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♪ theme music ♪

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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,

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an in-depth, interactive study

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of the Word of God.

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I'm glad you joined us today

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as we continue a life-changing series

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of studies on the Gospel of Matthew.

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Today we're going to talk

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about "The Teachings of Jesus

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about the Last Days."

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A relevant topic,

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and I know you'll be blessed.

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So welcome to Hope Sabbath School

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and welcome to our team.

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What a great series of studies.

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I'm so thankful that the Spirit of God

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inspired a former tax collector,

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Levi Matthew, to write this account,

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and I'm excited today because

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one of our team, T ricia Lee,

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is going to be leading in our study.

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Tricia Lee, thanks for your commitment

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to the Word of God,

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and I know God is going to bless us

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in wonderful ways.

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We're just so glad

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that you're part of Hope Sabbath School,

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and when you write to us it brings joy

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to our hearts to hear[br]how God is blessing you.

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You can write to sshope@hopetv.org.

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You can also write a note

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on our Facebook page;

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we've got more than 150,000 followers

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on Facebook now, and it's wonderful.

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Sometimes we'll put a picture of you,

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if you send one.

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We're just part of a global family

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seeking God and wanting to be used

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to bless others with His Word.

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So thanks for writing.

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Ely writes from California.

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Anybody from California?

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Some of you have lived[br]in California, right?

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Okay.

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"Greetings to every Hope[br]Sabbath School member."

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Several of you look happy.

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"I watch your program every day.

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I learn a lot from the discussion.

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I also downloaded the app,

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and I love to watch the archives.

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I feast on the Word of God every day."

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Well, Ely, thanks for letting other

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Hope Sabbath School members know

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that if you go to our website,

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hopetv.org/hopess,

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you can not only watch programs

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in this series on the Gospel of Matthew

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that you might have missed,

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but you can watch a[br]multitude of past programs

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with wonderful topics

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that will be a blessing.

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If you have the app on your iPhone

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or your smartphone, you can access

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the archives there; you can watch

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all kinds of wonderful Bible studies.

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So thanks for putting in a little promo,

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Ely, for the app, and that's

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a wonderful blessing to many people.

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James writes from Ghana.

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Anyone with Ghanaian roots?

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We do have some occasionally on our team,

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don't we?

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"I enjoy your class and the contributions

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you make.

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I pick your contributions,

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and I replicate them in my class

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when I teach in my church."

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Is that good?

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(Team) Yes.

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(Derek) That's exactly[br]what we're hoping for.

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"Oh, how I wish I could contribute live,"

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says James.

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"Send my greetings to the[br]Hope Sabbath School team."

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Well, James, if you come over

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when we're filming, we'd love to have you

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as part of the program,

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but, you know, we're equally excited

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to know that you're leading a Bible study

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program there in your homeland of Ghana,

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and, along with tens of thousands

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who are downloading that outline,

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we're glad you're teaching[br]the Word to others.

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Benson writes from Kenya,

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and I know we've got one Kenyan.

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Eric, wave to your brother from Kenya.

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All right, a big smile for Benson

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writing from Kenya, "I[br]follow your programs.

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I am a Sunday School teacher."

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So Benson's teaching the Word

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in his church.

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"Please don't give up because your work

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is not in vain."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) Ah, that's awesome!

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"God bless you all, amen."

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Well Benson, to know that you're a witness

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there in your church in Kenya

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brings great joy to our hearts.

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You encourage

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your other Sunday School members

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to watch Hope Sabbath School,

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and they'll learn much more about

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the Word of God, too.

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Here's one last note, actually, I've got

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a couple here; lots of people writing.

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I want to thank Jean

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for writing from Russia.

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You say, "Jean doesn't sound Russian."

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Well, Jean is from Rwanda,

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studying in Russia.

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"I greet you in the might name of[br]our soon-coming Savior Jesus Christ."

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "Peace be with you.

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I am Rwandese, currently living

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and studying in Russia."

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Now I want you to listen[br]to Jean's testimony.

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"I discovered Hope Sabbath School

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in late 2014 shortly[br]after I came to Russia.

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I used to go through the[br]Sabbath School study by myself

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because I didn't have[br]anyone to study with me.

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Even after I discovered[br]a church in the city,

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it was still difficult because all[br]of the services were held in"...?

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(Team) Russian.

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(Derek) "...Russian, and I just[br]was learning the language.

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As a response to my longings,..."

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Somebody is going to say "amen" here,

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"As a response to my longings,

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God revealed Hope Sabbath School to me,"

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) "...and I was able to be part

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of the in-depth study of[br]the Word of God in English.

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It blessed me so much that even though

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I've now acquired enough language skills

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to discuss the lesson in Russian,

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I still watch Hope Sabbath School,

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and I'm blessed by that.

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I pray that you keep serving,[br]letting people know

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about the Word of God and that you

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might even broadcast[br]in different languages

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to reach many unreached[br]places for Christ."

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Well, Jean, I want to ask you to pray

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because we are moving forward [br]with closed captioning,

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and we are looking for the opportunity

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for volunteer translators in a multitude

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of different languages so that people

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who don't have English as their language,

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even a major second language,

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will be able to watch and[br]read the closed captioning

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because, you know this[br]Gospel of the KIngdom

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is going to go the whole World,

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and then Jesus will come back,

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isn't that right?

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(Team) Amen.

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(Derek) So thank you for[br]being a witness there

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while you're studying in Russia.

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One last note from Alexander in Zimbabwe.

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Anyone from Zimbabwe?

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Simiso, hold your hand up[br]and wave to your brother,

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and we'll get that on the screen,

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all the way from Zimbabwe.

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"Greetings, Hope Sabbath School team."

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(Team) Greetings!

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(Derek) "I'm blessed to be watching

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Hope Sabbath School in Harare,

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capital of Zimbabwe.

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I really enjoy the discussions;

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they're so interactive and informative.

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May God bless you, the entire[br]Hope Sabbath School team,

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for spreading the Word of God."

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Well, you say that's a lot of emails

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coming from around the world,

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and, you know, we are just so glad

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that we can be part of a global family.

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And we're going to sing together now

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as a global family,

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and then Tricia Lee's going to lead us

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in a powerful study of the Word of God,

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"The Teachings of Jesus[br]about the Last Days,"

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but were singing now, Psalm 148.

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I hope you've learned it for this series,

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"Praise Him in the Heights."

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♪ music ♪

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(Derek) You know, I've got a feeling

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when we're done with this series,

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we're going to be singing[br]this in our sleep,

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but what a great Psalm to sing,

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"Praise Him in the Heights,"

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and, Tricia Lee, as you lead our[br]study today, I know we'll have a lot

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to praise Jesus for as He gives[br]us hope for the last days.

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(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

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Let us pray.

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Dear Lord, we need your Holy Spirit

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to help us to understand the times

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that we're living in.

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We need your Holy Spirit to help[br]us understand Your Word to us

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about the Last Days.

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Please bless this study,

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in Christ's name we pray, amen.

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(Derek, Team) Amen.

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(Tricia Lee) I am so excited that God

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has not left us in the dark about[br]what to expect will happen

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in the Last Days.

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Some people are very anxious[br]or nervous about the things

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that happen at the end of time.

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Some people have heard rumors or[br]strange stories of the apocalypse

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or even science fiction zombies,

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but God's Word reveals[br]to us what to expect.

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So as we study together, let's just[br]thank God that He has not left us

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in darkness about what[br]will come in the Last Days.

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(Derek, Team) Amen.

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(Tricia Lee) Let us turn our study

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to the Book of Matthew chapter 23.

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Before we hear what Jesus[br]teaches about the Last Days,

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first we find our study right[br]after the Triumphal Entry.

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Jesus has entered Jerusalem, and[br]He has met the religious leaders,

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and unfortunately they are filled[br]with envy and anger towards Him,

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and with a sorrowful heart He beings[br]to pronounce series of woes to them.

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Woe means misery or trouble to come,

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bad things that are happening, so [br]He's arning them about the condition

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of their hard hearts and what that means.

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So let's see first, before[br]we talk about the Last Days,

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what Christ says to the religious[br]leaders and to the people at the time

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about these woes, this miserable[br]condition that they are unfortunately now

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finding themselves in[br]because they've rejected Him.

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Let's start in Matthew chapter 23.

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I'll ask Gary if he would[br]please read for us

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Matthew chapter 23, verses 1 through 12.

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(Gary) Okay, I'll be reading[br]from the New King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Amen.

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So before addressing the[br]Scribes and Pharisees,

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Christ first addresses the people,

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and He actually gives them some warnings.

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Nicole, would you summarize for us

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what has Christ warned the people[br]about in the verses we just read.

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(Nicole) Sure, I'm thinking back[br]to humility again and not being

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caught up in names and being[br]in certain places in society,

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and so I think He is warning[br]against being kind of hypocrites,

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you know, saying one thing out of[br]your mouth, but acting and living

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a way that's not reflecting[br]what you're saying.

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So I think this whole kind of 12 verses[br]talks about hypocrisy and warning

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against living a life that[br]you're not actually living.

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(Tricia Lee) That's correct.

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Let's keep reading now [br]n verses 13 through 15,

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where now Jesus is speaking directly

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to the religious leaders and[br]pronounces these woes upon them.

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Olric will you please read[br]Matthew chapter 23:13-15?

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(Olric) Yes, I'll be reading[br]from the King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow, strong words

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from Jesus here.

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Jonathan,would you summarize for us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what is the rebuke that Jesus is giving[br]to the Scribes and Pharisees here?

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(Jonathan) It seems like[br]He is just underpinning

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their whole approach to the religion.

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They had set up all these rules and[br]set up all these different things,

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and He's calling their bluff.

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It's like, "You talk about My Kingdom,

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but you don't actually want people in;

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you don't invite people to[br]really live these things out.

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It's more this external thing for you."

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(Tricia Lee) Strong[br]rebukes, but there is more.

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Juliana, will you continue reading for[br]us Matthew 23, verses 16 through 24?

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(Juliana) Sure, and I will be reading[br]from the New King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow.

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Simiso, summarize for what is Jesus[br]rebuking the religious leaders.

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(Simiso) I think Jesus is rebuking

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the religious leaders to[br]be genuine and authentic

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and be ____16:30 rounded in terms of what

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Scripture requires of them.

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(Tricia Lee) That's correct.

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When we look at verses 21 and[br]22, it seems as though they have

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a lack of reverence for[br]the things that are holy.

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They're not really reverencing[br]what God is saying.

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What do we see in verse 24

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about the tithing of mint and anise?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Olric, what is Christ telling them or[br]for what is Christ rebuking them?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) They had this teaching[br]back then that they were not

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to eat anything unclean, and the[br]gnat would be an unclean animal.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So they will take time to make sure

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that the water does not contain any

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of these little bugs, but, you know,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He is saying, "Your hypocrisy

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is so evident; you take time to pay tithe

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and cummin and this stuff.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You're being outwardly religious,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but inwardly you're not there because

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
things like faith and mercy, love,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that you don't have.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You take time to look[br]at these little things,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but there are bigger things[br]that you're not doing."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Have you[br]ever heard the phrase,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"the letter of the law but[br]not the spirit of the law,"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
being able to keep[br]certain requirements

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but not really having and[br]living the love to motivate it?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Let's keep reading.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There's some more rebukes[br]that Jesus gives them.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jason, would you read for us[br]Matthew 23, verses 25 through 36.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Jason) I'll be reading from[br]the New King James Version.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew chapter 23, verses[br]25 through 36, says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Wow, these[br]are some strong words.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I can't even imagine calling[br]someone a viper or a snake.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It's hard to even picture Jesus doing it.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You can imagine Him with tears in His eyes

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
telling those people that he loved

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
those scathing rebukes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Why do you think the rebukes of Jesus

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
were so harsh?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Why was He speaking to them so severely?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Nathan.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) I think we can read this in two[br]different ways, but we should read it

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
thinking of Jesus with tears[br]in His eyes and in His voice.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
When you look at the next verse that[br]follows, verse 37 in Matthew 23.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Can I read it from the New King[br]James Version, where He says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I mean, the pain in His voice; He's[br]longing for them to be saved, and He says,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"You're not willing to come to it."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It reminds me of, I think in Isaiah, God[br]speaking through the prophet says,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"All day long I stood with My[br]arms open wide to a stiff-necked

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and rebellious people," -- Here[br]He is calling you to salvation,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and you're turning away, not just[br]turning away but rebelling against Him.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) And it's sad; it's sad.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
In a previous study, we've talked about[br]the choices that we all have to make,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that God wants us to choose Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but we do have the free[br]will to choose otherwise.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Tricia Lee, I really appreciate what[br]Nathan said about the love of Jesus.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And there were some Pharisees,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Nicodemus was a Pharisee

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and also a member of the Sanhedrin,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who did repent.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Yes, praise God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) So you know, if Jesus was

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
just kind of harsh and kind of fighting

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with the weapons of this world

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
or acting like they acted,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they'd have an excuse,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I think He is speaking[br]with love in His heart.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, praise God, some of[br]the Scribes and Pharisees

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
said, "We need to repent;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we need to turn our lives around."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Reading through this passage,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
something was very interesting,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I'd like to ask the[br]class this question:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How could He say that the guilt of all[br]the righteous blood, all the martyrs

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
would fall on this generation?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What does that mean?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
How are they guilty of all these things?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They're just living their little lives;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
how is it that He can say that the[br]blood of all the righteous from Abel

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to Zechariah would fall[br]on this generation?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Any idea what was the significance[br]of that statement, Missy?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Missy) All throughout the generations,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
God has sent prophets,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
throughout all ages,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but along with the prophets[br]were the dissenters

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who chose not to listen to them,[br]and not only that, to oppose them

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and even kill the prophets.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And they have the same spirit,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so this is why they would carry the guilt.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) I think you're right, Missy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Let's turn to Luke chapter 24,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we'll see that the Bible supports

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what you just said, Missy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Luke chapter 24,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and, Eric, would you read for us Luke[br]chapter 24, verses 25 through 27?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Eric) I'm reading from the[br]New Living Translation,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Luke 24:25-27, and it says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen, that's right, Missy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
All the prophets were all[br]given the same message,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the Gospel of Jesus that was[br]to come, the Messiah to come,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they were all testifying to Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so every generation, when they kept[br]rejecting the prophets that were sent

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to them, they were rejecting Christ,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and ultimately when that generation[br]rejected Christ, they were rejecting

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the entire message that had been sent[br]to them time after time after time.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jonathan?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Jonathan) Just the fact that not[br]only did they reject the sayings

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that were entrusted to them, now[br]they came with greater power.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I mean, like, when you have[br]Christ doing all these miracles,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so if they reject Christ, who is[br]the fulfillment and testimony

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and perfect representation of[br]everything they were given,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they in essence have rejected it and[br]killed everything else before them.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) But, you know, we have no excuse

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because we have Jesus,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and yet, you know, one of the things[br]I've noticed teaching about Jesus,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
there are many young people who[br]grow up in a Christian home

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who have never read the Book of[br]Matthew or Mark or Luke or John.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They have the testimony of Jesus Himself,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and yet a lot of times we[br]act like it doesn't exist.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) That would be[br]the rebuke to our generation.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) I think it would be.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) The rebuke to our generation

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is that we have this Word that has[br]survived generation after generation,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we know that it's been[br]preserved through time

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
exactly as it was spoken through[br]the prophets and written down,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we know the life of Christ, and so here[br]we are today with such grace, such mercy,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and if we still choose not to accept[br]God, then that's the rebuke that we have

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
on ourselves.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're going to keep reading now,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we're going to transition[br]now to Matthew chapter 24

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and get into the real heart of our study.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're going to now see that Jesus leaves[br]the Temple, again, tears in His eyes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Thank you Nathan, and I believe[br]He had tears in His eyes, too.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Sad that the people were doubting[br]Him and not believing Him,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and now we're going to[br]see another conversation

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that He and the disciples get into[br]that leads us to this amazing prophecy

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
about the destruction of Jerusalem[br]as well as the Last Day events.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're going to read in Matthew chapter 24.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm going to ask Nicole if she[br]would start reading for us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nicole) Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm reading from the New[br]International Version,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Nicole,[br]would you pause there?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I have a question for the group.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What do you think they mean by that?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The "end of the age?"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
My New King James Version[br]says, the "end of the age."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Does anyone's Bible say[br]something different?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Anyone have "end of the world?"

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) What was happening here,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they were equating whatever destruction

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
would come to Jerusalem[br]with the end of the world.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So they put the two events together

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because this is how they[br]saw it in their own minds.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
That's why they asked Jesus[br]the question in that manner.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Missy) It was a dual prophecy.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It was talking about two separate events,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but they run parallel to each other.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) Well, I think Olric's right,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that they thought, "That must be the end

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of the world, if every stone in this[br]Temple of God is going to be torn down."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We know that it's not going[br]to be the end of the world,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's only 40 years later in 70 A.D.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it will be fulfilled, but[br]I think in their minds,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as Olric said, they're thinking that[br]must be one and the same thing

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as the end of all things.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Yes, one thing's for certain,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
if we have questions on what that means

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we're going to find out[br]as we keep reading,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but certainly as we listen to[br]what's going to be read to us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as we continue in chapter 24.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The end of the age - it[br]was something drastic.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The end of the world is[br]what you described, Olric,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and that's the context that the[br]disciples had in asking this question,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what is the site of this big,[br]grand, finale, if you would.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So Nicole, please keep reading for us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nicole) I'm reading from[br]verse 4 of Matthew 24.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
It says:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Missy, you were right that[br]this is dual prophecy,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
so we're going to continue reading

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and skip down to verses 21 through 28

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
about the prophecy regarding[br]the last days and the end times.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I'm going to ask Alex if he would[br]read for us verses 21 through 28.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Alex) Sure, and I'll be reading[br]from the King James Version:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
One last set of verses,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Nancy, would you please read[br]verses 32 and 33 for us?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nancy) Okay, and this is[br]from Matthew 24, verse 32

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the New King James Version:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen, at the doors.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So let's talk about these amazing,[br]amazing Scriptures, amazing prophecy,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Jesus letting us know what to expect

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the last days.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What signs of the last days do[br]you see even today taking place?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Olric.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) Wars, rumors of wars, you[br]have nation rising against nation,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it's becoming more prevalent,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but not just more prevalent,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but they're using more[br]sophisticated weapons

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for their warfare,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and it doesn't, you[br]know, seem to be ending.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) OKay, Juliana.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) Olric mentions[br]things that are involving man,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I think that the[br]Earth is also groaning.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're seeing more and[br]more earthquakes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I think of what happened[br]not that long ago in Nepal,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and there's also been things in Mexico

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and in Africa and just all over the world.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We have earthquakes, we have famines.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
There's things happening in rivers,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that animals are dying,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and the environment...it's groaning;

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
it's asking for Christ to come back.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Alex.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Alex) I think there are many[br]false prophets now, too.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Just more and more all the time I[br]see preachers and pastors coming

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
out with these end-time preachings[br]and end-time things, and even a lot

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of our friends are really[br]getting into these things,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"Here, check out this message," and such.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And it's like, wow, if I didn't know the[br]truth, this would be so easy to believe.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
You know, how they point things out in the[br]world, but it's so easy to be deceived.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Jonathan.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Jonathan) I think it's interesting to[br]look at the things He chooses and how

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He lays them out.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
I feel like in some sense He kind of[br]picks the things, not so much that we can

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
calculate the end of time, but more to[br]say, okay, what do we need to look at

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
because, I mean, a lot of the things[br]He lays out happen throughout history.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
The church was persecuted, you have[br]earthquakes, I mean, that's been happening

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
for a lot of time.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And certainly He does say things[br]that get close to the end of time,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I think also He's just saying for[br]the disciples and for us in general

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a way to look at the world and to[br]have our hearts...and how to respond

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to the things that happen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So I think it's kind of, "how to[br]live in the context of My Coming."

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And I think the positive thing

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is the Gospel is going[br]to go to the whole world,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and then the end's going to come.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) You know, I think the joy we have

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as a little team, Hope Sabbath School,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
is that we're a little part of that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and technology even in the lifetime

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
of many of our viewers,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
there's been a revolution[br]in terms of communication.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And, of course, the Enemy's[br]wanting to use that,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
as Alex said, to promote false ideas

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and just idolatry,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
but I believe God's going to use that

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
by His Spirit, too.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're on the brink of where the Message

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
can go rapidly around the world.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Alex, you mentioned the false[br]christs that come in the last days,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
what's our safeguard against

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the deception of a false christ, or

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
let's talk some more about[br]what does that look like,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a false christ or someone that's[br]coming in the name of Christ, Olric.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Olric) I've looked through[br]the Old Testament,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and I've seen some scenarios where

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
false messages were[br]brought to God's people.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We see in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
with the Devil tempting[br]them with false words.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Even in the case of in a[br]previous study we did Jeremiah,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we see Jeremiah being countered there by[br]an individual by the name of Hananiah.

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The problem with these false christs,

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false teachers, they propel messages

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that seem to distract God's people

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from God's way of doing things, the way

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God had commanded.

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And the way to counter this,

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as we will see from the Word of God,

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is through the truth[br]like Isaiah 8, verse 20.

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(Tricia Lee) Let's go there.

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Let's go there, Isaiah 8, verse 20,

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and Olric, will you read that for us?

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(Olric) Isaiah 8, verse 20,

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reading from the King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Wow.

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So what I heard you say, Olric, is

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there may not just be[br]manifestations of people

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saying that they[br]are a false messiah

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to physically "follow me," but even[br]teachings of false Christianity

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that can also be a way to deceive people

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in the last days.

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(Derek) Right, and I think Alex made a really important point

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when he said, "I could follow what some of my friends are saying

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if I didn't study the Word."

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Because these people, they do signs and wonders, it says,

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and they're religious;

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they're false christs and false prophets,

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so they speak about maybe needing

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to be close to God, and, you know,

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it all sounds good,

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but it's false.

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So, you know, we shouldn't[br]try to [point out],

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"Oh, is that false;" we should be focusing

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on the true and on Jesus[br]who is the true Christ,

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because when we see the false

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we will immediately recognize

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that it isn't the truth.

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(Tricia Lee) There's another promise[br]that Jesus Himself has made

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to His believers, and[br]I'm going to ask Missy

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if she would read for us John[br]chapter 10, verses 27 and 28.

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John chapter 10:27, 28.

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And it is a bit scary for some to[br]think that you could be deceived

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by false teachers and false miracles

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and false people to lead us astray,

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but I thank God that He has[br]this promise recorded for us.

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(Derek) Amen.

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(Missy) I'm reading from the[br]New International Version:

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(Derek) Amen.

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(Tricia Lee, Team) Amen.

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(Tricia Lee) We are safe[br]in the hands of Jesus.

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"My sheep hear my voice...[br]and they will follow."

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Thank you for reading that[br]Scripture in Isaiah, Olric.

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If there is a message or a person that's[br]not speaking according to the Word of God,

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then that's an alarm for us,

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but He's also promised[br]that He will keep us,

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that we will recognize His voice, and[br]I believe there are so many examples

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in the Bible of the Lord[br]revealing Himself to His people,

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literally leading His people through[br]the wilderness by day and by night,

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and so even in the midst of strong[br]deception in the last days,

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if we keep our eyes on Jesus,[br]He will see us through.

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Simiso, let's read another[br]promise from the Lord

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on why we shouldn't be afraid

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and should not be discouraged.

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Simiso, would you read John[br]chapter 14, verses 1 through 3.

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Why we should not be afraid[br]of these last day events.

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(Simiso) John 14, verses 1 through 3,

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and I'm reading from the[br]New King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Amen.

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So the last days are a necessary step

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in the process of getting us closer

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to going Home.

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Jesus is coming back to take us Home

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to be with Him, and as[br]scary as last day events,

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wars and earthquakes and pestilence

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and family members betraying[br]one another, may sound,

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God has promised to keep us

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and the promise is that when He returns

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
He is going to take us Home with Him.

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(Derek, Tricia Lee) Praise God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee) Missy mentioned earlier

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
that there was a dual prophecy,

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that the disciples were thinking

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about the destruction of Jerusalem,

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and Jesus answered their question

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about when those things[br]would take place as well.

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Let's read the verses[br]where Jesus describes

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the destruction of Jerusalem.

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Eric, would you read for us Matthew

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chapter 24, verses 15 through 20?

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(Eric) I'm reading from[br]the New Living Translation,

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and it says:

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(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Gary, we talked a bit earlier about[br]it being difficult for the disciples

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to think about the destruction of[br]Jerusalem to happen at any other time

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than at the end of the world.

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Why was that?

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Why did they connect the two together?

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(Gary) I guess how they related

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to the Temple, their mission;

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they're the people of God.

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They couldn't get past the fact that

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if this is not going to[br]be in existence anymore,

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than that must mean everything[br]must be falling apart.

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(Derek) You know, I think they're trusting

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in the building rather than in God.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
And before we judge them and go,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
"That's really foolish," I think we could

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trust in our institutions,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we could trust in our organization,

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and the truth of the matter is,

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before this is all over,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
a lot of those things could collapse.

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(Tricia Lee) That's true, it's true.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Derek) And all we have is[br]to hold on to our Savior,

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you know, because we know[br]that He's going through.

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He's going to take us[br]through to the very end.

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But lest we be too hard on them, I think

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
they associated confidence in God,

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now it's the building,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and pretty soon God's kind of set aside,

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and they're just trusting[br]in their structures.

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(Tricia Lee) You're absolutely right.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We're going to have to let go[br]of a lot of ideas that we have,

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things that we hold dear,

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to accept Jesus and in His return.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Juliana, would you read for us.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Let's turn to Philippians chapter 3:7-8,

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and we'll hear an account of someone

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
who had to let go of some[br]things they held dear.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Philippians chapter 3, verses 7 and 8.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Juliana) I'm reading from[br]the New King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Amen!

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
What we didn't read is that previously

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we're hearing an account of having[br]confidence in self and being able

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to keep the Law and being[br]of the stock of Israel,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
all the things that I'm sure the disciples

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
are very proud of in thinking about

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
the institution and the Temple.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
They had to let those things go,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and surely we will have to[br]let some things go, as well,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
to accept Christ.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
We talked in a previous study[br]about falling on the Rock,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
submitting to Christ

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and learning to count the things of[br]God as gain and learning how to let go.

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Let's keep reading in Matthew chapter 24.

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Not only does Jesus tell[br]us what to look for

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
in His coming, but He gives[br]us a description of His coming,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and certainly this is key because

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
we're watching and we're waiting,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we want to be ready when He comes,

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
and we want to know what we're looking for

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
when He comes.

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
So, Nathan, would you please read for us

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
Matthew 24, verses 27 through 31?

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Nathan) All right, I'll be reading[br]from the New King James Version:

9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000
(Tricia Lee)