26to answer the question
00:09:27as to why God
00:09:28would do this.
00:09:29Why would he wait?
00:09:30Why would he give
00:09:31another 490 years?
00:09:34And I think it will
00:09:35help us understand
00:09:37that 70-week prophecy.
00:09:41Because like I said,
00:09:42there are some
00:09:43deep truths
00:09:44involved in the questions
00:09:46I'm asking.
00:09:47I've got a few more
00:09:48questions here
00:09:49in a moment
00:09:49I'll share
00:09:49for you to contemplate
00:09:51as we go on.
00:09:52But we are in
00:09:53chapter 9 of Daniel.
00:09:55And I want to start
00:09:56by taking a notice
00:09:58of the time element
00:09:59again in Daniel 9
00:10:00and verse 24.
00:10:01Let's read it.
00:10:02Daniel 9 and verse 24.
00:10:04And it says,
00:10:0670 weeks
00:10:07are determined
00:10:08upon thy people
00:10:10and upon
00:10:11thy holy city
00:10:13to do what?
00:10:14To finish
00:10:14thy transgression,
00:10:16to make an end
00:10:17of sins,
00:10:17to make reconciliation
00:10:19for iniquity,
00:10:20and to bring in
00:10:21everlasting righteousness,
00:10:23and to seal up
00:10:24the vision
00:10:25and prophecy,
00:10:26and to anoint
00:10:27the most holy.
00:10:30Now there's a lot
00:10:31there to unpack,
00:10:32isn't there?
00:10:33And we're not going
00:10:33to do that
00:10:34at this time.
00:10:35We will break
00:10:36this scripture down
00:10:38later on
00:10:39in the study
00:10:39of Daniel 9.
00:10:40But it tells us
00:10:41that God gave Israel
00:10:42more time
00:10:42to work out
00:10:44specifications
00:10:45in particular
00:10:46for what purpose?
00:10:48And we'll get to
00:10:51we'll get the answer
00:10:52to that as we go on.
00:10:55Because that's
00:10:56a big question.
00:10:57That's a big
00:10:58question.
00:11:00But God
00:11:01extended their
00:11:02probation
00:11:02another 490 years.
00:11:05Now let's put
00:11:06our thinking caps
00:11:07on, beloved,
00:11:07and let's do
00:11:08some common sense
00:11:09reasoning about this.
00:11:11That's a biblical
00:11:11principle, by the way.
00:11:13Common sense
00:11:14reasoning.
00:11:16I'd like you
00:11:17to contemplate
00:11:17these questions
00:11:19based upon
00:11:21the extension
00:11:21of that time.
00:11:23Here are some
00:11:24questions,
00:11:24and these are
00:11:25questions that I
00:11:25have, and
00:11:27maybe you've
00:11:28had these
00:11:30questions as
00:11:30well.
00:11:31But the first
00:11:32one is, why
00:11:33would God give
00:11:34Israel another
00:11:36490 years?
00:11:38They're coming
00:11:38to an end
00:11:39of 70 years,
00:11:41soon to be
00:11:43released from
00:11:44that, at least
00:11:45Daniel thought
00:11:46so, and then
00:11:46here he sees
00:11:4770 weeks,
00:11:49another 490 years.
00:11:51Now why would
00:11:51God give Israel
00:11:52another 490 years?
00:11:54And this
00:11:55question, this
00:11:56other question,
00:11:56it's a big
00:11:57part of
00:11:57prophecy too.
00:11:59Why was
00:11:59Adam's first
00:12:00born, not
00:12:01the Messiah?
00:12:03Have you ever
00:12:03thought about
00:12:04that?
00:12:05Why was
00:12:06Adam's first
00:12:07born, not
00:12:07the Messiah,
00:12:08instead of
00:12:08the Deliverer
00:12:09coming thousands
00:12:10of years later,
00:12:11after 62
00:12:12generations, by
00:12:13the way?
00:12:15Well, where do
00:12:16you get that
00:12:16from?
00:12:16Well, there
00:12:17are 20
00:12:18generations from
00:12:19Adam to
00:12:20Abraham,
00:12:20Abraham, you
00:12:22know, from
00:12:22Adam to
00:12:23Noah, the
00:12:24first 10
00:12:24generations are
00:12:25listed in
00:12:26Genesis 5, with
00:12:27Noah being the
00:12:2810th patriarch, and
00:12:30then from
00:12:30Noah to
00:12:31Abraham, that's
00:12:32another 10
00:12:33generations, starting
00:12:35with Noah's son
00:12:36Shem, they're
00:12:37outlined in
00:12:38Genesis 11, until
00:12:39the birth of
00:12:40Abraham.
00:12:41Remember, he
00:12:41was originally
00:12:42named Abram, so
00:12:44for some of you
00:12:45out there that
00:12:46know that, that
00:12:47may clarify some
00:12:48things up.
00:12:48And then you
00:12:49have, there's
00:12:5020 generations, then
00:12:51there are 42
00:12:52generations from
00:12:54Abraham to
00:12:54Jesus, as
00:12:56divided into
00:12:57three sets of
00:12:5714 in the
00:12:58Gospel of
00:12:59Matthew.
00:12:59Matthew 1,
00:13:00verse 17, it
00:13:01says, so all
00:13:03the generations
00:13:03from Abraham to
00:13:04David are 14
00:13:05generations, and
00:13:06from David until
00:13:07the carrying away
00:13:08into Babylon are
00:13:0914 generations, and
00:13:11from the carrying
00:13:12away into Babylon
00:13:14unto Christ are
00:13:1414 generations.
00:13:18And so, the first
00:13:2014 generations, we
00:13:21saw there from
00:13:22Abraham to
00:13:22David.
00:13:24The second 14
00:13:25generations are
00:13:26from David to
00:13:28the exile in
00:13:29Babylon, and the
00:13:31third 14 generations
00:13:32are from the
00:13:34exile in Babylon
00:13:35to Christ.
00:13:38And this
00:13:39actually stylized
00:13:40structure emphasizes
00:13:41Jesus'
00:13:42you know, his
00:13:43royal lineage as
00:13:44the son of
00:13:46David.
00:13:46prophet, that's
00:13:47where we get
00:13:47these generations.
00:13:51But, you know, the
00:13:53question was, why
00:13:54was not Adam's
00:13:56firstborn the
00:13:57Messiah, but he
00:13:58came 62
00:13:59generations later?
00:14:01Haven't you
00:14:01wondered about
00:14:02that?
00:14:04Another question, how
00:14:06many years did God
00:14:07wait to send his
00:14:07son Jesus?
00:14:08How many years
00:14:09specifically did
00:14:11he wait?
00:14:12And why did he
00:14:13wait?
00:14:13Why the long
00:14:14suffering and mercy
00:14:15of God?
00:14:16Oh, we're going
00:14:17to get into some
00:14:18of this.
00:14:19And then another
00:14:20question was, why
00:14:20did God wait?
00:14:22Of course, that was
00:14:23part of the
00:14:23days old.
00:14:24Why did God
00:14:24wait so long?
00:14:26Did he have to
00:14:27wait so long?
00:14:27Why did he
00:14:28wait?
00:14:30Well, let me
00:14:31share some
00:14:35quotes from
00:14:38God's end-time
00:14:39prophet, mainly
00:14:41from the book
00:14:41The Desire of
00:14:42Ages, that will
00:14:44help to give us
00:14:45some understanding
00:14:46in answering these
00:14:47questions.
00:14:47I'll share these
00:14:48and we'll get
00:14:49into the Word of
00:14:49God and you'll
00:14:50see it kind of
00:14:51come together as
00:14:51a puzzle piece.
00:14:52And I think when
00:14:54we're done with
00:14:55this as we go on,
00:14:58oh, it's going to
00:14:58help us so much
00:14:59more as we delve
00:15:00in further into
00:15:01Daniel chapter 9
00:15:02all the way to the
00:15:03end.
00:15:04And in fact, I
00:15:05could have said
00:15:06that about every
00:15:06study actually.
00:15:08They're all puzzle
00:15:09pieces, aren't they?
00:15:10From Daniel 1 all
00:15:11the way out.
00:15:12Isn't it opening
00:15:13up, the big
00:15:13picture opening
00:15:14up for you?
00:15:15We're getting
00:15:15all the little
00:15:16interesting
00:15:18specifics?
00:15:19It is for me.
00:15:21And I pray and
00:15:22hope it is for you
00:15:22too.
00:15:23Of course, this is
00:15:24from The Desire
00:15:25of Ages, pages
00:15:2631 to 34.
00:15:28And so, bear
00:15:30with me.
00:15:31I'm kind of
00:15:31losing my voice.
00:15:32I don't know
00:15:32what's going on
00:15:37with that.
00:15:38But here we
00:15:39are.
00:15:40Quote,
00:15:41The Savior's
00:15:43coming was
00:15:44foretold in
00:15:45Eden.
00:15:46When Adam and
00:15:46Eve first heard
00:15:47the promise,
00:15:48they looked for
00:15:48its speedy
00:15:49fulfillment.
00:15:50They joyfully
00:15:52welcomed their
00:15:53firstborn son,
00:15:54hoping that he
00:15:56might be the
00:15:56deliverer.
00:15:58But the
00:15:58fulfillment of
00:15:59the promise
00:15:59tarried.
00:16:00Those who
00:16:01first received
00:16:02it died without
00:16:03the sight.
00:16:04From the days
00:16:05of Enoch,
00:16:06the promise
00:16:07was repeated
00:16:08through patriarchs
00:16:09and prophets,
00:16:10keeping alive
00:16:11the hope of
00:16:12his appearing,
00:16:13and yet he
00:16:13came not.
00:16:15The prophecy
00:16:16of Daniel
00:16:16revealed the
00:16:17time of his
00:16:18advent, but
00:16:18not all rightly
00:16:19interpreted the
00:16:20message.
00:16:21Isn't that
00:16:22interesting?
00:16:24The hand of
00:16:26the oppressor
00:16:26was heavy upon
00:16:27Israel, and
00:16:28many were ready
00:16:28to exclaim,
00:16:29The days are
00:16:30prolonged, and
00:16:31every vision
00:16:32faileth.
00:16:33I hear people
00:16:34to this day,
00:16:34oh, we've been
00:16:35hearing Jesus
00:16:35coming soon for
00:16:36a hundred years.
00:16:38A hundred
00:16:38years really
00:16:39isn't nothing
00:16:40to God,
00:16:40is it?
00:16:42Doesn't mean
00:16:42he's not
00:16:43coming.
00:16:45But as she
00:16:46says, sometimes
00:16:48we get to the
00:16:49point, oh, the
00:16:50days are
00:16:50prolonged, and
00:16:50every vision
00:16:52faileth.
00:16:53But like the
00:16:54stars in the
00:16:55vast circuit of
00:16:56their appointed
00:16:56path, God's
00:16:58purposes know
00:16:59no haste and
00:16:59no delay.
00:17:01Through the
00:17:02symbols of the
00:17:02great darkness
00:17:03in the smoking
00:17:04furnace, God
00:17:05had revealed to
00:17:06Abraham the
00:17:06bondage of
00:17:07Israel and
00:17:07Egypt, and
00:17:08had declared
00:17:09that the time
00:17:10of their
00:17:10sojourning
00:17:11should be
00:17:12four hundred
00:17:12years.
00:17:14So in
00:17:15heaven's
00:17:15counsel, the
00:17:16hour for the
00:17:16coming of
00:17:17Christ had
00:17:17been determined.
00:17:19When the
00:17:19great clock
00:17:20of time
00:17:20pointed to
00:17:21that hour,
00:17:22Jesus was
00:17:23born in
00:17:23Bethlehem.
00:17:25When the
00:17:25fullness of
00:17:26the time
00:17:26was come,
00:17:27God sent
00:17:27forth his
00:17:28Son.
00:17:30Providence
00:17:30had directed
00:17:31the movements
00:17:31of nations,
00:17:32and the
00:17:33tide of human
00:17:33impulse and
00:17:34influence,
00:17:34here's the
00:17:35key, until
00:17:37the world
00:17:38was ripe for
00:17:39the coming
00:17:40of the
00:17:41deliverer.
00:17:42What does
00:17:42that mean?
00:17:47Until the
00:17:48world was
00:17:48ripe for
00:17:49the coming
00:17:50of the
00:17:51deliverer.
00:17:51Why have
00:17:52God given
00:17:53another four
00:17:53hundred ninety
00:17:53years?
00:17:54Why the
00:17:54long-suffering
00:17:55of mercy
00:17:55towards these
00:17:56people?
00:17:58He's waiting
00:17:59until the
00:17:59world was
00:17:59ripe.
00:18:02She goes
00:18:03on, the
00:18:03nations were
00:18:04united under
00:18:05one government.
00:18:06One language
00:18:07was widely
00:18:07spoken and
00:18:08was everywhere
00:18:09recognized as
00:18:10the language
00:18:10of literature.
00:18:12Now, think
00:18:13about that
00:18:13statement for
00:18:14a moment.
00:18:15What happened
00:18:16when the
00:18:16world was
00:18:17under, basically
00:18:18kind of under
00:18:18one government,
00:18:19had one
00:18:19language,
00:18:20Babylon, and
00:18:21they built
00:18:21a tower,
00:18:22right?
00:18:22And then
00:18:23God dispersed
00:18:24people.
00:18:25But here,
00:18:28again, in
00:18:29our day,
00:18:30this is what
00:18:31she's talking
00:18:32about when the
00:18:33world was
00:18:33ripe for
00:18:34Jesus to
00:18:34come and
00:18:35be born in
00:18:35Bethlehem.
00:18:36She said
00:18:37the nations
00:18:38were united
00:18:39under one
00:18:39government.
00:18:40One language
00:18:40was widely
00:18:41spoken.
00:18:44Boy, are we
00:18:45seeing some
00:18:46of that today?
00:18:47This push
00:18:48by the
00:18:49little horn
00:18:50to have a
00:18:50one world
00:18:51rule and
00:18:54one language.
00:18:56Kind of
00:18:57interesting.
00:18:57And then
00:18:57when that
00:18:58happens,
00:18:58Jesus returns,
00:18:59doesn't it?
00:19:00We see some
00:19:00things happen.
00:19:03We're seeing
00:19:05some repeat,
00:19:06aren't we?
00:19:08She says,
00:19:09from all
00:19:10lands,
00:19:10the Jews
00:19:11of the
00:19:11dispersion
00:19:12gathered to
00:19:12Jerusalem to
00:19:13the annual
00:19:14feasts.
00:19:14As these
00:19:15returned to
00:19:16the places
00:19:16of their
00:19:17sojourn,
00:19:17they could
00:19:18spread throughout
00:19:19the world
00:19:20the tidings
00:19:20of the
00:19:20Messiah's
00:19:21coming.
00:19:22While few
00:19:23understood the
00:19:23nature of
00:19:24Christ's
00:19:25mission,
00:19:25there was a
00:19:27widespread
00:19:27expectation of
00:19:28a mighty
00:19:29prince who
00:19:30should establish
00:19:31his kingdom
00:19:31in Israel
00:19:32and who
00:19:33should come
00:19:33as a
00:19:34deliverer
00:19:38to the
00:19:38nations.
00:19:41Desire of
00:19:42Ages,
00:19:42pages 31
00:19:43to 34.
00:19:44And so,
00:19:50as we
00:19:51read there,
00:19:52Adam and
00:19:53Eve thought
00:19:53their firstborn,
00:19:55they were
00:19:55hoping anyway,
00:19:57would be the
00:19:57coming
00:19:58deliverer.
00:20:00You know,
00:20:01they got the
00:20:01promise there
00:20:02in Genesis
00:20:043 that
00:20:05there would
00:20:06be a
00:20:07Messiah,
00:20:08a deliverer
00:20:08from sin
00:20:09that would
00:20:10save them,
00:20:11but he
00:20:13wasn't the
00:20:14Christ their
00:20:14firstborn.
00:20:14In fact,
00:20:15he murdered
00:20:15his younger
00:20:16brother Abel.
00:20:17And so,
00:20:18the Messiah
00:20:19was delayed.
00:20:20The question
00:20:21was why?
00:20:22We read
00:20:23that the
00:20:24world was
00:20:24not ripe
00:20:25for the
00:20:26coming
00:20:26deliverer.
00:20:27And I
00:20:27asked,
00:20:28what does
00:20:28that mean?
00:20:31I want you
00:20:32to notice
00:20:32from the
00:20:32book Desire
00:20:33of Ages
00:20:33again,
00:20:34pages 48
00:20:34to 49.
00:20:35This is
00:20:36getting
00:20:36interesting,
00:20:37isn't it?
00:20:38I hope so.
00:20:39Quote,
00:20:40Jesus accepted
00:20:41humanity.
00:20:42Notice this
00:20:43statement.
00:20:45Jesus accepted
00:20:46humanity.
00:20:47He became
00:20:47human when
00:20:48the race
00:20:49had been
00:20:49weakened by
00:20:504,000 years
00:20:52of sin.
00:20:56Why?
00:20:57Why would
00:20:58that be
00:20:58necessary?
00:21:02Jesus
00:21:03accepted
00:21:03humanity
00:21:04when the
00:21:05race had
00:21:05been weakened
00:21:06by 4,000
00:21:07years of
00:21:07sin.
00:21:09Like every
00:21:10child of
00:21:10Adam,
00:21:11he accepted
00:21:11the results
00:21:12of the
00:21:12working of
00:21:14the great
00:21:14law of
00:21:15heredity.
00:21:17What these
00:21:18results were
00:21:19is shown in
00:21:20the history
00:21:20of his
00:21:21earthly
00:21:21ancestors.
00:21:22He came
00:21:23with such
00:21:23a heredity
00:21:24to share
00:21:24our sorrows.
00:21:26Why now?
00:21:27This is getting
00:21:27to why.
00:21:29To share
00:21:30our sorrows
00:21:31and temptations
00:21:32and to give
00:21:33us the
00:21:33example of
00:21:35a sinless
00:21:36life.
00:21:37Satan in
00:21:38heaven had
00:21:38hated Christ
00:21:39for his
00:21:39position in
00:21:40the courts
00:21:40of God.
00:21:41He hated
00:21:42him the
00:21:42more when
00:21:43he himself
00:21:43was dethroned.
00:21:44He hated
00:21:45him who
00:21:46pledged
00:21:46himself to
00:21:47redeem a
00:21:48race of
00:21:48sinners.
00:21:49Yet in
00:21:50to the
00:21:50world where
00:21:51Satan claimed
00:21:52dominion,
00:21:53God permitted
00:21:54his son to
00:21:54come.
00:21:58That's
00:21:59something.
00:22:01God
00:22:02permitted his
00:22:02son to
00:22:02come.
00:22:03A helpless
00:22:04babe,
00:22:06subject to
00:22:07the weakness
00:22:07of humanity.
00:22:09He permitted
00:22:10him to meet
00:22:11life's peril in
00:22:12common with
00:22:13every human
00:22:14soul, to
00:22:15fight the
00:22:15battle as
00:22:16every child
00:22:17of humanity
00:22:17must fight
00:22:18it, at
00:22:19the risk of
00:22:20failure and
00:22:22eternal
00:22:23loss.
00:22:25Let that
00:22:26sink in.
00:22:29One time
00:22:30when I was
00:22:31a young
00:22:31Christian and
00:22:31I'd studied,
00:22:33studied,
00:22:33studied before
00:22:34I even gave
00:22:35my heart to
00:22:35the Lord.
00:22:36When I did,
00:22:37I went through
00:22:37the Bible
00:22:38three times
00:22:38and I come
00:22:40to this
00:22:40conclusion that
00:22:41God took a
00:22:42risk in
00:22:43Jesus.
00:22:44Isn't that
00:22:45something?
00:22:46I don't
00:22:47think we
00:22:47could wrap
00:22:48our minds
00:22:49around it.
00:22:51But there
00:22:51was a
00:22:52risk.
00:22:54And it's
00:22:55backed up
00:22:55here.
00:22:56The prophet
00:22:56says,
00:22:56at the risk
00:22:57of failure
00:22:58and eternal
00:22:58loss.
00:22:59He came.
00:23:01He became
00:23:02one of his
00:23:02created.
00:23:03And there
00:23:04was a risk
00:23:04involved in
00:23:05that.
00:23:05And I
00:23:06remember
00:23:06saying,
00:23:07and they're
00:23:07studying it
00:23:08in a
00:23:09midweek
00:23:09service one
00:23:10time,
00:23:10and I
00:23:11said,
00:23:11it was
00:23:12kind of
00:23:12on this
00:23:13topic,
00:23:14and I
00:23:15said,
00:23:16Jesus
00:23:16could have
00:23:19could have
00:23:19fell.
00:23:20I mean,
00:23:20he was in
00:23:21our form
00:23:22and people
00:23:23were aghast
00:23:24at that.
00:23:24And I
00:23:25don't know
00:23:25why.
00:23:27God took
00:23:28a risk.
00:23:28That was
00:23:28the risk.
00:23:32That was
00:23:33the risk.
00:23:34She says,
00:23:35he came
00:23:36to fight
00:23:37the battles
00:23:37every child
00:23:38of humanity
00:23:38must fight
00:23:39it.
00:23:39at the
00:23:40risk of
00:23:40failure
00:23:41and eternal
00:23:42loss.
00:23:43So,
00:23:44the Deliverer
00:23:45was not
00:23:45the firstborn
00:23:46of Adam
00:23:46and Eve
00:23:46as they
00:23:47had hoped,
00:23:48but time
00:23:48passed for
00:23:4962 generations
00:23:50after 4,000
00:23:52years before
00:23:52Jesus came
00:23:53to this
00:23:53earth.
00:23:54Why so
00:23:55long?
00:23:57Well,
00:23:58we're getting
00:23:58some answers,
00:23:58aren't we?
00:24:00Here's another
00:24:00answer.
00:24:02It's from
00:24:03The Desire
00:24:04of Ages,
00:24:04page 117.
00:24:06Quote,
00:24:07for 4,000
00:24:08years the race
00:24:09had been
00:24:09decreasing
00:24:10in physical
00:24:11strength,
00:24:11in mental
00:24:12power,
00:24:13and in moral
00:24:14worth,
00:24:14and Christ
00:24:15took upon
00:24:15him the
00:24:16infirmities
00:24:17of degenerate
00:24:18humanity.
00:24:19Only thus
00:24:20could he
00:24:20rescue man
00:24:21from the
00:24:22lowest depths
00:24:24of his
00:24:24degradation.
00:24:25We're asking
00:24:26why.
00:24:27We're getting
00:24:27an answer.
00:24:30Only thus
00:24:31could he
00:24:31rescue us
00:24:34from the
00:24:35lowest depths
00:24:35of our
00:24:36degradation.
00:24:37Mankind
00:24:38had reached
00:24:39the lowest
00:24:40depth of
00:24:40sin.
00:24:41Now think
00:24:41about that.
00:24:43Here's
00:24:44another
00:24:44answer.
00:24:45Desire
00:24:46of Ages,
00:24:46page 758.
00:24:48Quote,
00:24:49not until
00:24:49the death
00:24:50of Christ
00:24:51was the
00:24:52character of
00:24:52Satan
00:24:53clearly revealed
00:24:54to the
00:24:54angels or
00:24:55to the
00:24:55unfallen
00:24:56worlds.
00:24:57What was
00:24:57that?
00:24:57Not until
00:25:00the death
00:25:01of Christ
00:25:02was the
00:25:04true character
00:25:05of Satan
00:25:06clearly
00:25:08revealed
00:25:10to all
00:25:11creation.
00:25:15She says,
00:25:16the archipostate
00:25:17had so
00:25:18clothed
00:25:19himself with
00:25:19deception
00:25:20that even
00:25:21holy beings
00:25:22had not
00:25:23understood
00:25:23his principles.
00:25:25They had
00:25:26not clearly
00:25:26seen
00:25:27the nature
00:25:28of his
00:25:30rebellion.
00:25:33These
00:25:34angels and
00:25:34those of
00:25:35the unfallen
00:25:35worlds had
00:25:36not seen
00:25:37the truth
00:25:37about Lucifer
00:25:38called
00:25:38Satan.
00:25:39So there
00:25:40still remained
00:25:40a question
00:25:41as to
00:25:43the Father's
00:25:44character
00:25:44of love.
00:25:47Why did
00:25:48God wait
00:25:49so long?
00:25:50Why another
00:25:51490 years?
00:25:56Here's
00:25:57one last
00:25:57one.
00:25:58It's
00:25:58from
00:25:58Darkness
00:25:58Before
00:25:59the
00:25:59Dawn,
00:25:59page
00:25:593.
00:26:02Quote,
00:26:02In the
00:26:03banishment
00:26:03of Satan
00:26:03from heaven,
00:26:05God declared
00:26:06his justice
00:26:07and maintained
00:26:07the honor
00:26:08of his
00:26:08throne.
00:26:09But when
00:26:10man had
00:26:11sinned
00:26:11through yielding
00:26:12to the
00:26:12deceptions
00:26:12of this
00:26:13apostate
00:26:14spirit,
00:26:14notice this,
00:26:15God gave
00:26:16an evidence
00:26:17of his
00:26:17love by
00:26:18yielding up
00:26:19his only
00:26:19begotten
00:26:20son to
00:26:20die for
00:26:21the fallen
00:26:22race.
00:26:23In the
00:26:24atonement,
00:26:26listen,
00:26:28in the
00:26:29atonement,
00:26:30the character
00:26:30of God
00:26:31is revealed.
00:26:32So we
00:26:32have a
00:26:33revealing
00:26:33of characters,
00:26:35right?
00:26:36God
00:26:37and Satan.
00:26:40In the
00:26:41atonement,
00:26:41the character
00:26:42of God
00:26:42is revealed.
00:26:43The mighty
00:26:44argument
00:26:44of the
00:26:45cross
00:26:46demonstrates
00:26:47to the
00:26:47whole
00:26:48universe,
00:26:48all creation,
00:26:49that the
00:26:50course of
00:26:50sin which
00:26:51Lucifer
00:26:52had chosen
00:26:52was in
00:26:54no wise
00:26:54chargeable
00:26:55upon the
00:26:55government
00:26:56of God.
00:26:59You see,
00:27:00friends,
00:27:01God must
00:27:02allow Satan's
00:27:02rebellion to
00:27:03run its
00:27:03length in
00:27:04order to
00:27:04reveal to
00:27:05creation that
00:27:06the course
00:27:07of sin
00:27:07that Lucifer
00:27:08had chosen
00:27:10was not
00:27:11due to
00:27:11God's
00:27:12government,
00:27:12his law,
00:27:13and his
00:27:13character.
00:27:15And it
00:27:16took 4,000
00:27:16years to
00:27:17see Satan's
00:27:18true character
00:27:19and man
00:27:20to reach
00:27:20the depth
00:27:21of degeneracy
00:27:22we read
00:27:22due to
00:27:23sin.
00:27:24God's
00:27:25character
00:27:25would be
00:27:26venegated
00:27:27by Christ.
00:27:28Sin could
00:27:29then be
00:27:29destroyed
00:27:30forever,
00:27:31never rise
00:27:31again throughout
00:27:31eternity.
00:27:33So we're
00:27:34getting some
00:27:35answers to
00:27:35the questions,
00:27:36aren't we?
00:27:37Like I said
00:27:38before,
00:27:38there's something
00:27:39deeper to
00:27:41this mercy
00:27:42and long
00:27:43suffering of
00:27:43God for
00:27:45his people
00:27:45Israel.
00:27:47The thought
00:27:48came to my
00:27:48mind,
00:27:48and maybe
00:27:49you've
00:27:49wondered it
00:27:49before,
00:27:50have you
00:27:51ever wondered
00:27:51why we
00:27:52see the
00:27:53expression,
00:27:54the God
00:27:54of Abraham,
00:27:55Isaac,
00:27:55and Jacob?
00:27:56It's repeated
00:27:57throughout the
00:27:58Old Testament.
00:27:58Have you ever
00:27:59wondered about
00:27:59that?
00:28:00Why do they
00:28:00lump the three
00:28:01together?
00:28:01What is that
00:28:01all about?
00:28:03Well, one
00:28:03reason is that
00:28:04God had made
00:28:04a covenant
00:28:05promise to
00:28:06these men
00:28:07because of
00:28:08their faith
00:28:08and obedience
00:28:09and God
00:28:10keeps his
00:28:10promises.
00:28:13And so
00:28:14due to
00:28:14his
00:28:15wrestling
00:28:16with Jesus
00:28:17there at
00:28:18the Brook
00:28:18Jabbok,
00:28:20Jacob's
00:28:20name was
00:28:20changed to
00:28:21Israel and
00:28:22it became
00:28:22the name
00:28:22of God's
00:28:23covenant
00:28:23people,
00:28:24you remember,
00:28:25before he
00:28:26was going
00:28:26to meet
00:28:26Esau.
00:28:27He wrestled
00:28:28with God
00:28:30and God
00:28:31said,
00:28:32what is
00:28:32your name?
00:28:33But Jacob
00:28:34wouldn't let
00:28:35go of him
00:28:35unless God
00:28:36blessed him,
00:28:37right?
00:28:38And so
00:28:39it will still
00:28:40be Israel
00:28:41that fulfills
00:28:42God's will
00:28:43before
00:28:44Jesus
00:28:45returns.
00:28:45It's
00:28:46either
00:28:46ancient
00:28:47and
00:28:47literal
00:28:47or
00:28:48spiritual
00:28:51due to
00:28:52his
00:28:52promises.
00:28:53Who's
00:28:53going to
00:28:53keep it?
00:28:54It's
00:28:54going to
00:28:54be one
00:28:55or the
00:28:55other,
00:28:55right?
00:28:57Now,
00:28:57I've
00:28:58preached
00:28:58upon this
00:28:59topic
00:28:59many
00:28:59times
00:29:00and
00:29:00we'll
00:29:01see it
00:29:01more
00:29:02clearly
00:29:02when we
00:29:04get back
00:29:06or get
00:29:07into the
00:29:07book of
00:29:08Revelation.
00:29:09But the
00:29:09Lord has
00:29:09been seeking
00:29:10to develop
00:29:11a kingdom
00:29:11of priests
00:29:12in a
00:29:13generation
00:29:13of mankind.
00:29:15Why has
00:29:15he been
00:29:16trying to
00:29:16do that?
00:29:17Come on,
00:29:18let's put
00:29:18our thinking
00:29:19caps on.
00:29:20All these
00:29:21things.
00:29:21Why did
00:29:21God wait
00:29:21so long?
00:29:22Why did
00:29:22we get
00:29:23some answers
00:29:24here?
00:29:25And the
00:29:26question is,
00:29:26God's been
00:29:27seeking,
00:29:27why has
00:29:28God been
00:29:28seeking to
00:29:29develop a
00:29:30kingdom of
00:29:31priests in a
00:29:32generation of
00:29:32mankind?
00:29:33mind?
00:29:34Well,
00:29:35let's go
00:29:35back to
00:29:36Mount Sinai
00:29:37when Israel
00:29:38first arrived
00:29:39there from
00:29:40being delivered
00:29:40from Egypt.
00:29:42Moses goes
00:29:43up the
00:29:43mount to
00:29:44meet with
00:29:44God.
00:29:45Exodus 19
00:29:46verses 5
00:29:46and 6
00:29:47it says,
00:29:47Now therefore,
00:29:48this is the
00:29:49Lord speaking
00:29:49to Moses,
00:29:50he says,
00:29:50If ye
00:29:51will obey
00:29:52my voice
00:29:53indeed,
00:29:54and keep
00:29:55my covenant,
00:29:56then ye
00:29:57shall be a
00:29:57peculiar
00:29:58treasure,
00:29:59he says,
00:30:00unto me above
00:30:00all people,
00:30:01for all the
00:30:02earth is
00:30:02mine.
00:30:03And ye
00:30:03shall be
00:30:04unto me
00:30:04a kingdom
00:30:05of priests
00:30:06and an
00:30:07holy nation,
00:30:09he says.
00:30:10These are
00:30:10the words
00:30:11which thou
00:30:11shalt speak
00:30:12unto the
00:30:12children of
00:30:13Israel.
00:30:14And so,
00:30:15according to
00:30:16the divine
00:30:18plan and
00:30:19purpose,
00:30:19the Israelites
00:30:20were to be
00:30:20both a
00:30:21royal and
00:30:22a priestly
00:30:22race.
00:30:24In an evil
00:30:25world,
00:30:26they were to
00:30:26be kings,
00:30:28moral and
00:30:28spiritual,
00:30:29in that they
00:30:30were to prevail
00:30:30over the
00:30:31realm of
00:30:31sin.
00:30:33Revelation
00:30:3321 and
00:30:34verse 7
00:30:34says,
00:30:35He that
00:30:35overcometh
00:30:36shall inherit
00:30:37all things,
00:30:37and I will
00:30:38be his
00:30:39God,
00:30:39and he
00:30:39shall be
00:30:40my son.
00:30:41This is
00:30:41what this
00:30:42is about.
00:30:46As
00:30:46priests,
00:30:48they were to
00:30:49draw near to
00:30:49the Lord in
00:30:50prayer,
00:30:50and in
00:30:50praise,
00:30:51and in
00:30:51sacrifice.
00:30:52And as
00:30:56intermediaries
00:30:57between God
00:30:58and the
00:30:58heathen,
00:30:58they were to
00:30:59serve as
00:30:59instructors and
00:31:00preachers and
00:31:01prophets and
00:31:02were to be
00:31:02examples of
00:31:04holy living,
00:31:05which is
00:31:06heaven's model
00:31:07of true
00:31:08religion.
00:31:09They were to
00:31:09be teaching
00:31:10all how to
00:31:10be a citizen
00:31:11in God's
00:31:12kingdom.
00:31:13They were to
00:31:13be representatives
00:31:14of Jesus
00:31:15Christ.
00:31:19And in
00:31:20God's coming
00:31:21kingdom,
00:31:21he has a
00:31:22royal place
00:31:23for his
00:31:23royal children.
00:31:26As people
00:31:27consecrated to
00:31:28God's service,
00:31:29they were to
00:31:29be unlike
00:31:30all the
00:31:31other nations.
00:31:32This was to
00:31:33be manifested
00:31:34outwardly by
00:31:35circumcision,
00:31:36you read about
00:31:36in Genesis 17,
00:31:37and inwardly by
00:31:39godliness,
00:31:402 Corinthians 7,
00:31:421 Peter 2,
00:31:43and many more.
00:31:44A holy
00:31:45people demands
00:31:46a holy place,
00:31:47right?
00:31:48Matthew 5,
00:31:481 Peter 1.
00:31:52So,
00:31:53literal Israel
00:31:54was given
00:31:54more time.
00:31:58490 years
00:31:59more,
00:32:00as we see
00:32:00in Daniel 9,
00:32:02to become
00:32:03that nation
00:32:03of priests.
00:32:06Question,
00:32:07will ancient,
00:32:08literal Israel
00:32:09succeed?
00:32:11Well,
00:32:12we know that
00:32:12Israel does
00:32:13succeed,
00:32:13as we see
00:32:14in Revelation 7.
00:32:15Let's look at
00:32:16verses 2-4.
00:32:18John says,
00:32:18I saw another
00:32:19angel ascending
00:32:20from the east,
00:32:21having the seal
00:32:22of the living
00:32:22God.
00:32:23And he cried
00:32:24with a loud
00:32:25voice to the
00:32:25four angels,
00:32:26to whom it
00:32:26was given
00:32:27to hurt
00:32:27the earth
00:32:27and the sea,
00:32:28saying,
00:32:29Hurt not
00:32:30the earth,
00:32:30neither the
00:32:31sea,
00:32:32nor the
00:32:32trees,
00:32:33till we
00:32:33have sealed
00:32:34the servants
00:32:35of our
00:32:35God in
00:32:36their foreheads.
00:32:38Verse 4,
00:32:39And I heard
00:32:39the number
00:32:40of them
00:32:40which were
00:32:40sealed,
00:32:41and there
00:32:41were sealed
00:32:42144,000
00:32:43of all the
00:32:44tribes of
00:32:45the children
00:32:45of who?
00:32:46Israel.
00:32:49But the
00:32:49question is,
00:32:50we look at
00:32:51this,
00:32:53is the
00:32:53Israel that
00:32:54is spoken
00:32:55of here
00:32:56ancient,
00:32:57literal,
00:32:57or spiritual?
00:32:59What have
00:33:00we been
00:33:00finding out
00:33:01through our
00:33:01whole series
00:33:01of studies
00:33:03about Israel?
00:33:06Just think
00:33:07about that
00:33:08for a little
00:33:08bit.
00:33:10But that's
00:33:11a good
00:33:11question,
00:33:12isn't it?
00:33:14And so,
00:33:14I want to
00:33:15take a look,
00:33:15take a look
00:33:16at the three
00:33:16stages of
00:33:17the history
00:33:18of Israel
00:33:18to get a
00:33:18better idea
00:33:19about Daniel
00:33:199,
00:33:20and the
00:33:21490 years
00:33:22God gave
00:33:22to them
00:33:23to become
00:33:23his holy
00:33:24nation,
00:33:25his nation
00:33:27of priests,
00:33:28and see how
00:33:28this fits
00:33:29with Revelation
00:33:297.
00:33:31So,
00:33:32there's three
00:33:32stages in
00:33:34Israel's history
00:33:35we'll look at.
00:33:36Stage one,
00:33:37it's from
00:33:371445 B.C.,
00:33:39from Sinai,
00:33:41we'll go from
00:33:41Sinai to
00:33:42the captivity.
00:33:43We're going
00:33:44to look at
00:33:44Exodus 19,
00:33:47we'll start
00:33:47there,
00:33:48and look at
00:33:49verses 1
00:33:50through 6,
00:33:50Exodus 19,
00:33:52verses 1
00:33:53through 6.
00:33:54God made a
00:33:55covenant with
00:33:56Israel at
00:33:56Mount Sinai.
00:33:57It says,
00:33:58In the third
00:33:59month,
00:33:59when the
00:33:59children of
00:34:00Israel were
00:34:00gone forth
00:34:01out of the
00:34:01land of
00:34:01Egypt,
00:34:02the same
00:34:02day came
00:34:03they into
00:34:04the wilderness
00:34:04of Sinai.
00:34:05For they
00:34:06were departed
00:34:07from Rephidim
00:34:08and were come
00:34:09to the desert
00:34:09of Sinai,
00:34:10and had pitched
00:34:11in the wilderness,
00:34:13and there Israel
00:34:13camped before
00:34:14the mount.
00:34:15And Moses
00:34:15went up unto
00:34:16God,
00:34:17and the
00:34:17Lord called
00:34:17unto him
00:34:18out of the
00:34:18mountain,
00:34:19saying,
00:34:19Thus shalt thou
00:34:20say to the
00:34:20house of
00:34:21Jacob,
00:34:21and tell the
00:34:22children of
00:34:22Israel,
00:34:23Ye have seen
00:34:24what I did
00:34:25unto the
00:34:25Egyptians,
00:34:26and how I
00:34:27bear you on
00:34:28eagles' wings,
00:34:29and brought you
00:34:30unto myself.
00:34:31Verse 5,
00:34:32Now therefore,
00:34:33and I touched
00:34:34on this before,
00:34:35read this before,
00:34:36If ye will
00:34:37obey my voice
00:34:38indeed,
00:34:38and keep my
00:34:39covenant,
00:34:40then ye shall
00:34:40be a peculiar
00:34:41treasure unto me
00:34:42above all people,
00:34:44for all the
00:34:44earth is mine.
00:34:46And ye shall
00:34:47be unto me
00:34:48a kingdom of
00:34:49priests,
00:34:49and a holy
00:34:50nation.
00:34:50These are the
00:34:51words which thou
00:34:52shalt speak unto
00:34:53the children of
00:34:55Israel.
00:34:57Alright,
00:34:58so there we get it.
00:34:59God lays it out.
00:35:01And in Exodus
00:35:0219,
00:35:03verses 7 and
00:35:048,
00:35:04Israel responds
00:35:06by promising to
00:35:07obey God's voice,
00:35:08right?
00:35:09Let's read it.
00:35:10And Moses came
00:35:11and called for the
00:35:12elders of the
00:35:12people,
00:35:12and laid before
00:35:13their faces all
00:35:14these words
00:35:15which the
00:35:15Lord commanded
00:35:17him.
00:35:17And all the
00:35:18people answered
00:35:19together and
00:35:20said,
00:35:20All that the
00:35:21Lord has spoken
00:35:22we will do.
00:35:24And Moses
00:35:24returned the
00:35:25words of the
00:35:25people unto
00:35:26the Lord.
00:35:28And as you
00:35:29go on in
00:35:29Exodus 40,
00:35:30verse 34,
00:35:32the Shekinah
00:35:33enters the
00:35:33tabernacle in
00:35:34the wilderness,
00:35:35and God dwells
00:35:36with Israel.
00:35:38Exodus 40,
00:35:39verse 34,
00:35:40Then the
00:35:41cloud covered
00:35:42the tabernacle
00:35:43of meeting,
00:35:43and the
00:35:44glory of
00:35:45the Lord
00:35:46filled the
00:35:47tabernacle.
00:35:49Exodus 40,
00:35:50verse 34.
00:35:52You start
00:35:53to see a
00:35:54pattern.
00:35:55Remember when
00:35:55we started in
00:35:56our series of
00:35:58studying these
00:35:59prophecies in the
00:36:00book of Daniel,
00:36:00I said we need
00:36:01to keep our
00:36:01eyes open to
00:36:02patterns.
00:36:03And here I'm
00:36:04going through the
00:36:05history of Israel
00:36:06and you start to
00:36:07see, you'll see
00:36:07patterns.
00:36:08Just keep your
00:36:09eye open for
00:36:10patterns.
00:36:11I'll just put it
00:36:12that way.
00:36:13Then you have
00:36:13Solomon's temple.
00:36:15Around the year
00:36:16960 BC, a more
00:36:17permanent house was
00:36:18built for the
00:36:19Lord.
00:36:20Solomon built the
00:36:21temple in the
00:36:21city of Jerusalem,
00:36:23and God came to
00:36:24dwell among his
00:36:24people in the
00:36:26Jerusalem temple.
00:36:281 Kings 8,
00:36:29verses 10 and
00:36:3011.
00:36:31The Shekinah
00:36:32enters the temple
00:36:33in the days of
00:36:34Solomon.
00:36:35See the pattern?
00:36:36And it says,
00:36:37And it came to
00:36:38pass when the
00:36:39priests were come
00:36:40out of the holy
00:36:41place that the
00:36:41cloud filled the
00:36:42house of the
00:36:43Lord, verse 11,
00:36:45so that the
00:36:45priests could not
00:36:46stand to minister
00:36:47because of the
00:36:48cloud, for the
00:36:49glory of the
00:36:50Lord had filled
00:36:51the house of the
00:36:53Lord.
00:36:54See the pattern?
00:36:57And then what
00:36:58happens?
00:37:00Well, Israel has
00:37:01800 years of
00:37:02rebellion.
00:37:04second Chronicles
00:37:0536, verses 14
00:37:08to 16.
00:37:09Israel was
00:37:10rebellious for a
00:37:11period of 800
00:37:12years, even
00:37:13though God sent
00:37:13messengers day
00:37:14and night to
00:37:15them.
00:37:16The messengers
00:37:20were prophets
00:37:21such as Jeremiah.
00:37:23You know, we saw
00:37:24that in Daniel 9.
00:37:26Daniel goes to the
00:37:28book of Jeremiah to
00:37:29find out about the
00:37:30time prophecy.
00:37:32But let's read
00:37:332 Chronicles 36,
00:37:34verse 14.
00:37:36Start there.
00:37:37Moreover, all the
00:37:38chief of the
00:37:38priests and the
00:37:39people transgressed
00:37:40very much after all
00:37:42the abominations of
00:37:43the heathen, and
00:37:44polluted the house
00:37:45of the Lord, which
00:37:45he had hallowed in
00:37:46Jerusalem.
00:37:47And the Lord God
00:37:48of their fathers
00:37:49sent to them by his
00:37:50messengers, rising
00:37:51up betimes and
00:37:53sending, because he
00:37:54had compassion on
00:37:55his people and on
00:37:58his dwelling place.
00:37:58But they mocked the
00:38:00messengers of God,
00:38:02despised his words,
00:38:04misused his prophets,
00:38:05until the wrath of
00:38:07the Lord arose
00:38:07against his people,
00:38:08till there was no
00:38:10remedy.
00:38:13Ezekiel 16,
00:38:14verse 15, is a
00:38:15graphic description
00:38:16of the apostasy of
00:38:17Israel.
00:38:18It says, but you
00:38:19trusted in your own
00:38:21beauty.
00:38:21You plagued the
00:38:23harlot.
00:38:23Isn't that
00:38:24interesting?
00:38:26Isn't Babylon
00:38:27fallen, described as
00:38:29a harlot?
00:38:30Put that in the back
00:38:32of your mind.
00:38:34You plagued the
00:38:35harlot because of
00:38:36your fame, and
00:38:38poured out your
00:38:39harlotry on everyone
00:38:40passing by who would
00:38:41have it.
00:38:45So we see, there's a
00:38:47pattern being repeated
00:38:48and stuff.
00:38:48Jerusalem is then
00:38:49judged, 592 B.C.
00:38:53Go to Ezekiel 1,
00:38:54verse 4.
00:38:55God comes from the
00:38:56north to judge
00:38:59Jerusalem for the
00:39:00abominations, and
00:39:01that's a key word.
00:39:03But he's judging them
00:39:04for the abominations
00:39:04that are being
00:39:05committed in the
00:39:06city.
00:39:07Let's read it.
00:39:08Quote, then I
00:39:08looked and behold, a
00:39:09whirlwind was coming
00:39:10out of the north, a
00:39:11great cloud with
00:39:12raging fire engulfing
00:39:14itself, and
00:39:16brightness was all
00:39:17around it, and
00:39:18radiating out of its
00:39:19midst like the
00:39:20color of amber, out
00:39:21of the midst of the
00:39:22fire.
00:39:25You see, it's these
00:39:26abominations that
00:39:27would lead to
00:39:28desolation.
00:39:31The word
00:39:34desolation, it
00:39:35means the end of
00:39:36ordered society, both
00:39:37political and
00:39:38religiously, as
00:39:39well as the
00:39:39destruction of the
00:39:40city.
00:39:43And so, if you
00:39:44think about it, the
00:39:45reversal of the
00:39:46desolation would not
00:39:47only be to build the
00:39:48physical city, but to
00:39:49reestablish its
00:39:50political and religious
00:39:51institutions.
00:39:52Isn't that right?
00:39:53Do we see that ever
00:39:54happen?
00:39:55We'll get to that.
00:39:58Ezekiel 9, verses 1
00:40:00through 6.
00:40:02The righteous are
00:40:03separated from the
00:40:04wicked in the
00:40:05temple.
00:40:07Quote, he cried also in
00:40:08mine ears with a loud
00:40:09voice, saying,
00:40:10Cause them that have
00:40:11charge over the city
00:40:12to draw near, even
00:40:14every man with his
00:40:15destroying weapon in
00:40:17his hand.
00:40:17And behold, six men
00:40:19came from the way of
00:40:20the higher gate, which
00:40:20lies toward the north.
00:40:22And every man a
00:40:23slaughter weapon in
00:40:24his hand.
00:40:24And one man among
00:40:25them was clothed with
00:40:26linen, with a
00:40:27rider's ink cord by
00:40:29his side.
00:40:30And they went in, and
00:40:31they stood beside the
00:40:32brazen altar.
00:40:33That's in the
00:40:33courtyard.
00:40:35It's in the earth,
00:40:36right?
00:40:37And the glory of God
00:40:38of Israel was gone up
00:40:39from the cherub, where
00:40:40upon he was, to the
00:40:42threshold of the
00:40:42house.
00:40:43And he called to the
00:40:44man clothed with
00:40:45linen, which had the
00:40:46rider's ink corn by
00:40:47his side.
00:40:47And the Lord said unto
00:40:49him, Go through the
00:40:49midst of the city,
00:40:50through the midst of
00:40:51Jerusalem, and set a
00:40:53mark upon the
00:40:53foreheads of the men
00:40:57that sign and that
00:40:58cry for all the
00:40:59abominations.
00:41:00There's a key word
00:41:02again, the
00:41:02abominations, that be
00:41:04done in the midst
00:41:04thereof.
00:41:05Verse 5, And to
00:41:06the others he said
00:41:07in mine hearing, go
00:41:08ye after him, through
00:41:10the city, and smite.
00:41:12Let not your eyes
00:41:13spare, neither have
00:41:14ye pity.
00:41:15Verse 6, Slay
00:41:16utterly old and
00:41:17young, both maids
00:41:18and little children
00:41:19and women, but come
00:41:21not near any man
00:41:22upon whom is the
00:41:23mark, that's God's
00:41:24mark, and begin at
00:41:26my sanctuary.
00:41:27Then they began at
00:41:28the ancient men
00:41:29which were before
00:41:29the house.
00:41:30End quote.
00:41:32So we see the
00:41:35abominations lead to
00:41:37desolation here.
00:41:38And then we see
00:41:40that the Shekinah
00:41:41departs.
00:41:43When the judgment
00:41:44separation is
00:41:45finished, the Shekinah
00:41:46glory departs from
00:41:47the temple, and it
00:41:48lingers at the east
00:41:50gate of the temple.
00:41:53Are things starting
00:41:54to click in your mind?
00:41:55I hope they are.
00:41:56Ezekiel 10, verse 19.
00:41:59Quote, And the
00:42:00children lifted their
00:42:01wings and mounted
00:42:02up from the earth
00:42:02in my sight.
00:42:03When they went out,
00:42:04the wheels were
00:42:05beside them, and
00:42:06they stood at the
00:42:07door of the east
00:42:08gate of the Lord's
00:42:09house.
00:42:10And the glory of
00:42:12the God of Israel
00:42:14was above them.
00:42:17So the Shekinah
00:42:18departs.
00:42:20But he tarries
00:42:21there at the
00:42:23east gate,
00:42:24lingers at the
00:42:25east gate.
00:42:27Ezekiel 11,
00:42:28verses 22 to 23.
00:42:30We read that the
00:42:31Shekinah then
00:42:32leaves the temple
00:42:32and the city and
00:42:34lingers on the
00:42:35Mount of Olives
00:42:36and then leaves.
00:42:38The city and
00:42:39temple are now
00:42:39desolate because of
00:42:40the abominations.
00:42:41And this is the
00:42:42abomination of
00:42:43desolation.
00:42:44Ezekiel 11,
00:42:45verse 22.
00:42:46Then did the
00:42:47cherubims lift up
00:42:48their wings and
00:42:49the wheels beside
00:42:49them, and the
00:42:50glory of God of
00:42:50Israel was over
00:42:51them above.
00:42:52And the glory of
00:42:53the Lord went up
00:42:54from the midst of
00:42:54the city and stood
00:42:55upon the mountain,
00:42:57which is on the
00:42:58east side of the
00:43:00city.
00:43:01You see, step by
00:43:02step, and there's a
00:43:05pattern here.
00:43:06Then you have the
00:43:06desolation of
00:43:07Jerusalem.
00:43:082 Chronicles 36.
00:43:11The desolation of
00:43:12Jerusalem comes when
00:43:14the temple, the city,
00:43:15and the walls are
00:43:16destroyed by
00:43:16Nebuchadnezzar.
00:43:18Familiar name,
00:43:19right?
00:43:19Jerusalem has ceased
00:43:21to function as a
00:43:22religious and
00:43:23political entity.
00:43:242 Chronicles 36,
00:43:26verse 17.
00:43:27Therefore he brought
00:43:28upon them the king
00:43:29of the Chaldees,
00:43:30who slew their
00:43:31young men with the
00:43:32sword in the house
00:43:33of their sanctuary,
00:43:34and had no compassion
00:43:36upon young man or
00:43:36maiden, old man or
00:43:38him that stooped for
00:43:39age.
00:43:40He gave them all into
00:43:41his hand.
00:43:42Verse 18.
00:43:42And all the vessels of
00:43:44the house of God,
00:43:45great and small, and the
00:43:45treasures of the house
00:43:46of the Lord, and the
00:43:48treasures of the king,
00:43:49and of his princes, all
00:43:50these he brought to
00:43:51Babylon.
00:43:53Verse 19.
00:43:55And they burnt the
00:43:56house of God, and
00:43:57break down the wall of
00:43:58Jerusalem, and burnt
00:43:59all the palaces thereof
00:44:00with fire, and destroyed
00:44:02all the godly vessels
00:44:04thereof, and them that
00:44:05had escaped from the
00:44:06sword carried he away
00:44:07to Babylon, where they
00:44:09were servants to him
00:44:10and his sons.
00:44:13But this was not the
00:44:15end of the theocracy.
00:44:17After the 70 years, the
00:44:19Jewish nation would
00:44:20receive a second chance.
00:44:22And so it goes on and
00:44:23says, and his sons,
00:44:24until the reign of the
00:44:25kingdom of Persia, to
00:44:27fulfill the word of the
00:44:28Lord by the mouth of
00:44:29Jeremiah, until the land
00:44:30had enjoyed her
00:44:31Sabbaths, for as long as
00:44:33she lay desolate, she
00:44:34kept Sabbath, to fulfill
00:44:37threescore and ten years,
00:44:38the 70-year prophecy.
00:44:42Now, that encompasses
00:44:43stage one of Israel's
00:44:46history from Sinai to
00:44:47the captivity, and we
00:44:49see a pattern.
00:44:52I hope you're seeing a
00:44:53pattern from everything
00:44:55else we've studied.
00:44:56Here's stage two.
00:44:58This is the period of the
00:45:0070-week prophecy.
00:45:06Excuse me.
00:45:08This is the period of the
00:45:1070-week prophecy.
00:45:13In 2 Chronicles 36,
00:45:16verses 22 to 23,
00:45:19Israel is restored to
00:45:20their land after the
00:45:2170 years.
00:45:22The temple, the city,
00:45:24the walls that are
00:45:25rebuilt, their political
00:45:27and religious institutions
00:45:29begin to function again.
00:45:31They are now given a
00:45:32second chance, right?
00:45:35Notice what it says here.
00:45:372 Chronicles 36, verse 22.
00:45:40Now, in the first year of
00:45:41Cyrus, king of Persia,
00:45:45it's 536 B.C.
00:45:48And remember, Daniel thought,
00:45:49hey, in a couple years,
00:45:50we're going to be heading
00:45:51back home, and then he
00:45:52gets this vision about
00:45:53another 490 years, right?
00:45:55In the 2300-year prophecy.
00:45:58And so, now in the first
00:46:00year of Cyrus, king of
00:46:01Persia, that the word of
00:46:06the Lord spoken by the
00:46:07mouth of Jeremiah might be
00:46:09accomplished, the Lord
00:46:10stirred up the spirit of
00:46:12Cyrus, king of Persia,
00:46:13that he made a
00:46:14proclamation throughout
00:46:15all his kingdom, and put
00:46:17it also in writing, saying,
00:46:18Thus saith Cyrus, king of
00:46:20Persia, all the kingdoms
00:46:22of the earth hath the
00:46:23Lord God of heaven given
00:46:24me, and he hath charged
00:46:26me to build him and
00:46:27a house in Jerusalem,
00:46:28which is in Judah.
00:46:30Who is there among you,
00:46:32all of his people?
00:46:33Who is there among all
00:46:34of his people?
00:46:35The Lord, his God, be with
00:46:38him, and let him go up.
00:46:40And so, we see here, God
00:46:44comes to Cyrus, they're
00:46:45going to restore it, right?
00:46:46At the end of the 70
00:46:47years.
00:46:48Then the temple is
00:46:49finished.
00:46:51Haggai chapter 2, verses
00:46:542 and 3.
00:46:55This post-exilic temple
00:46:57did not have the glory of
00:46:59the temple that was built
00:47:00by Solomon.
00:47:02In fact, the Shekinah did
00:47:04not enter this temple when
00:47:05it was finished.
00:47:08Put that in your mind.
00:47:10It says,
00:47:11Speak now to
00:47:12Zerubbabel, the son of
00:47:13Shelteel, governor of
00:47:15Judah, and to Joshua, the
00:47:16son of Josedek, the high
00:47:18priest, and to the residue
00:47:19of the people, saying,
00:47:20Who is left among you that
00:47:22saw this house in her first
00:47:23glory?
00:47:25And how do you see it
00:47:27now?
00:47:28It is not in your eyes in
00:47:30comparison of it as
00:47:32nothing.
00:47:33It didn't compare.
00:47:36Yet, prophecy predicted that
00:47:37this latter temple, and this is
00:47:39the point I'm making.
00:47:40Pay attention to this.
00:47:42Prophecy predicts that this
00:47:44latter temple would far
00:47:45surpass the glory of the
00:47:46temple that was built by
00:47:48Solomon, right?
00:47:50The Jews are still, even
00:47:52today, friends, trying to
00:47:55understand this prophecy,
00:47:56because the temple was
00:47:58never physically as
00:47:59glorious as Solomon's.
00:48:02Haggai 2, verse 6, says,
00:48:05For thus saith the Lord of
00:48:06hosts, yet once, it is a
00:48:09little while, and I will
00:48:10shake the heavens and the
00:48:11earth and the sea and the
00:48:13dry land, verse 7, and I
00:48:15will shake all nations, and
00:48:17the desire of all nations
00:48:19shall come.
00:48:25And that book, The Desire of
00:48:26Ages, who's that talking
00:48:27about?
00:48:28Who's being spoken of here?
00:48:31Think about it.
00:48:32And the desire of all
00:48:34nations shall come.
00:48:36And I will fill this house
00:48:38with glory, saith the Lord
00:48:39of hosts.
00:48:40The silver is mine, and the
00:48:41gold is mine, saith the
00:48:43Lord of hosts.
00:48:44The glory of this latter
00:48:45house shall be greater than
00:48:47the former, saith the Lord
00:48:49of hosts.
00:48:49And in this place will I
00:48:51give peace.
00:48:54Pay attention to that word.
00:48:55I will give peace, saith the
00:48:57Lord of hosts.
00:48:58And so during the period of
00:49:00the 70 weeks, God sent many
00:49:03additional messengers to
00:49:04Israel.
00:49:05Men like Haggai here, Zechariah,
00:49:09Joshua, Zerubbabel, Ezra,
00:49:12Nehemiah, Malachi, finally
00:49:16John the Baptist.
00:49:17Yet when Jesus came, the
00:49:19leaders of the Jewish nation
00:49:21were oblivious to his
00:49:22mission.
00:49:23They did not really
00:49:25understand why they existed,
00:49:27and so they rejected the
00:49:29Messiah.
00:49:30That's the end of stage
00:49:31two.
00:49:31Now to stage three.
00:49:33This is the last week of the
00:49:3670 week prophecy.
00:49:37This is the week that all the
00:49:39futurists take and tear apart
00:49:42out of the 2,300 years, and
00:49:46here the 490 years, and they
00:49:48throw it way in the future
00:49:50sometime.
00:49:53That's umbilical, by the way.
00:49:54You don't do that.
00:49:55You can't do that.
00:49:56Messes everything up.
00:49:59But this here, stage three,
00:50:01it's the last week of the
00:50:0270 week prophecy.
00:50:03John chapter 1 and verse 14
00:50:05actually fulfills the
00:50:06prophecy of Haggai.
00:50:07See if you pick it up.
00:50:09John 1 verse 14,
00:50:10And the word was made
00:50:11flesh and dwelt among us,
00:50:15and we beheld his glory,
00:50:16the glory as of the only
00:50:18begotten of the Father,
00:50:19full of grace and truth.
00:50:21Remember, the Shekinah came
00:50:23in, that cloud came in,
00:50:24the glory of God was in the
00:50:25temple, and the temple was
00:50:28rebuilt, and Shekinah didn't
00:50:30go in there.
00:50:32John 1 verse 14 says,
00:50:34The word was made flesh and
00:50:36dwelt among us.
00:50:40We beheld his glory, the glory as
00:50:42of the only begotten of the
00:50:43Father, full of grace and truth.
00:50:46The word dwelt there means
00:50:49tabernacled, or dwelt in a tent.
00:50:53It brings to mind, really,
00:50:55Exodus 25 and verse 8,
00:50:56remember where God says that
00:50:57Israel should build him a
00:50:59sanctuary, that he may dwell
00:51:01among them.
00:51:04In fact, there are three common
00:51:08words between Exodus 25, 8 and
00:51:10John 1 verse 14 here.
00:51:15The words tent, dwell, and among.
00:51:18And also later, the later glory of
00:51:20the Lord filled the tabernacle.
00:51:23That's Exodus 40.
00:51:27But in Luke 12, the Jews, you
00:51:31know, the Jews loved to
00:51:31reminisce about how great Solomon
00:51:33and his temple were, right?
00:51:35They would always bring it up.
00:51:37And their temple wasn't as good
00:51:39as Solomon's, right?
00:51:40We've read it.
00:51:41So they would always bring up
00:51:43Solomon's temple.
00:51:48But Jesus said, in Luke 12, verse 27,
00:51:53he said, consider the lilies how
00:51:54they grow.
00:51:55They toil not, they spin not.
00:51:57And yet I say unto you that Solomon
00:52:00in all his glory was not arrayed like
00:52:03one of these.
00:52:04If then God so clothed the grass which
00:52:07is to today in the field and tomorrow is
00:52:09cast into the oven, how much more will he
00:52:11clothe you, O ye of little faith?
00:52:15And it's interesting that in the
00:52:17parallel passage in Matthew 12, verse 42,
00:52:20what Jesus said about himself, he said,
00:52:24one greater than Solomon is here.
00:52:27Are you starting to piece it together?
00:52:31Father, who filled the temple, right?
00:52:35Several times during his ministry,
00:52:38Jesus taught in the temple courts.
00:52:40But he was opposed tooth and nail
00:52:42by the religious leaders, wasn't he?
00:52:45And so now we move to the end of Jesus's
00:52:48ministry.
00:52:49Luke 19, Jesus descends towards the temple
00:52:53from the Mount of Olives and he enters
00:52:54the city by way of the golden gate.
00:52:57Verse 37, and when he was come nigh,
00:53:00even now at the descent of the Mount
00:53:02of Olives, the whole multitude of the
00:53:05disciples began to rejoice and praise
00:53:07God with a loud voice for all the mighty
00:53:10works that they had seen, saying,
00:53:13Blessed be the King that cometh in the
00:53:16name of the Lord.
00:53:18Peace.
00:53:20Very same word that was used in Haggai.
00:53:23Peace in heaven and glory in the
00:53:25highest.
00:53:29Then we go to Luke 19.
00:53:35Verse 47 and 48, the religious leaders
00:53:38tried to destroy him.
00:53:42Verse 47, and he taught daily in the
00:53:45temple, but the chief priests and the
00:53:47scribes and the chief of the people
00:53:48sought to destroy him and could not find
00:53:52what they might do for all the people
00:53:55were very attentive to hear him.
00:53:59We see Jesus is the one who fills the
00:54:03temple and is more glorious than the
00:54:04temple of Solomon.
00:54:05Are you starting to see it?
00:54:07These patterns?
00:54:08And our questions were, why did God give
00:54:10him another 490 years?
00:54:11And we're finding answers to that
00:54:13questions.
00:54:15And so we get to Matthew 21 and we're
00:54:18told that Jesus entered the temple of
00:54:22God and called the temple my house.
00:54:25Right?
00:54:26And I brought this up before.
00:54:28Verse 12, and Jesus went into the temple
00:54:30of God and cast out all them that sold and
00:54:33bought in the temple over through the tables
00:54:35of the money changers and the seats of them
00:54:38that sold doves.
00:54:40And he said unto them, it is written, my house
00:54:43shall be called the house of prayer, but ye
00:54:46have made it a den of thieves.
00:54:49And so for three chapters, Matthew's chapter
00:54:5521, 22, and 23, Jesus, the Shekinah in
00:55:00person, friends, now teaches in the temple.
00:55:05And you know what his main theme was?
00:55:07What was his main theme?
00:55:09What is our main theme today?
00:55:12His main theme was to discuss the history
00:55:14and rebellion of Israel and its result.
00:55:17And how does he do that?
00:55:19He does it through a series of three parables.
00:55:25Three parables.
00:55:27Parable of the fig tree, the parable of the
00:55:30vineyard, and the parable of the great banquet.
00:55:36Now, there are a few things to consider before
00:55:39we take a look at the first parable, the fig tree.
00:55:43These are things we just put in the back of your
00:55:45mind, consider these things.
00:55:47John the Baptist said that every tree that did
00:55:50not bear fruit would be what?
00:55:52Not just cut down, but thrown into the fire.
00:55:57In Luke 13, verses 6 through 9, three years have
00:56:01passed since John the Baptist began his preaching
00:56:03about the tree, and it has not yet borne fruit.
00:56:06But the command is given to allow it to remain
00:56:09for another year.
00:56:10You remember that?
00:56:11To see if it would bear fruit.
00:56:14And another thing to keep in mind is that a year
00:56:18later, Jesus sees this fig tree that has no fruit.
00:56:24And so, Matthew 21, verses 18 and 19, let's look at
00:56:28that.
00:56:29This is the fig tree episode.
00:56:33It says,
00:56:34Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he
00:56:36hungered.
00:56:37And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came
00:56:40to it, and found nothing thereon but leaves only.
00:56:45And said to it, let no fruit grow on thee, henceforward
00:56:49forever.
00:56:51And presently the fig tree withered away.
00:56:56Now notice the words of Jesus in Matthew 24,
00:57:01beginning with verse 32.
00:57:04He says,
00:57:05Now learn a parable of the fig tree.
00:57:07When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves,
00:57:11ye know that summer is nigh.
00:57:13So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things,
00:57:17know that it is near even at the doors.
00:57:19Verily I say unto you,
00:57:21This generation shall not pass till all these things
00:57:24be fulfilled.
00:57:26Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall
00:57:28not pass away.
00:57:30Now, I want you to think about those two scriptures
00:57:35that I shared with you, from Matthew 21 and Matthew 24.
00:57:38Therefore, because the dispensationalists,
00:57:47they say that the fig tree here is a symbol of Israel,
00:57:52okay, right?
00:57:54And the budding is a prophecy concerning the reestablishment
00:57:57of Israel as a nation in 1948.
00:58:00That's what they do.
00:58:02Friends, are we not seeing a big, you know,
00:58:05a political push today proclaiming that Israel
00:58:08and Christianity are biblically bound together
00:58:12to each other very tightly,
00:58:14so we've got to support the nation of Israel
00:58:19at all costs.
00:58:20Don't we see that big push?
00:58:25Well, I'll tell you,
00:58:26it's based upon false theology,
00:58:29and Daniel 9 exposes it in a big way,
00:58:31the 490 years,
00:58:33and that's why it's so necessary
00:58:34to go through the history of Israel,
00:58:35which is what we're doing.
00:58:36Answers a lot of questions, doesn't it?
00:58:40Preachers of today, especially,
00:58:43teach that the fig tree parable
00:58:44is the greatest sign
00:58:46that the coming of Jesus is imminent,
00:58:47even at the door.
00:58:50It's laying the stages
00:58:51for the false second coming,
00:58:52impersonation of Christ by Satan
00:58:54is what it's doing.
00:58:56And so it behooves us
00:58:57to carefully examine
00:59:00the history of Israel,
00:59:01examine this passage
00:59:02to determine if their interpretation
00:59:04is correct.
00:59:07I know that it's not correct.
00:59:09I hope that I'm able to show you,
00:59:11you'll see it from the Bible,
00:59:13that it is not correct.
00:59:16But we'll continue this
00:59:17in part two of this particular study.
00:59:21But until then,
00:59:22I encourage you
00:59:23to sharpen up your knowledge
00:59:25on the three parables
00:59:27that Jesus shared
00:59:29in his main theme
00:59:30about the history
00:59:30and rebellion of Israel.
00:59:32Remember,
00:59:32the parable of the fig tree,
00:59:35the parable of the vineyard,
00:59:37and the parable
00:59:38of the great banquet.
00:59:40And I hope that your eyes
00:59:42will be opened up
00:59:44really pretty dramatically,
00:59:45actually,
00:59:46because of it.
00:59:48Let's pray.
00:59:50Father in Heaven,
00:59:51we do thank Thee
00:59:52for this opportunity
00:59:53to come before Thee.
00:59:54We thank You so much
00:59:56for being with us
00:59:58and caring for us
00:59:59and giving us
00:59:59those things
01:00:01that we need,
01:00:04always looking out for us
01:00:06because You love us.
01:00:09You care for us.
01:00:14You want us to be
01:00:16in the Kingdom
01:00:16with You forever.
01:00:18And we praise Your name
01:00:19for that.
01:00:20Help us to have
01:00:21a right understanding
01:00:22of the prophecies
01:00:23and as You bring
01:00:26these truths
01:00:27and the history
01:00:28of Israel
01:00:29to our minds,
01:00:30may we put the puzzle
01:00:31pieces together
01:00:32and become more
01:00:34and more faithful to Thee.
01:00:35Please be with those
01:00:36on our prayer lists
01:00:38and those who can be
01:00:40with us here
01:00:41at this time
01:00:42and send angels
01:00:44to excel and strength
01:00:45to walk with each one of us.
01:00:46when we're in perilous times.
01:00:48I ask for these things
01:00:49in the name of Jesus
01:00:50who's so worthy.
01:00:51Amen and amen.
01:00:54Well, friends,
01:00:54I want to thank you
01:00:58for joining me
01:01:00and I want to encourage you
01:01:01to keep studying.
01:01:03Study Genesis 3.
01:01:05You know,
01:01:05the things
01:01:06that Satan has done
01:01:08to throw out
01:01:09the Old Testament,
01:01:11Christians,
01:01:12many Christians,
01:01:13I don't even say
01:01:13millions of Christians,
01:01:14they don't even go
01:01:15to the Old Testament.
01:01:16They're being deceived.
01:01:19We need the Old Testament.
01:01:21The Old Testament
01:01:22is about Jesus
01:01:23from Genesis
01:01:24to Revelation.
01:01:26The Old Testament
01:01:27from Genesis
01:01:27all the way
01:01:28until you get
01:01:28into Revelation,
01:01:30it reveals
01:01:31that all the Bible
01:01:32is about Jesus.
01:01:34So I encourage you,
01:01:35study the Bible.
01:01:36You've got to get in.
01:01:38Remember,
01:01:38we started this prophecy series.
01:01:39We've got to understand
01:01:40the Old Testament.
01:01:41We've got to understand
01:01:42the sanctuary
01:01:43if we want to understand
01:01:44end-time prophecy.
01:01:46And I hope you're finding
01:01:47that to be true.
01:01:49And I want to encourage you
01:01:50to continue to study that.
01:01:51Keep looking up.
01:01:52Never doubt
01:01:52that Jesus loves you.
01:01:54He loves you very much.
01:01:55Hang in there
01:01:56and we'll see you next time.
01:01:58God bless now.
01:01:59Take care.