Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP210013S
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00:01 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel.
00:04 It's hard to believe 00:05 but this is the last study for the Book of Isaiah 00:08 lesson number 13. 00:11 It is true that we have endured to the end. 00:13 And if you've joined us from week to week, 00:14 I pray that you've been tremendously blessed. 00:17 Today is an exciting lesson, "The Rebirth of Planet Earth." 00:21 What does the Bible prophesy 00:24 about what we can look forward to in the future? 00:26 Well, stay tuned for an exciting lesson 00:28 about what God has in store for us. 00:31 If you'd like a copy of the lesson, 00:32 go to ABSG.Adventist.org and download a digital copy. 00:37 But even better than that, 00:38 look for a local Seventh-Day Adventist Church 00:40 and join them just walk in. 00:42 I know you're going to be welcomed 00:43 for an exciting excursion through the Book of Isaiah. 00:46 But thank you for joining us. 00:47 Stay tuned, we'll be right back to start the journey with you. 01:24 Hello, friends, welcome to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel. 01:27 My name is John Lomacang, thank you for enduring with us. 01:30 We have been going through the Book of Isaiah, 01:32 an exciting study. 01:34 I think my panel can agree with a hearty amen. 01:36 Amen. 01:37 That's what pastors always like amens. 01:40 But thank you for taking the time 01:41 to join us again. 01:42 We are talking about this week, rebirth of planet earth. 01:47 I cannot wait 01:49 till this present earth is replaced 01:51 with a perfect version. 01:53 And to find out what that is going to be 01:55 at least to get a glimpse of it. 01:57 We're going to go to the Book of Isaiah, 01:59 and study the closing chapters in this glorious unwrapping 02:03 of God's grace for us. 02:05 And the plan He has, 02:06 as the Bible says for those who love Him. 02:09 So thank you for joining us. 02:11 Right to my left is 02:12 one of my favorite Bible panelists, 02:14 Jill Morikone, 02:16 the Vice President of the 3ABN and COO. 02:19 Good to have you here. You always have a list. 02:21 And we have another list too today. 02:24 It's been such a joy 02:25 to journey through Isaiah together. 02:27 Amen. 02:28 And, Ryan, I always like your enthusiasm 02:30 and your approach to God's Word. 02:32 Good to have you here again today. 02:33 Blessed to be here. 02:35 And Pastor Dinzey, 02:37 what can you say about your time 02:38 in the Book of Isaiah? 02:40 The Book of Isaiah is a marvelous book 02:42 and I hope our viewers have and listeners have noticed that 02:45 there's much to learn there. 02:47 That's right. 02:48 And many people don't know 02:49 but Shelley Quinn actually assigns each of us 02:51 what we're going to be studying. 02:52 Thank you for that diligence. 02:54 It's worked out I believe under God's guidance. 02:56 Good to have you here, Shelley. 02:57 Thank you. It's always a joy. 02:59 And I'll tell you before we go any further though, 03:01 Shelley, would you prayer for us today? 03:02 Absolutely. 03:05 Our glorious Heavenly Father, 03:07 we come before You with thanksgiving in our heart, 03:10 for who You are and all You have done for us 03:14 in Your plan of salvation, 03:16 salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. 03:20 Thank You for this book Lord, 03:21 thank You for Your Holy Spirit and Your Word. 03:24 And right now we need Your Spirit. 03:27 We ask that You would pour Him out on us 03:29 and everything we say will be for Your glory. 03:32 And Lord bless all who are listening to our voices 03:36 in Jesus' name, amen. 03:38 Amen. 03:40 Isaiah 65:17 is our memory text. 03:43 I'll read that in your hearing, "For behold, " 03:46 these are wonderful words, 03:47 "For behold, 03:49 I create new heavens and a new earth, " 03:53 and I just love this part, 03:54 "and the former shall not be remembered 03:58 or come to mind." 03:59 I'm looking forward to that day 04:01 when all this discombobulated refuse 04:05 can be replaced with nothing but good, good thoughts. 04:09 The former will not even be remembered 04:11 nor come into mind. 04:13 The writer began with a story. 04:15 I thought this was a good one. 04:16 I don't often use the stories but this one was good. 04:19 Says one day a 12-year-old boy, 04:21 having just read a book on astronomy 04:24 refused to go to school. 04:26 His mother took the child to the family doctor 04:28 who said, 04:30 "Billy, what's the matter? 04:32 Why don't you want to study or go to school anymore?" 04:35 Well, because Dr. He said, 04:37 "I read in this astronomy book 04:39 that one day the sun is going to burn out 04:41 and all life on earth will vanish. 04:44 And I don't see any reason to do anything about it. 04:47 And in the end, 04:49 everything will die out anyway." 04:51 The mother hysterically shouted. 04:54 "It's not your business. It's not your business." 04:58 The doctor smiled and said, 05:00 "But Billy, you don't need to worry 05:03 because by the time this happens, 05:04 we'll all be long dead anyway." 05:07 Of course, that part of the problem in the end is 05:10 we are all going to be dead anyway. 05:12 But you know, friends, 05:13 what I like about what we're going to read today 05:15 is that is not how our story is going to end. 05:20 We're not going to be all dead anywhere, 05:21 we're not going to turn back 05:23 into some kind of garden compost, 05:26 and go back to this dismal, never ending cycle 05:30 of having plants rise out from where we once stood. 05:33 God has a tremendous plan for His people. 05:38 And in Isaiah, we find 05:40 I have eight points today, Jill. 05:42 So I'm going to go right into that 05:44 because I think that 05:45 I'm looking forward to the glorious reinvention 05:49 of planet earth, 05:51 to the day when we can see 05:52 God show us how He did it in the very beginning. 05:56 And then He says, 05:57 "Behold, I make a new heaven and a new earth." 06:00 And what a glorious day that's going to be. 06:02 So I've got eight points that 06:04 I'm just going to go ahead and begin to unfold right now. 06:06 Isaiah 65:17. 06:08 First of all, the very first one 06:11 is the past will be forgotten forever. 06:14 Amen. 06:15 Isaiah 65:17 is the memory text. 06:18 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, 06:20 and the former shall not be remembered 06:23 nor come to mind." 06:25 One day the past will be forgotten forever. 06:28 Amen. 06:30 Now we all should have said hallelujah for that 06:31 because anything we've done, nobody would ever know again. 06:35 Hallelujah. Hallelujah. 06:37 The former things will not be remembered 06:39 nor come to mind. 06:40 When we get to kingdom 06:42 when somebody get to the kingdom, 06:43 when somebody rents out the John Lomacang DVD, 06:46 they'll say it's blank. 06:48 Amen. Hallelujah for that. 06:50 The former things will not be remembered, 06:51 out of the mind, 06:53 blotted out by the blood of the Lamb. 06:56 The other thing is, 06:57 we will rejoice and have joy forever. 07:00 Amen. 07:01 Isaiah 65:18, 07:03 "But be glad and rejoice forever 07:07 in what I create, 07:08 for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, 07:12 and her people a joy. 07:14 "Now this is not the New Jerusalem, 07:15 this is not the Jerusalem in the Middle East now. 07:17 We're not going back to the... 07:19 I don't want to say disrespectful 07:20 to the crummy remnants of antiquity. 07:23 We're going back to a beautiful golden city, 07:26 who has 12 foundations made of precious stones, 07:29 gates made of one pearl each. 07:31 Can you imagine a gate made of one pearl each? 07:33 Ladies, you haven't seen pearls yet. 07:36 Just put it that way. 07:38 And walls that are transparent glass 07:40 out of which the glory of God 07:42 will radiate throughout ceaseless ages of eternity. 07:46 Number three, 07:47 sadness, death and crying will be eliminated forever, 07:52 the cadence forever. 07:54 Isaiah 65:19. 07:56 "I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people, 08:01 the voice of weeping 08:03 shall no longer be heard in her, 08:06 nor the voice of crying." 08:08 Praise God. 08:10 Revelation 21 picks up on that 08:12 because Isaiah is now amplified in Revelation 21:1-4, 08:17 "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 08:19 for the first heaven and the first earth 08:21 had passed away. 08:22 Also, there was no more sea," 08:24 why? 08:25 Because the sea that separates us 08:27 will not separate us any longer. 08:28 We're going to be unified at the Tree of Life, 08:31 which is for the healing of the nations, 08:33 which is for the reunification, 08:35 the mending of the earth, 08:37 that now keeps us separated by class, creed, race, 08:40 financial status, and so many other ways. 08:43 But God is saying in verse 2 of Revelation 21, 08:46 "Then I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, 08:50 coming down out of heaven from God, 08:53 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 08:55 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 08:57 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 09:00 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.'" 09:03 I'm looking forward to being one of those people, 09:04 what about you? 09:06 God Himself will be with them and be their God. 09:08 And verse 4, 09:09 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 09:12 and there shall be no more death 09:14 nor sorrow, no crying, 09:15 there shall be no more pain," 09:16 why? 09:18 "For the former things have passed away." 09:20 Death itself is going to have a funeral. 09:23 It's going to be last enemy that's going to be destroyed. 09:26 Number four, 09:27 age will no longer be a factor forever. 09:30 Hallelujah. 09:32 Gray here will be wisdom in eternity, not age. 09:35 Isaiah 65:20. 09:36 And this is a beautiful passage, 09:38 but I'll make it very clear. 09:40 "No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, 09:45 nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days 09:48 for the child," 09:49 watch this. 09:51 This is a paradox, 09:52 "for the child shall die 100 years old, 09:54 but the sin of being 100 years old 09:56 shall be accursed." 09:57 Now why is it saying this? 09:59 This was a paradox showing that children don't live, 10:03 you're not a child when you're 100. 10:05 And there is going to be no death 10:07 in the New Jerusalem. 10:08 So this paradox is saying, as life continues to go on, 10:12 you'll never have to worry about the curse of death. 10:15 And children will never have to worry 10:16 about death any longer. 10:18 The paradox of Isaiah 65:20, 10:20 but it continues, 10:22 "Age will no longer be a factor for ever." 10:26 Number five, let's go there. 10:28 We will be beneficiaries of our own labor forever. 10:33 That's not the case today in our world, 10:35 there's so many people that work 10:37 and they never get a chance 10:38 to live in the apartments they build. 10:40 There are people that are living in places 10:42 where they are synonymous to just slave camps. 10:46 They're making coats and jackets 10:48 and electronic devices 10:49 and they can never own one. 10:51 They're building houses, 10:53 but they're too poor to live in them. 10:55 But the Bible says in the New Earth, 10:56 there's going to be a greater blessing. 10:58 Isaiah 65:21-23. 11:00 Notice the beneficiaries of our future labor." 11:04 They shall build houses and inhabit them, 11:07 they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 11:10 They shall not build and another inhabit, 11:13 they shall not plant and another eat, 11:15 for as the days of a tree, 11:17 so shall be the days of My people, 11:19 and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." 11:22 To God be the glory. 11:24 "They shall not labor in vain, 11:26 nor bring forth children for trouble, 11:28 for they shall be the descendants 11:30 of the blessed of the Lord, 11:31 And their offspring with them." 11:33 Praise God for that. 11:35 This is important because 11:36 in this world where there is forced labor, 11:38 the Bible is saying 11:40 there'll be no more forced labor, 11:41 every one of us by the glory of our own labor 11:44 will be benefactors of our own labor. 11:47 That's why we've read now number six. 11:49 Let's go to number six. 11:51 It says we will be blessed 11:52 with the attentive presence of God for ever. 11:55 Can you imagine being in God's presence forever? 11:58 Isaiah 65:24. 12:00 Here's what the Bible says, 12:02 "It shall come to pass that before they call," what? 12:06 "I will answer, 12:07 why they are still speaking," what? 12:10 "I will hear." 12:11 in Revelation 22:4-5 adds another component to that, 12:16 because we're going to be in the presence of God forever. 12:19 Revelation 22:4-5 says, 12:22 "They shall see His face 12:24 and His name shall be on their foreheads." 12:27 That means not literally written there, 12:29 but their minds are going to be transformed. 12:31 Let this mind be in you, which is also in Christ Jesus. 12:35 When we are in the presence of God forever, 12:38 our minds and His mind will be merged. 12:41 We're not, His mind is not becoming like ours, 12:44 but our mind will be just like His. 12:46 Praise God for that. 12:47 The Bible says, continuing in verse 5, 12:50 "There shall be no night there. 12:53 They need no lamp nor light of the sun, 12:56 for the Lord God gives them light 12:58 and they shall reign, " 12:59 for how long? 13:01 "Forever and ever." 13:02 Praise God for that. 13:03 Number seven, 13:05 there will be peace, where there was fear 13:08 and there will be peace forever. 13:10 Isaiah 65:25, 13:13 "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, 13:17 the lion shall eat straw like the ox, 13:19 the dust shall be the serpent's food. 13:23 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, 13:27 says the Lord." 13:28 I love the way that the writer of this lesson brings this out. 13:30 It says, for carnivores such as lions 13:33 to become vegetarian 13:35 requires something more than a vegetarian cooking class. 13:38 Right. 13:39 It requires the recreation 13:42 to restore the world to its ideal state 13:45 as it was before sin in Eden introduced to death. 13:49 We find in Nahum 1:9, another beautiful promise, 13:51 we are told, 13:54 what do you conspire against the Lord, 13:57 He will make an utter end of it, 13:59 that is affliction will not rise up a second time. 14:03 Education 301 and paragraph two, 14:06 "Between the school of Eden, 14:08 between the school established in Eden 14:11 at the beginning and the school of the hereafter 14:14 there lies the whole compass of this world's history. 14:17 The history of human transgression 14:19 and suffering, 14:20 of divine sacrifice, 14:21 and of victory over death and sin. 14:24 Not all the conditions 14:25 of that first school of Eden will be found 14:27 in the school of the future life." 14:29 I like this. 14:30 "No tree of knowledge of good and evil 14:32 will afford opportunity for temptation. 14:35 No tempter is there, no possibility of wrong. 14:39 Every character has withstood the testing of evil, 14:44 and none are longer susceptible to its power." 14:49 In the New Jerusalem 14:50 there will be no possibility of sin. 14:53 What a perfect world to look forward to. 14:56 Amen. 14:57 Thank you so much, Pastor John. 15:00 Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen. 15:02 I have Monday which is Divine Magnet, 15:06 we turn to Isaiah Chapter 66. 15:09 And we're going to be looking at the first 19 verses 15:11 of Isaiah Chapter 66. 15:13 Now it's interesting, I thought, 15:14 why in the world that they call this lesson divine magnet. 15:19 A magnet draws many things to itself, 15:21 would that be correct? 15:22 And it also draws another magnet to itself 15:27 if the north pole of one magnet 15:29 attracts to the south pole of another magnet. 15:33 However, if you bring two magnets together, 15:36 the north poles of the magnets 15:38 or the south poles of the magnets together, 15:40 what happens? 15:42 They don't attract, they repel each other. 15:45 Magnets can either attract or repel, 15:47 depending on which side is toward each other. 15:50 Now this is not foolproof illustration. 15:54 But Christ as the divine magnet 15:57 draws to Himself anyone who's willing to be led, 16:01 anyone who's willing 16:02 to be softened by the Holy Spirit, 16:04 anyone who wants to be drawn to Him. 16:08 At the same time, 16:10 there's a repelling force or judgment 16:13 that comes upon those who refuse to be drawn. 16:19 After much time, after much long suffering, 16:22 after much love that has been refused 16:24 and consistently rebuffed, 16:27 there is a time of judgment. 16:30 Kind of like the sun, it melts ice, 16:32 but it hardens clay. 16:35 The difference is not in the sun, 16:36 the difference is in us 16:38 and how we react to that love of God. 16:42 So this lesson, Isaiah 66, the divine magnet, 16:45 we look at God's promises for His people. 16:49 But on the flip side, 16:50 we look at God's judgment over five groups of people 16:55 that I see in this passage. 16:56 So I have 10 points, Pastor John, 16:59 we're going for five groups of people 17:01 so that we're going to start with the judgment 17:03 because I'd rather end with hope. 17:04 So we're going to start with the five groups of people 17:06 for the judgment, 17:08 then we'll go to the five promises 17:10 that God extends to His people. 17:13 So let's start with that judgment. 17:15 Judgment comes to those who 17:17 number one, fight against God. 17:19 This is Isaiah 66:6. 17:22 "The sound of noise from the city! 17:24 A voice from the temple! 17:25 The voice of the Lord, Who fully repays His, " 17:28 what's that word? 17:29 Enemies. 17:31 "Enemies. Those who fight against God." 17:34 Number two, group number two, 17:36 judgment comes to those who oppress God's people. 17:41 Isaiah 66:5, go back one verse to verse 5. 17:44 "Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: 17:48 'Your brethren hated you, 17:50 who cast you out for My name's sake, said, 17:54 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.' 17:57 But they shall be ashamed." 17:59 What's happening here? 18:01 Their brethren, they hated them, 18:02 and they cast them out. 18:04 Those who oppress God's people 18:07 will have judgment visited upon them. 18:10 Group number three, 18:12 those who walk in hypocrisy and legalism 18:16 will have judgment cast against them. 18:20 Or going back again, Isaiah 66:3. 18:24 This is kind of interesting. 18:25 "He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man. 18:29 What? 18:30 He who sacrifices a lamb, 18:32 is as if he who breaks a dog's neck." 18:37 You can think you're doing good, 18:38 you can think I'm bringing a bull 18:39 for a sacrifice. 18:41 I think that I'm bringing a lamb, 18:42 I'm doing the right thing. 18:45 And yet, I think I'm doing the right thing. 18:48 And in God's eyes, it's like killing a man, 18:50 or breaking a dog's neck the hypocrisy of the people. 18:54 "He who offers a grain offering, 18:56 as if he offers swine's blood. 18:59 He who burns incense, as if he blesses in idol." 19:04 Thinking that they're doing right, 19:05 well, following in the sanctuary service 19:08 and bringing the incense bringing the offerings, 19:10 doing what they thought was right, 19:12 but do we knit out of a hollow religion 19:16 without any heart connection. 19:19 "Just as they have chosen their own ways, 19:21 and their soul delights in abominations." 19:25 Those who walk in hypocrisy and legalism will be judged. 19:30 Group number four, 19:31 those who refuse to listen to God and 19:34 openly rebel against Him, they will be judged. 19:38 Isaiah 66:4. 19:41 "So will I choose their delusions 19:43 and bring their fears on them because," 19:46 this is really sad to me, 19:48 "When I called nobody answered. 19:51 When I spoke, they did not hear, 19:55 but they did evil before my eyes 19:57 and chose that in which I do not delight." 20:02 God's saying, I called and I spoke and I appealed, 20:05 and they didn't answer, 20:06 and they didn't care and they did evil. 20:10 Judgment comes to those who refuse to listen to God. 20:14 The final group that I see here, 20:16 group number five, 20:17 judgment comes to those who worship other idols, 20:21 and who practice pagan abominations. 20:25 Isaiah 66:17, 20:27 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, 20:30 to go to the gardens, " 20:33 referenced to a type of pagan worship, 20:35 "after an idol in the midst, 20:38 eating swine's flesh 20:39 and the abomination and the mouse, 20:41 shall be consumed together, 20:42 says the Lord." 20:44 Those who worship idols, 20:45 those who practice pagan abominations 20:48 will be judged. 20:50 Now let's look at 20:52 the five promises in this section, 20:54 that God extends to those who want to follow Him, 20:59 to those who choose 21:01 to be drawn to Him the divine magnet. 21:04 Promise number one, 21:05 He promises to aid those who are oppressed, 21:09 those who have been afflicted by the wicked. 21:13 Isaiah 66:2, 21:16 "For all those things My hand has made, 21:18 and all those things exist, says the Lord. 21:21 But on this one, will I look on him who is, " 21:24 what's that word? 21:25 "Poor, and of a contrite spirit, 21:28 and who trembles at my word." 21:31 Have you been oppressed? Have you been afflicted? 21:34 Do you... 21:35 Are you poor in spirit 21:37 and come before God and say, 21:38 God, would you look upon me. 21:40 God, I need You. 21:42 I think of the souls from under the altar 21:44 who cried out for justice. 21:47 This is in Revelation 6:10. 21:50 What they say? 21:51 How long oh Lord, 21:53 holy and true until you judge 21:55 and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth. 21:59 If you are suffering affliction, 22:01 if you are oppressed, 22:03 God has promised that He will aid you 22:07 if you are oppressed. 22:08 Promise number two, 22:10 He has promised to deliver 22:12 those who honor and respect Him. 22:15 Isaiah 66:5, 22:18 hear the word of the Lord. 22:20 "You who tremble or respect His Word, 22:23 your brethren, they hated you, 22:25 and they cast you out for My namesake said, 22:28 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy, 22:31 but they shall be ashamed.'" 22:33 God is going to judge them, 22:35 but He will bring deliverance to those who honor Him, 22:39 to those who respect Him. 22:41 Promise number three, 22:42 He promises to comfort those who mourn 22:45 and those who have suffered. 22:48 Isaiah 66:13, 22:51 "As one whom his mother comforts, 22:54 so I will comfort you, 22:56 and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem." 23:00 Isaiah 40:1-2 says really the same thing 23:03 comfort, yes, 23:05 "Comfort my people" 23:06 says God, 23:07 "Speak comfort to Jerusalem and cry out to her 23:11 that her warfare is ended that her iniquity is pardoned." 23:15 Do you comfort? 23:16 Are you mourning? 23:18 Have you suffered? 23:19 Have you been afflicted? 23:21 God say, "I will comfort you." 23:25 Promise number four, 23:26 He offers peace, 23:28 that's God offers peace to the repentant. 23:33 Isaiah 66:12. 23:36 The first part of that verse, 23:38 "For thus says the Lord, 23:39 'Behold, I will extend peace to her 23:42 like a river 23:44 and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.'" 23:48 Do you need peace? 23:49 Do you want peace in your life today? 23:52 Is it turbulent and troubled and difficult? 23:55 God says He will extend peace to her, 24:00 peace to you like a river. 24:02 And finally promise number five, 24:04 He will restore Jerusalem 24:07 and not just Jerusalem, 24:08 but the promise is extended all the way down 24:10 through the ages to us today as His followers, as believers, 24:15 He will restore us again. 24:17 Isaiah 66:10. 24:19 "Rejoice with Jerusalem 24:21 and be glad with her all you who loved her. 24:24 Rejoice for joy with her all you who mourn for her." 24:28 Psalm 30 says what? 24:29 "Weeping endure for a night, 24:31 but joy, it comes in the morning." 24:35 I want to my closing scripture is Joel 2:25. 24:38 I love this scripture. 24:40 "I will restore to you 24:42 the years that the locust has eaten." 24:45 Verse 27, 24:46 "You shall know I am in the midst of Israel. 24:49 I am the Lord your God and there is no other. 24:52 My people shall never be put to shame. 24:55 God will restore to you all that the locust has eaten." 24:59 Wow. Well, thank you so much, Jill. 25:01 Wonderful lesson. 25:03 And we're just getting started 25:05 on the final lesson number 13 of the Book of Isaiah. 25:08 So don't go away. 25:09 We'll be right back. 25:15 Ever wish you could watch 25:16 a 3ABN Sabbath School Panel again, 25:18 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 25:21 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel.com. 25:26 A clean design makes it easy 25:29 to find the program you're looking for. 25:31 There are also links to the Adult Bible Study Guide 25:34 so you can follow along. 25:36 Sharing is easy. 25:38 Just click share 25:39 and choose your favorite social media. 25:41 Share a link, save a life for eternity. 25:45 Welcome back to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel, 25:48 we're going to go to Tuesday. 25:49 Ryan Day has missionaries and worship leaders. 25:55 Where to start? 25:58 We were talking you guys had enough information 26:01 for this entire panel to digest there. 26:03 It was a powerful studies indeed. 26:06 Lesson number 13. 26:07 And we're on Tuesday's lesson 26:10 Missionaries and Worship Leaders. 26:12 So basically, 26:14 what we see happening prior to verses 19 here, 26:18 so I have 19 through 21, 26:19 which is actually talking about God rising up a people, 26:23 sending out His people 26:25 to raise up a people 26:26 to be missionaries and worship leaders. 26:28 But what we see happening before that 26:30 from like verses 14 26:31 all the way through to verse 18 there 26:34 is basically a beautiful scene of the second coming of Jesus 26:37 where God is brought back, 26:38 you see, Jesus comes back in all of His glory. 26:41 And, of course, He reigns indignation upon those, 26:43 He brings back judgment for those 26:45 who have not walked in His ways, 26:46 were practicing as the word say here, 26:49 the abominations 26:50 and all of those things that are not clean. 26:53 But by the time we get to verse 19, 26:56 we're setting up the ending of this book here, 26:59 this powerful book 27:00 in which we have another beautiful prophetic promise 27:03 a beautiful looking forward to as Jesus' 27:06 it has come back in all of His glory, 27:08 He has prepared a people. 27:09 And that's where we're going to pick up. 27:11 I'm going to start actually in verse 18, 27:13 just to kind of set the context 27:15 and we'll read on to verse 19-21. 27:17 So again, verse 18 of Isaiah 66. 27:21 "This is for I know their works, 27:22 and their thoughts, 27:24 it shall be that 27:25 I will gather all nations and tongues, 27:27 and they shall come and see My glory." 27:31 And then verse 19, 27:32 "I will set a sign among them, 27:34 and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: 27:38 to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, 27:40 who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, 27:44 to the coastlands after all who have not heard My fame 27:48 nor seen My glory. 27:49 And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 27:54 Then they shall bring all your brethren 27:56 for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, 28:00 on horses and in chariots and in litters, 28:03 on mules and on camels, 28:06 to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, 28:09 as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel 28:13 to the house of the Lord. 28:15 And I will also take some of them 28:18 for priests and Levites, says the Lord." 28:22 Missionaries and worship leaders. 28:24 You know, it's powerful to think about this 28:26 or interesting to think about this. 28:27 But you know, from the time of the Babylonian exile 28:30 all the way to the time of Christ, 28:32 it's interesting that 28:34 there was some type of missionary evangelism 28:37 that was being done from the Jewish leaders. 28:40 And we know this, again, it kind of comes within a... 28:42 We find out this information 28:44 from a little bit of a negative context 28:45 of Jesus' words 28:46 from Matthew 23:15. 28:48 Notice what he says in Matthew 23:15. 28:50 He says, 28:51 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 28:53 hypocrites, 28:54 for you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, 28:59 and when he is one, 29:02 you make him twice 29:03 as much a son of hell as yourselves." 29:06 And so a little bit of a negative overtone there. 29:09 But nonetheless, Christ is recognizing the fact 29:11 that there was some type of missionary outreach 29:13 that was going on 29:15 before He showed up on the scene. 29:16 But when He showed up on the scene, 29:19 He began to revolutionize evangelism. 29:22 He began to turn the world right side up 29:25 with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 29:26 And it's interesting to know that, of course, 29:28 the early Christians, 29:30 that is the Christian church post Christ's death, 29:33 the Christian spread the gospel very rapidly, 29:36 and on a mass scale. 29:37 In fact, Paul alludes to this a couple of times 29:40 as he was a part of this great evangelistic work 29:43 in his missionary outreach. 29:44 Colossians 1:23. 29:47 Paul says this, he says, 29:48 "If indeed, you continue in the faith, 29:51 grounded and steadfast 29:52 and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel, 29:55 which you heard." 29:57 It goes on to say, 29:59 "Which was preached to every creature under heaven, 30:03 of which I, Paul, became a minister." 30:06 So Paul's recognizing that he was obviously called 30:09 to reach out as well as the other apostles as well. 30:12 And, of course, 30:13 he repeats this idea in Acts 22:21, 30:17 when he was, when he reports that he was told to depart 30:19 and go from here to the Gentiles. 30:22 You know, it's a beautiful, you read the Book of Acts 30:24 and you read about 30:25 all of the amazing missionary journeys of Paul 30:27 and Silas and Barnabas, 30:28 and you know, all of the apostles, 30:30 you know, James, and Peter, and Philip, 30:32 and all these, they were all sent, 30:34 you know, after the Pentecost experience, 30:37 God distributed them in just the right areas 30:40 so they could go take the word of the Lord 30:42 to all the parts of the earth 30:44 as Acts 1:8 says that 30:46 He would give them the Holy Spirit 30:47 to be a witness to, 30:49 you know, Samaria, Judea 30:50 and all the uttermost parts of the world. 30:53 In fact, it's interesting that post 31 AD, 30:56 which is when Christ died on the cross, 30:59 it is estimated that more than 1 million Christians 31:02 were won to Christ 31:03 by the end of the first century AD, 31:05 that means it grew from 12 to over a million 31:08 in just 73 years. 31:10 That's amazing. 31:11 And that could only happen by the power of God. 31:14 And, in fact, we've read the scriptures 31:16 right there in Isaiah, 31:17 God says, He's going to do it again, 31:19 He's going to continue to do it, 31:20 that we are going to send this gospel 31:21 to the Gentiles to all the parts of the earth, 31:24 and that His people 31:25 will be brought to Him as an offering. 31:29 Interesting. 31:30 God says that He sees them as an offering. 31:32 When we witness to others on behalf of Jesus, 31:36 we are bringing an offering to Jesus. 31:39 We're offering these wonderful people 31:41 as an offering to Him. 31:43 So I just made it, 31:44 this actually comes from the lesson 31:45 as just as grain offerings were gifts to God, 31:49 that were not slaughtered. 31:51 The converts brought to the Lord 31:53 would be presented to Him as living sacrifices. 31:56 Of course, that concept comes from Romans 12:1, 31:59 which were Paul writes, 32:01 "I beseech you, therefore, brethren, 32:02 by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies, 32:04 a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 32:07 which is your reasonable service." 32:10 So when we bring someone to Christ, 32:11 as the prophecy says here, 32:13 that we are going to bring them 32:15 and they will be considered an offering to the Lord, 32:17 and He will receive them as living sacrifices, 32:19 praise, that's awesome concept. 32:21 We can bring someone to Christ, 32:22 and He sees the work that we have done, 32:24 and that He has done through us, 32:26 it's a blessing. 32:27 You see God's original people, 32:30 that is Israel and the Old Testament 32:32 were called to be kings and priests. 32:36 We see that in Exodus 19:6. 32:38 It says, 32:39 "And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, 32:41 and a holy nation. 32:43 These are the words which you shall speak 32:44 to the children of Israel." 32:46 So God did call them 32:47 to be a nation of kings and priests. 32:50 What about us? 32:52 Has God called us to be a people of kings and priests? 32:56 He just said in the words that we just read earlier, 32:59 that He will also take some of them 33:00 for priests and Levites, right? 33:03 Well, I, of course, Jill, you think you mentioned this 33:05 in one of our previous lessons about 1 Peter 2:2 and 9 33:09 reminds us very clearly of the wonderful blessing 33:11 that we have to look forward to 33:13 and what God has called us to be as His people 33:15 living in these last days. 33:16 1 Peter 2:9-10 says, 33:18 "But you are a chosen generation, 33:21 a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 33:23 His own special people," 33:26 get that, 33:28 we are His special people, my friends. 33:30 It says, 33:31 "That you may proclaim the praises of Him, 33:34 who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, 33:37 who once were not of a people, but once were not a people, 33:41 but now the people of God who had not obtained mercy, 33:44 but now have obtained mercy." 33:47 And because we have obtained that mercy, 33:48 God is calling us to a higher calling. 33:50 He says, 33:51 "I bestowed upon you 33:52 a work to finish My work indeed. 33:54 We need to learn to be more like Jesus." 33:56 When Jesus was in 33:58 after He had just completed His conversation 34:00 with the woman at the well, 34:01 the disciples come out, 34:02 and they come out of the city, and they go to give Him food 34:04 and He says, Look, I've got meat, 34:06 I've got meat, I got food that you don't even know I got. 34:08 And they're like what this brother brought. 34:10 He brought a lot towards your lunch. 34:11 And then He responds, John 4:34. 34:14 "Jesus said to them, 34:15 'My meat is to do the will of Him 34:17 that sent Me, 34:18 and to finish His work." 34:20 My friends, some of us 34:21 need to be about our Father's business. 34:24 We have been called to a high special calling. 34:27 Our mission is in our very name Seventh-day Adventist. 34:33 That when God rested from His work 34:35 on the seventh day 34:37 that their original language there says that 34:39 He ceased, He finished His work 34:41 and when we say that we are Seventh-day Adventists, 34:43 people that keep the commandments of God, 34:45 including the fourth commandment, 34:47 looking forward 34:48 to the soon return of Jesus Christ. 34:49 It points back to that creation event 34:51 in which we also as his high called people 34:55 are to finish His work. 34:58 I love this message right here from Councils to the Church, 35:00 page 240. 35:01 It says, "God has the distinct people, 35:03 a church on earth second to none, 35:05 but superior to all 35:06 in their facilities to teach the truth 35:08 to vindicate the law of God. 35:10 God has divinely appointed agencies, 35:13 men and women He is leading who have borne the heat 35:15 and burden of the day 35:17 who are cooperating 35:18 with heavenly instrumentalities, 35:19 to advance the kingdom of Christ 35:21 in our world. 35:23 Let all unite with these chosen agents 35:25 and be found that last 35:26 among those who have the patience of the saints, 35:29 who keep the commandments of God, 35:31 and have the faith of Jesus." 35:34 That's powerful, 35:35 that we are God's chosen distinct people, 35:37 kings and priests sent to bring him special offerings 35:40 for the kingdom of God. 35:42 Last one, sixth volume of the Testimonies page 295, 35:45 someone must fulfill the commission of Christ, 35:47 someone must carry on the work which He began to do on earth. 35:50 And the church has been given this privilege. 35:53 And for this purpose, it has been organized. 35:56 Amen. Thank you, Ryan. 35:57 Amen, amen. 35:59 Well, we move now to Wednesday's portion, 36:01 which is a continuation really of Tuesday. 36:05 And the title for Wednesday is Community of Faith, 36:09 Community of Faith. 36:10 And yes, the lesson also here 36:12 includes in on Wednesday's portion, 36:15 the concept or the idea presented in Isaiah 66:21, 36:20 and I will also take some of them 36:22 for priests and Levites 36:24 says the Lord. 36:25 Now, you have to understand that for the Jewish people, 36:29 the Israelites, 36:31 the idea that a foreigner, 36:33 somebody not from the nation of Israel, 36:34 would be taken for priests and Levites 36:37 it says is practically offensive to them. 36:39 And so, this is in the Old Testament, 36:43 but it has always been God's plan 36:45 for the people of all the world to be part of His family. 36:50 So we're going to take a look at some scriptures 36:53 that bring this out. 36:54 Yes, in Exodus Chapter 19, 36:56 God called the people of Israel to be a nation, 36:59 a kingdom of priests and a holy nations 37:01 for the purpose of evangelizing the world. 37:03 They were not just to keep it to themselves, 37:07 they were supposed to bring it to the world. 37:09 And so, let's go into Isaiah Chapter 2. 37:13 And look at some of the evidence 37:15 that the Bible presents here. 37:17 Isaiah 2:1-2, the Bible makes this message, 37:22 presents this message, 37:23 "The word that Isaiah the son of Amos, 37:25 saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 37:28 Now it should come to pass in the latter days, 37:31 that the mountain of the Lord's house 37:33 shall be established on the top of the mountains, 37:36 and shall be exalted above the hills," 37:38 and notice, 37:40 "and all nations shall flow to it." 37:43 The, what they were supposed to do, 37:46 the people of Israel 37:48 was to bring the message of the gospel to the world, 37:51 and the nations were supposed to flow to it. 37:56 Notice the message of Jesus in John 10:16. 38:00 And Jesus repeated this message over and over again, 38:03 you may remember, 38:04 I'm just going to quote the first one from memory, 38:06 John 3:16, 38:07 "For God so loved the world, 38:10 that He gave His only begotten Son 38:11 that whosoever believes in Him 38:13 shall not perish but have everlasting life." 38:16 Said it to Nicodemus, and he, this is a message He repeated. 38:19 Let's look at John 10:16. 38:21 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold 38:26 them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, 38:31 and there will be one flock and one shepherd." 38:35 This has been God's plan all along. 38:37 That's why you see Jesus in Matthew 24:14, 38:41 well known passage, 38:42 "And this gospel of the kingdom 38:45 will be preached in all the world 38:47 as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come." 38:52 Brothers and sisters, we have to do this, 38:55 we have been given this great privilege, honor, 38:58 and commission by Jesus, 39:00 and we must, by God's grace fulfill this commission. 39:04 Matthew 28:18-20, also well-known. 39:08 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 39:11 'All authority has been given to Me 39:13 in heaven and on earth. 39:15 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 39:20 baptizing them in the name of the Father 39:22 and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, 39:24 teaching them to observe all things 39:26 that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, 39:29 even to the end of the age, or at the end of the world, " 39:32 says the King James Version. 39:34 So yes, the gospel is to go to the world, 39:37 and they are supposed to learn 39:40 the message that Christ gave them. 39:42 Now listen to Acts 1:8. 39:45 Acts 1:8, a lot of scriptures, write them down, 39:48 keep studying them. 39:49 Acts 1:8, 39:51 "Jesus said to the disciples, 39:52 'But you shall receive power 39:55 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you 39:58 and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, 40:02 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 40:07 That's right, to the end of the earth. 40:09 And so, if I have time 40:11 we'll read another scripture here concerning that. 40:13 But I want to take you now 40:14 to when the promise of the Holy Spirit 40:17 was first given. 40:19 For this, we must turn to Joel 2:28. 40:23 "And it shall come to pass afterward 40:26 that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, 40:30 and your sons and your daughters 40:32 shall prophesy, 40:33 your old men shall dream dreams, 40:35 your young men shall see visions." 40:37 Notice that it says that 40:38 he will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. 40:41 This is a hint to the people of Israel, 40:44 that God was going to bring His Spirit 40:46 not only upon the Jews, not only upon the Israelites, 40:49 but upon all the people of all nations, 40:52 to as many as give their hearts to the Lord. 40:55 Acts 17:26-27 is where we are going next. 41:00 Please join me, Acts 17:26-27, 41:04 "And He has made from one blood 41:07 every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, 41:11 and has determined their preappointed times 41:14 and the boundaries of their dwellings, 41:16 so that they should seek the Lord, 41:18 in the hope that they might grope for Him 41:21 and find Him, 41:22 though He is not far from each one of us." 41:26 So, my dear friend, God is not far from anyone. 41:30 And He is, remember that He says 41:33 that He's not willing that any should perish, 41:35 but that all should come to repentance. 41:37 Moving quickly to Ephesians Chapter 3, 41:41 beginning in verse 4 until verse 6. 41:45 Ready, let's go. 41:46 "By which, when you read, 41:48 you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, 41:51 which in other ages was not made known 41:54 to the sons of men, 41:55 as it has now been revealed by the Spirit 41:58 to His holy apostles and prophets, " 42:00 notice, 42:01 "that the Gentiles 42:03 should be fellow heirs, of the same body, 42:06 and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel." 42:12 So you see, 42:13 it's God's plan all along for the Gentiles, 42:17 the people of all the other nations 42:18 to be part of God's family. 42:22 So, when you go to Galatians Chapter 3, 42:25 this is further expanded. 42:27 Galatians 3:28-29. 42:31 Actually, let's begin in verse 26. 42:32 Galatians 3:26, 42:35 "For ye are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 42:40 for as many of you as were baptized into Christ 42:44 have put on Christ. 42:45 There is neither Jew nor Greek, 42:47 there is neither slave nor free, 42:49 there is neither male nor female, 42:51 for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 42:55 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, 43:00 and heirs according to the promise." 43:04 Praise be to God. 43:05 The promise belongs unto the Gentiles as well, 43:08 that's as well, that's you and me, 43:11 I'm talking kind of fast. 43:12 So please follow along. 43:13 So we become heirs through Jesus Christ. 43:17 And this is a marvelous thing to understand. 43:20 God loves you, 43:21 you can be a part of God's family. 43:24 And that's why I want to take you finally 43:27 to Revelation Chapter 14. 43:29 Revelation 14:6 and 7, 43:32 notice the message 43:35 that has to be given to the whole world. 43:38 Beginning in verse 6, Revelation 14:6 and 7, 43:41 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, 43:44 having the everlasting gospel 43:46 to preach to those who dwell on the earth, 43:50 and specifies, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people, 43:54 saying with a loud voice, 43:56 'Fear God and give glory to Him, 43:58 for the hour of His judgment has come, 44:01 and worship Him 44:02 who made heaven and earth, the sea 44:03 and springs of water.'" 44:06 Friends, you can continue reading Revelation 14 44:09 to understand that there are three messages, 44:11 three, the three angels' message 44:13 are there, continue reading, and you will see them. 44:16 And this is something 44:18 that we must capture and understand. 44:21 We have a great commission from Christ. 44:24 And when He promises, 44:26 He promises also to bless us with the Holy Spirit 44:29 that we may accomplish this task. 44:32 Unfortunately, 44:33 a lot of people 44:35 are waiting for someone else to do it. 44:38 And I don't know why. 44:39 But apparently the devil has, as Sister White says, 44:43 he has lulled some people to sleep. 44:45 We must awake 44:47 and take this message to the world. 44:49 Remember, the promise of the latter rain, 44:53 the Holy Spirit is for you. 44:57 And if you prepare the way for the Holy Spirit 44:59 to be poured upon you, 45:01 the Holy Spirit will be poured upon you. 45:03 What must you do? 45:05 You well know what you must do. 45:07 Because the Holy Spirit has already been talking to you 45:09 to leave the things of the world 45:12 and follow the Lord with all of your heart. 45:15 God is waiting. 45:16 He's not willing that any should perish. 45:18 And you have friends and family 45:20 that need to hear about Jesus Christ. 45:22 Place yourself in the hands of the Lord 45:25 that the mighty work that He wants to do 45:28 through you will happen. 45:30 Please don't delay. 45:31 God is waiting for you. 45:33 Amen and amen. 45:35 Thank you, Brother Johnny. 45:37 I have the last three scriptures 45:39 of Isaiah 66. 45:42 And of those three, 45:43 I want to put the emphasis 45:46 in unpacking the third of the three. 45:49 So we're just going to read the first two, 45:51 and the comments in the quarter like Isaiah 66:22. 45:56 Great promise. 45:58 It says, God says, 45:59 "For as the new heavens and the new earth 46:02 which I will make shall remain before Me," 46:04 says the Lord, 46:06 "So shall your descendants, 46:09 your seed and your name remain." 46:14 You know, this is the never-ending existence 46:18 that God is promising us, 46:21 not only through the 1, 000 years in heaven, 46:23 but in the New Earth for eternity. 46:27 And I love what the author says 46:30 of this quarter like 46:31 in the new heavens and new earth are seen 46:33 and name shall remain forever. 46:36 No more blotting out, cutting off, grafting in, 46:39 plucking up or uprooting, hallelujah. 46:43 We have here a promise of eternal life 46:46 in a world made new, 46:47 a world without sin, without death, 46:49 without suffering, 46:50 new heaven and new earth, 46:52 the final and complete fulfillment 46:56 of our Christian faith 46:57 is this is the consummation 46:59 of what Christ accomplished at the cross. 47:03 The next scripture, Isaiah 66:23, 47:06 "It shall come to pass 47:08 that from one New Moon to another, 47:10 and from one Sabbath to another, 47:13 all flesh shall come to worship before Me, ' 47:16 says the Lord.'" 47:17 We know that the Sabbath is an eternal institution. 47:21 That's a question about the new moon. 47:22 So listen what the author says, 47:26 though there are a number of different ways 47:28 to look at this difficult text, we, one approach is this, 47:32 God created the Sabbath 47:34 before the sacrificial system existed, 47:37 we find that Genesis 2:2-3. 47:42 So although Sabbaths were honored 47:44 by the ritual system, 47:46 they're not dependent upon it. 47:49 Thus they continue uninterrupted 47:51 through the restoration 47:53 throughout the restoration period, 47:55 and onto the New Earth. 47:57 There's no indication in the Bible 47:59 that new moons 48:00 were legitimate days of worship, 48:02 apart from the sacrificial system, 48:05 but perhaps they will be worship days. 48:07 Now, this is kind of neat, 48:09 not necessarily rest days, 48:12 like the weekly Sabbath, 48:13 but in the New Earth, 48:15 possibly in connection 48:17 with the monthly cycle of the tree of life. 48:22 You know, every month, 48:23 there's going to be a new fruit on that tree. 48:26 That makes sense. 48:27 But the crucial point is 48:29 that all humanity is going to worship God 48:33 at stipulated times throughout eternity. 48:36 So here's the one that I want to get to and unpack. 48:40 Isaiah 66:24. 48:42 We've got this beautiful Book of Isaiah. 48:45 And I'll tell you what, from Chapter 40 on, 48:48 I've got so many promises 48:49 underline such beautiful promises of God. 48:52 And here's how He ends the whole book. 48:57 Isaiah 66:24, 49:00 "They shall go forth..." 49:02 We who have our seed and our name remain 49:05 and we who are worshiping on every Sabbath, 49:08 but listen, 49:10 "They shall go forth 49:11 and look upon the corpses of the men 49:15 who have transgressed against Me. 49:17 For their worm does not die, their fire is not quenched." 49:21 And let me just say this, 49:23 unquenchable fire means 49:26 that it's a fire that can't be put out 49:29 until it actually achieves its final results. 49:34 That's how I'll say it. 49:36 "They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." 49:39 Why would Isaiah, 49:40 here he's talking about the New Earth 49:42 and worship and our name remains. 49:45 And now he's saying, 49:47 hey, you're going to go out look at the corpses. 49:49 You know, he's giving a graphic warning 49:52 to the people of the day. 49:53 He is saying there is a contrast 49:56 between faithful survivors of the Babylonian destruction 50:01 and those who rebelled, they're going to be dead, 50:03 they're going to be destroyed, they're going to be corpses. 50:06 But get this, corpses not tormented without ceasing, 50:11 ceasing. 50:13 And they're going to be killed by fire. 50:16 And this is a prophetic declaration 50:22 to the destiny of all 50:24 who oppose God's government of the love. 50:30 Until the fulfillment at the end of time, 50:32 listen to this, 2 Peter 3, 50:34 I'm going to go through 50:36 several scriptures rather quickly. 50:37 2 Peter 3:11-13 says this. 50:43 "Therefore, 50:44 since all these things will be dissolved, 50:47 this whole earth, 50:48 what manner of persons ought you to be 50:50 in holy conduct and godliness, 50:52 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, 50:56 because of which the heavens will be dissolved, 50:59 being on fire, and the elements, 51:02 all of the elements of the earth 51:03 are gonna melt with fervent heat. 51:06 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, 51:09 look for new heavens and a new earth." 51:14 This is the day when loves justice 51:20 requires God to do His strange act 51:23 as it says in Isaiah 28:21. 51:26 God who wants to save all, that's His heart. 51:30 He's going to have to annihilate sin, 51:33 and He is going to destroy both Satan and sin 51:38 in the lake of fire. 51:39 God's mercy will have reached as far as it can ever reach. 51:45 There's no one else that's responding. 51:47 And this is so uncharacteristic of a God of love, 51:51 a Creator God, 51:53 who is going to have to destroy 51:56 what He didn't create first, sin and sinners, 52:00 and then He will start over. 52:02 But He tells us that 52:05 we've got this promise 52:07 of living in love, joy and peace forever. 52:12 But this is after the lake of fire. 52:14 I want to point out, 52:16 turn to Revelation 21:8 real quickly, 52:20 because when God does His strange act, 52:24 how did He destroy the earth the first time? 52:28 It was a lake of water, wasn't it? 52:31 There was a flood. 52:33 The lake of fire is when God Christ returns. 52:39 And the whole, He's going to, it says that we are caught up. 52:44 I mean, the dead in Christ rise first 52:46 then we who are alive 52:47 and remain are caught up in the air, 52:49 but the whole earth is going to be a like a fire. 52:52 And listen four times in Revelation, 52:55 it talks about the lake of fire being this second death. 52:59 Let's look at Revelation 21:8. 53:01 It says, 53:03 "The cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, 53:07 murderers, sexually immoral, 53:09 sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars 53:12 shall have their part in the lake of fire 53:15 which burns with fire and brimstone, 53:20 which is the second death." 53:25 The Bible says our God is a consuming fire. 53:31 He's love, and love consumed sin, 53:36 just like fire consumes dry wood. 53:42 Our God is a consuming fire. 53:45 His love in His final embrace of the world, 53:50 His love is going to destroy all sin and sinners 53:55 are going to suffer a second irreversible death. 54:02 Malachi 4:1 says, 54:04 "Behold, the day is coming, 54:07 burning like an oven, all the proud, 54:10 yes, all who do wickedly, will be stubble. 54:15 And the day which is coming 54:17 shall burn the mob says the Lord of host." 54:20 It will lead them neither root nor branch. 54:24 You know what? 54:26 I grew up being taught 54:29 that God was going to torment people 54:33 in eternal fire, eternal torment, 54:37 never going to end. 54:40 Let me tell you why? 54:42 I researched and found this word in the Greek 54:45 for everlasting eternal is aionios. 54:49 And it's a relative term. 54:51 It is decided by whatever it is describing, 54:57 whatever is the object that it modifies. 55:00 So when aionios, everlasting is taught, 55:03 eternal it's talking about God, 55:05 that it means without end, 55:08 ceaseless because 1 Timothy 6:16 says, 55:12 "God is immortal." 55:15 God alone has immortality. 55:17 Now, but when aionios is used of mortal humanity 55:22 or perishable things, guess what? 55:25 It means eternal is only as long as that thing last 55:29 until, for example, 55:31 when it talks about in Jude 1:7, 55:33 Sodom and Gomorrah were set forth 55:35 as examples of eternal fire. 55:38 Are they still on fire today? 55:40 No. 55:41 Our loving God is going to rescue us. 55:44 Amen. 55:45 Well, thank you, Shelley, and Jill, and Ryan, and Johnny. 55:50 Jill, give us a summary 55:51 of what you've covered in this 13th lesson? 55:54 It's an amazing study 55:55 this entire quarterly on Isaiah, 55:58 and to me it's kind of summed up 55:59 in Isaiah 54:7-8. 56:01 "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, 56:04 but with great mercies I will gather you. 56:07 With a little wrath, 56:09 I hid my face from you for a moment, 56:11 but with everlasting kindness, I will have mercy on you, 56:15 says the Lord, Your Redeemer." 56:18 So there is we see in Isaiah and as we saw on my day, 56:21 this time of judgment, 56:23 but God extends mercy toward His people. 56:26 Amen. 56:28 Much like Matthew 28, 56:29 those latter verses we see the Great Commission. 56:32 The latter verses also of Isaiah 66 56:35 also contain a commission. 56:37 And we are all commissioned 56:38 to go out and spread the gospel, 56:40 and bring in those beautiful offerings 56:43 to the Lord 56:44 so that we all can participate in this work 56:46 to co-labor with Him in finishing His work. 56:50 Amen. 56:52 It is God's desire for you and I, 56:55 every single person to be a part of His family. 56:58 Notice Ephesians 4:4-6. 57:02 "There's one body and one spirit, 57:04 even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, 57:07 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God 57:10 and Father of all, who is above all, 57:13 and through all and in you all." 57:15 So you have an opportunity to be part of God's family. 57:18 Take that opportunity. Amen. 57:20 And Isaiah ends with a warning. 57:23 He's talking about this loving God. 57:24 But you know, the warning is like Matthew 10:28. 57:28 Jesus echoes the same warning. 57:30 "Don't fear those who kill the body, 57:32 but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him, 57:35 who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." 57:39 Amen. 57:41 Friends, thank you so much for joining us. 57:43 These final words, we'll close the case of sin. 57:46 Come ye blessed of My Father, 57:48 inherit the kingdom prepare for You 57:50 from the foundation of the world. 57:52 Thank you so much for joining us 57:53 for these 13 lessons. 57:55 Join us starting April to June 2021, 57:58 for the promise God's everlasting covenant. 58:01 God bless you until we see you next time. 58:03 Amen. |
Revised 2021-03-29