To understand this question, we first need to comprehend what it takes for someone to become a chosen person of God. What must a person possess initially to be considered a chosen person of God?
Firstly, one must have a covenant with God, but then what occurs afterward? What must they do?
They must keep and take to heart the covenant that has been given to them. Now, what happens if a people believe they are still upholding the covenant, but in reality, they have not? Something has transpired.
What do you think happens in such a case? What does God do? Does God terminate them immediately?
No, does He send judgment for someone to warn them?
Someone is sent to warn them. So, let’s examine this a bit further, shall we?
The key points here are:
1. Becoming a chosen person of God requires a covenant with Him.
2. After the covenant, one must keep and take it to heart.
3. If a people think they are keeping the covenant, but have not, God sends a warning through someone.
4. God does not terminate them immediately but sends a warning.
Psalms 89:3
You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to David my servant,
God has made a covenant with His chosen one. When God gives a covenant, He also provides detailed instructions on what the people who are given that covenant must do. There are several things that someone with this covenant must keep in mind, but in order to understand these detailed instructions, they must live by that covenant, and their life must be surrounded by that covenant.
It must become their priority. If we look at Deuteronomy 6:5-9, it says to put the law of God almost everywhere, so that one is constantly reminded of it. And of course, so that it ends up in your heart, and you can live by those words.
However, if someone does not put in the necessary effort to do this, eventually they will break the covenant. Oftentimes, they do not realize that they have broken the covenant, and they continue to keep what they think they are supposed to keep, but it is not actually what God has asked.
They kept doing all the festivals, celebrations, testimonies, and traditions that they had learned from the past, but these things no longer pleased God. They were gifts that God no longer wanted to receive because the people had become corrupt. To avoid this situation, we need to understand the era of our time very well.
How do we learn about the covenant for our time? It is the book of Revelation. The first step is to understand the book of Revelation.
To remain a chosen people, we must keep the covenant, and the covenant has many steps. For someone to be chosen, they need a covenant from God, and that covenant comes with detailed instructions. God wants the people to put it in their heart and mind.
Let us focus on our time, the time of the second coming.
Hebrews 8:10-12
10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
God declares, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” What did He say? He will put His law where? In their minds and in their hearts. Why in their minds? To remember or retain and to understand. What about the heart? It determines your actions. But what determines someone’s actions? Their mind. You hear something, and it increases your knowledge. After your knowledge is increased, you then need to determine. And once you’ve determined, something else builds within you – faith or belief.
The law is put into someone’s mind so that they can remember and understand it. And it is put into their heart so that they can have faith in it and believe in it. When these two things are true, then a person can act accordingly. This process must go in this way: one’s knowledge is increased, then their faith is increased, then they can have actions and they can do according to God’s will.
What happens to those who do God’s will? According to Matthew 7:21, they will enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says that just because someone gives lip service does not mean that person is justified. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus speaks of the types of actions that people think will keep them justified before God, but these things are not what qualifies someone. Only those who do God’s will will receive the blessing of heaven and eternal life.
To remain a chosen person, you must first increase your knowledge. As your knowledge increases, your faith should be increasing too. As your faith increases, then you will know what you need to do, and it will make sense what you need to do and how you need to do it.
The Cycle of Being Born Again
There is no limit to how many times someone can be born again. This means that an individual can oscillate between being of Satan’s seed and being of God’s seed. However, if someone goes in the opposite direction, it represents a betrayal.
Often, the person may not even realize they have taken this backward step. There is always the possibility of salvation, but if someone betrays the seed they have received from God, they are moving in the wrong direction. This cycle can continue to happen, but eventually, judgment will come.
Unless the person commits a sin like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which cannot be forgiven, they always have a chance. This cycle can occur within us even daily, which is why Jesus gave the parable of the four fields – the path, the rocky, the thorny, and the good soil. The seed is sown into all of them, but only bears fruit in the good soil.
A person can start as a fruitful tree and then become fruitless, like the parable of the fig tree that Jesus cursed for not bearing fruit. This represents someone who was born again but has now gone backward, like Judas, who started well but had unresolved issues that Satan used to betray Jesus.
When someone becomes fruitless due to betraying God, Satan is allowed to destroy them, as there is no repentance. This is a pattern we see in Revelation, and it is important to understand these events of betrayal, destruction, and salvation, as they have been a part of God’s plan since Genesis.
The key is that being born again is not just about one’s state of being, but the ultimate destination. This cycle is a crucial lesson for us to learn in these times.
Matthew 24:13
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
This is a crucial part of the prophecy regarding the time of the second coming. There will be an increase in wickedness, a loss of faith, and people’s hearts growing cold.
But what did Jesus say in verse 13? That’s so important. “He who endures to the end will be saved.”
The “end” refers to the final destination. But here’s the thing – a person can also be a destination.
What does that mean? If someone found Jesus at the time of the first coming, they had reached the destination they were heading towards, as Jesus was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.
The Old Testament was pointing to Him. He was the destination. That’s why it says, “Believe in the Son of God, and you will be saved.” Because if you were at that time, the Old Testament was the covenant you were supposed to keep, and Jesus was the conclusion of that covenant.
However, in our time, Jesus is doing new things and is at a new place. He expects people to go to that place and continue believing in Him and the things He said related to our era.
So first, someone needs to find that destination and then stand firm until the end. But even for someone who makes it there, it’s not easy. In fact, no one should ever let their guard down in their life of faith.
Because those who do, Satan gets a foothold, and they become a target. The intensity we’re studying now in this class should be kept even after the class, as those who let off the gas a little bit become vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.
Satan is relentless; he doesn’t sleep or take breaks. He’s a spirit, and he’s always on the prowl. So we must stand firm until the end, as Apostle Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 9.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
This is a truly important passage that Paul wrote, isn’t it?
We often view biblical characters as legendary figures, unattainable in their accomplishments. How amazing were Paul and Peter, who gave up their lives! But they were just people, like us. They struggled too.
What did Paul say? “I too have to beat my flesh.” It’s hard to overcome our flesh, isn’t it? Our spirit may be willing, but our flesh is weak. Even Paul had to fight against his own flesh.
So, even after preaching to others, I’m speaking to myself as well, my friends. I need to hear these words. Even after preaching to others, I desire not to be disqualified from the prize.
How heartbreaking it would be for someone to teach others and see them succeed, while the teacher themselves does not. We, as instructors and evangelists, must also fight. We cannot let up or give in. The goal is to cross the finish line.
Even if you stumble and fall, you don’t want to stay down and give up. You get up and keep running. The aim is to reach the finish line.
Someone who says, “I’m okay,” is a person standing still, while others are running and doing God’s will, making progress. Don’t be that person. Let’s make progress.
Question:
Can you explain Isaiah 1:15? The verse says that if someone’s hands are full of blood, it means that person is spiritually unclean. This means that no matter what that person does, God will not listen to their prayers. Do you mean that if someone is not part of Zion, either in the first coming or the second coming, God will not listen to their prayers? Those who claim their prayers have been answered may be acting under the influence of demons. Right? Do we need to be perfect and without sin for God to listen to our prayers? If we dont see God answering our prayers that mean God has abandoned us? Even you are keeping the covenant and repenting, you still see things not happening, like struggling financially, or no healing, like that.
Answer:
This is a crucial question and a highly significant one. It is essential for us to understand and comprehend this matter very clearly.
First, we need to understand the criteria for someone to be considered righteous in God’s eyes, as it differs from our own standard. Once you grasp this, you can extend a little more grace to yourself than we tend to do. Is it possible to be completely sinless?
Not yet. So if someone is being overly harsh on themselves due to sin, they have not fully grasped what God is asking us to do. Of course, we should strive and do our utmost to remain as sinless as possible.
However, only one person was able to live a sinless life from start to finish, and that was our Lord and Savior, Jesus. No one else has achieved that.
No one else can accomplish that. But that is not the standard for being considered righteous. Let us turn to the book of Psalms once more and examine the criteria for being righteous.
Psalms 37:30-31
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.
From God’s perspective, the standard of a righteous person is the word, which represents God’s covenant. The righteous person has God’s law, the covenant, in their heart and mind. What then comes out of their mouth?
The passage does not state that the blessed person is sinless. Rather, the righteous person is described as such, not the sinless person. Proverbs chapter 24 provides another standard of a righteous person.
Proverbs 24:16
for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
The standard of a righteous person is that they always get up. Even though they fall, they rise again. They get up.
In contrast, someone who is not righteous stays down in their calamity, thinking “It’s too hard for me to change” or “It’s too late for me. I’m too far gone.” These are not thoughts that come from God, but rather from Satan’s characteristic.
It is truly sad to hear someone say, “It’s too late for me. I’ve done too much evil.” When someone is encouraged to come back to church or accept Jesus, and they respond this way, it reveals the state of their heart. A righteous person will always want to redeem themselves or make themselves righteous again, and they will always come back to God.
If we look at the people God used, they were not perfect. David, called a man after God’s own heart, committed a grave sin. Moses killed someone before God appointed him. Abraham lied about his wife out of fear. Peter cut someone’s ear off and denied Jesus three times. Yet, these people were still considered righteous because they focused on repentance and kept moving forward. They did not stay down.
In contrast, Judas stopped moving and killed himself, while Peter said, “My Lord, forgive me,” and came back. The key is to focus on the law, focus on the word, and if you fall, get up and go back to the word. The danger is in thinking you can do it on your own and going back to square one.
Regarding the mention of “their hands are full of blood” in Isaiah 1:15, this can be understood in a few ways. There is physical blood, the spiritual blood of Jesus, and a third type of spiritual blood representing corruption. It is important to understand these different meanings.
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.
The life of a creature is in the blood. It is the blood that makes atonement for sin. Sin is death, and in order to atone for death, life must be given. This is God’s logic, which is why He asked for sacrifices until Jesus came, who was the ultimate sacrifice, dying once and for all.
At that time, the Israelites were not allowed to eat something that still had blood in it. The things they ate had to be thoroughly cooked, with the blood no longer present, because God considered the blood very important.
Now, there are different types of blood to consider. The spiritual blood of Jesus, shed for our sins, is good and right. Jesus’ spiritual blood is also his words, as mentioned in John 6:63, where a spirit gives life and the words Jesus spoke are spirit and life.
However, there is a third type of blood that is not good and should not be consumed. If we turn to Revelation chapter 9, we find an example of this undesirable blood.
The key messages and vocabulary have been preserved, while the grammatical structure has been improved for better readability and understanding. The repetitive phrases have been removed, and the biblical references have been maintained.
Revelation 8:10-11
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
There is a star called Wormwood, and this star falls on a third of the streams, rivers, springs, and waterways, causing them to turn bitter and become undrinkable. You may be wondering, “I know what springs and rivers are, so what does this mean?”
That’s a valid question to ponder. I won’t provide the answer directly, but let’s explore this further.
Revelation 16:4-5
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments,
you who are and who were, the Holy One,
because you have so judged;
The blood in these two cases is not drinkable. What was once fresh has become corrupted. There is bad spiritual blood that should not be consumed, as it turns bitter and brings judgment. The people’s hands were full of physical blood in history, but when the prophecy was fulfilled, it became spiritual blood. They were killing people’s spirits with lies, so their hands became full of blood. If someone does this, their prayers will not be heard by God.
A physical example of hands full of blood is David in 1 Chronicles 28. David was not allowed to build the temple of God because, as a warrior, his hands were physically full of blood. The same thing happens spiritually for someone who kills many people’s spirits. God will not listen to that person’s prayer until they repent. However, someone who realizes this and repents, God will then listen to their prayer.
Proverbs 15:29
The Lord is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. So what does that mean about the prayers of the wicked?
Are they heard?
Until that person becomes righteous and draws near to God. And we’ll explore this further when we read Isaiah 29. In today’s session, we’ll be examining content like this to deepen our understanding.
However, we will conclude here. To answer the question, if one is earnestly striving to know God more and is studying his word of truth, they’ll be alright. Because even the standard of righteousness is not being sinless.
Although it’s crucial to strive for sinlessness. I don’t mean to imply that this is unimportant. Please don’t misunderstand me.
One needs to continually endeavor to not be sinless. It’s the effort that counts. It’s the getting up that counts.
Staying down is what Satan wants us to do. Getting up is what God wants us to do. That’s God’s standard.
Overcoming oneself. And the people that God used, even though they weren’t perfect, were those who were always overcoming themselves and always repenting and always returning to him. If we keep doing that and keep studying his word, we’ll be fine.
We’ll be okay.
So, it’s kind of like explaining, for example, how to ride a bike. But in order to ride a bike, you need to teach several things for the task of riding a bike to be possible. You need to be taught balance, where to put your feet, how to pedal, how to keep your speed, and also how to dismount the bike. Then you fully understand what it means to ride the bike.
A bad teacher would simply say, “Just ride the bike,” and leave it at that. But a good teacher would explain, “This is what riding a bike means,” and then go over the details mentioned by Jesus.
Jesus said, “Eat my flesh and drink my blood, and your sins will be forgiven.” This verse matters and cannot be ignored. Jesus also said, “Those whose hearts have been hardened will not listen to my parables, and they would have been healed if they did.” This first verse matters too. So, what we’re saying is, know all of the verses related to salvation and sins being forgiven.
There are many throughout the New Testament. These are just three really important ones that happen to summarize a lot of them. But we’re saying all of the verses matter. They’re all important.
Question
As far as understanding goes, if we are judged or accepted based on our understanding, you may have a higher level of understanding than others. Is there a certain level of understanding needed to get into heaven?
Answer
Ah, that’s a good question. The answer is no, but understand what I mean by this.
If you were listening to Noah’s words and caught the tail end where Noah said, “Get on the ark, a flood is coming,” and you decided to get on the ark, would you die in the flood? No, if you got on the ark, you would have survived the flood. But you had to at least hear a little bit about what Noah was saying to know that a flood was coming in the first place because God only told Noah that a flood was coming, not everyone.
So, when you listened to Noah’s words, even if you only really had fear that a flood was coming and you took the appropriate action, you were saved. Similarly, if you were listening to Moses’ instructions later on, and Moses said, “Okay, take a spotless lamb, kill it, put its blood on your doorframes, eat its flesh, and then when the angel of death has passed, flee, get out of there,” you had to do those things in the order that Moses had explained.
And then you would be allowed to leave with your firstborn son intact. So, it’s important to understand what is being said and then act on what is being said, believing that what is being said will happen.
And what happens is that there are time periods, and this is important, where it is simply impossible to understand. And God has a plan for those people. Let’s turn to Acts 17, because I’m thinking about my ancestors who never knew Jesus or God here. I was born in South Korea. My dad is the first Christian in our family, which means the rest of my ancestors did not know God or Jesus. So what about them?
Acts 17:26-30
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
This verse 30 is very important. In the past, God ignored the ignorance of those who couldn’t have understood because it wasn’t the right time.
But for those who are alive when it is possible to understand, God will hold them accountable to know and repent. So if you lived in the time of Isaiah, you couldn’t be held to the standard of following the child that was born to the virgin because they hadn’t existed yet. They didn’t exist.
So how could God hold someone who was born at that time to the same standard as those who did exist when Jesus had come?
Does anyone have an answer? What happens to people who die in their ignorance? Is hell their destination? Yes. Are you sure? Oh man, my entire ancestry is in hell then.”
1 Peter 3:18-20
18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,
These are things that aren’t talked about much these days, but they’re critical to understand how God has worked in the past and how he’s working now.
It says, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it, only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.” (1 Peter 3:18-20)
Verses 19 and 20 are so important. What did it say? Who preached to the spirits who were where? In prison, hell? Not yet.
So, even those who were disobedient, what word are they hearing after they had died? Yeah, 2000 years ago, they were learning about Jesus. Jesus was like, “Okay, this is the one that came according to the promise. Here are the details about him.” They were hearing the same things as the people alive at that time. And the reason why is verse 6 of the next chapter.
1 Peter 4:6 says, “For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”
What that is saying is everyone must be judged by the same standard. So, if a one-year-old passes away due to a tragedy, they too must still be taught the word. If an 80-year-old who refused to believe in God while they were alive dies, they still need to be taught, especially about what’s happening today when things are being fulfilled, so that everyone can be judged by the same standard – God’s standard. And when does the final judgment take place?
Because a misconception is that you go to heaven or hell the moment you die. That’s not what Revelation says. Revelation says that the final judgment takes place after the 1,000 years, meaning that the final judgment is in the future, which means you should still be praying for those who passed away so that they can humble themselves and receive the word that they’re receiving.
But we know that Satan is also working in the spiritual world. And he’s so powerful that he pulled in other angels who could see God clearly away from God. He is not to be underestimated.
So, keep these things in mind. God has always had a plan for those who died before fulfillment took place. So the Aztecs, the Mayans, my Nigerian ancestors who worshiped other gods, and voodoo worshipers who never heard about Jesus at all, they get a chance too, even those who were disobedient in Noah’s time, according to verse 20. So that’s the point I’m making. We just happen to be the few who are alive when things are being fulfilled.
So, this is the reason why Jesus said in Matthew chapter 13, “Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. Many righteous men of the past longed to see what you now see today, but they could not see the things because it wasn’t time yet.” So those righteous men were probably really disappointed, thinking, “Oh, I thought it was gonna happen in my time, but I guess it won’t happen.” But when can they rejoice? When it actually takes place, and they’re like, “Yes, it’s finally happening. This is what Paul meant.” Let’s actually read what Paul said and really come to an understanding here.
And we’ll then pause to ask additional questions.
We’ll go to 1 Corinthians chapter 13, the love chapter, but there are some deeper things said in here that are often forgotten or glossed over, but they’re really important.
1 Corinthians 13:8
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
The established understanding, which represents knowledge, will eventually pass away. This means that the current comprehension will be compared to the true understanding that emerges.
For instance, the Pharisees and Sadducees had their own interpretations, but the words of Jesus superseded those when the prophecies found their fulfilment. A similar phenomenon will occur during the time of the second coming, when the existing understanding will be superseded by the true understanding that emerges.
1 Corinthians 13:9
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
What does Paul mean by verse 9? “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.” What does he mean?
We can only prophesy about what has been revealed and told to us, as some things are refilled at the proper time. We know what has been told will come to fulfilment, but we only know in part.
We hope to be alive to witness those prophesied events, but it is possible we may not live to see them fulfilled. Our knowledge and ability to prophesy is limited to what has been unveiled and disclosed to us at this era, this time.
1 Corinthians 13:10
but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When does perfection come?
Perfection will come when Jesus returns, and everything that is imperfect will go away. Glory to God. So what does that mean?
Well, many things were created and understood during a time of imperfection. So when I came to the open word, I dropped the things that I found to be imperfect. I didn’t hold on to them anymore because they didn’t make sense anymore.
And then I realized that many ideas about the Bible and God were formed during that period of imperfection, in between the fulfillment of prophecies. What Paul is saying is that all those things that were talked about during the time of imperfection will be seen as foolish when perfection comes. They won’t even match perfection.
It’s like, oh, those aren’t even on the same level. Those don’t even make sense like that. Let’s keep reading.
1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
This, of course, can be understood and used literally, right? Like when we were children, there were many things we did not comprehend. However, when we became mature adults, we were able to understand and put away childish things. But Paul is also talking in a spiritual sense, isn’t he? When was Paul a child spiritually?
He was a child when he was an active Pharisee. And what was he doing when he was a child spiritually? He was destroying the church, acting in a very childish and immature manner, like an infant. But when did he become a man?
When Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, that’s when he became a man spiritually. So, what did he do? He threw away the things that he now saw as childish and no longer held them as valuable. In fact, as it says in Philippians 3:8, he considered them dung or rubbish. He tossed them away because now he had Christ, the perfect one who surpassed all the imperfect things around at that time.
1 Corinthians 13:12
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
What does he mean by “now”?
He is saying that at present, he only partially understands, referring to his comprehension of the Old Testament which has been fulfilled and explained. However, there are still New Testament prophecies that he does not have access to or fully grasp. This lack of complete understanding is frustrating for him.
When he says “then”, what does he mean? He is referring to the second coming of Christ.
How could Paul know what will happen during the second coming?
The implication is that Paul, along with other martyrs, will be witnessing these events unfold. They have been eagerly awaiting this moment for a long time. As the prophecies are being fulfilled, they too will be observing and cheering on those experiencing it, as described in Hebrews 12:1.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Those who are waiting for the fulfilment of the prophecy or parable, which figuratively represents something that did not happen during their time or era, can still hope. Even though the word or seed of truth did not open or become unsealed when they were alive, they can know and celebrate its eventual unveiling. The lesson lies in not fleeing from false hopes, but patiently awaiting the true revelation in its appointed time.
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
In the meantime, while we only know in part, let us love one another. Let us have faith with each other. Let us hope with one another. And let us wait patiently for that perfection to come. When perfection comes, the imperfect will be blown away. So, the question for us is, has that time come? Right? Has that time come? That is why we are studying as we are. I hope that kind of explained the answer to the question.
Romans 2:12-15
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
This will take place on the day when God will judge man’s secrets through Jesus.
As my gospel declares, amen. Let’s also read verses 12 and 13 for context. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law.
And all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing or even defending them. This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. So what is your question? Is it about what Paul is saying here?
Yeah, let me see if I understand this correctly. So the people like your ancestors and my ancestors, without Jesus, they are all guilty at this point, even though they don’t have the law, they don’t have the law of Moses. But because they have the law in their hearts, they are guilty. In other words, without Jesus, I don’t see how they could be going to heaven. That’s what I mean. That’s about my ancestors.
Okay, so let’s understand this. Did your ancestors know about Jesus while they were alive? No.
So how can they be judged by belief in Jesus if they didn’t even know he existed?
Let’s understand this because you’re making a valid point. Paul is writing to people who primarily followed the law, right? The first people to whom this word was addressed. Of course, this message also went to many Gentiles, but he’s writing primarily to those who understood the law of Moses.
However, he’s also writing to those who didn’t have the law of Moses. And he’s saying, importantly, that those who had the law written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing or even defending them. After they die, many of them did so before hearing about Jesus. God will then compare what they did with the law of God.
But then, as we see in 1 Peter, he will also teach them the way they should have lived and teach them about Christ. The reason is that we all need to be judged not by the individual laws of each person’s heart, for which there are many, right? The person next to you may believe different things than you do.
You can’t judge people by different standards. It would be deeply unfair. They all need to be judged by the same standard.
Of course, God takes into account what the person did while they were alive. Those things are not neglected, but he’s also teaching them as well. What they did and what they believe will bear witness, as well as what they are learning.
So my point here is that they have to understand and believe even after they’ve passed in order to be sent to heaven or hell. And they have to hear first before that judgment can come. That has to happen.
So those with the law and those without the law, both are going to be judged by faith in Christ because God said Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. If you believe in Jesus, you’ve completed the law, but many did not believe in Jesus. So they had to hear after.
Does that make a little bit more sense? Everyone has to be judged by the same standard.
They’re dead, yet they are still hearing.
So they are waiting. Jesus is also preaching to them. They will wait for judgment until the second coming.
That’s correct.
But they will be judged by the words they heard. Did they accept them? Just like us.
Wow, the same standard applies to them as well. This was a common practice in the early days of Christianity.
In the early days of Christendom, it was a common practice for people to pray for their recently deceased ancestors, as they understood this concept.
Unfortunately, over time, this practice became corrupted as priests started to ask for money to pray for people’s ancestors. As a result, people stopped doing it, and eventually, it was forgotten.
While some were able to remember and understand this practice, it was common for people to pray for their ancestors who had passed, that they would accept the words they had accepted while alive. That they had the chance to accept.
This gave me hope because I had many ancestors who did not know God, and many people did not know God for a long time, for many years.
The spirits that are able to freely operate in the world are angels and demons, according to Zechariah 12:1. Humans, however, return to their designated place after they die and do not linger on earth any longer.
Though demons may use various means to distract people and pull them away from God, the most powerful tool we have is the Word of God. We should focus on the Word and on our own spiritual well-being, rather than being overly concerned with what is happening around us.
God has a plan for those who have already passed away. Their focus is on understanding the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than watching over individual people. We see this in Revelation 6, where the souls of the martyrs are patiently waiting for God’s plan to unfold.
The Word, which is figurative and represents the truth, is our best defense against the lies and false hopes that the enemy may try to use to distract us. By keeping our eyes on the Word and on God’s plan, we can find true hope and fulfillment, just as the martyrs in Revelation 6 are awaiting the time when all of God’s prophecies will be fully realized.
Question
When we die, our souls go somewhere. For someone like me, I know the word, and I’m sealed. So, if I were to die tonight, which I hope not, where would my soul go? What happens after I die? As you mentioned, no one is currently in hell or heaven, it’s like a prison right now.
Answer
There are those we know are in heaven for sure. They are mentioned, like the martyrs. We can say with certainty that they are mentioned in heaven.
And Jesus even mentioned a few others too. For example, if you think about the thief on the cross, he’s there as well. But what was special about the thief on the cross?
What was he about to suffer? He was about to suffer death. He was about to suffer death, which is a key term for martyr.
And what did the martyrs, like the disciples, do before they died?
Generally, they preached the gospel.
They preached, right? They preached the gospel and then they were martyred. The thief on the cross, though, didn’t get a chance to preach like that.
But what was preached?
It was, Jesus was quoting the Psalms, I believe. And it kind of clicked with the thief.
And he’s like, “Oh my gosh, this is the Messiah.” Right. So that just tells us that he knew the word, some of the words, like the prophet.
He was able to learn right before he died. And his testimony has been preached for the last 2,000 years. He essentially became a martyr, which is kind of incredible because his story has been encouraging Christians for the last 2,000 years.
His faith, when it seemed impossible to believe, moments from death, his faith continued to testify. And so that’s why Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in glory,” because he essentially fit the category of the apostles, who also died because of their faith. So hopefully, that’s not too complex, but that’s one way you can understand it too.
But what I’m saying is this, everyone needs to be judged by the same standard. So when someone comes to a partial understanding, they still need to come to a complete understanding before they are judged. That’s why Paul said, “Now we know in part, and they died only knowing in part, then we will know fully.”
So a time will come when it is possible to know everything. And sometimes that’s after someone has died, before things had been completed fully. Those things are explained to them so that when the time comes, God will say, “What say you?”
And if someone says, “I still don’t want to,” then hell is their destination when the final judgment takes place. But we’re praying that many people say yes. And the many people I’m talking about here, if we go to Revelation chapter 20, we’ll see something special mentioned about these people.
In Revelation 20:4-6, which talks about the first resurrection, a content we haven’t talked about yet, but since you’re here, you’ll get a little bit of a teaser.
Revelation 20:4-6
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
We are first looking at the martyrs, the early disciples and apostles. This is the first group mentioned.
The second group consists of those who did not worship the beast or his image and had not received the mark on their foreheads or their hands. I believe this group only includes those who exist at the time when the beast and the image appear. This is not the same as the group of the martyrs.
The second group has now been mentioned. These are the ones who reject the mark of the beast when it appears. Let’s continue.
They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Then, in verse 5, it states that the rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. So who are these people that come to life after the thousand years?
Those who said, “Oh, I understand, amen.” After they’ve died, they are the ones that return, but not until the end of the thousand years, when all of Revelation has been fulfilled.
Does this make sense? So there are three groups: those who died in the early days, those who are currently alive when these events are happening, and those who had died in every other time. These are the three groups.
I know this is very early, but we will discuss this content in detail, I promise. We’ll get there.
This is just a teaser.
Luke 22:14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
In Luke 22, Jesus establishes the new covenant with his disciples. And it is because of the work of the disciples in spreading the gospel that we have faith today.
Just as the spiritual fathers of the old covenant passed down the covenant to their children, the disciples have essentially done the same thing, passing down the remembrance of the new covenant to us. However, there are two key things that Jesus said about the covenant he established.
In verse 16, he says, “For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” This was referring to his body. He then repeated this sentiment in verse 18, saying, “For I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
The book of Revelation details when the kingdom of God will come. So when this prophesied event takes place, the new covenant can be fully understood, and Jesus will eat and drink again of what he promised he would, over 2000 years ago. This is when it becomes possible.
In the meantime, we have been practicing the remembrance of communion, but we have somewhat forgotten the reason why communion was given in the first place – to remember the covenant that Jesus promised would take place. We have been observing the ritual without fully grasping the underlying significance.
Understanding the new covenant, when one partakes in communion, they can remember that this is a remembrance of what Jesus promised will take place, and what he promised he would eat and drink again when the kingdom of God comes. Comprehending the book of Revelation allows one to fully keep the new covenant as it begins to be fulfilled, as Jesus said. The fulfillment leads to the realization of the new covenant.
In the book of Revelation, just like the promise that there would be a new covenant during the first coming, where, similar to the Old Testament, there was a covenant that was fulfilled. The New Testament also speaks of a covenant that was fulfilled. Revelation promises that there will be a new covenant, building upon the previous new covenant, right?
So where in Revelation does it say this? That’s a great verse right there.
Yes, amen. Actually, there is only one new covenant. Let’s keep that in mind.
There is one new covenant. There isn’t an “old new covenant” and a “new new covenant.” It’s the same new covenant.
We can understand this because the first time a new covenant was mentioned was in Jeremiah 31. In Jeremiah 31, God promises that he will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. We then see Jesus come and fulfill that prophecy by establishing his covenant, as we just read.
What Jesus said is that this covenant, the promise from Jeremiah 31, is actually not for the time of the first coming. Jesus mentioned that it is for the time of the second coming. Then, we see Hebrews chapter 8 quote Hebrews 8:10-12, which actually quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34. This means that the promise from Jeremiah is for the time of the second coming. Sometimes, Old Testament prophecies are for the second coming.
It’s like some of the prophecies that Daniel spoke are actually second coming prophecies. Generally, Old Testament prophecies are for the time of the first covenant or the first coming. But Hebrews 8, Jeremiah 31, and Luke 22 are all important verses that talk about the new covenant.
There is one new covenant, but the keeping of the covenant is possible when it is being fulfilled. Like the old covenant, there are two aspects to any covenant: the law that must be kept daily, and the prophecy that can only be kept at the proper time.
In the Old Testament, the law to be kept daily was the law of Moses. In the new covenant, the law to be kept daily was the words of Jesus, such as “love your neighbor as yourself” and “treat others how you want to be treated.” These are the things that define and build our Christian lives, which we are supposed to live by daily to be representatives of God and Jesus.
The remembrance is supposed to remind us of what is to come. In the new covenant, there are things we are to keep, like Jesus’s words in John 14:23-24, where he says that anyone who loves him will obey his teaching. This is similar to what we read in 1 Corinthians 13 with Paul. But Jesus also promised things that wouldn’t be possible to keep until the fulfillment of the kingdom of God comes, hence the second part of Luke 22.
It’s all connected, but it’s all part of the same covenant: things to keep daily and prophecy to keep at the proper time. Does that make sense?
[Speaker 2]
It’s interesting. I was under the impression that the new covenant had been established and with the first coming, but it’s possible that you’re right.
[Speaker 1]
I guess I was just confusing you. It was established at the first coming, but it can be kept fully at the second coming. So the first coming.
[Speaker 2]
I feel like Jesus fulfilling the old covenant at the first coming. Exactly. That makes more sense.
James 1:13-15
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Sin leads to death. Initially, Jesus’ crucifixion had a purpose because the scenario described in James 1 mirrors what happened at the very beginning, right?
This passage’s logic is consistent across the Bible, including the story of Adam and Eve. So, what does verse 14 say?
It mentions that each individual is tempted by their own evil desire, which drags them away and entices them. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully developed, it results in death. So, what occurred at the very beginning that necessitated a sacrifice?
What transpired on Earth that redemption became necessary? Or why was there a need for sacrifice?
The problem arises from a separation caused by sin. In the case of Adam and Eve, what desire did they harbor? They were curious about the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Was this desire inherent in them? No. So, where did this desire originate? When they consumed from that tree, what was the action?
What led to doubt because they believed God was concealing something from them, influenced by Satan? We’re getting closer, right?
Turning to Genesis 3 provides clearer insight because it’s important to establish why sacrifice was required. Genesis chapter 3 and verse one state that the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal the Lord had made. He questioned the woman, “Did God really say?”
You must not eat from any tree in the garden. Oh, and what impact did that question have?
You may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did specify not to eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. And you might die. So, what did the serpent achieve with that question?
He twisted it.
What do you think was going through Eve’s mind when Satan asked that question?
What did he offer her with that question?
What doubt did he plant within her?
Now she’s pondering, “Wait, did God say that?” The woman told the serpent they might eat from any of the trees in the garden. But God did say not to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. And touching it would lead to death. Then the serpent continues to deceive, right?
“You will not really die,” said the serpent to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So first, he planted doubt. Say that, and now she’s thinking, “Yes, God said that,” and then he suggested, “That’s not what He meant.” So right, he planted doubt, enticed her, and tempted her—and she took from the fruit.
Thus, sin becomes a problem—a significant issue for God such that death or, more specifically, blood is required to cleanse it.
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.
“
The blood was necessary to overcome the sin that leads to death. What is inside the blood? At the beginning of verse 11, it says that the life is in the blood. Because sin leads to death, the blood needs to be shed to cover over that death with life. Let me explain it like this: Is God a God of life or a God of death? God is a God of life, the God of the living, right? So if God likes and prefers life, the opposite of God is death. Death is because of sin.
Initially, God told the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb because the life is in the blood, and the blood will cover over their death and represent life in God’s eyes. That’s why they had to constantly do the sacrifice of the lambs year after year. However, it was not a permanent cleansing; it was not a permanent overcoming of death. What did God desire for there to be a permanent redemption?
It took the life of one who was righteous to do that – to die for our sins once for all. The blood of the lamb was a figurative representation, a prophecy, a parable of the true sacrifice that was to come.
Question
How could a sacrifice be a sacrifice knowing that he was eventually going to be resurrected? It’s important to remember that Jesus wasn’t the only one who died on the cross. Many people suffered the same fate, including some of his disciples. So, what makes Jesus’ sacrifice different?
Answer
Hebrews 9:11
11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,[B] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
First of all, what are we understanding about the blood’s importance based on what we’re reading so far? Blood was needed at the beginning and even established the covenant. Jesus’s blood establishes a new covenant, and his blood needed to be shed not for a partial or temporary cleansing but a permanent cleansing. But what was the difference between Jesus’s blood and the blood of the two that died next to him on the cross?
One difference is that Jesus’s blood is pure. Why is blood that comes from one who never sinned, which was impossible for any man like us to do, important? This is why blood has to be shed on behalf of others. It used to be the blood of a perfect animal, meaning an animal without blemishes, but it needed to be the blood of Christ, who was perfect.
Question:
Jesus’ death on the cross was a specific type of death that held significant meaning. While he could have died in any manner to perform the sacrifice, the cross was chosen for a particular reason. The question arises: how can Jesus defeat death? We are constantly reminded every Christmas and Easter that Jesus died for our sins, but the mechanics of his sacrifice are often left unexplained. What exactly took place during his crucifixion? How did his death on the cross and the shedding of his blood magically defeat death and make everything disappear? It is important to consider that Jesus knew he would be resurrected. Temporary suffering, knowing that it would only last for a short period, may not seem like a true sacrifice. If he were to face permanent death or suffer for an extended time, it would be more readily recognized as a sacrifice. This raises the question: how does Jesus’ death on the cross, lasting only three days and with the knowledge of his impending resurrection, qualify as a sacrifice?
Answer:
Think of it like this: you have to look at it from God’s perspective. Just because God says something needs to happen does not nullify the fact that it has to happen. So, Jesus knew he had to die for our sins because it was prophesied. It had to take place because that’s what God said would take place. You know how important that is.
If you look at passages like Isaiah 53, it says that he will bear our iniquities. We’ll look at some of the key terms used there. It doesn’t mention that he would die on a cross, but it does mention what he is supposed to do.
Did he die for everybody or die for a specific few people that he knows will be the chosen people? He died for everybody, and someone who believes becomes part of the chosen people he died for. Think of it like this: I’m doing something that permanently brings believers to him. He’s setting a standard that people can then become a part of that standard and become a part of that group.
Isaiah 53:7
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression[A] and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied ;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
The fact that this 700-year-old passage is fulfilled is wild. That never gets old, but we’ve seen clues here about what Jesus had to do. Whether it would happen on a cross or through beheading, what needed to happen for sure was that he needed to bear our sins in death and then be raised again.
He had to take the sins and essentially destroy them with his blood. It just so happened that when this prophecy was fulfilled, a common form of capital punishment was crucifixion. Well, basically, that was a really popular form of execution. Essentially, these are the rules of God, right? He says to die and then bury the sin for many.
Question
Everything in this world is a reflection of something that we can see in physical realities or logistics, as mentioned in Romans 1:20 and Hosea 12:10. These physical realities reflect what Jesus did with his sacrifice on the cross. Are there any physical representations or realities in this world that reflect the spiritual manifestation of the mechanics of the atonement for sin? Are there any illustrations or parables that we are familiar with in our daily life situations that can help us understand this concept better?
Answer
The physical lamb represents the spiritual, illustrating how God works in particular ways that align with His thoughts, which differ from ours. Knowing how He intends to fully redeem people, He had to create a shadow of redemption that people would be familiar with. The sacrifice of those lambs is the physical reality or shadow that points to Jesus, the true Lamb. Cleansing with the blood of the Lamb will cleanse the sin of everybody.
The question arises: when does that cleansing take place? To answer this, we can examine where the blood is mentioned again in the Bible after Jesus shed His blood. It is mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament, particularly in the Book of Revelation. Looking at the logistics of how Jesus applies His blood at the Second Coming may help frame our understanding of this concept.
We see here that Jesus’s blood brings us from our sins. By his blood, it turns us into something.
Revelation 1:5-6
5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
So we see here that Jesus’s blood brings us from our sins By his blood and then it turns us into something.
Revelation 5:9-10
9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
The logistics here are as follows:
Jesus’s blood figuratively purchases man for God, meaning it grabs people from captivity into non-captivity. The captivity we all suffer in is slavery to flesh and sin. Being in slavery to sin, we need to be purchased.
Jesus lived a perfect life and testified the word of truth. His blood was shed to redeem all, eliminating sin by purchasing people out of sin into life. This takes full effect at the time of the second coming, when those who are purchased can become a magnificent kingdom and priests.
Jesus’s perfect blood has a first coming mission, which is the elimination of sin, and a second coming mission, which is to establish a kingdom and priests who fully understand the completion of what Jesus promised. Many righteous people at the first coming simply didn’t know about the second coming because it hadn’t happened yet. For them, it cleansed their sin, but for those of the second coming, it does more. It had a mission at the first coming, but at the second coming, it does additional things, making them a kingdom and priests who can defeat Satan, who is still causing problems until he’s grabbed and placed into the abyss.
The law itself is all things accountable. God made those rules, and to satisfy that rule, these things have to happen to justify God’s righteousness. We have to meet God’s standard, and the only way to do that is through Jesus’s sacrifice.
Death is only fully defeated when Revelation is fulfilled. It’s like a video game boss fight with multiple stages. Level one was defeating sin, the first health bar. Now that sin has been defeated, Satan needs to be defeated. For someone’s sins to be atoned, they still have to do a few things, not in a legalistic way, but the qualification is faith in Jesus, which means understanding and believing in all of his words and waiting patiently for his return.
Sin is still an issue in individual people’s hearts because Satan is still around causing people to sin. Until the source of sin is fully defeated, sin still exists in individual people. However, those individuals can be redeemed by the blood that was shed by understanding Jesus’s blood, aka the word. This is fully possible today when the word is being fulfilled, and people can understand the entirety of God’s plan.
Question
God’s desire is to bring people back to Him, indeed. However, the question arises: why did God have to create so many levels? Why not just do it once, like in the time of Noah’s ark? Why not simply finish everything there, similar to what happened to Noah’s great grandfather, who did not face death and was taken to heaven by God? The question continues: why didn’t God just do the same with Noah and his family? Why create this telenovela with many seasons, where humankind deals with sin and disappointments?
Answer
God gives His creation, angels and people, the gift of free will. In a relationship, one desires their partner to approach them with true love, which is unconditional. Jesus said that true love is demonstrated by laying down one’s life for one’s friends. However, love that is forced, such as when threatened with death, cannot be considered true love.
God gives His angels and people free will so that they can choose to love Him. Many people choose God out of fear of going to hell, rather than out of love. While it is important to fear God in the sense of having a godly respect for Him, as He is capable of throwing one into hell, the ideal choice is to choose God out of love.
God did not create angels as robots or mindless automata. All the angels who worship God do so by their own choice, because they recognize that God is worthy. However, Satan and the angels who followed him chose to separate themselves from God.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of free will in the relationship between God and His creation, and that true love for God should be a choice made out of recognition of His worthiness, rather than out of fear of punishment.
Question
In the midst of a spiritual battle between Satan and God, one might wonder about the reason behind the creation of the physical world. What was God’s purpose in deciding to create us? Indeed, considering the numerous angels that serve Him, the question arises: why did God feel the need to create humans? Are we, in any way, similar to angels, or do we differ fundamentally? This inquiry delves into whether humans share the same essence or image with angels or if our existence represents something distinctly different.
Answer
In Genesis chapter one, we see that at the end of most of the days of creation, God said, “And God saw that it was good.” This phrase is repeated multiple times as God continued to create. Creators, like God, enjoy creating and take pride, love, and passion in their creations.
God gave his creation a specific task and duty. In verse 28 of Genesis chapter one, God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful, increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” God instructed his creation to be fruitful, multiply, and make more who are like them.
However, angels, although created, cannot multiply. There are already countless numbers of them. So, why did God ask humans to multiply when he could have easily multiplied them himself? God wanted a physical kingdom on earth, just like he had a spiritual kingdom.
God has been around for a long time, with no beginning and no equal. We don’t know how long God was alone before he created. Perhaps God wanted others to be around him too. There are many questions we would like to ask God when he comes down, but we know that our story starts in Genesis, where God wanted us to start paying attention.
The reason God created humans can be found in verses 26, 27, and 28 of Genesis chapter one. God said, “Let’s make man in our own image,” and instructed them to “be fruitful and multiply.” To understand God’s plan, we need to look at the beginning, see how Satan corrupted it, and how God’s plan had to shift a little bit to fix what was broken and continue with his original intentions.
Question
So, what exactly does it mean to “be fruitful and multiply”? This is precisely the reason. It explains why humans and the physical world were created. It also sheds light on why Satan specifically targets humans. This action has a purpose behind it.
Answer
Satan hates everything God does, so he’s going to throw a wrench in whatever he can. However, there’s more to Genesis 1 than meets the eye. God was hiding his plan and the real reason why he made things until the fulfillment fully comes. He spoke in the same language he uses to talk about the future.
God’s promises are meant for humans, those who will inherit the kingdom that he wants. If he had stopped in Noah’s time or at the first coming to defeat Satan at that era, what had to continue? Why did he have to make more promises? Did he defeat Satan in Noah’s time?
No, he didn’t. Something happened after the flood. People are Satan’s main target. In the story of Noah, God finished cleansing the world, hoping to start fresh with new people. However, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve and continued to increase among their descendants. God wanted to start anew, so he chose a few righteous people, put them on the ark, and flooded the rest, destroying Adam’s world.
Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. One of them, Ham, saw his father’s nakedness and revealed it to his brothers instead of covering it. This act is similar to what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden, revealing someone’s nakedness. In the world God created with Adam and his family, the same entity from the beginning continues to cause problems. Satan invaded again to blow up Noah’s family, just as he did in the beginning.
In the beginning, instead of covering his father’s nakedness, Ham exposed his father to his brothers. This is the reason why Ham and his sons were cursed. They had essentially done the same thing Satan did through the serpent, revealing nakedness and exposing. Now, God’s world has a corruption in it, and Noah curses Ham, saying that Canaan will be the servant of Shem, with Abraham being a descendant of Shem, the oldest son.
We now have two competing bloodlines: the descendants of Ham, who became the Canaanites, Jebusites, and all the other “-ites,” and the descendants of Shem, who became Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites. They eventually end up fighting each other in the Promised Land, also known as the land of Canaan, over a thousand years later. When God clears out the old, He starts something new, but Satan is always there to blow it up and get back in the mix of things. This leads to the question: how can this finally come to an end when Satan is fully defeated?
It’s important to remember that people still need to choose God, as He will not compel us to choose Him. God needs a holy people who will testify about Him to others and encourage them to choose Him. Unfortunately, this process has taken over 6,000 years, but we’re at the time when it’s about to come to an end. However, people have to willingly choose God.
The problem is not that God cannot destroy Satan, as God cannot be destroyed Himself. The angels, like humans, were created in God’s image, so they cannot be destroyed either. Hell was created for Satan and his fallen angels. The reason God has allowed this process to take over 6,000 years is that He is patient and wants more people to be saved.
God cast Satan from heaven to the earth. In the Book of Job, we see that even Satan has to present himself to God and give a report. The question arises: why hasn’t God fully captured Satan yet? God is a righteous judge, and just like a prosecutor needs abundant evidence to put someone in prison, God has been gathering ample evidence to throw Satan into hell eternally. At the same time, He has been fighting to protect people, but people need to choose to be protected.
Most people think they don’t need God and can do things on their own, but they end up getting devoured. There is no salvation for the fallen angels because they are arrogant and still stick to their ways. They could see God directly, which is a privilege humans don’t have. When they betrayed God, it was a deep level of betrayal, like a family member who has known you your entire life betraying the family. This is the kind of deep pain that God felt.
In 2 Peter 2:4, it says, “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment.” God did not spare them because they had no excuse for betraying Him, as they could see Him directly. They listened to the enemy, who deceived them just like he has been deceiving many people.
Question
The lesson of the figurative groom and the bride, it suggests that God is the groom, and Jesus is the bride, and they become unified as one. In the second coming, the groom is Jesus, and the bride is the new John. They become one in flesh and spirit. So, the question arises: Is Moses the bride, and is God the groom? The idea is to be unified as one, just as Jesus did with God during his era.
Answer
In Jeremiah 31, we can see a representation of a bride that teaches everyone else how to be a bride. It is appropriate to say that Moses was that representative bride, as God shared the law and the word directly with Moses, and Moses’s job was to help everyone else become a bride of God.
However, they became disassociated because they were not unified in the same body. They accepted the law, but their hearts were led away from God by Satan. This is why, even though you mentioned that Jesus and the new John become one, Moses never mentioned becoming one with God.
However, this concept is actually explored in Numbers 12, which is a good passage to consider further.
Numbers 12:1-8
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.
3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them came out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words:
“When a prophet of the Lord is among you,
I reveal myself to him in visions,
I speak to him in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”
In discussing the type of relationship God is illustrating through Moses, it’s emphasized that it’s exceedingly close, as intimate as possible. This point is underscored by the reference to Exodus 34, where it’s noted that Moses spent an extensive amount of time in God’s presence. This prolonged interaction led to a situation where God’s characteristics began to manifest in Moses, symbolizing the depth of their connection.
Furthermore, when examining verse 29, it’s highlighted that this relationship was so intimate that Moses and God could communicate face to face. This detail signifies a direct and open connection, underscoring the profound closeness between them.
Think of it like this: Jesus is from a different era, right? The one who is opening and fulfilling, the one who is promising, is ultimately God. What do I mean by this? In all of heaven, there’s only one will – it’s God’s will. It’s the only rule that exists.
So, whether God sends an angel, goes Himself, or sends Jesus, ultimately, it’s still God’s will that is being fulfilled. There are many intermediators. God chooses the person that people can trust and see, giving them the best chance to believe. At the time of Noah, it was Noah; at the time of Abraham, it was Abraham; at the time of Moses, it was Moses; and at the time of the first coming, it was Jesus. Jesus was here physically, and we could see, touch, and feel him. God tries to give us the best opportunity to believe in Him by speaking to someone we can see, touch, and feel.
However, you’re saying that’s how we like the Word, and we don’t need to base our salvation on it, right? Jesus defeated sin, which is one of the requirements to drink his blood, but whatever else he taught from there is now… it doesn’t apply because it’s a different era.
The requirements of the previous era no longer apply when things begin to take place. You can’t say, “At the time of Moses, get on the ark,” because it’s the wrong era. God has specific things for people to do in each era. Believing in Jesus at the first coming was the conclusion of the Old Testament covenant, the old covenant, or the first covenant. When people were able to believe in Jesus because they heard the words about him and believed, they were completing the law that they believed in.
You’re saying that when the fulfillment of the second coming starts, it begins a new era, right? That’s right. So, up to then, everybody’s saved by the era of the first coming because that’s all they knew. They didn’t know anything else; they knew what had happened and what they were supposed to believe in.
But when a new era begins, God and Jesus say, “This is what we would like for you to do now.” It does not nullify the old, but it often enhances the old because, ultimately, what God is asking people to do is to follow the real Him. After time, people tend to lose the real God between their own thoughts, temptations, Satan, and idols. So, there has to be a reset, and God says, “Actually, I’m here. You think I’m over here, but actually, I’m here.” Or like, “Oh, you’re doing things of old, which I already told you I don’t follow anymore. Those things don’t please me anymore. I need you to be doing this.”
Most people have in mind that there is no change because they don’t really know about the second coming that well. So, they don’t really understand. Jesus continues to the second coming because people are related to him in the first coming, and that continues.
Jesus was our mediator from the first coming, and God gave Jesus the authority to open this Word and fulfill it. Jesus is not on the front lines doing things, but of course, he’s… well, I haven’t really talked about this much, but I’ll give it to you as a teaser. What form is Jesus in at the second coming? It’s a spirit. Most people… okay, this is so critically important. If you understand this well, it makes a lot of things make sense, right? Because God is a spirit.
So, my question now is, if Jesus is like a prophet, like the new John or Moses, why is he called the Son of God? Because he is. Why do you mean that he’s the Son of God? He’s actually God’s Son, actually from God – the Son of God. Yeah, no, he’s not a regular person. He is the Son of God.
God was in Jesus’ body
We are spirits, and all of us are formed by God and placed in the body that we end up being in when God forms us in our mother’s womb. Jesus had a special title, being the Son of God, and he was promised for thousands of years in scripture.
God has been planning Jesus for a long time and has been using people for the last several thousand years to do specific tasks that led up to His Son. Jesus was born in a very special way, unlike anyone else. Moses and John the Baptist were not born from a virgin, nor were you and I. Jesus was born directly from God without sin so that he could do the job that God asked him to do. After ascending to heaven, Jesus ends up at the right hand of God. God puts everything under Jesus, making him unequal to anyone else.
The role of one who is supposed to speak can be given to one that God trusts. The role is what’s important, and Moses and Jesus did not have to be physically the same in order to spiritually do the same job, which is to testify what was seen and heard. This role can be given to one that God trusts and is prophesied about. However, Jesus is different from every other entity because he was born of the Word and directly from God, born of a virgin. The Son of God cannot be compared to people who became a son of God.
Jesus was the embodiment of everything that God had promised. Everything that God had promised became physical in Jesus, which is why it is said that the Word became flesh. You can see, touch, and feel the Word that had been promised. Jesus was promised from the very beginning, from when Adam and Eve sinned against God, and a savior was promised.
Well, “Christian” as a term just generally means a believer of Christ or a follower of Christ. We can call people different names too. When were the Christians first called Christians?
Acts 11:26
and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Being a Christian primarily means following Christ, as the term “Christian” itself suggests. However, it’s important to remember that the early Christians had only the explanations of the Old Testament and the gospel of Christ’s first coming. They acknowledged that there were things they simply could not know because they hadn’t happened yet, particularly regarding Christ’s second coming.
Today, we are Christians because we believe in the Christ who came. However, we also know that Christ made promises about His second coming, which we are patiently waiting for. Both the first and second comings are integral parts of what it means to be a Christian.
Many people, however, tend to become impatient and come up with their own explanations for what Christ’s second coming will be like, instead of simply admitting that we don’t know yet and are waiting for it to unfold.
This is what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 13:9 when he said, “Now we know in part, and we prophesy in part”, but then we will know fully as we are fully known.
It’s important to understand that it’s the spirit within a person that can either be alive or dead from God’s perspective.
When someone receives God’s truth, their spirit comes to life. Conversely, when a person denies God’s truth, their spirit dies. A prime example of this is Adam.
When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God warned them that if they ate from this tree, they would surely die. Yet, after eating the fruit, Adam lived for 930 years before he physically died. This means that something else died.
What died was their spirit. Immediately, Adam and Eve’s spirits died, and then their flesh followed.
The spirit and the soul are often used interchangeably, but there is a slight difference. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, it mentions that a person’s whole spirit, soul, and body should be sanctified. This suggests that each person has a spirit and a soul.
The spirit is the real “you,” the inner being. When you say “I,” you’re referring to your spirit. The soul is more like your breath, the life within you, like a battery. When a person dies, the breath (soul) leaves, and the spirit departs as well, leaving the physical body.
This can be illustrated using the analogy of a telephone. The physical body of the phone is like the body, the battery is like the soul, and the SIM card is like the spirit. The SIM card allows the phone to connect and function fully, just as the spirit is what connects a person to God or to Satan.
At the first coming of Christ, everyone was spiritually “dead,” like the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. But when Jesus came, His words brought the willing to life, figuratively resurrecting their spirits. In the same way, at the time of the second coming, Jesus is doing the same thing through the open word, bringing the spiritually dead to life.
Question:
You’ve stated that the figurative Babylon refers solely to Christians who are either confused or have embraced a false word. However, I’m puzzled as to why groups such as Muslims, Hindus, or others, who seem deeply influenced by what could be described as maddening wine, are excluded from this definition. This seems more like an assumption rather than a biblically accurate assertion. I’m curious about your perspective on this because there appear to be numerous parallels with other false beliefs or misconceptions. It doesn’t seem accurate to assert that the Bible definitively excludes these groups from being considered part of Babylon. I’ve yet to come across a verse that explicitly states those who do not follow Christ are not included in Babylon. Could you share your thoughts on this matter, especially since I haven’t found any direct comparisons to support this view?
Answer:
The point being made is that God is most concerned with the redemption of all people. The Bible states over 20 times that God desires for all men to be redeemed and to return to Him. He wants to free those who have chosen to worship false gods and be enslaved. Jesus died for them as well.
It is each individual’s choice whether they belong to God or not. God will celebrate more for the child who returns home than the one who has never left.
So how will God redeem the entire world? What is His process?
When Jesus died on the cross, the work of redemption was completed. The payment for our debts was fully satisfied, the judgment was fully redeemed, and the prophecies were fulfilled. This redemptive work will be finalized at the second coming of Christ.
Redemption is a matter of choice – to believe in the power of God. Those who choose to believe in Him know that they have been redeemed.
The key to salvation is hearing the gospel message. As the Scripture says, “Faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17). But for people to hear, someone must first speak the word.
From the beginning, God has worked through a chosen people to proclaim His truth. He established the nation of Israel as “a holy nation and a kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6), so they could go out and help others know God. However, when the people failed in this mission, God still needed a people who would faithfully speak His word.
The message that must be spoken is the true word of God, not human thoughts or ideas. As the text states, “if people start telling people their own thoughts, then it’s no longer God’s word that is coming out of their mouths, but something else.” God requires those who will speak His word truthfully.
This word of truth is like a seed that must be planted in people’s hearts. Through hearing and receiving this message, faith is birthed, and people can be saved. It is a matter of life and death – those who hear and believe have hope, while those who reject the truth remain in spiritual darkness.
The proclamation of God’s word is not just a one-time event, but an ongoing mission throughout all eras. Just as the Scriptures use the imagery of an “open” and “sealed” book (Daniel 12:4,9), the gospel message must continually be made known, until the appointed time when all will “come out” of spiritual death to new life.
The task of sharing this life-giving message has been entrusted to God’s people. We must be faithful to speak the true word, without addition or subtraction, so that all may have the opportunity to hear, believe, and be saved.
We need to examine the passage we are focusing on, as it provides valuable insights. Additionally, I want to share what Jesus said about our current era.
Jesus prophesied about the events that would unfold.
Jeremiah 23:25-32
25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.
This passage suggests that if something was possible in the past, it may still be possible today. Therefore, we must exercise discernment.
The key point is the importance of discernment. Being aware of the prophecies can help us discern. The aim is not to label people as good or bad, but to discern using the Word and make that decision for ourselves.
Amen. I agree that there are many pastors who have twisted the Word. However, it’s also true that there are religions that are not true, which could also be considered as part of “Babylon.”
That’s a fair point. Those who have never believed in God are not even part of the conversation. The focus is on God redeeming his people first, so that they can then help redeem the world. If God doesn’t have a people, then everyone else has no chance.
The message is that God’s people need to get right first, and then they can help the world.
Many of us could be in a state of spiritual deadness, just as the rest of the world is in the grave.
The seminar is designed to cover the fundamentals, particularly of the Book of Revelation, over the course of 8 to 9 months. Mastering the parables and Bible Logic will be the primary focus, as they provide crucial tools for discernment.
Revelation is considered the most powerful discernment tool available. When one understands Revelation well, they will be able to discern various teachings and prophecies. However, Revelation is covered towards the end of the course, so the emphasis is on mastering the parables and Bible Logic first.
Bible Logic is essential because it helps to recognize God’s consistent pattern from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This reveals how often God repeats Himself through events and other means. Developing this understanding will significantly enhance one’s ability to discern truth from falsehood.
The key message is to stay the course and diligently study the fundamentals, as this will lay a strong foundation for accurately interpreting the more complex and symbolic aspects of Scripture, such as the Book of Revelation.
Jesus mentioned in John chapter 5 that a time is coming when they will come out of their graves. Jesus is speaking a prophecy.
He is using figurative language. However, there will be a first and second resurrection, which we haven’t discussed yet. But what we talked about today is a figurative resurrection in a spiritual sense.
This refers to someone who is physically alive coming out of spiritual graves. Revelation chapter 20 talks about the first resurrection and then the rest of the dead. That’s a different level, which we’ll get to in a moment.
The goal is for heaven to come down. So people who have died and been redeemed need to come to the place where heaven will be. We may not be ready for that yet, but know that there are many great things to come.
However, before that, betrayal and destruction must happen, so we can get excited about salvation. But first, we need to understand the things that must take place before. God always keeps his word, and the words of Revelation must be fulfilled.
It’s important to be fully aware of the words so that you can recognize when they are fulfilled, because they will be. Doubting God is a losing battle.
Question
Throughout history, and before my journey to finding Christ, it was through Bill Graham’s ministry that I came to Christ. Additionally, there are other evangelists and Bible teachers whom I hold in high regard. As we’ve discussed in our class, it seems we might understand more than many teachers out there.
This leads me to ponder if perhaps they’ve misinterpreted the Bible, especially the book of Revelation. As you’ve mentioned, it’s crucial for us to thoroughly understand the book of Revelation.
Understanding it allows us to anticipate and comprehend what is happening and what will happen. I have a strong desire to delve deeply into it. At times, my eagerness is so intense that I can barely contain it.
However, my question revolves around these teachers. They continue their preaching and teaching, drawing people to Christ and maintaining their faithfulness.
What might become of them?
Answer
They will hear the open word. Consider this – one thing I always find encouraging is the importance of God’s path for our lives. God has placed people in our path who have led us, nurtured us, prayed for us, met with us, and cried with us, in order to bring us to this point.
These people had a vital role to play in getting us here. Without them, we would not be where we are today. Even Jesus attended the synagogue before beginning his ministry. This is not to say he learned from these people or took their words and then taught what he had heard there. But there were guardians and trustees, right? Apostle Paul also acknowledges his leader, Gamaliel, saying he was trained under him when he was a Pharisee. So we should not be putting down those who have brought us to this point, because we would not have a passion for the word we’re receiving if we hadn’t been exposed to it in the first place.
However, we still need to discern. There is a difference between continuing with milk and receiving solid food. We need milk to grow, but we cannot survive on milk alone.
I share the concern about those who, like the Sadducees, Pharisees, and others who believed they knew the law and everything there was to know, had to be rebuked by Jesus because they clearly did not. Instructor Paul, perhaps you can help me or correct me, but I think we need to be very careful not to be self-righteous or all-knowing, and instead approach things humbly, recognizing that we may not know the full picture.
Let’s look at Acts 5:33-34, where Gamaliel, Apostle Paul’s teacher, spoke about the early disciples. When the Sanhedrin heard the disciples, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee and teacher of the law, stood up and advised them to leave the disciples alone. He said that if their purpose or activity was of human origin, it would fail, but if it was from God, they would not be able to stop them. His speech persuaded the Sanhedrin, and they had the apostles flogged and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go.
The apostles left rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name, and they never stopped preaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. We can’t stop the disciples. Gamaliel’s wise approach is one we should emulate – if the truth is from God, it will rise to the top, so let’s preach it faithfully without putting others down.
The dry bones represented the spiritual condition of God’s people at the time of Jesus’ first coming. They were spiritually dead, like bones that had been dry for a long time. God saw His people lacking the Spirit, with no breath in them. This is why they argued and bickered amongst each other.
The Sadducees, for example, only read the books up to Deuteronomy, completely ignoring the scriptures from Joshua to Malachi. How could they possibly understand what God was doing in their time if they were missing such important parts of the Bible?
The Pharisees, on the other hand, did read up to Malachi, but they were focused on their own interpretations of the law, and missed the true meaning of what Jesus was saying. This variability in understanding caused a great deal of confusion.
This is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to correct the record. However, not everyone was willing to listen to Jesus. But those who did received new life and a faith so strong that nothing else mattered to them. They were willing to face whatever happened, fully committed to the truth.
This represents the fulfillment of the prophecy and the parable of the dry bones coming to life. The word of God, which had been sealed, was now open, and those who were spiritually dead were able to come out and receive true hope.
Hebrews 11:35
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
The writer of Hebrews in chapter 11 is discussing the excellent examples of people in the Bible who had exemplary faith. This is often referred to as the “Hall of Faith.” The author then mentions what was happening when Jesus was speaking.
One of the things he talked about was that women received their dead back to life again. However, others who were being tortured refused release, saying, “I’m here. I’m in prison. Don’t release me.”
Why were they refusing release? Were they expecting or waiting for something? Were they desiring something specific? It’s curious whether this refusal was literal or figurative, representing a spiritual bondage to sin while awaiting the Messiah. At the time, they may have been confused, assuming the Messiah would establish a physical kingdom on Earth.
To provide more context, these were people who had heard about Jesus and His teachings, especially about being the resurrection and the life. Their faith had increased to the point that the fate of their physical bodies was irrelevant, as their hope was in something much greater.
The text mentions a “better resurrection” that they were hoping for. This implies there are multiple resurrections, and one that is superior. We see this concept in the book of Revelation as well. These people refused release because they wanted to be part of that “better resurrection” they had heard about from Jesus.
The level of faith they displayed, enduring so many trials, is a testament to the challenges we face as men, especially in responsibilities related to family, raising godly children, and balancing various duties. It is not an easy path, but we must remain strong together, as God needs us to be steadfast.
Question
Are you suggesting that the New Covenant you’re referring to in the Book of Revelation is different from the one mentioned in Hebrews 8? Is there a new New Covenant, similar to the new song we were to learn, or are you indicating that it’s the same New Covenant, just presented differently?
Answer
The New Covenant is the same. That’s right.
The New Covenant is the same. But consider it like how the Gospels summarize everything that was fulfilled at the time of the Old Testament. Revelation summarizes everything that is fulfilled from the promises of the New Covenant.
So think of Matthew through Jude as prophesying what will take place, and then Revelation being the fulfillment of those promises, the conclusion of everything. Does this make sense?
Yeah, so let’s understand this a little bit in more detail.
Matthew 5:17-20
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s understand what Jesus is saying here. Jesus declares that He has come not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. We can think of Jesus as the embodiment of the law. So, if one follows Jesus, they are following the law.
When Jesus was asked to explain the Old Testament law in two phrases, what were those two phrases He used when asked about the greatest commandment? He summarized the whole law in those two commandments of the New Covenant: to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor as yourself.
There have been several everlasting covenants, such as the Abrahamic covenant, the covenant of Moses and the Ten Commandments, and the New Covenant. Jesus fulfilled them all. When God gives a covenant, it comprises the law and a promise or prophecy. When that law is fulfilled or the prophecy is realized, the covenant is concluded.
Jesus represented the conclusion of the old covenant and established a new covenant. However, the principles of the old covenant continued, as they are essentially to love the Lord your God and to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus was saying that by living by the law, you are doing these things, but you also need to listen to what He is saying, as He has summarized and concluded that law so that a new law can continue.
The passage in Hebrews 8:7-13 describes this well. The principles do not change; we are still to follow God’s word. Today, we don’t need to keep the over 600 different commands that were given, as those commands were essentially summarized in the two great commandments. Following Jesus’s words is like following the law, but it is essentially summarized.
Hebrews 8:7-13
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said :
“The time is coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Read Hebrews 10 and the entire Hebrews chapter 9, as it discusses that relationship.
However, keep in mind that Hebrews is actually a quote from Jeremiah 31. Jeremiah lived 600 years before Jesus was born. Therefore, it has been God’s intention for a long time to establish a new covenant.
In this new covenant, God said, “I will write my law on their minds and on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Verse 11 is particularly interesting.
It states that no longer will a man have to teach his neighbor or a man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they will all know me.
Has that time already come when no one has to teach another? No, it is still ahead.
The fulfilment of this prophecy is still to come, but we eagerly await that time when all will know the Lord. Oh, may that time arrive soon. Keep this passage in mind.
Verse 13 is a crucial summary verse. It states that by calling this covenant “new,” the first one has been made obsolete. However, the issue was not with the law that God gave to Moses, but with the people.
Verses 7 and 8 explain that if the Israelites had fully kept the first covenant, there would have been no need for another one. Things would have been completed then. But because they did not fulfil their part, God had to find others who would carry the torch forward.
John 1:10-13
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
So, actually, the new covenant is for those who believe in the Son. Why? Because they became grafted in to the promise that God intended.
Romans 2:28-29
28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.
Those who follow the Son of God have become spiritual Jews, essentially. Physical lineage is no longer the primary factor.
[Student 2]
There are two different interpretations of the covenants among Christians. Some follow the doctrine of dispensationalism or replacement theology, while others believe that God’s covenants with the Jews still stand.
The perspective that Christians have replaced the Jews for Israel can be confusing. The new covenant’s beginning and end can be unclear. Christians are inwardly adopted into Christ, but the obligations of the old and new covenants may differ for Jews and Christians.
[Instructor]
This is a great question. So, there is a passage that I hope we can complete.
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written:
“Be glad, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Please read the rest of Galatians 4.
Paul is making a really interesting and important distinction. The law that God gave to Moses was never intended to be the permanent law for all time. It was meant to guide the people into what God was doing when Christ came.
So, to insist on following what God did in the previous era ignores what God is doing in the current era. He was saying that we are children of the promise, because God had promised to send his son, even since the time when the original covenant was given. Even since Deuteronomy, God had been promising the coming of his son, the coming of the prophet, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 18.
Those who believed in Jesus became the children of the promise that had been fulfilled in their time. This is why one could believe in the Son of God and be saved, because they were completing the promise for which they had been waiting. Do you understand?
At that time, believing in the Son of God was how one would be saved, because they were completing their promise. Everyone else who didn’t do that essentially did not end up keeping their first covenant with God. It was officially broken at that time.
It was also broken throughout, too. But Jesus is the conclusion of that first law, and then Jesus spoke about what we should do going forward. We are supposed to follow what Jesus spoke going forward.
This is the distinction that Paul is making. Those who insist on following the first law are essentially slaves. But those who believe in the promise become free, children of the free.
Does this make sense, or does it still seem a bit confusing? Please let me know if you have any other questions.
[Student 2]
The text presents a complex understanding of the biblical narrative. It suggests that when Jesus descended to hell, he rescued the slaves and returned them to heaven. This is likened to the Roman triumph, where the Roman army invaded and conquered an enemy, taking the slaves with them and bringing them to heaven.
The text indicates that Jesus redeemed the Jews, as described in Hebrews 11, the “hall of faith,” where they were rescued because they had failed to keep the covenant. They had sinned and broken the Ten Commandments, and the consequence of sin is death and separation from God.
However, the text suggests that Jesus, through God’s covenant, kept his promises and fulfilled the law, purchasing them back. This was part of his promise with Israel. The understanding presented is that there is a separate covenant, where one can become adopted into his kingdom through faith, whereas being born a Jew is a different privilege.
[Instructor]
This seminar covers a topic that will likely require more time to thoroughly discuss. We will explore this further in the next section of the course.
Let me first clarify an important point. The covenant that the people of Israel had to uphold was twofold. They were required to follow the law daily, but the most crucial aspect was the prophecy of the Messiah’s coming. Failing to believe in the latter meant breaking the entire covenant.
Christ came to redeem those who believed in the most essential part of the covenant – faith in the Messiah. He promised a new covenant to these believers. Therefore, any Jews who believed in Jesus were the ones who were redeemed.
However, many did not believe, and even today, many deny Christ. God’s desire is for them to eventually come to Christ as well. But continuing to keep a now obsolete law is no longer pleasing to God. If one only upholds the first covenant, they are not pleasing God.
God has done something new through his Son. Therefore, he wants those to now follow his Son. Moses and Isaiah were prophesying about Jesus; everything in Moses’ time pointed to Jesus. The Ark of the Covenant was a figurative representation of Jesus. Jesus was a pivotal turning point.
The summary of loving God with your whole heart and loving your neighbor as yourself – everyone has broken these old covenants. But God does not break his covenants; he has always kept and will always keep his promises, even though we fail to keep our end of the covenant.
It is better for us to be like the disciples, realizing we didn’t do a good job before, but now knowing what we can do to improve. The process of repentance is ongoing, not a one-time event. As Proverbs 24:16 says, “a righteous man falls seven times, but he rises again.” The righteous part is the rising, the getting up. Satan wants us to remain in the muck of our failures, but God says, “Get up.”
The Bible clearly states that Jesus was without sin. This is a fundamental truth about him. However, there is a difference between Jesus and New John. They are not equal – Jesus is the Son of God, while New John was a servant.
The key reason why Jesus was sinless is that he was born not of human seed, but of the Holy Spirit. No other person in this world can claim such a divine origin, which is why Jesus’ sacrifice was so potent and effective in cleansing the sins of all.
During Jesus’ first coming, there was likely a lot of hearsay and rumors circulating about him. The disciples probably heard many things about him in passing, which may have contributed to Peter’s fear of being identified as a follower. The atmosphere at that time was hostile towards Jesus and his followers.
The solution is to go back to the word of God, the Bible, which dispels such hearsay and false claims. As we see in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, the word of God is the ultimate authority that settles these types of arguments.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
In this passage, Paul is rebuking the people for following or claiming to follow certain individuals, instead of truly following the Spirit. He emphasizes that they should not be saying, “I follow this person” or “I follow that person,” but rather, “I follow the word.” The truth lies in following the word, wherever it leads.
As mentioned in 1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul appeals to himself and Apollos for the benefit of the people, so that they may learn the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” This is important, as it means they should not take pride in following one person over another, but rather, focus on following the word.
The passage also highlights the importance of following Jesus, our high priest, who was without sin (Hebrews 4:15). This is what the people should be doing, rather than following human leaders.
The key point here is that the word dispels hearsay. It is the word, not the figurative representations of people, that represents the true fulfilment of prophecy and parable. The people should open their hearts to the word, rather than being sealed off by false hopes and lies. The lesson is to follow the word, not the person, as this is the true path to spiritual growth and understanding.
[Student 2]
So what happens if I want to testify to someone who does not believe in the Bible? How can I prove that?
[Instructor]
If someone doesn’t believe in the Bible, then showing them Bible verses won’t be very effective. So you really have to appeal to them in a way that aligns with their current understanding, and then gradually lead them to the understanding of the word.
For example, if a person puts science above all, you can testify to them scientifically. Use what is familiar to that person to guide them towards the word. You could start by discussing the beauty of biology, like how a small seed can contain so much genetic material that it can grow into a giant tree, living for 50, 60, 70, 100, or even 200 years. Or how the leaves soak up sunlight and then evaporate water, or how springs form at the top of mountains and bring life wherever the water flows.
You are speaking in parables, using a language they can understand. And at the end of the discussion, you can reveal that everything you were saying is actually found in the Bible and is a reflection of how God works. This will make the person more interested in the Bible than they were before.
If you had just started with Bible verse after Bible verse, they would have likely shut down. But by piquing their interest first, they become more receptive to the word. It’s like planting a seed – if you just drop it on a path, the birds will come and take it away, and it won’t take root. You have to slowly lead them to the word before it can truly take hold within them.
You cannot confirm the truth of the Bible through physical evidence alone. This was the case at the time of Jesus’ first coming as well. If Jesus had only healed people and not opened his mouth, the understanding of who he was would have faded quickly, as miracles have a limited impact and people tend to forget. It was the word that allowed people to retain their understanding of Jesus. This is why the primary evidence of Jesus’ existence is found in the Bible, as that is how God intended it to be.
[Student 2]
What about New John?
[Instructor]
And that’s the way God wanted it. I’m saying the logic is the same.
[Student 2]
Would people still believe in Jesus’ word, without performing any miracles? If he never performed any miracles, would people follow him?
[Instructor]
Miracles can be a touchy subject for Christians. The way to understand them is to look at the places where miraculous signs were performed, and examine the immediate and long-term results.
A key example is the events in Egypt, where God performed many miraculous things. However, later on, when the people were in the desert, they acted as if they had not seen those miraculous events. They even grumbled against God, despite all that He had done for them.
Miracles are meant to get people’s attention and to show that God is present and working at that time. But ultimately, what God wants is for people to come to Him, follow His word, and obey His commands. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 12 that a wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign, as they are not truly interested in what Jesus had to say. They just wanted to see Jesus perform impressive feats and then ask tricky questions. The true miracle is understanding the word of God.
When God returns, many things will happen, as Paul promised in 1 Corinthians 15. This is what we should be waiting for – the fulfilment of God’s prophecy and the true hope for humanity.
In short, to get people’s attention.
[Student 2]
There are 3 promised pastors, as you mentioned: Moises, Jesus, and New John—both Moises and Jesus performed miracles; is New John also going to perform miracles as well?
[Instructor]
To understand the context of the people at a particular time, it’s important to recognize that God’s ways are era-specific. There were many miraculous events that were necessary because many had not yet been exposed to the word.
Before someone understands the word, a miracle is an effective way to capture their attention. Then, they can learn the word. For the people of Israel, when God said He would bring them out of Egypt, this was before Moses had written any of the Old Testament scriptures. They did not have much access to the word, so God performed many miracles to get their attention, to show them that He was present, and to lead them out.
Later, at the time of the first coming, there were people who were very familiar with God’s word, but they did not understand it well, and they rejected Jesus. So Jesus performed miracles to get their attention again, with the goal of having them listen to what He had to say.
Today, many people know about Jesus, but we must be aware that Satan is crafty and can also perform miraculous signs and wonders to be extra effective. 2 Thessalonians 2 warns about lawless men and false prophets who can perform such signs. However, focusing solely on miracles can lead people in the wrong direction, as they are not looking at the word. Understanding the word is the greatest miracle, which is why Jesus spoke. As we understand the word, and are cleansed and prepared, that is the true healing.
You have to think about it on two fronts.
We have to think of it like this: it’s a mixture because Satan would not show all evil; otherwise, no one would believe in him. So there are good things that happened and good things that were spoken.
But there were also evil things that were spoken as well. Good things like “Jesus loves you.” Yes, he does.
But something evil would be saying, “Jesus loves you unconditionally. There is nothing you can do, once saved, to change that.” That’s not what the Bible says.
It seems nice, but it is a twisting of the words to change what the Bible actually says.
So the last 2,000 years has been a mixture of this. But it’s impossible to tell until the harvest. You can’t look back in time and say this person was the good seed and this person was the bad seed because it wasn’t possible to know which was which. Let me show you a scripture that really talks about the importance of what I mentioned here.
John 12:48
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
Jesus says quite clearly there is a judge, and the judge is Jesus’s words. So if someone takes Jesus’s words and says them incorrectly, those very words will condemn them at the last day. That’s the truth which overshadows the lie.
It was hard to know what was the truth and what wasn’t. It was very murky. That’s why the last 2000 years have spawned so many different denominations, because people can’t agree with each other as to the meaning of things.
But at the time of the harvest, when the open word comes, it then becomes clearly possible to know as God and Jesus’s words become clear. And so things like this fade away. Another example:
Seed equals word versus seed equals money.
Some places say this, some places say that, and it’s a mixture. Maybe a place says this correctly but then also says this incorrectly. Or a place says both this and that.
There are hundreds of different things. That’s why it’s been hard to know. That’s why we study the parables first, because the parables dispel a lot of these things quickly.
[Student 2]
So you are saying right now, people are learning good seed and also bad seed altogether?
[Instructor]
That’s right. It’s a mixture. There are lots of good things.
Take care of your neighbor, volunteer, give your time, pray a lot, read your Bible. These are good things. But then there are other things that are twisting the word or putting men’s tradition above the word that are mixed in too.
[Student 2]
So believers in Babylon, for instance, are those who haven’t heard about the open word, and then they feel God’s presence or God is answering their prayers, and they see many changed lives and miracles in their lives—all that kind of stuff. Is God communicating with them, or is it just demons trying to confuse them with their own miracles?
[Instructor]
This is a very good question, too. It’s also a mixture, because God wants all of his seed to be harvested. Just because this has been the case does not mean God has not been guiding us our whole lives.
Acts 17:26-30
26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
I love this passage because it really explains your question. First, God determined the times and places where we would be and where we would live, so that eventually we would seek him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. Everything that has happened in your life, from the moment you took your first breath, God has been planning your steps to get here.
Please do not misunderstand. God has been guiding you this whole time, and everything that’s happened in your life, from the moment you accepted Christ to the moment you spent time to the moment you were introduced to the study, all of it was orchestrated by God so that you can find him fully.
Maybe God was doing miracles in your life to get you here, but eventually, God wants us to repent once we come to full understanding. It’s like how a parent raises a child. A child from year one to year ten makes many mistakes, and there are many things that the parent has to do before the child really fully understands why the parent is doing that. Then the child becomes more mature and comes to more understanding, seeing the parent a little bit differently. Now the child, once fully mature, wants to help the parent. The same thing happens with our lives of faith. We were infants for a long time, but now God is growing us into maturity, and we’re seeing God very differently, like an adult sees his parent.
Do not discount the things that happened in your life to get you here because they were important to get you here. But once you are here, God would rather guide you directly through the word. No more should we be looking for signs and wonders, but we should be looking for understanding of the word, which is the greatest sign and wonder. That’s how Jesus did it, too. Jesus did miracles to get people’s attention, and then he preached to them because the word was the real miracle. But not everyone was patient enough to listen to the words; most just came for the miracles.
[Student 2]
Why have Christians been persecuted everywhere? Why is Satan trying to persecute them if they don’t have the truth?
[Instructor]
Another good question. Well, what kind of destruction does Satan want? Partial or complete? Satan wants complete destruction of the field.
The way you should think about it is that his seed was sown in the field to begin that destruction internally. But if people are still believing in Jesus, they’re still waiting for him, and they can still hear the open word. So until they’re completely destroyed, there’s still a chance for God’s will to be fulfilled with them.
That’s why Satan wants to completely destroy them, and why Christians have still struggled for the last 2000 years. It’s because Satan wants complete destruction, but God has been preventing it because God was waiting for the harvest. The harvest has to be fulfilled. The harvest starts first with believers. People who are non-believers, they’re harvested later by those who are harvested first.
QUESTION
In the lesson about the wheat growing and the farmer carrying it into the barn, did you mention that some of us were already collected by the farmer, in between the barn and the field? Some were still in the field, and some were in the hand of the farmer.
Are you saying that some of us are currently in the hand of the farmer? Is that correct?
[Instructor]
If something has already taken place.
[Student 3]
But you also said that we could revert ourselves. In that case, how could we be in the process of going in? You also mentioned that at the end of the age, the sickle will be used to harvest. So are we at the end of the age right now?
ANSWER
We have the field where we started, which is Jesus, the church. The field is the place where we had to start, but it cannot be our permanent dwelling place. Jesus promised to send his angels to do the work of harvest.
The angels go into the field with their sickle and harvest. Harvesting isn’t an immediate thing; you have to harvest and gather those being harvested because eventually, you have to bring them into the barn. The barn is the destination.
If someone still finds themselves in the field (Babylon church), they have not yet been harvested. One must first come out of the field. If someone has come out of the field, they are here (the barn) until they know where this place is and enter. Some students are still in the field.
[Student 3]
But we could not determine this ourselves. If we could, all of us would rather be harvested.
[Instructor]
Exactly. It wouldn’t have been possible to determine until we started learning the open word. No one can self-harvest. That’s not how it works.
[Student 3]
Understood. But the condition is at the end of the age.
[Instructor]
So are we at the end of the age or not? And how do we know?
[Student 2]
Can I add something? At the end of the harvest, you mentioned there are qualifications for salvation, and the destination is the barn, right? Many people are already in the barn, but you still have the four fields. You can switch back and forth even if they are at the destination because you’re saying you have to persevere until the end.
Salvation is not guaranteed until the end. You mentioned there are 7 qualifications plus 3 additional ones on the test: to keep the covenant, to drink the blood of the lamb, and to understand the parables. But you didn’t mention being fruitful. Is this one of the qualifications? What happens if people are in the barn but don’t produce fruit? Are they going to be kicked out? In John 15, it says if you’re not producing fruit, you can be cut out, right?
[Instructor]
Yes, this is very good. Producing fruit only comes after one has matured. First, enter, then produce fruit. That’s important and a really good catch. But yes, you’re right. One does have to produce fruit, as Jesus mentioned.
I want to go back to the end of the age question quickly because it’s really important, and we need to understand this. What is the end of the age?
[Student 3]
It’s the time when Jesus comes back.
[Instructor]
And what book details Jesus’s coming? The book of Revelation, right? The book of Revelation details Jesus’s coming. Is the book of Revelation one chapter? No, it’s 22 chapters. There’s quite a lot involved in the end of the age. The end of the age is a series of events.
[Student 3]
So you’re saying it’s fulfilled partially until the whole thing is fulfilled. Okay, I buy that. But then there’s another question. Someone said that as long as you’re alive, you have a chance to get saved. And as long as you’re alive, you also have a chance to fail or revert, like you said, because of wealth or some reason that tricked you. So until you die, you don’t really know for sure that you’re going to be harvested.
[Instructor]
Oh, good question. Okay, so first of all, there are three groups mentioned that gather in heaven. Return to Revelation chapter 20, and we’ll see these three groups.
Revelation 20:4-6
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Revelation 20:4-6 mentions three groups of people:
1. The martyrs: Those who were beheaded because of their faith in Jesus and the word of God.
2. The overcomers: Those who did not worship the beast, his image, or receive the number of his name. These are the people who are alive at the second coming of Christ.
3. The rest of the dead: Everyone else who did not belong to the first two groups.
The first group, the martyrs, are currently in heaven as spirits. They died 2000 years ago for their faith, like the disciples and early Christians.
The second group, the overcomers, are those who will be alive when Jesus returns for the second time. This group should include you.
At the second coming, the martyrs will return with Jesus and unite with the overcomers who are alive. Together, they will take part in the first resurrection.
The third group, the rest of the dead, will have to wait until the 1000 years are over before they can resurrect. This is known as the later resurrection.
In Hebrews 11:35, it is mentioned that the people at the first coming were aware of this and wanted to become martyrs so that they could be part of the first group and take part in the first resurrection.
Hebrews 11:35
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
They wanted to gain a better resurrection, also known as the first one. Those who are part of the second resurrection have to wait. The people who were tortured and refused to be released wanted to come back with Jesus and be part of all the work that happens at that time. They understood this concept 2000 years ago. They preferred to die in prison because they wanted to be part of this group.
It’s possible for the second coming to happen while you’re alive and be a part of what’s happening. In fact, that’s our hope. We know the end of the age is coming because things have already started being fulfilled. It’s happening in the present tense. Just because Jesus hasn’t returned yet does not mean things aren’t happening.
[Student 3]
I do not want to point a finger at anyone, but the group we’re talking about is the one between the field and the barn. People could know where they’re at right now.
[Instructor]
You should know that you’re in that position by this point in the class.
[Student 3]
I wish I had that confidence, but by the end of the course, we should know.
[Instructor]
By the end of the course, you’ll definitely know. But until we get there, we should feel like we’re here. If you don’t feel like that yet, study more.
[Student 3]
I do feel like it, but I don’t have the confidence because I need the word to back me up. But like you said, the book of Revelation is being fulfilled slowly. I understand that.
[Instructor]
That’s right. Things have been fulfilled, so we know that the end of the age is here. However, there are still things to be fulfilled too. We’ll understand how much has been fulfilled as we study. Fulfillment always involves who, what, when, where, why, and how. As we get closer to the end of the intermediate course, these aspects will become quite clear.
[Student 2]
You also mentioned another clue. The new John’s job is to build the new heaven and new earth on earth right now. If they are talking about this, and you’ve already mentioned the seven stars have been fulfilled, it means the new John is now a reality and is being revealed. His job is to build heaven on earth. The end of the age happens when the new heaven and new earth are constructed on earth, and this is when the banquet and the marriage happen. That’s when the new holy city, New Jerusalem, will come down, as described in the last chapter of Revelation. I don’t know how much of Revelation has been fulfilled, but I think it’s up to chapters 17 or 18.
[Instructor]
We’ll get into those details later, but there’s still a lot that we need to look at in the intermediate course before we know for sure. However, we are quite far along.
If we can all turn to the book of Genesis.
Genesis 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
God created us for a specific purpose. What did He desire for us to do?
God definitely wants us to worship Him, but according to the verse, He also wants us to rule over His creation.
The first question is essentially why did God create us? In Genesis 1:27-28, it says, “Let us make man in our own image, and he will rule over the earth.”
And what did it say in verse 28? “Be fruitful and multiply.” If you notice, God repeats this instruction to be fruitful and multiply many times throughout the book of Genesis.
He also tells Noah and his family after the flood in Genesis chapter 9 to be fruitful and multiply. So, God created us to rule over creation and to be fruitful and multiply. Why?
Because God wanted more like heaven. We have to think about it from the lens of who belongs to God and who does not. We know that there is a split in heaven and in the spiritual world because of the fall of Satan and the demons.
Those entities came to destroy God’s creation. God wants creation to be more like Him. Initially, man was created to do this.
Why do angels have different duties? When we look at Revelation chapter 4, we are introduced to several different types of angels. What are some of the types that we’re introduced to in Revelation 4?
What type of angels are we introduced to? Four living creatures and seven spirits. What else was mentioned in Revelation 4?
Revelation 4:1-8
After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
The first thing John sees is one who is seated on the throne, which is God. John sees God first. Then, he sees 24 thrones surrounding the throne, and seated on these 24 thrones are 24 elders. In Revelation 5, it is revealed that the lamb is also in the center, meaning that God and Jesus are in the center. John then sees 7 lamps or blazing, which represent the 7 spirits of God who go out throughout all the earth, as mentioned in Revelation 5:6.
John is seeing quite a lot in this vision. He also sees a sea of glass that is as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne and from the lamb. Surrounding the throne are the four living creatures. This shows that in heaven, there are different roles and duties for these angels.
Another notable aspect of John’s vision is that he sees many eyes around the four living creatures. Eyes, in terms of spiritual revelation, represent spirits. The many eyes mentioned in Revelation 5:6 are spirits. This means that many spirits surround each of the four living creatures, indicating a structured setup in heaven. The way Isaiah chapter 9 describes this structure is particularly intriguing.
Isaiah 9:7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
So, what did Isaiah say about the child that will be born?
What will be put on his shoulders in verse 7?
The government, organization, or you can say structure.
This means that heaven has a structure, indicating that every entity in heaven has a specific role or duty to play out. A job to do. Because they weren’t created for no reason.
They weren’t created to just kind of hang around and hang about. Because even we, as God’s creation, were also given a task and a duty to fulfill, right?
So, what are the duties of the angels? We can look at it in Psalms 103:20-22.
We’ll see two of their duties, and then we’ll see one more in an additional verse.
Psalms 103:20-22
20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.
The angels from these two passages have two primary duties:
1. They must praise and worship the Lord, which was repeated many times in the passage.
2. They must obey the Lord’s commands.
However, as we’ve understood through studying, the angels perform these duties willingly. They are not compelled or forced, as angels are not robots or automata. They worship God of their own free will, as there are those angels that decided not to and became Satan and demons. This is evident in 2 Peter 2:4, which talks about angels being able to sin. A being with no ability to choose cannot sin, but both humans and angels have the ability to choose, which is a characteristic we share with them. The passage calls angels “his works,” meaning they are God’s creations.
In addition to praising and obeying God, angels have another task, as mentioned in Hebrews 1:14: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” This verse indicates that angels are ministering spirits, and their role and duty is to serve those who will inherit salvation.
God created humans in his image, which was his original intention. However, when we sinned in the garden, we transitioned from that original state. The reason for God’s creation of humans is a good question to ask Him. One way to think about it is that God has always been around forever and will continue to be around forever. Perhaps there was a period when God was alone and didn’t want to be alone anymore, so he created the angels and then humans. When God creates, he creates in his own image and creates what is good. He also gives us the ability to choose, which is important because choice is good. As Deuteronomy 30 states, “I set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life.” God wants us to worship and obey him because we want to and because He is worthy of it. Initially, God created us to be like him in his image and to rule over what he had created, but we failed at that duty. God wants to restore that.
In fulfilling their duty as ministering spirits, angels have several different tasks to perform, which will be discussed later. This summary provides a decent understanding of what we have learned so far.
To address the questions, firstly, God created us to rule over what was created and to be fulfilled, multiplying so that there will be more who belong to God. This concept will be important when we revisit Genesis 1 after finishing Revelation.
Secondly, the purpose of ruling in this sense can be understood by considering Adam’s situation. God asked Adam to rule over his kingdom. In the eight steps of creation and recreation, the first step was the selection of a pastor, followed by being given a kingdom. The animals mentioned in Genesis 2 are not literal, and there had to be others to teach.
To fully grasp these concepts, it is essential to be patient and wait until we cover Genesis 1 in detail, verse by verse and section by section, after completing our study of Revelation. Understanding Revelation more deeply will provide clarity and make the answers more comprehensible. It is best to address these topics at the proper time.
QUESTION
In Isaiah 55:6, when it says to seek the Lord while He may be found, does this imply that God is not always near? Or is He always near but only distant to those who reject Him? In other words, do God’s sheep always hear His voice, regardless of the circumstances?
ANSWER
Isaiah 55:6-11
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
To truly comprehend this, we need to examine the rest of the context.
Let’s revisit what we have looked at here. In verse 6, it states, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” Class, when can God be found, and when is He near?
When the word is open, and we can understand prophecy and fulfillment.
We understand how God operates, right? This logic should always be at the back of your mind.
Because God is in a wartime state, God has to speak beforehand and fulfill later on, correct? That’s the situation God has been in for the last 6,000 years. So, when is God near and can be found? It’s when His word is fulfilled.
When was it possible for people to call on the name of the Lord or return to the Lord? And when was it possible for God to have mercy on them? When this man showed up, Jesus.
When God’s words were fulfilled. That’s when God was near. That’s when God could be found because He was working through Jesus.
Does that make sense, everyone? This is a prophecy. This is the book of Isaiah.
So, we should be thinking first coming, first coming, first coming, first coming. That’s what we should be thinking.
So, how near was God? How could He be found?
It’s when people found Jesus and turned to the Lord. So, like in John chapter 14, when Jesus said, “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” Then what did God say?
Verse 8 and 9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” My words will be fulfilled as spoken, and they will be fulfilled through my son, whom I will send to you. Make sense?
Is everyone understanding? Okay.
Let’s break this down a bit more.
The question is about the Sabbath, which has been a contention for believers for quite some time. We need to first understand what the Sabbath means. So, we’ll start by talking about that.
What does Sabbath mean? A day of rest. Sabbath equals rest.
Where did the concept of Sabbath come from?
How many days did God take to create? Six days.
And on which day did He rest? The seventh day.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. So, is the Sabbath important to God or not important to Him?
It is important to Him. It matters to Him. Let’s first understand a little bit of history. When you look at the way the Jewish people, the Israelites, have counted their days for a long time, they begin with Sunday.
Sunday is the first day of the week. So, Sunday, Monday is the second day, Tuesday is the third day, Wednesday is the fourth day, Thursday is the fifth day, Friday is the sixth day, and Saturday is the seventh day. The first day of the week is Sunday, and the last day of the week is Saturday.
This has been the case for an immemorial, infinite time. So, when we look at the way the Jewish people celebrate the Sabbath, when they take their day of rest, it is actually on Saturday. And that’s how it was until the time of the first coming.
Things changed for a particular reason. Let’s now talk about that. Keep in mind, the Sabbath officially is the seventh day of the week, and that’s how they counted days back at that time. Okay, so on which day was Jesus crucified?
He was crucified on Friday. That’s why we call it Good Friday today. Jesus was crucified on Friday, and three days later, He rose again. So, on which day of the week did God rise?
He rose on Sunday.
So, why is this important? Let’s look at some evidence as to when Christ rose.
Matthew 28:1
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
So, on which day of the week did this occur at dawn?
It was the first day of the week. And did they find Jesus’s body on that day? No, they did not find it.
He was not in the tomb. A couple of other gospel examples support this. Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1,7, and John 20:19 all talk about how Christ rose on the first day of the week.
This means that he was crucified three days earlier on that Friday. That’s when he was crucified. So Christ rose on Sunday.
And his disciples noted this and decided that this is the day that we will come to honor our Lord and Savior who resurrected on Sunday.
Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.
They gathered on Sunday. Why did they gather on Sunday?
They decided to gather on Sunday because it is when Christ rose again. It was out of respect for Jesus. Not to replace the Sabbath, which is typically the seventh day, but out of respect for Jesus, Christians gather on Sunday.
However, many people don’t really realize this. So there’s always contention about when the Sabbath is. This is the wrong question to ask.
And that’s why, when we go to Colossians chapter 2, Paul is writing in this way.
Colossians 2:16-17
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
I love Paul. He’s always making important connections. Jesus is the Sabbath. He represents the reality of the time of rest. That’s why it calls Him the Lord of the Sabbath. All the things that God asked the people to do back then were shadows pointing to Jesus. And the people at His first coming knew this.
They realized this, which is why they didn’t argue about gathering on Sunday out of respect for Jesus to worship Him. Are we understanding? So please don’t get into fights with people about this. This is not the topic for us to be getting into fights with. In fact, we should never be getting into fights with people. Just calmly explain with the scriptures the logic of how God does things, which is God promises, and God fulfills.
God did things physically in the past because He was thinking about the equivalent spiritually in the future. That concept, if someone understands that, what Paul says about reality versus shadow, then things will click into place for people. But people misunderstand God and the New Testament because they’re not able to make those two key connections: the things in the past were shadows, and they point to reality, also known as prophecy and fulfillment. The entire Bible is this, guys. I can’t be more clear than that. This is the whole Bible right here.
The whole Bible, from start to finish, is prophecy and fulfillment. That’s how God works. That’s His language.
To understand this question, let’s first grasp the context in which it is written. So, how can we summarize Revelation chapters 2 and 3 in a few words?
It’s a letter to the churches. Which churches? The seven churches.
The letter is addressed to the seven churches. Each letter is directed to a particular church. As I mentioned before, when God and Jesus prophesy, they use things familiar to the people at the time the prophecy was recorded.
During the recording of Revelation, seven churches existed: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These churches were located in what is now modern-day Turkey but was then called Asia Minor.
These places existed, and their names were used. However, those churches no longer exist as they were recorded here, as they have not been around for a long time.
Revelation is a book of prophecy about future events. Therefore, it cannot be referring to the original churches for which these letters were written, as they no longer exist in their recorded state. So, it is written to someone specific.
These words are actually directed to the stars working in Jesus’s right hand. The letters are specific to these individuals, and we’ll understand more about why as we continue to study.
Note that the letters were written to those whom Jesus had appointed and given a job to do. Does this make more sense? When you think about it, how do you describe your family?
My family is my whole world. They are my everything to me. This is how Jesus is writing to those to whom he had given the word.
Let’s see an example. Look at Revelation 3:3, what does it say?
“Remember therefore what you have received and heard. Obey and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”
Revelation 2:4-5
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Jesus is being quite specific with the details about these people.
They had forsaken their first love. They were not keeping the things that they had received from Jesus. And Jesus is telling them to repent.
We’ll understand more about these connections as we learn about fulfillment, which is coming very soon.
[Student 2]
I pick and choose. But I believe that the Bible applies to all believers for instruction and everything. In that respect, I suppose I could be guilty of picking and choosing. Perhaps, if keeping the number of believers small, just a hundred or a hundred-forty, this group of believers will be kept from that time.
[Instructor]
Okay, you’re making a good point. Let me clarify something. Everything recorded in the Bible is for everyone to learn from.
Think of it like 1 Corinthians 10:11. These things were recorded as examples and warnings. So we should learn a lesson from the things these people did wrong and not repeat their mistakes.
In that sense, yes, it is written for us. But when it comes to fulfillment, fulfillment is about specific people. You should be able to name who this is about.
That’s what I mean. There’s a level of specificity required when it comes to fulfillment. And we’ll understand more because these things have already taken place.
As we get closer to fulfillment, we’ll understand who, what, when, where, why, and how.
No, that’s not what that means. That’s not how spirits work. Let me show you an example of how spirits work.
Hopefully, that helps it make a little bit more sense.
John 13:2
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
What does it mean to prompt? It means to persuade or influence.
But does that imply that Satan was controlling Judas like a puppet? Moving his arms and legs? No, Judas still had to take action. However, what Satan was doing was influencing his thoughts. And so the thoughts go to man.
Something like that. So that’s what it means for spirits and flesh to work together as one – the spirit guides, suggests, and encourages. That’s how it should be for all of us.
[Student 2]
You said that the first resurrection would take place in the wedding banquet. Will the spirits influence the people in the wedding banquet? The new John and the 144,000?
[Instructor]
It means to work together as one. Let’s say we were working on a project together, collaborating on a file on a computer. I would pass that file back and forth with you, suggesting, “Let’s do it like this,” or “Let’s move this object here,” or “Let’s render it like that.” That’s what it’s like – we’re working together on the same mission.
[Student 2]
But in the same body? That’s why I’m kind of confused.
[Instructor]
Not the same body. It’s more like being able to interact with them fully, to see them like Adam could see God – united. It’s what Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15, when the imperishable and the perishable are clothed, meaning they unite.
1 Corinthians 15:35-55
35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
Hopefully, that makes a little more sense. Because what event are we talking about that Paul is writing about? That’s what we call the first resurrection of Revelation 20:4-6. So he’s making an important point to understand.
Those who die like the martyrs, their bodies are gone. Those bodies aren’t going to rise up out of the grave like zombies. No, they’ll have new spiritual bodies. For those who are alive when the first resurrection happens, they will be given new bodies, and the physical body will become a spiritual body.
So basically, immortality happens when they unite. Death will be swallowed up in victory.
[Student 2]
But this only happens to the 144,000 or also the great multitude as well?
[Instructor]
All the 12 tribes. Then too, for the great multitude as well. All will take part in this promise. It will be a thousand years. But the point that Paul or Peter was making in that verse was to help us make the connection with the 6 days of creation, the seventh day of rest. But it’ll be a thousand-year period.
QUESTION
Can you explain the concept of the ‘key of Hell’? Does having wisdom about the secrets of Hell mean we can understand other interpretations and are thus prepared to defend against Satan’s tactics and teachings? Does it also imply that we can understand Satan’s teachings?
ANSWER
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 talks about how we wage war. Similar to Ephesians chapter 6, we do not wage war the way the world does. The world wages war using guns, bullets, and bombs. We wage war with our words. Our weapon is our words, of course, using the word of truth.
The word of truth goes up against what Paul called arguments or pretensions. But let’s think about this logically. How easy is it to have an argument with someone when you don’t fully understand their point of view? When you don’t understand where they’re coming from, it’s difficult to have an argument with that person. It would be the equivalent of talking over each other. If you’re not talking on the same plane of understanding, your argument will be ineffective, and the argument will go nowhere.
Let’s say you’re talking to someone, and they’re telling you it is okay to put your hand on the stove that’s on. The other person will say, “Actually, it’s not okay to put your hand on the stove that’s on.” But what you’re not realizing is the person means it’s okay to do that when you have a glove on. Then it is okay to put your hand on the stove. But because you don’t understand that’s what they mean, you think the person is crazy. This person is saying, “What do you mean? If you have a glove on, it’s fine.” But because you both don’t understand the point about having the glove on, you’re having an argument, but you’re doing this [talking over each other]. When you both understand that what he means is with the glove on, it’s okay to put your hand on a stove, then you can actually have a fruitful argument. Then the argument can be, “Well, if you have a glove on, you can probably only put your hand on the stove for about 30 seconds before it becomes too hot.” Now it’s a discussion, no longer an argument.
But if you don’t understand the opposing person’s point of view, you cannot change their mind. If someone says the world is flat, it’s not. If someone says the world is flat, and you believe the world is round, and now you’re going at this argument, and you don’t really understand why they think the world is flat, how can you possibly change their mind? You need to be able to see from their point of view, what are the things that help them come to their conclusion that the world is flat, and then start from that point to change their mind. I heard one time someone defend the world is flat because the Bible says the four corners of the earth. And he goes, “That’s describing a flat earth, four quarters, that’s a box or a flat plane.” And so me, someone who understands the word, can say, “Actually, what the four corners means is the four cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west. That’s what God means.” And then I would show them many times where the four corners are compared to the directions. So then the person’s like, “Oh, I misunderstood that. Maybe you’re right.” Now I have a much better way to demolish the argument because I understand their point of view.
All of these analogies I’m making, all of those points to say this: You have to understand the enemy’s arguments in order to demolish them. If you do not understand their arguments, then you can’t actually fight on the same battlefield, and you will be ineffective. This is the reason why you need to understand the truth and understand the lies so that you can demolish the lies. And that’s what Jesus meant when he said, “I hold the key of Satan, because I know everything that he does and will do. So he cannot defeat me, because I know him. And I know what he says, and I know how he works. And I know what he teaches.”
And when you can identify Satan’s teachings, you won’t eat them. But you need to be able to identify them. If you’re listening to someone and you say, “I don’t know if this is the truth or not,” then you cannot overcome in that situation. But what’s amazing is understanding the truth helps you understand lies quickly, because there’s only one truth, but there are many lies. So the easier thing to do is understand the truth, then the lies reveal themselves. It makes it much easier.
Does that make sense? Hopefully, that helps with
[Student 2]
What is maddening wine in relation to Key of Hell? As you said, we need to avoid maddening wine.
[Instructor]
That’s right. So let’s understand it like this. There’s a difference between being able to identify and willingly eating and drinking.
That’s the difference. So the key gives someone the ability to identify. He is wisdom to know, wisdom to know secrets.
It’s the ability to discern or the ability to identify. Though people in Revelations time are drunk on the maddening wine, which means they’re consuming it, which we should not be doing. You should be able to identify the maddening wine, but you should not drink it.
Does that make sense?
[Student 3]
I actually did not fill in the verses yet for this one on my parable sheet, or the table of contents. Could you give the verses for the keys to heaven and hell, respectively?
[Instructor]
So there are a few verses for the key to heaven and also the key to hell. So let’s go to, there are a few verses here.
Isaiah 22:22 and Revelation 3:7. That’s for the key of heaven, which is also goes by the name of the key of David, same key. So Isaiah 22:22 is the key of heaven. Also Revelation 3:7, also known as the key of David.
And then you have the key of hell. The key of hell is Revelation 1:18, as well as Revelation 9:1-2. Revelation 1:18 that Jesus says he is holding, but then Jesus also then gives it to the warm one, the warm wood star.
And then the angel in Revelation 20 verses one degree gets that key back. So it’s back on heaven’s side and he uses it to bind up the dragons. So this is the key of hell.
QUESTION
In many of your lessons, you have mentioned ideas like the new wineskin and the yeast. Basically, you have been emphasizing the need to discard our old teachings and begin a process of re-creation or restoration in order to be born again from the seed of God.
Does this process involve removing our old teachings from Babylon and the doctrines of mainstream Christianity, which teach that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God? Do we need to abandon these teachings and everything we have learned as the foundation of Christianity?
ANSWER
Let’s think about it this way, because you are making a point, but I want to make sure we understand and do not misunderstand. This is a good question, and we can use a timeline to understand the point I’m making here a bit more.
We’re going to draw this timeline starting from Jesus all the way to us. And we’re going to include here when the last book of the Bible was written, or the oldest transcript that we were able to find is from 899, the oldest version.
This is when Revelation was written, the ultimate New Testament prophecy, although many prophecies were also spoken by Jesus and his disciples in between too. So it’s important to understand the difference between what we need to discard and what we keep. The history and moral teachings that we had received were never sealed.
Treat your neighbor as you want to be treated. These words are good and are readily taught. We should keep these words.
But the words we need to discard are the words about prophecy and fulfillment. Well, really, prophecy and guesses or predictions. We need to discard these things. Because these things were said before fulfillment. Just like the people at the time of the Old Testament also had to discard their predictions and guesses and preconceived notions when they came to Jesus.
And that’s why Jesus said old wineskins cannot receive new wine. Because the people refused to let go of what they held as true and accept the truth that was coming from Jesus. And Jesus even said that at the second coming, the same thing will happen where people will hold on to this and will not be able to accept what has actually taken place when they hear it.
Because this was what they were used to.
[Student 1]
Could you provide more specific details, such as the type of predictions you are referring to? The current description is quite general and could encompass many different things.
[Instructor]
Yeah, I mean there are many things, right? Okay, let’s be more specific.
2 Peter 3:10-13
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So Peter says a few key things here. If someone read this before receiving the open word, how would they understand this first line? How was it understood?
What did people say would happen?
[Student 2]
I think people understood it literally.
[Instructor]
Yes, this is how it was often understood. These are some of the interpretations that I’ve heard. A nuclear bomb would destroy everything.
Some people, not everyone, but some people would say it like this. If I’m hearing this as a believer, I’m scared now that everything that I see around me will be completely destroyed, will be completely wiped out. And I’m sure this was extra scary 50 years ago when threats like this were actually quite real and they’re kind of still real today, but much more so back then.
So people really thought the end was near because we had now unlocked nuclear power, which is a scary power for us to have, but thought everything was going to be completely destroyed by radiation. And then Jesus would come to earth, still be around. But this should sound familiar to us if you’re really familiar with scripture.
Let’s read something quite similar.
Malachi 4:1-3
“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the Lord Almighty.
Oh, this is a very similar statement to what God prophesied through the prophet Malachi, which was, of course, 400 years before the first coming of Jesus. If you’re reading this, you could think God is going to bring fire on us. But let me be the one who rejoices instead, who frolics, who is not burned, but is instead healed.
But people didn’t realize how this would actually take place. Because generally, the Old Testament points to what time period? So who brought the fire that judged, but also refined?
Jesus brought it. He was not an arsonist. He didn’t have a torch in his hand setting fire to places.
But he did set fire to places just using his words. His words were like fire. And many were burned by that fire, judged like the Pharisees in Matthew 23.
But many were instead refined. Refined by the fire of the Word. So if we go back to 2 Peter chapter 3, it’s not going to be a literal fire that destroys all the elements.
Because we even got a clue at the end of the verse, 2 Peter 3:13, that God plans to bring a new heaven and a new earth. So now we’re thinking, oh, Revelation 21:1. So not this, but this.
[Student 3]
What about John 8:51-52, would it be supposed that suggests it’s similar to 2 Peter 3?
[Instructor]
Yes, let’s read.
John 8:51-52
51 I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52 At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.
Jesus expands on what he means by this just a few chapters later. Let’s read what Jesus said to Martha.
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
[Student 2]
That statement seems a bit confusing and contradictory.
[Instructor]
Can someone explain to me what he means by this statement in the two verses? What is he talking about? The first resurrection and the revelation.
Remember the timeline. The first people he’s talking about.
He who believes. Yes, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me.
He who believes will live even though what? They die. Even though they die.
Who is this talking about? Those who passed away and were not able to testify or hear the testimony. Right.
He’s talking about these people. This is 2,000 years of history. Those who lived and heard about him but existed before the second coming was fulfilled.
That’s a lot of people. But he mentions a second group. And this is the group that he meant in John chapter 8, who can become the reality of his words.
The second group is in verse 26. Whoever lives and believes will what? Never die.
Will never die. Lives and believes will never die. These are the people here that he’s talking about.
That’s group 2, who are able to take part in the first resurrection when heaven returns. These people, the first group, salvation of the spirit or life of the spirit. The second people, salvation of both the spirit and the flesh.
Of both spirit and flesh.
[Student 2]
My question is specifically about “whoever obeys my word will never.” That seems very straightforward. I guess it doesn’t have other conditions.
The other way to never see death. But I see the connection that “believes, even though they die, they will live.”
I was just curious about “whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
[Instructor]
That’s right. So if we think about it, what happens first before someone is able to obey something generally? They understand what they’re doing, right?
Yes. They believe and they’re able to then obey. Obedience comes after belief.
Okay, believe in you. Now I will obey. And that’s what he meant also in John 14:23-24 when he said, “whoever loves me will obey my teachings and I will love him and I and my father will come and make our home with him.”
So the two are very much connected together. So there were a lot of people who believed in Jesus during this time. And because these events that they’re waiting for did not happen in their time, their situation is handled differently.
But the people at this time, many things will be expected of them because they will be able to see what is taking place. So God and Jesus are going to reveal to them what they would like them to do too. Just like the disciples were asked, “believe in the son of man, not just keeping the law anymore, but you need to believe in the one that was sent.”
Now, that’s what you need to do now. So at the second coming, the logic is actually very similar. Jesus will say, “this is what I’d like you to do.”
Flee to the mountain, avoid the maddening wine, avoid the food sacrifice to idols, don’t receive the mark of the beast. These are things that were asked to not do at the second coming when it is only possible to not do them at the second coming. Does that make sense?
[Student 1]
You said that to keep the covenant, the revelation has to be fulfilled, right?
So otherwise, we will be keeping it partially, that’s what you are saying. So, does keeping the covenant partially mean that we do not keep it completely?
[Instructor]
Yes, good question. The covenants have two parts. And I mentioned this before, but it’s a good reminder.
Old covenant and new covenant. Both have two aspects, the law and the prophecy.
If we look at it from the Old Testament perspective, the Old Testament law was the law of Moses. These were things that they were meant to follow daily. Things that they were supposed to do, you know, do not do this, do not do that.
But there was also prophecy that was part of the Old Testament that they were also supposed to keep, but that could only have been kept at the proper time. We can see the importance of this being prophesied in Deuteronomy 18:18-20, when God said, I will send a prophet among you. And you are to listen to his words.
If you do not, I will hold you accountable. But that was only possible when the prophet appeared. So keeping the old covenant every day until the old covenant is fulfilled through the prophet that is to come.
Then the standard changes. You no longer have to keep the law, but now you have to follow the words of that prophet who has come. The logic for the New Testament or the New Covenant is actually the same.
This time, the law is the words of Jesus. Words like, treat others how you want to be treated.
Do not judge, or you will be judged. These are things that we are to keep daily. And we have been keeping, or at least trying our best.
But there is something that can only be kept when things are fulfilled. And that is the time of the second coming. At the proper time, new things will be expected of us.
Proper time. That weren’t possible for people in the past because it wasn’t time yet.
[Student 2]
The difference is, specifically, we cannot keep the law perfectly for the past 2,000 years. We have made errors. No one is perfect in keeping the law.
However, at the time of the second coming, there is a different expectation to adhere to. Just like at the first coming, the Israelites were expected to participate in following Jesus and accepting the word, as was explained in the Old Testament.
[Instructor]
Yes, exactly.
But it’s hard to treat others how you want to be treated 100% of the time.
[Student 2]
Or are you saying that we will perfectly keep the law? I don’t know if they ever perfectly kept the law.
I think Jesus was the one who perfectly kept the law.
[Instructor]
Right? No one was able to live a sinless life because he wasn’t born from the seed of man.
QUESTION
[Student 1]
You’re saying that until the fulfillment happens, that’s when we need to obey those covenants, right? So, if that fulfillment, for instance, is the new John known after Jesus ascended, nobody knows until he’s been fulfilled, right? I don’t know if you understand me.
ANSWER
[Instructor]
I think I understand what you mean. Let me explain that part like this. Think of the book of Revelation like a movie script.
It’s an old-fashioned camera script. It’s a movie script. And in that script, roles are assigned.
The names that are there are the names of the characters. But you don’t know who will actually fulfill that role until the characters appear, until the characters are cast. And their actions are also written.
This character will do this at this time, at this location, at this time of death. So, when God decides, “Now Revelation is going to be fulfilled,” then the movie can be filmed, essentially. So, I’ll put here roles, and then the roles are cast, meaning that God and Jesus decide on the people who will actually then carry out the events.
And they will not be characters, but actual people who will have names that aren’t the names that you see in Revelation. But you know the people based on their actions. They will fulfill the roles that are prophesied.
Then, everyone needs to see the movie.
[Student 1]
So, people like the first-century Christians already know they’re expecting somebody. Like, that’s the new pastor.
[Instructor]
That’s right. They knew, they were familiar with the script, but they hadn’t seen the movie. And when the movie was playing, they walked out.
They walked out of the theater. They didn’t like the movie they were watching. Does that make sense?
[Student 1]
Yeah, because my understanding is, everybody is expecting the second return of Jesus, right? So, we never heard of who this new John is.
[Instructor]
Yeah, we knew John was a character to be cast. And neither did the new John. So, I’ll tell you this.
He didn’t know who he would be until it was told to him. And the people here, they didn’t know either. They were just doing as what they’ve always done.
It was revealed to them, “This is who you are, and this is what you have done, according to scripture.” And whether they saw it and accepted it was up to them. It was their actions that were revealed to them.
[Student 2]
The new John isn’t specifically named in Revelation. It’s just kind of alluded to that there will be, that John saw. Obviously, John’s not still around.
And so, we’re just saying that, okay, Old John sees the revelation. He described things happening in the future tense. So, we’re taking that information and saying, look, when Jesus came, the Old Testament said that God will be with us and will come down to earth.
And so, they were supposed to know that that would literally happen and recognize the connection, right? And some of them didn’t. Some of them did.
[Instructor]
“They were expecting a ruler, or they were expecting God. I’m sure many people expected different things. But what actually happened was like when people get angry because a particular person is cast in a movie role, because it’s not who they think should be cast. They get mad, like when Hugh Jackman was first cast as Wolverine in the early 2000s. People were not happy at first. But then he became the best Wolverine ever. Often, people have their own ideas about who will be cast.
So, when God in heaven actually cast Jesus, it didn’t make sense to them initially. Most rejected Jesus until it was really revealed like that.
They saw the movie, and then they realized like many of the first Christians were Jews that initially rejected Jesus. Once they saw everything happen, then they realized. That’s right.
Like I love the example of when Jesus said on the cross, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Most who didn’t realize that he was quoting the first verse of Psalm 22 would think, ‘Oh, God, look, he’s saying that God forsook him. That’s why he’s going to die.’
But people who were familiar with Psalm 22:1 would start to see all the parallels in front of them. They’re casting lots. They pierce his hands and his feet.
So, the movie becomes like right in front of them. They’re familiar with the script, but they didn’t connect it yet. So, then they were like, ‘Yeah, exactly. Okay.’
The way it is commonly explained is not exactly the way it actually is. The best way to understand this is by first understanding how the word was delivered.
Let me talk about this first. Remember that Jesus mentioned many things. One of the very important things he mentioned is…
John 9:1-5
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
“While I am in the world, I am the light of the world,” Jesus said. But what did he say was coming? The night is coming. It’s actually the same as saying that two types of seed will be sown in the same field.
Good seed and weeds will grow together. Unfortunately, night did befall believers, just as Jesus promised. The last book of the Bible was recorded in AD 95. That’s about the earliest transcripts we can find. So, night came. And what does this mean?
Unfortunately, certain things appeared during the spreading of the gospel that weren’t exactly true. Because they formed early, we held on to them as true. One of those things, unfortunately, was the Trinity, which was first discussed during a council in approximately AD 300.
That’s when they first started talking about the Trinity. It’s not something mentioned by any of the disciples or apostles. The early Christians, the early believers, had a very important job because all of the New Testament was not already together as one.
They were separate scrolls written by different people. So, Matthew and John weren’t sitting next to each other saying, “What did Jesus say?” “Yeah, that’s what he said too.” They recorded their scrolls in isolation.
Later on, believers had to take the scroll of Matthew, the scroll of Luke, the scroll of John, Mark, and the Acts written by Paul or Luke, and all of Paul’s letters. They had to bring them all together and canonize them into one book, the Holy Bible. Bible means collection of books.
That’s what the word generally means. But of course, the Holy Bible is a collection of holy books, the books of the Bible. This actually happened before Jesus’s time when they put together the scrolls from Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament, and canonized them into what was called the Septuagint.
The Septuagint was essentially the Old Testament all together in one book. At the time of the first coming, that’s what they read.
The same thing had to happen with the New Testament. While they were putting the books together, they did their best to establish the official interpretations of the words written. But some things…
Why? Because both good seed and weeds were sown in the same field. Remember Jesus’s promises, and you will never be shaken by anything you hear.
Over the last 2,000 years, many people heard about Jesus. But many awful things happened too, in God’s name. Many awful things.
It was not a clean last 2,000 years, was it? Both happened as Jesus promised. One of those things was the Trinity.
Let’s understand why they were a little confused and didn’t fully grasp what Jesus or God was actually saying. Let’s understand them together.
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So, Jesus says, “Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Let’s do it. But when this is not fully understood, some people say, “Oh, they must be the same entity but described in three different ways.”
See how confusion can arise? That’s because people didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant by his words. For example, Jesus said in John 10:30:
“I and the Father are one.” Amen, they are. But in which way did Jesus mean?
Remember when God promised in Hosea chapter 2, “I will betroth you.” Who was God talking about? Jesus.
And what happens in a marriage? Two become one.
So, the Father and the Son are one. Why?
Because they are of the same accord, the same will. Remember what Jesus said in Mark chapter 14: “God, if it is your will in the Garden of Gethsemane, please take this cup from me.
Yet, not my will, but your will be done.” How many wills is that? Why would God have a different will from himself?
That doesn’t make sense. No. Ultimately, it can’t be two wills; only one will can remain.
God’s will. This is what Jesus means when he says, “I and the Father are one.” The words I speak are not my own.
They belong to the Father who sent me. God’s words were spoken through Jesus. And Jesus was the very manifestation of God’s will.
But when I say this, do not think that we are somehow demoting Jesus. We’re doing no such thing. We need to celebrate where Jesus actually is, which is God over all.
Hmm? What do you mean? Remember the relationship between God and Jesus.
It’s a very important relationship.
John 14:28
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
Huh? But I thought God and Jesus were the same entity.
Well then, how can the Father be greater than the Son if they are the same entity? Because they are not. But Jesus, you… Let’s turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
1 Corinthians 15:27-28
27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Ah, okay. Interesting.
So what was Paul trying to make sure we understood? He said that God put everything under his feet, meaning Jesus. Now it says that everything has been put under Jesus.
It is clear that this does not include God himself, which means God is over Jesus. But where is everything under Jesus?
Let me draw a diagram of what this means:
God, Jesus, everything. Because Jesus is Lord over all. So don’t feel sad for Jesus.
Jesus is sitting pretty. Why? Where is Jesus?
What did Stephen say when he saw heaven open just before he was stoned? “I see the Son of Man at the right hand of God,” an amazing place to be—God’s right hand.
And everything is under Christ. This is why they were confused. They didn’t understand this relationship very well, so they thought they had to be the same entity.
But, Brother Mike, are you your dad? What? You’re telling me you and your dad aren’t the same person?
Come on. Sister Mary, are you your dad? No, no. Miss Ana, come on. What?
You aren’t your dad? Well, who created that logic? Who created that logic?
God did. God created the way people have children. Why would God violate his own logic with himself?
God is quite clear: I am the Father. You are my Son.
Why did we overcomplicate it? It’s actually quite simple.
But here are some additional verses as to why it got confusing for us.
Philippians 2:5-11
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Did you see why people got confused?
Number one, it says that Jesus is in very nature God. Amen. But what does nature mean?
How was Jesus born? Of the Holy Spirit. He actually was not born through man. What I mean is, it wasn’t the seed of a physical man from which he came, but the seed of the Holy Spirit.
So Jesus is born of God’s seed. That’s what “very nature” means. And then the next immediate verse says he did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped.
But who considered equality with God something to be grasped? Satan.
Mmm. But Jesus, of course, I’m not gonna be like Satan. No, I’m a servant.
Just like you. But what did God do? God elevated him above everything.
Makes sense. Because Jesus is God’s son. Wouldn’t you do that for your son too?
[Student 1]
When did Jesus start to exist? When was he created? Was he created at the beginning?
[Instructor]
What did we talk about in one of our earlier intermediate lessons? God, John 1:1, is the Word. The Word from when? The beginning. And then 1 John 1:1-2 says Jesus is the Word in the flesh. Yeah, essentially.
But where did the beginning come from? Let’s read.
1 John 1:1-2
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
Who was with the Father and has appeared to us. Because both God and Jesus are the Word in the beginning.
Jesus is made up of the same stuff God is made up of because He is His Son. Are you understanding?
So that’s why people were confused, but it’s actually very simple. Very simple.
[Student 1]
So Jesus started as a promise, right?
[Instructor]
The Word in the beginning. Same thing. Promise, prophecy, Word in the beginning—all the same thing.
They aren’t different. Same thing. And then John 1:14, the Word became flesh.
Something that the disciples could touch and give a hug. That’s right.
So, Father is just God. God is God, be I am. And God bore a Son, who is Jesus.
Jesus is Jesus. Now what about the Holy Spirit? Didn’t Jesus baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Yes, He did. But which Holy Spirit? That is now a question we know we should be asking.
Remember, who is Jesus speaking to specifically here in Matthew 28? Who’s He talking to?
He’s talking to His disciples, who had heard Jesus explain or promise what was coming that we just learned about.
Who did Jesus promise to send after He ascended?
The Spirit of Truth, the Counselor. They knew who Jesus was talking about when He said, the Holy Spirit. The one that I told you about.
So what should you do, disciples? Tell the people about my coming. Tell them about my Father, who you now understand better than anyone else in the world.
Tell them about me, who you understand better than anyone else in the world. And tell them about the Spirit I promised. You are the only ones who know about the Spirit.
But everybody needs to know. But what happened over the last 2,000 years? We forgot.
And people put in their own thoughts and opinions and muddled up the Word that was very pure. So we got confused. But now God is saying, no more of that.
Now people will understand me truthfully, as revelation is being fulfilled now. Everyone will understand the truth.
So what I’m saying is, please do not be hurt or feel too much heartache or too much earthquake, but actually be joyful.
And know that everyone will soon know this. Everyone will soon know this very deeply. One more thing I want to mention.
There are denominations that also don’t believe in the Trinity, but they say silly things like, “Jesus was just a guy.” Wrong. Nope.
Or things like, “Jesus was a person. He said good things, but we can hear anyone else’s word, and that’s okay too.” Wrong.
So this specific understanding here, no one else has but those at Mount Sinai. A complete understanding of the Word. No confusion.
Clarity. Jesus is at the right hand of God. Is He defined?
Yes. Because He’s born of God’s seed. Are we understanding?
Very good question. So let’s talk about that. That’s a very good question.
The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Does everyone remember when Jesus said this?
Matthew 12:22-32
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Oh, so many deep things said here.
So many things. Okay. Firstly, Jesus was able to drive out demons, and they said, “Oh, because he’s demon-possessed.”
He is given power by Beelzebub. Beelzebub is another way of saying Satan or the devil. And so Jesus had to correct their logic.
That’s silly. If it was the power of Beelzebub driving out demons, then he would be divided against himself. So that doesn’t make sense.
Instead, I drive out Beelzebub through who? Through the Spirit of God. Verse 28.
Right. The Spirit of God. This is the Holy Spirit he is talking about.
If someone speaks against God, the Holy Spirit, then there is no hope for that person. But someone can be forgiven for not seeing the Spirit of God working through his son, Jesus, just yet. All right.
Someone is seeing Jesus and he’s just seen a person. So when Jesus says, “I am the Son of God,” someone can be confused and say, “I don’t believe you. Aren’t you the carpenter’s son?”
Don’t we know your brothers and sisters? Right. They’re only seeing a person.
And they’re not seeing the Spirit of God working through that person. But when can they be forgiven? When they realize you are the Son of God. Forgiven. But what happens if someone denies God or blasphemes against God?
Ain’t got a chance.
They will never be forgiven in this age or in the age after.
So let’s not do that. Let’s avoid that one. And remember, what did Jesus say in verse 28 again?
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. Oh, amen. Haven’t we been talking about that this whole time?
That all of heaven was with Jesus. That Jesus was walking heaven. That everywhere he went, heaven was there also.
Now, the point I was making there is kind of a trinity. Well, it’s related to the point I just mentioned. Remember John 1:51.
Jesus says, days are coming when you will see heaven open and angels of heaven ascending and descending on the Son of Man. So how many spirits are at play in this situation? Three.
Jesus’s own spirit, the Spirit of God, and the angels all dwelling in one flesh. So kind of, but not the way it was explained by those people. But kind of, yeah.
All the spirits of heaven working through Jesus as the walking kingdom of God, which is incredible. Does that make sense, everyone? Is everyone coming off, you know, the earthquake or is the earthquake settling a little bit?
At this point of this lesson, it always creates earthquakes. So I want to make sure everyone understands.
[Student 1]
You talk about forgiveness, right? And then you also mentioned there are the betrayers and the destroyers.
Are they going to be forgiven, or are they blaspheming against God?
[Instructor]
That’s a very good question. So it does mention how they blaspheme against God in Revelation 13. But the way we should think about it is, and I might have explained it this way, but let’s talk about it again because I think it’s really important to understand Revelation and how prophecies work throughout the Bible.
So in the Bible, think of prophecy like a movie script.
And in a movie script, you have characters that are described. And you have their actions also described.
You don’t know exactly who those characters will be until there is a casting and then the movie comes out and that movie script becomes a movie. The characters become a cast and their actions are seen. This is fulfillment.
Fulfillment is the movie that plays from the movie script. So in the movie, actions of the people are prophesied and they have to happen. But have you ever wondered what happens after the end credits?
I wonder what happens to that character now. After the movie ends, in reality, people continue living. It’s not like when the movie ends, they vanish.
They are still alive because they’re people; they’re real. So there’s always a chance for redemption, even if they had a bad role.
But oftentimes, people don’t repent.
[Student 1]
Like Apostle Paul, you’re saying.
[Instructor]
Yeah, there’s always a time for an opportunity for redemption. So it was prophesied that many will come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Paul was an example of this type of person made flesh as a Pharisee.
Remember what Jesus said in Mark 7? You Pharisees are who Isaiah was talking about. The Pharisees were the cast.
And many Pharisees remained in their bad role that Jesus prophesied. But there were people like Paul who said, “I’ve made a mistake.” And he turned his life around.
But then you have others who didn’t turn their lives around, like the other Pharisees, but also like John the Baptist. His betrayal of Jesus was also prophesied. Do you remember where that’s mentioned?
The betrayal of the Holy One that was prophesied. Do you want to see?
Man, you guys are so diligent. I love it.
Psalms 41:9-13
9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted,
he who shared my bread,
has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But you, O Lord, have mercy on me;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 In my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
Even “my close friend lifted his heel against me”. This is prophecy.
So it must be a reality. Who was that close friend? Judas.
Did Judas repent? He didn’t give himself a chance.
He killed himself. Very sad. He could have repented.
Some argue that he kind of did. But I’ll ask God when he comes. What happened to Judas?
By returning the silver. That was his. He felt remorseful.
But wouldn’t it have been amazing if he came to Jesus after he had risen and saw him alive? Oh, that would be amazing. Then instead of Judas’s name being synonymous with betrayal, his name would have been synonymous with redemption. That would be incredible. I wish that was the way it played out.
That would have been amazing. But he didn’t give himself a chance. So he had to be replaced.
By Matthias. Because he wasn’t around to do the work that they needed to do. So in Revelation, I’m making this point because in Revelation, there are roles similar to this prophesied.
And we’ll understand more about what happened to people who fulfilled those roles in Revelation. We’ll see what happened.
[Student 1]
What would happen if Satan repented?
I was saying that if Satan repented, would he be forgiven? Would Satan have a chance?
[Instructor]
Satan’s situation was different. Why? Judas and the Pharisees, could they see God? No.
But Satan could. And he did for who knows how long. And he was a high-ranking angel.
So that’s like the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven. Because he could see God right there. God was right there.
Do you understand what I mean by that? That’s the highest level of betrayal of God. Saying, Jesus, I don’t know, man.
I mean, you’re just a guy, right? And then that person still has a chance because they can understand more.
But it’s as if someone could see God and say, I don’t believe in you. That’s the equivalent. It’s the same thing.
[Student 1]
What about the destroyer you mentioned? Are they going to be forgiven?
[Instructor]
If they repented.
[Student 1]
Oh, okay. As long as they repent, that can be forgiven.
[Instructor]
But they don’t.
QUESTION
You were saying that the Garden of Eden was secretive. So what I wanted to ask is, when God gave Adam the breath of life, was the creation of Adam literal, or was it a parable to show that Adam was a pastor receiving the word of life? I don’t know if that question makes sense.
ANSWER
It makes perfect sense to me.
So what do you think? Well, let’s think about it a little bit. Is God the creator of the heavens and the earth? Yes. No ambiguity about that.
But does Genesis 1 detail how He did it?
We’ll have a whole lesson on Genesis 1 after we finish Revelation. Once we get to the end of Revelation, we’ll go through Genesis 1 verse by verse. But I’ll say this because we’ve already talked about it.
Okay. The Garden is figurative because, like Isaiah chapter 5, God’s garden is His church. The vineyard is the house of Israel.
And the people are the garden of His delight. Garden or vines, trees. Does it not compare other animals to people, too, in the Bible?
Scorpions, wolves, lions, leopards, bears, sheep, oxen, horses. Animals are compared to people, too. So trees, people.
Animals, people. Garden, church. Adam, who has the breath of life, past.
Who is told to tend the garden. Isn’t that the job of a pastor? Isn’t it his job to give names?
What are names? Names are what? If the plants and animals are people, what then are their names?
Need some help? Titles, roles, duties. You will be an elder.
You will be a deacon. You will be a disciple. Like that.
Names are roles and duties. So when Jesus came in the name of the Lord, He had a duty, too.
He had a title, a job to fulfill.
So Genesis 2:7 is not a literal Adam being made from the dust of the ground. Okay. But he was dust.
Where did sinful nature come from? Satan.
[Student 1]
The sins come through bloodlines?
[Instructor]
Oh, yes. So, okay. So let’s track the flow of sin.
That’s a good question.
There are three types of sin:
1. There is original sin.
Original sin is the event that happened during Adam’s time.
2. There’s generational sin or inherited sin.
3. There’s personal sin.
This is the sin that each of us commits on our own.
So original sin was what happened with Adam. Although we can also think about it like original, original sin was Satan’s sin. So I’m going to put here two originals.
Original, original sin was what happened with Satan when he decided that he wanted to be like God. So Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:11-19. Wickedness was found in you.
Meaning that this was the origin of wickedness. Then what did Satan do?
He made Adam like him. So for us humans, original sin starts with Adam.
Hereditary sin.
Hereditary sin or sin that is passed down. Is God holding someone accountable for the sins of their fathers? Let’s see an example.
Hosea 4:6
my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.
Because you have ignored the law of your God, I will also reject your children.
To the second, third, and fourth generation. Remember what Paul or God said to Solomon? “I will tear the kingdom from the hand of your son.”
I won’t tear it from you out of respect for David, because David was a man after my own heart. So his grace covers you.
But your sin will affect your son and his sons and his sons. Very sad. But any individual person can break the chain of generational sin.
But how easy is it if they didn’t learn from their father how to do that? It’s very hard. Not impossible, but it’s hard.
And so that’s a little bit about generational sin. Then there’s personal sin. And there are many verses about this.
But the best one to kind of summarize it is James 4:17.
James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
Anyone who knows the sin or knows what he ought to do but does not do it, sins. So that’s personal sin.
Make sense?
[Student 1]
So that’s the reason why Jesus had to be born of the Virgin, right?
[Instructor]
Part of the reason. Of course, prophecy too.
But yes, he couldn’t have been born of man’s seed because then he would have been born of sin.
[Student 1]
If Adam was a pastor selected by God, and then there’s a kingdom, the animals, that means Adam needs to preach to those animals since everybody is walking in the garden with God. So what’s the purpose of teaching them if they already see God?
[Instructor]
Who did God speak to? To Adam. Did he speak to all of them?
[Student 1]
No, like Moses, right? Just only speak to Moses.
[Instructor]
Exactly. God speaks to one, and then that person’s job is to speak to the others. That’s always been God’s pattern.
[Student 1]
I see, if the pastor falls, it’s going to corrupt the whole kingdom.
[Instructor]
Exactly. That’s why Satan goes for the head. Kill the head, kill the body.
And Satan killed the head.
[Student 1]
But is it something that happened with Satan that all of fallen angels follow him?
[Instructor]
Yeah, the angels that chose to follow him were also cast out of heaven. They became demons. And they follow their false head, Satan.
That’s the next best thing we can do because we messed up. And now we’re angry with God. So let’s destroy everything that God made.
Let’s go down, kicking and screaming like sore losers. Yeah. Very sad.
To share quickly about breaking generational sin, let’s look at Ezekiel chapter 18.
It’s so good. Let me give you a teaser verse. Verse one: “The word of the Lord came to me.”
What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? Surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
For every living soul belongs to me. The father, as well as the son, both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
Suppose a righteous man does what is just and right. He does not eat at mountain shrines or look at idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, all the way up to verse nine.
He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous. He will surely live, declares the Lord.
Then he compares that to a violent son who does the opposite. So the point he is making here, in verse 19: Yet you ask, “Why does the son not share in the guilt of his father?”
Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep my decrees, he will surely live. Verse 19 shows that it is possible for someone to break the cycle.
Psalms 37:30-31
30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.
So how does God describe a righteous man? A righteous man has the word.
Where? On his lips. And? In his mouth.
And it comes from his heart. So the law of God is in his heart. So he is able to speak the truth.
To speak wisdom. To speak justice. So when we want to be those who are righteous in God’s eyes, we need to make sure that God’s word, as much of it as possible, is in our heart and in our mind.
So what are the practical tools? Like it says in Hebrews chapter 8:10-12.
Hebrews 8:10-12
10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Here is the revised text with improved grammatical structure and clarity, while preserving the original vocabulary and key messages:
—
So what does God say? “I will put my law in their minds, and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.” This is a prophecy. And it is being fulfilled today, as more and more people are coming to the realization of the open word and are putting the word in their minds and in their hearts.
You are doing this now. So what should you do? What are the practical things?
Because the things you mentioned, Brother Tim, are only true for righteous people. Not those who think they’re righteous because they walk a lovely old woman across the street, donate to soup kitchens, and go on mission trips. That’s not what makes someone righteous before God’s eyes.
Though we should definitely still be doing those things as those who love. Yes. But that standard is too low.
It does not meet God’s standard, which is being His type of good. So, number one, we need to put God’s word in our hearts and in our minds. So, do the home blessings.
And not just the home blessings, but as much of the Bible as you can. Have the Bible be a daily practice. Start with the book, and read several verses a day, as much as you can, and really sit with those verses.
And now that you have this understanding, apply what you’ve learned now to those verses because you will not read the Bible the same. Things will jump out at you, and you will scream because you understand what is being said. This still happens to me, guys.
I was in your shoes, sitting in your seats. I too was like, no way, this is too much.
[Student 2]
Every lesson, something new. Really, every lesson, you have. It was like that for me too.
[Instructor]
But the word is still fresh to me. And as I’m reading things, for example, in the Old Testament, I’ll pick a random chapter, and then things are like, oh, that’s just like what happened at… oh, that’s what Jesus… that’s what God meant. The word is open now, so it just makes more sense.
So I’m not going to just give you one verse. I want you to have the whole word as your tool. So continue to read it and be in it.
But really focus on Revelation. Because even though we haven’t gotten to it yet, you have enough of a scaffolding of understanding for the book to kind of jive, to kind of click. You might not know all the full details yet, but things will start to make sense already.
Because you’ve been given the parables and now a lot of Bible logic. So read Revelation again, and you’ll see it with totally fresh eyes. So do home blessings, read Revelation again, and be familiar with what it says.
Because the more you’re familiar with what Revelation says, when we get to it, you’ll start to make connections. So be familiar with what happens in Revelation. This is key because Revelation is the new covenant.
This is what God meant by love. People need to know Revelation because Revelation is God’s final plan to bring everything to an end, final. Now, Revelation is not going to help you when your friend who hasn’t started studying it needs milk.
And I’m talking about your mother, who’s been a Christian for 40 years. I’m talking about your best friend. I’m talking about your parents, literally every other person who has not yet studied the word—your pastors—infants, babies spiritually.
So as the person who is more spiritually mature, be wise with your words and guide them in the way that you were guided. You don’t have to preach to them; just invite them. That’s all you need to do.
And then let the word guide them until you become equipped enough to really guide. And to those who finish the course, you will be given even more tools. I’ll say it like that.
Yeah, very good question.
To understand this question and the answer to it, we have to think about the logic of God. God created man, but He also created the opposite of men. What is a spiritual man?
What is a beast? Let me start there.
What is a spiritual beast? A person who does not understand God’s word.
They are the equivalent of a beast, even though physically they are humans. Psalms 49:20 and Proverbs 30:1-4.
So what does it mean? Son of man, beast, right? A person who does not understand the word.
Proverbs 30:1-4
The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle :
This man declared to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and to Ucal:
2 “I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man’s understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!
Oh, so deep. This is Proverbs a thousand years before the first coming.
A thousand years. What is his name and the name of his son? So good.
Anyway, the point I’m making here is in verse two: “I am the most ignorant of men. I do not have a man’s understanding.”
What did he call himself? A beast.
Because he does not have a man’s understanding. So a man is a person who does understand God.
So let’s turn to a passage, First Corinthians 15, that really makes the distinction between man and man. Let’s see. Hey, that’s so confusing as a practice.
1 Corinthians 15:42-49
42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
Oh, so deep.
So how many types of man are there? Two. There is the man of the earth, like the first man, Adam.
And there is the last man, Adam, or the man from heaven. When it says “son of man,” this is what God means: Son of the man who understands.
Now think about it. When it said in verse 45, “so it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being.”
Hold on a second. He was already a man. And then he became a living being.
When he received what?
When he received the breath of life.
And he became like a man of heaven. But what is so sad is that he became back a man of the earth.
“From dust you came, and to dust you will return.” Ah, don’t let that be you. So sad.
So when it says “man,” it’s really talking about the man from heaven. Son of man. Or heavenly man.
Or heavenly body. One who understands God. One who communes with God.
One who is of God. But also, Jesus became a physical man too. So that he could understand us.
And speak on our behalf. Like we talked about the Spirit of Truth and Counselor. As our advocate.
Of many things. So scripture requires a lot of nuance and a lot of specificity.
That’s why this course takes eight months. Because there is so much. But when you have a commanding understanding,
then you don’t get shaken by things. Nothing shakes you. Nothing scares you.
Because you know what is to come—an amazing glory that will be revealed. But you still have to fight.
And Satan now will fight you harder. The more you understand about God, the harder he will fight.
And if he can’t get you, he will get your children. If he can’t get your children, he will get your job. If he can’t get your job, he will get your finances.
If he can’t get your finances… Right? He’s going to try everything to pull you away. Fight. You have the tools to fight.
Be equipped. You can do this.
This is a good question. To avoid the trap of adding and subtracting, we have God’s prophecy, given to a prophet.
Time passes, which can be hundreds or even thousands of years before God fulfills His promise. People existing during this time should wait patiently, as many have done in the past.
As Habakkuk 2:2-3 suggests, people should celebrate the word they understand at their time, the word that has been opened for them, and wait patiently.
However, what did people often do? They guessed, added, and subtracted.
They speculated: The Messiah will be like this, born here, do this, do that. Because of this, which we should avoid, when the Messiah came, He didn’t match their expectations. Consequently, they rejected Him.
Looking at Revelation in the same way, to answer your question:
[Student 1]
I understand we must wait for the fulfillment of prophecies without guessing or subtracting. My question relates to the intermediate test, question 20. John 6:45 mentions being taught by God at Christ’s second coming. What does this mean, including the reference to being taught by the pastor where God is, who saw and heard the events of all Revelation chapters through Jesus and the angel?
New John saw and heard all Revelation events, correct? If he saw what will happen, why don’t we know these events? Should we learn from him or just wait?
Do we wait patiently until the fulfillment happens because he already saw and heard?
[Instructor]
Good question. I appreciate how you phrased it. Let me explain:
Revelation 22:8 states, “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.” John saw and heard these things 2000 years ago in a vision.
New John must see these things in reality. Revelation’s events happen in reality, piece by piece, over time. When something happens and John sees it, he testifies to what he has seen and heard.
All Revelation chapters will be seen by John when fulfilled. He then explains it to everyone. If it hasn’t occurred physically, he can only quote the Bible because that’s all we have.
He won’t definitively describe events in great detail if they haven’t happened. John has explained up to what he has seen in reality.
He will see all events as promised and tell us as he sees them.
[Student 1]
So essentially, he’s still waiting just like us.
[Instructor]
That’s correct. There are certain things he’s been shown, but there are also things he’s waiting to see. We need to consider this carefully.
John is a servant. He’s a servant who is shown the events that must take place. Jesus and the angel reveal these things to him.
Until heaven shows him, John can’t know by himself. He can’t guess what it will be like. He can only describe what he saw or say, “This is what it may be like.”
For example, he can say, “This is what I saw when I was in heaven in Revelation 4, so it will probably be like this.” But he doesn’t give specific details like, “This is going to happen, then this will happen, and then this will occur.”
That’s what people of the world do when they try to explain these things, but they don’t fully understand because they haven’t actually seen and heard it in reality. However, when Revelation is completely fulfilled, John will see it all and be able to explain it. Does this make more sense?
You would join everyone else who has died and is hearing this gospel after the fact.
[Student 1]
So I’ll be in the spirit prison, and then get resurrected a thousand years later?
[Instructor]
Exactly. As stated in 1 Peter 3:1-4. However, something different happens to those who hear this full testimony before they die.
We’ll discuss that as well. Our hope is to see it while we’re alive. Does that make sense?
Everyone must hear this word in completion. If you die before hearing the word fully, you’ll hear the rest after death, allowing you to make a decision like everyone else.
[Student 1]
So they have a second chance.
[Instructor]
That’s right. In 1 Peter 3, we see that even those who were disobedient long ago when Noah was building the ark also heard the gospel. Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:18-20:
“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it, only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.”
So yes, you will receive a chance like everyone else to hear the rest of it.
Pray hard that a deadly accident does not occur. We know Satan doesn’t play fair.
Indeed. I’ve taught people who have died or studied with those who died before fulfillment. It’s really sad because you love that person so much.
Their time came. We pray that time continues because we know Satan attacks in both the physical and spiritual worlds.
He works in both realms. So pray for people who have died too. This was a common practice in the early days.
However, the practice was stopped due to corrupt priests demanding payment to pray for deceased loved ones. People stopped doing it, which is unfortunate.
Two questions I’m sure have been on Christians’ minds for a long time and our minds as well. So let’s talk about both.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.
The rapture is an important topic to consider. When reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we should reflect on previously covered topics and understand the connections or misunderstandings that led to current beliefs about the second coming. Paul provides an important clue about what must occur.
Paul discusses the same groups of people mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6. In verse 13, he addresses “those who fall asleep.” This is not referring to people staying awake at night due to lack of light. Instead, as verse 14 states, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” Falling asleep in this context is a positive thing.
Why does Paul use the term “fall asleep”? When someone literally falls asleep, they wake up. Paul is talking about people who have died, but will wake up again. This is referring to resurrection.
Paul is discussing the martyrs, those who fell asleep in Christ. This is the first group: the souls of the martyrs.
The second group is mentioned in verse 15: “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.” This group consists of those who are still alive at the second coming.
Who are these people? They are those who overcome the beast, his image, and the number of his name, as mentioned in Revelation 20:4-6. These are the same groups of people discussed in both passages.
Verse 16 mentions “the dead in Christ” (those who fell asleep) rising with those who overcame. This event will take place on a mountain.
When you look at a mountain, you typically see high places. At the tops of mountains, you’re likely to see clouds, which represent the air and the spiritual world. When heaven comes down, it will come to the mountain tops where people will be gathered.
Hopefully, by God’s grace, we will be among those gathered there. In Babylon, we once thought we would be literally snatched up, leaving our clothes neatly folded on the ground as we floated into the sky. This was because we were interpreting prophecy literally. We don’t make that mistake anymore.
Now, we can see the real meaning behind the figurative language. The spiritual world and the physical world will become one. Those who overcome, resting on the mountain, will welcome heaven as it descends. The loud trumpet call represents the voice of the overcomer – the one who saw and heard, the seventh trumpet. This is the true rapture, though the term “rapture” doesn’t actually appear in the Bible.
The event of separation, however, does appear in the Bible. Jesus talks about this separation in many situations. First, there is a gathering. Many gather, but only those truly born of God’s seed and harvested remain. Those who refuse to believe, like the person at the wedding banquet wearing no clothes, are kicked out, even though they were initially called. Those who meet the requirements stay on the mountain.
The harvest is the true rapture. We should use the term “harvest” going forward. All of Jesus’ parables point to this event:
1. The good fish and the bad fish
2. The wise virgins and foolish virgins
3. The sheep and the goats
4. The five talents people and two talents people versus the one talent person
These are all the same parable Jesus told repeatedly. The harvest at the end of the age is the coming of Christ and all of heaven to the mountain, where they will gather many people.
Regarding the antichrist, we don’t fully understand this concept either.
1 John 2:18-19
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.
Let’s consider: How many antichrists are there? Many.
It’s not singular, or not just singular.
There are many antichrists. It’s plural in nature. And how long have antichrists been around? You could say forever, but let’s consider the context of when these words were written. How long ago were these words written? 2,000 years ago.
So antichrists have always been around. We’re often so focused on one antichrist that we ignore the fact that antichrists, which simply means “against Christ,” have always existed.
It’s true that there is a man of lawlessness who will be revealed. But what are the characteristics of antichrists?
If you pay close attention to what John says in verse 19, he states, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their going showed that none of them belong to us.”
Those who gather on a mountain and those who do not remain. So antichrists are those who were once part of God, but left.
For whatever reason. And this has been the case, everyone, for the last 2,000 years. But the man of lawlessness must be revealed.
The man doomed to destruction. And you’ve already seen him. I’ve drawn him in the lessons many times.
We will see more detail soon. But yes, antichrist is plural, everyone. And they’ve always been around.
We can read those verses.
Genesis 2:19-20
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.
Let’s explore our understanding of Genesis, particularly the events surrounding Adam. We’ll draw a picture of Adam based on what we’ve learned so far.
First, God gave Adam the garden. He formed Adam by giving him the breath of life, which is the word. This made Adam the first what? Pastor. This means Adam had the duty or role of delivering the word – the very breath he had received – to others.
After the selection of a pastor, what must come next? The creation of a kingdom. What kingdom did God give his pastor? The Garden of Eden. Then, God gave Adam a covenant. What was that covenant? Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
So, the Garden of Eden was a church. If the Garden of Eden is a church and Adam is a pastor, there needs to be a congregation, right? How many times are people compared to animals in Scripture? Shouldn’t we be sheep? Aren’t we fish caught in the net? People are compared to animals throughout the Bible. It’s not strange. We’re also compared to plants. There’s a reason for this.
God uses characteristics of His creation to explain spiritual things. Fish are in the sea or water and must be caught by the net and brought onto the ship. Plants require sunlight from above and water to nourish them, and they must be planted in soil – a field.
Many times, people are compared to animals. So, what does it mean that Adam had to give them names? Names are titles. “You will be an elder. You will be a worship leader. You will be an usher.” Like that – positions, duties, responsibilities. These are the names Adam was supposed to give as the leader of the garden.
When we see Genesis 1 – and we will see it very soon – you’ll see the logic there. Well, dinosaurs aren’t talked about in the Bible, so we’ll have to ask God when we see Him.
Let’s think about this a little more. I want to give you a clue that might help you understand this better. It’s something that might be fun – something for those who come to Q&A because you guys get more.
The human body has 24 ribs, 12 on each side. We have 4 limbs that help us move and interact with the world. Our head has 7 openings: two eyes, two nostrils, a mouth, and two ears. These openings allow us to see, hear, smell, and taste, enabling us to observe and interact with our surroundings.
Our body is composed of over 70% water. The two most important organs are the heart and the brain, both governed by the spirit.
Consider these facts:
1. 7 openings
2. 4 limbs
3. 24 ribs
4. A governing mind
5. A governing heart pumping blood through our body
6. 70% water composition
This structure relates to God and the Holy City New Jerusalem. Our bodies are a depiction of heaven. The governing brain represents the mind, the 24 ribs symbolize the 24 elders, the seven openings represent the seven angels, and the four limbs represent the four living creatures.
We are a representation of heaven. God created us this way intentionally; there are no accidents with God.
In the garden of Eden, Eve was one of the 24 elders. This interpretation was impossible until Revelation was written, as God didn’t describe heaven in the spiritual world before that. For 3500 years of biblical history, this connection couldn’t be made until Revelation was fulfilled and the parables were explained.
In Eden, the animals were people that Adam had to rule and tend. He gave them roles, duties, and titles. God said to take one of the elders, Eve, to be Adam’s wife, taken from his rib.
There’s more to discuss about Genesis 1. God intended to reveal these things but had to wait for the right time and conditions. A critical mass of people knowing and waiting for Jesus was necessary, which has only been possible recently. The conditions for God to finish everything and capture Satan also had to be right.
That’s why we’re receiving so much revelation now that we hadn’t received before. Now is the time.
QUESTION
Since the olive oil is the word of testimony, and since we know that to “buy and sell” figuratively means to preach and understand (listen + accept) God’s word, why couldn’t the wise virgins ‘sell’ their oil to the ‘foolish’ virgins?
ANSWER
First, we must understand where the oil comes from. It’s important to grasp the origin of the oil. So, let’s begin with that.
What is the literal path of oil? How do we arrive at olive oil? What must occur initially?
Olive oil is pressed from an olive, which comes from an olive tree.
The process begins with an olive tree. This tree produces olives. From these olives, oil is extracted through pressing.
Therefore, the first step is for someone to obtain the olive oil from the olive tree.
There’s no way to bypass this process. Olive oil always originates from an olive tree.
In the book of Revelation, olive trees are mentioned. Specifically, in Revelation 11, they are referenced. What were these olive trees compared to in this passage?
Revelation 11:1-4
I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Jesus promised to send two witnesses. In verse 4, He refers to these two witnesses as the two olive trees. Olive trees produce olive oil, which represents a word of testimony. This connects to what the wise virgins said in the parable: they told the others to go to the oil sellers and get more for themselves.
Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
We have the wise virgins and the foolish virgins. The wise had their lamps and sufficient oil, while the foolish had their lamps but insufficient oil, so they ran out.
They were told to go to the oil sellers. Who are the oil sellers? The two witnesses. They were instructed to go to those who sell oil and get more.
The oil will always be clearest from the oil seller, though we should all be able to have sufficient oil and deliver it to others. It’s better for them to get the oil directly from the oil seller, as it will be the freshest and clearest. So they say, “Go to them and get more.”
The thing is, they were both waiting for the master to return, and they had ample time to have sufficient oil. As they were going, the master returned, and it was too late. Don’t be foolish. You have plenty of time. That’s what God will say: “I gave you time. I gave you eight months. What did you do at that time?”
Not yet, but what I mean is, hearing them speak. Ultimately though, we only need to listen to one of the two witnesses. The other one was called Reed. You didn’t know about the oil sellers until you came to class. You didn’t even know you had to do it. So our job is to guide to the top of the mountain. Then once you’re at the top, you receive the fresh oil direct from the source. But you had to get there first. That’s my job and the evangelist’s job.
Soon you will get to hear from the witness. Remember, the other witness was called a reed. And what is a reed? Flimsy, which means it’s not sturdy. A reed is one with weaker faith.
The reed was once strong but became weak, just like Jesus calling John a reed as well in Matthew 11. A similar thing happened to John. In fact, the two witnesses promised, or the two olive trees promised in Zechariah 4, were John the Baptist and Jesus. The logic was the same: one remained strong, the other became weak.
Jesus said in John 5:35, “John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.” But in verse 36, Jesus continues, “I have a testimony weightier than that of John’s.” It’s not an accident that Jesus used “testimony” in that situation.
So John 5:35-36 refers to the first coming. The olive trees were John the Baptist and Jesus.
QUESTION
From the seminar’s beginning, you encouraged students to test the spirits, discern for themselves, not be content with what merely sounds good, and always question the instructor. Through questioning and discernment, we connected the dots and recognized the nature of the message being conveyed. We noticed the tone gradually changed, becoming more strict and evasive.
Now, however, you’re telling us to stop discerning and asking questions, suggesting that doing so reflects poorly on our heart condition. Are you expecting us to simply comply with what you’re saying? This demand for obedience feels like the persecution you mentioned in class.
ANSWER
That’s not what I meant by what I said. At this point in the course, there are many questions to come. We haven’t talked about much yet. But we need to discern where we are and where we should be. By now, we should know that answer quite well, or that’s my hope, before we get to Revelation.
It’s important because not everyone has the heart to ask questions and discern. Some just come and hear a lesson, then go, without really changing or absorbing. I can tell you’re someone who absorbs and contemplates. That’s not what I’m saying is bad. I encourage you to continue doing that. Please don’t misunderstand me.
But also discern where I am. Here’s the word I’m hearing. Here’s where I am. Am I in the right place? Or should I go? Those are the questions we should be asking now and discerning.
Many people don’t do that analysis. They remain where they are without critically discerning where they are and where they should go. I’m saying we really need to start doing that at this time.
One of the things that holds people back are relationships. They are one of the biggest holding back forces. It’s sad to see because even relationships stumbled people at the time of the first coming too, like Peter.
Peter also had to be rebuked by Jesus. So rebuke is not the same thing as persecution. Rebuke comes from a place of love so that people can change.
Persecution is more like, “I want and desire you to be destroyed. I don’t want you to do what you’re doing anymore. So I’m going to shut you up.” That’s what persecution is. “I want you to obey what I believe. But what I believe isn’t true.”
But I don’t know that it isn’t true. What are you insinuating? I’m curious where your mindset is going.
[Student 1]
Is not pressuring people to believe in a specific way without seeing the evidence and without proper discernment a way of forcing people to obey and accept?
[Instructor]
Let’s think about this, brother, because that’s certainly one way to see it. But if you existed 2000 years ago, how would you react to Jesus? Who said, “I’m the way and the truth and the life. The only way through God is through me,” right? What would you have said then? What would I have said?
That’s what I think about. Would I have been able to look at Jesus and say, “Okay, Jesus, I believe and I will listen to your words”? Or would I have said, “No, I like the way I’ve always been doing things”?
[Student 1]
From that perspective, I see that from an eyewitness standpoint and hear from other eyewitnesses as well to compare notes and make my discernment.
[Instructor]
Yeah, but did everyone who saw Jesus believe in him? Because many saw Jesus with their own eyes and saw the things that he did. Not everyone did.
In fact, very few people saw Jesus and followed him initially. But a few did. And they testified to everyone who didn’t see Jesus because I don’t know about you, but I didn’t see Jesus when he was here.
I wasn’t around. But when the events of Revelation take place, will we not see the events take place with our own eyes too?
If we’re around and we’ll be around, will we not also see too? Faith comes from understanding. Without understanding, one can’t have true faith.
Yeah, that’s how faith is. One can’t have true faith.
[Student 1]
This isn’t about blind faith anymore. It’s about understanding and believing because what we’ve been waiting for is becoming reality. There’s been a significant shift, almost overnight. Previously, we might have thought, ‘Jesus could return at any time,’ but now the reality is gradually being revealed. It’s exciting to contemplate these changes.
So, what does faith mean now? It’s more about understanding and following instructions. It’s as if everyone will receive guidance from the mountain, figuratively speaking. We now have clear directions to follow, rather than relying solely on faith.
In essence, we’re moving from a state of anticipation and belief to one of realization and action. This transition is transforming our perspective on faith and how we approach our spiritual journey.
[Instructor]
Yeah, well actually this is a good question. I want to talk about faith quickly because faith is kind of… I want us to understand the deeper meaning of faith.
The definition of faith has not changed. It’s understood a little bit more on the milk level, but it’s important for us to understand faith at the mature level, the solid food level.
[Student 1]
But now it’s more into the action level.
[Instructor]
Well, faith leads to action.
[Student 1]
That’s what I’m saying. It’s more action this time.
[Instructor]
But you cannot take action without faith.
You have to have faith first.
Hebrews 11:1,6
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
The definition of faith has not changed. It’s understood it a little bit more on the milk level but it’s important for us to understand faith at the mature level, the solid food level.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and don’t yet see. What do we hope for? Salvation and eternal life. These are God’s promises and prophecies, which people hope for but cannot yet see.
Verse 6 states that it’s impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Faith has always been and will always be part of the equation for God’s people.
If you’re blessed to live in a time when our hope becomes reality, you need to act according to that faith. Action is part of faith; you cannot have action without faith, and you cannot have faith until you understand what you need to hope for. Knowledge and understanding come first.
The disciples and early Christians didn’t sacrifice their lives for no reason. They were willing to be martyred because they understood Jesus’ promises and believed He was who He said He was. James 2:20-26 mentions that faith without deeds or actions is dead faith, meaning no faith at all.
Abraham is a perfect example. God promised him many descendants in Genesis 12 and 15. When God fulfilled His promise by giving Abraham a son, Isaac, Abraham believed. If he had doubted, he would have been disqualified and would not have pleased God.
The wait for God’s promises can be long, even thousands of years. But when things happen, God expects you to act. In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, and Abraham acted without questioning because the time had come to act.
You cannot act without faith, and blind faith based on feelings or personal experience cannot lead someone to do what God needs them to do at the proper time. People need to know so they can have true faith and act accordingly.
My job is to sound the alarm, to wake you up. It’s supposed to be abrupt and uncomfortable because we’re living in a time of urgency. It’s not a time for comfort; it’s “go time.” I have to be stern and straightforward, or I would be doing you a disservice. God will hold me responsible if you don’t receive the message you need to act.
This isn’t meant as a rebuke, but please understand my heart and the importance of this message.
QUESTION
What does it mean to come out of the great tribulation in Revelation 7:14? Is the great tribulation related to persecution? Are we currently in the time of a great tribulation?
ANSWER
Not exactly, although that’s a very good question.
There is a promise of a great tribulation in Revelation. Out of this great tribulation comes a great multitude who have washed their robes. The great tribulation is an event, and the great multitude emerges from it.
The question is, which event? We will see clearly what the great tribulation is and how the great multitude comes out of it when we get to that part of Revelation. It’s a “food at the proper time” question.
[Student 1]
Okay, so you’re basically saying we should wait until we get there.
[Instructor]
Amen. It’s one of those questions where I have to ask you to wait because there’s a lot of context we haven’t covered yet.
You’ve all seen actual reality now. It’s related to events after betrayal and destruction.
We will discuss the great tribulation, but regarding persecution, it comes from those being used by the enemy. Primarily, it comes from people who haven’t understood themselves. They persecute those who have understood and have fled.
They don’t understand why and say, “You don’t have to do those things. This is how it has always been.” This is the persecution at the second coming, and it takes place in many ways.
[Student 1]
Will it be as bad as the persecution during the first coming?
[Instructor]
Unfortunately, there have been those at Mount Zion who have been killed due to strong persecution. It has already taken place, which is very sad. So yes, the answer is yes. Sometimes it is as bad.
Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
The beast is represented by the image and the number of its name.
Those who fight among themselves will also attempt to fight against those who belong to the Lamb. This will result in widespread persecution during the time of the second coming.
However, we all must overcome. It is an essential part of the process.
QUESTION
Regarding Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the Tabernacle was linked to seven stars and lampstands.
When this event took place or when the Tabernacle was taken over, it wasn’t widely known across the world. It wasn’t an occurrence that the church would have easily recognized or comprehended.
ANSWER
Indeed, it happened in a small town in a small country that wasn’t internationally known at the time. South Korea wasn’t on people’s minds for a long time.
It’s only recently that we’ve seen things like K-pop and kimchi become popular. Although kimchi isn’t exclusively Korean, Korean kimchi is very good.
Korea wasn’t on the world stage for a long time, making it the perfect place for God to fulfill Revelation before the world came to know about it.
Looking at Revelation 2 and 3, we see letters recorded by John on behalf of Jesus. Jesus instructs John to write on a scroll what he sees and send it to the seven churches. In reality, New John sends the letters to them, not just copying Revelation 2 and 3, but going into more detail while following its flow.
He wrote to them about the events that had occurred and sent the letters in 1979 to the messengers of the seven churches.
When considering the seven churches, we think of the historical ones like Laodicea, Thyatira, Ephesus, and Smyrna.
[Student 1]
Can I add context about why the Temple of the Tabernacle became the representative of Christianity, to which New John had to send all the letters?
[Instructor]
Correct. Remember what they were called and what John was called.
[Student 1]
The lamp.
[Instructor]
They were also called lamps. They could teach a word that no one else could and explain some of the parables.
[Student 1]
But how do we know? Was there any debate?
[Instructor]
That’s a good question. We’ll see more testimony to understand what was happening at that time. This was in the 60s, and things were different in Korea then. There was a war of doctrines, and they were stomped out by government-sent officials.
A doctrinal war, essentially a debate, happened in the tabernacle. People outside heard about it when New John testified, and they had to come to grips with what he was saying and decide whether to believe it or not.
These events occurred in Korea over many decades since this has been fulfilled. Anyway, back to the point I’m trying to make, this is a picture of the location of the original seven churches.
The churches mentioned no longer exist today. They have long since disappeared. However, we need to consider how John received the Revelation.
John saw the Revelation through a vision, which is a form of parable. Everything he describes in Revelation occurred within this vision.
To illustrate, if you dream about eating a steak and then wake up, you haven’t actually consumed the steak in reality. For a long time, people believed that John physically sent Revelation chapters 2 and 3 to the churches. However, understanding how prophecy works reveals that he didn’t actually send these letters. This explains why there’s no historical record of these letters’ existence.
John saw the vision and recorded what he witnessed. The fulfilment of this prophecy suggests that someone, a new John, will send these letters at the time of the second coming.
To provide a deeper understanding, I’ll refer to my drawing pad. If you look closely, you’ll see I’ve marked the island of Patmos. This was where John was located when he recorded the Revelation.
In the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, in what is now modern-day Turkey, seven churches existed as real places during that era. Apostle John was the leader of the church in Ephesus before his exile. This fact confused people, as it seemed strange for John to write a letter to the church he once led.
John received the vision of Revelation while in exile. When prophecies are given, past and present events are often used figuratively to represent future events, as people can relate to and understand them better.
We often mistakenly thought these prophecies referred to literal places. However, these churches no longer exist, just as Babylon doesn’t exist today, yet it’s prophesied to appear in Revelation 17 and 18. This is why we must interpret these prophecies figuratively.
The seven churches in one country, Asia Minor, represent seven people in one church in reality. Here, the nation equals seven people in one church. The nation is a church, and a person is like a building. As it’s written, “Don’t you know that you are God’s field, God’s building?”
In this time, New John sends letters to them, asking them to repent just as Jesus asked. However, they do not repent and instead laugh at the letters.
The fulfilment of this prophecy takes place in our current era. The parable of the seven churches represents the true word and those who flee from lies and false hope. The seed of this lesson was planted in John’s time, but its meaning remained sealed until now, when it is finally open for understanding.