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 about

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"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, Tricia 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, 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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(Team) Greetings.

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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
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,

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you can access the archives there;

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you can watch 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, 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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(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 when we're filming,

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we'd love to have you
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) 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 your other
Sunday School members

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to watch Hope Sabbath School,

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and they'll learn much more

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about the Word of God, too.

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Here's one last note,

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actually, I've got 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 mighty 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,

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currently living 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

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that even though 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

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and that you 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

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in a multitude of different languages

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so that people 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, isn't that right?

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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, Simiso?

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Hold your hand up and
wave to your brother;

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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
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 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
that we can be part of a global family.

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And we're going to sing
together now 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 we're 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
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

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the times that we're living in.

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We need your Holy Spirit to help
us understand Your words 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

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that God has not left us in the dark

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about what to expect, what 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 begins
to pronounce a 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 warning them

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about the condition 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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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 a way

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that's not reflecting
what you're saying.

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So I think these 12 verses kind of
talk 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.

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Let's keep reading now 
in 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 kind of debunking

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their whole approach to 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 actually 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:

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(Tricia Lee) Wow, wow.

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Simiso,

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summarize for what Jesus is
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 all rounded in terms of what

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Scripture requires of them.

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(Tricia Lee) That's correct,
when we look at verses 21 and 22,

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it seems as though they have 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 he rebuking them?

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(Olric) They had this
teaching back then that

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they were not to eat anything unclean,
and the gnat would be an unclean animal.

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So they will take time to make sure

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that the water does not contain

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any of these little bugs,

00:17:11.143 --> 00:17:13.891
but, you know, He is saying,

00:17:13.891 --> 00:17:18.529
"Your hypocrisy is so evident;

00:17:18.529 --> 00:17:24.009
you take time to pay tithe
and cummin and this stuff.

00:17:24.009 --> 00:17:26.939
You're being outwardly religious,

00:17:26.939 --> 00:17:28.963
but inwardly you're not there

00:17:28.963 --> 00:17:33.152
because things like faith and mercy, love,

00:17:33.152 --> 00:17:34.672
<i>that</i> you don't have.

00:17:34.672 --> 00:17:38.932
You take time to look
at these little things,"

00:17:38.932 --> 00:17:42.901
okay, "but there are bigger
things that you're not doing."

00:17:42.901 --> 00:17:44.971
(Tricia Lee) Have you
ever heard the phrase,

00:17:44.971 --> 00:17:48.861
"the letter of the law but
not the spirit of the law,"

00:17:48.861 --> 00:17:50.891
being able to keep
certain requirements

00:17:50.891 --> 00:17:54.501
but not really having and
living the love to motivate it?

00:17:54.501 --> 00:17:55.421
Let's keep reading.

00:17:55.421 --> 00:17:57.681
There's some more rebukes
that Jesus gives them.

00:17:57.681 --> 00:18:03.991
Jason, would you read for us
Matthew 23, verses 25 through 36.

00:18:03.991 --> 00:18:06.991
(Jason) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version.

00:18:06.991 --> 00:18:11.781
Matthew chapter 23, verses
25 through 36, says:

00:20:17.746 --> 00:20:18.746
(Tricia Lee) Wow.

00:20:18.746 --> 00:20:20.415
These are some strong words.

00:20:20.415 --> 00:20:23.805
I can't even imagine calling
someone a viper or a snake.

00:20:23.805 --> 00:20:25.785
It's hard to even picture Jesus doing it.

00:20:25.785 --> 00:20:28.398
We can imagine Him with tears in His eyes

00:20:28.398 --> 00:20:30.268
telling those people that he loved

00:20:30.268 --> 00:20:32.128
those scathing rebukes.

00:20:32.128 --> 00:20:34.728
Why do you think the rebukes of Jesus

00:20:34.728 --> 00:20:35.688
were so harsh?

00:20:35.688 --> 00:20:38.098
Why was He speaking to them so severely?

00:20:38.098 --> 00:20:38.918
Nathan?

00:20:38.918 --> 00:20:42.748
(Nathan) I think we can read this in two
different ways, but we should read it

00:20:42.748 --> 00:20:47.288
thinking of Jesus with tears
in His eyes and in His voice.

00:20:47.288 --> 00:20:53.178
When you look at the next verse that
follows, verse 37 in Matthew 23.

00:20:53.178 --> 00:20:56.038
Can I read it from the New King
James Version, where He says:

00:21:11.389 --> 00:21:13.074
I mean, the pain in His voice;

00:21:13.074 --> 00:21:16.994
He's longing for them to be saved, and He
says, "You're not willing to come to it."

00:21:16.994 --> 00:21:22.734
It reminds me of, I think in Isaiah, God
speaking through the prophet says,

00:21:22.734 --> 00:21:26.434
"All day long I stood with My
arms open wide to a stiff-necked

00:21:26.434 --> 00:21:29.494
and rebellious people," -- Here
He is calling you to salvation,

00:21:29.494 --> 00:21:33.044
and you're turning away, not just
turning away but rebelling against Him.

00:21:33.044 --> 00:21:34.354
(Tricia Lee) And it's sad.

00:21:34.354 --> 00:21:38.184
In a previous study, we've talked about
the choices that we all have to make,

00:21:38.184 --> 00:21:40.242
and that God wants us to choose Him,

00:21:40.242 --> 00:21:43.422
but we do have the free
will to choose otherwise.

00:21:43.422 --> 00:21:45.012
(Derek) You know, I'm thinking,

00:21:45.012 --> 00:21:49.082
Tricia Lee, I really appreciate what
Nathan said about the love of Jesus.

00:21:49.082 --> 00:21:51.502
And there were some Pharisees,

00:21:51.502 --> 00:21:53.842
Nicodemus was a Pharisee

00:21:53.842 --> 00:21:56.332
and also a member of the Sanhedrin,

00:21:56.332 --> 00:21:57.802
who did repent.

00:21:57.802 --> 00:21:59.182
(Tricia Lee) Yes, praise God.

00:21:59.182 --> 00:22:00.312
(Derek) So you know,

00:22:00.312 --> 00:22:05.262
if Jesus was just kind of harsh and kind
of fighting with the weapons of this world

00:22:05.262 --> 00:22:06.802
or acting like they acted,

00:22:06.802 --> 00:22:08.112
they'd have an excuse,

00:22:08.112 --> 00:22:10.472
but I think He is speaking
with love in His heart.

00:22:10.472 --> 00:22:15.532
And, praise God, some of the
Scribes and Pharisees said,

00:22:15.532 --> 00:22:17.008
"We need to repent;

00:22:17.008 --> 00:22:18.838
we need to turn our lives around."

00:22:18.838 --> 00:22:20.258
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:22:20.258 --> 00:22:21.648
Reading through this passage,

00:22:21.648 --> 00:22:23.508
something was very interesting,

00:22:23.508 --> 00:22:26.692
and I'd like to ask the
class this question:

00:22:26.692 --> 00:22:30.680
How could He say that the guilt

00:22:30.680 --> 00:22:32.730
of all the righteous
blood, all the martyrs,

00:22:32.730 --> 00:22:34.540
would fall on this generation?

00:22:34.540 --> 00:22:35.510
What does that mean?

00:22:35.510 --> 00:22:37.430
How are they guilty of all these things?

00:22:37.430 --> 00:22:39.540
They're just living their little lives;

00:22:39.540 --> 00:22:42.810
how is it that He can say that
the blood of all the righteous

00:22:42.810 --> 00:22:47.498
from Abel to Zechariah would
fall on this generation?

00:22:47.498 --> 00:22:51.948
Any idea what the significance was
of that statement, Missy?

00:22:51.948 --> 00:22:55.128
(Missy) All throughout the
generations, God has sent prophets,

00:22:55.128 --> 00:22:56.988
throughout all ages,

00:22:56.988 --> 00:23:00.168
but along with the prophets
were the dissenters

00:23:00.168 --> 00:23:03.428
who chose not to listen to them,
and not only that, to oppose them

00:23:03.428 --> 00:23:05.708
and even kill the prophets.

00:23:05.708 --> 00:23:08.198
And they have the same spirit,

00:23:08.198 --> 00:23:11.018
so this is why they would carry the guilt.

00:23:11.018 --> 00:23:14.748
(Tricia Lee) I think you're right,
Missy; Let's turn to Luke chapter 24,

00:23:14.748 --> 00:23:18.058
and we'll see that the Bible
supports what you just said, Missy.

00:23:18.058 --> 00:23:20.928
Luke chapter 24,

00:23:20.928 --> 00:23:29.428
and Eric, would you read for us Luke
chapter 24, verses 25 through 27?

00:23:29.428 --> 00:23:34.088
(Eric) I'm reading from the
New Living Translation,

00:23:34.088 --> 00:23:39.508
Luke 24:25-27, and it says:

00:24:01.558 --> 00:24:03.428
(Tricia Lee) Amen, that's right, Missy.

00:24:03.428 --> 00:24:06.608
All the prophets were
given the same message,

00:24:06.608 --> 00:24:09.604
the Gospel of Jesus that was
to come, the Messiah to come,

00:24:09.604 --> 00:24:11.724
they were all testifying to Him,

00:24:11.724 --> 00:24:15.684
so every generation, when they kept
rejecting the prophets that were sent

00:24:15.684 --> 00:24:17.994
to them, they were rejecting Christ,

00:24:17.994 --> 00:24:22.964
and ultimately when that generation
rejected Christ, they were rejecting

00:24:22.964 --> 00:24:27.804
the entire message that had been sent
to them time after time after time.

00:24:27.804 --> 00:24:28.564
Jonathan?

00:24:28.564 --> 00:24:31.994
(Jonathan) Just the fact that, not
only did they reject the sayings

00:24:31.994 --> 00:24:35.184
that were entrusted to them, now
they came with greater power.

00:24:35.184 --> 00:24:38.044
I mean, like, when you have
Christ doing all these miracles,

00:24:38.044 --> 00:24:42.164
so if they reject Christ, who is
the fulfillment and testimony

00:24:42.164 --> 00:24:45.264
and perfect representation of
everything they were given,

00:24:45.264 --> 00:24:49.754
they in essence have rejected it and
killed everything else before them.

00:24:49.754 --> 00:24:54.564
(Derek) But you know, we have no excuse

00:24:54.564 --> 00:24:57.292
because we have Jesus,

00:24:57.292 --> 00:25:02.434
and yet, you know, one of the things
I've noticed, teaching about Jesus,

00:25:02.434 --> 00:25:06.164
there are many young people who
grow up in a Christian home

00:25:06.164 --> 00:25:10.244
who have never read the Book of
Matthew or Mark or Luke or John.

00:25:10.244 --> 00:25:13.904
They have the testimony of Jesus Himself,

00:25:13.904 --> 00:25:16.182
and yet a lot of times

00:25:16.182 --> 00:25:17.952
we act like it doesn't exist.

00:25:17.952 --> 00:25:20.572
(Tricia Lee) That would be
the rebuke to our generation.

00:25:20.572 --> 00:25:22.132
(Derek) I think it would be.

00:25:22.132 --> 00:25:27.132
(Tricia Lee) We have this Word that has
survived generation after generation;

00:25:27.132 --> 00:25:29.872
we know that it's been
preserved through time

00:25:29.872 --> 00:25:32.912
exactly as it was spoken to
the prophets and written down;

00:25:32.912 --> 00:25:34.802
we know the life of Christ,

00:25:34.802 --> 00:25:37.492
and so here we are today
with such grace, such mercy,

00:25:37.492 --> 00:25:40.462
and if we still choose not to
accept God then that's the rebuke

00:25:40.462 --> 00:25:42.142
that we have on ourselves.

00:25:42.142 --> 00:25:43.822
We're going to keep reading now,

00:25:43.822 --> 00:25:47.451
and we're going to transition
now to Matthew chapter 24

00:25:47.451 --> 00:25:49.731
and get into the real heart of our study.

00:25:49.731 --> 00:25:52.211
We're going to now see that
Jesus leaves the Temple.

00:25:52.211 --> 00:25:53.831
Again, tears in His eyes.

00:25:53.831 --> 00:25:56.541
Thank you Nathan; I believe
He had tears in His eyes, too.

00:25:56.541 --> 00:26:00.251
Sad that the people were doubting
Him and not believing Him,

00:26:00.251 --> 00:26:02.841
and now we're going to
see another conversation

00:26:02.841 --> 00:26:07.161
that He and the disciples get into
that leads us to this amazing prophecy

00:26:07.161 --> 00:26:10.681
about the destruction of Jerusalem
as well as the last day events.

00:26:10.681 --> 00:26:14.131
We're going to read on
in Matthew chapter 24.

00:26:14.131 --> 00:26:17.691
I'm going to ask Nicole if she
would start reading for us

00:26:17.691 --> 00:26:23.531
Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14.

00:26:23.531 --> 00:26:26.221
(Nicole) Matthew 24, verses 1 through 14,

00:26:26.221 --> 00:26:28.951
I'm reading from the New
International Version,

00:26:28.951 --> 00:26:29.821
and it says:

00:26:59.209 --> 00:27:02.799
(Tricia Lee) Nicole, would you pause
there; I have a question for the group.

00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:04.559
What do you think they mean by that?

00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:05.559
The "end of the age?"

00:27:05.559 --> 00:27:08.739
My New King James Version
says, the "end of the age."

00:27:08.739 --> 00:27:12.096
Does anyone's Bible say
something different?

00:27:12.096 --> 00:27:15.366
Anyone have "end of the world?"

00:27:15.366 --> 00:27:18.326
Any thoughts...?

00:27:18.326 --> 00:27:22.211
(Olric) What was happening
here, they were equating

00:27:22.211 --> 00:27:24.441
whatever destruction
would come to Jerusalem,

00:27:24.441 --> 00:27:28.151
they were equating it with
the end of the world.

00:27:28.151 --> 00:27:30.501
So they put the two events together

00:27:30.501 --> 00:27:33.211
because this is how they
saw it in their own minds.

00:27:33.211 --> 00:27:36.881
That's why they asked Jesus
the question in that manner.

00:27:36.881 --> 00:27:39.041
(Missy) It was a dual prophecy.

00:27:39.041 --> 00:27:41.431
It was talking about two separate events,

00:27:41.431 --> 00:27:44.621
but they run parallel to each other.

00:27:44.621 --> 00:27:47.061
(Derek) But I think Olric's
right, that they thought

00:27:47.061 --> 00:27:48.825
that must be the end of the world,

00:27:48.825 --> 00:27:52.575
I mean, if every stone in this Temple
of God is going to be torn down.

00:27:52.575 --> 00:27:56.355
We know that it's not going to be the
end of the world, it's only 40 years later

00:27:56.355 --> 00:27:58.005
in 70 A.D. it will be fulfilled,

00:27:58.005 --> 00:28:00.215
but I think in their minds, as Olric said,

00:28:00.215 --> 00:28:04.779
they're thinking that must be one and
the same thing as the end of all things.

00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:08.649
(Tricia Lee) Yes, one thing's for certain,
if we have questions on what that means

00:28:08.649 --> 00:28:10.769
we're going to find out
as we keep reading,

00:28:10.769 --> 00:28:13.669
but certainly as we listen to
what's going to be read to us

00:28:13.669 --> 00:28:16.329
as we continue in chapter 24 -

00:28:16.329 --> 00:28:20.129
the end of the age - it
was something drastic.

00:28:20.129 --> 00:28:22.499
The end of the world is
what you described, Olric,

00:28:22.499 --> 00:28:26.249
and that's the context that the
disciples had in asking this question,

00:28:26.249 --> 00:28:30.249
what is the sign of this big,
grand, finale, if you would.

00:28:30.249 --> 00:28:32.179
So Nicole, please keep reading for us.

00:28:32.179 --> 00:28:35.527
(Nicole) I'm reading from
verse 4 of Matthew 24.

00:28:35.527 --> 00:28:36.401
It says:

00:29:44.678 --> 00:29:45.838
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:29:45.838 --> 00:29:49.118
Missy, you were right that
this is a dual prophecy,

00:29:49.118 --> 00:29:50.766
so we're going to continue reading

00:29:50.766 --> 00:29:53.506
and skip down to verses 21 through 28

00:29:53.506 --> 00:29:59.666
about the prophecy regarding
the last days and the end times.

00:29:59.666 --> 00:30:03.534
I'm going to ask Alex if he would
read for us verses 21 through 28.

00:30:03.534 --> 00:30:06.414
(Alex) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the King James Version:

00:30:55.704 --> 00:30:56.584
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

00:30:56.584 --> 00:30:58.344
One last set of verses,

00:30:58.344 --> 00:31:02.844
Nancy, would you please read
verses 32 and 33 for us?

00:31:02.844 --> 00:31:08.703
(Nancy) Okay, and this is
from Matthew 24, verse 32

00:31:08.703 --> 00:31:10.803
in the New King James Version:

00:31:32.463 --> 00:31:34.703
(Tricia Lee) Amen, at the doors.

00:31:34.703 --> 00:31:39.141
So let's talk about these amazing,
amazing Scriptures, amazing prophecy,

00:31:39.141 --> 00:31:41.721
Jesus letting us know what to expect

00:31:41.721 --> 00:31:43.161
in the last days.

00:31:43.161 --> 00:31:48.661
What signs of the last days do
you see, even today, taking place?

00:31:48.661 --> 00:31:49.441
Olric.

00:31:49.441 --> 00:31:54.221
(Olric) Wars, rumors of wars, you
have nation rising against nation,

00:31:54.221 --> 00:31:55.951
and it's becoming more prevalent,

00:31:55.951 --> 00:31:57.701
but not just more prevalent,

00:31:57.701 --> 00:32:02.191
but they're using more
sophisticated weapons

00:32:02.191 --> 00:32:03.441
for their warfare,

00:32:03.441 --> 00:32:05.768
and it doesn't, you
know, seem to be ending.

00:32:05.768 --> 00:32:07.086
(Tricia Lee) Okay, Juliana.

00:32:07.086 --> 00:32:10.346
(Juliana) Olric mentions
things that are involving man,

00:32:10.346 --> 00:32:12.646
but I think that the
Earth is also groaning.

00:32:12.646 --> 00:32:15.626
We're seeing more and
more earthquakes.

00:32:15.626 --> 00:32:19.106
I think of what happened
not that long ago in Nepal,

00:32:19.106 --> 00:32:22.456
and there's also been things in Mexico

00:32:22.456 --> 00:32:24.486
and in Africa and just all over the world.

00:32:24.486 --> 00:32:27.236
We have earthquakes, we have famines.

00:32:27.236 --> 00:32:29.166
There's things happening in rivers,

00:32:29.166 --> 00:32:30.786
that animals are dying,

00:32:30.786 --> 00:32:33.816
and the environment...it's groaning;

00:32:33.816 --> 00:32:35.666
it's asking for Christ to come back.

00:32:35.666 --> 00:32:36.646
(Tricia Lee) Alex.

00:32:36.646 --> 00:32:39.186
(Alex) I think there are many
false prophets now, too.

00:32:39.186 --> 00:32:42.946
Just more and more, all the time, I
see preachers and pastors coming out

00:32:42.946 --> 00:32:46.856
with these end-time preachings and end-
time things, and even a lot of my friends

00:32:46.856 --> 00:32:51.124
are really getting into these things,
"Here, check out this message," and such.

00:32:51.124 --> 00:32:55.745
And it's like, wow, if I didn't know the
truth, this would be so easy to believe.

00:32:55.745 --> 00:33:00.085
You know, how they point things out in the
world, but it's very easy to be deceived.

00:33:00.085 --> 00:33:01.185
(Tricia Lee) Jonathan.

00:33:01.185 --> 00:33:05.145
(Jonathan) I think it's interesting
to look at the things He chooses

00:33:05.145 --> 00:33:06.505
and how He lays them out.

00:33:06.505 --> 00:33:09.885
I feel like in some sense He
kind of picks the things,

00:33:09.885 --> 00:33:12.585
not so much that we can
calculate the end of time,

00:33:12.585 --> 00:33:16.483
but more to say, okay,
what do we need to look at

00:33:16.483 --> 00:33:20.943
because, I mean, a lot of the things
He lays out happen throughout history.

00:33:20.943 --> 00:33:24.943
The church was persecuted,
you have earthquakes, I mean,

00:33:24.943 --> 00:33:26.853
that's been happening for a lot of time,

00:33:26.853 --> 00:33:30.019
and certainly He does say things
that get close to the end of time,

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:33.999
but I think also He's just saying for
the disciples and for us in general

00:33:33.999 --> 00:33:37.699
a way to look at the world
and to have our hearts,

00:33:37.699 --> 00:33:41.467
and how to respond to
the things that happen.

00:33:41.467 --> 00:33:45.867
So I think it's kind of, "How to
live in the context of My Coming."

00:33:45.867 --> 00:33:47.517
(Derek) I think the positive thing

00:33:47.517 --> 00:33:49.817
is the Gospel is going
to go to the whole world,

00:33:49.817 --> 00:33:51.397
and then the end's going to come.

00:33:51.397 --> 00:33:52.247
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

00:33:52.247 --> 00:33:56.577
(Derek) You know, I think the joy we have
as a little team, Hope Sabbath School,

00:33:56.577 --> 00:33:59.307
is that we're a little part of that,

00:33:59.307 --> 00:34:03.167
and technology even in the lifetime

00:34:03.167 --> 00:34:04.347
of many of our viewers,

00:34:04.347 --> 00:34:09.197
there's been a revolution
in terms of communication.

00:34:09.197 --> 00:34:11.999
And of course, the Enemy's
wanting to use that,

00:34:11.999 --> 00:34:15.844
as Alex said, to promote false ideas

00:34:15.844 --> 00:34:18.384
and just idolatry,

00:34:18.384 --> 00:34:21.064
but I believe God's going to
use that by His Spirit, too.

00:34:21.064 --> 00:34:24.552
So we're on the brink of where

00:34:24.552 --> 00:34:27.772
the Message can go rapidly
around the world.

00:34:27.772 --> 00:34:28.692
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

00:34:28.692 --> 00:34:35.822
Alex, you mentioned the false
christs that come in the last days,

00:34:35.822 --> 00:34:37.610
what's our safeguard against

00:34:37.610 --> 00:34:39.340
the deception of a false christ,

00:34:39.340 --> 00:34:42.208
or let's talk some more about
what that looks like,

00:34:42.208 --> 00:34:48.258
a false christ or someone that's
coming in the name of Chris. Olric.

00:34:48.258 --> 00:34:51.016
(Olric) I've looked through
the Old Testament,

00:34:51.016 --> 00:34:53.966
and I've seen some scenarios where

00:34:53.966 --> 00:34:57.616
false messages were
brought to God's people.

00:34:57.616 --> 00:35:00.566
We see in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve

00:35:00.566 --> 00:35:04.866
with the Devil tempting
them with false words.

00:35:04.866 --> 00:35:09.934
Even in the case of, in a previous
study we did in Jeremiah,

00:35:09.934 --> 00:35:15.144
we see Jeremiah being countered there by
an individual by the name of Hananiah.

00:35:15.144 --> 00:35:19.264
The problem with these false
christs, false teachers,

00:35:19.264 --> 00:35:22.112
they propel messages

00:35:22.112 --> 00:35:26.652
that seem to distract God's people

00:35:26.652 --> 00:35:29.502
from God's way of doing things,

00:35:29.502 --> 00:35:30.868
the way God had commanded.

00:35:30.868 --> 00:35:32.938
And the way to counter this,

00:35:32.938 --> 00:35:36.298
as we will see from the Word of God,

00:35:36.298 --> 00:35:39.458
is through the truth
like Isaiah 8, verse 20.

00:35:39.458 --> 00:35:40.898
(Tricia Lee) Let's go there.

00:35:40.898 --> 00:35:44.808
Let's go there, Isaiah 8, verse 20,

00:35:44.808 --> 00:35:53.748
and Olric, will you read that for us?

00:35:53.748 --> 00:35:55.943
(Olric) Isaiah 8, verse 20,

00:35:55.943 --> 00:35:59.123
reading from the King James Version:

00:36:08.733 --> 00:36:09.553
(Tricia Lee) Wow.

00:36:09.553 --> 00:36:12.053
So what I heard you say, Olric, is there

00:36:12.053 --> 00:36:14.763
may not just be manifestations of people

00:36:14.763 --> 00:36:18.433
saying that they are a false
messiah, to physically "follow me,"

00:36:18.433 --> 00:36:21.543
but even teachings of false Christianity

00:36:21.543 --> 00:36:24.484
that can also be a way to
deceive people in the last days.

00:36:24.484 --> 00:36:28.049
(Derek) Right, and I think Alex made
a really important point when he said,

00:36:28.049 --> 00:36:30.827
"I could follow what some
of my friends are saying

00:36:30.827 --> 00:36:33.167
if I didn't study the Word,"

00:36:33.167 --> 00:36:38.265
because these people, they do
signs and wonders, it says,

00:36:38.265 --> 00:36:39.913
and they're religious;

00:36:39.913 --> 00:36:42.913
they're false christs and false prophets,

00:36:42.913 --> 00:36:46.743
so they speak about maybe
needing to be close to God,

00:36:46.743 --> 00:36:49.903
and, you know, it all sounds good,

00:36:49.903 --> 00:36:51.353
but it's false.

00:36:51.353 --> 00:36:55.033
So, you know, we shouldn't
try to..."Oh, is that false?"

00:36:55.033 --> 00:36:57.453
we should be focusing on the true

00:36:57.453 --> 00:36:59.959
and on Jesus who is the true Christ,

00:36:59.959 --> 00:37:01.369
because when we see the false

00:37:01.369 --> 00:37:03.489
we will immediately recognize

00:37:03.489 --> 00:37:04.879
that it isn't the truth.

00:37:04.879 --> 00:37:08.729
(Tricia Lee) There's another promise that
Jesus Himself has made to His believers,

00:37:08.729 --> 00:37:10.309
and I'm going to ask Missy

00:37:10.309 --> 00:37:16.699
if she would read for us John
chapter 10, verses 27 and 28.

00:37:16.699 --> 00:37:19.189
John chapter 10:27-28.

00:37:19.189 --> 00:37:23.574
And it is a bit scary for some to
think that you could be deceived

00:37:23.574 --> 00:37:25.984
by false teachers and false miracles

00:37:25.984 --> 00:37:27.684
and false people to lead us astray,

00:37:27.684 --> 00:37:32.470
but I thank God that He has
this promise recorded for us.

00:37:32.470 --> 00:37:33.870
(Derek) Amen.

00:37:33.870 --> 00:37:37.450
(Missy) I'm reading from the
New International Version:

00:37:48.400 --> 00:37:49.140
(Derek) Amen.

00:37:49.140 --> 00:37:50.300
(Tricia Lee, Team) Amen.

00:37:50.300 --> 00:37:53.430
(Tricia Lee) We are safe
in the hands of Jesus.

00:37:53.430 --> 00:37:56.470
"My sheep hear my voice...
and they will follow."

00:37:56.470 --> 00:37:59.230
Thank you for reading that
Scripture in Isaiah, Olric.

00:37:59.230 --> 00:38:03.780
If there is a message or a person that's
not speaking according to the Word of God,

00:38:03.780 --> 00:38:06.010
then that's an alarm for us,

00:38:06.010 --> 00:38:08.170
but He's also promised
that He will keep us,

00:38:08.170 --> 00:38:11.710
that we will recognize His voice, and
I believe there are so many examples

00:38:11.710 --> 00:38:15.110
in the Bible of the Lord
revealing Himself to His people,

00:38:15.110 --> 00:38:20.530
literally leading His people through
the wilderness by day and by night,

00:38:20.530 --> 00:38:24.010
and so even in the midst of strong
deception in the last days,

00:38:24.010 --> 00:38:26.150
if we keep our eyes on Jesus...

00:38:26.150 --> 00:38:26.930
(Derek) Amen.

00:38:26.930 --> 00:38:28.880
(Tricia Lee) ...He will see us through.

00:38:28.880 --> 00:38:31.520
Simiso, let's read another
promise from the Lord

00:38:31.520 --> 00:38:33.420
on why we shouldn't be afraid

00:38:33.420 --> 00:38:35.260
and should not be discouraged.

00:38:35.260 --> 00:38:40.710
Simiso, would you read John
chapter 14, verses 1 through 3?

00:38:40.710 --> 00:38:46.070
Why we should not be afraid
of these last day events.

00:38:46.070 --> 00:38:48.666
(Simiso) John 14, verses 1 through 3,

00:38:48.666 --> 00:38:51.408
and I'm reading from the
New King James Version.

00:38:51.408 --> 00:38:52.274
It says:

00:39:14.014 --> 00:39:14.974
(Team) Amen.

00:39:14.974 --> 00:39:18.324
So the last days are a necessary step

00:39:18.324 --> 00:39:21.764
in the process of getting
us closer to going Home.

00:39:21.764 --> 00:39:25.463
Jesus is coming back to take
us Home to be with Him,

00:39:25.463 --> 00:39:27.363
and as scary as last day events,

00:39:27.363 --> 00:39:29.445
wars and earthquakes and pestilence

00:39:29.445 --> 00:39:33.845
and family members betraying
one another, may sound,

00:39:33.845 --> 00:39:35.445
God has promised to keep us

00:39:35.445 --> 00:39:37.625
and the promise is that when He returns

00:39:37.625 --> 00:39:40.125
He is going to take us Home with Him.

00:39:40.125 --> 00:39:41.695
(Derek, Tricia Lee) Praise God.

00:39:41.695 --> 00:39:44.885
(Tricia Lee) Missy mentioned earlier
that there was a dual prophecy,

00:39:44.885 --> 00:39:48.105
that the disciples were thinking
about the destruction of Jerusalem,

00:39:48.105 --> 00:39:49.965
and Jesus answered their question

00:39:49.965 --> 00:39:52.495
about when those things
would take place as well.

00:39:52.495 --> 00:39:54.965
Let's read the verses
where Jesus describes

00:39:54.965 --> 00:39:57.325
the destruction of Jerusalem.

00:39:57.325 --> 00:39:59.515
Eric, would you read for us

00:39:59.515 --> 00:40:05.205
Matthew chapter 24, verses 15 through 20?

00:40:05.205 --> 00:40:08.235
(Eric) I'm reading from the New
Living Translation, and it says:

00:40:59.855 --> 00:41:01.395
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:41:01.395 --> 00:41:05.085
Gary, we talked a bit earlier about
it being difficult for the disciples

00:41:05.085 --> 00:41:08.620
to think of the destruction of
Jerusalem to happen at any other time

00:41:08.620 --> 00:41:10.020
than at the end of the world.

00:41:10.020 --> 00:41:10.760
Why was that?

00:41:10.760 --> 00:41:15.830
Why did they connect the two together?

00:41:15.830 --> 00:41:20.630
(Gary) I guess how they related

00:41:20.630 --> 00:41:25.285
to the Temple, their mission;

00:41:25.285 --> 00:41:27.845
they're the people of God.

00:41:27.845 --> 00:41:32.485
They couldn't get past the fact that,

00:41:32.485 --> 00:41:36.385
if this is not going to
be in existence anymore,

00:41:36.385 --> 00:41:39.895
then that must mean everything
must be falling apart.

00:41:39.895 --> 00:41:43.595
(Derek) You know, I think they're trusting
in the building rather than in God.

00:41:43.595 --> 00:41:47.285
And before we judge them and
go, "That's really foolish,"

00:41:47.285 --> 00:41:50.325
I think we could trust
in our institutions.

00:41:50.325 --> 00:41:53.225
We could trust in our organization,

00:41:53.225 --> 00:41:55.175
and the truth of the matter is,

00:41:55.175 --> 00:41:57.465
that before this is all over,

00:41:57.465 --> 00:41:59.851
a lot of those things could collapse.

00:41:59.851 --> 00:42:01.061
(Tricia Lee) That's true.

00:42:01.061 --> 00:42:05.471
(Derek) And all we have is
to hold on to our Savior,

00:42:05.471 --> 00:42:08.231
you know, because we know
that He's going through.

00:42:08.231 --> 00:42:10.371
He's going to take us
through to the very end.

00:42:10.371 --> 00:42:12.771
But lest we be too hard on them, I think

00:42:12.771 --> 00:42:15.199
they associated confidence in God,

00:42:15.199 --> 00:42:16.469
and now it's the building,

00:42:16.469 --> 00:42:19.579
and pretty soon God's kind of set aside,

00:42:19.579 --> 00:42:23.019
and they're just trusting
in their structures.

00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:24.809
(Tricia Lee) You're absolutely right.

00:42:24.809 --> 00:42:27.879
We're going to have to let go
of a lot of ideas that we have,

00:42:27.879 --> 00:42:29.599
things that we hold dear,

00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:32.029
to accept Jesus and His return.

00:42:32.029 --> 00:42:33.529
Juliana, would you read for us.

00:42:33.529 --> 00:42:37.949
Let's turn to Philippians chapter 3:7-8,

00:42:37.949 --> 00:42:39.889
and we'll hear an account of someone

00:42:39.889 --> 00:42:43.119
who had to let go of some
things they held dear.

00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:47.439
Philippians chapter 3:7-8.

00:42:47.439 --> 00:42:50.349
(Juliana) I'm reading from
the New King James Version:

00:43:11.259 --> 00:43:12.339
(Tricia Lee) Amen!

00:43:12.339 --> 00:43:14.679
What we didn't read is that previously

00:43:14.679 --> 00:43:18.079
we're hearing an account of
having confidence in self

00:43:18.079 --> 00:43:22.009
and being able to keep the Law
and being of the stock of Israel,

00:43:22.009 --> 00:43:24.249
all the things that I'm sure the disciples

00:43:24.249 --> 00:43:28.189
were very proud of in thinking about
the institution and the Temple.

00:43:28.189 --> 00:43:29.879
They had to let those things go,

00:43:29.879 --> 00:43:34.229
and surely we will have to
let some things go, as well,

00:43:34.229 --> 00:43:35.369
to accept Christ.

00:43:35.369 --> 00:43:38.209
We talked in a previous study
about falling on the Rock,

00:43:38.209 --> 00:43:39.689
submitting to Christ

00:43:39.689 --> 00:43:44.169
and learning to count the things of
God as gain and learning how to let go.

00:43:44.169 --> 00:43:48.889
Let's keep reading in Matthew chapter 24.

00:43:48.889 --> 00:43:51.399
Not only does Jesus tell
us what to look for

00:43:51.399 --> 00:43:55.079
in His coming, but He gives
us a description of His coming,

00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:56.419
and certainly this is key,

00:43:56.419 --> 00:43:58.379
because we're watching and we're waiting,

00:43:58.379 --> 00:44:02.219
and we want to be ready when He comes,
and we want to know what we're looking for

00:44:02.219 --> 00:44:03.089
when He comes.

00:44:03.089 --> 00:44:05.289
So Nathan, would you please read for us

00:44:05.289 --> 00:44:09.199
Matthew 24, verses 27 through 31?

00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:12.437
(Nathan) All right, I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

00:44:59.909 --> 00:45:02.007
(Tricia Lee) Amen! Amen.

00:45:02.007 --> 00:45:05.207
What are some of the characteristics
and aspects of Jesus' coming?

00:45:05.207 --> 00:45:07.987
What do we learn from this passage?

00:45:07.987 --> 00:45:10.157
(Nicole) Everyone will
see Him when He comes.

00:45:10.157 --> 00:45:13.437
(Tricia Lee) It's visible, so it
looks like there are a lot of angels.

00:45:13.437 --> 00:45:15.909
You can't miss the whole
Heavenly Host of angels.

00:45:15.909 --> 00:45:17.697
What else do we learn?

00:45:17.697 --> 00:45:18.957
(Olric) The trumpet sound.

00:45:18.957 --> 00:45:20.877
(Tricia Lee) So it's loud; it's audible.

00:45:20.877 --> 00:45:22.827
Okay, what else have we learned here?

00:45:22.827 --> 00:45:26.207
(Jason) There will be some signs of
the heavens that precede the coming,

00:45:26.207 --> 00:45:28.887
particularly with the
sun, moon, and stars.

00:45:28.887 --> 00:45:30.257
(Tricia Lee) Anything else?

00:45:30.257 --> 00:45:31.737
(Derek) It's dramatic.

00:45:31.737 --> 00:45:33.847
It's not just, "Oh, I
think I see something."

00:45:33.847 --> 00:45:34.757
(Tricia Lee) Yes.

00:45:34.757 --> 00:45:37.337
(Derek) It's like lightening from the east

00:45:37.337 --> 00:45:38.737
all the way to the west,

00:45:38.737 --> 00:45:40.557
and I think that's important, because,

00:45:40.557 --> 00:45:43.417
you know, Jesus talks about,
is this secret or is it...

00:45:43.417 --> 00:45:45.107
I think it's a surprise

00:45:45.107 --> 00:45:48.567
even for those of us who
are looking for His coming,

00:45:48.567 --> 00:45:49.767
when it actually happens.

00:45:49.767 --> 00:45:53.077
I mean If it happened in the
middle of this broadcast,

00:45:53.077 --> 00:45:55.157
you know I'd use my favorite Hebrew word,

00:45:55.157 --> 00:45:56.647
Hallelujah,

00:45:56.647 --> 00:45:58.407
but I would be surprised

00:45:58.407 --> 00:46:01.447
because I thought we were
going to finish the program.

00:46:01.447 --> 00:46:03.753
Right? RIght?

00:46:03.753 --> 00:46:06.907
Yeah, but it's not secret.

00:46:06.907 --> 00:46:08.258
It's not secret;

00:46:08.258 --> 00:46:11.118
it's visible, audible, but it's dramatic!

00:46:11.118 --> 00:46:13.548
It's like lightning from
the east to the west.

00:46:13.548 --> 00:46:15.278
(Tricia Lee) My version of the Bible

00:46:15.278 --> 00:46:19.408
says that "the powers of the
heavens will be shaken."

00:46:19.408 --> 00:46:22.858
I can't even imagine what that's like,
but I feel like we won't miss

00:46:22.858 --> 00:46:24.658
when the heavens are shaking.

00:46:24.658 --> 00:46:28.138
This is a dramatic, dramatic occurrence.

00:46:28.138 --> 00:46:29.828
We'll all see it.

00:46:29.828 --> 00:46:31.478
We will not miss it.

00:46:31.478 --> 00:46:33.658
What else can we learn
about Jesus' coming?

00:46:33.658 --> 00:46:37.308
Let's turn over to
1 Thessalonians chapter 4

00:46:37.308 --> 00:46:40.748
where there's another description of
some of the "what" that takes place

00:46:40.748 --> 00:46:42.228
and the "how" that takes place

00:46:42.228 --> 00:46:43.060
when Jesus comes.

00:46:43.060 --> 00:46:48.080
1 Thessalonians chapter 4:15-17.

00:46:48.080 --> 00:46:50.450
I'll ask Gary to read that for us.

00:46:50.450 --> 00:46:54.560
(Gary) Sure, and I'll be reading
from the New King James Version:

00:47:25.780 --> 00:47:27.450
(Tricia Lee) What else is happening

00:47:27.450 --> 00:47:28.690
at the coming of Jesus?

00:47:28.690 --> 00:47:30.780
We're not going to miss
any of these things.

00:47:30.780 --> 00:47:32.250
I heard again, the loud shout,

00:47:32.250 --> 00:47:33.540
the Lord Himself is coming,

00:47:33.540 --> 00:47:34.650
the Archangel.

00:47:34.650 --> 00:47:37.620
I can imagine if the Archangel
and the Lord are shouting,

00:47:37.620 --> 00:47:39.786
this is going to be a loud shout.

00:47:39.786 --> 00:47:41.256
What else do we see?

00:47:41.256 --> 00:47:44.356
(Nathan) In verse 15, we read that
there would be a resurrection.

00:47:44.356 --> 00:47:47.526
(Tricia Lee) Yes, hard to miss!

00:47:47.526 --> 00:47:50.094
(Nathan) We're not going to
Heaven without the ones...

00:47:50.094 --> 00:47:52.684
I think probably the Thessalonians
were writing to Paul

00:47:52.684 --> 00:47:56.024
and saying, "What about our loved
ones who have fallen asleep in Jesus?

00:47:56.024 --> 00:47:59.594
Are we going to go to Heaven when Jesus
comes, and we'll leave them behind?"

00:47:59.594 --> 00:48:02.934
He says, "No, before we go, they're
going to be raised from the Earth."

00:48:02.934 --> 00:48:05.614
So that's something that we
won't really miss, will we?

00:48:05.614 --> 00:48:06.794
It's hard to miss that.

00:48:06.794 --> 00:48:10.454
(Derek) I think growing up I thought the
loud shout was like, "Yo!" you know?

00:48:10.454 --> 00:48:13.994
But I think the shout
is, "Awake!" you know,

00:48:13.994 --> 00:48:18.854
because the Scripture speaks about
"awake, you who sleep in the dust."

00:48:18.854 --> 00:48:21.334
It's like, "Lazarus, come forth!"

00:48:21.334 --> 00:48:23.054
when Jesus raises Lazarus.

00:48:23.054 --> 00:48:25.254
So it's not just, "Yo!" you know?

00:48:25.254 --> 00:48:28.504
It's a shout

00:48:28.504 --> 00:48:30.244
that will conquer death;

00:48:30.244 --> 00:48:31.284
it will defeat death.

00:48:31.284 --> 00:48:35.234
(Tricia Lee) I've even imagined to myself
sometimes, like, "Honey, I'm home!"

00:48:35.234 --> 00:48:37.534
We're the Bride and He's coming, right?

00:48:37.534 --> 00:48:39.444
With excitement, He's here.

00:48:39.444 --> 00:48:43.354
Let's not forget, though,
why Jesus was so sad

00:48:43.354 --> 00:48:47.214
in rebuking the Pharisees and the Scribes
and the religious leaders in Jerusalem

00:48:47.214 --> 00:48:48.604
who had rejected Him.

00:48:48.604 --> 00:48:50.684
It was because He realized

00:48:50.684 --> 00:48:54.464
that at His coming there
will be no second chance,

00:48:54.464 --> 00:48:55.744
that things are final.

00:48:55.744 --> 00:49:00.274
Our destinies will be decided
by Christ the Judge,

00:49:00.274 --> 00:49:02.734
and that's why He had
those tears in His eyes,

00:49:02.734 --> 00:49:05.344
because He knew their
salvation was on the line.

00:49:05.344 --> 00:49:06.724
Let's look at some verses

00:49:06.724 --> 00:49:08.074
again in Matthew 24

00:49:08.074 --> 00:49:11.164
because there are some who believe
that there is a second chance,

00:49:11.164 --> 00:49:15.054
that when Jesus comes again there's
another chance to get things right.

00:49:15.054 --> 00:49:18.954
But we will learn that it really is
the end of time, the end of the age,

00:49:18.954 --> 00:49:20.144
the end of the world,

00:49:20.144 --> 00:49:24.094
and how important it is for us to make
our choice and our decision for Him now

00:49:24.094 --> 00:49:25.014
and today.

00:49:25.014 --> 00:49:30.744
Olric, will you read for us
Matthew 24, verses 36 through 42?

00:49:30.744 --> 00:49:33.144
36 through 42.

00:49:33.144 --> 00:49:35.934
(Olric) Reading from
the King James Version:

00:50:15.164 --> 00:50:18.384
(Tricia Lee) Through verse 42.

00:50:18.384 --> 00:50:19.724
(Olric) Verse 40:

00:50:36.614 --> 00:50:38.003
(Tricia Lee) Amen, thank you.

00:50:38.003 --> 00:50:40.833
Particularly verses 40 and 41,

00:50:40.833 --> 00:50:44.623
there are some that believe that there is
something called the "Secret Rapture,"

00:50:44.623 --> 00:50:50.053
that the Lord will come at one point and
take some chosen people away secretly,

00:50:50.053 --> 00:50:54.613
and others will not know, and that those
who are left behind have a second chance

00:50:54.613 --> 00:50:58.773
for some period of time to get
things right before He comes again.

00:50:58.773 --> 00:51:03.223
But what we've learned so far and
what these texts are describing to us

00:51:03.223 --> 00:51:06.693
is, well, the first thing we can say
about the women is that they are

00:51:06.693 --> 00:51:09.623
kind of going along in
their everyday lives, right?

00:51:09.623 --> 00:51:12.163
They are going along, it's
business as usual, right?

00:51:12.163 --> 00:51:14.303
They are at the mill,
is that where they are?

00:51:14.303 --> 00:51:17.793
Grinding at the mill, and so exactly
what Pastor Derek described

00:51:17.793 --> 00:51:21.103
about, we could be filming one
of these Sabbath School lessons,

00:51:21.103 --> 00:51:22.293
and the Lord could come.

00:51:22.293 --> 00:51:25.203
We're going about our
lives; it's a surprise.

00:51:25.203 --> 00:51:29.513
It catches us suddenly, and that's
the shock that can be with two people

00:51:29.513 --> 00:51:32.193
working at a mill or two
people sleeping in bed.

00:51:32.193 --> 00:51:32.933
Yes.

00:51:32.933 --> 00:51:35.333
(Olric) Notice what is being said here.

00:51:35.333 --> 00:51:41.093
In this passage, Jesus is not
saying that you should not work.

00:51:41.093 --> 00:51:43.173
This is daily work that they are doing.

00:51:43.173 --> 00:51:47.293
The problem is, is that these
two passages, 40 and 41,

00:51:47.293 --> 00:51:51.593
are in the context of Jesus saying that,

00:51:51.593 --> 00:51:55.813
"My coming will be a
surprise," not a secret,

00:51:55.813 --> 00:51:57.183
just a surprise,

00:51:57.183 --> 00:51:58.673
because it will be loud,

00:51:58.673 --> 00:52:00.093
it will be visible.

00:52:00.093 --> 00:52:04.973
But the surprise is, it will come at
a time when people least expect it

00:52:04.973 --> 00:52:07.723
because many folks, as He's saying here,

00:52:07.723 --> 00:52:09.603
will be going about their daily work...

00:52:09.603 --> 00:52:11.058
(Tricia Lee) Eating, drinking.

00:52:11.058 --> 00:52:15.719
(Olric) ...doing all this stuff
without getting themselves ready.

00:52:15.719 --> 00:52:18.868
(Derek) You know, there are many
sincere Christians who may believe

00:52:18.868 --> 00:52:20.589
in a Secret Rapture of the saints

00:52:20.589 --> 00:52:21.928
and then another chance,

00:52:21.928 --> 00:52:25.668
and certainly we may not have
everything right about Scripture,

00:52:25.668 --> 00:52:28.958
and we know if we love Jesus, and
we've accepted His salvation,

00:52:28.958 --> 00:52:31.708
that whenever He comes
we'll be ready, right?

00:52:31.708 --> 00:52:34.148
So we're not saved by
correct understanding.

00:52:34.148 --> 00:52:35.488
The danger is

00:52:35.488 --> 00:52:37.398
that people would put off

00:52:37.398 --> 00:52:40.628
until tomorrow the commitment
they need to make today

00:52:40.628 --> 00:52:43.968
and say, "Well, maybe when they
go I can make another chance,"

00:52:43.968 --> 00:52:46.709
and that's, of course, the deception

00:52:46.709 --> 00:52:50.158
because the Bible says,
"Today, if you hear His voice,

00:52:50.158 --> 00:52:51.438
do not harden your heart."

00:52:51.438 --> 00:52:52.298
(Tricia Lee) Amen.

00:52:52.298 --> 00:52:54.779
Well, let's read another
Scripture, one chapter over,

00:52:54.779 --> 00:52:59.088
Matthew chapter 25,
verses 31 through 34,

00:52:59.088 --> 00:53:01.708
and I will ask Simiso to read that for us,

00:53:01.708 --> 00:53:04.628
Matthew 25:31-34.

00:53:04.628 --> 00:53:08.399
It will give us a little bit more insight
about what happens when the Lord comes

00:53:08.399 --> 00:53:10.788
and this idea of being taken.

00:53:10.788 --> 00:53:16.909
(Simiso) Matthew 25:31-34, I'm reading
from the New King James Version:

00:53:51.398 --> 00:53:53.078
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:53:53.078 --> 00:53:56.548
When Jesus comes, His
coming is not a secret.

00:53:56.548 --> 00:53:59.818
It may be a surprise to some who
are going about their everyday lives

00:53:59.818 --> 00:54:01.308
not watching, not being ready,

00:54:01.308 --> 00:54:03.168
but it's His judgment that determines

00:54:03.168 --> 00:54:04.998
who's on the left, who's on the right,

00:54:04.998 --> 00:54:08.268
who's taken to be with
Him when He returns.

00:54:08.268 --> 00:54:11.369
Again, Jesus knew this, and that's why

00:54:11.369 --> 00:54:14.069
He pleaded and begged because He knew that

00:54:14.069 --> 00:54:15.608
the choices we make today,

00:54:15.608 --> 00:54:17.288
the choices they made in that day,

00:54:17.288 --> 00:54:18.648
were what would determine

00:54:18.648 --> 00:54:20.578
whether they would be on the right hand

00:54:20.578 --> 00:54:22.089
or on the left hand,

00:54:22.089 --> 00:54:24.989
whether they'd be taken
back Home with Him.

00:54:24.989 --> 00:54:28.218
(Derek) And those who are left...
I think this is really important;

00:54:28.218 --> 00:54:30.508
you've been emphasizing
the need for a decision.

00:54:30.508 --> 00:54:34.348
We read that where the body is,

00:54:34.348 --> 00:54:36.408
there the vultures will gather.

00:54:36.408 --> 00:54:37.808
As we study Scripture,

00:54:37.808 --> 00:54:42.308
those who are left are
not left to continue on,

00:54:42.308 --> 00:54:45.748
but they are destroyed by the
brightness of Christ's coming,

00:54:45.748 --> 00:54:48.489
and that's why we need to
make our decision today.

00:54:48.489 --> 00:54:49.788
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:54:49.788 --> 00:54:51.468
Well, let's wrap up our study

00:54:51.468 --> 00:54:54.748
in learning what it means
to watch and be ready

00:54:54.748 --> 00:54:57.518
and how we should act when we
know that the Lord is coming.

00:54:57.518 --> 00:54:59.688
Jason, would you read for us

00:54:59.688 --> 00:55:04.298
verses 42 through 51 of Matthew 24?

00:55:04.298 --> 00:55:06.958
(Jason) I'll be reading from
the New King James Version,

00:55:06.958 --> 00:55:10.448
Matthew chapter 24, verses 42 through 51:

00:56:11.758 --> 00:56:12.868
(Tricia Lee) Oh, mercy.

00:56:12.868 --> 00:56:14.164
Olric, quickly,

00:56:14.164 --> 00:56:15.961
how can we be ready

00:56:15.961 --> 00:56:17.508
for Jesus' Second Coming?

00:56:17.508 --> 00:56:20.608
(Olric) Simple, get ourselves ready

00:56:20.608 --> 00:56:24.128
spiritually first through our
commitment to Jesus Christ,

00:56:24.128 --> 00:56:27.228
and use that commitment to reach others.

00:56:27.228 --> 00:56:28.508
(Tricia Lee) Amen, amen.

00:56:28.508 --> 00:56:30.248
Thank you for this wonderful study,

00:56:30.248 --> 00:56:33.999
and let's continue to thank God that He
reveals to us the things that will come

00:56:33.999 --> 00:56:35.508
in the future through His Word.

00:56:35.508 --> 00:56:36.938
(Derek) Thank you, Tricia Lee.

00:56:36.938 --> 00:56:38.408
What an amazing study,

00:56:38.408 --> 00:56:41.878
and thank you for joining us
for Hope Sabbath School today.

00:56:41.878 --> 00:56:43.978
Jesus wants you to be ready.

00:56:43.978 --> 00:56:46.668
He wants you to know peace and joy today,

00:56:46.668 --> 00:56:50.388
even in the midst of the
difficulties around you.

00:56:50.388 --> 00:56:53.488
I want to pray that you'd
make that commitment today,

00:56:53.488 --> 00:56:55.568
just as Olric said, today,

00:56:55.568 --> 00:56:58.469
that you'll trust Christ as your Savior

00:56:58.469 --> 00:57:01.188
while we have this wonderful opportunity.

00:57:01.188 --> 00:57:02.048
Let's pray.

00:57:02.048 --> 00:57:04.848
Our Father in Heaven, we
don't want to take for granted

00:57:04.848 --> 00:57:08.268
the great privilege of
learning the truth about Jesus

00:57:08.268 --> 00:57:10.928
and accepting Him as our Savior

00:57:10.928 --> 00:57:12.728
while there is still time.

00:57:12.728 --> 00:57:16.768
I pray for each one who
hears this prayer today,

00:57:16.768 --> 00:57:20.178
that we may make our
calling and election sure

00:57:20.178 --> 00:57:24.698
by trusting Jesus as our
Savior and soon-coming King.

00:57:24.698 --> 00:57:27.163
And God, I thank you
that you'll also use us

00:57:27.163 --> 00:57:29.853
to share that Good Word, that Word of hope

00:57:29.853 --> 00:57:31.553
with those around us,

00:57:31.553 --> 00:57:33.593
in Jesus' name, Amen.

00:57:33.593 --> 00:57:34.683
(Team) Amen.

00:57:34.683 --> 00:57:37.413
(Derek) Well, we're looking
for that glorious appearing,

00:57:37.413 --> 00:57:39.553
we'll see Him come, we'll hear Him,

00:57:39.553 --> 00:57:41.993
we'll hear a shout that
will wake the dead.

00:57:41.993 --> 00:57:44.613
It's going to be a glorious reunion.

00:57:44.613 --> 00:57:46.173
Won't you determine today

00:57:46.173 --> 00:57:49.593
that you'll be part of the
Redeemed for all eternity,

00:57:49.593 --> 00:57:51.733
and won't you also make the commitment

00:57:51.733 --> 00:57:54.273
that Jesus wants you to
share that Good News

00:57:54.273 --> 00:57:57.553
so that others can be with
us on that glorious day.

00:57:57.553 --> 00:57:58.673
Go out,

00:57:58.673 --> 00:58:01.153
make a difference to the
lives of those around you.

00:58:01.153 --> 00:58:29.033
♪ theme music ♪