WEBVTT

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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

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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
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
in California, right?

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Okay.

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"Greetings to every Hope
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
to Jean's testimony.

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"I discovered Hope Sabbath School

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in late 2014 shortly
after I came to Russia.

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I used to go through the
Sabbath School study by myself

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

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Even after I discovered
a church in the city,

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

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(Team) Russian.

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(Derek) "...Russian, and I just
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
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,
letting people know

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about the Word of God and that you

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might even broadcast
in different languages

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to reach many unreached
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 
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
read the closed captioning

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because, you know this
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
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
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
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
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
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
study today, I know we'll have a lot

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to praise Jesus for as He gives
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
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
what to expect will happen

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in the Last Days.

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Some people are very anxious
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
strange stories of the apocalypse

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or even science fiction zombies,

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but God's Word reveals
to us what to expect.

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

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in darkness about what
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
teaches about the Last Days,

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first we find our study right
after the Triumphal Entry.

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Jesus has entered Jerusalem, and
He has met the religious leaders,

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and unfortunately they are filled
with envy and anger towards Him,

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and with a sorrowful heart He beings
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 
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
we talk about the Last Days,

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what Christ says to the religious
leaders and to the people at the time

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

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finding themselves in
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
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
from the New King James Version:

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(Tricia Lee) Amen.

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So before addressing the
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
about in the verses we just read.

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

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caught up in names and being
in certain places in society,

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

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

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

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

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against living a life that
you're not actually living.

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(Tricia Lee) That's correct.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's keep reading now 
n verses 13 through 15,

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where now Jesus is speaking directly

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to the religious leaders and
pronounces these woes upon them.

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

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(Olric) Yes, I'll be reading
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

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what is the rebuke that Jesus is giving
to the Scribes and Pharisees here?

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(Jonathan) It seems like
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
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
really live these things out.

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It's more this external thing for you."

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

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

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

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow.

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

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(Simiso) I think Jesus is rebuking

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the religious leaders to
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
22, it seems as though they have

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a lack of reverence for
the things that are holy.

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They're not really reverencing
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?

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Olric, what is Christ telling them or
for what is Christ rebuking them?

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(Olric) They had this teaching
back then that they were not

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to eat anything unclean, and the
gnat would be an unclean animal.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So they will take time to make sure

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that the water does not contain any

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of these little bugs, but, you know,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
He is saying, "Your hypocrisy

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
is so evident; you take time to pay tithe

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and cummin and this stuff.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
You're being outwardly religious,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but inwardly you're not there because

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
things like faith and mercy, love,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that you don't have.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
You take time to look
at these little things,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but there are bigger things
that you're not doing."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Have you
ever heard the phrase,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"the letter of the law but
not the spirit of the law,"

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
being able to keep
certain requirements

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but not really having and
living the love to motivate it?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's keep reading.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
There's some more rebukes
that Jesus gives them.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Jason, would you read for us
Matthew 23, verses 25 through 36.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Jason) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Matthew chapter 23, verses
25 through 36, says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Wow, these
are some strong words.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I can't even imagine calling
someone a viper or a snake.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It's hard to even picture Jesus doing it.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
You can imagine Him with tears in His eyes

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
telling those people that he loved

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
those scathing rebukes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Why do you think the rebukes of Jesus

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
were so harsh?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Why was He speaking to them so severely?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Nathan.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Nathan) I think we can read this in two
different ways, but we should read it

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
thinking of Jesus with tears
in His eyes and in His voice.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
When you look at the next verse that
follows, verse 37 in Matthew 23.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Can I read it from the New King
James Version, where He says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I mean, the pain in His voice; He's
longing for them to be saved, and He says,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"You're not willing to come to it."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It reminds me of, I think in Isaiah, God
speaking through the prophet says,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"All day long I stood with My
arms open wide to a stiff-necked

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and rebellious people," -- Here
He is calling you to salvation,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and you're turning away, not just
turning away but rebelling against Him.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) And it's sad; it's sad.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
In a previous study, we've talked about
the choices that we all have to make,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and that God wants us to choose Him,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but we do have the free
will to choose otherwise.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Tricia Lee, I really appreciate what
Nathan said about the love of Jesus.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And there were some Pharisees,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Nicodemus was a Pharisee

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and also a member of the Sanhedrin,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
who did repent.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Yes, praise God.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) So you know, if Jesus was

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
just kind of harsh and kind of fighting

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
with the weapons of this world

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
or acting like they acted,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they'd have an excuse,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but I think He is speaking
with love in His heart.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And, praise God, some of
the Scribes and Pharisees

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
said, "We need to repent;

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we need to turn our lives around."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Reading through this passage,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
something was very interesting,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and I'd like to ask the
class this question:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
How could He say that the guilt of all
the righteous blood, all the martyrs

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
would fall on this generation?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
What does that mean?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
How are they guilty of all these things?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
They're just living their little lives;

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
how is it that He can say that the
blood of all the righteous from Abel

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to Zechariah would fall
on this generation?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Any idea what was the significance
of that statement, Missy?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Missy) All throughout the generations,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
God has sent prophets,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
throughout all ages,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but along with the prophets
were the dissenters

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
who chose not to listen to them,
and not only that, to oppose them

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and even kill the prophets.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And they have the same spirit,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so this is why they would carry the guilt.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) I think you're right, Missy.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's turn to Luke chapter 24,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and we'll see that the Bible supports

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
what you just said, Missy.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Luke chapter 24,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and, Eric, would you read for us Luke
chapter 24, verses 25 through 27?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Eric) I'm reading from the
New Living Translation,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Luke 24:25-27, and it says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen, that's right, Missy.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
All the prophets were all
given the same message,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the Gospel of Jesus that was
to come, the Messiah to come,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they were all testifying to Him,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so every generation, when they kept
rejecting the prophets that were sent

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to them, they were rejecting Christ,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and ultimately when that generation
rejected Christ, they were rejecting

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the entire message that had been sent
to them time after time after time.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Jonathan?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Jonathan) Just the fact that not
only did they reject the sayings

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that were entrusted to them, now
they came with greater power.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I mean, like, when you have
Christ doing all these miracles,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so if they reject Christ, who is
the fulfillment and testimony

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and perfect representation of
everything they were given,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they in essence have rejected it and
killed everything else before them.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) But, you know, we have no excuse

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
because we have Jesus,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and yet, you know, one of the things
I've noticed teaching about Jesus,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
there are many young people who
grow up in a Christian home

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
who have never read the Book of
Matthew or Mark or Luke or John.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
They have the testimony of Jesus Himself,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and yet a lot of times we
act like it doesn't exist.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) That would be
the rebuke to our generation.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) I think it would be.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) The rebuke to our generation

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
is that we have this Word that has
survived generation after generation,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we know that it's been
preserved through time

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
exactly as it was spoken through
the prophets and written down,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we know the life of Christ, and so here
we are today with such grace, such mercy,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and if we still choose not to accept
God, then that's the rebuke that we have

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
on ourselves.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're going to keep reading now,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and we're going to transition
now to Matthew chapter 24

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and get into the real heart of our study.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're going to now see that Jesus leaves
the Temple, again, tears in His eyes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Thank you Nathan, and I believe
He had tears in His eyes, too.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Sad that the people were doubting
Him and not believing Him,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and now we're going to
see another conversation

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that He and the disciples get into
that leads us to this amazing prophecy

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
about the destruction of Jerusalem
as well as the Last Day events.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're going to read in Matthew chapter 24.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I'm going to ask Nicole if she
would start reading for us

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Nicole) Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I'm reading from the New
International Version,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Nicole,
would you pause there?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I have a question for the group.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
What do you think they mean by that?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The "end of the age?"

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
My New King James Version
says, the "end of the age."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Does anyone's Bible say
something different?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Anyone have "end of the world?"

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Olric) What was happening here,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they were equating whatever destruction

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
would come to Jerusalem
with the end of the world.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So they put the two events together

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
because this is how they
saw it in their own minds.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
That's why they asked Jesus
the question in that manner.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Missy) It was a dual prophecy.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It was talking about two separate events,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but they run parallel to each other.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) Well, I think Olric's right,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that they thought, "That must be the end

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of the world, if every stone in this
Temple of God is going to be torn down."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We know that it's not going
to be the end of the world,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it's only 40 years later in 70 A.D.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it will be fulfilled, but
I think in their minds,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as Olric said, they're thinking that
must be one and the same thing

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as the end of all things.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Yes, one thing's for certain,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
if we have questions on what that means

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we're going to find out
as we keep reading,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but certainly as we listen to
what's going to be read to us

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as we continue in chapter 24.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The end of the age - it
was something drastic.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The end of the world is
what you described, Olric,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and that's the context that the
disciples had in asking this question,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
what is the site of this big,
grand, finale, if you would.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So Nicole, please keep reading for us.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Nicole) I'm reading from
verse 4 of Matthew 24.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
It says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Missy, you were right that
this is dual prophecy,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so we're going to continue reading

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and skip down to verses 21 through 28

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
about the prophecy regarding
the last days and the end times.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I'm going to ask Alex if he would
read for us verses 21 through 28.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Alex) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
One last set of verses,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Nancy, would you please read
verses 32 and 33 for us?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Nancy) Okay, and this is
from Matthew 24, verse 32

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the New King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen, at the doors.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So let's talk about these amazing,
amazing Scriptures, amazing prophecy,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Jesus letting us know what to expect

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the last days.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
What signs of the last days do
you see even today taking place?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Olric.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Olric) Wars, rumors of wars, you
have nation rising against nation,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it's becoming more prevalent,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but not just more prevalent,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but they're using more
sophisticated weapons

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
for their warfare,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it doesn't, you
know, seem to be ending.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) OKay, Juliana.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Juliana) Olric mentions
things that are involving man,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but I think that the
Earth is also groaning.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're seeing more and
more earthquakes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I think of what happened
not that long ago in Nepal,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and there's also been things in Mexico

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and in Africa and just all over the world.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We have earthquakes, we have famines.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
There's things happening in rivers,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that animals are dying,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and the environment...it's groaning;

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it's asking for Christ to come back.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Alex.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Alex) I think there are many
false prophets now, too.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Just more and more all the time I
see preachers and pastors coming

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
out with these end-time preachings
and end-time things, and even a lot

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of our friends are really
getting into these things,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"Here, check out this message," and such.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And it's like, wow, if I didn't know the
truth, this would be so easy to believe.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
You know, how they point things out in the
world, but it's so easy to be deceived.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Jonathan.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Jonathan) I think it's interesting to
look at the things He chooses and how

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
He lays them out.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
I feel like in some sense He kind of
picks the things, not so much that we can

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
calculate the end of time, but more to
say, okay, what do we need to look at

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
because, I mean, a lot of the things
He lays out happen throughout history.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The church was persecuted, you have
earthquakes, I mean, that's been happening

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
for a lot of time.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And certainly He does say things
that get close to the end of time,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but I think also He's just saying for
the disciples and for us in general

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
a way to look at the world and to
have our hearts...and how to respond

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to the things that happen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So I think it's kind of, "how to
live in the context of My Coming."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) And I think the positive thing

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
is the Gospel is going
to go to the whole world,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and then the end's going to come.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) You know, I think the joy we have

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as a little team, Hope Sabbath School,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
is that we're a little part of that,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and technology even in the lifetime

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
of many of our viewers,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
there's been a revolution
in terms of communication.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And, of course, the Enemy's
wanting to use that,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as Alex said, to promote false ideas

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and just idolatry,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but I believe God's going to use that

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
by His Spirit, too.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're on the brink of where the Message

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
can go rapidly around the world.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Alex, you mentioned the false
christs that come in the last days,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
what's our safeguard against

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the deception of a false christ, or

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
let's talk some more about
what does that look like,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
a false christ or someone that's
coming in the name of Christ, Olric.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Olric) I've looked through
the Old Testament,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and I've seen some scenarios where

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
false messages were
brought to God's people.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We see in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
with the Devil tempting
them with false words.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Even in the case of in a
previous study we did Jeremiah,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we see Jeremiah being countered there by
an individual by the name of Hananiah.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
The problem with these false christs,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
false teachers, they propel messages

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that seem to distract God's people

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
from God's way of doing things, the way

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
God had commanded.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And the way to counter this,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
as we will see from the Word of God,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
is through the truth
like Isaiah 8, verse 20.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Let's go there.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's go there, Isaiah 8, verse 20,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and Olric, will you read that for us?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Olric) Isaiah 8, verse 20,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
reading from the King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Wow.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So what I heard you say, Olric, is

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
there may not just be
manifestations of people

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
saying that they
are a false messiah

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to physically "follow me," but even
teachings of false Christianity

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that can also be a way to deceive people

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the last days.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) Right, and I think Alex made a really important point

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
when he said, "I could follow what some of my friends are saying

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
if I didn't study the Word."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Because these people, they do signs and wonders, it says,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and they're religious;

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they're false christs and false prophets,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
so they speak about maybe needing

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to be close to God, and, you know,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
it all sounds good,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but it's false.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So, you know, we shouldn't
try to [point out],

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"Oh, is that false;" we should be focusing

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
on the true and on Jesus
who is the true Christ,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
because when we see the false

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we will immediately recognize

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that it isn't the truth.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) There's another promise
that Jesus Himself has made

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to His believers, and
I'm going to ask Missy

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
if she would read for us John
chapter 10, verses 27 and 28.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
John chapter 10:27, 28.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And it is a bit scary for some to
think that you could be deceived

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
by false teachers and false miracles

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and false people to lead us astray,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but I thank God that He has
this promise recorded for us.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Missy) I'm reading from the
New International Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee, Team) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) We are safe
in the hands of Jesus.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"My sheep hear my voice...
and they will follow."

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Thank you for reading that
Scripture in Isaiah, Olric.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
If there is a message or a person that's
not speaking according to the Word of God,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
then that's an alarm for us,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
but He's also promised
that He will keep us,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that we will recognize His voice, and
I believe there are so many examples

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the Bible of the Lord
revealing Himself to His people,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
literally leading His people through
the wilderness by day and by night,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and so even in the midst of strong
deception in the last days,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
if we keep our eyes on Jesus,
He will see us through.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Simiso, let's read another
promise from the Lord

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
on why we shouldn't be afraid

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and should not be discouraged.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Simiso, would you read John
chapter 14, verses 1 through 3.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Why we should not be afraid
of these last day events.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Simiso) John 14, verses 1 through 3,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and I'm reading from the
New King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So the last days are a necessary step

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the process of getting us closer

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to going Home.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Jesus is coming back to take us Home

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to be with Him, and as
scary as last day events,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
wars and earthquakes and pestilence

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and family members betraying
one another, may sound,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
God has promised to keep us

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and the promise is that when He returns

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
He is going to take us Home with Him.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek, Tricia Lee) Praise God.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Missy mentioned earlier

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that there was a dual prophecy,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
that the disciples were thinking

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
about the destruction of Jerusalem,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and Jesus answered their question

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
about when those things
would take place as well.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's read the verses
where Jesus describes

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the destruction of Jerusalem.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Eric, would you read for us Matthew

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
chapter 24, verses 15 through 20?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Eric) I'm reading from
the New Living Translation,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and it says:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Gary, we talked a bit earlier about
it being difficult for the disciples

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to think about the destruction of
Jerusalem to happen at any other time

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
than at the end of the world.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Why was that?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Why did they connect the two together?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Gary) I guess how they related

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to the Temple, their mission;

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they're the people of God.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
They couldn't get past the fact that

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
if this is not going to
be in existence anymore,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
than that must mean everything
must be falling apart.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) You know, I think they're trusting

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in the building rather than in God.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
And before we judge them and go,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
"That's really foolish," I think we could

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
trust in our institutions,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we could trust in our organization,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and the truth of the matter is,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
before this is all over,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
a lot of those things could collapse.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) That's true, it's true.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Derek) And all we have is
to hold on to our Savior,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
you know, because we know
that He's going through.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
He's going to take us
through to the very end.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
But lest we be too hard on them, I think

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
they associated confidence in God,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
now it's the building,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and pretty soon God's kind of set aside,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and they're just trusting
in their structures.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) You're absolutely right.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We're going to have to let go
of a lot of ideas that we have,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
things that we hold dear,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to accept Jesus and in His return.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Juliana, would you read for us.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's turn to Philippians chapter 3:7-8,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and we'll hear an account of someone

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
who had to let go of some
things they held dear.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Philippians chapter 3, verses 7 and 8.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Juliana) I'm reading from
the New King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee) Amen!

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
What we didn't read is that previously

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we're hearing an account of having
confidence in self and being able

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to keep the Law and being
of the stock of Israel,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
all the things that I'm sure the disciples

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
are very proud of in thinking about

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
the institution and the Temple.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
They had to let those things go,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and surely we will have to
let some things go, as well,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
to accept Christ.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
We talked in a previous study
about falling on the Rock,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
submitting to Christ

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and learning to count the things of
God as gain and learning how to let go.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Let's keep reading in Matthew chapter 24.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Not only does Jesus tell
us what to look for

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
in His coming, but He gives
us a description of His coming,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and certainly this is key because

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
we're watching and we're waiting,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and we want to be ready when He comes,

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
and we want to know what we're looking for

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
when He comes.

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
So, Nathan, would you please read for us

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
Matthew 24, verses 27 through 31?

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Nathan) All right, I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999
(Tricia Lee)